Put the Vermonters Ahead: The First Vermont Brigade in the Civil War"Put the Vermonters ahead" was the order of the Union's VI Corps commander, Major General John Sedgwick, to his chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Martin T. McMahon on the march to Gettysburg. Never driven from the field, the 1st Vermont Brigade always held its line and never lost its flags in battle. Marching more than two thousand miles in its many campaigns, this brigade had the greatest loss of life of all the brigades in the United States Army. In four long years of war, the Vermont Brigade held at Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Banks' Ford, Funkstown, and Charlestown. In the fierce fighting in Grant's 1864 overland campaign, this heroic unit suffered some of its heaviest losses and won some of its greatest victories. In 1864 the Vermonters were rushed to the defense of the capital during Jubal Early's raid on Washington. They were then sent on to the Shenandoah Valley. In the last months of the war, they were the first to break Lee's lines at Petersburg, going on to join the pursuit of Lee's dying army, which ended at Appomattox. |
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Page 88
... positions around the area . As the Vermont Brigade left the battlefield of the Wilderness , they were ordered to be the rear guard for the VI Corps as they marched towards Spotsylvania . Unfortunately , several hundred of the wounded ...
... positions around the area . As the Vermont Brigade left the battlefield of the Wilderness , they were ordered to be the rear guard for the VI Corps as they marched towards Spotsylvania . Unfortunately , several hundred of the wounded ...
Page 92
... positions in the " Mule Shoe " . Learning that they had not retreated , Upton rode back and told them to leave . They then told Upton that , if he sent more ammunition and rations , they could hold their positions for months . General ...
... positions in the " Mule Shoe " . Learning that they had not retreated , Upton rode back and told them to leave . They then told Upton that , if he sent more ammunition and rations , they could hold their positions for months . General ...
Page 117
... position himself better and to strengthen his army . Sheridan followed him . When the Union general reached Strasburg , he found Early's positions very strong . Sheridan decided to withdraw to Cedar Creek , to regroup . Looking over the ...
... position himself better and to strengthen his army . Sheridan followed him . When the Union general reached Strasburg , he found Early's positions very strong . Sheridan decided to withdraw to Cedar Creek , to regroup . Looking over the ...
Contents
The Beginning | 1 |
The Brigade | 7 |
The Brigades First Battle | 14 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
11th Vermont 1st Lieut 2nd Vermont 61 Sept action Adjutant advance army artillery attack battle Benedict called camp campaign Capt Captain cavalry charge Charles Civil Civil War Colonel command Company Confederate continued Corps crossed Date division Early enemy Federal field fighting finally fire flank forces four front George Grant heavy held Henry hill hold hundred Infantry Jersey John July June killed later Leaders Lee's Lieutenant losses lost Maine Major marched Medal of Honor miles moved mustered never night North officers ordered positions Potomac Priv Prom ranks reached realized rear received record regiments Report rest retired rifle river road sent Sept Sheridan side skirmishers Smith soldiers South Southern started stopped taken took troops Union units Vermont Brigade VI Corps Virginia wounded York