Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-29
From the Woodstock Standard.
The Part taken by the Vermont
Brigade in the late Campaign.


connected history of the part taken by
the Vermont troops in the late campaign
south of the Rappahannock, and in the
vicinity of Fredericksburg, the facts in
regard to which we CLEAN from the sever
al reports of Col. Grant. 1t is notice
able fact that not one of the reporters OIL
the city press, among the many following
the army of the Potomac, gave our men
more than a passing notice, and did we
not know il TO be otherwise we should in
fer from this that the parr they took in
the several engagements was merely sec.
ondary and unimportant. Reporters
however, in common with other men,
possess that strong animal instinct which
leads them to seek place of safety du-
ring battle, and it happened in this case
that it was the reverse of safety to fol-
low the fortunes of the Vermont troops
In the advance they led the van, never
Ihesitating, never wavering, and on the
retreat they brought up the rear, giving
evidence of most thorough discipline,
and Of self-sacrifcing heroism seldom
witnessed. Their achievements stand out
eminently as the most brilliant of the
campaign. A; the point of the bayonet
they carried the principal range of heights
in the rear of Fredericksburg by almost
superhuman exertions and an idomtable
bravery they prevented the enemy from
hanking US on the left and cutting us off
from the river, thereby literally saving
Sedgwick's whole army from capture ;
and then as if this were not sufficient
trial of their courage and endurance, or
rather because Sedgwick knew upon
whom he could rely in the great emer.
gency, to them was assigned the hazard
GUS duty of holding the rear in the face
of a strong and victorious foe while the
retreating army crossed the river, being
one Of the most trying positions in which
a body of men could possibly be placed.
Whatever they were set to do they did in
such a manner as to win the unbounded
praise of their commanding officers, and
doubtless to the complete satisfaction of
the rebels. Their behavior in this short
campaign will form one of the proudest
chapters in the history of our State.
But we took up our pen with the in
tention of giving brief but connected
account of the part taken by our troops
in the several engagements in which they
participated. On the evening of Satur-
day the ID of May, the brigade crossed
the river below Fredericksburg, and af-
ter resting few hours on its arms moved
forward before daylight on the Bowling
Green road, tits right resting on a creek
which empties into the river) into the
city, which had been previously occupied
by Newton's Division. The plan of at
tack upon the heights in the rear of the
city having been formed, to the Vermont
Brigade was assigned the duty of captu-
ing the higher and principal range of
nils, while Newton's troops were stimuli
aneously to move upon the lower range.
The "lay of the land" over which the
brigade was to move is very clearly given
~ Col. Grant, as follows "Tbe lower
ange, or Mayree's Hill, is on the right
# the creek and just in the rear of
The higher or prnci-
,al range of hills is to the left of the
reek and Immediately in front of the pc.
ition occupied by this brigade. Be-
ween the Bowling Green road and the
,ase of the principal hills is an open
lain nearly mile in extent, through
which passes railroad. Nearly paral-
ell with the railroad were rife pits 10
he rife pits and behind the railroad were
'osted rebel infantry. The entire plain
vas commanded by the enemy's guns
Ipon the principal range of hills" Two
ines were formed, the first consisting Of
he $50 New York, 7th Maine and 2lst
Sew Jersey, and the second consisting of
he 9th Vermont, 9th New Jersey and ,
d Vermont, formed from right to left 10
be order named. AT about IL a. m. the
olnmn moved forward over the plain at ,
ouble quick, driving the rebels out of
he rife pits and from the railroad
his accomplished, the first line of the
olumn, followed by the 9th Vermont,
ore off to the right to assist Newton in
apturing the lower range of hills, leav- ,
lg the I'd Vermont and 9th New Jer-
ey to capture the higher range. The
NO regiments moved forward in the face
terrible fire and soon gained the shell :
,r of a steep bank, where they halted to !,
est, in the meantime the regiments
hanging positions in consequence of the
nsteady behavior of the Goth. Moving !,
n again they soon gained deep ditch k