Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-25
ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
Vindieasien OF the Seventh Vermont
Regiment.

The full force of the
disgrace put upon the 7th Regiment by Gen.
eral Buffers General Order No. 6s, has be-
fore this been felt in Vermont. | know the
reluctance with which the reports of such
conduct will be believed, and if you had pre-
viously received accounts of the battle of
Baton Rouge, with the various official reports,
and the General Order Immediately pub.
lished, your Joy over such brilliant affair,
which exhibited in an unequaled degree the
character and manhood of our soldiers, re-
ceived a sudden check. Order No. 81, which
was originally dated Aug. 5th, was promulga-
ted about the 30th, and was the first intlma-
ton | had of any of the faults charged,
except that the 7th did injury to the Indiana
21st by their fire, Before August 25th the
entire force from Baton Rouge was at this
place. The Order is of course based upon
such reports as had come to the Commanding
General to that date. Whether these reports
are any OF them partial or insidious know
not certainly they need not have been, for
"Aug. 9Th" at Baton Rouge had glory enough
for every corps so fortunate as to be there
l take some pains to give you the satisfaction,
which believe statement of such facts as
I know, will afford. Soon after the battle
was directed by General Phelps to proceed
to Baton Rouge to ascertain the probabilities
of another attack, and all that was known of
the position Of the enemy, and whether 1t
was important that he should be there HIM
self. Also to obtain a knowledge OF the con-
duct of the recent battle. Executing this
commission was able to obtain very full
understanding of the whole affair went
over the field of battle many times, and with
many officers, each describing to me the op'
erations on those parts of the field where he
himself was. The numerous mounds of fresh
earth told where the slaughter had been
greatest, and trees and fences bore marks OF
terrible fire. All the fight was in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the camps, which were
entirely outside of the town, and the enemy
| at no time came into the suburbs even. But
| / am not to repeat to you a general account
of the bate; but to give you such facts as l
know, and nothing else, which will give JUS
| tice to the Vermont Regiment.
Not only from the many careful descrp
tions given me on the field, but from conver
sation with all grades, and of all corp
engaged, I take such facts as are surely
attested. You have heard of the severe
service which General Williams command
had undergone in their operations at Vicks
burg. These regiments were in poor condi.
tien to have their qualities tested, and that
they met the enemy with such conquerine
strength and spirit is double glory to them all
The 9TH Vermont reported about one-fourtf
her number for duty. There were over tw'
hundred of the regiment sick in quarters
not common case,-and here / will stat,
that it is my opinion that many of the reports
concerning the breaking or retreating of tn,
regiment arose from the retiring of tn,
weaker portion of the sick, when so orderet
by Lieut. Dickinson, he considering thei
safety and the security of their arms an
accoutrements. The regiment first forme'
before its camp, and while standing awaitin,
orders six pound solid shot came througl
the grove in front, over the Indiana ca mp
and struck the ground in front of the line
rising and going through the ranks, bruisin,
slightly man of Co. d. This was the frs
greeting from the enemy. Subsequently they
moved towards the left, in order to obtain
position where they could make themselve,
felt. Col. Roberts had received instruction
from General Williams to go where the enc
my pressed hardest, and the officer Of tn,