Full text of "Dedication of the statue to Brevet Major-General William Wells"

See other formats

Compliments of

FREDERICK HOWARD WELLS
FRANK RICHARDSON WELLS
BERTHA WELLS JACKSON

Burlington, Vermont

BRONZE STATUE OF
BRIGADIER AND BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS U. S. VOLUNTEERS

DEDICATION
OF THE STATUE TO

BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL
WILLIAM WELLS

AND THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE
FIRST REGIMENT VERMONT CAVALRY

ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF GETTYSBURG
JULY 3, 1913

PRIVATELY PRINTED
1914

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS
HIS FAMILY

AND
HIS COMRADES IN ARMS

PREFACE

THE compiling of the following pages has been a
labor of love.
The unveiling and dedication on the battlefield
of Gettysburg, July 3, 1913, of the memorial erected
in honor of Major-General Wells and officers and men
of the First Vermont Cavalry, on Confederate Avenue,
in front of Round Top, was an occasion never to be
forgotten by all who were present, men of the North,
and men of the South. This charge of the First Ver
mont Cavalry was so swallowed up in the multitudinous
incidents of the great battle that few have followed it
as it deserves. I am proud to say that Vermont,
however, remembers well her gallant sons in this
soul-stirring feat and that by a happy thought the
Legislature of the State made an appropriation for a
monument to be erected near the spot from which
the regiment started upon its memorable charge.

Burlington, Vermont
October 13, 1913

An Act to Provide for Procuring and Erecting on the
Battlefield of Gettysburg a Monument to General
William Wells and the Offi.cers and the Enlisted Men
of the First Regiment, Vermont Cavalry.

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the
State of Vermont:

Section 1. The sum of six thousand dollars, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appro
priated for the purpose of erecting a monument on the
battlefield of Gettysburg and for suitably preparing
the ground and foundation therefor, commemorating
the services and perpetuating the memory of General
William Wells and the officers and enlisted men of the
First Regiment, Vermont Cavalry.

Section 2. The governor shall, on or before the
first day of January, 1913, appoint five commissioners
to carry out the provisions of this act, and the auditor
of accounts is hereby directed to draw his order for
the sum of six thousand dollars, or any part thereof as
the work progresses, in favor of such commissioners
whenever they shall make requisition for the same.
Section 3. This act shall take effect from its passage.
CHARLES A. PLUMLEY,

Speaker of the House of

Representatives.
FRANK E. HOWE,

President of the Senate.
Approved December 20, 1912.
ALLEN M. FLETCHER,

Governor.

•

SEYMOUR H. WOOD GEORGE L. MCBRIDE

BARNEY DECKER, Chairman
JOHN E. MCCLELLAN HENRY O. WHEELER

His EXCELLENCY, ALLEN M. FLETCHER, GOVERNOR
OF VERMONT, APPOINTED THE FOLLOWING COM
MISSIONERS:

BARNEY DECKER, Chairman

SEYMOUR H. WOOD
GEORGE L. McBRiDE
HENRY O. WHEELER
JOHN E. MCCLELLAN

MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSIONERS

THE Commissioners held their first meeting in
Burlington, Vermont, December 21, 1913, Mr.
Barney Decker, Chairman, being the only mem
ber of the Commission absent. General Theodore S.
Peck and General Lee S. Tillotson, the Adjutant-
General, were also present, General Peck being made
Secretary of the Commission and General Tillotson its
Treasurer.

In view of the limited time before the monument
must be in position, July 1, 1913, and the high recom-

GENERAL LEE S. TILLOTSON
Treasurer

GENERAL THEODORE S. PECK
Secretary

mendation which had been accorded the Van Amringe
Granite Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, it was

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

decided to request them to have a representative
present at the next meeting of the Commission.

The Commissioners held their second meeting in
Burlington, on January 6, 1913, all the Commissioners
being present, also the Treasurer and Secretary. By
special invitation Chaplain John E. Goodrich of the
Regiment was invited, as well as the members of the
Wells family, which included Charles Wells, Frederick
Howard Wells, the two surviving brothers of General
Wells; the General's son and daughter, Frank R. Wells
and Mrs. Bertha R. Wells Jackson; her husband, Dr.
H. Nelson Jackson, and George M. Besett, Managing
Director, Wells & Richardson Company. The Com
missioners regretted very much that General Wells'
sister, Mrs. Sarah Carpenter Wells Brock, and her
husband, the Honorable James W. Brock, on account
of sickness, were unable to be present. Mr. Van
Amringe, President of the Van Amringe Granite Com
pany, was also present.

The Secretary, General Peck, reported to the Com
mission that a delegation had been appointed by the
First Vermont Cavalry Association in the fall of 1910
to go to Gettysburg and confer with the Gettysburg
National Military Park Commission about the loca
tion of the site for the monument, and that on Octo
ber 30, 1910, this site had been granted by the War
Department.1

aWhile at Gettysburg Colonel Nicholson, Chairman of the Commission,
assured the Vermonters that when the monument was in position a vista
would be cut from that point to the granite monument of the First Regi
ment Vermont Cavalry erected by the State in 1889, a distance of some one
thousand yards.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Commissioner McBride stated that he was author
ized to inform the Commission that the sum of two
thousand dollars had been added to the State's appro
priation by members of the Regiment. Mr. Van
Amringe brought with him several photographs of
work which his house had done and said that within
the time given he could finish a monument which
would be in every way worthy of what it commemo
rated and meet the approval of all interested. He also
stated that while at Gettysburg, several years ago, he
had the pleasure of meeting General Wells with Dr.
Edson. They went over the field with him and also
gave him a description of the charge, and for this
reason it would be especially pleasing to him to do
the work. Colonel John P. Nicholson, Chairman of
the Gettysburg National Military Park Commission,
declared Mr. Van Amringe, was particularly interested
in this monument; indeed, during all his intercourse
with him for over thirty years he had never known
him to showT so much interest in any statue except that
of his own father.

Mr. Van Amringe agreed that his firm would furnish
a bond to have the work completed by July 1, 1913,
and the contract was accordingly drawn up and the
bond executed.

The Commission then took up the details of the
work and endeavored in every way possible to furnish
the contractors with material and information to
enable them to erect the finest memorial possible of
the charge of the afternoon of July 3, 1863.

ANNUAL REPORTS. WAR DEPARTMENT

FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30. 1911

REPORT OF THE

GETTYSBURG NATIONAL

MILITARY PARK

COMMISSION

191

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1911

O m T. MAJ. GEN'. WILLIAM WELLS

A committee of the First Vermont Cavalry came from Vermont to
select a site for a statue to Bvt. Maj. Gen. William Wells, 'colonel of
First Vermont Cavalry, and on October 30, 1910, accompanied by the
commission visited the battle field in the vicinity of the operations of that
regiment in its desperate charge through the lines of the Confederate
Army on July 3, 1863.

After carefully considering several appropriate sites, the committee
unanimously agreed on a location on section 7, at a bowlder on the south
side of the avenue, 270 feet -west of the bridge over Plum Run, and a map
of the position has been made showing the site selected and the field of
operations in the charge.

FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE VERMONT CAVALRY REUNION SOCIETY

The forty-first annual meeting of the survivors of the First
Regiment Vermont Cavalry will be held on the battlefield of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in connection with the semi-centennial
celebration of that battle.

All Vermont cavalrymen, in whatever State they may now
reside, are earnestly invited to be present.

Business meeting will be held in the "great tent" on Wednesday,
July 2, at 10 o'clock, A. M. (If it becomes necessary to change
the hour of holding the meeting, due notice of such change will
be posted at the headquarters of the Vermont contingent.)

Comrades will report at Vermont headquarters immediately on
arrival at Gettysburg, register and procure badges furnished ex
pressly for this celebration.

Services of unveiling and dedication of the Memorial in honor
of General William WTells and officers and men of the First Vermont
Cavalry will be held at 3:30 o'clock, p. M., July 3, 1913, near
the spot where the second battalion crossed Plum Run on the
charge of July 3, 1863. These services will be of unusual interest
and it is expected and hoped that all survivors of the regiment
who are physically able will be present.

Owing to advance in price by the manufacturers, the society
badges will, in future, be two dollars and fifty cents each; this
price wrill include membership fee.

DEATHS. Families of deceased members who receive this
notice are requested to notify the secretary of the date of such
decease.

MYRON M. PARKER, President,
1418 F Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.

H. O. WHEELER, Treasurer,

Burlington, Vermont.

S. H. WOOD, Secretary,

Saint Albans, Vermont.

Saint Albans, Vermont, June 2, 1913.

BURLINGTON, VT., JUNE 5. 1913.
BY DIRECTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY, ALLEN M.

FLETCHER, GOVERNOR OF VERMONT, THE COMMISSION
ERS APPOINTED BY HIM TO HAVE CHARGE OF THE
ERECTION OF A MONUMENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF
GETTYSBURG IN HONOR OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN
OF THE FIRST REGIMENT VERMONT CAVALRY AND
THEIR DISTINGUISHED COMMANDER, MAJOR GENERAL
WILLIAM WELLS, RESPECTFULLY INVITE YOU TO BE

PRESENT AT THE DEDICATORY EX E R C I S ES , W H I C H WILL
TAKE PLACE ON THAT HISTORIC FIELD AT 3.3O
O'CLOCK ON THE AFTERNOON OF JULY 3, 1913, THIS
BEING THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT TERRIFIC
CHARGE NEAR ROUND TOP IN WHICH SO MANY OF
THE MEMBERS OF THIS REGIMENT "PAID TO THE NA
TION THE UTTERMOST TRIBUTE OF DEVOTION."

THE EXERCISES WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THE
VERMONT CAVALRY ASSOCIATION. OF WHICH COLONEL
MYRON M. PARKER OF WASHINGTON, D. C., is PRESI
DENT.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE FAVOR OF AN

EARLY REPLY.

VERY SINCERELY.

BARNEY DECKER, CHAIRMAN")

SEYMOUR H. WOOD )

GEORGE MCBRIDE ^COMMISSIONERS

HENRY O. WHEELER

JOHN E. McCLELLAN

SECRETARY.

CHARLES WELLS
Brother of General William Wells

CHARLES WELLS

IN January, 1863, when a boy of eighteen, Charles
Wells left Waterbury, Vermont, to join his brother,
Major William Wells, at the front, and in that same
month joined the First Vermont Cavalry at Eort Scott,
Virginia. He remained with the command some eight
months, and was present with Major WTells in the
Gettysburg campaign. In August, 1863, he left the
regiment and returned home. Later he removed to
Wawpun, Wisconsin, where he enlisted as a private in
Company B, Forty-first Wisconsin Infantry, and went
to Memphis, Tennessee, the regiment forming a part
of the Sixteenth Army Corps, Major-General A. J.
Smith commanding. At Memphis he was in action
against the raid of Confederate General Forrest. He
was mustered out with his regiment in September,
1864.

It was a source of deep regret to the members of the
First Vermont Cavalry Regimental Association that
Comrade Wells could not be with them at the dedica
tory exercises, especially as he was one of the party
who selected the site for the monument, and it was
their wish to have him assist the other members of the
family in unveiling the statue of General Wells, but,
owing to the condition of his health, his physician
considered it too great an undertaking. He was by
no means forgotten, however, and was often spoken of
most lovingly by his many friends and comrades.

It was expected that Honorable James W. Brock,
with Mrs. Brock, would be present at the unveiling ex
ercises, but illness prevented, much to the regret of
their many friends in the regiment.

The Vermont Cavalrymen remember with great
pleasure Mr. Brock's desire that the battlefield of Get
tysburg should have a fitting memorial in honor of
their desperate charge on the afternoon of July 3, 1863,
and his efficient services toward securing the monu
ment.

MRS. SARAH CARPENTER WELLS BROCK
Sister of General Wells

HONORABLE JAMES W. BROCK

SURGEON-MAJOR P. O'M. EDSON

HONORABLE GEORGE F. EDMUNDS
United States Senator from Vermont. Elected 1866. Resigned 1891

841 South Orange Grove Avenue,
Pasadena, California, June 14, 1913.

Dear Sir:

I have received your kind invitation to Mrs. Edmunds,
our daughter and eyself to attend the Dedicatory Exercises at Gettys
burg in honor of the late Jifajor General Hilliam Wells.

We all greatly regret that it is impossible for any of us to be
present. General Wells was a great soldier and deserves the proposed
honor to his memory.

I am, in haste.

Very truly yours,

General T. S. Peck,

Secretsrv *c.

Burlington, Vermont.

CHAPLAIN JOHN E. GOODRICH
First Vermont Cavalry

The Commission is under great obligations to our Chaplain, John E. Goodrich, for
the valuable aid rendered them in their work, particularly in the tablet inscriptions,
which have been pronounced as among the very finest at Gettysburg.

MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES H. WILSON, U. S. Volunteers

H. WILSON

.June ISth, 1913.
T. S. Peck, Rao. ,

152 follef e ptr eet ,

Purlinfton, '"'t.
My dear ?'r . Peek:

I', was a very nleasant. experience after two weeks
absence in the west to receive tbro'i^h you Governor 71 e t-
che*'s very cordial invitation to *oin in t^e dedication
r> -r fv»a "errnont nonutient to t^e E'irst ^ *!>* i^fn* o*" "ftmont
Crt'/'ilry nnd : o its l*»st r-1 or ions, ro'",'T!n.n''p •• , on r'c^d friend
"ajor ^ener ^1 '<rilliam 7''fills. >To «r-nn est«»ft-n»d -itv,er the
rfiriment or i t r, las* rolon*! ""^r <* ^irMv *><nn T did «.n^
I run rlad to note that >fr . ^.ans1 ow in r^-v^inr "Trsder t1-'-''
Old s'lar" h'!& r<?rceiv«d 'h.it in *>n* work T endeavored
to express my 'horour-b re&pect and ,-ny vip-v admiration ^or
the first Vermont cavalry and its noble rorr.and*?? . ">ar-
wet t» rife rood soldiers a^ ever .\or»: t>e An*irir":m uni**orr
and' that is the hif-v&t. r-raise I or any other man car
give them.

I repret eroe.-d .i nrly t. -at I shall not be al "«Mys-
rurr on he prea* occafrion whicV is ; ',••.'•'£ -:•- > g'1 *o
that. h,ifc'oric ^ield. ^en •i^:-if* - - exlain uon more

than on-' instance I v^ve ans*Arered ' • • nest -•••'

half in .ief-t that T war- enfor^-: in s etta* lob - thou-

t'-ri" ailes nwr.y on that eve^t^ul day. It was my p-ood ^or-
tune to ^sjrry the ^1 ar of *r;ice and to deVand the surren
der of "ioksliur p on tl^e ni-vt o-% 7:j\y :'rd, 136-1, As you
well, know tv,e surrender of "°en>ior ton ' .=-. entire sr-ny and
all. its arms vie s*ore*. took pi ^ce t>e n^-t d ny p.nd T W«F

whioh ended at '•"••«- r-l • r« on tvat p-lorious day.

Anoth

eral officer o ^ *he volunte^-r a-my w^o c-Trclsed ai inde
pendent command in the las-t c s^r ai ^n , I vnve not ~*een of
ficially in-'ited "by ~>>y on <=-Tse *->-n Governor ^letcver
to ?e present at t^e rrr,r«t reunion '.vh'ch is ^o t n* e nlace
at Gettysburg in t\e early d=?y£, o1"1 Jixly, *ra tnp made oAh?
c oratn i tia G n t s it : s no •• "' oo 1'ite for ns to recons-.ider even
should such an invitation finally reach me.
^"^^ Wishing you, -he governor, and all the gallant sons
of rrermont who join in that remarkable reunion every he-
nor and consideration, v;it: ^«~, TI-IC"^ en.io:/nen* a?, can he
had from sue11 solemn or ore-, d tar? , I 5:1

Very /(/-erel- you' "ri-=nd<"

Wtfc&o^

GENERAL EDWARD H. RIPLEY
Colonel Ninth Vermont Volunteers

MAJOR-GENERAL D. M. M. GREGG, U. S. Volunteers
Commanding Division of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac, at Battle of Gettysburg

^iu

OS flU** a*c£vvL*~t£ A ??yl)hi*ju-ci:tx*) u

&-t£4i

, OS frt^U frt,

REAR-ADMIRAL CHARLES E. CLARK, U. S. Navy

CRAGSMOOR,N.Y

If t(

COLONEL JOHN P. NICHOLSON HONORABLE JOHN C. SCOFIELD

Chairman Gettysburg National Military Assistant and Chief Clerk of the War

Park Commission Department

HONORABLE HENRY BRECKINRIDGK

Acting Secretary of War

COLONEL E. B. COPE MAJOR CHARLES A. RICHARDSON

U. S. Army Engineer in Chief Gettysburg National Military Park

Commission

WAR DEPARTMENT AND GETTYSBURG
NATIONAL MILITARY PARK COMMISSION

THE citizens of the State of Vermont, the officers
and men of the First Regiment, Vermont Cav
alry, the monument commissioners, and the fam
ily of General Wells are loud in their praises of the
courteous treatment received by them at the hands of
the War Department and of the Gettysburg National
Park Commission, and especially from Colonel John P.
Nicholson, chairman, who personally rendered valuable
assistance in the various and delicate details connected
with the erection and dedication of the monument.
From the time the Vermonters first visited Gettys
burg, in 1910, for the purpose of selecting a site, Colonel
Nicholson manifested a strong desire that a memorial
should be placed on that historic field which should
fittingly "signalize the valor of the officers and men
of the First Regiment, Vermont Cavalry, who here
paid to the nation the uttermost tribute of devotion,"
and forever stand as an object lesson in true patriotism.

INVITED GUESTS

ATONG the distinguished guests invited are the
following:
His Excellency, Woodrow Wilson, President
of the United States.

Honorable William H. Taft, ex-President of the
United States, New Haven, Connecticut.

Honorable Theodore Roosevelt, ex-President of the
United States and colonel "Rough Riders" Spanish-
American War, New York.

Honorable Lindley M. Garrison, secretary of war,
Washington.

Honorable Henry Breckinridge, assistant secretary of
war, Washington.

Honorable John C. Scofield, assistant and chief
clerk of the War Department, Washington.

His Excellency, John K. Tener, governor Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.

General Thomas J. Stewart, the adjutant-general
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.

Honorable William P. Dillingham, United States
Senator from Vermont, Montpelier.

Honorable Carroll S. Page, United States Senator
from Vermont, Hyde Park.

Honorable Frank Plumley, member of Congress from
Vermont, Northfield.

Honorable Frank L. Greene, member of Congress
from Vermont, Saint Albans.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Representing the United States Army:

Lieutenant-General Nelson A. Miles, U. S. A. (re
tired), Washington, D. C., second army corps, Army
of the Potomac.

Lieutenant-General S. B. M. Young, U. S. A. (re
tired), Washington, D. C., colonel Fourth Pennsyl
vania Cavalry, Sheridan's Cavalry Corps.

Major-General Leonard Wood, chief of general staff,
U. S. A., Washington, D. C.

Major-General F. C. Ainsworth, U. S. A. (retired),
Washington, D. C.

Major-General James H. Wilson, U. S. A. (retired),
W ilmington, Delaware.

Brigadier-General Charles H. Tompkins, U. S. A.
(retired), Washington, D. C.

Brigadier-General Eugene D. Dimmick, U. S. A.
(retired), Washington, D. C., captain Fifth New York
Cavalry.

Brigadier-General Charles Shaler, U. S. A. (retired) >
Indianapolis, Indiana.

Brigadier-General Walter S. Schuyler, U. S. A. (re
tired), Nevada City, California.

Brigadier-General John M. Wilson,U. S, A. (retired),
Washington, D. C.

Colonel John C. Gresham, Tenth U. S. Cavalry, and
all officers of the Tenth Cavalry, Fort Ethan Allen,
Vermont.

Lieutenant-Colonel S. L. Faison, Fifth U. S. In
fantry, and all officers of the Fifth Infantry, Plattsburg
Barracks, New York.

Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel L. Tate, U. S. A., WTash-

ington, D. C.

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Major James S. Wilson, medical corps, U. S. A.,
Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont.

Major E. W. Evans, pay department, TJ. S. A., Fort
Ethan Allen, Vermont.

Major Francis J. Koester, U. S. A., adjutant-
general's office, War Department, Washington, D. C.

Major James E. Normoyle, quartermaster's depart
ment, U. S. A., Washington, D. C.

Captain Ira L. Reeves, U. S. A. (retired), professor
of military science and tactics, University of Vermont,
Burlington, Vermont.

Representing the United States Navy:

Admiral George Dewey, U. S. N., Washington, D. C.

Admiral Charles E. Clark, U. S. N., Washington,
B.C.

Honorable Horatio L. Wait, late commander,
U. S. N., Chicago, Illinois.

Representing the "Old Vermont Brigade":

Major-General Lewis A. Grant, commander, Min
neapolis, Minnesota.

General Sumner H. Lincoln, U. S. A. (retired),
colonel Sixth Vermont, San Francisco, California.

General Stephen P. Jocelyn, U. S. A. (retired),
private Sixth Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.

Ex-Governor Samuel E. Pingree, lieutenant-colonel
Third Vermont, Hartford.

Ex-Governor Urban A. Woodbury, first sergeant
Company D, Second Vermont, Burlington, first empty
sleeve from Vermont in War for the Union.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Colonel Edward R. Campbell, Eleventh Vermont,
Washington, D. C.

A. J. Maxham, private Third Vermont, Washington,
D. C.

Colonel James H. Walbridge, colonel Second Ver
mont, Bennington.

General Frank G. Butterfield, lieutenant-colonel
Sixth Vermont, Derby Line.

Honorable Henry T. Cushman, regimental quarter
master, Fourth Vermont, North Bennington.

Honorable Byron C. Ward, first lieutenant Second
Vermont, Gettysburg commissioner from Iowa, Des
Moines, Iowa.

Representing the Second Vermont Brigade:

Colonel Heman W. Allen, private Thirteenth Ver
mont, Gettysburg commissioner from Vermont, Bur
lington.

Ex-Governor John A. Mead, private Twelfth Ver
mont, Rutland.

General Crosby P. Miller, U. S. A. (retired), corporal
Sixteenth Vermont, Burlington.

Colonel Henry O. Clark, sergeant Thirteenth Ver
mont, East Orange, New Jersey.

Colonel Frank Kenfield, lieutenant Thirteenth Ver
mont and captain Seventeenth Vermont, Morris-
ville.

Colonel W7. H. H. Slack, private Sixteenth Vermont,
Springfield.

General George H. Bond, private Sixteenth Vermont,
Washington, D. C.

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Representing Other Vermont Regiments, Batteries, and
Sharpshooters :

General William W. Henry, colonel Tenth Vermont^
Burlington.

General Edward H. Ripley, colonel Ninth Vermont,
Mendon.

Major Ira H. Evans, private Tenth Vermont (adju
tant genera] Second Division, Twenty-fifth Army
Corps), Austin, Texas.

Major Charles H. Foote, first lieutenant Michigan
company, Second U. S. Sharpshooters, South Burling
ton.

Honorable Cassius Peck, sergeant Vermont company,.
U. S. Sharpshooters, Burlington.

General Joel H. Lucia, first lieutenant Seventeenth
Vermont, Montpelier.

Representing the Armies of the United States:

General Horace Porter, U. S. A., aide-de-camp to
General U. S. Grant commanding, New York City.

Representing the Army of the Potomac:

Major-General Joshua L. Chamberlain, ex-governor
of Maine, Fifth Corps, Portland.

General Elisha H. Rhodes, colonel Second Rhode
Island, Sixth Corps, Providence.

Colonel Andrew Cowan, artillery battalion, Sixth
Corps, Louisville, Kentucky.

General James A. Beaver, colonel One Hundred and
Fortieth Pennsylvania, First Corps, Bellefonte, Penn
sylvania.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

General Thomas H. Hubbard, colonel Thirtieth
Maine, New York City.

Colonel Harry G. Cavenaugh, U. S. A. (retired),
colonel First Delaware (Second Corps), New Castle,
Delaware.

Representing Sheridan s Cavalry Corps:

Major-General David McM. Gregg, commanding
First Division, Reading, Pennsylvania.

General James M. Schoonmaker, colonel Fourteenth
Pennsylvania and chairman of the Gettysburg com
mission from the State of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh.

Colonel Arnold A. Rand, Fourth Massachusetts
Cavalry, Boston, Massachusetts.

General Jonathan P. Cilley, colonel First Maine
Cavalry, Rockland, Maine.

General Horatio C. King, General Sheridan's Staff,
Brooklyn, New York.

Representing Confederate Armies:
General E. M. Law, of Florida.
General Andrew J. West, of Georgia.
General Felix H. Robertson, of Texas.
Ed\vard C. Brush, of Massachusetts.

Representing the Spanish- American War:

Colonel Herbert S. Foster, U. S. A. (retired), com
mander Vermont Commandery, Military Order of the
Loyal Legion of the United States, North Calais,
Vermont.

Honorable Frank L. Greene, M. C., captain First
Vermont Infantry, Saint Albans, Vermont.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

General Lee S. Tillotson, First Regiment Infantry,
the adjutant-general of Vermont, Saint Albans.

Representing the First Vermont Cavalry Regiment:

General Charles H. Tompkins, U. S. A. (retired),
third colonel of the regiment, Washington, D. C.

Colonel Edward B. Sawyer, fourth colonel of the
regiment, Hyde Park.

Colonel John W. Bennett, lieutenant-colonel of the
regiment, Chicago.

Lieutenant P. C. J. Cheney, first lieutenant Com
pany C, Washington, Vermont.

Major P. O'Meara Edson, surgeon, Roxbury, Massa
chusetts.

Colonel Clarence D. Gates, adjutant, Burlington.

Alphonzo L. Barrows, private, Company B, Burling
ton.

