Chief of the
Special Examination Division, Bureau of Pennisons,
Washington,
D. C.
LIEUTENANT
- COLONEL SIXTH REGIMENT
September 16, 1861, in response to
an urgent request from the Secretary of War, Gov. Erastus Fairbanks issued
orders for raising and organizing the Sixth Vermont Regiment. In
less than two weeks the regiment was raised and ordered to rendezvous at
Montpelier. The several companies were recruited and commanded as
follows:
A = Addison
county, Capt. George Parker, Jr.
B = Caledonia,
Windsor and Orange counties, Capt. A. B. Hutchninson
C = Windsor
county, Capt. J. C. Spaulding
D = Orleans
county, Capt. Oscar A. Hale
E = Calendonia
and Windsor counties, Capt. Edwin W. Barker
F = Rutland,
Washington and Chittenden counties, Capt. E. F. Reynolds
G = Washington
county, Capt. Wm. H. H. Hall
H = Washington
county, Capt. D. B. Davenport
I = Chittenden
county, Capt. Wesley Hazelton
K = Franklin
county, Capt. Elisha L. Barney |
Oct. 15 the regiment was mustered into
the United States service for three years with the following field
and staff:
Colonel,
Nathan Lord, Jr.
Lieutenant-Colonel,
Asa P. Blunt
Major,
Oscar S. Tuttle
Adjutant,
Richard B. Crandall
Quartermaster,
John W. Clark
Surgeon,
R. C. M. Woodward
Assistant
Surgeon, Charles M. Chandler
Chaplain,
Edward P. Stone
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On Saturday, October 19, only thirty-three
days after the Governor's call for volunteers, the regiment was en route
to the front. Reaching Washington on the 22d, the regiment two days
later marched to Camp Griffin near Lewinsville, Va., where it joined the
Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Vermont regiments, thus completing the
Vermont Brigade. Henceforth its history was merged in, and became
identical with that of the old Vermont Brigade.
During the winter the regiment suffered
remarkably from sickness. There were 278 cases of typhoid fever,
330 of measles, 90 of diphtheria and 180 of mumps. The mortality
was great, amounting to more than 50 deaths.
In the original organization of the
Army of the Potomac, the Vermont Brigade, of which the Sixth formed a part,
was assigned to Gen. William F. Smith's division of the Fourth Army Corps,
under the command of General Keyes.
March 10, 1862, the regiment broke
camp and entered upon its first field work, the Peninsula campaign.
Embarking at Alexandria on the 23d, it landed at Fortress Monroe on the
24th, and on the 4th of April commenced its march up the Peninsula, arriving
in front of the enemy on Warwick Creek on the next day. On the 6th
the regiment was for the first time under fire in support of a battery,
during a demonstration made by the division upon the Confederate works.
It was, however, subjected to no loss, and it was not until the 16th of
April, at Lee's Mills, that it received its "baptism of fire." On
that day the right wing crossed Warwick Creek, through water up to the
waist, under a severe and galling fire, and attacked the enemy's works.
At the moment of success it was decided to abandon the attack and they
were ordered to retire. The loss of the regiment in this battle was
23 killed and mortally wounded, and 57 wounded, the bulk of the loss being
from the right wing. Thereafter the regiment remained in sight of
the enemy, doing picket duty, during the remainder of the month of April,
with no incident worthy of note, except that on the 29th it made a reconnoissance
resulting in a slight skirmish. Lieut. A. M. Nevins of company G
was mortally wounded, and a man in Company K wounded.
On the night of the 3d of May the enemy
abandoned their line across the Peninsula, and on the morning of the 4th
the regiment crossed Warwick Creek and occupied the entrenchments which
they had assulted so gallantly on the 16th of April. When the enemy
moved out of these works they left behind them evidence of an utter disregard
of the rules of civilized warfare. There were found scores of loaded
shells buried in the ground near the surface, to each of which was attached
a fuse surmounted by a percussion cap and exploded the shell. Several
explosions took place, killing a few and maiming others, upon which a search
was made and the remaining shells unearthed. This is no camp rumor,
but an absolute truth, for the writer saw scores of these shells dug up
and carried away.
