The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-07-21
The I'D Vermont Brigade mt the
Battle Of Getteysburg.
CEx. sTANsAEu's RgPoEr.

r. r. HdastNra, Adj. and las. Gen
siR have the honor TO report
that the Second Vermont Brigade,
under my command, marched from
the line Of defences Of Washington,
upon the Ocuquan, on the 9th nli..
under orders to report to Maj. Gen.
Reynolds, commanding the let Army
Corps. The Brigade joined that corps
at this place on the evening Of July
ls.. after an exhausting march Of sew
en- days. The distance marched ay-
eraged Is miles per day. Rain fell
on every day Of the seven. The men
marched well, with no struggling. and
considering the condition OF the roads,
the distance travelled from the mouth
Of the occoquan to Gettysburg could
not have been accomplished ia less
/ time.
We reached the battle-ground in
front Of Gettysburg too late in the
day TO take part In the severely con-
tested battle Of July lst, and my tired
troops upon their arrival took position
in rear of the line of battle Of the lst
corps Before reaching the ground
the Twelfth aad Fifteenth regiments,
were detached by order Of Gen. Rey-
nolds, as guard to the corps wagon
train in the rear. The Fifteenth re-
joined the Brigade next morning, but
was again ordered back for the same
duty about noon Of that day, After
the opening Of the battle Of the I'd, the
left wing OF the Thirteenth regiment,
under Lieut.. Col. Munson, was order
ed forward as support to a battery,
and company of the Sixteenth was
sent out as support to the skirmish-
ers in our front. While siationing
them, Capt. A. G. Foster, Assistant
Inspector General of my staff, was
seriously wounded by ball through
both legs, dcpriving me ofhis valuable
services for the remainder Of the battle.
Just before dark Of the same day,
our army line on the left Of the centre
having become broken under desper-
ate charge OF the enemy, my brigade
was ordered up. The right wing Of
the Thirteenth regiment, under com
mand of Col. Randall, was in the ad.
vance, and upon reaching the breach
in the line was granted, by General
Hancock commanding upon ile spot
the privilege Of making the effort TO re,
take the guns of Go. G, Regular Bat
t,ry, which has just bren captured By
the enemy. This they performed in
a gallant charge, in which Col. Ran
dall's horse was shot under him
Four guns Of the battery were reta.
ken, and two rebel field pieces will
about so prisoners were captured by
five companies OF the Thirteenth in
this single charge.
The front line, thus re-established
was held by this Brigade for twenty
six hours. At about 2 O'Clock Of til,
Sd inst, the enemy commenced a Wig
orous attack upon our position. Ate
subjecting us for an hour and hal
to the severest connonade of the Who'll,
battle, from nearly 100 guns, the enc
my charged with heavy column 0
infantry. The charge was aimed di
: rectly upon my command, but OWN;
apparently TO the firm front showl
. them, the enemy diverged midway
and came upon the line on my right
| But they did not thus escape til
warm reception prepared for them b.
the Vermonters, | ordered fan
r attack upon the enemy's column. :
/ Forming in the open meadow in iron
of our line, the ThEteenih und Six
. tcenth regiments marched down !
: column by the flank, changed fror
forward, at right angle 10 the mai
+ line OF battle Of the army, bringin
5 them in line of battle upon the fan
/ of the charging column Of the enemy
and opened a destructive fire at shoI
: range, which the enemy sustained bu
a very few minutes before the large
/. portion of them surrendered an
! marched, not ns conquerors, but 4
/ capiives. They had not dropped thei
4 arms before another rebel column al
pcared, charging upon our left. Co
4 Veaxey, of the Sixteenth, wac at ono
n ordered back TO take il in its turn, az
q on the flank. This was done as SUI
' cessfully as before. The rebel fore
: already decimated by the FIRE Of til
18th regiment, was scooped almost {
g masse into our lines. The 10th TOO
in this charge the regimental colors
i the "a Florida and 9Th Virginia re,
imenis, and the battle flag of anoiht
n rebel regiment The 10Th was SUI
n ported for time in the new advance
position il occupied after charge. b
four companies OF the l4th, und,
command of 1t. Col. Rose.
Officers and men behaved like We
J erans. although il was for most OF theI
their first battle. and ain content
leave il TO the witnesses Of the figh
i whether or 30 they sustained the cre1
il Of the service and the honor Of OF
j Green Mountain State.
it The members of my staff, Capt. Y
a H. Hill, Asst, Adj't Gen, Lieut..
S W Hooker and G. G. Benedict, All,
l. de Camp, L. Clark, Provost Marshs
4 aud Lieut.. s. +. Prentiss, 0rdinan.
Is officer. executed all NV orders with d
.-o., ,.,,,..,.,..sa "a ,k.