Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-03-27

THE CHARGE OF FREMoNT's BODY
GUARD.


From the Atlantic Monthly, for February.
The foe were advised of the intended attack.
When Major White was brought into their
camp, they were preparing to defend their po
sition. As appears from the confessions of
prisoners, they had twenty-five hundred men,
of whom four hundred were cavalry, the rest
being infantry, armed with shoi-g guns, Amer-
can rifles, and reviewers. Twelve hundred of
their foot were posted along the edge of the
wood upon the crest Of the hill. The cavalry
was stationed upon the extreme left, on top of
a spur of the bill and in front Of patch of tim
Der. Sharp shooters were concealed behind the
trees close to the fence alongside the lane,
and small number in some underhrush near
the foot of the hill Another detachment guard
ed their train, holding possession Of the county
Playground, which was surrounded by high
board fence.
This position was unassailablc by cavalry
from the road the only point of attack being
down the lane on the right and the enemy
were so disposed as to command this approach
perfectly. The lane was blind one being
closed, after passing the brook by fences and
ploughed land it was in fact, cWde-sdc If
the infantry should stand nothing could save
the rash ASSISTANTS. There are horsemen sufli-
cent to sweep the little band before Them as
helplcssly as the withered forest-leaves in the
grasp of the autumn winds; there are deadly
marksmen lying behind the trees upon the
heights and lurking in the long grass upon the
lowlands; while long line OF foot stand upon
the summit of the slope, who, only stepping
few PAGES into the forest may DEFY The oldest
riders. Yet, down this narrow lane leading
into the very jaws of death, came the three
hundred.
On the prairie, at the edge of the woodland
in whi, he knew his willy foe lay hidden, Ia
gonyi halted his command. He spurtd along
the line. With eager glance he scanned each
horse and rider To his officers he gave the
simple orGer, Follow me. do as ! dor and
then, drawing up in front Of bis men, with
voice tremuious and shrll With emotion, spoke
yellow soldiers, comrades, brothers This
is your first battle. For our three hundred,
the enemy are two thousand. II any Of YOU
are sick, or tired by the long march, or if any
think the number is too great, now is the time
TO turn lack" He paused no one was sick
or tired. eve must not retreat. Gu! hon r,
the honor of om General and our country. tell
US to 90 on. WILL lead YOU. We have been
called holiday soldiers for The pavementS of st.
Louis to-day we will show that we are sold
iers for the battle. Your watchword shall be,
'1he Union and Frem0mn Draw sabre BY
the right flank quick trot-march !"
Bright swords flashed in the sunshine pas
sionate shout burst from every lip, and with
one accord, the trotpussing into gallop, the
compact column swept on TO its deadly purpose.
Most of them were boys. \ few weeks before
they had left their homes. Those who were
cool enough to note it say that ruddy checks
grew pale, and fiery eyes were dimmed with
tears. Who shall tell what thoughts, -what
visions of peaceful cottages nesting among the
.,~oyas cf X aptuok mr. shining upon fhn hank =
Of the Ohio and the lllinois,-what sad recol-
lcctons of fearful farewell> of tender, loving
faces, filed their minds during those fearful
moments of suspense No word was spoken.
With lips compressed, firmly clenching their
sword hits, with quick tramp Of hoofs and clang
of STEEL honor leading and glory awaiting them,
the young soldiers flew forward each brave
rider and each straining steed members of one
huge creature enormous, terrible irresistible.
"'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life,
One glance ut their array
They pass the fair. ground. They are at the
corner of the lane where the wood begins. 1t
runs close TO the fence on their left for hun
dred yards, and beyond it they see white tents
cleaning. They are hallway past the forest,
when, sharp and loud, yolley of musketry
buasts upon the head of the column horses
stagger, riders reel and fall, but the troop pres
of the wood is reached, and Zagonyi bcholds
the terrible array. Amazed, he inrolunlarily
checks his horse. The rebels are not surprised.
There to his left they stand GROWING the height,
foot and horse ready to ingulf him, if he shall
rash enough to go on. The road he is follow
ing declines rapidly There is but one thing 10
do,-run the gauntlet. gain the cover of the hill,
and charge up the steep. These thoughts pass
quicker than they can he told. He waves his
sabre over his head, and shouting, Forward
follow me quick trot gallop ~ he dashes
headlong down the stony road. The first COM
pany and most of the second follow. From
The left thousand muzzles belch forth hissing
flood of bullets the poor fellows clutch wildly
at the air and fall from their saddles, an mad
dened horses throw themselves against the fen
ces. Their speed is not for an instant checked ;
farther down the hill hey fly like wasps driven
by the leaden storm. Sharp volleys pour out
of the underbrush al the left, clearing wide
gaps through their ranks. They leap the brook,
take down the fence, and darw up under the
shelter OF the hill, Zagonli looks around him
and to his horror sees that only fourth of his
men are with him. He cries, "rhey do not
CONCEIVE are lost" and Ganlically waves his
sabre.
He has rot long to wait. The delay OF the
rest of the Guard was not from heslalion.-
When Captain Foley reached the lower corner
of the wood and saw The enemy, line, he
thought flank attack might be advantageous
" made lie ordered some of his men to dis
mount and take down the fence. This was
done under severe fire. Several men fell
and he found the woods so dense that il could
net he penetrated. Looking down the hill, he
saw the clash 'f Zngonyi's sabre, and at once
gave the order, Forward ~ AT the same time
Lenlenanl Kennedy, stalwart Kentuckan
shouted Come on boys remember Old Ken
lucky = and the third company Of the Guard
from under the fences-.witb thunderino stride,
and loud cheers, poured down he siope and
rushed to the side Of Zagonyi. They have LOST
seventy dead and wounded men. and the cnr.
casses OF horses are slrewn along the lane
Kennedy is wounded in the arm and lies nnou
the stones his faithful charger standing mo,ion'
less beside him. Lieutenant Cot received J