X
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
LEDYARD BILL,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
GEO. C. RAND & AVERY, STEREOTYPERS AND PRINTERS, BOSTON.
LATE SPEAKER
OF THE CONNECTICUT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;
A PATRIOT
WHOSE ONLY SON FELL IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY,
AND WHOSE MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS HAVE ENDEARED HIM
TO THE SOLDIERS OF CONNECTICUT;
THE RECORD OF THEIR SERVICES AND SUFFERINGS,
IS CORDIALLY DEDICATED.
M18831
PREFACE.
THE History of Connecticut during the late civil war was announced by
Chaplain John M. Morris more than two years ago, and was promised to
the Publisher more than a year ago ; but the difficulty of obtaining precise
information was vastly greater than had been anticipated, while many im
perative duties of the projector consumed much coveted time. To prevent
further delay, an arrangement was made whereby "W. A. Croffut became
associated in the labor. The book has been mainly written by Mr. Croffut,
from materials carefully collected by Mr. Morris. It is proper to bear tes
timony, here, to the patient persistence, State pride, and devotedness to the
cause, which luftve been exhibited by the Publisher, in overcoming the obsta
cles that so long postponed a completion of the volume.
This work aims to give a fair, accurate, and reasonably complete narra
tive of the services of the soldiers of Connecticut in the field, with a briefer
record of the patriotic support furnished by citizens at home.* It presents
no scientific discussion of strategy, and no pi-ofound reflections on the causes
and results of the war for the Union.
We offer no elaborate description of battles, except at the points where
the regiments of our State were involved : but troops fought under the tri-
vined flag in every rebellious State, and in almost every important engage
ment ; so that we rise from our wo.rk to find that the story of the soldiers of
Connecticut, presents, with singular completeness, the story of the war.
This general outline is rendered more palpable by the fact, that, instead
of following the plan of giving each regimental record complete in itself,
and detached from all the rest, we have rather tried to group events that
are synchronous, and carry forward the whole with something of the con
secutive method of history.
It is impossible to estimate, even approximately, the number of men,
much more the aggregate of power and character, which Connecticut con
tributed to the war. On every great battle-field her sons and grandsons
lie. In the regiments of every State they bore muskets and held commis
sions. In every pivotal hour of the war, leaders appeared among the fore
most, who went back to her sterile but man-nourishing soil for elements
of strength, skill, and valor. Not only Winthrop, Ellsworth, Lyon, Poote,
Sedgwick, Mansfield, Wadsworth, McClellan, Mower, Wright, Terry, but
William Tecumseh Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant, sprang straight from
the loins of our sturdy little Commonwealth.
" The soldiers fight, and the kings are heroes," says a quaint proverb
of the Talmud. It were an easy task to enumerate the illustrious officers,
l i
ii PREFACE. ,
who were lifted up in the gaze of all the world ; but there is a sense of
pain and profound sorrow in the consciousness that it is impossible to
render justice to the nameless rank and file who never wore even a corpo
ral's chevron, but held to their duty with sublime patience. The last of the
color-guard, who seized the standard that had dropped from the relaxed
grasp of his comrades, and bore it on, and planted it and stood by it on the
edge of the rebel rifle-pit ; the martyr who perished in prison, and ever
since has been marked "missing" upon the roll of regimental casualties;
the thousand glorious obscure, who were mown down by the flaming blade
of battle, and died singing songs of triumph, and praying for the establish
ment of Liberty and Law, — these are the true he-roes and martyrs of all
the wars of the world. But, in a book of limited scope, we have no alter
native but to mention the officer as the unit standing for his command.
Connecticut sent to the struggle fifty thousand soldiers in her own regi
ments, and probably half as many more in the regiments of other States.
A simple catalogue of their names and muster 'would fill two books as large
as this ; while a complete chronicle of the service of all heY faithful sons
would require a volume for each. Yet we have striven to record every act
of conspicuous gallantry or merit that has come to our knowledge, without
regard to rank, feeling rather that rare devotedness was nobler in the un-
titled hero, who had little incentive of military ambition, and little hope
that his deed would ever be marked or mentioned.
In treating of affairs at home, we have kept strictly to what had a direct
bearing on the war j and, in touching upon local politics, we have written
in the spirit of fairness.
In presenting the statistics of patriotic benevolence we confess to a dis
appointment. No people beset by war ever gave, of their own free will, so
lavishly as ours ; and we hoped to compile a record of this liberality, so
specific and so remarkable, as to amaze the dwellers in this peaceful land
when our villages shall have become cities, and our farms suburban gardens.
But we find that our towns, societies, and churches kept, in most instances,
no systematic record whatever. The meager facts submitted will probably
be received as possessing a certain interest and value.
It is also proper to say that the portraits which appear in this volume
have been selected with regard not only to the merits of the subjects, but
also to the desirableness of representing different regiments, every rank,
and all sections of the State.
Instead of relying upon some officer of each regiment to write the his
tory of its service, we have preferred to have the whole book grow up un
der our own hand ; and to this end we have gathered facts with diligence
and care from official reports, diaries, scrap-books, newspapers, private
letters, personal interviews, and every available source, seeking corrobora-
tion as far as practicable. By this, we have incurred an enormous labor ;
but we have secured absolute impartiality, and have attained, we trust,
substantial accuracy, even in the multiplicity of detail and circumstance.
PREFACE. iii
Many gentlemen have placed at our disposal sketches, letters, documents,
and valuable material. Our acknowledgments are duly expressed in these
plages. There are a few to whom we feel peculiarly indebted, — Col. Philo
B. Buckingham ; Capt. T. F. Vaill of the Second Artillery ; Lieut.-Col.
William S. Cogswell of the Fifth ; Chaplain II. S. DeForest of the Elev
enth ; Capt. II. P. Goddard of the Fourteenth ; Cap"t. Henry G. Mar
shall »and Enoch E. Rogers of the Fifteenth ; Chaplain TV. C. TValker of
the Eighteenth ; Capt. Luther G. Riggs of the Twenty-second ; Lieut.-Col.
David Torrance of the Twenty-ninth ; Lieut. J. II. Lord of the Second
(three-months' troops) ; and John M. Douglass, Esq., for an admirably-
written chronicle of the part borne by the citizens of Middletown.
It is hoped that no critic Avill be so unjust as to compare this volume
with the vast and eloquent unwritten history of the war. Keenly will the
friends of many noble men feel that we have failed to portray the self-deny
ing lives and valiant deeds of their heroes ; but they can not more than
we do. Many, even of the worthy, are nameless here;- for their story
has never been told us, and is unrecorded. The whole can not be written.
Our facts and incidents are only illustrative, not exhaustive. They may
not always be the most noteworthy ; but they are the best at our command.
' It is hoped that some compensation for any omissions of this kind may
be found in the fact that we have maintained the local character of the
work by introducing as much personal incident as could be added without
burdening the narrative. Few books are ever published that are so full of
individual achievement and experience.
TVe present this volume, however, with confidence, because we feel, that,
whatever may be its defects of construction, much will be preserved in it
which would otherwise be lost, and much brought to the notice of the
whole State, which has hitherto been known to few outside of town or
neighborhood. It may tend to moderate the extravagant estimate which
local partiality sometimes places on individuals ; Jbut it can hardly fail to
exalt the general impression of the average patriotism and efficiency.
Deeds of daring and devotion now ennoble the records of every town.
A filial gathering of these seeds of history should have a present value in
nourishing State pride and stimulating a generous public spirit. And it
can not but be prized as a record of ancestral sacrifice by the generations
to come, when grandchildren shall cluster around the chair of the gray-
haired volunteer, and listen while he tells once more how he carried the
flag at Gettysburg, and when the venerable dame shall resort to the old
bureau fragrant with memories, and gaze again through the mists at the
blue coat worn by one who went to battle with her blessing, and died joy
fully that the Republic might have a second birth.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAOl
Early History of Connecticut. — The Pequot War. — First American Constitution. — Heavy
Taxation. — Courage of the New-Haven Colony. — Character of the Civil Govern
ment. — The King's Officers resisted. — The Charter preserved. — Connecticut Decla- ,
ration of Independence. — Putnam at Boston. — The Statue at Litchfield. — Brother
Jonathan. — Connecticut Men capture the first British Flags in 1812. — The Blue-
. Laws. — Comparison with other Colonies. — Pre-eminence in Mechanics. — First
Steamboat, Railroad, and Telegraph. — Influence on other States . . . .13
CHAPTER II.
The War begun at the Ballot-Box. — Elections in Connecticut in 1860. — Attitude of Par
ties. — Secession becomes Formidable. — Discussion and Recrimination. — Our Repre
sentatives in Congress. — Their Action on Peace Propositions. — Foresight of Gov.
Buckingham. — The Peace Conference. — Hon. Isaac Toucey. — Spring Election of
1861. — Connecticut declares for Coercion 29
CHAPTER m.
The Fall of Sumter. — Enthusiasm in Connecticut. — " Coercion" accepted as a Duty. —
A Battle-Sunday. — Winsted and New Britain. — Sympathy for the South. — The Call
for the First Regiment. — Condition of our Militia. — The Massachusetts Sixth. — The
Towns moving. — The Hartford Companies. — Meriden, New Haven, Danbury, Mid-
dletown, Norwich, Derby, Willimantic, Mystic, Putnam, Danielsonville, Bridgeport,
Waterbury, New London, Litchfield, Wallingford, Farmington, Salisbury. — The Old
Flag 38
CHAPTER IV.
The Volunteers uniformed and equipped. — Response of Wealthy Men and Institutions. —
Patriotic Work of the Women. — Another Revolutionary Sunday. — Call for Second
and Third Regiments. — The Troops at Rendezvous. — Outfit completed. — In Camp.
— Rations and Beds. — Contributions flow in. — Drill and Discipline. — Sage Advice.
— Departure of the Three Regiments .66
CHAPTER V.
Capt. Dan Tyler. — Henry B. Norton. — Cassius M. Clay Guard. — The Fourth Regiment.
— Towns represented. — Departure. — Colt's Revolving Rifles. — It becomes the Fifth
Connecticut. — Towns represented. — Home Guard. — Yale College. — The General
Assembly. — Message of the Governor. — War Legislation. — The Constitutional
Amendment. — Great Unanimity of Feeling. — Independence Day . . . .70
CHAPTER VI.
The First and Second Regiments in Washington. — Welcome Reception. — Camp at Glen-
wood.— Joined by the Third.— Death of Col. Ellsworth. — Ellsworth of Connecticut
Stock. — "Invasion" of Virginia. — Ambush at Vienna. — Holding the Advanced Post.
— Death of Theodore Wintlirop. — Sketch of his Life and Character. — Death of Capt.
James H. Ward. — An Advance. — Blackburn's Ford. — Bull Rur . — Gen. Tyler be
gins the Battle. — The Army betrayed. — Behavior of Connecticut Troops. — The Last
on the Field. — They act as Rear-Guard in the Retreat. — Good Order maintained.—
They bring off Public Property. — Home, and Muster-out 83
6
6 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
PAOB
The Effect of the Defeat at Bull R'.in. — Second Uprising. — The Fifth Regiment goes to
Harper's Ferry. — Six Regiments begun. — A Squadron of Cavalry. — Peace-Flags and
Peace-Meetings. — Seymour's Resolutions. — Concurrent Action. — Goshen, Bloom-
field, Darien, Easton, Cornwall, Sharon, Prospect, North Guilford, Stonington. — A
New Saybrook Platform. — New Fairfield. — The Bridgeport Farmer. — How Step
ney stopped the War. — The Farmer Office sacked. — Gov. Buckingham's Proclama
tion. — Life and Character of Gen. Lyon. — His Bravery and Decision. — His Heroic
Death 101
CHAPTER VIII.
The Fourth in Maryland. — Dissatisfaction and Insubordination. — The Fifth on the Poto
mac. — Recruiting active. — The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth. — Towns represented.
— Departure. — Sixth and Seventh at Washington and Annapolis. — Eighth on Long
Island. — "The Sons of Connecticut." — Ninth Regiment organized. — "All Full
Companies" accepted. — The Tenth. — Towns represented. — Eighth and Tenth at
* Annapolis. — Meetings and Social Intercourse. — The Eleventh. — Recruiting. —
Towns represented. — The Regiment embarks for Annapolis. — Port-Royal Expedi
tion. — Landing of the Sixth and Seventh. — First Union Troops in South'Carolina. —
Tyler appointed Colonel of the Fourth. — The New Discipline. — Exposure and Priva
tions of the Fifth 117
CHAPTER IX.
Extra Session of the Legislature. — Governor's Message. — A. Carte Blanche. — More Regi
ments authorized. — Gen. Butler and the Twelfth. — A Light Battery and a Battalion
of Cavalry. — At Meriden. — Off for the War. — - The Ninth badly equipped. — Twelfth
in Camp at Hartford. — Thirteenth in Barracks at -New Haven. — Ninth and Twelfth •
at Ship Island. — Blockading. — The "Stone Fleet." — Effect on the Harbors of the
South 135
CHAPTER X;
Patriotic Benevolence. — The Regiments in the Field supplied. — Sewing and Knitting. —
Thar.ksgiviug Day. — Soldiers'-aid Societies. — Systematic Effort. — Alfred Walker.
— Thirteenth at New Haven. — A " Dandy Regiment." — Off for Ship Island. — The
Ninth. — Dash at Biloxi and Pass Christian. — Victory. — Trophies and Thanks of
Gen. Butler. — Capture of New Orleans 148
CHAPTER XI.
The Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh leave Annapolis. — Storm off Hatteras. — Suffering and
Depression. — Battle and Capture of Roanoke Island. — Death of C A. Charles L. Rus
sell. — Another Movement. — Battle of Newberne. — Death of Col. A. W. Drake. —
Incidents. — Siege of Fort Macon 162
CHAPTER XII.
The Connecticut Chaplains'-aid Commission. — Chapel Tents and Regimental Libraries
furnished. — Medical Examining Board. — Spring Election of 1862. — The War Spirit
predominant. — Governor's Message. — Legislative Action. — Special December Ses
sion. — Party Spirit Rising.— Cornelius S. Bushnell builds the Monitor . . . 182
CHAPTER XIII.
The Sixth embarks for Florida. — Return to Hilton Head. — The Seventh goes to Tibee
Island to besiege Fort Pulaski. — Labor of getting the Heavy Mortars in Position. —
A Case of Insanity. — Sixth goes to Dawfuskie Island to cut off the Approaches
from Savannah. — Seventh mans the Mortar Batteries. — A Connecticut Affair. — The
Battle. — Surrender of the Fort. — The Sixth and Seventh and the First Connecticut
Battery at James Island. — Assault on Lamar's Battery. — Severe Fighting. — Re
pulse and Withdrawal. — Bad Management by Gen. Benham. — Casualties. . . 191
CHAPTER XIV.
The Fourth becomes the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. — Recruits. — Goes with
McClellan to the Peninsula. — "Siege" of Yorkiown. — The Heavy Batteries. —
/'Ready." — Magruder falls back. — Detached as Infantry. — The Seven-days' Bat
tles. — "Malvern Hill. — Back to Arlington Heights. — The Connecticut Battalion of
Cavalry. — Among the Mountains of West Virginia. — After Bushwhackers. — Raids
and Incidents. — Battle of McDowell. — Charge through Wordensville. — Dash into
New Market. — Ambush at Harrisonburg. — Cross Keys. — Jackson Ubiquitous. —
The Fifth at Winchester. — Battle and Repulse. — In Maryland again. — Slaughter at
Cedar Mountain. — Bravery and Severe Losses of the Fifth. — Stone, Blake, Dutton,
Smith 203
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV.
PAOB
The Summer of 1862. — The Fourteenth Regiment called for. — The Military Situation.—
Appeal of the Executive. — Enthusiastic Response by the People. — War-Meetings
and Local Effort. — Recruiting Committees. — The Fourteenth full. — New Haven
raises the Fifteenth. — Hartford recruits the Sixteenth. — Seventeenth from Fail-field
County. — Eighteenth from New- London County. — Nineteenth from Litchfield
County. — Twentieth and Twenty-first organi/ed. — The Second Battery goes from
Bridgeport. — All assigned to the " Army of the Potomac " 222
CHAPTER XVI.
The Call for Seven Regiments of Nine-months' Men. — The second Great Uprising. — Re
cruiting Active. — Meetings and Bounties. — A Draft announced. — The Camps. —
Exemption sought. — Skulks and Cowards. — The Surgeons besieged. — The White-
liver Complaint. — Incidents. — How New Haven filled her Quota. — The Day of the
Draft. — The Mountain brings forth. — All the Regiments Full. — The Twenty second
from Hartford and Tolland Counties. — Twenty-third from Fairfield and New Haven.
Twenty-fourth from Middlesex. — Twenty-fifth from Hartford. — Twenty-sixth from
New London and Windham. — Twenty-seventh, from New Haven. — Twenty-eighth
from Fail-field and Litchfield. — The Rendezvous on Long Island 240
CHAPTER XVII.
The Eighth and Eleventh near Newberne. — To Newport News. — Re-organization of the
Eleventh. — To Fredericksburg. — Pope, defeated, retreats on Washington. — Col.
Kingsbury in command of the Brigade. — Arrival in Washington. — Movement into
Maryland. — The Fourteenth and Sixteenth join the Column. — South Mountain. —
The Affair of Turner's Gap. — Choice Rebel Literature 255
CHAPTER XVIII.
Battle of Antietam. — Charge of the Eleventh. — Exploit of Capt. Gibbons. — The Contest
for the Stone. Bridge. — Inexplicable Conduct of ITurnside. — Coolness and Efficiency
of the Fourteenth^ — Charge of Harland's Brigade. — Capt. Charles L. Upham's Com-
pany capture a Battery. — Great Bravery of the Eighth. — Gallant Conduct of Col.
Appelman. — Fatality of the Color-Guard. — Harland assumes Command of Rodman's
Division. — Severe Losses. — Sufferings of the Wounded. — Corporal Henry A. East
man of the Eleventh. — Death of Col. Kingsbury and others. — Total Casualties of
the Battle. — Death of Major-Gen. Joseph K. F. Mansfield. — Biography of Mansfield.
— Retreat of Lee's Army • 264
CHAPTER XIX.
Tardy Pursuit of Lee. — The Eighth, Eleventh, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and
Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers. — Gen. Burnside in Command. — March to Fal-
moutli. — The Battle of Frederieksburg. — Gallantry of the Fourteenth and Twenty-
seventh. — Gen. Harland's Official Report. — The Disastrous Repulse. — Whereabouts
of the Fifth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-second. — Private Elias Howe, Jr.
— The Army Ration. — Camp at Stafford Court House 288
CHAPTER XX.
The First Connecticut Battery and Seventh Regiment in Florida. — Capture of St. John's
Bluff. — Sixth and Seventh in South Carolina. — Battle of Pocotaligo. — The Twelfth
at Camp Parapet. — Yankee Enterprise. — Anecdotes of the Thirteenth. — Services
and Sufferings of the Ninth at Vicksburg. — The Battle of Baton Rouge. — The La
Fourche Campaign. — Battle of Georgia Landing. — Thanksgiving. — The Nine-
months' Regiments leave Long Island. — The Twenty-eighth at Pensacola. — Destruc
tion of a Rebel Gunboat 303
CHAPTER XXI.
The Vote. — Eaton's Resolutions in the Assembly. — After Fredericksburg. — The
Eighth, Eleventh, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Twenty-first at Newport News. — Siege
of Suffolk.— Skirmishes and Reconnois.*ances. — Capture of Fort Huger. — Raising
of the Siege. — Evacuation. — "The Blackberry Raid."
g CONTENTS. «
* *
CHAPTER XXII.
PAGE
The Tenth Connecticut Volunteers at Newberne. — Expedition to the Interior. — The
Tarborough Scout. — Forage and Rations. — An Incident of Slavery. — The Battle of
Kinston. — The Tenth at the Front. — The Contest for .the Bridge. — Complimented
by Gen. Foster. — Heavy Losses. — The Railroad destroyed at Goldsborough. — Gal
lantry. —To St. Helena Island. — Camp and Surroundi'ngs. — The Eighteenth Con
necticut Volunteers still at Baltimore. — Joins Milroy at Winchester. — The Situation.
— Battle of the First Day. — The Second Day at the Intrenchments. The Evacua
tion. — The Charge into the Woods. — Surrender of the Eighteenth. — Casualties. —
Colors saved 341
CHAPTER XXIII.
Battle of Chancellorsville. — Advance upon the Flank. — The Fifth, Fourteenth, Seven
teenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-seventh Connecticut Regiments engaged. — The llth
Corps overwhelmed by Stonewall Jackson. — Terrible Battle of May 3. — Heavy
Losses of the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers. — The Twenty-seventh Regiment
captured. — r A New Line of Battle. — Withdrawal of the Army, and Failure of the
Movement. — Losses of the Connecticut Regiments. — Prisoners of War . . .358
CHAPTER XXIV.
Race of the Hostile Armies Northward. — Battle of Gettysburg. — The Fifth, Fourteenth,
Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-seventh Connecticut Regiments engaged. —
Second Light Battery. — The Afi'air of July 1. — The Assault of July 2. — Attack on
the Left Flank. — Terrible Fighting of July 3. — C Minecticut Correspondents. — The
Losses in our Regiments. — Scenes on tlie Battle-Field. — The "Fourth of July." —
Tardy Pursuit of Lee. — Our Troops again in Virginia 378
CHAPTER XXV.
Biographical Sketch of Admiral Foote. — His Adventures, Battles, and Death. — Banks's
Expedition. — Feint towards Port 'Hudson. — March Southward. — Battle of Irish
Bend. — The Cotton-Raid up the Atchafalaya. — Investment of Port Hudson. — The
Fight of May 27. — The Twelfth, Thirteenth, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-
sixth, and Twenty-eighth Connecticut. — The Charge of June" 14. — Failure and
Heavy Losses. — The Twenty-fourth in the Cotton-Fort. — The Forlorn Hope. — Our
Roll of Honor. — Surrender of Port Hudson 397
.CHAPTER XXVI.
After the Capture of Port Hudson. — The Twelfth, Thirteenth, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-
fifth, Twenty-sixth, and Twenty-eighth Connecticut Regiments. — Casualties. —
Incidents of the Battle. — The Twenty-third in Southern Loa'siana, — Guarding the
Railroad. — At Brashear City. — Battle and Capture. — Casualties. — Imprisonment
in Texas. — Return Home of the Nine-mouths' Regiments 420
CHAPTER XXVH.
Sixth and Seventh in Florida. — The Advance on Charleston. — The Situation at Folly
and Morris Islands. — Gen. Terry and the Tenth on James Island. — A Detachment
of the Seventh the First to land" on Morris Island. — Capture of the Batteries. — The
Battalion of the Seventh in the First Charge on Wagner. — Fight on .lames Island. —
The First Connecticut Battery. — Daring Charge of the Sixth on Wagner. — Three
Hours in the Fort. — Heavy Casualties. — Important Service of the Seventeenth
Connecticut Volunteers. — Approaches to the Fort. — The Seventh in Charge of
Heavy Itatteries. — Bombardment of Sumter. — Capture of Wagner and Gregg. —
The Hollof Honor. — TlieSixthat Hilton Head. — The Seventh at St. Helena Island. —
The Seventeenth on Folly Island. — The Tenth in Florida- — Death of Col. Chutfield, 436
CHAPTER XXVIII.
More Troops wanted. — A Draft. — The Result. — Call for Seven Hundred Thousand Men.
— Seven Hundred Dollars' Bounty. — Work of Recruiting. — The Twenty-ninth Regi
ment. — Enlistment and Departure. — R'3-enli<tinent of Veterans. — Recruiting Rapid.
— The Quota of the State full, with a Surplus. — Soldiers'-aid Societies. — Har ford,
Bridgeport, New Haven, Norwich, Danbury, Derby. — The Work at Home and in
the Field. —A Thanksgiving Dinner 456
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Harland's Brigade near Portsmouth. — More Digging. — A Handsome Camp. — The
Twenty-first on Provost-Duty in Portsmouth and Norfolk. — Raid through Dismal
Swamp. — The Eleventh at Gloucester Point. — Twenty-first at Newport News. —
An Expedition up the James. — Fifteenth and Sixteenth go to North Carolina. —
" Accidental " Fire. — Twenty-first at Newport Barracks and Newberne. — The Six
teenth at Plymouth. — Battle and Capture by the Rebels. — Gen. Peck's Order . . 457
CHAPTER XXX.
The First Cavalry Battalion. — Demoralization. — Increased to a Regiment. — Fight in
Virginia. — At Baltimore. — To the Field. — The Eighteenth Connecticut. — At Mar-
tinsburg. — Gen. Milrov on Winchester. — Prison-Life. — Officers at Libby. — Diver
sions. — To Macon. — Escapes. — Aa Interesting Adventure 489
CHAPTER XXXI.
The First and Second Artillery, Sixth, Tenth, Fourteenth, and Seventeenth, during the
Winter of 1863-64. — The 'Second Light Battery.— The Seventh in Florida. — Battle
of Olustee. — Xinth in New Orleans. — The Twelfth at New Iberia. — The Thirteenth
in the Red-River Expedition. — Battle of Cane River. — Connecticut Regiments Home
on Veteran Furlough. — Speeches and Banquets 504
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Sixteenth in Rebel Prisons. — The Enlisted Men at Andersonville. — Rations. — Ter
rible Suffering in the Stockade. — The "Dead Line." — Starvation. — Insanity. — The
Patriot's Burial. — The Hospital. — Officers at Macon. — Chivalry and Bloodhounds.
— The " Glorious Fourth." — In Charleston. — Efforts to escape. — Exchange . . 526
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Up the James River. — The Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twenty-first at
Bermuda Hundred. — A Reconnoissance. — The Railroad destroyed. — Battle of Dru-
ry's Bluff. — Repulse and Heavy Losses. — "Bottled up" within the Intrenchments.
— Fight of the Twenty-first. — Death of Col. Arthur H. Dutton. — Losses of the
Seventh. — The First Connecticut Artillery ordered to Bermuda Hundred. — The Non-
Veterans mustered out 536
^ CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Fourteenth at Stevensburg. — The Affair at Mine Run. — How to build Winter-Quar
ters, and how to enjoy them. — Fight at Morton's Ford. — First Connecticut Cavalry-
joins the Army of the Potomac. — Grant crosses the Rapidan. — Struggle of the Wil
derness. — Flank March to Spottsylvania. — Terrible Fighting. — The Second Connec
ticut Artillery (Nineteenth) comes up. — Gen. Robert O. Tyler commands a Division.
— Spirited Contest. — The First Cavalry in Front of Richmond. — To the North
Anna. — Another Flank Movement. — Death of Gen. John Sedgwick. — His Character
and Public Services 560
CHAPTER XXXV.
The First Connecticut Cavalry. — Severe Service. — Battle of Ashland. — Brilliant Per
sonal Encounter. — Bravery and Losses. — Battle of Cold Harbor. — Charge of the
Second Connecticut Artillery. — Terrible Losses. — Death of Col. E. S. Kellogg. —
Casualties of the Fourteenth. — The Charge of June 3. — Losses of the Eighth, Elev
enth, and Twenty-first Connecticut. — Death of Col. Burpee and Major Converse. —
Organization of the Thirtieth Connecticut • 581
CHAPTER XXXVI.
After Cold Hnrbor. — The First Cavalry. — To Petersburg. — Exploit of the Eighth.—
Charge of the Eleventh. — The Second, Fourteenth, and Twenty-first. — The Sixth,
Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth at Bermuda Hundred. — Wilson's Ra'id. — The First Cav
alry.— Bold Ride of Capt. Whitnker.— Incidents. — First Connect;cut Artillery.—
Siege-Work of fhe Summer. — Battle of Strawberry Plains. — The Thirtieth Connec
ticut at the Mine. — Death of Col. Stedman and Lieut-Col. Moegling . . • -60S
10 * CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
General Assembly. — Adjourned Session in January, 1864. — Spring Session. — Governor's
Message. — The Ballot given to Soldiers in the Field. — Calls for Troops. — Recruit
ing. — The Quotas filled. — How it was done. — Presidential Election. — The Twenty-
ninth (colored) in South Carolina. — The Eighteenth Regiment. — Home on Furlough.
— Advance with Sigel. — Defeat at Newmarket. — Victory at Piedmont. — Loss of
Brave Men. — Pushing South. — Across the James. — Advance on Lynchburg. — Re
pulse and Retreat. — Early Attacks Washington. — Affair at Snicker's Ferry . . 629
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The Dead Lock at Petersburg. — Flank Movement on the Right. — The Sixth, Seventh,
Tenth, Fourteenth, and Twenty-ninth Connecticut, and the First Battery, engaged. —
Four-mile Run. — Battle of Deep Run. — Charge by Terry's Division.'— Strawberry
Plains. — JV ithdrawal. — Casualties. — The Fourteenth at* Reams's Station. — Casu
alties. — Incidents along the Line 648
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Still in Front of Petersburg. — Demonstration on the Left. — The Fourteenth. — Advance
of Butler. — Chaffin's Bluff. — Capture of Fort Harrison. — The Eighth and Twenty-
first. — The Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, and Twenty-ninth on the Right. — Rebel Repulse.
— Casualties. — Attack on Terry's Line. — Repulse. — Counter- Attack. — Death of
Major H. VV. Camp. — Hawley's Brigade on the Darbytown Road. — The Twenty-
ninth as Skirmishers. — The Second and Fourteenth on Hatcher's Run. — Hawley's
Division at New York. — The First Artillery. — Butler fails to capture Fort Fisher. —
Terry takes it by Storm • 664
CHAPTER XL.
The Fifth and Twentieth in Tennessee. — Guarding the Railroad. — Fight with Guerrillas.
— Retaliation. — Advance of the Spring. — The Twentieth at Boyd's Trail. — Battle
of Resaca. — Amusing Incidents. — The Fifth and Twentieth at Peach-tree Creek. —
Sherman's Flank Movement. — Atlanta occupied. — Casualties in the Connecticut
Regiments. — A Rest. — The March to the Sea. — At Savannah. — Second Connecti
cut Battery. — in Louisiana and at Mobile. — " The Bay Fight " 692
CHAPTER XLI.
Sheridan takes Command in the Shenandoah. — The First Connecticut Cavalry, Secortfl
Artillery, and Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Eighteenth Infantry. — At Winchester.
— Kearneysvilie. — Skirmishes. — Battle of Opequan Creek. — Casualties. — Spring
Hill. — Cedar Creek. — Defeat and Victory. — Heavy Losses. — The Pursuit. — Roll
of Honor of Yale College and Wesleyan University. — The Seventeenth in Florida. —
Battles and Raids. — Successes and Disasters. — Incidents. — Casualties . . . 714
CHAPTER XLII.
Prison Experience of our Soldiers. — Testimony of a Confederate Surgeon. — Experience
of Weston Ferris on Belle Isle. — Great Privation and Suffering. — Condition of Pris- rf
oners at Camp Ford, Tex. — Gen. E. M. Lee in Libby. — Capture of Major Sanford
and Men of the Seventh. — Adventures of Three Officers of the Sixteenth. — Fidelity
of Surgeon Nickerson. — Thrilling Narrative of Lieut. Bailey. — Deaths at Anderson-
ville. — Incidents of Martyrdom I ..... 737
CHAPTER XLIII.
Affairs before Richmond. — Grant and Sherman of Connecticut Stock. — Genealogy. —
Location and Organization of Connecticut Regiments. — The First Cavalry returns
to Petersburg. — Whitaker captures Major Gil'mor. — Twelfth and Eighteenth Regi
ments. — First Artillery. — Death of Lieut. -Col. Trumbull. — Second Artillery. —
First, Second, and Third Batteries. — Sixth and Seventh. — Death of Chaplain Eaton.
— Eighrh, Eleventh, Twenty-first, and Twenty-ninth. — Ninth and Thirteenth. —
Tenth and Fourteenth. — Sherman's Great March Northward. — The Fifth and Twen
tieth. — Incidents of the Campaign. — Battles and Victories. — Casualties. — Disaster
of the Fifteenth Connecticut. — The Sixteenth 755
CONTENTS. 11
CHAPTER XLIV. -
Spring of 1865. —The Beginning of the End. — Petersburg. — Rebel Assault on Fort
Stedman. — Repulse. — Service of the First Connecticut Artillery. — The Second
Artillery and the Fourteenth on the Left.j— The Tenth and Thirtieth.— The First
Cavalry at Five Forks
Advance
Retreat
Surrender. — In North Carolina. — The Capitulation of Johnston's Army . . .776
y iuiu iue ruuneumii on uie L,HII. — me i enia anu iiiiruein. — me r irst
• at Five Forks. — The Tenth at Fort Gregg. — Unsurpassed Gallantry. —
e of the Whole Line. — Lee evacuates Petersburg and Richmond. — The
and Pursuit. — First Cavalry at Sailor's Creek. — Lee surrounded. — The
CHAPTER XLV.
Matters at Home. — General Assembly of 1865. — The Governor's Message. — Legislation.
— Number of Soldiers sent from the State. — Our Regiments after the Close of the
War. — Two Pictures from Richmond. — Terry and Hawley in Virginia. — Presenta
tions. — Muster-out of Connecticut Regiments. — The Fourteenth. — Twentieth. —
First, Second, and Third Light Batteries. — Twenty-first. — Eighteenth. — Sixteenth.
— Fifteenth. — Fifth. — Seventeenth. — First Cavalry. — Sixth. — Seventh. — Twelfth.
— Second Artillery. — Ninth. — Tenth. — First Artillery. — Twenty-ninth and Thir
tieth. — Eighth and Eleventh. — Thirteenth. — Thanks of the Legislature . . . 798
APPENDIX.
The Sons of Connecticut residing in New York. — The Connecticut Agency in New York.
The Agency in Washington. — Gen. Aiken's Visit to Washington. — Connecticut in
the Navy. — The Expenses for War Purposes. — The Generals of Connecticut. —
Organizations and Casualties. — Roll of Honor. — Our Martyrs at Andersonville . 833
CONNECTICUT. -COLONIAL RECOED.
CHAPTER I.
Early History of Connecticut. — The Pequot War. — First American Constitution. —
Heavy Taxation. — Courage of the New- Haven Colony. — Character of the Civil
Government. — The King's Officers resisted. — The Charter preserved. — Connecticut
Declaration of Independence. — Putnam at Boston. — The Statue at Litchfield. —
Brother Jonathan. — Connecticut Men capture the first British Flags in 1812. — The
Blue-Laws. — Comparison with other Colonies. — Pre-eminence in Mechanics. —
First Steamboat, Railroad, and Telegraph. — Influence on other States.
HE colonists of Connecticut organized the first
republic on the Western continent. While all
the other inhabitants of the coast — the Pil
grims of Plymouth, the English traders of Bos
ton, the Dutch at New Amsterdam, and the
Cavaliers and Huguenots on the distant shore of Virginia —
were living wholly under royal charters, and endeavoring to
maintain public order by irregular and capricious penalties,
the planters of the Connecticut * Colony assembled at Hart
ford in January, 1639, and solemnly framed and adopted
the first American Constitution. The promptness of her
citizens in dictating statute law was equaled by their zeal
in enforcing it to secure justice and promote tranquillity.
Alike in domestic and foreign wars, Connecticut has al
ways displayed great vigor and courage. In the spring of
1637, two and a half years after the erection of the first
1 Named after the River Quonektacut, — Long River, — so called by the savages.
13
14 ' CONNECTICUT/ — COLONIAL KECOKD.
house, she was a little confederacy of three plantations, con
taining about one hundred and sixty families. But the
forests enveloping her embryo towns had already become
the lurking-place of the jealous and vengeful Pequot ; and
no traveler or loiterer was safe for a moment from his cruel
tomahawk, and no dwelling secure for a night against his
fire-brand. Numerous murders had already been committed,
with every variety of torture.
The first recorded act of the General Court 2 of that year
" Ordered, That there shall be an offensive war against the
Pequots ; and there shall be ninety men levied out of the
plantations of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor." This
was more than half of the adult males of the colony ; and,
after they went, those remaining at home were placed on
short allowance of food, — not the first time, nor the last, —
and there were not enough men left for the detail of sentries
kept up night and day. " What we plant," wrote one of
them, " is before our own doors ; little anywhere else."
Foreseeing all this, the little army in one week set sail,
under command of the sturdy Capt. John Mason, and,
evincing both strategy and courage, surprised the Indian
fort at Mystic, killed five or six hundred3 of the hostile
tribe, ruined its proud chief, Sassacus, and returned home in
time to plant corn for that year.4
The activity and stern valor in war thus early exhibited
by the planters in no wise surpassed their wisdom in civil
affairs. Two years later, in general convention assembled,
they declared, " We do therefore associate and conjoin our
selves together to be as one public State or Commonwealth."
They thereupon proceeded to frame an elaborate code of
2 Fifteen members, — six magistrates and nine committee-men.
8 Trumbull's Colonial Records.
* Capt. Mason was subsequently offered a commission as major-general in Cromwell's
army, but refused it. Major John Desborough of New Haven actually returned to Eng
land, and held that position ; while his brother Samuel also went back to fight against
Charles, and became Lord-Chancellor of Scotland under Cromwell. At the same time,
Gov. Hopkins of New Haven was appointed to the high office of commissioner of
the English navy ; and Gov. Eaton, also of New Haven, was shortly thereafter made
the king's ambassador at the court of Denmark.
FIRST CONSTITUTION. — INDIAN WARS. *15
>
government, "the first written constitution of the New
World, — one that was the type of all that came after it,
even that of the Republic itself." 5 Of this constitution, Mr.
Bancroft has written, —
" Nearly two centuries have elapsed ; the world has been made wiser by
various experience ; political institutions have become the theme on which
the most powerful and cultivated minds have been employed ; dynasties of
kings have been dethroned, recalled, dethroned again ; and so many con
stitutions have been framed or re-formed, stifled or subverted, that memorv
may despair of a complete catalogue : but the people of Connecticut have
found no reason to deviate essentially from the government established by
their fathers. . . . They who judge of men by their influence on public
happiness, and by the services they render to the human race, will never
cease to honor the memory of Hooker and Haynes." 6
Of such prowess and intellectual force were the founders
of our commonwealth. Sternly self-defended, and wisely
self-governed, they and their children grew to a wholesome
relish of public order, and an invincible love of freedom.
They were quick to see the practical advantage of co-opera
tion for mutual defense against Indians, Dutch, and French ;
and earnestly urged the alliance o£ the New-England colo
nies, formed in 1643, to that end.
Then followed years of anxiety, vigilance, and war,, — the
latter waged mostly in behalf of sister colonies. In 1675,
Major Treat led a hundred Connecticut men into Western
Massachusetts, and rescued the garrison at Northfield be
leaguered by King Philip's warriors, saved the day at Bloody
Brook, and averted a massacre at Springfield. Later, the
same officer, with three hundred men, marched into Eastern
Massachusetts against the great fort of the Narnigansetts;
and, after the troops of that colony had made a brave but
unsuccessful attack, forced an entrance by a persistent and
bloody assault. Four out of five captains, and more than
eighty men, fell in the victorious onset. •
5 Rev. Horace Bushnell's Historic Estimate.
6 Rev. Thomas Hooker, the eloquent pastor of the Hartford Church, and John Haynes,
first governor elected in the colony.
16* CONNECTICUT. — COLONIAL RECORD.
Major Treat was the acknowledged hero of King Philip's
War, and the next spring was elected governor.7
During three years of this Indian war, the colonists un
complainingly paid an annual tax o£ eleven pence on a
pound ; and for two years thereafter, in order the more speed
ily to free themselves from a heavy debt, they increased it
to nineteen pence on a pound. This amounted, in the five
years, to about thirty cents on each dollar of taxable property.
Meanwhile the Protector had died, and a Stuart had re
turned to the throne of England. The New-Haven colonists
were anxious to conciliate the new king; but, at the very
beginning of his reign, it became apparent that they loved
justice more than they feared Charles Stuart". Though fully
aware that the king's personal vengeance svas roused against
the regicides who had been the judges of his royal father,
yet, when the pursuers came to New Haven to search for
and seize the fugitives, Gov. Leete interposed every obstacle
except violence ; brave old Davenport preached to his peo
ple with impressive eloquence from the text, " Make thy
shadow as the night in the midst of noonday, hide the out
casts, bewray not him that wandereth ;" while the uneasy
agents of the king were watched by eyes so reproachful and
menacing, that they hurried off without their prey. The
fugitives were at that moment hidden within the limits of
the town. Ever thereafter, Connecticut was a safe refuge
for the oppressed of every clime, — a sure "covert to them
that flee from the face of the spoiler."
The Hartford colonists more shrewdly improved the early
and pliant days of the second Charles to fortify their pre
cious liberties, by the guaranty of his own signature, against
any future usurpation or exaction. Through Gov. Win-
throp, the most gifted New-Englander of his time, they ob
tained a charter more liberal than was ever before granted to
7 Dr. Bushnell, in Work and Play, says of the early colony, " There never was a
sp;\rk of chivalry in her leaders; and yet there was never a coward • among them. . . .
They knew nothing of fighting without an object; and, when they had one, they went to
work bravely, simply because it was sound economy to tight well."
RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY. 17
any colony by an English king ; and under it they were able
to re-enact, with royal sanction, their constitution and laws.
The colonists of New Haven were, much to their sur
prise, and against their inclination, included, by this charter,
within the jurisdiction of Connecticut. In the Hartford
Colony, none but church-members were eligible to the office
of governor ; but all orderly freemen, on receiving a majority
vote of the town, were electors. In the New-Haven Colony,
no person could be a voter unless he was a member of the
church in full communion.8 Under their devout leader,
Rev. John Davenport, the people had vested civil govern
ment in the Church, and apprehended that religious and
moral laxity might follow the proposed compromise. After
serious discussion, obvious geographical reasons and the
necessity of a closer defensive league prevailed over these
fears ; and, in 1665, the two colonies became one, with John
Winthrop for governor.
The sagacity of the colonists, in anticipating that a Stuart
once in power might become whimsical and tyrannical, was
proved in 1674, when Charles gave a new patent to his
brother, the Duke of York, transferring Connecticut to him.
to be re-organized with the New Netherlands under the
name of New York. Sir Edmund Andros was sent to lay
claim to " all of Connecticut west of the river," and set out
for Saybrook Fort to enforce his authority. Landing there,
he was confronted by the militia drawn up in good order.
Andros, a little disturbed, directed his clerk to read his
commission as governor. The officer in command, having
specific instructions from Gov. Winthrop, commanded him,
with stern bluntness, to " forbear ! " — " Go on ! " said Andros.
" Forbear, sir ! " shouted the captain, with an uplifting of
the sword so ominous as to check the frightened clerk with
ludicrous suddenness. Sir Edmund was intimidated and
perplexed, but, after a moment's pause, asked the captain
8 This was also the rule in the Plymouth and other colonies ; and it was the estab
lished law of England, even down to the present generation.
3
18 CONNECTICUT. — COLONIAL RECOKD.
his name. " My name is Bull, sir," was the reply. "Bull!"
repeated Andros : " it is a pity your horns are not tipped
with silver;" and, covering his chagrin with this bit of
unmeaning pleasantry, he re-embarked.
Every schoolboy knows how, twelve years later, another
treacherous attempt was made to extinguish the sturdy
colony ; how this same petty tyrant appeared at Hartford,
and, in the name of the king, demanded the cherished
charter; how, in the chamber of deliberation, the candles
suddenly went out, and the charter mysteriously vanished ;
how the colony maintained its rights ; how the precious
parchment was ultimately found in a hollow oak ; how the
venerable tree, after being visited by pilgrims for two cen
turies, still lives in a thousand keepsakes and mementoes,
while loving hands cherish the charter which no longer
needs a defender.
Once more, in a colonial capacity, Connecticut obstinately
asserted the chartered rights of the colony against " the
inherent rights of the king," when, in 1693, he conferred
the command of the Connecticut militia on Gov. Fletcher
of New York ; and that functionary, coining to Hartford to
assume command, was silenced by Capt. Wadsworth's drums
and muskets, and returned, baffled and sullen, to his home.
The king, humoring this willful people, never again sought
to muster Connecticut militia under royal officers ; but,
whenever he wanted men or money, made formal requisitions
on their governor, which were responded to with cheerful
alacrity. Well did the stubborn colony earn her reputation
as the land
" Where none kneel, save when to Heaven they pray ;
Nor even then, unless in their own way."
Connecticut had already shed the first blood of the French
and Indian War in the gallant but unavailing defense of
Schenectady ; and thenceforward, to the close of the last
French and Indian War in 1763, her citizens were almost
constantly engaged in campaigns or preparations. A care-
PEEPAE1NG FOE EE VOLUTION. 19
ful investigation shows that the colony furnished propor
tionately a far greater number of soldiers than any other,9
though the frontiers of New York and Massachusetts were
much more exposed.
In these wars, Connecticut expended from her scanty
treasury more than five hundred thousand pounds above
the trifling sum repaid by the Home Government. England
made many fair promises, but, after the close of the war,
reimbursed not a farthing of this enormous outlay. The
colonists were losing respect for the mother-country, and
feeling daily their growing independence.
The Connecticut General Assembly, as early as May,
1764, entered a calm but vigorous and searching protest
against the threatened Stamp Act. In the spirit of those
who sent him, Mr. Jared Ingersoll, the special envoy of the
colony to England, assured the secretary of the king's
treasury that " p,ny supposable scheme " of taxation by
parliament " would go down with the people like chopped
hay ; " and that any plan for enforcing such acts would in
volve an expense bearing a ratio to the profits, not unlike
" burning a barn to roast an egg." The remonstrance
secured a brief delay ; but the law was passed.
The governor and his council, the envoy and many of
the leading men, with sad but loyal hearts, advised submis
sion to the la\v of the realm. Not so Trumbull, Putnam,
Durkee, the veteran soldiers and sturdy yeomen. In town-
meetings assembled, they repeatedly resolved that " busi
ness shall proceed as usual" without stamped paper; and
the Sons of Liberty, vigilant and resolute, rode in armed
bands, destroying stamped material, and compelling the
stamp-officer to resign.
The substitute Revenue Act and the Boston Port Bill
evoked a day of fasting and prayer, a refurnishing of
munitions and supplies, the formation of an artillery com
pany, and a thorough re-organization of the militia.
9 Hollister's History, vol. ii. p. 118.
20 CONNECTICUT. — COLONIAL RECORD.
Thus the colonists of Connecticut were unconsciously but
fully prepared for revolution.
In September, 1774, a premature alarm was sounded
throughout the colony ; and, in sixty hours, more than ten
thousand armed men started to the relief of Boston. This
promptness but foreshadowed the alacrity with which they
afterwards responded to the actual call.
Eighteen hours after tidings of the engagement at Lex
ington reached him, fiery Putnam, gray-haired, and verging
on sixty, had visited and received orders from Gov. Trum-
bull ; and, riding all night, he dashed into Concord at sunrise.
Troops pushed on after him by squads and companies, until
more than three thousand Connecticut soldiers confronted
the enemy at Boston. These were pronounced the best
equipped, drilled, and officered of the troops there collected.
The retaliatory expedition against Ticonderoga was
planned immediately after, by Connecticut men, during the
session of the General Assembly at Hartford. It was led
by residents or natives of Connecticut, was achieved in
part by her soldiers, and paid for in full from her treasury.
The capture of this fort was the first victory, and the first
aggressive stroke, of the war; and the armament and muni
tions thus obtained were essential to the success of the
patriot army before Boston.
By the end of April, Connecticut had issued bills of credit
to the amount of a hundred thousand pounds ; and, by early
summer, had twenty-two regiments organized and equipped
for the field.
Putnam was the most ardent and belligerent member of
the council of war near Boston. The Massachusetts Com
mittee of Safety and the officers in command were hesi
tating and irresolute. Putnam insisted on the immediate
occupation of Bunker Hill, and made a bold statement of
the situation, ending with words which embodied his own
stern purpose : " At the worst, suppose us surrounded, and
no retreat, we will set our country an example of which it
shall not be ashamed, and teach mercenaries what men can
PUTNAM AT BUNKER HILL. — INDEPENDENCE. 21
do determined to live or die free." This impetuous out
burst overbore all opposition ; and Putnam was*directed to
make the intrenchment In the battle which resulted, Put
nam had command of the American forces. The terse
orders of the day were his : " Aim at their waistbands ! Pick
off the officers! Reserve your fire till you see the whites of
their eyes; then fire low!" Re-enforcements or powder,
both of which were denied to Putnam by his misjudging
commander Gen. Ward, might have made the conflict, in
stead of a glorious defeat, the bloodiest victory of the Revo
lution.
The high estimate placed upon Putnam by Washington
is indicated by the fact, that, bringing with him from the
Congress at Philadelphia the commissions of four major-
generals in the Continental army, he handed to Putnam his
commission several days before delivering the others, in
order thus to rank him as second in command.
On the 14th of June, 1776, in advance of any tidings of
congressional action, Connecticut pronounced for independ
ence in these words : —
" Resolved unanimously by this Assembly, That the delegates of this
colony, in General Congress, be, and they are, hereby instructed to propose
to that respectable body to declare the United American Colonies free and
independent States, absolved from all allegiance to the King of Great Brit
ain, and to give the assent of this colony to such declarations."
Connecticut, with her practical turn of mind, made the
equestrian statue of King George, in New York, useful to
rebels against his authority. On the llth of July, seven
days after the declaration of the Continental Congress, this
statue of gilded lead was visited by the Sons of Liberty,
rudely toppled over, and hurried away the wondering Tories
knew not whither. But any well-known patriot who visited
the shed half hidden in the apple-orchard of Gen. Wolcott,
in Litchfield, would have found his son Frederick chopping
up the royal image with a hatchet into suitable lumps ; and
before the glowing coals in the huge kitchen fire-place, wife
22 CONNECTICUT. — COLONIAL RECORD.
and daughter, with neighboring matrons and maids, fusing
the lumps into bullets with many a shrug and jest. It was
so fitting that the hirelings of the king should have " melted
majesty fired at them."
Immediately after the British were forced from Boston,
Putnam was ordered by Washington to the command at New
York ; and the militia of Connecticut west of the river rallied
there in obedience to his summons, while those east hurried
to the defense of New London. Upon sending forward to
New York additional volunteers to join the five Connecticut
regiments already there, Trumbull thus exhorted the young
men : " Be roused and alarmed to stand forth in our just
and glorious cause. Join yourselves to some one or other
of the companies of the militia now ordered to New York ;
or form yourselves into distinct companies, and choose cap
tains forthwith. March on. This shall be our warrant : Play
the man for God, and for the cities of our God. May the
Lord of hosts', the God of the armies of Israel, be your
leader ! " The young farmers rose up from their half-gathered
harvests, and forming themselves in nine regiments, self-
equipped, marched to New York just in time to meet the
advance of the British. Not less than twenty thousand of
our citizens were then in actual service ; and, up to this time,
" Connecticut had furnished and kept in the field full one-
half the American army commanded by Washington." 10
Putnam selected West Point ; and Gen. Parsons, with a
Connecticut brigade camped there in 1778, without tents,
and in snow two feet deep erected the fort, then and
now impregnable, over which no flag but the stars and
stripes has ever waved.
At no time during the Revolution could Connecticut num
ber more than forty thousand fighting men; but she put 31,959
in the field. Her population was but eight per cent of the
entire population of the colonies ; but she furnished fourteen
per cent of the Continental troops, — a larger ratio than any
10 Hollister's History of Connecticut, vol. ii. p. 273.
CONNECTICUT IN 1776. 23
other colony.11 Massachusetts alone surpassed her in actual
numbers; though New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir
ginia, and the two Carol in as, were also larger in population.
Moreover, many Massachusetts troops enlisted for nine
months, and were recounted at each re-enlistment ; so that it
is asserted 12 that" Connecticut furnished for the Continental
ranks, and kept in actual service, more men than any other
State in the Confederacy."
Of the quality of these men, their conduct bore witness ;
but Gen. Root declared, that, in his brigade alone, there
were seven ministers who had taken the field as captains of
their own congregations.
Upon no man in civil life in America did Washington so
much depend for wise counsel and prompt aid in every
emergency as upon Jonathan Trumbull, the bold but prudent
Governor of Connecticut, — the only governor on the conti
nent, when the war began, who was not appointed by the
king. His co-operation was so constant and so valuable, that
the most intimate relations sprang up between him and
Washington ; and the latter, in seasons of unusual perplexity,
was wont to remark playfully, yet with serious purpose, " We
must consult Brother Jonathan." And it is now well known 13
that this affectionate sobriquet for Trumbull, passing from
officer to soldier and from soldier to citizen, was made a
popular catch-word, first applied to the State he represented,
and finally becoming a synonym for the colossal young
Republic.
Before the Revolution, a tract of country seven hundred
miles long and seventy broad, extending from the Delaware
to the Mississippi, and embracing fifty thousand square miles,
was a part of the Colony of Connecticut. In 1774, it was at
tached, for judicial purposes, to Litchficld County, under the
name of Westmoreland; and in 1776 was erected into asepa-
11 According to the first census (1790), the total population of the States was 3,929,827;
the population of Connecticut, 238,141. The total of the Continental army was 231,701,
of which Connecticut furnished 31,959.
12 Hollister's History of Connecticut.
13 Stuart, 697 ; Hollister, 426.
24 CONNECTICUT. — COLONIAL RECORD.
rate county by that name. Throughout the struggle that fol
lowed, this vast area was deemed a part of Connecticut ; but
in 1782, by the unjust decree at Trenton, it was wrenched
from our jurisdiction, and subjected to Pennsylvania. Thus
the State which had been the very keystone of the Union
during the conflict, which had met every crisis with the
utmost vigor and made every sacrifice for the establishment
of the Republic, now suffered the mortification of seeing her
laws nullified, her territory violated, and her rank in the
Union reduced.
During the conflict, Washington personally applauded the
valor of Connecticut's soldiers : and the nation gratefully re
members the services of her heroes, — Putnam, Ethan Allen,
Warner, Silliman, Waterbury, Wolcott; and the devotion of
her martyrs, — Wooster, Knowlton, Ledyard, and Nathan
Hale.
In the war of 1812, she was one of the first to defy and
assail the hereditary foe; and in the first month of the con
flict, both on land and sea, the first two British flags struck
were surrendered to sons of Connecticut, as was the first
British flag and the first British guns captured in the Revo
lution.
It is a fact equally noticeable, that Connecticut has al
ways defended herself against her foes single-handed ; and
that, notwithstanding her expose;! position, no soldiers from
any other colony or state ever fought upon the soil of Con
necticut in her defense, though thousands of her own troops
went to the aid of New York and Boston.
There is no State in the world whose early statutes were
more liberal and enlightened than those of Connecticut. To
the epithet of " blue-laws," now used only by the ignorant,
or by others in playful derision, our citizens are no longer
sensitive; for well-informed people have learned that no such
laws were ever on our statute-books. The absurd " code "
which has been attributed to our infant colony was the in
vention of " the Tory renegade, Rev. Samuel Peters, who,
while better men were fighting the battles of their country,
"BLUE-LAWS." 25
was skulking in London, and getting his bread there by the
stories he could fabricate about Connecticut." How this
ridiculous forgery could have obtained currency and cre
dence, it is difficult to understand.14
It is true that some of the early statutes are severe against
the Baptists and Quakers, as in Massachusetts, New York,
and Virginia ; but there were no Quakers in the colony, and
it does not appear that the penalties against the Baptists
were ever enforced. Nor does it appear that the persecu
tions for witchcraft were so frequent or so severe as in other
colonies or beyond the sea. The English statute against
witchcraft stood unrepealed down to 1736; and women have
been hanged in Europe within a hundred years for " selling
their souls to the Devil."
The Episcopal Church was tolerated here by public act,
when there were not in the State seventy families of that
denomination, and at the very time when two Presbyterian
clergymen were imprisoned for months at New York, and
fined five hundred pounds sterling, for the offense of preach
ing a sermon and baptizing a child.
It is true, that, for a short time, church-going was com
manded by law in Connecticut ; but Virginia passed a law in
1718 requiring every person to attend church on Sundays,
on penalty of imprisonment for one night, and service of the
colony as a slave for one week. And it was in force during
this century. It cannot be denied, that, about 1644, Con
necticut passed a law, ordering " that no man within this
colonye shall take any tobacko publiquely in the streett,
highwayes, or any barne yardes, or uppon training dayes, in
any open places, under penaltye," &c. Those who deem
this an unwarrantable infringement of personal liberty
]4 Guthrie's Grammar, published in London about 1775, had this paragraph: —
" CONNECTICUT. — The men of this country, in general, are robust, stout, and tall. The great
est care is taken with the limbs and bodies of infants, which are kept straight by means of a board,
— a practice learnt of the Indian women, who abhor all crooked people, — so that deformity is
a rarity. The women are fair, handsome, and genteel, and modest and reserved in their manner
and behavior. They are not permitted to read plays ; nor can they converse about whist, qua
drilles, or operas : but it is said they will talk freely upon other subjects, of history, geography,
and other literary topics."
4
26 CONNECTICUT. — COLONIAL EECOED.
may remember that Boston has a kindred prohibition to
day.
These comparisons are cited only to show that Connecti
cut, sometimes sneered at for "blue-laws" never enacted,
was, in fact, ahead of the fashions of her time. " Her only
reproach in the whole matter is," says Dr. Bushnell, " that
she was not farther in advance of the civilized world by an
other half-century."
But a complete vindication is the Colonial Constitution
itself, which gave a tangible and original shape to the repub
lican instinct of New England. It organized an annually
elective government; required deputies to be inhabitants
of communities represented ; gave the elective franchise to
any man admitted by a majority vote of his town. All
these were novel and radical changes, — a bold advance be
yond the outposts of any existing government. At this
very time, they were endeavoring in Massachusetts to com
fort the "hereditary gentlemen" by erecting them into a
kind of American House of Lords called the " Standing
Council for Life." Their officers stood upon the theocratic
basis ; and many of the principal men insisted, that, the
governor once elected, his office became a vested right, of
which he could never properly be deprived.15
Citizens of Connecticut may well be proud of the remark
able fact, that in the constitution of the little republic of
"Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor," no mention what
ever is made of either king or parliament, or of allegiance
owed to either; but it is expressly declared, with an impulse
which could have sprung only from a consciousness of the
divine right of the people, that in the General Court, under
God, " shall exist the SUPREME POWER of the Commonwealth."
Under this free-written constitution, Connecticut learned her
lessons of liberty ; and she was the only one of all the
thirteen colonies whose people never submitted to be ruled
by a royal governor, and whose capital was never infested
by a royal court.
15 Vide Bushnell's Historic Estimate.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT. —INVENTIONS. 27
The first law-school of the nation was the celebrated
school of Judge Reeve at Litchfield, and Kirby's Connecti
cut Reports were the first American reports published.
Chief Justice Ellsworth, Judges Smith, Gould, Kent, Wai-
worth, and many of the most distinguished jurists of the
country, were sons of Connecticut. "Judge Ellsworth was
chairman of the committee of Congress that prepared the
Judiciary Act, by which the Supreme Court of the nation
was organized ; and it will be found that some of the pro
visions of that act that are most peculiar are copied, verba
tim, from the statutes of Connecticut. The practice of the
Supreme Court is often said to resemble the practice of Con
necticut more than that of any other State." 1G
In this brief rehearsal of the former heroism of our State,
as a background for recent achievements, it is hardly neces
sary to refer to her established pre-eminence in manufactures
and mechanical skill.
In our State, John Fitch made the first steamboat; Eli
Whitney invented the cotton-gin that doubled the cotton-
crop of the South ; Samuel F. B. Morse devised and con
structed the first electric telegraph ; and Dr. Kinsley invent
ed and exhibited, in the streets of Hartford, the first steam-
locomotive ever built.
Religion and popular education were inseparably blended
in the minds of the colonists. Laws were to be enacted
" according to the word of God." As early as 1650, the
General Court directed the selectmen to " see to it " that " no
family in the colony should permit such barbarism " as not
to send their children and apprentices to school. But to
those who acknowledge the supremacy of God, and who
believe that intelligence is an efficient handmaid of
righteousness and good order, a tendency to such enactments
should scarcely seem a legitimate mark for derision.
The result of the early school-discipline of the State is,
that, in the legislative bodies of the West, the sons of
Connecticut are in a large majority, compared with the
emigrants from any other State. In the Constitutional Con-
16 Bushnell's Historic Estimate.
28 CONNECTICUT. — COLONIAL RECOKD.
vention of New York in 1821, out of one hundred and
twenty-six members, thirty-two were natives of Connecti
cut, while only nine were natives of Massachusetts. In the
Ohio Legislature of 1838-39, in the lower house of seventy-
four members, twelve were from Connecticut, two from
Massachusetts, two from Vermont. Hon. James Hillhouse,
when in Congress, found that forty-seven of the members,
or about one-fifth of the whole number in both houses, were
native-born sons of Connecticut. Of the New- York repre
sentatives, sixteen, or nearly one-half, were sons, or descend
ants in the male line, of Connecticut. Mr. Calhoun once
said that he had seen the time when the natives of Con
necticut in Congress, together with all the graduates of Yale
College there sitting, lacked only five of being a majority.
This result is constantly repeating itself throughout the
Western States.
" How beautiful is the attitude of our little State," says
Dr. Bushnell, " when seen through the medium of facts like
these ! Unable to carry weight by numbers, she is seen
marching out her sons, empowered in capacity and fortified
by virtue, to take their posts of honor and influence in other
States ; in her behalf to be their physicians and ministers of
religion, their professors and lawyers, their wise senators,
their great lawyers and incorruptible judges, bulwarks of
virtue, truth, and order to the Republic in all coming time.
And then, when the vast area of our country between the
two oceans is filled with a teeming population, when the
delegates of sixty or a hundred States, from the granite
shores of the East, and the alluvial plains of the South, and
the golden mountains of the West, are assembled in the halls
of our Congress, and little Connecticut is there represented
in her own behalf by her one delegate, it will still and always
be found that she is numerously represented also by her
sons from other States ; and her one delegate shall be him
self regarded, in his person, as the symbol of that true
Brother Jonathan whose name still designates the great
Republic of the world."
CHAPTER H.
The War begun at the Ballot-box. — Elections in Connecticut in 1860. — Attitude of
Parties. — Secession becomes Formidable. — Discussion and Recrimination. — Our
Representatives in Congress. — Their Action on Peace Propositions. — Foresight of
Gov. Buckingham. — The Peace Conference. — Hon. Isaac Toucey. — Spring Elec
tion of 1861. — Connecticut declares for Coercion.
HE citizens of Connecticut retain their ancestral
independence of thought, and tenacity of opinion.
Though conservative in tendency, they accept,
without flinching, the logical consequences of
their principles. This characteristic was strik
ingly exemplified in the elections during the year 1860.
The spring election, instead of the presidential, decided the
position of Connecticut upon national questions. The
issues being already sharply defined, the campaign was
intensely animated and vigorous, and brought out almost
every elector. In the extraordinary poll of 88,375 votes,
the Republican candidate received 44,458 votes ; a majority
of only 541.
A close and hotly-contested presidential campaign was at
first expected ; but the rupture of the Democratic party, and
the result of the October gubernatorial elections in Penn
sylvania and other States, so clearly foreshadowed the
election of Mr. Lincoln, that excitement and effort subsided.
The people of Connecticut quietly assembled on the 6th
of November, and polled a total vote of 77,292, distributed
as follows : Lincoln, 43,792 ; Douglas, 15,522 ; Breckenridge,
14,641; Bell, 1,485 ; Fusion, 1,852. Total opposition, 33,500.
Majority for Lincoln, 10,292.
29
30 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
The supporters of Mr. Lincoln did not generally believe
the explicit and reiterated declarations of the Southern
leaders, that his election would be the signal of an imme
diate attempt at disunion. Those who did, decided to vote
for their candidate, and abide the issue.
The leading men and journals of this State opposed to
Mr. Lincoln predicted, in case of his election, a determined
effort at separation by the slave States ; but their fears of
disunion, or objections to it, were not so serious as to heal
their party dissensions, and cause them to unite to defeat
the Republican candidate at the polls.
After the election, they at once avowed for themselves
entire acquiescence in the decision of the people constitu
tionally expressed.1
Our people were turning with renewed energy to their
usual business ; but the Legislature of South Carolina,
convened for the purpose on the day after the election,
voted at once to call a convention for secession. Other
States prepared precipitately to follow.
Action so abrupt and apparently resolute startled our
people. They did not yet fear disruption by open rebel
lion ; but they were alarmed, lest, by the unfamiliar process
of secession, the dismemberment of the Union might, in
spite of protesting millions, be adroitly compassed.
They began at once to examine the theory of secession
and the legal and practical effect of the actual ordinance,
neither of which had been much discussed at the North.
Prominent supporters of Mr. Lincoln asserted that "secession
is treason, and must be treated by the government as
treason," and that " the government has the right and the
power to compel obedience." A considerable number of
Republicans, while they emphatically denied the right of
secession, questioned the policy of forcibly preventing it.
They held, that, if an undoubted majority of the adult
1 " It is right that he (Lincoln) should be inaugurated, and that he should be sustained
in the legitimate discharge of the executive duties of the government. Certain it is that
he will not be permitted to encroach on the rights of any State. — Hartford Times, Nov. 7.
THE DOCTRINE OF SECESSION. 31
population of any State deliberately pronounced for separa
tion, the rest of the States, though they might legally compel
that State to remain, would do better to assemble in national
convention, and acquiesce in her departure from the Union.
Withdrawal under these sanctions is the only secession ever
deemed valid or permissible by any number of the supporters
of Mr. Lincoln. Many who had voted against him also
concurred in this view.
Some of the opponents of the President elect denied the
right of secession, but claimed that there was no constitu
tional remedy against it. The greater part held that the
recusant States were theoretically if not practically right ;
that the United States was simply a confederation of sove
reign States, any one of which possessed a constitutional
right to withdraw whenever it should consider the arrange
ment 'no longer profitable. They deemed an attempt to
coerce a State, in order to vindicate the supreme authority
of the Federal Government and to preserve the territorial
integrity of the Union, to be both illegal and useless.2
Though the doctrine of secession found defenders, the
champions of the overt act were few. The mass of our
citizens deeply deprecated disunion, as portending only grave
and measureless calamity. To avert this calamity, they pro
fessed to be eager to act with " such moderation and forbear
ance as will draw out, strengthen, and combine the Union
sentiment of the whole country." But the attempt to
reduce this general expression to a more specific statement
revealed a wide difference of opinion. The opponents of
Mr. Lincoln accused his friends of the ulterior purpose of
interfering with slavery in the States, and asserted that the
Southern people had abundant provocation for their treason
able conduct. They demanded of the Republicans a repu-
2 The Hartford Times of Nov. 7, after referring to the danger that the slave States
would " form a separate confederacy, and retire peaceably from the Union," proceeds to
say, " If they do so decide and act, it will he useless to attempt any coercive measures to
keep them within the voluntary copartnership of States. ... We can never force.
sovereign States to remain in the Union when they desire to go out, without bringing
upon our country the shocking evils of civil war, under which the Republic could not,
of course, long exist."
32 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
diation of the distinctive principle on which the political
campaign had been fought and won, and declared that the
conservatives of the North would never consent to coercion ;
adding the not unfrequent menace, that, " if war is to be
waged, that war will be fought in the North."
The Republicans replied, that no misstatement of their
principles and purposes, and no threat, empty or significant,
would move them a hair's-breadth ; and that the intemper
ate language of their opponents tended rather to mislead
than to undeceive the Southern people. At the same time,
they avowed a sincere desire to make their real opinions
and designs understood by the South, and a readiness to
join in a convention of all the States and parties for mutual
consultation and reconciliation ; and repeatedly pledged
" any sacrifice of mere feeling or interest " for harmony and
union. A majority of our people, though uneasy at the
portentous and expanding proportions of secession, were
confident that excitement would subside, reason displace
passion, and a peaceful solution of our difficulties be at
length safely reached. So believing, they anxiously awaited
the assembling of Congress.
Connecticut was represented in the Thirty-sixth Congress
by Senators Lafayette S. Foster and James Dixon, and
Representatives Dwight Looinis, John Woodruff, Alfred A.
Burnham, and Orris S. Ferry.
They, like their constituents, hoped much from personal
intercourse and consultation with the representatives of the
South; and were resolved to omit no honorable effort to
avert disunion and civil strife.
The House of Representatives, on the second day of the
session, raised a committee of thirty-three — one from each
State — upon " the state of the Union." Messrs. Ferry and
Woodruff voted for the resolution ; Messrs. Burnham and
Loomis, against it. Mr. Ferry was designated as the Con
necticut member of that important committee. The mes
sage of the President, and the thirty or more sets of reso
lutions submitted, comprised every conceivable plan of
adjustment.
FIEING UPON THE STAR OF THE WEST. 33
On the 10th of December, a resolution, raising a similar
committee of thirteen on the state of the Union, was intro
duced in the Senate. Senator Foster favored the resolution,
"as a step which may allay public excitement. It looks
toward bringing back harmony and fraternal feeling to the
country." 3
Senator Dixon also, in advocating the resolution, said that
he felt no desire " to threaten war in any event. . . . The
slavery question must now have a final and rightful adjust
ment, consented to by the people of both sections. . . .
The first thing should be to restore fraternal spirit by cheer
fully and honestly assuring to every section of the country
its constitutional rights." He added, " My constituents are
ready to make any sacrifice which a reasonable man can ask
or an honorable man can grant."
In reply, Senator Brown of Mississippi declared, " There
is but one way. The Northern people must review and
reverse their whole policy on the subject of slavery. There
is no such purpose, and therefore no hope of reconciliation." *
Mr. Brown and his coadjutors in the Senate and House per
sisted. The Republicans refused to yield. Discussion now
became obviously useless.
Major Anderson's removal from Moultrie to Sumter
stirred the heart of the North ; while the firing upon the
Star of the West (Jan. 9) roused indignant resentment.
The war-spirit began to kindle and glow.
Gov. Buckingham, watching every movement intently, felt
that war was imminent, and that Connecticut should be ready.
On the 17th of January, he issued a proclamation, in
which he recited the traitorous and hostile acts of the South,
and reminded our people, that " when reason gives way to
passion, and order yields to anarchy, the civil power must
fall back upon the military for support, and rest upon that
arm of national defense." With clear vision and resolute
purpose, he said that " the active services of the militia may
8 Congressional Globe, Thirty-sixth Congress, second session.
4 The committee was ordered ; but neither senator from Connecticut was placed on it.
6
34 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
soon be required ; " and urged companies to fill their ranks,
inspect their arms and equipments, perfect themselves in
drill, and " be ready to render such service as any exigency
may demand." Then, as if foreseeing that the struggle was
to be no easy one, he, on his own responsibility, quietly
ordered his quartermaster to purchase equipments for five
thousand men.
The opponents of the incoming administration clamored at
the delay of Congress to adopt pacificatory measures. The
border State men now submitted propositions which they
hoped would, if adopted, satisfy the border slave States, and
keep them from secession. Petitions numerously signed,
praying for the adoption of these propositions, were for
warded from New Haven, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Derby,
Hartford, Bethany, Westport, Seymour, New London, North
Haven, Wallingford, Milford, and other towns.5 Petitions
from Hartford and some other towns, for the adoption of the
Crittenden propositions, were transmitted to Congress. More
were circulated, but were never sent on.
The last-named petitions were viewed by some in a
partisan light, because the Democratic State Convention
had, on the 6th of February, recommended in its platform
the Crittenden or similar propositions.
Citizens of Mystic and neighboring towns united in a
protest against any compromise involving the extension of
slavery ; and those of Derby and vicinity sent a petition
praying Congress to stand firmly by " the Constitution as it
is, the Union of the States, and the enforcement of the
laws ; " and pledging themselves, " separately and unitedly,"
to maintain " public liberty and national safety " against all
enemies, abroad or at home.
Meanwhile the Peace Conference had been in session.
Connecticut was represented by Ex-Gov. Roger S. Baldwin,
Ex-Gov. Chauncey F. Cleveland, Hon. Charles J. McCurdy,
Hon. James T. Pratt, Hon. Robbins Battell, and Amos Treat,
6 Congressional Globe, Thirty-sixth Congress, second session, Feb. 2-27.
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION. 35
Esq. Ex-Gov. Baldwin,6 eminent alike for learning and pa
triotism, strenuously advocated a national convention, to pro
pose amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
This proposition was rejected by a vote of eight yeas to thir
teen nays, each State casting one vote. The Connecticut
delegation thereafter voted against most of the propositions
submitted by the select committee. Neither the Peace
Conference nor the petitions of citizens availed any thing.
Our representatives in Washington became convinced
that no compromise could check secession; that honor and
safety alike called for decided action. On the llth of Feb
ruary, Mr. Ferry offered in the House a resolution looking
to such an amendment of the Constitution as " expressly to
forbid the withdrawal of any State from the Union without
the consent of two-thirds of both houses of Congress, the
approval of the President, and the consent of all the States."
Mr. Burnett of Kentucky proposing to debate the resolution,
it was laid over, and never voted on.
Mr. Burnham, on the 14th of February, addressed the
House. He emphatically urged every citizen of every State
to enforce all laws, and pointedly called on the South to
guarantee protection to citizens of free States while traveling
in slave States. He entered a vigorous protest against the
amendment of the Constitution, or the adoption of any com
promise " under coercion of fear." He declared that the
government must be maintained and the will of the people
obeyed.
On the 24th, Mr. Ferry made an earnest speech, affirming
that the Southern leaders demanded that the Constitution be
so amended as to give protection to slave-property every-
0 " As early as Feb. 4, Gov. Buckingham addressed the delegation in a letter, in which,
after counseling a conciliatory spirit, he said, " I would suggest as of primary impor
tance that you have special regard to measures which tend to maintain the dignity and
authority of the government; so that every citizen shall feel that it is, and is to be, a
shield to protect him in every proper and lawful pursuit, as well as in his property and
his person.
" Also that no sanction be given to measures which shall bind the government to new
guaranties for the protection of property in man, — a principle subversive of the founda
tions of a free government."
36 CONNECTICUT DUUING THE EEBELLION.
where in the United States, while they refused to pledge
that even such an amendment, with the repeal of the Per
sonal-liberty Bills, should constitute a final and satisfactory
adjustment. "To buy transient peace, even if possible, at
the price of this amendment, is to enact a dangerous prece
dent. Any new demand will be enforced by repeated seces
sion. ... A compromise now is but the establishment of
sedition as an elementary principle in our system. . . . There
is no course left but for the government to vindicate its
dignity by an exhibition of its strength."
In the same spirit our entire delegation had voted in the
Senate on the llth of February, and in the House on the 20th,
for a proposition to build at once seven war-steamers.
The only pacificatory measure adopted by Congress was
a resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution,
providing that the Constitution shall never be so amended as
to give Congress the power to abolish or interfere with the
domestic institutions of any State. In the Senate, Mr. Dixon
voted for the resolution. Mr. Foster did not vote. In the
House, our entire delegation voted against it.7
On the 2d of March, the House of Representatives passed
a resolution censuring Hon. Isaac Toucey for the manner in
which he had administered affairs as Secretary of the Navy.8
During the special session, Mr. Foster, on the 8th of
March, moved the expulsion of Mr. Wigfall of Texas, because
he had declared himself " a foreigner, and owing allegiance
to the foreign State of Texas." He held that the secession
of Texas in no way invalidated the right of the senator to
sit in the Senate during the time for which he had been
constitutionally elected ; but the contemptuous language
and traito'rous spirit of the senator rendered his presence
dangerous and insulting. The motion passed by a party
vote.
Seceded States were now organized, defiant, and belli-
7 All of our representatives had, however, voted, on the llth of February, for a
declaratory resolution <Jf the same purport.
8 For a detailed statement, see Appendix.
CONNECTICUT VOTES FOR COERCION. 37
gerent. " Coercion " was the issue in the State election ; and
each party met it squarely. The Democrats regarded dis
union as an accomplished fact, and advocated a peace policy
as a means of retaining the border States, and ultimately
winning back those which had already seceded. In their
State Convention (Feb. 6), they resolved that "the perni
cious doctrine of coercion " is " utterly at war with the
exercise of right, mature judgment, and the principles of
the Constitution of the United States, and should be strongly
resisted by every lover of our common country."
The Republicans of Connecticut had kept pace with their
representatives in Congress, and, on the 26th of February,
had pronounced explicitly for the maintenance, by force, of
"the supreme and perpetual authority of the National
Government."
The canvass was spirited, and the vote large, exhibiting a
total of 84,015 ; of which William A. Buckingham received
43,012, — a majority over James C. Loomis of 2,009.9
Thus the freemen of Connecticut by a majority vote
decided for coercion. The stern meaning of that decision
they were soon to know. Within fourteen days, the flag, —
not in half a century struck to any foe, — to them the sacred
emblem of resistless and protecting nationality, was hauled
down in defeat, to be raised again in triumph on that spot
by the hand that lowered it ; but not until four years had
passed in civil war, matchless in cost, in magnitude, and in
valor.
9 This vote is but little lighter than that of the spring of 1860, justly the test election ;
the Republican vote being less by 1,446, the Democratic by 2,931. The majority,
compared with that of 1860, shows for the Republicans an apparent gain in available
strength of 1,485 votes.
• CHAPTER m.
The Fall of Sumtcr. — Enthusiasm in Connecticut. — "Coercion " accepted as a Duty. —
A Battle-Sunday. — Winsted and New Britain. — Sympathy for the South. — The
Call for the First Regiment. — Condition of our Militia. — The Massachusetts Sixth. —
The Towns moving. — The Hartford Companies. — Meriden, New Haven, Danbury,
Middlctown, Norwich, Derby, Willimantic, Mystic, Putnam, Danielsonville, Bridge
port, Waterbury, New London, Litchfield, Wallingford, Farmington, Salisbury. — The
Old Flag.
HE traitors are firing on Sumter ! " read the
dispatch : " Anderson answers gun for gun ! "
Men stood startled a moment, and half dis
mayed ; then, with electric response to the
echoing summons, they spoke out with indig
nation and courage : " Parley is ended ; now re-enforce Sum
ter ; avenge the insult ; vindicate the nation's honor ! "
For six months, the impatient arms of the loyal people had
been bound, and their patriotic resentments suppressed ; while
traitors had gone on from arrogance to menace, and from as
sault to assault, everywhere unresisted. They had captured
and occupied nineteen national forts ; had taken possession
of scores of Federal revenue-cutters and war-vessels ; had
appropriated our arsenals and mints; had stolen twelve
hundred cannon and a hundred and fifty thousand muskets
from the national armories ; had caused the destruction of
fifteen million dollars' worth of ships and ordnance-stores at
Pensacola ; had waged war on the government by firing upon
and driving back a vessel sent to relieve a starving garrison ;
had assumed to wrest State after State out of the Union ; and
had made prisoners, through the treachery of commanders, of
more than half of the regular army of the United States, —
38
A BATTLE-SUNDAY. 39
all this without eliciting a single shot in defense of the
nation. The patience of the Northern people was well-nigh
exhausted. A majority of the supporters of President Lin
coln believed that his policy was too timid and forbearing.
They felt that the nation was weaker in April than in March ;
and that the president still debated what he should have
decided, and paused when he ought to act. The demand that
the assaulted government should defend itself had been
hitherto answered only by new efforts at conciliation, and
followed by still grosser insults and outrages.
From the bitterness of these humiliations, and from painful
suspense and helpless inactivity, the first gun brought relief.
All day Saturday the city streets were crowded, and from
the country towns came riding anxious men asking for
the news. The bombardment was going on ; Anderson was
making a brave resistance : little else was known with certain
ty. But this short message thrilled the State with a sort of
angry exultation. The loyal people were of one mind: "Let us
settle this trouble now, and not bequeath it to our children."
The excitement swept across the State, kindling battle-fires
in which the mortification of years was consumed. Doubt
was succeeded by enthusiasm. The despairing felt that the
Republic was saved. Conservatives who had grappled to
the Crittenden Compromise, as the hope of the hour, were
stunned by the sudden blow. Men who, by force of party
habit, had justified treason in its preliminary offenses, were
awed into silence now by the audacity of this act of war :
while patriots thanked God, that, if war must come, it had
been no longer delayed ; and forthwith fell into line for the
front. Business was suspended, and men prepared to meet
the crisis.
The next day was a battle-Sunday all over the State. The
news of the surrender of Sumter was announced in the large
towns; and the event was alluded to in sermons, and responded
to by congregations, in a manner worthy of Revolutionary
times. Ministers prayed that the foes of the nation might
be smitten down, and law maintained, and liberty given to
40 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the captive ; and urged their hearers to trust in God, and do
their duty. The Hartford Daily Post, a Douglas Demo
cratic organ, which had already pronounced heartily against
treason, issued extras, and freely sold them within church-
doors without rebuke. The New-Haven Palladium, an able
supporter of the administration, sold that day eight thou
sand extras. In the evening, people throughout the State
assembled in unusual numbers at their conference-meetings,
and expressed their solemn purpose in address and prayer.
A war-meeting for the evening was announced from
some of the pulpits of New Britain, and a great gathering
was the result. Resolutions to sustain the government were
passed ; and a volunteer roll, headed by Frank Stanley, was
opened as a nucleus of the first company. " A handsome
photograph of Major Anderson, encircled with a laurel
wreath, prepared by a lady of New Britain, was presented
in a thrilling speech by V. B. Chamberlin, Esq. ; the whole
audience rising to their feet with the wildest demonstrations
of enthusiasm."
A similar meeting was called in West Winsted ; and Camp's
Hall was filled with an enthusiastic crowd. In the midst of
the excitement, Roland Hitchcock, a lawyer, offered a resolu
tion declaring that the president ought to withdraw the
United-States troops from the forts within the seceded States,
stop the shedding of blood, settle the difficulties honorably
by further concessions, and " revive the drooping business
interests." He was fiercely hissed down ; and the proposition
was indignantly and almost unanimously rejected. The
meeting adopted a patriotic address ; and one hundred
young men signed an agreement to go to the war. A sub
scription-paper was also opened, and seven hundred dollars
subscribed for the volunteers.
Preparations for volunteering were made in all the large
towns. Excited crowds filled the streets, and thronged
telegraph and newspaper offices.
The Hartford Times displayed a good deal of boldness in
attempting to stay the rising tide. On Saturday, when
TREASONABLE SENTIMENTS. 41
Sumter was on fire, and Anderson and his intrepid little band
were tearing up their garments to make cartridges, in the
midst of smoke and flames, the Times reasoned thus : —
" ' But,' say the yield-not-an-inch Republicans, ' the Southerners fired
the first gun.' Under what circumstances? As our fathers in the Revo
lution declared their independence of Great Britain, so have seven States
at the South declared their independence of the Federal Government of the
United States. . . . Could that people wait until they were taken by the
throat and held in subjection? Their position had been taken. That
position was invaded by a powerful force, and to save themselves they
acted. ... In the end, this controversy must be settled by treaty. The
paper settlement alone will bring peace. Every battle, and every gun that
is fired, complicates it. We cannot hold the South in subjection."
Great indignation was expressed against the Times, and
also against the Bridgeport Farmer arid New-Haven Regis
ter ; the latter somewhat less emphatic in defense of " the
rights of the South." There were angry controversies, and
here and there personal collisions, growing out of expressions
of disloyal sentiment. On Monday, the Times said, —
" The greater power lies in the States : they are sovereign. The
Federal Government is subordinate to the States. South Carolina has
repealed her ordinance by which she became a part of the Federal Union.
Had she, a sovereign State, a right to do so? We claim she had ; for the
State had reserved that right, and the reservation is written in the Consti
tution. We have opposed the policy of fighting State against State,
brother against brother ; we shall oppose it : for it is that policy which
will impoverish the North, and break up the Union." . . .
The Register had just said, "Henceforth these States
pass into two republics instead of one ; " and, while declar
ing that " the flag must not be dishonored," it pledged itself
to " discountenance the war-spirit."
"With these politicians sympathized a considerable number
of Democrats, who quietly but sullenly refused to aid in the
preparations for battle. Some declaimed against "an aboli
tion war," and, whenever they could get breath during the
tumult of these days, feebly demanded that " those who had
made the trouble" should constitute the army. Other
42 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE EEBELLION.
Democrats, like Henry C. Deming, Mayor of Hartford, sturdi
ly opposed the use of force, even after Fort Sumter was taken,
while the cry was, " On to Charleston ! " and pronounced for
war only when secession had become a gigantic revolution,
threatening immediate advance on the capital, and aiming
no longer at independence, but supremacy.1
Daring Monday, the people of the State had received the
president's first proclamation,2 calling out, for three months,
seventy-five thousand of the militia of the several States to
" repossess the forts, places, and property " which had been
seized ; " to maintain the perpetuity of popular government ;
and to redress wrongs long enough endured." This call was
received with earnest satisfaction. The crisis which had
come was not unlocked for, and yet it was startling in its
suddenness and importance. Until within two days, many
had cherished a belief that the disloyal communities would
not proceed to the ultimate act of war. No people had ever
been so rudely awakened from a long dream of peace. For
more than eighty years, we had been devoted to a develop
ment of the industrial resources of the State. We believed
that a standing army was a standing menace, an invitation
to war. The forts on the Sound were dismantled, and falling
to ruin. We had hardly cannon enough to usher in the
Fourth of July. Not half the young men of the State knew
1 Mr. Deraing was invited -to preside at the war-meeting to be held April 19. He
declined in a letter, of which the following is an extract : " I am in favor of maintaining
the government in Washington. I am willing to furnish it with the requisite force to
defend it in the possession and occupancy of the Federal capital. I will support it in
repelling invasion of the territory of any State which still adheres to the Federal Union.
On the other hand, I am not willing to sustain it in a war of aggression or invasion of the
seceded States. Such a war, to accomplish its avowed purpose of recapturing Fort Sum
ter and of continuing the occupancy of Fort Pickens, must he a war for conquering, and
holding in subjugation, more than three millions of an indomitable race of men."
A week later he presented a flag to one of the regiments, and, within six months, was
colonel of the Twelfth Regiment. The Times and Register also declared for the de
fense of the capital, but against the invasion of any seceded State.
'2 By the law of 1795, the president had power to call out the militia of the different
States to suppress insurrection or rebellion, provided that no man should be obliged to
serve more than three months, or more than thirty days after the next meeting of Con
gress. So President Lincoln was constrained to issue the three-months' call, and to post
pone the assembling of Congress to July 4.
CONNECTICUT MOVING. 43
how to handle a musket. The venerable institution once
honored in Connecticut as " Training Day " had been lauglied
out of existence.
Moreover, we had been for a whole generation virtually
teaching our youths the wickedness of physical combat by
forbidding them to defend themselves when assaulted, and
instructing them that good boys ought always to run away,
rather than stand and maintain their rights. We had now
to prove to the world and to ourselves that our dogmas of
non-resistance, added to a lifetime of tranquillity and money-
getting, had not rusted out our manhood.
Connecticut had on her militia rolls fifty-one thousand able-
bodied men, with two or three nominal regimental organiza
tions. Moreover, on examination, it was found that " the mili
tary laws of the State were very defective, and of such a
nature that the Commander-in-chief had no legal authority to
answer a requisition from the president for the single regiment
of militia called for " 3 as our quota. In this dilemma, the gov
ernor promptly issued4 a call for a regiment of volunteers,
relying upon the legislature to indemnify him for assuming
the authority ; 5 and the patriotism of the people instantly
responded to the appeal. Enlistments began at once. All
other employment gave way to volunteering and equipping.
Within four days, the companies of the First Regiment were
at the rendezvous at New Haven ; within six days, those also
which were mustered in as the Second Regiment ; in two
weeks, the Third went into camp at Hartford ; and, within
three weeks, fifty-four companies had tendered their services
to the governor. This was five times our quota under the
call.
But patriotism and zeal could not supply. the place of or
ganization ; and, to our chagrin, Massachusetts was able to send
forward her militia regiments that had volunteered, in a body ;
8 Adjutant-General's Report, April, 1862.
* April 16, Tuesday.
6 A law for the organization and equipment of volunteer railiiia was passed at the
succeeding May session.
44 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
while ours, equally ardent, were assembling, but unorganized
and undisciplined. On Wednesday, while our companies were
concentrating at New Haven, her Sixth Regiment passed
through the State for Washington, via Baltimore. Along the
line of the road, the excited people had remained all night to
greet them. They were delayed, but arrived at Hartford at
two o'clock on the morning of Thursday the 18th. Not less
than twenty-five hundred still waited at the depot as the train
of nineteen crowded cars came thundering along out of the
darkness. Lieut. Hawley briefly welcomed them in the name
of the citizens, assuring them of constant sympathy and speedy
support. Cheer after cheer emphasized the welcome. Men
and women shook hands earnestly with the travelers they
never saw before, and prayed for victory on their flag. Young
ladies exchanged handkerchiefs with the soldiers ; and old
ladies, less sentimental, brought them lunches : and the train
moved on. with shouts of, "Burn Charleston, and sow it with
salt ! " mingled with, " God bless you ! " and ending with a
prolonged cheer, that was at once a farewell and a benediction.
At Meriden and New Haven, similar receptions awaited
them ; though the crowds, standing since ten o'clock, began
to thin out towards morning. At New Haven, where three
thousand were still congregated, sandwiches and coffee were
served to the soldiers ; and the throng cheered the regiment,
Plymouth Rock, Col. Jones, Gen. Butler, and every thing
relating to the gallant Bay State.
Our people resolved to make up in dispatch what they
lacked in organization. Party prejudices were renounced,
personal animosities laid aside : men forgot interest, sac
rificed preferences, forfeited the profits of business, and,
with an earnestness and abandon witnessed but once in a
century, devoted time and money to the salvation of the
Republic. Thousands came forward, without looking for
office or promotion, and hoping only to vindicate the author
ity of law, and save the imperiled country. The known
horrors of battle, the unknown hardships of camp and field,
and the terrors of prison, could not intimidate them. They
THREE COMPANIES RAISED. 45
knew that war meant wounds and death : but the stars and
stripes had been struck down, and the national honor trailed
in the dust ; and they sprang forward to the rescue.
From all parts of the State, and all ranks of society, they
came, — young lawyers, farmers, merchants, gentlemen of
education and leisure, mechanics; men worth their tens
of thousands, and men worth nothing; boys from the rifle-
factories ; waiters from the hotels ; under-grad nates from
Yale, Wesleyan, arid Trinity Colleges, in the same ranks,
shoulder to shoulder.
Upon the reception of the governor's proclamation, Joseph
R. Hawley, Albert W. Drake (a Democrat), and Joseph Per
kins, met in the office of the Hartford Press, of which Haw-
ley was editor, and, after discussion of the situation, signed an
informal enlistment paper6 as volunteers in the First, and is
sued a-call in the morning paper for men to join them in a rifle-
company. Before sundown, nearly the minimum had enlisted ;
and at a great meeting in the evening, presided over by
Lieut-Gov. Catlin, the company was filled up. In this com
pany was only one man who had ever seen service on any
field, and only two who had even been in the militia. The
command of the company was offered to and accepted by
George H. Burnham, lieutenant-colonel of the First Connec
ticut Militia. Hawley became first lieutenant, and Drake
second lieutenant; Perkins going into the ranks as a private.7
The Hartford Light Guard, Capt. J. C. Comstock, had
already promptly volunteered as a company, and were not
long in filling up vacancies of those who could not go ;
and such was the rush of volunteers from the city and adja
cent towns, that a third company, Capt. Ira Wright, was im
mediately begun, and filled to the minimum before the first
week ended. On Saturday evening, April 20, the latter was
6 Drake had taken the initiative, and drawn up this paper in his own office early in the
morning.
7 Capt. Burnham soon became colonel of the First, and afterwards of the Twenty-second ;
Lieut. Ilawley ultimately brigadier and brevet major-general, and afterwards governor of
the State; Lieut. Drake, colonel of the Tenth (died in service) ; and private Perkins,
colonel of a United-States colored regiment.
46 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
escorted to a position in front of the State House ; and Mayor
Deming presented to them, in an eloquent speech, a hand
some banner, inscribed " Right and Victory," and furnished
by Messrs. Case, Lock wood, & Co., book-publishers.
Meantime all the towns in the State were moving. New
Britain speedily raised her militia company to a minimum,
and divides with Danbury the honor of being the first com
pany to offer its services to the State. The West Meriden
company, also constructed on the basis of a militia company,
was the first accepted by the governor; while Capt. Burn-
ham's company was the first accepted composed wholly of
volunteers. This priority was trivial, however, a matter of
mere circumstance, and not of particular merit, as between
the companies of the First Regiment. Lieut. Hawley went to
Sharpe's rifle-factory on Wednesday, and engaged rifles for
the company on his own personal credit. Some thirty com
panies were begun during this first week, almost simulta
neously, at New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwich, New London,
Ansonia, Norwalk, Danbury, Birmingham, Waterbury, Rox-
bury, Collinsville, Litchfield, Windham, Windsor, Middletown,
— in almost every village.
The great Winsted meeting of Sunday resulted in a com
pany filled and officered during the week. The first man
who enlisted was Samuel B. Home, as a private, only seven
teen years old.8 At this meeting, the town voted a bounty
of five dollars to each man, — the first indication we find
of the bounty system.
An immense war-meeting was held in Meriden, at which
Charles Parker (Democrat) presided; and speeches exhort
ing to action were made by 0. H. Platt, Dexter R. Wright,
(Democrat), Rev. D. Henry Miller, and G. W. Wilson, after
wards captain. A company was immediately raised, and a
8 Young Home, who was probably the first volunteer in Connecticut, was quite small
of his age; and would have been rejected, had it not been for his importunity. He served
faithfully during the three-months' service; re-enlisted, and bore a musket as private for
eighteen months; and was then promoted to a captaincy. He was in twenty-five battles,
was wounded three times, and served at the close of the war as provost-marshal of
the eighteenth army corps. Two of his uncles were officers in the English army, one of
them on Welliu<itou's staff at Waterloo.
THE FLAG SALUTED. 47
Colt's revolver presented to each man by Charles Parker.9
The sum of five thousand dollars was raised for equipments.
In Danbury, the citizens assembled at the Court House in
large numbers in the daytime, and -resolved that the ad
ministration must be supported in suppressing the Rebellion.
Here, perhaps, was the first town provision made for families,
in a vote to pay the wife of each volunteer three dollars per
week, and each child one dollar per week, during his ab
sence.10 On Monday, the Wooster Guards, Capt. Wildmab,
an excellent company, offered its services to the governor
two days in advance of his call, and was the first company
to arrive at the rendezvous. Nelson L. White, a prominent
lawyer of Danbury, gallantly entered the ranks as a private ;
but Gov. Buckingham soon promoted him to be major of the
Third, and thence to be lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth.
Birmingham held a large meeting in Nathan's Hall on the
19th : Edward N. Shelton presided ; William B. Wooster made
a bold and powerful speech, and was followed by Thomas
Burlock, Robert N. Bassett, Charles L. Russell, Dr. Ambrose
Beardsley, and other citizens. Three thousand dollars were
raised at the meeting, and the sum was increased next day
to five thousand dollars. Nearly an entire company volun-
* teered on the spot, and passed under the command of Capt.
George D. Russell.
At New London, the city flag was raised, followed by a
display of flags all over the city and on the shipping. At
the Wilson Manufacturing Company's Works, all hands
were summoned, and the flag saluted with repeated cheers.
On the 19th, Mayor J. N. Harris received a dispatch from the
Secretary of War, requesting him to furnish a company to
garrison Fort Trumbull. The suggestion was immediately
complied with; and the City Guards, Capt. Frankau, were
put on duty there. On the same evening, " the largest and
9 Mr. Parker remained faithful, — one of the most patriotic and liberal supporters of
the war.
10 This liberal provision was applied to two companies of three-months' men sent, and
continued to them during the war in case of their re-enlistment. Edgar S. Tweedy and
John W. Bacon were a committee to dispense the appropriation.
48 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
most enthusiastic meeting ever convened in the city was
held inside and outside the Court House." Hon. Nathan Bel
cher was chairman ; and Hon. Augustus Branclegee offered
a resolution, declaring that political differences must be
buried, and all unite to save the Republic. "Passed with a
unanimous and thundering ay." Speeches were made by
Messrs. A. C. Lippitt, Thomas Fitch, Augustus Brandegee, and
others. An enlistment-roll was opened. A subscription-list
to equip and arm the soldiers was headed by Mr. Brandegee
with five hundred dollars, and followed by J. N. Harris and
Williams & Barnes, each for the same amount. Ten thousand
dollars was raised on the spot. Capt. N. Frankau issued a
call for volunteers to fill up the ranks of his company, the
City Guards, "to be ready to inarch at a moment's notice."
In Ansonia there was a great out-door meeting at Brad-
ley's Hotel, presided over by D. W. Plumb, for many years an
earnest antislavery leader in that section of the State.
Speeches were made by Dr. J. M. Colburn and Major E. S.
Kellogg (State militia). A subscription and a volunteer-
roll -were opened, resulting in the formation of a company,
which, within three we.eks, joined the Fourth Regiment, with
Major Kellogg as their captain.
On Saturday, the State was thrilled and enraged by the
news that the Sixth Massachusetts had been assaulted, and
some of its members murdered, in Baltimore ; and a fierce
demand went up that the next regiments should be hurled
on that city.
At Mystic, a great Union meeting was held in Floral Hall ;
and war-speeches were made by Col. Amos Clift, Hiram
Appelman, Lucius M. Slade, Rev. S. S. Griswold, and others.
Chauncey D. Rice of the Pioneer was secretary. A sub
scription was opened ; and Isaac Randall, George Greenman
& Co., Silas B. Randall, and Charles Mallory & Sons, gave a
thousand dollars each for the prosecution of the war.
Others subscribed largely. Twenty-four young men volun
teered, and became the nucleus of a company, that, three
weeks later, joined the Fourth Regiment. The Mallory boys
WAR-MEETINGS HELD. 49
offered their yacht, of a hundred tons' burden, to the govern
ment, free of expense during the war ; and she was accepted.
A flag was raised from the ramparts of Fort Rachael by the
hands of Capt. Jonathan Wheeler, a veteran of fourscore,
who commanded the guard on duty at the fort in 1812 ; and
its appearance was hailed with cheers and music, and saluted
with cannon.
In Windham County, the capture of Fort Sumter created
a profound sensation. This county led all other counties of
the State, in her prompt response with Putnam and his men,
when the Revolutionary War n began at Lexington ; and she
was not behind when the Republic was assailed by internal
foes. Willimantic held a large meeting, began a company,
and voted five thousand dollars to equip her volunteers. On
the 22d, a county mass-meeting was held at Brooklyn,
Ex.-Gov. Chauncey S. Cleveland presiding. Earnest war-
speeches were made by the president, Col. D. P. Tyler, Col.
Reach, J. J. Penrose, and others. The sum of five thousand
six hundred dollars was subscribed on the spot, Hon. W. H.
Chandler heading the paper with five hundred dollars ; and a
volunteer company of sixty men was raised in thirty minutes.
Resolutions were adopted, declaring that the citizens of the
county " would expend their last dollar, and exhaust the last
drop of their blood," rather than consent to a disruption of
the nation.
There was also, this first week, a meeting at Putnam,
worthy of its name and the crisis. E. Wilkinson presided ;
and speeches were made by Rev. W. C. Walker, Dr Plymp-
ton, G. W. Phillips, and others. Patriotic resolutions were
adopted, and thirty young men instantly volunteered. A
war-meeting was held at Danielsonville (Killingly) with
good effect ; and Mr. Wilkinson of the Windham-county
Transcript, and twelve others, joined the Buckingham Rifles
11 Windham and New-London Counties seem also to have made the first active
resistance to the British Stamp Act of 1765. In September of that year, two hundred
of their sturdy yeomanry proceeded on horseback to Hartford, and thence to Wethersfield,
Tvlierc they found Jared Ingersoll, and compelled him to resign the office of stamp-master
for the colony.
50 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
at Norwich ; and many others soon followed. There was
also a large meeting at Dayville, where, in less than forty
minutes, fifty-six men enrolled themselves ; the venerable
Capt. John Day at their head. Windham had a similar
meeting on the 18th, and raised two thousand dollars to
equip a company; and voted to pay to all volunteers twelve
dollars a month " extra," and one dollar a week for each
child under the age of twelve. Canterbury made a similar
liberal offer. Pomfret was even more generous, voting twenty
dollars a month to each volunteer for the three-months'
service, and six dollars a month to the wife, and two dollars
a month to each child under fourteen.
In Bridgeport, the feeling was intense. On Saturday
evening, a war-meeting was held, presided over by Mayor
D. H. Sterling, at which stirring speeches were made ; and
resolutions offered by W. H. Noble were adopted, pledging
the city to stand by the government in punishing treason,
and requesting the city council to make instant and ample
appropriations for the equipment of volunteers and the sup
port of their families. Seven thousand dollars was raised on
the spot. On Sunday, April 21, a Massachusetts regiment
and battery passed through ; and the people rushed out of
church, and the bells rang welcome and good speed. While
firing a salute, a citizen was killed.
The war-news created the utmost excitement in Norwich.
On the 18th, at ten .o'clock in the morning, was held a war
mass-meeting, at which H. H. Starkweather presided : J. L.
Spaulding was chosen secretary. A subscription-committee
of seven was authorized, consisting of Amos W. Prentice,
Frary M. Hale, John F. Slater, Henry Bill, John W. Sted-
man, David Smith, and James A. Hovey. Gov. Buckingham
made a patriotic speech, and headed the paper with a
thousand dollars ; and William P. Green added a thousand
dollars more. Fervid speeches and contributions followed :
a subscription of five hundred dollars each was made by
James M. and W. H. Huntington, D. Smith, J. L. Greene,
John F. Slater, John W. Allen, Norton Brothers, and A.
RAISING OF A FLAG. 51
Hnbbard. Other contributions swelled the amount to twen
ty-three thousand dollars. Among individual donors, Louis
Mitchell sent his check, " payable to stars and stripes, or
bearer," and " as part payment of an old debt due to the good
cause." A venerable lady, who had neither cash nor coupons,
sent an old-fashioned silver cup, with this note : " I have no
money to give ; but this old cup has been in my family
through five generations. It is small, but true. May it not
have passed through one revolution to help our brave boys
now ? I have given my younger son to his country, with
regret that his elder brother cannot be with him." On
April 19, Frank S. Chester, book-keeper in the Thames
Bank, commenced a company, and enlisted sixty-five men
before night. They took the name of the "Buckingham
Rifles." Jared S. Dennis gave five able-bodied sons to the
government.
John L. Chatfield, of Waterbury, promptly recruited his
company, the City Guard, to the maximum, and offered it
to the governor on April 19. On the 20th, it left for New
Haven, being escorted to the depot by an immense crowd
of citizens and civil societies, and a 'speech of farewell being
made by Rev. Mr. Hendricken of the Catholic Church. After
their departure, an enthusiastic inpromptu war-meeting was
held at Hotchkiss Hall. Mayor Bradley presided ; and
speeches were made by E. B. Cooke, the venerable editor of
the American, Lyman W. Coe, Dr. P. G. Rockwell, Hon. S.
W. Kellogg, C. H. Carter, Esq., and others ; and a subscrip
tion of nineteen hundred dollars was immediately raised. The
special town-meeting of the 22d appropriated ten thousand
dollars to the families of volunteers. A beautiful American
flao- was raised over the old Catholic Church : the three him-
o *
dred Catholic pupils, under direction of the Misses Slater,
participating in the patriotic ceremonies. The Irish Catho
lics assembled, and fifty voted to volunteer. At this time,
Waterbury held one hundred thousand dollars of govern
ment securities, and her banks had loaned money to the
State.
52 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
- Middletown moved early and vigorously. On the even
ing of the 19th of April, that night of national indignation,
a war-meeting was held in McDonough Hall, and addressed
by Mayor Samuel Warner, Lieut.-Gov. Benjamin Douglas,
President Cummings of Wesleyan University, and other
prominent gentlemen. While the meeting was proceeding,
the members of the Mansfield Guard, militia, summoned to
the armory by their resolute captain, David Dickerson, voted
to go to the war ; and, before morning, the company was
readv, with full ranks.
«/ ~
The citizens of New Haven rallied in great numbers at
Music Hall. Mayor Welch presided, and all parties partici
pated. Speeches or remarks were made by Rev. Dr. Leon
ard Bacon, Rev. Dr. Cleveland, James F. Babcock, James
Gallagher, Thomas H. Bond, W. S. Charnley, Thomas Lawton,
Charles Ives, C. S. Bushnell, Ira Merwin, and Rev. W. T.
Eustis ; and every patriotic sentiment was cheered to the
echo. Resolutions were passed recommending the common
council to appropriate ten thousand dollars for the families
of volunteers. The city government conformed to the rec
ommendation, but doubled the amount.
At a similar meeting in Branford, Col. L. S. Parsons pre
sided ; and the people were addressed by Rev. Mr. Miller, Dr.
H. V. C. Holcombe, and others. Recruiting began at the
meeting.
Moses Y. Beach, former proprietor of the New- York Sun,
sent a patriotic letter to Wallingford, his native town, offer
ing to loan a hundred thousand dollars to the government,
and providing for a liberty-pole and flag and the equipment
of Wallingford volunteers. Fifty young men enrolled at
once at a war-meeting, presided over by Roderick Curtis, and
addressed by Israel Harrison, Dr. B. F. Harrison, and others.
Woodbury held a large meeting, and began a company.
A subscription for the families of volunteers was headed by
William Cothren and Daniel Carter, — five hundred dollars
each. In Madison, E. C. and S. H. Scranton offered five
hundred dollars each to equip the company raising in the
THE TOWNS VIE WITH EACH OTHER. 53
town. East Haddam sent twenty-five men. Torrington
voted four thousand five hundred dollars for equipments and
soldiers' families. Canterbury voted to raise a company, and
equip it. Norwalk raised a volunteer aid-fund, from which
every man was paid ten dollars on enlistment, and five dol
lars a month during service. In Hartford, the fund reached
thirty thousand dollars by voluntary subscription before the
city assumed the responsibility.
In many towns, as in Hartford, even after a liberal sub
scription had been commenced, it was deemed best to do the
work by a regular appropriation from the town treasury.
Waterbury voted ten thousand dollars; Bridgeport, ten thou
sand ; Meriden, five thousand ; Torrington, four thousand
five hundred ; and many other towns in a ratio equally lib
eral. Thus, by contribution or town vote, generous provis
ion was everywhere made for volunteers and all dependent
on them.
In Salisbury, George Coffin offered one hundred tons of
iron to the government, to be made into cannon-balls ; and.
other citizens manifested equal zeal and liberality. A large
meeting was held in Litchfield on the 22d, and measures
taken to assist in the prosecution of the war. In this work,
Hon. John H. Hubbard took an active part. The Rockville
Guard voted to go to the war, and offered themselves to the
governor. Sixteen hundred dollars was raised to equip
them ; and the citizens went earnestly at the work. Mil-
ford, at a special town-meeting, voted a bounty of ten dollars
to every unmarried, and fifteen dollars to every married vol
unteer ; and agreed to insure the life of each to the amount
of one thousand dollars. At Farmington, a meeting was
held on the 23d, at which W. M. Wadsworth presided ; and
a full company of men enlisted for the war. East Hartford
voted to pay a bounty of ten dollars, and ten dollars a
month to each man while in service. Woodbridge raised
forty men under Capt. Farren Perkins. From Unionville,
one-tenth of the legal voters volunteered. Canterbury
voted to raise a company, and subscribed two thousand dol-
54 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
lars to equip it. In North Branford, the people raised a
noble hickory, the gift of an old Jackson man, Capt. Jona
than Rose ; and unfurled a handsome flag on the identical
spot, where, in 1776, after the Sabbath service, Parson Ells
called the young men of his congregation together, and led
them to the war. These uprisings all over the State but
illustrate the spirited resolves and earnest action of every
community.
The sons of Connecticut out of the State were also promi
nent and active in similar patriotic demonstrations.
The great mass-meeting in Union Square, of New York,
had its initial movement in a preliminary meeting at the
residence of that true man and patriot, Robert H. McCurdy,
formerly of Lyme, but long a merchant in New York, a
brother of the well-known Judge McCurdy of our State.
This gentleman sallied forth in the rain, rallying his neigh
bors, who assembled at his hotise the same evening, and
there organized. A committee was appointed to issue a call
-to the citizens of New York. The following day, this was
done ; and, on the last of that week, that immense uprising
of tens of thousands in Union Square was a fact accom
plished and memorable. Nowhere on this continent, before
or since, has there been seen such a mighty host swayed
with but one earnest purpose. We find prominently asso
ciated with Mr. McCurdy the names of other true sons of
our State, — Gen. Prosper M. Wetmore, William C. Gilman,
S. B. Chittenden, and others to whom reference is made as
we proceed in the narrative. It will be shown how they
permanently organized ; also the efficiency of their labors,
and their great liberality and personal sacrifices and constant
sympathy with the soldiers of our State.
In nearly all the cities of the West, we were represented
in these uprisings. Soon after the attack on Sumter, the
organization of the first Loyal League Club was formed,
so far as known, at the city of Louisville, Ky. ; and chief
among those who organized this society, which afterwards
spread over the entire North, and was not unknown in
UNION LEAGUE. — THE STARS AND STEIPES. 55
many portions of the South, was Ledyard Bill, a citizen of
Connecticut, at that time a resident of Kentucky.12
Already the national flag had come to have a new and
strange significance. When the stars and stripes went
clown at Smnter, they went up in every county of our
State. Every town, from Thompson to Greenwich, suddenly
blossomed with banners. On forts and ships, from church-
spires and flag-staffs, from hotels, store-fronts, and private
balconies, " the old flag " was flung out ; and everywhere it
was hailed with enthusiasm; for its prose became poetry,
and there were seen in it a beauty and a sacred value which
it never before possessed. Loyal women wore miniature
banners on their bonnets, and, with untiring ingenuity,
blended the colors with almost every article of dress ; and
men carried the emblem in pins and countless other devices.
The patchwork of white, blue, and red, which had flaunted
in our face* for generations, without exciting much emotion,
in a single day stirred our pulses with an imperative call to
battle, and became the inspiration of national effort. All at
once, it meant the Declaration of Independence ; it meant
Lexington ; it meant Bunker Hill and Saratoga ; it meant
freedom ; it meant the right of a majority to elect their
president ; it meant the honor and the life of the Republic.
So a great crop of splendid banners came with the spring
roses ; and hundreds of youths donned the blue uniform, and
advanced to the line of battle, impelled not more by a con
scious hatred of treason than by the wonderful glory that
had been kindled in the flag.
12 See Abbott's Civil War, vol. i. p. 144.
CHAPTER IV.
The Volunteers uniformed and equipped. — Response of Wealthy Men and Institutions.
— Patriotic Work of the Women. — Another Revolutionary Sunday. — Call for Second
and Third Regiments. — The Troops at Rendezvous. — Outfit completed. — In Camp.
— Rations and Beds. — Contributions flow in. — Drill and Discipline. — Sage Advice.
— Departure of the Three Regiments.
HE volunteers who, in these first memorable
days, rallied with patriotic impulse around the
national standard, were simply men in citizen's
dress. Few had either uniforms or arms.
Gov. Buckingham, as early as Jan. 17, had
wisely ordered the purchase, on his own responsibility, of
knapsacks, cartridge-boxes, bayonets, and every thing be
longing to the full equipment of five thousand men. The
State owned one thousand and twenty United-States muskets
of the latest pattern, and more than two thousand percus
sion-muskets not very serviceable. It was thought that
these would be sufficient for any temporary service, and that
the rifle factories of the State could speedily furnish other
weapons for five thousand men if required. For this reason,
and apprehending that the purchase of muskets might cre
ate premature excitement, Gov. Buckingham did not then
increase the supply of arms.
But when the actual call came, on Sunday night, April
15, he at once resolved to discard all smooth-bore weapons,
and arm the troops of Connecticut with the best rifles. With
this intent, he decided to go on Monday morning to the
Thames Bank, and ask a loan of fifty thousand dollars, and
pledge his private fortune for payment.
56
PRIVATE BENEFACTOBS. 57
But others were also thinking of the money needed.
E. C. Scranton, president of the Elm-city Bank in New
Haven, was early at his post. Thomas B. Osborne, vice-
president, came in. There was a brief consultation. Be
fore Gov. Buckingham left his house to go to the Thames
Bank, he received a telegram, tendering a loan of fifty thou
sand dollars, from the Elm-city Bank, for the emergency.
The Thames Bank immediately offered a hundred thousand
dollars. Almost simultaneously, the Pahquioque Bank, of
Danbury, tendered fifty thousand dollars ; Mechanics' Bank,
of New Haven, twenty-five thousand dollars; Fairfield-county
Bank, of Norwalk, thirty thousand dollars ; Danbury Bank,
fifty thousand dollars. The banks of Hartford united to offer
the State a loan of five hundred thousand dollars, — one-
tenth of their capital ; and the New-Haven banks soon after
voted the same proportion, — a total of more than a million
dollars.
Of private benefactors, one of the earliest and most
thoughtful was Thomas R. Trowb ridge of New Haven, who,
before a company was yet formed, offered five hundred dol
lars for the support of the families of volunteers ; thus begin
ning a course of unstinted liberality, which he continued
throughout the struggle, and initiating that great patriotic
charity, which, continued by private individuals, and finally
adopted by towns and the State, extended a hand to all the
families of absent soldiers. David Clark of Hartford rose in
the first war-meeting, and pledged himself to give two
hundred and fifty dollars to every company which the city
should send ; and Hawley's company received his check on
the spot. The next day, he offered to support one hundred
families of volunteers during the war. This work was virtu
ally taken off his hands by a vote of the town soon after;
but the impulse continued active in that and similar chan
nels, until, directly and indirectly, he had given the sum of
sixty thousand dollars to the work of prosecuting the war.
With still greater ardor, the women rose up to do their
share in the great work of preparation. By Friday, April
58 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
19, " within three days of the date of the governor's call/'
the companies for the First Regiment had been ordered to
move to the regimental rendezvous at New Haven. Com
plete uniforms for nearly all were to be made. Wives,
mothers, and sisters had no time for grief. With one heart,
young and old, rich and poor, ransacked the wardrobes of
their household, and the shops of the city and town, and plied
shears and needles with unwearied diligence. April 21
was a second Revolutionary Sabbath. Ministers expounded
the right and duty of defending the government, and dwelt
with fervor on the days and the men of" '76 " and the glory
of our. great Republic. Among favorite texts were, " In
the name of God we will set up our banners ; " " He that
hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one ; "
" Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands
to war, and my fingers to fight ; " " Lift up a standard to the
people ; " " I come not to bring peace on earth, but a
sword."
The sacredness of the day seemed but to hallow labors
of love and patriotism. The Bulletin of April 22 informs
us that —
" The ladies of Norwich, to the number of three hundred, assembled
early at Breed Hall, where they were engaged all day in making up uni
forms for the company which starts to-morrow. Flags were flying, drums
beating, and troops drilling in the streets ; clergymen preached war-ser
mons in all the churches, and left the pulpits to encourage the women in
their sewing, or the volunteers in their drilling."
The Hartford Courant said, —
" A great many ladies served God yesterday by serving their country,
in making uniforms for its gallant defenders. Some of them were at work
at Schulye's, and some at Fisher & Co.'s. One hundred and fifty were
also busy on haversacks at Griswold & Co.'s. George H. Hawk, of the
Allger-house Saloon, furnished coffee and refreshments. Unknown friends
dent in seven pails of lemonade."
Henry Schutze and other tailors of Hartford cut for
nothing all uniforms brought. A. M. Cosgrove of Middle-
V
THE LADIES OF KILLINGLY. 59
town offered his entire stock of under-clothing to equip the
Mansfield Guards. All day Saturday and Sunday, the la
dies of Middletown worked upon the uniforms of this com
pany. "Places of public worship were deserted, and the
entire population seemed engaged in the great work of the
hour. In those churches where service was attempted, it
was only a passing prayer, that the Great Ruler of nations
would shield from harm those who were about going down
to the valley of battle. Banners were flying from church-
spires, bands of music were on the street, and processions of
citizens marching, cheering, and encouraging the volunteers.
At many of our prominent residences, blue flannel was dis
played by the ladies at the windows, to show that they were
engaged in the same patriotic work." 1
Of the work in Killingly the Windham-county Transcript
said, —
" Hundreds of fair hands and nimble fingers are at work in furnishing an
outfit for the Union Guards, Capt. Granger. The ladies of Brooklyn,
Woodstock, Pomfret, and other towns in this vicinity, have urged their
claims for an opportunity to perform a share of the labor. In less than
six days, three hundred and fifty shirts, eighty pairs of pants, and eighty
coats, have been begun and finished. The misses have prepared for each
soldier a very neat and convenient arrangement to carry pins, needles, scis
sors, thread, &c., — little matters which will be greatly appreciated by the
boys when far away from home. The energy, patriotism, and enthu
siasm displayed by the ladies is the theme of great praise. . . . The
Guards yesterday marched into the hall where the ladies were preparing
the outfit. One of the ladies addressed the soldiers with great eloquence ;
urging them to fight manfully for their country, and to enroll themselves
also under the banner of King Emauuel. The scene was very impressive,
and there were few dry eyes in the hall during the delivery of the affecting
appeal."
Such incidents, with only the modification of name and
local circumstance, occurred in every town and neighbor
hood where a company had been enlisted. From every clus
ter of houses, too, some boys were going ; and there was a
never-ending repetition of the quieter but no less earnest
1 Manuscript Record of Middletown during the War, by John M. Douglas.
60 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
village sewing-circle, turning out the ready uniforms, the
tricolor rosettes, the needle-books, and the thousand little
tokens of patriotism and affection.
Then followed hasty farewells, tears of loved ones, and
hearty cheers of" good speed ;" and the companies hastened
to the rendezvous.
The work in the towns continued : cloth for uniforms was
purchased as quickly as possible, and generally paid for by
subscription in the towns represented, and the garments
made up by the ladies at voluntary bees. In some towns,
the work went on, by relays, night and day. In many towns
and communities, it was, for weeks, the absorbing effort of the
State, overshadowing all other interests.
On their arrival at New Haven, the first companies were
quartered at the various public and private buildings until
the quartermaster could provide camp equipage. Company
and regimental officers supplied from their private resources
many pressing wants which the State found itself unable so
suddenly to meet. The companies were still besieged by
men begging the privilege of entering ranks already full.
A score stood ready to take the place of every man rejected,
while the rejected volunteer entreated to be retained. A
member of the Meriden company was offered fifty dollars for
his place, and rejected the offer with disdain.
Among the companies formed, there was the utmost rivalry
as to which should be so fortunate as to be accepted as mem
bers of the regiment ; for many regarded it as inconceiva
ble that the government could require more than the levy
of seventy-five thousand men. This was deemed the last
chance ; and in every part of the State alarmed volunteers
deserted their half-formed companies, and precipitated them
selves into New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport, that they
might not be too late to join some company that was sure
to go. Ten full companies were immediately assigned to
the First Regiment.
Despite the utmost efforts of all, many volunteers were
still in citizen's dress; and the new uniforms, mingling with
THE FIEST REGIMENT IN CAMP. 61
every other variety of costume, gave a curiously grotesque
effect to the early company evolutions. The ladies of New
Haven resolved to supply all deficiencies in uniforms, and
worked by scores so diligently, that, within ten days, they
had finished and distributed more than five hundred fall sets.
They also provided a large number of caps, shoes, and socks.
In this work, Benjamin Noyes and John G. North rendered
efficient aid.
Beds were now called for. To sleep on a dry floor and
clean straw was a luxury to which at Falmouth, or in front
of Petersburg, a brigadier-general hardly dared to aspire ;
but to these unseasoned volunteers, and to the citizens, it
seemed intolerable hardship. Material was quickly pur
chased by voluntary contributions. Winchester & Davies
save the use of their sewing-machines : and several hundred
o *•—'
ticks were prepared in two days by men and women who
volunteered for the work. The ladies then carried the fin
ished ticks to the soldiers' quarters, and filled them with
straw. The first evening, they gathered at the State House.
It did not once occur to them, in the plenitude of their pa
triotism, that a hundred ladies was a force rather stronger
than necessary to put straw in the same number of beds, or
that the soldiers might do so simple a thing for themselves.
No straw had arrived. A patriotic meeting was at once or-'
ganized by Chaplain Herbert Lancey ; and songs and speeches
followed in rapid succession till a late hour. With equal
spontaneity, the patriotic fervor of the people broke forth in
speeches and songs, at all times and in every place.
On Monday, April 22, the First Regiment went into camp
at Brewster's Park. The Hartford Rifle Company (Hawley
captain, vice Burnham, promoted) was assigned to the right
of the line ; the Bridgeport Rifles, Capt. John Speidal, to the
extreme left. This latter company was composed wholly of
Germans; while every company contained soldiers of foreign
birth. The first three companies in the regiment were from
Hartford. Company C, Capt. Levi N. Hillman, received its
officers and fourteen men from Windsor Locks, sixteen from
62 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
En field, nineteen from Stafford, and nine from Simsbury;
D, Capt. Marcus Coon, was from Waterbury ; E, Capt. E. E.
Wildman, from Danbury; F, Capt. Theodore Byxbee, from
Meriden ; G, Capt. F. W. Hart, from New Britain, with a
squad of eleven from Farmington ; H, Capt, R Fitzgib-
bons, from Bridgeport. Two companies were begun in New
Haven for the regiment; but they waited to join the Second,
together, under Col. Terry. Thirty impatient men from that
city, however, obtained admission to Capt. Wright's Hartford
company. Several from Manchester dropped into the first
two companies.
When the boys received the plain but plentiful govern
ment rations of pork, fresh beef, soft bread, potatoes, coffee,
and sugar, they knew neither how to cook, nor how to
economize them. They declared them scanty, and " unfit to
eat." They murmured, and almost mutinied. On the 30th
of April, a number actually broke guard to "get their break
fasts." They were court-martialed before Major Chatfield
and Capt. Hawley, and the non-commissioned officers reduced
to the ranks, and some of the privates expelled from the
regiment, begging hard to stay.
The citizens sympathized heartily with the soldiers. The
daily papers defended them, and declared that it would be
quite soon enough to starve the boys when they got into a
hard campaign. • The common council voted ten thousand
dollars to supply bedding, food, and other necessaries. A
soldier who could get clown town on a pass was sure to eat
dinner at the private table of some pitying lady, or at a
hotel, at the expense of some commiserating patriot. Roast
meat and fowls, pies, cake, and delicacies of every sort,
found their way from city and country to the " suffering "
volunteers. The sauntering boy in blue whose hunger was
appeased was sure of some other favor. Did he need a pair
of boots ? They were his for the asking. Knives, razors,
pistols, handkerchiefs, under-clothing, — all things which
promised to be of service, — were urged upon the proud
citizen soldiers.
THE LADIES AT WORK. G3
All ages and classes now vied with each other in efforts to
do something for the volunteers.
While the ladies of Hartford were busy making uniforms,
the deaf and dumb pupils offered free use of their tailor-shop
and their shoe-shop. Physicians throughout the State pledged
their services gratuitously to the families of volunteers dur
ing their absence, and in most cases faithfully redeemed
their pledges. One hundred little girls visited the company
of Capt. Ira Wright in camp, and presented to his men one
hundred red-white-and-blue rosettes made by themselves.
Mrs. Jansen of New Haven presented a red-white-and-
blue work-bag to each member of Company B, Second Regi
ment. Four New-Haven ladies went into camp, and worked
all day in lining the blankets of Capt. Hawley's company.
Mrs. Sophia Butler, seventy-six years of age, who did ser
vice in the hospital in the last war with Great Britain, offered
to go again to take care of the sick and wounded.
Hundreds of employers continued the salaries of their em
ployes, and retained their places for them till their return.
The working-men, in many cases, combined to do the work
of one of their number who had enlisted, so as to continue
the wages to his family.
Many proprietors retained the places vacated by their work
men until their return. Mechanics clubbed together, and
performed the work of comrades who enlisted. The Congre
gational clergymen in the vicinity of Winsted in turn gra
tuitously supplied the pulpit of Rev. Hiram Eddy during his
absence as chaplain of the Second Regiment; and his con
gregation gladly paid the salary to his family.
Nor were preparations of a serious nature overlooked.
The ladies of East Hartford had, by April 25, made and
rolled up, at the house of Dr. C. M. Brownell, six thousand
yards of bandages, and one thousand five hundred compress
es. Ladies of other towns swelled the quantity of such arti
cles to tons.
In the mean time, Gov. Buckingham went to Washington ;
and, after an earnest appeal, the Secretary of War was in-
64 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE KEBELLION.
duced to accept two additional regiments from Connecticut.
The clamor of repressed patriotism on the part of the multi
tude who could not find place in the First Regiment was
immediately relieved by another proclamation, directing the
acceptance of all full companies offering. The Second Regi
ment was ordered to rendezvous with the First at New
Haven ; the Third, to go into camp at Hartford.
On Monday, May 6, the Second Regiment joined the First
at Brewster's Park in a rain that did not cease for twenty-
four hours. Next day, it was mustered into the service ; its
colonel being Alfred H. Terry, the popular colonel of the
Second Regiment of State militia. He soon won the
love and respect of the men by his constant attention to
their comfort, and his ability as an officer. Several of these
companies, like some of those in the First, were the result
of the patriotic co-operation of various contiguous towns.
Capt. F. S. Chester's company, of Norwich, contained six vol
unteers from Griswold, and twenty more from Putnam, Pom-
fret, Killingly, Woodstock, and elsewhere. Capt. Henry
Peale's company, of the same city, had eight from Preston,
and twelve or fifteen from Lisbon, Sprague, and Thompson.
Capt. E. C. Chapman's New-London company contained a few
volunteers from Stonington. Capt. Abram G. Kellogg's New-
Hartford company contained sixteen from New Hartford,
twenty -four from Winsted (Winchester), twenty-one from
Canton, and six from Norfolk. Capt. James W. Gore's Hart
ford company included men from Rocky Hill, New Britain,
and other towns in the vicinity. This company was under
the special patronage of Mr. David Clark of Hartford. Be
fore leaving Hartford, it had received from his hands a beau
tiful banner, with a charge to bear it in the face of the enemy
as gallant soldiers should ; and each officer had been pre
sented by him with an expensive sword and complete equip
ments, and each private soldier with a revolver. Company
A, Capt. David Dickerson, was from Middletown ; C, Capt.
E. Walter Osborn, from New Haven ; D, Capt. George D.
Russell, from Derby ; E, Capt. S. T. Cooke, from Winsted ;
and F, Capt. A. B. Downs, from New Haven.
NECESSARIES FOR THE SOLDIERS. 65
As soon as the regiments were in camp (Camp Bucking
ham), the rules of military life, slightly relaxed to suit the
character of volunteers, were adopted and cheerfully ob
served. The officers applied themselves persistently, first to
learning, and then to teaching, the rudiments of military
science ; and there was soon a marked improvement in drill
and discipline.
This was due largely to the pupils of the military school
of Gen. Russell. Almost every company in the first regi
ments was instructed in evolutions and the manual of arms
by these efficient drill-masters, ranging from twelve to eigh
teen years of age. Officers and men alike submitted with
grateful attention to the dictation of these skillful striplings.
Feeling that they would soon be face to face with a foe
familiar with the use of arms, all kept closely to the work
of preparing themselves for efficiency in service. Several
hours of each dav were devoted to the facings and march-
v O
ing, and a study of Hardee's " Tactics ; " each man vying with
his neighbor to acquire the elements of a soldier's education.
The results of this discipline were apparent when they came
into the field.
The camps, both at New Haven and Hartford, were con
stantly thronged by visitors and friends bringing all manner of
gifts, useful and useless, — all varieties of pastry and delicacies,
towels and soap, blankets and hammocks, handkerchiefs and
needle-books, tobacco, pipes, and pills. One officer was fa
vored with a gallon jug of molasses.
The simple suggestion that the soldiers should be supplied
with reading evoked an avalanche of illustrated papers and
magazines, with hundreds of books, both religious and general.
The " Havelock " fever also raged. An English journal hav
ing stated, that in 1857, during the suppression of the re
bellion in India, the soldiers used with advantage the " Have-
lock," — a white cloth-covering for the head and neck, — as a
protection from sunstroke, our people went earnestly into
the manufacture of these articles. Every soldier was pro
vided with two or more ; and one company received six
06 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
sets all around. Portable writing-desks, water-filterers, pat
ent knives, and a score of other contrivances, had been in
vented, declared to be absolutely indispensable to health
and comfort; and were provided in great numbers.
Volunteers were entreated to line their blankets with
brown drilling, to carry a rubber blanket, extra shirts, an
extra pair of shoes and stockings, and a variety of cooking
utensils. These, with the paper and envelopes, the pocket-
album, the Bible, and other good books, made with the
musket and equipments, a load of from a hundred and twen
ty-five to a hundred and fifty pounds. Most volunteers
undertook to carry this burden. The veteran, content with
blanket, canteen, haversack, tin cup, and jack-knife, smiles at
the pack under which he perspired in those days ; and he
laughs outright at the advice then solemnly spoken and re
peated in the ears of the men. A writer who called himself
" an old soldier " told the beginners, " Let your beard grow.
March always in cotton stockings, but have a pair of woollen
ones to put on when you stop. Wash your whole body
every day." How easy to do this on a march in Virginia or
Georgia ! and how invigorating in open air, after creeping
out of a " dog-tent," on a December morning at Falmouth !
"A veteran" urged the soldiers to '-avoid oily meat" as if it
were possible to forego pork in Uncle Sam's family. He
also warned the soldiers against "strong coffee," the wel
come beverage which afterwards sustained them in privation
and wearisome marches, and often seemed temporarily to
take the place of food and sleep.
Another thought " the soles of army-boots should be at least
one-half, and, better, three-fourths of an inch in thickness ; "
and bade his soldier-friends to " be sure never to sit down
while heated, but to stand until cool ; and be very careful
always to have your food well cooked!" The old soldier can
find no more amusing reading than the newspaper files of
those days ; and yet, as exhibiting the profuse liberality and
the absorbing affection of a people who could not devise or
do enough for their citizen-soldiers, it is a record to be con
templated with gratification and pride.
DEPAETUBE OF FIEST AND SECOND EEGIMENTS. 67
The First Regiment had received Sharpe's rifles. On
Wednesday, May 17, Hon. Julius Catlin, formerly lieutenant-
governor, presented the colors ; 2 and the next day the
regiment broke camp for the seat of war. The city assem
bled to greet them ; and, in their march down Chapel Street,
they were hailed with uninterrupted cheers. Flags bloomed
upon them from every portico, roof, and window. At last
they embarked on the steamer Bienville, and, turning their
faces from friends and home, disappeared down the harbor,
bound for the still besieged capital of the nation.
Sharpe's rifles also were distributed to eight companies,
and Enfield rifles 3 to two, of the Second Regiment, on the
morning of the 10th ; and, on the evening of the same day,
they broke camp, under orders for Washington. Just before
departure, the regimental colors, elaborately embroidered,
were presented, in a speech of characteristic eloquence, by
Hon. E. K. Foster, in behalf of the ladies of New Haven. A
fine horse was also presented to Col. Terry by Arthur D.
Osborne. Again the streets were filled with an enthusias
tic multitude, hailing the volunteers with approving cheers
and cordial farewells ; and the scene was one of solemn and
triumphant joy. In the evening, the regiment embarked ;
and, at eleven o'clock at night, the Cahawba steamed into
the darkness, along the track where the First Regiment
had waved its good-bys only the day before.
The same high-souled, uncalculating patriotism that had
created these two regiments had also filled the ranks of the
Third. It rendezvoused at Hartford, April 30 ; and was
sheltered by the city and people, and hospitably cared for,
until its camp was ready.
2 His presentation-speech closed as follows : " Take the flag ; and, when it presses
closest on the foe in some hard-set contest, will some brave boy among you strike one
true blow for freedom for an old man at home, whose heart and prayers go with these
colors to the field ? " Mr. Catlin became one of the most generous supporters of the war.
8 The Enfield rifles were purchased by Gov. B. for seventeen dollars and thirty-five
cents ; and were worth, when delivered, twenty-eight dollars. The Colt rifles, nearly all
purchased at twenty dollars, immediately commanded forty and fifty dollars. The Sharpe's
rifles, used by the three-months' troops, were afterwards issued to the flank companies
of the several regiments.
68 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION. .
On the day of the departure of the First, the Third went
into camp on the Fair Grounds, Albany Avenue, two miles
from the State House, Hartford ; and it was mustered into the
service May 14. This regiment, like the others, was hetero
geneous in character, and furnished from every part of the
State. Capt. S. J. Root's New-Haven company was uni
formed and equipped throughout by James Brewster, whose
name they adopted. Company A. Capt. Douglass Fowler,
was from Norwalk; Company B, Capt. Daniel Klein, Ger
mans, from New Haven ; Company C, Capt. J. E. Moore,
from Danbury ; Company D, Capt. Frederick Frye, was one
half from Bridgeport, and the other half distributed among
the towns of Fairfield County. Capt. G. N. Lewis's Hartford
company contained squads from Wethersfield, Glastenbury,
East and West Hartford, and East Windsor. Capt. Edward
Harland's Norwich company represented also Sprague, Boz-
rah, Franklin, and Lebanon. Capt. J. R. Cook's company
was from Meriden ; Capt. Nelson's company, from Hartford.
Capt. Albert Stevens's Stamford company had twenty vol
unteers from Darien, and fourteen from New Canaan. Com
pany E, Capt. John A. Nelson, was mainly from Hartford.
The regiment was organized, at first, with Levi Woodhouse
of Hartford as colonel; but, subsequently, Col. Woodhouse
was transferred to the command of the Fourth, and was
succeeded by John Arnold of New Haven.
During the three weeks following the rendezvous at camp,
the officers and men were vigorously engaged in mastering
the theory and practice of military science and the various
duties of camp and field. They had a better opportunity
to acquire this discipline than either of the former regiments,
because they were farther removed from the distractions of
the city, and had longer time in which to familiarize them
selves with their new life. About a week before they went
away, they received Springfield smooth-bore muskets, flint
locks altered to percussion, and were thus enabled to devote
themselves for a few days to the manual of arms. On May
19, they were ordered to Washington ; and next day struck
THREE REGIMENTS SENT. 69
tents, and marched into Hartford. The colors were presented
in front of the State House by Gov. Buckingham ; 4 after
which, through a surging and enthusiastic crowd of friends
and neighbors, the regiment inarched to the depot, and took
cars for New Haven. There they embarked upon the steam
er Cahawba, and sailed forth cheerfully upon their strange
mission.
A month had passed since the nation was aroused to arms,
and since one regiment was called for from Connecticut.
Three regiments had gone forward, so completely equipped
as to become a model for general imitation, so well dis
ciplined as to reflect honor upon the State in the excitement
and confusion of battle.
4 The governor made a brief speech, in which he said, " No father could welcome
more cordially the presence of his sons than I welcome you to-day. Let these banners be
your rallying-point ; and, if the hands that bear them be smitten, let your voices be heard
inspiriting your fellows to their defense ; and, if you fall, others shall take your places to
bear them on, and they shall be the signal and emblem of your liberties vindicated and
preserved."
CHAPTER V.
Gen. Dan Tyler. — Henry B. Norton. — Cassias M. Clay Guard. — The Fourth Regi
ment. — Towns represented. — Departure. — Colt's Revolving Rifles. — It becomes
the Fifth Connecticut. — Towns represented. — Home Guard. — Yale College. — The
General Assembly. — Message of the Governor. — War Legislation. — The Constitu
tional Amendment. — Great Unanimity of Feeling. — Independence Day.
IN these early movements, Gov. Buckingham re
lied greatly upon Capt. Daniel Tyler of Norwich,
who was burning with zeal, chivalric, high-spirit
ed, honorable, indefatigable in his labors, and
familiar with the details of organization. He
was the only professional soldier in the first three regiments.
He impressed upon all, both officers and men, correct views
of the character of the true soldier, and taught them that it
was as honorable to obey as to command. His discipline
was exact ; and to those who forgot that an army can not be
a democracy, and that a regiment is not a town-meeting, it
seemed severe. Yet is it just to say that much of the sys
tematic, well-disciplined character of Connecticut troops,
which made so many of her regiments favorites in various
corps and departments, was due to the soldierly spirit infused
into the three-months' troops by Col. Tyler of the First.
The position of brigadier of the State militia was early
offered to him by Gov. Buckingham, and accepted by him
on condition that all duties should be " performed without
remuneration for services rendered or expenses incurred." J
Soon after reaching Washington with his regiment, he was
made brigadier-general of volunteers at the earnest request
of Gen. Scott.
1 Gov. Buckingham's Message, 1862.
70
THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION. 71
Henry B. Norton of Norwich also rendered substantial
service in chartering vessels, superintending the transporta
tion of troops, and purchasing supplies at that early period.
An upright, able, and influential business-man, he left his
own affairs, and gave personal attention to the wants of the
State in this emergency. He cheerfully spent months of
time, refusing even the re-imbursement of his expenses.
In the Cassius M. Clay Guard, which patrolled Washing
ton in the days of alarm and peril, before the arrival of
troops, Connecticut was represented by Orris S. Ferry, John
Woodruff, Cornelius S. Bushnell, A. H. Byington, and William
S. Chalker (captain of the first company of Wide-Awakes).
The danger being passed, they were mustered out of service
on May 18 by an order of the Secretary of War, expressing
thanks for their faithful service day and night.
Deeming the three regiments sufficient for the emergency,
the president declined the services of the twenty-four addi
tional companies still industriously drilling in squads all over
the State ; and, on the 8th of May, Gov. Buckingham ordered
them to be disbanded. The decision was received by the
men with every expression of disappointment.
The president had, however, on the 3d of May, issued a
proclamation for forty-two thousand volunteers, an increase
of the regular army of twenty-two thousand and sixty-eight,
and for the enlistment of eighteen thousand seamen ; and
the disappointment was quickly forgotten in the zeal to
embrace one of these opportunities. The State-call was de
layed until May 11 ; and it is estimated that "not less than
two thousand men2 from Connecticut enlisted in other
States, or the regular army or navy."
Our quota was considerably less than one regiment ; but
the War Department had accepted the second and third three-
months' regiments from Connecticut, on condition that
the State should immediately raise two other regiments
for three years. Gov. Buckingham had gladly promised
-this, because fully convinced that the government would
2 Adjutant-General's Report for 1861.
72 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
need them ; and now issued orders for two regiments from
' O
Connecticut. Men eagerly responded ; though they greatly
feared, that, before they could get to the front, the three-
months' regiments would inconsiderately go ahead, and finish
the war.
The first full companies were accepted for the Fourth
Regiment, and ordered into camp at Hartford. Lev! Wood-
house, who had served with credit in Mexico, accepted the
command. Company A, Capt. L. G. Hemingway, was mainly
from Hartford ; though twenty or thirty men were from Man
chester, Farmi ngton, and East and West Hartford. Company
B, Capt. Elisha S. Kellogg, was from Derby; a few of the mem
bers hailing from Seymour, Canton, and other towns. Com
pany C, Capt. R S. Burbank, was officered by Suffield, which
furnished about half the men ; the rest going from Granby,
Enfield, the Windsors, and neighboring towns. Company D,
Capt. J. C. Dunford, was mainly from New London ; a number
of members, however, enlisting from Thompson and the vari
ous Lymes. Company E, Capt. 0. A. Dennis, was mainly from
New Haven ; also Company F, Capt. N. S. Hallenbeck ; both
receiving a sprinkling of volunteers from adjacent towns.
Middletown contributed the officers and fourteen privates of
Company G, Capt. R. G. Williams; Killingly furnished twenty-
two ; Berlin, eleven ; and Plainfield, Putnam, and other east
ern towns, the rest. Middletown also officered Company
H, Capt. C. C. Clark, and sent most of the privates ; Berlin fur
nished sixteen ; and twenty more were chiefly from Crom
well and East Haddam. Torrington contributed the officers
and sixteen men to Company I, Capt. S. H. Perkins ; while
twenty-seven were from Plymouth, ten from Thompson, and
twenty-five more from Litchfield, Waterbury, and Goshen.
Company K, Capt. D. W. Siprell, was from Hartford; surround
ing towns supplying twenty-five, and Meriden ten. Company
G was known as the Wesleyan Guard, most of its mem
bers being students in Wesleyan University. It was more
than an ordinary sacrifice for them to cease their studies,
discard their hopes of distinction, and offer their young lives
to their country.
COL. SAMUEL COLT. 73
The regiment received careful and constant drill, and left
Hartford for the front on Monday, June 10, seventeen
days after the Third. At State-house Square, the regimen
tal colors were presented by Lieut-Go v. Benjamin Douglass'"'
in an earnest speech, concluding thus : " Remember Sumter !
Remember that there, for the first time in our history, this
blood-bought flag of our fathers was lowered to Americans.
Let this thought fire your patriotism, nerve your arm, and
give strength to your determination to wipe out this gross
insult from the records of our national history." The men
then sought refuge from the broiling sun on board the boats.
Fifteen or twenty thousand people were assembled to witness
their departure; and in the midst of cannon-firing, martial
music, and resounding cheers, they steamed down the pleas
ant river, not to Washington, but to do picket-duty along
the Upper Potomac.
On the 25th of April, Col. Sam. Colt offered to raise a
regiment, and arm it with revolving breach rifles of his own
manufacture. His purpose was to have every man over six
feet high, and a good shot, — a regiment of accomplished
grenadiers; and, on May 16, he was commissioned colonel
of the First Connecticut Revolving Rifles. Parts of compa
nies rendezvoused on South Meadows, at Hartford, in accord
ance with this plan, under Major George D. Chapman. There
was soon disagreement concerning arms, the appointment
of subalterns, and other important matters ; and Col. Colt's
commission was revoked June 20, and the regiment, then
numbering nearly seven hundred men, was disbanded.4
3 Gov. Douglass, who had hitherto been known as an .uncompromising foe of slavery,
was henceforth distinguished, also, as being one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the
war ; giving freely of his time, labors, and money, first to put men in the field, and then to
make them and their families comfortable.
* A fine company of Irishmen from Norwich was raised for the Fifth Regiment ; but it
10
74 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
More than half the men returned to their homes ; but those
remaining were organized into skeleton companies, and des
ignated as the Fifth Connecticut. Orris S. Ferry was im
mediately commissioned as colonel, and abandoned a lucra-
rative law-practice for the field. The camp was transferred
to a lot on the New-Haven turnpike, a short distance out of
Hartford.
Company A, Capt. H. B. Stone, was from Danbury; which
town furnished its stalwart officers, and twenty of its men :
fifteen were from Bethel, Redding, and Ridgefield ; and the
rest from other towns in the vicinity of Danbury. Hartford
officered Company B, Capt. Justin H. Chapman, and furnished
a dozen of the men: the rest came from Bristol (twenty),
Windham (fourteen), Griswold, Southington, and Farmington.
Company C, Capt. George W. Corliss, was raised in New Ha
ven ; a few of the men being from adjacent towns, and ten
from Norwalk. Hartford and Waterbury furnished the offi
cers of Company D, Capt. D. F. Lane, and most of the pri
vates. Company E, Capt. Wilson Wyant, was the result of
consolidating two incomplete companies from Norwalk and
Seymour ; some thirty of the men, however, hailing from
Westport, Weston, Woodbury, and Naugatuck. Company
F, Capt. Edward P. Allen, was from Tolland County ; Vernon
furnishing the officers and a majority of the men. others
flocking in from surrounding towns. Groton contributed the
captain (Warren W. Packer), first lieutenant, and ten men,
of Company G; Hartford the second lieutenant, and five
men ; and, of the remainder of the company, fourteen were
from Norwalk, and twelve from Stonington. Company H.
Capt. Albert S. Granger, was officered from Putnam ; which
also furnished thirteen of the men : Killingly sent fourteen,
Plainfield thirteen, Woodstock twelve ; and Thompson, East-
ford, and Griswold, the rest. Hartford furnished the officers
of Company I, Capt. Griffin A. Stedman, and two of the
finally joined the First New-York Artillery. Capt. Thomas Maguire became major of the
regiment, and was succeeded by Capt. William A. Berry, killed in front of Petersburg.
He, in turn, was succeeded by Capt. Thomas Scott of Norwich. — Vide Miss F. M Canl-
kins's History of Norwich.
THE FIFTH REGIMENT. 75
men : twenty-five were from Cornwall, thirteen from Salis
bury, and fifteen from Sharon and Norfolk. The captain
(James Sutton) of Company K, and sixteen men, were from
New London ; the lieutenants, and first two sergeants, from
Waterbury : of the privates, twenty-one were from Wind-
ham, and most of the others from Norwich, Sprague, and
Stonington.
Systematic "recruiting" was not yet resorted to: the
companies were chiefly the result of spontaneous enlist
ment. It is noticeable thus early that the cities or large
towns monopolized most of the officers; the commissions
being frequently secured by those familiar with the ways of
the world, and with managing, even where country towns
supplied a majority of the men. There were men from
Norwalk in almost every company of the Fifth, attracted at
the last moment, even after companies were organized, by
the call of their popular neighbor to the command. The
regiment was soon full to the maximum, having 1,102 men.
Physically, they averaged the best material ever enlisted in
Connecticut ; and, feeling that they needed only proper dis
cipline to make them the foremost regiment of the service,
officers and men gave themselves assiduously to the drill.
Many who did not join these early regiments felt that there
might be another call, or even service in the State, and
began to organize home-guards. In the larger towns, com
panies were formed, and instructed in marching and in the
manual of arms. The lessons were generally rude and
unscientific ; yet many volunteers for the three-years' regi
ments went out from these early companies, more efficient
for the discipline there obtained.
The recruiting, the constant drills, the martial music, and
the bustle of camp-life, greatly quickened the military spirit
in New Haven. In her home-guard were enrolled more
than four hundred members. Besides these, there were no
less than five companies organized and regularly drilled at
Yale College.
76 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The call for troops occurred during vacation at Yale ; and,
when the students came back, they found themselves in
camp. Many graduates promptly joined the ranks ; and
students left their classes for a life in the barracks and on
the field. Among the first of the volunteers came " march
ing from Winchester down " white-haired John Boyd, of the
class of 1821, — a man of social and political influence, and
conspicuous hostility to slavery. The venerable volunteer
was importunate, but could induce no one to pronounce him
young enough for military duty, and went reluctantly
home. Rev. John Pierpont,5 a graduate of the class of
1804, also caught the war- impulse; and, at the age of
seventy-six, marched into Virginia as chaplain of the Massa
chusetts Twenty-second.
Daily contact with soldiers, and the daily sight of the
vacant places of undergraduates, tended to make the Yale
students restless and uneasy. " We must be ready fbr the
next call," they said. Each class became a military com
pany, with frequent drills and creditable discipline. The
same feeling prompted the organization of the Graduates'
Guard. Students of theology, law, medicine, and philoso
phy, with the learned professors of the college, became, all
at once, obedient and patient students in the school of the
soldier. Very laugh-provoking to this day is the recurring
vision of the graduates' company-drill, on those bright, sum
mer afternoons, in the field adjoining Tutor Lane. Some of
the illustrious privates of " the Guard " were by no means so
youthful or agile as to enjoy rapid marching; but one day
a light-footed member maliciously informed the drill-master
5 John Pierpont was born in Litchficld, April 6, 1785. He graduated at the age of
nineteen, studied law at Litchfield, practiced a short time, and had a brief mercantile
career. In 1816, he published at Baltimore the Airs of Palestine, a poem in heroic
measure, which attracted much attention. He then studied theology, and was ordained
in Boston, in 1819, as a Unitarian pastor. His activity and zeal for the temperance,
antislavery, and other reforms, brought him into a sharp and prolonged controversy with
some of his parishioners, in which he was completely triumphant. For fifty years, freedom
and temperance were the burden of his song. In 1861, he went with Massachusetts
troops to the field, but was rescued by Senator Wilson from fatal exposure, and served in
the treasury department until 1864, when he resigned, and went home to a peaceful
death.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ^7
that there was a general desire to try company movements
in quicker time. The wicked suggestion was accepted.
Along the slope, up and down the declivity, by the right
flank and the left, with an occasional bewildering " about-
face," they lumbered along at a straggling double-quick.
" Close up, close up ! " was an order shouted and repeated in
vain. Onward struggled the heavy end of the line, with
visible perspiration and audible puffings; while utter exhaus
tion heaved in almost bursting chests, and glowed in fiery
cheeks. Meantime, the lighter end of the line grew weak
in the knees, and thick in the throat with irrepressible
laughter at the droll display. The agony of that hour
nearly proved fatal ; but, after a few days, nearly all the
disabled veterans returned, and the drills were cautiously
continued.
These drills, though at first almost ludicrous, were far
from fruitless. The older members, one by one, dropped
out ; but the rest drilled regularly, and with good progress.
" The next call was made, and we sent to the front our full
quota. Another call came, and a third. We gave our stur
diest and best, until nearly one-half the Graduates' Guard
were soldiers of the Republic." 6
The annual session of the General Assembly convened at
Hartford on the first day of May, 1861.
Fortunately, many of the first men in the State had been
chosen, and entered on their serious duties with a determi
nation to do all that was possible to put down the Rebellion
at once.
The House was organized by the election of Hon. Augustus
Brandagee as speaker; and Cyrus Northrop, clerk. The Sen
ate elected Hon. A. B. Mygatt president pro tern.; and W. W.
Stone, clerk.
The governor, in a short message, informed the Assembly
that the services of forty companies had been accepted and
mostly uniformed, but none had yet departed from the State.
6 The Patriotic Record of Yale College, by John M. Morris in Hours at Home, vol.
iii. No. 2.
78 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE KEBELLION.
As if foreseeing the magnitude of the war, the governor, at
that early period, recommended that a force of eight or ten
thousand men be organized, armed, and equipped by the
State, and drilled and disciplined, ready, when needed, to be
called into active service. He discussed the critical condition
of national affairs with clearness and manly courage. He
suggested a modification of the Personal-liberty Bill in
regard to the evidence necessary to prove a false declara
tion of the claimant of a negro alleged to be a slave, but
recommended that the bill thus amended be retained.
He said, " We are in the rnidst of a revolution on which
all that we hold dear as a free people is staked. Never
have the liberties achieved for us by our fathers through the
fire and blood of a seven-years' war been in such imminent
peril as now. The sceptre of authority must be upheld, and
allegiance secured. It is no time to make concessions to
rebels, or parley with men in arms ; " and, as if speaking for
the people, declared, that " we will make the battle-fields of
the second war of independence, if need be, altars of patri
otic sacrifice and watchwords of liberty forever."
Immediately after the organization of the House, the
speaker appointed the following gentlemen the Committee
upon Military Affairs : Messrs. Carpenter of Killingly (now
a judge of the Supreme Court) ; Deming of Hartford (after
wards colonel of the Twelfth Connecticut Volunteers), in
place of Thomas H. Seymour, who declined to serve ; Wooster
of Derby (afterwards colonel of the Twenty-ninth Connec
ticut Volunteers) ; Geer of Lyme ; Cunningham of Norwalk
(afterwards lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth Connecticut
Volunteers); Burrall of Salisbury; Scoville of Haddam;
and Pease of Somers. The Hon. Charles Briscoe of the
second district was appointed senate-chairman of this
committee.
On the third day of the session, a bill reported by this
committee passed both Houses without opposition, which
NOTE. — The State debt on the 1st of April, 1861, was $7,709.50 ; a reduction during
the previous year from $26,432.54. The debt in 1858 was $81,161.06.
THREE-YEARS' REGIMENTS. 79
authorized the governor to accept the services of ten thou
sand men for such time as he might deem expedient, they
being liable at all times to be turned over to the service
of the United States. All acts of the governor in raising-
volunteer regiments were ratified and confirmed, and all
expenses incurred by him for the same purpose were ordered
paid from the State treasury. The sum of ten dollars per
month, as additional compensation, was appropriated to every
non-commissioned officer and private who was mustered into
the service under the act.
Towns and cities were authorized to vote money to aid
volunteers or their families, and previous votes of this
character were validated. The sum of two million dollars
was appropriated to defray military expenses ; and the treas
urer was authorized to issue six per cent coupon bonds to
that amount, payable in twenty years. The act was approved
by the governor immediately, and became the basis of much
of the subsequent legislation upon war-matters.
Mr. Sedgwick of Cornwall gave early notice of a bill to
raise five regiments of negroes ; but the project, repeatedly
broached by him, met with little favor.
At this time, the patriotism of the people was glowing at
a white-heat; partisan feeling was subdued;7 and, writh few
exceptions, the Democratic members of the Assembly vied
with those of the majority party in expressions of loyalty
and devotion to the Federal Union.
Resolutions of inquiry or instruction upon the all-absorb
ing subject were introduced nearly every day, many of
them illustrative of the crude ideas that then prevailed con
cerning the requirements of actual warfare.
Before the close of the session, three-years' regiments were
begun ; and it was deemed necessary to reduce the extra pay
of ten dollars per month, except in the case of those who en
listed for three months, to thirty dollars per year, to be paid
in installments of ten dollars every four months. This was
7 At the city elections of New Haven and Norwich in June, a Union ticket was nomi
nated by mutual agreement of parties, and elected without opposition.
80 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
continued until the close of the war. By an act approved
June 27, provision was made for the payment of a bounty
for the support of the family of each enlisted man.
This bounty was six dollars per month for the wife, and
two dollars per month for each child, not exceeding two, under
fourteen years of age. It was paid quarterly until the final
muster-out ; and, whenever a soldier died in the service, it
was continued until the expiration of his term of enlistment ;
so that, in many cases, it operated as a pension for two or
more years.8
The Corwin Constitutional Amendment wras reported from
the Committee on Federal Relations on the 3d of July with
out recommendation, and continued to the next session of the
General Assembly by nearly a strict party vote. Senator
E. Johnson (Dem.) was for a peaceful settlement of the
difficulties, and in favor of guaranteeing the constitutional
rights of the South. He should consider a vote for con
tinuing the amendment as a vote against it. Senator 0. H.
Platt replied, " I wish the vote I shall give for continuance
to be considered as a declaration that I will not compromise
with traitors. I wish first to know whether we have a Con
stitution to be amended, or whether it is to be subverted. I
believe that those who talk of peace now mean sympathy
with traitors, and a peaceable dissolution of the Union."
The amendment was not heard of again.
An act to repeal the Personal -liberty Bill was also con
tinued to the next session by a similar vote.
The resolutions upon Federal affairs, which were presented
according to custom just before the close of the session,
were very conservative in their character, declaring it to be
the duty of the government to resist rebellion with all its
force, and against interference with slavery in the States.
They were passed by the votes of Republicans and Demo
crats, and were opposed only by Mr. Thomas H. Seymour
and a few others, who, in those early days of the war, were
8 The bounty, in this beneficent form, was secured chiefly by the persistent efforts of
William B. Wooster of Derby.
DEMONSTRATIONS AT WALLINGFORD. 81
known as " peace men." A large proportion of the Demo
cratic party in the Assembly seemed, however, at this time,
to be as earnest and hearty in their support of the war-
measures as the Republicans. Several of them, like Dem-
ing of Hartford, Atwater of New Haven, and Dibble of
Branford, continued to act with the Republican Union party
through the war. Much credit is due to the Military Com
mittee of this Assembly for their arduous work and judicious
recommendations. The principal bills relating to the con
duct of the war were never repealed, and were only altered
for the purpose of extending their provisions as circum
stances required. The Assembly adjourned, sine die, on the
evening of July 3.
Independence Day was celebrated with earnestness and
enthusiasm. Communities which had no suitable flag-staff
commemorated the day by raising the tallest and hand
somest the region afforded. Others gathered around the
massive and shapely poles already erected, to renew with
solemn emphasis their pledges of devotion to the starry,
emblem, and the Republic whose majesty and power it
typified.
Among the unique demonstrations was that at Walling-
ford, where the citizens unfurled the flag that had been pre
sented by Moses Y. Beach. Samuel Simpson presided, and
the flag was received by E. S. Ives. After a bountiful colla
tion, a miniature model of the flag and staff, surmounting a
colossal loaf of cake, adorned with flowers, was presented
to Mr. Beach by six daughters of M. W. Munson, who accom
panied the gift with a patriotic note expressing thanks to
him, and signed themselves " six sisters for the Union."
Gov. Buckingham spent 'the day at New Haven. In the
forenoon, there was a review of the volunteer and militia
companies ; in the afternoon, a mass-meeting to listen to ad
dresses and the singing of the Children's Brigade.
Some weeks before, Benjamin Jepson had issued a circular,
in which he urged that all our children might and should be
imbued with ineradicable love of country by early instruc-
11
82 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
tion in our national songs, and calling them together to re
hearse a programme for the Fourth of July. In response to
this call, a thousand children assembled, from time to time,
for practice, and, at two o'clock on the Fourth, gathered at
" The Wigwam " in Olive Street, and formed in procession in
the following order: Division of boys, — Indians, represent
ing the Boston Tea-Party; Washington Zouaves, Wide
awake Fire-engine Company with a miniature engine,
Marine Guard, Infant Rifles. Division of girls, — Daughters
of Columbia, Goddess of Liberty in a floral car, Young
America with continental guard, Brother Jonathan in full
costume, Union of States represented by thirty-four young
ladies.
The costume of the children accorded with the parts as
signed them : each carried a flag, and the entire procession
was interspersed with banners representing the battles of
the Revolution and various appropriate devices. The pro
cession passed through the principal streets to the north
portico of the State House, and were seated on the broad
steps in a prescribed order, making a most picturesque and
impressive tableau. Mayor Welch presided : speeches were
made by his Excellency the Governor, Ex-Go v. Dutton,
Prof. D. C. Gilman, Deacon George F. Smith, John G. North,
and others. The speakers were warmly applauded ; but the
spirit and power of the singing, intensified by the effect of
the decorations, elicited much enthusiasm.
The vast audience, of from fifteen to twenty thousand,
stood in compact, swaying mass, without sign of weariness,
for four hours, and dispersed with hearts vibrating to this
stanza, sung by the children with thrilling effect : —
" Still undaunted, still united
By the fires our fathers lighted,
We will stand, we will stand,
As a noble band of brothers,
Freer, prouder, than all others
In the land, in the land ;
While onward, with resistless tread,
Unconqucrcd, unconquered,
The Union's mighty hosts are led,
Our standard waving at its head,
Unconquered, unconquered,
Against the lines of Treason."
CHAPTER VI.
The First and Second Regiments in Washington. — Welcome Reception. — Camp at
Glenwood. — Joined by the Third. — Death of Col. Ellsworth. — Ellsworth of Connecti
cut Stock. — " Invasion " of Virginia. — Ambush at Vienna. — Holding the Advanced
post. — Death of Theodore Winthrop. — Sketch of his Life and Character. — Death of
Capt. James H. Ward. — An Advance. — Blackburn's Ford. — Bull Run. — Gen.
Tyler begins the Battle. — The Army betrayed. — Behavior of Connecticut Troops.
— The Last on the Field. — They act as Rear-Guard in the Retreat. — Good Order
maintained. — They bring off Public Property. — Home, and Muster-out.
pHE destination of the First was kept a secret,
even from its line officers, until the Bienville
was outside New-Haven Harbor, to avoid the
necessity of a hostile reception by the rebels
along the Potomac. The transport made straight
for the Chesapeake, and steamed along without opposition.
It was the first regiment up the river ; and rebel camps
were seen here and there in the distance, while the strange
flag of treason was flaunted at Alexandria. The regiment
arrived not a day too soon ; for the capital was still at the
mercy of the foe, had he been resolute and dashing.
They were met on the Potomac, and cordially welcomed,
by President Lincoln and his cabinet. While marching
through the streets of Washington, they received much praise
for their soldierly bearing and discipline, and for the perfec
tion of their personal and carnp equipage. It was the first
regiment from any State thoroughly equipped ; being fur
nished not only with tents, but with a complete baggage-
train. Gen. Scott reviewed them, and exclaimed, " Thank
God ! we have one regiment ready to take the field." The
day of their arrival, May 13, they pitched their camp about
two miles north of the capital, on the pleasant grounds of
the wealthy banker Corcoran, called Glenwood.
84 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The First Connecticut Regiment was taken as a model for
equipment by other States. Before its departure, agents
from New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont, were
in New Haven to examine it ; and, when it arrived in Wash
ington, it had more transportation than all the other regiments
combined ; and the government sent next day to borrow the
teams to distribute rations to the other troops. Moreover,
the First had provided itself with fifty thousand rounds of
ammunition, and rations and forage for twenty days. Col.
Tyler was prepared not merely for a battle, but for a cam
paign.
The steamer Cahawba, with the Second, leaving New
Haven the day after the First, came to anchor under the
guns of Fortress Monroe on Sunday morning ; and the
sturdy old Cumberland sloop -of- war, thereafter famous,
manned her yards, and gave the regiment three cheers.
The sail was soon continued up the Potomac ; and, as the
shores were occupied by the enemy, ball-cartridges were
dealt out after divine service, and the companies were as
signed positions for defense. Rebel sentries were visible on
the Alexandria wharves, and armed traitors were grouped
in the streets. The regiment reached Washington, and
pitched its tents at Glenwood by the side of the First. The
situation was a westward slope, covered with oaks and cecjars ;
the ground thick with underbrush and decaying leaves. In
a few days, the leaves had been swept up and burned, the
stumps removed, and the inequalities of surface leveled
down. The regiments built, of the evergreens, arches and
arbors in front of the officers' tents, and floored them with
fragrant twigs, and festooned them with running vines, until
the camp looked like a pleasant picnic-scene. They gave
nine hours a day to drill, evolutions, and the manual of arms ;
and, under diligent officers, their progress was rapid. Social
religious meetings were held every evening, conducted by
Rev. S. Herbert Lancey, a private in the Second, afterwards
appointed by the Secretary of War to be chaplain. Feeling a
strong desire for music, the members assessed themselves to
pay the expenses of the Union City (Naugatuck) Brass Band,
which reached the camp early in June.
CONNECTICUT TROOPS' EXPRESS. 85
On May 23, the Third Regiment arrived, and joined the
First and Second, by whom they were warmly welcomed.
So far as was compatible with military discipline and the
rules of camp-life, the members of the three regiments im
proved the opportunity for social intercourse. The Third,
like the First and Second, applied itself diligently to the
drill. Col. Arnold, not having proved very efficient, resigned
soon after arriving at Washington ; and his resignation was
instantly accepted. Lieut.-Col. Chatfield of the First was
appointed to the command ; but Lieut.-Col. Brady refused to
recognize his authority, and exhibited gross insubordination
in asserting his own right to the succession according to the
laws of the militia. He was placed under arrest for muti
ny, and so held, without trial, until the final muster-out.
This folly was afterwards atoned for by patriotic service. Col.
Chatfield took the place assigned him, and devoted himself
with ardor to the work of transforming the raw volunteers
into soldiers. A militia-officer, he was an admirable disci
plinarian, — one of the very best drill-officers in the whole
United-States service. A distinguished graduate of West
Point said, " Worth, in his palmy days, could not handle a
regiment better."
The hearts of the people went to the field with their
brave boys. The daily papers were in unprecedented de
mand. The telegrams and letters from the front were
read and re-read with the greatest avidity. Scenes and
events in camp were the absorbing topic of conversation
in the streets and at many firesides. The mails were
loaded with newspapers, packages, .and plethoric letters.
Men were dispatched from all parts of the State to see " the
boys," and carry them provisions and money ; and were in
structed to provide, at any cost, whatever they might need.
Craw and Martin, two young men of New Haven, started a
" Connecticut Troops' Express," leaving for Washington
every Monday night, and taking parcels of every sort ; guar
anteeing their safe delivery to the individuals for whom
they were intended. They did a thriving business.1
1 The Connecticut Troops' Express was continued by J. M. Crofut as long as any of
the Connecticut regiments were encamped near Washington. When the troops moved
farther into the field, it was necessarily discontinued. It was for seven or eight months
both convenient and profitable.
86 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
On Sunday, June 16, an accident occurred in camp, which
cast a gloom over all. A member of the Third, Richard
Howard of Madison, sat in his tent reading his Bible, when
a companion, playing with a pistol which he supposed not to
be loaded, snapped the cap at a fly on Howard's breast, and
shot him through the heart. The body was sent home, and
buried with a public demonstration of respect and sorrow.
On the afternoon of May 24 came the news of the death of
Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth at Alexandria, Brave, enthusiastic,
and rash, he had ascended to the roof of the Marshall House
to tear down a rebel flag, and had been shot dead by the pro
prietor Jackson while descending the stairs with the trophy.
The patriotic act and its result roused and enraged the North ;
and thousands of young men sprang forward to avenge the
murder, while the name of the dead hero became the inspi
ration of battle and the assurance of victory.
Young Ellsworth was of Connecticut stock. His grand
father, John Ellsworth, was sexton of Center Church in
Hartford for a quarter of a century; and had two sons,
John and William. The former, developing considerable
genius as an artist, became the protSgS of Daniel Wadsworth,
and -painted for him the copy of Stuart's Washington which
now hangs in the gallery at the Athenaeum. William mar
ried, and emigrated at an early day to Michigan; and there
Elmer was born. In the winter of 1860-61, he showed great
skill in drilling Zouaves, and, at Mr. Lincoln's request, accom
panied him to Washington.
Col. Ellsworth was succeeded, as commander of the Zouaves,
by Col. Noah L. Farnham, a native of Connecticut, born at
Haddam, June 6, 1829. In 1861, he went to Washington
as a lieutenant in the New- York 7th. He soon became
lieutenant-colonel of Ellsworth's Zouaves ; and, at the fall of
Ellsworth, he was made colonel. He rose from a sick-bed to
command his regiment at Bull Run, where, after gallant con
duct, he received a severe wound in the head, which shortly
proved fatal. He was buried at New Haven with military
and civic honors.
There were various alarms of the comfortable camp at
Glenwood. On the day of Ellsworth's sacrifice, the First was
PEIVATE BUGBEE WOUNDED. 87
summoned by an excited orderly, and aroused by the long-roll
to the defense of the threatened city. The men seized their
arms, and rushed down to Long Bridge ; but it was a false
alarm, and they turned back disappointed. Another week
passed ; and at twelve o'clock, midnight, of June 1, they broke
camp in earnest, and marched to re-inforce the half-dozen
regiments maintaining a precarious hold on the "sacred soil,"
— as Virginia was now derisively termed. Followed by a
long train of baggage and commissary wagons, through the
deep woods the regiment wound its way into the broad
streets of the capital, and silently and stealthily across Long
Bridge, and over the crooked roads of Virginia clay, to
Roach's Mills, on the Alexandria and Leesburg Railroad,
where, at dawn, it relieved the 12th New- York, Col. Butter-
field. Here a camp was established, and the routine of
drill, resumed.
Gen. McDowell, visiting the camp, inquired how many
times the pickets had needlessly alarmed the regiment.
" Never," was the reply, " except when there was a legitimate
occasion." " I am glad," he rejoined, " that there is one regi
ment this side the Potomac that does not unnecesarily alarm
itself." A prisoner was brought in within a few minutes.
He was found to be a brother of the rebel general at Fair
fax Court House ; but, as was the rule in those easy-going
days in the Union army, he was sworn, and set at liberty.
On June 16, a detail of four hundred men, under Gen. Tyler
and Col. Burnham, started to explore the country by railroad.
They went three or four miles beyond Vienna ; and, while
returning, the crack of a rifle was heard, and George H. Bug-
bee of Hartford, a private in Company A, fell, shot through
the shoulder from an ambush. The shot was probably in
tended for Gen. Tyler, near whom Bugbee was standing.2
The men jumped from the cars, scoured the woods madly in
all directions, and returned with a number of prisoners ; but
the assassin remained undiscovered ; and the prisoners, after
the administration of the government's favorite panacea,
— the oath of allegiance, — were discharged.
During the succeeding night, the Second had orders to
2 Young Bugbee suffered severely; and his wound was the first one received by a son
of Connecticut during the war. Since the war, a man named Frank Williams has
acknowledged the shooting of Bugbee : he served afterwards in Mosby's bold riders.
88 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
join the First ; and they broke camp in great glee, for they
had heard exaggerated rumors about battles already fought,
and believed that their "invasion" of Virginia would be
stoutly contested.
A description 3 of this weird midnight scene says, " About
thirty wagons, drawn by four mules each, were provided for
the transportation of tents and camp material. A Washington
guide was to lead the column. The night was cloudy, with
occasional showers. To give light for the necessary work
of moving, the men set fire to the dried cedars, which had
served as shades and ornaments. The effect was splendid.
There was little noise, for silence had been enjoined ; and the
figures of the men tugging away at bundles, packing and
repacking, hurrying hither and thither, and leaping over ob
structions, with the images of the long-eared mules reflected
on the white-covered wagons, which were alternately brilliant
in the glare, or darkened in the shadow, as the flames flashed
up in wreathing spires, or the smoke rolled in clouds of
pitchy blackness, made altogether a scene of wildness fit for
the pencil of Salvator Rosa." How many times was this
goblin picture, with every conceivable variation, repeated
during the war !
After a weary night-march, they arrived at Roach's Mills
at sunrise, and camped again at the side of the First. Next
day, both regiments marched to the relief of the Ohio volun
teers surprised at Vienna ; after which they occupied Falls
Church, the advance post in the loyal line. That very even
ing,4 two men5 were captured while incautiously supping
beyond our lines. Two days afterwards, Capt. A. G. Kellogg
of the Second, while out in command of the picket-guard, was
taken prisoner. He left his command to escort two ladies,
the Misses Scott, to their homes near by, and was seized by
the enemy lurking near the road. The captors were pursued,
but not overtaken. A few days afterwards, the young
women, who were believed to have betrayed him, were
brought into camp ; but, after a short detention, they were
sent home again, after the fashion of that day.6
3 By Jesse H. Lord, in Connecticut War Record. 4 Wednesday, June 17.
5 Sergeant Austin G. Monroe and Corporal C. E. Hawkes.
6 It was the aim of the Federal authorities to do nothing to " exasperate " the enemy ;
and it was some weeks before any captives were retained as prisoners of war. The oath
DEATH OF THEODORE WINTHROP. 89
The location of the regiments at this time was a perilous
one, — in the extreme front of the Union centre ; and, night
after night, the men expected to be awakened by the long-
roll and the enemy's advance. They were 'menaced, but not
attacked ; and the Third Regiment immediately joined them.7
Col. Terry, who had been left in Washington ill, rejoined his
command at this time, and was received " by the cheers of the
entire regiment." Private property was sacredly respected,
and the men lived in the midst of luxuries they were forbid
den to share. The keeper of the Oak-hill Tavern was a
rebel, and refused to sell a single pig, fowl, or vegetable to
" the Yanks ; " yet he never complained of the loss of a
cent's worth of property.8 On April 27, Brig.-Gen. J. K. F.
Mansfield, a Connecticut soldier, was placed in command
of the troops in Washington.9
While our three regiments were holding the picket-line
in Longstreet's front, one of the most brilliant sons of Con
necticut, Major Theodore Winthrop, fell in the skirmish at
Big Bethel, in Lower Virginia.10 This fiasco was called a
battle in those early days, and it excited a degree of inter
est far beyond its actual importance ; and Winthrop's name
became a watchword as Ellsworth's had been, and his hero
ism an example.
Theodore Winthrop, son of Francis R. Winthrop, was born
in New Haven in 1828; and was a thoughtful, delicate, se
rious child. He entered Yale at sixteen, and was graduated
at twenty, taking the Clark scholarship, and dividing with
another the honor of the Berkeleian. He traveled much,
making a tour of Europe, which was not the conventional
one, going much of the way on foot ; also to South America,
California, and Oregon, Puget's Sound, and the Saskatchawan
districts of British America. In 1855, he was admitted to
the bar; but his roving habits, and an experience full of
picturesque episodes, unfitted him for a sedentary life, and
he was restive in the profession he had chosen.
of allegiance was administered even to rebels taken with arms in their hands. The first
prisoners retained were committed for contumacy, they refusing to take the oath.
? On June 24.
8 This circumspection and rigid regard for meum and tuum was considerably relaxed
before the war was over, even among Connecticut troops.
9 On June 26, he reported 27,846 men present for duty.
12
QO CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
He had strong administrative talent ; for he sprang straight
from John Winthrop, who was the first governor of Con
necticut. He would have made an enterprising and daunt
less explorer. He wrote short tales and magazine articles
with great success ; and the sketches which he contributed
to the Atlantic Monthly had a certain dash and briskness
of style that won instant favor. He wrote several books,
but never published them, being deterred by a morbid sensi
tiveness, which shrank from the criticism of his own maturer
self. Most of these have been published posthumously.
Winthrop was buried at New Haven, to which place large
numbers of his old comrades followed his remains. In the
funeral-procession" were more than a thousand persons, in
cluding the veteran Grays, Governor's Foot-Guards, Emmet
Guards, Russell's School Battalion, National Blues, officers
of the Horse Guard, City Government, and the faculty and
students of Yale.
George William Curtis, under whose auspices his books
have been brought out, says of his friend, —
" A wide readerj he retained knowledge with little effort, and often sur
prised his friends by the variety of his information. Yet it was not strange ;
for he was born a scholar. His mother was the great-grand-daughter
of old President Edwards ; and, among his relations on the maternal side,
Winthrop counted six presidents of colleges. . . . The womanly grace of
his temperament merely enhanced the unusual manliness of his character.
In walking and riding, in skating and running, in games out of doors and
in, no one of us all in the neighborhood was so expert, so agile, as he.
Often, after writing a few hours in the morning, he stepped out of doors,
and, from pure love of the fun, leaped and turned summersaults on the
grass before going up to town. . . .
" There is an impression somewhat prevalent that Winthrop planned
the expedition to Great Bethel. It is incorrect. As military secretary of
the commanding general, he probably made suggestions, some of which
were adopted. The expedition was the first move from Fort Monroe, to
which the country had been long looking in expectation. These were the
reasons why he felt so peculiar a responsibility for its success ; and, after
the melancholy events of the earlier part of the day, he saw that its for
tunes could be retrieved only by a dash of heroic enthusiasm. Fired him
self, he sought to kindle others. For one moment, that brave, inspiring
form is plainly visible to his whole country, rapt and calm, standing upon
the log nearest the enemy's battery, the mark of their sharpshooters,
the admiration of their leaders ; waving his sword, cheering his fellow-
soldiers with his bugle voice of victory, — young, brave, beautiful : for one
DEATH OF CAPT. WAKD. 91
moment erect and glowing in the wild whirl of battle ; the next, falling for
ward toward the foe, dead, but triumphant.
"On the 19th of April, 1861, he left the armory-door of the Seventh,
with his hand upon a howitzer; on the 21st of June, his body lay upon
the same howitzer, at the same door, wrapped in the flag for which he
gladly died as the symbol of human freedom. And so, drawn by the hands
of young men lately strangers to him, but of whose bravery and loyalty
lie had been the laureate, and who fitly mourned him who had honored
them, with long, pealing dirges and muffled drums, he moved forward.
"Yet such was the electric vitality of this friend of ours, that those
of us Avho followed him could only think of him as approving the funeral
pageant, not the object of it, but still the spectator and critic of every
scene in which he was a part. We did not think of him as dead. We
never shall. In the moist, warm, midsummer morning, he was alert, alive,-
immortal."
Two weeks later, a spirited engagement took place between
the defiant rebels on the right bank of the" Potomac and
the United-States gunboats Pawnee and Freeborn, stationed
in the river. Among the losses, the Union forces had to
deplore the death of Capt. Ward, the gallant commander of
the Freeborn.
James Harmon Ward was the eldest son of Col. James
Ward, commissary-general of our army in the war of 1812 ;
and was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1806. He studied for
two years at a military academy in Vermont, and entered
the navy as a midshipman on the old frigate Constitution
in 1823. He was promoted to be lieutenant in 1831, and
sent to the Mediterranean, where, he compiled his Manual
of Naval Tactics. In 1842, he delivered a course of popular
lectures in Philadelphia on Gunnery, in which he urged the
establishment of an American naval school. When the
school was founded at Annapolis, he became one of its pro
fessors, and shortly after published a book on Naval Ordnance
and Gunnery, — a work highly esteemed. At the commence
ment of the Rebellion, he was summoned to Washington to
aid the government by his counsel ; and he soon showed his
efficiency by organizing the Potomac flotilla, of which he
was placed in command May 16, 1861. This was our first
war-fleet, and was a^ terror to rebels while he directed it.
On the 31st, he attacked the rebel batteries at Acquia Creek,
silencing three of them ; and, on June 1, resumed the cannon-
92 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ading, burning the depot and all the stores. On June 27,
with the Freeborn and Pawnee, he attacked the batte
ries at Mathias Point, and landed a party of men to burn
the rebel ambush. The Freeborn kept up a constant lire
to cover the landing, hotly replied to by musketry from the
woods. One of the gunners was wounded ; and Capt. Ward,
taking his place, was shot in the breast by a musket-ball,
and killed, while in the act of sighting the gun. One of his
acquaintances wrote, '•' His death is a shock ; but we have
expected it. He was always at the post of danger." He
was a gentleman of thorough education, and in religion a
devout Catholic. He was buried from St. Patrick's in Hart
ford with all the honors of the Church, the State, and the
Army. A eulogy was delivered by his personal friend Father
O'Reilly, and the burial-service was read by Bishop McFar-
land. The governor, State officers, and legislature, the Fifth
Regiment, and the Hartford military companies, joined in
the last tribute of respect for the brave and patriotic man.
In the mean time, the three Connecticut regiments held
the aggressive point, eight miles farther into ftabeldom tthan
any Union troops had before been stationed. By either
Ball's or Bailey's cross-roads, the rebels could throw a force
in their rear, so that officers and men lay down in the nightly
expectation of being aroused by an attempt to cut them off.
Their situation was too critical to be entirely pleasant ; and
the question of withdrawing them was discussed earnestly
in the War Department. Gen. Scott telegraphed to Tyler,
" You are too far in advance. Better draw back. You will
be gobbled up." Gen. Tyler replied, that Falls Church was
the place that ought to be held ; that there was no other
point so naturally defensible ; that the rebels would seize it
if he should abandon it ; and that he would take the respon
sibility of holding it. Every evening, he consulted with his
officers as to the preparations for a night-attack.
During all this time, the loyal States were impatiently de
manding a forward movement against the enemy. About the
4th of July, an advance on Richmond via Manassas Junction
was anticipated ; and from day to day thereafter the rumor
assumed more defined and exact proportions, until, at dress-
BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 93
parade on the afternoon of the 15th, the fact was made cer
tain by an order for a movement the next day. The three
Connecticut regiments were now brigaded with the 2d
Maine, under command of Col. E. D. Keyes of the llth
regulars. The estimation in which Gen. Tyler and the Con
necticut troops were held is shown by the fact that to him
was assigned the command of the first and largest division,
consisting of twelve thousand men ; while they were made
the first brigade of that division, and were thus, in regular
formation, the advance of the entire force. On the after
noon of the 16th, the division left Falls Church, the Connecti
cut brigade ahead, and led the way past Vienna towards Cen-
treville. He halted his division on the heights, and with
Richardson's brigade pushed forward, and encountered Long-
street's division at Blackburn's Ford of Bull Run. He felt
out with a battery to test the opposing strength ; and the
rebels showed fight with a spirit that proved an intention to
contest the run. In the slight conflict that resulted, the
Union losses were nineteen (official), the rebel loss sixty-
eight ; the former having largely the advantage of ground.
The 'object of the reconnoissance was gained, and the ford
was held during the two successive days of the tardy advance.
If this success had been immediately followed up by the
attack along the whole line, which did not come until three
days afterwards, it seems almost certain that the result would
have been a victory ; for Johnston's army of eighteen
thousand had not yet stolen away, from Patterson's front,
and the systematic treachery at Washington, which so soon
betrayed us, had not yet done its work.
Gen. Tyler advised the continuation of the battle next
day. During the afternoon of the 18th, and the 19th and
20th, McDowell's whole army was grouped in the rear
of Centreville, and might have been hurled on the enemy in
two hours at any time ; and Bull Run was fordable at all
points. Tyler insisted that he could whip the rebels with
his own division : and such a result was more than possible ;
for he had sixteen regiments and two batteries, while Beau-
regard had not more than ten thousand effective men during
Thursday and Friday. Col. Chrisholm, aide-de-camp to Gen.
94 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
Beauregard on that day, and afterwards his chief of staff,
said in a recent conversation, " Beauregard's whole forces
did not exceed twelve thousand men, stationed at Lewis's,
Blackburn's, and Mitchell's Fords, and at the Stone Bridge,
including Holmes's brigade at the Occoquan, out of reach."
And he adds, "Had the affair of the 18th been vigorously
pushed, Beauregard looked for certain defeat ; for not a man
of Johnston's army had at that ^time come up." The first of
them arrived on Saturday morning, and McDowell waited for
his Grouchy in vain. This was the hour and this the place
to strike ; but McDowell halted for " five days' rations," and
the men threw away their rations as the general had already
thrown away his opportunit}-.
When, on the memorable Sunday, July 21,11 the main
column, instead of crossing at the Stone Bridge, as first threat
ened, made a wide detour to the northward, and crossed at
Sudley's Church, expecting to flank and surprise the enemy,
its commander was astonished, instead, to find himself con
fronted there by an enormous force of the rebels, with
preparations to receive him. When it is remembered
that traitors walked the streets of Washington unmolested ;
that spies, when captured within our army-lines, were dis
charged on taking the oath of allegiance ; that secessionists
remained in office, even in the War Department,12 appointees
of Jefferson Davis and Floyd, — it is not strange that the ene
my had the fullest information of our position and strength,
and that the plans of McDowell, a secret to the few who
were to execute them, were perfectly familiar to Beauregard.
The latter had even obtained possession of a copy of Mc
Dowell's map of the county, made on Friday.
The possession of this complete and minute information
enabled Beauregard himself to have a plan of the pending
battle. A Confederate officer present at the council of war
the previous day is authority for the statement, that it was
the intention of Beauregard and Johnston to make a flank
11 By this time, Beauregard had something like thirty thousand men (Pollard, in his
Southern History, says " less than thirty thousand "), and McDowell had about thirty-five
thousand; a slight disparity, considering the relative positions.
w " Gen. Beauregard received the very earliest information from a friend of his in Wash
ington, and had plenty of time to make all his preparations." — Col. Estvan's War Pic
tures from the South.
BATTLE OF BULL BUN. 95
movement to the south on Centreville simultaneous with
McDowell's flank movement to the north on Manassas.
Agreeably to this plan, the Sudley-church Road was left
unobstructed, and the main body of the enemy was massed,
under Beauregard, near Stone Bridge. His original design
was to make a show of fight here in the morning against
our left, and when the columns of Hunter and Heintzelman
should be met by Johnston's reserves, now mostly on the
plains, to wheel the whole main army to the left, make
Mitchell's Ford a pivot, and strike the Union army in the
rear at Centreville.13 The scheme miscarried, the rebels
say, because the Mitchell's-ford Road was blocked up.
On Sunday, Gen. Tyler began the battle. At six o'clock
in the morning, he fired the first gun near the Stone Bridge,
having been ordered to make a feint by threatening the
passage of the run in force at this point.
The Connecticut brigade, being detached to guard the
Warrenton Turnpike, did not reach the stream until ten
o'clock, A.M., just as Col. Tecumseh Sherman's brigade of
Tyler's division had crossed to attack. Here the enemy
opened on the Connecticut men with twenty or thirty
rounds of shot and shell from a battery across the run, from
which several were wounded. The brigade rapidly ap
proached at double-quick, dropping flat on the ground at
each discharge to allow the missiles to pass over their heads.
They crossed the stream on a run, and fell into line of battle
beyond Young's Brook, farther west. Col. Keyes says, —
" The order to advance was given at about ten o'clock, A.M. ; and
from that hour to four, P.M., my brigade was in constant activity on the
field of battle. » The Firs.t Regiment Connecticut Volunteers was met by a
body of cavalry and infantry, which it repelled ; and, at several other
encounters at different parts of the line, the enemy constantly retired before
us. At about two o'clock, P.M., Gen. Tyler ordered me to take a battery
on a height in front. The battery was strongly posted, and supported by
infantry and riflemen, sheltered by a building, a fence, and a hedge. My
order to charge was obeyed with the utmost promptness. Col. Jameson
of the 2d Maine, aud Col. Chatfield of the Third Connecticut Volun
teers, pressed forward their regiments up the base slope about one hundred
yards ; when I ordered them to lie down, at a point offering a small protec-
13 The second battle of Bull Run was fought by the rebels on precisely this plan.
96 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
tion, and load. I then ordered them to advance again, which they did, iu
the face of a movable battery of eight pieces and a large body of infantry,
toward the top of the hill. As we moved forward, we came under the
fire of other large bodies of the enemy, posted behind breastworks ; and,
on reaching the summit of the hill, the firing became so hot, that an expo
sure to it of five minutes would have annihilated my whole line."
The battery was nothing like so terrible as this ; and, if
the order of Gen. Tyler had been given to Gen. Keyes
during the last year of the war, it probably would have
been executed. But, as the enemy had retired to a height
beyond, a movement by the left flank was ordered ; and the
brigade passed to a piece of woods, whence they were again
put in motion. Our further advance caused the rebels to
retire from abatis, enabling the engineers to clear it away,
and bring up the guns. The brigade, attempting to turn the
battery, had now reached a point below the Warrenton Road,
having succeeded in pressing the enemy back, and behaving
with perfect coolness and intrepidity. Nothing like defeat
was dreamed of.
At this juncture, Gen. Tyler, perceiving a lull in the
artillery-firing, sent Lieut. Upton to inquire the cause ; H
and was astounded to receive an order to retreat. Even
then, there was no panic. Col. Keyes says, —
" Before recrossing Bull Run, and until my brigade mingled with the
retreating mass, it maintained perfect freedom from panic ; and at the
moment I received the order to retreat, and for some time afterward, it
was in as good order as in the morning on the road. Half an hour earlier,
I supposed the victory to be ours."
In his official report, Col. Burnham says, —
" While halting for orders, a mounted aide rides up, and directs the two
regiments to march by the right flank. The Second files by the First ; and
the latter regiment falls in, supposing they are to be placed in a more
effective position. But those infernal guns of the rebels approach nearer
and nearer ; and, as the two regiments near the open plain, every tiling
is seen and understood. Our noble army is routed ; and the whole plain
is covered with fugitives, nothing apparently left in an organized state but
the Connecticut regiments. Marching across the level, they reach the
woods, when the enemy's cavalry come down. Facing by the rear-rank,
14 " The tide of battle was turned in our favor by the arrival of Gen. Kirby Smith from
Winchester with four thousand men of Gen. Johnston's division." — Richmond Despatch
of Aug. 1, 1861.
Gen. E. Kirby Smith was a Connecticut man, turned traitor.
THE FIRST AND LAST SHOT. 97
the regiments repulse them by well-directed volleys. Resuming the march,
the Connecticut troops approach Cub Run, the bridge across which is
crowded with the hurrying masses, of disorganized troops. Without
mingling with them, they ford the stream, and, forming in line, protect the
rear from the rebel cavalry, which here prudently withdraw."
As Col. Keyes was a native of Vermont, he will be
accepted as an impartial witness to the efficiency of Con
necticut troops. We quote further from his report : —
" The gallantry with which the 2d Regiment of Maine, and the
Third Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, charged up the hill upon the
enemy's artillery and infantry, was never, in my opinion, surpassed. I
was with the advancing line, and closely observed the conduct of Cols.
Jameson and Chatfield, which merits in this instance, and throughout the
day, the highest commendation.
" I also observed throughout the day the gallantry and excellent con
duct of Col. Terry's Second Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, from whom
I received most zealous assistance. At one time, a portion of his regi
ment did great execution with their rifles from a point of our line which
was thin, and where a few of our men were a little tardy in moving
forward.
" Col. Terry, in his report, calls attention to the coolness, activity, and
discretion of Lieut. -Col. D. Young and Major L. Colburn. The latter, with
the adjutant of the regiment, Lieut. Charles L. Russell, showed conspicuous
gallantry in defending their regimental colors, during the retreat this side
of Bull Run, against a charge of cavalry. Col. Terry also commends the
devotion of Drs. Douglas and Bacon to the wounded while under the
hottest fire of artillery. Private Arnold Leach is also highly praised for
having spiked three abandoned guns with a ramrod, and then bringing
away two abandoned muskets."
Col. Keyes also mentioned for gallant conduct Lieut.-Col.
John Speidal, Capts. J. R. Hawley and J. H. Chapman, Adju
tant Theodore C. Bacon, and Lieuts. Albert W. Drake,
Charles Walter, and Alexander Ely. Gen. Tyler specially
commended Col. Chatfield and Col. Terry; and Col. Chatfield
gave especial credit to Major Warner and Adjutant Redfield
Duryee.
As the Connecticut troops fired the first shot in the morn
ing of that memorable day, so they fired the last shot in the
evening ; and as they had been first in the advance, so they
were last in the retreat, covering the stampede with solid
columns. The rebel cavalry, after having broken through
our retreating lines, and killed and captured many towards
Centreville, turned back upon the Connecticut troops. Col.
18
98 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Radford, in a report giving a bombastic account of his achieve
ments, says of this, —
" Having dispersed the enemy in our front in the direction of Cub-run
Bridge, I charged upon them between Cub Run and Bull Run, and soon
came upon a column of infantry, about five thousand, strongly posted, and
supported by a battery of three pieces. They immediately opened upon
my command, throwing them into some confusion."
He then proceeds to report his killed and wounded. A
less interested rebel officer says, " The fact is, no three of the
cavalry could be found together after that."
We do not claim for Connecticut troops in the battle of
Bull Run a degree of courage and manly bearing superior to
their loyal brothers from other States ; but it is known, that,
in retiring from the field, they maintained a degree of per
sistent good order and soldierly discipline not generally ex
hibited by the men of any other regiments. This was due,
perhaps, partly to the fact that they were near the flank, and
so were not enveloped in the first bewilderment of defeat.
To whatever it may be attributed, it is a fact, that they left
the field without confusion, facing about, and firing a well-
directed volley, whenever the foe pressed too eagerly ; and,
during that unparalleled stampede, they covered the rear of
the army, a service which was recognized by the regiments
and the press of other States.15 They occupied their old
camping-grounds the day after the battle, and, being ordered
to Fort Corcoran, made their appearance there with six pris
oners (many more had escaped), two pieces of abandoned
artillery, one caisson, the implements of the sappers and
miners, twenty horses, all their own baggage and camp
equipage, and the tents and equipage of two Ohio regiments,
the 2d New- York, and a company of cavalry, with their
baggage-wagons and property, which had been deserted.
"And," says Gen. Tyler with some pride, in concluding his
report, " at seven o'clock on Tuesday morning, I saw the
three Connecticut regiments, with two thousand bayonets,
march under the guns of Fort Corcoran in good order, after
15 " The Connecticut brigade was the last to leave the field of Bull Run, and, by hard
fighting, had to defend itself and to protect our scattered thousands for several miles of
the retreat." — Stedman in New -York World, July 23, 1861.
THREE REGIMENTS MUSTERED OUT. 99
having saved us not only a large amount of public property,16
but the mortification of having our standing camps fall into
the hands of the enemy."17
The casualties at the battle were as follows : —
KILLED. WOUNDED. PRISONERS. TOTAL.
First Regiment Connecticut Vols., 8 9 17
Second " " " 2 5 9 16
Third " " " 4 13 18 35
68
Those knoWn to have been killed are Joseph Stokes of
Norwich, James Fritz of New Haven, Sergeant John R. Marsh
of Danbury, David C. Case of Norwich, and Jeremiah 0.
Leroy of Hartford. Rev. Hiram Eddy, the devoted chaplain
of the Second, remained with the wounded on the field, a
prisoner.
The missing were mostly prisoners, and were retained for
four to twelve months in the rebel prisons at Richmond,
Salisbury, N. C., Tuscaloosa, Ala., and other places. Two
members of the New-Haven Grays, captured while aiding a
wounded rebel, were released on arriving at Richmond by
order of Jeff. Davis, and supported at a hotel until there was
an opportunity for their return.
Col. Chatfield was presented with a new dress-uniform by
Hon. James E. English, then representative in Congress,
afterwards governor of the State.
After the return from Bull Run, the regiments remained
at Washington a short time, and soon returned home. The
First and Second were mustered out at New Haven, and the
Third at Hartford. As the people had gathered to bid them
good-by, they now re-assembled to welcome them. The
enthusiastic regimental receptions were followed by eager
and hearty local receptions in all communities to which
companies returned. They were praised, petted, and feasted ;
and grateful citizens and proud relatives listened to the
story of their exposures and services. These gatherings
greatly augmented the martial spirit throughout the State.
When the Second Regiment was mustered out, Col. Terry
16 In value, upwards of two hundred thousand dollars.
17 "This service was performed in thirty-six hours; during which time they were
entirely without food, and drenched in the tremendous rain that raged without inter
mission." — N. Y. Times.
100 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
presented gold medals, for bravery on the field, to Color-
Sergeant Austin P. Kirkham of Derby, and Sergeant Robert
Leggett of New London.