Leaving Lee's Mills on the same day,
the regiment moved up the Peninsula, and on the 5th of May they were again
in battle at Williamsburg. The regiment marched on the 9th toward
New Kent Court House, arriving there on the 11th; on the 12th to Cumberland
Landing, on the Pamunkey River, and on the next day to White House Landing,
where they remained four days. On the 16th day of May 1862, the Sixth
Provisional Corps was organized, to which Smith's Division was assigned,
and the Vermont Brigade, to which the Sixth belonged, became the Second
Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, which designation it retained
until the close of the war. It marched on the 19th by way of Tunstall's
Station to near New Bridge on the Chickahominy, ten miles from Richmond;
on the 22d to near Gaine's Mill, about eight miles from Richmond; and on
the 24th it moved forward a mile, and camped on the farm of Dr. Gaines.
During the second day of the battle of Fair Oaks, (June 1), the corps marched
to cross the Chickahominy at New Bridge to re-enforce the troops engaged,
but were met at the pontoon bridge by countermanding orders. The
brigade returned to camp and the Sixth regiment was left to guard the bridge.
June 5 the brigade crossed the river
four miles below at Grape Vine Bridge and occupied a position near Golding's
house, remaining there until June 28. On the evening of the 27th
the Sixth was engaged in a severe skirmish at Golding's Farm, in which
it lost one killed, six wounded and missing. For its part in this
skirmish, it, together with the Fourth Vermont, was mentioned in General
Hancock's report of the affair. On the 28th the Vermont Brigade was
withdrawn from its position and marched out of camp under a furious cannonade
from the rebel batteries. On the next day, Sunday, the regiment marched
to Savage's Station, where a battle was fought in the afternoon, lasting
well into the night. In this fight the regiment lost 21 killed and
mortally wounded, and 54 wounded and missing. The regiment left the
field at 10 o'clock, and with the balance of the command marched to the
rear and crossed the White Oak Swamp at daylight on the morning of the
30th. On this day was fought the battle of White Oak Swamp.
The Sixth Army Corps held the right
of the line at Malvern Hill, but was not engaged. After the battle
it marched to Harrison's Landing, where it remained more than a month.
On the Peninsula the regiment was constantly in the front, participating
in nearly all the battles and skirmishes of the campaign. Added to
the severe losses in battle were the many cases of sickness and death from
fever and malaria, caused by the swamps of the Chickahominy, so that when
the regiment arrived on the James River its ranks were sadly depleted.
August 16 the regiment marched with the Sixth Army Corps en route to Fortress
Monroe. On the 22d it embarked on transports from Fortress Monroe to Alexandria,
arriving Sunday, August 24, and remaining there until August 29.
The brigade was within sound of the firing at Second Bull Run, but was
not engaged. The regiment participated in the Maryland campaign,
being often under fire, and was engaged in the brilliant combat of Crampton's
Gap and the bloody battle of Antietam.
September 26, the regiment went into
camp at Hagerstown, Md., and enjoyed a month's fairly earned rest.
Recrossing the Potomac November 2, it bore an honorable part at Fredericksburg.
December 18, Colonel Lord, who had hitherto commanded the regiment, resigned
on account of ill-health and Lieutenant-Colonel Tuttle was promoted to
the colonelcy. The regiment wintered at White Oak Church, a few miles
from Fredericksburg.
In March 1863, Colonel Tuttle resigned
by reason of serious illness, and Lieutenant-Colonel Barney was made colonel.
Colonel Barney commanded the regiment thereafter until he fell mortally
wounded in the battle of the Wilderness in May, 1864.
In the Chancellorsville campaign of
1863, the regiment did gallant service at Marye's Heights, and especially
at Bank's Ford, where, in a gallant charge, it drove back the enemy and
captured 250 prisoners. It again crossed the Rappahannock June 6,
and was sharply engaged with the enemy, holding its ground three hours
against a greatly superior force. It participated in the Pennsylvania
campaign, and at Gettysburg, with the brigade, held the extreme left of
the line. When the battle of Gettysburg opened on July 1, the regiment,
with the Sixth Army Corps, was at Manchester, Md., thirty-five miles from
the battlefield. At dusk orders came to move, but it was about 10
o'clock at night before the column started for Gettysburg. It was
on this occasion that General Sedgwick issued his famous order, "Put the
Vermonters ahead and keep the column well closed up," and before the sun
went down on the afternoon of the 2d, the column deployed into line of
battle at Gettysburg.

