Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-08
COL. EDWARD R. pLATT.
HHADarAHrBBs EEG1sEER DEPARTMENT.
WAsHtNgr0S. ~. c., April -, 1858.

West Point in " lO49.' Feeling a lust pride
as Vermonter in a man whom to know il to
love and honor, wish TO correct the inaccu-
racies of this statement, as also to call
the attention Of your readers 20 one Of the
bravest. mo's e""ro'--, and truly modest
soldiers Vermont has given TO the cu,,,,, y.
Edward Il. Plat was born in Burlington, VI.
and appointed to West Point in 1915 By the
Hon. Geo. P. Marsh, then Member OF Com
gress. He took aud kept high position in
his class, and graduated near the head in $40.
From this time 70 the close Of So, he was in
active service in Florida, Texas and Arkan-
sas, with the exception of four years as an as
sistant professor at West Point In So, he
was ordered to Fort Leavenwotth, and was
appointed Adjutant Of that post by General
Magrauder, now Of the rebel army, then a
Colonel in our service ia command at that
point. In 1860, he was ordered to Fort
Brown, on the Rio Graude, ana was in com
mand OF that Fort when the rebellion broke
out and when Twiggs disgracelully betrayed
the forces in Texas. Ben McCuloch and a
party Of rangers started to take possession Of
the valuable stores in Fort Brown and its lit
tie garrison, but Plat had received Informal
ton Of the plot and resolved TO disregard the
order from rwiggs TO turn over the property
/ ~
and under cover OF night transferred all the
mo able property and stores aud all his artil-
lery to fiat boats, and setting fire to all the
perishable material leit, embarked his little
force and hoated down 60 the mouth of the
Rio Grande. whore he succeeded 10 getting
on board a steamer for New York. thus saw
ing to government many thousands of dollars,
q battery and one hundred men. lie arrived
y IL. b. D.. o. D. L
ter was momentariy expected, and was inn
mediAtely ordered to take charge of embark
ing the secret expedition then fitting out,
and embarked with his battery with that ex-
petition, which was under sealed orders tor
Port Pickens. He remained in that strong
hold until the following July when bis bat
terry was ordered to Washington, where he
arrived with 1t on the 10Th Of July. The
battle OF Bull Run was daily expected TO be
fought We we're deficient in artillery, and
Pstt bent every energy 10 re6tting his bat
terry for immediate service. Jaded and worn
out by months Of severe service and three sea
voyages, men, horses and guns we're IA sad
condition. Gen. Barry, chief Of artillery, did
not believe the battery could possibly be TT
for service under fortnight, but plau WAS
determined TO be there when the battle came
energy into all connected with she work that
made all obstacles disapp ar. 10 three days
he reported his battery ready for service and
Friday night before the battle of Sunday was
ordered 10 the front. JUST after issuing his
orders, and making everything ready for start
ing al p. m for the battle field. be was met
by Gen. Stoughton, and offered from Gov.
Fairbanks the Coonelcy of the 81 Vermont,
tI.. ts, d. T..H
estly believing that his services AS an artilcr-
list On which branch he has no hyperion in
our service would bo of more value to his
government than 10 any other branch, he res
peotfully declined the honor and at dawn
next day proceeded 10 Ceutervilo The part
taken by him in Sundays battle is thus dos-
cribed by Gen Hunt chief of artillery in
his published official report OF that battle.
Battery NJ, 81 O. IS. nrulcry commend
Cd by LIST Lieut.. hdNafi Il Plat oeouhed position
the extreme Lett o4ui tuc oAuetf admirably p'strt
tended The woods occupied by 'he che sfm.h
Of hursdap, AID supuptcd by brigade 90 iantry,
der command o. Col RICHARDSON. These Word' had ca
thoroughly 'heiied 90 me morning and enemy dls
covered but Al in large force n infantry dis
covered advancing up the iA'nc driving our pcSei be-
fore them iu aucmpt Go hauk ltt Our infantry
medatey prucd terrible Gre u.n zoe Auriug
my more rand and 30 ,tive ire never Witnessed.
Ii, ~ 49,, ~, H., .t,I ,r,, .,i .1,,..,,, i,,
Ia IL ranks, causing ,Acm 90 hail. vocr. and finally to
,etIeAt in confusion without IA" being h"d the m-
No further demonstration was made by the enemy I'M
, P No. g1s d. @goc f, w 1'e, wa, ", ,c',i,
the attack being again reru.ed by The ad irablo man
asemen' OF 'h, battery rsss5a ne success achieved
man, ofhso,n we're new recruits. 10 e entirely due TO
the g'eA, ability aud uuurug sHerions Of Lent Patt
IA. a. Isffa
1Igc e ' ,1y anu sad .e, sg r 6
previous four months,
1t has been frequently stated that but one
battery (that Of Capt. Ayres) was brought off
that battle field complete this is untrue
When the to them inexplcable order to re-
treat reached our forces on the extreme left,
Col. Richardson refused to believe IL genuine.
He did not leave the field until o'clock p.
M, and then naarohsA an good ordor back 20
Centreyille, unpursued by the enemy. Here
a portion OF has force with Platte battery re-
manned through Sunday, sad and dishearIened
at this unlooked-ior result OF the days fight
ing. IL was curious coincidence that Piatt
and Richardson were both Nermonlers, both
born and reared IN Burlington, and that when
Richardson graduated at West Point, Plat