The men of these regiments re-enlisted almost without an
exception, and Jive hundred of them afterwards held com
missions in the army. Of these, about one hundred and
eighty were from the First Regiment, two hundred from the
Second, and one hundred and forty from the Third. Three
became major-generals, four brigadier-generals, and more
than eighty field and staff officers.
CHAPTER VII.
The Effect of the Defeat at Bull Run. — Second Uprising. —The Fifth Regiment goes to
Harper's Ferry. — Six Regiments begun. — A Squadron of Cavalry. — Peace-Flags
and Peace-Meetings. — Seymcfur's Resolutions. — Concurrent Action. — Goshen,
Bloomficld, Darien, Easton, Cornwall, Sharon, Prospect, North Guilford, Stoning-
ton. — A New Saybrook Platform. — New Fail-field. — The Bridgeport Farmer. —
How Stepney stopped the War. — The Farmer Office sacked. — Gov. Bucking
ham's Proclamation. — Life and Character of Gen. Lyon. — His Bravery and De
cision. — His Heroic Death.
UR defeat at the battle of Bull Run corrected, as
nothing else could have done, an extravagant
estimate of our own strength. It taught us
that the rebels had no respect for the national
authority, except just so* much as could be en
forced at the point of the bayonet : it swept away our " ninety-
days' " optimism, and showed us that what we had mistaken
for an April shower was to be a long storm, and a hard one.1
The wonderful uprising which followed the fall of Sumter
was repeated after our bewildered volunteers surged back
upon Washington. If the second rally was less ardent than
the first, it was more deliberate and determined. Instead
of a brief military recreation, men felt it to be a struggle for
life; and every town in the State renewed its patriotic reso
lution, and every neighborhood responded to the recruiting
drum.2 The Fifth Regiment, now a splendid body of men,
and ably officered, left for the seat of war a week after the
repulse ; and, within two weeks thereafter, companies were
started in more than half the towns in the State. War-
meetings were held, and the enthusiasm rose to the level of
1 The Lost Cause says, " The victory of Manassas was the greatest misfortune that
could have befallen the Confederacy."
2 Congress, the day after the battle of Bull Run, authorized the president to call out
five hundred thousand men for three years.
101
.102 .•
CONNECTICUT DUIIING THE REBELLION.
the emergency. Within a month, volunteers had poured
into the recruiting centres so rapidly, that six additional regi
ments were begun, from the Sixth to the Eleventh inclusive.
About this time it was proposed to organize a regiment of
cavalry for the regular service, to be formed of six squadrons
from as many States. William H. Mallory of Bridgeport, who
had served during the three-months' service in Duryea's Zou
aves, received authority to recruit a squadron in Connecticut.
He was aided by Thomas B. Thornett and L. H. Southard of
Hartford, and Marcus Coon of Waterbury, the latter a captain
in the First Regiment; and the squadron was recruited in thir
teen days. Edward W. Whittaker of Ashford went out in this
squadron as sergeant, and was soon lieutenant. Hartford fur
nished thirty men ; Canton, New Britain, and Berlin had ten
men each ; and half the towns in the State had one or two.
The squadrons rendezvoused in New York ; and, that State
furnishing six companies, the regiment was assigned to New
York as a State regiment, and became the 2d New-York or
" Harris Light Cavalry."
During the passage t9 Washington, Sept. 8, the rebel engi
neer tried to throw the rear cars from the track by a high
rate of speed. Sergeant E. L. Lyon, a nephew of Gen. Lyon,
assisted by others, manned the brake, and, in attempting to
stop the train, was thrown off and killed. William A. Ger
man of Collins ville met the same fate. Lyon was buried
with all honors by the side of Gen. Lyon on Sept. 13.
His brother-in-law, Harvey Copeland, took his place in the
ranks immediately, though leaving a wife and five children.
The regiment went into camp on Arlington Heights, re
maining for several months. Corporal Cornelius H. Bailey
of Waterbury was killed by accident at Washington in
October, and was buried at home with military honors.
Capt. Thornett said of him, " I never saw a better soldier, or
a more active and faithful man. The influence of his splen
did conduct on his comrades was most beneficial."
The men who opposed resistance to the South when the
war began had been awed into apparent acquiescence by
THE CKITTENDEN COMPROMISE. 103
the first angry response ; but as soon as the patriotic out
break had lost its novelty, and our soldiers had met with
slight reverses, this faction gathered courage again, and
came forth in a series of " peace " demonstrations, in which
white flags were unfurled, and speeches made demand
ing a withdrawal of the loyal armies from the field. Some
times they went so far as to charge the absent soldiers with
cowardice, and ridicule their officers for incapacity, while
eulogizing rebel officers and exaggerating rebel success.
Even the insignificant affair of Big Bethel was the occasion
of exhibitions of this sort.
As early as June 22, one Andrew Palmer had raised a
peace-flag at his house in Goshen. A large crowd assembled ;
and after considerable parleying and a slight contest, in
which one peace-man was wounded, the obnoxious emblem
was captured, and the star-spangled banner displayed upon
the pole. Palmer swore allegiance to it, and some of his
confederates were taken to jail. This was the first of a series
of similar demonstrations.
The "peace" movement in Connecticut seems to have
originated in the May session of the legislature at Hartford.
Ex-Gov. Thomas H. Seymour had there offered a resolution
urging the Crittenden Compromise, the preamble of which
assumed that disunion was a fixed fact. He prefaced this
with a speech, of which the following extract indicates the
tone : " There seems to be a radical mistake on the part of
many people. They appear to think the South can be con
quered. Sir, this is impossible ! You may destroy their
habitations, devastate their fields, and shed the blood of their
people ; but you can not conquer them." The resolution re
ceived eighteen ayes, a hundred and seventy-three noes.
This was the first platform of the " peace-party ; " and these
eighteen represented its political strength. It soon became
obvious that this was part of a concerted movement. It
was expected that the " Breckinridge party " of the previous
fall would form the nucleus of the forces. The utterances
of Breckinridge and Vallandigham in Congress supplied am
munition. Mr. Breckinridge in person opened the campaign
which was to "revolutionize the North" in a speech at Balti-
104 CONNECTICUT DU11ING THE REBELLION.
more, Aug. 9. He was received by such a tumultuous out
break of indignant patriotism, that he was deterred from a
further advance, and turned across the rebel lines ; but the
movement had already acquired a momentum in Connecticut
that carried it through the month.
The name most prominently connected with the " peace-
meetings " of this period is that of William W. Eaton, a suc
cessful lawyer, able debater, and prominent politician, of
Hartford. A meeting was held at Bloomfield, whereat reso
lutions were passed " in favor of establishing a suspension of
hostilities," after an argument by Mr. Eaton, and harangues
by others, intended to show that the insurgents could never
be conquered.
The stampede at Bull Run made the peace-party bolder
and more demonstrative ; but the Republicans and war
Democrats were constantly alert, tearing down their flags,
and gathering thousands of young men in war-meetings.
One Stephen Raymond of Darien actually fired a cannon in
rejoicing over the rebel victory at Bull Run ; but his cannon
was promptly captured, and tumbled into the river. At Ridge-
field, a man who expressed his joy at the defeat was drenched
at the town-pump, and compelled to take the oath of allegi
ance under the stars and stripes. At Easton, Cornwall,
Prospect, Podunk, New Britain, North Guilford, East New
London, Madison, and some other places, peace or Confede
rate flags were raised, but were hauled down and destroyed
almost as soon as discovered. The General Assembly, at its
recent session, had forbidden the raising of the hostile flag,
on penalty of imprisonment for thirty days and a fine of a
hundred dollars ; but it does not appear that the law was
ever enforced.3 Peace meetings and displays seemed to be
preconcerted throughout the State.
Aug. 8, there was a peace-meeting at Cornwall Bridge, at
which resolutions were passed looking to " peaceful separa
tion," declaring that " the American Union is forever de-
3 This law also provided, — SECT. 3. — Such flag or device so exhibited, with the
apparatus connected therewith, shall be deemed a nuisance; and any constable, or justice
of the peace, of the town in which the same shall be so exhibited, or the sheriff or a
deputy-sheriff of the county in which the same shall be so exhibited, taking sufficient
assistance therefor, may seize and destroy the same.
THE STARS AND STEIPES. 105
stroyed," and calling on other towns to take ground " against
a further continuance of this bloody spectacle."
At Sharon, a meeting (E. P. Whitney, secretary) Resolved,
" That the cost of this unnatural war will entail upon the
people a system of taxation too intolerable to be borne."
Aug. 16, similar meetings were held at Canaan, William S.
Marsh in the chair ; and at Danbury, A. A. Heath presiding.
On the same day, the Hartford Times said, " We are op
posed to this war. It has already driven the border States
out of the Union : it can never bring them back. It is
crushing out the life-blood of New England."
There was a peace-meeting at Stonington, Aug. 9, Luther
Ripley in the chair. Resolutions against the war were of
fered, and, to the astonishment and dismay of the signers
of the call, were voted down. Finding themselves in a minor
ity, they seized the lights., and retreated amid some confu
sion and violence. A Union meeting was immediately or
ganized, George E. Palmer in the chair; and war-resolutions
offered by John F. Trumbull, jr., and supported by him in
an eloquent speech, were adopted.
On Aug. 16, several hundred peace-men assembled at Say-
brook to hoist "a Federal flag, with nineteen stars on it," in
dicating that fourteen slave States were out of the Union.
W. W. Eaton was announced as the orator of the day. A
pole was raised in front of Gilbert Pratt's house, and on it
was tacked a handbill, headed by the device, " War is dis
union." Hundreds of war-men gathered spontaneously from
Saybrook and surrounding towns. They called for " the
flag," and a speech from the orator of the day ; but, neither
appearing, the familiar flag of stars and stripes was produced,
and run up. Two or three peace-men were roughly handled
while defending the pole. Capt. J. R. Hawley was called
out. He deprecated violence at the meeting, but made a
war-speech, contending, that, in the emergency, war was the
most efficient handmaid of peace ; and that the thousands in
loyal blue, who loved quiet and order so well that they
would take the field for it, were the truest peacemakers.
Capt. Morgan and John J. Doane also made stirring speech
es. So the Unionists had a jubilee, and dispersed with cheers
14
106 CONNECTICUT DTJEING THE EEBELLIOK
for the flag ; while many young men quietly resolved to join
the next regiment, and fight for it.
A white flag had been put up in New Fairfield ; and thirty
or forty war-men from Danbury, attempting to take it down
were attacked by a much larger number of " peace " men
with spades and axes, and Andrew Knox,4 John Allen,
and Thomas Kinney, badly injured. Two of the peace-men
were also dangerously wounded ; but they held their ground,
and the flag remained. The Danbury men re-organized for
another assault the next day ; but the flag was taken down
and hidden by its friends.
The Bridgeport Farmer was the most outspoken and
ultra champion of the anti-war doctrines ; and most of the
kindred demonstrations were within the range of its circula
tion.
It fearlessly declared that the rebels were true patriots, and
openly wished them success. A quotation or two will illus
trate its position. On the 5th of August, referring to Bull
Run, the Farmer said, with a manifest feeling of exulta
tion. —
"The 'grand army' marched on the 17th, as the Standard man has
informed us. It also ran back on the 21st, as the Standard man did not
inform us. On the 17th, the heart of the Abolition party leaped for joy at
the hope of a speedy crushing-out of the life of the Southern whites and the
early freedom of their negroes. On the 21st, the heart of the Abolitionists
heaved with sorrow at the blasted prospects of their fanaticism, and the
diminished hope of a speedy gratification of their bloody will."
This was followed up by the definite declaration, —
" The rebel soldiery, as you term them, are not fighting for money.
Like our Revolutionary fathers, they are fighting for their just rights. In
the Revolution of. 1776, the forces of King George were the ones who
fought for money : in the Revolution of 1861, the forces of the despot Lin
coln are the ones who are fighting for money. Men who fought for their
constitutional rights in 1776 did not want to be hired to do it ; neither do
the men who are fighting for their constitutional rights in 1861."
Emboldened by this disloyal attitude in a journal which
they had long accepted as their political gospel, its readers
of Fairfield and Litchfield Counties showed the white feather
extensively, rallying in peace-meetings under their blanched
4 Knox afterward became a captain in the First Artillery.
STAMPEDE OF "PEACE" MEN. 107
banner. In Hattertown (Redding), a handsome and expen
sive white flag was suspended across the street ; but, being
menaced, it was taken down, and buried by its proprietor to
preserve it.
In Monroe they were bolder in the display of their banner,
even if the sequence shows they were not braver in its
defense. A peace mass-meeting was called at Stepney, in
that town, for Aug. 24, to declare against the war. The three-
months' soldiers, just mustered out of service, were in no
mood to tolerate what they regarded as incipient treason, and
resolved to disperse this assemblage. On the morning of the
appointed day, two or three omnibus-loads of Capt. Frye's
company, Third Regiment, armed with revolvers, made their
way out of Bridgeport, accompanied by a long procession of
citizens. There was an immense gathering of peace-men at
Stepney. Families had come from all the towns around to
"stop the unrighteous war." A very tall hickory pole was
raised at the head of the green ; and to its top were run up
two flags, — one an ancient Jackson Avar-flag, with thirty
stripes ; and the other the pale emblem of their patriotism,
bearing the word " PEACE " in large letters. The flags were
vigorously cheered ; and a multitude of armed peace-men
rallied around the strange bunting, and swore to defend it
against all comers and to the last dire extremity. The plat
form under the flags was then occupied by Ellis B. Schnable,
already notorious as an opponent of the war ; E. B. Good-
sell, late postmaster at Bridgeport ; Gen. Judson Curtis,
a neighborhood celebrity ; and D. H. Belden, a Newtown
lawyer, who were to expound the doctrines ; and Mr. Charles
Smith, an intermittent preacher of the vicinity, who proceeded
to ask the blessing of the Lord on the movement. He had not,
however, progressed so far as this in his supplication,. when he
slightly opened his eyes, and beheld, to his horror, the Bridge
port omnibuses coming over the hill, garnished with Union
banners, and vocal with loyal cheers. This was the signal for
a panic : Bull Rim, on a small scale, was re-enacted. The de
vout Smith, and the undelivered orators, it is alleged, took
refuge in a field of corn. The procession drove straight to
the pole, unresisted, the hostile crowd parting to let them
108 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
pass ; and a tall man, John Platt, amid some mutterings,
climbed the pole, reached the halyards, and the mongrel
banners were on the ground. Some of the peace-men, rally
ing, drew weapons on " the invaders ; " and a musket and a
revolver were taken from them by soldiers at the very
instant of firing. Another of the defenders fired a revolver,
and was chased into the fields. Still others, waxing bellige
rent, were disarmed ; and a number of loaded muskets, found
stored in an adjacent shed, were seized. The stars and stripes
were hoisted upon the pole, and wildly cheered. P. T. Bar-
num was then taken on the shoulders of the boys in blue,
and put on the platform, where he made a speech full of
patriotism, spiced with the humor of the occasion. Capt.
James E. Dunham also said a few words to the point. Schna-
ble, emerging from the cornfield, gave the speaker the lie ;
when he was set upon by the crowd, and, says a newspaper of
the day, " he was somewhat severely kicked." The Star-
spangled Banner was then sung in chorus, and a series of
resolutions passed, declaring that "loyal men are the rightful
custodians of the peace of Connecticut." Elias Howe, jr.,
chairman, made his speech when the crowd threatened to
shoot the speakers : " If they fire a gun, boys, burn the
whole town, and I'll pay for it ! " After giving the citizens
wholesome advice concerning the substituted flag, and their
duty to the government, the procession returned to Bridge
port, with the white flag trailing in the mud behind an om
nibus. The soldiers threatened a descent on the Farmer
office ; but, being appealed to by the leaders in the raid on
Stepney, they promised to desist. They were received at
Bridgeport by approving crowds, and were greeted with con
tinuous cheers as they passed along.
As evening fell, the crowd increased, swarming through
the streets ; so that the vicinity of Main and Wall was com
pletely blocked up. Five to eight thousand were out. A
glee-club, on the balcony of the Sterling House, sang patriotic
songs. The Stepney affair was eagerly commented on.5
5 At a meeting in the evening, a prudential committee was appointed, consisting of
Hanford Lyon, Gideon Thompson, Frederick Wood, P. T. Barnum, S. B. Ferguson,
Horace Nichols, A. P. Houston, B. K. Mills, Monson Hawley, Russell Tomlinson, George
S. Sanford, E. P. Abernethy, William H. Noble, and Stephen Lounsbury.
GOV. BUCKINGHAM'S PEOCLAMATION. 1Q9
The Union, the songs, and the soldiers were cheered ; and
the contiguous Farmer newspaper received hearty de
nunciation. At length, the enthusiasm of the citizens and
the rage of the soldiers culminated in a descent by the latter
on the establishment. Down Wall Street they rushed with
the cry, " To the Farmer office ! " A warm reception was
anticipated ; for it was believed that Messrs. Pomeroy and
Morse had a large number of friends on guard : but the
" watchmen " were away, and the assailants, after forcing an
entrance, met no opposition. They threw every thing portable
— paper, types, and machinery — out of the window ; and the
angry crowd below scattered them through the street. The
newspaper and job presses were broken and destroyed. " A
number of recently-occupied bunks, and two hundred turned
clubs for defense, were found in an adjoining room." When
the soldiers entered, Mr. Morse fled to the roof, whence, by
neighboring buildings, he escaped. He was sheltered by
political sympathizers ; but after remaining in the State a
few days, hooted, groaned, and insulted wherever he ap
peared in public, he " fled from persecution," and, via Canada,
joined his fortunes to those of his rebel friends and co-
laborers in Augusta, Ga,G
A peace-flag having been unfurled in Morris, Litchfield
County, a meeting was called for Aug. 28, duly to dedicate
the emblem with appropriate oratory. Mr. Eaton was ex
pected, also the redoubtable Schnable. The former failed to
arrive. Schnable made an inflammatory speech to his friends,
armed to defend him. After the meeting adjourned, the
orator was arrested by Deputy-Sheriff Edward 0. Peck of
Litchfield, delivered to United-States Marshal Carr, and by
him consigned to Fort Lafayette.
In order to put an end to these collisions, Gov. Buck
ingham, about the 1st of September, issued the following
proclamation : —
" Eleven States of the Union are now armed and in open rebellion
against Federal authority. They have paralyzed the business of the nation,
have involved us in civil war, and are exerting their combined energies
6 There he edited a paper, until the insatiate Sherman thrust his sword-blade through
the vitals of the Confederacy, when he again became a martyr for his principles.
110 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
to rob us of the blessings of a free government. The greatness of their
crime has no parallel in the history of free governments.
" At this critical juncture, our liberties are still further imperiled by
the utterance of seditious language ; by a traitorous press, which excuses
or justifies the Rebellion ; by secret organizations, which propose to resist
the execution of the laws by force ; by the public exhibition of peace-flays,
falsely so called ; and by an effort to redress grievances, regardless of the
forms aud officers of the land.
" The very existence of our government, the future prosperity of this
entire nation, and the hopes of universal freedom, demand that these out
rages be suppressed.
" The Constitution guarantees liberty of speech and of the press, but
holds the person and the press responsible for the evils which result from
this liberty ; it guarantees the protection of property, but regards no prop
erty as sacred which is used to subvert governmental authority ; it guaran
tees the person from unreasonable seizure, but it protects no individual from
arrest and punishment who gives aid and comfort to the enemies of our
country ; it provides by law for the punishment of offenders, but allows
no grievance to be redressed by violence.
" I therefore call upon the citizens of this State to support and uphold
the government, and to abstain from every act that can tend to encourage
and strengthen this conspiracy ; and I call upon the officers of the law to
be active, diligent, aud fearless in arresting, and instituting legal pro
ceedings for the punishment of, those who disturb the public peace, of
those who are guilty of sedition and treason, and of those who are em
braced in combinations to obstruct the execution of the laws ; so that peace
may again be restored to our distracted country, aud the liberties of the
people be preserved."
This prompt manifesto, and the overwhelming popular
sentiment, immediately put an end to public demonstrations
against the war. A few irrepressible " peace " men for a
while expended their surplus energy in visiting camps,
and advising volunteers to desert : but even this was made
perilous by a public notice from United-States Marshal Carr,
that all persons detected in such attempts would " be sum
marily dealt with ; " and the " peace " agitation entirely
subsided.
These eruptions were thought, at the time, to discour
age enlistments : but it now seems rather, that, acting as
a counter-irritant, the movement stimulated volunteering ;
patriotic ardor being increased by the very means used to
allay it. Certain it is, that at no other period of the war
was recruiting so rapid as while Messrs. Schnable, Eaton, and
Morse were appealing to the young men not to participate
in " the wicked war of subjugation."
DEATH OF GEN. LYON. 111
Connecticut had now two regiments in the field, both for
three years. On Aug. 15, the governor called for four
more regiments ; and with such alacrity did volunteering go
forward, that, within two weeks, the Sixth and Seventh
Regiments were full ; and, before another call was out, twenty-
four companies offered themselves for the Eighth Regiment,
and eleven for the Ninth (Irish)'.
On Aug. 14, the nation was thrilled and saddened to
hear of the death of the heroic Brig.-Gen. Lyon, slain four
days before in the battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri. He
was the first Union general killed in the war ; 7 and the loyal
people already looked upon him with hope and enthusiasm,
as one of the stanchest of their defenders. Had he lived,
he would have attained a high command ; for he had the
modesty and the obstinate persistence of Grant, and the dash
and boldness of Sheridan.
Nathaniel Lyon was born in that part of Ashford which
is now Eastford, Conn., July 14, 1818. It is not surpris
ing that he early showed a bent for military life; for he
was a grandson of Lieut. Daniel Knowlton of the Revolution,
o
of whom Putnam said, " Such is his courage, that I could
order him into the mouth of a loaded cannon." He pre
pared himself in the district schools for West Point, where
he graduated in 1841. As lieutenant, he fought through
the Seminole War; and subsequently through the Mexican
War, where he was brevetted captain for gallant conduct.
For four years he was stationed on the Californian frontier,
an experience full of hardship and perilous adventure.
The year 1861 found Capt. Lyon in command of the
arsenal in St. Louis. When it seemed possible that Fort
Sumter was to be surrendered without a struggle, he
wrote, —
" I would rather see the country lighted up with the flames of war, from
the center to its remotest border, than that the great rights and hopes of
the human race expire before the arrogance of secessionists. Of this, how
ever, there i» no danger. They are at war with nature and the human
heart, and cannot succeed."
7 It is a noticeable fact, that Connecticut furnished the first four martyrs of the war
of the rank of general, colonel, major, and captain, — Lyon, Ellsworth, Wmthrop, and
Ward ; the first four men, also, whose heroic deaths gave a marked impulse and momen
tum to the war-spirit of the North.
112 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
Though assigned bj order to the arsenal, Capt. LyonV;
vigilance included the whole State of Missouri • and outwit
ting the traitorous Gov. Jackson in council, and outgeneral
ing him in the field, the Union cause grew strong through the
overmastering strength of its champion. A secession mob
gathered around the arsenal to appropriate the large amount
of arms and ammunition there stored : Lyon decoyed the
mob away, and, placing all that was valuable on board a
steamer in the night, transported it to Illinois. The rebel
governor, Jackson, demanded a withdrawal of United-States
troops from all territory outside of the arsenal : Lyon refused
compliance. A rebel camp of instruction named after the
governor, and its streets named in honor of Jefferson Davis
and Beauregard, was .established outside the city; and there
several thousand young traitors were assembled under
command of Gen. Frost, and armed with muskets stolen from
Baton Rouge. Instead of waiting to be attacked, Capt.
Lyon, on May 10, surrounded the camp with several thou
sand raw volunteers, and compelled it to surrender in thirty
minutes. St. Louis, thereupon, became a furnace of rage and
riotous tumult. Lyon quelled it by promptness and sternness,
under which a few of the traitors lost their lives. The timid
Secretary of War, thinking him too precipitate, superseded
him by Gen. Harney ; but one week of the one-sided
" neutrality " of Harney was enough even for Cameron, and
Lyon was reinstated as brigadier-general.
On June 11, Gov. Jackson and Gen. Price sought an in
terview with Gen. Lyon ; but their attempt to inveigle him
into the Harney neutrality trap was a total failure. They
were crafty ; but he was wise : and he not only firmly re
jected their proposal that the home-guard should be dis
persed, but demanded the nullification of all the recent
State laws which impeded the free action of the United-
States forces, or in any way qualified the loyalty of Missouri.
Gov. Jackson, failing in his diplomatic treachery, now had
resort to open war ; and next day he issued his proclamation
from the capital, exhorting " the brave-hearted Missourians,"
to the number of fifty thousand, to " rally to the flag of
their State," and " drive out the invaders who had dared to
GEN. LYON IN MISSOURI. 113
desecrate the soil." Lyon was the first man to respond ; for
the very next day he started for Jefferson City with two
steamers arid fifteen hundred men. The valiant governor
fled at his approach, and retreated forty miles to Booneville.
Lyon issued a proclamation to the people, full of kindness
and dignity, but breathing his own resolute purpose.
Re-inforced by five hundred men, he followed next day to
Booneville, and, with two thousand men, attacked the rebel
camp of not less than thirty thousand ill-armed adherents
of Jackson.8 The assault was so determined and rapid,
that the rebels broke in twenty minutes, and threw away
their muskets in a panic, which ended in a rout. The
camp-equipage, provisions, ammunition, horses, and guns
fell into Lyon's hands ; and the enemy was completely
dispersed.
The vigor of Lyon had restored the authority of the
Union in Missouri ; the rebels only appearing in the south
western corner of the State, where Price and McCulloch
industriously rallied the defeated armies. As soon as he
could form his trains, he marched rapidly on Springfield.
The whole distance of two hundred miles, including the
crossing of two swollen rivers, was accomplished in eleven
days ; and the last fifty miles was made in twenty-four
hours, — a celerity of movement almost without parallel.
Here he was re-inforced by three thousand men ; but these
were the last : and henceforth his little command grew
weaker day by day. Meantime, the foe were gathering.
Lvon resolved to defeat them in detail ; and, during the
next week, fell upon and dispersed large bodies of rebel
troops, under Gen. Rains, at Dug Springs and at McCulloch
Springs, twenty miles from Springfield. He retired again to
that city, and called earnestly for re-inforcements ; for the
four rebel armies, under Price, McCulloch, Pierce, and
McBride, were already united at Wilson's Creek, only ten
miles distant, the combined forces numbering not less than
twenty-three thousand men.9 His calls were unheeded.
Promises came to Lyon, but no soldiers; and he felt that
8 Vide Life of Gen. Lyon.
9 Pollard, in the Lost Cause, acknowledges only thirteen thousand.
15
114 CONNECTICUT DTJKING THE REBELLION.
he was left to defeat.10 As a last desperate resort, he con
ceived the bold design of marching forth by night with his
little army of five thousand, and surprising the rebel camp.
" By striking a sudden blow, he hoped to inflict so deep a
wound as to paralyze the enemy till he could be relieved by
re-inforcements, or retreat in safety." n He left Springfield
Aug. 9 ; and at night came in sight of the hostile fires,
and rushed upon the camp at dawn, leading one column
against the north side, while Sigel led another against the
south. Nothing prevented the surprise from being complete
and overwhelming, except the singular circumstance that
McCulloch had simultaneously planned a night-attack on
Springfield ; and the men, with no pickets out, were sleeping
on their arms. Lyon's little army was within musket-shot
before it was discovered; then it plunged through the camp;
and McCulloch fled from the breakfast-table, and led the
bewildered rebels to the adjacent hills. But they took their
arms. The ensuing conflict was one of the most skilfully-
managed and resolutely-contested, not only of this war, but
of any war.
The battle raged for six hours ; and how terrible were the
onsets may be learned from the fact that the rebels acknowl
edged a loss of over five hundred killed, while Lyon's loss
was two hundred and fifty killed and a thousand wounded
and missing.12 Early in the engagement, Gen. Lyon's horse
was shot under him, and he was three times badly wounded.
The closing scene of his gallant life is graphically described
by his biographer, Dr. A. Woodward : —
" Mounting another horse, he rode back to the front in order to rally
the thinned and bleeding but not disheartened lines for a fresh attack. He
now directed the fragments of one or two regiments to charge the enemy
with the bayonet. Many of their officers were disabled, and they called
for a leader. "With countenance blanched from the loss of blood, and hag
gard from anxiety, Gen. Lyon threw himself to the head of the column,
and, with hat waving, cheered it onward. Inspired with almost superhu-
10 Gen. Fremont, in command of the Department of the North-west, was widely
censured for failing to give Lyon proper support.
" Woodward's Life of Gen. Lyon, p. 307.
12 Major Sturgis, in his official report of the battle, said of Surgeon Sprague (of Dan-
iclsonville, Conn.), that " he attended the wounded with as much self-possession as if no
battle were raging around him, and not only took charge of the wounded brought to him,
but found time to use a musket with good effect against the enemy."
FUNEKAL OF GEN. LYOK
man energy by the heroism of their chief, the men rushed forward, scat
tering the enemy like chaff. But in that charge the brave Lyon fell. Our
country, in the crisis of her darkest peril, lost that hour one of her clearest
heads and stoutest hearts. He placed no value upon repose, comfort, or
even life, when the land that he loved with all the devotion of his gener
ous soul demanded their sacrifice."
When he fell, the battle ended : no other leader could so
inspire the soldiers. Sigel took up a reluctant retreat to
Rolla ; but the enemy were so badly crippled, that they could
not pursue.
In the confusion of the retreat, the remains of Lyon
were left behind. Mrs. Phelps, wife of Col. John S. Phelps,
member of Congress for the district, and an unqualified
Unionist, caused the body to be incased in a coffin hermeti
cally closed, then concealed it in an old cellar under some
straw. Finally, fearing it would be disturbed by the rebel
soldiers, she had it taken out and buried in the night. When
Danford Knowlton of New York, and John B. Hasler, rela
tives of Lyon, arrived, she assisted them to recover the
body. To this lady the thanks and honors of the nation
are due; for she gave her time and expended her fortune
in the relief of sick and wounded Union soldiers.
Gen. Lyon's remains were brought to Connecticut, to be
buried at Eastford, tenderly greeted all the way by tearful
multitudes strewing the choicest flowers on the brave man's
coffin. At St. Louis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, New York, and
Hartford, the body lay in state. It was estimated that ten
thousand attended the funeral at Eastford. From all Wind-
ham and the adjoining counties they came ; for he repre
sented the soul of the loyal North ; and it was felt, that, in a
season of timidity and inefficiency, he had borne aloft in his
own hands the flag and the hope of the nation. The services
were held in the Congregational church at Eastford, Ex-Go v.
Chauncey F. Cleveland presiding. Judge Elisha Carpenter
delivered an historical address, and Hon. Galusha A. Grow of
Pennsylvania (both natives of Eastford) an oration, which elo
quently enforced the lessons of the hour. Remarks were
also made by Gov. Buckingham, Gov. Sprague, Senator Fos
ter, Major-Gen. Casey, Mayor Deming of Hartford, and
others ; and the remains of the hero were affectionately con
signed to earth with military honors.
116 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
In a marked and peculiar sense, Lyon was the Leonidas of
the war; so able in council, and so brilliant in battle, as to
extort reluctant praise even from his enemies; 13 so patriotic,
that he bequeathed all his property, as has been currently re
ported, to the United-States Government; so daring, that he
inspired raw farmer-boys to fight like veterans. He was not
constitutionally courageous, but timid, yet he w;is as" brave a
soldier as ever drew a sword, and gave his life joj^ously to his
country like a gallant knight ; he was not religious, yet his
honesty of purpose was proverbial, and he had a high up
rightness of soul which even religion sometimes fails to con
fer ; he was not a statesman, yet the schemes of wily trai
tors, outnumbering him ten to one, dissolved at his touch.
In Congress, Senator Pomeroy eulogized Lyon's heroism,
and commended it as an example for emulation ; and resolu
tions were passed, declaring that " the country to whose ser
vice he devoted his life will guard and preserve his fame as
a part of its owri glory."
At the dedication of a handsome monument to Gen. Lyon,
by the State of Missouri, at Jefferson City, Senator Brown
delivered a biographical address, and Lieut.-Gen. Sherman
recalled some interesting reminiscences. He said of Lyon, —
" He did not wait till the meshes and trammels which were being plot
ted for him were perfected. He was the first man in this country that
seized the whole question, and took the initiative, and determined to strike
a blow, and not wait for the blow to be struck. That he did not succeed at
Wilson's Creek was no fault of his, but the result of causes which he could
not control. The act itself was as pure and god-like as any that ever char
acterized a soldier on the field of battle. I wish he could have lived ; for
he possessed many of those qualities which were needed in the first two or
three years of the war, and his death imposed on the nation a penalty
numbered by thousands on thousands of lives, and millions on millions of
dollars." .
13 Pollard, in the Lost Cause and his Southern History, says, "Lyon was an
undisguised and fanatical abolitionist.* He was, undoubtedly, an able and dangerous
man, — a man of the times, who appreciated the force of audacity and the value of quick
decision. No doubts or scruples unsettled his mind. A Connecticut Yankee, without a
trace of chivalrie feeling ;t small in stature, wiry, active, of dark complexion, and brave
to a fault. The fall of such a man was a serious loss to the Federals in Missouri."
* Yet he voted for Franklin Pierce.
t The rebels insisted that no man would fight against treason who was " chivalrie."
CHAPTER VIII.
The Fourth in Maryland. — Dissatisfaction and Insubordination. — The Fifth on the
Potomac. — Recruiting active. — The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth. — Towns repre
sented. — Departure. — Sixth and Seventh at Washington and Annapolis. — Eighth
on Long Island. — "The Sons of Connecticut." — Ninth Regiment organized. —
" All Full Companies " accepted. — The Tenth. — Towns represented. — Eighth and
Tentli at Annapolis. — Meetings and Social Intercourse. — The Eleventh. — Recruit
ing. — Towns represented. — The Regiment embarks for Annapolis. — Port-Royal
Expedition. — Landing of the Sixth and Seventh. — First Union Troops in South
Carolina. — T vler appointed Colonel of the Fourth. — The New Discipline. — Expo
sure and Privations of the Fifth.
N the mean time, the Fourth and Fifth Regiments
were at the front. All the next day after its
departure (June 10, 1861), the Fourth waited
at Jersey City for transportation ; then made a
night-trip to Philadelphia, eating the oranges
Mrs. Sigourney had thoughtfully provided ; and took a pleas
ant morning-ride along the Valley of the Susquehanna.
Next evening they arrived at Chambersburg, where, after
their novel and fatiguing experience, they wrapped them
selves in their blankets, and tumbled down in the clover to
sleep, — their first bivouac. Here they pitched their camp,
and tarried four days, brigaded with the llth Pennsyl
vania and the 1st Wisconsin; the latter commanded by Col.
John C. Starkweather, formerly of Norwich, and a native of
Preston, Conn. The next week they made a camp at Ha-
gerstown, Md., where they staid until July 6, behaving so
well, that the citizens petitioned to have them remain.
At midnight, June 17, the long-roll was beaten; and the
excited men were hurried off on the double-quick for Wil-
liamsport, " to meet the rebels, only six miles off" There
were wild rumors that they had crossed the Potomac for an
invasion of Pennsylvania. Forty rounds of ammunition had
117
118 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
been dealt out ; and the men were eager to test their valor.
"Now or never," they thought, "for the triumph of republi
can institutions ! " On arriving, it appeared that the enemy
had been seen across the river, but had drawn off on the
approach of our troops. They then returned to the camp
at Hagerstown ; but, on the 4th of July, advanced again
to Williamsport, relieving other regiments in holding this
frontier. Here, while the antagonists were measuring each
other's strength in Central Virginia, the Fourth had a quiet
time, occupying a charming and comfortable camp until
Aug. 16. Officers and men seem to have been great favorites
with citizens wherever they were stationed.
The regiment was next encamped near Frederick City, at
the White-oak Springs. Here the dissatisfaction which had
been silently gathering came to a crisis. They had not been
paid; their clothes were so worn in -three months of service,
that " scarce two men had hats or shirts alike ; coats had long
been discarded ; and many were obliged to appear, even on
dress-parade, lightly and airily attired in simple under-clo-
thino:." l So bitter was the discontent, that, on Aus;. 23,
C3 O
about two hundred men, including Company K, marched out
with their arms, and formed in line, facing the camp, an-
'nouncing that they were going home. The colonel directed
Capt. Kellogg to arrest them. " Shall I fire on them if neces
sary ? " asked the captain. " Take your own course," was the
reply. Capt. Kellogg ordered his men to load, marched
them out, and formed line, facing Company K, within two
rods. He bluntly ordered Company K to " shoulder arms."
They sullenly refused. " You'll shoulder arms, or be shot ! "
growled he. " Company B, ready ! " The muskets came to
the shoulder before the order to fire was given ; and the
men were marched into camp, and the ringleaders taken to
Banks's headquarters as prisoners. Active resistance was
quelled ; but discontent continued. Within a week, there
were eighteen desertions, ten of them from Company K. A
week later came pay-daj^.
About this time, a temperance meeting was organized,
of which Lieut.-Col. White was chairman, and Sergeant
1 Anniversary Address by Chaplain E. A. Walker.
THE FIFTH REGIMENT. 119
Twining secretary. Remarks were made by Major H. W.
Birge, Chaplain Walker, Capt. D. W. Siprell, Lieuts. E. H.
Mix, J. A. Turner, D. R. Hubbard, and George Harmon, and
Sergeant H. J. Hubbard ; and a pledge was numerously
signed by officers and men.
Sept. 6, the regiment was turned over to Gen. Banks, and
started to report to him at Darnestown, where they met the
Fifth Connecticut. Three days later, Col. Woodhouse re
signed his commission, his continued ill health having long
prevented him. from taking a vigorous part in the drill and
discipline of the regiment. There is no doubt that it was,
at this time, an inefficient body of men, poorly instructed
both in evolutions and the manual of arms ; and this became
more apparent by contrast when they found themselves in
camp with twenty-five thousand soldiers.
The Fifth left Hartford on the cars, July 29, escorted to
the depot by a vast concourse of citizens. At New Haven,
they embarked upon the Elm City for Elizabeth, N.J. ;
where they arrived next morning, and took the cars to Balti
more. Here they were transferred to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, for the Upper Potomac. Going westward from
the monumental city, the soldiers spent a dismal, gloomy,
uncomfortable night in the freight-cars. A terrible storm
broke upon them ; and the darkness was relieved only by the
lurid lightning, that occasionally cast a momentary pallor
over their faces, and showed through the apertures that they
were being whirled across a densely-wooded country. Most
of the men were weary with two nights of travel, and dis
pirited with scant quantities of dry rations, and the rest so
inspirited by frequent potions of Baltimore lager as to be in
no very amiable mood.
At last, after much discomfort, they came to a stop about
a mile east of Harper's Fe^ry, where they left the cars,
inarched two miles north, and made their camp on a stubble-
field. They were first included in the brigade of Col. George
H. Thomas, afterwards renowned in Tennessee ; and around
them were twenty regiments of Banks's division. The Fifth
was soon sent out on picket, in detachments ; and in this ser
vice it was kept employed, marching and counter-marching
120 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
in cold and rain, between Edwards' Ferry and Hancock. It
had no established camp, and the men suffered greatly from
the constant exposure and privations. They were frequently
alarmed to meet an attack, and several men were captured
while on picket. Aug. 19, Lieut. Putnam Day, of Putnam,
died. He was a manly soldier, respected and esteemed by
all his associates.
About the middle of August, the Fifth marched to Jeffer
son, crossed the mountains, and encamped for a few days at
Point of Rocks, Mel., on the Carroll Manor, a fine estate of
thirteen thousand acres, formerly owned by Charles Carroll
of Carrollton.
Aug. 15, the governor issued general orders, directing that
volunteers be accepted for the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and
Ninth, three-years' regiments, a part of the quota of Connec
ticut under the recent call. Cols. Chatfield and Terry, effi
cient commanders of three-months' troops, were appointed
colonels respectively of the Sixth and Seventh ; and those
regiments were ordered to rendezvous at New Haven. The
camp was located in commodious barracks on Oyster Point ;
and there squads and half-formed companies already raised
in different parts of the State immediately reported. Many
who had been in the three-months' service joined these regi
ments either as officers or privates. By the same order, the
Eighth Regiment was directed to rendezvous at Hartford.
The romance of soldiering had passed away, the fervor
which followed the first call to arms had somewhat abated,
the dream of taking Richmond without a struggle was suc
ceeded by bloody realities, the day of large bounties had
not come ; yet the patriotic purpose of the people was still
so earnest, that the four regiments were quickly raised. Meet
ings were held in the different towns, at which the citizens
flocked to listen, to applaud, to encourage enlistments, and
to contribute to the volunteer fund. Immense mass-meet
ings were held in the cities, — the largest and most excited
gatherings ever seen in the State.
During the last days of August, most of the companies for
THE SIXTH ItEGIMENT. 121
the Sixth and Seventh had arrived at the barracks. Sept. 3,
a Windham-county company was mustered into the Sixth,
followed next day by the Waterbury and New Britain
companies. On the 5th, three more were mustered ; also
the Hartford, Danbury, and Norwich companies of the Sev
enth. The rest were added in a day or two. About this
time, the first fractional companies of the Eighth began to
move to their camp, — the grounds the Fifth had vacated, —
just outside of Hartford. Drilling, which had generally begun
at the places of original enlistment, was continued vigorously
in the camps. Nearly all the officers, and some of the pri
vates, had seen service ; yet at least three-fourths were raw
volunteers, who knew no difference between " reverse arms "
and " right-shoulder-shift." The three-months' veterans put
their awkward comrades sternly through the manual, and
exercised them in company and battalion drill, morning,
afternoon, and evening. Every squad made the most of the
few days remaining, and instruction proceeded rapidly. The
three regiments received Enfield rifles, the two flank com
panies of each being armed with Sharpe's ; and succeeding
regiments were generally furnished with the same admirable
weapons, and the same proportion of each.
The field and staff officers of the Sixth Regiment, Col.
John L. Chatfield, Lieut.-Col. William G. Ely, and Major John
Speidal, were from New Haven, New London, and Fairfield
Counties ; and the regiment chiefly enlisted from the south
ern part of the State, Company A, Capt. Thomas K. Bates,
was from the north-eastern towns of Windham County;
Putnam furnishing thirty-one, Killingly twenty-three, and
Thompson, Woodstock, and Plainfi eld the rest. Company B,
Capt. Benjamin F. Prouty, was officered by Hartford ; and
the privates were from twenty towns. Company C, Capt.
Daniel Klein, was mainly from the Germans of New Haven;
twelve being from Norwich, and six from Waterbury. Com
pany D, Capt. Lorenzo Meeker, was from Stamford ; thirteen
being from Greenwich. Company E, Capt. Edward P. Hud
son, was mainly from Waterbury and Prospect; neighbor
ing towns contributing a few. Company F, Capt. Lewis C.
Allen, was recruited in New Haven. Company G, Capt. John
16
122 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
M. Tracy, was mainly from New Britain ; New Haven fur
nishing a first lieutenant and four men, and twelve being
from Farmington. Company H, Capt. Henry Biebel, another
German company, received its officers, and fourteen men,
from Bridgeport : Meriden furnished twenty-four, and New
Haven twenty-three. Company I, Capt. Thomas Boudren,
was mainly from Bridgeport : ten were from Trumbull, and
a squad from adjoining towns. New Haven furnished the
officers, and most of the men, of Company K, Capt. Henry
G. Gerrish : eight were from Hamdeu.
The Seventh Regiment represented every county of the
State. Of Company A, Capt. Daniel G. Francis, the first two
officers, and ten men, were from Hartford ; twenty-five men
from Southington ; the second lieutenant, and seven men,
from New Britain ; and twenty more from contiguous towns.
The first two officers, and eight men, of Company B, Capt.
Daniel C. Rodman, were from Hartford ; the second lieuten
ant, and seven men, from Vernon ; and the rest of the com
pany hailed from Farmington, Middletown, Portland, Som-
ers, Wethersfield, and Bolton. Wallingford had eight men
in the Meriden company (C), Capt. Oliver S. Sanford. Com
pany D, Capt. Benjamin F. Skinner, was from Danbury,
Bethel, and Norwalk. Company E, Capt. Charles E. Palmer,
was from Winsted (Winchester) and New Haven; a few
men being furnished by Goshen, Norfolk, Orange, Colebrook,
and Canton. Company F, Capt. Theodore Bacon, was officered
in New Haven ; that city also furnishing a third of the pri
vates : the rest were from Derby, Waterbury, Woodbridge,
and other towns of the county, with a little squad from
North Canaan. The officers and half the men of Com
pany G, Capt. Edwin S. Hitchcock, were from New Haven ;
and Salisbury and Canaan sent sixteen. In Company H,
Capt. John B. Dennis, Norwich furnished the officers and
twenty-three men ; Windham had thirteen ; Sprague, elev
en ; and Montville, Bozrah, Eastford, and Griswold, twenty
more. The captain (Gray) and second lieutenant of Com
pany I, and eighteen men, were from Bridgeport : Middle-
town was represented by a first lieutenant and eleven
men ; Canaan, by nine men ; East Haddam, eleven ; and
DEPARTURE OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT. 123
Colchester, six. In Company K, Capt. Tourtellotte, the
captain and twenty-four men were from Killingly, the first
lieutenant and nine men from Putnam, the second lieuten
ant and twenty-eight men from Woodstock, and eight from
Thompson.
Col. Alfred H. Terry, colonel of the Second, was made
colonel of the Sixth, Joseph R. Hawley lieutenant-colonel,
and George F. Gardiner major;
Sept. 17, amid the usual patriotic demonstrations by the
assembled citizens, the Sixth took steamer for Jersey City,
where it was transferred to cars for Washington. It arrived
without unusual incident, and pitched its tents on the salu
brious grounds at Glenwood, formerly occupied by the three-
months' troops. Next day it was joined by the Seventh ;
and both were brigaded under Gen. H. G. Wright, a native
of Clinton, New-Haven County, afterwards distinguished as
the able commander of the Sixth army corps. It was under
stood that they were to be assigned to Gen. Thomas W.
Sherman's division, soon to make a descent upon the South-
Carolina coast; and the officers vied with each other in a
thorough discipline of their commands. They went to An
napolis, Oct. 5, there to await the assembling of troops and
the mustering of the great squadron.
By Sept. 15, the Eighth was full ; and, on the 21st, the
Danbury, Norwich, and Stonington companies were mustered
into the service, the rest being soon added. Edward Harland
of Norwich, a popular captain in the Third Regiment, was
made colonel, and was presented with an expensive sword by
the New-London County bar. Capt: Glasson's New-Hartford
company had been presented with a good library by Lucius
Barbour.
Company A, Capt. Henry M. Hoyt, received two officers
and nine men from Hartford, a lieutenant and eight men from
Bridgeport, and the rest from East Windsor, Manchester, Nau-
gatuck, and other towns. Company B, Capt. Patrick K. Ruth,
took its officers and seventy-eight privates from Enfield, and
a few from Suffield, Simsbury, and East Windsor. Company
C, Capt. Charles W. Nash, was mainly from New Hartford ;
about twenty-five coming from Granby, Colebrook, Enfield,
CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Torrino-ton, and Canton. Norwich furnished the officers and
O 7
thirty-three men of Company D, Capt. John E. Ward ; Leba
non, twenty-two; and Windham, fourteen. The officers and
twenty-six men of Company E, Capt. Martin B. Smith, were
from Waterbury ; twenty from Litchfield ; and the rest from
Rocky Hill, Woodbury, and Cornwall. Plainfield furnished
half of Company F, Capt. E. Y. Smith ; the other half repre
senting Canterbury, Griswold, Brooklyn, and Sterling. In
Company G, Capt. Hiram Appelman, were seventy-seven
from Stonington, and fifteen from Groton. Company H,
Capt. Douglass Fowler, was mainly from Norwalk ; though
Danbury, Ridgefield, Wilton, and Redding furnished a few.
New Milford furnished twenty-nine men in Company I, Capt.
F. W. Jackson ; and Brookfield, seventeen ; Newtown, Wash
ington, and Danbury, twenty more. Company K, Capt.
Charles L. Upham, was mainly from Meriden.
The Eighth was well equipped, and an excellent regiment.
It was assigned to Gen. Burnside's force, soon to depart for
North Carolina; and, on Oct. 17, it left Camp Bucking
ham for Annapolis. As it passed towards the river, the de
parting soldiers were greeted with waving flags and resound
ing cheers from proud relatives and friends, and grateful
strangers, wlio only knew them as a part of the grand Union
army going eagerly forth to offer vicarious atonement for
the sins of the nation. The regiment proceeded by boat to
Jamaica. L.I., where it made a temporary camp. The tents
were not at hand ; and they were obliged to sleep on the
ground, covered only by their blankets and the autumnal
sky. Many favors were received from the hospitable citizens,
among whom Ex-Gov. John A. King and Dr. Shelton are
prominently named. The regiment attended church in a
body. Soldiers and citizens also turned out to a lecture by
Chaplain J. J. Woolly, at which a collection of forty dollars
was made for a regimental library.
On Sept. 25, 1861, the citizens of Connecticut resident in
New York met at the Fifth-avenue Hotel to organize for
the purpose of receiving and entertaining our regiments pass
ing through the city. Organization was effected by the
choice of Robert H. McCurdy, president ; W. H. Gilman,
THE NINTH REGIMENT. 125
r
treasurer ; Charles Gould, secretary One of their first acts
was to visit the Eighth Connecticut in a body, and present
a very handsome regimental flag. Gen. Prosper M. Wetmore
made the presentation speech, briefly responded to by Col.
Harland. From this time forward, during the entire war, the
" Sons of Connecticut " were unremitting in vigilance and
effort in extending a cordial hospitality to every soldier of
this State in the city.
The Ninth Regiment, recruited at Camp English, New
Haven, was composed of men of Irish birth or parentage.
Col. Thomas W. Cahill had been long connected with our
State militia as captain of the Emmett Guards, and was a
capable officer. His immediate assistants were Lieut.-Col.
Richard F. Gibbons and Major Frederick Frye, both of
Bridgeport. During the last week of September, seven
companies were mustered in. From this until November, the
time was .employed in obtaining recruits, and acquiring the
discipline of the service. The State and regimental colors
wrere presented, Oct. 30, in an impressive speech by Hon. E.
K. Foster. One flag was the gift of C. D. De Forest ; the
other, of the patriotic ladies of the city.
The regiment was recruited chiefly in the cities and large
towns in the lower part of the State. Company A, Capt.
John Duffy, contained sixty-seven from New Haven; while
Hartford sent eight, and Danbury four. Company B, Capt.
Patrick Garvey, received thirty-five from Meriden, nineteen
from New Haven, and twelve from Cheshire and Middletown.
Company C, Capt. Michael McCartin, had sixty-eight from
New Haven, and eight from Norwich. Company D, Capt.
Thomas C. Coats, received forty-nine from Bridgeport, and six
from New Haven. Company E, Capt. James P. Hennessey,
was wholly from New Haven and Derby. Company F, Capt.
John Foley, represented Waterbury alone. Company G,
Capt. William Wright, had thirty from Hartford and vicinity.
Company II, Capt. Silas W. Sawyer, contained eighteen from
Norwich. Company I, Capt. Elliott M. Curtiss, was made
up in Fairfield County ; and Company K, Capt. John A.
Nelson, in Hartford.
The four regiments called for were organized. Enlist-
126 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ments continued, apparently without abatement ; and, ac
cordingly, Gov. Buckingham issued orders to accept all full
companies offering. By Sept. 18, the members of the Tenth
had begun to arrive at Camp Buckingham, Hartford ; and, on
the 21st and 22d, two New-Haven companies were mustered
in. Within another week, the first companies for- the
Eleventh had reported at Camp Lincoln, near the arsenal,
Hartford. Enlistments and drilling continued through Oc
tober. Capt. Charles L. Russell of Derby, who, with Pardee
and Jepson of New Haven, had recruited a company for the
Eighth, was offered the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Tenth,
but declined it, except on the condition that his company
could be transferred with him. His proposition was soon
accepted by the governor; and his company exchanged
places with Capt. Ruth's En field company of the Tenth.
Gov. Buckingham sought for the colonelcy a regular army-
officer; but, the position being declined by Capt. Frederick
Myers, Lieut.-Col. Russell was, before the regiment left, pro
moted to be colonel. Col. Russell and Lieut.-Col. Albert W.
Drake were both thorough soldiers, good disciplinarians, and
enthusiastic in their military spirit. They had choice mate
rial to deal with, and they infused their own zeal into the
entire mass. Before the retriment left Hartford, its members
C-- '
had attracted much attention for their soldierly behavior.
Of Company A, Capt. Benjamin S. Pardee, twenty-six
were from New Haven, fourteen from Derby, and the rest
from most of the other towns in the county. Company B,
Capt. Philip W. Hudson, was from Manchester, Marlborough,
Coventry, Glastenbury, and other towns in Hartford County.
Company C, Capt. E. D. S. Goodyear, was a consolidation of
squads from the two counties ; New Haven, Branford, and
Bristol furnishing a majority. Company D, Capt. Lewis
Judd, was mainly from the north-western corner of the State.
Company E, Capt Henry A. Wells, hailed from Hartford
County. Company F, Capt. Joseph W. Branch, was mostly
raised in the town of Spragne. Company G, Capt. Isaac L.
Hoyt, was a union of a company of fifty from New Canaan,
and one of thirty from Darien and Stamford. Company H,
Capt. Robert Leggett, was from New-London County. Com-
THE TENTH IN MOTION. 127
pany I, Capt. Thomas R. Mead, was raised entirely in the
town of Greenwich Company K, Capt. Edwin B. Munson,
represented most of the towns of New-Haven County ; New
Haven, East Haven, and Bethany leading off.
This regiment also was assigned to Gen. Burnside's expe
dition. The Eighth had already arrived at Annapolis, after
a tedious passage of four days; and, Oct. 31, the Tenth
broke camp, with orders to proceed at once to the rendezvous.
Before the departure, a beautiful State flag was presented
by Thomas R. Trowbridge of New Haven, made for the regi
ment by his wife and daughter. Then taking the steamers
Granite State and Mary Burton, and hailed by the cheers
of thousands, the Tenth was fairly off for the war.
They were received at New York next morning by the
Sons of Connecticut, and breakfasted at the Park Barracks.
The national colors were presented by S. B. Chittenden,
Arriving at the City of Brotherly Love next morning,
they were again cared for with great hospitality. In
due time, the regiment found itself at Annapolis, snugly in
camp, about a mile and a half from the town. The Sixth
and Seventh had left ; but the Eighth was located near : and
the two regiments cultivated each other's acquaintance, and
prepared themselves, by constant drill on the same field, for
that severe service they were destined to share together.
Among the uncertain conveniences of the camps was the
" stove," consisting of a hole in the ground, with the earthy
sides pounded hard, or lined with stone, and a subterranean
passage leading from the bottom of it to a pipe or rude
chimney outside. These contrivances were expected to
work on the plan of a tobacco-pipe, but, in some cases, per
sisted in drawing at the wrong end, changing the tents into
smoke-houses.
There was heartiness and unity in the work of prepara
tion for battle. Strict discipline was enforced. A school of
instruction and a board of rigid examination were organized.
Drills were almost constant, and the regiments steadily
gained in compactness and soldierly bearing. Some officers
left on account of ill health ; a few were dismissed ; " others,"
wrote an officer, " strong men physically, found themselves
128 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION. _
entirely unfitted for the profession of arms, and bore the
mortification of resigning that others might take their
places. This was real patriotism and true courage."
The morale of the regiments was correspondingly raised.
Gambling and liquor-selling were suppressed ; offenders
being severely punished, and their stakes and stock confis
cated for the regimental fund. Profanity was rebuked.
Unnecessary Sunday labor was avoided. Religious meetings
were frequent ; and, in the Tenth, an officers' special prayer-
meeting was held at the tent of Col. Russell. Each regi-
girnent also organized and supported a Sunday school, that
of the Tenth attaining two hundred and fifty members.
Companies had weekly prayer-meeting. The Eighth held
a regimental prayer-meeting every Sunday night at their
chapel, — " an enclosure of trees and earth, with walls six feet
high, and no roof." Just before sailing, about fifty partook of
the communion here. The Sunday-evening meeting of the
Tenth was held in a clearing. Of these exercises, Capt.
B. S. Pardee gave a vivid picture in a letter : —
"There, at the sound of the bugle, the men assemble, and engage with
marked interest and solemnity in the services. The sight is picturesque, and
to the Christian mind impressive, especially at night. Then the bright camp-
fire throws out in strong relief the figures o£ chaplain and men, and writes in
grotesque characters upon the dense surrounding thickets. Occasionally, a
fresh log thrown on causes showers of sparks to mount in glistening eddies
skywards, and fall in fading glory among the worshipers. The men are
grouped about in easy postures, and their mobile features express clearly the
emotions of the hour. Close on one side rushes by the heavily-laden train,
jarring the earth in its passage ; on the other comes from a camp the
steady, monotonous drum-bear. The bayonets of our sentries glitter coldly
in the moonlight ; and white and frosty, as if snow-clad, shine the long
lines of the encampment. Solemn prayer goes up to heaven for strength
in the hour of trial, and earnest prayer for protection from temptation's
power ; comrades press home vipon their fellows the necessity of safety in
Christ ; tearful eyes and softened hearts attest the fervor with which all
unite in the petition for dear ones left at home- And so the hour passes
almost unnoted, and men are surprised when the chaplain pronounces the
benediction."
The Tenth was brigaded with Massachusetts troops, under
Gen. Foster. The Eighth was brigaded with some New-
York and Pennsylvania regiments, and Col. Harland com
manded the brigade much of the time. Details were made
THE ELEVENTH EEGIMENT. 129
to assist in patrolling the city, now under martial law. All
the Connecticut regiments occasionally held patriotic meet
ings around the camp-fire, at which songs were sung and
speeches made, graced with reminiscences of the pleasant
•home-life, and foreshadowing the battles and victories to
come.
Henry W. Kingsbury of Lyme was commissioned to be
colonel of the Eleventh; but he declined the position to ac
cept a command in the 14th regulars, and was succeeded
by Lieut-Col. T. H. C. Kingsbury of the Fifth. All through
October and November, recruiting for the regiment continued
active. In every county of the State engaged in enlisting
volunteers were embryo officers, their shoulder-straps de
pending on their success. Sometimes the officer made his
headquarters at a tent, sometimes in his office or at a hall;
while, not unfrequently, he rode in a buggy from town to
town, holding impromptu war-meetings at schoolhouses or in
other convenient rooms, and summoning the young farmers'
from the harvest to the tented field. The growth of each
company was rapid or slow, according to the influence of
friends, the efforts made by advertising, and the activity
and popularity of the proposed officers. At last the regiment
was declared full, and the activity of drill was redoubled.
Charles Mathewson of Pomfret was lieutenant-colonel, and
Capt. Griffin A. Stedrnan was transferred from the Fifth to be
major.
Capt. George M. Southmayd's company (A) was from
D anbury, New Fairfield furnishing sixteen. Capt. Timothy
D. Johnson's company was mainly from Stafford ; Ashford
sending sixteen, and Ellington and the Windsors a dozen
more. C, Capt. William Moegling, was recruited from the
Germans of New-Haven and Fairfield Counties. D, Capt.
Edwin R. Lee, contained nineteen from Hartford, nineteen
more from Canterbury and Winsted, and the rest from the
northern range of towns. E, Capt. John H. Dewell, received
thirty-five men from Norfolk ; Winsted, twelve ; Salisbury,
eight ; Canaan, six. F, Capt. William Clapp, was made up
from Killingly, Pomfret, Eastford, Brooklyn, and neighboring
towns. In G, Capt. William I. Hyde, were represented Plain-
17
130 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
field, twenty-three ; Newtown, thirteen ; Thompson, eight.
H, Capt. Albert E. Daniels, was raised mainly in Windham
County. I, Capt. John Griswold, was contributed by North
Canaan and adjoining towns in Litchfield County. K, Capt.
Charles S. Denison, was raised mainly in the towns at the
mouth of the Connecticut; Danbury furnishing ten.
The regiment left Hartford for Annapolis, Dec. 16 ; having
also been assigned to the Burnside Expedition. They arrived
at New York next morning, and partook of a substantial
breakfast, provided by the liberal sons and daughters of
Connecticut, residents of the city, whose organization has
been mentioned. Speeches of encouragement and approba
tion were made by Gov. Buckingham, Gen. Wetmore, Col.
John H. Almy, and others. A handsome set of regimental
colors was presented in the Park during the day ; and the
regiment embarked on a steamer for Annapolis. While going
down the bay in the evening, a revenue-cutter fired a blank
shot across the bows of the crowded transport to bring her
to. The captain, feeling that he was on patriotic service,
failed to round to ; when Fort Hamilton fired a solid shot,
striking the vessel, and obliging the captain to stop and ex
plain himself. The boys of the Eleventh were somewhat
startled to find themselves attacked so soon.
On the second day they arrived at their destination, and
pitched their tents. The Eighth and Tenth were still there,
and had established a very picturesque camp, its streets orna
mented with young pines. The soldiers shaded their tents,
and constructed arches over the company-streets, in which
the company-letter, shields, stars, and other devices, were
neatly worked in evergreen, with red berries set among the
wreaths. The Eleventh showed a spirit of emulation ; and,
though they had but three weeks to remain, they laid out a
camp, and went vigorously at work to build a log-village after
the model of the 24th Massachusetts, lying near. The
Massachusetts boys also took hold, and rendered brotherly
assistance. One more flag was unfurled over the soil of Mary
land, borne to the breeze upon a tall, straight pine pole ; and
the Eleventh began to make itself at home. Here, drilling,
visiting, and trying to keep comfortable, the three regiments,
BRILLIANT NAVAL BATTLE. 131
with fifty others, waited while Burnside mustered his fleet
of war.
On Oct. 20, the Sixth and Seventh Connecticut, and fifteen
regiments from other States, assembled at Annapolis, and
embarked on thirty-three transports for the long-talked-of
expedition to South Carolina under Sherman. There were
tedious delays, and the squadron finally left Fortress Monroe
Oct. 29. Two days out from Hampton Roads, there was a
terrible south-east storm, in which the fleet was thoroughly
scattered, and two of the vessels sunk. The ships which car
ried the Sixth and Seventh came only within speaking-dis
tance, so that the men could hail each other during the storm.
The squadron re-assembled off Port Royal Bar on Nov. 4.
On the 7th was the brilliant naval battle by the ships under
Com. Dupont, resulting in the capture of Forts Walker
and Beauregard ; while the troops lay two miles off watching
the splendid bombardment.2 The Connecticut troops were
selected to land first. It was thought that the rebels might
rally, and contest the possession. The Sixth, under Lieut-Col.
W. G. Ely, was on board the steamer Winfield Scott ; the
Seventh, under Col. Terry, on boats in tow. Standing in near
Fort Walker, the steamer ran aground : the crews of the boats
rowed past ; and the companies of the Seventh jumped into
the water, and formed on the beach. The Sixth immedi
ately debarked, and joined them. Lieut.-Col. Hawley, in a
letter to the Press, said, —
" Our Seventh Regiment landed first, and had the honor of taking charge
of Fort Walker over night. The companies of Capts. Francis and Rodman
did the advanced picket-duty for the night. Friday the regiment was sent
about five miles in a westerly direction, on an armed recounoissance to
Seabrook's Landing. We caught no rebels, but found a large quantity of
provisions and other property. The rebels ran in the extremest fright,
abandoning almost every thing but the clothing on them. It is as warm as
June. I have oranges in my pocket picked at Seabrook's. The palmetto
is plenty about us ; the leaves are green on all the trees ; the cotton-fields are
white, waiting for the second picking ; and sweet-potatoes are plenty. There
is scarcely a white man left on the island. The negroes greet us with great
pleasure, and are wonderfully hearty in crying, ' God bress you, mass'r.' "
Gov. Buckingham immediately issued a proclamation,
2 Lieut. William S. Cogswell, of the Fifth Connecticut, commanded a detachment
of the signal cor^s at Port Koyal ; and the success was so marked, that Col. Meyer men
tioned it in the general orders.
132 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
congratulating the State and her soldiers that " the two regi
ments from Connecticut were the first to land on the hostile
shore ; and, after the stars and stripes, the flag of Connecti
cut was the first to wave above the traitorous soil of South
Carolina."
The Connecticut troops also made the first advance from
Hilton Head. The Sixth, under Lieut-Col. Ely, was sent
out to Graham's plantation, where it found and sent in large
quantities of corn and other supplies. The Seventh made
a reconnoissance to the lower end of the island, some fifteen
miles off, and took possession of the rebel batteries there.
These they held, unspiking the guns, and blazing away at
Fort Pulaski in the distance. On the 20th, they reconnoi
tred to Dawfuskie Island, in the direction of Savannah.
Capt. Rodman made his headquarters at a deserted planta
tion, while Capts. Palmer and Gray occupied the residence
of Rev. Mr. Lawton. A letter of that date says, " Oysters
and fish are abundant, wild hogs run in the jungles, the men
sleep under shelter ; and, on the whole, it is quite a jolly
soldier life down there at Braddock's Point Contrabands
come over as rapidly as they can ; their masters watching
the coast, breaking up boats, and shooting the fugitives
The negroes glorify us into saints. Let men in high places
or low do what they please, and be as cowardly as they
please, this army will not fight for slavery ; and the war is
a war for liberty."
Lieut-Col. Ely of the Sixth, with three companies, had a
skirmish with rebels on the west side of the island. The
detachment brought in two fine brass howitzers, with a val
uable pair of horses, seventy other horses, six mules, six
wagons, two yoke of oxen, and other property, of a total
value of fifty thousand dollars. "For this," says one of the
company officers, "we never received a particle of credit,
— not even a quartermaster's receipt" In December, the
men were detailed to construct the new fortifications, and
in three weeks moved their camps to the rear of them, and
took turns at working the guns.
CAMP-LIFE IN VIRGINIA. 133
At Darnestown, during September, the Fourth received
a competent commander in Col. Robert 0. Tyler of the regu
lar army, formerly from Hartford, and a nephew of Gen.
Daniel Tyler. With him their true "army life" began.
Of this undisciplined crowd of Connecticut boys he was to
make soldiers. The vigor with which he went to the task
indicated how thoroughly he meant to do it. He assisted
at guard-mounting, and inspected every musket and every
man. " There were no uniform coats, and few presentable
pants, in the regiment ; but, whenever an effort at neatness
was made, the colonel's eye perceived it, and a compliment
was sure to follow. Even the man who put a coat of black
ing on his bare feet was thus rewarded for his pains, and,
though destitute of pantaloons, marched off with the air of
a major-general." 3 Within a week, new uniforms were re
ceived, and the old ones thrown away ; and the regiment was
marched to Washington. Oct. 9, it crossed Long Bridge, and
took formal possession of Fort Richardson, pitching its tents
temporarily on the slope below, near the river-bank.
Company A was detailed for the fort : the rest imme
diately began " stump-grubbing " about the fort, Col. White
superintending with untiring -energy ; and this recreation
was continued until ten acres was reclaimed from the wilder
ness of a Virginia forest, and made smooth as a parlor floor.
Here a matchless camp was set, overlooking Washington and
the Potomac. The rest of the winter was spent in constant
ly rigid discipline ; but the days were without any exciting
incident beyond an occasional review. Chaplain Walker,
writing of this time, said, —
" Looking back over the five months spent at Fort Richardson, the
mind is confused with details that struggle for expression. Time has not
yet toned down these memories into their relative light and shade. We
see them as in kaleidoscopic vision, — long lines of snow-white gloves, of
glistening bayonets, of polished brass, and spotless uniforms, mixed up
with carriage-loads of ladies, officers on horseback, flags, and cannon-
smoke ; and, with these, soberer bits of glass in the shape of sling-carts,
statuary, and spread eagles ; and again, stumps, picks, shovels, and the
like, set off by mud and cold and wind ; and these again relieved b'y gor
geous sunrises and sunsets, lovely days and nights, and the ever-changing,
8 Anniversary Address, Chaplain Walker, p. 49.
134 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ever-charming views from the summit of the hill. Turn the glass, and
again we have the same things in different combinations. But in every
scene may be detected the vigilant eye of our commander, scrutinizing
every thing, approving every soldierly act or trait, and punishing with
rigor each minute offense against perfect military discipline."
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Press said, " It is
a picturesque camp, a model of military neatness. Com
fort, economy, and discipline are marked. These Yankees
are a great people. They carry their good order and steady
habits everywhere. In every thing, there is the precision of
the regular army. I have seldom seen a finer body of men."
During these last months of 1861, the Fifth was still
engaged in the most arduous and disagreeable duty known
to a soldier's life, — holding a long picket-line in the face
of an alert enemy, exposed to snow and sleet, without any
winter-quarters, and without comfortable tents. In October,
it moved from Darnestown to re-inforce Gen. Stone. March
ing all night, it reached Edwards' Ferry the morning after
the disastrous battle of Ball's Bluff; and was ordered to
cross the river, and renew the attack. The order was
countermanded, and the regiment went into temporary
camp at Muddy Branch. Dec. 19, a company crossed the
Potomac, and burnt the mill being used by the rebels at
Dam Number Five. The regiment came near losing Col.
Ferry, prostrated in Washington with fever; but he re
turned in three weeks, and was warmly welcomed. During
the winter, we find the Fifth successively at Darnestown,
Rockville, Frederick, Monocacy, Edwards' Ferry, Williams-
port, Harper's Ferry, Jefferson, Hagerstown, Hancock, and
in detachments at all the fords intervening. The first of
December, their discomfort was materially modified by the
receipt of a full set of Sibley tents. The winter was spent
in ceaseless movements along the river, in which a degree of
celerity was exhibited, which won for the Fifth the sobri
quet of " the foot cavalry."
CHAPTER IX.
Extra Session of the Legislature. — Governor's Message. — A Carte Blanche. — More
Regiments authorized. — Gen. Butler and the Twelfth. — A Light Battery and a
Battalion of Cavalry. — At Meriden. — Off for the War. — The Ninth badly
equipped. — Twelfth in Camp at Hartford. — Thirteenth in Barracks at New Haven.
— Ninth and Twelfth at Ship Island. — Blockading. — The " Stone Fleet." —Effect
on the Harhors of the South.
HEN Gov. Buckingham issued orders in Septem
ber, 1861, for the formation of the Tenth Regi
ment, he had reached the limit set by the
General Assembly at its May session. He
therefore issued his proclamation on the 25th,
convening the Assembly to consider what more the grow
ing power of the Rebellion demanded from Connecticut, and
to provide for the payment, by the State, of its proportion
($308,214) of the direct tax imposed by Congress at its
July session.
The legislature met on the 9th of October following.
Mr. Brandagee being disabled by illness, Hon. Henry C.
Doming of Hartford was elected speaker pro tern, by accla
mation ; the Republican majority thus testifying their respect
for a gentleman, who, elected as a Democrat, forgot all
partisan feelings when he deemed his country in danger.
The message of the governor was terse and earnest. In
referring to the war, he said, —
" Instead of inquiring how much we have done, shall we not inquire
what more we can do ? It is a privilege to live in a day like this ; to take
a bold and energetic part in the conflict which is now raging between law
and anarchy, and during this revolution, which, in the onward progress
of events, is to accomplish the wise designs of an overruling Providence,
to exert an influence which shall aid in advancing this nation to such a
position of strength and moral power, that every citizen may safely, fully,
135
136 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and speedily enjoy the blessings of freedom. This is a high honor within
our reach, a rich privilege which we may enjoy, and a solemn duty which
God calls on us now to perform."
A law was passed authorizing the governor to enlist, or
ganize, and equip, according to his discretion, an unlimited
number of volunteers ; and directing the treasurer to issue
additional bonds of the State, to the amount of two million
dollars, to meet whatever expenses might be incurred.
This liberal action, in appropriating four million dollars in
a single year, and intrusting its disbursement to a single
man, evinced an uncalculating patriotism, and a confidence
in the judgment and fidelity of the Executive almost with
out parallel.
Appropriations were made for the assistance of the fami
lies of those three-months' men who had been retained as
prisoners; and the governor was authorized to pay the di
rect tax due the General Government by crediting the amount
on the claims of the State.
A resolution was passed (the Republicans and one Demo
crat voting for it) instructing the comptroller to remove the
portraits of Ex-Go vs. Toucey and Seyniour from their places
on the walls of the senate-chamber.1
The assembly adjourned Oct. 16, after a session of only
one week.
In September, it was announced that Gen. Butler had re
ceived authority to recruit one regiment from each New-
England State for a secret expedition of great importance.
He visited Hartford during the special session of the General
Assembly, was presented to both houses, and received with
great enthusiasm.
He counseled with the governor and prominent citizens,
among them his old Democratic friend Hon. Henry C.
Deming, then Speaker of the House of Representatives
(elected by acclamation in a house largely Republican).
Mr. Deming accepted a commission as colonel of a regiment
to be raised for this service, and to be called " The Charter-
oak Regiment," The other regiments were to take State
1 The resolution provided that the comptroller mi^ht restore the portraits to their
frames when he was satisfied of their loyalty. They were replaced before the meeting of
the General Assembly in 1867.
BATTERY AND BATTALION. 137
appellations ; as " The Pine-tree State," " The Granite State,"
" The Bay State," and " The Green-mountain Boys." 5
The regiment thus decided on became, in the order of re
cruiting, the Twelfth. Connecticut Volunteers, and was gen
erally so designated.
About the middle of September, the Secretary of War sig
nified to Gov. Buckingham his readiness to accept a battery
of artillery and a battalion of cavalry from Connecticut. -The
governor immediately gave authority to proper persons to
recruit for one company of cavalry in each congressional
district, and to several persons in different parts of the State
to enlist men for the battery. Both organizations were pop
ular from the first, and volunteers were ra.pidly enrolled.
Oct. 22, the battery went into camp in West Meriden
(Hanover District) with about a hundred men. On the
26th, the men were mustered into the service of the United
States for three years. The same day, they elected Selden
T. Porter of Andover, and John S. Cannon of New Haven,
first lieutenants ; and William T. Seward of Guilford, and
Georse T. Metcalf of Hartford, second lieutenants. Guns
o
and horses were soon furnished them for temporary use, and
artillery practice at once began.
Recruiting-officers for the cavalry battalion were appointed,
with the intention of raising one company in each congres
sional district ; but the district-lines were not at all observed.
Oct. 23, the battalion, numbering about three hundred
men, encamped beside the battery. The men were soon
equipped and mounted, and spent the bright days of autumn
in learning camp and guard duty and cavalry tactics. They
were at once the kings and pets of the town: The people
opened their doors and their hearts, visited the camp with
admiring curiosity, and rarely failed to leave some " creature
comfort" as a token of cordial interest.
Religious meetings were frequent, and well attended. A
sentence from a discourse to them by Rev. E. Warriner, after
wards their esteemed chaplain, recalls a conception of battle
2 In making up the force of Gen. Butler, the original plan was departed from, and he
received several regiments from each State; from Connecticut, the Ninth, Twelfth, and
Thirteenth. The Ninth and Thirteenth were not recruited with a view to this special
service.
18
138 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Jt
then shared by both, but which both would now smile at.
It is this : " When you swing your saber over the head of a
rebel, pray, ' God have mercy on your soul !' and then strike ;
and don't you pray too long either, for fear you may not
hit him." The prayerful Cromwellian style of fighting was
more popular in early theory than common in later practice.
The army-regulations make no provision for a chaplain to
any. organization smaller than a regiment; but the Legisla
ture of Connecticut passed a special act for the commission
and pay, by the State, of a chaplain to this battalion. Rev.
Mr. Warriner was appointed ; and he proceeded to organize
a church on a simple basis of Christian brotherhood. Sects
and creeds vanished. Christian faith, and a renunciation of
sin, became the test of a hearty fellowship, which survived
all the vicissitudes of camp and field, increased with the
growth of the battalion to a regiment, and continued fresh
and earnest to the final muster-out. It is, perhaps, worthy
of record, that of the fourteen who originally united in the
declaration of faith, though they were among the most de
voted and daring men, all save two were preserved through
countless perils to the end of the conflict. Capt. Elbridge
Colburn and Sergeant William P. Traganza died in the faith
they professed.
Similar church-organizations were formed in nearly all the
regiments of our State, and kept up with more or less ear
nestness ; flourishing or decaying with the presence or ab
sence of a chaplain, the nature of the service, and the char
acter of officers and men.
The members of the battalion, as a rule, were men of su
perior intelligence and character. Still the chaplain is sorely
exercised to find very soon one of those anomalous and
versatile characters, occasionally met with, who "makes
flaming speeches ; and the next we hear of him, he is playing
cards, swearing, shearing horses' tails, and then living on
bread and water in the guard-tent."
Drill was industriously continued in both the battalion and
battery; and recruiting went on through October and Novem
ber, when the men were mustered into the service. The
cavalry battalion had three hundred and forty-six men, some
THE BATTEKY BREAK CAMP. 139
from almost every town in the State. Company A, Capt. An
drew Bowen, had eleven from Woodstock, and eleven from
Hartford : the rest were mostly from towns in Tolland and
Windham Counties. Company B, Capt. Charles Farnsworth,
was recruited in New Haven, Derby, and adjoining towns.
Company C, Capt. William S. Fish, received seventeen men
from Stonington, the rest from New-London and Middlesex
Counties. Company D, Capt. L. A. Middlebrook, was recruited
in Bridgeport, which furnished thirty ; many towns in Fair-
field and Litchfield Counties being represented. Major Henry
Boardman, whose reputation as commander of the govern
or's Horse Guards had greatly accelerated the recruiting, was
appointed major of the battalion. He resigned Nov. 18 ;
and Judson M. Lyon was appointed to succeed him, on peti
tion of the citizens of Woodstock and neighboring towns.
The battery was raised to a hundred and fifty-six men;
Hebron having twenty-nine, and Guilford twenty-seven.
Early in December, they received four bronze six-pounder
James rifled guns. With these they learned artillery drill
practically during the ample leisure of midwinter. In fact,
both cavalry and artillery men found it necessary to exercise
to keep warm. They were not inured to exposure, and had
not yet learned how to make the best of their accommoda
tions ; so that it is not surprising, that, living in a village of
tents in this high latitude, the soldiers suffered as much from
cold as at any subsequent time.
They were impatient for active service ; and at last the
welcome order came. Jan. 13, 1862, the battery, with full
ranks and equipments, complete in every particular, broke
camp for the seat of war. The destination was not definitely
announced until they had turned their backs upon a dis
mantled camp, and looked upon the receding shores of
Connecticut ; when they learned that they were to follow the
Sixth and Seventh to the original Secessia, — the island-shore
of South Carolina.
Feb. 20, the mounted men of the battalion also spoke their
reluctant good-bys, and, full of spirit and hope, set out for
Wheeling, Va.
140 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE EEBELLION.
Meanwhile, the Ninth Regiment, at New Haven, had been
filling slowly. Recruiting for it, though carried on with the
same auxiliaries, seemed to be less successful than for some
other organizations. At no time did it attain the minimum
number required.
The men were in camp for two months in New Haven ; yet
they received no muskets nor any general outfit. One suit
of blue, of poor material, constituted their entire equipment.
The regiment having been turned over to Gen. Butler, Gov.
Buckingham considered that all further responsibility was as
sumed by the Federal Government. The officers prosecuted
their drills, and enforced discipline, under every disadvantage ;
and neither officers nor men felt much of that military pride
which accompanies the possession of the burnished arms
and handsome uniforms that make a display possible. Feel
ing sorely the apparent indifference of the government,
quite a number were induced by their friends to desert,
leaving the regiment with little more than six hundred men.
In this condition, and with these feelings, they departed
for Lowell, Mass., on Nov. 4 ; signalizing their progress
through the State with conduct unusually boisterous and
reckless. They went into camp by the side of the 26th
Massachusetts, which was splendidly equipped in every
particular. Here they resumed drill ; but few of the expected
recruits were added. No arms or uniforms were received.
Their pantaloons were beginning to assume various degrees
of dilapidation.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Ninth embarked, numbering
about six hundred men, ragged, unarmed, and dispirited,
accompanied by the 26th Massachusetts and a battery, on
board the steam-transport Constitution, to do battle for the
Union in the extreme South. At Fortress Monroe, Gen.
Phelps was taken onboard. After an uncomfortable voyage,
they neared the long, low, white level of Ship Island, off the
coast of Mississippi. Here they landed, Dec. 3, — the first of
Butler's expedition, designed for the capture of New Orleans.
Muskets and tents for the Ninth had been brought down, and
were now distributed. The men were still wretchedly clad,
and it was midwinter. Nearly half of them were without
THE TWELFTH KEGIMENT.
shoes, and as many more without shirts. Several had no coats
or blankets. Some drilled in a primitive attire of blouse and
cotton drawers. The tents were hardly capacious enough to
cover them. There was no straw to sleep on. They were
without transportation, and were obliged to bring the wood
for their fires four miles. This was made into rafts ; and men
almost naked, in water up to their arms, floated it down to
camp. Chips were precious during the winter ; and not a
shaving was burned, except for necessary cooking. The 26th
was equipped with warm blankets, ample tents, and two uni
form suits of clothing per man; and to them the members
of the Ninth furnished a contrast, which would have been
amusing, if it were not humiliating. With the -buoyancy of
the Irish character, the men were hopeful, and, during these
severe months, sent to their families not less than twenty
thousand dollars, — almost their entire pay.
The Ninth were daily detailed to the performance of
fatigue-duty, including the unloading of vessels, &c. One
day. they came upon a stock of canvas shoes consigned to
the post-sutler. These Col. Cahill immediately appropriated,
receipting for them on his own account, and distributing
them among his barefoot command. Gen. Phelps could find
nothing in the regulations authorizing such an act ; but the
colonel found sufficient justification in the paramount law
of necessity. In this service, and in this state of discomfort,
the Ninth awaited the approach of spring.
Enlistments had continued for the Twelfth, and recruiting
now assumed a thorough and systematic form. The bounty,
National and State, was yet only a hundred and thirty
dollars ; and patriotism was still the main reliance. Individ
uals offered inducements to volunteers. Some towns voted
small bounties. Many young men rode from house to house,
in localities where they were known and esteemed, and made
personal application to the young men at their homes, first
rousing their martial ardor (generally an easy task), and then
appealing to fathers and mothers to send forth their sons,
with their parental blessing, to fight for freedom and the
Union. These were the most successful recruiting-officers,
and they gathered in the noblest and sturdiest volunteers.
142 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The Twelfth was rather a favorite regiment from the first,
and especially popular with the young war-Democrats, who
rose up in every county to affirm, on the battle-field, that our
country is not a confederacy, hut a nation. Yet ten thou
sand men had already gone from the State within six months,
and enlistments were slower. It was Nov. 18, when Com
pany A pitched its tents about two miles east of Hartford,
on a smooth field owned by Mr. Hamilton, sloping to the
south-west, and affording abundant room for evolutions.
Eight companies were on the ground, and mustered in by
the 20th; though several were not full. By Dec. 2, the other
two had taken their places. The camp was named Camp
Lyon.
Company A, Capt. George N. Lewis, was designated as the
Colt Guards; Company B, Capt. Samuel H. Granniss, the
Peck Rifles ; Company C, Capt. L. A. Dickinson, the Deming
Guards; Company F, Capt. Sidney E. Clark, the Buslmell
Rifles ; Company G, Capt. Lester E. Braley, the Lyon Rifles ;
Company H, Capt. Foy, the Colburn Guards ; Company I,
Capt. John W. De Forest, the Putnam Guards. These high-
sounding titles soon fell into disuse.
The fancy of naming each company after some martyr of
the war, or, oftener, after some philanthropic benefactor, pre
vailed in all the regiments ; but, in all cases, these were soon
displaced by the company-letter.
The towns which furnished the most men for Company A
were as follows : Hartford, thirty-six ; South Windsor, six ;
Glastenbury, six ; Middletown, five. Company B, New Ha
ven, forty-five ; Branford, seven ; Ashford and Madison, four
each. Company C, Hartford, eleven ; New Haven, twenty-
four ; Windsor Locks, eleven ; Brooklyn, six. Company D,
Capt. N. Frankau, New London, thirty-five ; Waterford, thir
teen ; the Lymes, ten. Company E, Capt. Byxbee, Norwalk,
thirty-eight; Danbury, ten; New Canaan and Brookfield,
six each. Company F, New Haven, sixteen ; Westbrook and
East Haddam, twelve each ; Chatham and Saybrook, six
each. Company G, Windham, twenty-two ; Voluntown,
Sprague, and Canterbury, nine each. Company II, Canton,
twenty-six ; Hartford, eighteen ; Simsbury and Avon, seven
THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT. 143
each. Company I, Bridgeport, thirty-two ; Southington,
twenty-three ; New Haven, thirteen. Company K, Capt. E.
K. Abbott, Stonington, twenty-four; Ledyard, ten; Canter
bury and Norwich, ten.
It was late in the fall before the organization of the Thir
teenth Regiment was begun; and, on Nov. 2, Major Birge
was transferred from the Fourth to its command. Within a
month, at least the nucleus of every company was at the
barracks (Durham & Booth's carriage-factory), corner of
Chapel and Hamilton Streets, New Haven. The regiment
was the last to be raised under the call for five hundred
thousand men. The State had been closely canvassed by
a hundred recruiting-agents, and the companies filled up
slowly.
Company A, Capt. Henry L. Bidwell, entered the barracks
as the Buckingham Guards ; and it was raised mainly in New
Britain, Farmington furnishing fourteen. Company B, Capt.
Apollos Comstock, was recruited by officers from New Ca
naan ; and its ranks represented almost every town in Fair-
field County. Company C, Capt. C. D. Blinn, was known as
the Lyon Guards; and ten of the men were from Cornwall,
thirty-six from Kent, seventeen from Sharon, eight from
Goshen ; and Canaan, Salisbury, and New Milford made
up the rest. Company D, Capt. C. E. Prindle, the Litchfield-
county Rifles, had twenty-one from New Hartford ; and the
rest were picked up through the central part of the State.
Company E, Capt. E. Tisdale, was called the New-England
Guards, and was raised in Thompson, Killingly, and adjacent
towns in the eastern part of the State. Company F, Capt, J.
J. McCord, known as the Catlin Rifles, was a consolidation
of fractional companies from Norwich and Hartford. Com
pany G, the Hebron Rifles, Capt. S. G. Gilbert, contained
eight men from Hebron, fourteen from Marlborougb, and
seventeen from East Haddam. Company H, Capt. H. B.
Sprague, was raised as the Welch Rifles, mainly in New
Haven. Company I, Capt. H. L. Schleiter, was a consolida
tion of companies from New London and Litchfield. Com
pany K, Capt. A. Mitchell, the Knowlton Rifles, was raised
in New Haven and vicinity.
144 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Gov. Buckingham made it a matter of duty to visit every
regiment organized in the State, and address to its officers
words of affectionate counsel respecting their duties, rights,
and responsibilities. " I remember their substance well,"
says an officer. " After telling us what a noble band of men
we had the honor to command, and of the high motives
which had actuated them to leave their homes for scenes so
full of hazard and suffering, he told us that we could do
much both to promote their usefulness and to relieve their pri
vations. ' Remember,' said he, ' that the government, though
sorely pressed, makes ample provision for its defenders.
Study well the Regulations : in them you will find your
duties and your privileges clearly denned. Whatever the
government provides, that your men are entitled to receive.
See that they are thus provided. If, through the carelessness
of officers on the higher staffs, such provision is not made, do
not hesitate to make your complaints until the grievance is
remedied. If you cannot get redress otherwise, then write
me the facts fully, and I will apply to the highest power in
the land for you.' Then, after an earnest appeal to us to
seek divine guidance and protection, he bade us farewell.
I saw, during my connection with the regiment, frequent
evidences that the words of his Excellency were warmly
remembered by many of the officers."
The Twelfth was rapidly taking shape as a first-class regi
ment. Its ranks were full. Officers and men were diligently
exercised in drill : nothing but a severe storm was allowed to
interfere. Snow was cleared away or trodden down. " Lieut-
Col. Colburn was enthusiastic in his drill. His experience
in the State militia, and us major of the Second Connecticut
(three-months' troops), fitted him well for his post. Some
times he was so engaged as not to. hear the recall. The pri
vates usually did."3
The tents were of the James patent, like the Sibley in
shape, having a vertical shaft of hollow iron in the centre,
which served as a chimney : into this was fitted the pipe of
a small sheet-iron stove, by which the tent was readily
warmed. A board floor, rude tables and chairs, and beds
3 Chaplain J. H. Bradford, Connecticut War Kecord, p. 134.
DEPARTURE OF TWELFTH REGIMENT. 145
of straw, made the tents quite comfortable on pleasant
days ; and, though the men thought them hardly habi
table, they lived to long for them again, and wonder that
they had ever had such luxurious accommodations.
The winter was unusually cold and stormy, and the men
were sometimes pinched and uncomfortable ; but they were
much healthier than the Thirteenth in the barracks at New
Haven, and the hardier for their exposure. The measles had
quite a run, and in two cases proved fatal.
The camp was much frequented by friends and citizens,
and was complimented by military visitors for its neatness
and good order. The regiment was thoroughly equipped
by the United States, through Gen. Butler.
The privations in Camp Lyon were few compared with a
soldier's experience in the field. The winter months came
and passed, with little to disturb the ordinary routine except
an occasional presentation of some equipments to an officer
by friends at home. A few will recall the occasion of the
presentation of an elegant sword and attachments to Lieut.
Stanton Allyn by his fellow-townsmen of Ledyard. The
company were drawn up in line, and the gifts presented by
Ledyard Bill with an appropriate speech, which was fittingly
responded to by the young officer. Similar scenes occurred
at every camp throughout the State.
Feb. 24, the order for departure was promulgated; and,
on the following morning, they turned from their disrobed
camp to say good-by to their assembled friends. It was a
clear morning, after a hard snow ; and the men, in marching
to the depot and loading their baggage, were chilled by the
searching wind. At New Haven, they took the steamer
Elm City ; whence, on arrival at New York, they were trans
ferred, still shivering, to. the steam-transport Fulton, in
whose capacious hold they found warmth and rest. Am
munition was the next day dealt out to the troops; and,
about noon of March 1, the Fulton steamed down the harbor.
A quiet passage of eight days, with little sea-sickness,
brought them to the low sand-beach of Ship Island. Four
regiments had already arrived. There was nothing to eat
except army-rations. An expedition to Horn Island prom-
19
146 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ised fresh beef; but the cattle captured were so poor that they
were not eaten with any relish, even by hungry men. Early
in April, sixteen regiments were reviewed, and the Twelfth
was especially complimented. It was unusually well drilled,
and made a fine appearance.
The Confederate leaders were, at this time, obtaining their
main army-supplies from their English friends by blockade-
runners. In October, the government resolved on a novel
plan of closing, temporarily at least, the ports of Charleston
and Savannah, from which then chiefly the long, low, swift
craft plied their trade.
The Navy Department, after consultation with many gen
tlemen familiar with shipping, committed the whole business
of purchasing, loading, and sending out the vessels, to Richard
H. Chappell of New London, giving him general instructions,
and leaving all matters of detail to his discretion.
The first order was for twenty-five vessels, of from two
hundred to four hundred tons each. Before these were
loaded, twenty more were ordered ; making a fleet of forty-
five sail, to be dispatched at once. The entire coast of New
England was traversed to find forty-five suitable vessels at
prices within the limits named by the government. Mr.
Chappell availed himself of the services of J. H. Bartlett &
Sons of New Bedford, and Vernon H. Brown of Boston.
Ships, barks, and brigs were purchased in New York, Fair-
haven, New London, Mystic, Sag Harbor, New Bedford, Nan-
tucket, Boston, Gloucester, and Portland. A large part of
them were old whale-ships.
Great dispatch was required : the vessels were concen
trated for needed repairs, and for the better facility of
loading and clearing, at New London, New Bedford, and
Boston. Large numbers of workmen were employed at
these ports in stripping, loading, and rigging ; and numerous
teams engaged in hauling stone to the docks. The founda
tion-rocks of several New-England farms were speedily
shipped to a Southern market. Masters, mates, and seamen
eagerly accepted a chance to go down and see the edge of
THE STONE FLEET. 147
the Rebellion. For a time, all was activity and bustle : even
the teamsters caught the spirit of the enterprise, carried the
American flag at the head of a line of teams, and sang patri
otic songs in chorus. The arrangements for prompt sink
ing of the vessels when in the right position consisted of
a large hole under the stern, made before loading, stopped
by an outer and an inner plug secured by an inside screw.
This screw could be instantly withdrawn, and the vessel
would fill with water in a few minutes.
The first fleet of twenty-five sailed from their respective
ports Nov. 21, 1861; while the second fleet of twenty fol
lowed on the llth of December. Thirteen of these went
from New London ; the commodore for the cruise being the
veteran Capt. John P. Rice, well known as a competent
shipmaster. One or two of the fleet put back from accident ;
but nearly all were delivered to the naval commanders off
Charleston and Savannah. A majority were used as at first
designed, and, with their masts cut away, were, for a time,
ugly customers for the keel of a blockade-runner to en
counter as she tried to dodge in or out on a dark night.
Some were used by the Navy Department as store-vessels in
various places ; others constituted the foundation for tem
porary wharves at Port Royal, or in the inlets where our
navy was employed : not one, it is believed, " lived " to
return.
Foreign sympathizers with the Rebellion denounced this as
an act of vandalism more atrocious than the bombardment
of a city. In the results, the moral effect was evidently greater
than the physical : the rebels and their friends were badly
frightened, and this " feeling of the enemy " drew their fire.
In a few months, the obstructed channels were replaced by
new courses for the water ; and probably, at the present day,
hardly a trace of the stone fleet remains. Blockade-running
was checked, driven to Wilmington and other ports, and
rendered less safe and profitable. Mr. Chappell's account
of disbursements was accepted by the government, and set
tled at once ; and he was thanked for the promptness, integ
rity, and efficiency he had displayed.
CHAPTER X.
Patriotic Benevolence. — The Regiments in the Field supplied. — Sewing and Knitting.
- Thanksgiving Day. — Soldiers'-aid Societies. — Systematic Effort. — Alfred
Walker. — Thirteenth at New Haven. — A " Dandy Regiment."— Off for Ship
Island. — The Ninth. — Dash at Biloxi and Pass Christian. — Victory. — Trophies,
and Thanks of Gen. Butler. — Capture of New Orleans.
HE generous beneficence of our people had now
subsided from the sudden flash to the steady
glow. Our women, with eyes ever towards the
front, were quick to discern wherein their first
spasmodic exertions had been well and wherein
ill directed, and went forward more thoughtfully to wiser
efforts.
For the Fourth and Fifth Regiments, the proper authorities,
having time to act, provided uniforms, with tolerable quar
ters and rations, and left little for citizens to do in these re
spects. That which was done in other respects for the first
three regiments was done for them, less profusely, but more
judiciously.
With these regiments, the making of havelocks ended;
the soldiers having found that green leaves in the hat were
more convenient, and quite as serviceable.
The friends of the Fourth promptly supplied the regi
mental hospital with every thing which affection suggested
and good judgment approved ; sent many boxes to the
" boys" in the various companies ; and in the autumn supplied,
for a time, nearly all the clothing and shoes which the regi
ment had. The Fifth reached Harper's Ferry on Aug. 4 ;
and by the 10th a large consignment of miscellaneous
supplies had been sent by the people of Southbury and
Woodbury to the Woodbury company, — enough, in fact,
148
KNITTING-CIRCLES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. 149
distributed with a soldier's generosity, to scatter some
comfort through the entire regiment, as is indicated by a
grateful acknowledgment from Col. Ferry.
This was but the first of many welcome boxes and barrels
from these and other towns.
The hospital of the regiment was provided with bedding
of every sort; with medicines, fruits, jellies, wines, for the
sick and the convalescent. The hospitals of the regiments
in camp in the State were similarly provided, so far as was
necessary. Those who fell sick were generally sent to
their homes to recover, except in cases of contagious mala
dies ; and the ladies promptly provided every thing they
could to alleviate these cases. As soon as cold weather
came on, knitting-circles were formed. Among the earliest
were those at Norwalk, which met on Tuesday and Friday
evenings of each week, at different houses conveniently situ
ated. On Dec. 20, one hundred and eight were present, all
busily rattling the nimble needles. A box of mittens and
stocking-s to the Fifth Connecticut Volunteers, and another
o '
to the Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, were early fruits of
their diligent labors. Many boxes followed.
Soon, in circles, or at their houses, women all over the
Sta.te were knitting. This method of manifesting practical
patriotism was particularly popular among the old ladies.
Mrs. Abiah Cady of Plainfield, the widow of a Revolutionary
soldier, then ninety-four years of age, finished, in six weeks,
ten pairs of stockings for the boys from that town. Mrs.
Prudence Stoddard of Norwich, then almost a century old,
was almost constantly busied in the same way. She had
knitted stockings for soldiers in three wars.
Hon. Henry S. Sanford of Derby, our minister at the
court of Holland, and one of the most accomplished repre
sentatives of America abroad, sent home, as a present to the
State, two handsome steel cannon. His patriotism was
shown in similar gifts to some other States.
When Thanksgiving approached, a goodly quantity of
poultry and pumpkin-pies were dispatched from various
towns to the men in the Fourth and Fifth in the field, and to
the Eighth and Tenth at Annapolis. The happy recipients
150 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
did their best to enjoy the day in New-England style ; and
the remembrance made their hearts warm and grateful, in
spite of the fact, that, in many cases, the uneasy chickens
and pumpkin-pies had performed a good many revolutions.
The ladies of Meriden bountifully supplied the First Cav
alry and First Battery in Camp Tyler (at Hanover) ; the
citizens of other places sent in a considerable quantity of
provisions suitable to the day for troops encamped in their
vicinity; while Mr. B. F. Mansfield of New Haven, then
United-States commissary l for this State and Rhode Island,
supplied deficiencies in all the camps at his own personal
expense. The Thirteenth Regiment, in barracks at New
Haven, passed, as a regiment, enthusiastic resolutions of
thanks to Mr. Mansfield : and other regiments, through their
•* O O
officers, handsomely acknowledged his welcome donations.
The Sixth and Seventh Regiments had received, before
their departure for Hilton Head, hospital-supplies, packages
of books and papers, and a large number of boxes sent by
friends to individual soldiers.
The Eighth and Tenth Regiments, which remained longer
at Annapolis, received large donations of books, papers, cloth
ing, and delicacies, both for the hospital and for general dis
tribution, from Norwich, Mystic, Bridgeport, New Haven,
Norwalk, Washington, and other towns.
The ladies of Bridgeport organized a soldiers'-aid societj*
on the 15th day of April, and those of Middletown on the
20th, and those of a very few other towns about the same
time.
But during the summer the work for soldiers was chiefly
in disconnected efforts, by families or groups of families, for
a soldier or squad from their own neighborhood, or in re-
1 Mr. Mansfield, as a militia-officer, was somewhat acquainted with military methods.
Col. Loomis, the United-States mustering-officcr, who was a total stranger in .New Haven,
finding him thoroughly competent, immediately requested him to prepare the camps of
the three-months' regiments, and then to provide rations and all kinds of supplies. This
he performed faithfully, without compensation, until the three regiments left for the field.
Col. Loomis recommended him to his successor, and also to Col. Tomkins and others in
New York, who secured his permanent services as deputy commissary for Connecticut
and Rhode Island. In this capacity, he supplied, besides many other troops, all the regi
ments raised in our State, until a regular United-.- tates post was established at Grape-vine
Point in the latter part of 18G3.
He made numerous journeys to the army on business of the supply department, carry
ing and bringing always messages and packages by the hundred, and distributing often,
at either end of his journey, much more than had been put into his hands.
SUPPLIES FOR THE SOLDIERS. 151
sponse to some general appeal. In the latter case, the efforts
of ^a large number of communities were sometimes directed
to a single point ; and superabundance and waste ensued,
while suffering at other points was unrelieved. But our
women, as they had learned what to send, soon began to
learn how to send ; and system was gradually evolved.
On the 9th of June, the Sanitary Commission was organ
ized, and issued its first circular from Washington on the 3d
of July. The response to the call was not very general or
liberal.
The Commission had not yet a sure foothold in the army
hospitals ; and was, in face of English experience in the Cri
mean War, scouted and opposed by the medical department
at Washington. Besides, the attention of the people was
fixed on the camps and regimental hospitals. The general
hospitals had yet comparatively few patients.
We find, however, that the ladies of New Haven sent, on
the 5th of August, several large boxes of supplies to Miss
Dix for the hospitals at Washington. There were other
small contributions from individuals, and occasionally from
sewing-circles. The circular issued on the 5th of October.
" To the Loyal Women of America," produced a much greater
impression. Supplies of value were forwarded during the
month of November from Hartford, Mystic, Stonington, and
other towns. Women now resolved to accumulate supplies
for coming exigencies. Societies were everywhere formed
for regular continued labor. The larger number of these
ultimately became auxiliaries of the Sanitary Commission.
About the 10th of October, Alfred Walker of New Haven
gave public notice that he would receive at his furniture
store, and pack and forward, whatever the people saw fit to
contribute for the Sanitary Commission.2 Many smiled at
the idea ; and some sterling patriots told him that he would
not get five boxes. His own estimate, though higher than
that, is yet revealed by the fact that he set out to keep his
records on the last leaves of an old ledger ; devoting the last
2 The effort grew out of the appointment, at an informal meeting in October, 1861, of
A. C. Twining, Alfred Walker, Charles Carlisle, S. D. Pardee, Thomas R. Trowbridgc, and
Moses C. White, as a committee to aid in furnishing supplies for sick and wounded
soldiers. The other members of the committee assisted from time to time ; but the burden
of care and labor was borne from the first by Mr. Walker.
152 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
two pages to the cash account, and the preceding four to the
record of articles received and forwarded.
On the 17th, he collected twenty dollars from E. Salisbury,
ten each from James Brewster, James M. Hoppin, and N. B.
Ives, to pay for freight.
On the 19th, he sent the first box ; on the 23d, the seventh ;
by Nov. 6, he had filled the four blank pages, ending with
box No. 28, — twenty-seven bottles of wine ; and, wisely writ
ing backwards from that time, he notes, early in February,
the hundredth box ; and in November, 1862, his record shows
that he had forwarded from eighty-six localities, including
New Haven, three hundred and seventy -one boxes and bar
rels to the Sanitary Commission, and forty-four boxes to
Connecticut regiments ; the whole bearing a value, at mode
rate estimate, of more than twenty-five thousand dollars.
Seeing the rising tide, 'Mr. Walker, in November, 1861,
secured free transportation by boat to New York, and thence,
with government freight, to Baltimore and Washington. The
records and accounts were kept gratuitously by himself and
others in his store. His employes, assisted by ladies who
volunteered, packed the goods free of charge. By these means,
the entire cash expenditure for assorting, packing boxes,
and freight, for the entire year, was but $1,242.01, of which
he collected $1,232.03. The entire task was conducted by
Mr. Walker with the exactness and system of his own private
business.
The name of every article was four times written out, —
once when received (and this time with the name of the
town, and often of the individual donor), a second time for
publication in the daily paper, again when packed, and a
fourth time in an invoice forwarded with the box. Of the
labor thus incurred, we may form some idea from the fact,
that at the time of a partial report in April, when about one-
third was done, 16,098 separate articles had been received.3
These minute statements indicate the nature and value of
materials sent : Box No. 3 contained twenty-nine woolen
blankets, thirty-three bed-quilts, thirty-three cotton sheets,
thirty-eight pillows, thirty-eight pairs of pillow-cases. Box
3 Accompanying this report of five months' work is the tabular statement on p. 153.
ARTICLES YOU THE SICK AND WOUNDED.
153
No. 34 had thirty-five pairs sheets, fifty-seven pairs pillow
cases, thirty-one papers corn-starch, eight pounds crushed
sugar, seven wrappers, seven bowls of jelly, nine bottles
of wine, one bottle sherbet, one bottle brandy, one bottle
peppermint, one bottle catchup, nineteen towels, sixteen
pairs pillows, twenty-four pairs socks, six pairs cotton socks,
TABULAR VIEW OF ARTICLES FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS ; SENT
THROUGH THE AGENCY AT NEW HAVEN, FROM DIFFERENT TOWNS.
NAMES OF TOWNS.
M
~
^
-
1
£
<§J
JrH
c
<2
I
Sheets.
Pillows and Cushions.
z:
-2
co
Wrappers.
Drawers.
Stockings and
Mittens.
Bedgowns.
*4
i|
f|
•- -.
tq
_>,
HI
«*
E
1
»»
i
a
i
--
e
a
Lot of Magazines and
Number of Books.
i
M
I
a
-3
Miscellanies.
*
New Haven
236
18
19
3
6
5
12
22
5
I'*'*
5
13
6
10
3
12
15
45
3
12
18
17
6
7
~2
12
18
5
:;
ii
3
574
328
22
32
17
15
9
31
2
47
7
35
11
13
6
39
8
21
26
ii
41
22
25
26
ii
26
30
36
47
4
7
25
13
1024
223
19
42
2
32
15
6
37
5
58
32
23
15
40
1-3
63
90
11
1
70
27
47
16
33
13
11
11
20
52
23
55
10
2
23
7
1177
450
73
62
288
15
33
105
i
186
7
1!)
762
45
12
fi
L96
6
8
SH
115
18
in
206
io
I'll
5
1
1200
1
57
6
I2fl
2
2
386
13
10
68
5
$242.75
2.00
3.00
5.00
East Haven
West Haven
Fair Haven
16
8
13
27
1
101
42
27
27
49
2
16
16
59
41
65
24
21
53
19
53
14
'§
31
42
6
22
17
6
23
1388
110
1 1
2
22
3
15
6
10
115
12
22
8
4
39
10
6
160
16
Woodbridfe . . . •
Westville
8
8
6
6
1
::
3
6
12
23
44
26
20
2.35
14.20
2
2
12
'e
50
8
'2
'4
17
Wallinfford . . .
90
2
46
15
15
80
17
i
1
11
4
1
48
27
27
2
ii
43
61
5
41
45
21
4
8
68
41
34
1
18
2
4
89
19
6
36
t
14
19
5
io
2
io
Prospect
Southbury ....
Meriden . • •
Orange
Oxford ....
12
5
4
197
1:2
13
28
35
io
36
150
20
5
L86
6
13
125
5
1
Cheshire ....
Milford. . . . . .
North Branford ....
North Guilford
Nau^atuck . . .
20
5
3
1
12
12
29
io
io
14
16
6
12
2
78-2
7
1-2
2
2
'8
12
1
'9
10
11
6
*5
15
12
1
2
17
6
1
9
1-2
6
23
16
5
25
26
4
53
21
6
18
38
23
29
73
28
13
125
41
11
26
80
21
Q
3
8
's
1
1
9
8
10
18
51
16
L8
33
82
's
1
24
45
2
15
i
14
'4
3
8
'e
11
6
25
's
6
-6
i
8
4
17
12
12
420
30
1
14
'3
36
4
30
29
6
18
68
12
41
1
12
7
5
4
ii
21
4
4
12
16
17
19
14
11
63
30
101
43
8
14
34
38
31
8
2
33
23
2.50
12.00
1.75
102.00
Guilford . ...
Durham
Seymour
Wolcott
Bethany
Mt. Carmel
South Britain . . .
Rockville
Woodbury . . ...
Huntino'ton ....
Plymouth Hollow . . .
Farmin°rton
Northfield
Unionville
;52o
9
8
919
1
Jewett Citv
210
689
1890
:J4-1
2tili
2275
552
1312
$387.55
TOTAL NUMBER OF ARTICLES
13,098.
Since this table was made up, a large and valuable donation of articles has come from
Essex and North Woodbury ; and it is proper to add, that we are still sending an average
of six boxes each week.
20
154 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
six skeins of yarn, two rolls linen, six rolls cotton, five bags
of fruit, one pair of slippers, three cans sweetmeats, two
backgammon-boards, one checker-board, needles, thread, but
tons, books, cups, pans, soap, tallow, beeswax, &c. No. 232
was packed with forty-one jars of jelly ; 237, with seventeen
kegs of pickles; 239, with fifteen jars of currant-jelly ; 295,
with eighteen gallons of pickles and a box of jellies ; while
314 was a half-barrel of barberry-jam. These examples are
selected with a view to variety, not superiority ; and arc
little, if at all, above the average value.
These records show, too, how this vast quantity came, un
asked, by items, from the homes of soldiers' friends. The list
of contributors from out-of-the-way towns with sterile soil
and scanty wealth is particularly impressive. From hilly
Prospect, containing hardly sixty families, are donations from
fifty-five persons, nearly all ladies ; from Wolcott, not much
larger or richer, came offerings from sixty-seven inhabitants.
From these towns came pillows, pillow-cases, blankets, feath
ers, old linen, bandages, sheets, towels, handkerchiefs, dried
blackberries, raspberries, currants, and apples, jellies, pickles,
loose gowns, woolen blankets, books, papers, music-books,
quilts, stockings, cushions, grape-wine, currant-wine, flannel
sheets, corn-starch, thread, needles, buttons, cotton-cloth,
and yarn, with small amounts of cash ; the variety showing
that the houses had been searched from garret to cellar to
find all that could be spared, and the quality proving that
nothing was deemed too good for the soldier. And the sol
dier acquainted with the families in such towns reads with
moistening eye the familiar names, in these dull lists, of
patient wives, of well-remembered comrades killed in battle,
and other names of those, who, out of deep penury, have
given that which cost them great self-denial, perhaps actual
suffering. These records, kept then as a matter of business-
habit, will be hereafter garnered as an historic treasure.
The barracks occupied by the Thirteenth at New Haven,
during the winter of 1861-2, were poorly warmed and ven
tilated. Small-pox made its appearance ; but a knowledge
THE BRAVE THIRTEENTH. 155
of it was kept from soldiers and citizens. The infected
were quietly removed to a pest-house. It was rumored that
the patients absent and unaccounted for had deserted ; and
so generally was this believed, that the afflicted wife of one'
of the nurses left her home in Norwich, and returned to her
native Scotland ! Before the regiment left to join Butler's
expedition, ten or twelve had died of diseases engendered
within the unwholesome walls. But the barracks were not
always gloomy. They were in the city, and patriotic men
and women constantly brought the soldiers comforts and
luxuries. Quartets came and sang to them, and orators
lectured in their chapel. Prayer-meetings were numerously
attended. A temperance society was formed, and large num
bers signed the pledge. In "this connection, the soldiers
mention Rev. Mr. Dudley with gratitude.
Col. Birge was a strict if not severe disciplinarian, an
accurate drill-master, proud of his men, and possessed of a
quick military mind. He especially enjoined neatness, clean
liness, and martial bearing. Every belt, shoe, and box must
be neatly polished ; every gun-barrel and bayonet must shine
like a mirror ; every hand must wear a glove of spotless white ;
every form must be erect and manly. So much attention was
given to appearance, that it is related, that, while marching
through New Orleans, they were amused by the frequent
comment of spectators, " This regiment is composed only of
rich men's sons ! " And Parton, in his Butler in New
Orleans, styles the Thirteenth " a dandy regiment." Col.
H. B. Sprague, in his excellent history of the regiment,
says, "Many prophesied that our soldiers would prove
parlor-soldiers, fit only to
' Caper nimbly in a lady's chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute ;
and that those fine clothes would never tarry to be riddled
by bullets. A year or two afterwards, at the close of a hot
battle, Capt. Sprague reminded Col. Birge of these predic
tions. 'Well; he replied, 'I notice they didn't run away
like some of those dirty regiments ! ' ' Drill was very con
stant through" the winter. The men were mustered in by
156 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
squads, at irregular intervals, from Dec. 17 to the date of
departure, and the officers on Feb. 18. England was just be
ginning to take sides with the Confederates : so the muster-
ing-officer, 'in addition to the usual oath, bound the men to
serve " against England or any foreign power that may wage
war against us."
Orders soon came to leave for Ship Island in the Gulf;
and, on March 17, the life at the barracks ended. Mothers,
brothers, wives, sisters, and " another not a sister," hastily
assembled to give a farewell word of cheer and blessing; and
see their loved ones march away upon a proud mission.
There was a rush and a shout of eager citizens, a streaming
of bright, new banners, a roll of jubilant drums, a moment
ary vision of blue uniforms ; and the Granite State steamed
down the harbor, and was gone.
While in New York, the Sons of Connecticut paid the regi
ment many attentions ; and Col. Birge was presented with an
expensive pair of pistols by Robert H. McCurdy, the con
stant friend of our troops.
On March 18, the regiment was transferred, in New- York
Harbor, to the ship City of New York, which, after five
days' waiting, weighed anchor to join Farragut and Butler
at the mouth of the Mississippi. The voyage was meager of
notable incident. They had evening theatricals, participated
in by Sergeants Gardner of H, and Gardner of K, Corporal
Devereaux Jones, and Private Charles Raffile, — all expe
rienced actors ; and songs by Jeremiah Keefe, James McAl
lister, William B. Bragg, and Company A's accomplished
Glee Club. The ship encountered a storm off Hatteras ;
touched, with some peril, at Florida Keys ; sighted a rakish-
looking steamer, and showed fight, with Sergeant Merrill and
Private Thomas Harrison at the single cannon ; and, on
April 13, disembarked on Ship Island, which had just been
swept by a terrible storm.
Assistant Surgeon John B. Welch of the Twelfth, from
Winsted, died while the regiment remained at Ship Island,
after brief but faithful service.
A NAVAL CATTLE. 157
During the latter part of March, the Ninth was relieved
from the monotony of its discomfort by a raid upon the
enemy. A boat with a little girl in it being found adrift, and
brought to Ship Island, Gen. Butler sent it to the nearest
town, Biloxi, under a flag of truce, in charge of Major
Strong, his chief of staff While returning to the island.
Major Strong was fired upon from the shore, — an act of bar
barism which so incensed Gen. Butler, that he ordered the
Ninth to cross the sound, and burn the town if the outrage
was not promptly apologized for. The force went ashore in
a steam-transport, convoyed by the gunboat New London4
and another : and the landing was the signal for the flight
' O O o
of rebel soldiers and citizens in great terror. Skirmishers
were sent into the country, and brought back the fugitive
mayor, who made atonement by declaring that the treachery
of the morning was the act of straggling ruffians over whom
he had no control.
Col. Cahill took possession of the town. Next day it was
rumored that there were eighteen hundred rebels at Pass
Christian, twenty miles farther west, and that they were
about to move on Biloxi. Col. Cahill and Major Strong con
sidered the situation, concluded that the rebels would proba
bly leave half their force at Pass Christian, and resolved
immediately to sail down and attack the place, relying on
success to justify them before their commander for exceed
ing instructions.
They went quietly aboard at dark, and started rapidly
down the coast. The transport Lewis was a small, old,
rickety craft, with a wheezy engine ; but she carried two
smart three-inch Sawyer guns in the bow. Col. Cahill had
gone on board a gunboat to arrange the plan; when just at
daylight, off Mississippi City, three rebel gunboats attacked
them furiously. The two gunboats replied sharply. A
naval officer advised Col. Cahill to hurry to the transport,
and run her into shoal water, so that, when she sunk, the
men could get ashore. He started at once, and returned in
an open boat through the midst of the fire. A gunboat
4 The New London was formerly a propeller running between New London, Conn.,
and New York, now altered to a screw punbout with five guns. She was commanded by
Lieut. Abner Reed, and captured many blockade-runners.
158 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
was plying savagely, with shot and shell, the crowded
transport. Several shots took effect. One passed through
the wheelhouse ; one crashed through the cabin, turning
Father Mullen, the chaplain, suddenly out of his berth. The
greatest excitement and confusion prevailed.
As soon as the colonel was within hailing distance, he
shouted to his men to fire ; and the saucy little pieces in
stantly replied to the enemy's guns. The rebel was now
near, and broadside to. The officers of the Ninth super
intended the firing. One lucky shot shattered the rebel
pilot-house ; another cut the tiller-rope. The Lewis had all
steam on, and was backing towards shore. Soon the over
matched rebel gunboats made off, rapidly pursued by our
own.
The Ninth effected a landing at Pass Christian, and
passed quickly through the town. Two miles beyond, the
4th Mississippi was drawn up in line of battle. It kept
up a constant fusilade as the Ninth advanced ; but the lat
ter fired one volley, and charged with an Irish " Ya-a-a-a-ah ! "
when the defenders of the soil broke, and ran to the woods.
The victors scattered through the comfortable camp, and
made themselves at home. Capt. Lawrence O'Brien 5 found
in' the commander's tent a dispatch to Gen. Lovell at New
Orleans: "The Federals are landing in force. I shall
defend the place. Have eight hundred infantry, two com
panies cavalry, and two batteries." The ink was not dry
when he was retreating, demoralized, in the direction of the
force that had gone to recapture Biloxi.
The camp was well provided and amply furnished ; the
officers' quarters even possessing a piano. They abandoned
tents and equipage, arms and ammunition, food, and every
thing else ; and the Ninth loaded the transport with as much
as they could carry back to the island. Next morning, they
again embarked ; and, before leaving, a committee came
down, and expressed the thanks of the citizens for the good
conduct of the soldiers during the night. The regiment
5 Under the name of Osborne, Capt. O'Brien appeared, in 1867, as a Fenian officer in
Ireland. He was captured and confined in Clonmel jail, one of the strongest in the
island, but, to the astonishment of the English, escaped the first night. He was a brave
and efficient officer, and fertile in expedients.
THE NINTH AND TWELFTH REGIMENTS. 159
returned to the island in high spirits, bearing among their
trophies sundry wrought-iron bowie-knives (one of them
marked " Yankee exterminator") and a beautiful silk flag
(the colors of the 4th Mississippi), carried off in spite of the
tearful protestations of the fair rebels who made it.
It was not difficult to obtain the forgiveness of Gen. But
ler for acting without authority. He issued, before going to
New Orleans, the following order : —
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, April 12.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 10. — The major-general commanding desires
publicly to testify his appreciation of the gallant courage and good conduct
of the Ninth Connecticut Volunteers, Col. Cahill commanding, and a sec
tion of the 6th Massachusetts Battery, on a recent expedition to Biloxi
and Pass Christian.
Of their bravery in the field he felt assured ; but another quality, more
trying to the soldier, claims his admiration. After having been, for
months, subjected to the privations necessarily incident to camp-life upon
this island, these well-disciplined soldiers, although for many hours in full
possession of two rebel villages filled with what, to them, were most
desirable luxuries, abstained from the least unauthorized interference with
private property, and all molestation of peaceful citizens. This behavior
is worthy of all praise.
The general commanding commends the action of the men of this expe
dition to every soldier in this department. Let it be imitated by all in the
towns and cities we shall occupy, a living witness that the United-States
soldier fights only for the Union, the Constitution, and the inforcement of
the laws.
By command of Major-Gen. Butler.
GEORGE C. STRONG, Adjutant- General.
Farragut being ready to attack the forts on the Missis
sippi, Butler embarked his forces, and moved up to the
passes. There was difficulty in getting on board the trans
ports; and the Twelfth went to work at the -old sunken
hulk of a vessel, got it afloat, and used it as a lighter. Then,
taking the ship E. W. Farley, it started in advance of the
troops. The Ninth took the steam-transport Matanzas.
The vessels proceeded up the river near the gunboats, and
witnessed the first day's bombardment and the burning of
the wood-work of Fort Jackson. They were ordered down
the river, and lay at the head of the passes for two weeks,
where they ran a gantlet of rebel fire-ships and other
perils. One night, about midnight, the men of the Twelfth
were startled by a terrible crash ; and the ship careened so
1(30 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
as to throw the men out of their berths. When order was
restored, it was found that the vessel had been struck by a
sunken gunboat. After the forts surrendered, the Twelfth
was ordered to garrison Fort Jackson, with Col. Deming in
command : but the order was changed ; and the regiment
was the first to ascend the river, arriving off New Orleans on
the evening of April 30, a day before any other troops.
The 31st Massachusetts Regiment, with Gen. Butler and
staff, coming up next day, heartily cheered the Twelfth
Connecticut upon the Farley, that lay at anchor before the
city. The first night, they bivouacked on a wharf; there
after, in Lafayette Square. Col. Deming immediately went
to Washington with dispatches from Gen. Butler.
The Ninth were huddled upon a single transport, with a
company of pioneers and a battery, — in all, some eight
hundred men. There was accommodation for only two
hundred and sixty below decks. The men were so crowded,
that they could only sleep by reliefs, — a part at a time.
The Matanzas took in tow the ship Great Republic, drifting,
without a rudder, with three thousand men on board, and
towed her about for several days before going up the river.
On arriving at New Orleans, the Ninth was ordered to
Camp Parapet, an abandoned rebel camp on the left bank
of the river, twelve miles above the city, where it was
joined by the Twelfth and other regiments. The guns
had been spiked, and the gun-carriages burned, by the women
of the neighborhood. The Ninth soon proceeded to Baton
Rouge. The Twelfth remained at Camp Parapet, attracting
much notice for its high state of discipline. Lieut.-Col.
Colburn was in command of the regiment. He mounted
guns along the parapet, and thoroughly policed the old
rebel camp, cleansing and renewing it throughout. He
insisted upon company-drills every morning, and brigade-
drills every afternoon, with frequent exercise with the light
and heavy artillery.
The Thirteenth remained for three weeks on Ship Island,
making itself familiar with its simple topography and geolo
gy, drinking its sulphur-water, and going through battalion
movements upon its snowy expanse of sand. They heard
THE THIRTEENTH AT NEW OELEANS. 161
the cannonading and bombardment at Farragut's passage of
the forts, and learned of the tame surrender of the city. May
4, they re-embarked for New Orleans.
All the way up the river, the whites glowered savagely at
them, and the blacks capered with excess of joy, and shouted
;' Welcome ! glory to God ! " Arriving at the city, the sec
ond mate threw ashore the looped end of a cable. " Boy,"
said he to a youth of a dozen years, who wore a Confederate
artillery cap, — " boy, won't you just put that 'ere rope over
that post ? " — " No, I'll be damned if I will ! " was the instant
reply. The regiment got ashore, however, and went into
temporary quarters in a cotton-yard near by ; but, as CoL
Sprague says, " Gen. Butler's eye soon rested on it," and
he assigned it the post of honor at the Custom House, — the
army headquarters. It was undoubtedly a handsome regi
ment ; and it was much admired as it passed through the
streets, even when it sang " John Brown " in concert. It
was declared to be " the finest-looking regiment that ever
entered New Orleans." 6 Soon its ranks were filled with new
recruits, loyal men of Louisiana ; and a band of seventeen
professional musicians was organized. About the middle of
June, a gang of burglars was discovered, including a member
of Company F of the Thirteenth. They went about the
city robbing the people, under pretense of military authority.
They were caught, and four of them tried by Gen. Butler,
and hanged at the parish prison.
Col. Sprague says that " Butler, at first, tried hard to pacify
the people. For about three weeks, he used his influence,
and, in one instance at least, his authority, to cause fugitives
to be restored to their masters." In this purpose he was
constantly thwarted by the New-England soldiers gathered
about him. The Thirteenth early won the reputation of " an
abolition regiment ; " its officers and men persistently favor
ing; the efforts of the negroes to leave their masters.
O CJ
6 Col. Sprague's History.
21
CHAPTER XL
The Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh leave Annapolis. — Storm off Hatteras. — Suffering
and Depression. — Battle and Capture of Roanoke Island. — Death of Col. Charles
L. Russell. — Another Movement. — Battle of Newberne. — Death of Col. A. W.
Drake. — Incidents. — Siege of Fort Macon.
[HE Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh at Annapolis
waited patiently the great expedition under
Burnside, in which they were to take a part;
and the cold morning-air of Nov. 6, 1861, re
sounded with the last reveille at that venerable
capital. Three days' meat-rations had been cooked, and am
munition distributed ; and now tents were struck and rolled,
and the last article of private baggage compactly stowed
away.
Then the men stood in melting snow around their fires
again, and waited marching-orders. At evening, orders came
to embark ; and wearily and tediously the companies plodded
through slush and mire, huddling here and there in groups
waiting their turn. The Eighth was divided ; six companies
taking the bark J. P. Brookman, and four the steam-trans
port Chasseur. Eight companies of the Tenth embarked
on the steamer New Brunswick. The Eleventh was stowed
away in the propeller Sentinel and bark Voltigeur. Before
morning, most of the regiments were on board. Each vessel
was expected to carry from two hundred to a thousand men.
The following extract from a letter of Lieut-Col. Pardee
of the Tenth shows the accommodations of soldiers in
transports : —
" In the lower cabin were six hundred men. To accommodate all these
soldiers, bunks had been built of unplaned boards, and ran in tiers, both
against the sides and through the center, leaving narrow passages between.
162
A STORM OFF HATTERAS BAR. 163
Into one of these spaces, six feet long, thirteen inches wide, and eighteen
inches high, a soldier is expected to stow himself, his knapsack, gun, and
accouterments."
Companies B and I, of the Tenth, were crowded into the
filthy hold of a small schooner where coal had recently been
freighted, and had neither bunks nor straw.
The Eighth was no better off. There were no berths on
the Brookman. The men slept in their blankets, on deck
or in the hold, where the air was stifling with the odor of
bilge-water. The Eleventh were huddled together in the
same way. No adequate ventilation was possible, even with
a windsail rigged down the forward cabin. It was supposed
by the projectors of the expedition that the troops would
certainly be less than a week upon these transports ; and
that, for so short a time, they might be able to endure, with
out material injury, the discomforts of the close crowding.
Nov. 9, the signal rocket gave notice for the departure of
the fleet. Next day, most of the vessels rendezvoused at
Fortress Monroe. Here the soldier-passengers bought fifty
thousand postage-stamps, indicating that they expected to
have something to write about. .
Nov. 11 and 12 they put to sea, to assemble again off
Hatteras. The evening showed "a golden sunset, along,
peaceful twilight, a calm sea, from which the glories faded
only to give place to the mirrored stars. These bright smiles
of Nature were looked upon as harbingers of a speedy voy
age and brilliant triumph." But next morning, with little
premonition, a fearful storm broke upon the fleet, increasing
in violence from day to clay. Many of the frailer craft were
lost. For three weeks, the helpless fleet lay tossing in the
storm on either side of Hatteras Bar ; and the effect of the
detention on both the health and spirits of officers and men
was injurious in the extreme.
" The history of this expedition so far," wrote the same
officer, after a week or more of this inaction, "may be
stated in brief thus: 'Delay, misfortune.' We have been
drifted, tossed, bumped, blown, sea-sicked, and so on,
through all the varied exigencies of sea-service. We have
long waited for the moment that should take us towards the
164 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
foe : but the bar between the inlet and Pamlico Sound has
proved an insuperable object to most of the fleet; and so we
still wait." ] " Vessels are being lost every day," wrote Col.
Russell of the Tenth, a little later in his diary ; " and
things begin to look gloomy and unsatisfactory. Little prog
ress has been made that is visible, and all are getting' low-
spirited and dejected." A member of the Eleventh wrote to
the Palladium, Jan. 14, " The boys feel gloomy enough,
boxed up in this tub with the sick. The stench is almost
suffocating."
Many in every regiment were on the sick-list ; some died ;
and others became permanently invalids, contracting disease
which only ended with death. Capt. Pardee, writing of those
long weeks on the swash, said, " How can I describe them ?
Days of weariness and danger ; no news to cheer us ; disas
ters all around us ; the skies black and unpromising ; the
surf beating sullenly the solemn requiem of the lost ; sick
ness on all the vessels ; epidemics rapidly extending ; deaths
frequent ; no comforts for the sick ; scanty food for the well ;
water, tainted with kerosene, served out in limited quanti
ties ; our expedition a seeming failure ! Oh ! the darkness
of those days, and the gentle, uncomplaining faithfulness
of those men, none can describe. I heard no murmur or
regret. All looked for bright signs, and talked more hope
than they felt. The noted grumblers were for the time the
stanchest in their words of cheer." The days were passed
with charades, concerts by Jepson's glee-club, theatricals,
eucher-playing, reading, writing, songs, and frequent prayer-
meetings.
Daring the last days of January, 1862, the vessels all
passed over, seventy-two remaining afloat there out of the
one hundred and twenty that had left Fortress Monroe.
Bearing five hundred of the Eleventh, with Col. Kingsbury,
the Voltigeur was beached near Hatteras, and no tug
came to the rescue. They lay there twenty-three days in
great distress, and finally got ashore, and the vessel went to
pieces. Here the regiment lay, to its own great dissatisfac
tion, while its comrades pressed on up the sound.
1 Capt. B. S. Pardee's Letter.
THE EIGHTH AND TENTH AT ROANOKE ISLAND. 165
The fleet now cautiously approached Roanoke Island, held
by three thousand rebels under Gen. Wise. On the 7th our
gunboats attacked the rebel gunboats, and bombarded the
fort. In the night, a landing was effected ; Connecticut's
motto of faith and fortitude, " Qui Trans. Sust.," following
the flag of Massachusetts ashore. The point of debarkation
was a kind of marsh, described by Lieut. H. W. Camp as " soft,
slimy mud, several inches deep, with pools and ditches thickly
sprinkled in." Having struggled through this, the rebels
falling back before them, the men spent the remainder of
the night around camp-fires in the woods or the adjacent
cornfield, shivering with cold, drenched with rain, and with
out blankets ; those in the cornfield adroitly balancing them
selves on the rows, to keep out of the water which filled the
furrows.
Half an hour before sunrise next morning came the order
to "fall in;" and, shivering from their comfortless vigils of
the night, the men sprang with alacrity to their places. It
still rained ; but the men were full of spirit for the fight, and
heartily cheered Gens. Burnside and Foster as they rode
past.
The Eighth was posted on an old road leading towards
the right flank of the main battery, by which the enemy
might turn the left of our advancing forces. The position
was one of considerable responsibility, and Gen. Burnside
ordered them to hold it at all hazards ; but no attack was
made.
The Tenth took its place in the 1st Brigade as it moved
down the beach, and, by a wide detour, into the swampy
road that bisected the island and led to the rebel position.
Before going a mile, the enemy's skirmishers were met, and
pushed slowly back.
A letter of Capt. Pardee, written at the time, says, —
" A second mile was passed ; heavy guns boomed ; rifle-shots shrieked.
We heard cheering. By and by, the woods showed more light. We heard
balls among the leaves ; we saw men hurry by with medical stores towards
the front ; we met men exhausted by the roadside. An aide came to us
with the order, ' Advance the Tenth ! ' Col. Russell pressed his lips firmly
together, and said, ' We are going under fire, captain. Forward, solidly,
quickly ! ' Men came by with stretchers, carrying the brave Massachu-
166 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
setts boys, frightful with bleeding wounds. We saw the dead lying beneath
the trees on either side. Surgeons were busy at their vocation. We halted
on the edge of a great clearing, and deployed to the right by companies.
We sa^the smoke and flashes from the redoubt. At last, we were under
fire.
" We had been pursuing an embowered path through the woods : sud
denly it entered a broad clearing, where thick bushes (like the whortle
berry) and tangled vines netted the marshes. Evergreen trees, principally
pines, were on either side ; and three hundred yards iu front of us was the
famous redoubt of which we had been told weeks before in Hatteras Inlet.
When we debouched from the road into the cleared way, it brought us
right in front of the rebel guns, and in perfect range. They had three
pieces of artillery fronting and commanding this clearing ; and large num
bers of riflemen perched in trees, behind the turfed walls, and under all
possible covers."
The Tenth, being ordered forward to relieve the 25th
Massachusetts, advanced, and formed its first battle -line
with precision and coolness, under a terrible fire. The left
wins; was held in reserve. The riu;ht commenced firing; with
o o o
a will ; and it was immediately opposite this point that the
rebels met their heaviest loss. " The firing on both sides
was now terrific. The right wing stood up and fought
nobly. They suffered severely."2 " For an hour we fought
on, not a man shrinking from his post. Other regiments
were marched into the woods on our right and left ; but we
kept our position. Balls came thicker and faster. We were
ordered to lie down under the bushes, and stop firing. Down
the boys piled themselves, and sought cover of logs, stumps,
and whatever else furnished protection. Col. Russell for a
long time refused to lie down. A ball whizzed close to him.
Capt. G. M. Coit called out/ Colonel, that was meant for you :
lie down ; do lie down !' The colonel stood quietly watching
for the appearance of troops on the flank of the enemy.
Again CToit entreated him to lie down, and this time success
fully. We had been thus covered for a few minutes, when
a shot came lower than usual : it entered his shoulder, and
pierced him to the heart. It was to him an instantaneous
death. His body was carried to the rear, and we lay still ! " 3
" Bullets and grape-shot flew thick over the men as they lay.
There was a constant ' Hst, hst ! ' as the musket-bullets whis-
2 Lieut.-Col. Drake's Diary. 3 Capt. Pardee's Diary.
THE GALLANT TENTH. 167
tied past, cutting twigs from the bushes not two feet above
their heads, or striking the trees behind which they were
sheltered." 4
By direction of Gen. Foster, Lieut. I. 0. Close of Company I
was sent forward to reconnoiter, accompanied by Private
Alexander Henderson of Greenwich, whom Lieut. Camp
mentioned as " one of the bravest fellows and best shots in
the company." They went out to the front of the battery on
their dangerous errand, came back and reported ; and the
general ordered an advance by the regiments in front and
on both flanks. The movement was executed so rapidly and
resolutely, that the rebels left their battery, and fled ; while
our men stormed into it with a cheer, and planted their
colors on the works. There was little more fighting, though
the Confederates fired a few Parthian shots into Foster's
pursuing columns before the final halt and surrender.
The Tenth had borne itself nobly, and henceforth officers
and men knew that they could fight. The regiment was
ordered immediately forward to gain possession of the Pork-
point Battery ; but it was found to be abandoned.
Gen. Foster, in his general orders next day, after commend
ing the " coolness and steadiness " of all the troops under
fire, said, "The manner in which the Tenth Connecticut
formed in line of battle under fire of the enemy, particularly
deserves mention." " The gallant Connecticut Tenth," wrote
a member of the Eighth Connecticut,5 u was in the advance,
and evinced a determination and heroism worthy of their
cause and State." A correspondent of " The New- York
Commercial " wrote, " The Connecticut men maintained their
position with the fortitude of veteran troops." The Tenth
was supposed by the rebels to belong to the regular army,
on account of its superior steadiness ; and this impression
was strengthened by the exhibition of gray satinet over
coats, which, at that time, distinguished Connecticut regi
ments from those of other States.
Charles Lambert Russell was born in the year 1828, in the
parish of Northfield, town of Litchfield. At the age of ten,
he removed with his parents to Derby, and, at the proper
4 Lieut. H. W. Camp's Diary. . 5 Rev. Jacob Eaton.
168 CONNECTICUT DURING THE KEBELLION.
time, was apprenticed in a tack-factory, where he toiled faith
fully until the breaking-out of the war. He sought every
opportunity for moral and mental improvement ; was a
constant and active member of the village lyceum, and
placed himself in reach of intellectual influences. He was
first a private, and then captain of the Derby Blues, and
afterwards an efficient commander of the Wide-Awakes.
He was earnestly opposed to slavery, and early saw that it
was menacing the nation's life. At the first cannon-roar,
Russell promptly volunteered, and was selected by Col.
Terry as adjutant of the Second; and he was mentioned b}7
that officer for gallantry at the battle of Bull Run. The
writer of this found Russell in Derby during the summer of
'62, raising his company for the Eighth. His step was quick,
and his face flushed with the work before him. " Yes, I'm
going to see this thing through," he said with a serious man
ner. " We must defend the principles we have professed.
Every young Republican ought to go to the front." Russell
was moved by the same deep purpose that impelled Ellsworth :
indeed, he called his company " The Ellsworth Guard."
When promoted to the colonelcy for merit and military
genius, he devoted himself conscientiously to the welfare of
his men and the equipment of his regiment. The circum
stances of his death, and the fact that he was the first
regimental commander from Connecticut who fell, gave un
usual prominence to his personal career, and secured marked
honors to his memory. His remains were received at New
Haven with public honors. His funeral, at Derby, was
largely attended by public officials and military and civic
organizations. In general orders, his death was lamented by
his brigade and department commanders ; and Fort Defiance,
one of the captured redoubts, was rechristened Battery Rus
sell in his honor. The presentation of his sword to the
State, by his widow, called out a special message from the
governor to the legislature, which was the occasion of elo
quent eulogies in both Senate and House, subsequently pub
lished by the legislature in a pamphlet. At the time of
Col. Russell's death, his father, Samuel S. Russell, then sixty-
two years of age, was a musician in the Sixth. One of his
A SUNDAY AT ROANOKE ISLAND. 169
brothers was in the Tenth, and another had been a captain
in the Second. The following lines* were read at the re
union of the Tenth in 1867 : -
O brave and generous Russell ! well we know
Thou sought no vulgar fame or poor applause :
The sword leaped to thy hand to strike a blow
For equal justice and the good old cause. *
And now thy voice, as sweet as bugle-notes,
Drops clear and pleasant through the liquid skies,
Till thus we catch the message as it floats :
" The cost was nothing ; for behold the prize !
Behold free nations waking into birth !
Behold the hope of tyrants tottering down !
For, lo ! the cynosure of all the earth,
Our loved Republic, wears her laurel crown ;
And, from the clod where crimson rivers ran,
The unchained helot rises up a man ! "
Lieut. Henry M. Stillman was one of four brothers in the
Union army. He had been a teacher in the Sunday school
of the St. John-street Methodist Church, New Haven ; and
was a modest, quiet, conscientious man. " For months before
the battle, he had a strong presentiment of death, and de
clared that he should fall in his first battle. So decided was
this, that some of his brother-officers urged him not to go
forward^ but- he refused to shirk, and did not allow his pre
monitions to affect his cheerfulness or efficiency."
Company A, of the Tenth, was detailed to guard the cap
tured rebel officers — one hundred and forty in all — until
they were sent to be exchanged.
The next day after the battle was Sunday, which was oc
cupied by the soldiers, after religious services, in making
themselves comfortable. An inquiry of Gen. Burnside, as
he rode past them, as to their " prospects for fresh pork,"
was construed into a license to kill any of the hogs running
at large over the island ; and their indiscriminate slaughter
was at once commenced. Popping rifles and dying squeals
were heard on every side ; until it seemed as if Pork Point
covered all of Roanoke, instead of being one of its projec
tions.
Next day, many of the men re-embarked ; and for a month
the fleet of transports was quiet, occasionally making feints
towards Albemarle Sound, or coasting along the mainland.
22 * By W. A. C.
170 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
Week after week the Connecticut regiments, with the rest
of Burnside's force, waited impatiently upon the transports,
drifting lazily up and down Croatan Sound, along the shore
of Roanoke Island. All sorts of rumors prevailed, and the
weary days dragged. When the order came, March 11,
for an advance on Newberne, this entry pf Col. Drake of
the Tenth, in his diary, doubtless expressed the general feel
ing : " Started in the rain down the sound, away from
Roanoke Island, of which we shall ever retain, I have no
doubt, very disagreeable impressions. Good-by, dirty, muddy,
swampy, brackish, diseased, and deathful Roanoke ! " On
the 12th, the entire fleet stood down the sound, and that
night anchored in the Neuse River, off the mouth of Slo-
cum's Creek, some eighteen miles from Newberne. -
" This morning, early," wrote Col. Drake on the 13th,
" came the signal, ' Get ready to land ! ' then, almost immedi
ately, the second signal, ' Pull for the land ! ' . . . Our big iron
barge and the remaining boats were loaded the first of any
in the brigade or the fleet. A little tug came and took us
in tow ; and away we started for the shore, the shells of our
gunboats showering the woods along; the bank." Other regi-
O *-) O O
ments were similarly arranged in boats astern, like flocks
of ducks. "From the transport-fleet to shore, the boats
sailed in a long, graceful sweep, with flags flying, bands play
ing, and live thousand bayonets flashing in the sunshine that
now streamed over the flotilla. The picture was really beau
tiful ; while the solemn nature of the business before us
lent to the pageant an air of grandeur peculiar to itself." °
Casting off from the tugs when near the shore, " each little
boat and launch strove first to reach the land. Nearly every
boat of any size grounded within from five to twenty rods
of shore; and then what jumping into water, in some places
up to the waist! and all, enthusiastic, pressing for the
beach."7 Some of the boats of the Eighth landed on the
wrong side of the creek, and had to return.
The land below Newberne is a level, swampy tract, thickly
wooded, with occasional clearings, and small, bankrupt plan
tations. The road is simply a path cut through woods, with
6 New- York-Tribune Narrative. 7 Col. Drake's Diary.
HARDSHIPS ENDURED. 171
rarely a bridge, or a rod of corduroy. Along this road,
soaked with spring rains, splashed the regiments. The gun
boats moved up the river, abreast of the head of the column,
flinging shot and shell into the woods in front, driving back
in terror the rebel vedettes and pickets. These gunboats,
as dreadful to the rebels as Attila, " the scourge of God," was
to the Romans, were simply light-draught, stern-wheel tow-
boats, or common ferry-boats, with a heavy gun at the bows,
and sometimes another amidships.
All day long the weary men toiled on ; and at eight o'clock
at night, twelve miles from the point of landing, the regi
ments filed off into the woods, until the line was substantially
parallel to the rebel work in front, and stretched from the
river to the Beaufort Railroad. A picket-line was soon estab
lished, and the force was in bivouac for the night. The rain
fell steadily : but fires were quickly started, and the woods
were brilliant with the' glaring light, and weird with moving
forms; while the dense smoke, rising slowly into the thick
pines, formed a lurid and ever-shifting canopy.' Many weary
ones sank immediately to sleep on the wet ground ; others
cooked a little pork and coffee, and dried first one side, then
the other, at the fire, stirring at intervals the waning em
bers, and watching the soaring sparks ; still others, wrapped
in their blankets, leaned against the trees, and dozed away
the dismal night. The bivouac was within range of the rebel
works ; but all night the rebel pickets watched the illumi
nated woods, and were silent.
Next morning, our troops were early astir. " Men rose
from the ground, where, with faces turned towards the tree-
tops, they had lain all night, the big, pitiless drops pelting
them, the icy cold ground spread like a frozen sponge under
them, and they sleeping deeply, heavily, through the long
hours, till daylight roused them. 1 believed at least a
hundred men would grace the sick-list that morning; on the
contrary, not one, that I am aware of: and they uttered not
a murmur." 8
Gen. Burnside promptly ordered an advance of the entire
division. A massive battery, with casemates and heavy guns,
8 Col. Drake's Diary.
172 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
on the bank of the river, formed the left of the rebel works,
which stretched across the high land southward, in breast
works, for half a mile to the railroad, and thence in rifle-pits
'to a swamp deemed impenetrable. In front was an irregu
lar abatis. Behind the intrenchments were seven thousand
rebels.
" Gen. Foster's brigade was ordered up the main country
road to attack the enemy's left ; Gen. Reno up the railroad
to attack their right ; and Gen. Parke to follow Gen. Foster,
and attack the enemy in front, with instructions to support
either or both brigades." ' The Eleventh Connecticut formed
the rear of the column ; and the regiment was soon detailed
to bring up the boat, howitzers, and guns which had arrived
during the night.10 After this service, it acted temporarily
with Gen. Foster's brigade. " It had been quiet as the morn
ing of a rainy New-England sabbath ; and the only sounds
were the low moan of the woods, the dull tramp of the weary
troops, and the occasional plash, plash, plash, of a mounted
aide ; . . . when the roar of a great gun close at hand startled
us, and the crash of a huge limb which a rifled ball had lopped
off told us that a hidden enemy was near." n " We took an
oblique direction, and hadn't gone a hundred rods, when a
loud, swift whiz went through the air, sounding as if some
one had torn a thousand yards of canvas from one end to
the other at a single pull." 12
The Eighth Connecticut had deployed to the left, near the
railroad ; and Capts. Appelman's and Upham's companies
were thrown forward, under a heavy fire, to the edge of the
wood as skirmishers. The Tenth and Eleventh were farther
to the right. The Tenth had been ordered to the left of the
23d Massachusetts ; and the Eleventh, to the right of the
same regiment, deployed upon both sides of the road. The
line advanced, under a constant fire, up the slope, in plain
sight of the rebel batteries, with their flaunting flags, and
O O O /
approached to within three hundred yards before returning
the fire. Then a long line of unwavering musketry, broken
here and there by howitzers, flashed and roared in angry
9 Gen. Burnsidc's Report. 10 Vide Gen. Parke's Report.
11 Capt. Pardec's Letter.
12 Lieut. Camp's Letter in the Knightly Soldier.
BRAVERY OF THE EIGHTH AND ELEVENTH. 1J3
response. The line pressed up so close, and the fire was so
well sustained and deliberate, that the rebel gunners were
shot, or driven from their work at the field-pieces ; and the
rebel infantry only here and there showed a head above
the parapet. Burnside now pressed forward the troops both
on the right and left.
Col. Harland had moved 'the Eighth, by the flank, along the
railroad, and quietly through the bushes to the open ground;
and now, with a clear, shrill voice, and the emphasis of com
ing victory, rang the orders, "By company into line!" An
advancing front of forty men appeared before the astonished
rebels. " Fix bayonets ! " It was done at a rapid walk.
" Forward into line ! " Up the embankment, and across the
railroad, dashed the rear companies, coming into line within
a hundred paces of the works. " Steady, guide center, for
ward, double quick ! "
The Eleventh, which had been firing rapidly, some of the
men assisting to man the howitzers, also now advanced.
" The order to charge was given, when from the curtain of
the woods up sprang thousands of blue-coats, — a glittering
wave of steel flashing in front, — and rushed forward with
loud huzzas, an invincible line." 13
Only two other regiments mounted the ramparts as early
as the Eighth and Eleventh. " The 4th Rhode-Island crossed
first," says Gen. Foster in his report, " where the enemy's
fire had much slackened in consequence of a steady and
constant fire kept up by the 23d Massachusetts and Tenth
Connecticut." " The Eighth Connecticut, 5th Rhode-Island,
and Eleventh Connecticut, coming up to their support, the
rebels fled with precipitation, and left us in undisputed
possession." ]
The Eighth contests the claim of the 4th Rhode-Island
to having first entered the enemy's works ; and it is certain
that the flag of the Eighth was first displayed therein.
" We fired," wrote Col. Drake, " until they were dead
silenced, — not a gun in reply. In less than ten minutes
afterwards, we saw the American flag coming along the left
18 Lieut. J. H. Converse's Letter in Hartford Press.-
14 Kettell's History of the Rebellion, p. 339.
174 CONNECTICUT DUBING THE REBELLION.
into their battery. It went in, and was planted there.
Whipped, poor traitors ! " " We were still firing rapidly,"
wrote Lieut. Camp, " when cheering rose load in front ; and,
in a moment more, our flag appeared waving from the para
pet. They cheered on the right, and they cheered on the
left, and they cheered before us, and we cheered, and had
hardly finished cheering when the order came to resume our
march." Gen. Foster, in his report of the battle, said, "I
must mention in my brigade, where all behaved bravely, with
particular praise, the 24th Massachusetts and the Tenth
Connecticut. . . . The latter advanced close under the
enemy's fire in line of battle, fired with the most remark
able steadiness, and stood steadily up, giving and taking the
most severe fire."
Our forces are ordered forward at once in pursuit of the
routed army. The boys soon come upon the cosy barracks
where servants are preparing dinner for the rebels, expected
to return victorious. They pick up the hot corn-dodger,
snatch the half-broiled steak, seize hats, swords, guns, trophies
of every kind, and rejoin the column in the wild race for
Newberne. The rebels are demoralized by shells from the
pursuing gunboats. Many are captured. Their main body,
however, impelled by fright, won the race, crossed the Trent,
burned the bridges, set the city on fire, and continued their
flight to the interior. By this victory, we captured forty-six
heavy guns and eighteen field-pieces, a large number of small
arms, two steamboats, several sailing vessels, the rebels' entire
camp equipage, a large quantity of ammunition and general
stores, and a city of considerable military importance.
Finding close pursuit impossible, the troops stacked arms,
and rested ; killed, cooked, and ate some captured beef-cattle
on the south side of the Trent; and at five, P.M., the Tenth
Regiment was ferried across with the 1st Brigade, and occu
pied a just-deserted rebel camp beyond the city, where they
prepared to make themselves comfortable.
The Eighth and Eleventh, with other regiments, fell back
to the snug rebel barracks, and took possession in high glee.
"Here," says the correspondent of a New-York paper, " our
privates strutted about in the brass-mounted uniforms of rebel
DEATH OF COL. DKAKE. 175
officers." They were terribly punished for their audacity.
For a single afternoon they strutted in the official attire, for
a single night they slept in the warm barracks ; but that was
enough of both. They had moved in under a misappre
hension, only to find them already occupied in force by in
sectivorous "graybacks" left to maintain possession. And
these insidious tenants renewed the attack " alons; the whole
o
line," driving out the invaders in confusion. The members
of the Eleventh, in much perplexity, after scratching their
heads, and considering what it was best to do, established a
camp above the city, on a promontory that juts out into the
Trent, and thrust their white conical tents up into the green
pines and cypresses that cast their long shadows on the river.
The triumph was dimmed by the loss of brave men. The
Eighth had two killed and four wounded, among the latter
being Capt. Upharn.
The Tenth lost more heavily, having seven killed and six
teen wounded. One of the slain was Sergeant Joseph A.
Lombard of Greenwich, of whom Lieut. Camp said, " He was
a man of excellent Christian character, and a true soldier."
The Eleventh lost six killed and fourteen wounded. Among
the killed was Capt. Edwin R. Lee. He enlisted from Hart
ford, but was born in Plymouth, of Revolutionary stock. He
was a young man of a clear head and earnest convictions,
and made speeches for the election of Lincoln in 1860. He
recruited a company, and led it to the war, and was struck
in the abdomen by a shell as he was wheeling his company
into line, and was killed almost instantly. His only words
were, " Tell my brother I died at the post of duty. Good-by.
Go on for your country!" His remains were buried at home
with military honors.
In the early summer, the following order was issued by
Gov. Buckingham : —
General Headquarters, State of Connecticut.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, HARTFORD, June 6, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 35. — It becomes the sorrowful duty of the
commander-in-chief to make to the militia and the volunteers of the State now
in the field the official announcement of the death of Col. Albert W. Drake,
of the Tenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
On the breaking-out of the Rebellion, Col. Drake, impelled by a sense of
176 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
patriotic duty, abandoned a profession upon which he had just entered
under favorable auspices, left his home, and served with fidelity as a lieu
tenant during the three-months' campaign.
At the battle of Bull Run, he exhibited the firmness and coolness of a
veteran. -On his discharge, he engaged in organizing a company for three
years' service, was promoted to a field-officer, and went again to the scene
of conflict. Upon the death of Col. Russell on the battle-field of Roanoke
Island, he took command of the regiment, and for his bravery and soldier
like bearing on that occasion, as well as in the battle of Newberne, won the
respect and confidence of his superior officers, and the affection of his com
mand.
He died at his home in South Windsor, on the 5th inst., of an insidious
disease, the violence of which was undoubtedly increased by his exertions
in the field.
Col. Drake leaves behind him a bright record of unsullied honor and
unselfish patriotism ; and the State mourns the loss of a noble officer.
The commander-in-chief directs that these orders be read at the head of
every Connecticut regiment.
By order of the commander-in-chief.
JOSEPH D. WILLIAMS, Adjutant-General.
Albert Waldo Drake was born in that part of East Windsor
which is now South Windsor, in 1834. His father was a
prominent man, and had often represented the town, as a
Whig, in the General Assembly. No efforts were spared to
obtain a good education for young Albert. Early intended
for a literary life, he was sent to the best schools, where he
made rapid progress, especially in mathematics and the
languages. He duly presented himself at the door of Yale,
and passed an excellent examination for the freshman
class. Stimulated to new exertions, he studied constantly,
and in three weeks presented himself for entrance as a
sophomore. Being " conditioned " to three weeks' additional
study, he refused it, and entered Williams as a sophomore ;
returning the next year, and entering the junior class of
Yale. He graduated with honors, chose the profession
of law, and entered the office of Richard D. Hubbard, Esq.,
of Hartford.
Drake was a Democrat, and in 1858 was elected to the
legislature by his fellow-citizens of South Windsor, defeating
his father, who ran as a Republican. Upon the first call to
arms, Drake was the first man to volunteer. He drew up an
enlistment-paper, and carried it to the Press, where he and
Hawley started the first volunteer company that was raised
in the State. He had a natural taste for a military life ; and,
DEATH OF MAJOR MEADE AND DE. LATHEOP. 177
" Even when a child,
His heart leapt forth to hear them tell of struggles fierce and wild ; "
and he besought his father to obtain for him. a cadetship at
West Point, He was highly esteemed and beloved by his
soldiers ; they would follow him anywhere ; and he never
shrank from danger. It is believed that the seeds of con
sumption were sown during his college-life. The Courant,
in a discriminating sketch, said, " He had all the elements
of popularity to make himself acceptable to the people, — an
easy address, an intuitive sense of propriety, a genial tempera
ment and ready wit, a whole-souled generosity which made
him everywhere a favorite. He was an apt scholar ; had no
visionary schemes or ideas ; no circumstances could discon
cert or confuse him ; he possessed extraordinary practical
sense ; and his perceptive faculties were so quick, that he
seemed to comprehend every thing at a glance." His death
deprived the Tenth of a gallant and accomplished com
mander, and the State of a citizen before whom opened a
brilliant career.
Major Daniel M. Meade of Greenwich died on Oct. 26, of
fever. He had been assigned, a month before, to occupy and
hold, with two companies of the Tenth, a fort at Wash-
ino-ton, N.C. : and there death found him. He was a fine
O " '
specimen of the volunteer soldier. He was ever ready for
duty, and was one of the best-disciplined officers in the regi
ment. Lieut. B. L. Graves said of him, "He was dearly loved
by us all. His character was above reproach, and we shall
never forget the example and counsels that his daily life
held up to us all."
Dr. De Witt C. Lathrop, assistant surgeon of the Eighth,
died April 18, 1862. He was born in Bozrah, and had prac
ticed medicine ten years, — the last two in Norwich. He was
an officer of the First Congregational Church of that city, and
a man of great moral and professional worth. Dr. Page,
United-States sanitary inspector in North Carolina, wrote,
" His devotion to the sick and wounded was untiring day
and night. His humane sympathies were too strong for the
heavy responsibilities which fell upon him. His heart was
too much in his work, and led him to sacrifice to the preser-
23
178 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
vation of others the strength which was necessary to his
own." The men of the Eighth Regiment built a handsome
monument to his memory in Windham.
At this time, Rev. Henry Clay Trumbull joined the Tenth
as chaplain, most fortunately for the regiment. The New-
Haven Journal said, " He is not an austere religionist, but
a cheerful, social Christian, — a man to be loved and trusted."
So it proved.
As soon as the country about Newberne was firmly occu
pied, attention was turned to Fort Macon, that still flaunted
a rebel flag, and defended blockade-runners ; and, within two
days, Gen. Parke had faced his little brigade that way. On
March 19, the Eighth left camp, proceeded down the Neuse
on transports, landed again at Slocum's Creek, and marched
across the country towards the coast. The men made good
time to "Carolina City," thinking of theaters, restaurants,
and other city facilities ; and were somewhat chagrined, on
arriving, to find that the entire municipality was contained
in a dozen one-story houses and a few sheds.
The force consisted of the Eighth Connecticut and the
4th and 5th Rhode-Island. The trains were much delayed :
there was little food, and no tents or cooking utensils. The
weather became stormy, and the men dug holes in the
ground, and sheltered them with boards; and here for a
dreary week they lived, catching a few fish and oysters
when they could. Here Col. Harland was prostrated with
typhoid-fever. Two companies of the Eighth were sent over
to occupy Beaufort, and others to Morehead City. Opposite
was Fort Macon, on the extreme upper point of Bogue Banks,
a low, sandy island, or spit, half a mile wide, stretching twenty
miles south-west along the coast. Inside this island was
Bogue Sound, three miles wide, with shallow water, only
three or four feet deep.
The Eighth Connecticut Volunteers at once knocked to
gether some rafts, got some flat-boats, and floated over to the
Banks a detail of men; carrying across the island upon their
shoulders some boats they had seized at Beaufort, and
communicating with the fleet outside waiting to co-operate.
Here they were immediately joined by the 4th and a bat
talion of the 5th Rhode-Island.
CAPT. SHEFFIELD WOUNDED. 179
There was little shrubbery upon the Banks, except dwarf
juniper and a stunted growth of the yuba ; the leaves of
which, resembling the box, are" used for tea in North Caro
lina. The sand was so light and shifting, that it had formed
countless sand-hillocks, some of which were six feet high.
Between these, having almost perfect protection, the men
advanced, pushing the rebel pickets into the fort. This was
one of the strongest fortifications on the Southern coast,
mounting twenty thirty-two-pounders, thirty twenty-four-
pounders, six mortars, and thirty-two smaller pieces. The
heavy guns were in two tiers ; one in casemated bomb-
proofs, and the other en barbette. It was occupied by five
hundred troops.
The island sloped and narrowed towards the fort ; being,
in places, scarcely wide enough for a small regiment to march
in line of battle. April 12, Gen. Parke ordered the Eighth
to advance, and drive in the rebel pickets. Major Hiram
Appelman, now in command, marched his regiment by the
right flank up the beach, and, when within three miles of the
fort, filed across the island in line of battle. Company G,
Capt. James L. Russell, was thrown out as skirmishers ;
and the regiment waded forward knee-deep in the yielding
sand. The rebel skirmishers contested the advance, but were
driven steadily back ; and, while they retreated, they shouted,
with absurd inaptuess, " Come on, you d d Yankees !
we are enough for you ! " Company H, Capt. Sheffield, was
now deployed to skirmish ; and the captain was severely
wounded in the body. The exultant rebels continued to fall
back until they entered the fort ; the Eighth having passed
through a cedar-jungle, about a mile from the fort. The
enemy had the exact range, and opened a heavy cannon
ading ; our men concealing themselves, as well as they could,
behind the sand-hills. On the 14th, the fire slackened, and
the regiment was temporarily relieved by the 4th Rhode-
Island.
Now the work of the siege progressed in earnest. Heavy
guns and ammunition were floated over to the Banks on two-
masted scows, and pushed up the island in the night, slowly
into position. Bags were filled with sand, and raised for a
breastwork.
180 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The Eighth Connecticut Volunteers and 4th Rhode-Island
were alternately on duty; when off duty, occupying an
uncomfortable camp down the island. Rifle-pits were dug
at night within two thousand feet from the fort, and con
stantly occupied. In front of them, in storms, the sea surged
over the island. The sand was so movable, that the men
were sometimes half covered. In the rear of these, half a
mile from the fort, were three heavy batteries, built by the
volunteers, and manned by a company of regulars.
On the evening of the 21st, Gen Parke directed the estab
lishment of a rifle-pit at shorter range, so that the sharp
shooters would be able to silence the rebel guns. Major
Appelman proceeded in the darkness, with a company of vol
unteers under the immediate command of Lieut. Henry E.
Morgan of Stonington, much nearer the fort, and began to
dig near a naked brick chimney. The daring attempt was
discovered ; and, just as Sergeant Amos Clift was stationing
the pickets, a gun opened with canister, wounding Major
Appelman severely in the thigh, and Private J. H. Alexander
in the body. The enterprise was abandoned.
This severe service was very trying to the men. Of the
Eighth, sixty lay sick at once at Morehead City, and
nearly forty died of typhoid-fever. There were only two
captains present for duty, April 21 ; an'd Surgeon Melancthon
Storrs was the only well man of the field and staff officers :
and it was fortunate that he was an exception; for his skill
and tireless devotion to the regiment rendered him of in
calculable service.
The surrender of the fort was now demanded, and met a
defiant refusal. Our riflemen pushed up so close as to pick
off the rebel gunners. The most arduous service fell to the
Eighth Connecticut ; and it was the only regiment that lost
in killed or wounded. On the morning of the 25th, fire
was opened, on the fort from the shore batteries and the
three steamers moving in a circle. The latter drew off after
an hour's fighting; and the siege batteries increased in
energy, shaking the sandy beach, and knocking gun after
gun from the fort's parapet. The Eighth was alone in the
rifle-pits, between the thundering cannon, shooting the rebel
gunners and infantry whenever a head was visible.
SURRENDER OF FORT MAC ON. 181
At four, P.M., after a terrific bombardment of eleven hours,
the commandant of the fort asked a truce to arrange terms
of capitulation. Thirteen guns had been dismounted, and
the shot had torn up the glacis and ramparts very thor
oughly. Eight men had been killed, and twentj^ wounded.
Firing ceased ; and the Eighth, tired, hungry, worn out, be
grimed with powder, was now relieved by the 5th Rhode-
Island ; and to this fragment of a regiment the rebel flag
was given as a trophy next morning, when the formal sur
render was made, and the regiment took possession of the
fort. The Eighth considered itself again defrauded of its
just rights ; and the Tribune's narrative said, " But for the
accident that the 5th Rhode-Island had relieved the Eighth
Connecticut the previous evening, the captured flag would
have gone to grace the legislative halls at Hartford." Gen.
Parke justifies giving the preference to the Rhode-Island
regiment by the fact that the Eighth Connecticut Volun
teers had no field-officer present to receive the surrender.
CHAPTER XII.
The Connecticut Chaplains'-aid Commission. — Chapel Tents and Regimental Libraries
furnished. — Medical Examining Board. — Spring Election of 1862. — The War Spirit
predominant. — Governor's Message. — Legislative Action. — Special December Ses
sion. — Party Spirit rising. — Cornelius S. Bushnell builds the Monitor.
HE literary and religious privileges of some were
sadly missed by our reading and thinking vol
unteers in their early camps, and the people
of the State supplied their wants as best they
could. As soon as the Fourth was fairly in
the field, its energetic chaplain, Rev. Edward A. Walker, ex
pressed a desire to have a large tent under his own control
for meetings of every sort. Mr. Alfred Walker, his father,
immediately solicited contributions. Money came in from
day to day in sums of one to five dollars, with one or two
large donations.
The tent, strong, neat, and commodious, was purchased for
two hundred and twenty-five dollars, exhibited a day or two
on the New-Haven Green, and forwarded to the regiment.
Officers and men united to set up and prepare the canvas
meeting-house ; and the chaplain shortly after wrote, —
" The Temple of Nature, sufficient in summer, is too chilly in Decem
ber ; and of late it has been too leaky over head, and too wet under foot,
to be very inviting ; and the number of worshipers has been sadly out of
proportion to the accommodation. Now we have a church and divine ser
vice, and something more like a sabbath. We have our prayer-meetings
and Bible-class, our lectures, temperance-meetings, and musical society.
We have also a melodeon ; for, when the men heard that the tent was com
ing, they started at once a subscription, declaring that they would now
have service in style."
Almost every night, the tent was in use for social or reli
gious purposes.
182
THE CHAPLAINS'-AID COMMISSION. 183
»
About the first of January, 1862, the Rev. Dr. L. W. Ba
con undertook the task of organizing an association to sup
ply all Connecticut regiments with chapel-tents, circulating
libraries, and regular newspapers, and .to co-operate with the
chaplains in the mental and moral welfare of the men. In
response to his circulars, prominent citizens from all parts
of the State assembled, and formed the Chaplains'-aid Com
mission, with the following officers and members, represent
ing all denominations, and authorized to add to their num
bers : —
President, Gov. William A. Buckingham ; Vice-President,
Lieut.-Gov. Benjamin Douglass ; Corresponding Secretaries,
Rev. L. W. Bacon, Rev. A. R. Thompson ; Recording Secre
tary, Francis Wayland ; Treasurer, Stephen D. Pardee ; Mem
bers, Pres. Theodore D. Woolsey, Right Rev. John Wil
liams, Rev. Robert Turnbull, Rev. Leonard Bacon, Rev.
G. W. Woodruff, Rev. P. S. Evans, H. M. Welch, H. B. Har
rison, William H. Russell, William B. Johnson, Edward W.
Hatch, Richard D. Hubbard, Henry T. Blake, F. J. Kingsbury.
Mr. Bacon was soon called away ; and the burden of labor
fell upon Mr. Wayland, who cheerfully and heartily entered
into the philanthropic work. His office became the head
quarters of the Commission.
Finding the duties more than he could alone perform, Mr.
Wayland secured the aid of John M. Morris, who also gladly
labored without compensation.
Mr. Morris presented the subject to the people of Water-
bury, Stonington, Hartford, Norwich, Meriden, Bridgeport,
New Britain, and Greenwich. Chaplain H. L. Hall, of the
Tenth Connecticut Volunteers, also spoke for the Commis
sion at Meriden, Norwich, Stonington, and Greenwich ; and
Chaplain J. J. Woolley of the Eighth (who had just resigned),
in Meriden, Waterbury, Farmington, Danbury, Norwalk,
South Norwalk, Madison, and New Milford. The people re
sponded with liberality, — with funds sufficient for the need.
They also sent in hundreds of excellent books, thousands of
magazines, and of illustrated papers uncounted numbers.
Chapel-tents were now purchased for the Fifth, Sixth, Sev
enth, Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Regi-
184 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION".
ments. Each of the ten regiments then in the field was fur
nished with a library of from seventy-five to a hundred and
twenty-five bound volumes. For these libraries, Mr. Way-
land devised a strong portable case, with shelves, lock, and
handles, so that the library was packed by simply locking it,
and prepared for use by setting it up and unlocking it. Mr.
Samuel Nichols, carpenter, made these cases for the cost of
the materials. With each library was sent a written cata
logue, with numbers, and in each book the proper regimen
tal label.
By July, twelve hundred and eighty-four bound volumes
had been forwarded, and fifty-four hundred and forty-eight
magazines, with a very large number of illustrated and reli
gious papers. The books sent were not worn out or cast off,
but of high character and great variety. In order to be
sure of the newest and freshest, Mr. Wayland purchased two
hundred and fifty volumes of the best recent publications.
The tents and libraries were received with grateful delight
by the officers and men. Every chaplain testified to their
value. Chaplain Hall of the Tenth wrote, —
" It is the most convenient thing imaginable. I have constructed a
long writing-desk, on which I place all the papers which you so kindly
furnish me : at the end of the desk is my library of books. You will al
ways find from ten to fifty men in the tent, reading and •vyriting. The
library is just the thing needed. The books are well assorted, and enter
taining."
Of the books and pamphlets sent to the Eighth Con
necticut Volunteers, Chaplain Morris wrote, " The nicely-
selected stock was gone in two hours after I had opened
the box. Since that time, the delivery and return of books
has occupied several hours a day. Dickens has a great run.
The tales by Miss Edgeworth and T. S. Arthur are very popu
lar. The Army and Navy Melodies are hailed with delight,
and 'the boys' are singing right merrily almost every night.
Day before yesterday, I received a box of pamphlets from
the Commission. There were half a dozen men ready to
open the box. and twenty more at hand to superintend the
process and share the contents. The demand for reading is
four times the supply." Mr. Morris having become chaplain
AN EXAMINING BOARD.
of the Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, Mr. H. 0. Ladd, after
wards of the Congregational church in Cromwell, rendered
efficient assistance to Mr. Wayland.
•After the first set of libraries had been forwarded, circu
lars were sent to chaplains, inquiring what else they needed,
and how the Commission could aid them.
The Ninth Regiment was supplied with Catholic books
and papers. A large number of local and religious journals
were subscribed for, and regularly sent to each regiment.
Hundreds of singing-books were provided.
No more chapel-tents were furnished, however. It was
found that they could not be transported on long marches,
and were liable to seizure in emergency for hospital-pur
poses. In this way, nearly every one disappeared within a
year. Those of the Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh, were of
substantial service in sheltering the wounded upon the san
guinary field of Antietam ; but they were seen by the wistful
chaplains no more.
Books, magazines, and papers were repeatedly forwarded
by Mr. Wayland throughout the war. By July, 1862, the
tract societies were able to distribute all the religious read
ing that was needed, and local soldiers'-aid societies sent on
magazines and papers with other supplies : so the Chaplains'-
uid Commission was not kept up as an organization. But
Chaplain Hall doubtless said truly, "Connecticut leads every
other State, even the old Bay State, in the aid she is furnish
ing her chaplains."
Early in the war, Gov. Buckingham, in order to secure effi
cient medical officers, appointed Drs. G.W. Russell of Hartford,
P. A. Jewett of New Haven, and Ashbel Woodward of Frank
lin, an examining board. These gentlemen, at great personal
inconvenience and sacrifice, met throughout the war, and con
sidered with thoroughness the qualifications of candidates for
those responsible posts. The traditions and rules of the army
forbade the board to pass any applicants, except practitioners
of the old school ; but this duty was performed with faithful
discrimination, and it is safe to say that no man was commis
sioned as surgeon in any Connecticut regiment who was
incompetent for the position.
24
186 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
A board for the examination of line-officers was also insti
tuted, and was productive of considerable good.
The State election of April, 1862, was very quiet. Party
excitement had subsided ; the " peace " feeling and the
" white-flag " demonstrations of the previous autumn had
disappeared ; and the general sentiment of the people, irre
spective of party, was, that the war must now be pushed
with decision. The Democrats insisted that nothing could
in any case be done that was not " strictly constitutional ; "
while Republicans avoided that question, or maintained that
war was never waged " according to law," and that all stat
utes and constitutions must be held subordinate to the salva
tion of the nation's . life. In their platform, however, the
Republicans pledged themselves to " prosecute the war in
absolute good faith, for the sole purpose of saving the
Union." The Eaton-Seymour branch of the Democratic
party was under a cloud, and there seemed to be general
concurrence in the work of the hour.
The Democrats affirmed a willingness to permit the Re
publicans, with their wise and noble governor, to retain the
responsibility for all acts relating to the war : so that the
election went almost by default. Little effort was made,
and only 70,416 votes were polled. Gov. Buckingham was
re-elected by a majority of 9,148.
The Senate elected was unanimously Republican ; and, in
the lower House, that party had a hundred and thirty
majority. More than thirteen thousand men had been
mustered into the service, and recruiting had ceased.
The Assembly met at New Haven on Wednesday, May 7.
The Senate organized by the election of Hiram Goodwin as
president pro tern., and Cyrus Northrop as clerk. The House
chose Josiah M. Carter of Norwalk as speaker ; and Cooke
Lounsbury and H. Lynde Harrison, clerks.
The message of the governor was received with favor by
both parties. It appeared that the total estimated indebted
ness of the State for the year was $3,163,384. Of this
amount, all but half a million was due for military ex
penses.
MESSAGE OF GOV. BUCKINGHAM. 187
Federal affairs were discussed by the governor in a digni
fied, humane, and patriotic manner. In boldly stating his
views on a subject concerning which many were still pain
fully sensitive, he says, " Slavery has forced us to a civil
war, but insists that we have no right to use the war-power
against her interests. Slavery has repudiated her obliga
tions to the Constitution, and yet claims protection by virtue
of its provisions. Let us not be deceived by such fallacy.
. . . Slavery, by denying her obligations to the Constitution,
has opened the door for the operation of the principles of
righteousness and justice which dictated that instrument;
and if, in pressing those principles to their legitimate results,
Slavery shall be undermined and perish, let us rejoice that
the suicide is of no importance to enlarged and universal
liberty."
This was almost the first declaration in the State, by one
of her public men, in favor of re-establishing the Union
upon the foundations of liberty, justice, and equality before
the law.
With a view of testing the sentiments of the Union Re
publicans on this irritating subject, perhaps with the hope
of producing discord in their ranks, Charles Chapman of
Hartford, early in the session, introduced a resolution
indorsing the proclamation of President Lincoln which
annulled the order of Gen. Hunter declaring the slaves of
Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, to be free.
It was simply referred, without debate, by a yea-and-nay
vote of one hundred and forty-nine to sixty-eight, to the
Committee on Federal Relations. Messrs. Chapman of Hart
ford, and A. P. Hyde of Tolland, were the Democratic lead
ers ; but they took no other occasion to show party-feeling,
and displayed no opposition to the war. The session was
devoted chiefly to local matters. No new legislation con
cerning the war was deemed necessary.
The militia law of 1861 was repealed, and a new law en
acted in its stead. James T. Pratt of Rocky Hill, a recent
convert to the war-party, had been temporarily appointed
major-general of- the State militia; but his administration
was a failure. His command consisted only of himself; and
188 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
his ideas on the subject of the militia were deemed imprac
ticable and antiquated. He was promptly removed, and
Prof. William H. Russell of the New-Haven Military School
was appointed his successor.
The new law provided all the necessary machinery for a
good militia ; but it had not enough vigor to become effective,
as it depended on the voluntary action of the young men,
and held out no inducement for them to organize under it.
The Assembly would probably have adjourned by the 1st
of July, had not tidings of the disasters to Gen. McClellan
held them together for such action as the worst contingency
might demand. New bounties were authorized ; and the pay
and bounties of volunteers were exempted from attachment
for debt.
Three reports came from the Committee on Federal Rela
tions at the close of the session ; but, without debate, they
were all indefinitely postponed ; and the following resolution
was passed unanimously on the last day by both branches of
the legislature : —
Resolved, That the State of Connecticut will stand by the old flag, and
will furnish all the men and money that are required of her to put down
this infamous Rebellion.
This emphatic action, in the face of almost stunning
defeat, tersely expressed the thought and temper of the
people. The legislature of 1862 contained a large number
of men of ability : among them were Messrs. 0. H. Platt,
H. K. W. Welch, A. H. Byington, John B. Wright, and
Charles Atwater, jr., of the Senate ; and Erastus Scranton,
John T. Rice, Amos A. Treat, John T. Adams, David Gallup,
Cornelius S. Buslmell, Alfred Coit, Abner L. Train, Abijah
Catlin, B. Bent, jr., Dr. H. A. Grant, John E. Law, David
J. Peck, and Erastus Day, of the House.
On the 12th Of November, 1862, Gov. Buckingham issued
his proclamation, convening the General Assembly in
special session at New Haven for the sundry purposes
specified. •
In accordance with this call, the two branches met in
their respective halls at New Haven on the 9th of Decem
ber. The message was largely devoted to the action of the
THE MONITOR AND THE MEKEIMACK. 189
State in military matters since the adjournment of the May
session. The attention of the legislature was again called
to the unorganized condition of the State militia, and also
to the justice of adopting some practical method of allow
ing the soldiers in the field to vote.
Laws were passed authorizing towns to fund their war
indebtedness in bonds, confirming the action of towns in
granting bounties to volunteers after enlistment, and
authorizing the State treasurer to issue and sell bonds of
the State to the amount of two million of dollars. Some
legislation was also had on the subject of banks.
That portion of the militia law relating to the enrollment
of the inactive rnilitia and drafting for active service was
amended, and rendered much more efficient. There was no
more drafting for the militia.
The judiciary committee reported a bill, drawn with great
care, enabling electors of the State, in the military service
of the United States, to cast their votes in the field at all
State and Presidential elections.
The bill was violently opposed in the House by the Demo
cratic members ; but it was finally passed by a strict party-
vote. The Republicans then submitted the whole matter to
the Supreme Court, which decided that the clause in the
State Constitution requiring the voters to " meet in the
several towns " rendered the law unconstitutional. The
legislation of 1863 and 1864 healed this defect in the
organic law ; so that, before the close of the war, the citizen-
soldiers of the State were enabled to vote.
Amos A. Treat of Bridgeport introduced a resolution
pledging the support of the State to the president in all
measures he might adopt for the suppression of the Rebel
lion. It passed by a strict party-vote.
Already the national arms had met with defeat upon
many hard-fought fields ; and the opponents of the war,
silent during the cheers and songs of victory, were again
making their remonstrances heard.
On March 9, 1862, occurred the famous naval combat
between the Monitor and Merrimack in Hampton Roads,
190 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
revolutionizing in an hour the navies of the world. Connec
ticut had an important part in the construction of the
Monitor.
During the winter of 1861-2, Mr. C. S. Bushnell, an enter
prising and public-spirited citizen of New Haven, contracted
with the Navy Department for the construction of the
Galena (the first iron-clad ordered by the United-States
Government) ; and he called upon Capt. John Ericsson of
New York to assure himself of the stability and buoyancy
of the vessel under the stipulated weight of iron armor.
Capt. Ericsson exhibited to him the plan of the original
Monitor. Mr. Bushnell was satisfied at once that Ericsson's
twenty-five years of thoughtful experiment had resulted in
the perfection of a plan for an impregnable war-ship. Lack
of funds had prevented the construction of the vessel ; and
Bushnell instantly expressed a willingness to risk his entire
fortune in the undertaking. A contract was signed, and the
inventor gave him a carte blanche for the construction.
In just one hundred days, the strange vessel was launched
from the yard of Thomas F. Rowland, at Greenpoint, L.I.
So incredulous were the Navy Board as to the value of the
novel craft, that they refused to accept her until the builders
had signed a guaranty that she should " prove a success."
Her arrival at Fortress Monroe was greeted with repeated
cheers from fort, ships, and shore ; for several of our best
wrooden frigates had the day before been burned, sunk, and
blown up, and the rest scattered. As the Monitor imme
diately ran down to engage the Merrimack, the rebels on
board the uncouth monster derided the insignificant " cheese-
box on a raft ; " but it was Goliath and David in deadly
grapple again, and the giant was defeated. The Merrimack
was soon after destroyed ; and from that day the Confed
erates abandoned their pretense of a navy. The next mail
carried to European nations news of a wonderful combat,
involving their own destinies ; and the admirals of many
victories wrere startled to think how helpless would be their
stoutest sloops of war before the iron beak.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Sixth embarks for Florida. — Return to Hilton Head. — The Seventh goes to Tibee
Island to besiege Fort Pulaski. — Labor of getting the Heavy Mortars in Position. —
A Case of Insanity. — Sixth goes to Dawfuskie Island to cut off the Approaches from
Savannah. — Seventh mans the Mortar Batteries. — A Connecticut Affair. — The Bat
tle. — Surrender of the Fort. — The Sixth and Seventh and the First Connecticut
Battery at James Island. — Assault on Lamar's Battery. — Severe Fighting. — Re
pulse and Withdrawal. — Bad Management by Gen. Benham. — Casualties.
HE Sixth and Seventh Regiments remained on
the island, at Hilton Head, during the early
months of the winter of 1861-2, perfecting
themselves in drill, and awaiting orders. About
Jan. 20, the Sixth was called to take part in a
secret expedition by Gen. Wright's brigade, and embarked
with that intent. A storm kept the vessels in the harbor a
week ; when they dropped down to Warsaw Sound, with the
idea of avoiding Fort Pulaski, and capturing Savannah by
way of an inlet. A long experiment *was made by the gun
boats, while the transports lay in Warsaw Sound till Feb. 27.
The soldiers of the Sixth were fed for sixteen days on
salt food only ; and " their drinking-water was from camphene
casks, where it had been put some three months before. It
was so foul, that the strongest tea could not conceal the
nauseating flavor and smell, and, when poured into the sea-
water, discolored it." J Severe sickness, in the form of spotted
fever, broke out among the men in consequence, and became
so aggravated, that there was an average of four or five
deaths a day on board. The vessel was ordered back to
Hilton Head, while the rest proceeded to take possession of
the coast of Florida. The Sixth rapidly recovered health ;
1 Letter of an officer.
191
192 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and Col. Hawley said in a letter, " Its appearance is a matter
of just pride."
On Dec. 16, the Seventh was removed from Fort Welles,
Hilton Head, to the heavy earthwork built just below,
expecting to remain there ; but, two days later, the men
were summoned from their quarters to embark on the Ma
rion for Tybee Island, below Savannah, to participate in the
siege of Pulaski, under Gen. Gilmore and Gen. H. W. Ben-
ham. On Tybee, the regiment made itself another camp,
and then went vigorously at work intrenching the batteries
along the side of the island, approaching obliquely nearest
to the fort. The work of posting the batteries was mostly
done in the night ; the men of the Seventh and two com
panies of the 3d Rhode-Island making " burrows " and
splinter-proofs near the guns for the protection of the gun
ners. The 46th New-York shared these labors as far as
their scanty numbers and imperfect discipline enabled
them. Not only must all the ordinary camp, fatigue, and
picket duty be done, but ordnance of the heaviest descrip
tion then known, and ordnance-stores, must be unloaded into
boats, and landed (without a wharf), then dragged by hand
(with no draught beasts) for from one to two and a half miles,
part of the way through sand, and part over a marsh whose
muddy depths were first coated with a layer of earth. Lieut.
Horace Porter of the United-States Ordnance Corps, ord
nance-officer of the post, after alluding in his official report
to the enormous labor involved in moving the thirteen-inch
mortars (twelve in number) weighing seventeen thousand
pounds, and the other ordnance and ordnance-stores, adds,
"I can pay no greater tribute to the patriotism of the
Seventh Connecticut Volunteers, the troops generally fur
nished me for this duty, than to say, that when the sling
carts frequently sank to their hubs in the marshes, and had to
be extricated by unloading the mortar and then reloading it,
they toiled night after night, often in a drenching rain, under
the guns of the fort, speaking only in whispers, and directed
entirely by the sound of a whistle, without uttering a mur
mur. When drilling the same men in the mortar-batteries,
they exhibited an intelligence equaled only by their former
physical endurance."
A POOK INVALID. 193
A letter of that time says, " Pulaski shoots at us occa
sionally : and the boys rather like it ; for nobody gets hurt,
and relics accumulate ; earthworks slowly rise ; a gun gets
mounted frequently ; fleas bite continually ; once in a while,
a mail comes in ; somebody shoots an otter or an eagle ;
teams and mule-carts work eighteen hours a day, drawing
great loads of shot and shell two miles ; and the beach is
strewn with all the implements of war."
Major G. F. Gardiner and three companies (B, E, and I)
of the Seventh were for a short time over on Dawfuskie
Island, north of the fort, doing effective service. With the
48th New-York, they had cut ten thousand long poles for
a causeway across the marsh on Jones Island to wheel a
battery up to command the river. They carried these on
their shoulders a mile ; others being engaged in carrying
sand in bags four miles in rowboats to make a base for Bat
tery Venus.
During this arduous work of preparation passed January,
February, March ; and the warmth of a Southern spring came
with April. The health of the Seventh had not been seri
ously impaired. There was one invalid whose case was
peculiarly touching, set forth by Col. Hawley in a private
letter : —
"PoorD ! Do you know the D s, who live near you? Well, their
son, who belongs to Company D, got news that his wife, two children, and
sister had all died of diphtheria. How he cried, poor fellow ! We com
forted him all we could. I spoke pleasantly to him when we met, and
hoped he was getting along well. We heard the other day that his mother
was sick too. Somebody came to the supper-table last night, and called
for the doctor to see a crazy man ; and, soon after, the man said that D
wanted to see me. I went to his tent. Half a dozen of his comrades were
there. One dim candle, stuck in a bottle, showed me the rifles stacked
around the center pole, the cartridge-boxes, bayonets, and knapsacks. The
ground was covered with the splendid long moss they had pulled from the
live-oaks. D sat squat on the ground, his face and hands very dirty,
his fingers constantly picking something, his body moving, his- head turning
wildly from one side to the other, his eyes dreadfully swelled with weep
ing. ' Halloo, D ! how are you ? ' And he peered up toward my face.
' Col. Hawley,' said somebody. ' Yes,' said he, ' that's Col. Hawley ; '
and he took my hand with a tight grip. ' Col. Hawley, look at my baby, —
my poor, sick baby ! ' He had a little pile of white moss, and in it his
cartridge-box, carefully covered, all but one edge of it, with his blanket.
25
194 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
That was his baby. And he turned the blanket down as tenderly as if the
cartridge-box were a delicate little baby. He spoke brokenly, and at inter
vals, with a quick but mournful voice, — ' Poor baby ! babies both sick ;
sister sick (and he pointed to where he supposed they lay). Poor baby !
very sick. Give baby some water.' And he leaned on one elbow, and
affectionately held a leaf up to the cartridge-box as if baby would drink.
He seemed to consider himself in his own home ; but then he would say,
'Won't let me go home, — no, no, no (waiting a few seconds), — no,
won't let me go home ; ' his hands constantly fidgeting. Then he considered
them all dead, and he by their graves. ' Sister,' — and he laid his hand on
one side, and then marked each grave, — ' baby, wife, mother ! ' I kept
his hand ten minutes, and sat down by him, and put my hand on his shoul
der, and tried to compel him to listen. I told him his babies were happy,
and his mother was not dead ; (is she ?) and that if he would be a good boy,
and sleep, he should go home. ' I've built six forts, and mounted six can
nons ; and I'm going to take down that one to-morrow, — Pulaski over there.
Well, poor baby ! ' and he put trees over the graves. Tears came into all our
eyes sometimes, I think. He sent for me again to-day ; but he cannot con
fine his attention to any thing. ' Poor baby ' is the burden of his talk, and
still he tends his cartridge-box."
On March 20, the Sixth Connecticut was transferred from
Hilton Head to Dawfuskie Island to take part in the reduc
tion of Pulaski. The men assisted the 48th New-York to build
the batteries on Mud, Jones, and Bird Islands, commanding
the river, Wall's Cut, and other approaches, and complet
ing the investment. The material for these was all brought
from the mainland. The Sixth was also engaged in making
reconnoissances towards Savannah, up New River, and
watching the enemy in that direction.
The batteries on Tybee were now all placed and in
trenched (the mortars out of sight of the fort), and every
thing was ready. To the Seventh Connecticut was assigned
the delicate and important duty of serving the mortars. The
officers and men had been drilled only fitfully in the intervals
of other severe labor ; yet they went to the novel work with
that quick ingenuity which is a Yankee instinct. Five of
the batteries, containing fifteen heavy mortars, were manned
by the Seventh.
Battery Totten on Goat's Point (nearest to the fort) was
commanded by Capts. D. C. Rodman and S. H. Gray, with
their companies ; Battery Halleck, by Capts. 0. S. Sanford
and E. S. Hitchcock; Battery Sherman, by Capts. D. G. Fran-
FORT PULASKI. 195
cis and J. B. Dennis ; Battery Lincoln, by Capts. C. S. Pal
mer and Jerome Tourtelotte ; Battery Stanton, by Capts. B.
F. Skinner and Theodore Bacon.
Surgeon Francis Bacon and Capt. Rodman, and a lieuten
ant in the regular army, accompanied by a boat's crew, went
over to the fort, under flag of truce, on April 10, and de
manded a surrender. The officer in command replied that
he was placed there, not to surrender the fort, but to defend
it. The visitors called his attention to the fact that he was
" defending stolen property," and returned.
Pulaski was a huge five-sided fortress, as strong as Fort
Pickens. Its walls, seven feet thick, mounted one tier of
guns in embrasures, and one en barbette. Twenty guns bore
upon the Tybee batteries, including ten 10-inch columbiads.
It was built by a Connecticut man.
In fact, the whole affair now began to assume a Connecti
cut character. The general commanding the district, and
present on Tybee (H. W. Benham), was from Connecticut ; a
majority of the investing forces were from Connecticut ; Col.
Perry, of the 48th New- York, was from Ridgefield, Conn. ;
and one of the officers of the 3d Rhode-Island was Capt.
Thomas R. Briggs, of Danielsonville, Conn. The gunboat
Norwich, from Connecticut, completed the blockading west
of the fort. The fort itself was constructed twenty years
before by Lieut, (afterwards Major-Gen.) Mansfield of Con
necticut, assisted by Lieut. Benham, assistant engineer, from
Connecticut. Moreover, it was now commanded by Col.
Charles H. Olmstead, a rebel, to whom Ridgefield, Conn.,
gave birth.
Surrender being refused, the fight began on April 10, about
.eight o'clock, at a signal-gun from Battery Halleck. Simul
taneously, all the guns and mortars blazed and roared with
an explosion that shook the island in its marshy anchor
age. The response was sturdy and determined. From that
hour onward, the artillery fire continued; the rebels hurling
British projectiles at the island, while rifled shot and plun
ging shell rained in fury upon the garrison. Great clouds
of smoke eclipsed the noonday sun ; and the windows rattled
at Port Royal and Savannah, twenty miles away. The dis-
196 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
tance between the combatants was at least a mile ; yet it
soon became evident that the fire from Tybee was telling.
As the solid shot struck, great piles of the solid masonry
gave way, and clouds of brick-dust filled the air. The Sev
enth worked the mortars steadily and manfully. " Sergeant
Lucas Sutliffe (of Southington) made every shot tell, cut
ting away the staff, and bringing down the flag." Battery
Sherman fired one shot every fifteen minutes during the
night.
The shots from the fort plowed up the sand in close fur
rows ; but the men soon observed the range and caliber of
the various guns of the fort, so as to dodge until the missile
passed. Col. Hawley wrote in a letter, —
" Sometimes we called out, ' Ten-incher ! ' as a certain big columbiad on
the south-west angle of the fort let off; sometimes ' Pocket pistol ! ' or ' Little
rifle ! ' as a small, sharp, accurate Blakeley gun on the ramparts fired. We
got so that we knew where each gun was trained, and could tell by the sound
where the shot was going. Soon after noon of the llth, there were four or
five holes in the fort, close together, one of them, perhaps, twelve feet in
diameter. Now and then a cartload of masonry rolled down ; then every
body yelled in triumph. The ditch was nearly full ; and a huge gun on
the ramparts apparently tottered, ready to fall into the ruin. Our fire grew
furious. Captains of guns jumped on the banks, and yelled, ' No. 1, fire ! '
' No. 2, fire ! ' ' No. 3, fire ! ' ' No. 4, fire ! ' and the black and sweaty
cannoneers jumped to the muzzles to reload. Oh, it was a maddening
sight and sound ! "
During the forenoon of the llth, the breach in the south
east angle of the fort was enlarged. The entire casemate
next to the pancoupe had been opened. Half the rebel guns
had been dismounted. At two, P.M., the fort hoisted a white
flag; and its appearance was greeted with the craziest
demonstrations of enthusiasm on Tybee.
The Seventh Connecticut had fired nine hundred and
eighty -nine (989) 13 -inch shells, and five hundred and
eighty-eight (588) 10-inch shells, — in weight more than half
that had been thrown from Union guns. These did not, how
ever, prove so effective as the solid shots from the columbiads
and the James and Parrott rifle-guns with which the Rhode-
Island companies had made the breach.
The Seventh had shown superior skill, industry, and en-
SUFFERINGS OF THE SOLDIEES. 197
durance ; and these were now duly recognized. The post
of honor — the fort itself — was assigned to the regiment ;
and to it was also awarded the rebel flag that came whirling
down for the last time from the staff. The Tribune corre
spondent said, " The Seventh Connecticut were immediately
ordered to garrison the fort, — a post of distinction which
their faithful services in the erection of the works, and gal
lant conduct in the batteries nearest to the enemy's fire, had
honorably earned, and which the rest of the troops very
heartily envied them."
Gen. Benham wrote to Gov. Buckingham, "And it is a
great pleasure for me to say to you that the first morning's
sun of the occupation of the work by our troops gilded the
banner of that State whose trust is still, as from the first, 'He
who brought us over will protect us.' "
After the fall of the fort, the Sixth Connecticut was or
dered to dismantle the battery erected in the marsh to com
mand the river. By some misunderstanding, the gunboats
were drawn off, so that the party were without defense.
Col. Chatfield dismounted the great columbiad in the night,
mounted in its place a black log, with a barrel fixed on the
breech, and floated the real gun and equipments over to
Pulaski on a large raft, arriving there safely next day.
Meantime, the alert rebels sallied forth, and captured the
" Quaker."
During the last week in May, the Sixth moved from Daw-
fuskie Island ; and the Seventh left the fort to a New- York
regiment, and went on an expedition, under Gen. Benham,
to occupy James Island, at the mouth of Charleston Harbor.
They crossed via North Edisto and John's Island, through
mud and mire, in a drenching rain that lasted three days.
The expedition seems to have been shockingly managed.
Ten thousand men were here set to make a five-days' march
on three clays' rations ; and the sequel was, that they arrived
without food, tents, or cooking utensils. The only " cooking
utensil " the field and staff of the Sixth had was a gallon
camphene can, with nozzle and top cut off. In this was
cooked potatoes, pork, beef, coffee, tea, — food of every sort,
— for three weeks.
198 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE KEBELLION.
Col. Chatfield of the Sixth commanded a brigade including
his own regiment ; and, on the night of June 8-9, he moved
his command up the Stono River to Grirnball's plantation,
about four and a half miles from Charleston, where a landing
was made under a severe fire. On the evening of the 10th,
the enemy attacked in front, but were repulsed after a brisk
skirmish. The First Connecticut Battery was here doing
excellent service. A correspondent of the New- York Her
ald said, " Capt. Alfred P. Rockwell, with his Connecticut bat
tery, responded to this fire, and poured percussion-shells into
the rebels with great effect, and much more accuracy than
they had shown. At the end of an hour from the time of
attack, the rebels fled in great confusion, leaving knapsacks,
muskets, and equipments behind in their haste. They
retreated over two causeways, in the direction of Secession-
ville."
The Connecticut regiments met with no loss in this affair.
