The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-03-29

and the next day the 9th Vermont came
past us. They had been taken prisoners
and had been paroled, having surrendered
at Harper's Ferry. We soon started for
Antetam, having to ford a stream, and
Joined on to the left OF Gen. French S
command. We were in a big cornheld
where we had much fighting until the
rebels retreated two days later.
II was detailed with squad of men
to pick up the dead in front of our regi-
ment, as the smell from the decomposing
bodies was getting unbearable. Several
! other squads were sent out for the same
purpose from other regiments. The picket
! line ran along on the crest of the ridge,
which protected our line as it lay among
| the dead bodies We would crawl up
and take man by the leg and haul him
down and load him on to a couple OF
| fence rails and two men would carry him
off to the, rear, where our prisoners were
burying them. Sometimes we would get
hold Of a pickets leg, for we couldn't
distinguish them from the dead, only when
they kicked. All the time bullets Were
flying about us. My squad brought in
80 bodies and over 300 were buried in one
trench. When daylight came there SEEM
ed to be as many dead bodies lying
around as before we began our work.
The enemy had gone and | started to look
over the field, which was covered with
dead for half mile, | ran across two
that we're still alive. 1t was the bloodiest
battlefield | had ever seen. We marched
on to Hagerstown and camped on the
fair grounds. Our colonel was military
governor of the town.
after leaving Hagerstown we crossed |
back to Virginia and had no more en-
gagements until Dec 10, when we ar
rived at Fredericksburg, where Gen. Burn |
side was in command. We crossed be-
low the town and advanced in line of bat |
tie through an open plain between our
artillery and the enemy. The ground was
frozen hard and the balls glanced as
though they had struck solid rock. Our
regiment lost six killed and 80 or 60
wounded. We crossed the Rappahannock
under cover Of darkness and camped near
White Oak church on Falmouth Heights.
We we're soon ordered to join the bri-
gade, which was then on the march, and
after tramping about from place to place
in drenching rainstorm we got orders to
return to our first camp in front of Fred
ericksburg. This was Burnsides campaign
when he was stuck in the mud. We
had but few adventures until early in
May, when we crossed the river on pom
toons under heavy fire and drove the
enemy back to the foot of the heights.
We then moved up to the south part Of
the town and lay under cover on the bank
of the river.
1--WE had the Goth New Jersey attached
to our brigade mine months mem at
that time. and they were ordered to
them. Before they reached
across they got a shell in their ranks,
when they broke and it was every man
for himself We were ordered in and af-
.erward crossed the open in zig-zag way
so the enemy couldn't get a good range
On us, and we succeeded in driving the
rebels out of their rifle pits and charged
-he heights. My terminate, George A.
Rice, was wounded just as we gained the 5
OPP, when they fired their last volley and
AN. | ran to the rear for stretcher l
md we carried Rice down the mountain, /
tut he died before anything could be done
or him. | left him and went out on the {
salem pike and caught up with my regi- {
nent near Salem church. Our regiment
ell back to Salem Heights and lay in {
inc of battle all day, watching the enemy t
orming in front. Our line was formed t
n circle, both TANKS close to the river, i
While the enemy formed the same. They t
moved their whole army on the 9th corps c
ust before dark and succeeded in driving $
n our skirmish line. Our brigade was in t
he front center and the rebels came a
within 200 yards before we opened fire. T
We gave them a volley and then con- v
inued to load and fire at will. After i
ONE sharp fighting the rebels began to
raver and we charged, taking lots of pris- c
ners. Ny companys loss was five killed il
nd about a dozen wounded. We estab- t
shed strong rear guard, crossed the c
iver on pontoons, the ID Vermont COW $
ring the retreat. After crossing the r
ridge we raised the anchors and swung Fl