After graduating he spent most of the three following years at his home at Windsor, engaged in various employments. On the breaking out of the Civil war he joined the first company of the First Vermont Infantry Regiment, May 7, 1861. After serving three months he was commissioned second lieutenant Company K, Fourth Vermont Infantry; and was made first lieutenant Company H, November 5, 1862, and captain Company G, May 5, 1864. He participated in every battle of his regiment, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and others. Shot through the neck he was instantly killed at the engagement on the Welden railroad, near Petersburg, Virginia, June 23, 1864. A commission of Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, with rank as captain, was received after his death. His remains were buried at Windsor. A fort in front of Petersburg, completed after his death, was named Fort Tracy, after him, by order of General Getty.
By his urbanity and genial spirit, Tracy easily won the hearts of all who knew him. He became a member of the Congregational church at Windsor in March, 1859, and ever after lived an active Christian life.
In the church yard there is a weathered and almost illegible stone that reads:
Memoria pii aeterna
Capt. William Carter Tracy
Co. G 4th Vt. Vol.
Born in Windsor, Vt. July 14, 1838
Killed near Petersburgh, Va.
June 23, 1864
A Volunteer
at the first call to arms
in the war of the Great Rebellion,
he served his country in the ranks and as
an officer with earnest devotion, until he fell at the head of his command.
A fearless, dutiful soldier. An honest, capable, exemplary officer.
A Christian man.
Come from the din of battle and in peace
Soldier go home: for thee the fight is won.
Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Source: Samuel L. Gerould, Biographical Sketches of the Class of 1858 Dartmouth College, (Telegraph Publishing Co., Nashua, NH), 114.
Note: A picture of this soldier is available in the Dewey Jones Collection.
After graduating he spent most of the three following years at his home at Windsor, engaged in various employments. On the breaking out of the Civil war he joined the first company of the First Vermont Infantry Regiment, May 7, 1861. After serving three months he was commissioned second lieutenant Company K, Fourth Vermont Infantry; and was made first lieutenant Company H, November 5, 1862, and captain Company G, May 5, 1864. He participated in every battle of his regiment, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and others. Shot through the neck he was instantly killed at the engagement on the Welden railroad, near Petersburg, Virginia, June 23, 1864. A commission of Assistant Commissary of Subsistence, with rank as captain, was received after his death. His remains were buried at Windsor. A fort in front of Petersburg, completed after his death, was named Fort Tracy, after him, by order of General Getty.
By his urbanity and genial spirit, Tracy easily won the hearts of all who knew him. He became a member of the Congregational church at Windsor in March, 1859, and ever after lived an active Christian life.
In the church yard there is a weathered and almost illegible stone that reads:
Memoria pii aeterna
Capt. William Carter Tracy
Co. G 4th Vt. Vol.
Born in Windsor, Vt. July 14, 1838
Killed near Petersburgh, Va.
June 23, 1864
A Volunteer
at the first call to arms
in the war of the Great Rebellion,
he served his country in the ranks and as
an officer with earnest devotion, until he fell at the head of his command.
A fearless, dutiful soldier. An honest, capable, exemplary officer.
A Christian man.
Come from the din of battle and in peace
Soldier go home: for thee the fight is won.
Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory
Through our Lord Jesus Christ
Source: Samuel L. Gerould, Biographical Sketches of the Class of 1858 Dartmouth College, (Telegraph Publishing Co., Nashua, NH), 114.
Note: A picture of this soldier is available in the Dewey Jones Collection.
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