After two or three days more of skirmishing, the division
was pushed forward by Gen. Benham, at daylight on the
16th, to attack Lamar's rebel batteries, intrenched in front
of Secessionville, near the north end of the island. This
was a simple earthwork, heavily constructed, with a plain
face, an obtuse angle on each side, and protected by rifle-pits
and abatis in front, and flanked by creeks and marshes.
The gunboats might have given effective aid, had not the
assault been made at low tide.
A soldier writing to the Palladium said of the attack, —
" Marching from the woods, which had hitherto concealed
our advancing column, the order, ' Forward into line ! ' was
given, and instantly obeyed. Before us rose a large fort,
with a deep moat, and heavy, strong abatis, stoutly pro
tected by cannon of different caliber. Our Connecticut bat
tery fired the opening shot, and immediately the action
became general. The rebels were concealed by their in-
trenchments ; but onward we pressed, firing at their heads
that fringed the ramparts."
" By this time the Seventh had come into the field and
formed in battalion line, and was marching at double-quick
across the ridges of the cotton-fields. The line was formed
BEAVEKY OF LIEUT.-COL. GAEDNEE. 199
with the center opposite to the right angle of the enemy's
works, with the design of taking that flank." 5 " The grape
and rifle shots came in showers. When within two or three
hundred yards of the earthwork, the left wing came obliquely
upon an unseen ditch and morass ; so that, in advancing, it
must crowd by its right flank toward the center. At this
moment, a terrible fire of grape and musketry opened upon
us. The line was inevitably broken. The colors stood fast,
protected by Capt. Palmer's company (E) ; Capt. Hitchcock
with part of Company G, and Lieut. S. S. Atwell with part
of Company C, having advanced within one hundred and
thirty yards of the parapet. These and a portion of the
rio-lit wino;, conceiving that the time had come when the
O O' fJ
order not to fire might be waived, opened a brisk discharge
upon the parapet. The men stood bravely ; but the line
could not be formed until the colors were brought into the
open field. As soon as this was done, the regiment moved
by the right flank under the heaviest fire, the wing rapidly
closing up ; and under your order, when well across the
field toward the marsh, filed to the right, and advanced upon
the enemy." 3
Lieut.-Col. Gardner was conspicuous during the confusion
spoken of in re-forming and dressing the regimental front.
His coolness in getting the stragglers into line was much
admired.
" An attempt was here made by the regiment to carry the
left angle of the fort. The regiment marched by the flank
under the heaviest fire ; the companies keeping nobly to
gether, right along the face of the enemy's works." 4 Soon
after, an assault at another point failing, Gen. Stevens with
drew the regiment. " Faced by the rear rank, the battalion
marched to the hedge, and lay behind it until an order from
Gen. Stevens brought it back to the hedge in front of the
hospital. In a few moments, the general again sent us for
ward to the hedge across the first field, where we lay while
three pieces — two howitzers and a rifle of the First Connec
ticut Light Battery — came up, and carried on a rapid, and,
for the most part, a very well-directed fire. Several times,
2 Correspondent of the Press. 3 Col. Hawley's Report. 4 Letter in Press.
200 CONNECTICUT DURING THE KEBELLION.
my men assisted with the utmost eagerness in moving the
guns and giving other aid. A portion of the best marksmen
were permitted to fire at the enemy's parapets." 5
" Our Connecticut battery worked admirably, and we
stood by them to the last. Using four-second fuses, they
loaded and fired with the rapidity of lightning. Our New-
Haven Tom Lord was down on his knees, right under the
muzzle of his gun, ramming home the cartridges and spon
ging out his piece ; never once changing his position. I saw
a shell explode inside the body of a horse, scattering frag
ments of flesh and bones in every direction, and covering
his rider with gore from head to foot." °
Soon the final command came to retire, and the battery
and regiment drew off. " The Seventh was the only regi
ment that marched off the field in order. They formed
their regimental line under the enemy's guns, and marched
away with the precision of veterans." 7 " I saw the Seventh
Connecticut Volunteers halt and dress and correct its align
ment within perhaps three hundred yards of the batteries, and
retire with a well-preserved battalion-front as if on parade." 8
The conduct of the battery received honorable mention in
the report of Gen. Stevens ; and Col. Chatfield, cool-headed
and full of expedient, was complimented by Gen. Wright
for the manner of leading his brigade.
Only two companies of the Sixth were engaged ; the body
of the regiment being on picket-dut}', and held in reserve.
The battle seems to have been an inexcusable blunder from
beginning to end, in both its conception and execution.
Of the casualties and conduct of the Seventh, the official
report further says, —
" Capt. Edwin S. Hitchcock (of New Haven), Company G,
among the foremost, and enthusiastically cheering on his
men, was severely wounded in the thigh. He continued to
call out cheerfully, and to fire rifles handed him by his men,
until he received a rifle-ball straight from the front through
his upper lip. Four of his men undertook to carry him to
the rear. While they were doing this, two of them — Ser-
5 Col. Hawley's Report. 6 Letter in Palladium. 7 Chaplain Wayland.
8 Correspondent of the N. Y. World.
BURIAL OF CAPT. HITCHCOCK. 201
geant W. H. Haynes and Private J. N. Dexter — were
wounded by rifle-balls ; and they were obliged to leave the
gallant captain dying there.
" Lieut. Thomas Horton (of Norwalk), Company D, was
doing his whole duty, nobly rallying and regulating his com
pany, when a heavy grape-shot passed entirely through his
right thigh, nearly up to his body. He was carried to the
rear, praising his men and urging them on ; and lived but a
short time. Sergeant (acting Second Lieut.) Henry Upson,
jr. (of Hartford), Company F, was heroically at work when
a grape-shot took off three fingers, and dashed through his
right shoulder."
The staff-officers are mentioned complimentarily ; and of,
the line-officers the report says, " At a most critical moment,
when we were re-arranging the line for a second advance,
nothing could have been better than the conduct of Capts.
Gray, Palmer, and Skinner, and Lieuts. Chamberlain, Atwell,
Thompson, Townsend, and Burdick. Surgeon Bacon and
Assistant Surgeon Porter and their assistants were very in
dustrious in bringing off the wounded ; to which I attribute
our small number of missing. Chaplain Wayland was also
everywhere present, self-possessed and active." The regi
ment had lost in this brief action nineteen killed and seventy-
nine wounded. The color-staff was shot in two parts in the
hands of Sergeant H. H. Smith of Meriden.
The body of Capt. Hitchcock was taken home, and buried
with honors at New Haven. He had been in the war from
the beginning, and was a kind, skillful, and fearless soldier,
as he was a patriotic man. A former employer of young
Hitchcock wrote, " His impulses were always towards
truth, justice, and liberty ; his thoughts and words came
quickly; his advocacy of the right, under all circumstances, —
knowing no expediency, no policy, — might be safely emu
lated by many older men. Seeing in him these qualities, I
loved him, and could not forbear adding this rude tribute to
his memory." He set an example, in the army, of morality,
purity, courtesy, and bravery ; and his men followed him
devotedly. A chaste and stately monument was erected to
his memory by the members of his company, on a lot donated
202 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
by James M. Townsend, its untiring patron, whose patri
otic benevolence seemed to increase with the burdens of the
war.
Sergeant Upson died of his wounds. Col. Hawley recom
mended that his commission as second lieutenant be made
out, and said, " Though he will not live to receive it, I should
be glad to have the commission issued as recommended.
The noble man deserves the honor."
Capt. Charles E. Palmer, of Winsted, shortly after died
from exposure in this campaign. Gen. Terry wrote of him,
" At the time of the action on James Island he was so ill,
that, under ordinary circumstances, he would not have been
in command of his company ; but, prompted by the devotion
to duty which always distinguished him, he led his compan}^
to the field, and gave to it and to the regiment a splendid
example of courage and firmness under the most trying cir
cumstances. . . . The noble purity and uprightness of his
nature, and his eminently soldierly qualities, had not only
endeared him to us all, but had led us to look forward to a
brilliant future for him ; and we mourn his loss not only as
ours and yours, but as a loss to the country which he served
so faithfully."
When Gen. Hunter returned, he ordered an evacuation of
the island. This soon took the Connecticut battery to Beau
fort. The Sixth and Seventh, in Gen. Wright's brigade,
went to Edisto, and occupied the rude camp there ; but, after
remaining two weeks, they returned to Hilton Head, and,
in the familiar quarters of the previous winter, made them
selves once more comfortable. Plethoric boxes from Con
necticut were again received, and all the tender communica
tions with home were re-established.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Fourth becomes the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. — Eecruits. — Goes with
McClellan to the Peninsula. — " Siege " of Yorktown. — The Heavy Batteries. —
" Ready." — Magruder falls back. — Detached as Infantry. — The Seven-days' Bat
tles. — Malvern Hill. — Back to Arlington Heights. — The Connecticut Battalion
of Cavalry. — Among the Mountains of West Virginia. — After Bushwhackers. —
Raids and Incidents. — Battle of McDowell. — Charge through Wordensville. — Dash
into New Market. — Ambush at Harrisonburg. — Cross Keys. — Jackson Ubiquitous.
— The Fifth at Winchester. — Battle and Repulse, — In Maryland again. — Slaughter
at Cedar Mountain. — Bravery and Severe Losses of the Fifth. — Stone, Blake, Dut-
ton, Smith.
AN. 2, 1862, the Fourth Regiment was changed,
by order of the War Department, into the First
Connecticut Heavy Artillery ; and before spring,
under Col. Robert 0. Tyler, it had attained a
remarkable degree of efficiency, and was soon
after "ranked by military judges as the best volunteer regi
ment of heavy artillery in the field, and considered equal in
all respects to any regiment of the same arm in the regular
service." 1 It received two additional companies, and was
recruited to eighteen .hundred men. Company L was from
Hartford County; Company M from Bridgeport and New
Haven mainly. Other officers and men added at this time
were largely from Norwich, Killingly, New London, Water-
bury, New Haven, and Watertown.
Its splendid equipment and its high state of discipline
were soon to be tested. April 2, the regiment marched out
of its comfortable barracks at Fort Richardson, and joined
the vast army under McClellan2 that moved to capture Rich
mond through the Peninsula. The First was accompanied
1 Adjutant-General's Report, 1863, p. 78.
^ 2 Gen. George B. McClellan was a son of Dr. George McClellan, formerly of Wood
stock. Conn.
203
204 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE BEBELLION.
by a siege-train of seventy-one pieces of artillery. After a
slow and tedious passage, it disembarked at Cheeseman's
Landing, near Yorktown, April 12.
McClellan had a hundred thousand men. Magruder, the
rebel general, in his front, had seven thousand and five hun
dred, which, says a Confederate authority,3 he "adroitly
extended over a distance of several miles ; a regiment being
posted here and there, in every gap plainly open to observa
tion ; and, on other portions of the line, the men being posted
at long intervals, to give the appearance of numbers." With
this absurd disparity of strength, McClellan announced that
Yorktown and the line across the Peninsula were impregna
ble, except to a regular siege.
In this the First participated, having some of the heaviest
ordnance in the service. The laborious task of getting bat
teries into position was at once begun. In the siege-train
of seventy-one pieces were two. 200-pounder Parrotts, five
100-pounder Parrotts, ten 13-inch sea-service mortars, and
sixteen 10 -inch sea -service mortars. To transport and
mount these properly required the most arduous labor
prolonged night and day, and unflagging energy. For two
weeks, the work went on; the companies vying with each
other in the severe task.
"The heaviest pieces placed in position in the trenches
before Sebastopol by the English were the 68-pounder
gun of 10,640 pounds, and the 13-inch sea-service mortar
of 11,300 pounds ; and by the French the cannon de fifty
of 10,190 pounds, and the mortier de 32c of 9,615 pounds.
The 200-pounder Parrott weighs 16,470, and the 13-inch
sea-service mortar (1861) 17,120 pounds. The guns placed
in position before Yorktown, therefore, exceed in weight by
fifty per cent any guns that have ever before been placed
in siege batteries." 4
For the service of these guns, it was necessary to convey
17,047 projectiles, weighing, in the aggregate, four hundred
and twenty-eight tons. All this carrying was done by the
regiment ; and, during the twenty-two days before the evacu-
3 Pollard's Southern History of the War, p. 287.
* Report of Major A. Doull, 2d New- York artillery, ordnance-officer to siege-train
First Connecticut.
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 205
ation, they carted seven hundred and twenty-six loads to the
de*pot.
Only the battery of heavy guns was engaged during the
siege. " This battery opened fire on the 1st of May, and at
once drove all the rebel shipping from the wharves at York-
town. In all, a hundred and thirty-seven rounds from the
100-pounders, and four rounds from the 200-pounder, were
fired." 5 The practice was very accurate, although firing at
long range, — two to three miles.
Major Doull of the 2d New- York, ordnance-officer to the
siege-train of the First Connecticut, says in his report to
Col. Tyler,—
" In the three weeks during which these siege-operations have been con
ducted, your regiment has worked with very little relief night and day. As
soon as any battery has been completed, the companies to which it has been
assigned have moved into camp near it, constructing such shelter from the
enemy's fire as they could, and remaining with their guns ; differing, in this
respect, from all other troops employed in the trenches, who returned to camp
out of fire as soon as their duty was finished.
" During the seven days that elapsed from the 26th of April to the
evacuation of Yorktown, all the batteries have been fired at more or less
continuously ; and though the regiment has never before been under fire,
and is, like the rest of this army, composed of troops who have not been
twelve months in the service, and who would therefore be considered in any
regular artillery in the world merely as recruits ; and the officers have not
had the advantage of that scientific military training which is usually con
sidered necessary for this branch of military service ; and although a large
part of the material employed has been of a weight hitherto unknown in
sieges, and has therefore necessitated the employment of carriages and
platforms, usually confined to permanent works, on account of the labor,
care, and accuracy required in their construction, — yet the condition of the
batteries, and the accuracy with which all the platforms have been laid
and the magazines arranged, give no indication whatever of these disad
vantages."
Major Doull says that this siege-train was placed in bat
tery before Yorktown as quickly as the first siege-train of
smaller guns by the English before Sevastopol, though the
latter had " all the resources of a powerful navy and a large
regular army, skilled by constant practice ;" and he concludes
that " it is evident that the labors of the First Regiment
Connecticut artillery will compare favorably with any thing
of the kind that has been done before."
8 Major Doull's Report.
206 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
" On the day of the evacuation, there were six batteries
of forty-eight mortars and guns ready to throw one hundred
and seventy-five tons of metal daily into Yorktown." 6 At
the end of all this tremendous labor, the rebels fell back ;
Magruder having by this time been re-inforced so as to be able
to check pursuit, while Lee chose his battle-ground nearer
Richmond. " We worked night and day," says a young vol
unteer, in the War Record ; " and, just as we had every thing
ready, the bird had flown." Oh, how angry the men were ! —
all our work for nothing. Some of them almost cried for vex
ation." But severe service still awaited them. All the guns
and the four hundred tons of projectiles were re-embarked,
and transported to White House. From this point, the men
marched to Old Church in a terrible thunder-storm, with the
mud knee-deep. The regiment performed valuable service
in reconnoissances, and completely destroyed the enemy's
communications ; so that he could not, at the time, cross the
Pamunkey for a flank attack. Detached as infantry, the most
of the regiment was at Hanover Court House in line of battle,
•but was not actively engaged. Soon after, the regiment
formed the advance of the infantry, under Gen. McCook, that
followed the rebels in Stuart's raid, and marched forty-two
miles in thirty-seven hours. June 21, the disembarkation
of guns and material at White House commenced ; and some
of the heavy guns were got in position in three clays, in
charge of Capts. E. C. Dorr, G. B. Cook, and A. F. Brooker.
They " opened with good effect upon the rebel batteries on
the opposite side of the Chickahominy, doing, as reported
by the signal-officer, much damage ; dismounting the ene
my's heaviest gun, and compelling them to remove their
camps." 7
Next day they were moved across the Chickahominy, and
the batteries placed in position on Golding's Hill, where they
were fought during the day under a severe fire. When the
guns could be no longer useful, the companies were formed and
led into the line of infantry defending the position, — service
for which they were thanked by the general commanding.
The pieces were afterwards brought off by hand; and Lieut.
6 Col. Tyler's Report to Gen. Porter. 7 Ibid.
COL. TYLER'S REPORT. 207
R. A. Sedgwick is especially commended for rapidly remov
ing two 10-pounder Whitworth's, with only twenty men, a dis
tance of two and a half miles; "the second gun being brought
away when our most advanced pickets were retiring past it."
On the night of the 27th, the guns under command of Major
Kellogg were successfully retired behind White-oak Swamp,
where they joined the remainder of the siege-train of the
First, which had been in position in front of Sumner's corps,
under command of Major Hemingway, in the immediate
charge of Capts. T. S. Gilbert, T. H. Rockwood, D. R. Hub-
bard, and George Ager. By the great exertions of these
officers, the guns were successfully brought off after the re
peated attacks upon our rear. During the night of June 30,
fourteen guns with ammunition were dragged up the steep
ascent of Malvern Hill by Companies B, D, F, K, and I,
working all night after their tedious inarches of the week.
The guns occupied the highest ground on Malvern Hill; were
served with great rapidity and accuracy; and caused much
destruction to the enemy's advancing column. Col. Tyler
says in his report, —
" The companies, after working all the night of the 30th to place these
guns in position, and fighting them daring the whole day on the 1st of July,
spent that night in retiring the siege-train to the present depot near West-
over Lauding : the guns, the ammunition of which had been expended,
were also retired to Harrison's Bar, under Lieut.-Col. White. I would
respectfully call your attention to the fact, that all the ammunition used at
Malvern Hill had been transported, by way of Gaines's Mill, Savage's Sta
tion, and White-oak Swamp, to that place ; and that the officers and men
with the guns had been almost constantly laboring day and night from the
22d of June ; and to the fact, that, out of twenty-six heavy guns, twenty-
five arrived safely at their destination. This was accomplished under almost
unheard-of difficulties, — with mule-teams constantly breaking down,
driven by frightened citizen teamsters, who deserted whenever the fire
became heavy : frequently teams had to be pressed into the service to
replace those which had been exhausted by the labor of drawing the guns ;
and sometimes, for miles, the guns were drawn by hand by the different
companies of the regiment."
In the whole Peninsular campaign, though present at sev
eral of the battles, and on duty night and day, the regiment
lost only three killed and four wounded. Its services, how
ever, were acknowledged by an order directing the names,
208 CONNECTICUT DTJKING THE EEBELLIOK
"Siege of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Chickahominy,
Gaines's Mill, and Malvern," to be emblazoned on its colors.
At the withdrawal of the army, the regiment resumed its
place in the forts opposite Washington ; its jurisdiction
being soon enlarged, so that it garrisoned Forts Richardson,
Scott, Berry, Barnard, Reynolds, Garesche, and Ward, stretch
ing along Arlington Heights, and commanding all the west
ward approaches to the capital. This assignment to a
position of supreme importance shows in what estimation
the regiment was held.
Gen. McClellan, in fact, just before the battle of Antietam,
had such confidence in the First Connecticut artillery, that he
insisted that " the troops in the forts " would be sufficient to
check any probable rebel approach on Washington from the
west if the two corps supporting them should be withdrawn
to re-inforce him.8
As early as Feb 24, the Connecticut battalion of cav
alry encamped on an island in the Ohio River, opposite
Wheeling, Va. ; while Major Lyon reported to Gen. Rose-
crans for duty. Here a camp was quickly made, and a
month was spent in sword-exercise and battalion-move
ments ; and, on the 27th of March, the battalion moved to
report to Gen. Schenck at Moorfield.
Moorfield, the court-town of Hardy County, is on the
south branch of the Upper Potomac, here running parallel
to the Shenandoah; and nestles in one of the many narrow,
broken valleys formed by isolated peaks and abrupt spurs
of the Alleghanies and the Branch Mountains. The wind
ing roads and countless convenient hiding-places of that wild
though fertile region swarmed with guerrillas. These parti
sans of slavery and rebellion gathered everywhere in small
squads to persecute Union citizens, annoy our soldiers, capture
our scouts and carriers, and shoot our pickets; and, when fol
lowed by a superior force, the bands dissolved into innocent-
looking farmers. To destroy these roving rascals was to be
the task of the force at Moorfield, consisting of the 55th
8 See dispatch to Gen. Halleck, Sept. 11, 1862.
CAPT. WILLIAM S. FISH. 209
and 82d Ohio infantry, a section of Beck's battery, and our
cavalry battalion.
The battalion arrived at sundown of March 30, and began
its first scouting-expedition at sunrise of the 31st. Day
and night thereafter, in detachments of ten, thirty, rarely
a hundred men, they scoured every road and by-path for
many miles, capturing these unorganized traitors with arms
and supplies. Thus, hunting human game in squads, the
mettle, good nature, endurance, tact, and energy of every
man was tested. Each day brought fresh scenes, varied
perils, and individual achievements.
On April 3, Capt. Charles Farnsworth of Norwich, in an
attempt to open communication with Romney to the north,
was ambushed in a rocky ravine, and he and one of his men
severely wounded. Two days afterwards, Capt. Middlebrook
went out with a larger force, and cleared the road. This was
the first blood drawn, and it roused the members of the bat
talion to more determined if more cautious exertions. Spring
ing upon the rebel plunderers at unusual hours and in almost
inaccessible places, they killed, captured, or scattered them,
and made themselves seem to their frightened foes a full
brigade.
Chaplain Warriner wrote of this time, " The history of the
dashing, scouting, bushwhacker-hunting Connecticut cavalry
has never been written. No one has a correct and vivid under
standing of the part they performed in the campaign of the
mountain department, except the boys themselves, or those
who have heard them relate the story of their bold exploits.
Risks were run, hardships endured, and achievements per
formed, which have never been widely heralded, because
they did not occur in connection with any great popular
movement, or under the eye of any professional reporter."
Capt. William S. Fish, a tireless rider and a vigorous com
mander, led many brilliant and successful dashes among the
mountains. The harassed rebels are said to have set a price
on his head, which only made him and his command the
more active and relentless.
Another phase of cavalry life and adventure is illustrated
by another class of incidents. Capt. Middlebrook, like nearly
•2.7
210 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
all officers, had his favorite tactical movements and com
mands. At all irregularities of marching, he was sure to
shout, " Guide left ! " It happened, that on the loth of April,
while escorting a bearer of dispatches to Gen. Milroy at
Monterey, he and his detachment found it necessary to ford
the Potomac at Petersburg. The captain's horse was carried
from his feet by the swollen current. The rider slipped off,
and seizing the horse by the tail, and swimming behind,
kept the animal headed toward the opposite shore. The
boys, by this time nearly all safely on the land, viewing the
amusing spectacle, shouted, " Guide left ! " Coming safe to
shore, the captain, though quaking with cold, joined in the
laugh, and doubtless still enjoys the joke. While the bat
talion was at Moorfield, Company A, Capt. E. Blakeslee, was
chosen as the body-guard of Gen. Schenck, serving to his
great satisfaction.
" To all the marches and sudden expeditions of this time,"
writes Chaplain Warriner, "the indescribable grandeur of
the scenery, the roughness of the mountain-roads, and the
terrific depth of the swollen streams through which we often
plunged, lent the charm of romantic adventure. The bush
whackers' bullets whistled through the pines in wild harmony
with the mountain-breeze, and the big guns roared like the
voice of a mountain tempest as they echoed from hill-top to
hill-top at the battle of McDowell."
In April, the rebels, thoroughly alarmed for the safety of
Richmond, resolved on a diversion up the valley, " to prevent
re-inforcements for McClellan, or perhaps draw off divisions
from him ; " 9 and forthwith strengthened the command of Gen.
T. J. (u Stonewall") Jackson. Jackson immediately sent Gen.
E. Johnson, with a strong detachment, against Gen. Milroy,
near Staunton. Milroy fell back, and Gen. Schenck promptly
started (May 2) to his relief. Schenck had no pontoon-
trains, and the streams were swift and deep. The cavalry
and battery crossed first; then the wagons were dragged into
the stream to make a bridge for the infantry.
Milroy halted at McDowell on the 7th, in his retreat. The
Connecticut battalion, marching forty-three miles in twenty-
9 Letter of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to Jackson, May 27, 1862.
"A BRILLIANT LITTLE DASH." 211
four hours, were the first re-inforcements to reach him (May
8). There was a prolonged artillery duel, and a short, sharp
fight with infantry ; when Milroy, finding himself outnum
bered, withdrew, and continued his retreat to Franklin. The
rebels followed closely, and bushwhackers skulked in the ra
vines and woods all along the flanks. The cavalry battalion
covered the retreat with sleepless energy and intrepidity,
checking the rebels at every point. Fremont's main body
had arrived at Franklin ; and now the rebels retreated, and
the Union forces pursued across the Alleghanies to intercept
Jackson in the Shenandoah.
Our cavalry battalion was in the advance, and at noon it
arrived on the summit of the mountains. Suspecting that
Jackson was advancing on Moorfield, Fremont sent the bat
talion twenty-one miles to Wordensville to reconnoiter. It
was sundown when they started, and very dark as they felt
their way silently through the mountains. On their return,
four miles from town, they were met with orders to go back
to Wordensville, brought by a detachment which swelled their
numbers to eighty, under Capts. Middlebrook and Blakeslee.
A member of the battalion writes, "Just as we were
re-entering the town, the adjutant having command of the
advance-guard was startled by the command to ' Halt ! ' and
' Who comes there ? ' followed quickly by the crack of a car
bine. He guessed in a moment the town was occupied by
rebel cavalry, and the order was given to charge. Every
man slung his saber to his waist by his sword-knot, drew
pistol, put spurs to his horse, and dashed on. The ball from
the gun of the rebel picket passed through the neck of the
horse of the man next to the adjutant.
" We found the rebel cavalry drawn up in line to receive
us ; but we came upon them with such impetuosity, that they
did not wait for a hand-to-hand conflict, but, after one dis
charge from their carbines, broke, and fled in every direction.
A more complete rout I never expect to see. Blankets,
canteens, and the trappings of horsemen, strewed the street,
from one end of the village to the other. I regret to say
that we took no prisoners. They had splendid horses for
the retreat. We contented ourselves with clearing the town
212 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLIOK
of the vermin. We learned of the citizens that their force
was seventy. Ours was eighty, — not so great a disparity
when we reflect that one Southerner can whip with perfect
ease five Yankees."
Col. Zagonyi characterized the affair as " a brilliant little
dash." The battalion occupied the town until the main
army came up.
Fremont pushed on his column, and, finding that the wary
foe had eluded him, fell on his rear to embarrass his retreat.
By this time, on account of the illness of ranking officers,
Capt. L. A. Middlebrook was in command of the battalion.
He dashed through New Market on June 5, driving out the
enemy's pickets.
Next day the battalion was deployed as advance skirmish
ers, and about noon formed a part of a force ordered to
charge through the village of Harrisonburg. Rebel cavalry
and infantry were posted in the edge of the village ; and, as
the battalion approached, it rushed into a deadly ambush of
several well-posted regiments of infantry. The companies
were badly cut up, and made their way rapidly back in dis
order, obliquing through the woods. After retiring to the
rear, the men rallied and re-formed.
In the new line of battle, the battalion's standard was in
the advance. After a spirited fight, in which the noted rebel
Ashby was killed, the rebels fled precipitately, leaving their
camp and stores.
Pursuit was immediately resumed next morning ; and the
cavalry overtook the vanguard of the enemy at ten o'clock
at Cross Keys, but were withdrawn, and held in reserve ;
while Fremont pushed on, and vigorously assailed Jackson
in his strong position. The enemy held his ground, and the
result was a drawn battle ; but Jackson slipped away in the
night, and in the morning fell upon and crushed the forces
under Gen. Tyler at Port Republic, and escaped to Char-
lotteville, and thence, by a rapid march, struck McClellan a
fearful blow on his flank at Gaines's Mills.
During the last night at Cross Keys, Sergeant John B.
Morehouse and four men, sent to reconnoiter close to the
enemy's lines, were captured. Morehouse (of Fairfield) was
SUFFERINGS OF THE FIFTH. 213
a sober, solid man, near middle life, and possessed of consid
erable wealth. He returned from California in order to enter
the army, and enlisted in the first company he met, which
chanced to be in the cavalry battalion. Attracting attention
at once for his promptness and enthusiasm, he was offered a
commission, but refused it, conscientiously regarding himself
as unqualified. He studied tactics and practiced sword exer
cise constantly. Through four years of sturdy service, he
rose steadily to a major's commission ; never better earned
by living soldier.
The Union cavalry now fell leisurely back, without defi
nite object, except to renew their supplies ; and we find the
battalion on June 10 at Harrisonburg, 11 at New Market,
12 at Mount Jackson, 19 at Woodstock, 20 at Strasburg, 24
at Middletown, July 7 at Front Royal, 8 at Milford, 9 at
Luray, 10 at Sperryville.
At Milford, Major Lyon remained sick ; and Capt. Middle-
brook again commanded the battalion. Major Lyon, finding
that his ill health unfitted him for active service, soon after
resigned. The battalion crossed the Blue Ridge, and on
July 28 joined Col. Cluseret at Madison Court House ;
scouting in that vicinity while Banks's corps moved up to
Culpeper.
The Fifth Regiment had not been enervated by luxury
during the winter. It had probably done as much marching
as any other regiment in the service from any State. In
midwinter it made a forced march from Darnestown, and
back again ; and of this, Major Henry B. Stone wrote to a
friend, " When I tell you that the snow was driving all day,
and ankle-deep ; that the men had just marched one hun
dred and thirty miles with scarcely two days' rest ; that their
feet were sore and blistered, many of them without shoes,
and using handkerchiefs and old rags to tie up their feet
and keep them out of the snow, — you may appreciate the
march, and the indomitable perseverance of our men to
accomplish it. Some of the boys were compelled to fall out
from exhaustion ; and the poor fellows wept bitterly because
they were unable to stand up longer."
214 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Before the keenness of the winter air was gone, the regi
ment received orders to move across the Potomac, and occupy
the Shenandoah Valley. Col. Ferry issued the following
regimental order : —
HEADQUARTERS, FIFTH REGIMENT CONN. VOLS.,
Camp near Hancock, Md., Feb. 25, 1862.
We are about to cross the Potomac. We go to liberate the loyal people
of Virginia from the despotism of a wicked rebellion. Our enemies are
those who are in arms against the government. The persons and property
of citizens not in arms are to be sacredly respected. They have been told
by their tyrants that we come to pillage, to ravish, and to destroy. Let us
prove by our conduct that we come to establish rights, to maintain law,
to restore order.
To this end, it is ordered, —
First, All injuries to private property, without authority of the regi
mental commander, are expressly forbidden.
Second, Whoever shall maltreat any citizen not in the service of the
enemy shall be punished by drum-head court-martial.
Third, Whoever shall maltreat or abuse any woman shall be shot.
Soldiers of the Fifth, — I rely upon you, not only for courage in the
face of the enemy, but for good order in the enemy's country.
O. S. FERRY,
Colonel Fifth Rcgt. Conn. Vols.
On March 1, the Fifth crossed the Potomac at Williams-
port ; advanced into Virginia ; drove the enemy from Win
chester, and occupied the place. The regiment was ordered
to Manassas on the 18th; but, when one day's march from
Winchester, it was recalled to participate in the defense of
the place against the rebel attack of the 22d and the subse
quent pursuit of Jackson beyond Harrisonburg. The regi
ment took possession of an old press at Winchester, and
printed four or five numbers of a newspaper under the title
of ''The Connecticut Fifth." Curtis B. Wells and William
Patch were the chief movers in this enterprise.
Col. Ferry, having been appointed a brigadier-general, took
command of the brigade under Gen. Shields, whose division
was now ordered to join McDowell. On the 1st of May,
the Fifth was living quietly in camp near Strasburg. "It
seemed," wrote an officer,10 " as if the war was over. We put
on our new clothes, donned our white vests, and sat in the
shade discussing the chances of being mustered out in a
month or two. Soon there were rumors of an advance by
11 Adjutant Edward F. Blake.
THE FIFTH UNDER FIRE. 215
Jackson ; and all at once the Union regiments faced towards
Winchester, the band playing ' Oh, dear ! what can the matter
be ? ' The regiment was ordered to leave knapsacks in a
pile by the roadside ; and, the rebels soon pressing along the
road, the guard was obliged to heap rails upon them, and fire
the pile. These contained, among other things, new clothes,
daguerreotypes, portfolios, diaries, money, and some watches ;
all burnt up grimly."
Banks, left with only five thousand men, was obliged to
fallback before. Jackson's superior force; and on May 25
there was a severe and well-fought battle at Winchester for
the possession of the valley. The Fifth was under fire for
the first time, facing the 28th North-Carolina.
Lieut.-Col. George D. Chapman was in command of the
regiment, and, in his official report, says, —
M About five o'clock Sunday morning, as the men were rising from their
sleep and heating their coffee in a field which we entered late the night
before, a shell suddenly fell among them. This was followed by others
in rapid succession. The men quickly seized their muskets, and fell calmly
into line. The inquiry was sent back, whether we should hold the spot, or
advance. Before receiving a reply, I ordered the regiment to a hollow in
the field next to the rear ; which was done, ' by the right of companies to
the rear,' in good order. The enemy's infantry soon appeared on the hill
in front, charging directly upon us. Companies A and F immediately
moved forward, and delivered their fire with effect upon the enemy, now
Avithin a few rods. The whole battalion moved up to their line, and,
delivering three well-directed volleys, mowed down the enemy by scores,
shooting away their flag each time. At the third volley, Companies I and
B, by half wheeling to the right, delivered a cross-fire. At this the enemy
broke, and ran in confusion. The order then came from the colonel for the
regiment to fall back to a line of stone wall in the rear of the field next
behind. During this movement, Company D deployed as skirmishers to
hold the line we were leaving. A fog settled down ; and, for half an hour,
firing ceased. As it lifted, I saw at some distance a large force of the
enemy moving by the right flank to turn our left. Our skirmishers fired
upon them ; but the movement remained unchecked till a few shells from
our artillery forced them back. After this, their infantry paid but little
attention to us ; but their artillery on the right and left poured a heavy
shower of shells about us as we lay behind the wall."
The result was, that Banks was largely outnumbered, and
the army fell back to the Potomac. The Fifth made a
forced march of forty-three miles in fourteen hours, cross-
216 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ing at Dennis Ferry at midnight. Major E. F. Blake, in a
letter, thus describes the retreat of the regiment : " The left
wing struck off across lots, at first for Berryville, but after
wards changed its course for Martinsburg. It was well that
we took a new direction; for we afterwards learned of a force
of five thousand rebels at Berryville to cut us off Our
retreat was most fatiguing. The enemy having gone down
the pike ahead of us (in pursuit of the regiments that had
fallen back first), we were cut off in that direction. Indeed,
every one thought we were gone for good ; .and Gen. Banks,
at Williamsport, ordered some of our men who went with the
wagons to report to Col. Knipe of the Forty-sixth Pennsylva
nia, ' as the Fifth Connecticut had been surrounded and cap
tured.' But, providentially, we met a guide, a refugee, when
we were at Muddy Branch, who took us a zigzag through
the woods, across lots, in gullies, thickets, and everywhere out
of sight, crossing the pike behind the enemy, and then strik
ing northward. Late in the afternoon, we again crossed the
pike ; and at eleven o'clock at night we stood on the shores
of the Potomac, having marched forty-three miles from Win
chester. Most of the men had nothing to eat after four, A.M.
Col. Donnelly grasped my hand as we crossed the river, and
said, : Blake, thank God that brigade is safe ! It is the hap
piest moment of my life.'"
Lieut. David B. Hamilton of Waterbury, detached for
duty in the quartermaster's department, won an enviable
reputation by his skill and bravery in saving the baggage-
train of the Fifth during this terrible retreat. He remained
at Strasburg, loading the wagons, long after our forces had
evacuated the place ; and finally reached Hancock in safety
after the rebels had cut him off from the main column at
Winchester.
Capt. Edward J. Rice was detailed for duty at brigade
headquarters as an adjutant-general; and, during the pro
tracted illness of the general commanding, much of the re
sponsibility devolved upon him. He discharged the duties
of his position ably.
During the fight at Winchester, twelve of the Fifth were
wounded, and seventy-five taken prisoners. Capt. James A.
THE FIFTH IN THE FIGHT. 217
Betts, wounded, Capt. D. F. Lane, and Lieut. Henry M.
Button, were commended for gallant conduct. (It was re
ported at home that the regiment was captured.)
Banks being shortly re-inforced by Fremont, the Fifth,
after a brief rest, recrossed the river at Williamsport during
the first week in June, and rapidly advanced again to Win
chester, Front Royal, and the Luray Valley. When Fre'mont
was again driven back, after the defeat of Shields, the Fifth
moved across the State, through Warrenton, in the direction
of Gordonsville. The latter part of July it reached Culpeper
Court House, being now in Crawford's brigade, Williams's
division of Banks's corps.
On the 9th, the corps was drawn up within a mile of Cedar
Mountain, Jackson's army holding the wooded fields and
cleared slopes in front. During the afternoon, the rebels un
masked battery after battery along the hills in front and on
the flank, until the ground between the forces was com
manded by a semicircle of batteries more than two miles long.
A fierce artillery-duel was the prelude to the bloodier collis
ion of infantry.
At five o'clock, orders came to cease firing, and to charge
an enfilade battery on the right front. To Crawford's brigade
was assigned the duty of leading the assault ; and gallantly
did they respond. The ground occupied by the Fifth in this
charge was a rough wheat-stubble, upon which the sheafed
grain still remained, gathered in heaps small, and far be
tween. On its farther side was the battery, with a sturdy
growth of saplings in its rear ; and upon its left a thicket of
scrub-oaks. Down this declivity sprang the Fifth, at the
word of command, into the midst of a murderous fire from
every quarter. The battery in front belched grape and can
ister, mowing their ranks. Guns beyond the undergrowth,
and upon the hills to the left towards the mountain, now
hurled herT; their storm of shot and shell. Moreover, as the
companies passed from the cover of the projecting wood into
the open stubble, a terrible infantry-fire broke upon them in
an incessant flash from the low thicket encircling the field
upon the right.
Very few times during the war was a regiment the focus of
28
218 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
such a fire. This narrow field was swept by all the engines
of destruction. Here the Fifth Regiment was broken in
pieces. It pushed bravely across the slope towards the un
seen foe, and maintained something like order until reaching
a small brook that flowed through the field. Here it wa
vered, and became scattered. Several of its best men were
killed : fifty were struck down within two minutes. The
wounded crept behind the rocks and wheat-stacks, where
some of them were shot again and again. Most of the com
panies had lost their leaders, and straggled back to the wood
whose protection they had left. A large number, borne for
ward by the impetuosity of the charge, rushed into the
midst of the enemy concealed among the saplings, and were
there slain or captured. All the field-officers were killed or
made prisoners ; and all the other officers, except five, were
wounded.
Other regiments plunged into this deadly breach ; but the
battery was not taken, and night proclaimed a truce, the
darkness illumined here and there by bursting shells. Next
day, Jackson retired across the Rapidan ; while Pope, Banks,
and Sigel fell to debating the question, who was responsible
for the useless slaughter.
The Fifth counted its dead, and tenderly gathered up its
wounded. Major Blake, Adjutant Smith, Lieut. Button, and
eighteen enlisted men, lay dead on the field. The brave
Lieut-Col. Henry B. Stone was a prisoner, and soon died
of^his wounds. Col. Chapman was in the hands of the
enemy.
Major Edward F. Blake, son of Eli W. Blake of New
Haven, was born in 1837. In boyhood as in manhood,
he was distinguished for energy, fearlessness, ingeftuity,
enterprise, and strength and skill in all muscular exercises.
He possessed that rare executive faculty which makes the
possessor a leader trusted and followed by common consent.
While in Yale, he pulled in the boat-race with Harvard. He
also had excellent literary taste, and was one of the editors
of the Yale Magazine. He was graduated in 1858, and in
I860 commenced the study of law in New Haven. He did
not yield to the first impulse when the war broke out ; but
DEATH OF MAJOR BLAKE AND LIEUT. DUTTON. 219
asjearly as October, 18G1, the governor had accepted his ser-
11 r 'i TaftJi. then__
iit'ui Darno'own, Md. 'Fni • E tfpjjjfBuea
ins military studies -so earnestly, '»» .<• * t«
vli^iarge the duties of his new po>i'.^:
.1 -von his. jealous •jon'ir.viw ; and be i
. vorite iii Ib-Le army, ns ho ua *"»*••:•• n at !
••dial, hearty, cheerful Christian, --?ifJ *as i»«-
Doming a rcad\\ spirited, accomplinh^i ••
;ie»cv ^rocvi-r-vi hin • ».nent ->l' 'K-4v/.V; a;-.?int*e^.
,tlttj.c*ent-nilon -:tafT- aud >ewas
•imtlc ujyor or OK> r»^imv-^ ^«r. liis
r^^ii.rieat »L (Vdrr Mountain ; iind, when the little band w ^
.-n*< pt ha.^k, lio ^va^ killed iijMantly by a rebel bullet as 1
!••-.! i'^i-p''''.! thf colors r?«»wj ' e hands of dying men to bear
ti. Col Ferry .- iiiuni. ' TIo is earnest, brave «\
the b'.TiVcsf. ah\ »•• and by his happy temperament
.-.; ilo-ht i v»,f » .a: is, toils, and annoyances
-oil* . • - n. h<- wr, * .^ of the -. o.'.ng Demo-
^art-M. Into the contest. In<L,-
went u> iU-ubrd as a private in
' received a i*t ifenant';- commis-.
•i: •- . iiitin^. - Once in di« ticdtf, he w*is
js an mi.1 ii- ; ;>c!ii'T ' ' uw for sooi-
nirita, ; Li e amid
a; . iOv. , in, jfter C '•'•>'?-*
T ' rt*\ v < 'ipr i nn
ri, iicr kilJcil <.r wounded. " Lieut. Dutton Ls repor. <.
s> i"ol jiiore than once tho colors* from some fall*
J. to l:,ive home it along to the hands of other- *
>ear it alofr. During this heroic and hopeless si *•«:£*•
•ornmanding ibrin could not long escape unsciiU
220 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and he fell pierced by a volley of rebel musketry." He
was very kind to his men, and was much beloved.
Adjutant Heber S. Smith of Hartford was a student in
Trinity College when the war broke out, of the class of 1862.
He was apt to learn, and had a high appointment at the
junior exhibition of that year. He made a most efficient
adjutant. Prompt in the discharge of his duties, a genial
companion and a true friend, he was sincerely mourned.
Lieut-Col. Henry B. Stone was severely wounded, and taken
prisoner. On Sept. 16, he wrote from Charlotte ville, Va.,
to a friend in Danbury, "I am lying here on my back,
suffering continual pain, patiently waiting for my wounds to
heal. I suppose, if every thing goes on as well as usual, I shall
have to lie in this position four weeks longer, when they will
take my leg out of the splints, and allow me to move about
more in bed. How anxious I am to hear about the regi
ment ! " The wounded man was destined never to hear.
Not having proper care, inflammation ensued, and he died,
still " patiently waiting." Mr. Stone was captain of the Dan-
bury Wide- Awakes in 1860, and showed so much spirit and
skill, that, when the war broke oat, he was recalled from
New Jersey to command the first three-years' company. He
was a handsome, frank, generous, brave man, and beloved by
his command. Lieut. Edwin E. Marvin of Rockville wrote
after the battle of Cedar Mountain, — •
" It seemed as if the sacrifices were already prepared for their offering.
Major Blake was always, at home or in camp, an earnest, devout Chris
tian ; but Lieut.-Col. Stone and Adjutant Smith had mingled in all our wild,
ceaseless hilarity and revelry that absorbed many a rainy day, and almost
every evening, of our early history, with great zest ; but they, too, had
changed. Amid and contrary to the whole tenor of surrounding influences,
'we well recollect that these three had long ago left all our carousals ; had
for the past months lived such lives, — lives of governed appetites, of sober
and earnest resolution and unwavering duty, — that we could well say, as
we remembered so much and more, ' Who of all of us was so well pre
pared as they ? ' '
Here fell Color-Sergeant Elijah B. Jones of Wilton, a tall,
soldierly man, perfect in bravery ; and Color-Corporal Daniel
L. Smith of Bethel, a conscientious, prayerful, resolute sol
dier ; both slain while bearing forward the flag. Here nobly
SECOND BATTLE OF BULL WJN. 221
fell, also, Corporal Oliver G. Brady of Norwalk, Blair of
North Haven, Bailey of Berlin, Thompson of Windhara, and
others.
After the battle, Capt. H. W. Daboll of Groton, previously
the eighth captain in rank, succeeded to the command of the
regiment ; all his superiors being either killed, captured, or
disabled. He was in hospital on sick-leave before the battle.
On Aug. 18, the Fifth fell back with Pope's army to the
line of the Rappahannock, and, as Jackson's movement
around the right flank progressed, receded still farther ; re
maining to protect the baggage-trains near Bristow Station,
while the rest of the army advanced to the second battle of
Bull Run. When the rebel army, supported by three Fed
eral generals, had succeeded in defeating Pope, the Fifth was
withdrawn nearer Washington, thoroughly exhausted by the
campaign.
CHAPTER XV.
The Summer of 1862. — The Fourteenth Regiment called for. — The Military Situation.
— Appeal of the Executive. — Enthusiastic Response by the People. — War-Meetings
and Local Effort. — Recruiting Committees. — The Fourteenth full. — New Haven
raises the Fifteenth. — Hartford recruits the Sixteenth. — Seventeenth from Fairfiekl
County. — Eighteenth from New London County. — Nineteenth from Litchfield
County. — Twentieth and Twenty-first organized. — The Second Battery goes from
Bridgeport. — All assigned to the " Army of the Potomac."
URING the winter of 1861-2, the Union forces
made constant inroads upon the Rebellion ;
and the magnificent prophecies of Mr. Seward
seemed about to be fulfilled. The War De
partment issued orders, April 3, discontinuing
the recruiting service in every State. Men about to enlist
turned gratefully to peaceful pursuits, assured that no more
soldiers would be needed. When, May 16, the Secretary
of War made a requisition on Gov. Buckingham for six
hundred men to fill up the Eighth, Te-nth, and Eleventh
Regiments, it is not surprising that the response of the peo
ple was feeble. The government had justified the impres
sion that the army was strong enough for any probable
contingency. Moreover, there was a demand for labor ; and
wages were high. The requisition not being met, it was
modified to a call for another regiment to join the fifty
thousand men designed for the "camp of instruction " at
Annapolis. The governor summoned volunteers for the
Fourteenth: D wight Morris of Bridgeport was commissioned
to be its colonel ; Dexter R. Wright of Meriden, lieutenant-
colonel ; and S. H. Perkins of Torrington, major. Companies
were begun in Norwich, Waterbury, and Bridgeport; but
the recruiting-sergeants met with little success. This state
222
GOV. BUCKINGHAM'S PKOCLAMATIOX. 223
of apathy continued, while the Army of the Potomac was
experiencing strange vicissitudes.
The Federal arms had been everywhere victorious until
this midsummer of 1862. The Union troops had overrun
and occupied Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee ; the
national flag was again unfurled in New Orleans ; while the
Atlantic seacoast was being brought under Federal rule in
accordance with Scott's "anaconda" plan. Suddenly the
tide of battle seemed to turn. The repulse of the gunboats
in their attack on Fort Darling was followed by the failures
of McClellan ; Hunter's foothold in the Carolinas became
precarious ; and again the enemy advanced in the West.
This loss of ground caused great public solicitude, which
resulted in a letter of the loyal governors to President Lin
coln, urging him " to call upon the States for such numbers
of men as might, in his judgment, be necessary to garrison
and hold all the numerous cities and military positions that
have been captured by our armies, and to speedily crush the
Rebellion." The president immediately, July 1, issued a
call for three hundred thousand volunteers for three years.
The quota of this State, under this call, was fixed at seven
thousand one hundred and forty-five. Gov. Buckingham
immediately issued the following appeal for volunteers : —
CITIZENS OF CONNECTICUT, — You are again called upon to rally to
the support of the government. In the name of our common country, I
call upon you to enroll your names for the immediate formation of six or
more regiments of infantry to be used in suppressing the Rebellion. Our
troops may be held in check, and our sons die on the battle-field ; but the
cause of civil liberty must be advanced, the supremacy of the govern
ment must be maintained. Prompt and decisive action will be economy
in men and money. By our delay, the safety of our armies, even of the
nation, may be imperiled. The Rebellion, contending with the despera
tion of a hopeless and wicked cause, must be met with equal energy.
Close your manufactories and workshops, turn aside from your farms and
your business, leave for a while your families and your homes, meet face to
face the enemies of your liberties ! Haste, and you will rescue many noble
men now struggling against superior numbers, and speedily secure the
blessings of peace and good government.
Given under my hand and the seal of the State, at New Haven, this
third day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-two.
WM. A. BUCKINGHAM.
By his Excellency's command :
J. H. TRUMBULL, Secretary of State.
224 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
A bounty was now offered each volunteer, of a hundred
dollars from the Federal Government, and ninety dollars
from the State ; and all the recruiting machinery was put
in active operation. Authority to enlist was granted to
young men in every county, accompanied with a commis
sion as second lieutenant, to be forfeited in case of failure.
All expenses incurred for subsistence, quarters, transporta
tion, &c., prior to muster, were borne by the United States. A
stirring circular letter was written by Adjutant-Gen. J. D. Wil
liams to the selectmen of towns, appealing to them to hold
local war-meetings "to set forth to the people the exigen
cies of the present hour," " to pledge private means to assist
volunteers or their families," and to encourage enlistments
in every way, and appoint men "of energetic habits and
patriotic impulses to act as recruiting-officers."
The response was spontaneous and vigorous. Again party
differences seemed laid aside or forgotten, and the predomi
nant love of country asserted itself. Enlisting, and persuad
ing others to enlist, became once more the business of the
hour. Every county was thronged with recruiting-officers.
Almost every town held a war-meeting, and offered an addi
tional bounty for men. In most cases, this was made fifty
dollars at first, and increased to a hundred dollars, for each
man. Windsor Locks early voted a hundred and twenty-five
dollars, and increased it to a hundred and fifty dollars.
Bridgewater also voted a hundred and fifty dollars. Hart
ford and New Haven gave a hundred and seventy-five dollars
bounty. Enfield gave two hundred dollars, and Bloomfield
and Watertown even as high as two hundred and fifty dollars.
This generous rivalry was an effective agent ; but it created
great confusion in determining the proper credits and quotas.
Prominent citizens acted as committees to forward enlist
ments, so that the government had an agent in every neigh
borhood. Mass-meetings were held in the cities and large
villages, and the newspapers of the State were full of appeals
and local military news. Hartford, New Haven, Norwich,
Bridgeport, and Litchfield became centers of enlistment ; and
the mind and heart of the State were given supremely to
the work. The result was seen in the fact, that, within forty-
THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. 225
five days, eight thousand and thirty-six men had volunteered,
and were organized into eight full regiments and one light
battery. Connecticut was the first State to fill her quota
under the call, and a surplus of nearly one thousand had vol
unteered. Gen. Daniel Tyler came home, and rendered great
service in equipping these regiments, and preparing them for
the field.
The lonely squads that had been drilling for weeks as
the nucleus of the Fourteenth were now immediately re
inforced. Large war-meetings to this end were held in
Bridgeport, Norwich, Middletown, Waterbury, New Haven,
New Britain, Madison, Say brook, New London, and the towns
in Tolland County; the regiment being recruited from the
State at large. It rendezvoused at Camp Foote, on the New-
Haven Turnpike, near Hartford, — grounds which the Fifth
formerly occupied. The colors of the regiment were fur
nished by the State.
Towns were represented in the regiment as follows:
Company A, Capt. James D. Merritt, Bridgeport, forty-six ;
Putnam, eight ; Stratford, six ; Norwalk, five ; Trumbull, four.
Company B, Capt. Elijah W. Gibbons, Middletown, eighty-
seven ; Durham, six. Company C, Capt. Samuel W. Carpen
ter, Waterbury, ninety. Company D, Capt. Thomas F. Bur
pee, Yernon, seventy-three ; Ellington, eleven. Company E,
Capt. William H. Tubbs, Norwich, eighteen ; Middletown, six
teen; Hartford, fourteen; and twenty from Windham County.
Company F, Capt. Jarvis E. Blinn, New Britain, sixty-three ;
Bloomfield, fifteen ; Berlin, thirteen. Company G, Capt. Sam
uel F. Willard, Madison, fifty-three; OldSaybrook, ten; West-
brook, eight ; Clinton, twelve. Company H, Capt. Samuel H.
Davis, New London, fifty-nine ; Waterford, twenty ; East Lyrne,
five. Company I, Capt. Isaac R. Bronson, New Haven, twenty ;
Hartford, twelve ; Guilford, twenty-five. Company K, Capt.
James B. Coit, Hartford, fifteen; Norwich, nineteen; Chatham,
twelve; Somers, Griswold; and Ledyarfl, fifteen.
On Aiicr. 25, with a numerical strength of a thousand and
O O
fifteen officers and men, it left Hartford on the steamer City
of Hartford and the propeller Dudley Buck. At New York,
it was transferred to cars for Washington.
29
226 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The remaining seven regiments were recruited by coun
ties. A large and spirited meeting was held at Music Hall,
New Haven, as early as the 8th of July. Com. Foote pre
sided; and speeches were made by Gov. Buckingham, Senator
Dixon, Rev. Dr. Bacon, and Charles Chapman, of Hart
ford. It was resolved to put a regiment (the Fifteenth) into
the field immediately. A recruiting committee was appointed,
of which the active men were William S. Charnley, H. M.
Welch, H. B. Harrison, S. D. Pardee, William H. Russell,
A. D. Osborne, P. A. Pinkerman, Francis Wayland, jr., J. W.
King, E. S. Quintard, D. J. Peck, Lyman Cowles, Lucius R.
Finch, Wyllis Bristol, C. A. Lindsley, John Woodruff, Lucius
Gilbert, E. J. Sanford, Eli Whitney, B. S. Bryan, James H. Lan
sing, J. C. Hollister, J. D. Candee, D. H. Carr, E. Downes,
C. S. Bushnell, Charles W. Elliot, D. C. Gilman, Rev. William
T. Eustis, John A. Porter, C. B. Rogers, John W. Farren, R. S.
Fellows, L. R. Smith, H. E. Pardee, Alexander McAllister,
H. D. White, N. D. Sperry.
At the first meeting of the committee, it was resolved to
" postpone absolutely, for the present, all topics of dispute ; "
and authority was received from the governor to raise a
regiment, and nominate its field-officers. Recruiting began
without delay. Sessions of the committee were held from
day to day. The organization was called " the Lyon Regi
ment ; " and it was voted to distribute fifteen hundred dollars
as an extra bounty among the first six companies raised
within four weeks to the maximum number.
A vote was passed instructing the committee about to
visit Washington (Hollister, Candee, and Sperry) to request
the Secretary of War to cause the arrest and confine
ment of all persons discouraging enlistments in New-Haven
County.
The camp was located at Oyster Point, where the Seventh
had rendezvoused. Oyster Point soon became, and after
wards remained, a favorite resort of the citizens ; for fathers,
mothers, wives, and cousins ; for patriotic and tender-hearted
young women, who rode down to distribute needle-books,
sweet pickles, bouquets, and smiles ; for patriotic but reluc
tant young men, who rode down to discharge their surplus
THE FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH EEGIMENTS. 227
emotion at the stars and stripes, and to enjoy the delicious
feeling that they were serving the country by proxy.
On July 21, the committee nominated Dexter R. Wright
of the Fourteenth to be colonel ; and he was accordingly
commissioned. They also named Samuel Tolles of New
Haven for lieutenant-colonel, and Eli W. Osborne of New
Haven for major ; and even the sutler was designated in the
person of John A. Punderford, which proved an excellent
appointment. Sub-committees visited Derby, Orange, Meri-
den, Madison, Guilford, and other towns ; and the regiment
was declared full to the maximum, and ready to leave on
Aug. 25.
Company A, Capt. Julius Bassett, was from Meriden.
Companies B, Capt. Theodore R. Davis ; C, Capt. S. S. Smith ;
D, Capt. Samuel Hubbard; E, Capt. George M. White;
G, Capt. John D. Wheeler; and I, Capt. Frank M. Love-
joy, — were almost wholly from New-Haven City. Company
F, Capt. Allen W. Harvey, was from Meriden. Company H,
Capt. Henry B. Peck, was a consolidation of about equal
squads from Naugatuck and New Haven. Company K, Capt.
Henry H. Stiles, contained fifty-two from Wallingford,
thirty from North Haven, nine from North Branford. Orange
had also thirty-three in this regiment, East Haven twenty-
five, Milford twenty, Guilford ten, and Wallingford seven.
On Aug. 28, the regiment left for Washington, under a
handsome flag made by the ladies of Meriden, and presented
in an appropriate speech by 0. H. Platt.
Hartford County felt that the call was imperative, and re
sponded instantly. A great meeting was held in and about
Allyn Hall on July 11. Mayor William J. Hamersley pre
sided in the hall, assisted by W. W. Ellsworth, W. D. Ship-
man, T. M. Allyn, Calvin Day, Henry Keeny, D. W. Pardee,
Hawley Kellogg, Austin Dunham, Horace Lord, Julius Cat-
lin, John C. Palmer, Charles T. Howard, Charles H. Northam,
Jonathan Goodwin, Elisha T. Smith, Warren Griswold, John
L. Bunce, E. A. Bulkeley, Roland Mather, James P. Powell,
Erastus Collins, H. A. Perkins, Daniel Phillips, Mark Howard,
A. N. Clark, Henry C. Robinson. The meeting was addressed
228 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
by Senator Dixon and others, and an eloquent letter was
read from Corn. Foote. At least five thousand people were
assembled, and there was an immense outside meeting.
Most of the above-named gentlemen were active members
of the citizens' committee, which assisted to recruit the Six
teenth Regiment. The names of A. E. Burr (of the Times)
and Thomas H. Seymour having been read in the list of
officers of the meeting, the latter published a letter in the
Times, in which he said, " I could not have been induced to
attend it. I will contribute in no way to the accomplish
ment of such bloody purposes. The monstrous fallacy of
the present day," he continues for the benefit of the volun
teers, "that the Union can be re-established by destroying
any part of the South, is one which will burst with the shells
thrown into its defenseless cities, and leave the condition
of the country, after its treasures are exhausted, and its
brave men on both sides consigned to hospitals and graves,
a spectacle for the reproach and commiseration of man
kind."
Towns were represented in the Sixteenth Regiment about
as follows : Company A, Capt. Henry L. Pasco, Hartford,
, forty-four ; Wethersfield, ten ; Somers, eight ; West Hartr
ford, seven. Company B, Capt. Edward H. Mix, Hartford,
thirty-five ; Guilford, thirteen ; East Windsor, eight ; Wind
sor, seven. Company C, Capt. Edward E. Rankin, Hartford,
forty-seven ; Farmington, thirty-five ; Rocky Hill, twenty.
Company D, Capt. Samuel Brown, Suffield, sixty-two ; En-
field, thirty-four. Company E, Capt. Charles Babcock, Can
ton, thirty-three ; Granby, nineteen ; Simsbury, nineteen.
Company F, Capt. Heber W. Seaver, Hartford, eighty-two.
Company G, Capt. Nathaniel Hayden, Berlin, twenty-five ;
East Windsor, twenty ; Farmington, fifteen ; Hartford, thir
teen. Company H, Capt. Frederick M. Barber, Manchester,
forty-three ; Glastenbury, seventeen ; Bolton, twelve ; South
Windsor, eight. Company I, Capt. John L. Drake, Stafford,
sixty ; Avon, ten ; Vernon, eleven ; Willington, eight. Com
pany H, Capt. Newton S. Manross, mostly from Bristol ;
Farmington, fifteen ; Burlington, eight.
Francis Beach was commissioned colonel ; Frank W. Che-
THE SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. 229
ney, lieutenant-colonel; and George A. Washburn, major.
The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Williams.
It was made up of excellent material, — some of the old
est and best families in the county being represented in its
ranks, and cherishing high expectations of its future. On
Aug. 24, 1862, the regiment was mustered into the United-
States service for three years with a thousand and ten offi
cers and men; and on Friday, the 29th, left Hartford for
Washington. As they marched to the wharf at the foot of
Morgan Street, they were cheered by friends, from whom
many were parting for the last time. They left at three,
P.M., on the City of Hartford and the Collins, and had a
pleasant trip to New York, where they were transferred to
the steamer Kill von Kull, and received a breakfast of soup
and coffee. At Elizabeth, N.J., the regiment took the cars
for Baltimore via Harrisburg.
The Seventeenth was a Fairfield-county regiment, — not
fifty men enlisted from outside the county. It was begun
as soon as the call was issued in July : and William H. Noble
was at once commissioned its colonel ; Charles Walter, lieu
tenant-colonel; and A.G.Brady, major. Headquarters were
at Bridgeport. Recruiting was active throughout July, —
men being mustered as they arrived; and by the middle
of August the regiment was full to the maximum, — over a
thousand men. A comfortable camp was established at Sea
side Park, known as " Camp Aiken." Through the patriotic
efforts of Rev. Alexander R. Thompson, the regiment was
furnished with a large chapel-tent, a library of five hundred
volumes, checker and chess boards, and many other articles
to promote the comfort or pleasure of the men. Col. Noble
and Lieut-Col. Walter were presented each with a fine horse
and equipments. Bridgeport claimed to be "the banner
town of the State," having furnished seventy men more
than her quota, — a total of eight hundred and fifty out of
an enrolled militia of sixteen hundred.
Towns were represented as follows, those which only
furnished three or four to a company being omitted : Com
pany A, Capt. Douglass Fowler, mainly from Norwalk ; Wil-
230 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
ton, eighteen. Company B, Capt. Charles A. Hobbie, mostly
from Stamford and Darien. Company C, Capt. James E.
Moore, Danbury, fifty-eight ; Bethel, sixteen ; Ridgefield,
twelve. Company D, Capt. William H. Lacey, Bridgeport,
forty-four ; Monroe, seventeen ; Stratford, nine ; Hunting-
ton, nine. Company E, Capt. Henry P. Burr, Westport, fifty-
one ; Newtown, twenty-five ; Bridgeport, fourteen ; Weston,
ten. Company F, Capt. Enoch Wood, mostly from Norwalk ;
Wilton, fourteen. Company G, Capt. James E. Dunham,
Ridgefield, fifty-three ; Bridgeport, twenty-three ; Redding,
twenty. Company H, Capt. Enos Kellogg, mostly New Ca
naan. Company I, Capt. D. 0. Benson, mostly Greenwich.
Company K, Capt. John J. McCarty, Bridgeport, thirty-five ;
Fairfield, thirty-five.
Company F, the Lockwood Guards, was raised in three
days, stimulated by the offer of a thousand dollars by Le
Grand Lockwood, Esq., whose donations to the war-fund in
every direction were large and constant.
The Seventeenth left for the front Sept. 3, being greeted
by a salute, and the cheers of thousands assembled from all
parts of the county to witness its departure. Gov. Bucking-
, ham reviewed the regiment, and gave it his parting counsel.
During the firing of a salute at South Norwalk, the prema
ture discharge of a cannon shattered the arm of Joseph Haw
kins so terribly, that he died from the effect of the amputa
tion. In New York, the regiment embarked at the foot of
Twenty-third Street for South Amboy ; whence it proceeded
by rail to Baltimore. In its ranks, as a private, was Elias
Howe, jr., the inventor of the sewing-machine, in receipt of
an annual income of a quarter of a million dollars, his long
hair cut tight to his head, and a musket on his shoulder. In
the Westport company was Mr. E. M. Lees, postmaster, and
two brothers. The regiment, tired and hungry, arrived at
Baltimore late in the evening ; and, finding no transportation
to Washington, lay in the open street all night, and got a
cold collation at the d^pot at daybreak. Here they passed
another night on the floor, the colonel refusing to vacate
until quarters were furnished.
THE EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT. 231
New-London and Windham Counties took hold with such
earnestness, that the Eighteenth Regiment, begun after sev
eral of the others, was the first to start for Washington. A
county mass-meeting was held in Franklin Square, Norwich.
Hon. John T. Wait presided, and made a most impressive
speech, declaring that the question was, whether Americans
were fit for a republic ; and that its settlement would affect
all nations, and all generations of men. Mr. Wait was fol
lowed by Senator Lafayette S. Foster, Gen. Daniel Tyler,
Richard Busteed, Hiram Willey, and others. A war-commit
tee was appointed, consisting of Amos W. Prentice, David
Smith, John F. Slater, Henry Bill, F. M. Hale, James A. Ho-
vey, and John W. Stedman, who went vigorously to work.
Companies were started in every large town in the district.
Isaac H. Bromley, editor of the Bulletin, raised a company,
and went as its captain. The camp was established on the
Fair Ground, about one mile west of Norwich, on the old
Salem Turnpike ; and was, like that of the Seventeenth, des
ignated Camp Aiken, after the popular quartermaster-general
of the State, William A. Aiken of Norwich. Windham County,
determined that no conscripts should piece out her quota,
sent down company after company ; and by the middle of
August the regiment was declared full. Lieut.-Col. William
G. Ely of the Sixth, who had begun as a private in the three-
months' service, was called to the command of the Eigh
teenth. Monroe Nichols was made lieutenant-colonel ; and
Ephraim Reach, jr., major.
Five companies were from New-London County, and five
from Windham ; and towns were represented as follows :
Company A, Capt. Henry C. Davis, Norwich seventy-three,
Canterbury ten, Bozrah nine ; Company B, Capt. Thomas K.
Bates, Killingly fifty-two, Putnam fourteen, Brooklyn twelve,
Woodstock twelve ; Company C, Capt. Isaac H. Bromley,
Norwich forty-eight, Lebanon thirty-one ; Company D, Capt.
Joseph Mathewson, Thompson sixty-two, Pomfret eighteen,
Woodstock ten, Eastford eight ; Company E, Capt. Isaac W.
Hakes, jr., Norwich twenty-eight, Colchester twenty, Salem
eleven, Andover five ; Company F, Capt. Henry Peale, Nor
wich fifty-nine, Preston twelve, Griswold thirteen ; Company
232 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
G., Capt. George W. Wanner, Woodstock forty-four, Putnam
twenty-four, Windham eight ; ' Company H, Capt. Charles D.
Bowen, Windham fifty-five, Coventry thirteen, Tolland four
teen, Chaplin ten ; Company I, Capt. Samuel R. Knapp, Nor
wich twenty-nine, Preston eight, Lyme seventeen, Plainfield
fifteen, Griswold ten, Sprague eight ; Company K, Capt. Ezra
J. Mathewson, Killingly seventy-seven, Plainfield fourteen.
The friends of the Windham-county men came down on an
excursion-train, and visited the camp on Aug. 20. "During
the whole afternoon, the vast crowd swaj^ed hither and
thither over the ground, or stood gathered in little groups,
talking earnestly of the past and future. In the latter part
of the day, the regiment was formed, and marched about the
camp, a compact whole, the pride of the district whose gal
lant sons filled its ranks. And, as the setting sun threw its
rays across the tented field, there were the hurried parting, the
last fond embrace, the affectionate good-by, perhaps forever,
tremulously spoken by wives and sisters, aged fathers and
mothers ; and the living current swept back, leaving alone
the canvas city to the brave men who shall know no other
habitation until the flao; of their fathers shall float a<min in
O O
triumph over a re-united republic." 1
Just before the regiment left, Col. Ely found a swindler in
camp, who was selling to the soldiers " bullet-proof vests."
He straightway made half a dozen bullet-holes in the tin
armor, required the fellow to return the money to the dupes,
and then sent him to the guard-house.
At four o'clock, P.M., of the 22d, Gov. Buckingha'm drove
to camp, and presented the regimental colors in behalf of
the ladies of Norwich. Col. Ely received the standard with
a few appropriate remarks. Then the regiment formed in
line, and marched to the city. Norwich had put on its holi
day attire. " Finally, at seven o'clock, the huge engines
started, the boat moved into the stream, a loud cheer from
its precious freight, an answering shout from the crowd that
filled the wharves and lined the banks, a burst of music and
the roar of cannon, and' the Eighteenth Regiment had gone."
The Nineteenth Regiment was from Litchfield County. A
1 Norwich Bulletin.
THE NINETEENTH REGIMENT. 233
county mass-convention was held at Litchfield on July 22, at
which every town was represented. Seth P. Beers presided.
The convention resolved that a complete regiment should be
furnished by Litchfield County, and unanimously recom-
mende.d that Sheriff Leverett W. Wessells be commissioned
as its colonel. An executive committee was also appointed,
consisting of G. H. Hollister, Joseph Humphrey, jr., E. W.
Seymour, and George A. Hickox. There was now a united
effort to fill the ranks, and recruiting was rapid. Wessells
was made colonel ; Nathaniel Smith of Woodbury, major.
The camp was established on South Chestnut Hill, a mile
east of Litchfield. The place selected was a beautiful sloping
field on the farm of Cyrus Catlin ; and it was named Camp
Button, in honor of Lieut. Henry Melzar Button, who had
fallen nobly at Cedar Mountain.
Major Elisha S. Kellogg, of the First Connecticut Volunteer
Artillery, arrived at Litchfield, Aug. 20, with a commission as
lieutenant-colonel. Lieut. William B. Ells, also of the First,
came home to raise a company for the new regiment, and Pri
vate Charles J. Beming to go out as its adjutant. This excel
lent regiment had already graduated a colonel for the Thir
teenth, two majors for the Fourteenth, a surgeon for the Fif
teenth, a major for the Sixteenth, and a surgeon for the Twen
ty-first ; and when Major Kellogg, Lieut. Ells, and Private
Beming, received commissions in the Nineteenth, Col. Tyler
is said to have exclaimed indignantly that the government
seemed inclined to " make the First Artillery a d — d yeast-
pot to ' raise ' officers for the army."
Towns were represented in the Nineteenth as follows :
Company A, Capt. William Bissell, Litchfield, sixty-three;
Harwinton, ten ; Morris, seven. Company B, Capt. James
Hubbard, Salisbury, forty-three ; Kent, twenty-four. Com
pany C, Capt. James Q. Rice, Goshen, forty-two ; Torrington,
thirty-four. Company B, Capt. William B. Ells, Plymouth,
fifty-three ; Watertown, eighteen ; Harwinton, thirteen.
Company E, Capt. Jeffrey Skinner, Winchester, sixty-two;
Norfolk, sixteen. Company F, Capt. Edward W. Jones,
New Hartford, thirty ; North Canaan, nineteen ; Canaan,
sixteen ; Colebrook, fourteen. Company G, Capt. Edward
234 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
F. Gold, Cornwall, thirty-four ; Sharon, forty-one. Com
pany H, Capt. George S. Williams, New Milford, thirty-
seven ; Kent, twenty-one ; Washington, twenty-one. Com
pany I, Capt. Eli Sperry, Woodbury, sixty-one. Company K,
Capt. Edward 0. Peck, was made up by taking men from the
other companies ; so that it represented every town in the
county, except Cromwell and Sharon, and three towns in
other counties.
On Sept. 10, the regiment was declared full ; and an im
mense meeting was held at Litchfield, and a stand of colors
eloquently presented by William Curtis Noyes on behalf of
his wife, a grand-daughter of Col. Tallmadge, the bold partisan
leader of the Revolution, and aide to Gen. Washington. Hon.
Bobbins Battell of Norfolk presented to Col. Wessells a fine
blooded horse, and Hon. 0. S. Seymour gave him a McClellan
saddle. On the 15th, the regiment left Litchfield on a train
of twenty-three cars for " the front."
On the 27th of August, the companies and squads that
had been recruited for the Twentieth rendezvoused at Oyster
Point, New Haven, more than a thousand men. Enough
were exempted by the surgeons to bring the total down to
nine hundred and eiarhtv. Uniforms and a few old muskets
o */
for camp-guard were furnished, a camp was laid out, and a
regular military life begun. Gov. Buckingham appointed
Capt. Samuel Ross of the Fourteenth United-States Infantry,
mustering-officer in the State, to be colonel ; William B.
Wooster, Esq., of Birmingham, to be lieutenant-colonel ; and
Philo B. Buckingham of Seymour to be major.
The regiment now made its first awkward attempts at
drilling and guard-duty. " Long will our first guard-mount
ing be remembered as a splendid caricature. . . . Here you
would see a sentinel attempting to salute an officer. Poking
out his musket perpendicularly in front with the breech
nearly as high as his breast, and his face turned over his
shoulder, he continues his march on his beat until he strikes
the toe of his boot against some unleveled corn-hill, and
finishes his salute with a headlong sprawl. Another thrusts
his bayonet into the ground, and leaves his musket, because
THE TWENTIETH AND TWENTY-FIRST KEGIMENTS. 235
he is tired of carrying the i darned thing/ and thinks it just
as well to walk his beat without it."2
Towns were represented in the regiment as follows : Com
pany A, Capt. Timothy Guilford, Cheshire, sixty-five ; Pros
pect, eighteen. Company B, Capt. Sanford E. Chaffee, mainly
from £)erby ; Oxford, twelve. Company C, Capt. Henry C.
Smith, Hartford, twenty-eight ; East Haddam, twenty ; Ches
ter, seven ; Windsor Locks, eight ; Marlborough, six. Com
pany D, Capt. Frederick A. Parker, Portland, fifty-four; Had
dam, eighteen ; Cromwell, eighteen. Company E, Capt. Sam
uel S. Woodruff, Southington, seventy-three ; Farmington,
ten. Company F, Capt. Henry C. Pardee, New Haven, fifty-
nine ; Newtown, fourteen. Company G, Capt. William W.
Morse, New Haven, fifty-seven ; Guilford, six. Company H,
Capt. Charles S. Abbott, Seymour, twenty-three ; Waterbury,
twenty-one; Oxford, fourteen ; Derby, fourteen ; Southbury,
ten. Company I, Capt. Ezra D. Dickerman, Hamdem, forty;
Waterbury, eighteen ; New Haven, eight. Company K, Capt.
S. S. Stevens, New Britain, forty-one ; Hartford, eighteen ;
Waterbury, fifteen ; Cromwell, four.
The regiment was paid off; and* at ten, A.M., of Sept. 11,
18G2, the cars backed down, the bands played, the citizens
cheered ; and, struggling with various emotions, the men
started on their three-years' campaign.
The Twenty-first was recruited from the eastern and central
part of the State, and rendezvoused at Norwich, being raised
by the same impulse that had filled the Eighteenth. It was
a very promising regiment. Arthur H. Button, formerly of
Wallingford, but then a lieutenant in the regular army, was
chosen colonel ; and so rapidly was the regiment raised in
view of a threatened draft, that it was mustered into the
service, Sept. 5, with nine hundred and sixty-six men.
Thomas F. Burpee of Yernon was appointed lieutenant-
colonel ; and Hiram B. Crosby of Norwich, major.
Towns were represented in the regiment as follows : Com
pany A, Capt. Joseph Jordan, jr., East Hartford, thirty-nine;
Hartford, thirteen ; Glastenbury, sixteen ; Windsor, twelve.
Company B, Capt. Charles T. Martin, mostly from Hartford.
2 Licut.-Col. P. B. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
236 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
Company C, Capt. John E. Wood, wholly (ninety-two) from
Groton. Company D, Capt. Charles G. Southworth, Mans
field,, thirty-eight ; Ashford, seventeen ; Windham, fifteen ;
Wellington, eight. Company E, Capt. Charles T. Stanton,
jr., mostly (sixty -eight) from Stonington. Company F,
Capt. William Spittle, Montville, forty-three ; New London,
thirty-two ; Waterford, seven. Company G, Capt. James F.
Brown, North Stonington, sixty ; Voluntown, twenty -two.
Company H, Capt. Ralph C. Foot, jr., Colchester, forty-seven ;
Chatham, twenty-eight; Haddam, ten. Company I, Capt.
David Dickerson, Middletown, fifty-six ; Norwich, fifteen.
Company K, Capt. Jeremiah M. Shepard, Plainfield, forty-
seven ; Pomfret, fifteen ; Brooklyn, twelve ; Sterling, ten ;
Killingly, Sprague, and Lebanon, twelve.
Having been completely equipped and furnished, the regi
ment was ordered on board the cars Sept. 11, and, bidding
adieu to friends, proceeded to the seat of war.
During these fall months, also, the Second Connecticut
Light Battery had been organized, drilled, armed, and hastily
prepared for the front. "It was composed of portions of two
batteries of State militia at Bridgeport, consolidated under
Capt. John W. Sterling. A quiet, unassuming man, attached
to his home by family-ties and business-interests, he was
filled with a martial spirit; and having, as an amateur,
already made himself familiar with the theory of military
tactics, he brought his command to a high state of efficiency.
He was greatly assisted by his lieutenants, — Walter S.
Hotchkiss, Philip B. Segee, George Hunger, and Philo B.
Sherman. The men were mostly (one hundred and twelve)
from Bridgeport, eight from Fairfield, eight from Easton,
and thirteen from Stratford. The battery was composed of
the best materials, and was unsurpassed in its general equip
ments by any battery in the service. It was armed with four
6-pounder James's rifled guns, and two 4-pounder howitzers.
The battery left Bridgeport on Oct. 15, 1862, with one hun
dred and fifteen men, and proceeded to Washington, where
it remained two months in the artillery camp of instruction,
— Camp Barry.
DESTINATION OF TEOOPS. 237
These troops left the State thoroughly equipped ; but drills
had been irregular, and the men started forth with little
idea of the actual life and duties of a soldier. They were
received with bountiful hospitality by " the Sons of Con
necticut " in New York, co-operating with Col. John H. Almy,
the State's agent, and sent forward with words of patri
otic cheer. The eight regiments were assigned to the Army
of the Potomac ; and most of them reached Washington
over the usual railroad - route, and with about the same
wretched experience of travel night and day.
The Fourteenth was immediately sent across Long Bridge
to occupy Camp Chase, back of Arlington Heights, where
it remained the first night. Reveille was beaten at three
o'clock next morning ; and the men were started off for Fort
Ethan Allen, opposite Chain Bridge, where a camp was
pitched, and drills resumed. Cyrus C. Clark of Middletown
w.as now major, vice S. H. Perkins, promoted.
The Fifteenth was kept in Washington, near the east end
of Long Bridge, for a time, and was reviewed by Gen.
Casey, whose headquarters were near. Some companies
were detailed to guard the bridge on the Virginia side ; and
the men rapidly learned the trials of their new life in
encountering the wounded and invalids from the disastrous
second battle of Bull Run.
The Sixteenth arrived at Washington in the evening of
Aug. 31, and bivouacked near the Capitol. It marched
into Virginia next morning, and received a startling illustra
tion of war, — meeting a line of ambulances a mile long,
brinirin"; dead and dying from the battle-field. The men
O o •/ c?
proceeded to Fort Ward, about five miles distant, and
sat in the rain all night, the tents not having come up.
Here they remained for several days, while Lee was hasten-
in<T northward across the State to invade the North.
o
The Seventeenth expected to join Sigel's corps, then held
in reserve in front of Washington ; but Lee had just crossed
the Potomac into Maryland, and the regiment was detained
for the defense of Baltimore, where Gen. Wool was still in
command. They were ordered into Fort Marshall, a new
earthwork on the bights across the harbor from Fort Me-
238 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Henry, overlooking, that fortification and the city. This is
the highest point of land in the city ; and the sweep of
vision covers a radius of five or six miles in every direction.
The view was fine : but no quarters or food had been pro
vided for the regiment; so the men lay down upon the
ground, and slept like veterans. Next day, there was great
excitement caused by Lee's approach ; and twenty rounds
of cartridges were dealt out ; and the men, for a few nights,
slept on their arms. Here they remained for more than a
month, the post-quartermaster seeming to delight in making
them uncomfortable.
The Eighteenth also stopped in Baltimore. Col. Ely re
ported to Gen. Morris ; and the regiment was at once
installed in Fort McHenry, just being vacated by a New-
York three-months' regiment. Here they were soon com
fortably located in a camp on a cool and shady slope
running off to the waters of the bay. Behind and above,
the great guns of the fort frowned over the ramparts on the
half-rebel city ; while over all floated the stars and stripes
as proudly as when, " in the dawn's early light," Francis
Rodman Drake gazed anxiously across these same waters,
and that grand anthem, " The Star-spangled Banner," was
born. The regiment remained here a month ; four compa
nies, Capts. Peale's, Warner's, Knapp's, and Mathewson's,
under Major Reach, being stationed at Havre de Grace,
guarding the railroad.
The Nineteenth arrived at Alexandria on Sept. 18, and
went into camp a mile back of the city, in the brigade of
Gen. Slough, military governor. Here the regiment did
picket and patrol duty in and about Alexandria from this
time until January, obtaining the good will of the citizens
by circumspect behavior and soldierly conduct. These
months were industriously improved. The regiment was
daily and thoroughly drilled by Lieut-Col. Kellogg, who
was the beau-ideal of a soldier, and one of the best drill-
masters Connecticut produced. Col. Wessells' health soon
gave way, and he was but a few weeks with the regiment.
The Twentieth reached Washington at four o'clock, P.M.,
of Sept. 13 ; but, having reported to the " circumlocution
THE TWENTIETH AND TWENTY-FIRST AT CAMP CHASE. 239
office," it was five hours before it received an order to go
into camp. The men stretched themselves upon the ground
of East Capitol Hill, and slept without tents. Next morning
the baggage came up, and a camp was laid out ; but, two
days thereafter, they removed to Camp Chase, at Arlington
Heights, under their new brigade-commander, — Gen. Paul.
Here officers and men studied Casey's tactics, and devoted
four hours a day to the drill.
The Twenty -first also reached Washington on the 13th,
bivouacked near the Twentieth, and went with it to Camp
Chase on the 17th.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Call for Seven Regiments of Nine-months' Men. — The second Great Uprising. —
Kecruiting Active. • — Meetings and Bounties. — A Draft announced. — The Camps.
— Exemption sought. — Skulks and Cowards. — The Surgeons besieged. — The
White-liver Complaint. — Incidents. — How New Haven filled her Quota. — The Day
of the Draft. — The Mountain brings forth. — All the Regiments Full. — The Twenty-
second from Hartford and Tolland Counties. — Twenty-third from Fairfield and
New Haven. — Twenty-fourth from Middlesex. — Twenty-fifth from Hartford. —
Twenty-sixth from New London and Windham. — Twenty-seventh from New Haven.
— Twenty-eighth from Fairfield and Litchfield. — The Rendezvous on Long Island.
LMOST simultaneously with the call for three
hundred thousand men for three years came
(Aug. 4, 1862) a call for three hundred thou
sand for nine months, under which the quota of
the State was again 7,145. Including the last
three-years' quota, still incomplete., Connecticut had already
raised 21,702 soldiers; and the various branches of industry
showed the drain that was being suffered. Yet the startling
reverses to our arms, and the excitement and war-meetings
resulting, caused a very general response to this summons.
Moreover, nearly half the number now called for had been
furnished in the surplus volunteering for three years ; and
there were many remaining whose circumstances prevented
a three-years' absence, who cheerfully volunteered to go for
nine months, believing that such service would carry the
war past the most critical point.
Seven additional regiments were called for, from the
Twenty-second to the Twenty-eighth inclusive ; and volun
teers poured in to the recruiting-stations. All parties par
ticipated in the new uprising. At the war-meetings of the
time, Charles Chapman and Alvan P. Hyde, the acknowledged
leaders of the Democratic party in the House of Represen-
240
PREPARATIONS FOR DRAFTING. 241
tatives, spoke on the same platform with prominent Repub
licans, urging men of all creeds and politics to enroll them
selves at once for the national defense.
The last companies filled slowly ; and the governor, on
Aug. 21, in obedience to orders from Washington, announced
a draft for Sept. 3, unless the requisition should previously be
filled. The number required of different towns beino- esti
mated, they at once put forth prodigious efforts to fill the
respective quotas. While nearly all the people heartily
seconded recruiting, a large majority looked upon the draft
as a disagreeable, if necessary, alternative : many objected
to it, and a few openly opposed it.
Dr. C. H. Atwood of Woodbury objected to bounties, and
called upon the educated and wealthy to enlist, and not
require it of the laboring-men, who could not leave their
families. As the tendency, if not the intent, of this was
obvious, his eloquence was received with hisses, and only
served to augment the emphasis with which the town voted
the bounty of one hundred dollars. At the town-meeting in
Bethlehem, an old citizen named Beecher, who had presided
a year before at a Schnable peace-meeting, was " afeard the
town would be ruined by paying such big bounties." His
son Marshall Beecher soon took refuge in Canada. L. L.
Bloss offered a resolution, providing that, if a volunteer from
the town should " run off anybody's nigger," he should for
feit all his bounty.
Meanwhile the enrollment for a draft was proceeding. In
preparation for it, four camps were established, — Camp Hal-
leek at Hartford, commanded by Col. George S. Burnham, and,
later, by Col. George P. Bissell, for Hartford and Tolland Coun
ties ; Camp Terry at New Haven, for New-Haven, Fairfield,
and Litchfield Counties, commanded by Col. James M. Wood
ward ; Camp Russell at Norwich, for New-London and Wind-
ham Counties, commanded by Col. Thomas G. Kingsley, and,
later, by Col. Thomas H. C. Kingsbury ; and Camp Mansfield
at Middletown, for Middlesex County, commanded by Col. E.
W. N. Starr. Several of the last three-years' regiments, and
all the nine-months' regiments, rendezvoused at these camps.
General orders were published, giving full directions as to
ol
242 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the manner of conducting the draft, with the classes exempt,
and the provision for substitutes. It appeared that Sprague,
Chaplin, Windham, Maryborough, New Hartford, Norfolk, and
Saybrook had already filled their quotas. As the day ap
proached, it became clearly impossible to prepare the cor
rected schedule in time ; and the draft was postponed until
the 10th.
During this week, the exertions of loyal men were re
doubled, and the solicitude of semi-traitors and cowards
increased. Every subterfuge was resorted to by these last
to escape service. Section 4 of the Militia Law, passed at
the May session, provided for assistants of the surgeon-gen
eral in each county, authorized to examine all applicants for
exemption. Old certificates of disability suddenly became
priceless. The halt, the blind, the diseased, swelled to a
fabulous number.
Some surgeons seemed, from excessive good nature, or for
the sake of popularity, or for the paltry twenty-five cents re
ceived for each certificate, inclined to grant almost every
application. Dr. Beckwith of Litchfield was severely cen
sured, as caring more for these than for the nation others
were struggling to save ; but he asserted that he did what
seemed to be his duty with impartial honesty. Be this as it
may, his fame spread through all surrounding towns. Men
swarmed into Litchfield with haggard and ghastly counte
nances ; stout young fellows bent over canes, and feigned
excruciating rheumatism, or moaned agonizing internal and
invisible maladies. Every day some one received the twenty-
five cents exemption, flung away his staff, and walked off
with a firm step.
The physicians generally were rigid, excusing none but
those obviously unfit. A few left every county, and fled to
Canada, where they were hailed as poltroons and skulks. A
few who sympathized with the South maimed themselves that
they might be exempt ! A " peace-man " in New Fairfield
cut off his right fc-re-finger. Another extracted his full set
of sound teeth, and presented himself to Dr. Ezra P. Ben
nett to be examined, but subsided into a speechless rage
when the doctor, disgusted with the spectacle, " passed " him,
REPUGNANCE TO DRAFTING. 243
informing him that he could "go as well as not : don't have to
bite cartridges now." A cripple from Preston presented him
self to Dr. Farnsworth at Norwich with a stiff leg ; but the
doctor, perceiving that the rigidity was voluntary, horse
whipped the creature, and then kicked him out of his office.
The lame leg was restored as good as new. Dr. Welch of
Winsted used to ask, " Can you work ? " — " Y — es, work a
lit-tle," was a common reply. "Then you can fight a lit
tle ; " and the case was closed.
At this time, Litchfield County was all astir with recruiting
for the Nineteenth and Twenty-eighth Regiments. Every
day, Hon. John H. Hubbard, and often Edward Seymour
and others, would go out to the Green, where the candidates
for exemption were congregated, and depict the need and
peril of the nation, and set forth the meanness of shirking
duty due to the flag and the country. Almost every day,
a number thoroughly ashamed of their despicable inten
tions banished pretended ills, stood erect in manhood, and
enlisted for three years or the war.
In Barkhamsted, at the town-meeting in which a hundred
dollars bounty was voted to volunteers, it was also resolved
unanimously, that "whereas a most dangerous and alarming
epidemic, traceable in most cases to the pro tern, cause of an
enormous enlargement of the white liver., threatens the total
extinction of our able-bodied white male population be
tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five years; therefore
resolved, that, as a sanitary regulation, the names and
alleged reasons of all citizens of this town who apply for
exemption be published in the county newspapers."
The aggregate of those who dishonestly sought exemp
tion was, of course, very small, when compared with the
whole number liable to military duty. The people gen
erally were ready to stand the draft; and some calmly
awaited the result as th i decision of Providence upon their
duty to go or stay. Still there was a decided repugnance to
a draft, however equitable ; and all, with Connecticut ideas
of freedom, wished to see the ranks filled by volunteers.
Many towns filled their quota on the morning of the day
of the draft. At New Haven, an immense crowd, estimated
244 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
at from three to five thousand, gathered at the north por
tico of the State House. A citizens' meeting was organized,
with Thomas R. Trowbridge as" chairman, and Edwin A.
Tucker as secretary. Joseph Sheldon immediately offered,
on behalf of Arthur D. Osborne, fifteen dollars each for
two volunteers, in addition to all bounties. James Gallagher
offered fifteen dollars for one man. I. W. Hine and William
A. Beckley each made the same offer. William Franklin
offered fifteen dollars each for ten ; N. D. Sperry, fifteen
dollars each for ten more ; John Woodruff, fifteen dollar?
each for twenty; Thomas R. Trowbridge, fifteen dollars
each for thirty more ; J. A. Bishop, fifteen dollars each for
ten men. Each announcement was greeted by loud ap
plause. Others followed. S. T. Parmalee offered a hun
dred dollars, D. J. Peck fifty dollars, Hiram Camp fifteen
dollars, each, for ten men. Rev. William Folsom made a
short and very spirited address, offering at its close fifteen
dollars each for five men. Men now enlisted rapidly. A
call was made for a general contribution, to be divided
equally among volunteers. Individuals began to pass up
money in sums from one dollar to twenty. James Galla
gher, in a patriotic and earnest speech, called for more men
and money ; and they were forthcoming. At noon, fifty-two
men had volunteered, fifteen dollars each had been offered
for eighty-eight more, and twelve hundred dollars had been
contributed for equal distribution. The crowd and enthusi
asm were undiminished. The selectmen stood by the boxes,
ready to commence the draft. Enlistments went on. At
three o'clock and forty-five minutes, P.M., twenty-five men
were needed to fill the quota. The selectmen gave notice
that the draft would begin at four o'clock. They delayed
half an hour more ; and, at half-past four o'clock, N. C. Hall
announced that the quota of New Haven was full, and that
there would be no draft. Nine tremendous cheers broke
forth, and all went home happy. More than one hundred
men had enlisted since nine o'clock.
Similar scenes were enacted, on a smaller scale, in other
towns : and, when the draft was made, one hundred and
twenty-eight towns had filled their quota ; thirty-four had
THE NUMBER DRAFTED. 245
not. Windham County had an excess of men. New-London
County needed but twenty-four. Hartford County lacked
the largest number, — four hundred and seventy-seven; and
of these the city of Hartford drafted for four hundred and
twenty-one.
The returns from the draft show that the number drafted
was thirteen hundred and three (1,303). Of these, nine
hundred and thirteen (913) were exempted by selectmen
or on surgeon's certificate. Seventy-nine (79) principals
and one hundred and forty-two (142) substitutes were mus
tered into the service, and eighty-eight (88) were detailed
on government work ; making a total of three hundred
and nine (309) accepted. Of these, again, one hundred
and eighty-four (184) never reported, and eighty-one (81)
deserted after being sent to camp ; leaving forty-four (44)
to be sent to the front. McClellan's confidence was not
restored by this re-inforcement. A conditional Border for
another draft was soon issued ; but, within three weeks, the
entire quota was furnished, and the regiments full; and the
supplemental draft was indefinitely postponed.
These seven being technically militia regiments, all the
officers, both field and line, were chosen by election ; the
enlisted men designating the company-officers, and these
nominating the field-officers.
Many of the members of these regiments were young
farmers, who had about finished their haying, and " calcu
lated " they should return in time to take part in the hard
work of the next summer. Generally, at the rendezvous,
before the loth of September, it was understood that
their term of service would expire so that they would be
mustered out by the middle of the next June. This view
was confirmed by the appearance, during the last of Septem
ber, of Lieut. Webb, who mustered them into the United-
States service as individual recruits. There were a few
skulks in each regiment, who desired to spend as much of the
nine months as possible in Connecticut ; and who absented
themselves, without leave, whenever the mustering-officer
came for the purpose of accepting the regiment and send-
246 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ing it forward. This practice left each regiment without the
required complement, and departure was postponed from
day to day. About the middle of November, Lieut. Webb
re-appeared, and re-mustered them as regiments ; informing
them that their service only now commenced. There was
some dissatisfaction ; for the better men felt that they had
been trifled with : but they were in a mood to tolerate
sharp practice from a nation in such a strait as ours, and,
without much murmuring, gave the extra two months of
service.
The Twenty-second Regiment was recruited exclusively in
Hartford and Tolland Counties, and four companies were
raised in the city of Hartford. Recruiting commenced Aug.
20 : and in just one month, Sept. 20, the regiment was mus
tered into the service at Camp Halleck, Hartford ; having
been full for two weeks. Again towns offered attractive
bounties ; and there were also striking instances of individual
liberality. Charles F. Hillyer, president of the Charter-oak
Bank, gave nearly one thousand dollars in bounties to enlist
men for the company of Capt. Luther G. Riggs, which took the
name of "The Hillyer Guards." Col. George S. Burnham,
who had led the First Regiment in the field, was appointed
to command the Twenty-second. Only four other officers
had ever seen service ; but they were patriotic, and willing
to learn.
Company A, Capt. Albert Armbraster, was raised wholly
in Windsor and East Windsor. Company B, Capt. John
G. Root, was from Hartford • Wethersfield furnishing thirty.
Company C, Capt. Luther G. Riggs, was from Hartford ;
East Hartford and East Windsor also slightly assisting.
Company D, Capt. E. B. Root, represented West Hartford
twenty-two, Bloomfield forty-two, East Windham twelve.
Company E, Capt. Frank Swan, Hartford fifty, Mansfield
eleven, Wethersfield six. Company F, Capt. George Clark,
was wholly from Enfield. Company G, Capt. George W.
Johnson, was from Suffield ; Union contributing twenty-three.
Company H, Capt. Charles C. Shultas, was from Hartford;
Southington sending eleven, Canton eight. Company I,
Capt. Charles Whittlesey, was from Hartford ; Canton having
THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. 247
fifteen of the number. In Company K, Capt. Benjamin T.
Loomis, Tolland had forty-two, Somers twenty-two.
After a few weeks of irregular drill, the regiment left
Hartford for the seat of war, Oct. 2, one of the stormiest
days of the season, with nine hundred men, on the Granite
State. They arrived in New York, and breakfasted at the
Battery Barracks ; crossed by ferry-boat to Elizabeth City,
and took cars; reaching Washington, via Harrisburg, on Sun
day evening. Their first bivouac was on the flats near the
Capitol. Next morning, the regiment became a part of the
Second Provisional Brigade. After tarrying two days in
Washington, they marched to Georgetown ; thence up to
Chain Bridge ; when they crossed the Potomac, and came
to rest under the barbette guns of Fort Ethan Allen. Next
morning they advanced half a mile, and encamped in a beau
tiful peach-orchard ; Col. Burnham, as senior officer, com
manding the brigade of three green regiments.
Tlie Twenty-third Regiment was raised in Fairfield and
New-Haven Counties, mostly the former. Charles E. L.
Holmes of Waterbury was early commissioned to be colonel.
It rendezvoused at Camp Terry, New Haven. All the field
and most of the line officers were connected with the active
State militia, and several brought their companies bodily into
the regiment.
Company A, Capt. Alfred Wells, was recruited about equal
proportions in Watertown and Waterbury. Company B.
Capt. James H. Jenkins, represented Danbury alone ; and not
a man. deserted during the service. Company C, Capt.
Julius Sanford, was the union of squads from Newtown (forty)
and Sharon (thirty-four). Company D, Capt. Charles W. Hall,
had nineteen from Bridgeport, nineteen from Trumbull, and
twenty-five from Huntington. Company E, Capt. George
M. Godfrey, contained twenty-five from Wilton, nineteen
from Weston, and thirty-six from Redding. Company F,
Capt. David F. Johnson, was largely from Derby ; other towns
furnishing half, most of whom (twenty-nine) deserted before
leaving camp. Company G, Capt. George S. Crofut, had
twenty from Bethel, twelve from Danbury, six from New-
248 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
town, five from Ridgefield, and eight from Fairfield. Of
Company H, Capt. A. Dwight Hopkins, Naugatuck furnished
forty-three, Waterbury twenty-one, Watertown five. Com
pany I, Capt. William H. May, had twenty-four from Bridge
port, fifty-three from Fairfield, and seven from Easton ; and
of these, many of whom were drafted men or substitutes,
thirty-eight deserted before the company left the State.
Company K, Capt. Samuel G. Bailej^, was mainly from Dan-
bury ; New Fairfield contributing seventeen, and Litchiield
seven.
The regiment was composed of excellent material. It
was assigned to Gen. Banks's expedition, of the destination
of which nothing was yet known; and on Nov. 17, with
eight hundred and forty-eight men, it proceeded to the camp
at Centreville (East New York), L.I.
The Twenty-fourth Regiment was mostly raised in Middle
sex County ; and Samuel M. Mansfield, first lieutenant in the
regular army and a son of Major-Gen. Mansfield, was called
to the command. Middletown contributed four companies :
A, Capt. Isaac C. Gleason ; D, Capt. Timothy R. Parker ; F,
Capt. William J. Addis ; and G, Capt. Charles H. Edwards ; in
which, however, were twenty-two from Haddam, twenty-one
from Cromwell, twelve from Clinton, and ten from Durham.
Company B, Capt. H. P. Johnson, was mainly from Essex ;
Westbrook furnishing fourteen, Old Saybrook five, and Kil-
lingworth ten. Company C, Capt. A. G. Fitch, wras from
Colchester and Chatham ; Montville contributing six, and
Lebanon eight. Company E, Capt, G. A. Denslow, was from
Hartford. Company H, Capt. John J. Kealey, was from
New Haven ; and, of fifty Tfonr privates, twenty-four de
serted before leaving for the seat of war. Company I, Capt.
Alonzo L. Mobbett, was from Hamden ; and it set sail with
sixteen officers and fifteen privates. Company K, Capt.
Patrick Gilmore, was from New Haven and Bridgeport ; and
twenty-seven of the privates deserted before leaving the
State. At this time, men were sorely needed ; and they were
accepted, and paid heavy bounties, without much regard to
their character or purposes. Stimulated by the inducements
THE TWENTY-FOURTH AND TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENTS. 249
offered, bounty-jumping was practiced as a science, until it
became the bane of the army and the curse of every com
munity. The catalogue of the volunteers of , Connecticut
clearly shows what class of citizens most resorted to this
method of profiting by the misfortunes of the nation.
When the Twenty-fourth became purified by the depart
ure of those who joined for fraudulent purposes, there
remained a brave and efficient, body of men, tolerably
well disciplined, and thoroughly in earnest. The regiment
was mustered into the service at Middletown on Nov. 18,
1862, and left immediately, assigned to Banks's expedition;
arriving at Centreville, L.I., with less than six hundred men.
The Twenty-fifth, like the Twenty-second, was raised
almost wholly in Hartford County, with some • assistance
from Tolland; several companies forming the nucleus re
ported at Camp Halleck, Hartford, the last week in August ;
and enlistments continued from Aug. 20 to Nov. 11, at
which time it was formally mustered into the service.
George P. Bissell of Hartford was made colonel ; and he
exhibited an energy in drill and discipline which promised
to bring his men up to a high standard of excellence. The
regiment was composed almost exclusively of young men
impelled by a patriotic motive ; so that, except in the mixed
company from Hartford and Ellington, the desertions were
few.
Company A, Capt. Mason C. Weld, had twenty-one from
Farmington, twenty from Hartford, fifteen from Canton,
nine from Wethersfield, seven from Berlin, and a dozen
more from intervening towns. In Company B, Capt. Arthur
T. Hinckley, Hartford furnished thirty-four ; Vernon, ten ;
and West Hartford, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and East
Windsor, the rest. In Company C, Capt. S. S. Hay den, were
thirty-two from Windsor Locks, five from Windsor, nine
teen from East Hartford, and sixteen from Hartford. Com
pany D, Capt. George H. Foskit, was exclusively from Staf
ford, — a fine company. Company E, Capt. Newton P.
Johnson, .consisted of twenty -nine from East Granby,
twenty-seven from Hartland, and nineteen from Simsbury.
250 CONNECTICUT DUUING THE REBELLION.
Company F, Capt. George H. Na'pheys, was from Hartford
and Ellington. Company G, Capt. Charles H. Talcott, was
a consolidation of fractional companies from Glastenbury
and East Windsor; and Company H, Capt. William II.
Abbey, of large" squads from Glastenbury, Rocky Hill, and
Coventry. Company I, Capt. Barrett Darrow, from Bristol,
contained eleven from Burlington. Company K, Capt. Wil
liam F. Silloway, contained thirty-three inen from Hartford,
twenty-six from Farmington, fourteen from Avon, and
twelve from Canton.
The muster-roll exhibited eight hundred and eleven men.
On Nov. 14, the regiment sailed from Hartford, and, the fol
lowing day, encamped on the Centreville Race-course, Long-
Island, laying out camp and holding dress-parade the same
evening, after making the distance from Williamsburg in
heavy marching order.
New-London County acted immediately and unitedly in
response to the nine-months' call ; and, on Sept. 5, the
Twenty-sixth Regiment was ordered to rendezvous at Nor
wich. Col. Thomas G. Kingsley of Franklin, who had served
for eight years as colonel of the Third Regiment of militia,
was elected to be colonel. Some of the companies were on
hand promptly ; and by the 15th all were in Camp Russell.
Drill was at once begun ; and, as most of the officers and
many of the enlisted men had seen service, the work of
preparation was continued intelligently.
In this regiment, the eastern part of the State was thus
represented : Company A, Capt. Jesse C. Mayriard, Salem,
eighteen ; Montville, twenty-two ; Waterford, eight ; Sprague,
Chester, and Lebanon. Company B, Capt. Clark Harring
ton, Norwich, thirty ; Preston, twenty-five ; Franklin, twenty.
Company C, Capt. Enoch Noyes, jr., Old Lyrne, East Lyme,
and Lyme. Company D, Capt. Samuel T. Hun toon, Nor
wich, thirty- three ; Ledyard, twenty - seven ; Voluntown,
nine ; Preston, eight. Company E, Capt. Christian Goflj
New London, forty-five ; Waterford, six. Company F, Capt.
Loren A. Gallup, Norwich, twenty-five ; Lyme, twenty-one ;
Griswold, fifteen ; Lisbon, six ; East Haddam, six. Company
TWENTY-SIXTH AND TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENTS. 251
G, Capt. John L. Stanton, Norwich, twenty-one ; Woodstock,
eighteen ; Pomfret, eight ; Ashford, five ; Scotland, seven ;
Sterling, ten. Company H, Capt, Daniel Champlin, Ston ing-
ton, sixty. Company I, Capt. William H. Bentley, New Lon
don, seventy. Company K, Capt, Jedediah Randall, Groton,
eighty.
On Nov. 12 they vacated their camp, under orders to join
Banks's expedition, still gathering in the vicinity of New
York. Main and Shetucket Streets were thronged with
friends and neighbors, who gave the regiment many words
of good cheer as it inarched to the wharf. At five, P.M., the
cables were slipped ; and the Commodore, with its freight of
more than eight hundred men, swung out into the stream ;
while the band, to make the occasion cheerful, struck up
"The Girl I left Behind Me." The afternoon and night
were pleasant. At seven in the morning, the boat arrived at
Williamsburg. The regiment partook of an inadequate
breakfast at the wharf; but, as the men marched through
South Sixth Street, the ladies and citizens poured out, and
furnished them with wholesome refreshments. The camp at
the Centreville Race-course was reached by one, P.M. The
Twenty-sixth was the first Connecticut regiment to arrive;
and Col. Kingsley assumed command of the post, naming
it, with Gen. Banks's approval, "Camp Buckingham," — a
designation which had by this time ceased to be original or
novel, but never ceased to be popular. Every regiment
named several of its stopping-places after the . favorite
governor, until " Camps Buckingham " were scattered over
Virginia, and extended down the Atlantic coast and up the
Mississippi.
The Twenty-seventh was recruited in New-Haven County;
a large majority of officers and men being furnished by the
city of New Haven. Richard S. Bostwick of New Haven
was elected colonel ; and towards the end of August the
regiment went into camp at Camp Terry, and began to pre
pare itself for the service before it. By the last of Septem
ber, all the companies were full.
Company A, Capt. James H. Coburn, was from the city.
252 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
Company B, Capt, Calvin L. Ely, represented Branford,
thirty-six ; Wallingford, twenty-nine ; North Haven, seven ;
North Branford, six. Company C, Capt. A. C. Taylor, New
Haven, twenty-five ; Milford, twenty-seven ; Norwalk, nine
teen ; Guilford,1 six. Company D, Capt. Cornelius J. Du
Bois, was mostly from New Haven ; Bethany adding ten.
Company E, Capt. George F. Hotchkiss, was also mainly
from New Haven ; Woodbridge having six. Company F,
Capt. Joseph R. Bradley, was the union of incomplete com
panies from New Haven and East Haven. Company G,
Capt. Samuel T. Birdsall, was about equally from Meriden
and New Haven ; Orange also having thirty in this and
other companies. Company H, Capt. R. P. Cowles, was from
New Haven. Company I, Capt. Charles M. Wilcox, was re
cruited in Madison. Company K, Capt. B. E. Schweizer,
was raised among the Germans of New Haven.
All the field-officers and most of the company-officers had
seen service ; and the regiment was made up of a superior
class of men. Several weeks were spent in drilling and
equipping ; and on Oct. 22 the regiment started for the
field, numbering eight hundred and twenty-nine rank and
file. The journey to Washington was uneventful. Again
the inexhaustible hospitality of the " Quaker City " was
tested ; and the regiment took a day's rest upon the pave
ments of Baltimore, and arrived at its destination on the
25th ; when the men pitched their tents in Lee's peach-
orchard on Arlington Heights, — Camp Seward.
The Twenty-eighth Regiment was raised in Fairfield
and Litchfield Counties, and also rendezvoused at Camp
Terry, New Haven. It was composed of eight companies
only. Samuel P. Ferris of the regular army was appointed
colonel.
Companies A, Capt. Francis R. Leeds, and B, Capt. Cyrus
D. Jones, were entirely from Stamford. Company C, Capt.
Louis R. McD enough, had fifty-seven from Westport, twenty-
two from Darien, seven from Stamford. Company D, Capt.
David D. Hoag, contained thirty-four from New Milford, fif
teen from Bridgewater, twenty from Sherman, and sixteen
THE TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. 253
from Washington. Company E, Capt. Charles B. Landon,
was wholly from Salisbury. Company F, Capt, L. B. Whee-
lock, was almost entirely from Winchester ; Colebrook send
ing nine, and Torrington and Barkhamsted ten more. Com
pany G, Capt. Theodore L. Beckwith, was from Norwalk ;
and Company H, Capt. George W. Middleton, from Green
wich.
They were kept at New Haven two months ; when, weary
with the monotony of camp-life, they gladly received the
summons to proceed (Nov. 17) to the rendezvous where
Banks was assembling his expedition. They took a night-
boat; and the evening of the next day found them hastily
laying out a camp on the Centreville Race-course, Long
Island, where Col. George P. Bissell was in command.
There were now at Centreville five of the Connecticut
nine-months' regiments — the Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth,
Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, and Twenty-eight — encamped
together ; a village of more than three thousand men. The
arrangements were in some respects seriously defective, or
at least so regarded by the volunteers just from warm beds
and plentiful tables. One of them wrote, " The excessive
dirt in the food, and the excessive moisture in the lodging,
form frequent subjects of complaint. All experience has
shown that sleeping, or trying to sleep, in three inches of
water, in the midst of November, is not conducive to good
health, temper, or morals."
There was one pleasant incident, however. When Thanks
giving came, the tables were spread with lavish care by the
" Sons of Connecticut " in New York ; and the regiments gath
ered about them to express their patriotic resolves, and re
new the fragrant memories of life in New England. All
praise, as we pass, should be given those noble arid patriotic
" Sons of Connecticut," before referred to, for their unweary
ing kindness and liberality to the troops from their State as
they passed or halted in the vicinity of New York. The
activity of the agent of the State, and the liberality of Mc-
Curdy, Wetmore, Gould, S. B. Chittenden, Gilman, arid oth
ers, is beyond all praise, and most gratefully remembered by
our troops.
254 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
Again Connecticut had achieved a giant's work. In two
months, from a condition of apathy and over-confidence, she
had roused to an enthusiastic war-spirit, and had raised,
equipped, and sent to the field, fifteen full regiments, or an
average of about a hundred able-bodied men from every
town. She was probably not the first to fill her quota, as the
Tribune and some of our own newspapers at the time an
nounced ; for the response of Iowa appears to have preceded
ours : but Connecticut answered the requisition before any
other Eastern State, and elicited from the Boston Traveller
the comment, " Connecticut has behaved splendidly from the
beginning of the war, and means to persevere in well-doing
to the end. She does not brag so much as some other States ;
but she does much useful work. She worships the Union,
and believes that work is worship."
CHAPTER XVII.
The Eighth and Eleventh near Newberne. — To Newport News. — Re-organization of
the Eleventh. — To Fredericksburg. — Pope, defeated, retreats on Washington. —
Col. Kingsbury in command of the Brigade. — Arrival in Washington. — Movement
into Maryland. — The Fourteenth and Sixteenth join the Column. — South Moun
tain. — The Affair of Turner's Gap. — Choice Rebel Literature.
FTER the siege of Fort Macon, the Eighth re
turned to Newberne, and encamped about a
mile below the city, on the west bank of the lan
guid and beautiful Neuse. The Eleventh still
remained in its pleasant camp on the Trent;
and the Tenth in the open plain, just above the city. Col.
Harland much of the time commanded a brigade which in
cluded the Eighth and Eleventh, and at battalion-drill was
not surpassed by any officer of the division. Life at this
place is still vividly remembered. Surgeon Meyer of the
Eleventh wrote, " By the slow and solemn Trent stood our
hospital, the ancient home of a Revolutionary general.
Huge old mulberry-trees embowered it; and, opposite, a
reedy peninsula stretched its green tongue far down the
river. There we swung in hammocks through the long
summer afternoons, reading hoary magazines that had come
in the boxes of sanitary or soldiers'-aid clubs, or dreamily
discussing authors and books."
June brought much bilious fever, particularly to the
Eighth, which had been seriously worn down by the labo
rious siege. Here many men of defective constitutions
died, worn out in service. Convalescents obtained fur
loughs to recruit in the bracing air and kind care of home.
The tents were often chilly and very damp. Sometimes
matches would not kindle, nor postage-stamps cling to let-
255
256 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ters; and boots gathered mold. Bathing became a great
luxury. The regiments had, after dress-parade, a regular
bathing-call; and hundreds ran to plunge into the cooling
and healthful stream, — to them almost a Siloam. This was
the merriest hour of the day. Many bathed at morning
also ; but none were allowed to go into the water under the
burning sun of mid-day.
Every day they watched for the steamer that brought the
Northern mails, cheering it as it moved up the river, and
waiting with patient hope, sometimes for twelve hours, pend
ing the distribution of a huge mail for ten thousand men.
On July 2, the Eighth moved to Morehead City, and
thence on the transport Admiral to Newport News, where a
camp was set on an exposed sandy plain. The Eleventh fol
lowed closely. The beach of Hampton Roads, near at hand.
protracted the delight of bathing. A few oysters were scat
tered along the clean bottom ; and the boys felt out with
their bare feet, dived down, and captured enough of the
toothsome bivalves to break the monotony of salt pork and
hard-tack.
Here died Lieut. Charles A. Breed, of Norwich, of typhoid
fever. He had been in the war from the first summons,
and was buried at home with public honors. He was much
lamented ; and his brother-officers sent their condolence to
"his widowed mother, who had given two sons to sustain
the cause of constitutional liberty."
The field and line of the Eleventh were here re-organized.
Its lieutenant-colonel, a noble and patriotic man, but not of
a military turn of mind, had resigned at Newberne ; and its
colonel, who had never much loved or adorned the service,
here also took final leave of the regiment. Lieut. Henry
W. Kingsbury of the regular army, who declined the com
mission of colonel of the Eleventh in October previous, no\v
accepted it; and Capt, Griffin A. Stedman of the Fifth,
who had been transferred to be major of the Eleventh, now
became lieutenant-colonel. The line-officers were immediately
subjected to a regular drill and severe study ; and, at the
end of two weeks, all who failed to pass a rigid examination
were requested to resign, and complied. Vacancies were
filled by deserved promotions from the ranks.
THE. FRAIL TRESTLE-BRIDGE. 257
The new colonel daily drilled the battalion in the strictest
manner. Severe inspections also began. A spot of dirt
secured a reprimand, and an unclean musket was a sure
passport to extra duty or the guard-house. No man was
allowed to step out of his company-street unless his coat
was on, and every button buttoned. There was fierce com
motion for a time, and smothered threats of mutiny ; but
the colonel was master, and, within the three weeks of sta\-
at Newport News, the regiment improved beyond descrip
tion. From being the most disorderly and slovenly in the
division, it became, perhaps, the cleanest and most orderly.
Officers and men of other regiments crowded to witness its
0
battalion-drills ; and the boys began to be proud of their
colonel and themselves. Thenceforward, for three years,
the Eleventh had few if any superiors.
The first of August, the men got ready and departed for
the North. McClellan had been beaten, and the rebels were
falling upon Pope. On the 5th, the two regiments found
themselves up the Potomac, debarking at Acquia Creek.
Baggage was quickly loaded into freight-cars, and many of
the men clambered and clustered on the top. The track was
in wrretched order, the sun fierce, the smoke and cinders
sickening.
The men on " the upper deck " will hardly forget the
frail trestle-bridge crossed at Potomac Creek. The stream
rippled a hundred and fifty feet below the track : the old
bridge had been burned, and a new one was built up from
the very bed of the stream in a continued trellis, with strips
of three and four inch pine-scantling. At a little distance,
the light structure seemed like a delicate web with which
some adventurous spider had spanned the gorge ; and, as
they crept slowly and softly over its trembling timbers and
creaking joints, those who peered into the chasm below
shuddered, and shut their eyes. Not a word was spoken
till the train reached firm ground, and then even the loco
motive could not restrain a shrill cry of relief.
Fredericksburg was soon reached. Few will forget the
march from the station on the hottest day the regiment had
seen in service. The surgeons of the Eighth were all
258 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
absent or sick, and Chaplain Morris alone was left to care
for the sick and weary men. More than twenty fell sun-
struck. At last, the exhausted men lay down upon the
ground, and slept.
At Fredericksburg was spent a pleasant month of drill
and picket duty. Most of the time, the Eleventh was on
patrol in the city ; and never was that duty more acceptably
performed. The Eighth was every second day on picket far
down the road towards Richmond : one company detailed
for Falmouth. Of Falmouth, Lieut. Joseph H. Converse of
the Eleventh graphically wrote : —
" A dirty place, with but a few streets, and these snubbed into extrejne
limits by fierce hills. We were much impressed on our first visit with the
peculiarities of this town, primarily having an idea that it was au
insane village on a maniacal march ; but were led to consider that it might
be a fossilized suburb slightly inebriated. Every thing looks wild and
dilapidated : crazy stairs run up to outsides of as crazy old barns ; chim
neys reel as if with sun-stroke ; fences twist themselves into exaggerated
attitudes, and look blindly for aid from decrepit old posts."
While stationed here, the men had good water and plenty
of wholesome food ; and the health of the troops rapidly
improved. At last, there was booming of cannon near
Manassas. Orders came to cut down baggage to the last
notch. With a sigh, officers closed their trunk-lids on the
gorgeous uniforms in which they had been wont to shine at
dress-parade, and sent them to Washington. The chaplain
of the Eighth here bade good-by to his personal and the
regimental library, and the chapel-tent, to see them no more.
The negroes, loyal first and last, shuddered at the pros
pect of an evacuation that would leave them to the ven
geance of their masters ; and, being entreated, Gen. Burn-
side allowed them to go to Washington with the govern
ment trains. They passed along in a continual stream, in
groups, families, and singly, a motley, struggling host ; every
one, little and big, carrying something, from the wee picka
ninny with a broken coffee-pot to the huge wench bearing
half the furniture of the family on her head, — all moving
towards freedom, and many beguiling the way with plain
tive songs.
THE EIGHTH AND ELEVENTH AT BROOKS'S STATION. 259
Battle now threatened along the whole line of the Rap-
pahannock. The greatest vigilance was exercised. The
regiments were ready to march.' These were felt to be the
most critical days of the war. Pope had fallen back on
Washington with an army beaten and disheartened, and all
available troops were called to strengthen him. On Aug. 31
the Eighth was withdrawn from, picket beyond Fredericks-
burg, and retired through the town and across the river,
greeted by the scowls and taunts of the rebel citizens, who
threatened to fire upon the column from their houses. The
bridges were fired ; then the ddpot at Falmouth. In the
blaze of these expensive fireworks, the 9th Corps took up
its line of march for the menaced capital.
The Eighth and Eleventh reached Brooks's Station at one,
P.M., next day. This is a place of easy defense, the road
winding along between high hills. Col. Kingsbury of the
Eleventh, now in command of the brigade, disposed his
forces along the slopes; and a beautiful stream with a
dilapidated dam afforded nearly all the men, by turns, a
refreshing bath. Some families of negroes volunteered to
bake hot corn dodgers till sundown for the hungry men,
and joined the column, when, in the cool evening, it pro
ceeded to Acquia Creek.
On Sept. 3, soon after mid-day, the regiments embarked,
and reached Washington in the evening. They bivouacked
on the public grounds south of the White House, near that
patriotic abortion, the Washington Monument. Next morn
ing, they marched through the city in their best style ; and
the boys of the Eighth long remembered, and repeated with
a smile, the announcement in the Star next evening, that
" the Eighth Regiment of United-States Regulars marched in
splendid order to join the forces of McClellan." The brigade
halted on Capitol Hill, and greedily received a large mail
from home.
On this same day, Lee's advance, pressing boldly north
ward, crossed the Potomac at Edwards's Ferry, and moved
directly upon Frederick, Md., which was occupied by Gen.
D. II. Hill's force. On Sept. 8, McClellan moved his army
northward from Washington with intent to encounter the
enemy.
260 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Here, besides the Eighth and Eleventh, the Fourteenth and
Sixteenth, new Connecticut regiments, joined the army in
pursuit, The Fourteenth had been mustered in just two
weeks, and had been sent to Camp Chase, on Arlington
Heights, to form the nucleus of a camp of instruction un
der Gen. Casey. Its men knew nothing about the manual
of arms, or company or battalion drill ; yet they received
marching-orders to follow the enemy before they had received
their muskets. The regiment moved along the hights ;
halted at Fort Ethan Allen, and found its untried arms
awaiting it there. On Sept. 7, it went across Chain Bridge
to report to Gen. Sumner at Rockville.
The Sixteenth left Fort Ward, below Arlington, on the
same day, a week after leaving home. Like the Fourteenth,
it had received no drill, no discipline, few instructions even
in marching. It was little more than a crowd of earnest
Connecticut boys.
The Fourteenth committed the common mistake of leaving
knapsacks behind. A long march brought the regiment to>
Rockville, where it made its first bivouac in a rye-field, and
next clay was assigned by Gen. Sumner to French's division
of the 2d Corps. Col. Dwight Morris of the Fourteenth,
being senior, was assigned to the command of the brigade ;
the command of the regiment devolving upon Lieut.-Col.
S. H. Perkins. Henceforth, to the close of the war, the for
tunes of the regiment were cast with the 2d Corps, Army
of the Potomac.
The weather was hot and dry, and the march exhausting;
but the men pressed on, sleeping as they could, and eating
whenever rations were to be had. The Sixteenth received
shelter-tents at Leesborough, and hurried forward to join
Harland's brigade, to which it was assigned.
This brigade, with the 9th Corps, was still far ahead ;
and, on the afternoon of Sept. 12, the column filed out of the
road along a fertile ridge, which Whittier described as being
" Fair as a garden of the Lord,"
and, facing into battle-line, saw before them
" The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Greeu-walled by the hills of Maryland."
THE FIGHT AT TUKNER'S GAP. 261
The entire corps advanced in a long, splendid line ; Har-
land's brigade emerging through the hospital-barracks just
in time to see the last of the rebel cavalry dash out of the
streets pursued by our own. Women blessed God and the
soldiers, and rushed out to kiss the old flag ; gray-haired men
hobbled forth with radiant faces ; and the young shouted their
welcome ; while children capered in holiday glee.
If Dame Barbara Freitchie alone had dared,
" When Lee marched over the mountain-wall,"
to set the starry flag defiantly in her attic window, thousands
had kept the loved emblem ; and the line had not been five
minutes on the street before national banners, large and little,
were flung from the windows, and draped with inspiring
grace almost every threshold.
The range of hills, including South Mountain, and form
ing the northern spur of the Blue Ridge, now lay directly
ahead ; and Burnside with the right wing was sent forward
to dislodge Hill's small division in possession of Turner's Gap.
The 9th Corps, under Reno, was still in the advance ; and it
pressed on, reaching the gap before sundown of the 13th.
This pass is a deep gorge between rough, irregular hills
rising a thousand feet. Early on the 14th the 9th Corps
moved up on the left of the Hagerstown Pike, and by noon
became warmly engaged ; quickly driving the enemy half
way up the acclivity. By two o'clock, the 2d Corps ar
rived ; but the 9th kept the lead. The Eighth and Eleventh
Connecticut Regiments were held in reserve, and were under
fire without being engaged. At four o'clock, the whole line
advanced, after a fruitless artillery contest.
It was emphatically an infantry fight. Our column, press
ing resolutely forward, met with strong resistance. Now
the rebel line would be driven up almost to the summit ; and,
before the Union cheers died away, there would be a fresh
crack of musketry, and our forces would recoil, while rebel
yells echoed along the rocky hillside. The Union reserve
was so near, that bullets chipped the branches overhead.
Often the Eighth and Eleventh were called to their feet ; but,
when the wave of battle receded, they lay down again.
262 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
It was now night, and the combat deepened with the dark
ness. Up and down surged the blazing lines, revealing the
hostile hosts. The prolonged roar of musketry, undulating,
tossed back from the cliffs, and crowding the whole sky with
its rattling clangor ; the confused rumble, betokening a fresh
advance ; the yells and answering shouts, drowned again by
the crash of twenty thousand rifles, — this was the fight for
Turner's Pass. At nine, the noise of battle ceased ; the
rebels fell back for the last time ; the Union line advanced
near the summit, within a stone's-throw of the hostile picket ;
and the surgeons on both sides were visible passing to and
fro with lanterns among the wounded. The night sped
with little sleep ; and at gray of dawn the rebel pickets
disappeared over the hill, the main body having noiselessly
slipped away hours before.
The fight was won by soldiers of other States ; the Con
necticut regiments being in reserve. The 17th Michigan
especially was conspicuous for heroism. For the numbers
engaged, it was one of the sharpest and bloodiest fights of
the war. Not less than sixteen hundred ghastly bodies
of fallen rebels lay along that narrow pass. Ragged, filthy,
emaciated, our troops looked on them with pity, and won
dered that such skeletons could fight so stubbornly.
The haversack of a private of the 14th North-Carolina,
who fell here, contained a soldier's hymn-book, printed by
the South-Carolina Tract Society (the American Tract So
ciety of New York having at last refused to obey longer the
dictation of slaveholders). From this book is copied a stanza
of the rebel version of " America : " —
" My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee, I sing ;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the Southron's pride :
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring ! "
In the hymn beginning, " Sovereign of all the worlds
above," appears the following verse, which must now look
to the enterprising compiler like the wreck of an unanswered
prayer : —
SOUTHERN LITERATURE. 263
" These Southern States at Thy command
Rose from dependence and distress ;
And, stablished by Thy mighty hand,
Millions shall join Thy name to bless."
A sheet of brown Confederate note-paper, embellished with
a coarse cut of a cannon, and bearing dotted lines instead of
ruled, had a wretched travesty of the Star-spangled Banner,
ending, —
" For the flag of my country in triumph shall wave
O'er the Southerner's home and the Southerner's grave ! " l
1 Still more
books which lie
e precious for a collection of literary curiosities are two Confederate school-
ie before us, — " The First Dixie Reader " and the " Primary Geography,"
both by Mrs. M. B. Moore, and published by Branson & Farrar of Raleigh, N.C. They
are confessedly the result of an attempt to " render the Southern youth independent of the
corrupt Yankee teachings," — a sort of literary rebellion as a counterpart of the political
rebellion. The following are literal quotations from the Reader : —
" The frog hops. He can-not run like you can. He sleeps in the day, and hops at night."
" It is not bad to kill the owl ; for he does -us harm. His wing will make a good fan."
" If I were a boy or a girl, I would not eat like a pig. I would eat like a lamb, and then
skip and play, and be happy." " The way to be good is to never do a thing which you would
not like for your pa-rents to know." " Three cheers for the cane-mill ! It is a fine time for
boys and girls, and the ser-vants too enjoy it fine-ly. Some of them will have four or five
gal-Ions by the time the sea-son closes. Well done for the dar-kies. Ma-ny poor white
peo-ple would be glad of what they leave for the hogs." " A bad wo-man can-not be a
good grand-ma, because she does not know how. God is good to give us such grand-mas."
" They said ' if the dog dies we will trust in God ; ' but the dog got well, and still lives
to guard his master's house."
And here is a modest venture in astronomy : —
" The moon has a dark side and a light side, and when she turns all of her bright side
to us, we have a full moon. When her dark side is to us we call it new moon."
There is an affecting story of a deluded colored wretch, who was seduced by " the
Yankee army " to try the horrors of freedom, but soon returned, glad to enjoy once more
the blessings of servitude. This is given twice; and the little book of eighty pages ends
with the touching salutation, " Adieu — at present."
In the geography is an incredible caricature of maps of the Southern States. We
quote briefly: "The people of the torrid zone arc tall and dark complected." "The
African or negro race is found in Africa. They know nothing of Jesus. These people-
are descendants of Ham, the son of Noah, who was cursed because he did not treat his
father with respect. It was told him he should serve his brethren forever. This would
seem a hard sentence, but it was probably done to show other children how wicked
it was to treat their parents so. We cannot tell how they came to be black, and have
wool on their heads." " The United States. — This was once the most prosperous coun
try in the world. The people are ingenious and enterprising, and are noted for their
tact in 'driving a bargain.' They are refined and intelligent on all subjects but negro
slavery ; on this they they are mad." ..." South Carolina. — The people of this State
are noted for their chivalry. You do not understand this 7 Well, when any one im
poses upon them their motto is to fight." The following is from the appended cate
chism : " Q. — What is the condition of the United States "? A. — It is tumbling into ruins.
Q. — What brought about this great calamity ? A. — The injustice and avarice of the
Yankee nation." " Q. — What is the present draw-back to our trade 1 A. — An unlawful
blockade by the miserable and hellish Yankee nation." Happy Mr. Moore ! Happy
Southern youth !
The Episcopal churches throughout the South, immediately on the secession of the
several States, conformed their church-service to the altered condition of things ; reading,
in place of the President of the United States, the President of the Confederate States, frc.
During the progress of the war, a blockade-runner was captured, having ainong other
things a quantity of Episcopal prayer-books with the above alteration duly printed in the
text. These books were evidently manufactured in England, though the name of a Rich
mond firm appears upon the titlcpage.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Battle of Antietam. — Charge of the Eleventh. — Exploit of Capt. Gibbons. — The Con
test for the Stone Bridge. — Inexplicable Conduct of Burnside. — Coolness and Effi
ciency of the Fourteenth. — Charge of Harland's Brigade. — Capt. Charles L. Upham's
Company capture a Battery. — Great Bravery of the Eighth. — Gallant Conduct, of
Col. Appclman. — Fatality of the Color-Guard. — Harland assumes Command of Rod
man's Division. — Severe Losses. — Sufferings of the Wounded. — Corporal Henry A.
Eastman of the Eleventh. — Deaths of Col. Kingsbury, Lieut. Marvin Wait, Capts.
John Griswold, James E. Blinn, and N. S. Manross. — Total Casualties of the Bat
tle. — Death of Major-Gen. Joseph K. Mansfield. — Biography of Mansfield. — Ketreat
of Lee's Army.
HE 2d Corps began early next morning to
march by the pike over the mountain. The
9th Corps started late, and marched slowly by
the county road ; and by night most of the
troops were in advance. About sundown it
struck the pike, and began passing the regiments in bivouac
on both sides of the road. Fires were now blazing ; camps
were all astir with men setting up shelter-tents, cooking pork
;md coffee, chatting, washing, singing, talking. For miles,
the fields on both sides were crowded ; the waning fires at
least revealing in quaint light and shadow the almost count
less bivouacs of a silent and sleeping host. A little past mid
night, having passed through the entire right and center
to the front, the Eighth and Eleventh turned into a stubble
lot for sleep ; while the next brigades in order filed by in the
ever-moving procession.
Morning found Harland's brigade near Antietam Creek,
within easy range of the rebel batteries in position on the
hights beyond ; and, several times during the day, shells were
dropped near. Lieut, Samuel Fiske, "Dunn Browne," of the
Fourteenth, wrote, "I had no disposition to run away; and,
indeed, I didn't see any very favorable place to escape from.
264
THE BATTLE OF ANT1ETAM. 265
shot which fell in front, on both sides, and as much as a mile
in our rear. You can calculate the probabilities as a thou
sand to one, or ten thousand to one, against your being
struck ; but, somehow, that one chance looms up rather dis
proportionately in your view."
Here the Sixteenth came up after a severe inarch, and
joined Harland's brigade at dark. The wagons had not
come within range, and rations were scanty. The hungry
soldiers fell upon adjacent cornfields, where corn was in its
prime, and made a supper of roasted ears. Green fruits
added to the relish. Fences became little piles of ashes. By
sundown, the land for miles was naked of every edible. No
other crop thrives in the vicinity of a crop of soldiers. This
pillage was necessary ; and the soldier-marauders will be glad
to know that the government has compensated loyal owners
for losses incurred.
Harland's brigade moved up, and lay in line of battle all
night behind a low ridge in rear of the Rohrbach House, and
perhaps fifty rods from the creek. At sunrise of the 17th, the
enemy opened on the position, which was disclosed by a
crowd of curious greenhorns running to the hill to ascer
tain if they could " see any thing of the rebels." Having
thus perfect range, the second shot, a solid 12-pound ball,
crashed diagonally through the Eighth, killing three men,
and frightfully wounding four, in Company D. Lieut. Mar
vin Wait, covered with blood and earth, rallied the men
gallantly, and held them to their place. The brigade was
soon moved to the left and rear, to a less-exposed position.
Lieut. J. II. Converse of the Eleventh wrote, " I can speak
of time no more. The battle had begun, and the day passed
like a shrieking shell. The sky was filled with unearthly
sounds, — the howl of fiendish missiles, the crash of falling
trees, the horrible discharge of hundreds of cannon. Along
our entire front, rebel batteries were constantly discovered,
till a long line of cannon could be seen through the murky
canopy, panting with deadly heat." The brigade of Connec
ticut troops, on the extreme Union left, was soon advanced
to support a battery near the creek, and came again under-
a sharp fire.
3-1
266 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
" Col. Kingsbury now received orders from Gen. Burnside
to march his regiment to the bridge, after the batteries had
shelled the works on the other side, and hold it until Gen.
Rodman could march his column over. Col. Kingsbury ap
proached the bridge through a narrow defile in the woods,
thence through a cornfield, and over a plowed field adja
cent to the road. Our skirmishers, advancing, were briskly
engaged with the enemy on the opposite side. Col. Kings-
bury gave Lieut.-Col. Stedman command of the right wing,
with directions to advance, and occupy a hill between the
road and the river, overlooking the bridge. Having accom
plished this under a heavy fire, the right wing immediately
engaged the enemy, and lost very heavily in this position ;
the sharpshooters of the enemy taking off our men very fast ;
while the enemy's main body was so concealed, that we had
little to aim at. Col. Kingsbury at the same time brought
up the left wing, where he was exposed to the most intense
fire while attempting, as at that time supposed, to take up a
position very near, if not on, the bridge." 1
All the rebel batteries were now roaring. The air rang
with whistling balls, and the ground quaked with the hard
breath of artillery. "The Eleventh Connecticut descended
to storm Antietam Bridge. The rebel guns were pouring
in a destructive fire of grape and canister; while continuous
volleys from an unseen enemy in the woods were also show
ered upon them." - Down the road leaped the Eleventh
into this " valley of death."
Companies A and B, under Capt. John Griswold, were
deployed as skirmishers ; and they plunged into the swift
stream, here some fifty feet wide and four deep, their daunt
less commander taking the lead. He was shot through the
breast while in mid-river, but struggled forward, and fell
upon the opposite bank, among the rebels.
The left wing of the regiment was now near the bridge.
Col. Kingsbury was active, inciting his soldiers to the
charge by his gallant bearing and the inspiration of his
' voice. Many men fell. The colonel was a special mark ;
and he was soon shot in the foot, and immediately there-
1 Col. Stedman's Official Report. 2 Narrative in New- York Tribune.
THE ELEVENTH AND FOURTEENTH AT ANTIETAM. 267
after in the leg ; when he was at last prevailed upon to leave
the field. While he was being carried off, he received a third
ball in the shoulder and a fourth in the abdomen, inflicting
a mortal wound.
The men were still fighting ; now falling back, and again
charging on the bridge. The official report says, " When
he fell, the regiment felt their last hope was gone : we had
lost the bravest of colonels and the best of men." Major
Moegling now assumed command of the left wing, and led
it gallantly ; while Col. Stedman held the right wing firmly
to the support of the battery. Volleys were frequent and
effective.
The Eleventh fought stubbornly, for a time without sup
port ; but at last other regiments got up. It was afternoon
when the 46th New- York, with a wild cheer, swept down
the hill and charged across the bridge, driving the rebels
back, and making a permanent lodgment on the opposite
slope. The Eleventh was now relieved ; and an hour was
spent in gathering up the dead and caring for the wounded.
On the morning of this day, the Fourteenth, under Lieut.-
Col. S. IL Perkins, had roused from its uneasy bivouac farther
towards the right ; at three, A.M., received extra ammunition ;
and at seven o'clock moved out into the road. French's three
brigades were formed in column by division (Col. D wight
Morris's brigade in the center), and, marching down a slope,
forded Antietam Creek ; an occasional rebel shell whizzing
overhead. After a march of a mile along the south-west
bank, the brigades were faced to the left, forming three
lines of battle ; Morris's being still in the center, with Max
Weber in front, and Kimball behind. Hooker was now hotly
delivering battle on the right.
The order, " Double-quick ! " was given ; and, under a
heavy fire, Max Weber pushed forward ; while Morris's bri
gade obliqued a little to the right, and charged in that direc
tion, Kimball diverging to the left. As the Fourteenth
swept on, over hedges and ditches, and through plowed
fields, the left flank, Company B of Middletown, became
somewhat separated from the main body ; and, in order to
close up the gap, Capt. Gibbons led the company by the
268 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
right flank between the house and barn known in the his
tory of the fray as " Roulette's." The movement was exe
cuted with such rapidity as to cut off the escape of some
forty or fifty rebels who had been pouring rapid volleys into
the regiment from this cover.
The prisoners were sent back under guard ; and the re
united regiment pressed on, and soon found itself in a corn
field on the right, with nothing but a small open field
between it and Longstreet's troops posted behind hastily-
formed intrenchments. The firing now became general and
constant. The Fourteenth was closely supported by old
regiments ; and, considering its lack of discipline, it fought
remarkably well.
After an hour's engagement here, the Fourteenth ad
vanced. Lieut. Samuel Fiske of Madison ("Dunn Browne"
of the Springfield Republican) wrote, " The enemy held a
very large cornfield, surrounded, on the three sides where
we were obliged to attack, by a steep and difficult ravine.
On the north, east, and south, we advanced to the attack ;
our batteries playing over our heads. Our regiment came
in from the north-east to attack on the north, being the
second line ; the first line, a few rods before us, being com
posed of a Delaware and one other regiment. As we came
along even with the east line of rebels, we also entered a
cornfield, and at once were opened upon by a raking fire of
musketry ; and a good many of our men fell. The north
end of our line pressed on till we came around facing the
enemy on the edge of the ravine ; and we opened fire upon
them across the ravine, firing into the corn which concealed
them from our view. After a few minutes, the troops who
had tried to cross the ravine before us broke, and came run
ning back upon us, crying out, some of them, ( Skedaddle,
skedaddle ! ' Some of our men tried to stop them ; and a few
of them, it must be confessed, joined in their flight. But in
the main, for green troops, I think we behaved well ; the
•men firing with precision and deliberation, though some shut
their eyes, and fired up into the air."
About noon, after several hours' fighting, advancing and
retreating, carrying off the wounded, and cheering each
THE FOURTEENTH THIRTY-SIX HOURS IN BATTLE. 269
other on, the regiment, under orders, reported to Col. Brooks
of Richardson's division, and was placed in support of a bat
tery. It was again raked by a terrible fire ; while the battery
lost every horse and half of its men. Here " Fighting Dick
Richardson " received his wound, and was borne from the
field by the men of the Fourteenth. During the afternoon,
the regiment was marched 'to and fro as exigencies seemed
to require ; and at night the men lay on their arms in a
plowed field, under the constant buzz of sharpshooters'
bullets.
A large detail of sharpshooters was made from the flank
companies ; and here, as in line, the men did their duty
nobly, acquiring a practical knowledge of their new Sharpe's
rifles in a few hours, which months in a " camp of instruction "
would not have given them. " Finally, towards evening,"
wrote Lieut, Fiske from, the field, " a stray general picked
us up, and ordered us to hold an advanced position across a
plowed field, within reach of the enemy's skirmishers, who
have been practicing on us ever since." And here, under
almost constant fire, the Fourteenth remained vigilant, until
it had been thirty-six hours in battle, with nothing to drink,
and nothing to eat but a little hard-tack. Morris's brigade
had captured two rebel flags.
On the left, Burnside still waited ! He had been ordered by
McClellan, as early as eight o'clock in the morning, to take
the bridge, move on the Shepardstown Road, and cut off the
rebel retreat. Hour after hour drifted by, while the battle
was raging on the right, and Burnside only pushed forward
a regiment here and there to contend alone against a supe
rior force. In the morning, the troops of Longstreet in his
front had been shifted to the rebel left ; leaving only one
division under Gen. Jones, numbering twenty-five hundred
men, to dispute the passage of the creek against the whole
of the 9th Corps. Still the commander hesitated and de
layed ; and no advantage was taken of the amazing dis
parity of numbers. When at last the order to move at
once became peremptory, the rebel division of A. P. Hill
came hurrying across the Potomac from Harper's Ferry to
join the main army under Lee.
270 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
About two o'clock, Rodman's division of the 9th Corps
was moved down the stream, to cross, by wading, a mile be
low the bridge. Two companies of the Eighth went ahead
as skirmishers, and found a ford ; the other eight companies
supporting a battery which covered the ford while the rest
of the division crossed. The regiment soon joined Harland's
brigade under a hill west of the bridge, near the extreme
Union left, two or three hundred yards from the creek.
The cannonading had become furious. Solid shot swept the
crest of the hill in front, and tore up the ground behind.
Shells burst overhead, and fragments dropped among the
men.
A battery was ordered up to engage the enemy, but was
whirled back in three minutes, with the loss of every officer,
half a dozen men, and five horses. The hill was a protection,
and few were wounded at this point in the Eighth and Six
teenth. The Eleventh had been misled by a cowardly or
stupid aide, and had not yet come up.
It was now four o'clock. On the right, Hooker was
wounded and off the field after terrific fighting; ; Mansfield
o o '
was dead ; Sumner was leading the troops : and still the
ground was being repeatedly lost and won. In the center,
French's division stood firm. " At four o'clock, McClellan
sent orders to Burnside to advance, and carry the batteries
in his front at all hazards and at any cost." 3
Some officers felt that all was not right. Major Lyon,
Harland's aide, brought word that the rebels were crossing
the Potomac, and filing down the creek on the Union left.
Gen. Rodman, commanding the division, was informed. He
said Burnside had provided for that by facing Cox's division
to the left. The advance was ordered.
At the word of command from Col. Harland, the Eighth,
which was on the right of the brigade-line, started promptly.
" But," says Harland in his official report, " the Sixteenth
Connecticut and the 4th Rhode-Island apparently did not
hear the order. I sent an aide to order them forward. This
delay on the left placed the Eighth considerably in advance
of the rest of the brigade. I asked Gen. Rodman if I should
,3 Smalley's Narrative in N. Y. Tribune.
THE EIGHTH AND SIXTEENTH AT ANTIETAM. 271
halt the Eighth, and wait for the rest of the brigade. He
ordered me to advance the Eighth, and he would hurry up
the Sixteenth Connecticut and 4th Rhode-Island."
The Sixteenth had moved to the support of a battery
farther south on the extreme left of the line, and was lying
in a cornfield. The rebels had quietly approached in force
on the uncovered left flank, and were nearer than even
Major Lyon had thought, them. " While we were lying
here," says the diary of Lieut. B. F. Blakeslee, " we were
suddenly ordered to 'Attention ! ' when a terrible volley was
fired into us from behind a stone wall about five rods in
front of us. We were ordered to fix bayonets and advance.
In a moment we were riddled with shot. Many necessary
orders were given which were not understood. Neither the
line-officers nor the men had any knowledge of regimental
movements." The most helpless confusion ensued. Another
regiment rushed panic-stricken past them to the rear, and
vainly did they endeavor to change front so as to face the
enemy.
The rebels discovered the disorder, and came down in a
heavy column. The Sixteenth stood for a few minutes trying
to rally, swept by a destructive cross-fire. Lieut.-Col. Frank
Cheney and Major George A. Washburn were severely
wounded ; while three captains, a lieutenant, and forty en
listed men, were already dead. Men were falling on every
hand. The survivors at last extricated themselves from the
.fatal field, and fled, broken and decimated, back to cover
near the bridge. Col. Beach was pbliged to report to Col.
Harland that his regiment had never had a battalion-drill,
and only one dress-parade, and hardly knew how to form in
line of battle.
When Gen. Rodman ordered an advance of his division,
and Harland repeated the order to his brigade, Col. Appel-
man led the Eighth forward in steady step up the hill.
Nearly the whole corps was now charging, and the advan
cing line stretched far away to the right.
As they reached the crest, the rebel troops were but a few
rods in front. The Union line halted, and poured in a telling
volley, and again leaped forward ; and the enemy broke and
272 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
fled, halting and firing as they could. A storm of shot, shell,
and musketry , was sweeping through the ranks of the Eighth,
now on the extreme Union left. Still farther to the left, a
rebel battery rained canister. Capt. Charles L. Upham with
Company K (Meriden) dashed up, and captured the battery ;
rejoining the regiment as it came up.
Steadily forward moves the line, now marking every yard
of advance with blood of fallen men. The rebels still fall
back. The 1st Brigade wavers, and slowly retires in dis
order. Wilcox's division, too, is giving way farther to the
right. Forward presses the Eighth, until the men can see
the road whereby Lee must retreat. " The position is ours ! "
they shout ; and a " Hurrah " goes down the line.
But already many have observed an immense force mov
ing straight up on the left flank. " Re-inforcements," say
some : but Gen. TIarland knows better ; and he rides rapidly
to the rear to hurry forward regiments to meet this new
rebel move. The 4th Rhode-Island and Sixteenth Con
necticut Volunteers are already in helpless disorder, and
he dashes back again to meet the emergency as best he may.
The Eighth is now alone clinging to the crest. Three bat
teries are turned on them, and the enemy's infantry close in
around.
Col. Appelman tells the standard-bearer never to leave the
colors. He responds firmly. One of the color-guard falls ;
two ; three ; four ; the last, and the standard goes to the
ground with him. Private Charles H. Walker (of Norwich)'
springs forward, and seizes it amid the storm of death;
strikes the staff firmly in the ground; and shakes out the
flag defiantly towards the advancing foe.
No re-inforcements come. Twenty men are falling every
minute. Col. Appelman is borne to the rear. John McCall
falls bleeding. Eaton totters, wounded, down the hill. Wait,
bullet-riddled, staggers a few rods, and sinks. Ripley stands
with a shattered arm. Russell lies white and still. Morgan
and Maine have fallen. Whitney Wilcox is dead. Men grow
frantic. The wounded prop themselves behind the rude
stone fence, and hurl leaden vengeance at the foe. Even the
chaplain snatches the rifle and cartridge-box of a dead man,
and fights for life.
CORPORAL EASTMAN. 273
" We must fall back," says Major John E. Ward, now in
command. Some protest against what they feel is inevitable ;
and the hundred men still unscathed are faced to the rear,
and marched back in unbroken and still formidable column
down the hill. No regiment of the 9th Corps has advanced
£0 far, or held out so long, or retired in formation so good.
By their stubborn fight they have saved many others from
death or capture, and by their orderly retreat they save
themselves.
Rodman had fallen ; and Col. Harland now took command
of the division, re-forming the disorganized regiments, and
placing the whole in a posture of defense. A new line of
battle was soon formed. By his self-possession, intrepidity,
and good judgment, the lines were steadied, and the unsup
ported fragment rescued from capture.
When the advance of the afternoon to this point was or
dered, an aide of Gen. Rodman, sent to bring up the Elev
enth Regiment, misled it through the woods, pretending to
be in search of the ford. After a tedious march of four
miles, Col. Stedman brought the regiment back to the bridge,
crossed, and advanced rapidly towards the cornfield where
the brigade was fighting. The enemy was pressing down
hard upon the left and front ; and he now charged upon a
battery that had been advanced upon the crest in front of
the Eleventh. Shot and shell rained plenteously. Lieut
Converse wrote in a letter to the Hartford Press, " Twice
had the Eleventh rallied for a charge. Col. Kingsbury was
dead, it might be ; Lieut.-Col. Stedman was wounded, and
weak with the loss of blood ; Major Moegling was wounded,
Capt Griswold dead. Companies were squads without offi
cers, and officers with broken swords and battered uniforms,
but without commands. Burnside called for aid. It was no
time to falter ; but one did falter, and refused to advance
with the colors. There is a man for all emergencies ; and a
man was now ready to fill that black chasm of cowardice
with the impersonation of courage. Corporal Henry A. East
man of Ashford stepped forth with flashing eye, and said,
1 Give me the colors ! ' and, with a burst of cheers, the Elev
enth followed her bold color-bearer, and the battery was safe."
35
274 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The Sixteenth and the 4th Rhode-Island now broke, and
retired towards the bridge ; and, fearing that it would be
difficult to keep his men together in the face of the stam
pede, Lieut.-Col. Stedman, able only from excitement to stand
longer upon a wounded leg, faced about, and led his regi
ment back. He was then borne off the field, and his men
placed temporarily under command of Col. Beach of the Six
teenth ; but none of the Connecticut regiments were again
engaged.
Capt. William J. Roberts of the Eighth, from New Milford,
had been ill during the advance to the field and through the
battle, — in great pain and frequent vomiting ; but he reso
lutely kept on with his company, and shared the fight with
great fortitude.
Fresh troops were soon brought up ; and the shattered
third division recrossed the creek, and bivouacked above
the position of the morning. The hostile picket-line crowded
forward till it was posted along the ridge west of the creek.
In this neutral ground were many wounded and dying.
Within the rebel lines were many more. The terrible yet
merciful work of the surgeons went on. Chaplains with
squads of detailed men scoured the woods and fields to bring
in the wounded. All the early night, at risk of life, those
able to crawl worked their way into our lines ; and brave
men ventured down to bring off the helpless. "Even at
midnight," wrote Dr. Mayer, " the chaplain of the Eighth,
who had been under fire all day, recovering and bearing off
the wounded, brought another squad into the barn." Yet
thousands lay all night in agonizing pain on the bare ground,
with no relief. Drs. Storrs, Whitcomb, Mayer, and other Con
necticut surgeons, toiled till daybreak, and then rested only
for an hour. Bandages failed, and the fresh leaves of corn
were bound on many wounds.
The next morning, Lee's pickets retired, and ours advanced.
Ambulances moved forward, and Connecticut men rushed
with pails of water to succor their wounded. Scores were
quickly found. One of the men of the Eighth, shot through
the body, still lay on his back, just as he had fallen. The
fierce sun of the day before had blistered and blackened
THE DYING AND DEAD. 275
his face. His tongue, swollen to five times its usual size,
protruded from his open mouth. He was sightless and
speechless, yet breathing. Water was dropped on his parched
tongue. A slight shudder convulsed his frame. A little
more, and the tongue moved, and the breast heaved pain
fully. At last the man revived, and was borne away to the
hospital. Another lies cold and stiff in the cornfield, with
his teeth fastened firmly in an ear of soft corn, with which
he has vainly tried to quench his raging thirst. Here is
a mere lad, shot through the thigh, pale, and with closed
eyes. He has bled profusely, and is very weak, but alive.
Not a drop of water has he had for forty hours. The cool
water touches his lips, and he starts up as if from stupor, and
eagerly grasps the cup with both hands. Memories of home
flit through his weary brain, as, opening his eyes, he says
with a smile, "And from a teacup too."
The wounded cared for, they turned to bury the dead.
All day went on the excavation of graves, where the martyrs
found a truce ; and, as the shadows lengthened and faded out,
the sad work was ended. The dead of the Eighth and the
Sixteenth were laid side by side on the ridge just above the
point where the gallant charge began, and those of the Elev
enth near the edge of the open woods above the bridge. The
graves wrere marked with pine headboards, to tell where each
patriot rested.
" In passing over the hill," wrote Chaplain Morris, " we
pause amazed when we reach the point where the Eighth
met the enemy, and delivered their first tremendous volley
at a distance of five or six rods. In a short lane running
down to a little house near the road, within a space of a
dozen rods, I counted one hundred and four dead rebels."
Many of our dead were stripped and plundered. The
swollen fingers of some had been cut off to obtain the rings ;
and the wounded had received treatment ranging from kind
ness to cruelty and outrage.
All the Connecticut regiments had met with terrible casu
alties, — no less than a hundred and thirty-six being killed
outright upon the field, and four hundred and sixty-six
wounded. Among the latter were the lieutenant-colonels
276 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
of the Eighth, Eleventh, and Sixteenth. No battle of the
war inflicted such losses upon the troops of this State.
The Eighth lost thirty-four killed and a hundred and
thirty-nine wounded, eleven of whom were commissioned
officers. This was nearly fifty per cent of the entire number
present for duty.
Marvin Wait, son of John T. Wait of Norwich, entered
Union College in the fall of 1860; and in the fall of 1861,
when but eighteen years old, he enlisted as a private in the
Eighth. He was soon promoted to be second lieutenant,
and, being detailed, attracted attention for his skill as a sig
nal-officer at Roanoke Island, also at the reduction of Fort
Macon. He returned to his regiment in July, 1862, and
was promoted to be first lieutenant. " His versatile talents,
well-stored memory, vivid imagination, ready command of
language, pleasing manners, and frank, generous disposition,
rendered him a favorite with officers and men."4 Resolved
to excel as an officer, he set before himself an exalted stand
ard, and pressed upward with all his native energy and
enthusiasm. His qualities as a man and a soldier were espe
cially displayed during the march of our hardy regiment
from Fredericksburg to Antietam. Hardly a halt during all
the weary marches in the choking dust and intense heat of
those midsummer days, but his brave or mirth-provoking
words made his companions for a moment forget their
fatigue and discomfort. When the battle was raging hottest,
on the afternoon of the 17th, and when the rebel regiments,
massed in front and flank, were pressing down upon the
line, Lieut. Wait fell. " Just before he was wounded, he was
seen closing up the ranks of his company, and deliberately
dressing them in line."5 "If Lieut. Wait had left the battle
when first hit in the arm, all would have been well ; but he
bravely stood to encourage his men by his example, and at
last nobly fell, pierced by bullet after bullet."0 Major Ward
wrote to his father, " When first wounded, he was advised
to leave, but would not; and, before consenting to do so, he
received three shots. I think, however, that his mortal
wound was received while being taken to the rear. The
death of your son is a great loss to the regiment. No offi-
4 Lieut. Jacob Eaton. 5 Capt. C. M. Coit. 6 Lieut. Jacob Eaton.
CONNECTICUT'S BKAVE DEAD. 277
cer could be more popular. He had endeared himself to
all." 7 His last words to Private Lewis D. King were, " Are
we whipping them ? " Said Lieut. Jacob Eaton, in a memo
rial, " A braver man than Marvin Wait never confronted a
foe ; a more generous heart never beat ; a more unselfish
patriot never fell. Connecticut may well cherish and honor
the memory of such sons."
Lieut. Edwin G. Maine, from Brooklyn, was a staid, earnest
man, past middle life. He was esteemed for his paternal
care of his men, and his unpretending bravery and firmness.
In the afternoon, while calmly leading his men, he was shot
through the body. For a month he lingered in hospital,
with all that the loving care of a wife could do ; but he died,
praying for God's blessing on the country he had so faith
fully served.
Sergeant George H. Marsh of Hartford was killed by
the first cannon-shot that went through the ranks, at sun
rise. He was ill, but determined to be at his post; and
there he died, a trusty soldier with a spotless reputation.
Sergeant Whiting Wilcox was a broad-shouldered six-footer,
— a model soldier. He was conspicuous in the charge ; but
the bravery which would have won him promotion cost him
his life. Sergeant Cyprian H. Rust of New Hartford was a
thoughtful, serious, almost melancholy Christian man. Ser
vice was to him a stern duty performed with rigid exact
ness .and courage. He died as he had lived. John H.
Simonds of Hartford was a bright, willing, genial man, and
a universal favorite. When shot through the body, he only
said, " Good-by, boys : I'm going." John A. Dixon of Thorn-
sonville (Enfield) was lying mortally wounded, when a rebel
came along, picked up a Sharpe's rifle, hid it behind the fence,
and passed on after other plunder. Dixon dragged himself
to it, and, having rendered it useless, laid down to die.
Here also fell Harvey E. Elmore, Elijah White, George F.
Booth, Charles E. Lewis, Oscar W. Hewitt, David Lake, Rob
ert Ferris, William G. Lewis, and other noble young men
who had always fought in the front ranks of the Eighth.
The Eleventh had lost thirty-eight killed and ninety-seven
wounded. Among the killed were two of its choicest men, —
7 Lieut. Jacob Eaton, in Memorial, p. 12.
278 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Kingsbury and Griswold, — both from the ancient town of
Lyme.
Col. Henry W. Kingsbury came to the Eleventh Regiment
crowned with triumphs at West Point, and fragrant with the
smoke of all the Peninsular battles. Pie came when he was
sorely needed. The regiment was declining in appearance,
in spirit, in all soldierly qualities. The gallant Major Griffin
A. Stedman was about to resign in despair, and leave the
regiment to his superiors ; but they were wise enough to
resign instead, and the regiment was saved. West Point
was impressed deeply on the soul of Lieut. Kingsbury, even
when he served as Tyler's aide at Bull Run. Military
art possessed for him something high and ennobling ; and
he regarded it with the same enthusiasm with which the
devotees of art and music look upon their cherished callings.
He loved the right because it was the right ; but he was
virtuous also because he knew that vice degrades a soldier,
abstemious because intemperance is fatal to military success,
and manly and gentlemanly because it was impossible for
him to be otherwise.
His knowledge was mainly of the useful and practical
order ; yet he possessed a keen appreciation of elegant cul
ture, and delighted to listen to and join in conversations
on literary or philosophical topics. He had a thoroughly
military idea of what was due to his uniform, and insisted,
to the smallest detail, on observances of etiquette and salu
tations, because he " owed it to his straps to see them hon
ored." It was a feeling akin to that we all have for the flag.
He also insisted on the boundaries between staff and line
officers and between line officers and privates being strictly
drawn. On the whole, there was in this man the old light
of chivalry, by which he walked in his profession, and which
gave life and meaning to actions, which, in many others,
would have seemed mere martinetism.
Assistant Surgeon Nathan Mayer wrote, at the time when
the Eleventh was provost-guard of Fredericksburg, —
" How pleasant was our social life at this time ! The most
brilliant conversation flashed forth at each meal. There
was an elegance of manner and a refinement of expression
DEATH OF COL. KINGSBURY AND CAPT. GKISWOLD. 279
cultivated that might have graced the best circles. And so
congenial were the tastes of all! Imagine the field and
staff of a regiment, none of whom, with one exception,
drank intoxicating liquors or used tobacco; and all of whom,
with one exception (Surgeon J. B. Whitcomb), were under
twenty-six years of age.
" On our march through Maryland to Antietam, it was
often in the midst of some charming landscape that we were
encamped. A fire in the center of a circle of shelter-tents
threw its fitful light on the occupants. There was the
young colonel, wrapped in his blankets, with the square,
manly face, the profusion of blonde mustache and whisker,
the large, earnest blue eye, and the sweet, womanly mouth
that could so easily assume the expression of firmness and
determination. God bless him, dear Col. Kingsbury ! He
made us all better and nobler ; and when soon after I pressed
my lips in last adieu upon that forehead cold in death, I felt,
that, when I should next behold it, it would be crowned with
the aureola of a hero and saint.
" When I said to Lieut.-Col. Stedman after the battle, * The
colonel has opened his eyes, and given me the sweetest smile,
and then closed them forever,' he silently pressed my hand,
and went to take a farewell look at him whom we all
adored."
Gen. Burnside issued the following: —
" SPECIAL OEDER, No, 47.
..." By this sad calamity, the army mourns one of the most accom
plished of those young officers who in a few months have become veterans
in their country's service. After serving with distinction through the cam
paign of the Peninsula, Col. Kingsbury was promoted to his late command ;
and in that office, occupying positions of great responsibility, invariably
proved himself equal to the occasion, displaying always a gallantry and
.skill that gave high promise for the future. As a near friend of Col.
Kingsbury, the commanding-general wishes to add this testimony to his
private worth, to the purity of his character, and to the possession of those
high qualities of mind and heart that form the sterling man as well as the
finished soldier.
" By command of MAJOR-GEN. BURNSIDE."
Capt. John Griswold of Lyme was a graduate of Yale, of
the class of 1857, and a soldier of perfect bravery. " His
noble death was the appropriate solution of his noble life,"
280 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
wrote Surgeon Nathan Mayer. " He was a great-hearted
gentleman, well born, liberally educated, and wonderfully
retentive of all the studies in ancient and modern literature
to which he had given so much of his time ; but, more than
this, his character was trained, and his heart disciplined."
The surgeon was much of the time near the young captain
on the inarch to Antietam. He says, " We admired the
mountain-gorges through which we passed. We saw green
woods fair and orchards gay, rich fields, and well-to-do farm
houses. We quoted Horace, and discussed questions of moral
philosophy, and skipped over literature, from St. Augustine's
De Civitate Dei to Hugo's Les Miserables ; and all this
time, day or night, rain or sunshine, fatigued or fresh,
hungry or satiated, he would preserve the same cheerfulness
of demeanor, and never forget the least of those courtesies
which make life in refined circles run in such an even course.
It was as if he were never out of the drawing-room ; just as
an Englishman is said never to leave England, no matter
where he travels. He carried an imaginary ' salon ' with
him ; and whoever approached him felt that he had entered
a circle of refinement. Nor was this intended for equals
alone. He was particular in extending the same courtesies
to the soldiers under his command." After Griswold had
received his mortal wound, Surgeon Mayer and four privates
crossed the stream, and brought him back. The surgeon
says, " We took him into a low shed near the bank, and
laid him on the straw. The gallant fellow, sensitive as a Ro
man to the exhibition of pain, like a Roman had covered
his face. When I removed the handkerchief, he was ashy
pale, so much had he suffered.
"'Doctor,' he said, ' pardon the trouble I give you; but I
am mortally wounded, I believe.' I examined. The bullet
had passed through the body in the region of the stomach.
' You are, captain,' I replied. ' Then let me die quickly,
and without pain, if you can,' he rejoined. ' I am perfectly
happy, doctor. This is the death I have always wished to die.
Not even the pains of this body can make me unhappy. But
oh ! ' — Here another spasm of suffering came on. I gave
him some morphine. He felt easier. Seeing through the
DEATH OF CAPT. BLINN AND OTHERS. 281
door of the shed the blue water flash in the sunshine, he
repeated the first lines of one of those gems of Horace we
had so often admired : —
' O Tons Bandusiae, splendidior vitro,
Dulci digno mero, non sine floribus.'
" He then turned, and gave me directions regarding his
baggage and servant. Having arranged his worldly affairs
as well as he could, he added, * And tell them at home that
I died for my country.' The habits of refined life hung to
him still. He thanked me for my services in elegant phrase,
and attracted my attention to the number of wounded that
now filled the shed, intimating that he feared that he had
monopolized too much of the time of so good a surgeon on
the day of battle."
The end came soon. Gen. Burnside called. The suf-
erer told him he had insisted on being relieved from de
tached duty at Newberne when he heard that the Eleventh
was going into active service. " I am happy, general," he
added. " I die as I have ever wished to die, — for my country."
" Tell my mother," he said to a comrade, " that I died at the
head of my company." Tears rolled down Burnside's cheeks,
as, delicately trying to suppress all symptoms of his pain, the
philosophic and heroic spirit calmly passed away. In the
ancient family cemetery of the Griswolds, at Black Hall in
Old Lyme, stands a new monument of most expressive design
and elegant finish, telling in word and sculptured symbol
how the young hero lived and how he died.
Here, also, fell John R. Read, Hiram C. Roberts, Theodore
S. Bates, Daniel L. Tarbox, Oliver P. Ormsby, George E. Bai
ley, and a score of others, in the fatal charge on the bridge.
Major William Moegling of Danbury was also severely
wounded.
The Fourteenth had lost twenty-one killed, eighty-eight
wounded, and twenty-eight prisoners.
Among the killed were Capts. James E. Blinn of New
Britain, and Samuel F. Willard of Madison. Before leaving
the vicinity of Sharpsburg, the officers assembled and adopted
resolutions, of which the following is one : —
36
282 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
" Resolved, That we their fellow-officers do but simple justice to the
memory of these brave and devoted officers when we testify iu this public
manner to their efficiency in every public and private duty, to their watch
ful kindness and care over the soldiers of their respective companies, to the
fraternal courtesy ever manifested by them in their intercourse with others,
and to their earnestness and zeal in the patriotic cause for which they drew
their swords."
Sergeant Frederick K. Eno of Bloomfield received a mortal
wound in the abdomen. He refused assistance, but sent back
to the front the comrades who came to help him. He walked
nearly two miles to a barn used as a hospital, and died next
morning. His last words were, " Tell my friends that I did
my duty, and died like a man." He was universally esteemed
for his many virtues.
The Sixteenth had lost more heavily still ; the killed
numbering forty-three, and the wounded a hundred and
forty-three. Five officers were among the dead, — Capts.
Samuel Brown of Enfield, Frederick M. Barber of Manches
ter, John L. Drake of Hartford, and Newton S. Manross and
Lieut. William Horton of Stafford.
" Capt. Drake was the most gentlemanly man in the
regiment," said Surgeon Mayer. " He was the very soul of
courtesy and unaffected dignity of deportment." He always
had a quiet care for his men when they were sick, and wra*
a marked favorite with them, as well as with comrades in the
line.
Capt. N. S. Manross of Bristol was a man of learning and
varied accomplishments. In his youth an ingenious mechanic,
he showed a great aptness for study, and graduated at Yale
in the class of 1850. His tastes and attainments took a
scientific direction. He went to Europe, attended German
lectures, and made very rapid progress ; taking the degree of
doctor of philosophy. On his return, he devoted himself to
mineralogy, publishing some able dissertations ; invented a
machine for the cutting of crystals from calc-spar; and at
last became connected with a mining-company in New York,
and prosecuted elaborate explorations in Central America
and Mexico. In 1861, Dr. Manross accepted the position of
Professor of Chemistry and Botany in Amherst College.
where he became very popular and successful. Returning
DEATH OF CAPTS. MANEOSS AND BAEBEE. 283
to Bristol during a vacation, he made a patriotic speech to
his fellow-citizens, who thereupon besought him to lead them
to the field. He consented, saying to his wife, " You can
better afford to have a country without a husband than a
husband without a country." He refused the post of major
in a Massachusetts regiment, preferring service with his own
neighbors. He was greatly beloved by his men. His suc
cessor in command of the company after his death once
said to the colonel, " Those boys care more for Manross's old
shoes than for the best man in the regiment." Capt. Man-
ross was struck in the side by a cannon-ball, which passed
under his arm. He bled inwardly. A powerful anodyne
was administered, and he soon became unconscious. A friend
bending over him heard him murmuring, " 0 my poor wife,
iny poor wife ! " Prof. James A. Dana said of him, " His
death is a great loss to the scientific world." Prof. B. Silli-
nian, jr., says, "As an explorer, Dr. Manross' possessed re
markable qualifications. To a rugged constitution and great
powers of endurance he united great coolness, a quiet but
undaunted demeanor, the courage of a hero, and unyielding
perseverance. Had he lived — but what need is there of
conjecture now ? The world will never know its loss ; but
his friends will never forget theirs."
Capt. Barber was especially noticeable for his religious
character, earnest convictions, and high regard for duty.
His patriotism was of a sterling mould, and he was a brave
and intelligent officer.
The death of Major-Gen. Joseph K. F. Mansfield, a briga
dier-general in the regular army, added to the terrible losses
of Connecticut at Antietam. He was born in New Haven,
Dec. 22, 1806 ; but, his parents removing to Middletown while
he was yet an infant, he was trained and educated there.
He early showed a taste for military life ; and his uncle, Col.
Jared Mansfield, then Surveyor-General of the United States,
obtained his admission as a cadet at West Point in 1820. He
at once took a high position, and held it ; graduating second
in his class. He commenced as second lieutenant of en
gineers, and was at first engaged in New- York Harbor,
and then in the construction of Fortress Monroe and Fort
Pulaski.
284 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Mansfield was always apt to administer a reproof and re
sent an insult promptly. He despised duelling, but never
failed to defend his honor and himself. On one occasion,
while building Fort Pulaski, he was invited to dine with a
number of Southern gentlemen ; and, while engaged in con
versation, a hot-blooded Southern officer opposite took occa
sion to remark, in a tone of voice audible to all, " The
Northerners are cowards, — - men without any nerve." — " Do
you intend that for me ? " interrupted Mansfield. " I do, sir,"
replied the other, at the same time raising a glass of wine as
if to hurl it in the face of this audacious Northerner. Mans
field seized a decanter, when the other returned the glass to
the table. But Mansfield was now roused. " Bring in my
pistols ! " he ordered the servant. Pistols were instantly
brought ; and Mansfield rose, and presented one to his inso
lent antagonist, saying, " Now we prove who is the coward."
The other diners' interfered, agreed that the insult was gross,
and demanded that an ample retraction and apology should
be made to Mansfield. The atonement was humbly offered,
and amicable relations resumed.
At the breaking-out of war with Mexico, Capt. Mansfield
was chief engineer on Gen. Taylor's staff. He built Fort
Brown, opposite Matamoras ; and, in the absence of Gen.
Taylor, had command of the American forces. The Mexi
cans demanded a surrender of the fort. Mansfield promptly
refused. For seven days, the fort was besieged and under
constant fire ; but it was held, and the enemy driven away.
This gallant defense won for him the golden leaf of major.
Through the entire war, Taylor depended on Mansfield for
his principal assistance in planning battles. On the eve of
the battle of Monterey, he made a thorough reconnoissance
of the enemy's works, and discovered the weak points; and,
on the following day, led the first division in the grand
assault. He was severely wounded in the leg, but held his
place on the field until the final capitulation. The battle
field of Buena Vista was chosen by him, and the batteries
stationed under his direction.
When peace was declared, Mansfield's services were recog
nized by a promotion to be colonel in the regular army ;
CHARACTER AND DEATH OF GEN. MANSFIELD. 285
and on his return the citizens of Middletown went to Meri-
den en masse, and escorted him home with every demonstra
tion of welcome.
He was appointed inspector-general of the United-States
army by President Pierce ; and the Rebellion of 1860 found
him inspecting the troops of the traitor Twiggs in Texas.
Every offer was made Mansfield to support the Rebellion ;
but he spurned the offers, and for his fidelity was subjected
to the indignities of the perfidious " chivalry " around him.
He escaped injury only by the greatest vigilance. He
passed incognito through New Orleans when the city was
illuminated in honor of secession, and at last reached the
loyal lines.
On account of age and long service, his friends besought
him to retire from the army : but his prompt reply was, " I
owe my country every hour that remains of my life ; and,
in such a struggle as is now endangering her existence, I
can not and shall not refuse to answer her call." About the
15th of April, 1861, Mansfield was summoned to Washing
ton : the city being blockaded, he reached it on horseback
by a circuitous route. He was at once assigned to the com
mand of the defenses. Scott did not quite agree to his
suggestion to fortify Arlington Heights ; but he went ahead
on his own responsibility. All the forts around Washington
were engineered by Mansfield, and built under his superin
tendence.8
Mansfield was for a time in command at Newport News,
and led our forces in the capture of Norfolk. He was here
when McClellan demanded that he be put in command of
Bauks's corps in his army. Mansfield was pleased with the
transfer ; and rode across the country, reaching the army
before Sharpsburg the night before the battle.
After Rickett's division was repulsed next day, Mansfield
led his corps gallantly forward, but soon fell mortally
wounded. Internal hemorrhage ensued ; and, on the even
ing of Sept. 17, Major-Gen. Mansfield gave his life a willing
sacrifice to his country.
8 Credit for the defenses of Washington has sometimes been given to Gen.McClcllan ;
but they were all laid out and plans for their erection made by Mansfield while McClel
lan was still in West Virginia.
286 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Lieut.-Gov. Benjamin Douglass went to the front for the
remains; and all the way home they were greeted with
demonstrations of patriotic regard. No man was better
known or loved in Middletown than Mansfield. To reli
gion he was early committed at the altar of his ancestral
church ; to law he always paid sincere regard ; to education
he gave liberally of his fortune ; to liberty he gave his life.
The funeral was attended from the North Congregational
Church of Middletown on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Brief address
es were made by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Taylor, and by his
Excellency Gov. Buckingham, Ebenezer Jackson, and Sena
tor Dixon. Military companies were present from all sections
of the State, and the common councils of four cities ; and to
earth, with honors, were committed the remains of a sterling
soldier, to whose memory generations will do homage as
they read the names of those who gave their lives in the
cause of liberty protected by law.
THE DEAD AT ANTIETAM.9
Here fell our best and bravest, — Kingsbury
The lion-hearted, Mansfield, Manross, Blinn,
Drake, Horton, Willard, Wait, (heroic boy !)
Brown, Barber, Griswold (dying like a prince
Whose chivalry had charmed the Table Round),
And all that speechless group of gallant men,
The modest martyrs of the rank and file.
Oh, rare and royal was the sacrifice !
For you and me they put their armor on ;
For you arid me they stood in grim array
Where death came hurtling ; and for you and me
They joined the mortal struggle, and went down
Amid the mad, tumultuous whirl of flame.
And then the gentle goddess Liberty —
Whose unseen ribbon rippled on their breasts,
The pledge of knightly troth — bent tenderly,
Closed the dim eyes, and cooled the fevered hand,
And dropped a blessing into every heart,
And helped each spirit from its mould of clay;
And, as they rose to heaven, they sprinkled wide
Upon the upturned foreheads of the world
The purple drops of their vicarious love.
The sequel to the battle of this day need not be rehearsed.
The soldiers of the whole army expected to move next
9 By w. A. c.
ANTIETAM A DKAWN BATTLE. 287
morning, — to swoop down upon the over-matched enemy,
and give him the coup de grace. Instead of that, a truce
was proclaimed, and the rebels permitted to bury their dead.
This gracious office was neglected, and the time was occu
pied by them in getting the trains and guns to the rear ;
and the sun of Sept. 19 found Lee's army safely across the
Potomac, and, with some plausibility, claiming Antietam to
have been a drawn battle.
CHAPTER XIX.
Tardy Pursuit of Lee. — The Eighth, Eleventh, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and
Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers. — Gen. Burnside in Command. — March to Fal-
mouth. — The Eighth lay the Pontoon-Bridge. — The Battle of Fredericksburg. —
Gallantry of the Fourteenth and Twenty-seventh. — Gen. Harland's Official Report. —
The Disastrous Repulse. — Whereabouts of the Fifth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and
Twenty-second. — Private Elias Howe, Jr. — The Army Ration. — Camp at Stafford
Court House.
IX weeks after the battle of Antietam, McClel-
lan's army began tardily to pursue Lee ; moving
from camp in Pleasant Valley, Mel., across
the river at Berlin, just below Harper's Ferry,
and passing south-west on the east side of the
Blue Ridge. The Eighth, Eleventh, and Sixteenth Connec
ticut Regiments were nearly together, and the Twenty-first
now joined the brigade. Little of importance occurred to
them until they reached Falmouth on Nov. 19, having made
a hundred and seventy-five miles in twelve days.
The Fifteenth Connecticut, after serving in Washington
as " Casey's pets " for a few weeks, moved across Long Bridge
on Sept. 17, and re-occupied their former camp on Arling
ton Heights. Here they remained six weeks, sending a guard
daily to the disagreeable duty of guarding Long Bridge.
On Nov. 3 they removed to Fairfax Seminary, two miles
back of Alexandria, and pitched a camp of Sibley tents.
Here they dug some rifle-pits, industriously prosecuted drill,
and had their first experience in picket-duty five or six
miles beyond.
Col. Dexter R. Wright of the Fifteenth now commanded
a brigade ; and on Dec. 1 he marched it back through the
O O
city, and turned down the Maryland bank of the river. The
regiments marched six miles below, and bivouacked their first
o J
288
ADJUTANT ELLIS OF THE FOURTEENTH. 280
night under shelter-tents. After a four-days' march, they
recrossecl at Acquia Creek, and slept upon the snow, which
now covered Virginia with a thin coat. Reaching Freder-.
icksburg, the regiment was put into Harland's brigade.
After the battle of Antietam, the Fourteenth encamped in a
lovely grove near the scene of Hooker's fight, where a few days
were given to recuperation and an honorable burial of fallen
comrades. The regiment had gone through the baptism of
blood without flinching. Gen. French in his official report
said of Morris's brigade, " There never was better material
in any array ; and in a month these splendid men will not
be excelled." It is proper to say that Adjutant Theodore G.
Ellis of the Fourteenth showed great efficiency in the battle.
During the year before the war, he had been a member of
an accomplished military company of young men in Boston;
and he now brought to the brigade knowledge, skill, activity,
and bravery that were of marked value.
On the 22d, the regiment marched with the 2d Corps
to Harper's Ferry, fording the Potomac, waist-deep, just
above the often-destroyed railroad-bridge. It was a most
animated scene ; the enthusiastic thousands filing across,
while the splendid band of the Fourteenth poured forth
the stirring strains of " John Brown's body lies moldering in
the 'grave."1 The regiment bivouacked on Bolivar Heights,
and remained there nearly six weeks, living in a few filthy
old tents dug up from the spot where they had been hastily
buried by Miles's men when the place surrendered. Many
attempts were made to get the baggage of officers and men
left at Fort Ethan Allen ; but, although Gov. Buckingham
sent out a commissioner on purpose, red tape was too mighty
to be prevailed against. The men had no changes of cloth
ing, and could not keep clean. Much sickness prevailed.
Marching orders were welcome ; and on Oct. 30 the regi
ment crossed the Shenandoah, and pushed south-west through
the London Valley. Here the delinquent knapsacks were
?ent after them, but, not overtaking them, were stored in a
barn ; and shortly afterwards the needy rebels appropriated
the whole supply.
1 This band became one of the very best in the army.
87
290 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
On Nov. 9, the 2d Corps reached Warrenton ; and
Burnside, now assuming command of the army, pushed on,
occupying Falmouth on the night of the 19th. Morris's
brigade was detailed for duty at Belle Plain, where the
men soon bivouacked on the sandy soil ; and the drenching
rain added discomfort to the hunger and fatigue. Here
they staid two weeks on guard. The Fourteenth enjoyed a
good Thanksgiving dinner, mostly obtained by foraging ; and
ate and drank to the "good ship Mayflower." It moved
back to Falmouth on Dec. 6, and encamped with the vast
army now gathered there.
The Twenty-seventh Connecticut had left its camp at
Langley's, and hurried down the Potomac ; and now joined
the 2d Corps in Hancock's division.
Burnside's army was divided into three grand divis
ions of two corps each ; and the 2d Corps (in which was
the Fourteenth) and the 9th Corps (in which was the
Connecticut brigade) formed the right grand division
under Gen. Sumner. The Connecticut regiments did not
enjoy this period. An officer of the Eighth wrote, " We
put our little ' dog-tents ' upon the sticky red mud of Vir
ginia ; made smoky fires outside, of wet wood ; half cooked
our scanty food ; warmed and dried ourselves as we could,
standing by the wretched fires in the rain : then we spread
our blankets on the soft mud, and slept. We slept ; ' for we
were tired out: but we awoke stiff, rheumatic, and cross.
The weather was damp or rainy for several days, and few of
us got our clothing dry under four days. It has rained
about five days of the week."
Burnside had marched rapidly to Falmouth ; but, before
he was ready to cross the river, Lee, whom he had run away
from at Warrenton, was in his path again, occupying in-
trenchments five miles long in the rear of Fredericksburg.
At last, every thing was ready. Sumner and Hooker were
to cross their grand divisions at Fredericksburg, and Frank
lin two miles down the river.
Before dawn of Dec. 11, the pontoon-boats were launched
from the teams, and men hastened to build the floating
bridge. As soon as the fog lifted slightly, they were opened
PLUNDERING IN FREDEIUCKSBUEG. 291
upon at short range by riflemen concealed in houses upon
the opposite bank ; and this fire became so vigorous, that, by
eleven o'clock, the 57th and 66th New- York were driven from
the work with a loss of a hundred and fifty men. Franklin
had crossed the river below. Simmer became impatient :
something effective must be done.
At this juncture, one hundred men of the Eighth Connecti
cut, under Capt. W. P. Marsh of Hartford, assisted by Lieuts.
Henry E. Morgan of Stonington and Roger M. Ford of Men-
den, volunteered to lay the bridge, and dashed down the
slope to the work. They shouldered boards, and pushed out
on the wooden pathway ;. when, as they reached the end, the
rebel sharpshooters, who had been silenced for a time, re
commenced a rapid and accurate fire ; and the men were
quickly recalled. After a time, the Union artillerists were
able to depress their pieces sufficiently to drive the rebels
from their covert, or tumble the buildings about their heads ;
when, at three o'clock, the 7th Michigan made a splendid
dash across the river, and held the opposite bank, while the
bridge was laid by the Eighth Connecticut Volunteers and
other regiments. By five o'clock, our forces were in the
city.
The night was spent by the soldiers in the city in pilla
ging and skirmishing by turns. Next morning (the 13th),
many more crossed ; and by noon two-thirds of the right
grand division were in the streets of Fredericksburg. The
chaplain of the Eighth wrote, —
" The city has suffered frightfully. There is hardly a house in the lower
part which is not pierced by at least one huge shot. Many are knocked
to pieces almost beyond repair. I counted twenty-seven ragged cuts and
perforations in the walls of the Baptist church, — five through the steeple.
Some thirty or forty buildings were burned to the ground in the business
part of the city, including the Bank of Virginia. The streets are full of
brick, splintered timbers, and rubbish of various kinds ; and the soldiers
have made the desolation complete. The houses and stores have been pil
laged thoroughly. Fifty dollars' worth has been destroyed where one has
been carried away for use.
" I saw men break down the doors to rooms of fine houses, enter, shat
ter the looking-glasses with a blow of the ax, knock the vases and lamps
off the mantle-piece with a careless swing, and then lay down the ax to
rummage for plunder. A cavalry man sat down at a fine rosewood piano,
and drummed away till laughed at for his bungling performance ; when up
he started with an oath, drove his saber through the polished keys, theu
292 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
knocked off the top, tore out the strings, and carried away oue or two as
trophies. One man entered a large parlor carpeted with a Brussels worth
at least two hundred dollars. He cut out the center-piece, some four feet
by six, for a saddle-blanket. I entered the iinest jewelry store of the city.
The large glass of the windows was all broken, the splendid plate-glass of
the cases dashed to pieces, the regulating clock smashed, drawers emptied,
and the contents of the shelves tumbled upon the floor and trampled to
dirty fragments ; and so throughout the lower part of the city. I never
wish to see the like again."
There is no need to characterize such conduct as atrocious
and brutal; but it would be salutary for those who wantonly
invoke the demon of war to take some account of the in
evitable vandalism that marches with the conqueror.
By the evening of the 12th the whole army had crossed
the river, and was preparing to move next morning on the
hights in the rear, where Lee was still strongly intrenching.
Couch's (2d) corps occupied the town; while Wilcox's (9th)
corps extended south-east towards Franklin's grand division.
The Fourteenth was the only Connecticut regiment that
was warmly engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg. Long-
street held the Confederate left. His advance artillery was
stationed on Marye's Heights ; and two brigades of infantry
were posted behind the stone walls at the foot of the declivity.
Burnside opened the battle on the right by hurling French's
division against this position.
The Fourteenth had slept during the night in the shelled
and bullet-riddled houses of Caroline Street; and in the
morning moved promptly out by the flank to the plateau
back of the city, and formed in line of battle with the divis
ion that had done such noble service at Antietam. " No
sooner had this division burst out on the plain than from the
batteries on the hights came a frightful fire, — cross-showers
of shot and shell, — opening great gaps in the ranks ; but,
closing up, the ever-thinning lines pressed on, and had passed
over a great part of the interval, when met by volleys of
musketry at short range."5 From the semicircular crest
of the hill came a direct and converging fire.
The Fourteenth crowded on to the foot of the steep, and
began to mount. They were now surrounded by an artillery-
fire (for the cannon in the rear were nearly as troublesome
2 Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH AT FIIEDERICKSB IHIG. 293
as those in the front) ; and from the stone wall came showers
of bullets. Men fell on every hand. The regiment wavered,
recoiled, rallied, and again advanced ; firing steadily all the
while. Three separate charges were made : in the last,
Lieut-Col. Perkins fell at the head of the regiment. The
men rallied around their wounded chief, and fell back witli
the line of the division.
Hancock now led his division to the charge ; and with it,
in the front ranks, steadily moved the Twenty-seventh Con
necticut, — nine-months' troops. The regimental historian,
Lieut. Winthrop D. Sheldon, gives the following sketch of
the charge : —
" As soon as we arrived at the railroad depot, several rebel gnus,
trained upon the spot with fatal accuracy, welcomed us to the encounter.
Very near this point fell Capt. Schweizer, the first of the long list of casu
alties. . . . The division now advanced by the double-quick into the
open field ; then, after resting a few moments on the ground, at the order
' Charge ! ' moved by the left flank with fixed bayonets, passing French's
division, which had been obliged to fall back. A second brief rest, then
on again ; while shot and shell plow the ground in front, burst over our
heads, or make fearful gaps in the line. Yet on we rush. The wounded
are left where they fall. Not a word is spoken ; not a gun fired. As we
approach nearer the rebel lines, all the elements of destruction that inge
nuity can devise are concentrated upon the narrow space. From rows of
rifle-pits, protected by a heavy stone wall, bursts a continuous roll of mus
ketry ; from neighboring houses flashes the deadly fire of sharpshooters ;
while batteries posted on the hights behind strong field-works, and sup
ported by infantry, sweep the field with shot and shell, and grape and can
ister. Enfilading batteries on the right and left of the rebel semicircle
pour in their swift discharges. . . . The line now begins to waver, and
with some disorder presses forward to a brick house, from which a brisk
musketry-fire is kept up in the direction of the stone wall. At this time,
the various regiments became mingled together ; and the Twenty-seventh,
in consequence of the confusion, separated into several fragments, advan-
cin»- to the right and left of the house. The time for a sudden dash had
passed ; and unable longer to stem the avalanche of fire, which seemed to
gather intensity as we proceeded, the charge was continued only as far as
a board-fence, all full of bullet-holes and torn with shot, less than a hun
dred yards from the famous stone wall."
Here the Twenty-seventh remained all the afternoon,
holding the advanced position ; while division after division
charged towards the hill, and recoiled before the terrible
tempest of death.
A correspondent of the London Times, on Lee's staffj said
that " no braver men ever lived than those who forced their
294 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
way up Marye's Heights that day," and that their conduct
extorted praise from the rebel chieftain.
After this, similar charges were made up the impregna
ble slope by Howard's, Sturgis's, and Getty's divisions, and
finally by the divisions of Hooker's corps, all with similar
result; while Franklin, after a sturdy grapple with Jackson,
had been repulsed on the left.
On the morning of this day, Col. Harland had, by order
of Gen. Getty, placed his (the 2d) brigade on the bank
of the river below the town, where the troops were con
cealed from the enemy, and sheltered from their fire. The
Eleventh Connecticut, present eighteen officers and two
hundred and fifty men, was detached, and moved forward to
support the pickets of the 1st Brigade. Its casualties were
few, and it rejoined the brigade, which had occupied its shel
tered position during the day; while Burnside, in a spirit of
apparent desperation, was hurling forward, his troops to
slaughter on the right and left.
Col. Harland says in his official report, " About five, P.M.,
1 was ordered to move forward to the support of the 1st
Brigade. I advanced the brigade in two columns, — the
Twenty-first Connecticut and the 4th Rhode-Island consti
tuting the column on the right; and the Eighth, Fifteenth,
and Sixteenth Connecticut that on the left. On the street
in front of the slaughter-house, I re-formed the line, and
advanced until the right was nearly up with the 9th New-
York, and tlio left had arrived at the foot of a steep hill
about ten rods in rear of the railroad, where the Eleventh
Connecticut Volunteers had been stationed during the clay."
The brigade remained in this position during the night,
picketing in front, and in the morning was returned to the
location of Friday night. The Fifteenth Connecticut, Lieut.-
Col. Samuel Tolles commanding, was detached to support a
battery. Capt. Charles L. Upharn with a detachment occu
pied the ground in front and the block-house near the rail
road. On the morning of Monday the 15th, the Eighth
Connecticut, under Capt. H. M. Hoyt, reported to Capt.
Upham ; and the picket-line was extended along the brow
of the hill. At dark, the brigade, with these exceptions,
THE FAILUEE AT FIIEDEKICK.SBUI1G. 295
was moved about two hundred yards in rear of Gen. Wil-
eox's headquarters, where it spent the night. Next morning,
the whole force was recalled across the Rappahannock ; and,
with the exception of two companies, — D under Capt.
Samuel Hubbard, and I under Capt. Frank M. Lovejoy,
detailed under Major Hiram B. Crosby on fatigue-duty, —
Harland's brigade returned to camp near the Lacey House.
To say that the terrible battle had been a terrible failure
is to speak quite inadequately of the result. The magnitude
of the blunder seemed to be equaled only by the magni
tude of the losses. The Union casualties numbered twelve
thousand three hundred and twenty-one killed, wounded, and
missing ; while the Confederate loss was less than half that
number. Connecticut suffered less, proportionately, than
any other State that had regiments engaged. The ratio
came near being reversed.
After the decisive repulse of Saturday, a return across
the Rappahannock was urged by the chief commanders ; but
Burnside, mortified by defeat, had apparently lost his mental
equipoise, and resolved to form the remaining 9th Corps in
a column of attack by regiments, the Eleventh Connecticut
Volunteers in advance, and lead it in person to scale the
hights. He was at last dissuaded from the desperate
scheme by his counselors ; and the bloody and useless
slaughter came to an end.
The retreat over the central pontoon-bridge was mate
rially assisted by Major II. B. Crosby of the Twenty-first,
provost-marshal of the 9th Corps. Gen. Wilcox, command
ing the corps, says in his official report, " The whole body,
numbering about sixteen thousand officers and men, were
withdrawn noiselessly in less than two hours. The most
perfect order prevailed ; no confusion in the ranks ; no signs
of alarm or demoralization, notwithstanding many hours of
passive exposure to the enemy's fire. The ease with which
this remarkable withdrawal was effected was due partly to
the excellent judgment of Major Crosby in carrying out the
special orders of Gen. Wilcox. With a pioneer party and
a cavalry patrol he paved the way smoothly and rapidly for
the movement." Major Crosby muffled the bridge with dirt
296 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
about three inches deep, so as to conceal the retreat from
the enemy, whose guns commanded the bridge. It was
dark, cold, and stormy ; while he sat on his horse, and re
peated in hushed tones private orders to commanders till
near .daylight, by which time the army was again in
camp.
The Eighth Connecticut had lost one killed and two
wounded ; the Eleventh had one wounded ; the Fifteenth,
two killed and eight wounded ; the Sixteenth, one wounded ;
the Twenty-first, one killed and five wounded.
The Fourteenth had lost twenty-four killed, or died of
wounds, and eighty-one others wounded. Among those who
were killed, or died shortly of wounds, were Capt. Elijah W.
Gibbons of Middletown, and Lieuts. Theodore A. Stanley of
New Britain, William A. Coomes of New Haven, and David
E. Canfieid of Middletown.
Capt. Gibbons was, before the war, a citizen of Middle-
town, where he had many friends. He was an active and
faithful supporter of the Sunday school. When the war-
broke out, he went as first lieutenant in the Fourth Rein-
7 o
ment, but resigned his commission in May, 1862, and, re
turning home, raised a company for the Fourteenth. Capt.
Gibbons shared all the fortunes of his company, never being
behind the regiment a day. In the attack on Marye's
Heights, his thigh was shattered by a shot, and he was borne
to the rear. lie lingered a few days, and died in great suf
fering, but with becoming resignation.
Lieut. Stanley was one of the gallant young Stanleys
from New Britain who gave their lives for the country; and
Lieuts. Canfieid and Coomes received their mortal wounds,
as soldiers should, at the head of their men.
The Twenty-seventh had lost sixteen killed and eighty-
nine wounded. Among the slain was Capt. Bernard E.
Schweizer of New Haven, a brave German soldier. Among
the mortally wounded was Capt. Addison C. Taylor, also of
New Haven. He was a pupil and military instructor in the
Commercial Institute in that city when the war broke out,
and drilled Capt, Joseph R. Hawley's company in the three-
months' service.
SUFFERINGS OF THE SEVENTEENTH. 297
At Fredericksburg, also, fell Sergeant Richard H. Fowler
of Guilford, of a patriotic family, William A. Goodwin,
Thomas E. Barrett, Frank E. Ailing, and George H. Mimmic.
Young Ailing was a student at Yale when he enlisted ; and
Sergeant Barrett was a much-esteemed and successful teacher
at the Eaton School in that city.
While the contest for Maryland was going forward at
Antietam, the Seventeenth remained at Fort Marshall,
menacing the rebels of Baltimore. When the excitement
subsided, Col. Noble asked of the authorities at Washington
that the regiment might be permitted to join Sigel's corps
according to previous understanding. Gen. Wool was much
incensed ; and, instead of this, it was ordered to Tenallytown,
and put at work intrenching a hill that was afterwards
known as Fort Kearney, in the northward defenses of Wash
ington. For a fortnight, the men shoveled dirt here ; when,
Nov. 3, the regiment was sent into Virginia to report to
Sigel, commanding the llth Corps, and pressing forward
beyond Manassas.
It marched during that week to Thoroughfare Gap and
other points beyond Centre ville, but met no enemy, and
was withdrawn to a camp at Chantilly, nearer Washington.
The regiment suffered considerable discomfort in snow-clad
" shelters " and in long marches through Virginia mud. Not
having been paid off, and the men needing money, Private
Elias Howe advanced the thirteen thousand dollars clue
them.
The Seventeenth was not called upon to participate in
the affair of Fredericksburg, but moved to the vicinity, and,
after the battle, established its winter camp at Brooks's
Station, south of Stafford Court House. Here the men
found time to build for themselves semi-comfortable bar
racks, — huts of logs and mud, — made habitable by many
ingenious devices. They endured the ordinary privations
and exposures of military life, and passed the cheerless
months in drills, parade and picket duty, song and jest,
38
298 CONNECTICUT DURING THE [REBELLION.
reading and social intercourse. Capt. James E. Dunham
of Company G was appointed provost-marshal of the di
vision.
