The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-29
From the 4th Vermont Regiment.

Below we print private letters, kindly handed
as for publication, written by Vermont Boys
members of the 4,h Vermont Regiment. who
participated in the recent battles of South
Mountain and Antietam. One of the letters
was written by Walter Scribper, Co. &, and the
other by Robert Coffey, Sergeant in Co. X:
CAMP ON THE PoToNAc, }
miles above Harper's Ferry, Sept. 20.
DEAR PARENTS Il now improve the first
chance that have had since | have been in
Maryland to let you know that am alive and
we'll, and have passed through all OF the dan
gers and fighting safe. You probably have, or
will hear of our hard fighting and victories
over the enemy and driving them out OF Mary
land. My regiment, you probably have seen J.,
has covered itself with honor by its splendid
bayonet charge and conduct in the battle of
Buckhartsville. We were the only one of the
Vermont Regiments that was in the battle. We
were sent to turn the left flank of the enemy,
which was posted at the foot of u high and
steep hill and covered by stone wall By the
bayonet charge we drove them from behind the
wall, where we captured part of the Regiment.
After we got to the top of the hill we were or
dered to move to the left and take battery of
artillery, if possible, which was on the top OF
| the hill about a mile from where we gained the
top. My Company (K) was sent in advance
and was deployed across the top OF the hill to
protect the rest of the Regiment. (Tbis is al
ways done when one BODY of troops are advanc-
ing on another, to prevent them from being
suddenly surprised 1t was now near shutdown,
and we had not gone far before it was quite
dark | was in command OF six men that were
advancing on the left when suddenly we discov
cred body of men just in front OF US, but as
we could not make out who they were we again
advanced Suddenly man called out, d" Don't
shoot, we surrender" " Who are you ? . was
the question. The answer Was, " A part of the
10th Virginia Regiment We then told them
to come forward without arms ; they threw
them down and came forward to US. Alter
getting them together we found that Com
pany K had taken one Major, TWO Lieutenants
and forty-three non commissioned officers and
privates, and the flag belonging 70 the Reg
iment. After sending cur prisoners to the rear,
we again advanced, and at eleven O'Clock We
found where the battery was planted during the
day, but had been got off before we got there,
except one brass gun, which was captured at the
foot Of the Mill. We then turned back and
went to our Regiment, which We found between
twelve and one clock and laid down on the
rocky nlll-SIQe u rest. e LOST TWO men Killed
and thirteen wounded. My Company had Two
wounded.
In the last battle We were not in the fight as
We had to march eight miles after the battle
commenced, and when we got there the day
was ours. We Immediately went to the front
to relieve d Division that was in the battle,
where we lay tor forty-eight hours in battle-line
eating nothing that was cooked by fire during
that time indeed, nothing except hard bread
and raw pork In front of whore we lay was
the hardest fighting during the day, and the
sight awful. We lost many men here, but
the rebel loss was terrible, both in men and off,
GERS. Over one thousand rebels lay dead 10 a
piece Of road about 200 rods long. Among them
| saw Brlgadier General, Colonel Lieutenant
Colonel, Captains, &c. But they are retreating,
and we are following them up, capturing many
prisoners, &c. We are, Of course, in good
spirits, though rather tired. Walt is well, and
was in the fight. His Company had nine wound
ed Page and Worthen are all right, except
Pages knee, which troubles him some. There
is fighting going on now near us, and bard
fighting too. They are getting 1t again, proba,
bly,.
Well | must close. have received no letter
from home for some time, but am expecting one
every day Write again as soon as you get
this. Yours atfectisnateIy,
Rob.