Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-05-27
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT.
HEApQUARTERs Urn RIOT. VI. Vols. }
CHANctLLoRsvILLE Va, May 7, 1864 !
PETER I. WAsHBURN,

HEADQUARTERS 18TH RIOT. VT Vols, !
CHANctLLoRsyILLE, Va, May 7, 1864.
PETER 7. WAsHBuRN,
A3jutaht and Inspector General
SIR In the absence Of 1t. Col. Charles
Cummings, wounded on the 9th inst, at the
bat lie of the Wilderness, l have the honor
to submit the following report Of the recent
operations Of this regiment, which left the
State on the 18th ul.., and arrived at A lex-
andria, Va, on the 22d ult., at which time
and place joined the regiment for duty. and
where it was assigned to the I'd Brigade. I'd
division. 9Th army corps, Colonel Griffin,
9th ~ H. regiment, commanding.
The regiment marched from Alexandria on
the 9th ult., and arrived at Rrisloe Station
on the following day, where it was encamped
until the 4th inst. when it marched to Beal-
ton Station The march was resumed on the
9th, crossing the Rappahannock and the Rap
idan, via the Rappahannock Station and Ger
mania Ford. AT 2 A. NJ, on the 9th, this
regiment leading the corps, we advanced
along the plank road leading from Germinia
Ford TO the field of battle, which shall call
Wilderness.
Al sunrise the regiment was in line of bat
tie on the right of the brigade, preceded by
skirmishers from the 9th n. II. regiment and
supported by the Ilth n. II regiment.
At 9 A. M, the skirmishers in front hav-
ing been Withdrawn, the regiment, without
support on its right, advanced through a
dense pine thicket, (haying to crawl about
fifty yards on hands and knees) and drove the
enemy from behind rail fence which he had
occupied during the morning This position
the regiment held during the remainder of
ha Gra
and artillery at less than four hundred yards,
repulsing, with some loss, one attempt of the
enemy to regain the position by charge
upon both TANKS after our supports as well
as the regiment on our left had been with
drawn. In this attack, regret to state,
Capt. Brown OF Co. A lost his left arm and
was compelled to leave the field !; Lieut..
Brown commanded the Company during the
remainder of the action, bat left the field at
night by advice of the Assistant Surgeon in
charge, DR.. spobn, Surgeon Edison being on
duty at the division Hospital by order of the
Medical Director.
Al noon the regiment WAS ordered to move
about one mile to the left, where it was i'm !
mediately assigned the right Of an extended
line, then forming for charge upon the enc
my, posted behind log breastworks in thick
WOOD In TINS position the regiment sus-
tanned very Calling musketry FIRE for some
moments, during which 1t. Col. Cummings
was wounded in the head and assisted to the
rear, when the command devoived upon me.
Capt. Kented, CO. Z, and 1t. Martin, ca. f,
were also wounded.
At about two o'clock p. m. the charge was
ordered, which resulted in driving the enemy
from his log covering, and in which, take
pleasure in saying, no colors we're advanced
beyond those Of this regiment.
Daring the remaining part Of the day, and
also during the following day this regiment
was held in the second line OF battle, and
not again engaged.
append list of the killed, wounded and
missing in action, which speaks but too plain
y OF what service the regiment has seen. 1t
gives m pleasure to acknowledge the services
! the Il II officers of the regiment, and also
T. add that The coolness, courage and firm.
ness OF the line officers and enlisted men of
the regiment, excites my warmest admiration.
When II is remembered that the regiment
had been but fourteen days in the field, so