Vermont in the Civil War

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Vermont

Contents 1 Vermont in the Civil War 1.1 Available online at these locations: 1.2 Table of Contents 1.3 Errata 1.4 WikiTree Syntax

Vermont in the Civil War

A History of the Part Taken by the Vermont Soldiers and Sailors in the War for the Union, 1861-5

• by George Grenville Benedict, 1826-1907
• published Burlington, Vermont, 1886
• WikiTree Profiles that use this source

Available online at these locations:

• https://books.google.com/books?id=_tbNAAAAMAAJ (Volume 1)

• https://archive.org/details/cu31924052285206/page/n10 (Volume 1)

• https://archive.org/details/02209277.3301.emory.edu/page/n7 (Volume 2)

• https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009535717 (Volume 1 and Volume 2)

Table of Contents

Volume 1

Chapter I.

North and South on the eve of War — The Early Days of 1861 — Reluctance- of the Vermonters to believe in the possibility of War — Governor Fairbanks's Apprehensions — A Warning from Governor Andrews — Salutes to the Union — Governor Fairbanks Pledges the Support of Vermont to the Government.

Chapter II.

The State Unprepared for War— Decadence of the Militia — Efforts to Revive the Militia in 1856 — The Brandon and Montpelier Musters of 1858 and 1860— The Militia in 1860— Military Property of the State, January, 1861 — Secession Movements — Judge Smalley's Charge to a New York Grand Jury — Senator Collamer's Bill to Close Southern Ports — Attitude of Representatives of Vermont in Congress— Preparations for War — General Order No. 10 — The Peace Conference — Accession of Abraham Lincoln

Chapter III.

The Call to Arms — The Governor's First War Proclamation — Detail of Militia for the First Regiment — Procurement of Arms — A Notable War Meeting — Popular Feeling in the State — Special Session of the Legislature—Appropriation of a Million Dollars — Other War Measures — Unanimity of Legislature and People

Chapter IV.

Organization of the First Regiment — Sketches of the Field Officers — Camp Fairbanks— Delays in Mustering in — Off at last for the War — General Scott's Opinion of the Vermonters— Reception at Troy and in New York — Voyage to Fortress Monroe-Quarters in the Hygeia Hotel — Expedition to Hampton — Occupation of Newport News

Chapter V.

Organization of the Second Regiment — Sketches of its Field and Staff — Departure for the War — Receptions on the Way — Arrival in Washington — Movement into Virginia — Brigaded under Colonel Howard — Campaign and Battle of Bull Run — List of Killed and Wounded — Part Taken by other Vermonters — Return to Bush Hill — Disaffection towards Colonel Whiting— A Case of Discipline — Removal to Camp Lyon

Chapter VI.

The Second Regiment continued— Controversy between Colonel Whiting and the State Authorities — The Peninsula Campaign— Promotions and Changes of Officers— The Seven Days' Retreat— Maryland Campaign of 1862 — First Fredericksburg — Resignation of Colonel Whiting— Sketch of Colonel Walbridge — Second Fredericksburg and Salem Heights — Second Maryland Campaign — A Month in New York— Return to Virginia — Capture of Quartermaster Stone — Execution of Deserters — Winter at Brandy Station— Resignation of Colonel Walbridge — Sketch of Colonel Stone— The Wilderness Campaign — Death of Colonels Stone and Tyler — Losses of Officers and Men — End of Three Years' Term — General Neill's Farewell Order — In the Shenandoah Valley — Back to Petersburg — Final Campaign — Return Home

Chapter VII.

Organization of the Third Regiment — Rendezvous at St. Johnsbury — Departure from the State — Arrival at Washington — Sketch of Colonel William F. Smith — Changes Among the Officers — Fatigue Duty in Virginia — Pardon of William Scott — Under Fire at Lewinsville— Arrival of other Vermont Regiments — Sickness in the Regiment— The Peninsular Campaign— Action at Lee's Mill — List of Killed — The Seven Days' Retreat — The Drummer-boy, Willie Johnson— First Fredericksburg— Resignation of Colonel Hyde — Changes in the Roster— Marye's Heights and Banks's Ford — Service at Newark, N. J.— Winter at Brandy Station— Losses in the Wilderness Campaign — Skirmish at Fort Stevens— End of Three Years' Term — Shenandoah Campaign — Petersburg — Return Home

Chapter VIII.