Soon after the Twenty-second took the field, in the fall of
1862, it was called upon to do picket-duty out at Langley's,
on the Washington and Leesburg Turnpike. A member of
the regiment confesses, that " though still in the rear of cav
alry-scouts and an advanced picket, and at least fifty miles
from the enemy's picket-line, our first week of outpost-duty
was fraught with more thrilling events and hairbreadth
escapes from death or captivity than belonged to the whole
remaining period of our service."
On Oct. 22, the regiment marched to Miner's Hill, three
miles from the fort, and was merged in Gen. Cowclin's bri
gade, already consisting of regiments from New York, Massa
chusetts, and Rhode Island. Within a week, the boys began
to think of the coming winter, and, more ambitious than
the other regiments, resolved to build for themselves a vil
lage of wooden houses, and fold their breezy tents until
summer. Some of the other regiments were skeptical as to
the profitableness of the job ; but the Twenty-second went
heartily at work clearing the land, cutting clown pines, dig
ging stumps and pulling roots, and carting them out of the
way, and preparing the timber for their new habitations.
So vigorously did the work proceed, that in sixteen days the
whole was accomplished, and a general " moving " took place.
The ground had been cleared, the logs cut, and a hundred
and thirteen cabins, ten by fourteen feet, were completed
and occupied, all uniform in size and style, alike provided
with doors and windows, and thatched, ventilated, and com
fortably warmed by means of the portable camp-stove. All
was done with only the most indispensable of tools, — the
saw, ax, and hammer. Subsequently, all the streets of the
new city, "Camp Burn-ham," were corduroyed, and a large
chapel was in process of erection.
Dec. 12, the day before the battle of Fredericksburg, the
regiment was under marching orders, and prepared to leave
THE FIFTH AND TWENTIETH AT WASHINGTON. 299
on the cars; but, after waiting two hours, the order was
countermanded, and the 1st Brigade, in which was the
Connecticut Twenty - seventh, was sent forward instead.
Dec. 29, the regiment was aroused by the long-roll, and
marched over eight miles of the worst of the roads to inter
cept Stuart's cavalry. After watching twenty-four hours,
they marched back ; that famous raider having vanished in
an unexpected direction.
The regiment, during the four months of its stay here,
occupied its time profitably in company and battalion drills
and occasional reviews. Feb. 12, the men left their com
fortable cabins, and spent two months in preparing the
groundworks of Forts Craig, McDowell, and McClellan.
On Sept. 4, the Fifth once more crossed the Potomac
into Washington, and with the main army proceeded
slowly northward towards the fords where Lee's army was
simultaneously crossing into Maryland. The regiment was
halted at Frederick ; and here, on familiar ground, while
the battle was progressing at^ Antietam, it was assigned
to provost-duty. It remained nearly three months mend
ing its shattered ranks. Col. Chapman here returned to
the regiment after a short Experience in rebel prisons, his
health seriously impaired. On Dec. 10, the regiment was
assigned to the 12th Army Corps, Gen. Slocum.
The Twentieth was kept in front of Washington
until Lee had retreated below Culpeper; and, Sept. 29,
was ordered to proceed by cars to Frederick, Md. By some
blunder, the men were directed to leave their knapsacks
in Washington. All night they waited at the depot for
transportation, starting before daybreak, and made their
next bivouac near Frederick without tents or blankets. At
Sandy Hook, Oct. 2, the Twentieth was brigaded with
some New-York regiments, and attached to the 12th' Corps,
like the Fifth Connecticut Volunteers. Thenceforth their
fortunes lay mainly together.
Rigid discipline was now adopted in the Twentieth ; drills
were required daily ; schools of instruction were instituted ;
300 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
and guard and picket duty regularly performed. Gen.
Gordon, commanding the division, issued an order not un
usual in the army, but widely at variance with the idea
citizens sometimes entertain of military life. The following
is the principal part :
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, TWELFTH CORPS,
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Oct. 20, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 40. — "The evil, where it exists, of -commis
sioned officers associating with enlisted men in any other relation than
an official one, is, to both officers and men, most pernicious in its effects,
and must in future be totally discontinued. Hereafter no enlisted man
can be permitted to visit the tent or quarters of a commissioned officer
for the amusement of either party. Except for official purposes, it is
highly unmilitary for officer and private to associate together."
The beautiful weeks of autumn had vanished while Lee
was retreating, and McClellan had not pursued. The early
winter rains were about to set in, making of the plastic
Virginia clay a compound through which locomotion was
almost impossible ; and the army was ordered to prepare for
an offensive move. Perhaps such a state of things was un
avoidable; McClellan so asserted : but Lieut-Col. Buckingham
expressed the feelings of the army and the country when he
wrote in his diary, " If it takes a month to recover from the
effects of a victor}-. Heaven save us from the necessity of
ever being obliged to recover from the effects of a defeat ! "
About the 1st of November, the regiments north of the
Potomac crossed the river, and advanced into Virginia. The
Twentieth occupied Keyes Ford and Manning's Ford of the
Shenandoah. Nov. 9, it moved over the mountains east
ward into the London Valley ; and the forward movement
seemed to be ended. An order was issued to the men to
build huts, and make themselves comfortable for the winter.
'The manuscript regimental history of the Twentieth, by
Lieut-Col. Buckingham, says, " Some of the old regiments
in three or four days had nice, comfortable huts built, with
doors, floors, windows, and chimneys, and then came and
laughed at our awkwardness. There were in the regiment
carpenters, shipbuilders, masons, wheelwrights, tinners, black
smiths, men who could make the hair-spring to a watch or
build a locomotive ; but, when it came to producing log-huts
without tools, they could not ' get the hang of it.' We won-
THE FIFTH AND TWENTIETH UNDER ARMS.
clered where the veterans obtained windows and various
other fixings that added so much to their comfort, and were
told that they ' drew them.' After a while, the greenness
wore off from our men ; and they, too, learned to ' draw
things,' not always of Uncle Sam's quartermasters. Boards
were afterwards sometimes ' drawn ' from the side of a barn
two miles from camp ; windows were ' drawn ' a still greater
distance ; and then they managed to ' draw ' hay or straw for
a bunk. It takes soldiers a year to learn how to keep com
fortable." That confession will answer for all the regiments
during their unseasoned period. Sickness prevailed as the
result of the exposure and the new life ; and, during the
winter, more than thirty died.
On Nov. 10, Slocuin's corps moved to join the main
armv near Fredericksburg. The Fifth Connecticut, which
*/
had been detailed on provost duty at Frederick, now
rejoined the corps.
Passing through Hillsborough. Wheatland, Leesburg, Chan-
tilly, and Fairfax Court House, they reached Fairfax Station,
on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, on the 14th. They
crossed the Occoquan next morning at Wolf-run Shoals, and
pushed on through rain and mud for two days, while heavy
guns were pounding away at Fredericksburg. On the 17th.
Burnside having escaped from his cul de sac, they turned
back to Fairfax Station, and began to make a winter
camp.
For a time, rations were poor arid scanty ; and many
actually suffered for food. While the 12th Corps was at
Fairfax, the rebel Stuart rode with his cavalr}^ entirely
around the force, and passed out below Leesburg unmolested.
The Fifth and Twentieth were under arms for a time ; but
there was no fight. The men built half-comfortable log-
huts, and were beginning to settle down for the third time
for a winter's rest, when orders came to march to Stafford
Court House. Again the drudgery and toil of moving were
repeated : the great wagons were loaded, and dragged on
four miles a day,' the corps keeping along so as to help the
stalled teams out of the mud. Soldiers were most of the
time on half-rations.
302 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The full army-ration is enough for any man. It consists
of meat, either fresh or salt, hard or soft bread, or flour,
beans or peas, rice or hominy, coffee or tea, sugar, vinegar,
candles, soap, salt, pepper, potatoes, and molasses ; but
after a battle, or during the prevalence of a long storm or
deep mud, and very often when no sufficient reason was
visible, this was diminished to suit circumstances. At Staf
ford Court House, the men found food, rest, and the army
paymaster. Capt. Cogswell of the Fifth, and Lieut. Beards-
ley of the Twentieth, were detailed as brigade-inspectors;
and Major Buckingham acted as assistant inspector-general
of the division. Col. Chapman of the Fifth, to whom, mainly,
the regiment owed its efficiency in discipline and drill, was
compelled on account of ill health to resign, and was suc
ceeded by Col. Warren W. Packer of Groton, who went out
as captain of Company G. A correspondent wrote the
Providence Journal at this time as follows : —
" We learned a day or two since some interesting facts of
the Fifth Connecticut Regiment, which, for army-life, is as
anomalous as it is pleasing. Its commander, Col. Packer,
we are assured, is a teetotaler ; neither drinking any intoxi
cating liquors himself, nor allowing any to his men. Its
chaplain, Rev. Mr. Welch, is declared to be the very best in
the army, though never preaching a sermon ; and its sutler,
Mr. Randall, who acted in this capacity over two years, never
sold or offered for sale a single drop of liquor."
At Stafford Court House, the men once more built them
selves winter huts; and occupied them, with only the
usual incidents of camp-life, until the army was thawed out
in April.
CHAPTER XX.
The First Connecticut Battery and Seventh Regiment in Florida. — Capture of St. John's
Bluff. — Sixth and Seventh in South Carolina. — Battle of Pocotaligo. — The Twelfth
at Camp Parapet. — Yankee Enterprise. — Anecdotes of the Thirteenth. — Services
and Sufferings of the Ninth at Vicksburg. — The Battle of Baton Rouge. — The La
Fourche Campaign. — Battle of Georgia Landing. — Thanksgiving. — The Nine-
months' Regiments leave Long Island. — The Twenty-eighth at Pensacola. — Destruc
tion of a Rebel Gunboat.
URING the heat of the summer of 1862, the
Sixth and Seventh, with 'the First Battery, re
mained at Hilton Head ; while military inaction
reigned, and the jurisdiction of the department
contracted. The members of the Seventh
named their camp " Camp Hitchcock," after their lamented
comrade.
In September, an expedition was planned to capture a
fort at St. John's Bluff, Fla., which had considerably annoyed
the navy, but was on such high ground, that the gunboats
were unable to destroy it. The Seventh Connecticut, 47th
Pennsylvania, Capt. Rockwell's First Connecticut Battery,
and one company of Massachusetts cavalry, were selected
for the purpose. They left Hilton Head on board the
steamers Ben. Deford, Boston, Cosmopolitan, and Neptune,
on the thirtieth day of September, 1862, arriving off the bar
at the mouth of St. John's River on the morning of Oct. 1.
They went over the bar; landed at a place called May-
port Mills ; traveled across the country for miles, through
swamp and mire, the most of the time through mud and
water knee-deep; and came across a rebel cavalry camp,
charging through it, and putting the cavalry to flight with
an exchange of shots, but no loss of life to either side. The
fugitives left their dinner smoking hot ; and the Union boys,
303
204 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
tired, wet, and hungry, did ample justice thereto. After a
two-days' farther march, they came upon the rebel stronghold,
only to find they had abandoned it in a hurry a short time
before, leaving every thing behind them, — camp-kettles on
the fire with their rations in them, and guns unspiked. The
fort was immediately dismantled, and all the guns sent to
Hilton Head. The force went up the river as far as Jackson
ville, bringing away a number of white and black refugees
from Rebeldom, who hailed our men as their deliverers.
In the afternoon of Oct. 21, two brigades under Connec
ticut officers, with Gen. Brannan in command, started on
an expedition inland to burn the railroad bridges between
Charleston and Savannah. Sergeant Robert Wilson, an in
telligent scout from Stamford in the Sixth Connecticut, had
been out with a negro examining the rivers, landings, &c. ;
and he now piloted the raid.
The Sixth, commanded by Lieut-Col. Speidal, was in the
1st Brigade, under Col. Chatfield ; and the Seventh in the 2d
Brigade, under Gen. Terrv. The Connecticut regiments had
fj ' v O
each five hundred men. The Seventh Regiment embarked on
the Boston ; and the whole force moved up Broad River to
Mackay's Point, where they landed next morning, the 22d.
The line of march \vas taken up, the 1st Brigade ahead ;
and the force, in column by companies, moved briskly some
five miles inland, where they discovered the enemy posted
on rising ground beyond a marsh which was flanked by thick
woods. • The rebels opened with howitzers and musketry.
The 1st Brigade advanced in line of battle, and soon became
hotly engaged : but the rebels fled along the road before the
2d Brigade was fairly up ; and our men jumped the ditch,
waded through the swamp, and pursued.
Another rapid march of two or three miles, much of it at
the double-quick ; again the skirmishers were driven in ; the
enemy had taken a new. position. Two field-pieces were
posted on a slope beyond some sparse woods, while their
infantry was stationed in the thicket, or concealed behind
houses near by. The Sixth Connecticut, a New-Hampshire,
and two Pennsylvania regiments, moved into the woods to
dislodge the enemy. These regiments were subjected to a
THE DEAD OF THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH. 3Q5
galling fire of both artillery and musketry. The Sixth suf
fered severely at this point ; Col. Chatfield and Lieut-Col.
Speidal being both struck with canister-shots while bravely
leading their men. The line moved steadily forward, cut
up by shot and shell, tangled by thickets, the men now stand
ing, now lying down, now carefully advancing, pressing the
enemy closer and harder in a fight of two hours ; when, de
spite their advantage of ground, the rebels again fled, protect
ing their guns, however, as they dragged them sullenly to
the rear. During the fight, Capts. Chamberlain's and Bur-
dick's companies of the Seventh had also done good service as
sharpshooters, and the rest of the regiment had been for a
short time briskly engaged.
Again our forces pursued ; but the rebels retired deliber
ately, our column being much harassed by guns unlimbered
on commanding points in the road, and infantry firing from
the fences and woods. The need of cavalry was much felt.
Our troops successively charged upon and dislodged the
enemy for a distance of nearly four miles ; when the rebels
retreated across the Pocotaligo River, burning the bridge
behind them. Across this creek, which, though narrow, was
deep, the enemy posted batteries ; but some of our men pro
ceeded to fell trees across for bridges. During the lull, a
locomotive whistle was heard in the distance ; then a train
loaded with rebel soldiers thundered into the village, and
was received with cheers for " South Carolina." At night
fall our forces returned to Mackay's, which they reached
before daybreak, and re-embarked for Beaufort.
The Sixth had lost five killed and thirty-three wounded ;
Orderly Sergeant Eobert B. Gage of Bridgeport, a brave
man, being killed by a rifle-ball in the side. Of the wound
ed, Corporal David G. Shepard and Private Taylor died of
their wounds. The Seventh lost in killed two, wounded
twenty-seven. Five died of their wounds.
The expedition did not result in any advantage to the
Union cause.
Our regiments in Louisiana were living by no means an
inactive life. They had recruited their ranks to the maxi-
39
306 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
mum number. At periods during the summer, the Twelfth
was called upon to do provost-duty at various posts. Com
pany A was at Jefferson City in June and July, Capt. Lewis
provost-marshal. Company F went to Lake Pontchartrain
during the same period, and, out of seventy men, returned
with only fifteen fit for duty. Capt. Nathan Frankau was
provost-marshal at Carrollton, with his company for guard.
A detail of ten men captured the Laurel Hill, the largest ves
sel at New Orleans, afterwards of great service to the gov
ernment. In July, half the regiment, under Major Peck,
went on an expedition to Lake Pontchartrain, having for its
object the destruction of the railroad bridges and the capture
of the rebel force at Pass Manchac and Pontchatoula. Two
companies of the Thirteenth under Capts. Comstock and
Blinn, and several companies of the Ninth under Major Frye,
were also a part of the force. The expedition was but par
tially successful. The rebels rallied, and drove our troops
back, inflicting a severe loss. Assistant Surgeon Avery of
the Ninth was among the prisoners. There is a story, that,
while a captive, the shrewd doctor beat the rebel command
ant, Jeff. Thompson, at cards, got him drunk, challenged
him to a horse-race, and came near breaking his neck among
the trees.
Camp Parapet, the headquarters of the Twelfth, was one
of the outer defenses of New Orleans, and there were fre
quent alarms.
The camp was terribly muddy ; and, in the later summer,
typhoid-fever made fearful havoc. Sometimes a hundred
were in the hospital at once. More than forty died during
those months, including Capt. Toy of Collinsville, a faithful
and excellent officer. The surgeons were constantly occu
pied ; and Dr. Fletcher of Southington, a private in Compa
ny I, on the meager pay of extra duty, devoted himself un
tiringly to the care of the men. Lieut. Charles "W. Corn
wall of New Haven, provost-marshal on Gen. Phelps's staff,
also fell a victim to the climate. Of him Lieut-Col. Led-
yard Colburn wrote, " In the name of the regiment, I would
declare our sorrow and sadness at the untimely death of one
beloved and respected by all." Lieut. Stanton Allyn, of
FIRST REGIMENT OF LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS. 307
Company K, was for a time prostrated, and obliged to go
into hospital, but subsequently, and when quite out of health,
rejoined his regiment to participate in the siege of Port
Hudson, where perilous labors awaited him."
More steamboats were wanted in New Orleans; and the
general commanding, knowing that the Yankees could do
almost any thing, and hearing that Col. Colburn of the
Twelfth knew something about steamboats, applied to him
in the dilemma. " The colonel, after looking about him and
making inquiries, soon discovered that lumber was the impor
tant item wanted ; but being of a progressive, ingenious,
and go-ahead disposition, soon took his measures to obviate
the difficulty. He went to Fort Pike, where he found a
large raft of logs that had been placed in the Eigolets for
the purpose of preventing the passing of our vessels. These
were fastened together with several tons of chains, which
were removed, and the logs got out. The next thing was a
saw-mill ; but this was soon built, and was so successful, that,
the necessary lumber was made from the logs obtained at
the Rigolets. The engine was also built under the colonel's
direction ; and the result was a steamer a hundred and fifty-
four feet long by forty broad over all, stanch and durable."
Col. Doming was seldom with the regiment, being ap
pointed Mayor of New Orleans, — an office which he ably
administered.
The Thirteenth remained at New Orleans. During the
summer, Company A was stationed on the lake ; Company
E, Capt. Tisdale, was detailed as provost-guard ; Company I,
Capt. Schleiter, was stationed at Gen. Twiggs's house as a
body-guard for Gen. Butler; Company K, Capt. Mitchell,
guarded Col. Birge's headquarters.
In July, Major Holcomb of the Thirteenth was authorized
to raise the 1st Eegiment of white Louisiana Volunteers.
Commissions were also issued to Sergeants Charles A. Tracy,
Oscar F. Merrill, George A. Mayne, James T. Smith, James
M. Gardner, Charles H. Grosvenor, George G. Smith, Cor
poral Devereaux Jones, and Private Leonidas R. Hall.
In August, Companies A and K, under Capt. Mitchell, made
a successful foraging expedition up the Mississippi, and
308 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
brought back a few prisoners, and an immense number of
horses, mules, cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry. On Sept. 22,
Capt. Sprague with Company H went up the river a few miles
on a steamboat. They found a Frenchman with four hundred
cattle trying to cross the river. A pass from Dick Taylor
being found on him, the cattle were confiscated ; and, after
hours of exciting labor, one hundred and seventy-six were
driven aboard, the rest having escaped to the woods, or
plunged into the river. The captain also captured eight
hundred hogsheads of sugar, and landed the whole at New
Orleans. He reported to Gen. Butler, who, after a brief
examination of the facts, said, " Captain, you did right :
' when you're in doubt, take the trick.' "
On the last day of September, the regiment left the Cus
tom House, and went to Camp Parapet, where it was bri
gaded with the Twelfth under Gen. Weitzel. Here they
had Sibley tents, and were comfortable. Both regiments
had now acquired an excellent discipline ; and soldiers and
citizens came to witness their dress-parades.
We transfer from Col. Sprague's admirable history of the
Thirteenth some anecdotes showing the wit and humor of
Quartermaster J. B. Bromley : —
" The principal difficulty at this time was in getting wood. Our
quartermaster, never long at a loss for expedients, finally proceeded to the
depot of the Carrollton Railroad, and commenced loading his teams. The
superintendent is said to have come up, and to have held the following
dialogue with Bromley: —
" ' What are you going to do with that wood ? '
" ' Cook rations. (Go on with your loading, corporal.)'
'"Who are you?'
" ' Bromley, Quartermaster of Thirteenth Connecticut Volunteeers.
Allow me, sir, in turn, to inquire whom I have the distinguished honor to
address.'
" ' I'm superintendent of this railroad.'
" ' All right. (Go on with your loading, corporal.)'
" ' The wood belongs to the railroad.'
" ' So I supposed.'
" ' But I forbid you to take it.'
" ' Put your protest in writing in red ink. Tie it with a piece of red tape.
I'll approve it and forward it. You see, we've got to have wood to cook
with. Can't eat beans and pork raw. I'd prefer 'em raw ; but the men
are so unreasonable they want 'em cooked.'
" ' But that wood's necessary for the use of the railroad.'
" ' It's necessary for the use of the Thirteenth Connecticut.'
"'I should like to know how a locomotive is going to run without
wood.'
THE NINTH RENDER SIGNAL SERVICE. 3Q9
" ' I've often wondered how a regiment could be run without wood.'
" ' Gen. Butler orders me to run this railroad.'
" ' Col. Birge orders me to run the Thirteenth Connecticut.'
'"Who's Col. Birge?'
" ' Who's Col. Birge ?' Why, the d deuse ! don't you know Col.
Birge? If there's one man above another that everybody knows, it's
Col. Birge.'
" ' Will Col. Birge pay for the wood? '
" ' Col. Birge pay for the wood ! Why, no ! It's a reflection on your
sagacity to ask such a question.'
" ' Who will pay for it ? '
" ' The Quartermaster's Department. If there's one thing above another
that I admire in the Quartermaster's Department, it's because they'll
always pay for wood. Now, my friend of the railroad persuasion, if
you'll come and see me, I'll give you receipts, and help you fix up the
proper papers to present to the Quartermaster's Department.'
" ' How long will it be before I get pay ? '
"'It will be at some future day, — the futurest kind of a day, I'm
afraid.'
" The superintendent posted off to see Col. Birge. Bromley preceded
him, however, and cautioned the sentinels to admit no citizen without a
pass. ' Halt ! ' said the sentry ; and the superintendent gave up the
pursuit in despair.
" The instructions which Bromley gave to Corporal Strange, a member
of his staff, as he termed him, were quite significant. ' Strange, we're
going on an expedition. I want my staff to be on the lookout for turkeys,
geese, pigs, and sheep. Don't be the aggressor in any contest. Stand
strictly on the defensive ; but, if you're attacked by any of these animals,
show fight, and don't forget to bring off the enemy's dead'"
During the last week in June, the Ninth, with Williams's
brigade, left Baton Rouge, and went up the Mississippi on
the Diana, William Benton, and Sally Robinson, river
steamboats. Coming in sight of batteries which the rebels
had posted here and there to command the river, the in
fantry would go ashore and attack by land on the flank,
driving the enemy from the position, and enabling the fleet
to pass up. The Ninth was several times engaged in these
operations, and rendered much service. The vessels went
up to the very guns of Vicksburg, when the brigade was
landed on the west side of the river, and advanced to
Young's Station, opposite the city.
Here Commodore Farragut had already arrived, and had
set large numbers of soldiers and negroes at work digging
the famous canal for a new channel of the river ; and the
regiments of Williams's brigade at once joined enthusiasti
cally in the excavation for the cut-off. Col. Cahill of the
310 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Ninth was the ranking colonel, and commanded in the
absence of Gen. Williams.
Here the Ninth again suffered greatly. There was nothing
to eat for weeks but pork and hard-tack ; no water to drink
but the muddy water of the Mississippi. The swamp reeked
with malaria, and the men slept upon the mud. The supply
of quinine, that panacea for all the soldier's aches and ills,
was exhausted : there was little medicine of any sort. Re
quisitions were sent as far as New Orleans ; but the medical
Dogberry declined to honor them on the ground of " irregu
larity." Almost the whole of the Ninth Regiment was at one
time on the sick-list with fever caused by exposure and pri
vation. The poor fellows died sometimes at the fearful rate
of a score a week ; and, out of the three hundred and fifty
Connecticut members present, the State catalogue of troops
shows that one hundred and fifty-three died during this
season, — a mortality not equaled by any other of our regi
ments within a similar period.
After a month of this deadly service, the engineers dis
covered that the water was falling, and would not flow
through their canal; and the work was abandoned. Wil-
liams's brigade returned down the river again about the 1st
of August; Breckinridge pursuing along the shore. On the
boat Algerine left behind were three hundred sick, in charge
of Surgeon Gallagher of the Ninth, — a brave and devoted
officer, and friend of the suffering men.
The Union troops, arrived at Baton Rouge, immediately
took possession, and began to fortify, anticipating an attack
from the rebels advancing in heavy force. Williams had
seven small regiments and three batteries, which he disposed
on the north-east of the town. The Ninth Connecticut and
4th Wisconsin were on the left of the line, on a hill over
looking the Bayou Gras, where was expected an attack
from the rebel ram Arkansas, that had just caused such
havoc in Farragut's fleet up the river. At daylight of Aug.
5, Breckinridge threw his whole force against the Union
center under cover of a fog, but was met with unflinching
bravery. Again and again he assailed with great vigor, but
each time was driven back with heavv loss on either side.
CAPT. SILAS W. SAWYER. 311
When the battle had raged several hours, Gen. Williams fell
mortally wounded ; and Col. Cahill of the Ninth succeeded
to the command of the Union forces, Lieut.-Col. Richard
Fitz Gibbons leading the regiment. Fifty men from the
Ninth were detailed as artillerists to Whin's battery, and five
to Everett's battery ; and the regiment was swung round to
the support of the center. Col. Fitz Gibbons says in his offi
cial report, " To complete this manoeuver, the regiment
inarched along the North Road until it came within range
of the enemy's guns, when it filed across the road in the midst
of a shower of grape and canister, and formed in line of bat
tle in a cornfield, the battery opening fire from the road.
The enemy at this juncture appeared directly in front, yell
ing, and firing volleys of musketry, which, however, did but
little damage ; the shot mostly going over us, owing to the
proximity of the enemy, who, on delivering his fire, fell back.
The left flank being exposed, we were ordered to its de
fense ; and the regiment resumed its first position, which it
retained the remainder of the day and night."
After the gallant leader was shot down, the valorous
troops were skillfully led by Col. Cahill ; and the enemy,
having lost fearfully, finally retired in disorder, leaving the
Union forces in possession of the field. Col. Cahill says,
u Capt. Silas W. Sawyer, Company H of the Ninth Connecti
cut, deserves mention for his bold reconnoissance on the
morning of the 6th, going out on the Bayou-Sara Road three
miles, and finding no trace of the enemy. Taking a cattle-
path through the woods, he came out on the Clinton Road,
beyond the original line of our pickets. He scoured the
country to Bird's Plantation, in scouting round which he
found one of the enemy's caissons, and, near by, three others.
Crossing over to Bernard's Plantation, he found another
and a damaged ambulance." Returning to headquarters, he
brought them safely in.
Lieut.-Col. Fitz Gibbons mentioned Adjutant Kattensbroth
and Sergeant-Major Curtis for gallant service. The regi
ment took twenty-four prisoners, and lost one killed and
nine wounded.
The enemy fell back, but rapidly gathered re-inforcements.
312 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
The general commanding the department ordered an evac
uation of the post on account of its evident insecurity ; and
the Union forces under Col. Cahill, acting brigadier-general,
moved on transports down to Camp Parapet. Here the
Ninth was again on outpost-duty, picketing the shores up
and down the river.
On Sept. 7, the Ninth, Major Frye commanding, partici
pated with three other regiments in an expedition across
the river to the neighborhood of St. Charles Court House.
The object was to capture or disperse a camp of two thou
sand rebel infantry said to be stationed there. The Ninth,
with the 14th Maine, landed at daylight of the 8th at a
point above Carrollton, and advanced westward ; the other
regiments going six miles higher up. Major Frye says in his
official report, —
" The artillery shelled the woods ; but, failing to dislodge the enemy, the
Ninth Connecticut were thrown forward as skirmishers. After moving
forward several miles through woods, swamps, bayous, and canebrakes,
everywhere finding traces of a flying enemy, — abandoned haversacks,
blankets, bundles, paper, &c., — it was found that the enemy, mostly cav
alry, attempting to break through in this direction, had been driven back,
and, abandoning their horses, saddles, and equipments, had fled into an al
most impenetrable swamp. But, being surrounded on all sides, our troops
killed and wounded eight, taking about forty prisoners, and bringing in
upwards of two hundred horses ready equipped. This was accomplished
without loss on our side."
Stores and other property were also captured ; and
the expedition then returned to camp at Carrollton with
the booty. Though the Ninth had not recovered from the
effects of the Vicksburg and Port-Hudson expeditions, we
are told " not a man lagged." The regiment had earned an
excellent reputation ; and a correspondent of the Tribune,
in giving some account of its movements, said, " I may be
allowed to acknowledge the services of one of our oldest
and best-disciplined regiments, the Ninth Connecticut, which
was the second regiment debarked at Ship Island. Col. T. W.
Cahill has been for the past year an acting brigadier-general,
and is still serving in that capacity." For a time, both Col.
Cahill and Col. Birge commanded brigades, under Major-
Gen. Beckwith, also from Connecticut.
During September, the Thirteenth lost a popular and en-
THE TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH IN BATTLE. 313
terprising officer in Lieut. Isaac F. Nettleton of Kent. " He
was the first of our officers to die," says Col. Sprague. " His
death caused a deep gloom and heartfelt sorrow among his
associates."
On Oct. 24, Weitzel's brigade, at Carrollton, including
the Twelfth and Thirteenth Connecticut, embarked, and pro
ceeded ninety miles up the river to Donaldsonville'. Next
morning they moved westward, along both sides of the
Bayou La Fourche, which, twenty miles from the Mississippi,
courses southwardly through a district much broken by
swamps and lakes, and connects with the Gulf. In order
to concentrate, the enemy retired down the bayou. The
Union column advanced ; while negroes thronged the way,
and clamored their extravagant benedictions in bad English,
only too happy to " tote " musket and knapsack for the
weary soldier.
On Oct. 27, the brigade came up with the rebel position
at Georgia Landing, near Labadieville. There two veteran
regiments occupied rifle-pits behind a stout cypress fence.
To this position, from the left bank, the rebel force hurried
to cut off the 8th New-Hampshire and Perkins's cavalry be
fore relief could reach them. Weitzel divined the move
ment, and threw the Twelfth and Thirteenth Connecticut
across on an extemporized bridge of flat-boats. The rebels
opened a fierce cannonade on the frail structure ; but the
Twelfth dashed across, and deployed into line of battle.
Again we copy from Col. Sprague's History of the Thir
teenth : —
" For the first time, the Thirteenth was fairly in battle. The big solid
shot were pounding upon us, and the rifled shells were whistling demoni
acally over our heads. We had great confidence in Gen. Weitzel and Col.
Birge, but not yet in ourselves. Would our men stand fire? Would they
resist a cavalry charge ? for the enemy were superior in cavalry. Would
our men march straight against a bristling fence of bayonets? . . . Such
questions agitated our breasts as the enemy's shot came ripping up the
ground, smashing the trees, or screaming and exploding overhead.
" We neared the opening in the levee. Our step changed to the double-
quick. . . . ' File left ! ' commanded Col. Birge ; and the regiment at
double-quick gilded down the bank and upon the bridge, with muskets at a
right-shoulder shift. Our pace quickened almost to a run, while the can
non-balls were flying over us or plowing up the water under our feet.
Up the steep bank on the other side, and straight out among the brambles
40
314 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
and trees. . . . We reached the middle of the field. ' Battalion, halt !
Front ! On the center, dress ! ' rang out the voice of Col. Dirge. A shell
exploded over his head at this moment, and a large fragment dropped un
der his horse's feet. ' A piece of shell for you, boys,' said he, smiling.
They soon came thicker than was amusing.
" The three regiments Avere now in echelon descending from the right, at
about ten rods lateral and perpendicular distance between the steps ; the
Eighth resting on the bayou, the Thirteenth in the center, the Twelfth on
the right. The Twelfth were already in motion to the front when
our colonel commanded, ' Battalion, forward ! Guide center ! March ! '
Through the thick thorn-bushes and among scattering trees, over stumps
and ditches, we pressed forward. ... It gave us real pain to see the line
become wavy. There was an astonishing and somewhat shocking quan
tity of swearing expended to keep the ranks closed and companies even
with the colors. There was, however, no lagging, except when an
exhausted, sick, or wounded man fell behind. The Twelfth and Thirteenth
were moving steadily forward. . . .
" We were a little more than a quarter of a mile from the rebel line, and
had not yet fired a bullet, when the enemy's infantry opened upon us with
a rattle like the discharge of an endless string of fire-crackers. The invis
ible messengers came humming and singing in our ears, and striking a
man here and there with a quick chuck ! that sounded far uglier than the
rush of the larger missiles, which can often be seen and frequently give a
little warning before they strike. Here we passed the band of the Thir
teenth Connecticut, and some of the drum corps, not standing up or
marching to the front, blowing and drumming as if their life depended
upon it, as one sees them represented in pictures, but lying flat on the
ground behind stumps, and clinging fondly to mother earth.
" We passed a few rods fariher, halted, dressed accurately on the center,
and stood a few minutes in a line, while the hail flew over us. David
Black, private of Company F, dropped dead, a bullet passing through his
heart : others fell wounded. A large tree stood in touching distance of the
line. A quick rush was made by a dozen soldiers and two or three officers
to get behind it. ' Come out from behind that tree, and go back to your
places in the ranks, or I'll blow your brains out ! ' exclaimed our colonel,
witli a succession of oaths that sounded at the time emphatic rather than
profane. Weitzel came up. ' It's getting pretty warm,' said he. 'You'd
better lie down.' — ' Lie down ! ' commanded the colonel. This order did
not need to be repeated, nor did any other. We had passed through the
severest test of discipline, — that which requires a soldier simply to stand
straight up and be shot at, without flinching, and without returning the
compliment."
" As Weitzel sat on his horse at our left, intently watching
the enemy, he suddenly said, ' Rise up ! ' A moment after,
he quietly remarked, ' Their cavalry are coming.' Bayo
nets were fixed ; but there appeared not to be time to form
square. We stood breathlessly awaiting the onset. ' You
may lie down. They're not coming,' said the general : ' we
must charge them. Rise up ! Battalion, forward ! Guide
center! March!' Col. Birge again commanded. The
THE TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH IN ACTION. 315
Twelfth were in motion the same instant, and the final grand
charge began. The enemy's fire redoubled its fierceness.
From their cover in the edge of the wood, and down in their
rifle-pits behind the stout fence, they had a full view of the
four hundred men of the Twelfth and the long line of six
hundred bayonets of the Thirteenth that came steadily for
ward with unbroken ranks ; while we could see very few of
our antagonists, though the innumerable puffs of white smoke
and the terrible roll of musketry and cannon fully revealed
their position. With difficulty, by savage threats, we
restrained our men from shooting ; while the tempest of
missiles was hissing past us, tearing through our colors, our
clothing, and our persons. How we longed to return the
fire ! But our leader seemed to rely on the bayonet alone.
The flanking force which the enemy had sent round might
fall on our rear at any moment. Not a second was to be
lost by stopping to fire even a single volley. Forward, still
forward, we pressed, shoulder to shoulder : and still we were
the targets of their two batteries and three infantry regi
ments. Our impatience to be shooting grew extreme ; and I
think the sweetest sound that smote upon our ears during
the war was the sudden crash of the four hundred rifles of
the Twelfth Connecticut on our right. Heavens, what a vol
ley 1 Unable to hold back longer, the Thirteenth instantly an
swered with a tremendous roll of musketry. Both regiments
poured in an unceasing fire, all the while marching steadily
forward. The fence beneath which the first line of rebels
lay was splintered, riddled, honey-combed. The excitement
grew intense. Will they stand a bayonet-charge ? See, the
rebel line wavers ! Their officers frantically brandish their
swords, and in vain try to hold their men. Many are leap-
irig out of the rifle-pits • many more are fluttering their
white handkerchiefs in token of surrender."
Both regiments now rushed over the rebel position, sweep
ing infantry, cavalry, and artillery away. They captured
two hundred prisoners, a piece of artillery, and many arms
and accouterments. Gen. Weitzel addressed the regiments
briefly, expressing his approbation ; while Capt. Tisdale
continued the pursuit to pick up stragglers. The Twelfth
316 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
lost nineteen and the Thirteenth fifteen killed and wounded.
Next day they marched to Thibodeau, and unfurled the flag
of Connecticut, frowned on by the whites, and hailed by
thousands of negroes as the emblem of emancipation.
The battle of Georgia Landing was decisive. The rebels
fled from all the region of the La Fourche, and west beyond
Brashear City.
The Ninth Connecticut Volunteers was part of a co-opera
tive force that went by rail to the crossing below Thibodeau ;
but it was not engaged.
Assistant Surgeon M. C. Leavenworth of the Twelfth,
from Waterbury, died Nov. 16. Lieut. John T. Wheeler
of the Thirteenth, from New Haven, and Lieut. Andrew T.
Johnson of Montville, were instantly killed, Nov. 7, by
the explosion of an arnmunition-car on the railroad.
At Thibodeau, Weitzel's brigade made a camp, and called
it " Camp Stevens." There was an insufficiency of food, and
the soldiers were sometimes very hungry. Foraging was
freely carried on ; and the Twelfth and Thirteenth managed
to keep in good spirits.
The last Thursday in November, 1862, was celebrated by
the regiments as a grand holiday, in memory of the Con
necticut Thanksgiving. There were all sorts of races and
games. Col. Birge temporarily abdicated his position, and
allowed the regiment to choose a colonel for the day. They
selected Sergeant Ezra M. Hull of Newtown, who arrayed
himself as an Indian chief, and issued a series of amusing
orders founded on the rule that whoever should do any thing
right during the day should be put into the guard-house.
The orders were strictly enforced, and great fun resulted,
though there were few offenders against the edict. Then a
good dinner was provided. " The whole concluded with a
sham dress-parade, in which the line-officers, in disguise, per
sonated a band of music, and the whole regiment, attired in
a style that would have broken Falstaff's heart, obeyed the
standing order to do nothing right."
The nine-months' Connecticut regiments — the Twenty-
third, Twenty -fourth, Twenty -fifth, Twenty - sixth, and
ARRIVAL AT SHIP ISLAND. 317
Twenty-eighth — did not tarry many weeks on Long Island.
On Nov. 29, 1862, the Twenty-third and Twenty-eighth
broke camp at Centreville ; and seven companies of each
marched to Atlantic Ferry, Brooklyn, and embarked on the
steamer Che-Kiang (Sea-King) to join the forces of Gen.
Banks, now assembling in the Gulf Department. About
the same time, the Twenty-sixth and five companies of the
Twenty-fifth crowded the steam-vessel Empire City ; and the
rest took passage later on the Mary A. Boardman and Mer-
rimack. Col. Almy found it impossible to get adequate trans
portation ; and the vessels were terribly overloaded, to the
great injury of the health of the men.
The first sea-sickness over, the soldier-passengers did not
find it difficult to amuse themselves, and several pleasant
days were passed. On the evening of Dec. 5, off Hat-
teras, the usual storm burst upon the vessels in all its fury,
threatening to ingulf them. The Che-Kiang, with its
freight of a thousand men, refused to obey the helm, and
wallowed helpless in the trough of the sea, shivering under
the mountainous waves ; while flash after flash of lurid light-
nino- revealed the terrors of the situation. However, the
o
vessels all weathered the storm, and at last, after touching
at the Tortugas, arrived safely at the rude wharf of Ship
Island, and disembarked. " This low sand-bank is the crea
tion of the restless Mexican Gulf. It boasts but little vege
tation. A few grasses, cacti, flowering herbs and shrubs, and
some stunted pines, exhaust the list. Nor is the fauna
more extensive than the flora. A dilapidated cow and an
untimely calf, some splendid horses and refractory mules,
ugly alligators, venomous spiders, and spiteful mosquitoes,
would chiefly claim the attention of, the naturalist. The
encircling waves swarm with fish." *
Here the regiments rested a few days, and inhaled fresh
air, after their trying confinement ; then resumed their jour
ney, and passed up the river, depositing an overgrown mail
at New Orleans. The Twenty-third and Twenty-eighth
landed at Camp Parapet, the northerly defense of the city,
on Dec. IT, and laid out a camp.
1 Chaplain Richard Whcatley.
318 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Hardly had the tents been pitched, and the wearied sol
diers begun to think of the night's rest, when orders came
from headquarters for the Twenty-eighth to re-embark, and
repair to Pensacola, Fla., to relieve the 91st New- York. In
two hours, the regiment was again on board ; and the trans
port dropped down to the city, and proceeded through the
Gulf, arriving at Pensacola on the 22d ; and the city appeared
in sight when the vessel came over the bar ten miles off
" Its solitary church-spire, houses, and streets looked prettily
enough to eyes so utterly tired of the briny deep ; nor did
it look less cosy and comfortable after a personal inspection.
Three months were very pleasantly spent in that ancient,
unenterprising city, with its singular population, gathered,
apparently, out of every nation under heaven." '
The city had already been encircled with a barricade of
strong stakes and an abatis of tree-tops ; and a small fort and
redoubt commanded the principal -approaches. Under Gen.
Neal Dow, the Twenty-eighth and two other regiments
strengthened these works, added masked batteries, and made
the place defensible. Chaplain Richard Wheatley, in a
sketch of the regiment in the Stamford Advocate, says of
the occupation of Pensacola, "Favored with good food,
regular rest, clear skies, a balmy and delicious atmosphere,
and an occasional scrimmage with the enemy, we should not
have objected to spend the period of our enlistment there."
But it was not so ordered. By direction of Gen. Banks, the
city, being of no strategic importance, was evacuated ; and
troops, ordnance, and materiel were removed to Fort Baran-
cas and Warrington Navy-yard, eight miles west, and oppo
site Fort Pickens. At Pensacola died the amiable and
popular Capt, Francis R. Leeds, formerly cashier of the
Stamford Bank. Detained at home by typhoid fever when
the regiment went away, he had not wholly recovered
when he rejoined his comrades in Western Florida, and was
received with general joy. In another week, he had fallen
a victim to the climate of the South. There was genuine
grief at his loss.
The regiment now comfortably settled in the edge of the
2 Narrative in Stamford Advocate, by Chaplain Richard Wheatley.
IX CAMP AT BATOX ROUGE. 319
pine-woods near Barancas. Seven weeks sped swiftly by
while encamped on that lovely spot ; the loose and yielding
sand absorbing the moisture as it fell, the rustling branches
of the dark old pines affording some protection against the
rays of the sun, and the heat attempered by the invigorating
breezes that daily came in from the bright and beautiful
Gulf. The camp was neat; the tents admirably if not ele
gantly furnished ; the culinary arrangements hardly suggest
ing the privations of a state of war Here the winter
(1862-3) wore pleasantly away. Of course, there was picket-
duty and occasional alarms, disease and occasional death.
Several faithful men went to sleep under the branches of the
pines, whose leaves were vocal with a perpetual dirge in
memory of the unre turning brave.
The Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Regiments imme
diately ascended the Mississippi to Baton Rouge, landing on
Dec. 17, as the rebels evacuated the town under the fire of"
our gunboats. Again the national flag was unfurled from
the summit of the State House, and again a populous village
of tents sprung up in the arsenal-grounds and the open
places of the city. The Thirteenth also arrived about this
time from the La-Fourche Campaign, and was at first with
the Twenty-fourth, and afterwards with the Twenty-fifth, in
a brigade under Col. Birge. The regiments suffered less
than many others during this period of acclimation.
The Twenty-sixth had remained with the Twenty-third at
Camp Parapet, drilling, doing guard-duty, and on detached
service. Some private soldiers died there ; and their remains
were generally sent home in metallic coffins, by the compa
nies to which they belonged. Not an officer of the Twenty-
sixth died while in service. On Jan. 27, 1863, Lieut. Jonah
F. Clark of the Thirteenth, from New Haven, fell a victim of
fever. He was mourned as a gallant officer and a true man.
The Thirteenth had left Thibodeau for Baton Rouge on
Dec. 27 ; but the Twelfth remained with Weitzel's brigade.
Lieut.-Col. Colburn was made superintendent of the railroad,
and Major Peck was in command of the latter regiment.
In January, 1863, the brigade went on an expedition up the
Teche to destroy the gunboat J. A. Cptton.
320 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The infantry marched overland, sleeping the first night in
a cornfield near Pattersonville. Next morning, the Twelfth
went on in line of battle through a field of cane ; and before
noon the huge boat was in plain view, and, being aground,
she remained until they were quite abreast of her. After
some of her men were shot by our sharpshooters along the
bank, and under a terrible fire from our artillery, she backed
off around a bend in the bayou. Her armament was power
ful, and she used it well while she could. The obstructions
prevented our gunboats approaching.
" After a few hours, her black smoke was seen at the bend
in the bayou ; and all eyes were turned up the river as her
shot plowed up the ground around us : but our line
wavered not. In a moment, the artillery opened upon her,
and taught her, by many a shot crashing through her wood
work, she must be off, or sink. We slept that night in a
canefield, in the extreme advance. It was bitter cold, and
a moderate rain added not a little to our discomfort. Our
rations that day were raw pork and hard bread ; but food never
tasted better. By daylight next morning, we saw the bright
fire made by the burning of the saucy gunboat. She was
so disabled, the rebels concluded to fire her ; and she lies
in the Teche a charred, unsightly mass." 3
The brigade now returned, and regained the camp at
Thibodeau. In February, the Twelfth moved to Brashear
City, and remained in Camp Reno and Bayou Boeuf during
the remaining weeks of the early Southern spring.
In March, Company A was detailed to go on board the
gunboat Diana on a reconnoissance into Grand Lake. The
rebels opened upon them so severely with artillery and
musketry, that they were obliged to surrender. Lieut James
L. Francis of Hartford was shot through the body. He had
just returned to the regiment, having been taken prisoner
at Labadieville ; and, after a few weeks on corn-meal in sev
eral of the Confederate prisons, was exchanged. Thirty
men of Company A were captured. One private was killed,
and several wounded. Company A's revolving rifle, a
present from Col. Colt of Hartford, was fired while the am-
8 Narrative in the Connecticut War Record.
GALLANTRY OF LIEUT. BUCKLEY. 321
munition lasted, and then taken apart, and thrown into the
bayou in different places.
" They are said to have fought with the greatest gallantry^
and only surrendered when surrounded by greatly superior
numbers, after the boat had become disabled. After the gun
ners of the boat had been driven from their pieces by the
enemy's sharpshooters, Lieut. William S. Buckley, with the
assistance of a small boy, loaded and fired a 20-pound Parrott
gun three times; the last time sending ramrod and all."4
* Official Report of Col. Frank H. Peck.
CHAPTER XXI.
Spring Election of 1863. — The Peace "Wing of the Democracy again Demonstrative. —
Buckingham versus Seymour. — " No more War! " — The Platforms. — Gov. Seymour's
Letter. — Appeals from the Connecticut Regiments in the Field.— Sharp Extracts. —
The Vote. — Eaton's Resolutions in the Assembly. — After Frcdcricksburg. — The
Eighth, Eleventh, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Twenty-first at Newport News. — Siege of
SuiFolk. — Skirmishes and Reconnoissanccs. — Capture of Eort linger. — Raising
of the Siege. — Evacuation. — " The Blackberry Raid."
RECEDING the spring election of 1863, the
campaign was far more exciting than the last
had been. Again the Democrats resolutely
contested the State, this time boldly rallying
under the banner, " No more war."
Two years of conflict had not seemed to carry forward
the national array. The Confederates stoutly held about
all they had at first claimed ; and recognition by foreign
powers appeared to them nearer than ever. The Army of
the Potomac, a hundred thousand strong, still struggled with
Virginia mud within sight of Washington. The humiliating
Peninsular campaign and Fredericksburg were behind, and
Gettysburg and Vicksburg still ahead. President Lincoln,
in the nation's dire strait, had just struck the Achilles heel
of the Confederacy ; and the Republicans were called on to
defend this " unconstitutional " blow at slavery, without yet
being able to point to any of the compensating advantages
that had been predicted. Some of the great Middle and
Western States had just given Democratic majorities ; and it
was plain, that, in a close State like Connecticut, even the
popular incumbent, Gov. Buckingham, might be defeated.
Again the " peace men " gathered strength, increased in
numbers, frankly avowed their principles ; declaring that
the Union could be saved only by an immediate cessation
322
EXCITING POLITICAL CONTEST. 323
of hostilities. The Democrats were somewhat elated, and
entered the field with great spirit. Their State Convention
assembled in Hartford in February ; and by the shrewd
management of Alfred E. Burr, editor of the Times, Hon.
Thomas H. Seymour was nominated for governor. W. W.
Eaton, the ablest and boldest advocate of the peace doctrine,
reported the platform of the party.
The resolutions set forth that " the United States are a
confederacy of States co-equal in sovereignty and political
power ; " and that " the Administration has, for nearly two
years, been in armed collision with the people of more than
one-third of the States composing this Confederacy ; " and
declared, " while we denounce the heresy of secession as
unwarranted by the Constitution, the time has now corne
when all true lovers of the Constitution are ready to
abandon the ' monstrous fallacy ' that the Union can be
restored by the armed hand." They further called on all to
unite in saving the Union by withdrawing our army from
the field, and proposing a compromise.
The Republicans opened the campaign with equal earnest
ness ; renominating Gov. Buckingham, declaring plainly for
the suppression of the Rebellion by war, and avowing that
" the Emancipation Proclamation has our hearty support as
a measure of military necessity alike expedient and just."
Both conventions thanked the soldiers in the field for
their patient endurance and courage, and both parties em
ployed the usual weapons.
The Democratic candidate for governor had, a short time
before, written an anti-war letter to a Thomas Lawrence of
New York. A. copy of this was found in the possession
of Capt. Gladding of the rebel navy, detained at Hilton
Head as a spy ; and it was greedily seized and published
by the Republican papers over and over. The Hartford
Times accepted it in Mr. Seymour's name, and declared
that it was " a splendid letter." The following are some
extracts, rendered important by the fact that the epistle was
made his platform : —
. " Your allusion to ' constitutional liberty' suggests pain
ful reflections. Since the inauguration of this war, the men in power at
324 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Washington have been robbing us of our rights. The great safeguards of
the citizen, protecting him against illegal arrests and false imprisonments,
Lave been struck down by ignorant or wicked rulers.
" I abhor the whole scheme of Southern invasion, with all its horrible
consequences of rapine and plunder. You cannot but see, sir, what thou
sands of us are beginning to see, that no Union can be got in this way.
The war might have been avoided, and the Union saved. This is getting
to be the prevailing opinion. And it would have been avoided, but for a
frantic set of men besieging the president, and who wanted blood and plun
der. They have got both, and humanity weeps over the wrecks of body
and soul. Those who drive the car of war at this time have no more idea
of saving the Union by their bloody sacrifices of this sort than they have
of changing the course of nature. Still they go on.
" In presence of the appalling fact, which should haunt them like a ghost
of the damned, that we are losing our young men at the rate of ' twenty
thousand a month, aside from those who fall in battle,' — in presence of all
this, they demand new levies for the hospitals, the marshes, the ditches,
and the gunboat shambles.
" Depend upon it, Heaven will frown on such a cause as this : it can
not and will not come to good. I would rather have the good opinion of
fellow-citizens, who, like yourself, have given me their sympathy in a time
of some considerable trial for one's faith, than to be first among the slayers
of kindred, or wear the bloody laurels they may gather in a fratricidal war.
I doubt if the Union can be restored at all : things have gone so far now,
that the only possible chance will be by the adoption of a Christian policy,
very different from that which prevails at Washington at the present
time.
" Though I only know you, sir, by your very kind letter, I shall not
soon forget that it was written, or by whom."
Dr. Crary of Hartford being among the vice-presidents of
a Democratic mass-meeting in Hartford, the Press next
day copied the following certificate of a birth returned to
the register's office by him : —
"Father, — Leverett B. Owen; house, Main Street. Occupation, —
Off South, murdering as many of our brethren there as possible "
The campaign was bitter. The passions of the State were
roused ; and the soldiers at the front, having no immediate
fight of their own, took a hand in this. Almost every regi
ment of the twenty-four in the field adopted an " Appeal to
the Citizens of Connecticut " to re-elect Gov. Buckingham.
These ranged in length from one-half to a whole news
paper column each ; and they were generally adopted by
unanimous acclamation, and signed by nearly every officer
on duty.
The appeal from the Twentieth came first. It was signed
APPEALS FPtOM THE REGIMENTS. 325
by Col. Ross, and indorsed u unanimously adopted by officers
and men." The following is an extract : —
" The cry of ' peace ' is too old to deceive an intelligent patriot. We
remember that the ' peace-men ' of the Revolution fled to British men-of-
war. We remember that the 'peace-men' of 1812 furnished the enemy
with supplies, or sought refuge from conscription by cowardly flights to
Canada. We know of no definition for ' peace-men ' in time of Avar but
enemies of the government which protects and defends them.
" Let the people of Connecticut remember that the issue is fairly before
them, whether they will make a cowardly surrender of the cause of free
government ; whether they will basely desert the thousands who are fight
ing their battles to strengthen the arms and direct the bayonets of the foe ;
whether they will cast contumely upon the noble dead who have already
fallen in this struggle, and whose headstones point the way to duty. We
are Avilling still to bear the hardships and brave the dangers of the field :
we call upon you to decide whether you Avill sustain us, or give comfort
and strength to our enemies. To us the Southern skies are brightening
with the iislit of hope : let not defeat at home turn back ' the shadow on
the dial.' "
The following is a paragraph from the appeal of the Nine
teenth : it was signed by more than four hundred officers
and men, whose names were published in the Litch field
Enquirer : —
" Men of Connecticut ! did you encourage us by your bounties, your
banners, your words, and deeds, to leave homes, friends, every thing, to
fight Southern rebels, only that we might look back, and see foes not less
malignant, and not less dangerous, assailing us from behind? We pray
you not to crush our resolution and palsy our arms by electing for your
governor and ours a man who hopes for our defeat and humiliation."
The Connecticut regiments in the 9th Corps at Newport
News sent forward an earnest address, somewhat acrimonious
withal, from which the following is a quotation : —
"We may justly feel a soldier's respect for our foes on the James and
the Rappahannock on account of their skill and courage ; but towards the
enemies of the Republic on the Thames, the Connecticut, and the Housa-
tonic, AVC can have no other feelings than those of unmitigated scorn and
contempt. The former are foemen worthy of our steel ; for the latter we
feel no such chivalrous regard."
This appeal, of a column, was signed by eighteen com
missioned officers of the Eighth, eleven of the Eleventh,
seventeen of the Fifteenth, eighteen of the Sixteenth, and
twenty-three of the Twenty-first, — nearly all that were
present.
On March 8, a soldier in the Twenty-second wrote to
326 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the Hartford Times, that three-fourths of the regiment were
Democrats. On the 10th, he wrote, that, on the previous
clay, they were marched out in column by company, and " the
colonel told them that the officers had unanimously adopted
the resolutions for Buckingham. The adjutant then read
them, and put them to vote, asking all who approved to say,
i Yes/ and all who disapproved to say, ' No.' The ' Yes/ "
says the correspondent, "was freely given by Republicans
and Democrats together. When the dissentients were called
upon to speak out, not one man dared to raise his voice.
Even the boldest would not dare to record his dissentient
vote whilst out here in Virginia."
The Fourteenth, in camp near Plymouth, passed similar
resolutions, brief and unambiguous.
The Seventeenth, just getting ready to march to battle,
unanimously wrote to Fairlield County, —
" Can it be true that any considerable number of you, fellow-citizens,
will be enticed by base appeals to the meanest motives that can actuate
mankind, — those of avarice and cowardice, — to be false to your professions
and pledges to us, recreant to your principles, and traitors to the thousands of
your gallant brothers and countrymen with us in the field ? We can not
believe it. Here, in the very tramp and bustle of movement to actual
conflict, we, your sons, your brothers, and your friends, as the last appeal
which we may make to you on earth, implore you to redeem your pledges,
and be true to your duty."
The Twelfth, at Brashear City, issued an appeal of unusual
eloquence, of which the following sentences are extracts : —
" We call on Connecticut citizens to be as brave by their firesides as they
expect Connecticut soldiers to be on the battle-field. We call on you,
across a thousand miles of hostile territory, so to decide that we can look
into the eyes of our Southern friends and our Southern foes, without being
ashamed of you. When we face the rebel cannon, we do not wish to see
your masses behind them giving them better support than that of their
own infantry. And if Connecticut joins her voice with that of our own
enemies, and the enemies of our country, we do not desire ever to tread her
soil again.
The enlisted men of the Seventh held a meeting, where
they had songs and speeches, and passed, almost unani
mously, resolutions concurrent in spirit with the above. The
officers signed and sent home an appeal (written by Col.
Hawley), of which the following is a paragraph:-
. MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE. 327
" Fellow-citizens of New-Haven County, remember your own Hitch
cock who died so nobly, and your adopted citizen the lion-hearted William
Kay, who, with his wounds yet unhealed, hastened to another and fatal
field of battle. Citizens of Hartford County, recall to mind Upson and
William Soby and Francis Brainard. Men of Litchfield County, remem
ber Palmer, the idol of his home and of his command, and Sergeant
Reynolds. People of Windham County, remember your own Hibbard
and Corbin. Citizens of Fairficld County, do not forget Starr, and the
brave Thomas Horton, and Holmes, dying a prisoner, and wounded, and
Eaton and Cooke. Men of New-London County, remember Joab Jeffrey.
Remember these, your brothers and ours, and a multitude besides ; and for
God's sake do not dishonor their fresh graves by declaring that they died
in a fool's cause ! "
Such appeals as these, signed in camp and hospital, on
the hasty march and at the nightly bivouac, could not be
unheeded in the canvass. The Democrats received them
with the assertion that soldiers had no right to meddle in
the affairs of the State, or that the dissentients had not been
permitted to express themselves ; and the radical peace-men,
sincere in their earnest purpose, went from town to town,
and from house to house, and, in the name of the Prince of
Peace, besought the men who had sons or brothers at the
front to stop the unholy war, and save the lives of their
kinsmen.
The Republicans prosecuted the campaign with an energy
that could not have been mustered a few weeks before; and
the little State was rocked from end to end with the fierce
and turbulent passions of partisan foes. Many soldiers came
home to vote.
Yet all the agencies Republicans could bring to their aid
barely saved the State, always close in contested elections.
Buckingham was re-elected by a majority of 2,637 in a total
vote of 79,427, — a poll of nine thousand over the total vote
of 1862, and more than two thousand over the aggregate
presidential vote of 1860.
The General Assembly convened at Hartford on May 6 ;
the Democrats having eight members of the Senate, and
about ninety members of the House. The Senate organized
by the election of G. W. Phillips as president pro tempore;
and Erastus S. Day was chosen clerk. The House elected
Hon. Chauncey F. Cleveland, speaker, and H. Lynde Har
rison and William T. Elmer, clerks.
328 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Gov. Buckingham in his message, delivered in the darkest
day of the war, just after the bloody repulse at Chancellors-
ville, spoke the words of courage and hope. He said, —
" The conflict inaugurated at Sumter must go on until (he government shall
conquer or be conquered. Let no one be deceived by the artful device of
securing peace by a cessation of hostilities, or by yielding the claims of our
enemies. A peace thus obtained would cost a nation's birthright ; while our
adversaries design a perpetual separation of the United States, and proclaim
from every public assembly, from every legislative hall, and from every
battle-field, their determination to. continue the war until their independence
shall be acknowledged. . . . Civil war is cruelty. Its fruits are desolation,
sorrow, and death. Fear, hesitation, and a timid use of the forces of war
to check its progress, will eventually increase the terrible sufferings. They
will be diminished by courage, vigor, and severity. Humanity demands
that we should endeavor to overcome the power and spirit of the enemy by
assaulting his most vulnerable point, and by following up every advantage
we may gain by the use of all the means which God and Nature shall place
at our command. . . . Would it not be right for the parricide to perish by
the instrument which he had forged for the life of his guardian and protector?
"Whatever of trial, suffering, or privation, may be in store for us, or
however long may be the controversy, firm in the faith that our nation will
be preserved in its integrity, let us, in adversity as well as in prosperity, iu
darkness as well as iu light, give the Administration our counsel, our con
fidence, and our support ; that its power may drive those wiio have conspired
against the liberties of the people, as vagabonds and fugitives through Un
earth, or inflict upon them the penalties justly due for their treason. Let
the retribution be so terrible, that future generations shall not dare to repeat
the crime. Then, and then only, shall the wrongs of an outraged people
be avenged, human rights be vindicated, and constitutional authority be
re-established."
William W. Eaton, on May 13, introduced a series of reso
lutions known as the " Vallandigham Resolutions," which
were under discussion for weeks, and created more excite.-
ment than any other political proposition ever presented to
the General Assembly of Connecticut.
Clement L. Vallandigham had just been arrested, tried by
court-martial, and sent beyond the Confederate lines, for
inciting to rebellion by certain seditious speeches in Ohio ;
and the preamble set forth that his arrest was in wanton dis
regard" of his constitutional rights, and the first resolution
denounced it accordingly. The succeeding resolutions em
bodied, in the following cautious language, the doctrines of
Calhoun, the principles whereby Jefferson Davis and his
coadjutors sought to justify their treason : —
2d, That the General Assembly of Connecticut doth unequivocally
express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the
DEBATE ON THE PEACE EESOLUTIONS. 329
United States and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression,
either foreign or domestic ; and that they will support the Federal Adminis
tration in every measure warranted by the former.
3d, That this. Assembly doth explicitly and peremptorily declare that it
views the powers of the Federal Government as resulting from the compact
to Avhich the States are parties ; as limited by the plain sense and intention
of the instrument constituting that compact ; as no further valid than they
are authorized by the grants enumerated therein ; and that in case of a
deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted
by the said compact, the States who are parties thereto have the right, and
are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil,
and for maintaining within their respective limits the authorities, rights, and
liberties appertaining to them.
These resolutions, plainly affirming the right of any State
to resist the Federal Government whenever that government
goes beyond the spirit and letter of the Constitution, and
making a majority of the people of any single State the sole
and final judge whether the Constitution has been so vio
lated, raised the very question which was being debated with
savage emphasis by the thinking bayonets and throbbing
cannon at the front, — the question, " Is the United States a
nation, or a voluntary copartnership ? "
Nearly every prominent member of the House spoke upon
one side or the other; and the floor and galleries were daily
crowded. Mr. Eaton delivered the most carefully-prepared
argument in favor of the passage of the resolutions, showing-
great power and scholarly research; and Col. Dexter R.
Wright, the recognized Republican leader, in a -masterly
speech of considerable length, eloquently maintained the
duty of loyalty to the Federal Union, and roused the House
and galleries to a high pitch of enthusiasm.
On June 24, a vote was taken ; and the resolutions re
ceived the ninety-four votes of the Democrats in favor, and
one hundred and twenty-seven votes of Republicans against ;
twelve members beino; absent. The effect of the discussion
o
was to unite the Republicans more heartily in the prosecu
tion of the war, and to commit the Democracy of the State
more decidedly to the position of hostility, — an attitude
which the party now seemed to have officially assumed.
Laws were enacted authorizing State banks to change to
National ; appropriating the interest of the Agricultural-col
lege Fund to the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale ; and,
42
330 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
early in the session, a bill introduced by Sherwood Sterling
of Fairfield became a law, passed by a strict party-vote,
enabling persons holding funds in a fiduciary capacity to
invest the same in State and National bonds.
Other States had repeatedly furnished regiments of their
militia, for short periods, to meet exigencies of the govern
ment ; and it was felt desirable that Connecticut should be
able to respond similarly. The existing militia-law having
become practically a dead letter, Col. Wright, chairman of
the military committee, prepared a bill which provided for
a compensated volunteer force, not to exceed ten thousand
men. This force was to be armed, uniformed, and equipped
by the State ; and the several regiments were to be drilled
at an encampment one week in every year : the commuta
tion-tax to be paid by the inactive militia to be about equal
to the annual expense of the whole system ; and the gov
ernor to have the power of turning over any portion of
this force to the General Government for short service.
The bill met with violent opposition from the Democrats,
and was finally lost between the two houses. A law simi
lar in its leading features was enacted by the stronger Re
publican legislature of 1864 and 1865 ; and under this an
efficient militia was organized.
The smoke rose, and floated off from the hard-fought
field of Fredericksburg ; the wounded were sent home ; the
dead were buried ; and thinned ranks answered the morn
ing roll-call. The Twenty-first was now with the 4th Rhode-
Island, the 25th New- Jersey, and the 13th New-Hamp
shire, in a brigade commanded by Col. Arthur H. But
ton ; leaving the regiment under Lieut.-Col. Burpee. The
Eighth, Eleventh, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Connecticut Re
giments were still brigaded together. Burnside resolved
upon another attack on the enemy's works ; and the regi
ments that were to form the right had moved several miles
up the river, when a severe and protracted storm rendered
the assault impracticable. It was consequently abandoned ;
and the men inarched back in rain and mud. The command-
THE CONNECTICUT BEIGADE AT SUFFOLK. 331
ing general was soon succeeded by Hooker ; and once more
the picket reported, " All quiet along the Rappahannock."
After this the time passed for weeks with only the old
daily routine of duty, and nothing of importance to vary the
sameness of soldier-life, except that now and then the
muffled drum sounded out the departure of a comrade to
another life. Rations were scanty, the weather was inclem
ent, and disease active.
At last marching-orders broke the comparative quiet. On
Friday, Feb. 6 (1863), the regiments of the 9th Army Corps
bade adieu to Falmouth. The Connecticut brigade evacu
ated Camp Mud, as they had designated their location, and
took the cars for Acquia Creek. Here they embarked on
transports. Precisely at noon of the 8th, the signal for
departure sounded ; and next morning they found themselves
at Fortress Monroe. In the afternoon, they proceeded to
Newport News, and pitched their tents.
Here a quiet month was passed in log-barracks, when on
March 13 they went to Norfolk in transports, and thence by
rail to Suffolk. The Connecticut brigade went into camp
close by the town, in Gen. Peck's division. The programme
was now somewhat changed ; for, instead of daily drills with
the musket, the men were exercised in " the manual of the
shovel and the hoe," excavating rifle-pits and erecting forti
fications. The Twenty-first was ordered about four miles
below Suffolk, upon the Nansemond River, to build a fort.
Here they laid out a splendid camp ; and much ingenuity
was displayed in the construction of rustic seats and chairs,
and other articles of camp-furniture. They also planned a
fort called Fort Connecticut, and worked upon it daily until
it was nearly completed ; when, the siege of Suffolk having
commenced, they left it yet unfinished on the llth of April,
and proceeded to the defense of the city.
Meantime the other Connecticut regiments had sprung
into line at the sound of the long-roll ; and the alarm was
repeated from night to night. The men slept on their arms.
At last the pickets were driven in, and Longstreet began
the siege of Suffolk. Gen. Getty commanded the Federal
troops. During the succeeding weeks, considerable valor and
332 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
vigilance were expended on both sides over the possession
of a town so utterly without strategic importance as not to
be worth either capturing or defending. April 14, the regi
ments went into their rifle-pits ; and during the night, and
every subsequent night, there was more or less skirmishing
between the pickets, but no battle. The works of defense
were unfinished ; and the alarms, watchings, and constant
fatigue-duty, were very exhausting and dispiriting. It was
not long before the men became pretty thoroughly disgusted,
feeling (for even enlisted men frequently took that liberty)
the uselessness of the work upon which they were engaged.
About this time, the Twenty-second Regiment left its camp
at Arlington, and joined the forces at Suffolk. The men
worked for a time on Fort Connecticut and the Nansernond
sand-batteries. They also helped to construct the miles of
rifle-pits, and were out on picket almost constantly. Here
the regiment found soldiers' fare, and suffered much from
privation and exposure.
The Twenty-first picketed on the Nansemond, below the
city ; the rebels holding the opposite bank. At first the
pickets shot at each other; but their hostility relaxed, so
that they began to converse familiarly together, and in some
instances they swam the river and shook hands.
A single brilliant episode relieved the dullness of the siege.
It occurred on April 19, — a patriotic anniversary which
might stimulate any American to deeds of valor.
The rebels had advanced cautiously to a slight elevation
near the west bank of the Nansernond, and re-occupied Fort
Huger, an old but unnoticed work of theirs, known to our
troops as Hill's Point Battery, refitting it, and planting
five new brass guns, — four 12-pounder howitzers, and one
24-pounder.
The fortification was so located at a bend as to sweep the
stream for a long distance, annoying our gunboats exceed
ingly, and rendering all operations near that point quite
perilous. It was thought best to dislodge the rebels. Late
in the afternoon, six companies of the Eighth Connecticut,
with six companies of the 89th New- York, in all about two
hundred and eighty men, commanded by Col. John E. Ward
CAPTURE OF A REBEL BATTERY. 333
of the Eighth, were embarked on board the gunboat Step
ping Stones. A canvas screen drawn up around the boat
effectually concealed the men. The orders from Gen. Getty
were, " When the boat touches land, get off at once. Do not
stop to call the roll or form a line, but let each officer rally
all the men he can ; push right forward, and take the bat
tery." After these orders, the gunboat steamed up the river
as if to run past the battery ; and the rebels made ready to
fire. They waited for her to come past a small bluff which
sheltered the boat for a short distance from the view and
the fire of the enemy. Instead of passing, she quickly
turned, and made for shore. As she struck, the gang-planks
were shoved off. The boat swung round with the current,
making the gang-planks useless ; but the men leaped into
the mud and water up to their arm-pits, rushed along the
side of the friendly bluff and into a small ravine which led
around past the rear of the intrenchments. The rebels, dis
covering the ruse, now opened a sharp fire of musketry.
Companies and regiments were hopelessly interspersed and
commingled. Pausing a moment, they rallied around the offi
cers indiscriminately ; then, Lieut. H. E. Morgan taking the
lead, started at full run along the ravine, up the banks, over
the rifle-pits, and into the enemy's works, without firing a
shot. " We cave ! " screamed the astonished rebels : " we
cave ! don't fire, don't fire ! " And the boys did not ; for the
victory was won.
The Connecticut and New- York soldiers were side by side.
Both battalions dashed into the works together ; and the two
old standards, torn by bullets in many battles, were planted
on the breastworks.
But the task was not ended. " Work quickly, boys ! " was
the word. The prisoners, a hundred and twelve in num
ber, were marched on board the gunboat; and the howitzers
were rolled out of the works across a plowed field, and,
within fifteen minutes, drawn to the beach.
Hardly were the prisoners secured, when the rebels were
seen swarming from the adjacent woods to retake the battery.
The guns just captured were ranged as by magic around the
bluff, and turned upon them with deadly effect. Meanwhile
334 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
the marines had, with great labor and celerity, transferred
several howitzers from the gunboat to the bank, and then
dragged them up the bluff. They, too, opened on the rebels
at the edge of the woods and in the woods with wonderful
rapidity and accuracy.
The rebels fell back. By this time, the other four compa
nies of the Eighth were ferried over ; pickets were thrown out
one-fourth of a mile ; and the whole remaining force were set
at work vigorously digging rifle-pits in the rear of the in-
trenchments. The pickets were once driven in, but soon
rallied, and again took their position.
To capture a strong battery with two hundred men, while
thousands of rebel troops were within a mile, is no common
achievement ; and the men were proud of the feat.
The coolness and fearlessness of Col. Ward won for him
the admiration and abiding confidence of the veterans of his
regiment.
The Union position in front of Suffolk was still almost
incessantly shelled. The men had been without proper
rations, and those in front obtained little refreshing sleep.
On April 24, the whole division moved south and west on a
reconnoissance in force. The Connecticut brigade advanced
southward on the Eclenton Road, under Gen. Corcoran ; the
Eighth being left to hold the position if attacked.
The companies of Capts. Luther G. Riggs and E. B. Pres
ton of the Twenty-second were placed in support of a Wis
consin battery that did good execution. The Sixteenth was
deployed to skirmish at the head of the column, and its com
panies moved forward on both sides of the road. After pro
ceeding half a mile, they encountered the enemy's pickets,
and pushed them back steadily for an hour, replying rapidly
to the rebel musketry-fire. The Eleventh advanced in line
of battle on the right, and the Fifteenth on the left. The
enemy was driven from his rifle-pits and into his batteries.
At dark, the force was recalled.
On May 3, another reconnoissance in force was made to
hasten the raising of the siege already begun by Longstreet.
A force, including the Eleventh, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Con
necticut Regiments, advanced across the Nansemond, north-
CASUALTIES DUEING THE SIEGE. 335
westward towards the Blackwater, along the Providence-
church Road. The enemy skirmished spiritedly, still falling
back, and that night departed from the front.
The Twenty-first had marched down the river, north, to
Sleepy Hole, with a section of the Wisconsin battery, crossed
the broad Nansemond at three in the morning, and pushed
directly into the enemy's country westward. Major Hiram
B. Crosby led the regiment; Col. Button being in command
of the 3d Provisional Brigade. As they advanced, the rebels
fell back to the village of Chuckatuck, and retreated through
it. Major Crosby ordered Capt. William Spittle, with com
panies, to skirmish along the Reed's-ferry Road, while another
company took the road to Everett's Bridge. On the latter,
the rebels in ambush fired upon our force, killing one, and
wounding two. They were soon driven off, and the regiment
again advanced. When approaching the West Branch, the
skirmishers, under Capts. Spittle, J. H. Shepard, and N. A.
Belden, were again sharply engaged ; the skirmish resulting
in the capture of one rebel officer and fifteen privates.
Major Crosby tried to form a junction with the forces at
the left, but found that they had all been withdrawn, and the
regiment was unsupported. It then returned to the river,
threw up intrenchments, and encamped behind them for the
night, recrossing the river next morning. The regiment
received the thanks of Gen. Getty.
Buring the siege, the Eighth had lost two killed and four
wounded ; the Eleventh, one killed and four wounded ; the
Fifteenth, two killed and seven wounded ; the Sixteenth, six
killed and twelve wounded ; the Twenty-first, two killed and
five wounded.
Capt. Charles A. Tennant of the Sixteenth (from Hart
ford) received a severe flesh-wound in the right thigh in the
affair across the Nansemond. He was taken to Fortress
Monroe, where he died in hospital on the 24th, of lockjaw.
He went out as second lieutentant, and was one of the best
officers in the regiment.
Lieut-Col. John H. Burnham of the Sixteenth was wounded,
also Capt, Randall H. Rice of the Eleventh.
An officer of the Eighth wrote, " For about two weeks
336 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
we were kept busy at making gabions [barrel-shaped baskets
open at both ends, to hold the earth in the construction of
forts] and building a corduroy road. Our works, unlike those
attributed to good men, will not probably live after us. As we
failed to feel the importance of building the road, and did
not think that a reputation for great mechanical skill would
be for our advantage while in the field, we took care not to
earn such a reputation. The boys styled themselves, after
the manner of sensational authors, ' Peck's Avengers ; or, the
Basket-Makers of the Nansemond.' "
On May 5, the Twenty-second Regiment went to West
Point, at the head of the York River. Here it remained a
month, the men working on rifle-pits, breastworks, for
tifications, building military roads and bomb-proofs, and
doing picket-duty. The force went on an expedition to
White House, within twelve miles of Richmond, the very
spot where Stonewall Jackson cut McClellan from his base
of supplies a year before ; and, as the peril became realized,
Gen. Dix withdrew the division to Yorktown. On June 9,
the troops began a reconnoissance in force, inarching to Wil-
liamsburg, Fort Magruder, Barhamsville, and the Chicka-
hominy ; remaining out a week. The Twenty-second lost a
colored servant killed by guerrillas, — the only man con
nected with the regiment who was shot by the enemy during
its term of service.
About the middle of June, Gen. Getty evacuated Suffolk,
and fell back north-eastward to Portsmouth, across the Eliza
beth River from Norfolk, and almost within sight of Fortress
Monroe, rising over the broad James only twelve miles dis
tant. Here they occupied some incomplete fortifications,
and fell at work to finish them.
During the last week in June, 1863, while the armies
of Hooker and Lee were going towards Gettysburg, Gen.
John A. Dix conceived the idea of moving on Richmond,
up the peninsula; hoping to draw off Confederate troops
from the Army of Virginia. Gen. Getty's division was
immediately started from Getty's Station on transports, and
moved around to Yorktown. Here the troops remained two
days, the few rebels on the peninsula giving them plenty
FOKAGING AND MAKAUDING. 337
of room. The movement was continued up to White House,
where the Twenty-first Connecticut was detached for provost-
duty; Col. Button still commanding the brigade.
At six 6'clock on the morning of July 1, the force crossed
the Pamunkey River at White House, on the railroad -bridge.
The day was extremely hot; but the column moved slowly
northward, passing Lanesville and King William Court
House, encountering no enemy. The Connecticut brigade
bivouacked in a clover-patch of a Mr. Pemberton, while
the horses were turned loose in fields of juicy oats. Mr.
Pemberton was away at a meeting ; and every man for miles
around was absent, — "gone to mill," "gone to see his sister,"
gone to an indefinite meeting at some indefinite place for
some indefinite purpose.
Next day the force made eleven miles more, passing still
westward towards Mongohick. Chaplain Morris, in a letter
to the Palladium on that day. said, " There is a general
order strictly prohibiting foraging by irresponsible parties;
but I regret to say that it is openly disregarded in some
regiments by both officers and men. The woods resound
with the crack of the rifle ; and in all directions men are
entering camp loaded with poultry, fresh pork, beef, and
mutton. In an adjoining field, while I am writing, there lie
as many as fifty sheep-skins.
" We passed just after mid-day the princely mansion of
Dr. Fountain, whose wife is a daughter of Patrick Henry,
and is an outspoken and zealous rebel. The planter had
gone to Richmond ; and the women fled in terror at our
approach, leaving the splendid establishment in the hands of
the blacks. When we arrived, marauders had been before
us. Every chair and table was broken, marble tables and
mantels, mirrors and picture-frames, smashed to fragments ;
one old family portrait was cut from top to bottom, and
hopelessly ruined ; bureaus were broken open, destroyed,
and their contents torn and scattered and trampled by
muddy boots; bedposts were split in twain by axes; jars of
preserves were dashed against the clean white walls; a
splendid library was tumbled from the shelves, and many
books chopped in two and stamped to pieces. Nothing
338 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
escaped the ax, or the butt of the musket : every room
was strewn thickly with fragments and tatters, bedaubed
and unsightly where every thing had been costly and
tasteful.
" The indignation of Gen. Getty, and of every decent
man, was unbounded. A guard was immediately posted,
and every effort made to detect the miscreants. Several
were arrested, and tried this afternoon by a drumhead court-
martial ; but I regret to say the evidence was too meager
to convict any of the despicable knaves. The perpetrators
doubtless were professional stragglers. A majority of the
soldiers, I am happy to say, condemn and execrate such
men, and would deem the death-penalty inadequate pun
ishment."
On July 3, the Connecticut brigade had the advance, the
Eighth out as skirmishers. It was fiercely hot, and many
fell sun-struck. Surgeon Sabin Stocking of the Eighth,
and the chaplain, impressed from the plantations along the
march all the horses, mules, carriages, and carts they could
discover to transport the loads of sick and fainting men. It
was a motley collection of carts and gigs, of colts, toothless
nags, and broken-down mules, uniform only in leanness and
worthlessness ; but they served the purpose to the extent of
their feeble ability, and were turned loose at the journey's
end. At night, the force reached a point due north from
Richmond, opposite Hanover Court House, on the Pamun-
key.
The next clay, the 4th of July, was spent near the bivouac,
on the plantation of Mr. John Taylor, one of three wealthy
brothers, — a keen, cruel, sensual man, and a bitter rebel.
Mr. Taylor was in a frame of mind to enjoy the day and the
scene. Being a wily, fluent, and vehement talker, well
posted in political history, and not at all backward in de
claring his views, he volunteered to make a speech to the
soldiers from his porch. Some of his slaves and quadroon
women were peeping from the windows of the mansion.
His wife had long been divorced. He spoke of the " inva
sion of the South," but especially of slavery, in regard to
the workings of which he claimed to be well informed. He
A BLACKBERRY RAID. 339
said it was a patriarchal institution, good for the happiness
of both races. He spoke freely of his kindness and gentle
care of his slaves; admitted that he had to punish them
occasionally, but explained that he stood in a paternal rela
tion to them (which, in many cases, was believed to be the
exact truth); that they regarded his correction as inflicted for
their own good ; and that they were devoted to hiin; and ready
to do or die for him. Deluded orator ! at that very instant
the hiding-place of his own son, a member of Stuart's cavalry,
now home on furlough, had been betrayed by some of his
most trusted "servants;" and others were pointing out his
secreted treasures of meat, wine, grain, and store ; while
every black that could hobble was gathering what he could
to " tote " to the land of freedom.
In the mean time, it transpired that the Connecticut brigade
had been left as a reserve to assist Mr. Taylor in a proper
celebration of Independence Day ; while the other regiments
of the division had tried to cross the Pamunkey into Han
over for the purpose of destroying the Richmond and Fred-
ericksburg Railroad. The passage of the river was success
fully resisted ; and, after burning a bridge or two, they
returned to Taylor's next day. The expedition was sub
stantially a failure, and the troops felt disheartened as they
turned their faces again to the rear; their chagrin being
modified, however, by exhilarating rumors from Pennsyl
vania.
Early fruits were in their prime, and the troops lived
voluptuously. The soldiers from the hard hills of New
England had never before seen such a wealth of berries,
especially of running blackberries, as now bestrewed the
route of march. A man could sit upon the ground, and,
without changing his position, pick as many as he could
eat. An officer recalling this time says, " I picked a
water-pail three-quarters full from the vines within my
tent." These promoted the health of officers and men, pre
viously inclined to dysentery; and the column returned
rapidly and in good spirits, five hundred thoughtless, care
less, jolly contrabands swarming upon the flanks and rear.
340 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The return through White House, Williamsburg, and
Yorktown, to Hampton, was made on foot, through a region
too poor for plunder; and the division crossed the Roads
next day, and again quietly encamped for rest and drill,
cheering over the news from Gettysburg and Vicksburg, and
resolutely subduing their feelings of pride as they rehearsed
the achievements of " The Blackberry Raid."
CHAPTER XXII.
The Tenth Connecticut Volunteers at Newberne. — Expedition to the Interior. — The
Tarborough Scout. — Forage and Rations. — An Incident of Slavery. — The Battle
of Kinston. — The Tenth at the Front. — The Contest for the Bridge. — Compli
mented by Gen. Foster. — Heavy Losses. — The Railroad destroyed at Goldsborough.
— Gallantry. — To St. Helena Island. — Camp and Surroundings. — The Eighteenth
Connecticut Volunteers still at Baltimore. — Joins Milroy at Winchester. — The
Situation. — Battle of the First Day. — The Second Day at the Intrenchments. — The
Evacuation. — The Charge into the Woods. — Surrender of the Eighteenth. — Casu
alties. — Colors saved. — Prison Life.
EANTIME, in the summer of 1862, the Tenth
staid at Newberne ; recovering its strength,
and attaining admirable discipline. Major Pet-
tiborie had been promoted to be colonel, and
Capt. Pardee became lieutenant-colonel. The
latter resigned, however, in September, and was succeeded
by Major Robert Leggett. Inaction seemed not to dull the
spirit, or injure the morals, of the men. Rev. Henry Clay
Trumbull, who had brought to the regiment all the charac
teristics of an admirable chaplain, wrote, " This is a noble
regiment. I do not hesitate to say that the moral standard
is now as high in the camp of the Tenth as with the same
class of men in any part of Connecticut. I have heard more
profanity in one day in some streets of Hartford than here
in any week since my arrival. Many are far more manly
than when they left home."
The Tenth lost an excellent officer, Sept. 19, in Major
Daniel M. Mead of Greenwich, who died of exposure to the
debilitating influence of the Southern climate. He was a
young man of sterling qualities, — of earnestness, bravery,
integrity, — and he impressed himelf for good on all his
associates. Capt. Thomas R, Mead, also of Greenwich, died
341
342 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
in October. He had, within the single year of army life,
been promoted from second lieutenant for his efficiency.
During November, the monotony was broken by a raid
to the north-west. Moving round on transports to Washing
ton, at the confluence of the Tar and Pamlico Rivers, the
regiment was put in the advance of Foster's brigade, Capts.
Goodyear's and Greaves's companies out as skirmishers.
Going towards Tarborough, they received the first fire of the
enemy at Little Creek. Then the whole regiment forded
an ugly stream after dark, under a heavy fire of musketry
and grape, and drove back the enemy on the other bank.
Two companies of a Massachusetts regiment were the only
other infantry engaged. The rebels were pursued rapidly
to Rawl's Mills, and shelled during their retreat. That
night the Tenth bivouacked in the clear moonlight on the
soft clay of the captured line of works. The next morning,
Williamston was entered without opposition. There was a
good deal of pillaging in the village ; pork, beef, and poultry
being knocked over, and cooked in primitive fashion at
fires in the streets, with fence-palings for fuel. Houses
were sacked, our troops having been fired upon in the vil
lage ; and " handsome furniture, pianos, crockery-ware, and
every thing was turned topsy-turvy and destroyed by our
soldiers, in search of relics and valuables." a
Next day the column, the Tenth still in advance, pressed
on, and captured Rainbow Fort on the Roanoke, and thence
to Hamilton, and across the country to the suburbs of Tar-
borough. In two days, they returned to camp ; having been
absent two weeks, and marched more than a hundred miles.
Of course, negroes were everywhere encountered, whose
experience furnished fresh arguments for the war. Lieut.
Henry W. Carnp of the Tenth wrote as follows concerning
this class of people : —
" I was in a negro house yesterday, and had some conversation with
the inmates. I asked a gray-headed old negress if she had ever had chil
dren sold away from her. k Sold ! dey all sold ! — chil'en an' gran'chil'en
an' great gran' chil'en, — dey sell ebry one ! ' She clasped her bony hands
over her head, and looked up at me as she spoke. ' Dere was one, — de lass
one, de o'ny gran'chile I did hab lef . He neber kuowed his mammy. I
1 Letter of a member of the Massachusetts 44th.
THE TENTH AT KINSTON BRIDGE. 343
took him when he dat little. I bringed him up to massa, an' I say, " Massa,
dis my little gran'chile : may I keep him 'bout heah?" An' he say, '* I
don't care wot you do wid him." So I take him : he dat little. Den one
mornin', wen he all rolled up in blanket 'tween my knees, Massa Green
corned in an' say, " Dis boy sold ! " and dey take him 'way, O Lord
Jesus, help me pray ! ' '
In the Tenth, and in most of the other Connecticut regi
ments, Thanksgiving was duly observed, as far as the limited
facilities would allow. On Nov. 15, Col. Pettibone resigned,
and returned to Connecticut, after faithful service.
Great courage is sometimes shown in facing apparent
peril, even where none actually exists. The Tenth had now
an experience1 of this kind. Report came to Newberne that
the New- York Marine Artillery Regiment, which had with
some justice felt aggrieved, had mutinied at Roanoke Island,
and taken possession ; disobeying and defying the officers in
command. Foster turned to the Tenth, — always held by
him in higher regard than any other regiment, — and
ordered it to Roanoke to subdue the insurgents. It started
promptly; but for the first time the men were depressed in
spirits. They were on a hazardous mission, — to fight their
own brother-soldiers, brave men who would fight desper
ately, knowing that death was the penalty of their offense.
But it was a false alarm. There had been no rebellion, and
the Tenth was recalled.
On Dec. 11, Foster's division left Newberne for a west
ward expedition, to strike the Richmond and Wilmington
Railroad. The force was twelve thousand strong, with fifty
pieces of artillery. On the next day and the next, the
advance had skirmishes with the enemy. At ten o'clock
Sunday morning, the 14th, farther progress was opposed by
a body of rebels well posted, with several guns, in and about
an old church an eighth of a mile from Kinston Bridge on
the Neuse. Our artillery wheeled into position, and replied
vigorously. The Tenth, with other regiments, formed line
of battle in rear of the batteries.
The enemy had great advantage in position. Col. Mallett,
a rebel prisoner, said afterwards, " We had you just where
we wanted you." The approach to them lay through a
seemingly impassable swamp. A charge was ordered ; and
344 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
the troops, throwing off encumbrances, rushed through the
swamp, and halted for orders on the other side, the Tenth
being held back in the third line. The regiments were now
under a very heavy fire from the front.
Chaplain Trumbull thus writes of what followed, " About
noon, Gen. Foster, sending for Lieut.-Col. Leggett, told him
he wished the Tenth to pass over two regiments lying imme
diately before them, and find the enemy ; not returning until
they had cleared them out. Our boys were well pleased
with being preferred above other regiments, old and new,
for the most difficult and dangerous task of the day ; and
charged gallantly through a short piece of woods, under an
incessant and murderous fire. Then seeing just the posi
tion of the enemy, and being within short range, the regi
ment opened fire, and continued it with telling effect."
The Tenth was now in the first line of battle, some parts
of which were already in disorder. Soon the regiment
found itself in the extreme advance, and officers and men
were falling rapidly. They were taken towards the rear,
and the rest stood up stoutly to the work. Both the field-
officers were struck down, and many others killed or
wounded.
After half an hour of incessant and close fighting, the
regiment again pressed forward ; when the rebels broke, and
ran towards the bridge. Then the Tenth, with a shout,
charged down the hill upon the flying foe. The rebels set
fire to the bridge as they crossed it, severely burning some
of their own wounded endeavoring to escape. At the same
time another rebel force, in line in a cornfield across the
river, opened a cross-fire upon the Tenth as the latter
dashed upon the burning bridge, extinguished the flames,
captured a hundred prisoners, and pushed across, taking a
Confederate flag and the enemy's artillery. " The regiment
was in line of battle on the Kinston bank before any other
[Union] infantry had crossed the bridge. At the close of
the battle, Gen. Foster rode to the front, and, taking off his
hat, publicly thanked the gallant Tenth for its part in the
action., He said it had showed itself now, as before, the
bravest among the brave ; and, if it would stand by him as
THE TENTH STILL FIGHTING. 345
hitherto, he could sweep the State of North Carolina. . . .
But oh the cost of such a compliment! We went into
action with three hundred and sixty-six officers and men ;
and, of these, one hundred and six were killed or wounded.
Of these, twenty-three were killed outright, or died" within
four days. Five died afterwards of their wounds." 2
" Among those who fell," says Chaplain Trumbull, " were
some of our best and bravest. We sadly miss and mourn
them. Our officers say that the fire of the rebels in rapidity
and accuracy surpassed any thing they had met before. A
number of our men were shot in two and three places at the
same time. Three brothers Shepard and two brothers Zuich
were in Company A ; and all were wounded." Drs. Newton
of Suffield, and Hart of Hartford, were tireless in caring for
the men.
The Confederate flag was a lone-star banner, and was cap
tured ,by Corporal Edwin D. Ayres, formerly of the Palla
dium office, but was afterwards stolen by some " bummers "
belonging to the New-Jersey 9th.
Next morning the force pressed on towards Goldsborough ;
and Tuesday afternoon the flying foe made another brief
stand at Whitehall, where they had burned the bridge. The
action here was mostly by artillery and sharpshooters, the
Confederates having both posted on the opposite bank.
Again the shattered Tenth was ordered to the front, and
opened fire to the left of the road. Finding no ford, Col.
Leggett called for volunteers to swim the stream. Five
brave boys immediately stepped forward and stripped ; and
on that cold December clay they swam the broad river with
axes on their backs, and felled tall trees on the opposite
bank, while others did the same on this. In half an hour
more, a bridge would have been built ; but an order came to
discontinue. The regiment met with no loss.
Again, on Wednesday, they pressed forward, and had sharp
fighting, both morning and evening, at the railroad bridge
near Goldsborough. This was burned, and the track de
stroyed for some distance ; when the force returned to New-
berne.
2 Letter of Chaplain H. C. Trumbull.
44
346 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
This was perhaps the severest battle in which the Tenth
was ever engaged. It had more than one-fourth of all the
casualties of the expedition, notwithstanding its small num
bers. Its praise was on the lips of all. A colonel of one
of the Massachusetts regiments which had been walked over
at Kinston said he could not look upon a man of the Tenth
without feeling the highest respect for him.
Sergeant Henry E. Chitty of New London bore the colors
until his right arm was shattered; and his subsequent anxi
ety seemed to be only for the safety of the colors. Corporal
Albert F. Wheaton of North Branford, one of the color-guard,
was shot through the body, and died the next day. He said,
" I did what I could to guard the colors : I'd stand by them
to the last. Where's the regiment now ? " he asked. " It
has gone on to do its work," answered the chaplain.
« Glory ! " he cried. " If I die," he added, " tell my friends I
gave my life for liberty, and I'd gladly give another."
Five officers of the Tenth had fallen to fight no more, —
Capt. Henry A. Wells of Hartford, and Lieuts. John M
Simms of Stamford, John C. Coffing of Hartford, William W.
Perkins of New London, and Theron D. Hill of Coventry.
Capt. Wells, before the war, was in the United-States ma
rine service ; and, when the call to arms came, he entered the
first regiment for the three-months' service. Chaplain Trum-
bull says, " He was one of the bravest men we had : indeed,
he was conspicuous among brave men. He was light-hearted
amid the greatest dangers, and performed the severest ser
vice with a cheerful alacrity that always inspirited the men."
Lieut, Coffing was mortally \vounded, and did not long
survive. The enlisted men of his company resolved, " That,
in his death, we have lost an officer endeared to us by all the
qualities which command the respect, confidence, and affec
tion of his subordinates ; " and that he " died nobly in a
cause which he devotedly loved."
Lieut. Perkins was a son of Dr. N. S. Perkins of New Lon
don ; and he and his brother, Major B. R. Perkins of the 12th
United States, were the first volunteers from that city in the
war. The New-London Star said of him, "It is seldom that we
are called upon to mourn a firmer patriot, a braver soldier, or
THE TENTH AT ST. HELENA ISLAND. 347
a truer or more genial friend, than was Lieut. Perkins. He
sprang to arms with alacrity at the first call of his country,
and established an enviable reputation in five hotly-con
tested battles ; in the last of which he fell where a soldier
would choose to fall, — leading the advance, — and expired
amid the rattling volleys of his regiment and the loud cheers
of victory." His body, like the remains of his comrades, was
brought home, and buried with all honors.
Lieut. Simms went out as sergeant of Company G. He
was promoted in order, and was presented with a handsome
sword by the Baptist Sabbath school at Stamford, of which
he had been an active member. A bullet passed into his
body early in this action ; but it was thought he would
recover. In the hospital prayer-meeting in the evening he
joined in social worship, in song and prayer. He lived some
months, and died in the perfect love that casts out fear.
On Jan. 26, 1863, the Tenth left Newberne by railroad for
Morehead City, and the same day went on board of a trans
port in Beaufort Harbor. " To Wilmington ! " was the word
that passed round ; but, a monitor being lost, the expedition
was turned to participate in the siege of Charleston.
The Tenth had left behind all camp and garrison equipage
and personal baggage ; but the regiment was ordered to
camp on St. Helena Island, a few miles above Hilton Head.
They adapted themselves as well as possible to the situa
tion ; and of shelter-tents, with palmetto-trees as an auxiliary,
soon made a comfortable and attractive camp on an old sea-
island cotton-field. By sundown there was a home-like air
to the whole encampment. Every day they expected to
move ; but they kept at work, leveled the furrows, and laid
out a fine parade-ground. The shelter-tents were raised on
walls of logs, or banks of earth, their ends plaited with pine-
boughs or rushes, or thatched with palmetto-leaves or the
long gray moss that hangs from Southern trees. Cosy wig
wams answered the purpose of company cook-houses.
And finally a rustic chapel was erected at the end of the
officers' avenue, sided and roofed with the feathery pine.
Seats were made by driving crotched sticks into the ground,
and laying a stout pole across them. A cracker-box on four
348 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
sticks was the pulpit-desk, and it was prettily curtained with
palmetto-leaves. Here Sunday services were held, with
preaching by Chaplain Trumbull ; also evening prayer-meet
ings, when three lanterns were pendent from the festooned
rafters, and stars twinkled through the lattice.
The regiment tarried here, with daily drill and occasional
dress-parade, until March 27, when it proceeded on a trans
port to North Edisto Inlet, and took possession of the lower
part of Seabrook Island. The upper part was held by the
enemy, and picket-duty was sometimes exciting.
Here were the tangled tropical undergrowth, palmetto-
jungles, and low groves of live oaks. " Alligators moved
lazily through the sluggish waters of the gloomy lagoon, and
poisonous reptiles glided- through the grass before the tread
of the passing soldier."3 There were gnats, mosquitoes,
spiders, lizards, scorpions, and moccasins.
" When you hear of mosquitoes," wrote Lieut. Camp in a
moment of desperate humor, " you think of a small brown
insect, don't you ? with legs and wings almost invisible, and
a hum audible some inches from the ear ? I wish you could
see the animal that goes by the same name here. When /
speak of a mosquito, I mean something that stands a little
less than fourteen hands high (can't give the weight because
we have no platform scales) ; whose wings are like Apol-
ly on's in the Pilgrim's Progress ; whose muscular legs are
horribly striped with black and white ; whose sting is like
the dragon's which St. George slew; and whose voice is as
the sound of many waters."
Here the Tenth was doomed to stay, while down upon the
breeze came the thunder of heavy guns pounding away at
Sumter and Wagner. Gen. Terry, promoted after Pulaski,
assumed command of these troops in May ; and here they
waited, leading an uneventful life, until July 6, 1863, when
they were ordered to participate in the advance being made
on Morris Island.
When the Seventeenth left Fort Marshall in Baltimore,
the Eighteenth was transferred to it from Fort McHenry. It
3 Chaplain Trumbull in the Knightly Soldier.
THE EIGHTEENTH -IN MAKYLAND. 349
was on higher ground, and much more healthful. Some of
the men brought sickness with them, however : and Capt.
Bromley appears to have had a touch of jaundice ; for he
wrote to the Bulletin that iie was "looking through the
yellowest pair of eyes that were ever hung out as a wrecked
liver's signal of distress."
Col. Ely hoped to be able here to devote some attention
to the necessary drill : but the next day the right wing, con
sisting of the companies of Capts. Isaac W. Hakes, jr., Mat-
thewson, and Charles D. Bowen, went down along the rail
road near Havre de Grace, under Major Ephraim Keech, jr.;
and Capt. Henry C. Davis's company was dispatched to
Upper Maryborough, a secession town, but returned next day.
" The only accident," says Bromley, " was the sudden death
of a pig, who ran against a bayonet on the march from Marl-
borough back. He died so suddenly, that they roasted him
to keep him from spoiling."
The regiment remained all winter divided in Maryland, with
headquarters at Fort Marshall. The men were industriously
drilled in artillery and infantry tactics ; and the left wing
was so thoroughly exercised in battalion-movements, as to
win the approval of Brig.-Gen. Morris, an old army officer,
who was chary of his commendations. Comfortable quar
ters were built ; food was plenty, if not of a quality to tempt
an epicure ; service was not arduous ; and, on the whole, the
regiment had an easy time. Col. Ely was president of a
military court, and Capt. Bromley judge-advocate. The
officers enjoyed the society of the few Union families in
the city. Capt. Bromley wrote, '• Col. Ely has won golden
opinions from all the officers of the department with whom
he has come in contact. No officer was ever more watchful
than he for the welfare of the men, and none ever deserved
more fully the confidence, which, without exception, they
repose in him."
At last, late in the spring of 1863, the monotonous life in
barracks ended. Most of the men were tired of its unsol-
dierly quiet, and rejoiced when orders came to go to the
front, — even though that front was the oftrcontested She-
nandoah Valley. Already had the Rebel and Union forces
CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
been repeatedly driven through it from end to end, and
already had veteran regiments learned to prefer any other
service to the bewildering tramps through its rivers and
ravines.
By the middle of May, the detached companies had been
called in from Havre de Grace and the Wilmington Road ;
and on the 22d the regiment moved to the depot of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, took a train in waiting, and
sped up the wild and picturesque valley. Crossing at Har
per's Ferry, it shortly left the crowded cars at Winchester,
joining the command of Major-Gen. Milroy.
As far back as the previous November, Gen. Halleck's
chief-of-staff, Gen. Cullom, had reported, after careful examina
tion, not only that the works at Winchester were so located
as to be indefensible per se, but that the place required no
works, and should have no heavy garrison; being merely "an
eye of the National army looking up the Shenandoah Val
ley." He recommended that all infantry be withdrawn, and
only a strong cavalry picket retained. The recommendation
was not heeded ; and Milroy remained with seven thousand
men, while Lee's army, flushed with the victories along the
Rappahannock, was pressing towards Pennsylvania. About
the 9th of June, Early, with Stonewall Jackson's old corps
of thirty thousand men, pushed silently and swiftly north
ward through the valley, while Lee seized and held the gaps
of the Blue Ridge. Next day, Milroy exultingly telegraphed
to Gen. Schenck at Baltimore, that his advance had had "a
splendid little skirmish" with the rebels, and added, "The
enemy are probably approaching in some force. I am en
tirely ready for them : I can hold this place." And as late
as the succeeding day, June 11, Col. Bonn Piatt, chief-of-staff,
possessed by the same delusion, telegraphed, " All works tine.
Can whip any thing the rebels can fetch .here. How is Mrs.
Piatt ? " He did not wait long for an answer.
On Saturday, June 13, the Union pickets were driven
towards Winchester, and brisk skirmishing ensued. Col. Ely
of the Eighteenth was in charge of a brigade ; and he im
mediately advanced upon the Front-Royal Pike with his regi
ment (under Lieut.-Col. Nichols) and the 87th Pennsylvania,
THE EIGHTEENTH ENGAGED AT WINCHESTER. 351
and a section of battery, to " feel for the enemy." The feeling
was mutual. They had gone little more than a mile from town
when they were opened upon by a battery planted in the
edge of a dense thicket on the opposite side of a deep ravine.
The Union battery was wheeled upon a knoll, and opened
briskly ; the Eighteenth lying down in high clover closely in
the rear, except Companies A and B deployed as skirmishers.
The enemy played upon our regiments at a distance of not
more than four hundred yards, for an hour, with six Napo
leon pieces, and at last exploded the caisson of the battery,
and silenced the guns ; when the brigade fell back.
Nearer the city, the artillery-fight was resumed at long
range. Meanwhile Early had thrown other brigades around
on the west, and there had been severe fighting there.
Night came on, and the city was besieged. Milroy ascer
tained that an overwhelming force was in front of him and
on his flanks : this was his opportunity to retreat under cover
of the blinding darkness and the heavy thunder-shower; but
some fatuity detained him.
The Eighteenth was stationed all night in rifle-pits just
outside the city, wet through with the drenching rain. By
midnight, it was obvious that Early was closing in ; and Ely's
brigade of four regiments was recalled to the fort, but at
sunrise was sent out again. " The 1st Brigade, under Gen.
Elliott, occupied the main fort; the 2d, under Col. Ely,
held the town and the space outside ; the 3d, under Col.
McReynolds, was posted in the star fort." 4
"The Eighteenth" (commanded by Major Henry Peale) "was sta
tioned for a few hours in the southern part of the city, defending govern
ment property ; and some of the companies skirmished with small parties
of rebels. The command was soon ordered to the defenses in the north-east,
commanding the Berry ville Road, in which direction the lines of the enemy
could now be discovered. Severe firing shortly ensued, which lasted for
several hours. The rebels took possession of a large house within rifle
distance of the regiment, and annoyed us severely ; delivering their fire
whenever a head showed itself above the rifle-pits. It was resolved to dis
lodge them ; and a 24-pouuder brass howitzer was procured from the fort, and
turned upon the building. After the firing of several shots, some of which
penetrated it, a portion of the regiment (Companies F and H), under Capt.
Charles D. Bowen of the latter company, charged, and captured eight pris
oners ; the rest making their escape." 5
4 New- York Herald Narrative. 6 Major Peak's Official Report.
352 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The 2d (Ely's) Brigade was. now stationed near the ceme
tery, across which the principal firing took place. "About
four in the afternoon, the rebel skirmishers charged up to
the very edge of the town ; when a well-directed fire from
our troops sent them back in confusion to their supporting
line, which also caught the panic, and rushed back to the very
edge of the timber." ( Here several of the Eighteenth were
killed and wounded.
About this time the rebels charged upon and captured
the important outworks held by an Ohio regiment, on the
other side of the main fort ; and the 2d Brigade fell back
to the works north-east of the fortification, in which the prin
cipal part of our forces were now besieged, and subjected to
a severe bombardment.
By sundown of the 14th, the city was three-fourths in
vested. Early's right crossed the Berryville Road on the
north-east, and his left intersected the Front Royal, Strasburg,
and Romney Roads.
"At 1, A.M., on the 15th, the order was given for the silent
evacuation of Winchester. The night was intensely dark ;
but the column moved with order on the road leading to
Martinsburg, due north; the Eighteenth Connecticut forming
the advance of the center brigade. The command had pro
ceeded about four and a half miles, when the head of the
1st Brigade suddenly encountered the right of the enemy
posted in strong force in a piece of woods skirting the right
of the road. The rebels threw forward with great rapidity
a sufficient force to command the whole of the 1st Brigade,
and a large portion of the 2d. One or more volleys were
delivered by them and returned, but, owing to the extreme
darkness of the morning, had little or no effect. At this
time, the 1st Brigade charged ; and, having partially driven
back the force immediately in its front, the larger portion
passed on, and continued its flight to Harper's Ferry. The
remainder pf the 1st Brigade, together with the 2d, fell back
in a field to the left of the road, and re-formed their partially-
disordered ranks." 7
A letter written by one of the regiment soon after gives
6 New- York Herald Narrative. 7 Major Peale's Official Report.
FIRST BATTLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH. 353
the following account of the gallant part borne by the
Eighteenth in the charge of the 2d Brigade : " We charged
into the woods ; but, in the gray dawn, nothing could be
discerned but the flash of their rifles. We could not see a
man ; and they had every advantage of us, as we charged
from light into the darkness, where they quietly awaited
our coming. The crack of rifles was for a time terrific ;
but numbers and position finally prevailed, and we were
obliged to retreat.
" We formed again, in perfect order, in the open field, and
prepared for a second charge. By this time, we could form
some idea of the rebel position; for we could see quite
plainly. Gen. Milroy was behind us on his horse ; and he
told us to take that battery ; that we could do it in ten
minutes. Officers and men were cool again, and in good
spirits. Well, the order was given, ' Forward, Eighteenth !
Charge bayonets ! Double-quick ! March ! ' and away we
went into those woods again. We were met with a murder
ous fire ; but forward sprang the line with a yell. Up the
cross-road we charged, in point-blank range of the rebel
battery.
"A long line of fire streamed from thousands of rifles,
interrupted now and then by the blaze of the battery.
Trees were peeled in all directions. We charged up to the
battery and silenced it, killing or wounding every man
that stood by it ; but they had plenty of artillery in re
serve : so we saw it was useless to attempt to hold it. After
fighting desperately for some time, and losing many valu
able men, the order to retreat was given ; and we again fell
back."
This was the first battle in which the Eighteenth had been
engaged ; and its behavior had deserved great credit. The
above statement seems slightly colored by the interest
which a participant would naturally feel; yet it is abundant
ly corroborated by the list of casualties, and by the account
given by the Confederates themselves.
The Richmond Whig, during the same week, contained a
letter written by a member of the 1st Maryland (rebel)
Battery, of which the following is an extract : " About d^rk
354 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the same night, Johnston's division moved off to the right,
and came on the road leading to Charleston. We marched
all night ; and at break of day, as we were going towards
Winchester, we received a volley of Minie-balls. We imme
diately went into position ; but, as it was dark, we could not
see the enemy, who continued to fire upon us. ... As
soon as it was light, we commenced firing : then came a
shower of Minie-balls such as I never heard before. With a
yell, the Yankees charged our battery three times, and got
within a few yards of it, but were driven off So many
were killed at gun No. 1, that it had to be abandoned ; and
we had fired every round of ammunition from gun No. 2, —
these being the only guns of our battery firing on the
charging columns of the enemy. Then the Yankees made
a final charge, and got nearer than before; and we thought
we wore about to be captured. Two or three horses having
been killed, we were unable to move off We then found a
few rounds of ammunition in the caisson of No. 1; and, put
ting them in No. 2, we drove them back for the last time."
The Eighteenth had lost thirty-one killed and forty-four
wounded, including five commanders of companies. After
the last charge, Col. Ely looked about him for support, and
found that the 3d Brigade had taken advantage of the fight
to turn about, and make its way across the country towards
Pennsylvania, Milroy and Major Peale had already escaped
with a few men, including thirty from the Eighteenth.
Col. Ely and Lieut-Col. Nichols were dismounted, and
were immediately summoned to surrender. The rebels now
occupied the road in both directions. The Federals num
bered but a thousand men, jaded by two days' sleepless
service, and now badly cut up. Under the circumstances,
Col. Ely surrendered the command. The men were imme
diately placed under guard.
Col. Ely's sword had been hit by a ball during the battle,
shattering the blade near the hilt. When he delivered it to
the rebel Gen. Walker after the fight, that officer asked,
"When was this done, sir?" — "This morning." — "You
deserve to keep this," was the rejoinder: "I will direct it
to be retained for you." It was sent to Gen. Early, by
DEATH OF CAPT. PORTEK. 355
whose order it was finally forwarded through, by flag of
truce, to the father of Col. Ely, while the soldier who had
borne it gallantly was yet a prisoner.
Besides the thirty who got away with Major Peale, Com
pany D of the Eighteenth, detailed as provost-guard, escaped
intact. About half of the seven thousand of the division
ultimately escaped ; stragglers coming into the border-towns
of Maryland and Pennsylvania for a week, most of them
unarmed and nearly famished.
Within thirty minutes after Ely's surrender, Early's entire
corps marched across the battle-field in swift pursuit of the
fugitives. Many were captured.
Among the killed in this battle was Capt. Edward L.
Porter, only son of Dr. Isaac G. Porter of New London. He
was a graduate of Yale of the class of '57 ; a young man
of excellent literary taste, and had adopted the practice of
law with fine promise. Surgeon Holbrook recently wrote
of him, " I remember Capt. Porter as one of the noblest of
our company of martyrs, who, on that memorable morning,
offered up their lives on the altar of constitutional liberty.
At my suggestion, he went to the hospital three days
before ; being sick with what I feared might prove typhoid
fever. I visited him on the day before the evacuation, and
found him very weak, and was surprised, on the following
morning, to find him at the head of his company. An offi
cer informed me that he seemed possessed of superhuman
energy in the battle, and gallantly led his men in the
charge, when he was struck by a bullet in the forehead, and
died almost immediately. He has left a bright record of
honorable manliness. Dignified and ' gentlemanly, always
prompt in the conscientious discharge of duty, he attested
by his death the sincerity of his patriotism, and sealed with
his blood his love of liberty." His watch was returned to
his father ; and on the inside he had written, jap ip^srai vo* •.
" For the night cometh." The words characterized his gen
eral thoughtfulness.
The handsome regimental colors presented by the ladies
of Norwich were not captured with the regiment. When
they were inquired for, the men would not or could not give
356 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
any information as to their whereabouts ; but in two days,
after many "hairbreadth scapes," they crossed the Pennsyl
vania border wound about the body of Color-sergeant George
Torrey of Woodstock, who had taken to the woods during
the confusion. He was subsequently commissioned captain
in the United-States colored troops.
About two hundred made good their retreat, and gradually
gathered again at Maryland Heights, under Major Peale.
H. H. Starkweather immediately went to the rendezvous,
carrying food and other comforts from home, and sending
back to the anxious relatives news from the regiment.
Capt. Thomas K. Bates, a brave officer, severely wounded
and a prisoner, was recaptured shortly after in a rebel
hospital.
The prisoners suffered from the first day of their cap
tivity. • They were not allowed to bury the dead of the
regiment, as that would deprive the rebels of the Thenar-
dierian privilege of robbing the corpses of the slain. The
prisoners were hurried back to the fort, and next day were
started for Richmond on foot. They made ninety-two miles
in four days, arriving at Staunton on Monday the 22d, and
thence took the cars for Richmond. They reached the Con
federate capital early next morning, and, without making
any triumphal entree, marched straight to Libby Prison.
The food on the journey consisted of a pint of flour and
a very small piece of pork to each man. The officers and
enlisted men were in separate squads, and were not permit
ted to communicate.
Un the second day, the privates were transferred from
Libby to Belle Isle in the James River, now so infamous in
the annals of the war. Here they staid a few weeks, on
scanty rations ; when they were taken back to Libby, paroled
July 2, taken to City Point, released, and transported to
Annapolis; having been under the stars and bars seven
teen days. They remained at Camp Parole until the 1st
of October, when they were duly exchanged, and returned
to the nucleus of the regiment, now in camp at Martinsburg,
north of Winchester.
The officers were not so fortunate. They were detained
DEATH OF CORPORAL WORDEN. 357
at Libby through many weary months ; hoping, fearing,
expecting, and sometimes almost despairing. They had
scarcely food enough to sustain life ; but the miserable
rations were supplemented with heavy boxes of succulent
and nourishing food, prepared with loving hands in Eastern
Connecticut. Officers of other regiments brought away
letters concealed in their buttons, from Col. Ely, Capt.
Davis, Lieut. Higgins, and others. Capt. Davis said, " On
the prison-walls of the Conciergerie, in the days of the
French Revolution, was written, ' He who retains his patriot
ism can never be wholly miserable;' so here in these days, a
parallel with that time in fraternal bloodshed, this sentiment
sustains many a prisoner. Deprived of liberty, and subsist
ing on a scanty diet, we are not of all men the most misera
ble when we remember for what we are here."
About this time, Corporal Samuel D. Worden of Canterbury
died of wounds received at Winchester, and disease engen
dered on Belle Isle. He was liberally educated, a graduate
of the Unitarian Theological Seminary at Meadville, and had
occasionally occupied the pulpit of that denomination. He
was an exemplary Christian soldier, and fought as he had
lived, in compliance with his conscientious convictions.
When the second call for troops came, he had charge of a
school at Greenville ; but he joined Capt. Davis's company,
and laid all the hopes and aspirations of his cultivated mind
on the altar of American nationality. He finally died at
home, where Rev. Mr. Stone of Brooklyn delivered a touch
ing address ; and the remains of the fallen hero were borne
to the grave by his companions in arms. Such were many
of the men who fought in the ranks of our great army.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Battle of Cliancellorsville. — Advance upon the Flank. — The Fifth, Fourteenth, Seven
teenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-seventh Connecticut Regiments engaged. — The llth
Corps overwhelmed by Stonewall Jackson. — Terrible Battle of May 3. — Heavy
Losses of the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers. — The Twenty-seventh Regiment
captured. — A New Line of Battle. — Withdrawal of the Army and Failure of the
Movement. — Losses of the Connecticut Regiments. — Prisoners of War.
PRING came. It was 1863. Two years of the
war had passed with little gain for the Union
arms in Virginia. Hooker was in command of
the splendidly-disciplined and plucky Army of
the Potomac, which he declared to be " the finest
army on the planet," His eight corps were eager to be led
again towards Richmond., — this time by the soldier who had
borne the brunt of battle at Antietam. Five Connecticut
regiments were with him, — the Fifth and Twentieth in the
12th Corps, the Fourteenth and Twenty-seventh in the 2d
Corps, and the Seventeenth in the llth Corps.
In the march to Chancellorsville, the llth and 12th Corps
were in company ; while the 2d proceeded by the nearer
route, via United-States Ford.
On April 27, the reveille was sounded at three o'clock in
the morning. Breakfast was dispatched ; tents struck and
knapsacks slung ; officers' baggage sent to the regimental
wagons ; and at six o'clock the men were in line. They
were supplied with eight days' rations of hard-tack, sugar,
coffee, and salt. Mules bore a blanket and a shelter-tent for
each man. Fresh beef was driven along in the train ; one
ration to be issued every three days. The men were in
good spirits : the day was beautiful. At ten o'clock, the llth
and 12th Corps were in motion ; the march, of the day lying
358
FORDING THE HAPIDAK. 359
westward, parallel to the Rappahannock. They bivouacked
upon a pleasant hillside near Hartwood Church that night ;
waking early, and starting again at daybreak, still westward.
At two o'clock, the Seventeenth Regiment halted, and ate a
frugal dinner near Barrett's Ford ; where, on account of a
drizzling rain, they waited until midnight.
They then crossed in silence, and without opposition, and
pressed forward towards Culpeper. At four o'clock in the
morning, having been under arms twenty-five hours, the
men dropped down in the woods, and slept till seven. Here
the 12th Corps passed. The llth Corps was shortly in
motion again ; and towards evening both corps turned short
to the left, and advanced towards Fredericksburg.
The question of how to cross the Rapidan was next en
countered. The bridge was gone ; the banks were steep
and high ; and the stream swollen by previous rains so as
to be hardly fordable for artillery. Delay was defeat; so
a ford was ordered. " The men fixed bayonets, hung their
cartridge-boxes on them ; and then, with muskets at right-
shoulder-shift, clambered down the bank. It was a cold day ;
the water was chilly ; and, as they plunged in, it was like the
cut of a knife : but they wallowed on, singing, ' John Brown's
soul is inarching on,' some shouting, ' Who wouldn't be a
soldier?' and others wondering why Hooker didn't make his
regiments into gunboats, and use them in the naval service.
" The current was so strong as to carry several of them
down stream ; but they finally reached the opposite bank
some distance below, with the loss of musket and cartridge-
box. Here you would see a cautious fellow slip off his
stockings, shoes, and pants, tie them in his handkerchief,
and suspend the bundle on his bayonet to keep it dry • then
join the crowd to the river. Watch him : ten to one the
current trips him, and he wets bundle and cartridge-box to
gether, and is lucky if he get to the shore without losing a
part or all of his load. On the south bank were men drip
ping with water, and shivering with cold, wringing their
drenched clothes."1 Two miles farther on, they spent the
night around blazing fires.
1 Col. P. B. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
360 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE KEBELLION.
Companies A and H of the Fifth unpacked all the ammu
nition from the mules, and carried it across by hand during
the evening. In the night also, a detail of men, under Capt.
Samuel S. Woodruff of the Twentieth, threw a rude bridge
across the river, which was very seviceable to the llth and
5th Corps. They pushed up to the Rapidan in the evening,
where they bivouacked, and enjoyed the easy slumber of
the tired soldier. At one o'clock in the morning, they were
awakened, and ordered to " fall in " to cross the river. Lieut.
Wilcoxson of the Seventeenth, in a letter to his wife, wrote
of this, —
" A wild and weird scene it was. Moving down the road
to the abrupt bank of the river, we came upon the abutment
where had been the old bridge, and where the rebels had
lately begun the construction of the new. Here, dividing
our ranks, each man groped for himself a way down the
steep bank to the foot of the abutment, from which a rude
and trembling structure scarcely four feet wide, and but a
trifle raised above the surface of the rushing and foaming
river, led to one pier and another, and so to the opposite
bank. The night was pitchy dark ; and, to enable us to avoid
a tumble into the boiling flood, fires had been built on the
piers, which lighted up the tortuous course of the phantom-
like train as it slowly crawled out of the darkness on one
side, across the flimsy bridge in the ruddy glare, and into
the darkness beyond."
Two miles farther, and another halt. One rubber blan
ket on the ground and another over him, the soldier's simple
toilet is made, and he falls asleep to the music of pattering
rain on the rubber covering. At daylight, the rain in
creased ; but by noon both ^corps were again in motion, with
a hot sun overhead. The march was rapid, without halt
for dinner. They passed through the Wilderness, and at six
o'clock arrived at Chancellorsville.
The line of battle was disposed in the form of an irregular,
inverted V ; the left leg resting on the river, and Mr. Chan
cellor's house being in the rather obtuse apex. The llth
Corps, under Gen. 0. 0. Howard, held the right of the whole
line ; Devens's division abutting on a dense wood assumed to
OVER-CONFIDENCE OF HOOKER AND HOWARD. 361
be impenetrable. On the left was the 3d Corps, arid on the
left of that the 12th ; while the 2d held a position to the left
of Chancellor's house.
The Seventeenth Regiment was stationed near the resi
dence of a Mr. Hatch, a native of Farinington, Conn. : and
Saturday, May 2, found it supporting Dieckman's battery ; the
right wing being in Hatch's garden, and the left deployed
along the Culpeper Road in line of battle. The house was
the headquarters of Gen. Devens, commanding the division
at the extreme right of the army.
Notwithstanding this exposed situation, neither he nor
Gen. Howard seems to have guarded against surprise. Re
peatedly warned on Friday by the artillery duels at the right,
and on Saturday by spies and scouts bringing information
that the rebel infantry was massing there, they took no
adequate precautions. Adjutant Wilcoxson, writing next
day, said, " For some time, troops were seen passing to the
south-west, along the crest of a distant hill ; in regard to
whom conjectures were various. Gen. McLean (command
ing the brigade to which the Seventeenth was attached)
thought them to be rebels ; but Gen. Devens was confident
it was another corps of our own army. At one o'clock, in
formation came to Gen. Devens that the rebel batteries were
moving around our right flank. I have since learned that
our generals had been informed that the enemy were in
strong force upon our flank ; and why a stronger force was
riot sent out as skirmishers, and the line of battle changed
to front the foe, is more than I am able to understand."
The fact is, that both Hooker and Howard were over-confi
dent and incautious, and believed none of the stories of the
Hank-movement. Hooker wrote2 to Sedgwick at this hour,
" We know that the enemy is flying, trying to save his trains.
Sickles's two divisions are among them." Gen. (then Col.)
Noble writes, "The disaster resulted from Howard's and
Devens's utter disregard and inattention, under warnings
that came in from the front and flank all through the day.
Horseman after horseman rode into my post, and was sent
to headquarters with the information that the enemy were
2 Vide Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
362 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
heavily marching along our front, and proceeding to our
right ; and, last of all, an officer reported the rebels mass
ing for attack. Howard scouted the report, and insulted
the informants ; charging them with telling a story that was
the offspring of their imagination or their fears."
Two companies of the Seventeenth, Wilson French's of
Ridgefield, and Albert II. Wilcoxson's of Norwalk, were out
on picket, when they were attacked by the advancing hosts
of Stonewall Jackson, and driven in upon the flank, rapidly
pursued. As soon as the rebels were unmasked by the pick
ets, the regiment poured several volleys into them ; but they
rushed forward in overwhelming numbers. The battery
retreated without attempting to fire a gun. The German
troops at the left, exposed to the same tremendous shower
of grape and canister and shell, accompanied by an attack
of infantry, fell back, outnumbered ten to one. For a time,
McLean's brigade alone remained on the contested ground,
which had become a perfect Pandemonium, alive with shriek
ing shells and whistling balls.
"It was a complete surprise to this corps. Gen. Hooker
had announced that the rebels were running away. Gen.
Howard did not expect an attack ; and his men were cooking
supper, some with their arms stacked, and hardly a single
regiment in position to repel attack. Almost the first inti
mation the men had of the presence of the enemy in their
immediate vicinity was a volley of musketry, and a shower
of grape and canister in front, flank, and rear. They were
panic-stricken, as most troops would have been."3
The Seventeenth Regiment had been ordered to lie down.
The heroic Lieut-Col. Charles Walter rose to ascertain the
situation. He was seen to drop suddenly. It was supposed
that he had lain down again for protection ; but he had been
shot through the head, and was dead. Many were slain si
multaneously in the fierce onset. The regiment yielded to
vastly superior numbers pressing in on all sides; and the
two wings marched out by the left flank, under a most
galling fire. While gallantly rallying his men to return the
rebel fire, a shot struck Col. Noble in the arm, severing an
8 Col. Buckingham's MS. History.
THE TWENTIETH UNDER FIEE FOE FIRST TIME. 363
artery. He remained on the field until so faint from loss of
blood that he could no longer manage his horse ; when he
was supported to the rear. The horse had been wounded,
and died soon after. The regiment made a brave stand at
the rifle-pits, near headquarters, and remained there all night,
supporting a battery ; while the 3d Corps was flung into the
gap.
The retreat of the llth Corps, instead of being the rout
and flight of poltroons, as described at the time, was inevita
ble after the impetuous Jackson had got in its rear with
forty thousand infantry. But it is unquestionable that
McLean's brigade contested the ground stubbornly. Ket-
tell's History of the Rebellion says, " The brigades of Bush-
beck and McLean held their ground for a time, but were
compelled to fall back before the irruption of the enemy."
The New-York Times' correspondent said, " The brigade of
McLean remained fighting, and maintained themselves nobly
as long as possible." The Tribune said, " McLean's men
stood their ground manfully."
The "Dutch" have been long enough held responsible for
the repulse at Chancellorsville. The fact is, that less than
half of the llth Corps were Germans, and they were at the
left of Devens.
On Friday, the day preceding Jackson's assault on the
llth Corps, the Fifth and Twentieth, with some other regi
ments, went on a reconnoissance in force towards Freder-
icksburg, and were exposed to the fire of the enemy's
batteries for two hours. For the first time under fire, the
Twentieth behaved with great coolness and steadiness. It
is not necessary to speak of the conduct of the Fifth.
The repulse of the llth Corps next day was a severe trial
to both, holding the line immediately on the left. Lieut.
William A. Daniels, adjutant of the Fifth, in the official
report of the action, says, —
" At four o'clock in the afternoon, our corps was ordered out from the
barricades, which had been constructed the previous night, to engage the
enemy upon the left of our (corps) line. Before meeting the enemy, we
moved about a mile and a half to the left, then formed line of battle, the
Fifth Connecticut taking the right of our division, and forming part of the
first line of battle ; Company H, under Capt. Daboll, being thrown forward
364 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
as skirmishers. These having drawn the fire of the enemy, a rapid
exchange of shots ensued, until within about fifty yards of the enemy's line ;
when, the skirmishers being ordered to lie down, the regiment received
orders to commence firing, which they did, alternating front and rear rank,
with good effect.
" After about a quarter of an hour's engagement, the entire line
received orders to fall back, firing as they moved, which was done in good
order, the men conducting themselves with the most perfect coolness and
regard for discipline ; our regiment in the mean time performing the diffi
cult maneuver of ' doubling on center.'
" After moving to the rear about two hundred yards, the entire brigade
was ordered to move at double-quick in the direction of the intrenchments
formerly occupied. Upon arriving within two hundred yards of our barri
cades, we received a tremendous volley of musketry from the enemy, who
had succeeded in obtaining possession of them in our absence, through the
retreat of the llth Corps, which had occupied a position upon the right of
our intrenchments."
It is not surprising that this bold attack in the rear threw
the regiments into some disorder. The brigade, however,
instantly charged, and retook the intrenchments ; but was
forced to withdraw by the overwhelming numbers of the
enemy. In this confusion, Col. Warren W. Packer and five
other officers of the Fifth were taken prisoners ; but the
regiment rallied, and held a position near by. Col. Packer
says he moved the regiment by the flank at this time, in
obedience to explicit orders ; and that the whole regiment
might have been captured if the rebels had been bolder.
The Twentieth, early on the morning of the 2d, began to
throw up intrenchments along its front. A member wrote,
" The want of suitable implements for this work was felt ;
but bayonets took the place of picks, cups and plates became
the substitutes for shovels ; and so in a few hours our defen
sive arrangements were complete."
During the afternoon, as has been seen, the 12th Corps
was swung to the left through the woods towards Freder-
icksburg, with the intention of cutting off the rebel rear
from joining Jackson in his retreat. The Twentieth was
advanced through the woods, and was again under a severe
fire of shot and shell. When the llth Corps gave way, the
regiment retired slowly and in good order to a position
behind the breastwork previously constructed.
This was held for a time ; and still the retreating regi
ments went surging past, and the rebels pressed closely after
THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 365
them. Here some severe hand-to-band fighting took place ;
and in the almost total darkness friend could hardly be dis
tinguished from foe, except when the fitful flash of musketry
revealed the presence of one or the other.
The 3d Corps had taken the place of the llth ; and a skir
mish was kept up during the evening, sometimes bursting
into sharp volleys, and then subsiding. " About eight o'clock,
P.M., Jackson opened with artillery, and hurled his massed
columns of infantry upon this portion of our line with a
vigor that it seemed impossible to resist. The advancing
column was met on our part with great steadiness and a
firmness that could not be overcome. Guided in its aim by
the flashes of musketry, our artillery threw shells into the
solid masses of rebel infantry, carrying destruction and
death. The roll of musketry was incessant; the air was
filled with missiles of every shape; solid shot hissed through
the air, cutting off the tops and huge limbs of trees that fell
crashing to the ground ; shells, shrieking and howling
through the darkness, could be traced in their pathway
by the fire from the lighted fuses, until they burst into
hundreds of ragged fragments, carrying death and horri
ble wounds on every side ; the red flashes from the mus
kets, and pieces of artillery, lighted up the woods ; and, as the
smoke settled over the combatants, you could see, under
neath the sulphurous canopy, men begrimed with smoke and
smeared with the blood flowing from their wounds, stalking
about like fiends ; and one could not but think the whole
scene belonged to the infernal regions."4
The Fifth was here under fire in support of a battery ;
the Twentieth held an intrenchment a little at the left ; and
during the night the Fourteenth had been removed from the
left to this vicinity, and was engaged all day in a fierce
guerrilla battle in the woods.
The rebels pressed forward time after time during the
night, apparently determined to break our ranks, or perish
in the attempt ; the line swayed backward and forward ;
charges and counter-charges were made ; our artillery, play
ing over the heads of our men, made terrible havoc in the
4 Col. Buckingham's MS. History.
366 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
assaulting columns ; and the faces of the contestants glowed
in the strange and grand illumination. During three long
hours, our men stood firmly, holding the ground against the
surging masses brought against them, and never yielding
another inch. At eleven o'clock, the rebels lost a little
ground, and shortly after ceased firing for the night.
The Fifth, Fourteenth, and Twentieth were involved in
the terrible fight next morning on this front.
Major P. B. Buckingham of the Twentieth, commanding
at the close of the action, reports : -
" Both officers and men manifested a determination to hold the position,
should an attack be made upon this portion of the general line, which was
momentarily expected, as the enemy had driven in the extreme right of our
line, held by the llth Corps, and was making a murderous attack upon
the center of our position, which was but a short distance to the right
of the portion of the line held by this regiment.
" On Sunday morning, the 3d iustaut, the enemy appeared in force near
the point of attack on our center on the evening previous. The action
soon became general, and extended along the left of the line till it reached
the point occupied by the Twentieth Connecticut. The officers and men
awaited with great coolness the approach of the enemy, who came up yell
ing like fiends, till they arrived in a ravine about twenty rods from the
front of the regiment; when the men rose, and discharged a well-aimed
volley, which covered the ground with the killed and wounded of the
enemy, and caused them to fall back in disorder. They again rallied, and
advanced under cover of a battery of artillery, the fire from which enfi
laded a portion of the breastworks occupied by. this regiment, up to, and
some few rushed over, the works, and were either shot or taken prisoners
by our men."
During the first assault, the rebels captured a battery on
the right front, and turned it upon our men. The fire from
these guns enfiladed the right of the 12th Corps, including
the Twentieth Connecticut. It was a trying time. Occa
sional discharges of grape-shot came whizzing along ; and a
constant hail-storm of bullets made the position one that
would have tested the valor of any troops.
" After maintaining its position for nearly five hours, and finding that
the enemy had already driven our forces both on the right and lei't, and
that the entire regiment was in danger of being surrounded and captured,
Lieut. -Col. Wooster reluctantly gave the command to retire, which was
executed in some disorder ; but the men rallied and re-formed, under the
direction of the remaining officers, some half mile in the rear of the first
position. It was behind the barricades, and during the time the regiment
was falling back through the woods, that our entire loss occurred. The
men, after leaving the barricades, were subjected not only to the fire of
shot and shell from the enemy's artillery, but to a cross-fire of infantry."
THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLOESVILLE. 3G7
During the retreat to a new position, the rebels, who had
instantly dashed over the works in pursuit, hedged the regi
ment in upon both flanks, firing vigorously, and shouting,
'•Halt!" "Surrender!" "Come in out of the cold, Yanks!"
Some were captu'red here ; but the most of the men attained
the new line, where our artillery was massed.5
Major Theodore G. Ellis commanding the Fourteenth, in
his official report, says of the action of his regiment,
u About sunrise on the morning of the 3d instant, the first
line of battle having been forced by a terrific assault of the
enemy, this regiment became engaged; the enemy appear
ing on our front and right flank almost simultaneously. We
were forced to retire, principally on account of there being
no troops on our right to prevent the enemy, who had
engaged the front line on our right, from passing through
the unoccupied interval, and attaining our rear. After with
drawing, this regiment joined the remainder of the brigade,
and was placed behind rifle-pits to the left."
During the 3d, the Fifth moved off to the left, and formed
a portion of the third line, lying in a very exposed position,
where Capt. Benton was killed, and many wounded.
In the mean time, disaster had overtaken the Twenty-
seventh. During the afternoon of May 1, the regiment
had participated in a reconnoissance to ascertain the ene
my's position. After going some distance, the regiment
retired at a double-quick to meet a rebel movement threat
ening its right flank ; and soon after moved across the open
ground near the Chancellor House, and down the road to a
position in the tangled woods on the left. Here, though
shelled vigorously, the men succeeded in throwing up an
intrenchment. All next day they were engaged in extend
ing and strengthening their works ; and towards evening
they heard the wild shout of triumph that burst from the
rebel line as Jackson's troops swept over the earthworks of
the llth Corps. Doubt, apprehension, anxiety followed.
Gen. Hancock rode up, and informed Col. Bostwick that the
6 Capt. Andrew Upson of Southington was among those taken prisoner. In a letter
to his wife, he gives an interesting account of how lie feigned death; the rifling of his
pockets l>y the rebels, and their quaint remarks as to how he died ; and the final discovery
of his ruse by a rebel surgeon lifting his eyelids. Capt. Upson was afterwards killed at
Tracy City, Tenn., while lighting guerrillas.
368 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
regiment would hold the position, and significantly called his
attention to the fact, that, in extremity, the men could fight
on either side of the intrenchment. The roar of battle
came nearer. Our artillery receded to a new position, and
again the forest reverberated with the cannonading. At
length darkness dropped among the trees. The Twenty-
seventh continued in position.
Early on Sunday morning the battle was renewed, and
again crept towards the left. After a hasty breakfast, the
Twenty-seventh was ordered down into the intrenchments
in the apex of the V, thrown up by the men on Friday
night. This was in the extreme front, and very much
exposed. The regimental history says, —
"As the regiment advanced at double-quick, down the
hill into the ravine, it was met by a heavy fire of musketry.
A number were wounded, and several shot through the head
just as they entered the .breastworks. Not succeeding in
their first attempt, the rebels made no further attack in
force upon our part of the line; but, concealed in the thick
woods, continually annoyed us with a scattering fire. The
men replied as they had opportunity, and with considerable
effect, as the rebels themselves afterwards acknowledged.
Col. Bostwick was particularly noticeable for the almost
reckless exposure of himself to the enemy's fire while
attending to his duties at different points in the line. . . .
Suddenly from unseen batteries behind us comes a deep
roar ; and the next moment shell after shell shrieks through
the trees, and bursts almost in the rifle-pits. The thought
flashes upon us, that the rebels are in our rear ; but it is
dismissed with the reflection that it is only a Union battery
firing too low, which will soon correct its false aim. Mean
while, our little band had been reduced to less than four
hundred men, including two hundred and seventy of the
Twenty-seventh ; and, this force being entirely inadequate
to hold the extended line, Col. Bostwick dispatched Major
Coburn for re-info rcements.
" In a few moments the shelling ceased ; and for up the
road in front appeared a rebel officer waving a flag of truce,
and slowly advancing, waiting for recognition. The men
THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORS VILLE. 369
stopped firing in the immediate vicinity of the road; while
for a moment the musketry became more brisk on the left
flank. At length the officer arrived within a few paces of
the works, where he was halted to await the presence of
Col. Morris of the 66th New- York, commanding the whole
line. This officer was not to be found ; and the responsi
bility of receiving the communication from the flag of truce
devolved upon Col. Bostwick.
" The rebel — a tall, rough specimen, yet with the man
ner of a gentleman — announced himself as Lieut. Bailey
of a Georgia regiment. He said he had been sent to inform
us that we were entirely surrounded ; that there was no
possible avenue of escape ; and therefore he summoned us
to surrender, and thus avoid the loss of life which would
inevitably follow any resistance to the overwhelming force
in front and rear. The colonel replied that he did not ' see '
it; and proceeded to investigate the actual state of affairs.
Meanwhile, Lieut.-Col. Merwin went up through the woods
in the rear, only to find it too true that the rebels were
posted in strong force to bar any escape in that direction.
Masses of the enemy pouring in on the right and left re
vealed at once the desperate position in which we were
placed ; while the singing bullets from the woods behind, as
well as in front, indicated that the foe were closing in upon
us.
" The first impulse among officers and men was. to attempt
to force our way through ; but it \vas evident that such a
course would result in the destruction of more than half our
number, while the remainder would inevitably fall into the
hands of the enemy. After a* hurried consultation among
the officers, a surrender was agreed upon ; and the formality
had hardly been completed, when a heavy line of rebel
skirmishers swept out of the woods behind. Five minutes
before, the men stood at their posts, undisturbed by even a
doubt of their security ; now, astonished at the sudden
denouement, we found ourselves about to enter upon the
terrible uncertainties of rebel captivity. And this surprise
and mortification was increased by the conviction that seri
ous disaster must have overtaken the Union army."
4T
370 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The impression was well founded. Our troops had been
repulsed in a series of engagements along the right; and
Gen. Hooker had withdrawn his line of battle towards
the ford, and re-forrned it in an irregular semicircle, with the
center of the front near a white house at the junction of the
roads, and with both flanks resting on the river. Orders
were sent to recall the Twenty-seventh ; but the carrier was
intercepted, and the regiment was left to its fate.
The rebels made a strong effort to seize the road leading to
United-States Ford, and thus cut off the line of retreat ; but
a storm of shot and shell from a hundred guns, supported
by a concentrated fire from the 2d and 5th Corps, promptly
repulsed the attack. One more assault was made on our
lines during the day, with the intent to capture a park of
artillery stationed near the center ; but again the enemy
was hurled back by the combined fire of cannon and mus
ketry, leaving the ground strewn with his dead.
During Sunday night, the new line was thoroughly in
trenched ; and Lee withdrew to overwhelm Sedgwick's corps,
that had crossed and gallantly stormed Marye's Heights at
Fredericksburg.0
The Fifth Regiment, under orders, recrossed the Rappa-
hannock on the evening of the 3d, and was kept on provost-
duty for two days by Gen. Patrick ; after which it was
ordered to the camp at Stafford Court House, where the
men arrived at nightfall of the 6th, in a drenching rain.
The Fourteenth remained in the rifle-pits, under fire, but
met with little additional loss. Early on the morning of
the 6th, the regiment, now numbering about two hundred
men, was withdrawn, and silently recrossed the river in the
dark, and proceeded to its old camp.
The Twentieth had lost fearfully. Lieut.-Col. William B.
Wooster, " who had, through the whole action, manifested
the utmost coolness and bravery," says the official report,
was taken prisoner on Sunday ; and Capt. Sanford E. Chaffee
thereafter led the regiment until the 5th, when Major Buck-
6 Batteries B and M had been detached from the First Connecticut in 1862, and were
engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg, winning commendation for their conduct. Thcy
were still detained in the field, and were now stationed at Falmouth. They were of
material aid in the capture of Marye's Heights.
LOSSES IN THE TWENTY-SEVENTH AND FIFTH. 371
ingham was relieved from staff-duty, and took command.
On the 6th, it returned to the camp near Stafford Court
House.
When our artillery checked the Confederate advance
on the night of the 2d, the jaded Seventeenth gathered
again on the top of a hill in rear of the guns, and slept.
Lieut. Wilcoxson wrote, " While the ponderous diapason of
the artillery rolled along the vibrating air, and the solid
earth trembled with the oft-repeated concussion, I fell asleep ;
and, with the serenity inspired by a good position and heavy
artillery, rested pleasantly till Sunday morning." All next
day and night, while the battle raged, the regiment was kept
vigilant in defending the road to United-States Ford in the
rear. Tents, blankets, and baggage were gone ; and the
men were on less than half-rations. Then came a tremen
dous thunder-shower, which subsided into a cold and settled
rain. Two days more were spent in great discomfort ; then,
after standing under arms all night, with the rain beating
dismally about them, they returned with the army across
the Rappahannock, and crawled back wearily to Brooke's
Station, — their old camp.
The Twenty-seventh had nearly four hundred men on
going into battle ; of these, the whole were captured, except
ing companies D and F, with small squads of other compa
nies ; numbering in all a hundred and sixty men, under
command of Capt. Joseph R. Bradley. The regimental flag
was still borne by these. This remnant of the regiment held
an important point in Hooker's contracted line of battle;
being in the front of the line, whose entire base rested on
the river. On the morning of May 6, it recrossed with
the rest of the command, and constructed for itself a new
and more comfortable camp near Falmouth. The regiment
had two men killed and seven wounded ; of the latter, Capt
C. M. Wilcox of Madison lost a leg.
The Fifth had lost one killed (Capt. George S. Benton of
New Haven), eighteen wounded, and forty captured. The
death of Capt, Benton was a loss deeply felt. Adjutant
Daniels said of him in the official report, " Having been
connected with the regiment from its formation, he early
372 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
won the respect and esteem of the entire command, without
distinction as to rank or position. Ever prompt to answer
the call of duty, falling at his post upon the field of battle,
none of our men has left a more honorable record as a leg
acy to his friends and native State than has George S.
Benton."
Of the Fourteenth Regiment, thirty-eight were wounded
and nineteen taken prisoners. Of the wounded, Capt. Isaac
R. Bronson died in hospital on June 2, of a severe wound in
the upper right arm. He was a native of Middlebury, and
a son of Leonard Bronson, but was residing at New Haven
when the war broke out. Jle abandoned a prosperous busi
ness, and gave his heart and hand earnestly to the cause.
After the repulse at Fredericksburg, he wrote, " I do hope
the government will not patch up a peace on account of this
affair. I would rather a thousand times leave my bones
here than have my children inherit a government exposed
to what ours must be, if we now surrender to our foes what
we refused to our friends." Lieut. Samuel Fiske wrote of
him, —
" He was one of the most earnest, honest, and fearless patriots whose
life has been sacrificed in this great cause. In a camp-life, which is too
often made an excuse for relaxing the principles of morality and religion
that are a restraint at home, he led a pure and Christian life. Where pro
fanity and obscenity are (I am forced to say) almost the rule, and decent
language the exception, no impure or irreverent words came from his lips,
nor, unrebuked, from those of his men. Of a courage that never left him
satisfied to be away from his post when action and danger were before us ;
of an earnest patriotism that left none of us in doubt what were his motives
in coming to the field ; of an enduring fortitude that shrank from no extremi
ties of hardship and privation that came upon us ; of a generous and cheer
ful spirit that was an example to us all ; he was a soldier worthy of our
cause, a patriot without a blemish, a Christian that does not dishonor the
name, a comrade of whose loss I can scarcely trust myself to speak. Since
the deajh of the lamented Willard of my own town and home, slain at An-
tietam, no stroke has come home so deeply to me personally. The first
captain of our regiment to fall on the field ; and now, as yet, the last.
Noble, Christian soldiers both ! — a tear to their memory and a lesson to
each of us from their lives."
Of the Seventeenth, two were killed on the field, thirty-
four wounded, and eighty taken prisoners. Nine soon died
of their wounds ; but most of the wounded, with careful
treatment, recovered. The regiment was fortunate in pos-
HEAVY LOSS IN THE TWENTIETH. 373
sessing a surgeon so accomplished, and so devoted to his
duty, as Dr. Robert Hubbard of Bridgeport. He was one
of the most skillful surgeons in the entire corps.
Lieut.-Col. Charles Walter was born in Copenhagen, Den
mark, in 1832, and came to America when young. He was
a private in Capt. Speidal's company, in the First Regiment ;
was promoted to be first lieutenant; and was aide on Gen.
Tyler's staff at the battle of Bull Run. On account of his
daring, he fell into the hands of the enemy, and spent a year in
rebel prisons. On returning, he was made lieutenant-colonel
of the Seventeenth. He was a man of education, of untiring
energy, and great bravery. He showed singular coolness
and resoluteness in battle; and his brother-officers said, "With
deep sorrow and regret we have left him behind, in ground
which needs no holier consecration than to entomb the re
mains of such a noble patriot." He was an admirable com
panion, possessing high social qualities, fine literary taste and
culture, and excellent musical attainments. He was also
something of a genius as an amateur artist, and made a
striking sketch of the rebel prison, afterwards lithographed
by his friends.
Corporal Thomas D. Brown of Norwalk, whose wedding
the company had attended on the morning of leaving home,
died in hospital. His spirit took its flight just as he finished
singing a patriotic song. Sergeant Martin V. B. Glover of
Newtown also died at this time. He was an earnest and brave
young man, and had, two months before, written to his neigh
bors and friends a stirring patriotic letter, beseeching them
to carry on the war.
The Twentieth Regiment had lost fully one-third of its
number ; twenty-seven officers and men being killed out
right, sixty-two wounded, and one hundred and eight
taken prisoners. Of the wounded, sixteen died. Col. Ross,
commanding the brigade, was wounded in the leg in the
early part of the action on Sunday, and compelled to leave
the field. Lieut. David N. Griffiths of Derby was an officer
of much promise. He was struck in the forehead by a bul
let, and instantly killed, while encouraging the men to stand
firm. He fell with feet to the foe, and his sword grasped in his
374 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
hand, — a pattern of determined courage. Sergeant-Major
John S. Root of Hartford, killed by a grape-shot at the bar
ricades, exhibited almost reckless daring. Assistant Surgeon
D. L. Jewett of East Haddam remained with the wounded
men who filled the Chancellor House. When our troops fell
back, the rebels opened upon this hospital, and riddled it
with balls. A man was killed under the hand of Surgeon
Jewett, on the operating-table. Shells were exploded in the
house ; and at last it was set on fire and burned to ashes.
The helpless men were all removed to a place of safety.
Surgeon William B. Casey had been promoted to be brigade
surgeon, and rendered efficient service.
In this battle, the regiment lost Sergeants Albert Stillman
of New Britain, and Charles H. Smith of Orange, Corporal
Titus Moss of Cheshire (three brothers were fighting at his
side), Corporal David W. Jones of New town, William A. Cole-
man of New Britain, and a score of others, bravely fighting ;
and on that field most of the young patriots lie in unknown
graves.
The battle of Chancellorsville was a Confederate victory ;
yet the Federal arms effected one result, which, from a na
tional stand-point, almost compensated for the repulse, —
Stonewall Jackson was dead !
" On to Richmond !" At least eight thousand of Hook
er's army were still marching towards the rebel stronghold ;
disarmed, however, more or less disrobed, and subjected to all
the indignities of prisoners of war. Five hundred and three
of these were from Connecticut; the Fifth having lost forty;
the Fourteenth, nineteen ; the Seventeenth, eighty-four ; the
Twentieth, one hundred and eight ; and the Twenty-seventh,
two hundred and eighty-two.
The prisoners were not detained long ; but their trials
were severe even at this early day, before the world had
been shocked with the horrors of Andersonville. Every
thing was taken from them, — knapsacks, blankets, shelter-
tents, and canteens. Lieut. Sheldon says, " One of the rebel
skirmishers had hardly lowered his gun from an aim, when
he walked up to one of our men, and said, ' Have you got a
PRISONERS' RATIONS. 375
knife to sell ? ' — ' No.' And, somewhat abashed, he went to
try his luck in a more promising field. Quite a crowd of
' butternuts ' assembled to view the * Yanks,' and prosecute
their schemes of trade." Col. Wooster was deprived of his
elegant cap ; the robbers substituting a rotten old slouched
hat, almost too filthy for a rebel to wear. Lieut. A. E.
Beardsley was similarly treated, and lost his coat besides ;
but he defiantly refused any gift in exchange, and made
his trip through the Confederacy and back to Annapolis
bareheaded, protecting his head occasionally by a night
cap.
Among the first to greet the prisoners was young Bob
Stiles, a New-Haven traitor, who refused to shake hands
with his old acquaintances, and contemptuously informed
them, that, rather than live again under the hated Union,
the Southern gentlemen would die in the last ditch.
The next three days were days of speechless misery,
hardly paralleled during the service of the men. They
were broiled in the sun, soaked in the rain ; and no food had
yet been dealt out. " At last the order is given, ' Fall in for
rations!' We had almost concluded that this order would
never again greet our ears until we should once more stand
under the flag of the Union. Immediately our thoughts
recurred to camp near Falmouth ; and in imagination floated
visions of beef, pork, hard-tack, fresh bread : in fact, Uncle
Sam's army-rations loomed up in bolder relief than ever
before. In silent suspense we advance and receive — three
pints of flour apiece ! The inquiry arose, ' What shall we do
with it?' Our extremely limited culinary facilities soon set
tled that question. There was but one alternative ; and the
men immediately built little fires, and were busily engaged
in cooking up a bill of fare for the march to Richmond, —
said bill of fare consisting simply of flour and water mixed
together, and dried before the fire. A New-England fanner
would regard it a personal insult if one should offer such
stuff to his hogs. . . . Two days later, at Hanover Sta
tion, each man received five medium-sized crackers and
an ounce of bacon. Our guards were very uncommuni-
376 CONNECTICUT DUBING THE HEBELLION.
cative, but occasionally sung out, ' Git in yer groups of fours
dar!'"7
Thousands poured into the roads all along the route to see
the strange procession, and to deride the prisoners as they
inarched. " Well, here you are : you've got Richmond
now ! " shouted one. " Hardly an honest face among 'em,"
observed another. " What you uns want to trouble we uns
faw ? " screeched a slatternly female hanging over the fence,
unable to comprehend the political situation. "What are
you doing down here ? " demanded a man indignantly.
" Pall-bearers at Stonewall Jackson's funeral ! " was the re
ply. The angry rejoinder came, "If you were not a prisoner,
I'd shoot you ! "
So, insulted and exhausted, they arrived at Richmond,
and were quartered at Libby Prison, the tobacco-factory, and
among the sands and wild onions of Belle Isle. Some were
not dejected, and insisted on seeing the humorous side of
the journey. This, under the circumstances, was an achieve
ment compared to which extracting sunbeams from cucum
bers were a pastime. On entering the dismal walls of Libby,
a lieutenant remarked to the grim keeper, that he " wanted
to go home : he had some wood to saw and other chores
to attend to." Capt. David S. Thomas of New Haven thus
described the fare in Libby : —
" The old fat quartermaster of the prison used to visit us occasionally ;
and, though he was a rabid old rebel, we rather liked him. He wasn't
what we call a good provider, by any means ; but he was immense on dis
tributing consolation. The bacon he gave us looked as if cut from the
side of a hog about two weeks old, and tasted as if the deceased had known
no other diet but granulated pebble-stones and black ink. With a slight
process of tanning, our rations of bacon would have made excellent half-
soles for boots. The officers were allowed to purchase some provisions ;
but this privilege was denied privates, and they suffered considerably for
palatable food.
" It would astonish a stranger to see the variety of dishes we manufac
tured from corn-meal alone. Mixed with water to a consistency of paste,
it made what we called pancakes, — a dish that constituted a large item in
our diet. With a little less meal and more water, we had Indian pudding,
to be eaten with a spoon. A more liberal donation of meal, with the
same quantity of water, made a thick substance, which, when baked in
the oven, was styled Johnny-cake. Then there are fish-balls, manufactured
from the same compounds. This receipt requires about four meals to one
7 Lieut. Sheldon's Regimental History.
OFFICERS AND MEN EXCHANGED. 377
water, and, when moulded together, should be able to stand alone any
where. Divide the aggregate into cakes one inch thick, and about the size
of the palin of the hand. Lay these in rows on the top of the stove ; and,
if there is any fire at all inside, you will have superior fish-balls in from
one to three hours."
Within two weeks, most of the officers and men were
exchanged at City Point, and hailed the old flag with shouts
of welcome.
48
CHAPTER XXIV.
Kace of the Hostile Armies Northward. — Battle of Gettysburg. — The Fifth, Fourteenth,
Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-seventh Connecticut Regiments engaged. —
Second Light Battery.— The Affair of July 1. — The Assault of July 2.— Attack
on the Left Flank. — Terrible Fighting of July 3. — Connecticut Correspondents.
— The Losses in our Regiments. — Scenes on the Battle-Field. — The "Fourth of
July." — Tardy Pursuit of Lee. — Our Troops again in Virginia.
OOKER had been out-generaled, — defeated by
superior skill rather than by superior numbers
or courage. His army was diminished., but not
disheartened ; for the men attributed their re
pulse to the proper cause, and felt, that, effi
ciently led, they were a match for any soldiers in the
world.
The Army of the Potomac had fallen into the habit of
indulging in a long rest after every battle ; taking ample
time for recuperation, improved by the rebels with equal
zeal and profit. But Lee seemed inclined to act on the
Napoleonic maxim, afterwards adopted by Grant and Sheri
dan, — " When we are weak, the enemy is weak : that
is the time to strike." So now he did not wait for Hooker
to re-organize. He believed the Union army dispirited,
and in that fatal delusion projected an invasion of the
North through Maryland.
Hooker's army was hastily refitted for a severe campaign.
The regiments from Connecticut held about the same rela
tive position as before Chancellorsville, except that the
Fifth and Twentieth were now brigaded together in the 12th
Corps. Col. Packer and other officers of the Fifth, Lieut-
Col. Wooster and his companions of the Twentieth, and Col.
Bostwick, Lieut-Col. Merwin, Major Coburn, and other offi-
378
THE POTOMAC ARMY AGAIN ON THE MAKCH. 379
cers of the Twenty-seventh, had been exchanged as prison
ers of war, and now returned to their commands. Col.
Bostwick was unable to accompany the army on account of
a painful and protracted illness. Most of the enlisted men
captured at Chancellorsville were still absent on parole.
Hooker watched the crafty rebel general, and, even
before his purpose became apparent, moved his army
towards Warrenton ; covering Washington on one hand,
while pressing the rebel flanks on the other. The 12th
Corps was the first to move ; leaving its camp at Stafford
Court House on the loth of June, and pushing northward
all night, arriving at Dumfries early in the morning. Other
corps followed closely ; the 2d being the last to leave the
line of the Rappahannock. Lee maneuvered his forces with
consummate ability, and kept his flank so covered with
cavalry, that it was almost impossible to ascertain his loca
tion or his movements from day to day.
The Fifth and Twentieth Connecticut remained at Dum
fries a day and night, and at three o'clock next morning
were again in motion. The day was oppressively hot and
dusty (the thermometer standing at ninety-five degrees
in the shade), and many fell out by the way with sun
stroke ; but the column pressed on to Fairfax Court House,
which place was reached at nine o'clock at night, after a
march of thirty-three miles. Serious inroads were made in
the ranks of all the regiments, as appeared at roll-call when
tattoo was beaten that night ; and the corps rested here
another day and night. Many of the men had blistered
their feet during the severe march. Reveille sounded at
two, A.M., of the 17th; and the regiments advanced to
Drainesville, and again bivouacked. Sunrise of the next
day found them in line, marching towards the Potomac.
They encountered a violent hail-storm ; and, in crossing
Goose Creek, the men waded up to their waists in the
stream ; but, before taking their evening rations, they went
into camp near Leesburg. From this point, the Union army
lay stretched south-westward beyond Manassas. The 2d
Corps, in which were the Fourteenth Regiment and the rem
nant of the Twenty-seventh, was picketing Thoroughfare
380 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
Gap, — a gorge in the Blue Kidge of strategic impor
tance. •
The 12th Corps remained at Leesburg nearly a week ;
the Fifth Connecticut being there detailed to do provost-
duty. Meantime, Lee was heard from, crossing the Potomac
at Williamsport, and appealing to the people of Maryland
for support ; and on June 26 the corps crossed the Poto
mac at Edwards's Ferry, and moved rapidly northward in
pursuit. The other corps had now come up ; and all crossed
before night of the 27th, arid advanced to intercept the
audacious march of the rebel army into Pennsylvania.
On the morning of July 1, Gen. George G. Meade, now
appointed to the command of the army, started the 1st and
llth Corps from their camp, four miles south of Gettysburg,
with directions to move rapidly northward, and find the
enemy, whose infantry was supposed to be at least one
day's march distant. Gen. Reynolds, with the 1st Corps,
pressed forward through the town, and found our cavalry
engaged about three miles north-west of Gettysburg. The
enemy showed no disposition to yield ground, and, in repel
ling cavalry-charges, had revealed something of an infantry
force. Eagerly pushing on, Reynolds drew up his command,
and engaged the enemy, whose divisions of infantry now
poured upon and around him in overwhelming numbers.
Howard hurried forward, deployed the llth Corps on the
right of the 1st, and took command when the brave Rey
nolds fell.
In the mean time, Hill, with the advance of the Confede
rate forces, had been largely re-inforced by Ewell ; so that
the Union troops were again outnumbered. The afternoon
witnessed a furious contest.
The Seventeenth Connecticut Volunteers conducted itself
with much courage and steadiness. It was the first regi
ment of the corps sent forward as skirmishers ; and, while
the left wing of the regiment was thus deployed under Major
A. G. Brady, the, other wing wras gallantly led forward by
Lieut.-Col. Douglass Fowler in a charge upon the advancing
rebel lines. Ewell's troops had arrived ; and the Seven
teenth was flanked, and attacked fiercely ' on the right.
CONNECTICUT REGIMENTS AT GETTYSBUEG. 381
The regiment stood firmly, and lost heavily here ; Lieut-
Col. Fowler and Capt. Moore being struck down in the same
charge. Gen. Wadsworth was also outflanked on the left;
and it soon became apparent that these two corps of seven
thousand men were face to face with nearly the whole rebel
army. Howard withdrew his men through Gettysburg,
fighting till within the very streets, and took possession of
a range of hills a mile south of the town.
The other corps of the army advanced rapidly across the
Pennsylvania line, attracted towards the sharp cannonading ;
and joined the 1st, llth, and 12th Corps in rear of the ceme
tery, where Meade hastily arrayed them for the coming
contest. The men were despondent; and Lee's army
gathered exultantly around the pickets, shouting across,
that they would " finish the Yanks to-morrow." The divis
ions of Meade's army were silently marched into position ;
rude intrenchments were thrown up during the night ; and,
before Lee was ready to deliver a general battle next morn
ing, the Union line was firmly formed. The 12th Corps
held the eminences near Rock Creek on the right ; the 1st
stood next at Gulp's Hill; then the llth and 2d defending
Cemetery Hill, the key to the position ; while the 3d and 5th
were drawn up along the ridge to the left ; and the 6th was
held in reserve. The line described an irregular flatiron
shape, with the toe towards Gettysburg, and the heel to the
south-east. Opposite, Lee was marshaling his forces on a
corresponding series of bights ; while between the contest
ants lay a mile-wide belt of comparatively level and open
ground.
It will be seen that the Connecticut regiments held posi
tions of importance and peril. The Fifth and Twentieth
were on the extreme right flank, the Seventeenth in the right
center, and the Fourteenth and Twenty-seventh along the
left. The Fourteenth was now reduced to a hundred and
sixty men, while the Twenty-seventh went into action with
seventy-five men. The Seventeenth carried three hundred
and sixty-nine muskets into the fight. Capt. Albert H. Wil-
coxson, detailed as provost-marshal of the division, petitioned
to be relieved before the battle ; and served nobly as volun-
382 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
teer aide to Gen. Barlow in the thickest of the fight. The
Second Connecticut Battery, Capt. Sterling, had now come
up, and took position with the 2d Corps in the left center.
The forenoon of July 2 passed in continued preparations.
Across the valley on Seminary Ridge, Lee was marshaling
his men, and posting his artillery. Twelve o'clock came :
only the intermittent and feverish discharge of musketry in
the skirmish-lines told that the foe was still wary. One
o'clock : Meade is painfully anxious, and every officer won
ders when and where the crash will come. Artillery-men
lean upon their guns ; the infantry in front of the cannon
lounge about on the grass, crack jokes, and speculate about
the dark masses maneuvering on the opposite hill. Four
o'clock : the oppressive silence is broken by a single cannon
at the left ; and a single ring of smoke curls up from the
rebel center.
Within another minute, the air is filled with flying mis
siles from the muzzles of hundreds of hostile cannon. At
last, away towards the left, the long gray lines of Longstreet's
corps, with forty thousand bayonets glistening in the sun,
quickly descend the slope, and advance across the interven
ing space. As they approach, the rebel cannonade slackens,
and Tyler's artillery turn their guns upon them with terrible
effect, throwing a shower of bursting shells into the midst
of the solid masses, and, as they come nearer, serving them
with deadly volleys of canister and grape. Rapidly moves
the main line of the enemy, never flinching or faltering
under the incessant fire of our batteries. When within mus
ket-range of the 3d Corps, advanced beyond our main line,
volleys of musketry are rapidly exchanged, and blend with
the artillery in one continuous roar. Under the murderous
fire with which they are received, the rebels first hesitate,
then stagger back, and finally turn and fly. They are
speedily rallied by Longstreet, and led again, yelling, to the
charge, which this time is fierce, protracted, and bloody.
The 2d and 5th Corps rush to the side of the 3d, which is
now wavering and falling slowly back before the terrific
onset. The fighting becomes more desperate ; and the foe
is at last driven inch by inch beyond the wheatfield, where
the first assault was made.
THE SIXTH AND TWELFTH CORPS ENGAGED. 383
The little band of the Twenty-seventh Connecticut has
now become engaged. "Lieut-Col. Merwin fell while lead
ing the command with his accustomed bravery. Under
Major Coburn, the line still pressed forward at double-quick,
through the wheatfield and woods beyond, driving the rebels
a quarter of a mile across a ravine, which on the farther side
rises into a precipitous ledge. The men with much difficulty
clambered up the rocky steep ; but, as they appeared upon
the crest of the hill, the enemy, drawn up just beyond within
pistol-range, opened upon them a withering fire. The con
test at this point continued for some time. Planting the
colors upon the top, the men loaded their pieces under shel
ter of the brow of the hill ; then, rising up, delivered their
fire. Meanwhile the troops to the right gave way ; the
enemy advanced a large body of troops from that direction ;
and Gen. Brooke ordered our shattered line to fall back,
which was accomplished under a heavy cross-fire." 1
Gen. Robert 0. Tyler commanded all the reserve artillery
at Gettysburg, and was constantly with it at the front. The
guns were fought with great bravery. Sometimes the rebels
would charge up to the muzzles of the guns, disabling every
man ; then they in turn would be hurled back by our deter
mined men. Gen. Tyler had a horse shot under him.
The contest raged with doubtful result : first the rebels
advanced with a wild yell, and then recoiled before our fresh
troops ; and the surging masses swayed backward and for
ward till the sun passed behind the hills. In the mean time,
the 12th Corps, ordered to the relief from the extreme right,
came over and plunged down the slope to the fight just as
the rebels had, in a most determined charge, swept back the
Union lines, captured their cannon, and occupied their ground
nearly up to the works on Cemetery Ridge. As this corps
and the reserved 6th rushed down, cheering loudly, the
rebels gave way, apparently unwilling to prolong the strug
gle with fresh troops. The men advanced rapidly; and a
brigade charged, recapturing a battery of 12-pounders that
was being dragged off through the woods. As twilight
changed to darkness, the rebels retreated from this portion
1 Lieut. W. D. Sheldon's History of the Twenty-seventh.
384 CONNECTICUT DTTIiING THE REBELLION.
of the line, clinging tenaciously to the wheatfield ; when the
contest ceased for the night. The danger being passed, the
12th Corps was ordered to return to its position on the ex
treme right.
During the night of the lst-2d, the Fourteenth Connecti
cut had been out on picket some two miles back : in the
morning it was on provost-duty, and in the afternoon was
moved to its position in the 2d Corps, and placed in support
of a battery. It was under a heavy shell-fire during the
afternoon, but met with little loss.
In the center, on Cemetery Hill, our batteries had been
assailed in a desperate manner ; but the rebels had met equal
valor, and been repulsed with heavy loss. The Seventeenth
was posted behind a stone wall, and had acquitted itself nobly.
After repeated onsets, the rebels had retreated to the town,
leaving the ground strewn with their dead and dying.
o o */ o
The 12th Corps toiled wearily back to its position on the
right, only to be surprised at finding the works which they
had vacated three hours before occupied in force by Swell's
corps of twenty thousand men. These troops had dashed
up the hill after dark, and driven out Gen. Greene's brigade
left in possession ; pouring into the intrenchments by the
thousand. The woods were filled with solid masses of rebel
infantry, waiting for the light of morning to give them surer
footing. It was well for us that darkness enveloped the
woodland here and now ; for another hour of daylight would
have enabled the column to push on to the Baltimore Pike
in the rear of our position on Cemetery Hill, when scarcely
any thing could have saved the Union army from utter rout.
As it was, the 12th Corps was stationed along Swell's front ;
and the picket-line was pushed forward into the edge of the
woods, as close as possible to that of the enemy. On the
extreme right, some of the Union skirmishers advanced to
the rifle-pits simultaneously with those of the enemy ; and
they mistook each other for friends in the darkness. They
mingled and talked freely, then went to a spring near by to
«;et some water, our men showing the " Johnnies " where to
O ' O
find it ; and, as they drank and filled their canteens together,
a Union brigade moved up, and occupied the works. Return-
HEAVY CANNONADE AT DAYBREAK. 385
ing, one of Ewell's men had his suspicions aroused by the
remark, "The Rebs have caught Hail Columbia on the left;"
when he cried out to his companions, " H — 1 ! these are
Yanks ! " A general melee took place : men rushed hither
and thither ; muskets were clubbed, and bullets flew for a
short time ; and the rebels found themselves prisoners. Pick
ets were pushed closely forward all along the line.
It was felt that Evvell would press his advantage at dawn ;
and preparations to meet him were rapidly made. Troops
moved into place and intrenched. Four new batteries were
set, — one on McAllister's Hill to the right ; another on an
elevation in rear of the Baltimore Pike .to the left ; and two
more on Power's Hill, directly in front of the point where
the rebels lay in the gap.
"Such of the men as could threw themselves on the
ground, and tried to get a little rest : but occasionally some
watchful sentry would fire his musket at an enemy whose
tread he heard in the thick darkness of the wood ; and the
flash, revealing his locality, would draw two or three shots
from the opposing pickets, which would be answered by half
a dozen more, until the firing extended all along the right
of the line, and presently a volley would burst forth. Roused
by the tumult, our men in the line of battle would seize
their muskets, and spring into their places, thinking that the
expected attack had begun : but the firing would subside into
pattering shots along the picket-line, and finally die out
altogether; and all except the pickets, and the detail at
work intrenching, would again stretch themselves out to rest,
only to be roused again by a similar alarm." 5 The Twentieth
Connecticut lay in line of battle in a cornfield, ready at a mo
ment's notice.
With the first streaks of day, the men stood to their arms ;
and the twenty-four pieces of artillery, whose muzzles pointed
to the opening, began a terrible cannonade, hurling solid
shot and shell over the heads of our infantry into the woods
which concealed the rebel forces. This was continued for an
hour ; when the corps advanced to a fierce and bloody con
test to recover the works.
2 Col. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
49
386 CONNECTICUT DURING THE KEBELLION.
The Twentieth Connecticut occupied a post of honor, on
the left of the front division-line ; and at five o'clock, A.M.,
the regiment, under Lieut.-Col. Wooster, moved forward
to the attack. At this point, there was a stone wall eight or
ten rods in rear of the original line of works ; and this was
early taken possession of by the regiment, and afforded con
siderable protection. Now a charge would be made, and the
line of works reached ; then the rebels, in overwhelming
force, would drive the regiment back, and it would take
refuge behind the stone -wall.
On the right, the fight raged for hours ; the line swaying
back and forth as ground was lost or won, until at last a
firm and concentrated charge of the Union troops swept
Swell's forces through the woods, and regained the works.
When the rebels turned and fled, a genuine Yankee cheer
went up with an emphasis seldom heard, except in victory.
Our lines on the right were completely restored before
eleven, A.M.
During the forenoon, also, there were frequent skirmishes
upon the left. The Fourteenth Connecticut gallantly charged
upon and took a house and a barn occupied by the enemy ;
the two wings of the regiment being led by Major Theodore
G. Ellis and Capt. Samuel A. Moore of New Britain. The
enemy attempting to recover possession, the buildings were
burned by our men. The regiment afterwards supported
Arnold's battery, under a terrible fire, until the battery
retired disabled ; when the regiment advanced, and occupied
the position.
Again, during the two hours of mid-day, silence brooded
over the field ; only the stretchers, the ambulances, and the
surgeons were busy. " Suddenly the boom of a single gun
broke the stillness ; the shell came screaming over into our
lines ; and, before its echo died away, two hundred and fifty
pieces of artillery belched forth in one tremendous roar.
From almost every part of the concave arch of the rebel line
came solid shot and shell, chiefly aimed to dismount the
guns along Cemetery Hill in the center. The Union gunners,
undaunted, sent back a defiant reply from all the awakened
artillery ; and for more than an hour it was like the crash
DESPERATE CHARGES OF THE ENEMY. 387
of incessant and loudest thunder. The solid earth trembled
beneath the feet of the contending Titans ; above and close
around was the smoke and crash of bursting shell ; and on
every hand came some sort of missile charged with death." 3
Soon the cannonade nearly ceased ; and at half-past two
o'clock, afar off, opposite the left center, comes the rebel
infantry from its cover, and begins anew its charge over
that field of death. Our artillery pour upon them once
more a destructive fire, plowing up the earth, and strewing
it with their dead. Quickly they press forward across the
shot-swept plain, " in echelon by brigades," and approach the
front of the 2d Corps. It is a grand sight ; and the daunt
less tread of the compact hosts tells that serious work is
again at hand. Shells explode constantly above and among
them. Our gunners have the range, and pour a storm of iron
hail upon the advancing ranks, making great gaps, and
throwing them into wild confusion. The officers rally the
men, and on resolutely they come. Tjder's reserve artillery
is brought forward ; and, as the rebels near our line, canister
is showered upon them from two hundred pieces of artillery.
Fearful havoc ! yet they stagger on, gathering impetus ; and
now, within range, deliver a volley of musketry, and rush
forward confident of victory. They are met by a storm of
grape and bullets that is irresistible ; and again they are
broken, and turn and run in the utmost confusion, while
our artillery-men rain shot and shell upon the flying throng.
Three times the lines were re-formed, and driven up into
this tempest of death ; but each time they were repulsed.
Now the shattered lines would almost reach our works ; and
hundreds would throw down their arms, and rush into our
lines rather than attempt to escape. A whole brigade, while
being almost annihilated within a few yards of our infantry-
works, threw down their guns, and held up their hands in
surrender.
The Fourteenth, Seventeenth, and Twenty-seventh Con
necticut, and the Second Battery, were here hotly engaged ;
and the Twentieth Regiment, coming over with the re
inforcements, was for a time under a sharp fire.
2 Col. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
388 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Major Ellis says of the action of the Fourteenth in his
official report, —
" Our men were formed in a single line of battle along an almost con
tinuous line of low stone wall and fence, which offered a considerable pro
tection from the enemy's fire. When the first line of the enemy had
advanced to within about two hundred yards, our fire opened almost simul
taneously along the whole line. The enemy's first line was broken, and
hurled back upon the second, throwing it also into confusion. Detached
portions of the lines were rallied, and for a short time maintained their
ground. Being mown down by our terribly-destructive fire, they com
menced falling back ; when a portion of this regiment charged upon them,
capturing five regimental battle-flags and over forty prisoners.
"There also afterwards came into the lines of this regiment about one
hundred or more of the enemy, some of whom were wounded, and gave
themselves up.
" Among the officers who personally surrendered to me were the fol
lowing : Col. John Fite, Lieut.-Col. N. J. George, Lieut. -Col. Parkers,
and Major John G. Richardson.
" Many of the field and line officers were captured.
" Thte colors captured belonged to the following regiments : 14th Ten
nessee, 1st Tennessee, 16th North-Carolina, 52d North-Carolina, and
4th Virginia. The color of the 14th Tennessee was the first taken, and
was captured by Sergeant-Major William B. Hincks ; that of the 52d
North-Carolina was taken by Corporal Christopher Flynn of Sprague ;
and that of the 16th North-Carolina by Private E. W. Bacon of Berlin."
The Second Connecticut Light Battery was .here envel
oped in the fiercest of the fight. Sergeant D. B. Lockwood
wrote to the War Record, " Our battery was in position
for fifty-six hours without being relieved, and a portion of
the time under the hottest fire of the enemy's artillery. It
was our first engagement in a pitched battle ; but the
courage and coolness of our officers and men were such as to
elicit commendation from experienced field-officers, and vete
rans in the ranks. It was an excellent opportunity to test
the accuracy and destructiveness of our guns (the James
rifle) ; and the result was highly satisfactory. . . . Amid
such fearful carnage we providentially escaped without the
loss of a man : three only were wounded. Three of our
horses were killed, and a caisson exploded by a shell." The
coolness of Capt! John W. Sterling was conspicuous.
The Seventeenth had also been fiercely engaged at the
cemeteiy, where the line was charged by the " Louisiana
Tigers." The assault was reckless and desperate ; but our
men, posted behind a stone wall, were immovable j and as
THE GREAT VICTORY. 389
often as the assailants gained the wall they were repulsed
with slaughter. For hours the battle thundered here.
Charge after charge was made up the hill upon the battery ;
and the point was the focus of missiles from all the infernal
enginery of war, while the regiment stood at its post return
ing blow for blow.
All of Gen. Robert 0. Tyler's reserve artillery was in the
fight. The enemy would charge up to the very muzzles of
his guns, and sometimes disable every man, and seize a
piece, only to be in turn rolled back to the valley, leaving
the ground covered with the slain. Gen. Tyler had a horse
shot under him.
Finally the rebels reeled back from that carnival of death
for the last time, fled across the plain, and would not be
rallied ; while there went up from the thousands of loyal
living a cry of joy, and shouts of, " Victory, victory ! " and
exultant cheers which rolled around the hills to the right,
bearing glad tidings. Men shook hands with each other as
if they had not met in an age ; and tears stood in their eyes
as they exchanged congratulations.
" He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tiptoe when this day is named.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly, on the vigil, feast his friends,
And say, ' To-morrow is St. Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve, and show his scar,
And say, ' These wounds I had on Crispian's Day.'
Old men forget ; yet all shall be forgot
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day."
Twenty-three thousand killed and wounded and missing
on the Union side, and twenty-seven thousand of the ene
my,4 — these are the horrible figures that tell how much
slavery and the dogma of " State sovereignty " cost during
three pleasant summer days.
The first report of the victory of Gettysburg was sent
North by a citizen of Connecticut. Several young men
from the State were regular correspondents in the field for
the press : A. H. Byington of Norwalk, and W. A. Croffut
of Orange for the New- York Tribune ; D. W. Bartlett of
* Swinton's Army of the Potomac, p. 365.
390 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
West Haven for the Evening Post ; Edmund C. Stedman
of Winsted for the World ; Henry B. Brown of the navy
for the Boston Journal ; and that quaint and genial philoso
pher, John Evans of Willirnantic, for the New-York Times.
One of the most tireless and enterprising of these was
Byington ; and the " heats " for which the Tribune became
famous through his vigilance delighted Mr. Greeley even
more than the productions of his model farm in West-
chester.
During the night after the first day's fight, Byington
arrived near Gettysburg. How to get the news to New
York was the first question. The telegraphs were cut
for miles, and the instruments destroyed ; for the rebels had
been to the north and east. He obtained a horse, and
scoured the country round ; found a frightened operator
with his telegraph instrument hidden under the bed ;
brought it out antl replaced it ; sent a squad of men ten
miles along the line to repair the wire ; and, " click," - - it
was in working order. Byington sent a dispatch to the
Tribune, and made arrangements for monopolizing the
wire for two days as the price of having repaired it. As
was then the rule, the dispatch could go to its destination
only by way of the War Department. There it made a
sensation. " What about this battle ? Who is Byington ? "
asked Mr. Lincoln through the wire. "Ask Secretary
Welles," was the reply. " Send us more," was the next
dispatch. "On these conditions," was the answer, — "that
you send my former dispatch immediately to the Tribune
exclusively, and all others as soon as read." — "Agreed."
And under this stipulation was sent forward an account of
the battle from beginning to end ; while other correspond
ents were racing their, jaded horses across Pennsylvania
with news a day old. Byington offered his telegraph to
Meade; and the general gladly availed himself of the oppor
tunity to rene\v communications with Washington.
The Fifth Connecticut Volunteers had been held in reserve
much of the time ; and, having been subjected to little infan
try-fire, its losses were light, three wounded and five cap
tured comprising all.
LOSSES OF THE FOURTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH.
The Fourteenth had ten killed and fifty-two wounded ;
the latter including nearly all the officers present. Among
the killed were Corporals Samuel Huxham of Middletown,
William W. Goodell of Vernon, and Walter F. Standish of
Sprague. Among the wounded were Capt. Walter M. Lucas,
Capt. James B. Coit, Lieut. J. W. Knowlton, Lieut. Freder
ick Shalk, Lieut. John A. Tibbetts, Lieut. Henry L. Snagg,
Lieut. Frank E. Stoughton, Lieut. F. S. Seymour, and
Lieut. S. H. Seward. Surgeon Frederick B. Dudley, who
was constantly under fire, was wounded in the arm by a
shell.
The Seventeenth lost more than half its number, having
been under a severe artillery and musketry fire during each
day's battle. Twenty were left dead on the field, including
its commander and a captain ; eighty-one were wounded,
and ninety-seven taken prisoners.
Lieut.-Col. Douglass Fowler of Norwalk was shot dead
during the first day's fight. He had been in the war from
the beginning ; having led a company in the Third Regiment
through the three-months' service, and afterwards raised a
company for the Eighth. When he resigned his commission
in the latter, he recruited a company for the Seventeenth.
He was sick before the battle of Chancellorsville, and was
borne to the fight in an ambulance ; but he afterwards
fought with great endurance, being among the last to
retreat. He was by nature a true soldier, brave and skillful ;
and his genial temper, generous disposition, and buoyant
spirits, united with a fervent interest in the loyal cause, had
won for him an enthusiastic regard ; and the men followed
him willingly into the deadly strife. He was struck down
while leading them in a charge ; and still he sleeps in his
unknown grave upon the battle-field of Gettysburg.
There fell also the senior captain of the regiment, Capt
James E. Moore of Danbury. He was almost idolized by his
company, and was a man of exemplary character and ster
ling worth. He was a color-bearer in the war with Mexico,
and led a company gallantly in the three-months' service.
His remains were taken home, and buried with all honors ;
the vast concourse at the funeral attesting the high regard
392 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and admiration felt by his fellow-citizens of Danbury. 5 The
regimental address said truly of both these officers, " Long
tried, and bravely serving on many battle-fields, ever ready
at the call of their country, flinching from no danger where
duty led, Fairfield County may proudly point to them as
model soldiers."
Orderly Sprgeant Edwin D. Pickett of the same regiment,
killed here, was a favorite with the men, and much esteemed
in Ridgefield, where he lived. On the Sunday of his funeral,
the churches suspended other services, and united in the trib
ute to his high personal character and his manly virtues.
To his children he left the legacy of an unspotted name and
a record of noble deeds. " There also fell the young men
of patriotic fire, ever foremost in encouraging their com
rades by appeals to duty, — Stephen C. Crofut, William 0.
Dauchy, Bethel S. Barnum, Augustus E. Bronson, Westlake,
Taylor, Rufus Warner, Henry Burns the color-bearer, and
many others who fought bravely and died nobly."
Among the wounded of the Seventeenth were Major
A. G. Brady, Capt. Henry Allen, Capt. Wilson French, and
Lieut. Henry Quien ; and among the prisoners were Capt.
William L. Hubbell and Lieut. David S. Bartram.
The Twentieth Regiment had lost, during the battle, Cor
porals J. C. Dickerman and Thomas Simons and six others
killed, and twenty wounded.
The Twenty-seventh, going into the action with only sev
enty-four men, had lost eleven killed, twenty-four wounded,
and four captured; total, thirty-nine. Lieut.-Col. Henry C.
Merwin fell in resisting the assault of July 2. A native of
Brookfield, he spent the greater part of his life in New
Haven, and, when the war broke out, went as sergeant, with
the New-Haven Grays,6 into the Second Regiment. After the
muster-out, young Merwin wa.3 restrained by peculiar home-
duties till it became obvious that the nation must put forth
5 Mr. and Mrs. William R. White of Danbury gave several hundred dollars to release
from debt the property left by Capt. Moore to his family.
0 The New-Haven Grays had an honorable record during the war. They volunteered
a full company on April 15, 1861 ; and during the war it furnished sixty-one officers,
of whom three were generals, and eleven field-officers. In the roll of the dead, stand the
names of Col. Merwin, Major E. W. Osborn, Capt. E. S. Hitchcock, Capt. Charles
Smith, Capt. Edward Lines, Lieut. C. M. Cornwall, Lieut. J. Chapman, Lieut. David C.
Hunt, and Lieut. Albert F. Sharp.
LIEUT.-COL. MEKWIN AND CAPT. CHAPMAN. 393
all its strength. His popularity soon gathered around him
a full company of men for the Twenty-seventh ; and, at the
organization of the regiment, he was elected lieutenant-
O tj f
colonel. Thenceforward his life was identical with that of
the regiment. He fought with them gallantly at Chancel-
lorsville, went with them to Richmond, and returned in time
to lead the brave remnant in the next battle. " Along the
weary march to Gettysburg he inspired the men with his
own indomitable spirit ; and on that fated wheatfield, where
the missiles of the enemy mowed down the waving grain, he
fell mortally wounded, breathing the words of noble self-for-
getfulness, ' My poor regiment is suffering fearfully.' With
out disparagement to any, it may truly be said that no
officer in the regiment attracted to himself such unvarying
respect, confidence, and affection among the men of his com
mand. Nor was this strange, in view of the remarkable and
harmonious combination of noble qualities in his character.
No pride of position ever marred the beautiful consistency
of his life. . . . Duty was evidently the supreme motive
of his life. He was quick of discernment and rapid in exe
cution ; but no harshness ever dimmed the transparent kind
ness of his demeanor. . . . All these more amiable qual
ities were supplemented by a manly independence and
decision which made him always jealous for the rights of
his men. In his death, the Twenty-seventh laid its costliest
sacrifice upon the altar of our country." 7
At this battle, Capt. Jedediah Chapman of New Haven
was killed. He also was a member of the Grays, and ac
companied them through the three-months' service. When
the Twenty-seventh was recruited, he went out as first lieu
tenant of Company H, and was constantly at his post. Too
ill to be present at Chancellorsville, he was appointed to
command a company made up of the squads saved from that
wholesale capture, and fell at its head. He possessed a quick
conscience, a clear mind, a ready hand, and was held in uni
versal esteem. Among other brave men of the regiment
killed here were Corporals Cornwall of Milford,. Wilson of
New Haven, and Bodwell of Norwalk.
7 Sheldon's History of the Twenty-seventh.
60
394 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
During the night of July 3, 1863, the Union array, worn
out with the stress of the terrible combat of Gettysburg,
bivouacked in its position ; the men dropping in their places,
and sleeping. Before the sun rose on the 4th, Lee had de
camped with his whole army towards the Potomac.
Details of Union soldiers were at once made to bury the
dead. Along our lines, and down the slope in front, especially
in front of the center and left, where the Fourteenth, Seven
teenth, and Twenty-seventh Connecticut had been stationed,
the ground was strewn with corpses, many of them already
blackened and swollen, some still in striking attitudes.
Here a soldier had evidently been engaged trying to save
the life of a wounded comrade by binding a handkerchief
about the shattered limb, but was shot, and, falling on his
wounded companion, both had died together.
One could see at a glance the truthfulness of the picture
drawn by an officer in a letter : " I could imagine nothing
more terrible than the silent indications of agony that
marked the features of the pale corpses which lay at every
step. Though dead and rigid in every muscle, they still
writhed, and seemed to turn to catch the passing breeze for'
a cooling breath. Staring eyes, gaping mouths, clinched
hands, and strangely-contracted limbs, seemingly drawn into
the smallest compass as if by a mighty effort to rend asunder
some irresistible bond which held them down to the torture
of which they died. One sat against a tree, and, with mouth
and eyes wide open, looked up into the sl\y, as if to catch
a glimpse of its fleeting spirit. Another clutched the branch
of an overhanging tree, and hung half suspended, as if in
death he had raised himself partly from, the ground. An
other had grasped his faithful musket ; and the compression
of his mouth told of a determination which would have
been fatal to a foe had life ebbed a minute later. Another
clung with both hands to a bayonet which was buried in
the ground. Great numbers lay in heaps, just as the fire of
the artillery mowed them down, mangling their forms into
an almost indistinguishable mass."
Col. William H. Noble of the Seventeenth, who took a
brief furlough after his severe wound at Chancellorsville, had
EETEEAT AND PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. 395
obtained another horse, and returned to his regiment five
days before his furlough expired, to participate in the battle
of Gettysburg. In this he was disappointed ; but, after
being thirty-six hours in the saddle, he arrived at the gate of
the cemetery in the afternoon of the third day's fight, and re
sumed command of the regiment. Col. Dwight Morris of
the Fourteenth was unable to get nearer than Westmin
ster, Md.
Independence Day was strangely kept, — in Connecticut
with the traditional bell-ringing and cannon-firing, by can
non that spoke a new language, and bells that shook out
more jubilant anthems than ever before ; on the green slope
of Gettysburg by weary ambulances and active surgeons,
an anxious counting of thinned ranks, and a tender laying
of martyred comrades in hallowed ground.
As five Connecticut regiments had borne a creditable
part in the defeat of Lee's over-confident army, so now they
were ready to join with alacrity in the pursuit. But Meade
did not seem to comprehend his great advantage. On the
second day after the battle, he carefully pushed the Gth
Corps towards the enemy ; taking his other corps by different
roads, and advancing as rapidly as Lee moved on and got
out of the way. The general course was towards Frederick,
reached on the second day out. The Seventeenth pressed
forward with the llth Corps to Hagerstown, which it occu
pied on July 12, capturing one hundred and twenty-five
prisoners. The Fifth and Twentieth overtook the enemy
intrenched at Fair Play on the 12th, and were ordered to
take position and throw up earthworks. Next night, the
main rebel army escaped across the Potomac. The retreat
and pursuit were continued, without much experience of
interest, until Lee's army occupied the south side of the
Rapidan, near Orange Court House.
The 12th Corps went into camp near Raccoon Ford. Col.
Ross, severely wounded at Chancellorsville, had now rejoined
the Twentieth, and had temporarily command of the brigade.
On Sept. 24, the 12th Corps was relieved, and marched back
to Brandy Station ; and all property was turned over to the
post quartermaster. The march was resumed to Bealton
396 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Station, where, to the surprise of all, the corps (with the
Fifth and Twentieth Regiments) was embarked on board
the cars to re-inforce the Army of the Cumberland in Ten
nessee.
After Gettysburg, the Fourteenth Regiment performed a
number of marches and countermarches in Maryland,
crossed the Potomac in the tardy pursuit, and, July 26, en
camped near Warrenton. Col. D wight Morris, Lieut-Col.
S. H. Perkins, and Major C. C. Clark had resigned ; and
Adjutant Theodore G. Ellis, in April, September, and October,
was promoted to be successively major, lieutenant-colonel,
and colonel, — an unusual recognition, which he had earned
by faithful and gallant service.
On Sept. 1, the regiment went on a reconnoissance to
Hartwood Church ; and on Oct. 12 crossed the Rappahan-
nock with the 2d Corps, and marched southward on Culpep-
er. Again the Rapidan became the picket-line between
the two armies.
CHAPTER XXV.
Biographical Sketch of Admiral Foote. — His Adventures, Battles, and Death. — Banks's
Expedition. — Feint towards Port Hudson. — March Southward. — Battle of Irish
Bend. — The Cotton Raid up the Atchafalaya. — Investment of Port Hudson. — The
Fight of May 27. — The Twelfth, Thirteenth, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-
sixth, and Twenty-eighth Connecticut. — The Charge of June 14. — Failure and
Heavy Losses. — The Twenty-fourth in the Cotton-Fort. — The Forlorn Hope. —Our
Roll of Honor. — Surrender of Port Hudson.
10NNECTICUT lost an illustrious son during the
summer of 1863 in Rear Admiral Foote. the
hero of Island Number Ten and of Forts
Henry and Donelson.
Andrew Hull Foote was born Sept. 12, 1806,
in what is now called " the Buddington House," corner of
Union and Cherry Streets, New Haven. His paternal grand
father, Rev. John Foote, was pastor of the Congregational
church of Cheshire for forty-six years. His maternal grand
father, Gen. Andrew Hull of Cheshire, was for many years
a prosperous West-India merchant in New Haven. His
father, Samuel A. Foote, was a graduate of Yale of the
class of 1797, and studied law at the famous school in Litch-
iield. He frequently represented Cheshire in the General
Assembly, and was speaker of the House. He afterwards
represented the State in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Con
gresses, and in the United-States Senate for six years.
From his seventh year, the beautiful village of Cheshire
was the home of young Andrew ; and to his seventeenth
year he was trained by his excellent mother Eudocia in
right principles and moral habits, yet accustomed to the
out-door activities of rural life, under the inspiring and
restraining influences of an old-fashioned Puritan household.
397
398 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
He 'grew up a bright, strong-willed, amiable boy, with a full
share of that adventurous spirit which sends so many boys
to sea at sixteen years of age.
His father permitted him to choose his vocation ; and he
entered the navy as a midshipman in 1822. His first voy
age was under the command of a lieutenant who had gained
experience and honorable distinction in the War of 1812,
and who, having had the privilege of training him for the
service of his country, and having shared with him the
perils of sea and of battle, survived in a vigorous old age to
share in a nation's grief at the death of his illustrious pupil.
The intimate and affectionate friendship of forty-one years,
between Admiral Gregory and Admiral Foote, was honor
able to both.
Midshipman Foote's first voyage was in the expedition
against the pirates of the West Indies. In the course of it,
he distinguished himself by courage and enterprise as well
as by diligence in the duties of his position. His second
cruise was under Commodore Hull in the Pacific.
After this he made successive voyages in all parts of the
world, followed by slow and well-earned promotion. His
commission as lieutenant was dated eight years after he
entered the service; and in the mean time he had been
almost continually at sea. Twenty-five years more of
arduous service made him a commander ; when he was as
signed to duty at the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, Even
here, among pensioners, he found a good work to do.
Devoting himself with characteristic zeal and kindness to
the welfare of the pensioners under his command, he suc
ceeded in winning their affectionate confidence ; he obtained
a high and beneficial moral influence over them ; he became
a moral and religious teacher among them without impair
ing the dignity of his position as an officer, and persuaded
many of them to give up their spirit ration, and pledge
themselves to total abstinence from intoxicating drinks.
On his next cruise, he further advanced this principle. As
first lieutenant and executive officer of the Cumberland, in
the Mediterranean, he persuaded the entire crew to forego
their immemorial " grog." At the same time he became a
ACHIEVEMENTS OF ADMIRAL FOOTE. 399
volunteer chaplain to them, giving a lecture every Sunday
on thje berth-deck to as many as chose to attend, and having
a congregation of nearly two hundred willing hearers;
the lecture being followed by a meeting for prayer in a
more retired part of the ship. The Cumberland became as
worthy of honorable memory from her association with that
experiment of free moral and religious influence among
the seamen of our navy as she afterwards became, when
with her flag still flying, and her sighted guns exploding at
the water's edge, she went down heroically in that conflict
which changed( in an hour the entire system of maritime
warfare till wars shall be no more.
After this he was for some years on duty at the Charles-
town Navy Yard, afflicted with a disease of the eyes. Recov
ering, he was attached to the African squadron, in command
of the Perry ; and that service was rendered doubly valuable
by his strenuous activity against the piratical slave-traders.
He did much to break up a shameful traffic which had found
safety under our flag, and upon which many of our politi
cians still looked with favor. Among the honors of that
cruise, also, was the fact, that through many months of ex
posure along the unwholesome coast, so often fatal to life,
the liquor-ration was voluntarily banished from the Perry ;
and among her officers and crew there was not a death, nor
a man disabled.
Soon after, he published a book entitled, Africa and the
American Flag, — a volume full of condensed information,
and valuable for its practical suggestions.
In 1856, he sailed for China in the sloop-of-war Ports
mouth, and returned two years thereafter ; having in the
mean time distinguished himself by bombarding and storm
ing' the barrier forts in the Canton River.
When the Great Rebellion broke out, he was in charge of
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, from which duty he was soon
summoned to the more arduous service of creating and
commanding an inland navy on the waters of the Missis
sippi. What he did in achieving the capture of Forts Henry
and Donelson is well known; but quite as laborious was
the exhausting work of brain and hand by which, under all
400 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
sorts of embarrassments and discouragements, those victories
were prepared in the creation of the resistless flotilla at St.
