Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-01-10

removed. The enemy were repulsed and
driven back at every point, and the fol-
lowing day defeated on every portion of
the field. This affair illustrated one
peculiar trait in Sedgwick's character
and life. He was always quietly but
decidedly at the right spot at the right
time, and he seemed to get there or be
there with such quiet precision that
there seemed nothing strange III it until
you critically examined the obstacles
overcome. This feature fitted him pc
culiarly for the command of the Sixth
Corps which he attained somewhat later,
for throughout the history of that crops
repeated instances on important occa-
sions are to be found when its prompt
and timely arrival accomplished decisive
results. 1T is not to be wondered at,
therefore, that when such commander
succeeded to such corps that the repu-
tation of both should stand throughout
the army.
At Antietam, under the blue Scptem-
Der sky in the early dawn, the reor-
ganized army of the Potomac under its
old commander confronted upon sim
gle field its old opponent Hitherto all
our great battles had been fought upon
one side or the other in detail. Sedg-
wick commanding his division under the
gallant Summer, pushed forward on the
right leading his men with that earnest
determination which always implied
that the thing he set out to do must be
accomplished in spite of all human re-
sistance. His men melted away under
the steady and destructive, fire yet be
pressed on forcing the enemy back
through the woods and the cornield, be-
yond the memorable bunker church.
He was bleeding from painful wound
to which he referred almost petulantly
as being merely an annoyance and awk-
ward just at that time. At last again
struck by an encmy's bullet he fell from
loss of blood and exhaustion and was
carried from the field. The contest at
this point had been severe beyond de-
scriptiOn and when Sedgwick's bleeding
body was borne away and the hearts of
his men were dropping, it was the old
Sixth Corps that pressed forward under
Franklin and Smith and Slocum to re-
store our broken ranks, to save the rem
nant of Sedgwick's Division and assist
in completing the glorious work of the
day and one of the greatest victories of
the war. Sedgwick's wounds were very
painful, but long before they were fully
healed he was back again in the field
and assigned to the command of the
Ninth Corps. Referring to the pain
and annoyance of his wounds he once
said laughingly: elf | am ever hit
again l hope it will settle me at once.
want no more wounds"
When the customary and expected
change was made in the command of the
army of the Potomac after the first
Fredericksburg, an interchange of COM
manders was ordered between the Ninth
and the Sixth Corps which placed Gen
eral Badly" Smith in command of the
one and General Sedgwick's as the chief
of the other. He joined the corps at
the camp on the Rappahannock known
as White Oak Church. When he came
he was kindly received, even enthusias-
tically, Notwithstanding the corps great
ly mourned its late commanders both
franklin and Smith.
The winter passed monotonously
enough. 1t was dismal camp, and
the days went by right heavily until at
the opening of spring our ancient labor
was resumed and once more the faithful
old Army of the Potomac found itself
again upon the hated pontoons. crossing
the river of death preliminary to the
battles which made up the sad record
of the Charlottesville campaign. In
asmuch as this campaign, and the events
connected with it, constitute perhaps
the most important Of Sedgwick's histo-
ry, shall devote more of my time to it
than to any other of the actions in
which he was engaged. The movements
| Of General Hooker at that time were
singularly we'll planned. Our army
occupying the Falmouth Heights and
the left bank of the Rappahannock was
confronted by the army of General Lee
occupying the opposite bank, the City
of Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights and
the river above and below the city, a
| distance of some miles.
| Hooker's plan consisted of transfer
ring the greater part of the army rap
idly and secretly some twenty miles
above Lees position, crossing the river
in force, marching to the flank and rear
of the rebel line and compelling the en-
emy to evacuate a strongly fortified po-
sition and come out and give battle out
| side his works in order to save his com.
munication with Richmond.
| While the movement was in progress
Sedgwick was left near his original
| camn a few miles halnw Eredericks burg