The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-12-26
A BIT or ARMY HISTORY.


When the members Of the Ist Vermont
Cavalry held their reunion nc Essc,
Junction last October, they visited For
Ethan Allen and enjoyed Che hospitaiii,
IT the officers and men 81 the Unite
States army stationed there. Durinl
this visit II was learned that the iashei
Of Major John - Mcdonald OF the 18Th
United States Cavalry, was the senior
captain of the 9th Alabama, which rcgi
ment comprised a part Of Laws brigade
l MclaW's division. Longstreet's corps
army Of northern Virginia. and partici
pated IN the severe combat which took
place in front Of Round Top, Gettysburg
on the afternoon Of July 3, 1863 and
I In which the LIT Vermont Cavalry bore
20 prominent a part, and suffered such
7 heavy losses. The hcld officers OF the
nth Alabama having been killed or
wounded since the commencement OF the
battle. Captain Mcdonald was In com.
mand Of his regiment, aud when the sec.
ond battalion Of the lst Vermont Cav.
airy, led BY Mayor William Wells, had
reached the plateau at the foot OF Round
Top they met the Confederate infantry,
and then commenced a hand 10. hand
fight Of the sevcrest kind. In which
many were killed on both sides, includ
ing General Farnsworth, the commander
Of the cavalry brigade, who rode in the
charge at the side Of Major Wells. Cap
tain Mcdonald was shot through the
right lung at this time, the injury caus
ing his death.
At the battle Of Gettysburg, Major
General Oliver o. Howard commanded
the Union troops on the right, General
William Wells had an important com
mand Of the Union troops on the left,
and Gen. George j. Stannard commanded
troops near the center, SO the city Of
Burlington had three distinguished OH.
GERS who rendered most conspicuous and
gallant service at this great and decisive
battle Of the war for the Union. After
Gettysburg, the Confederate and Union
troops met continually in the death crap.
pie until the surrender of Lee at Ap.
pomatt0x. Major Wells rose TO the rank
Of colonel, and commanded his regiment,
which participated from first to last in
20 battles and skirmishes. and captured
more Confederate regiment than any
cavalry regiment in the Union army.
Later, as brigadier general, he command
ed General Clusters brigade when the
latter commanded the division and Gen.
eral Sheridan commanded the. cavalry
corps of the army Of the Potomac. For
galiantry and distinguished service Cen
eral Wells was promoted to the rank Of
brevet major general, and was the last
OF the cavalry corps Of the
army of the Potomac. lie also received
the congressional medal Of honor for dis
tinguished gallantry in the battle Of
Gettysburg.
This was many wears ago, and many
Of the men who fought SO boldly during
those trying days have passed over the
river. But history repeats itself, and
to-day Major John r. Mcdonald, III s.
a., son of Captain John d. Mcdonald Of
the 47th Alabama, is the commanding
officer Of the United States troops at
Fort Ethan Allen. Whea.the 3rd United
States Cavalry first came to this post
Major Mcdonald was captain command
ing Troop /. and participated with that
regiment, under command Of General
Samuel b. M Young, in the severe cam
paign IN the northwest part of northern
l4uzon, in the Philippine islands, and dur.
ing the action with the Filipinos, who
were commanded by General Tinio, he
was shot through the right lung.