St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-04-23

Long before daylight on the Sd we
were called up and marched out across
Deep Run and formed line on the
Bowling Green road, which runs south
from Fredericksburgh. The Sd divi-
sion aud light brigade was on the right
in the town, the End division on their
left, the VT. brigade on the left of the
division, the Sd Vt. on the left of the
brigade, their left resting near Deep
Run. The Ist division was further to
the left across Deep Run, and they took
no part in the charge on the Heights.
Along this road on each side ran a
ditch, making the road a little higher
than the ground on each side. My
regiment took post behind the road
and was ordered to lie down. Our
batteries took position in front of the
road, COwan's Ist n. Y. battery in
front of our regiment. While the
troops were getting into position the
rebel artillery on the heights in front
were pitching the shells down to us
right lively, and our heavy gains across
the river on the Falmouth hills, two
or three miles away, were firing over
our heads, many of their shells by the
way falling short and bursting over us.
When the infantry were in position,
the artillery in front opened all along
the line, making a great racket, but AS
far as | could see doing little damage.
After this firing had gone on for halt
an hour, we understood that the
charge was to be made, and soon the
rattle of musketry on the right told
that it had commenced. Away to the
right nearly Il mile the smoke rolled
up and the blaze of the musketry could
be seen and through the fire and
smoke, blue line climbing the hill,
till at last we could see the old stars
and stripes on the very summit. This
! flag we were told at the time was the
flag of the old I'd VT. regiment.
Soon the order came, "Attention,"
the men stood up, the line was dressed,
the battery in front ceased firing, and
forward we went through the battery
and out in the field toward the heights.
| remember as we passed through the
battery, seeing an artilleryman whose
| face was as black as ii Negroes looking
at himself in II small pocket mirror
and dancing a jig. The question was
raised at one of our camp-tires some
time ago, as to how men felt when go
ing into battle. My recollection is that
at this time the men were all in high
spirits and that some even INDUCED in
jokes. | remember corporal i'll our
company by the name of COwan who
had applied for furlough, and was
expecting it daily when we marched.
While we were going across this level
plain and under fire some one called
out, 81 say. Cowan, you will probably
find that furlough up here on this hill"
meaning that he might get wounded
and so get it.
As we reached the base of the hill
and began to go up, we were surprised
to meet no infantry fire, and when we
had been fired at us. But across "A
hollow in the edge of some thick tim
Der about 40 rods away, stood line of
battle. Col. Seaver was just giving the
order to fire, when Col. Grant, who
commanded the brigade, rode up and
called out, "DOn't fire, colonel, they
are our men," but hardly had he said
so, when we received laundering
volley from them which dropped near
ly a dozen of our men. We needed no
order to return the fire, and immedi
ately were ordered to charge, and
away we went toward the woods, but
while doing so the rebel line disap
peared in the woods. AT this place
think Col. Seaver showed his good
qualities as IL colonel. We charged to
the edge of the wood and were just
going in when he halted us, and rode
into the woods alone in Il minute he
came back on the galop and gave the
order to lie down, and jumped off his
horse and lay down also. We expected
something was coming, and in minute
it came, in the shape of grape and can
lister from IL battery concealed. in the
bushes. We dug our noses into the
ground close while the storm whistled
over us. This lasted for ten minutes
or more, till one of our batteries came
up to the left and rear of us, and be-
gan dropping shells i'll the woods,
when the firing ceased. We were at
once ordered back to the Bowling
Green road, where we had left our
knapsackS when we started on the
charge. We got our knapsacks and
and out on GOrdonsville plank road.
Now just here | want to call the at
tentiOn of the comrades who were pres
ent on this occasion, to a criticism on
Gen. Sedgwick made by Gen. Double
day, in his book called "ChancellOrs-
vile and Gettysburg" He says that
Sedgwick, instead of pushing on, halt
ed to reform his men and sent back
for Brooks division, which was still at
its old position three miles below the
town, so that the final start was not
made from Fredericksburgh till 3
o'clock. Now | think there was no
delay, for as soon as we had repulsed
the enemy in front, we went directly
back and got our knapsacks and
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