11Th Infantry

ELEVENTH REGIMENT. (FIRST REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.) (THREE YEARS.) BY JAMES M. WARNER, BRIGADIER AND BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. VOLS., And ALDACE F. WALKER, (Chairman Inter-State Commerce Railway Association,) LIEUTEN- ANT-COLONEL AND BREVET COLONEL ELEVENTH REGIMENT. HE First Artillery, Eleventh Vermont Volun- wooden structures, with a fine hospital. It was the T teers, was the largest Vermont regiment. Its daily resort of visitors from the city. No more pleasant aggregate membership, officers and men, was 2,320. or cheerful experiences were ever the lot of soldiers It was originally recruited as an infantry regiment in actual war than those enjoyed by this regiment in the summer of 1862. Being assigned to duty in during the whole of the year 1S63 and the first three the Northern Defences of Washington, it was soon months of 1864. changed from infantry to heavy artillery by order of After the battle of the Wilderness, General Grant the War Department, and its enlargement to the summoned all available troops to the re-enforcement regular heavy artillery standard was authorized. of the Army of the Potomac, and this regiment with Further recruiting followed, which resulted in giving others was ordered to the front as infantry, though it twelve companies (called batteries) of one hundred still bearing its yellow flag and wearing red trim- fifty men each, with three Majors, with four Lieu- mings upon its uniforms. It reported for duty near tenants to each battery. The number of non-com- Spottsylvania Court House with 1,500 men in line, missioned officers was also enlarged. and at once became a member of the Old Vermont The service of the regiment at Washington em- Brigade, whose five regiments had been reduced to braced a period of a year and eight months, chiefly scarce 1,200 muskets. In order to handle the Elev- employed in constructing and garrisoning the three enth on the march and in battle it became necessary well-known fortifications named Fort Slocum, Fort to divide it into three battalions, giving the Majors Stevens, and Fort Totten. Four other forts were practically regimental commands. In this manner it occupied by the regiment during the latter part of fought to the end of the war in the Sixth Army its artillery service, giving it a front of about seven Corps. Its active service was only eleven months. miles, facing north, from East Creek to Rock Creek. During this brief period 155 of its members were These works mounted over two hundred heavy guns killed in action, or died of wounds received in action ; and mortars, and were connected by a continuous line 175 died in Confederate prisons, and 457 were of rifle pits. The line thus occupied was about four wounded. These figures demonstrate the severity miles from the city, beyond the Soldiers' Home, and of the duty it was called upon to perform, and in the was afterwards ineffectually attacked by General performance of which it never flinched for an in- Early. During its occupancy by the Eleventh Ver- stant. Being placed by the side of the veteran regi- mont the regiment became noted for its proficiency ments of the Vermont Brigade, the Eleventh was on in drill and thorough discipline. It assumed the red its mettle from the outset, and soon added to its dis- chevrons and shoulder straps of the artillery arm, cipline the experience of actual campaigning neces- and added an artillery flag to its colors, crossed sary to make it the equal of any command in the cannons PR a yellow field. Its camps were well-built army. The list of its engagements appended shows 409 (52) 410 ELEVENTH REGIMENT. that it was in every battle fought by the Sixth Corps the First Brigade of Getty's Division, a detail of from May, 1864, to April, 1865. The occasions most which continued until the close of the war, and in vividly remembered are, the heavy artillery fire to which he gained great credit, especially at Fisher's which it was subjected at Spottsylvania, May 18; Hill, Cedar Creek, and the capture of Petersburg, the battle of Cold Harbor, where it suffered heavily ; being finally promoted to Brigadier-General of Vol- the bitter episode on the Weldon road, where almost unteers, and Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. A. an entire battalion was captured General Mahone The first Lieutenant-Colonel was R. C. Benton, an by ; the return to Washington and the repulse of General experienced and capable officer, whose health broke Early's attack on Fort Stevens ; the sharp engage- down in the hard service of May, 1864, compelling ment on the skirmish line at Charlestown on August his resignation. He was succeeded by George E. an exceeding- 21 ; the battle of the Opequan, when General Sheri- Chamberlin, previously Senior Major, " ly gallant gentleman, who was killed