2nd Regiment, Vermont Infantry

HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 2nd Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry (or 2nd VVI) was a three year' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from June 1861 to July 1865. It was a member of the famous Vermont Brigade.

The Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 218 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 175 Enlisted men by disease. Total 399.

Five members of the regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Dayton P. Clarke, Captain, Co. F, was credited with "distinguished conduct in a desperate hand-to-hand fight while commanding the regiment," at the Battle of Spotsylvania, on May 12, 1864.

Ephraim W. Harrington, Sergeant, Co. G, "carried the colors to the top of the heights and almost to the muzzle of the enemy's guns," at the Battle of Fredericksburg, on May 3, 1863.

William W. Noyes, Private, Co. F, "standing upon the top of the breastworks, [he] deliberately took aim and fired no less than 15 shots into the enemy's lines, but a few yards away," at Spotsylvania, on May 12, 1864.

Augustus J. Robbins, 2nd Lieutenant, Co. B, "while voluntarily serving as a staff officer successfully withdrew a regiment across and around a severely exposed position to the rest of the command; was severely wounded," at Spotsylvania, on May 12, 1864.

Amasa S. Tracy, Lieutenant Colonel, serving with Lieutenant H. E. Farrel "took command of and led the brigade in the assault on the enemy's works," at the Battle of Cedar Creek, on October 19, 1864.

OFFICERS:
The colonelcy of the regiment was initially offered to Israel B. Richardson, a native of Vermont, but he had just accepted command of the 1st Michigan Infantry. Richardson recommended a classmate from the United States Military Academy, Henry H. Whiting, and he was commissioned by Governor Erastus Fairbanks on June 6, 1861. George J. Stannard, of St. Albans, was appointed lieutenant colonel, and Charles H. Joyce, a young lawyer from Northfield, was appointed major.

Amasa S. Tracy, Lieutenant Colonel ASSIGNMENTS:
Organized at Burlington and mustered in June 20, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., June 24. Attached to Howard's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia, to August, 1861. 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:
Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21, 1861. Battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21. Scout to Great Falls August 20-25. Skirmish near Lewinsville September 11 (Cos. "A" and "F."). Reconnoissance to Lewinsville September 25 (Cos. "A" and "F"). Expedition to Munson's Hill September 28. Reconnoissance to Vienna October 17. Reconnoissance to Peacock Hill November 9. Duty in the Defences of Washington until March, 1862. Moved to Alexandria March 10, thence to the Virginia Peninsula March 23-24. Young's Mill April 4. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Lee's Mills April 16. Reconnoissance to Warwick River April 30. Battle of Williamsburg May 5. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Garnett's Farm June 27. Savage Station June 29. White Oak Swamp Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria August 16-24. Maryland Campaign September-October. Crampton's Pass, Md., September 14. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. At Hagerstown September 26-October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks' Ford May 4. Franklin's Crossing June 5-13. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Funkstown, Md., July 10-13. Ordered to New York City August 14. Duty there and at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., until September 13. Moved to Alexandria, thence to Fairfax Court House, Va., September 13-17, and to Culpeper Court House September 22. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient at Spottsylvania May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 18-19. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11. Repulse of Early's attack on Fort Stevens July 11-12. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Charlestown August 21-22. Gilbert's Ford, Opequan River, September 18. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. At Strasburg until November 9 and at Kernstown until December 9. Moved to Petersburg December 9-12. Siege of Petersburg December 12, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Dabney's Mills February 5-7, 1865. Fort Fisher, before Petersburg, March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Farmville and Burkesville Junction until April 23. March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there until May 18. At Manchester until May 24. March to Washington May 24-June 3. Corps Review June 8. Nonveterans mustered out June 29, 1864. Regiment mustered out July 15, 1865. ROSTERS:

The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 2978 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