Louis.
After the fall of these strongholds, he swooped down upon
Island Number Ten. The island shores were lined with
heavy forts, and the banks adjacent were fortified in all
directions, and held by a strong force ; while lying in the
river was a floating battery carrying twelve 32-pounders.
In this situation, it was proposed to cut a canal twelve miles
around, through swamp and forest. In nineteen days the
herculean work was completed. The channel was fifty feet
wide, and passed for two miles through thick timber ; the
trees being sawed off four feet below the water.1 While the
rebels were proclaiming their position impregnable, the gun
boats appeared simultaneously below the island and above
it, and advanced to take the batteries ; when the island sur
rendered to Flag-officer Foote, with two thousand prisoners,
a hundred heavy guns, and a large quantity of ammunition.
" No single battlefield had yet afforded to the North such
visible fruits of victory as were gathered at Island Number
Ten."2
Foote was now promoted to be admiral, and recalled to
the East, where he again mingled with his friends, and
again showed his zeal in every good work ; now presiding at
a war-meeting at New Haven ; now assisting some great
reform in aid of seamen ; now accepting the presidency of
the Connecticut Soldiers'-Aid Society at Washington. He
had received a painful wound, and he was pale and feeble ;
but his indomitable spirit would not succumb to the depress
ing influence of bodily weakness or disease. His medical
advisers commanded him to rest ; but he went to Washing
ton, and his great abilities were employed in organizing a
new bureau in the Navy Department.
He soon asked for more arduous service, and was assigned
to the South-Atlantic squadron, to relieve Dupont. He ac
cepted the assignment, and in that command he expected
1 This great labor was performed by " the Engineer Regiment of the West," com
manded by Col. J. W. Bissell of this State, a brother of Col. G. P. Bissell of the
Twenty-fifth Connecticut.
2 Pollard's Southern History.
GEN. BANKS PREPARING TO MOVE. 40 1
to die. It was in vain that friends and physicians entreated
him to spare himself, and to ask from the government the
relief which would have been granted to the slightest ex
pression of his wishes. He was determined to do his utmost
for the nation, at whatever sacrifice. His life, he said, was
not his own, and should be freely surrendered at his coun
try's call.
His preparations for going were nearly completed, and he
had parted with his family in New Haven, when the disease
which his vigorous constitution had so long resisted overcame
him ; and, after great suffering, he died at the Astor House,
New York, June 26, 1863.
He had expected to die in the malaria of the Carolina
Islands, tended by the rough but loving hands of fellow-war
riors on the sea ; or in the roar and fiery storm of battle.
Where he should die, or how. was to him a question of little
moment. Yet, when he found his time had come, he could
not but be thankful for the opportunity of dying surrounded
by his family and friends ; by his wife and children and
brothers ; by old comrades, — the heroes of many a conflict,
whose voices had rung out, and were soon to ring again, loud
and clear in the tempest of battle ; now confessing by silent
tears how much they loved him. Assured that dearth was
near, he waited calmly for the end ; and his last intelligible
words were, " I thank God for his loving-kindness to me.
Praise the Lord, 0 my soul ! and forget not all his benefits."
During the month of February, 1863, Gen. Banks arrived,
and took command of the troops at Baton Rouge, which was
made the rendezvous of the column for the projected assault
on Port Hudson, a rebel stronghold in Louisiana, twenty-five
miles up the river.
The army gathered ; Farragut's fleet of mortar-schooners
and gunboats was assembled ; and during the first week in
March the regiments were under marching orders. At this
juncture, a meeting of Connecticut regiments was held to
consider the approaching State election ; and Col. Bissell of
the Twenty-fifth and Capt. Sprague of the Thirteenth were
51
402 CONNECTICUT DUKLNG THE REBELLION.
appointed to draft an appeal to the people of Connecticut to
re-elect Gov. Buckingham. This was prepared and numer
ously signed, and had considerable influence on the result.
On March 9, Col. G. P. Bissell of the Twenty-fifth was
ordered to report in person to Gen. Banks, and was put in
command of the advance guard (a regiment of infantry, a
company of cavalry, and a section of battery), with directions
to repair the roads and bridges towards Port Hudson. Col.
Bissell seized the Bayou Sara, and built a substantial bridge,
over which the whole army afterwards passed with its heavy
guns. The construction was superintended by Private Wil
liam Webster of Uuionville, who was au fait at bridge-build
ing. This preparatory work was accomplished to the great
satisfaction of Gen. Banks ; when Col. Bissell, taken severely
ill, turned over the regiment to Major Thomas McManus,
Lieut.-Col. Weld being still absent in hospital.
On March 13, the Connecticut regiments fell into the
strong column moving apparently to invest Port Hudson.
The real object was a diversion in the rear to assist Farra-
gut to run the batteries in front ; and it also answered the
purpose of a reconnoissance in force. It was a severe test
of the powers of endurance of the men. The first night
they rested in a plowed field ; the second night the Twenty-
fourth was posted in a cornfield.
The army had now arrived at the east of Port Hudson,
and stood upon the verge of battle ; but no battle was
fought. l' The roar of the guns of the ascending fleet on
the river was distinctly heard, but its meaning was unknown ;
the light of the burning Mississippi, casting a lurid radiance
over half the visible heavens, was gazed at with inquisitive
-wonder, but brought no intelligence of coming events; the
terrible explosion, which out-sounded thunder and extin
guished the gloomy radiance, awakened only fearful appre
hensions in those who were watching by night the progress of
•events. Sunday afternoon a retrograde movement towards
Baton Rouge began. The inarch, though rapid, was orderly.
The men were very heavily laden. The day was hot ; but to
wards night a terrible thunder-storm set in. The road became
ankle-deep with mud where it was not entirely overflowed :
ADVANCE TOWARDS SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. 403
night came on like the falling of a curtain ; onward pressed
the eager column. A marsh strewn with brambles and
rotting logs, where upturned stumps overlooked the puddles,
welcomed the men and officers to moist beds. The glare of
a wilderness of camp-fires, which served to make darkness
visible, disclosed groups of uncomfortable men in all atti
tudes, — standing, leaning, sitting, reclining, smoking, swear
ing, drinking, sleeping, and trying to sleep. It was a night
to be remembered a life time."3
The Thirteenth and Twenty-fifth fared no better; for
Col. Sprague says, "An hour after nightfall we were
marched by the flank out of the road, and into a pond of
water, and told to pass the night there." They obeyed;
and the place is remembered as " Camp Misery."
The wretchedness of the Twenty-fifth was greatly relieved
by the exertions of Quartermaster John S. Ives, who rode
fourteen miles in the terrific storm and mud, returning at
f O
midnight with bags of coffee and sugar across his horse. It
was a work of military supererogation, but it brought upon
the faithful quartermaster the cheers and blessings of the
miserable host. Next clay they returned to Baton Rouge.
The men were greatly disgusted with what seemed to
them a foolish and objectless expedition, feeling little com
pensation for the incomprehensible retreat in the fifteen
hundred bales of cotton brought back.
For a few days the new Sibley tents were spread at Baton
Rouge ; but on the night of March 28, in the midst of a
thunder-storm, Grover's division, including the three Connecti
cut regiments, embarked, and sailed down the river to Donald-
sonvillc, the advance of Banks's famous expedition. Here
teuts were pitched again ; but on the 31st they started down
the road which leads along the bayou towards Southern
Louisiana, through a delightful region, and past fruitful
fields. Stringent orders against straggling and pillaging were
issued.
On April 2, they marched through Thibodeau to Terre
Bonne, and took the cars westward ; the Twelfth Connecti
cut now joining the column with Weitzel's division.
8 Letter of Major Patrick Maher of the Twenty-fourth to Thomas R. Trowbridge, a
generous friend and patron of the Twenty-fourth Regiment.
404 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Banks restricted officers' baggage to a carpet-bag and a
small roll of blankets; and the officers of all Connecticut
regiments present stored their trunks, clothing, papers, and
personal property, in a sugar-mill, where they were burned
the following June on the approach of the enemy.
On reaching the Atchafalaya River, fifty miles west of
New Orleans, Weitzel moved towards Franklin to attack the
enemy strongly fortified and in force just beyond; while
Grover's division embarked, and steamed up Lake Chesti-
mache to cut off the rebel retreat.
On Sunday, April 12, the assault was made with great
fury with artillery and infantry. All day the contest
raged. The Twelfth supported a battery on the left, but at
night withdrew out of range, and got some sleep. Monday
they advanced to the extreme front through a canefield, hear
ing the bullets' " zip " through the cane on all sides. The regi
ment again supported a battery here, — not more than four
hundred yards from the enemy's guns. The boys lay concealed
in a plantation-ditch ; and the grape, canister, and shells
swept over their heads. At dark they were again with
drawn, having two killed and thirteen wounded. Capts.
Samuel H. Granniss, John Brennan, Lester E. Braley, and
Stephen D. Byxbee, and their companies, received honorable
mention ; also Major Lewis and Dr. Cummings acting sur
geon. Chaplain James H. Bradford was also awarded
" great praise for the fearless activity with which he minis
tered to the suffering during the battle and the night fol
lowing."
During the night, the rebels retreated towards Grover's
division, that had already landed near a place called Irish
Bend. In the night they slipped past ; but on the morning
of the 14th turned a.gain, and accepted battle. The Twenty-
fifth Connecticut, deployed to skirmish in advance of the
division, pressed rapidly up to the woods. Suddenly a brisk
musketry-fire opened upon them, which they warmly re
turned ; being meantime the mark of a battery to the left,
and the guns of the rebel gunboat Diana. Birge's whole
brigade came promptly to the support. It was the first
time the Twenty-fifth had been under fire ; but the men
THE THIRTEENTH CAPTURES A FLAG. 405
stood up to their work nobly, incited by the example of
their gallant colonel, Bissell, who, regardless of his own
safety, passed from end to end of the line, encouraging
them to deeds of bravery.
The regimental report of Adjutant Henry C. Ward of the
Twenty-fifth says, " Shortly afterwards, the enemy opened
with his artillery from the right of his line ; firing shell, grape,
and canister with great rapidity. After some delay, two
pieces of our own artillery were brought up, and returned
the fire ; and, finally, the remaining three companies of our
right wing were called up to rejoin the regiment, which was
thus all brought into action as skirmishers, engaging the
entire front of the wood, which was a line of fire. While
thus in action, we were suddenly opened upon by two regi
ments (the 18th Louisiana • la Texas regiment) which had
crept through the cane, a** « appeared on our right flank."
The cross-fire was terrible, and the regiment for some time
suffered severely.
While this was going on upon the right, the Thirteenth
had moved by the flank to the left, and advanced against
the rebel right. The regiment moved forward in firm line,
greeted with a heavy fire from the gunboat, a New-Orleans
regiment, and a battery. The Union regiments on the right
had fallen back, when Col. Warner gave the order, " Com
mence firing ! " and five hundred muzzles poured forth a
steady stream of lead, while the men were rapidly advan
cing. They fired fast and continuously ; and, as they showed
no intention of coming to a halt, the rebel battery was
whirled away, and the rebel regiment fled to the left and
rear.
The Thirteenth captured the flag of the St. Mary's Can
noneers, and was just giving itself up to rejoicing over a vic
tory won, when Lieut. Perry Averill of Company D discovered
a regiment of graybacks advancing straight upon the right.
The Thirteenth was hastily withdrawn under a sharp fire.
The enemy now rallied all along the line ; but another Union
brigade came up, and the charge of the united division swept
every thing before it. The rebels turned and ran in great
disorder ; and, Weitzel's brigade arriving at this moment in
406 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
the rear, the gunboat Diana was fired and blown up by the
rebels. The victory of our forces was complete.
The Thirteenth captured two caissons, one limber, four
artillery horses, sixty prisoners, many small arms, and the
banner, which is now preserved in the archives of the State
of Connecticut. Especial praise was awarded to Chaplain
Upson, Surgeon Clary, and Hospital-steward William Bishop
for fearlessly exposing themselves to minister to the wound
ed. The regiment lost seven killed and forty-six wounded.
Of the former were Sergeants Frank E. Stanley and Frank
W. Stanley of New Britain.
Sergeant Frank W. Stanley was but a lad, bright, active, of
superior talent, and noble character. He was one of the
first to enlist at the outbreak of war; but quietly yielded to
the judgment of his father, and remained at school until
the second call for troops. His patriotic parent kept him
back no longer, though an only son. He entered the ser
vice with pride and zest, and, yet a boy, displayed the quali
ties and character of a hero. He was neat, erect, strong,
and grew swiftly to manly beauty. He w.as ardent and
ambitious, admired by all, and on the sure road to deserved
promotion.
Sergeant Frank E. Stanley was a cousin and playmate of
Frank W., — less lively and impressible, not so forward, but
gifted with the elements of sturdy and faithful manhood.
He seemed to have waited for the war to develop him. As
a soldier, none could be more ready or trusty : in battle, his
conduct was magnificent.
The loss of these two was deeply felt in the army and
also at home, .where they had occupied high social positions.
Here, also, fell Corporals Edwin L. Nickerson of Cornwall
and Leonard G. Roath of New London, who had been pro
moted for their merits.
The Twenty-fifth, after opening the battle, had been under
fire eleven hours, and had suffered fearfully. Out of the
three hundred and fifty who went into action, ninety-six
were killed, wounded, or missing ; the latter counting but
ten. Nine were killed outright, and five died of their
wounds.
LOSSES IN THE TWENTY-FIFTH. 407
Capt. Samuel S. Hayden of Windsor Locks was killed in
stantly by a fragment of shell. The excellent chaplain of
the regiment, Rev. George B. Oviatt, said of him, " He was a
Christian patriot. I think I knew him well ; and the more
thoroughly I knew him, the more I admired and loved him.
He was one of the most frank and outspoken men I ever
saw, — a noble specimen of a Puritan of the olden time. He
was a remarkably conscientious man ; and all his opinions he
held with firmness, whether they were popular or unpopu
lar, — whether, in holding them, he stood alone or among the
many." He was a brave, tender-hearted, generous man, and
gifted with strong common sense.
The Twenty-fifth also lost here one of its best men in
Lieut. Daniel P. Dewey of Hartford. He was cut down in
the front of battle, at the point nearest the enemy. When
he enlisted, he was a sophomore in Trinity College, one of
the first in his class, says Professor Brockelsby. He possessed
a clear and vigorous mind, and was always buoyant in his
disposition. Adjutant Henry C. Ward wrote to the parents
of young Dewey, " I saw your son then ; and the sight I shall
never forget. Waving his sword above his head ; calling to
his men, ' Remember you are Company A ; ' his whole bear
ing so brave and heroic that it seemed almost impossible for
any enemy to avoid marking him ; standing unmoved in a
rain of bullets, he had a word of encouragement for every
man near him, kindly greeting for a friend, and even a
merry quotation from a favorite song to fling after a shell
that went shrieking by. So I last saw him ; so I shall
always remember him." A memorial volume before us, con
taining the letters of Lieut. Dewey, tells that he was a reli
gious soldier, and, as Col. Bissell wrote of him, " brave, dis
creet, reliable, just, — a cheerful, fearless man."
Lieut. William A. Oliver of Hartford, just promoted from
sergeant, was a brave and impetuous soldier ; and, when
wounded, a handkerchief was bound about his head by
private T. H. Robbins ; and he was one of the last to leave
the field. He died ten days later of his wound.
Sergeants Charles D. Grover of Ellington and Jonas G.
Holden of Hartford were also among those who here cheer
fully gave their young lives.
408 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The Twenty-fourth Regiment arrived towards the close of
the fighting, but was not under fire.
The enemy now scattered to the woods ; and next morn
ing the column pursued its march northward. From this
time, April 14, to May 20, the force of twenty thousand
men known as the 19th Corps moved towards the Red River,
in a line generally parallel with the Atchafalaya. The, men
blistered their feet, and suffered varied hardships. Vast
quantities of cotton and sugar were taken out of the coun
try and confiscated, ostensibly for the benefit of the govern
ment. Sprague's History of the Thirteenth has the follow
ing incident of this time : —
"What's the real object of this expedition?" asked Mrs.
Semmes, at whose house some of the officers halted. " The
real object of the expedition," replied the chaplain, " is to
protract the expedition until the quartermasters and con
tractors all get rich. I verily believe, if they had their way,
they'd keep us in these swamps as long as the children of
Israel were kept in the wilderness." — " Chaplain Upson," re
sponded Bromley, " I can tell you why the children of Israel
were detained so long in the wilderness. It was because
they had too many chaplains and too few quartermasters."
The men still vividly remember a long, tedious, useless
tramp through a country full of rank tropical growths, and
abounding in fruit and fowl which they were forbidden to
touch '; " special agents " floating off the cotton, with enor
mous snakes, athletic spiders, and slimy alligators in the
foreground.
The advance reached the mouth of Red River on May 18 ;
and the whole corps sailed down the Mississippi to Bayou
Sara, twenty miles above Port Hudson. Next morning, they
marched towards that stronghold ; the rebel vedettes foiling
back before our advance-guard, a detachment of the Thir
teenth. On Sunday, May 24, the converging columns drew
nearer, and the investment was complete. Sharp skirmish
ing ensued. The Thirteenth and Twenty-fifth advanced
in Birge's brigade ; and the Twenty-fourth farther on the
right, and the Twenty-sixth away on the left, chasing the
enemy through the woods, and taking possession of the re-
FIRST ASSAULT ON PORT HUDSON. 4Q9
doubts and earthworks outside the main rebel defenses.
The regiments were under fire, and a few were wounded.
In the afternoon, half the Thirteenth went forward to skir
mish ; and there was a sharp contest. Here, bravely fight
ing, far to the front, fell Sergeant James Torrence, a gallant
young Scotchman of Norwich.
On the 25th the Twelfth came up, and advanced to the
front. The Thirteenth pressed the enemy's sharpshooters
to the rifle-pits ; and at midnight Privates Charles Sidders
(of East Hampton) and Walter McGrath and Ellis B. Robin
son (of East Hartford) were selected by Col. Birge, and
sent at midnight, with instructions to crawl up to the rebel
parapet, and report upon the practicability of scaling the
works. They went through the enemy's picket-line, and
examined the ground ; all returning unhurt, though the
pickets of the Twenty-fifth fired on them by mistake.
On May 27, Weitzel led his brigade in the general line
that advanced to storm the works. The Twelfth was ready
for the business. As straight as the nature of the ground
would allow, the line advanced through the woods, reaching
the clearing in front at sunrise. u We were received as we
emerged with volleys from artillery and infantry. I re
ceived orders to advance to the front and left, and silence
the artillery, now firing grape and canister into our lines.
We moved by the flank under a heavy fire, past four pieces,
and took up a suitable position. Three companies were sent
forward as skirmishers, and soon came upon the skirmishers
of the enemy, whom they drove. A detachment was sent
from inside the works, which attempted to turn our flank.
Our left being entirely unsupported, I sent one company,
which succeeded, by sharp fighting, in repelling the attack.
The entire regiment was finally engaged, and by noon had
succeeded in driving the enemy inside the parapet ; and in
a short time afterward had silenced four pieces of artillery,
two of which, being field-pieces, were withdrawn ; the other
two (mounted en barbette] the two wings of the regiment
relieved each other in guarding till late in the day. Our
line did not halt until it reached the parapet ; and at one
time the extreme right had succeeded in scaling the work,
52
410 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION. •
but, for want of harmonious support of other corps, were
compelled to rest satisfied with holding the position." * At
nio;ht, the regiment was withdrawn. While in this advanced
O * cj f
position, Private Andrew B. Bartram of Berlin crept cau
tiously up to a rebel embrasure, and reconnoitered the works.
When he was discovered, the rebels seized their guns ; but
Bartram slipped away and into cover before they could fire
upon him. He was loudly cheered by our men. Gen.
Stone sent for him, and pointed a Dahlgren gun where Bar-
tram saw the sharpshooters, which tore a large hole in the
works.
Birge's Brigade, in which was the Twenty-fifth, was
ordered to the right to support Weitzel, and directed to
carry a redoubt on the north-east angle of the enemy's
works. Advancing under a severe cross-fire through a
ravine, waist-deep in water, forcing its way over a most diffi
cult abatis, the column halted at the foot of the slope lead
ing up to the redoubt. This it carried, capturing the out
posts and rifle-pits, together with their occupants. But
beyond, and between the column and the redoubt, lay an
impenetrable ravine, forming a natural ditch. After twice
vainly essaying to cross in the face of a tremendous fire,
the attempt was abandoned ; and the two regiments lay on
the position they had carried till ten, P.M., when they wore
withdrawn under cover of darkness. At the time when
both regiments were driven back under the fire that swept
the ravine, the standard-bearer of the 159th New-York was
killed, and the colors left upon the field. Sergeant Kolji-rt
Buckley of the Twenty-fifth hearing of it, without a word,
sprang forward again into the deadly storm of missiles, and,
picking up the flag, brought it safely in ; but, turning to'
take up his gun which he had laid down, received the fatal
ball in his breast: with but a groan his spirit passed away.
The Twenty-sixth5 took an honorable part in the ill-
starred assault of this day. On arriving from Baton Itouge,
the regiment was assigned to Gen. Neal Dow's brigade, on
the extreme left, near the river. In the afternoon, the left
* Col. Feck's Official Report.
5 Major Henry Stoll, absent on leave, rejoined the regiment during the siege of Port
Hudson.
THE TWELFTH AS SKIEMISHEES. 411
wing advanced, and was received with a concentrated fire.
Col. Kingsley of the Twenty-sixth was among the wounded.
Lieut.-Col. Joseph Selden, afterwards commanding the regi
ment, reports, —
" The brigade was ordered forward on the double-quick. Four fences
intervened between us and the intrenchments, which greatly impeded our
advance. In passing these fences, the different regiments were thrown
into confusion, and became somewhat mixed up. On entering the field, a
perfect shower of grape-shot and canister met us, severely wounding
Gens. Sherman and Dow, and cutting down officers and men by scores.
Still we advanced, and for more than two hours held the ground ; and,
when obliged to fall back, it was not in disorder. I rallied our men, and
formed the regiment near the entrance of the field ; and we held the ground
occupied by our brigade during the day. This being the first time the
regiment had been under fire, I must be permitted to say that they con
ducted themselves with great gallantry and bravery."
Out of a total of less than four hundred, one hundred and
six were killed or wounded. Isine-months' regiments were
thereafter held at par. Gen. Clark, commanding the brigade,
said in his report, " The nine -months' men have demon
strated by their gallant conduct that they can be relied on
in any emergency."
During the succeeding two weeks, all the regiments were
engaged constructing covered ways, making counter breast
works, digging rifle-pits and zigzags, removing obstructions,
and mounting artillery. " On the night of June 10, four
companies of the Twelfth were ordered to be thrown for
ward as skirmishers to form part of a continuous line around
the works, with the design of compelling the enemy to dis
close the position of his artillery. Orders were also given
by the brigade commanders to scale and occupy the works
if possible. Companies A, B, F, and K, were sent out, and
advanced, at the signal arranged, through a deep interven
ing ravine obstructed by fallen trees and underbrush. They
received a volley from the enemy as they came up, but
pressed on to the base of the parapet."6 The orders were
not carried out by the other regiments, and these four com
panies drew the enemy's concentrated fire ; and seventeen
out of thirty-four of Company B were killed and wounded.
Twenty others were wounded, including Capts. Granniss,
6 Col. Peck's Official Report.
412 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Clarke, and Roach. The attempt was a signal failure on
every side.
The whole field was now swept with almost constant fire.
Crash went the shell from multitudes of death-dealing can
non ; and the " zip, zip," of Minie-balls, sang just over the
heads of the men. Food was prepared in the rear, and
brought to the front at night by the cooks. So difficult was
the way, that one of the cooks of the Twenty-fifth actually
carried hot coffee across the neutral ground ; but he offered
none of the beverage to the self-denying rebel sentinel who
challenged him.
The terrible 14th of June will be long remembered. About
twelve o'clock, midnight, the Twelfth left their position. It
was intensely dark. The guides who were sent to direct
them lost their way ; the regiment got separated by flanks,
but, after considerable wandering, came together, and en
tered the ditch leading up to the parapet, where the assault
was to be made before daylight. The Thirteenth and Twen
ty-fourth were already at the ditch ; the duty assigned the
latter being to swing their muskets on their backs, with an
additional load of two 30-pound gunny-bags of cotton to
each man with which to bridge the moats, and to advance
with the charge. The Twenty-fifth was held for the present
in reserve, now mirstering only ninety-five for duty. The
Twenty-sixth was in line of battle, ready to charge the rebel
works again across the broken field. From the Twenty-
eighth a hundred men were detailed, under Capts. Brown
and Iloag, to form a part of the hand-grenade constituent,
consisting of three hundred men in all. Ravines of the most
precipitous and difficult character covered the front of the
enemy's works, and were both naturally and artificially ob
structed by trees and brushwood ; in many instances, also,
being under the fire of rifle-pits, or the guns of flanking
angles of the works.
Across this ground dashed the first line of battle, in which
was a brigade led by Col. Richard E. Holcomb of the 1st
Louisiana. The rebels madly plied the advancing regiments
with shot and shell ; with all missiles known to war, and
unknown, — " explosive bullets, case-knives, flat-irons, spikes,
CHARGE OF THE FOURTEENTH OF JUNE. 413
hatchets, ramrods, pig-iron, and wooden plugs wound with
cotton." 7
As the battle was raging in front, and dead and wounded
were brought to the rear, the Connecticut regiments ad
vanced through the covered way, and issued into the open
ground near the works of the enemy. The first attacking
party had recoiled ; and', as the Thirteenth leaped from the
end of the dry ditch, they caught a glimpse of Col. Holcomb,
their old major, and gave him three hearty cheers. He was
haranguing his brigade, and trying to rally them ; but they
responded doubtfully; and he turned to the Thirteenth,
commanded by a captain, and offered to lead it. Another
rousing cheer accepted the offer; and they leaped to the
front simultaneously with other regiments from this and
other States. The Twelfth was deployed as skirmishers to
the left. The men of the Twenty-fourth were running for
ward with their cotton-bags ; and the hand-grenade party
was also pushing for the rebel works.
This broken plain was now mown by shot and shell in an
increasing tempest. The companies that advanced over its
most exposed parts were shot down almost bodily. The
brave Holcomb was slain with a musket-ball in his head at
the first onset ; Lieut. Strickland and twenty others fell close
by him. Cautiously now the line pressed forward, the men
availing themselves of the irregularities of the ground for
cover, until the center rested upon the line of a ridge not
more than fifty yards from the "Priest's Cap," a rebel redoubt
projected beyond the parapet. The men fell on all sides;
and the battle raged with great fury and clamor.
In a moment, portions of the Twelfth and Thirteenth
reached a concealed ravine, almost under the breastwork,
and nearly parallel. The inner side was precipitous, barring
further progress ; and into it officers and men poured head
long, finding cover from the instant death that hurtled across
the field. To this ravine, within thirty yards of the enemy's
works, many ran the gantlet of fire, until five hundred to a
thousand were there massed. Gen. Banks sent repeated
peremptory orders for the senior officer to take the works at
7 Sprague's History of the Thirteenth, p. 142.
414 CONNECTICUT DITK1NG THE REBELLION.
all hazards. The officers present regarded it as a wicked
slaughter of men ; and every one refused to lead. Banks
then directed the formation of a storming-column of two
hundred ; and several officers and men of the Twelfth
and Thirteenth immediately volunteered, with many others.
The order was soon countermanded, on account of two heavy
lines of rebel infantry having been discovered just inside.
The men were without food or drink, and suffered fearfully,
the day being very hot. At night this advanced force was
withdrawn from its perilous position.
In the mean time, the Twenty-fourth still maintained an
exposed position at the right. In the murderous fire, which
killed and wounded a thousand men, they had thrust their
cotton-bags before them, and rushed on to the crest of a little
hill, within fifty yards of the rebel works, where they con
structed a temporary breastwork and held it.
The hundred men of the Twenty-eighth, with the hand-
grenades, had met with a bloody repulse, and had fallen back
to the intrenchments with the main line.
The Twenty-sixth, under Lieut.-Col. Selden, in Col. Clark's
brigade, had steadily advanced upon the extreme left in col
umn by divisions, to writhin about three hundred yards of
the rebel works, under a raking fire. Here their advance
was checked by the deep ravine, rendered almost impassable
by felled trees and a dense growth of chaparral. The enemy
had also planted a battery, which kept up a destructive fire.
The regiment had already lost heavily. The first rebel
shell killed and wounded sixteen ; another took six from the
color-company ; but the men advanced steadily to the ravine,
where they were showered with grape and shrapnel. In this
ditch the Twenty-sixth was held all day, under a broiling
sun, firing at the rebel gunners, and unable to retire until
darkness covered the field.
Of all the regiments that advanced across the plateau in
the morning, the Twenty-fourth Connecticut was the only
one so located as to be able to maintain its hold. Now re
duced to less than two hundred and fifty fighting men, it
defended the narrow arc of cotton-bags resolutely. When
darkness fell, the cotton was strengthened by being covered
THE TWENTY -FOURTH BUILD AN OUTPOST. 415
with sand ; so that the morning's sun rose on an ambitious
little earthwork, which its gallant garrison christened Fort
Mansfield, after their accomplished colonel. So quietly was
it done, that Gen. Grover thought the rebels had erected a
new redoubt during the night, and ordered a battery to shell
it out ; but, fortunately, the blue-jackets were recognized.
Fort Mansfield was so near, that Capt. Mabbett of Ham-
den threw a bullet into the enemy's works. The men talked
with the rebels over the hostile parapet. " Shoot lower if
you expect to hit anybody," exclaims one. u Come over
here, and we will give you some ammunition," is the invita
tion of another to a rebel rifleman whose cap does not ignite
the powder.
The position was subjected to a severe cross-fire ; but the
handful of men poured in a shower of lead whenever a rebel
head was visible. On the third day they felt sufficiently
secure to unfurl the flag of Connecticut from their cotton-
bales ; greeting it with- three hearty cheers and a shotted
salute of a hundred 'guns at the rebels, who returned it with
a yell of rage and a shower of leaden hail at the defiant
banner. Chaplain J. C. Wightman of the regiment wrote,
under date of June 17, as follows : —
" This morning, from the outskirts of the green woods
which encircle Port Hudson, within whose dense foliage the
army of Gen. Banks is completely embowered, the flag of
the Twenty-fourth might be seen, far Out in the field, waving
triumphantly in the very jaws of this rebel stronghold. The
Hash of musketry blazed along the rebel parapet, and
sent a shower of bullets upon this emblem of our national
Union and keepsake of the ladies of Middletown. The
smoke that rose from time to time beneath it showed that
those who carried it thither had not abandoned it, but were
jeoparding their lives for its defense. At first the area
which intervenes between this pioneer band and the army
might be mistaken for a traversable plain ; but minute ob
servation will reveal most hideous features. Stumps, fallen
trees lying one upon another, brambles, roots, and gorges
which lie concealed like a stealthy foe till you reach their
brink, make this outer point which is held by a single small
416 . CONNECTICUT DURING- THE REBELLION.
regiment almost inaccessible to their friends, and seem to
place it entirely within the power of their enemies, whose
frowning breastworks rise within the distance of a stone's-
throw, and overlook the little dwarf of %a fort that dared
to be born so near."
June 15, Gen. Banks promulgated his famous call for a
storming column of a thousand volunteers. In this appeal
he said, —
" We are at all points upon the threshold of the enemy's fortifications :
one more advance, and they are ours ! For the last duty that victory im
poses, the commanding general summons the bold men of the corps to the
organization of a storming column of a thousand men, to vindicate the
flag of the Union and the memory of its defenders who have fallen.
u Officers who lead the column of victory in this last assault may be
assured of the just recognition of their services by promotion ; and everv
officer and soldier who shares its perils and its glory shall receive a medal
fit to commemorate the first grand success of the campaign of 1863 for
the freedom of the Mississippi. His name will be placed in general orders
upon the roll of honor."
In this forlorn hope, Connecticut took the lead of all the
States. Col. Birge, at his special request, was assigned to
lead the column ; and his old regiment, the Thirteenth, fur
nished for the perilous service one -quarter of the whole
number. Two colored regiments also furnished two hun
dred. The following is our roll of honor ; the Connecti
cut regiments not represented being on duty at other
points : —
STAFF OF COMMANDING OFFICER OF COLUMN.
Col. Henry W. Birge (Thirteenth Connecticut Volunteers) commanding
3d Brigade, Grover's division.
Capt. Edward C. Weeks (Acting Master United-States Navy), A. A.
D. C., Birge's staff.
Capt. Charles L. Norton (Twenty-fifth Connecticut Volunteers), A. D. C.,
Birge's staff.
Assistant Surgeon George Clary (Thirteenth Connecticut Volunteers),
Birge's staff.
FIELD AND STAFF, FIRST BATTALION.
George A. liar-mount (Adjutant Twelfth Connecticut Volunteers), Ad
jutant.
Hospital Steward William Bishop (Thirteenth Connecticut Volunteers).
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS.
Company A. — First Lieut. Charles E. Tibbetts. Second Lieut. John
C. Kiuney. Corporals Francis J. Wolff, Christopher C. Fagan, Andrew
EOLL OF HONOK. 417
Black. Privates Michael Cunningham, Walter Egan, John Fagan, Fran
cis Gaffney, James Gilbert, Edward Lautz, Joseph S. Mack, John Mar
tin, John Maguire, Henry Morton, John O'Keefe, Loren D. Penfield,
John Quigley, Thomas Reilly, Charles R. Rowell, John Smith, Edward
Stone.
Company B. — Capt. Apollos Comstock. Second Lieut. Louis Beck-
with. Sergeants George E. Faucher, Alonzo Wheeler, George H. Pratt.
Corporals Roswell Taylor, Francis E. Weed, Isaac W. Bishop. Privates
George M. Balling, John J. Brown, William E. Casey, Balthazar Emme-
rick, Peter Gentien, Dennis Heggany, William W. Jones, John Klein,
Benjamin L. Mead, James Mohren, Charles Niphols, Victor Pinsard,
George Prindle, Morant J. Robertson, Sidney B. Ruggles, Felix Scheryer,
Louis Schmidt, Frederick L. Sturgis.
Company C. — Capt. Charles D. Blinn. Second Lieut. Newton W.
Perkins. Sergeants Everett S. Dunbar, Charles H. Gaylord, John N.
Lyman, John Maddox. Corporals Lewis Hart, Homer M. Welch,
Everett E. Dunbar. Privates Willis Barnes, Seymour Buckley, Chauncey
Griffin, Charles Hotchkiss, Charles Mitchell, John Odell, Frederick W. Pin
dar, Joseph H. Pratt, George Roraback, Mortimer H. Scott, Joseph Tay
lor, Daniel Thompson.
Company D. — Capt. Charles J. Fuller. First Lieut. Perry Averill.
Sergeants John J. Squier, Ezra M. Hull. Corporals William Finimore,
Andrew Holford, Edward Altauo. Privates Thomas B. Andrus, Antonio
Astenhoffer, Henry F. Bishop, Charles Bertz, John Cravey, John Dillon,
John Fee, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Gotlieb Folkling, Henry F. Fox, Joseph
A. Gardner, Newton Gaylor, Casper Heidrick, Louis Hettinger, Julius
Camp, Jacob Kuhlman, Henry Long, George Lesser, Luke McCabe,
Frederick Poush, Henry E. Pulling, Horace B. Stoddard, William H.
Tucker, Martin W. Tyler, Louis Walters, Edward J. Welden.
Company E. — Second Lieut. Charles II. Beaton. Sergeants Nicho
las Schue, Richard Croley. Corporals Robert C. Barry, Leonard E.
Dugal. Privates Jacob Brown, Adam Geize, Frederick Harris, George
W. Howland, Michael Murphy, Charles F. Odekoven, Fritz Odekoveu,
F. F. Pfeiffer, Andy Regan, Frederick Schuh, Joseph Vogel, August
Wilson.
Company F. — Sergeants Eugene S. Nash, John T. Reynolds. Cor
poral James Case. Privates James Barry, George F. Bogue, David H.
Brown, Henry Clousent, James Cosgrove, Byron Crocker, Henry Finney,
David D. Jacques, Abel Johnson, Patrick Leach, Patrick Martin, Thomas
R. McCormick, James O'Neil, Thomas Powers, Orrin M. Price, Theodore
Secelle.
Company G. — Capt. Denison H. Finley. Sergeants Samuel L.
Cook, Charles B. Hutchins, John W. Bradley, Francis Huxford. Corpo
rals Timothy Allen, Louis Foetish, Moses Gay, Edward Bogue. Privates
Frank Austin, George J. Austin, John Brand, John Ceeressole, William
B. Crawford, Charles Culver, James Gay, Albert Hopkins, John Hunt,
Henry A. Hurlburt, Asahel Ingraham, Jeremi S. Jordan, Michael Kear
ney, Joseph Kemble, Albert Lehleitner, William M. Mayuard, Walter
McGrath, John McKevan, Daniel Moore, Moses Newhouse, Timothy
O'Conucll, William H. Reynolds, Ellis B. Robinson, Henry Robinson,
John Ryan, Antoine Schlosser, Martin J. Sharden, Martin Shurrer, Charles
Sidders, Edward Skinner, John Suarman, Auson F. Super, S. W. Tinker.
Company H. — Capt. Homer B. Sprague. Sergeant William H. Hunt-
ley. Corporals George H. Twitchell, Thomas Harrison. Privates Phik)
63
418 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Andrews, Heraan W. Bailey, Miram Blackman, John Blake, Dennis Doyle,
Francis Patterson, William H. Smith.
Company I. — First Lieut. Frank "Wells. Second Lieut. Louis Mies-
ner. Sergeants Abner N. Steny, Samuel Taylor, Santer Engelbert, John
Duress. Corporals Francis W. Preston, Joseph Franz, Garrett Herbert.
Privates William Albretch, Fritz Bowman, Ulrich Burghardt, Michael
Burke, James Dillon, Patrick Hines, Thomas McGee, Clifford C. New-
bury, Henry Keltrath, Edward Smith, Edward O. Thomas, Henry White-
man.
Company K. — First Lieut. William F. Norman. Second Lieut.
Charles Daniels. Sergeants Miles J. Beecher, George A. Winslow,
Charles E. Humphrey. Corporals Herman Sanders, Herbert C. Baldwin,
Robert Hollinger, John Nugent. Privates John Bennett, Benjamin E.
Benson, Frank C. Bristol, George Clancey, William J. Cojer, Thomas
Duffy, Samuel Eaves, Edward Ellison, John Gall, Thomas Griffin, Wil
liam Krieg, Patrick Mahoney, Thomas Morris, Richard O'Donnell,
George C. Russell, Bernard Stanford, John Storer, Bartley Tiernan.
FIRST REGIMENT LOUISIANA (WHITE).
Second Lieut. James T. Smith, formerly of the Thirteenth Connecticut
Volunteers.
TWELFTH CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS.
Company A. — Private Charles J. Constantine.
Company B. — Sergeant John Mullen. Private Charles Duboise.
Company C. — Corporal John Moore. Privates George T. Dixon, Wil-
loughby Hull, William Putnam, Christopher Spies, John P. Woodward.
Company D. — Sergeant Alexander Cohn. Corporals George Shaw,
James Robinson. Privates Lawrence P. Ferrell, George Kohler, Reuben
Miles, Frederick C. Payne.
Company E. — Private Edward Millerick.
Company F. — Private James H. Scranton.
Company G.* — Capt. Lester E. Braley. First Lieut. A. Dwight
McCall. Sergeant C. E. McGlafflin. Corporal John T. Gordon. Pri
vates Oliver C. Andrews, James E. Chase, James Dunn, Patrick Fitzpat-
rick, Patrick Franney, William Jobin, Joseph W. Weeks.
Company H. — Sergeants John W. Phelps, Solomon E. Whiting, Jo
seph W. Carter. Privates Edwin Converse, Hugh Donnelly, Warren
Gammons, Miles P. Higley, William Lenning, Thomas McCue, Melvin
S. Nichols.
Company K. — Second Lieut. Stanton Allyn. Privates Frank Beau
mont, Daniel B. Loomis, Albert M. Perkins.
TWENTY-FIFTH CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS.
Adjutant Henry 0. Ward.
Sergeant Major Charles F. Ulrich.
Company B. — Private Eli Hull.
Company F. — First Lieut. Henry H. Goodell.
Company II. — Privates Samuel Slesinger, John Williams.
These were the men, who, knowing the desperate situa
tion, deliberately resolved to sacrifice their lives for their
SURRENDER OF PORT HUDSON. 419
country. Day after day the storming column was ordered
under arms, to be ready for an instant assault.
The Twenty-fourth clung to its redoubt of cotton and
sand. They were kept constantly on the qui vive, and the
regiment was divided into three reliefs for vigilant watch.
They bore this severe service like brave men. Here they
remained for twenty-five days ; and fired, on an average, not
less than four thousand rounds of cartridges per day. Many
of them were killed and wounded ; but desertion of the post
was not thought of. " From this little earthwork," says
Major Maher in a letter, " the covered approaches to the
works were dug, and the parallels were made ; also the zig
zag approach right into the enemy's ditch. Besides these,
we had, on the morning of July 8, a mine forty-two feet long
under the enemy's works, capable of containing four hun
dred pounds of powder ; and we were ready to blow up the
fort if it had not surrendered." The surrender of Port
Hudson, on July 8, relieved the regiment from its perilous
position.
Indeed, the whole investing force felt relieved of a terrible
burden of labor and endurance. All the Connecticut regi
ments mentioned had been almost incessantly engaged in
the rifle-pits, digging, fighting, waiting, suffering untold
exposure and privation.
But none experienced a greater sense of relief than " the
forlorn hope," most of whom had prepared for death, and sol
emnly directed the final disposal of their effects. These
men, from among the bravest, were given the post of honor ;
and " the storming column " was the first to enter the captured
stronghold, led by Col. Birge to the music of a Connecticut
band, and under the folds of a tattered Connecticut flag.
CHAPTER XXVI.
After the Capture of Port Hudson. — The Twelfth, Thirteenth, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-
fifth, Twenty^sixth, and Twenty-eighth Connecticut Regiments. — Casualties. — Inci
dents of the Battle. — The Twenty-third in Southern Louisiana. — Guarding the Rail
road. — At Brashear City. — Battle and Capture. — Casualties. — Imprisonment in
Texas. — Return Home of the Nine-months' Regiments.
ICKSBURG1 and Port Hudson had fallen; and
once more "the Father of Waters flowed un-
vexed to the sea." The reduction of Port
Hudson involved a Union loss of five thousand
killed and wounded, among whom were many
from Connecticut. The Twelfth had twenty-three killed
or died of wounds, and eighty-four wounded. Col. Frank
H. Peck had been severely wounded twice, and Major
George N. Lewis was shot through the body. Capts. Sam
uel H. Granniss, S. E. Clark, John Brennan, and James D.
Roche, and Lieuts. H. J. Fletcher and G. W. Stedrnan, had
been wounded. Of the Thirteenth, four were killed and
eighteen wounded. Among the former was Lieut. Joseph
Strickland of New London. He had assisted greatly in re
cruiting Company I, of which lie became first lieutenant.
Col. Sprague says of the Port-Hudson charge, " Of the many
gallant officers that then fell, there was none more fearless
or more deeply mourned."
Bravely leading the same charge, and within a few paces
of young Strickland, fell Col. Richard E. Holcomb of the 1st
Louisiana (white). At the beginning of the war, Mr. Hol-
1 Major Frederick Hoadly, who was killed while fighting on the Confederate side at the
siege of Vicksburg, was a young man belonging to an old and respectable Hartford family.
His grandfather for many years held the position of high sheriff of Hartford County, and
one of his brothers has been for a long time the State Librarian of Connecticut. Major
Hoadly went to Little Rock, Ark., ten or twelve years since, and was there admitted to
practice at the bar in that State.
420
CASUALTIES IN THE TWENTY -FOURTH. 421
comb, a farmer of forty years of age, enlisted from his quiet
home in Granby in the Third regiment, three-months' troops.
After serving faithfully as quartermaster, he returned to
Granby, but could not be detained there while the nation
was in peril ; and he raised a company, and was commissioned
to be major of the Thirteenth. In Louisiana, he was pro
moted to the colonelcy of the 1st Louisiana, and became its
life and soul. His splendid courage, manly bearing, experi
ence in dealing with men, superior qualities as an organizer
and a disciplinarian, and his zeal in the work, gave him a
high position in the department. His official successor,
Lieut.-Col. William 0. Fiske, issued an order after his death,
expressing the sorrow of the command at the loss of the
true friend, the gallant gentleman, the brave soldier, the
accomplished officer, the pure patriot, and peerless leader.
The colors of the Twenty-fourth were borne throughout
the terrible siege by Color-Sergeant John Bohan ; and thirty-
seven bullet-holes attest the fierceness of the storm to which
the little band was exposed. An instance of courage and
humanity is mentioned in the case of Corporal William
Clark of Middletown, who, at night and alone, went up to the
enemy's works, carrying water to a wounded soldier who
had lain there forty-eight hours ; and then came back, got
assistance, and carried him off the field. After the surrender,
"the Twenty-fourth was complimented -by the 1st Mississippi
for its coolness and perseverance." Nearly fifty of the
Twenty-fourth had died of disease in hospital, among them
Lieuts. Bela C. Post of Essex and Luzerne G. Goodyear of
Hamden. The regiment had lost during the siege sixteen
killed and fifty wounded. Among the former were H. ,A.
Brainard of Iladdam, Corporals Lellick Scott and Charles
Rigbey of Middletown, and Edgar D. Ives of Hamden.
Among the latter were Lieut.-Col. John D. Allison, Adjutant
Clark Strong, Capt. Isaac C. Gleason, Capt. Alonzo L. Mab-
bett, Lieut. Jesse B. Gilbert, and Lieut. F. E. Camp. On
July 11, the regiment embarked for the Plaquemine dis
trict ; the rebels having again overrun the whole of Louis
iana west of the river, capturing Banks's artillery and stores,
and a large amount of miscellaneous property. The regi-
422 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
ment found no enemy, and enjoyed two weeks' rest ; the
officers sleeping under a roof for the first time in eight
months.
The Twenty-fourth left Middletown Nov. 18, 1862, with
six hundred and ninety-eight officers and men. The regi
ment served in the Gulf Department nearly ten and a half
months, and was mustered out Sept, 30, 1863, numbering
about four hundred and sixty.
The Twenty-fifth, which had lost a hundred at Irish Bend,
and which, on going into battle at Port Hudson, numbered
little more than two hundred men, had lost of these seven
killed and forty wounded. On July 4, there were seven
officers and one hundred and eighty-eight men on duty.
Among the killed were Corporals Ira B. Addis of Hartford
and Erskine Wallace of Ellington ; among the wounded were
Lieut. Alfred W. Converse, Lieut. D. M. Ensworth, Lieut.
George Brennan, and Lieut. W. E. Simonds.
On July 11, the Twenty-fifth left its camp outside Port
Hudson, and, inarching through the works, embarked on the
Laurel Hill for Donaldsonville. So reduced had the army
become, that this steamboat of moderate capacity carried
five regiments, among which were the Thirteenth, Twenty-
fourth, and Twenty-fifth Connecticut.
"The Twenty-fifth was ordered to proceed to a point
About half a mile beyond and below the town, and, throwing
out proper pickets, &c., to hold the position. We remained
here, with our left on the Mississippi, and our right on the
woods, until the following afternoon. During that time, and
about two, P.M., on the 12th instant, the enemy endeavored,
with some considerable force of cavalry, to cut off our
extreme post on the right, which was established in an
abandoned sugar-mill, and under command of Lieut. I. W.
Beach (of Bristol). It became necessary to abandon the
mill for a short time. It was retaken by Lieut. Beach, how
ever, after a little skirmishing, and without loss on our part,
and our line maintained." 2
The regiment was shortly after ordered to the Bayou La
Fourche, beyond the town, where Lieut-Col. Mason C. Weld,
2 Report of Adjutant H. C. Ward.
LOSSES IN THE TWENTY-FIFTH AND TWENTY-SIXTH. 423
who had commanded the Twenty-fifth during the entire
siege of Port Hudson, assumed command of the brigade as
senior officer. Col. Birge commanded the division. On the
13th, the rebels made a dash on our lineg on both sides of
the bayou ; and Lieut.-Col. Weld led the skirmishers from
the Twenty-fifth to the front : but the enemy retired without
further engagement. On the 16th, Col. Bissell, having re
covered from his long and tedious illness, rejoined his regi
ment, and took command of the brigade.
Among those who died of disease in the regiment was
Surgeon Alden B. Skinner of Vernon. He was a faithful
and skillful officer, and fell a victim of typhoid fever. Capt.
Newton P. Johnson of East Granby also died during the
process of acclimation. After the fall of Port Hudson, the
excitement which had repelled disease being taken away,
many in every regiment were prostrated with diarrhoea and
climatic fevers. Private William W. House of Hartford
died in hospital just after the capture. He was a brave and
excellent young man, a graduate of Yale in the class' of '63.
When Paymaster Northrop was in New Orleans, he asked
Col. Bissell whether there was any swearing in his regiment.
"You may go through the regiment," answered Col. Bissell,
" and I'll give you five dollars for every oath you hear from
it." It is said the paymaster hunted diligently after his
reward with good hope, but searched in vain.
None of the nine-months' regiments won a better reputa
tion for pluck and endurance than the Twenty-fifth Connec
ticut ; and the reports of Adjutant II. C. Ward to the
adjutant-general's office were very complete.
The Twenty-sixth had suffered more than any other of
our regiments at Port Hudson ; having lost during the
siege twenty-six killed and one hundred and fifty-one
wounded, — leaving after the last action, as reported by
Lieut.-Col. Selden, about one hundred and eighty officers
and men fit for duty. Most of the losses of the regiment
were incurred on the ill-starred May 27, in its charge with
Dow's brigade through a storm of grape and canister from
. the rebel batteries. It was here that Capt. John L. Stanton
of Norwich lost his life. He was a gallant and earnest
424 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
soldier, and was in advance of his men, swinging his sword,
and calling on them to follow, when he was pierced with a
bullet, and died instantly. Orderly Sergeant Albert Smith
of Salem was lingering behind in the retreat ; and, as he
turned to fire, he received a mortal wound. On being
carried to the rear, he shook hands with Capt. Gallup, and
said, " Good-by ! Tell my friends I hope to meet them in
heaven." Capt. Jedediah Randall of Groton fell mortally
wounded, and lay where the deadly missiles flew thick.
Lieut.-Col. Selden tried to help him; but he said, "Never
mind me, colonel ; I'm all right : go and take care of the
boys." Capt. Jesse C. Maynard of Salem was wounded by a
ball which passed through his breast, maiming him for life.
Capt. Lorenzo A. Gallup of Norwich was indebted for de
fense to a rifle directly m front of him. A bullet struck it
with such force as to pierce the band. Eleazer Jewett of
Norwich was saved by his belt>clasp, the ball spending its
force after passing entirely through it. Benjamin C. Doug
lass of Voluntown got a blow in the groin, that he supposed
was caused by a piece of shell, but on examination found a
bullet safely lodged in his tobacco-box. Almost every regi
ment chronicled similar narrow escapes many times during
the war. Private Babcock of Stonington was shot through
the body, and the surgeons asserted positively that he must
die. The prospect was doubtless rendered less bitter to him
by the reflection that he had used the large bounty he had
received to pay off the remainder of the debt upon his
mother's house. He recovered and returned home. Here
died Cyrus M. Geer of Lyme, Thaddeus M. Weenies of
Stonington, and other heroic spirits.
In the second assault, fell Lieut. Hervey F. Jacobs of Nor
wich, a native of Thompson. He had taken a part of a
course at Brown. University when he enlisted. Capt. Lorenzo
A. Gallup wrote to the sister of his dead comrade after the
battle, —
"Your brother has fallen with a reputation that any soldier might
euvy. All who saw him on that fatal day testify to his coolness and
bravery. I can speak from personal observation. When that dreadful
shell came which killed aud disabled twenty men, including himself, he was
cheering aud encouraging his men, and pressing forward with the assur-
THE DEAD OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH. 425
ance of success. He was on my right, as he had been detailed to com
mand Company A. After he was wounded, the noble spirit that animated
him was manifested by his refusing to be taken to the rear until all the
wounded about him had been removed."
The knightly spirit of Sir Philip Sidney found its parallel
a thousand times upon the battle-fields of the Rebellion.
Young Jacobs 3 died at the Baton-Rouge hospital on July 5.
His last message to his friends was that of a true soldier :
(i I die at the post of duty." In the same hospital, next day,
died his brother Joseph of the 50th Massachusetts.
Lieut. Jacobs was succeeded by Lieut. Edward P. Man
ning, promoted from the ranks. The latter died at home, of
disease, three days after receiving his commission, and on the
day the regiment was mustered out of service. He had
been constantly on duty, serving at different times as
quartermaster, commissary, adjutant, and chaplain of the
regiment, and commander of a company. He had won the
love of all, and exerted a most favorable influence upon
the men of his company. On the field, as at home, he was
a zealous Christian, and was widely mourned.
Lieut. Martin R. Kenyon was sent home to Preston, where
he died, Aug. 5, of wounds received at Port Hudson. His
brother Masons —
Resolved, That we cherish the memory of our deceased brother as that
of one whose zeal for the institution of Masonry, whose Avisdom in its
mysteries, and whose bright example in all the virtues that adorn the
Mason and the citizen, have been profitable to our fraternity, and a per
petual pleasure to us as individuals.
Another of the dead of the Twenty-sixth who was widely
known and deeply mourned was Sergeant Edwin R. Keyes
of Pomfret, a native of Ashford. He was a promising
graduate of the State Normal School, and an eminently suc
cessful teacher. He was a faithful, earnest, patriotic man.
Rev. Walter S. Alexander, in a sermon, said of him, " The
sacrifice he welcomed, in leaving a family to which he was
devotedly attached to engage in our common defense, wins
3 Rev. Samuel Graves of 'Norwich, who was the pastor of young Jacobs, in a memorial
discourse preached Nov. 1, 1863, says, "Lieut. Jacobs was born Aug. 3, 1838, and was
a young man of great promise ; frank, courteous, and high-minded in his bearing ; endowed
with the happy gift of winning friends wherever he went, and of attaching them ardently
to himself."
64
426 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
our admiration. The Christian character he maintained till
the last, against the pressure of iniquity, secures our grate
ful love. The death-scene so far away, unhallowed by the
presence of wife and babes, calls not in vain for our warmest
sympathy for the bereaved."
Dr. Ashbel Woodward of Franklin was surgeon of the
Twenty-sixth; and in this capacity, and as a member of
the examining board, he was in service during almost the
entire period of the war.
Col. Kingsley, who, since being wounded in the fight of
May 27, had been in hospital at Baton Rouge, leaving 'Lieut-
Col. Selden to lead the regiment, now returned, and was
placed in command of a brigade.
The Twenty-eighth had suffered severely in the assault of
June 14, in which a hundred men, detailed as grenadiers,
were led by two captains and four lieutenants. Chaplain R.
Wheatley says of the casualties, —
"Lieut. Charles Durand of Stamford was shot soon after
the order to charge was given. Capt. David D. Hoag of
New Milford yielded up his godly and gallant spirit in the
ditch, under the enemy's breastworks. Lieut. William
Mitchell of Norwalk was wounded in four places ; and Lieut.
Jonathan C.Taylor of Westport, with his hand badly shattered,
and back torn by a large missile, was taken prisoner. Capt.
Charles II. Brown and Lieut. Henry Avres escaped without
a wound ; Corporal James Vail and Jason Wardell of Stam
ford, two deservedly esteemed members of Company A, were
also shot dead; and Sergeant George A. Waterbury of Com
pany B taken prisoner, with several men of other companies :
nor were these alone sacrificed. A sou of Lieut. Riley and
an old companion of Fremont in his Rocky-Mountain explo
rations was among the victims."
Surgeon Ransom P. Lyon of Bethel, who was always at
his post, died of disease resulting from exposure and over
work, and was buried at Port Hudson, Au<»\ 6.
' O
In the charge of the grenadiers, fell Private Mark H.
Wheeler, a noble soldier from Winsted. lie enlisted from
high motives o± principle, and shrank from no dangers. On
the day before the bloody assault, he wrote to his wife, " We
THE TWENTY -THIRD LEAVE CAMP PAEAPET. 427
must have this place at any cost ; and, if I fall in this affair,
my last thoughts shall be of you ; and, if possible, I will re
quest some friend to forward you this letter with my diary:
but I hope to add more cheering intelligence. God shield
me, and help me to do my duty ! " He did his duty, and, in
the fury of the onset, passed from the sight of his comrades.
The third day afterwards, a rebel officer came across the
lines, under flag of truce, and brought the letter. It was in
his diary, and a bullet passed through both to his heart. The
officer said that Wheeler crossed the ditch, and scaled their
breastworks, and " was shot on the top of the parapet."
The nine-months' men had discharged their duty nobly.
Gen. Neal Dow of Maine wrote to Col. Kingsley of the
Twenty-sixth, a few months after this experience, —
" I have reason to remember your regiment well ; for none better was
ever under my command, either at Port Hudson or elsewhere, and none
behaved better on that terrible day (May 27). I wondered to see the men
so steady and firm, their first time under fire. The regular officers often
sneered at the nine-mouths' men, and said they would run away at the first
shot. But never were braver men, though the situation was the most try
ing that even veterans can be exposed to, — compelled to stand a destructive
fire without the power to return it with any effect. They were exposed on
a wide, open plain, to a storm of grape, canister, and rifle-balls, from an
enemy securely sheltered behind formidable field-works. All our brave
men could do was to die ; and that they submitted to most heroically.
There was not for a moment any panic or hesitation. Green troops will
often manifest the steadiness of veterans in battle where they have a chance
to ' give as good as they get ; ' but at Port Hudson they had no such
support, and yet were as steady as old campaigners. Among them all was
no regiment better or more reliable than the Twenty-sixth Connecticut."
To return to the Twenty-third : it had an unfortunate
experience from the day of its organization. Tn the voyage
to New Orleans, the regiment was divided on two or three
transports ; and the last detachment, under Major D. H. Mil
ler, did not arrive until the middle of January, after being
stranded on the Bahama Islands. The companies were never
together long enough at a time to acquire any proper pride
of organization.
On Jan. 11, 1863, all the regiment that was present left
Camp Parapet under command of Col. Charles E. L. Holmes,
by boat for Algiers, opposite New Orleans. Here they took
the cars of the Opelousas Railroad to Berwick Bay. They
428 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
were expected to join Weitzel in the attack upon the rebel
gunboat Cotton ; but, in consequence of not having been
together since leaving Camp Buckingham, the regiment was
ordered to remain and do guard-duty at Brashear.
On Feb. 9, they were ordered to strike tents, and march to
the railroad. They were now thoroughly distributed as a
guard the whole length of the Opelousas Railroad, from Ber
wick Bay to Jefferson (nearly opposite New Orleans). Head
quarters were established at La Fourche, about midway.
Company D (Huntington and Trumbull), under Lieut. Ste
phen M. Nichols, was stationed at Jefferson ; Company G
(Bethel and Danbury), Capt. George S. Crofut, at St. Charles ;
Company F (of Derby), Capt. David T. Johnson, at Boutte
Station; Company C (Newtown and Sharon), Capt. Julius
Sanford, at Bayou des Allemands ; Company H (Naugatuck
and Waterbury), Capt. A. D. Hopkins, at Raceland ; Company
B (Danbury), Capt. James H. Jenkins, at La Fourche ; Com
pany I (Fairfield and Bridgeport), Capt. William H. May, at
Terrebonne ; Company K (Danbury and New Fairfield),
Capt. S. G. Bailey, at Tigerville ; Company A (Waterbury
and Watertown), Capt. Alfred Wills, at Bayou Boeuf ; Com
pany E (Wilton, Weston, and Redding), Capt. Lewis Nor
throp, at Bayou Romans. About March 1, Companies E and
I were ordered to headquarters, and Company A to re-inforce
Capt. Sanford at Bayou des Allemands. By the first of April,
Company B was also transferred to Napoleon ville, south of
Donaldsonville ; and Company A to Labadieville, still farther
south. Thus the regiment remained for two months, con
stantly occupied with guard and picket duty, with little time
for drill or discipline.
Now the main body of Banks's army was investing Port
Hudson ; and Dick Taylor resolved to sweep Western Loui
siana during their absence. The small Union force was con
centrated to meet him. Col. Holmes was placed in com
mand of the post at Brashear City ; and Capt. Sanford was
ordered to take command at Bayou Boeuf, where Company
A immediately reported. Companies B and E were sent
to La Fourche ; and the other companies were recalled to
Brashear City, where the principal resistance was to be made.
THE ENEMY ATTACK LA FOURCHE. 429
Col. Holmes was soon prostrated with sickness, and was not
again able to command the regiment.
Brashear City is situated on an island formed by Lake
Chestimache, Bayou Boeuf, and the Atchafalaya, and was
the key to Western Louisiana. It had been Banks's base of
supplies, and valuable stores still remained there.
On June 1, the rebels attacked the hospital on the Ber
wick side with a small force. Company K, under Lieut. Ed
ward Nearing, instantly embarked on the steamer, followed
by Companies G- (Capt. Crofut), I (Capt. May), and C (Capt.
Jenkins). Capt. Crofut was placed in command. The de
tachment advanced rapidly, and drove off the rebels on the
double-quick ; afterwards covering the working parties in
removing the sick and the public property. A Col. Stickney
now assumed command of the post, on account of the con
tinued illness of Lieut.-Col.Worden. Under the severe dis
cipline of Col. Stickney, the regiment knew no rest. They
were kept moving every day, and lay upon their arms
almost every night ; and the result was, that, in ten days, half
the whole number were on the sick-list.
About the middle of June, Col. Stickney, being informed
that the rebels were coming down the Bayou La Fourche
from the Plaquemine district, took all the men that could be
spared from Brashear City, and moved to La-Fourche Cross
ing, where Capt. James H. Jenkins was in command. Another
detachment started on the 19th; but, after proceeding as far
as Tigerville, the train was forced to return to Bayou Boeuf.
The rebels attacked La Fourche on June 21, and were
repulsed three times ; the last time retiring, and leaving our
troops in possession. Three companies of the Twenty-third
were in the first line of battle, and showed commendable
courage.
Capt. James H. Jenkins wrote from La Fourche, " About
five, P.M., on the 21st, our pickets began firing. The enemy
advanced, and soon attacked us with artillery and infantry.
The day being damp, the smoke lay near the ground, ob
structing the view ; so we reserved our fire. In a few min
utes, the rebels charged on us with a hideous yell. We.
waited until they came within a few rods, when our first
430 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
i
volley told with ruinous effect. A sharp conflict ensued.
The graybacks actually seized our guns, but were driven off
at the point of the bayonet. In twenty minutes, they were
repulsed at all points, and fled, leaving the bodies of their
dead comrades lying in winrows, marking where their line
had been. Our numerical weakness prevented a pursuit,
so we lay on our arms till morning. The rebels sent in a
flag of truce, and we delivered to them one hundred and
eight dead bodies. We had captured forty prisoners. Our
own loss was eight killed and sixteen wounded. The dis
parity, doubtless, resulted from our fighting behind breast
works." The next day Col. Stickney fell back on New Or
leans, uncovering Brashear and Bayou Boeuf.
The rebels, coming up in strong column, now turned down
the railroad on Brashear. This was held by a small force,
under Major R. C. Anthony of Rhode Island. Major Anthony
immediately disposed his forces for defense. Companies A, C,
and H, of the Twenty-third, were posted on the Brashear side
of Bayou Boeuf. Lieut. Oscar H. Hibbard of Bethel, acting
post adjutant, made a careful list of men, who, in case of at
tack, would be able to stand up, and load and fire a rifle ; and
reported one hundred and fifty. The situation was gloomy.
The rebels were approaching, both in front and rear.
At five o'clock on the 22d, the enemy commenced shelling
from the Berwick side of the bay. Capt. Noblett responded
from his battery in front of the town. Capt. Crofut, now in
command of the detachment of the Twenty-third, was or
dered to take all the men he could get, and post them along
the edge of the water, under cover, and open fire across the
narrow bay. While carrying out this plan of operations,
about eight o'clock on the morning of the 23d, they were
startled by unearthly yells in the rear. It soon appeared
that a battalion of Texans had crossed to the Brashear side
during the night, landing in a dense swamp ; and had cau
tiously worked their way through our lines, and were almost
in our camp before being discovered. The surprise was com
plete. They rushed upon our line, and captured men before
they had time to fire a gun. Capt. James R. Jenkins and
Capt. Crofut rallied a crowd of forty, and opened fire upon
A PORTION OF THE TWENTY -THIRD CAPTURED. 431
v
the advancing foe ; but they were immediately surrounded,
and compelled to surrender after a feeble resistance.
In half an hour, Brashear was swarming with rebels, who
had captured the immense amount of United-States stores
there gathered. Among those burned, to keep them out of
the hands of the enemy, were the valuable baggage and pri
vate property of the Connecticut regiments before Port Hud
son. The officers of the Twenty-third captured here were
Capts. Julius Sanford, Samuel G. Bailey, Alfred Wells, Wil
liam H. May, James R Jenkins, and A. D. Hopkins ; Lieuts.
John A. Woodward, John F. Peck, 0. H. Hibbard, John G.
Stevens, Charles Bailey, John W. Buckingham, and Charles
D. Hurlburt.
The prisoners were marched to the fort at Brashear City ;
and during the two or three days following the enlisted
men were parolled, and returned to New Orleans. The
officers were moved across the river, and in two days more
started on their tedious march, two hundred miles across the
State, to Alexandria, on the Red River. Here they took a
boat, and steamed up the river three hundred miles to
Shreveport ; and thence another trying march, one hundred
and twenty-five miles west, to Tyler, Tex. Here a stock
ade fifteen feet high was built about the prisoners; and
through the hot summer months they waited the tardy ex
change. The location was healthful, and sulphur-water was
given them to drink. As in every prison where Union offi
cers were confined, there were many diversions to while away
the tedious hours, — debates, music, chess, cards, and, lastly,
a newspaper. This last, the Old Flag, was a remarka
ble production ; and some officers from all the regiments rep
resented were its contributors. Its editors were Col. A. J.
H. Duganne of New York, and Capt. William H. May of
Bridgeport of the Twenty-third ; the latter being also pub
lisher and printer. There was one copy of each number,
and this was circulated throughout the prison. Four num
bers were issued, in folio form, beautifully and uniquely
printed with a pen by Capt. May. It was scarcely larger
than a sheet of ordinary letter-paper, and the writing was not
larger than newspaper-print. Capt. May succeeded in bring-
432 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ing the Old Flag safely off; and it has since been multi
plied in lithograph, — one of the most interesting relics of
the war.
During this eventful period, the Twenty-third had lost its
faithful chaplain, Rev. James Averill. Mr. Averill was a
native of Guilford, and was educated at Amherst, after
wards preparing for the ministry at the Yale Theological
School. He was pastor of the church at Shrewsbury, Mass.,
for eight years, and of the church at Plymouth Hollow,
Conn., for ten years, ending with 1862. The voyage to
Louisiana was very trying to his health and strength ; and
the malarious climate to which he was exposed aggravated
his tendencies to disease. He refused to leave his post ; and
on the 28th of May he was suddenly attacked with fainting,
followed by fever. The end rapidly drew on. The disease
soon accomplished its appointed work ; and he sank quietly
to rest, at four o'clock, P.M., June 11, 1863.
Among the dead of the Twenty-third was Lieut. Frederick
Starr of Danbury. He was wounded in the battle at La-
Fourche Crossing ; a ball shattering his thigh near the hip.
The leg was amputated ; but he died two days afterwards,
and was buried in rear of the hospital. Surgeon W. H.
Trowbridge, always faithful and prompt in the discharge of
his duty, wrote, " The record of the death of this truly ex
cellent man is one of the most painful duties of my service
here. Beloved by us all, brave, and devoted to the cause of
his country, he fell in the discharge of his extreme duty ;
died like a Christian soldier ; and our saddest recollections
are blended with this comfort, — living or dying, he was the
Lord's." Lieut. Starr was profoundly mourned by his fellow-
citizens of Danbury. Private Abel M. Wheeler of Danbury
was mortally wounded in the same battle, and died on the
same day. He went to the war solely under the impulse of
duty, and gave his life to his country without repining. He
will long be remembered for his patriotism and fervent piety.
0. E. Trowbridge and Charles Hart also fell at the same time.
Capt. George M. Godfrey of Wilton died April 23. Ser
geant F. L. Curtis of Bridgeport was wounded at Brashear,
and died on July 7. He was a talented and educated young
THE TWENTY-SECOND LEAVES FOE HOME. 433
man, with a lofty sense of honor and a resolute purpose. He
won the high regard of his superior officers, and was always
a favorite with his comrades.
Lieut. William H. Bradley contracted the typhoid fever
in the exposure and excitement of the service, and came
home to his father's house in Derby to die. He was a true
soldier, and was promoted from the ranks for merit.
Nelson J. Peck of the Twenty-third was drowned at Bayou
Boeuf, July 5. He was a son of Jabez B. Peck of Newtown,
and left a fine social and mercantile position to enlist. In a
letter home, he said, " Let them come on. I came here to
fight, and if need be to die, to wrest from traitors' hands the
dear old flag. When I forget my country, may God forget
me 1 " His eldest brother was Lieut. A. W. Peck of the
Seventeenth.
One of the most faithful soldiers of the Twenty-third was
Dr. Joseph Willimann of Danbury. He was educated as a
plrysician in the best schools of Germany, and officiated as a
surgeon during the greater part of his term of service ; re
ceiving therefor only the pay of an enlisted man. He was
constantly promised the rank of an assistant surgeon ; but
there was no opening for his promotion. His valuable kit
of surgeon's implements fell into the hands of the rebels at
Brashear City ; and the poor man died a few weeks after
wards, broken down in the service of his adopted country,
and leaving his family only the scanty pension of a private
soldier.
The fraction of the regiment not captured retired towards
New Orleans, and continued through the summer doing
guard-duty in the " Lowlands of Louisiana."
On June 26, its time having expired, the Twenty-second
left Yorktown, Va., for home. At Philadelphia it met with a
very refreshing entertainment, and at Jersey City it was
properly fed and cared for by Col. Almy. Arriving at Hart
ford,4 the men were boisterously welcomed and greeted by
4 When they arrived home, the soldiers of the Twenty-second found they had an un
expended regimental fund amounting to four hundred and thirty-six dollars ; and instead
of dividing it, or expending it for a dinner, they voted it to the Hartford Soldiers'-Aid
Society.
55
434 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
friends and kindred, as they were escorted through the
streets. On State Street, the soldiers partook of refresh
ments provided by Marshall P. Jewell & Son, before finally
breaking ranks for their homes.
The Twenty-second was among the fortunate regiments
of the war. It had no regimental list of casualties, because
it was never in an engagement. It was composed of patriotic
and sturdy men, and its officers were as gallant soldiers as
ever wore a sword.
Early in August, 1863, our nine-months' regiments in
Louisiana were ordered home. The Twenty-sixth and
Twenty-eighth came by boat up the Mississippi, and by
rail across the Central States : the others returned as they
went, — by way of the gulf and ocean. All the regiments
suffered severely with the physical prostration produced by
a Southern summer; and those that came overland left
patients in hospitals at Memphis, and in Illinois and Ohio.
In every State through which they passed, they received
grateful recognition of their uniform and their services.
Gov. Buckingham promptly dispatched Capt. Lorenzo A. Gal
lup of the Twenty-sixth, with directions to proceed overland
to New Orleans, and, wherever Connecticut sick or wounded
were found, to make arrangements for their comfort and
their speedy return home. " He was very successful in his
mission ; and through this instrumentality a number of our
brave volunteers who most needed home, care, and comfort,
were returned to their families and friends much sooner than
would have been possible in the ordinary routine of the mili
tary service."5 Of the entire number left, thirty-one died.6
5 Adjutant-General's Report.
6 Private Henry B. Milliard of the Twenty-seventh, from New Haven, died in hos
pital, after a life of devotion to the welfare of others. This characteristic was quite
as often found in the enlisted men as in the officers. lie went to the war deliberately, and
as a matter of duty; and during his brief service he was marked for his kindness to
those about him. He often carried the musket and knapsack of a weak comrade on the
march to Falmouth, and gave much of his rations to the sick ; contributing his last
dollar for their comfort. He himself became feeble and depressed ; but his ambition kept
him generally on foot, and with the regiment. When urged to go to the hospital, he
carried Frank Johnson, a sick friend, half a mile, to a place of shelter. In delirium, just
before his death, he left his bed and lay on the floor, remarking that his wife had come,
and was tired. Thus ended a life of heroic self-sacrifice.
We wait no tidings now
Of camp or field, or how
Along the front went on the battle's fray ;
For, be it lost or won,
His part was nobly done :
We crown him victor in our hearts to-day.
RETUBN OF THE NINE MONTHS' KEGIMENTS. 435
Miles Bromley of Jewett City died on the steamboat be
tween New York and Norwich, almost within sight of home
and friends.
The regiments were received at home by the same enthu
siastic demonstrations of admiration and love that had greeted
their departure ; and there were everywhere waving flags,
thronging multitudes, and cheers of welcome. The Twenty-
third was formally received in New Haven, by Mayor Tyler ;
the Twenty-fourth in Middletown, by Hon. Benjamin Doug
lass ; the Twenty-fifth in Hartford, by George Gilman ; the
Twenty-sixth in Norwich, by Mayor Greene ; the Twenty-
seventh in New Haven, by Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon, and the
Twenty-eighth, by Alderman Edwin Marble. These ceremo
nies were repeated in all sections of the State as regiments
and companies returned to the immediate localities that sent
them forth, — greetings succeeded by the more sacred and
cherished welcome in the moistened eyes and loving hearts
of home.
All these nine-months' regiments carried home with them
evidences of exposure and of service ; and the men of the
Twenty-seventh had this piece of testimony from Col.
(afterwards Gen.) Brooke, commanding the brigade : —
HEADQUARTERS 4ni BRIGADE, IST DIVISION, SD CORPS,
Camp in Pleasant Valley, Md., July 1", 1863.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 9. — The colonel commanding the brigade de
sires, in parting with the officers and men of the Twenty-seventh Connecti
cut, to convey to them his sincere feelings of regret at losing their services ;
while he at the same time thanks them for the obedience and faithfulness
which has been a marked feature of the regiment.
Knowing it intimately for so many months of active and arduous ser
vice ; having been an eye-witness of its many deeds of gallantry, and of
the noble devotion displayed by it on many a memorable day during the
time in which he has had the honor to command its services, — he feels it
a duty he owes, riot only to the living heroes, but to the memory of
those who have fallen in the field in battling in our righteous cause, to
bear testimony to the valor and gallantry it has always displayed.
Side by side with the 'veterans of the Army of the Potomac it has
fought, and, by the gallantry of its conduct, won for itself an enviable
name and reputation, which may well, in after-years, cause all who belong
to it to feel a pardonable pride in having it to say that they served with
the Twenty-seventh Connecticut.
By order Col. Brooke,
.CHARLES P. HATCH, Lieutenant A. A. A. G
CHAPTER XXVII.
Sixth and Seventh in Florida. — The Advance on Charleston. — The Situation at Folly
and Morris Islands. — Gen. Terry and the Tenth on James Island. — A Detachment
of the Seventh the first to land on Morris Island. — Capture of the Batteries. — The
Battalion of the Seventh in the First Charge on Wagner. — Fight on James Island.
— The First Connecticut Battery. — Daring Charge of the Sixth on Wagner. —
Three Hours in the Fort. — Heavy Casualties. — Important Service of the Seventeenth
Connecticut Volunteers. — Approaches to the Fort. — The Seventh in Charge of
Heavy Batteries. — Bombardment of Sumter. — Capture of Wagner and Gregg. — The
Roll of Honor. — The Sixth at Hilton Head. — The Seventh at St. Helena Island. —
The Seventeenth on Folly Island. — The Tenth in Florida. —Death of Col. Chatfield.
OR several weeks of the winter, the Sixth and
Seventh, with the First Connecticut Battery, re
mained in comfortable camp at Beaufort and
Hilton Head ; but in January, 1863, the Seventh
left for Florida. The regiment landed at Fer-
-
nandina on the 15th, relieving the 9th Maine; and Col.
Hawley took command of the post. Here for three months
they remained on guard, pleasantly located, with plenty of
food and fruit, surrounded by the luxuriant vegetation of
that flowery land, and bathing in the fountains of perpetual
youth which Ponce de Leon invented. In April, Col. Haw-
ley went with five companies to South Carolina to partici
pate in another advance on Charleston ; but the expedition
miscarried, and he returned.
In a few days more, the two flank companies, under Capts.
V. B. Chamberlain and Theodore Burdick, under Major
Daniel C. Rodman, went to Hilton Head to join the force
again mustering to move against Charleston. The Sixth,
which had arrived at Jacksonville in March, also evacuated
the city with other regiments in possession, covering the
rear in the retreat, and returned .to Hilton Head. Soon
they were joined by two more companies of the Seventh.
436
THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH ON FOLLY ISLAND. 437
under Capts. Sylvester H. Gray and Jerome Tourtelotte.
The battalion that remained in Florida was not idle. Two
companies, under Capts. Benjamin F. Skinner and John B.
Dennis, made a raid into the enemy's country, capturing
about three hundred head of beef-cattle, which were penned
up by the rebel beef-contractors for the rebel army, and
drove them into town in company with about forty horses.
An ill-timed attack on Charleston failing, Gen. Hunter
was relieved from the command of the department and suc
ceeded by Gen. Gilmore, who immediately renewed prepara
tions to make an assault from the south. His first objective
point seemed to be Fort Wagner, situated on the north-east
ern shore of Morris Island.
This island is a ridge of sand formed by successive accu
mulations from the tides, and running along the southern side
of the entrance to Charleston Harbor. The ridge slopes
from the shore inward, terminating in a series of salt
marshes indented by narrow inlets. The width of the
high land varies from twenty-five to two hundred and fifty
yards. The island bears the same relation to Fort Suin-
ter that Tybee bears to Pulaski.
Folly Island is a long strip of land immediately south
of Morris Island, from which its northern point is separated
only by a narrow stream called Light-house Inlet. The
lower two-thirds of the island is covered with a thick growth
of pine and palmetto trees ; and the upper third is a low,
marshy swamp.
Gilmore immediately took possession of this island ; and
early in June it was occupied by the Sixth and the little
battalion of the Seventh, with one or two other regiments.
The rebels suspected no serious aggression, and felt out
from time to time, meeting with slight resistance. - But the
business of the siege was at once begun ; and the engineers
and working parties threw up breastworks of sand, and com
menced batteries, on the upper end of the island, close under
the rebel guns intrenched across the inlet.
With the greatest secrecy the work was pushed forward.
The enemy saw no men nearer than the distant woods, and
heard no sound. But, if our forces were idle and listless by
438 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
day, they worked at night with superhuman energy. Hun
dreds of spades flashed in the moonlight. Transports arrived
with more troops. Battery after battery rose in the white
sand ; but nothing was visible to the rebels. Huge mortars,
Parrott-guns, and Columbiads came from Hilton Head, landed
at Stono Inlet, and, under the darkness, were dragged slowly
and tediously into place behind their mask of sand. Ammu
nition was also taken forward and concealed. To make the
foundation for the batteries and the corduroy roads, trees
had to be cut upon the island ; and, lest the rebels should
hear the crash of their fall, the largest ones were sawed off,
and then eased carefully to the ground with cables from
neighboring trees. So the work went forward as noiselessly
as the ice-palace of Queen Catherine.
The pickets were on good terms ; they told one another
the news, joked and chatted together, and sauntered with
out fear as near as the dividing creek would let them. A
member of the Sixth wrote to the Waterbury American,
" Our boys make miniature ships, and freight them with salt
and coffee, and send them over to the rebs ; and in return
they send us tobacco." Gilmore even diminished the num
ber of his picket, so as to re-assure the enemy.
In all this work, the Sixth and the battalion of the Seventh
found severe toil. For three weeks, every night, by moon
light or in the midst of frightful thunder-storms, the work
went on ; details from both regiments being constantly en
gaged : and at the end of that time there had been erected
ten batteries, mounting forty-eight guns of the heaviest
caliber, within four hundred yards of the enemy's works.
" And yet," says a narrative of the time, " the rebels had no
suspicion that there was any thing more than light field-
pieces within seven miles." This is not so certain, however,
for they had begun very actively to strengthen their batter
ies on the opposite bank.
On the morning of July 10, some troops under Brig.-Gen.
Terry, promoted after Pulaski, landed at the lower end of
James Island, as a feint to draw off the rebels from the main
attack. In this force was the Tenth Connecticut, just arrived
from St. Helena Island, and the First Connecticut Battery ;
ATTACK ON MOERIS ISLAND. 439
and, on their advancing towards Secessionville, many of the
rebels hurried over from Morris Island to repel them. Terry
kept his regiments well in hand : he avoided a general en
gagement, but showed a bold front, and skillfully held the
enemy's attention during the day and succeeding night.
The Tenth picketed in front, and was kept vigilant by the
inquisitive rebels that crowded down the island.
At midnight of the 9th, large detachments from all the
regiments on Folly Island stepped quietly into boats, and
rowed silently up Folly Creek, near the shore of Morris
Island ; where the flotilla of eighty boats waited for the
dawn. At five o'clock, Gilmore unmasked his batteries, and
opened simultaneously from fifty guns. The astonished rebels
soon replied, showering the boats with shot and shell. A
boat of the Sixth was struck, and one man killed and several
wounded. The battalion of the Seventh was selected to
lead the column. After the artillery duel had continued for
about two hours, Lieut.-Col. Rodman of the Seventh was sent
ashore with a part of Company A, to reconnoiter. He soon
returned, and " said to the general, ' Let me land my com
mand, and take that battery.' The general hesitated at first,
and then said, ' Go.' Col. Rodman stood up in the stern of
his boat, and in a loud voice gave the command, as the boats
were all in line and good order, ' Seventh Connecticut,
man your oars and follow me ! ' At the order, we all headed
for the shore ; and, as the boats struck, every man sprang as
if by instinct ; and in an instant they were in line. Capt.
Chamberlain sent forward skirmishers under Lieut. Van Keu-
ren, and we advanced rapidly to the first line of rifle-works.
Our skirmishers cleared it with a bound, and advanced to the
second line. Our main forces moved to the first line :
the foe retired, firing. Lieut.-Col. Rodman now sent word
back for the general to land his whole force, as we could
hold the line we occupied." l
A part of the force had already landed. The men of the
Sixth Connecticut had sprung ashore towards the flank, and
advanced with a rush and a wild cheer towards the batteries.
The whole force joined in the onset; and in ten minutes the
1 Capt. S. H. Gray's report.
440 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
rebels at the sand-hill batteries turned and fled. The fire
from Wagner and Sumter was incessant.
Capt. S. H. Gray's report from the Seventh, says, —
" Lieut.-Col. Rodman sent Company B (Capt. Burdick) to the left, and
Company I (Capt. Gray) to the right, to engage the enemy at short range,
and drive them out, if possible ; while Companies A and K (Chamberlain
and Tourtelotte) held our first position. After exchanging a few shots,
the brigade being now landed and ready to advance, the enemy began
to give way ; and Capt. Burdick followed them close on the left, and cap
tured a number of prisoners and one or two camps. Lieut. Jordan, with
a detachment of Company I, pushed right up into their batteries on our
right ; and not finding the first gun in a working condition (it having been
disabled by a shot), he pushed forward to what is now called Battery Rod
man, in which there was an eight-inch seacoast howitzer, and turned it on
the retreating foe ; bursting several shells over their heads before they
reached Fort Wagner."
The pursuit was eager. Two hundred prisoners were
taken. Private Roper Hounslow of the Sixth (from Stam
ford) shot a rebel color-bearer, and captured a battle-flag in
scribed "Pocotalico, Oct. 22, 1862." Col. Chatfield led his
men on the last series of rifle-pits, waving this banner aloft.
The regimental flag of the Sixth was soon floating from the
peak of the only house on the island. Two-thirds of the
island was captured, with ten columbiads, two mortars, and
a Whitworth gun; and the force threw up breastworks almost
within rifle-shot of Wagner, and rested.
Before leaving Folly Island, each had tied a strip of white
cloth about his right arm, that they might know one another
in a night assault; and they were slightly confused on find
ing in the morning that the prisoners caught had, anticipat
ing an assault from a feeble force, adopted the same badge.
It was determined to take Fort Wagner by assault next
morning ; all the regiments to be within supporting distance.
Capt. Gray of the Seventh, in the official report, says, " We
were to take the lead, and be supported by the 76th Penn
sylvania and the 9th Maine. Silently we moved up to the
advance line of our pickets; our guns loaded and primed,
and bayonets fixed. We there deployed into line of battle,
one hundred and ninety-one men and officers all told. It
was said there were but three guns pointing this way.
" Gen. Strong gave the order, i Aim low, and put your
trust in God : forward, the Seventh ! ' and forward we went,
HEAVY LOSS OF THE SEVENTH. 441
being not more than five hundred yards from the fort. We
had not gone far before the pickets fired ; and then we took
the double-quick, and, with a cheer, rushed for the works.
Before we reached the outer works, we got a murderous fire
from the riflemen. A few fell ; a check in the line ; an en
couraging word from the officers (they were all there, —
eleven in all, — no sick ones) ; and right gallantly we
reached the outer works. Over them with a will we went ;
down the opposite side, and across the moat (there being
about one foot of water in it) right up to the crest of the
parapet. And there we lay, anxiously waiting for our sup
port to come up so far as to make it a sure thing for us to
rise up and go over with a bound ; our men, in the mean
time, busying themselves picking off sharpshooters and gun
ners. We lay so near the top, that one had but to put his
head up and gun across the top of the parapet to kill his
man."
Here was fighting at close quarters ; and Corporal Giles
James of Colchester, Arthur E. Lyon of Eastford, and William
DeWitt of Windsor Locks, are mentioned for gallantry. We
quote again from the report : " For a time, we had it all our
own way ; but it was of short duration. As soon as the regi
ments in front broke and ran, the rebels paid particular
attention to our case. They threw hand-grenades over the
parapet, and soon sent men into the flank of a bastion, which
commanded the front upon which we lay. They had us
then at great disadvantage. The question was, whether we
should surrender as prisoners, attempt to carry the works
and be entirely annihilated (as they greatly outnumbered
us), or take the back track, and rim the gantlet for our
lives. Upon consulting Lieut-Col. Rodman, he reluctantly
gave the order to retreat ; and down we went, across the
moat and over the work. They had a perfect enfilading fire
of small-arms for a thousand yards, besides three pieces
giving us grape and canister. They fell on all sides of me,
and I alone of the four captains was spared ; and out of the
hundred and ninety-one officers and men that marched out
to attack the foe but eighty-eight returned safe to camp.
And ever let it be said, to the credit of the Seventh Con-
66
442 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
necticut Volunteers, that not one straggler could be discov
ered. Fifteen minutes after arrival in camp, roll was called ;
and but one man came in afterwards, and he was delayed by
assisting a wounded comrade. I met Gen. Strong with tears
in his eyes ; and he said we had done our whole duty, and
covered ourselves with glory ; and that, if the support had
come in time, we should have taken the wTorks. And with
out a doubt we should have done so."2
Another bloody failure for want of co-operation ! Again,
for a week, the whole force was engaged in intrenching, and
wheeling great guns into position. Fort Sumter kept up an
annoying fire into Gilmore's trenches ; and the front of the
fort, where the island narrowed to twenty-five yards in width,
was also swept by the batteries on James Island, besides its
own armament. To take such a fort required all the skill
and all the valor of veteran warriors.
During the morning of the 16th, the enemy attacked the
force on James Island. The Tenth held the extreme left of
the line, and behind was a swamp, that could not be trav
ersed. The regiments on the right were falling back rapidly ;
and the Tenth probably escaped wholesale capture by pass
ing at double-quick towards the landing. The enemy's ad
vance was retarded by the guns of the Pawnee and the field-
pieces of the First Connecticut Battery. "These," wrote
Lieut. Camp of the Tenth, " were served with a rapidity and
accuracy that spoke well for our friend Capt. Rockwell, and
compared favorably with the rebel fire." That night, James
Island was evacuated ; and the Tenth, resting briefly on the
way, went to Morris Island.
All night long, in a drenching rain, had the Sixth been in
the rifle-pits before Wagner ; coming into camp late on the
morning of the 18th, weary and wet, and covered with sand.
Scarcely had they washed themselves, and cleaned their
guns, and eaten their dinner, before the order was given to
" fall in," to join in the assault on Wagner at dark. Never
2 The correspondent of the New -York Herald wrote, "The Connecticut regiment
succeeded in getting inside, and spiked six guns ; just then the Pennsylvania regiment fell
back, and left this heroic Connecticut regiment to fight it out alone." The Savannah
Republican (Confederate) said, " Willing to do justice to a brave foe, it may be added that
a more daring and gallant assault has not been made on either side since the commence
ment of the war."
ATTACK ON FORT WAGNER. 443
was an order more cheerfully obeyed, especially as the
word passed around, that Col. Chatfield had determined to
lead his own regiment into action ; refusing the command
of the brigade, which belonged to him as the ranking officer,
and declaring his preference " to stand or fall with the men
of the Sixth."
The Tenth also sprang to arms, and moved with Stephen-
son's brigade up the ridge. Weary with days of toil and
nights of sleeplessness, it was now to join in storming the
fort.
The column was quietly formed upon the beach, under
cover of the high bank, and there remained till night. The
men we're impatient to move, as the scene around became
exciting. The New Ironsides had left her moorings, and
steamed within easy range of the fort, followed by five mon
itors in line, and five gunboats ; and from them all, and from
the forty batteries erected along the island, a direct and in
cessant fire was now concentrated on the fort.
" The scene became one of absolute magnificence. The
firing of the fleet kept up an uninterrupted peal of thunder.
Nothing in the way of pyrotechnics could equal in effect a
broadside from the Ironsides ; its swift tongues of flame
piercing deep into the darkness, and bringing into momen
tary distinctness the immense hull from whence they sprang ;
and the heavy boom of the discharges coming over the water
after long apparent delay ; while the fancy followed into the
dark fort the fourteen hundred pounds of solid iron, and
wondered if they did their work."3 Shot and shells crashed
fearfully above and within it ; so that, when night came
down, Wagner was silent, save an occasional gun, and seemed
a ruined heap and an easy prize.
Slowly and softly, as twilight deepened, had the troops
advanced, till now but a short and level space lay between
them and the stronghold. At the earnest request of the
gallant Col. Shaw, Col. Chatfield had allowed the 54th Massa
chusetts (colored) to occupy the extreme right, — the post
of honor. The Sixth came next; and seven other regi
ments extended to the left. The remnant of the Seventh
8 Lieut. Camp of the Tenth, — The Knightly Soldier.
444 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Connecticut Volunteers was manning a battery of three
30-pound rifled Parrotts under command of Capt. Gray.
Stephenson's brigade was now detached from the column,
and sent into the trenches as a reserve, until re-inforcements
should be needed. The officers and men of the Tenth were
chagrined to find themselves mere spectators.
Faster and fiercer came shot and shell from batteries on
shore and gunboats in the bay, till a signal-flag rose to
" cease firing ; " and then the sharp, quick order ran along
the line, " Forward ! Double-quick ! " Out and on rushed
the charging column from its concealment ; and at the same
moment, as if by a magician's touch, behind the parapet
sprang up, in double line, the ready thousand of the rebel
host.
Forward rushed the 54th Massachusetts in " line of battle,"
followed by the Sixth Connecticut "in column by compa
nies," with Col. Chatfield on the right, and Adjutant Fitch
on the left, of the front, — forward, till within point-blank
range ; and then from Wagner and Sumter and the James-
Island batteries, from casemate, parapet, and angle, burst
forth a concentrated fire, the unintermittent flashings of
which were like the vivid lightnings of a hot summer's
eve, — a fire as terrific and murderous as the annals of war
fare have ever known.
The 54th Massachusetts, which had but once before been
under fire, pressed bravely forward : but some companies
wavered ; and, pushing for the south-western angle, the line
moved " by the left oblique " so far that it completely un
covered the front of the Sixth, and left an unobstructed
pathway to the fort.
On moved the Sixth, — steadily, quickly on, — on through
the outer work and moat, up the glacis, across the broad
parapet, unchecked by the awful tempest of shot and shell,
of shrapnel, canister, and grape, of bullets and hand-
grenades, entering the fort at its south-eastern angle, and
leaping down to the casemates and bomb-proofs, driving all
before them in dismay. The fire in the fort paused at this
audacious invasion, — paused so long, that spectators upon
the sand-hills said, " The work is over : the fort has surren
dered."
THE FLAG OF THE SIXTH AT FORT WAGNER. 445
And now the little band looked for succor ; but it did not
come. Two or three of the advanced regiments., including
the negroes, were still clinging desperately to the parapet
outside ; a few, white and black, had even gained the inte
rior; but the main supporting column, Jackson's brigade,
terrified by the deadly cannonade, instead of following
closely, relying on the bayonet to do the work, stopped for
a moment to return fire, and again lost the fort. The rebels
saw the mistake, and rallied ; now charging upon the Sixth,
standing almost alone in their midst, under the flag of Con
necticut.
The charge was repulsed, and every effort to expel them
failed. Three separate times, according to the Charleston
papers of the 19th, did they charge most furiously ; and
after great loss desisted. For more than three hours, the
Sixth maintained its position in the fort, and waited for sup
port, — in vain ! and at last, with its leader and many offi
cers struck down, the remnant one by one escaped ; but
they brought off their colors with them.
These were borne away triumphantly, — torn into shreds,
indeed, but hallowed relics of the fight. Eight brave men
had snatched these colors from a dying comrade's grasp,
and fallen dead or wounded upon them. Lieut-Col. Red-
field Duryee, in transmitting the State flag to Gov. Bucking
ham, said, —
" The German color-bearer, Sergeant Gustave De Bouge (of Water-
bury) was shot through the forehead while carrying the colors at the
assault, and fell dead upon them, staining them with his blood ; and,
before they could be picked up, several other men fell upon them dead or
wounded. They were, however, finally seized by Capt. F. B. Osborn,
who attempted to pull them from under the bodies ; but, in so doing, the
flag, which had become very much shattered by shots, was torn through
the center, and the part attached to the staff only was saved. The
United-States colors were so much torn during the assault, that they can
not be unfurled."
These colors, which now hang in their place among the
treasured honors of the State, tell, better than words can tell,
of the unparalleled fierceness of the struggle of that night.
Among those who bore the tattered flag during the fight
was the fearless Col. Chatfield, who was dangerously wound
ed ; being struck both in the leg and hand. He was carried
446 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
off the field by Private Andrew Grogan of Bridgeport,
afterwards lieutenant.
Six regiments advanced near the fort, and the general
commanding and five colonels had fallen : a major was the
highest officer remaining in command of the force.
The Sixth had lost on the island twelve killed, ninety-
two wounded (several of whom afterwards died of wounds),
and forty-eight prisoners. Among the killed were Lieut.
Stephen S. Stevens of Bridgeport, Sergeant De Bouge, and
the brave Corporal Glissman bearing the flag. Edmund
Rodgers of Burlington, William A. Morehouse of Stamford,
and six German citizens, were also among the slain.
Lieut. Stevens was A. A. Adjutant-General on Gen. Sey
mour's staff, — a post which he filled with marked ability.
He was a young man highly esteemed by all who knew
him. Having made military matters a study for many
years, his services to the government were very valuable.
Of the hundred and ninety-one officers and men of the
Seventh, only eighty-seven returned from the charge of
July 10. Nineteen were killed, or died of wounds, thirty-
five others were wounded, and fifty more were prisoners.
Among the killed in the charge were Capt. Theodore Bur-
dick of Norwich and Lieut John H. Wilson of Hartford.
When last seen, they were fighting on the edge of the para
pet with gallant comrades. Here, also, fell brave young
Edward C. Blakeslee of Plymouth, a brother of Col. Erastus
Blakeslee of the First Cavalry. Another brother was killed
just after, at Frankfort, Ky.
Among the killed was William M. Reeves of Suffield. He
was an excellent soldier, and of military stock. His great
grandfather served in the Revolution, and his grandfather in
the War of 1812.
The Seventeenth Connecticut had left Virginia the first
week in August, and proceeded, via Alexandria and Newport
News, to Folly Island, arriving on the steamer Spauldmg
about the 12th of the month. Without any time to rest,
Col. Noble, now in command of a brigade, was ordered to go
with a thousand men to the trenches in front of Fort Wag
ner on Morris Island. Night after night they spent in this
OFFICEKS IN COMMAND OF BATTERIES. 447
service, as the zig-zags and approaches were cut nearer and
nearer the doomed fortress. Much of the time they were
under fire, — a cannonade from all the forts, and the hum
of Minie- balls from Wagner, returning fire whenever a
head appeared above the rampart. " We were distributed,"
the colonel wrote, "in what are called splinter-proofs and
covered ways, alongside a monster magazine. The soldiers
lie as closely as possible, ready to stand to arms at a mo
ment's warning. At three o'clock in the morning, every
man in the works is roused, and is on the alert till day
light."
The six companies of the Seventh, at St. Augustine, were
permitted to join the battalion on Morris Island while the
siege was progressing. Major Sanford was immediately de
tached from the regiment, and all the outpost duty was given
to his charge, including the support of the huge marsh bat
tery known as the " Swamp Angel." He captured Gen. Rip-
ley's private barge, with a rebel major and surgeon and
eleven men ; and two nights afterwards captured a surgeon,
a naval lieutenant, and sixty-one men. The rest of the
regiment, as soon as they arrived upon the island, commenced
their regular duties with other regiments, — grand guard,
fatigue in the trenches, mounting guns in the batteries, &c.,
- until the regiment was nearly all detached upon the bat
teries.
Capt. Skinner and Lieuts. Perry and Coe commanded a
battery in the fifth parallel, of five 8-inch siege-mortars.
Capt, Dennis, with Lieuts. Townsend and Wildman, com
manded a battery of five 10-inch siege-mortars. Capt. Gray,
with Lieuts. Barker and Young, commanded the famous 300-
pounder rifled Parrott. Capt. Atwell and Lieuts. Greene
and Hutchinson commanded a battery of three 30-pounder
Parrotts and three Coehorn mortars. Capt. Gray exploded
his immense gun. He told the general that he " thought he
could fix it," and wras immediately directed to do so ; and
while in action, and under a tremendous fire from the enemy,
he repaired his gun ; and in eighteen hours had it in working
order, and fired it during the bombardment.
Gilmore opened his fourth parallel towards Wagner, within
448 CONNECTICUT DUBING THE REBELLION.
three hundred yards, on Aug. 23 ; his fifth parallel within
two hundred yards, on the 25th ; after this, zig-zags were
opened with very acute angles. From the morning of Sept.
5, the garrison of fifteen hundred men were immured in their
bomb-proof, not daring to expose a head to the terrible fire
that rained upon the fort. The counterscarp of the opposing
work was crowned on the night of Sept. 6 ; when the rebels
quietly evacuated the fort, and escaped. Sumter had already
been fiercely bombarded by the " Swamp Angel " and less
ponderous batteries, and was now a shapeless mass of ruins ;
Morris Island was captured ; and little further actual pro
gress was made during the year.
Gen. Gilrnore issued a general order, requesting regimental
and battery commanders to designate enlisted men worthy
to receive medals of honor for gallant and meritorious con
duct during the siege. The following is the list for Connecti
cut regiments : —
FIRST CONNECTICUT LIGHT BATTERY.
First Sergeant S. C. Dickinson. Corporal John F. Bliss. Private R.
Blodgett.
SIXTH CONNECTICUT.
Company A. — Sergeant H. L. Grant. Private Wolcott Wetherell.
Company B. — Private James McBrien.
Company C. — First Sergeant Joseph Miller. Sergeant Frederick
Striby, jr.
Company D. — Sergeants Norman Provost, Horace Hobbie.
Company E. — Sergeants W. Berkely, Luzern Baldwin.
Company F. — Corporal J. C. Osborue. Privates Edwin F. Pierpont,
A. C. Kurd.
Company G. — Privates Bernard Haffy, Martin B. Eddy.
Company H. — Privates William Rebstock, Francis Bantly.
Company I. — Corporal William H. Rossman. Private Isaac S. Taylor.
Company K. — Sergeant Julius A. Bristol. Corporal Ambrose Cock-
croft.
SEVENTH CONNECTICUT.
Sergeant-Major Raphael Gilbert.
Company A. — Privates Levi Andrews,William Bond.
Company B. — Corporal Chauncey A. Bacon. Private Edgar H. Par
sons.
Company C. — Corporal Dennis O'Brien.
Company D. — Corporal Frederick A. Felch.
Company E. — Private John Biderman.
Company F. — Corporal Henry A. Allen.
Company G. — LeanderParmelee.
THE SEVENTH AT ST. HELENA. 449
Company H. — Private John M. Milliken.
Company I. — Corporal John J. Cochrane. Private R. Aggett.
Company K. — Privates James A. Howard, Elisha F. Soule.
SEVENTEENTH CONNECTICUT.
Company E. — Corporal R. Tibbe.
Company F. — Private Walter M. Jarmon.
Company G. — First Sergeant Charles Smith, jr.
Company K. — Private R. McGee.
The Sixth, shattered in the daring charge of July 18, was
soon after sent to Hilton Head to recruit, and care for its
scores of wounded. To the genial and indefatigable chap
lain, the Tribune's correspondent thus refers : <; We had
scarcely reached the deck of the transport Cosmopolitan,
when we discovered a chaplain going from one patient to
another, administering a word of consolation to the first,
giving a cup of water to a second, smoothing out the blank
ets of a third. Now he halted to wash and dress a wound ;
anon he hastened to procure a cordial for some one faint
from loss of blood. He was constantly at work, and every
where welcome. I ascertained that this humane and patri
otic man \vas Rev. Mr. Woodruff, Chaplain of the Sixth Con
necticut." At Hilton Head, a comfortable hospital was found,
in the rear of which the regiment made an encampment,
where it sought to recover its wasted strength.
After three months of terrible toil and exposure, the
Seventh was sent to St. Helena Island, where the Tenth had
been located ; and camped on a pleasant spot near the river,
on Oct. 15. Next day a large number of small flat-boats
wrere landed, capable of holding about eighteen or twenty
persons each ; and the regiment was instructed in a boat-
drill. One of them writes at this time, " We intend to do
the best we can, whether we are to be infantry or artillery,
or even if they make marines of us." Here they remained
for some time in comparative quiet, only broken by a tem
porary recall to Folly Island. In the mean time, Col. Haw-
ley obtained new arms, — the breech-loading Spencer rifle, —
to the merits of which the War Department was blind until
near the close of the struggle. Here many of the two hun
dred sick crept slowly towards health, and the regiment
became itself once more.
57
450 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
The Seventeenth had two weeks of constant and severe
service in the exposed trenches under Wagner ; when the regi
ment returned to Folly Island, and made a pleasant camp
near that of the First Connecticut Battery, which had been
there since the affair of James Island. Clothing was now
drawn ; tents were procured, and set along the sand-bank that
centuries had rolled up above the reach of the tides. The
men, dirt-begrimed and exhausted, luxuriated in the splendid
surf-bathing directly in front of the tents. Lieut.-Col. Albert
H. Wilcoxson was in command of the regiment, Col. Noble
still having charge of a brigade. Both were popular, feeling
constant solicitude for the comfort of the men. About this
time, Major Brady was transferred to the Invalid Corps.
Col. Noble issued an order directing an observance of
Christmas in his brigade, and recommending an appropriate
adornment of the camp. The suggestion was complied with
most spiritedly. The companies hedged their streets with
young spruces and pines, interspersed with holly-leaves,
abounding there. The entrances to some of the streets were
overhung with beautiful arches of evergreens enclosing
wreaths and festoons. Companies C and K, occupying the
central street, reared in the middle of it a lofty double arch
with the word " Constitution " prettily wrought upon it.
Some of the devices of the camp were quite unique, and,
taken together, formed an imposing decoration. Company
F (Norwalk) constructed a palmetto dining-room, which was
quite convenient for the festivities of the season. Flags were
festooned upon its front, and it was flanked with handsome
arches of cedar, containing stars of holly. Even the drum-
corps had four tents on a slight eminence, topped with cedar-
boughs, and surrounded with young pines connected with an
evergreen cable, and a pretty arched stairway leading up to
the entrance.4
The Tenth Regiment had three full months of siege-work
on Morris Island. After the evacuation of Wagner and
Gregg, the labor was by no means diminished, nor the perils
lessened. The forts had to be reconstructed, and others
built, in which the toil and exposure were as great as at
4 Vide Letter of Private J. M. Bailey in Danbury Times.
CHAPLAIN TKUMBULL AND ADJUTANT CAMP. 451
any previous time. During the truce that prevailed after
the unsuccessful assault of July 18, Chaplain H. Clay Trum-
bull and Adjutant Henry W. Camp advanced upon the neu
tral ground to help the wounded, and were seized by the
perfidious rebels, and held as prisoners. Their protests were
unavailing ; and rebel prison-life was in store for them.
Trumbull and Camp were alike in many respects, — alike
in their bravery and devotedness to the cause, alike in their
tastes, alike in their beliefs, both men of high literary cul
ture, each the beau ideal of the Christian soldier; and,
while they were together at Columbia, imprisonment was
not very irksome, except as it kept them from the field.
They cherished a touching affection for each other, which
made all burdens lighter.
" Outside, the two had been called l the twins : ' in confine
ment, the old negro woman who daily brought in rations
spoke of them uniformly as ' de mates ; ' and they were thus
designated by their companions. The guards spoke to
others by name, but to these as ' you two ; ' always allowing
them liberty together, as if they had but one existence.
The chaplain was permitted on the Sabbath to go out into
the yard, or up stairs, to preach to the Union privates. The
officers, except Adjutant Camp, were not at first allowed to
attend these services. * You two can go, nobody else,' was
the usual announcement. The friends were rarely an arm's-
length from each other in all their months of confinement
together."5
Special efforts were made for the release of both, so treach
erously captured while under a flag of truce. The chaplain,
moreover, was not, under the cartel, subject to detention as
a prisoner of war. On these grounds, Gen. Meredith, our
exchange-commissioner, at last made a formal demand on
Judge Ould for the immediate release of Chaplain Trumbull.
After considerable delay, the claim was granted. After the
war was over, this claim was found in Richmond, favorably
indorsed by Ould to Gen. Beauregard, and re-indorsed .as
follows by Gen. Jordan, chief-of-staff to Beauregard : —
" Chaplain H. Clay Trumbull has been directed to be sent to Richmond
at once. He is a tricky fellow, aud has little the air of a chaplain. The
6 The Knightly Soldier, p. 166.
452 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE KEBELLION.
great desire manifested to get him back, coupled with the circumstances
of his capture, make it doubtful whether he is really a chaplain or a spy."
The chaplain has a quick, military mind ; and he would
doubtless have made his mark as an officer. Twice during
the war was he offered the commission of colonel : he
declined it, preferring the office he had chosen ; but he was
always at the front.
John L. Otis of Manchester, who left the State *as second lieu
tenant of Company B, had now become the colonel. Dur
ing the last of October, the regiment left for St. Augustine,
Fla. Here a pleasant camp was set outside the city gates,
just beyond the old Spanish fort. New A tents were issued,
and pitched on handsome streets. Good bunks were built
for all, and floors ; and, in many cases, chimneys of the pecu
liar cochina, or shell-marl, of the vicinity. Good water was
plenty. Much ingenuity was shown in some of the cook-
rooms and kitchens, constructed of turf, or cochina; while
exquisite taste and refinement were often displayed in the
adornment of the interior of the tents. While the regiment
was passing the winter here, Chaplain Trumbull, beloved by
the whole command, came back from prison, and the brave
Lieut.-Col. Robert Leggett, who had lost a leg at Wagner,
returned from his furlough. They were warmly welcomed.
Again, as ever, Trumbull devoted himself to the moral
and physical improvement of his parish militant, and shortly
after wrote as follows, in opposition to the current ideas of
life in the array : —
" Permit me to repeat deliberately, that after all my experiences in New-
England life, in city and country, before the war, and here in the army,
under varied circumstances, for more than two years, I am well convinced
that the moral standard is higher in the army than out of it ; that there is
less of drunkenness, less of licentiousness, less of lying, less of stealing,
among soldiers in camp and field, than with the corresponding class of
men outside ; while the highest types of Christian manhood in all our land
are to be found among those in active service. I also believe that army-
life tends directly and uniformly to elevate the moral standard, and to
purify the mind and manners of those who are under its influence."
During the weeks succeeding the terrible charge on Fort
Wagner, the State was called to mourn the sudden death of
Col. Chatfield of the Sixth, in consequence of the wounds
there received.
COLONEL JOHN L. CHATFIELD. 453
John L. Chatfield was born in Oxford, 1826, the eldest
son of Pulaski and Amanda Chatfield. He was apprenticed
with Hotchkiss & Co., builders at Derby, and remained four
years, greatly esteemed by all. He worked for a while as a
journeyman, developing unusual mechanical skill. In 1855,
having removed to Waterbury, he became associated with
his brother in business as builder, and the firm was widely
and favorably known. As a business-man, he was prompt
and honorable, of sterling integrity, possessing the confi
dence and hearty esteem of the entire public.
It is gratifying to honor him as an upright business-man ;
but he had other qualities yet to be developed. Col. Chat-
field was born for a soldier. He was a private in the Derby
Blues by the side of Charles L. Russell, afterwards the
gallant colonel of the Tenth, and, like him, was early elected
an officer. He was active in raising the Waterbury City
Guard, and was its captain ; raising the company to the first
rank, and giving it an enviable reputation for precision of
movement. He caught the true military spirit, and infused
it into those about him.
He studied diligently, and sought by every means in his
power to perfect his knowledge of military affairs. To him
all this training was a reality, even in time of peace.
When the alarm sounded in 1861, he was one of the very
first to get his company to New Haven. He was promoted
to be colonel of the Third ; and, even at that early day, his
battalion-drills were applauded as worthy any officer of the
regular army.
Subsequently becoming colonel of the Sixth, he brought
it to a state of discipline second to no regiment in service
from the State. The labors of the first months were too
much for him ; and he remained an invalid at Annapolis,
while his regiment went to Hilton Head, rejoining it in
January, 1862. At the battle of Pocotalico, while in ad
vance on horseback, he received a canister-shot in his right
thigh, and crawled to the rear alone.
He recovered from the wound sufficiently to rejoin his
regiment in April following, when, for a time, he was placed
by Gen. Hunter in command of the post at Hilton Head;
454 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
being relieved at his own request, and permitted to join in
the operations before Charleston.
In the first landing on Morris Island, his soldierly bearing
and tact were much admired. According to his usual cus
tom when charging batteries, he led the men forward till
the moment of the discharge of the enemy's guns; then
ordered them to lie down, up again and advance, and down
again, till near as he wished them. So rapid was their
double-quick, they were into the batteries and through them
before the enemy could fire the already loaded pieces. The
achievements of that morning placed both the colonel and
his command in the first place among fighting men and
regiments.
When the Sixth charged down into the fort on July 18,
the colonel had his leg shattered below the knee ; but he
could not bear the thought of being taken prisoner, and
attempted to drag himself out of the fort. He had par
tially succeeded, when a shot struck his right hand, and
knocked his sword from his grasp. Wounded though he
was, he tried to regain it, and only relinquished his efforts
on account of excessive weakness. The only things he
saved were his scabbard and body-belt ; and these are in the
possession of his family.
He was carried to the rear, and Chaplain Woodruff soon
procured transportation home for him. While on the way
to Beaufort, he asked after the colors of the regiment. He
was told that they were all safe, at least what was left of
them. " Thank God for that ! " said he, his eye "brighten
ing, — "thank God for that! I am so glad they are safe!
Keep them, keep them, as long as there is a thread left."
He was exhausted by his journey, yet rejoiced to be at
home. The fears that were entertained at first became a
reality; and on Sunday evening, Aug. 10, surrounded
by his family and a few friends, this hero of many battles
breathed his last. For several days, he had been partially
delirious ; but during the forenoon a o;leam of consciousness
/ cj o
was visible : he recognized his weeping family, expressed
his entire willingness and readiness to die, bade each good
by cheerfully, and died without a struggle.
COLONEL JOHN L. CHATFIELD. 455
Connecticut sent forth no more accomplished or gallant
soldier than he : had he lived, he must have won high dis
tinction. A modest, fearless, pure-hearted, devoted man,
— his record is that a knight might envy. His deeds and
noble sacrifice will live on sunlit pages and in warm hearts,
when new generations shall read the imperishable record of
the Rebellion, and bless those whose heroism saved the nation
and freedom from destruction.
" Pride of his country's banded chivalry,
His fame their hope, his name their battle-cry,
He lived as mothers wish their sons to live,
He died as fathers wish their sons to die."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
More Troops wanted. — A Draft. — The Result. — Call for Seven Hundred Thousand
Men. — Seven Hundred Dollars' Bounty. — Work of Recruiting. — The Twenty-ninth
Regiment. — Enlistment and Departure. — Re-enlistment of Veterans. — Recruiting
Rapid. — The Quota of the State full, with a Surplus. — Soldiers'- Aid Societies. —
Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Norwich, Danbury, Derby. — The Work at Home
and in the Field. — A Thanksgiving Dinner.
N June 22, 1863, Gen. Joseph D. Williams re
signed, and was succeeded by Horace J. Morse
as Adjutant-General of Connecticut. The three
hundred thousand nine-months' troops recruited
in the fall of 1862 were now about to be mus
tered out of the service ; and arrangements were made to
re-enlist them as veterans. The War Department called on
Connecticut for two regiments of veteran volunteer infan
try. The United States offered to each man a bounty of
four hundred and two dollars, to be paid in installments
during service, or at muster-out if sooner discharged.
The State offered a bounty of a hundred dollars. Service-
chevrons were authorized to be worn as a badge of distinc
tion. Col. George H. Burnham of the Twenty-second, and
Col. S. P. Ferris of the Twenty-eighth, were granted authority
to raise these regiments. This plan was soon changed, and
the projected new organizations abandoned.
On July 1, it was ordered by the War Department that
a draft should be made from the enrolled militia, and that
fifty per centum should be added to cover exemptions.
The quota of this State was 7,692; the number to be drafted,
11,539.
A provost-marshal general was appointed at Washington,
and an assistant, Major D. D. Perkins, for Connecticut, to
456
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR. 457
have all charge of recruiting and a draft. A provost-mar
shal was also appointed in each congressional district as
follows : —
1st District, Capt. Lucius S. Goodrich of Simsbury.
2d District, Capt. Benjamin S. Pardee of New Haven.
3d District, Capt. Leverett Wessells of Litchfield.
4th District, Capt. Isaac H. Bromley of Norwich.
There was great opposition to a draft on the part of
many ; and the hostility culminated in terrible mobs in New
York, Boston, and some other cities. Similar violence was
threatened in Connecticut; and secret meetings of the "peace-
men " were said to be held for the purpose of organizing
resistance to what they called " conscription." It was widely
declared to be their purpose to rush into the provost-mar
shals.' offices, an'd destroy the boxes while the draft was pro
ceeding. On the other hand, Union Leagues were well orga
nized, strong and resolute ; and these were in some cases
armed to meet the impending danger.
Gov. Buckingham also called for two battalions of volun
teer infantry, under Major George D. Chapman and Major
John C. Hollister. The companies immediately reported ;
but the stern purpose overawed the malcontents, and the
draft proceeded peacefully, the services of the battalions not
being required.
During the extra (fall) session of 1863, a resolution was
passed, setting forth a belief that rifles, muskets, and pistols
had been taken illegally " from their proper places of de
posit, and delivered to individuals, or organized bodies of
men not recognized by the military law of this State;" and
calling on the Governor for information.
His Excellency replied in a message, of which the follow
ing is an extract : —
" In July last, a large number of men in the city of New York, under the
influence of leaders hostile to the National Union and in sympathy with
Rebellion, banded together to resist the draft ordered by the President of the
United States under congressional authority.
lt They at once became an infuriated mob ; they compelled men to leave
their labors, and close their places of business; they went from house to
house, and from street to street, overpowering whatever obstacles impeded
their progress. Arson, pillage, and robbery were unrestrained. Innocent
citizens were beaten, shot, and hung. The rioters became a power so formi-
458
CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
dablc, that they could not, even by the most solemn pledges that their alleged
grievances should be redressed, be persuaded to resist from their hellish
work. They held the city, with its untold wealth and millions of people,
for days in the terrors of anarchy.
" At the same time, riotous demonstrations were made in different parts
of the country ; and, without concert of action, gentlemen residing in vari
ous sections of this State, whose opinions and judgment are entitled to high
consideration, represented the danger in their respective localities in the
following language : —
k' ' Those who oppose the draft are making every effort to unite themselves
together for resistance.' 'There is no doubt of an organization here to re
sist the draft.' 'Threats of resistance are loud and frequent in our midst.'
' Notices have been posted, threatening those who aid the draft.' ' Men
have pledged themselves to break the boxes which contain the names of
men enrolled for the draft.' ' Secret meetings have been held, at which it
had been determined to commence open resistance on the night of a given
day ; but for some reason it was postponed.' ' I want a sufficient number
of men to guard my property from the mob which is likely to arise to pil
lage and burn.' ' I do not take counsel of my fears when I assure you
that I anticipate an outbreak in this place.' ' These disturbances through
out the country are the result of a combination of traitors both North and
South.'
" In this critical and alarming condition of public affairs, men of true and
well-known patriotism, belonging to both the Republican and Democratic
parties, offered their services to preserve public order, and made requisition
upon the Executive for arms. In examining the statutes, I found authority
to furnish the active militia, and the enrolled militia when ordered into
active service, with arms ; and nothing to prohibit the use of them by others
whenever public necessity requires. Also, that no place is designated for
the deposit of arms purchased by the State, and not in the hands of the
militia ; and that the commauder-in-chief ' may issue such orders as he shall
judge expedient to carry into execution the intents of " An Act relating
to the Militia," which act is especially intended to give him full power
and authority to use both the active and inactive militia to prevent rebel
lion and insurrection.'
" Considering our perilous condition, and the fact that the active militia
of the State, including the Governor's Guards, was composed of less than
one thousand men, orders were issued from this Department for the trans
mission of arms to the following persons, residing in the towns herein
named, upon the execution of proper bonds for their safe-keeping and
return : —
1863.
July 14,
William T. Miner,
Stamford,
65 Muskets and Sets of Accouterments.
15,
Dexter R. Wright,
Meriden,
200
18,
Joshua Kendall,
Derby,
60
18,
1). W. Plumb,
Derby,
40
20,
Elisha Carpenter,
Daniel sonville,
80
20,
Thomas Guyer,
Nor walk,
60
21,
Major F. W. Russell,
Portland,
40
21,
Gilbert W. Phillips,
Putnam,
80
21,
Capt. A. Seeley,
Stamford,
50
24,
Rufus Smith,
Litchfield,
40
715
"Prior to the assembling of your honorable body, four hundred of the
above-described muskets, and as many sets of accouterments, were returned
ADDITIONAL CALLS FOE TROOPS. 459
to the State Arsenal, or transferred to military companies newly organized
in the towns where the arms were sent.
" Exceptions might be taken to the language of the resolution, which,
assuming that the Executive has acted without legal authority, calls upon
him for proof: hut I prefer to have every public act of mine, together with
all the circumstances connected with it, fully known ; and most cheerfully
submit to your deliberate judgment, and to the impartial decision of your
constituents, whether such Executive action has put in jeopardy the rights
or the person of any law-abiding citizen, and whether the Executive would
not, under the circumstances by which he was surrounded, have proved
faithless to the high trusts committed to him by a confiding people, if he
had not placed the arms of the State where they could have been used to
maintain the supremacy of law, and preserve public tranquillity.
" WM. A. BUCKINGHAM."
Of the whole number (11,539) drafted for in the State, 8,000
were exempted on various pleas; and 248 principals and
2,248 substitutes were mustered into the service. Of these,
400 deserted; and the following were assigned to different
Connecticut organizations : First Connecticut Volunteer Ar
tillery, 54 ; First Connecticut Volunteer Cavalry, 4 ; Fifth
Infantry, 424 ; Sixth Infantry, 228 ; Seventh Infantry, 142 ;
Eighth Infantry, 171 ; Tenth Infantry, 4 ; Fourteenth Infant
ry, 834 ; Twentieth Infantry, 150 ; Twenty-first Infantry, 1 ;
14th Rhode-Island Artillery (colored), 66.
On Oct. 17, the president called for an additional force of
three hundred thousand to strengthen the regiments in the
field. The same bounties were offered ; and a draft was pro
vided for in case the requisition should not be filled by Jan.
5, 1864. The re-inforcements which the draft had failed to
yield, now began to be furnished by voluntary enlistments.
Many towns had already made extravagant appropriations
for bounties ; which would involve them in lawsuits, and per
haps insolvency, if continued. Gov. Buckingham, accord
ingly, convened the General Assembly in special session, to
meet on Nov. 3.
By an act approved Nov. 13, a State bounty of three hun
dred dollars was ordered paid to each volunteer non-commis
sioned officer or private who should enlist, and be credited
to this State, under the call of Oct. 17 ; and every town was
prohibited from making any appropriation for volunteers.
The quota of the State was 5,432. The recruiting was
placed entirely in the hands of United-States officers ; and
460 CONNECTICUT DURING THE KEBELLION.
recruiting-agents were appointed, who were to receive fifteen
dollars from the United States, and ten dollars from the
State, for each recruit. Each " veteran " entitled the officer
to ten dollars additional. The bounty was now six hundred
and two dollars for new levies, and a hundred dollars addi
tional for soldiers who had served at least nine months.
The authorized agents immediately employed and put into
the field a large number of recruiting-brokers, who labored
night and day, receiving for each recruit a large commission
from the premium due to their employers. For a time, this
seemed to be the all-absorbing industry of the State. Every
town at once began the work ; and an enthusiasm and zeal
were manifest that gave promise of filling the quota.
Each town was made a sub-district ; and the former rivalry,
to some extent, was renewed. The citizens of Canton offered
the recruiting-agent a hundred dollars for each man credited
to the town. Laborers received large wages ; and many en
listed at a real sacrifice, for which the large bounties did not
compensate. In the midst of these pressing emergencies,
many of the recruiting-brokers began a course of systematic
swindling ; robbing the volunteers of a large portion of their
bounty, and thriving upon the necessities of an imperiled
nation.
Colored regiments had already been accepted by the War
Department from Massachusetts and Rhode Island ; and oth
ers had been organized in the South. By the efforts of Col.
Dexter R. Wright, ably seconded by Col. B. S. Pardee of New
Haven, a bill was passed in the General Assembly, authoriz
ing Gov. Buckingham to organize regiments of colored in
fantry in Connecticut. The Democrats denounced this bill
in unmeasured terms, as a provision to let loose upon the
helpless South " a horde of African barbarians," and predicted
cowardice, disgrace, and ruin as the result of the experi
ment.
On the 23d of November, the governor called for colored
volunteers for the Twenty-ninth Regiment ; and the call was
at once enthusiastically responded to. The bounty offered
was six hundred dollars ; the pay and uniforms being the same
as for other soldiers. In a week, the nucleus of the regiment
COLOEED EEGIMENT FROM CONNECTICUT. 461
had been formed, and encamped near Fair Haven, in comfort
able barracks, at the draft rendezvous.
By the 12th of January, the maximum number had as
sembled ; but few officers were yet appointed. Candidates
for commissions were required to pass a severe examination
before a board appointed by the War Department. The
process was slow, but beneficial. Before the end of January,
many officers had reported, and daily drills and a system of
rigid inspections were established. Thus the winter months
passed ; and spring found a tolerably-disciplined regiment,
under Capt. Charles L. Norton of Farmington, to whose efforts
the organization was much indebted. This officer wras soon
promoted to be colonel of a regiment in the Department of
the Gulf. Lieut. Jabez A. Tracy, a faithful and energetic
officer, died in February, and his loss was deeply felt.
On the 8th of March, the regiment was mustered into the
service, and about the middle of the month was fortunate in
receiving for its commander William B. Wooster of Derby,
lieutenant-colonel of the Twentieth. Henry C. Ward of
Hartford (late adjutant of the Twenty-fifth) was appointed
lieutenant-colonel ; and David Torrance of Greenville became
major.
On March 19, after receiving a United-States flag from
the colored ladies of New Haven, the regiment embarked on
the transport Warrior for Annapolis. Here the organiza
tion was completed ; and, through the efforts of Col. Wooster,
the regiment was armed with the latest pattern of Spring
field rifles.
On Jan. 12, the Twenty-ninth being declared full, the gov
ernor issued a call for colored volunteers for the Thirtieth,
subject to the same conditions. Enlistments continued vig
orously.
In the mean time, the call for three hundred thousand
was modified to a call 1 of five hundred thousand ; the quota
of Connecticut being 9,053. The draft was postponed to
March 10.
Recruiting-officers were sent to the regiments in the field ;
and the soldiers having less than one year to serve were
iFeb. 1.
462
CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
offered the veteran bounty of $702 to re-enlist, with a fur
lough of thirty days before the expiration of their original
term of enlistment. The effort was attended with abundant
success.
The following table exhibits the number of veteran re-
enlistments in each of the Connecticut organizations quali
fied by returns received up to April 1, 1864.
Kegiment.
Commanding Officer.
Location.
No. Re-en
listed.
1st Artillery,
Col. Henry L. Abbot,
Defenses of Washington,
435
1st Cavalry,
" Wm. S. Fish,
Baltimore, Md.,
92
1st Squadron C
ava
ry,
Army of the Potomac,
43
1st Battery,
Capt. Alfred P. Rockwell,
Department of the South,
46
5th Infantry,
Col. Warren W. Packer,
Army of the Cumberland,
280
6th
Redfield Duryee,
Department of the South,
205
7th
Joseph R. Hawley,
"
333
8th
John E. Ward,
of Virginia,
310
9th
Thomas W. Cahill,
of the Gulf,
321
10th
John L. Otis,
of the South,
280
llth
Griffin A.Stednian,Jr.
of Virginia,
268
12th
Ledvard Col burn,
of the Gulf,
436
13th
Charles D. Blinn,
»
298
3,347
The men of the First Artillery, First Battery, and First
Cavalry, received their furloughs, and came home individu
ally or in squads. The re-enlisted men in each of the other
regiments, except the Ninth and Thirteenth, returned to
the State as regimental organizations, accompanied by their
officers ; the men who had not re-enlisted being generally
transferred for the time to other regiments.
Meanwhile the recruiting went on through January, Febru
ary, and March. Kent, Cornwall, Brooklyn, and many other
towns, filled their quotas from their own native citizens. Ee-
course was also had to adopted citizens, and to recent arrivals
from Europe. Very many of these made excellent soldiers.
Surgeon Mayer wrote of these from Portsmouth, —
" The conscripts themselves, or rather the substitutes, — for there is hard
ly a drafted man among them, — truly comprise ' all sorts and conditions of
men.' We have Ellsworth's and Hawkins's Zouaves, as well as Billy Wil
son's. Full half the consignment have served before in our own or in the
European armies. We have quite a number of English, Irish, and German
regulars, who came to this country for the purpose of enlisting. They have
taken the substitute-money, and entered the army at better wages than they
ever before received. They esteem their bargain a good one, and intend
to do good service. I have talked with many of this class, as well as my
ADDRESS OF THE CITIZENS OF DERBY. 4G3
limited knowledge of German would admit, and fiud them apparently relia
ble and honorable men. They express themselves much better pleased
with our service than with that of the European armies. Many of them
save their money ; and thousands of dollars have been sent to New York
and elsewhere by them since their arrival."
On March 14, the President called for two Hundred thou
sand more, and the quota of Connecticut was again 5,260.
The most strenuous efforts were put forth. Recruiting contin
ued without abatement ; individual and collective energy was
put forth to fill the quota ; and in two weeks the quota was full,
with a large surplus to be credited on any subsequent call.
Adjutant-Gen. Morse, in closing his report for 1864, on
April 1, 1865, ^ays, —
" We have entered upon another year of the war ; and Connecticut main
tains her place among the foremost in loyalty and devotion to the Union.
Every demand for men has been responded to with a spirit and zeal second
to none ; and the State has now a surplus on all calls of thirty-one hundred
and seventy-two, or more than the quota under the last call for two .hundred
thousand men.
" In the glorious record of our State, especial honor should be given those
brave and true men, who, after the dangers and toils of a soldier's life for
so long a time, have again offered themselves to the service of the country."
The Confederacy was now environed on all sides with a
cordon of triumphant bayonets; and it was generally felt
that the Rebellion was staggering to its doom. Soldiers and
citizens redoubled their energies to hasten the end. Soldiers'-
aid societies, on the model of the Hartford Society, had
been organized in every large town in the State.
The citizens of Derby, who had already shown themselves
among the first in patriotic work, as her soldiers were among
the first upon the patriotic record, added to their donations
an address of thanks to their " fellow-citizens in the armies
of the Union." We quote briefly : —
"It is a matter of congratulation to us, that you, though accustomed to
the peaceful pursuits of civil life, have shown yourselves valiant in war,
and that your patriotism has remained unshaken while sorely tried by the
privations of the camp and the stern ordeal of the battle-field. We learn
with sorrow that some who went from our midst have fallen before the foe.
But, while we mourn their loss, we hold sacred to memory their bright
example ; and though they walk no more among us, the heroic and self-
sacrificing spirit they have shown in being willing to dai-e and to die for
the sake of our beloved land will never be forgotten. And now we would
464 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
renew to you the assurance of our sympathy, and pledge you again our
cordial support. We would have you feel that the fire of patriotism still
burns in our souls ; and that we are not only ready to lift up your hands and
encourage your hearts, but, if need be, to come and stand by your side, and
with you carry on this great contest till the glorious Union of our fathers
is restored, and traitors are no more."
This was signed by three hundred citizens, among whom
were A. Beardsley, John I. Howe, ,D. W. Plumb, Egbert
Bartlett, Thomas Wallace, jr., Gerald H. Corlies, Amos H.
Ailing, William E. Downs, D. K. Croffut, Robert Narramore,
George Blakeman, and other well-known citizens.
The ladies of Bridgeport met, the day after the President's
first call for troops in the spring of 1861, to " see what they
could do" for the volunteers; and commenced their labors
that afternoon. This was the first ladies' association for this
purpose in the country. The honorable priority is conceded
by citizens of other States.2 A more complete organization
was formed in August, denominated the Ladies' Soldiers'-Re-
lief Society, whereof Mrs. Woolsey G. Sterling was the
earliest president. Mrs. Daniel Thacher succeeded her. Miss
Lydia R. Ward was its secretary from the beginning to the
close of its labors. The immediate purpose of organization
was to aid the Sixth Regiment; but, like other societies,
they soon widened their sphere of action, and sent supplies
to other Connecticut soldiers, to the Sanitary Commission,
to regiments of other States, and to various hospitals. Dur
ing the first year of its existence, the cash receipts were
$2,618.21; and the cash expenditures $1,464.57. To these
accounts must be added the articles of clothing and bedding,
and most of the delicacies, made and prepared by the ladies,
and not comprised in the above items. More than a hun
dred and forty families of soldiers were assisted by the society
during the first year, by gifts of eight hundred yards of
cotton cloth, six hundred and seventy yards of calico, one
hundred and fifty yards of delaine, a quantity of new flan
nel, one hundred and eighty-five finished garments, and
seventy unmade garments ; besides fuel, provisions, and
bedding.
2 See the Tribute Book by Frank B. Goodrich, p. 70 ; and the History of the Sani
tary Commission by Charles G. Stillc, p. 39.
DONATIONS TO THE SOLDIERS. 465
The whole amount contributed to hospitals during the
year was as follows : —
Articles of clothing and bedding, 5,928; slippers, 212 pairs; dressing-
gowns, 80 ; brandy and wines, 108 bottles ; tea, sugar, and crackers, 132
pounds ; soap and candles, 69 pounds ; camphor, laudanum, &c., 56 bot
tles ; dried fruit, 225 pounds; jellies, 110 quarts; miscellaneous articles,
2,086.
The officers of this society for 1863 were, — president,
Mrs. Daniel H. Sterling ; vice-president, Mrs. Monson Haw-
ley ; secretary, Mrs. L. H. Norton ; treasurer, Mrs William
E. Seeley.
Early during the winter of 1863-64 the project was started
by the managers of this society to freight a vessel with vege
tables and other provisions, and send a portion to every
Connecticut regiment on the Atlantic coast that could be
reached by any means of carriage. Although the time for
making the collection was limited to ten days, yet the supply
from donations made from all parts of the State was amp^-
sufficient for the purpose. The different railroad-companies,
the express-company, and the Secretary of the Navy, gave
free transportation to the supplies. No less than fifteen
hundred packages, comprising barrels, half-barrels, boxes, &c.,
made up this noble and generous contribution to the sol
diers. Portions were transmitted by special agents to the
First Artillery, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh,
Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth,
and Twenty-first Connecticut Regiments, and to the 1st
North-Carolina colored regiment.
These supplies filled more than seven hundred barrels;
and most of them reached their destination before the 1st
of January. They were, of course, received with great de
light in all the winter camps. On New-Year's Day, the ves
sel reached Folly Island, and delivered the portion assigned
to the Seventeenth. The Ne\v*Year's present was carted to
the camp, making eighteen wagon-loads. Many soldiers
from other States were heard to exclaim, as the good things
came to our Connecticut boys, " I wish I had enlisted from
Connecticut ! " This remembrance of the absent was shown
466 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
with a lavishness that had its parallel but few times during
the war.
The Soldiers'-Aid Society of Norwich was organized in
September, 1861, under a call to furnish woolen stockings
for the soldiers.
Donations of yarn were received, and quickly, by willing
fingers, transformed into warm socks. Considerable finished
work was also contributed.
At the suggestion of Gov. Buckingham, an arrangement
was soon made for supplying regimental hospitals ; and the
ladies of Norwich assumed the especial care of the Sixth,
Eighth, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Regiments. They called
upon the ladies of New-London and Windham Counties
to co-operate, and were answered promptly and generously.
In this manner, they labored during the winter. During
the spring and summer, they were active and efficient in
responding to all special calls for general hospital-supplies
for all Connecticut soldiers, and indeed for any suffering
men who wore the army blue. They sent a large number
of boxes to the Women's Central Relief Association of New
York, and quickly gained an enviable name for the choice
quality of their supplies.
The three citizens who mainly managed and carried for
ward this association were Misses Elizabeth Green, Carrie
L. Thomas, and Eliza P. Perkins ; and no }7oung women any
where gave their time and efforts more devotedly to that
service. From the time of the organization, October, 1861, to
January, 1863, the society had received and disbursed, in cash,
$3,825.46 ; most of it the result of church contributions.
Besides this, it had received from the city, and from tributary
societies in New-London and Windham Counties, 30,443
different articles, and distributed them to various hospitals
and to the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-sixth Con
necticut Regiments. After 1863, the scope of the society
was enlarged ; and an immense amount of supplies was sent
to the front during 1864 and 1865 : but no report has
been received. Throughout the entire war, the patriotic
SOLDIEES'-AID SOCIETIES. 467
eastern counties were among the first in their generous
remembrance of the soldiers in the field.
In this connection may be mentioned Dr. Claudius B.
Webster and wife of Norwich, who were active from the
first in connection with the war. They were at first sani
tary agents at Washington ; then the doctor was for a long
time in charge of the freedmen's camp and hospital there
when it contained a thousand fugitives ; and was afterwards
medical superintendent of hospital - trains between Nash
ville and Louisville, — always accompanied by his wife, and
both of them always faithful to their work.
Miss Elizabeth Green, and her sister Miss A. E. Green,
employed substitutes, and kept them in the field during the
entire war, — an example which was followed by many
other women throughout the State.
From first to last, Danbury was alert and vigorous in giv
ing substantial aid to the soldiers. The Aid Society was
organized in November, 1861, at the house of Frederick S.
Wildrnan. Mrs. Wildman was made president, with Mrs.
Horace Marshall, vice-president, and Mrs. C. A. Bacon, secre
tary. Until the last gun was fired, this society held regular
weekly meetings, and promptly sent its offerings to the front ;
the total amounting to several thousand dollars. Two other
soldiers'-relief societies were formed towards the close of
the war ; one under the auspices of young people, superin
tended by Misses Elizabeth and Mary Wildman. The
aggregate of donations was very large ; and there was
scarcely a town in the State that furnished more liberally,
or wrought with greater constancy, than Danbury.
The Hartford Soldiers'- Aid Association was organized im
mediately after the fall of Sumter, in the spring of 1861 ;
and was one of the earliest in the State. Although in its
first organization it was designed for the benefit of Coi>
o . o
necticut volunteers, it gave two-thirds of its supplies to the
United-States Sanitary Commission, for all the soldiers of
the Union.
Large contributions from the citizens flowed in ; great in
terest was manifested in the work of procuring supplies ;
men gave liberally; and women, with unflagging zeal,
468
CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
prepared and sent. The following is a summary of con
tributions forwarded to the front during the first year : —
Clothing, pieces .... 19,506
Bedding " .... 6,064
Handkerchiefs, towels, &c. 10,281
. . 63
. . 41
. . 49
. . 27
133
Lint, boxes
Bandages, barrels
Old linen, packages .
Old cotton " . .
Books, papers, &c. .
Medicines, packages
Dried fruit "...
Groceries " . . .
Jellies, &c.. preserves, jars
Wine, &c., bottles .
Hospital furniture .
Miscellaneous
50
44
215
250
159
149
183
Something was sent to the Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh,
Twelfth, and Fourteenth Connecticut Regiments, and after
wards to almost all organizations from this State. Clothing
and food, moreover, was sent to nine United-States hospitals.
During the first two years of the existence of this society.
it disbursed, in cash, more than twenty thousand dollars ;
and of general supplies, more than sixty thousand dollars'
worth. A large portion of this was received from auxil
iary societies in other towns. Most of the towns and so
cieties of Hartford, Tolland, and Litchfield Counties, poured
generous tributary streams into the parent society. The
wealtlry men of Hartford were active in furnishing a con
stant supply of means to carry forward the enterprise.
The following are the total receipts and disbursements of
the Hartford Society : -
RECEIPTS.
1862 $9.314.34
1863 13,181.51
1864 9,889.40
1865 (to July) . . . 2,956.37
$36,341.62
EXPENSES.
1862 $10,139.05
1863 ..*.... 11,544.13
1864 . . . .
1865 (to July) .
11,883.66
2,569.96
$36,136.80
The largest donors were Alfred Smith, $1,275.00 ; Colt's
employes, $820; Calvin Day, $760; H. C. Beckwith,
$750; Collins Brothers, $700;' E. Flower, $600; Mrs.
Warburton, $515; M. P. Jewell & Son, $500; L. C. Ives,
475; surplus fund of Twenty-second Regiment, $463.64; N.
Kingsbury & Co., $450 ; Thomas Smith, $450 ; E. N. Kellogg
& Co., $425 ; Daniel Phillips, $420. The sum of $2,265.56
was received from tableaux, and $1,324.25 from New Britain.
WOEK QF THE SOLDIEES'-AID SOCIETIES. 469
More than forty gave $200 each ; and all were at the same
time giving liberally in other directions.
Virgil Cornish of New Britain, a man admirably qualified
for the work, contributed his services as special agent of the
society, and went to the field with large supplies from time
to time. Mr. E. M. Cushman also wrought faithfully and
successfully in the same office. In December, 1862, he took
U hundred barrels, and distributed among our regiments at
Falmouth.
A large quantity of supplies was received in Washington,
and distributed by Mrs. Senator Dixon, Mrs. Secretary
Welles, and Mrs. Gen. Hawley ; the last of whom gave many
months exclusively to hospital-work, permanently injuring
her health.
Surgeon Mayer of the Sixteenth wrote, on the receipt of
supplies from Hartford, —
" Allow me to say, that few other societies in the United
States are conducted with that energy and success which
characterize the work of your body ; and no regiments are
provided for as you provide for the Connecticut regiments.
God knows, our poor boys, exposed not only to the attacks
of the enemy, but to the inroads of every disease, deserve
richly the care of those for whom they suffer and fight. The
moral influence of your labor for them is almost as great a
comfort to them as the good things you send."
From Jarvis Hospital, Baltimore, a lady who had distrib
uted supplies, wrote, —
" I wish each donor could see the happy faces of the brave
soldiers as the articles are given to them. I tell them that
they come from Hartford, Conn. ; that the ladies love the
cause they are fighting and suffering and dying for, and work
with willing hands to prepare articles for their comfort.
The young ladies who prepared those ring-pads and pil
lows will never know how much pain they saved the poor
fellows who are obliged to keep their beds for months.
Mrs. W. Thompson of East Windsor sent some small pillows.
A poor fellow died here recently that had used one for a
number of weeks. His broken-hearted father was with him for
thirteen days before his death : just before he died, he said,
470 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
' Father, I want you should carry this pillow to my mother :
it has been such a comfort to me.' "
The following was the Board of Managers of the Hartford
Soldiers'-Aid Society : —
First Directress, Mrs. Sidney J. Cowen ; Second Directress, Mrs. Ros-
well Brown ; Third Directress, Miss Esther Pratt.
Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, Mrs. S. J. Cowen.
Treasurer, Mr. F. A. Brown. •
Consulting Committee, Mr. E. H. Owen, Mr. Alfred Smith, Mr. W. H."
D. Callender, Col. J. B. Bunce, Mr. Virgil Cornish.
Managers, Mrs. J. H. Ashmead, Mrs. M. H. Buell, Mrs. A. W. But
ler, Mrs. Gr. S. Browne, Mrs. J. E. Coleman, Mrs. S. W. Cowles, Mrs.
F. Chamberlin, Mrs. N. Colton, Mrs. H. Foster, Mrs. A. F. Hastings,
Mrs A. Gr. Hammond, Miss Harrison, Mrs. Theron Ives, Mrs. J. F. Judd,
Mrs. Pliny Jewell, Mrs. William T. Lee, Mrs. D. Phillips, Mrs. W. W.
Roberts, Mrs. N. Starkweather, Mrs. Allyn S. Stillman, Mrs. W. T. Strick
land, Mrs. C. A. Taft, Miss Mary Talcott, Miss Jane Woodbridge, Mrs.
Oswiu Welles, Mrs. T. J. Work.
Associate Managers for New Britain, Mrs." Erwin, Mrs. Churchill.
Mrs. Cowen, sister of Gen. Robert 0. Tyler, impelled by
the. earnestness and energy which distinguish the family,
was from the first the leading spirit in rendering the move
ment effective for good. She gave her entire time and care
to the work.
Relief was extended to many soldiers' families at home ;
and the wives of soldiers were constantly employed in the
manufacture of garments.
At this same time, Hartford was giving largely through
the Sanitary Association, established under the immediate
auspices of Mrs. J. Olmstead and Mrs. T. G. Talcott; and
prosecuting kindred work with great success.
In the autumn of 1862, the Ladies of New Haven came
spontaneously to the relief of Alfred Walker in the work
which he had so nobly maintained. After the battle of
Antietam, they organized the New -Haven Soldiers'-Aid
Society, to act mainly in direct co-operation with the Sani
tary Commission. The corresponding secretary, Mrs. Gen.
B. S. Roberts, whose enterprise contributed largely to the
success of the society, entered into correspondence with
persons in more than a hundred towns ; in most of which
CONTRIBUTIONS TO SANITARY COMMISSION. 471
auxiliary societies were formed or renewed, swelling largely
the list of consignments to Washington. The New-Ha
ven Society occupied the governor's and treasurer's rooms,
except during the sessions of the legislature. Here the
sanitary sisters wrought in patriotic unison for three years,
sending on an immense store of clothing and food. Here
cloth was bought, cut, and much of it delivered to coun
try towns to be made ; and, when returned, the garments
were packed and dispatched to the waiting thousands in
camp and hospital.
The society was now authorized to act for the State in be
half of the United-States Sanitary Commission, and entered
heartily upon the work. A hundred and twenty towns be
came tributary to this association, through their soldiers'-
aid societies. Little was sent direct to Connecticut regi
ments : the supplies were mostly intrusted to the more
general distribution of the national society. Of the money
expended, $2,912.26 came from the " Bazaar," the great San
itary Fair held in the city.
The following was the Board of Managers : —
First Directress, Mrs. A. N. Skinner ; Second Directress, Miss M. P.
Twining ; Third Directress, Mrs. W. A. Norton.
Managers, Mrs. William Bacon, Mrs. E. Barrett, Mrs. Bassett, Miss E.
Bradley, Miss C. L. Brown, Mrs. L. Candee, Mrs. C. Candee, Mrs. R.
Chapman, Miss R. Chapman, Miss C. Collins, Miss Dickerman, Mrs.
II. UuBois, Mrs. J. W. Fitch, Miss J. Gibbs, Mrs. J. Goodnough, Mrs. E.
S. Greeley, Miss M. Hillhouse, Miss I. Hillhouse, Miss S. B. Harrison,
Mrs. C. A. Ingersoll, Mrs. B. Jepson, Miss A. Lamed, Mrs. H. Mans
field, Mrs. H. Plumb, Mrs. D. C. Pratt, Miss P. Peck, Mrs. W. H. Russell,
Mrs. G. B. Rich, Mrs. J. A. Root, Miss E. Sherman, Mrs. J. Sheldon,
Miss M. Storer, Miss A. Thacher, Mrs. A. Treat, Mrs. C. R. Waterhouse,
Mrs. William Winchester, Miss D. Woolsey.
Corresponding Secretaries, Mrs. B. S. Roberts, Miss J. W. Skinner.
Recording Secretary. Mrs. II. T. Blake.
Treasurer, Mrs. Emily M. Fitch.
Advisory Committee, Messrs. Alexander C. Twining, Charles Carlisle,
Thomas R. Trowbridge, Alfred Walker, Stephen D. Pardee, and Dr.
Moses C. White.
Among the larger sources of supply in 1863, Mrs. Norton
obtained $517, by tableaux ; Professor and Mrs. E. E. Salis
bury gave $278 ; H. Sanford and W. W. Boardman, $125
each ; the town of Seymour gave $200 ; Woodbury $119 ;
Stamford, $229. In 1864, Professor and Mrs. E. E. Salisbury
472 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
gave $155 ; H. Sanford $150 ; town of Ridgefield, $470 ;
town of Seymour, $463.70; Cheshire, $434,01; Water-town,
$209; Birmingham, $200 ; Naugatuck, $172.78; Guilford,
$167.25; Woodbridge, $149.68; Meriden, $867; New Mil-
ford, $321.88; Litchfield, $176.12. In 1865, there was re
ceived from lecture and concert by J. Sheldon, Esq., $361.78 ;
H. Sanford, $150 ; W. W. Boardman, $100 ; Professor and Mrs.
Salisbury, $135 ; from Waterbury, $1,007.50 ; from Meriden,
$1,224.50 ; from Clinton, $350 ; Stamford, $240 ; Woodbury,
$147.20 ; New Milford, $206. Other towns and individuals
gave a large aggregate in smaller sums.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1864, with final victory close at
hand, the United-States Sanitary Commission sent to the
soldiers in the field a dinner, consisting, among other things,
of six hundred tons of turkeys, in number about two hun
dred thousand. Connecticut furnished her full share of these.
For one day at least, in camp and field and hospital, the
quiet bird, which plain Ben Franklin wished to see inscribed
upon an armorial field, stood forth supreme, and effectually
superseded the proud "bird of freedom."
The First Connecticut Cavalry, in West Virginia, was
beyond reach of the timid fowl in November, but received a
New-Year's dinner from the New-Haven Society. Chaplain
Holmes acknowledged it as follows : —
CAMP OF FIRST CONNECTICUT CAVALRY,
NEAR WINCHESTER, VA., Jan. 3, 1865.
MRS. B. S. ROBERTS, Soldiers-Aid Society, New Haven.
MADAM, — You will be glad to know that the many good things con
tributed by our friends in New Haven reached here safely, and were a very
considerable contribution to the grand dinner which our regiment enjoyed
yesterday afternoon. Every thing came in good condition, — thanks to
excellent cooking and excellent packing. Our tables, spread upon the snow,
were covered with seventy-eight turkeys, one hundred and twenty-five chick
ens, and with any quantity of mince-pies, cakes, cheese, apples, pickles, pre
serves, &c., — an abundant supply not only for the immediate occasion, but
for one or two meals to-day. If you could have heard the " Three cheers
for the friends at home ! " and the many expressions of delight at the practical
assurances afforded, that, in all the holiday enjoyment, the soldier was not
forgotten, you would have been fully repaid for the trouble which our en
joyment has cost you. With the help of your contribution of gloves and
mittens, I was enabled to present to the regiment about three hundred and
titty pairs, — a very acceptable New- Year's gift to men who had for two cold
mouths done, bare handed, the hardest of cavalry- work. . . .
WORK OF THE NEW-HAVEN SOCIETY. 473
Be good enough to accept our hearty acknowledgment to yourself and
ladies of your association, believing me, in behalf of the command,
Very respectfully and gratefully,
THEODORE J. HOLMES,
Chaplain First Connecticut Cavalry.
The New-Haven Society received and disbursed, between
Nov. 1, 1862, and Nov. 18, 1865, the sum of $27,304.96.
The following table shows the details of the work : —
60
474
CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
02
P3
W
M
s
o p
<,
02
2
i
FM
W
I
o
O 52;
<d P
3 g
^ B
«
K o
o a
g 8
P !?5~
g 2
1 |
•- s
02 S
w
Denomination.
Quantities.
Dried Apples (bbls.).
36
Other dried Fruit (bbls.).
4
323 Ibs
Blackberry and other
Cordials (gals.).
251
Wine and Spirits (gals.).
346
Bay Rum and Cologne
(bottles).
188
Jellies and Jam (jars).
1686
110 Ibs
Farinaceous Food (Ibs.).
1,346
Crackers (bbls.;.
8
Tea and Coffee (Ibs.).
148
Broma, Cocoa, &c.
(Ibs.).
260
Sugar (Ibs.).
266
Spices (Ibs.).
51
Fresh Fruits (bbls.).
8
Tomatoes and Fruits
(cans).
141
Pickles (gals.).
9CO
Lemons (boxes).
17
Condensed Milk (cans).
290
Catsup (gals.).
22£
Tamarinds (tubs).
4
Ginger (jars).
6
Cider (bbls.).
6
Vinegar (bbls.).
6
Cheeses.
16
Onions (bunches).
810
Beets.
880
Squashes.
150
Vegetables (bbls.).
453
Groceries in packages.
556
Miscellanies — Eggs,
Butter, Cookies, Soap,
&c., &c.
470
Denomination.
Quantities.
Shins f 5,291 Flannel.
S \ 4,723 Cotton.
10,014
>
Drawers $ 4>2°7 Flannel
( 1,765 Cotton.
5,972
a
Dressing-gowns.
1,122
a
Hdkfs. and Napkins.
15,098
j3
0
~
Socks (prs.).
10,755
a.
n
Mittens (prs.).
1,412
~B
Slippers (prs.).
682
a
£
Towels.
9,291
format
Sheets.
6,360
0)
-
Pillow-cases.
4,449
5
~
Quilts.
2,400
!L
H.
0
Blankets.
787
.~
Pillows.
3,333
^
Pads and Cushions.
2,750
O
Bed and pillow sacks.
203
<u
a
Neck-tics.
300
1
Fans.
250
5
s
Second-hand Garments.
261
Arm-slings.
261
o
—
Abdominal Supporters.
219
Needle-books and Com
fort-bags.
700
_cu
Bandages (bbls.).
31
Rags (bbls.).
53
£
Lint (bbls.).
5
|
Crutches (prs.).
36
•2
Mosquito Netting (yds.).
173
P
Books.
2,156
1
—
Magazines.
3,300
Miscellaneous Articles.
1,639
Cases (contents un
known).
54
CHAPTER XXIX.
Harland's Brigade near Portsmouth. — More Digging. — A Handsome Camp. — The
Twenty-first on Provost-Duty in Portsmouth and Norfolk. — Raid through Dismal
Swamp. — The Eleventh at Gloucester Point. — Twenty-first at Newport News. —
An Expedition up the James. — Fifteenth and Sixteenth go to North Carolina. —
"Accidental" Fire. — Twenty-first at Newport Barracks and Newberne. — Life at
Plymouth. — Battle and Capture by the Rebels. — Gen. Peck's Order.
ARLAND'S brigade, the only brigade of Con
necticut regiments in the service, remained
intact near Portsmouth during all the hot sum
mer months of 1863 ; the thermometer some
times ranging a hundred and ten degrees in the
shade. Maltby's ice-cream saloon in Norfolk was a popular
resort.
The brigade was located at intervals on a military high
way extending along and within the line of fortifications
from the Suffolk to the Elizabeth-city Roads, 'which roads
converge towards Portsmouth. The distance to Portsmouth
varied from two and a half to four miles.
The officers of the brigade were : Brig.-Gen. Edward Har-
land of Norwich, in command ; Capt. H. P. Gates of the
Eighth (Norwich), A. A. G. ; Lieut. C. J. Arms of the Six
teenth (Norwich), A. D. C.; Lieut. Alfred M. Goddard of the
Eighth (Norwich), A. D. C.; Lieut. N. P. Ives, of the Eighth
(Meriden), Brigade Commissary; Lieut. Stuart Barnes of the
Fifteenth (Fair Haven), Brigade Q. M. ; Surgeon Melancthon
Storrs of the Eighth (Hartford), Brigade Surgeon.
The regiments were kept almost constantly at work felling
trees, digging trenches, and throwing up breastworks, with
the accompanying picket-duty. The position in front of the
Eleventh and Sixteenth was named Fort Griswold, after
476
476 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE EEBELLION.
the brave captain, killed at Antietam ; and was surrounded
by a flat, sandy plain, covered with a low stretch of pine and
gum trees. The toil on the fortifications served as a con
ductor to carry off the fire of patriotism, and tended to
diminish the soldierly spirit; but they had an occasional
review and dress-parade with the accompaniment of a
fine brigade band, when the weather was fair, which kept
the military spark from becoming quite extinct, and re
minded the poor fellows, weary with chopping trees, rolling
logs, and throwing shovelful after shovelful of dirt all day,
that they belonged to the noble profession of arms. The
men were required to be neat and cleanly in their persons
and accouterments.
During the warm weather, much sickness prevailed, espe
cially diarrhoea, diphtheria, and swamp fever; and there
were some deaths from malarious diseases.1 All the sur
geons were faithful ; and, as the fall and winter months
approached, health rapidly improved. The efficiency of
Surgeon Dwight Satterlee of Ledyard was also especially
mentioned ; and by the 1st of October there were only two
members of the Eleventh in the hospital. Surgeon Sat
terlee was afterwards promoted to be major of the regiment,
— the only case of the kind in the regiments from this
State.
A member 2 of the Sixteenth wrote, " We have of late
had quite a number of ladies visiting us, and the effect on
our men has been very good. Whereas you formerly could
hear an oath now and then from an aggravated individual,
now no such imprecations sully the air. Let me here men
tion the incalculable services rendered to our sick by Mrs.
Burnham, mother of Lieut.-Col. John H. Burnham, now com
manding the regiment. Almost seventy years old, this grand
old lady displays a vigor and tenderness, a discrimination and
practical kindness, in her attentions to the sick, that have
gone far to help us through a dreadful epidemic of diphthe
ria and of remittent fever, with the loss of only three men.
She is constantly engaged in preparing those nice home tit-
1 Sergeant William H Hubbard of Guilford died in September. He was a well-edu
cated younjj man ; moral and circumspect in his life, and happy in the hour of his sacrifice.
'2 Surgeon Nathan Mayer.
'c'fa>
FINE CONDITION OF THE TWENTY-FIRST. 477
bits so dear to the sick soldiers. Not satisfied with prepar
ing them, she administers them, talking all the time to the
delighted men as only a great, good woman of that age and
such motherly feelings can talk."
Surgeon Mayer, the successor of Dr. Abner S. Warner of
Wethersfield, wrote of this time, " Gradually, the finest
camp, but one, which it has been my fortune to see, grew
up. The most perfect order, the most civilized condition,
prevailed. The tents were neatly and prettily furnished, as
our Connecticut country homes are, and the ground always
in beautiful condition. As winter approached, the men built
a hospital of logs, — log-houses for the officers, log kitchens
and eating-saloons for the companies. Our pioneers erected
a perfect village.
"During all these weeks, the military standing of the regi-
o */ o
ment rose perceptibly. There was not a cleaner, prompter,
more loyal, reliable, and honest regiment in the service. No
brighter arms, no quicker evolutions, no greater perfection
in drill, were to be found anywhere."
The -Twenty-first had been assigned to provost-duty in
Portsmouth, — rather more agreeable service. Major Hiram
B. Crosby was appointed provost-marshal. Col. Dutton, hav
ing been released from the command of the 3d Brigade, again
assumed command of the regiment. " Lieut-Col. Thomas
F. Burpee, who had been absent several weeks, returned
with restored health, and entered upon his duties with his
usual energy, and did much toward bringing the regiment
Ot/ f O O O
up to a high standard of excellence and perfection." 3
In September, the regiment was inspected by Col. Dono-
hoe of a New- York regiment, from whose report the follow
ing is an extract : —
" The clothing of the men is in very fine order ; coats fit
well, and are well taken care of. I believe that the general
appearance of the regiment is equal, if not superior, to any
that I have ever inspected. The officers appear to good
advantage; and the non-commissioned officers deserve credit
for their neat appearance and soldierly bearing. In conclu
sion, I can safely say, that the condition and general appear-
3 Letter of Capt. Delos D. Brown of Chatham.
478 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
ance of the regiment is as fine as any I ever had the honor
to inspect ; and close observation will allow me to predict
that the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers can be relied
upon in whatever position they may be placed."
During September, a movement into Secessia was planned ;
and on the 20th, five companies of the Fifteenth — D, E, G,
H, and K — started on boats along the canal straight south
through Dismal Swamp, halting at South Mills, ten miles be
low the State line in North Carolina. Lieut-Col. Tolles was
in command of the detachment. On Oct. 12, the other
five companies, with six companies of the Eighth, left camp
at Portsmouth, and inarched to Deep Creek, being there
joined by a part of a Pennsylvania cavalry regiment. They
moved on to South Mills next day ; were there joined by
three of the other companies of the Fifteenth ; and pressed
on to surprise, and, if possible, capture, a camp of" conscript-
catchers" reported to be quartered in the swamp. Before
arriving at the place, the infantry halted, while the cavalry
and two mounted companies of the Eighth rode down on the
camp of the bushwhackers ; but they were in the woods be
yond reach. The Union forces returned next day with nine
prisoners, and a quantity of ducks, geese, turkeys, and other
plunder. The expedition was under Col. Upham of the Fif
teenth; Capt. Hoytof the Eighth commanding the battalion
of infantry.
As early as December of 1862, Lieut. John H. Burnhain,
the skillful and efficient adjutant of the Sixteenth, was
promoted to be lieutenant-colonel ; superseding eight or ten
officers who ranked him. The choice had already proved a
most wise one. He had done much to bring the regiment to
a high state of discipline, and to make the men soldiers in
spirit, appearance, and action. An. officer 4 wrote, " He has,
with little interruption, commanded the regiment since last
January, and is regarded with as much love as can find room
beside the respect due to a regimental commander." Major
John E. Ward of Norwich had- now become colonel of the
Eighth, and Capt. Martin B. Smith of Waterbury lieutenant-
colonel ; Capt. Henry M. Hoyt of Bridgeport command-
* Surgeon Mayer.
THE ELEVENTH AT FORT KEYES. 479
ing the regiment in the absence of both. Capt. Charles
L. Upham of Meriden had been promoted to be lieutenant-
colonel, and then transferred to be colonel, of the Fifteenth.
Our regiments seemed to have won the good opinion of
the hostile neighborhood, as the Old Dominion, a journal
published at Portsmouth, said, —
" The gallant little State of Connecticut is well represented
in this vicinity among the soldiery; and, like brave men,
they know how to conduct themselves in the busy city and
on guard-duty, as well as on the field of strife. This has
been exemplified in the orderly conduct which has uniformly
characterized the members in our midst. We have heard of
not a single case of rowdyism or wanton interference with
private rights since they have been stationed in our vicinity;
out everywhere we hear encomiums of praise bestowed
upon them for the rectitude of their conduct and the excel
lent morals which they exhibit."
This good feeling was evidently mutual ; for Capt. Delos D.
Brown of the Twenty-first, from East Hampton, wrote at the
time, " Our stay in Portsmouth was characterized by a deep
feeling of friendship, and a unity of sentiment and action be
tween ourselves and many of the generous citizens of the
place, which could but inspire the highest regard, and attach
us strongly to the hospitable inhabitants of this portion of
the Old Dominion. We shall ever cherish the remembrances
of the associations formed there, as among the most happy
and pleasant of our service."
On Sept. 29, the regiment was ordered across the Eliza
beth River to Norfolk, where labor was more severe ; but
municipal contact was still agreeable.
The Eleventh, about the first of October, was ordered to
Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown, for a raid into Matthews
County; but only Lieut. Krazynski (of Danbury), with twen
ty-five sharpshooters, participated. The regiment refitted
and cleansed Fort Keyes, a rusty old reminiscence of McClel-
lan, and made it healthful and neat. The uniforms, which
the men wore from Connecticut two years before, were
brushed to tidiness ; and the tattered tents were patched and
reefed into winter-quarters. The place was not gay. The
480 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
noble York River here narrows from two miles to one ; and
a crazy, decrepit ferry-boat hitched across the river a few
times a day. The country round about was fertile, but aban
doned. The new-born national freedmen were huddled in a
neighborhood known as " Slab Richmond," — not a lively spot
to hibernate ; but the soldiers of the Eleventh had long be
fore learned not to be particular. They established a read
ing-room, and put in attractive order the books and journals
from home.
On Dec. 16, there was a terrible fire, followed by ex
plosions, at Yorktown. The fire began early in the even
ing, and burned its way to the forts. Chaplain Henry S.
De Forest wrote, —
" A premonitory flash was followed by bursting shell. The
batteries then opened, and were kept playing till the fires
were quenched by a rain-storm the next day. Like some
grand Fourth-of-July display, these loaded sky-rockets cleaved
the air, burning often in colored light, and tracing curves,
we thought perhaps of death, certainly of beauty. Soon
followed the first two of the four great explosions. A column
of fire and smoke mounted heavenward, wonderful in size
and grandeur. It rolled its folds, dark yet luminous, side
wards and upwards, till it seemed to half reach the clouds
starting from its base ; and, using this as the background of
the scene, scores of shells were tracing their terrible parabo
las in lines of fire. They had not reached the earth, when
a second explosion followed, brighter and grander than the
first. It was a volcano-scene such as is seldom witnessed by
man. As the smoke rolled away, fire darted here and there,
like lightning running on the ground. It was the bursting
of what the explosion had scattered far and wide : and so the
lesser displays went on ; till at midnight, and especially at
four o'clock, an earthquake-shock was repeated, scattering
a brick building to the four winds. Two of the regiment—
Charles II. Cady of Hampton and Adelbert Spencer of Wood
stock — were stationed as a guard, almost within scorching
distance of the fire. They were not relieved ; and, amid show
ers of brick and bursting bombs from the several explosions
of that long night, they stood at their post, Romans in mod
ern times."
"ACCIDENTAL" FIRE IN THE CAMP. 481
On Dec. 10, the Twenty-first, much to its regret, was re
lieved at Norfolk by a Massachusetts regiment, and ordered
to Newport News. It arrived there the same day, and en
camped within a few rods of its camp of a year before. Here
the men devoted themselves to drill, reading, games, music,
and, later, to discussing the merits of well-packed boxes from
home. Capt. D. D. Brown wrote of this, " We have lately
been the recipients of a schooner-load of good things from
the Soldiers'-Aid Society at Bridgeport, Conn., and others, who
may rest assured that we highly appreciate their many kind
nesses ; and the more so, from the fact that they came to us
from a portion of the State from which few if any of our
men came, and where the regiment must be but little
known." <
Recruits from home, mostly substitutes, now came to all
the regiments, and were closely guarded and industriously
drilled.
Left alone at Gettysville, as the camp near Portsmouth
was now called, after Gen. Getty, the Fifteenth and Sixteenth
Connecticut began to think of active service again. On the
morning of Jan. 21, 1864, both regiments broke camp, to ern-
bark on two steamers for Newberne, N.C. There was great
consternation and grief when the order came to quit the fine
slat and log houses, especially in a line of pretty cottages
christened " Matrimony Row," where some officers resided
with their wives. About three thousand dollars had been
expended in the construction of the comfortable village.
It being suspected that the division-general in command,
Gen. Heckman, had employed this finesse in order to secure
the admirable quarters for his own former regiment, the men
set fire to their camp on evacuating it ; or, as Surgeon Mayer
more circuitously wrote, " Some rubbish accidentally caught
fire, and spread instantly to the buildings. Gorgeous tongues
of flame leaped up with a peculiar roar; while the unfortu
nate possessors of the property, with pious resignation in the
Lord's will, stood by, and chatted and smiled, and laughed
and danced. By a like unaccountable accident, the officers
were out of wood in the evening ; and, no other being at
hand, the lofty flagstaff was hewed down to supply them. A
61
482 - CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
high wind threw down every chimney, and spread devasta
tion over the land. Thus, when the golden sun of Jan. 21
beamed down on the world, the camp of the Sixteenth Con
necticut Volunteers was a desert as flat as my grandfather's
bald pate. Fiat voluntas tua ! "
Transports bore the regiments down the coast. In an
exclamatory style wrote an officer5 of the trip, —
" We arrive at Morehead City ; one hotel, which is not
kept, and five houses not inhabited ; go by rail to Newberne,
— sweet place, elms enough to furnish a second New Haven,
everybody in a fever of friendliness towards us, nothing else
to do ; we re-embark for Plymouth ; down the Neuse, across
Pamlico Sound to Roanoke, along Albemarle Sound into the
Roanoke River ; weather glorious ; water quiet ; high enjoy
ment on the voyage ; lots of fun ; reach Plymouth towards
night ; set our brass bands blowing ; astonish the country ;
air balmy and warm as in spring.
" Plymouth is a quiet little town ; has been burnt down to
some extent by the rebs ; rebs driven back ; excellent fortifi
cations ; well guarded ; Gen.'Henry W. Wessels in command,
— a Connecticut man ; belongs to the regular army, in which
he is a lieutenant-colonel ; good, kind old gentleman, with
high military knowledge ; makes semi-weekly irruptions in
the enemy's country, burning and carrying oflf the stores of
ham, cotton, and beef which they accumulate in this vicinity
for the rebel government. Our men have been on two of
these expeditions ; carried off some bales of cotton, and de
stroyed many ; destroyed also several hundred thousand dol
lars' worth of hams, — all for Uncle Sam; carried off sundry
lots of poultry and eggs, — all for themselves ; like to go ex
ceedingly."
Gen. Harland being detailed to serve on a military com
mission, Col. Beach commanded the brigade. Lieut.-Col.
Burnham being absent, Capt. Thomas F. Burke commanded
the Sixteenth. Major Henry L. Pasco and Capt. Edward H.
Mix of Terryville had been detained at Portsmouth to
explain the accident that happened to the camp of the Con
necticut brigade.
5 Surgeon Mayer.
THE TWENTY-FIRST AT NEWPORT BARRACKS. 483
In the mean time, the Twenty-first had not been as idle
as they anticipated. On Sunday, Jan. 25, an expedition,
consisting of four gunboats, thirty of the harbor police, and
a hundred and fifty men of the Twenty-first Connecticut,
under Capt. James F. Brown of North Stonington (the whole
under command of Gen. Graham), left Old Point for a recon-
noissance up the James. They proceeded until within a
short distance of Fort Powhattan, near the mouth of the
Chickahominy, at a place called the Brandon Farm. Here
tlie detachment of the Twenty-first was landed, and made
a reconnoissance back into the country about two miles, where
they surprised and captured a signal station with all its ap
purtenances, secret messages, and letters ; one of the latter
indicating the whereabouts of a large amount of stores about
to be removed to Richmond.
Capt. Brown made a raid upon the farm, captured the offi
cer in charge, and destroyed a very large quantity of stores
of bacon, flour, corn, oats, and hay, the value of which was
said to be estimated by the rebels at from two hundred and
fifty thousand to three hundred thousand dollars. The
detachment now returned to the river, and found that one
of the gunboats had captured a schooner laden with tobacco,
and an unfreighted sloop. Ten horses and twenty prison
ers were also taken.
Early in February, the Twenty-first went from Newport
News to Morehead City by water, thence straight towards
Newberne. Previously to their arrival, Newport Barracks,
ten miles from Morehead City, had been captured by the
rebels, routing the 9th Vermont. The bridges had been
burned in the flight. The Twenty-first with the troops that
had been ejected, all under Col. Button, now marched back on
the barracks, resolved to fight for possession ; but the rebels
had decamped most willingly with what plunder they could
carry away. The barracks were a pile of smoking ruins.
They encamped for the night near the place; and Col.
Button, being recalled to the city, left the command to Col.
Ripley of the 9th Vermont. Next morning, this vigilant
officer led his troops back towards Morehead City, having
" discovered the enemy in front in large force." At the ur-
484 CONNECTICUT DUBING THE REBELLION.
gent request of Lieut.-Col. Burpee of the Twenty-first, a stand
was made at Carolina City, only five miles to the rear ; and
in the afternoon a company of the regiment was sent up to
reconnoiter. They were directed to advance slowly, and
with great caution. "They proceeded cautiously along until
they arrived at Newport, when they were surprised by As
sistant Surgeon Charles Tennant, of the Twenty-first, who,
being asleep when the forces left to fall back on the city,
had, upon awakening and finding himself alone, concluded to
remain in possession of the place."6
As soon as the company arrived, Surgeon Tennant sent
back a dispatch, stating that he had held the place twenty-
four hours, and thought that he should be able to do so
until re-inforcements arrived. Col. Ripley, feeling the ludi-
crousness of his position, moved his force up with all speed
on the cars.
« Arriving at Newport, we were received by the surgeon
and the discovering party ; and a salute of three guns was
fired from a cannon they had found, and succeeded in remov
ing the spike from, and mounting on an old pair of wheels.
They reported having seen no enemy ; and we reported the
same. So we took a little something to steady our nerves,
and again went on picket, resolved to make a desperate
stand if we were attacked and were not ordered back ; and
we did."7
Feb. 12, the Twenty-first proceeded to Newberne ; and
Col. Button was chief-of-staff to Gen. Peck.
During February, 1864, the regiments remained at Ply
mouth, employed mainly in drills, inspections, &c. An of
ficer,8 who evidently had not the fear of Gen. Casey before
his eyes, thus facetiously described some of the efforts at mili
tary display : —
"First of all, regimental guard-mounting. The band
posts itself in the very center of an open space, and blows
with might and main. Thereupon the details for guard
from the various companies make their appearance, with
gloves on their fingers, and, I had almost said, " bells on
their toes ; " their accouterments all bright and brassy, and
0 Letter of Capt. D. D. Brown. 7 Ibid. 8 Surgeon Mayer.
ONE OF GEN. PECK'S SCARES. 485
their guns polished to the highest point of brilliancy. They
are conducted by the orderly sergeants, who, bravely decked
out with sash and chevrons, place them on a line with the
music, and then elevate their hangers in the same manner
that Edgardo does his dagger in the last act of Lucia, but
in a reverse position, and not with any suicidal intentions.
This is the salute. All being in line, the music stops; and the
adjutant, who is fastened to an immense sword, which fate
and a strong belt compel him to drag along, advances to the
front, followed by the officers commanding the guard, a
sergeant, corporal, and private. They are solemnly com
manded to ' bout face,' and to ' make their guard, march ! '
all of which they seem to accomplish by walking off in
single file, and hiding themselves behind the ranks.
" Upon this, follows the ' inspection of arms.' The band
gives a melancholy tune ; and the officers keep time by rat
tling the ramrods of the arms to be inspected in the barrels
of the guns. Now, two individuals, with scarlet sashes
draped around their bosoms much in the way little girls
wear their pink ribbons at parties, post themselves in front
of the guard. They are the old and new officers of the day.
The troops beat off (vulgo, the musicians march up and
down, playing a tune) ; the guard presents arms ; one of the
red-sashed individuals raises his cap ; the adjutant turns
about several times ; and then — all go home to breakfast.
This is excessively imposing when you see it every morn
ing, and have got used to it."
Suddenly came the report of a rebel advance on New-
berne ; and the Fifteenth went up on the Thomas Collyer,
Feb. 3, to assist in the defense. In a few weeks, the
Sixteenth was also called, and was soon upon a transport
in the Neuse. It was " only one of Gen. Peck's scares ; " but
the regiment disembarked, and went into barracks beside
the Fifteenth, — the same camp formerly occupied by the
Tenth. Here Major Pasco found the regiment (having
convinced Gen. Butler of the innocence of his men), and
assumed command.
Capt. Mix, in attempting to get to Newberne, took a small
schooner for Roanoke Island. While in Pamlico Sound, a
486 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
squall struck the schooner ; and the boom knocked Capt.
Mix overboard, as he sat smoking on deck. A boat was
instantly lowered ; but, when within twenty-five feet, the
unfortunate man sank to rise no more. He was a good swim
mer, but was encumbered with a heavy overcoat and large
boots. Edward H. Mix had been a lieutenant in the First
Regiment, and was the last of the original captains of the
Sixteenth. He was tall ; and his pale complexion, large
dark eyes, and black mustache, gave him a striking appear
ance. He was genial in manners, of average general knowl
edge, and well versed in tactics and military discipline. He
was much regretted by the regiment.
On March 20, the Sixteenth returned to Plymouth. The
transport encountered a very severe storm opposite Roanoke
Island, and became disabled. It was feared she would go
to pieces ; but the men, after suffering greatly from cold
and' hunger, were finally taken off by the steamer Gen.
Berry, and carried to their destination. It would have
been better for them if they had been wrecked upon the
island.
Plymouth lies on the south side of the Roanoke River,
eight miles from Albemarle Sound, and was once a place of
some importance, dealing largely in " tar, pitch, turpentine,
and lumber." Besides the Sixteenth, the garrison now con
sisted of a New- York regiment, two Pennsylvania regiments,
a light battery, and two companies of heavy artillery ; the
whole in command of Gen. Henry W. Wessells, a brave and
judicious officer of the regular army from Connecticut.
There were Forts Gray and Williams, with Compiler and
Coneby Redoubts, and a long line of connecting breastworks.
Co-operating was a fleet of five gunboats.
By the middle of April, the rebels, under Gen. Hoke,
began to gather in the woods south and west of the town.
Sunday, the 17th, was a lovely day ; and, at the morning
roll-call, sixteen hundred men reported for duty. The men
listened to preaching at the various places of worship. Just
at the close of the services, the cavalry pickets came dash
ing into town, and reported the rebels near. Artillery and
cavalry were sent out to ascertain the strength of the enemy.
KEBEL ATTACK OX PLYMOUTH. 487
They soon returned, after a short engagement with a superior
force, and reported three brigades of rebel infantry, with
artillery and cavalry in proportion, — in all not less than
ten thousand men.
An attack was immediately made by the rebels upon Fort
Gray, a mile above the town, on the river ; and a company
of the Sixteenth, in command of Lieut. B. F. Blakeslee of
Hartford, was driven into Compiler's Redoubt. The Six
teenth was divided ; one wing being east, and the other west,
of Fort Williams, occupying the center of the main works.
On the following morning, the assault was made with energy
along the whole line, but upon the left flank with heavy
columns. About seven o'clock, Capt. Burke came in from the
skirmish line, wounded in the shoulder. The siege-guns of
the enemy approached, and there was heavy firing at inter
vals throughout the day. Soon the beautiful camp was
riddled, and the fort upon the left almost silenced.
Lieut.-Col. Burnharn ordered the regimental band to the
breastworks ; and the spirit-stirring strains of national airs
roused the blood of the soldiers, and imparted to them fresh
energy. The fight was vigorously renewed, and the enemy
fell back to develop other resources.
Next day, the cannonading began with energy, and again
the lines closed sternly in. The rebels had now occupied
Fort Gray and a detached redoubt ; and the mailed ram
Albemarle had run through a bayou into the river below
the town, sunk one of our gunboats, and driven off the rest.
Nights were sleepless ; for all hands were required at the
breastworks.
Before daybreak on the fourth morning of the siege, the
enemy, under cover of their guns, advanced up the Colum
bia Road with a wild yell, and charged upon the two re
doubts that defended the Union position on the east side
of the town. A company of the 2d Massachusetts Artil
lery, which held the fort on that side, refused to fire a shot
in opposition to the enemy, for fear of drawing the fire of
the ram. The principal opposition made there was made
by Col. Frank Beach of the Sixteenth, who had two small
Napoleon guns bearing on the road, and who gave the
488 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
enemy grape and canister until they were within a hundred
paces of his guns. The number of their wounded on that
spot, the horrible nature of the wounds inflicted, and the
repeated wavering of their column, testify to the efficiency
of his resistance, which, but for the bad management of the
Massachusetts battery, would have kept the enemy at bay.
The rebels also pressed in overwhelming numbers, regi
ment after regiment, in upon the west. An officer came
up, bearing a flag of truce and a demand for immediate sur
render. Gen. Wessells promptly refused. Again the rebels
pressed in, surrounding Fort Williams, pouring in a terrible
fire upon the detached portions of the Sixteenth, which re
turned the concentrated fire as well as it could. The battle
was renewed alony: the whole line, but with abated viscor on
o ' o
our part ; and, as resistance became less and less effective,
the remainder of the force outside Fort Williams was sur
rendered. The fort held out but a short time : the enemy
was around it with a force of fifty to one. Company H of
the Sixteenth, under Capt. Joseph H. Barn um of Hartford,
had been sent to Roanoke Island as an escort for Union refu
gees, and escaped capture with the regiment.
Major-Gen. John J. Peck, in command of the department,
with headquarters at Newberne, on April 21 issued the
following : —
B
" "With the deepest sorrow, the commanding general announces the fall
of Plymouth, N.C., and the capture of its gallant commander, Brig. -Gen.
H. W. Wessells, and his command. This result, however, did not obtain
until after the most determined resistance had been made. Five times the
enemy stormed our lines, and as many was repulsed with great slaughter.
For their noble defense, the gallant Gen. Wessells and his brave band
deserve the warmest thanks of the country ; while all will sympathize with
them in their misfortune."
It might be objected that this is slightly turgid ; but it is
enough to say that the subjects of the eulogy did not at all
reciprocate the implied admiration. In fact, since the dig
ging and fortifying at Suffolk, upon a plan as incoherent as
the kite projects of Mr. Dick, the soldiers had come to regard
Gen. Peck as a rather inoffensive old gentleman.
CHAPTER XXX.
The First Cavalry Battalion. — Demoralization. — Increased to a Regiment. — Fight in
Virginia. — At Baltimore. — To the Field. — The Eighteenth Connecticut. — At
Martinsburg. — Gen. Milroy on Winchester. — Prison-Life. — Officers at Libby. —
Diversions. — To Macon. — Escapes. — An Interesting Adventure.
FTER the battle of Cedar Mountain, in 1862,
the Connecticut cavalry battalion crossed the
battle-field, and took part in the pursuit of the
enemy to Robinson River. From that time,
Aug. 9, the battalion was for two weeks face to
face with the enemy, protecting the Union flanks and rear;
and was then transferred to Steinway's cavalry-brigade, and
chiefly engaged in doing provost-duty until the end of Pope's
retreat. Chaplain Edwin Warriner writes of that time, —
"Some of the most efficient scouts in that part of the
army were men from this battalion. Corporal John A.
Peters of Cheshire, in the disguise of an old woman, and
Corporal Charles H. Marsh of New Milford, as one of Jack
son's men, passed through the thrilling adventures of Union
spies. For months, Marsh was unheard of among us, and at
last was reported hung at Aldie as a spy. Yet other months
passed away, and he surprised us by appearing in Baltimore
as a paroled prisoner from Richmond. He saved his life by
the most consummate stratagem. He was lying in a Con
federate hospital, expecting daily to receive his sentence.
Beside him lay a fellow-prisoner who was about to die.
The surgeon who attended upon both these men was him
self a Union prisoner ; and, by his assistance, the two sick
prisoners exchanged beds and names so secretly as to make
it appear that Marsh died and was buried, and the other sol
dier lived, and was paroled."
62 489
490 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
At the second battle of Bull Run, Sergeant Leonard P.
Goodwin of Company A (from Plymouth) was detailed with
a squad of men as a body-guard to Gen. Scherick. They were
in the thickest of the fight, and around the general when he
was wounded; and bore him from the field. Sergeant Good
win helped to rally a regiment, and received the commenda
tion of Gen. Schenck therefor.
The battalion was mostly without rations, and lived as it
could, doing severe service until the army fell back within
.the intrenchments about Washington. Major Lyon and
Capt. Bowen had resigned, and great confusion arose as to
which was the ranking officer ; Capt. Farns worth refusing
to serve under Capt. Middlebrook. The command was de
moralized ; and the companies had for weeks marched, skir
mished, and fought separately. Capt. William S. Fish was
now made major; and the battalion, about Sept. 7, was or
dered into camp near Georgetown, and an officer was sent
home to obtain recruits.
Capt. Middlebrook resigned soon, exhausted and sick, as
the result of the exposures of the campaign. The camp was
moved to a young apple-orchard near Tenallytown, north of
Washington, where a hundred excellent recruits from the
State were received. Company C, with all the horses of
the battalion, under Capt. A. F. Niles of Hartford, went out
to Fairfax Court House on provost-duty, and rendered
highly acceptable service at Gen. Sigel's headquarters.
Oct. 23, moved to Kalorama Grounds near Washington,
where drilling was in order until Nov. 17; when- location was
again changed to Hall's Farm, about three miles from Aque
duct Bridge in Virginia. Here a beautiful and comfortable
camp was made in the woods by clearing up a dense thicket ;
and the battalion was again thoroughly equipped and
mounted. " Major Fish's force' and energy infused new
spirit throughout the entire command ; and, when they were
required to march as a portion of Sigel's Reserve Corps to
the vicinity of Fredericksburg, they were in better condition
for effective service than ever before."1 They were not,
however, engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg, but were
1 Letter of Chaplain Warriner.
THE CAVALRY REGIMENT BUILD BARRACKS. 491
soon recalled to Stafford Court House, where the battalion
joined the encampment of the llth Corps.
While here, Company A was most of the time detached,
and on severe duty at the extreme flank of the army. Cor
poral Michael Carver of Norwich, with four men, stopped at
a house for breakfast ; and Carver was shot by guerrillas con
cealed in the house, who then ran to the woods. Capt.
Blakeslee went with a squad, but neither rebels nor family
were to be found. The house was burned by order of Gen.
Burnside. " Carver was a brave, good soldier; always cheer
ful and full of spirit; never shirking duty, but often volun
teering to perform extra duty for others."2
While the regiment was near Washington, during the fall
of 1862, Major Fish began in earnest the task of increasing
the battalion to a regiment. This was soon ordered to be
done, mainly through his influence and exertions. But the
battalion filled slowly ; and in January received the long-
expected orders to march to Baltimore, whither it was called
at the request of Major Fish. The Monumental City was
reached duly after considerable exposure to rain ; and here,
for a time, the toil of war was suspended, while the men
devoted themselves to the lighter duties of a soldier. Their
first care was to rebuild the old, uncomfortable barracks at
Camp Carroll ; and Yankee skill soon erected new ones, and
made them tidy and pleasant, — a model of convenience
and comfort. Each squad of six or eight had a large room to
itself; and the kitchens were complete in their arrangements.
Company streets were paved with brick, and the open spaces
turfed in the most approved manner. The stables were
roomy and well ventilated, and the grain-rooms supplied
with bins and troughs. All the work was done by the men
of the battalion; the government piecing out the old boards
with a small quantity of new lumber. A commodious chapel
and hospital were also built ; and most of the work was prose
cuted under the energetic superintendence of Capt. Farns-
worth.3 The place was named Camp Cheeseboro'. Major
Fish was now promoted to be lieutenant-colonel, and Capt.
Farnsworth to be major.
2 Capt. E. Blakeslee. 8 Diary of Capt. Blakeslee.
492 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
On March 15, Capt. Albert F. Niles, who had been through
a year of active service without a sick day, was prostrated
with fever at Baltimore, and suddenly died. He was a man
of few words, and of a very self-contained disposition, so that
some thought him proud or distant ; but time proved him a
perfect gentleman, and a cheerful, brave, ready, self-reliant
soldier. He was buried in Hartford with all honors.
The regiment remained in Baltimore during the spring
and summer of 1863, while recruits were gradually accumu
lating. Companies were detached for duty on the Potomac
and at other posts. On June 29, signal rockets announcing
the approach of Lee caused great apprehension in Balti
more. The alarm-bells were rung, and the Union League
rallied at the barricades. The First Cavalry turned out under
arms. Lieut. Joab B. Rogers of Norwich was in command
of a picket post on the Westminster Road, and heard the shout
of alarm from an excited officer as he dashed by the guards,
declaring that the rebels were in close pursuit, and urging
the pickets to fall back. The lieutenant proposed to remain
at his post until he was relieved, or ordered in, or driven in
by the enemy. He remained, and maintained the honor of
a soldier. About the time of the battle of Gettysburg, the
whole effective force of the battalion was ordered to Har
per's Ferry.
On July 14, Major Farnsworth, Capt. Blakeslee, and fifty
men, crossed the Potomac by order of Gen. Naglee, to recon-
noiter the enemy's position beyond Bolivar Heights, and to
ascertain his strength. Capt. Blakeslee reports, —
" About two miles from Harper's Ferry, the advance-guard
(eighteen men, under myself) charged upon the picket of the
enemy (numbering about thirty), and drove them in confusion
back upon their reserve. Major Farnsworth, coming up now,
charged upon the whole reserve of the enemy, about two
hundred strong. The enemy also charged ; and it became a
hand-to-hand fight, in which, owing to the disparity of our
numbers, they repulsed us, recovering several prisoners whom
we had previously taken, and, I am sorry to add, captured
Major Farnsworth with twenty-four men. The major fought
most gallantly until he was overpowered, and taken prisoner.
THE CAVALRY RECRUITED BY REBEL DESERTERS. 493
I took command of the remainder of our men, and fell back,
bringing with me as prisoners one captain, one second lieu
tenant, and two privates ; all of whom were captured by the
advance in their first charge upon the picket, in which we
shot several horses, and wounded the colonel of the 12th
Virginia Cavalry, who was afterwards found, and brought in
a prisoner.
"Allen F. Phillips of Woodstock, first sergeant Company A,
deserves special mention for his courage and good conduct
in the affair."
Sergeant Horace II. Gore of Preston, a grandson of Asa
A. Gore, the only male survivor of the massacre at Wyoming,
was commended for good conduct in a skirmish soon after,
in which he was severely wounded and permanently dis
abled. About the time he was mustered out of the service,
he received a commission as lieutenant.
Capt. Blakeslee was ordered to Connecticut to recruit,
where he was promoted to be major, his commission dating
from July 14, for gallantry displayed that day.
Early in October, the battalion, now rapidly growing to a
regiment, received a unique re-inforcement in a hundred and
twenty veterans, — all of them rebel prisoners, or deserters
from the rebel army. They represented nearly every South
ern State ; but a majority were from North Carolina and
Tennessee. Most of them declared that they had been forced
into the Confederate service, and had escaped at the first
opportunity ; and all eagerly took the oath of allegiance to
the United States.
" One of these brave men, who was dragged from his home
by night, and compelled to take up arms against the Federal
Government, said, ' I have a wife and little boy in Tennessee ;
and no man loves his family more than I do mine : but sooner
than lift my hand against the stars and stripes' (and the
vow trembled on his lips), — ' before I'll be a traitor to my
country, I'll say farewell forever to my home and to those
dear ones, and never see their faces any more.' They all
know well that certain death awaits them if they are ever
taken by the rebels. I suggested this fact to one of them.
He replied, * They will never take me alive.' " 4
* Letter of Chaplain Warriner.
494 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
It was evident that few had ever entered the service at so
much risk and sacrifice as these men, and that, if they were
true to their new-made vows, the army would not contain
better soldiers. They generally proved faithful, and every
way worthy of the confidence and brotherly regard which
the men from Connecticut did not long withhold.
Several companies of the regiment remained at Baltimore,
under command of Capt. William E. Morris of Roxbury ;
detachments of which "were occasionally sent on delightful
expeditions down the Chesapeake to Point Lookout and
various parts of the eastern shore of Maryland."
Two or three companies went to the polls in different
counties to keep rebel soldiers from voting, and to be "a
terror to evil-doers, and a praise to them that do well."
Companies A, B, and E, with parts of C and D, were at
Harper's Ferry after July, under Capt. Howell Atwater of
New Haven, performing duties attended with more hard
ships and fatigue. Capt. Elbridge Colburn of Ansonia was
appointed brigade-quartermaster on the staff of Gen. Tyler.
Capt. Edwin W. French of Mystic was assistant provost-
marshal in command of the detective force, and provost-mar
shal in the absence of Col. Fish. Adjutant H. J. 0. Walker
of Mystic Bridge had charge of passes and transportation.
The seizure and disposal of confiscated property was under
the direction of Lieut. Joseph Backus of Hebron ; and Lieut.
J. B. Morehouse, returned from imprisonment, had control of
military prisoners, and was soon promoted .to be captain.
So sped the summer, fall, and early winter, — time spent
rather indolently by most of the regiment.
During this summer, Gen. Schenck sent for Capt. Blakes-
lee, directing him to establish a line of signal-stations twenty
miles out on different roads. The captain replied that he
knew nothing of the signal-system. " Then invent one," was
the rejoinder : " you shall have a carte blanche" Blakeslee
went at the work, and, before daylight, had prepared all the
necessary flags and rockets, procured the requisite field-glass
es, and within three days had established the signals on both
the routes, so that satisfactory reports could be sent over
both lines in fifteen minutes, day or night.
GREAT CHANGE IN THE CAVALRY REGIMENT. 495
Lieut-Col. Fish was promoted to be colonel, Aug. 22, 1863,
and was detailed to be provost-marshal of Baltimore; but
early in 1864 he was arrested on charges of unsoldierly con
duct. He was immediately tried, convicted, dismissed the
service, and sentenced to pay a heavy fine and to be impri
soned for five years. The last two provisions of the penalty
were afterward remitted in consideration of his previous gal
lant services; his guilt proving, moreover, on further ex
amination, much less than it had at first appeared.
With the return of Major Blakeslee to Baltimore in Jan
uary, 1864, began the real military life of the First Regi
ment Connecticut Cavalry. He found some seven hundred
men, mostly recruits, arranged in companies, and officered,
but mostly without drill or discipline. They had been under
the command, first of one captain, then of another, no one
having had command for any length of time ; and were very
much demoralized. There was little order or subordination,
little military life or character. Major Blakeslee immediately
established with a vigorous hand all the regular routine of
camp-duties, intluding hours of daily drill. There had
never been a school for regimental officers ; but one was now
established, with long and thorough instruction every day.
The daily drill was had on the lesson of the evening pre
vious.
Major Blakeslee was detailed on a field-officers' court-
martial, and at first frequently tried twelve or fifteen
prisoners a clay ; the action being so prompt, that prisoners
were sometimes tried, convicted, papers all made out and
approved, and sentence rendered on the same day.
A great change was perceptible in the regiment in a week,
produced by simply enforcing the ordinary rules of military
conduct. Major George 0. Marcy of Bridgeport established
a profitable school for sergeants ; and Major Brayton Ives
(who now joined the regiment from New Haven) prepared
a little work entitled Hints on the Treatment of Horses,
which was considered so valuable, that it was published in
pamphlet form for the use of the regiment. Officers and pri
vate soldiers began suddenly to wake up to the fact that the
days of " play-soldier " were over, and that thereafter they
496 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
were to be fighting men. Major Farnsworth, while still a
prisoner at Libby, had been promoted to be lieutenant-colo
nel, dating from Jan. 18, 1864. He returned to his regiment,
but soon afterwards resigned his commission, and was hon
orably discharged.
Lieut. E. H. Latimer of Montville died suddenly, Feb. 15,
of small-pox. The body could not be removed to home and
friends ; but Chaplain Warriner said, " The deceased had won
the love of his comrades, and we who knew him well were
mourners together." He had been promoted from the ranks,
and had been mustered in as lieutenant only two days
before his death. Some twenty others died while the regi
ment was in Baltimore.
Towards the end of February, a new supply of five hundred
horses was obtained ; and then followed the amusing task of
assigning them. They were first assorted into colors, — bay,
black, sorrel and light-bay, gray and piebald ; and then com
pany commanders drew lots for colors. The men were then
marched up, and each man took the horse opposite to him.
