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was shot, and brought them out—also the command of the company devolved on me on account of
Lieutenant King being wounded. Brigadier Gen. Brooks saw fit to give me an honorable mention in general orders, and appointed me second Lieutenant in my own company. The Governor of Vermont ratified it, and at the present time I hold that rank. I have been in the following battles, but have not been hit yet, viz—1, Lee's Mills; 2, Williamsburg; 3, Golding's Farm; 4, Savage's Station; 5, White-Oak Swamp; 6, Malvern Hills; 7. 2d Bull Run; 8, South Mountain; 9, Antietam; 10, First battle of Fredericksburg.
31:
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461:, she was a daughter of the Rev. John and Roxanna (Shute) Chase. During the first years of his marriage, he documented key moments in his regiment's history as he described his life as a Civil War-era soldier in letters home to his wife, including the November 3, 1863 execution of a deserter and another soldier's attempt the next day to injure himself badly enough that he would be unable to fulfill the terms of his enlistment.
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335:, Holton rescued the national colors after his regiment's color-bearer fell in action after being shot. The next day, Holton was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant by Brigadier-General W. T. H. Brooks, and he and his regiment were praised for their performance by Brooks via General Order No. 36:
415:
At the time of the second and last battle of
Fredericksburg, I was at home in Vermont on fifteen days' leave. In this last battle the Sixth Corps (to which we belong) got hard pushed, and Gen. Howe said to Col. Grant, commander of the Vermont Brigade, "On your brigade depends the safety of the whole
411:
As it was not position or money that I was going for, I accepted an appointment as first sergeant, in which position I served faithfully until the 16th day of April, 1862, when we went into the first real battle, and I was fortunate enough to secure the colors of the regiment after the color bearer
407:
DearUncle:— Perhaps it may be of interest to you to know what I have been doing for the last two years for our dearly beloved country. You probably recollect that when I saw you last, two years since, I was a high private in the First
Vermont Volunteers. Well, I served my time out and held my own
339:
The brigadier-general commanding congratulates the troops of this brigade for the conduct exhibited by them yesterday while under fire. The invincibility of spirit shown by these companies, exposed to a terrible fire from the enemy sheltered in rifle pits, is worthy of the highest admiration.
452:
Commissioned as a first lieutenant with his regiment on June 5, 1863, he was granted a furlough in recognition of his service, and returned home to
Vermont sometime during the late summer of that year. While there, he wed Katherine Matilda Chase (1841-1891) in
426:
David is third sergeant in my company, Joel is second sergeant in the
Twelfth Vermont. Hascal Phelps, my step-father's son, is first sergeant in the Tenth Vermont, and Oscar Phelps is corporal in the Thirteenth Vermont, making five soldiers out of one family.
468:. Ten days later, while recuperating from his wounds, he was commissioned as a captain with his regiment. He was then honorably discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability on August 17, 1864, and sent home to his family in Vermont.
886:
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For the honor of the State, let me say that they, like the Green
Mountain boys at Hubbardstown, stood their ground for a while, then charged, and had a hand-to-hand conflict, in which they, they Vermont boys, came off victors.
484:. Employed at a paper mill, according to the federal census which was conducted on July 2 that year, his household had grown to include daughter Katherine May (1865–1942) and son Charles (1868–1939). By 1880, he was living in
343:
The conduct of 1st Sergt. Holton, I company, 6th
Vermont Vol., in securing and bringing back the colors of the regiment after the bearer was shot down is deserving of special notice, as a praiseworthy and daring act.
258:. The award was issued in recognition of his efforts, while under heavy enemy fire, to prevent the American flag from falling into enemy hands after his regiment's color-bearer fell in action during the
912:"Holton, Edward A.," in U.S. Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War (Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, 1890). Washington, D.C.: United States Archives and Records Administration.
839:"Katherine M. (Chase) Holton, Edward A. Holton, and John & Roxanna (Shute) Chase" (Katherine Holton's death ledger entry), in Death Records. Boston, Massachusetts: Massachusetts State Archives.
1103:
408:
very well. After I was mustered out on the 15th of August, 1861, I wrested for a few days; but on the 28th of August, the day I arrived at twenty-six years of age, I had enlisted again.
281:
In 1850, he resided in
Westminster with his widowed mother and brothers, David and Joel. Also residing at the family home were boarders, John Farewell, Julia Alby and Clarissa Farewell.
416:
Corps." And sure enough! the rest of the division could not stand the pressure, but either fell back or disgracefully ran, and left the brigade to work alone against a rebel corps.