Organization of the Fourth Regiment — Its Field and Staff — Camp Holbrook — Delays in Equipment— Journey to Washington — Arrival at Camp Advance— Brigaded at Camp Griffln — Remarkable Period of Sickness — The Spring Campaign of 1862— March to Cloud's Mills— The Peninsula — Action and Losses at Lee's Mill — Service at Williamsburg and in front of Richmond— Crampton's Gap and Antietam — Arrival of Recruits — Promotion of Colonel Stoughton and Changes of Officers — First Fredericksburg— Winter Quarters at Belle Plain — Marye's Heights and Banks's Ford — March to Gettysburg — Casualties at Funkstown — Winter at Brandy Station — Losses in the Wilderness and the Overland Campaign — Misfortune at the Weldon Railroad — Action at Charlestown— Expiration of Three Years' Term — The Shenandoah Campaign — In the Lines of Petersburg — The Final Assault — Last Marching and Return Home

Chapter IX.

Organization of the Fifth Regiment — Rendezvous at St. Albans — Field and Staff — Departure for Washington — March to Chain Bridge — Sickness at Camp Griffin — The Spring Campaign of '62 — Lee's Mill — Golding's Farm — Hard Fighting and Terrible Loss at Savage's Station — Resignation of Colonel Smalley and Changes of Field Officers — The Maryland Campaign — Back to Virginia — First Fredericksburg -Marye's Height and Banks's Ford — Crossing the Rappahannock and Capturing Mississippians — Funkstown — Rappahannock Station — Re-enlisting for the War — Furlough and Visit to Vermont — Losses in the Wilderness and in the Lines of Spottsylvania — Death and Sketch of Major Dudley — Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Charlestown — Expiration of Three Years' Term — The Shenandoah Campaign — Final Assault at Petersburg — End of Fighting and Return Home.

Chapter X.

Organization of the Sixth Regiment— Departure for Washington — Sickness and Mortality at Camp Griffin— The Spring of 1862— The Sixth at Lee's Mill, Golding's Farm and Savage's Station — Sickness at Harrison's Landing — Crampton's Gap and Antietam — Changes of Field Officers — Winter of 1862-3 — Fighting at Fredericksburg— Funkstown — Service in New York — Winter at Brandy Station — Losses in the Wilderness — Death and Sketch of Colonel Barney — Personal Incidents — The Shenandoah Campaign — Expiration of Three Years' Term — Service in front of Petersburg — Final Marches and Return Home

Chapter XI.

Organization of the First Vermont Brigade — Its first Commander, General Brooks — Winter at Camp Griffin — Remarkable period of Sickness — Opening of the Spring Campaign of 1863— Movement to Fortress Monroe — The March up the Peninsula — Baptism of Blood at Lee's Mill — Care of the Wounded — The Battle of Williamsburg — March to the White House on the Pamunkey

Chapter XII.

The First Brigade, continued — Organization of the Sixth Corps — Movement to the Front of Richmond — Battle of Fair Oaks— Crossing the Chickahominy — Swamp Fever and Hard Duty — Gaines's Mill and Golding's Farm — The Retreat from Richmond — Stand of the rear Guard at Savage's Station — Fighting of the Vermont Brigade — The Fifth sustains the heaviest loss in killed and wounded ever suffered by a Vermont regiment — Casualties of the Brigade — The retreat resumed — Affair at White Oak Swamp — Terrific Confederate cannonade — Firmness of the Vermont troops — The brigade at Malvern Hill — Terrible march to Harrison's Landing— Bivouac in the mud — Return to Fortress Monroe and to Alexandria

Chapter XIII.

