David P. Freeman - Company C. 1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment - Civil War Letter

A four page letter written by D. (David) P. Freeman of Company C, 1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment to his friend Hobert Smith in West Randolph, Vermont. David Freeman’s hometown was Moretown, VT. He enlisted in the Union Army on Sept 19, 1861, His date of muster was November 19, 1861 when he was promoted to Corp. On July 6, 1863 he was taken prisoner and pardoned on December 28, 1863. He was mustered out in November 1864.

The 1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment was a three years' Union cavalry regiment. It served in the Eastern Theater from November 1861 to August 1865, in the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.

There are several monuments for the Vermont Cavalry Regiment Gettysburg battlefield. Written on the main monument is “Took part in the battles of Gettysburg, Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Waynesboro, Five Forks, Appomattox Station and 67 other battles and engagements. Aggregate 2297 officers and men. Killed and mortally wounded in action 102; died of disease and by accidents 123; died in Confederate prisons 172 – total 397. Total wounded in action 275.”

The regiment at Gettysburg was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Addison W. Preston. It brought 687 men to the field, losing 13 killed, 25 wounded and 27 missing.

From the Slyder Field monument is written “In the Gettysburg campaign this regiment fought Stuart’s Cavalry at Hanover, Pa. June 3d, and at Hunterstown July 2d; and on this field July 3, led by Gen. Elon J. Farnsworth, who fell near this spot, charged through the First Texas Infantry and to the line of Law’s Brigade, receiving the fire of five Confederate regiments and two batteries, and losing 67 men.”

From the monument on Confederate Avenue: “At 5 p.m. July 3 the 2nd Battalion 1st Vermont Cavalry led by Major William Wells, General Farnsworth commanding the brigade riding by his side crossed Plum Run near this point charging over stone walls amid rocks and through woods till they encountered five regiments of Law’s Confederate Brigade near the spot where the regimental monument stands.

The 1st Battalion and part of the 3rd Lt. Col. A.W. Preston commanding were ordered to the lane and struck Law’s Brigade in the flank. The onset was terrific sabers and bayonets revolvers and muskets being freely used after a struggle the hill was carried by the 1st Vermont and the prisoners captured sent to the rear.

The three battalions united soon came under the fire of the 4th Alabama Infantry and presently of the 9th Georgia Infantry finding no exit to the south they turned to the east and charged the 15th Alabama Infantry which answered a summons to surrender by a destructive musketry fire. Those unhurt escaping mostly to the south.

This memorial signalizes the valor of the officers and the men of the First Vermont Cavalry who here paid to the nation the uttermost tribute of devotion.”

An incredible first hand account of the war centered life of a Vermont soldier during the Civil War.

Source: William L. Greenleaf (First Lieutenant First Vermont Cavalry) VERMONT: FIRST REGIMENT CAVALRY