Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-08-15

God what sights meet our eyes! Here are the
hospitals for friends and foes, all thrown in to-
gcther here are the Surgeons in the woods saw
ing off legs and arms from the poor fellows who
have been wounded--some they have on the
ground and some on board; they shrek, they
groan, they swear in their delirium of agony;
here comes the carts bringing in the wounded,
the blood running from the cart like water from
your street sprinkler. 1t is awful; il is terrible.
but vet our brave boys press on. Now comes a
messenger saving to us, 20 on boys; they need
your help. Then another saying go ahead BOYS
the rebels are flying. We heed them not but
with steady step move on. Now we have ar
rived at the corner of the woods where we must
break off to the right through corn-fcld which
had been occupied by the enemys lines in the
forenoon-here is our FIRST lesson-we march
along the ridge of hill exposed to the raking
fire of three batteries, all in plain sight of u.s.
When stepped over the fence into the field the
first thing which greeted my entrance was a shell
which went screaming past my head in u man
ner neither pleasant dcr tranquilizing. invol-
unfairly dodged down my head and let the un-
welcome visitor pass by. On we went while the
shot and shell from those rilled cannon tore up
the ground around us with perfect impunity
soon we came to to a stone house, and here
we bore to the left and passed into another field,
still! in point blank range of those accursed bat
tcries AS yet | had seen none of our boys fall,
but just as entered this field, | saw my friend,
Lieut.. Sharpey, of the Burlington company,
fall flat on his face. The air was full of the
deadly missiles and my fears were that he had
been struck by rifle cannon shot-I ran to him
and picked him up and was happy to find that
it was only the effects of shot having passed
so near his mouth as to take his breath from
his body. | called a private to take care of him
and went on glad in my heart that he was not
hurt, for braver man and kinder friend does
not live than he.
About this time Col. Howard rode up and
ordered our regiment to form line of battle in
a deep ravine and march up a steep bank COW
cred with brush wood, on to an inclined plain
in full sight of the enemy. The order was Civ
en- to Col. VIII ing, who was near me at the
time, completely exhausted and worn out-he
Immediately ordered me to give the order and
see that it was executed, which | did to the
sound of music which could be heard but not
seen. We found in the ravine our boys, as
cool as when on parade, and the order was Civ
EN- to Forward the Second" and you may de-
pend it was done nobly. Oh, who would not
have given a world at that moment to have
been Vermonter. Not a man but what felt
that they carried the honor of Vermont upon
their bayonets. On they went-the orders
"Boys keep coo,"' "'Takc good aim and mark
your man, not a pale face appeared in the
line lips were compressed and hearts were as
firm as the granite in their native hills The
air WAS full, even to darkness, with iron and
lead yet felt pride in being with the noble
Second on that day and, although | was not
born upon Vermont's SOIL yet was proud of
her and her gallant sons, and glored in the
State of my adoption. When we arrived on
the brow of the hill we were in plain sight of
the enemy's lines. We marched down the hill
about half way, and halted in line of battle
Between us and the enemy was deep rayine.
and on the other side. on the hill pitching to-
wards us were the rebels, behind Virginia rail
fence. The order now came to open fire on the
whole line. Our boys drew up their guns, took
deliberate aim Mt the fence, and then it would
have done your soul good to see the devils
jump. At the second yolley they all cut and
run into the woods on their left flank. Soon
they made their appearance at the edge Of the
woods, and at them we went again like bull
dogs We were now in q very uncomfortable
situation at least They were shooting at us
with three batteries, and all the rifles and mus
kets in the Southern Stotes-I thought
Our regiment loaded and fired with the rapid
| ity of lightning for about two hours, when the
word came to retreat. The remainder is un-
| pleasant to reflect upon. will not describe it
or attempt to. have only to say that, although
our entire lines were routed and fled in confu-
sion, yet no stain of dishonor or disgrace rests
upon Vermont or any of her brave and noble
sons on that day. We marched from the field
and formed in the ravine from which W, start
ed, and made the best of oar way to Centeryie.
| cannot close this letter, although it is too long
already, without bearing testimony TO our brave
men on that day. In the first place no men in
any battle or in any age of the world ever
evinced more true courage and downright
bravery.
1t would, perhaps, be invdous to call names,
but | must be permitted to mention Captains
Dillingham;, Eaton, Hope and Randall, and
Lieu,enants Henry, Gregg, Campbell, Johnson,
Howe, Tracy, Hugh and Tyler, as men who
were under my eye during the whole battle
With Captain Dillingham; | have always been
acquainted. and have felt sort of pride in his
success. | have watched him, and | saw him
in the midst of the carnage on that bloody day.
He was as cool and self-posscssed as when on
Company parade. | could hear him give his
orders to his men; noticed his face as he
passed back and forth, speaking words of en-
courSSenfent TO his brave boys, and by his eX
ample inspiring them with courage and forti-
tude. In u moment saw him fall Oh, God !!
l sprang towards him and caught him in my
arms, lifted him up, and, to my great joy, dis
covered that Minnie ball had only just grazed
his temple and stunned him for the moment
| set him on his feet and left him in charge of
his men, and started for my post on the left of
the line, and scarcely had | gone ten PAGES
when, with voice that could be heard beyond
the enemy's lines, heard him say: "Ihey
hare not Killed me get; gice ii TO them, boys"
Capt. Drew, of tn, Burlington Company, fell
out sick by the way before we reached the field
of battle, and the company was led on to the
field and fought under the brave and gallant
Lieut.. Weed, who conducted himself through
out that bloody day in manner which did
honor to himself, and glory to his State. lie
was the only commissioned officer in company
G on the field.
Capts Smith, Fullam, Walbridge, Todd, and
others, behaved in manner worthy of Vermont,
while Capt. Randall greatly distinguished him
self by his cool courage and self possession he
was determined not to leave the field and did
not until compelled to do so by the commander.
Or the field officers, it is not for me to speak.
One word about our Color-bearer: he is man
from company q, do not recolect his name
lie is 6 feet l-2 inches high--he carried his
banner upon the field and stood by il during
the whole l0ttle, like Go.iah of old. Not a
limb tremhled or muscle moved, while six of
the enemy's bullets pierced the sacred flag, not
one touched the noble bearer He is truly Il
brave man, and deserve, to be rempmbered