This was impartial, but not always satisfactory ; and all sorts
of devices were frequently resorted to to effect a secret
exchange for some better animal. Many got kicked by
their strange steeds ; and some score were tumbled to the
ground, making that mounting " a sight to see." Equip
ments were issued at once, and active battalion-drills begun.
Orders were received to join the Army of the Potomac;
and at eight o'clock, A.M., of March 8, the old camp was
broken up and abandoned, rations cooked and distributed,
horses fed and groomed, small packs made up ; and six
hundred and seventy-five mounted men were drawn up,
mounted in close column of squadrons, every man in place,
sabres shining, flags frying, and guidons flashing in the wind,
— a magnificent array. Major Blakeslee, young and almost
beardless, might well be proud of his command as the
bugler sounded the officers' call. The line-officers rode to
the front, and received directions to permit no straggling
nor foraging, and to keep the ranks well filled up. The
bugler sounded the " Forward !" and away they rode to a
year of deadly conflict, to toil and vigilance, heat, cold, and
hunger, death-wounds and glory.
THE EIGHTEENTH AT MARTINSBUKG. 497
They went past the Relay House, and arrived at Annapo
lis Junction in the rain about three o'clock, P.M. Camp by
squadrons was made east of the hospital. The officers fared
well enough in the hospital ; but the men had the wettest,
muddiest, dismalest night they had spent since Wheeling
Island and Moorefield. They were drenched, and lying in
mud knee-deep. Two days later, they found a better camp,
on a slope in a grove, where they were comfortable once
more on dry land.
After the unfortunate battle of Winchester, about two
hundred and twenty officers and men from the Eighteenth
escaped in different directions towards the Potomac.5 Major
Peale, with thirty men, arrived on the same day at Harper's
Ferry; having had a very narrow escape. About two hun
dred others from Milroy's scattered army were put under
Major Peale, and led against the flank of Lee's army, now
retreating from Gettysburg. They marched to Snicker's Gap,
and captured many of the fugitives. Major Peale was next
ordered to Sharpsburg, where he took command of the
remnant of the Eighteenth. Company B, Lieut. F. G. Bix-
by, being on provost-duty, had escaped intact with others ;
and in a few days he was ordered to report for provost-duty
at Hagerstown to guard rebel prisoners.
On Sept. 30, Major Peale brought the exchanged prison
ers from Camp Parole at Annapolis; increasing the regi
ment to eight officers and six hundred men. On Oct. 3,
they forded the Potomac, and advanced to Martinsburg ;
making camp about half a mile west of the town on a
wooded elevation as pleasantly situated for winter-quarters
as could be desired. Here, notwithstanding the insufficiency
of officers, good order was maintained ; and the regiment soon
began to show improvement in drill and general discipline.
Log-houses were built, furnished with stoves and other con-
5 Immediately after the disaster to the Eighteenth, Henry B. Norton, a patriotic
and liberal citizen of Norwich, went to the Potomac at the request of Gov. Buckingham,
and was of great assistance in collecting the remnants of the regiment, and supplying their
immediate wants. The Hartford Press said of him, —
" No gentleman in the State has been so indefatigable in labors of this kind for the
comfort of our soldiers since the war began. He has steadily refused all compensation, or
remuneration of his expenses ; and is so unostentatious, that we fear to annoy him even by
this brief and merited mention of his services."
63
498 CONNECTICUT DURING- THE REBELLION.
trivances for comfort. The Yankee propensity to barter
broke out, and the men supplied themselves with many little
luxuries in exchange for surplus rations.
There was also a warm social side to life at Martinsburg.
Soldiers and citizens mingled a good deal in camp and at
fireside, at church, prayer-meetings, parties, debating socie
ties. Private Albert C. Green of Company A established a
singing-school in town, in which soldiers and citizens alike
participated. This was of real value, introducing the "boys"
into the best families, and adding a genuine zest to life in
barracks. Acquaintanceships ripened into friendships; friend
ships, into intimacies; and, in at least one case, there resulted
the " union of hearts and union of hands " which nothing
but death or " incompatibility of temper " can dissolve.
Slowly the regiment recovered its old tone and pride in
military tactics, and at last won commendations again from
citizens, officers, and inspectors. Major Peale and his subor
dinates labored with great zeal and success in restoring the
true martial spirit.
Once during the winter a raid resulted in the capture
of several rebels ; twice or thrice, the regiment was in line
of battle, or on a reconnoissance : but the winter was rather
uneventful, and the men contented themselves in completing
the capture of Martinsburg.
The general in command, notwithstanding his apparent
lack of great military genius, was always popular in his com
mand ; and, when he visited Martinsburg, " Daddy Milroy "
was heartily received by the Eighteenth. They ordered
him out with an affectionate if unmilitary clamor, and he
addressed them as follows: —
SOLDIERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH, —
I am glad to see you once more : I am happy to see you looking so
hearty and well ; happy to welcome you back again beneath the folds of
your own stars and stripes, which you so nobly defended during the three-
days' fight at Winchester. Since I last saw you, you have suffered cap
tivity in rebel prisons. We have been separated since then ; but I have
come to see you, and to praise you for. your gallantry. I saw you in the
second day's fight as you charged the enemy from your rifle-pits and drove
them back upon their reserves, holding them in check until night ; when
you fell back, but with your face to the foe. Again I saw you the next
morning, facing as hot a fire as I ever witnessed in my life. I looked in
vain to see you waver. Boys, it was a hot place, — a hot place. I saw
OFFICERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH IN LIBBY PRISON. 499
you go where none but brave men dare go ; saw you make three succes
sive charges, preserving your line as well as if on dress-parade. I wit
nessed it all. I saw you as you broke the first line of rebel infantry, and
charged up to their batteries ; driving away their gunners, still pressing on,
and breaking their reserves. But a third line was too strong for you. I
knew it was. Only then did you fall back, when your lines were broken,
and many brave Connecticut men lay bleeding on the field. But you only
fell back to re-form, and give them another taste of your steel. I knew it
was madness to order you forward again : it was ordering you to death
and annihilation ; for I well knew you would attempt any thing for your
general. Boys, I watched you with pride as you charged the third time ;
but, when I saw your rauks withering and your comrades falling, it made
my heart grow sad within me, and I ordered you to fall back. You know
the rest. You were surrounded, and there was no escape. But I miss
your noble commander, Col. Ely : may he soon return to you ! Boys,
to your valor I owe my safety. You come from a State whose soldiers
never disgrace themselves nor their flag. I am proud of you, and ever
shall be of such soldiers.
And now accept my wishes for your safe return to your New-England
homes when our flag shall wave in triumph over our whole country.
Good-by.
In January, 1864, Chaplain V. A. Cooper of New London
having resigned, he was succeeded by Chaplain W. C. Walker
of New Britain, who worked diligently to elevate the moral
and physical tone of the regiment.
In the mean time, most of the officers were still in Libby
Prison ; and some of them were destined to remain longer in
rebel captivity than any other officers 'from Connecticut, and
be released only when the Confederacy itself was crushed
in 1865.
Twenty-four officers of the Eighteenth were together in
Libby, and remained together nearly a year. The day's
ration at first consisted of one-fourth of a pound of beef,
and nine ounces of bread, wheat, or cornmeal, and nine
ounces of rice. After the victory of Gettysburg, the fare
was improved through fear of retaliation ; a large balance
of prisoners being in our hands. Prisoners were now per
mitted to purchase moderately from the markets of Rich
mond, and to receive supplies from the North ; yet sharp
discomfort was suffered from so many being packed and
huddled together in the noxious air of an ill- ventilated
tobacco warehouse.
This monotonous life was occasionally varied by a distin
guished arrival. Col. Straight, then famous, enlivened the
500 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
prison by his able and fearless debates of the slavery ques
tion with any rebel who came within reach. Gen. Neal
Dow arrived from Mobile, where he had been a prisoner in
the enjoyment of a considerable degree of freedom and
intercourse with the citizens • and he now repeatedly ad
dressed the officers of Libby, informing them of the inner
life of the Confederacy and its waning hopes and prospects.
These speeches were frequently interrupted by the sudden
appearance of the rebel sentinel ; when the speaker would
continue, unterrified, " As I was saying, this indulgence in
alcoholic stimulants is ruinous to the mental, moral, and
social character of men," &c. Officers came in from all the
armies constantly ; and the occupants of Libby were prob
ably better informed in regard to the condition of the
Rebellion than were their friends at home. By a constant
interchange of news and sentiments, they were kept in a
cheerful spirit.
Gen. E. M. Lee (of Guilford, Conn., an officer in the
Michigan Cavalry), then in Libby, recently explained
the financial condition of the prison at that time thus : " We
had rations miserable in quality, and so small in quantity
as scarcely to support life without other means. We felt
that the rebels intended to compel us to make up this
deficiency by purchasing in their markets what it was their
duty to furnish us. We yielded to the necessity imposed.
But we soon learned better than to waste genuine cur
rency in this unwilling service of the Confederacy. They
permitted brokers to come among us, who, when our money
was exhausted, took our checks on Northern banks where
we ' deposited.' We struck as good a bargain as possible,
to avert suspicion, and then sold our checks, — checks on
any bank of which we could recall the name. These fur
nished us with much food and clothing, and some luxu
ries ; and I don't think the checks were ever collected ! "
In February of 1864, Col. Ely escaped from Libby with
one hundred and eight other officers, through the famous
tunnel. They had obtained entrance, through a hole in
the floor, to an unoccupied basement ; and thence had dug
straight out under Twentieth Street, loosening the earth
LIFE IN THE LIBBY PRISON. 501
with an old hinge, and removing it in a broken sugar-scoop
taken from the hospital. The sand was then drawn out in
a carpet-bag, and secreted about the cellar. They were
at work upon the tunnel for fifty-five days, when the pioneer,
Capt. J. N. Johnson of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, struck
daylight, and came up under an old shed across the street.
That night, at nine o'clock, the first man left ; at five next
morning, the last. About fifty were at last recaptured by
the cavalry, who scoured the State in all directions ; among
them Col. Ely, in a state of great exhaustion. He was
taken by cavalry, forty-two miles out, after being absent four
days.
" The occupations and diversions of Libby were various,"
writes an officer of the Eighteenth.6 "Aroused to morning
consciousness by the voice of a stalwart darky, our ears were
saluted with, ' All fo' of de mawnin' papers ! Rise, gemmen,
an' bye de mawnin' news ! Great news from de Rappahan-
nock ! Great news from Charleston ! Great news from de
James Ribber ! Is all de gemmen s'plied wid de mawnin'
news ? ' Thus we obtained the Richmond dailies, printed on
a half-sheet of smoky brown paper, with little reliable news,
and editorials filled with exaggerated falsehood. ... In
Libby, the study of many languages was pursued, — French,
German, Spanish, Latin, and Greek. A literary society was
maintained, and important questions debated. A journal
called the Libby Chronicle was edited with marked ability,
with articles worthy of the best periodicals. Here would be
seen a group rendering in sweetest concord the choicest se
lections from Handel, Mozart, and other masters of sacred
song ; there a . party enjoying some admirable exhibition of
comic minstrelsy."
In March, 1864, Col. William G. Ely, Lieut.-Col. Monroe
Nichols, Capt. G. W. Warner, Lieuts. I. N. Kibbe, M. V. B.
Tiffany, J. P. Rockwell, and John A. Francis, were paroled,
and returned to the North, their exchange following. The
rest of the officers of the Eighteenth were, on May 7, sent
to Danville, Va., and after a few days transferred to the
new stockade prison at Macon. The prison-life at Macon,
6 Surgeon Lowell Holbrook of Thompson, detained in prison four months.
502 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Charleston, and Columbia, is elsewhere described. In Decem
ber, Capts. D. W. Hakes and Charles D. Brown, with Lients.
A. H. Lindsay, George Kies, and A. G. Scran ton, were paroled,
and went North. In February, 1865, the rest of the officers
of the Eighteenth were sent to Charlotte. Lieut. Henry F.
Cowles jumped from the cars, was secreted by the negroes,
and joined Sherman's advance cavalry. Lieut. Ezra D. Car
penter escaped from the hospital, and occupied Columbia the
day before Gen. Sherman. The remaining officers were pa
roled at Williamston, N.C., in March, 1865 ; having been in
captivity twenty-one months, without the loss of a man.
Lieut. Carpenter had a singularly interesting experience.
He described it in a letter to a friend, from which we
make an extract : " When the prisoners were removed to
Charlotte, off the track of Sherman's advancing army, I was
very much reduced, and declared unable to be moved with
the rest. I was taken to a large hospital with others. The
streets were full of tumult in the effort to escape from the
doomed city. At last, when Sherman's first shells fell in the
city, the rebels came to remove us. I dressed and passed
down, but, remembering that I had forgotten something,
' o O O ?
went back, and concealed myself under one of the bunks.
Inquiries were made for me ; but, after search, they conclud
ed I had gone in a former load. A slave, sent up to clean out
the building, discovered me, and, with the quick instincts of
his race, immediately agreed to help me to escape. Finally
rebel soldiers came into the room to sleep for the night.
They came up to the bunk under which I lay, and I saw their
boots as they walked around it. They then built a fire at
the other end of the room, and sat around it, dividing among
themselves my bag of scanty clothing and personal effects,
which they had found where I dropped it when I secreted my
self. At eight o'clock, I crawled softly down to the next floor;
and soon one of the attendants, with a light, passed within a
few feet of where I lay behind a bunk. A few minutes after,
I got out the window, and jumped to the ground. My first
effort was to find a black man, — the first thought of every
prisoner who ever escaped from rebel bondage. They were
in their quarters. At the first hovel, a white man came to
ENTRANCE OF SHERMAN INTO COLUMBIA. 503
the door. I inquired where Mr. lived, and was glad to
get away. At the next, I passed as a rebel soldier; and
some ladies gave me the food I so much needed. I then
went straight to the hotel where Gen. Beauregard stopped,
registered my name as J. C. Cady of Charleston, went to bed,
and lay until nine o'clock next clay. My sleep had been in
terrupted all night by constant noise and bustle on the
street ; and, when I went down, confusion seemed to reign.
I could obtain no breakfast : the landlord said he ' couldn't
get the niggers to work.' I ultimately got breakfast, and
paid my bill (twenty dollars) in Confederate currency. I
bought a morning newspaper. Every thing looked well for
the rebels : Gen. Beauregard, the war-horse, snuffed the breeze
from afar, and was at his post ; and Sherman would get a
warm reception. I went out, and found that the rebels had
been evacuating the city all night. Far in the distance arose
a cloud of dust ; nearer were heard faint cheers ; down Main
Street came a carriage bearing a flag, which grew into the
stars and stripes as I gazed. I trembled with inexpressible
joy ; for our general and the mayor of the city were in the
carriage. The swift cavalry whirled though the city ; the
long line of boys in blue marched steadily up the street to
the strains of Yankee Doodle : Columbia was ours ! "
CHAPTER XXXI.
The First and Second Artillery, Sixth, Tenth, Fourteenth, and Seventeenth, during the
Winter of 1863-64. — The Second Light Battery. — The Seventh in Florida. —Battle
of Olustee. — Ninth in New Orleans. — The Twelfth at New Iberia. — The Thirteenth
in the Red-River Expedition. — Battle of Cane River. — Connecticut Regiments Home
on Veteran Furlough. — Speeches and Banquets.
JNCAMPED south of the Potomac, the First Ar
tillery remained, during 1863, in the forts form
ing the most important section in the chain of
defenses to the capital. Batteries B, Capt. Ager,
and M, Capt. Brown, were still detached with
the Army of the Potomac. Col. Tyler was promoted
brigadier-general, Nov. 19, 1862, and Henry L. Abbot of the
regular army was made colonel. He had graduated second
in his class at West Point, and was on the staff of Gen.
Daniel Tyler at the first battle of Bull Run, where he was
wounded in the leg. Col. Abbot did not relax in any
measure the severe discipline which had raised the regiment
to its high position.
The men were required to be soldierly in their habits and
cleanly in their persons ; and the result was, that, during the
entire period of life at Arlington, very few were in hospital.
They were drilled as artillery and infantry, in company and
battalion movements ; and they had a great deal of practice at
firing, both from heavy guns and mortars, at targets, and in
experiments made by order of the department at Washing
ton, with elongated and other projectile, to test scientifically
the depth of penetration, &c. One experiment, suggested
and tried by Col. Abbot, was of an entirely new combination
in a mortar projectile, which gave great satisfaction, and was
afterwards adopted.
504
THE NINETEENTH CHANGED INTO AETILLEEY. 5Q5
Chaplain Edward A. Walker 1 of New Haven had resigned
in 1862, and Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis of Salisbury was ap
pointed his successor.
Since the regiment had been in service, but one officer,
Capt. Charles E. Bulkeley of Hartford, had died, and few
men.
The Nineteenth was relieved from duty at Alexandria,
Jan. 12, 1863, and moved to Fort Worth, about three miles
west, where it was at once brigaded with the First Con
necticut Artillery, under command of Brig.-Gen. Robert
0. Tyler. The regiment began to drill in heavy-artillery
tactics as well as infantry, and was kept constantly busy in
an easy service. Sibley tents were obtained ; mails were
regular ; the visits of friends were frequent. In May, Com
panies A, C, D, E, II, I, and K moved to some redoubts near
Fort Lyon ; while B, F, and G moved to Fort Ellsworth,
near Alexandria. The entire summer was probably as
pleasant as ever fell to the lot of soldiers. Weeks passed
without the death of a man.
On the 9th of November, the brigade was reviewed by
Gen. Berry ; when the Nineteenth showed to such excellent
advantage, that an order was issued by the War Department
on the 23d, changing the regiment from infantry to heavy
artillery, under the designation of the Second Connecticut
Artillery. The boys lost no time in tearing off the blue
facings and getting on the red ; and several officers and men
were detailed to go to Connecticut and recruit. The re
cruiting-party consisted of Lieut. B. F. Hosford ; Sergeants
D. E. Marsh, Gad N. Smith, Calvin B. Hatch, Oscar Platt,
and 0. R. Tyler; Corporal D. B. Wooster; and Private
James Baldwin. This arm of the service was popular ; and
these men succeeded in sending twelve hundred recruits in
three months, raising the regiment to the maximum. Some
1 Chaplain Walker, during McClellan's retreat to the James, was in the saddle for
nearly the whole of six days and nights, in charge of an ambulance-train. Prostrated by
disease and exhaustion, he' was prevailed upon by his friends to leave the army. From
that severe service he never recovered. He spent six months in Europe, and, on return
ing, went to Lake Superior, where he died, April 10, 1865. He graduated at Yale in the
class of 1856 ; and had preached for a short time in Terry ville, before the war. He was
versatile in bis tastes and acquirements, and gave promise of much usefulness.
64
506 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
were "bounty-jumpers," and deserted on the way down; but
many were among the best soldiers in the service.
Col. Wessells had now resigned, and Lieut-Col. E. S. Kel-
losro; succeeded to the command. This and the change to an
oo O
artillery regiment involved the addition of a large number
of officers, — a lieutenant-colonel, three majors, three cap
tains, and twenty-nine lieutenants; and fora time promo
tions were the chief topic of interest. The new regiment
was divided into three battalions of four companies each ;
which garrisoned respectively Forts Worth, Williams, and
Ellsworth. Col. Kellogg adopted a rigid system of discipline
and drill ; and his command rapidly improved in soldierly
qualities.
Major Nathaniel Smith of Woodbury became lieutenant-
colonel ; and Capts. James Hubbard of Salisbury, William
B. Ells of Plymouth, and James Q. Rice of Goshen, were pro
moted to be majors.
A letter written in November, 1863, says, —
" Our colonel has just been surprised by the presentation,
mainly from the privates, of a handsome and valuable horse ;
one on which we are not ashamed to see him appear on
any occasion. This renewed testimony of attachment was
entirely unexpected, and called forth an expression of thanks
which must have abundantly repaid the donors."
One night about this time, Private C. W. Jackson of New
Milford, one of the hospital guard, perceived an unusual
fire in the valley, half or three-quarters of a mile distant.
Suspecting all was not right, he stealthily and alone recon-
noitered, and found one of the bridges of the Alexandria
and Orange Railroad on fire. After kindling a fire on the
track to arrest the trains, he applied himself to save the
bridge ; and after great exertions he succeeded.
The Sixth remained at Hilton Head during the fall and
winter of 1863-4, under Lieut.-Col. Redfield Duryee, — pro
moted in a single step from the rank of Adjutant, vice Lieut.-
Col. John Speidal resigned. Col. Duryee commanded the
post. The men were here put upon laborious fatigue-duty
in loading and discharging government transports. From
this they were relieved in October; and Col. Duryee devoted
THE SEVENTH AT OLUSTEE. 507
himself to bringing back the regiment to its former high
standard of excellence. They found it difficult to recover
the loss of Col. Chatfield ; and one of the subalterns wrote
at this time, " His name was synonymous with all that was
good, noble, brave, and kind. Few men ever lived in the
midst of the excitement and allurements of camp-life who
resisted so practically the attractions that lead many a good
man astray."
The Seventh, from Oct. 16, spent most of its time on
St. Helena Island. Drilling in boats was soon succeeded by
drilling with the new breech-loading Spencer rifles, and the
usual routine of winter camp-life. • On Feb. 5-6, 1864,
the regiment (excepting the re-enlisted veterans, home on
furlough) embarked with that portion of Gilmore's forces
ordered to Florida for the expedition to Olustee. A force
of five thousand men of all arms left Hilton Head, under
Gen. Gilmore, for the St. John's River, with intent to strike into
Central Florida for the purpose of cutting off the enemy's
supplies, and of helping to reconstruct the loyal government.
Gilmore pushed forward to Jacksonville, and sent a small
force to Baldwin ; surprising the enemy, and capturing eight
guns and a number of prisoners. Gen. Truman Seymour
was in command of the division ; and Gen. Gilmore returned
to Jacksonville, leaving instructions for Seymour to make no
advance beyond Sanderson without orders. On the 18th,
Seymour started with the whole force to destroy the rail
road near Suwanee River, a hundred miles west. Col.
Hawley commanded a brigade composed of- the Seventh
Connecticut, 7th New-Hampshire, and' 8th United-States
colored troops.
The Seventh Connecticut Volunteers numbered three
hundred and sixty-five men, consolidated in four companies;
the first under command of Capt. Mills, the second of Lieut.
Jeremiah Townsend, the third of Lieut. Robert Dempsey,
and the fourth of Capt. John Thompson. Surgeon George
C. Jarvis was with the battalion. Next day the column
reached Barber's Station, thirty miles west. Having some
information of the designs of the enemy, Gen. Seymour hur
ried forward next day towards Olustee. About three miles
508 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
east of that town, the rebels beginning to annoy our
vedettes, the general sent for a company, and soon for the
whole, of the Seventh Connecticut, to throw out as skirmish
ers in advance of the cavalry, and move westward. The
first brigade was thrown forward to encounter the enemy.
" The enemy's skirmishers continually fell back, until they
arrived at a point where the road and railroad crossed. Here
was an open space, backed by pine-woods, partially inclosing
the space in the form of a crescent. In front of and in the
woods, the enemy was posted in force, with batteries sta
tioned to sweep the roads. Gen. Seymour sent orders ahead
for the Seventh Connecticut to advance, and take the batter
ies. They moved forward rapidly, the discharges of their
seven-shooters making a continuous roll like the musketry
of a whole brigade." :
Capt. B. F. Skinner of Danbury, in command of the Sev
enth, reported, —
" Our advance soon came up with the enemy's advance guard, and ex
changed a few shots with them ; when they retreated, firing occasionally as
they went. We followed them in this way about three miles, when, after
firing a few shots from an advance battery (Capt. Elder's), the enemy replied
with a battery of three or four guns ; when I was directed by Gen. Sey
mour to go forward with the rest of my command, and, if possible, secure
the enemy's battery. I moved the remainder of my command forward im
mediately, in double-quick time, upon the right of the railroad for about
three hundred yards ; when we came up with my line of skirmishers.
" I immediately directed the remainder of the third company, which had
been held in reserve, to deploy as skirmishers, and move up to the support
of the advanced line : I also deployed the fourth company with the same
directions, the enemy having made a flank movement in order to mass his .
advance on our right. Capt. Mills followed, moving a portion of his com
mand across and to the right of the railroad ; the whole forming a very
strong line of skirmishers three or four hundred yards in length. I imme
diately pushed the line forward as fast as possible, paying particular atten
tion to the enemy's batteries, the strength of which had developed itself
upon the left of our line to the right of the railroad. After moving up two
or three hundred yards, I found the enemy drawn up in line to receive us,
and in position to support their battery ; the enemy here showing a front
of five regiments flanked on the right and left by cavalry, which made
occasional demonstrations upon our flanks, but were easily turned back in
disorder after a few moments' attention from our seven-shooters.
" Supposing that support was close at hand, I pushed forward, firing
rapidly as I went ; which caused the enemy to give ground to us, I should
judge two hundred yards, in some confusion, but firing as they withdrew.
Here I discovered that the enemy were intrenched, and delivered well-
2 Letter of Col. Hawley.
THE SEVENTH ACTS AS REAR-GFARD. 5Q9
directed volleys of musketry. I found, also, that my ammunition was very
nearly expended, some of my new men being entirely out. There was no
support in sight. I had already pushed so far in the enemy's center that
my line formed a semicircle, and I was receiving the enemy's fire from
three sides."
They found themselves confronted and nearly surrounded
by four or five rebel regiments. The supporting column was
nearly a mile behind. " At this juncture," continues Capt.
Skinner, " I determined to withdraw, and save my command,
which was done at the proper time ; for, had I remained
there five minutes longer, my whole command would have
been swallowed up in the enemy's advance. My men with
drew rapidly : those who had ammunition fired as they
withdrew, and divided to the right and left in order to un
mask the 7th New-Hampshire Volunteers who approached."
The other regiments met the enemy in heavy force, and
were repulsed. As they broke, Col. Hawley endeavored to
rally them to another attack; but order could not be re
stored at once, and the line fell back. The Seventh received
another supply of ammunition, and resumed a station front
ing the enemy. " We remained in this position, occasionally
firing, or permitting a portion of the men to fire, as the ene
my showed himself, until, by direction from Col. Hawley, we
moved to the rear about one hundred }~ards, our forces on
the right and left being on the retreat ; then faced about,
and, putting the guide-sights at four hundred yards, opened
an effective fire for a few minutes. Soon after this the en
gagement closed, though we took position in line two or
three times." 3
The regiment deployed one hundred and twenty-five men
as rear-guard for the army, which had now left the field.
" I occupied this relative position and marched in this man
ner until I reached Barber's Ford, for a distance of about
eighteen miles from the battle-field, when I marched my
command on to the same ground that it had occupied before
leaving Barber's Ford the preceding morning ; my men hav
ing marched a distance of thirty-six miles, eighteen of which
were made without rest, and over bad ground." * " It was
a weary, woeful march. The poor wounded fellows dragged
8 Capt. Skinner's Report. 4 Ibid.
510 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
themselves along on foot, or bestrode mules, supported by
their comrades on either side, or were borne over a rough
road m jolting wagons. In going sixteen miles, to Barber's,
the army occupied eight hours. Here the men rested five
or six hours, and then the wounded and stores were sent to
Jacksonville in cars drawn by horses." 5 Capt. Skinner men
tions the services of Adjutant John I. Hutchinson of Crom
well in this battle.
The Seventh, by direction of Gen. Seymour, acted as rear
guard during the entire retreat, and remained in Baldwin
after the rest of the troops had fallen back. In returning to
Jacksonville, Capt. Charles C. Mills found three cars loaded
with four hundred boxes of hard-bread ; and his company
pushed them along several miles, and saved them. The
force returned to Six-mile Creek, and there went into camp.
Col. Hawley, in his official report, said, —
" Capt. B. F. Skinner, who commanded the battalion of the
Seventh Connecticut (a large portion of the regiment being
absent on veteran furloughs), was on the sick-list when the
regiment took the field ; but he performed his laborious
duties with the energy and bravery that have always
characterized him; and his battalion received the hearty
commendation of the general at the close of the fight. It
is greatly regretted that he has felt compelled by ill health
to quit the service. Lieut. Dempsey of that regiment, a
faithful, patriotic man, was killed early in the action."
Lieut. E. Lewis Moore (of Salisbury), A. A. Adjutant-Gen
eral ; Lieut. John Van Keuren (of New Britain), A. A. In
spector-General ; and Lieut. William T. Seward (of Guilford),
commissary, — all on Col. Hawley's staff, received honorable
mention. "Private Edward C. Vinton (of Woodstock),
mounted orderly, had his horse twice shot and finally killed ;
but he soon found another, and continued on duty."
In the battle of Olustee, the Seventh Regiment was repre
sented only by those who declined to re-enlist and the recent
substitutes : but the former proved that it was no lack of
courage which prevented their re-enlistment ; and the latter
that they had caught the spirit which had placed the men of
5 Letter of Col. Hawley.
THE NINTH STILL IK LOUISIANA. 51 1
the Seventh among the best soldiers of the war. The testi
mony of the correspondent of the New- York • Herald was
given as follows : " Great praise is awarded by all to the Sev
enth Connecticut for their superb conduct in the advance,
throughout the fight, as skirmishers. They did not falter
or waver, but employed their Spencer rifles so accurately
and effectively, that the enemy will long have occasion to
remember their presence on the field. They lost quite
heavily."
Ilawley's brigade lost five hundred and eighty, — more
than thirty-five per cent. Of these, the Seventh lost sixty-
nine.
When Lieut. Robert Dempsey (of Winsted) fell, he said
to those who would have removed him, t( I'm going to die
here. Let me die on my side ; " the blood at the same time
gushing from his breast. Lieut. Dempsey went out as sec
ond lieutenant on the original formation of the regiment.
He was about thirty years old, an Irish Catholic, and a true
soldier.
The regiment remained for a short time at Six-mile
Creek, when an order came for a transfer to service in the
battles of the James.
During 1863, the Ninth had its headquarters at New Or
leans; but the regiment was dismembered, — two companies
guarding the Mexican-gulf Railroad and mouth of the Mis
sissippi ; one company at Algiers, opposite New Orleans ; four
companies doing provost-guard duty at New Orleans ; and
tl.iree companies stationed at Pass Manchac, about thirty-
eight miles above New Orleans, at the water communication
between Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, the outer limit
of the defenses of New Orleans.
Col. Thomas W. Cahill was placed in charge of the de
fenses, and in command of a brigade consisting of the Ninth,
and three Massachusetts regiments. Lieut.-Col. R. Fitz Gib
bons was in command of the regiment. Major Frederick
Frye commanded Pass Manchac, and the fort there, includ
ing a detachment of the 21st Indiana, Major Frye wrote at
that time, " Refugees come in daily, — sometimes as many as
512 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
a dozen at a time, — men. women, and children; ragged,
y ' / OO *
half-starved, and worn down with fatigue. What some of
these mothers, with babes in their arms, suffer, is beyond
imagination. Think of a mother and child alone two days and
nights in a swamp knee-deep, with nothing to eat ; where
snakes, among them the deadly water moccasin, abound;
where in the daytime the heat is insufferable, and at night
chilly ; losing her way ; struggling through ; and, amid all,
more afraid of falling again into the enemy's hands than of
the surrounding dangers, — think of this, and you have but
an everyday occurrence. And, oh ! with what heartfelt joy
she smiles, and nestles up her child, when she falls in with a
Yankee picket! None of the blacks have had a suit of
clothes since the war broke out ; and what with livin«- in
' O
the woods, traveling nights, escaping rebel pickets, they have
but little of the manufactured article about them when they
reach our lines. Four have just come, — fair specimens in
their get-up of a Carnival of Venice. They are the surviv
ors of fifteen who started a week ago, and have been in
woods and swamps, hunted by dogs and rebels ; and, as they
say, ' De balance done gone squandered.' "
Col. Cahill continued, during the summer and fall, military
commandant of New Orleans, in the administration of which
office he gave much satisfaction. His good judgment and
decision carried him through several trying situations with
credit. He commanded a brigade for months, and proved
himself an enterprising and judicious officer, — successful
alike as governor of a city and as a leader in heated and
critical action.
-4
At several periods during the fall and winter, detachments
of the regiment were stationed upon the Gulf, along the
shores of Lake Borgne, in the defenses at Lakeport, Proc-
torville, and Chalmette, or on the canal and railroad ; while
a portion were at the North, and a portion in Texas with
the field signal-corps. The regiment was serving faithfully
in detachments, but had no opportunity to add to its honor
able fame.
During this season, five companies, under Lieut.-Col. Fitz
Gibbons, had a skirmish with the enemy near Terrebonne.
THE TENTH AT ST. AUGUSTINE. 513
Company I, Capt. Elliot M. Curtis, was detached to watch
the cross-roads; while Companies G, under Capt. William
Wright ; C, under Lieut. A. E. Payne ; E, under Lieut. T.
F. Gibbons ; D, under Capt. John G. Healy ; K, Capt. Ter-
rance Sheridan, were sent out to skirmish through the
swamp towards Chackahoola Station. There was a brisk
engagement; but the enemy maintained possession. Capt.
S. W. Sawyer also made several raids into the district to the
south-east.
Major Frye wrote from Pass Manchac, referring to the
natural attractions of the place, —
" The moccasins and rattlesnakes are quite abundant, and
apparently old settlers, as we killed one with nine rattles.
They are quite a protection against a flank movement of the
enemy through the swamp ; and the alligators actually stick
their noses into the tents, in hopes of stealing a biscuit or a
piece of pork. And then all night long the soldier is lulled
to sleep by the most infernal croaking of tree-toads, and
kept asleep by the buzzing and biting of myriads of mos
quitoes and yellow flies. One knows not how it is ; but
though every soldier has a mosquito-bar, still daylight will
find as many inside as out: and then innumerable green lizards
about four inches long, harmless but sportive, gambol and
catch flies and mosquitoes freely upon your face or body."
The Tenth went to St. Augustine, after Fort Wagner,
to recruit its wasted strength and to recover from the
effects of its terrible experience ; but even here it was not
wholly beyond either toil or danger. Picket and guard
duty taxed it heavily ; and about Jan. 1, 1864, it suffered a
loss of twenty-two, ambuscaded while out for the protection
of wood-choppers just beyond the lines. Private William
A. Burns of Greenwich was killed, and the rest made prison
ers. The camp at St. Augustine was thus described by Chap
lain H. Clay Trumbull : -
" The camp is outside the city gates, a short distance beyond the old
Spanish fort. The location is a good one. New tents of the A pattern have
been recently secured, and pitched on handsome and regular streets ; being
lifted some two and a half feet from the ground, and curtained with the
canvas of the tents before condemned. Good floors and bunks are being
66
514 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
made for all ; and in many cases substantial chimneys are erected of the
peculiar cochina, or shell-marl, of the vicinity. Good water is obtained by
little digging ; and the wells of the several companies are quite attractive,
presenting an Oriental appearance, with a barrel-shaft sunk in a large earth
basin, walled with turf or china, having wide steps of the same descending
from the street level. Much ingenuity is shown in some of the cook-rooms
and kitchens, also constructed of turf, or cochina ; while exquisite taste and
real refinement are often displayed in the interior of some of the tents, adorned
with the well-arranged arms and military equipments, family photographs,
home mementoes ; bright, golden clusters of oranges, lemons, or limes ; and
fragrant boughs of the abounding jessamine ; or bouquets of the rich variety
of Southern roses and other flowers of this land of bloom and beauty."
Col. Otis had command of the post ; Capt. J. S. Engles
was provost-marshal ; Lieut. Benjamin Wright, post-adjutant,
and Lieut. Sanford B. Palmer, post-quartermaster. Lieut-
Col. Leggett commanded the regiment at Fort Marion.
Chaplain Trumbull wrote, " More of the men are to be relied
on for a fight than for any holiday performance ; more for a
skirmish than for a dress-parade; for a battle than for a
review. For instance, at one time on Morris Island, when
the greater part of both officers and men were so exhausted
by the labors of the prolonged siege as to be really unfit for
service, only seven officers were reported for. daily duty;
but at a night alarm, when an attack was anticipated, fifteen
officers were with the regiment, with a proportional increase
in the number of men."
On April 17, a suspicious-looking craft having been seen
some distance below, Capt. Engles put off with some men in
a row-boat, and captured her as a prize, — a schooner of
twenty tons' burthen, trying to run the blockade with pri
vate stores and fifty thousand percussion-caps.
The Seventeenth Connecticut came from Folly Island to
St. Augustine in February, 1864 ; and Col. Noble was again
placed in command of a brigade.
The Twelfth, after the battle of Port Hudson, marched
with other troops southward through the State to relieve
Western Louisiana of rebel domination. Brashear City was
recovered. While here, Lieut. Stanton Allyn of the Twelfth
died in hospital on Aug. 28. He was a son of Col. Roswell Al
lyn of Ledyard, and a young man of high promise. "Among
THE TWELFTH AT KEW IBERIA. 515
all his comrades at school, he was without a peer. Books
were his constant companions, and he carried the head of a
man on his youthful shoulders." 6 He had thought to adopt
the" legal profession ; but, when the war broke out, he stepped
into the line without a moment's hesitation. He went bravely
through every battle, — Georgia Landing, Irish Bend, Bis-
land, and the long, terrible weeks at P^rt Hudson. On the
fatal 10th of June, in that disastrous charge, he was fore
most, and with a few of his men gained a position under the
enemy's guns, lying till night came upon the rebel parapet.
Lieut. Allyn was in the column of a thousand heroes which
Banks summoned as a forlorn hope.
" The great strain upon Lieut. Allyn's nerves during the
progress of this siege was too much for him to bear ; enter
ing upon the siege in a state of convalescence, he was quite
unfit for its trials. A few weeks more of exposure to the rains
and scorching suns brought him low : a violent fever seized
upon his system, and shortly after swept him away." 7 He
was much loved and deeply mourned ; and those who knew
him best felt that the Rebellion had not in its heavy
exaction of loyal blood required the life of a nobler man.
November, 1863, found the regiment encamped on an
old cotton-field, three miles below the town of New Iberia
on the Teche. A soldier wrote home at that time, —
" The men have shelter-tents (mere strips of cloth which
they button together), and the officers have A tents about
six feet square ; but, in your well-furnished parlors in Con
necticut, you can scarcely conceive how we prize these little
comforts. Almost six months we were — men and officers
too — without any tents whatever; exposed to all kinds
of hardship ; making long marches ; fighting hard battles ;
enduring heat, hunger; crowded* on boats where all could
not find room to lie down ; drinking the most miserable
water, from which even cattle at home would turn away in
disgust; always in front, and subject to constant alarms;
building railroads and bridges ; and then, instead of a quiet
camp in which to recruit our wasted energies, spending the
worst season in the year, viz., — August and September, — in
6 Vide Sketch in Connecticut War Record, 1864, by Ledyard Bill. 7 Ibid.
516 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
one of the most unhealthy localities in Louisiana. Nearly
all the regiment were sick at Brashear City ; so that the fall
campaign was entered with less than two hundred men for
duty, and with nearly three hundred in the various hospitals
of the department."
Col. Colburn (still on detached service), after building for
government the steamboat Col. Colburn, already referred to,
was made superintendent successively of the Opelousas and
the Jackson Railroads, and put both in running order. A
man of great skill and energy, he made himself exceedingly
useful in many ways.
Lieut.-Col. Frank H. Peck commanded a brigade at New
Iberia; while Capt. S. E. Clark commanded the regiment,
in the absence of Major George N. Lewis, not yet recovered
from the serious wound he received at Port Hudson.
During November and December, the men of the regiment
mostly re-enlisted; and during the first week in January they
started for New Orleans, on the way to take their veteran
furlough. The general commanding the division issued the
following complimentary order, richly deserved: —
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, 19TH ARMY CORPS,
NEW IUERIA, LA., Jan. 1, 1864.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 2. — The Twelfth Connecticut Volunteers, Lieut.-
Col. F. II. Peck commanding, having re-enlisted, will comply with
Special Orders No. 1, from headquarters 19th Army Corps, and proceed
to New Orleans.
The general commanding the division thinks it due to this regiment, and
to the lieutenant-colonel commanding it, to express his high opinion of its
good conduct, whether in the face of the enemy or in camp, and especially
the promptness with which it has come forward to re-enlist under the first
call of the President of the United States.
The regiment is the first that has been called upon under the law. It
has set a good example. The country, and the authorities which represent
the country, will not fail to honor the Twelfth Connecticut.
By command of Brig.-Gen. Emory.
FREDERICK SPEED, A. A. General.
At New Orleans the regiment arrived in the cold and
rain, and took % up quarters in the old Picayune cotton-press
in the lower part of the city. A member of the regiment
wrote before starting for home, " Those unaccustomed to a
soldier's life know little what we endure of personal discom
fort. Think of two years' life without sleeping in a bed !
THE SECOND LIGHT BATTERY IN NEW YORK. 517
without undressing a single night! — a board or the ground
your softest bed, the ration of the soldiers possessing little
variety; but it is wonderful how we get used to these
things, and eat to live, not live to eat. But we don't care for
the hardships. We are in for putting down this Rebellion,
and sweeping the rebels from the face of the earth ; and we
are going to stick to it : and we are showing the rebels, some
of whom in this section know the Twelfth Connecticut well,
that we can hold out as long as they can"
This seemed to be the spirit of the regiment ; for it fur
nished one-fourth more re-enlisting veterans than any other
infantry regiment from the State. After a veteran furlough
of thirty days, the Twelfth left New Haven on May 8, 1864,
and returned to Carrollton, La., with about four hundred
veterans and eighty recruits. The old Enfield arms were
exchanged for Springfield rifles, a more efficient weapon.
The regiment soon received additional recruits, and insti
tuted rigorous drill until it was ordered to return to Fort
ress Monroe in July.
The Second Connecticut Light Battery, under Capt. John
W. Sterling, was encamped on the front line of the army,
near Wolf-Run Shoals, on the Occoquan, in Virginia, from Jan
uary to midsummer of 18G3, leading rather an uneventful life.
The captain now reported to Brig.-Gen. R. 0. Tyler, com
manding all the reserve artillery of the Army of the Potomac;
and the battery fought gallantly under that officer at Get
tysburg, as has already appeared. After the battle, Capt.
Sterling took his battery to Camp Barry, Washington, to re
fit; and on the 15th of August it was ordered to New York
for defense against rioters in case of draft. Headquarters
were first at East New York, then on the Battery ; sections
being at Troy, Kingston, Tarrytown, and other places, under
Lieuts. Miles Gray and Philo B. Sherman. About the mid
dle of October, tents were struck, and the battery returned
to Washington ; where it was thoroughly re-equipped. New
carriages were furnished, and the armament was changed to
six 3-inch rifled guns. In January, 1864, the battery was
embarked for New Orleans, where it was assigned to the
518 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
outer defenses at Brashear City. Frequent raids and occa
sional attacks were made by the rebels ; but the post was
held through the summer.
Midwinter of 1863-64 found the Thirteenth at Thibodeau,
as comfortable as the mud and cold would allow. On New-
Year's eve, a handsome sword and equipments were pre
sented to Gen. Birge by his old regiment. Capt. McCord
had selected them at Tiffany's at an expense of five hundred
dollars. Here Quartermaster Joseph B. Bromley, one of the
most genial men in the service, gave his brother-officers " a
scientific supper."
The rebel citizens seem to have had a wholesome fear, if
not esteem, for the soldiers in their midst. Col. Sprague
tells of a fugitive slave-woman, who recovered her clothing,
retained by her late master, on presenting the following for
midable document: —
HEADQUARTERS COMPANY A, 13m CONN. VOLS.,
THIBODEAU, Jan. 29, 1864.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 1. — Lucinda (colored) is hereby appointed
laundress of Company A, Thirteenth Connecticut Volunteers. She will
be obeyed and respected accordingly.
J. C. KINNEY,
Lieutenant Commanding Company A, 13th C. V.
Our soldiers in the war had reason to adopt the language
of the old revolutionist : —
" I am proud to see
Men, not afraid of God, afraid of me."
On March 25, the regiment embarked, and went to New
Orleans ; and thence up the Mississippi and Red River as a
part of the expeditionary force under Gen. Banks. Gen.
Birge commanded the brigade, which included the Thirteenth.
Three days later, they debarked at Alexandria, encamped a
few days, and moved on a steamer to Grand £core. Here
the whole army faced towards Shreveport, and, going
through Grand ficore, formed a continuous semicircle around
the rear of the village. For several nights, the soldiers slept
on their arms amid alarms and countless speculations.
Breastworks were thrown up. The enemy was evidently
THE BATTLE OF CANE RIVER. 519
in front. After a week of tedious occupation, Banks turned
his army down the river, and marched out on the old Natchi-
toches Road, along the banks of Cane River. The rebels,
mostly mounted, kept in front, and were apparently in
creasing.
On the 23d, the enemy stood, and gave battle. Birge
took his brigade across the river to fall upon the rebel flank
and rear. The Thirteenth waded the stream first, the water
waistrdeep. Line was immediately formed ; and the force
advanced silently a mile through the woods. The command
was given not to fire a musket-shot, but to carry the position
with the bayonet. Col. Blinn led the Thirteenth. The
line steadily advanced, and drove the rebels from the first
summit they had occupied, and moved among the trees down
the opposite slope. Col. Sprague says, —
" Suddenly the thousand-fold rattle of musketry and rapid
discharges of artillery, the foe being invisible and yet appar
ently within touching distance, struck a momentary con
sternation in our ranks. They halted as if paralyzed. The
moment was a trying one. We had been ambushed, and
completely taken by surprise. A Brad clock defeat stared
us in the face. We could not stand under that withering
fire, and we would not retreat. ' The Thirteenth never re
treats,' we shouted, and ' Forward, forward ! At them with
the bayonet ! ' We leaped over the fence into. and out. of the
ravine; one or two companies on the right dashing across
the narrow bridge. We rushed rapidly towards the rifle
smoke and flash. Some twenty of Meissner's cavalry came
dashing back pell-mell through our ranks. Many of them
were covered with blood ; horses and riders were falling ;
Meissner himself shot through and through; Gen. Birge
borne along hatless by the tide ; Capt. Young of Banks's
staff with limbs horribly mangled by a shell ; eighteen of
the thirty troopers being killed or wounded ; the whole
scene tending to strike a panic into the two regiments.
Many of the men fell flat on their faces to escape the storm
of shot: some started to retreat. Col. Fiske was heard
above the din, exclaiming, i Stand up ! For God's sake, stand
up like men! ' Most of the officers joined in the same com-
CONNECTICUT DTJEING THE REBELLION.
mands ; and the universal shout of, ' Forward, forward ! '
again rose. The two regiments wavered but a moment, and
then plunged wildly on towards the enemy. A crooked ra
vine, running diagonally across the field, and filled with
interlacing vines, arrested our disorderly advance, and afford
ed shelter. For ten or fifteen minutes, the firing continued."
An arrangement was now made for a final advance, still
relying on the bayonet alone ; and wrhen shortly the charge
was made, the enemy had fled, and the field was won. So
ended the battle of Cane River. Thenceforward the return
to Alexandria was not seriously impeded. There was a sharp
fight below Marksville, and an artillery duel on Mansura
Plains; and, on May 17, the column reached Simsport, and
marched along the same bayou where the route had lain
just a year before. The enemy attacked the wagon-trains;
but Quartermaster William Bishop brought the wagons of
the Thirteenth off safely. The regiment encamped on the
Mississippi just above Morganza, where it lay for several
weeks.
On June 19, the enemy was reported in force up at Tunica
Bend; and the division which included the Thirteenth moved
up to give them battle. They encountered a small party of
guerrillas ; but the main force of rebels had fled. The military
service of the Thirteenth in Louisiana was ended ; for about
the middle of July came the long-delayed "-veteran fur
lough," and the regiment embarked for home.
The veterans from all the old regiments were received in
the State with the most overwhelming demonstrations of
gratitude and affection. People from every county rallied
at New Haven and Hartford to greet them. The line of
march was magnificent with flags, welcoming devices, and
patriotic decorations. Almost every house bore signals of
the general joy. The streets were crowded, and cheer fol
lowed cheer through the awakened city. The cannon
roared and the bells clanged in jubilee. A double reception
was given most of the regiments, — first in New Haven,
then in Hartford.
GOV. BUCKINGHAM'S ADDRESS TO THE VETERANS. 521
The Eighth and Eleventh, which had always been bri
gaded together, and were strongly attached, came home in
company. They reached New Haven on Jan. 15, and were
most warmly and cordially greeted. They mustered three
hundred men each.
They were escorted to Music Hall by a military proces
sion, accompanied by an immense throng. Mayor Tyler was
ready to welcome them in grateful words ; but they had
eaten no breakfast, and were straightway bidden to partake
of the bounteous collation there spread. In Hartford, Allyn
Hall was elaborately ornamented with war-flags and eulogis
tic mottoes.
Gov. Buckingham addressed the veterans as follows : —
GEN. HARLAND, AND OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE EIGHTH AND ELEV
ENTH REGIMENTS, — In behalf of the General Assembly and the citizens
of Connecticut, I greet you with a cordial welcome, — uot as long-lost prod
igals who have neglected their duty to themselves and their homes, but as
devoted sons who have gone iu their manhood from parental roofs, and,
after achieving brilliant success through heroic deeds and sacrifices, return,
crowned with glory, to receive the blessings of parents and friends.
I remember the time, not long in the past, when a certain race of men
declared to the world, that, from the corner-stone of human bondage, they
would erect a government of their own in defiance of law and constitu
tional obligations ; and that they raised armies to carry out their bold dec
laration, though the land should be deluged in blood. I remember that
they, in their madness, struck at the old flag of their country as it waved
over Fort Sumter ; and that earnest men, fired with the zeal and patriot
ism which should animate every true American heart, while on their way
to defend the capital of the nation, were shot down in the streets of
Baltimore by an infuriated mob stimulated to bloody deeds by the desire
to overthrow liberty that slavery might live. Then it was that you
stepped out from your workshops and fields of labor, and, bidding adieu
for the time being to peaceful pursuits and the enjoyments of home, buckled
on the armor of brave men, and marched to distant fields to defend the
national life from the assaults of a wicked and desperate foe. I remember
— and the people of Connecticut remember — your full ranks as you stood
shoulder to shoulder, two thousand strong, when leaving the borders of the
State ; and since that time watchful eyes and prayerful hearts have not
lost sight of you. Through all the vicissitudes and dangers of the battle
field, you have been watched Avith eager anxiety. We remember when,
with the indomitable Burnside, you landed on the sands of Iloauoke Island,
through the battling waves of Ilatteras, to the securement of a foothold in
the old North State. We remember you at Newberue, at South Mountain,
and at other fields where your valor has been displayed with untold honor
to yourselves and your native State. At Antietam, where your gallant
Col. Kingsbury laid down his life ; where the intrepid Griswold led the
way across that fatal stream, and died heroically ; where the brave Lieut.
66
522 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Wait would not leave his post, though wounded mortally, — we remember
you with particular devotion. It is in that record that we find the names
of sixty-nine of your numbers who knew how sweet it was to die for their
country, and of over two hundred more who died in defense of liberty.
And we owe you who stood at their side a debt of gratitude which we
can never repay. We would have your names inscribed on the finest mar
ble and granite ; but, if that can not be, you may rest assured, that, engraved
on the brightest pages of history, the names of the nation's defenders
will ever stir the gratitude of those who shall read hereafter the history
of this Rebellion.
Though your flags come back tattered and torn, they are crowned with
glory, and will ever stand, with the names of bloody battle-fields which are
inscribed upon them, as faithful witnesses of your struggles in defense of
constitutional liberty.
I feel grateful to God that you are here ; that you come to us with such
a noble record. Your re-enlistment is evidence that you first entered the
service of your country from motives of patriotism, and are ready to fight
on, giving your lives, if need be, to the maintenance of those principles
which lie close to the heart of every true lover of his country. So long as
our hearts continue to beat true to liberty, so long will they cherish with
gratitude the services of the Eighth and Eleventh Connecticut Regiments.
After another speech by Rowland Swift, Esq., and an ex
cellent dinner, they dispersed, to seek that tenderer recep
tion by fathers, mothers, wives, and sisters, in many happy
homes.
The Seventh was soon announced. The common council
of New Haven voted a thousand dollars to pay the expenses
of the reception. A stirring committee of influential citizens
- Major F. Wayland, jr., Major B. F. Mansfield, Capt. R P.
Cowles, Charles W. Allen, Henry E. Pardee, Charles T. Gril-
ley, and John G. North — was appointed to co-operate with
the common council. The regiment arrived on the 28th,
and was escorted through the city by an immense pro
cession.
" Residences and stores along the route were tastefully
decorated. The stars and stripes floated everywhere, and,
seeming almost instinct with the spirit of the hour, waved
mute but grand welcome. A thousand miniatures of the
broad national ensign, in fair hands and in tiny hands, waved
lively and patriotic greeting. A sweet and graceful little
Goddess of Liberty, eight years of age, at the residence of
Dr. Skiff, made many a sturdy soldier-heart beat quicker
with pride and pleasure. The streets swarmed with an
eager, vociferous crowd. Every window displayed an aston-
CONTINUED RETURN OF VETERANS. 523
ishing number effaces, — all lively, good-natured, and intent to
do honor to the returning braves. Cheers, blessings, boister
ous and hearty recognitions, blended with the roar of cannon
and merry bells — never before so noisy — to form a bewilder
ing tumult of joyous sounds."
At Music Hall, they were greeted by Mayor Tyler; and
Rev. Dr. Bacon (whose son, Capt. Theodore Bacon, was in the
regiment) made the welcoming address. Chaplain Wayland
eloquently responded, and the following is an extract from
his speech : —
" As we look over these ranks, feelings of sadness oppress us as we
remember that all are not here whom we took with us from the State.
Some, in consequence of wounds and sickness incurred in the service, were
deemed by the medical examiner unfit to bear the toils of another term of
service. Others, alas ! are languishing in the dungeons of the capital of
the enemy's country. Others are no more. They lie all along the Southern
coast. They crowd the slope of Fort Wagner. They sleep under the pines
of lliltou Head and the live-oaks of St. Helena and Beaufort. The waves
on lone Tybee murmur near their graves. They sleep in the modest en
closure under the captured walls of Fort Pulaski. They repose in Fernan-
dina. At St. Augustine, they lie in the military burying-ground, beside
the dead of the old Florida War, consecrating anew that spot of time-hon
ored and patriotic memories. As I think of these, — of Hitchcock, a son of
New Haven, of others not less worthy of honor, — I would God they were
here to-day to witness and to share this greeting ! Indeed, they are not
altogether absent."
Next day the Sixth arrived, and had a grand midnight
reception, amid an exhibition of fireworks. The success of
this was credited largely to the energy and enterprise of
Alderman Marble. Music Hall was decorated, and the vete
rans sat down to an abundant supper.
The Fifth was received in Hartford on the 25th with
unabated enthusiasm, and was escorted to the City Hall by
an undiminished throng. An earnest speech of welcome
was made by H. C. Robinson, Esq. ; when the brave fellows
were led forward to the charge upon the laden dinner-tables.
The veterans of the Tenth, under Major E. S. Greeley,
arrived at New Haven on Feb. 19, and left for Hartford next
morning. They were received in Hartford with all honors,
escorted proudly about the city, and marched to a collation
at the City Hall. Here Rev. Mr. Calkins welcomed the regi
ment. Chaplain Henry Clay Trumbull, coming into the hall,
524 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
was hailed with repeated cheers by the men, who insisted
that he should make a speech. He addresed them as fol
lows : —
" COMPANIONS OF THE TENTH, — I am glad to see you here in my own
home. I am glad you are here to prove what I have so often said about
you, — that you are men of whom Connecticut may well be proud. You
have shown your devotion to the cause by re-enlisting for three years ; and
I believe you would enlist for thirty years if necessary to secure the full
triumph of that flag.
" But not all of your number are here. More than forty of your officers
and men are gone. And some who are now here will not be here again.
You know that well. We honor you for what you have done, and for
what you will do. More than sixty times you have been in line of battle ;
and you will, if need be, be in line of battle sixty or a hundred times more,
and go forward and never flinch.
" I have heard it said that veterans re-enlisted for the bounties and
furloughs. When I was in prison at Columbia, S.C., I saw that tested.
There were soldiers and sailors suffering for the want of a little money.
But when Beauregard's officers came and offered them money without stint,
and furloughs to go where they pleased, if they would answer a few questions
about our army, not one American soldier or sailor listened : there wasn't
money enough coined to buy up these soldiers. When at Whitehall our forces
were being swept by a murderous fire (the river was before them, but no
bridge), and volunteers were called for to swim that icy stream and fell trees
in the face of that deadly fire, they sprang forward from the Connecticut
Tenth. When an expedition to attack Fort Sumter was forming, and men
were wanted to march to certain death, — to carry powder to blow up the
postern gate of Sumter, that others might obtain entrance over their bodies,
— volunteers stepped forward from the Connecticut Tenth.
u I am glad to meet you here, soldiers ; and I ask no better place thau
to be with you anywhere, till our work shall be ended."
The chaplain was presented with an elegant sword : on the
hilt was set a silver cross, and on the blade engraved the fol
lowing text of Scripture, '• Let the high praises of God be
in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."
The Twelfth, under Lieut-Col. Frank II. Peck, having re-
enlisted almost unanimously, arrived in New Haven on
Feb. 12. Here and in Hartford they were feted and eulo
gized ; Ezra Hall of Marlborough making a stirring speech
of welcome at the City Hall in Hartford.
The Ninth, Col. Thomas Cahill in command, arrived at
New Haven, April 15, and had a handsome reception on
short notice. The people seemed not to tire of these
displays ; but each return of the heroes of the war seemed
to summon a larger crowd than the last. The veterans were
escorted to the State House to a dinner, where they were
RECEPTION OF THE NINTH AND THIRTEENTH. 525
welcomed by Mayor Tyler. Rev. Matthew Hart of St. Pat
rick's Church delivered a brief address, of which the follow
ing is an extract : —
" We hoped for great things from you ; and I proclaim before you that
our hopes have not been disappointed, — no, not in a single instance. We
have followed you from Ship Island to Pass Christian since your first en
counters in the war, when, after having conquered the fathers, you gave
bread to the starving children. We followed you to New Orleans. We
found you in the expedition bound for Vicksburg. There many of your
noble brothers in arms laid down their lives upon their country's altar.
Sacred be their memories to-night ! Honored be the graves in which
their patriotic dust is laid to rest ! and may our country, for which they
died, care for their widows and orphaned ones ! From Vicksburg, we
watched your steps to Baton Rouge, now made famous by your exploits ;
where, after a most desperate contest, lasting for six hours, your gallant
colonel (Cahill) was placed in command, by whose efforts the day was
won, and the enemy defeated, forced to retire, leaving their dead and
wounded in your hands. You have done well. We are proud of you.
Other regiments may have fought more than you, because they had it to
do. You have done all the fighting given you to do, and .done it well.
We honor you, therefore, and were proud of you when we heard of your
congratulatory orders, and your compliments for discipline and bravery."
The Thirteenth, under Col. C. D. Blinn of West Cornwall,
did not reach New Haven until July 26. The veterans were
cordially greeted. Gov. Buckingham made a short address,
of which the following is an extract : —
" We know that the dangers which you have braved have not dampened
your ardor nor quenched your patriotism ; but you have re-enlisted to give
yourselves for three years more to the country, and, through the country, to
God. Those at home appreciate your services and your devotion ; and,
though you may sometimes feel that there is a coldness toward you, let me
tell you it is only in appearance : there is a feeling in this people's heart
which perhaps no other people have cherished towards their brave sol
diers. Let me tell you, that, so long as this heart beats, it will beat with
gratitude and love for the men who have offered themselves as a bulwark
to the nation. So long as this voice can speak, so long will it speak in
praise of the men of the Thirteenth Connecticut. God bless you ! I
welcome you to the City and the State."
The veteran regiments received many recruits at home ;
and they marched back again to the front, when their brief
furlough was ended, followed by the benedictions of the
State, and made readier by the touch of loving hands for
the last death-grapple with the Rebellion.
CHAPTER XXXII.
The Sixteenth in Rebel Prisons. — The Enlisted Men at Andersonville. — Rations. —
Terrible Suffering in the Stockade. — The " Dead-Line." — Starvation. — Insanity.
— The Patriot's Burial. — The Hospital. — Officers at Macon. — Chivalry and Blood
hounds. — The "Glorious Fourth." — In Charleston. — Efforts to Escape. — Ex
change.
LYMOUTH was the end of the active war-life of
the Sixteenth. Almost a year of captivity was
before them, — the year when rebel prisons
were the portals of death. Of the four hun
dred enlisted men, less than two hundred ever
escaped to tell the story of the starvation and nameless tor
tures in the loathsome hell of Andersonville. The cowardly
persecution of prisoners of war had not then culminated ;
and the men had but a very faint foreshadowing of the
ghastly future, as they dropped their burnished arms, and
stepped into the midst of the exulting " graybacks."
The Sixteenth had fallen into the hands of a detail of the
35th North-Carolina, kindly-disposed fellows, who treated
Union soldiers with some humanity and respect.1 The
prisoners were not plundered, but retained their blankets,
overcoats, and all Clothing and personal property. They
perhaps abused their privileges ; for the soldiers tell, that, as
they marched into Williamston, they howled into the ears
of their indulgent escort the song, —
" John Brown's body lies moldcring in the grave."
The hard-tack and raw pork captured at Plymouth were
dealt out in slim rations. At Hamilton, some of the officers
1 The following account of the imprisonment of the enlisted men is mainly com
piled from Life and Death in Rebel Prisons; a book by Sergeant-Major Robert H.
Kellogg of the Sixteenth.
526
ANDERSON VILLE PRISON. 527
bought corn-meal pone at five dollars a small loaf; and
the prisoners struck up a " right smart of trading " with the
guard. Those who were deserters from the rebel army
were taken out to be shot. " For a piece of pie," says Ser
geant Kellogg, " I gave the last ' greenback ' dollar I had in
the world. Some time before, our forces had made a raid
to Elizabeth City ; and some of the men, breaking into the
Farmers' Bank, appropriated to themselves a large number
of unsigned certificates of deposit. These were now filled
out with any names most convenient, and passed with the
greatest readiness as good, sound money."
They staid a while in Tarborough ; thence by rail, uncom
fortably enough, to Wilmington ; thence to Charleston,
arriving May 1 ; thence to Savannah ; thence to Macon.
Here the officers found quarters. The enlisted men sped on
sixty miles south-westward to Andersonville. As they
entered, they were shocked to see the prisoners reduced to
mere walking skeletons by privation and exposure, and cov
ered with filth and vermin. A ration for a day consisted of
a pint and a half of coarse corn-meal, two ounces of musty
bacon, and a pinch of salt. The first night, ten died near
the position of the Sixteenth. The old prisoners called it,
with a touching humor, <; being exchanged."
Men were shot for wandering over the " dead-line," or for
crossing the brook. On the fifth night, a squad tunneled
out; but they were hunted down with bloodhounds, cap
tured, and returned ; some of them horribly lacerated. The
dead were piled, just as they were, one upon another, in
wagon-loads, carted out, thrown into a ditch, and covered
with earth ; and that was the patriot's burial.
Sometimes women came to the gates, and amused them
selves by throwing in bread, and witnessing the eagerness
with which the poor fellows scrambled to get it. The men
had no bed but the ground ; too little food to support life,
and not wood enough to cook even that little ; clothing that
did not cover their nakedness. Rations were cut down one-
half.
There was great rejoicing at the news brought by prison
ers from Sherman's army ; and the fact that telegraph dis-
528 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
patches were cut from the papers which were handed in
filled the men with hope and enthusiasm. The rebels were
very ignorant. A pompous Confederate officer in search of
a clerk addressed a newly-arrived lot of prisoners one day,
" If there is a man among you that can write his name, he
may step this way." Of course, the whole crowd charged
on the inquirer, to his infinite amazement and perplexity.
Suffering became extreme. Men died every hour, and
were carted off like cattle. Rations grew worse and worse.
One day a cripple, unable to hold his way any longer, and
filled with despair, deliberately crossed the dead-line, and
refused to go out; telling the sentry that he wished to die.
The sentinel shot the poor fellow dead ; and the released
soul could not have found at the hand of a loving Father
any other hell like that from which it had escaped.
The prisoners made sundry attempts to dig out ; but every
time, just as they were upon the eve of accomplishing their
escape, they were betrayed. After a while, the rations were
varied to one bucket of mush for forty-five men. Those
who still had life enough left for a facetious word called it
" chicken-feed ; " for it was nothing but coarse corn-meal and
water, half cooked.
About the 1st of June, a large number of prisoners came
in from Butler's army, including twenty-four of the Eighth
Connecticut, fifty-two of the Seventh, a hundred and thirty
of the Eleventh, and fifteen of the Twenty-first.
Rations were asrain reduced; and rains came on, bcatin"-
o * O
mercilessly on the unsheltered thousands. Many died of
exposure ; and corpses were now carried from the stockade at
the rate of a hundred a day. The ration was a few teaspoon-
fuls of uncooked rice, and two ounces of bacon, to be cooked
and eaten amid the mud and desolation of the place. One
or two could almost always be seen at the brookside, whither
they had crawled to die. Every week, some were killed at
the dead-line ; one being shot for reaching over to get a
root to kindle fire with : and constantly, through the long
and dreary months, the hopeless prisoners were tortured
anew with the promise of immediate exchange.
Large gangs of prisoners, from fifty to five hundred a
GREAT SUFFERINGS OF THE PRISONERS. 529
day, were brought within the stockade, which increased the
number, notwithstanding the loads of the dead daily carted
out. Every week, the waiting skeletons heard from- the
armies of Grant, Butler, and Sherman. On the 4th of July,
a little raw food was thrown in to them, and they were de
nied wood wherewith to cook it. Some of the wasted crea
tures gave their morsels away to others, declaring that they
were tired of fighting for life, and were resolved to die of
the hunger that had seized them. Many were now too
emaciated, even if they could have obtained wood, to cook
the bits of bacon on which maggots were crawling. Yet
the day was not wholly forgotten ; for Kellogg says, " One
of the boys had a few percussion-caps, and, by snapping
these with a fragment of brick upon a tenpenny nail, we had
a miniature celebration."
A petition to President Lincoln for exchange was at this
time circulated ; but the men of the Sixteenth generally
refused to sign it, on the ground that it might embarrass the
irovernmcnt in its dealings with the Rebellion ; and that the
O O '
loyal authorities were already, doubtless, doing what they
could. There were now thirty thousand in the stockade.
A rebel contractor came in to induce men to desert, and
promised them good rations and pay if they would go out
and make shoes for the Confederacy : but the starving pa
triots resolutely refused such service ; and the recruiting cob
bler was hooted and jeered out of the stockade. It was now
Aug. 1 ; and the distress had become very great. Some of
the Sixteenth died nearly every day.
The prisoners had nothing to shield them from the thun
der-storms and the burning sun. Many were insane. One
poor fellow would strip off his rags, and wallow in the dirty
stream where the men both washed, and quenched their
thirst. Sergeant Kellogg asked him, " Why don't you wash,
and not stay there in the sun ? " His hopeless reply was,
" I am waiting for the water to become clear." Alas ! it
would never run clear for him ; for the rebel cook-house was
on its brink outside, and the prisoner's sink upon its brink
inside. Hundreds lost their lives by scurvy. A member
of the 52d New-York became corrupt while still conscious
67
530 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
in life, and his body was literally devoured. Parts became
raw and bloody ; and the filthy maggots could be seen issu
ing from his nose and mouth.
Uncooked, meager rations, with no wood, was the rule ; no
soap, no salt; and at night the famished, wretched men
threw themselves on the wet ground to think over again
the promise of exchange repeated during the day, and then
to fall into uneasy slumbers, and dream of being guests at a
luxurious banquet, or a Thanksgiving dinner in Connecticut,
— to dream for the hundredth time about the pleasant home-
circle, and to listen to — ,
" The echoes that start,
While Memory plays its old tune on the heart."
In the hospital, matters were just as bad. To enter was
to face almost certain death. " The emaciated, pain-racked
frames had no place to rest but the cold, hard ground ; and
in numberless instances thejr heads were pillowed on nothing
softer than a stick of wood. The skin would often wear
away, leaving their bodies sore." '" Many of these were the
manly youths who had left Connectiput with patriotism in
their heart, fire in their eye, vigor in their arm, elasticity in
their step ; the pride of countless homes, the idols of many
hearts, for whose return love was still keeping its hearth
stone bright, — now treated like vagabonds and outlaws ! A
day's ration for these invalids consisted of '•' a piece of corn-
bread about two inches square, and about two ounces of
meat. I have seen hundreds of cases of scurvy, where the
men have actually starved to death, being unable to eat the
coarse food furnished." 2
" My patients are in a deplorable condition. In the first,
second, and third wards, we have no bunks ; the patients
being obliged to lie upon the ground, many of them without
blankets, or any covering whatsoever. We have men in this
ward who are a living, moving mass of putrefaction, and can
not possibly be cured unless we can make them more com
fortable." 3
In the stockade and hospital, three thousand died during
2 Sergeant Hiram Buckingham of the Sixteenth.
8 Report of Dr. Thornberg, rebel surgeon, to the authorities.
EXPEKIEXCE OF THE CAPTUEED OFFICEKS. 531
August, and thirteen thousand during the summer. At last,
in September, the men of the Sixteenth still living were
taken out, and transported to Charleston, under promise of
exchange. But here again they were turned into a camp
on the race-course, and were again in prison. The Sisters
of Charity — those Roman-Catholic angels of mercy, who
were omnipresent in good deeds throughout the war — ad
ministered greatly to their comfort. About the 1st of Octo
ber, the yellow-fever made its appearance ; and they were
taken to Florence and another stockade. Here some Union
soldiers, broken down with sickness, exposure, and starva
tion, enlisted in the rebel army, on a promise of food and
clothing. About the 1st of December, most of the surviving
members of the Sixteenth were taken to Savannah, and ex
changed ; going North immediately on a steamer. They had
endured tortures such as no battle-field witnesses; and their
sufferings for the Union cause had doubtless been equal to
those of any regiment from the State.
The officers had an experience scarcely less terrible. They
arrived at Macon early in May, and were put into a pen,
with one thousand and ninety-five others. Chaplain Charles
Dixon of Wallingford preached in the evening from Exodus
iii. 2. The rations were very poor, and the most of the offi
cers soon expended their last dollar in purchasing food.
Many attempts to escape were planned ; but few were suc
cessful. Major Pasco was a member of a band of eighty,
bent on escape by tunneling. They were betrayed ; and the
officer in command ordered Major Pasco, who stood near, to
fill up the tunnel. A revolver was helcf menacingly at his
breast ; but he resolutely refused. He was then taken from
the prison ; and the authorities threatened to " make an ex
ample of him" by hanging him, unless he should comply
with the demand, and furnish other information that was
required. He showed no sign of yielding, and was finally
recommitted.
On June 10, fifty of the highest Union officers in the
hands of the Confederates were taken from prison, and ex
posed in Charleston, under and in range of the guns of
Gilmore from Morris Island. Among these was Lieut-Col.
532 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Burnham. They received the outrage complacently ; and,
within two weeks, fifty of the highest rebel officers were con
fined within a hot inclosure on Morris Island, watching the
plunging shots that dropped about them from the rebel forts.
This prompt retaliation brought about an exchange of the
two parties, after little delay.
Sixteen officers of the Eighteenth Connecticut, from Libby,
arrived at the Macon stockade about the same time. The
inclosure measured two and a half acres, and contained from
a thousand to eighteen hundred prisoners. Capt. Henry
C. Davis, one of the best officers of the Eighteenth, has writ
ten, " The treatment of the officers was inhuman, and in
strong contrast with the treatment in Libby. We were
herded together like cattle, and for a long time without any
shelter from the storm or the burning sun. Chronic diar
rhea, fever, scurvy, constantly diminished our ranks. Rations
were issued once in five days, and consisted of seven pints
of coarse corn-meal, half a pint of sorghum, one-seventh of a
pound of maggoty, rancid bacon, two table-spoonfuls of beans
(black and wormy), two table-spoonfuls of salt ; this for
each man for five days."
One night, three tunnels were nearly completed, but were
discovered. The Morning Republican, under the head of
The Escaping Yankee Doodles, had an editorial which
closed as follows : —
"We have hundreds of dogs, trained to catch negroes,
which are thirsting for blood, and are ready to be put on the
trail of escaping Yankees. We will use them for the benefit
of all who attempt to escape ; and the best thing the Doodles
can do is to remain under the protecting care of their rebel
superiors."
On the 4th of July, the rebels gave them four roll-calls
in the morning. " An officer hoisted a small United-States
flag, which we all cheered lustily, much to the chagrin
of the rebel guards ; then another sang the Star-spangled
Banner : we cheered that ; then, without any preconcert, we
went into a large building, and held a meeting. Chaplain
Dixon made one of the most patriotic prayers I ever heard ;
then earnest, off-hand speeches were made, filled with a deter-
SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE. 533
urination to persevere until the Rebellion should be crushed.
Lieut-Col. Forbes was particularly defiant, and the rebels
threatened to put him in irons. In the evening, we made
fireworks out of fat and pine, and had an exhibition of the
elephant and other animals." *
On the 1st of August, the officers of the Sixteenth and
Eighteenth were taken, with others, to Savannah. Lieut.
& ' '
John M. Waters of Hartford died on- the 29th, of bilious
fever. On Sept. 13, they were again removed ; this time
being taken to Charleston, where, says Lieut. Blakeslee,
" the rebels gave us an enthusiastic reception." They were
here imprisoned in full view of Gilmore's batteries on Morris
Island. They had been under lire before, and, even in their
helplessness, felt more than compensated by the ruin which
the solid shot and bursting shells were working on every
hand. Cheer after cheer went up to hear the missiles crash
through adjacent buildings.
Lieut. Blakeslee at this time wrote in his diary, " In the
evening we often watch the shells coming, and it is a beau
tiful sight. We first catch the flash of our guns; then, after
waiting a few seconds, we can see the missile, which looks
like a shooting or moving star, climbing up higher and
higher ; and, when it reaches its full higlit, we hear the re
port of the gun that sent it ; and by this time the shell is so
near, that we can hear its sharp, shrill shriek ; then it grad
ually descends, and approaches until it is right over our
heads, and bursts ; most of the pieces going beyond us. The
report of the explosion then reaches us, as we hear the frag
ments rattle among the brick walls, or crash fearfully through
the wooden tenements." During imprisonment here, Lieut.
James D. Higgins of the Eighteenth escaped by a bold
stratagem, and arrived safely at Hilton Head.
Oct. 5, they left Charleston on the railroad running north
ward. No rations were issued, and the officers were in a piti
ful condition from hunger. Efforts to escape still continued :
a number were successful. The rebel officers proposed to
increase and improve the prisoners' rations if they would
4 Diary of Lieut. B. F. Blakeslee of the Sixteenth, from Hartford.
534 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
give their parole not to try to escape ; but they indignantly
declined the offer, in consequence of which all sorts of pri
vations were imposed upon them.
They were now taken to a camp near Columbia, S.C.,
which the prisoners named Camp Sorghum, on account of
the prevalence of that saccharine in the meagre rations. One
or two hundred had escaped by jumping from the cars.
Some were killed ; some hunted down and recaptured ;
many made their way to the coast, and found refuge under
the old flag, — never before so beautiful or so sacred. More
escaped from the stockade, — a score every day, a hundred
almost every night. This was accomplished by either brib
ing the guard, or charging out in a crowd, and taking the
chance of death by the musket of the sentinel. They heard
that Sherman was rapidly approaching, and they usually
made their way towards his lines.
In this manner, several officers of the Sixteenth escaped :
among them Major Henry L. Pasco ; Capts. Timothy B. Rob
inson of Bristol, Alfred A. Dickerson of Hartford, Thomas
F. Burke of Hartford, Mark C. Turner of Hartford, Charles
W. Morse of Collinsville, and Henry Hintz of Suffield ; and
Lieuts. H. Bruns of Bristol and George Johnson of Derby.
The first five made their way to our lines on the second
attempt. A few were recaptured ; but their condition at
Camp Sorghum was so wretched, that no risk was too great
to prevent constant efforts to escape.
Capt. H. C. Davis of the Eighteenth escaped by giving the
guard an old watch, and fifty dollars in Confederate money ;
but, after a tramp of one hundred and fifty miles through
wood and swamp, was run down by a pack of hounds, and
brought back after an absence of twenty-three days.
In February, Sherman arrived at Columbia, and the pris
oners were hurried off his line of march to Camp Asylum ;
and in March, 1865, the officers of the Sixteenth were taken
about a mile from Maryborough, N.C., and exchanged. Lieut.
Blakeslee's diary tells of the joyful occasion : " As soon as
we were able clearly to comprehend that there was not
somebody at our side with a loaded musket, we swung our
caps, cheered over and over again, hugged, kissed, rolled
GREAT EE JUICING S. 535
on the ground, sang, laughed, and finally cried. Then, tak
ing in another breath of fresh American air, we flung up
our old pans, kettles, bags of meal, and bundles of all sorts,
and cheered again for Lincoln, Gen. Grant, Gen. Sherman,
and Gen. Exchange ; and hugged the horse of the colonel,
who was trying in vain to get us into line."
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Up the James River. — The Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twenty-first
at Bermuda Hundred. — A Rcconnoissance. — The Railroad destroyed. — Battle
of Dairy's Bluff. — Repulse and Heavy Losses. — " Bottled up " within the Intrench-
mcnts. — Fight of the Twenty-first. — Death of Col. Arthur II. Dutton. — Losses
of the Seventh. — The First Connecticut Artillery ordered to Bermuda Hundred. —
The Non- Veterans mustered out.
EE still contended bravely for the possession of
Virginia ; though no relief came to the armies
of the Rebellion with the spring of 1864.
While Sherman was consolidating the armies
of the West, and Grant getting the Army of the
Potomac well in hand, Butler marshaled the Army of the
James. The Connecticut regiments had by this time been
filled with recruits, until, with one or two exceptions, they
again mustered eight hundred to a thousand men each. A
large proportion of these soon deserted, leaving the regiments
little stronger than when they came.
On the morning of March 1, the veterans of the Eighth
and Eleventh Connecticut, returning from furlough, were
on board a transport anchored off Fortress Monroe. The
Eighth debarked at Portsmouth, and returned to the old
camp. On the 13th, the regiment was ordered to Deep
Creek, where it remained performing outpost and picket
duty one month, when it shared in the reconnoissance to
wards Suffolk. It now broke camp at Deep Creek, and
went to Yorktown, where it encamped on April 21. The
Eleventh arrived at Williamsburg, March 3, constituting the
force nearest Richmond. Recruits had been received, so
that 1,035 were present for duty. The Eighth was now in
the 1st Division, and the Eleventh in the 2d Division, of
the 18th Army Corps, under Gen. W. F. (« Baldy") Smith.
536
THREATENED ATTACK ON WASHINGTON, N.C. 537
On April 26, the veterans of the Tenth, under Lieut.-Col.
E. S. Greeley from Connecticut, and the non-veterans, under
Col. John L. Otis from Florida, met at Gloucester Point;
and the regiment was assigned a place in the 10th Corps.
On the 27th of April, the Sixth1 embarked at Hilton
Head, 'and the Seventh took steamer at Jacksonville, Fla.,
on the 13th; and both regiments proceeded to Fortress
Monroe, and thence to Gloucester Point, where they were
assigned to the 10th Army Corps, under Major-Gen. Gilmore.
In March, Gen. Edward II a rl and was stationed at Wash
ington, N.C., in command of the sub-district of the Pam-
lico. After the capture of Plymouth, on April 20, it was
expected that Gen. Hoke would attack Washington. Harland
was ordered to evacuate. He made hasty preparations ;
and the Twenty-first Connecticut and 51st Pennsylvania had
already embarked on transports, when Hoke invested the
town. The regiments were at once ordered back, and put
into the works. Every preparation was made to repel the
attack. The Fifteenth Connecticut still remained here. All
the troops were assigned places in the intrenchments, and
at three o'clock each morning were called out to the breast
works in readiness for action, where they remained until
daybreak. Picket-lines were strengthened, and every pre
caution taken to guard against surprise, and to insure pro
tection to the town. Gen. Harland, ever active, superin
tended the arrangements for defense of the town in person,
and by his activity and energy did much to inspire the
soldiers under his command with confidence and courage.
When the transports returned, Hoke thought Harland
was receiving re-info rcements, and withdrew in the night
without attack.
Finally, towards the end of April, Gen. Harland evacuated
the town, and prepared to go to Newberne, sending the
Twenty-first before him to the Army of the James. On
the 28th, the Twenty-first marched down to the wharf,
1 On April 20, Capt. Lewis C. Allen, jr., died of disease. In former years, lie was
a member of a militia company in Georgia; and afterwards, removing to New Haven,
was drill-officer of the New-Haven Blues. He went out as a first lieutenant in the third
three-months' regiment, and as captain of the Brewster Rifles of the Sixth. He was
provost-marshal at Hilton, and participated with credit in all the battles of the regiment.
68
•538 .CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
to find that the boat assigned to them had been loaded
down with the anxious negroes and their baggage. The
trespassers were ordered off. Capt. Delos D. Brown wrote
of the scene, —
" After the negroes were all disembarked, our men were ordered on
board to unload the baggage ; and mounting the hurricane-deck, where
it had been packed away, they charged upon the confused mass of African
possessions, and commenced transferring them in a very unceremonious
manner to the wharf. The scene which followed baffles description.
Feather-beds fell like snow-flakes, only rather more forcibly, upon the
heads of the frantic searchers for ' their own ' household goods. Bedding,
clothing, all manner of domestic goods, filled the air, and fell like rain in
one confused and inextricable mass. Hooped skirts were hurled gracefully
from the deck to come down enveloping some corpulent wench, and add
ing to her wrath. Some were crying, some laughing, some fighting, and
all wrangled amid the shower of ' bag and baggage ' which ' mingling
fell.' And thus we left them, to be subsequently conveyed to Newberne ;
but, if they ever live to sort that baggage, they will exceed the average
African longevity."
The Fifteenth returned to Newberne, forty miles south,
while the Twenty-first proceeded to Fortress Monroe, and
encamped at Portsmouth. Hampton Roads now presented
a very animated sight. Hundreds of steamers and trans
ports of all kinds ^oved to and fro, busy in preparations
for the coming campaign against Petersburg.
On the 4th of May, Gen. Butler's force — the 10th and the
18th Corps — embarked on transports, and followed gun
boats up the James. The enemy was surprised ; and the land
ing at City Point and Bermuda Hundred,2 on each side the
Appomattox, was unopposed. The Sixth and Seventh Con
necticut were in Col. J. R Hawley's brigade of Brig.-Gen.
Alfred H. Terry's division of Gilmore's 10th Corps ; and
the Tenth was in Plaisted's brigade of the same division.
The Eighth, Eleventh, and Twenty-first were in Smith's
corps ; the Eleventh, in a brigade commanded by Col. Griffin
A. Stedman ; and the Twenty-first, in a brigade commanded
by Col. Arthur H. Button.
On the 7th, both corps advanced cautiously through the
'2 Bermuda Hundred is a small cluster of houses on the extremity of the peninsula
formed by the James and Appomattox Rivers. In the early settlement of Virginia,
slaves were located at different places in gangs of a hundred at each point. These set
tlements were usually designated by taking the name of the place from which the slaves
were bought, with the word " hundred " affixed. The gang landed here was from Ber
muda; hence the name Bermuda Hundred.
THE SEVENTH RECAPTURE A PIECE OF ARTILLERY.
thick woods, towards the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad ;
and the ground was feebly contested.
Hawley's brigade struck the railroad near Chester Station,
on the morning of the 10th ; when the Sixth under Lorenzo
Meeker, and the left wing of the Seventh under Major 0. S.
Sanford, moved up towards the station, destroying the track.
This was done very thoroughly in the face of an alert enemy.
Skirmishing was constantly kept up, and the Sixth lost one
(Capt. Jay P. Wilcox) killed and twenty-one wounded. Ser
geant John H. Botts of Stamford lost his eyes.
Capt. Jay P. Wilcox left Waterbury as a private soldier in
the Sixth, but was soon promoted to be corporal, and thence
rapidly to be captain, for gallantry, and fidelity to the inter
ests of the service. He was sincerely mourned.
In the mean time, Lieut.-Col. Rodman, with the right wing
of the Seventh, moved up the turnpike to destroy the tele
graph. After a short time, they were ordered forward at a
quick pace. " Arriving at the top of the hill, to the right
of and near Chester Station, we were ordered into line of
battle on a road leading from the right of the turnpike ; and
immediately threw out Company D, under Capt. Jeremiah
Townsend, as skirmishers. We were soon joined by the left
wing, under Major Sanford. Two companies, E and H, under
Capt. John B. Dennis, were immediately sent to support a
battery upon a hill a little in front of our line. I then
ordered Major Sanford, with Companies B and K, to proceed
to the top of the hill, and engage the enemy." ;
Major Sanford reported, —
" I threw the right of my line a little forward, and opened fire on the
left flank of the enemy, stationed in the woods, and drove them back.
We engaged the enemy at intervals. They were trying to take a piece of
artillery which had been abandoned by the 4th New-Jersey, and was near
their lines. I drove them back at every attempt. The enemy opened with
two pieces of artillery ; and I sent a request for a section of battery to
silence that of the enemy. One piece of the 4th New-Jersey was sent to my
position, and immediately opened upon them. I then ordered Lieut. Charles
E. Barker, with Company K, to move forward, and bring in the abandoned
piece, which he succeeded in doing. I placed the piece in position, manning
it with men from Company K, taking ammunition from a caisson which
was also abandoned by the 4th New-Jersey, all the horses having been shot.
3 Report of Major Sanford.
540 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE EEBELLION.
After firing about ten shots from that piece, and as many more from the one
already there, we drove the enemy's battery from its position. ... I was
then ordered to take position on the left of the 169th New- York Volun
teers, where I found the other three companies, under command of Capt.
Theodore Bacon, supporting a section of the First Connecticut Battery.
We remained there until dark, and then were ordered to camp.
u Of the conduct of the officers and men under my command during
the engagement, I can but speak in terms of the highest praise, particularly
of Lieut. Barker and his company for their gallant conduct in rescuing the
gnu which had been abandoned, and was near the enemy's liue. On at
tempting to work the piece, I could find no lanyard ; and my thanks are due
to Private Clapp of Company K, for the promptness and ingenuity dis
played in forming one from a piece of telegraph-wire near at hand."
The rebels charged the First Connecticut Battery three
times, and were repulsed gallantly. The Eighth, after assist
ing to destroy the track, also encountered the enemy in
trenched near Walthall Junction, and soon became warmly
engaged. " The regiment was here formed in line of battle,
and repeatedly drove the enemy. They as repeatedly re
formed behind an embankment, and were not dislodged, but
confessed to heavy losses, and at night retired from the posi
tion. We were in an open field, exposed to artillery as well
as musketry. . . . The regiment was complimented by the
lamented Gen. Burnham for heroism that day, and as it
returned from the field was cheered by the whole brigade."4
In this affair, the regiment lost seventy-two. Col. John E.
Ward was severely injured by a shell; Capt. James R Moore
and Lieut. John H. Vorra, severely wounded ; and Lieuts.
Levi C. Bingham of Meriden and Alfred M. Goddard of Nor
wich, killed. Lieut. Goddard5 came home from the Sandwich
Islands when the war broke out, to join in the contest for
the Union. He served on Gen. Harland's staff until the
transfer to the Army of the James : then he rejoined his
regiment. He often said, '• If I ever flinch or skulk in bat
tle, I hope I shall be shot on the spot. I never wish to
survive such dishonor." Capt. Charles M. Coit, himself a
model soldier, wrote of his death, " I have no words to ex
press my appreciation of his behavior in this his first action.
He was thoughtful, considerate, and commiserate. Not rash
4 Official report of Major William M. Pratt.
5 Lieut. Goddard was a brother of Capt. Henry P. Goddard of the Fourteenth, who
had been promoted from the ranks, and who resigned for disability resulting from severe
wounds received at ChancellorsviHe.
A MOVEMENT TOWARDS RICHMOND. 541
or impetuous, but cool and collected, ready for every emer
gency, willing for every duty. While most bravely fighting,
and cheering on our men, the fatal bullet struck him, arid he
was taken from the field. As he was carried past me, he
said that he was wounded, but that he had done his duty.
Most truly can I echo those last words."
An officer of Harland's staff wrote, " May God rest the
soul of our martyr-hero ! He is no more. But the memories
which the thought of him suggests are of the most tender
and pleasing character. How kind and unselfish he was !
What a sturdy champion for every thing just and noble
and right ! How he loathed oppression and injustice ! How
he loved his country ! While his heart was tenderly suscepti
ble to the sufferings of both parties in the great conflict, he
was filled with determination to fight it to the bitter end."
The regiments were now engaged for two or three days in
intrenching their position at Bermuda Hundred. On May 9,
at dawn, the Eleventh was led out towards the railroad. It
crossed a creek, formed in line of battle on the left of the
pike, and did its part in expelling the enemy from the
woods, and driving them across Swift Creek. The regiment
was again led by Col. Stedman, and lost two killed and ten
wounded.
On the 13th, a movement in force was made towards
Richmond ; Smith's Corps advancing along the James River,
to Drury's Bluff, and Gilmore pressing forward on the left.
The enemy skirmished spiritedly, and fell back to within
three miles of Fort Darling ; and Gilmore passed beyond the
halfway-house, when the troops rested for the night. In the
morning, a flying column was organized, and sent out to turn
the enemy's right ; Gen. A. H. Terry commanding, with the
brigades of Hawley and Plaisted in advance. Terry led his
division rapidly around to the rear of the Confederate works,
when the enemy were driven from their position in retreat
towards Richmond. The captured works were occupied,
and the rebels again intrenched three-quarters of a mile
to the rear.
In this movement, the First Connecticut Battery had been
warmly engaged, and had fought gallantly. Among its losses
542 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
was the death of First Lieut. George Metcalf of Hartford.
He was an efficient officer, and a kind-hearted gentleman :
he died at his post, as the soldier dies, and was buried in a
lovely spot on the banks of the James, — the family burying-
ground of a loyal Virginian.
In the battle of Drury's Bluff, of which this advance was a
prelude, the First Connecticut Battery took part ; also the
Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twenty-first
Connecticut Infantry. More or less skirmishing was kept up
until the IGth ; at which time the enemy had fallen back to
a defensible line, stretching from Fort Darling to the rail
road, and our forces had strengthened their position in
front.
On the morning of the IGth, the rebels massed, and made
a determined dash against our right, under cover of a very
thick four ; and, after lon^ and hard fighting in the darkness,
O 7 O O O
Weitzel's division Was overborne, and forced to the rear. On
the left was a simultaneous attack, resisted fiercely ; but at
last the enemy's massed column made its way, and Terry's
division was obliged to retire. To consider more especially
the part taken by each of the regiments from this State : —
Five companies of the Sixth were on picket when the
rebels attacked ; and when driven they were supported by
the remainder of the regiment. After three hours' fighting,
.having expended ammunition, they fell back, and rallied
behind the earthworks until the troops on the flank gave
way.
The regiment had lost seven killed and fifty-four wounded.
Among the wounded were Lieut-Col. Lorenzo Meeker, Capts.
Charles H. Nichols, John N. Tracy, and Henry Biebel, and
Lieuts. Bennett S. Lewis, Charles J. Buckbee, and Norman
Provost. Capt. Horatio D. Eaton of Hartford was killed
while gallantly leading his men before Fort Darling. He
served through the three-months' campaign, and afterwards
went out as first lieutenant in the Sixth. He was greatly
beloved by a large circle of friends, and possessed the esteem
of all who knew him.
The Seventh moved out, on the 12th, to the vicinity of
Chester Station, and bivouacked. Next day, with occasional
GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE SEVENTH. 543
skirmishing, the regiment moved forward to the right and
rear of the enemy's intrenchments ; the rebels retiring, and
occupying works farther in the rear. Early in the morning
of the 14th, the regiment advanced to support the left of
Turner's division, which was moving on the enemy. The
latter occupied strong works along a ridge, while the advan
cing column formed in line of battle in the valley in front.
In front of the Seventh, Capt. Dennis commanded the skirm
ishers, and they maintained their ground nobly. About three,
P.M., at the word of command, the line swept forward under a
furious fire, and occupied the top of the hill, driving the
enemy into his works. Chaplain Jacob Eaton wrote, —
" Our men wrere ordered to lie down after reaching this
advanced position, as they were exposed to a terrific fire
from the rebels, who were massed behind their breastworks.
Our gallant fellows did not remain idle ; for in a few minutes
they had formed, by the aid of the cups and plates which
wrere in their haversacks, a slight cover of earth, which effect
ually impeded the storm of rebel bullets. This precaution
saved scores of our men from wounds or death. As night
came on, and our sharpshooters were unable to distinguish
the heads of the enemy, the rebels opened a most terrific fire
of musketry upon the Seventh. Old officers say they never
witnessed before such continuous and heavy volleys. But the
heroic Seventh could not be driven from their advanced posi-,
tion. The volleyed wrath of the rebel hosts could not daunt
and demoralize the men who had so nobly fought at Pulaski,
James Island, Wagner, Olustee. There they remained under
the blaze and crash of musketry, clinching their Spencer rifles,
and ready to repel any assault of the enemy."
Lieut.-Col. D. C. Rodman, not yet recovered from his ter
rible wound at Fort Wagner, had rejoined his regiment, and
was again in command. He says of this attack, "Just about
dark the rebels opened fire furiously, and charged from their
works with desperation. We opened for about a minute and
a half with the full rapidity of the Spencer carbine. The
rebels' fire was completely subdued, and the charge repulsed."
Of the experience of the Seventh on the 16th, Major
0. S. Sanford reported, " Every thing remained quiet until
544 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
about four o'clock on the morning of the 16th, when heavy
firing and cheering was heard on the right of our lines, in
creasing and nearing our position, until about five o'clock ;
when the enemy tried to force the lines on our left, and
were driven back. In about fifteen minutes, the picket in
our front fired and fell back, reporting th*e enemy advan
cing in force. It being very foggy at the time, they could
not be seen until within forty or fifty yards of our position.
1 immediately opened upon them, driving them back with
great loss. They rallied, and advanced a second and third
time with a determination to carry the position, but were
at each attempt repulsed ; leaving the. dead and wounded in
great numbers on our front. I was soon informed that the
enemy had forced the line back on my right, and was
pouring an enfilading fire upon my right flank. I ordered
a fire to be opened from an angle in the center of my lines,
in that direction, and from my right-Sank company, which
silenced the enemy for a short time. I sent word to the
colonel commanding brigade to have my right supported,
and I would hold the position against any force. The fog
lifting about that time, I could see the enemy about a
hundred yards on my right flank, secreted behind a fence
and trees, picking my men off. I set sharpshooters at work,
and succeeded in keeping them down. ... I soon received
orders to leave a strong picket-force and fall back. I had
fifteen men from each company selected to remain under
charge of Lieuts. Charles E. Barker, Raphael Gilbert, and
John B. Young, the whole under command of Capt. John B.
Dennis ; and was about to fall back with the rest of my
command, when I received orders to fall back immediately
with the whole, and form in the field to the rear of the woods.
I then gave orders ; but the men who had been selected to
stay, not hearing it, remained. We fell back rapidly ; the
enemy pouring volley after volley into us over the top of
their works, and coming out in thousands to sweep the little
band (which had been left behind, and were pouring a
murderous fire into them) from their position. Arriving in
the open field, I received orders to foil back to a position
in the woods, across the field. ... I will mention the names
HEAVY LOSS OF THE SEVENTH. 545
of Corporals John Walker and Patrick Brannan, Privates J.
D. Lampbere and Christopher Holmes, Company H ; Privates
M. G. Painter, Abraham Miner, John R. Jackson, and Horace
W. Wright, Company C ; and Privates D. C. Andrews and
Charles A. Brockett, Company E, — who volunteered to re-
connoiter in our front after the enemy were driven back, and
went forward into the fog, upon the ground just vacated by
the enemy. And of the fifteen men from each company left
back, too much praise can not be given them for their con
duct in holding the rifle-pits until the rest of the command
had got safely into the woods : but for them the whole
command must have been badly cut up."
" The commanders of the companies have assured me
that the most trying duty they ever performed was to select
men for such work, when those men had served long and
faithfully, and with the conviction that they would, with few
exceptions, be either "killed, wounded, or taken prisoners.
Yet every man thus selected, after bidding his comrades
good-by, turned his face towards the advancing enemy, and
performed his duty with a willing heart and undaunted
spirits. Such courage was never surpassed." G
About eighty of these men were killed or captured.
In this engagement, the Seventh lost twenty-seven killed,
ninety-three wounded, and seventy-five prisoners.7 Among
the killed were some of their bravest. Lieut. Charles A.
Wood of Willimantic was highly esteemed. He enlisted
from patriotic principles, and was promoted from the ranks
for efficiency and gallant service. Sergeant David D. Keyes
of Farmington was also killed here. He was regarded by
regular officers as the best artillerist among the enlisted
men engaged in the reduction of Fort Suinter. He refused
promotion while in the Department of the South, remark
ing, <; that he could serve his country as effectually in the
position he then occupied as in any other." During the
engagement, he occupied a position with the most advanced
0 Chaplain Eaton.
"> Among the prisoners lost was Private George N. Tro.wbridge of Suffield. He had
been in captivity since the assault on Wagner, and was now taken again. This time, he
was confined at Andersonviilc through that deadly summer, and arrived at Annapolis in
the fail, emaciated and diseased, to die — another martyr to the cruelty of a barbarous
foe.
69
546 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE EEBELLION
line of skirmishers, and died a brave soldier and true patriot.
Sergeant Charles H. Eipley of Windham was a gallant of
ficer, and conspicuous for courage in every engagement in
which he participated. He fell while urging on his brave
men, and inspiring them by his own example.
Here, also, Sergeant Hobart L. Bailey of Southington, a
most worthy man, was instantly killed. Sergeant Andrew
B. Nichols of "Redding was mortally wounded by a ball
which passed through both hips. A braver soldier never fell
for his country. First Sergeant William S. English was shot
through the body, and died immediately. This gallant sol
dier was wounded on the 14th, but remained with his com
pany, doing and daring for the country he so ardently loved.
Here fell Corporal William McEwen of Portland, Everett
Bailey of Hamden, H. C. Parker of Essex, and a score of
sterling men.
Many also were wounded. While Sergeant Daniel Mor
gan of Bridgeport was standing with his hand upon his side,
a ball carried away his second finger, and buried itself in his
watch. He was carried to the rear, his comrades supposing
he had been mortally wrounded ; but the sergeant soon
reported to the major, saying, as he held the impaired time
keeper in his left hand, " There goes fifty dollars."
Chaplain Jacob Eaton wrote about this time, —
" Gen. A. H. Terry of Connecticut, originally colonel of the Seventh
Connecticut Volunteers, is in great favor with the corps commanders, sub
ordinate officers, and soldiers of this army. He handled his division, in the
hattles of the 14th, 15th, and 16th of May, with masterly coolness and
ability. He was master of every situation in which he was placed, and
fought his command with great vigor and effectiveness. He is in every
sense a good officer and a true gentleman. Connecticut may refer to his
record with just pride and admiration.
"Col. J. R. Hawley commands the 2d Brigade of the 1st Division,
10th Corps. His record as an officer is adorned with acts of conspicuous
courage and noblest devotion to the cause of justice, humanity, freedom.
Capable, cool under fire, and devoting all his energies to the work of sup
pressing the Rebellion, he has achieved a reputation most honorable and
enduring."
The Eighth, farther to the right, moved forward on the
13th in a jaded condition. Every day they skirmished con
stantly, and every night slept on their arms.
Chaplain Moses Smith wrote, " On Saturday morning, the
THE EIGHTH ATTACKED IN THE FOG. 547
13th, the whole line advanced to the deserted breastworks
on Drury's Bluff, before Fort Darling ; and our regiment
lay in those trenches, with no relief, until Monday morn
ing. The casualties of the four days during which we were
thus on the front were not great ; but such unrelieved
watching utterly took the heart out of our men. Many
could not endure it, and were forced to leave. Those who
remained were badly prepared for what was to follow.
" Monday morning, a dense fog settled down over all the
line. The enemy, who knew every inch of the ground, and
who had been re-inforced during the night, seized the oppor
tunity to make a heavy assault upon the right of our army,
and succeeded in driving it back. The Eighth Connecticut
occupied the right of the left center, and were soon attacked.
Our lieutenant-colonel, Martin B. Smith, then in command,
had remarked the day previous, to the general commanding
our division, that the right and left center were not united :
. . . but no protection was given to that place or to our right.
On Monday morning, as the right line was being pressed,
and while the fog was so dense that a man could not be seen
at a distance of ten paces, the enemy in mass came pouring
in at our right. The only alternative seemed to be, fall back,
or be captured. But for an hour our men battled them :
sometimes mixed with the enemy, sometimes driving them ;
but constantly exposed to the enfilading fire, and the enemy
gaining. At length, to prevent capture, our lieutenant-colo
nel gave the order to fall back. For this order, he was
at first blamed, and the heroic old Eighth reported as hav
ing e skedaddled.' That some men straggled in the fog is
true ; but be it remembered that the regiment was already
so flanked, that the right was compelled to pass within the
breastworks, and go down the rebel side, and then over those
works, to rejoin the regiment."
" We held our position on the works for some time, with
considerable loss, until flanked both right and left ; when we
fell back in as good order as possible under the circum
stances, the fog and smoke being so dense that it was impos-
•sible for officers or men to distinguish each other."8
8 Keport of Lieut.-Col. M. B. Smith, commanding regiment.
548 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The losses of the Eighth were seven killed, thirty wound
ed, and twenty-six prisoners. Among the dead were the
brave Capt. John McCall and Sergeant Edward Wadhams.'
John McCall of Yantic enlisted as a private in the Eighth,
was elected by his comrades first sergeant, and soon pro
moted to be lieutenant. He was made a captain for gal
lantry. His bravery at the capture of Fort Huger was con
spicuous. Whenever the regiment was under fire, he was at
the head of his men. On May 14, while under a severe fire,
Capt. McCall was sitting on the ground, when a bullet pierced
his heart. He sprang to his feet, saying, "I shall be dead in
a minute ! " and fell backwards, dead. He was a general
favorite, — as a companion, frank, genial, and manly; as a
soldier, prompt, bold, and enterprising.9
Edward Wadhams was one of three brothers of Litchfield,
and his record as a faithful soldier was unsurpassed. One
who had known him in camp and battle wrote of him,
" Sergeant Wadhams was a man of sterling common sense,
and sound moral and religious convictions. His life was
never stained by evil word or deed. He was firm and strict
in discipline, yet kind, judicious, and helpful." Within
two weeks, both his brothers were killed in battle.
Among the wounded were Capt. Henry C. Hall and Lieut.
Edwin D. Hall, both severely.
The Tenth had fought on the left ; Gen. Plaisted's brigade
adjoining Col. Hawley's in Terry's division. Col. John L. Otis,
in command, sent forward a strong line of skirmishers, under
Major Edwin S. Greeley, which drove in the enemy's skirm
ishers, and uncovered their position. The First Connecti
cut Battery, Capt. A. P. Rockwell, was at the left, doing good
execution. The attack of the enemy in the evening was
handsomely repulsed.
Col. Otis, in his official report, says, " On the 16th a furious
cannonade, with heavy volleys of musketry, commenced on
our right at half-past four, A.M. The regiment was formed in
order of battle immediately, and at six was ordered forward
to . support an assault on the enemy's works. No assault
was made, however ; and at half-past nine, Col. Plaisted or^
9 Vide sketch in War Record by Hon. John T. Wait.
THE TENTH COMPLIMENTED. 549
dered me to move my command off by the right flank, taking
care to keep up communication with Col. Hawley's brigade,
which was executing the same movement on our right. We
moved off as directed, and, on reaching the open field near Gen.
Gilmore's quarters, took position to cover the withdrawal of
the advance regiments of our own brigade and ft portion of
Col. Hawley's. While in this position, the enemy attacked us
in strong force, but was completely repulsed after a sharp en
gagement in which we took several prisoners ; our own loss
being three killed and fifteen wounded. As the enemy fell
back, I sent forward a body of skirmishers under Capt. E. D.
S. Goodyear, and ascertained they had left our front entirely.
The regiment remained in this position until the killed and
wounded had all been removed, and was then withdrawn ;
taking a new position to cover the retreat of a portion of
White's brigade on our left. After they had all retired, the
regiment fell back to the position occupied by our artillery,
and, joining the other regiments of the brigade, marched
rapidly across to the Richmond Turnpike, and again formed
in line of battle to cover the withdrawal of the troops in front.
At two, P.M., we advanced up the turnpike to the halfway-
house, and were posted on the left of the road to support a
section of battery. The regiment continued in this position
about an hour, and was then withdrawn under a scattering
fire of musketry." •
Gen. H. M. Plaisted, commanding the brigade, said, —
" Of the Tenth Connecticut and 24th Massachusetts, I need hardly say
more than that they fully sustained the splendid reputation they have hitherto
borne. For steady and soldierly behavior, under most trying circumstances
too, entirely new to them(for never before were their backs turned to the ene
my), they may have been equaled, but never surpassed. Under a fire in
which eighteen fell from the left of the Tenth Connecticut in almost as many
seconds, not a soldier of the regiment spoke a word, or moved a heel from
the alignment. Too much credit can not be accorded to the commanding
officers of these regiments — Cols. Osborn a.nd Otis — for their coolness and
self-possession under fire, and the skillful manner in which they handled
their commands."
The losses of the Tenth were seven killed and thirty
wounded. Capt. Charles C. Brewster of Hartford was se
verely wounded in the leg.
650 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
While the Tenth was moving slowly ofi^ serving as rear
guard, Adjutant Henry W. Camp, ten months a prisoner, and
just exchanged, came riding towards the frgnt. He was
affectionately greeted by all, from Gen. Terry down to the
private soldier. " Each company successively greeted him
with hearty -hurrahs, while he sat, cap in hand, in all his man
ly beauty, receiving their congratulations with feelings of
grateful pride that atoned for weary months of waiting and
suffering in prison." 10 Again " the twins," Camp and Chap
lain Trumbull, were together.
The Eleventh, in Wistar's brigade, had met a fate similar to
the rest. Col. Stedman, in his official report, says, " No shot
was fired by the regiment until the enemy charged in line of
battle the immediate front ; when, opening fire, the advance
of the rebels was checked, and after about an hour their line
was driven back. At this time, and within a few moments
after the regiment ceased firing, an order reached me from
Gen. Wistar to fall back. Facing my regiment about, I re
luctantly obeyed, and marched through thick woods to a road
a quarter of a mile to the rear. At this point, I was ordered
to advance, and re-occupy the breastwork. Moving without
delay, the regiment returned, and, under a heavy fire from the
rebel line which occupied the fortifications, retook its old
position. No other regiment of the brigade was there, nor
could any Union troops be seen along the whole line to the
right or left. A rebel battery enfiladed the regiment from
the left. After twenty minutes, I saw a movement on the
part of the rebels, indicating an intention to charge our front ;
and I saw a column file into the road to the position before
occupied by the 2d New-Hampshire, — within thirty yards of
my right flank. Finding myself unsupported, and in danger
of annihilation or capture, I faced the regiment about, and
marched to the rear, constantly obliquing to the right to avoid
the enemy, who were following the movement with yells."
The regiment came off in tolerable order, with a loss of four
teen killed, fifty-four wounded, and one hundred and twelve
missing. Capt. Henry J. McDonald of Danbury was among
10 The Knightly Soldier, p. 224.
STUBBORN RESISTANCE OF THE TWENTY-I'MKST. 551
the captured, and Lieuts. Morris Krazynski and Erastus
Blackrnar were wounded.
The Twenty-first, Lieut-Col. T. F. Burpee commanding,
was in the thickest of the fight at Drury's Bluff, and fought
stubbornly and suffered severely. Of its participation, Capt.
Delos D. Brown wrote, " The fog was still thick, and hung
heavily about us, making it impossible to see what was the
cause of the alarm ; but it soon became evident that the en
emy were making a dash upon our lines, and with no small
force, as the firing was very heavy. The skirmishers stood
their ground firmly, and resisted every assault of the enemy,
notwithstanding the severe fire which was directed against
them. Soon, however, it became evident that the rebels were
massing their forces for an attack upon the right. Favored
by the fog, they succeeded in getting a strong position on
and in rear of the right flank of our lines, and then at once
threw a large force upon us in front.
" The battle now opened in earnest, and raged with ter
rible energy. Charge succeeded charge, volley returned vol
ley, repulse followed repulse, backward and forward surged
the mighty waves, lashed into fury by the struggles of the
infuriated combatants. Nobly did our forces breast the ter
rible storm which assailed them."
The rebels had massed here, and hurled their army upon
the right of our line. At last, the 9th New-Jersey and 27th
Massachusetts retired, and left the right of the Twenty-first
exposed ; so that this regiment and the 8th Maine were com
pelled to face to the north, and form line of battle at right
angle to the works. Says Capt. Brown, " Again and again
they hurled their forces upon us, but were met by the firm
and desperate resistance of unflinching columns and the mur
derous fire of opposing and determined men. The 8th Maine
now fell back, and the Twenty-first Connecticut was left to
breast the battle alone. At this juncture, an aide came dash
ing up, and said, that, if we could hold the enemy in check
one half-hour, Gen. Smith would have re-inforcements to re
establish the right of the line ; and wished us to hold the po
sition at all hazards. Inspired with this hope, we determined
to hold our position ; and with renewed energy continued
552 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the battle, which every moment increased in fury. Char
ging through the thick woods and marsh, we delivered vol
ley after volley into the maddened enemy, until, in the thick
smoke and fog, we could see nothing but the flash of the
rebels' muskets as they returned our fire. The battle now
assumed the character of Indian warfare, while, with the
enemy nearly surrounding us, we fought to hold our position
with the energy of desperation. Finding that we were
being fast surrounded and overpowered, the colonel gave the
order to fall back slowly, as no re-inforcements had appeared,
and we were suffering terribly in killed and wounded.
" Arrived at the open field beyond the woods, we again
formed line of battle and advanced into the woods, and once
more opened a brisk fire upon the enemy ; and never did
men face a foe with more apparent indifference or coolness
than in this last engagement."
The regiment was now recalled to a position near the
halfway-house. It had lost fifteen killed, seventy wounded,
and twenty-four missing. Among the wounded were Chap
lain Thomas G. Brown, Capts. C. T. Stanton (severely), J.
M. Shepard (lost a leg), and Lieuts. William S. Hubbell, A. S.
Button, Alvin M. Crane, and Color-Sergeant John C. Doug
lass (severely).
Capts. Stanton and Shepard displayed great courage at
the skirmish-line. The venerable Chaplain Brown of East
Hampton was constantly near the front, ministering to the
wounded and dying. He was always brave and faithful,
and greatly beloved by his men. Col. Crosby afterwards
wrote, " Chaplain Brown remained with the regiment, dis
tributing ammunition among the men, assisting the wounded,
and praying with the dying. His conduct on that occasion
greatly endeared him to the regiment, lie had been a
soldier in the War of 1812 ; and, though his head was frost
ed with years, the fire of youth was by no means quenched.
Our gallant chaplain was a hero at Drury's Bluff!"
Col. Crosby also mentioned Capts. James II. Latham and
Nathan A. Belden, and Lieuts. William S. Ilubbell, A. S.
Dutton, A. M. Crane, Delos D. Brown, W. P. Long, P. F. Tal-
cott, G. W. Shepard, Frank C. Jeffrey, and E. P. Packer for
gallant conduct in the engagement.
THE SIXTH AND TWENTY-FIRST IX ACTION. 553
All the forces of Butler now fell back to the original
lines, and began strengthening their intrenchments, stretch
ing from the James to the Appomattox. The rebels ad
vanced, and again occupied and repaired the railroad from
Richmond to Petersburg.
Col. Stetlman of the Eleventh wrote at this time, " We
have moved our camp, and are now delightfully located upon
the banks of the muddy Appomattox in a pine-forest and on
a dry soil. We look out on a wild country, made pictur
esque and beautiful by varied features of hill, dale, swamp,
cultivated fields, and primeval woods, with three plantation-
houses at long intervals, giving an air of civilization to the
scene. With a glass, we can distinguish the rebels at a dis
tance of two miles, working like beavers at a fort ; and they
are probably entertained in watching us, for all our men are
industriously digging in the attempt to render this position
defensible."
On the 20th of May, the Sixth, now attached to Col. How-
ell's brigade, was engaged in a charge upon and capture of
a point in the enemy's advanced line of rifle-pits. The
ground was maintained for several days. In this affair, the
regiment, commanded by Major Daniel Klein, lost three
killed and thirty-three wounded. Lieut. William F. Bradley
of Madison was among the slain. He was a true soldier.
The Twenty-first did not long rest.
" Oil the 25th of May, Col. A. II. Dutton, commanding the brigade,
having received orders from Gen. William F. Smith to reconnoiter the left
of the enemy's position, near our line of intreuchrnents at Bermuda Hun
dred, designated this regiment for that purpose. The regiment passed out
side our lines, and crossed the deep and almost impassable ravine thai runs
along the left of our works until it meets the Appomattox. On the farther
side of the ravine, the left wing was posted in reserve, and the remaining
companies were advanced to the front. Our skirmishers swept along the
west bank of the ravine, and thence farther into the interior, coming well
on to the enemy's right flank. But, night coming on, Col. Dutton recalled
the skirmishers ; and the regiment returned to camp with orders to be
ready to continue the recounoissance early the next morning. On the day
following, the 2Gth, Col. Dutton again crossed the ravine with the brigade,
consisting of the Twenty-first Connecticut, 58th Pennsylvania, 188th Penn
sylvania, and 92d New-York, with orders to push the recounoissance until
stopped by the enemy. Gen. Devens's brigade also moved out on our ex
treme left, along the Port-Walthal Road, to co-operate with Col. Dutton,
who took up the line of march in the direction of Port Walthal. After an
advance of about two miles, through heavy woods, our skirmish-line came
70
554 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
upon the rebels, strongly intrenched, and almost hidden from view by the
thick underbrush. Line of battle was formed at once ; but, as our skir
mishers were becoming engaged, Col. Button, who was then, as usual, on
the skirmish-line, was mortally wounded." u
The command of the brigade then devolved upon Lieut-
Col. Thomas F. Burpee, who shortly received orders to
retire.
Col. Button died on the 5th of June, in the very morning
of his life. When a boy, young Arthur had felt a tendency
to a military life, and he went from his home at Wallingford
to West Point, where he graduated in the engineer corps of
1861 ; Custer, Benjamin, and Farqhuar being among his
classmates. When war broke out, he was called to the staff
of Gen. Mansfield, at Washington, and assisted in laying out
the forts. He had thoroughly mastered the higher studies
in the art of war, and he exhibited remarkable genius as an
engineer. Subsequently, he had charge of the defenses at
Fernandina, Fla., until mustered as colonel of the Twen
ty-first. No regiment went from Connecticut better com
manded, — Arthur H. Button, colonel, Thomas F. Burpee,
lieutenantrcoloncl, and Hiram B. Crosby, first adjutant and
then major. All of them were superior officers, and all lived
to lead the regiment repeatedly to battle. Col. Button
commanded a brigade almost from the first of his service.
In North Carolina, he won much credit as chief of staff of
Major-Gen. Peck, and afterwards of Major-Gen. Bix ; while
during the battle of Brury's Bluff he held the same office
under Major-Gen. Smith, corps commander. He was an
officer of much promise. Major Crosby, in announcing his
death, said, " Bold and chivalrous, with a nice sense of honor,
a judgment quick and decisive, an unwavering zeal in his
chosen profession, he was in every respect a thorough sol
dier. As an engineer, his talents were of the highest order;
and at the time of his death he had attained the rank of
captain of engineers in the regular army. By his compan
ions in arms he will never be forgotton ; and to them his
last resting-place will be as a shrine commemorating the
friendships which not the rude shock of war nor lapse of
time can blight or destroy."
11 Official Report of Major Hiram B. Crosby, commanding.
A PORTION OF THE SEVENTH CAPTURED. 555
About this time, the Seventh suffered the loss of Major
Oliver S. Sanford and eighty officers and men as prisoners
of war. On the evening of June 1, the regiment, number
ing fifteen officers and three hundred and twenty-four en
listed men, went upon the picket-line in front of Bermuda
Hundred. Four companies, under Capt. Theodore Bacon,
were posted across open ground in front of our works. On
the right was Capt. John B. Dennis, with two companies,
the line turning rather abruptly to the front ; and on the
left, Capt. Charles C. Mills, with four companies, the flanks
of the regimental line being in thick woods. In front, the
rebel line was one hundred and fifty yards distant, but in
the woods approached to within twenty yards. There were
no reserves nearer than the intrenchments.
About sunrise on the 2d, the rebels attacked with a strong
skirmish-line. " In the woods on the left," says Capt. Bacon
in his report, " this attack was extremely rapid and sudden :
a few steps placed the enemy in our pits, in a position, which,
favored by the direction of part of the line, enabled them to
cut off and capture a large part of Company B. Such part
of Capt. Mills's command as was not captured fell back
slowly, contesting the ground, to a position nearer the works,
which they held until later in the morning ; when they were
re-inforced, and re-occupied and held their first position.
" In the open field, the advance of the enemy began a few
moments after firing had been heard on the left. The ene
my moved toward us in good line, but slowly and hesitat
ingly. I opened fire along the whole line, and in two
minutes they had all dropped to the ground ; where they
lay, firing from such cover as they could get, for a few min
utes longer, when the entire line rose, and ran to the shelter
of their rifle-pits, at full speed, followed by our cheers and
bullets. From this cover, they never ventured again, con
tenting themselves with a dropping fire from it until we
abandoned our entire line. On the right of the line, the
movement of the enemy was by a dash across that part of
the line which ran along the edge of the woods, nearly at
right angles with the general direction of the line. This
movement, of which at the time I had no information, cut
556 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
off nearly all of the two companies posted there, together
with the major commanding the regiment."
The whole line now fell back to the main works, except
ing a portion of Company E, which held its ground at the
left, until the men pushed forward again, and re-established
the line.
In this they were materially assisted by a company of the
First Connecticut Artillery, holding the works here. Lieut-
Col. Nelson L. White, writing shortly afterwards, said of
this, " Capt. William G. Pride, with Company L, had the
honor of participating in another brilliant though short affair
on the 2d of June. The enemy had driven in our pickets,
and captured two companies of the Seventh Connecticut in
the woods in front of this redoubt, compelling our picket-
line to fall back. Capt. Pride opened upon them with can
ister, with deadly effect, causing them to retreat to cover.
He sent out all his garrison, excepting twenty-one men left
to man the guns in the redoubt, — at first, forty of the caval
ry and twenty-one of Company L, with instructions to form
a junction with such of our pickets as had remained in line;
and soon after, Lieut. William II. Rogers of Company L,
with the remainder. The rebels at this time waved a white
flag from the point at which the canister had been fired.
As our skirmish-line advanced to the flag, twenty- three of
the enemy surrendered. They had suffered severely by
the fire from Pride's howitzers, losing their colonel (Dantzer,
22d South-Carolina)."
In this affair, the Seventh lost five killed, twelve wound
ed, and eighty prisoners. Among the captured were Major
0. S. Sanford, Assistant Surgeon S. B. Shepard, Capt. John
B. Dennis, and Lieut. Henry H. Pierce. Among the wound
ed were Capt. C. C. Mills, severely, in right breast ; Lieut.
William S. Marble, severely, in right shoulder ; and Lieut.
Byron Bradford. Capt. Bacon, in his report, speaks of " the
extraordinary coolness and courage of Capt. Mills." Capt.
C. C. Mills resigned and went home, where he lingered in
much suffering, and was finally released by death. He had
just begun a course of study at Yale College when the war
began.
FORMATION OF A SIEGE-TRAIN. 557
About this time fell Private James L. Allen. At the
beginning of the war, he enlisted from the Jeffersonian
office in Danbury. Being but fifteen years old, he wrote
to his mother at Norwalk, " Dear mother, I have enlisted.
Please telegraph your consent, for I do not wish to be a
disobedient boy." He served three years, re-enlisted, and
was mortally wounded on picket, having never been absent
from duty for a single day. Chaplain Jacob Eaton wrote,
'* Major Sanford was self-possessed, and handled his troops
admirably under fire. No one could be more highy es
teemed by the officers and men of his regiment."
About this time, Lieut-Col. D. C. Rodman resigned. The
severe wound which he received while gallantly leading his
regiment at Fort Wagner had unfitted him for active ser
vice ; and he declared he would not hold a position while
physically incapacitated to perform its duties. Lieut-Col
Rodman was a generous, intelligent, and patriotic man, and
a brave and efficient officer.
As early as April 20, Col. Henry L. Abbot, commanding
the First Connecticut Artillery in the defenses of Washing
ton, had been directed by Gen. Halleck to organize a siege-
train, and report to Gen. Butler at Bermuda Hundred. The
train, afterwards largety increased, was to consist at first
of forty 30-pounder rifled Parrotts, ten 10-inch mortars,
twenty 8-inch mortars, twenty Coehorn mortars, and six
100-pounder Parrotts. The guns, ammunition, and mak'riel
were immediately gathered, Capt. S. P. Hatfield was de
tailed as ordnance-officer to superintend the loading. He
was assisted by Lieut. L. W. Jackson. Twelve schooners, of
two hundred tons' burden, were obtained from the quarter
master's department; and the material was afloat by May 10.
The regiment was ordered forward in advance of the
train, and arrived at Bermuda Hundred, seventeen hundred
strong, on May 13. The men were soon at work construct
ing magazines, getting into position the heavy guns already
up, and strengthening the lines ; so that when, on May 16,
the army fell back, the defenses were in a state of forward
ness. Col. Abbot was assigned by Gen. Butler to the com-
558 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
mand of all the siege-artillery, and Lieut. W. C. Faxon and
Lieut. C. Gillett were detailed as ordnance-officers. From
this, date until the latter part of June, an artillery-fire was
kept up intermittently along the lines.
On May 24, the rebels made a determined attack on
Wilson's Landing. " The mail-boat was stopped," says Col.
Abbot, " and all the troops on board were landed to meet
the assault. Among them were six enlisted men of the
First, returning from veteran furlough. Although no offi
cer of the regiment was present, these men volunteered to
serve a 10-pounder Parrott, then silenced ; and served it so
effectively as to contribute materially to the repulse of the
rebels. They fired about eighty rounds, — some being double-
shotted canister at about two hundred yards' range. — and
«/ o /
their gun was the only one not silenced by the enemy.
The names of these brave soldiers are Sergeant W. H. II.
Bingham, Company G ; Privates W. B. Watson, Company H ;
James Kelley (afterwards killed by a shell in front of
Petersburg), II. G. Scott, James R. Young, and John Kea-
ton of Company I."
On May 25, Company G, Capt. Wilbur F. Osborne of
Birmingham, was placed with two 20-pounder Parrotts in
Fort Converse, on right bank of Appomattox River. Subse
quently, two 30-pounder Parrotts were added. They did
important service in repelling an attack on May 31, and
also in occasionally shelling Fort Clifton from an advanced
position on the river-bank. On May 26, Major-Gen. Gil-
more was placed in command of the whole line ; and he
appointed Col. Abbot his chief of artillery, and, on June 1,
his acting chief engineer.
Sergeant George B. Butler of the First died in Hartford
during the spring of 1864, of disease engendered by ex
posure in the service. He was a graduate of Harvard Col
lege, an intelligent and enterprising young man, and while
in service developed considerable genius as an artist. He
well deserved promotion, but was kept in the ranks, like
hundreds of others, by the jealousy of inferior '•' superiors."
In May the three-years' service of the regiment had
expired ; and three hundred and seventy-five men who had
ILL-TREATMENT OF MEN FOR NOT RE-ENLISTING. 559
not re-enlisted as veterans were mustered out, and made
their way home as best they could. On arriving in New
York, they drew up and adopted a series of resolutions.
They began by rehearsing an order of Col. Abbot, dated
May 21, urging them to " stand by their colors, and not
inarch to the rear to the sound of the enemy's cannon."
They then resolved, —
" That those who can not appreciate thirty-six months of service would
also fail to appreciate thirty-eight or thirty-nine months ; and that we indig
nantly denounce those who would attempt to disgrace us for retiring to
our homes and friends, from whom we have been absent three long years,
as ingrates worthy only of our deepest and heartiest contempt."
The reason for their non re-enlistment seems to be stated
in the charge against Col Abbot : —
" That he has spared no pains to place over us a military aristocracy,
subjecting us to every variety of petty annoyance, to show his own power,
and take away our manhood ; subjecting men to inhuman and illegal
punishments for appealing to him for justice ; disgracing others for attempt
ing to obtain commissions in colored regiments ; . . . about May 4 ordering
his heavy artillery men who had not re-enlisted, into the ditch for the
remainder of their term of service, thus placing us on a level with prison
ers under sentence of court-martial ; and finally capping the climax by leav
ing us to the tender mercies of provost-marshals, turning us loose on the
world, without pay, without officers, without transportation, without
rations, and without our colors."
They further presented the following view of the situa
tion : —
" That when the able-bodied men of our land have taken their turn of
three years in the national service, if an army is still needed to enforce
the laws of the land, none will sooner fall into the line than those who
sprang to arms at the first note of danger ; that no class of men have a
deeper interest in the present struggle than those who have carried mus
ket and knapsack for the past three years ; and that we will not allow
abuse from superiors to interfere with our duty to our country."
They then offered their " heartiest thanks " to Gen. R. 0.
Tyler for his services as their old commander, and to Gen.
Butler and the various officers who. had helped them home.
They were received in Connecticut with the honors due to
their patriotic services.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
The Fourteenth at Stevensburg. — The Affair at Mine Hun. — How to build Winter-
Quarters, and how to enjoy them. — Fight at Morton's Ford. — First Connecticut
Cavalry joins the Army of the Potomac. — Grant crosses the Rapidan. — Struggle of
the Wilderness. — Flank March to Spottsylvania. — Terrible Fighting. — The Second
Connecticut Artillery (^Nineteenth) comes up. — Gen. Robert O. Tyler commands
a Division. — Spirited Contest. — The First Cavalry in Front of Richmond. — To the
North Anna. — Another Flank Movement. — Death of Gen. John Sedgwick. — His
Character and Public Services.
GRACING and picketing, with considerable rest,
and now and then a fight, the Fourteenth waited
in Virginia, — the only Connecticut regiment in
the active Army of the Potomac. The State could
riot have been more gallantly represented. Of
its life during the fall of 1863, Capt. Samuel Fiske ("Dunn
Browne ") wrote,. " Our regiment has had its share of the
marches and countermarches, the picket-duty, the fatigues,
the skirmishes, the night-retreats, and the whole ever-vary
ing experience of camp and field life, in the Army of the
Potomac for the last two months. We picketed along the
Rapidan for some three weeks ; left the front with the 2d
Corps on the 6th of October; bivouacked near Culpeper
till the llth; crossed, recrossed,- and crossed again the Rap-
pahannock in apparently the very profitless maneuvering
of Oct. 12 and 13 ; and, after a long and fatiguing night
and day march, participated in the brilliant skirmishes
of the 14th of October. Our regiment did its share in re
pulsing the sudden attack of the enemy at Bristoe Station.
Our loss was twenty-six killed and wounded ; mostly in the
first fifteen minutes of the fight. It would have done your
heart good to see the steadiness and alacrity with which our
men, marching by the flank, faced to the front, and advanced
560
EXTRACT FKOM CAPT. FISKE. 561
in line of battle at the double-quick, across the railroad, and
into the woods whence the fire opened on us, without know
ing at all how many rebels we should find there ; without
having had a moment's preparation, or thought of being at
tacked. Scarcely a man faltered, save from the fatigue of
the double-quick, which few can sustain for any long distance
with knapsacks, rations, and equipments on, in heavy march
ing order. The enemy were driven out of sight, five hun
dred prisoners and a battery captured, and the skirmish
over, almost before we really began to understand that a
fight was going on at all ; then we lay along the track of
the railroad till ten P.M., and withdrew.
" Oh ! that was indeed a fatiguing night-march to Centre-
ville, — fording two deep streams; plunging through the mud ;
stumbling over stones and stumps ; standing a half-hour at a
time, with your eyes closing in spite of yourself, waiting for
the head of the column to pass an obstacle ; getting mixed
up with wagons and artillery ; and finally, after wading Bull
Run (from two to three feet deep), lying down about four
o'clock in the morning, on the grass, in the drizzling rain to
sleep. . We didn't take much cold, because a cold is produced,
I believe, by a want of equilibrium in the system in respect
to dampness or heat ; and we were so thoroughly wet and
cold all over that there was no partial process possible.
Such is the soldier's life in the field.
"Our new recruits (substitutes) are proving themselves
generally very good soldiers ; and the regiment is, on the
whole, in good condition, with its complement of officers
nearly filled, and a fine, long line at dress-parade, contrast
ing very favorably with the corporal's guard, or a few more,
that gathered round our colors a few months since.
"I have just burned my bedstead to cook my breakfast
with, — to such extremities am I reduced. Fortunately our
furniture hereabouts is not very costly. My bedstead above
mentioned consisted of seven three-cornered rails from a
Virginia fence, laid down side by side in the mud near the
fire, on which my lieutenant and I spread our blanket, and
slept very sweetly, with a rubber blanket over us, through
the steady, heavy rain that improved the darkness of the
71
562 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
night to come down upon us unseen, but not unfelt This
morning, ashamed to look us in the face after such deeds of
darkness, the rain has entirely ceased ; and the face of Nature
beams on us as smilingly and roguishly as if the dripping
doings of the night were an exquisite joke. Well, it seems
to us much more like a joke than it did, as the creases made
by the rails are getting rubbed out of our sides and legs, and
the clothes are mostly dried.
" Picketing is pretty good fun after all. How many of you
are coming out here to try it ? 0 my dear readers ! there
are at least a full thousand of you, — a strong, able-bodied
regiment among you, — who certainly ought to be here, who
can't possibly get an exemption-certificate from your own
conscience.
" I would not bring one recruit to our ranks by misrepre
senting the case to him. Soldiering is a hard business, the
best you can make of it I have laid a good deal of stone
fence, dug many a rod of ditch, worked at carpentering and
all sorts of fanning, been a bookbinder, set up type ; sawed
a cord of oak-wood three times in two, split and piled it, be
sides getting my lessons and reciting them (after a fashion),
all in one day ; I've taught a big district school of little
urchins of the Yankee persuasion, which is harder than any
of the above ; and I've attended three sewing-societies and
made five and twenty calls of an afternoon, which is hardest
of all : but, of all the different kinds of manual labor that
I ever attempted, the business of inarching with an army in
heavy marching order, and on rations of hard-tack and pork,
is the most exhausting. There is very little poetry, and a
great deal of hard work, about an active campaign. It is
hard to be a private, hard to be an officer, hard to march,
hard to fight, hard to be out on picket in the rain, hard to
live on short rations and be exposed to all sorts of weather,
hard to be wounded and lose legs and arms, and get ugly
scars on one's face, hard to think of lying down in death
without the gentle hand of love to smooth one's brow: but
there is just one thing that makes all things easy ; and that
is the spirit of Christian patriotism.
" The army is going to do up the work, whether you re-
MEADE MOVES AGAINST LEE. 563
inforce us or not. It is for you to say whether you will come
in to share the glory of it. We have worked for Uncle Sam's
thirteen dollars a month, and spent that to eke out our monot
onous rations, and replace the clothing we have been com
pelled to throw away in battle, or drop in wearisome inarches,
till the worship of the almighty dollar is driven out of us any
way ; and if you prefer to stay at home on your farms and
with your merchandise, and trade in oxen, and marry wives,
and revel in luxuries, and clothe your wives with contracts at
the expense of the brave soldiers who are fighting your bat
tles, — why, be the money and ease yours; save your precious
legs and lives; add house to house, and acre to acre; pay com
mutation-money, and avoid drafts; wrangle over party poli
tics, and settle yourselves in fat offices. And be the hardships
ours ; ours the wormy crackers and the rusty pork ; ours the
marches, the hard blows, the wasting sicknesses; ours the
longings for the dear loved ones at home, the wives and lit
tle ones, who are watching and waiting for our returning
steps with unutterable anxiety : be it ours to fight all the
longer because you refuse to help ; be it ours to come home
all the fewer that you may stay at home the more and the
merrier. Still will we not murmur at our share, nor willingly
exchange it for yours. We will hold it a proud privilege to
go home poor on our country's pay ; to carry on our persons
the scars of our country's service ; to point to the marks of
our blood on our country's torn but triumphant banner; to
have it written on our headstone, ' He was a soldier of the
Union.'"
On the 27th of November, Meade moved to turn Lee's
right at Mine Run ; and arrangements were made for Sedg-
wick to assault on the right, and Warren on the left, early
on the morning of the 30th. But the tentative movements
that accompanied the advance across the Eapidan had
informed Lee of his adversary's intentions, and he had
arrayed his forces accordingly. The morning of attack
found his main army drawn up on the right behind impene
trable abatis, and defended by strong intrenchments. The
Fourteenth was conspicuous in the line of battle. The brave
rank and file felt that assault would result fatally. "Knowing
564 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
well that no man could count on escaping death, the soldiers,
without sign of shrinking from the sacrifice, were seen quietly
pinning on the breast of their blouses of blue slips of paper
on which each had written his name ! " 1 At this moment, the
fearless Warren took the responsibility of disobeying the
command of his superior, and sent word that the works
could not be taken by a front assault. Meade relinquished
the attempt, and withdrew his army that night across the
Rapidan.
The regiment went into winter-quarters at Stony Moun
tain, near Stevensburg, just east of Culpeper. From this
camp, Capt. Fiske wrote in December, —
" Did you ever see a big camp unroof itself, and get into marching
order in about five minutes' time ? doff its white canvas in early morning,
as 'twere a nightcap? take in its sail by magic, like a great ship fearing a
gale? At two, this A.M., we were all roused from our comfortable slum
bers with the pleasant order to get our breakfasts, pack up our traps, and
be ready to march at break of day. ' To hear is to obey,' under the sway
of military authority. So, though the rain came down in a steady, perse
vering, business-like way, as if its day's work were laid out before it, and
couldn't be postponed or interrupted for all the armies on the planet, when
the time came, and the bugle sounded, down came the houses, and were
soon folded up, all dripping and heavy, on the men's backs. Grumbling, but,
on the whole, good naturedly, as all things of late are done in the Army
of the Potomac, the boys were getting into line, ready for a hard, slippery,
soaking march, no tent in the regiment left standing, save that of your
humble servant, as chance was ; when an aide came dashing up to the colo
nel, and informed him that the order to march was countermanded.
With a rousing cheer all along our lines, off' come the dripping packs, and
on go the roofs to the houses again : our Camp, like magic, spreads her sails
again, and we remain.
" The soldier, unlike the sailor, furls his canvas when he moves, and
spreads it when he stops. Woe, this morning, to the improvident boys,
who, in the thought of departure, have piled their cracker-box chairs and
stools, and their sapling bedsteads, into the big fireplaces, and burned their
pork-barrel chimneys, and, in many cases, the whole walls and frames of
their houses, just to laugh at the bonfire ! The laugh was on the other side
of their mouth when the word was ' Stay ! ' and they had to go to work
again in the rain to rebuild their houses out of the ruins.
" We build winter-quarters now immediately at every stopping-place,
whether for three days or for months. It is surprising to see how quickly
our boys will make themselves comfortable. In one day, six men with a
hatchet or ax, and an hour's loan of the company spade, will build them
selves a handsome and comfortable first-class, brown- front, mud-log resi
dence, with all the modern soldier conveniences, turf-chimney included.
Log-walls three or four feet high, plastered up with mud ; four pieces of
shelter-tent buttoned together over a sapling ridge-pole seven feet high, on
1 Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
DEATH OF LIEUT. EDWARD W. HART.
two forked stakes, constituting the roof, and two more buttoning in to fill
up the gable-ends, — this is the house, nine feet by six, amply large for a
half-dozen soldiers. The door and chimney are side by side on the same
end, — the latter, built now usually of turf, laid up in a square or circular
form, with two or three stakes driven in to keep it steady, and a pork-
barrel set on the top to finish out the flue ; the former (the door) not being
built at all, but left, and a rubber blanket hung over, perhaps, to keep out
the air. Inside, across one end, two and one-half feet high, a bunk of
cedar-poles or pine will be laid across, wide enough for three men to
occupy for a couch ; aud below on the ground, but kept from contact with
the earth by saplings laid underneath, and covered over with cedar-
boughs, is room for the other three. Thus, more than half of the front
end of the room is left free to serve as a parlor aud drawing-room ; aud
still the sleeping apartments (in both stories) are ample ; rifles, equip
ments, are slung under the ridge-poles, knapsacks chucked under the bunks.
A cracker-box holds the crockery and loose provisions of the party. Two
of them get the wood aud water, one cooks, another washes the dishes,
while the other two are most likely on guard or picket duty."
Life in winter-quarters here does not seem to have been
very irksome. The days went by more peacefully and
quietly than at any other time' in the history of the Four
teenth. Here, for the first and last time, ladies, the wives
and sisters of the officers, were allowed to visit camp.
Pleasure-rides and balls were numerous ; and the battles of
these months were mostly with Cupid's arrows. The regi
ment had some of its most interesting engagements at this
point. The presence of the ladies does not seem to have
been demoralizing ; for Capt. Fiske wrote, —
" Our camps are wonderfully improved by the rival edifices that are
being prepared for the reception of the fair ones. Logs are piled up in all
manner of fanciful shapes. Bits of boards command fabulous prices.
More queer inventions for hinges aud door-latches are gotten up than
would be registered in the patent-office in a year. The streets are better
policed than they Avere ; more care is taken in setting out trees, aud orua-
menting our camps ; and all our army cities and villages are neater and
brighter in appearance, more free from nuisances, less noisy, and more
civilized in all respects, for the presence of women in our midst. God
bless them ! "
During the winter, the Fourteenth lost one of its worthi
est men in Lieut. Edward W. Hart of Madison. He enlisted
as a private from patriotic motives, went from the State as
a corporal, and was made lieutenant in 1863. Capt. H. P.
Goddard wrote of him, " He was ever brave, prompt, and
faithful, doing his duty as a true soldier. Especially did I
note his gallant conduct at Chancellorsville, where he ren-
566 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
dered most efficient service. While his memory will remain
green i,n our hearts for ever, we know that his soul is with
the God to whom he clung amid all temptations."
It seemed to be decreed that the Fourteenth should never
go many weeks without a fight ; and now Warren's corps
was directed to make a diversion along the Rapidan, while
the cavalry went on a Quixotic raid to Richmond. On
Feb. 7, 1864, the corps inarched down to the river ; \vhen
Gen. Aleck Hayes (God rest the soul of the brave old
fighter!) swore that his division "must cross, and tackle the
rebels." Caldwell, commanding in the absence of Warren,
consented. The brigade containing the Fourteenth crossed
the river at Morton's Ford at noon, with little opposition.
The water was waist-deep and icy cold.
Col. T. G. Ellis commanded the brigade, and Lieut.-Col.
S. A. Moore led the Fourteenth. From Col. Moore's report,
the fallowing is extracted : —
" As the regiment moved over the crest of the first hill, they opened a
shell fire upon us ; but their aim was a little too high. About half a mile
from the ford, the regiment took up its position with the rest of the brigade,
under the slope of a hill, and in rear of a small white house. Here we
remained in line of battle, being occasionally shelled by the enemy, until
about five o'clock, P.M. At this time the rebels made an attack upon our
position ; and this regiment was ordered out to the support of the skirmish-
line, commanded by Col. Beard. The regiment advanced upon the enemy,
deployed as skirmishers, and drove back their line of battle for upwards
of half a mile, to a place where there were about a dozen small houses
and out-buildings situated in a grove of trees. Plere the enemy made a
stand ; and the regiment fought them hand to hand, in some cases using
the bayonet, until the 108th New-York Volunteers and the battalion of
the 10th New- York coming to our aid, enabled us to drive them from the
buildings. We held this point for upwards of an hour, until ordered to
withdraw to our former position, which we did, leaving a strong picket to
keep the enemy from advancing while we were carrying off our dead and
wounded. We brought off all of the dead and wounded whom we could
find. At about eleven o'clock, P.M., we recrossed the river."
Capt. Fiske, writing of the fight at the buildings, said,
" Our regiment, being at that time in the advance, and most
gallantly pushed on by Lieut.-Col. Moore, who was constantly
riding up and down the line in the hottest of the fire, direct
ing and cheering on his men, suffered a very heavy loss.
Pitchy darkness came on. The only light to direct the
firing was that which poured out of the muzzles of the mus-
CELEBRATION OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY. 567
kets and of the cannon in the distance. Scarcely a sem
blance of a line could be preserved on either side. Men
called out to each other in the darkness, and recognized each
other as friend or foe by the State or regiment answered.
Men were captured and recaptured and captured over
again. Friends were killed by friends' fire. Men fired at
each other in rooms of houses not a musket-barrel's length
apart. The rebels were ejected, and driven to their intrench-
ments. The loss of the division was about two hundred and
twenty-five; that of our regiment, just one-half of the
whole loss.
"The conduct of all the officers, and of the men generally,
is spoken of as being beyond all praise ; especially that of
Col. Moore, who had returned from leave of absence only
the night before, and showed not only the most perfect cool
ness, and contempt of danger, which was only what we
expected of him, but also great judgment and skill in the
handling of his troops, as to which qualities he had not
before been so thoroughly tested."
The regiment lost ten killed, eighty-six wounded,' and
nineteen prisoners. Among the killed were Color-Sergeant
Amory Allen of Hartford, shot through the breast while
bravely holding up the colors, Francis M. Norton of Guil-
ford, Robert A. Chad wick of East Lyme, and Henry W.
Orcutt of Vernon. Major James B. Coit of Norwich was
wounded in the leg. Capt. F. B. Doten of Bridgeport, while
trying to capture a party of rebels in one of the houses,
was himself taken prisoner.
St. Patrick's Day was made a holiday in the camp of
the Fourteenth, and a literary entertainment was provided
in the structure erected as a lecture-room. There were
tableaux, ballad -singing, dialogues, excellent music by
the band under the leadership of Louis Senglaube, and
theatricals ; " Jeff. Davis's dream " being performed by
George H. Lillibridge, D. and F. Sprenkle, 0. K. Tomlinson,
"W". W. Westover, and others having dramatic genius.
The First Connecticut Cavalry, under Major E. Blakeslee,
remained at Annapolis Junction, Md., until March 15, when
568 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
they left for Brandy Station, Ya. Here they reported to
Gen. Pleasanton, and were assigned to the cavalry brigade
of Gen. Davies, under Kilpatrick. They joined the army
near Stevensburg, and went into camp. About April 1,
Sergeant George A. Fish of Groton, by direction of Capt.
John B. Morehouse, proceeded with fifteen men to patrol
the road towards Fredericksburg. They were suddenly
ambushed and surrounded by a large party of guerrillas,
who ordered Sergeant Fish to surrender, which he did, see
ing no chance of escape. But the rebels fired, wounding
Sergeant Fish, Corporal Samuel E. Hurlbut, and Privates
William Brown and Joseph McCormick, and killing the
horses of two others, whom they took prisoners. Hurlbut
and Brown escaped. Fish and McCormick were left on
the ground almost dead. The rebels robbed them of every
thing of value, and shot Sergeant Fish three or four times
in the abdomen with his own revolver, which they had
taken from his belt as he lay upon the ground. Fish was
wounded in twenty-one different places with bullets and
buck-shot, and yet, with a wonderful tenacity of life, he lived
several days. His body was afterwards embalmed, and
brought to Connecticut.
The regular picket detail of the regiment during this
period amounted to about one-third its duty men, and was
very severe ; the tours being of three days each. Capt.
Elbridge Colburn of Ansonia went on detached service to
Ohio, and, on returning, died very suddenly of malignant
erysipelas. He had been with the command since its first
organization as a battalion, and had perhaps done as much
hard service as any officer in the regiment. He was greatly
lamented.
The regiment, since its growth from a battalion, was for
tunate in having a chaplain, and doubly fortunate in the
fact that the chaplain was Rev. Theodore J. Holmes. Mr.
Holmes had left a thriving parish, — the church of East
Hartford, where he was ranch esteemed, — and enlisted in
the army as a private soldier. He was appointed chaplain
of the First Cavalry. His piety was of a cheerful, hopeful,
sunny sort; and he went with the regiment in its most
GENERAL GRANT IN COMMAND. 5£9
perilous service, calling on the men to crush the Slave
holders' Rebellion, as he would have called them to do any
godly work. He was always helpful, — one of those chap
lains, who, like Jacob Eaton, Hiram Eddy, and Henry Clay
Trumbull, were never " in the way."
About June 1, Lieut. Edward W. Whitaker was trans
ferred from the Connecticut squadron in the New- York
Harris Light Cavalry,2 and made captain in the First Con
necticut. He had borne an "honorable part in the three-
months' service as a corporal in Hawley's company, and then,
enlisting in the Connecticut squadron, had served with his
company in all the prominent cavalry raids of 1862 and
1863. In June, 1863, he was made first lieutenant for
gallantry at Brandy Station, where his brother, Lieut. Daniel
Whitaker, was killed leading a charge. He was detailed as
an aide on Kilpatrick's staff, and went on the great raid in
April, 1864, into the very fortifications of Richmond.
As the weeks wore away, and the graves of the dead grew
green with grass and fragrant with flowers under the vernal
sun, Grant took his stand at the side of Meade, in command
of the unfortunate, but always strong and always eager,
Army of the Potomac. By May 3, the great leader was
ready to launch his blow against the Confederate right. At
twelve o'clock that night, Wilson's cavalry division was sad
dled, and at sunrise of the 4th crossed the Rapidan at Ger-
mania Ford. Warren's corps followed closely during the
forenoon. The cavalry pushed on, around the Confederate
right ; and the First Connecticut bivouacked at Parker's
Store, south of the Wilderness. Next morning, near Craig's
Church, the enemy appeared, and engaged them spiritedly ;
2 After the squadron joined the Harris Light Cavalry, it was no longer recognized by
the War Department as a Connecticut organization. The officers were thereafter com
missioned by the Executive of the State of New York. The regiment won honorable
fame when the cavalry force was weak. Davies and Kilpatrick both won their first dis
tinction as its officers. It was often and hotly engaged, — at Catlett's Station, Brandy
Station, Martinslmrg, Frcderickslwrg, Chancellorsvillc, Gettysburg; always doing effective
and honorable service. Capt. William M. Mallory of Hartford, who raised the squadron,
became major of the regiment, a position which he tilled with much credit. The follow
ing officers and men were also promoted, — Lieut. L. H. Southard of Hartford to be cap
tain ; Lieut. Marcus Coon of U'aterbury to be captain; Second Lieut. J. N. Decker of
Hartford to be first lieutenant ; Sergeants Philo L. Ives of Hartford, Daniel Whitaker of
Asht'ord, Frederick C. Lord of Naugatuck, and Augustus Martinson of Plymouth, and
Corporal George Castle of Watertown, to be lieutenants. Lieut. Decker was killed in the
advance to Falmouth in the spring of 1862, and Lieut. Whitaker fell at Brandy Station.
Both were bold and skillful soldiers.
72
570 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
Lee pushing his whole array towards the Wilderness, to give
battle before Grant could deploy on open ground. Major
Blakeslee, in his report, says, " Major George 0. Marcy of
my regiment was sent with Companies C, L, I, and II, to
reconnoiter on the enemy's right, on the Pamunkey Road.
Capt. Leonard P. Goodwin, with Companies F and B, was
sent in the same direction by another road. They after
wards effected a junction, and returned only to find that the
division had been driven back, and that a large body of the
enemy had got in between them and the rest of the brigade.
As the only chance of escape, Major Marcy ordered sabres
drawn and a charge through the enemy, which feat was
most gallantly accomplished. For a few moments, friend
and foe were mingled in one confused mass, when Major
Marcy and his command emerged, with a loss of six wounded
and thirty-seven prisoners, including Lieuts. John Bristol and
Levi E. Tyler of Company L. During this time, the remain
der of the regiment was supporting a battery, being exposed
to the enemy's shell, which fell thickly about us."
The brigade was withdrawn to Todd's Tavern, where it
repulsed the enemy's charge, and held them in check until
relieved by the Union infantry, now coming up.
The battle began in all its fury, and raged through this
tangled forest. Col. Ellis of the Fourteenth was in command
of a large brigade of nine regiments, which he was destined
to lead during the coming struggles ; leaving the regiment
to* Lieut.-Col. S. A. Moore. The regimental report says, —
" We turned northward, and marched to the cross-roads, about five miles
west from Chancellorsville, formed by the junction of the plank road from
Chancellorsville to Orange Court House, and the road upon which we
marched. The firing was quite heavy when our brigade reached the scene
of action. We were formed in line of battle immediately north of the
cross-roads, and advanced into the woods, where we at once became en
gaged with the enemy. The Fourteenth was in the first line of battle, and
behaved nobly ; at one time executing a change of front under fire to repel
an attack on our left. Before going into action, our force was twenty com
missioned officers and three hundred and twenty-five enlisted men.
" The battle was resumed at daylight on the 6th. Our brigade ad
vanced to the attack, and moved forward about half a mile through the
woods, changing front towards the north-west, and crossing the plank road
running westward from the cross-roads. Here the enemy was found in
force. After being engaged in the front line until our ammunition was
exhausted, the regiment was withdrawn to the second line until again sup
plied. »
THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 571
" In the early part of the afternoon, the enemy made a fierce and des
perate assault upon our left flank, which was for some time resisted ; but,
our brigade being unsupported on the left, it was obliged to fall back be
yond the north and south road before mentioned. During the rest of the
afternoon, the regiment was placed in reserve near the road ; being occa
sionally moved, as different points were threatened.
" In the evening, we were moved a short distance up the road, and were
engaged most of the night in constructing breastworks along the west side
of tbe road. Our force in this day's engagement was eighteen officers and
three hundred enlisted men."
It is unnecessary to give here a full account of this un
paralleled combat of the Wilderness. It was not a battle in
the ordinary sense, but a mere desperate trial of strength.
It admitted of no combinations or tactical movements : it
was a deadly struggle, in which every regiment attacked
straight in its front, with little thought of support or relief
from any other. The fight was in " a dense undergrowth of
low-limbed and scraggy pines, stiff and bristling chincapins,
scrub-oaks, and hazel. It was a region of gloom and the
shadow of death. Maneuvering here was necessarily out of
the question, and only Indian tactics told. The troops could
only receive direction by a point of the compass; for not
only were the lines of battle entirely hidden from the sight
of the commander, but no officer could see ten files on each
side of him. Artillery was wholly ruled out of use : the
massive concentration of three hundred guns stood silent;
and only an occasional piece could be brought into play in
the roadsides. Cavalry was still more useless. But in that
horrid thicket there lurked two hundred thousand men, and
through it lurid fires played ; . and, though no array of battle
could' be seen, there came out of its depths the crackle and
roll of musketry, like the noisy boiling of some hell cal
dron, that told the dread story of death. There is something
horrible yet fascinating in the mystery shrouding this
strangest of battles ever fought, — a battle which no man
could see, and whose progress could only be followed by the
ear, as the sharp and crackling volleys of musketry and
the alternate Union cheer and Confederate yell told how the
fight surged and swelled. The battle lasted two days ; yet
such was the mettle of each combatant, that it decided
nothing." 3
8 Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
572 CONNECTICUT DUBING THE REBELLION.
But the result was such that Grant, with his eye ever on
Richmond, moved off by the left on the night of May 7, and
began his march to Spottsylvania.
The cavalry skirmished in the advance ; and, on the morn
ing of May 8, Company C of the First Connecticut opened
the battle of Spottsylvania, — Lee having hastily withdrawn
his army and flung it again in the path of his adversary, to
exact a heavy toll in blood. Chaplain Holmes., who remained
constantly with his regiment, wrote, —
" No opposition met us till within a mile of the place, when
the rebel pickets were driven in, and a gun opened upon us,
which was speedily silenced by one of our batteries. The
town was then cleared out by a charge led by our regiment ;
after which, a considerable force dismounted and went into
the woods, — the First Connecticut being in the advance.
An hour's sharp skirmishing resulted in the rout of the ene
my ; but they soon returned re-inforced by infantry, when,
the object of the reconnoisance being accomplished, the
division retired. We were glad when the day closed, and
there was promise of rest; but our blankets had hardly been
spread upon the ground, after a meager evening meal, before
orders came to prepare at once for a long and trying march,
— whither no one knew, but every one guessed ; instructions
being given to leave behind every horse and every man unfit
for the toughest of cavalry experience. The night was
mostly spent in preparation, — the night whose rest we had
so longed for ; and by daylight we were off for Richmond,
the whole cavalry corps being now together under Gen.
Phil. Sheridan."
Again the two armies faced each other resolutely : one
lying like a lion in the way ; the other, undaunted, determined
to pass on.
The official report of the Fourteenth Regiment contin
ues, —
" On the 7th, 8th, and 9th, we were formed in line of battle at various
points, changing our position more to the south-west. About dark on the
evening of the 9th, we crossed the River Po near Mr. Giles Graves's house,
and encamped for the night.
" The next morning our division recrossed the river, and went to the
support of the 5th Corps. We marched by a circuitous route to the left,
THE SECOND ARTILLERY AS INFANTRY. 573
where we lay for some time exposed to a heavy shell-fire in rear of part of
the 5th Corps. Soon our brigade was in line of battle. We advanced
over the line of breastworks behind which lay part of the corps we were
supporting, and charged forward against the enemy.
" Our advance was through a tangled road, difficult to pass in order,
dispersing our men, and obliging us to halt occasionally to re-form our line.
To add to the difficulty, the woods were on fire for some distance over
which we had to pass. At times the heat of the fire was suffocating. Our
men. however, moved bi'avely forward, under cover of the woods, to within
about fifty paces of the enemy's works, which opened upon us a galling fire.
Unable to advance farther, we opened fire upon such of the enemy as could
be seen, and maintained our position for about six hours, when, our ammu
nition being exhausted, we were relieved, and lay in the second line, still in
front of the breastworks, all that night and the next day. Our force in this
engagement was eleven officers and two hundred and twenty enlisted men.
" About midnight we marched eastward, with our corps, to the right of
the rebel position ; when, about daylight on the 12th, an assault was made
upon the enemy's works. We were in the second line, and passed over the
rebel intrenchments directly after a portion of the 1st Division, which pre
ceded us. We captured a great number of prisoners, which we sent to the
rear in charge of Capt. James R. Nichols. We pursued the flying enemy
for about a quarter of a mile, when I found our men becoming scattered,
our colors in advance of any other troops, and the fire from the enemy's
second line of works becoming serious. The rebels had also rallied, arid
were advancing a line of battle in our front. I therefore ordered our men
to fall back to the first line of works. In this first line were the enemy's
cannon, which were all captured. Many of these guns were turned on the
enemy. Two of them were worked by the men of the Fourteenth, under
the direction of Lieut. -Col. Moore and Lieut. J. Frank Morgan. These
guns were drawn oif by our men. Our force in this engagement was
eight commissioned officers and two hundred enlisted men.
" The regiment was afterwards moved to the left during the day, and
lay in the rebel intrenchments all night.
" The 13th and 1-ith were passed in the same viqinity, with slight changes
of position. About dai'k^ on the evening of the 14th, our brigade was
marched westward to another line of rifle-pits, to resist an expected attack.
The Fourteenth remained in the works in line of battle. On the night
of the 17th, the regiment being on picket, it was formed into a skirmish-
line, with some two or three other regiments, and advanced upon the ene
my's position. The whole of the 18th was passed upon the skirmish-
line, the regiment being at times under a shell-fire, but meeting with no
casualties. We were relieved at night."
On May 17, the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, under
Col. Elisha S. Kellogg, under orders to join Meade's army as
infantry, moved out from the forts opposite Washington, and
bivouacked that evening just outside of Alexandria. Next
morning, they embarked on transports to Belle Plaine, arriv
ing towards nightfall, and bivouacking among the bushes in
a heavy rain. The regiment marched to Fredericksburg,
met the wounded from the Wilderness, and hurried for
ward to the front.
574 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
When near Spottsylvania, the regiment, now about sixteen
hundred strong, and probably larger than any other regi
ment under Meade at the time, was assigned to the 2d
(Upton's) Brigade, 1st Division, of the 6th Corps, under
the gallant Major-Gen. Sedgwick. On the 21st, they were
placed in breastworks before the enemy for the first time.
Gen. Robert 0. Tyler, formerly of the First Connecticut,
commanded an independent division of foot-artillerists on
the extreme right, and was posted on an important position.
" Ewell crossed the Ny River above the right flank, and,
moving down, seized the Fredericksburg Road, and laid hands
on the ammunition-train coming up. Tyler promptly met
this attack, and succeeded in driving the enemy from the
road and into the woods beyond. The foot-artillerists had
not been before in battle ; but it was found, that, once under
fire, they displayed an audacity surpassing even the old
troops. In these murderous wood-fights, the veterans had
learned to employ all the Indian devices that offered shelter
to the person; but these green battalions, unused to this
kind of craft, pushed boldly on, firing furiously. Their loss
was heavy ; but the honor of the enemy's repulse belongs to
them."4
" Carleton," of the Boston Journal, wrote of this fight, in
which the Union troops were so completely surprised, —
" Gen. Tyler, who commanded the division of heavy artillery, called
upon his men to move against the enemy. The troops never had been
under fire. They had arrived, some of them, only the day before. They
hesitated. Gen. Tyler rode to Tannatt's brigade, composed of the 1st
Massachusetts and 1st Maine.
" ' The sons of Maine and Massachusetts are not cowards ! ' shouted the
general. ' No ! no ! ' was the response. ' Follow me, then ! '
" Away they went with a cheer. They came within musket-range, and
the contest began, — E well's old veterans on the one hand; and the troops
who till last week had not handled a musket, on the other. The heavy
artillery knew little about infantry tactics, of handling muskets, of loading
and firing ; but they poured in their volleys — no, not volleys ; but each man
loaded a piece, irrespective of all orders. It was a continuous roll.
"Meanwhile the rest of Tyler's division — four regiments ; one from
New York, one from Pennsylvania, one from Wisconsin, and one from Rhode
Island — joined, and the contest became more furious.
" The 2d Corps, which was near at hand, was swung round to form
a second line ; but, before it could be brought into action, the heavy
* Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
CAVALRY RAID OF SHERIDAN. 575
artillery had repulsed the rebels. It was a short, sharp, decisive engage
ment. It was particularly marked by the stubbornness of our men. Gen.
Hunt, commanding the artillery, was early on the ground, and brought eight
guns into position, four of them of Hart's regular battery. The rebel loss
was quite severe, as was our own. We took several hundred prisoners,
probably six hundred.
. " The result has had a great effect on the army, raising its spirits to the
highest pitch. Gen. Meade issued a congratulatory order this morning to
the heavy artillery, which was received with cheers by the troops."
For two weeks, Grant, persistent, and contemptuous of ma
neuvering, had stoutly hammered away at the intrenchments
of Lee upon the Spottsylvania crest. Hancock had made a
breach, and captured Johnson's whole rebel division of four
thousand men, with twenty guns and thirty colors, after one
of the most terrific and deadly struggles in the history of
warfare. In this, as has been seen, the Fourteenth took a
gallant part. Yet the success was not a victory, for Lee still
maintained a stubborn front. The cost had been frightful.
Not less than fort}' thousand of Grant's army had been
placed liors de combat
In the midst of the battle, fell Major-Gen. John Sedgwick
of Connecticut, the beloved chief of the 6th Corps, one of
the most tried and trusted leaders in the army.
In the mean time, while Grant was pounding away at
the rebel front, Sheridan was charging gallantly around the
rebel rear, doing infinite mischief. The First Connecticut
had already been partially armed with Spencer rifles and
Sharp's carbines, in place of the old Smith's, and was now
called upon to use them almost every day. On the night
of the 9th, the column bivouacked on the North Anna;
next night, on the South Anna; and, on the llth, met
Stuart's cavalry at Yellow Tavern. The First Connecticut
was drawn up as a support, but was not called to the front.
The enemy was routed by Custer's Michigan brigade ; 5 and
the celebrated rebel leader, J. E. B. Stuart, was killed.
Chaplain Holmes wrote, —
" After this, we marched along without interruption, on the main pike
to Richmond ; and when within three miles of the city, our division being
in the advance, took a road for Meadow Bridge, en route for the Peninsula.
6 In this famous brigade was a regiment led by Col. Edward M. Lee, a native of
Guilford, Conn. He was brevetted brigadier-general for gallantry. — See Appendix.
576 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
About daylight, we were proceeding quietly, — the whole command nearly
exhausted from Avant of food and rest ; many sleeping in the saddle, —
when a shot, so heavy we knew it must have come from the fortifications
by the city, revealed to us that we were in a decidedly perilous locality.
A severe fight ensued with the rebel cavalry, in which the First Connecticut
was heavily engaged, resulting in a rebel defeat ; when we retired out of
reach of the heavy guns of their intrenchmerits. One of our men, killed
by a 24-pounder as the regiment was drawn up in line of battle in an
open field, we buried under a wide-spreading tree, and during the brief
service a shell burst very near us. From our position upon an eminence,
we could witness a fierce struggle in the plains below."
At Meadow Bridge there was a spirited fight, in which
Ouster's brigade again made a magnificent charge, and took
the bridge. The force crossed and bivouacked. Chaplain
Holmes says, " We had a' soft bed that night, — our regi
ment, at least, — the ploughed ground where we halted
being well soaked with the rain, which fell steadily till
morning ; but though we lay in the mud, with no shelter
but such as was afforded by rubber blankets, our rest was
as sweet as good friends at home were enjoying in their
comfortable beds."
Next clay, they proceeded to the James, and communi
cated with Butler. On the 17th, they started to return,
crossed the Chickahominy, marched to Baltimore Cross
roads, and thence on the 22d to White House, to order up
supplies. From this point they returned, and renewed con
nections with the main army.
Grant had now four corps, — the 2d, under Hancock; the
5th, under Warren ; the 6th, in command of which Major-
Gen. II. G. Wright ° succeeded Sedgwick ; and the 9th, under
Burnside. Finding the " hammering " policy too expensive
and too slow, he now 7 swung his army again to the left, in
what the rebels derisively called " the crab movement," and
flanked the impregnable position. Lee evacuated his works
simultaneously, and swept southward ; and another race
began on parallel roads to Richmond.
Hancock first inarched out on the extreme left, moving
towards Fredericksburg, and then turning south along the
railroad. On the 21st, he reached Milford Station, seventeen
miles from the point of starting.
6 A native of Orange, Conn. — See Appendix. 7 June 20.
GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK. 577
Col. Ellis of the Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteers says
in his official report, —
" On Sunday the 22d, we were again engaged in skirmishing with the
enemy's cavalry, near Milford Station. About eleven, A.M., on the 24th,
we moved across the North Anna River, and were engaged most of tb,e
day in a severe skirmish with the enemy. Our line advanced, and drove
the rebel skirmishers about half a mile, across a wheat-field on the left,
and through the woods on the right. We were relieved at night, with our
ammunition entirely expended. Our force this day was seven commis
sioned officers and a hundred and eighty-five enlisted men.
The next morning, the regiment was again moved to the front, and was
engaged all day in throwing up intrenchments. On the 2Gth, about seven,,
P.M., the Fourteenth, with two other regiments, was ordered to advance,
and drive the enemy from their advanced works on the left of our position ;
which they did in gallant style, after a terrific struggle which lasted until
dark. The strength of the regiment engaged in this encounter was eight
officers and a hundred and sixty-five enlisted men."
The Second Artillery had also made a forced and severe
march with the 6th Corps, and arrived at the North -Anna
on the 23d, greatly exhausted. One hundred and twenty
men were, however, detailed for picket, and sent across the
river. Next morning, the regiment crossed with the corps,
and the advance was occupied in skirmishing. Near here,
Henry Colby of Goshen was killed. The 6th Corps was
not heavily engaged. On the 25th, the Second Artillery
destroyed several miles of the railroad, while Hancock's
corps at Hanover Junction was attempting to push the
rebels from the river.
On the 25th, the whole army was compelled by the admi
rable position taken by Lee, and the tenacity with which he
held it at his center, to recross the North Anna, and march
down the Pamunkey, by a flank movement, again to the
left towards Cold Harbor. The 6th Corps was in the
advance ; Sheridan clearing the way with cavalry.
Gen. John Sedgwick was born in Cornwall Hollow, Litch-
field County, Sept. 13, 1813. His lineage was illustrious.
A remote ancestor, Robert Sedgwick, — removed six genera
tions, — was one of the noble Puritans who struck such sturdy
blows for the rights of the people, while marching under
the banner of Oliver Cromwell. In that band of heroes, he
attained the rank of major-general. John Sedgwick, grand-
73
578 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
father of the subject of this sketch, was a major in the Rev
olutionary array, and was one of those who stood firm at
Valley Forge. On returning at the close of the war, he was
made major-general of the militia ; and his patriotic neigh
bors assembled, and built him a house upon the ashes of
the homestead which the " peace-men " had burned as soon
as he left for the war. He afterwards often represented the
town in the General Assembly.
John Sedgwick was a generous, manly, vigorous boy, born
to command. At the age of twenty, he entered the mili
tary academy at West Point, graduating in 1837. As lieuten
ant of artillery, he served through the inglorious Seminole
War; then upon the northern frontier during the Canadian
troubles ; and, when slaveholders plunged us in the war
with Mexico, he was ordered to the more active service.
Here 'his native intrepidity and military genius began to
develop themselves. In many a hot fight, his gallantry was
conspicuous. At Contreras and Churubusco and Chapulte-
pec, he obtained the reputation of the bravest of the brave.
Promotion rapidly followed merit. In 1855, he obtained
the rank of major in the 1st United-States Cavalry.
In 1860, Major Sedgwick was engaged in the construction
of Fort Wise in the vicinity of Pike's Peak. He was a
Democrat in politics ; but he loved his country far better
than party ; and, when war broke out, he threw himself into
the struggle for the Union with all the earnestness of his
nature. He was appointed to succeed Robert E. Lee as
colonel of the 4th Regular Cavalry. Henceforth, his fame
was national; for he was found wherever blows fell heaviest
and fastest, and where danger was most imminent. Accord
ing to the statement of the Prince de Joinville and of Gen.
Richardson, the skill, energy, and bravery of Sedgwick,
then brigadier-general, was mainly instrumental in rescuing
victoriously our army imperiled by a false position at Fair
Oaks. Gen. Richardson says, —
" In half an hour more, our column would have been cut in two, which
would have secured the defeat of our army. The danger was imminent.
But the division of Gen. Sedgwick, advancing at quick time, came up at
the critical moment, and formed in line of battle in the edge of the wood,
at the skirt of a large, open field. At this point, commencing a fire of
GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK. 579'
canister-shot upon the head of the column from his twenty- four pieces,
he staggered it ; and the division, then moving down in line of battle,
swept the field, recovering much of our lost ground."
At the bloody battle of Antietam, Gen. Sedgwick was in
the thickest of the fight. Twice he was wounded while
attempting to rally his troops and hold them firm where
bullets and grape swept their ranks like hail-stones. Faint
from loss of blood, ho was at length borne in an almost sense
less condition from the field. His wounds were scarcely
healed, ere he was again in the saddle and on the field. The
shouts of his troops welcomed their beloved commander
back to the campaign of Chancellorsville.
Gen. Hooker knew well whom to trust for any adventure
which required the bravery of desperation, and the pru
dence of the coolest brain. To him and his renowned com
mand — the 6th Corps — was assigned the part to storm
and hold the hights of Fredericksburg. Heroically the gal
lant exploit was achieved.
As Sedgwick entered upon this, one of the most thrill
ing adventures of the war, he said to his men, "Soldiers,
the occasion demands that each regiment should perform
the work of a brigade."
His men were worthy of their leader. They knew how
to appreciate their general, who was every inch a soldier.
His courage, his quick eye, his prompt judgment, his ener
getic action, his sympathy for his men, and the self-sacrifice
with which he shared their toils and hardships, won for him
that strongest of almost all earthly love, — a soldier's heart.
Sedgwick was never married; but he was as affectionate
and tender as a woman. His fondness for his home, and his
love for his ancestral acres, were with him almost a passion.
One day, standing upon his doorstep, he looked around upon
the pleasing landscape before him, hallowed by all the as
sociations of childhood, and exclaimed, " Is there another
spot on earth so beautiful as Cornwall Hollow ?"
As a soldier, he was a man of few words, but of great
deeds. Quiet, unobtrusive, unambitious, he excited little
envy ; while all were ready to do homage to his virtues and
his genius. Twice he was offered the command of the Army
of the Potomac, and twice he refused it.
• 580 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
In the battles of the Wilderness, Sedgwick took a promi
nent part. On Monday, May 9, at Spottsylvania, he was
surveying the ground to find a good position to post his
troops. The bullet of a rebel sharpshooter whizzed over
his head. He quietly remarked, " They can not hit us at
such a distance," and went on with his reconnoissance. The
next shot was fatal. The bullet struck him just beneath the
left eye, and passed through his head. He fell dead without
a struggle or a pang.
Swinton, in the Army of the Potomac, says, " Sedg
wick was the exemplar of steadfast, soldierly obedience to
duty : singularly gentle and childlike in character, he was
scarcely more beloved in his own command than throughout
the army. The loss of this lion-hearted soldier caused the
profoundest grief among his comrades. The army felt it
could better have afforded to sacrifice the best division."
The remains of the hero were conveyed tenderly to his
friends in Cornwall, escorted by Gov. Buckingham, our del
egation in Congress, and other public officers. The legisla
ture proposed a public funeral ; but it did not accord with
the feelings of the family that one whose life was so simple
should be buried in any other way than quietly from the
home ho loved.
The funeral ceremonies were solemnized in Cornwall,
May 15. Thousands attended from all the surrounding
towns; and his pall-bearers were near neighbors, who had
known him from a boy. Rev. Charles Wetherby of the vil
lage church preached an appropriate sermon. The body was
enshrouded in the American flag. No military salute was
fired above his grave; but, as the body was lowered to its
last resting-place, a peal of thunder like the roar of distant
artillery reverberated along the heavens, sounding the re
quiem. And the tired soldier rested.
CHAPTER XXXV.
The First Connecticut Cavalry. — Severe Service. — Battle of Ashland. — Brilliant Per
sonal Encounter. — Bravery and Losses. — Battle of Cold Harbor. — Charge of the
Second Connecticut Artillery. — Terrible Losses. — Death of Col. E. S. Kellogg. —
Casualties of the Fourteenth. — The Charge of June 3. — Losses of the Eighth, Elev
enth, and Twenty-first Connecticut. — Death of Col. Burpee and Major Converse. —
Organization of the Thirtieth Connecticut.
0 sooner had Grant moved his army south-east
ward, down the Pamunkey, than Lee withdrew
south-eastward along the front of its right flank.
The Union cavalry, corps was sent to the right
to delay the movement of the rebels. During
the day and night of the 31st, the First Connecticut was for
eighteen hours on the dismounted skirrnish-line, near Han
over Court House. About dark, as they were exchanging
occasional shots, a general advance was ordered. " We had
the left of the brigade-line," said Major Blakeslee, " and
charged rapidly up hill, under a heavy fire. We pushed the
enemy at every point, and stood on the line all night, with
out relief." The fatigue and hunger of the men were hardly
diminished by the compliment of Gen. Mclntosh, command
ing the brigade. " I must have a resriment on the left that I
DO' O
can trust : the First Connecticut must stay all night."
At dawn next morning, the regiment advanced again
towards Ashland. It was out of ammunition ; and Major
Blakeslee sent a detail to obtain a supply. They returned
in two hours, having been unable to find the ammunition-
train. Another was sent out, returning about noon with
the same report. The major then sent Lieut. Henry T.
Phillips, with instructions not to return without ammunition.
That energetic officer obtained forty rounds to a man. The
681
582 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
regiment, having been in front the clay before, was now
guarding the trains, and did not expect a fight. But the
troops behind were diverted to another road, without warn
ing Major Blakeslee to put out a rear guard.
The rebels fell back rapidly in front, and the column ad
vanced ; the First having been ordered simply to " support
and protect the battery," which was pushing along ahead of
the regiment. Suddenly the enemy charged upon the rear
of the regiment, among the servants and pack-animals. A
terrible panic ensued ; the led horses plunging through the
ranks, and making great confusion. A wild rush followed ;
and instantly the whole road was jammed full of a struggling
mass of terrified horses and mules (many of them loose), and
mounted servants and soldiers, surging forward away from
the furiously firing and yelling rebels in the rear. All regi
mental and company order was lost. Brave, cool men were
driven along in the rush with panic-stricken ones ; and the
only impulse seemed to be to get away. Major Blakeslee.
by the aid of his powerful horse, forced a passage towards
the rear, and shouted, " Open right and left, and let the train
through ! Form line in the woods, on both sides ! " Most of
the men struggled to obey, and quickly the road was cleared.
An irregular line was formed on both sides. A rapid, well-
directed volley checked the enemy ; and a spirited counter
charge, by a few men, drove them back upon their reserves,
— a brigade of rebel cavalry, under Fitzhugh Lee, now
concentrated there. In this charge, Major Blakeslee had a
personal encounter with one of the rebel horsemen. He
wrote in a private letter, —
" I was somewhat in advance of my men. The sudden dash of the
horses had somehow — I have no distinct idea how — brought this rebel
and myself side by side. He was a little in advance of his men, and we
met about midway between the opposing troops. He was so near, that I
could have laid my hand on his shoulder, when he thrust the muzzle of his
pistol three or four inches from my right side, and snapped the cap. It
missed. As quick as thought, I raised my pistol to his left side, and fired.
He fell from his horse, and died instantly. I saw his pistol drop from his
grasp to the ground ; and I did what, in a cooler moment, I should not
have done, — in the midst of bullets, I leaped from my horse, snatched
the pistol, sprang on again, and led his horse to my men. I gave the ani
mal to Sergeant Stephen N. Hinman of Woodstock, who, fighting near me,
had had his horse shot under him ; but I kept the revolver as a trophy.
GALLANT BEHAVIOR OF THE FIRST CAVALRY. • 583
The whole occupied but a few seconds. How narroAv an escape I had may
best be realized from the fact, that, before I was wounded, I fired every
chamber of that revolver ; and the last one, the same that had been
snapped at me, I fired at the man who wounded me, and that, too, Avith-
out changing the cap."
Capt. Leonard P. Goodwin, commanding the rear squad
ron, fought bravely, ever foremost in the charge, and effi
cient in rallying the men. He was placed in command at
this point, while Major Blakeslee galloped forward to the
cross-roads to rally for another stand. Capt. Addison G.
Warner now returned at full speed with the absent squad
ron, having been attracted by the firing. They had barely
time to form in line, when back rushed Capt. Goodwin's
men, swept like chaff before an overwhelming number. The
rebels charged down two of the roads on Warner's position ;
but the Spencer carbine did the work. The squadron stood
splendidly, and resisted the onset, and turned it back. Many
saddles were emptied, and the horsemen took to the woods
discomfited. Down the road, in another minute, charged
another rushing, yelling mass ; but their fury was caught
on the trusty carbine, and a score of yells ended with the
death-rattle. Lieut. Charles E. Briggs was struck by a ball
on the temple, and knocked from his horse, — a wound from
which he has never fully recovered. Lieuts. W. E. Phillips,
E. M. Neville, and E. B. Dyer were wounded. Capt. Warner
was shot through the body. Though mortally wounded, he
kept his saddle, and continued to rally and cheer on his men
with determined and extraordinary courage. He soon re
ceived another wound, when, faint from loss of blood, he fell
from his horse, and died gloriously. Major Marcy now took
command of this line, to resist another body of rebel cavalry
rushing down ; while Major Blakeslee stationed Color-Ser
geant Samuel Whipple, with the regimental colors, still far
ther back, and there rallied another line of battle ; when
Marcy was shortly driven again.
In this rapid and fierce way of fighting on a run, the regi
ment formed eight or ten distinct lines, breaking each char
ging rebel squadron, which, as it became disorganized by the
volleys, scattered to the woods, and swarmed upon the flanks.
So, as long as the woods continued, it was impossible to
584 ' CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
charge in return, or to stand long in a place, for fear of being
surrounded. By this time, the favorite battery and the trains
were out of the way, saved by the persistent courage of a
hundred men.
As pursued and pursuers came out into the open fields,
the First Cavalry formed to charge, under a scattering fire
in front and flank. At this juncture, Major Blakeslee was
severely wounded in the arm and side, and was unable to
join. With a shout, the troops dashed away, headed by
Capt. Joseph Backus. The little handful pressed forward
into the very midst of the enemy, driving them some dis
tance. Lieut. Uriah N. Parrnelee of Guilford resolved to
capture a rebel battle-flag flaunting in front. He rode far
in advance of any of -his men, and got so near the flag, that
he reached out his hand to grasp it, when a rebel soldier
snatched it from the color-bearer, and held it beyond Parme-
lee's reach. Parmelee wheeled his horse, and escaped un
hurt. For his bravery in this action, he was promoted to
be captain.
The regiment was soon driven back, or forward, upon the
brigaderline, when the rebels charged again in force ; and it
took the united exertions of all the cavalry and the gun
ners, with guns double-shotted with canister, to drive them
permanently back.
Major Blakeslee remounted as soon as his wound was
dressed, and remained in, the saddle until two o'clock the next
morning, but so weak the latter part of the time as to need
the support of his orderly's arm. He had eaten nothing
for sixty hours. On coming to a halt, he was placed' in an
ambulance, where he was next day mustered in as lieuten
ant-colonel. A few days afterwards, his colonel's commis
sion .came. In the mean time, the regiment was commanded
by Major Marcy, who had behaved most gallantly in the
Ashland fight.
Capt. Addison G. Warner enlisted as a private in the
three-months' service, and, on returning, taught a private
school in Putnam, where he married. He attained much
popularity and success as a teacher ; exhibiting tact, enthu
siasm, and patience combined. But the call to the field was
DEATH OF CAPT. WARXER AND SERGT. WHIPPLE. 585
irresistible ; and, having recruited more than one hundred
men for the First Cavalry, he was commissioned captain
in January, 1864. He was constitutionally and from prin
ciple a brave man. Sergeant Alexander McDonald of Nor
folk, who assisted him on the field after he was wounded,
writes the following thrilling account : —
" I was only a few feet from him when the rebels came charging upon
us, and could hear his calm, bold tone of command, ' Stand fast, boys !
Give it to them ! ' When numbers forced us to retire, and brave Major
Blakeslee rallied us again, I saw Capt. Warner standing about a dozen
yards iu front of the regiment. I rode up, and asked him what he was
doing there. He said, ' Mac, I'm wounded in the shoulder.' I urged him
to go to the rear. He refused. There was no time for words ; for the
regiment swept forward again, and we with them. The captain, regard
less of his wound, was again foremost in the fight, and held his ground
when it became a hand-to-hand contest. We were for a moment separated ;
when Sergeant Wheeler called out, ' Mac, captain's wounded.' In a moment,
I was at his side. His first wound was through his body, close under his
shoulder : that he did not seem to mind. The next broke his leg below the
knee, and he was unsteady in the saddle. Wheeler caught him as we
turned him around, — almost by force ; for he insisted on facing the enemy.
We had gone but a few steps, when another ball struck him in his thigh,
severing an artery. He was in possession of all his faculties ; but he did
not betray pain. A moment more, and a ball passed through his head,
coming out at the left temple ; but even this did not cause instant death.
He was now very weak ; and I had my arm around him, trying to guide
the horses with the other. We struck a tree, which separated us ; and he
fell. His foot caught iu the stirrup, and he was dragged some distance,
until the horse, by kicking, disengaged him. We rallied, drove the rebels
back, and brought the captain off. I took his head on my lap, and asked
him if he knew me. ' Yes, — Mac,' said he. ' Oh, my poor wife and child ! '
And then his face would change, and he would cry, ' Rally, boys ! — rally for
the old flag ! ' . . . When we dug the grave to bury our heroic command
er, the bullets flew like hail."
Capt. Warner, says Col. Blakeslee, was " brave to a fault,
active, energetic, and faithful : he was also in a peculiar man
ner the friend of his men. He spared no labor for them,
and secured a remarkably strong hold upon their con
fidence and esteem. His loss was sincerely mourned in the
regiment."
Color-bearer Samuel S. Whipple of Preston was shot
through the-body, and instantly killed, while he was stand
ing in the middle of the road in the hottest of the fight.
Wrote the colonel, " He was a brave, faithful man, and
carried his colors as proudly and coolly in the heat of battle
as on parade. Let his name be remembered with honor ! "
74
586 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Private Walter Pierpont of New Haven was also particu
larly cool and brave, and fell mortally wounded in the fury
of a charge.
Chaplain Theodore J. Holmes won a distinguished name
by his bravery that day, — a reputation which he always
afterwards maintained. He assisted in rallying the men,
and holding them to the fight ; and while, with his hand
uplifted, he was exhorting the men to " stand for the honor
of Connecticut," he was shot through the wrist by a pistol-
ball.
Capt. Edward W. Whitaker was at this time upon the
staff of Major-Gen. Wilson ; and he wrote home, " This Ash
land fight has become the crowning one in establishing
the reputation of the First Connecticut. In the camp-talk,
the greatest compliments are paid to the gallantry of both
officers and men. The chaplain's coolness and bravery are
noted as remarkable."
Gen. Wilson afterwards wrote to Col. Blakeslee, " Your
regiment first attracted my attention by its gallantry and
steadiness at Ashland Station. Upon this occasion, it ex
hibited the highest qualities of courage and efficiency, and
succeeded in holding the enemy in check until the rest of
the brigade could get into position."
As Lee fell back along shorter lines, he was enabled still
to keep in front of Grant, and cover Richmond. The Con
federate army was soon drawn up on the north bank of
the Chickahominy stream, having its front obstructed by
thickets, and cut up by marshes. Grant's depot of supplies
had been changed from Fredericksburg to White House
on the Pamunkey. Gen. W. F. Smith, with his 18th Corps
and a division of the 10th, — in all sixteen thousand men,
— had re-inforced the Union army from the Army of the
James.
At eight, P.M., of the 26th, commenced the hardest march
the Second Artillery ever had before or afterwards, con
tinuing through the entire night, with occasional ten-
minute rests, crossing the Pamunkey near Hanover Town,
and halting, at noon of the 27th, within fifteen miles of
Richmond. Sergeant Henry P. Milford of Cornwall was
CHAEGE OF THE SECOND ARTILLERY. 587
sent out in charge of the pickets. The 5th Corps and the
9th under Bnrnside, which had joined the army at Spott-
sylvania, followed the 6th closely ; and Hancock's 2d brought
up the rear. The Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteers
crossed the Pamunkey at four, P.M., of the 28th, and re
mained for two days near the river with slight changes of
*/ C5 O
position.
On the night of the 31st, Wright's 6th Corps was detached
from the extreme right of the army, and directed on Cold
Harbor, which had now become a point of strategic value.
Lee, detecting the movement, and divining its purpose, sent
Longstreet from his own left to. seize the roads in front of
Cold Harbor. The movement and dispositions were rapidly
made ; so that when Wright and Smith arrived, on June 1,
the rebels were behind earthworks in the edge of a thick
wood, approachable only across an open plain several hun
dred yards in width.
The Second Connecticut Artillery, fighting as infantry, was
disposed in three lines as follows : Companies A, B, E, and K,
forming the first battalion, under Major James Hubbard; Com
panies D, F, I, and M, the second, under Major James Q.
Rice ; and Companies C, II, G, and L, the third, under Major
William B. Ells ; the whole under Col. Kellogg. The regiment
lay in mass under shelter of a hastily-constructed breastwork,
about four hundred yards distant from the front line of the
enemy, whose sharpshooters and artillery kept up a constant
fire frpm the direct and oblique points. The Second, though
never in battle, was assigned to lead the brigade of veterans.
At five o'clock, the order to charge is heard ; and the regi
ment, fourteen hundred strong, springs into line. Bayonets
are fixed ; but no caps are on the muskets, which are at port.
Out into the open space, and steadily forward on the quick
step, press the men, towards a re-entering angle of the
frowning fortification, where a battery is blazing. From the
moment the charge commences, they are under, an irregular
fire. They dash across an open field into a growth of pines,
emerging again into a partial opening. The rebel fire in
creases here ; men fall at the right and left ; cannon-shot
roar; and bullets whistle : yet on sweep the battalions un-
588 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
flinchingly as if composed of the veterans of a hundred fights.
Lieut-Col. James Hubbard says in his official report, " The
rebel fire brought men to the ground in every part of the
line, and in all the battalions. The ranks, however, were
instantly closed. The enemy vacated his first line on our
approach, and retired to his second. The first battalion came
up to that with a momentum which would have carried it
over, had not its progress been arrested by a strong abatis
of pine-boughs. A terrific musketry-fight ensued, lasting for
half an hour."
The abatis completely stopped for a time the advance of
the regiment ; and, when it was reached, the rebels opened a
terribly destructive fire from their intrenchments not more
than five rods distant. Two hundred rebel prisoners were
captured by the first battalion, and sent to the rear.
The second battalion, about thirty rods behind the first,
and the third just behind the second, lay down, and sought
whatever protection the irregularities of the ground afford
ed. The rebels plied the position with musketry, and swept it
with grape and canister. Major Ells was wounded, almost
by the first fire. Col. Kellogg, proud of his men, but fearful
lest they might shrink in their first encounter, was in ad
vance of the foremost line, his towering and conspicuous
form making him a target for the bolts of the enemy ; and
he, too, fell in the very beginning of the fight, pierced with
a dozen bullets. He was a model soldier, whose equal the
regiment never before or afterwards saw.
There were no Union troops upon the left ; and the Confed
erates in that direction and in front poured a concentrated
cross-fire upon the wood where this regiment lay. Every
foot of ground seemed to be in the precise range of musket
or cannon ; and within the first ten minutes a hundred of the
first battalion were killed or wounded. Capt. Luman Wad-
hams was killed. The companies in front became disorgan
ized and broken by the horrible fire which they could neither
resist nor endure ; and the shattered fragments crept back to
cover, near where the other battalions were lying. Only
* half of them returned, however ; for they left nearly two
hundred bleeding on the ground.
SECOND ARTILLERY AND FOURTEENTH INFANTRY. 589
This position, within forty rods of the rebel parapet, was
firmly held by the regiment, and quietly intrenched. The
front was strewn thickly with the dead; and the wounded
lay all night calling for help and for water, — calls which could
be heeded only at the imminent risk of adding to their num
ber. Next morning, the Unionists strengthened their ad
vance position, and made another charge ; when the rebels
retreated to intrenchments twenty rods still farther south.
The Second advanced, and occupied the vacated line, remain
ing in possession until a new movement was ordered.
The sufferings and exposures of the Second Connecticut
Artillery and the Fourteenth had been very severe. Col.
Ellis reported on June 7, " The strength of the regiment
is at present seven commissioned officers and one hundred
and sixty enlisted men. The present campaign has thus far
been a severe one. Since its commencement to the present
time, the regiment has been in line of battle, and under fire,
almost every day. At night, we have almost invariably
bivouacked in line, prepared for an attack. The fatigues
and exposure of the night-marches, and continual encounters
with the enemy, have been extraordinary ; but the officers
and men of this regiment have met them nobly and uncom
plainingly, cheerfully bearing all the hardships they have
been called upon to endure. Among the officers especially
noticed for their gallantry in the various actions in which
they have been engaged, I would mention the names of
Lieut-Col. S. A. Moore and Adjutant William B. Hincks."
Adjutant Hincks was especially marked for his bravery,
capturing personally two battle-flags by riding in advance
of the regiment. He was soon promoted to be major, vice
Major J. B. Coit, who, having received a severe wound,
resigned.
Since leaving winter-quarters at Stony Mountain, six weeks
before, with barely three hundred and forty-five officers and
men, the Fourteenth had lost one hundred and sixty-five in
killed and wounded, — more than forty-five per cent. Of
these, three officers (Capt. Fiske and Lieuts. Wadhams and
Schalk) and twenty-three enlisted men were dead. Among
the wounded were Lieut.-Col. S. A. Moore, Major J. B. Coit,
CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and Lieuts. William Murdock, Robert Russell, Newell P. Rock-
wood, L. F. Norton, Samuel H. Seward, and George H. Lilli-
bridge.
Capt. Samuel Fiske of Madison was one of the most brilliant
of the sons of Connecticut killed in the war. He was born
at Shelburne, Mass., in 1828. He was early taught self-reli
ance ; and maintained himself through Amherst College (the
youngest and smallest student), graduating with the second
honors of his class. He held the post of tutor for three years,
studying meanwhile for the ministry, and then went abroad.
On his return, his letters to the Springfield Republican
were collected, and published in a volume entitled Expert
ences in Foreign Parts. By Dunn Browne. It was the
most witty, genial, and sparkling volume of the year. Pro
fessor Tyler of Amherst, in a memorial address, said of Fiske
when he first began to preach, " His sermons were full o*f
thought, full of illustration, suggestive, and impulsive to a rare
degree. They were also inwardly charged, nigh unto burst
ing, with wit and humor. He could not always keep his wit
and genius out of his prayers. His prayers were not like any
other man's prayers : his sermons were not like any other per
son's sermons. He was a manifest and marked original."
He was afterwards settled in Madison, near New Haven,
where he was much beloved for his ingenuousness, his great
ability, and his consecration to his work. When the second
call for troops came, he felt that it was for him ; left his
pulpit, and enlisted as a private in the Fourteenth. He was
soon chosen lieutenant, and promoted to be captain. He
insisted that the care of his men was the first duty of an
officer, and he honored the theory in practice. Never
shrinking from service in camp or field, he yet found time
to be an historian, as well as a hero of the campaigns, and
photographed the most striking scenes in a series of letters
to the Springfield Republican, which, for truth and faithful
ness, wit and humor, burlesque and pathos, strangely inter
mingled, have no superior in all the journalistic literature
of the war.1
Capt. Fiske fell at the head of his company, shot through
1 These are republished in a piquant volume entitled Dunn Browne in the Army,
remarkable for its graphic pictures of soldier-life.
CAPTAIN FISKE AND LIEUTENANT WADHAMS. 591
the collar-bone and top of the right lung. He rode on
horseback to the hospital, — a mile to the rear, — • and thence
was borne to Fredericksburg. Those who loved him best
were summoned to his side ; and, amid the tears of his friends
and associates, he gently breathed his last, just at the close
of the holy Sabbath, when stillness reigned, and Nature
seemed to be paying him a last tribute of respect.
When a chill came over him, which he took to be the last,
he said to his brother, "Asa, do you think heaven comes
right off? I shall soon know all about it." On the morn
ing of his death, he greeted his sister with the salutation,
" To-day I shall get my marching orders : well, I am ready."
Lieut. Frederick E. Schalk of Norwich died in the hospital
at Fredericksburg, of wounds received at Spottsylvania. He
was in the three-months' service, and afterwards rose from
the ranks to first lieutenant in. the Fourteenth. He was vig
orous and energetic, yet buoyant in his disposition, always at
his post, smiling at hardship, and meeting peril with defiant
courage.
Lieut. Henry W. Wadhams was one of three stalwart,
manly brothers, sons of Edwin Wadhams of Litchfield, all
of whom enlisted in the service, and were killed in battle.
Henry volunteered as a private, and was promoted for faith
ful performance of duty. He had passed through many
dangers unharmed, and advanced with alacrity to the charge
with four small companies, on an angle of the enemy's
works, on the North Anna. He led on his men, stimulating
them by his gallant example, — on, over the rebel parapet,
and fell within the enemy's works, pierced by a bullet. At
dark he was borne off', at much peril, by Sergeant Junius E.
Goodwin and Thomas Hannah. He suffered intensely, yet
murmured not. Love in him overcame excruciating pain ;
for, forgetting his suffering, he kept saying, " 0 my poor
wife and child!" He lived a few hours, and died, murmuring
still of the gentle and patriotic woman who had not opposed
his going to the war.
" I have known him long and well," wrote Capt. William
H. Hawley, " and can truly say that he was always faithful
in the discharge of his duties ; always brave and trust-
592 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
worthy ; always careful of his men, and mindful of their
wants." And one of the faithful soldiers who helped, at
great risk, to bear him from the field, says, " Sacred be his
memory, because he was as good as he was brave."
The Fourteenth had lost more than twenty brave enlisted
men, whom the regiment could ill afford to spare. The gal
lant color-bearer, Henry Lyon of New Haven, had fallen ;
and Sergeant Charles M. Scoville of New Britain, and Wil
liam Glossinger, and the fearless Edwin Stroud of Middle-
town. During the fight at Bristoe Station, Stroud, single-
handed, captured and brought in five armed rebels in one
squad.
The losses of the Second Connecticut Artillery at Cold
Harbor had been heavier in killed and wounded than those
of any other regiment from this State in any battle. Sev
enty-five killed and a hundred and eighty-four wounded was
the total footing ; and among the killed were Col. Kellogg
and Capt. Luman Wadhams ; and among the wounded,
Major William B. Ells, Capt. James Deane, and Lieuts. B.
