USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > History of Chittenden County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 46
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" Officers and men behaved like veterans, although it was for most of them their first battle ; and I am content to leave it to the witnesses of the fight whether or no they sustained the credit of the service and the honor of our Green Mountain State."
Little need be added of the brilliant part taken by this brigade in that memorable battle. It is still characterized as a most important feature of the engagement. The total killed in the brigade was reported as thirty-nine, and wounded two hundred and forty-eight; of these the Thirteenth Regiment lost eight killed and eighty-nine wounded ; the Fourteenth seventeen killed and sixty-eight wounded; and the Sixteenth fourteen killed and eighty-nine wounded.
The term of service of the regiments in this brigade soon expired and they
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were mustered out, the Twelfth on the 14th of July ; the Thirteenth July 21 ; the Fourteenth July 30; the Fifteenth August 5 ; and the Sixteenth August IO.
The Seventeenth Regiment .- This regiment was recruited in the latter part of 1863 and early in the year 1864, and made its rendezvous at Burlington. It [was mustered in by companies, and the preceding table shows the enlist- ments in its ranks from this county.
The officers of the regiment from Chittenden county were the following : Wm. B. Reynolds, Milton, went out as first lieutenant of the Sixth Regiment and was promoted to captain January 18, 1862 ; was made major of the Sev- enteenth April 12, 1864; killed in action before Petersburg July 30, 1864.
Buel J. Derby, Huntington, quartermaster ; mustered out with the regi- ment.
Arnold C. Fay, Richmond, first lieutenant Company K, September 22, 1864; brevet captain April 2, 1865, for gallantry in the assault on Petersburg ; captain June 26, 1865.
John L. Yale, Williston, captain Company K, mustered out with the regi- ment.
Joseph W. Townshend, Charlotte, private in Company B; was made corpo- ral, sergeant and then first sergeant of Company G July 14, 1865 ; first lieu- tenant June 26, 1865.
Edward L. Hibbard, Charlotte, first lieutenant Company B; mustered out October 19, 1864, for physical disability.
Alonzo K. Danforth, Charlotte, second lieutenant Company B, discharged for disability June 3, 1864.
William Cronan, Burlington, private in Company B, promoted sergeant July 20, 1864 ; wounded July 30, 1864 ; first sergeant May 1, 1865 ; commis- sioned second lieutenant July 10, 1865.
Frank Keith, Burlington, private in Company B, promoted sergeant March I, 1864; transferred to Company F and made first sergeant June 23, 1865 ; commissioned second lieutenant July 10, 1865.
Companies A, B, C, D, E, F and G left the State on the 18th of April under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Cummings and arrived at Al- exandria on the 22d, where they were assigned to the Second Brigade, Sec- ond Division, Ninth Corps. They marched on the 27th to Bristow Station and thence on the 4th of May to Bealton Station. On the 5th they crossed the Rappahannock and Rapidan and at 2 A. M. on the 6th advanced toward the Wilderness battle field. At sunrise the regiment was in line of battle on the right of the brigade. At 9 A. M. they advanced through a dense pine thicket and drove the enemy from behind a fence which they had occupied during the morning, and held the position during the forenoon under a sharp fire of mus- ketry and artillery, repulsing a charge made by the enemy upon both flanks to
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
regain the position. At noon the regiment was moved about a mile to the left and placed upon the right of an extended line, then forming for a charge upon the enemy. Here the regiment was exposed to a galling musketry fire, during which Lieutenant-Colonel Cummings was wounded and the command devolved upon Major William B. Reynolds. At 2 P. M. the charge was ordered and the enemy driven from his position. Major Reynolds says in his report that "no colors were advanced beyond those of this regiment." The casualties in this engagement were nine killed, sixty-four wounded and seven missing. Owing to prevalence of measles the regiment numbered only 313 on the morning of the engagement.
On the 10th of May the regiment advanced toward Spottsylvania and on the I Ith arrived before the entrenchments of the enemy. Early on the morning of the 12th they advanced to the attack and met the enemy in line of battle. The engagement continued two hours, when the ammunition of the regiment was exhausted and they were relieved by the Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania Reg- iment. Another advance was made on the enemy's works at II A. M., after which the regiment withdrew to its former position. This they held through the day, against several attempts of the enemy to dislodge them. At night the position was made secure by a slight parapet of rails, logs and earth, and was occupied by the regiment under constant fire until 2 A. M. of the 19th, when they were withdrawn about three miles to the left. The casualties were severe-ten killed ; three officers and fifty-seven men wounded.
