The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-11
Gen. stannards Report of the I'd Vermont
Brigade at the Battle Of Gettysburg.
HEADQUARTERS So BRIGADE

.
SIR: have the honor 20 report that the
Second Vermont Brigade, under my command,
marched from the line of toe defenses Of Wash
jngton. upon the Occoauan, on the 25tb ult., I'M
der orders to report 10 Mi. Gen. Reynolds,
commanding the lst Army Corps. The Brigade
Joined that corps at this pl &c on the evening of
July 1T, after an e1hausting march OF seven days
The distance marched averaged about Is miles
per day. Ram fell on every day of the seven.
The men marched well, with no struggling, and
considering the condition of the roads, the dis
lance 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 Get
tysburg too late in the day to take part in the Sc
vereIy contested battle of July lst, and my tired
troops upon their arrival took postum in rear of
the line of battle of the lst corps. Before reach
ing the ground the 18th and 10Th regiments were
detached, by order OF Gen. Reynolds, as guard
to the corps wagon train IN the rear. The 10th
reoined 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 18th regiment, under
Lieut. Col. Munson, was ordered forward as sup.
port to a battery, and company of the 10th was
sent out as support to the skirmhers in our front
While stationing them, Capt A. u. Foster,
Assistant Inspector General of my staff, was Sc
riously wounded by a ball through both legs, de-
priving me of his valuable services for the remain
der of the battle.
Just before dark of the same day, our army line
on the left of the centre having become broken
under desperate charge of the enemy, my Br-
gade was ordered up. The right wing of the
Thirteenth Regiment under command OF Col. Ran
DALI was in the advance, and upon reaching the
breach in the line was granted, by Gen Hancock
commanding upon the spot, the privilege of ma
king the effort to retake the guns OF 20. &, Reg
ular Battery, which had Just been captured by the
enemy. This they performed IN gallant charge,
in which Col. RsndalPs horse was shot under him.
-Four guns of the battery were retaken, and two
rebel field pieces, with about so prisoners were
captured by five companies OF the Thirteenth in
this sing lie charge.
The front line, thus re established, was held by
this Brigade for twenty-six hours. At about two
O'Clock Of the 3D. inst, the enemy commenced a
vigorous attack upon our position. After subject
ing us for an hour and half to the seyerest can
nonade of the whole cattle, from nearly 100 guns,
the enemy charged with a heavy column of in.
fantry The charge was aimed directly upon my
command, but owing apparently to the firm front
shown them, the enemy dlverged midway, and
came upon the line on my right. But they did
not thus escape the warm reception prepared for
them by the Vermonters. AS soon as the change
of the point of attack became evident ordered
fl INK attack upon the enemy's column. Form
ing ia the open meadow in front of our line, the
Thirteenth and Sixteenth regiments marched
down in column by the flank, changed front for
ward, at right any to the man line of battle of
the army, bringing them IN line of battle upon
the flank of the charging column of the enemy,
and opened a destructive fire at short range,
which the enemy sustained but very few MN
utes before the larger portion of them surrender
ed and marched in, not az conquerors, but as cap
tives. They had dropped their arms before
another rebel column appeared, charging upon
our left. Col. Weary of the Sixteenth was at
once ordered back to take it in its turn, upon the
flank. This WAS done as successfully as before.
The rebel force, already deCimaed by the fire OF
the 18th regiment, was scooped almost en- mdsSc
into our lines. The 10Th took in its charge the
regimental colors of the I'd Florida and 9Th Vir.
gina regiments and the battle flag of another
rebel regiment. The 10th was supported for a
time in the new advanced position it occupied
after charge, by four companies of the 18th under
command of 1t, COL Rose.
The movements have briefly described were
executed in the open field, under very heavy
fire OF she'll, grape and mu8ketry, and they were
performed with the promptness and precision O.
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 an
content to leave it to the witnesses of the fgh
whether or 10 they sustained the credit of thu
service and the honor OF our Green Mountain
State. That their efforts were approved by tht
Division General is shown by the General Orde
appended to this report.
The members OF my Staff Can't. Vim. Il