Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-11-08

dNI7 10 hIS c9lihdhu 10 prepare immediate
ly to break camp, and when a
little later the genera sounded from
Clusters headquarters. followed yerv soon by
to horse, AID the inquiry came, How
soon can you be ready to move? Colonel
Wells replied that he was then ready, and
could march at oacr,-his brigade had
brcaktas;cj, tents been struck, horses
saddled, and the men stood armed and
equipped, ready to mount.
The regiment. was ordered a. once to the
front, to support the picket linc-feel the
enemy 5 position and protect the camp, and
seen Gecame cIgagcd in skirmishing.
1t transpircd that the demonstration on
our right was only I fcint To cover the main
attack on our left. How tha lei: wing of
our army WAS surprised and turned BY the
Hawking foe, how the whole army was
| driven back from Cedar Creek, and crush
ing defeat seemed inevitable. until General
| Sheridan returned and turned a great dis
aster INTO brilliant victOry-wc all remem
| Der.
Oar regiment was sent from one part of
the field TO another during tho day, as tho
needs OF tho place and hour required Now
1t strengthened the pIcke, line. now stood
a vail against the advancing foe, and
covered some retreatIng division as il fell
back; now 1t dashed down . road and
checked some advancing column; now it
kept w \ lively skrmish, and now it
charged into the woods to break or drive
back the cnemy's liac,-dIrins all tho day.
on whatever GRAND it IVES sent it did its
duty.
But during the afternoon, the tide OF
battle turned. lac army which had been
driven back, from one position OF defence to
another, male stiui and took the Cllan-
sivc. aud the rchtl army which. flushed with
the successes ut the day thus far, WAS carry
ing everything, before it, came face t. face
with the men OF the North, and stopped
The NermOntcEs were first in the front,
the column was kept well closed up, and
Gen. Sheridan bsgIn to move forward. Tns
rebel army stood aghast at the spectacle,
and alter making Intellectual attempts to
hold one position after another, were driven
back, and still the Union forces pressed for
ward, and the COniederatos retreated, until
they had nearly reached Cedar Creek, whcn,
as the shadows OF evening were coming on
Zen. Custer with his division was ordered
to charge. Col. Wells brigade was put at
the front, with our regiment, closely follow
ed by the 9Th New York. ahead. The divl-
sion swept down upon the rttrsating and
demoralzed army ard drive it over and
beyond tbs creek. \ short distance from
the creek. the COnfsderates took advantage
OF favorable position. and attempted
to rally and make q stand but on
came tho charging NermOnters with their
Old friends of the fifth New YORK and the
enemy broke ard He'd in confusion and
r0ut This was the last resistance which
the enemy attempted to offer that night
Seized with panic, and utterly demoral zed,
they fed in irensiei fright, a. from a
chasing, all-deyouring flame. Still on went
the regiment, and not until near Strasburgh,
and several miles from its suppors, did it
stop.
Turning back it retraoei its steps, gather
cd up the results of the victory, and at mid
night was again on the north bank OF Cedar
Creek, and the morning of the Goth found
them there guarding their prisoners and
captured property and thus closed one Of
the most remarkable battles OF the war and
ono OF the most brilliant achievements of
the Union arms
To the glory Of that day Vcrmonters con-
tributed largely. and in the consummation
OF the victory, the First Vermont Cavalry
bore the leading part
Lieut.. Col. Bennett, in his report to the
Adjutant-Geacral of the State, speaking of
the c0nduc. OF his regiment during that
day, and OF its action in the final charge,
says "Oi the gallant conduct of my
othcers and men, no language is too strong,
Every officer and man under my command,
who participated IN that charge, conducted
himself with such gallantry as to merit
special mention" The captured property
and prisoners taken on the charge, which
had been divided with the Fifth New York.
credited to our regiment were-lT army
wagons, q wagons and ambuances, S3 sets
artillery harnesses, IS sets wagon harnesses,
% mules, IS horses. battle flags. I6I
prisoners, including | lieutenant-c0 colonel,
colonel and l general, II caissOns and %
pieces OF artillery.
In one OF the rooms Of the State House
hangs painting commemorative of the
part taken by Vermont in the great war,
and the battle OF Cedar Greek, was fifty
chosen As its subject. And in connection
With the painting let it be remembered that |
tho first men of tho Union forces to touch |
the south bank of Cedar Greek that day, |
were Nermonters-and members OF the First |
Vermont Cavalry, foremost Of whom was |
Capt. !. @. Watson. The silver tablet in |
this State House, with its brief record of |
the First Vermont Cavalry, has Inscribed |
upon 1t, the names of - engagements in
which the regiment participated. and of |
this number have only made particular
mention OF two. The great volume which
contains the complete history Of the regi-
lnent is written only in the memories ofthose
who from first to last. comprised the regi-
ment. The good name of the State of Yer
mont for courage and valor, committed to
our charge, we brought back unsullisd. But
tonight Us We think of the countless deeds
1i bravery performed, and OF the victories
won, lie, Us not forget the fearful cost As
We look gratefully and silectionately
upon the tag, under which and for
ht,,h IL.
stripe be tOubly precious to u., for
We know something Of the price which
was paid 'Or their ransom and as
&c now follow the arts Of peace, IN the en-
oyment Of all the blessings which our
Government coniers, remembering the past,
ct Us devote ourselves TO all the duties of
IN manner worthy of men,
Who have had the honor and the glory Of
'eing soldiers Of the Republic