USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 11
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During the fall of 1861 the Second was formed with other State regi- ments into what became known as the famous Vermont Brigade, com- posed of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and, finally, the Sixth Infantry Regiments. After that organization was effected the record history of the Second was that of the brigade, commencing with the battle of Lee's Mills and continuing through the years 1862, '63, '64, and to the 6th of April, 1865. But before the Vermont Brigade was organized the Second was engaged at Bull Run, on the 21st of July, 1861. The regiment was mustered into service June 20, 1861, and mustered out July 15, 1865.
Official List of Engagements .- Bull Run, July 21, 1861 ; Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862; Williamsburg, May 5; Golding's Farm, June 26; Sav-
II7
THE SECOND AND THIRD VERMONT REGIMENTS.
age Station, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30 to July 2; Cramp- ton's Gap, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, December 13; Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863 ; Salem Heights, May 4 ; Fredericksburg, June 5 ; Gettysburg, July 3 ; Funkstown, July 10; Rap- pahannock Station, November 7 ; Wilderness, May 5 to 10, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 10 to 18; Cold Harbor, June I to 12; Petersburg, June 18; Charlestown, August 21 ; Opequan, September 13; Winchester, September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 21-22; Mount Jackson, Sep- tember 24; Cedar Creek, October 19; Petersburg, March 25 and April 2, 1865 ; Sailor's Run, April 6, 1865. A total of twenty-eight distinct engagements.
THE THIRD REGIMENT.
The Third Regiment of Vermont Volunteers was raised about the same time as was its immediate predecessor, but was not mustered into service until six weeks later. The author of "Vermont in the Civil War" credits to Windsor county two companies, or parts of two, from the towns of Springfield and Hartford. Just how the companies were made up will be seen by reference to the town enrollments, but there was but one company, G, in the entire regiment that had no officers from this county, while all the others seem to have been pretty fairly represented. The roster of commissioned officers shows that not only Springfield and Hartford contributed to the strength of the regiment, but Pomfret, Cavendish, Royalton, Bethel and Weathersfield as well, with some representation from other towns.
In the organization of the Third this county seems not to have been forgotten, and it is a somewhat noticeable fact that among the officers, field, staff and line, there appears the names of a number from Windsor county who have filled distinguished places in county, State and national affairs. And it is also noticeable that comparatively few of the repre- sentatives from this county were commissioned in their respective offices or positions on the field and staff at the time of organization, but were subsequently raised thereto by promotion, generally for meritorious serv- ices. Wheelock G. Veazey, then of Springfield, now generally known as Judge Veazey, was commissioned captain of Company A, May 21, 1861, but on the 10th of August was promoted major, and three days
I18
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
later to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Afterward, September 16, 1862, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Sixteenth Vermont Volunteer Militia. Likewise Thomas O. Seaver, now Judge Seaver of Woodstock, was captain of Company F, by commission dated May 24, 1861, and was promoted major August 13, 1861, lieutenant-colonel September 27, 1862, and colonel January 15, 1863. Horace W. Floyd, of Spring- field, entered the service as second-lieutenant in Company A, and by a series of promotions, in recognition of meritorious services, was advanced to the rank of colonel, his commission as such bearing date June 4, 1865. Samuel E. Pingree, of Hartford, was first a lieutenant in Com- pany F, but the muster-out found him commissioned colonel. The name of Redfield Proctor is known to every patriotic Vermonter. He was the first regimental quartermaster of the Third, but was promoted in September to major of the Fifth Vermont. Quartermaster Proctor entered the service as a resident of Cavendish.
Ten days after the Third was mustered into service it was encamped on Georgetown Heights, six miles from Washington, where for the first time the men saw their regimental commander, William F. Smith, for- merly and then an officer of the United States army.
The experiences and vicissitudes of the field and camp-life of the Third need no recital here. The regiment formed a part of the Ver- mont Brigade, the First, and its record is written substantially in the his- tory of that organization. Still, the Third was engaged in many moves and expeditions in which the brigade had no part. A good proportion of the men veteranized, and those who did not were mustered out of service July 27, 1864. Those that were veterans, with recruits, were then consolidated into six companies. The regiment proper was mus- tered out of service July 11, 1865.
The Third Vermont stands credited with having participated in twenty- eight engagements, as follows : Lewisville, September 11, 1861 ; Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Golding's Farm, June 26; Savage Station, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30 to July 2; Crampton's Gap, September 14; Antietam, September 17 ; Fredericks- burg, December 13; Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863; Salem Heights, May 4; Fredericksburg, June 5 ; Gettysburg, July 3; Funkstown, July IO; Rappahannock Station, November 7; Wilderness, May 5 to 10,
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THE FOURTH VERMONT REGIMENT.
