USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
Volunteer for one year .- Nelson Martin.
Volunteers for nine months .- Heman W. Allen, John Ashley, Fayette W. Burtch, Stephen O. Crawford, Charles Daniels, Jacob Drew, Allen G. Frisbie, Julius F. Goodrich, Alvin H. Henry, Guernsey R. Jordan, Lewis Martin, Alden Richardson, Torrey W. Sibley, Albert Swan, Albert Tisdell, Edgar Woodruff, William Woodruff.
Williston .- Volunteers for three years credited previous to call for 300,000 men, October 17, 1863 .- Samuel C. Alexander, Robert J. Alexander, George B. Allen, Orville E. Allen, William Austin, William A. Beach, George J. Bliss, John Bliss, John Boyle, Horace W. Brownell, Martin Brownell, Charles B.
343
IN THE REBELLION.
Chapin, Cornelius A. Chapin, William H. Chapman, Luther H. Davis, Fred- erick Doyne, William G. Doyne, Lucian W. French, Charles Gill, William C. Green, Hiram H. Hall, David M. Holton, Edward A. Holton, Richard Irish, Hiram J. Isham, Jackson Isham, Joseph Lander, Lewis Lander, Peter Lan- der, George A. Loggins, Alonzo Marshall, Sanford H. Marshall, David S. McHerd, George Miller, Leroy D. Nichols, Alfred M. Osborn, Eli Osborne, Walter Osborne, Haskell M. Phelps, Homer Prior, John Roland, Dorr A. Roleau, Dorr A. Roleau, John B. Roleau, William Shepard, Willis S. Simons, Frank Ward, George P. Welch, Allen S. Wright.
Credits under call of October 17, 1863, for 300,000 men, and subsequent calls .- Isaac Batey, Henry H. Bradley, Prentice Bullock, Michael Burke, Oliver Bushey, Benjamin F Charles, George Christmas, Israel Demars, Samuel Drap- pin, James Ennis, Alfred C. Fay, Ransom T. Fay, Charles L. Hall, Benjamin F. Isham, Nathan Johnson, Orson B. Johnson, Lawrence Kelley, Peter La- belle, John Larkin, Alonzo N. Lee, John Magaghan, Thomas Miles, William Miles, Albert Munson, George A. Pine, Charles H. Potter, Charles Sister, Charles A. Sprague, Amos Walston, John L. Yale.
Volunteers for one year .- William Clay, George W. Cole, John Gregory, Thomas Kelley, Edward Osborne, Albert Tebo.
Volunteers for nine months .- George L. Baldwin, Bertram F. Brown, Thomas J. Culligan, Peter Dubia, Charles A. Harper, John F. Harper, Nelson Harper, Alfred W. Isham, Milton E. Isham, Nathan Johnson, Thomas John- son, Lawrence Kelley, Thomas P. Kelley, Alonzo N. Lee, Harmon Lee, Me- lancthon S. Lee, Thomas J. Lee, James Patten, Oscar F. Phelps, George A. Pine, Gordon Reynolds, Joseph Sargent, Frank J. C. Tyler, Albert Walston, William F. Whitney, John L. Yale.
Naval credits .- Cassius Loggins, Oscar Prentice.
ENLISTMENTS FROM CHITTENDEN COUNTY, AS REPORTED DOWN TO OCTOBER 1, 1865. COMPILED FROM REPORTS OF ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
TOWNS.
2d Regiment.
3d Regiment.
4th Regiment.
5th Regiment.
6th Regiment.
7th Regiment.
8th Regiment.
9th Regiment.
10th Regiment.
11th Regiment.
12th Regiment. 私一
13th Regiment.
14th Regiment.
17th Regiment. Artillery.
Cavalry.
Other Organ's.
Paid Commu'n.
Procured Sub's.
Entered Serv'e.
