The Second Vermont Brigade is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? Oct. 1889.
What is it made out of? Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.
What size is it? Overall: approx. H. 60 ft.; Base: approx. W. 17 ft. 5 in. x D. 17 ft. 5 in.
Who made it? Gerhardt, Karl, 1853-1940, sculptor. Frederick & Field, fabricator.
What does it depict? At the top of a tall granite column is a bronze sculpture depicting Brig. Gen. George Stannard holding a sword in his proper left hand. At the foot of the column is a square base which rests on a three granite steps. The memorial cost $11,750.00. Monument is a two-part granite shaft topped with a bronze statue of Brigadier General George Stannard and set on a six foot square stepped base. The lower part of the shaft has incised inscriptions and the Vermont coat-of-arms and the upper part is a fluted column with a Corinthian capital. Overall height is 57 feet.
How is it inscribed? (On front of base, on Vermont state seal:) FREEDOM/VERMONT/AND UNITY/VERMONT/IN HONOR OF HER SONS/WHO FOUGHT ON THIS FIELD (On back of base: description of action at Gettysburg) (On left side of base:) FIRST VERMONT BRIGADE/SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH/AND SIXTH REGIMENTS:/BRIG. GEN. L. A. GRANT COMMANDING:/SECOND BRIGADE SECOND DIVISION, SIXTH CORPS./THE BRIGADE REACHED THE FIELD/NEAR LITTLE ROUND TOP IN THE AFTERNOON/OF JULY 2, 1863 BY A FORCED MARCH OF/THIRTY-TWO MILES AND SOON AFTER/WAS ASSIGNED TO THE LEFT UNION FLANK/WHERE IT HELD A LINE FROM THE SUMMIT OF/ROUND TOP TO THE TANEYTOWN ROAD/UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THE BATTLE. (On right side of base:) FIRST VERMONT CAVALRY/FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS./THIS REGIMENT FOUGHT STUART’S CAVALRY AT/HANOVER JUNE 30, 1863, OPPOSED HAMPTONS CAVALRY/AT HUNTERSTOWN, JULY 2, AND CHARGED THROUGH THE/FIRST TEXAS INFANTRY AND UPON THE LINE LAW’S/BRIGADE AT THE FOOT OF ROUND TOP, JULY 3./VERMONT SHARP SHOOTERS:/ CONF. FIRST U.S.S.; CB’S E PMP H, SECOND U.S.S.; SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, THIRD CORPS./JULY 2 COMPANY F AIDED IN CHECKING THE ADVANCES/OF WILCAR’S BRIGADE WEST OF SEMINARY RIDGE./COMPANIES A AND H RESISTED LAW’S BRIGADE/WEST OF DEVILS DEN AND UPON THE ROUND TOPS./JULY 3, THE THREE COMPANIES TO PARK/IN THEIR REPULSE OF PICKETT’S CHARGE
When was this photograph taken? September 24, 2010.
Where is it located? Located at Gettysburg National Military Park, Hancock Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the east side of Hancock Avenue approximately 300 feet south of the Copse of Trees.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? Yes.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Secondary Monuments and Markers
The 13th, 14th, and 16th Regiments all have separate monuments and entries (see below for links to the respective monument study pages). This is the only monument to honor the 12th and 15th regiments.
At Gettysburg
The Second Vermont Brigade served as the Stannard’s Brigade in Doubleday’s Division of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Commander: The monument honors the 12th Vermont (which guarded trains at Rock Creek Church), 13th Vermont (under the command of Col. Francis V. Randall; this unit has a separate monument as well), the 14th Vermont (commanded by Col. William T. Nichols (1829-1882) an attorney in Rutland), the 15th Vermont (under Col. Redfield Proctor (1831-1908) a Boston attorney later elected to the U.S. Senate and as Vermont’s governor), and the 16th Vermont (under the command of Col. Wheelock G. Veazey (1835-1898), who won a medal of honor at Gettysburg).
Number Engaged: 12th (not at Gettysburg) / 13th (see separate post) / 14th 722; 19 killed, 67 wounded, 21 missing / 15th 637; no loss (guarding trains on July 3); 16th 715; 16 killed, 102 wounded, 1 missing
General Information
Raised: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windsor, and Windham counties.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
12th Vermont
Organized at Brattleboro October 4, 1862, for nine months. Moved to Washington, D.C., October 7-10, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, Military District of Washington, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Casey’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, to April, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, 22nd Corps, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to muster out.
SERVICE.–Camp on East Capital Hill, Washington, to October 30, 1862. Moved to Munson’s Hill October 30, thence to Hunting Creek October 31. At Camp Vermont, near Hunting Creek, until December 12. Picket duty near Fairfax Court House December 12, 1862, to January 20, 1863. Defence of Fairfax Court House from attack by Stuart’s Cavalry December 29, 1862. Duty at Wolf Run Shoals January 20 to May 1. Guard railroad at Warrenton Junction until May 7 and at Rappahannock Station until May 18. At Bristoe and Catlett’s until June 1. At Union Mills until June 25. March to Gettysburg, Pa., June 25-July 1. Detached at Westminster as train guard until July 4. Guard prisoners to Baltimore July 4-6. Moved to Brattleboro July 6-9, and there mustered out July 14, 1863. Lost by disease 2 Officers and 65 Enlisted men. Total 67.
13th Vermont
See seperate entry and monument.
14th Vermont
See seperate entry and monument.
15th Vermont
Organized at Brattleboro and mustered in October 22, 1862, for nine months. Moved to Washington, D.C., October 23-26. Attached to 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, Military District of Washington, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Casey’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, to April, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, to June, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to muster out.
SERVICE.–At Camp Chase, Arlington, Va., October 26-28, 1862, and at East Capital Hill until October 30. March to Munson’s Hill March 30, thence to Hunting Creek November 5. At Camp Vermont, near Hunting Creek, until November 26. Picket duty at Occoquan Creek November 26-December 4. At Camp Vermont until December 12. Picket duty near Fairfax Court House December 12, 1862, to January 20, 1863. At Fairfax Station until March 24. At Union Mills until May 7. At Bealeton until May 18. At Union Mills until June 15. At Bristoe Station, Catlett’s Station and Manassas until June 25. March to Gettysburg, Pa., June 25-July 1. Detached at Westminster as train guard until July 4. Pursuit of Lee July 4-18. Moved to Brattleboro, Vt., July 18-21. and mustered out August 5, 1863. Regiment lost during service by disease 1 Officer and 80 Enlisted men. Total 81.
16th Vermont
See seperate entry and monument.
Vermont at Gettysburg
2nd Infantry :: 3rd Infantry :: 4th Infantry :: 5th Infantry :: 6th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 13th Infantry :: 14th Infantry :: 15th Infantry :: 16th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry
One Comment
I read on Findagrave that Stannard was, from 1881 to 1886, the doorkeeper at the House of Representatives.