1864; Spottsylvania, May 10 to 18; Cold Harbor, June 1 to 12 ; Peters- burg, June 18; Ream's Station, June 29; Washington, July 11; Charles- town, August 21; Opequan, September 13; Winchester, September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 21-22 ; Cedar Creek, October 19 ; Peters- burg, March 25 and 27, and April 2, 1865.
THE FOURTH REGIMENT.
The Windsor county contribution to this command was, like that of the Third, scattered through the several companies that composed it, there being scarcely a single company in which some one at least of the county's towns was not represented. But there seems not to have been so great a county representation on the field and staff in the Fourth as was the case in the Third ; neither is it probable that the county furnished as many men to this regiment as to the former. On the field and staff was Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen M. Pingree of Stockbridge, who was formerly first lieutenant of Company E, but who by several promotions was elevated to the rank named, his commission bearing date April 30, 1864. George B. French of Cavendish was first lieutenant of Com. pany C, but when mustered out he was adjutant of the regiment. Henry W. Spafford of Weathersfield enlisted as regimental commissary ser- geant, but was mustered out as quartermaster. Dr. Samuel J. Allen, of Hartford, was commissioned surgeon August 15, 1861, and served as such until September 30, 1864.
The Fourth was mustered into the United States service September 21, 1861, with Colonel Edwin H. Stoughton commanding; Harry N. Worthen, lieutenant colonel; John C. Tyler, major; and Charles B. Stoughton, adjutant. None of the Windsor county contingent figured as original members of the field and staff, except Surgeon Allen. This regiment was raised during the early fall of 1861, in response to Governor Fairbanks's call for two regiments in addition to those already at the front, in respect to which call the governor's proclamation, according to Ben- edict, says: "The events of the 21st instant (meaning the disastrous result of Bull Run battle, July 2Ist), and the retreat of the United States army from the field near Manassas Junction, demonstrated the neces- sity of a greatly increased national force, and although no formal requi- sition has been made upon me by the secretary of war, nor any appor-
I 20
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
tionment of troops as the quota for this State communicated, yet the events referred to indicate clearly the necessity of exercising the discre- tionary power conferred on me by the aforesaid act for raising and or- ganizing additional regiments. Orders will therefore be issued immedi- ately to the adjutant aud inspector-general for enlisting the Fourth and Fifth regiments of volunteers for three years or during the war, to be tendered to the general government as soon as may be practicable to arm, equip and descipline the troops for service."
These, then, were the circumstances under which the Fourth was re- cruited ; and with such promptness was the request of the governor com- plied with, that within thirty days from the time both the Fourth and Fifth Regiments were raised and ready for arms and equipments. Im- mediately after the muster-in the Fourth left their rendezvous at Brattle- boro and proceeded to the national capital, where they arrived on the evening of September 23d. Four days later the men were marched to Chain Bridge, and there joined the preceding Vermont regiments. From that time forth the service of the Fourth was exceedingly active, as will be seen from the appended list of engagements. The muster record of the Fourth Regiment states thus: "Mustered into service September 21, 1861. Original members, not veterans, mustered out September 30, 1864. First, Second and Third Companies of Sharpshooters trans- ferred to Fourth Regiment February 25, 1865. Veterans, recruits and troops transferred from the Sharpshooters consolidated into eight com- panies February 25, 1865. Recruits for one year and recruits whose term of service would expire previous to October Ist, 1865, mustered out of service June 19, 1865. Remainder of regiment mustered out of serv- ice July 13, 1865."
Official list of engagements : Total, twenty-six. Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862 ; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Golding's Farm, June 26 ; Savage Station June 29 ; White Oak Swamp, June 30 to July 2; Crampton's Gap, Sep- tember 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, December 13; Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863 ; Salem Heights, May 4; Fredericksburg, June 5 ; Gettysburg, July 3 ; Funkstown, July 10; Rappahannock Sta- tion, November 7 ; Wilderness, May 5 to 10, 1864 ; Spottsylvania, May 10 to 18; Cold Harbor, June 1 to 12; Petersburg, June 18; Weldon Railroad, June 23 ; Charlestown, August 21 ; Opequan, September 13;
I2I
THE FIFTH AND SIXTH VERMONT REGIMENTS.
Winchester, September 19; Fisher's Hill, September 21-22; Cedar Creek, October 19; Petersburg, March 25, 27 and April 2, 1865.