Bolton
Burlington
61
11
6
50
34
33
2
7
37
1 22
74
23
28
19
8
46
65 10
8 8
7 7
8
4 1
Essex
14
-
2
3
47
9
3
8
2
17
3
1
20
37
12
- 13
3
9
2
17
11
10
3
1
Williston
2
2
2
5
16
8
G
2
7
1
-
26
7
23
13
6
2
2
Totals.
191
33
18 208 145
95 56 116
09
80
94 248 46 125
.
8
1
16
2
47
12
28
11
3
5
2
3
4
1 6
Richmond
2
3
1
27
1
2
10
7
8
2
8
1
1
20
Underhill
46
1
15
1
3
7
16
2
1
5 6
1
1
-
17
13
23
18 14 14
7
6
3
Milton.
2
1
2
17
9
1
18
1.2
29
6
3
Shelburne
7
3
1
4
4
4
St. George
4
1
14
5
2
8
32
1
10
4
Huntington
2
2
4
1
13
10
11
1
Jericho
13
4
1
1
3
3
1
4
7
Charlotte.
3
1
5
26
8
5
1
8
7
3
4
- 1
19
5
4
2
18
6
2
2
Westford
- 94 21
75 353 252 89
6
-
1
3
7
4
10 133 115 4 5 19
17
11
Colchester.
1
Hinesburg
19
12
14
4
2
7
7
7
2 38 5 2
3
3
18
6
14
15
19
- 14
27
21
1
344
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
Tabular Statement .- The accompanying table does not, of course, include all of the enlistments from this county, as a large number of men volunteered in organizations raised in other States. The heading " other organizations" in- cludes a number of enlistments in the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Battery of ar- tillery ; also, thirty-nine in the navy, twenty-five of whom were from Burlington; also thirty-four in the U S. infantry, of whom twenty-four were from Burling- ton ; the county must also be credited with re-enlistments, as follows : Bolton, five, all in the Fifth Regiment; Burlington, fifty-three - II in Second Regi- ment, 4 in Third Regiment, 10 in Fifth Regiment, 5 in Sixth Regiment, 16 in Seventh Regiment, 4 in cavalry ; Charlotte, four - I in Fifth Regiment, 2 in Seventh Regiment, I in Second Regiment; Colchester, eight - I in Second Regiment, I in Third Regiment, 3 in Fifth Regiment, I in Sixth Regiment, I in Eighth Regiment, I in sharpshooters ; Essex, nine - 2 in Second Regiment, I in Fifth Regiment, 6 in Sixth Regiment; Hinesburg, seven - I in Second Regiment, 1 in Fifth Regiment, I in Sixth Regiment, 2 in Seventh Regiment, I in cavalry ; Huntington, two - I in Fifth Regiment, I in Eighth Regiment ; Jericho, nine - 3 in Fifth Regiment, 3 in Seventh Regiment, 2 in sharpshoot- ers, I in cavalry ; Milton, ten - 2 in Fifth Regiment, I in Sixth Regiment, 5 in Eighth Regiment, I in cavalry ; Underhill, five - 4 in Seventh Regiment, I in sharpshooters ; Westford, seven -2 in Second Regiment, 2 in Fifth Regi- ment, 3 in Sixth Regiment ; Williston, eleven - I in Second Regiment, 2 in Fifth Regiment, 7 in Sixth Regiment, I in Seventh Regiment.
The miscellaneous enlistments not credited by name were 115, distributed among towns as follows: Bolton, 2 ; Burlington, 42 ; Charlotte, 8; Essex, 10; Hinesburg, 9; Huntington, 5 ; Jericho, 10 ; Milton, 12 ; St. George, I ; Under- hill, 9; Westford, 10 ; Williston, 7.
The record of the draft in the county is as follows: Bolton, 8, of whom 2 furnished substitutes; Burlington, 43, of whom 26 furnished substitutes ; Char- lotte, 13, of whom 7 furnished substitutes and 2 entered service ; Colchester, 6 furnished substitutes ; Essex, 16, of whom 8 furnished substitutes and I entered service ; Hinesburg, 10, of whom 3 furnished substitutes; Huntington, 5, of whom I furnished substitute; Jericho, 13, of whom 6 furnished substitutes ; Milton, 16, of whom 6 furnished substitutes and 3 entered service ; Underhill, IO, of whom 2 furnished substitutes and 2 entered service ; Westford, 14, of whom 3 furnished substitutes and I entered service ; Williston, IO, of whom 2 furnished substitutes and 2 entered service.
