The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-10
The 9TH Vermont at Baton Rouge.
Editor NATIogAL TRrBuNE:

To the Editor NATIoNAL TRIBUNE:
In your issue of November 30, 1883, noticed
an article headed A Maine Veteran on Baton
Rouge" As was member of the 7th YER
mont regiment and with the regiment at the
time alluded to, / claim the right to pronounce
that article untrue so far as the 18th Vermont is
concerned. -
The truth of the matter is, the attack
was made before 1t was fairly light, rather
early for breakfast, and the first notice of the
attack came from the picket-guard, tho rest
being asleep, except tho camp guard.
The It'll Vermont were in line as early as
any Of the troops at that point, and were
marched by the left flank quite distance
across a field before the picket-line had been
driven in. If they had not been ordered to
return to their camp quarters, they would have
received portion of the enemy's fire at short
range. At the time of receiving the order to re-
turn to their camp the eth Vermont were in di-
rect range of one of our light batteries, and
were ordered to return on that account By
the time they had returned to their camp the
firing had become general in our front, and
Colonel Roberts, of the 7th Vermont, having
dismounted, as his horse was unmanageable,
gave the order for his regiment to lie down,
when General Williams, the commanding officer
at that time, rode up and ordered Colonel
Roberts to commence firing, which order was
instantly obeyed. Shortly afterward an officer
Oi tn6 AlSt luQiaUa TAI COWaTO5 Tue 4 I'll fcT-
mont with both hands raised and exclaimed
For Gods sake, cease firing; you are killing
your own meni ~ when the order to cease
firing was instantly given and as quickly
obeyed, the men still lying down. AT that
time Colonel Roberts was shot in the neck as
he was passing in rear of his regiment, and not
while rallying his men. The first shot did not
kill that brave, noble and gallant officer, but
Frustrated him. He was shot second time as
/, bo,, oll cL ~
caused his death. Both shots came from the
rebels.
Nor is this the only mistake which the au-
thor of the article in question has committed.
He says: !" For my company found the colors
of the eth Vermont hid under house, and
| turned them over to Colonel Paine, of the 4th
Wisconsin, who sent them to Gen. Butler" &c
The fact is, the coors were never out oil
| the possession of the regiment and were car
| ried by Sergeant Parkhurst at all times, and
also from the 9th of August, 1862, the date Of
| the battle of Baton Rouge, until the 25th Of
| the same month, when the order-General Or
ders No. 62-was issued; after which date
| the regiment was not allowed to carry then
until after their arrival at Pensacola, Fla, q:
General Butler had been misinformed as to the
| facts
Colonel N. a. McDudley, goth Massachusetts
infantry, who commanded the right wing a.
| that time, in his official report of the battle
says; Captain Manning, of Mannings bat
! terry, quickly rallied his men, and went int
| battery on the right of the 21st Indiana, vel
supported on the right by the 18th Vermont
/ Lieut. Colonel Fullam. In the mean
time the enemy appeared in strong force di
rectly in front of the 21st Indiana, It'll Yer
mont, and 30th Massachusetts,. 1t one tim
these three brave regiments stood face to fac
with the enemy, within forty yards, for full
one hour"
So much for the raIIying of the regiment
the finding of the eoIors, and the retiring T.
| the river. WM. IS. THRALL,
i RUTLAND, VT. Co. d, 7th v. v.