Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-02-09

bony cows on the march. They p,llaged mod
eraiely in other things. They swept the diaries
and they stripped the orchards Tor miles where
they traveller. They chased rabbits when they
went into camp after long marches, and they
yelled like wild indians when neishboring camps
were sIleui through fatigue. They we're Il-dis'
cipiiued and familiar with Their officers. Ihey
staggered IN a coOi, impudent way, aud looked
down with patronizng Yankee coolness upon
all regiments that were better drilled, and upon
that par. Of the army generally that did not be-
long 20 the Yei mont Brigade. They were
strangely proud, not Of themselves individually,
but Of the brigade collectively; for they knew
perfectly well that they were the bes; fighters IN
the known world. They were long Of lImb,and
could outmarch the army. They were lndI'id-
ually se!-reliant sd skIliul in the use OF arms,
AID they honestly believed that the Vermont
Brigade could not be beaten by al the combined
armies Of the rebellion.
They were veterans in fighting qualities a.
most from their first skrmish. This was at
Lees Mills. They crossed narrow dam under
a FIRE, made the attack they were instructed to
make, and came back wading deep IA the water
with a steadiness that surprised the army. ILey
were an iuc0rrgit.e, irregular, noisy SCI oi
rascals. They we're much sworn at during
their four years OF service: yet they were at all
times a pet brigade. There were but two
things they would do-march and night; and
these they did in q manner peculiarly their own.
They had "a long, slow, swinging stride on the
march which distanced everything that follow
ed them. They had a quiet. attentive, earnest
individual way Of fighting that made them ter
rife in battle. Each man knew that his neigh
Dor Ia the ranks was not going 10 run away,
and he knew also that he himself INTENDED 10
remain where be was. Accordingly none Of the
attention Of the line was directed from the in
portant duty Of loading and firing, rapidly and
carefully. When moving into action and while
hCtly engaged they made queer, quaint jokes.
and enjoyed them greatly. They crOwed ike
cocks, they ba a-ei Ike sheep, they neighed Ike
dogs, aud they counterfeited with excellent ef-
feet the indescrIbable music Of the mule W hen,
perchauce. they held picket line IL a forest
IT seemed ms if Noah's Ark had gene 10 pieces
there
In every engagement in which this brigade
took part, 1t was complimentet for gallant con-
due. One Of the most remarkable Of It's per
f5rmances, however, has never appeared in
print, nor has il been noticed in the reports.
After the battle of Gettysburgh, when Lees
army was in the vicinity of HagerstoTn ana the
Antietam, the Vermont Brigade was denloyed
q
three miles The enemy were in force in front
near Beaver Greek. The Sixth corps was held
in readiness in rear Of the skrmish-line, antici-
pating general engagement The enemy had
evidently determined 10 attack. At last his
line of BATTLE came forward. The batteries
opened at once and the skirnishers delivered
their FIRE. Our troops were on the alert and
stood watching for the skirmishers 10 come in
and waiting to receive the coming assault. But
the skirmishers would not come ID, and when
the IRE died away It appeared that the Vermont
ers thus deployed as a skirmish line had actual
~ repulsed a full lne-Of-battle attack. Twice
afterwards the enemy advanced 10 carry the
position and were both times again driven back
by this peryerse skirmish line. The Vermonters
il is true were strongly posted in the wood. and
each man fired from behind tree. But then
everybody knows that the etiquette in such
matters Is for a skirmish line 10 come in 80 soon
as they are satisfied that the enemy means bust
ness. These supplemented patriots from the
Green Mountains, however, adopted a rule Of
their own on this occasion; and the enemy. dis
gusted with such stupidity, retired across the
Beaver Creek.
When the Vermonters Led the column on a
march, their quick movements had 10 be regu-
lated from corps OF division headquarters, 10
II a rapid or forced march were required, it
was common thing or SedgWick to say with a
quie. smile-'Put the Yermouters at the head
of the column to-day and keep everything well
closed up
After the riot in New York, when it was found
necessary to send troops TO the city to prevent a
recurrence Of the outbreak, the Vermont Brig
ade was specially named by the War Depart
ment for this duty. Within two hours after the
receipt Of the despatch, the command was In
route for the city. They occupied the public
squares here for some time, enjoyed themselves
not wisely, nor yet yirtuOusly; and returned 70
the Army Of the Potomac sadly demoralized in
all but the two great essential qualities Of fight
ing and marching. 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 the
splendid reputation they had won at the very
outset.
There were many regiments equal to the Yer
mont regiments in actual battle, aud some that,
Ike the 9th New York Vols, not only equaled
them in fighting qualities, but greatly surpassed
them in drill, discipline and appearance on
parade As a brigade, however, they we're IN
Potomac, for they not only fought as well as II
WISE possible 10 fight, but they could outmareh
with the utmos; case any other organization in
the army.
II was the intention Of the writer only to re-
fer to this brigade as furnishing the best type
OF the American soldier, but this article has
grown beyond its intended limit, and we have
therefore not the space to examine into the caus-
es Of this superiority. Two, however, may be
briefly stated. First, that the regiments from
Vermont were brigaded together. This rule,
strange to say, seemed to work well only in re-
gard to the smaller States, Ike Vermont and
New Jersey. Second, the fact that Vermont
during the first year Of the war recruited for
her regiments and kept them full. Regimental
and company officers, knowing that their ranks
would be filled up, discharged men freely, and
thus managed TO get nd Of their weak and
worthless soldiers For these reasons the Yer
monters were good men. They were fortunate,
moreover, in having such commanders as Gen.
W. f. Smith, and Gen. ". I. II. Brooks. Ii
naturally resulted from this combination of
circumstances that they became great power
in battle, and earned reputation Of which
every man and woman in Vermont may well be
proud