Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-01-01


remained the greater part Of the day, await
ing further orders. Caunonading and musk
ct firing on our right front were heard dur
ing the entire day. Late in the afternoon, it
became heavier and more incessant. eliciting
the remark from comrade that death and
glory were busy" Long lines OF infantry,
aud now and then battery, passed us on
their way to the 'front.' but our turn did not
come until about o'clock, p. NJ. Then we
advanced out Of the wood into an open field ,
within hearing distance, though not in sight
Of the battle-ground Of Orange grove "a
place which was receiving its baptism Of blood
and must henceforwsrd be Of historic import
ance. Here the new men began to see for
the first time some OF the realities Of war -
Shells were constantly traversing the air,
some bursting in front, some in the rear, and
some overhead. The burning fuse told us
when they were coming, and this was follow
ed in a few seconds by the explosion. -
Wounded meh, borne on stretchers, or il not
too severely injured, assisted by one or two
OF their comrades, or making the best Of their
way alone, were constantly passing to the
rear The firing, both of cannon and mus
kerry, was terrific. Three times we heard
the cheers of our men as they charged upon
the rebels posted behind stone wall, as we
afterwards learned.
Three times they were repulsed, when our
batteries opened, speedily demolishing the
rebel works, which were then easily carried.
We stoodin line of battle, anxiously watching
sthe progress of events. Once when a lot Of
pioneers, musicians and stragglers came doub-
lie quick to the rear, we feared that our forces
were being repulsed; but as the sound Of the
battle constantly grew more distant, we con-
cluded that the enemy we're being driven.
There were two lines Of battle in front of us,
both Of which we're called into action; but
night put an end to the conflict before our
turn came. After dark we began to build
small fires, which GU. officers first commanded
us to extinguish, and then permitted us to
keep them up unit our suppers were cooked,
when we spread our blankets-some OF us
upon the damp ground, but others including
myself, upon rails, which we laid out for that
purpose-and slept soundly until 10 o'clock
a. IN. when we were called up and marched a
few miles through the woods to the open coun-
try, when we halted and breakfasted at day
break. Then we moved on few miles
through fields overgrown with weeds and
briar vines, or covered with young pines. A
constant fusilade was kept up by the skirm-
ishers, and continued through the day now
and then we heard a report, or succession Of
reports, from some of our batteries. As we
neared the pine woods from which the sound
of firing proceeded, we formed IN line OF bat.
tie, and then advanced into the woods, where
we halted, stacked arms and remained expos
ed 20 a drizzling rain until dark, when Co. +,
was ordered on to the picket line We lay with
the reserve through the night and until 2
o'clock p m. the next day, when we were
ordered forward to the picket line, divided
into reliefs, and posted when oar turns came.
was on the first relief posted behind a tree,
and was instructed to shoot any man that
might see coming from the rebel side and
then, if necessary, fall back to the next tree.
A few rods in ont was a road concealed from
my sight by bushes, which, however, were
OF insufficient height to hide passengers. |
was told by my Sergeant that possibly, though
not probably, | might see horsemen moving
up or down the road, and that, unless was
very sure that they were friends, | must fire
on them" remained at my post some time,
hearing and seeing nothing, but presently
heard The clatter of horses hoOfs coming down
the road, and soon an officer, wearing the u
nited States uniform, rode past. Being very
certain that he was not a rebel, did not fire,
and soon after | learned that he was our Adj
jutant. My next relief was from 10 o'clock
p. m. until ~. After coming back from my
post | wrapped myself in my blanket under a
shelter Of rails covered with fine boughs, with
my feet to the fire in front, and endeavored
to obtain much needed rest, but soon received
the order from our Lieut.. to be ready to fall
in and go out on the skrmish line. The reg
iment was spread out it advanced, the men
being posted at distances of five PAGES The
| first took their statious in an open field on
the outskirts ofthe woods we had Just left.
| Here, we afterwards learned, the rebels FIRST
became aware of our movements. Our com
pany was stationed behind a rail fence on a
hillside overlooking meadow extending
| about three fourths of mile to the hills on
the opposite side. Our orders were " to keep
awake md lay as still as possible that the reb-
els might not get knowledge of our position.
| The night was bitter old, and getting thor
oughy chilled, we first wrapped ourselves in
our blankets, and kept up continual thump-
| ing with our feet to keep from freezing. This
| proving of no avail, one fter another left his
| post and commenced donble quicking to and
| fro inside of the fence. At day break rifle
| ball from barn about three-fourths of mile
distant whstled over our heads, and we at
once received orders to fall back to our posts
and to lie low. The first shot which fir
ed struck an Italian belonging to our compa-
ny, making slight flesh wound, giving him
much alarm, and causing him to give utter
ance to his most common expression plenty
plenty" Most of the balls fell short, striking
the ground just below our.heads One whiz
zed directly over your correspondent, causing
him to dodge Involuntary with his active
body, an effect which had never been pro-
duced by shell. 1t was very annoying while
laying in the cold, to see the rebel sharp
shooters retire to house in the rear of the
barn VIII re they we're posted, to warm them
selves, and then return and keep us quiet by
q constant fire. Soon we were drawn bach
into the woods in the rear, little to the lief
OF our old position, where we remained with
out fires, and many of us without rations
through tbe entire day. Cannonading wa
heard in the morning and more or less mus
ket firing, but the anticipated battle failed t.
come off for reasons with which your reader
must already be acquainted. After sundowI
we moved on a few miles and encamped in
pine forest, where we remained until sundowl
the next day. Then advancing about lou
miles at 10 p. m. we encamped for the night
At four o'clock the next morning, Wednes
day, Dec I'd. we resumed our march, recrcss