When the first call of the president for troops was issued, asking for 75,- 000 three months men, immediate steps were taken in this State for the or- ganization of a regiment, and so energetically was the work prosecuted that a regiment was recruited, organized and mustered into the service on the 9th day of May, 1861-less than a month after the first traitorous gun was fired. In this regiment one company (H) was recruited almost entirely in Chittenden
345
IN THE REBELLION.
county, about forty of its members being from Burlington. The regiment was made up of companies of militia then in existence, the one from this county being the Howard Guards.
The following is a complete list of officers and members of this company- the first to go out from the county :
Commissioned Officers .- Captain - David B. Peck, Burlington ; lieuten- ants-first, Oscar G. Mower, Burlington ; second, George I. Hagar, Burlington.
Non-commissioned Officers - Sergeants - first, Loren F. Durkee, Rut- land; second, John R. Lewis, Burlington; third, Edgar Pitkin, Burlington ; fourth, William L. Harris, Burlington. Corporals - first, Heman F. Allen, Burlington ; second, Emerson H. Liscum, Burlington ; third, William H. H. Peck, Burlington ; fourth, Henry C. Tennant, Burlington.
Fifer .- Jackson Isham, Williston.
Drummer .- Hiland Hadley.
Privates .- Blinn Atchison, Jericho ; Frank L. Austin, Colchester ; Heman Austin, Essex ; Clark W. Bates, Essex ; Wm. F. Bancroft, Burlington ; Edgar A. Beach, Essex ; George A. Beebe, Burlington ; Henry D. Belden, Burling- ton ; Tufil Bissonnette, Hinesburg; Henry S. Blake, Bellows Falls ; Coit H. Bostwick, Burlington; John G Bostwick, Hinesburg; George B. Brinsmaid, Burlington ; George W. Brown, Richmond ; James Brnen, Burlington ; Peter Carroll, Westford ; Chester W. Carpenter, Hinesburg ; Charles W. Carpenter, Burlington ; George Chase, Essex ; Elam A. Clark, Stowe; Edward M. Curtis, Burlington ; George E. Davis, Burlington ; Henry E. Ellsworth, Schuyler Falls, N. Y .; Charles H. Filer, Burlington ; Heman E. Foss, Burlington ; Solon W. Fletcher, Burlington ; Horatio Frederick, Burlington ; Malcom G. Frost, Essex; Albert Graham, Fairfax; Patrick Hogan, Burlington; Oliver M. Holabird, Shelburne ; Edward A. Holton, Burlington ; Augustus S. Hopkins, Burlington ; Hiram J. Isham, Williston ; Edwin R. Kinney, Burlington ; Edward M. Knox, Hinesburg ; William Loomis, Burlington ; Charles D. Marshall, Hinesburg ; William A. Martin, Hinesburg; James E. McKowen, Burlington ; Charles D. Morse, Burlington ; Charles H. Mitchell, Richmond; Wm. H. Newton, Bur- lington ; Alfred K. Nichols, Burlington ; Henry C. Nichols, Burlington ; Henry I. Parker, Jericho; Clark L. Parks, Burlington ; Jos. L. Perkins, Burlington ; Hascal M. Phelps, Williston ; Rufus Place, Hinesburg ; Jerome V. Prindle, Ferrisburgh ; James M. Read, Colchester ; Burrage Rice, Burlington ; Herman Seligsen, Burlington ; Riley B. Stearns, Burlington ; Orvis H. Sweet, Burling- ton ; George D. Thompson, Burlington ; Charles H. Tuxbury, Burlington ; Edward Walker, Burlington; Walter H. Warren, Burlington ; Benjamin H. Webster, Stockholm, N. Y .; Edward P. Whitney, Burlington ; George I. Whit- ney, Burlington ; Hyman G. Willard, Burlington; Edward B. Wright, Brad- ford.
