Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-08
Petersburg.

gave most interesting account OF th
part taken by the Second Vermont Brig
AIDE in the decisive battle Of the war. TIL
cause from its nature, it was of necessit,
in great degree story of personal expe
rience Those who were in the brigade
were aware that where omissions wer'
made, they were of events which woult
have obliged the Colonel to speak still
more particularly of himself.
The Second Brigade. consisting of til,
18th, 18th, 14th. 10Th and 10th regiments
was mustered in at Brattleboro, in Octo
Der. 1862, and went directly to Washing
ton. They crossed into Virginia the las
Of that month, and soon after camped neal
Alexandria for six weeks. They ther
went to Fairfax Court House. and were
there during Stuart's cavalry raid on the
night of the 2Sth of December. which was
the first service they saw in face of the
enemy. The winter WAS mostly spent on
the banks of the Occoquan, and in the
spring the brigade was scattered from the
mouth of that river to Rappahannock Sta
lion. When Lee, in June. 1868, went W
into Pennsylvania west of the mountains,
the Army of the Potomac moved north
through Maryland, east of the range. The
second brigade followed the rest of the
army. having been assigned to Reynolds
first corps.
Lee, arriving in Pennsylvania. moved
his army to the east of the mountain range
through two passes, and had them massed
on the first of July near Gettysburg
The Army of the Potomac moved north
on three parallel roads, the Emmetsburg
(nearest the mountains), the Taneytown
and the Westminster. The 1st and 18th
corps were on the west road of these three,
and on the night of the 30th of June, the
second brigade joined the 1st corps ut
Emmetsburg. Here the 18th and 10Th
regiments We're assigned to the duty of
guarding the corps baggage train. The
next day the lst corps moved forward and
going ten miles, ran into Lees whole army
at Gettysburg. The 18th corps was soon
on the ground, but Reynolds was killed,
and the two corps roughly handled. Sick
les, with the Sd corps, arrived just at even
ing. The 18th, 18th, and 10th regiments
went on the field the first day, but the
ti@htin" was over.
Lees great mistake was in not pressing
his advantage. He, by attacking that
night, could have destroyed our army in
detail During the night of the first and
the early part of the next day, the other
four corps of our army arrived by forced
from Taneytown and Westmin-
ster. and on the "a of July, the two armies
confronted each other fairly. Our line
was one of defense, and was in the shape
of a horse shoe or triangle. with the apex
in front Of Cemetery Hill, and looking
toward Gettysburg to the north and west,
The country was rather open, and not
very billy.
The afternoon of the second day the reb-
els made II heavy attack all along our
lines. There was Il great artillery fire
and strong infantry charges. The 18th
regiment lay back of the first line. and
somewhat concealed from it by Il rise OF
ground. Four companies had been de
tached on some duty in the advance, and
Colonel Randall with the remaining six
companies was lying in a hollow, back Of
the rise of ground just mentioned
While the regiment was here, it was evil
dent by the wounded men passing to the
rear, that there was warm work in front,
Soon IN officer appeared riding over the
hill and down toward the regiment. He
inquired for the commander, and intro
duced himself to Colonel Randall 1t was
General Doubleday. He wanted to know
what troops they were, and if they would
fight? The Colonel said they were new to
the business, bat he thought they ic0uid
fight The General asked to be introduced
to the men. and this being done. address
inc them n Men of Vermont" spoke of
the brave acts of the troops from that
State on many Il field; told them this was
the battle that was to decide whether
Abraham Lincoln or jeff Davis was to be
President, and urged them to act like
brave men. He ordered the Colonel to
take them over the rise of ground in front
where he would find General Hancock.
whose line was being broken and crowded
back
The regiment then advanced, and cross
inc the small ridge in front Il little to their
left. the Colonel rode on in advance, and
soon found General Hancock. whose men
were scattered. but still fighting bravely.
The General said the rebels had Just taken
his battery Zone belonging to the regular
army aud were dragging off the guns.
He wanted to know if the Colonel could
retake them. and the answer was, -. that
he could try" (although stronger state
ment is sometimes given, and may be the
right one, though the Colonel thinks not)
beHtEtl I1'tnCOck Stit- 20 H. Dut
checking himself said, No, will not or
der you to 90 in; do as your Judgment
says is best" The regiment was now up
and the colors We're placed in front, and
the order given to charge up another rising
piece of ground.
Colonel Randall, in advance of his men
had in Il few moments. his horse shot I'M
der him, and his leg was caught SO that he
could not extricate himself The men
coming up released him. and are-headed
he moved the on enemy's works" While
pinned to the ground by the dying horse,
he could see under the smoke where a
rebel line was forming- and was thus ena-
bled to know what to do to best advantage.
The regiment rushed forward The
rebels We're forming near the top of the