The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-06-04

more gallant soldier. When his regl-
ment struck Pickett's flank at Gettys-
burg and the enemy began to throw
down their weapons, Col Randall
, ordered his regiment to cease firing,
but as the order was not heard in the
terrific din, he broke through his line,
standing between it and the enemy,
and, in the midst of BOTH by waving
his hat and sword, stopped the firing
and then moved among the Confeder-
ates until he brought 243 of them with
in his line. No more hazardous or hu-
name act was ever performed in war,
and yet do not think it has ever been
mentioned in history. There are sew
eral comrades present who saw it,
as we'll as myself, and we like to re-
call it in honor of our deceased COM
| mapder. "
In graphic phrase the speaker re-
ferred to the times before the war, to
| the discord and discussion the slavery
question produced the final coming Of
war, the repeated levies of troops,
the vastness of the theater of war, 300
miles in breadth and 5000 miles in
circumference, the terrible bitterness
of the contest as the trouble grew in
extent and intensity, the valor of the
foemen, the JOY over the ceasing of
the titanic strife at Appomattox.
Speaking of the qualities of the citizen
soldiers, and particularly those of the
| New England States, Col. Clark read
part of Gen. Martin McMahon's
Characterization of the troops of the
first Vermont brigade, which, though
familiar through occasional reproduce
ton. is here published:
"They were honest farmers turned
vagabonds. They were simple coun-
trymen turned into heroes. They
swept the diaries and they stripped
the orchards for miles where they
travelled. They chased rabbits when
they went into camp after long march
es, and they yelled like Indians when
neighboring camps were silent
through fatigue. They were familiar
with their officers and looked down
with Yankee GOODNESS upon all regi.
ments that were better drilled, for
they knew perfectly we'll that they
were the best fighters in the known
world. They were long of limb and
could outmaIch the army. They were
veterans in fighting qualities almost
from their first skirmish. This was
at Lees Mills. They crossed a narrow
dam under fire, made the the attack
they were instructed to make and
came back wading deep in the water
with a steadiness that surprised the
army. They were an incorrigible set
of rascals, and yet they were at all
times pet brigade. There were but
two things they could do-march and
fight. They had long, slow, swing
ing stride in the march which dis
tanced everything that followed
them. They had quiet, earnest in
dividual way of fighting that made
them terrific in battle. Each man
knew that his neighbor in the ranks
was not going to run away, and knew
that he himself intended to remain
where he was. When moving into ac-
tion and while hotly engaged they
made queer, quaint jokes and enjoyed
them greatly. In every engagement
in which this brigade took part it was
complimented for gallant conduct.
One of the most remarkable of its per
formances, however, has never APP
peared in print. After the battle OF
Gettysburg, when Lees army was il
the vicinity of Hagarstown, this brig.
AIDE was employed as a skirmish line,
anticipating general engagement.
The enemy had evidently determined
to attack AT last his line of battle
came forward. The batteries opened
at once and the skirmishers delivered
their fire. Our army stood waiting
expecting the skirmishers TO fall bacl
and join them to receive the coming
{ assault But the skirmishers would
not come in, and when the firing dice
away it appeared that this famous
brigade, deployed as skiImishers
and actually repulsed a full line of
? battle attack. Twice afterwards thu
enemy advanced to carry the position
and were each time again driven bacl
by this perverse skirmish line. To b'
l sure, the skirmishers protected them
selves, as the rule required, behlnt
, any natural obstacles that they coul(
find but then, everybody knows tina
4 the etiquette in such matters is TO
4 the sklrmish line to come i'll as sool
as they are satisfied that the enem.
means business. These simple minded
patriots from the Green Mountains
d however, adopted a rule of their owl
9 on this occasion, and the enemy, dis
gusted with such stupidity, retired
across Beaver Greek. -
The speaker reviewed the great mil
O itary events of the war and spoke il
terms of eloquent and patriotic eulog,
:, of the captains who led to brillian
victories the best and the best fighting
armies the world has ever seen; o
the fearful losses in battle; of tn
: hardships and endurance of the ranl
r and file; OF the labors of nurses anC
> hospital corps to relieve or mltigat
s suffering, and the provision made b.
n government after peace through Ma
tional Soldiers Homes ana or State
j. through local homes for the comfoI
Il of needy veterans, and extolled tn
: munifcence of the national expendi
r lures for pensions. Concluding hi
| uo..,o ,.I-e ~, fba Ioffar on biaot he said