The National tribune., 1883-06-28
VERMONT VETERANS,
And the Hot Fight They Had At
SaVage's Station.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

have read the "reminiscences of the war In both
the East and West published IN THE TRIBUNE with
great interest. and have been entertained as only
old soldiers who have been through the fiery fur
mace can be- but I have waited in vain for some
one to give the earlier history of the Army of the
Potomac
1t is the general impression that the war spirit
grew in intensity until the soldiery of both sides
were educated to deeds of more than usual valor
but after four years servieetliree in the Army of
the Potomac and one in the South under General
Candy to the close of the war-it is my opinion
that no battles more closely contested nor i'll
any heavier loss sustained, III proportion to the
numbers engaged than those which ushered In
the war.
On the 29th of June, 1862, the army was swinging
around from the Cfickahominy to the James and
we-the . Old Vermont Brigade were dragging
weary steps along, worn out by constant fight
ing by days and marching by nights We had
passed Savage'S Station, where cords upon cords of
bareback and bacon were given to the flames, and
were nearing White Oak swamp when the column
halted Aids passed rapidly back and forth. and
nent, pervaded the ranks. Sure enough, General
Brooks, mounted on Old Badly" countermarched
the brigade to Savages Station where we were de-
poyed in line of battle, supported by the Second
Third, Fourth and Sixth Vermont volunteers, COM
posing our brigade (Broos<s'). The order came
:. Fix bayonetsin and with unloaded muslSets we
We're ordered forward We passed the Station and
tie brigade swept forward IN line of battle, col
of brigade, and we entered the woods.
Everything was quiet, not shot was heard
nothing bat the low, quiet nervous commands of
the ofiieersard we began 10 ask ourselves if there
had not been another mistake, and there We're
after all to be no pnHvted guests present. But we
soon got an Introduction TO them
The first inyiHiation we received that we were
expected was when we saw a big butternut-
colored chap step from behind % tree and DELHI
erately fire, and then git" Poor Bolster-my
right-hand man-caught it through the head, and
then the fight became general. With unfoae!ed
nuskets'we left the woods and entered clearing
to find ourselves confronted by rebel battery
supported by line of infantry. Here the line was
halted and dressed under perfect storm of canis-
I lEgt- hall to loQ6 and
fire ut wilt"
Good God! As remember it now, I cannot help
wondering why we did moi fix bayonets and with
an old-iashioned Vermont hurral, take that bat
terry. But the order was, Commence firing =,
and we did with no thought of but to stop that
battery" Men tore savageiy mt their cartridges
and cursed because their guns Were foul ard it
took longer than usual TO the charge home.
But the fire of the battery began 10 siaeken. The
into flame and smoke II anything the din in
creased; but the hiss of the mimic was not so Of
fensive as the howl and whir of canister
a lew moments apparently, but in reality an
hour, passed; and as l looked around saw not the
solid line OF familiar faces but here and there
little group of men, black powder and dir. could
make them, still tearing cartridges and nergously
raInn'ilg them home, while scattered the
ground lay more than were in line.
Poor, broken, bleeding old Fifth Vermont, al
though two-thirds of your numbers lay on the
ground or had hobbled wounded 10 the rear yet
you were not whipped; but over the corpses OF
your former schooimates stood guard ard rs dark
ness let fail her mantle oserthe piles of the dead
the defiant flame still leaped forth from your line
Late at night the shattered regiment gathered
itself up, and serrowfulfy resumed the march to-
wards the James, but not until the broken bridge
across the White Oak swamp had been repaired,
and the trains, to which those noble men had
so gratdly died. had crossed in safety. My COM
pany entered the fight with iity-nine men, and if
my memory serves me, we lost hfty-four leaving.
only enough 10 make one stack of arms As for
myself, carried broken arm to Harrisons Land
ing leaving my BROTHER dead OH the feld-as noble
soul as ever iiveti He sleeps with his schoolmates
and comrades at Sayages station Va.
ISAAC VI. BURTON
Co. i, 5th Vermont Vet Vols
PARSONS. KAN. I'd Brig, I'd Div, 9th A. C.