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Union Army officer (1829–1908) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amasa Sawyer Tracy (March 16, 1829 – February 26, 1908) was a Union Army officer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for gallantry.
Amasa Tracy | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From the January 1908 edition of The Vermonter magazine | |
| Born | March 15, 1829 Dover, Maine |
| Died | February 26, 1908 (aged 78) Middlebury, Vermont |
| Place of burial | West Cemetery |
| Allegiance |  United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service |  United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Years of service | 1861–65 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands |  2nd Vermont Infantry |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War - Bull Run - Lee's Mills - Williamsburg - Golding's Farm - Battle of Savage's Station - Battle of White Oak Swamp - Crampton's Gap - Antietam - Fredericksburg - Charleston - Battle of Opequon - Winchester - Battle of Fisher's Hill - Mount Jackson - Battle of Cedar Creek - Petersburg, March 25, 1865 - Battle of Sayler's Creek |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Other work | Civil servant |
Tracy was born in Dover, Maine, the third child of David and Sarah Fowler Sawyer Tracy.[citation needed][1][full citation needed]
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.[citation needed][1]
At the age of 32, he enlisted in a company organized in Vergennes, Vermont. 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.[citation needed][1]
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.[citation needed][1]
After the battle, his regiment ultimately became a part of the Vermont Brigade.[citation needed][1]
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.[citation needed][1]
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.[citation needed][1]
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.[citation needed][1]
He was severely wounded in the charge on Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863, and at Cedar Creek October 19, 1864.[citation needed][1]
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.[2] He served in the Civil war a little over four years.[citation needed][1]
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.[citation needed] [1]
The Middlebury Register newspaper noted the following in 1879: "Col. A. S. Tracy, whose coolness and skill saved Will H. Tomlinson and himself from drowning at Lake Dunmore, Decoration day, has been presented by Mr. Tomlinson with a splendid Sharps Creedmore rifle, "Old Reliable," with a fine leather case, ammunition and all the needful apparatus. The stock of the rifle bears a silver plate with an inscription explaining the occasion of the presentation. The rifle is certainly a handsome acknowledgement on the part of Mr. Tomlinson, and just such a one as the gallant colonel can appreciate."[3]
He married Helen Sarah Dow in February, 1849, and they resided in her father's house in Leicester, Vermont. His wife died in August of the same year. Tracy moved to Massachusetts.[citation needed][1]
Six years later he moved to Middlebury, Vermont. There he married Sarah M. Crane, daughter of Horace Crane, in March, 1858. Six children were born. Four of them survived to adulthood : Horace C., Lena F., Lillian S. and Charles A. Tracy.[citation needed][1]
Tracy died in Middlebury, Vermont and is buried in West Cemetery.[citation needed]
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.
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