The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-15
en-. DOubIeaay's speech at the
Reunion.


We present to our readers this morning,
with pleasure, the following gerbdtim
speech of Gen. Abner Doubleday, from the
which contains much interest
ing and historical matter relating to the
Battle of Gettysburg. The General said
| am not in the habit of making speeches,
but will give you plain statement of my
with the Vermont regi-
ments at the battle of Gettys-
burg. | had heard of the First Vermont
brigade all through the war, as being one
of the bravest in the army, so that when
the I'd Vermont brigade was assigned to
my division placed great reliance upon
what they would do. They reported to
me at the close of the first days fight at
Gettysburg, the most desperate fight of the
war, where the First Corps went in 5000
strong and came out 9, $50.
On the morning of the second day had
this brigade formed in close column by
division, ready to go to any part of the
hOAu ht = hpNlIt. AS highly us
tinguished regular officer, General Tidball,
was riding past he was much struck by the
soldierly appearance of the men, and in
quircd the name of the organization and
corps to which it belonged. Later in
the day when Sickles and his supports were
driven back and Longstreet was making u
gap in our lines, Gen. Tidball happened to
be at headquarters and recommended Gen
Meade to put the Nermonters in at the
threatened point The order was immed-
dtely issued to that effect Without going
into details will merely state that Stan
nard's three regiments under Colonies Ran
dali, Nichols and Veazey behaved in the
most gallant manner. | formed them in
column of regiments, supported by the re.
mander of the division, and charged to the
front. They re-establshed our line, drove
the enemy back, regained battery which
had been captured, and which belonged to
the I'd corps, and lastly took two guns be-
longing to the enemy.
We remained on this part of the field
until the contest was over, STANDARDS
brigade in front and the old troops in rear
On the third day the crisis of the battl,
came. | shall never forget, and the coun
try will never forget that browning anC
decisive movement at Gettysburgh when
after cannonadc almost unprecedented il
war, 1900 Of Lees veterans under Gen
Pickett attempted to break through GU
center and scatter the Union army to TIN
winds. Pickett's first movement was di
rectly towards STANDARDS brigade, but 70
some reason he turned off to his left AM
came out in front of the 81 corps Per
haps he did not like the looks of the Yer
mont boys. He had taken the precautiol
to guard his right with two brigades, bu
as they did not follow this last movemen
of his, they left his flank fully exposed
About this time, as heavy reinforcement
were coming in and was assigning ther
to position, Stannard changed front fol
ward, formed directly on the right fan
of the enemy and poured in deadl
volleys of musketry at short range
The rebels could not stand thi
double fire upon their front and flank
They crowded in towards their center
to try to get away from these troublesom
Vermonters. The force of their charg
was entirely broken on their right, but til
rebel General Amistead on the left succeed
ed in penetrating our lines and in placin
his hands upon one of our guns. 1t wa
only for moment. He fell mortal
wounded and with his fall the invasion {
the North ended. He was only too happ
to get away and recross the Potomac
Stannard now turned upon the brigad
which Pickett had assigned to defend h
flank, tried the same mode of attack upo
them, and helped them to enter our line
but closely guarded by his men.
think the Vermonters must have
chronic way of getting on the enemy
flank. That battle of Bennington was
kind of flank attack upon Burgoynt
army, and l noticed that he, (Burgoyne
wrote to the British Government complai
ing that he could not reach Albany becau
the Green Mountion Boys were formed
he expressed it like dark cloud on his lie
flank.
l thank you comrades for the attention wi
which you have listened to me, and for Il
cordial welcome | have received at 20
hands, and wish every one of you a hapl
and a prosperous future.
NoTR.-Gen. Armistead in his last M
g ments was overcome with remOse.
sent word to Hancock who was his ella!
r mate at West Point, "tell Hancock
wronged him and wrong my country"