July 10 it suffered severly in the
battle of Funkstown, Md., one of the most brilliant engagements of the
war. Here the brigade relieved Buford's cavalry which it found skirmishing
with the enemy. The Sixth and Fifth first sent on to the skirmish
line, but the enemy attacking in force, the entire brigade was deployed
as skirmishers, covering a front of more than two miles. During the
day it was attacked three times by heavy lines of battle, but each time
repulsed the enemy. Notwithstanding there were probably 50,000 Union
troops within thrity minutes march of the line, the Vermont skirmish line
held its position against solid lines of battle all day long without help,
a feat unparalleled in modern history. Soon after the Sixth, with the rest
of the Brigade, was sent to New York city on account of the draft riots;
thence to Kingston, N. Y., returning to Virginia September 16. It
served the remainder of the year with "Meade and Lee's express line, between
Alexandria and Culpepper, participated in the engagement at Rappahannock
Station November 7; was in the Mine Run campaign supporting the Third Corps
at Locust Grove, and went into winter quarters at Brandy Station.
During the Wilderness campaign of 1864,
the Sixth fought desperately and suffered enormously. Of 441 men
going into battle, there were 69 killed and 127 wounded, a total of 196
- almost one-half. On the 5th of May Col. Barney was mortally wounded
and the command devolved on Lieut.-Col. Oscar A. Hale, who commanded the
regiment until he was severly wounded in August. On the 10th, at
Spottsylvania, it charged with Upton's forlorn hope. Twelve regiments
were selected from the Sixth Army Corps to pierce the enemy's line.
Of these twelve, three were taken from the Vermont Brigade, the Second,
Fifth, and Sixth. The Third and Fourth were on the skirmish line,
and when the time came, joined in the charge. Col. Emery Upton, 121st
New York, had the command. The twelve regiments formed in three lines
and charged bayonet. They took the enemy's works, held these for
some hours, but finally through some misapprehension were not supported,
and ordered to retire. It was one of the most famous charges of the
war. It made Colonel Upton a Brigadier-General, and reflected the
highest honor upon every soldier engaged.
On the 12th the regiment fought at
the Bloody Angle. All day long nothing separated the men from the
rebels but a heavy breastwork, perhaps six feet thick. The musketry
was so severe that in front of the Brigade oak trees of more than a foot
in diameter were cut down by rifle balls. On the 15th the regiment,
which had been reduced to about 250 men, was re-enforced by 150 men who
had been on detached service for a year at Brattleboro. At Cold Harbor
it was constantly engaged for twelve days, and on the 7th of June Maj.
Richard B. Crandall was mortally wounded. The regiment crossed the
James river on the 16th of June with the Brigade. It was constantly
fighting and entrenching until the 9th of July, when it moved rapidly with
the Sixth Corps to Washington to drive Early away. Thence it went
with Sheridan to the Shenandoah Valley, and at Opequan, Winchester, Fisher's
Hill, and Cedar Creek, did its full share of the glorious work in the valley.
August 21 at Charlestown, West Virginia,
in a sharp engagement it suffered more severly than any other regiment
of the Brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Hale, Capt. B. D. Fabyan, and
Capt. F. G. Butterfield were severely, and Major Dwinell mortally wounded,
and the regiment lost 10 killed and mortally wounded, 29 wounded, and one
missing. For the remainder of the three years' term the regiment
was commanded by Capt. M. Warner Davis. October 16 it was ordered
to Vermont to be mustered out, leaving at the front those who had re-enlisted,
forming a battalion of about 320 men. Capt. F. G. Butterfield, Co.
I, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Adj. Sumner H. Lincoln was made
major.
At Cedar Creek, October 19, Capt. E.
R. Kinney commanded the regiment until wounded, when the command devolved
upon Capt. William J. Sperry. Lieutenant-Colonel Butterfield, being
still disabled by his wounds, resigned his commission early in December,
and Major Lincoln was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and colonel, and held
the command through the rest of the war. Captain Sperry was made
lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Kinney major. December 13 the Sixth
rejoined the army at Petersburg, and participated in that series of brilliant
victories which culminated in the surrender at Appomattox. The battalion
was mustered out July 8, 1865, at Burlington, Vt. It was one of 45
out of 2,000 regiments which lost 200 men or over in battle, and one of
the famous 300 fighting regiments of the Civil War.
