Civil War Union Army Officer. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1854, but did not graduate. He became a merchant in his native Vermont, where he lived until entering the Union Army after the start of the Civil War with a commission of Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Vermont Volunteer Infantry in June 1861. When the 3rd Vermont’s original commander, Colonel William Farrar Smith, was promoted to Brigadier General in August 1861, Breed N. Hyde was advanced to full Colonel to replace him. He led his unit in the hard campaigning that marked the Spring 1862 Peninsular Campaign, participating in the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, and all the Battles of the Seven Days (June 25 to July 1, 1862). From July to late August his regiment was stationed at Fortress Monroe in Virginia before being detailed back to the Army of the Potomac. During the subsequent Maryland Campaign his men fought in the Battle of South Mountain at Crampton’s Gap, but saw little action in the Battle of Antietam. At the Battle of Fredericksburg his was not present with the 3rd Vermont, having claimed “physical weakness from temporary illness”. His absence brought up charges of cowardice, but before a court martial was convened to deal with the charges he was allowed to resign on January 15, 1863. After the war he moved to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he became a mining engineer and where he died in October 1918.
Civil War Union Army Officer. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1854, but did not graduate. He became a merchant in his native Vermont, where he lived until entering the Union Army after the start of the Civil War with a commission of Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Vermont Volunteer Infantry in June 1861. When the 3rd Vermont’s original commander, Colonel William Farrar Smith, was promoted to Brigadier General in August 1861, Breed N. Hyde was advanced to full Colonel to replace him. He led his unit in the hard campaigning that marked the Spring 1862 Peninsular Campaign, participating in the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5, 1862, and all the Battles of the Seven Days (June 25 to July 1, 1862). From July to late August his regiment was stationed at Fortress Monroe in Virginia before being detailed back to the Army of the Potomac. During the subsequent Maryland Campaign his men fought in the Battle of South Mountain at Crampton’s Gap, but saw little action in the Battle of Antietam. At the Battle of Fredericksburg his was not present with the 3rd Vermont, having claimed “physical weakness from temporary illness”. His absence brought up charges of cowardice, but before a court martial was convened to deal with the charges he was allowed to resign on January 15, 1863. After the war he moved to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he became a mining engineer and where he died in October 1918.
Bio by: RPD2
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