On the 26th of May the regiment marched easterly and crossed the Pa- munkey at Dabney's Ferry, near Hanover Town, reaching their destination on the night of the 28th. On the 3d of June the Second Brigade was brought up to the support of the First Brigade in a vigorous assault upon the enemy's entrenched position. The Seventeenth was on the right of the line, which was wheeled forward at right angles with the main line. A sharp engagement en- sued, in which officers and men behaved gallantly. The losses in the regiment from May 20 to the 6th of June were two officers wounded, one of whom sub- sequently died, and two enlisted men killed and thirty wounded, of whom three died immediately after.
On the 8th of June Company H joined the regiment with fifty-seven effective men. On the 12th of June the Ninth Corps left their entrenchments near Cold Harbor, and at noon on the 16th arrived near Petersburg. At 6 P. M. the Second Brigade, to which the regiment was attached, was drawn up in line of battle to support a portion of the Second Corps, then about to make a charge. This proved unsuccessful, and the regiment was moved to the right, and at 3 o'clock the next morning the enemy's works were charged and carried. In this charge the Seventeenth had a part of the front line and displayed the most heroic gallantry. They captured two guns, a caisson, six horses, seventy prisoners and the colors and adjutant of the Seventeenth Tennessee. The cas-
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ualties were five killed and sixteen wounded. The regiment continued in ad- vanced works, and most of the time under sharp fire, until the 20th of June. The casualties from June 8 to June 20 were ten killed and twenty-five wounded.
We need not follow the regiment in detail through the remainder of this decisive campaign ; but it was constantly in active service and suffered loss nearly every day. The casualties between July 20 and July 29 were five killed and twenty-seven wounded.
On July 30 the Seventeenth, under command of Major Reynolds, consti- tuted part of the force which made the gallant but unfortunate charge upon the enemy's works, after the blowing up of the famous Petersburg mine. The regiment behaved with its accustomed gallantry and lost severely. The brave Major Reynolds fell while leading his men. Lieutenants Wm. E. Martin and John R. Converse also were killed. Of the eight commissioned officers who went into the engagement not one returned. The casualties were six killed and twenty-four wounded.
On the 13th of August the regiment was increased by the addition of Com- pany I, numbering eighty-seven men. The regiment remained in the lines in front of Petersburg, and on the 30th of September the Second Division was attacked by the enemy, and the Seventeenth again met with severe loss. The casual- ties were-killed three, wounded and missing, seventy-three. Among the wounded and missing was the brave Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Cummings, and subsequent reports from rebel sources gave information of his death within a few hours after he was captured. His loss was deeply felt.
The heavy losses and the hardships of the campaign had now reduced the regiment to one officer and eighty-five men, but Company K was soon after- ward added (October 8, 1864). On the 27th Colonel Francis V. Randall as- sumed command. After the battle of Hatcher's Run the Ninth Corps was transferred to the right of the Army of the Potomac. Colonel Randall was assigned to the command of Fort Davis, with the Seventeenth Vermont, Thir- ty-first Maine and Fifty-sixth Massachusetts regiments and two batteries of artillery. In this fort and near by the regiment remained through the winter until April I, and engaged almost daily in skirmishing on the picket line and near the fort. In this service several men were wounded.
During the night of the Ist of April the regiment, with the Second Mary- land, pierced the line of rebel pickets and then swept to the left, capturing the entire picket line of the enemy, to where the Ninth united with the Sixth Corps.
In the general assault on the morning of the 2d of April the brigade, in- cluding the Seventeenth, carried the first line of rebel works and participated nobly in the severe fighting until Petersburg was evacuated. The casualties during the day were eight killed and thirty-nine wounded. The regiment
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
shared in the pursuit of Lee's army until his surrender, and then returned to Burkesville. Here and at City Point and at Alexandria the regiment was em- ployed in arduous guard duty the greater part of the time until the 14th of July, when they were mustered out and returned to Burlington.
The Eighth Regiment received so small a contribution from this county that it is not deemed necessary to give any account of its service, further than that its major, John L. Bartow, was from Shelburne, and afterwards became governor of the State.
Artillery .- Three batteries of artillery went out from this State, and in their ranks were about seventy-five Chittenden county men. The first battery was mustered into the service for three years, on the 18th of February, 1862. Edward E. Greenleaf, of Colchester, whose record in the service dated from December 10, 1861, when he went out as a private and rose by promo- tion to second lieutenant, was commissioned captain of this battery on the 14th of February, 1864.
