Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-11-24
Battle of the 10th Of October.
OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS VERMONT BRIGADE,
Stray huro We not aE%h 1OeA


Strasburg, Va, Oct. 25th, 1864. |
Peter 4. WashbmW, AdJ. and H'sp. General
SIR have the honor to make the |
., Moving report of the part taken by
this IN, ade IN the battle of tie 18th
; tt ns nssr Niddletown, Va.
At the Time Of the een emery attack on /
the sth Corps this division was en-
% .Samped on the extreme right "a the ar |
my, there being only one Brigade on the
right of this. The Division moved by |
the left flank and formed on the extreme !
left of the army near Middletown, and !
checked the enemy in his attempt to
throw his right around the left and rear
of our army
In this new formation there was only
one Brigade on the left of this. Before
the troops could be got into proper posi-
ton, threw forward Major Walkers
battalion of the 18th Regiment, and the
9TH and 9th Regiments, all under COM
mand of Major Johnson Of the I'd Regi-
ment, who deployed them as skirmish-
ers and drove the rebel skirmishers from
a skirt of woods between our lines and
the pike leading from Cedar Creek to
Middletown. The Brigade then advanc-
ed in common with the Division, throw
ing forward its left to near Middle
town,
About this time the troops on the
right gave way, and the enemy threat
ened our flank and rear. Agreeably to
orders we fell back short distance and
took position on crest commanding a
part of the town and the ravine between
us and the pike This Brigade held the
centre of the division. The first Brig
! ade, Colonel Warner held the right and
the Sd Brigade, General Bidwell, held
the left
The enemy advanced in heavy force,
drove in our skirmishers, and attacked
| the line of battle, and met with severe
| repulse. This attack fell mainly upon
| this Brigade. As soon as the enemy
fell back threw forward another Skin
mish line to follow closely, still holding
| the main force upon the crest.
| At this point of time, l was informed
! by Gen. Getty that he had assumed the
command of the Corps, and that was
| in command of the Division, whereupon
turned over the command of the Brig
ale to Lieut. Col. Tracy, I'd vt. Vols,
| IlC DtlHS LuC olllSSl plNsShI,
Col. Foster at that time being in COM
| mand of the pickets on the right, as
| Corps Officer of the Day.
The enemy rallied again, drove in our
skirmishers, and made a vigorous as
sault upon our lines, and were again re-
pulsed with great slaughter. The at
tack fell the heaviest upon the right of
| Bidwell's and the left of this brigade,
but all parts of the line were under the
heavy fire of both musketry and artille-
| ry.
About this time, | was informed that
there were none of our troops on the
right, and that the enemy held the
woods on the immediate right Of War
ner's brigade and l received orders from
Gen. Getty, commanding the corps, to
draw back the division unless | saw
some good reason for holding the posi-
ton longer. Almost at the same instant
the rebels rushed through the woods
and opened CALLING fire upon the flank
and rear Of Warmers brigade, which ne
cessarily fell back, and the order was
Immediately given to this brigade.
Having retired about half mile, the
| division again halted and remained
about half an hour. The enemy did not
follow closely, but kept up an incessant
artillery fire. 1t was however found
that the troops on our right had all fall
en- back, and the position being an ex-
posed one, the I'd Vermont, under Capt.
Wales, was deployed as skirmishers, and
left to- hold the line, with the Sd Yer
mont in support, while the balance of
the command fell back a short distance
further, and took up new position.
In this last position, the brigade, as
before, held the center Of the division,
the Sd brigade being on the left; and
the left of that brigade rested on the
pike just in the rear Of Middletown.-
| Other troops were collected and formed
on the right of this division, and prepa-
rations for a final stand were made.
| 1t was at this crisis that Gen. Sheri-
dan arrived upon the field. He rode
rapidly down the pike, turned to the
right, and passing between this and the
3D. brigades, refined up in front of this
brigade and enquired: "What troops are
these?' "The Sixth Corps" "The YER
mont Brigade !" was shouted almost
simultaneously from the ranks. "We are
all right" exclaimed the General, and
swinging his hat over his head, he rap
idly rode to the right amid the exultant
shouts of the men.
Upon the return of Gen. Sheridan,
Gen. Wright resumed the command of
the corps, Gen. Getty the division, and
returned to the command of the brigade.
Quiet reigned for time, but the enc
my having reformed made an attack
upon the lines to our right. Twas Or
dered with the brigade from the line on
| the left to the point of attack. The en-
envy was repulsed but another attack
being expected, the brigade remained
short time in support of the right of
the 9th and the left of the 10th Corps.
The brigade subsequently moved back
towards the left, and by direction of
Gen. Sheridan was held in reserve until
| our army assumed the offensive when
we took our former position on the left
near the pike.
An attack was ordered, and the brig
ade moved forward under.a heavy fire
and gained an advanced position. The
f,.1t a.,1 I, I'D h,ifr IAe, 4 Al