7th Vermont Infantry Regiment Company D
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The
7th Vermont, was organized in Brattleboro,
Vermont on February 12, 1862, backdated their existence to June 1, 1861. They
rode steamers to Ship Island, Mississippi, being assigned to General Butler.
They arrived in New Orleans May 13th. They soon found themselves
camped at Baton Rouge. The 7th Vermont marched to Vicksburg on the
Mississippi River. The waters of the Mississippi receded, making the canals
useless. These volunteers only succeeded in becoming ill with yellow fever due
to the stagnant puddles formed by the canal. They returned to Baton Rouge with
only 250 of their original force of 750. They arrived just in time to join the
existing 2,500-strong Union army as 5,000 Confederate soldiers were attacking on
August 5th. Starting October 13, they served near Pensacola at Fort
Pickens, Fort Barrancas and Santa Rosa Island. During their stay here, the 7th
Vermont were on various expeditions throughout the area. They also did some
recruiting at Point Washington in south Walton County. Later, the veterans spent
a month and half on furlough back home during August and September. These
furloughed troops returned to Baton Rouge. The 7th Vermont
participated in the Mobile Campaign, including the sieges of Spanish Fort and
Fort Blakely. Other then the action at Whistler’s Station, they occupied Mobile
during the remainder of the war. Out of 420 men who died in this regiment, 407
died from disease.