Draw the Sword

Second Vermont Brigade honoring the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th Vermont Regiments

Location: Hancock Avenue

Order of Battle: 1st Corps,3d Division, 3d Brigade

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

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).

Raised: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windsor, and Windham counties.

Monument Specifications: 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.

Dedication Date: Oct. 1889.

Sculptor/Artist/Company: Gerhardt, Karl, 1853-1940, sculptor.

Main Inscription: FREEDOM/VERMONT/AND UNITY/VERMONT/IN HONOR OF HER SONS/WHO FOUGHT ON THIS FIELD

Other Monuments and Memorials: The 13th, 14th, and 16th Regiments all have separate monuments and entries (see below for links). This is the only monument to honor the 12th and 15th regiments.

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.

Comments on this Post

One Response to “* Second Vermont Brigade (12th, 13th, 14th, 15th & 16th Vermont Infantry)”

1. Ed says:

   July 12, 2008 at 6:59 am

   I read on Findagrave that Stannard was, from 1881 to 1886, the doorkeeper at the House of Representatives.