The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-11-06

ram, SnOelcs5 DllStereu ana weary, tney |
find themselves on the evening of July
first, face to face with victorious legions
of Lee. Before them lie the MANNED and
lifeless forms of those who had that day
fallen The morrow's sun will bring
their first dread reality of battle For
the first lime they stand side by side with
the veterans of the grand old army Of the
Potomac. Their term of service is about
to expire. This will be their only oppor-
tnnity as brigade to strike for country
and honor. They have the example Of
the old regiments TO emulate.
Great are their duties and responsible
tiles. But they are true sons of Vermont
The opening day brings the expected
battle. With varying success, it RACES
alorg from centre to left and left to
centre. At last the lines give way
Dingy squads Of men come streaming
back through the smoke of battle. Re-
endorsements are called for. Then the
generous Doubleday, to whom Vermont
owes so much for securing 10 her sons
the credit to which they are justly due,
rides along our lines, and his clear com
mand is heard above the din Of conflict,
FORWARD, the light flying brigade"
Quickly they present their breasts to the
deadly missiles and pressing forward to
the breach, turn back the flooding tide
of battle. This ends the second day of
Gettysburgh with the standards of Yer
mont in the front. The next day brings
a renewal of the blood, &C ne. Throu- h.
out the morning furious assaults are made
upon the right flank. Except the left
center, every part of our lines have been
tried. Lee has heard that this is held
observatory he sees their unsheltered
position. Break through that and the
Potomac army is destroyed forever.
The veteran division of the rebel Picket,
that has never known defeat, is still fresh.
Quickly it Is formed for the charge. For
two hours one hundred and forty pieces
of rebel cannon pour their deadly CON
tents into the ranks of these sons OF Yer
mont unframed to the slock of battle.
by all analogy and experience, human
endurance has become exhausted The
foundations of earth are shaken by the
furious cannonadc, but not the lines o
these brave men. There they stand up
ON those bloody slopes, far to the front
of their lines, AS firm as the hills of their
own Green Mountain home, and receive
and shatter the charging columns of trea
son amid the unrestrained applause of til,
veterans Of other corps who were the ad
miring spectators of the stupendou
tragedy. Getlysburgh is won, and tn,
brows Of Nermont's gallant soldiers ar,
garlanled with the laurels OF the victor,
from witch the wave Of Rebellion eve,
after receded.
Time will not allow me to detail tb,
events that presided the 18th day of DC
tubcr, 1864. The Shenandoah Vale,
had again become the active theatre o
war. The intrepid Sheridan had pushe,
hi, victorious army, comprised largely o
Vermont troops, far up the Valley
Smarting under repeated defeats, an
fully conscious Of the importance of hold
ing this valley, the rebels had quietly as
sembed II large and well appointed fore
near Middletown, and resolved upon on
Of those sudden and overwhelming stroke
that not unfrequently have decided tn
, fortune Of war.
On the morning of the 9th of Octobe
circumstances combined to render tn
success of the contemplated blow exceed
ingly probable. The victories that ha
; so lately crowned the Union arms, rem
dcred an attack from the enemy improb
| able. Sheridan was absent. The ele
menis even were favorable TO a surprise
The foggy atmosphere of early mornin
! covered the rebels stealihy movements
No sound broke the all pervading stiffness
While the yctors of recent fields w,r
1 resting in the sumber Of over-taskcd ma
ture, Just AS the first streaks Of mornln.
pierced the Eastern horizon, the rush, tn
shout, the opening volley, startled the sleep
, ers 10 duty. The surprise was complete
E In front, in flank, in rear, volleys poire
: from an unseen foe. But the hardene
I veterans cannot yield without a struggle
y Bow is returned for blow. One posiiio
after another is taken. but the rcb,
onset is irrcs stible. Thus passes morn
y ing into mid day. Many have fall
y en-, more have been captured. camp an
| artillery gone. The fruits Of past victc
F: ries seem slipping away. But at thi
/ crisis Sheridan arrives upon the field, an
t riding along the lines, he reins up in iron
{ of the Vermont regiments and inquire,
G what troops are these. "rhe sixt
corps-the Vermont Brigade" is shoute
e simultaneously from the ranks. "W
are all right" exclaimed the Genera
% and swinging ms hat above his head h
| passes off to the right "amid the exultar
t shouts of the men" Soon the defcn.iy
4 is abandoned and the offensive assumed
5 and foremost in that murderons charg,
/ that annihilated the last rebel aruy Z
n the valley, were the standards OF Vel
f mont.
r But, comrades, the history of these an
G many other days Is made, it is fresh
e our memory, and we need not be our ow
u eulog.sts.
Q Had you selected one TO address yo
c tonight who was MT one of your nuInbe
one accustomed to stand up on great occ'