Your misrepresentation of the valor, honor and importance of Vermont troops in helping to squelch the Rebellion cannot go unchallenged or uncorrected.

In referring to the 1st Brigade, you forgot to mention the 2nd Brigade under Stannard and his brilliant flanking maneuver on Day 3 that is credited by some as being the turning point in deflating Pickett's Charge. See excerpts from 1st and 2nd Vermont Brigade histories that may be read in full on the Vermont in the Civil War website (link at bottom).

[Excerpt from the History of the First Vermont Brigade:]

“…The campaign of 1863, so far as concerned the First Brigade, opened with the affair at Marye's Heights on the 3d of May, followed by that at Salem Heights on the 4th. These engagements were followed by the battle at Fredericksburg on June 5th. At Marye's Heights the brigade lost thirteen killed and 109 wounded, and at Salem Heights sixteen killed and 123 wounded. On the 5th of June the brigade crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, assaulted and carried the enemy's works, taking a number of prisoners. Then commenced the march northward to intercept the Confederate army under Lee, who was invading Pennsylvania. The brigade reached Gettysburg, but took no active part in the battle, the honors of that occasion having fallen upon their brethren of the Second Brigade of Vermonters."

Sources: Lewis Cass Aldrich, "History of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Vermont," (D. Mason and Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N.Y., 1891).

[Excerpt from the History of the Second Vermont Brigade:]

by Lewis Cass Aldrich

“…On the 20th of April following General George J. Stannard succeeded to the brigade command, and under him the organization attained to its greatest glory on the bloody field of Gettysburg, when he ordered and executed the famous flank movement on the rebel General Pickett, and turned the doubtful tide of that memorable battle in favour of the Union.

It is not necessary here to detail the events of even that remarkable conflict, nor even the part taken in it by the Second Brigade. The valor of the Vermont troops is sufficiently demonstrated by quoting the words of General Doubleday, who, when he saw the movement of Stannard's command, cried aloud: "Glory to God, Glory to God! See the Vermonters go it!"

Source: Aldrich, Lewis Cass. History of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Vermont. Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason and Co., Publishers, 1891.

Source: VermontCivilWar.Org Database
Creator/Webmaster: Tom Ledoux

See Vermont in the Civil War website at: http://www.vermontcivilwar.org/index.php