The First Brigade, continued— The situation, September 1, 1862— The part of the Sixth corps in Pope's Campaign— The march into Maryland- Storming of Crampton's Gap— Brilliant action of the Fourth Vermont— The battle of Antietam— A quiet time at Hagerstown— Stuart's- second raid— Accession of the Twenty-Sixth New Jersey to the brigade— Retirement of General Brooks from the command— Return to Virginia- Changes of army, corps, division and brigade commanders— McClellan's farewell review— March to the Rappahannock— Burnside's bloody failure— Howe's division and the Vermont brigade at the First Fredericksburg — Casualties of the brigade — Winter quarters at White-Oak Church — Burnside's mud campaign and retirement from command

Chapter XIV.

The First brigade, continued — General Hooker in command of the army — Sedgwick succeeds Smith as commander of the Sixth corps— The new brigade commander. Colonel Grant— The Chancellorsville campaign - The Sixth corps crosses the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg — Storming of Marye's Heights — Brilliant part of the Vermont brigade— Salem, Heights and Bank's Ford — Details of the fighting of the Vermonters — The brigade covers the recrossing of the Sixth corps — Losses of the Vermont troops— Return to White Oak Church

Chapter XV.

The First brigade, continued — Preliminary movements of the Gettysburg- campaign — The Fifth Vermont crosses the Rappahannock and captures the Confederate pickets — The rest of the brigade foliows — Sharp skirmishing on the south bank— The march to the north — Meeting of the First and Second Vermont brigades —Hard marching in Maryland — "Put the Vermonters ahead and keep the column closed up." — General Meade succeeds Hooker — Arrival on the field of Gettysburg— Engagement at Funkstown — Recrossing the Potomac — The brigade goes to New York city to sustain the drafts — Return to and reception by the Sixth corps — Marching and counter marching — Battle of Rappahannock Station — The Mine Run campaign — Winter at Brandy Station

Chapter XVI.

The First brigade, continued — General U. S. Grant, Commander-in-Chief — Consolidation of the corps — Getty takes command of the division- Changes in the brigade — Review of he situation — Campaign of the Wilderness — The service of Getty's division — The part of the Vermont brigade — Terrific fighting — A thousand Vermonters killed and wounded the first day; two hundred the second day — Heavy losses of officers — March to Spottsylvania — The Vermonters cheered by the Sixth corps — Death of General Sedgwick — General Wright succeeds to command of corps — Fighting in the lines of Spottsylvania— Charge on the Salient — The struggle at the Bloody Angle— Losses of the Vermont regiments —The Eleventh regiment joins the brigade — Picket duty between the lines — Movement to the North Anna— March to Cold Harbor

Chapter XVII.

The First brigade, continued — Cold Harbor— Part taken by the brigade the first day- Assault of the second day — Gallant part of Stannard's brigade — Unsuccessful attack of the third day — The army in trenches — Exposures and sufferings of the troops — Movement of the army to the James — Investment of Petersburg — Movement of the Sixth and Second corps against the Weldon Railroad — Heavy loss of the brigade — Over 400 Vermonters captured — Over half of them die in rebel prisons — Expedition against the Danville and Lynchburg Railroad — Back again to Washington — Early's raid— The Sixth corps sent to meet him — President Lincoln wants to see the Vermont brigade — Engagement in front of Fort Stevens — Hard marching in Maryland and Virginia — First sight of the Shenandoah Valley — Return to Washington — A hot day at Harper's Ferry and march to Frederick, Md. — Results of Halleck's strategy in chasing cavalry with infantry — Change of commanders- Sketch of General Sheridan — Return of the Sixth corps to the Valley

Chapter XVIII.

The First Brigade, continued — Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley — Strength and situation of the opposing armies — Movement to the South — Early reinforced — Sheridan retires down the Valley — Engagement at Charlestown — The Vermont brigade holds the skirmish line against a Confederate division — Casualties in the Vermont regiments — Reconnoissance to Gilbert's Ford — Visit from General Grant — The battle of the Opequon — Part of the Vermont brigade — The grand charge upon Winchester— Losses of the brigade — Battle of Fisher's Hill — Colonel Warner carries Flint's Hill — Crook's flank movement — Charge of Getty's and Ricketts's divisions, and flight of Early — Three weeks of marching and manoeuvring — The Sixth corps starts for Washington but returns to Cedar Creek — Battle of Cedar Creek — The surprise in the morning — Gallant stand of Colonel Thomas and the Eighth Vermont — Action of the Tenth Vermont— The part of Getty's division and the Vermont brigade — Arrival of Sheridan — The grand advance of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, and final charge of the cavalry — Casualties of the Vermont brigade — Close of the campaign — Voting for President — A month of rest at Kernstown — Departure from the Valley.

