The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-30

up the track of the railroad connecting
Wilmington with Richmond. This work
concluded, cheers given for the success
full accomplishment of our undertaking,
and our faces were homeward turned.
AT that instant our ears were greeted
with an ominous sound. 1t was the
strange, almost barbaric, rebel yell.
Quickly facing about, we formed on the
brow of the hill, the first regiment in
line of battle. A battery was soon in
our immediate front, squadron of
cavalry on our left. AS we formed,
three columns of rebels came charging
from the woods. They were detach-
ment of the Virginia army sent, after
Burnside's repulse on the 18th, to
drive us back. General Fosters STRAIT
egg had deceived them, else they would
have faced us earlier in the raid. As
they came up the battery in our front
began to shell them. Soon our guns
began to deal out grape shot to them.
Other batteries soon lent their aid,
While we stood there with fixed bayo-
nets watching the fearful execution
our projectiles were making, we heard
a quick discharge from our left, and at
the same instant a raking shower of
grape fell upon us. A column of men
never bowed more quickly than did we.
But before we could straighten up
another and still another came. Or
ders were then received to lie down.
"A moment later and a battery of our
own guns was throwing shells over our
heads at the rebels. The rebel guns
were peculiarly served. Every few
minutes the projectile was changed-a
few discharges of grape, then shell,
then solid shot, Each change necessi-
tated getting anew the range. In fact
their firing was trife wild, for which
we were not ungrateful. Just as dark
ness shut down upon us the enemv's
guns were silenced and his charging col
umn driven back into the woods. We
turned our faces homeward again. The
creek we crossed so easily earlier in the
day was now full to overlooking, its
rushing current bearing logs and rails
Holding our haversacks, with nothing
in them, our cartridge boxes, ETC., over
our heads, into it we plunged. How
cold it was; how we mathematical the
rebels who had destroyed the dam
above. In addition to his own bur-
dens the writer found some one cling
ing to his bayonet, and was compelled
to drag him across. He proved to be
the lieutenant in command of the next
company. He was gentleman enough
to express his thanks for the service
rendered. We marched back to our
camping-place of the night before
through lines of fire, for fences and for
ests were burning along the whole dis
lance. The heat was very pleasant
after our frigid battle. We were as
dry as need be when we reached our
camp. will relate but a single cir
cumstance of our home march. We
started early next morning, without any
breakfast, except raw corn and small
turnips-at least the writer made his
breakfast of them-and were kept
steadily marching until midnight, not
had anything to cook. Late in the after
noon beef and mutton were delivered
to the marching columns, but no time
was given to cook. Many, my diary
says-at least two thousand-fell out and
took their own time. The writer was
one of the number. AS consequence,
he saw sight the beauty of which will
remain with him so long as he shall
live. AS at midnight he climbed hill
and stood on its summit he looked
across narrow valley, through which
flowed small stream, to hill, cover
ing perhaps twenty acres, facing him.
On the face of this hill was encamped
the entire army. Its brigade lines ran
in parallels across the line of vision.
In front of every brigade many fires
were burning. Those at the foot of
the hill burned clear white. The
next line had straight tinge of color,
which deepened in each succeeding,
till those at the top of the hill burned a
deep red. What caused this l do not
know. | do know that my eyes never
looked upon more beautiful sight.
Soldiers, weary, footsore, hungry, dust
begrimed, climbed that hill to drop the
butt of their muskets to the ground
with the exclamation, Oh, how beauti-
full Truly it was beauty wierd,
unique, unexpected"