Stannard's Brigade at Gettysburg

The 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps 

 Stannard’s Brigade. 

Brigade marker for 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps
It is located on Hancock Avenue

It reads:

ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

FIRST CORPS THIRD DIVISION

THIRD BRIGADE

Brig. Gen. George J. Stannard

Col. Francis V. Randall

12th 13th 14th 15th 16th Vermont Infantry

The 12th and 15th were guarding Corps Trains

July 1.     Arrived at dusk and took position on right of Third Corps.

July 2.     Joined the Corps and went into position at the left and rear of the Cemetery. Just before dusk a  detachment advanced to the Emmitsburg Road and captured about 80 prisoners and recovered 4 abandoned Union guns.

July 3.     In position on left of Second Division Second Corps at the time of Longstreet’s assault. The 13th and 16th advanced against Major Gen. Pickett’s Division changed front forward and attacked its right throwing it into contusion and capturing many prisoners. The 16th and part of 14th then went to the left and attacked the advancing Brigades of Brig Gen. Wilcox and Perry (Col. Lang) and captured three flags and many prisoners.

Casualties Killed 1 Officer 44 Men Wounded 12 Officers 262 men Captured or Missing 32 Men Total 351

Brigadier General George Jennison Stannard

Colonel Francis Randall

2^nd Vermont Brigade (12,13,14,15,16 VT inf)

2nd Vermont Brigade Memorial on Hancock Avenue

Located on  Hancock Avenue, @ 100 yards south of the Copse of Trees, it represents the position held by the brigade during the repulse of Pickett's Charge.  It is the only monument on the battlefield representing the 12th and 15th Vermont, 9 month regiments who missed earlier parts of the battle while guarding trains.

 Dedicated: Oct. 1889.

Commander:  Brigadier General George Stannard (Wounded during Pickett's Charge, replaced after battle by Colonel Francis Randall)

Number Engaged:  1,950 Engaged by the brigade

Casualties:  45 Killed, 274 Wounded, 32 Missing.

Notes and Facts about the Monument: The sculpture shows Brig. Gen. George Stannard holding a sword in his left hand.  The memorial cost $11,750.00. Overall height is 57 feet.

Inscriptions Read:  

On the Front of the Base:     

FREEDOM 

VERMONT

AND UNITY                                                  

VERMONT

IN HONOR OF HER SONS

WHO FOUGHT ON THIS FIELD 

Left Side of the 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

Right Side of the Base:

FIRST VERMONT CAVALRY

FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS.

THIS REGIMENT FOUGHT STUART’S CAVALRY AT

HANOVER JUNE 30, 1863, OPPOSED HAMPTON'S 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

As this monument represents the 12th and 15th Vermont as their only marker on the battlefield, I will include their unit histories here.

12th Vermont Infantry

Organized:  

Brattleboro Vermont for 9 months service 10/4/1862

Commander:  

Brigadier General George Stannard ,

Original Commander:  Colonel Asa P. Blunt, replaced by

Brigadier General Edwin H. Stoughton who was taken prisoner December 1862.

Col. Blunt held command again from 12/62 until 4/63 with he was replaced by Stannard.

Major Battles and Events: 

 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.  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.

Medal of Honor Awardee

2nd Lt. George G. Benedict

Company C, 12th Vermont Infantry

For actions at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863

Date of Issue:  March 29, 1899

 During Pickett's Charge on the last day of the battle, the 13th and 16th Vermont Infantry advanced to the front in a flanking movement on Pickett's forces. While this was happening, Lieutenant Benedict braved a murderous fire of grape and canister to deliver orders on the field. When the 13th Vermont wheeled to fire into Pickett's flank, many over-eager Union soldiers bunched up four to eight files deep. Heedless of the continuing rain of enemy fire, Lieutenant Benedict walked calmly along the line with his back to the enemy until he had straightened out the Union line and reformed them properly for combat.

2nd Lieutenant George G. Benedict MOH

15th Vermont Infantry
Organized:
Battleboro Vermont, mustered on 10/22/1862 for 9 months service.

Commander:

Colonel Redfield Proctor

Major Battles and Events:

 Picket duty at Occoquan Creek November 26-December 4.  Picket duty near Fairfax Court House December 12, 1862, to January 20, 1863. At Fairfax Station until March 24.  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.