THE DEDICATORY EXERCISES
JULY 3, 1913

MONUMENT OF MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS AND FIRST VERMONT CAVALRY
SHOWING BAS RELIEF

SIDE VIEW OF STATUE, SHOWING TABLET NUMBER ONE

SIDE VIEW OF STATUE, SHOWING TABLET NUMBER Two

KEY TO BRONZE RELIEF PANEL

SHOWING THE CHARGE MADE BY THE REGIMENT

NEAR ROUND TOP, GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,

JULY 3, 1863

THE figure at the extreme left, with sabre raised,
is Major William Wells, who, in command of
the Second Battalion, First Vermont Cavalry, is
leading the charge on Law's Brigade, Hood's Divi
sion, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia,
at five o'clock on the afternoon of July 3, 1863.

On Major Wells's right appears Brigadier-General
Elon J. Farnsworth, commanding the Brigade, who
is falling from his horse mortally wounded.

Immediately behind Major Wells, and lying face
downward upon his horse, is seen Captain Henry C.
Parsons, commanding Troop L. Captain Parsons was
a graduate of the University of Vermont.

To the right of Captain Parsons, with raised sabre,
rides F. Stewart Stranahan, First Sergeant Troop L.
In after years he became Lieutenant-Go vernor of
Vermont.

Still farther to the right, and a little to the rear of
Sergeant Stranahan, is Trumpeter Gilbert C. Buck-
man of Troop L, who was General Farnsworth's orderly
bugler and sounded the charge, while immediately to
the rear may be seen Edgar J. Wolcott, Troop L, with
both hands covering his face, where he has been
desperately wounded. Behind Wolcott, and wearing a

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

slouch hat, is Lieutenant Alexander G. Watson of
Troop L. At Wolcott's left, and directly behind Ser
geant Stranahan, leaning forward on his horse, rides
First Lieutenant Hiram H. Hall, Troop E, who was
serving on the Brigade Staff. Captain Hall was another
graduate of the University of Vermont, and was killed
at Nottaway Court House, Virginia, in 1864. Behind
Lieutenant Hall is Sergeant William L. Greenleaf of
Troop L, who wears a slouch hat. Later he became a
General, and for many years commanded the National
Guard of Vermont. The non-commissioned officer with
full beard following Sergeant Greenleaf is Sergeant
Willard Farrington, Troop L.

In the center background, a little to the right, upon
a rearing horse, between two guidons, appears
Lieutenant-Colonel Addison W. Preston, the officer
wearing a slouch hat, with sabre raised, he having
joined the Second Battalion with reenforcements.
Colonel Preston was killed at the battle of Cold
Harbor in 1864.

The figure lying dead upon the grass in the fore
ground is that of Sergeant George H. Duncan of
Troop L, while behind him to the right is seen Al-
phonzo Barrows of Troop B, raising himself from his
horse, which has been killed. At the left of Comrade
Barrows appears Sergeant George L. McBride, Troop
L, springing from his horse, which has been shot;
rushing forward he seized Sergeant Duncan's horse and
continued in the charge. To the right of Sergeant
McBride is shown Captain Oliver T. Cushman of
Troop E, who, having been severely wounded in the
face, has fallen backward on his horse. The following

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

year he was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, Vir
ginia. Near Captain Cushman may be seen a riderless
horse, the rider, Rufus D. Thompson of Troop L,
having been killed, while just beyond appears Gilbert
O. Smith of Troop C, falling backward, wounded.

Upon the extreme right of the panel, leaning against
a boulder, is Lieutenant Perley C. J. Cheney, Troop C,
who was shot through the body, the ball entering his
back and coming out near his pantaloons watch
pocket. The watch and ball are now in possession of
the Vermont Historical Society at the State House,
Montpelier.

At the foot of the tree, near Lieutenant Cheney,
reclines Corporal Ira E. Sperry of Troop L, who was
mortally wounded early in the charge, and died on
the 22nd.

The first of the two horsemen at the extreme right
of the background, with drawn revolvers, is Sergeant
Seymour H. Wood, Troop L, who, with his companion,
is taking Confederate prisoners to the rear.

Almost the last charging soldier is Edwin E. Jones
of Troop K, who was wounded, and may be seen fall
ing backward, with his arm raised and sabre falling.

Many of the faces shown in this relief panel are from
such actual pictures of First Vermont Cavalrymen
participating in the charge as it was possible to pro
cure, these pictures being taken about the year 1861,
but by no means are all of the brave Vermont Cavalry
men who took part in this terrible action and were
killed and wounded represented, the limited space
making it impossible to include each one.

1*3-

a& WiOlAR WELLS C^
£V KISSN3C CUSSED rt

.5 POINT CK^ciSlKC OVER

CCHFEiM&OT

dvTUE SPOT WHERE

ic RfeCltlUUtfct RQUU^tKT S

I
t

KGKTREKLY TO I

KUG TKEUKE4KO 51U^ClvU^V^tstl(3«.l\5E IK 111;
tu__._. t 35S iXi\D R>5klTl^ •

B seta TQ THE aeli^

:<s mron SOOK oaAt UHIBI iiiE HIIE oiriiiE <^

^Sl^lUi^tllV RKUlRl" HO EKtTTO 1VE
^I'lx £Y :i D 'vETlvV RRi: 11-JOSE-

•M

TABLET NUMBER ONE

TABLCT NUMBER Two

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

SAINT ALBANS, VERMONT, November 14, 1913.
H. NELSON JACKSON, M.D.,

Burlington, Vermont.
DEAR DOCTOR:

Fearing that the detail in the bronze relief panel ,
showing two cavalrymen going to the rear with un
armed prisoners, may seem inconsistent with the
charge as depicted, may I relate the following?

When the charging

column reached a point
some one hundred and
twenty-five feet from
the spot where General
Earns worth fell, the
writer, who is supposed
to be one of the two
cavalrymen mentioned
above, saw four or five
Confederates among
the rocks near our left
flank, and, riding to
ward them, demanded
their surrender. At
the same instant a
comrade came to my
assistance, as the Confederates objected to going to
the rear and were dodging behind boulders and rocks
where it was impossible for us to ride. During this
manoeuvring I lost sight of my comrade and of all but
two of the rebels, one of whom soon succeeded in es
caping, but the other I brought into our lines.

SERGEANT S. H. WOOD

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

On the 3rd of July, 1913, fifty years later, as Mr.
Van Amringe, the contractor, was engaged in draping
the statue of General Wells for the unveiling cere
monies, a one-armed man inquired if that was the
statue of General Farnsworth. Mr. Van Amringe in
formed him that it was the statue of Major-General
W7illiam Wells, who led the charge of the Vermont
Cavalry. In southern accents the old soldier replied:
"I am one of the Johnnie Rebs that stopped those boys
on July 3, 1863," and, looking about him, said: "There
must be a run somewhere around here. I remember it
well, because we were greatly in need of drinking water,
and two men from each company in my regiment were
detailed to take a large number of canteens and get
them filled at this run. They never came back, and we
heard they had been captured by this Cavalry com
mand that afterward made the charge on us." Mr.
Van Amringe, pointing to the two cavalrymen at the
extreme right of the panel, said: "There is the ex
planation why the six men did not come back."
With much emotion the Confederate replied: "My
God, it is worth coming all the way from Alabama to
find out what became of Jimmie, my bunkie, for I
never knew whether he and his companions were
killed, captured, or what became of them."

This explains the mystery of why that group of
Confederates should be separated from their command
without arms, when every man should have been on
the firing line.

Yours sincerely,

SEYMOUR H. WOOD,

Late Sergeant Company L, First Vermont Cavalry.

COLONEL MYRON M. PARKER
President First Vermont Cavalry Association

THE DEDICATORY EXERCISES

THE exercises opened with "assembly," the call
being sounded by the Fifth Infantry Bugle
Corps, which, with the regimental band, fur
nished music for the occasion.

Prayer was offered by the Rev. Albert W. Clark,
of Bohemia, sergeant Twelfth Vermont Regiment in
1863, as follows:

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, let thy special blessing rest
upon us wTho have met to-day at this historic spot so
nobly and valiantly consecrated by our brother soldiers
fifty years ago. We recall with thanksgiving to God
their bravery and self-denial at a time when Gettys
burg demanded supreme sacrifice. We behold with
wonder this wooded hillside where our Vermont cavalry
made such a brilliant charge. We are here to-day, O
Thou Great Captain of our Salvation, to honor the
memory of our fellow comrades, and to take by the
hand the survivors of that magnificent devotion to our
flag. Bless these veterans here before Thee, and re
ward them with inward peace and intense loyalty to
all the interests of humanity and to the welfare of the
kingdom of our Lord. On this spot, where our com
rades gave blood and life for our country, we pledge
our devotion to the still unsolved problems of our
nation. Accept our consecration of heart and soul
to every noble cause. Behold, O God, to-day our
offering of granite, marble, and bronze. We cannot

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

consecrate to Thee this hillside, this witness of un
paralleled valor, but we do dedicate to Thee this
monument in memory of the Green Mountain Boys
and of their unflinching leader from the very heart of
the State we love. We thank Thee, Saviour Divine,
for the presence this day of our Confederate brothers
who now love the one flag of America. Bless richly
the Southland and draw all our hearts into closer har
mony. O Thou that changest not, behold the change
that has come over so many of us, so that many who
wore the blue fifty years ago, are now wearing the
gray, as our silvery hair bears witness. Once more,
where our comrades fell, we dedicate anew to Thee
our few remaining years. Lead us by Thy wisdom,
and help us to live "soberly, righteously, and godly"
in the present world until we enter the land that knows
no strife, until we hear Thy gracious words: "Well
done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of
Thy Lord." To Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be
everlasting praise. AMEN.

REVEREND ALBERT W. CLARK
Private Twelfth Vermont Regiment, Missionary of A. B. C. F. M. in Prague. Bohemia

FREDERICK H. WELLS
Youngest Brother of General Wells

"The Star Spangled Banner" was then played by
the Fifth Infantry Band, during which the statue was
unveiled by Mrs. Bertha Wells Jackson and Frank
Richardson Wells, daughter and son of General Wells;
beside them stood Frederick Howard Wells, the
youngest brother of the General, and Dr. H. Nelson
Jackson.

Colonel Myron M. Parker, the chairman, George L.
McBride, and the Secretary, General T. S. Peck, of the
commission appointed by the Governor of Vermont to
erect the memorial, then escorted the members of the
Wells family to the speakers' stand.

FRANK R. WELLS
Son of General Wells

DR. H. NELSON JACKSON

BERTHA WELLS JACKSON
Daughter of General Wells

ADDRESS OF COLONEL MYRON M. PARKER
OF WASHINGTON, D. C.

PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST VERMONT CAVALRY
ASSOCIATION

" A HALF century ago on this historic and sacred
/% spot it was decreed that the Union should be
^ jL. preserved. That result was reached only after
three days of battle and carnage. It was a crucial test
which called forth the supreme effort of every man
who was fighting for the Union. History has failed to
record acts of greater heroism and bravery. At the
dawn of each day's battle every soldier looked into his
open grave, but none faltered or turned back. Amid
volleys of musketry, the roar of cannon, the crashing
and shrieking of shells, the groans of the mangled and
moans of the dying, they swept on to victory, death,
and immortality. Each side participating in that
sanguinary conflict displayed equal valor. Though
both sides are now united in loyalty to a common
country, each fought for a principle they believed to
be right. Conspicuous among those who took part in
this great battle on the Union side were the fearless
soldiers of Vermont. It was the Vermont Brigade
under the command of the gallant General Stannard,
that met Pickett's charge, a charge that for desperation
and daring has challenged the admiration of the world,
and by a determined front and deadly flank fire
arrested its advance. Those heroic services, appre-

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

ciated and applauded by the State and Nation, have
already been recognized by the erection of a suitable
monument on this field.

"To-day the survivors of the First Vermont Cavalry
have assembled here to dedicate a monument to the
officers and men of that historic regiment and to their
distinguished commander, Major-General William
Wells. Standing here are some of those who, just fifty
years ago, participated in the terrific charge of the
First Vermont Cavalry near Round Top, where we
are now standing, in which so many of our comrades
went to a glorious death.

"It will be recalled that at about five o'clock in the
afternoon General Kilpatrick, commanding the cavalry
division, ordered General Farnsworth's Brigade to
charge Hood's Division of Infantry, then in possession
of Round Top. A battalion of the First Vermont
Cavalry, consisting of four companies, led by Major
William Wells, supported by another battalion of the
regiment, immediately went forward. They rushed
through Plum Run, up over the rocks and through
woods, charging into Law's fighting Confederate Brig
ade, consisting of five regiments of infantry. The
conflict was terrific and hand-to-hand; bayonets, sabres,
muskets, and pistols clashing together. Wells's bat
talion not only suffered from the close range of mus
ketry fire of Law's Brigade, but also from two Con
federate batteries of twelve guns, located on a hill
near by, also from a longer range of musketry and
artillery fire from the right of the Confederate line of
battle near the Emmettsburg Pike. The battalion did
not consist of over two hundred and twenty-five men,

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

and when the charge was over it was found that
seventy-five, or thirty per cent of the whole number,
had fallen.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Preston, commanding the regi
ment, in his report, July 11, 1863, says: 'The charge
of Wells 's battalion upon a brigade of infantry has
seldom been excelled in desperation and valor.' This
charge is reported in the war histories as one of the
most desperate ever known.

"Colonel William F. Fox, a historian of the United
States Volunteers, says: 'The greatest loss of life in
any one brigade during the Civil War occurred in the
Vermont Brigade,' and 'Of Cavalry Regiments in the
Union Armies, the First Vermont was one of the five
which suffered the greatest loss through those killed
and mortally wounded.' It is admitted by all that it
was second to none in the capture of guns, prisoners,
and battle flags.

"What a splendid regiment was this First Vermont
Cavalry! WThat brave men and fearless officers! It
saw four years of service and participated in seventy-
six battles. It was the common remark of both Gen
erals Sheridan and Custer that the presence of the
First Vermont Cavalry always inspired confidence and
assured victory. In the action of Hawe's Shop, looking
down into the sightless eyes of the gallant Colonel
Preston, General Custer said, 'There lies one of the
best Cavalry Colonels in the Army.' It was a privilege
to serve in such a regiment and under such command
ers as Sawyer, Preston, Hall, Wells, and Bennett.
Those who fell on the field of battle have always been
envied by those who survived. The proudest heritage

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

we can leave our children is the official record that
we were permitted to serve our country in that fighting
regiment, the First Vermont Cavalry. The story of
loyalty, courage, and sacrifice of this memorable regi
ment will be told by those who follow me, and I now
have the honor and pleasure of introducing His Ex
cellency, Allen M. Fletcher, Governor of Vermont,
who will speak for the State."

Governor Fletcher, addressing Major Lasseigne, said :
"Sir, to you as representative of the United States
Government, on the part of a State more noted for
deeds than words, on the part of a State ever ready to
shed its blood for the country, on the part of a State
which never lost a color, in behalf of the State of Ver
mont, as a memorial to the First Vermont Cavalry
and General Wells, I transfer to you this monument."

By direction of the Secretary of War Major Armand
I. Lasseigne, Fifth United States Infantry, received
the monument in behalf of the United States Gov
ernment.

Introducing General Peck, Colonel Parker said:

"I am going to introduce a man, a man who, when a
boy, enlisted as a private in Company F, First Ver
mont Cavalry, from which he was promoted to a
Lieutenancy in the Ninth Vermont Infantry. A soldier
who served with such gallantry that he was awarded
a gold medal of honor by the Government of the
United States. I am going to introduce a man who
for twenty years, as Adjutant-General of Vermont, and

His EXCELLENCY ALLEN M. FLETCHER
Governor of Vermont

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

as a citizen, has been working for the betterment of
the old soldiers ; a man who did most of all in obtaining
an appropriation for this wonderfully striking, forceful
monument we have just unveiled, and in securing its
erection. I call upon General Peck."

He spoke as follows:

"Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen: I have the
honor of describing to you the First Vermont Cavalry
monument.

"During the Legislature of 1912 the State of Ver
mont appropriated $6,000 for a monument to com
memorate the services and perpetuate the memory
of Major-General William Wells and the officers and
enlisted men of the First Regiment Vermont Cav
alry.

"This monument now stands near where the Regi
ment began its desperate charge at five o'clock on the
afternoon of July 3, 1863, under the leadership of
Major W7ells, who was in command of the Battalion,
with Brigadier-General Elon J. Farnsworth, command
ing the Brigade, riding by his side.

"The first boulder, which forms the base, is in its
original position, while the second was taken from a
spot near by.

"The two boulders, from the foundation to the top,
measure some eight feet, and the bronze statue of
General Wells is of the same height, making the total
height of the monument sixteen feet.

"The uniform, hat, boots, belt, and revolver worn by
General Wells during the war were used by the artist,
Mr. J. Otto Schweizer, in modeling the statue, the

GENERAL THEODORE S. PECK

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

portrait being from a photograph taken at the time of
the war.

"The bas-relief, costing some $2,000, is the gift of
the honorary and active members of the Regiment.
War pictures of various members of the First Vermont
Cavalry were furnished the artist for use in this panel,
and the horses are of the Morgan type, one thousand
of which went with the Regiment to the front in
1861.

"While it is impossible to mention all of the officers
and men who participated in this charge, among the
foremost in the bas-relief may be seen Major Wells
leading the charge, and at his right General Farns-
worth, falling from his horse mortally wounded. In
the center background is shown Lieutenant-Colonel
A. W. Preston, with sword raised and horse rearing,
his battalion having joined that of Major Wells after
passing the Slyder house.

"The Commissioners having charge of this work
have endeavored to furnish the contractors and the
artist with all the material possible to make this a
fitting memorial whereby the world may know the
story which is so familiar to the veterans of our Green
Mountain State.

"They wish to place on record their sincere gratitude
to Honorable Henry Breckinridge, Acting Secretary of
War; Honorable John C. Scofield, Assistant and Chief
Clerk of the War Department; to the Gettysburg Na
tional Park Commission, of which Colonel John P.
Nicholson is chairman, and to Colonel E. B. Cope,
U. S. A., Engineer-in-Chief, for the valuable assistance
rendered in the erection of this monument near the

MAJOR JAMES H. McREA MAJOR CHARLES D. RHODES

Commanding Battalion Fifth U. S. Infantry Commanding Battalion Fifteenth U. S. Cavalry

MAJOR JAMES E. NORMOYLE, U. S. ARMY

Chief Quarter Master, in charge of Veterans' Camp at Gettysburg, July 1-4, 1913
FIRST LIEUTENANT THOMAS L. CRYSTAL FIRST LIEUTENANT GEORGE M. RUSSEL

Adjutant Battalion. Fifth U. S. Infantry, having Commanding Platoon, Fifteenth U. S. Cavalry

charge of Fifth Infantry Band

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

spot where the Regiment began its desperate charge
on the afternoon of July 3, 1863.

"To Colonel John C. Gresham and Captain W. H. K
Godsen, of the Tenth U. S. Cavalry, and to Major
James E. Normoyle, of the United States Army, Chief
Quartermaster of the National Camp, and to his
assistants, are due our hearty thanks for efficient service
given; also to General Hunter Liggett, commanding the
United States Army Camp; to Major James H. McRea,
commanding the Fifth Infantry, and to Major Charles
D. Rhodes, commanding the Fifteenth Cavalry.

"The Commissioners are deeply grateful to Mr. W.
B. Van Amringe, president of the Van Amringe Granite
Company, the contractors, and to Mr. J. Otto
Schweizer, the artist, for their splendid service, which
has made this memorial so successful.

"By this monument Vermont honors the valor of
her sons who here paid to the nation the uttermost
tribute of devotion. She records her pride in their un
flinching courage, their soldierly obedience, their un
hesitating attempt of the impossible. She testifies her
admiration of the manhood of the brigade commander
who twice told his superior officer that the charge
ought not to be made, yet for himself shunned not
the danger. No more gallant or more desperate
charge was made during the war, nor one more fruitless.

"This was but a single holocaust — one of many
offered on the altar of American Freedom.

"During its four years of service the Regiment had
seven Colonels, three of whom resigned and one was
killed — Colonel Addison W. Preston, who fell at Cold
Harbor. Had he lived a few days longer he would

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

have been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general,
for he stood very high with his superior officers, and
they were only waiting for his appointment as Colonel
to give him higher rank and more responsible duties.
General Custer, who commanded the Brigade, voiced
the opinion of many when he said, as he turned from
Colonel Preston's body, 'There lies the best fighting
Colonel in the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the
Potomac.' Of the remaining three, one committed
suicide; another, William Wells, was promoted
Brigadier-General and Major-General; and one, Colonel
Josiah Hall, returned home in command of the
Battalion.

"The Regiment had five Lieutenant-Colonels; one
resigned; two, Preston and Wells, were promoted
Colonels; one, Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Bennett,
was mustered out after three years' service; and the
other, Lieutenant-Colonel Cummings, returned home
with the Regiment.

"There were twelve majors; two resigned, five were
promoted, one was mustered out after three years'
service, and four came home at the close of the war.

"The Regiment served most of the time in the
Second Brigade and Third Division of Sheridan's
Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, under Generals
Wilson, Custer, Chapman, Wells, and others.

"In Colonel Fox's list of Three Hundred Fighting
Regiments of the Union Army, which lost over one
hundred and thirty men in killed and died of wounds
during the war, the First Vermont Cavalry stands the
fifth, the First Maine and the First, Fifth, and Sixth
Michigan Regiments preceding it. There were two

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

hundred and seventy-two Regiments, forty-five Bat
talions, and seventy-eight Companies of Cavalry in
the Armies of the Union from 1861 to 1866.

"So far as we know, the following officers of the
Regiment are living to-day:

"Two Colonels, Charles H. Tompkins, now a
Brigadier-General (retired) of the United States Army,
who resides in Washington, D. C., and Edward B.
Sawyer, of Hyde Park, Vermont.

"One Lieutenant-Colonel, John W. Bennett, a resi
dent of Chicago, Illinois.

"Two Majors, Robert Schofield, who resides in Kil-
bourn City, Wisconsin, and Andrew J. Grover, a resi
dent of Los Angeles, California.

"Of the Staff there are three living — Adjutant Clar
ence D. Gates, of Burlington, Vermont; Assistant
Surgeon P. O'Meara Edson, of Boston, Massachusetts ;
and Chaplain John E. Goodrich, of Burlington,
Vermont.

"Of all the officers of the different companies there
are living: Four in Company A, four in Company B,
three in Company C, one in Company D, one in Com
pany E, one in Company F, one in Company G, two
in Company H, two in Company I, one in Company
K, and none in Companies L and M.

"The last Vermont soldier killed in battle was
Private George B. Dunn, of Company M, First Ver
mont Cavalry, who was killed on the evening of April
8, 1865; and the last Vermont soldier wounded was
Lieutenant Willard Farrington, of Company L, same
regiment, who was wounded early the same evening.

"As the Second Vermont Brigade, under the heroic

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Stannard, did valiant service on the flank of Pickett's
charging column at three o'clock on the afternoon of
July 3, 1863, and as the First Vermont Brigade, which
had marched thirty-six miles in one day to reach the
battlefield and was being held in reserve, stood ready
to respond to a call to any part of the field where they
might be most needed, and also as the courageous
sharpshooters covered themselves with glory in the
action of July 2-3, so the brave men of the First Ver
mont Cavalry, under the noble Preston and the gallant
Wells, did magnificent work at five o'clock of the same
afternoon in charging Round Top, when they knew
the impossible lay before them, yet faltered not in
soldierly duty."

FIRST TABLET

A™ 5 p. M., July 3, 1863, the Second Battalion, First
Vermont Cavalry, led by Major William Wells,
General Farnsworth, commanding the brigade,
riding by his side, crossed Plum Run near this point,
charging over stone walls, amid rocks and through
woods, till they encountered five regiments of Law's
Confederate Brigade, near the spot where the regi
mental monument stands.

The first battalion and part of the third, Lieutenant-
Colonel A. W. Preston commanding, were ordered to
the support of the second, moved northerly to the
Slyder house, turned into the lane, and struck Law's
Brigade in flank. The onset was terrific, sabres and
bayonets, revolvers and muskets being freely used.
After a struggle the hill was carried by the First Ver
mont and the prisoners captured sent to the rear.

The three battalions united soon came under the
fire of the Fourth Alabama Infantry and presently of
the Ninth Georgia Infantry. Finding no exit to the
south, they turned to the east and charged the Fif
teenth Alabama Infantry, which answered a summons
to surrender by a destructive musketry fire, those
unhurt escaping mostly to the south.

This memorial signalizes the valor of the officers and
men of the First Vermont Cavalry who here paid to
the nation the uttermost tribute of devotion.

SECOND TABLET

WILLIAM WELLS
Brevet Major-General U. S. Vols.

1837-1892.

First Lieut. Co. C 1st Vermont Cavalry Oct. 14, 1861,
Captain Co. C. Nov. 18, 1861.
Major Dec. 30, 1862.
Colonel July 2, 1864.

Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. Vols. Feb. 22, 1865.
Brevet Major-General U. S. Vols. "for gallant and

meritorious services" March 13, 1865.

Brigadier-General U. S. Vols. May 19, 1865.

Honorably mustered out Jan. 15, 1866.

Once wounded and once a prisoner.
Awarded Medal of Honor for "most distinguished

gallantry at Gettysburg" July 3, 1863.
Commander of Sheridan's Cavalry Corps.

