History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n; Rann, William S
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > Vermont > Rutland County > History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 9

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1 See also in later pages of this chapter further details of the career of this brigade.

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

" The tramp, tramp, tramp of the Union armies had now brought them near the rebels and on the memorable Ist of July the Second Vermont Brigade broke camp at 10 A. M., and the Twelfth Regiment, together with the Fifteenth, was ordered by Sickles to guard the First Corps train, the brigade being a part of the First Division, First Corps. It rained hard all day and in the middle of the afternoon they arrived within three miles of Gettysburg. We drop the record. On the 5th (Sunday) the regiment started for Baltimore as escort of two thousand prisoners, which they handed over to the authorities there. On the 9th they arrived at Brattleboro, and were mustered out July 14, 1863, Company K reaching Rutland on the 16th. During the march after Lee, after breaking camp in Virginia, the regiment marched one hundred and twenty- five miles in eight days, during every one of which it rained." Of Company K Charles Barrett, corporal, and privates J. H. Bradley, Augustus Fuller and H. L. Gould died in service.

While we cannot in any sense attempt to give biographical notices of those who honorably performed their part in the great drama of the war, and earned promotion or fell in the line of duty, it may not be out of place to briefly men- tion some of the more deserving of Company K. William Y. W. Ripley, who went out as captain of Company K, First Regiment, was subsequently ap- pointed lieutenant-colonel of the First Sharpshooters, and was in command of the regiment in nearly all of the battles of the peninsula, often distinguishing himself by acts of bravery. At the battle of Malvern Hill he was severely wounded in the leg and was discharged in August, 1862, for promotion to the colonelcy of the Tenth Vermont Regiment, an office which he was forced by his disability to resign. (See history of the Sharpshooters).

Lieutenant George T. Roberts went out as first lieutenant of Company K, First Regiment, and was appointed colonel of the Seventh Regiment. He was killed in the battle of Baton Rouge, August 5, 1862. In Colonel Holbrook's history of the Seventh Regiment he reports Colonel Fullam as saying, in con- nection with the circumstances surrounding the death of Colonel Roberts: "As soon as I had executed this order (referring to his instructions to go back to the officer in charge of the guns) I attempted to rejoin the regiment. On the way I met and caught the horse of Colonel Roberts, and was leading him up the road when I was assailed by a shower of bullets. The horse was frightened and broke away from me, while my own was seriously wounded." The writer then adds : "During the absence of Colonel Fullam, our heroic and ever-to-be lamented colonel was borne from the field in the thickest of the fight, mortally wounded." Colonel Roberts was first wounded in the neck, and while being carried to the rear was again struck by a minnie ball in the thigh ; this proved a mortal wound. The history says: "Dr. Blanchard soon reached the spot to which the colonel had been removed and gave him all the medical aid possible. Having no ambulance, a one-horse cart or dray was obtained, in which uncom-

RUTLAND COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.

fortable conveyance, on a thin litter of hay, he was taken to the hospital. I met him on the way, as I was returning from the picket line on the right flank. He was cheerful and bright, although seemingly suffering some pain. I ex- pressed much sorrow that he, of all others, should have been stricken. He replied that he did not consider his wounds serious, and hoped to soon be on duty again. The wound in the thigh proved fatal, the ball having glanced up- ward, penetrating the vital organs. Two days afterward he quietly, and ap- parently painlessly, passed from among the living." (See biography in this work.)

Edwin F. Reynolds was commissioned captain of Company F, Sixth Ver- mont Regiment, having served as a private in Company K, of the First Regi- ment. He fell at the battle of Lee's Mills, at the head of his company. He was a true soldier, a brave and capable officer, and won the respect of all who knew him.

Charles P. Dudley was a private in Company K, First Regiment, and was commissioned captain of Company E, Fifth Vermont, and promoted to major October 6, 1862, and lieutenant-colonel May 6, 1864. He died May 21, 1864, of wounds, having lost an arm while cutting his way through the rebel lines at the battle of the Wilderness; he died a few days afterward.

