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| Sunday May 19, 1861 |
1st Regiment: 'About the hour of dress parade, on the 19th of
May, there was great excitement among the troops at the fortress,
occasioned by the first actual fighting that the Vermonters had
seen. This was the attack on the steamer Monticello upon the
rebel battery at Sewell's Point, directly across Hampton Roads
from Fortress Monroe and about two miles distant. The sound of
the firing first attracted attention, and the smoke of every
discharge could be distinctly seen. Adjutant Stevens became so
interested that he neglected his duty at dress parade.'