Amasa Tracy
Encyclopedia
Amasa Sawyer Tracy was a Union Army
officer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
for gallantry.
He attended academy in Farmington, Maine. When he was 15, he moved to Uxbridge, Massachusetts
, where he found work. After a short period he went to Vermont. He worked as a carpenter until the Civil War broke out.
. It elected him a first lieutenant. The unit was assigned to the Second Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into the US Army on June 20, 1861.
He immediately left with his regiment for Washington, D. C. In July his regiment was brigaded with the third, fourth and fifth Maine regiments under command of Colonel O. O. Howard. Tracy was appointed provost marshal
on Colonel Howard's staff. The first battle in which he participated was that of Bull Run
on July 21, 1861.
After the battle, his regiment ultimately became a part of the Vermont Brigade.
In February, 1862, Tracy was promoted to captain of Company H. On April 21, 1864, he was commissioned major of the regiment, and in the same year was commissioned lieutenant colonel. He commanded the regiment until the end of the war.
Tracy was breveted colonel of volunteers for gallantry in the final attack on the rebel line at Petersburg, Virginia
, April 2, 1865. He commanded the old Vermont Brigade at the battle of Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah valley. He was the first officer to greet General Sheridan on his arrival from Winchester.
General Sheridan's line of battle was re-formed on Tracy's brigade at Cedar Creek. Tracy was awarded a medal of honor for his service in that engagement.
He was severely wounded in the charge on Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863, and at Cedar Creek October 19, 1864.
Tracy fought in the following battles: Young's Mills, Bull Run, Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, Golding's Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, Charleston, Opequan, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Mount Jackson, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, March 25, 1865, and Petersburg, April 2, 1865, and Sayler's Creek. He served in the Civil war a little over four years.
. His wife died in August of the same year. Tracy moved to Massachusetts.
Six years later he moved to Middlebury, Vermont. There he married Sarah M. Crane, daughter of Horace Crane, in March, 1858. Six children were been born. Four of them survived to adulthood : Horace C., Lena F., Lillian S. and Charles A. Tracy.
Tracy died in Middlebury, Vermont and is buried in West Cemetery.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
officer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for gallantry.
Early life
Tracy was born in Dover, Maine, the third child of David and Sarah Fowler Sawyer Tracy.He attended academy in Farmington, Maine. When he was 15, he moved to Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Uxbridge, Massachusetts
Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It was first settled in 1662, incorporated in 1727 at Suffolk County, and named for the Earl of Uxbridge. Uxbridge is south-southeast of Worcester, north-northwest of Providence, and southwest of Boston. It is part of...
, where he found work. After a short period he went to Vermont. He worked as a carpenter until the Civil War broke out.
Military career
At the age of 32, he enlisted in a company organized in Vergennes, VermontVergennes, Vermont
Vergennes is a city located in the northwest quadrant of Addison County, Vermont, in the United States. Bordered by the towns of Ferrisburgh, Panton and Waltham, as of the 2000 census the city population was 2,741. It is the smallest of Vermont's nine cities in terms of population...
. It elected him a first lieutenant. The unit was assigned to the Second Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into the US Army on June 20, 1861.
He immediately left with his regiment for Washington, D. C. In July his regiment was brigaded with the third, fourth and fifth Maine regiments under command of Colonel O. O. Howard. Tracy was appointed provost marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
on Colonel Howard's staff. The first battle in which he participated was that of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
on July 21, 1861.
After the battle, his regiment ultimately became a part of the Vermont Brigade.
In February, 1862, Tracy was promoted to captain of Company H. On April 21, 1864, he was commissioned major of the regiment, and in the same year was commissioned lieutenant colonel. He commanded the regiment until the end of the war.
Tracy was breveted colonel of volunteers for gallantry in the final attack on the rebel line at Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, April 2, 1865. He commanded the old Vermont Brigade at the battle of Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah valley. He was the first officer to greet General Sheridan on his arrival from Winchester.
General Sheridan's line of battle was re-formed on Tracy's brigade at Cedar Creek. Tracy was awarded a medal of honor for his service in that engagement.
He was severely wounded in the charge on Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863, and at Cedar Creek October 19, 1864.
Tracy fought in the following battles: Young's Mills, Bull Run, Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, Golding's Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, Charleston, Opequan, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Mount Jackson, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, March 25, 1865, and Petersburg, April 2, 1865, and Sayler's Creek. He served in the Civil war a little over four years.
Postwar
Upon his return from the war Tracy owned a store in Middlebury, Vermont. He was postmaster for twelve years. For the following six years he manufactured carriages. He then became a US customs agent in Burlington, Windmill Point, Alburg, Richford, St. Albans and North Troy, Vermont. He lived in North Troy for at least six years as a deputy collector of customs.Family
He married Helen Sarah Dow in February, 1849, and they resided in her father's house in Leicester, VermontLeicester, Vermont
Leicester is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 974 at the 2000 census.Satans Kingdom is an unincorporated community located in Leicester.-Geography:...
. His wife died in August of the same year. Tracy moved to Massachusetts.
Six years later he moved to Middlebury, Vermont. There he married Sarah M. Crane, daughter of Horace Crane, in March, 1858. Six children were been born. Four of them survived to adulthood : Horace C., Lena F., Lillian S. and Charles A. Tracy.
Tracy died in Middlebury, Vermont and is buried in West Cemetery.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, 2d Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Cedar Creek, Va., 19 October 1864. Entered service at: Middlebury, Vt. Birth: Maine. Date of issue: 24 June 1892.- Citation:Took command of and led the brigade in the assault on the enemy's works.