The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-04

1
lets came from the right and the left, and
my fanking regiments changed and di
rected their fire to meet that coming from
the fanks. The line on my right had
been pressed so far back that
MY REAR WAS THREATENED,
and one of the other of Wheaton's Bri.
| gades was promptly placed on my right
flank and rear, and it directed its fire
across the Plank road. This enfiladed
the enemy's line and prevented further
advance on that flank.
1t was really proud day for the old
Vermont Brigade, and doubtless some
enjoyed it. Only a few hours before the
brigade had lost half its. officers and
more than third of its men under the
terrible fire of the Confederates from
their vantage ground near the Brock
road. Now the works" were turned
we held the advantage, and used it with
telling effect.
The attacks on our front were sus-
pended and the advances on our right
and left had been checked because OF
our effective fire in front, and because
our fanks so completely en6laded the
enemy's lines. How long we held that
position | cannot say, but it was hours,
and much of the time we were dealing
death and slaughter in front and flank.
Other troops might have done as we'll.
Very likely. am not saying otherwise,
but L am simply telling, in non-military
style, what my old Vermont Brigade did.
We not only had the advantage OF. posi-
tion, but we were well protected by the
temporary works. The troops on my
right and left did not have the protection
my brigade had. And we all felt that
our success and our safety, it might be,
depended upon our holding that posi-
ton.
For time there was comparative
quiet ON the Plank road. The quietness
was broken by tremendous flank at
tack, considerably to our left, which
drove in part Of the Second Corps, and
they came in great numbers past our
rear. Literally, the woods were full OF
them" Very soon the whole line on
our left gave way, leaving but one al
tentative. The entire Union army at
that point went to the rear in great dis
order.
But out of that disorder the three
brigades of Getty's (now Wheaton's)
Division deliberately took their places
behind the works they had constructed
the day before at the crossing Of the
Plank and Brock roads, and awaited
developments. Before advancing that
morning officers and men had been In
structed to rally at that point in case OF
disaster, and they simply obeyed orders.
An error appears in the report Of Gen.
Hancock of this engagement, which,
though only an unintentional error, re-
fleets credit upon the three brigades OF
Getty's (Wheaton's) Division. Gen.
Hancock, in speaking of the advance on
the morning Of May 6, says: "Our line,
which had
BECOME SOMEWHAT DIsoRDERED
BY the long distance which it had pressed
after the enemy through the woods, wa:
now halted to adjust its formation before
advancing further. About this hour
Webb's Brigade, of Gibbons Division,
was ordered to the right in support Of
Birney. Gen. Birney directed Gen.
Webb to relieve the troops of Gen
Getty's Division with his brigade
These troops having lost heavily during
the fight earlier in the morning were
withdrawn after having been relieved
by Gen. Webb. and were formed on the
original line-of-battle along the Brock
road"
In point of fact, Getty's brigades had
not lost heavily nor been engaged
"earlier in the morning." and they were
not relieved by Gen. Webb, or anyone
else. They occupied the extreme front
to the very last, and were the last t.
leave the front. A few, not feet of foot
remained a little too long and were
numbered among the 80 or40 missing
| from the Vermont Brigade, but they die
form "on the original line-of-battle along
the Brock road" and there was where
Gen. Hancock found them, the frs
troops in line after the disaster, and i
was very natural for him to suppose tha
they had been relieved from the from
and formed there.
| Other troops were rallied and PLACED
on the right and left, and the line wa
made strong again. Gen. Hancock dis
played almost superhuman efforts ant
ability in rallying the disordered troop
and in reforming the line to resist attack
The attack came late in the afternoon
1t was a sudden, vigorous, determined
and desperate attack, and it was hand
somely and effectively repulsed. Th
point of attack was about a hundret
yards or more to my left, but it was s.
near that my brigade joined in the rapis
musketry that repulsed and slaughteret
the enemy.
Inthis attack the enemy broke through
the line to my left, and for short tim
there was confusion and CONSERVATION
Why the troops gave way at that point
protected as they were by fairly-cou