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 
 
 OF 
 
 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 
 
 5 
 
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 
 
 a While 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. 
 
 6 
 
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 show T 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 W T ells 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 w r ill 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. 
 
 10 
 
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 W T ells 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. 
 
 13 
 
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 
 
V 
 
 SURGEON-MAJOR P. O M. EDSON 
 
7, 
 
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 fva "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 <r illiam 7 fills. >T o r-nn estft-nd -itv, er the 
 rfiriment or i t r , las* rolon*! ""^r <* ^irMv *><nn T did .n^ 
 I run rlad to note that >f r . ^.ans 1 ow in r^-v^inr "Trsder t 1 - - 
 Old s lar" h !& r<?rceivd h.it in *>n* work T endeavored 
 to express my horour-b re&pect and ,-ny v ip- v admiration ^or 
 the first Vermont cavalry and its noble rorr.and*?? . ">ar- 
 wet t rife rood soldiers a^ ever .\or: t>e An*i r ir" : 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^:- i f* - - exlain uon more 
 
 than on- instance I v^ve ans*A r ered 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 t l ^e ni- v t 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 WF 
 
 whioh ended at "- r-l r on t v at 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 v nve not ~*een of 
 ficially in- ited "by ~>>y on <=-Tse *->-n Governor ^letc v er 
 to ?e present at t^e rrr,rt reunion .vh ch is ^o t n* e nlace 
 at Gettysburg in t\e early d=?y, o 1 " 1 Jixly, * r a tnp made o A h? 
 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 rr ermont who join in that remarkable reunion every he- 
 nor and consideration, v;it : ^~, TI-IC"^ en.io:/nen* a?, can he 
 had from sue 11 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*cvvL*~t A ??yl)hi*ju-ci:tx*) u 
 
 &-t4i 
 
 r 
 
 , OS frt^U frt, 
 
 
REAR-ADMIRAL CHARLES E. CLARK, U. S. Navy 
 
CRAGSMOOR,N.Y 
 
 If t( 
 
 , 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 
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. 
 
 32 
 
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., W T ash- 
 
 ington, D. C. 
 
 33 
 
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. 
 
 34 
 
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 W 7 . H. H. Slack, private Sixteenth Vermont, 
 Springfield. 
 
 General George H. Bond, private Sixteenth Vermont, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 35 
 
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. 
 
 36 
 
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. 
 
 37 
 
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 
 
 45 
 
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 
 
 46 
 
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. 
 
 47 
 
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 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 
 W 7 illiam 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. 
 
 50 
 
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 w T ho 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 
 
 52 
 
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- 
 
 60 
 
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, 
 
 61 
 
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! W T hat 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 
 
 62 
 
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 
 
 63 
 
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 W 7 ells, 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 
 
 65 
 
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 
 
 67 
 

 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 
 
 69 
 
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 
 
 70 
 
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 
 
 71 
 
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 
 
 75 
 
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 
 
 77 
 
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 
 
 78 
 
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 
 W r ells 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 W 7 illiam 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 
 W T ar 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 W r ells sprang. 
 
 79 
 
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 
 
 80 
 
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 
 
 81 
 
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 
 
 84 
 
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, 
 
 85 
 
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 
 
 86 
 
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 
 
 87 
 
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 
 
 89 
 
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 
 
 90 
 
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 
 
 91 
 
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- 
 
 92 
 
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- 
 
 93 
 
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 
 
 95 
 
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 
 
 96 
 
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 
 
 97 
 
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: 
 
 99 
 
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. W r oodward 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 W r ar. 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 W 7 ar 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. W T e 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. W T hen 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 W T ells; 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 
 w T ith 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. W r e 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 
 w r ho 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 
 W T ells 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, w r hich 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. 
 W 7 aynesboro, 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 
 
 a 
 
 fc O 
 
 a 
 
 H 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 
 jf, 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 K * 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 * 
 
 Q 
 
 
 s 
 
 PN 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 3 
 
 26 
 
 33 
 
 78 
 
 2 
 
 142 
 
 B 
 
 4 
 
 28 
 
 28 
 
 65 
 
 6 
 
 131 
 
 C 
 
 5 
 
 28 
 
 40 
 
 64 
 
 1 
 
 138 
 
 D 
 
 4 
 
 36 
 
 26 
 
 67 
 
 
 
 133 
 
 E 
 
 9 
 
 23 
 
 28 
 
 46 
 
 2 
 
 108 
 
 F 
 
 3 
 
 31 
 
 24 
 
 35 
 
 1 
 
 94 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 34 
 
 25 
 
 94 
 
 
 
 153 
 
 H 
 
 10 
 
 23 
 
 32 
 
 56 
 
 2 
 
 123 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 24 
 
 24 
 
 61 
 
 
 
 117 
 
 K . . 
 
 3 
 
 24 
 
 30 
 
 47 
 
 
 
 104 
 
 L 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 27 
 
 43 
 
 
 
 99 
 
 M 
 
 3 
 
 18 
 
 4 
 
 38 
 
 
 
 63 
 
 F and S 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 
 63 
 
 317 
 
 330 
 
 704 
 
 14 
 
 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. 
 W T hipple, 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, W 7 is. 
 
 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. 
 W 7 ilson, 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., W f illiamstown, 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 W 7 right, 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, W T illiam 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, W T illiam 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 W 7 est 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. 
 W T olcott, 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. 
 
 W T illiams, 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 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. W r ells 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 
 W 7 ells, born October 30, 1835, died February 19, 1907. 
 William Wells, born December 14, 1837, died April 29, 
 1892. Curtis W T ells, born February 1, 1840, died 
 March 16, 1898. Charles Wells, born June 22, 1845. 
 Sarah Carpenter W T ells, 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 W r ells 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 W 7 ells 
 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), 1899 
 
 MRS. WILLIAM WELLS 
 (Arahanna Richardson), 1862 
 
 MRS. W T ILLIAM 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 W T aterbury 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 W r ells 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 
 W 7 as 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 W T ells 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 W 7 ells, 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 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 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. W T ELLS 
 
 STATE OF VERMONT, ) 
 CHITTENDEN COUNTY, ) 
 
 Personally appeared at Burlington, in said County, 
 Frank R. W r ells, 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