36 CWN September 2020 William Wells, Civil War Recipient by William Sweeney prisoner of war in Libby prison, 1865, he commanded the Second presentation took place in 1863. com to learn more. Brigadier- and - Richmond, Va., from March 17, Brigade, Third Division, Cavalry Since then, and as of October General William Wells was born 1863, to about May 6, 1863. Corps, which led the advance of 30, 2019, there have been 3,525 Source: in Waterbury, , Dec. 14, During his service with the the Army of the Potomac. A med- Medals of Honor awarded. This Men Of The Century, edited 1837. He enlisted as a private First Vermont Cavalry, General al of honor was awarded him by includes 19 double recipients and by Charles Morris, Philadelphia, in Company C, First Regiment Wells took part in the follow- Congress “for distinguished gal- 9 unknowns but does not include Penn., 1896. Vermont Cavalry, Sept. 9, 1861; ing battles and skirmishes: lantry at the , those revoked by the 1916 Army was sworn into the Middletown, Winchester, Luray , July 3, 1863.” He Review Board. Of the 3,525 re- William Sweeney is from Woburn, service, Oct. 3, 1861, at the age Court-House, Culpeper Court- was collector of customs, District cipients, 1,523 are from the Civil Massachusetts. He is an Army of twenty-three years; commis- House, Orange Court-House, of Vermont, from 1872 until War. veteran of the Vietnam War, and sioned first lieutenant, Co. C, Kelley’s Ford, Waterloo Bridge, 1885. The mission of the Medal of belongs to several veterans or- Oct. 14, 1861, and , Nov. Bull Run, Warrenton, Hanover, General Wells was elected to Honor Society of the United ganizations including the VVA, 18, 1861; mustered November Hunterstown, Gettysburg, the office of adjutant and inspec- States’ (MOHHSUS) is dedicated DAV, VFW, Amvets, and American 19, 1861, with the field and staff Monterey, Leitersville, tor-general of the State of Vermont to provide for the research, pres- Legion. He is a descendant of a of the First Vermont Cavalry, to Hagerstown, Boonsboro, Falling in 1866, and resigned in 1872. ervation, and documentation of Civil War veteran and has a par- serve for three years. Promoted Waters, Port Conway, Culpeper He was one of the trustees of the the history of the individuals who ticular interest in the Civil War. major, October 30, 1862; , Court-House, Somerville Ford, Vermont Soldiers’ Home. He was have been awarded the Medal He also has a special interest in June 4, 1864. Appointed brevet Raccoon Ford, James City, a member of the Grand Army of of Honor, the highest award that the Medal of Honor, and is Vice brigadier-general of volunteers, Brandy Station, Gainesville, the Republic, and a charter mem- can be bestowed upon a mem- President of the Medal of Honor Feb. 22, 1865, and brigadier-gen- Buckland Mills, Falmouth, ber and first commander of the ber of the U.S. Armed Forces. Historical Society of the United eral of volunteers, May 19, 1865. Morton’s Ford, Mechanicsville, Vermont Commandery, Military Membership is open to all and States. He has been a subscriber Appointed brevet major-general Piping-Tree, Craig’s Meeting Order of the Loyal Legion. is only $20 annually. Please vis- to Civil War News for many years. of volunteers, March 30, 1865, House, Spottsylvania, Yellow General Wells died April 29, it our webpage at www.mohhsus. “for gallant and meritorious Tavern, Meadow Bridge, Hanover 1892, and is buried at Lake View services.” Court House, Ashland, Hawes’ Cemetery, Burlington, Vt. He led the 7th Michigan Shop, Bottom Bridge, White Wells’ obituary noted that he Cavalry, March 2, 1864, while Oak Swamp, Riddle’s Shop, served in the Vermont Legislature near Richmond, Va., and contin- Malvern Hill, Reams’s Station, from 1865 to 1866 and again ued in command of the regiment Nottoway Court House, Roanoke as State Senator from 1886 to for several weeks. As major, he Station, Stony Creek, Reams’s 1887. A statue of General Wells commanded his own regiment Station, [sic] Winchester, Summit was dedicated at Gettysburg in from June 3, 1864 to July 2, 1864. Point, Charlestown, W.Va., 1913, and an identical statue Promoted to colonel, he led the Kearneysville, and Opequan. can be found in Battery Park, 1st Vermont cavalry regiment un- At the grand review, Burlington, Vt. til September 19, 1864, when he Washington, D.C., May 22, The first Medal of Honor assumed command of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. He commanded this brigade until May 22, 1865, when he assumed command of the Third Cavalry Division. He was in command of the cavalry corps from June 1 to June 24, 1865, being its last com- mander. He mustered out Jan. 15, 1866. He was wounded by a sa- bre at Boonesboro, Md., July 8, 1863, and by a shell fragment at Culpeper Court House, Va., Sept. 13, 1863 He was briefly a

Want To Advertise In Civil War News? Email us at [email protected]

Call 800-777-1862

Civil War News

Vol. 46, No. 1 $3.50 CWAmerica’s Monthly Newspaper For Civil WarN Enthusiasts 48 Pages, January 2020 Remembrance Day, 2019, Gettysburg The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. – Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863.

by Joe Bordonaro President Lincoln was wrong about the first part, but very much correct about the second part of this famous phrase from his mag- nificent “Gettysburg Address.” On Nov. 23, 2019, reenactors and members of the general public gathered in Gettysburg, Penn., to remember the actions of the soldiers and the President 156

Remembrance Day 2019. Stafford County Science Teacher Don Mullen, portrays President Lincoln. (Garry Adelman, American Battlefield Trust) Members of the 14th Brooklyn carry the uniform of Frank J. Santella in Remembrance Day parade. (Todd Welsh) years ago. The Sons of Union Veterans held their 62nd annual parade, featuring numerous Civil War reenactors. Members of re- enacting groups commemorated the actions of various individuals and units by conducting march- es and visiting monuments. A “Remembrance Illumination” of Gettysburg National Cemetery graves occurs each year, as well. Although the numbers of reenac- tors are down from its 2000 peak when Wikipedia estimated there were about 50,000 Civil War re- enactors; a still impressive num- ber showed up this year and kept The Delaware Valley Blues march towards the Codori Farm. H the traditions alive. The accom- (Alexander Glisson) Day panying photos highlight some ...... see page 2 activities that took place.

Joe Bordonaro is a USAF veter- Inside this issue: 47 – Advertiser Index 43 – Events Section an (1973–1977), Glassboro State 16 – The Source 10 – Black Powder, White Smoke 22 – The Graphic War College graduate (1980), Catholic 12 – The Unfinished Fight 38 – Book Reviews 24 – Inspection, ARMS! school teacher, and retired public 26 – This And That 40 – Critic’s Corner 20 – Preservation News school teacher. He can be contact- 14 – Through The Lens 28 – Emerging Civil War 41 – Small Talk-Trivia ed at [email protected]. Statue of Major General William Wells at Gettysburg. Sculpture Portrait of William Wells. by J. Otto Schweizer (1863–1955). Photograph by Jack Melton.