The regiment rendezvoused at St. Johnsbury,[1] on the ground of the Caledonia County Agricultural Society at "Camp Baxter,"[note 3] named in honor of Adjutant and Inspector General H. Henry Baxter. The regiment mustered into United States service on July 16, 1861,[note 4] and departed for Washington, D.C., on July 24,[3] under the temporary command of Lieutenant Colonel Breed N. Hyde. At Hartford, Connecticut, the regiment's commander, Colonel William Farrar Smith,[note 5] joined them.
Major Walter W. Cochran, of Bellows Falls, resigned his commission on August 6 due to a severe attack of fever and ague. Captain Wheelock G. Veazey, of Company A, replaced him. On August 13, Colonel Smith was appointed brigadier general of volunteers, and Hyde replaced him, now as a full colonel. Veazey was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and Captain Thomas O. Seaver, of Company F, was promoted to major.[1]
It was also here that Private William Scott, known to history as the Sleeping Sentinel,[6] was found asleep at his post on August 31, court-martialed, and sentenced to be executed. President Lincoln heard about the case, pardoned Scott, and returned him to his unit. William Scott was actually standing before a firing squad when the death sentence and pardon were both read, however no one had told him that he had been pardoned prior to being sent to the firing squad.
On September 3, the units crossed the Chain Bridge, and occupied "Camp Advance," 1 mile (1.6km) in advance of the bridge. On September 9, Private Scott was scheduled to be executed, but during the proceedings, after the death sentence had been read, a pardon was read, sparing his life. In 1997, the original court-martial and pardon papers were discovered, and authenticated, bringing to an end the controversy over whether President Lincoln had personally signed the pardon, which it turned out he did.[7][8] Scott served faithfully with his regiment until the Battle at Lee's Mill, where he was mortally wounded, and was buried in the national cemetery at Yorktown.
On September 11, the regiment participated in a reconnaissance to and beyond Lewinsville, Virginia, where it engaged Confederate skirmishers. Returning to the camp, the regiment came under fire from Rosser's battery. A shell fell within the ranks of Company C, killing Private Amos Meserve, mortally wounding William H. Colburn, and injuring five others. On September 25, the regiment participated in another reconnaissance to Lewinsville, but suffered no casualties. Quartermaster Redfield Proctor resigned from the regiment on this date to accept appointment as Major of the 5th Vermont Infantry.[9]
During the next two weeks, the 4th and 5th Vermont regiments joined Smith's division. On October 9, the Vermont regiments moved to Camp Griffin, about four miles from Chain Bridge. Here, on October 24, the 6th Vermont Infantry arrived, completing the initial organization of the "Old Vermont Brigade."
The history of the regiment from this point on is essentially that of the Vermont Brigade.[10]
The original members of the regiment, who did not reenlist, were mustered out of the service on July 27, 1864. Veterans and recruits were consolidated into six companies, July 25, 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 11.
Hawkins, Gardner C., 1st Lieutenant, Co. E, "when the lines were wavering from the well-directed fire of the enemy, this officer, acting adjutant of the regiment, sprang forward, and with encouraging words cheered the soldiers on and, although dangerously wounded, refused to leave the field until the enemy's works were taken," at the Third Battle of Petersburg, on April 2, 1865.
Johnston, Willie, Musician Company D, 3rd Vermont Infantry The second Medal of Honor ever awarded.
Pingree, Samuel E., Captain, Co. F, "gallantly led his Co. across a wide, deep creek, drove the enemy from the rifle pits, which were within 2 yards of the farther bank, and remained at the head of his men until a second time severely wounded," at the Battle at Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862.
Scott, Julian A., Drummer, Co. E, "crossed the creek under a terrific fire of musketry several times to assist in bringing off the wounded," at the Battle at Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862.
Seaver, Thomas O., Colonel, while "at the head of 3 regiments and under a most galling fire, attacked and occupied the enemy's works," at the Battle of Spotsylvania, May 10, 1864.
Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties
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 13, 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 July 11, 1865.
