Jackson Lackey (abt. 1844)

Born about 1844 in Vergennes, Addison County Vermont, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Biography

This biography is a rough draft. It was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import and needs to be edited.

Event

Event:

Type: Military

Date: 28 SEP 1861

Place: Enlisted as a Private

Event:

Type: Military

Date: 15 OCT 1861

Place: Returned to the military after 1st desertion

Event:

Type: Military

Date: 08 JAN 1864

Place: Dalton, New Hampshire, USA

Note

Note: #N00089

Sources

• WikiTree profile Lackey-140 created through the import of FAMILY_2011-05-26.ged on May 26, 2011 by Jacky Gamble. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Jacky and others.

Notes

Note N00089Regimental History

VERMONT

SIXTH REGIMENT.

(THREE YEARS.)

BY HON. FRANK G. BUTTERFIELD, (Chief of the Special Examination

Division, Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D. C.), LIEUTENANT-

COLONEL SIXTH REGIMENT.

SEPTEMBER 16, 1861, in response to an urgent request from

the Secretary of War, Gov. Erastus Fairbanks issued orders for

raising and organizing the Sixth Vermont Regiment. In less

than two weeks the regiment was raised and ordered to

rendezvous at Montpelier. The several companies were recruited

and commanded as follows: A, Addison county, Capt. George

Parker, Jr.; B, Caledonia, Windsor and Orange counties, Capt.

A. B. Hutchinson; C, Windsor county, Capt. J. C. Spaulding; D,

Orleans county, Capt. Oscar A. Hale; E, Caledonia and Windsor

counties, Capt. Edwin W. Barker; F, Rutland, Washington and

Chittenden counties, Capt. E. F. Reynolds; G, Washington

county, Capt.Wm. H. H. Hall; H, Washington county, Capt. D. B.

Davenport; I, Chittenden county, Capt. Wesley Hazelton; K,

Franklin county, Capt. Elisha L. Barney.

October 15 the regiment was mustered into the United

States service for three years with the following field and

staff: Colonel, Nathan Lord, Jr.; Lieutenant-Colonel, Asa P.

Blunt; Major, Oscar S. Tuttle; Adjutant, Richard B. Crandall;

Quartermaster, John W. Clark; Surgeon, R.C. M. Woodward;

Assistant Surgeon, Charles M. Chandler;Chaplain, Edward P.

Stone.

On Saturday, October 19, only thirty-three days after the

Governor's call for volunteers, the regiment was en route to

the front. Reaching Washington on the 22d, the regiment two

days later marched to Camp Griffin near Lewinsville, Va., where

it joined the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Vermont

regiments, thus completing the Vermont Brigade. Henceforth its

history was merged in, and became identical with that of

the old Vermont Brigade. During the winter the regiment

suffered remarkably from sickness. There were 278 cases of

typhoid fever, 330 of measles, 90 of diphtheria and 180 of

mumps. The mortality was great, amounting to more than 50

deaths.

In the original organization of the Army of the Potomac,

the Vermont Brigade, of which the Sixth formed a part, was

assigned to Gen. William F. Smith's division of the Fourth Army

Corps, under the command of General Keyes.

March 10, 1862, the regiment broke camp and entered upon

its first field work, the Peninsula campaign. Embarking at

Alexandria on the 23d, it landed at Fortress Monroe on the

24th, and on the 4th of April commenced its march up the

Peninsula, arriving in front of the enemy on Warwick Creek on

the next day. On the 6th the regiment was for the first time

under fire in support of a battery, during a demonstration

made by the division upon the Confederate works. It was,

however, subjected to no loss, and it was not until the 16th of

April, at Lee's Mills, that it received its "baptism of fire."

On that day the right wing crossed Warwick Creek, through water

up to the waist, under a severe and galling fire, and attacked

the enemy's works. At the moment of success it was decided to

abandon the attack and they were ordered to retire. The loss

of the regiment in this battle was 23 killed and mortally

wounded, and 57 wounded, the bulk of the loss being from the

right wing. Thereafter the regiment remained in sight of the

enemy, doing picket duty, during the remainder of the month of

April, with no incident worthy of note, except that on the 29th

it made a reconnoissance resulting in a slight skirmish.

Lieut. A. M. Nevins of company G was mortally wounded, and a

man in company K wounded.

On the night of the 3d of May the enemy abandoned their

line across the Peninsula, and on the morning of the 4th the

regiment crossed Warwick Creek and occupied the entrenchments

which they had assaulted so gallantly on the 16th of April.

When the enemy moved out of these works they left behind them

evidence of an utter disregard of the rules of civilized

warfare. There were found scores of loaded shells buried in

the ground near the surface, to each of which was attached a

fuse surmounted by a percussion cap just at the surface. These

were thus planted for the purpose of killing our men when they

stepped upon the percussion cap and exploded the shell.

