Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-30
LAST WEEKS MUSTER.
The Closing nay and the Might Attack
on the gnmu,


THE BRATTLEBoRo NATIONAL GuARDsMEN
WHO RECEIVED THE FIVE YEARS BADGE.
Our report of the annual muster Of the
Vermont National Guard closed last week
with the proceedings on Governors day.
Friday, the last day of the muster, was oc-
movements, with the troops under com
mand of Col Estey The dress parade at
night was one Of the best ever held. Ad-
jutant Iills turned the troops over 10 Maj
Bond, under whom the manual Of arms was
executed with great precision.
The Might Attack.
A new and entirely unexpected feature
of the last night of the muster was night
attack on the camp, followed by sham
battle in which the whole regiment and the
battery became engaged, and ending in the
repulse and defeat Of the enemy" None
of the company officers knew Of the move
ment until o'clock in the evening, and the
first intimation received by the men was
when the firing began an hour later The
Free Press gives this account of the battle !:
AT o'clock Gen. Greenleaf, command
er of the forces, received intelligence from
| the signal corps ON the hill that the enemy
was seen ON the north and west Of the camp,
and promptly sent for reconnaissance Com
panies A and ID, under command Of Col.
| Kinsman to see if they could discover the
enemy. Captain Childs with Company |
was sent to picket the crossings of the river
ON the road north of the camp, supported by
the first battalion under Major Moulton.
Capt. Clark with company II was sent to
picket the river along the west OF the camp
At 10 p. NJ. the small force Of enemy APP
preached from the north aud opened fire.
Capt. Childs held his ground and repulsed
the attack. At the first alarm a long roll
was sounded, aud the troops in camp speed
lily got under arms under command Of Col
Estey. BY this time Capt Clark's outposts
were attacked 10y the enemy from the west
side Of the river Capt Clark was prompt
~ supported by the remainder of the in.
funtry aud Fuller's battery, which, being
| brought forward, opened fire on the enemy,
which were in strong force ON the hills west
Of the river Capt. Clark moved forward
10 the support of his picket line, but after
II strong fight was driven in. The enemy
were finally repulsed 10y Col Fuller's bat
terry aud the troops under Col Estey.'
The battle lasted an hour, and the scene
made by the quick, sharp muskct flashes
into the darkness on the hills, and the
heavier fire Of the battery aud troops in the
valley below. was "A vivid one not soon to he
forgotten. To add To the picturesque effect,
large stack Of straw at one end Of the
camp ground took fire during the engage
ment and lighted up, for the time, the
whole valley and the hills around.
The tents were struck at an early hour
on Saturday morning, part of the troops
leaving for the north at q o'clock, and the
balance by special train for the south at -,
the Estey Guard and Fuller Battery reach
ing Brattlehoro at $40 Both companies
marched at once to the armory, and ON their
dismissal Col Fuller addressed the men Of
the Battery, thanking them in cordial terms
for their correct behavior aud diligent at
tention to duty. Capt Childs followed
with similar words Of praise for the Guard,
and both officers spoke Of the muster as the
best ever held
1t is the united testimony Of all officers
Of the regiment and Of civilians who have
watched the progress Of our state militia
in years past, that ut no previous muster
has the Improvement in every respect been
so marked The behavior Of the men, both
ON drill and parade and in their quarters,
was correct and soldierly Excellent dis
cipline was maintained, and the muster
was what it should be-a school for instruc-
ton in the art Of arms This much of
recognition is the just due of every officer
and man who contributed to the general
result.
The Veterans BRdge-.