Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-09
Headquarters 10th Vermont Vols,

workso the enemy, on the left Of Petersburg, on
the q Of this month
10 compliance with orders from the Head
quarters Of tho Brigade, the Regiment, IN light
marching order, leaving all knapsacks and camp
eqllpage behind 10 order to facilitate its move
ments, moved at II 0 clock, midnight, on the
let OF April, and went into position some hund-
red YARDS 10 front OF icrt Walsh, and twenty
PAGES In rear OF our entrencheI picket line. The
Brigade, which was the extreme lett Of the
Corps, was formed IN three lines Of btttle, the
10Th w. occupying the right of the front line.
The picket line OF the enemy was also behind
ct ong earthWorks, about one hundred and fifty
(l5O) yards from w, their main works being
some two hundred I20J) yards further to their
rear.
Soon after We were in position, at half past
twelve clock, and again at three o'clock in the
morning, very severe picket fire was opened
on both sldes, commencing at considerable dis
tance to our right, and extending to our front
and left, and continuing each time for about one
half hour.
The regiment is entitled to great credit for
silence which was maintained during this terri
bic musketry, both officers and men keeping u
perfect line and displaying coolness and courage
The darkness prevented large list Of casualties,
some five or slI only being wounded.
Al about four o'clock in the morning, at the
firing Of sigma gun from fort Fisher The reg.
ment advanced at double quick under terri
iic fire Of musketry and arullety, passing our
own picket line and that OF the enemy, pressing
through such openings us we could 6nd in the
double line Of aDatls, and did not halt until the
colors of the Regiment were planted inside the
fortified line Oi tue enemy.
We first struck their works Immediately to
the left OF u Tort mounting slr guns, which was
evacuated on our approach. These defences
consisted of heavy held works, at least siI feet
high, with ditch IN front eight feet wide and
siy or seven feet deep, and forts and redoubts
at intervals Of from three hundred to four hun
dred yards, all mounted with field artillery. A
portion OF the men passed through narrow open.
lngs 10 The works and many Jumped into the
dllch and scaled the entrenohmenta Many pris-
oners delivered themselves up here and were i'm.
mediately sent to the rear, but without guard,
as our own safety required the presence OF every
man. AS my regiment was IN the advance of
the other regiments OF the division, and had be-
come somewhat broken by obst.u .ucions through
which we had passed, caused the line TO bo
formed, which occupied some five minutes, dur
ing which time we were joned by portions Of
the other regiments Of the brigade
As soon as my command was reorganiz'd d we
moved rapidly to the left, in line Of battle within
aud parallel to the captured works, in the drec-
uon OF secoOd fort, some three hundred Yards
distant doubling up the enemy as We advanced
and capturing many prisoners. This fort,
mounting two guns, was taken without serious
opposition. Here we halted for moment to
reorganlze tue line, and advanced, over swampy,
uneven ground, upon third fort, distant some
four hundred yards, from which we received a
severe artillery fire. We were also suit il c.ed to
quite severe musSelry fire from this position,
which Wa. obstinately contested by large force
OF the enemy assembled there. The position was,
however, carried and the fort fell into our ha nds
the enemy retiring few hundred yards to tho
lett into the edge Of a piece of woods, FROM which
they Kept up so severe musketry fire as to
check our advance. Adjltant james NJ Read
was here wounded while noby performing bis
duty, the ball intering the hsel aud coming out
at the itstep, reccssitating an amplt,tiOn OF
the foot, iiom which be died ON the 9th instant.
SO rapid had been our advance from the time first
reaching the eueny's line, that the regiment
was considerably broken up, while other regi
ments OF the Brigade were without organization,
though many OF their men were with US. We
were able, however, to hold their advanced pos-
iuon, for ABOUT twenty minutes, when the enc
my advanced upon US IN strong force, moving
parallel with their enirenchments and upon
Doth sides. We were compelled reluctantly TO
iall back to the fort, heretofore mentioned -
Some OF the captured guns of the enemy, and
one oil our own batteries, We're now put into
position and opened upon the enemy.
Tbs different regiment Of the Brigade were,
IN the mean llme, reorganired, as were some Of
the regiments Of the "a Brigade, OF the Division
which now came up, and in short time we
again advanced recapturlng the fort and carry
ing everything before US. The enemy made no
further resistance, but grea, numbers delivered
themselves up as prisoners, and many escaped to
the rear } Ill moving on atont half mile
we met the 2lsa Corps, which had Just entered
the works without opposition, further to the
lett. Alter halting here tor about half an hour,
the regiment connlermarched and moved IN the
direction OF Petersburg together with the rest
Of the Divi'i0n. Passing outside ths rebel Tor.
tlhca,ions a little to the north Of the point
where We entered IN the mjfnils, the Division
was iTlned IN ine OF battle at right angles to
Ilair works, forming part Vi liue which cx.
tended far to the lelt, ard moved forward SLOW.
y, towards Petersburg and until within about
two mites o! that city where we halted until
,tout sundown. We we're then moytd .hort
distance and went into position ON the ground
previously occupied as picket lluo OF the enc.
my, my command being he extreme right OF the
Division aud resting on the Vaughn Road
Here We ontrenohel and biyouacked lor the
lieht.
Ii is impossible 10 reporting the operations Of
he regiment to seperate 1t entirely from other
-egments oi the Brigade, as portions Of all were
Engaged 10 m0s. 0l he work, which was per- b
ofmad and from the nature OF the fighting, !
Tho distractions passed over, aud the rspldty Of
he advance, the rgn nts Nere somewhat
mingled together
But am happy 10 be sble to state, that the
10Th Vermont was the first regiment in the Di.
iisIOn to plant stand OF col0rs within the enc.
ny's works,-that it brayely performed ITS duty
throughout the day, and Kept up so perfect an
organization rs to elliott the highest commenda.
non Of the Brigade and DIVISION commanders.
While oinno. speak in t)o high praise. of
he conduct oi both officers and men, deti.e
o mention as deserving Of especial copsldera.
ion, Major wyllys Lyman, who was among
he hist TO enter the rebel works with the color.
'earer, and performed the most Efficient service
Turing the day, using every exersion to keep
he regiment together, and leading the men
Onward to their duty.
Adjutant james NJ. Read, who not only per.
ornet his own special duties with utmost skill, |
'ui contributed materially to tho success Of the