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Introducing Senator Dillingham, Colonel Parker
said:

"Vermont has been most fortunate in the selection
of those who were to direct the affairs of the State and
to represent the State in the Congress of the United
States. The names of Collamer, Foote, Edmunds, and
Morrill adorn the pages of national legislation. The
same may be said of the distinguished representatives
who have served in the lower House. No less fortunate
are we to-day in our representation. I am going to in
troduce as the next speaker a man who enjoys the
confidence of every man who occupies a seat in the
Senate; a man, the impress of whose mind may be
found in much of the important legislation of the
country; a man who never forgets his State and the
protection of her interests. I am going to introduce a
man who has the courage of his convictions; a man
who searches out the right and, having found it, hews
to the line, letting the chips fly where they may; a
man whose votes in the United States Senate are cast
according to his convictions, uninfluenced by any
passing sensational clamor; a man who has the courage
to do right even though the doing might cost him his
seat in the Senate. Such a man is William P. Dilling
ham, whom I now have the honor to introduce."

"MR. PRESIDENT:

"Speaking for the surviving members of the Wells
family, most of whom are present on this occasion, as
well as for the circle of their kinsmen of whom I am
proud to be one, I beg leave to express to you, and
through you to the people of Vermont, the profound

HONORABLE WILLIAM P. DILLINGHAM
United States Senator from Vermont

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

sense of pride and satisfaction which we feel in the
action of their General Assembly in causing to be
erected upon this historic spot a monument com
memorating the services and perpetuating the memory
of General William W'ells and the officers and men of
the First Regiment Vermont Cavalry, whose loyal de
votion and gallant support gave him confidence in
every emergency and which he always insisted was the
chief element in the success whidb he achieved. To
speak of him is to speak of all those who constituted
this intrepid band of young men who rode loyally
with him through all the campaigns of the Army of
the Potomac, and toward every surviving member
of which our hearts go out to-day in affectionate
regard.

"But, Sir, it is not possible for me to limit myself
to a mere expression of the grateful sentiments which
fill to overflowing the hearts of the Wells family to-day.
I must speak for that larger family, the citizen body of
the town of Waterbury, of which the Wells family
have been prominent members for more than a century
of its history.

"The character of the military service rendered by
General W ells was such as to challenge the attention
of thoughtful men, and suggests an inquiry as to the
sources of that inspiration which found expression in
his heroic deeds.

"It must be remembered that when he so proudly
rode at the head of the Second Brigade of the Third
Division of the Cavalry Corps in the Grand Review
of the 22nd of May, 1865, as well as at the time when
he became the Commander of that gallant corps, he

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

was less than twenty -eight years of age. That during
a period of less than five years, and at a time in life
when young men are commonly found in the colleges
and universities, he had passed from the rank of
private in the First Vermont Cavalry to that of
Brigadier-General and Brevet Major-General of Vol
unteers in the Army of the United States. That as
Company and Field Officer of his regiment he had led
his troopers in not less than half a hundred engage
ments, and as Brigade and Division Commander in
not less than eighteen others, some of which were the
greatest and most important battles of the war. And
so, at an age when most men are but entering the
activities of life, he had made a record the brilliance of
which fifty years of time have failed to lessen, and
which is now recognized by those not then born. To
them this story of achievement comes as a tale which
never loses interest, and one which will stand through
all ages to the credit of that splendid civilization which
gave him birth, which shaped his thought and de
veloped his character, and which has made Vermont
a republic in which liberty, under law, finds its highest
expression, and one in which the door of opportunity
stands open to all those who are worthy to enter.

"The town of Waterbury was settled by men who
represented both in blood and sentiment that splendid
element of liberty-loving Englishmen, who, after the
great intellectual awakening of the Sixteenth Cen
tury, asserted the supremacy of personal liberty over
absolutism, and in the struggle which followed moved
with a majestic purpose and heroic courage through a
century of conflict, which resulted in the destruction

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

of arbitrary power, the establishment of a constitu
tional and parliamentary government, under which
the liberties of the English people have been main
tained down to the present time. Many were also the
product of a century and a half of colonial life, and in
every fiber of their being represented the fundamental
principles upon which human rights are founded and
upon which only can governments find a sure founda
tion. Some of them had served in the Revolutionary
War, had afterward lived under the Confederation
and had seen their dearly-bought liberties brought into
peril; but they had also lived to see the Government
of the United States firmly established under a Con
stitution of provisions which have excited the admira
tion of the world's greatest statesmen. Of this colonial
stock were Ezra Butler, Roswell Wells, Paul Dilling-
ham, Sr., Dan Carpenter, Sylvester Henry, Henry F.
Janes, and others too numerous to mention. General
Wrells and his three brothers, who also found service
in the War, were grandchildren of both Roswell Wells
and Dan Carpenter, and were the sons of W7illiam W.
Wells, a graduate of the University of Vermont; a
man of marked characteristics, strong, aggressive,
generous, just, and honest, and, above all else, a man
of such patriotism that in the years preceding the
WTar every power of his being was dedicated to the
cause of human rights, and such that during the War
he sacrificed every selfish interest to serve as Chairman
of the Board of Selectmen of Waterbury, devoting his
great energies to securing enlistments to the Army
and in other ways promoting the common cause.
Such was the stock from which General Wrells sprang.

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

"And speaking of the larger family of which General
Wells was a member, may I be permitted to carry a
little further the suggestion of the influence which the
colonial type of patriotism had upon even the second
and third generations and say that every man going
out as an officer of volunteers from the town of Water-
bury to battle for the Union was a descendant of that
pioneer element of which I have spoken and that all
were friends and some of them kinsmen of General
Wells. Did birth and education and environment find
expression in their character and in the great con
trolling convictions of their lives? Let the facts
answer! Let it be remembered that forty -three per
cent of such officers were killed in battle, their faces
to the foe, and glad in their hearts that they had lives
which they could give for the principles in which
they had been educated. Major Dillingham, Captain
Thompson, and Lieutenant Henry need no eulogy at
my hands on this occasion. And may I further call
your attention to the fact that of the three Vermont
officers who reached the rank of Brevet Major-General
of Volunteers in the War for the Union, Waterbury has
credit for that one whose name is upon the lips of
every person present in the audience, and who, fifty
years ago to-day, almost at this hour and upon this
field, nobly supported by his devoted men, rendered a
service of such distinguished gallantry that he received
the recognition of the Congress of the United States
and the gratitude of his native State through whose
action his memory is so signally honored here to-day.
It is also of interest to note that of six Vermont officers
who rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier-General of

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Volunteers, Waterbury was credited with one in the
person of William W. Henry, a grandson of Sylvester
Henry; and that one of the founders of the town,
Ezra Butler, who was clerk of its original proprietors,
and who later became Judge of the County Court,
Governor of the State, and member of Congress, was
represented by Surgeon Henry Janes, a grandson, who
during his service had wounded men under his care or
direction twice greater in number than the standing
army of the United States prior to our recent war with
Spain. Unable to be with us to-day because of im
paired health, he sits in his home at Waterbury a man
of kingly intellect, of strong but modest nature, think
ing, I doubt not, of more than twenty-five thousand
wounded men who fell into his hands after three days
of fighting on this historic field, when he was placed in
charge of all the hospitals in and about Gettysburg by
Medical Director Letterman.

"And speaking further of this larger family to which
General Wells belonged, I am reminded of the often-
quoted statement that in the Franco-Prussian War
the losses in killed and mortally wounded in the vic
torious German Army were only three and one-tenth
per cent of the whole, while those in the Union Army
of the War of 1861 amounted to four and seven-tenths
per cent; and that the percentage of such losses among
the Vermont troops was greater than that of any other
State, excepting Pennsylvania, and amounted to six
and eight-tenths per cent. And may I add the simple
statement that Waterbury's loss was more than eight
per cent, and that in a single year, in the campaigns
of 1864 alone, that town lost in killed or mortally

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

wounded six and six-tenths per cent of all the men
who were credited to her quota during the entire period
of the War. On fourteen different occasions during
that never-to-be-forgotten year the bells tolled the
announcement that another one of Waterbury's sons
had given his life for his country. I could speak of the
horrors of that dark period, when fathers and mothers
mourned the loss of manly sons; when wives mourned
for their husbands and wept over their fatherless
children, but this is neither the time nor the place to
do so.

"In view of all these considerations, Mr. President,
I have felt justified in speaking not only for the imme
diate members of the Wells family, but also for this
community, in all whose interests its members had a
conspicuous part for a century of time. And so, as a
member of this community, I can do no less than
express its keen sense of appreciation of the great
honor which Vermont has done the town of Water-
bury, as well as General Wells and his associates of the
Vermont Cavalry, in placing upon this field this im
posing statue of its most distinguished soldier."

The air "Dixie," a graceful compliment to the men
in gray, preceded the presentation of General Law.

Introducing General Law:

"I fully appreciate the anxiety of those who are
familiar with the program arranged by General Peck
to hear the next speaker. They want to look into the
face of the man who met and resisted the charge of
Wells and his daring troopers. They and you want
to look into the face of the only surviving Major-

MAJOR-GENERAL E. M. LAW

Commanding Brigade and Hood's Division, Longstreet's Corps
Army of Northern Virginia

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

General of the Confederate Army. You are anxious
to hear from his lips the impression made on him when
he witnessed the onrush of this heroic band.

"General Law, standing here you will look into the
faces of the daughter and son of the man who led this
heroic charge; you will look into the face of the brother
of General Wells; you will look into the faces of many
of those grizzled veterans who went forward in that
charge. Looking into the faces of these children and
that brother; looking into the faces of these brave
men, your thoughts will go back fifty years to the
time when, on this very spot, you stood in front of
your brigade making dispositions to resist this charge.

"General Law, being then, as now, a perfect type of
Southern chivalry, your eyes must have been moistened
with tears and your heart must have been filled with
pity for the certain fate that awaited these brave men,
a fate you would gladly have averted could it have
been done with honor.

"Comrade Law, every survivor of the First Vermont
Cavalry rejoices that your life has been spared and
that you are here to-day to participate in the unveiling
of this monument. We welcome you to this ceremony.
We take you in our arms and to our hearts. I now
have the pleasure of introducing Major-General Law."

"Mr. Chairman and Comrades of the First Vermont
Cavalry Association:

"Fifty years ago to-day, and at this very hour, we
met on this ground in mortal strife in the greatest
battle of modern times; to-day we meet as comrades,
each ready and willing to acknowledge the devotion to

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

duty, the heroism, and the patriotism of the other. If
there is any rivalry between us, Federals and Con
federates, it is in devotion to a reunited country and in
thankfulness that we are all citizens of the greatest
and freest country in the world. Men who have given
and taken hard knocks always respect each other, and
when the kindly hand of time has smoothed away all
passion and bitterness, the true spirit of comradeship
follows as surely 'as the night follows day,' and thus it
is that the old soldiers of the blue and the gray meet
here to-day where they fought each other fifty years
ago, not as enemies, but as friends — not as strangers,
but as comrades.

"The battle of Gettysburg was the culminating
point of the Civil War which marked an epoch in
American history, yet I feel justified in the assertion
that the meeting of the two hostile armies on this
field fifty years ago was scarcely more important in its
results than the meeting now being held by those same
armies on this same field will be in its influence on the
American people. The one saved the Union, the other
will bind it together in bonds far stronger than armed
force or military power — the bonds of mutual esteem,
friendship, and brotherhood. Scenes such as are being
enacted on this field to-day have no parallel in history,
and could not have occurred anywhere else than in
America.

"At your kind invitation, my friends, I am here
to-day to assist in the dedication of a beautiful memo
rial to your comrades of the First Vermont Cavalry
who took the most prominent part in one of the most
striking incidents of the battle. On this very ground,

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

fifty years ago, that gallant regiment was hurled
against the line of my right flank, which extended from
the main line on the slopes of the Round Top to the
Emmettsburg Road. This flanking line was composed
almost entirely of infantry drawn from my main line, and
formed a considerable angle to it. The appearance of
General Kilpatrick's division of two brigades of Federal
cavalry, Merritt's and Farnsworth's, on that flank
during the forenoon of the third day of the battle,
caused me great uneasiness. Though two of my bat
teries had been withdrawn to take part in the grand
artillery attack that preceded General Pickett's fatal
charge on Cemetery Ridge, I still had at my disposal
twelve pieces of splendid artillery, and these I arranged
in such a way as to command thoroughly every part
of the line threatened by the Federal cavalry.

"General Kilpatrick at once commenced operations
by attacking my flanking line with dismounted skir
mishers of Merritt's Brigade, continuing this movement
steadily to my right until the line was stretched out to
a considerable distance beyond where it crossed the
Emmettsburg Road. This stretching process con
tinued until I became fearful that my line beyond that
road would soon become so weak that it might be
easily broken by a bold cavalry attack. To avoid this
I withdrew two regiments from the main line on the
slopes of the Round Tops, and leading them rapidly
to my extreme right across the Emmettsburg Road,
attacked Merritt's reserve, and then, wheeling on the
flank of his line, 'doubled it back' to that road just
beyond Kern's house. Here I left the two regiments
engaged in this movement, together with the Ninth

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Georgia Regiment that had been previously posted
there, under the command of Captain George Hillyer,
who had done conspicuous service during the battle
and who is with us here to-day to take part in doing
honor to the men who fought against him so gallantly
fifty years ago.

"Being relieved for the present at least from the
pressure of Merritt's Brigade on my right, and having
reduced the length of the line to more manageable
dimensions, I turned my attention to that part of the
line threatened by Farnsworth's Brigade, which faced
the left front of my flanking line extending from the
lower slope of Round Top toward the Emmettsburg
Road. I had not long to wait. The rush of the Federal
horsemen, and the crash of the musketry from the
Confederate infantry, came with startling suddenness,
and as I watched the fight with intense interest and
no small degree of anxiety, I saw that portion of the
Federal line that had attacked directly in front of the
First Texas Regiment, and had ridden up to the very
muzzles of their guns, recoil and finally fall back into
the cover of the woods through which they had ad
vanced. Further to my left, however, and nearer the
foot of Round Top, at a point which I recognize as
the very ground on which we stand to-day, a body of
the Federal horsemen broke through the line and rode
boldly down the Plum Run Valley directly in rear of
my main line on the slopes of the Round Tops. At
that time I did not know, of course, to what command
they belonged, but when the fatal charge had ended
I learned that these brave men who had ridden so
gallantly into the jaws of death were a battalion of the

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

First Vermont Cavalry of Farnsworth's Brigade, Kil-
patrick's Division.

"The moment was a critical one. This irruption in
the rear of my main line, if promptly followed up by
an attack of Kilpatrick's entire force, might produce
disastrous results if not met with the utmost prompt
ness and decision. The cavalry had scarcely broken in
before I sent a staff officer post-haste to my main line
on the slope of Little Round Top with orders to detach
the first regiment he should come to on that line, face
it to the rear, and come in a run to throw itself across
the path of the cavalry as they charged up the Plum
Run Valley. This movement was executed with almost
incredible promptness, and the Vermonters soon faced
a withering fire from the Fourth Alabama Infantry,
which was the regiment brought down from the main
line under my order. Recoiling from this fire with
fearful loss, they turned to their left and rear, and rode
directly up the slope toward where I was stationed near
one of my batteries.

"In the meantime I had ordered the reserve of the
Ninth Georgia, under Captain Hillyer, which I have
already referred to as being on picket near Kern's
house on the Emmettsburg Road, to come in a run to
the support of the batteries, one of which I had shifted
a short distance so as to face the approaching cavalry.
Here again the brave Vermonters, now fearfully re
duced in numbers, faced a storm of fire against which
mere human courage could avail nothing, and, turning
again, and for the last time, toward the spot where the
charge had begun, the remnant which survived the
fiery ordeal through which they had passed rode back

88 '

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

into the woods in the direction of their own line.
During the whole of this brief but bloody drama, which
came directly under my own eyes, I recall distinctly
two conspicuous figures riding side by side at the head
of the charging column. One I afterward learned was
General E. J. Farns worth, who was killed near the
close of the charge; and the other, Major William Wells,
commander of the battalion of the First Vermont
Cavalry that made the charge, who afterward by con
spicuous service rose to the rank of Major-General and
whose memory you honor to-day in the striking like
ness of that handsome statue which crowns the memo
rial you have dedicated to him and his gallant
comrades. General Wells commanded as brave a body
of horsemen as ever drew sabre.

"I have gone somewhat into detail, my friends, in
order that you, the survivors, the friends and fellow
citizens of these men, may know, from the lips of one
whose stern duty it was to destroy them if possible,
that their gallantry excited the admiration even of
their foes, who now, as friends and comrades, join
with you in honoring their memory.

"It has been the general opinion until very recently
that Pickett's famous charge on Cemetery Ridge on
the third day was the pivotal point of the battle of
Gettysburg, but the truth of history is asserting itself,
and it is now being recognized by all intelligent military
critics that the ragged mountain spur known as Xittle
Round Top/ which rises just yonder behind us, was
the real key to the battlefield, and that the struggle
for its possession on the afternoon of the second day
really decided the fate of the battle. History has not

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

yet recognized, however, the importance of what has
always been classed among the minor incidents of the
great struggle, but which might easily have become of
the most vital importance to the Confederate army.
That incident was the breach made in my flanking line
by the First Vermont Cavalry, which I have just been
describing. Pickett's fatal attack had just been re
pulsed; my flanking line, which covered the right-rear
of our army, had been stretched to its utmost limit,
being reduced to a mere skirmish line in many places.
If under these circumstances General Kilpatrick had
thrown Farnsworth's entire brigade through the gap
in my line where the First Vermont Cavalry had en
tered, and at the same time had attacked with the full
strength of Merritt's Brigade up the Emmettsburg
Road, on which it was in position, the result must have
been disastrous to that wing of our army at least.

"I fully realized the critical nature of the situation
and bent every energy toward preparing for the ex
pected attack. That General Longstreet also felt the
gravest anxiety as to the result of the fighting on this
flank is evidenced by the fact that he rode hastily over
from the center, where he was assisting in rallying and
re-forming the troops that had taken part in Pickett's
attack, and, with the most marked expression of relief
in his tone and manner, warmly congratulated me on
the manner in which the situation had been handled.
The charge of the Vermonters was then over, and the
heavier attack which was expected to follow had not
been made.

"And now, my friends, let me in conclusion repeat
that true soldiers always respect each other, it matters

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

not on which side of the battle line they may have
stood. You did your duty as you saw it, and we did
ours. There is no monopoly of heroism on either side.
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, in an address before
the Association of the Army of Northern Virginia, in
Richmond, I predicted that the time would come when
the heroism of both victors and vanquished in the
great struggle between the sections would be claimed
as the common heritage of the American people. The
time has come. The 'bloody chasm' created by pesti
lent politicians for selfish ends has been closed forever
by the men who fought the battles, who suffered and
died for principle, and who illustrated the heroism of
the American soldier as that of no other soldier of any
army of any other country has ever been illustrated
in the annals of time.

"For many years a steady and increasing tide of
invasion has been sweeping into the South from the
North and East, but invaders come without the 'pomp
and circumstance of war.' Their spears have been
turned into plowshares and their swords into pruning
hooks, and they march under the white banner of peace
and progress. In my own State the influx of old
Federal soldiers and their families has been especially
marked, and indicates that it will not be long before
those who once wore the blue will be equal in numbers
to the former wearers of the gray. They come to find
homes among us, and we welcome them as friends
and co-workers with us in developing the fairest land
on God's footstool, where they are finding peace and
plenty in their declining years and the promise of
prosperity and happiness for those who will come

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

after them. 'Away down South' in Florida we have
long since realized that the war is over, and that all of
us, blue and gray alike, are loyal Floridians and true
Americans.

"No incident of a long and eventful life has ever
caused me such mingled emotions and vivid memories
as this meeting with you, my comrades of the First
Vermont Cavalry Association, on this historic spot
to-day. The warm welcome you have given me; the
meeting face to face with the daughter, son, and
brother of that splendid soldier, General William
Wells, whose memory, and that of the brave men
whom they led, we are here to honor; the cordial spirit
of comradeship which fills the very atmosphere around
us, have all touched my heart to its very depths, and
their memory will remain with us while life shall last.
It is not probable that we shall ever meet again, but
when we have returned to our several homes, you to
the verdant hills of 'The Green Mountain State,' and I
to the smiling shores of 'The Sunshine State,' memory
will often bring us back to this day, this meeting, this
spot, where after fifty years of patient waiting, 'Mercy
and Truth have met together,' Patriotism and Peace
have embraced each other."

Introducing General Felix H. Robertson:
"During this battle a Texas battery was commanded
by a young Confederate officer, Captain Robertson.
Captain Robertson was a son of General Robertson,
who commanded a Confederate brigade of Hood's
Division, and was fighting side by side with Law's
Brigade on the afternoon of the third of July. Com-

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

rades, it gives me pleasure to introduce General
Robertson."

"Mr. President and Members of First Vermont
Cavalry Association and Ladies and Gentlemen:

"Since its organization I have been familiar with
Hood's Division of the Confederate Army of Northern
Virginia; and if any cavalry commander should have
asked my professional opinion as to the advisability
of charging that Division with one regiment of cavalry
I could only have repeated the advice which Punch gave
to the two young people who wrote to Punch asking
whether they should get married. Punch answered in
one word, 'Don't.' All who know the ground over
which two battalions of your Regiment were ordered
to charge from this spot fifty years ago, and the sol
dierly qualities of the troops against which that charge
was made, must conclude that the order which from
this spot started your comrades unsupported on such
a charge was an inexcusable military blunder. But
the fault of giving that order lies not on the First
Vermont Cavalry. All honor to that splendid Regi
ment for its prompt, heroic effort to effect the purpose
which alone could justify such an order! Napoleon in
Spain ordered his Polish Lancers to charge a Battery
on the hills above, and that charge was successful. A
broad, smooth road led up to that Battery, and it was
defended by Spanish Irregulars. Here, over this
ground strewn with granite boulders, thickly studded
with trees and covered with undergrowth, your com
rades had to advance upon trained Confederate soldiers
over ground where it was impossible to keep an align-

BRIGADIER-GENERAL FELIX H. ROBERTSON
Commanding Cavalry Brigade in Wheeler's Corps, C. S. Army of Tennessee

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

ment, and upon an enemy skilled in the use of rifles
and in taking every advantage of cover, well protected
by boulders, trees, and stone fences. There Napoleon
had to use all his powers of command, entreaty, and
promises of reward to start his unwilling cavalry on
its charge. Here your comrades, without hesitation,
promptly and cheerfully obeyed the first order to
charge. It is an honor to claim such soldiers as coun
trymen. That beautiful monument just unveiled fitly
typifies such a splendid manifestation of soldierly
virtue as was your charge.

"Among the great number of monuments which
stand along what was General Meade's line during the
Great Battles of fifty years ago none is so beautiful or
better deserved than that splendid testimonial you
here dedicate to your comrade, General Wells.

"Alike a credit to the artist who achieved it, and to
you, the surviving comrades of the First Vermont
Cavalry, that monument, instinct with soldierly ac
tion, fitly commemorates an event that worthily illus
trates the best achievements of American Soldiers.

"I know how you old soldiers feel, and I know that
you are glad to pass your remaining days in peace,
and that no more will you be called 'to set a squadron
in the field.'

"There are two things about our great war that im
press me more strongly the better I am able to appre
ciate the wealth and power of the North and the
poverty and weakness of the South. First, why did
our statesmen permit us to enter into a war with such
an adversary? Second, how did the South, beginning
the war with no army, no established government, no

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

navy, no treasury, keep such a war going four years?
Since no great fact can exist without adequate cause,
I declare to you that the only cause to which that
great effect can be attributed is that there was at the
head of the Confederate Government the greatest
statesman of our time — Jefferson Davis! I know that
you Yanks are not prepared to agree to that state
ment, but as honest men you must seek to reach cor
rect conclusions on all subjects. If you desire to reach
sound conclusions about Mr. Davis you must fairly
consider the circumstances by which he was sur
rounded — the scanty means at his command and the
enormous forces arrayed against him. As long as
there shall remain in Vermont any of the descendants
of the men who, fifty years ago, from this spot started
on that memorable charge, I shall confidently expect
from them a just — yes, — a generous recognition of the
high qualities Jefferson Davis manifested as President
of the Southern Confederacy. Nor will he suffer in the
opinion of your descendants when they know how
firmly he adhered, in his high office, to the principles
he professed before he became President; his scrupulous
observance in all his acts of his official oath, and the
courage and dignity with which he met all his reverses.
The overthrow of the Confederacy should no more
operate to deprive Jefferson Davis of the fame justly
due for his many high qualities displayed as President
of the Confederacy than should the heroic failure of
the First Vermont Cavalry in its charge on Hood's
Division warrant us in mutilating that beautiful monu
ment to General Wells and denying to you, the sur
vivors, the right that you have noble earned to be

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

called Heroes worthy of the affectionate regard of all
your countrymen."

Introducing Colonel John McElroy:

"Ladies and Comrades:

"I am going to call as the next speaker a gentleman
who is known and loved by every surviving soldier of
the Union Army, one who through the columns of the
'National Tribune' has brought happiness to the home
and fireside of every man who wore the blue, a man
who, when fifteen years of age, served in the Sixteenth
Illinois Cavalry, a man who, as a boy, endured the
horrors of prison life in Anderson ville. That boy and
this man is Colonel John McElroy, editor of the
'National Tribune,' whom it is now my pleasure to
introduce."

"Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:

"In the countless centuries since the sword began to
devour, myriads of flags and standards have been
flaunted in the light of day.

"All these were born of the lust of greed, the arro
gance of power.

"Our own stainless banner is the only one among all
those tens of thousands which was conceived in liberty,
born to assert a principle, and supported with exalted
courage to maintain that principle.

"When our forefathers set it up as the symbol of the
strange new political doctrine that the supreme func
tion of government is to secure right and justice for
every man, even the lowliest, they solemnly pledged
their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to

COLONEL JOHN MCELROY

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

the maintenance of the principle the Flag repre
sented.

"Never since history began has a pledge been kept
with such unfaltering faith, such an unparalleled sacri
fice of life and fortune.

"To make that Flag mean all that the fathers
pledged it to mean — far more men have bravely died
on land and sea than have fallen under all the banners
now floating in Europe.

