Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-12-17
The Battle of the Wilderness.
BY L. b. HARRIS.

that makes good soldiers.
The old soldiers, the veterans, ha(
learned the arts that 90 to make W
the detail necessary to the develop
ment of formidable troops. They
could cook their food properly; they
could mend their clothing and keeE
their modest accouterments bright
and clean. The veteran had taught
these mysteries to the recruit, an6
the army that faced south that day
was standing in polished shoes, and
the steel of the arms shone brightly.
Every knapsack was packed accord
ing to rule laid down by general or
ders from the commander of the
army. This exact method in little
things makes an army strong.
A soldier sat by himself, little
one side of the road on the south side
of the river, on the crest of the bluff.
and watched the blue line crossing.
Every soldier in that immense line
seemed a hero; the great throng
seemed made up of individual ath-
letes, and the spectacle was grand.
He took out a piece of paper and
wrote his sweetheart that the sight
was magnificent. The letter was
found the next day ON the battlefield !;
he had not had a chance to post it.
1t is not strange that Grant said
every WELL" when Meade said "They
say that Lee intends to fight us here. )"
If the northern army was in good
order they were not alone. The con-
federates had passed a winter of
rest and reorganization, and they
were never SO we'll equipped never
had felt more faith in their ultimate
success. Therefore to understand
the battle of the Wilderness we must
first impress upon our minds the fact
that no two American armies ever
faced each other so well fitted to fight
a great battle.
After crossing the Rapidan the un-
plains were covered with
dense growth of scrub oak. There
were three roads running through the
The Orange plank, and
the Orange turnpike nearly parallel,
and the Germania plank road, with
the Brock road connecting the Orange
plank road with the Germania plank
road, mile down from their inter
section, and looking on the map like
5he arc in pair of carpenters COM
passes, the two plank roads making
5he legs. The thicket which covered
5he country from the old Wilderness
tavern to the south made the battle
more obscure than most battles, and
all battles are obscure. A descrip-
ton of the battle of the Wilderness
by one of its participants will read
like another field to one engaged in
another part of the same army corps.
The commanding General could
have had little to do with the detail
Of the battle, however well he may
nave planned, the difficulties of the
ground, the obstinacy of his enemy,
made the man9uvres accidental, but
f he had little to do with the strug-
gle that first day or the second, we
shall see that the quiet 81 propose to
tight it out on this line if it takes all
SUMMER" had much to do with the
spirits of the soldiers, and much to
10 with the outcome of the campaign.
The morning of the 9Th of May found
he Vermont brigade with stacked
lrms, at rest, near the headquarters
If the army, at the old Wilderness
Tavern. 1t was whispered about
the men that they had been
selected as a reserve for the day, for
f was felt that a great battle was to
,e fought. The honor of being on
he reserve, and the possibility of not
,eing called upon to take part in the
ight, put the men in good spirits.
They had seen Grant early in the sad
lie, and had noted that he was in
ense in his appearances land they nat
lrally scrutinized the appearance of |
he commander that was taking them |
nto battle for the first time. A young
older afterward said that as the |
General rode he inclined his head,
nd, after he had passed, the back of |
lis neck was seen to be covered with |
thick growth of hair, and the SOL
lier understood that to be an indica-
ion Of strength coupled with persist
.ncy. The general feeling was that
If confidence in the new commander,
md all could see that a master hand |
vas directing the movements. As
he morning was well advanced an
lid galloped to brigade headquar-
ers, from Grant, and immediately
he bugle sounded ''fall in," and
,reat haste was manifested. The head
If the column started down the Ger
mania road at the double quick, or
'ace bordering on the double quick,
md up the Brock road toward its in
ersection with the Orange plank.
Before they reached the Brock, the
Inevitable forerunner of a battle
Vhen on the advance-was met that
5, a cavalryman with his arm in a
ling, and his face tied up in his
to nurse his saber cuts,
eading three or four riderless horses.
The usual exaggeration was indulged
n; the stories of the prowess of the
nemy were freely told by lips pale
rom loss of blood