Among others who went out at the first call for volunteers, and were after- ward honorably promoted, may be mentioned Levi G. Kingsley, second lieu- tenant Company K, First Regiment, who re-enlisted and was commissioned major of the Twelfth and was mustered out with the regiment ; W. C. Landon, sergeant in the First Regiment, was elected first lieutenant of Company K, Twelfth Regiment, and promoted to captain ; Corporal Stephen G. Staley, of Company K, First Regiment, was first sergeant in the Twelfth, promoted to first lieutenant and then to captain ; he died in 1875 ; and many others, whose names will further appear in the course of this record.

The reader is referred to the subsequent brief account of the Second Ver- mont Brigade for further details of the history of the Twelfth Regiment.

The Fifth and Eleventh Regiments, Vermont Brigade -The Fifth Vermont Regiment was mustered into the service September 16, 1861. Nearly 350 of its members were from Rutland county, distributed about as follows: Benson, . Co. B, 9; Co. H, 8; Co. K, I. Brandon, Co. A, I; Co. H, 66; Co. G, 3. Castleton, Co. G, 3; Co. I, 2. Chittenden, Co. B, 1; Co. G, 4; Co. H, 3. Clarendon, Co. B, I ; Co. G, 8. Danby, Co. E, 2; Co. F, I. Fairhaven, 1. Hubbardton, Co. A, 1; Co. H, 4. Ira, Co. G, 6. Mendon, Co. E, I ; Co. G, 14. Middletown, Co. B, I; Co.I, I. Mount Holly, Co.C, I; Co. G, 7; Co. I, 7. Mount Tabor, Co. E, I. Pawlet, Co. E, 14; Co. G, I ; Co. I, I. Pittsfield, Co. G, 6; Co. D, I. Pittsford, Co. C, I; Co. G, 18; Co. H, 3. Poultney, Co. H, 1; Co. I, 29; Co. E, I; other companies, 3. Rutland, Co. G, 47 ; Co. A, I ; Co. B, I ; Co. E, 2; Co. I, 1; Co. H, 2. Sherburne, Co. G, 2 ; Shrewsbury, 6

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

Co. G, 3 ; Co. I, 8. Sudbury, Co. H, 19. Tinmouth, Co. G, 4; Co. I, 5. Wallingford, Co. E, 12; Co. I, 7. Wells, Co. E, 2; Co. I, 2. Westhaven, Co. B, 2.

There were reported as having enlisted in this regiment after September 30, 1864, 3 from Brandon, I from Castleton, I from Fairhaven, 2 from Hubbard- ton, I from Sudbury, and I from Wallingford.

The field and staff officers at the time it was mustered into the service were as follows :

Colonel. - Henry A. Smalley. He was a regular army officer on leave of absence, and his leave was revoked September 10, 1862, and Lewis A. Grant was promoted to the colonelcy.

Lieutenant- Colonel. - Nathan Lord, jr. Promoted to colonel of the Sixth Regiment September 16, 1861.

Major. - Lewis A. Grant. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel September 25, 1861 ; wounded December 14, 1862 ; promoted to brigadier - general April 27, 1864.

Adjutant - Edward M. Brown. Promoted lieutenant-colonel Eighth Ver- mont January 8, 1862.

Quartermaster - Aldis O. Brainerd. Resigned May 28, 1862.

Surgeon - William P. Russell. Honorably discharged October 11, 1862, for disability.

Assistant Surgeon - Henry C. Shaw. Died September 7, 1862, at Alex- andria, Va.

Chaplain - Volney M. Simons. Resigned in March, 1862.

