The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-13
Form ths Christian Messenger.
From the Sixteenth Vermont Regiment
GErrYsBURG, "a, Ju!y ID, IS6S.

DEAR MESSENGER I'VE are so unIolIu"a10
that at the time when we have much we WISH 10
write, TO be without the material and time TO dolt'
We left our baggage trains between this and En-.
mettsburg, and have not seen them since. They
have on board all our materials for writing, blank
els food and in fact, ell we have to make camp
life endurable. By forced march We arrived
here on Wednesday, Just at night, and found the
battle OF the day still raging. Our forces had
been forced back from tn town upon the hills
in its rear, on the Baltimore pike. The rebels
were then stated to have force much superior
! to ours. We were Immediately marched upon
an eminence against the town, in front OF the
centre of the rebel lines of battle, and took our
position, and then slept upon our arms. Thurs
day opened with 8kirmishing along the lines, but
the terrific fire of artillery, and the deadly strife
of battle did not again commence until about 2
o'clock in the afternoon. The rebels had posted
their batteries where they could rake our centre,
and for while, the roar of artillery shook the
earth, and shot and shell were hurled with fear
full screams through the air on their mi sson OF
death and ruin.
The Y ermont troops stood the fire with cool,
unfinchng courage that would do honor to old
veterans. The three regiments in the action, are
said never to have tuched or wavered during the
whole contest. They made charges with the
greatest success, amid scenes of the greatest peril
and it was said no troops could possibly, under
any circumstances, do better than those of our
brigade in this fight. If we are correctly informed
each regiment made charges, the 18th capturing
battery and prisoners, the 18th, by successful
charge, capturing quite a rebel force, the 10th
charged flaukng and capturing something like a
brigade of the enemy, taking colors, officers, etc.
Our regiments lay upon tie field, and were more
or less under fire for forty-eight hours Our for
ces have won brilliant victory here. The rebels
have retreated from the town, and we now have
possession of the hard fought field, strewn thicky
with the rebel dead, they not having time or not
: caring to take the pains to bury them. Ar
entirely different spirit is manifested by our for
ces.
1t is reported that the rebels are leaving, but
they have still some show of force and keep up
line of skirmishers but there is no question Of
their defeat in this mad attempt to invade the
North. Our cavalry are in pursuit of them, ant
we are hoping that the entire army may be cap
tured. The Infantry are also moving, and GU
brigade has orders to march.
\ We pay dear for our victory. Our regiment
have suffered however, much less than we coul
have supposed possible, considering the positio
they occupied. Our brother, H. @. White, no
: had his leg amputated above the knee 1t wa
r so badly fractured by minnie ball, that it wa
g thought to be the only means of saving his life
g He is now comfortable and appears to be doui
IS we'll. We hope to be able to send with this
il list of the killed and wounded of our regiment
!. Not received Ed We should be glad t
It mention numerous individual cases of herosr
lr and suffering, but we have not time. Our hear
C blesds for our suffering wounded, and all is bein
l. done that can be under. the circumstances. t
ye make them comfortable We are trying to fnt
T. all and do for them as far az human aid can re
a. lieve them. No person can appreciate the fearfl
II horrors of war save those who witness the un
it slightly wounds, and untold horrors and suffering
e. which it inficts.
n The 18th and 10Th regiments were fortunat
p. enough to be assigned to guard our trains, an
hence they escaped the perils of the fight Th
18th received their orders yesterday to report t
II Brattleboro. We judge the order will be chez
re- f,lv obeved We all exne,t now to he soon MN