The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-06

"By this time 1t was quite dark. AS
soon as daylight broke the following
morning the rebs' opened fire all
along our front with cannon. Nearly
the first shot burst a caisson. We
we're Immediately ordered to advance
II rods to the front and to occupy
the lowest ground In the valley near
some small timber and piles OF cord
wood. Here we remained under fire
from cavalry and sharpshooters until
about p. m. When the crash of
Picketts charge came we were order
ed to advance by charge front for
ward ON the first company This was
done in such splendid shape that we
received high compliments from Gen
Hancock and others.
This movement put company b
the whole length of the regiment
nearer the Emmetsburg road than
any other command on the field and
when Pickett gave his order to left
oblique his command, they passed US
in such a manner that it was almost
impossible to shoot in their direction
without hitting many of them. We
shall never forget the fearful slaugh-
ter of men, whole companies being
shot down from the constant fire of
musketry, grape and canister from
the ridge west of us. Darkness clos
ed the carnage and we were put on
picket under the famous old maple
tree shown on all the pictures of
Pickett's charge.
July opened with heavy rain.
Wounded men had been brought in
all night. The surgeons worked on
table made of a stable door placed
on two flour barrels. We went
around the barn that morning and
saw large pile of human limbs
thrown indiscriminately from the
doctors table About l p. M, We
were permitted to take a stroll fol
some distance on the field. The heart
rending scenes we witnessed cal
never be described. Often and Otter
I the light OF memory brings them t
, view and sometimes | even awakel
from sleep with tears in my eyes
. having in my dreams reliyed thos,
/. trying days now so far away in tn
: past
a I'VE went out on the Emmettsbur
o road past the peach orchard and tn
/. famous wheat field through the deN
Z IFS den near the place where we ha
Z lain all the previous day. Here W
found squad of men, four in nun
q Der, under command of a sefgean
!. burying the dead In shallow trenches
q The dirt removed from the secon
4 grave was used to cover the blu,
!. CARRIED body of the hero that was tel
d derby laid In the first one, and so o
p until a long row of mounds wei
n made. The dirt was so hard and dr.
q. that it was extremely difficult
a. remove, and the work progresse
n very slowly. The solemnity of II
n occasion was intense. The men wei
n very weary with their work and Il
ID commander said mournfully, &C.
AZ another man. put him In, and we wi
Iy so home meaning of course,
camp.
r. ION July we took back track 8
II ter Lee and his army, following the
n. to Falling Water on the Potoma
m thence down the valley to Berlin. A
q ter being in camp 40 hours we toe
m the train for Baltimore and fro
10 there we arrived in due time at Bra
n tleboro, where we were royalty W,
,s coined. We were discharged July
10 1863
10 Our regiment lost 10 in battle al
nv 81 were wounded. carried in n
g haversack tin pail that was stru,
h. by mimic ball, leaving a deep der
IN Unfortunately the pail was lost
"a the way home. Our regiment h,
N one thing of which II can proud
10 boast. 1t never had a deserter Il
y only regiment in the field OF Whit
"a this can be said so far as the recor,
= show.
v. &c. +. Brown
n. Company X. 18th Vermont Volu
y teer Regiment"