The regiment made its rendezvous at Rutland and was mustered with 782
346
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
officers and men. They left the State on the 9th of May and made their first encampment at Fortress Monroe on the 13th. On the 27th they went into camp at Newport News and remained there until August, rendering important serv- ice on the fortifications. On the 10th of June Companies B, D, F, H and K participated in the engagement at Great Bethel. On the 5th of August the regiment left Newport News and returned to Brattleboro, where they were mustered out on the 15th. The Howard Guards, almost to a man, subsequently enlisted in the Twelfth Regiment, forming Company C, as detailed in later pages.
The Second Regiment .- This was the first of the three years regiments raised in the State and was recruited in the State at large. It received large ac- cessions from Chittenden county, as will be seen by reference to the table accom - panying this chapter. Company G was entirely recruited in Burlington and adjoining towns, and other companies included many Chittenden county volun- teers. The regiment rendezvoused at Burlington and was mustered into the service on the 20th of June, 1861, with 868 officers and men, under command of Colonel Henry Whiting, and left the State on the 24th of June. The regiment took part in the battle of Bull Run on the 21st of July, 1861, and subsequently became a part of the gallant " Vermont Brigade." Its career will be further traced in connection with the history of that brigade as a whole. Company G was officered by John T. Drew, of Burlington, captain; David L. Sharpley, Burlington, first lieutenant ; Anson H. Weed, Hinesburg, second lieutenant.
Of the men who went out with this regiment from Chittenden county and then were or afterwards became officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, were Orman P. Ray, who enlisted as private in Company G and was promo- ted sergeant-major November 1, 1864, and adjutant December 24, 1864.
Newton H. Ballou, Burlington, surgeon, resigned December 18, 1862.
Benjamin Walter Carpenter, Burlington, assistant surgeon, promoted to surgeon Ninth Vermont Regiment June 21, 1862.
John T. Drew, Burlington, captain Company G, resigned October 8, 1862.
Nelson Fassett, Jericho, went out as private Company E; re-enlisted April 19, 1864; promoted sergeant October 18, 1864; regimental quartermaster- sergeant February 7, 1865.
David L. Sharpley, Burlington, first lieutenant Company G, resigned June 24, 1862.
Anson H. Weed, Hinesburg, second lieutenant Company G, was promoted first lieutenant May 20, 1861 ; resigned March 5, 1863.
John J. Bain, Burlington, private Company G, made first sergeant June 20, 1861; second lieutenant Company G, July 5, 1862; wounded May 5, 1864; mustered out June 29, 1864.
Byron C. Ward, Underhill, private in Company G ; wounded May 5, 1864 ; made sergeant September 1, 1864; first sergeant December 24, 1864.
347
IN THE REBELLION.
Bradbury W. Hight, Burlington, private in Company K, rose to sergeant- major, February 22, 1862.
Edwin R. Ward, Underhill, private Company G, wounded May 5, 1864, and May 18, 1864 ; made sergeant September 1, 1864; first sergeant February 8, 1865.
Third Regiment .- The Third Regiment was mustered into the service on the 15th of July, 1861, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Breed N. Hyde. Only a limited number of recruits from Chittenden county joined this regi- ment, which also became a part of the famous Vermont Brigade. The regiment left the State July 24, 1861.
The Fourth Regiment, which was also in the Vermont Brigade, was mus- tered into the service on the 21st of September, 1861. Very few of its mem- bers were from Chittenden county.
