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

u)ah, then had his headquarters.
On this march, at the foot Of Fisher
Hill, occurred the tragic death Of Colone
Holiday. No one who was with us at thu
time will ever forget the gloon and SORROW
that fell upon US when We learned OF oul
Co.ohel's death. We had become strongly
attached to him. and in him had placed IN
bounded confidence. We were far advanced
in the enemy's country, and were rapidly
approaching deadly conflict. and our Col
onel, yersed in the science and art OF war
was our reliance but on the eve OF battle
by his own hand he had died. and We were
lett without a leader.
But there was little time now for yielding
to mourning or giving way to discourage
ment; We were in active service and had
begun to be familiar with the casualties OF
war. We lelt, if We could not see. that We
were near stirring events.
On the evening of the 10th Of April, We
received orders to march im medigteiy, and
at once moved forward to Edinburgh where
our outpOsts were stationed. We found
there g considerable body OF cavalry, with
horses saddled and everything in readiness
to move at a moments notice. Infantry and
artillery were also there, in the same state
OF preparation. The air was full OF c0nlcc-
lures and rumors. Daring the night it be-
came evident that there was to be an ai-
vance of the army Of the Shenandoah. We
were ordered to remain by our horses and
to be ready to mount at command. We
tried to snatch q little sleep, but our
thoughts were too busy with the prob able
events OF the morrow to permit Oi rest. Some
OF Us had visited the picket station III the
outskirts OF the village-Bad seen the su Ose
curl from rebel mu-kcts. aud had heard
the shots OF the rebel guns, a. the enemy :
a. rra hai ttn
woods to fire upon our pickets, and we
knew that We were near the enemy. Ii was a
clear, quiet moonlight night, and the mys-
FERROUS silence and suspense were oppressive.
At midnight, the column moved. our resi-
ment in advance We went past the out
posts. at whispered commands. with the 81
lence only broken ty the tramping
of the cavalry, and the dull. me-
taliic rumhling of the artillery. To
the right and lett extended. like
outstretchej wing, the long lines of
| sSlrmlshers, and We could dimiy see their
| dark, shadowy forms moving Continuously
and noisele>,ly along the low and level laud,
or with strange diStinctuess against the
southern sky as they came upon some ,le-
waited ground. We anxiOusly expected
every moment to meet the eIemy's pickets,
| and We hal not proceeded far when the still
the crack OF u rifle: soon there followed
few seating shots and then silence brO0ded
over us again. In this snirmish our men
captured few prisoners with no loss to US.
We moved along Tor some time without
meeting any obstacles, but in tho distance
ahead OF US, the heavens were lighted with
something more than camp fires, and, with
our knO Wedge Of the habits of tie enemy,
We rightly concluded that the Confederates
were burning the bridges in our front But
still We moved forward, and night gave
way to day.
We came now in sight OF Mount Jackson.
and as We neared the place, a few shots
were again exchanged, and the booming Of
q cannon was heard We then advanced
slowly and with greater caution. The can
nOnadlng could be more distinctly heard.
and the rebel forces could now be plainly
seen Our battery dashed by Ia at tear
ing gallop, and We found that flying artil-
leIy was no mi-nOmer. We came to a
stream where the bridge was still burning,
but turning to the right We easily crossed
a ford. We went but little further before
We were told that charge was 10 be made,
Our battery had taken position on our
front and left. and was at work, replying
to the rebel guns. Our general officers
with their stats could be seen moving
about and with their field glasses survey
ing the position OF the opposing army. We
were already in our first engagement, and
VIC neryed ourselves for whatever might be
in store for us. The few carbinears in tho
regiment were placed 10 the rear, a position
somewhat different from that which car
bines afterwards occupied.
