Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-05-21
Col. Grant. oncial Report.

On Thursday last we published report
by Col Grant, commanding the LIST YER
mont Brigade, OF the part taken by the
rsennents under his command at the
storming OF the heights of Fredericks-
bury, on the Sd of May, with partial
list of the killed and wounded, We also
mbhshed, on the same day, Col. Barney's
rsnort, of the 9th, giving a complete list
If the casualties IN his regiment, both on
that and the subsequent day, We have
s,rcs printed letters from officers of the
9Th and 9th regiments, giving further
p,ruculars OF the brilliant conduct of the
Green Mountain Boys in the recent bat
,ss. and now make room for the full re
MORT of Col. Grant to Adjutant General
Washburn, Of the action Of the 4th inst,
with the list OF casualties annexed ad.
ditonal to that before given by him
and published III last Thursdays HER
AID.
Col Grants report will be found of
great interest, even to those who have
read the accounts already published. 1t
Is AN official record, full of honor to the
Brigade, and of which every Vermonter
nav Justly be proud.
HEADQUARTERS lsr VI. BRIGADE,
Camp in the field, May 5, 1868.
PETER I. WAsHBUEN,
Adj. and ms. General.
Ser. The LIST Vermont Brigade have
again met the enemy and done honor to
the State.
After stormlng the heights of Freder-
icksbwg on the Sd inst, we were ordered
forward on the plank road 10 JOIN the
main army. About three miles from
fredericksburg the advance met and be-
came hotly engaged with reintorcements
marching TO the support OF the force uSt
driven from the heights. The Vermont
brigade arrived in the midst of the battle,
and was Immediately ordered to take posi-
ton on the left to repel any flank attack
in that direction With skirmishers well
N front, five regiments OF the brigade
were depIoyed in line, the I'd Vermont
beng held IN reserve. In that position
we renamed during the night.
In The morning II was found that other
reiutcrcements had come up from the left,
taken possession of the heights, passed to
our rear, completely cutting us from
fredericksburg. We Immediately chang
ed direction to the rear, facing towards
fredericksburg. The disposition of troops
al this time was AS follows:
There was one brigade IN our front,
large portion of which was deployed upon
the skIrmish line, which occupied crest
overlooking a ravine between us and the
rebel forces, Just in the rear of the brig
AIDE thus deployed was another small ra-
vine in which was a thin skirt of woods.
Just in the rear OF tins ravine behind
crest or slight swell of ground, the Yer
mont brigade took It's position, and Constl-
tuted a second and strong line of defence
The 9Th VT, 1t. Col. Lewis, was posted
on the extreme right and considerably in
hVit ~ Hhbpblt q oN'tloAA W al biilNi
That position being to the right of the
brigade in our front, two companies were
thrown out as skirmishers. The Sd VT.
Col. Seaver, was on the right OF the main
line, and the 9th VT. Col. Barney, was on
the lett Ell the Sd. Between the Sd and
9th was a battery. The ID VI, Col
Walbrldge, occupied the LETT OF the 9th,
and the Doth n. j., LIT. Col. Martindae,
was on the left of the Sd, The 4th W.,
Col Stoughton, was posted on the ex-
treme left, and considerably to the front,
in the edge of thick pine wood, in po-
sIuon commanding ravine aud open
space in front In this position we await
ed the attack.
"A The attack commenced a few minutes
past D +. NJ, upon Gen. Brooks skirm-
FaShers to our right, This proved feint,
/ as the main attack was soon made in strong
fofce directly upon our front. Long lines
OF rebel infantry one after another charged
DOWN the slope into the ravine IN front
OF our pockets One rebel battery after an
other unmasked and opened fire. The lett
OF the main attack bore directly down to-
wards the 5th VT, and its skirmishers re-
tired lighting inch by inch. Tha pickets
or skirmishers of the other brigade were
driven IN. As soon, however, as the enc
my's lines had gained the crest from which
the pickets We're driven, they bore to the
left to gain the woods and to separate us
from the river. The section of artillery
near the 9Th Vt. retired, having exhausted
their ammunition. It, Col. Lewis imme-
dlately threw forward the right of his reg
ment upon the crest, and poured into the
advancing lines terrible cross and emf.
lading fire, causing great havoc in their
ranks. Still they went on yelling like
demons. The 9Th Vermont continued its
fire with great rapidty upon their flank
and rear, until another column further to
the right came bearing down to the rear
of the 5th, threatening to cut it off. See
ing this, LII. Col. Lewis agreeably to pre-
Evlous instructions, drew off his regiment
Sby the flank, passing round through de-
5presslon to the right of the Sd Vt.
While this was being done, and the
Zines in our front were giving away. the !
10Th N. j. was ordered to the front and
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