Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-10-05
MONTPELIER VT, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER s. 1870.

with the Maine regiments, and commanded
by o. o. Howard at the 6rst Bull Run, and
the Brigade was in Heintzelman's Division.
On being transferred and incorporated in a
Brigade with the other Vermont regiments,
the 3D., 4th, 9th and 9th, the Brigade was
commanded short time by General ". +.
Smith, a son of Vermont Soon after, how
ever, General Smith was placed in command
Of Division consisting of the Vermont Brig
ade, aud General Brooks was assigned as our
Brigade Commander. The other brgades in
the Division were, a brigade of New York
and Maine troops commanded by General W
s. Hancock and a brigade Of New York and
Pennsylvania troops commanded by General
Davidson; During the winter Of 1912, the
plan Of organizing the Army Of the Potomac
in Corps was adopted aud our Division was
incorporated with the 4th Corps, commanded
by General f. d. Keyes, and in this way we
made the Peninsula campaign under McClel-
Ian after this by a reorganization of army
corps, our brigade was incorporated in the
9th Corps, and continued in that to the end
Of the war. The recorded history Of the old
9th Corps is as honorable as the history of
the Old Guard" Of Napoleon and foremost
by general consent among the troops that won
that corps its proud distinction was the Clio
rious Old Vermont Brigade.
What recorded or unrecorded event Of the
war reflects more honor on the actors than the
brilliant dash Of the old second regiment dur
ing the battle of the Wilderness, and forcing
the rebels from their strong works, and cap
turing and holding them a half mile in front
Of the main line, and then when asked if
they could hold their position until supports
could be brought up; their answer was,
" send as ammunition and provisions and We
can hold u sir months If you ,oait."
One event | am tempted to notice here,
which might otherwise be lost to history, that
at the time reflected great credit and distinc-
tion on the second regiment. While McClel-
Ian was before Richmond in 1862, he was
visited by many distinguished foreign officers,
drawn there no doubt by curiosity to see
something of our soldiers and service. Among
that number was Gen. Prim, then General
in Chief of all the Spanish armies, and now
practically at the head of the Spanish Gov.
vernment
Cen Prm expressed desire to see some
of our troops in line on review. The second
Vermont regiment was ordered to parade for
review, wholly unconscious of what the pur.
pose was, and were soon in line. Presently a
bevy of elegantly dressed officers were seen
to mount in front of the Generals quarters
and esurey rode towards where our regi
ment was paraded, and we were reviewed by
them, still unconscious of who the distinguish
ed strangers were, or why it all took place
Presently, however, it was whispered along
the line that that swarthy little round-headed
smooth faced tnselled officer was none othel
than the Commander in Chief of the armie
of Spain. 1t was too late of course for u
to exhibit any tokens of trepidation or Yankee
discontinue, and we finally consoled ourselves
with the conclusion, that Gen. Mcclellan
would not, for such an occasion, hare ordereC
Out a poor regiment.
Many tokens of appreciation of our supe
rior merit, as regiment, might be named
-. but I c,rka.r 20 C,rthar doto;n vo,, n,,
work as soldiers is probably ended; whethe
t our services are or ever will be duly an'
t fully understood and appreciated in this gen
2 Grafton, matters little. Our great interes
/ should be to transmit to posterty the facts a
, to the causes Of the great struggle, and tn
/ part we had in it, and leave the judgment O
our motives, and actions, with them.
G We shall soon pass, my comrades as man
Of our companions in arms already have done
| from the judgment of men to the judgmen
I of one who unerringly fathoms the motive
of us all. But few years will have pas
ed, when our heads will have whitened, ou
frames that with so much agility supporte
1 us in the desperate encounter with the foemer
o will totter and reel, the ravages of time wi
have done its work. Our tales of desperat
encounter and hair breadth escapes will b
no more repeated by us and the grave wi
encompass us, the green sod will be lai
y over US and then, and not now, will the SCI
+. vices rendered, and sacrifices made, be mo'
A sacredly remembered and acknowledged by
grateful people.