Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-10-23
REPORT OF COL, l.. A. GRANT COMMANDING FIRST
VERMONT BRIGADE
HEAD QuNH1ERs FrRsr VERMONT BRiGApE,
Namn Inn lhn Llnll MnN q 1861

Peter r. nashban; A{uand anil Inspector Ge,cui
stormne heights Fredericksburg on the Sd inst we
Were ordered forward apGg the plank ro to join the mon army Ao
sn % lD rs,souE tue a,a.e met 9a became a9 en-
The Vermont Brigade arrived the midst the battle,
ately ordered take position the left pp flank attack that
were epoye Vermont being held in reserve In that po-
morning up from
the left taken possession of the heights and passed rear completely
Do rear, facing towards Fredericksburg.
brigade IN our 'front.' large portion Of which was dpoycd %pon c sbr
mi lines which occupied crest overlooking rayn between aud the
Just the rear The Brigade thus dcpoyed small
crest or slight swell Of ground the Vermont Brigade took is position
support section Of artillery That position being to the bi Of the BIZ
Vermont Cot sycr was on the g4 Of the main line and the On Yer
batter The 2nd Vermont Col Wa5dg occupied the left of the 9th
and considerably TO- @ 'front.' i'm t r, Of tiicH U ' " S' in ;
ton commanding a'ne aud open space in front In this position we
me a'ak commenced minutes pas, upon Gen Brooks
sirmislrs right This proved rint main soon
one after otrr charged sn the Slope into t layinc in 'front.' Of our
left OF the main attack bore ry down towards The 5 vermont, and IL.
The picEc or -Einder Of the other Brigade were driven n As
soon however as the enens lines mad gained tire crest from winch c
from the river The section of artillery the 9th Vermont
Lieut. Col lewis Immediately threw forward the right his regiment
upon the crest and poured into the advancing lines terrible and
like demons The 9th Vermont continued its fire with rpd upon
Lieut. COL Lewis agey to previous instructions drew off his regiment
by the flank passing round through depression the right of the Sd
While this being done front giving away,
the 26t New Jersey ordered the and % Vermont
Et v %S sa Up "S the @Sr position thus
gave way enemy gained the wood. in front the 3D. and we're ad
directed fire. a1d continued F S o@ " %oc G
%Sdaey upon oey The 10Th passed away from he front that the
confused %ssse; Of the adsqSng host. The here checked
the 4th Vermont became engaged enemy advanced obqe
M would have been exposed FIRE but Col Stoughon with
,n,ew E ms E' wing presenting ood front and poured
R s and 'S S s os o Esp sS S inc ,o
our front lines, threatening off from the river.
poured yos holding the enemy lines in 5o In the 1e%
time the 9th Vermont had arrived from the right and been posted behind
Seeing Wabrdge able to hold their front
the left position completely commanding the rn"e should the
Al this time the Of battle terrible The cannon
9" 'front.' Bui the Vermont regiments o o' dn n"d "oG9
Bsaissd in g egorts ~ hal 5b sa w" o. M a.
battery right had left position, enemy rallied
tempt to turn our right But the 9th Vermont there
The rebels knowing what awaited them rushed desperately
into their 9nyerng ranks and then immediately charged upon
the slope through the raNine on to the crest in front from which from
meantime naindc rallied the goth aud charged
The utterly routed They way confusion
9th literally wounded So far as TIN
my was still pressing to cut as of from the river
ordeed the I'd Sd and 9Th Vermont the 10Th New Jersey,
positions they held and the ground had nobl form
line to the le and the Not knowing what danger
commanding these regiments at first questioned the authenticity Of the order
but upon being Informed that the
directed
perate attempt force lie had gained
4h and 9th and fearing 4h which
supported withdrew that regiment placed support
Battery rom Newton Division, whose timely arrival deadly
sisted IN checking the enemy advance that point Darkness
battle ceased at
tempt by the remarkable GOODNESS and brilliant
Not knowing the strength left and the river
formed line position, prepared rcpe attack
Regiments this frome the folloyn
order to wit the 9th 9th 26tl 3D. ID depoyed 4
skTnihers It's left resting the In this
the front while the balance of the Corps fell back Banks Ford
bridges had been constructed the
retd its skimsers following r,ug near the Ford
the brigade formed line Of battle. and the from
(Which had now become ourrea
Ie mi line being attacked the 2nd 81 Vermont regiment
support the skmhlue Tho balance
the river then these regiments aud the nish line followed To Col
o. h'afe Sd Vermont
due the credit bringing these regiments To bud
nth Vermont Volunteer
ert safely bringing oil the skrmsh line
oais, after the bridges partially removed
space will admit this OF part taken