2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment

2nd Vermont Infantry Regiment
Flag of Vermont, 1837–1923
Active	June 20, 1861 to July 15, 1865
Disbanded	July 15, 1865
Allegiance	United States Union
Branch	United States Army Union Army
Type	Infantry
Size	1,811
Engagements	First Battle of Bull Run Battle of Williamsburg Battle of Savage's Station Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Salem Church Battle of Gettysburg Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Battle of Cold Harbor Third Battle of Winchester Battle of Cedar Creek
Commanders
Colonel	Henry Whiting
Insignia
2nd Brigade (Vermont Brigade), 2nd Division, VI Corps (Union Army), Army of the Potomac/Army of the Shenandoah (Union)

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.

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.

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. 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, and was mustered into United States service on June 20. 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. The regiment suffered 68 casualties: 2 killed, 35 wounded and 31 missing.

August 12, 1861, the regiment transferred to Chain Bridge, 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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Regimental staff

2nd Vermont Infantry Regimental Commanders and Field Staff

Rank or Position	Name	Residence	Remarks
Colonel	Henry Whiting	St. Clair, MI.	Comissioned Colonel. June 6th, 1861. Resigned Febuary 9th, 1863.
	James H. Walbridge	Bennington, VT.	Commisioned Captain Co. A, promoted to Major, May 21, 1862, to Lt. Col. January 8th, 1863, Resigned April 1st, 1864.
	Newton Stone	Bennington, VT.	Commisioned 1st Lt. Co. A, promoted Capt. Co. I, January 22nd, 1862, to Major January 8th, 1863, to Lt. Col. Febuary 9th, 1863, Killed in action May 5th, 1864.
	John S. Tyler	Brattleboro, VT.	Commisioned 1st Lt. Co. C, promoted Capt. Co. C, January 23rd, 1862, to Major Febuary 9th, 1863, to Lt. Col. april 2nd, 1864, Died of wounds May 23rd 1864, received in battle may 5th 1864.
	Amasa Tracy	Middlebury, VT.	Commisioned 1st Lt. Co. K, promoted Capt. Co. H, January 24th, 1862, to Major April 2nd, 1864, to Lt. Col. June 17th 1864, Brevveted Col. April 2nd 1865 for gallantry at pettersburg VA. wounded in action May 3rd, 1863, and October 19th , 1864. Mustered out July 15th 1865.
Lieutenant Colonel	George J. Stannard	St. Albans, VT.	Comissioned Lieutenant Colonel June 6th, 1861, promoted to Col. of the 9th Vermont Infantry May 21, 1862.
	Charles H. Joyce	Northfield, VT.	Commisioned Major June 6th, 1861, resigned January 6th, 1863.
	Newton Stone		(See Colonel)
	John S. Tyler		(See Colonel)
	Amasa S. Tracy		(See Colonel)
	Enoch E. Johnson	Castleton, VT.	Commisioned 2nd Lt. Co. B, promoted 1st Lt. Co. B, September 2nd, 1861, to Capt. Co. D. January 25th, 1862, to Major, June 17th, 1864, Brevetted Lt. Col. October 19th, 1864 for gallantry in al the actions since Battle of Cold Harbor, and especially at Battle of Cedar Creek, Mustered out July 15th 1865.
Major	Charles H. Joyce		(See Lieutenant Colonel)
	Newton Stone		(See Colonel)
	John S. Tyler		(See Colonel)
	Amasa S. Tracy		(See Colonel)
	Erastus G. Ballou	Boston, MA.	Enlisted 1st Sergeant Co. I, May 7th 1861 , promoted to Sergt.-Maj. Oct, 14th 1861, Commissioned 1st Lt. Co. K, January 27th, 1862, promoted to Capt. Co. K. August 4th, 1862, Brevetted Major, August 1st, 1864, for gallantry in the Battle of the Wilderness and subsequent engagements, Wounded May 3rd, 1863, July 10th, 1863, May 5th, 1864, and April 2nd, 1865. Mustered out July 15th, 1865
Adjutants	Guilford S. Ladd	Bennington, VT.	Comissioned June 11th 1861, Resigned July 17th, 1862.
	Francis M. Edgerton	Poultney, VT.	Enlisted Sergeant Co.B, May 9th, 1861, Comissioned 2nd Liutenant Co. F. January 25th, 1862, Mustered out June 29th, 1864.
	Orman P. Ray	Essex, VT.	Enlisted Private Co. G August 30th, 1862, Promoted Sergt-Maj. November, 1st 1864, Comissioned December 24th, 1864 Mustered out June 19th 1865
Quartermasters	Perley P. Pitkin	Montpelier, VT.	Comissioned June 6th, 1861, Promoted Captain and Assistant Quartermaster of U.S. Volunteers Febuary 19th, 1862.
	Lauriston L. Stone.	Stowe, VT.	Enlisted Commisary-Sergeant. June 6th, 1861, Promoted Q.M.-Sergt. Comissioned April 3rd, 1862. Taken prisoner October, 26th, 1863, pardoned December 10th, 1864. Mustered out April 16th, 1865.
Surgeons	Newton H. Ballou	Burlington, VT.	Comissioned June 11th, 1861, Resigned December 18th, 1862.
	William J. Sawin	Chicopee Falls, MA.	Transfered from 10th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment as Priv. to Co. E. 3rd Vermont Infantry Regiment, Promoted Asst.-Surg. in the 2nd VT Regt. June 21st, 1862. Wounded and taken prisoner June 29th, 1862. Pardoned July 22nd, 1862. Comissioned December 18th, 1862. Mustered out June 19th, 1864
	Melvin J. Hyde	Isla La Mott, VT.	Comissioned Assistant-Surgeon August 1st, 1864. Mustered out July 15th, 1865
Assistant-Surgeons.	Benj'n W. Carpenter	Burlington, VT.	Comissioned June 11th, 1861, promoted Surg. 9th Regt. VT. Vols. June 21, 1862.
	William J. Sawin		(See Surgeon)
	Augustus A. Atwood	Sharon, VT.	Comissioned Assistant-Surgeon September 22nd, 1862. Resigned June 25th, 1863.
	Luman A. Noyes	Tunbridge, VT.	Comissioned Assistant-Surgeon April 14th, 1863. Resigned May 27th, 1863.
	Melvin J. Hyde		(See Surgeon)
	Edwin R. Brush	Cambridge, VT.	Drafted Private Co. H July 17th, 1863, Comissioned Asst.-Surg. October 15th, 1863. Mustered out July 15th, 1865
Chaplains	Claudius B. Smith	Brandon, VT.	Comissioned Chaplain June 6th, 1861. Resigned July 8th, 1862.
	Durrell W. Dayton	Middlebury, VT.	Comissioned Chaplain August 18th, 1862. Resigned January 6th, 1863.

