Abraham Lincoln : a history . llan and rejected. He had ordered GeneralW. F. Smith to reconnoiter a position known asDam No. 1, between Lees and Wynns Mills, wherethere was a crossing covered by a one-gun batteryof the enemy. For this purpose Smith pushedBrookss Vermont brigade with Motts batterysomewhat close to the dam, carrying on a sharpfire. From this point he examined at his leisure,and in fact controlled, the position opposite, findingit feebly defended. A young officer of Brookss staff,Lieutenant E. M. Noyes, crossed the river belowthe dam, where the water was only waist deep, andappro
Abraham Lincoln : a history . llan and rejected. He had ordered GeneralW. F. Smith to reconnoiter a position known asDam No. 1, between Lees and Wynns Mills, wherethere was a crossing covered by a one-gun batteryof the enemy. For this purpose Smith pushedBrookss Vermont brigade with Motts batterysomewhat close to the dam, carrying on a sharpfire. From this point he examined at his leisure,and in fact controlled, the position opposite, findingit feebly defended. A young officer of Brookss staff,Lieutenant E. M. Noyes, crossed the river belowthe dam, where the water was only waist deep, andapproached within fifty yards of the enemys after this daring feat, he repeated hisobservations to General Smith and to General Mc-Clellan, who had arrived on the ground and hadordered Smith to bring up his entire division tohold the advanced position occupied by Brookssbrigade. Smith, who perceived the importance ofNoyess intelligence, obtained permission to send aparty across the stream to see if the enemys works. YORKTOWN 369 had been sufficiently denuded to enable a column chap. effect a lodgment. Four companies of the ThirdVermont, numbering two hundred men, under Cap-tain F. C. Harrington, were ordered to cross the riverto ascertain the true state of affairs. They dashedthrough the stream, and in a few moments gainedthe enemys rifle-pits, where they maintained them-selves with the utmost gallantry for half an enemy was thrown into great confusion by thisbold and utterly unexpected movement: Therewere still several hours of daylight left, andanother attempt was made to cross at the samepoint with a force no larger than Harringtons,assisted by a diversion of an equal force at thedam above. But the enemy being now thoroughlyaroused and concentrated, the crossing was notmade. It appears from General Smiths reportthat no attempt to mass the troops of the divisionfor an assault was made; the only intention seemedto be to secure to us the enemys works i
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