The Fifth Regiment rendezvoused at St. Albans, remaining there about two weeks, when they started for Virginia, going into camp first on Meridian Hill, near Washington, and two days later to Chain Bridge. Remaining there a short time, they moved to Camp Griffin, three miles distant, and remained through the winter ; in the spring they entered the peninsula campaign. On the 16th of April the regiment took part in the battle of "The Chimneys," or Lee's Mills. The Fifth, now a part of the " Vermont Brigade," comprising the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Regiments, was in command of Briga- dier - General W. T. H. Brooks. In this engagement the Fifth was not so actively employed as some of the other regiments. In his report General Brooks says, after stating that the skirmishers of the Third and Fourth Regi- ments opened on the enemy : " A company of picked men from the Fifth was deployed in front of the chimneys and advanced under a heavy fire of shell and canister down the slope to the water's edge below the dam, where they remained sheltered during the day and were in position to greatly harass the enemy in working his guns." Again in his report General Brooks says: "Colonels Hyde and Smalley (the latter of the Fifth Regiment) are also deserving of notice for their activity and the dispositions of their regiments during the day." Two men were killed in the regiment and seven wounded.

RUTLAND COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.

The next engagement in which the Fifth took part was the battle of Wil- liamsburg, on the 5th of May, 1862. General E. D. Keyes was then in com- mand of the brigade. The brigade previous to the opening of the battle was bivouacked near the enemy and occupied a portion of the front during the suc- ceeding action, and was in support of Mott's Battery. The report that the enemy had evacuated their works at this point reached the Union forces Sun- day morning of the 4th ; the brigade was placed under arms and, on the 5th, under command of Lieutenant Grant, sent across the dam on Skiff Creek; the enemy was not discovered and the troops were bivouacked. On the fol- lowing day the brigade was in reserve to support Hancock's brigade, not being actively engaged. June 29 Colonel Lewis A. Grant was promoted to briga- dier-general and took command of the brigade.

In the succeeding operations about Golding's Farm, Savage's Station and White Oak Swamp, at each of which points engagements were fought, the Fifth was honorably employed. At the first named point the Second, Fifth and Sixth Regiments were brought up to support the Fourth, which became hotly engaged while supporting Hancock's brigade on picket duty. Although under heavy fire during their approach to their position, they did not become act- ively engaged. These movements 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 change of base to the James River. On the 29th the brigade left its camp at Golding's Farm for the grand movement. After passing Savage's Station the division to which the brigade was attached was ordered to return to that point to repel an attack. This was done and the brigade formed as follows : The Fifth, Lieutenant-Colonel Grant, in line on the right ; the Sixth, Colonel Lord, deployed to the left ; the Second, Colonel Whiting, in column in support of the Fifth ; the Third, Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Veazey, in column in support of the Sixth. Passing through a wood into an open field, the Fifth encountered a regiment of the enemy, which was routed in brilliant style. As soon as the firing began the Second and Third Regi- ments deployed and became hotly engaged. General Brooks says in his re- port : "The conduct of the troops in this action was generally very commend - able. Of those that were under my own eye I take pleasure in mentioning the names of Colonel Lord, Lieutenant-Colonel Grant, Lieutenant-Colonel Blunt, Lieutenant-Colonel Veazey," followed by many other names. After the engagement the brigade crossed the White Oak Swamp, and reached its new encampment without further incident.

The brigade was engaged in the battle at Crampton Gap, on the 14th of September, and Antietam on the 17th, but in the former the Fifth Regiment was not in active conflict. At Antietam the brigade lay under fire for forty- eight hours, the casualties being quite numerous from artillery and sharp- shooters.

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

In the first battle at Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, the brigade, then commanded by Colonel Henry Whiting of the Second Regiment, was distin- guished for its gallantry. The losses were twenty-six killed and one hundred and forty-one wounded ; ten of the killed and thirty of the wounded were from the Fifth Regiment. At the second battle of Fredericksburg, May 3, and at Banks's Ford on the 8th, the conduct of this brigade 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 saving the Sixth Corps. The total killed were thirty and wounded two hundred and twenty-seven ; of these the Fifth Regi- ment lost three killed and eleven wounded.

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 pursuit of the enemy, and were then detached and sent to New York City to aid in enforcing order at the elections 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 unflinching 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."

