Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-28
IN THE SHENANDOAH.
Vermont ana other New England
Veterans Rovisiting the Old Bat'ie-
0eIds.

CAMP EMORY,
WIscnEsTER, Va, Sept 20, 1881
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times:
Yesterday, the anniversary Of the battle al
Winchester opened fair and bright, as the
sun which had been obscurcd for few days
came forth to cheer our party. The reveille
sounded at @ q. M, but the veterans did not
wait for its summons for they were up early
and moving in various directions, looking for
relics and viewing the places where nineteen
years ago swept the tide of battle. The ar
rival of General Emory was the signal for
rousing cheers, and his presence was truly
appreciated by the veterans who served I'M
der him in the Nineteenth Corps.
The field in rear of our camp was where
the final charge was made by our cavalry I'M
der Custer, Merritt and Torbert, which drove
the enemy from their position, and as Sheri-
dan wrote, "sent them flying through Win
chester" 1t is even now free from trees as
! il was 10 years ago, and is made up OF roll
| ing farms, with ruins OF old fortihcatloDs
Tine remembrance of this charge is still vivid
in the old veterans minds, as in the alter
noon and with sabres flashing in the sun
light, the Union cavalry pressed CALAMITY
forward and duplicated the noble work done
by the infantry in the morning and after
noon.
The literary exercises in camp this fore
noon were the GRAFTON by Col. Wright OF
18th N. H., and a poem by Geo. W. Powers
and short speeches from members of the
different regiments who were represented in
the excursion.
In the afternoon very impressive services
were held in the cemetery near winchester
participated in by both the Boys in Blue and
Gray. The graves of the Union soldiers
were first decorated with flow ers and then
all went to the graves OF the Confederate
dead and placed flowers over them. thus In
both cases paying tribute to the fallen brave.
The ladies' of our party participated In all
these exercises and their presence toucht Il
the hearts of all the citizen Of this good OLD
town.
The chief interest in the day centered IN
gong over the old battlefields and locating
the different positions held during the day.
There were some 10 of the old Sixth
Corps, who went over the field where they
fought and the old familiar ground was easily
found. The place where Capt. Buxton
of the lite Regiment fell was located. He
was instantly killed and did not live to read
his commission as maj or, which reached Win
chester that very night. The members OF the
Sixth Corps had campfire at the headquart-
ers and elected as temporary officers for this
expedition Gen: Rhodes, LIST division, OF L..
l., president; Lieut.. Albert Hatch Sd division,
vice-pres. Private 4. Z. Bond as secretary.
Gen. Thomas of the Eighth Vermont with
o,hermembers Of his regiment and Capt
Smith of the Twelfth Connecticut, with a
guide who lives near the old battle field
went out to the position the Eighth and
Twelfth Connecticut held on the morning of
| September 10Th and with the military map
prepared by the war department moved over
| the field OF their operations on that eventful
| day. Every position was found. The Nine
teenth Corps and Sixth Corps came through
Ash Hollow, pushing by the cavalry who
were obstructing their advance. Emerging
from the Hollow the Nineteenth Corps filed
TO the right and the Sixth Corps to the left,
where they took position. Tho Union bat.
teres were engaging the enemy at this time.
| A little after 10 o'clock Col. Thomas was
ordered forward to relieve Molyncux's brig
ade with eight companies of tho Eighth
| Vermont, for two companies had been sent
out to fill the gap between the Eighth and
Sixth CORPS. The Twelfth Connecticut was
ordered forward with the Eighth, all under
Colonel Thomass command. He was direct
ed to relieve Molyneux and his brigade and
hold the position. lie found Molyneux and
relieved him. The position Of the Eighth
Vermont and Twelfth Connecticut was now
between the Eighth Corps on the right ant
the Sixth Corps on the left, near the base Of
of small descent of GROUND by ditch. The
party was able to locate the place. Here the
two regiments lay for some time confronted
by a strong force of the enemy on the margin
of the woods about four bundled yard.
away.
For two hours or more these regiments LAY
under heavy fire aud both suffered severely
They held the position until the time wher
the Eighth Corps had broken the enemy
lines ON the right, and the firing in front hat
ceased, as the rebel force there was summon
ed to help stop the Eighth Corps advance
AT this moment Col. Thomas rode In front o
his regiment and pointing to given point or
, dcred the men OF Eighth and Twelfth Con
necticut to fail in, and his words that follow
ed We're, Every one for himself and Co
! for us all. Guide center, forward doubl
, quick" The regiments responded wit
cheers and rushed across the open field, en-
, tered the woods, drove the enemy from hi
position and they did not stop until they ha
pushed clear through the woods. In goin
, through the woods we found 1t full OF dea
: and wounded Union soldiers. For the frs
I time Col. Thomas then learned that Grover
G division had been defeated here several hour
v before.
2 As Col. Thomas was leading his men il
. this charge u wounded officer lying by tire
4 waved his hand Col Thomas said to hin
G "My sweet fellow, l am sorry for you.
4 The officer said, "You are doing it splendid
8 ly, but when you get through, send dela
@ and have me carried out" The officer wa
Q Lieutenant Colonel Babcock Of the Seventy
O fifth New York.
IS When the charge was made Col. Thoms
It sent detail back and had Col. Babcoc
c removed. lie afterwards died. but he sal
q to Sergeant Bowman, who had charge of tf
IS detail, that "when l saw that old vetera
IS leading his men, it was the happiest time {
n my life."
J. The position the Eighth Vermont an
l. Twelfth Connecticut occupied before Il
charge was found, and we walked over til
ground where these brave men dashed an
drove the enemy from the woods. The woot
have been cut down, but we had no difficult
in tracing the ground by old stumps an
y some trees which are still standing. "
u picked up many things such as bullets, ball
10 broken canteens, ETC., which have laid for
T. years on the ground where the battle wa
c, fought.
Col. Thomas by his trained experience an
,g an inspiration which seized him at the m
ID ment, saw the opportune time had come f
ey HIM TO attack the foe. When he saw Il
60 Eighth Corps charging on the right, he. order.
n, his men to advance, and the successf
n charge was proudly spoken about to-day,
We Gen. Mcmillan aud all who witnessed
ne The Eighth VI. and the Twelfth Conn. new
IN fell back on that day, but held the line b
Us tween the Sixth Corps and Eighth Cor
'ir and at the critical time led by the brave c.
on onel carried the position of the enemy.
an Last evening the camp was full OF the CT
TX zens who came out 10 listen to the speech
he at the campfire, to hear the music and s
the fireworks. The closing piece was I
name Sheridan, the old commander of
Shenandoah, which was greeted with chez
and shouts of joy. Major F. II. BuiIum
,os the Boston Herald presided and introduc