Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-07-07
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.


SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.
Hea Quarters 18th Vt. Vols, in the Field
Neai' Petersburg, Va. June 20, 1864,
PETER T. WAsHBURN,
Adj. q Insp. General,
SIR: The 9th army corps left their en-
trenchments near Cold Harber at dark
on the night of the 18th, and with but
four hours sleep arrived near the James
river in the night of the 14uh. We here
halted until s o'clock P. NJ. of the fol-
lowing day, when we moved towards
the river, crossing at II P. M. At noon
of the 10th we reached the present bat
tie ground, after march of % miles,
during which our ranks were rapidly
depleted from hard marching on very
short rations. At P. Nj. the 2nd brig
ade, 2nd division, was drawn up in line
of battle in support of a portion of the
End corps, then about to make charge.
This charge proving unsuccessful, we
were moved around on the right flank
to hold ground wrested from the enemy
by Birney's division of the same corps.
| In the night 1t was determined to assault
| the enemy's position in the center, where
| a battery, supported by strong rifle pits,
was protected by house and out build
ings, and supported by six gun redoubt
| q little way towards our left, and at
| point where the enemys line turned to
| nearly right angle. This assault was
| contided to the End div. 9th army corps,
! and Franks formerly Gwen's) brigade
\ of the 2nd corps. When the time came
| for the assault, however the I'd division
/ alone had the work to do. Accordingly
three regiments of the lst brigade sup
| ported by the other three were assigned
to the easterly side Of the angle, and the
! same disposition of the End brigade was
made on the northerly side. The regi-
ments selected to lead in the battle were
the 18th Vt, 9th n. H., and 32nd Me-;
the 18th on the right with instructions
to take the battery. At o'clock A. nj.
the line was put in motion, the 18th
leading off. Marching up steep hill
over Franks brigade and the earthworks
protecting their skirmishers, reformed
my line and gave the order to charge
The men (only numbering 135 guns)
rushed impetuously forward, driving
the enemy's skirmishers and carrying q
strong line of earthworks fully manned.
In less time than l can write this we
had captured two cannon, caisson, six
horses, 10 prisoners and the colors and
Adiutant of the 18th Tennessee. The
other two guns fell to the 9th N. H.,
their position having been changed dur
ing the night.
: Our casualties in this engagement
were killed and IA wounded. Among
the killed, / regret to record, was Isl
Lieut.. Guy H, Guyer, one of the most
gallant and faithful officers in the regi-
ment. He fell early in the charge, shot
| through the left breast,
, The gallantry Of my officers and mer
! in this charge would be worthy especial
mention, were it not that on that occa
,, sion there was no deviation from thell
usual conduct before the enemy.
/, I cannot refrain from noticing the co
/ incidence. that on the anniversary o
p the 18th Of June, the 18th Vermont cap
:, tured the colors Of the 18th Tenn.,-
Col Fulton's brigade, Bushrod John
: sons division, Buckner's (formerly o
j Hardee's) corps,--together with guns
: and prisoners numbering more than hal
their own men. To US the 18th o
June will hereafter have a double sig
q nificance.
n I understand that the 1st brigade
captured two guns (the others having
been removed,) and quite number o
l. prisoners.
: This charge Of the 18th was warml,
< complimented by our brigade and di
vision commanders and the entire as
sault has elected General Order o
. which the following is copy:
= HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, }
June 49, 1864. :
GENERAL ORDERS NO. "a.
The commanding General takes grea
II pride in assuring this command of th
i high appreciation in which their ser
!. vices, after the fatigue of the recen
: movement, are held at the headquarter
of the army and quotes with pleasur
Z the expressions used by the command
ing General of the Army of the Potomac
d in speaking of the brilliant assault o.
v the morning of the 18th. He writes
f. at affords me great satisfaction to con
gratulate you and your gallant corps o.
the successful assault on the mornin
4, of the 18th Knowing the wearied con
J. dition of your men from the night marc
d of over twenty-five miles, and the con
a tinued movements through the night c
the 10th, their persistence and success
" highly creditable."
The commanding General can onl
l. add that in this as in the previous an
l. succeeding events of this unexample
l. campaign the 9th corps has throug
,s every trial invariably proved true to il
Al history and to its promise
: By Command of
;S Maj. Gen. BURNSIDE,
:, LEWIS RICHMOND,
% Asst. Adjt. Gen."
If Official, &c, &C.
AS the regiment has been in advance
| nd bnf Ara Iaft