3rd Regiment, Vermont Infantry
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 3rd Regiment, Vermont Infantry was organized at St. Johnsbury and mustered in July 16, 1861. The regiment mustered out July 11, 1865. "The regiment was consolidated into six companies, July 25, 1864; Company D was consolidated with E; Co. F with B, I, and K; Co. G with I; and Co. H with K."[2]
Six members of the regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Alexander M. Beattie, Captain, Co. F, " removed, under a hot fire, a wounded member of his command to a place of safety," at the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 5, 1864.
Gardner C. Hawkins, 1st Lieutenant, Co. E, "when the lines were wavering from the well-directed fire of the enemy, this officer, acting adjutant of the regiment, sprang forward, and with encouraging words cheered the soldiers on and, although dangerously wounded, refused to leave the field until the enemy's works were taken," at the Battle of Petersburg, on April 2, 1865.
Willie Johnston, Musician Company D, 3rd Vermont Infantry The second Medal of Honor ever awarded.
Samuel E. Pingree, Captain, Co. F, "gallantly led his Co. across a wide, deep creek, drove the enemy from the rifle pits, which were within 2 yards of the farther bank, and remained at the head of his men until a second time severely wounded," at the Battle at Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862.
Julian A. Scott, Drummer, Co. E, "crossed the creek under a terrific fire of musketry several times to assist in bringing off the wounded," at the Battle at Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862.
Thomas O. Seaver, Colonel, while "at the head of 3 regiments and under a most galling fire, attacked and occupied the enemy's works," at the Battle of Spotsylvania, May 10, 1864.
OFFICERS:
Governor Erastus Fairbanks' first choices to command the regiment were Colonel John W. Phelps, soon to relinquish his command of the 1st Vermont Infantry, Captain Truman Seymour, 4th U.S. Artillery, a native Vermonter who had been present at the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, and Captain A. V. Colburn, U.S. Army, who later became Assistant Adjutant General of the Army of the Potomac under General George B. McClellan. Phelps, however, was serving as commandant of the post at Newport News, Virginia, and the offers to Seymour and Colburn were declined.
The regiment rendezvoused at St. Johnsbury, on the ground of the Caledonia County Agricultural Society at "Camp Baxter," named in honor of Adjutant and Inspector General H. Henry Baxter. The regiment mustered into United States service on July 16, 1861, and departed for Washington, D.C. on July 24, under the temporary command of Lieutenant Colonel Breed N. Hyde. At Hartford, Connecticut, the regiment's commander, Colonel William Farrar Smith, joined them.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Attached to W. F. Smith's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861. Brook's Brigade, Smith's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to July, 1865.
SERVICE:
Battle of Lewinsville September 11, 1861
Battle at Lee's Mills April 16, 1862
Battle of Williamsburg May 5, 1862
Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm June 26, 1862
Battle of Savage's Station June 29, 1862
Battle of White Oak Swamp June 30, 1862
Battle of Crampton's Gap September 14, 1862
Battle of Antietam September 17, 1862
Battle of Fredericksburg December 13, 1862
Battle of Marye's Heights May 3, 1863
Battle of Salem Church May 4, 1863
Battle of Fredericksburg June 5, 1863
Battle of Gettysburg July 3, 1863
Battle of Funkstown July 10, 1863
Battle of Rappahannock Station November 7, 1863
Battle of the Wilderness May 5–10, 1864
Battle of Spotsylvania May 10-18, 1864
Battle of Cold Harbor June 1-12, 1864
Battle of Petersburg June 18, 1864
Battle of Reams' Station June 29, 1864
Fort Stevens (Washington, D.C.) July 11, 1864
Battle of Charlestown August 21, 1864
Battle of Opequon (Gilbert's Ford) September 13, 1864
Battle of Winchester (Opequon) September 19, 1864
Battle of Fisher's Hill September 21-22, 1864
Battle of Cedar Creek October 19, 1864
Battle of Petersburg March 25, 1865
Battle of Petersburg March 25, 1865
Battle of Petersburg April 2, 1865
ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 3159 men.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Benedict, George C. Vermont in the Civil War: A History of the Part Taken by Vermont Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Union, 1861-1865. 2 Vols. Burlington, VT: Free Pr Assn, 1888. E533B46v2. Reprint 2009. Eastern Digital Resources.
Burnell, George W. "The Development of Our Army." In War Papers (MOLLUS, WI, Vol. 2).
Milwaukee, WI: Burdick, Armitage & Allen, 1896. pp. 70-80 (6 photocopied pages). E464M5.1991v47.
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 2003. Cartersville, GA Eastern Ditital Resources.
Vermont. A & IGO. Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers Who Served in the Army and Navy
of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Montpelier, VT: Watchman, 1892. pp. 379-408. E533.3V53. (Contains a roster of the regiment).
Waite, Otis F.R. Vermont in the Great Rebellion: Containing Historical and Biographical Sketches.... Claremont, NH: Tracy, Chase, 1869. E533W3. See pp. 77 & 210-15 (3 photocopied pages) for a roster of officers a brief regimental history.
REFERENCES:
Dyer, Frederick H. - A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
