Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-17

Death ofGcn. George W. Getty.
one of the bravest and best of the gem
oral officers Of the Army of the Potomac,
I'm the great war for the Union. passed
away in the death Of Major General
George w. Getty, which took place Mt his
home in Forest Glen, Md, on the LIST
instant Gen. Getty has been held IN
especial honor in Vermont. Between four
aud i've thousand Vermont troops or tho
old First Vermont Brigade fought under
him between March 23d. 1874 when he
was assigned to the command OF the Sec
ond Division Of the Sixth Corps and tho
9th of April. 1861 when Lee SURRENDERED
at AppomattoX. He commanded them in
the battle of the Wilderness. whore the
Vermont brigade with two other brigades
of his division was selected to hold the
Key point on the Brock road, which was
held by them. through two days OF tho
hardest lighting. with loss of l.23l Yer
monters killed and wounded, being one
tenth of the entire loss of Grants army
in that bloody battle, though 1t was but
thirty-second part of the army. Getty
was himself seriously wounded in that
of his division in the ropulsc of Early
from the front of Washington in July of
that year. and he commanded it In the
battles of Charlcstown, Va, Opequon.
Fishers Hill, and Cedar Creek. In the
latter battle as readers of its history will
remember. Gcttv's was the only infantry
division that did not share In the union
Of fyt,, mid
confusion and disaster on every hand,
Sheridan found it all right and we'll in
hand when he came on to the field. and
on Gctty's line he formed the battle line
of his army for the advance which reto X
all the ground and guns lost i'm the morn
ing and wrestod a signal victory out of
the jaws If defeat. In the final assault on
Lees works at Petersburg which was the
blow under which the Coufedcracy crum-
bled. Getty division was selected 10y
Grant for the wedge which pierced the
hostile line Of defence. and the Verne mt
brigade was the leading brigade Of the di-
/ vision on that glorious day. That brigad
was rightly called the backbone OF that
splendid fighting division Of the fighting
Sixth Corps. Its officers and men had tn
utmost contdcncc-a confidence never be-
trayed-in their division commander and
Cen. Getty was wont to speak of the Yer
mont troops who served under him, us
stcadiest of the steady. bravest of the
lrave and unsurpa ssed as hshtcrs..
Gen. Getty was himself soldier an
men of an especially fine type a native
of the District Of Columbia, graduate
Of West Point i'm lSio brevottod captain
of artillery for eallantry in battle in the
war with MEXICO, appointed hrigadioi.
general of volunteers in lNG, made a lieu.
tonant-colone! i'm the regular army fol
gallant service in April. g. during tn,
siege of Suffolk Va, where he commanded
division of the Ninth Army Corps pro.
noted colonel of regulars for his i'm,
portant service IN the Wilderness; bril-
adier-eeneral for Petersburg. ana major
general for high service during the Civi
Wharf.-The husband of a southern lady
but tru. patriot; modest to a fault
ever faithful to duty. sharing danger with
, his men, as cool as he was brave in ac
ton, ana equal to every duty ana position
be made a record unsurpassed in brillianc.
and merit
After the close Of the Civil war Gen
Getty was on duty in Texas and late
for live yeats at the head of the artillcr
school at Fortress Monroe. lie retired a
colonel, 18th L. 5. Art. oct. >. 1883. Ii
hau a pleasant country home at Fores
Glen, Md, where he lived until his death
! at tho non of