"Briton and Gaul, German and Frank, Russian and
Turk have shaken the earth with their gigantic con
tests, but not so many men have fallen under all their
banners as have gone down to valiant death under
ours in the one hundred and thirty -seven years of its
existence.

"This cannot be wholly accounted for by the Amer
icans being an heroic composite of the chief fighting
races of the world — the English, Irish, Scotch, Dutch,
Germans, and French.

"A vastly stronger reason is that the men under
our Flag were always fighting for the principle it em
bodied — for a principle imbued into them, and made
the law of their lives by the churches, schools, and
homes they had left. A something for which their
fathers and mothers prayed, and for which their sisters,
wives, and sweethearts ardently longed.

"It was something dearer to them than life itself.
To achieve success for that principle, hardships were
welcomed as a joy, and danger courted as a bride.

"What places our common American manhood upon
the pinnacle of humanity is that we are able to say
truthfully of it:

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

"So near is grandeur to our dust,

So nigh is God to man,
That when Duty whispers low, 'Thou must/

The youth replies, T can.'

"A sad Oriental proverb says that grass never
springs again from a spot trodden by the hoof of the
Sultan's horse.

"We can make a glorious antithesis to this by saying
that wherever the American soldier has fought, justice
and righteousness have become the enduring law.
Churches, schools, and homes have sprung up, and
there white-winged Peace has made her permanent
dwelling place.

"The character the American soldier has always
displayed can be illustrated by a single chapter from
the voluminous history of the greatest war which ever
reddened the earth.

"In May, 1864, an army of one hundred and twenty
thousand American soldiers crossed the Rapidan and
clutched in mortal struggle another army of eighty
thousand American soldiers. The advantage of posi
tion fairly equalized the forces.

"For eleven months, fiercely swirling with hate and
manslaughter, that death grapple never slackened for
an instant.

"For eleven months the relentless rifle sought its
victims day and night. The angry cannon never
ceased its hideous bellowing.

"The gloomy labyrinths of the wilderness became
an ocean of flame, scorching the living, burning up the
dead and wounded, but the fury of the Blue and Gray
rose above that of the flames as they charged one

100

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

another through the stifling reek like demons in some
infernal combat in the underworld.

"For eleven long months the march of the Con
federates was marked by a trail of thickly-lying mounds
of new-made graves. Every house in Virginia for a
hundred miles to the rear was crowded with the
wounded sent back from the front.

"For eleven long months the red earth in the rear of
the Army of the Potomac daily received a noble tribute
of hundreds of the first-born of loyal homes, and even
the dearly -loved little Benjamin of the flock. Every
steamer for the North was filled with a sad load of the
terribly wounded.

"Rank, birth, and wealth all fell alike before the
undiscriminating musket. The same red clay was
thrown over the Major-General's double stars and the
Corporal's double stripes. Professors in colleges and
humble day-laborers were buried in their coarse
blankets side by side.

"But the thinning battalions of both sides, marching
into other fights from their yet warm dead, struck at
each other with the same fierce courage of their first
battles.

"Lee's decimated brigades poured out their blood as
lavishly at Spottsylvania as Meade's shrunken ranks
did at Cold Harbor.

"The awful slaughter of the Union troops at the
Crater was matched by the sweeping destruction of
Gordon's Confederates at Fort Stedman.

"In the last battle the remnants of the Confederate
Army turned at Sailors Creek and struck valiantly at
their pursuers as Pickett had charged at Gettysburg.

101

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

"The scarred, battered, and depleted Second and
Sixth Corps rushed as furiously at the obstinate Con
federates as they had charged the blazing heights of
Fredericksburg.

"The American soldier had shown himself the
greatest ever marshaled in his exalted courage that no
hardship, no long-continued strain, no bloody defeat,
no terror of death could quell or even dampen. He
rose superior to the worst that fate could do.

"We can say with confidence that no other than an
American army could have endured unshaken the
terrific hammering the Army of Northern Virginia
received from the Rapidan to the Appomattox. We
say this with conviction, because in all the rolling
centuries no other army ever did endure such a test
of its mettle.

"We can say without fear of contradiction that no
other than an American army could have made such a
campaign as the Army of the Potomac did from the
Rapidan to the Appomattox. Every man whose eyes
were gladdened by the flag of truce on that fateful
April 9 could look back with moistened lids on five
comrades who had started with him, but were now in
hospitals of pain or sleeping in Virginia's clay.

"Every mile that the Army of the Potomac marched
had been crimsoned by the blood of thousands of its
best and bravest, every rod of ground it gained cost
the dole of some precious life. But it never released
the iron clutch upon the throat of the Confederate
Army. Discouraged by no failures, appalled by no
slaughters, relentless as death, it clung to its mighty
purpose until it wrung victory out of adverse fate.

102

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

"We can claim this surpassing glory for the Army of
the Potomac without fear of contradiction, because
neither Europe nor Asia ever produced an army with
such a record for endurance, courage, and fortitude.

"When we recall Napoleon overrunning Germany with
less loss on both sides than occurred in the Wilderness,
when we remember that Germany overcame the great
martial nation of France with less fighting and less loss
than in the campaign against Richmond, we get some
comparison whereby to estimate the Army of the
Potomac's towering greatness.

"We are now entering upon the period when the
people look back upon the tremendous war with glow
ing pride in the exalted American manhood on both
sides, displayed in every field, while

"The mighty mother with her tears
Turns the pages of her battle years,
Lamenting all her sons."

Introducing Colonel Heman Allen:

"It is a pleasure now to introduce one who was my
boyhood friend, a man who served with distinction as a
member of that famous Thirteenth Vermont Infantry;
a man whose admiration for Chaplain Woodward,
known as the fighting Chaplain of the First Vermont
Cavalry, was so great that recently, at his own ex
pense, he erected a monument to Chaplain Woodward
in the town of Westford, the boyhood home of both.
This man is Colonel Heman Allen, Gettysburg com
missioner for Vermont, who will now address you."

"Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:

"One of the distinguished officers of this splendid

103

COLONEL HEMAN W. ALLEN

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Regiment was the Reverend John H. Woodward, its
first chaplain. At the time the Regiment was raised,
Mr. Wroodward was serving in the Legislature of Ver
mont as one of the Senators from Chittenden County.
He was elected Chaplain, resigned from the Senate,
accepted the appointment and joined the Regiment;
served for nearly two years most acceptably as its
spiritual advisor and teacher. He was popular with
the officers and men, ever ready to be of help, ac
companying the troops in many of their raids and
reconnaissances. So active was he that he became
known as the fighting Chaplain of the First Vermont
Cavalry.

"In 1910 the town of Westford, his home town,
voted to erect a monument in honor of the 'Boys in
Blue' who marched from that town to the battlefields
of the Civil Wrar. A handsome monument was erected
and dedicated on July 4, 1912. This monument is
surmounted by a life-size statue of Chaplain Wood
ward, who served as Pastor of the Congregational
Church of that village for a period of twenty-six years.
The statue was presented by two friends, natives of
Westford, his former parishioners.

"Mr. W oodward has passed to his reward, mourned
by his comrades and those who knew him, leaving
behind him a record of patriotism, good living, and
service to mankind."

Introducing Colonel Henry O. Clark:

"Few men in Vermont have taken more interest in
the veterans of the Civil W7ar than Colonel Clark.
Much of his time and much of his money have been

105

COLONEL HENRY O. CLARK

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

freely given that his State might be benefited and
honored and the comforts of his comrades enlarged.
Colonel Clark, like the speaker who has preceded him,
was a member of the Sixteenth Vermont Infantry,
but the liberality of his thought and high sense of
patriotism extends to all Vermont regiments, more
especially the First Vermont Cavalry. Colonel Clark,
it is up to you to tell us what you think of that famous
First Vermont Cavalry, the statue of whose gallant
commander, just unveiled, must surround you with
inspirations; Colonel Clark."

"Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
"I have been introduced as a member of the Six
teenth Vermont Volunteers. While any man might
be proud to have belonged to that grand organization,
I cannot claim the right. I was a soldier in the Thir
teenth Vermont Regiment in the same Brigade as was
the Sixteenth (Stannard's). The Thirteenth Regiment
did about the hardest fighting that was done on this
great battlefield fifty years ago to-day. At least,
that is what is claimed by its survivors, many of
whom are present with us here. In charging the
flank of the enemy in Pickett's assault, it contributed
largely to the success of our arms at the critical point,
and captured more prisoners than it had men in its
ranks.

"The First Vermont Cavalry, whose beautiful moun-
ment is dedicated here to-day, is well known to us all
as the bravest, most intrepid, and hardest fighting
Cavalry Regiment in the service. We are proud of its
record of achievements. WTe knew it well during the

107

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

war. Many times, I remember, while marching on a
heavy mud road, loaded down with knapsack and equip
ment, weary and footsore, a detachment of the First
Vermont Cavalry would pass, mounted on fine horses,
men jolly, nattily dressed and up to date — something
like our chairman of the day, who was a member of the
First Vermont; and we foot soldiers used to say,
'If I ever enlist again it will be in the Cavalry, where
I can ride. Those chaps have an easy time compared
with us.' We little knew then of their trials and hard
ships, though later we learned of them. While the
Infantry had hard days of marching and many priva
tions, they were often in regular camps with stockaded
and comfortable tents and a warm place to sleep; and
sometimes for months with light duties and only suffi
cient drills to keep them in fit condition for active
service, whereas the Cavalry rarely had an estab
lished camp. They were out on raids and scouts in
small parties, doing picket duty in exposed positions,
living in brush houses and exposed to cold, sleet, and
rain with no shelter available. Every soldier in every
branch of the service had to keep himself in good
condition physically, but the Cavalry soldier had in
addition to keep his horse sound and in shape to
start on any desperate adventure at a moment's
notice; to look out for his feed, often so difficult to
obtain that many times the soldier divided his ration
of hard biscuit with his faithful and uncomplaining
horse.

"We of the Infantry learned that the life of a Cav
alryman was not one of ease and comfort, but rather
one of unceasing work, hardship, and care, with never-

108

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

ending watchfulness to prevent surprise, capture, or
death.

"We feel proud of the monument erected by the State
in honor of the First Vermont Cavalry, so well known
for valor during the entire four years of the Civil War.
Having been many times on this field, I have seen all
the monuments, and, in my opinion, this is one of the
most beautiful and artistic of the many erected to
commemorate brave and gallant deeds performed here
fifty years ago."

Introducing General L. A. Grant:

"The Old Brigade will be the next sentiment. How
fortunate that the beloved and distinguished Com
mander of that Brigade is with us. At the advanced
age of eighty-three he comes from far-away Minnesota
that he may, on this historic ground, meet the survivors
of his old Brigade; meet those who followed and loved
him. General Grant, we welcome you. You honored
both your State and nation."

"Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:

"Inasmuch as I was not named in the program, it
ought not to be expected that I should make any re
marks. I knew the First Vermont Cavalry to be one
of the best, if not the best, Cavalry Regiment in the
field. I knew General Wells to be one of the best
officers in the army, and this monument, erected to
their memory, shall stand as a witness to their valor
and heroic deeds."

109

MAJOR-GENERAL L. A. GRANT, U. S. Volunteers
Commanding the Old Brigade and Second Division Sixth Army Corps

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Introducing Governor IT. A. Woodbury:
"The man I am now about to introduce brought
back to Vermont the first empty sleeve. He was a
brave soldier and efficient officer; a man who always
stood high in the counsels of the State and nation; a
man who was honored by being made Governor of his
State, but who made honors easy by the splendid
administration he gave his State; a man whose friend
ship I have prized and enjoyed for many years. This
man is Governor Woodbury, whom I now have the
honor to introduce."

"Mr. President, Comrades, Ladies, and Gentlemen:

"The First Vermont Brigade played an important
but not prominent part in the drama enacted here fifty
years ago. As a part of the Sixth Corps it guarded the
left flank of the Union Army, which was an assurance of
the more actively-engaged forces of the Army of the Po
tomac that they would not be flanked in that direction.

"If the Sixth Corps had been called into action im
mediately after Pickett's repulse, Gettysburg might
have been a more decided victory and the war con
siderably shortened. Speculations of this kind fifty
years afterward are not of much value, however, and it
is more satisfactory to believe that the duration, the
sacrifices, and the hardships of the gigantic struggle
were ordained of God to work out his righteous purpose.

"I esteem it a high honor to be asked to take even
a small part in these interesting ceremonies. This is a
great day — the fiftieth anniversary of a great battle
in which the flower of Northern and Southern manhood
met in a deadly struggle. Happily for our now united

111

GOVERNOR U. A. WOODBURY
Second Vermont Regiment, "Old Vermont Brigade"

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

country, the victory rested with the North. Enemies
of half a century ago who were then eager for the
blood of each other meet to-day in friendship, each
eager to perform some loving service for the other.
The erection of this beautiful monument gives me
much satisfaction. It is a fitting recognition by Ver
mont of a gallant officer and a gallant regiment. I
have always had a warm place in my heart for the
Vermont Cavalry, for I had a brother in that regiment
who gave his young life while fighting for his country.
He was a typical cavalryman, brave and dashing, and
I believe would have attained high rank had he lived.
He was killed in action in April, 1863, while First-
Lieutenant of Company B.

"I have also many lifelong friends in this Associa
tion, among whom are your President, Colonel Parker,
and General Peck, your Secretary. To General Peck
and his associates much credit should be given for this
monument, its location, and dedication. The ground
upon which we stand is sacred ground, made so by the
blood of patriots shed in making one of the most dash
ing and gallant cavalry charges of the Civil War. It
was here that the First Vermont Cavalry, under its
heroic leader, Colonel Wells, added to its fame and
presaged its brilliant service for the future. May
these anniversary days of the greatest events in human
history awaken in us a greater love of God, of Country,
and of mankind."

Introducing General E. D. Dimmick:
"The First Vermont Cavalry and the Fifth New
York Cavalry were fighting chums. Whenever one

113

GENERAL E. D. DIMMICK, TJ. S. Army

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

regiment got into a tight place the other was always
ready to rush in and help it out. They were fighting
friends, and were so known in the Cavalry Corps. I
am about to call upon a gentleman who was known as
a fighting Captain in the Fifth New York. A gen
tleman, who, at the close of the war, was commis
sioned in the regular army and rose to the rank of
Brigadier-General. It gives me pleasure to introduce
General Dimmick."

"Your Excellency and Honorable Members of the
Commission, Ladies, and Gentlemen:

"I feel highly honored through the courtesy of my
esteemed friend and comrade, General Peck, that I
have been given this privilege of making a few remarks
on our Brigade. I was an enlisted man in the Fifth
New York Cavalry, and it was my good fortune to be
brigaded with such fine regiments as the First Vermont,
Eighteenth Pennsylvania, and the First West Virginia
Cavalry, regiments that their States and the nation
may well feel proud of. Time will not permit me to
speak of our many cavalry fights in the valley of the
Shenandoah, Harrisonburg, Culpeper, Warrenton,
Thoroughfare Gap, Hay Market, Cedar Mountain,
Second Battle, Bull Run, Antietam, and other places;
but I want to speak more particularly of the First
Vermont Cavalry. A strong bond of friendship sprang
up between it and my regiment from the day that we
were first brigaded together; and this friendship grew
stronger from day to day and month by month through
out the war, and will be more firmly cemented by the
crowning events of this day. I know that I voice the

115

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

sentiment of every surviving member of the Fifth
New York Cavalry when I say that there was no
braver regiment of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac,
nor one with a finer record than the First Vermont. Of
the services of 'Our Brigade' during the Gettysburg
campaign — the stubborn battle with Stuart's Cavalry,
in the town of Hanover, on June 30th; at Hunters-
town on the evening of July 2nd; the part we took in
the battle of Gettysburg, particularly the part played
by the gallant First Vermont Cavalry on July 3rd at
this hour, the pursuit of the enemy over the mountain
that pitch-dark, rainy night; the capture of most of
General J. E. B. Stuart's wagons; and the fight at
Hagerstown, Maryland, July 6th, opposed by Hood's
Division of Infantry, supported by the cavalry, is a
matter of history. Time will not permit me to. go into
details, but we have the authority of Generals Grant,
Sheridan, J. H. Wilson, and other cavalry leaders
that there were no better cavalry regiments than the
First Vermont and the Fifth New York Cavalry."

Introducing Colonel W. D. Mann:

"Colonel Mann, it was most kind of you to honor
this occasion with your presence. You were Colonel
of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, a Regiment that
affiliated and often fought side by side with the First
Vermont. You knew our men. You knew our officers.
We knew you and your men. Without further intro
duction you will find us interested listeners."

"Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency, and Gentlemen:
"I deeply appreciate your consideration in giving me
opportunity to say a word of that grand old Regiment

116

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

on this occasion of dedicating this noble monument
to the one-time Colonel of the First Vermont Cavalry.
It was my opportunity to see and know a good deal of
the Regiment, and at one time a detachment of it,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Preston, was under my com
mand when I was charged with the duty of guarding
the Orange & Alexandria Railroad — the line of com
munication between the base of supplies and our army
on the Rappahannock — against the pernicious activi
ties of the guerrilla chief, Mosby. I had in my
command my own regiment, a detachment of the Fifth
New York, and a part of the First Vermont, and I
assure you that Mosby kept us all very much on the
alert and pretty busy. At one time he secured a sec
tion of artillery from Stuart's command, and, gather
ing a force said to have been nearly four hundred
troopers, he made a raid on the road, May 30, 1863,
firing upon a train of supplies with his cannon, a shot
going through the locomotive and knocking it from
the rails. He promptly proceeded to pillage. It was
at a point some three miles from my headquarters'
camp. When I heard his cannon I mounted my force,
dividing it, going myself with a part directly to the
train, and sending the other detachment under Colonel
Preston off to the right, with the idea of reaching
Mosby's line of retreat if he should run away before I
got at him. WThen I came within his sight he began a
hurried retreat exactly in the direction I had expected.
At Grapewood Farm, near Greenwich, he encountered
Preston, and about the same moment my own de
tachment arrived, and he was brought to bay, the only
time history relates when he stood for a fair fight.

117

COLONEL W. D. MANN

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Colonel Preston, with the First Vermont, charged in
the lead, and a more gallant action I never witnessed.
He was met by cannon firing grapeshot, but grapeshot
could not stop Preston or his Vermonters. We suc
ceeded in giving Mosby a severe drubbing, resulting
in seven of his men killed and fifteen wounded that
were unable to get away in the thickets and became
our prisoners. We captured his guns and a number of
other prisoners. We lost four men killed and some
eighteen wounded, among them being Lieutenant
Barker, of the Fifth New York. Captain Haskins, of
the Forty -fourth British Infantry, on leave and serving
with Mosby, was mortally wounded, and Lieutenant
Chapman, in command of his artillery and graduate of
West Point, was severely wounded. No braver sol
dier, no more patriotic citizen, no nobler man than
Preston served in our Civil War. I did not personally
know General Wells, but I knew enough of him to say
he well deserved the honor which the Green Mountain
State has done him in this monument you have un
veiled. The monument honors the Regiment as well
as General WTells; and no State had a regiment more
deserving of its honor than did Vermont in its First

Cavalry Regiment."

Introducing Captain George Hilly er:

"Unexpectedly and most graciously we are favored
wTith the presence of a distinguished Confederate
officer, one who was a Captain in the Ninth Georgia, a
regiment whose casualties had been so great that, on
the third day of the battle on this historic ground, not
a field officer was left, and Captain Hillyer, whom I

119

CAPTAIN GEORGE HILLYER, C. S. Army

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

am now about to introduce, was called on to command
the Regiment. Judge Hillyer, you earned distinction
as a fighting Confederate soldier during the four years
of war, and have since been honored by your State by
being made one of its Judiciary. We gladly welcome
you to this ceremony, and will follow you with interest.
I have the pleasure of introducing Judge Hillyer, of
Georgia."

"Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
"I am here merely as a spectator — an exceedingly
interested spectator and listener in these ceremonies.
That beautiful and tasteful monument in enduring
stone and bronze, with the splendid utterances of
noble men on both sides, where fifty years ago we
struggled over this historic spot, including the inspiring
words and splendid sentiments of my former com
mander, General Law, have stirred my heart and
moved me to a most unusual degree.

"My regiment was the Ninth Georgia Infantry, of
General George T. Anderson's Brigade, the Seventh,
Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, and Fifty -ninth Georgia of
Hood's and Law's Division. Wre had been severely
engaged during the afternoon of the 2nd of July on the
left flank of the Division. I was only a Captain, the
third Captain in rank in line of the Ninth Georgia.
During the severe fighting back and forth, three or
more times across the historic 'wheat field,' and one
time, when we advanced to the very foot and a small
distance up the slope of the 'Little Round Top,' we
had suffered severely, losing more than half of the
officers and men of the regiment, every officer above

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

me having fallen, being either killed or so severely
wounded as not again to be able for duty for more
than three months, leaving me during that time in
command of the regiment. But I know your thoughts
are fixed on the cavalry fight on this historic spot,
something more than a mile to the right of where we
had been engaged on the 2nd.

"During the forenoon of the 3rd of July the Eleventh
Georgia, under command of Major McDaniel, a noble
and splendid man, afterward Governor of our State,
was withdrawn from the front, or Plum Run line, and
sent along the Emmettsburg Road to meet Kilpat-
rick's Cavalry, then making demonstrations at that
point. The Seventh Georgia and the First Texas were
already in position on that line. The First Texas had
been badly decimated, like my own regiment, in the
battle of the day before, and they had hardly force
enough to station their men closer than five or six
feet apart. Soon after I arrived at the point of actual
fighting on the Emmettsburg Road Colonel Maddox,
of the Seventh Georgia, was severely wounded and
taken from the field. The combat went on for some
time thereafter, we holding our line successfully, my
regiment in a position for immediately supporting and
relieving the Seventh Georgia when necessary.

"The Emmettsburg Road at that point is on slightly
rising ground, and suddenly I saw a force of Federal
cavalry, charging in column of fours, break through
the thin line of the First Texas, and come galloping up
a ravine toward a six-gun battery, which through the
war and until that time we had known as Riley's Bat
tery, but which I notice is put down as Baughman's

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Battery on the maps of the battlefield — Baughman being
the name of a later commander. I called out to Cap
tain Hudson, who had succeeded Colonel Maddox in
commanding the Seventh Georgia, that the Ninth was
going to the support of Riley's Battery, toward which
evidently this cavalry was making the dash. The
Ninth was double-quicked along the diagonal line,
partly in the road, but mostly in a straight and shorter
line; and the Federal cavalry being impeded by a
stone wall and possibly other obstructions, we suc
ceeded on a quick movement in reaching the battery
first.

"Talking with Vermonters here during this Reunion
I discovered that there is some difference of recollec
tion as to whether this attacking column of cavalry was
fired on by Riley's Battery. My recollection is quite
distinct that as the Ninth Georgia in its rapid march
passed for a short distance along the Emmettsburg
Road, \vhen just in front of two other Confederate
guns, being what was called 'flying artillery' and
smaller guns than those of Riley's, they were fired
over our heads — this flying artillery being on slightly
higher ground, one of my men was severely wounded
by the 'follow block' from one of those cannon. But I
think, in point of fact, Riley's men did not see and did
not fire on the approaching column of cavalry, because
it was advancing in the ravine I have mentioned and
out of easy sight of the gunners. So it was that I
halted my regiment immediately in the rear of Riley's
Battery, and, facing to the front, we advanced between
the guns; and there right in front of us was that solid
mass of horsemen, just preparing to make their dash

123

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

at the battery. When the volley came from our line
at this solid mass of men and horses, right before us,
and in easy range, you can easily imagine what hap
pened, the advantage of position and opportunity being
so much in our favor.

"What was left of them changed direction and at
tempted to find a new position in a body of woods, or
timbered land, some two hundred yards away. There
they encountered a regiment, which I learned that
General Law had sent to meet them, the Fifteenth
Alabama. From the roar of musketry which followed
we knew that the fighting in those woods was quite
severe. In a little while fifteen or twenty came back
out of the woods, some of them wounded and a few on
foot, but by this time the First Texas had concen
trated in a new and better position, and with this ad
vantageous position and successful attack of the Ninth
Georgia the few who thus returned from the timbered
land, as I mentioned, were nearly all killed or captured.
I learned afterward that quite a number retreated in a
different direction and passed out into the main Federal
lines through the timber to the right, or south of 'Big
Hound Top,' though I did not know this at the time.

"I had a man in my company named Craig, who was
a bad hand to forage and sometimes to straggle, but in
reality a splendid young fellow and a good fighter who
was always on hand in every battle. I had not missed
Craig, but a few minutes after the scattered remnants
returned toward the position of my regiment, as I have
just described, I saw Craig coming from the direction
of those woods. He walked straight up to me and said:
'Captain, those men are Vermont Cavalry, and their

124

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

commander was General Farnsworth, and he has been
killed. I saw him killed. His horse had been shot
down and he was on the ground still fighting and firing
his pistol. We commanded his surrender, and when
we were very close to him he said he would die before he
would surrender, and turned his pistol and shot him
self.' I had learned before from other persons that it
was Vermonters that we were fighting, but I did not
know the name of the commander until Craig told me.
Now he told me this certainly within fifteen or twenty
minutes from the moment of Farns worth's death. I had
not then, and have not at this moment, the slightest
doubt as to the truth of what Craig said. I think it
likely, however, and I have so heard, that General
Farnsworth had received several wounds before he shot
himself, but Craig did not know it.

