VERMONT THIRTEENTH REGIMENT. (NINE MONTHS.)

BY HON. ALBERT CLARKE, SECRETARY HOME MARKET CLUB, BOSTON, MASS., FIRST LIEUTENANT THIRTEENTH REGIMENT. IN the summer of 1862 ten companies were recruited in Washington, Chittenden, Lamoille and Franklin counties, which were organized into the Thirteenth regiment of infantry on the 24th day of September. All had been undergoing squad and company drill for several weeks, and on the 29th of September the companies went into barracks at Brattleboro, and were thus assembled as a regiment for the first time. More than half of the men composing this regiment were young farmers, and there was a liberal sprinkling from all other callings common to the country. Not a few had left college and the learned professions, to serve, during what most of them believed would be the last year of the war, and the standard and culture throughout the regiment was unusualy high. There were rivalries for office, as usual, but scores of men who were as wel1 fitted to command as any others, scorned to seek commissions and went through their term of service as privates and non-commissioned officers, discharging every duty without the need of orders and relieving the tedium of camplife by classical studies and learned discussions. The regiment was most fortunate in most of its officers, and especially so in its colonel, Francis V. Randall, who had been a captain in the Second regiment, and previously had been a lawyer, state's attorney for Washington county, and a member of the Legislature. Being many years older than most of his men--he was thirty-eight, and the average of their ages was but twenty-four--having seen service while most of them had not, and being withal a man of fine military bearing, and possessed of popular ways, he enjoyed their confidence and even their affection, which neither faults nor antagonisms served to impair. Not only did he give the regiment good care and discipline, but when there was opportunity to meet the enemy, he distinguished himself for zeal and gallantry, and enabled his men to render a full measure of service and win for themselves imperishable renown. Another officer deserving special mention was the surgeon, George Nichols, M. D., of Northfield. At Brattleboro the regiment was equipped with the latest pattern of Springfield rifles, muzzle loaders, to be sure, but the best infantry arm then in use. Mustered into the United States service, October 3, with nine hundred fifty-three officers and men, the regiment left for Washington on the 11th, where it arrived the 13th and went into camp on East Capitol Hill, whither it had been preceded by the Twelfth regiment, and was soon followed by the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth, all of which were formed into the Second Vermont Brigade on the 27th. They were reviewed one day by General Banks, and there were rumors that they were to be sent under his command to the lower Mississippi, but General Casey succeeded in holding them for service in Virginia, and on the 30th of October, the brigade marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me," crossed Long Bridge and ascended Arlington Heights to the estate of General Lee, where it encamped one night. The next day the Twelfth and Thirteenth marched to the heights south of Alexandria, where they were joined a few days later by the rest of the brigade, and there, in what became known as "Camp Vermont," they were engaged for a month in camp and picket duty, drills, reviews and in fatigue work on Fort Lyon, near by. Starting in the rain, about nine o'clock in the night of November 26, the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth, under command of Colonel Randall, marched through Alexandria and thence on the pike towards Fairfax Court House. Late in the night they bivouacked, and proceeded next day to Union Mills, where they remained nearly two weeks, guarding the railroad and maintaining a strong picket line along the Bull Run. Although they had tents, there was much suffering from severe cold and storms. They were in constant readiness for an expected encounter with Confederate cavalry. Being relieved, they returned to Camp Vermont, December 5th, making the journey to Alexandria on flat cars in a heavy, damp snow storm. When they reached camp in the evening it was still snowing, their tents had not arrived and they were without food, fuel or axes. A few found shelter in neighboring buildings, but the greater number were taken in by the other regiments of the brigade. Many, however, took colds and some of them never recovered. In a few days stockades were built and the camp was made comfortable for the severe winter that had set in. The old routine was resumed. December 12, the brigade marched to Fairfax Court House and encamped in a grove northwest of the village. There they remained five weeks, the regiment taking turns in going forward to Centreville for a few days, holding the fortifications there and picketing along the Bull Run in connection with other troops. Early in the evening of December 27th, the long roll sounded at Fairfax and the regiments hastily formed in line. The outposts had reported that Stuart's cavalry was moving rapidly upon the village from the south and east. Colonel Randall was in attendance upon a court-martial at Alexandria, but Lieutenant-Colonel Brown led the regiment on a double quick through the village and into a rifle pit which crossed the Alexandria pike a