The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-10

some shaded nook by comrades whose Wis
ions swan and who trembled on the verge
of a like fate. But the winding column
never paused, for not the life of one man
hut the life of the Nation was at stake
that day.
About midday the regiment filed into
the fields beside the road and the men
sank upon the ground. snake no fires,
for there will be no time to cook anything
only few minutes for rest" was the
instruction as the line halted, and every
moment was devoted to relief of the pain
full feet and weary limbs. All too soon
came the summons to fall in again, and
the men struggled to their feet. They
had not realized before how tired they
were, how sore and stiff their limbs.
From early morning the booming ar
tillery had proclaimed the work of death
to be still in progress, and each hour as
the distance lessened the thunder grew
louder. Already the corps was meeting
the tide of wounded fastening with des-
perate energy to the rear---that most de-
moralzing experience to body of troops
approaching battlefield. With scarcely
an exception the tale they told was one
OF disaster to the federal army. "You
fellows will catch it the whole army is
smashed to pieces - said more than one
browny fugitive with bleeding arm or
bandaged head, glancing over his shout
der as though fearing the pursuit of a
rebel column. Only few miles remain,
and occasionally through an opening be-
tween the hills what looks like a white
bank Of fog can be seen. It is the smoke
that hangs over the scene of the great
contest. There is sharp hill in advance
over which the pike winds. and when its
crest is reached the field will be in view.
The word runs back along the line, and
what transformation is wrought Gone
now the fatigue, the WEAKNESS forgotten /;
the blood bounds once more in the veins,
the muscles harden, the eyes fash Down
into the valley-up the sharp ascent be-
yond, and with eager eyes the men of the
Sixth corps look unon the greatest battle
of the rebellion. Yet it is not much that
they see. A low range of nights battery
crowned and partially wooded, with
masses of soldiers that look like threads
of blue drawn at hap.hszsrd across the
green of the landscape; cloud of smoke
about the batteries at the left, with now
and anon the white puff of a bursting
shell-then they 60 down the slope, across
Rock creek, and turn into the fields be-
side the Baltimore pike on which they
have been marching. "RAst is the
brief and welcome command. and they
drop on the unshaded ground, glowing
with heat, though it is. Here and there
one, less exhausted than his fellows,
gathers as many canteens as he can carry
and starts for a supply of water-a pre-
caution that must not be neglected. A
canteen of water is the wounded man 3
best friend, and who can tell what the re-
naming hours of the declining day may
have in store? The column proper has
has halted, indeed but there is no cessa.
ton of the procession coming up the pike.
The thousands who have been unable to
keep pace with the swiftly moving corps
throng the highway in groups and masses,
all actuated by common motive-to
find their respective commands and do
their duty.
All too short has been the interval of
rest, when a staff officer dishes down the
turnpike. There is momentary consul
tatiop, hurrying here and there of order
lies, then the command, sharp and clear,
"Fall in !" To their feet spring those
who few minutes before seemed helpless
from exhaustion. Forgotten the pain, ig.
nored the stiffness of limb, for help is
needed, and never did the Sixth corps
fail at the call of duty. As by magic the
line is formed, but the march is no longer
by the broad highway; it is down across
the fields and thence up into the forest
toward Weeds hill, where Sickles and
his Third corps are in death grapple with
the confederates under Longstreet. How
heroically the men hold their places, as
though fresh from long period of mac
tivlty. "Doublequck is the command
and away sweeps the column in splendid
array, with never tagging step. Fix
bayonets !" and with clash and clat
ter the cold steel is fitted to every
musket, ready for headlong dash into
and through whatever NAV oppose, and
already the leading brigade is driving
back the foe.