THE FIFTH REGIMENT.
The contingent of Windsor soldiery in this command was so exceed- ing small as to need but slight mention in this chapter. The regiment may be considered as having been the companion of the Fourth, as it was raised at the same time and under the same call, though mainly from a distant section of the State. It was mustered into service Sep- tember 16, 1861. Redfield Proctor of Cavendish was appointed major, September 25, 1861, while Myron S. Dudley of Chester, who enlisted as private in Company E, November 28, 1863, was ultimately advanced to the rank of captain of Company K. Whatever of troops were in the various companies of this regiment will be found by reference to the town rolls.
THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
The Sixth Regiment of Vermont Volunteers was raised during the last half of the month of September, 1861, in pursuance of a request made upon Governor Fairbanks by the war department, and received by that officer on the same day that the Fifth was mustered into serv- ice. It would seem that having already at the front four complete reg- iments, all recruited within a very few months of each other, some diffi- culty might be encountered in at once preparing for the field another thousand men, but such was not the case. Immediately upon receipt of the request Governor Fairbanks caused recruiting offices to be estab- lished in various sections of the State for the purpose of organizing the Sixth Regiment. In this county recruiting stations were made at Nor- wich, Royalton and Woodstock, while there was perhaps a dozen simi lar offices in other counties throughout the State. The result of this effort was the enlistment of nearly enough men for a full regiment within the space of twelve days, and the lacking number was obtained very soon thereafter. The men were rendezvoused at Montpelier, where the regimental organization was perfected. On the 15th it was mustered into service, and four days later took its departure for Washington, where it lay in camp until the 24th of October, and then marched to
16
I22
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
Camp Griffin. Here it was attached to the First Vermont Brigade, the new accession completing the strength of that celebrated military or- ganization.
The contribution of Windsor county to the numerical strength of the Sixth seems to have been recognized by the selection of Oscar S. Tuttle of Cavendish as major. Major Tuttle was subsequently promoted lieu- tenant-colonel, and lastly, on December 18, 1862, to the command of the regiment. Also, Sumner H. Lincoln of Hartford, who was ap- pointed adjutant in February, 1863, was advanced from rank to rank until in June, 1865, when he, in turn, was commissioned as colonel. William J. Sperry of Cavendish enlisted as private in Company E, but June 4, 1865, found him possessed of a commission as lieutenant-col- onel. Hiram S. English of Woodstock, too, was enlisted as private in Company C, in August, 1862, and he was several times promoted, un- til he became adjutant of the regiment. Alonzo Webster of Windsor was appointed chaplain on October 3, 1863.
The towns generally of the county contributed to the regiment, no full company, it is understood, being raised in any one town ; and in the same manner were the men assigned, not to a single company, but scattered through several as the squads were reported or as necessity required.
On the 16th of October, 1861, the Sixth was mustered into service. Original members, not veterans, were mustered out October 28, 1864. Veterans and recruits were consolidated into six companies, October 16, 1864. Recruits for one year, and recruits whose term of service would expire previous to October 1, 1865, were mustered out June 19, 1865. The remainder of the regiment was mustered out of service June 26, 1865. A total of twenty-five battles are credited to the Sixth Regiment, being those between and inclusive of Lee's Mills, in April, 1862, and Petersburg, on the 2d of April, 1865. See preceding list.
THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Company G, of Cavendish, and Company H, of Woodstock, com- prised the Windsor county contingent of the Seventh Vermont. The command was raised in pursuance of an act of the State Legislature that authorized the governor to recruit two regiments, one to become a
123
THE SEVENTH VERMONT REGIMENT.
part of the division that General Butler was then forming, and the other " to serve in the army of the United States until the expiration of three years from the first day of June, A. D. 1861." Under this latter pro- vision the Seventh was organized, but the crafty Butler soon obtained from the war department an assignment of the regiment to his division, an arrangement not entirely satisfactory to the men of the command ; but, notwithstanding that, the murmurs of dissatisfaction were not loud nor long. The men, of course, would have preferred joining with the other State regiments in the Army of the Potomac, but circumstances took them in another direction.
