Vermont Memorial To Be Dedicated Sept. 16

By Deborah Fitts

THE WILDERNESS, Va. — Space will be limited, but officials at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park will welcome the public to the dedication of the newest monument at their Wilderness unit, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sept. 16.

The 12-foot-long slab of Vermont granite, set 150 yards into the woods, will mark the area where the Vermont Brigade was decimated on May 5, 1864, as the troops advanced south of the Orange Plank Road into the tangled forest.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Vermont Civil War historian Howard Coffin, former staffer for U.S. Sen. James Jeffords (I) of Vermont. Jeffords is also expected to attend.

Coffin spearheaded the effort to erect the monument. He designed it himself to resemble Camel’s Hump, a prominent Vermont mountain that was often recalled fondly by soldiers writing home. [See photo and details in December 2005 issue.]

Park Superintendent Russ Smith said because of limited parking, shuttle buses will transport visitors from a local elementary school. He cautioned that those attending should arrive at the school well in advance of the 2 p.m. dedication. Seating will also be limited at the dedication site.

Smith said Vermont Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie will attend to present the monument to the federal government. The state funded the $40,000 cost. This marks the first time since the Civil War centennial that a state-sponsored monument has been placed on any of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park’s battlefields.

Smith noted that Jeffords has been instrumental in securing funding for the park, including preserving the area of Confederate Gen. James Longstreet’s flank attack at the Wilderness, plus $200,000 in federal monies to create a parking area, wayside exhibits and trail to complement the new monument. Smith called redevelopment of that area of the park “long overdue.”

 Reenactors will likely be on hand for the dedication, as well as period music, Smith said. Shuttle buses will operate to the monument for the remainder of the weekend and rangers will give talks describing the action.

For directions to the school and other information, call the park at (540) 373-4510.