quarter of a mile to the east. When the men became silent, the approach of the enemy over the frozen ground could be distinctly heard in the clear frosty air. Apparently they had reached the pike and were forming to charge from the east. A solitary horseman, having passed the Union picket, came dashing down the pike from that direction, paused a moment by General Stoughton and then passed in rear of the Thirteenth. When the voice of Colonel Randall was heard the anxious men experienced relief and reassurance. He had heard of the raid and had ridden with all speed from Alexandria. It was only by strategy that he made his way through the foremost of the Confederates along the pike. A charge by the enemy's advance was soon repulsed by General Stoughton's skirmishers, and when our artillery opened, General Stuart moved away and flanked the town to the north. The Thirteenth was moved rapidly to intercept him, but only to become very warm and then nearly to freeze, before returning to camp in the morning. On the 20th of January the regiment marched south twelve miles to Wolf Run Shoals, where, with the Twelfth and a battery which were joined later by the Fourteenth, it remained until April 2, when it moved five miles down the Occoquan, and established "Camp Carusi," a mile north of the stream. Detachments were sent thence to guard the ferry at Occoquan and several fords above, extending to the left of the Fourteenth. This was a delightful camp and as there was a fine parade ground, the regiment became very proficient in battalion drill. On the morning of May 14, a wagon train from the regiment, on its way to Fairfax Station for supplies, though more than a mile in rear of the picket line, was attacked by a small body of Mosby's men and the drivers, guards and mules were captured. The men, seven in all, were treated to a bare-back ride of twenty-seven miles on the mules and were then paroled and allowed to return on foot. News of the capture soon reached camp and the regiment started upon a run to intercept the captors at the nearest ford, but arrived a few minutes too late. One day, while Company G was at the ferry, a large number of escaping slaves approached from the South and were conducted to their freedom and sent on their way to Washington amid great rejoicing. The regiment distinctly heard the cannonade at Chancellorsville and expected to start for the front at a moment's notice, but the order did not come. June 13, the advance of Hooker's army began to pass northward, crossing the Occoquan on a pontoon bridge, and on the 25th, after the entire army had marched, the Thirteenth moved to join the other regiments of the brigade. They met at Union Mills and proceeded together on the great seven day's march to Gettysburg, where they arrived at sunset, July 1, and took position in a field of clover at the left of Buford's cavalry, then drawn up in a square, guarding the left of the army, which had fallen back through the town and formed on Cemetery Hill and the ridges to the right and left. The next morning the brigade moved a little to the right and supported batteries on Cemetery Hill. Here it was subjected several times during the day to a converging fire of shell from three directions and was a witness of the terrific fighting on Little Round Top, in the Wheat Field, Peach Orchard and along the Emmettsburg road. While in this position, Capt. Merritt B. Williams of Company G received a mortal wound from a spherical case shot and several men were injured. One or two regiments came rushing back panic stricken from the cemetery and were restored by the Vermont Brigade. Colonel Randall rendered his own men a good service by upbraiding the fugitives and citing to them, veterans though they were, the steadiness of the Vermonters, many of whom had never been under fire before. During the day five companies of the Thirteenth under Lieut.-Col. William D. Munson, were stationed to guard a battery in the front line on the west face of Cemetery Hill and this position they held until night. The other companies moved out with the brigade on a double quick to the left, after Sickles and Hancock had in turn been driven back from the Emmetsburg road and the shallow valley to the east, under orders from General Doubleday to hasten to Hancock's support. As General Stannard was leading towards the position where the First Minnesota had just been destroyed, General Hancock, who had directed the movement, asked Colonel Randall if he could recover a battery which had been lost in the valley below and which was being rapidly approached by a strong body of the enemy. Randall replied that he would do it or die trying, so this right wing of the brigade ceased moving to the left and dashed forward at a full run down the gentle descent, up which Pickett's men charged the next day. Randall's horse fell, shot, and for a moment the rider was partially underneath, but soon he was running, hatless, to overtake his line, and in a moment appeared in front of the colors, leading on to victory. The guns were reached and drawn back, where General Hancock and his men received them with thanks and cheers. Randall then quickly re-formed his line and pursued the enemy. He went as far as the Peter Rogers' house on the Emmettsburg road before halting. While crossing the valley, a Confederate, who had been supposed to be dead, arose from the ditch in which he lay and fired at Maj. Joseph J. Boynton from the rear. The bullet