The Seventh Regiment was mustered into service on the 12th of Feb- ruary, 1862 ; and on the Ioth of March, following, left the rendezvous at Rutland and proceeded to New York city, where the officers were given a public reception. On the 14th the regiment was embarked on two transports and at once began a voyage-a long and tedious one- to their destination, Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, at which place the last arriving steamer landed its passengers on the 10th of April. Here the men of the Seventh found themselves in company with the Eighth Vermont, which had been organized and sent to this point, ar- riving a day or two earlier than the first division of their own regiment. In due time the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, that organ- ization being composed of the Seventh and Eighth Vermont, the Ninth, Tenth and Thirteenth Connecticut, the Eighth New Hampshire, Seventh and Eighth Maine, Fourth Massachusetts Battery, First and Second Vermont Batteries and a company of the Second Massachusetts Cav- alry. The First Brigade was commanded by General Phelps.
From the early part of summer, in the year 1862, until the muster- out of the regiment, the men of the Seventh were actively engaged in this southeastern country ; and when not occupied in field duty every exertion was found necessary to counteract the evil influences of the climate and the poor quality of provisions with which they were mea- gerly supplied. The battles in which the regiment participated will be found in the official list appended to this sketch, but they faintly tell of the constant dangers and hardships to which the men were exposed.
In the organization of the regiment George T. Roberts, of Rutland, was appointed colonel, while Volney S. Fullam, of Ludlow, was given
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HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
the lieutenant-colonelcy, the latter being the only field officer with which Windsor county was honored. The companies which were recruited in the county, G and H, were officered respectively by Salmon Dutton, of Cavendish, and Mahlon M. Young, of Hartford, captains; George M. R. Howard, of Cavendish, and Henry H. French, of Woodstock, first lieutenants; Leonard P. Bingham, of Ludlow, and George H. Kelley, of Barnard, second lieutenants. Of course as the regiment continued in service changes were made in the company officers, but the above shows the arrangement of officers at the company organization.
List of engagements: Siege of Vicksburg, June and July, 1862 ; Baton Rouge, August 5th; Gonzales Station, Jaly 15, 1864; Spanish Fort, March 27 to April 11, 1865 ; Whistler, April 13, 1865.
THE EIGHTH REGIMENT.
The Windsor county contingent in this command was quite small ; still it was recognized by the elevation of Henry F. Dutton, of Ludlow, to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in December, 1863. He had formerly been captain of Company H. During the latter part of the regiment's service Henry M. Pollard, also of Ludlow, was promoted to the rank of major, having previously been first lieutenant and then captain of Com- pany I. Samuel W. Shattuck, of Norwich, was drafted July 15, 1863, and was appointed adjutant October 20, 1863. This was the entire rep- resentation of the county on the field and staff. The company officers and privates were mainly in Companies H and I, although others had a few members from the county. Company H was re-organized as a Ludlow organization. The regiment was mustered into service Feb- ruary 18, 1862, and mustered out June 28, 1865. It was attached to that branch of the army that operated in the southwest, being a part of General Phelps's brigade, to which the Seventh Vermont was also at tached. The official list of engagements of the Eighth Vermont was as follows: Cotten, January 14, 1863 ; Bisland, April 12, 1863; Siege of Port Hudson, May 25 to July 9, 1864; Winchester, September 9, 1864; Fisher's Hill, September 21-22, 1864; Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864; Newton, November 11, 1864.
To the Ninth Vermont Regiment of volunteer infantry the towns of Cavendish and Weathersfield made a small contribution of men, while
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THE EIGHTH AND TENTH VERMONT REGIMENTS.
Ludlow and Pomfret are also credited with a slight representation. None of them, however, furnished a sufficient number to deserve much remark in this chapter. Those that were from the county were mainly in Company D, with a few in Company H. Charles Jarvis, of Weathers- field, was major of the regiment by commission dated May 24, 1863. He died of wounds received while on scout near Cedar Point, N. C., De- cember 1, 1863. Lucius Dickinson, of Cavendish, was chaplain of the Ninth from July, 1862, to June 13, 1865.
THE TENTH REGIMENT.
In the composition of the Tenth it has been generally understood that Company H was an organization of the town of Ludlow ; and this im- pression has been formed from the fact that the company was recruited in that town. It appears, however, that comparatively few of the mem- bers of the company were residents of the town, for Windsor furnished over twenty, Weathersfield twelve, Springfield eighteen, and other towns less members, while Ludlow furnished only sixteen. Lucius T. Hunt, of Ludlow, organized the company in that town, but he received his men from wherever they happened to come. Other towns than those men- tioned also had men in Captain Hunt's company, and still others, like- wise residents of the county, were in other companies.
