The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-07-27

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perverse skirmish line. The Vermont
ers, ii is true, were strongly posted II
the woods, and each man fired from
behind a tree. But then, everybod,
knows that etiquette in such matter
is for the skirmish line TO come in a
soon as they are satisfied the enem!
means business. These simple minde,
patriots from the Green mountains
however, adopted rule Of their owl
on this occasion, and the enemy dis
gusted with this stupidity, retirec
across Beaver Creek.
When the Vermonters led the col
umn on a march their quick move
ments had to be regulated from corps
or division headquarters to avoid gaps
in the column as it followed them. II
a rapid forced march were required, il
was a common thing for Sedgwick to
say with a quiet smile "Put the Yer
monters at the head of the clumn to-
day and keep everything well closed
up"
After the riots in New York, when
it was found necessary to send troops
to the city to prevent recurrence Or
the outbreak, the Vermont brigade
was especially named by the war de-
partment for this duty. Within two
hours from receiving the despatch the
command was enroute to the city.
They occupied the public squares here
for sometime and enjoyed themselves
not wisely nor yet virtuouoly and re-
turned to the army Of the Potomac
sadly demoralized in all but two great
essential qualities Of fighting and
marching. 1t was a fortunate thing
for the New York mob that it avoided
conflict with New England troops at
this time.
Upon the return of the brigade TO
the field they quietly held on their
own routine of life and maintained to
the close of the war the splendid repu-
tation they had won at the very out
set.
There were many regiments equal
to the Vermont regiments in actual
battle, and some that, like the 9Th
New York volunteers, not only equal
led them in fighting qualities but sur
passed them in drill, discipline and ap-
pearance on parade. AS brigade,
however, they were undoubtedly the
best brigade in the army of the Po-
tomac. For they not only fought as
we'll as it was possible to fight, but
they could outmarch, with utmost
ease, any other organization of the
army. 1t was the intention of the
writer only to refer to this brigade as
the best type of the Ameri-
can soldier, but as this article has
grown beyond his intended limit, we
have therefore not space to examine
into the cause of this superiority.
Two, however, may be briefly stated.
First, that the regiments from Yer
mont were brigaded together. This
'ule, strange to say, seemed to work
we'll only in the smaller states like
Vermont and New Jersey.
Second, the fact that Vermont dur
ng the first year of the war recruited
or the regiments and kept them full.
and company officers,
that their ranks would be fill
d up, discharged men freely and thus
managed to get rid Of their weak and
worthless soldiers. For these reasons
he Vermonters were good men. They
7ere fortunate, however in having
uch commanders as Gems. w. F. Smith
nd W. 7. H. Brooks. 1t naturally re-
ulted from this combination of cir
that they became a great
over in the battle, and earned a repu-
alton of which every man and woman
4 Vermont may well be proud.