Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-05-04
HEADQUARTERS VERMONT BRIGADE, }
April 18th, 1865. !
Brevet Maj. Gen. Comd'g.


~sl'AiA AFeAAi 'CNC'
Brevet MAJ. Gen. L. n. Grant:
Sir: At your request l have the honor
to report the part taken by this com
mand in the engagement of the Cd inst,
which resulted in the capture of Peters
burg
The brigade moved out from camp at
ii o'clock P. NJ, passed through the line
Of works near Fort WEIGH, and was ST
lently placed in position in column of
regiments close up to the intrenched
skirmish line captured from the enemy
on the 25th of March. The order of the
regiments in column from front to rear
was as follows: The 9Th Vermont
Lieut.. Col. R. A. Kennedy, command
ing; I'd Vermont, Lieut.-COl. A. S. Tracy
commanding 9th Vermont, Major VIM
j. Sperry commanding 4th Vermont,
Capt. George II. Amidon commanding
Sd Vermont, Brevet-Col. II. W. FLOYD
commanding; 18th Vermont, in two
battalions, under command of Major G.
ID. Sowles and Capt. J. D. Stafford, res
pectively, the two being under COM
mand of Leut.-Col. Charles Hunts
don. By one O'Clock A. NJ. the whole
udu Idktn IA1NSstfoh S1hNA Ittlt
down to await the disposition of the
troops upon the right and left. About
two o'clock heavy fire was opened
along the skirmish line, which was Wig
orously replied to by the skirmishers of
the enemy.
During this fire we were sadly grieved
to learn that you had been severely
wounded in the head by a minnie bullet
and would require immediate treat
ment
The troops being in position and ev-
erything in readiness at o'clock A. M.
precisely the signal gun for the assault
was fired from Fort Fisher, but owing
to the heavy cannonading which was
kept up at intervals during the night it
was not understood. Soon, however, it
was learned that the signal had been
given, and ours being the guiding bri-
gade, that the troops on the right and
left were waiting for us to advance.
The command Immediately moved for
ward over the works Of the skirmsh
line and passed on steadily and silently
until they had nearly reached the first
line ofthe enemy's entertainments, when
they were discovered by their skirmish-
ers, who delivered weak and scatter
ing yolley and then fed. The alarm
having been given, and silence no long
er necessary, a cheer that has been
heard on nearly every battle field in Vir-
glnia went up from ten thousand brave
hearts and told the story to friend and
foe, that the 9th corps was on charge
and pushing for the main works of the
enemy, about five hundred yards in its
front. After passing over about half the
distance the enemy began to pour in
Well-directed 1nusketry fire from the
front and artillery fire from the forts on
either hand, which completely enfiladed
the line and caused it to waver This
was the most critical moment through
out the entire engagement Day was
just beginning to dawn, and very soon
the enemy would be able to discover our
precise position and movements, They
had also become appraised of the point of
attack and were apparently beginning
to appreciate its Importance, and were
fastening to meet it with all the strength
at their disposal.
But to the credit of the command the
hesitation was but momentary, and the
troops again pushed forward with a de-
termi nation that knew no such word as
fail. The remaining portion of the
ground was passed over under most
whitening fire of musketry, but with
gallantry that was never surpassed, and
which betokened the victory subse.
Quently won. Officers and men wed
with each other in the race for the
works, and all organization was lost in
the eagerness and enthusiasm of the
troops. The line of abattis was brush
ed away like cob-webs and the men
swarmed over the works with yells and
cheers that struck terror to the rebels
flying in all directions. In crossing the
ground in front of the abattis the casu.
alties were very numerous. Lieut.. Geo
o. French, 18th Vt, was instantly killed
while CALAMITY cheering on his men
and Lieut.. G. G. Hawkins, Sd Vt, acting
adjutant 4th Vt. very dangerously
wounded while leading the men forward
with an enthusiasm deserving of al
praise. Brevet sfajorE @. Ballou, evel