Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-07-28

edo" Brattleborough. z.
THE SECOND VERMoNT.-The first of the
three years regiments from this State, the Sec
ond is, with one exception, the last to leave the
service. 1t has emphaticaly seen the ,oar
through from the first Bull Run to the end, and
has a record which very few regiments can
equal. 1t was mustered into the U. S., service
at Burlington, June Goth, 1861, by Lieut.. Col.
Rains, U. S. A., (afterwards Gen. Rains Of the
rebel army,) with s6s Officers and men, under
command of Col. Henry Whiting. The original
roster of the regiment, containing many names
which have since become as familiar as house,
hold words to our readers, through honorable
mention, was as follows:
FIELD AND STAFF.
Colonel HENRY WHITING It. COL GEORGE J.
STANNARD .Hajor CHARLES A JOYCE Adjutdnt
Guiford S. Lndd Qudrtermdster Perley P. Pitkin !;
STgeon Newton II. Ballou Assistant Sargeon B.
Walter Carpenter Chaplain Claudus b. Smith.
geant Lauriston L. Stone Hospital Stecard E Z.
Stearns Drum Major Charles Remick.
LINE OFFICERS.
Co. A, bennington Capt. J. W. Walbridgc 1st It.
Newton Stone, I'd 1t. II. W. Ca,y.
Co. B. Casueton-Capt. James Hope, 1st 1t. John
Howe, I'd 1t. f. E. johnson.
Co. C. Brdnleboro-Capt. Edward A. Todd, 1st It.
]. S. Tyler, I'd 1t. f. A. Prouty.
Go. D, Vdterbury-Capt Charles Dillingham;, LIST
1t. W, w. Henry, I'd 1t. C. G. Gregg.
Go. f. 1anbridge-Capt. Richard Smith, 1st It.
Lucius Whitney, I'd 1t. Orvie Bixby.
Go. T, Monpeier-Capt F. V. Randall, 1st 1t. W.
A. Philips, 2d 1t. H. +. Crossman.
Co. G, BurEngton-Capt. John T. Drew, 1st 1t.
David l. SSSharPley' I'd It. a Anson IS I II. Weed
b. Case I'd 1t. c. X. Leach
Co. l. Ludiow-Capt. Yoney S. Fullam, 1st It. S.
w. Parkhurst, I'd 1t. l. n. Wadleigh.
Co. X, Vergennes-Capt Solon Eaton, 1st 1t. Am
asa S. Tracy, I'd 1t. ]. NJ. Hoyt.
The regiment was uniformed in gray cloth of
Vernon uanufacture, and was first armed with
smooth-bore Springfield muskets. How well
do we remember the bright June morning,
June 24th, 1851 when the regiment struck
tents at "Camp Underwood" marched down
st. Paul St., the gray column filling the street
from gutter to gutter, and swept around the
square, each man with sprig of evergreen in
his cap, and each looking the type of sturdy
Green Mountain boy. The colors were proud :
" borne that day by color Sergeant Ephraim
W. Harrington of Co. G, the tallest man in the
regiment, standing six feet four and half in
ches in his stockings, and we were right glad
to see to-day omong the returning veterans,
Mr.. Harrington, now Captain Harrington. For
over two years he bore the colors OF the regi-
ment, but the bullets which ridded the colors,
and struck down many man by his side, spared
him, and he returns as captain of his old com
pany. bringing with him .fce of the original
members of Co. G. About Sirty of the men
who went out with the I'd return in its ranks
to-day.
The Second formed part of the Sd Brigade,
Col. Howard, (now Maj Gen. Howard) Of
Heintzleman's Division, at the first Bull Run.
1t went into action in the afternoon, did good
service while it fought, and retreated when Or
dered, in as good order as the rest and in bet
ter order than some. Its loss was 46 men, of
whom "a were taken prisoners. 1t was soon
afterwards recruited to the maximum and for
several months did picket duty near Chain
bridge. In the Fall II was brigaded with the
four succeeding Vt. Regiments under Gen.
Smith. Its history thenceforth is the history
of the First Vt. Brigade and it is entitled to
bear on its banners the glorious list OF battles,
including almost every great battle OF the Ar
my of the Potomac, and of the great campaign
under Sheridan in the Valley which is already
so familiar to our readers, as part of the record
of the Old Brigade. 1t suffered terribly in the
Battles of the Wilderness and Spoltsyl
losing III lIc tWO UutlltS llS Sol.
Stone, and Lieut.. Col. Tyler, killed, and 454
officers and men, more than the total of most
regiments in the Army, killed and wounded.
We need not say that it did desperate fighting,
on several occasions meeting the enemy hand
to hand, aud fighting with cluhbed muske,s in
the enemy's trenches. 1t was the Second which
at Spottsylvania drove q rebel brigade from
some works far in advance of the Army, and in
reply to an order to retreat from Gen. Wright
sent back word "no, send us rations and am
muntion and we will hold the position six
months"
After Cold Harbor about $50 of the regi.
ment whose term had expired, returned to Yer
mont. Two hundred and ninety had re-enlist-
ed for the war in the winter previous, and il
was remarkable fact that, while all were ex-
posed alike, the casualties of the regiment in
the bloody battles of the Spring campaign oI
1884, were almost wholly of re-enlsted men.
The Second was always remarkably tough
and healthy regiment, and was for a long peri.
cd the largest Infantry regiment in the Army
of the Potomac. "What brigade is that" was
the customary question when it was on the
march. 1t has had five colonies. COL Whiting
resigned Feb. 9th, 1868, Col. Walbridge, hi:
successor, resigned April LIST, 1854 Col. Stone
was killed May 5th, 1864, 1t. Col. Tyler, NOR
tally wounded in the same battle, received an
honorary commission as Colonel, but did moi
live TO wear the honor.
The present Officers of the regiment are a,
follows
| FIELD AND STAFF.
ColOnel--A. S. Tracy Lieut.. Col-E. E. johnson
MVor-E. g. Ballou MGjor--Ispecia promotion fol
meritorions service,) Elijah Wales Surqeon-M. j
Hyde Assistant Surgeo'-E R. Brush Adjutant-
| A. A. Decelles.
LINE OFFICERS
Co. A-Capt. VIM. Bond, LIST Lieut.. Jas Howard.
Co. B-Capt II, II. Prouty, LIST Lieut.. E, II Fifeld
Co. D-Capt. W. B. hurburt LIST Lieut. A. Lessor
Go. E-Capt. d. c. Durham, LIST Lieut.. N. Fasset
Co. Fist Lieut. G. W. Flagg.
| Co. G-Capt. 4. W. Harrington.
| Co. HIST Lieut.. Geo Buck.
60. i-capt. H. +. Taylor, LIST Lieut. A. D. Beck