"Either the same afternoon or early the next morn
ing I learned or heard the statement made in such a
manner that at the time I fully believed it, that just
before the charge began some of the scouts or pickets
of the First Texas had crept up through the thick
bushes and boulders, or rocks, very close to the Federal
position, and overheard what they called a quarrel
between General Kilpatrick and General Farnsworth,
in which, whilst I cannot pretend to quote the words
accurately, it appeared that General Farnsworth be
lieved it would be unwise to make the charge at that
point, he having reconnoitered the ground, but that
his commander (General Kilpatrick) overruled him in
language that Farnsworth thought reflected upon his
courage, including the statement that if he (Farns
worth) was unwilling to lead the charge he (Kilpatrick)

125

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

would lead Farnsworth's men himself. To this Farns-
worth was said to have replied: 'If you will take the
responsibility of ordering the charge I will show you
whether I am afraid to lead my men or not.' This
seems to be a corroboration of what Craig had said,
and supplied a motive in a man of sensitive nature
and lofty pride like Farns worth, that would lead him
to say in the crisis of the succeeding struggle that he
would die before he would be made a prisoner. I
think I have seen it stated, from other sources, in
some of the literature of the battle, but without giving
any distinct authority for the story, that as a historical
fact Farnsworth did take his own life, though doubt
less already mortally wounded at the time.

"It is proper to add that I have not gone out of my
way to volunteer an account of these personal inci
dents, but some of the survivors of Farnsworth's com
mand here have asked me to do so, so that my
testimony and observations from the Confederate side
might aid in correctly recording these historic events.1

"Now let me give you another incident. Across the
field from which Farnsworth's command charged was
a rock wall sloping up and down the hill. After the
first crisis I moved my regiment forward and occupied
this rock wall as a breastwork. Our litter-bearers came
forward and lay down with us behind the wall. Just in
front was a wounded Federal soldier, about twenty
steps off. He was suffering intensely with the heat and
thirst, and occasionally cried out for water. We
wanted to relieve him, but it was as much as a man's
life was worth to show himself above the wall before

*See reproduction of letter from Surgeon P. O'M. Edson on page 128.

126

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

the Federal sharpshooters. I called for a handker
chief to use as a flag, but there was not one, at least
not one that was white. Then I told Rains, one of the
litter-bearers, to raise his stretcher above the wall and
wave it. It was not even as white as the handker
chiefs, being mostly red from what it had gone through
the evening and day before. But as soon as it appeared
above the wall the firing on the other side slackened
and presently ceased altogether. I then told Rains
and Upshaw, the other litter-bearer, to get up on the
wall and wave the stretcher before them. They did
so, and half a dozen Federals appeared from the
bushes on the other side. Not a shot was fired by them,
nor a shot from either side, until Rains and Upshaw
went forward and brought the wounded Vermonter in
and laid him down in the shade behind the wall, where
we gave him water and what comfort we could. This
day I rejoice more in that act of mercy and kindness
than in any claim of glory or success in the battle.

"Such scenes were common. In the still moonlight
the evening before, in front of 'Little Round Top,' a
hundred or more instances occurred where the Federal
litter-bearers were invited and allowed to come within
our picket lines, and our men allowed to do the same,
to bring out the wounded of their comrades. No
solitary instance occurred at such times of a cowardly
shot being fired, or blow struck, or any unkind word
spoken from either side to the other, and we gladly
did the office of humanity and kindness to the gallant
Vermonter I have mentioned. In fact, that day was
not the first time it had been my fortune in the war
to fight Vermonters. At 'Dam Number One,' before

127

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Yorktown, early in 1862, we fought a Vermont regi
ment; I do not remember its name or number. (A
voice on the ground — 'The Third Vermont.') Yes,
doubtless that was it, but, like Farnsworth's Cavalry,
they were brave and noble men — hard to handle, and
worthy of all honor and praise. Vermonters! You
could not break or even bend our spirits with swords
or bullets, but you win our hearts by kindness !

"And now, Veterans, let me tell you why I think the
kind Providence has spared us all during these inter
vening fifty years. I say, old Veterans — I mean both
Confederate veterans and Union veterans — God has
spared us in order to give us more opportunity and
additional opportunity to behave. Let us love one
another, and do our duty to our fellow men and to
our country and to our God until we die."

Introducing Colonel John W. Bennett:

"The next speaker I am to call upon is the only sur
viving Lieutenant-Colonel of our Regiment. Colonel
Bennett was one of the most reliable and fearless offi
cers of the Regiment. He won his promotions through
efficient service. He was always at his post of duty
wherever and whenever duty called. On the third day
of this great battle, and immediately preceding the
charge, Colonel Bennett was in command of his bat
talion on the skirmish line. Colonel Bennett was
present with General Farnsworth when General Kil-
patrick ordered that reckless, ill-advised charge — a
charge that cost the Regiment so many lives. Colonel
Bennett, your presence adds interest and honor to the
occasion. Colonel Bennett."

129

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

"Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
"The First Regiment, Vermont Cavalry, was or
ganized September 4, 1861, and was mustered into the
United States service November 1, 1861, for three
years or during the war. At that time the Regiment
consisted of ten companies, but later two companies
were added, making it a twelve-company regiment of
twelve hundred men. The original regiment was mus
tered out November 18, 1864. The re-enlisted veterans
and recruits were consolidated into a battalion of six
companies, and were mustered out August 9, 1865.

From first to last the regiment had 2,304 men

There were killed in action and died of wounds 134 men

Died of disease, including 149 who died in Confederate

prisons 304 "

Total deaths 438 men

"To this must be added many who, from the effects
of wounds received, disease contracted, and exposure
in the service, died within a very few years.

"Commencing with the action at Mount Jackson,
in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, April 16, 1862,
and terminating at Appomattox Court House, April 9,
1865, the Regiment participated in seventy-six battles
and combats.

"Major Wells assumed command of the Regiment
upon the death of Colonel Preston, early in June, 1864,
and was promptly promoted to the Colonelcy; ad
vanced to the command of the Second Brigade of Cus-
ter's Division of Cavalry on September 25, 1864.
From that date to October 22, 1864, the speaker —

130

COLONEL JOHN W. BENNETT

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

then Lieutenant-Colonel — was continuously in com
mand of the First Vermont Cavalry. The three years'
term of service ended, the re-enlisted and recruits were
organized into a battalion of six companies.

"PROPERTY CAPTURED. — At Tom's Brook, Virginia,
October 9, 1864, the First Vermont Cavalry captured
two pieces of artillery, with the horses attached, and
also a large group of prisoners. At Cedar Creek, Vir
ginia, October 19, 1864, the Regiment captured one
hundred and sixty-one prisoners, including one general
officer, one lieutenant-colonel, twenty-three pieces of
artillery, fourteen caissons, seventeen army wagons,
six spring wagons and ambulances, eighty-three sets
of artillery harness, seventy-five sets of wagon harness,
ninety-eight horses, and sixty-nine mules.

"April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Station, the First
Vermont Cavalry captured eight guns, and some of
these were from the famous Washington Artillery
Battalion of New Orleans.

The regiment captured, October 9, 1864 2 guns

October 19, 1864 23 "

April 9, 1865 8 "

33 guns

In addition to the above, my recollection is that
Colonel Preston, when captain, captured one gun
from the noted rebel, Mosby, making a total of thirty-
four pieces of artillery captured by the Regiment.

"The career of the battalion of six companies sus
tained the Regiment's unsurpassed record of efficiency
and came to a triumphant close on April 9, 1865, at

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Appomattox, Virginia. Here the battalion was mov
ing rapidly to a charge when halted by the flag of
truce that preceded the unconditional surrender of
the Army of Northern Virginia.

"A word on what I saw and heard regarding the
charge on the third day of the battle of Gettysburg:

"About noon on the third day of the battle of
Gettysburg, General Farnsworth's Brigade, of Kil-
patrick's Division of Cavalry, moved against the
enemy lying near the southwest base of 'Round Top,'
the First Vermont leading the Brigade. Soon after
the Regiment struck the enemy's skirmish lines my
battalion of four companies was dismounted and the
Confederates in my immediate front were slowly
forced back to their main line at the very base of
'Round Top.' The battalion continued to press for
ward, creeping from rock to rock, until the groans and
moans of the wounded in the opposing lines were
heard with equal distinctness. No relief could be
given beyond a drink of water by the tossing of a
canteen to the sufferer. The wounded could not be
removed, for a hand or arm shown beyond the edge
of the protecting rock was likely to add another name
to the list of wounded.

"After the fearful cannonading away to the right of
us had slackened, and the awful musketry that soon
followed had mostly died away, indicating the failure
of Pickett's efforts to break our lines, I was standing
behind a large tree. Hearing a whistle, I looked to
the rear, and quite a distance back saw General Farns-
worth in the edge of the woods. He motioned with his
hand for me to come back. As he was still approach-

133

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

ing, I nodded my head and with my hand signaled
him to stop. Having already received a slight blister
on each cheek while endeavoring to keep a watch of
what was being enacted in my front by peeking around
first one side and then the other of the trees, I was
not highly elated at the prospect of a trip to the rear.
I delayed my start until one of the men, putting his
hat on a stick, slowly pushed it out a little beyond the
edge of his protecting rock, and the enemy commenced
to blaze away at the hat. Then I darted behind the
next big tree, some thirty feet to the rear. The bark
flew from both sides; the dirt jumped up all around;
and a number of sharp spats against my only shield
betokened objection to my departure. Here I paused
until the next outbreak along the contending lines,
and then dashed to the protection of another big tree.
Each succeeding dash was followed by the whiz and
hiss until out of range.

"Generals Kilpatrick and Farnsworth, both dis
mounted, were engaged in conversation as I approached.
General Farnsworth, addressing me, said in substance:
'General Kilpatrick thinks that there is a fair chance
to make a successful charge. You have been up in
front all day, what do you think?' Before I could
speak General Kilpatrick broke in, saying, 'The whole
Rebel army is in full retreat. I have just heard from
the right, and our cavalry there is gobbling them up
by the thousand. All we have to do is to charge, and
the enemy will throw down their arms and surrender.'
This remark was addressed to me. I replied, 'Sir, I
don't know about the situation on the right, but the
enemy in our front are not broken or retreating.' Then

134

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

I described the position of Hood's (Rebel) Infantry
Division — behind a stone wall near the front of the
hill; that there was not a horse in the division that
could jump the wall from the lower side. And further,
the necessary solidity required to make such a charge
effective against infantry would be destroyed by the
huge rock covering the ground between us and the
enemy's lines. I closed by saying, 'General Kilpatrick,
in my opinion, no successful charge can be made
against the enemy in my front.' General Kilpatrick
was evidently annoyed, not to say angered, at my
remarks. He did not attempt to conceal his dis
pleasure, yet he failed to challenge the accuracy of
any part of my statement of fact. General Farns worth
was a listener during this conversation with Kilpatrick.
"Then General Farns worth requested me to ac
company him for a further observation and examina
tion of the field, position of the enemy, etc. We
mounted our horses and rode away to the west. The
General made a careful inspection of the position of
the enemy, of the field covered with large stones and
boulders, and all the conditions, stopping frequently
to make a careful and minute examination, both going
and returning. I recall that at one point in the field
of rocks, aliundred feet or more in front of the enemy's
main line, was a light advance force lying behind the
remnants of a stone wall (partly removed). When the
General had completed his examination of all the
conditions, and we were returning to Kilpatrick's
headquarters, he turned to me and said, 'Major, I do
not see the slightest chance for a successful charge.' I
fully acquiesced in his conclusion. Kilpatrick arose as

135

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

we came up, and General Farns worth explained the
conditions as he had found them, calling attention to
the leading facts, and briefly summarized the situation
and expressed his conclusions. General Farns worth
and I were sitting on our horses side by side. General
Kilpatrick replied: 'General Farnsworth, well, some
body can charge.9 He did not say that he would lead a
charge; did not indicate that he would do so while I
was present. General Farnsworth's set lips turned
white almost instantly as the sting of the insult seemed
to burn into his very soul. There was a short pause
following these words. No language of mine can
convey a picture of the tension of that moment of
silence. As General Farnsworth straightened up, every
fibre of his being seemed rigid. Fearing results that
might follow, and anxious to arrest General Farns
worth's attention before he should speak or act, I
kicked his foot three or four times with my boot, but
failed to attract his attention or divert it to the extent
I intended. The silence was broken by General
Farnsworth, who replied, 'General Kilpatrick, if any
body can charge, we can, sir.'

"Only three persons were present during this inter
view, and I made the third. General Farnsworth and
I had moved a short distance away when he directed
me not to mount my battalion, but be ready to aid in
protecting his right as he moved to the charge. In a
few moments the mounted column, with the Ver-
monters in front, came up. My memory is that one
battalion of four companies, numbering about one
hundred and twenty men under command of Major
Wells, was all of the First Vermont Cavalry that par-

136

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

ticipated in the charge. General Farnsworth, with
Major Wells at his side, led the column as it swung
into the open field swept by shot and shell, and moved
to the charge. My battalion charged the enemy's line,
thus diverting the enemy's fire from the charging
column for a moment. Away 'into the jaws of death
and into the mouth of hell' rode that splendid body of
brave men. They smashed through that slight outer
line of the enemy, and the men that composed it
threw down their arms and sprang to the opposite
side of their protecting rocks to escape the deadly fire
from their main line that was being poured upon our
charging body. As our charging column passed, many
wrho had thus surrendered gathered up their rifles and
fired into its rear.

"Soon, scattered over the field, rushing to the rear
for shelter from the murderous fire, were dismounted
men and riderless horses, injured and uninjured, while
the dead and dying marked the course of the charging
column. These were the first fruits of the abundant
harvest that was gathered through the wild insanity
that ruled the hour."

Introducing Mr. W. B. Van Amringe:

"It gives me great pleasure to present Mr. W. B.
Van Amringe, President of the Van Amringe Granite
Company of Boston, Massachusetts, the contractors of
our beautiful monument, and to say that we are indeed
glad to have him here with us to-day. Our only regret
is that the accomplished sculptor, Mr. J. Otto
Schweizer, is not."

137

J. OTTO SCHWEIZER,
The Artist

W. B. VAN AMRINGE

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

"Your Excellency, Mr. President, Ladies, and Gen
tlemen :

"The celebration of a Golden Wedding Anniversary,
in any family, is always a notable event, not only to
the happy couple who together have traveled the half-
century journey of married life, but to their children
and younger generations of relatives present, who
naturally look upon the Bride and Groom of long ago
with much awe and veneration.

"Fifty years to the younger generation seems like a
long time for Father and Mother to be care-sharing and
home-building, and it really is a long time reckoned by
what has happened in the span of fifty years and by the
marked changes that have taken place.

"We are gathered here to-day from the Northland
and the Southland to celebrate the Golden Anniversary
of a wonderful wedding which took place on, and near
this spot, fifty years ago, at this very hour.

"Do you ask the names of the Bridegroom and
Bride? The pages of history give their names; let us
read together its record. Lo! we find the following:

" 'Wedded this day, by the God of War, Heroic
Deed and Sacrifice to Sweet Memory and Everlasting
Fame.

" 'Witnesses: God Almighty, the Angels of Heaven,
and a great host of friends and foes.'

"That was indeed a wedding never to be forgotten;
a Union which no man can ever put asunder, try as he
may, for on that day the Bridegroom inscribed his
name and that of his Bride on the Scroll of Fame in
letters of blood with the point of his sabre, to the
accompaniment of a wonderful wedding march, in

139

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

which the hoarse roar of nigh two hundred cannon
joined the chorus of a hundred thousand muskets;
in which the shrill notes of the bugle blast, which
started your own wild charge, could scarcely be dis
tinguished. Yes, that day and hour and ceremony,
amid shot and shell, will never be forgotten. Blessed
are the names and memories of those brave comrades
who are not with us this day in the flesh.

"It occurred to me while listening to the distin
guished speakers who have so vividly and interestingly
pictured the events that took place here fifty years
ago, to look around for visible objects, that may be
seen and recognized to-day, that we know for a cer
tainty were here on that eventful afternoon of 1863.

"Only two visible objects can now be seen by the
natural eye. Old Mother Earth, for one; and you men
in blue and gray, who were participants in that event,
are the only other objects that we can see to-day and
say for a certainty, 'They were here in 1863 and are
here to-day.'

"And these two objects can scarcely be recognized
to-day. Even Old Mother Earth has changed in fifty
years; and though we recognize her in a general way,
we find her face seamed with deeper lines, even by
winding avenues and twisting water courses. Her
sunken cheeks, with rocks and boulders over and
around which the mad dash of horse and rider is so
well remembered, has grown a heavier and whiter
beard of moss and lichens.

"You, too, comrades, have changed. You who were
here at that wedding of Heroic Deed and Everlasting
Memory. Your faces also have deeper lines engraved

140

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

on cheek and brow; you too have grown a heavier and
whiter crop of reminders of the flight of years, and so
we look in vain for some visible object that has not
changed with years.

"We turn to bronze and granite, and attempt to put
into pleasing form our gratitude and our remembrances;
but a strange truth may here be recalled — that there
are things more enduring and more lasting than even
bronze or granite.

"It is the invisible which the natural eye cannot see
that is more real and lasting, the one and only thing
that will never be lost nor forgotten in the centuries
to come.

"It is the glorious Record of Heroic Deeds per
formed by you and your comrades on this spot, and the
unselfish Sacrifices which you and your companions
made, that will always endure; and when you shall
have passed away, and this spot on the face of Old
Mother Earth shall no longer be recognized, the
record of your heroic deeds, and the everlasting
memory of your service and sacrifice, will still be as
bright and as enduring as though the two were wedded
to-day.

"It can be well said of this twain, who were wed
ded fifty years ago, that they have not changed; they
are 'the same yesterday, to-day, and forever,' and
where mortal tongue shall name the one, he shall
likewise name the other. Wherever the historian's
pen shall describe the Deed there shall be also inscribed
Memory.

"Comrades and Friends, I esteem it a great honor
and privilege to have been invited to be present with

141

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

you to-day, and to have had a part, a small part, in
what I have called the Golden Wedding Anniversary
celebration; and I thank you from the bottom of my
heart for such an honor and privilege.

"I rejoice with you to have with us to-day the worthy
foemen of fifty years ago. They are our honored
guests and esteemed friends. Our enemies of yes
terday have become the true friends of to-day, for
we know by their presence and earnest assurances
that they are our comrades, rejoicing in the Citizenship
of a United Country, living under and loving but one
Flag, Old Glory. May God bless all of us and for
many years to come."

President Parker announced:

"Comrades, fifty years ago, on this very spot, at
five o'clock in the afternoon, Major Wells, standing
in front of his battalion, with drawn sabre, ordered his
bugler to sound the charge, a charge that for daring
and desperation has challenged the admiration of the
world. The hour of five o'clock has now arrived. Let
all uncover and stand with bowed heads while our
bugler, in commemoration of that historic moment,
sounds the charge."

Gilbert D. Buckman, of Sacramento, California, was
present with the members of the First Vermont Cav
alry Regimental Association at the unveiling and
dedication of the monument in honor of the Regiment,
at Gettysburg, July 3, 1913.

He was the bugler of Company L, First Vermont
Cavalry, and for several months was orderly bugler

142

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

for General George A. Custer, commanding the Michi
gan Cavalry Brigade of the Cavalry Corps, Army of
the Potomac. At Gettysburg he was relieved from this
duty and sent to General Farnsworth, commanding the

GILBERT D. BUCKMAN

brigade of which the First Regiment Vermont Cav
alry was a part, and acted as his orderly bugler on
the afternoon of the charge on July 3, 1863.

It was now six o'clock, and the audience rose and
sang "America," accompanied by the band of the
Fifth United States Infantry, and upon the sounding
of "Taps" the exercises closed.

143

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

FORTY-FIRST MEETING

FIRST VERMONT CAVALRY REGIMENTAL
ASSOCIATION

IN VERMONT CAMP, GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
10 A. M., July 2, 1913

MEMBERS PRESENT

Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Bennett, 454 South Main

St., Great Barrington, Mass.
Adjutant Clarence D. Gates, Burlington, Vt.
Gilbert D. Buckman, Oak Park, Sacramento, Cal.

COMPANY A

Edwards, Ellis B., Yonkers, N. Y.
Edwards, George Albert, Richmond, Vt.
Fay, I. E., National Soldiers' Home, Kennebec County,

Me.

Grow, J. H., Bethel, Vt.
Hood, Albert, Woodsville, N. H.
Moore, Mark S., Granville, N. Y.
Morse, C. W., Manitowoc, Wis.
Ryan, T. G., Cambridge, Vt.
Taft, Levi A., Huntington, Vt.
Whipple, E. J., Ashland, Neb.

COMPANY B

Bonner, L. H., Pasadena, Cal.

Henry, William P., 16 Winslow Road, Brookline, Mass.
Knight, Orris P., North Hero, Vt.
St. Germain, M., Saint Albans, Vt.
Stetson, Horace B., North Troy, Vt.
L^fford, Samuel, R. F. D. 2, Lewiston, Winona Co.,
Minn.

145

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

COMPANY C

Brunelle, Toussant, Canaan, Vt.
Gordon, J. W., Montpelier, Vt.
Rice, M. M., Saint Albans, Vt.
Stevens, D. W., East Hardwick, Vt.
Wheeler, John A., Irasburg, Vt.

COMPANY D

Burnham, F. E., Littleton, N. H.
Clifford, C. W., Warren, N. H.
Curtis, A. H., Berlin, N. H.
Gracey, John C., Peacham, Vt.
Hutton, Abia, Westville, N. H.
Kennison, A. H., Camden, N. Y.
Moore, H. A., Passumpsic, Vt.
Walker, D. C., Jeffersonville, Vt.
Wheaton, W. M., Ottumwa, Iowa.

COMPANY E

Brush, Solomon M., Stowe, Vt.
May, Edgar, 120 Cottage St., Norwood, Mass.
Royes, B., 3372 Indiana Ave., Chicago, 111.
Snow, S. M., West Hartford, Vt.
Stevens, John W., Lancaster, N. H.
Wheeler, Charles, Springfield, Vt.

COMPANY F

Brink, D. A., Brandon, Vt.
Dickenson, N. P., Shelton, Neb.

Farr, Charles R., 25 Manen St., Northampton, Mass,
Farr, Ransom C., West Chesterfield, N. H.
Greene, William F., Dighton, Kan.

146

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Joyce, William C., Northfield, Vt.
Nash, John M., Saint Albans, Vt.
Peck, Theodore S., Burlington, Vt.
Streeter, Henry C., Brattleboro, Vt.
Thwing, John A., Bellows Falls, Vt.
Warner, M. C., Proctor, Vt.

COMPANY G

Barrett, James, North Clarendon, Vt.
Eddy, Daniel W., Hoosick Falls, N. Y.

COMPANY H

Bostwick, R. E., South Londonderry, Vt.
Flynn, William, Alton, 111.

Leland, Charles C., 617 East Nineteenth St., Minne
apolis, Minn.
Robie, F. C., Coos, N. H.
Ross, Frank, Amsterdam, N. Y.
Stoddard, Edgar, Colebrook, N. H.

COMPANY I

Cowles, A. E., North Craftsbury, Vt.
Enos, Joseph, Franklin, N. H.
Ferry, F. E., South Sutton, N. H.
Hall, W. H., Portage, King County, Washington.
Kaiser, S. H., Stowe, Vt.
Norris, Richard C., Boon, Mich.
Skinner, G. E., Nyssa, Ore.
Stevens, J. T., Hyde Park, Vt.
Washburn, E. A., Crown Point, N. Y.
Waterman, A. E., 124 Tazwell St., Norfolk, Va.

147

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

COMPANY K

Guyette, Frank, Stony Point, N. Y.
Higbee, Edwin H., Groton, Mass.
McSorley, John, Malone, N. Y.

COMPANY L

Blinn, W. F., Penacook, N. H.

Fobes, J. A., Beloit, Kan.

Irish, Calvin H., Northfield, Mass.

Knight, B. T., 849 Summit Ave., Pasadena, Cal.

McBride, George L., 119 North Willard St., Burling
ton, Vt.

Marchessault, Charles, 3118 Russell Ave., Minne
apolis, Minn.

Munsell, William H., Wells River, Vt.

Pratt, Henry W., East Berkshire, Vt.

Stoughton, Augustus C., 80 Colchester Ave., Burling
ton, Vt.

COMPANY M

Aldrich, John, Island Pond, Vt.

Boswell, J. H., Castlewood, S. D.

Deso, Alvah, Swanton, Vt.

Farrington, George M., North Ave., Burlington, Vt.

Lander, Peter, 163 North St., Burlington, Vt.

Parker, Myron M., 1418 F St., N. W., Washington,

D. C.
Williams, T. J., Randolph, Vt.

FIRST REGIMENT VERMONT CAVALRY

FIRST REGIMENT CAVALRY

BY LIEUTENANT WILLIAM L. GREENLEAF AND
SERGEANT SEYMOUR H. WOOD

OF the two hundred and fifty -eight regiments of
cavalry in the service of the LTnited States dur
ing the W^ar of the Rebellion, but few, if any,
performed more arduous service, or took part in more
engagements, than did the First Vermont, which dur
ing three years at the front participated in seventy-six
battles and skirmishes — a brief account of which would
far exceed the limits of this sketch — and achieved a
reputation as one of the best fighting regiments in the
army, standing fifth in the list of cavalry organizations
suffering the greatest loss in killed and mortally
wounded.

The Regiment was recruited by Lemuel B. Platt,
who had been specially commissioned by the Secretary
of War for that purpose, and was the first full regiment
of cavalry raised in New England. The several com
panies were enlisted as follows: A, Chittenden County;
B, Franklin County; C, Washington County; D,
Orange and Caledonia Counties; E, Windsor County;
F, Windham County; G, Bennington County; H, Rut
land County; I, Lamoille and Orleans Counties; K,
Addison County. In forty-two days from the time
Colonel Platt received his authority the Regiment was
in camp at Burlington, uniformed and mounted. The

151

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

organization was then completed by the appointment
of the following Field and Staff Officers:

Colonel— Lemuel B. Platt

Lieutenant-Colonel — George B. Kelloff.

