On the 1st of April (1864), Colonel Walbridge, who had been for some time a sufferer from chronic rheumatism affecting his lower limbs, resigned, and Lieut. Colonel Newton Stone succeeded him as colonel.

Colonel Stone was the son of Rev. Ambrose Stone of Readsboro. He had selected the law as his profession and Bennington as his place of residence and business, and had before him the prospect of a successful professional career, when, at the age of 23, he enlisted and went out as First Lieutenant of Co. A of the Second Vermont. He had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, and reached the colonelcy by successive promotions through all the intermediate ranks. His term of command was brief but glorious, ending a month later in the murderous Wilderness. On the 4th of May, 1864, the regiment marched with the Sixth Corps and the army, to take its share of the perils and glory of General Grant's overland campaign. In the battles of the Wilderness, May 5th and 6th, the Second fought with the old brigade on the left of the Orange Plank-road. It was on the first day placed in the second line, its right resting on the Plank-road, but moved forward into the front line, after the fighting became severe, and did some of the hardest and best fighting that was done in those two bloody days, at a fearful cost. Its gallant young commander was killed on the 5th. About five o'clock in the afternoon Colonel Stone received a flesh wound in the leg, and was taken to the rear. As soon as the wound was dressed he called for his horse, and rode back to the front. The men greeted him with cheers, as he rejoined his command, which was sturdily holding its ground under a fearful fire of musketry. He addressed them as follows: "Well, boys, this is rough work; but I have done as I told you I wished you to do, not to leave for a slight wound, but to remain just as long as you can do any good. I am here to stay as long as I can do any good.� He then rode along the line, speaking a word of cheer to every company. As he halted to address Company B, a musket ball entered his head, and he fell from his horse a corpse. When the regiment was withdrawn to the rear, the enemy pressed forward over the ground it had held, and Colonel Stone's body fell into their hands. The enemy again falling back, it was soon after recovered, and was finally taken to Bennington for burial.

Footnote to the last paragraph: "General L. A. Grant in his report said of Colonel Stone: "He was a good officer, gallant by nature, prompt in his duties, and urbane in his manners. He was beloved by his command, and by all who knew him