The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-02-13
TAe Vermont BriEade.

The folo-iag description Of this noted
brigade appears ia the New York Citista
Of las, Saturday, written by zone Nho did
nc, b,.ieng 10 1t. and ubo never Vas in
/ Vvrmont." II will be seen by The tenor
Of the article thai he vriier is 10 fatlcrer,
although lhe relation Of the truth con,ii-
tu,cs his production complimentary to the
gallant "Green Mouniaia Boys" The
editoe says Il is from the pen Of a Major
General il the army Of the Potomac;
"They we're honest farmers turned vag-
abonds. They were simple country men
changed heroes. They we're quiet towns
men that had become fovcrs. They stole
ancient horses aud bouay cows on the
march. They pillaged moderately IN 9th
er things. They sept the dsiries and
stripped the orchards tor miles where they
travelled. They chased rabbits when they
went into camp after long marches, and
they yelled like wild Indians when neigh.
boring camps were silent through fatigue.
They we're III diseipl ned and familiar
with their officers. They staggered in
cool, impudent way, and looked down with
patronzng Yankee cooluess upon ali
regiments that we're better drilled, and
upon that part Of the n,my generally ,ha,
dad not belong TO the Vermont Brigade.
They we're strangely proud, not OF them.
selves individually, but Of he brigade col.
lecIiyely Tor they knew perfectly well
they were the best lighters IN The known
world. They were long ol limb,and could
outmarch the army. They were individ-
uaIly selt-reliant and skilliu in the use oi
arms, and they honestly believed that th"
Vermont Brigade could not be beaten by
all the cowbined armies oi the rebellion.
They were veterans in fighting quail.
lilies almost from their first skirmish.--
This was at Lees Mills. They crossed
narrow dam under fire, made the attack
they were instructed 10 make, and came
back wadng deep in the water with a
sleadiness hat surprised the army. They
were an incorrigible, irregular, noisy sci
OF rascals. They were much sworn al
during their iour years Of service; yet
they were at all times "a pet brigade
There were but Two things hey would do
march aud fight and these they did in
n manner peculiarly their own. They had
a long, slow, swinging stride on the march
which distanced everything that followed
them They had a quiet, attentive, earn
est individual way OF fghting that made
them terrific ii battle. Each man knew
that his netghbor in the ranks was not GO
ing to run away, and he knew also that he
himself intended to remain where he was
Accordingly none OF tue attention Of the
lne was directed from the important duty
OF loading and tiring,rapldy aud carefully.
When moving into action aud when holly
engaged they make queer, quaint jokes,
AN enjoyed them greatly. They crowed
ike cocks, they ba-a-ed like sheep, they
neigh like horses, they beloved like
bulls, they barked like dogs. and they
eourlerielted with excellent effect the in.
scIlbable .music OF the mule. When,
perchance, they held picket line in q for
esl il seemed as II Noah Ark had gone
to pieces there.
In every engagement in which this brig
ade took part, II was complImented Tor
gallant conduct. One Of the most remark
able oil It's performances, however, has
never appeared in print, nor has il been
noticed in the reports. After the battle
OF Gettysburg, when Lees army WAS in
the vicinity Of Hagerstown and the Antie-
tam, the Vermont Brigade was deployed
as skirmishing line, covering point oil
nearly three miles. The enemy were in
force in front near Beaver Creek. The
Sixth Corns was held in readiness in rear
OF the skirmish line, anticipating gener-
al engagement The enemy had evident.
ly determined TO attack. At last his line
Of battle came forward The batteries
opened at once and the skirmshers delv-
cred their fire. Our troops were on the
alert aad stood watching for ilIe skirm'sh
ers TO come in aud waiting to receive the
coming assault. But the skrmishers
would not come in, and when the firing
died away it appeared thai the Vermont
ers thus deployed as a skirin'sh line had
actually repulsed full line OF battle al
tack. Twice afterwards The enc ny ad-
vanced to carry the position and we're
each time again driven back BY ibis per
verse skirmish line. The Vsimontrrs il
is true were strongly posted IN wood and
each man fired from behind a Tree. But
then everybody kncws that the etiquette
in such matters is for skrmish line to |
come IN 50 soon rs they are satisfied that
the enemy m.ans bosue,s. These sim
pie-minded patriot, from the Green Mount
aims. however, adopted a rule Of their own
ON this occasion aud the enemy disgusied
with such stupidity, retired across the
Beaver Greek.
When the Vermoniers led column Oh
a march, their quick movements had to be |
regulated from corps or division headq1ar
tiers, TO AVOID gaps III the column As Il fol- |
lowed them. II a rapid or forced march .
were required, il was 4 common thing Tor
Sedgwick to say with quiet .miie--'I'ut
tie Vefmoners at the head OF the column 4
to-day AID keep everything well closed
up.'
After The riots il New York when il 1
was found necessary 10 send ifoops 10 the i