Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-25
Ghe 4ut aua Z era d.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 1862.
THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.


We give our readers this morning all that
would be interesting to them off letter which
has been handed to us by the gentleman to
whom il was addressed, for publication We
believe our readers will be very much graft
fed to read so clear and torcibe vindication
Of the regiment from the harges made
against it. The writer, Lieut.. Hitchcock
was a member of Gen. Phelps staff at the
time, and until the latter's resignation was
accepted and, as will be seen, made
thorough investigation of the whole matter
at Gen. Phelps request. 1t will be noticed
how entirely his statements agree with those
we have already published from other sources
while he goes into the matter more mnutely,
and presents US clear and crcumstantial
view OF the facts in relation to the behaviour
Of the regiment.
1t will be seen that in the position taken
by the 7th regiment, the left OF the 2lst Indiana
was in front of Its right. The enemy were
bring vigorously into them, and the regiment
was eager TO return the fire. Lit. Col. Full
lam went to ascertain if a position could be
selected where the fire of the regiment could
be delivered to the enemy without danger TO
the lndianlans, and in his absence, Gen. Will
bams rode up and ordered the regiment to
be There was fog prevailing at
A. time, which misled Gen. Williams, and
kr the same reason Col. Roberts was not by
INV means certain that any friends were in
tfont; and do g.tless supposed from Gen. Will
Eams' order that there were none at the
6me. Gen. Williams order was obeyed
Ind hence arose the charges in Gen. Butle..'
enera order against the regiment of firing
nto the 2lst Indiana. II seems that the
6ree Volleys thus fred went mainly into the
aemy. as intended. The Seventh Vermont
ertainly, under these circumstances, should
1pt be held responsible for its obedience to
Gen Williams order
In relation to the "colors," about which
pueh is said in the order cr Gen. Butler, it
Kems reduced to a very ridiculous matter IN
led. The flag so bravely rescued by John
Donaghue of the 4th Mass, "was little torn
~. S. Flag which had been used In the
tern of the boarding boat at Fort Pike, and
latterly for blotter in the Adjutant Gener-
lis Office" This was picked up by the highly
tomplimented Danaghue as he passed thro'
he camp of the 7th Vermont. The colors o,
Re regiment were bravely born through al
by Sergeant Parkhurst and we're ever in
ther place,
] The explanation of the origin ofthe charge
Hat the regiment 'broke in confusion,
grees, as does the foregoing, with the ac
1cunts we have previously published. L
erginated in the retiring, in obedlenne tC
orders, of those who were unfit for duty
4rough sickness.
Many individual acts of bravery were
reformed by men of the regiment. Twenty
hen of Co G, we are informed, retook 1
aisson from the enemy, the only one of thu
th Massachusetts, which contained loaded
bell. The officers and men of the regi
lent left the hospital to join in the battle
The coo!ness and bravery the officers ar
ell described in the letter we publish, ant
be writer ascertained nothing but "the faith
performance of duty by them all.
~ This letter, written after a complete inves
&gation of the matter by visiting the field {
Sattle, and by inquiries of the different off
frs engaged in various parts of the fiel
hiring the conflict; agreeing as it does wit
other accounts we have seen, except Cor
utler's order; undertaken as the invest
tion was by direction of Gen. Phelps t
lord him information, doubtless, upon
after in which he, as Vermonter, took
eep interest,-cannot fail, we think, to cor
nee all that Gen. Buffers order was issue
hder misapprehension of the facts, he ha,
pg no personal knowledge regarding them
nd that the investigation the matter de
landed Of the War Department will nc
i, if granted as we trust it will be, to resu
that commentator of the regiment whic
hder all circumstances it would seem |
erit, rather than the disgrace now attach
g to it. We commend the letter to the a
ntlon of our readers.
Mrs. Lincoln got alarmed recently abol
e danger her husband incurred in his rid,