1st Vermont Heavy Artillery Regiment

United States Regiments & Batteries > Vermont > 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery

“11th Vermont Infantry Regiment”

The 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery Regiment was Vermont’s largest regiment, with a total membership of 2,320 officers and men.  It was originally organized as the 11th Vermont Infantry Regiment but was quickly converted to heavy artillery.

During the Civil War the regiment lost 5 officers and 68 enlisted men killed, 3 officers and 76 men mortally wounded, 2 men who died of accidents, 3 officers and 207 enlisted men who died of disease, and 1 officer and 175 enlisted men who died in Confederate prisons. 457 men were wounded, and 339 taken prisoner.

1862
August

Organized at Brattleboro

  • Company A – Captain Edwin J. Morrill
  • Company B – Captain Charles Hunsdon
  • Company C – Captain James T. Hyde
  • Company D – Captain Urban A. Woodbury
  • Company E – Captain John Hunt
  • Company F – Captain James Rice
  • Company G – Captain Charles Buxton
  • Company H – Captain James D. Rich
  • Company I – Captain Robinson Templeton
  • Company K – Captain George D. Sowles
September 1 Mustered in as the 11th Vermont Infantry Regiment under the command of Colonel James M. Warner (West Point Class of 1860), Lieutenant Colonel Reuben C. Benton (former Captain in the 5th Vermont Infantry), and Major George E. Chamberlain.
September 7 Left State for Washington, D.C. and attached to attached to 1st Brigade, Haskins’ Division, Military District of Washington for duty in the Defences of Washington north of the Potomac
September 27

The regiment was assigned to defences on the north side of Washington

The 11th Vermont manned seven forts during its 20 months in the Washington garrison, stretching about seven miles on the north side of Washington from East Creek to Rock Creek. The Forts contained around 200 heavy guns and mortars, and were connected by a continuous line of rifle pits.

  • Company A assigned to Fort Lincoln
  • Company B assigned to Forts Massachusetts and Stevens
  • Companies C and D assigned to Fort Saratoga
  • Company E assigned to Fort Totten
  • Company F assigned to Fort Bunker Hill
  • Company G assigned to Fort Lincoln
  • Company H assigned to Fort Slocum
  • Company I assigned to Fort Thayer
  • Company K assigned to Fort Totten
November 17
  • Company A moved to Fort Totten
  • Companies C and D moved to Fort Massachusetts
  • Company E moved to Fort Slocum
  • Company F moved to Fort Slocum
  • Company G moved to Fort Slocum
  • Company I moved to Fort Massachusetts
November 20 Captain James T. Hyde of Company C resigned.
November 30 First Lieutenant Aldace F. Walker was promoted to Captain of Company C.
December 10
Regiment’s designetion changed to 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery Regiiment

It was authorized to increase its size to the heavy artillery standard. The number of its companies, now known as batteries, was increased to twelve, each of a strength of 150 men. Two additional Majors were added, for a total of three, and each battery was authorized to have four lieutenant as well as additional noncommissioned officers. The uniforms was updated to included red chevrons and shoulder straps and the regiment was authorized an artillery flag with crossed cannon on a yellow field.
1863
February Attached to 1st Brigade, Haskins’ Division, 22nd Corps, Defenses of Washington.
March
  • Company A moved to Fort Lincoln
  • Company B moved to Fort Totten
  • Company C moved to Fort Stevens
  • Company D moved to Fort Saratoga
  • Company F moved to Fort Thayer
  • Company H moved to Fort Bunker Hill
  • Company I moved to Fort Bunker Hill
June 17 Captain Urban Woodbury of Company D transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps.
July 11 Company L was organized under the command of Captain Darius J. Safford and assigned to Fort Lincoln. Captain ALdace F. Walker of Company C was transferred to Company D.
July 21 First Lieutenant William Goodrich was promoted to Captain of Company C.
July 30 Captain James D. Rich of Company H resigned.
August 3 Captain John Hunt of Company E resigned.
August 19 First Lieutenant John Sears was promoted to Captain of Company E and First Lieutenant James Eldredge was promoted to Captain of Company H.
October 7 Company M was organized under the command of Captain Charles K. Fleming and assigned to Fort Lincoln.
November 20 Captain Charles Hunsdon of Company B was promoted to Major. First Lieutenant Edward P. Lee of Company A was promoted to Captain of Company B.
1864
March 15 First Lieutenant Hunt W. Burroughs of Company B was promoted to Captain of Company M.
May 12

Overland Campaign

The 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery was ordered to Join the army in the field operating as infantry, although it kept its artillery organization, flags, and uniforms.
May 15
Moved to Belle Plains, Virginia

Joined the Army of the Potomac at Spotsylvania Court House and was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Corps, the “Old Vermont Brigade.” The brigade had been so reduced by hard service that the 1,200 men of its 5 regiments combined were less than the 1,500 men of the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery.

