Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
We have not had, by telegraph a clear and satisfactory account of the fight near Yorktown, in which the Vermont regiments were engaged. Neither do the letters from the army tell all we want to know about its purpose and proceedings. The following from a letter dated near Lee’s Mills, gives the clearest account of it we have seen:—
Correspondence of the Baltimore Republican.
Winchester, March 26, 1862.
Messrs. Editors: It may interest your readers to have some account of the severe battle of Sunday last, near this town. You have already the main facts as stated in the dispatches of the telegraph agents, and it is therefore needless to repeat them. The plain story of the fight, as ascertained and believed by the substantial people of this place is sucinctly thus:
Late on Saturday afternoon some two or three hundred of Col. Ashby’s cavalry, unexpectedly to all parties, military and citizens, made their appearance on thehigh ridge of hills south of the town and signalized their presence with the discharge of a few shells, but not in the direction of any of the houses of the citizens. This, of course, produced great commotion among the Federal military, who immediately commenced moving in all directions; cavalry, infantry, and artillery went thundering and plunging through the town all night, giving our citizens a very impressive idea of the dread commotions and fierce energies of war.
Whoop! the Doodles have broken loose,
Roaring round like the very deuce!
Lice of Egypt, hungry pack,
After ’em boys, and drive ’em back!
Bull-dog, terrier, cur and fice,
Back to the beggardly land of ice;
Worry ’em, bite ‘em, scratch and tear
Everybody and everywhere.
Camp Butterfield, Hall’s Hill, VA, Feb. 24, 1862
Dear Register:—One month ago today in closing a communication for your paper I expressed the hope that I should soon have something of importance to about. Since that time glorious victories have been gained by our troops in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. Imperishable laurels have been won, and many brave hearts that then beat high with patriotic emotion, now sleep the sleep of the brave; and still the grand army of the Potomac maintains the “masterly inactivity” that has characterized it since the fatal rout at Bull Run.—Occasional reconnoisances, frequent rejoicings over victories, and a visit of the General in-Chief among the troops, are theonly incidents that have occurred to break the monotony of camp life. It has rained the greater part of the time, and almost all drill has been suspended excepting a little target practice, and occasionally a dress parade, when the mud is not too deep. On Saturday, the 22d inst., in compliance with an order from headquarters, all the regiments in this portion of the army were called out to listen to extracts from Washington’s Farewell Address. It was a scene calculated to awaken the liveliest emotions of patriotism.—While the chaplain read with a clear, sonorous voice the parting admonitions of the Father of his country the National airs came floating on the breeze from the bands of a dozen different regiments in the vicinity.
Gen. Burnside, in his announcement of the capture of Newbern, said, —“we have taken a printing office, and shall start a daily newspaper.” He understands, not only how to win battles, but also how to make the most of his opportunities after his victories are secured. The North Carolinians round about Newbern will learn something from his daily paper. It will expose secession lies, and correct their false notions in regard to his purpose in visiting their state. It is the custom of our troops to start a paper wherever they capture a printing office and remain long enough to work it. They never lack men capable of doing anything that needs to be done. Several of these camp newspapers have found their way to our table.
From Leesburg, Va., comes “The Advance Guard,” published by the officers of the 28th Pennsylvania regiment. It is issued from the office of one of the secession papers there that have been suppressed by Col. Geary. The conductors say that one of their aims is to expose the infamous ‘’misrepresentations and fabrications” of their predecessors, they say of their enterprize:—
A Fortress Monroe dispatch to the Philadelphia Inquirer says :
“It is not improper to state, while the eyes of the whole North are upon the Monitor, that her officers and crew are aware of the responsibility resting upon them, and that the greatest vigilance is constantly exercised. The round iron tower floats in such a position as to command the exit from Elizabeth river, and from a slender tube at one end of the ‘Yankee Cheese Box’ a jet of steam issues continually. The crew pace the iron clad deck, almost on a level with the surface of the water, and the glance of the watch sweeps the shores of Virginia from the unromantic ‘Pig Point’ to the rebel batteries at Craney island.
Capt. Wm. R Vaughan, the gallant commander of the “Old Dominion Dragoons,” of Hampton, has obtained permission from the War Department to raise a battalion of cavalry for “independent service in the Peninsula.” We are gratified to hear that nearly three companies have been mustered, with some prospects of a fourth.
Winchester, March 13.—This afternoon, while twenty-six of our cavalry were foraging on the Strasburg road, three miles distant, they came upon a large barn bearing evidence of having recently been occupied by Ashby’s men. While our teams were loading with hay, about two hundred of the rebels came near and threw out two companies as skirmishers. Our men covered the departure of their teams and prepared to resist an attack, which was finally commenced. At length six Wisconsin pickets came up with rifles, and killed two of the enemy. One of our cavalry dashed upon the enemy amid a shower of bullets, and killed one of the rebels with his pistol. The enemy made no effort at a charge, but gradually advanced as our men fell back to the town in good order and unharmed.