Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-04-21
From the Argus and Patriot. April Gu
po4tle of gettysburg.

Commander. II will be noticed that me Oolone =
Goes lot quite az with the book "iI zen ~ s,.
/ Hon. q. e. Benedict OF the Burlington fFss f''S'I
The 18th, 18th, 18th, 18th and ION vermont
Regiments constituted STANDARDS brlgAue' anu
were attached TO the First or Reynoid corps d.
the Battle Of Gettytburgh. This brigsue
ed On the field at about four O'Clock IN 'ne ai'e-
noon Of the first day, and took position III tue
rear Of Cemetery HILL in the rear OF 'ne ~
line Of battle, where they renamed through .ae
night and through the fore part Of the ne1' uAy'
Al about uoon Of the second day the fighting IN
our front and to our left was quite animated
Generals Sickles and Hancock being at our Iel'
At about two o'clock in the afternoon was
ordered to advance my regiment to the front anu
somewhat to the left, and t0ok position some
thirty rods in advance Of the rest Of our oflgade'
where l held ny regiment in column ~ NV
sions at rest until about four CT hFe Sio0A II
the afternoon. At this time the battle was iSs
iog At our left. in front Of Hancock corps,
with much violence, and many strsggleTs were
passing to the rear. The balance Of Stannard S
. Brigade we're lying in their orlGina! posi.'on'
At about this time officer came ridihg nom
the front directly towards where my iesllleL
lay, very fast. As he approached me sIO' ne
halted, and asked nee what regiment 'A4' wv WAS
| tod him it was the 18th Vermont, oil san,
nard's brigade. He asked where Stannard anu
the rest of the brigade we're pointed out the
brigade. some thirty rods in my rear, aud slso
the spot where Stannsri and his stan were, a
little way in the rear Of the brigade. lie then
said to me will your regiment hight! TOD
him they were comparatively new troops, OUT
that thought / could rely on them. lie thel
sad, 81 am Gen Doubleday, snd now command
the first CORPS" He also tod NE he had just
come from Gen. Hancock, that that oih'er was
hard pressed, and he was afraid unless he han
help very quick be would lose his afuiiel y or
fo1e Of II. He ordered me to take my regiment,
or what had Of it, proceed IN the llreenon RON
which he came. and report to Gen. Hancock, snd
act a. he directed. but before started be said,
Colonel, introduce me 10 your regiment.
turned with him TO the regiment, and sad,
Bows, this is Gen Doubleday, our corps com
mande-" He then said, substantially, as TO-
flows Men Of Vermont tue troops iron your
State have thus far in this war carmel an euyi-
able reputation. | understand that you are
comparatively inexperienced in battle, but you
are about to be LED in by your Coionei. Much
will he expected Of you, AMI ! hope you Will
molly uphold the honor Of your state I0-iay
i the great day that determines whether JET.
Davis or Abraham Lincoln controls this govern
meut You will now follow your Colonel
then led them in the direction indicated by him.
az a double qack. snd before reaching the
crest or high land in our front, l left the
regiment in charge Of Major J. j. boyni0n
sui Adiutaut james S. Peek, ami rode myself
forward to find Gen. Hancock, aid see IN al
vance where my regiment could al him most
As came on to the top Of the high gr0uni 90
crest between the cemetery and Little Round
Top met Gen Hancock, who was vigorously
fallyiu- and encouraging his shattered RANKS,
many Of whom were still fighting Va, alty 20
hold "a and contest the ground inch by inch
aecosteI him and told him my regiment was
close AZ hand, and that Gen. Doubleday ordered
me up 10 his assistance lie appeared much
erat.hed. and said to me that the rebels hai just
taken battery from him. lie pointed 90, 70
me the direction in which they had gone With y,
snI asked me if I could Tetake IL. ! refieI TO
BIN thst thought / could. lie sail, g. iu,
then" BY thu time the regiment was ASH
up took charge Of them, sud put them .n
position to deploy from column into line Of battle
parallel 20 his main line. aud in front % BIS
somewhat dislrgGnizel troops Gen HiucocS
sat uelr me on hrs horse, and watched Tie move
meut narrowly. gave the order O. dep. y, aui
rode 10 font Of my companies 90 watch The
movement aud see that each company ctue
promptly on TO the line This was under s
sharp ire from the enemy, and my men were
falling on all sides by this time. As J saw my
iast compsuy come on the line, incAnei to-
wards the centre Of the regiment ami gave the
order 20 forward Just as | Jill this my horse
was shot deal under me, and fell, cl,clinc ue
ty ny light foot under him. The regiment ir
a moment supposed ! was killed, bot the horse
was rolled nj from ne 10y the men as they
