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

the day may yet be won. The men in
gray double their pace Back Of little
crest lies the 9Th Vermont, stationed un-
der the watchful eye of Colonel Barney,
STEADY men. hold your fire until the or
DER the quiet voices of the officers com
mand. on comes the gray line, nearer.
nearer. three regiments against one. Now
the boys in blue ran see the buttons on
the Confederate coats and the bayonets
glistenng in tho setting sun. VIII the
order never come? The rebels are upon
them Their shrll. wild yell is in their
ears, Closer, closer, the rebel line Is only
~ feet away. Now" rings out tho
coonel's voice. The mon leap to their
feet and n sheet of flame bursts from the
line. The gray coats hesitate, then turn
and fec as tho Vermonters charge In
turn. Back. back, back they go. losing
colonel and nineteen other officers and 231
men to their pursuers. and night falls
with not a rebel in sight between the
Union lines and fredericksburg
After brief interval of darkness the
moon comes up, lighting with Its htful
beams scene of gloomy desoation. Upon
that field. 900 mon lay whore they fell
manglcd and bleeding from ghastly
wounds. or stark and cold in death. The
stretcher bearers worked silently carry
ing their grooming loads over the pontoon
bridge now laid: the pioneers bent sadly
to their grucsome task Of following out
the shallow graves of their comrades. All
night long the business of getting the
corps across tho river went on and morn
ing found them safe in their old camps
again. The Nermonters were the last to
leave the field. and. although sad for the
men who had fallen. they returned with
n feeling of exaltation. The sting of de-
feat was not for them. In the past two
days they had at Fredericksburg borne n
gallant part In one of the most brilliant
assaults of the war, and had in addition
| by their unwavering steadiness saved tho
corps from terrible disaster. Thence
| forth the white Greek cross of tho second
division of the sixth corps was n badge
| of honor throughout the army, inspiring
| wherever it hoated in the smoke OF battle
n perfect confidence in the outcome. or
| the Vermont brigade of this division
| Sc1gwick's chief Of staff had this to say,
mo body of troops in or out of the Army
| of the Potomac made their record more
| CALAMITY sustained 1t moro herocally.
or wore the honors more modestly."
| Not alone upon this occasion and in
! this brigade did the Vermont troops
evince their sterling worth; but in every
organization In which they served and
| on every occasion when they were called
upon they performed the tasks assigned
them with quick comprehension ani de-
| tcrmined pluck. Whether it was 20 lead
a march when minutes meant lives: or
to quell the New York mob frenziod by
the draft; or to stand in the breach at
| the Wilderness until nearly every other
man had fallen: or to Join In the famous
charge at Spottsylvania. which won his
star for Upton; or to do dreary duty IN
tho far South with the seventh Or TO
| hold Early in check ut Monocacy until
the little stream ran red with their
blood tho Vermont soldiers could be re-
| lied upon to do whatever they were
asked to do and do 1t we'll
Theirs was not the boldness OF brute
force, nor the unconscious bravery Of
Sac
men who could advance knowingly and
| gallartly into the Jaws of death when
| duty called. There Is n great and lofty
virtue that We call courage. taking cur
name from the heart. 1t is the greatness
| of n great heart. the repose and con-
| f1dence Of man whose soul is rested
| in truth and principle" This virtue trey
possessed. They riskcd their lives on the
| battlefield and in the pestlential swamp
at the simple call Of duty: they fought
for the maintenance of principle. When
Edwin r. Frost of St. Johnsbury was
elected captain Of his company. he thus
addressed his men: Soldiers We have
chosen the profession of arms, and with
this choice the stern responsibilities of
war; and. under God. will do our
duty" When at Cold Harbor he lay
writhipG in the agony of two mortal
| wounds. he exclaimed: IT have fallen IN
| the foremost rank for my country and
| New York SIM s,y of our Vermont
| troons. ..The, arc ~ tho c-ror,v,oi,fa,
| sort wbo mako son,o corsc;orco Of nbo+
! ,hoy do," BECAUSE tbo,. co,car,r,tod ,,,'o,,
| tboir to,Le ayor, foc,,1t,, -. r,ira "a
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| ,rhat 80. a., ~ , en, I-.,,
,,on IN in,r,ort,I ,on,a T., w. -or,.ira -
+bo rot;or
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