Majors — William D. Collins and John D. Bartlett.

Adjutant — Edgar Pitkin.

Quartermaster — Archibald S. Dewey.

Surgeon — George S. Gale.

Assistant Surgeon — P. O'Meara Edson.

Chaplain — John H. Woodward.

The following company officers were elected by the
several companies and commissioned by the Governor:

Company A — Captain, Frank A. Platt; First Lieuten
ant, Joel B. Erhardt; Second Lieutenant, Ellis B.
Edwards.

Company B — Captain, George P. Conger; First
Lieutenant, William M. Beeman; Second Lieutenant,
Jed P. Clark.

Company C — Captain, William Wells ; First Lieuten
ant, H. M. Paige; Second Lieutenant, Eli Holden.

Company D — Captain, Addison W. Preston; First
Lieutenant, John W. Bennett; Second Lieutenant,
William G. Cummings.

Company E — Captain, S. P. Rundlett; First Lieuten
ant, Andrew J. Grover; Second Lieutenant, John C.
Holmes.

Company F — Captain, Josiah Hall; First Lieutenant,
Robert Scofield. Jr.; Second Lieutenant, Nathaniel E.
Hay wood.

Company G — Captain, James A. Sheldon; First
Lieutenant, George H. Bean; Second Lieutenant, D. M.
Blackmer.

152

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Company H — Captain, S. G. Perkins; First Lieuten
ant, F. T. Huntoon; Second Lieutenant, Charles A.
Adams.

Company I — Captain, E. B. Sawyer; First Lieuten
ant, H. C. Flint; Second Lieutenant, Josiah Grout, Jr.

Company K — Captain, Franklin Moore; First
Lieutenant, John S. Ward; Second Lieutenant, John
Williamson.

The Regiment was mustered into the service of the
United States, November 19, 1861, and started for
Washington on the 14th of the next month, requiring
for the journey one hundred and fifty -three cars, made
up into a train of five sections. After passing through
the experiences common to all new regiments, besides
losing one Colonel by resignation and another by
death, it met the enemy for the first time April 16,
1862, in the Valley of the Shenandoah. In this en
gagement it charged through the little village of Mount
Jackson and drove Ashby's cavalry for more than a
mile to the North Fork of the Shenandoah, where the
enemy set fire to the bridge, hoping to cut off further
pursuit. Finding the stream unfordable, part of the
Regiment dashed over the burning bridge after the
flying Confederates, while the remainder brought
water from the river in their feed-bags and extinguished
the flames. The loss on this occasion was slight, but
the regiment displayed in its maiden effort that dash
ing valor and fertility of resource so essential to its
success as a cavalry organization, and for which it was
afterward noted on fields of greater magnitude.

On the 23rd of May the Regiment was joined by its
new Colonel, Charles H. Tompkins, of the Regular

153

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Army, who had already achieved a reputation as a
dashing cavalry officer, and under his leadership, in the
retreat down the valley under Banks, the Regiment
had its full share of fighting, meeting the enemy at
McGaheysville, Middletown, and Winchester. In the
campaign under Pope, which culminated in the second
battle of Bull Run, the First Vermont was constantly
on the move, and was engaged at Luray Court House,
Culpeper Court House, Orange Court House, Kelley's
Ford, Waterloo Bridge, and Bull Run. At the close
of this campaign the Regiment, much reduced in num
bers by its arduous service, was assigned to duty in
the defenses of Washington. Its headquarters were
established near Alexandria, and detachments were
stationed at Annandale, Lewinsville, Dranesville, and
other points. In September Colonel Tompkins re
signed and was succeeded by Edward B. Sawyer,
making the fourth Colonel within one year. The
Regiment had lost during its six months of active
service three hundred and nineteen men by death or
discharge, but this loss was made good by the addition
of Company L — Captain, H. Chester Parsons; First
Lieutenant, John W. Newton; Second Lieutenant,
Alexander G. Watson — recruited in Franklin and Chit-
tenden Counties; and Company M — Captain, John W.
Woodward; First Lieutenant, George W. Chase; Sec
ond Lieutenant, Enoch B. Chase — recruited princi
pally in Chittenden County. These, with the addition
of two hundred recruits distributed among the ten
original companies, raised the aggregate of the Regi
ment to ten hundred and thirty-four.

During the winter, portions of the Regiment were

154

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

frequently engaged with Mosby and other guerrilla
leaders. These affairs were comparatively bloodless,
but the one of April 1, 1863, when Captain Flint, with
a detachment of the Regiment, undertook the capture
of Mosby near Broad Run and met with a serious re
pulse, in which Captain Flint, Lieutenant C. A. Wood-
bury, and seven men were killed or mortally wounded,
twenty-two wounded, and eighty-two men and ninety-
five horses captured, was a serious blow to the Regi
ment. This misfortune was in a measure retrieved on
May 30th, when Mosby, who had captured a supply
train of ten cars near Catlett's Station, was attacked
by Lieutenant-Colonel Preston with about one hundred
and twenty-five of the Vermont Cavalry and pursued
to Greenwich, where he attempted to make a stand, but
was completely routed by a charge led by Lieutenant
Hazelton, of Company H, and his one piece of artillery
captured. The loss of the Regiment on this occasion
was but one man killed and seven wounded, and this
was its last encounter with this famous partisan
leader.

Early in June, 1863, the scattered detachments of
the Regiment assembled at Fairfax Court House, pre
paratory to joining the Army of the Potomac, then on
the march to Gettysburg. On the 28th of June it was
attached to the Cavalry Corps of that army and was
afterward associated with it until the close of the war.
During the campaign of 1863 the Regiment bore a
conspicuous part in the brilliant operations which first
brought the cavalry into notice as a valuable arm of
the service, and won for itself fresh laurels on the field
of Gettysburg, where, under the lead of the gallant

155

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Farnsworth, it penetrated within the enemy's lines for
nearly a mile, encountering the fire of five regiments of
infantry and two batteries, leaving its leader on the
field, the only general officer killed within the lines of
the enemy. It also participated in the cavalry engage
ments at Hanover, Hunterstown, Hagerstown, Boons-
borough, Falling Waters, Buckland Mills, and many
skirmishes of lesser account.

During the ensuing winter the Regiment was sta
tioned at Stevensburg, engaged in picketing the line of
the Rapidan. It formed a part of Kilpat rick's force in
his famous raid on Richmond, and was selected to
make an attempt to enter the city and release the
prisoners confined in Libby Prison and on Belle Isle. A
portion of the Regiment was with the ill-fated Dahlgren
when he made the dash within the fortifications around
the city which cost him his life.

In the reorganization of the Cavalry Corps previous
to the opening of the Wilderness Campaign, the Regi
ment was assigned to the Second Brigade of the Third
Division, and Colonel Sawyer having resigned, Lieuten
ant-Colonel Addison W. Preston was commissioned as
his successor. The Regiment crossed the Rapidan at
Germanna Ford at daylight on the morning of May
4th, and moved forward to Parker's Store. Early on
the morning of May 5th the Second Brigade, with the
First Vermont Cavalry in front, proceeded to Craig's
Meeting House, where, at about eight o'clock, the
advance squadron encountered Rosser's brigade of
Hampton's calvary, and the engagement which fol
lowed was the opening fight of the battle of the Wilder
ness. In this action the Union forces were largely

156

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

outnumbered, and the Regiment suffered a heavy
loss in killed and prisoners.

The Regiment was with Sheridan in his expedition
to Richmond in May, 1864, and participated in the
engagements at Yellow Tavern and Meadow Bridge
which resulted in the death of General Stuart, the
famous cavalry leader of the Confederates, and the
total rout of his forces. Returning to the Army of the
Potomac, it took part in the cavalry engagements at
Hanover Court House, Ashland, Hawe's Shop, Bot
toms Bridge, White Oak Swamp, Riddle's Shop, and
Malvern Hill. In the action at Hawe's Shop the
Regiment met with a severe loss in the death of the
gallant Preston, whom General Custer declared to be
"the best cavalry colonel in the Army of the Potomac."

The army, having crossed the James River, was fol
lowed by the cavalry, and the First Vermont, with the
Third Division and that of General Kautz, was sent
to destroy the W^eldon, South Side, and other railroads
leading south and west from the rebel capital. The ex
pedition, numbering about five thousand men, started
from Prince George Court House at one o'clock on the
morning of June 22, striking the Weldon Road at
Ream's Station, where the buildings and a portion
of the track were destroyed. During the following
seven days the Regiment was constantly engaged in
tearing up railroads and skirmishing with the enemy.
At Nottoway Court House, Roanoke Station, Stony
Creek, and Ream's Station these skirmishes were
quite severe, and the Regiment, bearing its part in all
of them, suffered considerable loss in killed and
wounded. At Stony Creek the brigade to which the

157

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Regiment belonged was attacked by Hampton's di
vision of cavalry and cut off from the rest of the
division. After severe fighting it managed to cut its
way through and joined the other brigade at Ream's
Station. The whole force then made its way back to
the Union lines with the loss of its artillery and
wounded. This expedition was the most severe in
which the Regiment had as yet been engaged; and, re
duced in numbers by the hard service of the last sixty
days, it went into camp near Light House Point, on
the James, where it remained some three weeks re
cruiting the men and horses for harder experiences
yet to come.

On the 8th of August the Third Cavalry Division,
including the First Vermont, now under Colonel Wil
liam Wells, who had succeeded to the command after
the death of Colonel Preston, embarked for Washing
ton on its way to join General Sheridan in the Shenan-
doah Valley, arriving at Winchester on the 17th.
General Sheridan was at this time retiring down the
valley, and the Regiment participated in the engage
ments which occurred at Winchester, Summit Point,
Charlestown, and Kearneyville, crossing the Potomac
with the rear guard at Harpers Ferry on the night of
the 25th. On the following day Early began falling
back up the valley followed by the Union cavalry, and
during the following week the First Vermont took
part in several reconnoissances and was in slight
skirmishes near Berry ville and Paris. In the battle of
the Opequan, September 19th, the Regiment bore an
active part and was in close pursuit of the retreating
enemy when darkness put an end to the engagement.

158

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

On the 21st the Regiment led the advance in the move
ment, having for its object the clearing out of the rebel
cavalry in the Luray Valley. The First New Hamp
shire, fighting dismounted, had driven the enemy across
the river, but was unable to effect a crossing. The
First Vermont was then brought up and charged across
the stream, driving the enemy from its position. The
division having in the meantime crossed along the
pike to the right, the Regiment joined the main col
umn and followed the enemy to Front Royal, a distance
of two miles. Here the Regiment was again detached
and sent to Gooney Manor, four miles above Front
Royal, where it found the enemy's rear guard in a
strong position on a hill south of Gooney Run. After
skirmishing until after ten o'clock at night the Regi
ment was relieved, and joined the brigade. The next
morning it was again actively engaged near Milford,
but, finding the position too strong to be carried, our
cavalry retired to Bucks Ford. On the 26th Colonel
Wells was assigned to the command of the brigade and
turned the command of the Regiment over to Lieuten
ant-Colonel John W. Bennett.

During the first week in October the Regiment was
in camp near Mount Crawford. On the 7th, as rear
guard of the cavalry column, it had a severe engage
ment with the enemy near Columbia Furnace. General
Sheridan was disgusted with these constant attacks on
his rear and ordered his cavalry out the next morning
with instructions to either whip the enemy or get
whipped themselves. The result of this order was
the splendid victory at Toms Brook, in which the First
Vermont acquitted itself with much credit, capturing

159

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

two pieces of artillery, a large number of prisoners,
and pursued the flying enemy for more than ten miles.

On the morning of that memorable 19th of October,
when "Sheridan rode from Winchester twenty miles
away," Colonel Wells's brigade was guarding the fords
across Cedar Creek, on the extreme right of the army.
At the first sound of the firing on the left Lieutenant-
Colonel Bennett was ordered to move out with his
regiment, select a position covering the camp, and feel
the enemy. The Rebel cavalry was found to be in
force, and arrangements were made to resist its ad
vance in case one should be attempted. About nine
o'clock the bulk of the cavalry was ordered to the
extreme left to assist the infantry, Colonel Wells with
his brigade being left to guard the right and prevent
the enemy from turning that flank. Orders were soon
received to retire sloVly and keep in line with the infan
try. After falling back about a mile a halt was ordered,
and the cavalry held its position, skirmishing briskly
for several hours. General Custer then returned to
the right with the First Brigade and a battery, and
ordered a charge in which the enemy was driven back
and the Regiment regained its former position.

In the final advance of our army, leaving the First
Brigade to watch the enemy on the right, General
Custer took the First Vermont .and Fifth New York
rapidly across the field to strike the left and rear of
Early 's infantry, which was then trying to hold its
position along the north bank of Cedar Creek, but,
unable to resist the last furious charge of the Union
infantry, the enemy broke and fled. The infantry
halted in their old camps, but the cavalry kept on.

160

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

The First Vermont led the way across the creek at a
difficult ford west of the pike, the leading squadron,
under Captain Watson, advancing to a stone wall about
a quarter of a mile beyond, where it was brought to a
halt by a volley from the enemy's infantry. Waiting
until the remainder of the Regiment came up, Colonel
WTells ordered a charge. In a moment the Regiment
was over the wall and driving the enemy before it with
great slaughter. Pushing on more than a mile from
any support, the Vermonters still in the lead, the two
regiments struck the valley pike along which the
enemy w^as retreating. Night was fast settling over
that field, both lost and won, but weariness and hunger
were forgotten by the men at the sight of the rich
harvest before them, and they pushed on with renewed
energy to gather in the spoils of the great and un
paralleled victory. Reaching a point half a mile
beyond Strasburg they found the road blockaded for
miles with guns and wagons and ambulances filled with
wounded. Whole batteries were captured, with guns,
men, and horses intact. Captured cannon were sent
to the rear in charge of small squads, and wagons and
ambulances by the score were ordered back in charge
of their rebel drivers. The pursuit was kept up until
nearly midnight, when the Regiment, satiated with
victory, returned to the north bank of Cedar Creek,
having captured one hundred and sixty-one prisoners,
among whom were one general, one colonel, and one
lieutenant-colonel, three battle-flags, twenty-three
pieces of artillery, fourteen caissons, seventeen army
wagons, six spring wagons and ambulances, eighty-
three sets artillery harness, seventy-five sets wagon

161

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

harness, ninety -eight horses, and sixty -nine mules.
Eight medals were awarded to the army of the Shenan-
doah for colors captured in this battle, of which mem
bers of the First Vermont received three.

The term of enlistment of the original members of
the regiment having nearly expired, on October 22,
twelve officers and two hundred and seventy men
were sent home to be mustered out, some four hundred
re-enlisted men and recruits remaining under the com
mand of Major William G. Cummings. During the
next sixty days the Regiment was employed in outpost
duty and scouting, keeping itself in fighting trim
meanwhile by taking part in the engagement at Middle
Road, Middletown, Lacey's Springs, and Waynesboro.
At the close of active operations it went into camp
near Winchester.

On the 27th of February, 1865, the cavalry in the
valley started to join the armies of the Potomac and
the James in the operations around Petersburg. After
twenty-one days of marching, the long column of nearly
ten thousand mounted men crossed the Appomattox
and went into camp near Hancock Station, on the
military railroad, having made a longer march within
the limits of the Confederacy than Sherman's famous
march "from Atlanta to the sea." To any other com
mander than Sheridan such a march would have been
deemed impossible. The rain fell incessantly, and the
roads led through streams, swamps, mud, and obstacles
that would have been insurmountable had not the
whole command been stimulated with the belief that
they were on their way to lend a helping hand in the
final struggle of the war.

162

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

On the morning of April 1st the Regiment moved to
the front of the Division, and during the afternoon was
actively engaged in the battle of Five Forks, where it
captured a large number of prisoners. The following
day it had a slight skirmish with the enemy's cavalry
at Scott's Corners. On the 3rd it had the advance of
the cavalry, and struck the enemy behind breast
works of considerable strength, behind a deep, muddy
creek. A part of the Regiment was dismounted, and,
crossing the creek at some distance from the road,
came down on the flank and rear of the works, which
were immediately abandoned by the enemy. The
remainder of the Regiment having crossed the stream,
the enemy was followed up and found in force on the
summit of a hill near Namozine Church. The Regi
ment was formed in column of battalions and charged
the enemy, driving it back upon its reserves. The
First Vermont and Eighth New York then charged
together, scattering the enemy in every direction,
capturing their only piece of artillery and many pris
oners, and continuing the pursuit for eight miles.
General Sheridan called this engagement the battle of
Winticomack Creek, and gave General Wells the
credit for its successful management.

On the 4th the Regiment crossed Deep Creek and
proceeded to Jeter's Station, on the Richmond and
Danville Railroad, which was reached the next morn
ing after a tedious all-night march. In the opera
tions of the 6th the First Vermont was sent to the
extreme right of the line and followed the retreating
enemy all day. During the evening of the 8th the
Regiment arrived at Appomattox Station, where the

163

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

enemy's reserve artillery and ammunition trains were
found. A portion of Colonel Wells's Brigade was at
once dismounted and sent through the woods to take
the enemy on the flank, while the First Vermont
charged them in front. The batteries opened a brisk
fire, but were soon defeated with the loss of thirty guns
and a large wagon train. Eighteen of the guns were
taken by Wells's Brigade, of which number the First
Vermont captured eight. Among the captured guns
were those of the famous Washington Artillery of New
Orleans, which had long boasted of never having lost
a gun.

On the morning of the memorable 9th of April the
Regiment had the advance of the Second Brigade,
which moved rapidly forward, forcing back the enemy's
skirmish line. Moving to the right to uncover the
Fifth Corps, it passed along nearly the entire front of
the enemy's line under the fire of two batteries, and
came upon the rebel flank and rear in full view
of the supply trains. Lieutenant-Colonel Hall was
ordered to charge the train with the First Vermont,
and the First Battalion had broken into a gallop, when
word was received that General Lee had sent in a flag
of truce, offering to surrender his army, but before the
Regiment could be halted it had captured the last
line between it and the train, wrhich in a few minutes
more would have been added to its long list of captures.

Sabres were returned never to be drawn again in the
fury of battle, and the surrender having been com
pleted, the Regiment went into camp near the scene
of its last charge. On the following day the Regiment
started for Petersburg, where it arrived on the 19th.

164

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

On the 24th it was ordered to North Carolina to join
General Sherman, but when near South Boston learned
that Johnston had surrendered, and immediately re
turned to Petersburg, where it remained until the
10th of May, when it started for Washington, there
participating in the Grand Review on the 23rd. June
9th it left Washington for Vermont, and on the 13th
arrived at Burlington, where the men whose term of
service would expire previous to October 1st were
immediately mustered out. The remainder were
consolidated into six companies and stationed at
Saint Albans, Vermont, and at different points in
Northern New York until mustered out August 9,
1865.

During its three years of active service in the pres
ence of the enemy the Regiment captured in open field
three battle-flags, thirty-seven pieces of artillery, and
more prisoners than it had men — a record which, it is
believed, was not excelled by any regiment in the
Union service.

ENGAGEMENTS

Mount Jackson, Va., April 16, 1862.
McGaheysville, Va., April 27, 1862.
Middletown, Va., May 24, 1862.
Winchester, Va., May 25, 1862.
Luray Court House, Va., June 30, 1862.
Culpeper Court House, Va., July 10, 1862.
Orange Court House, Va., August 2, 1862.
Kelley's Ford, Va., August 20, 1862.
Waterloo Bridge, Va., August 22, 1862.
Bull Run, Va., August 30, 1862.

165

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Ashby's Gap, Va., September 22, 1862.
Aldie, Va., March 2, 1863.
Broad Run, Va., April 1, 1863.
Greenwich, Va., May 30, 1863.
Warrenton, Va., June 18, 1863.
Hanover, Pa., June 30, 1863.
Hunterstown, Pa., July 2, 1863.
Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Monterey, Pa., July 4, 1863.
Leitersville, Md., July 5, 1863.
Hagerstown, Md., July 6, 1863.
Boonsboro, Md., July 8, 1863.
Hagerstown, Md., July 13, 1863.
Falling Waters, Va., July 14, 1863.
Port Conway, Va., August 25, 1863.
Port Conway, Va., September 1, 1863.
Culpeper Court House, Va., September 13, 1863.
Somerville Ford, Va., September 14, 1863.
Raccoon Ford, Va., September 15, 1863.
James City, Va., October 10, 1863.
Brandy Station, Va., October 11, 1863.
Gainesville, Va., October 18 and 19, 1863.
Buckland Mills, Va., October 19, 1863.
Falmouth, Va., November 4, 1863.
Morton's Ford, Va., November 28, 1863.
Mechanicsville, Va., March 1, 1864.
Piping Tree, Va., March 2, 1864.
Craig's Meeting House, Va., May 5, 1864.
Spottsylvania, Va., May 8, 1864.
Yellow Tavern, Va., May 11, 1864.
Meadow Bridge, Va., May 12, 1864.
Hanover Court House, Va., May 31, 1864.

166

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Ashland, Va., June 1, 1864.
Hawe's Shop, Va., June 3, 1864.
Bottom's Bridge, Va., June 10, 1864.
White Oak Swamp, Va., June 13, 1864.
Riddle's Shop, Va., June 13, 1864.
Malvern Hill, Va., June 15, 1864.
Ream's Station, Va., June 22, 1864.
Nottoway Court House, Va., June 23, 1864.
Roanoke Station, Va., June 25, 1864.
Stony Creek, Va., June 28 and 29, 1864.
Ream's Station, Va., June 29, 1864.
Winchester, Va., August 17, 1864.
Summit Point, Va., August 21, 1864.
Charlestown, W. Va., August 22, 1864.
Kearneysville, W. Va., August 25, 1864.
Opequan, Va., September 19, 1864.
Front Royal, Va., September 21, 1864.
Gooney Manor Grade, Va., September 21, 1864.
Milford, Va., September 22, 1864.
W7aynesboro, Va., September 28, 1864.
Columbia Furnace, Va., October 7, 1864.
Toms Brook, Va., October 9, 1864.
Cedar Creek, Va., October 13, 1864.
Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864.
Middle Road, Va., November 11, 1864.
Middle and Back Roads, or Middletown, Va., Novem
ber 12, 1864.

Lacey's Springs, Va., December 21, 1864.
Waynesboro, Va., March 2, 1865.
Five Forks, Va., April 1, 1865.
Scotts Corners, Va., April 2, 1865.
Namozine Creek, Va., April 3, 1865.

167

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Namozine Church, or Winticomack Creek, Va., April 3,

1865.

Appomattox Station, Va., April 3, 1865.
Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865.

STATISTICAL

Killed, died of disease or wounds, wounded, pris
oners, and missing from each company, and the regi
mental Field and Staff will be found in the following
list:

COMPANY

fc O

0
•jf,

K *

142

131

138

133

108

153

123

117

K . .

104

F and S

317

330

704

1,428

Total enlistment, including officers, 2,304.

Percentage of killed, died of disease or wounds,
wounded, prisoners, and missing, nearly sixty-two.

The last Vermont soldier killed in battle was Private
George B. Dunn, of Company M, First Vermont Cav-

168

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

airy, April 8, 1865, and the last wounded was Lieu
tenant Willard Farrington, of Company L, of the
same regiment, early in the evening of April 8, 1865.

Colonel William F. Fox, in his work entitled "Regi
mental Losses in the American Civil War," mentions
nine regiments which lost from one hundred and nine
teen to one hundred and seventy -four men each killed
or mortally wounded in action. In this list the First
Vermont Cavalry stands fifth. It is admitted that
this regiment was second to none, however, in capture
of guns, prisoners, and battle-flags.

NAMES AND POST OFFICE ADDRESSES OF

SURVIVORS OF THE FIRST VERMONT

CAVALRY, OCTOBER 13, 1913

FIELD AND STAFF

COLONELS

Charles H. Tompkins, Washington, D. C.
Edward B. Sawyer, Hyde Park, Vt.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL

John W. Bennett, Austin Station, Chicago, 111.

MAJORS

Robert Schofield, Kilburn City, Wis.
A. J. Grover, 746 Maple Ave., Los Angeles, Cal.

ADJUTANT

Clarence D. Gates, Burlington, Vt.

ASSISTANT SURGEONS

P. O'Meara Edson, 36 Elm Hill Ave., Boston, Mass.
Edward B. Nims, Springfield, Mass.

169

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

CHAPLAIN

John E. Goodrich, Burlington, Vt.

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF
QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS

Henry A. Curtis, Tacoma Park, Washington, D. C.
William C. Joyce, Northfield, Vt.

HOSPITAL STEWARD

George W. Brush, Proctor, Vt.

CHIEF BUGLER

Laforest M. Smith, Hyde Park, Vt.

COMPANY A

CAPTAINS

Ellis B. Edwards, Yonkers, N. Y.
Harris B. Mitchell, Maiden, Mass.

LIEUTENANT

Henry O. Wheeler, Burlington, Vt.

SERGEANTS

George A. Edwards, Richmond, Vt.
Henry C. Smith, Burlington, Vt.

CORPORALS

Francis B. Macomber, Westford, Vt.
Michael Quinlan, North Ferrisburg, Vt.

SADDLER SERGEANT

Andrew W. Taylor, Ord, Neb.

WAGONER

John Hogan, Parkersburg, W. Va

170

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

BLACKSMITH

Mark S. Moore, Granville, N. Y.

PRIVATES

Allen, Samuel J., Vergennes, Vt.

Blinn, Charles H., Custom House, San Francisco, Cal.

Carroll, James, Jericho, Vt.

Farnsworth, Silas A., Moretown, Vt.