The constitution of the brigade remained as before until the 15th of May, 1864, when the Eleventh Vermont Regiment was added to it ; it also remain- ed a part of the Second Division of the Sixth Corps. October 1, 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

RUTLAND COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.

12th to Brandy Station, five miles; thence, October 13, to Kettle Run, near 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 ad- vance 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 of 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 artillery fire and suffered little. On the 2d of December they recrossed the Rapidan 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, when the brig- ade recrossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford and went into camp two miles to the south of the ford. The 5th and 6th the brigade was actively engaged in the battle of the Wilderness. On the morning of the 5th the rebels were en- gaged 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 cross- ing and hastily threw up slight entrenchments. The order was then given to advance to the attack, a movement which the enemy was at the same time be- ginning. 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 Vermont 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, notwithstanding every regimental commander in the brigade, except one, was either killed or wounded. A thousand brave officers and men fell in the brig- ade that day, and the living slept amidst the bloody horrors of the field. The fierce struggle was renewed on the morning of the 6th, the enemy having fallen back a short distance and slightly entrenched. Again and again during the day was the Vermont Brigade assaulted with the most determined vigor, but the heroic troops of the Green Mountain State were equal to every

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

demand upon their bravery, and after signally repulsing the last attack, retired to the entrenchments they had thrown up on the Brock Road ; late in the af- ternoon another desperate attack was made by the enemy upon this line, but this time they were again repulsed and defeated. On the morning of the 7th a strong skirmish line from the Sixth Regiment was sent out and drove back the enemy's skirmish line, revealing the fact that the main body of the rebels had fallen back. Soon after dark the flank movement towards Spottsylvania was begun.

The brigade crossed the Rapidan on the 4th with 2,800 effective men; the losses in the two days' fighting were 1,232, of which the Fifth Regiment lost twenty-eight killed, one hundred and seventy-nine wounded and seventeen missing. Of the officers in this regiment Captains Alonzo R. Hurlburt, George D. Davenport and Charles J. Ormsbee, and Lieutenants Orvis H. Sweet and Watson O. Beach, were either killed or wounded; Ormsbee and Sweet were both killed. Lieutenant-Colenel John R. Lewis, commanding the Fifth, was severely wounded.

During the whole of the night of the 7th of May the brigade was on the march, arriving at Chancellorsville the next morning ; here they were detailed to guard the Sixth Corps' train. About four o'clock p. m. they were ordered to the front; a forced march of four miles was made and the battle-field reached just before dark. The 9th was spent in fortifying the position of the brigade and on the 10th the skirmish line was advanced, driving back those of the enemy, the Fourth Regiment receiving high commendation for its conduct. During the day the Second Regiment, the Fifth, under command of Major C. P. Dudley, and the Sixth (the whole under the command of Colonel Thomas O. Seaver), formed a part of the column which charged the enemy's works, the Vermont troops being in the rear line. The front lines were at first successful, capturing the works and many prisoners, but were driven back. The Vermont troops mentioned then advanced under a terrible fire and occupied the rebel works, the other regiments falling back. Orders were now given for all to fall back, but they failed to reach the Second Regiment, which refused to retire until they were positively ordered to do so. It was in this charge that the brave Major Dudley fell of wounds which cansed his death. The brigade retained its position, constantly under fire through the [Ith of May, and early on the 12th moved with the corps to the left to co-operate with Hancock's Corps. The latter had captured the enemy's works at that point and the rebels were engaged in a desperate attempt to regain them, when the Vermont Brigade marched into position under a heavy fire. Two lines were formed on the ex- treme left and skirmishers thrown out under a brisk fire. To quote from the report of the adjutant- general : " At this time the enemy were making the most determined effort to retake the line of works carried by Hancock and now held by the Sixth Corps, the key of the position being at the angle in the

RUTLAND COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.

center, and that being the point at which the most desperate attacks were made. Brigadier-General Grant, with the regiments of the second line, was ordered to the right to assist General Wheaton, and Colonel Seaver was left in command of the front line and the skirmishers. General Wheaton, with his brigade, was endeavoring to advance through thick brush, and in the face of a deadly fire from the enemy's rifle pits, and the Vermont regiments moved up promptly to his support, the Fourth Regiment taking and holding the front line. It was found impracticable to carry the enemy's works upon the right by a direct attack, and the enemy were gaining advantage in the center. Leaving the Fourth Regiment in its position, General Grant returned to the center, and being joined by Colonel Seaver with the residue of the brigade, the whole were put into the engagement, except the Sixth Regiment, which was held in reserve."

