Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-02

| for ffty-sx offered themselves. Banks
and individuals We'd with one another In
placing their means at the disposal of
| the governor. A son Of Vermont in far
off California sent his cheek for n thou
and dollars to help in placing soldiers
in the field. Thousands of dollars were
| freely subscribed from private resources
| to equip troops and care for the fam
| lilies of the absent soldiers. with a
property valuation Of $sJ. OO0.o0D for taxa
| ton in 1861, Vermont spent over 81. SO0-
600 for war expenses, moro than n tenth
| OF her resources out OF n population
of 3150o. In 1850. depleted Of much of
its best blood ~ immigration. Vermont
is credited with 5000 eulstments, over
| one-half the number Of able bodied men
| or military age In the State, and 1.JO
more than her quotas under all calls.
| Within month from the time the first
| blow of the Rebellion was struck regi-
mcnt fully armed and equipped was on
! Its way to Washington and two others
were gathering from all directions. OF
| the men Vermont sent forth let others
speak. When the first regiment passed
| through Troy. the Times Of that city
said by general acclaim the regiment
was pronounced to be the finest ever con
in this section Of the country" The AL
bany At'ns and Argus said "Thoy are
by far the finest troops we have yet seen
among the volunteers from any State"
The New York papers added their tribute.
The World after commenting on the
splendid physical appearance Of the regi-
mont said. 1.-THE browning glory Of tho
regiment Is its moral power. IT has no
more machines. It's mon arc men" In
the Vermont troops were found in tho
highest degree the qualities which have
| made the American soldier pre-emnent,
Intelligence and courage. and self-rc-
lance. The Vermont Brigade" says
General MacMahon, the adjutant OF the
fighting sixth corps, were the model and
type of the volunteer soldier
The tattored flags resting now In the
State House ut Montpelier tell a wonder
full story OF bravery and faithfulness dis
played by tho Vermonters in the field.
The colors of the eighth bear silent wit
ness to tho noble sacrifice Of that regiment
in the first effort to check Early's forces
at Cedar Creek. Three men were killed
while bearing them aloft and of the one
hundred and fifty-nine men taken into
action. one hundred were lost in the hand
to hand fight for their possession. Thir-
teen out of the sixteen officers with the
regiment were killed or wounded before
IL was at last driven back, but not with
out the flags.
The blue folds OF the colors of the Tenth
| are stained deeper hue with the blood
| Of ono who bore them gallantly and at
last laid down his life for them. At Co.
dar Creek. October 49, 1864 n day Of sad
memories in many Vermont homes. lead
ing the regiment in the charge which won
tn, day ten feet ahead of the line naunt-
ing the cOlorS at the rebels, Billy Ma
honey foil shot through the breast. dyeing
with his blood the flag he had carried 50
bravcly and loved so we'll There in tho
place of his triumph We leave him, sleep
ing in the beautiful valley under the
I southern sun.
And the flag of the Tenth tells another
story. At Cold Harbor an Irish lad
crIwled woarily ont of reach of tho
shells, faint and almost exhausted A
bullet had gone clear through his lung.
As he lay there painting. closing his eyes
to escape the glare Of the sun, the good
chaplain came along and spoke to him.
Il tell the story Just as the chaplain told
it to mel. why Tommy" he said "aro
you hit?' "Yis, chaplain" be replied,
with brave attempt at n smile. IL guess
they've got me this time. I'm a brathin
through me back" motioning toward the
hole where the air was oozing out in
little bubbles with his blood. The chap
lain looked him over and said. "Why
Tommy, you'll get we'll. They'll put a
{ plaster on in front and another on in back
and you'll be all right" "Wil they so?"
Yes" And will get another shot at thin,
donned ribls?' Yes. to be sure" Thin
patch me up and sind mo back. Aye.
patch me up and send me back Pale
with suffering, shivering from loss of
blo'u, ana unSlTunE from the SHOCK OF
his wound. that soldier. only boy in
years, had but one thought. Patch me
up and send mo back There brcathod
the same spirit of sclfforGetful patriot
e. ism, of undaunted resolution of intrepid
bravery, which sent the Vermont reGi-
, mcnts up the hill at Marys Heights.
which glowing in their hearts turned the
tide ut Gettysburg, which saved tho day
in the Wilderness and Cedar Creek, and
, which found it. elimination when the
Vermont brigade was brought mile past
other troops 10 lead the charge which
broke I.co's lines and snapped the life
of the Confcderlcv. OF character, rs
we'll as of intellect. OF courage, as we'll
as of intelligence, and of an unfaltering
devotion to duty, which blood freely shed
had rendered sublime, the banners OF YER
: mont are mutely cloqus mt.
, They tell of life that calmly looked on
death"
1 OF peerless valor. and of trust sublime
OF costly sacrifice, of hottest faith.
, or lofty hopes that ended not with
time,
May 3. 1863. the Sixth Corrs won tho
? first Of those laurcls which were to make
, its service under ScdEwick immort a.
when il stormcd and took unailed the
heights Of fredericksburg, where. not
six months before. burnside with hall
2 the army of tho Potomac had been dashed
to pieces. In the afternoon, the corps
moved along on its way to Chancellors-
r vilc, reaching salem Church late In the
t day. Here it encountered strong Con
+ fcdcrate force. Its position was critical
. in the extreme In front and on its left
+ was moro than half Lees army COM
mnnded by him in person and on its
right rolled the RappahannoCk The
troops were disposed three sides of n
, hollow square. tho fourth being protect
, ed by the river. and in this position lay
on their arms all night.
, | Leo spent most of tic next day recon
motoring ard concentrating his forces
, His plan was simple; to break through,
: the north side OF the square, take the
other sides in flank and rear and then
; by Il general attack annihilate the Sixth
, Corns. The north side was held by
Tlowc's division. Nells brigade in front
next tho river, and the Vermont brigade
, in a second line in the rear and little
, to the right.
, Look down with me upon the Sattlc
and follow FOR a little while its VARYING
fortunes. About five o'clock i'm the af
ternoou the Confederate batteries vince
into lire along the crest opposite Howe
, and open fire. The air is filled with the
whiz of Aging shells. the crash of OK
, plosions and the Shrek of scatt ring
r fragments of iron. The rebel infantr,
comes in sight and the fatcful singing
, of the mimic balls falls on our cars. Tn,
smoke of battle hangs over the field
Through its riffs We catch n glimpse o
, tho briEadcs Of Hays, Hokc ana Gordon
as they rush down the slope and up the