Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-08-30
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE SECOND
REGIMENT IN THE BULL RUN BATTLE.
~ A MEMBER OF THE TUNBRIDaE COMPANY.

description OF our march from Washington to this
place after the battle at Bull Run. We left our
cncampmcnt at Capitol Hill July 10th, and en-
camped on Bush Hill At the time Of our encanp-
ing here we were in the most advanced post on
this line in Virginia. We were here formed into
a Brigade with the Sd. 9TH aud 9TH Maine rcgi-
ments. under Col Howard OF Maine. We re-
manned here but a few days when our brigade
were ordered 10 gain the rear of Fairfax Court
House for the purpose of cutting of the retreat
of the rebels from that place. while amore power
fu force advanced against it in front We started
az 4 o'clock ?. NJ, and marched until a. NJ. We
then encampcd about two hours During this
march we passed an unfordablo stream about thirty
feet wide, on single string-piccc Il is said To-
600 troops crossed at this place IN two honrs he
army here divided; our brigade and one other
marched to the rear the remainder TO the attack
in front. After marching until o'clock p. NJ
and gaining good position IN the rear of the reb-
els we learned that they had evacuated the place
about two hours PREVIOUS After resting few
hours, we took up our march for CentcUille,
whore We arrived at . o'clock I'M. We here cn-
campcd in the open air, a. we had done rohe
three previous nights Here we remained three
nights. Saturday evening ordered TO be
prepared to march to Bull Run at O'Clock the
next morning. We were all ready before the hour
appointed, and every one appeared at least to be
eager for the fray. We did not get under way
until some time after daylight About siN o'clock.
A. NJ, we heard the roar OF cannon The sounds
were Ike shock Of electricity throughout our
regiment and all seemed TO exert themselves TO
gain the battle field. After marching miles from
Cenierville, we were halted in wood three miles
from Bull Run. We were now within two miles
of the nearest combatants, whose guns and can
uonading made the earth trenbc where we were
halted but notwithstanding our eagemess To- press
forward, we were detained here nearly two hours.
Had we been permitted 60 have pressed forward
against their right flank, as aitrrwarl, did a.
gainst their left the battle would have been dcci-
tlod In our favor But we lost the opportunity bv
this uniustifablc delay. At length a messenger
arrived for TO march on to the field with all pos
sihlp dispatch. When this order arrived, &C least
one-thrd Of our brigade were asleep; but the
alarmnyas sounded aud in four minutes we wcrcin
line and ON our march. From this place TO where
we commenced firing, was three miles and we
marched most of the way double quick time.
On arriving within about one hundred rods Of
where formed line OF battle, the rebels
threw tremendous sight OF cannon balls aud
bomb shells amongst us, the shells bursting in our
midst scattering death and wounds on all sidcs.--
The orderly sergeant of Company II, who was
marching by my side, fell with his right arm brok |
en- in two places. One of the color guards was
badly wounded in the leg, and private by the
name Of Streeter was wounded in both legs. All .
these wounds were from the same shell. This, .
however, was but one of the many shells thrown .
amongst us. It was perhaps rs destructive as any
ono All the above wounded are missing. We /
did not slack Our march in the least until we ar
rived ON the field, which was already strcwn with
thc dead aud wounded. We formed our line be-
hind bill and marched on to the lines, which were .
formed within about forty rods of the rebel lines /
Alter our second FIRE the rebels hid themselves
ia the wood and behind stunps aud trees. We
stood our ground without hnching until we were
ordered TO retreat The right wing Of our regi-
ment Immediately obcyed the order, but the Lett
wing still maintained their ground until they were
twice more ordered to retreat. Our guns were
now too hot for use, and we left the field.
During the battle the rebels displayed the Stars
and Stripes, and also made our private signal
when We were ordered TO cease firing, but quickly
discovering the mistake, we fired volley aud the
rebel bearer Of the Stars and Stripes fell dead, as
did many others. spent musket ball struck me |
ON the right knee, bat did no injury. As we walk /
rd mot RUM up the slope that carried us up the
PLAN where the first shells burst among Ms, | was
~ the side of Capt. Smith. We heard a cannon
lall IN our rear, when we both sprang aside, the
ball passing between us, and not none than fifteen
pr eighteen inches from either OF us. II struck
he ground but few feet forward of MS. picked
i up, intending to save it, but found it too heavy
10 carry.
One Of the most splendid displays in this or any
other battle was the charge made by the Black
Horse Cavalry, supposed to be the Texas Rangers
lpou the Ellsworth Iounyes., They wore ahasr
300 strong, the Zouaycs nearly 400. They rushed
upon them at the height OF their speed and with |
horrible wells The Zouaves formed themselves
into hollow square and received them at the
point of the bayonot. For few moments it APP !
pcared as tho the Zouayes were being cut to pie
ces without mercy. The firing on both sides ceas-
ed aud the greatest anxiety was apparent; but IN
less than five minutes this splendid body OF cava-
ry more than half stretched in death. The /
Zouayes were not satisfied, but continued to make |
partial attacks upon them until not fifty OF the |
ntf.f tl, - hiatt l..
most deadly hatred existed between the cavalry !
and IouWcs, and that they were determined to
destroy Them or die themselves and the result is
as above stated. notice contradictory accounts
in the papers respecting the above cavalry, but no
doubt exists here but they are, as above stated,
the Texas Rangers.
We continued ourrctreat across the plain whore
the first shells and balls were fired at As We
passed over this plain, if il possible the balls
and shells fell thicker and faster than when we
passed over II 10 the battle, but llinching or
lodging was visible among the officers and men.
We passed the plain. however. without extra loss
did not notice single gun fired 10y the retreat
ing soldiers after they commenced tlicr retreat |
which rs something very remarkable. | have /
heard that in some regiments they did TIRE some
to the rear
II is very gratifying indeed to reflect upon the
hearing, stcadiness and bravery of our regiment
On the Held of battle. No troops ever stood hrm-
er. did not that went on to the field
irembe or finch in the least Capt smith was
cool, apparently at least, as when sitting in his |
own house, but not more so than were Lieutcnants |
Whitney and BiXbey. After retreatng about 1 !
miles we were suddenly attacked ON our right |
flank by the enemy's canon. The excitement now |
became intense in the extreme and the panic and !
confusion ineXtiicable. The rear was cut OF and
fed in confusion to the left, | was in the rear Of /
our company at this time and did not see it again
until the next Friday night. / continued 10 bear
to the left until about eleven o'clock D. m with |
two others We then lay down on the ground |
until > O'Clock a. M, when started for Centre 1
VILE but learned that it was in the hands of
the rebels lsee by the papers that was last seen
at Conireeille. This is not correct. Virgins and
Godale fled with me and continued with me until |
we arrived in Washington. AT the time of our
from the regiment we had two DAYS ra-
lions for one man, making six meals, when we
ought TO have had forty. The remainder wv sup
pied with black and blue berries which grew IN
great abundance. About 8 O'Clock MONDAY morn
ing II commenced raining and continued over
twenty-iour hours. may here remark that the
storms and nights here very chilly We were
exposed TO tins long rain without going under
any kind of shelter whatever. We dared not 30
TO any house for fear of armed rebels. nor mo
my barn OF shed in the night on account of dogs
70 that we did not go under any cover whatever
until we arrived in Washington. When we Ieh
he regiment we were about fifty miles from the