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13th Vermont Infantry
History
Biographical and Historical of Co. F
Thirteenth Regiment Vermont Volunteers
Civil War 1861-1865Dedicated to the sacred memory of Corporal Henry C. Russell, slain
in the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 3rd, 1863, in the famous
charge of the Second Vermont Brigade against
General Pickett's right flank.The Richmond Company was recruited by the selectmen as provided by the Governor's order and the different towns with the number of men each of them furnished are as follows: Williston, 24 men; Jericho, 20 men; Underhill, 19 men; Huntington, 123 men; Essex, 8 men; Richmond, 7 men; Bolton, 5 men; St. George, 2 men; and Starksboro, one man; making a total of one hundred men. The Company lost three men, one by transfer and two were rejected by the medical examiner at Richmond, Vt. Three men enlisted into the company before October 10, 1862, making up the loss, and was organized at Richmond, September 10th, 1862, by the election of John L. Yale, captain; Lucius H. Bostwick, first lieutenant; and Justin Naramore, second lieutenant. A hundred boys brought together from the farms, stores and shops of Chittenden County, all full of fun and frolic made Richmond a pretty lively place during our stay there. Yet I don't believe there was a low, dirty or mean act committed, just simply boyish frolics, the overflow of youth, of which no doubt some accounts will appear i the personal sketches of the boys. The next Monday morning after the organization of the company the members assembled for duty and drill by the company officers. Some of the men that enlisted with the selectmen in August had received instructions in part one, School of the Soldier. October 10th we were mustered into the United States service and took our position as Company F, of the grant old 13th Vermont Volunteers, where we were ever found thereafter, ready and willing to perform any and every duty required of us. Captain Yale was sick in the winter and fearing he would not be able to again command his company, he resigned. We were very sorry to part with him as he was well liked by all the regiment. Bostwick was promoted to captain, Naramore to first lieutenant, and your humble servant to second lieutenant; the boys very kindly presented me a fine sword and belt, which today holds a place of honor in our parlor, a constant reminder of the generous donors. In the spring Captain Bostwick, a model officer, a true gentleman well beloved by the entire regiment sickened and died. Thereafter Lieutenant Naramore had command of the Company, it being so near the close of our service no more promotions were made.
Company F made very little history apart from the regiment, but when our train was captured at Camp Widow violet, we as a company went down to the Ferry and out some five miles into Rebeldom to head off the rascals, but thinking they were ahead of us and mounted, thought it useless to pursue further, as we had double quicked it most of the way out, we leisurely returned to camp without any particular incident. I should like to give personal sketches of the 101 members of the Company, but have neither the time or the ability to do them justice, of course there were 101 different characters and it would require the pen of a Dickens to eliminate them, but I will say we never lacked for sport nor any of the fruits to be found in the surrounding country. For liquids we generally looked to the Huntington boys and they seldom failed us, but the other boys soon caught on and whatever of good things the country afforded, Company F was pretty sure to have her share. I think we lost 8 members of our company by sickness; 7 discharged, and 2 killed at Gettysburg, making a total of 17 missing from our number, 10 of whom had answered their last roll call, giving their lives for country, all good and true men whom their comrades sadly mourned, and after these many years the comrades living feel it no disgrace to drop a tear to their memory. There are 61 who have responded to the last call since our return; having lived to see the glorious Union restored, and its mighty advancement in all things that make a nation great and powerful. They departed with the consciousness that they had in some measure aided their great work. what more need be said of them them? They were good soldiers and after their return good citizens and their names are written high on the nation's scroll of honor. THere are according to our best information, 40 of the company yet living, many of whom, no doubt, have written personal sketches, which will probably appear in whole or in part in the forthcoming history. To these I will say the hand of greeting is ever extended to welcome to our humble home on the shore of beautiful Lake Champlain, any of you who may deign to give us a call. I thank you for the courtesy and kindness always shown me while tenting together on the old camp ground. My entire remarks apply to every member of Company F. I feel like old Mother Laport, she said she had ten children and not a black one among them. It is thus with Company F, 101 members and not a black one among them. Your names will undoubtedly appear at the head of the Company history to tell the future generations your deeds of valor; that when your country called you were not found wanting, but staked your lives that the nation might live. Should other historians give their companies greater praise, do as you did of old -- take it. Every remember that your old orderly has a warm spot in his bosom for you and may God's richest blessings be with you one and all.
Source: Sturtevant, Ralph Orson. "Pictorial History: Thirteenth Vermont Volunteers, War of 1861-1865." Privately published, 1910.