This was a critical point and a critical time for both armies and the fighting was of the most desperate character; the combatants were separated by a mere breastwork of logs and rails, and the conflict was practically hand to hand. The terrible struggle continued for eight hours, when the Vermont Brigade was relieved ; the works were held, but the losses were heavy. The brigade camped for the night on the extreme right.

On the 13th the brigade, with small exception, was not actively engaged and took a position towards night on the left near the scene of its former strug- gle. During the 14th the Vermont Brigade held the extreme left. On the 16th Colonel Seaver with his regiment and one from Massachusetts, made a recon- naissance in the direction of Spottsylvania Court-House, gallantly driving in the enemy's skirmishers and accomplishing the duty to which he was assigned. On the morning of the 18th the Second and Sixth Corps charged the enemy's works, advancing about half a mile, under heavy artillery fire. The Vermont Brigade held the front line for some time, when the whole were ordered to fall back. Early on the morning of the 19th the brigade advanced with the corps about a mile and fortified its position, remaining there two days. At noon of the 21st the brigade moved about three-fourths of a mile to the rear, leaving a strong skirmish line in their works. Just before nightfall the enemy in strong force broke through this skirmish line and Colonel Seaver was ordered out with his regiment to re-establish it; the task was gallantly performed. That night the corps marched towards Guinness's Station. The total losses of the Fifth Regiment from the time of the crossing of the Rapidan to this date were thirty- eight killed ; two hundred and twenty-nine wounded and fifty-one missing - a total of three hundred and eighteen. The losses in the brigade were one thousand six hundred and fifty, more than one-half of the entire force that crossed the river.

On the 15th of May the brigade was joined by the Eleventh Vermont Reg- 'iment, which had been mustered into the service September 1, 1862, and con-

HISTORY OF RUTLAND COUNTY.

stituted the First Regiment of Vermont Heavy Artillery after December 10, 1863. Almost all of its companies contained at some period of its history, re- cruits from Rutland county, which were distributed about as follows: Benson, Co. C, 13; and 3 not credited to a company. Brandon, Co. B, I ; Co. F, I ; Co. M, I ; Castleton, Co. C, 32 ; Co. M, 5 ; I not credited to a company. Clar- rendon, Co. C, 5 ; Co. L, I ; Co. M, 2 ; Chittenden, Co. C, I ; Fairhaven, Co. C, 15; Co. L, I ; 3 not credited to companies; Hubbardton, Co. C, 2; Ira, Co. C, 3 ; Middletown, Co. C, I ; Co. M, 2; Mount Holly, Co. M, 2; Mount Tabor, Co. C, I; Pawlet, Co. C, 6; Co. G, 2; Co. L, 2; Co. M, 1 ; 2 not credited to company ; Pittsfield, Co. B, 4; Pittsford, Co. C, 3; Co. L, 2 ; Co. M, 2; Poultney, Co. C, 16; Rutland, Co. A, I; Co. B, I; Co. C, 13; Co. D, I; Co. E, 7; Co. G, I; Co. M, 4; Co. K, 10; Sherburne, Co. H, 5 ; Shrewsbury, Co. C, 4; Co. E, 2; Sudbury, Co. C, 3; Co. L, 3; Co. M, I ; Tinmouth, Co. C, I; Co. L, 1; Wallingford, Co. C, 7; Co. E, I ; Co. M, I ; I not credited to company ; Westhaven, Co. C, 9.

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History of Rutland County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n; Rann, William S Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co. Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925. 1n; Rann, William S
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & co.
Number of Pages: 1170