Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-08-08
THE BATTLE AT BULL RUN-LET-
TER FROM CAPTAIN HOPE, COM
PANY B, SECOND VERMONT RE
GIMENT.
Camp Clarmont, Va,

July 26, 1861.
7ohe Editor Of the Rutland Herald You
will have had SO many accurate descriptions
of the disastrous battle of Bull Run that /
will not inaict upon you or your readers, any
elaborate description of our march there,
which will be done by others better qualified
for the task. We have seen some hard fare,
and forced marches since we left Vermont,
but the Boys, as a general thing, bear up no
bly, under it,
After forced march from Camp Clar.
mont, four or five miles west of Alexandra,
we encamped for two or three days near
Centreville. On the night of Saturday, the
goth, We received orders to march the fol-
lowing morning at o'clock. Accordingly
at half past one, on Sunday morning, the
camp was astir; and after hasty meal Of
hard bread and coffee, with two DAYS ration2
IN our haversacks, at half past two we took
up our line of march, which proved to many
brave men to be their last. We passed
through Centreville about sunrise, or soon
after and after a hurried march over a
rough and dusty road, with poor water, we
reached Bull Run bridge about o'clock,
and after ascending bill little beyond,
halted in piece ofopen woods to wait fur
Their orders. took short walk through
the woods to the south, where from Hill,
with a glass, / could see the enemy pour
over the PLAN beyond by the thousand; many
passed during the short stay l made there,
down into the woods below, where lay their
masked batteries. just as | returned TO the
men, the order came for our Brigade 10
march double quick to the scene of.action.-
1t was then about half past eleven, A. NJ
We were immediately put in mOtion-and
striking to the right, by a circuitous route
OF nearly ten miles without a stop. and a
good share of the way in double quick time,
under hot sun, We arrived upon the scene
of action in two hours, completely worn out;
at least Ia OF every company having fallen
by fhe way feint, and many sun-struck. In
this condition we were not allowed moment
TO rest-or even time to take drink of mud,
called water, in the ditch, but were hurried
on to the fieid-frst. across along ridge, ex-
posed TO the raking fire of the enemy from
three different points-then down sloping
hillside, in the face of the same murderous
shower, and brought finally behind a wooded
hill where we formed in line, marched up
through the woods over the top of the bill,
which was rough pasture ground, where
We halted in front Of the foe, and dressed
our line, and a fairer mark than we made
never was placed before a marksman.
The battle was lost before we came upon
the field. Our artillery and cavalry had fed
and here we were brought up to storm their
batteries with smooth-bore muslets But
nobly did the sons OF Vermont come up to
the work. On our right flank was battery
playing upon us-on our left flank another :;
on our left front another dealing death with
unsparing hand on our right front and
centre a wood, filed with the rifles and in
fantry of the enemy. Here we poured our
fire upon them, and twice drove them back
from their positions. But what could be
done against such odds, only to sacrifice
them At the same time we brought upon
the field three thousand worn out men,
Johnston brought thirty thousand fresh
troops. You know the rest.
But | would say one word in regard to our
Rutland county company, who have so ma
ny anxious friends waiting at home. In the
face Of the murierous fire, after it became
evident that it was all in vain, our Regiment
withdrew in good order from the field, by or
der OF the Colonel. /, not hearing the order
and installing it for a retreat, o dered Co.
forward, aud tor,glrd they trent, deployed
as skirmishers not one finched, our Il ont
within ri-tol shot OF the enemy, and there
maintained their position till long after all
others had left our part OF the field, and then
they fell back, returning the fire of the enc
my wit a GOODNESS little to be expected on
such field.
Ii Is hard to particularize among so many
equally deserving special praise but the
bravery and GOODNESS displayed by Lieut.
Howe and johnson Sergeants Howard and
Edgerton Corporals Potter, Benedict, L.
Parkhurst and BaIly Privates, VIM. Nc
k"and, j. Bol.on, Mihoney, j. Stree,er, E.
4. Taylor, Gror4r Ballard. \. c. Bailey,
q. Williams, Durham Sprague, and many
others not less deserving, but whose names
have now escaped me.
First of all the privates | should have
mentioned III. Breckenreed, probably dead
Nobly did he do his duty on that eventful
day. w. Clifford Also till he left the field
wounded.
He was last seen near the bridge, just be
fore the attack, has not since been heard
from. My loss is two missing, supposed
dead; one, jeremiah Button, wounded in the
thigh, left in the hospital on the feld-fate
not known-and FIVE others wounded, all do
ing we'll
l would say Of Company b, that notwith-
standing our defeat which was no fault of
theirs, nor of Vermonters, | was proud of
them on that field, officers and men, and of
the whole Regiment.
" Cannon to right of tn EN-,
Cannon TO left of them.
Cannon in front of them
VOllied and Numbered
StOTmed at with shot and she'll
Boldly they. fought, and we'll"
While many a hero FELL
Gallant eight hundred.
j HOPE, Company b,
I'd Vermont Infantry.
THE MISSION TO CHINA-A letter re-
ceived from Hon Arson Burlingame, dated
at Berne, Switzerland, states tn at the intelli