"The skirmish line being attacked, the Second, Third, and Sixth Vermont regiments were sent out to support the skirmish line. The balance of the corps crossed the river, then these regiments and the skirmish line followed. To Colonel T. O. Seaver, Third Vermont, acting as general officer of the day, is due the credit of bringing off these three regiments. To Major C. P. Dudley, Fifth Vermont, under the direction of Colonel Seaver, is due the credit of safely bringing off the skirmish line, the last squads crossing the river in boats, after the bridges were partially removed.

"So far as space will admit, this is a faithful account of the part taken by the Vermont troops in the battle of Banks' Ford. It was a terrible struggle. If we believe what intelligent prisoners informed us, the rebel General Lee was present, directing the attack. He skillfully massed and hurled against us a terrible force, fully expecting to annihilate or capture the whole corps. No less than three corps of the rebel army were engaged, and no less than three brigades fought the Green Mountain Boys,' to wit, a Louisiana, a North Carolina, and a Mississippi brigade, each consisting of four regiments.

"The Louisiana and North Carolina brigades must have been nearly annihilated. The colonel commanding the Louisiana brigade, whom we captured, ad

mitted that we had taken, and killed and wounded, the most of his brigade. The number of prisoners actually captured must have been over one thousand, but owing to the imperative order withdrawing the Second, Third, and Sixth Vermont, and Twenty-sixth New Jersey, only about four hundred were brought away, among whom were one brigadier-general, one colonel, commanding brigade, several lieutenant colonels, majors, and line officers.

"Too much praise cannot be awarded to the officers and men for their excellent conduct. They could not have done better. Vermont may well be proud of them all. The men did their duty, and the officers were there to direct and encourage. Not an officer failed to come to time. Not a man straggled from the ranks. And when a regiment moved, it did it with almost the precision of an ordinary drill. It would be impossible, and almost invidious, to particularize, but I cannot fail to speak in the highest terms of praise of Colonel Walbridge, Second Vermont, Colonel Seaver, Third Vermont, Colonel Stoughton, Fourth Vermont, Colonel Barney, Sixth, and Lieut. Colonel Lewis, of the Fifth Vermont. Nor can I fail to mention in the same strain, of gallant services performed by the officers of my staff, Captain A. Brown, Fourth Vermont Volunteers, Acting Assistant Inspector General; Lieutenant C. H. Forbes, Fifth Vermont Volunteers, Acting

Assistant Adjutant General; Lieutenant J. J. Bain, Second Vermont, and F. J. Butterfield, Sixth Vermont, Acting Aids-de-Camp, and Lieutenant Horace French, Third Vermont, Acting Provost Marshal, all of whom rendered the most efficient aid. They were everywhere in the thickest of the fight, wherever needed, faithfully delivering and carrying out my orders. This was also true of them at the battle of Fredericksburg.

"Lieutenant A. Austin, Fifth Vermont Volunteers, Acting Quartermaster of the Brigade, is also entitled to great credit for supplying the command with rations and other necessaries, and for safely keeping charge of the baggage of the brigade.

"Nor ought I to fail to speak of the gallant dead. Captain Ainsworth, of the Sixth Vermont, fell while gallantly leading on his men.

"The loss to the Vermont troops was, considering all the circumstances, very slight indeed. There were 17 killed, 118 wounded, and 44 missing, in all 179. The loss inflicted upon the enemy was probably five times that number. Let not the mothers, wives, and sisters of Vermont weep for the fallen. Their graves are on the fields of battle, while their spirits find 'congenial joys in the fields of the blessed.""

The "Vermont Brigade" was again engaged at Fredericksburg on the 5th of June, 1863. The fol