Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-12-17

gle. The hurly-burly was so great
and so general that no orders were
given to load even, and the regiments
were hurled against the enemy with
out the formality of single military
maneuvre. There were no fields in
which to deploy. The enemy were
in possession of the cross roads, or
about to take them, but he had no
formed lines with which to hold them :;
his head of column was simply there !;
the Orange plank road was crowded
with his soldiers hurrying forward
under the two plucky generals, Long
street and Hill.
They had not seen, like ourselves,
a score of wounded cavalrymen, nei-
ther had they passed few dead
to get their minds settled to the
business of the day. and to remove
| the first tremor of excitement in an
engagement therefore when the Yer,
monters, who were steady, struck
their advance they recoiled and broke
in confusion. Adown the wide road
the stampede spread, and the dense
growth of oak was suddenly filled
from the broken ranks. The Yer
monters did not hesitate a moment,
the first movement was theirs, and
they made the most of it; down the
road they charged. driving back the
disorganized enemy, though he had
eighteen brigades against their one.
They understood that if Lee could
get a good foot hold at the cross
roads that Grant was easily beaten.
They understood that it depended
upon them to hold that point until
larger forces could come up. and
they thought the easiest way to do
it was to follow up the advantage
gained by the panic in the advancing
foe. They received 20 orders, saw
no officers, heard no commands
every man was general, all saw
what to do and all did it. After
the rebels had been driven down the
road a short distance, the men be-
gan to form into line by regiments
as fast as they could, and in the
course of three fourths of mile
they began to meet organized resist
ance the rear of the enemy's column
was getting ready to annihilate so
insignificant, yet troublesome, an ar
ticle.
When formed troops were met then
this little brigade, impressed with
its strength, by its success, gath
cred itself together as giant does
to lift great weight, or to do some
great thing, and stood up to fight
a battle, never once taking into ac-
count its numerical weakness. They
were there to hold the cross roads
they thought, they could as we'll
fight for it mile in its front as any
where-besides here was the enemy,
what more did he want; they went |
to work as if they were going to
drive their huge enemy back still |
farther, now they had him all to-
gether. The business they under
took was a serious one. The fight
ing assumed an aspect of tenacity; |
there was nothing of brilllancy in it.
The contending forces could not see
each other until within a few PAGES.
The only open ground was the road
way to Orange; it was cropping in
the dark.
When the enemy succeeded in
checking the rout, and the battle
took on lines and order, then the
advancing party flung itself on the
ground and began fierce fire of
musketry, working their way for
ward on their faces until, so far as
distance was concerned, stones could
have been used as missiles but the
enemy was stubborn and the end of
retreat reached.
Although from the nature of the
circumstances the shots were un-
usually high, the slaughter was great,
but the gaps were filled quickly and
when there was lack of men to take
the places of the dead, the soldiers
would maintain their front by in
creased bravery. But a small body
of men had attacked and driven back
a very large body, and had followed
them up to point of recklessness,
and the inevitable was to come.
The enemy was every whit as
brave as the Vermonters, and better
for it is undeniable that
Gen. L. A. Grant was out of his place
a commander of troops when great
things had to be done, where neither
techical knowledge nor experience
would avail, but a quick eye and
oOuHO Wdc |
and, save Foster, perhaps, the batal-
lion commanders were common
place, at least there were none that
arose to the situation. The enemy
got it's forces on its right drawn
around the Federal left and began
a fire of musketry that nothing could :
and the retreat began.
There was no fear, no stampede !; ev-
cry face bore a smile of triumph.
They ran with all their might, but
their feelings were that of lad who
clinches with a giant, throws him, |
and exultingly makes his escape. |
There was no halting, every man
seemed to understand where the re-
treat should end, and the first man l