The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-10-14
Ttnting on The Old Camp Ground
Or Co. G. 10th VT. Vols. to the Front.
By Lieut.. T. III. WHITE.
MO. 26

battle was in the form of horse shoe with
the toe pointing to the rear. In point OF
fact Bunker Hill was the toe of the shoe
and from its heights several batteries sent
showers OF IRON hail plunging down into
our ranks tearing up the ground under our
feet, and making frightful gaps in our lines.
The batteries stationed at points near the
heel of the shoe, had an enfilading fire on
our portion of the line. j lst as the fire was
getting at its hottest, CHANGED to turn nv
head just in time to see our gallant Maj.
Dillingham; struck down by a shell from
the enemy's guns on Bunker Hill. Instant
ly the conversation had had with him an
hour before flashed before my mind. Then
my sympathy had been aroused to the
fullest extent: Now | was filled with
sorrow and grief for | knew at that dis
lance the gallant Dillingham; must die.
Jhe shell had carried away the right hip
and broken the hilt of his sword, and still
he did not go down at first but made three
attempts to bring himself to an upright
position and only went down to rise no
more after the third attempt had failed
| must have been nearly forty feet away
when the Major was struck, why he did
not fall at once was for a long time a
mystery to me. While in Boston at the c.
a. r. Encampment in 1890 | haa CONVEX
satiOn with one of the comrades who carried
the Major from the field, and from him
learned that the Major had hold of small
Sdpllh db CiIO ulLlC llS w dS STRUCK. ana UlldU
he retained his hold until he had made the
last attempt to straighten up. To this day
| cannot think of the event but all the feel
ingS of sympathy that | felt at the time
when l was first aware that the Major had
the preSentment, and of the profound sorrow
| afterwards felt when the presentiment
had come to be reality. And | fully be-
lieve to this day that when the advance
begun Maj. Dillingham; knew that his
hour had come; and yet no man in the 10th
VT. went forward with more firmneSs and
determination, and it is much to say of him
that no man of the gallant regiment whose
life was sacrificed on the ''altar of liberty"
was so greatly missed, nor was his loss so
keenly felt as was the loss of Maj. Edwin
s. Dillingham;.
Immediately after the events above mar
rated our line of battle was halted Just
over the brow of the hill where we were
under muderous fire of artillery and in
fantry. When the line went down | had a
stump In front of me, and at once prepared
to utilize 1t for cover. | cast my eye to
the rebel batteries on Bunker Hill and then
to those south and near the enemy's right.
Just as | looked in the last direction | saw
the smoke and fire just issuing from one of
those guns, and Immediately squared
around to be in line with that gun. In
throwing myself to the ground l happened
to get to far to the right so that the other
side of the stump extended beyond my left
shoulder above four inches. At that in
slant the shell struck the stump at the left
of me and carried away the four inches
that extended beyond my shoulder. [ was
covered up with dirt and for time stunned
and demoralized. Had l squared myself
for the batteries ON Bunker Hill that shot
would have carried my head to the bone
yard.
AS the line was about to move forward
again Lieut.. Daniel &. Hill of our company
Ctpnnp1 ont in front pf 10
pose of taking the lead, when he was in
stantly shot down. AS we advanced down
the hill there was a perfect hail storm of
bullets, shot and shells in the air. AS |
write | recall to mind tie names of Josiah
Clarke, Dan b. Fuller, Peter Bingham and
Ira j. Badger who were among those who
shot through with grape and canister.
When the foot of the hill had been reach
ed the advance was continued up a ravine
until we reached level plain. From here
to the enemy's entrenched line was but
short distance, and every man realized at
once That the supreme moment had arrived,
ana that we must assault the enemy'S works
at once.
Men were to be seen rolling up their
sleeves and the enthusiasm was well
up to that pitch that knows no failure
when the order came from Sheridan to fall
back. The Sth and 18th Corps on our right
had broken and gone to the rear, and the |
enemy were trying to get TO our flank and
rear
A order to fall back is only heard by
few so of course the line soon becomes |
broken, and the officers lose control to a |
considerable extent. | conveyed the order |
to number and then started down the |
ravine where most of the regiment had al |
ready gone. l soon came across Col, Emer- |
son then in command of the brigade The
Col. was trying to stop some of the boys. |
have them go to the top of the hill and en-
deaV0r to make stand in an apple orchard,
but the boys would not stop. Just as | |
came up he called on me to assist him.
Ed futile was just in my rear and heard
the Col call on me for help and he saws
sergeant will go for one, and Immediate
ly started for the hill. All our efforts to
stop others was in vain, and the last one
had already passed us when futile looked
back, and discovered that there were none
to follow him. He says II am id if am
going up there alone. My lines will be so
ID short they will flank me-" Col.
Emerson threw his head back and eniOyed |
hearty laugh, then turning to me he says
sergeant do you know that sOlder?' On
being told that he was a member of nv
company he says, "RecOmmend him for
promotion when you get into camp again."
Ii is needless to say that futile was
promoted.
A further attempt was made to send
small force TO the orchard on the hill and
- W So Nilll lNll VI Twelve more
that Col Emerson found further down the
raylne. We took position behind trees and
Tired as fast as possible at the enemy. A
from the old brigade had 6ecOme
Strayed from his command and he was one
Of our little force There were three of MS
behind one tree, the Vermont Sergeant be-
ng one OF the number. He had Just fired
his piece when he discovered a stand of
rebel colorS moving south from behind a
low OF bushes. He says "There Is a stand {
Of colors and my gun is not loaded" | re- ]
marked that mine was and | at once drew !
bead on that flag anu pulled the trigger.
My muSket was not down from my shoulder :
Until the Sergeant was clapping his hands :
md shouting "YOu have brought them
Town." They were soon raised again. but {
perhaps not by the same hand which had ]
)orne them before the shot was fired. |
Our position was an advanced one and
when we found that we were not going to !
,e reinforced we had no alternative but fall
Jack to the main line, On our way back
We passed house and noticing a window
nut of the cellar put my head in to see if
he family were not there. Sure enough ,
here was man and woman and six
hildren. The first question asked was by I
he woman when she saw my head pro- !
ruding through the open window 1t was l
How long will this fight last" They |
we're between the two lines of battle, and |
you'd no doubt been glad to have exchang-
d places with an equal number in either