Wheelock G. Veazey was born in Brentwood, New Hampshire, on December 5, 1835. After moving to Vermont to practice law, he answered the call to service during the American Civil War, eventually taking command of the 16th Vermont Infantry. Though he had served previously with the 3rd Vermont, it was his leadership of the 16th—a regiment of “nine-month men” who had seen little action—that would define his military legacy.

On July 3, 1863, during the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Veazey and his men found themselves at the epicenter of the conflict. As Pickett’s Charge bore down on the Union center, the 16th Vermont was ordered into a precarious position. Despite these being “new troops” in their first major engagement, Veazey maintained strict discipline under heavy Confederate fire.

In a decisive tactical maneuver, Veazey rapidly assembled his regiment and executed a “change of front,” swinging his line like a door to strike the flank of the advancing Confederate brigade. The maneuver was executed with such speed and precision that it shattered the enemy’s momentum. His charge resulted in the capture of hundreds of prisoners and the destruction of a Confederate brigade, effectively helping to blunt the final desperate push of the Southern army.

Following the war, Veazey returned to a distinguished career in law and public service. He served as a Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and was eventually appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission. He remained a fierce advocate for veterans until his death in 1898.