The National tribune., 1910-11-17

Of their own in carrying out these or
ners. They were finally driven back,
and rejoined their division before the
Belle Grove House, where the other
regiments were reforming after having
been forced from their breastworks, in
which contest Gen. Macauley, com
manding the 18th Ind, fell severely
wounded and the 156th and 176th n.
Y. had hand-to-hand fighting to save
their colors. Haley, 1st Me. Battery,
had to leave three of his guns. Gen.
Grover was slightly wounded; Gen.
Emory lost both of his horses, and for
time commanded the corps on foot.
Gen. Birge lost his, and after awhile
= picked up mule to replace his lost
horse.
Wright Forms Another Line.
Gen. Wright, from his position 9 on
the pike, could see nothing in the dense
ebscurity of the fog save those of the
mass of fugitives who came nearest to
him as they sped past him, visible for
moment as they emerged from the
fog, and the next disappearing into it.
From the impenetrable cloud into
which he was straining his eyes came
the Internal din of musketry and shells,
the wild shouts of the victorious Con-
1ederates, the oatbs and hoarse COM
mands of our officers trying to rally
their men. Wright had to think hard
and fast to interpret what all this
meant, and among these thoughts was
that if after all the dispatch from
Longstreet to Early might be true, and
the force in front of him really was as
overwhelming as ii seemed. He could
not tell what was happening to the cav
airy on his extreme right; possibly it
was being crushed as completely as the
infantry in front There was no safety
in staying where he was and attempt
ing to form a line there. He certainly
could not reform his line where he
was, in the presence of all that turbu-
lence. and he arrived quickly at the
decision to retreat to fresh position,
where he could gain yitally needed
time. Consequently he ordered Getty,
who had assumed command of the
Sixth Corps when Ricketts, was wound
ed. TO fall back behind Middletown and
form new line on the high ground
which had been occupied by the cav
airy. The fight was an hour old when
Wright gave this order to Getty
Stubborn-ffghtingo old Emory was or
dered to form on Getty's right. When
Getty assumed command of the Sixth
Corps Gen. J.. A Grant, of the Vermont
Brigade, cool, clear-thinking and unter-
rified in the midst of the wild turmoil,
assumed command of Getty's Division.
which had thrown upon it the heavy
duty of covering the exposed right flank
in the retreat now ordered by Wright
This Second Division of the Sixth Corps.
commonly called Getty's Division, was
composed of three brigades The First
Brigade. commanded by Gen. James
II. Warner, consisted of the 62d n. Y,
S3d, 9sth. f02d and 139th Pa. The
Second Brigade was the famous Yer
: mont Brigade, composed Of the I'd 3D.
4th, 5th, 9Th and 11th Vt. There are
many who will claim that this mag
nifieent body of Vermont boys was the
best brigade in the Army of the Poto-
mac. 1t certainly had the advantage
of being the only brigade composed en-
tirely of men from one State, animated
by State pride, and which had been
Kept together intact from the very be-
ginning of its service. II unquestion-
ably had solidarity and esprit de
corps that many other brigades lacked.
When Cen Grant took command of the
division Col Amssa Tracy, of the 2d
Vt, assumed that of the brigade.
The Third Brigade was Bidwelrs
noted command, and Gen. Bidweil, its
heroic leader, had made a great repu-
tati0n for it. 1t was composed of the
1st Me, 61st Pa. 43d, 49th and 77th
=. Y. Gen. Bidwell, a man of towering
form and imposing presence. was killed
carly in the engagement, and the COM
Inand of the brigade dcvoIved upon
Col. WiEsor b. French, OF the 77th
n. Y.