Connecticut western news., 1911-11-16
THE SECOND AT WINCHESTER
Roberts Relates VaIorous Part Taken
 5Y Home Regiment
BY E. s. RoRERT:

BYE s. ROBERTS
 Comrades: Referring again to the bat tie of wischester, you know that the Second Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery never has received more than its share of credit for its achievements during the War. And Imay be pardon for quoting from history touching this batt;e. You know that the battle had been waxing hot from early morn and that the enemy had concentrated large force upon the center of the line which consisted of a portion of the 18th Corps and the Sd and Sd divisions of the 9th Corps. "This line broke and doubled back and began retreating in disorder, the enemy pushing their advantage roll ing into this breach" separating your line in two parts and thereby making it look as though the day was lost. Gen. Russell commanding the 1st division, seeing the predioament, ordered Upton, who commanded the Second Brigade, to take his brigade into the breach, which was immediately done.
 Quotng from vaill's history. he says {: "The brigade" (which by the way con- sisted of the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, 65th New York, l2Ist New York, and the o5th Philadelphia and your regiment being large one consti- tuted fully one-half of Upton's Brigadel twas at once moved out of the ravine, pAssed through narrow strip of woods, crossed the pike, halted for a moment in order to close and dress upa compactly, then went at double quick by the right flank into the gap that had been made in the first line, and made short halt, just In rear of piece of woods. out of which the remnants of the second and third divisions were still retreating, and on the other side of which was the ad- vancing line of Rode's and Gordon's rebel divisions. The first fire that struck our brigade and regiment was while coming to this position. Gen. Russell commanding our division was killed by shell at the same time, having been previously wounded and refused to leave She field. It was this movement of our brigade that checked the enemy until the lines were restored and the two or three thousand fugitives brought back.
 will here quote from Gen. Wesley Merritt's report. published in Battles and Leaders of the War" page 5O0, touching on and corroborative of Ad1u- tant Vaill's report above referred to. Gen eral Merritt says: "At this time the Con- fsderate Artillery opened with canister at short range. doing fearful execution. This, coupled with the weakening of the center at the junction between Emory and Wright, and with charge deliver cd on this junction of the lines by a part of Rode's command, just arrived on the field. drove back the Union center. At this critical movement Russell's division of Wright's Oorps(ths 6th) including the second brigade. moved into the breach on. .Emory's left. and striking the flank of the Confederate troops, who were pur- suing Grover, restored the lines and stayed the Confederate advance. The loss to both sides had been heavy. Gen. Russell of the Union army and Generals Rodes and Goodwin of the Confederate army were among the killed"
 You will remember the untenable ---------------------------~-