came up, who soon saw that ] va not hurt, AMI
they followed ne as went "a foot. At this ul-
ment b5iy Of rebel troops, probably brigade,
was iep'oyin- from the bushy grouui 90 our .eit
directly IN front Of us This did not see Until
my horse fell, when got view of them IN Ter
the smoke and dust as it wss lifted. About that
time We got a v0lley from them. saw the Sit
u4tiou was critical one fer us, AID that prompt
ness was cur chance and / gave the order t1
charge upon them, thinking 20 surprise $40 d
overroFer them bet re they reloaded. Ny ue-
responded 90 the call most admirably. Before
the rebels had time % reload or put themselves
in an attitude q defence We were upon them
They threw down their srms AMI l1lt l1r, a11
we passed over them without much off 1si'l0n
Here we witnessed one 0f many sets Of treachtry
which the rebels exhibited 80 times As We
passed over them, as they sy Ike y2rieI sheep
q rebel officer arose ou his elbow and discharged
bic pistol at Major Boyntou, the charge just
brushing the Majors eaI locks. This piece Of
. peri lity was instantly avenged By half ilzsu
J. Of cur men pinriug the Tebe. 90 The earth
with their bsyouets We passed. 90, ana ia
about thirty rods overlook the detachment %
rebel troops IN charge If the captured guns, tous
F In number. Of the L. \ Regular Artillery. Cap
tain Louergsn, Of Co A., Of my regiment Bur
linrton1 and myself about simultsue usy. l
think, came up with the guns oyertaken. The
rebels appeared ve-y much surprised O. zee rs,
but after a flourish " two Of sarfes All ..ttle
emphatic language they SURRENDERED 81. the guns
90 us. sni we passed. them 90 she rear. All this
time [ think Gen Hancock vas Watching our
movements, and when my horse fell be WAS s.
near 90 me that when got up AMI le.t he horse
! heard him direct one Of his men % Keep guard
over NY saddle and straps on ny horse. When
atterwsri cane back the guard, s1il.e, and
s-raps were gone, but I afterwards tauRI my
saddle. Our men from whom the guns hal been
taken followed them up, took their guns, and re-
turned with theu % our lines My regiment
was now within about fifty role, SIS I should
Judge. Of the Emets-urgh road, sui determined
% push forward and gain that r-al. unless
ne; with formidable resistance, as I dill not.
reached the road, ny right resting at a small
farm house, which | suppose is called the Peter
Rogers house. Here we halted, and directed
Aijut&nt Peck 70 20 back and .app.ise Genera.
Hancock Of cur position, sud get his orders.
About this kline Capt Llnergan came 20 whore !
VS., much excited, and informed me that The
house above mentioned was full Of rebels. | inn
meiiately went with him 10 the house, AMI sure
enough it was | ordered them To- throw cut
their arms and surrender, which they al iii
there we're eighty-three Of them, incuiuc
officers While this wss going on, he rebe.
sharp-shooters and skirmishers were keeping up
a sharp FIRE at ny men, which they were return
ing. sni 81 about this time they ran out two
tweye-pouul brass field pieces st our lef, on the
line ofthe road, aud commenced TO FIRE upon US
At this ] directed the attention q two Of my
companies to them. They soon cleared the pieces
Of horses anl men. and then charged upon them,
capturing both Of the guns, which We brought
Oh Adjutsnt Peck having returned with word
from Gen Hancock TO keep my tanks well pro-
tec,e1. and return when | had done what I
thought | could. Seeing no more game in the
bush, We retired 10 the Union lines, amid much
cheering from the troops who hal witnessed 20
come extent our operations. | have seen some
account Of this STAIR in which it is said thst 10
this movement the l4th regiment led the all
vance, followed by the 10th. and that afterwards
the 18th regiment came up Now the truth is
the 9Th were in a petition 10 be first, having
been in advance Of the other regiments, and did
lead. They we're no doubt well in the fzht before
even Gen. StanuSrd knew oi the movement. as
took ny order for this advance from Gen.
Doubleday, who hal then not seen Gen. Stan
nsr1.
30 not wish to detract one jot from what any
other regiment may have done al this or any
other battle but must not allow my regiment to
be misrepresentei, either through Ignorance or
design. F. y. r.
We notice but TWO points, in which the above
account conflicts with that given by Mr.. Benedict,
in his little work on the part taken by the Yer
mont troops at Gettysburg. The first Of theseis as
tothe order IN which the regiments moved to the
left and front on Thursday afternoon. Col
Randall says the l3th-meaning doubtless the
right liay Of the 18th, for the lef. wing was at
the time detached for other service-lei the
movement. Mr.. Benedict said " the 18th, Col