The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-15
THE CALIFORNIAN.
Address

Of capt r. ". Laird to lbs Company m tie
deld near Harison's Landing, Tu-
uniu, July 27th, 1862
COMPANY AS all that is dear to you and
me- in this world is our friends, our homes
and our country, think it necessary and
proper at this time to say to you that last
evening received letters from Vermont, one |
of which stated that there was a report in
circulation there that our company had been
in battle eight or ten times aud had broke
and run in confusion upon every occason.-
Another letter says the report is that |, your
CAPTAIN, had twice run from the field of bat
file and left my company land started the third
time, when my men told NE to stop or they
would shoot me.
Now, as for the company, can truly say
YOU have done well in or out of battle, that
YOU have not left the field upon any occasion
without orders from me to do so. AS for me,
you all very well know that this company
have never made an advance, or been out on
skirmish, riM anyprosped Of fyht, but
what | have been with you, and when have
been officer Of the day, have repeatedly
been to the Col of the regiment and got
special permit to go with and i'll command of
my company. And furthermore that Leither
YOU or have ever left any field Of battle, or
Gu, Of the range of the enemy's guns, with
out being commanded to do SO by tie Col of
the regiment, md nerer wW. Therefore, no
member of the company, under any circum
stances whatever, unless wounded, will be al
lowed to leave the battle field while under
fire from the enemy, be it ever so severe,
without the consent Of the commander of the
company,but there remain until tie comman-
der of the company gives the order to adj
vance or retreat, as the case may be. All
those failing to comply with this order will
be recorded as towards and dealt with accor
DINGHY; and if the commander of the cOmpa-
ny is absent, unless wounded, you may re-
cord him as SUCH This last sentence must
not be construed 20 as to include prirately ly-
ing about the officers of the company. am
determined that my company shall march
from as well as to the battle field in good Or
der, even at the sacrifice of lite. In concl1-
sion, am sorry to learn that there are few,
but very few, men in my company who do &C
tually write home cucumStantiM lies that
lead to these reports that are in circulation in
Danvile and vicinity. 1t is not supposed to
you that know whatyo wr,e,b one thing
is certain, know whO you are, and you APP
pear to me like traitors. Now, | would say
to the company, one and all, let US be united
like band OF brothers, in and out of battle,
and we cannot be driven by the rebels of the
South, nor coniounded by our malignant enc
mics at the North, who are not loyal to their
country or the defenders of it, | intend to
90 by you as told YOU would the morning
We left Danvile That was, to Go the best |
could by you as captain Of the company. |
have endcavored to do so. have at no time
enforced any unnecessary orders upon you as
captain of the company. If have in any
way failed to do my duty it is in being too
lenient toward you. There never have been
any complaints made to me by any of you
you all appear very friendly to me, and |
know that nearly al! Of you are sincere. One
thing can say, that if ever loved a lot of
men, it is you, and my wish and prayer to
God is, that our lives may be spared to re-
turn to our homes and friends.
! can tell you with pride that on the 9th
day of June, 1862, while in the most terrific
part of that battle, the Col came along to me
and in the presence of Lieut. Fisher said,
captain, your men are doing splendidy,"
and actually pointed to you as sample COM
pany.
Then let our union be still stronger. Let
our motto be, "thc Union forever"
r. w. LAIRD.
Capt Co. II, 18th Vt Vols.