H. Camp, H. E. Tuttle, and Calvin B. Hatch.
Col. Elisha S. Kellogg was born in Glastenbury, Conn., in
1824. A boyish love of adventure led him to choose the
life of a sailor. For many years he was buffeted by waves,
and disciplined by hardship, until he grew in stature robust
and vigorous ; in mind honest, sincere, and kind, with a
certain brusque roughness which pertains to the hardy sail
or. He went out to California in search of a fortune; came
back, and settled in the pretty and enterprising village of
Birmingham.
Those who are familiar with the history of our State
militia will remember Lieut., Capt., Major, and Lieut-Col.
Kellogg : this is the order in which he rose from rank to
rank, until he was acknowledged one of the best-drilled sol
diers in the State.
At the first gun, he sprang to arms, called his company
about him, and they were mustered for three years into the
Fourth Regiment. He was the best officer in the regiment,
until Col. Robert 0. Tyler came and saved it. After serving
gallantly in the battles on the Peninsula, Major Kellogg was
DEATH OF COLONEL KELLOGG. 593
transferred to be lieutenant-colonel of the Nineteenth, and
ultimately, as has been seen, succeeded to the command. He
made the regiment what it afterwards became as the Second
Connecticut Artillery. On the 1st of June, he went boldty
to the charge at Cold Harbor. Says a member of his
staff, "He was fully impressed with a sense of what was
before us; marked out on the ground the shape of the
works to be taken ; told the officers what disposition to
make of the different battalions, how the charge would be
made ; spoke of our reputation as ' a band-box regiment.'
Now we were called on to show what we could do at fight
ing. He felt confident we would in this our first fight estab
lish, and ever afterwards maintain, a glorious reputation as a
fighting regiment.
" We were soon ordered to the charge. Col. Kellogg led us
in bravely, coolly, and steadily ; taking the first line of
works, near which he was wounded, he pushed steadily on
to the second line, and called on the ' boys ' to capture the
fleeing; rebels. , . I went to the left of the battalion, and
o '
on the way passed Col. Kellogg: his face was covered with
blood from a wound in the cheek ; he was cheering on the
men. On reaching the main works, which were protected
by a mass of felled trees and limbs piled up in front, our
boys could not get over them ; and there they halted, firing
over the obstructions. The galling fire of the enemy at
last forced our line to give way. I went over where the
center had rested, and there my worst fears were realized.
On the top of the abatis the colonel lay dead ; and near him
a score of our brave boys had fallen. He was shot through
the head just above the ear, — two shots near together: he
was also shot in the arm and face. He fell in advance of
his command, leading them on ; forgetting his own safety, and
thinking only of victory over the traitors to his country
and his country's flag."
Gen. Upton, commanding the brigade, said, "That he
exposed his own life but too freely is well known to all. A
brave and patriotic officer has fallen in the defense of his
country : he has done much for the honor and reputation of
his native State."
75
594 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Notwithstanding the vicissitudes of a checkered life, the
"immediate jewel of his soul" had been preserved untar
nished. He was a man of good conscience. What is ordi
narily termed " manhood " was his distinguishing trait of
character. This was the one thing never to be sacrificed.
Truth, honor, bravery, sincerity, were, in his esteem, car
dinal virtues : these were his idols. Hypocrisy, pretense,
cant, quackery, were his abhorrence. His patriotism was
unbounded : it was sublime in its massive strength and
grandeur.
Exteriorly, he was a man of rough mold, yet moved by
gentle emotions and kindly impulses. He possessed a quick,
ardent temperament ; was not slow to anger ; not choice in
expletives nor careful of consequences when roused. He
cherished no malice.
He was a man of excellent judgment ; knew how to
command and control without exciting opposition or tardy
compliance. He always manifested a paternal care, which
endeared him to his men, and a capability which inspired
confidence. No commander ever exacted more of his com
mand, or held their hearts in a firmer bond of affection.
Col. Kellogg was a most unselfish man : the story of his
life is replete with tender charities and kindly ministrations.
The stern warrior who could tread with unfaltering steps
and unblanched cheek along the fiery front of battle could
also bend with tearful sympathy over the victims. And so
he was loved ; and, when his mortal remains were laid in
the pleasant valley at Winsted, a thousand hearts turned
tenderly towards the grave.
The colonelcy of the Second was now offered to Lieut.-Col.
James Hubbard2 of Salisbury; but he declined the position.
The officers nominated Capt. Ranald S. Mackenzie, a regu
lar army officer serving on the staff of Gen. Wright ; and he
was accordingly commissioned colonel.
Capt. Luman Wadhams of the Second Artillery was killed
a week after his brother Henry fell at the North Anna. He
went through the three-months' service ; was afterwards a
lieutenant for seven months in the Eighth ; and, when the
2 Lieut.-Col. Nathaniel Smith had resigned on May 6, on account of disability.
CASUALTIES AT COLD HARBOE. 595
Nineteenth was called for, he raised a company, and led it to
the field. Capt. Wadharas loved his men, and did all he
could to help them. When on duty, he was their officer ; at
other times, their friend. He seldom punished his men ; yet
they were seldom in the guard-house. If a man was disor
derly, he called him aside, pointed out the offense, and tried
to inculcate the duties of a soldier. He governed mainly by
strengthening self-respect in his men. They, in turn, felt for
him the most enthusiastic affection, and found many ways
by which to testify their high appreciation. On one occa
sion, they presented to him a valuable sword. In speaking
of the gift, Capt. Wadhams said, " That was given me when
I had been with the boys a year and a half; when they knew
me and I knew them well. For that reason, I prize it." None
were braver than he at Cold Harbor. " I can never," writes
Capt. E. W. Marsh, " forget his bearing as he led us to the
charge. His commanding figure, his determined step, and
electric glance, told that he was nerved to his responsible
work ; and his men emulated his example."
In the moment of success he fell, pierced through the
body. His devoted men sprang to his assistance, and bore
him to the rear, where he soon expired. His body was
buried at Litchfield with Masonic honors, sixteen weeks after
his wedding-day. And one soldier expressed the feelings of
all as he wrote, " When I heard that our dear captain was
dead, I could not keep from crying." Precious ointment for
the brow of a dying officer are the tears of his men.
In this bloody struggle had fallen many noble men who
held no commissions. Here, in the Second Regiment, fell
Joseph P. Parke, A. C. Morse, Benjamin Meeker, G. W. Pot
ter, Walter C. Sparks, David J. Thorpe, R W. Daniels, Wil-
lard Hart, Alonzo J. Hull, George L. Beach, Henry A. Rex-
ford, Samuel E. Gibbs, Joseph B. Payne, George H. McBarney,
Charles Adams, jr., and half a hundred others as worthy and
as brave. Nathan H. Geer of Bristol lost his leg in this
fight, and suffered three amputations. He lived, was dis
charged, graduated with honor at the Hartford Commercial
College, and was on the point of marriage, when ab-
cesses formed ; and he died two years after the battle. Two
596 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
brothers, Sergeant James A. Greene and Stephen S. Greene
of Colebrook, were mortally wounded here, and died ; one on
the following Tuesday, and the other on Wednesday. They
were brave and manly young soldiers, earnest and upright
in their lives.3
When partial success had crowned this fight for the pos
session of Cold Harbor on the left, Grant and Lee rapidly
disposed their armies for the coming grapple. The Union
force was drawn up on the night of June 2 : Hancock on the
left, then Wright, then Smith, with Warren and Burnside on
the right. Gen. Robert 0. Tyler commanded the reserve ar
tillery. The plan of battle was simple, and similar to that
of Spottsylvania, — a general assault with the bayonet along
the whole front of six miles, to be made in column by divis
ion, at half-past four next morning. All caps were removed
from the muskets. " It was not later than forty-five minutes
past four when the whole line was in motion, and the dark
hollows between the armies were lighted up with the fires
of death. It took hardly more than ten minutes of the fig
ment men call time to decide the battle. There was along
the whole line a rush, the spectacle of impregnable works, a
bloody loss, then a sullen falling-back ; and the action was
decided." 4
In this charge, Brig.-Gen. R 0. Tyler, while gallantly lead
ing his command, was severely wounded in the leg, and car
ried off the field.5 Three of his regimental commanders
were killed.
8 A third brother, George, had died in the naval service a year before.
* Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
5 Gen. Tyler received a furlough; and, while detained in Connecticut by his wound,
he was presented by his friends with a handsome sword costing a thousand dollars, and
before returning to the army was brevctted major-general " for great gallantry at Cold
Harbor." The following is an extract from the letter accompanying the sword : " Of
the during and steady endurance of the division which followed you, with courage undis
mayed, to triumph at Spottsylvania, your commanding general has already assured the
country ; and the wound which still detains you from active service attests your personal
gallantry during the brilliant charges at Cold Harbor. While you arc again at your home,
we. a few of your friends, have united in presenting to you the sword and equipments which
accompany this letter as a testimonial of our high admiration for the honorable distinc
tion you have won in the many engagements of this protracted contest.
"M. M. Merriman ; Roland Mather ; Edmund G. Howe; N. Shipman ; II. A. Per
kins ; James L. Howard & Co. ; J. H. Trumbull ; Albert Day, Sons, & Co. ; W. II. D.
Callendcr ; J. C. Colcman ; R. Swift ; Watson Beach ; Charles M. Beach ; James Dixon ;
H. L. Porter; J. M. Nilcs ; A. G. Hammond; Thomas Smith ; J. G. Rathbun ; Charles
H. Prentice; J. C. Parsons ; W. T. Lee; E. Flower; J. A. Butler; Lucius Barbour;
William II. Post ; N. Kingsbury & Co. ; Collins Brothers & Co. ; Griswold, Seymour,
MAJOR JOSEPH H. CONVERSE. 597
The Eighth, Eleventh, and Twenty-first Connecticut were
in the charge with Smith's corps ; and their losses had been
heavy within those few minutes.
The Eighth was least exposed,' being held as a reserve,
Capt. Charles M. Coit in command. Its losses were eight
killed and thirty wounded. Sergeant Albion D. Brooks was
among the dead. He was a thoroughly exemplary man,
and was studying for the ministry when the war broke out.
He promptly enlisted as a private, and re-enlisted as a vet
eran ; reading the Greek testament and studying Hebrew in
the leisure of his service. He was widely lamented.
Col. Stedman had led his brigade bravely in the terrible
onset. In a private letter written at the time, he said, " We
formed in the woods in solid columns. I gave the command,
' Forward ! ' We started with unloaded muskets and fixed
bayonets. I was the first to enter the open field and see the
enemy's lines, — a curve. I bade farewell to all I loved. It
seemed impossible to survive that fire ; but I was spared,
while the officers of my staff, who followed me closely, were
struck down. We reached a point within thirty yards of the
enemy's main works ; but the fire was too murderous, and
my men were repulsed. We left the woods with two thou
sand men ; injive minutes we returned, six hundred less !"
The Eleventh had lost nine killed and seventy-five wound
ed. The colonel escaped with several bullet-holes through
his coat. Major Converse, Capt. Amos S. Allen, and Adju
tant Samuel C. Barnum, were mortally wounded, and soon
died.
Major Joseph H. Converse of Windsor Locks was born at
Stafford, of vigorous and enterprising New-England ancestry.
He prepared for college, but did not enter. When the first
call came, he enlisted in the first company from the State,
and served faithfully as orderly sergeant of Company A. He
then prepared himself for an efficient officer, and went out
as a second lieutenant in the Eleventh. From rank to rank
he rose gradually by his own merits. He was a good
& Co. ; E. Fessenden ; E. S. Cleveland ; Moore & Johnson ; E. N. Kelloerg & Co. ;
R. Burkett ; Samuel S. Ward ; T. M. Allyn ; H. & W. Keeney ; Tudor Brownell ;
Bolles, Sexton, & Co ; Gurdon Trumbull ; E. K. Root ; Cheeney Brothers ; Owen,
Day, & Root ; Richard S. Ely ; J. G. Batterson ; W. C. Alden ; H. T. Sperry ; Marshall
Jewell ; E. P. Allen.
598 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
scholar, and of refined literary tastes ; and his letters to the
Hartford Press, descriptive of the battles of Newberne, An-
tietam, Fredericksburg, &c., are among the best war-sketches
published in the State. He was adjutant to Col. Kingsbury
at Antietam, and was within a month promoted to be major,
for skill and conspicuous valor on that occasion. He wished
to remain with his regiment, but was frequently detailed to
service requiring scholarly attainments. At Cold Harbor
he was serving as aide on the staff of Gen. Martindale. Col.
Stedman (shortly afterwards to fall as suddenly) wrote to
the father of Major Converse, after the battle, —
" I was waiting in the edge of the woods, my brigade hav
ing the advance. Major Converse rode up, and, shaking
hands, said, ' Colonel, the general sends his compliments, and
says all is ready.' We parted, — he to rejoin the general, I
into the open field. As we appeared to the enemy, a volley
met us, and in it the major fell. I was not aware of his fate
until my return. I had then seen all my own staff killed or
wounded, and five hundred of the gallant brigade fallen. I
was told by the general that Converse had gone too. It
was a sad blow to me ; for, through three years of hard ser
vice, we had been comrades and intimate friends."
When told that his wound was fatal, he only said, u I am
ready to go." Dr. N. Mayer, who knew him well, has thus
written, "Allow me a few words on his character. He
was a good representative of his age and nation. Without
agreeing with any school of transcendentalists, he was essen
tially a protestant, a protester against established systems
and customs. He fully realized the state of transition which
the present age and our nation is in ; and his satire flashed
up broad and indignant against the fetters that yet are tim
idly thrown around us, because the clear aim and result of
our progress can not now be foreseen. He had infinite
humor, yet, under the comic mask, wore a strong, feeling
heart. He loved well, and hated strongly. It was easy for
him to enter on the views and feelings of any person, and
from that person's standpoint contemplate subjects, yet not
lose his individuality. He was a prompt officer, very abso
lute and strict; not familiarly popular, but always trusted
SCENES AFTEK THE BATTLE. 599
and well obeyed. His character was fast rooted in resolute
firmness and incorruptible integrity, and adorned with na
tive courtesy and an exquisite sense of honor."
One year before, learning that Capt. Samuel Hayden, a
high-minded and gallant friend, had fallen at the battle of
Irish Bend, La., he uttered from his heart this touching
' ' O
tribute, "His devotion to the cause which he deemed
sacred, and his bravery, have been most sadly attested by
his death. The character that he maintained as a citizen
needs no eulogium ; but on the grave of that Christian spirit,
far away on the bank of the Teche, a younger soldier would
fain lay his laurel-wreath, and carve on the tombstone of the
gallant, Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori ! " Thus
unconsciously did he pen words most appropriate for his
own epitaph.
Of Lieut. Barnum, Chaplain H. C. De Forest wrote, —
"He was Col. Stedman's adjutant>general, always at his
side, and therefore always in danger if duty became dan
gerous. We thought it would prove not a permanent injury,
nor lead to amputation. His patient endurance deceived us ;
for his fortitude in enduring was not surpassed by his brav
ery in receiving the wound. But we now mourn him also.
He died among his friends, who attended him in those last
days ; but he always had friends wherever he had acquaint
ances." Of the hospital, next day, he continues, —
" There Major Converse was dying. By his side was the adjutant, smil
ing, without a groan or murmur, but pale. Not far away, but on the open
hillside, where the morning sun was striking, lay brave Capt. Allen, his
wound for hours undressed. Near him was Lieut. Horn, wounded in the
shoulder ; and, on the same rubber blanket, Lieut. Pray, hit by a ball that
had become weary in its mission of death. That noble, manly sergeant
was George B. Covell of Killingly ; and in his death, which soon followed,
we lost one of the best and truest and firmest patriots. For him the chap
lain mourns. If there was a sabbath service, or a meeting for prayer and
song, Sergeant Covell was there. With him would be Sergeant James
Souter, his friend and ours, who fell so heroically, and was left on the field.
... In the work of the night, Lieut. -Col. W. C. Moegling's belt and pis
tol, following the strategy of the campaign, had slid to the left. In the gray
of the morning, a rebel sharpshooter had spied him as he stood at our
advance-line recoimoitering with his glass. He aimed well. The ball
struck the misplaced pistol, and though it tore the pistol, cleaving wood
work from iron, and left its mark on coat and person, yet, by this displace
ment, a mortal blow was turned away."
600 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
The Twenty-first, Col. Thomas F. Burpee commanding,
went gallantly to the charge, leading a brigade in the second
line. The regiments of Gen. Marston, in advance, were soon
broken by the terrible fire ; but the Twenty-first held the
ground with great steadiness, and a new line, a little in the
rear, was formed and maintained under a heavy fire. The
regiment suffered a loss of nine killed and forty wounded.
Col. Burpee was mortally wounded at daybreak, on June 9,
while going the rounds as brigade officer of the day. Lieut.
Luther N. Curtis was wounded dangerously in the neck ;
and Color-Bearer J. F. Cowles, severely in the side.
Col. Burpee was a native of Tolland County, and before
the war was a quiet and unpretending citizen of Rockwell.
He enlisted a company for the Fifteenth Regiment, and was
chosen captain. He was soon transferred to be major of the
Twenty-first, and then promoted to be lieutenant-colonel.
He followed the fortunes of the regiment faithfully ; and, on
the death of Col. Button, was promoted to be colonel. His
letters tell of his character. He wrote, "Tell Louise" (a sis
ter whose eldest son had enlisted in the Fourteenth) "not to
be over-anxious about William. I should rather see him sac
rificed for a holy principle than to see him remain in inglo
rious waiting at a time like this. The Lord has said, ' Who
soever will save his life shall lose it ; ' and this has often been
the case in this accursed Rebellion. The lofty inspiration of
this cause is worth living a lifetime to feel ; and, if I had a
thousand lives, I would not withhold one of them. Should I
be laid in the grave, remember our heavenly Father doeth
all things well. Look on the bright side, and the bright side
only. God bless you and the children ! "
To the sister above mentioned, whose son, William Good-
ell, had fallen bravely fighting at Gettysburg, he wrote,
" Nothing can be untimely which is ordered by an all-wise
God. The blow which laid him low welded our hearts to
our country's cause. The sacrifice of suffering and blood
which he poured out sanctified to us its soil."
Col. Burpee's last letter was written in the trenches, at
that period, about the 5th of June, when portions of the hos
tile lines lay within a few yards of each other ; and it breathes
ANOTHER REGIMENT OF COLORED SOLDIERS. 601
the same spirit. He said, " It is appointed unto men once to
die ; and it matters little when or where if we are prepared,
and engaged in duty."
The Second Connecticut stubbornly held the place it had
won. The Fourteenth was not heavily engaged in the charge,
being in reserve. Col. Ellis was at this time detailed to
command the camp at Annapolis, Md., which important posi
tion he held during the summer ; fortifying the place when it
was menaced by Early's raid.
On the morning of the 4th, regular siege-approaches were
begun, running zig-zag towards the rebel works, nearer and
nearer day by day. During the following week, the army
saw little rest. Again we quote from a letter of Col. Sted-
man, written in the trenches : —
" Our life in the trenches is like this : first, the trench is a
long passage, as its name indicates, running in a direction
with reference to the enemy's works. The earth is thrown
towards the enemy ; and this, with the trench or ditch, forms
a protection some eight feet high. The trench is eight or ten
feet wide : in this the troops remain, unable to leave it on
account of the enemy's sharpshooters. The officers dig holes
in rear of the trench, in which our spare time is passed.
Like a rabbit, the soldier burrows deeper and deeper as dan
ger increases. At least one-third of the troops are constantly
on duty ; and at night we are all on the alert."
On the 12th, this work was abandoned ; and Grant again
swung off to the left to join the Army of the James.
During the preceding fall, another regiment of colored sol
diers was called for in Connecticut ; and the organization soon
began, under the designation of the Thirtieth. They gathered
slowly at the United-States' rendezvous at Fair Haven during
the winter of 1863-64. Capt. Henry C. Ward, who had served
most efficiently as adjutant of the Twenty-fifth during its
term of service, was appointed to be colonel of the Thirtieth.
Among its other officers from Connecticut were Capt. George
Greenman of Norwich, Capt. Charles F. Ulrich of Hartford,
Capt. R Cecil Barrett of Somers, Capt. William C. Williams
70
602 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
of Rocky Hill, and Capt. Ira S. Smith of New Haven. In Feb
ruary, 1864, the battalion was addressed by Frederick Doug
lass, the colored orator from Rochester, N.Y. It finally left
New Haven without its minimum complement of men ; and in
June, near Cold Harbor, it was consolidated with another bat
talion as the United-States 31st. During the next week, they
were detailed as a guard for two or three thousand prisoners,
to whom the situation was very trying.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
After Cold Harbor. — The First Cavalry. — To Petersburg. — Exploit of the Eighth. —
Charge of the Eleventh. — The Second, Fourteenth, and Twenty-first. — The Sixth,
Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth at Bermuda Hundred. — Wilson's Eaid. — The First
Cavalry. — Bold Hide of Capt. Whitaker. — Incidents. — First Connecticut Artil
lery. — Siege- Work of the Summer. — Battle of Strawberry Plains. — The Thirtieth
Connecticut at the Mine. — Death of Col. Stedman and Lieut.-Col. Moegling.
EEP to the left" was Grant's constant formula
of command ; and every swing brought him
nearer to Richmond. A change of base, which
Napoleon called " the ablest maneuver taught by
military art," was achieved by Grant and Meade,
after Cold Harbor, with masterly skill and complete success.
One by one the corps were withdrawn from the right, and
sent to the rear and left. The right was thus gradually and
cautiously refused, and the line developed towards the lower
crossings of the Chickahominy. In the mean time, Wilson's
division of cavalry, which included the First Connecticut,
was sent around the rebel right, straight on Richmond. By
this ruse, Lee was deceived, and withdrew his army rapidly
towards the capital to intercept what he supposed to be
Grant's direct advance by the left. Wilson's cavalry, after
seizing and holding Long Bridge, on the Chickahominy,
dashed towards Richmond, and drove the rebel cavalry and
infantry across White-oak Swamp. Here the First Connec
ticut was in a spirited engagement. Hard and continuous
skirmishing followed for several days, while the infantry
corps marched rapidly across the Peninsula to the James.
On the morning of June 10, while the First was on picket,
the rebel cavalry made a dash upon the line of the 18th Penn
sylvania, and penetrated to the post held by Capt. Joseph
603
604 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
Backus. Major Marcy, in his official report, says, "Capt. Jo
seph Backus made a gallant defense with his little band ; but
he was overpowered by superior numbers, and would not re
treat, and was shot down ; the ball passing through his body,
and killing him instantly. Then his squadron, having lost
their leader, retired to the protection of the infantry. The
brigade was immediately called out, and drove the rebel
cavalry back behind their intrenchments. The body of
Capt. Backus was found lying in the road, where he fell,
stripped of every thing but his shirt. I willingly bear testi
mony to his soldierly and manly qualities. He was a brave
and hio-h-toned gentleman ; and, in losing him, the regiment
O O ' ' <~> ' CJ
was deprived of a superior officer, and the State of a noble
ornament. He was truly loyal, having enlisted in the regi
ment as a private soldier, and by his own merit won his
position as captain commanding a squadron."
Joseph Backus was a resident of Hebron, and at the time
of his death he had re-enlisted for three years. While he
was a sergeant, he was asked if he did not regret having
enlisted ; and his prompt reply was, that he should never
regret it if he lost all his limbs in the service. After the
battle of Ashland, he wrote, " My horse was shot from
under me ; but, mounting another that came in from the
rebel lines, I was again ready for the fight. I just escaped
capture, as a rebel officer ordered me to halt and surrender ;
but I turned, and fired at him. It is a wonder that I did not
get hit ; but, fortunately, I did not receive that compliment,
or get the honor of the slightest wound. But my turn may
come. I do not wish you to worry about me. If it is my
lot to fall in battle, so let it be. I shall be content. I am
determined to do my whole duty. I shall never be taken
prisoner. I shall sell life as dearly as possible."
He went wTith Kilpatrick on his celebrated raid into Rich
mond ; and, in the battle near that city, two bullets passed
through his clothing. He sent home a flower "picked within
two miles of Richmond, and inside the outer intrenchments."
He started from the Rapidan with ninety men in his com
pany, and, after thirty-six days almost continuous fighting,
he fell ; leaving but fifteen survivors on duty. Lieut. H. J. 0.
ADVANCE TOWAEDS PETEESBUEG. 605
Walker of Mystic wrote of him, " A nobler, truer, more
generous friend could not be found. He was beloved and
respected by every one in the regiment for his gentlemanly
bearing and manliness, and for his superior soldierly qualities.
The men of his company loved him, and placed the utmost
confidence in him ; and he gave promise of soon attaining a
much higher position in the regiment. Brave to a fault,
always ready and willing to perform any duty assigned to
him, no matter how tedious or dangerous, he was constantly
eliciting praises from all, and had made a reputation that
any might be proud to win."
Smith's (18th) corps took transports at White House, and
arrived at Bermuda Hundred in advance of the rest of the
army, on June 14. Being here joined by Kautz's cavalry divi
sion, Smith advanced directly towards Petersburg via Point
of Rocks. Hinks's colored division rushed on, and carried the
first line of works in a spirited manner; capturing one gun
and several hundred prisoners. On reconnoitering, the main
position was found to be defended by a strong line of redans,
partially covered by formidable rifle-pits. The artillery of
the works swept the broad, low valley. Smith determined
to charge with a heavy line of skirmishers ; which, at seven,
P.M., of the 15th, were thrown forward from his three divisions.
Under a sharp infantry-fire, they carried the line. Hinks's
colored troops took four redoubts on the left, while Brooks's
and Martindale's divisions captured the important works on
the salient. The rebels held their fortifications on the right,
and farther to the left.
The Eighth Connecticut was again conspicuous in this
advance. Col. John E. Ward had not yet been able to re
turn; Lieut-Col. M. B. Smith was in hospital; there was no
major; and the senior captain, H. M. Hoyt, was on the staff
of the brigade commander: so Capt. Charles M. Coit com
manded the regiment, now in Brooks's division. In his
report of the movements of these days, Capt. Coit says, —
" The line, advancing, drove the enemy a quarter of a mile, through the
woods, at which point their strong fortifications were discovered. The men,
covering themselves as much as possible by the trees on the left, and a
thick jungle on the right, advanced as close to the works as these afforded
shelter, and kept up a deliberate fire on the enemy's works ; and our right
606 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
were enabled to almost entirely silence the artillery in the strong fort in
their front. About noon, the enemy charged upon the center of our line,
but were repulsed with considerable loss. At six o'clock, P.M., the two
companies (G- and K), armed with Sharpe's rifles, occupying the center of
our line, having during the day expended their sixty rounds of ammunition,
and being unable to procure an additional supply of that caliber, were re
lieved by two companies of the 118th New-York Volunteers. At seven
o'clock, P.M., in accordance with orders from Gen. Burnham, command
ing brigade, the skirmish-line — the 13th New-Hampshire on the left, and
the eight companies of the Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, with the detach
ment of the 118th New- York, on the right — advanced, and, charging
upon the enemy's works, captured them, with two hundred and fifty
prisoners and five field-pieces."
Chaplain Moses Smith wrote of this : —
"To cross the open ground, descend into the ravine in
front of the works, and then attempt to enter a well-built,
and, as was supposed, a well-manned fort, seemed certain
death. But, strange to tell, as the line advanced, few men
fell ; and the skirmishers alone charged up the embankment,
leaped over the parapet, and captured guns, colors, men, and
all, before the line of battle could come up. We are told
that Gen. Smith, as he saw the result from an eminence
near by, leaped and shouted for joy ; adding that he felt like
giving a commission to the whole regiment that had done
that gallant deed."
In the middle of Smith's line, also in Brooks's division, was
the Twenty-first Connecticut, commanded by Capt. James F.
Brown, in the absence, in hospital, of Lieut-Col. Hiram B.
Crosby and Major Charles F. Stanton. The regiment was
held closely in reserve, ready to participate in the fighting,
if it became severe.
The Eleventh Connecticut was in Martindale's division, in
a brigade led by Col. Griffin A. Stedman, and composed of
six large regiments. The division advanced along the Appo-
mattox, on the extreme right of the corps ; and the Eleventh
Connecticut occupied the left of the brigade-line, and was
under command of Lieut-Col. William A. Moegling. The
regiment rushed forward across the plain, over a creek and
numerous ditches, steadily driving back the rebels until
within thirty yards of the rifle-pits. Here a stand was made ;
but, after a short engagement, the rebels were driven to their
main intrenchments. Just as Col. Stedman was about to
ADVANCE TOWARDS PETERSBURG. 607
storm the works under a heavy fire, the brigade was relieved,
and sent to the left to assist the colored troops to hold the
position they had taken.
Every consideration urged a prompt renewal of the assault
at early dawn. This was Smith's intention ; but, not being
properly supported by Hancock, he felt compelled to wait,
while Lee hurried forward his army, and threw a large force
into Petersburg. It subsequently appeared that Smith might
have captured the city with his own corps, had he advanced
promptly and resolutely.
In the mean time, Stedman's brigade was again relieved,
and returned to the right ; Stedman sending a scouting-party
along the river-bank. During the day (the 16th), being in
formed that Hancock would attack at six, P.M., on the ex
treme left, Martindale moved forward as a feint on the right.
Col. Stedman advanced his brigade, and, after hard skirmish
ing, took possession of infantry-parapets and a bastion on the
left of the road. The Eleventh was again on the skirmish-
line. After a while, it having become evident that the attack
had failed, the division was withdrawn to the position of the
morning.
Col. Ellis says, in his official report of the service of the
Fourteenth, "Early on the morning of June 16, the skirm
ishers of our brigade advanced upon the enemy, driving their
skirmishers back for upwards of a quarter of a mile, and ob
taining a much better position, besides capturing about fifty
prisoners. Our loss was very small. Private John Geatley
of Bridgeport, in this advance, captured with an unloaded
gun three armed rebels, and brought them in as prisoners.
In the afternoon, upon the skirmish-line, the same man
wounded two rebels, one of them apparently fatally.
"Upon the 17th, our brigade was moved to the left with
instructions to support Gen. Barlow's division. At night,
we were instructed to advance our line nearer to the enemy's
position. The regiment did this in good style, moving for
ward through a dense and thickly-wooded swamp, driving in
the enemy's skirmishers, and taking up a position about fifty
yards in front of their line, and opening upon them an effect
ive fire. We held this position for two or three hours, when,
608 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
owing to the failure of troops upon the left to connect, we
were ordered to withdraw."
At five, P.M., on the 17th, the Twenty-first was ordered, with
other troops, to the left, to support a charge on the inner
line of defenses before the city. The next day, Brooks's
division, containing the Eighth and Twenty-first, was relieved,
and held in reserve.
It was now resolved to make a more vigorous assault next
morning, the 18th, though by this time Beauregard had re
ceived heavy re-inforcements. The Union line ran thus from
right to left: Martindale's and Hincks's division of Smith's
corps, Wright's corps, Hancock's, Burnside's, and Warren's.
There were in line of battle the Second Connecticut, the
Eleventh, and the Fourteenth.
The right of Col. Stedman's brigade in the morning
reached to the Appomattox, and the left extended nearly to
the City-Point Railroad. The Eleventh, Lieut.-Col. Moegling
commanding, was deployed as skirmishers to cover the front
of the entire brigade. Stannard's brigade followed as a re
serve. The 6th Corps joined on the left. The men ad
vanced through the open oat and corn fields, continually ex
posed to the enemy's artillery, across a most difficult ravine,
beyond which a long line of the rebel intrenchments were
brought to view. White puffs of smoke, and the sharp crack
of rifles, showed that the advance was to be contested. The
Eleventh steadily advanced without firing, a considerable
number of wounded falling to the rear ; and in a few mo
ments more the skirmishers rushed into the rebel works
as the occupants fled to their second line.
A brisk fire was opened on the retreating rebels, which
was returned with spirit and severity. Soon the skirmishers
were ordered to charge, and advanced with a cheer ; broke
the enemy's line, captured a rebel major and thirty men, and
dislodged the rest, who retreated in great confusion. The
regiment was now far ahead of the 6th Corps, and its left
flank was exposed and without support ; yet so earnest was
the purpose of Col. Stedman to capture Petersburg that day,
that he ordered the advance resumed. The spires of the
coveted " Cockade City" were now in full view, and the men
dashed on with another shout.
THE ATTACK REPULSED. 609
They were shortly confronted by a stubborn line of battle.
The skirmishers halted under a withering fire, and awaited
support. The sixty rounds brought in the morning had long
been exhausted, and the want was supplied by ammunition
captured at the rebel defenses.
Stannard's brigade came up, and the advance was resumed ;
the enemy's line firing rapidly, and falling back within the
strong defenses. Here a charge was made upon the breast
works at a double-quick, along the whole line ; but it failed
utterly. Night coming on, Stedman's men made a line of
rifle-pits, using as intrenching tools their bayonets, cups, and
plates. They constructed a line, which covered them from
the enemy's fire ; and all through the darkness of that night
of weariness, but not of sleep, the rebels could be heard
busily at work strengthening their intrenchments. Firing
was kept up at intervals all night. Hungry, and worn with
fatigue, the Eleventh kept its place in the advance until ten
o'clock next morning; when it was relieved and fell back.
The Second Connecticut, nearer the center of the line, as
soon as it was dark enough to cover the movement, was
'taken into the front line, near the enemy, — only a single
wheatfield intervening. Here they lay all night and the
next day, scooping up the dirt into earthworks ; and .every
man who raised his head made it a target for a rebel sharp
shooter. Several men were killed and wounded here. When
night again came, they were recalled to a line a few rods in
the rear, where they were hardly less exposed ; for the rebels
had artillery and musketry range in front and flank. At
dark they were relieved.
The Fourteenth Connecticut was in the second line, and
its losses were only one killed and four wounded.
In the fighting of the three days, ending with the repulse
of the 18th, the Eleventh had lost five killed and fifty-four
wounded-. Among the severely wounded were Capt. Ran
dall H. Rice, Lieuts. David A. Hoag and Smith ^S. Gilbert,
and Sergeants David B. Mansfield, John B. Butler, and Mar
shall Kenyon.
Among the killed was Capt. William H. Sackett of Hart
ford. He had served faithfully in the three-months' service,
77
610 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and was appointed to a second lieutenancy in the Eleventh.
He was promoted after the battle of Newberne, and again
for gallantry at Antietam. For several months, he was de
tailed to Connecticut in charge of recruits, but rejoined the
regiment before Petersburg. In the fight of Friday, June
17, he received a wound in his right arm ; " and though " (as
he says in a letter to a friend) " suffering much from it, I shall
not allow it to keep me from the command of my company."
Chaplain De Forest, in a letter, said, " In Capt. Sackett's
death we have lost a most heroic, devoted, and efficient offi
cer. He did not expect to survive this terrible campaign.
He seemed to have a presentiment of death. He gave di
rections for the disposal of his effects, and the embalming of
his body. This foreboding, which proved too true, did not
diminish his noble courage. He fell in the thickest of the
fight, — a heroic leader among heroic men. His death was
easy : without a struggle, he fell into the arms of a brother
officer, and expired."
The Eighth had lost two killed and seventeen wounded.
" Of the dead, Sergeant Fitz G. Hollister was as worthy a
man as ever graced the ranks of the Eighth. He was diffi
dent, but intelligent ; retiring, but influential, and faithful
even unto death, both to God and his country. He is em
balmed in the hearts of all who really knew him. Dead, he
yet lives." l
Col. William C. Moegling, in a report at this time, said,
" Since the 9th of May, the Eleventh has been under fire
twenty-three times, and has lost four hundred men in action,
and over one-half of its officers : it has marched many miles,
with but very few stragglers, and has always done its duty
without flinching. The health of the command at present is
excellent, although the heat is intense, and the duty in the
trenches very hard in consequence."
The casualties of the Twenty-first had been light. The
regiments were alternately in the front and rear lines. " We
spend forty-eight hours in the trenches," wrote Col. Stedman,
" then retire for rest to a deep ravine in rear of our works."
On June 24, he wrote, —
1 Letter of Chaplain Moses Smith.
PEISONEES TAKEN BY THE TENTH. 611
" Last night, we came from the front line, and are now in the third ;
giving the troops an opportunity to pitch their shelter-tents. I enjoy this
wild, hard life. But one thing makes me sad, — the loss of so many
friends. Yesterday, I learned that Adjutant Barnum's leg had been ampu
tated ; and to-day, that he is dead. I loved him very dearly. Always
cheerful and happy, he was a most efficient officer, and a perfect gentle
man. I do not think I ever heard him utter a word that he might not say
to ladies ; and, as I once told him, I consider that the best rule for one's
guidance is never to say or do among men what would be improper before
a mother or sister."
During the night of the 21st, the Second Connecticut was
marched with Wright's corps off to the extreme left, to - par
ticipate in the attack next morning upon the line of the
Weldon Railroad. After a rest, the regiment moved on into
an open lot; immediately forming in line of battle. This
was now the extreme left of the army, the 2d Corps joining
upon the right. In a few minutes, the rebel pickets were
encountered, and a lively skirmish ensued; the regiment
losing six killed, seven wounded, and six missing. Col.
Mackenzie lost two fingers. The men quickly improvised
a breastwork of rails, and held the line, the rebels retiring.
Thick woods enveloped the place. The next day, the troops
were maneuvered back and forth, feeling the ground and
securing positions. The Second Regiment remained near
here some weeks ; and the position was never abandoned.
Butler, at Bermuda Hundred, had attempted to intercept
and turn back the re-inforcements which Lee was hurrying
forward for the rescue of Petersburg. On the night of
June 15, while the Tenth was picketing at the extreme
right of the line, next the James, the enemy's line appeared
very weak. Lieut.-Col. Greeley, commanding the regiment,
pushed forward his vedettes, and re-inforced them with the
pickets. His report says, —
" We engaged the enemy, and drove him from his rifle-pits ; taking as
prisoners three commissioned officers and twenty-six men, with thirty stands
of small-arms. We then advanced, and took possession of the enemy's
main works ; he having fallen back into a second line. I then brought
up my reserves, and again advanced the skirrnish-line ; and, after a sharp
engagement, drove the enemy from this line, and took possession of it also.
Subsequently, Sergeant Sayers of Company K, with two men, while out as
scouts, captured five prisoners. The regiment held this position until the
return of the 1st Division, under Brig.-Gen. Terry, from the Petersburg
Pike ; when it was withdrawn to a position near the Weir-bottom Church.
612 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
At about four, P.M., Pickett's division charged on our rifle-pits, but was
easily repulsed."
On June 17, simultaneously with Hancock's assault, Terry
threw his division forward from the intrenchments to the
Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. The Sixth, Seventh,
and Tenth were engaged in this expedition. By some mis
take, the rebels had withdrawn from the front; and one
brigade proceeded to destroy the track and communications,
while the rest pressed on towards Richmond. These last
soon met a heavy column under Longstreet ; and the divis
ion fell back to the intrenchments after heavy skirmishing.
The Sixth lost in this affair five killed, sixteen wounded, and
eighteen missing. Among the severely wounded were
Lieuts. Clovis E. Hammond, Sylvester Davis, and William
H. Reynolds. Capt. Charles H. Nichols was among the
captured.
On June 22, Gen. Wilson, with his own division of cavalry
and half of Kautz's, cut loose from the left of the army in
front of Petersburg, and started on his great raid, — to cut
the rebel communications south *and west of Richmond. In
the absence of Col. E. Blakeslee, wounded at Ashland, the
First Connecticut Cavalry was led during this expedition,
gallantly and well, by Major George 0. Marcy.
The force marched via Reams's Station, striking the Lynch-
burg Road at Ford Station, and proceeding westward towards
Lynchburg. The road was completely destroyed ; and at
Mehering, the command struck the Danville Road, the main
reliance of the rebel army. Richmond was now nearly east.
From this point, they continued down the Danville Road to
Roanoke, destroying it thoroughly all the way. Here the
enemy contested the passage. " Seventy-five men and two
commissioned officers were called for from the First Connec
ticut Cavalry to take the railroad bridge spanning the river
at this point. It was considered a forlorn hope, and this was
the regiment honored by the selection of the men to com
pose it. Capt. J. B. Morehouse commanded this detach
ment ; and Lieuts. Alfred V. Burnham and Edwin M. Neville
were selected to accompany him. That gallant body of men
who started off that night, knowing that they were going on
THE FIRST CAVALKY IN GEN. WILSON'S KAID. 613
a desperate errand the result of which might be fatal to each
and all of them, can not be sufficiently honored by their
State. The accomplishment of the affair was considered
such a desperate undertaking, that the order was counter
manded, and Capt. Morehouse with his men returned to the
regiment the next morning."2
The force now turned their faces towards Petersburg
o
again. There had been little rest thus far, and little food.
All the sleep the men had was generally snatched while
lying at their horses' heads. An immense amount of damage
had been done. " On the night of the 25th, Gen. Wilson,
finding himself in a precarious situation, from which there
must be immediate escape, moved his whole command, at
midnight, through a ravine within five or six hundred yards
of the enemy's guns, planted upon bluffs on either side.
The movement, from its very audacity, was not suspected
nor discovered till our forces were well out of the emer
gency, started in the direction of Black's-and-White's Sta
tion. On the morning of the 26th, the First Connecticut was
ordered forward to hold the bridge over the Mehering River,
which they did effectually till the main column came up
early on the 27th; when the march was resumed to Notto-
way River, and thence to Stony Creek."3
Here a large force of rebel infantry showed itself, disputing
the crossing of the Petersburg and Weldon Road. Gen. Wil
son immediately engaged them, but was repulsed. Finding
that it would be impossible to force his way through, he sent
Kautz with the trains by a circuitous route to the left, to
Reams's Station, supposed to be by this time in possession of
the Union troops. " Wilson's division protected the passage,
and brought on two fierce night-attacks of infantry, both of
which the division repelled ; the men being dismounted, and
protected by breastworks of rails thrown up at the moment
by themselves. The First Connecticut held the center of
this line ; and in the interval between the two attacks, most
of the trains having passed by, one regiment after another
was quietly withdrawn from behind these temporary barri
cades, so that when the last attack was made no regi-
8 Official Report by Major Marcy. 8 Narrative by Chaplain T. J. Holmes.
614 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
ments were left to withstand it but the First Connecticut
and 1st Vermont. Major Ives commanded the left of our
line, and I commanded the right ; and it was not until after
the fight was over, and we were retiring to mount our horses,
that I knew of the twofold danger the regiment was in ; and
I can not be too thankful for its preservation, and the supe
rior conduct of officers and men."4
Gen. Wilson, anticipating trouble at Reams's Station, dis
patched Capt. E. W. Whitaker of the First Connecticut,
serving on his staff, with forty men, directed to cut his way
through to Gen. Meade, and bring relief. Capt. Whitaker,
who had already won an enviable reputation for gallantry,
started at once upon his desperate mission. He found
Reams's Station occupied by rebel infantry, and avoided the
place after a slight skirmish. He came upon two infantry
camps, but changed his course, and rode around them.
Rebel cavalry and guerrillas harassed him all the way.
He was repeatedly beset by a superior force, and obliged
to escape across the fields and through the woods ; keeping
due east. At last he charged through the enemy's pickets,
and actually succeeded in taking two prisoners ; arriving at
Meade's headquarters with fourteen out of the forty men
who started with him.
Meade moved an infantry corps instantly ; but it arrived
too late for assistance. The Second Connecticut was in this
movement. Kautz had fought his way through to our
lines, after burning all the trains ; and Wilson had turned
about, and escaped by a long detour to the south, with a loss
of all his guns. Major Marcy says, " The order was given
for men to throw off all superfluous baggage. The wagon-
trains were parked and set on fire ; the ammunition was
destroyed ; and the ambulances, with the wounded, were
abandoned. The First Connecticut Cavalry was given its
order of march ; and I was informed that the 5th New-York
and the 2d Ohio were to follow us. Both of these regi
ments, however, being cut off, were unable to join the
column ; and the responsible position of rear-guard devolved
upon the First Connecticut. This position was kept by
us all the night of the 29th of June ; and the story of that
4 Report of Major Marcy
HARDSHIPS OF WILSON'S CAVALRY. 615
day and night is told, when the report shows sixty-two en
listed men and two officers killed, wounded, and missing.
' ' O
That night's march was the most exhausting and fearful
of any of our marchings. The regiment destroyed bridges
in rear of the column, and put every obstruction in the
way of the enemy, and was especially thanked by Gen.
Wilson for its services. The men themselves, worn and
hungry as they were, were cheerful and cool ; and when
twelve volunteers were called for to cross a bridge, and
bring over a caisson belonging to Fitzhugh's battery, twelve
men sprang from the ranks of the First Connecticut Cav
alry, crossed the bridge, and brought over the caisson, and
reported with it to Gen. Wilson."
The regiment lost seventy-two in killed, wounded, and
missing. Chaplain Holmes wrote, —
" Some of the time there was keen suffering from hunger. Five days'
rations, issued at the start, could not be comfortably stretched over ten days.
Not more than once was permission formally given to unsaddle and make
coffee, though it was possible to nibble at hard-tack and salt pork at odd
moments of halting, or in the saddle. All suffered, too, very much, from
want of rest. During the ten days, not more than two hours out of the
twenty-four, on an average, could be afforded for uninterrupted sleep.
One of the chief surgeons in the division told me he had not, at one time, slept
at all in seventy-two hours ; and his whole nervous system by the fatigue
and excitement was almost entirely prostrated. It was his opinion, that
the greater portion of the missiug had fallen out from exhaustion, and
were captured. Very many of the horses became worn out ; having been
almost constantly saddled, marching over three hundred miles, kept on
short forage, going sometimes for forty-eight hours without a drop of water.
Then, to appreciate these sufferings of horses and men, it needs to be
remembered that the ten days consumed by the expedition embraced the
very hottest of the hot weather, for which this summer is becoming some
what marked ; and during all the time there was but a single shower, — not
enough to lay the dust. Some of the men who had been dismounted were
fortunate enough, or sharp enough, to avoid Libby Prison.
" Sergeant F. A. Lamb of Hartford, Peter Miller of Hartford, and John
Cunningham of Greenwich, with perhaps others, were three or four days
within the rebel lines, hid in the woods, living on berries, with an occa
sional bite of hoe-cake furnished by friendly negroes ; and, with the assist
ance of negro scouts, finally got safely back. It was several days before
all came in. Major Marcy, on returning to camp, went North on furlough,
leaving the regiment in command of Major Brayton Ives, whose soldierly
skill and energy had an ample field in gathering the fragments, and re
organizing the command."
A remarkable incident is related of Private William F.
Clark, a Hartford boy only seventeen years old. Being on
616 CONNECTICUT CUBING THE REBELLION.
a mule in the rear, he struck across lots, and came out
ahead of the column. He had not gone far, when he was
halted and captured by eight or ten guerrillas, disarmed, and
hurried into the woods. Clark thus relates his subsequent
experience, " After the- column had passed, they went into
the rear, and picked up one of the 2d New-York Cavalry,
and a colored servant belonging to some of the officers.
When it was near night, we took up our line of march for
prison, we supposed. They marched in the woods, for they
said that was the nearest way ; but, when they got to the
thickest part of the woods, they shot us all, and left us for
dead. The other two were killed immediately ; but I am
alive and kicking yet, and inside the Union lines, in an
officers' hospital. I have got something like ten bullet-holes
in me, and my shoulder is broken. The wounds are flesh-
wounds, and are not very painful : the shoulder is the worst.
I hope you will excuse this writing ; for I am lying on my
back, with only one hand to work with."
Gen. Wilson drew from the First Connecticut not only
the most enterprising member of his staff, but Lieut. W.
C. Spellman of Hartford, and his entire escort of sixty men.
In his report of the expedition, written before he had met
Capt. Whitaker, or received any official report of his move- .
ment, he said, " I have since learned that he gallantly rode
through the enemy's cavalry and infantry columns in motion,
escaping with twenty men."
In the fight at Reams' s Station, the First Connecticut had
lost three killed, seven wounded, and fifty prisoners. The
killed .were Sylvester Bugbee, Giles P. Lucrenia, and Michael
Flynn. Lieuts. J. H. Kane and E. B. Dyer were wounded.
Quartermaster-Sergeant John S. Jameson was captured in
this engagement.
The rebels continued active and aggressive upon the
Petersburg front, near the Appomattox, where Col. Sted-
man's brigade was located. We quote from the report of
Capt. J. F. Brown, commanding the Twenty-first : " Early on
the morning of June 24, the enemy opened upon us a
heavy artillery-fire, which was continued for an hour or
more ; when he advanced a strong line to carry our works,
EEPOET OF COL. HENEY L. ABBOT. 617
supposing, as we learned from prisoners, that our force had
been mostly withdrawn. Our men kept well concealed till
the enemy were close upon them, and then opened a most
deadly fire, that threw the enemy's line into complete con
fusion. Most of those who escaped the first fire at once
threw down their arms and surrendered. Several hundred
prisoners, in addition to the killed and wounded, thus fell
into our hands. The enemy never repeated this attempt
upon that portion of our lines."
On June 23, the regular siege-train of the First Connecti
cut Artillery arrived at Bermuda Hundred. Col. Henry L.
Abbot was appointed by Gen. Grant to be the commanding
officer of the siege-artillery, both of the Army of the Potomac
and the Army of the James ; so that all the siege-artillery in
front of Richmond and Petersburg was served under him,
and chiefly by the First Connecticut.
Lieut-Col. Nelson L. White was appointed by Gen. Butler
acting inspector-general, and discharged the functions of
that office in a thorough manner, and with excellent judg
ment
The regiment had a train of sixty artillery-wagons. Most
of the ammunition was kept afloat, being landed only as
required. We quote from the official report of Col. Abbot,
made in March, 1865: —
" Capt. S. P. Hatfield was placed in command of the depot, assisted by
First Lieut. W. C. Faxon and First Lieut. C. Gillette, all of First Connecti
cut Artillery. Capt. Hatfield had commanded a siege-battery during a part
of the Peninsular Campaign of 1862, and had been ordnance officer of my
brigade in the defenses of Washington for more than a year. To his high
professional attainments and energetic character, and to the zeal and
ability of his assistants, the excellent administration of his department
during the campaign is to be attributed. Although some eleven hundred
tons of ammunition, hauled an average distance of nearly seven miles by
wagon, have already been fired during the campaign, in no single instance
has a battery failed to be amply supplied for ordinary or even extraordi
nary demands ; and in no case has a useless accumulation of ammunition
occurred.
u Advantage has been taken of the comparative stability of the command
to have all the regimental sick properly cared for by Surgeon S. W. Skin
ner, First Connecticut Artillery, who has organized one of the best field-hos
pitals I have ever seen. The patients have varied from thirty to seventy
in number. By avoiding the sending of those lightly diseased to General
Hospital, much has unquestionably been done to keep up the numbers of the
78
618 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE KEBELLIOK
command. The comfort of the patients has been quite unusual for the
field, -p whig to the attention of the surgeon in charge, and to the efforts of
Clmplain S. F. Jarvis, First Connecticut Artillery, who has actively exerted
himself in their behalf.
" Assistant Surgeon J. S. Delavan has devoted himself to the sick of the
regiment in the batteries in front of Petersburg ; and Assistant Surgeon N.
Matson, until broken down by his exertions, to those in the command on the
lines of Bermuda Hundred. Although so much scattered, I believe few
troops have enjoyed as good medical care during this campaign as mine.
" For the prompt and accurate transaction of the various office-work of
the command, I am indebted to Capt. B. P. Learned, First Connecticut
Artillery, acting assistant adjutant-general."
Considerable praise was also given to Lieut. G. P. Mason
for the skill and energy with which he managed the com
missary department.
Grant felt, by the first of July, that the hope to carry
Petersburg by surprise was futile. A systematic line of
intrenchments was begun ; and a few days' hard labor ren
dered these strong enough to be easily held, and to permit
an extension of the line to the left. The Confederate line
of defense also became so formidable, that direct assault was
pronounced impracticable.5 Their new chain of redans, con
nected by powerful infantry parapets, stretched from the
Appomattox away to the south-west.
In this attitude, a coup de main was projected. Bnrnside's
corps occupied commanding ground within a hundred and
fifty yards of the enemy's line ; and in the direct front was a
fort on a re-entering angle of the rebel works. Under this,
a mine was dug, and a large amount of powder concealed.
July 30 was at last fixed upon for the assault.
The Eighth, Eleventh, and Twenty-first Regiments re
mained in the 18th Corps along the Petersburg front.
Chaplain Moses Smith of the Eighth wrote on July 20, —
" A month of siege-work ; lying in the trenches ; eyeing the rebels ;
digging by moonlight ; broiling in the sun ; shooting through a knot-hole ;
shot at if a head is lifted ; artillery compliments passing and repassiug ; our
lives endangered by shells from both sides ; officers falling ; comrades dying ;
everybody wearied by the monotony, and exhausted by heat and watching ;
dull hours enlivened and lonely hearts encouraged by kind words in the
6 See Report of Major Duane, chief engineer.
BUTLER TEN MILES FEOM RICHMOND. 619
I
mail-bag, and good fruits in the sanitary issues ; numbers growing less, but
hope never dying, — such is an epitome of the 'month since I wrote you
before. Here we have remained constantly under the enemy's fire. Occa
sionally, for one or two days, the regiment has been withdrawn from the pits,
beyond bullet-range, but not from artillery-shots. Rebel sharpshooters and
rebel mortars have been busy upon us, both while in the front and when
relieved. In return, our men have played the sharpshooter, and burrowed
under ground.
" Twenty casualties have occurred in our regiment during these thirty
days. Most of the wounds have been severe, and five of the men are dead.
Among our losses we sorrowfully record three honored captains, — Roger
M. Ford, commanding Company G, wounded in right leg ; Elam T. Good
rich, commanding Company H, wounded in the hip ; and Henry C. Hall,
commanding Company F, instantly killed by a rifle-ball. It is said, ' Death
loves a shining mark.' Surely he selected such a one among us, — Capt.
Hall, young and vigorous, cool and resolute, faithful even unto death, whose
'words were never tarnished by an oath, nor his taste defiled by poison of
drink or drug. The death of no other officer of the line would have caused
wider or sadder disappointment than did his. We can not think of him as
never to return to us again. So among the non-commissioned dead. No
man in Company B can fill the vacancy caused by the death of Sergeant
Joseph Glover. Youthful, tender-hearted, honoring religion, faithful to
every duty, true to his calling, and loved by all, he fell in a moment, and
we mourn his loss."
The experience of the Eleventh was similar, — constantly
under fire. Lieut-Col. William C. Moegling reports, as the
casualties for July, six killed and nine wounded.
Col. Stedman wrote in a private letter at this time, " I
have won the silver star! After the fight of the 19th instant,
.Gen. Martindale forwarded his report, in which I had the
honor to be the only officer mentioned. The general urged
that I should be promoted, and that speedily. Every one
of my four promotions has come to me unexpectedly. This
is a surprise ; and, should the appointment not come, I should
lose nothing of my gratification at receiving the unqualified
approbation of my superiors — soldiers who know me."
As early as June 20, Butler had secured a lodgment at
Deep Bottom, north of the James, and ten miles from Rich
mond, by crossing Gen. Foster's command to maintain pos
session. The Tenth Connecticut was a part of this force.
" The enemy occupied the position at that time ; and on Col.
Otis devolved the delicate and difficult task of establishing,
between midnight and morning, a safe picket-line, in a portion
of country he had never visited before ; pressing back the
rebel pickets as he posted his own."6 Weeks of picket-duty
6 The Knightly Soldier, p. 249.
620 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
followed ; the regiment being under occasional artillery-fire.
Adjutant H. W. Camp wrote at this time, " The regiment has
stacked arms where the shaded path winds pleasantly up
from the river-bank. Headquarters are under a large tree,
just in rear of the line. Henry and I, who always carry
writing materials in a little haversack which we keep by us,
are writing our letters in the intervals of rest. The gun
boats are firing over our heads at the rebels in front ; and
each explosion, so near are we to the muzzles of the guns,
makes one feel as if both ears were being boxed with sledge
hammers, and the top of his head flattened with a pile-
driver."
Here, for several weeks of summer, the Tenth, with the'
other regiments of the brigade, was busy in erecting long
lines of earthworks in the intense heat of a Southern mid
summer, and picketing before a vigilant and determined
foe. Several companies, under Capt. E. D. S. Goodyear, were
sent down the river on two occasions, to destroy large stores
.of grain gathered by the rebels ; and fully accomplished their
work. On another occasion, on the llth of July, fifty men
of the Tenth, under Lieuts. James H. Lindsley and Albert F.
Sharpe, volunteered, on the request of Major-Gen. Butler,
" for an arduous and difficult but serviceable expedition ; "
and, with about an equal number of men from the 3d Penn
sylvania Heavy Artillery, moved up the river to Dutch Gap,
and by night across the country to Cox's Wharf; making an
attack, in the early morning, upon a strong rebel picket-
force ; capturing a lieutenant and fourteen men; securing a
torpedo, with boxes of powder, galvanic battery, and floats,
in a wagon just down from Richmond, designed for use
against our navy ; and then setting fire to extensive steam
saw and flouring mills, stores, and barns, — this destruction
being the purpose of the movement.
The Tenth was warmly engaged on July 26. Col. Otis, at
seven, A.M., received orders to move his command to the east
side of Four-mile Creek, to assist in forcing the enemy from
a piece of woods, and retake, if possible, an important posi
tion, covering the road from Richmond to Malvern Hill.
Having to cross the James River twice before reaching the
THE TENTH IX A PERILOUS POSITION. 621
position, considerable time elapsed; but, on their arrival,
sharpshooters were sent out, under Lieut. James H. Lindsley,
to re-inforce the skirmishers, with four companies of the line
under Capt. B. L. Graves. Major Greeley, with four com
panies more, supported the First Connecticut Battery, and
another battery in the 'redan. Heavy skirmishing continued
all the afternoon.
Lieut. Lindsley was wounded early in the engagement, and
Lieut. Henry A. Peck was placed in command of the sharp
shooters. The enemy's skirmishers, having the advantage
of position, and being several times re-inforced, contested the
ground obstinately ; but were steadily forced back, until
they reached a strong rifle-pit, from which they had driven
a regiment of the 18th Corps the day previous. Here they
made a determined stand ; but were driven out by the skir
mishers of the two regiments, at the point of the bayonet.
The enemy was still forced back, and the Tenth alone
held the picket-line during the night. Capt. E. D. S. Good
year and Capt. J. S. Engles counted four guns that were
placed in the opposite "battery before morning.
Chaplain Trumbull, in the Knightly Soldier, adds, " The
pickets of the Tenth lay concealed in the low underbrush.
If they discovered themselves by the crackling of a twig,
they were liable to be silenced by a shot just in their front;
and the preparations for the morning, which they could hear
the enemy making, were any thing but encouraging. Artil
lery was brought down, and so planted that they could
almost have looked into the gun-muzzles ; while a single dis
charge of grape from the battery could sweep them away
like chaff from the enfiladed picket-line. They could hear
the braggart threats of annihilation of the venturesome Yan
kees when the daylight came, and they realized their dan
ger ; yet all who were unwounded remained firm and true.
. . . There was not much sleeping that night among officers
or men of the Tenth, — only an anxio us waiting for the
morning, whose sun must rise in blood."
Lee had already sent several divisions across the James,
and these now environed the little brigade of Foster ; but,
next morning, Hancock, with his 2d Corps, brought welcome
622 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
relief, and the whole force prepared to move forward to
menace Richmond from the east, and to destroy the rebel
pontoon-bridges swung across at Chapin's Bluff The move
ment was also a cover for the explosion of the mine. The
Fourteenth had marched from the extreme left in front of
Petersburg, and now engaged in the' demonstration on the
rebel works at this point. The Ninth, under Col. T. W.
Cahill, had arrived at Bermuda Hundred on the 20th from
Connecticut, and now participated in this movement with its
usual alacrity. In an immediate advance the rebel works
were taken, and several guns captured.
Col. Otis of the Tenth says, " A portion of my own line
became engaged, and assisted materially in driving the ene
my from his works, and capturing his guns ; our position
being such as to cover the Richmond Road, and effectually
prevent the enemy from taking away the guns after with
drawing them from battery. The action being over, at
eight, A.M., I was ordered to march my command back to the
west side of the creek. Our entire loss was one commissioned
officer and eight men."
On the night of July 29, the 2d Corps returned to the
works before Petersburg, to support the assault which was
to follow the explosion. The Fourteenth marched twenty
miles, and arrived at daylight.
At five o'clock on the morning of the 30th, the mine was
exploded ; and was followed by a feeble assault, a mournful
slaughter, and an utter, terrible failure.
The 31st United-States (including the colored battalion
from Connecticut) had moved to the" vicinitv the ni^ht be-
/ i/ G
fore, marched silently to within a hundred yards of our outer
rifle-pits, and lay down to a fitful sleep on their muskets,
with bayonets fixed. The division of negro troops lay all
about them, waiting for the explosion. When the great
shock came, Ledlie's inefficient division of white troops sprang
forward to the assault, followed by the blacks. Up to the
crater they went in the impetuous charge. Here many
sought refuge, and were killed ; while thousands pressed
forward more than a mile, the Confederates having left the
ground clear. Now came the fearful recoil. The rebels
CHARGE OF THE COLOEED TKOOPS AT THE MINE. 623
rallied, and replied in a counter-charge ; the Union troops
were not supported ; and blacks and whites rushed pell-mell
into the vast bowl of crumbling earth where the fort had
been. Then the helplessness ; then the butchery ! Burnside
was on another part of the line.
Our little battalion of four companies of the 31st United-
States had lost more than a hundred men. Lieut-Col. W. E.
W. Ross and Major T. Wright were wounded ; leaving the
command to Capt. Charles Robinson, who was soon after
wards made prisoner. Capt, Richard K. Woodruff was killed.
Lieuts. W. H. Ayres, J. B. Mason, and H. A. Downing, were
among the wounded. Major Wright reported, "I can not
speak ^too highly of both officers and men in this engagement.
More bravery and enthusiasm I never witnessed. Besides
their patriotic ardor, they went into that action with a de
termination to command the respect of white troops ; which
we knew could only be obtained by hard fighting."
. Capt. Richard Kirtland Woodruff was son of Rev. Richard
Woodruff of Westbrook. He entered Yale in 1859, and the
service of his country in 1862; was promoted to be captain,
and was mortally wounded at the " mine."
Among the colored martyrs who sealed their devotion
with their blood this day was Orderly-Sergeant Tilghman
S. Wood, of Capt. Woodruff's company, — a quiet, faithful,
and fearless man, killed at the moment when he called to
his comrades, " Come on, boys ! " Sergeant Thomas B.
Daley fell by his side, while pressing np the hill. A score
of others were dead ; but they had proved their valor, and
earned the gratitude of all Americans.
The Twenty-first Connecticut was stationed well forward
among the supports. Their work was to keep up a constant
fire of musketry, and divert the attention of the enemy from
the assaulting party. Nobly did they perform the task,
though one of the enemy's batteries enfiladed the line ; and
his shot frequently swept down inside the rifle-pit, through
its whole length. The sun, too, poured down with such in
tensity, as it rose higher, as to render it almost impossible to
keep the works manned. Many received severe sunstrokes.
So rapid was the firing, also, that the gun-barrels became so
624
CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
heated as to scorch the hands of the men. Yet they stood
nobly to their work while required. The regiment there lost
three men killed and twelve wounded. One of its bravest
officers there fell, — Capt. Francis S. Long of Willimantic.
Being in command of a corps of sharpshooters, he was on
the extreme front, directing their movements, entirely neg
lectful of self, when a piece of shell pierced his neck, killing
him instantly. He was just in the prime of life, and full of
bright promise.
The point in front of the explosion was covered by the
First Connecticut Artillery. The following table exhibits the
amount of siege-artillery put into position preparatory to
the explosion of the mine, commanded by members of this
regiment : —
Commanding officer.
Armament.
Locality.
Capt. John II. Burton,
3 30-pdr. Parrotts,
Battery 4.
Capt. Charles O. Brigham,
4 «
Battery 1.
Lieut. L. VV Jackson,
4 8-inch Mortars,
Battery 10.
Lieut. William A. Lincoln, |
Lieut. George M. Williams, \
5 Coehorns,
( 3 to Battery 9.
J 2 to Battery near
( Fort McGilvray.
Capt. Edwin C. Dow,
( 3 30-pdr. Parrotts >
| 4 8-inch Mortars, )
Battery 5.
( To assume command
Major Thomas S. Trumbull,
of Batteries on Line
( of 18th Corps.
Capt. Alhert F. Brooker,
6 4^-inch Guns,
Battery 17
( To assume command
Capt. Albert F. Brooker,
of Batteries on line
( of 9th and 5th Corps.
Capt. Edward A. Gillette,
4 8-inch Mortars,
In front of Battery 14
Lieut. George D. Sargent,
2 8-inch Mortars,
Near Battery 11.
Lieut. Benjamin Andrews,
5 Coehorns,
Near Battery 12.
Capt. Wilbur F. Osborne.
1 13-inch Mortars,
On R. R. near Battery 3.
Capt. Franklin A. Pratt,
6 4i-inch Guns,
Fort Morton.
Capt. Henry 11. Pierce,
10 10-inch Mortars,
Near Fort Rice.
Lieut. Henry D. Patterson,
6 8-inch Mortars,
Near Battery 20.
Total,
63 Pieces.
Col. Abbot, in his report, says, " On July 30, the mine was
sprung ; and a heavy cannonade was instantly opened, and
continued until about ten hours, thirty minutes, A.M., when
it gradually ceased ; the assault of the infantry having failed,
and the attack being discontinued. The part assigned to the
artillery — to keep down the fire of the enemy upon the
flanks of the column of attack, and to keep back his re-inforce-
ments — was successfully executed."
DEATH OF LIEUT. -COL. MOEGLING. 625
Immediately in front of the mine supporting the First
Connecticut Artillery lay Burnside's 9th Corps (now the
weakest and poorest corps in the army), with Smith's 18th
directly up as a reserve. The Eighth and Eleventh lay all
night upon, the ground, ready to spring into the gap after
Burnside's men.
After the disgraceful recoil, — more disgraceful to officers
than men, — Gen. Stedman wrote, "Then we asked why we
were not sent in ? Why is the 18th Corps kept back ? We
can carry the position, let us go ! But it was not permitted.
... I do not like to write or talk much of our failures.
I feel less a soldier when I do so ; for there is much to make
one say unpatriotic things. ... I see to-day a notice of the
death of Capt. Reynolds, my adjutant-general, wounded in
both arms at Cold Harbor. Poor fellows ! — they all die ! "
These were, probably, the last words Gen. Stedman ever
wrote ; for shortly after he was under a fatal fire. Aug. 5
was a dark day for the Eleventh ; for the missiles of that day
swept down Gen. Griffin A. Stedman, still commanding the
brigade, and Lieut-Col. Moegling, commanding the regiment.
Both were hit by random shots ; and the wound of Gen. Sted
man was mortal.
Lieut-Col. Moegling was wounded slightly in the foot
Chaplain Henry S. DeForest wrote of him, " He was at the
time indisposed. Ill health followed, and, after a partial re
covery, he grew worse again. His sickness finally became
a typhoid ; and it was thought advisable that he should visit
his home, and try a northern climate. But he went home
to Danbury to die. Exposure and hardship during four
campaigns had been doing this work. The vital powers
were overborne. No care of friends or home-attentions
could avail. He had been thrice wounded, and had been in
frequent battles and desperate charges, yet had escaped
them all, only to meet death in another form. To this land
of his adoption, to constitutional government and to uni
versal liberty, which is the same in every land, he gave the
blossom of his manhood and his life. He had the real Ger
manic love of liberty, and its opposite, — a keen hate to
slavery. He was one of the first to join the first regiment
79 ' '
626 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELL1ON.
from the State. He served faithfully, fought fearlessly, and,
having before spilled his blood, finally offered his life in
the national cause."
The chaplain also tells of the death of Gen. Stedman, " He
lay in his own tent, within sound of the enemy's guns, with
his face turned towards their lines, but his eyes turned
heavenward. His staff were about him, and others from
the Eleventh. The tide of life ebbed away gently at the
last. The soul was free, and the body at rest ; but the soil
which drank that blood is ours, and shall never be aban
doned.
" His culture, his refinement, his urbanity, his taste, his
delicacy, and purity of sentiment, fitted him well for
social concourse and the evening assembly. But he had
royal and martial qualities to which a drawing-room could
give no scope. His promotion in military life only followed
acknowledged merit, and that at a long interval. While act
ing brigadier-general in this terrible campaign, he had been
recommended for that rank by all his superior officers, —
by Gen. Martindale of the division, Gen. Baldy Smith of
the corps, and twice, and in most flattering terms, by Gen.
Butler of the department ; and yet, as if to mock all earthly
honor, his brevet as brigadier only came after he had
received his mortal wound. . . . But more than of his
valor, do I love to think of his virtues. His voice was not
the loud trumpet of war, but those silver tones which the
ear of friendship could gather in, and which come back
from the grave in still sweeter echoes. These virtues were
his crowning excellences while living ; they make his
memory sacred when dead. The vices of the camp did not
tarnish him. The leprosy was all around him ; but it spared
him. His integrity was rooted fast. It stood like the mori-
arch of the forest, while the weaker fibre of other growth
yielded to the tempest, and fell."
Dr. Nathan Mayer, surgeon of the Eleventh, in a bio
graphical sketch of his friend, wrote, " He was an aristocrat
in the noblest acceptance of the term, when aristocrats
were the representatives of mental power and culture, of
moral strength and purity, of grand aims and lofty deeds,
TRIBUTES TO GEN. STEDMAN. 627
and of the most exquisite sentiments perpetuated in the
pages of romance. Conceive Tennyson's Sir Galahad, or
any of King Arthur's mail-clad champions ; imagine Kings-
ley's Francis Leigh, or any of Queen Elizabeth's pure and
chivalrous courtiers ; conjure up, in short, a nature with the
purity, delicacy, and innocence of a maiden, bound to the
valor, firmness, and power of a hero, a hundred charming
weaknesses blended with adamantine strength of principle,
an elegance of thought that did not impair the mind's in
exorable firmness, an affectionate disposition that lessened
not the strength of character, a number of iron qualities
bound together with garlands of roses, — and you have an
idea with what eyes I viewed him to whom I bowed in the
fullness of my hero worship." . . .
The doctor gives the following reminiscence of the days
under Col. Kingsbury : —
" There sat, mostly at Col. Kingsbury's side, upon a tiger-
skin blanket, the subject of this sketch. A large, heavy
brow, with ponderous developments, and very short light
hair, overshadowed features lovely and mirthful as a school
boy's. Only the jaw's powerful sweep, and the long blonde
mustache, relieved the lower part of his face from that gay
and roguish look, that boyish smile, that always lingered
there. There was Major Moegling, with his straightforward
face and brilliant color, and Adjutant Converse, pale, quick,
and spiritual. Furthermore, there was the old surgeon (Dr.
J. B. Whitcomb), stout as a live-oak, with kindness and
good sense beaming from his eyes, and his ruddy cheeks
always ready to smooth out their thousand wrinkles in a
good laugh. How late we used to sit talking of the world
and its manners, of the brilliant actions of renowned men ;
recapitulating the wittiest sayings, the rarest thoughts, and
the queerest stories ! How we tried to discuss that exquisite
politeness, that delicate chivalry, which graced the last
days of Francis' old regime, and that wonderful spirit of
devotion and consistent purity which characterized the
days of knighthood ! These were favorite themes with Col.
Stedman.
" While the force of strict rules, and splendid external
628 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
management, at first controlled the regiment, Col. Stedman
slowly substituted for these a chivalric feeling, a corps
d 'esprit, that made every private as anxious to uphold the
reputation of the regiment as the commander himself. The
tinge of patriotism which made every man individually
adore himself as a hero and martyr of liberty was brushed
away ; and they felt themselves soldiers, links of a chain,
pieces of machinery, but pieces that were conscious of the
glory which was earned by the whole, and that strove for
it unitedly, and each in his place. ... It only remains for
me -to lay the friend's wreath of immortelles upon the
grave on which they have written, Brig.-Gen. Griffin A.
Stedman.
Happy their end
Who vanish down Life's evening stream
Placid as swans that drift in dream
Round the next river-bend !
Happy long life, with honor at the close,
Friends' painless tears, the softened thought of foes !
And yet, like him, to spend
All at a gush, keeping our first faith sure
From mid-life's doubt and eld's contentment poor :
What more could Fortune send?
I write of one,
While with dim eyes I think of three :
Who weeps not others fair and brave as he?
Ah ! when the fight is won,
Dear Laud, whom triflers now make bold to scorn,
(Thee from whose forehead Earth awaits her morn !)
How nobler shall the sun
Flame in thy sky, how braver breathe thy air,
That thou bred'st children who for thee could dare
And die as thine have done !
CHAPTER XXXVII.
General Assembly. — Adjourned Session in January, 1864. — Spring Session. — Govern
or's Message. — The Ballot given to Soldiers in the Field. — Calls for Troops. —
Eecruiting. — The Quotas filled. — How it was done. — Presidential Election. — The
Twenty-ninth (colored) in South Carolina. — The Eighteenth Regiment. — Home
on Furlough. — Advance with Sigel. — Defeat at New Market. — Victory at Pied-
mont. — Loss of Brave Men. — Pushing South. — Across the James. — Advance on
Lynchburg. — Eepulse and Retreat. — Early attacks Washington. — Affair at Snick
er's Ferry.
iVERY success or reverse of the soldiers at the
front was met by patriotic effort at home.
The adjourned session of the General Assem
bly of 1863 was held at Hartford. on Jan. 12,
1864. Volunteering was progressing rapidly;
and the payment of the three-hundred-dollar bounty was
continued by special enactment.
This session lasted only four days ; and most of the time
was spent in debate upon the proposed amendment of the
State Constitution, allowing all electors of the State in the
volunteer military service of the United States to vote in
the field during the Rebellion. At the special session of the
previous winter, the Democratic members had opposed giv
ing the ballot to the soldiers, on the ground that it was
unconstitutional : now they resisted it on other grounds.
During the debate, some of the opponents of the amend
ment alluded to the soldiers as "the armed cohort of
despotism ; " and the effect of their voting for State officers
and president was compared to the disgraceful sale of the
imperial purple by the praetorian guard in the latter days of
the Roman Empire. The amendment was adopted by the
House on the last morning of the session by a party vote of
a hundred and seventeen yeas to seventy-seven nays. As it
629
630 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
was the first year it was acted upon, the Senate was not
required to vote ; and it went over for further action.
The spring election of 1864 was very quiet, and resulted
in the re-election of Gov. Buckingham. Only 73,982 votes
were cast ; and William A. Buckingham had a majority over
Origen S. Seymour, of 5,658. The Republicans elected more
than two-thirds of the Lower House, and eighteen out of
twenty-one senators.
The General Assembly met at New Haven on the fourth
day of May. But little interest was felt in its proceedings ;
for the legislative machinery to supply the sinews of war
was in full operation, and public attention was entirely
wrapped up in the tremendous preparations being made by
Grant and Sherman for those two wonderful campaigns
which crushed the life out of the Rebellion.
The Senate was organized by the election of John T.
Adams president pro tern., and H. Lynde Harrison clerk.
The House of Representatives elected John T. Rice
speaker, and William T. Elmer and John R. Buck clerks.
0. H. Platt of Meriden was appointed chairman of the
judiciary committee, thus making him by courtesy the
leader of the majority party in the House; and Col. Dwight
Morris of Bridgeport was placed at the head of the military
committee. The message of Gov. Buckingham exhibited
the same cairn dignity, clear statements, and intense loyalty,
that had characterized his previous official communications.
He thus tersely stated the argument for the amendment
giving soldiers the ballot : —
"Freemen who sustain and protect a government by baring their bosoms
to the deadly shafts of its enemies should have an opportunity to express
an opinion in respect to its policy and the character and qualifications^ its
officers." 1
He closed the message by urging national legislative
action abolishing slavery, and said, —
1 A newspaper at this time thus put the matter : " Perhaps we are prejudiced ; but it
seems to us that a, man who does nothing worse than shed his blood for the old flag ought
not, for so small an offense as that, to be disfranchised like a common thief."
SOLDIERS IN THE FIELD ALLOWED TO VOTE. 631
" Slavery is not dead. Its life is in the custody of its friends ; and while
it shall so remain there will be no peace. The events of the past urge us
to adopt some measure which shall terminate in favor of freedom that con
troversy which must ever exist so long as a part of the nation remains free
and a part enslaved. . . . Let us embrace this opportunity, and perform
these duties [establish justice and form a more perfect union] with humble
confidence, that, under the guidance of the King of kings, this revolution will
carry the natioa onward in the path of prosperity, intelligence, and influ
ence, and upward to a higher level of freedom, civilization, and Christianitv,
until every man, whether high or low, rich or poor, learned or ignorant, of
whatever tribe or race or nation, shall be protected in all the inalienable
rights which God has given him under our national emblem of liberty,
uniou, and power."
More than four million dollars had been expended during
the year, and the total indebtedness of the State was about
seven millions.
Gen. Stephen W. Kellogg of Waterbury was very active
and efficient at this session in procuring important modifi
cations of the militia law, by which the annual encampment
was extended to four days, two spring parades were pro
vided for, and a commutation of five dollars annually was
authorized to be paid to each member of the militia force
who should provide himself with a complete uniform. This
law proved to be an excelJent one.
The constitutional amendment providing for the exten
sion of the elective franchise to the soldiers in the field was
passed in the Senate by a party vote of eighteen to three.
In the House, the amendment received a hundred and fifty-
three votes (all Republicans) against seventy-one votes of the
Democrats. The affirmative vote lacked five of 'being two-
thirds of the whole number of members elected ; viz., two
hundred and thirty-seven. It was immediately claimed by
the Democrats that the amendment had failed for want of a
two-thirds vote of the whole house ; and the speaker, guided
by a precedent in his favor, decided that the amendment
was not carried. Mr. Platt of Meriden immediately appealed
from this decision ; and a long debate ensued, which was con
tinued through two daily sessions. The yeas and nays were
called upon the appeal, which was sustained by the party
vote of a hundred and thirty-two yeas to fifty-four nays ; and
the speaker thereupon declared that the amendment had
passed by the requisite constitutional majority.
632 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
This amendment was submitted to the people on the third
Monday of August, and was then ratified by a large majori
ty ; only a few of the strongly Democratic towns giving
majorities against it. The popular verdict was as follows :
Hartford County, yes, 4,783 ; no, 3,520. New-Haven County,
yes, 4,761 ; no, 3.028. New-London County, yes, 2,808 ; no,
1,108. Fairfield County, yes, 3,578 ; no, 2,088. Windham
County, yes, 1,980 ; no, 668. Litchfield County, yes, 3,102 ;
no, 1,923. Middlesex County, yes, 1,795 ; no, 1,029. Tol-
land County, yes, 1,523 ; no, 873. Total, yes, 24,280 ; total,
no, 14,231. Majority for the amendment, 10,049. The
governor then declared the amendment to be made, by vote
of the people, a part of the Constitution of the State of Con
necticut.
A statute was passed at the same session for the purpose
of carrying the amendment into effect, by which commission
ers were authorized to be sent into the field, camp, and hos
pital to receive the votes of all the electors of the State.
Under its operations, the soldiers renewed their rights as citi
zens, and with remarkable unanimity voted the Republican
ticket in November, 1864, and April, 1865.
Hon. Charles Chapman of Hartford was the Democratic
leader in the House; while Messrs. 0. H. Platt, H. K. W.
Welch, Watrous, Charles Ives, Dwight Morris, David
Gallup, and many others, were prominent upon the Repub
lican side.
The Assembly adjourned sine die on the ninth day of
July.
At the beginning of the year 1864, Connecticut had the
proud honor of being the only State east of the prairies
whose quota was full. t
During the year, there were two calls for troops ; requir
ing an aggregate of eight hundred thousand men. The
first was issued on July 18, for five hundred thousand men ;
and the quota of Connecticut was declared to be ten thou
sand one hundred and twenty-one. This number being
largely in excess of any quota theretofore assigned under a
call for the same number of men, and the reason being
FAREWELL OF PROVOST-MARSHAL BROMLEY. 633
apparent, Adjutant-Gen. Horace J. Morse ascertained how
many not subject to draft were enrolled in the various sub-
districts ; and Gov. Buckingham made a representation of
the facts to the War Department, which secured a diminu
tion and re-assignment of the quota at 8,408.
By a law passed at the May session, the paymaster-gen
eral of the State was authorized to offer a bounty of three
hundred dollars to every enrolled person who should fur
nish a substitute upon the quota of the State for the term
of three years ; and the provisions of the family-bounty act
were extended to the families of all such substitutes. The
three-hundred-dollar bounty was also made payable to all
recruits for the navy ; and many young men in the coast
towns volunteered under its provisions. The recruiting
agents whom the governor sent into the Southern States
obtained about one thousand men, who were credited on
the quota.
Much fraud was practiced ; and " bounty-jumping " had
become an occupation with a large class of vagrants who
went from town to town, and from State to State, enlisting
under various names and disguises ; taking the large bounty,
and deserting at the first opportunity.
Capt Isaac H. Bromley resigned his office of provost-
marshal of the Third District ; and Capt. Theodore C. Kibbe
was appointed his successor. In taking leave of the office,
Capt. Bromley hinted at the perplexities of the position in
the following farewell to the many- characters he had dealt
with, —
" The retiring officer has had the satisfaction of knowing, that, in the
discharge of duties eminently calculated to ' make everybody hate you,'
he has met with the most cheering success. Without a pang of regret, he
bids an official but affectionate adieu to the gentlemanly substitute-brokers
who always have ' two or three first-rate men of good moral character '
they want to get in-; to the patriotic selectmen and town agents who would
' like to look over the lists to see if James Henry Alexander's name is
down ; ' to the short-haired substitutes, with a complication of diseases,
who swear they are ' tough enough to stand marching and fighting ; '
to the- timid young gentlemen from the rural districts who ' have the
rheumatism very bad in wet weather,' and ' have never been very well '
since the war broke out ; to the anxious parties who have for the past
three or four weeks waylaid him in the streets, and opened their attacks
with a dreadful series of ' s'posens ; ' to the aliens from Ireland and the
80
634 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
aliens from Germany, the aliens who were willing to swear they were
aliens, and the aliens who would ' be d — d if they'd do any thing of the
sort ; ' to the mild-mannered men who ' couldn't understand it,' and to
those rough-spoken people who ' know all about it,' — to those and to all
of them he bids a fond and affectionate farewell. We presume they are
all pleased with the change. He certainly is."
A draft was ordered for the fifth day of September. The
energy of the State was given unreservedly to the work
of recruiting. " Before the time for the draft, the quota of
the State was considerably more than filled ; but a few
of the sub-districts had failed to furnish the required num
ber. In these a draft was made ; but in most cases, before
the date at which the drafted men were ordered to report,
the towns filled the quota by volunteers ; and the drafted
men were not held to service." '
The inducements held out to all persons who were liable
to be drafted, to obtain substitutes in advance, at once
created a large demand for substitutes ; and very many
of the recruits were of this class. During the year, three
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine (3,849) substitutes
for enrolled men were mustered, and paid their bounty.
More than one-half deserted before reaching the front.
Of this, the adjutant-general says in his report for 1865, —
" I here allude to this fact for the purpose of showing that the disgrace
of this should not be charged upon Connecticut. These were not Connecticut
men. I have before referred to the demand for substitutes which sprang
up immediately upon the passage of the act paying a bounty of three
hundred dollars to each man who would furnish a substitute before being
drafted. During the greater part of this time, no bounties were being
paid by the neighboring large cities ; and as a consequence of this, and
to meet the demand for substitutes here, large numbers of worthless char
acters and professional bounty-jumpers, who only entered the service to
desert and enlist again, found their way into the State from these cities,
from Canada and elsewhere, were presented at the offices of provost-
marshals, mustered into service, and sent to the rendezvous. Either
there, or after leaving for the field, they deserted, receiving assistance
from confederates outside, who furnished them with citizens' clothing,
and facilitated their escape.
" After a thorough investigation, I am satisfied, that, of the substitutes
who have enlisted and thus deserted, not one in a hundred was a citizen of
Connecticut."
On Dec. 19, the President issued another call for three
hundred thousand, to fill the deficiency caused by deserters
2 Adjutant-General's Report for 1865.
ENLISTMENT OF VAGABONDS. 635
under the previous requisition. The quota of Connecticut
under this call was not announced from Washington, for
the reason indicated in the following 'communication, after
wards received : —
WAR DEPARTMENT, PROVOST-MARSIIAL-CENERAL'S BUREAU,
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 1, 1866.
GEN. HORACE J. MORSE, Adjutant- General, Hartford, State of Connecticut.
GENERAL, — In reply to your communication of the 27th ultimo, re
questing to be informed the quota assigned to the State of Connecticut
under the call of Dec. 19, 1864, without any additions or deductions on
previous calls, I am directed by the provost-marshal-general to inform
you that there was no quota assigned to the State of Connecticut, from
the fact that there was no deficiency. . . .
I am, general, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE E. SCOTT,
Major Vet. Bes. Corps.
The quota of Connecticut was full, and more than full,
at least on paper. She had gone into the fashionable compe
tition as to which State could soonest expunge its debt on
the books of the provost-marshal-general's office ; and, enlist
ing all her enterprise and energy, had come out among the
first.
Yet the substitutes and recruits of this period, obtained
at a high bid, were generally worthless vagabonds, who in
tended to desert at the first opportunity, and enlist again.
A few unselfish patriots protested that the method was in
herently vicious, tending to bestow money on hundreds of
thousands of scoundrels, without materially strengthening
the army. Gen. Hawley, from the front, denounced the
" reckless, cowardly, quota-filling madness ; " and wrote, " The
very best men are needed in soldiering, as in any other
serious, great, and dangerous work. The idea that material
of the sort now sent us, though inexpressibly vile and pi
ratical, is the best timber for soldiers, I often hear intimated
or suggested ; and nothing but the knowledge that it is not
so intended prevents me receiving and resenting it as a
stinging personal insult. This is the most trying period of
the war by all odds; yet the men you send now do not
intend to go into battle ! "
636 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Chaplain H. C. Trumbull wrote with equal earnestness
in August, 1864, —
"Do you know what it is that to-day tends more to dishearten New-
England soldiers in the field than all other causes combined? It is not the
situation at the front, but the public sentiment at home. ... I can not
keep silence if I would. I see a perishing army the sole safeguard of a
tottering nation ; and I must cry out in the hour of that army's and that
nation's need against the ruinous theory, that an able-bodied citizen has
performed 'his whole duty to his government and to himself, when he has
given to a substitute-broker a check, large or small, while refusing the
help of his own right arm to the brother who dies for him. What ! Is a
professed Christian to receive commendation for hiring a proxy to keep
the sabbath for him, while he goes on a squirrel-hunt? . . . Out on such a
standard! This season of the war is the nation's sacred holy day. Our
government, of more than parental claim and preciousness, is struggling in
agony for life this hour. None are exempt from the duty of doing their
utmost while there is still such peril to all."
Capt. Samuel Fiske, scarcely more given to ambiguity of
speech than the two other soldiers above quoted, exclaimed,
" Shades of the Greeks and Romans ! I suppose Quintus
Curtius, if he had lived in these times, instead of plun
ging with his gallant steed into the yawning gulf, would
have" pitched in a bag of brazen asses, and — avoided the
draft." These fierce remonstrances, doubtless, reflected the
sentiment of the soldiers. The writers were charged with
u rashness " and " indiscretion " by their friends at home ;
but the sequel amply justified the protests. The whole of
this extravagant bounty-system tended to ruin. It dis
couraged and disgusted the veterans in the field, stimulated
desertions, degraded patriotism, and filled the quota without
filling the army. A few of the substitutes were good and
faithful men ; but nine-tenths of them were never under fire,
and a large majority deserted before they reached the
front. But the Confederacy had begun to lose its spirit;
and even " filling the quota " seemed to give momentum to
its downfall.
The presidential canvass of 1864 was conducted vigor
ously by both parties in Connecticut. The Democrats again
appealed for peace; the Republicans insisted on a more
vigorous prosecution of the war. The Democrats made con
spicuous the fact that the Union had not yet been restored
THE TWENTY -NINTH IN CAMP AT BEATJFOKT. 637
by the armed hand ; the Republicans took notice of the
specious claim only to show how much of the rebel territory
had been overrun, and to resolve anew that the rest should
be so reclaimed. The struggle brought forth all the " peace-
men," — those who had opposed the war from the beginning,
— more numerous in Connecticut than in any other North
ern State. The war-party was strengthened by its aggressive
attitude ; and again the State was hotly contested and close.
The official majority for Lincoln over McClellan was 2,406 :
J. Hammond Trumbull, Secretary of State, declared the
whole number of votes received by commissioners from sol
diers in the field to be 2,898. He estimated that the whole
number that arrived in time to be deposited "in the ballot-
boxes did not exceed 2,400.3
On April 7, the Twenty-ninth (colored), under Col. Wil
liam B. Wooster, was armed with the best Springfield rifles
at Annapolis, and next day received orders to proceed to
South Carolina. The regiment disembarked at Hilton
Head after a comfortable voyage, and went thence to Beau-
\r <_J /
fort, where it arrived on the loth. A fine camp was laid
out; and the work of converting the raw material of the
regiment into good soldiers was vigorously and systemati
cally commenced. The men learned rapidly, and were
faithful in the performance of their duties. While here,
although the utmost attention was paid to all that pertained
to the health of the regiment, much sickness prevailed ; the
change of climate telling severely upon the untried soldiers.
In less than two months, a decided improvement in drill and
discipline had been effected; and the dress-parades began
to attract marked attention. Here, and in these duties, the
regiment remained through the spring and early summer,
until the stress in Virginia required its transfer to that
point.
8 The New-Haven Register, commenting on these figures, said, " So that by official
figures it- is seen, that, on the home vote, the voice of Connecticut was for McClellan."
In this conclusion, it is conceded that the soldiers voted unanimously for Lincoln, which
is not quite true.
638 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
After a pleasant winter in Martinsburg, Va., the Eight
eenth Regiment was ordered on March 7 (1864) to proceed
to Harper's Ferry. Here it was encamped for a time on
Bolivar Heights ; detached companies doing provost-duty in
Maryland. The weather was very disagreeable, and the sol
diers sighed for their cosy quarters at Martinsburg. Soldiers
are a privileged class : they may grumble as much as they
please if they continue to obey orders.
On March 28, the regiment was given a furlough ; and the
men started for Connecticut in high glee. The fact that
the State election was on the tapis at this precise time, and
that a majority of the members were voters, was suspected
to have some influence in procuring the visit home. A few
pleasant days in Norwich, almost a solid vote for Bucking
ham, another good-by, and back to Bolivar Heights on
April 9. After a harmless scout up the Loudon Valley, they
arrived at Martinsburg on the 28th.
Next day the regiment, now numbering ten officers and
six hundred men, still under Major Henry Peale, started
with a large force under Gen. Sigel. This officer had not
been uniformly successful ; and the phrase, " I fights mit Si-
gel," had lost some of its talis manic power. The Eighteenth,
too, remembered the Winchester of a year before ; but they
turned their faces hopefully southward, and marched away,
bandying jokes suggestive of the past and future. Long
before this time, many tender relationships had sprung up
between the gallant fellows of the regiment and the ladies
of the city ; and the repeated partings had grown more and
more affectionate.
A rapid move to Bunker Hill and Winchester, and the
regiment marched over the ground where so many were
captured a year before : there the gallant Porter fell ; there
the charges were made ; there the surrender ; there the cap
tivity in the fort. They encamped two miles below town,
and tarried nine days ; while Sigel reviewed his troops,
and the rebels counted them, and reported to Richmond.
Before moving again, it was doubtless definitely known at
the rebel capital about how many men and guns Sigel had,
and how many would suffice to crush him. On May 9, they
RETREAT OF SIGEL'S TROOPS. 639
pushed forward towards New Market ; the Eighteenth being
detached on the 14th, and sent to Edinburgh to support the
28th Ohio, where they had a slight skirmish. At three
o'clock, next morning, these regiments were pushed for
ward to New Market, and arrived at ten, A.M., in a drenching
rain. The Eighteenth was marched into a piece of woods
north-west of the town ; and, while partaking of a breakfast
of coffee and hard-tack, the men were ordered into line of
battle to the support of a battery. The enemy was shelling
the position from a wooded eminence. After an hour's can
nonading, the three regiments that had come up advanced a
short distance in line, the Eighteenth on the right, and came
to a halt. Companies A and B of the Eighteenth were
deployed as skirmishers under Capt. William L. Spaulding.
Firing began briskly. The skirmishers of the enemy ad
vanced rapidly, driving ours back to the lines. At this time,
Capt. Spaulding was mortally wounded in the abdomen, and
died an hour later in an ambulance at the rear.
The rebels soon came down in three strong lines of battle,
with a reserve of seven thousand men. Sigel's main force
was still far behind. The enemy took advantage of this, rush
ing in with great vigor, and driving the regiments back to an
eminence. Here a stand was made. The official report of
Major Peale says, —
" The skirmishers of the enemy now appeared' on the brow of the hill,
aud rapid firing ensued, in which Capt. J. Matthewson, Company D, was
wounded, as also several men of his company. As our skirmishers retired
around our flank, the line fired several volleys ; when, it being apparent that
the line of the enemy greatly outnumbered our own, aud that further stay
in that position was worse than useless, the commanders of regiments on
left of brigade gave the order to retreat, which movement was followed by
the Eighteenth. The regiment marching by the flank at double-quick, on
emerging from the lane, found itself some distance in rear of the retreating
line, and was thereby thrown into some confusion ; but, with some exceptions,
the men were rallied and were re-formed with the rest of the first line in
i-ear of the second line, which now awaited the shock. The cannonading
was at this time extremely rapid, the rebels shelling our position with great
accuracy; while the batteries of our first and second lines poured grape and
canister into their infantry, which came on in splendid line. As they drew
near, our second line fired and charged, partially checking their advance,
but, having suffered severely, was forced to retire. For the same reason,
the enemy contented himself with sending forward strong lines of skir
mishers to harass our now retreating force ; himself advancing very
slowly.
640 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
" Desultory fighting was continued for three hours by our firsi ana sec
ond lines alternately ; when, two fresh regiments arriving, the broken forces
were assembled in rea'r of them, and marched on the pike to the north bank
of the Shenandoah, from whence it continued to march until within two
miles of Woodstock, where it halted at five, A.M. ; having inarched nearly
thirty-five miles in twenty-six hours, in addition to that incident to its par
ticipation in the action."
The retreat was continued by Sigel until he reached the
east side of Cedar Creek, where the Eighteenth went into
camp on May 17.
The regiment had lost one killed, thirty-six wounded, and
nineteen missing, as reported by Adjutant E. B. Culver
from Strasburg ; but several of the missing were dead in
the enemy's hands. In Capt. William L. Spaulding, East-
ford had another martyr. He was a son of Reuben Spaul
ding of that town. Early in life he resolved to obtain a
liberal education ; and, wishing to be thoroughly prepared
for college, he took a course of study at Wesleyan Academy,
Wilbraham, Mass. He graduated at Middletown in 1860,
bearing off the highest honors of the institution.4 He studied
law in the office of Judge Elisha Carpenter, who says, " 1
never knew any young man who possessed such aptness to
learn with such quick perceptions and sound judgment. He
had natural abilities of the very first order, and must have
attained a high place at the bar." While the battle was
raging, after expressing satisfaction and confidence in the
future life, he asked Chaplain Walker, " Are they driving
us ? " and soon after expired.
At this point, Col. William G. Ely, after a long imprison
ment, returned to the regiment, and resumed command. He
was very warmly welcomed, and responded to the demon
strations of his men in a pleasant address. Capt. G. W.
Warner, and Lieuts. M. B. V. Tiffany, J. T. Maginnis, I. N.
Kibbe, and others, returned at the same time. Lieut.-Col.
Monroe Nichols, on being released from his terrible captiv
ity, resigned on account of protracted ill health.5
4 Wesleyan University maintained during the war its well-earned reputation for
loyalty. One hundred and fifty-one students and alumni enlisted in the war, and served
with great credit. Major-Gen. George W. Cole, and Brig.-Gens. A. J. Kdgertou and John
B. Van Pelton, were graduates of this institution. A score of her officers and men died
in service.
5 Lieut.-Col. Nichols died in January, 1868, at St. Paul, Minn., whither he had gone
HUNTEH ADVANCES UP THE SHENANDOAH. 641
Sigel was now succeeded by Gen. Hunter, who put the
army in snug fighting trim, cutting down baggage to the
minimum, and sending the surplus to the rear ; so that during
the next month any officer who wished to indulge in the
luxury of a clean shirt was obliged to sit in garments of the
same texture as " the emperor's new clothes " while his single
shift was going through the " laundry."
On May 27, the little army started again up the Shenan-
doah, which a waggish soldier with the Virginia dialect now
wrote of as " the back ' doah ' of the Union." They waded
through Woodstock in the mud, ate supper in the mud, slept
in the mud, rose and set out again in the mud ; remained in
New Market four days, and advanced ; crossed the Shenan-
doah at Port Republic on a pontoon-bridge, May 4 ; marched
two miles towards Staunton in the evening, and bivouacked,
the enemy making demonstrations in the front. Next morn
ing, the column was early on its march; but the rebels
skirmished spiritedly, and on arrival at Piedmont they were
found posted advantageously on elevations prepared to re
ceive battle. Hunter passed his regiments in rapid review,
and said to the Eighteenth, that he "expected them to sustain
the honor of Connecticut. Here was an opportunity to wipe
out New Market."
Strong lines of skirmishers were thrown out from both
armies. Our line advanced under a severe fire of shell and
musketry, and drove back the rebel skirmishers towards their
main force. It was all open ground ; and the rebels had the
advantage of cover, and fired rapidly : but the Union skirm
ishers never wavered. Soon the order, "Forward, double
quick, march ! " was given, and was followed by an impetuous
to reside for the benefit of his health. He was materially strengthened in the exhilarating
air of that beautiful young State ; hut over-exertion induced a fatal relapse. Col. Nichols
was born in Thompson, Conn. He graduated at Middletown in 1857, and after the battle
of Bull Run raised a company, and was made lieutenant-colonel of the Eighteenth. After
he resigned, and returned to Connecticut, he was elected a member of the General Assem
bly if 1865, and served with distinction. The St. Paul Press says of him, " Col. Nichols,
during a brief residence of two years in this city, had won for himself by his brilliant talents,
his fine attainments, and attractive personal qualities, a high position in the esteem of the
community and in the regards of many admiring friends. To the graces of the scholar
and the purity of the Christian gentleman, he added the generous enthusiasm and devotion
of the Christian patriot. He was one of those knightly souls who went forth from our
colleges and schools to do battle for freedom and the Union against the hosts of treason ;
and he died, in fact, a martyr to the barbarity of the rebel jailers into whose hands by the
fortunes of war he fell."
81
642 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
charge by Hunter's whole force. The rebels stood a few
moments, straggled, turned, and fled to their principal breast
works just in the rear. The ground thus gained gave our
men much encouragement. But repeated attempts to dis
lodge the enemy again were not so successful. Finally, a
battery was ordered up, which fired rapidly and accurately ;
driving the rebels from a portion of their works.
The Eighteenth was on the right, fighting most gallantly
under Col. Ely, giving and taking a severe fire. Lieut. Magin-
nis had received a bullet in his brain, and fallen, his face to
the foe. Adjutant Culver was dying. Enlisted men lay on
every hand. About five, P.M., the regiment was ordered for
ward simultaneously with a charge by a flanking force at the
left, and moved calmly up to a last furious attack. The rebels
fought desperately for a few minutes, but finally broke in a
total rout. Several pieces of artillery were captured, and
fifteen hundred prisoners, exclusive of wounded. The Eigh
teenth had conducted itself splendidly this day, and was
thanked by Gens. Hunter and Sullivan. The bearing of Col.
Ely and Major Peale was calculated to inspire the men with
courage. Col. Ely, in his report, said, —
" Our troops fought with undaunted bravery, and at five,
P.M., routed the rebels, captured two thousand prisoners and
five thousand stands of arms, and found a large number of
severely wounded among the rebel dead. The Eighteenth
Connecticut Volunteers was on the right of Gen. Hunter's
line of battle : its colors took the lead in the first charge,
and floated defiant till we triumphed. All of the color-guard
were wounded except one. Our banner riddled by Minie-
balls and cannon-shot, and a loss of one hundred and twenty-
seven in killed and wounded, tell our story. Officers and
all men behaved most gallantly ; obeying orders with alacrity,
even in the thickest of the fight."
The regiment had lost nineteen killed and one hundred
and fifteen wounded. Among the wounded were Lieuts.
E. S. Hinckley, J. P. Rockwell, and John Lilley, — the last
severely. Among the killed, were Lieuts. Culver and Magin-
nis, and such men as Charles T. Fanning, W. H. Paine,
W. L. Adams, Jerome B. Cahoone, J. T. Bradley, and John B.
Scott.
HUNTER DRIVING THE ENEMY UP THE VALLEY. 643
Lieut. John T. Maginnis was a native of Stamford. He
learned the trade of a printer, and was for some time foreman
of the New- York Herald office, and afterwards proof-reader
there. In 1849, he engaged in mercantile business. When
the war broke out, he wras dissuaded from enlisting ; but he
helped to raise a company for the Eighteenth, and with noble
modesty declined to receive a commission until he should
earn it. He was soon promoted, and was constantly with
his regiment. Captured at Winchester, he was kept in prisdn
for nine months. He suffered from cold, privation, and ex
posure, and contracted a cough from which he never recov
ered. He received a furlough on being released ; but he was
restive at home, and insisted on going back to the front.
His lungs were perceptibly affected ; but he could not be re
strained. " The boys are in the field," he said, " the country
needs the help of every arm : of what account is my poor
life, or a million such, if thereby our nation is saved ? " He
hurried back, and wrote from Woodstock in his last letter,
"I regret that my health is not good enough to justify much
exposure ; but, poor as it is, I shall not shirk my duty in the
hour of trial. If I am to fall," said he, " let it be on a vic
torious battle-field, amid the cheers of the ' boys in blue ' ! "
His prayer was answered.
Lieut, E. Benjamin Culver of Norwich, adjutant, was severe
ly wounded in the head, and died next morning. Before
going into the battle, he said, " I am prepared to receive
my death-wound to-day." He was an officer of great merit,
brave to a fault, and a universal favorite. He fell in the
thickest of the fight in the first charge.
The Eighteenth, greatly reduced in numbers and much
exhausted, made its bivouac in the rear of the rebel posi
tion ; and next morning, sad at thought of the losses, but
elated by the victory, the column pushed on to Staunton.
On .the 10th, Hunter was re-inforced by the commands of
Crook and Averill ; and, now pushing resolutely southward,
he passed through Lexington next day, destroying much
public property. The soldiers captured a Confederate flag
over Stonewall Jackson's grave, and split up for trophies
the black-walnut memorial slab at its head. Rations began
644 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
to grow scarce ; and the army was two hundred miles from
its base. The column arrived on the 14th at Buchanan, a
town on the James River twenty miles west of Lynchburg,
where for the first time the old flag was hailed by the cheers
of the citizens; and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs
from the windows. The army crossed the James in canal-
boats and on the ruins of the • old bridge. A wet night ;
and the men slept with empty stomachs.
June 15 was a tiresome, exciting day, marked by the
ascent of the Blue Ridge near its highest point, — the peaks
of Otter. Night was passed upon the mountain with
little to eat. Next morning, the grand scenery was left be
hind ; the force descended, destroyed the railroad, and
pushed towards Lynchburg. The Eighteenth lay on its arms
all night, while the advance skirmished sharply with the
enemy within four miles of the city. It was evident that
the rebels meant to contest further advance. On the 18th,
an artillery duel continued through the day ; and the enemy
made two unsuccessful charges on our line. Col. Ely had a
narrow escape here : he was wounded in the throat, and
was temporarily disabled. Eight others in the regiment
were wounded.
Gen. Early had now re-inforced the rebels ; and Hunter,
his rations and ammunition nearly exhausted, after an in
decisive battle, fell back north of the James, and retired
through West Virginia.
Surgeon J. V. Harrington of Sterling was left behind
when the Eighteenth moved. His consumptive tendency
had long been apparent, and crossing the mountains pro
duced a hemorrhage.0 His absence from his post at this
time imposed great additional care upon Surgeon Lowell
Holbrook, whose labors had been increasing every day.
The next ten days brought the severest trials the regi
ment ever experienced, — tedious marches with little sleep
and less food ; the whole army hurrying forward to escape
0 Dr. Harrington was taken as prisoner to Charleston, and held until October, when
he was exchanged and went home, completely broken down in health. He died in
December, — another on the long roll of martyrs. He had fought a good fight. When
he was left at Lynchburg, Chaplain AV. C. Walker wrote, " He is sadly missed in the
regiment. His kind and gentlemanly deportment and faithful attention to his duties
render him very popular, and make his loss the greater."
THE SIXTH AND NINETEENTH COEPS IN THE VALLEY. 645
starvation in the mountains. "The scenes of that terrible
march will never be recalled by any survivor without a
shudder. The Eighteenth conducted themselves with sol
dierly manliness and propriety." 7 The retreat was from
Liberty, back through Salem, across the Alleghanies, thence
to Newcastle, Loui^burg, Meadow Bluff, Gauley Bridge, and
Camp Piatt on the Kanawha ; arriving very much exhausted
on July 3. Next morning, the Eighteenth went to Parkers-
burg, via the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, and thence to
Cumberland, Md., and marched back to Martinsburg ; arriv
ing there jaded, ragged, dispirited, and broken down, with
a total of one hundred and fifty officers and men. Hunter
had made a bold dash on Lynchburg, had gone far from his
base of supplies, and had met with failure ; but the indi
vidual regiments are entitled to great credit.
Lee eagerly took this opportunity to relieve his army
from investment at Petersburg. The Shenandoah Valley
was again open to the North ; and he flung through it his
choice corps of twelve thousand men under Early, to sweep
Hunter's shattered army out of Virginia, and swoop down
on defenseless Washington. Hunter, Crook, and Sigel re
tired precipitately across the Potomac.
Grant immediately met the movement, not by raising
the siege, but by detaching Wright's 6th Corps, and sending
it on transports to Washington. The Second Connecticut
Artillery, still serving as infantry, was in this force. " We
disembarked at Washington on the 12th," says Capt.
Theodore F. Vaill of Litchfield in his diary, " and marched
straight through the city on Seventh Street to Tenallytown,
where the pickets were engaging the rebels, now in plain
sight. At ten, A.M., we were marched out some two miles,
and remained till morning." Early had hesitated too long,
and lost his opportunity; and, finding that the 6th and 19th
Corps were up, he withdrew, and recrossed the Potomac, the
6th Corps in hot pursuit. Capt. E. W. Whitaker was here
in command of a squadron of cavalry.
On July 14, the Eighteenth, in Crook's column, passed
from Harper's Ferry down the left bank of the Potomac, and
7 Narrative of Chaplain William C. Walker.
646 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
next day recrossed, and pushed southward through the
London Valley; Early crossing at the same time at Point
of Rocks. The two corps were again in close proximity.
Crook's cavalry made a successful raid upon the enemy's
trains ; and the infantry pushed on towards Snicker's Gap,
which was reached and passed on the 18th. In the after
noon, the enemy was found posted across the Shenandoah
to hold the ferry, and resist the passage of the river.
Crook posted a battery so as to command the position, and
then began crossing by the ford, two miles below. The
Confederates permitted one brigade (including the Eigh
teenth) to cross without molestation ; and then made a vigor
ous onset from the woods, rapidly driving the whole line
towards the river. The order was given to retreat by the
ford ; but great confusion prevailed. " The Eighteenth held
its position on the right until flanked, and was the last regi
ment to recross; suffering a loss of six killed and twenty-
five wounded. . . . The regiment acquitted itself creditably.
It was exposed to a cross-fire, but did not waver, nor retreat
until ordered."8 Orderly-Sergeant Thomas. J. Aldrich of
Thompson was drowned. Capt. Joseph Mathewson was
wounded in the thigh. Lieuts. M. V. B. Tiffany and F. G.
Bixby were also wounded.
After being thus disgracefully entrapped, Crook drew off,
and awaited the arrival of the 6th and 19th Corps, which
came up next day. The Eighteenth Regiment, now num
bering less than a hundred rank and file, passed slowly west
ward to Winchester, and camped on the night of the 22d in
familiar ground. Next morning, they moved out two miles
on the Romney Road, and lay all day in line of battle ; the
enemy being not far off. On the 24th, the Eighteenth was
on the west side of the Strasburg Pike, and found the rebels
advancing in force. They soon furiously attacked the left
of our line, which gave way ; exposing the extreme right
held by the Eighteenth, and compelling it to fall back. It
retreated in good order over the ridge west of Winchester,
halting twice, and forming in line of battle to check the pur
suing force. On the left, our cavalry had been driven back
8 Diary of Chaplain W. C. Walker.
THE EIGHTEENTH NEAE HAEPER'S FEREY. 647
in confusion upon the infantry ; and the Eighteenth narrowly
escaped capture within a short distance of the- fatal disaster
of the year previous. The whole army was again in full
retreat ; and the Eighteenth reached Martinsburg early next
morning with a loss of ten or twelve men, prisoners, and
arrived at Williamsport, and forded the Potomac with the
army at dawn of the 26th. For several days, the regi
ment remained along the Potomac in the vicinitv of Har-
o «/
per's Ferry, where a force now gathered to intercept the
raid of Early in Pennsylvania, where he had already burned
Chambersburg.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The Dead-Lock at Petersburg. — Flank Movement on the Right. — The Sixth, Seventh,
Tenth, Fourteenth, and Twenty-ninth Connecticut, and the First Battery engaged. —
Four-mile Run. — Battle of Deep Run. — Charge by Terry's Division. — 'Strawberry
Plains. — Withdrawal. — Casualties. — The Fourteenth at Rcams's Station. — Casu
alties. — Incidents along the Line.
ICHMOND and Petersburg were still under the
rebel flag. The terrific struggles of the sum
mer of 1864 had resulted in a dead-lock of the
opposing armies. For thirty miles, the parallel
lines of earthworks, batteries, and forts, bristling
with cannon, and well-manned by tried and veteran troops,
overlooked the hostile camps but a few rods distant. Expe
rience had taught that the attempt to take the rebel lines
by direct assault was too expensive for frequent repetition.
Every shock seemed only to settle and strengthen the
defenses.
The mine^/zasco had left no alternative but flanking; and
the plan now was to strike the rebel arrny upon the extreme
right and left simultaneously, and so confuse and bewilder
the enemy as to cause him to leave some point exposed.
Two corps, the 2d and 10th, were selected to operate against
Richmond from Deep Bottom, under Hancock; while Warren
struck for the possession of the Weldon Railroad on the left.
Gen. Gilmore had been relieved from the command of the
10th Corps; and Gen. A. H. Terry succeeded him for a time,
showing great ability in discharging the duties of the posi
tion. Major-Gen. Birney was soon appointed- by the rule
of seniority ; and Terry returned to his gallant division.
The Twenty-ninth Connecticut (colored), under Col. William
B. Wooster, was now ordered up from Beaufort, and joined
Hinks's (colored) division.
648
THE TENTH BRISKLY ENGAGED. 649
On Aug. 13, the movement on the right commenced ; the
troops being embarked on transports, as a feint, and landed
at Deep Bottom. The Connecticut regiments present at
this point were the Sixth, Seventh, Tenth,1 Fourteenth, and
Twenty-ninth, and the First Light Battery.
Foster's brigade still occupied the little semicircle on the
bluffs projected into rebel territory ; and Col. Wooster was
put in command of a brigade to hold the ground, while the
rest of the force attacked. A short distance below, a small
tributary called Four-mile Run joins the James ; and up this
(towards Richmond) the advance was made at daylight on
the 14th, the 10th Corps on the north side, and the 2d Corps
on the south side, of the creek. This was a movement
against the rejpel left.
Foster's brigade made a successful charge on the enemy's
line, maintaining its position until recalled. Of this advance
of Sunday, Adjutant H. W. Camp of the Tenth wrote, " We
formed line, threw out skirmishers, and advanced, connecting
with other regiments on the right and left. A very few min
utes, and the fight was brisk. The main body of the regi
ment was halted, and the men lay down; while officers moved
up and down the line, skirmishers dodged from tree to tree,
and bullets pattered fast in all directions. Going down the
line, I stopped to deliver an order to Lieut. A. F. Sharp.
We stood for a moment talking; and I had hardly turned
away, when a bullet passed through his head just behind the
eyes. Officers went down fast. Capt. H. F. Quinn had charge
of the skirmishers. Two of his men, stepping in succession
behind a large tree that seemed to offer excellent shelter,
fell, — one dead, the other severely wounded. He moved to
1 In accepting the resignation of Licut.-Col. Leggett at this time, Gen. Butler issued
the following well-merited order : —
HEADQUARTERS DEFT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA,
« IN THE FIELD, VIRGINIA, Aug. 17, 1864.
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 225. . . . 15. — Lieut.-Col. Robert Leggett, Tenth Connecti
cut Volunteers, having tendeifjd his resignation, it is accepted, with regrets that so gallant
an officer, with honorable wounds received in the service, is obliged to leave it. Col. Leg-
gett's patriotic endeavors to remain in the service, notwithstanding his partial disability-
in the loss of a limb, arc appreciated by the commanding general, who desires to thank
him for the example of courage and endurance he has set to the officers and soldiers of
his command.
By order of Major-Gen. Butler, K. S. DAVIS,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
650 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the same place, and was instantly shot dead, — all three within
two minutes. Capt. W. M. Webb was wounded, and carried
back ; and presently we saw two men helping Lieut. G. H.
Brown to the rear, with a bullet through his leg. A moment
after I left Sharp, I came upon one of our men lying on the
ground with the blood pouring from a wound in the shoul
der. Asking his name of those who stood by, I was told it
was Cornelius Dwyer of Sprague. He looked up as I in
quired. 'I am a dead man, adjutant.' — 'I hope not,' said I;
but he knew too well. He did not live to be carried from the
field.
" There was a yell from the rebels in front ; a louder crash
of musketry. Our skirmishers stood fast, and drove back the
advancing enemy. . . . This had lasted morq than an hour,
when the 24th Massachusetts, which had been held in re
serve, came marching up in double column : they were to
charge through the dense wood, upon the rifle-pits beyond.
We had orders to follow and support them. They moved for
ward splendidly, with well-closed lines and steady step. They
passed us a few rods, and the undergrowth hid them from
sight. We came after in line of battle. Two or three minutes
passed. The same irregular fire in front, and, with a long, tre
mendous cheer, the 24th made their rush. Our boys needed
no orders : a shout burst from every throat, and the whole
line dashed on. But, instead of the fierce volleys we ex
pected to meet, there, on reaching open ground, was the
line of works deserted. The yell and the charge had been
too much for the nerves of our friends in gray ; and almost
without another shot they had turned, and made the best of
their way to the rear."
Col. J. P. Rockwell commanded the Sixth ; and Capt. John
Thompson of Middletown, the Seventh. These regiments
proceeded across the James with their brigade (Hawley's),
and advanced against the rebel position simultaneously with
the Tenth, but were less heavily engaged. Lieut. John B.
Young commanded companies B and G of the Seventh on
the skirmish-line. The Confederates showed such a stub
born front, that it became evident that the attack was not
far enough on the flank. With this conviction, the troops
TEEEY'S DIVISION IN THE BATTLE OF DEEP ET7N. 651
were withdrawn at nightfall ; ground gained in the partial
success was abandoned ; and during the night and next
morning the whole force moved four miles farther to the
right. The report of Capt. Thompson says, " Directly in
front of us was a corn-field, and beyond that a deep ravine
and mill-pond, which separated us from the enemy's main
works. The following officers were present for duty at this
time ; viz., Assistant Surgeon E. C. Hine ; Lieut. J. I. Hutch-
inson, acting adjutant ; Lieuts. C. E. Barker, H. B. Lee, and
M. A. Taintor. Capt. E. S. Perry, and Lieuts. T. C. Wild-
man, John B. Young, and Byron Bradford, were sick and
unfit for duty ; and Lieut. Henry B. Gill had received a
slight wound two days previous, from which he had not re
covered. Surgeon George C. Jarvis was detached from the
regiment, being senior medical officer of the brigade. Ow
ing to the excessive heat, an unusual number of the enlisted
men were compelled to fall out of the ranks while on the
march, from sun-stroke and excessive fatigue, being bur
dened with their knapsacks ; so that, on the morning of the
16th, they numbered but 161 men."
On the 16th was fought the battle of Deep Run by
Terry's division ; resulting in carrying the enemy's intrench-
ments, and capturing two hundred prisoners and a stand of
colors. Col. Hawley's brigade took a prominent part in the
work of this day. At three, A.M., Hawley ordered his men to
throw up some sort of protection in front as a guard against
the enemy's sharpshooters. Rails were collected ; and the
position rendered more safe. At eight, A.M., the brigade
moved half a mile by the right flank, and marched on the
Confederate works. After approaching about four hundred
yards, the men lay down in line of battle.
Capt. Thompson, in his report, thus outlines the fight of
the brigade : " Col. Hawley informed his whole brigade that
a brigade in front of us was to charge the enemy's works,
and cautioned the whole command to remain firm, and, i?i
case the leading brigade was repulsed, to allow them to pass
over us to the rear ; and then to hold our position at all
hazards. The brigade in front of us then rose up, and
rushed forward through the woods, towards the enemy's
652 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
works ; when a galling fire of musketry greeted us from
the enemy. When they had proceeded about fifty yards,
I heard Col. Hawley give the command, ' Forward, second
brigade ! ' when my regiment rose up instantly, and rushed
forward at a double-quick, cheering loudly, and following
the leading brigade in as good line of battle as the dense
woods and the nature of the ground generally would permit.
" On arriving within about fifty yards of the works, we
came upon a slashing of fallen trees, very difficult to pass ;
but through it we went with a will, and over the works, driv
ing the enemy before us. On crossing the enemy's works,
without halting, I moved the regiment by the left flank, to
avoid a dense thicket of young trees, in order to reach an
open field about a hundred yards to the left. We then
formed in line of battle, and moved forward across an open
field about four hundred yards, and halted in the edge of a
piece of woods, in order to guard against the approach of
the enemy on our right flank. Other regiments coming up
to our support, a severe and general engagement with the
enemy ensued. During the engagement, I perceived the
enemy coming down through the woods on my right flank.
I changed my line of battle accordingly, so as to front
the enemy, and opened on them vigorously with the
Spencer carbines, and soon succeeded in driving them from
before us.
" I soon received orders from Col. Hawley to fall back to
the enemy's works, which we had passed over. Here I
formed the regiment in line of battle, fronting the enemy.
I then received orders from Gen. Terry to march my regi
ment to the rear ; our ammunition being very nearly ex
hausted. Of the six officers who were engaged in battle,
four were either killed or wounded ; and, myself being very
ill from the effects of sunstroke a few days previous, I
turned over the command to Lieut. Morton A. Taintor of
Colchester, the only remaining officer."
The Sixth participated in the charge ; and the Tenth
joined with a will farther to the left. " We knew that
Hawley's brigade was charging. The Massachusetts 24th
took it up. Our boys sprang to their feet, and joined in the
HANCOCK WITHDKAWS TO STRAWBERRY PLAINS. 653
shout. Col. Otis gave the word ; and the line rushed on
over the brow of the hill, through the undergrowth where
the skirmishing had been so sharp, straight on without halt
or hesitation ; while the rebel skirmishers vanished from
before, until the main line of rifle-pits was reached and
occupied." 2
While this was going on, Col. Wooster received orders
from Gen. Butler to push forward cautiously with a strong
line towards a body of troops advancing from Dutch Gap
above ; and at about five, P.M., he moved out. Company C
of the Twenty-ninth, under Capt. Thomas G. Bennett, was
thrown out to skirmish. The enemy's pickets gave ground,
firing briskly ; and shortly the right flank of the regiment
became warmly engaged near the Kingsland Road. The
rebels were soon driven, and fell back. The force from
Dutch Gap failing to come up, Col. Wooster withdrew at
dark to the defenses.
Terry's division held their hastily-constructed breastworks
for forty-eight hours, but were attacked in front and flank
by the heavy re-inforcements which Lee had transferred to
this side of the river. The rebels showed much vigor and
strength in these repeated assaults ; and, the movement on
the Weldon Road having succeeded, Hancock withdrew his
forces to Strawberry Plains on Thursday, followed closely
and hotly by the flushed and confident foe. Skirmishing
was constant ; there was little sleep ; and these were days
and nights of weariness and exhausting effort. As usual,
the Tenth was the rear-guard ; 3 and, after fighting and
marching in rain and mud, the whole of the two corps had
recrossed the James before daybreak of the following
Sunday, Aug. 21. The Twenty-ninth, in the mean time,
2 Extract from a full narrative in the Knightly Soldier, p. 271.
8 Gen. E. I). S. Goodyear, writing of this battle, thus refers to the chaplain of the
Tenth, " Chaplain Trumbnll displayed an amount of personal courage and efficiency
which people at home would hardly have conceived possible in a minister of the Prince
of Peace. A battery opened a rapid fire, and exploded their shells and spherical case
exactly over our line ; wounding several of our men. One shell exploded a few feet over
Mr. Trumbull's head, knocking him down ; and we supposed him to be dead. As soon as
the smoke rose and the dirt settled, he rose np, partially stunned, and shook the dirt off
his clothes. Just at this moment, three or four shells burst in the ranks of a couple of
the regiments on our left, and they broke, panic struck, for the rear. In an instant, the
chaplain, pistol in hand, sprang into the midst of the disordered mass of flying men ; and
no officer ever exerted himself with more energy or firmness in a like disaster than he
did on that occasion."
654 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE KEBELLION.
had rejoined the 10th Corps, and returned with it to the
Bermuda Hundred front.
Nothing directly had been accomplished, and the losses on
both sides had been heavy. Of Connecticut troops, the
Sixth had lost six killed, sixty-four wounded, and eleven
missing. Among the wounded were Capts. Bennett S. Lewis,
John Stottlar, and D wight A. Woodruff (severely), and Lieuts.
John Waters, Joseph Miller, and George Bellows. Capt.
Woodruff suffered the amputation of his arm, and died after
a few weeks of pain. He was a brave and faithful soldier.
He entered the army as a private, and was steadily pro
moted for good conduct. When told that death was near,
he said, " That is a small wound, — a slight hurt to take a
man's life. But I received it in a noble cause, — the cause
of my country." His remains were taken home to West
Avon, and buried with Masonic honors.
The Seventh had lost seven killed, thirty-one wounded,
and seven missing. Among the wounded were Lieuts. Edwin
J. Merriam, Charles E. Barker, Henry B. Lee, John I. Hutch-
inson, and Henry B. Gill, the first three severely. The
wounds of Lieut. H. B. Lee and Lieut. C. E. Barker (both of
Derby) were mortal, and they died in the enemy's hands.
Capt. Thompson says in his report, —
" Lieut. Hutchinson was wounded and disabled during the assault on
the enemy's works, while gallantly performing his duty, and compelled to
retire. Lieut. Merriam had been wounded in the engagement of the 14th,
but resumed his command, and was again wounded while nobly dischar
ging his duty ; and too mucli praise can not be awarded him. Lieuts. Bar
ker and Lee, I regret to say, were wounded in the latter part of the engage
ment (supposed mortally), and of necessity were left on the field to fall into
the hands of the enemy. They displayed great coolness and courage
throughout the entire engagement.
" Surgeon George C. Jarvis and Assistant Surgeon E. C. Hine were
deserving of great praise for their efficient and untiring efforts in caring for
the wounded of the command.
" The men displayed unusual zeal and bravery during the whole engage
ment ; and, where all who were with me have done so nobly, it is difficult
to mention any particular individual as worthy of most praise. I will take
the liberty, however, to give the names of Sergeant S. W. W. Plumb of
Merideu, Lewis A. Cook of Stamford, W. G. Smith, Benjamin Starr,
Charles M. Shailer, W. W. Whaples, Willard Austin, William Cook, and
Corporal Edwin W. Clark."
Lieut. Merriam's wound soon proved mortal; and the State
lost no more devoted son. He enlisted from Durham, and,
LIEUT. HENBY B. LEE. 655
after three years of service as a private, re-enlisted as a
veteran. He was a Christian soldier, following with equal
fidelity the cross and the flag. When his time expired, he
said, " I have determined to re-enlist in order that I may,
during the three years to come, try to do good to the souls
of my fellow soldiers." Chaplain Wayland says, " He was
the best man I ever knew anywhere, uniting more virtues
with fewer weaknesses." And to Chaplain Eaton he said,
" I am willing to give up all my worldly interests and enjoy
ments, if I can thereby secure the invaluable blessings of
universal justice and freedom to those who shall live after
me."
Lieut. Henry B. Lee was the oldest of five brothers, born
in Pleasant Valley, Conn. Four of them were in the army
at one time ; and the fifth offered himself, and was rejected.
The youngest was Capt. E. R Lee of the Eleventh, killed
at Antietam. Henry was a citizen of Derby when the
mad appeal to arms was made ; a member of the company
whence Col. Kellogg, Col. Chatfield, and Col. Russell grad
uated. He was a thorough soldier, but did not ask for a
commission. It came to him, however. When the veterans
were re-enlisting, his brother at home wrote him, saying,
" You ought not to re-enlist : your family need you at home.
If more are needed from our circle, let the government give
me a place. If I am disabled, I can do a man's work in some
place." His reply was, " I have re-enlisted ; I will fight the
enemies of my country while I live ; I'll see the end of this,
or it shall see the end of me." 'Lieut. Lee was a brave, faith
ful, uncomplaining soldier ; an honest, conscientious, devoted
patriot ; a kind, loving, tender husband and father. He left
a family of four little ones, and gave his life for the land he
loved. He was buried by the enemy, and sleeps in an un
known grave.
The casualties of the Tenth had been, Capt. Horace F.
Quinn, killed ; Lieut. A. F. Sharp, mortally wounded ; Capt.
Selleck L. White and Lieuts. H. A. Peck and George H.
Brown severely, and Capt. M. M. Webb and Lieut. W.
L. Savage slightly wounded : four enlisted men killed and
twenty-two wounded.
656 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Capt. Selleck L. White died Sept. 11, of wounds received
in this action. He was born in Danbury, Conn., and entered
the service at the organization of his company, Oct. 1, 1861,
as a sergeant; was in command as first sergeant during
the summer of 1862 ; and rose rapidly, by superior merit,
through all intermediate grades to that of captain. He fell,
severely wounded, while gallantly leading his men in a
charge on the enemy's rifle-pits. Adjutant Camp wrote,
" Capt. White was one of the finest officers in the regiment."
He was buried at home with military honors.
Capt. Horace F. Quinn, killed in action here, entered the
service in the Second Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and
served as a private through the three-months' campaign.
On the organization of the Tenth, he joined it as first lieu
tenant of Company H, under Capt. Leggett. Said Col.
Greeley, "No more brave or daring officer ever led a com
pany than Capt. Quinn. Although young in years, he was
a veteran soldier : twenty years of age at his death, he had
seen more than three years' active service."
Lieut. Albert F. Sharp, mortally wounded, was born in
Providence, R.I. ; entered the service as a private in the
Second (three-months') Regiment, and again as a sergeant
in the Tenth upon its organization. Col. Greeley wrote,
"He early distinguished himself by his bravery, and was
finally promoted for gallant and meritorious services in the
la&t campaign. In him the regiment lost one of its most
promising and faithful' officers, and the State one of its most
patriotic citizens."
Lieut. Sharp had received a medal from Gen. Gilmore, and
had been complimented for gallantry by Gen. Butler. He
died from the effects of a ball which tore out both of his eyes.
Chaplain Trumbull wrote of him, "Lieut. Sharp was as brave
a man as ever lived ; as prompt and as efficient in the per
formance of duty as any soldier I ever knew. He was
always ready to do any thing by which he could help for
ward the cause to which he had joined himself; and he lived
prepared for every emergency. His record is a noble one."
In the battle of the 16th, Col. Otis was hit again, — the
third bullet or shell contusion which he had received in battle.
EFFECT OF THE MOVEMENT ACROSS THE JAMES. 657
Here, also, Cyrus A. Green of South Coventry was killed.
He was a brave and faithful soldier.4
" Poor Dennis Mahoney was shot through the body early
in the day. It was he who sent for Henry [Chaplain Trurnbull]
to come to the hospital and see him. He was the ideal of a
private soldier. Tall and fine-looking; always neat and
soldierly in dress and equipments; always cheerful and
prompt in duty; brave to recklessness; never missing a chance
to volunteer for an expedition, a scout, or any service of
danger ; full of fun and dash and spirit : it would have been
difficult to match him in the regiment."5
Sergeant Charles H. Clock of Darien received his death-
wound on this day. He had borne a gallant part in nearly
every important battle in which his regiment (noted for its
high character) had been engaged — from that of Roanoke
Island to those of this summer before Richmond. At
Kinston, N.C., he was wounded in the shoulder, and for a
time disabled. For his meritorious conduct while on Morris
Island, under the hot fire of the enemy's batteries, he re
ceived from Gen. Gilmore a medal and certificate of honor.
The Fourteenth had been held as a reserve ; and its loss
was but one killed and six wounded.
The 10th Corps, on returning, relieved the 18th Corps on
the Petersburg line, on Aug. 26 ; and the latter took position
again along the Bermuda-Hundred defenses.
If the movement across the James had not accomplished
much directly, it had been of the greatest service in com
pelling Lee to withdraw troops from his right, and enabling
Warren to strike there an effective blow. He advanced
boldly ; seized the Weldon Railroad, a chief avenue of supply
4 Cyrus A. Green was one of six sons of William A. Green of South Coventry (form
erly, of Norwich), Conn., all of whom were in the service, and had an honorable record.
One of the brothers, Thomas L., was killed in the charge at Cold Harbor; another,
Chnrles A., was a member of the 15th Massachusetts, fought in several battles, was cap-
tuivd. and languished for nine months in as many rebel prisons ; William II. was in both
the Eighth and Eighteenth, but was discharged for disability ; George H. was in the
Twentieth, but his health was soon impaired, and he served less than a year; Nelson H.
enlisted without his parents' consent, and followed the fortunes of the First Artillery
through four years' service, and was among the first to enter the eity of Richmond. As if
the martial record of the family was incomplete, the father himself desired to enlist ; but his
age barred his admission. Four of his sons lived to see freedom vindicated and the nation
saved.
6 Mahoney was a young Irishman, and enlisted from Manchester.
83
658 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
for the rebel army ; and stubbornly held it at the end of a
series of desperate encounters. No Connecticut regiment
participated in this advance of the 5th and 9th Corps.
On returning from Deep Bottom, Hancock marched his
corps immediately to the extreme left of the line ; taking
position in Warren's rear along the Weldon Railroad. On
Aug. 24, the Fourteenth Connecticut, commanded by Lieut-
Col. S. A. Moore, was engaged in destroying the railroad-
track in the vicinity of Reams's station. During the night,
the brigade was massed in a sugar-cane field, awaiting attack,
and at eleven next morning advanced to ascertain the
strength of the enemy. Four companies of the Fourteenth
were out as skirmishers, under Capt. John C. Broatch. The
brigade advanced in line of battle, under a heavy fire of
musketry and artillery ; driving the rebel skirmishers more
than half a mile. As they were moving steadily forward,
Capt. William H. Hawley was killed.
The brigade commander, suspecting that he had advanced
far enough, sent back for orders. Before these reached him,
however, the sound of heavy firing almost directly in the
rear induced him to return towards the station to prevent
being cut off from the main body of the corps. This was
done under an artillery-fire. We quote from Col. Moore's
report : —
" We found the main body of the corps drawn up in order
of battle in the form of two sides of a square ; one of the
sides west of the railroad, and parallel to it, and the other side
running at a right angle to it, and from west to east. In this
form they had already successfully repelled two attacks made
by the enemy.
" Our brigade was ordered to throw up a breastwork run
ning in an oblique direction across the same field in which
we had been massed in the morning, to connect the ends of
these two lines; thus forming an irregular triangle, in which
the troops stood behind slight breastworks facing outwards.
Before we could complete our slight barricade of rails and
earth, the cavalry skirmishers in our front were driven in.
At the same time, a heavy artillery-fire was opened upon us
from our right flank and rear. This was followed by a third
THE FOURTEENTH IN ACTION AT PETERSBURG. 659
attack by the enemy, made in heavy force upon that portion
of the line directly in our rear. The troops who occupied this
position of the line being principally heavy artillery regi
ments belonging to the 1st Division, and composed, to a
great extent, of raw recruits, broke, and that admitted the
rebels into our inclosure.
"The Fourteenth was now faced by the rear rank, and
formed in line of battle on the reverse side of our breastwork.
We were then ordered by Gen. Gibbon, our division com
mander, and Gen. Hancock in person, to charge, and try and
recover a portion of the lost ground. We went forward at
a double-quick, exposed to a heavy fire of both musketry and
artillery. The left wing, with the lieutenant-colonel and
Major James B. Coit, succeeded in retaking a portion of the
line left by the troops which had broken. This position they
held until after dark, firing all the time, when they were
ordered by Col. Smyth, the brigade commander, to withdraw,
which they did ; hauling off, and thereby saving from fall
ing into the hands of the enemy, one brass cannon and one
limber belonging to McKnight's battery, and one caisson
and one limber belonging to the 3d New-Jersey battery.
The right wing, after losing heavily both in killed and pris
oners, was compelled to fall back to its original position.
This it held until about dark, when the heavy fire poured
into it from front, rear, and one flank, forced it, in common
with the rest of the division, to fall back a short distance to
a better position, where it commenced throwing up a new
line of breastworks. During the night, however, the corps
was withdrawn to the line of the defenses around Peters
burg."
The Fourteenth went into this fight with seventeen offi
cers and one hundred and fifty enlisted men ; of whom it
lost five killed, eighteen wounded, and twenty-seven missing.
Capt. William H. Hawley of Bridgeport was one of the
best officers in the regiment. He enlisted as. a private, and
.was promoted to a captaincy for efficiency and gallantry.
The officers assembled, and adopted the following : —
Resolved, That in all the varied experience of the service, we have ever
found Capt. Hawley fully equal to every emergency ; in camp, the trusty
660 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
counsellor, the agreeable companion, the faithful friend ; on the march,
while a strict disciplinarian, not without mercy ; in action always com
posed, and brave to a fault. He had the respect, and love of all who knew
him ; and his manifold virtues will ever be remembered."
u At the time of his death, he filled the office of brigade-inspector, and
was acting upon the staff of the colonel commanding the brigade. This
responsible and difficult station he filled alike with credit to himself and
his regiment, and to the satisfaction of all with whom he came in contact.
His loss is deeply felt, not only in this regiment, but throughout the en
tire brigade." 6
Among the wounded were Capt. George N. Brigham,
Capt. James F. Simpson, and Capt. James R Nichols, and
Assistant Surgeon Levi Jewett, who had fearlessly exposed
himself in the performance of his duty. Capt. Henry Lee
and Lieut. James M. Moore were taken prisoners.
Capt. Nichols, dangerously wounded after a gallant fight,
was also left for a time in the hands of the enemy. They
robbed him of his purse, revolver, and papers ; and it was
not until after dark that he was found by his fellow-soldiers,
and brought within our lines. He was sent to hospital at
Washington, where he suffered for six months in a remark
able spirit of patience, and made for himself many friends.
At last, the next February, he joined the great army of
martyrs. In his regiment, — a regiment of gallant officers
and men, — his reputation for gentlemanly conduct and
soldierly valor* was second to none. He was greatly re
spected and sincerely beloved.
Among the bravest men who fell here was Sergeant
Junius E. Goodwin of Hartford. He had been among the
foremost in all the battles of the regiment, and was the first
to mount the Confederate works on the North Anna. A
comrade wrote of him after Reams's Station, " I need not
tell you of Sergeant Goodwin's noble and gallant conduct
while engaged in that terrible battle ; for you have, doubt
less, heard it many times. He was badly wounded in the
thigh ; the ball crushing the bone, and entering the other
leg. I assisted in the last effort that was made to get him
off. He was very weak from loss of blood. We carried him.
with great difficulty a quarter of a mile in a terrific thunder
storm. We had to pick our way in the darkness by the
6 Eeport of Lieut.-Col. Moore.
CONNECTICUT EEGIMENTS IN THE EIFLE-PITS. 661
flashes of lightning ; and, as we had no stretcher, it was
almost impossible to carry him. His wound was so painful,
that he begged to be put down ; but we cheered him up as
well as we could till we reached the spot where we had
left the regiment, and found it gone. There was no means
of conveyance at hand, and we were obliged to leave
him. His mind appeared to be wandering, and he seemed
to be saying something of home. We did not think he
would survive the night. We covered him with an over
coat, and placed a pillow beneath his head, and left him to
his fate. He was a noble and patriotic young man. We
all loved him."
This recoil did not loosen Warren's hold upon the Welclon
Railroad. He strengthened his position, and formed a line
of redoubts connecting himself with the former left of the
army.
For more than a month did the 10th and 18th Corps lie
in the trenches at the east and north of Petersburg, with
.nothing to break the monotony. There was artillery firing
on both sides ; and the sharpshooters kept up an intermit
tent crackle : but even fighting had by this time become
monotonous. The siege was little less than one constant,
prolonged battle ; and half the time the men were under
fire. The Eighth, Eleventh, and Twenty-first were still
along the Bermuda-Hundred front. A soldier of the Eighth
wrote, —
" We are in the pits two, and sometimes four, days at a time, through
night and day, rain and sun, mud and water. When a shell comes bowl
ing along, down we all go with a jerk. There is nothing lost, I notice,
by being polite. We have to lie low, of course : and when we are relieved,
and get behind our breastworks, it is not much better ; for, if a head or
hand is lifted in sight, fifty bullets are sent after it. The enemy's guns
have good range upon our camps, and sometimes open upon us about mid
night, supposing us sound asleep after our fatigue in the trenches, and keep
us awake all night, and many times drive us into our gopher-holes. Thus
we stand the storm ; our works growing stronger day by day, and our
faith strengthening with our works."
An officer of the Twenty-first wrote afterwards, —
" The greatest praise is due our noble soldiers for the patience and for
titude with which they endured the almost intolerable heat during this
period. The line held by the regiment, being in the open field, was fully
exposed to the scorching rays of the sun, which poured down with the
662 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
utmost intensity. The men were obliged to lie under ground, as it were,
where no circulation of the air could be obtained ; and one could do nought
but lie still and swelter in the sultry air. Any appearance of a head above
the breastwork was sure to secure attention of some hard-hearted Southron
with a crack and a whistling ball by no means pleasant to hear. The
advent of the company cooks was always hailed with delight : a commo
tion was at once visible. Tin cups joined in a lively chorus ; and hungry
stomachs began to grow ravenous. The usual amount of grumbling must
be bestowed upon these devoted sons of the cuisine, who finally retired
from the field abashed, ducking their heads around each corner, calling
forth roars of laughter ; and then the usual quiet resumed its sway."
Chaplain DeForest of the Eleventh wrote, " We lived in
ditches and holes of the earth, exposed to the sun and dog-
star by day, the dew by night, and both rebel fire and diar
rhoea at all times."
The Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, and Twenty-ninth were in
front of Petersburg-, next the Appomattox. " On the picket-
line, in the trenches, in camp, there Was constant danger of
death. Rifle-bullets went whizzing past, or striking near
one, wherever he went. ... A sharp cry at dead of night
more than once gave indication that some one had been,
wounded while asleep in his tent ; and casualties came to be
so frequent, that officers and men moved about with an ever-
present consciousness that they might fall the next minute."7
Here Capt. Francis G. Hickerson from Derby, of the Tenth,
was severely wounded in the face by a rebel bullet, and
Henry Lyman of Saybrook, one of the most tried and re
liable soldiers, was shot and died on the skirmish-line.
Occasionally there was a friendly truce between the Union
and Confederate pickets. " One afternoon, while the Tenth
was on picket, there was a rest from active hostilities. Then
a rebel soldier showed himself on the parapet of his works,
and, shaking a newspaper as a sign of truce, sprang over
into the cornfield. At once a hundred men from either side
were over their lines, and side by side, exchanging papers
and coffee and tobacco, and renewing old acquaintances or
forming new ones." *
While the Tenth lay in the trenches here, Adjutant Henry
W. Camp received his well-earned commission to be major.
A detail of twenty-five men from the Eighth was' sent to
7 Chaplain Trumbull in the Knightly Soldier. 8 Ibid.
DEATH OP CAPT. ISAAC D. KENYON. 663
establish a line of telegraph from City Point to Fort Pow-
hattan ; when sixteen were captured by Wade Hampton in
a raid within our lines after beef.
The Twenty-first had been almost constantly exposed, and
during these weeks had lost six killed and thirty wounded.
Among the wounded were Capt. Isaac D. Kenyon and Lieut.
Walter P. Long. The former was struck in the shoulder ;
and the hurt proved mortal a few days thereafter. He was
young, ardent, and enterprising ; and, when the war began,
was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Voluntown. " His
young comrades called on him to lead them ; and he closed
his business and accepted the call ; and thenceforth, on every
battle-field and in every camp, he was the same courteous,
brave, and humane soldier, having a tender care for the com
fort of his men ; an excellent disciplinarian, who inspired
them with a pride of subordination, and at the same time
taught them to think ; and a patriotic citizen, who instilled
into their minds the principles of freedom and love of coun
try, and set them an heroic example in the sacrifice of even
life itself. Peace to his ashes ! "
9 Narrative by Dr. Harvey Campbell of Voluntown.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Still in Front of Petersburg. — Demonstration on the Left. — The Fourteenth. — Advance
of Butler. — Chaffin's Bluff. — Capture of Fort Harrison. — The Eighth and Twen
ty-first. — The Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, and Twenty-ninth on the Eight. — Rebel
Repulse. — Casualties. — Attack on Terry's Line. — Repulse. — Counter - Attack. —
Death of Major H. W. Camp. — Hawley's Brigade on the Darbytown Road. — The
Twenty-ninth as Skirmishers. — The Second and Fourteenth on Hatcher's Run —
Hawley's Division at New York. — The First Artillery. — Butler fails to capture
Fort Fisher. — Terry takes it by Storm.
EN. GRANT resolved, towards the end of Sep
tember, on a further advance in the direction
of Richmond from Butler's front ; and, in order
to cause the weakening of forces on the rebel
left, he ordered another demonstration by War
ren and Hancock. This was successful, and the enemy gave
ground. The Fourteenth Connecticut was in a brigade of
observation, stationed at Prince George's Court House. Here
it remained until Sept. 26, when the 2d Corps moved to the
right to relieve the 10th and 18th Corps.
On the afternoon of the 28th, Butler faced his army to
the right, and moved in the evening towards the James.
At nine in the evening, the 18th Corps had arrived at Aiken's
Landing, and the 10th had crossed the Appomattox, and was
hurrying forward. At two in the morning, the 18th Corps
began moving over the pontoon-bridge ; and by four they
were all over, massed in column by division, and moving up
the Varina Road, on familiar ground. The Eleventh Connec
ticut, being detached, for artillery-service, remained at Ber
muda Hundred. Lieut, W. P. Long of the Twenty-first wrote,
" The gallant 1st Division of the 18th Corps swept up the
hill, which brought them in contact with the enemy's skir
mishers. These, however, were pressed steadily back about
664
THE EIGHTH HEAD A STORMING COLUMN. 665
four miles, to their main line of works, thrown up along the
crest of a hill, — a strong position by nature, — where they
had a large square fort mounting about eight guns, and sur
rounded by a ditch ten feet deep, with perpendicular sides.
From this, on either side, stretched a heavy rifle-pit, intersect
ed with small redoubts mounting one or two guns, and which
enfiladed our approach in every direction. Just before our
line of battle was formed, seven companies of the regiment,
with our commanding officer, then Capt., now Lieut.-Col.,
J. F. Brown, were sent out as skirmishers on the left of the
line, where, gallantly led by Capt. Brown, they pressed the
enemy back in the face of a heavy fire even to their strong
hold. The remaining three companies, with our colors, kept
on with the column."
The Eighth furnished two companies for skirmishers, while
the rest of the regiment headed the storming column. This
was a gallant charge across nearly a mile of open field to
Chaffin's Bluff! The new recruits vied with veterans. Now
the muzzles of the rebel guns frowned from Fort Harrison
directly in the front ; now little puffs of smoke revealed an
alert foe, and the batteries showered destruction upon the
advancing column ; now the Eighth deployed in line of bat
tle, and, closely followed by the rest of the division, dashed
away over the field. It was a fearful distance to traverse
such a field under such a fire. " Without a moment's delay,
the brigade moved to the position assigned it, and advanced
through a dense slashing, and under a heavy artillery-fire,
to the assault. The enemy's gunboats, in the mean time,
dropped down the James, and threw a heavy cross-fire into
the assaulting columns. No halt was made, however, until
the troops reached a slight cover at the foot of the hill, on
which was situated the main work of the enemy, and less
than a hundred yards from it. A moment was spent here
in resting and re-forming the men ; and then with a shout
they rushed into the ditch, and over the parapet ; and Fort
Harrison, with its garrison, and armament of twenty-two
pieces of heavy ordnance, fell into the hands of the 1st
Division of the 18th Corps." 1
1 Official Report of Lieut.-Col. Brown.
666 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The Eighth and the three companies of the Twenty-first
led the way over the ramparts ; and at eight o'clock the
standard of Connecticut replaced the Confederate flag.
Chaplain Moses Smith wrote, " We had really surprised the
rebels. Ten minutes' delay would have lost the battle, and
sacrificed whole hecatombs of precious lives. It was a race
for the prize. Re-inforcements were coming down at l double-
quick.' Our men saw them approaching, but were soon
enough to snatch from them the otherwise impregnable
hights." feoth the color-sergeants of the Eighth — William
S. Simmons of Plainfield and Jacob Bishop of Wilton — re
ceived commissions " for meritorious daring ; " and Sergeant
Nathan E. Hickok of D anbury, the choice of a commission,
or thirty days' furlough.2 The following is an extract from
the order issued by Gen. Butler : —
" Acting Adjutant P. Long, Twenty-first Connecticut, is recommended
to his Excellency the Governor of Connecticut for promotion for gallantly
planting his colors among the first on the rebel fortifications. Corporal
F. Clarence Buck, Twenty-first Connecticut, is recommended to the Secre
tary of War for a medal for courage. Although wounded in the arm, he
refused to leave the field until the engagement closed. In addition, he will
have his warrant as sergeant." 8
Col. Brown says, " Justice requires me to state that others
performed their duty with equal gallantry and distinction
on that occasion." A soldier of the Twenty-first, writing of
this day, speaks of others who conducted themselves nobly,
" Among the first, then, Corporal Howard A. Camp of Com
pany I, although severely wounded before reaching the
summit, stood by the flag he carried till safely transferred to
Corporal Rix of Company G, who bore it on till just as we
were scaling the parapet. He, too, was wounded, but careful
to see it again safe in other hands. Lieut., now Capt., E. P.
Packer of Company G, while gallantly leading his division in
the charge, was seriously wounded in the head by a frag
ment of shell, and fell senseless a short distance from the
fort. Sergeant George P. Edwards of Company A received
a serious wound in the arm just as he leaped over the para
pet. And then a little band of nine rallied round the dear
2 He declined the commission, and, before receiving a furlough, was wounded in a
subsequent action, and fell into the hands of the enemy.
3 Long was promoted to be captain, and Buck first lieutenant.
GALLANT CHARGE OF THE TWENTY-NINTH. 667
old flag in the moment of victory. George F. Curtis of
Company C, John Coon. Noah Wilcox, James S. Tucker, and
Ransom Colgrove of G, L. M. Maynard and Isaac G. Fardon
of I, and Willis D. Rouse of K, were the first inside of the
fort A gallant color-guard, and worthy of their colors ! "
The following is also an extract from Gen. Butler's order:
"First Lieut. C. W. Cook, Twenty-first Connecticut, aide to
Brig.-Gen. Stannard, has special mention for distinguished
gallantry, and is recommended for promotion." The recom
mendation was concurred in.
Meantime, the 10th Corps pushed out on the extreme
right, along Four-mile Creek, and advanced vigorously up
the New-Market Road. A soldier who witnessed the gallant
charge of the Twenty-ninth (colored) writes, " Dashing
across the space beyond the Kingsland Road, the line of
breastworks are carried in one vigorous charge ; the enemy
retreating to a stronger line a short distance in the rear.
The troops pause for a moment before this line ; and silence
intense and penetrating succeeds to the clamor of battle.
This lasts for a few moments, that seems an age. Again
Col. Wooster gives the order to charge; and the leveled bayo
nets press forward, at first steadily and in order ; but, mad
dened by the fire from the breastworks, the steady tramp
becomes a double-quick, and the double-quick a run, increas
ing until the line is reached : here the advance is for a
moment checked, and a fierce struggle ensues. Musketry
rattles briskly, and shells explode in the ranks. Away at
the left, where the 18th Corps is fighting, comes the thunder
of cannon and the faint echo of victorious cheers ; and now,
above cannon and musketry, rise the ringing hurrahs of
the negroes, as they leap with their leader over the works."
Without delay, they push quickly forward ; and pursued and
pursuers reach a third line of works almost simultaneously.
Giving the foe no time to rally, the 10th Corps rushes along
in the direction of Richmond, and effects a junction with the
18th Corps towards Fort Harrison.
Then the whole line from right to left advanced. On the
left, the 18th Corps moved rapidly forward, and confronted
Fort Gilmer, where it received a check. On the right, Ter-
668 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
ry's division, including the Sixth, Seventh, and Tenth Con
necticut, advanced during the afternoon up the Darbytown
Road towards Richmond ; the head of the column reaching a
point within three miles of the city, of which the roofs and
spires were in full view. The incompleteness of the success
on other parts of the line rendered it inexpedient to press
forward into Richmond ; and at night Terry retired to the
new line now being intrenched. Battery Harrison was a
position too valuable to be tamely surrendered. The fol
lowing day, Gen. Lee brought up three brigades of veterans
from Petersburg to retake the fort. The occupants had im
proved the night in constructing temporary defensive works,
and the men waited behind them in the utmost confidence.
The Twenty-ninth (colored) had been moved to this
point. A single shot from Fort Gilmer passed over the regi
ment, followed by heavy cannonading along the lines. In
trenching tools were quickly thrown down, and the troops
rushed to arms. It was soon discovered that the point of
attack was Fort Harrison. A powerful rebel force, screened
from view by the trees and by the inequalities of the ground,
had been massed in front ; and, when the fierce artillery-fire
had somewhat slackened, the column of attack swept into
view, and with the well-known yell came forward at double-
quick. The Twenty-ninth had a position just on the right
of the fort, connecting with the left of the colored troops
of the 18th Corps: in the fort itself were the Eighth and
Twenty-first. From rampart and breastwork waved our old
State flag, amid the deadliest storm of battle ; and beneath
its folds that day two widely different races bravely main
tained its honor with their lives. The musketry-fire was
now perfectly terrific ; but the attacking column soon ex
hausted its fire, and prepared to rely on the bayonet. Our
men had generally retained their fire, waiting for this mo
ment. Just as the gray column reached the crest of a neigh
boring knoll, the whole line opened fire — one unbroken
blaze and crash. The head of the column seemed to sink to
the earth : the rest tottered for a moment, and rolled back
in confusion to the valley. Two more charges followed,
more determined than the first ; but we held the position.
LOSSES IN CAPTURING BATTERY HARRISON. 669
Lieut. W. P. Long of the Twenty-first tells of the sequel,
" Most of the rebel column turned and fled. The rest
dropped to the ground, and took shelter behind the bushes
and any thing they could find, unable to retreat or advance.
Here and there a dirty handkerchief raised above the bushes
indicated the owner's desirfe to surrender. Then the order,
' Cease firing! ' was given ; and the air resounded with, ( Come
in, Johnnies, come in ! ' of wh'ich invitation a large number
took advantage, and found refuge and safety behind the
works of the detested Yankees. Our picket-lirie was quickly
re-established, and, being sent out by the flank, completely
surrounded those who had not already given themselves up,
and gathere.d them in. Nearly two hundred were thus
secured, while the ground in our front was thickly strewn
with killed and wounded. As we fought behind breast
works, our losses were comparatively light. Yet a num
ber received honorable scars, though but one was mortally
wounded. The regiment here, as everywhere, did honor to
its native State. I think the men never fought with more
enthusiasm."
The capture of Battery Harrison had not been effected
without severe loss to Connecticut troops. The casualties, of
the Eighth were eight killed and sixty-five wounded. Among
the killed were Lieut. James B. Kilbourne, Lieut. Charles
N. Irwin, Sergeant Seth F. Plumb, William H. Durfee, Gil
bert G. Reynolds, William H. Peterson, William A. Smith, and
other brave men.
Lieut.-Col. Martin B. Smith, leading the regiment, was
wounded severely in the leg. Among the wounded were also
Capt. William J. Roberts, Capt. Andrew M. Morgan, and
Lieuts. Samuel S. Foss, John A. Rathburn, Amos L. Keables,
and Thomas S. Weed. Chaplain Moses Smith wrote, -
"Among the lost were two lieutenants, — Charles N. Irwin of New Mil-
ford, whose term of service had jnst expired, and who was expected home
each train when the melancholy tidings arrived ; and James B. Kilbourne
of Hartford, who had but recently been commissioned. One other name I
must mention among our honored dead. Our rolls record him only as an
enlisted man, with rank of sergeant ; for, although having been commis
sioned, he had never been mustered as lieutenant. But fairer character never
graced a soldier's uniform, and he lives embalmed in the affections of home
and in the hearts of his comrades. He led in the closing prayer of that last
670 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
meeting an hour before the march ; and his last words as the column moved
for the charge were respecting ' that good meeting.' Even the casket in
which such a jewel has been carried is prized ; and, as we write here in
camp, weeping friends are preparing in the burying-ground of Litchfield,
Conn., the grave of our dear comrade, Seth F. Plumb."
The Twenty-first had lost four killed and twenty-four
wounded. Among the latter were Lieuts. W. S. Hubbell,
George P. Edwards, and E. Perry Packer.
Capt. Henry E. Jennings "of Stonington was mortally
wounded in the breast. He died a month afterwards. Lieut.-
Col. Brown wrote, " No truer patriot or braver soldier than
he has fallen in defense of the nation's life. He fell as a
soldier would wish to fall, in the hour of victory ; leaving a
noble record for his comrades to emulate."
The Sixth, Seventh, and Tenth had met with slight loss.
The Twenty-ninth, thus far, had lost four killed and forty
wounded. Among the killed was Lieut. Thomas H. McKin-
ley, a brave and efficient young officer. Among the wound
ed were Capt. E. A. Thorp, and Lieuts. Thomas G. Bennett
and Eugene S. Bristol.
On Oct. 1, Gen. Hawley's brigade advanced towards Rich
mond with the division, and was for a short time under a
severe fire on the Darbytown Road. The Tenth moved out
on the New-Market Road to Laurel Hill, as a diversion^ going
beyond the picket-line and beyond all flank-supports with a
battalion of only a hundred and fifty rifles; Col. Otis com
manding. There was but one line-officer present, Lieut.
Benjamin Wright, the rest being sick or excused.
The next week was full of exposure and privation. The
troops stood to arms much of the time, and were frequently
under fire. The Connecticut regiments had left Deep Bot
tom in light marching order, and were now without tents,
and many even without blankets. The utmost activity and
vigilance were demanded. Heavy fatigue-parties were kept
at work night and day.
On Oct. 7, the enemy made a vigorous attack on the part
of the line held by Terry's division. The cavalry came rush
ing in, and the infantry immediately sprang to arms. The
Tenth moved from the left around to the right of Hawley's
brigade to strengthen that part of the line where Kautz's
BKAVEEY OF THE TENTH. 671
position had been turned. The principal force of the enemy
came down from their right ; and the Sixth was the first
Connecticut regiment engaged. Major H. W. Camp wrote of
the action of the Tenth, —
" When the brigade next to us became engaged, including t,he Seventh
Connecticut with its seven-shooting rifles, the crash was beyond any thing
I had ever heard. We shook our heads, and listened : ammunition could
hold out but very few minutes at that rate ; and we knew that, as always,
nine shots out of ten must be wasted. Yet, as it afterwards proved, that
tenth shot did fearful execution.
" We had not long to wait and comment. A rattling volley in our own
front showed that the skirmishers were engaged ; and, in a moment more,
they came hurrying back through the dense pine-woods before us — the
rebels close upon them. While the bullets of the rebel skirmishers flew
among us, their main body was forming line just behind for the attack,
their feet plainly to be seen beneath the low-growing foliage, which con
cealed their bodies as they dressed their ranks. . . . We opened fire. The
rebels opened in return, and bullets flew fast. Col. Otis stood near the right
of the line ; I at the left. We had hardly a hundred men in the ranks ; and
the regiment looked like a single company, with a captain and lieutenant
to manage it. The men needed little in the way of orders or instruction:
they knew just what to do, and they did it. At the first fire, the regiment
on our right [100th New-York] turned and ran. Our men saw it; knew
that their flank was now exposed ; nothing there to hinder the immediate
advance of the enemy. Nothing is so apt to strike men with panic. Our
men paid no other attention to it than to give a rousing cheer just to show
the enemy that they had no thought of giving ground ; then turned steadily
to their work. Each man stood fast. Where a comrade fell, they gave him
room to lie, — no more. There was no random firing in air, but rapid
loading, cool aim, and shots that told. It was good to see such fighting.
Those whom we met were no raw recruits. They fought well. For a while,
though unable to advance, they stood their ground. Broken once, they
rallied again at the appeal of their officers, and once more tried to move
forward through the fire that mowed them down. It was of no use : again
thrown into confusion, they fell back, leaving their dead and wounded on
the field."
Gen. Plaisted said of the Tenth in this engagement, " The
Tenth Connecticut, Col. Otis commanding, held the vital
point of the position ; and its splendid behavior when the
regiment on its right gave way saved us from disaster. In
this connection, I can not fail to mention Chaplain H. C.
Trumbull, who was constantly at the front with his regi
ment, as is his wont at all times. He was conspicuous on
this occasion, with revolver in hand, in his efforts to stay the
crumbling (New-York) regiment. An hour later he offici
ated at the burial of our dead, while the skirmish-line was
still engaged, and every moment a renewal of the attack was
672 CONNECTICUT DUI1INQ THE REBELLION.
expected. The sound of prayer mingled with the echoes of
artillery and musketry, and the crash of falling pines for
hastily-constructed breastworks. His services to the bri
gade, not only on this, but on many other like occasions,
are gratefully acknowledged."
The Sixth, commanded by Col. A. P. Rockwell, and the
Seventh, led by Capt. S. S. Atwell, had a similar experience ;
and the enemy, repulsed at all points, withdrew to his old
line of works. Terry's division strengthened the position it
had defended. The Twenty-ninth arrived in time to assist
in restoring the original picket-line, which it held till mid
night.
Gen. Terry was now placed in command of the corps. An
attack upon the rebel right was planned ; and at four in the
morning of the 13th the regiments were on the march.
They passed beyond the works, by the Cox Farm, through
the woods, across the ravine, thence over the Darbytown
Road to the plains beyond. The skirmishers opened fire,
and advanced. The enemy's advanced line was pressed
back to his intrenched position. The desultory fighting
was brisk for several hours. Four companies of the Tenth
were out as skirmishers under Lieut. James H. Lindsley.
About noon, Major Camp was sent to the right on a mis
sion from the corps commander. Before he returned, the
Tenth had joined Pond's brigade, and was moving rapidly
to the desperate assault on the rebel fortifications. Those
works were strong intrenchments, with slashing in their
front. The advance to them must be for several hundred
yards by a dense thicket of scrub-oaks and tangled laurels
and vines, through which men could force their way but
slowly, even if otherwise unimpeded; and which was raked
by a deadly fire of artillery and musketry on both front and
flank. Camp hurried back, and joined the regiment as it
went in. " Col. Otis led the right and front, Lieut-Col.
Greeley led the right of the second line, the left of which
was assigned to Major Camp. ' May 1 not as well take the
left of the front line, colonel ? ' Camp asked in his quiet
way ; believing that lie could thus do most in encouraging
the men in their terrible trial." '
* The Knightly Soldier, pp. 314, 315.
DEATH OF MAJOR HENRY W. CAMP. 673
The peerless regiment leaped eagerly forward, though it
seemed like a hopeless rushing to destruction, — forward,
undaunted by the shower of bullets, or the crash of grnpe
and canister ; and to all that charging brigade, Camp set a
splendid example. He forced his way on up to the far front
of the bloody advance, and there, in full view of the enemy's
works, sought to rally the scattered remnant of his little
band as he stood right before the bristling parapet in the
face of open-mouthed artillery, and over against the double
battle-line of the defiant foe. His* tall form was the target
for a score of hostile rifles. "Waving his sword, he called
out cheerily, 'Come on, boys! come on!' then turned to the
color-sergeant just emerging from the thicket, that he might
rally the men on the regimental standard. As he did so,
a bullet passed through his lungs ; and. as he fell on his side,
he was pierced again and yet again by the thick-corning
shot. His death was as by the lightning's stroke. His eyes
scarce turned from their glance at the tattered, dear old flag,
ere they were closed to earth, and opened again beyond the
stars, and their field of blue."5
The Tenth, after a stubborn fight, retired with the line of
the brigade. The Sixth and Seventh also fell back, and the-
assault was abandoned. The Seventh lost twenty killed and
wounded. The Twenty-ninth was on the skirmish-line, but
was not involved in the charge. The Tenth had lost five
killed and thirty-five wounded. Among its slain were Ser
geants George G. Bradley, Caleb M. Holmes, and Orlando S.
Goff.
Col. Otis, in his report, said, —
" My regiment has taken part in more than forty battles and skirmishes,
— never before fell back under fire, and never behaved better than on
this occasion. I have no apologies to make for it. I have not seen so
hopeless a task undertaken since I entered the service, as that attempted by
the assaulting column to-day. Assistant Surgeon Hart was, as usual, con
stantly near the regiment, rendering prompt and efficient aid to our wounded.
u The memory of Major Henry W. Camp, the gallant officer lost in this
affair, is deserving of more than a passing notice. The country has never
suffered a heavier loss in an oifioer of his grade. Brave and cool in every
emergency, of spotless character and refined intellectual culture, he was
one of the brightest ornaments of the volunteer service, — a soldier
' without fear and without reproach.'"
5 The Knightly Soldier, pp. 314, 315.
85
674 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEEELLION.
A life of rare symmetry and of high promise was closed
to earth when this young officer lay down to die. He was
a fine scholar, of clear head, close reasoning powers, and
mature judgment. His correctness of taste and delicacy of
sentiment were as marked as the vigor of his intellect and
the strength of his character. He seldom uttered an idle
word. His sentences were full, forcible, arid polished. His
purity of speech was proverbial ; yet he had the keenest
appreciation and enjoyment of humor, and his wit was of
the sharpest edge. He "was as graceful and attractive as he
was manly and dignified. His unbending integrity, his strict
conscientiousness, his high sense of honor, were well known,
and remarkable. None ever knew him to do a mean or
ungenerous act, or heard from his lips an ungentlemanly
expression. And above all, his retiring modesty was as
marked as his ability.
"My impression of him is," says Rev. Dr. Bushnell, " that I
have never known so much of worth and beauty and truth
and massive majesty, — so much, in a word, of all kinds of
promise. — embodied in any young person. Whatever he
might undertake, whether to be a poet, or a philosopher, or
a statesman, or a preacher, or a military commander, or, in
deed, an athlete, he seemed to have every quality on hand
necessary to success. When he fights a college boat-race at
Worcester, or the sea at Hatteras Inlet, or the enemy at
Newberne, or the dreary rigors of a prison, or the impossible
rigors of an escape, it makes little difference whether he
is successful or not; everybody sees that he ought to be."
Gen. Plaisted said of the young officer, "Our cause can not
boast a nobler martyr than Henry W. Camp."
As winter approached, Grant made a last effort to turn
the Confederate right; and, to cover the movement, dis
patched the Army of the James on Oct. 27 to demonstrate
in force against Richmond. This movement was made along
the Darbytown Road, and was led*by Gen. Butler in person.
All the available troops were engaged. The Twenty-ninth
was attached to Hawley's brigade, and was deployed on the
skirmish-line of its entire front, commanded by Capt. F. E.
DARING OP THE COLORED SOLDIERS. 675
Camp of Middletown. There is no part of battle more full
of intense excitement than that enacted on the skirmish-
line previous to the encounter of lines of battle. Skir
mishing is more a duel than a battle. Each man seems
opposed to a single, personal enemy ; and these two aim and
fire, deliberately and purposely, at each other; and they
take a deeper interest in the result of the contest than when
they are atoms in a huge mass. There is none of the con
fusion and dense smoke of battle ; nothing to distract the
thoughts, or obstruct the vision. You plainly see the charge
rammed home, which, the next instant, may seek your life.
Stubbornly was the advance contested ; but from tree to
tree, from bush, rock, and rifle-pit, the rebel skirmishers
were driven, until they broke, and fled into the works.
The brigade remained in the woods while the Twenty-ninth
pushed forward, nearly six hundred strong, until they had
made their way close up to the breastworks, from which
poured a heavy fire. At this time, the enemy opened upon
the Twenty-ninth from a battery in an angle of the works ;
sweeping the line with shot and shell, and threatening to ren
der it untenable. A well-directed rifle-fire silenced it. The
gunners fell at their guns. Comrades attempted to crawl
up ; but they were shot down or forced back, and the guns
remained as silent as if spiked. The blacks exhausted their
ammunition, but replenished their supply from the dead or
wounded. They vied with each other in deeds of daring.
In a lull of battle they would call out, " How about Fort
Pillow to-day ? " " Look over here, Johnny, and see how
niggers can shoot ! " They exposed themselves with the
utmost recklessness and indifference; and Capt. Camp was
obliged to restrain them from useless exhibitions of their
courage.
During the afternoon, various points of the rebel works
were assaulted, but without success. The Twenty-ninth
remained in front; firing until the muskets became so foul
that the charge could not be rammed home. Nightfall
found the regiment still engaged with unwearied enthusiasm
where they had been for fifteen hours. By eight o'clock,
the firing gradually slackened, and finally ceased ; and the
676 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
regiment remained on the skirmish-line till daylight. A vio
lent storm drenched the men completely; but they were
vigilant until relieved.
By this time, our negroes had showed that they could
fight, if anybody had sincerely doubted it. On the skir
mish-line this day, the Twenty-ninth had lost twelve killed
and sixty-seven wounded. Among the latter was Capt.
James C. Sweetland. During the advance of the morning,
Sergeant Jacob F. Spencer of Clinton ran far ahead of the
line, and captured, single-handed, two armed rebels, and
brought them back prisoners. They afterwards declared
that they would never have surrendered to him if they had
known he was a " nigger." Gen. Weitzel presented Spencer
with a medal for gallantry.
Adjutant H. H. Brown said in the regimental report,
"Though twenty-three hours on the skirmish-line, and the
men excessively fatigued, I beg to call especial attention to
the fact that there are none missing. When we returned
to camp yesterday afternoon, we brought every man we
took out, excepting those killed and wounded." Sergeant
James B. Johnson of Sharon, killed, was mentioned for cool
ness and bravery.
Sergeant-Major George A. Gesner of the Sixth, and Ser
geants William H. Haynes, Benjamin A. Hill, and Lewis A.
Cooke of the Seventh, were recommended by Gen. Butler
for promotion for gallant service.
Capt. Charles M. Coit of the Eighth, serving on the staff
of the commander, received a severe wound, which it was
feared would be mortal ; but, after a doubtful struggle be
tween life and death, he rallied, and recovered. He was an
accomplished and fearless officer, and had often led the regi
ment in battle.
On the same morning, Warren and Hancock struck Lee's
right vigorously. The work assigned to the latter was to
swing to the west side of Hatcher's Run, and advance to
seize the Southside Railroad. Hancock advanced rapidly,
and crossed the run. The direct attack of Warren and
Parke failed ; and the enemy fell on the right and left flanks
THE FOURTEENTH ENGAGED AT HATCHEE'S RUN. 677
of Hancock with great fury, and not inferior numbers.
They met a bloody reception. Here the Fourteenth Con
necticut was engaged.
Early, in the morning, the regiment, under Lieut-Col.
S. A. Moore, had left its camp near the Vaughn House on
the Weldon Railroad, and marched westward until day
light ; when Col. Moore deployed four companies on the right,
under Lieut. William Murdock, as flankers to cover the
brigade. Three companies were also detached on the left,
under Major John C. Broatch. Advancing a quarter of a
mile, the force came in sight of the Confederate works on
Hatcher's Run. Here the regiment formed in line of bat
tle, and charged across the run, and up the hill into the
enemy's works ; taking some prisoners. Major Broatch was
severely wounded in the thigh in this charge. Sergeant
.Albert DeForest of Stratford, being at the head of the flank
ers on the right, was the first to observe the telegraph-wire
running in rear of the enemy's works, which he promptly
cut.
The regiment then re-formed, and marched by a road
running in a northerly direction about two miles, where it
halted, and was joined by the companies which had been
acting as flankers on the right, under command of Lieut.
Murdock ; they having been relieved. After a rest of half
an hour, the column again proceeded, the regiment having
two companies, under command of Capt. Frank E. Stough-
ton of Vernon, deployed as flankers on the left, and another
company, led by Lieut. Robert Russell of Middletown, on
the right. Near the plank-road, the Confederates attacked ;
and the regiment deployed in line of battle with the brigade,
and advanced across an open field to the right, facing the
enemy's works. Lieut.-Col. Moore in his official report
says,—
" At this point we lay under a shell fire, directed from the front and
right flank, for about one hour ; when we were ordered forward to and
across the plank-road, crossing a brook on its westerly side, and were
formed facing to the south, under cover of a bank. Firing being heard
on our right flank, we were ordered to file to the right, under cover
of a hill. This was done on the double-quick ; and, the cavalry being
driven in at this point, we charged over the hill, and drove the enemy from
their works. Our loss was small. The regiment occupied the works thus
678 • CONNECTICUT DUBING THE REBELLION.
vacated, remaining in them till nearly five o'clock, P.M. ; when I was ordered
to take the regiment from the works, and deploy it on the road on the left
flank of the brigade. Before this could be done, however, the enemy
attacked us in front. It was at this time that Lieut. Perkins Bartholomew
of Company I received the wound of which he soon after died. I at once
sent a sergeant to the general commanding the brigade for further orders,
and was directed to hold the position then occupied. The enemy, being
repulsed in this attack, fell back to their Avorks. We remained in the
works till about eleven o'clock, when, pursuant to orders, Ave Avithdrew ;
leaving a strong picket-line. Throughout the Avhole day, the conduct of
both officers and men was deserving of praise. Lieut. Bartholomew, who
Avas killed, Avas one of our most promising young officers. Surgeon Fred
erick A. Dudley of New Haven was left behind with medical supplies to
take charge of the wounded who could not be moved."
The losses of the regiment in this engagement were two
killed, thirteen wounded, and fourteen prisoners.
Next morning, the whole force returned to the original
lines before Petersburg ; the expedition having resulted in
failure, though Hancock had repulsed the Confederates, and
inflicted on them terrible losses, much heavier than his own.
The Fourteenth returned to winter-quarters on the Wei-
don Railroad. It was now armed throughout with Sharp's
rifles, reported one hundred and eighty men for duty, and
was pronounced second best in the division. The regiment
was, in fact, one of the best in the army ; spirited, brave,
proud of its name, always prompt and ready. In practical
fighting efficiency, it had few equals.
On Dec. 1, the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery
returned to Petersburg with the 6th Corps, from the She-
nandoah, and on the 5th went into camp near Meade's head
quarters at Parke's Station.6 The locality was precisely
the same where the regiment had skirmished with the
enemy, and lost twenty men, on the 22d of the previous
June ; and the works which it had improvised under fire, in
an unbroken forest, had grown to be permanent defenses,
prepared with consummate engineering skill. Here the
regiment lay until the re-opening of active operations.
On Sunday morning, Feb. 5, 1865, the Fourteenth was
again called out to participate in an advance of the 2d
6 Lewis Luddington of the Second Connecticut Artillery died Oct. 20, at the hos
pital in Baltimore, and was buried from his home in Bethlem This is the first time
since the commencement of the Rebellion, that the citizens of that place have been culled
to follow to the grave a deceased soldier, native of the town. — Norwich Courier.
THE FOURTEENTH AND THE SECOND AETILLERY. 679
Corps, now under Humphreys. The regiment marched down
the Vaughn Road to Hatcher's Run, and before noon reached
O
its position on Armstrong Hill, in support of the 10th Massa
chusetts Battery.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, the rebel artillerists
commenced throwing shot and shell into the position, but
did not continue the fire long. About four o'clock, the
rebel infantry commenced an attack. Its main force was
directed against the 3d Division, with the evident inten
tion of breaking through our lines, and cutting off the 2d
Division. Five times the charge was made and repulsed.
The 3d Division was en echelon in reference to the 2d, in
consequence of the conformation of the ground. When
the firing commenced, the Fourteenth changed front on the
first company, which brought it to face the rebel flank. But
as the enemy were in thick woods, and could not be seen,
this regiment did not actively participate, though several
shots were fired into them by sharpshooters, and the bat
tery which they were supporting did good service.
The first division of the 6th Corps, containing the Second
Connecticut Artillery, came to the rescue, and opened fire
on the Confederates with good effect. After the enemy was
repulsed, the Second was engaged in throwing up breast
works, which thenceforth became a part of the permanent
advanced line. The regiment had lost seven wounded and
two missing.
The Fourteenth had lost one killed (Lieut. Franklin Bart-
lett of Bridgeport) and seven wounded. Among these was
Lieut. Ira A. Graham of Durham, severely. He was an
excellent officer. Lieut. Bartlett was an officer of great
promise, had been recommended for a captaincy, and was
highly esteemed by officers and men. He was acting as
adjutant. The regiment was under command of Lieut.-Col.
Moore, whose bearing and promptness gave courage to the
new recruits on this day, the first time they had come under
fire. Lieut. Murdock of Company A captured three armed
rebels.
At this juncture, the Confederates put in execution their
counter flanking movements, by the Vaughn Road, against
G80 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Crawford's division ; and the usual result followed, — a check
ing of the Union advance. But the important position was
held. Grant's left was extended to Hatcher's Run.
During this severe service of the autumn, the Connecticut
regiments at this point had been partially re-organized. The
men who had served the three years for which they origi
nally volunteered went home, materially reducing the
strength of the regiments raised in 1861.7 These men
were received in Connecticut with enthusiastic demonstra
tions of gratitude for their patriotic and honorable services.
Col. A. P. Rockwell commanded the Sixth ; Lieut.-Col.
Lorenzo Meeker resigned, and was succeeded by Major
Daniel Klein ; Capt. Hiram L Grant being promoted to be
major. Again the regiment received a chaplain, — Rev.
Charles C. Tiffany, formerly pastor of the church at Derby,
a young man of high character, finished scholarship, and
genuine sympathy for the cause and the soldiers. He proved
a capable and enthusiastic assistant.
Col. J. R. Hawley of the Seventh was promoted to be
.brigadier-general, Sept. 17; Lieut.-Col. D. C. Rodman, still
disabled from his wound, resigned ; and Seager S. Atwell,
who came into the regiment as second lieutenant, was made
lie utenan t-colonel.
Col. John E. Ward of the Eighth frequently commanded
a brigade. Capt. William M. Pratt was made major ; the
position having been declined by Capt. Charles M. Coit.
The regiment at this time lost the services of Surgeon
Melancthon Storrs of Hartford, who resigned and returned
home, after three years of devotion to the good of the sol-
7 Lieut. II. H. Lincoln of the Tenth died at his home in Sonth Coventry in November.
He had risen from a private soldier 1'or good conduct in every battle. lie led his com
pany in many sharp engagements with till enemy ; and. during Lieut. Camp's imprison
ment, he was adjutant of the regiment. He reached home, on furlough, so exhausted from
the stress of constant service, that his mind was already wandering in the first delirium of
fever. In a week, he was dead ; not having had an hour of consciousness for intelligent
converse with the dear ones who had waited so anxiously for his coming.
Capt. Frederick B. Osborn of the Sixth, from New Haven, was honorably discharged
at this time; and within a year met his death by accident on the New-York and New-
Haven Railroad. He was born in Derby in 1825 ; and, during the four years preceding
the war, had cruised twenty -one thousand miles as a marine. lie was on the frigate
Niagara when it was engaged in laying the Atlantic cable. He enlisted in the three-
months' service. lie afterwards joined the Sixth as a private, and was steadily promoted
to a captaincy for efficiency. Through his great bravery, the colors of the regiment were
saved at the bloody assault on Fort Wagner. lie was buried with honors from his resi
dence in New Haven, his coffin draped in the flag which he had carried on Morris
Island.
NUMEROUS CHANGES AMONG OFFICERS. 681
diers. He had showed himself diligent, quietly faithful,
skillful, cool in peril, quick to see, and steady and calm in
executing. He was often summoned from his regiment to
positio'ns requiring ability and reliability at corps and gen
eral hospitals. So manifest was his excellence, that, when he
was sent for a special purpose to Washington, Dr. McMellan,
a surgeon of the regular army, in charge of the mammoth
hospital near Fort Monroe, in indorsing his orders, added
the statement that Dr. Storrs was " the most efficient sur
geon ever on duty at this hospital."
Col. John L. Otis of the Tenth resigned,8 and Lieut.-Col.
E. S. Greeley was promoted to fill the vacancy. Capt. E, D.
S. Goodyear became lieutenant-colonel.
Col. John II. Burnham of Hartford declined a commission
as colonel of the Eleventh ; and the regiment, having no field-
officers, was commanded by Capt. Randall H. Rice, who had
received a wound at Petersburg, which, it was feared, would
be mortal. He had been promoted from the ranks. Major
John Kies of Killingly had been compelled to leave the ser
vice from continued ill-health, incurred by continued expos
ure in the field.
Col. Hiram B. Crosby of the Twenty-first,9 being prostrated
with intermittent fever, resigned ; and the regiment was
commanded by Lieut-Col. James F. Brown. Capt. William
Spittle was promoted to the majority.
Many line-officers resigned at this time, having served
three years ; until a majority of the officers of every regi
ment had been promoted from the ranks. In such regiments
8 Col. Otis was a merchant before the war, but left bis lucrative business and bis quiet
homo in Manchester to volunteer in his country's service. lie sought no prominence,
but accepted the humblest commission an officer can receive, — a second lieutenancy.
His practical efficiency could not remain unnoticed, and even before leaving Annapolis he
commanded a company. His services were always timely and valuable; and bis promo
tion was steady, lie did his whole duty in the Carolinas and Florida, and was hardly
out of a fight during the months of battle. At Drury's Bluff be made, at imminent
peril, a personal reeonnoissaiice of the Confederate works, which saved a brigade from
repulse and slaughter. At Bermuda Hundred, as general officer of the day, he conduct
ed several sharp fights ; repelling the enemy's assault at one time, and recovering a lost
position at another. At Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, White's Tavern, on Darby-
town Road, and before Petersburg, he performed distinguished service. His regiment
had implicit trust in him, and deeply regretted his loss when he resigned at the end of
his three-years' service.
IJ Lieut. F. W. H. Buell died of fever during the winter. He was a son of William
G. Buell of Chatham. He enlisted in the ranks in 1862, shared all the toils and perils of
his regiment, and was promoted for excellent conduct. Ho was a young man of high
promise and worth, of good personal appearance, and noble bearing.
66
682 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
as the Tenth and Fourteenth, indeed, there was not one of
the original officers left in the line.
Our regiments along the hostile front now hastily built
for themselves winter-quarters, and awaited the opening of
another campaign. The works were strengthened, and
sharpshooters were busy along the line. Chaplain Henry
Clay Trurnbull wrote at this time, " The manner in which
the skill of the sharpshooter is criticised in the army might
strike a civilian with surprise. If he does his work well, a
soldier gives him credit for it. I have heard many a com
pliment to a rebel marksman, even from those whose escapes
from him were most narrow, or whose dearest comrades he
had recently picked off. ' What admirable range ! ' ' How
capitally they fire ! ' l Isn't their shooting excellent ? ' and
other similar remarks were freely uttered in the picket rifle-
pits in front of Bermuda Hundred, while -the enemy were pour
ing in an artillery-fire upon us on an afternoon in June, — and
that while limbs were being mangled or brains scattered
wide by the death-dealing fragments of the spherical case.
After a prolonged skirmish-fire on the edge of Strawberry
Plain a few weeks ago, a brave and faithful private of the
llth Maine was commenting on the work of the day. in
which he had borne an active and honorable part. ( They've
got some good fellows out here,' he said, referring to the
rebel sharpshooters — ' picked men. They've given us a bully
good shootin'. They gave us first-rate shootin' t'other day
when we were here. And they've given us a good shootin'
to-day. There was one of our fellows! they put a ball right
into one of his cheeks under the eye, and it came out under
his t'other ear. Killed him dead. And he was behind a
good tree, too. But they brought a flank fire on him, and
they dropped him. Now thaat's what I call good shootin'.' '
On Nov. 3, threats of violence at the polls being made by
the peace-men of the North, and alarming frauds being dis
covered having for their object a stuffing of the ballot-boxes
of New- York State with forged votes, Gen. Butler was trans
ferred to the command of that department; and he was
accompanied by a division of troops under Gen. Joseph R.
EEGIMENTS INCREASED BY UNTRIED RECRUITS. 683
Hawley. The division consisted of two brigades of three
thousand men. In the first brigade were the Sixth Con
necticut Volunteers under Lieut.-Col. Daniel Klein, Seventh
under Lieut.-Col. Atwell, and Tenth under Col. Creeley.
Col. Rockwell of the Sixth commanded the 2d Brigade.
Chaplain Jacob Eaton of the Seventh wrote, —
" The expedition was attended with great hardships to both officers and
enlisted men. Many brave men who have served faithfully for three years
have assured me that their privations and sufferings during the past week,
on board government transports, and in the unfinished works on Stateu
Island, have been greater than their privations and sufferings during any
previous week, of their army-life. The troops were not landed in the city
at all. Officers and enlisted men were not allowed to go on shore, or even
communicate with their friends, who had come many miles to see them.
The soldiers were kept on small vessels : they were crowded and huddled to
gether, exposed to cold, drenching storms, and subsisted fora time on half-
rations ; so that the enemies of the government who had riot, murder, and
treason in their hearts, could have no excuse for an outbreak. Many were
aware that their parents or wives were in the city, only a few rods off, hav
ing come many miles and waited many days to see them ; and yet they must
return disappointed and sad to the homes they left. The boats were
anchored, — some in the North River, and some in the East, and there
remained for a few days, guardians of liberty and justice. Gen. Haw-
ley's headquarters were on the fast steamer Moses Taylor, at the foot of
Twenty-third Street."
Immediately after the presidential election, the troops
returned to the front, and resumed their places in the line.
The Tenth, finding its former cabins pre-occupied, was
obliged to rebuild its log-village.10
As the Connecticut regiments were at this time reduced
o
in size by the muster-out of tried soldiers, they were soon
increased again to a minimum by the muster-in of large
numbers of untried recruits. An officer of the Eleventh
wrote at this time, " Two hundred and sixty recruits have
arrived, ' substitutes ' for patriots who stay at home. Of
these five have put down their names as having been born
in the United States of America. The rest represent twenty-
one different nationalities."
10 Lieut. George Northrop of the Tenth died Nov. 10, of wounds received in action on
the Darbytown Road, Oct. 13.
" He was Lorn in ilic tuwn of Bethel, Conn. ; served as a private in the Third Regi
ment during the three-months' campaign ; enlisted, and was appointed sergeant in Com
pany D of this regiment. Oct. 1, 1861, and re-enlisted as veteran volunteer. He was
promoted for gallant and meritorious conduct while commanding his company in the
charge on the enemy's works on the Darbytown Road. Lieut. Northrop died regretting
only that he had but one life to give for his country." — Report of Col. Grteley.
684 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The white troops of the 10th Corps were consolidated
with those of the 18th, in a new corps known as the 24th;
and the Eighth Connecticut was detailed to guard headquar
ters. The Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Connecticut Volun
teers (colored) were now in the 25th Corps, where all the
colored regiments were gathered under Gen. Weitzel.
The First Connecticut Artillery still manned the defenses.
Col. Abbot had thirty-three guns and mortars in position at
Bermuda Hundred, and twenty-nine in front of Petersburg.
The following changes of ordnance were made during Au
gust, September, and October : Lieut. L. W. Jackson with
a mortar stationed on railroad at Petersburg front ; Lieut.
T. D. Cashin with two howitzers sent to Battery Burpee ;
Capt. E. C. Dow with three 30-pound Parrotts sent to
Petersburg front; Lieut. J. H. Cummings with one 100-
pounder Parrott sent to Dutch Gap; Capt. E.A.Gillette
with four mortars and two guns sent to Petersburg front ;
Capt. F. A. Pratt with eight guns sent to Fort Sedgwick,
Petersburg; Capt. A. F. Brooker with two Coehorns and
three mortars sent to Dutch Gap ; Lieut. L. W. Jackson
with one mortar to Battery No. 4, Petersburg ; Lieut. L. G.
Logan with three 30-pound Parrotts, four Coehorns, and one
20-pound Parrott, respectively to Battery 5, Redoubt Dutton,
and Battery Drake ; Capt. F. A. Pratt with four guns to
Battery 17 ; Lieut. E. P. Mason with two mortars to Battery
20 ; Capt. H. H. Pierce with one 100-pounder Parrott and
three 30-pounder Parrotts to Fort Brady ; Lieut. E. P. Ma
son with four mortars to Fort Sedgwick; Major Thomas S.
Trurabull with eight guns and two 30-pound Parrotts sent to
the City-Point lines; Lieut. C. R. Barman with one 12-pound-
er to redoubt at Broadway Landing. Capt. H. H. Pierce
took charge of Battery Burpee. Capt. Wilbur F. Osborne
was transferred to Battery No. 1 1 . Capt. John H. Burton
was stationed at Fort Converse. Major T. S. Trumbull was
in command of all the siege-artillery in front of Petersburg.
Col. Abbot reported as follows : " Since the battle of the
Mine, the firing in front of Petersburg and near the James
River has been heavy. The average weight of iron thrown
daily has been, during August, 5.2 tons ; during September,
IMPORTANT SERVICE OF THE FIRST ARTILLERY. 685
7.8 tons; during October, 4.5 tons; during November, 2.7
tons; during December, 2.1 tons; during January, 1.6 tons;
during February, 1.1 tons. The aggregate number of rounds
fired during this period has thus been 37,264, amounting to
about 793 tons of iron. The total expenditures of ammuni
tion from the beginning of the campaign to March 1, 1865,
has been 55,325 rounds, amounting to 1,118 tons of iron.
Upon the Petersburg lines the firing has been so frequent as.
to render it difficult to select special instances for mention.
At all hours of the day and night sudden artillery battles
have occurred, often involving the entire line, and demand
ing the expenditure of many tons of ammunition."
" After the advance upon Fort Harrison, the rebel fleet habitually lay
in the reach near the graveyard, in plain sight of our lines, occasionally
firing upon them. A surprise was planned for them by Gen. Butler, whose
chief engineer, Major Michie, erected a battery commanding their position.
During the night of Oct. 21, three 30-poumler Parrotts, served by Com
pany C, and Ashby's battery of four 20-pounder Parrotts, the whole under
command of Capt. II. II. Pierce, were placed in position, and at daylight
opened suddenly upon the fleet at a range of about fifteen hundred yards.
The effeot was excellent. The rebel papers admit that a gun-carriage was
hit on the gunboat Drury, by a shell, which wounded five men ; that the
smoke-stack of the ram Fredericksburg was considerably perforated, and
six men on her wounded ; and that a plate was started on one of the iron
clads. It is believed, from the number of times the wooden boat was hit
(sixteen), that her injuries were more serious than admitted. Certain it is,
that the fleet all steamed away as fast as possible, and that the wooden
boats have not again exposed themselves in this reach. . . .
" The most important event during January, on these lines, was the
attempt of the rebel fleet to pass the obstructions in James River, on the
night of Jan. 23, when I think it may fairly be claimed that the First Con
necticut Artillery prevented a serious disaster. Three rebel rams, the
wooden gunboat Drury, a small steam torpedo-boat, and perhaps more,
passed Fort Brady about eight, P.M., under cover of the darkness."
These gunboats created great alarm and consternation,
as their purpose was to reach and destroy the Union trans
ports, laden with ammunition and sup'plies, in the river below.
In this they were foiled. The boats were shelled furiously
from Fort Brady, and Batteries Parsons, Wilcox, SpofFord,
and Sawyer. At daylight, two rams and the Drury were dis
covered aground near the left bank, some fifteen hundred
yards above Parsons. Fire was at once opened from that bat
tery with long percussion-shell from the hundred-pounder.
The second shot struck the Drury ; and the third exploded
686 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
her magazine, completely destroying her.11 The rest escaped
up the river about noon. Col. Abbot says, " During the
firing, my batteries, especially Forts Brady and Parsons and
Wilcox, were under a very heavy fire from the rebel land-
batteries. Three men were killed in the former, and a large
number slightly injured from fragments. Too much com
mendation can not be given to Capt. H. H. Pierce, command-
. ing Fort Brady, and to Lieuts. Henry A. Pratt, E. P. Mason,
and Charles N. Sillirnan, commanding the other batteries,
for their excellent conduct."
The regiment had, long before this time, accquired an
enviable reputation ; and the most penetrating eye would
not have detected in it any resemblance to the Fourth Con
necticut, which, three years before, had wandered through
Maryland, inefficient and insubordinate. The New- York
Journal of Commerce now declared that this model artillery
regiment had been of more service to the government than
any other, regular or volunteer, in the field.
•
In December, an effort was made to reduce and capture
Fort Fisher, at the mouth of Cape-Fear River, N.C., in order
to supress the immense amount of rebel blockade-running at
the port of Wilmington.12 To this end Gen. Butler was dis
patched with sixty-five hundred men, assisted by Admiral
Porter with seventy-three vessels, carrying in all six hundred
and fifty-five guns. The fort was of very formidable con
struction, and heavily armed and manned. An assault was
feebly made and repulsed, when Butler concluded to leave,
" finding that nothing but the operations of a regular siege
would reduce the fort, and in view of the threatening aspect
of the weather." The whole force returned to Hampton
Roads.
Porter was not satisfied with the effort ; and Grant im
mediately decided to make a more resolute attempt, "It
was necessary that the confidence of the armies in their
commander should be confirmed. It was necessary that
11 The firing from Fort Brady was mainly conducted by Lieut. Sterling A. Woodruff,
of Company C.
1-2 The total value of cargoes sent into this port by English capitalists between Janu
ary, 1863, and December, 1864, was estimated at sixty-six millions of dollars.
GEN. TERRY DIRECTED TO TAKE FORT FISHER. 687
Grant, by taking Fort Fisher, should demonstrate that it
could be taken. It was necessary that he should prove that
he was no butcher, who dashed his men against impregnable
battlements, and slaughtered them in hopeless enterprises.
Under these circumstances, Grant cast his eyes upon that
brilliant galaxy of generals by whom he was surrounded,
and looked for one who would have the courage to attempt,
and the skill and tenacity to execute, the great work which
needed to be done. He looked for one to whom he could
intrust the hopes of the nation and the army, and into whose
keeping he might safely deliver his own great reputation.
His choice fell upon Alfred Howe Terry." 13
He had known Terry, and marked his skill and sagacity as
leader of a division, and occasional commander of the 10th
Corps, and did not hesitate in the selection. Eight thousand
infantry were given him ; and he went down the James
with Porter and his fleet, not knowing whither he was
bound. During the night, Grant came aboard, and directed
him to " take Fort Fisher — by storm if practicable ; if not,
by siege." Included in the force, at Terry's request, were
the Sixth and Seventh Connecticut, in Hawley's brigade,
now commanded by Col. J. C. Abbott, flawley being left with
the remainder of the corps. Col. H. L. Abbot of the First
Artillery also accompanied the expedition, with twenty offi
cers, five hundred and sixty-eight men, and a siege-train of
sixteen 30-pound mortars, twenty Coehorns, and fourteen
thousand rounds of ammunition.
" Fort Fisher consists of one inclosed fort or bastion, from the opposite
angles of which spread out at right angles to each other high' parapets, or
curtains of earthwork ; the sea-face to a distance of sixteen hundred yards,
and the north face to about a third of this distance. At regular intervals,
these curtains are crossed by high traverses, which at the same time
serve as bomb-proofs ; and between which are mounted, sometimes one, and
at others two, heavy guns. On the north face are fifteen of these traverses ;
and, should an assailant succeed in capturing the first of these, the second
is an earthwork behind which the rebels could retreat ; and so on, succes
sively, until our men reach the bastion, which is inclosed on all sides."
