Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-09-04

commander, and you will never want old
friends to defend or praise you
Athdavits are also appended from two men
of the Harris Light Cavalry, and from Ser
geant Charles Wheeler, of Co. E, LIST Vt.
Cavalry, corroborating Major Growers state
ment, and ayerring that they never heard
Gen. Kilpatrick's courage called in question.
The Harris Light Cavalry men say that they
saw no Vermont troops in the charge.
The Herald also publishes the following
CORRoBoRArIvE STATEMENT.
We the undersigned, soldiers of the First
Regiment of Vermont Cavalry, have read the
letter of Major John Ii. Hazelton, Of August
d, 1872, in reference to the conduct of Ma
i0r General Judson L. Fitzpatrick, at the
battle of Boonsboro, Md, July Is, 1868.
We were present and participated in the
charge referred to by Major Hazelton, and
say that all the facts stated by him in his
letter are true that we have knowledge OF
the facts and are ready TO make affidavit of
the truth of Major Hazelton letter, if
proper to do so.
HENRY W. COOKE,
JOSEPH GUERTIN,
HENRY o. EDsoN,
NATHANIEL B. LEWIS,
ABNER L. SANDERsoN,
CURTIS 5. WOODWARD,
JAMES BARRETT.
Rutland, August 2SIh, 1872.
The letters of Gen. K and Major Grover
have called out the following:
LETTER FROM GEN. WELLS.
BURLINGTON, VT, Aug. 81, 1872.
EIHor Free Press and Times:
notice in the Rutland Herald of the 30th
inst, letters from Gen. Fitzpatrick and Ma
ior Grover, relative to a cavalry charge at
8oonsboro Md, Sth July, 1868.
The facts are that late in the afternoon
Gen. Fitzpatrick ordered a charge to be made
by Companies B and q, (Vt Cavalry,) I'M
der the command of Capt. Beem4n. The
charge was made, but repused by superior
numbers Of the enemy. On their return
from the front, Gen Fitzpatrick addressed
them in the language quoted by Major Ha-
zslt1n 10 his letter OF the 9th lust.
While the General was thus addressing
Capt. Beemau's command, | came to the
front with COS B and H., (the remainder of
the bIttaliOnl | asked him what the
trouble was, when he repeated 70 me what
he had Just said He added that he would
lead the charge and show ths regiment how
to fight | replied that the battalion were
not towards, and would % further than he,
6c.-rs they did.
20 even 50 far as the house referred to by
MAJOR Hazelton, but rode behind haystack
some distance IN the rear of the house. The
Gea, raj says the affair was of little account,
as only one man was wounded Had he led
the battalion and gone as far as he said he
would, he might have thou .ht differently.
The report in the Adjutant Generals Office
shows that fifteen men were wounded IN the
\ charge most OF them with sabre cuts
+ Col. 4. ". Preston avs in his official re-
port, dated B)onsb)ro. Nd, July 10, 1868.
/ - July :, General Stewart. with a large force
attacked our cavalry at Boonsboro early in
the morning The FIRST Vermont was held
in reserve until in the afternoon, then it was
sent hy detachments To various parts of the
field 70 strengthen our lines. At sundOwn a
spirited charge was made by the second bat
TALON under MAJOR Wells upon the retreat
ing enemy, and the sabre was freely used on
both sides.
Major Grover (at the time Captain Of Co
X } in his letter of the Both INST, refers t.
the action Of Major Benefits battalion, il
which his company belonged. and not to the
battalion | had the honor 70 command. Ma
ilr Grover was not with me at any tim,
during the charge, but was IN a different
part Of the field. which accounts for his not
seeing it as / did.
Respectfully yours,