Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-10-03
THE CHARGE OF THE VERMONT
BRIGADE AT ANTIETAM.

bklOA lie Al AN lltlAm.
A correspondent of the Bennington Banner
gives the following crcumstantial account of
the charge of the Vermonters at Antietam:
As we passed through Bucketsvilc we were
cheered on by the ladies' of the place, who
for some reason unknown to me, had not
been removed from the town before the bat
tie commenced We passed through the en-
tire length of the village, the shot and shell
from the enemy flying like Satan's angels over
our heads Skirmishers were thrown out as
we neared the enemy's line and hardly had
hey been deployed before they were engaged.
BY this time the bullets began to whistle A.
round our heads in rather too close p-oxim-
ity to be safe In consequence, Gen. Brooks
ordered US to take up our position behind
large barn which stood near us, not wishing
noedlessly to exposed his men. As we en-
tered the yard one of our men was shot
through the neck, and fell dead without a
groan. few moments after gallant charge
was made by brigade of Slocum's division
on our right they driving the enemy before
them like sheep. The time had now come
it became necessary for us to Ego in :" we
filed from behind the barn, passing by the
left into a smooth meadow, halted and came
to front as coolly as If on drill. Next came
the order to charge and forward we went on
double quick, our 1t. Coonel-who is in
command Of the regment-leading US a yard
or two in front of the colors, which were flung
out to the breeze showing that the stars and
stripes were once more moving onward proud
ly to victory. The position which we were
ordered to charge upon was one Of great
strength, and if the enemy had held il with half
the courage with which it was stormed, we
should all went under before we could have
taken it. but as we gave our battle cry. they
fed in every direction hardly waiting to fire
a shot. We halted a moment as we came to
the stonewall bounding the field, across which
we had charged but notlong before the order
came to move on, and onward we moved over
the wall, through the woods, up the noun
tain sides, sweeping with irresistible fury,
everything before us. The top of the noun
tain was gained, and every man was thankful
that he was alive, and realizing that it was
indeed a miracle that one of us was left 10
tell the tale. We halted a moment to take
breath and then started along the ridge Of
the mountain, determined to take battery
which had been throwing all kinds of deadly
missels at US during our charge. Our pro-
gress was necessarily very slow, being through
tangled brush and over rocks equal 30 any
found on the Green Mountains. Onward We
went, however, deferred by nothing that Oh
structed our route, yet the rebels got the
start Of us and removed their battery before
we reached the spot where it was posted.
In our charge we captured the battle flag
Of the och Virginia, one Major. three Lieu
tenants and sixty prisoners. am unable o
give you a list Of them owing TO the hurry 10
which they were sent 10 the rear, their names
not being taken at brigade headquarters .--
The Major and Lieutenants were from The
10Th Virginia as were also the greater part
of the prisoners. he Major states that we
utterly annhilated the 9th aud that now u
is cassed among the things that we're. The
Vermont brigade also captured twenty-eight
other prisoners, from the 18th North
Carolina, oath Georgia eth Virginia cavalry.
9th Virginia infantry, lOih Georgia, Cobb's
LIST Georgia Legion, and Lieutenant from
the Troupe Artillery.