Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-02-02
From the Ninth vermont Regiment.
CAMP 9rH VI, Vols, I'd Brig, Sd Div, .
Gath A. C. January oath, 1866.

CAMP 9rH VI. Vols, I'd Brig, Sd Div, .
oath A. G. January oath, 1866. !
Elitor Rutland Herald Tho stiffness
and quiet which has prevailed for the
last few days along the front OF the
Army Of the James, has to-day beer
broken by the thunder OF cannon and
the shouts of victory. The rebel boat
Drewry," accompanied by the gun,
boats Richmond" and Fredericks
burgh," appeared early this morning
slowly steaming down the river, mani,
/ testing the determination of passing
through our Zines and closing forever all
speculation upon the possible success OF
the Dutch Gap Canalpas well as perhaps
sealing the destiny Of the Army north
of the James. o
While passing the front of the 25th
corps, they drove the darkey troops to
their cover by furious shower of shell
and sOberieal case They increased they
speed and the rspldity Of their fire as
they neared position where sur bat
teries bore upon them. But the darino
enterprise was destined to terminate
like the strategy of Butler, in failure
for as the hundred Founders of Fort
Brady began to ten upon the "Drewry,n
she manifested unmistakeable 81 -.
weakness, and before g. -, ,,,9'is sn VI
from undar 1ne COuh run
.iV,a uH'e' me torenG of iron that was
hurled with irresistible force against
her, she was blown to Fragments by the
explosion of her magazine, and sank be-
meath the waters CT the James.
The gunbcats Richmond" and Fred
ericksburgh" Jared better. When the
"Drewry" blew up, the whole attention
OF our guns was turned upon them, and
the,y were soon fast aground and lay for
several hours under the guns of our bat
teries. However, being protected by the
Howlett's house battery" after much
furious Smelling they succeeded in get
ting off and retreated as rapidly as pos
sible up the river out of range.
The cheers in which our whole line
INDUCED when the result of this demon
stration was made known, were such as
only victorious soldiers know ho% to
give. The enemy were very sensitive,
and as our "three times three" and
"tiger" was waited on the breeze to
their lines, they opened upon us with
shot and shell from the forts in our
'front.' but after an hour or two of an
noying fire, in which only a single shell
was exploded in the camp of the Ninth
Vermont they came to the wise conclu-
sion that it was an idle waste of the
materials Of war, and everything re-
sumed its wonted guietness.
The removal Of Major General Butler
from the command Of this Department,
lover which we all rejoice, has caused
many changes among the Division and
Brigade Commanders and their stats.
The I'd brjga'ie, Sd division of the oath
corps, is now commanded by Lieut.. Col.
V. g. Barney, while upon the brigade
staff, the first place, that Of A. g., A. G.
is held by Capt. Leavenworth, Co. K,
and the second that of A. A. l. G., is
held by Capt. Kelley of Co. B, all from
the Ninth Vermont Volunteers. Our
regiment is the largest of the six COM
posing the brigade.
The army is hopeful of a speedy issue
of the war. We easnot see where the
men and means are coming from with
which the Confederaty is to buoy up its
shattered fortunes so as to long with
stand the heavy and rapid blows which
Gen. Grant is now dealing>at its devoted
head. Let the last call for 300, 900 more
men be speedily filed, and the early
overthrow Of the rebellion is insured be-
yond doubt. JOB.