Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-04-21

to receive the coming assault But the
slSlrmshers would not come in and when
the fire died away It appeared that the
Vermonters' thus deployed as a skirmish
line had actually repulsed a full line OF
attack Twice afterward the enemy adj
vanced to carry the position and were
each time again driven back by this per-
verse skirmish line. The Vermonters, 1t
is true, were strongly posted In the woods,
and each man fired from behind tree.
But then, everybody knows that the
etiquette in such matters is for the Skin
mish line to come in as soon as they are
satisfied the enemy means business. These
simple minded patriots from the Green
Mountains however adopted rule Of
their own on this occasion, and the en-
envy, disguised with this stupidity, re-
tired across Beaver Creek.
When the Vermonters led the column
on a march their quick movements had
to be regulated from corps or division
headquarters to avoid gaps in the column
as Il followed them. II a rapid or forced
march were required 1t was a common
thing for Sedgwick to say, with a quiet
smile: Put the Vermonters at the head
of the column today, and keep everything
well closed up"
After the riots in New York when 1t
was found necessary to send troops to
the city to prevent recurrence of the out
break, the Vermont brigade was especi-
ally named by the war department for
this duty. Within two hours from re-
ceiving the despatch the command was
en- route to the city. They occupied the
public squares here for some time, and
enjoyed themselves not wisely nor yet
virtuously and returned to the army of
the Potomac sadly demoralized in all but
the two great essential qualities, Of fight
ing and marching. 1t was fortunate
thing for the New York mob that II
! ENGLAND
troops at this time
Upon the return of the brigade to the
field they quietly held on their own rou-
tine of life and maintained to the close
Of the war the splendid reputation they
had won at the very outset.
There were many regiments equal &c
the Vermont regiments in actual battle
and some, that, like the 5th New York
volunteers, not only equalled them In
fighting qualities but greatly surpassed
them in drill, discipline and appearance
on parade. AS a brigade, however, they
were undoubtedly the best brigade in the
army of the Potomac, for they not only
fought as well as it was possible to fight
but they could outmarch, with the utmos
ease, any other organization in the army
1t was the intention of the writer onl!
to refer to this brigade as furnishing thu
best type of the American soldier, bu
this article has grown beyond its limit
examine into the cause of the superiority
Two however, may be briefly stated
First, that the regiments from Vernon
were brigaded together.
This rule strange to say, seemed t
work we'll only in regard to the smalle
states like Vermont and New Jersey. Sec
ond, the fact that Vermont, during tn
first year of the war, recruited for tn
regiments and kept them full. Regimen
tai and company officers knowing tina
their ranks would be filled up discharge
the men freely and thus managed to ge
rid of their weak and worthless soldiers
For these reasons the Vermonters wer
good men. They were fortunate, how
ever, in having such commanders as Ger
W. F. Smith and w. 7. H. Brooks.
naturally resulted from this combinatio
Of circumstances that they became
great power in battle, and earned repu
tation of which every man and woma
in Vermont may well be proud.