Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-02

tered here and there all over the lines were
found to be full of thrilling "reminiscences.
Yesterday the colonel may be said to have
been on the ground to receive the statements
Of the delegates in his capacity of suporinten-
dent of tablets and legends To-day he ad.
dressed his auditors as the United States Off
cial historian Of the battle The delegates,
their ladies and friends, followed him over the
route of the different lines of formation, of
attack or defence, retreat or victory. In or
der to do so the livery and private stables Of
and surrounding hamlets and farm
houses were taxed to goodly extent in pro-
viding suitable vehicles for the purpose. Ba-
rouches, barges and bugges were in requisi-
ton, and when the cortege was in line it ex
tended nearly two miles. A goodly number
of people came from adjoining states, and
there were, besides, representatives from New
Vermont, New York and New
Jersey. The disconnected descriptions Of
Thursday whetted the desire for a more mi
mute and consecutive recital by Col Batchel-
der Of the deadly struggle which for three
days drenched these fair fields and frowning
mountain passes with human blood. He has
visited the battle field hundred times he
has conversed and compared notes with over
a thousand officers at different points of the
ground, and OF these - were either federal or
confederate generals in command here at the
time. The cortGge, under his direction, first
proceeded out on the Chambersburg turnpike
to the point where the battle opened on the
first day. Hating upon a commanding point,
around which the entire party congregated,
the colonel pointed out the position of the
opposing troops on the eventful morning of
July /, 1868 The lines Of advance of the
enemy were indicated and the counter move
ments and positions of the federals explained
in most vivid detail, the narrator using the
vast panorama itself as his map. From this
point the eager party crossed the old railroad
so fraught with exciting incidents in the his
tory of the opening day of the battle, and
moved to the Mummasburg road, where the
exploits of Robinsons division of the First
corps, and Of the Eleventh corps. which came
up later in the day, were depicted, and many
queries from the boys" were explained.
Tu rning from here backward toward the his
toric town, and going out the Baltimore turn
pike the party visited the national cemetery
and, later, east cemetery hill, from whence
the attack and repulse OF Earlys division on
the second night OF the battle was explained.
Now, on this calm and bright October day,
while the falling leaves dot the green mounds
of the heroes who so bravely batted against
the red hand of rebellion in those trying days,
and yielded their glorious lives in the fray, it
seems to us, their surviving comrades, like
the darkling dawn of the waking from some
ghastly dream. Can it be possible that the
description we hear in all its thrilling intens-
ty was within our own practical experience on
this and other fields only twenty years ago !?
1t was here, at this point, that Slocum's 18th
corps was attacked 30 suddenly, on the night
of the second day, as to be compared to the
impetuosity of the whirlwind. The combat
ants in their ferocity gsred into each other's
eyes by the lurid light of musketry flashes and
blazing shells. The Union infantry lines we're
broken, and their wild assailants followed
them through showers of grape and canister
up to the very guns, seizing some and spiking
others. The voices of officers rang high above
the clsng Of battle. The fight continued here
aud there with cannon, muskets, pistols, hand
pixies, rammers, clubs, stones-anything in
defence or attack. Distraught men swore,
implored, raved and cried by turns in these
moments of madness. Here said the de-
lineator, south of the wall, at Ricketts, left
gun, a confederate lieutenant dashed boldly
up and seized the company's guidon. Private
Riggan, its bearer, shot him dead, and at the
same moment the glorious fellow fell a strick
en- corpse on his adverssry's form. rebel
lieutenant charged into the battery, and, lay.
ing his hand on a gun, demanded its surren'
der, when one of the gunners Drained him
with handspke on the instant. A rebel ser.
geant made a similar charge on the third gun,
and was knocked to the ground with a stone
in the hands of the lieutenant having charge
of IT," And SO goes on the thrilling narrative
in the details of this terrific strife Leaving
this point, the visitors drove to Culps hill
one of the most interesting parts of the field
on account of the trees still bearing marks OF
the conflict. line of breastworks extends
over this hill, marking the positions of the
Union army. 1t was at the eastern base Of
Culps hill that the Second Massachusetts reg
iment did its heroic work, and the visitors
alghted to visit the locality. Returning to
Cemetery hill, we drove out on the Emmets
burg road, which affords an admirable oppor
tunity for describing this portion of the fight
and this was done in minute detail by the
colonel The apple orchard, peach orchard
and other localities of special interest, wert
pointed out and then the locality of tn,
wheat-feld was visited, and an elaborate de
scription of the action at this point given, thu
colonel illustrating why and how the differen
lines were brought into action, and the re
suit. After this that ever-memorable spot il
this bloody drama, the Devils Den, was visit
ed. The party got out of their carriages anC
began searching for bullets or some othel
mementoes of the terrible ordeal of war thai
took place here but those who found any
| thing were fortunate. Tens of thousands o
visitors have searched in vain the surround
| ings of this dire abortion of nature for a rel
of the three days. The visitors some ridinl
and some on foot, wound their way up betweei
the Round Tops until the summit of the bi
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membered, and we'll could Lee, like Cromwell
on an invading campaign, have exclaimed, a
he surveyed southern Pennsylvania fertil
fields, "Surely, this is a country worth fight
ing for" From this ground of vantage tn
historian gave grand general idea of the tao
tics and strategy of the movements Of the tw
mighty armies. From here, also, he pointe
out where the different corps, as well as div
sons and brigades, were led, withdrawn G
crushed, The recital was comprehensive, an
gave all very clear idea of the great battl
meneuvres. To Cemetery Ridge the part
was subsequently guided. 1t was here thi
Longstreet's assault on July Sd was repulseC
The location of the artillery and infantr!
both federal and confederate, were from tn
view indicated, and the description of II
cannonading of 25O pieces of artillery recalle
to the boys very vividly the terrors of thoi
hours. He pointed out the ridges that pr
tected the charging columns, and the he
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