Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-04-12
The Camp Fire.
THE RATTLE OF BIO BETHEL-FTEsr BATTLE O.
TIE MAR.

L
FISHER, Capt 4fh ". Infantry.
Sir Commander, LGdies and Gentlemen
In the fall Of 1860, 1 took part with interest
and Measure in the drill Of the New England
Gn,rds At Mortified in this State, one oil the
oompauies Of the Firt Vermont Regiment q
State Militiz We mustered at Montpelier mat
fall and ssure you We had very pleasant
time Of it, although but :ew, if any. had the re-
hottest idea Of ever being called upon 10 GO
actual military duty.
At the news Of the stack snd bomoardmen'
Of Fort Sumter, April 18th, lool and the sur
render Of that little bani whose loyal ana gal
lart leader 20 lately returned from Europe 70
his inal resting place, joined my company
then commanded by the Hon. George Nlcho.s'
NOW Sec-et.rv of State. We reorgsnized our
regiment at Rutland and were mustered into u
s service on the 9th Of Mag, under the can OF
President Lincoln for 1900 volunteers, issusi
the 18th Of April. We left Rutland the ne1t
day for New York, where We took transport
for Fortress Monroe, and in ts) days srrlVei or
Old Point Comfort Msny Of cur men having
suffered extremely from sea sickness We hSllei
with 10Y the sandy beach, upon which stands the
Fort. General Butler arrived few days later
aud took command Of the department, anu We
were busy engaged, come in mounting guns
upon the parspet, while others sought proaolel-
cy in drill and still others attempted to disci-
pline their stomachs to soldiers Diet Oiner
Trees arriving from the north, cur regiment,
commspded by Col j. wolcott Phelps, received
orders to move out and enczmp near Hampton.
While encamped there several men Of our com
uAny discovered a herd Of COWS grazing N the
immediate vicinity Of cur camp. The owner q
the cattle hEd probably gone TO Richmond, and
the men 1t once conceived the very humane ldea
Of relieving the COWS OF their milk, and MIXED
the same into their cEntCens OF course Colonel
Phelps could have no objections 10 90 consider
ate an act. On the 18th Of May, Colonel Dur
yeA's Zousyes arrived from New lorS anu took
up their position upon cur LETT 4Eer guns
were provided with sabre-b&youets, when taken
together with their red czFs and large trousers,
gave them a Turkish appearance Iney a. cnce
commenced q war Of determination upon the
large number Of hoct aud cattle that irequented
the woods in tie vicinity Of their camps. Irer
officers demonstrated, gusris and patrols at
tempted to arrest the movement, but the great
er the effort the less successful The woods re-
rounded with the crack OF muske;ry ami the
cries o. expiring hogs and cattle until ls;e IN
the esening. Iae next morning not 4 single
animal could be found on the east side Of lamp
ton Creek The troops Ios numbered SIX thous-
and men.
On the 27th az May. the lst Vermont, the 4tn
Massachusetts aud the eth New ior1 State Re
ciments we're ordered, under commsnt Of toio-
mel Phelps 10 take transport FOR Newport News
a point ou the james river, seven Inaes from
Fortress Monroe, eu lcsyor 20 effect a landing,
aud, if possible, fortify the position Ny COM
psny having teen detailed 90 forward aId guard
the baggage, did not srrive Until next day an-
hsi Lot the opportunity personally 20 o1serse
the landing We At once commenced .ortliJlng
the position, the distance being divided between
the three regiments. The Vermont boys tet
themselves resclutely stout the wcrs- Our
front being covered With pine flres: We OBJ
taineI from il cur necessary timber tgr breast
works aal r.ae pits The evening Of the rec
cal dag saw the work nearly iuisael, although
We lii not fully complete It for WeeE, 1ot SO
with the fJh Massachusetts, nor the d NsT
YoTk regiments. Immediately after day eis o.;
the frsi day after cur arrival, they formed INTO
squads Of three, four, or half dozen and p.l-
lacei the houses not only 10 the immediate vlcu-
ity Of their camp, but for several miles around
IL TIE camp Of this reg ncut presented very
amusing ight as the f0rsgera arrived laden with
sE dresses, br0aicl0th and 0th5r wearing a.
pArel, glassware AMI all kinds Of cr1ckery,
mu,ei, horses, cart.0als o. potatoes, bacon, tlr-
KEYS chickens, hoe caker, sud so abundance Of
close Of the nd day, for the purpose Of in
greeting the Post, aai while he c5mmenlsl cur
regiment for the promptnets with which they hsi
begun their work ami thu skill AMI Industry
uanif5stel 10 its execution, he severely rep-i-
uanlet the ith Massachusetts and the ltl -es
fox resils--s tut particularly the 4th Mass
s.1ufe-tF Ih.E action on the TART Of the COM
uzu sing General, csasel that regiment 10 usiu-
tain ey,- after feelings Cd. very hostile ant Bit
ter nature t-- assure you General Butler's
lauglsrc GA Tia occasion vas net the very
ci0.5esf.
