The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-26
MONUMENT TO GEN. WELLS
Party Played by Vermont Cavalry
Leader at Gettysburg.

Montpelier, Oct Pa bill has
been introduced in the Legislature
by Mr.. Decker of Dandy, calling for
the erection on the battlefield of
Gettysburg, of monument to Gen.
William Wells. AS nearly so years
have elapsed since that great battle,
the following facts relating to the
part taken by General Wells and his
Vermont troops, taken from the Bur
lington Free Press, will be of general
interest:
about five o'clock on the after
noon of the last day of the battle of
Gettysburg, July 3, 1868, General Kill
patrick, commanding the cavalry di-
vision. ordered the men of Gen. Farms
worth's brigade to charge at once
upon the rebel infantry of Hoods
division on Round Top. A battalion
of First Cavalry, consisting of four
companies and led by Maj William
Wells, Immediately went forward
They rushed through Plum Run up
through the rocks and woods and
charged into Laws Confederate Dri-
gade, consisting of five infantry regi-
ments. This battalion was supported
by another battalion of the regiment
The conflict which was terrific was
hand to hand, bayonets and sabres
muskets and pistols. The Vermont
ers were not only suffering from the
close range of the musketry fire, but
also from two Confederate batteries
of twelve guns located on hill near
by. as well as a longer range of
musketry and artillery fire from the
right of the Confederate line of bat
tie near the Emmitsburg Pike. The
onslaught was terrible.
Major Wells battalion did not
have over 225 men and when the
charge was over they had lost rs men
or 80 per cent of the whole number
Gen. Farnsworth was instantly killed,
and many other officers and men of
the battalion were killed or wounded,
including Lieut. F. J. c. Cheney of the
Montpelier company, who was shot
through the body and whose watch
stopped the bullet The bullet and
watch may be seen at the Vermont
Historical Society rooms in the State
House. This charge is reported in
the war histories as one of the most
desperate known, and some of the
bravest and best young men of Yer
mont there gave their lives.
I'm the report of Lieut.-Col. Pres
ton commanding the regiment July II
1868. he says that this charge of
Walls battalion upon the brigade of
rebel infantry has seldom been ex-
celled in desperation and valor. 1t
was eminently fitting that House bill
No. AZ should be brought forward by
Representative Barney Decker, as he
was an officer of the First Vermont
Cavalry, having been promoted from
the ranks for bravery The State of
Vermont cannot better honor itself
of the memory of this gallant regi-
ment of bold and daring riders whose
record of seventy-siX battles and
skirmishes and whose captures of
prisoners and cannon are unexcelled
by any cavalry regiment in the Union
Army than by passing this bill and
ordering the proposed monument and
statue to Maj Gen. William Wells. so
that for all time those who visit this
great and decisive battlefield of the
War for the Union may be reminded
of the valor of this gallant leader
and his brave men.
1T is to be hoped that the monu-
ment and statue may be in position
before the semi-centennial OF the
battle which will take place at Gettys
burg on the first day of next July"