Aaron Hartshorn Grave Dedication held on July 29
Boy Scouts add muscle power to put new trail at Greenbank’s Hollow
North Danville Historical Room Open on the 4th of July
July, 1962–Naive Speculation Over Vicksburg; Vermonters Get Roughed Up
By Gary Farrow, Danville Historical Society
The city of Vicksburg which lay on the Mississippi River was perhaps the Union’s most important strategic target of the war. Later a Federal official would say that it was “worth more than forty Gettysburgs’”. Meanwhile back East, Vermonters were engaged in a doomed enterprise called the Peninsular Campaign.
North Star
July 12, 1862Capture of Vicksburg
Cairo July 4
…On Thursday, Com. Porter’s fleet commenced to shell the upper batteries below the town. This continued all day without any result. The shelling was renewed on Friday, and in the afternoon a fire was directed on the town over which the shells were seen plainly to burst. This continued until 4 o’clock, when the firing ceased.
Danville Historical Society displays Civil War memorabilia at Vermont Expo
Margaret Springer honored in Danville
Danville’s Captain Addison Preston Reports on the Shenandoah Valley Campaign
By Gary Farrow, Danville Historical Society
In the spring of 1862, the Vermont Cavalry was part of an overall Union effort to prevent a Confederate movement against Washington. The Federals had set up headquarters in the Shenandoah Valley town of Strasburg to control the Manassas Gap Railroad (Southern) and the Valley Pike. However the Northerners were forced to evacuate the town by General Stonewall Jackson’s rapid flanking movement.
In a letter to the editor, Captain Addison Preston of Danville offered a stirring account of the action seen by Company D of the Cavalry. This unit was personally recruited and commanded by Preston. Born in Burke, the family soon moved to Danville. At the age of 21, Preston entered Brown University and became an accomplished scholar; however, after a year and a half he had to withdraw because of illness.
Danville’s First Killed in Action, Rebels Vanish, and Vermont Soldier Gives Birth
By Gary Farrow, member Danville Historical Society
Danville’s first direct war casualty comes home. The Federals gain the upper hand at New Orleans, and the rebels in Yorktown disappear. Meanwhile there is a little miracle on Ship Island.
North Star May 10, 1862
Death of a Danville Cavalry Soldier
We regret to announce the death of corporal John C. Chase, who belonged to Co. D. 1st Cavalry, a resident of this town, and who enlisted last fall and served under Capt. A. W. Preston. He received a mortal wound on the 27th …under the following circumstances. On that day, an expedition was sent up in pursuit of Ashby’s Cavalry, in the Valley of the Shenandoah … Orders were given to pursue Ashby’s Cavalry, who occupied a small village about 12 miles from Harrisburg.
Co. D. of our Cavalry led by Lieut. Cummings was then ordered to charge through the village which order they executed in fine style, driving the enemy completely across the river. It was while making this charge that Corporal Chase was wounded — not by the regular army foe, but by a pistol fired by some one from the window of a house — the ball entering into his hip and pressing into his abdomen. Chase did not notice the wound at the time but road forward and ran down one of the rebel cavalry, taking him and his horse prisoner.
He soon however became faint and called upon his brother soldiers for help, who came up assisted him off his horse, and he was taken to camp where his wound was dressed, and afterwards was conveyed to the hospital in an ambulance. He lived but 24 hours retaining his faculties to the last…
Gen McClellan Ambles Toward Richmond; Gen Johnston Counterattacks at Shiloh
By Gary Farrow, Danville Vermont Historical Society
The Vermont Brigade joins McClellan’s sleepy Peninsular Campaign, while sound and fury rages in the West.
North Star April 12, 1862
Important News
The news from the Potomac Army is of much interest…and the future movements will be watched with anxiety, as the whole Vermont Brigade is in the column which marched from Fortress Monroe to Yorktown. The latter piece is besieged and our troops are now engaged in that operation.