The Light Brigade at Balaklava lost
36.7 per cent; the Sixth in the Wilderness lost nearly 45 per cent, and
held the field. The reputation for gallantry won at Lee's Mills,
its first battle, was retained through all its long period of service.
Thereafter its members fought often, shoulder to shoulder, with comrades
in the brigade, and with them gained the proud distinction of being among
the first of all the troops of the Union Army in those qualities which
make up the ideal soldier. They were constant and true, they kept
untarnished the honor of their native State, and when they folded their
banners and came back to Vermont, quietly and without an effort became
again respectable citizens, and honest toilers in the arts of peace.
The
officers of the regiment who were killed or mortally wounded were:
Col.
E. L. Barney
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Captain
G. C. Randall
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Major
R. B. Crandall
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First
Lieutenant A. A. Crane
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Major
C. W. Dwinell
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First
Lieutenant A. M. Nevins
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Captain
R. A. Bird
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First
Lieutenant G. C. Babcock
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Captain
E. F. Reynolds
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First
Lieutenant J. G. Macomber
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Captain
Luther Ainsworth
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Second
Lieutenant C. F. Bailey
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Those
who died of disease were:
Capt.
D. B. Davenport
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Lieutenant
G. H. Phelps
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Asst.-Surgeon
C. A. Chapin
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ENGAGEMENTS
Warwick
Creek, Va.
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April
6, 1862
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Lee's
Mills, Va.
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April
16, 1862
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Williamsburg,
Va.
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May 5,
1862
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Golding's
Farm, Va.
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June 27,
1862
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Golding's
Farm, Va.
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June 28,
1862
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Savage's
Station, Va.
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June 29,
1862
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White
Oak Swamp, Va.
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June 30,
1862
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Crampton's
Gap, Md.
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Sept.
14, 1862
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Antietam,
Md.
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Sept.
17, 1862
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Fredericksburg,
Va.
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Dec. 13,
1862
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Marye's
Heights, Va.
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May 3,
1863
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Salem
Heights, Va.
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May 3,
1863
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Banks
Ford, Va.
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May 4,
1863
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Fredericksburg,
Va.
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June 5,
1863
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Gettysburg,
Pa.
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July 3,
1863
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Funkstown,
Md.
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July 10,
1863
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Gainesville,
Va.
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Oct. 19,
1863
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Rappahannock
Station, Va.
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Nov. 7,
1863
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Wilderness,
Va.
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May 5,
to 10, 1864
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Spottsylvania,
Va.
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May 10
to 18, 1864
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Cold Harbor,
Va.
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June 1
to 12, 1864
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Petersburg,
Va.
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June 18,
1864
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Welden
R. R., Va.
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June 23,
1864
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Reams's
Station, Va.
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June 29,
1864
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Fort Stevens,
Md.
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July 12,
1864
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Charlestown,
W. Va.
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Aug. 21,
1864
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Opequan,
Va.
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Sept.
13, 1864
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Winchester,
Va.
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Sept.
19, 1864
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Fisher's
Hill, Va.
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Sept.
21 and 22, 1864
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Cedar
Creek, Va.
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Oct. 19,
1864
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Petersburg,
Va.
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March
25 and 27, 1865
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Petersburg,
Va.
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April
2, 1865
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Sailor's
Creek, Va.
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April
6, 1865
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COMPANY
H
Legend:
Name & Rank
Residence
Date of Commis'n
Date of Issue
Remarks |
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CAPTAINS:
David
B. Davenport, Roxbury; Oct. 4, 1861; Oct. 15, '61; Wd. Apr. 16, '62; died
Sept. 20, '62 of disease.
Luther
Ainsworth, Waitsfield, Sept. 20, '62; Nov. 7, '62; 2d Lieut. Co. H; Prom.
1st Lieut. Co. H. Feb. 18, '62; killed in action May4, '63.
Porter
Crane, Jr., Wolcott, May 4, '63; June 29, '63; Sergt. Co. H.; Prom. 1st
Sergt. Nov. 1, '61; do 2d Lieut Co.H, Feb. 18, '62; do. 1st Lieut.
Co. H. Sept. 20, '62; Wd. May 4, '63; Must. out Oct. 28, '64.