The Tenth Regiment was mustered into the United States service Sep- tember 1, 1862, and on the 6th of the same month left Brattleboro for Washington, at which city it arrived on the 8th. Within a week from that time the Tenth was actively engaged in the operations between Ed- ward's Ferry and Muddy Run, being there brigaded with regiments from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and under command at that time of General Currier Grover. The regiment was marched about from place to place for a considerable time, doing various duties, but it was not until the fall of 1863 that it participated in any set engagement, for which it was then reasonably well prepared. From that time forth until the final muster-out June 29, 1865, the Tenth took part in the following battles : Orange Grove, November 27, 1863; Wilderness, May 5 to 10, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 10th to 18th ; Tolopotomy, May 3Ist; Cold Harbor, June Ist to 12th ; Weldon Railroad, June 22-23d ; Monocacy, July 9th; Winchester, September 19th; Fisher's Hill, September
126
HISTORY OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
21-22d ; Cedar Creek, October 19th; Petersburg, March 25, 1865 ; Pe- tersburg, April 2d; Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865.
FIRST ARTILLERY-ELEVENTH VERMONT REGIMENT.
Company H, of Royalton, Captain James D. Rich, was the main Windsor county contribution to the formation of the Eleventh Regiment, although the county furnished other men to the command who were in companies other than H. The Eleventh was the largest regiment sent to the front by the State of Vermont, the original members, officers and men, numbering 1,315; and this aggregate was swelled by accessions from all sources to a total of 2,320.
The regiment was raised at the same time as was the Tenth, and was mustered into service on the Ist of September, 1862, and on the 7th left Brattleboro for Washington, arriving at the last named city on the even- ing of the 9th, going into camp after one night's rest on Capitol Hill. On the 27th the regiment was divided into detachments among the forts on the line of the northern defenses, Company H being ordered to Fort Slocum.
One of the most noticeable events in connection with the early history of the Eleventh was the change made in the character of the duties re - quired to be performed by its members. It was recruited under the ex- pectation of being an infantry regiment, but, by an order of the secretary of war, on the 10th of December, 1862, the regiment was made a heavy artillery regiment, its official designation being "First Artillery, Eleventh Vermont Volunteers." The department of war also authorized that the number of companies be increased to twelve, and that each, both old and new, be increased to one hundred and fifty men. This change and ad- dition required some time to accomplish, but as the winter was approach- ing, no service was really lost by the delay. The regiment was not entirely filled until the expiration of several months. In February its membership reached 1,835, the greatest number attained at any one time. The Eleventh remained in the defenses of the capital until the early part of May, 1864, when it was ordered to the front, to join the Army of the Potomac, where they were to meet with and fight beside their old breth- ren of Vermont, the First Brigade. From this time until the regiment was finally mustered out, August 26, 1865, the men were constantly in
I27
FIRST ARTILLERY AND TWELFTH REGIMENT.
active service. Their battles, however, ended with the last Petersburg, April 2, 1865. Official list of battles : Spottsylvania, May 15 to 18, 1864; Cold Harbor, June Ist to 12th; Petersburg, June 18th ; Weldon Railroad, June 23d; Washington, July 11th; Charlestown, August 21st; Gilbert's Ford, September 13th; Opequan, September 19th; Fisher's Hill, September 21-22; Cedar Creek, October 19th; Petersburg, March 25 and 27th, and April 2, 1865.
The following list shows the names of the members of Company H, the Windsor county company, who were captured and died, with the place of their death, in the enemy's hands. All who are here named were captured by the Confederates in the disastrous affair of Weldon Railroad on the 23d of June, 1864. Sergeant George Day died at An- dersonville ; Henry K. Barrett, Charleston ; Wilmoth Ayres, in prison ; John H. Bruce, Andersonville ; Carlos R. Bugbee, Goldsboro ; Horace S. Dutton, Florence; Arthur M. French, James B. Goodrick, in prison ; Pembroke S. Grover, Crowell M. Knowles, Andersonville; Harvey J. Lyman, Florence ; George L. Morse, in prison ; Samuel F. Parker, Flo- rence ; Carlos A. Stowell, in prison ; Edwin W. Weston, in prison ; Levi F. Wilder, Andersonville; Corporal William E. Willard, in Charleston ; Samuel P. Woodward, Andersonville; Edward M. Ailes, Florence; John Brown, Andersonville; Heman Dole, in prison ; Eli Faneuf, Charles W. Gleason, John Graves, jr., David Johnson, Curtis W. Ruscoe and James A. Stone, Andersonville; Carroll V. Kenyon, Goldsboro; Edward F. Smith, Danville ; Jared Blanchard, jr., supposed dead ; Carlos C. Hinck- ley, supposed dead ; Charles Morey.
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