Colonel William F. "Baldy" Smith

Vermont Civil War Hemlocks

3rd Vermont Volunteer Infantry

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Based in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, the Hemlocks have chosen to portray the Third Vermont, the only Vermont volunteer regiment to rendezvous and train at Camp Baxter, just south of St. Johnsbury. The Third was part of the First Vermont Brigade that, as part of the famous Sixth Corps, participated in most of the heavy fighting involving the Army of the Potomac. The regiment was originally armed with three-band Enfield rifled muskets, a practice followed by the Hemlocks today.

Organization & Service

Organized at St. Johnsbury and mustered in July 16 61. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 24-26. Attached to W. F. Smith's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to Oct 61. Brook's Brigade, Smith's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March 62. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May 62. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to Jul 65.

SERVICE.--Duty at Georgetown Heights and at Camp Griffin, defences of Washington, till March 10 62. Skirmish at Lewinsville Sep 11 61. Reconnoissance to Lewinsville Sep 25. Moved to Alexandria March 10 62, thence to Fortress Monroe, VA, March 23-24. Action at Young's Mill April 4. Siege of Yorktown April 5-4 May. Lee's Mills April 16. Battle of Williamsburg 5 May. Seven days before Richmond June 25-1 Jul. Garnett's Farm 27 Jun. Savage Station 29 Jun. White Oak Swamp Bridge 30 Jun. Malvern Hill 1 Jul. At Harrison's Landing till 16 Aug. Moved to Fortress Monroe, thence to Alexandria 16 Aug-24. Maryland Campaign Sep-October. Crampton's Pass Sep 14. Battle of Antietam, Md., 16-17 Sep. At Hagerstown, Md., Sep 26 to Oct 29. Movement to Falmouth, VA, Oct 29-Nov 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Burnside's Second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24 63. Chancellorsville Campaign 27 Apr-6 May. Operations at Franklin's Crossing 29 Apr-2 May. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, 3 May. Salem Heights 3-4 May. Banks' Ford 4 May. Franklin's Crossing 5-13 Jun. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Funkstown, Md., July 10-13. Ordered to New York City August 14, and duty there till Sep 13. Moved to Alexandria, thence to Fairfax Court House Sep 13-17, and to Culpeper Court House 22 Sep. Bristoe Campaign 9-22 Oct. Advance to the Rappahannock 7-8 Nov. Rappahannock Station 7 Nov. Mine Run Campaign Nov 26-December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June 64. Battles of the Wilderness 5-7 May; Spotsylvania, VA, 8-12 May; Spotsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, Spotsylvania, VA, 12 May. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 18-19. Jerusalem Plank Road 22-23 Jun. Siege of Petersburg till July 9. Moved to Washington, D.C., 9-11 Jul. Repulse of Early's attack on Fort Stevens 11-12 Jul. Nonveterans mustered out July 27 64. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-Nov 28. Near Charlestown 21-22 Aug. Opequan Creek Sep 1. Gilbert's Ford, Opequan Creek, Sep 13. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, Va, 19 Sep. Fisher's Hill, 22 Sep. Battle of Cedar Creek, 19 Oct. At Strasburg to 9 Nov and at Kernstown till 9 Dec. Moved to Petersburg, VA, 9-12 Dec. Siege of Petersburg December 13 64, to April 2 65. Fort Fisher, before Petersburg, March 25 65. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Court House 9 Apr. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Farmville and Burkesville Junction till April 23. March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there till May 18. Moved to Manchester May 18, thence marched to Washington, D.C., May 24-June 2. Corps Review June 8. Mustered out July 11 65.

Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 201 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 164 Enlisted men by disease. Total 371.

Source: Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865.
(From the VT in the Civil War web site).
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Map of the 3rd VT camp in Virginnia. Drawn by an indentified soldier in the 3rd. More info may be forthcoming. From the Fairbanks Museum of St. Johnsbury collection. Click on the map for a larger image (large file and will be slow to download).

Photos of the soldiers of the Original 3rd Vermont Regiment - this is a link to the VT in the Civil War web site.

Photos of soldiers from other regiments in the "Old Brigade" are available as well.

Detailed history of the 3rd VT Volunteer Infantry, (from the Vermont in the Civil War web site).