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

day that were ready to break as they
wearily waited for news from the front.
Nevertheless the war went on, and the
twenty thousand gallant men who swept
that crest, less the one thousand bleed
ing on its slope, went forward under
John Sedgwick.
Our advance was spitefully resisted.
At Salem chapel, midway between Fred
ericksburg and Charlottesville, the en-
emy strongly reinforced from the main
army under Lee confronting Hooker, re-
inforced also by the troops who lined the
river above Fredericksburgh and who
fell back upon the carrying of Marye's
Heights, made a final stand. Brooks,
God bless him Old commander of the
Vermont Brigade, true-hearted gentle
man, unequalled soldier, rough and
ready, beloved of men, robust and strong
and prompt, went forward with his d.
vision of the red cross through the thick
undergrowth that covered the mild as
cent that led to Salem Heights. The
sunken road across the crest at right
angels to our line of march, filled with
the rebel infantry, checked for the mo-
ment his advance. but he swept forward
gallently and well, pierced their line
and for moment held the crest.
His flank and rear were assailed by
the enemy, who overlapped him, and he
was forced back through the underground
out into the clearing, followed closely
viciously until he was enabled to reform
under cover of our batteries, which, with
grape and canister, rapidly served,
checked the enemy under the personal
supervision of Sedgwick. The next di-
vision, as fast as it arrived, was put into
action, and the whole line again advanc-
ed, steadily forcing its way up the crest,
until at last night set in and there was
the silence of death. All night long
those two armies lay in the position in
which they had fought during the clos
ing hours of the day. There was no in
terchange of soldiers bandinage; there
was not a picket shot to disturb the
silence. No fires were lighted upon
either side, and the men lay down coffee
less on their grassy beds. Here and
there the stretcher-men moved around
silently bringing in their wounded or
gathering in the dead. There vas but
one sound that disturbed thethe stiffness.
From the direction of Charlottesville
we could hear the low rumble of artil-
lery, telling of marching columns.
Strange but not unexpected rumors
reached us from our rear that the city
of Fredericksburg and Marye's Heights.
which We had carried so gallantly and
at such cost. were re-occupied by the
enemy. REINFORCED from the direction of
Richmond. The situation of the corps
was critical. Howe's division was
formed in line of battle facing to the
rear and toward Fredericksburg to re-
sist an attack from that direction.
Brooks and Newton remained on the
field facing toward Charlottesville, and
the two lines thus formed in opposite
directions, about two miles apart, were
connected by skirmish line of troops
supporting frequent batteries. Every
thing indicated that the Sixth Corps
would be overwhelmed by an attack
from all sides at early daylight. Gen.
Sedgwick, when all his arrangements
were completed, lay down in the wet
grass with his head pillowed on his
saddle; but he slept not. Three times
during the night he telegraphed to Gen.
Hooker, sending the dispatch to the
river at Banks Ford. a few miles above
Fredericksburg, with which point VIC
still held communication. There was
certain pathos in those dispatches that
none who do not realize the situation
can appreciate. se
II have reached this point" he said,
in obedience to orders. My advance is
checked. The enemy is strongly rein
forcing from your direction. | can
: plainly hear the rumble Of their artil-
lery. My losses are heavy. I will be.
no doubt, attacked in strong force at
daylight. Can you help me 2"
This was the burden of the dispatches
; three times repeated during that still
and anxious night. No answer came
, until eight o'clock of the following day.
In the meantime the enemy wasted the
, hours in preparation. On that morning
staff officer of General Sedgwick,
whose personal relations enabled him to
. speak freely, and whose youth, no doubt,
, inspired him somewhat with sentiment
of enthusiasm, remarked to the General
, that the situation seemed gloomy. The
. General quietly assented. with that
pleasant merry twinkle in his eye which
all who knew him will remember. Our
young friend then remarked:
, General. it looks as if the Sixth
f Corps was going to close it career to-
day."
"It has somewhat that appearance"
said the General.