Vermont in the American Civil War facts for kids
During the American Civil War, the State of Vermont played a very important part. Vermont continued its strong military history, which began with the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolutionary War. A large number of men from Vermont joined the fight to save the country.
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Vermont's Role in the Civil War
Why Vermont Was Important
Vermont was the first state to outlaw slavery in its constitution, way back in 1777. Even though Vermont's climate wasn't good for growing crops that needed enslaved labor, people there were early supporters of the abolitionist movement. This movement worked to end slavery across the United States.
In the 1860 presidential election, Vermont strongly supported Abraham Lincoln. He was the Republican candidate who was against slavery spreading. Lincoln won a huge number of votes in Vermont. This showed how much Vermonters believed in his cause.
Vermont's Leaders During the War
Many important people from Vermont helped the Union during the war.
- Governors: Three men served as Governor of Vermont during the war: Erastus Fairbanks, Frederick Holbrook, and J. Gregory Smith.
- Governor Fairbanks promised that "Vermont will do its Full Duty." He helped create six infantry and one cavalry regiments.
- Governor Holbrook's time saw the creation of 10 more infantry regiments, two light artillery groups, and three sharpshooter companies. He also built three military hospitals in Vermont. These hospitals were known for helping soldiers recover very well.
- Governor Smith helped form Vermont's last infantry regiment and another light artillery group. After a Confederate attack on his hometown, St. Albans, he also created two companies of frontier cavalry to protect the border.
- Politicians in Congress: Vermont had strong voices in the U.S. Congress. These included Senators Solomon Foot and Jacob Collamer. Representatives like Justin S. Morrill, Homer Elihu Royce, and Portus Baxter also served.
- Other Key Figures: Lucius E. Chittenden, a lawyer, worked with President Lincoln's government. He was the Registrar of the Treasury.
Vermont's Soldiers and Their Sacrifices
How Many Vermonters Served?
Vermont had about 350,000 citizens at the time. More than 34,000 Vermonters served in the war. This was a very large number for such a small state.
- Over 28,100 Vermonters joined Vermont's own volunteer units.
- Vermont created 17 infantry regiments, 1 cavalry regiment, 3 light artillery batteries, 1 heavy artillery company, 3 sharpshooter companies, and 2 frontier cavalry companies.
- Instead of making new units when old ones lost soldiers, Vermont sent new recruits to keep the existing units strong.
- Nearly 5,000 other Vermonters served in units from other states or in the United States Army and United States Navy.
- Sixty-six Black Vermonters joined the famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. In total, 166 Black Vermonters served, out of only 709 Black people in the state.
What Was the Cost?
The war was very costly for Vermont.
- 1,832 Vermonters were killed or badly wounded in battle.
- Another 3,362 died from diseases, in prison, or from other reasons.
- In total, Vermont lost 5,194 soldiers.
- More than 2,200 Vermonters were captured during the war. Sadly, 615 of them died while imprisoned or because of their time in prison.
Vermont's Important Battles
Vermont soldiers fought bravely in many key battles.
- Battle of Gettysburg: At the Battle of Gettysburg, the 2nd Vermont Brigade played a crucial role. Under General George J. Stannard, they helped stop Pickett's Charge. This was a major attack by the Confederate army. The Vermonters moved out of a safe spot and fired at the side of the attacking Confederates, breaking their charge.
- Battle of the Wilderness: This battle was Vermont's toughest day of the war. About 1,000 men from the 1st Vermont Brigade were killed or wounded. This brigade made up a large part of all the Union casualties in that battle.
- Battle of Monocacy: The 10th Vermont Infantry helped delay a Confederate attack on Washington D.C. This battle was very important, even though it is often overlooked.
Many Vermonters became generals in the Union Army. Some led Vermont units, like Lewis A. Grant and William Wells. Others served in different units or the regular army.
Famous naval heroes from Vermont included George Dewey and Charles Edgar Clark.
Vermont Units in Action
Early Engagements
The first time Vermonters saw military action was at the Battle of Big Bethel on June 10, 1861. A group from the 1st Vermont Infantry Regiment was involved.
The Vermont Brigades
- 1st Vermont Brigade: The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and later the 11th Vermont Infantry regiments formed the 1st Vermont Brigade. This brigade fought in almost every major battle in the Eastern Theater. Their service ranged from the First Battle of Bull Run to Appomattox Court House.
- 2nd Vermont Brigade: The 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Vermont Infantry regiments made up the 2nd Vermont Brigade. They earned lasting fame for their actions at the Battle of Gettysburg, especially for stopping Pickett's Charge.
Other Vermont Units and Their Service
- The 7th Vermont Infantry, 8th Vermont Infantry, and two Vermont Light Artillery Batteries served in the Department of the Gulf. The 8th Vermont later fought in the Shenandoah Valley Campaigns of 1864.
- The 9th Vermont Infantry was captured at the Battle of Harpers Ferry in 1862. However, they later fought well in eastern Virginia and North Carolina. They were among the first Union units to enter Richmond, Virginia, in April 1865.
- Vermont also had three companies of sharpshooters. They served with Hiram Berdan in the U.S. Sharpshooter regiments.
- The 1st Vermont Cavalry regiment took part in more than 70 battles and skirmishes.
- After the St. Albans raid in October 1864, Vermont created two companies of Frontier Cavalry. These soldiers spent six months guarding the Canada–U.S. border to prevent more attacks from Confederate raiders.
Medal of Honor Recipients
Sixty-four Vermonters received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest military award for bravery. One recipient was Willie Johnston, who was the youngest person ever to receive the award.
Civil War History in Vermont
The St. Albans Raid
St. Albans, Vermont, was the site of the northernmost land action of the Civil War. On October 19, 1864, Confederate raiders attacked the town. They robbed three banks and then escaped to Canada. The Canadian courts decided the raiders were acting under military orders. Because of this, they could not be sent back to the United States without Canada breaking its neutrality.
Remembering the Soldiers
Most towns in Vermont have a monument to remember the soldiers who fought in the Civil War. For many years after the war, you could see old cellar holes on Vermont's hillsides. These were from farms that were abandoned because all the sons of the family had been killed in the war.
Where to Learn More
There are several places in Vermont where you can find important documents and historical items from the war. These include:
- The Vermont State House
- The Vermont Historical Society
- The University of Vermont Howe Library
- The Bennington Museum
- The Sheldon Museum in Middlebury
- The Vermont Veterans Militia Museum and Library
- Norwich University Sullivan Museum and special collections
- The State of Vermont Public Records Division