Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-24

odehs auu DlOWS alike pOWerlesS W ndlU
them; a cavalry regiment stretched
the field, unable to stem the torrent
and added to the confusion and conster-
nation the frequent sights of blood, am
balances, wagons, men, stained and drip.
ping, with here and there a corpse
while the whistling bullets and the
shrieking she'll told that the enemy
knew their advantage and their ground.
1t was sight that might well have de-
moralized the Old Guard of the first Ma
poleon.
AS our division reached Meadow Run
| "a branch of Cedar Creek deep brook
that annoyed us continually during the
operations of the day, we received a fire
from the enemy's skIrmishers in piece
of woods near by, which compelled Gen
eral Getty to abandon his intention of
reaching the pike and to go into line on
the immediate left of the First Division,
a little to its rear. The Fifth and Sixth
Vermont, under command of of Major
Enoch E. johnson of the Second then
commanding the Fifth, and Major Walk
er's battalion of the Eleventh Vermont
were ordered forward to clear the woods
Promptly deploying as skirmishers they
advanced for the time successfully,
reaching the further edge of the forest
and halting under cover of the trees, so
far to the front that they were much
annoyed by the fire of our own batteries
from behind the Division. The position
was good one, and continuous line
was arranged covering completely the
whole Division front. Thus for the first
time during the day the enemy was op-
posed by the regular formation of a
skirmish line masking line of battle.
Still, the skirmishers in the confusion
and the fog feared that there might yet
remain some of our own troops in their
front, and being almost literally in the
dark, hesitated about opening fire. At
last scattered line was dimly seen ap-
preaching through the mist which felt
no such hesitation, giving US volley
which at once convinced US that the
skirmishers of the enemy were upon US.
Their progress was stopped without diff
fculty, but a double line of infantry
was soon made out moving forward in
perfect array, the front line firing heav-
lily as they came, evidently supposing
that large force was stationed in our
little forest and our skirmishers at once
falling back, as was their duty, rejoined
their Division, leaving several wounded
where they fell.
Meanwhile Gen. Getty. forming his
Division in two lines, had advanced
across the Run to the prolongation of
the line held by the FIRST Division but
that command at last routed in turn by
the heavy force of the enemy thrown
against it, broke in confusion and fell
back, passing through the artillery of
the Corps. Getty was now left alone
upon the field. Seeing strong semi
circular crest behind the Run, he fell
back about three hundred yards and oc-
eupied it with his Division, throwing
Warmers First Brigade from the second
line to the right of the Division in or
der to cover as much ground as possible
the Vermont (Second) Brigade being in
the centre on Warmers left. and Bid
wells (Third) Brigade on Grants left,
Warner and Bidwcll being partly cover
ed by woods, but our own Brigade being
in an open field. Warmers Brigade
was ''in the air." all our troops in that
direction having retired; Bidwelps left
connected with cavalry skirmish line,
bending towards the rear. The position
was on the whole an excellent one, how
+ ever, Notwithstanding there were no
works, walls, or fences, the men lying
down just behind the top of the hill,
while few skirmishers from each regi-
ment were again sent forward over the
ridge.
The assault was not long delayed.
The enemy charged In full line of battle
against our brigade, and the of Warn
er's. They pressed their advance with
great determination, but it was unavail-
ing and they presently retired across the
run into the fog, which from this time
began to disappear. Our skirmishers
again followed over the crest. The reb-
els now concentrated terrible fire of
artillery upon our position, and shell
, from thirty guns few, screaming dev-
ilishly, over and among us The men
hugged the ground, being somewhat COW
! cred by the hill, and owing to the cover
thus obtained, the loss, as General Getty
says, ''was lighter than could be expect
ed"
, After a cannonade lasting for half an
hour, our skirmishers announced anoth-
er charge and the men stood. or knelt
! rather, to their guns. On the rebels
: came, through the woods, straight
against Bidwell's line and the left Of
, Grants, with a vigor that promised sue.
, cess. As they pressed us harder and
harder, the lines being but a few yards
ana rt Ridual,s hrinada heran dnooedl Y