Hibbard, Edward L.
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 30, credited to Charlotte, VT Unit(s): 13th VT INF, 17th VT INF Service: enl 9/11/62, m/i 10/10/62, PVT, Co. K, 13th VT INF, pr SGTMAJ 1/22/63, comn 2LT, Co. D, 2/23/63 (3/7/63), pr 1LT 6/4/653 (6/12/63), m/ 7/21/63; also com 1LT, Co. B, 17th VT INF, 1/5/64 (4/17/64), pr CPT 7/6/64 (9/27/64), not accepted, m/o 10/19/64 as 1LT See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 1832, Canada Death: 08/04/1873 Burial: East Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, VT Marker/Plot: Not recorded Gravestone photographer: Tom Ledoux Findagrave Memorial #: 38391577 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, widow Charlotte E., 8/7/1890, VT Portrait?: 13th History, Gibson Collection, VHS Collections, USAHEC off-site College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: 13th Vt. History off-site DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice  East Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
BIOGRAPHY
LIEUTENANT E. L. HIBBARD was a native of Franklin, Vt. He was a tall, well built man, good looking and as an officer made a fine appearance. He was, also a man of education and culture, filling each position he held, private, sergeant, major and lieutenant with marked correctness, gaining the respect of all. He was promoted from sergeant major to second lieutenant In Company D, March 1st and first lieutenant, June 4th, 1863. He marched with the regiment to Gettysburg and I know from my own observation that he was cool and Intrepid in battle and that he was an efficient aid to Captain Bascom In the command and care of Company D. He was not wounded in the battle but narrowly missed being Injured. His sword scabbard was struck by a bullet and his clothing torn by a fragment of a shell. Lieutenant Hibbard re-enlisted in the 17th Vt. Regiment and was commissioned first lieutenant in Company B. Was promoted to captain in same company but refused to accept the promotion. Was mustered out as first lieutenant Oct. 19, 1864. His captain had died of wounds received June 19, 1864, and Lieutenant Hibbard was promoted to fill the vacancy July 6, 1864, but for some good reason did not accept the office of captaincy. After the war Comrade Hibbard returned to his native town with a fair promise of a long and useful career. But he died a few years after the war and to me, his death seemed untimely. He was buried in the East Franklin Cemetery.
Source: Sturtevant's Pictorial History, Thirteenth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, War of 1861-1865, p. 542
Biography
EDWARD L. HIBBARD was born in Canada, in 1832, but his parents moved early to Franklin, where he was educated and at the date of enlistment was engaged in mercantile business and a married man. Edward L. Hibbard, of Franklin, and Cornelius T. Frink, of Highgate, tor some good reason I suppose, were appointed ninth and tenth corporals on the organization of Company K. The appointments were first class, and were appreciated, but when we were mustered into the United States service at Brattleboro, October 10th, were informed that eight corporals was a full complement for a company. While Hibbard and Frink were not decorated with the blue chevron on the sleeve, the boys dubbed them as supernumerary corporals, which they did not relish, but of course took it good naturedly or if not would have been hectored the more. But both of these worthy comrades were in due season honored according to their merits, and of them something will be said elsewhere. I mention the above historical fact to substantiate a statement made that Company K, though at the foot of the list was at the head in many things. No company marched into Camp Lincoln, Brattleboro, Vt., with so large a corps of non-commissioned officers as Company K, and there were others equally deserving and more ambitious too, possibly.
Source: Sturtevant's Pictorial History, Thirteenth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, War of 1861-1865, p. 712
Biography
EDWARD L. HIBBARD was a volunteer from the town of Franklin and joined Highgate company on the day of the election of officers, September 11th, 1862. He came with Carmi Marsh and the rest of the boys who had enlisted from that town, and this day was our first meeting, and our acquaintance with him commenced on this day. My first impressions (which are often the more correct) led me to form a very favorable opinion of Comrade Hibbard. He was quite dignified, of few words, intelligent in looks and expression, and evidently a man of affairs. His conduct and his conversation was modest and retiring leaving one to believe that his single purpose and ambition now was to serve his country! His age at this date was 30, five feet, ten inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and a merchant by occupation, and a married man born in Canada in 1832! Was and had been a business man, and physically and mentally qualified for the life we were about to enter upon. He spent but little time socially with the boys, and took no particular pains to cultivate close relations with those even of his own company outside of the Franklin boys, was at all times busy.
He remained in the ranks, learned the manual of arms, the military movements giving close attention to the detail of every thing connected with army life, and could be often found absorbed in study of Hardee's Military Tactics. Very soon he was detailed at regimental headquarters at Adjutant Whitney's tent, and in January was promoted to the responsible position of sergeant major of the regiment. The duties of this office were well and satisfactorily done, for on the 3rd day of February, 1863, he was commissioned as second lieutenant and assigned to duty in Company D, and later, June 4th, was promoted again, and now commissioned as first lieutenant of Company D. These quite rapid promotions from private to first lieutenant were the exception, and not the rule in the Thirteenth Regiment. I recall only two other similar incidents in the history of promotions in our regiment. Colonel Albert Clarke, who was a private in Company I, and promoted to first sergeant and then first lieutenant of Company G and Orloff Whitney, fifth sergeant of Company K, and on the organization of the regiment was made adjutant, and later made captain of Company H. All these promotions were merited, and none more so than Lieutenant Hibbard. While I saw but little of him after he joined Company D, I know he was always in his place and attended strictly to the duties of his office. I saw him many times during the battle of Gettysburg on Cemetery Hill on the charge from there over to the left center front battle line, and during the last day of the fight, and in my humble opinion he was as brave and efficient as any officer of the line. His conduct as an officer justified the promotions awarded him. This instance as well as that of Orloff Whitney, illustrates which was common knowledge in Company K, that no other company had so much good, raw, latent material for first class officers.
Lieutenant Hibbard was mustered out with the regiment July 21st, 1863, and returned home to Franklin where he was affectionately welcomed by his wife and dear friends. Lieutenant Hibbard re-enlisted and joined Company B, 17th Regiment Vermont Volunteers, and was commissioned as first lieutenant. Was promoted to captain, but did not accept. Mustered out as first lieutenant October 19, 1864. Returned to Vermont and engaged in the mercantile business and continued until his quite sudden and untimely death. Lieutenant Hibbard is buried in Franklin, Vt. See page 222 of this book.
Source: Sturtevant's Pictorial History, Thirteenth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, War of 1861-1865, p. 726
Obituary
We are pained to learn of the death of Capt. E. L. Hibbard of Franklin, after a severe illness of about ten days, of congestion of the lungs. The Captain is well remembered in his connection with the Seventeenth Vermont Regiment, when in camp here. He was one of the senior Captains, but he was soon forced to leave the service on account of ill health. He was a good soldier and an excellent citizen. His last public position was Deputy Collector of Customs at Franklin, under Gen. Stannard.
Source: Burlington Free Press, August 7, 1873
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.