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Second Vermont Brigade
Brigade HistoryThe order for the consolidation of the nine months' regiments into the Second Vermont Brigade was issued and reported on October 26, 1862, and the organization itself was effected on the 29th, and the brigade placed for the time under the command of Colonel Blunt.
The brigade broke camp the next day and proceeded at once to the seat of operations, but did not engage in any set battle during that season, being assigned to various duties of guard and picket, and held in reserve for an emergency.
On the 7th of December the brigade was placed under command of General Edwin H. Stoughton, and so continued until the capture of that officer by Moseby's guerrillas on the 9th of March, 1863.
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.