The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-05-06

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menced a vigorous shel'ing OF the
heights Tie charging column was in
three lines with a skirmish line in adj
vance. The move was begun at about
five O'Clock in the evening. We were
compelled to ford two branches of the
Mattaponey river The water was well
up to the shoulder so we were obliged
to strip and carry clothes, rations
and ammunition on the shoulder holding
in place with the left hand while the
right held the musket out of water.
The undressing and dressing up again
under a sharp fire was any thing but
pleasant, but it had to be done SO we
made the best of it.
1t was nearly two O'Clock in the
morning when we captured the heights.
A strong skirmish line was soon in
position, when the tired soldiers laid
down to rest. We were so close to the
enemy that we were under arms before
it was fairly light ready to repel an at
! tack should one be made. Breakfast
over the boys soon scattered out to take
a look at the battle field. Those who
viewed the hill over which the charge
had been made, found a rebel on one
knee behind q tree his head resting
against the tree, otherwise his position
was natural one His musket was
| loaded and at his shoulder. He was in
the act of firing ct the ''Yanks" in his
| front when some fellow far out on the
| line discovered him and sent shot
through his heart killing HIM instantly.
Our camp was in the edge of mar
row clearing 1t was but a few rods,
to another belt of timber in our inn
mediate front. Here hanging by the
heels was the Colonel of the 10th
Maine. His throat had been cut from
ear to ear. He had fallen in the hands
of the Southern Chivalry" and treat
ed with hospitality that was entirely
their own and branded with their brand.
The day before Lees attack on Han
cock to recover if possible the ''death
angle" our regiment sent large de-
tail to the picket line. When posted l
found myself in command of about
thirty men all think being from Co
G.. We held the extreme right of the
Sd Division picket line and were join
ed on our right by the pickets from the
1st Division. These men were from
the Jersey brigade. With most of
in about ten DAYS. They had fully
made up their minds that the loss of
even one of their number when so
near to the end of their service would
be great calamity and they had fully
determined that it should not happen,
certainly not if they could run fast
enough toget out of the way In front
of our position and that of the jerseys
was pine thicket so dense that the
eye could not penetrate it to the dis
lance of five feet. We had not been
in position more than an hour and a
half when the jerseys imagined they
heard some thing in their front and
whole linz lit out for camp. | saw at
once that when the rebels came as they
were quite likely to do, that my little |
command would be in very dangerous
position with our connection to the |
right on the run. | at once looked out
a new position and found it in shape |
of a sharp ridge running at right angles
to the line we then occupied. / had |
the men instructed what to do when |
the emergency should come 1t was
simply swing using the farthest post
to the lefs as the pivot. During the
running clear to camp each time.
There was no enemy in either case.
The first break they made we heard no
noise of any kind, but the second time
they broke the case was somewhat diff
ferent. The 81 Vermont regiment had
been out on scout and returned
through the pine thcket in front of
the Jereys, and the Jerseys skipped.
saw the Vermont colors before the
regiment was out of the thicket and
our line stood fast
1t was just at dusk when regiment
of the enemy came through and sent
the Jerseys flying to the rear for the
third time. | had just been down to
the right talking with the boys about
the move | felt sure we should have to
make, when | heard the rustling of dry
leaves and on looking around saw the
Jerseys going to the rear as fast as they
could run L was quite close to the
left of their line and at once brought
my rifle to an aim and ordered a halt
One of the Jersey boys halted and
stood facing me while | covered him
with my rifle. He was recruit and
perfectly cool. We talked the matter
oNCI IOl pClhdpo ullHuJt Wueu Ht
exclaimed "Sergt. there they come,
better look out for your men!" l turn
ed my head just in time to see the re-
bel colors just emerging from the
5hicket not more than thirty feet from
where l was standing. l gave the or
der to the men to swing and we went
for the new position as fast as the
Jerseys had gone to camp. The rebel
regiment opened fire on us while
we were running. Bullets whistled
past the ears, pulled the hair and CT
through hats and clothes, but straug,
o say not one of the boys were hi t.
After firing few shots a. the enemy
from our new position we withdrew,
md were soon lost to view i'm the pine
thicket. sent messenger to Lieut..
Thompson who was in command of the
letail from our regiment, and inform.
I'd him of the situation. He at once
sent dispatch to the Gen. then in
command of the Corps picket. When
he Cen arrived at tho hraat in tho |