The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-10-14
NermOnt's Fighting General.

THE BATTLE OF CIIAPIN'S FARM.
We are panied to learn of the severe
wound Involving the loss of his right arm)
Of Gen. Geo. J. Stannard of Vermont, COM
mandng the st division of the 18th army
corps, in the recent actions north of James
river. A casualty which w;thdraws so active
and capable ali officer from the service for a
time is public disaster, while it excites the
sympathy of wide circle of his personal
ard admiring friends.
! In the rapid advance to Chapins farm on
Friday morning, Gen. Stannard's division
had the advance of the 18th corps, and
opened the battle by gallant and successful
assault on the enemy's strongest work. The
Times correspondent says of it,
"Skrmishing began, and our men were
pushed forward rapidly, driving the rebel
pickets before them, until they came to the
first line of works at Chapin's farm, eleven
niles from Richmond. Stannard's division
of the 18th corps, was in advance. They
formed in iinz Of battle, and moved up stead
lily towarl the work, which was large, mount
ing two l00-pounderS, one S-inch columbiad,
and one 64-pcunder Undaunted by the
heavy fire of this fertilization, and other
works connected with it, Gen. Stannard
formed his troops for assault. With drums
beating and colors Haunting, they made a su-
perb charge, carrying the fort under severe
fire."
/ Another correspondent says:
The fort was carried, but only after Sc
ries Of most bloody encounters. One eye
witness says, that the glacis Of the fort af-
ter the battle, presented horrible sight
I The heavy guns told with deadly effect on
the stormlng party, and its glacis was cover
ed with the dead and dying who had fallen
in the assault. The rebel garrison in this
outer line of works was small when the at
tack commenced, early in the day, but it had
received heavy reinfo-cements from Rich
mond while the fight was progressing. One
division, We are told, Gen. Stanlards, took
the salieats of the main work, and thence
swinging round inside of, and in the rear ci
the enemy in the other works, drove them
out before them. This division lost every
one Of It's brigade commanders either in kill
ed or wounded. Gen. Burnham was killed
and Col. Stevens and Donohue were wound
ed"
The New York Worlds correspondent
says of this part Of the battle:
Gen. Stannard's di ision Of the 18th ar
my corps, won for itself imperishable honors
This division captured the only redoubts ia
ken along the rebel line.
| Correspondent Of the Herald says:
The action IN which Gen. Burnham re-
ceived his fatal shot was in an assault of Gen
Stannard's division upon some powerful
v orks in the vicinity of Chapin's bluff, which
took place las! Thursday, and was part of ;
grand .,eres of unfinished movements north
of the James river. The character of th'
! fighting done may be known by the fact tha
Stannards division lost all its br! gade com
manders and 900 men ard officers killed ant
wounded. Staff officers shared rather ba6l,
considering the short time the combat LASTED
Capt. Berry, 1t. Ladd and Capt. Convers
of Stannard's staff were all wounded
The fortunes of war, ard the recognition
OF his qualities as a fighting general, hav
given Gen. Stannard the front IN every grea
, action in which he has been engaged, an
, have carried him personally into the thickes
of the fight, while his men, fighting unde
: his cool eye and cheered by his close pre-
) ence with them, have Invariably done bray
, and successful fighting.
At Gettysburg he held the front on tn
left centre, and by the flank attack of h
brigade on Picketts division, secured the r.
J., pulse OF the enemys greatest charge
o piece of service which alone should have S
4 cured him the major generals double sta
He was severely wounded then, in the rigl
!, thigh, and lost staff officer shot throug
J. both legs At Cold Harbor he had the bru
l. of the fight, was wounded again in the lie
7. and lost every man of his staff killed
t, wounded.
2, In the first advance on Petersburg &c
Stannard led the advance, and captured t
most important line of works, establishil
d his lines subsequently and holding them
r weeks within one hundred yards of the Ell
r, mys works. Here he was again wounded
e the hand. He is now wounded for t
t, fourth time, losing the brave right arm tt
u has so often pointed the path of glory a
victory to his troops, anC has again lost
mos, all his staff Verra ont, We believe,
y entitled to another majcr general, and
know of no brigadier in the army who is b
4 ter entitled to the rank. or will bear its
!, sponsibili.ies more worthily than Gen. Gl
J. STANNARD.-Free Press.