Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-08-16

A we marehed All the Afternoon And most OF tho
night and finally brought up on side hill
where i've hhsl ihe eslrcine pleasure Of layiig
downs on itle damp ground with our clothes
al on for sleep and repose. In the course Of
the afteruoon / bought me horse a. we had
no lofses, wllirh aided me vcrr much ia the march,
and that together with now and then cheering
word from. Col Howard spurred us ON IN good
spirits The next morning TUESDAY, We started
early and marched all day aud encamped ia a fine
piece Of woods that night where We stopped until
Thursday morning. Tuesday we routed about
200 of the rebels from their camp and they left IN
such hurry that they had no time 20 gather up
their prayisons which were eagerly seized by our
boys and appropriated with relish.
Thursday morning weighed anchor for Cen
tcryille and arrived there after dark aud went into
camp. When we started Thursday ! was ordered
by Col. Howard 10 take two companies Of our reg
iinent 10 act as rear guard Of the brigade, which
means TO march behind all the baggage wagons
and see that they were brought into camp sale
Just at dark We came TO very steep bill about
one half mile long and attempted 10 ascend a.
but 10 aud behold. of all the horses and mules
which were hitched TO that long train Of wagons
not one would 90 up that hill Here was qucs-
tion for lawyer. The maiu body Of the army
was tar IN advance and We LEFT beilind -it pleas
Ing rcilection tbat werc liable AZ any moment
to be pitched into by the enemy and all our bag
gage taken and ammunition appropriated % blow
YOU may not be at all surprised II before We left
that delightful spot there considerable tall ex-
temporaneous swearing The result was We un-
loaded the wagons, carried the baggage all up the
hill on our backs pushed the teams up loaded and
went on our way rejoicing. When arrived in
camp We found the boys all anxious about us and
fearing some evil had beiallen MS. ! am deeply
indebted to Capts. Drew and Hope aud their gal
lant BOYS for their assistance on that occasion 49,
We remained at Centcryille until SUNDAY morning
az o'clock a. M. July 2lst, when we started for
Bulls Run
Saturday evening at Dress Parade the chaplain
of the Maine regiments make most affecting pray-
cr after which Col. Howard addressed us upon the
events Of the morrow and told that in ali human
probability that was the last time we should di
meet ON parade aud expressed the hope that We
should all behave like men and never turn our
back 20 the foe in the hour Of conflict llcwas an
swcred with a cheer and ''Hcrer.r which echoed
through the woods Of old Virginia for miles At
two o'clock A. VI. Sunday morning we started and
alter marching about one mile We were halted and
remained there until nearly seven. We were now
advised of our destination which we were told was
20 march around Bull Run between that and Man
assas and cut OF the retreat of the rebels II they
should attempt to retreat on the latter place.
About seven We marched on some three miles and
hallod near the cross road. Here We found Gen
Mcdowell and staff aud all the other notablcs OF
the general army. They all put on airs and look
ed as wise rs sheep and 80 did We Here we STAYED
until about ten O'Clock when dispatch came for
Colonel Howard to move his brigade out to Bull
Run. At 'doublc quick A. our services were like
~ TO be needed there very much before sun down.
The order came "all in. aud 30 We went on a
dead run for about ten miles, through woods, over
fences, bitches, rivers aud everything else--sOon
our men began TO give out--it hot as the
thcrnonier would allow and no water but stagnant
pools, which frog would not live in, TO drink
81 =. 80 4 4 l. Al. ! N.N
batteries a. they answered each oticrin rapid sue
cession, aud VIZ knew our bows were at thcm.-
soon we could hear the musketry aud We ap-
preached nearer could hear the clash Of arms
and we came to the conclusion that it would not
be necessary for u to cut of any body's retreat
tuntil somebody began 20 retreat.
On, on we went upon the run and our poor BOYS
were dropping uut 10y dozens yet no halt slack.
Now we had arrived at a road which leads up a
long the skirt Of q piece of woods we entered IL
and went on upon the run. Now, oh God what
sights met our eyes. Here the hospitals for
friends and foes, all thrown in together; here arc
the surgeons ia the woods saving of legs and
arms from the poor fellows who have been wound
ed-somo they have on the ground aud some
board they Shrek, they groan, they swear, in
their dcrium Of agony here comes the carts
bringing in the wounded, the blood running from
the cart ike water from your street sprinkler Ii
Is awful II is terrible, but yet our brave boys press
NN NOW fblftn Il messenger NAA lllH lb u.s. 10 hlA
boys, they need your help. Then another saving
go ahead boys, the rebel, are flying. We heed
them not, but with steady step move on. Now We
have arrived 10 the corner of the woods where We
must break off 10 the right through a corn-cld
which had been occupied 10y the cncmNs lines in
the iorcnoon-hcrc is our first lesson-we march
along the ridge OF hill exposed to the rakiug fire
OF three batteries, all in plain sight OF us. When
stepped over the fence into the ncld the first
thing which greeted uy entrance was q she'll which
went screaming past ms head in a manner neither
pleasant nor trlnqualiziug. mSoluntarily dOdg-
ed down my head and let the unwecome visitor
pass bv. On we went while the shot and shell
from thusc riilcd cannon tore up the ground around
us with perfect impuuity--soon we came to stone
house, and here bore 60 the left and passed into
another field, still ia point blank range of those
accirscd batteries As vet | bad seen none OF our
boys fall, but Just rs | entered this field, saw my
freud Lieut.. Shaplcy OF the burlington company,
fall Hat on his face. The airN full OF the deadly
missiles and my fears that he had been struck
by rillcd cannon shot--l ran to him and picked
hin up and was happy 10 find that It was only the
effects OF a shot having passed so near his mouth
10 take his breath FROM his body. ! called
private to take care of him and went on glad in
my heart that he was not hurt for hraVer man
and kinder friend does not live than he
About this time Col. Howard rode mp and or
dorrd our regiment to form line of battle in
deep rayule and march up a steep bank covered
with brush wood, on to an inclined plain IN sight
of the enemy. The order was given 10 Col. Viii
ting who was near me at the time, completely eN-
haustcd and worn out--lle Immediately ordered
me 90 give the order aud see that it was cXccut-
ed, which did 10 the sound Of music which could
be- heard but not seen. We found in the rayine
our boys, as cool as when ON parade, and the or
der was given 60 Forward the Second, and you
may depend il was done uobly. Oh, who would
not have given a world at that moment 10 have
been a Ncnnonter. Not a man hut what ielt that
they carried the honor OF Vermont upon theirbay-
oncts. On they went-the orders came, Captains
in rear OF your companies ''boys keep cool,
take good aim and mark your man, mot pale
face appeared in the line lips were compressed
and hearts were as firm as the granite IN their ma
tive hills. The air was full, even to darkness
with iron and lead, yet felt a pride IN being with
the noble Second on that day and although was
not born upon Vcnnonts soil, yet was proud of
her and her gallant sous, aud Ploricd in the State
of my adoption. When we arrived on the brow
of the hin we were in plain sight of the cnemys
lines. We marched down the hill about half way,
and halted in line of battle. Between us and the
enemy was deep ravine, aud on the other side, ON
the hill pitching towards as were the rebels, behind
a Virginia rail fence. The order now came to o.
pen fire on thc whole line. Our boys drew up
ther guns. took deliberate aim at that fence, aud
then ii would have done your souls good to see