The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-04-13
A Trip To Richmond, Virginia.
FEHMoNTERs VISIT SOME OF THE SCENES
RENDERED MEMORABLE By THE
LATE CONFLICT.

LATE CONFLICT.
Col, and Mrs. John G. Stearns of Brad
fc rd, Gen. Harry Heth of Washington, d.
y, and Gen. L. S. Peck of this CITY, left
Washington for Richmond, Va, short
tlme since to visit the city and also the lines
occupied by the Union and Confederate
armies In the fall of 1864. and the winter and
early spring OF 1865. None oftEe Vermont
ers had been to these interesting places since
the close OF the war, and a pleasant after
noon was spent driving about the city of
Richmond, visiting the Jeff DayisO man
sion, Belle Isle, Hollywood cemetery, where
the cavalry general, j. e. b. Stuart who
was Killed at Yellow Tavern, Va, May II,
1852, Gen. George E. Pickett, who led the
great charge with his division at Gettys.
burg, July 2, 1862, Jefferson Davis and
other confederate leaders are buried, as
we'll as many soldiers, whose monument is
large stone pyramid. The equestrian
statue OF Gen. Robert e. Lee at the norther-
Y " END OF the city, and A. P. Hill, Gen. George
Washington, "StonewalP' jackson, PreSi-
dent Madison, Patrick Henry, Gov. Nelson
and Others are located in Capitol Square,
the Virginia State House, which was the
prison and Castle Thunder stood, and the
Old saint Johns church, where Patrick
Henry made his great speech, were also
visited.
In the evening Gen. Charles j. Anderson,
acknowledgement of Virginia, called upon
the party and all Wentto the eXecutiveman
sion TO pay their respects to Gov. Charles L.
9Ferrell of Virginia and his charming
wire, During the conversation, the govern
or asked about the LIST Vermont cavalry
and gave good report of their fighting
qualltleS, concerning which he could give a
personal account, for as private in AShby'S
confederate cavalry in The early spring of
fDht a
in the Shenandoah valley, he had CROSSED
SabreS" with them. AS one of the callers
mad been private in the cavalry regiment,
and was present in the engagement referred
to, the visit was most interesting to all.
Inc governor showed the party through the
ola mansion which was built of brick i'm
ported from England, and whose ANTIGUA
ted furniture and bric-a-brac was very fine.
Later In the evening, the gentlemen were
the guests of Adjut.-Gen. Anderson at the
Westmoreland club and of which Gen. Heth
was the first president. Here they met Col
Charles U. Williams, a leading lawyer and
capitalist of Richmond, Mr.. n. Bowditch
Clapp and Capt. Frank w. Chamberlayne,
all OF whom were in the war; Col Williams
serving upon the stats of Gems. Pickett and
ID. K. Jones. The battles of the war from
both sides were fought over again, and in a
most friendly way, until quite early in the
morning, when the Union men retired much
pleased at the treatment received The
toast OF ex-senator Vance Of North Carroll
ma, which was given at the centennial of
Yorktown, Va, to Gov. Hoyt of Pennsyl-
yania, was here repeated "I'm sorry we
fought; I'm glad we're friends; I'm sure
Well never fight again."
Early the following morning the par V
went to the top of the State House in Capl-
tol Square, and as the day was bright and
clear, fine panorama of the surrounding
country on all sides for many miles, was OBJ
tanned. The location of the Army of the
james on the north side of the Appomatox
and James rivers, and that of the Army OF
the Potomac on the south side; the old sig
nal tower, built by Gen. Butler in 1864,
near Broadway landing, at Port Of Rocks,
looming up high, Dutch Gap canal the
Monitors, still lying in the James below
'iR0ckettS landing, the location of the bat
tie fields OF Fair Oaks and seven days fight
ing, Meadow Bridge, aad tae wood, VIII
Col Ullc Dalghren went.with the Vermont
cavalry to librrate the Union prisoner
Belle Island, Tredegar iron works, the city
o Manchester, across the river, " here shei-
mans army and the Army of the Potomac
with Sherldan's cavalry lay encamped sty-
eral days, are all to be seen. NOOne should
visit Richmond without taking in this view.
Col. Normond Smith, who lives within ii
few miles of Fort Harrison, and Col. WI
liams, who kindly came in his carriage,
Joined the praty in the visit to the lines at
Chaffin's Bluff. Col. Smith served through
the war in the 18th New Hampshire regl-
ment, Burnham's brigade, STANDARDS Isl
division. 18th army corps, was severely
wounded in the charge and capture of Font
Harrison and the LIST confederate line, Sept.
20, 1854. Col. Williams was with Gems.
Jones and Ewell on the confederate side
during this time, and as Col. Smith has pur-
chased a farm near the place, and made it
his home at the close of the war; and also as
Gen. Heth had commanded a division in A.
L. HIPS corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
and had fought Gen. Hancock's corps of the
Army OF the Potomac a few miles below,
the location OF troops, batteries, etc, was
well known, although it was 29 years since
the war, and many changes had taken place
IN the looks of the country, the battle lines,
trenches, forts etc, were easily dlStln-
guished, and were mostly all there. FOlt
Harrison was one OF the strongest works
built and is well preserved. The spot where
MAJ. Gen. Stannard lost his arm, Sept. 80,
1864, when his division was. resisting the
great charge, was easily found; the heavy
entrenchment thrown up by the 9th Yer
mont and other regiments leading from HaT-
rlsOn to Fort Brady and the WORKS built by
the colOred troops, on the back side of HaT
rlSon during the night of Sept 29, are still
IN goOd conditions; IN TACT with little work
by engineer troops, all the works would
soon be serviceabe. Forts Morris, John
son and Gilmer ale easily found. The two
gun battery captured by the 9th regiment,
was the hardest spot to locate, because the
party owning the land had leveled some of
the works The National cemetery is lOca-
ted within 300 yards of this spot, the Vari-
ma road, leading to the river road looked
natural, the sunken places in the road where
Ripley's brigade laid down, after the sec
Ond advance, was found, also the place of
the two chimneys. In both places the regi-
ment suffered loss in killed and wounded.
The houses used as division headquarters
by Gems. Devens and DOnahue still stand.
The camps of Donabne's brigade, 9th Yer
mont, 10th and 18th New Hampshire, 9TH
Maryland, Goth New York and 8th COnnec-
ticut, were readily located, also the place
where President Lincoln and Gen. Grant
reviewed the24th army corps, about S years
ago, and just previous to the last compaign. |
of course, trees, shrubs, ETC., have grown |
in the forts and trenches; woods have grown |
up between the lines, but if the works are |
approached in the same way as during the |
war, everything will come out right. The |
distances are greater than expected, but as |
the mind and body work fast during battles, /
time and distance are forgotten. The Ma |
tiOnal cemetery is nicely kept; there are but |
few names on the grave stones; most are
unknown or marked with numbers only |
Only two men of the 9th regiment had head |
stones, John Nicholson and Leroy l.. Bry- |
ant of Co. F, while the rest of our dead lie |