3rd Battery, Vermont Light Artillery

HISTORICAL NOTES: The 3rd Battery, Vermont Light Artillery was organized in Burlington, Vermont, and mustered into service on January 1, 1864. It served primarily in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War, and saw action in key battles like the Siege of Petersburg. It was armed and equipped as a mounted light artillery battery.

The battery was engaged at Petersburg Mine, on July 30, 1864, and Petersburg on August 18, 1864, March 25, 1865, and April 2, 1865, when it fired the signal round that started the attack on Confederate positions, with the 1st Vermont Brigade in the forefront.

The 3rd Battery mustered out June 15, 1862. Twenty-one men died of disease. Other losses included 8 honorably discharged, 1 promoted to other organizations, 1 transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps or other organizations, and 5 who deserted. The battery suffered 3 men wounded. OFFICERS:

Romeo H. Start of St. Albans

ASSIGNMENTS:

Attached to Artillery, 4th Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1864.

Reserve Artillery, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to September, 1864.

Reserve Artillery, 6th Army Corps, and Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865.

SERVICE: Rapidan (Va.) Campaign May-June, 1864. Guard trains of the Army of the Potomac through the Wilderness and to Petersburg, Va. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Garrison Fort Morton June 20 to August 19, 1864. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30. Weldon Railroad August 18-21. At Aiken House August 27-30. At Fort Sedgwick until September 6. At Avery House until September 19. At Fort Meikel September 19 to October 3. At Battery 27 until October 5. Moved to Poplar Springs Church October 5 and built Fort Urmston October 5-12. At Battery 16 October 12-25. Ordered to City Point October 25, and duty in the Defenses there until January, 1865. Joined 6th Army Corps at Weldon Railroad January 15, and stationed at Fort Fisher until April. Fort Fisher March 25. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Moved to City Point and duty there until May 3. March to Washington, D.C., March 3-18. Grand Review May 23. ROSTERS:

The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 375 men.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Benedict, George C. Vermont in the Civil War: A History of the Part Taken by Vermont Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Union, 1861-1865. 2 Vols. Burlington, VT: Free Pr Assn, 1888. E533B46v2. Reprint 2009. Eastern Digital Resources.

Burnell, George W. "The Development of Our Army." In War Papers (MOLLUS, WI, Vol. 2). Milwaukee, WI: Burdick, Armitage & Allen, 1896. pp. 70-80 (6 photocopied pages). E464M5.1991v47.

Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 2003. Davenport, IA Eastern Ditital Resources.

Vermont. A & IGO. Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Montpelier, VT: Watchman, 1892. pp. 379-408. E533.3V53. (Contains a roster of the regiment).

Waite, Otis F.R. Vermont in the Great Rebellion: Containing Historical and Biographical Sketches.... Claremont, NH: Tracy, Chase, 1869. E533W3. See pp. 77 & 210-15 (3 photocopied pages) for a roster of officers a brief regimental history.
REFERENCES:
Dyer, Frederick H. - A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1