Casualties/Discharges/Promotions
During the course of the war, a total of 1,809 men served in the 3rd Vermont Infantry with 881 original recruits and 928 gains from recruiting and transfer.[23] Of that number, the unit lost during its term of service: 196 men were killed and mortally wounded,[note 7] 3 died from accident, 11 died in Confederate prisons, and 152 died from disease; for a total loss of 362 men.[24] The 3rd also had 11 men promoted and transferred to other regiments, 474 honorably discharged, 12 dishonorably discharged, 261 deserted, 9 finally unaccounted for, 101 Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps and other organizations; combined with deaths this meant the regiment lost 868 of their number.[25] During its existence, the regiment had 579 men mustered out at various times, had 428 men wounded but survived to the end of the war, and 78 men were taken as POWs by the Rebels.[25]
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.
John Thomas Wilder was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, noted principally for capturing the critical mountain pass of Hoover's Gap during the Tullahoma Campaign in Central Tennessee in June 1863. Wilder had personally ensured that his "Lightning Brigade" of mounted infantry was equipped with the new Spencer repeating rifle. However, Wilder initially had to appeal to his men to pay for these weapons themselves before the government agreed to carry the cost. The victory at Hoover's Gap was attributed largely to Wilder's persistence in procuring the new rifles, which disoriented the enemy.
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.
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.
The 11th Maine Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
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.
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.
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.
The 91st Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 91st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It primarily served in what became West Virginia and in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
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.
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.
The 13th Maine Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment spent 1862–1864 in the Department of the Gulf and finished the war with the Army of the Shenandoah. During its service, it survived a hurricane off the Carolinas en route the Gulf of Mexico, manned the forts guarding the Mississippi Delta, invaded Texas at the Rio Grande and along the coast, fought in Banks' ill-fated Red River Campaign in Louisiana, manned Washington, D.C., defenses, and provided rear-area security for the Shenandoah Valley campaign in 1864 south of Harpers Ferry.
Abraham Greenawalt was a soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He earned the Medal of Honor for the capture of a Confederate corps headquarters flag at the Second Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, on November 30, 1864.
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.
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.
References
Footnotes
↑ Phelps, born in Guilford, Vermont, a member of the West Point class of 1836, was an artilleryman who had served in the Seminole Wars in Florida, the Mexican–American War, and spent 1857–1859 with the Mormon Expedition. He resigned from the army in 1859 after 23 years. At the beginning of the Civil War, he lived in Brattleboro and he wrote forceful articles pointing out the danger of the constantly increasing political influence of the slave states. For more information, see his Wikipedia article.
↑ This property was the county fairgrounds just south of the town.[2]
↑ Because the 3rd took longer to organize and fill out, it did not missed the Battle of First Bull Run unlike its future brigade mates.[2]
↑ Smith, known to his friends as "Baldy", was born at St. Albans, Vermont and graduated fourth of 41 the West Point class of 1845. Smith was appointed to the Topographical Engineers Corps. His service in the war would be noted for the extremes of glory and blame, notably success in the Peninsula, Maryland, and Chattanooga campaigns and failure at Fredricksburg and Petersburg. For more information, see his Wikipedia article.
U.S. War Department (1880). Operations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Apr 16-Jul 31, 1861. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol.II–VIX. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/coo.31924077730186. OCLC857196196.
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U.S. War Department (1886). Supplement. 1886; Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Mar 17-Sep 2, 1862. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol.XII-XXIV-III. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/coo.31924079893701. OCLC427057.
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U.S. War Department (1887). Reports, September 20-November 14, 1862; Correspondence, etc., Sept 3-Nov. 14, 1862. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol.XIX-XXXI-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/coo.31924080772233. OCLC857196196.
U.S. War Department (1889). Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. November 15, 1862 - January 25, 1863. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol.XXI–XXXIII. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/coo.31924077723017. OCLC857196196.
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U.S. War Department (1889). Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 26-June 3, 1863 - Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol.XXV-XXXVII-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. hdl:2027/coo.31924077723017. OCLC857196196.
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Allen, Richard Sanders (March 1961) [1961], "The Sleeping Sentinel: Most Famous Private of the War", Vermont Life, XV (3): 51–2
Jeffrey, Nellie T (1959), The Story of William Scott the Sleeping Sentinel, Groton, VT: Groton Public Library
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