Medal of Honor

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

• Captain Dayton P. Clarke, Company F, was credited with "distinguished conduct in a desperate hand-to-hand fight while commanding the regiment," at the Battle of Spotsylvania, on May 12, 1864.
• Sergeant Ephraim W. Harrington, Company G, "carried the colors to the top of the heights and almost to the muzzle of the enemy's guns," at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg, on May 3, 1863.
• Private William W. Noyes, Company F, "standing upon the top of the breastworks, [he] deliberately took aim and fired no less than 15 shots into the enemy's lines, but a few yards away," at Spotsylvania, on May 12, 1864.
• 2nd Lieutenant Augustus J. Robbins, Company B, "while voluntarily serving as a staff officer successfully withdrew a regiment across and around a severely exposed position to the rest of the command; was severely wounded," at Spotsylvania, on May 12, 1864.
• Lieutenant Colonel Amasa S. Tracy, serving with Lieutenant H. E. Farrel "took command of and led the brigade in the assault on the enemy's works," at the Battle of Cedar Creek, on October 19, 1864.

Engagements

ENGAGEMENTS
Battle of First Bull Run	July 21, 1861
Battle of Warwick Creek	April 6, 1862
Battle at Lee's Mills	April 16, 1862
Battle of Williamsburg	May 5, 1862
Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm	June 26, 1862
Battle of Savage's Station	June 29, 1862
Battle of White Oak Swamp	June 30, 1862
Battle of Crampton's Gap	September 14, 1862
Battle of Antietam	September 17, 1862
Battle of Fredericksburg	December 13, 1862
Battle of Marye's Heights	May 3, 1863
Battle of Salem Church	May 4, 1863
Second Battle of Fredericksburg	June 5, 1863
Battle of Gettysburg	July 3, 1863
Battle of Funkstown	July 10, 1863
Second Battle of Rappahannock Station	November 7, 1863
Battle of the Wilderness	May 5–10, 1864
Battle of Spotsylvania	May 10–18, 1864
Battle of Cold Harbor	June 1–12, 1864
Second Battle of Petersburg	June 18, 1864
Battle of Reams' Station	June 29, 1864
Fort Stevens (Washington, D.C.)	July 11, 1864
Battle of Charlestown	August 21, 1864
Battle of Opequon (Gilbert's Ford)	September 13, 1864
Battle of Winchester (Opequon)	September 19, 1864
Battle of Fisher's Hill	September 21–22, 1864
Battle of Cedar Creek	October 19, 1864
Siege of Petersburg	March 25, 1865
Third Battle of Petersburg	April 2, 1865
Battle of Sailor's Creek	April 6, 1865