The Fifth Regiment, in whose ranks were a large number of recruits (over two hundred) from Chittenden county, rendezvoused at St. Albans, and was mustered into the service on the 16th of September, 1861, under command of Colonel Henry A. Smalley, of the regular army. It left the State on the 23d of September, 1861, with 1006 officers and men. The numbers contributed to this regiment by the various towns of Chittenden county are shown in the table to which we have already alluded. Of the officers in the regiment who were from Chittenden county were John R. Lewis, of Burlington, who went out as captain of Company I; promoted to major July 15, 1862 ; to lieuten- ant-colonel October 6, 1862 ; severely wounded May 5, 1864; honorably dis- charged September II, 1864, to accept appointment as colonel in Veteran Reserve Corps; brevet brigadier-general for gallant service in the battle of the Wilderness, to date from March 13, 1865.
Thomas Kavaney, Burlington, went out as private in Company I; pro- moted to corporal and to regimental quartermaster-sergeant May 1, 1863 ; cap- tain Company A August 5, 1864 ; severely wounded October 19, 1864 ; mustered out of service as captain Company A June 29, 1865.
Arthur F. Burdick, Underhill, assistant-surgeon, resigned.
Dan. L. C. Colburn, Burlington, assistant-surgeon ; mustered out June 29, 1865.
William H. H. Peck, Burlington, first lieutenant Company E, August 30, 1861 ; wounded June 29, 1862 ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps Aug- ust 10, 1863.
Orvis H. Sweet, Burlington, private Company A, March 28, 1862 ; corporal, and promoted to regimental quartermaster-sergeant September 1, 1862 ; sec- ond lieutenant Company A, December 23, 1862 ; died May 17, 1864, of wounds received in action in the Wilderness May 5, 1864.
Adoniram N. Austin, Colchester, regimental quartermaster-sergeant Sep- tember 16, 1861 ; second lieutenant Company K, November 1, 1861 ; first lieu-
348
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
tenant Company K April 19, 1862 ; transferred to Company F ; promoted cap- tain and A. Q. M. U. S. Volunteers April 7, 1864.
William H. Newton, Burlington, went out as a private in Company I ; pro- moted to first sergeant September 16, 1861 ; to second lieutenant Company I June 15, 1862.
Leonard J. Brownson, Richmond, went out as private in Company K ; pro- moted to sergeant September 16, 1861 ; first sergeant ; to second lieutenant March 1, 1863 ; wounded May 5, 1864; dismissed September 29, 1864.
Edwin H. Trick, Burlington, went out as private in Company I, and re- enlisted December 15, 1863 ; regimental commissary-sergeant July 31, 1864.
James A. Bixby, Jericho, went out as private in Company I, and rose to sergeant ; wounded June 4, 1864.
Florence O'Donahoe, Burlington, went as private in Company I, re-enlisted and rose to first sergeant January 2, 1865 ; wounded May '12, 1864, and April 2, 1865.
Thomas Hanley, Richmond, went as private in Company K, and rose to first sergeant after re-enlistment, and wounded May 12, 1864.
The further career of the Fifth Regiment will be traced in the history of the Vermont Brigade, in succeeding pages.
The Sixth Regiment - which, with the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Regi- ments, formed the Vermont Brigade, was mustered into the service on the 15th of October, 1861, with nine hundred and seventy officers and men, under com- mand of Colonel Nathan Lord, jr., of Montpelier. It left the State about the 20th of October. Of the officers who left Chittenden county in this regiment were Edwin R. Kinney, of Burlington, who went out as second lieutenant of Company I, and was promoted to first lieutenant January 18, 1862 ; was wounded April 16, 1862 ; promoted captain of Company G, June 5, 1863 ; wounded October 19, 1864, and promoted to major June 4, 1865.
Edward M. Curtis, of Burlington, went out as assistant surgeon and was promoted to surgeon of the Fourth Vermont Regiment October 24, 1864.
William B. Reynolds, Milton, went out as first lieutenant of Company I, and was promoted to captain January 18, 1862 ; promoted major Seventeenth Regiment April 12, 1864; was killed in action at Petersburg, July 30, 1864,
Lyman S. Williams, Essex, private Company I, rose to sergeant, and re- enlisted December 15, 1863 ; made second lieutenant Company C May 15. 1864, and first lieutenant Company I, October 29, 1864.