The battery spent its term of service in New Orleans and became dis- tinguished for its thorough discipline and drill and efficiency in the field. The original members were mustered out August 10, 1864, and the recruits were transferred to the Second Battery.
The Second Battery .- This battery was mustered into the service for three years, on the 16th and the 24th of December, 1861. None of its officers was from Chittenden county. It also was stationed in the Department of the Gulf, and a large part of its service was in the vicinity of Port Hudson, La. Its original members, not veterans, were mustered out September 20, 1864. The remainder were mustered out July 31, 1865.
The Third Battery .- This battery was mustered into the service January I, 1864. Among its officers was Aaron P. French, of Colchester, who was commissioned second lieutenant on the 2d of January, 1862, and honorably discharged for disability October 10, 1864. The battery left Burlington on the 17th of January, 1864, and reached Washington on the 18th, and were finally attached to the Ninth Corps. They remained with the Army of the Potomac in its broad field of operations down to the surrender of the Confed- eracy. Its services in front of Petersburg were especially severe. On the 3d of June, 1865, their equipment was turned over to the Ordnance Department, and on the 5th the battery started for Vermont, arriving at Burlington on the 9th. They were mustered out on the 13th.
Sharpshooters .- There were three companies of sharpshooters raised in the State, to which Chittenden county contributed about forty men. The First Regiment was mustered into the service on the 13th of September, 1861. Of Company F, which was mainly recruited in Rutland county, Charles W. Sea- ton, of Charlotte, went out as first lieutenant and was promoted to captain on the 2d of August, 1862. This regiment performed brilliant and efficient ser-
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vice with the Army of the Potomac, as fully detailed in the history of its operations published by its colonel, William Y. W. Ripley, to which we must refer the reader. Of Company F twenty-one men were killed on the field and eleven more died of wounds received - a fact which speaks eloquently of its severe service. The original members were mustered out September 13, 1864, and the veterans and recruits were transferred to the Second Regiment of Sharpshooters.
The Second Regiment of Sharpshooters, of which nearly twenty men were from the rural districts of this county, was mustered into the service, Company E, on the 9th of November, 1861, and Company H on the 3Ist of December, 1861 ; they were mustered out three years later. These companies served with great gallantry and severe losses with the Army of the Potomac. Of the officers in these two companies who were from Chittenden county were Sey- mour F. Norton, of Burlington, first lieutenant Company E, promoted to cap- tain September 14, 1863 ; William H. Humphrey, of Underhill, first lieu- tenant Company E.
In speaking of the services of the men in this arm of the service, the adjutant-general says in his report: "They have proved themselves to be a most valuable arm of the service. Constantly upon the skirmish line and de- ployed as sharpshooters, they are always put forward to seek danger, and, like the cavalry, perform the most arduous service, with the least opportunity of recognition."
First Vermont Cavalry .- This organization was recruited in the latter part of 1861, and went into camp at Burlington. It was mustered into the service on the 19th of November, 1861, with 966 officers and men, under command of Colonel Lemuel B. Platt, of Colchester. About 220 of the regiment were from Chittenden county. The officers in the regiment from this county were the following : Lemuel B. Platt, Colchester, resigned February 27, 1862. Ed- gar Pitkin, Burlington, adjutant, mustered out September 10, 1862. Archi- bald S. Dewey, quartermaster, mustered out September 11, 1862. Edward B. Nims, Burlington, assistant surgeon, mustered out August 9, 1865. John H. Woodward, Westford, chaplain, resigned July 17, 1863. John E. Goodrich, Burlington, chaplain, mustered out August 9, 1865. Frank A. Platt, Col- chester, captain, resigned July 18, 1862. Joel B. Erhardt, Burlington, captain by promotion from first lieutenant July 16, 1862 ; resigned February 7, 1863. Ellis B. Edwards, Colchester, second lieutenant Company A October 11, 1861 ; first lieutenant Company A July 16, 1862 ; commissioned captain Feb- ruary 7, 1863. Ebenezer K. Sibley, Westford, captain Company B; trans- ferred to Company C June 21, 1865. Hiram H. Hall, Williston, private Com- pany L, promoted second lieutenant Company E February 1, 1863 ; first lieu- tenant March 17, 1863 ; commissioned captain June 4, 1864 ; killed in action June 23, 1864, at Nottaway Court-House, Va. Alexander G. Watson, Bur- 25
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
lington, second lieutenant Company L; promoted first lieutenant January 5, 1864; wounded May II, 1864, and October 19, 1864; commissioned captain February 28, 1864. John W. Woodward, Burlington, captain Company M ; killed in action at Hagerstown, Md., July 6, 1863. William L. Greenleaf, Col- chester, private in Company L, promoted sergeant September 29, 1862; wounded July 13, 1863; first sergeant March 1, 1864; second lieutenant Com- pany L February 28, 1864; wounded June 23, 1864; commissioned first lieu- tenant February 9, 1865 ; honorably discharged May 15, 1865, for wounds re- ceived in action. George Miller, Williston, private Company L August 15, 1862, sergeant September 29, 1862 ; first sergeant January 1, 1865 ; mustered out as first sergeant June 21, 1865. George C. Lewis, Underhill, private Com- pany M; promoted sergeant December 31, 1862 ; first sergeant February I, 1864 ; second lieutenant July 7, 1864 ; commissioned first lieutenant February 9, 1865 ; honorably discharged for disability.
