Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-30

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their discussion by saying that he had
been 40 years in the army and did not
care to be lectured to by one who had
been u soldier but few months.
EAT daylight ON Monday, Sept Is,
the Confederates opened with artillery
from all quarters and pressed forward
their infantry, closing as rapidly as pos
sible, and for two long hours the Ninth
regiment lay in line of battle under a
fire of not less than 80 guns. AS soon as
the rebel batteries got the range ON the
regiment Colonel Stannard would
change the position, and in this way the
men were preserved from heavy loss.
about 8 o'clock Colonel Miles gave
up the contest and rode up to promi-
nent place at the extreme right of Boil
var heights, nearly mile away from
the troops, and then rode toward the
left along the crest with his staff, way
ing the white flag. When word reached !
the soldiers Of this regiment that the
white flag had gone up, Colonel Stan.
nard jumped up and swore that he
would never surrender without a strug-
gle. AT his command his men sprang
into line and rushed at double quick
down the rayine to the river road and
moved rapidly toward Harper's Ferry. /
AT the junction of the rocky road de-
Scanding from Bolivar heights to the
village Colonel Stannard called for 30
volunteers to go ahead, push through
~ 10 e., 81 n ta
pontoon bridge which lay across the
Potomac river into Maryland. He de-
termined to risk the fire Of the COnfed-
crate batteries on Maryland and Loudon
heights, hoping that once across the
bridge by bold dash we could make
our way to McClellan's line. A. P,
Hills troops, however, had advanced,
and the regiment was missed by the
Confederate general, to whom all the
other Union troops had surrendered.
His line of battle occupied our camp be-
fore we got to the village, and when
we were missed from the line he sent
staff officers to intercept and bring us
back. They caught the regiment as it
was entering the head of the pOntOOn
bridge. At first Stannard refused to
obey the order to march up and stack
arms on Bolivar heights, but upon be-
ing impressed with the punishment that
would be inflicted upon his men and tho
other troops upon his attempt to violate
the command he yielded with heavy
heart. AS tho regiment about faced and
marched up the rocky road it was
sight to behold. Soldiers were smashing
their muskets, officers breaking their
swords, and the national colors were re-
moved from the staff and replaced by
their black coverings, which no doubt
caused the enemy to think the flags
were beneath. AS the command ap-
preached Bolivar heights every man,
from the colonel to the youngest drum
mer boy III the ranks, was crying. Each
side of the road was filled with COnfed-
crate soldiers looking at the regiment
that had caused them so much trouble
and had been trying to cut its way out
for two hours after the garrison had sur
rendered.
Shortly after this the men tried to
stack what arms there were left, but
these had been so badly abused coming
up the rocky road that it was impossible
to make it, and the arms were thrown
on to the ground. The rebels put
guard over the regiment, and then the
paroling Of the troops commenced. 1t
was understood that the commanding
officer of each regiment should sign the
L, N,11 ,.,1
Stannard said he could not be response
BILE for each member of his regiment and
declined to sign. This brought on a new
complication, and the Confederates be-
heved that Stannard was doing this to
delay them. The colonel thought if he
could keep them busy with subterfuges,
ETC., that Mcclellan must relieve us be-
fore the next day. About shutdown the
Confederate authorities told him that if
he did not sign this parole for his regi-
ment they would all be sent to the
southern prison pens. This caused the
gallant commander of the Ninth regi-
ment to sign the parole. The next morn
ing the troops were marched across the
country 100 miles to Maryland. In Jan
uary the Ninth regiment was exchanged,
and its colonel made a brigadier general
of volunteers for his conspicuous gal
lantry and efficient service at Miles
surrender Of Harper's Ferry"
After the surrender the gallant Green
Mountain boys passed through varied
experiences, first lying in parole camp
at Chicago for months and afterward
joining the small army in southwestern
Virginia and the peninsula.
In 1864 the regiment, 700 strong,
joined the Army of the James, in front
of Richmond. Its gallant colonel had
long since been promoted to a general
ship and commanded a division in the
Eighteenth corps. The Ninth served in
that corps also, but not, much to there
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