It was composed of volunteers from Washington, Chittenden, Lamoille and Franklin counties, as follows: The regiment's commander, Colonel Francis V. Randall of Braintree, had served with the 2nd Vermont Infantry.

[1] The 13th Regiment went into camp at Brattleboro on September 29, 1862, and was mustered into United States service on October 3 with 953 officers and men.

The regiment was stationed at Wolf Run Shoals from January 20 to April 2, then performed railroad guard duty at Warrenton Junction until June 25.

On the morning of July 1, it left Westminster, Maryland, arriving on the battlefield at Gettysburg after dark on the first day of the battle.

On the afternoon of July 2, the 13th responded to a request by General Winfield S. Hancock to assist Lieutenant Gulian V. Weir, Battery C, 5th U.S.

Receiving fire from Rodgers' house, Captain John Lonergan, Company A, surrounded the building and took 81 prisoners from an Alabama regiment, returning to the main lines on Cemetery Ridge.

[2] The 13th, 14th and 16th Vermont Regiments played a pivotal role in the Union repulse of Pickett's Charge on the afternoon of July 3.

'"[3] During the forced march from Virginia to Gettysburg, 1st Lieutenant Stephen F. Brown, Company K, had disobeyed orders and left the regiment to get water for his men.