Several explosions took place, killing a few and maiming

others, upon which a search was made and the remaining shells

unearthed. This is no camp rumor, but an absolute truth, for

the writer saw scores of these shells dug up and carried away.

Leaving Lee's Mills on the same day, the regiment moved up

the Peninsula, and on the 5th of May they were again in battle

at Williamsburg. The regiment marched on the 9th toward New

Kent Court House, arriving there on the 11th; on the 12th to

Cumberland Landing, on the Pamunkey River, and on the next day

to White House Landing, where they remained four days. On the

16th day of May, 1862, the Sixth Provisional Corps was

organized, to which Smith's Division was assigned, and the

Vermont Brigade, to which the Sixth belonged, became the Second

Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, which designation

it retained until the close of the war. It marched on the 19th

by way of Tunstall's Station to near New Bridge on the

Chickahominy, ten miles from Richmond; on the 22d to near

Gaines's Mill, about eight miles from Richmond; and on the 24th

it moved forward a mile, and camped on the farm of Dr. Gaines.

During the second day of the battle of Fair Oaks, (June 1), the

corps marched to cross the Chickahominy at New Bridge to re-

enforce the troops engaged, but were met at the pontoon bridge

by countermanding orders. The brigade returned to camp and the

Sixth regiment was left to guard the bridge.

June 5 the brigade crossed the river four miles below at

Grape Vine Bridge and occupied a position near Golding's house,

remaining there until June 28. On the evening of the 27th the

Sixth was engaged in a severe skirmish at Golding's Farm, in

which it lost one killed, six wounded and missing. For its

part in this skirmish, it, together with the Fourth Vermont,

was mentioned in General Hancock's report of the affair. On

the 28th the Vermont Brigade was withdrawn from its position

and marched out of camp under a furious cannonade from the

rebel batteries. On the next day, Sunday, the regiment marched

to Savage's Station, where a battle was fought in the

afternoon, lasting well into the night. In this fight the

regiment lost 21 killed and mortally wounded, and 54 wounded

and missing. The regiment left the field at 10 o'clock, and

with the balance of the command marched to the rear and crossed

the White Oak Swamp at daylight on the morning of the 30th. On

this day was fought the battle of White Oak Swamp.

The Sixth Army Corps held the right of the line at Malvern

Hill, but was not engaged. After the battle it marched to

Harrison's Landing, where it remained more than a month. On

the Peninsula the regiment was constantly in the front,

participating in nearly all the battles and skirmishes of the

campaign. Added to the severe losses in battle were the many

cases of sickness and death from fever and malaria, caused by

the swamps of the Chickahominy, so that when the regiment

arrived on the James River its ranks were sadly depleted.

August 16 the regiment marched with the Sixth Army Corps en

route to Fortress Monroe. On the 22d it embarked on transports

from Fortress Monroe to Alexandria, arriving Sunday, August 24,

and remaining there until August 29. The brigade was within

sound of the firing at Second Bull Run, but was not engaged.

The regiment participated in the Maryland campaign, being

often under fire, and was engaged in the brilliant combat of

Crampton's Gap and the bloody battle of Antietam.

September 26, the regiment went into camp at Hagerstown,

Md., and enjoyed a month's fairly earned rest. Recrossing the

Potomac November 2, it bore an honorable part at

Fredericksburg. December 18, Colonel Lord, who had hitherto

commanded the regiment, resigned on account of ill-health and

Lieutenant-Colonel Tuttle was promoted to the colonelcy. The

regiment wintered at White Oak Church, a few miles from

Fredericksburg.

In March, 1863, Colonel Tuttle resigned by reason of

serious illness, and Lieutenant-Colonel Barney was made

colonel. Colonel Barney commanded the regiment thereafter

until he fell mortally wounded in the battle of the Wilderness

in May, 1864.

In the Chancellorsville campaign of 1863, the regiment did

gallant service at Marye's Heights, and especially at Bank's

Ford, where, in a gallant charge, it drove back the enemy

and captured 250 prisoners. It again crossed the Rappahannock

June 6, and was sharply engaged with the enemy, holding its

ground three hours against a greatly superior force. It

participated in the Pennsylvania campaign, and at Gettysburg,

with the brigade, held the extreme left of the line. When the

battle of Gettysburg opened on July 1, the regiment, with the

Sixth Army Corps, was at Manchester, Md., thirty-five miles

from the battlefield. At dusk orders came to move, but it was

about 10 o'clock at night before the column started for

Gettysburg. It was on this occasion that General Sedgwick

issued his famous order, "Put the Vermonters ahead and keep the

column well closed up," and before the sun went down on the

afternoon of the 2d, the column deployed into line of battle at

Gettysburg.

