The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-06-08
Soldiers 8uoaet.
He Broke Up the Brigade.

In the issue of May %, last, this d
partment contained an account of ho
Wallace Moves, gallant soldier of I'd
Vermont Brigade, who lives in Mon
pelier, won the congress medal of hon{
for gallantry at Spottsylvania. Durir
a chat which n WATCHNfAN reportd
had with Mr.. Noyes, recently, the We
eran related the following amusing il
cident in which he " starred at Peter
burg, Va, in the winter of 1864:
was attached to Company F, Sc
ond Vermont, and was detailed fro
the regiment TO act as one of the divi
ion sharp-shooters. The sharp shooter
camp was located close to divisio
headquarters, which faced the parad|
ground, on which one or the other
the three brigades held dress parad
every evening. The Third Brigad
of the Second Division had Just form.
for dress parade as l started for Ii
regiment. The general and his sta
were on the right facing the brigad
AS l got near its left the general ha
ordered parade rest, in which every ma
is supposed to stand as though turne
w cbOhCs hC Ddlu lIOIu lL0
right, marches out and turns, and the
marches between the guard and the bril-
ade. / didn't particularly care abol
going round the general, or ava
around the brigade, so l just followe
the band at respectful distance. Abot|
that time we had received some Vel
mont gray overcoats for winter use.
happened to have on one at the tim !
and looked more like a Johnny Rel
than Union soldier. l hadn't followe|
the band very far before the men Oh
the right began to smile in way tha|
rather disturbed the alignment in the |
parade rest, kept on to and past th|
center, keeping a watchful eye on th|
general. saw him turn and say some
thing to one of his staff. A momer|
later the officer galloped after me.
was only about nineteen years old then
and long oflegs, and / gave the mounte|
staff officer pretty good race. A laug|
and tremendous cheer burst fro1
about five thousand throats. In th|
course of time he overlook me, fashe|
out his saber, and shouted a peremptor|
"HaltW / halted. The officer id
formed me that he had been ordered
take me to the guard.house until aftd
dress parade. l went along with him
and after ] had been locked in tb|
guard-house l sat down on a stick d
wood and pondered upon the predicd
ment into which my rashness had lei
me. The gu1rd stuck his head insid
the door and cheered me up by remarl|
ing that he wouldn't be in my shod
for good deal of money"
Suddenly an idea struck me, and iud
about then the guard came to take nd
before the general The latter sat j
front of his tent, where he could see nd
from the time / left the guard houd
until | stood in front of him. | CAM
up awkwardly, all out of step with th
guard. The first question the genera
asked me, as l faced him and locke
curiously at his fine uniform, was:
"You don't seem to know enough 1
take off your cap"
| dragged it off and looked at him j
perfect establishment.
"What regiment owns your"
1.-The Second Vermont"
"What did you mean, sir, by goin
between me and my brigade?"
"Well, l wanted TO go across and Sc
a fellow, and didn't know as it woul
do any hurt"
"How long have you been on
here?"
about two weeks" l had reall
been in service more than two years.
"Oh, you're recruit, ch?"
Yes, sir.' The general scratcha
his head.
"Well, you go back to the Secon
Vermont Regiment, and tell them il
ID lucky for you that you're RI
cruit."
What would have been Mr.. Noye;
fate had the general found out the d.
ception can only be surmised. Fl
would probably have been cour
marshaled, "adjudged a nuisance, an
fined $100l and costs of county court.