Peter T. Washburn
Encyclopedia
Peter Thacher Washburn was a lawyer, politician and Adjutant and Inspector General of the State of Vermont
during the American Civil War
.
, the son of Judge Reuben and Hannah Blaney (Thatcher) Washburn of Cavendish, Vermont
. He graduated from Dartmouth College
in 1835, began practicing law in Ludlow
in January 1839, and moved to Woodstock in 1844, where he lived for the remainder of his life. In 1844 he was elected reporter of the decisions of the Vermont Supreme Court
, a position he held for eight years. He represented Woodstock in the General Assembly of Vermont in 1853 and 1854. He served as chairman of the Vermont delegation to the Republican National Convention
in 1860.
.
He was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 1st Vermont Infantry
on May 9, 1861. He commanded the regiment during nearly all of its three months of service at Fortress Monroe and Newport News, Virginia
, leading five companies of the 1st Vermont and five from the 4th Massachusetts infantry at the battle of Big Bethel
on June 10, 1861. He was mustered out with his regiment on August 15, 1861.
In October 1861, he was elected Adjutant and Inspector-General of Vermont, with rank of Brigadier-General. During his tenure, he sent into the field seven infantry regiments, 1st cavalry regiment, three batteries of light artillery, two companies of sharpshooters and two companies of frontier cavalry. In 1866, Washburn was succeeded by Brevet Major General William Wells
, late of the 1st Vermont Cavalry
, as Adjutant and Inspector General.
Governor Washburn was twice married, first to Almira E. Ferris of Swanton, Vermont, and second to Almira P. Hopkins of Glens Falls, New York
.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Washburn was born in Lynn, MassachusettsLynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, the son of Judge Reuben and Hannah Blaney (Thatcher) Washburn of Cavendish, Vermont
Cavendish, Vermont
Cavendish is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The town was named after William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire. The population was 1,470 at the 2000 census...
. He graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1835, began practicing law in Ludlow
Ludlow, Vermont
Ludlow, Vermont may refer to:*Ludlow , Vermont*Ludlow , Vermont...
in January 1839, and moved to Woodstock in 1844, where he lived for the remainder of his life. In 1844 he was elected reporter of the decisions of the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
, a position he held for eight years. He represented Woodstock in the General Assembly of Vermont in 1853 and 1854. He served as chairman of the Vermont delegation to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1860.
Civil War
Washburn had served as colonel of a Vermont militia regiment from 1837 until 1841, and at the outbreak of the Civil War, he commanded the Woodstock Light Infantry company, which became Company B, 1st Vermont Infantry1st Vermont Infantry
The 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, in and around Fortress Monroe, Virginia.-History:...
.
He was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 1st Vermont Infantry
1st Vermont Infantry
The 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, in and around Fortress Monroe, Virginia.-History:...
on May 9, 1861. He commanded the regiment during nearly all of its three months of service at Fortress Monroe and Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, leading five companies of the 1st Vermont and five from the 4th Massachusetts infantry at the battle of Big Bethel
Battle of Big Bethel
The Battle of Big Bethel, also known as the Battle of Bethel Church or Great Bethel was one of the earliest land battles of the American Civil War after the surrender of Fort Sumter...
on June 10, 1861. He was mustered out with his regiment on August 15, 1861.
In October 1861, he was elected Adjutant and Inspector-General of Vermont, with rank of Brigadier-General. During his tenure, he sent into the field seven infantry regiments, 1st cavalry regiment, three batteries of light artillery, two companies of sharpshooters and two companies of frontier cavalry. In 1866, Washburn was succeeded by Brevet Major General William Wells
William Wells (general)
-Medal of Honor:Wells commanded the Second Battalion, 1st Vermont Cavalry, in the repulse of Stuart's Cavalry at the Battle of Hanover during the Gettysburg Campaign...
, late of the 1st Vermont Cavalry
1st Vermont Cavalry
The 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Cavalry was a three years' cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater from November 1861 to August 1865, in the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac....
, as Adjutant and Inspector General.
Postwar career
Washburn was elected governor in September 1869, but died on February 7, 1870, apparently of a nervous breakdown.Governor Washburn was twice married, first to Almira E. Ferris of Swanton, Vermont, and second to Almira P. Hopkins of Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
.