July 10 it suffered severely in the battle of Funkstown,

Md., one of the most brilliant engagements of the war. Here

the brigade relieved Buford's cavalry which it found

skirmishing with the enemy. The Sixth and Fifth first went on

to the skirmish line, but, the enemy attacking in force, the

entire brigade was deployed as skirmishers, covering a front of

more than two miles. During the day it was attacked three

times by heavy lines of battle, but each time repulsed the

enemy. Notwithstanding there were probably 50,000 Union troops

within thirty minutes' march of the line, the Vermont skirmish

line held its position against solid lines of battle all day

long without help, a feat unparalleled in modern history. Soon

after the Sixth, with the rest of the Brigade, was sent to New

York City on account of the draft riots; thence to Kingston, N.

Y., returning to Virginia September 16. It served the

remainder of the year with "Meade and Lee's express line,

between Alexandria and Culpepper," participated in the

engagement at Rappahannock Station November 7; was in the

Mine Run campaign supporting the Third Corps at Locust Grove,

and went into winter quarters at Brandy Station.

During the Wilderness campaign of 1864, the Sixth fought

desperately and suffered enormously. Of 441 men going into

battle, there were 69 killed and 127 wounded, a total of

196--almost one-half. On the 5th of May Col. Barney was

mortally wounded, and the command devolved on Lieut.-Col. Oscar

A. Hale, who commanded the regiment until he was severely

wounded in August. On the 10th, at Spottsylvania, it charged

with Upton's forlorn hope. Twelve regiments were selected from

the Sixth Army Corps to pierce the enemy's line. Of these

twelve, three were taken from the Vermont Brigade, the Second,

Fifth, and Sixth. The Third and Fourth were on the skirmish

line, and when the time came, joined in the charge. Col. Emery

Upton, 121st New York, had the command. The twelve regiments

formed in three lines and charged bayonet. They took the

enemy's works, held these for some hours, but finally through

some misapprehension were not supported, and ordered to retire.

It was one of the most famous charges of the war. It made

Colonel Upton a Brigadier-General, and reflected the highest

honor upon every soldier engaged.

On the 12th the regiment fought at the Bloody Angle. All

day long nothing separated the men from the rebels but a heavy

breastwork, perhaps six feet thick. The musketry was so

severe that in front of the Brigade oak trees of more than a

foot in diameter were cut down by rifle balls. On the 15th the

regiment, which had been reduced to about 250 men, was re-

enforced by 150 men who had been on detached service for a year

at Brattleboro. At Cold Harbor it was constantly engaged for

twelve days, and on the 7th of June Maj. Richard B. Crandall

was mortally wounded. The regiment crossed the James river on

the 16th of June with the Brigade. It was constantly fighting

and entrenching until the 9th of July, when it moved rapidly

with the Sixth Corps to Washington to drive Early away. Thence

it went with Sheridan to the Shenandoah Valley, and at Opequan,

Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, did its full share

of the glorious work in the valley.

August 21 at Charlestown, West Virginia, in a sharp

engagement it suffered more severely than any other regiment of

the Brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Hale, Capt. B. D. Fabyan, and

Capt. F. G. Butterfield were severely, and Major Dwinell

mortally wounded, and the regiment lost 10 killed and mortally

wounded, 29 wounded, and one missing. For the remainder of the

three years' term the regiment was commanded by Capt. M. Warner

Davis. October 16 it was ordered to Vermont to be mustered

out, leaving at the front those who had re-enlisted, forming a

battalion of about 320 men. Capt. F. G. Butterfield, Co. I,

was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Adj. Sumner H. Lincoln

was made major.

At Cedar Creek, October 19, Capt. E. R. Kinney commanded

the regiment until wounded, when the command devolved upon

Capt. William J Sperry. Lieutenant-Colonel Butterfield,

being still disabled by his wounds, resigned his commission

early in December, and Major Lincoln was promoted to

lieutenant-colonel and colonel, and held the command through

the rest of the war. Captain Sperry was made lieutenant-

colonel, and Captain Kinney major. December 13 the Sixth

rejoined the army at Petersburg, and participated in that

series of brilliant victories which culminated in the surrender

at Appomattox. The battalion was mustered out July 8, 1865, at

Burlington, Vt. It was one of 45 out of 2,000 regiments which

lost 200 men or over in battle, and one of the famous 300

fighting regiments of the Civil War.

