Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-25
Mtiaad Aerald,
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yHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER rs, 1862.
THE VERMONT TROOPS IN THE
BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG. s.s

accounts Oh Inc gallantry dispiayeu ny inc
Green Mountain Boys in the great battle Of
Vermonters, in common with
the eitsens off the other loyal States, learn
With pride of the noble heroism of all our
Forces, from whatever State, engaged in that
fearful contest; they claim common inter-
est in them all as the defenders of the Con-
s6tution and Union, lin fidelity to which our
State viii yield the palm to none other. The
courage, devotion, endurance and gallantry
Of the northern army in that conflict, une-
qualed in the history Of the continent, seem
10 have been unalloyed, so far as we have the
Facts, by single instance of misbehavoir or
sven Of Indifferent fighting. The veterans
fought ike veterans, while the new regiments
both in that and the proceeding battles be-
haved as might have been expected only Of
veterans-The necessity of keeping the fresh
troops for long time in camps Of instruction
and frittering away their time in comparative
Meness, with its attendant evils, would seem
to be done away with, by many fearful but
glorious experiments during this whole war,
beth in the east and the west and especially
70 when the new regiments can be brigaded,
Is seems to be the present plan, with the
older Ones The regiments new and
old have alike covered themselves with glory.
Stoical endurance OF hardships, patience in
tsil. heroism and frmness in facing storms
- shot and shell, gallantry in charging
INTO the jaws Of death, all the glorious quail
ties which ensure victory over superior num-
bsn, though fighting desperately themselves,
which we have been wont to admire as be-
longing to the men of olden time, are found
10 be still existing in undimInished strength
nj the present generation, when the opportu-
nity has come 10 call them into activity.
But the people Of this State will experience
al additional qualification in knowing that the
Vermont troops in that great battle, as IN all
previous ones where they have been engaged,
flor we believe 1t will be shown that the 9TH
psgiment at Baton Rouge was no exception0
have behaved with that gallantry that will
place them side by side with the famous
Green Mountain Boys Of our early history.
Ofthe part taken in the battle of Wednes-
day by the Vermont regiments, we have as
yet no very detailed account, but enough to
Justify much more than we have said. The
aeadliest struggle of the day was in and
AsArIa corn-feld between our right and the
enemys left This cornfeld was taken by
sur forces under Hooker, with desperate
fighting and great slaughter; was retaken by
the rebels with their batteries suddenly open
ing, and their masses of infantry suddenly
charging, from the woods beyond the field.
Then in terrific storm of shot and she II our
troops recovered the field. Again after most
desperate fighting along Hooker's whole line,
the corn-feld was abandoned to the enemy.
SAT one o'clock" says the excellent cores
pendent of the Tribune, "affairs on the
right had gloomy look. Hooker's troops
were greatly exhausted, and their General
awsv from the field. Mansfeld's were no
better. Summers command had lost heavily,
but two OF his divisions we're still compare
lively fresh. Artillery was still playing
vigorously in front, though the ammunition of
many of the batteries was entirely exhausted,
and they had been compelled to retire.
Doubleday held the right infexibly. Sum-
ner's headquarters were now in the narrow
field where the night before Hooker had
begun the fight. All that had been gained
in front had been lost. The enemy's bat
teries, which, if advanced and served vigor-
ouslv, might have made sad work with the
closely massed troops, were, fortunately.
either partially disabled or short of ammuni-
ton. Sumner was confident that he could
hold his own, but another advance was out
Of the question: The enemy, on the other
hand, seemed to be too much exhausted to
attack.
At this crisis Franklin came up with fresh
troops, and commanding one division of the
corps, formed on the left. Slocum was sent
forward along the slopes lying under the first
ranges of the division of rebel hills, while
Smith was ordered to retake the cornfelds
and woods which all day had been so holly
contested. 1t was done in the handsomest
style. His Maine and Vermont regiments
and the rest went forward on the run, and,
cheering as they went, swept like an avail
anche through the cornfelds, fell upon the
woods, cleared them in ten minutes, and held
them.
The field and its CHASTITY harvest whic il the
reaper had gathered in those fatal hours
remained finally with us.
The dead are strewn SO thickly that as you
ride over it you cannot guide your horses
steps too carefully.
Gen. Smiths attack was so sudden that his
success was accomplished with no great loss"
Thus this field, so often taken and retaken
during the day, with such obstinate and
fearful carnage, was finally taken by Smiths
division of Franklin's corps, in which were
eur Vermont troops, and g It ,cas not again
se-taken."
r IL.