To command the oversized artillery regiment it was divided into three battalions, each commanded by a major.
May 15-21

Spotsylvania Court House

Colonel James Warner was wounded, shot through the neck.
May 23-26

North Anna River
May 26-28 Line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy
June 1-12

Cold Harbor

Major Fleming’s Battalion lost 13 men killed and 107 wounded. Captains George D. Sowles of Company K and James Eldredge of Comapny H were wounded.
June 17-18

Grant’s First Assault on Petersburg
June 18

Siege of Petersburg
June 21 Lieutenant Colonel Reuben C. Benton resigned.
June 22-23

Weldon Railroad (Jerusalem Plank Road)

The regiment lost 9 men killed and 36 wounded and almost an entire battalion of the regiment – 267 men – was captured by Confederate General Mahone’s Division. Captains Edwin J. Morrill of Company A, Darius Safford of Company L, Charles Flemming of Company M and James Eldredge of Company H were captured. Captains Safford and Eldridge were able to escape, and Captain Morrill was mortally wounded trying to escape. The captured enlisted men were sent to Andersonville Prison, where 175 died.
June 28 Captain Aldace F. Walker of Company D was promoted to Major.
July 9-11 Moved to Washington, D.C.
July 11-12

Repulse of Early’s attack on Fort Stevens

Major George E. Chamberlin was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. First Lieutenant Charles Lewis was promoted to Captain of Company D.
July 15-23 Snicker’s Gap Expedition
August 7-
November 28

Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign

Attached to Sixth Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division. Colonel James Warner returned to the regiment after his Spottsylvania wound.
August 21-22

Near Charlestown

Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlin was mortally wounded.
September 1 Captain Hunt W. Burroughs of Company M resigned.
September 2 Major Hunsdon was promoted to lieutenant colonel.  Dennis Duhigg of Company of Company M was promoted to Captain.
September 13 Gilbert’s Ford, Opequan
September 19

Third Battle of Winchester (Opequan)

The regiment lost 8 men killed, 85 wounded, and 6 missing. Captains Charles Buxton of Company G and Dennis Duhigg of Company M (whose commission had not yet arrived) were killed. Captain Darius J. Safford of Company L was wounded. Captain James Eldridge of Company H was wounded, and promoted to Brevet Major for gallantry.
September 22

Fisher’s Hill
October 2 First Lieutenant Edward A. Todd of Company K was promoted to Captain of Company G.
October 3 First Lieutenant Orlo H. Austin of Company I was promoted to Captain of Company A.
October 16 Second Lieutenant Oscar R. Lee was promoted to Captain of Company M, but was never mustered as his commission did not arrive until after he was killed at Cedar Creek.
October 17 Captain William Goodrich of Company C was discharged for disability.
October 19

Battle of Cedar Creek

The regiment lost 13 men killed, 74 wounded, and 20 missing. Captains Edward P. Lee of Company B and Edward A. Todd of Company G were wounded. Second Lieutenant Oscar R. Lee of Company M (whose commission as Captain had not yet been issued) was killed.
Late October Duty at Strasburg
November 9 At Kernstown
December 2 First Lieutenant Henry Chase of Company E was promoted to Captain of Company M.
December 9-12 Moved to Petersburg, Virginia. Joined Siege of Petersburg
1865
January 3 First Lieutenant Silas B. Tucker was promoted to Captain of Company C.
January 10 Brevet Major James Eldredge was discharged for his wounds from Cold Harbor and Third Winchester.
January 30 Captain George D. Sowles of Company K was promoted to Major. Captain George Tilden of Company K was transferred to Company H.
February 28 Captain Charles K. Flemming of Company M was paroled.
March 25
Fort Fisher, Petersburg
March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign
April 2

Fall of Petersburg

The Vermont Brigade charged through the Confederate lines in early morning twilight, capturing the fortifications in fifteen minutes. The 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery lost 5 men killed and 45 wounded.

  • First Lieutenant Henry Nichols of Company B was promoted to Brevet Captain and Brevet Major for gallantry.
  • First Lieutenant George Bailey was promoted to Brevet Captain of Company M for gallantry.
  • First Lieutenant John H. Macomber was promoted to Brevet Captain of Company L for gallantry.
April Duty at Burkesville
April 18 Captain Edward A. Todd of Company G resigned.
April 23-27 March to Danville
April 28 Captain John Rice of Company F was discharged.
May 8 Colonel Warner was promoted to brigadier general.
May 13 Brevet Captain George A. Bailey of Company M was promoted to full Captain of Company K.
May 15 Captain Charles J. Lewis of Company D was discharged for disability.
May 19-24 At Manchester.
May 25 First Lieutenant Patrick Diggins was promoted to Captain of Company G.
June At Munson’s Hill, Washington, attached to Middle Department, 8th Corps
June 2
  • Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hunsdon was promoted to colonel.
  • Major Aldace M. Walker was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
  • First Lieutenant Edward F. Griswold of Comapny L was promoted to Captain of Company F
  • First Lieutenant George G. Howe of Comapny B was promoted to Captain of Company I.
June 4 First Lieutenant Chester W. Dodge was promoted to Captain of Company D.
June 8 Corps Review
June 24
Old members mustered out

Commanded by Colonel Charles Hunsdon, Lieutenant Colonel Aldace F. Walker and Majors Robinson Templeton and George Sowles. Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion of four Companies.

Captain George Bailey of Company K was transferred to Company B and Captain John H. Macomber of Company L was transferred to Company C.

Duty at Fort Foote, Md., Defenses of Washington
July 26 Major Darius J. Safford was promoted to Colonel and Captain Henry Chase of Company A to Major.
August 25 The 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel Darius J. Safford and Major Henry Chase.