Final Statement

FINAL STATEMENT
Original members	866
Gain (recruits and transfers)	992
--- Aggregate	1858
--- Losses ---
Killed in action	139
Died of wounds	84
Died of disease	136
Died in Confederate prisons	22
Died from accident	3
Executed	1
Total of Deaths	385
Promoted to other regiments	8
Honorably discharged	446
Dishonorably discharged	24
Deserted	170
Finally unaccounted for	5
Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps and other organizations	120
--- Total Losses	773
Mustered out at various times	700
Total wounded	692
Total taken prisoner	129

See also

• Vermont Brigade
• Vermont in the Civil War
• George J. Stannard

References

• Adjutant General, Vermont (1892). Theodore S. Peck, BGEN (ed.). Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861-66. Montpelier, VT: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co. p. 886. OCLC 302368404.
• Benedict, George Grenville (1886). Vermont in the Civil War, Chapter I - XX. 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. Vol. I. Burlington, VT: Free Press Association. p. 674. OCLC 2209277.
• Coffin, Howard (2002). The Battered Stars: One State's Civil War Ordeal during Grant's Overland Campaign: from the Home Front in Vermont to the Battlefields of Virginia. Woodstock, VT: Countryman Press. ISBN 9780881504873. OCLC 1147748752.
• Coffin, Howard (1995). Full Duty: Vermonters in the Civil War. Woodstock, VT: Countryman Press. p. 376. ISBN 9780881503494. OCLC 42706499.
• Crockett, Walter Hill (1921). Vermont The Green Mountain State, Chapter XXX-XXXIV. Vermont The Green Mountain State. Vol. III. New York, NY: The Century History Company, Inc. OCLC 9412165.
• Dyer, Frederick Henry (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co. ASIN B01BUFJ76Q.
• Federal Publishing, Company (1908). Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, And Delaware. The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union army -- Cyclopedia of battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. Vol. I. Madison, WI: Federal Publishing Company. p. 555. OCLC 694018100.
• Fisk, Wilbur (1983). Emil Rosenblatt; Ruth Rosenblatt (eds.). Hard Marching Every Day: The Civil War Letters of Private Wilbur Fisk, 1861-1865. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 9780700605293. OCLC 25131397.
• Fox, William F (1889). Regimental Losses In The American Civil War 1861-1865. Albany, NY: Albany Publishing Company. p. 595. OCLC 950982386.
• Poirier, Robert G. (1999). By the Blood of our Alumni: Norwich University Citizen-Soldiers in the Army of the Potomac. Mason City, IA: Savas Pub. Co. ISBN 9781940669083. OCLC 1132347426.
• War Department, U.S. (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. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1881). Operations in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and West Virginia. Aug. 1, 1861-Mar 17, 1862. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. V–XIV. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1884a). The Peninsular Campaign, Virginia. Mar 17-Sep. 2, 1862 - Reports, Mar 17-Jun 24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XI-XXIII-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1884b). The Peninsular Campaign, Virginia. Mar 17-Sep. 2, 1862 - Reports, Jun 25-Sep 2 - Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XI-XXIII-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1884c). The Peninsular Campaign, Virginia. Mar 17-Sep. 2, 1862 - Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XI-XXIII-III. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1887). Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. September 3-November 14, 1862. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XIX-XXXI-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (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. OCLC 857196196.
• Scott, Robert N.; Lazelle, Henry M. (1884a). 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. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1884b). Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 26-June 3, 1863 - Reports. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXI-XXXVIII-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1888). 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. XXI-XXXVIII-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1889). Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863 - Reports. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXVII-XXXIX-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1889). Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863 - Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXVII-XXXIX-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1889). Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863 - Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXVII-XXXIX-III. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1890). Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. August 4-December 31, 1863, - Reports. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXIX-XLI-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1890). Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. August 4-December 31, 1863, - Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXIX-XLI-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1891). Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 1-April 30, 1864. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXXIII–XLV. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1891). Operations in Northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. May 1-August 3, 1864 - Reports, Union and Confederate Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXXVII-XLIX-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1891). Operations in Northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. May 1-August 3, 1864 - Union and Confederate Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XXXVII-XLIX-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1893). Operations in Northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. August 4-December 31, 1864. - Reports, Union and Confederate Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XLIII-LV-I. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1893). Operations in Northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. August 4-December 31, 1864. - Union and Confederate Correspondence, etc. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XLIII-LV-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• War Department, U.S. (1894). Operations in Northern and Southeastern Virginia, North Carolina (January 1-31), West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. January 1-June 30, 1865. Section 1 - Reports. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Vol. XLVI-LVIII-II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
• Zeller, Paul G. (2002). The Second Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 1861-1865. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. OCLC 606854619.

External links

• Vermont in the Civil War
• Vermont National Guard Library and Museum
• Vermont Military Records Project, Vermont Public Records Division