Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-08-08

confluence OF their men. who would have fol-
lowed them to the cannon's mouth If com
manded As for the bravery Of the men LET
their officers Speak-for, as your correspon-
dent was one of them, he had enough To- do
without watching others.
One of the Fire Zouaves was heard 10 re-
mark after watching US, "Those Yernonterg
don't know how to retreat, they are deciLs TO
fight" The remark is rough but tells the
whole story. When IL was evident that
nothing more could be done; the three bat
teries having opened cross fire upon lie, the
order was given 10 retreat, Capt Hope being
the last TO leave the field on the left
Company 4 had been doing the same
thing on the right that we had on the left,
leaving their field about the same time. We
retreated with the remainder of the regiment
which had fallen back on the hill. across that
long, open field, the batteries continually
playing upon US. As soon as we were be-
yond their range, Col. Howard, brigade com
mander, ordered the brigade to form line
The VT "a alone cleyed, and were seeming
~ as cool as VIII. they entered the contest,
attracting by their conduct the admiration of
all The line was formed but as the enemy's
cavalry hove in sight we were obliged 10 re-
treat Such a retreat | think wa never be-
fore Seen, all rushing like frightened sheep,
hardly two Of regiment together, each try
ing 10 save himself As we came through
the woods and was crossing the bridge near
where We halted in the morning, the rebels
poured destructive TIRE Of shot and shell
INTO our rear and many poor fellow who
Dad JUST before thought himself safe, perish
ed. just after this we came nm With tvro
thousand OF the reserve brigade. drawn nm
"a arf4a zrp al
ly and YEARLY We went from thence 10 chr
camp ground, which we had left but a few
kours before not expecting TO return. We
lay down 10 rest but in a few moments we
were again commanded TO fall back. We
marched eight miles TO Fairfax, 20 rest onlv
a short time when We again were ordered 70
20 10 Alexandria. distance fourteen miles
which we reached about ten IN the morning
worn out with hunger and fatigue, having
eaten nothing for thirty-six hours. travelled
nearly SIXTY miles, besides fighting the battle
We were wet through, II having rained all The
morning, but had no clothes 10 put on. and
our condition can be better imagined than
described. We came from Alexandria here
thursday, and are getting rested though II
viii be long before we can again endure as
much. Three OF our boys have not vet re-
turned, and II is thought they are dead. I
have net intentionally omitted the name Of
Lieu. johnson in the report Of the Ebattle.
who made it bis special duty 10 carry Of
and care for the wounded. and not one Of
company u, wounded, was left On the field.
he also took charge of the company from
CenteryiIle TO Alexandria, a fafiguing duty
which was well performed. If company
ever falls short of its duty in any position If
may be placed in, it will not be because il
has not brave and efficient officers. / might
speak OF other companies, but this article Is
long enough now. and i will close, hoping
that we may soon meet the enemy in an
open and fair battle, when We VIII endeavor
TO wipe out this stain, not on Vermont. but
on the Union. A SOLDIER.