The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-09-05
No. 80
Luke
Ferriter
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Fred T. Stewart

tramp of SO miles they reached
Charlestown and on May II they enlist
ed in COMPANY A, Sd Vermont regi-
ment under Capt. Neazev, later colonel
Of the regiment.
When Mr.. Ferriter enlisted he gave
his name as Charles Smith to throw his
father off the track in the investiga
ton he knew would come Immediately
following his disappearance. He was
known afterw rds as Irish Charlie
Smith. but he got to the front because
he hid in the lavatorv Of the coacn
when the regiment went through Brat
tleboro and his father searched the
train.
He was not long in finding adven-
lures. His company was out foraging
near WashingtC- and Mr.. Ferriter, be-
ing the smallest member Of the com
pany. was on the extreme left. He
was not notified Of the recall and was
still foraging when a sergeant and a
squad of men found him At Lee ;
Mills three or four, including Mr.. Fer
ritter, claimed the protection Of a big
tree while on the skirmish line. but
Mr.. Ferriter was obliged to relinquish
his claim and seek other protection,
which he did amid a shower of bull
lets.
At Golding's Farm. where the regi-
ment was guarding the famous grape
| vine bridge, he was living on the Skin
| mish line when a round shot from Il
| battery plowed into the ground in
| in front of him and covered him with
dirt, but except for the fact that he
| was partially buried it was merely a
| close call.
Mr.. Ferriter was one Of those de
tailed for guard duty at Gen. " Badly
| Smith : headquarters at White OAK
| swamp He SAYS he lost no more time
| than necessary in getting away from
| the headquarters when the rebels open
! ed unexpectedly on IT one fine morning
| with 30 pieces Of artillery. 1t was
here that he received his first wound
\ piece of shell exploded and STRUCK
| his gun, breaking it as he carried il
| on his shoulder, wOunding him slightly
| in the neck. That night in the confusion
| we was caught between the lines ant
it was not until the second night thai
he managed TO get back into the Union
lines, after having lodged rebel cav
| airy all day.
At the first battle Of Fredericksbur!
he was on picket duty ON the edge o
! a brook. The m~u were dead for sleeI
and when the officer of the guard mad,
his rounds he expressed astonishmen
that Mr.. Ferriter had challenged him
saying that it was the first time h,
had been challenged on his rounds
| Mr.. Ferriter explained that he KEEP
awake by duching his head in til,
brook.
1t was at the battle of Salem
Heights that Mr.. Ferriter made hi
capture Of the colonel Of South Car
Dina regiment. The regiment wa
charging and the officer was well il
advance of his men as he came owe
the brow OF the hill Mr. Ferrite
sPrang out in front and covering hin
with his gun, excl, lined. ~ on are m,
prisoner.' The colonel, he SAYS, Dc
clined to give up his sword to q mer
private and Mr.. Ferriter told him h
could give it TO anyone he liked $
long as he novel lively. The capture
officer surrendered his sword to Co
> Pingree, who WIS commanding tn
regiment at the time.
, In the battle OF the Wilderness tn
butt of his gun was shot out of hi
f hands and two bullet holes were mad
: through has tt ,users and one throug
l Il coat sleeve, bat he escaped without
scratch.
( At the battle of Spottsylvania o
4 May -, 1864, in the fight at tn
Bloody Angle Mr.. Ferrter wa
4 wounded in the right thigh. Ever
II tually he was renewed to Brattlebor,
P He found, aftcr being taken to tn
e field hospital, that Il mimic ball ha
$ pierced his knapSack, gone through
Il envelopes, "a sheets of paper and ha
a made Sc holes in his rubber blanke
h lie figures that the paper and enve
Y opes were JUS enough to keep tn;
t. bullet from going clear through him.
e He recovered from his wound an
e rcioined his REGIMENT Just before II
= battle of Win, hester. In the bait
e of Cedar Creek IS he was lying on IL
r. ground on the skirmish line under q