Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-07-14
Gen Stannards Report of the I'd Vermont
Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg.

HEADQUARTERS 81 BRIGADE, Sd DIV,
LIST Army Corps, in front OF Gettysburg July y
=. n Washbnrn, .qdif. and spector General i;
SIR: have the honor TO report that the
Second Vermont Brigade, under my command,
marched from the line OF the delenses of Wash
ington, upon the Occoquan, on the 25th ult., un-
der orders to report to Maj. Gen Reynolds,
commanding the LIST Army Corps. The Brigade
joined that corps at this pl ce on the evening Of
July lit, after an sxhauslng march OF seven days.
The distance marched averaged about Is miles
per day. Rain fell on every day Of the seven.
The men marched we'll 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
yerey contested battle of July lst and my tired
troops upon their arrival took positnn in rear Of
the line Of battle Of the lst corps. Before reach
ing the ground the 18th and 18th regiments we're
detached, by order Of Gen. Reynolds, as guard
to the corps wagon train in the rear. The 18th
rejoined the brigade next morning, but was again
ordered back for the same duty about neon Of
that day. After the opening Of the battle Of the
Lieut. Col Munson, was ordered forward as sup
port TO battery, and company Of the 10Th was
sent out as support to the skirmishers 10 our 'front.'
While stationng them, Capt A. g. Foster,
Assistant Inspector General Of my staff, was Sc
riousy wounded by ball through both legs, de-
privng 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 Bri.
gade was ordered up. The right wing of the
Thirteenth Regiment under command oil 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 Co. G, Reg
ular Battery, which had Just been captured by the
enemy, This they performed ina gallant charge,
10 which Col. Randas horse was shot under him.
-Four guns Of the battery were retakeD, and two
rebel field pieces, with abou, so prisoners were
captured 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 81 inst, The enemy commenced
vigorous attack upon our position. After subject
ing US for an hour and half to the seyerest can
non4de of the whole cattle, from nearly 100 guns,
the enemy charged with heavy column Of in-
fantry The charge uas aimed directly upon my
command, but owing apparently to the hrm front
shown them, the enemy dlyerged midway, and
came upon the line on my right But they did
= not thus escape the warm reception prepared for
I them by the Vermonters. As soon as the change
of the point OF attack became evident, ordered
a fl nix attack upon the enemy's column. Form.
ing 10 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 angle TO the man line OF battle OF
. the army, bringing Them in line of battle upon
J the flank Of the charging column OF The enemy,
and opened destructive fire at short range,
which the enemy sustained but very few mIu.
utes before the larger portion Of them surrender
ed and marched in, not at conquerors, but as cap
liyes. They had dropped their arms before
another rebe column appeared, charging upon
n our left. Col. Veazy Of the Sixteenth was at
once ordered back TO take it IN its turn, upon the
flank. This - done as successfully as before
> The rebel force, already decImaIed by the fire Of
Il the l4th regiment, was scooped almost en- masss
into our lines. The 10Th toak in its charge the
regimeulal colJrs OF the I'd Florida and SIN VIZ.
. gina regiments, and the battle flag of another
i rebel regiment. The 10Th was supported for
!. time in the new advanced position it occupied
after charge, by four companies OF the l4th under
command OF Ii, Col. Rose.
The movements have briefly described were
executed n the open field, under very heavy
fire oil she'll, grape and musketry, and they were
e performed with the promplness aud precision Of
battalion drill. They nded the contest on the
centre, and substantially closed the bat lie.
: Officers and men behaved like veterans although
it was for most OF them their hrst battle, and aul
content TO leave It to the witnesses OF the fight
whether or no they sustained the credit OF thu
service and the honor OF our Green Mountain
State. That their efforts were approved by the
: Division General, is shown by the General Order
appended to this report.
The members OF my Staff, Capt. VIM. Ii
Hill, ASST. Adj. Cen, 1t. u. w. Hooker and 1t
q. q. Benedict, Aides de Camp,L Clark, Pro
yost Marshal, and It, 5. F. Prentlss, Ordnanc,
officer, executed all my orders with utmos
promptness, and their GOODNESS under fire, and
good example, contributed essentially to the sue.
a., cess OF the day.
: The list OF casualties appended has been pre-.
. pared in haste, upon the held and is probably in.
accurate in some respects. Of those set down a.
A missing, but one is known to have been taken
| prisoner, and a number Of them will probably sp
: pear in the lists Of killed and wounded when The
full returns shall have been received
!, am General, with respect,
g Your obt servant.
. G. J. STANNARD, Brig. Gen,
d Cong Sd Brigade, Sd DIV, lst Army Corps.