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15th Vermont
Regiment Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Fifteenth Infantry.— Col., Redfield Proctor; Lieut.-Col., William W.
Grout; Maj., Charles F. Spaulding. The 15th was one of the five Vermont regiments enlisted
under the President's call of Aug. 4, 1862, for nine months' service. It was recruited in
the counties of Caledonia, Orleans, Orange and Windsor, one of its companies, the Frontier
Guards of Coventry, being one of the thirteen existing companies of uniformed militia
which first responded to the call. The companies perfected a regimental organization on
Sept. 26, 1862; rendezvoused at Brattleboro Oct. 8; were mustered into the U. S. service
for nine months on Oct. 22, and left the state for Washington on the 23d. Col. Proctor had
seen previous service as quartermaster of the 3d Vt., and afterwards as major of the 5th.
He was a fine type of the civilian soldier and was one of the best colonels in the
service. His fine qualities later placed him in the highest office within the gift of the
state. Lieut.-Col. Grout was a rising young lawyer of the Orleans county bar, and Maj.
Spaulding was a business man of St. Johnsbury, though neither was experienced in military
affairs. After the arrival of the 15th in Washington on the morning of the 26th, it was
temporarily assigned to the 2nd brigade, Case's division, and a few days later joined the
other Vermont regiments to form the 2nd Vt. brigade. It was stationed at "Camp
Vermont" near Hunting creek, engaged in drill, picket and fatigue duty, until Dec.
12. From that date until the following spring it was stationed one mile south of Fairfax
Court House, occupied in drill and fatigue duty on rifle-pits. At the time of Gen.
Stuart's raid in the rear of Fairfax Court House, Dec. 28, 1862, it picketed all the
approaches to Centerville, and during May, 1863, it was on picket duty at Bealeton Station
for a few days with Gen. Stoneman's cavalry, after which it returned to Bull run, with
headquarters at Union Mills. On May 30 a detachment of 15 men guarding a supply train,
near Catlett's station, was overpowered by a superior force of Mosby's men and the train
was partially burned. The regiment was employed during part of June in guarding the Orange
& Alexandria railroad at Catlett's and Bristoe Stations. On June 25, with the rest of
the brigade, it began its long forced march to join the 1st corps at Gettysburg. At
Emmitsburg on the 30th, the 15th and 12th regiments were detailed to guard the corps
train, which they escorted to within about 2 miles of the battle-field on July 1. That
evening the 15th was ordered to join the 13th, 14th and 16th, and bivouacked in a wheat
field to the left of Cemetery hill. At noon of July 2, while serving as support to the
batteries on Cemetery hill, it was ordered to return again and assist the 12th in guarding
the train. A detail of two companies, with two from the 12th, had charge of the 1st corps
ammunition train near the battlefield. The command overtook the train at Westminster, and
moved with it via Frederick City and South mountain towards Hagerstown, Md., rejoining the
brigade at Funkstown. During the pursuit of Lee it formed in line of battle on the right
of the 1st corps in front of Hagerstown, 200 men of the 15th being thrown forward as
skirmishers. When Lee effected his escape into Virginia the regiment was ordered home,
arriving in New York City during the draft riots. Its term of service had expired, but it
remained at the request of Gen. Canby until order was restored. It was mustered out of
service at Brattleboro, Aug. 5, 1863. The total enrolment of the 15th was 942, of whom 78
died by disease, 1 committed suicide, 1 deserted, 69 were honorably discharged, 1 was
transferred to veteran reserve corps and 5 were captured. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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