In March, J. C. RUTHERFORD, Assistant
Surgeon of the Tenth Vermont, was appointed to the vacancy, and he proved
a competent and efficient surgeon and worthy successor. In November, 1864,
Captain KNAPP had been promoted to Major, and in December to Lieutenant-Colonel,
and several changes and promotions had also occurred in the line. Early
in March Colonel RANDALL went to Vermont on a thirty days' leave, and he
returned to the regiment at Burkesville on the day after Lee's surrender.
In the final assault at Petersburg the regiment, as always, performed its
part well; Lieutenant-Colonel KNAPP had command. On the night of April
1, moving out after midnight, the regiment, with the Second Maryland, pierced
the enemy's picket line between Forts Sedgwick and Davis and sweeping to
the left took it entirely in to the point where the Ninth Corps line joined
the Sixth, gathering in about 250 prisoners by the move. It then took position
in the rear of Fort Davis ready to join in the assault to be made at daybreak.
In the assault, the regiment and brigade, after some fighting and repulse,
rallied and forcing the enemy back, then, being in turn forced back, finally
obtained so firm a lodgment in the enemy's works that the attempt to drive
them out was abandoned. Firing was kept up for some time, but the battle
was already won. And thus in a manner worthy of the organization that had
so bravely made its first fight, its last was ended. Its loss was ten killed
and thirty-nine wounded, five fatally. Lieuts. J. Edson HENRY of company
K and C. W. ELLSWORTH
of company B died a few days later of wounds received. The list of wounded
included at least five officers; an equal number were brevetted for gallant
conduct on that occasion. On the morning of the 3d the regiment passed
through Petersburg and took up the march in pursuit of LEE, reaching Burkesville
on the 8th. Complimentary orders for our conduct at the assault and now
and then official announcements of captures by SHERIDAN's force or other
parts of the pursuing army, assisted in the weary march.
On the 9th we moved towards Farmville,
but on the receipt of the official report of LEE's surrender, were ordered
back to Burkesville. Here Colonel RANDALL joined the regiment and was put
in command of the place. Guarding the town, the immense quantities of captured
property and the numerous prisoners, kept the regiment on duty until the
20th, when it joined the brigade and marched to City Point, and thence
by transports went to Alexandria, reaching that place about April 30. Going
into camp about three miles southwest of the city, it remained, performing
guard and patrol duty, taking part in the grand review at Washington, May
23, and having some of its officers and men on detached service at the
city, until July 14, when it left for Vermont. Arriving at Burlington on
the 18th, the men were welcomed back by the people, cheered with speeches
and refreshed with a good breakfast, well served by the good ladies of
the place, then marched to the Marine Hospital, where, on the 24th,
they were paid off and went to their homes, and the Seventeenth passed
into history.
General GRIFFIN, and no one could so
well know as he, says: "The Seventeenth Vermont bore an active and honorable
part in GRANT's Campaign through the Wilderness, in the siege of Petersburg,
and in the capture of LEE. It was composed of the best material, and was
one of the regiments upon which I could always rely with perfect confidence,
however difficult or dangerous the duty to be performed. It was a regiment
which reflected great credit upon the State, and one of which the people
of Vermont have a right to be proud."
The logic of figures does a seeming
injustice to the fair record of this regiment. In the final statement it
is shown to have among its gains, "Recruits 232." Of this number, 120 were
men who enlisted as substitutes or were drafted and never went to the front.
They were never more than paper men, yet the regiment is charged with them
and they swell its aggregate.
In officers, its death loss was fourteen,
exceeding that of any other Vermont regiment. And its percentage of entire
death loss in battle, even including in the aggregate of its men the 120
whose record stands, "Deserted, never joined company," is only exceeded
by one Vermont regiment. Considering its period of service, it is a record
which tells of duty faithfully performed and one of which any Vermonter
may well be proud.
"When
can their glory fade?"
ENGAGEMENTS
| Wilderness,
Va. |
May
6 to 9, 1864 |
| Spottsylvania,
Va. |
May
12 to 15, 1864 |
| Spottsylvania,
Va. |
May
18, 1864 |
| North
Anna, Va. |
May
25 and 26, 1864 |
| Totopotomoy,
Va. |
May
31, 1864 |
| Bethesda
Church, Va. |
June
3, 1864 |
| Cold
Harbor, Va. |
June
7 and 8, 1864 |
| Petersburg,
Va. |
June
17, 1864 |
| Petersburg
Mine, Va. |
July
30, 1864 |
| Weldon
Railroad, Va. |
August
21, 1864 |
| Poplar
Spring Church, Va. |
September
30, 1864 |
| Hatcher's
Run, Va. |
October
27 and 28, 1864 |
| Petersburg,
Va. |
April
2, 1865 |
BATTLES
FOUGHT
Fought
on 05 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on
06 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on
07 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on
12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on
20 May 1864.
Fought on
26 May 1864 at North Anna River, VA.
Fought on
27 May 1864 at North Anna River, VA.
Fought on
28 May 1864.
Fought on
31 May 1864 at Totopotomoy Creek, VA.
Fought on
01 June 1864 at Totopotomoy Creek, VA.
Fought on
03 June 1864 at Bethesda Church, VA.
Fought on
07 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on
08 June 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on
10 June 1864.
Fought on
15 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
16 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
17 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
18 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
19 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
20 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
21 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
22 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
23 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
24 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
25 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
26 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
28 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
29 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
01 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
02 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
04 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
06 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
07 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
08 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
10 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
26 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
27 July 1864 at Near Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
28 July 1864.
Fought on
29 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
30 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
07 August 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on
29 September 1864.
Fought on
30 September 1864 at Poplar Springs Church, VA.
(here is
where William H CHAPMAN
was likely
wounded . . . see below)
Fought on
02 April 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
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