The Light Brigade at Balaklava lost 36.7 per cent; the

Sixth in the Wilderness lost nearly 45 per cent, and held the

field. The reputation for gallantry won at Lee's Mills, its

first battle, was retained through all its long period of

service. Thereafter its members fought often, shoulder to

shoulder, with comrades in the brigade, and with them gained

the proud distinction of being among the first of all the

troops of the Union Army in those qualities which make up the

ideal soldier. They were constant and true, they kept

untarnished the honor of their native State, and when they

folded their banners and came back to Vermont, quietly and

without an effort became again respectable citizens, and honest

toilers in the arts of peace.

The officers of the regiment who were killed or mortally

wounded were Col. E. L. Barney, Majors R. B. Crandall and C. W.

Dwinell; Captains R. A. Bird, E. F. Reynolds, Luther Ainsworth,

and G. C. Randall; First Lieutenants A. A. Crane, A. M. Nevins,

G. C. Babcock, and J. G. Macomber; Second Lieutenant C. F.

Bailey. Those who died of disease were Capt. D. B. Davenport,

Lieut. G. H. Phelps, and Asst.-Surgeon C. A. Chapin.

ENGAGEMENTS.

Warwick Creek, Va., April 6, 1862,

Lee's Mills, Va., April 16, 1862,

Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862,

Golding's Farm, Va., June 27, 1862,

Golding's Farm, Va., June 28, 1862,

Savage's Station, Va., June 29, 1862,

White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862,

Crampton's Gap, Md., Sept. 14, 1862,

Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862,

Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862,

Marye's Heights, Va., May 3, 1863,

Salem Heights, Va., May 3, 1863,

Banks Ford, Va., May 4, 1863,

Fredericksburg, Va., June 5, 1863,

Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863,

Funkstown, Md., July 10, 1863,

Gainesville, Va., Oct. 19, 1863,

Rappahannock Station, Va., Nov. 7, 1863,

Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 10, 1864,

Spottsylvania, Va., May 10 to 18, 1864,

Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 12, 1864,

Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864,

Welden R. R., Va., June 23, 1864,

Reams's Station, Va., June 29, 1864,

Fort Stevens, Md., July 12, 1864,

Charlestown, W. Va., Aug. 21, 1864,

Opequan, Va., Sept. 13, 1864,

Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864,

Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 21 and 22, 1864,

Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864,

Petersburg, Va., March 25 and 27, 1865,

Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865,

Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6, 1865,

Battles Fought

Fought on 15 Apr 1862 at Lee's Mills, VA.

Fought on 16 Apr 1862 at Lee's Mills, VA.

Fought on 19 Apr 1862 at Lee's Mills, VA.

Fought on 26 Apr 1862.

Fought on 29 Apr 1862 at Lee's Mills, VA.

Fought on 29 Apr 1862.

Fought on 26 Jun 1862.

Fought on 27 Jun 1862 at Golding's Farm, VA.

Fought on 28 Jun 1862 at Golding's Farm, VA.

Fought on 29 Jun 1862 at Savage's Station, VA.

Fought on 30 Jun 1862 at White Oak Swamp, VA.

Fought on 1 Jul 1862.

Fought on 2 Jul 1862.

Fought on 29 Aug 1862.

Fought on 14 Sep 1862 at Crampton's Gap, MD.

Fought on 17 Sep 1862 at Antietam, MD.

Fought on 13 Dec 1862 at Fredericksburg, VA.

Fought on 3 May 1863 at Salem Heights, VA.

Fought on 3 May 1863 at Marye's Heights, VA.

Fought on 4 May 1863 at Bank's Ford, VA.

Fought on 5 May 1863.

Fought on 6 Jun 1863 at Fredericksburg, VA.

Fought on 6 Jun 1863.

Fought on 10 Jul 1863 at Funkstown, MD.

Fought on 23 Aug 1863.

Fought on 11 Oct 1863.

Fought on 15 Oct 1863.

Fought on 16 Oct 1863.

Fought on 4 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.

Fought on 5 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.

Fought on 6 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.

Fought on 8 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.

Fought on 10 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.

Fought on 11 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.

Fought on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.

Fought on 18 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.

Fought on 30 May 1864.

Fought on 1 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

Fought on 3 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

Fought on 4 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

Fought on 5 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

Fought on 6 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

Fought on 7 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

Fought on 13 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.

Fought on 14 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.

Fought on 18 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.

Fought on 19 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.

Fought on 21 Jun 1864.

Fought on 27 Jun 1864.

Fought on 11 Jul 1864.

Fought on 13 Aug 1864.

Fought on 15 Aug 1864.

Fought on 21 Aug 1864 at Charles Town, WV.

Fought on 19 Sep 1864 at Winchester, VA.

Fought on 2 Oct 1864.

Fought on 19 Oct 1864 at Cedar Creek, VA.

Fought on 25 Mar 1865 at Petersburg, VA.

Fought on 2 Apr 1865 at Petersburg, VA.