2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment

Last updated
2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment
Flag of Vermont (1837-1923).svg
Flag of Vermont, 1837–1923
ActiveJune 20, 1861 to July 15, 1865
DisbandedJuly 15, 1865
Allegiance
Branch
Type Infantry
Size1,811
Engagements
Commanders
Colonel Henry Whiting
Insignia
2nd Brigade (Vermont Brigade), 2nd Division, VI Corps (Union Army), Army of the Potomac/Army of the Shenandoah (Union) VIcorpsbadge2.png

The 2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from June 1861 to July 1865. It was a member of the famous Vermont Brigade.

Contents

History

In July 1861, the United States Congress authorized President Abraham Lincoln to call out 500,000 men, to serve for three years unless sooner discharged. The 2nd Vermont Infantry was the first of the three years regiments from the state placed in the field as a result of this call, and it served longer in the service than all but one other Vermont unit, the 7th Vermont Infantry. It was organized from militia companies from Brattleboro, Burlington, Castleton, Fletcher, Ludlow, Montpelier, Tunbridge, Vergennes and Waterbury. [1]

The colonelcy of the regiment was initially offered to Israel B. Richardson, a native of Vermont, but he had just accepted command of the 1st Michigan Infantry. Richardson recommended a classmate from the United States Military Academy, Henry H. Whiting, and he was commissioned by Governor Erastus Fairbanks on June 6, 1861. [1] George J. Stannard, of St. Albans, was appointed lieutenant colonel, and Charles H. Joyce, a young lawyer from Northfield, was appointed major.

The regiment rendezvoused at Burlington, [2] and was mustered into United States service on June 20. [1] Four days later, the regiment left for Washington, D.C., arriving on June 26. It was initially brigaded with three Maine regiments under command of Colonel Oliver O. Howard. On July 21, the brigade participated in the First Battle of Bull Run. [3] The regiment suffered 68 casualties: 2 killed, 35 wounded and 31 missing. [4]

August 12, 1861, the regiment transferred to Chain Bridge, [5] where it went into camp with the 3rd Vermont Infantry, 6th Maine Infantry and 33rd New York Infantry. In September, the 4th, 5th and 6th Vermont regiments joined with the 2nd and 3rd to form the famous "Old Vermont Brigade," under the command of newly promoted Brigadier General William Farrar Smith, previously commander of the 3rd Vermont Infantry. [6] Smith was soon assigned command of the division of which the Vermont Brigade was a part, and William T. H. Brooks, a native of Ohio, but the son of a Vermonter, assumed command. [2] [7]

The history of the regiment from this point on is essentially that of the Vermont Brigade, except for numerous personnel changes.

Colonel Whiting resigned on February 9, 1863, and was replaced by James H. Walbridge, who commanded the regiment until he resigned on April 1, 1864. [8] He was replaced by Newton Stone, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Wilderness, on May 5, 1864. His replacement, John S. Tyler, had been wounded on May 5, and died of his wounds on May 23. Amasa Tracy, his replacement, commanded the regiment until it was disbanded. [2]

Lieutenant Colonel George J. Stannard was promoted to the colonelcy of the 9th Vermont Infantry on May 21, 1862, and later commanded the 2nd Vermont Brigade, which garnered honors for its participation in the repulse of Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. [2]

The original members of the regiment, who did not reenlist, were mustered out of the service on June 29, 1864. One year recruits and others whose term of service was due to expire prior to October 1, 1865, were mustered out on June 19, 1865. The remaining officers and men mustered out of service on July 15. [2]

Regimental staff

2nd Vermont Infantry Regimental Commanders and Field Staff [9]

Commanders

Lieutenant Colonels

Majors

Adjutants

Quartermasters

Surgeons

Assistant-Surgeons

Chaplains

Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties

Organizational affiliation

Its assignments are as follows: [10]

List of battles

The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part: [11] [12]

Detailed Service

The 2nd Vermont's detailed service is as follows [17]

1861

  • Left state for Washington DC, July 24
  • Arrived in Washington, July 26
  • Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21
  • Battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21
  • Scout to Great Falls August 20-25
  • Skirmish near Lewinsville September 11 (Cos. "A" and "F.")
  • Reconnaissance to Lewinsville September 23 (Cos. "A" and "F")
  • Expedition to Munson's Hill September 28
  • Reconnaissance to Vienna October 17
  • Reconnaissance to Peacock Hill November 9
  • Duty in the Defences of Washington till March, 1862.

