Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-16
The "a w. brigade az the Battle Of
gettysburg.
GEN. STANDARDS REPORT.
HEApauARTERs 3D BRIGADE, 3D }
Div, LIST Army Corps, In front
ofGettysburg, July 4th, 1913.

SIR: have the honor to report that
the Second Vermont Brigade, under my
command, marched from the line of the
Defences Of Washington, upon the Deco
guam, on the 25th ult., under orders to re-
port to Maj .-Gen. Reynolds, commanding
the LIST Army Corps. The Brigade Joined
that corps at this place on the evening of
Jaly LIST, after an exhausting march of
days. The distance marched averaged
about eighteen 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 in less time.
We reached the battle ground in front
Of Gettysburg, too late in the day to take
part 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 LIST corps. Before reaching
the ground the Twelfth and Fifteenth reg
,ments were detached, by order of General
Reynolds, as guard to the corps wagon
train in the rear. The Fifteenth 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 Lt.-Col. Mum
son, was ordered forward as support TO a
battery, and company of the Sixteenth
was sent out as support to the skirmishers
in our front. While stationing them,
Capt. A. q. Foster, Assistant Inspector
General of my staff, was seriously wound
cd by ball through both legs, depriving
me Of his valuable services for the re-
mainder OF the battle.
Just before dark, OF the same day, our
line on the left of the centre having be-
come broken under desperate charge of
the enemy, my brigade was ordered up.
The right wing of the Thirteenth regi-
ment, under command of Col. Randall,
was in the advance, and upon reaching
the breach in the line, was granted by
Gen. Hancock commanding upon the spot,
the privilege of making the effort to re-
take the guns of Co. G, Regular Battery,
which had just been captured by the enc
my. This they performed in a gallant
charge, in which Col. Randall's horse was
shot under him. -Four guns Of the Bat
tery were retaken, and two rebel field
pieces with about 80 prisoners were cap
tared 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 two o'clock Of the Sd inst, the
enemy commenced vigorous attack upon
cur position. After subjecting us for an
hour and half to the severest cannonade
Of the whole battle, from nearly 100 guns,
the enemy charged with heavy column
of Infantry. The charge was aimed di-
rectly upon my command, but owing ap.
parantly to the firm front shown them, the
enemy diverged midway, and came upor
the line on my right. But they did no
thus escape the warm reception prepared
for them by the Vermonters. AS soon as
the change Of the point Of attack became
evident, ordered flank attack upon thu
enemy's column. Forming in the opel
meadow in front of our lines, the l3ti
and 10th regiments marched down in col
nmn by the flank, changed front forward
OF right angel to the main line of battle o
the army, bringing them in line OF BATH
upon the flank of the charging column O
the enemy, and opened destructive fire q
short range, which the enemy sustained
ut very few minutes, before the large
portion of them surrendered and marched
in, not as conquerors, but as captives.-
They had hardly dropped their arms be
ore another rebel column appeared, charg
laft 20
49,, was at once ordered back to take it ii
its turn, upon the flank. This was don
as successfully as before. The rebel force
already decimated by the fire of the l4t
regiment was scooped almost en- mass
into our lines. The 10th took IN thi
charge the regimental colors of the 2
Florida and Sth Virginia regiments, an
the battle flag of another rebel regiment
The 10th was supported for time in tn
new advanced position it occupied afte
the charge, by four companies CT the lat
under command of Lieut.. Col. Rose.
The movements / have briefly describe
were executed in the open field, under
very heavy fire of shell, grape and mus
kerry, and they were performed with tn
promptness and decision of battalion drill
They ended the contest on the centre, an
substantially closed the battle.
Officers and men behaved like veterans
although it was for most Of them thel
first battle, and am content to leave it t
the witnesses of the fight whether or nc
they sustained the credit of the servic
and the honor of our Green Mountain
State. That their efforts were approves
by the Division General is shown by tn
general order appended to this report.
The members of my staff, Capt. VIM
II. Hill, Asst AdI't Gen., Lieut.. G. W
Hooker, and Lieut.. e. 6. Benedict, Aide
de Camp, L. Clark, Provost Marshal, an
Lieut.. S. +. Prentice, Ordinance officer
executed all my orders with the utmos
promptness, and their GOODNESS under fire
and good example contributed essential,
to the success of the day.
The list of casualties appended has bee
/, prepared in haste, upon the field, and
probably inaccurate in some respects. O
those set down as missing, but one
H. hox FOL nd