Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-13

. nd could outmarch the army. They were indi-
vidually self-reliant and sklllful iu the of
arms, and they honestly believed that the Yer
mont Brigade could not be beaten by all the
| combined armies of the rebellion.
They were veterans fighting qualities
almost from their first ekIrmish. This was at
Lea's mills. They CROSSED narrow dam under
fire, made the attack they were Instructed to
make. and came back wading deep in the water
with steadlness that surprised the army. They
were incorrig,bie, irregular, noisy set of ras-
| Gals. They were much sworn at during their
four years of service yet they were at all
times pet brigade There were but tV things
they would do-march and hight and these
they did In manner peculiarly their own.
They had q long, slow, swinging stride ON ne
march which distanced everything that followed
them. They had quiet attentive, earnest in-
Gividual way of fighting that made them terrific
in battle. Each man knew that his neightor
in the ranks was not going TO run away, and he
knew also that he himself intended to remain
where he was. Accordingly none OF the atten-
tion of the line directed from the important
duty of loading and firing, rapidly and carefully
w hen moving into action and while hotiy
engaged they made queer, quaint jokes, and en-
joyed them greatly. They crowed like cocks,
and ba-a-ed like sheep, they neighed like horses,
they beloved like bulls, they barked like dogs,
and they counterfeited with excellent effect the
indescribable music of the mule. When per-
chance, they held picket line in "a forest 1t
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 con-
duct. One of the most remarkable OF the per-
formances, however, has never appeared IN print,
nor has IT been noticed in the reports. Alter
the battle OF Gettysburg, when Lee army was
in the vicinity of Hagerstown and the Ante
tam, the Vermont Brigade was depoyed as
skTmishing line, covering point OF nearly
three miles. Tue enemy were force IN front
Beaver Creek. The Sixth corps was held
in readiness in of the skirms line, anric-
ipating general engagement L he enemy had
evidently determined to attack. AT ast hls
line OF battle came forward. The batteries
openei at once and the skIrm shers delivered
their fire. Our troops the alert and
stood watching for the skirmIshers TO come IN
and waiting to receive the coming assault But
the skirmlShers would not come in, and when
the firing died away it appeared that the Yer
monters thus deployed as skirmish line had
actually repulsed a full line-Ot- battle attack
Twice afterwards the enemy advanced to carry
the position and were each time again driven
back by this perverse skrm.sh line. The ' er-
monters 1t is true were strongly posted in d
wood, and each man fred from behind tree.
But then everybody knows that the etiquette IN
such matters is for skIrmlsh line to come IN 80
soon they satisfied that the enemy means
business. These sImple-minded patriots from
the Green Mountains, however, adopted rule
OF their this occasion and the enemy,
disgusted with such stupidity, retired across the
Beaver Greek.
W hen the Vermonter- led the column on
march, their quick movements had to be regula
ted ircm corps or division headquarters, To
avoid gaps IN the column as 1t followed them
Ii rapid or forced march We're required, it
was q common thing for Sedgwick TO say with
quiet smile-'Pnt the Vermonters at the head
of the column to-day ana keep everything well
closed up
After the riots in New York, when it was
found necessary TO send toops % that city to pre-
vent recurrence Of The outbreak, the Vermont
Brigade was specially named by the War De
partment Tor this duty. Within TWO hours
after the receipt OF the dispatch the command
was en- route for the city They uccUpled the
public squires here tor some time, enjoyed them
selves not wisely, nor Yet virtuously, and re-
turned 10 the Army OF the Potomac sadly de-
moralized in all but the two great essential
qualities OF fighting and marching. 1t was
fortunate thing Tor 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 to their old routine OF life,
and maintained 10 the close of the the
splendid reputation they had won At the very
outset.
There were many regiments equal TO the \ er-
mont regiments in actual battle, and some that.
Ike the 9Th New York Vols, not only e9ualled
them IN lighting qualities, but greatly surpassed
them In drlll, discipline and appearance on
parade. As brigade, however. they were IN
doubtedly the best brigade N the Army of the
Potomac, for they not only fought as well az it
was possible to fight, but thev could ouImaFch
with the utmost ease any other organization in
the army.
1t was the intention of the writer only to re
fer 10 this brigade furnishing the best type
OF The American soldier, but this article has
grown beyond its Intended limit, and have
causes OF this superiority. Two, however, may
he briefly stated First, that the regiments from
Vermont Were brigaded together. This rule,
strange TO say, seemed to work well only in
gard TO the smaller States, ike Vermont and
New Jersey. Second, the tact that Vermont
during the first year of The war recruited fer 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 rid OF their weak and worthless
soldiers For thes. reasons the Vermonters
were good men. They were fortunate, moreover,
in having such commanders as Gen. W. +.
Smith, and Gen. W. T. h. Brooks. 1t natu-
rally resulted from this combination of cireum-
stances that they became great power IN bat
tie, and earned reputation of which every man
and woman In Vermont may well he proud
New Publications.