The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-05-05

After It. Richards of Co. \, llth
Vt. regiment, was paroled and returned
to Annapolis, he whiled away some te-
dious hours by writing out some of his
experiences with the Southern chivalry.
At our request he has let us take this
journal, and we extract from it below.
On the 23d Chat most unluckv day) at
about 9 a. NJ. our battalion, A, F, II, and
X, commanded by Maj. Fleming, was
out as skirmishers, and to hold a point on
the Petersburg and Weldon railroad,
which our sharpshooters had taken pos
session of, driving away the rebel cavalry.
Our company was deployed fifteen PAGES
apart across an open field, the right rest
ING Just beyond the railroad, the left near
a piece of woods Before noon we saw
the rebels coming in force on the railroad.
and when they arrived to within 100 rods
they deployed, throwing out their skir-
mishers and soon commenced firing, and
we replied III good earnest. At this time
our battery was divided into two compa-
nies, Lieut.. Parker commanded The right
and | the left company, Capt. Morrill,
acting field officer. Very soon the rebels,
advancing rapidly, pressed hard on our
right flank with greatly superior numbers,
which caused us to fall back, after losing
several in killed and wounded We fell
back in good order, loading and firing as
fast as possible. 1t was at this place that
Corp. Burnham was mortally wounded,
also that Granger was killed and several
others killed and wounded. After falling
back over the brow of ridge or little
hill, we halted, but the firing was kept up
and soon the rebels had worked their wav
on our flank, SO we were subjected to a
severe enflading fire for some time, until
we tell back still further to place where
our troops had made temporary breast
works, and it was understood that we
were to hold this point at all hazards
The rebels soon came upon our right and
then charged upon our left and rear with
a terrible volley of musketry and that
horrid yell, which never shall forget
This caused us to abandon this position
ard take another few rods distant, at
the same time contracting our forces. We
We're now in no condition for defense. Il,
our ammunition was completely exhaust
ed. Very soon the rebels were about
charging upon us again, when our force
was surrendered as prisoners of war. Ii
was here that Charles b. Sewell, and !
expect Capt. Smith, lost their lives.
have thought many times that it was Il
miracle that we were not nearly all killed
as the bullets fell among us like hailstones.
This occurred just at dark, and after being
dlsarmed we were Immediately started ii
charge OF a strong guard for Petersburg
The number captured of our regiment was
lS officers and 23S men. There was alsc
part OF the 4th VT, including Major
Pratt.
Our men on this occasion behaved mos1
heroically-I saw no one in our compan,
but what was willing and faithful to ODE,
orders to the letter; no man leaving OF
falling back until they had orders to dc
so, and being i'll the open field we wer,
more exposed and suffered greater los
than the other companies.
We arrived near Petersburg l think a
about midnight, and remained there tn
rest of the night in an old corn field. Ii
the morning the rebel officers took all ou
rubber blankets and fly tents from us, thel
marching us through and to the opposit
side OF the town, spent the day in takin
the name, rank and regiment of each man
separating the officers from the enliste
men; and we were not allowed to com