Nine Months To Save The Union

The 15^th Vermont Infantry a Nine Month Regiment was mustered into Union service October 22^nd 1862.

President Abraham Lincoln called for more Union troops on August 4^th 1862 following the disastrous defeat of Major General George B McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign.  The 15^th Vermont Infantry was a nine month regiment raised in response to this request.  The men were mostly recruited from Caledonia, Orleans, Orange and Windsor Counties. They went into Camp Holbrook October 8^th 1862 at Brattleboro VT, and were mustered into the Union Army October 22^nd 1862.  The next day the men of the 15^th left by train for Washington, DC, where they would join the 14^th Vermont Infantry at Camp Chase in Arlington, Virginia.

The 15^th spent the winter and spring performing picket duty in defense of Washington, DC.  On June 25^th 1863 the 15^th became part of the First Corps, and were ordered to march to join the rest of Brigadier General John Fulton Reynolds Corps in the pursuit of Confederate General Robert E Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.  As they neared Gettysburg on June 30^th 1863 at Emmettsburg, Maryland, the 15^th along with the 12^th Vermont Regiment were detached from the rest of the Brigade.  These two Vermont Regiments spent the Battle of Gettysburg guarding the First Corps trains near Rock Creek Church about 2 miles from the battlefield.  Following the defeat of the Confederates the 15^th joined in the pursuit south, marching over South Mountain to Williamsport on July 14^th 1863.

The men of the 15^th found their nine months were up a few days later on July 18^th 1863.  They were moved by train to New York City where they spent a few days during the New York City Draft Riots.  They arrived back in Vermont and were mustered out of service on August 5^th 1863.  The 15^th started with 942 men, out whom they had 78 die from disease, and 5 who were taken prisoner of war.
If you would like to read more about the 15^th VT, check out Nine Months with the 15th Vermont Volunteers

A Marine

Union Marine Corps officer Robert Leamy Meade was commissioned a second lieutenant June 14th 1862.


Robert Leamy Meade was born December 25th 1842 in Washington DC.

Meade received a commission to Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps June 14th 1862. During the July 1863 New York City draft riots, Meade commanded a Marine battalion, brought into the city to suppress the rioters. On September 8th 1863 he was a part of a boat attack made against Fort Sumter. Meade received a brevet for his service in this action.

After the Civil War ended Meade stayed in the service. He served during the Spanish - American War, and fought in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. Meade received a promotion March 3rd 1899 to Colonel. During the Chinese Boxer Rebellion he was at the Battle of Tientsin. Meade retired from the Marines with the rank of Brigadier General June 29th 1906. He died February 11th 1910 in Lexington, Massachusetts.

The First Draft

The United States Senate passed the Conscription Act on February 16th 1863.

Two years into the Civil War, and both the Union and Confederates were finding it hard to get able-bodied men to serve. On February 16th 1863 the United States Senate passed the Conscription Act. It required all men between 20 and 45, including immigrants to register for the draft. Abraham Lincoln signed it into law on March 3rd 1863.

Men could avoid serving by paying $300 or finding a substitute. When the draft lottery was held in New York City on July 13th 1863 poor whites rioted. They attacked African Americans, burned houses, businesses and a black orphanage. The draft riot lasted five days.