Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-10-08
Visit to Virginia Battle Fields.

:0O q. III. IOE d lOIGy -lINo mIle uIlNc
along the old battle lines of Salem
Heights, Charlottesville, the Will
derness and Spottsylyania. We took
the old plank road leading directly
over the Heights. Passing out of
the city we had a full view of the
ground over which forty brigades had
charged again and again in the hope
less effort to pass the stone wall and
capture the strongly fortified position
on Marye's Hill.
Beyond the line of Willis and
Marye's Hills rises another height,
even more commanding than the first.
And when we reached the fortifica-
lions and stood within the old earth
works, which to this day remain high
Ell than a mans head, and from the
embrasures looked down upon the
first tier of hills and across the river
to Stafford's Heights, we were pro-
foundry impressed with the strength
of the position where Lee had en-
trenched his army. The strength of
Meade's position at Gettysburg can
not be compared with this of Lees.
IT is marvel that the command of
Sedgwick in '63 was able to carry
this stronghold, even while the main
body of Lees army was fighting
Hooker at Charlottesville. Pickett's
charge with $4,000 men upon our
center at Gettysburg will ever be her
aided in history, and ranked as the
great charge of the war. 1t was out
upon an unobstructed field where 1T
could be seen. But to charge repeat
edly the heights of Fredericksburg,
called for more determination, and in
heroism equalled anything in the an
nails of warfare. The charge Of our
men and the brushwood at the
"bloody angle" at Spottsylvania, and
the nine times repeated charge of Lee
to recapture the position, were more
persistent, if not more heroic.
Three miles out on the plank road
is Salem church. Here the battle OF
Salem Heights was fought on the 4tE
of May, '63, between the Sixth Corps,
under Sedgwick and Lees whole army
The line of battle of the old Vernon
Brigade was along near the planE
road and about one-fOurth mile from
Salem church on the Fredericksburg
side. From this position the brigade
made the celebrated charge that say
ed the Sixth Corps from capture.
we'll remember an incident of tina
charge that it will do to relate here
, There was private in Co. "E' o
the 9th regiment, by the name o
Montgomery. He was one of thos
peculiar fellows that had but little re
! spect for army discipline and less lie
gard for the property of the inhabit
1 ants of rebellious state. ''Mont,
as he was called, always found tn
6 heaviest swarm of bees, knew jus
b what neck of woods to look in TO
= sheep or pigs and where the chicken
q did roost. For use on these expedi
tions Montgomery had large, long
bladed knife, which he also used whe
FRYING "hard tack The knife wa
we'll worn at the point, and would a
most open of itself when held in a ff
vorable position. During the charg
Montgomery got little in advane
" of our line and enough to the left
: bring him in front of Co. @, when
suddenly came face to face with
o rebel lieutenant and squad of me
Il he was trying to rally. Montgomel
M with his musket and fired, but
" missed, and the Johnnies, seeing the
advantage, rushed forward and sci
: ed his gun. Just then our line can
&c up and the Johnnies all turned to ri
! except the lieutenant, who with Mon
gomery, were quickly left in our rea
,s They were standing in little ski
r. or wood, and the gloom of evenii
D. was gathering. Montgomery instan
w " realized his danger. How east
IN the lieutenant could run him throu:
- with his sword and then secrete hin
IN self until an opportunity came to pa
our lines. He therefore got hold
or that knife, and opening it in his poe
H. ct, sprang upon the armed lieutena
and caught him by the throat, a
&c with a flourish of his big knife
,r- handed of the s'reb'' that he ''sl
To- render of die" He took his capt.
as back and turned him over to the (
ty ficer of the day and came up W
our line just as roll call had disco
.ty cred his absence and we were VIC
er dering if Montgomery had be
cal slain.
it The little skirt of timber along
,he depression or valley has been
ass away, and the field is in tillage; o
AN erwise the scene of that hot fight W
NO the Louisiana tigers, and where
,u'' Vermont brigade repulsed seven IL
of battle is familiar to the eye.
by old white gate posts occupy the sa
his position and the fences have been
IN built.
,es, Salem church is sight to beht
Nv, To say that it carries two thous
oe marks of shot, grape, she'll and
lets would hardly exaggerate
err truth. Under one Of the window
the found an illustrated Sunday Sci
ana lesson card for July 1st, whic
LIZ brought home for a trophy.
, of breastworks along the road past
cart church are easily tracable.