Fay, Irving E., National Soldiers' Home, Kennebec

County, Me

Greene, Lester C., Crowley, La.
Grow, Jerome H., Bethel, Vt.
Hall, Alexander, Shelburne, Vt.
Hood, Albert, Woodsville, N. H.
McKenna, Bernard, Montpelier, Vt.
Rouban, James, East Orange, R. F. D. Washington, Vt.
Ryan, Thomas G., Cambridge, Vt.
Shanahan, John, Proctor, Vt.
Shannon, James, Albia, Iowa.
Sprague, Sylvester, Newaygo, Mich.
Stone, Henry H., Elizabethtown, N. Y.
Stowe, Wlllard S., Glen wood, Iowa
Taft, Levi A., Huntington, Vt.
Taft, Milo S., Huntington Center, Vt.
Tart, Abel, Whallonsburg, N. Y.
Upham, John, Wallingford, Conn.
Weber, George, 915 Avenue C, San Antonio, Tex.
WThipple, Edward J., Ashland, Neb.

COMPANY B
CAPTAIN

William M. Beeman, Hartford, Conn.

171

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

LIEUTENANTS

Anson L. Chandler, Bradford, Vt.

Charles B. Stone, Avon, Colo.

Eri D. Woodbury, Cheshire, Conn.

SERGEANTS

Antoine Fortuna, Rodney, Iowa.

Samuel Ufford, Lewiston, Minn., R. D. 2.

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS

William C. Humphrey, 30 West Third St., Saint Paul,

Minn.
John W. Erwin, Derby Center, R. F. D. Derby Line, Vt.

CORPORALS

Warren W. Conger, Rutland, Vt.
Orris P. Knight, North Hero, Vt.
Eugene B. Soule, Ripon, W7is.

WAGONER
James A. Davis, Starksboro, Vt.

SADDLER

Deforest Shattack, Hatfield, Mass.

PRIVATES

Austin, Julius R., North Creek, N. Y.
Ballard, James N., Hyde Park, Vt.
Barrows, Alphonzo, Burlington, Vt.
Bates, George L., Manchester, N. H.
Benjamin, Joseph S. M., Plainfield, Vt.
Bonner, L. H., Pasadena, Cal.
Bowen, William B., Bozeman, Mont.
Brigham, Antipas, Hudson, N. Y.

172

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Brown, John, East Richford, Vt.

Carter, Allen H., Groton, Vt.

Cavanaugh, James, National Soldiers' Home, Kennebec

County, Me.

Corse, Malcom L., Fort Worth, Tex.
Cota, Charles H., Saint Albans, Vt.
Currier, George W., Waterville, Vt.
Daniels, Noble A., Telluride, Colo.
Dean, Calvin, West Berkshire, Vt.
Domina, Darius, Montgomery, Vt.
Henry, William P., 16 Winslow Road, Brookline, Mass.
Hickok, Charles H., Wakefield, Mass.
Hull, George J., Franklin, Vt.
Hutchinson, Peter P., Morrisville, Vt.
Kinney, Francis B., Milton, Vt.
Loveland, Nathan, South Hadley Falls, Mass.
Pratt, Jerome J., 46 Dix St., Boston, Mass.
Putnam, Emerson, Northfield, Mass.
Scott, P. M., Appleton, Minn.
Sharrow, George W., Sheldon, Vt., R. D. 1.
St. Germain, Marshall, Saint Albans, Vt.
Stetson, Horace B., North Troy, Vt.
Touchett, Francis, Montgomery Center, Vt.
W7ilson, Merritt, Cambridge, Vt.

COMPANY C

CAPTAIN
Mason A. Stone, 82 Beacon St., New York City.

LIEUTENANTS

Barney Decker, Danby, Vt.
Perley C. J. Cheney, Dover, N. H.

173

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

SERGEANTS

Thomas S. May, Athens, Pa.
Marcus M. Rice, Saint Albans, Vt.
Lester K. Stiles, East Westmoreland, N. H.
Chester L. Dwyer, Wood Lake, Neb.
Harvey S. Dow, Lower Cabot, Vt.

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT

Samuel C. Vorce, Randolph Center, Vt.

CORPORALS

Orange A. Baldwin, Hinesburg, Vt.
Horace Burnham, East Calais, Vt.
Francis H. Ketchum, Randolph, Vt.
Albert George, Hard wick, Vt.

PRIVATES

Allen, Chauncey M., Woonsocket, S. D.
Bailey, Walter, National Soldiers' Home, Kennebec

County, Me.

Bannister, Foster L., South Weymouth, Mass.
Barrows, Martin, Middlebury, Vt.
Blancherd, Timothy, Williamstown, Vt.
Brunelle, Toussant, Canaan, Vt.
Carrigan, Thomas, 118 West St., Worcester, Mass.
Clark, Leonard G., 526 Jervis St., Toledo, Ohio.
Clough, Franklin H., Wilmot, N. H.
Coburn, Benjamin F., Montpelier, Vt.
Coburn, David, Lyme, N. H.
Edson, Henry L., Brookfield, Vt.
Gordon, John W., Montpelier, Vt.
Hammond, Orange S., Nevada, Iowa.
Hastings, Flavel J., Middlesex, Vt.

174

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Ingram, John, Granby, P. Q.
Kent, Sanford H., Northfield, Vt.
Kneeland, Seymour L., Tewksbury, Mass.
Lewis, Frederick A., Northfield, Vt.
McAllister, Ziba H., Waitsfield, Vt.
Northrop, Albert A., Barre, Vt.
Palmer, John W., Waitsfield, Vt.
Savery, George W., Wfilliamstown, Vt.
Stevens, Daniel W., East Hard wick, Vt.
Vincent, Noah W., Mound City, Kan.
Wheeler, John A., Irasburg, Vt.

COMPANY D

LIEUTENANT

Stephen A. Clark, Willow Lake, S. D.

SERGEANTS

Martin V. B. Sargent, Danville, Vt.
Daniel C. Walker, Jefferson ville, Vt.
James W7right, Sidney, Iowa.

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT

John C. Gracey, Peacham, Vt.

CORPORALS

Benjamin F. Clifford, Danville, Vt.

Carlos Kingsbury, West Washington, R. F.D. Barre, Vt.

BLACKSMITH

Enoch Aiken, Keene, N. H.

PRIVATES

Austin, George A., Piermont, N. H.
Benoit, Frederick, 906 Harrison St., Chicago, 111.
Brown, Lorenzo, Lunenburg, Vt.
Buck, WTilliam N., 261 Essex St., Salem, Mass.

175

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Burnham, Frank E., Littleton, N. H.

Cilley, Edwin J., Hanover, N. H.

Clifford, Commodore W., Warren, N. H.

Curtis, Antipas H., Care of Geo. B. Day, P. O. Box 52,

Berlin, N. H.

Duraw, Jerry, Stonington, Conn.
Hall, Oliver C., Saint Johnsbury, Vt.
Hartson, Abel, Danville, Vt.
Higgins, Samuel L., Manchester, N. H.
Hutton, Abia, Westville, N. H.
Kennison, A. H., Camden, N. Y.
Leet, Charles, Delphi Falls, N. Y.
Leet, Henry, Topsham, Vt.
Long, Clark L., Rutland, Vt.
Marckres, Harvey A., San Jose, Cal.
Moore, Henry A., Barnet, Vt.
Morse, John F., East Peacham, Vt.
Palmer, Nathan P., Thompson ville, Conn.
Roundy, William R., West Burke, Vt.
Sargent, Harrison E., Berwick, Me.
Stacy, Curtis L., Concord, Vt.
Stevens, Z. T., Bethany, Mo.
Waldo, Darwin E., Cabot, Vt.
Wheaton, WTilliam M., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Wheeler, Mark M., East Peacham, Vt.
Wiggins, Frederick C., 209 Vaughan St., Portland, Me.
Woodward, William, Groveton, N. H.
Worthing, George B., Ayers Cliff, Canada, P. Q.

COMPANY E

LIEUTENANT

Richard A. Seaver, Hartford, Vt.

176

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

SERGEANTS

Albert W. Allen, 24 Oak Ave., Leominster, Mass.
Charles Wheeler, Springfield, Vt.
John M. Buckley, Chicopee, Mass.

COMMISSARY SERGEANT

Eugene H. Abels, 520 Ellicott Square, Buffalo, N. Y.

CORPORALS

Valton C. Bailey, Marlow, N. H.

M. Lafayette Perham, Springfield, Vt.

Oscar M. Parkhurst, Springfield, Vt.

BLACKSMITHS

David B. Daniels, Kansas City, Mo.

William Stafford, 1253 Fifth Ave., Watervliet, N. Y.

PRIVATES

Aikens, George C., Everett, Mass.

Blake, E. B., Greenfield, Mass.

Bride, Henry A., Pulaski, 111.

Bridge, George E., Felchville, Vt.

Bromley, Erwin E., Dodge Center, Minn.

Brush, Solomon H., Stowe, Vt.

Bryant, Carlos, Hammondsville, R. F. D. Felchville, Vt.

Carter, Constant, (address unknown.)

Clapp, Albert S., Springfield, Neb.

Crowell, Alexander, East Barnard, R. F. D. South

Royalton, Vt.

Fassett, Dean B., Randolph, Vt.
Finney, Mitchell J., Hinesburg, Vt.
Gould, Amos, Perkinsville, Vt.
Haskins, Marcus, Jericho Center, Vt.
Kendall, Albert A., Enosburg Falls, Vt.

177

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Labell, Peter, Barre, Vt.

Lafonde, Thomas, La Bale, Canada, P. Q.

Lee, Alonzo N., Bellows Falls, Vt.

Lyon, Josiah T., Omaha, Neb.

May, Edgar, Norwood, Mass.

Messer, Allen P., Claremont, N. H.

Partridge, Monroe, Wessington, S. D.

Pendergast, Michael W., West Concord, Minn,

Perry, Edward A., South Woodstock, Vt.

Potter, Charles H., Bridge water Vt.

Priest, Samuel, Barton, Vt.

Royes, B., 3372 Indiana Ave., Chicago, 111.

Scott, Marcus D., Beecher Falls, Vt.

Sleeper, Charles T., West Groton, Mass.

Sleeper, James M., South Woodstock, Vt.

Snow, Sylvester M., West Hartford, Vt.

Stevens, John W., Lancaster, N. H.

Stone, Edmund, Beverly, Mass.

Taylor, Edwin S., Brownsville, Vt.

Thompson, Charles H., Felchville, Vt.

Willard, John H., Ludlow, Vt.

Wood, Charles H., Hanover, N. H.

Young, Hosea B., White River Junction, Vt.

COMPANY F

LIEUTENANT

Henry C. Streeter, Brattleboro, Vt.

SERGEANTS

John A. Eddy, Dalton, Mass.
John M. Nash, Saint Albans, Vt.

178

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT

John A. Thwing, Bellows Falls, Vt.

COMMISSARY SERGEANTS

Charles R. Farr, Northampton, Mass.

James H. Woodburn, Wessington Springs, S. D.

PRIVATES

Adams, Newall H., Traer, Iowa.

Bancroft, Fernando, Sparta, Wis.

Brink, Darwin A., Brandon, Vt.

Dickenson, Nathaniel P., Shelton, Neb.

Farr, Ransom C., West Chesterfield, N. H.

Field, George W., Proctor, Vt.

Fisher, William H., Brattleboro, Vt.

Gilles, Simeon J., Marysville, Kan.

Greene, William F., Dighton, Kan.

Jillson, John S., Brattleboro, Vt.

Lamphere, George A., Vienna, Va.

Miner, Charles, Brandon, Vt.

Peck, Theodore S., Burlington, Vt.

Sherman, Nathan A., York, Neb.

Simpson, Edwin E., Saint Johnsbury Center, Vt.

Tuttle, Norman E., East Wallingford, Vt.

Wallin, Harrison, Halifax, Vt.

Warner, Myron C., Proctor, Vt.

Woodward, Flavil, Greenfield, Mass.

COMPANY G

LIEUTENANT

James Barrett, North Clarendon, Vt.

179

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

COMMISSARY SERGEANT

Hiram W. Waters, Castleton, Vt.

MUSICIAN

Horatio N. Leach, Los Angeles, Cal.

WAGONER

Hiram S. Hall, North Bennington, Vt.

PRIVATES

Bailey, Henry M., Glens Falls, N. Y.
Bartlett, Charles A., La Crosse, Wis.
Barton, Charles, Bennington, Vt.
Belford, John, Acona, R. F. D. Lexington, Miss.
Benson, Homer, Coldwater, Mich.
Burroughs, Thomas, Alexandria, Va.
Dayer, Fayette, Pasadena, Cal.

Demore, Medor, 97 Knox Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.
Eddy, Daniel W., Hoosick Falls, N. Y.
Fitzgerald, Philip H., Pawpaw, 111.
Gault, Jerome, Arlington, Vt.
Graves, Noble W., New Britain, Conn.
Harrington, William, Bennington, Vt.
Harrington, W. J., Salisbury, Vt.
Hill, John H., Pownal, Vt.
Hosley, Thomas C., Arlington, Vt.
Howe, Theron, Wells, Vt.
Kearce, Mort, Niles, Kan.
Kent, Rollin D., Manchester Depot, Vt.
Kilbourne, A. J., Manchester Center, Vt.
Marsh, Edward A., Leominster, Mass.
Saunders, James, Sunderland, R. F. D. Arlington,
Vt.

180

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Sculley, Barnet, National Soldiers' Home, Kennebec

County, Me.

Stone, Richard, Danby, Vt.
Towsley, Nathaniel, Manchester, Vt.
Webb, Arnold, Sunderland, R. F. D. Arlington, Vt.
West, C. H., Anaconda, Mont.
Wlieeler, L. D., Bell Center, Wis.
Wilson, Alonzo R., Hollis, N. H.
W'yman, Myron G., Saint Paul, Minn.

COMPANY H

CAPTAINS

Frank T. Huntoon, 16 W7est 25th St., New York.
Emmett Mather, 11 Grimshaw St., Chicago, 111.

SERGEANTS

Royal E. Bostwick, South Londonderry, Vt.
Samuel Dowling, Rutland, Vt.

CORPORALS

Alonzo E. Doty, Belmont, Vt.

Sewell S. Whitcomb, West Randolph, R. F. D. Ran
dolph, Vt.

Stephen Corey, Hampton, Va.

BUGLER

Charles C. Leland, 617 East Nineteenth St., Minne
apolis, Minn.

BLACKSMITH

Patrick Callighan, West Rutland, Vt.

PRIVATES

Bailey, William H., North Wolcott, Vt.
Bean, William M., South Wheelock, R. F. D. Lyndon-
ville, Vt.

181

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Bishop, Orlando S., Rutland, Vt.

Bovia, John, Sleepy Eye, Minn.

Brockney, Joseph, Burlington, Vt.

Bugbee, Daniel W., Bellows Falls, Vt.

Butler, John, Raceville, N. Y.

Buxton, Stephen L., Lyons, Iowa.

Churchill, Charles H., Brandon, Vt.

Churchill, Edwin R., North Platte, Neb.

Currier, George A., Colebrook, N. H.

Davis, Don C., Harrison ville, Mo.

Dupuy, John A., Derby, Conn.

Dyer, Frank, Ware, Mass.

Earle, Henry J., Brockton, Mass.

Flynn, William, Alton, 111.

Fuller, Myron C., Bloomfield, Vt.

Greenough, David, Pittsford, Vt.

Guertin, Joseph, Wallingford, Vt.

Jones, William, Pittsford, Vt.

Ladderbush, Frank, Pittsford, Vt.

Locklin, Ralph, Marion, Kan.

Menard, Renay, Southington, Conn.

Pearsons, Collamer, Poultney, Vt.

Price, Isaac, Tyro, Kan.

Ranney, Edson H., West Concord, R.F.D. Concord, Vt.

Robie, F. C., Coos, N. H., R. F. D. 2.

Stoddard, Edgar, Colebrook, N. H.

Wellman, Austin B., Wallingford, Vt.

Wheeler, Cullen, Castleton, Vt.

COMPANY I

CAPTAIN

Josiah Grout, Derby Center, R. F. D. Derby Line, Vt.

182

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

LIEUTENANT

James T. Stevens, Hyde Park, Vt.

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS

Aaron M. Crane, 5 Durham St., Boston, Mass.

CORPORALS

Albert E. Cowles, North Craftsbury, Vt.
Mark Warner, East Hardwick, Vt.

SADDLER

William Sparrow, Springfield, Vt.

BLACKSMITH

Samuel H. Kaiser, Stowe, Vt.

PRIVATES

Bickford, George D., Sheffield, Vt.
Boden, Edward, Duarte, Cal.

Brooks, Reuben E., East Albany, R. F. D. Irasburg, Vt.
Bundy, George G., Morrisville, Vt.
Clark, S. B., Templeton, Mass.
Drew, Ira S., Irasburg, Vt.
Durkee, Royal E., Orange, Mass.
Enos, Joseph, Franklin, N. H.
Ferry, Francis E., South Sutton, N. H.
Flanders, Joseph T., Springfield, Wis.
Gauthier, Joseph, Toledo, Ohio.
Gibson, Thomas R., Plainfield, Vt.
Greaves, James, Rutland, Vt.
Hall, William H., Portage, King Co., Wash.
Jackson, G. W., Waterville, Conn.
Malony, William J., North Troy, Vt.
Martin, Julius H., 1214 Magnolia Ave., Los Angeles,
Cal.

183

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Martin, Russell C., 423 College St., Los Angeles, Cal.

Maxfield, John B., New Hampton, Iowa.

Needham, Edward C., Norwich, Vt.

Norris, Richard C., Boon, Mich.

Page, Austin A., Irasburg, Vt.

Pettingill, Harry B., Beecher Falls, Vt.

Skinner, George E., Nyssa, Ore.

Spofford, George S., East Atlanta, Ga.

Taylor, A. W., Saint Edward, Neb.

Tice, Robert S., Coventry, Vt.

Washburn, Edward A., Crown Point, N. Y.

Waterman, Alonzo E., 124 Tazwell St., Norfolk, Va.

Webber, Philip, Newbury Center, R.F.D. Newbury, Vt.

Weber, George, Groton, Vt.

Wheelock, Elisha B., Plymouth, N. H.

Whitcher, O. C., Albany, Vt.

Whitney, Abija F., Morrisville, Vt.

W'oodbury, Henry, Box 202, Keene, N. H.

COMPANY K

CAPTAIN
Edwin H. Higbee, Groton, Mass.

SERGEANTS

John Goodrow, Ripton, Vt.
Horace Lapham, Shoreham, Vt.

CORPORALS

Frank Goodrow, Brattleboro, Vt.
James Bodoin, Cornwall, R. F. D. Middlebury, Vt.

PRIVATES

Chilson, Eugene, 2313 Portland Ave., Minneapolis,
Minn.

184

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Conant, William J., Panton, R. F. D. Vergennes,

Vt.

Craig, Myron, Stanbridge East, P. Q.
Fales, Myron L., Middlebury, Vt.
Gaulett, Lewis, Middlebury, Vt.
Gibbs, Henry G., Lisbon, Iowa.
Guyette, Frank, Stony Point, N. Y.
Hatch, Isaac F., Burlington, Vt.
Heitmann, Hermann H., Orwell, Vt.
Jackson, John W., Port Henry, N. Y.
Jones, Edwin E., Middlebury; Vt.
La Vake, Lewis, Montour, Iowa.
Lewis, David H., 1714 Grand Ave., Knoxville, Tenn.
McSorley, John, Malone, N. Y.
Mayhew, Alfred, Bennington, Vt., R. D. 2.
Mayhew. Frank, West Cornwall, R. F. D. Middlebury,

Vt.

Pecu, William, Ferrisburg, Vt.
Rock, George H., New Bedford, Mass.
Young, Francis, Morris ville, Vt.
Youtt, Charles E., Middlebury, Vt.

COMPANY L

SERGEANTS

George L. McBride, Burlington, Vt.
Seymour H. Wood, Saint Albans, Vt.
Truman B. Webster, Shelburne, Vt.
Charles H. McCarroll, Saint Albans, Vt.
William A. Clapp, Denver, Colo.

COMMISSARY SERGEANT

Samuel S. Watson, Muskegon, Mich.

185

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

CORPORALS

Charles C. Bennett, Bridgewater, Mass.

Clarence H. Cornell, 113 West Twelfth St., New York
City.

Charles Marchessault, 3118 Russell Ave., Minne
apolis, Minn.

Andrew A. Smith, in Regular Army, U. S.

Josiah A. Fobes, Beloit, Kan.

Isaac Ryan, Stevens Mills, Vt.

BUGLER
Gilbert Buckman, Sacramento, CaL

PRIVATES

Avery, Seymour, Enosburg Falls, Vt.
Blinn, William F., Penacook, N. H.
Burlett, Abram, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Carr, Hezakiah B., Underbill, Vt.
Clark, William A., Haverhill, Mass.
Cleveland, William H., Hoyt, Okla.
Cornell, Charles, North Chelmsford, Mass.
Cox, Albert F., Providence, R. I.
Erwin, Charles L., Newport Center, Vt.
Fobes, Aaron E., Underbill, Vt.
Gingham, Enos, Hartland, Vt.
Greene, Sidney T., Schenectady, N. Y., R. D. 1.
Hand, John, East Fairfield, Vt.
Irish, Calvin H., Northfield, Mass.
Irish, Horace N., Home, Bennington, Vt.
Munsell, William H., Wells River, Vt.
O'Claire, Peter, Bennington, Vt.
Perkins, Ahira H., Manchester, N. H.
Pratt, Henry W., East Berkshire, Vt.

186

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Rand, George B., Burlington, Vt.
Rawley, Edward, Adams, Mass.
Stoughton, Augustus C., Burlington, Vt.
White, Joseph, Sheldon, Vt.
WTolcott, Edgar J., Essex Junction, Vt.

COMPANY M

SERGEANTS

John Kinnehan, Saint James Hotel, San Antonio, Tex.
John Aldrich, Island Pond, Vt.

BUGLER
Azro F. Hackett, Proctor, Vt.

PRIVATES

Carleton, Charles, 1011 Walnut St., Chicago, 111.

Consigney, John F., Audubon, Iowa.

Deso, Alvah, Swanton, Vt.

Farrington, George M., Burlington, Vt.

Fullington, Birney S., Johnson, Vt.

Jackson, Hiram F., Westford, Vt.

Jordan, Francis, Saint Jerome, P. Q.

Landor, Peter, Burlington, Vt.

Leavitt, Edwin B., 141 Elm St., Biddeford, Me.

Parker, Myron M., 1418 F St., N. W., Washington,
D. C.

St. Michael, Charles, 710 North Twenty-fourth St.,
Richmond, Va.

Sargent, Martin, Randolph, Vt.

WTilliams, Theodore J., Randolph, Vt.

W^oods, Horace S., Ontario, Cal.

W'right, Allen, Office of Paymaster General, War De
partment, Washington, D. C.

187

WILLIAM WELLS

BRIGADIER AND BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL
UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS

1837-1892

WILLIAM WELLS was born in Waterbury,
Vermont, December 14, 1837. He was of
a good English family, being the seventh
in direct descent from Hugh Wells.

Hugh Wells was born, about 1590, in the county of
Essex, England. He was married in 1619, and emi
grated to America in 1635. He remained in Boston
for a time, and subsequently aided in founding a
colony in Hartford, Connecticut. He died in Wethers-
field, Connecticut, in 1645.

Thomas Wells, the first child of Hugh Wells, was
born in Colchester, England, in 1620, and was taken
with his parents, in 1635, to America. In 1651 he
married Mary Beardsley, of Wethersfield, Connecticut,
daughter of William Beardsley, of England. In 1659
he went to Hadley, and lived there until his death, in
1676.

Ebenezer Wells, eleventh child of Thomas Wells,
was born at Hadley, Massachusetts, July 4, 1668, and
died at Hatfield, Massachusetts. His second child,
Dr. Thomas Wells, was born at Greenfield, Massachu
setts, September 25, 1693, and died at Deerfield, Mas
sachusetts, March 7, 1745. The third child of Dr.
Wells, Joseph Wells, born in Deerfield, Massachusetts,
October 8, 1731, died at Greenfield, December 22, 1804.
The fifth child of Joseph, Roswell Wells, was born in
Greenfield, Massachusetts, September 9, 1769, and in
1805 moved to Waterbury, where he died July 26, 1826,
aged fifty-seven years. His wife was Pamelia White, a

192

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

descendant of Peregrine White, the first white child
of civilized parentage born in New England. Of this
marriage were born two children, William Wellington
and Roswell Wells.

The Honorable William Wellington Wells was born
in Waterbury, October 28, 1805, and died at the same
place April 9, 1869. He was a man of liberal educa
tion, excellent business qualifications, and sterling char
acter. He was graduated from the University of Ver
mont in 1824, and studied law in the office of Charles
Adams, Esq., in Burlington. He was admitted to
practice at the Chittenden County Bar, but before he
began the practice of his profession (for which he was
thought to be particularly well suited both by nature
and education), owing to the death of his father, he
was obliged to return to Waterbury and administer
the estate of the deceased. He soon became so much
interested in business pursuits that he abandoned the
idea of a professional life and identified himself with
the interests of both his family and his town, and was
numbered among the most successful men of affairs
in the State.

Mr. Wells represented Waterbury in the Legislature
in 1840, 1863, and 1864, where he took an active part
in legislative matters. He was a member of the
Eleventh Council of Censors in 1855, and town treas
urer and selectman several years.

