The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01

nishes brief report of his address as fol-
lows:
On the evening before the great ques-
ton was to be tried we prepared to break
camp before the dawn. The enemy was
in a hopeless condition-their right
smashed, their center pierced, their strong
works in front lost, their principal line of
communication cut, Petersburg in our
possession, the fall of their capital newt
able. The campaign lasted twelve days
only. The skirmishing all day and the
marching all night, and then, on the last
three days, the racing and pursuit greatly
wearied our men. The only hope of the
enemy was to push westerly by path
way that led them along the south of the
Appomattox river. That pathway was
traversed by many streams, and, as they
rushed along, it was only to find at every
crossing some hot vanguard. 1t was the
last night of the pursuit Sheridan, who
was just little way ahead, had sent back
word that he was close upon the enemy,
and likely to strike him at any moment,
and asked us to make about eighty miles
more than the hard days march, that we
might keep up with his cavalry. It was
blakest midnight when, with flushed faces
and aching limbs, we reached the goal.
Down we lay there in our blankets, sup
PEERLESS, fevered by the heat of the march,
then chilled by the dews of the Virginia
spring. Scarcely had the first broken
dream begun, when a mounted officer
splashed down the road, bearing in his
hand note from Sheridan off you can
possibly push out your infantry tonight,
we will have great results in the morn
ing" -
Almost before the lingering echoes of
the Halt |" have died away, the tired
brain of the dreamer hears the bugle note
The horses were hurried up. The men
form in short ranks. In three hours we
reach Appomattox station. Already we
can hear the sharp ring of the hoarse ar
tillery, drowned by the surly roar of the
Confederate guns. There is no mistake.
Sheridan is square across the Confederate
retreat, and with that glorious cavalry
alone, in which our First Maine was in
the front, he was holding at bay all that
was left of the proudest army of the con-
federacy. Suddenly an officer from Sner-
idan appears, and delivers this message {:
Sir, General Sheridan wishes you to
draw off two columns and come to his
support. The confederate infantry is
pressing him hard, and likely to drive
him from the field" Such CHANGED to be
my own order.
Breaking from the woods, we soon
catch sight of Sheridan's banner. Be-
meath it sat that calm yet headlong man
on the fiery steed that had turned the
battle of the Shenandoah In full view
of us our cavalry was CALAMITY stemming
the fire of the Stonewall Jackson corps.
We wheel into line of battle Every arm
of the service was in full play. On one
side the line rolled back on the other,
pressed irresistibly on. AS the battle
took shape we became the extreme right
of a semi-circle enveloping Lee. Mean
while the other corps of infantry were
} coming up and forming sort of semi
} circle. Coming up On the confederate
! rear are the Second, Sixth and Ninth
J corps of our army, and unless they can
break through us within half hour, all
is lost by them. The confederate bat
, teries are drawn off from the crest, and
they take their ground near the court
house of the little hamlet called Apo.
} mattox. We press forward on the south
side. The die is cast. We hear the
rattle of our light artillery coming up be-
hind, and we catch glimpses of Sheridan
closing on the foe. We dash on over
swamp and stream. All is excitement
Soon two horsemen come galloping out
from the confederate line, one of them
waving a flag of truce.
The aid makes his graceful salutation
and delivers his message: " General Long.
street desires cessation of hostilities un.
til he can hear from General Lee as to
| ,nronNoo1 Of o,,rranlarD MaanuxhHo ~
course, we still advance. We have no
orders to halt, but the firing slackens on
both sides. In a moment comes the order
to cease firing and to halt A truce is
agreed upon till four o'clock in the after
noon. Four o'clock comes. No word
from Lee and Grant is heard; so, what
have we to do after this but to resume
hostilities The order came: Prepare
to make or receive an attack in ten min.
: utes." We pushed forward our skirmish
lines but Lee and Grant had come. The
final answer is not long coming now
What word for us The sky must have
been bronze that it was not rent asundeI
by the uproar of shouting and cheering
that continued late into the night.
We were in camp all the next day
: while Generals Grant and Lee were ar
ranging the details of the surrender. But
on the next night, about midnight, was
ordered to have my command out at five
o'clock the next morning to receive the
colors of the confederate army of north
ern Virginia. 1t was chilly that morning
but you may safely guess we were OF
time. We formed in line of battle
stretching along the south street of thu
town, from the bank of the stream to thu
court house-threequarters of mile il
extent-facing north. We were no
ashamed to face that way now. Ok
Massachusetts to the right of the line
all that was left of her Eighteenth
Twenty-second, and the Forty first Main'
willing to follow where she was worth,
to lead, and the proud fragments of tn
Twentieth and First Sharpshooters
= Michigan, never behind when a blow wa
+ TO be struck, with the shadowy fragmen
of her once glorious First, Fourth, Six
l teenth then Pennsylvania on the lef
with all that remained to be seen of he
t Sixty-sixth, Eighty-third, Ninety.frst
One Hundred and Eighteenth and On
|" Hundred and Fifty-ffth. In the rear O
a us Gregory's New York brigade of new
troops, but worthy. Opposite, our owl
: gallant little First brigade.
T. To- ~ o..o.oI n .or4 olouxn,