Wheelock G . Veazey Wheelock Graves Veazey ( December 5 , 1835 – March 22 , 1898 ) was an American attorney , judge , and government official . Veazey served as a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court , and as a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission . During the American Civil War he received the United States military ' s highest decoration for bravery , the Medal of Honor . Early life and career . Veazey was born in Brentwood , New Hampshire on December 5 , 1835 , to Jonathan and Annie ( Stevens ) Veazey . After being educated in the local public schools , he attended Phillips Exeter Academy , and then Dartmouth College , graduating in 1859 . After attending Albany Law School for a year , he was admitted to the Vermont Bar in December 1860 , beginning the practice of law in Springfield , Vermont . When the Civil War began , Veazey enlisted as a private in Company A of the 3rd Vermont Infantry . He was made a captain of that regiment in May 1861 , and in August was further promoted to major and then lieutenant colonel . On June 22 , 1861 , he married Julia Beard , daughter of a New Hampshire newspaper editor . In the latter half of 1862 he returned to Vermont to raise a new regiment . On September 27 he was promoted to colonel and elected commander of the newly formed 16th Vermont Infantry . He led this unit at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3 , 1863 , and several decades later , on September 8 , 1891 , he received the Medal of Honor for his actions during that engagement . His official citation reads : " Rapidly assembled his regiment and charged the enemy ' s flank ; charged front under heavy fire , and charged and destroyed a Confederate brigade , all this with new troops in their first battle . " He finished his service as chief of staff to General William Farrar Smith In 1863 , he left the army , and returned to Vermont . Political career . On his return from the war , Veazey resumed the practice of law in Rutland , Vermont . In 1864 , he was elected to the position of Reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Vermont , and held that post by repeated re - election until 1872 In 1872 , he was elected to the Vermont State Senate , and the following year was appointed a Registrar in Bankruptcy . In 1876 , he served as a delegate - at - large to the Republican National Convention . In 1879 , the Legislature elected him as a judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont , and he was re - elected to that post every two years until he became a member of the I . C . C . In 1880 , he became a trustee of Dartmouth College , and held that position for many years . Colonel Veazey was active in the Grand Army of the Republic , serving as post commander of the Rutland post , then as Department Commander for the Vermont G . A . R . from 1873 to 1875 . In 1877 and 1888 , he served as Judge Advocate General on the staff of the Commander - in - Chief of the G . A . R . , and finally as Commander - in - Chief himself from 1890 to 1891 . Interstate Commerce Commission . On August 31 , 1889 , Veazey was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison as a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission , filling the unexpired term of Aldace F . Walker , who had resigned a few months before the end of his term . As Congress was not then in session , Veazey received a recess appointment , taking the oath of office on September 10 , 1889 . Since Congress did not convene until December , and Veazey ' s initial term expired on December 31 , no effort was made to confirm Veazey for the short initial term , instead President Harrison sent a nomination for a full six - year term to the Senate , to expire December 31 , 1895 . The Senate confirmed Veazey on December 20 , three days after receiving the nomination . President Grover Cleveland reappointed Veazey to the I . C . C . for a second six - year term on December 19 , 1895 , and the Senate confirmed him the same day . However , Veazey resigned on December 20 , 1896 , and was succeeded by Charles A . Prouty . He remained in Washington , and died there on March 22 , 1898 .