1862

  • Moved to Alexandria, VA, March 10, 1862
  • Moved to Fortress Monroe VA, March 23-24.
  • Action at Young's Mill April 4.
  • Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4.
  • Lee's Mills April 16.
  • Battle of Williamsburg May 5.
  • Seven Days before Richmond June 25-July 1.
    • Garnett's Farm June 27.
    • Savage Station June 29.
    • White Oak Swamp Bridge June 30.
    • Malvern Hill July 1.
  • At Harrison's Landing till August 16.
  • Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-24.
  • Maryland Campaign September-October 1862.
    • Crampton's Pass September 14.
    • Battle of Antietam September 16-17.
  • At Hagerstown, MD, September 26 to October 29.
  • Movement to Falmouth, VA October 29-November 19.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15.

1863

  • Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863.
  • Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6.
    • Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 6.
    • Maryes Heights,Fredericksburg. May 3.
    • Salem Heights May 3-4.
    • Banks' Ford May 4.
  • Franklin's Crossing June 5-13.
  • Battle of Gettysburg. Pa., July 2-4.
  • Funkstown, Md., July 10-13.
  • Ordered to New York City August 14, and duty there util September 13.
  • Moved to Alexandria, thence to Fairfax Court House September 13-17
  • Moved to Culpeper Courthouse September 22.
  • Bristoe Campaign October 9-22.
  • Advance to the Rappahannock November 7-8.
    • Rappahannock Station November 7
  • Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.

1864

  • Overland Campaign May 3 – June 15.
  • Moved to Washington, D. C., July 9-11
  • Repulse of Early's attack on Fort Stevens July 11-12
  • Non-veterans mustered out July 27, 1864.
  • Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28
    • Near Charlestown August 21-22
    • Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19
    • Fisher's Hill September 22
    • Battle of Cedar Creek October 19
  • At Strasburg to November 9
  • At Kernstown till December 9
  • Moved to Petersburg, December 9-12.

1865

  • Siege of Petersburg December 12, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Fort Fisher, before Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Sailor's Creek April 6.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.
  • At Farmville and Burkesville Junction till April 23.
  • March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there till May 18.
  • Moved to Manchester May 18, thence marched to Washington, D. C, May 24-June 2.
  • Corps Review June 8.
  • Mustered out June 29, 1865.

Casualties/Discharges/Promotions

During the course of the war, a total of 1,858 men served in the 3rd Vermont Infantry with 866 original recruits and 992 gains from recruiting and transfer. [18] [19] Of that number, the unit lost during its term of service: 223 men were killed and mortally wounded, [note 1] 3 died from accident, 22 died in Confederate prisons, 1 executed, and 136 died from disease; for a total loss of 385 men. [21] The 3rd also had 8 men promoted and transferred to other regiments, 446 honorably discharged, 24 dishonorably discharged, 170 deserted, 5 finally unaccounted for, 120 Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps and other organizations; combined with deaths this meant the regiment lost 773 of their number. [22]

Medal of Honor

Five members of the regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Sheridan</span> United States Army general (1831–1888)

Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with General-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant, who transferred Sheridan from command of an infantry division in the Western Theater to lead the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac in the East. In 1864, he defeated Confederate forces under General Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley and his destruction of the economic infrastructure of the Valley, called "The Burning" by residents, was one of the first uses of scorched-earth tactics in the war. In 1865, his cavalry pursued Gen. Robert E. Lee and was instrumental in forcing his surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

The 14th Indiana Infantry Regiment, called "The Gallant Fourteenth," was an infantry regiment and part of the Union Army's celebrated "Gibraltar Brigade" during the American Civil War. Mustered on June 7, 1861, it was the state's first regiment organized for three years' service. The 14th Indiana served in many major campaigns and battles mostly in the Eastern Theater. During its three years of service, the regiment had a total of 222 casualties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three-years infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from July 1861 to July 1865. It was a member of the Vermont Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Vermont Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 4th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three year' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 1861 to July 1865. It was a member of the Vermont Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Thomas (Medal of Honor)</span> American Medal of Honor recipient and politician

Stephen Thomas, manufacturer, politician, jurist, and Union Army officer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for gallantry.

