George Jerrison Stannard

Before the war he had been a farmer, teacher, militia officer, and operated a foundry. From Saint Albans, in June 1861 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the 2nd Vermont Infantry. He was in action with the Second at First Bull Run (July) and on the Peninsula Campaign (Spring 1862). He was promoted to Colonel and command of the 9th Vermont on 21 May 1862.

He was in command of the Regiment at Harpers Ferry and was part of the surrender there on 15 September.

He was exchanged in January 1863, commissioned Brigadier General of Volunteers, and appointed to command of the 2nd Vermont Brigade (12, 13, 14, 15, & 16th Vermont Infantry regiments) in March. He was wounded in action on the third day at Gettysburg. After recovering, he again led a brigade and was wounded twice in action at Cold Harbor (3 and 14 June 1864). He led a division during the Petersburg Campaign, and was hit yet again at Ft. Harrison (Chaffin's Farm) on 30 September. He lost his right arm as result of that wound, and served in Vermont and with the Freedman's Bureau, Washington DC, during his recovery. He resigned his commission on 28 June 1866. He had been Breveted Major General of Volunteers in October 1864 for "for gallant and meritorious service at Fort Harrison, Va".

Not as robust of health as he had been before the War, he afterward worked for the Customs Service in Vermont and was doorkeeper (1881-86) of the U. S. House of Representatives in Washington until he died of pneumonia.

His is the portrait statue on the top of the Vermont Monument at Gettysburg. Biographical details used here compiled by Tom Ledoux at Vermont in the Civil War1. The picture here is from one at the Vermont Historical Society2.

10/20/1820; Georgia, VT

06/01/1886; Washington, DC; burial in Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, VT