4th Regiment, Vermont Infantry


HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 4th Regiment, Vermont Infantry was organized at Brattleboro and mustered in September 21, 1861. It moved to Washington, D.C., September 21-23. The Regiment lost during service 12 Officers and 150 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 279 Enlisted men by disease. Total 442.

Five 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.
  • Robert J. Coffey, Sergeant, Co. K, "single-handedly captured 2 officers and 5 privates of the 8th Louisiana Regiment (C.S.A.)," at the Battle of Salem Church on May 4, 1863.
  • James Drury, Sergeant, Co. C, "saved the colors of his regiment when it was surrounded by a much larger force of the enemy and after the greater part of the regiment had been killed or captured," at Weldon Railroad, on July 23, 1864
  • George W. Hooker, 1st lieutenant, Co. E, "rode alone, in advance of his regiment, into the enemy's lines, and before his own men came up received the surrender of the major of a Confederate regiment, together with the colors and 116 men," at the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862.
  • Carlos H. Rich, 1st sergeant, Co. K, "saved the life of an officer," at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864.
  • Daniel D. Wheeler, 1st lieutenant, Co. G, exhibited "distinguished bravery in action where he was wounded and had a horse shot from under him," at the Battle of Salem Church, on May 3, 1863.
  • ASSIGNMENTS:
    Attached to 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 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 (aka Banks' Ford) 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 Weldon Railroad June 23, 1864
  • Battle of Fort Stevens July 11-12, 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 27, 1865
  • Battle of Petersburg April 2, 1865
  • ROSTERS:

    The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 3339 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







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