Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-02-16
THE VERMONT BRIGADE.

never in Vermont" IIis both pncompliinen-
tary and complimentary exaggerated both
ways. The editor says it is from the pen Of
Major General in the army Of the Potomac ;
"They were honest farmers turned vagR-
bonds. They were simple countrymen changed
into heroes. They were quiet townsmen that
had become rovers. They stole ancient hor-
ses and bony cows on the march. They pill
LACED moderately in other things. They
swept the diaries and they stripped the orch
ards for miles where they travelled. They
chased rabbits when they went into camp af-
ter long marches, and they yelled like wild
indians when neighboring camps were silent
through fatigue. They we're ill-disciplned
and familiar with their officers. They swag-
gered in cool impudent way, and looked
down with pa,ronising Yankee GOODNESS up
on all regiments that we're better drilled, and
upon that part Of the army generally that did
not belong the Vermont Brigade. They re
strangely proud, not Of themselves indivdu-
ally, but OF the brigade collectively for they
knew perfectly well they were the best fight
ers in the known world. They were long Of
limb, and could outmarch the army They
were individually sefreliant and skllul in
the use Of arms, and they honestly believed
that the Vermont Brigade could not Se beat
en- by all the combined armies of the rebel
lion.
They were veterans in fighting qualities al
most from their first skifmish. This was at
Lees Mills They crossed a narrow dam I'M
der a FIRE, made the attack they were instruc-
ted to make, and came back wadiug deep in
the water with steadiness that surprised the
army. They were an incoTrieible. irregular,
noi.y ct OF rascals. They were much sworn
at during their foat years Of service yet they
were at all times pet brigade. There we're
but two things they would do-march and
fight; and these they did in manner peou-
liatly their own. They had long, slow,
swinging stride on the march which distanced
everything that followed them. They had
quiet, attentive, earnest individual way of
fighting that made them terrific in battle
Each man knew that his neighbor in the ranks
was not going to run away, and he knew al
so that he himself intended to remain where
he was. Accordingly none of the attention
OF the line was directed from the important
duty Of loading and firing, rapidly and care
fully. When moving into action and while
holly engaged they made queer, quaint Jokes,
and enjoyed them greatly. They crowed like
cocks, they ba-a-ed like sheep, they ne'ghed
like horses, they beloved like bulls, they
barked like dogs, and they oountetfeited with
excellent effect the indescribabe music Of the
mule. When. perchance, they held a picket
line in the forest it seemed as If Noah's Ark
had gone to pieces there.
In every engagement in which this brigade
took part, it was complimented for gallant
conduct. One Of the most remarkable of its (
performances, however, has never appeared in |
print, nor has it been noticed in the reports. I
After the battle of Gettysburg, when Lees |
army was in the vicinity Of Hagerstown and |
the Antietam, the Vermont Brigade was de- |
ployed as diminishing line, covering point |
Of nearly three miles. The enemy were in |
force in front near Beaver Creek The Sixth |
corps was held in readiness in the rear of the |
skirmish-line, anticipating general engage
ment. The enemy had evidently determined
to attack. Al last his line of battle came for
ward. The batteries opened at once and the |
skirmishers delivered their fire. Our troops
were on the alert and stood watching for the
skirmishers to come in and waiting to receive
the coming assault. But the skirmishers
would not come in, and when the firing died
away II appeared that the VeTmonters thus
deployed as a skirmish line had actually re-
pulsed full line-of- battle attack. Twice af-
forwards the enemy advanced to carry the po-
silion and were each time again driven back
by this Ierverse skirmlsh line. The Vernon
ters 1t is true were strongly posted in wood,
and each man fred from behind a tree But
then every body knows that the etiquette in
such matters is for skrmish line to come in
80 soon as they are satisfied that the enemy
means business. These simple. minded pat
iiots from the Green Mountains, however,
adopted rule of their own on this occasion I
and the enemy, disgusted with such stupidity,
rttired across the Beaver Creek.
When the Vermonters led the column on
a march, their quick movements had to be
regulated from corps OF division headq quarters,
TO avoid gaps in the column as it followed
them. II rapid or forced march were requi-
red, 1t was a common thing for Sedgwick to
say with quiet emile Put the Vermonters
at the head of the column day and keep
everything wei closed up.
After the riots in New York, when it was
found necessary to send troops to the city to
prevent recurrence Of the outbreak, the Yer
mont Brigade was specially named by the
War Department for this duty. Within two
hours after the receipt OF the dispatch, the
command was en- route for the city. They oc-
cupied the public squares here for some time,
enjoyed themselves not wisely, nor vet virtu-
ously and returned to the Army of the Po-
lomac sadly demoralized in all but the two
great essential qualities offghting and march
ing. 1t was a fortunate thing for the New
York mob that it avoided conflict with the
New England troops at that time.
Upon the return Of the brigade to the field
they quietly held on to their old routine of
life and maintained to the close of the war
tho splendid reputation they had won at the
very outset.
There were many regiments equal TO the
Vermont regiments in actual battle, and some
ha, like the 5th New York Vols, not only
'qualed them in fighting qualities, but great
y surpassed them In drill, discipline and APP
'earance on parade As brigade, however,
hey we're undou btedly the best brigade in A.,
he Army of the Potomac for they not only /
ought as well as it was possible TO fight, but :
hey could outmarch with the utmost ease i
my other organization IN the army. :
II was the intention of the writer only to !
efer to this brigade as furnishing the best ,
yre of the American soldier, but this article :
las grown beyond its intended limit, and we .
lave therefore not the space to examine into
he cause OF this superiority. Two, however,
nay be briefly stated. First, that the regi- p
nents from Vermont were buRaded together (