Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-04-07

account by Nal. Oen. a. Douoieoay OF tue
second and third days battle at Gettysburgh;
?. REPORT OF MAI. GEN. A. DOUBLEDAY.
OF TUE OPERATIONS OF TnE THIRD
DIVISION, FIRST ARMY COkPS,ON TIE
SECOND AND THIRD OF JULY, 1868.
NEw York. September 10, 1868.
GENERAL IL have the honor to report that, on
the evening Of the LIST day Of July, 1868. re-
sumed command OF the Sd Division. Of the LIST
Corps, consisting OF Rowleys and Danas Brig
sdes. A Third Brigade of Vermont troops, under
Brig. Gen Stannard, also reported to me about
twlght of the same day. 1t consisted Of the 18th,
lSth 18th, 10th and 10th Regiments. The 18th
aud 18th had been directed to act as guard TO
the wagon train. The 18th came up the next
norning, but again ordered back for the
same purpose. The remaining Regiments having
marched with General SIckles' troops, through
some mistake were placed on the line with them
Oh the right Of the first. They joined me the next
morning, and were posted with my other Brig
AIDES, principally in reserve behind the western
part Of Cemetery Hill, to assist in the defence OF
THAI important position.
Ou the I'd, the left wing Of the 18th Vermont
Regiment, under Lieut.. Col. Munson. or
dered forward TO support battery, and com
psuy OF the 10th Vermont was sent out As sup
port to the skirmshers in front. Towards twi-
light, on the evening of the I'd, ! received orders
from che Corps Commander to form my men at
once and 20 to the assistance Of lancook's Corps
which had been driven IN by desperate charge
OF the enemy. ! marched my command as rapidly
as possible 20 the place Indicated, which WAS a.
bout quarter of a mile west OF the Cemetery,
and formed them in several lines, by Regiments,
/ for charge. IL soon discovered that the
eneRy had retired, aud were ordered TO halt.
I Ny advance, however, consisting of hve compa-
nes Of the 18th Vermont, under Colonel Ran
dali, met Major Gen. Hancock, and asked per-
J g and .srd.s tn
rescue the guns of a regular battery, which had
Just been captured The request was granted -
I Col Randall charged the rvtreating enemy in
handsome style, and retook the tou, guns that had
Just been lost. Shortly afterwards, sent out the
l4gth and l50th Regiments Penns, lvania VOlun-
teers, who sent in two additional guns taken from
the enemy. after short aud spirited engagement,
close to his line Of battle.
NV Division bvouaced for the night on the
ground occupied by us. The 10th Vermont, under
| Col. Veasey, was thrown out to the front on
picket The l4gth aud l50th Pennsy lyans Vol
! unteers also remained in close proximity to the
\ enemy all night The Vernonters, with the
vania Volunteers, held the front line during the
remainder Of the action and the troops OF Row.
leys and DanA's brigades the second and third
lines.
About 2 p. NJ, on the 3d. terrific artillery fire
opened upon us, from more than 100 guns. The
several hours; blowing up caissons from time to
tune, aud sweeping away men as we'll as artillery
aud staff horses IN every direction. told ths
Brigade Commanders 10 shelter men and officer,
as much as possible, and when the fire slackened
be prepared TO spring TO their feet, and meet tn,
enemy with the 6ayouet if necessary.
Towards B O'clock, received notice from sev
eral quarters that the final charge of the enem,
had commenced The rebels formed IL
three lines, with additional troops deployed n
wings on the right and left of the rearmost line
la this order they advanced directly towards IN.
Division, overlapping its right They cane oI
for a short distance and then marched 10y the let
flank until they uncovered the front Of my com
mand, and then marched forward against Han
cocks troops on my right. The wing nearest q
us did not follow the movement, but becomnI
separated from the main body, moved toward
Birney's Division on our left General Stan
nard perceiving that the enemy had exposed hl
right, at once changed front forward, formed di
recty upon the tanks OF the rebel lines, and pour
ed Ia terrible hre which they we're wholly un
able to resist. | quote from his official repor
evsrl thing in reference TO the Sd days operations
lie says: /" The front line thus established
twas held by my Brigade for twenty-six hour
" At about O'Clock, on the morning of tb
" 80, the enemy commenced vigorous artiller
- attack, which continued for a short time upo
a. nv position. During its continuance, | move
" the l4th, under command OF Colonel Nichol
- to the front OF the main line about seventy -hy
" ards, which was done at double quick IN goo
" order. | then, with permission from my III
" mediate commander, selected a position 70 o.
" cupy if attacked with infantry some distance
, i" front Of the line At about O'Clock p. Nj
, " the enemy commenced a vigorous attack upo
my position. After subjectiDg us for an hour an
/" n half TO the severest cannoDade of the who
" battle, from enc hundred guns or more, the ei
"emy charged with heavy column OF infantry
at least one division, in close column
" Regiments. The charge aimed direct
:" upon my command, but owing apparently
" the frm front shown them, the enemy divergt
. " midway, and came upon the line upon N
right But they did not thus escape the war
" reception prepared for them by the Vermonter
4" During the charge, the enemy suffered from Il
" fire Of the 18th and l4th, range being shor
" At the commencement OF the attack. | callt
= - in the 10th Regiment from the skirmish lin
" and placed il in close column by division
= " my immediate rear. As soon as the change
, aths front OF attack became evident, | ordered
' flank stack upon the enemy's column. Formin
- in the open meadow in front Of our lines, Il
a. 18th changed front forward on first company.
4, " The 10th, after deploying, performed the san
s " and formed on the LETT of the 18th, at rig
a 4" angles to the main line of army, bringin
e" them in line Of battle upon the flank Of Il
q " charging division of the enemy, and opened
a. destructive FIRE at short range, which the eneu
- sustained but very few moments, before Il
a. larger p prtion Of them surrendered and marc
d. - ed in, not as conquerors, but as captives.
- then ordered the two Regiments into the
" % former position. The order was not 6lle
7 " when / saw anotherrebel column charging il
i a. mediately upon my left. Colonel Weary,
d - the 10th, was AZ once ordered to attack il in
II turn upon the flank. This was done az su
g oessfully as before. The rebel for, es, slrea
- decimated by the FIRE Of the lith Regiment, C'
Nichols commanding, were scooped almost
Is masse into our lines. The 18th took in Il
!, /" charge the regimental colors Of the I'd Flori
- and 9Th Virginia Regiments, and the batt
., f" flag OF another rebel regiment. The 10th "
" " supported in this new and advanced position
a. four companies OF the lath, under the colpmal
\ :" Of Lieut.. Col. Rose.
N q The movements. have briefly dfso-ibe
10 were executed in the open field, un' o. We
4 '' heavy fire OF shell. grape and musketry. al
81 they were performed with the promptness a
- precision Of battalion drill. They ended !
d &" contest in the centre. and substantially clos
A. - the battle.
), Officers and men behaved like veteraI
a, a. although IL was for most OF them their II
'' a. battle"
To this splendid record. have only to a