14th Vermont Infantry

14th Vermont Monument on Hancock Avenue

Located on Hancock Avenue, it marks the position held by the 14th Vermont on July 3, 1863.

Dedicated: Oct. 19, 1899.

Commander: Col. William T. Nichols 

Number Engaged: 722

Casualties: 19 killed, 67 wounded, 21 missing

Raised: Addison, Rutland, and Bennington counties.

Major Events and Battles:  Organized 10/21/1862 for 9 months service; Defense of Fairfax Courthouse from Stuart's Cavalry; Battle of Gettysburg; Pursuit of Lee; Mustered out 7/30/1863.

13^th Vermont Infantry

13th Vermont Infantry Monument on Hancock Avenue

Close up of monument (Lt. Stephen Brown), note the hatchet at the bottom of sculpture.

Located on Hancock Avenue, south of The Angle.  It represents the position held by the regiment on the evening of 7/2/1863 through the close of the battle.  The officer depicted is an interesting story.  It represents Lt. Stephen F. Brown from Company K of the 13th.  He was arrested enroute to the battle for allowing his men to stop and refill canteens.  Since he was arrested, his sword was surrendered and sent to the rear of the regiment.  He fought a significant part of the battle using a hatchet he "liberated" from camp, this is represented at his feet on the sculpture.

Dedicated: Oct. 19, 1899.

Dedication of 13th Vermont Monument

Commander:  Colonel Francis V. Randall 

(who took command of the brigade following the battle, picture at top of page) 

replaced by:

Lieutenant Colonel William D. Munson, 

who was wounded and was replaced by:

Major Joseph Boynton

Number Engaged:  710

Casualties:  10 Killed, 103 Wounded, 10 Missing

Raised:  Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille and Washington Counties

Major Events and Battles:  

Organized at Brattleboro October 10, 1862, for nine months. Picket duty near Occoquan Creek until December 5.  Picket duty near Fairfax Court House until January 20, 1863. Defence of Fairfax Court House from attack by Stuart’s Cavalry December 29. 1862. Guard duty at Occoquan Creek until June 25. March to Gettysburg. Pa., June 25-July 1. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Middletown, Md., July 4-8. Left front July 8 and moved to Brattleboro, Vt., July 8-13. Mustered out July 21, 1863. 

Secondary Monuments and Markers

There are three secondary markers to the regiment.  They are along the Highwater Mark path.  They represent movements by the unit during Pickett's Charge and were erected by the state of Vermont in 1896.

Medal of Honor Awardee

Captain John Lonergan

Company A, 13th Vermont Infantry

For actions at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863

Date of Issue:  October 28, 1893

Citation: Gallantry in the recapture of 4 guns and the capture of 2 additional guns from the enemy; also the capture of a number of prisoners.

Captain John Lonergan MOH

16^th VT Infantry

16th Vermont Monument located on Hancock Avenue

Located on Hancock Avenue, it represents the position held by the 16th on 7/3/1863.  Originally located in the Codori Thicket it was relocated in 1907.

Dedicated:  Sept 1892, relocated 1907

Commander:  Colonel Wheelock G. Veazey

Number Engaged:  715

Casualties:  16 Killed, 102 wounded, 1 missing.

Raised:  Windsor and Windham Counties

Significant Battles and Events:  

Organized at Brattleboro and mustered in October 23, 1862, for nine months.  Picket duty near Fairfax Court House to January 20, 1863. At Fairfax Station until March 20. Defence of Fairfax Court House from attack by Stuart’s Cavalry December 29, 1862.  At Bristoe Station, Catlett’s Station and Manassas until June 15. A March to Gettysburg, Pa., June 25-July 1. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 4-18. Moved to Brattleboro, Vt., July 18-21. Mustered out August 10, 1863. 

Medal of Honor Awardee

Colonel Wheelock G. Veazey

Commanding Officer 16th Vermont INfantry

For actions at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863

Date of Issue:  September 8, 1891

Citation: 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.

Colonel Wheelock G. Veazey MOH

Sorry I haven't published more lately, however, I've been a little under the weather.  I hope you enjoy, and as always, feel free to comment, I promise to reply.