Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-11-12

good to practice the work of war.
His idea was that even good soldiers
realized fear in first engagements,a and
that practice was the best agency for
overcoming the dread of battle; that
when accustomed to it, fighting was
much like other work. In this re-
spect, the Colonel was probably right,
and it accounts for many an expos
ure to the enemy under his gallant
leadership.
A few days later we moved across
the Blne Ridge, eastward into the
valley of Virginia, continuing our
march until we reached the ancient
village of Culpepper Court House.
The Vermont cavalry led the move
ment. and for the last ten miles be-
fore reaching the Court House Skin
mished constantly with force of
rebel cavalry. In this work Capt.
Grant and Sergeant Mason of lras-
burg were both wounded. Our regi-
ment also had two other men wound
ed that day, which was, all things
considered, a hot Sunday in more re-
spects than one.
We remained in camp at Culpepper
a few days. From this place we raid
ed south to the Rapidan, where we
found the confederates in force. With
three days ratiOns, we made a five
DAYS observation as far TO the south
west as Madison Court House, going
we'll down toward Gordonsville. This
was fruitless movement. We saw
nothing but the country, and found
nothing but hunger. Gen. Hatch was
in charge of the expedition. On re-
turning to camp he was relieved of
his command, not having followed in
structions closely enough. Gen.
Crawford was assigned to the caval-
nv, and under him, we tried the enc
mv's front as far south as Orange
Court House. Here we found quite
respectable force of the enemy. We
drove them into the town where the
compliments of our meeting were eX-
changed first with revolvers and car
bines and then with the saber. We
killed few, captured a few, lost a
few, and hastily withdrew, for it was
ascertained we had penetrated to
the presence of a large force of the
enemy.
About this time Pope had gathered
his army in the vicinity of Culpepper;
Mcclellan had commenced withdraw
ing from the peninsula; Lee had
begun moving northward; and, as
a preliminary to the interesting days
that followed, the battle of Cedar
Mountain was fought. Soon after
this Lee continued northward by the
left flank, seeking to cross at some
of the fords of the Rappahannock.
Pope moved by the right flank, guard
ing the river crossings. These two
great armies, after gazing right and
left at each other few days, met in
bloody combat and fought the second
battle of Bull Run. In this battle
pope was beaten. He had seemingly
planned we'll, made his dispositions
energetically and eXpeditiously, was
personally active and fearless, but at
the same moment, when the result OF
the battle depended upon promptness
and obedience, these important sup
ports fell from under him as trees be-
fore the choppers AK. Pope was
beaten, but not until the army was
beaten. He tenaciously and bravely
fought all the chances for victory, land
at nightfall of the second day of that
bloody struggle, as he and the army
that stood by him fell back towards
Centerville, they felt they were badly
beaten and realized it keenly. Yet not
so badly beaten, in any sense, as
those who had refused TO take part IN
the battle. While perhaps none
wanted the army beaten, it was, anc
still is, believed that some were will
ing Pope should be defeated. Jealousy
aud prejudice were stronger than pat
riotism. Pope was relieved of The
command of the army of Virginia, hi
army blended with that Of the Poto
mac, and the command again givel
to Mcclellan.