IN the early pe.J Of june the enemy lad be-
come very bold, on ccc occasion Advancing upon
the picse;s in he immediate vicinity Of Hanq-
ton, killing three men and taking one prison
er. They had also approached our picks-s az
Newport NeTs very closely, and General Butler
felt himself compelled 70 make an sttsck uq-n
their flrces.
ON Sunday eve1il. June 9th. We were called
Immediately after .' tst.o1' and ms pc SC paint
ed with the fact that We were % move 5u- some
time during the ight TO make an attack upon
the enemy. We were also tod ihs- the tr0crs
from Hampton sni Fortress Monroe were 90 CO.
operate with US, that part 0f,lau would form
junction with cur regiment and that We could
recognize them by white hsu1kerchie. tel
upon their arms, and thEt the bst:lecry. by
which the troops would know each other when
charging, would be " Boston" After having
Supplied ourselves with oue days ''rS,0us,' auI
msde verT mary professions Of coJrage xul fiel- .
ity. We were summoned to form into line, five
companies Of the 9TH Massachusetts, ami five
companies Of the lst Vermont regiments mAslu-
up ten companies under command Of Lieuter-
sut-C0lluel Peter T. Nashhurn u Woodstock,
Colonel Phelps being left in command Of the
camp A Newport News. This force vSs follow
ei by Lieutenant Greble OF the second artillery
with two h1Titz=rs,ari ooll1el Beniix with six
companies Of the 1th New York regiment We
proceeded cut Of camp, AMI advanced upon the
road TO Little Bethel, precisely at twelve
Q clock Midnight. The night was very dark All .
IL grew darker SIS morning approached Every .
precaEtl1l hsi been taken % avoid noise anil 90 .
guard against surprise. Ihe column gained the .
junction Of the two roads, taking the Hampton .
road, anl advanced through Little Bethel Col
o1el Duryea's regiment had preceded rs uy half
an hour, sni We had left Little Bethel nearly
mile in our rear, expecting every moment % e.
counter the enemy. Dsyiigh: had family begun .
TO show itself, when 20 cur -tt1nishmsuta brisk
firing commenced in cur rear neatly TWO miles .
distant, seemingly ST the very place where
Lieutenant-Col0ne. WsEhburn had stationed
Colonel IoWuseut'1 regiment and one piece 0far-
tllery. We a. once concluded that the enemy
ha1 allowed us 70 pass on for the purpose Of d.
viiing our forces and attacking aud defeating us
II detsil. Lieu,.-Colouel Wsshburn ..fte- sll5w-
Ing Lieut. Grebie 70 pass through the command
With his artillery, ordered Us a-0ut faoa.4ui re-
verfei the march at double quick. When &c
arrived the firing had nearly ceased We how
ever, formed IN line Of bs;tle on the left Of the
IN New York with their skirmishers IL front
AN not Disposed to blame Col Benlix for this
10
Benilx wss brsye sud gallant officer: be AMI
the greater part Of his men had seen actual ser
vice in Germany. They we're prompt aaI efi-
Gent soldiers, although they did not spesk much
Lngllsh. When the forces from Newport News
advanced and took the road from Hampton 20
Bethel, Lieut-C0lonel Washburn in clmmkni.
eit at the juntion Of the roads, Col Beniiz
with ore hundred and seventy men ani fcli
piece az rear guard, with positive orders 20
hold the position st all hazards This order az
course anticipated the possibility Ct rebel force
getting IN our rear 20 cut rs of if retrest be-
anne Necessary. The very fact that the -sbe,u
we're encamped a few hundred rods from tb.-
position Il evidence that the precaution was ne
'essAry. Il seems that but s few minutes after
ne GeTmsns took their position the 81 New
orS regiment, commanded by Colonel Townr-
nj, came up the Hampton read Il, WAS 10.
NV 0N'N' mist huhg over the ground and 10
iAgs or coiors Of any kind were displayed A
hey approached the junction OF the ro.is thew
we're in part hidden by ridge, and AN told
hat General Pierce and staff and Colonel TowB-
end and staff, in body, rode in advance Of the
egiment, and that they hsi either neglected, OF
we're altogether ignorant Of the precsution ne
essafy Wnen troops are moving in the vicinity
i al enemy or approaching their camp. Of send
hg out a small advance guard or being precei-
d by Z line Of skirmishers Our rear gG.ri
lad received positive information th.; we nsi no
aVsiry participating in the movement. and if
ny approached them it must be the enemy's
hen then dozen officers mounted on horses 1
nd approach in the dim breaking Daylight, how
ouid they otherwise than come 10 the conc.usion
nj thnu nza-a IT,. - IL |