• George Stannard
•  • True Blake Walter
•  • James Hope
•  • Robert Coffey
•  • William Scott
•  • Stephen Brown
•  • Dennis Duhigg

George Jennison Stannard of Georgia was the first Vermonter to volunteer his services as a solider when the Civil War began. E was appointed lieutenant colonel of Vermont’s 2nd Regiment in 1861 and then was promoted to colonel in the 9th Regiment in 1862. At Antietam the 9th Vermont was surrendered as part of a 10,000 troop force to the Confederates over the protests of Stannard.

Forced out of action for almost a year Stannard returned as brigadier general of the Second Vermont Brigade just in time for Gettysburg. After driving the brigade on a weeklong forced march with the First Army Corps they arrived at the end of the first day of the battle. On the third day Stannard ordered an attack on the flank of Confederate General Pickett’s division, which helped crush the Southern assault. Though wounded Stannard stayed on the field
of battle until the action was over.

After recovering from his wounds he was given command of a brigade in the Tenth Corps and then transferred to command of the Eighth Corps. He was wounded at Cold Harbor and again at Petersburg in June 1864. After recovering from his wounds, he returned to command again in September 1864. He was victorious at Fort Harrison but was wounded and his right arm had to be amputated. He was given the brevet rank of major general.

After the attack on St. Albans, Vermont he was given command of Vermont’s new Frontier Cavalry. He retired from the service in 1866 and returned home, serving as Collector of Customs for Vermont. In 1867 the Legislature named the town of Stannard in honor of this Vermont hero.

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