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16th Vermont
Regiment Infantry
| Regimental History |
| Sixteenth Infantry. — Col., Wheelock G. Veazey; Lieut.-Col., Charles
Cummings; Maj., William Rounds. This regiment, composed of men from Windsor and Windham
counties, was organized Sept. 27, 1862, rendezvoused at Brattleboro Oct. 9, and was
mustered into the United States service for nine months on the 23d. It was one of the five
nine months' regiments recruited in Vermont under the call of Aug. 4, 1862, for 300,000
militia. Col. Veazey, a graduate of Dartmouth college, had received excellent training in
military affairs as captain, major and lieutenant-colonel in the 3d Vt. infantry, and as
commander of the 5th Vt., during part of the Peninsular campaign. He was an excellent
officer and commanded the complete confidence of his regiment. Lieut.-Col. Cummings had
served as first lieutenant of Co. E of the 11th Vt., afterwards returned to the service as
lieutenant-colonel of the 17th Vt., and was killed while commanding that regiment at the
battle of Poplar Grove, near Petersburg, Va. Maj. Rounds was a well known lawyer of the
Windsor county bar, but without previous experience in military affairs. The regiment had
an unusually large number of intelligent and well educated men and contained some of the
best blood of the state. It left Brattleboro on Oct. 24, 1862, with 949 officers and men,
for Washington, and on its arrival there was brigaded with the other Vermont troops to
form the 2nd Vermont brigade. On Oct. 30, it moved with the brigade, to Ball's
cross-roads, Va., and then to Hunting creek, where it established "Camp
Vermont." On Dec. 11, it moved farther to the front and was stationed at Centerville
and Fairfax Court House until Jan. 20, 1863. It was then at Fairfax Station on the Orange
& Alexandria railroad until March 24, when it moved to Bull run and was chiefly
occupied in guard and picket duty. In the latter part of May it was stationed by
detachments at various points on the railroad on guard duty. At Catlett's station, on May
30, Mosby's raiders attacked a supply train and inflicted considerable damage. On June 11
it returned to Union mills and resumed picket duty along Bull run. Lee's great invasion
into Pennsylvania was now under way, and on June 23 the brigade, commanded by Gen.
Stannard, was assigned to the 1st corps of the Army of the Potomac. Two days later it
received orders to join the corps and started on its long forced march to Gettysburg. It
reached Emmitsburg, Md., on the 30th and after a hurried march the following day reached
the battle-field at the close of the first day's fight, going into position on the left on
Cemetery hill. The regiment was engaged on the afternoon of the 2nd, Co. B, under Capt.
Arms being detached to reinforce the skirmish line in the morning and rendering efficient
service. While moving in the afternoon to the left along Cemetery ridge to reinforce the
shattered Union lines, it was exposed to a heavy artillery fire, and finally halted in
support of a battery. That night it was detailed for picket duty across the field of the
afternoon and during the fierce fighting of the 3d day, it held the same advanced position
on the skirmish line. During the famous charge of Longstreet's three divisions the 16th
was heavily engaged, twice changing front under a severe artillery and musketry fire and
charging the enemy's flank. It captured prisoners several times in excess of its own
numbers, together with 3 stands of colors, and after the battle followed in pursuit of
Lee's retreating army until Lee crossed the Potomac into Virginia, when it was ordered
home, its term of enlistment having expired. It arrived in New York during the draft riots
and remained there until order was restored. It was finally mustered out at Brattleboro,
Aug. 10, 1863. The total enrolment of the 16th was 968, of whom 24 were killed in action
or mortally wounded ; 48 died of disease and 1 died in prison — total deaths, 73.
Eighty men were wounded, 4 were captured and 2 deserted. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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