The history in detail of a cavalry regiment which saw three years of the active service that fell to the lot of the First Vermont would make a volume, and is of course beyond the limits of this work. The history of cavalry regi- ments is replete with stirring incidents, rapid marches, fearless and brilliant charges, and desperate encounters, which would require ample space for their description. We are therefore compelled to confine ourselves to the mere statistics of engagements.
The regiment left the State on the 14th of December, and in the report of the adjutant-general at the end of its first year's service, he says: "They have participated in many engagements, and have distinguished themselves greatly for their dashing bravery. At times their service has been very se- vere." Again he says : " During the campaign in Maryland and Pennsylvania, in June and July, the regiment under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pres- ton participated in a series of engagements, in which both officers and men be- haved most gallantly." The casualties from June 30 to July 8 of that year were nineteen killed and forty-four wounded. In the campaign of 1864-5 the regiment performed the most efficient service, lost many of its best men, and captured many of the enemy. Colonel Preston was killed on the 3d of June; he was considered one of the best cavalry officers in the service. On the same day Captain Oliver T. Cushman was killed, and on the 23d of the same month Captain Hiram H. Hall was killed. From the Ist of February, 1865, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Josiah Hall was in command of the regiment, and the services performed from that date until the close of the war were of the most brilliant and efficient character.
The long list of engagements in which the First Cavalry shared honorable and often the most important part, tells the brief story of what they did and en- dured. Beginning with Mount Jackson, they served in engagements of more or less importance at Port Republic, April 27, 1862 ; Middletown, May 24,
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1862 ; Winchester, May 25, 1862 ; Luray Court-House, July 2, 1862 ; Cul- pepper Court-House, July 10, 1862 ; Orange Court-House, August 2, 1862 ; Kelley's Ford, August 20, 1862 ; Waterloo Bridge, August 22, 1862 ; Bull Run, August 30, 1862 ; Ashby's Gap, September, 1862 ; Broad Run, April I, 1863 ; Greenwich, May 30, 1863 ; Hanover, Pa., June 30, 1863 ; Huntersville, Pa., July 2, 1863 ; Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 ; Monterey, July 4, 1863 ; Light- ersville, Md., July 5, 1863 ; Hagerstown, Md., July 6, 1863 ; Boonesborough, Md., July 8, 1863 ; Hagerstown, July 13, 1863 ; Falling Waters, July 14, 1863 ; Port Conway, August 25, 1863 ; Port Conway, September 1, 1863 ; Culpep- per Court-House, September 13, 1873 ; Somerville Ford, September 14, 1863 ; Raccoon Ford, September 26, 1863 ; Falmouth, October 4, 1863 ; James City, October 10, 1863 ; Brandy Station, October 5, 1863 ; Gainesville, October 18 and 19, 1863 ; Buckland Mills, October 19, 1863 ; Morton's Ford, November 28, 1863; Mechanicsville, March 1, 1864; Piping Tree, March 2, 1864; Craig's Church, May 5, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 8, 1864; Yellow Tavern, May 11, 1864 ; Meadow Bridge, May 12, 1864; Hanover Court-House, May 31, 1864 ; Ashland, June 1, 1864; Hawe's Shop, June 3, 1864; Bottom Bridge, June 10, 1864 ; White Oak Swamp, June 13, 1864; Malvern Hill, June 15, 1864 ; Reams's Station, June 22, 1864; Nottaway Court-House, June 23, 1864 ; Keyesville, June 24, 1864 ; Roanoke Station, June 25, 1864; Stony Creek, June 28 and 29, 1864; Reams's Station, June 29, 1864; Ridley's Shop, June 30, 1864; Winchester, August 17, 1864; Summit Point, August 21, 1864; Charlestown, August 22, 1864; Kearneysville, August 25, 1864 ; Ope- quan, September 19, 1864; Front Royal, September 21, 1864; Mooney's Grade, September 21, 1864; Milford, September 22, 1864; Waynesborough, September 28, 1864; Columbia Furnace, October 7, 1864; Tom's Brook, October 9, 1864; Cedar Creek, October 13, 1864; Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864; Middle Road, November 11, 1864; Middle and Back Road, November 12, 1864; Lacy's Springs, December 20, 1864; Waynesborongh, March 2, 1865 ; Five Forks, April 1, 1865 ; Namozine Church, April 3, 1865 ; Appo- mattox Station, April 8, 1865 ; Appomattox Court-House, April 9, 1865.
