Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-02


derful, and the weakest man among US felt
that he could and would dare anything after
this brave act of the old soldier. Men who
doubted moment before knew now that we
should advance and succeed
Hallway between this crest and the strong
point of timber held by the enemy, weak
line Of infantry which had been saved from
the wreck lay on the ground firing feebly,
while the enemy crowded Overwhelmingly
upon it. This line must be relieved, and two
regiments, the Eighth Vermont and the
Twelfth Connecticut we're ordered for the
work. As we emerged from the border of
the forest upon the open ground, we were
greeted with a shower Of lead and iron but
our blood was up, no one looked back, and
we rushed into position. This position we
held more than three hours under a continu-
Gus and heavy fire Of musketry. We were
apparently somewhat protected by the rolling
nature of the ground, but the bullets OF the
enemy often found us out, and occasionally
man was hit. Company especially suffered
being in more exposed position than the
most of the line.
Many acts of personal daring occurred dur
ing that three hours work. Many Of the
dead aud wounded of both armies lay close
to u.s. and at imminent risk to their own lives
our men relieved the sufferers, both friend
and foe, with drink Of water or a lift into
an easter position.
During the first hour stray bullets kept
coming from our left, enhlading our line aud
causing much nervousness for q soldier,
however bravely he may endure the shots in
front, cannot bear with cOmposure a flank
fire. Taking gun from one of the slain,
one of our officers passed down to the left OF
our regiment and watched for this cross fire,
and soon saw three rebels in a olump of bush.
es at long rang. Resting his rifle on
stump, he waited till one showed himself
again, when he fred, and then called the at
! tention of several men to the clump, desiring
them also to watch. Soon two Of the men
were seen carrying of the third, when the
| squad fred ut them, and there WAS an end of
the Fostering cross-fre.
Three O'Clock came, and with it the su-
preme moment. The Eighth Corps, under
Gen. Crook had gained a position on our
right, from which to crush the enemy's left.
A general advance was ordered but the line
| in front Of US being considered too strong to
charge, Col Thomas had been ordered to
| hold his position until the advance bad been
made on either side. Suddenly on our right
burst forth the deep, fierce yell our soldiers
uttered when going in to win. 1t continued
some moments, and at the same time there
| burst upon our ears the sound Of the most
continuous aud terrible FIRE Of musketry
had ever heard. Looking in the direction of
the sounds, we saw Crooks line advancing
1t WAS magnificent but terrible moving in
quick time with banners unfurled, and firing
rapidly by file, they marched upon our right
aud flung heir columns on the hidden foe
The carnage was awful. Men could be dis
tinctly seen dropping from the ranks and
the field WAS strewn with the dead aud wound
! Cd III their rear but the line never faltered
never wavered.
At the first sound of the advance Col
| Thomas was in the saddle, and said I'VE
Ought to drive them out Of the woods" But
the orders we're to remain where he was. As
the successful charge swept on, he could
stand 1t no longer, and, forgetting everything
except his determination to take the woods
he rode in front OF the colors and shouted :
Boys, If you ever pray, the time to pray
has come. Pray now, remember Ethan Al
len and old Vermont, aud we'll drive 'em to
hell Come on, old Vermont !" Aud with
his sword held aloft he headed his horse for
the wood and gave him spur. Some officers
might have looked back TO see If their men
were following but Col. Thomas knew hi,
boys" would not finch aud, as he rode rap.
idly toward the wood, with the painting, yell
ing regiment close at his heels, the Twelfth
Connecticut could not stand it TO see us charg
ing away from them while they remained be-
hind. Their commander, Col. Peck, had
been killed early in the action, but Captain
Clark stepped into his place. and as we NOV.
ed rapidly away, he shouted The Eighth
Vermont is going to the ID, but they shan I
go ahead Of us = and on they came. 1t was
grand - glorious Nothing could stand
against u.s. and we swept over the works and
into the woods in advance of everything,
driving the enemy before us in great confu,
sion.
In this wood were great numbers of the
dead of both armies, and many Of our wound
ed. Lying propped against a tree and NOR
tally wounded was Lieut. Col Babcock OF the
Seventy fifth New York, we'll known and be-
loved by our regiment One poor fellow
wearing the blue lay Hat on his back, but
waved his cap and looked as happy as if his
leg had not been shattered with a shell.
Knowing that our colonel had not been or
dered to charge, several superior officers tried
in vain to stop him, and Gen. Mcmillan rode
up and down the line shouting Halt" at
the top of his lungs. But by that time we
had fairly carried the woods, and there was
no halt in us.
As We reached the farther edge OF the wood
a new phase appeared. The Eighth Corps
was hammering the enemy's left, and his line
Of battle was gradually swinging around dag.
onally TO ours. The rebels were still fighting
desperately, but were receiving terrible LOSE.
A battery on our left front, and not more than
100 yards away, was delivering a rapid diago-
nal fire in our front. We all supposed it to
be one of our own batteries. Gen. Upton OF
the Sixth Corps rode up and ordered Col.
Thomas to FIRE upon it, Col. Thomas refus
ed, saying it was our battery. Upton was
earnest and Thomas firm, and some high
words passed between them, when the smoke
lifted, and there close to the battery, was the
rebel flag. Instantly Col. Thomas gave the
order: Fire on that battery !" and the
shots were poured in with such terrible effect
that it was instantly silenced and after the
battle the slain and wounded testified to the
fatal accuracy Of our aim.
At this time the Sixth Corps came up on
our left. The Confederates were fighting the
Eighth Corps from their left front, and the
Nineteenth and Sixth Corps from their
right and right flank. Their situation
was most desperate, and most desperately
were they struggling; but their fight wa.
over Crook with his Eighth Corps calamity
charged the high ground on the enemy's left
his last stronghold. From our position We
could distinctly see the lines Of the assault
and hear the crash OF the combat, and theI
the cheer of our victorious men.
Then, as if the fates had conspired to make
the enemys defeat complete and terrible, oul
cavalry under Torbert and Custer appeared
on the scene. A long stretch Of open grounC
soped up to a crest to the left and rear of the
/
ed from a lively squirt of firing behind a ston,
; wall. Capt Mead shouted, Boys look a
that" We did look, and saw a sight to bt
remembered lifetime. In solid columns
with drawn sabres flashing in the sun, anC
without firing shot, down from the crest il
the left rear of the. enemy came brigade OF
troopers, and BURST gallop upon the sur
pristd enemy, 1t was like thunder claI
out of a clear sky, aud the bolt struck home
The entire left Of the enemy's line broke il
utter confusion and fed in perfect rOut. NJ
mau ever saw a more thrilling sight than tina
cavalry charge
The work was done. Line after line movet
forward at run in pursuit of the flying en-
envy. Battery after battery galloped up anC
/ blazed away, then limbered up and was afte
} then again. The enemy was driven befor
us like a flock of frightened sheep. General
Sheridan, Emory and Crook were in the from
lines, directing everything Gen. Sheridan
looked as happy as a schoolboy. As he pass
ed our regiment the men burst into sponta
} neous cheer, and he swung his hat about hi
t head and shouted Boys, 1t is just what
= expected !" Gen, Emory looked just as hap
- Py (and no more SOY as he did in the morning
when he rode bareheaded down our lines un
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