Lieutenant llunto0n who had command
of the car bineers said, I'VE are are going to
charge on the batteries, and VIC must take
them too, and not ialtering face met the
eyes Of the Lieutenant. The trOt began.
the command draw sabre" was given, and
out sprang nearly thousand shining
blades. We took careful look at our equip
ments, saw that our sword knots were se-
cure about our wrists, pulled our caps
tightly over our heads. graspcd our sahres
firmly, and nervcl ourselves for the
shock. The cannonaiiag grew nearer,
and a brisk firing was being carried on
in our front, and soon the gallop
began, and then, through the CHATTER of the |
horses hoOiS en- the stony pike though the |
Changing o! the scabbards and the roar of
the artillery the bugle sounded the charge,
and away flew the long column with up
lifted satres gllstening in the morning sun
light. and with the Union hurrah echoine
from the mountains, and resOunding in the |
valley. Every instant we expected that the |
shricking shells would crash through our
ranks, but on We dashed The enemy's |
lines broke, and their forces gave way in
precIpItate flight. We came to the village |
and, close on the heels Of the rebels charged
through it We reached the river but the
bridge was burned, and We plunged in and
crossed the ford. We had gone to the limit
of our orders, and the halt sounded, but
the regiment had not yet learned to obey
that command. and still on it pressed until
IL reached another stream where the rebels
were then firing the bridge. The incen-
diaries were captured, the flames were ex-
tinguisncd, and the bridge vas saSei. On
the field before US lay the white horse OF
the rebel Col. Ashly. The "black horse
cavalry which had been a terror to the
Union forces, was routed, their prestige
was destroyed, and their commander, Ashly,
iouni. a. he expressed it, that different
dogs were after him this time The army
81 the Shenandoah came forward and occu-
pied the position gained and the FIRST Yer
mont ulyairy Iai had its baptism Of fire and
had come out strengthened Ly the ordeal,
md better prepared to DO valiant work IN
he coming years
The brief contest of ninety days had
eng thehed INTO a gigantic war of over nine
hundred days; the backbone of the rebel
ION had been frequently broken. and yet
hat remarkable spine was erect and strong.
,e had experienced all tho varied fortunes
II war. We had exulted in victory, and I
lad incurred over defeat; We had learned
Ike that doughty warrior Of an earlier day,
nat sometimes discretion is the better {
art Of yalOr, and We had philosophical IN
his wise:
lie who fl .hts and runs AWAY
May live 10 y .ht another day.
nd % We had sometimes shown marvel
lu' skill and speed in putting distance be- /, ,
ween US and those who were after US. We .
ad served under Banks, Pope. Burnside.
leade. Sheridan. and the great generals Of
II our armies. We had been up and down
he valley had Seen within the fortified y
ions OF Washington bad passed q demon =,
llLing winter at the outpOSts around Wash a
lgtOn had been the sport of MOsby a
ad been back and forth over Bull Run; "
ad been at Williamsport and at Gsttys- +
urgh had crossed and recrOssed the Rap n
ahannock and Rapidan; had been through -
he great campaign OF the Wilderness q
ad been in sight of Richmond under the
rave and lamentcd Dahlgren, and many OF I,
: had been, not simply ION TO Rich :.
ond, or near Richmond. but IN II
edmond, "a the guests of the COnieder- d
y. iuc IIoCuOW Oh tue city nhl not | q,
,actly been extended to Us. but We $,
I'd experienced something of the prJverbial u
,uthCrn hospitality as illustrated and DIS ',
'nsed by mine host, Dick Turner. We knew IL
ore than We could tell of Libby and ri
ellie Isle, OF Columbia and OF Ander>onyille, \
I'd the camp and the battle field, the march IN
id the biyOuac, tho hospital and the q
ison--wcre all familiar 20 Us. 81
The regiment had rendered valiant ser 81
GO on scores OF battle fields, and many of 10
r best and bravcst officers and men had al
len. a.
Nearly, II not quite every officer above
c rank OF first lieutenant, with rs ON the tn
Q llth OF April, 1862. had gone, and one, Its
10 joined the regiment at Burlington, Il,
tn single bar upon his shoulder. WI
" wore the eagle and was in command of si'
brigade, and again after the lapse Of two mi
,ntiul years. the regiment finds itself, in IN
, Autumn OF 1851, on the scene OF its first M
ave campaign, IN the valley OF the Shen ie
4