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2nd Vermont
Regiment Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Second Infantry. — Cols., Henry Whiting, James H. Walbridge, Newton
Stone, John S. Tyler, Amasa S. Tracy; Lieut.-Cols., George J. Stannard, Charles H. Joyce,
Newton Stone, John S. Tyler, Amasa S. Tracy, Enoch E. Johnson; Majs., Charles H. Joyce,
James H. Walbridge, Newton Stone, John S. Tyler, Amasa S. Tracy, Enoch E. Johnson, Erastus
G. Ballou. The 2nd regiment was organized at Burlington and there mustered into the U. S.
service for three years on June 20, 1861. It left Burlington for Washington, June 24, and
encamped on Capitol hill until July 10, when it was ordered to Bush hill, Va., where it
was attached to Howard's brigade, Heintzelman's division, with which it fought at Bull Run
on July 21. It was next sent to Chain bridge for guard duty along the Potomac, and
assisted in the construction of Forts Marcy and Ethan Allen. In September it was formed
with the 4th and 5th Vermont regiments into the Vermont brigade (later known on many
battlefields), the 2nd brigade of Smith's division. Winter quarters were established at
Camp Griffin and occupied until March 10, 1862, when the regiment marched to Centerville,
thence to Alexandria, where it was ordered to Newport News and participated in the
Peninsular campaign. It was in action at Young's mills, Lee's mills and Williamsburg. In
the organization of the 6th corps, the Vermont brigade, to which had been added the 6th
Vt., became the 2nd brigade, 2nd division. From April 13 to May 19, 1862, the brigade was
posted at White House landing. On June 26 it shared in the battle of Golding's farm and in
the Seven Days' battles it was repeatedly engaged. It was ordered to Alexandria and to
Bull Run late in August. The corps was not ordered into the battle and was next in action
at Crampton's gap and Antietam in September. It fought at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862,
after which winter quarters were established near Falmouth and broken for the
Chancellorsville battles in May, where the 6th corps made a gallant charge upon the
heights. It fought at Gettysburg, and from Aug. 14 to Sept. 13, 1863, the brigade was
stationed in New York to guard against rioting and then rejoined the corps. Winter
quarters were occupied with the Army of the Potomac near the Rapidan and a large number of
members of the regiment reenlisted. The command continued in the field as a veteran
organization and broke camp May 4, 1864, for the Wilderness campaign. On the opening day
of the fight at the Wilderness Col. Stone was killed and Lieut.-Col. Tyler fatally
wounded. A number of the bravest officers and men perished in the month following, during
which the Vermont brigade fought valiantly day after day with wonderful endurance, at the
famous "bloody angle" at Spottsylvania, at Cold Harbor and in the early assaults
on Petersburg. On July 10 it formed a part of the force ordered to hasten to Washington to
defend the city against Gen. Early, and shared in the campaign in the Shenandoah valley
which followed — the fatiguing marches and counter-marches and the battles of
Charlestown, Fisher's hill, Winchester and Cedar creek. During the last named battle the
brigade held its ground when it seemed no longer tenable and only withdrew when it was
left alone. Returning with the 6th corps to Petersburg in December, it participated in the
charge on March 25, 1865, and the final assault April 2, after which it joined in the
pursuit of Lee's army and was active at the battle of Sailor's creek, April 6, where it is
said to have fired the last shot of the 6th corps. The service of the 2nd closed with
participation in the grand review of the Union armies at Washington, after which it
returned to Burlington. The original members who did not reenlist were mustered out on
June 29, 1864, the veterans and recruits at Washington, July 15, 1865. The total strength
of the regiment was 1,858 and the loss by death 399, of which number 224 were killed or
died of wounds and 175 from other causes. In his well-known work on 'Regimental
Losses," Col. Fox mentions the 2nd Vt. infantry among the "three hundred
fighting regiments" of the Union army. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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