Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-30
The LIST Va. Brigade.
HFApauARrERs ~ BRIGADE 2p DIV, 9th CoRps
July II, 1868.
PETER Y, WAsnpuRK, ~
AN and LnS. GnLN.

SIR;-I have the honor to report that
this Brigade was not hotIy engaged at
the battle of Gettysburg. We arrived
unon the battle field at about 5 O'clock
p, M of the second days battle, having
marched thirty miles that day The
! position taken by the Brigade was ON the
extreme LETT Of the army, where it was
held in reserve, and to guard against any
flank attack, On the 4th inst, the 4th
reg't was sent forward to feel Of the en-
emy's right and quite sharp skirmish
! followed in which our men showed their
usual gallantry. Our loss was one man,
John +. Marshall, wounded in the arm
and knee severely. ~
Yesterday the 10th inst, at AN early
hour, We advanced from Boonsboro, on
! the Hagerstown Pike. The Brigade had
the advance Of the Infantry force, but
Gen. Buford's cavalry Mas in the advance
of this Brigade. The enemy was met
about three miles from Boopsboro and drv-
in by the cavalry about three miles to
near Funkstown. Here the cavalry met
the enemys infantry, and, after skirmsh-
ing while, fell back, leaving the Brigade
IN front. Atthe time the cavalry fell back
this Brigade was about | l-~2 miles in
advance Of any support except one battery.
The Regiments were disposed of as TOLL
ows the 9th, Lt.-Col Lewis, and two
companies of the % We're deployed as
sknmishers on the left, and the 9th, Col.
b rney, was deployed as Sklrmishers on
the right, holding a skIrmish line front of
about two miles, the left resting upon
Antietam Creek. The Sd and 4th were
supporting the battery and the balance of
the % was held in reserve. The enemy,
seeing the cavalry fall oack, Immediately
advanced their skirmlshers to gain crest
and some woods previously occupied by
our cavalry. But the 9th and 9th regl-
ents Immediately advanced their skIr-
mIshers and took possession Of the woods
and crest before the enemy could do so.
The enemy then opened terrible artillery
fire upon our skirmisb lines and the woods,
and continued it for several minutes from
batteries near Funkstown, beyond the
reach es.rl. ." g, our artillery.
1t was evident at a glance that the
position was an important one, and that
the enemy would be likely to follow up
the artillery fire by an infantry attack.
To repel this Col, Stoughton, of the 4th,
was sent to support the 9th, and Col.
Seaver, of the Sd, was sent to support the
9th, and the I'd, Col. Walbridge, was
brought forward to support the battery.
Colonies Stoughton and Seaver had IN
structlon to deploy so much of their res
pective regiments as might Le found necess-
arv, and to hold the line at all hazards.
Their arrival was oppertune, for the enemy
not only threw forward his skirmishers,
but advanced strong lines of infantry and
charged upon our skirmlsh line The
advance was nobly met and severely re-
pulsed. A considerable portion of the 4th
and three companies of the Sd were deploy
ed to strengthen such sportion of the line
Of the 9th and 9th as were attacked by
the enemy's main force. The enemy
repeatedly charged upon our line, and was
as often met and driven back.
While this was going on in front 1t was
found that the enemy had advanced force
on our left and were crossing the Antjetam
to get in the rear of the left of our skirm-
ish line. Col, Walbridge was immediate
ly dispatched with FIVE companies of the
ID to repel their advance and drive them
back, which was most eflectuallv done.
AT this point of time the Brigade was
nearly all deployed upon the skirmish line
which extended distance of 2l-2 or3
miles, with no support within Ia miles
except the three companies of the I'd
which were left IN support of the battery.
A wounded prisoner whom we took
Informed us that the attacking party was
Anderson's old Brigade, of 7 regiments.
The force which attempted to cross the
Antietam to our left and rear, belonged
to another command 1t was impossible
to concentrate our forces for our entire
line was threatened, and when renused
at one point, the enemy would form his
lines new and advance upon another.
The officers and men all behaved noblv.
| dare not partcularize lest / do Injustice
to others. My thanks are especially due
to the commanders of regiments and the
officers of my staff. Many of the men
fired away sixty and some eighty rounds
OF cartridges, and new supply of am
munition was sent for and brought up
during the engagement. 1t is believed
that another instance of skirmish line.
necessarily extending over so great a
distance, repeatedly repelling the assaults
of strong lines of infantry at different
points, cannot be found in the history of
any war. 1t is said, that the enemy's
lines went back in confusion, some of our
men jumped upon fence and tauntinglv
called them towards, told them to come
back-that there was nothing there but
militia.
Our loss was killed and SO wounded. |
IN all 6S. The enemy's loss could not
have been less than 200 or 300 for at |
every point they were terribly slaughter
ed. A list of our killed and wounded is !
herewith forwarded. Among our wounded
| regret to name such gallant officers as
Col. Steughton of the 4th Vt, Lieut.. !
Drury of the I'd VT, Lieut. Martin of the
4th VT, and Lieut.. Kimball of the 9th Vt. |
l remain, very respectfully yours.
L. A. GRANT.