The total losses in this regiment during the term of service embracing the above list of actions was three hundred and ninety-seven by death ; sixty-three of these were killed in action. No other cavalry regiment bears a better rec- ord than the First Vermont.
After the surrender of Lee the regiment returned to Petersburg, and on the Ioth of May started for Washington, where they arrived on the 16th. On the 9th of June the regiment left for Vermont, arriving at Burlington on the 13th. The recruits whose terms of service would expire previous to the Ist of October were mustered out on the 21st of June, and the remainder on the 9th of August.
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HISTORY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVII.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF BOLTON.
B OLTON is an irregularly-shaped, mountainous township lying in the ex- treme eastern part of Chittenden county. It is bounded on the north by Underhill, on the east by Waterbury and Duxbury-towns in Washington county- on the south by Huntington and on the west by Richmond and Jericho. The surface of the town is very much broken ; high hills and rocky ravines, mountains and gorges are everywhere. The town always reminds one of the landscapes of the Yosemite region ; here, indeed, is the "wild pomp of mountain majesty." A 'part of Camel's Hump, one of the highest peaks (4,088 feet) of the Green Mountains, lies in Bolton. Other peaks in town are Bone Mountain in the eastern, Stimson's Mountain in the central, and Robin's Mountain in the western part. The highest hill is Blueberry Hill, in the ex- treme eastern part. These several mountains are separated from each other by deep gorges running at right angles to each other, through which numerous brooks tumble along. Pinneo Brook, short and noisy, rises in the western part of the town, flows a southerly course, and unites with Winooski River near the town line. Joiner Brook rises in the northern part, flows a southerly course between Bone and Stimson's Mountains, and reaches Winooski River not far from the center of the town. Duck Brook -so called from the wild ducks that formerly made their nests in the wood along its banks - rises in the northwestern part of the town, flows a southerly course of about four miles, and joins Winooski River in the western part of the town. It is fed by numerous cold springs, and far-famed for trout, as are also the other brooks in the town. Preston Brook rises in Huntington, flows a northerly course and pours into Winooski River. Mill Brook rises in the northern part of the town, and takes an easterly course into Jericho, furnishing fine water-power to several saw and shingle-mills. These streams, with other minor ones, are short and rapid, and, in the spring when the snows melt, frequently swell to mountain torrents. There is one small pond in the township, Sanborn Pond, lying a little north of Blueberry Hill. The largest stream of water in Bolton is Winooski River, which flows westerly through the southern part of the town- ship. Bolton is somewhat noted for the winds that pass through the valley of Winooski River and around the mountains. To this fact it is owing that in summer it is always four or five degrees cooler in Bolton than in the sur- rounding towns. Bolton is also celebrated for her bears, and Bruin has prob- ably been more extensively slaughtered here than in any town in the State ; hundreds have been killed, and still there is a sufficiency remaining, and nearly every year the flock of some farmer suffers. Only a few years ago the bears
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TOWN OF BOLTON.
came down from the mountains and slaughtered ten sheep in one night within half a mile of the village of West Bolton. This was, however, an unusual raid, and some people suggested that the bears should not be too much blamed in this case, as they were tracked to Washington county, and it might be after all, county jealousy or "sectional prejudice " that made Bruin turn a border ruffian. Although Bolton has been denominated the land of "boulders and bears," and the business to-day to a great extent is lumbering, the town is no wilderness. The soil is, indeed, rocky, but it is good, and there are many fine farms, especially along Winooski River. Both hard and soft woods grow in the town, there being many large tracts of spruce and hemlock. All the grains and fruits of our climate are raised in good quantities.
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