Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-13

Editor Rutland Herald Dear Sir For
the information of the friends of the
regiment send you an account Of the
part taken by the 18th Vermont in the
fight of Friday Sept. S0th, near the
South Side Railroad. We held ourselves
in readiness to march from our camp
near the Weldon railroad three days,
and started for the left about 8 o'clock
Friday morning When we got to
Poplar Grove Church we discovered
that our troops were engaged with the
enemy, and with little loss took two
lines of their works and several prison.
ers. We then marched up TO their first
line In the woods where we remained IN
line of battle nearly an hour but there
being no signs OF the enemy we advanc-
ed about two miles further, when, on
marching up through pine wood, we
were greeted with a few voileys from
the enemy. We halted in the woods
about fifteen minutes and had orders to
lie down, as the shell from the enemy's
batteries were bursting all around us,
accompanied by an incessant shower of
bullets. We next had orders to advance,
and went on the double-quick to the
edge of the woods 10 rail fence, and
before we had time to form discovered
that the enemy were driving back our
skirmishers, and a solid column were
almost upon US. Col. Cummings gave
the order to rise and fire, but seeing that
we were f1riHg into our own men, coun-
termanded it, and gave the order to fix
bayonet, but before it could be executed,
our regiment was cut in twain by the
overpowering force of the enemy, and
we saw that we were being fianked,
Capt. Conway, Adjt. Peck and Lieut..
Norton, with about seventeen men,
brought Off the colors safely, Capt.
Conway shooting three of their color
guards before retreating. Color Sergeant
George W Bacon (of Co. II deserves
especial praise for his bravery in stand
! ing by the coors to the last, although
he had been quite unwell for some time
| previous to the fight. Col Cummings
was wounded, but we do not know how
! badly as he fell into the enemy's hands !;
He was seen to fall by several. We had
about ITO men when we went into the
! fight and lost Sc in killed, wounded and
missing, 46 of them killed and wounded.
| Capt. Knapp is now in command OF the
| regiment. will append the names of
the killed and wounded as far as has
been ascertained. s .s,.a.
1t. Col. Cummings, wounded and miss
ing.
! Capt. Henry A. Eaton, Co, D. missing.
COMPANY G.
Founded. --- Privates, George Garvin,
John 7. Farr and - Chase.
Misstng. Luce, Timothy God
frey, Arthur Townshend. ... -..
COMPANY D.
Messing. Russ.
| ~ - COMPANY H.
Woma,ded and Missing.-Corp. Charles j.
Hall.
Messing. g.-Privates John Harrogon and
Frank Baslow. .a.......
@ COMPANY I. ~
Wounded end Missing.-2d Lieut.. G. W
Tobin Tin command of Company Az; Or
derly Sergt. Salmon K. Gates.
Woaaded-Sergt. Thos T. Sanborn (arm
amputated); Corp. Jas. Hamersley, head
slightly; Corp. Edwin L. Wells, right
arm. Napoleon Talip, Michael Demp
sey, Jr., Joel A. Mason, Horace D. Blais
dell.
Woaadeda and Missing. Corporal Rowel
c. Jenne. Freeman Gee, William I. AL
drich, Abner NJ. Buckman, VIM. Rix.
Missiag.-Felix Valley.
Ka1ed.--James s. Collins, James Casa
want. DILL.
p. s. 1 will try to send you full
list of casualties as soon as we can ge
them. D. H. L.