952:"Holton, Charles and Edward A., et. al." in U.S. Census (Bernardstown, Frankling County, Massachusetts, 1900). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
830:"Edward Alexander Holton, Katherine Chase, John Chase, et. al." in Marriage Records. Montpelier, Vermont: Vermont Vital Records, Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
1098:
875:"Holton, Edward A., Kate, May and Charles," in U.S. Census (Lee, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, 1870). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
511:. Holton died in Bernardston on January 26, 1906. Following funeral services on January 31, 1906, he was interred at the Old Westminster Cemetery in Westminster, Vermont.
696:"Holton, Hannah, Edward, David and Joel," in U.S. Census (Westminster, Windham County Vermont, 1850). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
653:"Edward Alexander Holton, Erastus Holton and Hannah May," in Birth Records. Montpelier, Vermont: Vermont Vital Records, Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
491:
Holton was still residing in
Burlington in 1890 when he was appointed deputy U.S. customs collector for Vermont. He was widowed in 1891 after his wife developed
364:
159:
423:
An officer of another corps as heard to say that the "honor of being a private in the
Vermont Brigade was greater than to be a Colonel in any other."
274:
on August 28, 1835, Edward Alexander Holton was a son of Erastus Alexander and Hannah Brainard (May) Holton. He was educated in Westminster and at
403:(May 3–4, 1863), according to a letter penned by Holton to his family from his regiment's camp near "White-Oak Church, Va." on May 17, 1863:
309:. Choosing to enlist from his place of birth – Williston, Vermont, he enrolled for military service on May 2, 1861 as a member of Company H,
666:," in "Vermont Historical Society." Dublin, Ohio: ArchiveGrid, OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., retrieved online August 10, 2018.
289:
866:"Edward A. Holton Civil War letters, 1861-1906," in "Vermont Historical Society," ArchiveGrid, OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
848:"Edward A. Holton Civil War letters, 1861-1906," in "Vermont Historical Society," ArchiveGrid, OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
787:"Edward A. Holton Civil War letters, 1861-1906," in "Vermont Historical Society," ArchiveGrid, OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
738:"Edward A. Holton Civil War letters, 1861-1906," in "Vermont Historical Society," ArchiveGrid, OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
705:"Edward A. Holton Civil War letters, 1861-1906," in "Vermont Historical Society," ArchiveGrid, OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
476:
Following his honorable discharge from the military, Holton returned home to his wife. By 1870, they had relocated to the community of
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571:
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961:"Edward Alexander Holton, Erastus Holton and Hannah May," in Death Records. Boston, Massachusetts: Massachusetts State Archives.
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Rescued the colors of his regiment under heavy fire, the color bearer having been shot down while the troops were in retreat.
524:
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He then promptly re-enlisted for a three-year tour of duty, enrolling on August 28, 1861 as a first sergeant with Company I,
1063:," "Vermont Historical Society," ArchiveGrid, OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., retrieved online August 10, 2018.
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On May 5, 1864, Holton became a casualty himself, wounded seriously while fighting with the 6th Vermont Infantry in the
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Still a widower after the turn of the century, Holton resided with his son, Charles — a physician, at his home in
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1070:" (memorial and grave site information). Salt Lake City, Utah: Find A Grave, retrieved online August 10, 2018.
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It was in the spring of 1862 that Holton performed the act of valor for which he would later be awarded the
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Let your future conduct rival that of yesterday, and your friends and your state will well be proud of you.
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The Photographic History of the Civil War in Ten Volumes, Vol. 8: Soldier Life, Secret Service
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313:. After honorably completing his Three Months' Service, he mustered out on August 15, 1861.
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call for volunteers to help defend the nation's capital following the fall of
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Holton was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 9, 1892 for his actions at the
246:
soldier who was awarded his nation's highest honor for valor, the U.S.
887:"1880 United States Federal Census, Entry for Edward A. Holton Family"
679:
General Catalogue of Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N.H., 1813-1930
619:"Captain Edward A. Holton" (Medal of Honor award announcement), in "
1025:"Captain Edward A. Holton" (Medal of Honor award announcement), in
439:
288:
664:
Edward A. Holton Civil War letters, 1861-1906, (bulk: 1862-1864)
293:
6th Vermont Infantry's Co. I, Camp Griffin, Virginia, fall 1861
778:, p. 64. New York, New York: The Review of Reviews Co., 1911.
