The National tribune., 1886-06-10

dnced for the time being TO three regiments
the 18th and 18th having been detached for
other seryce) the portion Of the front line on
the left center, thus re-established by him the
night before. Occupying position in advance
of any other in that part of the field, his COM
mand was the first to meet the final great as
sault of the enemy on Friday afternoon, and it
was subsequently thrown by Gen. Stannard
upon the flank of Pickett's Division as il rushed
upon the guns of the Second Corps. The move
ment was decisive of the result of that tremen-
dous rebel assault, on the fate of which the
final issue of the battle and of the rebellion
turned. The right Of the rebel lines melted
away under the deadly fire of the Nermonters,
delivered at half-pistol range and of the sur
vivors 1900 marched within our lines as pris-
oners. The supporting rebel brigade, under
Gen. Wilcox, was next attacked in flank, in a
most gallant bayoDet charge, and captured in
body by the 10th VT, under Col. Veazey, and
the battle was won.
During the final cannonade with which
Longstreet strove TO cover the rebel rout, Gen.
Stannard was struck by an iron shrapnel ball,
which passed for three inches into the muscles
of the right thight. Though thus seriously
wounded he refused to leave his command,
even when urged TO do so by the division COM
mander, but sent for Surgeon, by whom the
ball was removed on the field. Nor did Gen.
Stannard yield TO the pain and loss Of blood,
till il was settled that the enemy was beaten
till his own wounded men were collected and
removed, and until his brigade was relieved
from duty in the front line. He was a con-
slant mark for shartshooters during the day,
and several bullets passed through his hat and
clothes. He greatly distinguished himself by
his GOODNESS and personal gallantry. No troops
Of Gen. Meade's army were steadier under tre-
mendous artillery fire. did more important work
with greater promptness or took more prisoners,
than did Stannard's Brigade. His order for
tion, and the crowning glory of his life; his
name is forever associated with the history of
/ that Waterloo of the war for the Union.
As soon as he was sufficiently recovered from
| his wound for light duty, Gen. Siannard was as
signed to the command ofthe troops garrisOning
| the forts in New York HarbOr He remained
| in that position until May, 1864, when, upon the
| final advance of Gen. Grant upon Richmond
by the way of the Wilderness, he again joined
the army in the field, being assigned 10 the
! Tenth Corps He was soon after placed in com
mand Of the First Brigade of the Second Dvis-
! ion Of the Eighteenth Corps. whose commander,
/ Ma. Gen. VIM. i. Smith. Nermonter himself,
was we'll acquainted with Stannard's fighting
| qualities The brigade, consisting of Massa-
chusctts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania troops
| had made a reputation as a fighting brigade
/ under its former commander, Gs.l. Hickman,
aud lost none of il under Stannard. In the
| bloody battle Of Cold Harbor Gen. Stannard
again greatly distinguished himself, and was
again wounded, receiving flesh wound in the
| thigh from mimic ball. Two of his staff were
| killed and three wounded; all OF his Orderlies
but one were wounded and with but one regi-
mental commander of his brigade left un-
| wounded, Stannard wounded and alone, rallied
and brought of. under fearful fire, the shattered
regiments of his command.
In the movement of the Eighteenth Corps
on Petersburg, June IL, Stannard led the ad-
a l. l. IL f
the enemy's Notifications within three-fourths
of a mile Of Petersburg.
About this time he was assigned to the COM
mand Of the First Division of the Eighteenth
Corps, then employed in the siege Of Peters
burg. Parts of his lines ran within 100 yards
| Of the enemy, and his own headquarters were
established within short musketry range Of the
enemy's works. He was here again wounded
in a finger of the right hand. The hurt, though
apparently slight, cost him more suffering than
any of his previous or subsequent wounds.
| Amputation Of the finger was threatened, but
| il was finally saved, with a stiff joint. Gen.
stannard remained at the front after this
injury for three weeks, until, having become
| so weak from pain and loss of sleep that he
could not mount his horse, he was sent home
20 Vermont. lie returned TO his command as
soon as his strength was restored, aud was
again put into dangerous and trying service.
ON the 29tb Of September he participated,
with his division, in the movement Of the
Tenth and Eighteenth Corps against the de-
fences Of Richmond, on the north side OF
James River. Arrived in front of the enemy S
line Of works at ChapiH's farm, 10 Stannard
was assigned the task Of storming Fort Har-
riS0n, the most important rebel work at that
point, mounting, with its outwOrks, 10 heavy
guns. lie formed his command ia column by
division. advanced under heavy artillery IRE
through open ground and over an abatis, and
Il a h.1I sI..F aorl
rode at the side Of the column 10 the very
mouth Of the enemy's guns, and, unhurt for
once himself, lost four members of has staH,
wounded at or near his side. For gallant aud
meriiorions service in this action he was
breyetted Eajor-Gener of Volunteers, Oct
% l564
Fort Harrison was too important TO Rich.
mond to be relinquished without further effort
and was next day assaulted in force by the
rebel Generals Hoke and Field. Without the
protection of the guns IN the work, which faced
the other way and without the aid of even q
light battery, STANDARDS Division repulsed
. with heavy loss three determined assaults oi
the enemy. As the FIRST and heaviest Of these
ended, shot from the retreating foe struck
him he was standing on an angle of an
earthwork encouraging his men, and shattered
his right arm, rendering amputation necessary
near the shoulder. This wound untitled hin
for service for several months.
In December. lo53, the St Albans raid csllef
the attention Of the War Department 10 th'
: unprotected condition of our northern border
and TO Gen. StannaTd was assigned the charge
of the Vermont frontier, with headquarters a
2 st. Albans. He remained in service in the DE
partment Of the East until February, 1866
when he was ordered 70 report 10 Gen. o. q
: Howard, aud was assigned TO duty in connec
] tion with the Freedmen's Bureau at Bali ..3Ore
On the 18th Of June, lSG6, he rendered his re
G iEnatiOn, which was accepted by the Secretar.
/ Of War.
I Having suffered in estate by leaving pros
I porous business for his country's service At tn
, opening Of the war. and in person by the los
4 | Of an arm having served through the wa
: with high credit, and having a character 70
! integrity beyond reproaeh, Gen. Stannard wa
: pre-eminently Of the class deserving TO be re
70 nembered in the awards Of civil Office. Ac
$ cordingly. he received, on his retirement iron
|, the army, the appointment OF Collector Of Gus
G toms for the District of Vermont. He held tn
e Office Of Collector till 1872 when he relinquishes
: il. In l5ol, reduced in means aud with ini
A paired health, Gen. Stannard was glad 10 &C
!. cept from Col. George w. Hooker, formerly O
: his staff, then Sergeant-at-ATms Of the Hous
Of Representatives, an appointment as one Q
the DoOrkeepers Of the House This Office b
Y held till his death, and he was at Nashingto
q IN the discharge Of his duties when stricken
down by attack Of pneumonia He receives
4 the personal attentions Of Senator Edmund
~ aud other friends and had skillful medica
v care but sank steadily and died June !, afte
b four days illness, and before members Of hi
, family, summoned 10 his bedside, could reac