Chapter XIX.

The First Brigade, concluded— Return to Petersburg— The Winter of 1864-5 in the Trenches — Capture of the Enemy's Intrenched Picket Line by the Sixth, Corps— Action and Casualties of the Vermont Brigade — Arduous Picket Duty— The Final Grand Assault — The Vermont Brigade heads the Entering Wedge of the Sixth Corps — The Vermonters :storm the Works in their Front, capture Nineteen Guns and Many Prisoners, and push in to Lee's Headquarters — The Sixth corps takes Three miles of Works — Casualties of the Vermont Regiments — Fall of Richmond and Closing Scenes of the War — Pursuit of Lee — Last Skirmish at Sailor's Creek — The Surrender at Appomattox — Last Marches and Reviews of the Brigade — General Grant's Farewell Address— The Final Muster Out.

Chapter XX.

Final Statement of the First Brigade — Some suggestive statistics — Testimony of its commanders to the quality of the troops of the Brigade. —

End of Vol. I. 617

Volume 2

Chapter XXI.

The Seventh Regiment — Organization— Departure for the Gulf — At Ship Island — At Carrollton — At Baton Rouge — At Vicksburg — Battle of Baton Rouge — Butler's censure — Action of the Vermont Legislature — Court of Inquiry; its action reviewed — Return to Carrollton — At Pensacola, Santa Rosa Island, Fort Pickens and Barrancas — Re-enlistment — Gonzales Station and Mariana — Mobile campaign — Spanish Fort — Whistler — On the Rio Grande— Muster out and Final Statement

Chapter XXII.

The Eighth Regiment — Organization — Departure for the Gulf — At Ship Island — At New Orleans — At Algiers — Raceland, Boutte Station and Bayou des Allemands — Brashear City — Assigned to the Nineteenth Corps — Steamer Cotton — Bisland — Red River Campaign — Siege of Port Hudson — Back to the Teche — Re-enlistment— Return to New Orleans— Under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley— The Opequon— Fisher's Hill — Cedar Creek— Return Home — Muster Out and Final Statement

Chapter XXIII.

The Ninth Regiment — Organization — Departure for the War — At Harper's Ferry— Chicago — Back to the Field — Suffolk— Yorktown — Newport, N. C. — Battle of Newport Barracks — New Berne — Before Richmond — Bailey's Cross Roads — Battle of Chapin's Farm — Fort Harrison and Battery Morris— Fair Oaks— Competitive Inspections— Fall of Richmond — Return Home and Final Statement

Chapter XXIV.

The Tenth Regiment — Organization — Departure for the Field — In the Defenses of Washington— Joins the Third Corps — Campaign of 1863 — Mine Run Campaign and Orange Grove — Joins the Sixth Corps — Overland Campaign of 1864 — Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor — Petersburg — Weldon Railroad — Battle of the Monocacy — In the Shenandoah Valley — Battles of Opequon, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek — Fall of Petersburg — Pursuit of Lee— Sailor's Creek — March to Danville, Va. — Return Home— Muster Out and Final Statement

Chapter XXV.

The Eleventh Regiment— Organization— Duty in Defenses of Washington —Changed to Heavy Artillery — Service in the Forts— Joins Sixth Corps— Spottsylvania— Cold Harbor— Petersburg— Weldon Railroad — Prison Experiences and Escapes — The Shenandoah Campaign — Charlestown, Va.—Opequon— Fisher's Hill— Cedar Creek— Return to Petersburg— Fall of Petersburg— Muster Out and Return Home— Men who died in Prison — Final Statement

Chapter XXVI.

