Nelson Newton Glazier, son of John Newton and Phebe Cass (Bourn) Glazier, was born December 12th, 1838 at Stratton, Windham county, Vermont. His education was acquired in the common schools, Leland Seminary, Amherst college, 1858-61; and at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, 1864-66. Here in 1866, at the time of his graduation, he received the degree of A. B. and from there in 1869 the degree of A. M. Three years also, 1866-69, were passed in study at the Newton Theological institution, Newton Center, Mass. In 1865, while a senior at Brown University, he was elected representative to the Vermont legislature from his native town and served on the committee on education. This honor was conferred on him in 1867, when a student at Newton Theological institution, and he was made a member of the committee on elections.

Mr. Glazier, August 11th, 1862, enlisted in Co. G, 11th regiment, Vermont volunteers, afterwards the First Artillery, Eleventh Vermont Volunteers, and served as private, corporal, and for a time acting ordnance sergeant at Fort Slocum, and for months on recruiting service in Vermont. He was made Second Lieutenant of Company A, November 2, 1863, and became first lieutenant of the same company January 21, 1864. He lost his left arm at Spotsylvania, Va., May 18, 1864, and was honorably discharged September 3, 1864, on account of wounds received in action.

In June, 1920, he became a member of Rawlins Post No. 35, Department of Nebraska, G.A.R., Beatrice, Nebraska. February 3, 1904, he joined the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of the state of Massachusetts.

A man of patriotic spirit and love of his country, his services have been much in demand, especially as a Memorial Day orator.

From 1872 to 1875 he was superintendent of common schools at Montpelier, Vt. From 1872 to 1878 he was for three consecutive biennial terms, Chaplin of the Vermont State Senate.

He was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry (Baptist) at Central Falls, R.I. He had pastorats at Central Falls; Montpelier, Vt.; South Arlington, New Whitman, Mass.; Westboro, Mass.; Greenfield, Boston, Mass. The last fifteen years of his life as a retired pastor were spent with his blind sister, Czarina Abigail Glazier Williams, then 92 years of age, at Beatrice, Nebraska; Muscotah, Kansas; and Ashland, Nebraska. He died at Ashland, Nebraska in the fall of 1922 and was buried at Willow Creek Cemetery north of Prague, Nebraska.

(Written by Newton's great-niece, Maud C. Eaton.)

Tea urn presented to Newton Glazier by his congregation after 25 years of service.

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Thank you to Tom Ledoux for this note: The following came from 1890 Roster of the 11th Vermont Reunion Society. At their second meeting, Burlington, September 19, 1888, the final paragraph of the secretary's report includes the following tidbit:

"An interesting feature of the evening was the presenation to Rev. N. Newton Glazier by the "chairman" of a walking stick cut on the Gettysburg battle field at the "Bloody Angle," by Gen. T. S. Peck."

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From Tom Ledoux:

Chamberlin, George Ephraim. "Letters of George E. Chamberlin, who fell in the service of his country near Charlestown, Va., August 21, 1864." Springfield, Ill.: H. W. Rokker, 1883. (They were actually published by his sister as a memorial for their mother). pages 318-319

Spottsylvania County, Va.,
Thursday afternoon, May 19.

* * * Tuesday evening at nine o'clock we received orders for an immediate movement. We were off in fifteen minutes, and marched fast all night from the extreme left to the extreme right of the army, and at a little past four yesterday morning were formed in line of battle in a dense woods. No sooner formed, than rebel shell began to burst all around and among us. We advanced a short distance into a rifle pit, where we were protected. Here the First and Second Battalions were moved to the right, and we did not see them again. Very soon we were advanced into another line of rifle pits, where one man of the Second Vermont was killed, and two or three of our men were wounded. Very soon the order forward was again given, and we charged over in excellent order, in the very front line of pits. You must remember that the rebels were not in sight all this time; they were firing from a masked battery, and their sharpshooters were behind trees. We were now out of the woods, on the same ground which was fought over last week, and two lines of the pits spoken of were thrown up by the rebels themselves, so that we were on the wrong side of them; but we were mighty glad to get even a wrong side of a rifle pit. The shells were now playing around us very fast. The men were well disposed, and I was just preparing to get into a safe place myself, when my noble adjutant, Glazier, who stood near me, was hit by a cruel shell, and his left arm torn almost completely off. It was a horrible wound. With my own hands I put a tourniquet on above it, and detailed a corporal and four men to take him off the field. He turned to the colonel just as he was leaving, and said, "Colonel, I hope you will get the victory." In less than half an hour the colonel himself, while standing near me with drawn sword, and just preparing to advance the battalion over the rifle pit into the open field beyond, was wounded by a sharpshooter, the ball passing in behind the ear and coming out in the middle of the back of the neck. The vital parts escaped, and it proved only a flesh wound. He was taken off the field, but in three or four hours came back with his wound dressed. At about one P. M., after experiencing a second smart shelling, we were ordered to withdraw from the rifle-pit over an eminence to the left. Here we saw that the whole forces engaged were being withdrawn. We were massed with many thousands, and all made coffee and took some hard-tack. If it was a battle, nothing could have been gained; if it was intended merely as a reconnoissance, it may have been successful. I do not know. I did not come out satisfied with the day's work. About fifteen of our men were wounded, but none killed. They behaved like veterans, and earned much credit. We were under fire, more or less severe at times, for about eight hours.

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This information was tracked down by Brian Morris:

I located the report from the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery -- they appear to have preferred the designation of "11th Vermont" whatever the official table of organization labeled them -- submitted in October of '64 by the regiment's Lt. Col., the colonel having been wounded in the Spotsylvania attack. Interesting, it was not only Lt. Glazier who was confused over the date, although Lt. Col. Benton's error was in placing the action on the 17th of May [it was definitely on the 18th]. Benton wrote in the report:

"The command of the regiment devolved on me during the engagement in front of Spotsylvania Court-House, on the 17th of May, by the unfortunate wound of Colonel Warner. On that day the regiment did not suffer severely in numbers (only 13, none of whom were killed), being in supporting instead of attacking lines. It was very unfortunate, however, in being deprived of its commander in the outset of its field service, and during a series of operations which were the severest trial it ever experienced. Lieutenant Glazier, from Windham County, a very deserving young officer, lost an arm in the action. In this its first trial the regiment earned great credit for its steadiness under a severe artillery fire, which though not destructive is usually very demoralizing to veterans as well as new troops. At the close of that engagement the regiment was returned to the extreme left of the line, and took part in the operations which resulted in the flank movement to the North Anna, past Spotsylvania, by way of Guiney's Station."

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(The following are copies of letters written by my great-great-granduncle, Newton Glazier while he was serving in the army during the Civil War. I have tried to decipher the letters as true as possible. There are places where the handwriting is completely illegible, and I have placed [??] to indicate this. -- Connie Snyder)

I've also submitted transcriptions of these letters to the Vermont in the Civil War site.

1862 Letters - 1863 Letters - 1864 Letters

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