Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-12-24
The Battle of the Wilderness.
BY l.. B. HARRIS.

fight was so sharp and persistent thai
the bullets wore away the scrub oak
and the ground seemed mown as with
a scythe. No previous battlefield had
shown this A little before noon the
attacking column fell back as one
completely exhausted and out OF
breath. During the lull Gen. Han
cock with one orderly rode in from
our left, his rent clothing showing
the difficulties of his advance. The
Vermonters had been in the same di-
vision with Hancock in the early part
of the war, and there was a feeling
of comradeship and confidence be-
tween them. The men were encour-
aged at seeing him; they thought
likely they would be better handled
if he were near. He was glad to see
his favorite troops in possession of
the key to the battle; he believed
that they would hold it until his
troops arrived. Twenty years after
he told the writer that he should not
have felt the same confidence in any
other troops in the army. There was
no demonstration on his arrival. The
men seemed to cling little closer to
their improvised earth work and to
to say "we will stay here
AS Hancock rode into the line and
recognized the faces of the soldiers,
and noticed the small oaks cut down
with bullets, he said, "Hello, Yer
mont Brigade! Had some pretty
sharp fddling here, haven't you? My
men will be here pretty soon.'
But two hours seemed an age ere
it passed for the difficulties of the
way, the distance and the great heat
delayed his corps, and it was two
o'clock before his head of column ap-
peared. AS the right of the 1st regi
ment reached the Cross Roads, the
general gave the order, "by the left
flank March p and they were hurled
into the chaos without a moments
preparation, not even waiting to close
ranks to load their arms. AS the
next regiment came up the same or
der was given, and so on, until q
whole brigade was driven into the
confusion.
The second brigade to arrive was
halted, dressed into line, and moved
forward at the sound of the bugle.
1t took but few minutes, however,
for this military block to be reduced
to powder. But a continual sending
in of well disciplined men, the pres
ence of Hancock, ''the superb who
could certainly fight battle, in time
had their effect. Men began to pay
more attention to line they began to
think less; they saw less need of
thinking-a man was in command.
The struggle lasted until dark, or
nearly dark; no one gained; no one
lost. The confederates stood little
farther off; they were like child
burned with fre-careful-but when
they made charge it was with great
er force. Twelve lines of battle pack
ed solid, was no unusual spectacle
in the charges that afternoon, but
they could not break the Union lines.
If a point wavered, hundreds jumped
to the weak place.
When night came the contestants
threw off their arms and sank to the
ground exhausted. There was no
danger of a renewal of hostilities un-
til rest was had-both sides were
painting, and both sides knew that
there was no need of watching.
The heat, the physical and mental
exercise had developed great thirst
in the men, and the only supply of
water they had was in their canteens
in the morning, so that the suffering
was considerable. Those who had a
small supply in the morning, had, for
the most part, let it go to the wound
ed in the early day, for water is the
first thing wounded man calls for.
After an hours rest the men began to
get up and sit on their knapsacks, or
on little hillocks, as though waiting
for something. No one thought of
going for water; they expected re-
treat, and it was reasoned that it
would begin as soon as it was fairly
dark, and of course q march in any
direction would take them to creek
or some water. But disappointment
was in store for them, and it did dis
appoint all-big and little.
Following out all former tactics, we
should have retreated across the river
to get ready for another move, ,and to
consult the authorities at Washing
ton, who would be guided mainly by
what the newspapers said. What
was done, was to stay where we were
until morning, and then take up the
fight where it left off the night before.
AS a rule, the men were pleased with
the idea, although it was new to them.
A man of iron had taken the COM
mand of the army. The weak policy
of the past Was to give way to the
will of the man, and that man took
hold of the events and pushed constant
ly forward. He disliked the slaugh-
ter of battle, but the slaughter must
come, and he reasoned that it was
wise to give the enemy as little time
to rest as possible.
The common soldier found out the
masters genius that night. They
dreaded battle, but they saw it was
best to wear the enemy out, and that
there was but one way to do if