He was deeply interested in the welfare of his coun
try, and when the Rebellion broke out, and during its
continuance, he gave himself almost entirely to his
country's service with an enthusiasm and hopefulness
that was an inspiration to all around him. As chair-

193

HONORABLE WILLIAM WELLINGTON WELLS
Father of General Wells

MRS. ELIZA CARPENTER WELLS
Mother of General Wells

SEVEN SONS AND DAUGHTER OF MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM WELLINGTON WELLS, 3872

Curtis Wells, Edward Wells, William Wells, Henry Wells
Roswell White Wells, Charles Wells, Sarah Carpenter Wells Brock, Frederick Howard Wells

FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE WELLS FAMILY

Mrs. Curtis Wells and Son Karl C. Mrs. William Wellington Wells

Mrs. Dan Carpenter Mr. Curtis Wells

WELLS FAMILY REUNION, 1876

mmmm
•Pll
•III

•••I

•in

WELLS FAMILY REUNION, 1876

WELLS HOMESTEAD, WATERBURY, VERMONT

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

man of the board of selectmen during the greater
part, if not the whole, of the war, he was the strongest
among the strong. There was no call for soldiers that
was not promptly filled.* He fully believed that it was
for the town's best interest to "pay as it went," so that
Waterbury was subsequently free from debt at the
close of the war.

Mr. Wells lived in the faith that work was honorable,
and his whole life conformed to his faith; his boys, too,
having been reared in this faith, have cheerfully and
faithfully followed him in faith and practice.

Mr. Wrells was married to Miss Eliza Carpenter,
second daughter of Judge Dan Carpenter, January 13,
1831. This choice of a wife was a most fortunate one
for him, as his subsequent life demonstrated. They
buried two children in infancy, but reared seven sons
and one daughter. Roswell W^hite Wells was born
November 14, 1833, died February 4, 1883. Edward
W7ells, born October 30, 1835, died February 19, 1907.
William Wells, born December 14, 1837, died April 29,
1892. Curtis WTells, born February 1, 1840, died
March 16, 1898. Charles Wells, born June 22, 1845.
Sarah Carpenter WTells, born June 22, 1845. Henry
Wells, born February 15, 1848, died January 7, 1911.
Frederick Howard, born September 27, 1851. Mrs.
Wells survived her husband four years and died August
5, 1873.

Four of the sons, Edward, William, Curtis, and
Charles, served in the Union Army.

William Wrells began his education in the common

*Mr. Wells joined a company in Randolph in the fall of 1862 and drilled
for two weeks, but was not accepted on account of eyesight and over-age.

199

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

schools of his native town, and mastered the higher
branches in Barre, Vermont Academy, and Kimball
Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire. While in
Barre he performed a remarkable piece of work, using
an odometer in surveying for a county map of Cale
donia County, a task which occupied him for two
months in his seventeenth year. From the age of
nineteen until the spring of 1861 he was his father's
assistant in his extensive business. After the out
break of the Rebellion he, with three of his brothers,
became a soldier of the army of the Union.

September 9, 1861, at the age of twenty-three, he
enlisted as a private soldier, and as
sisted in raising Company C, First
Regiment, Vermont Cavalry; was sworn
into the United States service October
3, 1861; was commissioned First Lieu
tenant October 14, 1861, and Captain
November 18, 1861; mustered Novem-
ber 19, 1861, with the Field and Staff
of the First Regiment, Vermont Cav
alry, to serve for three years. He was commissioned
Major December 30, 1862 and was mustered the same
date. Through the recommendation of all the officers
of his regiment he was commissioned Colonel June 4,

1864, and mustered July 2, 1864. He was appointed
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers February 22,

1865, and Brevet Major-General, "for gallant and
meritorious service," March 13, 1865. In recognition
of his brilliant services, and upon the recommenda
tions of General Sheridan and General Custer, he was
commissioned Brigadier-General May 19, 1865, having

200

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

received more promotions than any other Vermont
officer during the war.

He was placed in command of the Seventh Regiment,
Michigan Cavalry, March 2, 1864, by order of General
Judson Kilpatrick, while near Richmond, Virginia, on
what is known as Kilpatrick's Raid, and continued in
command of the regiment for several weeks. He was
in command of his regiment from June 4, 1864, as
Major on Wilson's raid south of Richmond. He was
in command of this regiment from date of muster as
Colonel until September 19, 1864, at which date he
assumed command of the Second Brigade, Third Divi
sion Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. He com
manded this brigade at the surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia, at Appomattox, Virginia, April 9,
1865, and until May 22, 1865, when he assumed com
mand of the Third Cavalry Division. From September
19, 1864, to April 9, 1865, he was several times in
command of the Third Cavalry Division. The de
parture of Sheridan and Custer for Texas left him as
the ranking officer of the cavalry corps, which he com
manded from June 1 to June 24, 1865. He was the
last commander of General Sheridan's Corps. He was
in command of the First Separate Brigade, Twenty-
second Army Corps, from June 24, 1865, to July 24,

1865. He was mustered out of the service January 15,

1866, by General Order 168, War Department, Wash
ington, D. C., dated December 28, 1865.

He distinguished himself repeatedly in action. He
was in the thickest of the fight at Orange Court House,
Virginia, August 2, 1862, and commanded the Second
Battalion, First Vermont Cavalry, in the repulse of

201

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Stuart's Cavalry at Hanover, Pennsylvania, June 30,
1863. In the famous and desperate cavalry charge
on Round Top, Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, he com
manded the leading battalion, rode by the side of
General Farnsworth, the brigade commander, and, al
most by miracle, came out unharmed, while his com
mander fell in the midst of the enemy's infantry. This
charge penetrated the enemy's lines for about three
quarters of a mile. A few days later, in the savage
cavalry melee at Boonsboro, Maryland, he was wounded
by a sabre cut. At Culpeper Court House, Virginia,
September 13, 1863, he charged the enemy's artillery
with his regiment and captured a gun, and was again
wounded by a shell. He was a prisoner of war in
Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia, from March 17,
1863, to about May 6, 1863.

He commanded a battalion in Sheridan's Cavalry
Corps at the battle of Yellow Tavern, Virginia, May
11, 1864, in which General Stuart, the greatest Con
federate cavalry general, was killed. In the cavalry
fight at Tom's Brook, Virginia, October 9, 1864,
General Wells commanded a brigade of Custer's Di
vision; and at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, his
brigade took a foremost part in turning the rout of
the morning into a decisive victory at nightfall, cap
turing forty-five of the forty-eight pieces of artillery
taken from Early 's fleeing army, the First Vermont
capturing twenty-three of these, the heaviest capture
ever made by one regiment in the war. Major W7ells
served under Generals Kilpatrick, Sheridan, and Cus-
ter, and was with Kilpatrick in his famous raid on
Richmond, and with General Wilson in his daring

WILLIAM WELLS, 1859 CAPTAIN WILLIAM WELLS, November, 1861

BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS, 1865
MAJOR WILLIAM WELLS, 1862 COLONEL WILLIAM WELLS, 1864

BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS, 1865 GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS, 1874

MAJOR WELLS AND ASSISTANT SURGEON EDSON, 1862

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

foray to the south of that city. At Appomattox, on
the morning of the surrender of the Army of Northern
Virginia, his brigade had started on its last charge
and was stopped by General Custer in person.

At the grand review of the Army of the Potomac in
Washington City, May 22, 1865, he commanded the
Second Brigade of Custer's Division of the Cavalry
Corps, which led the advance. A medal of honor was
awarded General Wells by Congress "for distinguished
gallantry at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863."

During his services with the First Regiment Cavalry
he took part in the following battles and skirmishes:
Middletown, Winchester, Luray Court House, Cul-
peper Court House, Orange Court House, Kelley's
Ford, Waterloo Bridge, Bull Run, Warrenton, Hanover,
Hunterstown, Gettysburg, Monterey, Leitersville, Ha-
gerstown, Boonsboro, Hagerstown, Falling Waters, Port
Conway, Port Conway, Culpeper Court House, Somer-
ville Ford, Raccoon Ford, James City, Brandy Sta
tion, Gainesville, Buckland Mills, Falmouth, Morton's
Ford, Mechanics ville, Piping Tree, Craig's Meet
ing House, Spottsylvania, Yellow Tavern, Meadow
Bridge, Hanover Court House, Ashland, Hawe's Shop,
Bottom Bridge, White Oak Swamp, Riddle's Shop, Mal-
vern Hill, Ream's Station, Nottoway Court House,
Roanoke Station, Stony Creek, Ream's Station,
Winchester, Summit Point, Charlestown, W. Va.,
Kearneysville, and Opequan or Winchester.

As Brigade and Division Commander he participated
in the following battles and skirmishes: Opequan,
Front Royal, Gooney Manor Grade, Milford, Waynes-
boro, Columbia Furnace, Toms Brook, Cedar Creek,

205

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Cedar Creek, Middle Road, Middle and Back Road
or Middletown, Lacey's Springs, Waynesboro, Five
Forks, Scott's Corners, Namozine Creek, Winticomack,
Appomattox Station and Appomattox Court House.

His military career may be summarized by saying
that he participated in seventy cavalry engagements,
in eighteen of which he led a brigade or division, and
his service in the field was continuous from the date
of his muster-in until the close of the war. January
15, 1866, he was honorably mustered out of the United
States service, having been held in useful service for
eight months after the war ended, a fine testimonial to
his soldierly ability. The official record speaks for
itself, and General Wells's military career throughout
four years and a half in the War of the Rebellion evinces
the highest personal qualities of a cavalry commander,
combining coolness, promptness, and daring intrepidity
with most thoughtful consideration for his men.

General Wells was married, January 18, 1866, to
Miss Arahanna Richardson, who was born July 20,
1845, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. To them were
born two children, Frank Richardson and Bertha
Richardson. Frank Richardson Wells was born, Feb
ruary 1, 1871, in Burlington, Vermont, and was mar
ried, in California, November 7, 1900, to Miss Jean
Mary Hush, of Oakland, California. Bertha Richard
son Wells was born April 23, 1873, and was mar
ried in Burlington, Vermont, July 6, 1899, to Dr.
Horatio Nelson Jackson, of Burlington, Vermont.
Mrs. Wells died suddenly in Burlington, Vermont,
June 12, 1905.

Soon after General Wells's return to civil life he

206

MRS. WILLIAM WELLS
(Arahanna Richardson), 1850

MRS. WILLIAM WELLS
(Arahanna Richardson), 1861

MRS. WILLIAM WELLS
(Arahanna Richardson), 1860

MRS. WILLIAM WELLS
(Arahanna Richardson), 1862

MRS. WILLIAM WELLS
(Arahanna Richardson), 1899

MRS. WILLIAM WELLS
(Arahanna Richardson), 1862

MRS. WTILLIAM WELLS
(Arahanna Richardson), 1882

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

became a partner in a firm of wholesale druggists at
Waterbury. In 1868 they transferred this business to
Burlington, which was thereafter his residence. He
represented the town of WTaterbury in the Legislature
of 1865-66, being chairman of the military committee
and an influential legislator. In 1866 he was elected
Adjutant-General of Vermont, and held the office
until 1872, when he was appointed Collector of Cus
toms for the District of Vermont, a position which he

ft,

RESIDENCE OF GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS, 1877

filled with efficiency and credit for thirteen years. The
Burlington Free Press of that year, in speaking of his
appointment as Collector of Customs, said: "For sev
eral years past General Wrells has been a resident of
this city, Burlington, and a member of the firm of
Henry & Co., wholesale drug merchants. His personal
standing is high, as a man of integrity, good sense,
correct habits, and unblemished character, and his

209

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

appointment will be generally accepted throughout
the State as one eminently 'fit to be made.' : At the
end of that time he resumed his active connection with
the business house known the world over as the Wells
& Richardson Company.

In 1886 he was State Senator from the county of
Chittenden. He was active in veteran soldiers' soci-
ties, was one of the presidents of the Reunion Society
of Vermont Officers, and president of the Society
of the First Vermont Cavalry. He was one of
the trustees, and first president of the Vermont Sol
diers' Home, and was a member of the Gettysburg
Commission in 1889-90. He was the first commander
of the Vermont Commandery of the Loyal Legion,
and would have been re-elected had he lived until the
coming annual meeting of the Commandery. He was
a member of Stannard Post No. 2, G. A. R., Depart
ment of Vermont, and would have been made depart
ment commander had he been willing to accept the
election. He was a member of the Vermont Society
of Sons of the American Revolution.

General Wells was identified with many important
business enterprises in the city, being president of the
Burlington Trust Company, president of the Burling
ton Gas-Light Company, president of the Burlington
Board of Trade, director in the Burlington Cold Storage
Company, director in the Rutland Railroad Company,
and director in the Champlain Transportation Com
pany. He was a member and a vestryman of Saint
Paul's Church, was one of the trustees of the Young
Men's Christian Association of Burlington, and one of
its liberal supporters. Few men touched the life of the

210

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

community in which he lived in so many important
capacities.

His sudden death from angina pectoris, in New York
City, April 29, 1892, removed,while in the prime of life,
a most genial, courteous, and kind-hearted man, a
gallant soldier, and one of the most respected citizens
of the Green Mountain State. He was buried in
Lake View Cemetery, at Burlington, Vermont, where
a large granite boulder marks his last resting place.

General Sheridan, in speaking of General Wells, said,
"He was my ideal of a cavalry officer."

MEDALLIOX PORTRAIT OF MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS IN STATE CAPITOL
AT MONTPELIER, VERMONT, DEDICATED OCTOBER 5, 1910

DEDICATION
OF THE STATUE TO

BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS
AT BATTERY PARK, BURLINGTON,

VERMONT
MAY 30, 1914

STATUE OF MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS AT BATTERY PARK, BURLINGTON, VERMONT,
DEDICATED MAY 30, 1914

JOINT RESOLUTION RELATING TO MEDAL
LION PORTRAIT OF MAJOR-GENERAL
WILLIAM WELLS

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the governor be, and is hereby, authorized to
procure and place in the State capitol a bronze tablet
with medallion portrait of Brigadier and Brevet Major-
General William Wells, who enlisted from Waterbury,
Vermont, as a private soldier in Company C, Eirst
Regiment Vermont Cavalry, September 9, 1861, and
W7as sworn into the State service in said Company
October 3, 1861, at the age of twenty -three years;
commissioned first lieutenant October 14, 1861; cap
tain, November 18, 1861; mustered into the United
States service to serve for three years, or during the
war, November 19, 1861; promoted major October 30,
1862; colonel, June 4, 1864; appointed brevet brigadier-
general of Volunteers February 22, 1865, and brevet
major-general of Volunteers March 30, 1865, both for
gallant and meritorious conduct in the field; appointed
bridadier-general of Volunteers May 19, 1865. Mus
tered out of the United States service January 15, 1866.

(A detailed account of General WTells' service, cover
ing a period of almost four and a half years, may be
found on page 749 of the "Revised Roster of Vermont
Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion.")

His command participated in seventy-six battles and
skirmishes, in all of which he was present except when
a prisoner of war or absent and wounded.

General Wells distinguished himself on many occa
sions, but especially while leading his battalion in the
heroic charge against Confederate infantry on Round

217

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Top, Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, for which he received
the Congressional medal of honor. He also won dis
tinction in the charge of his brigade at Cedar Creek,
Virginia, October 19, 1864, when they captured one
hundred and sixty -one prisoners, including one general,
one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, three battle flags,
twenty-three pieces of artillery, fourteen caissons,
twenty -three \vagons, one hundred and fifty-eight sets
of harness, ninety -eight horses and sixty-eight mules,
this being the largest capture on record of any regi
ment in the war for the Union. Finally, at Appomat-
tox, Virginia, April 9, 1865, when his command was
attacked by Lee's army shortly before his surrender
he bore the brunt of the assault until the infantry
formation was completed, and which resulted in the
surrender of the army of Northern Virginia.

No cavalry officer stood higher with General Sheri
dan or General Custer than did General Wells, who
was a born cavalry leader with a wonderful war record,
whose gallant, distinguished, and patriotic services re
flect lasting honor upon the State of Vermont.

Resolved, That the State auditor is hereby directed
to draw his order on the State treasurer in favor of the
governor for any monies expended or required to be
expended in complying with the foregoing directions
in respect of the tablet in question.

THOMAS C. CHENEY,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.

JOHN A. MEAD,
President of the Senate.
Approved December 2, 1908.

GEORGE H. PROUTY, Governor.

218

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

As Burlington was so long the home of General
Wells, it is but fitting that Battery Park, one of its
most historic places, overlooking Lake Champlain and
within a short distance of the Old Fair Grounds, which
was the rendezvous of the First Vermont Cavalry and
many other regiments from this State before leaving
for the war, should be the site of a monument to his
valor and that of the regiment he so nobly commanded,
and in this memorial is signalized not only the true
patriotism of those defenders of our flag, but an act of
filial devotion on the part of the donor, Frank Richard
son Wells, the only son of General Wells, it being a
gift from him to the city of Burlington in honor of his
father and of the First Regiment Vermont Cavalry.

The base of the monument is of Barre granite, eight
feet square at the bottom and seven feet three inches
in height. On the front is a bronze tablet giving the
record of General W7ells, and on the reverse, facing in
the direction of the Old Fair Ground, is the bas-relief,
depicting the charge made at Gettysburg. Surmount
ing the whole is a bronze statue of General Wells, a
reproduction of the one erected by the State upon the
battlefield of Gettysburg, July 3, 1913.

Under a cloudless sky, and amid a large gathering of
friends, veterans, representative citizens, members of
various patriotic organizations, the Second United
States Cavalry, detachment of the Vermont National
Guard, Students' Battalion of the University of Ver
mont, and the Boy Scouts, its unveiling and dedication
to the city took place May 30, 1914, the occasion being
a noteworthy feature of Memorial Day. The exercises
opened with the sounding of "assembly" by George D.

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Sherman, of Company II, Ninth Vermont, followed by
a formal salute to the dead by the veterans of Stannard
Post and prayer by the Rev. John E. Goodrich, chap-
lian of the First Vermont Cavalry.

While the band played "The Star Spangled Banner"
the statue was unveiled by Mrs. James W. Brock,
sister, and Mrs. H. Nelson Jackson, daughter, of
General Wells, assisted by his two surviving brothers,
Mr. Charles Wells and Mr. Frederick H. Wells, and
his son-in-law, Dr. H. Nelson Jackson, the members
of the First Vermont Cavalry acting as escort.

It was an impressive sight as the heroic bronze figure
was revealed, with the gray -haired veterans of the First
Vermont Cavalry grouped around the base and the
members of the Wells family and Dr. P. O'M. Edson,
the assistant surgeon of the regiment, in the foreground,
and the cheers that arose from the surrounding audience
testified to their admiration and appreciation of both
the beautiful and the patriotic.

Mr. Wells then formally presented to Mayor James
E. Burke, as the city's representative, the deed trans
ferring the title of the monument to the people of
Burlington, and said:

"Mr. Commander, your honor the mayor, my father's
comrades, and friends: For years it had been my
mother's wish and mine to have a statue of my father
in Burlington, and now that that wish has come true
I am indeed happy.

"The First Vermont Cavalry is a regiment whose
record has never been surpassed. General Sheridan
told a friend of mine that when, as commander of the
cavalry corps, he needed a regiment on whose valor,

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

fidelity, and stubborn fighting he could always rely, he
called for the First Vermont Cavalry.

"It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to honor the
First Vermont Cavalry by placing on this pedestal the
bas-relief of the charge which father led at Gettysburg;
and it is my hope that this statue and bas-relief may
remind future generations that Vermont raised men
who dared do even more desperate deeds than that
famous charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.

"It is a great pleasure to present you, the mayor of
the city of Burlington, this deed of gift."

In behalf of the city Mayor Burke accepted the gift,
and thanked the donor for his generosity and the
spirit which prompted the erection of so lasting and
appropriate a tribute to one of Vermont's most gallant
commanders in the war for the Union and the men who
followed him.

After music by the Second United States Cavalry
band, the exercises were continued by Stannard Post,
G. A. R., with the address of the day by Rev. I. C.
Smart, D. D., of Burlington, and closed with the sing
ing of "America," the benediction, and the sounding of
"Taps."

Whereas, Frank Richardson Wells, the son of Major-
General William Wells, has placed upon the monu
ment erected in honor of his father in Battery Park,
Burlington, a bronze relief panel depicting the des
perate charge made by the First Regiment Vermont
Cavalry and its gallant Commander, the said General
Wells, at Gettysburg on the afternoon of July 3, 1863;
therefore, be it

221

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

Resolved, That we, the members of the Regiment
here assembled, do most deeply appreciate the honor
conferred upon us by Mr. Wells in thus perpetuating
the memory of our distinguished Commander and of
the First Vermont Cavalry.

Resolved, That is this beautiful monument, standing
near the earthworks and cannon commemorative of
the War of 1812, and near the Old Fair Ground, where
the Regiment rendezvoused before it left Vermont for
front on the 14th of December, 1861, the youth of our
city and State will have a lasting object lesson in true
patriotism, unflinching courage, and soldierly obedience,
and a memorial of the valor of those sons of Vermont,
who on that day paid to their country the uttermost
tribute of devotion.

Resolved, That a copy of these Resolutions be given
to Mr. Frank Richardson Wells, to the First Vermont
Cavalry Regimental Association, and to the press.

Passed by the survivors of the First Regiment
Vermont Cavalry at Burlington, Vermont, May
30, 1914.

Whereas, Frank Richardson Wells, a Companion of
the Vermont Commandery, Military Order of the
Loyal Legion of the United States, has given to the
city of Burlington a replica of the monument erected
July 3, 1913, by the State of Vermont on the battle
field of Gettysburg in honor of his distinguished father,
Major-General William Wells, and of the First Regi
ment Vermont Cavalry; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we, Companions of the Vermont Com
mandery, put on record our deep appreciation of this

222

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

generous act of our Companion in thus perpetuating
the memory of one who was a charter member and its
first Commander:

Resolved, That we regard this memorial as a fitting
tribute to the valor of one of Vermont's most gallant
officers and to the bravery of a regiment which partici
pated in seventy-six battles and combats, and won for
itself a record second to none in the armies of the
Union :

Resolved, That we regard this monument as a per
petual educator in true patriotism, destined to teach
successive generations of our youth more fervently to
love and more faithfully to serve their country:

Resolved, That these Resolutions be spread upon the
records of this Commandery, and a copy sent to Mr.
Wells and to the press.

Passed by the Vermont Commandery, Military
Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States,
at its annual meeting, May 12, 1914, held in
Burlington, Vermont.

Whereas, Frank Richardson Wells, a Companion of
the Vermont Commandery, Military Order of the
Loyal Legion of the United States, and a member also
of the Sons of Veterans, has given to the city of Bur
lington a replica of the monument erected July 3, 1913,
by the State of Vermont on the battlefield of Gettys
burg in honor of his distinguished father, Major-
General William Wells, and of the First Regiment
Vermont Cavalry; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we, Comrades of Stannard Post No. 2,
Grand Army of the Republic, put on record our deep

IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF

appreciation of this generous act of our townsman in
thus perpetuating the memory of one who was a brave
soldier and a successful general:

Resolved, That these Resolutions be spread upon the
records of Stannard Post, and a copy sent to Mr. Wells
and to the press.

Passed by Stannard Post, G. A. R., at its meet
ing, May 15, 1914.

To ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL

COME, GREETING:

Whereas, The undersigned, Frank R. Wells, of Bur
lington, in the County of Chittenden and State of
Vermont, on the 27th day of April, 1914, by a com
munication in writing under that date addressed to the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen of said city, did propose
to erect and donate to said city a bronze statue of his
late father, Brevet Major-General William Wells, to be
placed upon a suitable pedestal of Barre granite, with
tablets showing among other things the subject at the
head of his command leading the First Vermont Cav
alry charge at Gettysburg; and,

224

LOT OF GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS, LAKE VIEW CEMETKRY, TURLINGTON, VERMONT

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

Whereas, In said communication the undersigned in
dicated that it was his desire to have said statue erected
in Battery Park owing to the historic and military asso
ciation connected with that site and the nearby "Old
Fair Grounds," where the above-named cavalry was in
1861 mustered into service; and

Whereas, The undersigned in said communication
further proposed to erect said statue, pedestal, foun
dation, and tablets, and grade the grounds about the
same without expense to said city upon condition that
said city shall from time to time keep the same in good
repair and condition, and that said statue shall con
tinue to occupy the site in Battery Park then chosen by
said city and the undersigned ; and

Whereas, Said city by resolution of the City Council,
approved April 28, 1914, and recorded in volume 12,
page 58, of the records of the Board of Aldermen, did
accept said proposition and monument upon the terms
stated in the aforesaid communication; and

Whereas, Said Frank R. Wells has heretofore erected
said statue in pursuance with the terms of said com
munication and resolutions; and

Whereas, Said city hath on its part undertaken, and
doth by the acceptance of this deed of dedication
undertake, to keep the same in good repair and condi
tion, and that said statue shall continue to occupy the
site whereon the same now stands.

Now, therefore, Be it known that I, Frank R. Wells,
in consideration of the aforesaid undertakings of the
grantee and other good and valuable considerations,
have dedicated, remised, released, and forever quit
claimed, and do hereby dedicate, remise, release, and

225

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS

forever quitclaim unto the city of Burlington aforesaid
all right and title which I, the said Frank R. Wells,
have in and to the aforesaid bronze statue of my late
father, Brevet Major-General William W^ells, with the
aforesaid tablets, pedestal, and foundation now stand
ing in said Battery Park in said city.

To Have and to Hold all my right and title in and to
said statue, tablets, pedestal, and foundation to said
city of Burlington, to its own proper use, benefit and
behoof forever, subject, however, to the aforesaid stip
ulations and conditions.

In Witness Whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal
this 29th day of May, A. D. 1914.

In Presence of

(Signed) J. E. CUSHMAN, (Signed)

(Signed) FLORENCE M. MOORE. FRANK R. WTELLS

STATE OF VERMONT, )
CHITTENDEN COUNTY, )

Personally appeared at Burlington, in said County,
Frank R. Wrells, the signer and sealer of the above-
written instrument, and acknowledged the same to be
his free act and deed, this 29th day of May, A. D. 1914.
Before me,

(Signed) J. E. CUSHMAN,

Master in Chancerv.

399987

-IY4-J3

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "Dedication of the statue to Brevet Major-General William Wells"

See other formats