at Charlestown. dan sent the rebels "whirling through Winchester ; the capture of Fisher's Hill; the battle of Cedar Maj. Charles Hunsdon then became lieutenant- Creek, with the soul-stirring incident of Sheridan's colonel, commanding the regiment in the absence of ride when he drew rein on Rienzi in front of the General Warner most of the time thereafter, and fi- Vermont Brigade, and at once announced to its offi- nally promoted to the Colonelcy. Maj. Aldace F. cers that he would fight the battle out "on Getty's Walker then became the last lieutenant-colonel. He line;" the winter siege of Petersburg, culminating was in command of the regiment at the battle of the in the charge of April 2, when the Sixth Corps went Opequan. Other majors were George D. Sowles, through the rebel entrenchments in the early morn- Robert Templeton, and Darius J. Safford, the latter ing twilight, capturing what has been called the remaining in the service after the conclusion of the strongest line of works in America in fifteen minutes, war as Lieutenant-Colonel in command of a battalion which 1,100 men were killed or wounded which was not mustered out until some time after during ; and the pursuit of Lee's flying army to Appomattox the rest of the regiment. Maj. Charles Buxton was Court House, followed by the final march to Danville killed at the Opequan before his commission reached of one hundred miles in four days, where the Sixth him. Surgeon C. B. Park and Chaplain Arthur Lit- Corps remained until the last rebel had laid down tle deserve a special line of generous recognition. his arms. Brevets for gallant and meritorious service were The regiment was fortunate in its officers. Its conferred upon Col. James M. Warner, Maj. Aldace Colonel from enlistment until after the fighting was F. Walker, Capt. James E. Eldredge, Lieut. Henry over, was Gen. James M. Warner of Middlebury, a C. Baxter, Capt. George G. Tilden, Lieutenants West Point graduate, who had seen service on the Henry J. Nichols, George A. Bailey, John H. Ma- plains in the regular army, a thorough soldier, and a comber, and Charles H. Anson. Several officers universal favorite. He was shot through the neck succeeded in making their escape from rebel prison in the regiment's first engagement at Spottsylvania, pens to the Union lines. One, Lieut. Edward B. rejoined his command when it entered the Shenan- Parker, while endeavoring to escape, was seriously doah Valley, commanded the brigade at the battle of bitten by blood-hounds on his trail, and died of his Opequan, and was assigned the next day to command injuries a few days later. ENGAGEMENTS. Spottsylvania, Va., May 15 to 18, 1864. Gilbert's Ford, Va., Sept. 13, 1864. Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 12, 1864. Opequan, Va., Sept. 19, 1S64. Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864. Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 21 and 22, 1864. Weldon Railroad, Va., June 23, 1801. Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864. Fort Stevens, Md., July 11, 1864. Petersburg, Va., March 25 and 27, 1865. Ckarlestotcn, W. Va., August 21, 1861, Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865, ELEVENTH REGIMENT. (FIRST REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.) (THREE YEARS.) Mustered into the service of the United States September I, 1862. Original members, recruits for one year, and recruits whose term of service would expire previous to October I, 1865, mustered out of service June 24, 1865. Remaining officers and men consolidated into battalion of four companies June 24, 1865, but their record is completed in their original company. Battalion mustered out of service August. 25, 1865. Field and Staff. Date of Date of Name and Rank.. Residence. Remarks. Commis'n. Issue. Colonels. James M. Warner, 1st Lieut. U. S. A., Aug. 15/62 Aug. 27/62 Bvt. Brig. -Gen. Aug. 1, '64, for gallantry at Spottsylvania Court House, Winchester. Fishers' Hill and Cedar Creek: Wd. May 18, '64; Prom. Brig.-Gen. U. S. Vols. May S, '65 ; Must out of Vol. service Jan. 15, '66. [Must, out June 24, '65. Charles Hunsdon, Shoreham, May 23,'65 June 2/65 Capt. Co. B.; Prom. Maj. Nov. 2, '63; do. Lieut.-Col. Sept. 2, '64; Lieut. -Colonels. Reuben C. Benton, Hyde Park, Aug. 26,'62 Aug. 27, Geo. E. Chamberlin, St. Johnsbury, June 28/64 July 11. Charles Hunsdon, Shoreham, Sept. 2/64 Oct. 3, Aldace F. Walker, Middlebury, May 23/65 June 2, Morristown, 10/65 July 26/65 Darius J. Safford, July Majors. Geo. E. Chamberlin, St. Johnsbury. Aug. 26/62 Aug. Charles Hunsdon, Shoreham, Nov. 2/63 Charles K. Fleming, Rockingham, Jan. 21/64 Aldace F. Walker, Middlebury, June 28/64 Charles Buxton, Rockingham, Sept. 2/64 George D. Sowles, Alburgh, Oct. 16/64 Robinson Templeton, Worcester, May 23,'65 Morristown, May Darius J.

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