The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-17
The I'd Vermont Brigade at the
Battle of Gettysburg.
Gen. Stan a-d's Report.

HEADQUARTERS 2D BRIGADE. 3D DIvIs1oN,2
LIST Army Corps, in front of Gettysburg,
July ith, 1868.
z. T. Uash5urn, IdJ't and h,s. General.
SIR: l have the honor TO report that the
Second Vermont Brigade, under my COM
mand, marched from the line of the defences
of Washington, upon the Occoquan. on the
9TH ult, under orders to Maj Gen. Reynolds
commanding the lst Army Corps. The Bri-
gade joined that corps at this place on the
evening of July LIST, after an exhausting march
of seven days. The distance marched aver
aged about 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 Gettys
burg could not have been accomplished in
| less time.
We reached the battle-ground in front o.
Gettysburg t"" late in the day to take par,
in the severely contested battle of July LIST
and my tired troops upon their arrival took
position in rear of the line of battle of the Is,
corps. Before reaching the ground the 18th
and 10Th regiments, were detached by orGsl
of Gen. Reynolds, as guard to the corps wagn
on train in the rear. The 18th reioined ths
! 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
"a, the left wing of the 18th regiment. under
1t. Col. Munson, was ordered forward as
support TO battery, and company of the
/ 18th was sent out as support to the skirmish-
ers in our front. While stationing them,
~
eral of my staff was wounded BY a ball
through both legs, depriving me of his
valuable services for the remainder of tie
battle.
| Jus: before dark of the same day. our army
line on the LEFT OF the centre having become
broken under desperate charge of.he enemy.
my Brigade vas ordered up. The right wing
{ Of the 18th regiment, under command
| of Col. Randall, was in the ADVANCE, AMI upon
reaching the breach in the line was granted
by Genera! Hancock commanding upon the
spot, the privilege of making the effort to re-
take the guns Of Co. {, Regular Battery,
which had just been captured by the enemy.
This they performed in gallant charge, il.
which Col. Randall's horse was shot under
him. -Four guns of the battery were retaken,
and two rebel field pieces with about so pris-
oners were captured BY five companies of the
18th in this single charge.
The front line. thus re-established, was
held by this Brigade for twenty-six hours.
I At about two o'clock of the % inst. the enc
my mmenced vigorous attack upon ou-
position. After Injecting US :or an hour
and hall 10 the severest. cannonade OF the
whole battle, from nearly 100 guns. the ere.
my charged with heavy column of iniantry.
The charge was aimed directly upon ny com.
niand, but owing apparently to the firm from;
shown them, the enemy diverged midway.
and came upon the line on Fly right. Blu,
( they did not thus escape the warm recsptiou
prepared FOR them by the vermon,ers. As
soon as theicharge of the point attack be.
came evident. ordered flank attack upon
the enemy's column. Forming in the open
meadow in front Of our line the 18th and
10th regiments marched down in column by
the flank, charged front forward. at RICH,
angle to the main line of battle of the army
bringing them in line of battle upon the flank
of the charging column of the enemy. and
opened destructive fire at short range
which the enemy sustained but a very fes
minutes before the larger portion of them
surrendered and marched, not as conouerors
but as captives. They had dropped their
arms before another rebel column appeared
charging upon our left.-Col. Veazy of the
10th was at once ordered back to take If in
its turn, upon the flank. This was done as
successfully as before. the rebel force, al
ready decimated by the fire of the 18th regi.
ment, was scooped almost en- masse into onr
lines. The 10th took in this charge the reei.
mental colors of the ID Florida, and Sth
Virginia regiments, and the battle flag OF
another rebel regiment. The 10th was sup.
ported for time in the new advance position
it occupied after the charge, by four compan
les OF the l4th under command of Lieut.. Col.
Rose.
The movements | have briefly described
were executed in the open field, under very
heavy fire Of shell, grape and musketry, and
they were performed with the promptness and
precision of battalion drill. They ended the
contest on the centre, and substantially closed
the battle.
Officers and men behaved like veterans
although it was for most of them their first
battle, and am content to leave it to the
witnesses of the fight whether or no they
sustained the credit of the service and the
honor of our Green Mountain State. That
their efforts we're approved by the Division
General, is shown by the general order ap-
pended to this report