13th Vermont Infantry - History

History

The 13th Vermont Infantry was raised as a result of President Lincoln's call on August 4, 1862 for additional troops due to the disastrous results of the Peninsula Campaign. It was composed of volunteers from Washington, Chittenden, Lamoille and Franklin counties, as follows:

• Company A, Emmett Guards of Burlington, Captain John Lonergan.
• Company B, Waitsfield, Company, Captain Orcas C. Wilder.
• Company C, East Montpelier, Company, Captain Lewis L. Coburn.
• Company D, Colchester, Company, Captain William D. Munson.
• Company E, Morristown, Company, Captain Joseph J. Boynton.
• Company F, Richmond, Company, Captain John L. Yale.
• Company G, Bakersfield, Company, Captain Marvin White.
• Company H, Lafayette Artillery of Calais, Captain William V. Peck.
• Company I, Montpelier, Company, Captain John M. Thacher.
• Company K, HIghgate, Company, Captain George S. Blake.

The regiment's commander, Colonel Francis V. Randall, of Braintree had served with the 2nd Vermont Infantry. Lieutenant Colonel Andrew W. Brown had no previous military experience. Major Lawrence D. Clark had served as captain of Co. A, 1st Vermont Infantry. Clark resigned in March 1863, due to impaired health, and was replaced by Captain Joseph J. Boynton, of Company C. Brown resigned in May 1863, and was succeeded by Captain William D. Munson, of Company D.

The 13th Regiment went into camp at Brattleboro on September 29, 1862, and was mustered into United States service on October 3 with 953 officers and men. It left Vermont on October 11, and arrived in Washington, D.C. on October 13.

The regiment suffered its first two casualties within two weeks of arriving in Washington: Isaac N. Brooks, 18, of Company E, died on October 26, and Lieutenant Nathaniel Jones, Jr., of Company B died of typhoid fever on October 29.

The regiment set up camp on East Capitol Hill, a half-mile west of the 12th Vermont Infantry, then moved to Camp Chase, Arlington, Virginia on October 25, returning to East Capital Hill three days later when the 2nd Vermont Brigade was formed.

The regiment marched to Munson's Hill on October 30, and Hunting Creek on November 5, where it stayed until November 26, in 'Camp Vermont'. It was engaged in picket duty near Fairfax Courthouse until December 12 to January 20, 1863, participating in a repulse of J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry on December 29. The regiment was stationed at Wolf Run Shoals from January 20 to April 2, then performed railroad guard duty at Warrenton Junction until June 25.

On June 25, the brigade was assigned as the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, I Corps, and ordered to form the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac as it marched north after Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The 13th marched with the brigade from Wolf Run Shoals on June 25, crossed the Potomac river on June 27 at Edward's Ferry, and moved north through Frederick City and Creagerstown, Maryland. On the morning of July 1, it left Westminster, Maryland, arrived on the battlefield at Gettysburg after dark on the first day of the battle, and camped in a wheat field to the left of Cemetery Hill.