Organizations of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments — Departure for Washington — Organization of the Second Vermont Brigade— Duty in the Defenses of Washington — Fairfax Court House — Winter Quarters at Fairfax Station and Wolf Run Shoals — Capture of General Stoughton — General Stannard assumes Command — Spring Campaign of 1863 — Guarding the Orange and Alexandria Railroad — Mosby Joins the Army of the Potomac — March to Gettysburg — Battle of Gettysburg — Pursuit of Lee — Departure for Home — Musters Out and Final Statements

Chapter XXVII.

The Seventeenth Regiment — Organization — Departure for the Field — Assigned to the Ninth Army Corps — The Wilderness — Spottsylvania — Totopotomoy — Cold Harbor — Petersburg — Battle of the Mine — Poplar Spring Church — Winter in Fort Davis — Fall of Petersburg — Pursuit of Lee — Muster Out and Final Statement

Chapter XXVIII.

The First Cavalry Regiment — Organization — At Annapolis — In the Shenandoah Valley — Death of Colonel Holliday — Banks's Retreat — Orange Court House — Second Bull Run — Ashby's Gap — Outpost Duty and Troubles with Mosby — The Gettysburg Campaign — Hanover — Gettysburg — Hagerstown and Boonsboro — Return to Virginia — Culpeper, Brandy Station and Buckland Mills — Kilpatrick's Raid — The Wilderness Campaign — Craig's Church and Spottsylvania — Sheridan's Raid — Yellow Tavern— Ashland — Hawes's Shop and death of Colonel Preston — Wilson's Raid — Stony Creek and Ream's Station — In the Shenandoah Valley — The Opequon — Tom's Brook— Cedar Creek — Skirmishes in the Valley — Spring Campaign of 1865— Waynesboro— Five Forks — Appomattox — Return Home — The Frontier Cavalry — Final Statements

Chapter XXIX.

The First Battery — Organization — At Ship Island — At Carrollton — Assigned to the Nineteenth Corps — Plain's Store — Siege of Port Hudson — At Brashear City— Red River Campaign — Pleasant Hill — Monette's Bluff —Yellow Bayou— Sabine Pass— At Morganzia — Muster Out and Return Home. The Second Battery — Organization — At Ship Island — Occupation of New Orleans — Attached to the Nineteenth Corps — Plain's Store — Siege of Port Hudson — Jackson, La. — At Port Hudson — Muster Out and Return Home. The Third Battery — Organization — Attached to Ninth Corps — Wilderness Campaign — Service in front of Petersburg — The Mine — In Fort Sedgwick — Joins Sixth Corps — At City Point — At Fort Fisher — Fall of Petersburg, and Capture of Forts Gregg and Whitworth — Return Home and Muster Out

Chapter XXX.

Company F, First U. S. Sharpshooters — Organization— Camp of Instruction — The Peninsula Campaign: Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill and Malvern Hill — Second Bull Run- Fredericksburg — Chancellorsville — Gettysburg — Kelly's Ford — Mine Run -Wilderness — Spottsylvania— Cold Harbor — Siege of Petersburg— Weldon Railroad — Assigned to Fourth Vermont — Final Statement. Companies E and H, Second U. S. Sharpshooters — Organization — Camp of Instruction — March to Falmouth — Pope's Campaign: Rappahannock Station; Second Bull Run — South Mountain — Fredericksburg — Chancellorsville — Gettysburg — Kelly's Ford and Brandy Station — Mine Run Campaign — The Wilderness Campaign — Totopotomoy and Cold Harbor — Siege of Petersburg — Deep Bottom— Boydton Road — Close or Service — Final Statements

Chapter XXXI.

The Staff — Vermonters in other than Vermont Organizations — Comparative, Exhibit of Deaths in Action and from all Causes

Chapter XXXII.

Service of Vermonters in the Navy — List of Vermonters holding Commissions in the Navy — Conclusion

Errata

• Errata for Vol.1 and Vol.2 is in Volume 2, page 802

• No other errors in this publication have been identified. When found, please list the problem(s) here, and include a link to a source that describes the problem.

WikiTree Syntax

• ''[[Space: Vermont in the Civil War| Vermont in the Civil War]]'' Burlington,Vermont, 1886, Vol. , [ Page ].

• <ref>[[#Benedict|Vermont in the Civil War]]</ref>