narrowly missed the Major's head. Three men of company C turned to bayonet the miscreant, but the Major stopped them and took him prisoner. The battalion halted near the Rogers' house and captured eighty-three prisoners, who had taken refuge there. Company A was thrown around the house, and the Confederates surrendered mostly to Captain Lonergan and Adjt. James S. Peck. The other companies were in front of the house, company G being nearest. Captain Coburn with company C was sent to the left and right to explore in the gathering darkness and thick smoke, but as no more rebels were in sight the battalion returned to the line, and as it approached with the prisoners it was cheered by twenty thousand men. The companies with Randall in these gallant dashes were: A, Capt. John Lonergan, G, Lieut. Albert Clarke, C, Capt. Lewis L. Coburn, E, Capt. Andrew J. Davis and B, Capt. Orcas C. Wilder. They sustained a smaller loss than might have been expected. That night the other companies returned to the line and the regiment slept upon its arms in the front line of battle near the position which the brigade held the next day. During the ensuing forenoon a detail of ten men from each company, under General Stannard's orders, gathered some fence rails and placed them in line about forty-five yards in front of the regiment. The object was not then apparent, but it became so later. Though there was a sharp fire of sharpshooters, most of the men volunteered for this work, led by Sergt. George H. Scott of company G, and not one was injured. A similar detail buried some of the dead, so as to lessen the stench, and they also escaped unharmed. When Pickett's charge was well advanced, General Stannard ordered the Thirteenth, which held the right of his brigade, forward to the slight breastwork of rails. On arriving Randall ordered them to halt, lie down and hold their fire. At their left, the Fourteenth, which extended diagonally down into the valley, had opened upon the charging column and it was then moving rapidly by the flank or left oblique in front of the Thirteenth. No sooner had the men of the latter become prostrate than a volley passed over their heads which must have nearly annihilated them had they been standing. In a moment the Sixteenth, which had been deployed as skirmishers, fell back through the line and then the Thirteenth received the welcome order to fire. The men had a short range and deadly aim and as the smoke lifted, it was seen that they had done fearful execution. The fire was vigorously returned, but with little loss, and meanwhile the enemy continued to move to the right until the front of the Thirteenth was uncovered. General Stannard then directed the regiment to "change front forward on first company," that is, to advance to the right and form a line at right angles with its present position. The din was so great that Colonel Randall could not make his orders understood, so he rushed along his line from left to right, shouting "By the right flank, follow me." After leading two hundred yards to the right and descending into a little depression, the new alignment was made upon the flank of the enemy, and so very near that there might easily have been hand-to hand encounters. The Vermonters had loaded on the run and no sooner were they in line than they began firing. At the same time the line at their right and front from which they had advanced was pouring a deadly fire into the faces of the charging force, which had now become a mass, and very soon Pickett was assailed upon his left flank by Gen. Alexander Hayes' brigade. Within a minute or two, seemingly, after the Thirteenth opened upon them in this position, the Confederates began to throw down their rifles and wave their hands in token of surrender. Randall ordered his regiment to cease firing, but the order was not heard. Breaking through the line to the front and turning his back to the enemy, he waved his sword and hat and shouted his order until it was understood. Then, though still under fire from the enemy and from the Union line above and from our Batteries, he moved rapidly among the yielding host, directing them into his line, and there captured two hundred forty-three officers and men. Meanwhile the Sixteenth had come up and formed on his left and was firing upon those who were running away. It soon faced about and charged four hundred yards upon the left flank of Wilcox. Companies G and I of the Thirteenth, under command of Major Boynton, guarded the prisoners to the rear and the regiment returned to the point whence it started. The battle was soon over, but the enemy continued an artillery fire, from which the brigade suffered some loss. The companies of the Thirteenth participating in this famous attack, stood in the following order from right to left: A, Capt. John Lonergan; G, Lieut. Albert Clarke; I, Lieut. Chester W. Searles; E, Capt. Andrew J. Davis; C, Capt. Lewis L. Coburn; H, Capt. Aro P. Slayton; K, Capt. George G. Blake; F, Lieut. Justin Naramore; D, Capt. George Bascom; B, Capt. Orcas C. Wilder. The losses of the Thirteenth in this battle were eleven killed, eighty-one wounded and twenty-three missing. As previously stated, they must have been much greater but for careful management to save life and for the impetuosity of the onslaughts, by which the enemy was partially crippled before he could destroy. Little remains to be recorded. With the rest of the brigade and the army, the Thirteenth marched on the 6th of July in pursuit of the retreating enemy. On the night of the 7th it crossed Catoctin Mountain in Maryland, over the worst possible road and under a heavy rain, and the next day bivouacked near Middletown, where it was passed and cheered by the Old Brigade, and where, its term of service having expired, it was ordered home. After a stay in barracks at Brattleboro, during which the regiment was reviewed and thanked by Governor Holbrook, it was mustered out on the 21st of July, about one year after most of the men had enlisted and in a few weeks many of its members re-entered the service in other organizations. ENGAGEMENTS. Fairfax Court House, Va. (Repulse of Stuart's Raid), Dec. 28, 1862. Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 2 and 3, 1863. Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Col. Francis V. Randall, Thirteenth Vermont Infantry. Camp near Middletown, Md., July 10, 1863. Gen.: In compliance with your request, I make the following report of the part taken by my regiment (Thirteenth Vermont) July 1, 2, and 3 instant: Prior to June 24, my regiment was doing picket duty on the Occoquan River, from Occoquan Bay to near Wolf Run Shoals, headquarters near the village of Occoquan. The balance of our brigade (Second Vermont Brigade) was stationed at or near Union Mills. On the evening of June 24, I received orders to call in my pickets and join the brigade at Centreville, which I did on June 25. The brigade consisted of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Vermont Regt.'s, commanded by Brig. Gen. George J. Stannard. The brigade then marched to Gettysburg, arriving there on July 1, at about 5 p. m. My regiment, with the Fourteenth and Sixteenth, took position on Cemetery Hill, in rear of our line of battle, made up of the First and Eleventh Corps. On the morning of the 2d, we occupied substantially the same position until about 2 p. m., when I was ordered to advance five of my companies, under Lieut.-Col. Munson, to support a battery in our front. Soon after this, I was ordered to advance the balance of my regiment a little to the front and to the left of our former position, which brought us nearly in rear of the right of the Second Corps. This took me entirely out of the line occupied by the rest of our brigade, and I received no further orders from our brigade headquarters during the remainder of that day. A heavy fight was going on in our front, in which the Second and Third Corps were engaged, and we received some injury from the artillery fire of the rebels without being able to engage in the fight. At this time an officer, whom I did not know at the moment, but who proved to be Gen. Doubleday, came galloping over the hill from Gen. Hancock's position, and approached my regiment. After having found what regiment we were, and making a few inspiriting remarks to my men, he directed me to take my regiment in the direction from which he had come, and report to Gen. Hancock, whom I would find there, and hard pressed, and he said he feared he would lose his artillery or some of it before I could get there. I started, riding in advance of my regiment to meet Gen. Hancock and find where I was needed, so as to be able to place my men in position without exposing them too long under fire. As I reached the ridge or highest ground between the cemetery and Little Round Top Mountain, I met Gen. Hancock, who was encouraging and rallying his men to hold on to the position. He told me the rebels had captured a battery he had had there, and pointed out to me the way they had gone with it, and asked me if I could retake it. I told him I thought I could, and that I was willing to try. He said it would be a hazardous job, and he would not order it, but, if I thought I could do it, I might try. By this time my regiment had come up, and I moved them to the front far enough so that when I deployed them in line of battle they would leave Hancock's men in their rear. They were now in column by divisions, and I gave the order to deploy in line, instructing each captain as to what we were to do as they came on to the line, and, taking my position to lead them, gave the order to advance. At this time my horse was killed, and I fell to the ground with him. While on the ground, I discovered a rebel line debouching from the woods on our left, and forming substantially across our track about 40 rods in our front. We received one volley from them, which did us very little injury, when my men sprang forward with the bayonet with so much precipitancy that they appeared to be taken wholly by surprise, and threw themselves in the grass, surrendering, and we passed over them. Gen. Hancock followed up the movement, and told me to press on for the guns and he would take care of the prisoners, which he did, and we continued our pursuit of the guns, which we overtook about half way to the Emmitsburg road, and recaptured them, with some prisoners. These guns, as I am told, belong to the Fifth U. S. Regulars, Lieut. Weir. There were four of them. We were now very near the Emmitsburg road, and I advanced my line to the road, and sent my adjutant (James S. Peck) back to inform Gen. Hancock of our position. While he was gone, the rebels advanced two pieces of artillery into the road about 100 rods to the south of us, and commenced to shell us down the road, whereupon I detached one company, and advanced them under cover of the road, dug way, and fences, with