Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-22
'aaged by any people since history began

|aged by any people since history began
to be written
am what the world calls a busy man
ana nave not had time TO properly make
such research Of the history OF the
war OF the Rebellion as would enable
me TO properly and impartially speak Of
al the Vermont heroes engaged in that
great war
! can, however, correctly narratc a lit
tic OF the history of Vermont at Gettys-
burg. This battle was fought fifty years
ago next July. LIST tn the 4th. The First
and Second Vermont Br1gades took an
actiVe part My own regiment the
twelfth Vermont infantry, was one of
'ne hVe regiments composing the Sec
onu vermont Brigade, Brig. Gen. George
D. Stannard commanding. Granville G
benedict second lieutenant "C' Com
pahy' tmy own company was an aide
de-camp on the staff OF Gen. Stannard
and to his little book entitled Vermont
at Hettvsburg," ! am indebted for much
that | now narrate.
The Second Brigade was In the Third
Division. First Corps
ON Friday, the last great day Of the
battle the flank attack of the Second
Vermont Brigade decided the fate of the
rebel charge, ed by the rebel Gen
Pickett, and with It, the Issue OF the
battle.
This IS history and cannot he refutcd
Few people these days are able to CON
ceive the awfulness Of that decisive bat
tie, that saved this great nation from
permanent disruption
Washington, Baltimore and Phiade,-
pha were threatened. Tho enemies Of
the Union were rioting In New York and
peace at any price was becoming the
cry Of the cownrd; foreign Intervention
was imminent The victory of the Union
army achieved at Gettysburg changed
everything There were 40 guns opposite
our left center, which with Ewalrs bat
teries on our right. made a concert of 20J
guns. There was concentrated on our left
center the fire from 40 to 10 guns. a
fire with hardly a parallel in field opera
tons.
The famous cannonade with which Ma
poleon preceded tho decisive charge 500
Wagram was of but leo guns. and that
of Ney at Borodino of but eighty. 1t !.
240 guns in action. firing over $50 dis
charges a minute. added to the unearth-
! ly noise of exploding shells, made the
explosion equal to 600 per minute. An
English writer quoted in what ! hay,
| written, said 1t was like the thunderinl
| roar of all the accumulated battles ever
! fought upon earth rolled into one volum
/ The sound of the artillery was distinctly
heard at Greensboro. Pa, 143 miles aN ay
! in an air line
1t was after the cannonading ceased
that the grand charge Of Gen. Pickett
+ took plac"-thcn came the deadly
and effective resistance by the 18th, l4th
and 18th regiments of the Second Yer
mont Brigade.
Gen. Stannard lost a leg, but fell cover
cd with glory To his perfect GOODNESS
close and constant presence his prompt
ness-almost inspiration-with which h
seized the great opportunities OF the bat
tie. was very greatly owing the glorious
success of this days battle.
/ I wish I had time to tell of the nava
history of our great Admiral Dewey
a son Of Vermont / served with hin
in the North Atlantic squadron in De
cember. 1854 during the bombardment
of Fort Fisher, when he was a young Of
fcer, with promise OF greatness as q
commander should the opportunity oc
cur. 1t did occur in Manila bay and the
quiet command:
you may fire when YOU are ready
Grdley!" has become famous and trus'
will always he remembered as the bes
illustration of calmness and executive
ability ever recorded In the history OF
war.
Most of the great captains have beer
asleep for years-a few of the rank and
file remain, warriors only In memories
waiting for the last bugle to call, when
by the grace Of God, we may all say
like the apostle of old.
81 have fought the fight. l have KEEP
the faith