The National tribune., 1897-05-13
'TWHS A GRIND CHARGE.
How the 10Th VT. Went into the Cedar
Creek Battle.

How the 1oth VT. Went into the Cedar
Creek Battle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Co. G, 10th
| Vt, received a number of recruits from my
old Brookfeld home on Oct. Is, 1864. had
| been wounded at the Opequan battle and
was in hospital at Winchester.
Lieut.. T. H. White, at this time Ser
geant of Co. G, says that among those bright
new faces was one which particularly at
tracted his attention. 1t was Charter II.
Croker, who, when supper was over, came
to him and asked how long it would be
before we could have battle L am anx-
| lous to be in fight"
The Sergeant said to him: Don't be in a
hurry; you will find the battlefield soon
enough. Do not be anxious about It," His
reply was: Il came here to fight for my
country, and if need be give my life in de-
Tense of it. Why not fight it out and have
| it over at once"
There was something about him that was
grand; besides, he WAS so much in earnest
and so anxious to do his duty that one
could Dot help liking him at first sight.
At daylight on the 10; h the bugle at Bri-
gade Headquarters called the troops to arms
and announced to the new recruits that the
battle of Cedar Creek had begun.
The division marched in the direction of
the pike, and the 10th was the first to reach
Meningitis battery, already in danger of
capture. Owing to the heavy fire OF botE
artillery and infantry, and an enfilading
| fire from q hill on our right our line fell
back TO a low ridge some 500 yards to the
rear. In this movement one of Meningitis
and two OF Van Ettens guns were left in
the eDemy's hands, and were being turned
upon US, when gallant COL Henry gave the
order to charge and recapture the lost guns.
1t was q spirited charge. resulting in driving
the enemy from their position, recapturing
the guns, which were hauled to the rear.
All honor is due to everyone in this grand
charge, and especially to four of the boys of
Go. G who fell in close proximity to these
guns, all killed by one volley. They were
Serg't Henry F. Freeman, Henry p. Burn
ham, Geo. G. Edison, and Chas. Fl. Croker.
The two latter were youthful recruits who
had joined us the day before, so anxious to
know their duty and do il, had herocally
executed that duty and made their sacrifice
CD the altar of liberty ere they had been
with the company "a hours.
Who can say their reward of merit should
be any less for one day than had it been q
thousand days service?
The appearance of Sheridan on the field
and the inspiration he gave to the army has
been told, and everyone knows how our
troops reoccupied their old camps that night.
Comrades of Co. g went out that night and
found the remains of the four men NEIL
toned. and buried them in fence-corn on
the farm of A. M. Boggs, marking the graves
with the names, company and regiment on
piece of cracker-box with lead pencil.
In correspondence with the Superintend-
ent of the National Cemetery, Winchester,
Va, have learned that the remains of these
comrades have been removed there.
Capt. Lucian ID. Thompson, Of Co. d, was
killed early in the morning and left on the
field. He had been the First Lieutenant of
Co. G, and was loved by all. That evening
Co. ID boys went out with lantern in hand
to look for their Captain. When within
few feet of where he had fallen they found
his clothes, but lock at the face revealed
the fact that it was not the Captain who wore
the clothes, but dead rebel. A few feet
further along the Captain was found, but
naked. As the rebel army passed over the
ground in the morning flushed with victory,
this rebel had robbed the body of the dead
Captain Of his wearing apparel, and appro-
priated the suit to his own use. When the
reverse to the rebel army came and they
were being driven back, this robber of the
dead was also instantly killed within few
feet OF gallant Capt Thompson, whom he had
robbed in the morning.-DANIEL B. FREE
MAN, Co. G, 10th VT, 1000 Drexel Boule-
ward, Chicago, Ill.