John G. Macomber, Westford, private Company I, promoted to first ser- geant and re-enlisted in December, 1863; killed in action in the Wilderness May 5, 1864.
Edgar E. Herrick, Milton, went out as private in Company I ; was made corporal and re-enlisted in December, 1863 ; promoted to sergeant and ser- geant-major, the latter office on January 5, 1865.
349
IN THE REBELLION.
E. A. Holton, of Williston, enlisted as private ; promoted sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain, and was discharged August 17, 1864, for wounds received at the Wilderness.
A few other officers of this regiment from Chittenden county served short periods and resigned. The enlistments from the county are shown in the pre- ceding table and lists.
Proceeding with the history of the Vermont Brigade, which was to win un- dying fame on many bloody fields, it is proper to state that the records of its early career are meager ; it saw but little of what would be termed active serv- ice until the spring of 1862, having in the mean time been stationed near the National Capitol. In the first report of the adjutant-general of the State, under date of November 1, 1862, he states that "the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Regiments have constituted the 'Vermont Brigade,' under com- mand of General W. T. H. Brooks, and have participated in some of the severest fighting on the Peninsula, and during the recent campaign in Maryland. It is a matter of State pride that no braver troops are to be found than those from Vermont." On the 16th of April, 1862, the brigade participated in the battle of Lee's Mills, in which it won commendation in reports of commanding officers. Again on the 5th of May, in the engagement at Williamsburg, under command of Brigade Commander W. T. H. Brooks, the brigade performed important service. Previous to the beginning of the operations the brigade was bivouacked near the enemy, and had been under arms for several days. The battle was fought on the 5th, and the Third Regiment crossed the dam on Fish Creek and took an active part in the engagement. On the following day the brigade was held in reserve in support of Hancock's Brigade, and not actively engaged.
In the succeeding operations about Golding's Farm, Savage's Station, and the White Oak Swamp, the brigade was actively employed. At the first named point the Sixth and a portion of the Fifth Regiments were brought up to sup- port the Fourth, which had become hotly engaged. The regiments first named were under heavy fire during the approach to their position. These move- ments occurred on the 27th, and on the 28th the brigade was subjected to heavy shelling, which became so destructive that a change of camp was made prior to the general change of base to the James River. On the 29th the brig- ade left its camp at Golding's Farm for this latter movement. After passing Savage's Station the division was ordered to return to that point to repel an at- tack. This was done, and in passing through a wood into an open field the Fifth Regiment encountered the enemy, and he was routed in brilliant style. As soon as the firing began, the Second, Third and Sixth Regiments deployed and became actively engaged. General Brooks says in his report: "The con- duct of the troops in this action was generally very commendable," concluding with the mention of many individual names.
23
350
HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
The brigade now reached the James River without further important inci- dent. In the battle at Crampton Gap, on the 14th of September, and at An- tietam, the brigade performed important service. At Antietam they lay under fire for forty-eight hours, and a number of casualties occurred from sharp- shooters and artillery.
In the first battle of Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, the brigade, then under command of Colonel Henry Whiting, of the second regiment, was dis- tinguished for its gallantry. The losses were twenty-six killed and one hun- dred and forty-one wounded ; ten of the killed were in the Fifth Regiment. At the second battle of Fredericksburg, on the third of May, 1863, and at Banks's Ford on the 8th, the conduct of this brigade, then under command of Colonel L. A. Grant, could not be excelled. In the face of a terrific fire they stormed and carried the Fredericksburg Heights on the 3d, and the next day, while protecting the rear of the Sixth Corps in its crossing of the river, large bodies of the enemy were repeatedly hurled against them, but in vain. They were attacked by and repulsed three brigades of four regiments each, thus sav- ing the Sixth Corps. The total killed were thirty and wounded two hundred and twenty-seven; of these the Fifth Regiment lost three killed and eleven wounded. The Second Regiment lost in killed twelve, and the entire brigade received the highest praise in the official reports.
