Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-05-04


during the afternoon, IL Is confidently
believed that Capt, Chas. G, Gou,d of
the 9th Vt. was the first man of the 9th
Corps who mounted the enemy's wOrk<
His regiment was in the first line Of then
brigade, and in the charge he was far In
advance of his commando Upon mount
ing the works he received a severe bay
onet wound in the face and was struck
several times with dubbed muskets,
but bravely stood his ground killing
with his sabre the man who bayoneted
him, and retiring from the works only
after his comrades came to his assist
! ance and routed the enemy from their
| lines.
Two earthwOrks, one to the right of
the ravine containing four guns, and
the other to the left containing two
guns, were here captured After cross
ing the works the brigade pushed for
ward TO the crest of the hill in the rear
where short halt was ordered for the
purpose of reforming The OrgauIza-
ton obtained here was very incomplete,
owing TO the eagerness Of the troops to
pursue the enemy, who were making for
the woods i'm the rear, but with such
organization as it had the brigade turn
ing to the left moved forward about
half mile and halted at the edge of a
dense wood to reform. The brigade
was here formed in single line in numer-
iCal order from right to left, the 18th
connecting with the Third Division,
and about half mile distant from and
inside Of the enemy's works. The lines
being formed, the whole command
pushed forward vigorously through
thiCkcts, swamps and pine woods soon
losing all organization again in the
eagerness Of the men to surpass each
other in the pursuit Of the enemy, who
were being pursued so closely that they
could scarcely fire a shot, and appeared
to have given up all idea Of resistance,
and were only DESTROYS to be taken
prisoners. In this manner the pursuit
continued for about four miles in di-
ryctiOn nearly parallel with the works,
until Barley's house, near HatChers
Run was reached, where the brigade
was halted for few minutes and then
moved to the left and formed in column
of regiments Just inside the works.
Words are inadequate to express the
conduct of the troops in this second
charge. Every man appeared to con-
slider himself host, and singly or in
squads of three or four they charged
upon whatever distractions came in
their paths. Brevet Major f. Wales of
the I'd Vt, with two men captured a
piece of artillery, turned it upon the en-
envy, and the shell with which the piece
was charged went bowling through the
woods a flor tho boI
pared the compliment for us. Major
Sperry of the 9th Vt, and Lieut.. Bailey
OF the 18th Vt, assisted by a few
men, captured two pieces and turned
them upon the flying rebels. Being I'M
able to procure primers the pieces were
discharged by firing a musket into the
vent Of the piece. In this manner
twelve rounds We're fired, when a sec
tiOn of artillery coming up the guns
were turned over to it's commander.
Capt. Tilden ofthe 18th VT, with about
dozen men, captured two pieces artil-
lery, eleven commissioned officers and
sixty-tWO enlisted men of the 42d Miss
Regt. Serg't Lester G. Hack, Co. F, 5th
Vt, dashed into squad of rebels who
had gathered around a beautiful stand
of UUlurs, ana with a humanity as
praiseworthy as his daring knocked
down the color bearer, seized the colOrs
as he fell, and rushed on to another pOr- |
ton of the field. Corporal Charles H. |
DOlloph, Co. X. 18th Vt, also captured |
a battle-flag, supposed to be that of the
Add Miss.
About 8 o'clock A, NJ. the brigade
was again put in motion and moved
back along the line of works, past the
point at which the lines were penetrat- |
ed in the morning, and formed about |
three miles south of Petersburg on the |
left Of road leading to the city, the |
spires of which were plainly visible in |
the distance. The ground between this |
formation AID the city consisted of |
series u hills and marshy ravines, and |
the enemy were distinctly seen making |
every disposition Of their troops and ar
tillery to contest our advance. The brig |
AIDE formed in single line from right to |
left as follows: 18th, I'd, 3D. 9Th, 9th |
4th; skirmish line was advanced I'M |
der Capt. Stafford Of the 18th, and the |
command then moved forward, its right |
resting on the road. The enemy poured
in very heavy fire Of shot and shell |
LlOLl u battery Oh our TlgnL WnlCn COM |
pletely enfladed our lines, ana a perfect
hailstOrm of canister from a battery of |
four guns planted in the garden of the !
Turnbrell house, where General Lee |
had his head quarters directly in front |
Brevet Col. Floyd, commanding Sd Vt, |
threw forward few men as skirmish- |
crs, with orders to advance on the double |
quick and shoot the horses of the bat |
terry to prevent its being removed. This
daring feat was accomplished with per
feet success, the brigade in the mean |
time wheeling to the left and rapidly |
closing in upon the guns. The com |
mander Of the battery, finding it impos-
sible to escape with his guns raised a
white flag when Col. Floyd ordered the
firing to cease and pressed forward to
receive his surrender. At the same time
Capt. r. Templeton of the 18th Vt, with |
a small squad of men came up gallant
ly from the right flank on the double
quick to contest with Col. Floyd the
capture of the guns. Just at this mo-
ment the skirmish line of the 1st brig
ade of this division coming up on the
left and not observing the white flag,
opened fire on the battery, when the
MOI, +rr opd Tbo ,,-o.o