Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-04-09
A DAY TO REMEMBER.

ApriI 2, 1898, when the BOYS OF the
old vermont Ninth led the Way TOT
the Union Army into the Confederate
Capital.
"It is lust 32 years ago today that our
ragiment went into Richmond. IL was
great day for us, and none of the OLD boys
would ever forget IL, though they shoulu
live IN he n thousand" This was the re-
mark of a Bratteboro veteran in last oa',
urday's sunshiny weather. Quesuoneu
further about the event some interesting
"reminiscences were brought out Inc regl-
ment was the Ninth Vermont, IL was al
most 1000 men strong, and had been uOlns
picket duty all winter. The night OeloIe'
April 2, orders were received to have every
thing i'm readiness to march an hour before
daylight in the morning. The guns were,
stacked in the company streets, ana all
other arrangements made The men sup
| posed a fight was in prospect, and they
were ready for the fray. They welcomed
the change, both because they were tlreu
of doing picket duty so long, and because
they were eager for their share in whlP-
ping the "rebs" Mill
The order to march was not given until
an hour after daylight. The route lay
toward Richmond. 1t was seen that reOel
breastworks which were in plain sight had
been deserted, but 1t was supposed that
the Confederates had simply withdrawn 10
an inner and stronger line As the march
proceeded. however, it became evident that
| the defences of the city, in that direction at
least, had been deserted. AT one point
they came to breastwork or earthen torI
which had been thrown directly across lhe
road On it were mounted two canhOhs,
and two men could be seen IN charge Oh
them. Our troops expected the cannons 10
| be fired as they approached, but they were
not, and when the fort was reached the
two solitary rebels fell in and marched
with our boys. They said their instruc-
tions had been to fire into the Union troops
as they advanced, but they had no wish 10
do it. They had seen enough slaughter
and bloodshed These men knew that
| Richmond had been evacuated.
As the march progressed an elevation
was climbed, there was a turn in the road,
and suddenly Richmond was in full view.
| Smoke and flames streamed from many
buildings, and there was a canonDade of
bombs, which it proved came from the
burning arsenal. The earth seemed to vi
brate with these explosions and those of
the magazines of the gunboats in the James
river
There was a lively race between the Yer
monters and a colored brigade for the first
entry into the Confederate stronghold. 1t
was on this occasion that Col, then Cap
tain, Hooker of Gen. Devens's staff, was
guilty of an effectual bit of bluff, when,
claiming to act by Gen. Devens's authori-
ty, he ordered the colored troops to halt
| while the Yermonters ran ahead at live
ly double quick.
Mr.. Benedict relates in vermont in the
Civil war that "as the skrmishers en-
tered the city a small national flag, which
had been kept concealed by loyal hands for
years in waiting for this hour, was thrust
out of window and waved in welcome to
the army of the Union 1t was snatched
by Company X and held aloft. The effect
was electrical. Each breathess and limp
ing veteran became leaping and shouting
hero; and so, with the stars and stripes
borne in front of them in triumph, cheered
by the loyal blacks who thronged around
the flag bearer and kissed the national EN-
blem, and cheering as became the first I'm
ion infantry to bear the national colors
into the capitol of the Confederacy, the
Vermonters passed on to Church Hill"
The Fourth Massachusetts cavalry was the
first Mon regiment TO enter Richmond,
but to the Ninth Vermont belonged the
glory of being the first infantry regiment
to enter it after the Confederates left so
unceremoniously.
The scenes witnessed were such as words
cannot adequately describe. The Ninth
regiment was stationed at the Rockets,
the steamboat landing at the lower end of
the city, and remained there until ordered
home Aug. :.
A. Pettee, Thomas Harmon and j. b.
Randall are the survivors now resident in
Brattleboro who went into the city with
the regiment on that April day. Several
others live in this vicinity. f. b. Bssell
is Ninth regiment veteran, but he was
not then with the regiment because he had
lost his arm at Fair Oaks.