On the 5th of June the brigade again crossed the Rappahannock at Fred- ericksburg and assaulted and carried the rebel works, taking many prisoners. At the battle of Gettysburg the brigade was not actively engaged. On the Ioth of July, near Funkstown, Md., they met the enemy in superior force and gallantly repulsed them, holding a skirmish line of three miles in length, with- out supports within assisting distance, against repeated attacks by strong lines of infantry.
The brigade moved with the Army of the Potomac into Virginia in pur- suit of the enemy, and were then detached and sent to New York city to aid in enforcing order during drafts of that year. Returning they were stationed near Culpepper, Va.
In summing up the operations of the Vermont Brigade thus far, the adjutant- general said : "Too much honor cannot be awarded by the people of Vermont to the officers and men of this gallant brigade. They are the men who re- sponded among the earliest to the call of the nation for assistance in suppress- ing the Rebellion and restoring and preserving the national existence. They have fought gallantly in every battle in which the Army of the Potomac has been engaged since the war commenced. Distinguished alike for bravery and discipline, they have acquired for themselves an imperishable record in history, and have won for the troops of the State in the field a reputation for unflinch- ing courage and dashing bravery, which is only equaled by the distinction which the people of the State have earned for persistent loyalty to the Union, which is their proudest boast."
35I
IN THE REBELLION.
The Ist of October, 1863, found the brigade encamped near Culpepper, Va., whence they marched on the 8th to the Rapidan, fifteen miles ; thence on the 10th to Culpepper, fifteen miles; thence on the 11th to Rappahannock Station, twelve miles; thence on the 12th to Brandy Station, thirty miles ; thence on the 13th to Bristow Station, thirty miles; thence on the 14th to Little River Pike, near Chantilly, fifteen miles, and thence on the following day to Chantilly, two miles. Here the brigade rested after these arduous marches until the 19th of October, when the march was made to Gainesville, twelve miles, where the Sixth Regiment, while on picket, had a slight skirmish with the enemy's cavalry, but without loss. On the 20th the brigade led the advance of the Sixth Corps, driving back the enemy's cavalry to Warrenton, twelve miles. Here the brigade remained encamped until November 7, when they advanced to Rappahannock Station, where the enemy was met in force. The brigade, however, was not engaged, but was under heavy artillery fire all the afternoon ; no casualties. On the 8th the brigade crossed the Rappahannock and advanced to Brandy Station, where they went into camp on the 9th and remained until the 27th ; on that day they moved four miles and supported the Third Corps in the battle of Locust Grove ; the brigade was only under artil- lery fire and suffered little. On the 2d of December they recrossed the Rapi- dan and went into camp at Brandy Station, remaining there with little of incident until the last week of February, when they accompanied the Sixth Corps on a week's reconnaissance to near Orange Court House. The old camp was then resumed and kept until the 4th of May. With the opening of the campaign of 1864, the Vermont Brigade was again called into the most active service. It comprised the same regiments as before until the 15th of May, when it was joined by the Eleventh Regiment. The brigade recrossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford and went into camp two miles south of the ford. The 5th and 6th the brigade was actively engaged in the battle of the Wilder- ness. On the morning of the 5th the rebels were engaged in a movement to cut off Hancock's Corps (which had crossed the river below the ford) from the main army. To prevent this the Vermont and two other brigades were detached from the Sixth Corps. As the brigade came to the crossing of the " Brock" Road and the turnpike, they found the rebel advance driving the Union cavalry before them. The brigade was formed at the crossing and hast- ily threw up slight intrenchments. The order was then given to advance to the attack, a movement which the enemy was at the same time beginning. The two lines met in a thick wood, where little of either opposing force could be seen by the other, and the great battle of the Wilderness began. The Ver- mont Brigade held the key to the position and seemed to realize the fact. Unflinchingly they met and returned the galling fire of the enemy, while their ranks were rapidly thinning. Every assault was gallantly repulsed, notwith- standing every regimental commander in the brigade except one was either
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.