1038:"Edward A. Holton" (Medal of Honor award announcement), in "
597:"CMOHS.org - First Sergeant HOLTON, EDWARD A., U.S. Army"
929:. Montpelier, VT. April 2, 1890. p. 6 – via
682:. Hanover, NH: Dartmouth Press. p. 37 – via
523:
on April 16, 1862. At this time, he was his company's
327:. On April 16, while fighting with the 6th Vermont at
1104:
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
987:", in "Massachusetts Notes." Brattleboro, Vermont:
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351:Holton then participated with his regiment in the
397:Second Battle of Fredericksburg/Marye's Heights
444:Battle of the Wilderness, May 5–7, 1864 (U.S.
1061:Edward A. Holton Civil War letters, 1861-1906
1003:"Medal of Honor Recipients - Civil War (G-L)"
8:
250:, for his gallantry while fighting with the
1099:People of Vermont in the American Civil War
430:Your affectionate nephew, Edward A. Holton
242:(August 28, 1835 – January 29, 1906) was a
297:Holton was one of the early responders to
29:
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160:Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm
1001:History, U.S. Army Center of Military.
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985:Death of Captain Holton at Bernardston
970:"Death of a Bernardston Veteran," in
7:
857:"Lest We Forget," Vermont Civil War.
756:"Chittendon County Volunteers", in "
747:"Lest We Forget", Vermont Civil War.
716:"Vermont Civil War, Lest We Forget"
16:Union Army Medal of Honor recipient
894:. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com LLC. 1880
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577:Vermont in the American Civil War
572:List of Medal of Honor recipients
387:(September 17, 1862); and in the
762:The Daily Green Mountain Freeman
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815:Five Volunteers from One Family
260:Battle of Lee's Mills, Virginia
205:Second Battle of Fredericksburg
798:Death of a Bernardston Veteran
676:Kimball Union Academy (1930).
1:
457:on September 15. A native of
488:and working as a carpenter.
379:, including the battles of:
130:(Company H, May–August 1861)
817:." Bellows Falls, Vermont:
623:." West Randolph, Vermont:
375:(June 29–30, 1962); in the
355:in Virginia, including the
299:President Abraham Lincoln's
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509:Bernardston, Massachusetts
170:Battle of Savage's Station
79:Old Westminster Cemetery,
68:Bernardston, Massachusetts
1042:." Brattleboro, Vermont:
991:, February 2, 1906, p. 7.
974:, February 2, 1906, p. 3.
804:, February 2, 1906, p. 3.
800:." Brattleboro, Vermont:
764:, October 11, 1861, p. 1.
644:, February 2, 1906, p. 5.
640:." Brattleboro, Vermont:
564:American Civil War portal
389:Second Battle of Bull Run
383:(September 14, 1862) and
185:Second Battle of Bull Run
175:Battle of White Oak Swamp
28:
760:." Montpelier, Vermont:
636:"Edward A. Holton", in "
466:Battle of the Wilderness
395:(December 11–15, 1862),
393:Battle of Fredericksburg
215:Battle of the Wilderness
200:Battle of Fredericksburg
190:Battle of South Mountain
972:Windham County Reformer
802:Windham County Reformer
359:(May 5, 1862), and the
240:Edward Alexander Holton
23:Edward Alexander Holton
1046:, July 15, 1892, p. 7.
1029:, July 14, 1892, p. 1.
821:, June 19, 1863, p. 2.
627:, July 14, 1892, p. 1.
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391:(August 28–30, 1862),
357:Battle of Williamsburg
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210:Battle of Salem Church
180:Battle of Malvern Hill
165:Battle of Williamsburg
135:(Company I, 1861-1864)
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329:Lee's Mills, Virginia
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276:Kimball Union Academy
923:"Capt. E. A. Holton"
367:(June 27–28, 1862),
318:6th Vermont Infantry
311:1st Vermont Infantry
272:Westminster, Vermont
252:6th Vermont Infantry
133:6th Vermont Infantry
128:1st Vermont Infantry
81:Westminster, Vermont
51:Westminster, Vermont
1084:Union Army officers
819:Bellows Falls Times
720:vermontcivilwar.org
503:Death and interment
486:Burlington, Vermont
459:Champlain, New York
446:Library of Congress
399:(May 3, 1863), and
325:U.S. Medal of Honor
305:at the dawn of the
155:Seven Days campaign
1040:Massachusetts News
758:Camp Gregory Smith
478:Lee, Massachusetts
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361:Seven Days Battles
353:Peninsula Campaign
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493:acute peritonitis
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377:Maryland Campaign
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44:1835-08-28
285:Civil War
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102:branch
94:Union
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448:).
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