The 11th Maine Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Vermont Infantry Regiment</span> American Civil War Union Army unit

The 5th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at St. Albans and mustered in September 16, 1861, it served in the Army of the Potomac (AoP). It departed Vermont for Washington, DC, September 23, 1861.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Vermont Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 6th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Montpelier and mustered in October 15, it served in the Army of the Potomac (AoP). It departed Vermont for Washington, DC, October 19, 1861. It served in the Eastern Theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, AoP, from October 1861 to June 1865. It was a part of the Vermont Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Vermont Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 9th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, from July 1862 to December 1865. It served in the VII, XVII and XXIV Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Michigan Sharpshooters Regiment</span> Military unit

The 1st Michigan Sharpshooters Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army's Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th New York Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 7th New York Infantry Regiment, later reorganized at the 7th Veteran Infantry Regiment, was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was composed almost entirely of German immigrants and is also known as the Steuben Guard or the Steuben Regiment. It should not be confused with the 7th New York Militia, an entirely different regiment whose service overlapped with the 7th New York Volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">72nd Indiana Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 72nd Indiana Infantry Regiment, also known as 72nd Indiana Mounted Infantry Regiment, was an infantry and mounted infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served as mounted infantry from March 17, 1863, to November 1, 1864, notably as part of the Lightning Brigade. during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga Campaigns.

The 67th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 83rd Indiana Infantry Regiment, sometimes called 83rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 18th United States Colored Infantry Regiment was an African-American infantry regiment, raised in the state of Missouri, which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">37th New York Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 37th New York Infantry Regiment or the Irish Rifles was formed accepted by the State on May 25, 1861, and organized in New York City. The regiment mustered in the service of the United States on June 6 and 7, 1861 for two years of service to June 22, 1863.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">39th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 39th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the Bureau of Colored Troops which was created by the United States War Department on May 22, 1863.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th New York Cavalry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 6th New York Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 6th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry and nicknamed the "2nd Ira Harris Guards", was a cavalry regiment of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The majority of its fighting was in Virginia as part of the Army of the Potomac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th New York Engineer Regiment</span> Military unit

The 15th New York Engineer Regiment was an engineer regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was initially raised as the 15th Volunteer Infantry, but was converted to an engineer regiment after it arrived in Washington DC. It served as an engineer unit for the Army of the Potomac (AoP) from the Peninsula campaign through the Appomattox Campaign.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 139 KIA, 84 Mortally wounded [20]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Adjutant General (1892), p. 27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Dyer (1908), p. 233.
  3. ↑ Benedict (1886), p. 69-72, Vol. I.
  4. ↑ U.S. War Dept., Official Records, Vol. 19/2, p. 208.
  5. ↑ Crockett (1921), p. 514, Vol. III.
  6. 1 2 3 Crockett (1921), p. 510-512, Vol. III.
  7. ↑ Benedict (1886).
  8. ↑ Benedict (1886), p. 105-106, Vol. I.
  9. ↑ Adjutant General (1892), p. 30-31, Vol. VI.
  10. ↑ Dyer (1908), p. 1649; Federal Publishing Company (1908), p. 108; Benedict (1886), p. 62-97.
  11. ↑ Dyer (1908), pp. 1649–1650; Federal Publishing Company (1908), p. 108-109; Benedict (1886), pp. 62–97.
  12. ↑ NPS 2nd Regiment, Vermont Infantry (2007).
  13. ↑ U.S. War Dept., Official Records, Vol. 11/1, p. 157.
  14. ↑ Benedict (1886), p. 142-143, Vol. I.
  15. 1 2 Benedict (1886), p. 144, Vol. I.
  16. ↑ Coffin (2002), p. 104.
  17. ↑ Dyer (1908), pp. 1649–1650; Federal Publishing Company (1908).
  18. ↑ Adjutant General (1892), p. 66, Vol. VI.
  19. ↑ Fox (1889), p. 147.
  20. ↑ Fox (1889), p. 116.
  21. ↑ Dyer (1908), p. 1650; Federal Publishing Company (1908), p. 109; Fox (1889), p. 116.
  22. ↑ Benedict (1886), pp. 96–97.
  23. ↑ CMoHS, Dayton P Clarke (2024).
  24. ↑ VCOnline, Dayton P Clarke (2022).
  25. ↑ CMoHS, Ephraim W Harrington (2024).
  26. ↑ VCOnline, Ephraim W Harrington (2022).
  27. ↑ CMoHS, William Wallace Noyes (2022).
  28. ↑ VCOnline, William Wallace Noyes (2024).
  29. ↑ CMoHS, Augustus J Robbins (2022).
  30. ↑ VCOnline, Augustus J Robbins (2024).
  31. ↑ Zeller (2002), p. 193.
  32. ↑ CMoHS, Amasa Sawyer Tracy 2022.
  33. ↑ VCOnline, Amasa Sawyer Tracy 2023.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.