St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-15

0enerdl DeWlS a. GRANT, COlOnel VI VHo
Fifth Vermont and afterward leader OF
the First Vermont brigade For those
readers who are unacquainted with the
record of these Vermont commands it is
enough to say that they were IN the
thick of the combat on almost every
battlefield Of the Army Of the Potomac.
Of his baptism of fire the general says;
at is somewhat difficult to definitely give
my first experience under fire, as l came TO
1t somewhat gradually and became little
used to it before being thrown into severe
engagement, and my feelings were not the
same on different occasions l disliked very
much to go into an engagement and feared the
result, not only to myself but to my command
and the c4use. Generally the first experience
of battle was that Of trepidatiop, but my
natural pride and feeling of responsibility
and knowledge Of its effect upon the men
overcame it. But it sometimes took all the self
control ut my command to appear calm and
cool. But this feeling of trepidation never last
ed long. 1t never extended through battle.
AS soon as actually engaged all fear was gone,
and 1t generally disappeared while making an
advance. The roar of cannon and the rattle OF
musketry had no terrors TO me. accepted the
chances Of personal injury and thought only Of
the proper exercise Of my command and of the
result. On two occasions / actually enjoyed
the fight"
In certain class of fiction which
masquerades as history the man who
would rather fight than eat is held up
as typical warrior. Here is represent
alive fighting soldier confessing that in
only two out of more than score of
most desperate encounters did he enjoy
the combat. Another favorite trait Of
the fiction warrior is reckless exposure
of person to the fire of the enemy. Upon
this head General Grant says:
"The most trying situation was that Of hold
ing "a position exposed to the enemy s fire when
not able to return it. / always believed that 1t
was the privilege and the duty of an officer to
protect his mon ana himself as much as posi-
HE and consistent with the occasion. For this
purpose carthworks We're thrown up, and walls,
rocks and trees were taken advantage Of.
When not advancing, naturally prepared u
position Of protection. If duty called me to o
prominent point to observe the enemy s move
ments or the condition of my command, do
not think ! failed to occupy it, but if there
was nothing to be gained by the exposure |
preferred to occupy "a los point or depression
and let the bullets go over my head, and, If not
necessary, to remain mounted, and if safer dis
mounted did not hesitate to dismount.
"My first experience under fire was at
Youngs Mills on our advance up the PENN
sula i'll the spring of 1852. We simply advanced
upon and drove IA small force of cavalry firing
as they retired. Only few stray bullets
reached us, and it was soon over There was
not much cause for fear and l don't recollect
any. williamsburg soon followed, where we
were not in the thicSest of the fight, but il
was an experience and tended to confidence
and discipline. There had the strange expe-
rience of watching and hearing cannon balls or
shells coming almost directly toward us. 1t
excited feeling of curiosity and surprise more
than fear. / never before believed that one
could see cannon ball in motion. There first
appeared puff of smoke, and then the ball or
shell was plainly visible, and the peculiar sing.
ing sound it made coming through the air was
very different from the scrc, ., ing sound made
when going high in the air - OF far to the
right or left. The sound of the cannon was
heard about the same time that the shell burst
or the ball struck near us"
Referring to the battle of Savage Sta,
ton, in the seven days, where his regi-
ment covered itself with glory, the gen
eral says: at was a savage station in.
deed to my little command, which gal
lantly held the enemy and suffered ter.
ribly"
The struggle of the Fifth Vermont at
Savage Station formed one of the most
thrilling episodes of the war. In passing
to the front the command stumbled upon
PROSTATE regiment Of bringing fellows
who refused to advance and meet the
foe. The spectacle fired the Vermonters
to the extreme pitch. Surprising that
orders were orders, Colonel Grant un
dertook to push back the enemy" as
he had been told to do The thicket was
blasted by the storm of grape which tore
through it, yet he led his men on until
he struck the Confederate skirmsher'
and sent them flying from the field. A
second Confederate line stood ground
and into that the Vermonters rushed al
q bayonet charge. A couple of volleys
from the enemy's infantry held up the
impetuous asSailants Instantly tielt
battery opened with canister, and cross
fire of musketry on one flank was added
as last blow. The Vermonters wen
down in swaths literally, but there wa,
q show of them left standing Taking
breath, they rallied, closed in ant
dropped upon sheltering rise of grount
and kept up the fight with bullets The
enemy was pushed back and held bacl
until the crisis was over. The regimen
was 400 strong when it charged and z:
dead, with l3l wounded, was the price
II its daring. Two companies Il and Fl
that were almost at the mouths of tn,
guns Of Kemper's Virginia battery, los
80 at one discharge, and the bodies lay
Al. G1ll Ia IalArGl.t liz IL......l