Henry
N. Bushnell, Waitsfield, Oct. 29, '64; Nov. 8, '64; Sergt. Co. H.; Prom.
1st Sergt. Feb. 19, '62; do 2d Lieut. Co H May 3, '63; do. 1st. Lieut.
Co. C May 15, '64; Must out June 26, '65.
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1st
LIEUTENANTS
Robinson
Templeton, Worcester, Oct. 4, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Resgd. Feb. 17, '62.
Luther
Ainsworth, Waitsfield, Feb. 18, '62; Feb. 18, '62; See Capt. Co. H.
Porter
Crane, Jr., Wolcott, Sept. 20, '62; Nov. 7, '62; See Capt. Co. H.
George
H. Hatch, Montpelier, May 4, '63; June 29, '63; Com.-Sergt.; Prom. 2d Lieut.
Co. H. Oct. 27, '62; Must. out Oct. 28, '64.
Sanford
G. Gray, Wheelock, Oct. 29, '64; Nov. 8, '64; See Capt. Co. K.
Eri
L. Ditty, Roxbury, June 4, '65; June 17, '65; Priv. Co. H.; Re-en. Dec.
15, '63; Prom. Corp. Nov. 1, '61; do. Sergt.-Maj. June 6, '64; do. 2d Lieut.
Co. H. Nov. 12, '64; Must. out June 26, '65.
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2d
LIEUTENANTS
Luther
Ainsworth, Waitsfield, Oct. 4, '61; Oct. 15, '61; See Capt. Co. H.
Porter
Crane, Jr., Wolcott, Feb. 18, '62; Feb. 18, '62; See Capt. Co. H.
George
H. Hatch, Montpelier, Oct. 27, '62; Nov. 7, '62; See 1st Lieut. Co. H.
Henry
N. Bushnell, Waitsfield, May 4, '63; June 29, '63; See Capt. Co. H.
Eri
L. Ditty, Roxbury, Nov. 12, '64; Dec. 15, '64; See 1st Lieut. Co. H.[Wd.
Sept. 19, '64; Must out June 26, '65]
Winslow
S. Moore, Warren, June 4, '65; June 17, '65; Priv. Co. H.; Re-en. Dec.
15, '63; do Sergt. June_ , _ _ ?
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SERGEANTS
Paige
Gould, Middlesex, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Wd. Apr. 16, '62; Des. June
5, '63; Retd. May 18, '65; Red; ??; Must. out June 26, '65
Porter
Crane, Jr., Wolcott, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; See Capt. Co. H.
Henry
N. Bushnell, Waitsfield, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; See Capt. Co. H.
Stephen
D. Sterling, Warren, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Des. Aug. 31, '62; Retd.
June 2, '63; Red; Tr. to V.R.C.A; Disc. Oct. 15, '64.
Lucius
W. Wales, Roxbury, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Killed in action Apr. 16,
'62. (Note: Lee's Mill)
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CORPORALS
William
B. Hancock, Worcester, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Wd. Apr. 16, '62; Disch.
May 1, '63. (Note: Lee's Mill)
Thomas
P. Murphy, Roxbury, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; See 2d Lieut. Co. B.
Ephraim
H. Fuller, Waitsfield, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61;Red.; Wd. Apr. 16, '62;
Must. out Oct. 28, '64.
George
Parker, Wartren, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Red.; Wd. May 5, '64; Must.
out Oct. 28, '64.
Patrick
H. Murphy, Roxbury, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; See Capt. Co.j G.
Daniel
P. Shepherd, Warren, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Re-en. Dec. 15, '63; Red.;
Wd. Apr. 16, '62; Must. out June 26, '65.
Edward
P. Folsom, Worcester, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Disch. Mch. 8, '62.
Edwin
R. Dodge, Elmor, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Killed in action Apr. 16,
'62. (Note: Lee's Mill)
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MUSICIANS
Henry
D. Davenport, Roxbury, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Disch. Nov. 30, '62.
Samuel
L. Richardson, Roxbury, Aug. 14, '61; Oct. 15, '61; Tr. to Co. D. Mch.
1, '62.
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Source:
Vermont History
of Civil War
1861 - 1865
Benedict,
G G.
George Grenville
Burlington
Free Press
Transcribed
and submitted by
Charlotte
Bromley Croshaw
March
9, 2002

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