Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-03-26

preston auerward made no small stir in the /
country by telling the slaves that came inside /
his lines from Hampton that be should not re-
turn them to their masters, and they we're free .
to come and 60 as they pleased
Early in June came the battle OF Big Beth
81, and here the Vermonters had their FIRST
serious experience under FIRE but the engage
ment was important only for the reason that
it was the earliest Of ito kind in the war.
"The whole affair was q series Of blunders,
redeemed only by the general good behavior
Of the troops" and Mr.. Benedict believes
that its conduct and results would have been
other than they we're IL Phelps had been in
chief command. Aside from this the eXpe'
rience Of the regiment was uneventful, and it
reached Brattleboro on it's return home at
midnight Of Aug. Z, with only FIVE men miss
ing from its ranks out Of the original 1872
The regiment remained here at Camp
Phelps, until the 18TH when officers and men
were finally paid of and mustered out of the
service, leaving for their homes by the 6 PM
train on the 10th.
Meantime the Second and Third regiments
had been organized, mustered into the ser
vice and despatched to the 'front.' and the call
was out for the Fourth and Fifth for the
disastrous result of the first battle of Bull
Run had shown Vermont, with the other
Northern states, that it was serious business
which the government had in hand. A con
nected history is given Of each regiment,
with its various movements, engagements
changes of officers, loss Of men in battle ETC..
aud the line between real history and cum
bersome, uninteresting detail seems 10 have
been drawn with excellent judgment.
Ia the fall Of 1861, under McClellan's re.
organization of the Army Of the Potomac,
the Second. Third, Fourth and Fifth regi-
ments we're constituted the First Brigade =
the Sixth regiment was afterward added to
the brigade, and for a short time the Eleventh
served in its ranks. The last half of Mr.
Benedicts first volume is a record Of the glo-
rous history of the Old Brigade. Our space
| does not permit glance, even, at the details,
but it is interesting to note few of the 'sug-
gestive figures" which the author puts in his
closing chapter The five original regiments
OF the brigade entered the service with 4, AZ
officers and men. To these were added from
time TO time new enlistments of 1910 men,
making an aggregate Of SSH. or this num-
Der 57S were killed in action and 395 died of
wounds, making total of 973 One hundred
and ten men in every thousand we're killed
outright or received mortal wounds in battle
AZ died in Union hospitals and 1855 in Con
federate prisons the total number Of wound
ed was 1928. While the proportion Of men
in the whole army killed in battle was . sS,
and of those dying of wounds l. 50, the per
centage of Vermonters killed in the Old Bri.
gade was 6j5 and of those dying Of wounds
AS. OF all the states Vermont had the
highest percentage of men killed in action
800 but the number killed OF the Old Bri
gade far exceeded even this proportion. Thu
brigade was engaged in 80 battles or genera
engagements, and its marches in Virginia ant
Maryland exceeded 200O miles in length. IT.
losses we're not the result Of emotional dasl
or reckless handling, but they were owinI
to the character of the troops-to the fact
that they were SO often put where the hard
est fighting was to be done, that they stage
where others fed, aud that they did not know
/ when they we're beaten-if they ever wer
beaten" Not one Of the colors Of the brigsd
ever rested for moment in hostile bands
THE facts of its record are its sufficient euo
gy."
. In this hssty glance at the main feature
I of the book, we have made no attempt at
3 critical review. 1t must be left for some on
E who is himself student of our state hstor
G to say how complete or how correct it is a
i to fact and detail. But of this we are sure
r that Mr.. Benedict has made book whic
o will be read with pleasure, and many portion
+. of it with intense interest, by every Vermont
d err To men in middle life and advancin
years it will recall wildly scenes throug
}. which they themselves passed and a part {
G which they were. To the young it will be
d revelation of the spirit of courage, unfincl
;, ing endurance and devoted patriotism of th
n men of 1861 60.
If The letter-press of the volume is excellen
l, The type is large and clear and the pagt
}. broad and open. The portraits, Of whc
|. there are six, are of superior excellence
d their mechanical execution, and the vari0r
is maps and sketches are acceptable aids to tt
D. proper understanding of the text.