instructions to charge upon and seize those guns, which they did most gallantly. We also captured the rebel picket reserve, consisting of 3 officers and 80 men, who had concealed themselves in a house near by. In pursuance of orders from Gen. Hancock, we now slowly fell back to the main line of battle. It was dark, and no further operations took place on our part that night. In the morning of the third day of the battle, we were placed in the front line, to the left of Cemetery Hill. In this position we remained, sustaining the same against the heavy assaults which were made on our position during the day. During the heavy artillery fire on the afternoon of that day, preceding Longstreet's great charge, my regiment being badly exposed, I asked permission to advance it a little to the front, about 15 rods, so as to take advantage of some rocky points that emerged from the ground, and also the more favorable conformation of the ground. This was granted me, and I immediately advanced my regiment to the more favorable position, and the Fourteenth Vermont, which occupied the position next to my left, also advanced, so as to conform to my line. This placed us that much farther to the front than the regiments to the right and left of us, but gave us a very favorable position, which we immediately strengthened with loose stones and rails that we found in the vicinity. Before we had fairly completed our little arrangements, the great charge commenced, and the course they took brought them directly on these two regiments. Our general officers were quite solicitous for this position, Gen. Hancock repeatedly coming to me and giving us the benefit of his advice and encouragement, and offered us supports, but my men, as well as those of the Fourteenth Regt., expressed a desire to hold the place alone if they could. The heavy rebel column, which I need not describe, bore down steadily upon us until about half way from the Emmitsburg road to our position. Our men were directed to withhold their fire up to this time, when the two regiments rose up and poured in a volley that seemed to level their front rank and all mounted officers. We continued to pour in our fire as best we could, and very soon the charging column seemed to slacken and nearly halt. In this way they staggered for a moment, and commenced to move by their left flank toward a position more nearly in front of the cemetery. As our front became uncovered, I moved my regiment a little by the flank, so as to extricate my left from some shrubbery that partially surrounded and hid them, when I changed front forward on my right company, throwing my left flank toward the rebel main line of battle. The Fourteenth Regt. remained in their position. The Sixteenth Regt., or a portion of it, were on the skirmish line, and were driven in by this charge. Gen. Doubleday at this time rode up to me, and assured me that my movement would be a success, and he ordered the regiments to my right to cease firing and allow me to pass in front of their line, which we did, following the rebel column so close that when they faced to charge up Cemetery Hill we were within 15 rods of them, and they passed directly in review before us, my men at the same time pouring one of the most withering fires I had ever beheld into their exposed flank. We had fired about 10 rounds per man when they seemed to be in utter confusion, and large numbers came in in rear of my regiment for shelter. I do not know how many prisoners my regiment captured, but I had apparently more than there were men in my regiment. While this was going on, the Sixteenth Regt., Col. Veazey, came up in my rear (having gathered up his regiment as far as he could after having been driven in with the skirmish line), and formed his regiment in rear and partially to my left, where he succeeded in capturing some prisoners. He had been in this position but a few moments when we discovered a small rebel column approaching over nearly the same ground the main rebel column had passed over, and for the moment it seemed as though we should be squeezed between the two, but Col. Veazey promptly faced his regiment about, and advanced to meet this new danger, and I very quickly followed. When I got nearly opposite my original position, Gen. Stannard sent orders to me to bring my regiment back to the main line, and he sent a portion of the Fourteenth Regt. to support Col. Veazey. This rebel column, however, about that time commenced to diverge in the opposite direction, and entered the woods to the south of us, where they were pursued by the Sixteenth and Fourteenth Regt.'s. This substantially ended our part in the battle. Gen. Hancock was wounded while sitting on his horse giving me some directions. I was standing very near him, and assisted him from his horse. Gen. Stannard was also wounded soon after, and compelled reluctantly to leave the field, since which time I have been in command of the brigade. The casualties in my regiment, as near as I can now ascertain, were 8 killed, 89 wounded, and 26 missing. As we know of none captured, probably many of the 26 may prove to have been killed, or severely wounded, and cared for in some private house. FRANCIS V. RANDALL, Col. Thirteenth Regt. Vermont Volunteers. Maj.-Gen. Newton, Comdg. First Army Corps.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

Vermont 13th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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