On the morning of Jan. 13, 1865, Porter opened the bom
bardment from his iron-clads ; again showering the fort, as he
13 Speech of Henry B. Harrison in the General Assembly, on a resolution of thanks to
Gen. Terry.
688 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
had done a few weeks before, with shot and shells at the rate
of four a minute for eight hours. In the mean time, the in
fantry had landed ; and intrenchments were speedily thrown
up across the sand-spit, cutting off the fort from any relief
from Wilmington. In these wrorks, Abbot's brigade was
posted ; while Ames's division moved up to within a hundred
and fifty yards of the fort by daybreak of Sunday the 10th,
and prepared for immediate attack.
The cannonade had been furious. "I was told by the sec
retary of Col. Lamb commanding, that the concussion within
the fort from exploding shell and solid shot was terrible and
deafening beyond description. It seemed as if volcanic fires
were leaping and thundering from the ground. The air
hissed, quivered, and flamed with missiles of destruction : one
unceasing thunder of artillery shook the earth. Shot and
shell fell either upon or within the fortress to the number of
three hundred and sixty in a minute, or twenty-one thou
sand and six hundred an hour. Probably a more concen
trated and powerful naval fire was never witnessed ; probably
it was never equaled." H
Some guns had been dismounted, stockades broken, and
barracks shivered to kindling wood. Yet the fort was not
breached, nor its defensive strength seriously impaired.
Within its walls were two thousand and two hundred men,
brave and vigilant.
At three, P.M., two storming columns advanced, — one of
two thousand marines and sailors, led by Capt. Porter against
the sea-face ; the other, Ames's division, of about three thou
sand and three hundred veterans, against the north-western
face, — the most difficult point. The navy column made a
desperate dash, fought with great valor, but were quickly
driven back in disorder, with heavy loss. The enemy, doubt
less, mistook the seamen's attack for that of the main body,
and poured into them a terrible fire. The diversion was
favorable to the advance of Ames's column, which Terry was
pushing down upon the land-face. On they came rapidly.
The defiant cheer of the rebels as the sailors sullenly re
tired had hardly died away, when another cheer was heard.
14 Narrative by Chaplaiu Jacob Eaton.
CAPTURE OF FOET FISHEE. 689
The rebels met it with a yell and a simultaneous fire. On
rushed the three brigades of Ames's division. The fighting
was at close quarters. The carnage became terrible. The
leader of each brigade, and the commanders of half the regi
ments, went down in. the storm. No man turned his face to
the rear. Terry led them gallantly. The Pennsylvania regi
ments were first in the fort. At five o'clock, after the most
desperate fighting, foot by foot, we had possession of half the
land-front. The division was almost exhausted. Terry sent
for Abbot's brigade, with the Sixth Connecticut, and his old
regiment the Seventh. Its place in the defensive line was
filled by the naval brigade, and it moved splendidly forward
to re-inforce the weary and shattered ranks.
There is brief consultation. Ames's division is ordered to
keep the rebels busy. The fresh column is moved in the
deep shadow of the frowning parapet — noiselessly but swift
ly along the entire land-front to the very point where the
fierce assault of the navy boys had failed.
Gen. Terry and Gen. Arnes are with the brigade — all
cool, but anxious. Minutes now are worth ordinary years.
When the brigade reaches the sally-port, the Seventh is
thrown forward to form a skirmish-line near the center of
the work. Capt. John Thompson is wounded, and borne to
the rear ; and his place is taken by Capt. William S. Marble
of North Manchester, who leads the regiment, with equal
coolness, to its post of peril. Here it remains during the
hours of evening, while the other regiments close in and
press forward, returning the fearful fire, and seizing point
after point. Spencer rifles and veteran bayonets are irre
sistible. The rebels are driven from their foot-hold : Fort
Fisher is won !
Terry springs to the head of the column, leads it through
the fort in pursuit of the retreating rebels, pushes them
along the sea-front to the last corner into Fort Buchanan, and
compels instant and unconditional surrender.
The result was a capture of seventy-two guns, two thou
sand men, with garrison equipage and ammunition ; and suc
ceeding captures swelled the number of guns to a hundred
and sixty, and included seven valuable blockade-runners.
87
690 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
The Sixth was commanded by Col. A. P. Rockwell. The
Seventh lost two killed and five wounded.
Lieut. Edward K. Wightman of the 3d New-York, a native
of Middletown in this State, was killed while leading his men
to the charge. He graduated at the Free Academy in New
York, in 1854 ; became a contributor to several of the jour
nals; and contributed one article to the Shoe and Leather
Reporter, which was republished in Great Britain, Germany,
and France, and was used by the Home Department of the
United States. He enlisted in the 9th New- York Volunteers,
in 1862, and served with them until they were mustered
out, when he was transferred to the 3d New-York. He
thrice declined commissions, and the last one did not reach
his regiment till his death.
After taking possession of the fort, the great magazine
exploded, and buried more than a hundred men — rebel and
loyal entombed together. The disaster was probably the
result of carelessness ; though many believed that some mor
tally wounded Confederate prisoner had applied the match.
The men from Connecticut were mostly at some distance, and
escaped. Paymaster Robert H. Gillette, a son of Hon. Francis
Gillette of Hartford, had obtained permission to go ashore
with some other officers, and was examining the fort when
the explosion took place. He was instantly killed. His was
a noble, manly, generous nature ; and not only to his own
kindred, but to thousands of others the intelligence of his
death came to imbitter the cup of victory.
The capture of a work that had been declared to be
impregnable startled the country; and Terry became imme
diately " the hero of Fort, Fisher." President Lincoln at
once nominated him to be major-general of volunteers, and
brigadier -general in the regular army; and the Senate
hastened to confirm the appointment.15
Admiral Porter telegraphed, " The troops have covered
themselves with glory." " These works," wrote the admiral
afterwards, " are tremendous. I was in Fort Malakoff a few
days after its surrender to the French and the British. The
15 At the close of the war, Gen. Terry was made a major-general by brevet in the regu
lar army ; the highest promotion received by any volunteer officer in the country.
CONGEESS THANKS GEX. TEREY. 691
combined armies of those two nations were many months
capturing that stronghold, and it did not compare in size or
strength with Fort Fisher."
" I have spoken of Gen. Terry as a soldier. Let me speak
of him also as a man. In person he is tall, — over six feet
in hight, — with light hair, blue eyes, and a grave but gentle
expression of countenance. He possesses an intellect strong
and remarkably versatile ; and few men surpass him in vari
ety, extent, and precision of information. In temperament,
he is ardent, impetuous, quick, and sometimes rash in his
prepossessions. He is modest, generous, tender-hearted, apt
to bend down to little children and caress them ; a good
son, a kind brother, an unflinching friend. Porter evidently
appreciated him when he so enthusiastically pronounced him
the ( beau ideal of a soldier and a gentleman.' " 16
Gen. Grant expressed in very strong terms his admiration
of the achievement ; and both houses of Congress enthusias
tically passed the following : —
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress are hereby presented to Major-
Gen. Alfred II. Terry, and to the officers and men under his command, for
the unsurpassed gallantry and skill exhibited by them in the attack upon
Fort Fisher, and the brilliant and decisive victory by which that important
work has been captured from the reb*el forces, and placed in the possession
and under the authority of the United States ; and for their long and faith
ful service, and unwavering devotion to the cause of the country, in the
midst of the greatest difficulties and dangers.
Butler still went on insisting that Fort Fisher could not
be captured, or rather that no man had a right to capture
it after competent officers had declared it to be impregnable.
Thereupon, he was relieved of his command ; and he retired
to Lowell, leaving few friends and no admirers in the armies
before Richmond. From his retreat he fulminated a series
of ill-tempered dispatches, arraigning his great commander;
but every word came back upon him like a boomerang.
16 Speech of Henry B. Harrison.
CHAPTER XL.
The Fifth and Twentieth in Tennessee. — Guarding the Railroad. — Fight with Guer
rillas. — Retaliation. — Advance of the Spring. — The Twentieth at Boyd's Trail. —
Battle of Resaca. — Amusing Incidents. — The Fifth and Twentieth at Peach-tree
Creek. — Sherman's Flank Movement. — Atlanta occupied. — Casualties in the Con
necticut Regiments. — A Rest. — The March to the Sea. — At Savannah. — Second
Connecticut Battery. — In Louisiana and at Mobile. — " The Bay Fight."
REPARATIONS were made in the East and West,
as early as the spring of 1864, to move forward
simultaneously and give the coup de grace to
the wavering Confederacy. The enemy was
bankrupt in men and means, and his military
spirit was declining ; but the momentum of three years of
war enabled his armies still to show a stubborn front where-
ever assailed.
Connecticut was to be worthily represented in the victo
rious column of Sherman. The llth and 12th Corps were
transferred from the Army of the Potomac to Tennessee
in September, 1863, to meet Longstreet's army, already
thrown into the western scale in aid of Bragg. Rosecrans
had been pushed into the fortifications around Chattanooga;
and Bragg was investing the place, while operating on the
Union communications with strong detachments. The ene
my occupied Lookout Mountain, and the railroad and river
back to Bridgeport, Ala. The Union army was on half-
rations. Every day their provision-trains were* attacked and
wagons captured.
The 12th Corps traveled night and day from Virginia,
westward. The Fifth and Twentieth Connecticut were
stowed away in freight-cars. Dispatch was indispensable.
Comfort could not be considered. On they sped, through
692
THE FIFTH AND TWENTIETH IN TENNESSEE. 693
Harper's Ferry, Martinsburg, Hancock, Piedmont, over the
wild Alleghanies, past Bellaire, Zanesville, Columbus, Day
ton, Richmond, Indianapolis, Jefferson, to Louisville, Ky.
The commissary had preceded ; and at regular intervals the
train stopped for sandwiches and coffee for the soldiers. All
through Ohio and Indiana, the troops were greeted with an
ovation. Thousands turned out at every stopping-place ;
and ladies brought to the veterans bouquets and wreaths of
flowers, and articles of utility. Haversacks were seized, and
filled with fruit, cake, baked meat, pies ; and the pork and
hard-bread came to be despised. From Louisville to Nash
ville, thence to Murfreesborough and to Tullahoma. The rebel
guerrillas infested the whole country ; and they now cut the
railroad immediately in the rear of the re-inforcements. A
division of the 12th Corps was ordered to guard the track
from Bridgeport back towards Nashville ; and the guerrillas
became, for a time, more timid, and their raids less frequent.
The Fifth Connecticut under Col. W. W. Packer, and the
Twentieth under Col. Samuel Ross (now released from cap
tivity), went through Tennessee to Stephenson, Ala., where
they arrived on Oct. 4. Here the 12th Corps had its head
quarters, and was occupied in guarding the lines of commu
nication for the army at Chattanooga. Lieut. Edward A.
Doolittle, of the Twentieth, from New Haven, died at Stephen-
son, in December, of typhoid fever. He enlisted as a private,
and was promoted for good conduct and efficiency. " His per
sonal gallantry at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg forms a
proud memoir in our history," wrote Col. Ross. And his
brother - officers said of him, "Noble without ostentation,
faithful beyond any influence of fear or favor, and patriotic
without desire of praise, he had endeared himself to us all."
The Fifth started immediately north again, and chased the
rebel cavalry for two weeks ; maintaining the reputation for
celerity which they won at the East. The regiment at last
went to Cowan, Tenn., via Decherd and Tantallore, and
arrived on Oct. 2.6 ; being soon joined by the Twentieth.
Grant was now in command, and had an army of one
hundred thousand veterans in and around Chattanooga.
During the succeeding weeks, he moved on Lookout Moun-
694 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
tain and Mission Ridge ; defeated the rebel army with great
slaughter ; captured six thousand prisoners, seven thousand
stand of arms, and scores of cannon; and pursued the shat
tered hosts of Bragg to Dalton.1 The Fifth and Twentieth
Connecticut were still guarding the lines of communication.
In December, a member of the Fifth wrote, " The location
of the regiment is at present very agreeable, on the Nash
ville and Chattanooga Railroad, near Cumberland Tunnel,
the safety of which is intrusted to our care. Col. Packer is
in command of the post." Yet before the winter was over
the position proved to be no sinecure. In March, a mem
ber of the Twentieth wrote from Cowan, from which town
the regiment was scattered now along the railroad in squads
for forty or fifty miles, —
" Our duties the past winter have been very arduous ; and twice within
a few weeks have we suffered from guerrilla raids. At Tracy City, in Jan
uary, Company B stationed at that place was surprised by about one hun
dred and fifty mounted land pirates, who dashed into our lines, and attempted
to capture or murder our boys. David B. Rowell of Derby,2 a guard, was
shot dead from the first fire. Capt. Andrew Upson of Southington, com
mander of the post, was murdered in cold blood. While he was trying to
join his company, only a few rods distant, he was shot twice through his
body after his surrender, and has since died from the effects of his wounds.
He was one of our finest and most gallant officers, beloved by all, a Chris
tian gentleman, and a most honorable and high-minded man. Peace to his
ashes ! Lieut. Theodore Jepson showed the genuine Yankee pluck in
bravely defending his little band of soldiers against the one hundred and
fifty rebels who tried in vain to drive them from their stockade.
A part of this same force of guerrillas, on the IGth of March, attacked
a freight-train of eleven cars, about seven miles from Tullahoma. A rail
had cautiously been displaced from the track, which threw off the approach
ing train with a terrible crash. Instantly a gang of rebels jumped from
behind trees and ledges, and commenced the work of bloodshed and plunder
upon the passengers ; simultaneously firing the train, which was loaded
with hay, lumber, &c. Capt. Ambrose E. Bcardsley of Derby, our brigade
inspector, who is sometimes unlucky, then agaiu lucky, happened unfortu
nately to be on board. Three soldiers were shot down by his side ; and a
musket was leveled and fired at him, which missed its mark, just grazing
his neck. Beardsley, in company with two lieutenants and three negroes,
brakemen on the train, was then taken under a guard, and run off three
miles into a dense wood. The poor negroes were shot. Beardsley ex
pected the same fate ; but was finally simply robbed of his watch, three
hundred and eighty dollars in money, his coat, hat, and boots ; and then
asked to sign a parole. He refused ; and, after stripping the two lieu-
1 Douglass Bushnell, a native of New London, was killed in the battle near Chatta
nooga. He was major of the 13th Michigan.
2 Rowell was a quiet, unassuming young man, devoted to the cause for which he so
bravely gave his life.
MALIGNITY OF GUERRILLAS. 095
tenants who were with him of all they had, they were then left by their
cut-throats to grope their way back through the woods, barefooted, which
they did, guided by the light of the burning cars."
The Unionists had learned prompt and bloody retalia
tion. Next morning, a squadron of the Tennessee Union
Cavalry went in pursuit, overtook them, defeated them, killed
eleven, and captured seventeen. None of the prisoners were
brought into camp. The captors reported that they " lost "
them.
The Twentieth Regiment maintained good health, having
received a supply of esculents from the soldiers'-aid societies
of Bridgeport and Derby.
In Cowan and Tracy City, as elsewhere in the South, the
women were more violently disloyal than the men. A
story is told of one of these, who, besilked and befeathered,
sheered off in passing the Union headquarters one day, and
gave her skirts the usual flirt to show her contempt for the
drooping flag; when a soldier retorted with the following
bit of torture : —
" 0 marm ! how dirty your stockings are ! Just look
at 'em ! "
Female skirts and female pride went down together, while
the irrepressible roars of his comrades winged the sarcastic
shaft, and sent it home.
Bushwhackers and guerrillas abounded ; scarcely a day
passed without damage being done to the railroad at some
point. The utmost vigilance was exercised. Squads were
stationed at every depot, bridge, orwatertank; and redoubts
and stockades were erected along the whole route. Guards
patrolled the road.
Yet the rebels plied their ingenuity. " Torpedoes were
placed on the track. Rails were loosened so as to launch
the next train off an embankment. The timbers of bridges
were sawed nearly through. Rocks were rolled down the
mountain upon the rails. With infernal malignity they
watched and waited for trains laden with soldiers, on which
to practice their schemes of destruction. Union Soldiers
caught alone were robbed and murdered."3
8 Col. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
696 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
An order of terrible retaliation was immediately issued
by Gen. Grant, which made bushwhacking dangerous and
unpopular. Ten thousand Union refugees were provided for
by large levies upon the property of secessionists. Guer
rillas were hunted down, tried by court-martial, and shot.
As the spring of 1864 approached, the veterans of the
Fifth took their furlough ; and the non-veterans were tem
porarily transferred to the Twentieth, commanded at this
time by Capt. Ezra D. Dickerman. Col. Ross commanded the
brigade. Rev. A. L. Frisbie of Ansonia here joined the regi
ment as chaplain, and he made himself of great service.
Gen. Sherman now succeeded Grant4 in command of the
armies of the West; and the different corps were re-organ
ized and mobilized. The llth and 12th Corps were consoli
dated, and became the 20th Corps. The Twentieth Connecti
cut Volunteers was placed in the 2d Brigade, 3d Division.
An immense depot of supplies had been gathered at
Chattanooga prior to April, 1864. The roads rearward had
been rebuilt ; the defenses strengthened ; the veteran guards
relieved by hundred-day men, and recalled to the front.
Sherman gathered his host in Lookout Valley.
On April 27, the Twentieth took its place in the 20th
Corps, and again the regiment was led by Lieut.-Col. Buck
ingham.
The veterans of the Fifth had returned from their fur
lough home, and the non-veterans had resumed their places
in the ranks.
The veterans, after passing Indianapolis on the return,
exchanged the doubtful comforts of second-class cars for the
certain discomforts of freight-cars. That jolly soldier, Isaac
B. Rogers of Danbury, wrote the next week from Decherd,
Tenn., " It would be useless to attempt a description of the
thumps, bumps, contusions, jams, knocks, whacks, cracks,
pokes, and jars experienced by the ( soldier patriots of Con
necticut' while in process of transportation as government
freight. One thing is certain, — we found plenty of exercise
in jumping from the cars, and pushing the train up each
successive grade from Indianapolis to Decherd ; the locomo-
4 Gens. Grant and Sherman are both of Connecticut ancestry.
THE FIFTH AND TWENTIETH UNDER GEN. SHERMAN. 697
tive having been constructed for the government by con
tract."
At Decherd, they crept under shelters, and had few
conveniences of any kind. The weather was unseasonably
cold and wet, and much disease was engendered. Sergeant
' O O
J. W. Burley of Woodstock died of small-pox in April ; but
the case was isolated. Chaplain Moses C. Welch of Hart
ford wrote of him, " He possessed an uprightness of charac
ter that secured him the respect of all. He was intelligent,
thoughtful, and independent."
While it is true that the exposure incident to soldiers
is often destructive to life, yet in many instances its
effects are favorable to the health of men. This is strik
ingly exemplified in the case of Capt. William Spencer5 of
Cheshire, who enlisted as a private in the Twentieth Regi
ment. He was of a delicate constitution ; but three years
and a half of service in the field — during which he never
received a furlough, and never was absent from his regi
ment — rather improved than impaired his health.
On April 30, the Fifth had again removed to Bridgeport,
Ala., whence it marched, and joined, in Gen. Knipe's brigade,
the forces under Gen. Sherman.
The armies of the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland,
advanced by different routes upon Dalton. The 20th Corps
moved clown to the right, then marched westward towards
the town, crossing Taylor's Ridge. After an unsuccessful
effort (May 8) to break through the fortified passes, Col.
Ross was directed to take and hold Boyd's trail in the
mountains, to keep the enemy from coming through into
the valley. Col. Ross's command consisted of the Twen
tieth (Lieut.-Col. Buckingham commanding) and the 19th
Michigan, — in all about a thousand men. He started a
O "
little after midnight, and moved in the dark four miles,
arriving at the trail at four, A.M. The pass was held by two
Virginia regiments. Col. Ross threw out a double line of
skirmishers under Capt. E. D. Dickerman. The advance
was so rapid and vigorous, that the enemy's picket-reserve
6 He participated in eleven general battles, and escaped without the slightest injury.
Capt. Spencer was educated in France, and is a high type of the patriotic soldier.
698 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
barely escaped capture. By eight o'clock, the enemy were
driven from the trail to the top of the mountain. Col. Ross
says in his report, " I then established a picket-line in a
circular form, from the rocky face of the mountain on one
side of the trail, around and across it to the same on the
other side. I next established the main body on a 'hog
back' hill commanding the main road (where the trail con
nects with it) and much of the trail, and fortified my po
sition so as to hold it against large numbers. I remained
in this position, undisturbed by the enemy, save occasional
shots from sharpshooters from the top of Rocky Face, until
noon on the llth instant, when I was relieved. From
thence my command marched to Snake-creek Gap, where
it joined the brigade. I desire to thank and commend the
officers and men under my command for their uniform
promptness and bravery. Not an officer or man faltered."
Meantime, Johnston's rebel army fell back rapidly on
Resaca, and Sherman pressed forward. The Fifth and
Twentieth moved in the column ; though, of the particulars
of the movements of the Fifth, we find no adequate record.
The colonel furnished a report of only three lines from time
to time," submitting a list of casualties. The Twentieth was
in line of battle during May 14 and 15, and was, with
the Fifth, engaged in the battle of Resaca. Col. Ross says
in his report, " In passing the open ground, after crossing
the first hill under a heavy fire of musketry, grape, and
canister, the color-bearer was hit, and fell out of line : there
upon Adjutant C. Jay Du Bois seized the colors, and gal
lantly carried them forward ; holding them until our line was
re-formed on a new front, when he surrendered them to the
sergeant designated to carry them."
Immediately in front of our line at this point, and just
behind the rebel intrenchments, was a battery of four guns,
from which the gunners had been driven during the charge
on the afternoon of the 15th. The Union troops had
charged up to the very muzzles of these guns, but had been
compelled to leave them, and fall back a few rods, behind a
slight elevation. The pieces were now on disputed territo
ry; and both Union and Confederate soldiers had striven in
THE TWENTIETH ASSIST IN CAPTUKING CASSVILLE. 699
vain to drag them off during the daylight. The ground
about the battery was strewn with the dead of both sides.
In the evening, Lieut.-Col. P. B. Buckingham was directed
to take a detachment of men, and get the guns. He soon
reached the low ground in front ; when he and Capt. John
II. Doolittle of Derby, and Capt. Oliver R. Post of Hartford,
crept up to reconnoiter. The result was, that the men were
quietly set at work digging broad trenches straight up to
the muzzles: ropes were carefully attached ; and before day
break the four new, brass 12-pounders had been safely re
moved to our lines. Not a man was lost, though a fierce
attack broke out about midnight, during which the working
party was subjected to a hot fire of artillery and musketry
from both sides. Lieut.-Col. Buckingham was commended
for this exploit in general orders.
Of a movement on Cassville on the 19th, Col. Ross
reports, " About two, P.M., the division made a demonstration
on the enemy with infantry and artillery. In this move
ment, the 19th Michigan and Twentieth Connecticut, under
my command, covered the right flank, and supported our
artillery. The division advanced about half a mile, and
swung around on Cassville (the enemy retiring); when these
regiments under my command were posted on the right of
the division, my left connecting with the right of the 3d
Brigade.
" The formation for a general advance of the division
being completed, these two regiments, thus posted on the
right, advanced with the division in good order to the road
near the seminary. Officers and men acted promptly and
bravely. The Twentieth was then advanced a few rods to
support our artillery batteries ; sending skirmishers to the
front to drive back the enemy's sharpshooters. About
eight, P.M., these two regiments, — the Twentieth Connecticut
and 19th Michigan, — assisted by no other troops, in line of
battle, with fixed bayonets, assaulted and captured Cassville,
and occupied it until the morning of the 20th instant; when
we marched to the present camp.
" I desire to mention the following company commanders
for promptness and good conduct throughout these opera-
700 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
tions : Capt. Ezra D. Dickerman of Hamden, Capt. Samuel
S. Woodruff of Southington, Capt. Wilbur W. Smith of Sey
mour, Capt. Oliver R. Post of Hartford, Capt. John II. Doo-
little of Derby, Capt. Ezra Sprague of Derby, Capt. Horace
G. H. Tarr of Hartford, Lieut. John E. Royce of Derby."
The Fifth Connecticut Volunteers entered Cassville imme
diately afterwards, from another direction, and assisted in
holding the village through the night. The citizens fled in
terror, leaving their aged and invalids in an utterly helpless
condition, to be taken care of by "the Yankee Vandals."
Col. Buckingham says, " At a house found tenantless, and
occupied for the headquarters of the Twentieth Regiment,
a table waited, already spread with strawberries, warm
biscuit, and a nice boiled ham, smoking hot, which furnished
the officers of the regiment with a supper after their hard
day's work."
Col. Buckingham wrote in May, —
" Here is some of the finest land in Northern Georgia. The people
have obeyed the behests of Jen0 Davis ; and, instead of the cotton and
tobacco formerly raised, all the arable land is planted with corn, or some
with wheat. It is said that rebel soldiers were detailed in the spring to
assist in planting the crops ; but in the track of the armies not much will
be reaped ; for, spreading over the land like a swarm of locusts, the troops
eat up and destroy every green thing. The droves of cattle driven along
to furnish beef for the army are pastured in the fields of waving wheat ;
outlying troops of cavalry feed their horses upon the young corn ; and
cavalry and infantry tread down all that is left."
The same officer thus tells of the passage of the formid
able gap at Alatoona by the 20th Corps, by a ruse of its
commander, —
" Yesterday, on arriving at the gap, we found strong rebel works ; but
they were abandoned. The officer in command had moved to another point
on the order of Gen. Hooker. It occurred in this way : At daylight in the
morning, Hooker and staff, accompanied by his body-guard, started from
near Raccoon Creek, and, moving on three or four miles in advance, halted
for breakfast by the roadside. While sitting here, a rebel courier rode in
among them, bearing a dispatch from Geu. Johnston to the officer in com
mand at the gap, directing him to hold it at all hazards, and saying it
was of the utmost importance to delay the advance of the Federal troops
for a day, or until he could reach Dallas. Hooker pocketed the dispatch ;
directed one of his own orderlies to exchange uniforms with the rebel
courier ; gave him the pass from Gen. Johnston ; and wrote a new order
(from ' Gen. Johnston') to the officer at the gap, directing him to remove
his troops to another point some miles distant. The new courier mounted
a captured ' C. S.' horse, and rode away with the order. He found the
A SOUTHERN LADY'S OPINION OF FLANKING. 701
officer on the gui vive, with his troops drawn up ready to repel the Yankees.
He delivered the bogus message, showed the genuine pass, and, after being
thoroughly questioned, had the satisfaction of seeing the rebel army move
off iu obedience to the commands of Joe Hooker. The officer said he
must obey orders, he supposed ; but Gen. Johnston was either crazy, or a
d fool. The brave orderly made a detour ; and, after several adven
tures with rebel scouting parties, was at last captured by our own cavalry."
The women were intensely " rebel " in their feelings and
conversation. An officer rode up to a house one day, to get
a drink of water. While obtaining the beverage, the lady
of the house appeared, with the inevitable pine-splinter in
her mouth (most of the women of this locality are snuff-
dippers), and accosted the colonel with, " I don't see what
you uns comes down heah to fight we uns for. We uns hain't
done you uns any harm; and you uns can't never beat we
uns neither." -—" Well, madam," rejoined the colonel, "we
came down here to compel the people to submit to the
authority of the United-States Government. As to our not
succeeding, I think we make pretty fair progress. We have
driven your army down to this point, and have defeated it
every time it stopped."-— '"But you uns don't fight we uns
fair," persisted the lady. "When we get all fixed, with a row
of dirt in front, Mister Hooker he takes his regiment and
comes down on the eend of our men, and that's the way he
doos all the while. And," continued the lady after a pause,
" hain't you got a man o' the name o' Sherman long o' you
uns?" — "Yes," confessed the officer. "Wall, he doosjes' so
too, with his regiment ; and rny man — he's in the army — he
writ home, and says, if 'twa'n't for Mister Hooker and Mister
Sherman with their regiments, we uns should beat you uns
all the while." The officer acknowledged that it was proba
ble, and rode on.
During the succeeding three months, Col. Ross was de
tached from the Twentieth, and placed in command, first of
Cassville, then of Marietta, while the column advanced on
Atlanta. About dark of June 17, the Fifth and Twentieth
crossed the Chattahoochie, and, after advancing four miles,
bivouacked in column by division. A line of battle was
formed the next forenoon ; and an advance was made, the
enemy's skirmishers retiring rapidly.
702 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
On the 20th, the column again moved forward, and about
noon crossed Peach-tree Creek, in front of Atlanta, and halted
in column by division. After a rest of an hour, the army
was deployed in line of battle, and assailed Hood's intrench-
ments. The Twentieth Connecticut was in the front line,
on the extreme left of the division adjoining the 4th Corps.
Col. Buckingham reported, —
"After being formed in proper order, the command was given to ad
vance to a ravine about a hundred rods in our front. This was accom
plished under a heavy fire from the skirmishers of the enemy, who were
driven back, our line advancing in excellent order. Here we again rested
for about three-quarters of an hour, until other dispositions were made ;
when, in connection with the 4th Corps, our whole line was advanced to
the crest of a hill in our front. On arriving at this point, the enemy, who
was concealed in a ravine, made a desperate charge along the entire front
of the 20th Corps and the right of the 4th. This was received with a
steady and terribly destructive fire from our front line, which stood firmly,
determined not to give a single inch of ground.
u The brigade of the 4th Corps on our immediate left was compelled,
after a short but severe struggle, to fall back some twenty or thirty rods,
in considerable confusion ; but soon re-formed, charged, and drove the
enemy back, recovering the lost ground. When this brigade fell back,
the enemy followed closely ; and thus not only threatened the left flank and
rear of my regiment, but actually opened fire upon us from that position.
I immediately threw back five companies on my left, so as to face the
enemy, and opened fire in that direction ; thus contributing not a little in
repulsing the enemy on the front of the right of the 4th Corps. After that
corps had recovered its position in line, we were again ordered to advance
through a ravine, and to the top of a high ridge in our front, which we
were to take and hold at all hazards. Our skirmishers had, before this,
been compelled to take refuge within our lines, and we were again ad
vanced, drove the enemy out of his ravine, up and over the hill ; punishing
him severely as his scattered regiments retired over the rising ground,
as the numerous dead and wounded in our front bore witness. On arriving
at the top of the ridge, we halted, formed the line in perfect order, arid
held the ground firmly until the battle was over. The right of the 4th
Corps, on account of the determined opposition received, was not able to
advance up to our line, but held their line some twenty-five rods to our
left and rear. The enemy was soon discovered, not only advancing at a
charge in our front, but also to our left, against the 4th Corps ; and two
companies on my left were ordered to face the flank of the enemy, and open
fire in that direction, while the remaining companies maintained a deter
mined fire against the three lines of the enemy advancing in our front.
The attack was repulsed, and the enemy fell back in confusion ; and,
although repeated charges were made during the afternoon, our lines
remained firm and immovable. The regiment stood for four hours in the
open field, and fought with most determined courage ; and both officers and
men are entitled to praise for their coolness and steadiness during this most
obstinate battle. The regiment was relieved by the 136th New- York, at
about sundown, after having fired one hundred and fifty rounds of ammu-
THE FIFTH IN A SEVERE ENGAGEMENT. 703
nition per man, and after the muskets had become so foul from use as to
be almost entirely unserviceable. On being relieved, we fell back a short
distance, and remained under fire, supporting the 136th New-York, until
the enemy retired. Soon after dark, the enemy fell back, leaving his dead
and wounded on the field.
"Wounded rebel officers belonging to the 3d, 33d, 55th, and 144th
Mississippi Regiments, left on the field in front of the Twentieth, remarked
that they had lost more men during this engagement, in killed and wounded,
than they had before during the war. During our advance, a rebel color-
bearer in front of the right of my regiment was killed ; and a rebel officer
who sprang forward and seized the colors to bear them off was also shot
dead ; but a soldier from the 26th Wisconsin Infantry succeeded in obtain
ing the flag. During the action, our division captured seven stand of
colors."
A soldier writes from the field the following account of
the honorable part taken by the Fifth : " On the morning
of July 20, we crossed the creek, and, advancing about
half a mile, halted for the purpose of arranging the line, and
other details incidental to a change of position. The 1st
Division had no formation for battle ; when suddenly, and as
unexpectedly as an earthquake, the storm of battle broke
out upon the left, and rolled rapidly down from the 2d
Division upon the left, through the 3d, and speedily en
veloped the 1st in its uproar.
" It was almost a complete surprise ; but the men who
formed the line of July 20 were too familiar with the
rattle of musketry and odor of powder to yield to panic, or
flee without being driven : and as the enemy came shouting
and yelling from the woods within twenty yards, flaunting
their flags in the assurance of an easy victory, the old
division closed sternly in, and the answer to their yells
was Union bullets and Union cheers. For three hours, the
battle raged, the enemy being repeatedly repulsed, and as
often returning to the charge, only to find the wall of fire
and steel more impenetrable than before, and to lose in
creased numbers of their misguided soldiers upon the field.
At a little before sunset, the battle ceased. The returns of
the Fifth exhibit a loss of sixty men killed and wounded,
out of less than two hundred who went into action ; among
whom were many of the best and most valued men of the
regiment."
Hood was now in command of the rebel army. Several
704 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
successive desperate assaults were repulsed by Sherman, and
again the Union forces crept forward and encircled Atlanta.
To avoid a direct assault on the intrenchments, Sherman
extended his line rapidly to the right, and reached around
to the south-eastward of the city. The Fifth and Twentieth
Connecticut Volunteers were constantly active. Col. Buck
ingham relates the following : —
" A day or two after, as our division was on a reconnoissance beyond
our right, we rode up to a house occupied by a half-dozen of the feminine
portion of the Confederacy, — an old lady and her daughters. The phiz of
the old lady was adorned with a clay pipe ; and three of the daughters
closed their teeth upon delicious pine sticks, and the pink of their pretty
lips was blended with the brown of moistened snuff. We inquired if
there had been any rebel troops in that vicinity in the morning. ' 'Deed
they has ! ' replied the old lady. ' How many ? ' — ' Oh ! a right smart of
'em,' she answered. ' Some o' you uus come along here about sun up, and
they formed a streak of fight right through my garden.' — ' Were the rebel
troops you saw infantry or cavalry ? ' asked the officer. ' Dunno,' was the
reply. 'Were they on horseback, or on foot?' he explained. 'No,'
briskly responded the dame. ' They was all critter men, you tins and we
uns both.' So we learned that there had been a cavalry skirmish."
The hostile lines were now pressed closely together. In
trenchments were advanced and strengthened. Every can
non-shot fired by Sherman's army went into Atlanta. Col.
Buckingham wrote of sharp-shooting, " There are many
excellent shots in almost every regiment, and there are
companies of sharpshooters, so called ; but the genuine
sharpshooter is an institution by himself. Though nomi
nally attached to some regiment, he acknowledges obedience
to no organization. He is detached, and reports only to the
headquarters of the division or corps. He goes to the front
when there is any chance for game, and hunts rebels as he
would deer, — for the fun of it. Armed with a rifle that would
break down any ordinary man, with telescopic sights upon
it, and a patent muzzle, he is a dead-shot at six hundred to
a thousand yards. He loads his piece with as much precision
as if he were shooting for a wager ; and just at daylight goes
out to the skirmish-line to hunt rebels for the day. His
particular business is to pick off the rebel artillerymen; but
he doesn't object to draw a bead upon any vertical piece of
gray cloth. He comes in at night with a long stick in his
hand, with a row of notches cut in it, indicating the number
' certainly killed/ ' probably killed/ and ' winged.' "
LOSSES IN THE FIFTH AND TWENTIETH. 705
Very deliberate murder this, — cold-blooded, atrocious, re
minding of the Indian who takes the scalp. But all war
is barbarous and horrible ; and perhaps that which kills the
surest, and ends the quickest, is least inhuman after all.
The 20th Corps remained north of Atlanta, while Sher
man gradually stretched his right away to the south, then
closed suddenly in on the Macon Eailroad. Hood met him
stubbornly : there was another great battle, and another
Union victory. Hood evacuated Atlanta, and withdrew
southward; while the 20th Corps leaped over the breast
works, and rushed into the city. Here Sherman paused;
and the army, which had been in an almost constant battle
for four months, took breath, rested, and re-organized.
The Connecticut regiments had both suffered heavily.
In the battle near Resaca, May 15, the veteran Fifth lost
eight killed and forty-three wounded. Among the wounded
was Lieut. George W. Titus in the head, severely, and Lieut.
John H. Brewster. In the fight near Dallas, the Fifth lost
two killed and twenty-nine wounded. In June, the regi
ment suffered three killed and twenty-five wounded. Among
the wounded were Lieut. Perry P. Wilson of Woodstock, who
lost both legs ; and Lieut. James Stewart, wounded severely
in the thigh. In the battle of Peach-tree Creek, the Fifth
was in the hottest of the fight, and lost from its now feeble
line fifteen killed and forty-four wounded. Among the
wounded were Lieut, and Adjutant William A. Daniels, As
sistant Surgeon Andrew I. Gilson, Lieut. L. M. Snow, Lieut.
Isaac N. Weldon, Lieut. Albert L. Gavitt. In a skirmish of
July 31, the Fifth also lost three killed and seven wounded.
The losses of the Twentieth had been scarcely less. On
May 15, it had lost one killed and thirteen wounded ; on
the 19th, one killed, three wounded, three missing; July 20,
Peach-tree Creek, ten killed and forty-five wounded ; and
during the succeeding week three killed and six wounded.
In the battle of Peach-tree Creek, among the wounded were
Capt. Ezra D. Dickerman, Capt. Horace G. H. Tarr, Capt.
Oliver K Post, Lieut. Theodore Jepson, Lieut. Wellington
Barry, Lieut. Ebenezer B. Fenton, Lieut. Edward J. Murray
and Lieut. Edward Root. Capt. Dickerman and Lieut. Jep-
706 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
son were wounded very severely in the head ; and the
injuries of the former ultimately proved mortal.6
Capt. Oliver R. Post of Hartford died next day of his
wound, in the hospital at Atlanta. He was a native of
Essex, and a son of Capt. Ambrose W. Post of that town.
At the time of his enlistment, he was assistant editor of the
Hartford Press. He had served with great acceptance in
the regiment ; being seldom absent from his company for
any reason. His body was embalmed by his comrades, and
sent home for burial.
From Atlanta, a soldier of the Fifth wrote, —
" In a hundred days, the division to which this regiment is attached
has been engaged in four pitched battles, in all of which the command has
borne its part, and left its traces in fresh mounds and rudely-carved head
boards upon every field and skirmish-line for a hundred miles. The regi
ment started upon this campaign with about four hundred and fifty men
for duty, and at this writing has one hundred and thirty : of the first
number, nearly two hundred have fallen in battle, and are either buried on
the field of battle and victory, suffering with wounds in hospitals,7 or
enjoying the soothing influence of home and its ministrations."
6 Ezra Day Dickerman of Hamden entered the service as a private soldier in the
Tenth; was in the expedition to the North-Carolina coast, and wounded in the chin at
the battle of Roanoke Island. He attracted much notice by his bravery, promptness,
soldierly appearance and conduct, and studious habits. When the Twentieth was organ
izing, he was promoted to a second lieutenancy, and sent home to recruit a company for
that regiment, which was composed largely of his personal friends and acquaintances.
He was immediately chosen captain. This company was known as the Whitney Rifles,
being under the patronage of the generons founder of Whitneyville, near New Haven.
At Chancellorsville, he was again wounded, receiving a bullet in his hip. While at home
on a furlough, before he had fully recovered from this wound, and before his furlough had
expired, rumors were heard of a coming battle; and he at once started to join his regi
ment at the front, near Washington, which place he visited for information as to its-
position. Failing to get definite directions, he jumped upon a supply-train, which carried
liim to Westminster, the nearest railroad point, and yet twenty-five miles distant from
the field of Gettysburg. This distance he walked, with halting step, and presented him
self before Col. Wooster for duty about five minutes before the commencement of the
great battle of July 3. At Peach-tree Creek, near Atlanta, July, 1864, he received a bul
let in his head ; was reported mortally wounded, and by the surgeons on the field was
passed as a hopeless case. A faithful friend and comrade attended him, and procured his
removal to the officers' hospital at Nashville, where, after a period of thirteen days of
almost entire unconsciousness, the ball was with great difficulty extracted from a depth
of three inches. Possessing a vigorous constitution and perfect health, promoted by
strictly temperate habits, he soon rallied, but witB the loss of the sight of one eye ; and
was able to visit his home in Connecticut. After some months, he was detailed for duty
at the conscript camp at New Haven, in charge of the commissary department, where he
remained until March, 1865; when he was promoted to be major of the Twentieth, and
ordered to join his regiment, which he did at Richmond, Va. At the close of the war, he
was mustered out with the regiment, after four years of service. He lived nearly three
years thereafter, with occasional periods of intense suffering, arising (as since ascertained)
from the formation of an abscess in the head. In December, 1867, in one of these ago
nizing attacks of pain, he died at the age of twenty-seven years. The key of his excel
lent military record is found in the words Christian patriot. He shrank from no duty,
however perilous ; and has left the reputation of a gallant, faithful soldier, and a most
estimable man.
7 Private Gilbert M. Stocking died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Jan. 24, 1865. He
was a native of Waterbury, and graduated at Yale in 1861 ; standing sixth in a class
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 707
From the first of August up to the first of October, a
tacit armistice prevailed. At this latter period, Hood,
who, though impetuous and imprudent, had succeeded John
ston in command of the Confederate army, struck northward
past the flanks of the Union army, crossed the Chattahoo-
chee, and moved rapidly on Sherman's communications.
Sherman sent Thomas along the road to Nashville with
three corps of his army, but maintained his position at
Atlanta. About Dec. 1, Hood menaced Thomas in front of
Nashville, swearing, foolishly as profanely, that he " would
water his horse in the Cumberland River or in hell." Three
weeks later, he was flying from the battle-field with an
army defeated and utterly ruined.8
On Nov. 16 began the wonderful march to the sea.
Sherman's army moved in two divisions, with four corps, of
which the 20th Corps was on the left flank. The great
commander abandoned his rearward communications, as
Cortez burned his ships, and fixed his eye on Savannah. ^
Col. W. W. Packer of the Fifth commanded the brigade
for a few weeks as the successor of Gen. Knipe, in which
office he showed zeal and ability ; and soon afterwards
resigned, having served faithfully more than three years.
Lieut. - Col. Henry W. Daboll commanded the regiment,
assisted by Major William S. Cogswell. Col. Daboll, in his
report of the march, said of the condition of the regiment
when it left Atlanta, "There were present with the regi
ment but six line-officers ; and one of these was acting as
adjutant. Notwithstanding this, and though the nature of
3ur marches (depending almost entirely upon the country
for supplies, and regiments and companies being broken up
to guard and assist trains stretched over long intervals) was
necessarily such as would try the morale and discipline of
a command, I am happy to state, that, during the entire
campaign, the regiment behaved in a manner not only
gratifying to myself, but eliciting the commendation of my
superiors."
of ninety-seven. He enlisted in 1863 in the Twentieth. The severe duties of the At
lanta campaign proved disastrous to his health, and he retired to a hospital to die.
b The following epigram was current at this time : —
" Where Hood is, 'twere not difficult to tell.
He swore he'd go to Nashville or to hell;
And hasn't gone to Nashville — very wel] 1 "
708 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
What need to describe in detail the colossal stride from
the mountains of Georgia to the sea? There was little
in the experience of the Connecticut regiments that was
peculiar. They remember the sublime illumination of the
heavens over burning Atlanta; the clamor and clatter of
the setting-out ; the steady progress and constant resistance ;
the frightened rebels hiding while the hurricane passed ; the
negroes gathering along the rear, a black triumphal escort ;
the liberal foraging ; the burning of houses, mills, and towns,
and the desolation of the broad track of the army, almost
as complete as the wasting of the Palatinate by Turenne ;
the occasional skirmish ; the private campaign of the " bum
mer" astride his mule, hovering along the flanks, and
dragging in his ill-assorted plunder; the construction of
corduroy roads over hundreds of miles for the artillery ; the
wonderful panorama of the march, and the quaint tableaux
of the nightly bivouac ; the sombre caravan of ambulances ;
the ponderous cannon with the fighting-cock mounted atop ;
the weary toil, beguiled each day by new scenes and fresh
encounters as the old flag was borne from county to county
and from State to State in the grand pageant. In January
of 1865, the army — "Sherman's iron-clads " as they were
called by the Confederates — rested for a few weeks in and
about Savannah, after one of the most remarkable cam
paigns in the wars of the world.
The Second Connecticut Light Battery, Capt. John W.
Sterling commanding, left Brashear City, La., on June 17,
1864, and moved to Algiers, and pitched tents. On July
30, the battery was embarked on board transports, and
moved down the Mississippi, and through the Gulf, landing
in the rear of Fort Gaines, at the mouth of Mobile Bay. It
here went into position, and was engaged with other forces
in the bombardment and capture of the fort after the
passage of Farragut's fleet.9 No other field-battery parti-
9 Connecticut had still other participation in the fight for Mobile. Lieutenant -com
manding Edward Terry of Hartford, was in command of Farragut's flagship, the Hart
ford. Lieut. J. C. Kinney, son of Kev. E. D. Kinney of Westford, was Farragut's signal
, officer on the flagship, and sat on the cross-trees of the fore-topmast. Both showed great
efficiency throughout the terrible battle. On the different vessels of the fleet were many
THE SECOND BATTEKY IN FLOEIDA AND ALABAMA. 709
cipated. On Aug. 19, two sections of the battery, under
Lieut. Frank H. Whiting (Lieut* W. S. Hotchkiss being ill
at the time), were transferred to the rear of Fort Morgan,
across the entrance to the bay, and opened fire upon the
fort at a distance of three hundred yards. The cannonad
ing was continued at brief intervals for four days, when the
fort surrendered.
The battery remained in this vicinity until Sept. 3 ;
when it was re-embarked and returned to Algiers, remaining
there a few days, and then going into excellent barracks in
New Orleans. Here the men tarried two months. Capt.
John W. Sterling resigned in October, after a severe and
creditable service of three years, and was succeeded by
Capt. Hotchkiss. Nov. 13, the battery proceeded up the
Mississippi to White-house Landing, Ark., where it went
into winters-quarters on the island formed near the conflu
ence of the White River with the Arkansas. The quarters
were not tempting ; but the men had ample time to construct
huts of logs and clay. A droll and philosophical member
wrote at this time, " We are only supplied with shelter-tents
in this department; but a veteran will not sleep cold or wet
a second night, with a shelter-tent, a hatchet, and a mud-
hole to start with."
Early in February, 1865, the battery arrived at Green
ville, La., via Kennerville ; where it remained a short time,
and was ordered to Florida. It reached Fort Barancas on
the 26th, and parked where the Twenty-eighth Connecticut
Volunteers encamped in 1862-63. On March 11, a division
of Union troops, in which was the battery, left Barancas, and
marched to Pensacola ; thence slowly, through swamps on
corduroyed roads, to Pine-barren Creek ; thence, after figh1>
ing and dispersing a large Confederate force, to Blakely, Ala.
Here the enemy was met, intrenched and prepared for
battle. The batteries went into position, and shelled the
rebels fiercely ; when the Union infantry charged, and swept
Connecticut men in service ; among them, Henry Howard Brownell of East Hartford, a
nephew of Bishop Brownell, who served on Farragut's staff. Mr. Brownell described
" The Bay -Fight " in the most stirring epic which the war inspired ; writing some of the
most vigorous stanzas on deck in the hottest moments of the combat. He has pub
lished his war-poems in a volume that is received with much favor.
710 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
away the whole, taking many prisoners. John S. Mills of
Bridgeport was killed by a« torpedo. This was on April 9,
and was one of the last battles of the war. Mobile immedi
ately capitulated ; and there the Second Battery went into
camp, until it was transferred for a few weeks to Selma.
This battery was in arduous service more than three years.
It never lost a gun or a flag ; and so well had its property
been taken care of that it returned home with the same
harnesses with which it was first equipped — never having
drawn even a bridle.10
Meantime, the Fifteenth remained in Newberne ; and Sur
geon Mayer, being speedily exchanged, reported there.
During the summer of 1864, the yellow fever broke out.
The first cases occurred in the Fifteenth, during the latter part
of September. Then it came out in the United-States Gen
eral Hospital Foster in fall violence. At that time, Surgeon
Mayer was in charge of this hospital; and Assistant Surgeon
Eli F. Hendrick of the Fifteenth, from Danbury, was one of
the resident surgeons. The epidemic increased rapidly. It
was some time before efficient means could be devised for sav
ing any of those attacked. Surgeon Hendrick labored nobly
and fearlessly. Surgeon Mayer wrought with zeal and emi
nent success. With the management of a large hospital,
the nurses and cdoks of which had to be replaced by new,
inexperienced men as frequently as once in four days, be
cause, on an average, they sickened with the fever after serv
ing that length of time ; with the machinery of the hospital
loose, and the clerks who kept record dying one after the
other ; with new patients, often men that had ventured into
town, and, being suddenly attacked, were brought into the
hospital speechless, to die there, — with all this to man
age and superintend, Dr. Mayer also, on account of the
dearth of surgeons, had medical charge of five wards; and in
those, during the entire yellow-fever epidemic, he succeeded
in saving seventy men above the percentage of recoveries
10 This result was due not more to the attention of the officers than to the practical
vigilance of the saddler, Daniel W. Hawley.
YELLOW FEVEE IN KEWBEKKE. 711
under other hands. The doctor was himself seized with the
epidemic on the 3d of October, and, expecting to die, made his
arrangements for the future calmly ; requesting that his body
might be dressed in the uniform, and^ " plenty of roses be
put in the coffin," for Newberne was then aglow with flowers.
He recovered, however, and took charge o£ the hospital
again on the 20th of October; keeping that position until the
end of the year, when he was made medical purveyor of the
District of North Carolina. Assistant Surgeon Hendrick was
also atacked by the fever after the most faithful and Christian
discharge of his difficult duties, riot only in the hospital, but
also caring for many of the poor citizens of Newberne, as he
found opportunity. The chief clerk of the Foster Hospital,
W. Chester Case of Bloomfield, a private of the Sixteenth
Connecticut, labored unceasingly to keep the machinery of
the hospital in order, and to secure data for ascertaining the
heirs of the deceased soldiers. "After the epidemic had
passed, there remained two trunks of gold and silver watches,
and a safe containing thirty thousand dollars left by these
poor victims." These were restored to relatives. At that
time, Surgeon D. W. Hand, the medical director, transmitted
Surgeon Mayer an official letter from which we quote the fol
lowing passage : " I shall never forget your manly conduct
during this epidemic, and how nobly you did God's work in
that time."
When North Carolina became a department, under Gen.
Schofield, Surgeon Mayer was made medical purveyor of the
department. He provided medical stores for Schofield's and
Sherman's armies, and received, and took an official inven
tory of, a half-million of dollars' worth of captured property
which fell into his hands ; leaving the office, when the Six
teenth went out of service, with the thanks of his superior
officers. Gen. Harland and staff resided at Newberne during
the epidemic ; and the general, being in charge of the city,
did the utmost to prevent any spreading of the disease.
He sent most of the Northern troops out of the city into
camp, substituting colored troops who were acclimated. Only
surgeons, and officers of the quartermaster's and commissary's
department, were retained. The general even sent away
712 CONNECTICUT DURING THE HEBELLION.
members of his own staff; permitting none to remain with
him more than a few days at a time. Believing that, if
he himself left, panic or confusion might ensue, he quietly
staid in the city. He was ill much of the time, and his
surgeons insisted upon his departure, especially when three
died of the temble malady at his own house ; but, resolute
in purpose, he remained at his post, and survived.
Soldiers and citizens died at the rate of thirty to forty a
day. Not a church or store was opened for weeks. The
pestilence raged malignant and uncontrollable. Everybody
fled that could get away. Only six Northern men who
remained in the city were spared the visitation; and one
of the six was Gen. Harland.
The Fifteenth Connecticut, which had been relieved from
provost-duty on the approach of the disease, and encamped
outside of the city, yet suffered fearfully. Almost every clay
there were some deaths. Chaplain John B. Doolittle of New
Haven, the faithful chaplain of the regiment, attended
thirty-two funerals of soldiers and citizens during the week
ending with Sunday, Oct. 2. On Oct. 6, Capt. Septimus
S. Smith of New Haven, and six enlisted men of the Fif
teenth, died. During the pestilence, the regiment lost fifty-
eight men, including Capt. Smith, and Lieut. (Quartermaster)
Marshall C. Anger and Lieut. William W. Thompson, both
of Meriden. Capt. Smith was a brave soldier, and a capable
officer.
At the news of the death of Lieut. Anger, the flags in
Meriden were displayed at half-mast, and there was profound
sorrow. Probably no officer of the regiment was more highly
esteemed. Surgeon H. V. C. Holcomb of Branford wrote,
" As a man he was one of the truest-hearted, most genial, and
obliging souls that ever lived. I believe, without any ex
ception, he was the most popular man in the regiment ;
esteemed alike by officers and men. There was in his com
position a vein of genuine wit and good humor which often
enlivened the sometimes gloomy hours of a soldier's life ; and
a keen sense of the ludicrous took off the edge of many a
hard service. He never lacked for friends. I see not how
he could ever have had an enemy. As I think of his noble,
SURGEON MAYEE MEDICAL PURVEYOR. 713
manly traits, his heart overflowing with kind and generous
feeling, it is difficult to realize that I shall feel the warm
grasp of his hand no more."
Towards the end of October, the fever began rapidly to
abate. The Fifteenth was temporarily divided between
Slocum's Creek and Evans's Mills, — outposts a few miles
distant.
When North Carolina became a department, under Gen.
Schofield, Surgeon Mayer was made medical purveyor of the
department. He provided medical stores for Schofield's and
Sherman's armies, and took an official inventory of a half-
million dollars' worth of captured property.
90
CHAPTER XL!
Sheridan takes Command in the Shcnandoah. — The First Connecticut Cavalry, Second
Artillery, and Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Eighteenth Infantry. — At Winchester.
— Kearney sville. — Skirmishes. — Battle of Opequan Creek. — Casualties. — Spring
Hill. — Cedar Creek. — Defeat and Victory. — Heavy Losses. — The Pursuit. —
Roll of Honor of Yale College and Wesleyan University. — The Seventeenth in
Florida. — Battles and Raids. — Successes and Disasters. — Incidents. — Casualties.
ESOLVED to push the enemy at all points,
Grant ordered aggressive movements in the
Shenandoah. On Aug. 1, 1864, Gen. Hunter
was, at his own request, relieved of the com
mand of that army; and Sheridan was appointed
his successor. The new commander was given three infantry
corps, — the 6th, 8th, and 19th, — and ten thousand cavalry.
Of Connecticut regiments, there were the Second Artillery,
still fighting as infantry in Wright's 6th Corps ; the Eight
eenth in Crook's 8th Corps ; the First Cavalry in Wilson's
division; the Ninth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth (which had
joined the army again), from the Department of the Gulf,
in the 19th Corps. The Second was commanded by Col.
Mackenzie, assisted by Lieut-Col. James Hubbard, and
Majors William B. Ells, James Q. Rice, and Jeffrey Skinner.
The Eighteenth was commanded by Capt. M. V. B. Tiffany.
The First Cavalry was under Col. E. Blakeslee. The
Twelfth was commanded by Lieut.-Col. Frank II. Peck, who
became colonel Aug. 26, vice Ledyard Colburn resigned ;
Major George N. Lewis succeeding him as lieutenant-colonel,
and Capt. Sidney E. Clark becoming major. The Thirteenth
was still commanded by Col. Charles D. Blinn. Homer B.
Sprague was lieutenant -colonel; and Apollos Comstock,
major. The Ninth was led by Capt. John G. Healey.
714
SKILLFUL MANEUVER OF THE .FIRST CAVALRY. 715
Brig.-Gen. Henry W. Birge commanded a division. Col.
William G. Ely commanded a brigade, including the Eight
eenth, under Crook.
Early was posted at or near Winchester : Sheridan had
headquarters towards Harper's Ferry ; and for weeks the
two armies advanced and receded, each making feints, but
hesitating to bring on a general engagement.
On Aug. 16, Sheridan had pushed forward to Winchester ;
and a brigade of Wilson's cavalry was stationed south of the
town. The First Connecticut Cavalry was dismounted, and
in the extreme front. About dusk, the rebels issued from
the woods in double lines, and charged heavily all along the
left of the position, driving in our pickets, and advancing on
the east towards the town. The First was just west and
south of a fort; and into this the enemy charged on a run,
as the Union guard vacated it. The regiment held its post
behind a stone wall, not knowing that the rebels had
attacked on the west simultaneously, and driven in our
forces there also. At last, they pressed forward to the stone
wall in heavy force ; and Col. Blakeslee withdrew his men
up the hill. It was too dark for the enemy to distinguish
whether they were friends or foes ; and the silence was not
disturbed. By the time the cavalry had reached their
horses, posted in a little valley just back of the fort, the
rebels had swung round on the fort as a pivot, until their
line extended far towards the town, in which direction fight
ing was brisk. In this hollow, Col. Blakeslee found detach
ments of the 1st New -Jersey and 18th Pennsylvania
Cavalry ; and at their request assumed command. The
enemy's infantry were within pistol-range ; and his men
could not mount. The colonel immediately made his ar
rangements. Major George 0. Marcy concealed the men
in some bushes ; while Major Brayton Ives withdrew the
horses carefully over the brow of the hill. By this time,
the Confederates and " Yankees " had struck up a wordy
war. " Who's in them bushes ? " demanded a rebel. " First
Connecticut Cavalry," shouted Capt. John B. Morehouse ;
while others added the names of a dozen other regiments.
The horses were promptly got in line ; the men, at the
716 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
whispered word of command, stole out of the bushes ; the
rebels followed like shadows. This would not do : Col.
Blakeslee posted a squadron of his men behind a stone
\tall, while the rest mounted. They, in turn, were then
defended by the horsemen wheeled to the front ; arid the
force took a hasty retreat across the fields. The enemy had
advanced from the east and west, and was now fio-htina- our
O O
infantry in the very streets of Winchester. The regiment
took a circuitous route, passed to the west, and, without the
loss of a man, joined the column in retreat north of the
town. Gen. Mclntosh was surprised and delighted at
the apparition ; for he supposed the force was cut off and
captured. There was much comment on both the skill and
good fortune of the escape. The whole brigade fell back
towards Harper's Ferry.
Early on the morning of Aug. 25, Wilson's cavalry divis
ion marched from Halltown towards Winchester in column
by brigade. Near the railroad station of Kearneysville, the
advance met the rebel outposts. Col. Blakeslee of the First
said in a narrative at the time, " As the head of the regi
ment rose over a little hill, a scene presented itself more
like the book-fights than any other I ever saw. In fro.nt
was a large plain, without fences, one-third of a mile across ;
a large tract of tall, old woods beyond the farther edge.
The wood was ringing with the sharp crack of muskets ; and
out of it our mounted skirmishers were skurrying across
the field towards us. The plain was fall of mounted men
surging backwards, followed by the sharp ' ping' of musket-
balls. On our right, Custar's brigade battery, six guns, was
showering shot and shell into the woods. His fine brigade-
band was arrayed on white horses, playing 'The Star-
spangled Banner ' at the loudest ; and his men stood with
sabers drawn and colors flying, ready to charge."
The regiments were now dismounted, and moved forward
to fight on foot. The men of the First were all eager excite
ment. Across the plain they charged, into and through
the woods, close on the heels of the flying enemy. The
latter made a slight stand in a cornfield, but broke when
down the line rolled out a terrible volley from the Spencer
EESIGXATION OF COL. ELY. 717
carbine. They rallied no more until reaching their reserves,
— Early's main force, — when, the. object of the reconnois-
sance being effected, the cavalry retired.
During the next few weeks, the regiment was in the saddle
almost constantly, reconnoitering and skirmishing daily in
the vicinity of Berryville, Millwood, White Post, and Win
chester; the most important affair being on the 14th of
September, on the Winchester Pike, where Capt. Joab B.
Rogers's squadron assisted a detachment of the 3d New-
York and 2d Ohio in surrounding and capturing an entire
regiment of South-Carolina infantry with their colors. Ser
geant Charles Griggs of Woodstock was killed at this time.
The Eighteenth continued with the 8th Corps until Sept.
12 ; when, after the sharp and successful skirmish at Berry
ville, it was detached to recuperate. Its recent severe ser
vice under Hunter had sadly diminished its numbers and.
impaired its efficiency ; and it was ordered to Martinsburg,
and was not engaged in the succeeding battles of the
autumn. Col. William G. Ely, who had been a brave and
skillful officer, and who had retained in a marked degree the
confidence of the regiment, here resigned, and received
the compliment of promotion to the rank of brigadier-
general by brevet. He had served more than three years
faithfully. Capt. M. V. B. Tiffany, commanding the regi
ment in the temporary absence of Major Peale, wrote of
Gen. Ely, —
" I can not but express in behalf of the regiment the sincere regret we
feel in parting from one who has so long been our champion leader, and
endeared himself to us by his many ennobling qualities. On the long,
weary march ; in the sanguinary engagement ; when the enemy surrounded,
and danger on every side threatened, — he has ever been present with us.
He has been most faithful to his trust ; strict in discipline ; firm, resolute,
but just, in the exercise of his authority. By his imdaunted courage, by
his calm and deliberate judgment, by his own patient endurance of hard
ships and sufferings, and his ever-cheerful willingness to comply with the
requirements of his position, he has. won for himself the entire confidence,
respect, and esteem of his command; in a word, we have always been
proud of our colonel. It has filled us with admiration, strengthened our
courage, and inspired us with renewed confidence, as we have seen him in
the impetuous charge, dashing forward on the leading flank, and cheering
on his men by his own enthusiastic bravery. During the latter part of
his term of service, he has been in command of the 2d Brigade, 1st Divis
ion, Army of West Virginia ; in the exercise of which command he has
718 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
acquitted himself with that ability, efficiency, and characteristic bravery
which ever distinguished him as a regimental commander, and thus gained
for himself the deserving conlmendations of his superiors in command."
About the middle of September, Grant visited Sheridan,
and, being assured by the latter that he could defeat Early,
permitted him to advance. Before daybreak on the 19th,
the whole force was in motion. The rebel army lay on the
Winchester side of the Opequan Creek.
On the previous night, the First Connecticut Cavalry,
under Major George 0. Marcy, had struck the first blow ;
advancing five miles, routing the rebel pickets, and taking
possession .of Limestone Ridge, — a strong position com
manding the ford. The ridge was held until three, A.M.,
when the rest of the brigade came up; and the First joined
in a charge across the creek. They chased the enemy two
miles, and charged and carried the first line of intrench-
ments ; holding them till the infantry came up. For this
exploit, the brigade was commended by Gen. Sheridan.
The plan seemed to be to advance with the 6th Corps on
the left, and the 19th on the right; and then to strike the
enemy's left with the 8th Corps, and follow with cavalry.
The 6th Corps crossed the creek passed through a long, nar
row gorge, debouched from the road, and deployed opposite
Early's right. Grover's division of the 19th Corps assumed
the same position nearly opposite the rebel center. From
its first station, it was ordered to advance to make room for
the 8th Corps and Dwight's division of the 19th Corps com
ing through the gorge. The Thirteenth was in its place,
commanded by Lieut-Col. Sprague ; Col. Blinn being pros
trated with a fever. Forward they went with a will, many
mistaking it for the final charge. The line was raked by a
direct and oblique fire from hostile batteries ; while the rebel
infantry poured from their concealment incessant volleys.
The steady advance became a rapid charge. A tremendous
fire was now tearing up every portion of the field. Col.
Sprague's horse was here shot under him, and he led his
regiment on foot. The enemy's first line bent back before
the swift advance ; but his batteries kept up a furious fire.
A halt was ordered. Both lines were blazing with mus
ketry.
BATTLE OF OPEQUAN CREEK. 719
Early now struck a terrible blow, determined to over
whelm Grover's division, take possession of the exit to the
gorge, cut Sheridan's army in two, and then defeat it in
detail. This plan of vivisection nearly succeeded. By some
unexplained blunder, when Early plunged forward an order
to retreat ran down Grover's lines; and sullenly back the
regiments marched, pursued and fiercely beset by the Con
federates, sweeping down, an avalanche of steel. Sheridan
sent word that the point must be held at all hazards ; and
a few made a desperate stand ; while the enemy, flushed
and eager, surged about and ingulfed them. Here Col.
Sprague and Lieut. William C. Gardner, standing to hold the
position, with a handful of brave men who had heard Sheri
dan's orders, were captured, after delaying for a few minutes
the rebel charge.
Dwight's division in which was our Ninth and Twelfth,
Upton's brigade in which was the Second Artillery, and the
8th Corps, were now in sight, and rapidly advancing. The
retreat of Grover's division had become precipitate. Capt.
John W. DeForest of the Twelfth describes the scene in
Harper's Magazine, —
" Grover's and Rickett's divisions reached the base from which they
had advanced, iu a state of confusion that threatened wide-spread disaster.
The Gth-Corps men and 19th-Corps men Avere crowding together up the
line of the Berryville Pike ; while to the right and left of it the fields
were dotted with fugitives, great numbers of them wounded, bursting out
of the retiring ranks, and rushing towards the cover of the forest. Some
regiments disappeared for the time as organizations. Early's veterans
advanced steadily with yells of triumph and constant volleys of musketry,
threatening to sweep away our center, and render our struggle a defeat
almost before it became a battle. It was the bloodiest, the darkest, the
most picturesque, the most dramatic, the only desperate moment of the
day."
Dwight's division now came steadily up ; Grover's divis
ion rallied ; and both moved forward more deliberately to
recover the lost ground. The Twelfth Connecticut Volun
teers advanced slowly at first, then on the double-quick, to
the position formerly held by the Thirteenth : and in this
advance Col. Peck was mortally wounded. He was suc
ceeded by Capt. S. E. Clark, who nobly led the regiment in
the charge. The Ninth was also in the front. The Thir-
720 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
teenth, under Capt. William E. Bradley, again moved up.
The Second Artillery was at the left, fighting as resolutely
as at Cold Harbor, and again suffering terribly.
The 8th Corps formed in dense column on the extreme
right, and at four, P.M., started on that brilliant charge which
turned the Confederate left. The three corps and the cav
alry advanced simultaneously ; and Early's line was broken,
and his forces swept through Winchester closely pursued ;
those in the rear throwing away arms and equipments, and
running for their lives. The First Cavalry was hanging upon
their left flank. The victory of Opequan was complete.
The losses of the First Cavalry were light, although they
had been almost constantly in the saddle and near the left
front.
The Second Artillery had been five hours in battle, and
had again lost fearfully, — no less than twenty-five killed and
one hundred and seventeen wounded. Among the killed
were six officers, — Major James Q. Rice of Goshen, Capt.
Fred. M. Berry of Kent, Lieut. Franklin J. Cauclee of
Plymouth, Lieut. James P. McCabe of Goshen, Lieut. Wil
liam II. Cogswell of Cornwall, and Lieut. Horace Hubbard
of Plymouth. Col. Mackenzie and Major Jeffrey Skinner
were among the wounded.
Major Rice had been a faithful soldier. He was a native
of Sullivan County, New York, and a resident of Litchfield
County for ten years before the war. He had graduated
with honors at Middle'town, and had been obliged to abandon
the study of the law on account of impaired eyesight. The
call of 18G2 found him conducting a flourishing academical
school at Goshen, assisted by his accomplished wife, a daugh
ter of Gen. Cook of that town. He raised a company of
intelligent and worthy young men, and joined the Nine
teenth. The next month he was on the staff of Gen.
Slough at Alexandria, Va., captain of the picket and patrol
of the city. He gave the highest satisfaction. In the
spring of 1863, he was on the staff of Col. Leverett W.
Wessells, commanding the 2d Brigade in the south defenses ;
and the succeeding fall he was assigned to the command of
Fort Ellsworth, an important post covering the city of
DEATH OF COL. PECK. 721
Alexandria. In the carnage of Cold Harbor, he issued
orders to the men in the midst of the storm, in the same
clear, unruffled voice they used to hear on their brilliant dress-
parades at Fort Ellsworth. In the battle of Winchester, he
was struck by a grape-shot, and instantly killed. His
remains received a soldier's burial on the field, but were
afterwards removed to Goshen, and committed to earth
with Masonic honors.
Lieut. William Cogswell was a half-blood Indian of the
Scoticoke tribe ; and there was united in him the cunning,
' C57
endurance, strength, courage, and elasticity of spirit, that
belong to both races. It is related of him that he would
often carry the muskets of five or six of his weary men on
his own broad shoulders. In fleetness, he was unsurpassed
in the State. His comrades -tell many stories of his exploits.
The Twelfth had also lost very heavily, — eleven killed
and sixty wounded. Among the killed were Col. Frank H.
Peck of New Haven, Lieut. William S. Buckley of Hart
ford, and Lieut. George W. Stedman of Stonington. Among
the wounded were Capt. A. C. Hendricks, Lieut. Edward
Bushnell, Lieut. A. D. McCall, and Lieut. Smith Canfield.
Col. Peck was struck in the midst of the charge. "As
the command, ' Forward, double-quick ! ' was on his lips, a
shell exploded within a very few feet of his head : a piece
nearly two inches long passed through his right knee, stop
ping in the stirrup-strap, and wounding his horse. He was
taken to the division hospital, where every attention was
paid him by sympathizing friends and surgeons; but the
shock and loss of blood was so great, that he died the next
morning at half-past seven o'clock." 1
Col. Peck was born in New Haven in 1836. He entered
Yale College at the age of sixteen, and graduated with
credit in the class of 1856.2 He studied law with fine
1 Narrative of Chaplain James H. Bradford.
2 The roll of honor of Yale College in connection with the war for the Union is one
which that venerable institution may well exhibit with pride. Of graduates and under
graduates, the whole number of those who served against the Rebellion was seven
hundred and fifty-eight. Of these one hundred and six were killed in battle, or died of
disease while in service. Of the seven hundred and fifty-eight in service, six hundred and
forty held commissions. Of these, seventy-six were chaplains, one hundred and forty-
three surgeons, and one hundred and eighteen colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and majors.
Yale furnished to Connecticut regiments alone no less than twenty chaplains and fifty-
seven surgeons and assistant surgeons ; and her proportion of the other officers was equally
91
722 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
promise ; and in 1861 went out with the Twelfth, as major.
Col. Peck was the only regimental commander that the
Twelfth ever intimately knew : Cols. Deming and Colburn
having been almost constantly on detached service. At
Port Hudson, he was severely wounded, but led the regiment
to the last At New Iberia, he commanded a brigade.
When the regiment came home on veteran furlough, four
hundred and fifty having re-enlisted, Col. Peck responded to
the address of Mayor Morris Tyler. From the response we
quote : —
••Two years ago this month, we left this city to join the army of
Gen. Butler. Since that time, we have been in active service in the
face of the enemy : how active that service has been four hundred
vacancies on our roll? to-day show. But discouragements and failures
have never yet appalled us. we assure you. On the contrary, not to have
re-enlisted would have seemed like abandoning the principles which actuated
us in entering the service. At a proper time, we shall be readv to take
the field again. And let me say, it depends upon you who remain at home.
as much, if not more, than upon us. what the result of this contest will be.
You who remain enjoying the blessings of peace should see to it that you
are loyal in your legislation, loyal in your conversation, loyal in all things ;
and tee pledge you our Jives to carry your flag and our flag with honor into
the face of the enemy."
That pledge was gloriously redeemed.
As ha? appeared in the course of this record, he was
constantlv at the front, and was a great favorite with his
•/ o
command. He had been a Democrat in politics, but now
insisted that the war must be settled at the point of the
bayonet. His last message to his family was, u Tell them I
die cheerfully in the performance of my duty at the front."
Capt. S. E. Clark, in his report, says, " Lieuts. Buckley and
Steadman were brave and efficient officers, and men of
unimpeachable moral character."
The Thirteenth had lost six killed, thirtv-seven wounded,
•/
and thirty-one prisoners.
Among the trophies of this victory were twenty-five hun
dred prisoners, five pieces of artillery, and nine battle-flags.
The losses on both sides were heavv. During the next two
*
remarkable. The Union general officers, alumni of the college, were Major-Gens.
Alfred H. Terry, Cassias M. Clay, H. W. Benham, A. S. Williams, Frank P. Blair, and
T. Rnnyon ; and Brigadier-Gens. James S. Wadsworth, W. II. Noble, L. B. Parsons,
William Birney. O. S. Ferry, C. H. Crane, W. B. Woods, J. A. Wikox, J. W. Noble,
A. W. Bishop. Edward Harland, J. C. Rice, Stewart L. Woodford, Wager Swayne,
J. T. Croxton, C. L. Fitzhngh, C. C. Dodge, Horatio Jenkins, and L. M. Dayton.
SHEBIDAX LNT PUESUIT OF EAELY. 723
days, the pursuit was eagerly pushed ; and, wherever the dis
pirited rebels bivouacked to get a little food and rest, they
found Sheridan's victorious host upon them. Early did not
pause in his retreat until he reached Fisher's Hill, near Stras-
burg, thirty miles from Winchester. Here he seized a very
defensible position, and fortified it. Sheridan arrived in front
on the morning of the 22d, and prepared for immediate attack.
The First, under Major Marcy, went around to the rear of
the position, with two divisions of cavalry. The infantry
corps were maneuvered for some hours ; and the Twelfth and
Thirteenth, and Second Artillery, were brought under heavy
fire several times during the early part of the day. At last
an attack of cavalry was made upon the right, under cover
of which the 8th Corps crept up, and at a dash plunged over
the works, and drove the rebels out. An impetuous attack
along the line completed the victory ; and again Early fled,
leaving sixteen pieces of artillery and several hundred
prisoners.
Sheridan pushed on after the disorganized fugitives.
Roads and fields were strewn with muskets, provisions, bro
ken wagons, wounded and exhausted men. The flight and
pursuit were continued through Hawkinstown, Woodstock,
Edinburgh, Mount Jackson, New Market, Harrisonburg, and
Mount Crawford. Early had lost half his army ; and Sheri
dan retired at his leisure to a position behind Cedar Creek,
near Strasburg, less distant from his base of supplies. On
his return, he laid waste the valley, so as to render it
untenable for the rebel army. He destroyed over two
thousand barns filled with hay, wheat, and farming imple
ments ; burned more than seventy mills of flour and grain ;
and killed or drove away over seven thousand head of cattle
and sheep.3
These were weeks of hard service for the First Connecticut
Cavalry. They had ridden to Harrisonburg, where rebel
recruits had been ordered to rendezvous ; had fought and
been driven at Waynesborough ; had fought and driven the
enemy at Bridgewater ; had escorted a train to Martins-
burg ; enjoyed an interview with the paymaster j and sent
8 Vide Sheridan's dispatch from the field.
724 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
home to Connecticut twenty-five thousand dollars. On Oct.
17, the regiment met with misfortune. Chaplain Holmes
thus narrates it, " While a squadron were on picket at a
place called Spring Hill, they were, just before daybreak,
surrounded and attacked by a force of over two thousand
rebels, two brigades of infantry, and one of cavalry under
Gen. Rosser. Of course, resistance to such a body was vain ;
and the whole squadron — two officers, Capt. Uriah N. Par-
melee and Lieut. William H. Havens, with forty men — were
compelled to surrender. Unfortunately, Major George 0.
Marcy was with them at the time, and was taken with the
rest. He has, in the absence of Col. Blakeslee, commanded
the regiment since Sept. 16, through the severest part of
this Shenandoah campaign. He will be greatly missed as
a beloved comrade and an esteemed commander. He and
many of the others taken with him, after three years of
faithful service, were about to leave the army for home."
For three weeks, Sheridan's army rested at Cedar Creek.
The men were so inspirited by. repeated victory, that Early
was not inclined to force further fighting in open field. But
he resolved on retrieving his fortunes, and selected the night
of Oct. 18-19 for an attack on the flank under cover of
darkness. Sheridan had gone to Washington, leaving Gen.
Wright in command. The 8th Corps was on the Union left ;
the 19th in the center ; and the 6th on the right. Early,
re-inforced by twelve thousand fresh troops, was supposed
to be at Fisher's Hill.
He now gave orders, for a division of his army to divert
our right wing; while, before midnight of the 18th, he had
begun a flank march around our left, which was admirable
alike for the boldness of its plan and the rapidity and suc
cess of its execution.
The division of the rebel Gen. Gordon was marched a
short distance along the Manassas-gap Railroad, then turned
westwardly around the furthest extension of the Union flank ;
when it crept cautiously, with light steps and whispered
orders, straight up to the rear of the 8th Corps ! A heavy fog
aided the movement as at Drury's Bluff. Artillery was
wheeled noiselessly into position ; Gordon's division extended
THE SURPRISE AT CEDAR CREEK. 725
its right to overlap the rear of the 19th Corps ; and other
divisions of Early's twenty thousand closed silently in upon
the left and front. The movement was a sublime stroke of
genius, recalling the brilliant exploits of Stonewall Jack
son.
At a given signal, they rushed in and captured the Union
pickets, and sprang upon the sleeping host. Across the vast
encampment swept the rebel line, hedging in and turning to
the rear masses of prisoners, capturing battery after battery,
and wheeling the guns upon the terrified and retreating
masses. The surprise and triumph was complete. As many of
the hapless soldiers as had escaped instant capture charged
through the camp of the 19th Corps, where the sleepers
dropped the thread of their dreams, and sprang bewildered
from their tents. Those who were not overwhelmed and
borne away in the torrent got into line. The Twelfth Con
necticut, under Lieut-Col. George N*. Lewis, was one of the
first regiments to rally, in a brigade which almost imme
diately thereafter was struck by the masses of Gordon's
division in the rear. Col. Sprague says, K Most .gallantly
did that noble sister regiment uphold the honor of the State
on this as on every other occasion. They fired three
volleys ; but the far superior weight of the enemy crushed
them, as an elephant would trample down a bull-dog."
Other brigades and divisions shared the same fate. Moli-
neux' brigade, containing the Thirteenth, rallied in the
trenches, and made a brief resistance ; but they were soon a
part of the general chaos. The Ninth had turned out early,
and reported at the breastworks ; but the battalion was soon
ordered clown the hill. "As we reached the foot of the
hill," says Col. Healy " an aide of Col. Birge ordered us back
up the hill, and we returned in good order, and delivered
another volley at the advancing enemy." To stand long
was impossible ; and the surging masses fell back fighting.
Wright was now pushing the 6th Corps towards the Win
chester Pike to secure the line of retreat. Early struck the
pike about the same time ; and a brief and desperate strug
gle ensued for the right of way. Says the narrative of
Capt. T. F. Vaill of the Second Connecticut Artillery (in the
726 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
6th Corps), " Our brigade was formed in line, filed to the
left, and moved on a double-quick to a position where we
were posted to check the victorious advance of the enemy,
now in full pursuit of the routed Sth and 19th Corps. We
lay down for shelter behind the remnants of a fence ; but it
afforded next to no protection, and many of our men were
killed and wounded while thus Ivina; down. Col. Mackenzie
»/ o
was wounded in the foot, and his horse was shot dead under
him. Some of our men, and other portions of the brigade,
began to fire ; but it was worse than useless, for we were
surrounded on three sides, and the rebels were marching
upon our left, not more than thirty rods distant, with firm
and unbroken line. In three minutes more, they would have
been in our rear. Col. Mackenzie gave the order to retreat ;
and it was made at first in tolerably good order, but soon
broke into an utter rout."
Day began at this time to dawn. The shattered frag
ments of the dismembered army surged back five miles
to Micldletown. Here the pursuit lost much of its vigor.
Wright was everywhere active, directing movements of de
fense, and evoking order from the confusion. The rebels
stopped to ravish the abandoned camps and to plunder the
dead. The 8th Corps had attained the rear; and portions of
the 6th and 19th Corps rallied at a road running across the
valley, where the fugitives collected and re-organized. Early
found some difficulty in rousing his men from their pil
laging ; and, before he was ready to charge the new position,
Wright, resolved to contest the passage, had established
a firm line, and thrown skirmishers to the front. The
Twelfth was here in order again ; and the two wings of the
Thirteenth united, and went to the skirmish-line under Col.
Blinn. The Ninth and the Second Artillery had also gath
ered compactly.
At this pivotal moment, Sheridan, alarmed by the firing,
came dashing in from Winchester, his black horse flecked
with foam ; and, as he rode down the ready lines, he was
hailed with cheers and screams of welcome. At last, a part
of Early's army paused in their depredations, and advanced
in solid columns to the charge. They came on impetuously.
CASUALTIES AT CEDAE CKEEK. 727
They were beaten, broken, routed, and driven wildly back
ward in a terrible stampede. The victors became the fugi
tives. The pursued were now the pursuers. Down the
road to Cedar Creek, through the camps of the morning,
the Confederates were driven by the angry army of Sheri
dan ; Gen. Birge leading his division in the advance,
and moving quickly upon the heels of the foe. The rout
was total.
The casualties of the Second Connecticut Artillery had
been very heavy again ; footing up, — killed, seventeen ;
wounded, one hundred and twelve ; and missing, sixty. The
latter were mostly comprised in Company L, captured entire
while on picket at the right front. Many of the wounded
died of their injuries. Capt. B. F. Ilosford of West Winsted
was among the killed ; Capt. A. H. Fenn and Lieut. J. M.
Gregory lost each an arm ; and four other officers were
wounded.
The Ninth had lost two killed, eighteen wounded, and ten
missing. Among the wounded were two officers. Capt.
Healy said in his report, —
" J desire to make particular mention of Sergeant W. Perry and Pri
vate John J. Morrow, who, after the color-sergeant had been wounded,
seized the colors, and pushed forward. These men were always in the
advance, few if any color-bearers being able to keep up with them.
The colors of my battalion were the first on the recaptured works from
where the 8th Corps were driven in the morning. In less than five
minutes, no less than a dozen stands of colors were around us."
The losses of the Twelfth had been terrible ; no less than
twenty-two being killed outright, fifty-five wounded, and
ninety-two made prisoners; total, one hundred and seventy.4
The casualties were mostly suffered in the attack at day
break, when it changed front, and plunged into the thickest
of the fight to defend the assailed position. During the
repulse, the regiment was exposed to an enfilading fire, caus
ing many to seek refuge in a ditch, where they were made
4 "In the course of a few days, the bodies of all the men of the Twelfth who had fallen
on the field were collected, and decently buried within a neat little inclosure, — a substan
tial head-board at each grave, the whole sodded smoothly, and inclosed by a cedar rail-
fence, and, a little later, by young trees planted along the fence. We could do no more for
them. That little mound has been visited by thousands, attracted to the spot to honor
the regiment that honor their dead. Every company is represented there, — a monument to
the valor and courage of the Twelfth Connecticut, — two officers and twenty men, who
heroically gave their lives for their country." — Narrative by Chaplain J. H.Bradford.
728 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
prisoners. Among the killed were Capt. John P. Lowell of
New Haven, and Lieut. Horace E. Phelps of Windsor Locks.
Among the wounded were Lieut. George M. Benton, Lieut.
William Berry, Lieut. E. W. Bushnell, Lieut. John Mullen,
Lieut. Francis Smith, and Lieut. Alexander Cohn. Lieut.
Benton suffered amputation of a leg, and died two weeks
thereafter. He was a generous, noble-hearted, brave man,
and was sincerely and widely mourned.
Capt. Lowell was a very efficient officer. He had been
promoted from a lieutenant. In Louisiana, after eight hours'
labor, he put in running order a locomotive which the rebels
thought they had entirely disabled. He and Lieut. Phelps
led their companies fearlessly at Cedar Creek, and died " in
the high places of battle."
Sergeant Charles E. McGlaflin of Hartford received a mor
tal wound in this campaign. A Minie-ball entered near his
left eye, and lodged in his head, beyond reach of the surgeon.
He returned home ; but the wound induced a paralytic shock,
of which he died. He was a member of Hawley's three-
months' company, and one of the first volunteers of the
war.
The Thirteenth, under Col. Blinn, had lost two killed,
eighteen wounded, and nine missing. "Among the killed,"
says Col. Sprague, " was our brave color-sergeant, George A.
Winslow of Killingly. He fell, pierced through the fore
head by a rifle-ball, beneath the folds of the flag he bore so
gallantly and loved so well." Among the wounded was
Major .Comstock, whose hand was badly cut by a fragment
of shell. Capt. Frank Welles of Litchfield received honor
able notice for his conduct at the battle.
The First Connecticut Cavalry had an honorable part in
the battle of Cedar Creek. The regiment participated in
the disaster of the morning and the subsequent successes ;
and at four o'clock, under Capt. E. W. French, was ordered by
Custar to charge the rebel cavalry on the flank of the retreat
ing artillery. Chaplain Holmes says, " The regiment charged
up the hill, with an ardor and a spirit that were warmly com
mended by the general and his staff, who watched with some
anxiety the result ; but when they reached the top, and drove
LIFE OF THE SEVENTEENTH IN FLOEIDA. 729
the enemy flying before them, their shout of exultation was
taken up by the division waiting below." Ouster instantly
wheeled his division over the hill, and captured the rebel
battery, which was thus uncovered.
During the pursuit, the artillery lost in the morning was
recaptured, and twenty-three pieces in addition. The Con
federates lost two thousand killed and wounded, and fifteen
hundred prisoners. Our cavalry followed the victory with
rapid steps and ready sabers ; and Early, in despair, fled from
the Shenandoah, with the wreck of an army, never to re
turn.
After Col. Joseph R Hawley left Florida with his brigadev
for the Army of the James, in April, 1864, Col. William H.
Noble moved down from Jacksonville, and took command of
the post at St. Augustine, supported by the Seventeenth,
and the rest of his brigade.
Already Major Allen ,G. Brady of Torrington (lieutenant-
colonel of the Third in the three-months' service) had been
transferred from the Seventeenth to the Invalid Corps, and
Capt. Henry Allen of Norwalk had succeeded him ; while
Capt. Albert H. Wilcoxson of Norwalk, who served as first
adjutant of the regiment, was promoted to be the third
lieutenant-colonel, in place of the 'gallant Douglass Fowler.
The appointments proved the very ones to be made.
The Seventeenth led no holiday life in Florida. Most of
the troops of the department had gone North ; and the few
that remained had increased burdens in picket and fatigue-
duty. On April 25, Col. Noble started on a foraging raid
with a large part of his brigade, including the Seventeenth,
to Yolusia, seventy-five miles up the St. John's River.
Straight south through the State they went, through the
picturesque scenery of the everglades, through vast piney
woods and immense cypress-swarnps and lagoons all day.
They marched twenty miles, and bivouacked as the yellow
light of sunset played through the oaks, and turned to gold
the changeful foliage and the swaying tassels of long moss.
Ten minutes after the halt, officers and men were uproarious
730 CONNECTICUT DURING THE KEBELLION.
with excitement over the discovery of shad in the river.
Squads went eagerly at the pastime of angling, and through
the evening plied their seductive arts. There was more
fishing than fish; but the boys caught an appetite if not
a supper, and retired with somewhat modified merriment to
their banquet of pork and coffee.
The next day, by a forced march, they arrived at their
destination, captured a large amount of property, and re
turned to St. Augustine in three days more ; driving before
them a thousand head of cattle, and bearing much other
valuable spoil.
The officers and men cultivated amicable relations with
the citizens of the ancient town of St. Augustine. Col.
Noble won the esteem and respect of the people, while per
forming his duty strictly and faithfully.
Early in May, there was another memorable raid under
Gen. William Birney, commanding the district, in which six
thousand cattle were brought in. Picket-posts were estab
lished by Birney at Walaka and Saunders, on the St. John's,
about eighty miles from St. Augustine ; and Capt. Charles
A. Hobbie of Darien, and Lieut. John Harvey of Stamford,
with a portion of Company B, were placed there on duty.
The rebel cavalry soon dashed down upon them, and cap
tured the whole, after a short fight, — thirty-nine men in all.
Another picket had been established at Volusia, under Capt.
Enos Kellog of New Canaan, and Lieuts. Albert W. Peck of
Bridgeport and George B. Ruggles ; and it was supposed to
be lost: but communications were re-opened. The picket
owed its safety to the precaution of the officers in setting
the camp on an open field where they could not be sur
prised. They were soon withdrawn, leaving many Union
citizens without protection.
Although the regiment was nominally in garrison at
St. Augustine, a raid somewhere was made almost every
week.
On June 1, Col. Noble, with his brigade of about twelve
hundred men, marched from Jacksonville towards St. Mary's,
to attack the formidable rebel earth-works on McGisto Creek.
The force crossed quietly in boats ; and the position was as-
A COMPANY OF FLORIDIAN CAVALRY. 731
saulted in the rear. The men were led to the attack in
column by companies, and, on coming near, were deployed
in double lines of battle. A few of the skirmishers were
wounded, and the rebel skirmish-line was driven in. The
enemy, taken in flank and rear, fled without firing a gun
from the fort, leaving many arms, and extensive earth-works
three miles long. The works never could have been taken
by attack in front, except by a very large force or a regular
siege. The bridges in the vicinity were destroyed ; the cap
tured property gathered, and sent to the rear ; the buildings
burned ; and the place evacuated next day. The brigade
returned to Jacksonville greatly fatigued with the long
march and considerable privation. " I do not think," says
Col. Noble in a letter, " that our whole march for a month
after Lee was more exhausting and enervating than the six-
days' raid of last week."
The Fourth of July was duly celebrated : the bells were
rung, a cannon was fired upon the plaza, and the national
flag floated from the ramparts of Fort Marion, the oldest
fortress in the United States, — the ancient Spanish " Cas
tillo de San Marco." Citizens and soldiers assembled ; and
the Declaration of Independence was read by Lieut-Col.
Wilcoxsou.
On July 18, Capt. William L. Hubbell of Bridgeport, with
three companies, marched to Picolata, on the St. John's,
eighteen miles from St. Augustine, and remained until Aug.
29, when he returned with Company D to headquarters;
leaving C and K under Capt. Wilson French of Stratford.
On July 22, Lieut.-Col. Wilcoxson went to Jacksonville with
Companies A, E, F, and H, and joined an expedition organ
izing under Gen. Birney. Col. Noble commanded the entire
infantry force, and a light battery, and a company of home
cavalry, in the expedition. " The cavalry," said Col. Noble
in a letter, " were a body of mounted Floridians, commonly
called 'crackers; ' and FalstafPs men in buckram could form
no comparison to them in appearance. They were of all sorts
and sizes, and arrayed in all kinds of homespun disuniforrn,
from gray-back to butternut, and all intervening shades,
mounted on horses ranging from the pony, weighing about as
732 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
much as his rider, up to a sizable animal. Modern times have
seen few such cavalcades." Moving up the St. John's and
Black Creek, the force landed near Middlebury ; and by
three days' rapid marching reached a point in rear of
Baldwin, a stronghold of the rebels. The enemy fled
on the approach of the Union troops, after a short skirmish
between the cavalry. The detachment of the Seventeenth
remained at Baldwin, without tents or a change of clothing,
until Aug. 5 ; and then returned to Jacksonville, and went
by boat to Magnolia, a point twenty-five miles up the river,
where Col. Noble assumed command.
On Sept. 1, Companies A, C, I, and K, constituted the gar
rison at Picolata, commanded by Major Allen. Lieut.-Col.
Wilcoxson was with the rest of the regiment at St. Augus
tine.
Early in December, Col. Noble, hearing that the rebel
conscription officers had headquarters at Enterprise, one
hundred and fifty miles south, determined on capturing the
place. He made a rapid raid, dashed on them in the
evening, and captured them assembled in a militia meeting.
Twenty-nine rebels were taken prisoners, including the bold
guerrilla chief, Col. Watson. Forty horses and other spoils
were also taken back to camp. But the rebels had speedy
revenge for the audacious achievement.
On Dec. 22, Cql. Noble left Jacksonville, where he had
been attending a general court-martial, to return over
land to St. Augustine.. He" refused to take a guard, on
account of the supposed safety of the route. When he
had ridden about half the distance, three rebels dashed out
of the woods in front and rear, and made him prisoner. He
was taken to Andersonville and other prisons, and finally
released in March, 1865. He was deeply impressed by the
horrors of that place ; and, on the way home, he lectured in
\ricksburg, Miss., on behalf of the tortured prisoners re
leased with him.
It was now proposed to send the Seventeenth to Hilton
Head ; but at the earnest request of Gen. Hatch, then com
manding the district of Florida, it remained.
On Feb. 3, 1865, the rebel guerrilla, Capt. Dickinson,
CAPTURE AND DEATH OF LIEUT.-COL. WILCOXSON. 733
dashed across the St. John's River, and captured an out
post nine miles from St. Augustine, and made prisoners
of Capt. Henry Quien and Lieut. George B. Haggles, and
eleven enlisted men of the Seventeenth, near the house of
one Salana.
Of another unfortunate affair next day, Major Henry
Allen reports to the adjutant general from St. Augus
tine : —
" An expedition under command of Lieut.-Col. A. H. Wilcoxson
started from this post on the 3d of February, with four officers, including
himself and thirty-six men (all belonging to the Seventeenth Connecticut
Volunteers), and ten wagons, for the purpose of procuring some cotton
belonging to a rebel colonel, which was stored in a house near Dunn's
Lake, about seventy-five miles from here.
" He had got the cotton, and was about seven miles from there on his
return, when he was attacked by Capt. Dickinson, with some eighty men.
The colonel was wounded, and taken prisoner ; the adjutant, Lieut. H.
Whitney Chatfield, was instantly killed in a hand-to-hand encounter with
the enemy ; and Capts. Wilson French and Frederick C. Betts, and thirty-
two of the men, were taken prisoners. The brave young Chatfield fell,
shot through and through the body. He was in the act of cutting his way
through the rebels when he received the mortal wound. He died as he
had lived, a courageous soldier, and an honor to the State and our country."
It appears, that, when Wilcoxson was ordered by the
general commanding to send a force for the cotton, he
regarded it as an imprudent and hazardous expedition, and
so resolved to lead it himself. The attack was so sudden,
and by such an overwhelming force, that little effective re
sistance could be made. The mounted officers in the rear
were first attacked. Lieut.-Col. Wilcoxson fought with his
pistols, and received two severe wounds. He would not
surrender ; but, when his horse was shot dead and fell upon
him, he was captured. The brave man could not walk ; but
was taken to a rebel hospital in Tallahassee, where, away
from friends, and lacking the presence of his loving wife,
who waited for him at St. Augustine, he died alone, and in
the night. There seems to have been avarice and possibly
cruelty practiced towards him in his last hours. He is
believed to have had money about him; and the rebel
surgeon, Dr. Miner, still sports a valuable Masonic ring taken
from the finger of his deceased patient, and refuses to sur
render it to the afflicted widow.
734 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Albert H. Wilcoxson was born in Huritington, in 1834,
and passed his youth in the rough country near the bounda
ries of Seymour and Oxford. He was athletic and vigorous
— first in all boyish games. He was also an apt scholar,
and was studying for the ministry when the war called him
to the field. He enlisted as a private soldier; was made
adjutant, then captain, of Douglass Fowler's company ; then
lieutenant-colonel over all officers intervening. He had ease,
self-command, and dignity as an officer ; and was enthusiastic
in the performance of every duty. He was cheerful and
genial in his disposition, fluent and often witty in conversa
tion, in character upright and honorable, firm in conviction,
prompt and energetic in action. When the second call for
three-years' troops came, he quietly said, " That call is for
me;" and straightway ended the course of theological study
he was pursuing with Rev. Dr. Mead of Norwalk, bade adieu
to his wife, and went at once. Before leaving the State, he
prepared a brief, frank, and half-playful but truthful auto
biography, in which he made grateful recognition of the
loving-kindness of God in keeping him from being " the
slave of appetite or of any vice or licentiousness."
Adjutant Henry Whitney Chatfield of Bridgeport, went
out as a private in the Seventeeth at the age of eighteen.
Being a young man of education, he was detached for service
under Adjutant Wilcoxson, and afterwards at the head
quarters of Adjutant-Gen. Meisenburg, where he was a great
favorite. He was promoted to be adjutant for his distin
guished gallantry at Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg, Lieut.-
Col. Fowler was shot dead by his side : Chatfield's horse was
killed, his haversack torn in pieces, and a Revolutionary
sword at his side broken into fragments ; yet he was un
harmed. While on Morris Island, he volunteered with the
other officers of the brigade to storm Fort Sumter, when
its defenders were bewildered under the first crash of Gil-
more's batteries. In Florida, he was adjutant of the
brigade. Gen. Noble writes of him, " The loss of young
Chatfield was sadly felt by a large circle of friends in and
out of the army. . He was a true man and a brave soldier,
who served from convictions of duty and patriotic devo-
THE SEVENTEENTH IN GARRISON AT ST. AUGUSTINE. 735
tion. With a heart as true as steel, and brave as the brav
est, there was a charm of genial gentleness which attracted
all, and made him friends wherever he went."
Albert 0. Seeley of Darien died Jan. 5, 1865. He was
captured at Gettysburg, released, captured again in Florida,
and dragged out long and dismal months at Andersonville.
No rations whatever were issued to his party for three days
after release from prison; and the privation brought .him
very low. Notwithstanding the care he afterwards received,
he sank steadily, and died. He was a man of correct habits
and high character, and a faithful and uncomplaining
soldier.
From the 1st of March, 1865, until the 7th of June, the
headquarters, and the largest portion of the Seventeenth,
remained at St. Augustine ; the regiment having garrisoned
the town and its fort more than a year. About the middle
of May, Companies G and I, under Lieut. Charles Smith of
Ridge field and Lieut. Henry North of Bridgeport, were
ordered to garrison Tallahassee, the capital of the State.
At the same time, Companies C, F, and H, under Capt. Enos
Kellogg of New Canaan, were detailed to hold Lake City,
a considerable place near the Olustee battle-ground ; the
second in command being Lieut. William L. Daniels of Dan-
bury. " The conduct of these companies," says Col. Noble
in his final report, " separated so far from the regiment, at
towns lately captured from the enemy, was most admirable
for discipline, military bearing, and decorum ; while they
commanded good order in these communities, and respect
for the authority of the Union and her soldiers. The de
portment of these detachments is but another proof of the
good character of the regiment."
Major Allen had now become lieutenant-colonel,5 and
Capt. William L. Hubbell was promoted to be major. On
June 9, the regiment was relieved at St. Augustine, and
5 Lieut.-Col. Allen was born in Norwalk in 1842. He served in the three - months'
campaign as a private in the 71st New- York, and re-entered the service as lieutenant in
the Seventeenth Connecticut Volunteers. On transmitting his promotion to lieutenant-
colonel, Col. Noble said, " Your good conduct and soldierly bearing alone have secured
your advancement." His only brother was killed in front of Petersburg, and his father
commanded the steamer Hussar during the war. On muster-out, Col. Allen was exam
ined by a board of officers, and recommended for a captaincy in the regular army, a posi
tion which he declined.
736 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
ordered to Hilton Head, via Jacksonville. Arriving at the
latter place, it was detained by Gen. Vodges, and kept at
work for weeks in the reconstruction of the Tallahassee
Railroad. About the 7th of July, Lieut-Col. Allen succeeded
in getting all but one hundred and twenty-five recruits
transported to Hilton Head. Col. Noble received the brevet
rank of brigadier-general.
CHAPTER XLII.
Prison Experience of our Soldiers. — Testimony of a Confederate Surgeon. — Experience
of Weston Ferris on Belle Isle. — Great Privation and Suffering. — Condition of Pris
oners at Carnp Ford, Tex. — Gen. E. M. Lee in Libby. — Capture of Major Sanford
and Men of the Seventh. — Adventures of Three Officers of the Sixteenth. — Fidelity
of Surgeon Nickerson. — Thrilling Narrative of Lieut. Bailey. — Deaths at Anderson-
villc. — Incidents of Martyrdom.
E have already narrated something of the prison-
experience of the soldiers of Connecticut. They
occupied at one time or another every military
dungeon and stockade of the South, and shared,
as has been seen, their starvation, exposure, and
death-laden atmosphere. The world has shuddered at these
pictures of wretchedness, — the hopeless prisoners wandering
wearily across the dead-line, and asking to be shot rather
than longer endure the torture ; the invalids, their feeble
bodies made the home of thousands of writhing worms, while
yet the tenement of an immortal soul ; the skeletons crawling
northward to Annapolis like so many graveyard specters.
Shocking to contemplate, all this, even when we remember
the utter exigencies of the rebels themselves ! It is probably
true, that while these prisoners were on half-rations, or less,
the rebel soldiers were on half-rations, and came flocking
through our lines by thousands, — a squalid throng, — because
they could not get enough to eat ; that the Confederate armies
were always in such a strait, that so few soldiers were left to
guard the prisons, that a discipline inhumanly rigid seemed
to them the only resource ; that starvation resulted as much
from the coarse quality as from the meager quantity of the
food served.
Many will believe that the destruction of prisoners entered
into the Confederate plan of warfare for the reduction of the
93 737
738 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Union army ; that starvation, killing without cause, and the
introduction of fatal diseases, was the deliberate purpose of
the leaders ; and that this unexpressed wish was instinctively
excuted by the subordinates. Many others will now and
always hesitate to believe any thing so diabolical of Ameri
cans, — a complication of dastardly and cowardly crimes, from
which even the most barbarous nations would recoil.
We have only to deal with facts. Prof. Ellerslie Wallace
of Philadelphia has made an official report of the condi
tion of Southern prisoners, in which he states that the maxi
mum average amount of solid food given per day was eigh
teen ounces, and the minimum average five ounces: whereas,
it requires thirty to forty ounces to keep the system of an
adult male in proper condition. Prof. Joseph Jones of
Augusta, Ga., made to the Confederate authorities an official
report, dated Oct. 19, 1864, presenting a loathsome picture
of the sanitary condition of the prisoners at Andersonville.
From this we extract : " More than thirty thousand men
crowded upon twenty-seven acres of land, with little or no
shelter from the intense heat of a Southern summer, or from
the rain and dew; with coarse corn-bread, from which the
hull had not been removed ; with scant supplies of fresh
meat and vegetables ; with little or no attention to hygiene ;
with festering masses of filth at the very doors of their rude
dens and huts ; with the greater portion of the banks of the
stream flowing through the stockade, a filthy quagmire of
human excrements, alive with working maggots generating
by their own filthy exhalations and excretions an atmosphere
that so deteriorated and contaminated their solids and fluids,
that the slightest scratch on the surface, even the bites of
small insects, were frequently followed by such rapid and ex
tensive gangrene as to destroy the extremities, and even life
itself. ... In this state, the muscular strength was rapidly
diminished, the tissues wasted ; and the thin, skeleton-like
forms moved about with the appearance of utter exhaustion
and dejection."
Major Charles Farnsworth and twenty-four of his men,
captured in Virginia on July 14, 1863, were detained for
CRUEL TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. 739
many months in prison at Richmond. One of these, Weston
Ferris of New Canaan, has furnished us with a record of his
experience, some extracts of which we subjoin : —
"The rebels hurried us on to Charlestown, fearing that
our cavalry would recapture us. We here turned over our
horses, each rebel claiming the one he captured as his
private property. After a disagreeable march of six miles
through the mud to Gen. Jones's headquarters, we were all
ordered to lie down as closely as possible on the ground.
The major and I shared our small blankets, and the rebels
lent us another. The major took a quart cup for a pillow;
I a canteen. It rained hard almost all night. We made
a breakfast of the rations we still had. In the morning, we
walked to Winchester, eighteen miles. Here we were quar
tered in the old Court House, and staid a week, until it was
crowded with prisoners. By this time, there were three
hundred of us; one-half being sick or wounded. Our
rations were a pound of flour and a pound of fresh beef
a day. We made the flour into dough, and cooked it in the
ashes. This was the programme for the rest of the way, —
march all day, and cook all night or go hungry.
" Arrived at Culpeper, we were put into cattle-cars, with
out any thing to eat that day, and hurried forward.
At Gordonsville, we each received five pieces of hard-tack
and one-third of a pound of bacon, and sped to Richmond.
On our arrival, boys came around with cakes, pies, &c., which
the guard would not let us purchase ; but demanded our
watches and money, and threatened that if any thing was
kept it would be confiscated. Much was given up ; but
considerable money was concealed and retained. They
even robbed us of most of our cups as we passed over to
Belle Isle.
" Belle Island is in the James River, opposite Richmond.
It is approached from Manchester by a bridge ; from Rich
mond, by a scow pushed with poles. The upper part of the
island is broken and rocky : the lower part comprises
about twenty-five acres of sandy plain ; and here the famous
prison-pen was set. This was merely a patch of ground
inclosed by an embankment of earth, with a ditch inside of
740 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
it. At this time, the inclosure was one hundred and thirty-
five yards long, and eighty-five yards wide. About four
hundred old tents and eighty Sibley tents were pitched here.
We were all counted off into squads of ninety men in a
mess. I was placed in charge of mess No. 40. We found
the tents all full ; so we had to occupy the streets, where
we were alternately soaked by the rain, and blistered by the
hot sun. The nights were always damp and chilly. In the
daytime, the sand was like an oven. The shades along
the bank were forbidden us.
" We drew rations twice a «day. Our breakfast was for
each a quarter of a loaf of bread, and two ounces of fresh
beef; and for supper we had the same quantity of bread,
and half a pint of bean or rice soup. This last consisted
of a few table-spoonfuls of beans or rice to a pailful of
water; and the men used to call their soup 'James-
river water.' The cooking was all done outside by detailed
prisoners ; and those who had kept any money gave it to the
officers for the privilege of going to cook. About the first
of August, a thousand of the sick were exchanged, and
there was much plotting to get upon the sick-list that day.
Next day, we were all driven out, and again searched for
money. A rebel sergeant of the name of Samuel Hyatt
had immediate charge of the prisoners. He was a fiend in
human shape, and spent much of his time contriving means
of torture. Commissary Roe was also a mean and cruel
man. I have seen him knock men down for picking up
crumbs from the flour of the cook-house. He used to
sweep up the crumbs, and sell to the prisoners.
" What we received seemed only to aggravate our hunger ;
and even then, if we were not there at the moment, the
whole squad would lose their rations. Men would stand
for hours and watch the cook-house, so painfully were the
pangs of hunger felt. We were at last driven to extremities.
Hunger haunted our dreams. Men would often lie down at
night naming over the choice dishes they would have
when they got home again. Alas ! how few of them ever
reached home — except that home where hunger never
comes.
IN PRISON AT BELLE ISLAND. 741
" We counted the hours before the next scanty allowance.
Nothing was wasted. Men would chew up the bones
like dogs. If a bone was by any chance flung into the street,
it would be greedily seized by some hungry man, who would
crush it with a stone, and suck it to extract more nourish
ment. Some would keep the corpse of a dead comrade in
their tents for several days for the purpose of drawing his
rations.
" Dogs we came to consider a luxury. If one visited
the inclosure, he was a gone dog. The lieutenant had a
nice, fat bull-dog which he prized highly. One morning all
that could be found of the dog was his hide. The owner
said, if he could find out who ate it he would shoot him.
'•' There were now three thousand of us on the island. We
suffered greatly for water. Our only supply was from bar
rels sunk in the sand of the prison-pen. These were fed
very slowly ; and sometimes I have seen twenty at each
barrel, the foremost waiting for the water to run. in, and the
rest waiting their turn. We used to get up in the night
when the barrels were full, and pour water on each other
to wash. In the same way, we washed our clothes. Soap
was a luxury not often indulged in. We bought all we had.
"After a while, a brisk trade was carried on with the
guard. They stealthily brought food across in boats at night,
landing on the back part of the island ; then watched their
chance to bring it over to us. If they were caught, they lost
their goods, and were punished. There were some houses
on the island, and they drove a business in making pies and
biscuit for us. The pies were made of dried apples, and the
crust without shortening ; so they were not liable to smash
by being flung over the fence. They cost about a dollar
apiece. The rebel sergeant, Hyatt, caught a fellow trading
with the guard one day, and took him out to search him for
his money. The prisoner had a ten-dollar bill, which he put
in his watch-pocket, and crammed a wet quid of tobacco in
atop of it. The sergeant, when he came to the fresh quid,
searched no farther, but snapped his fingers, and said, 'Go
into camp, you nasty rascal!' Rations grew worse and
scantier. Our numbers increased. Thomas Carver, a tent-
742 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
mate, and myself, drove for a time a thriving trade with
a gold ring and set of studs ; but these gave out, and our
last resource was gone. I grew weak from want of food, so
that I could walk with difficulty. Men died rapidly. At
last, new clothing came from our government; and again we
were protected from the weather. But many would ex
change their clothes for food, then die for want of clothing.
A few boxes came from home ; but the rebels finally refused
to deliver them, and hundreds lay in storehouse.
"By January of 1864, the whole number in prison was
swelled to nine or ten thousand ; and the camp was packed
full. The small bundle of wood that had been allowed to
each squad was now cut off; and a great many had their
feet frozen, while several froze to death.
" About this time, Major Farnsworth, confined in Libby,
sent me five dollars, which was a great relief. I bought
bread, and distributed to the members of the First Cavalry.
He afterwards sent us two boxes containing coffee, sugar,
tea, crackers, cheese, codfish, fruit, books, and soap. The
box was sent him from home, and he generously transferred
it to us. That unselfishness, doubtless, saved some of our
lives. Major Farnsworth came over on Jan. 27 with the
officers, dealing out clothing. How much good it did us to
look again upon his cheerful, kindly face ! He told me se
cretly of the tunnel they were digging, and gave me a map
of the route to our lines, in case I should get a chance to
escape. Occasional attempts were made, and many poor
fellows were shot or drowned.
" About the 1st of February, our meat-rations — three or
four mouthfuls a day — were stopped. The men grew weak
very fast in consequence. I felt the change very sensibly.
Considerable of our time was occupied every day in search
ing our clothes for the natives of the island. The cold did
not seem to trouble them much. The ground of the prison
was alive with them. Examining our cldthing for these
'gray-backs,' as the boys named them, was called going
skirmishing. If brisk skirmishing was not kept up every day,
they increased very fast. I have seen men completely
covered with them ; so that you could not put your finder
on them without touching vermin."
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS IN TEXAS. 743
During February, these men were most of them (includ
ing the Connecticut men) taken to Andersonville, where
they shared the starvation, exposures, and tortures of that
horrible pen.
Some facts have already been given concerning the cap
ture of a part of the officers and men of the Twenty-third,
and their imprisonment at Camp Ford, Tex. A few of
the Twelfth and Twenty-fifth were confined at the same
place. A correspondent writes from New Orleans, on the
return of the prisoners, —
" The stockade at Tyler, or rather at Camp Ford which is somewhere
about four miles from Tyler, consists of an inclosure made of pine-trees,
cut some seventeep feet in length, split in half, and set upright in the
ground ; making a stockade some fifteen feet in Light. The size originally
was an area of about two acres, which was, however, enlarged after the
Red-river expedition to embrace some seven acres in extent. There, in
that pen, some four thousand five hundred of our men have been cooped in
hunger, nakedness, filth, and wretchedness, for months past ; and until the
last of June no means were allowed to the men for removing the filth
which had during the time accumulated inside their inclosure.
" During all last winter, our men were barefooted almost to a man ;
many had no shirts ; scarcely any one had any blanket at all in which to
wrap his shivering limbs from the winds ; wood was doled out in quantities
insufficient even to cook their scant rations of corn-meal and hard corned
beef. To be explicit, two sticks of cord-wood were issued per week to
cook the rations of a mess of twelve men ; and this was packed in on the
men's back, from the adjacent forests, under strict guard. Not even straw
was permitted to the shivering men.
" It would be absolutely impossible in words to express to your readers
the abject squalor, destitution, and wretchedness of these noble soldiers, as
they filed up past the headquarters of Gen. Canby, on St. Charles Street,
on their way from the boat, to the quarters assigned them in the Alabama
and Factors' cotton-presses. With scarcely an exception, they were bare
footed ; ragged to a degree that can not be conceived of; many were abso
lutely destitute of sufficient rags to fulfill the requirements of common
decency ; large numbers Avere without shirts or hats of any kind, infested
with vermin, their dingy rags fluttering in the wind, and bound upon their
persons with strips of bark and strings ; but they marched into New
Orleans proudly, in spite of their squalor ; and with stout loyal hearts
cheered the old flag in defense of which they have so cruelly and need
lessly suffered."
Gen. E. M. Le,e of the Michigan cavalry, a native, and now
a jesident, of Guilford, Conn., wrote from Lib by Prison in
December, 1863, "The authorities here have ceased to re
ceive stores from associations or private individuals at the
744 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
North, so I am now reduced to the inconsiderable rations is
sued by the South to its soldiers and prisoners. Hunger stares
us in the face, but does not frighten me. Better men than I
have suffered ; better men than I have died. The last fate
may not necessarily be mine, however ; for the rations sup
plied will keep soul and body together. My health, too, is
excellent; so you see I am well qualified for the experience
which will go to make up a part of the great problem of
life we are all trying to solve. Never believe that I am dis
heartened ; for ' none of these things move me.' No human
misfortune can swerve me from the purpose to live or die
for the Union."
Major 0. S. Sanford was captured with a company of the
Seventh, in the summer of 1864. A correspondent relates
some incidents that followed : —
" Col. Rutledge, of one of the North-Carolina regiments, ordered the
guard to take off Major Sanford's overcoat, and bring it to him. There
being no alternative, the major gave it up ; but, upon arriving at the head
quarters of Gen. Bushrod Johnston, they stated the case to Major Watts,
Gen. Johnston's adjutant-general, a very gentlemanly officer, and a former
graduate of West Point, whom they had met several times by flag-of-truce.
He reported it to Gen. Johnston, whereupon the general sent down to
Col. Rutledge, and ordered the coat given up immediately ; and it was
brought back and returned to the major. About one hundred of the
enlisted men of the regiment were captured at the same time they were ;
and on the march from Bermuda Hundred to Petersburg, as they were
resting by the side of a brook, Gen. Wise (Ex-Gov. Wise) rode along and
stopped to give his horse a drink, and accosted the men with, ' You d d
white niggers and d d black abolitionists, don't you think you ought
to be ashamed of yourselves, down here fighting to get our niggers away
from us? D n you ! every one of you ought to be sold like niggers, and
sent into the field ! "
The escape and recapture of several officers of the Six
teenth, including Capts. Thomas A. Burke, T. B. Robinson,
and A. A.t Dickerson, has been referred to ; also their final
escape from Camp Sorghum, near Columbia, S.C. Of this
last adventure, Capt. Dickerson writes, —
" Upon the evening of the 3d of November, 18G4, a large number of
officers were paroled for the purpose of bringing wood for cooking and
building purposes. Three of us — Capts. Burke, Robinson, and myself —
finished getting wood, saw our paroles destroyed, returned to camp, and,
after a short time, recrossed the guard-line, and, unsuspected, made our
way to the woods. We kept slowly through the woods, until we were
ESCAPING FEOM CAPTIVITY. 745
safely beyond tlie reach of the rebels. Night coming on, we traveled
through the fields and woods, until we struck a road which ran parallel
with the Congaree River ; and traveled southward about twelve miles. We
then left the public road, and traveled through the woods, toward the
river, which was about eight miles distant. Upon the afternoon of the
4th, we fell in with five other of our escaped prisoners from the same
camp, who escaped two nights previous to ourselves by bribing the guard.
They had been in the swamp two days, and had made an arrangement
with the negroes for provisions, and information where two boats could be
found. We joined our parties ; and in the evening the negroes met us, and
furnished us with the promised necessaries. Proceeding to the river,
which was about two miles distant, we found the boats, which accommodated
all of us. At about eleven o'clock, all things being ready, we embarked
in our boats, and paddled down the river. Early in the morning, we landed,
having secured a hiding-place for our boats and ourselves, and devoted the
day to cooking and sleep. Darkness again found us upon the river ; and
we soon passed the bridge of the South-Carolina Railroad, which was
guarded by sentries ; paddled all night ; and again secured ourselves for
the day.
" While engaged, some in cooking, others in sleep, our attention was
attracted by loud talking ; and soon we discovered a boat below us, upon
the river, being poled up the river by negroes. One of our party posted
himself upon the bank of the river, where he could hail the boat without
discovering the presence of the rest of the party, and, hailing the negro in
charge of the boat, informed him that he was in want of provisions. The
negro replied that he had no time to stop, and persisted in keeping on his
course. When all entreaty failed, the captain told him that he was a
'Yankee' officer, escaped from rebel prison, making his way North, and
needed provisions, and information regarding obstructions in the river.
The negro no sooner learned his true character than he immediately
landed, secured his boat, staid with us all day, cooking rations, and giving
very valuable information. He claimed, in return for his service, a sight
of the rest of the party, whom he had instinctive shrewdness to know were
concealed close by. Night again found us upon the river ; and after a few
hours' sail we landed at a farm, of which we had been informed by the
negroes, where we succeeded in capturing a goat, which supplied us with
meat to our journey's end.
" Monday and Tuesday nights nothing occurred to delay our progress
toward the desired goal. Wednesday evening, we had been going down
the river but a short time, when we reached a ferry, where we made
the acquaintance of four negroes, who furnished us with a large quan
tity of sweet-potatoes, salt, and meat. Upon parting with them, they
bade us God-speed and a safe joiu-ucy. Elated and happy with our suc
cess, we kept steadily forward ; and soon after we landed to again consult
the negroes, who told us we were but five miles from a battery, mounting
two pieces, upon the right bank of the river, guarded by rebel soldiers.
After receiving other information and provisions, we parted company with
the last of our negro friends, and proceeded down the river, passed the
battery in safety, and, landing, waited for the darkness of the night to
finish our journey to the coast. Thursday night, full of hope, we again
took to our boats, and, meeting no interference, reached the coast safely.
'"The light of Friday morning, Nov. 11, revealed to us the spars of a
ship, which we soon made out to be one of the United-States blockade.
94
746 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
It was the Canandaigua, Capt. Harrison ; and after sundry attempts we
succeeded iu getting safe on board, under the protection of the star-
spangled banner. We came North on the Fulton."
When the Sixteenth was captured at Plymouth, Dr. Nehe-
miah Nickerson of Saybrook stood by his comrades in their
extremity, and rendered great service. The officers of the
regiment, in prison and camp, united in resolutions from
which we extract, —
" With a constitution weakened by a long sickness, from the effects of
which he was still suffering, and while other surgeons, availing themselves
of the opportunity for immediate exchange, left for the North, Dr. Nick
erson voluntarily remained with our suffering wounded, laboring night and
day for a month, until nearly worn out himself, arriving at Macon, Ga.,
some time after, only to suffer an extended imprisonment of five months.
But here also were his professional services cheerfully rendered, with skill
and success, amidst the greatest difficulties.
" While we claim that a soldier should do his duty under all circum
stances, we can not but admire the noble self-sacrifice which prompts him
to volunteer and render his services, when, if disposed, he might shrink
from those duties, to his own advantage, and without incurring censure ;
and we take this method of acknowledging with pride and admiration the
manliness of character, professional skill, and patriotic zeal which he has
exhibited in discharging his duties to his country and to his suffering fellow-
soldiers."
Lieut. G. W. Bailey, aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen.
M. L. Smith, was captured in the battle of Peach-tree Creek,
and escaped from rebel hands after several weeks' wan
dering through the Southern States. He was a native of
Bridgeport, Conn. ; and gave to the Standard a graphic ac
count of his experience, a portion of which we subjoin : —
UI was taken to Atlanta, where the utmost joy existed at what they
termed a ' Confederate victory.' Some of the rebel soldiers amused them
selves and the citizens of Atlanta by trailing our captured banners — the
old ' stars and stripes' — through the streets behind their horses. Every
rebel was jubilant. The troops going to or from either flank, passing
through the city, were cheered lustily. The women tantalized us with
'Ah, boys ! you've got into Atlanta at last, haven't you? ' &c. We were
marched through Atlanta on exhibition, and the same night to East Point,
some six miles below Atlanta. During the march, a major and myself
attempted to escape ; but we narrowly escaped being shot, as we were de
tected. At East Point, we were corralled, like mules, iu an open place,
without rations, or blankets to sleep upon. We Avere without food for over
twenty-four hours ; and, when we were furnished with some, few could eat
it. Being very hungry, I ate my twenty-four hours' allowance at once.
I put my bacon down to break my unbolted wheat-flour ' hard-tack,' and
brush away the worms and cobwebs from it ; and, after clearing my bacon
in like manner, I shut my eyes, and ate a hearty meal.
ESCAPING FROM CAPTIVITY. 747
" I closely watched every possible chance to escape ; but found it would
be certain death to attempt it there : so I anxiously bided my time. At
last it came. We were corralled near Griffin, Ga. I found a favorable
gully in a blackberry-patch ; and two hours before day lay in the narrow
place, and got some of the officers to cover me with pine-boughs, grass,
&c., and cut blackberry -briers, and stick into the ground around me. This
was nicely done, as I discovered upon my exit. My friends put some
' hard-tack ' at the head of my hiding-place. Every thing was lively : at
length the ' fall in ' was ordered ; and the k Yankees ' marched out into the
road, en route for Anderson ville. I was stepped upon twice ; but was not
discovered. The lot being clear of Yankees and rebels, the negroes, and
some white children from a near plantation, wandered about me ; and a
hog discovered my hidden ' hard-tack,' and coolly ate it above my head.
I dared not make known my serious objections to such proceedings. At
last a shower of rain cleared the coast for me ; and after carefully peeping
in every direction I ventured forth ; and although my right arm was
much paralyzed (as it is at present), caused by lying upon it, I immedi
ately struck upon a double-quick for the woods near by. Here I fell in
with a soldier, — a cavalry "boy, — who had also escaped in the same man
ner ; and, as ' misery loves company,' I consented to his accompanying me
on my journey through Dixie northward. The rain now fell in torrents ;
and the swamp I had chosen to be our hiding-place was overflowed : so
there we stood ankle-deep in water, like two drowned rats. . . . Night
came at length ; and we approached the road, just dodging a patrol of
rebel cavalry. We stealthily went near a plantation-residence ; passed
around to the' negro-quarters, avoiding the dogs ; stopped at a fence near
one of the huts ; and threw a small stone against the door. It was slowly
opened with, ' Who dar ? ' — ' Me, aunty,' said I ; ' come out here ! ' After
some hesitation, she came out ; and I told her who we were. * We are
Yankees,' said I. ' Is you, sah? De Lord bress you ! ' Telling her we
were hungry, she gave us some wheat-bread ; and when it became late we
went into her hut, dried ourselves nicely ; and, filling our haversacks, she
bade us God speed. Soon we were off again. Avoiding roads, and going
north-eastward, we traveled until daylight. The rain had made the corn
fields through which we had to pass almost impassable ; but, encouraging
each other by turns, we trudged slowly along through the dark, dreary
forests, ascertaining the direction by letting lightning-bugs crawl on my
little pocket-compass, which I had procured, with maps of the country,
from some of the officers among the prisoners. By day, we took turns on
watch. I consulted my maps, intending to round Stone Mountain, and
follow the Northern Georgia Railroad into Decatur. Finding the fields
impassable, after two or three nights' journeys, I resolved to try the roads.
We made better time, of course ; but had to be continually on the qui vive;
hiding several times behind trees or bushes to let rebel cavalry pass us,
squads of which were incessantly hunting conscripts and deserters. We
passed several picket-posts with much danger.
" The roads being traveled considerably, I again took the fields, mak
ing northward slowly, living on blackberries, and the bread always cheer
fully furnished by the negroes. Occasionally a meal was made from some
old planter's melon-patch. We could easily tell where plantations were at
early morn by the crowing of chickens. We were always warmly wel
comed by the negroes, who, most of them, never saw a Yankee before,
and who were our means of escape. They would come from their huts,
748 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
each laden with some good things for us. Of course, the first point of
inquiry was regarding their freedom, which I explained to them as best I
could. . . . Twice did we hear hounds yelping on our track ; but we
avoided them by running through swamps, down streams, &c. Over two
weeks we were thus making very slow headway through deep swamps and
almost impenetrable forests, wet through every night, drying out our
clothing every day. I became, I must acknowledge, very down-hearted
for the first time ; was taken sick twenty-five miles from Atlanta, and lay
in the woods near Mr. S 's plantation ; the negroes taking excellent
care of me. ' Aunt Mary,' an experienced nurse in the sick-room, took
especial interest in me, insisting upon my remaining there, and recovering
from my fatigues and hardships. I did so ; and under her kind care soon
recovered my strength and spirits. ' Aunt Mary ' brought our meals to
us as regular as clock-work. About this time, our cavalry was raiding
through the country near S 's plantation ; and, after I recovered, I
was induced to remain there over a month, in hopes that our raiders would
reach me. Three times they came near me ; once within three miles, but
in broad daylight ; and the rebel cavalry were too thick for me to under
take to reach our forces.
u While waiting here for the blue-coats to make their appearance, we
amused ourselves by fishing in Cotton River, near by ; and, by setting
fish-baskets, we obtained frequent messes of fish, which were very accepta
ble after passing through ' Aunt Mary's ' hands. At last my companion
started with a uegro guide for our lines ; but his awkwardness was fatal
— he was retaken.
"I now determined to try it myself; and, in company with the negro
Jim, pulled out on my journey. We crossed South River, in a dugout,
safely ; replenished our haversacks at a plantation on the east side of the
river ; and the next night struck Conger Station on the Northern Georgia
Railroad ; passed through it at midnight, resting at daylight on the railroad
between Congers and Lithouia. I disguised myself in Jim's clothes as a
rebel soldier, and went to a citizen in a neighboring cornfield, represented
that I was taken by the Yankee raiders, but escaped ; and was trying to
reach the Confederates, but was afraid of Yankees. He sympathized
with me hugely ; said there was ' not a d d Yankee east of Atlanta : '
they had all left, and gone west, preparatory to falling back to Chatta
nooga. I thought it was one of Sherman's tricks ; but our rations had
given out, and the negroes had all fled to the Union lines : so I concluded
to wait at a neighboring plantation. I resolved to try the whites; and
made myself known to a white man, F , said to be loyal. I found it
safe, and tarried two weeks. Rebels often took meals at the house ; and
relatives of the family often stopped over night in an adjoining room to
mine. I was never introduced to them, but saw them all from my hiding-
place, lie was a member of the 30th Georgia, but declared that he
would never fire upon the old flag. I wrote him an extension of his fur
lough, which was accepted by the conscripting officer as genuine.
"The roads being clear, I resolved to go again for the Yankee lines.
Having secured a carbine left in South River by one of our raiding parties,
and making some cartridges, filling the large haversack the girls made for
me, and taking a change of underclothing which I confiscated from an old
rebel's trunk, and my rifle, I bade an affectionate farewell to those who
had risked their lives and property for me. Fulling out for Lithonia, on
the Northern Railroad, we marched partly through fields the same night,
ESCAPING FROM CAPTIVITY. 749
within three miles of the place ; halting at daylight. We went to a poor
woman's house : she was Union, and welcomed me, but had heard so much
about the Yankees being such horrible creatures, she hardly believed I was
a ' Yank,' even after I had. removed my gray cape, and exposed my uni
form to view. We safely passed several rebel cavalry posts.
"When within a mile of Decatur, we selected a spot by the side of a
small stream as headquarters during the day ; and Jim and I watched and
slept alternately. My feet were so sore, I could hardly remove my boots
from them. As we had marched nearly thirty miles, we were very tired.
Jim went to sleep ' on picket.' . . . When I awoke, a man stood over
Jim, and another over me, demanding surrender ; taking care before this
to remove my carbine beyond my reach. I inquired if I was to be treated
as a prisoner of war. He replied, ' most assuredly ' I should. I saw no
alternative (but instant death) ; so I surrendered. We talked and chatted
gayly about matters and things in general. My captor was the spokesman ;
the other said little. He proceeded to search me, omitting to find a small
ring and my comp'ass, which were concealed on my person. My maps
being on cloth, I easily presented the wrong side, and passed them as hand
kerchiefs. I had given my watch and other valuables away to those who
took care of me. He then marched us off ' to turn me over to the cavalry.'
Going through the woods, I remarked that my feet were completely raw.
He coolly replied, I wouldn't want to use them much longer. . . .
'• We halted. The spokesman, setting my carbine against a stump, and
coolly cocking his rifle, remarked to me, ' My friend, this is as good a
place to die as any man could wish. Soon, sir, you will be no more.
You have done all the damage to our cause you ever can.' . . . ' Well,'
continued the spokesman, ' if you wish to say any thing, or to pray a little,
you have just exactly two minutes to do it. I shall then put you out of
the world without any more ceremony.'
" Just then a thought struck me : it was to take the last chance for my
life, — to run.
" They said my two minutes were about up, and I must hurry. I bent
my knees as if to kneel again ; but, instead, I gave a sudden spring back
wards, turned, and was fairly flying from them. Of course, my spring
was the signal for them to fire. They did so. The three rifles were fired
in rapid succession ; and one of them was reloaded and fired. The first
shot missed me ; but I imagine the bullet came very near my head. The
second shot took effect in the right shoulder, passing through the shoulder-
blade, and shattering the upper rib in passing out. The ball knocked me
flat ; and a deadly quiver passed over my right side as my arm fell useless-
by my side. No sooner down than up. As I rose, the third shot took my
cap from my head. It being an old one, 1 didn't stop to pick it up. Away
I went like the wind, holding my right arm up with the left one. The
fourth shot scattered the leaves beside me, evidently intended to hit me in
the le«-s. As soon as the villains emptied their pieces at me, the negro
followed after at double-quick. The traitors followed a very little way,
and gave it up, concluding, no doubt, that I was an ' iron-clad ' Yankee.
I ran over a mile, the blood spirting out fitfully at every pulsation. Not
feeling safe so near the villains, I continued at a walk two miles and a
half further south, Jim helping me over the fences. All this while the
blood was flowing freely, literally filling my boots. I now sank down ex
hausted, hardly expecting to recover ; but thankful to die away from such
blood-thirsty fiends. As I grew dizzy and weaker, I felt as though ray
750 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
moments on this earth, were few. I told Jim who I wished to have
written to ; and fell asleep, hardly doubting that it was to be the sleep of
death.
" But I lived ; and Jim took my compass, and succeeded in reaching
Atlanta, whence a body of Kilpatrick's cavalry was dispatched, and I was
taken within the Union lines."
The general experience of Connecticut soldiers in Ander-
sonville has already been given. Almost every regiment
was represented there. We add some accounts of personal
experience : —
Edward T. Abbott of the Twentieth was captured before
Atlanta. In his narrative, he speaks of having witnessed the
escape from the gang of prisoners of Lieut. Bailey, whose
story is given above. Abbott shared for two months the
horrible experience of Andersonville. He writes, " The
drinking water is got as near the dead-line as the prisoners
dare go ; and some, venturing too far for clear water, get
shot. One instance I saw. A man was reaching after the
water when a guard fired at him, missing him, but hitting
another man farther back, in the head. He fell backwards
into the water, his blood mingling with the stream ; while
hundreds were near by washing, and thousands of men in
sight, unable to avenge his death. I tell you it made my
blood boil ; and I should certainly have shot that guard as
he stood coolly loading his gun afterwards, had I had my
rifle in hand. Day after day we waited, watched, and prayed
for deliverance ; and at last thought our prayers were heard,
for we learned that Stoneman was on the way to set us free.
We had some reason to believe the story ; for the rebels imme
diately began strengthening their works, setting three hun
dred slaves at work to build another stockade around the
one already built. But we were soon discouraged again by
hearing of Stoneman's capture."
Edward Smith and Elbert Sutliff, members of the Bristol
company of the Sixteenth, survived their Andersonville
captivity, were exchanged, and, when returning, both per
ished ; the former when the Black Diamond went down,
and the latter at the burning of the ill-starred vessel, Gen.
Lyon. There were many Bristol soldiers in Anderson
ville.
CRUEL TREATMENT OF PRISONERS IN ANDERSONVILLE. 751
Among those who escaped from Andersonville was
Andrew J. Spring of the Sixteenth, from Collinsville. He
and two comrades were five days in reaching our lines;
living on sugar-cane, green corn, and persimmons. They
traveled in the woods mostly, guiding themselves by the
moss, which always grows heaviest on the north side of trees.
They had to pass three lines of rebel pickets. The first one
they passed without difficulty. The next line they came
upon about four o'clock in the afternoon, and hid in the
woods until evening, when a thunder-shower came on ; and
in the thick darkness, and by crawling about a quarter of a
mile in the wet grass on their hands and knees, between the
picket-posts, they got safely through. The next line was
a cavalry picket; and the fugitives got through by caution
and some smart " flanking" operations. They soon struck
the railroad, and afterwards our picket-line, and were safe
once more- under the flag of the Union. He said of the
prison, —
" Before Stoneman's raid, the rebels had a chain-gang in the stockade,
made up of such as had attempted to escape. Thirteen poor fellows were
chained together by the ankles in a line on one side ; each man having a
32-pound ball attached by a chain to the leg. A short chain ran from one
leg to the other, giving each man a step of eight inches. On the other leg,
every fourth man had a G4-pound ball chained to his leg. When the gang
moved, each man carried his 32-pounder on one side ; and on the other side
a rod was run through rings in the balls, and four men carried each of the
G4-pounders. And so the poor soldiers wei'e kept day after day. When
one must go to the swamp, among the filth of that horrible place, all must go,
in their eight-inch step, and lugging the terrible weight of iron with which
they Avere encumbered. This chain-gang was released when Stoueman
was making his raid ; the rebels not caring to. have that general find such
an evidence of barbarity, in case he surprised them at Andersonville."
Peter J. Smith, on being released, made affidavit that the
following barbarity was practiced upon himself and others
by Major Allen of the 2d Virginia Cavalry : —
" At one time he took eight of us, myself amongst the number, all non
commissioned officers ; and upon our refusing to take the oath, and to
persuade the privates to do so, tied each of us, our hands and arms to our
sides, and our feet together, so that we could not use them ; laid us on our
sides ; and then took a loaded pistol, and, resting it on our ears, fired it off,
causing us the greatest agony, and the blood to flow from our ears. lie
caused the pistol to be thus fired on my car twelve times, saying, ' I will
make you so you can't hear the command of another Yankee general' or
752 CONNECTICUT DTJEING THE REBELLION.
commander.' The hearing of my right ear has been destroyed in conse
quence of this treatment."
Color-Corporal Charles E. Lee of Guilford was one of three
sons of James E. Lee, all of whom enlisted in the army.
Charles was captured with the Sixteenth, and taken to
Andersonville. The following are extracts from his
diary : —
May 9. — Our rations to-day are reduced ; the whole being only enough for
a very scanty meal. In the evening sang together till nine o'clock.
June 5, Sunday. — Spent the day principally in reading my Testament.
For rations, some bread so sour that we could not eat it.
July 4. — To-day is the anniversary of our National Independence, and
instead of celebrating it in old Connecticut, as I have been wont to do, I
am held in the most disgusting captivity ; yet I am perfectly willing to
suffer ft all, if I am thereby doing any thing towards saving our glorious
Union.
Aucf.ll. — Two years ago to-day, I enlisted in the glorious cause of
freedom ; and, though I am now suffering so much for my country, I still
rejoice that I enlisted when and where I did.
At the close of the year, reviewing his sad experience
during the months of imprisonment that had passed, he
writes as follows, " Again I am called to bid adieu to the
passing year ; but under very different circumstances from
any in which I have ever been. During the year 1864, I
have passed eight months in the most degrading imprison
ment. In that time, our inhuman captors have not furnished
shelter of any kind ; and we have repeatedly been for two
and three days at a time without a morsel of food ; and even
that we have received would at home have been generally
thought unfit for swine. We have not had a particle of
meat for forty-two days, and but little molasses, or any
thing to take the place of it. Our rations chiefly consist of
about a pint and a half of coarse corn-meal, and half a tea-
spoonful of salt daily. Now and then we receive a few
beans or sweet-potatoes. Many a night have I lain awake
because I was so hungry that I could not sleep." At last,
emaciated from exposure and lack of food., he was exchanged ;
and arrived at Washington, N.C., only to die under the flag
for which he had fought and suffered.
Sergeant Frederick Beardsley of Orange narrates the
trials of himself and Corporal P. M. Barnum of Middlebury
SERGEANT JOHN S. JAMESON. 753
at Andersonville. Beardsley says of his comrade, " Like the
rest of us, he became thin and weak ; our only rations being
one pint of coarse cob-meal per day, with occasionally a
small piece of rusty bacon. We had no shelter whatever :
our clothes were very poor, the bare ground our couch, and
the cold dews of heaven our only blanket. About the first
of August, 1864, poor Barnum was taken sick with scurvy.
Could he have had a small quantity of vegetables daily,
with which the country in the neighborhood of the stock
ade abounded, he might have been spared ; but, as it was,
his disease stole rapidly upon him in its very worst form.
His teeth became so loose, he could take them from his
mouth with his fingers ; and his lower limbs, from gangrene,
became useless. He was not removed to the hospital, had
no medicines, and no addition or change of diet, — nothing,'
in fact, did he have to put into his mouth but what made
him absolutely worse. On the twenty-third day of August,
Mr. Barnum died, — died like thousands of others in the
stockade, as no brute in a civilized land would be permitted
to die."
Sergeant John S. Jameson was another worthy martyr to
the cause of nationality. Family restraints withheld him
from entering the war at an early period ; and it was 1864
when he entered in the First Cavalry as a recruit from West
Meriden. In all the subsequent engagements of that regi
ment he fought, and was finally captured in the battle at
Reams's Station. He was kept at Libby till midsummer,
when he was transferred to Andersonville, where he died on
Aug. 31 in the prison hospital, in the dawn of early man
hood, and with a love of country that knew no abatement.
He was a native of Hartford, and a young man of high
attainments and unusual promise. He was a protege of the
artist Church, who often spoke of his rare qualities, and pre
dicted for him' great success as an artist. His talents
were highly versatile ; for he was proficient in music, and
possessed a poetic turn of mind. A friend wrote, " He was
honored by all who knew him, for his intelligence, generous
impulses, and cheerful performance of duty ; was beloved as
95
754 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
a companion ; and was tenderly thoughtful and affectionate
as a son."
Among others from Connecticut who died at Anderson-
ville, almost literally starved to death, were James M. Kieth
of Manchester, C. Wallace Woodford of West Avon, John
W. Crabtree of Hartford, and Robert K. Reid of Waterbury.
The last-named died in the arms of his father, a fellow-
soldier, and' a prisoner at the same time and place. A full
roll of our Andersonville martyrs will be found in the
appendix.
CHAPTER XLIII.
Affairs before Richmond. — Grant and Sherman of Connecticut Stock. — Genealogy. —
Location and Organization of Connecticut Regiments. — The First Cavalry returns
to Petersburg. — Whitakcr captures Major Gilmor. — Twelfth and Eighteenth Regi
ments. — First Artillery. — Death of Lieut.-Col. Trumbull. — Second Artillery. —
First, Second, and Third Batteries. — Sixth and Seventh. — Death of Chaplain
Eaton. — Eighth, Eleventh, Twenty-first, and Twenty-ninth. — Ninth and Thirteenth.
— Tenth and Fourteenth. — Sherman's Great March Northward. — The Fifth and
Twentieth. — Incidents of the Campaign. -1- Battles and Victories. — Casualties. —
Disaster of the Fifteenth Connecticut. — The Sixteenth.
LYSSES GRANT was not the man to relax his
grip on Richmond. When the spring of 1865
stirred among the sentient roots of grasses,
and woke the beauty latent in the hills, he had
strengthened his chain of redoubts, tightened
his cordon of rifles, and reached farther 'outward and for
ward with his armored left, in the death-clasp that was to
encircle the enemy's citadel. The materiel of war was re
newed. Every regiment was put in the best fighting-trim.
He felt that this was the head of the Rebellion ; and, with
Sherman and Terry working steadily at the giant's limbs,
he knew that his adversary would soon become an amor
phous monster, — a mere torso, easily enough dispatched.
As the people of our State looked on at the struggle, they
recalled with pardonable pride the fact that these three
soldiers, — Grant, Sherman, and Terry, — who had become
the supreme hope of the nation in its hour of agony, had
all sprung from a long line of ancestors, who were born
upon the soil, and trained in the district-schools, of Connec
ticut.1
1 J. Hammond Trumbull of Hartford, and Richard A. Wheeler of Stonington, have
ascertained and arranged the genealogical record of Gen. Grant. He is descended from
an ancient and worthy Connecticut family. The immigrant ancestor was Matthew Grant,
who, with his wile Prise-ilia, came over in the ship Mary and John to Dorchester, Mass.,
755
CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
Lee was on the defensive ; but he was weak, and appealed
earnestly for re-inforcements. Mr. Davis saw the peril of
the situation, and again he roweled with fiercer spur the
flanks of the jaded Confederacy. No response came.
The South was utterly exhausted, — not in men, but in
motive ; not in strength, but in effective will. Its master
passion was worn out ; for a majority of the promoters of
secession were dead. Its body was rent sore ; and the
devils of State supremacy and slave chivalry had been
expelled. Lee in front of Grant,' and Johnston again in the
path of Sherman, had barely eighty thousand soldiers ; while
a hundred thousand men hid in the mountains, avoiding the
officers of conscription. From the regiments of Lee, a hun
dred men deserted every day. The end was drawing nigh.
The location of most of! the Connecticut regiments was
essentially the same as at the beginning of winter. The
in 1630. He and his neighbors came in 1635 to Connecticut, and founded a town, which
for the first year they called Dorchester, and subsequently Windsor. Grant became an
active and prominent citizen of Windsor; being for many years town-clerk, and surveyor
of lands, and also deacon of the church. Says Dr. Stiles in the history of ancient Wind
sor (published before Gen. Grant had attained any distinction), "Few men filled so large
a place in the early history of Windsor, or filled it so well, as honest Matthew Grant. His
name figures in almost every place of trust." In the diagram of the " palisado plot," a
fortification which inclosed the first houses of the settlement for defense against the
Indians, the residence of Matthew Grant is posted, like a sentry-box, at the single gate
of entrance. In Windsor, Priscilla died, leaving four children ; and Deacon Grant after
wards married widow Susanna Rockwell.
The following is the family pedigree : —
1. MATTHKW GRANT m. Priscilla , Nov. 16, 1625; he d. Dec. 1C, 1681. Chil.: Priscilla;
(2) Samuel, b. Nov. 1',', 1631; Tahan; John.
2. SA.MUKL GRANT of Windsor m. Mary Porter, May 27, 1658. Chil. : (3) Samuel, jr., b. April
30, 1059; John; Matthew) Josiah; Nathaniel; Mary; Sarah; Abigail.
3. SAMUKL GRANT, .Ir., of Windsor, m., 1st, Hannah Filley, Dec. 0, 1083, by whom lie had a
dau., Hannah, who d. young; m., 2d, Grace Miner, dau. of John of Woodbury. April 11, 1088.
Their chil. were: Hannah; Samuel; (4) Noah, b. Dec. 16, 161)2; Abigail ; Ephraimi Grace;
David ; Ebeneser.
4. NOAH GRANT located in Tolland, Conn., soon after that town was settled. lie m. Martha
Huntington, dim. of John of Norwich, and a descendant of the second wife of Matthew Grant.
They hud the following chil. : (5) Noah, b. July 12, 1718; Adoniram; Solomon ; Mirtha.
5. NOAH GRANT removed from Tollund to Coventry about 1750. He and his brother Solomon,
who was also a resident of Coventry, joined the expedition to Crown Point in 1765, and were both-
killed the same year. He m. Susannah Delano, Nov. 5, 1746; and had chil. : (6) JSoah, b. June 20,
1748; Peter.
6. NOAH GRANT was a captain, and served with distinction in the Revolutionary War. He
removed from Coventry to Pennsylvania about 1787. He m., 1st, Mrs. Anna Richardson in
Coventry; she d. before he emigrated; he m., 2d, in Pennsylvania, Rachel Kelley in 1791. Chil.
by 1st wife, b. in Coventry: Peter; Solomon. Chil. by 2d wile, b. in Pennsylvania: Susan;
(7) Jesse Root, b. Jan. 171)4; Margaret; Noah; John; Roswell; Rachel.
7. JESSE ROOT GRANT, father of Gen. Grant, was named for Hon. Jesse Root of Coventry,
the learned and able Chief Justice ot Connecticut during a former generation. He settled in
Ohio; and m. Miss Hannah Simpson, June 24, 1821. Their cbil. were : Gen. Ulysses Simpson,
born April 27, 1822, and others.
It will be seen by the above record, that Gen. Grant is a descendant in the eighth gene
ration from Matthew Grant of Windsor; the line being as follows, — 1, Matthew; 2,
Samuel ; 3, Samuel, jr. ; 4, Noah ; 5, Noah ; 6, Noah ; 7, Jesse Root ; 8, Ulysses Simpson.
Besides the Grant blood, there is intermingled in the veins of the genera"!, by suc
cessive marriages, die blood of some of the best Connecticut families, — the Hunting-
tons, the Lathrops, the Porters, the Miners, the Putnams, — all strong names, and
significant of good training and sturdy growths.
THE FIRST CAVALRY UNDER SHERIDAN. 757
First Cavalry was still under Sheridan in the Shenandoah.
The regiment had been engaged in raids and skirmishes all
winter. On the 20th of December, 1864, under Major E. W.
Whitaker, it formed a part of the division of Gen. Ouster,
bivouacked at Lazy Springs, Va. Before daybreak, a divis
ion of rebel cavalry dashed in among the slumberers.
Major E. W. Whitaker says, "Though some regiments
did not stand firmly under the excitement of the sudden
charge, and a temporary confusion ensued, the First Connecti
cut was firm among dazzling camp-fires, facing the flashes of
the enemy's rifles. The enemy was driven from our bivouac
by the dawn of light; and we were assigned the important
duty of covering the rear and left flank in the retrograde
movement decided upon by Gen. Ouster. In this affair,
the officers and men of the regiment deserve especial credit
for the remarkable coolness and firmness with which they
stood the charge of the enemy under the peculiar disad
vantages. Neither the recent arousing from an icy bivouac,
the dazzling of fires in the darkness of the storm, the
demoralization witnessed in other commands, nor the
fiendish yell of the enemy, nor all combined, could shake
for a moment the solid ranks of the First Connecticut,
formed and moving to a charge under the enemy's fire."
Col. E. Blakeslee resigned at the end of three years'
distinguished service, and received the brevet rank of
brigadier-general. Lieut-Col. Brayton Ives became colonel;
Major E. W. Whitaker, lieutenant-colonel ; and Capt John B.
Morehouse, major.
On the 4th of February, -Lieut-Col. Whitaker, promoted
vice Ives appointed colonel, achieved a brilliant exploit.
The famous rebel raider, Harry Gilmor, had charged
through Maryland, destroyed the Baltimore and Washing
ton Railroad, captured a major-general and many officers on
the train,2 and escaped across the Potomac. Col. Whitaker
was designated by Sheridan's chief of staff to lead three
2 Among the passengers on the train that was stopped and burned by Gilmor was
Lieut.-Col. M. B. Smith of the Eighth. He slipped his watch and pocket-book into his
boot-leg ; and, when a soldier demanded his boots, he saved them by appealing to an
officer. Col. Smith was made prisoner ; but, while the raiders were busy with plunder, he
sauntered off to a neighboring house, 'concealed himself, and escaped that night to our
lines.
758 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE EEBELLION.
hundred picked men, and capture the bold rider. He
straightway chased and captured Gilmor, and delivered him
over to the Federal authorities. Of this adventure, we only
learn the following from his report : " A difficult march of
all day and night over the Alleghanies, of seventy miles,
thirty of which were within the enemy's line, enabled me to
reach and surprise Major Gilmor in vicinity of his camp. I
returned successfully, having accomplished the object of the
expedition ; making a march of one hundred and forty miles
in a little over forty-eight hours."
Col. Whitaker acknowledged his great indebtedness to
Lieut. Elias S. Brown of Ledyard, and Lieut. Lester W.
Cowles of Hartford ; also to surgeon George A. Hurlburt
of Glastenbury, who accompanied the expedition. In
February, Lieut-Col. Whitaker was detached as division
inspector to Gen. Custer; and Col. Ives took a short fur
lough.
About the first of March, Sheridan started to return to
Grant's army, ' v,id the valley and Lynchburg. The First
Connecticut started from Winchester, commanded by Major
Leonard P. Goodwin. The enemy was met at Waynes-
borough. March 2. Says Col. Ives in his report, —
" The First Connecticut, with two other regiments, was dismounted by
Gen. Custer, and put upon the rebel flank [the three regiments being led
by Col. Whitaker]. Although the men could move but slowly, owing to
the depth of mud, still they advanced with so much enthusiasm, that the
enemy broke ; when the rest of the division charged, mounted, and put them
completely to rout. In this affair, our side lost but nine in killed, wounded,
and missing ; while our captures consisted of thirteen hundred prisoners,
one hundred and fifty wagons, eight hundred horses and mules, eleven
guns, and eighteen battle-flags ! "
It was evident that the Rebellion was waning ; that the
soldiers had lost their spirit and hope. The column moved
to Charlotteville, when Sheridan abandoned his plan of
crossing the James, and pushed eastward, via New Market,
Columbia, King William's Court House, to the north of Rich
mond. Lieut-Col. Whitaker says, —
"March 13, as Gen. Sheridan neared Richmond, I was given the
command of my regiment in advance, and routed Gen. Early with his
escort of two hundred and forty men, scattering all not taken prisoners
to the woods. Passing to within nine miles of Richmond, we moved north-
DOINGS OF THE FIRST ARTILLERY. 759
ward to Ashland, when the 2d New- York Cavalry was sent to re-inforce
me while destroying railroad depot, &c. On the next day, the regiment
was in line, confronting the enemy, who was feeling us at Ashland. Gen.
Sheridan, desiring to learn the force of the enemy about to intercept his
column, ordered an attack to develop his strength. Gen. Custer directed
me to charge his lines to discover, if possible, any infantry. Leaving a
greater portion of the regiment as reserve, and taking Capt. E. M.
Neville's squadron, I succeeded in pressing in the enemy's cavalry to their
reserve, and on to a strong infantry command of Longstreet's corps. I
regret to report the loss, in this last charge, of Lieut. J. W. Clark, killed ;
a brave and faithful officer, who was loved and respected equally by subor
dinates and superiors." Sergeant Frank Newbold and John Geiger,
valued soldiers, also fell here at the extreme front of danger.
When the army crossed the James, Col. Ives returned, and
resumed command of the regiment.
The First Artillery still manned the long line of guns in
front of Petersburg. The casualties of the regiment during
the year had been one- officer and twent}r-nine enlisted men
killed, and four officers and forty-four enlisted men wounded.
Sixty-eight had died of disease and exposure.
Col. Abbot's report says, —
" To Lieut.-Col. Nelson L. White I am indebted for cordial support and
gallant service. Acting as inspector-general on my staff, and for a time
as commanding officer of the batteries in front of Petersburg, he has been
the model of a high-toned gentleman. After serving until the end 'of the
campaign, about six months beyond his original term, he left the army
regretted by all. Lieut.-Col. Thomas S. Trumbull has highly distinguished
himself for ability, courage, and devotion to duty. Entering upon the cam
paign with health much impaired, and placed at first in command of Fort
Anderson, where he was under fire night and day, he seemed to throw off
disease by determined will. Transferred to the command of the most im
portant line of batteries in front of Petersburg, his only fault was in labor
ing beyond his strength. In October, when recovering from a severe attack
thus engendered, he gave energetic attention to getting into position, and
organizing the artillery on* the lines of City Point. Few officers have the
energy and ability to accomplish what he has done. Major G. B. Cook,
during most of the campaign, has been in charge of the artillery on the lines
of Bermuda Hundred, and has well performed his duties. Major Albert
F. Brooker and Major George Ager, after gallant and distinguished ser
vices during the summer as battery commanders, have been promoted, and
have energetically entered upon their new duties.
" Where all the company commanders have so faithfully done their duty,
it seems almost invidious to select names for special mention. Almost all
have at different times had command of independent batteries ; and none
have failed to efficiently serve them. Some, however, have been more
fortunate than others in having rare opportunities for performing conspicu
ous services : of this number are especially Capts. II. II. Pierce, Wilbur
F. Osborne, and William G. Pride, also E. C. Dow, F. A. Pratt, E. A.
Gillette, C. O. Brigham, John H. Burton, W. A. Lincoln, John A. Twiss,
760 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
G. D. Sargeant, C. ,R. Barman, and George Dimock, and Lieuts. L.
W. Jackson, II. A. Pratt, E. P. Mason, H. D. Patterson, John O'Brien,
T. D. Cashin, John Odell, G. F. Bill, S. A. Woodruff, T. J. Beers, and
C. N. Silliman. Surgeon S. W. Skinner, Assistant Surgeons John S.
Delavan and Nathaniel Matson, and Chaplain Samuel F. Jarvis, all merit
my thanks for their faithful care of our sick.
" Lieut. Eben P. Hall was killed by a sharpshooter, while, regardless of
personal safety, he was skillfully directing the fire of his mortar battery.
Lieut. J. H. Cummings and Lieut. G. L. Turner, refusing to leave their
exhausting labors under fire until too late, died in consequence of their
devotion to duty. The regiment may well be proud that these names
appear upon its rolls."
Major-Gen. W. F. ("Baldy") Smith wrote to Col. Abbot
at this time, —
" I saw much of the services of the First Connecticut Artillery during
the campaign of 1862, and was then delighted with the skill and gallantry
of the officers and men. During the time I commanded the 18th Corps
before Petersburg, I called heavily upon you for siege guns and mortars ;
and never before during the war have I witnessed such artillery practice as
I saw with your regiment. The practicability of holding my position there
after the 21st of June was due in a great measure to the skill displayed by
your regiment. I trust every effort will be made to fill up a regiment
which has not its equal in artillery firing, and which can not be dispensed
with without great injury to the service."
The organization of the siege artillery brigade, command
ed by Col. Abbot, remained unchanged ; consisting of
eighteen companies, with an aggregate of twenty-seven
hundred men and two hundred and six guns. Eight com
panies were serving on the lines in front of Richmond, and
ten in front of Petersburg. This command constituted the
entire siege artillery of the two armies. On March 3, Col.
Abbot received the brevet rank of major-general.
Lieut.-Col. Thomas S. Trumbull died at Washington, March
3, 1865, of disease contracted in the Cliickahommy swamps.
When the war broke out, he was practicing law in New-
York City, and immediately volunteered to join the Seventh ;
but that regiment was full. He telegraphed to join Haw-
ley's company in the First ; but was again, too late. He
declined a commission in a New-York regiment, and came
home to Hartford in time to enlist as a private in the Third.
When Col. Woodhouse was transferred to the Fourth, he
took young Trumbull along as his .adjutant ; and the
officer made such rapid progress in the attainment of mili
tary knowledge and practice, that Col. Tyler, on being
LOCATION OF BATTERIES AND REGIMENTS. 761
4
appointed colonel, procured his promotion to the majority.
It was a long step from adjutant to major; but Col. Tyler
said he made the recommendation solely for the good of
the service, as Adjutant Trumbull exhibited extraordinary
capacity as an artillery officer. Major Trumbull shared the
perils and honors of his regiment, as is seen in its history.
Before Petersburg, he acted as Gen. Baldy Smith's chief of
artillery. So high was his reputation, that, before being
promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, he was offered the
position of chief of artillery in two corps of the army. Before
his constitution was broken down by the insidious fevers of
the Peninsula, he was noted for his strength and his athletic
accomplishments ; few excelling him in those manly sports
requiring cool nerves, trained muscle, and a quick eye. He
was a man of geniality and ready wit in society, of unusual
promise in his profession, and of ardent patriotism. To this
were added a high sense of honor, purity, sincerity, a
straightforward manliness, and a tone of refinement that
impressed all society in which he moved. Col. Abbot said
of him, " Brave to excess ; possessed of an energy which
seemed able to overcome not only outward obstacles, but
even disease itself when danger called ; well qualified by
natural ability, by a fine education, and by studious habits,
to perform the responsible duties of his high rank in the
artillery, — Lieut.-Col. Trumbull was every thing that I
could desire as an assistant and as a friend."
The Second Artillery had returned to the Petersburg
front after the decisive battle of Cedar Creek, and now lay
with the 6th corps' towards the left. Col. Mackenzie had
been promoted to be brigadier-general ; and Lieut.-Col.
James Hubbard accepted the commission of colonel, which
he had previously declined. Major Ells had resigned ; Major
Jeffrey Skinner had become lieutenant-colonel ; and Capts.
Edward W. Jones, Chester D. Cleveland, and Augustus H.
Fenn were promoted to the majority.
The First Battery was in front of Richmond, the Second
Battery in the Department of the South, the Third Battery
before Petersburg.
The Sixth and Seventh Regiments had participated in the
762 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
advance on Wilmington from Fort Fisher. On the promo
tion of Col. Hawley to be brigadier-general, Capt. Seager S.
Atwell 3 was promoted to be colonel of the Seventh. Gen.
Hawley, left in command of a division north of the James
when Terry moved on Fort Fisher, had been ordered to
resume command of his brigade under Terry.
As soon as the fort had fallen, Gen. Terry threw out
Payne's division of colored troops towards Wilmington ; and
withdrew it on finding the enemy strongly intrenched.
Schofield now arrived with his 23d Corps. On Feb. 11,
Terry moved forward with his whole force from his works,
which stretched across the island, drove in the enemy's
pickets, and selected and intrenched a new advanced posi
tion, so close as to hold Hoke in force at that point ; while
Gen. Cox took two divisions of Schofield's corps, and made
a rapid flank movement by land south-west of the city,
driving the enemy everywhere before him. On the 22d,
our forces entered Wilmington4 in triumph; and Terry
drove the Confederates in confusion across North-east River.
In the Seventh, Lieut. Austin of New Haven was wounded.
Capt. Thompson reports, —
" I take pleasure in commending Adjutant Albert M. Holden, who per
formed his duties on this trying occasion with marked ability and courage.
Adjutant Holden is a young officer of much promise, and deserves honor
able mention for gallant and meritorious conduct in this as well as previous
engagements. Justice to the deserving leads me also to commend the
action of Lieut. Willard Austin of my command, who performed with
greatest acceptance a most difficult and dangerous duty ; being instructed
by Gen. Abbott to advance with a detachment of men considerably
beyond our main line, in order to draw the enemy's fire."
The Union losses had been slight, while the Confederates
had lost at least a thousand killed, wounded, and prisoners ;
3 Chaplain Jacob Eaton wrote at this time in the Meridcn Recorder, " Meriden is
honored in the promotion of Sealer S. Atwell to the position to which his gallantry,
good conduct, and efficiency entitle him. He served with credit to himself, and with
acceptance to his superior officers, in the three-months' campaign. He enlisted as a pri
vate soldier in Capt. Byxbee's company. He re-entered the service for three years as
second lieutenant in Capt. Sanford's company of the Seventh. He has taken part in
thirty battles and skirmishes, and has been slightly wounded three times. He has
always borne himself with great coolness and credit under fire, and is beloved for his
manly qualities and true benevolence. He commanded the Seventh in the fiercely-con
tested battle of Chaffin's Farm ; ami for his gallantry and good judgment in handling
the regiment in that action was highly commended in a letter from Major-Gen. Terry.
He is much esteemed by both the officers and enlisted men of his regiment ; and we all
rejoice in his promotion "
4 The first Union flag raised in Wilmington was unfurled over his store by J. F.
Neff, formerly of Rocky Hill. He had been expelled for his " Northern " sentiments, and
returned in the fleet of Admiral Porter.
CHAPLAIN JACOB EATON. 763
and, since Terry first landed above Fort Fisher, there had
fallen into our hands two hundred and twelve pieces of
artillery.
Chaplain Jacob Eaton of the Seventh died on March 20
at his post, — one of the most fearless and devoted men the
State furnished to the war. He was a graduate of Harford
University in Pennsylvania, and of the Yale Theological
School. His first and only pastorate was over the Hanover
Congregational Church ; and there he labored four years
with zeal and much success. He was an earnest antislavery
man ; and, when the challenge of secession came, he saw
that civilization on this continent was at stake. In
September, 1861 (after Bull Run), Tie wrote on the records
of his church, " The darkest hour has come. . . . After
mature reflection, I have asked of my people leave of
absence for one year, that I may enlist in the grand army
of freedom. May God be with those whom I shall leave
behind ! may he save me through his grace ! and may he
save our beloved country, our government, from anarchy
and dissolution!" The leave was granted; and he immedi
ately enlisted as a private in the Eighth. He shared the
fortunes of the regiment at Roanoke Island and Newberne,
and was promoted to a lieutenancy. He was wounded on
the bloody field of Antietam, and resigned to recover from
his injuries. Again he preached to his people, earnest in
kindling brighter the fires of patriotism. But again the stir
of battle was in his ears ; his heart was at the front ; and
after preaching a year he again enlisted as a private in the
Seventh, and was made chaplain. Here he did valiant ser
vice. For more than two years, through failing health, he
still pressed on to do all that might be done for the brave
men whom he had bound to himself as brothers in a com
mon cause. His health was at last fatally impaired ; and:
his friends besought him to resign, and save himself. No:
o O J
he shared all the perils and exposures of the Fort-Fisher
and Wilmington campaign, where new scenes. opened before
him, and new work taxed his strength. Our poor, starved,
dying prisoners were brought in by thousands, and ex
changed ; and he could not see their sufferings unmoved.
764 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
Warned by a friend not to sacrifice himself, he said, " They
ought to be and must be cared for by some one ; and I will
do all that lies in my power for the poor, emaciated, and
helpless creatures." He died in their midst. Chaplain
Eaton was a true soldier and a model chaplain. He was
tender in sympathy, firm in conviction, bold and impulsive
in action, and was respected as a man, and beloved as a
friend, both at home and in the army. He fell with his
armor on, in the midst of the strife, just as the day was
breaking ; but he saw the end by faith, and gave his life
joyfully in exchange for the life of the republic.
The Eighth, Eleventh, Twenty-first, and Twenty-ninth
still held the lines north of the James. Capt. William M.
Pratt of Meriden was now lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth ;
and Capt. Charles M. Coit was again commissioned to be
major, and again declined, as he had done the previous year.
Lieut.-Col. Randall H. Rice had become colonel of the
Eleventh; Major Charles Warren had succeeded him as
lieutenant-colonel ; and Capt. Henry J. McDonald of Dan-
bury was commissioned major. All these officers had
mounted, by their own merit, from the ranks.
On March 1, the Eleventh was formally presented, by
Miss Julia A. Beach of Wallingford, with a stand of hand
some and richly-wrought national colors, " in memory of the
pure and valorous commander," Col. Griffin A. Stedman,
killed before Petersburg. It bore upon its folds the names
of eleven battles ; and upon a silver ferrule was inscribed
the memorial dedication.
Lieut-Col. J. F. Brown, in command of the Twenty-first,
thus reports an expedition in which his regiment was en
gaged at this time : " March 4, the 3d Brigade, in which my
regiment still remained, was detached under command of
Gen. S. H. Roberts, and, embarking at Deep Bottom, pro
ceeded down the James, and up the Rappahannock River, as
far as Fredericksburg, which we reached without opposition
on the morning of the 7th. Here were captured a number of
the enemy's scouts and pickets, and a large quantity of tobac
co, cars, wagon-train, &c. After destroying such of the cap
tured property as could not be brought away, the expedition
LOCATION OF THE REGIMENTS. 765
returned to Fortress Monroe, and thence proceeded on a
raid into Westmoreland County, which was attended with
few incidents of importance. Returning1, via Point Lookout,
we received orders to proceed up the York and Pamunkey
Rivers to White House, which we reached on the 14th, and
established a base of supplies for the command of Gen.
Sheridan, who soon joined us. Waiting here a few days,
we proceeded across the Chickahominy, via Harrison's Land
ing and Malvern Hill, and rejoined the Army of the James
on the 25th."
In January, the Ninth and Thirteenth Battalions (reduced
from regiments) were transferred from the Shenandoah Val
ley to the Department of the South, — headquarters at Sa
vannah, which had been captured by the grand army of
Sherman. On the 8th of March, the Thirteenth moved
northward to Morehead City and Newberne to guard pro
visions to Sherman's army. Col. Blinn had resigned ; and
the battalion was commanded by Lieut-Col. Homer B.
Sprague. It now formed a part of the 10th Army Corps,
commanded by Major-Gen. Terry. The Ninth remained in
Savannah under command of Lieut.-Col. John G. Healy.
Almost all of the other officers had resigned ; Col. Thomas
W. Cahill leaving the service with the same rank he held at
first, after three years of honorable and arduous service,
two-thirds of the time in command of a brigade, and once
leading a division in battle.
The Tenth remained in the trenches north of the James.
Its field-officers were now Col. Edwin S. Greeley, Lieut.-Col.
E. D. S. Goodyear, and Major Frank Hawkins of Derby.
Lieut. George Northrop of Bethel died at Fortress Mon
roe on Friday, March 11, of wounds. He was in the three-
months' service, then enlisted in the Tenth, and re-enlisted.
His commission reached him after he was prostrated with
four wounds. He was a faithful, brave, and patriotic sol
dier, unspotted in character, honored and beloved through
out the regiment.
The Fourteenth was with the 2d Corps upon the left of
Grant's line. Col. Theodore G. Ellis was still detained as a
member of a general military court at Washington, organ
ized by Judge-Advocate-General Holt. Capt. John C. Broatch
766 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
had been promoted to be major. The Thirtieth was also on
the left flank.
The Twelfth battalion was at Summit Point, under Col.
George N. Lewis and Lieut.-Col. Sidney E. Clark. Capt.
L. A. Dickinson declined a major's commission. The Eight
eenth had headquarters at Hall town ; and the men were
never more comfortably .situated. Two companies were on
detached duty at Duffield Station, and one company at Har
per's Ferry. Lieut.-Col. Henry Peale was again in command
of the regiment, after an unpleasant absence, arid was a
great favorite with the men. He labored zealously, and not
in vain, to sustain the previous reputation of the regiment.
Surgeon Lowell Holbrook was faithful and efficient in his
department; and the sanitary condition of the regiment
was never better.
The Fifteenth remained in the vicinity of Newberne.
On Dec. 9, 1864, Col. Upham started at the head of a bri
gade of fifteen hundred men; the object of the expedition
being to ford the Neuse River, and capture Kinston, and de
stroy the rebel ram lying in the river at that point ; also to
make a diversion in favor of an attempt by Grant to extend
his left towards Weldon. The command started; but a heavy
rain came on, swelled the river, and rendered a Crossing im
possible. Col. Upham drove the rebels from the crossings
at Jackson's Creek ; and, when the enemy advanced from
Goldsborough, he, retired to Newberne. The men suffered
terribly ; the cold storm terminating in freezing weather.
In February, several thousand recruits for Sherman's army
arrived, and five hundred of them were temporarily assigned
to the Fifteenth. By this time, the following members had
left to accept commissions in colored regiments, — Henry G.
Marshall, John B. Willett,. George W. Allen, George W. Bun-
nell, Edwin A. Thorp, Edwin A. Kinney, Augustus Bod well,
John Hill, Richard K. Woodruff, Thomas Dunlap, jr.
Gen. Sherman 5 had learned before he started on his great
march, that moderation in war is imbecility. He did not
5 Gen. William Tccumseh Sherman is a -descendant of the family to which the Revo
lutionary statesman, Roger M. Sherman, belonged. His grandfather, Hon. Taylor Sher
man, was for a long time a judge in Connecticut; and his father, Hon. Charles R.
SOUTH CAROLINA SWEPT. 767
rest long at Savannah. lie touched the ocean, received
some necessary supplies, and began another campaign,
equally memorable, through South and North Carolina, to
wards the center of the Confederate power.
The Fifth Connecticut was in the 1st Brigade 'of the 1st
Division, and the Twentieth in the 3d Brigade of the 3d
Division, 20th Corps. Henry W. Daball had become colonel
of the Fifth, and William S. Cogswell, major. The Twen
tieth was commanded by Lieut.-Col. P. B. Buckingham.
The column left the vicinity of Savannah about the mid
dle of January, and pushed northward in the face of diffi
culties which the rebels proclaimed to be insurmountable.
During the first week, the Fifth was in charge of the supply-
trains of the division. On Feb. 5, the Twentieth was
deployed in line of battle ; and, after brief skirmishing, the
enemy retired precipitately, and the division bivouacked jn
line of battle. For six weeks, the army pressed forward,
constantly menaced and harassed, but constantly advancing
across swollen rivers, through almost impenetrable swamps
and wide-growing rice-fields crossed by dikes and cause
ways, through the inland towns of Georgia and South
Carolina; the soldiers foraging with peculiar unction after
they crossed the boundaries of the fiery Palmetto State. In
South Carolina, they reveled, indulging a terrible joy at the
thought that the Rebellion was in its last gasp, and resolved
to collect principal and interest of the debt long due to jus
tice. The pestilent State was swept with a besom of flame ;
little was left that could be used ; and tall blackened chim
neys, where plantation-houses had been, became monuments
to mark the track of the broad scourge. Every few miles,
our army came upon long intrenchments of the enemy,
which the occupants deserted, and the pursuers overran.
Sometimes the men marched in cold and stiffening mud ;
sometimes they waded for miles through water a foot or
Sherman, was a lawyer, practicing in Norwalk. After the British desolated Fairfield
County, the family removed to Ohio, and settled the town of Sherman. Judge Taylor
Sherman was one of the original commissioners of the Tire Lands ; and Charles R Sher
man, during the last six years of his life, occupied a seat on thel>ench of the superior
court of Ohio. He died in 1829; and of his eleven children Charles T., a prominent
lawyer in Washington, was the eldest, William Tccumseh was the sixth, and Senator
John Sherman the seventh.
768 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
two deep ; sometimes they pushed on all day, many bare
and sore feet tracking frozen ground. Sherman shared the
hardships of his soldiers. " His staff is smaller than that of
any brigade commander in the army. He has fewer ser
vants and horses than the military regulations allow ; his
baggage is reduced to the smallest possible limit ; he sleeps
in a fly-tent like the rest of us, rejecting the effeminacy of a
house ; and the soldier in the ranks indulges in luxuries
which his chief never sees." c
From every group of cabins and on every crossroad, the
negroes came with their wild shouts of welcome. Uncouth
but significant were their salutations, "Tank the Lord
Almighty, Mister Sherman has come wid his company ! "
" I bin a prayin' fo' ye boys ; de blessin' ob Jesus is on ye.
I know'd ye'd come. Bress de Lord, you uns '11 have a place
in heaben : you go dar, sure ! " All the regiments were
engaged from time to time in laying pontoon-bridges and
corduroying the roads through swamps. By the middle of
February, the head of the column struck Columbia ; and
Beauregard retreated northward, falsifying a thousand sav
age prophecies. Charleston had fallen, and the stars and
stripes waved over Sumter. Again forward pushed the
irresistible " iron-clads " into North Carolina.
Rev. Charles N. Lyman of Canton Center, chaplain of the
Twentieth on this march, wrote, " For two or three days in
succession, our march has been through pine-forests which
were on fire, sending up huge masses of thick, black smoke,
which the winds would take and waft into our faces, cover
ing us all with a thick coat of lampblack ; so that we
appeared like a vast army of chimney-sweeps inarching
through the land. During this time also, we have known,
like the apostle Paul, 'both what it was to abound, and to
be in need.'"
On March 13, the 20th Corps crossed the Cape-Fear River ;
and next morning the Twentieth Connecticut was out upon *
a reconnoissance, the enemy being reported in front. After
marching five miles, the command was divided; Lieut-Col.
Buckingham taking three regiments, and advancing towards
6 Nichols's Story of the Great March.
THE FIFTH AND TWENTIETH AT AVEKYBOKOUGH. 769
Raleigh, while the rest of the force turned off to the right.
Buckingham pushed on 'five miles farther, and drove the
rebel skirmishers and a piece of artillery into works, where
they, made a stand. Having exhausted instructions, Col.
Buckingham rejoined his brigade, and marched back to camp
that night. During this expedition, Capt. Ezra Sprague com
manded the regiment. Lieut. Edward J. Murray of New
Britain, a promising young officer lately promoted from
sergeant, was severely wounded in the thigh on the skir
mish-line.
It now became evident that the Confederates were con
centrating in front. Kilpatrick had a sharp fight with Wade
Hampton, in which he wrested victory from defeat, and
swept the field. Sherman had communicated with Terry,
who now commanded the -10th Corps at Wilmington, and
who started immediately northward to join the great expe
dition at Goldsborough. Sherman's men felt the approach
ing battle. They knew of it by a sort of military instinct,
as soldiers always foresee a fight. When they stopped at
night, they threw up a slight breastwork against the menace.
Rebel infantry and cavalry now pressed everywhere in front.
On March 16, the enemy was found in line of battle near
Averyborough. The 1st Division of the 20th Corps was
in the advance. The Fifth Connecticut relieved a force
of cavalry, and dashed forward to the rebel works. The
«/ *
fighting was severe ; but the Confederates were driven from
their position, and they retired to heavier intrenchments in
the rear. The Twentieth was also sharply engaged at this
point, the 3d Division having hurried forward to participate.
Both regiments were deployed as skirmishers along the
advanced front, and continued under fire until after dark.
The enemy was defeated at all points ; and many prisoners
and some guns were captured. The Fifth had lost four
killed, eleven wounded, and eleven missing. Among the
killed was First Lieut. Jarnes P. Henderson. He had but
recently been promoted, and, during his brief career as an
officer, had .proved himself fully worthy of the position he
filled at the time of his death.
Surgeon Andrew J. Gilson of Bridgeport wrote of him,
9T
770 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
" He had recently been promoted from orderly sergeant to
first lieutenant, and recommended for captain. He was gener
ous, brave, and noble-hearted, gallant, and patriotic. When
assured by me that his wound was mortal, and that he could
not live but a few moments, he turned to me, and said,
'Tell my mother I die like a soldier.' He had become
endeared to me. I had learned to respect him and to love
him, and now I am called to mourn him." The Twentieth
lost two (Sergeant Seymour N. Smith and John Gossman)
killed, and nineteen wounded. Of the latter, three died,
among whom was Lieut. Wellington Barry of Haddam.
Adjutant C. Myron Talcott of New Britain, and Lieut. W.
H. H. Johnson of New Haven, were wounded, the latter
severely.
Next morning, the inarch was resumed ; Johnston having
fallen back on Bentonville. On the 19th, he massed his
forces, and made a vigorous assault on Sherman's exposed
left, held by Slocum. The Fifth Connecticut went into
position, and constructed works, but was not engaged. The
Twentieth was called to participate. Lieut.-Col. Bucking
ham reported, " We were ordered to advance, and relieve
a brigade of the 14th Corps, supposed to be in our imme
diate front. The regiment advanced with the brigade-line
through the woods for twenty or thirty rods, then across a
swamp, when we emerged into an open wood of heavy pine-
timber ; and some twenty rods from the swamp was a thick
growth of underbrush directly in our front. After moving
forward nearly to the edge of the heavy pine-forest, we re
ceived a tremendous volley from the enemy (whose lines lay
concealed not more than a dozen rods from us, behind the
underbrush), which we immediately returned.
" Our line, was established, and held till after dark without
assistance. Although the enemy brought up another line of
battle against us, and made the most determined efforts to
drive us from the field, yet the men stood as firm as a rock,
never flinching under the murderous fire, or giving an inch
of ground. Soon after dark, the enemy retiped, leaving
his dead and many of his wounded in our hands; when we
threw up a temporary line of works, and bivouacked on
DISASTER TO THE FIFTEENTH. 771
the battle-field, after assisting in removing our dead and
wounded.
" The regiment in this engagement, remarkable both for
the obstinacy with which the rebels fought and for the
terrible fire which they maintained, kept its reputation for
courage and valor, which it had already established on many
a hard-fought battle-field."
The regiment had lost ten killed and thirty wounded.
Among the slain were Sergeant Edward W. Stan wood, and
Corporals Abner C. Smith and Elliott W. Nettleton. During
the battles of the succeeding days, the Connecticut regiments
were not engaged. Terry with the 10th Corps had now
come up.
Schofield had gone to Newberne, whence he advanced,
March 6, with the 23d Corps, on Kinston and Goldsborough.
Gen. Edward Harland commanded a division on the right.
The Fifteenth Connecticut was divided into two battalions,
under Lieut.-Col. Tolles and Major K W. Osborn, and was
in a brigade commanded by Col. Charles L. Upham. This
brigade was placed in the advance, on the Dover Road,
to the left. The road most of the way lay through swamps,
and was heavily blockaded by felled trees, which had to be
cut through to allow the passage of the artillery and trains.
Of the disaster that befell the Fifteenth, Col. Upham gives
the following account in his report : —
" No enemy was found until near South-west Creek, when
it was evident that they intended to dispute the passage
of that stream ; and held the crossings with artillery and
infantry well intrenched. About two, P.M., of the 7th, I was
ordered to the left to relieve a portion of the 2d Brigade, 1st
Division, then at Jackson's Mills. Arriving there, Companies
A and I of the 1st Battalion were deployed as skirmish
ers; the remainder of the battalion furnishing the supports
and the picket-line connecting with the troops on our right,
three-fourths of a mile distant. The other brigades of our
division went into camp at Wise's Forks, a mile and a half
in our rear. Our left was covered by cavalry, who were
directed to picket as far as the Upper-Trent Eoad, which
772 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
would preclude the possibility of the enemy's passing our
left unknown to us. There were .occasional firings on both
sides, from artillery and on the skirmish-line, until dark.
During the night, the skirmish-line, under Lieut-Col. Tolles,
was pushed forward to within one hundred yards of the
enemy's works, and intrenched. About ten, A.M., of the 8th,
the enemy opened upon us with artillery, which was returned
by our guns ; and the skirmishers became briskly engaged.
Receiving informati6ri that a body of the enemy were mov
ing upon a road on our left, I ordered the 27th Massachusetts
Volunteers into the woods to our left, forming across the
British Road, with skirmishers thrown out on both flanks.
About noon, the enemy made a sudden and impetuous attack
upon the 27th Massachusetts. Directing that the 2d Battalion
of the Fifteenth change front to meet it, and the artillery
report to me at the crossing of the British Road, I proceeded
in that direction, and found the enemy to have possession of
that part of the field-; and, advancing rapidly, gained the
roads, thereby preventing communications with Lieut.-Col.
Tolles and Major Osborn. At the same time, the enemy
advanced on our right, and, cutting our picket-line in two,
almost completely surrounded the troops, who were soon
compelled to surrender. The only [line] officer escaping was
Lieut. Charles F. Bowman, who with a few men ran the
gantlet of a hot fire to make their escape. From an
aide-de-camp of Gen. Bragg, who was present on the 8th, and
afterward taken prisoner, I learn that the rear attack was
made by Hoke's (rebel) division, six thousand strong."
About nine hundred men were captured.
The Fifteenth did not surrender without an earnest strug
gle ; and in this fell some of its noblest officers and men.
Major Osborn was struck down at the head of his battalion,
receiving a wound that proved mortal. Capt. Julius Bas-
sett dropped upon the skirmish-line, — a bullet through his
body from hip to hip. Lieut. E. W. Bishop fell in the midst
of the fight. Capt George W. White, Capt. Robert 0. Brad
ley, and others, were also wounded. No official list of
casualties was published ; but it is estimated that at least a
hundred of the regiment were killed or wounded. Corporals
THE DEAD OF THE FIFTEENTH. 773
Matthew Brown, F. Phillips, G. W. Manville, and Charles
Beardsley were killed.
Major Eli Walter Osborn was born in New Haven, and
was thirty years old at the time of his death. At an early
age, he had a fondness for military life, and was with diffi
culty dissuaded from entering at West Point. He was for sev
eral years captain of the "Grays;" and at all times was an
enthusiastic and active member of that popular organization,
which he commanded at the first battle* of Bull Run, in the
Second Regiment, Col. Terry. When -the. Fifteenth, or
" Lyon Regiment," was formed, he accepted the position of
major, in which capacity he had nearly served out the three
years of enlistment. His equable and generous temperament,
his unselfishness, and his kindly manner, joined with high
manly attributes, attracted the love and confidence of his
comrades; and his death was sincerely mourned by the brave
men who had known him in battle and bivouac. He was
on detached service when the regiment moved to battle, and
applied for and obtained leave to join his command. He
died at Danville, after being one month in the hands of the
enemy.
Capt. Bassett of Meriden died on the field. He was a son
of Jared Bassett, and was born in Humphreysville in 1818.
His educational advantages were limited ; but he studied
industriously, and became a ready writer and speaker. He
early developed the characteristics which marked his man
hood, — an unbending will, great courage, utter truthful
ness, strong personal attachments, and hatred of cant and
affectation. In 1862, he raised a company in Meriden, and
led it in the Fifteenth, and was the senior captain in the
regiment at the time of his death.
Lieut. Edwin W. Bishop of New Haven died ten days after
the battle, in the hands of the enemy. Private Enoch E.
Rogers of Orange says of him, " His genial, jovial nature, and
kind treatment of the men, made him a universal favorite
in the regiment."
The prisoners were marched to Kinston, thence taken by
cars to Goldsborough, thence to Weldon. The officers went
to Libby Prison. The enlisted men were marched around
774 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
the State a few weeks, and then exchanged, and sent to
Annapolis.
The portion of the regiment not captured — a hundred
men in the aggregate, including Company K absent from
the fight — was under Col. Upham in the succeeding action
of the 10th, where the assault of the enemy was repulsed
most signally. Subsequently, when Kinston was captured,
the Fifteenth was a part of the provost-guard.
Lieut. William A. Bowns of New Haven, acting-quarter
master, was killed by an accident on May 21. Endeavoring
to get on board a railroad-train at Newberne, his foot slipped,
and the cars ran over both his legs. He was a capable
officer, and was buried in New Haven with military honors.
Schofield advanced successfully on Kinston, and thence
to Goldsborough, where his corps and Terry's joined the
army of Sherman. Gen. Harland was left in command of
the post at Kinston ; and when the war was ended he
resigned, after more than four years of trying and copstant
service in the field.
The Sixteenth, as has been seen, suffered a long, dismal,
terrible imprisonment. The remnant that escaped capture
remained on Roanoke Island under Capt. Barnum, re-inforced
now and then by a few officers, or a squad of men ex
changed. Lieut.-Col. John H. Burnham was exchanged
during August of 1864 ; and about the 1st of September
he started for his command, and on the 9th was recaptured
while on the steamer Fawn, passing through the Chesapeake
and Albemarle Canal, and in sight of the steamer that ran
to Roanoke Island. The rebel force consisted of seventy
men. The colonel was soon after again paroled. During
December, the detachment of the Sixteenth proceeded to'
Plymouth, and went thence on an expedition to Foster's
Mills, about ten miles; destroying the mills and a large
quantity of grain, and returning with various spoil. In
March, when Schofield moved out from Newberne, the de
tachment evacuated the snug camp on Roanoke, and went
across to the city, where it was quartered as provost-guard
until the end of the Rebellion.
CHAPTER XLIV.
Spring of 1865. — The Beginning of the End. — Petersburg. — Rebel Assault on Fort
Stcdman. — Repulse. — Service of the First Connecticut Artillery. — The Second
Artillery and the Fourteenth on the Left. — The Tenth and Thirtieth. — The First
Cavalry at Five Forks. — The Tenth at Fort Gregg. — Unsurpassed Gallantry. —
Advance of the Whole Line. — Lee evacuates Petersburg and Richmond. — The
Retreat and Pursuit. — First Cavalry at Sailor's Creek. — Lee surrounded. — The
Surrender. — In North Carolina. — The Capitulation of Johnston's Army.
VERY sign was ominous of the speedy downfall
of the Confederacy, when in March, 1865, Grant
and Sherman met President Lincoln at City
Point; and the three chiefs decided to launch
the final blows fast and heavy, and make short
work of it.
Before the middle of the month, Lee had determined to
abandon Richmond and Petersburg. The Union lines had
been constantly strengthened, while his own army had become
weaker and weaker every month. Moreover, his right was
hard pressed by Warren 'and Hancock, who had gradually
extended their works so near the Cox and Boydton roads
as to make them unsafe as a line of retreat.
In this dilemma, Lee ordered a sudden and impetuous
assault on Fort Stedman near the Appomattox (where the
gallant Gen. Stedman had fallen) ; hoping thereby at least
to relieve his menaced right. On March 25, the blow was
struck. The system of fortifications to be attacked consisted
of a series of field-works, each capable of containing a battery
of artillery and an infantry garrison of two or three hundred
men. These works were closed at the gorge ; well protected
with abatis and palisading ; supplied with numerous bomb-
proofs ; and placed, at intervals of about six hundred yards,
775
776 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
on such ground as to sweep the line in front with artillery-
fire. They were connected by strong infantry parapets, and
had obstructions in front. Gen. Abbot of the First thus
reported the situation, " Hare Hill was located near the right
of our Petersburg line, about a mile from the Appomattox
River. It was protected by Fort Stedman> with Battery No.
10 on its right, and Batteries Nos. 11 and 12 QJI its left. The
next work, closed at the gorge on the side of the Appomat
tox River, was Battery No. 9, situated near the foot of the
hill. The next work on the left of Hare Hill and its collec
tion of batteries was Fort Haskell, situated on another hill,
with a small creek between. Fort Stedrnan was one of the
weakest and most ill-conditioned works of the line ; being
unprotected by abatis in rear ; being masked on its right —
just in rear 'of Battery No. 10 — by numerous bomb-proofs,
rendered necessary by the terrible fire which habitually took
place in this vicinity ; and being only about two hundred
ya-rds distant from the enemy's main line. The parapet had
settled greatly during the winter; and, in fine, the work was
much exposed to sudden assault. Company K, First Con
necticut Artillery, served mortar batteries in Batteries 9 and
10 ; and Company L of the same regiment, in Battery 12
and in Fort Haskell."
Fort Stedman was commanded by Major Randall of the
14th New-Jersey Artillery, acting as infantry with a light
battery. Batteries 8 and 9 were commanded by Lieut. Azro
Drown of East Haddam ; Battery 10 by Capt. Joh-n M.
Twiss of Hartford; Batteries 11 and 12 by Lieut. Robert
Lewis of East Berlin — all of the First Connecticut. The
9th Corps was in the rear as supports.
At about four o'clock, A.M., three divisions of the enemy,
under Gen. Gordon, made a desperate and well-arranged
attack upon these defenses. It was a complete surprise, and
was successful. Their columns simultaneously swept over the
parapet between Stedman and Battery 9, over Battery 10
and over Battery 11, joined in rear of the fort, and carried it
almost without opposition. From that time to daylight, a
hand-to-hand fight raged among the bomb-proofs, and on the
flanks of the enemy's position. As the rebels swarmed over
DESPEKATE REBEL -ASSAULT. 777
the parapet of Battery No. 10, First Lieut. John Oclell of
New London shouted out, " Fall in to the guns, boys ! " when
a rebel shot him dead. He was a young officer, and noted for
his bravery and good soldierly qualities, much loved and re
spected by all. Gen Abbot says, & Lieut. Odell was a natural
soldier ; possessed of bravery of the highest character, enthu
siastic devotion to duty, and a fine power of command over
men. He died as he would have wished, with his face to the
enemy,* bravely rallying his men to meet overwhelming
odds." "It was so dark that a man could hardly distinguish
friend from foe, and the enemy had nearly gained possession
of the batteries before the men knew of the movement. At
one time, the rebels were firing part of the mortars in
Battery No. 10, and our men firing the rest. The enemy'
made a spirited charge on Batteries 8 and 9 ; but Lieut.
Drown used his mortars with such effect, that they had to
retreat, losing heavily. At one time, the rebels were within
two hundred yards of Battery No. 9, and five hundred yards
of Battery No. 8. Their loss at this point was very heavy,
while our loss was slight."
Gen. Abbot reported, " The Confederates assaulted Fort
Haskell again and again, but failed to carry it .or Battery
No. 9. As soon as the light would admit, all my own artil
lery from Batteries 4, 5, 8, 9, and Fort Haskell, and all the
light artillery which Gen. Tidball, chief of artillery, 9th Corps,
could concentrate upon the position, opened and maintained
a terrible fire upon the enemy. No re-inforcements could
join him from his own line, owing to this fire. His captured
position was entailing deadly loss upon him. Our reserves
were, rapidly assembling; and finally, about eight, A.INI., they
made a gallant charge, which resulted in the recovery of
our works, of all our artillery (even including my Coehorn
mortars), and in the capture of over eighteen hundred
prisoners. The following extracts from the rebel papers
show the effects of our artillery-fire. ' It was found that the
inclosed works in the rear, commanding the enemy's main
line, could only be taken at a^great sacrifice.' 'The enemy
massed his artillery so heavily in the neighboring forts, and
1 Narrative of Private Walter F. Sage of Berlin.
98
778 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
was enabled to pour such a terrible enfilading fire upon
our ranks, that it was deemed best to withdraw.' ' The
enemy enfiladed us from right and left in the captured
works to such an extent, that we could no longer hold them
without the loss of many men/ &c."
" The rebels did not have time to spike or otherwise harm
any of the guns or mortars. They now commenced retreat
ing towards their own lines ; but this was not so easy a
matter for them, as some of our forces had got between them
and their lines. Now commenced the real work of the
fight. Onr troops charged them, and they broke and scat
tered like sheep. They finally succeeded in their escape,
but with only a remnant of their forces. A heavy and con
tinuous fire was kept up on their columns as they retreated,
doing great execution." 'i
Gen. Abbot continues : " The loss in the two companies of
the First Artillery was heavy, amounting to sixty-five men.
Company L, after bravely fighting in Battery No. 12 (open
at the gorge) until nearly surrounded, was then marched by
Lieut. Lewis, commanding, to Fort Haskell, where it partici
pated in the gallant defense of that work. When the charge
was made .to recover our lines, this company was the first to
re-enter Battery No. 12 ; capturing one lieutenant and twelve
privates of the 26th Georgia, with their battle-flag. The
latter was taken by Private G. E. McDonald, who has received
a medal of honor for its capture. Lieut. Lewis deserves great
credit for handsomely commanding his company. He speaks
in high terms of Lieut. Ansel H. Couch of Danbury, and
Sergeant James B. McNamara of Killingworth, for coolness
and decision during the engagement. Lieut. W. 1^. H.
Bingham of East Haddam, commanding a detachment of
the company permanently stationed in Fort Haskell, also
merits commendation. I have received a letter from Capt.
J. M. Deane, 29th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, written
to call attention to the gallant conduct of Private James T.
Murphy of Company L, who volunteered to serve a light
gun in Fort Haskell when its officer and all but two of its
detachment were killed or wounded, and the gun was
2 Narrative of Private Walter F. Sage of Berlin.
GALLANT DEEDS OF ARTILLERYMEN. 779
silenced. Private Murphy served at the piece with gal
lantry during the rest of the fight. The loss of the com
pany was two enlisted men killed, five wounded, and
thirteen missing.3 The portion of Company K stationed in
Battery No. 10 suffered- severely. Capt. Twiss was wound
ed, and Lieut. Odell killed, while gallantly fighting against
overwhelming odds. The command of the company de
volving on Lieut. James H. Casey of East Haven, he
bravely led the remnant forward with the charging column,
arid recovered his mortars. The loss of the company was
one officer and four enlisted men killed, one officer and two
enlisted men wounded, and thirty-six enlisted men missing.
Lieut. Drown, commanding a detachment of the company in
Battery No. 9, served his pieces with skill, causing great
havoc among the columns of the enemy, distant about two
hundred yards. Lieut. Frank D. Bangs of Derby, with
Company E in Battery 5, maintained a well-directed fire
upon the enemy in Fort Stedman, although himself sub
jected to a very severe concentric fire from the batteries
around him. One shell exploded in the magazine, killing
Private James Smith, but, fortunately, not igniting the
barrels of powder."
Capt. William C. Faxon of Stonington, commanding in
Fort Avery, Lieut. H. D. Patterson of Naugatuck, command-
ing'in Fort Morton, and Sergeant Collins Richmond of Glas-
tenbury, commanding in Battery No. 8, are mentioned for
creditable participation in the fight. -i
The Third Connecticut Battery, Capt. Thomas S. Gilbert of
Derby, occupied the following fortifications : Craig, two guns,
Lieut. Henry Middlebrook commanding ; Lewis 0. Morris,
two guns, Lieut. Nelson B. Gilbert commanding ; .Gould, two
guns, Lieut. William C. Beecher commanding ; Porter, two
guns, Lieut. Richard E. Hayden commanding. Capt. Gil
bert was instructed by Gen. Benham to hold all the redoubts
in readiness to open fire in case the enemy made an irrup-
8 " Two men of Company L, seeing that the guns of Battery Haskell were silent, took
sole possession of the battery, and commenced firing one of the guns. They kept up a
fire on the rebels all through'the action ; firing in allonc hundred and twenty-five shots.
When it is considered that it takes six men to work a gun, the difficulty of this feat will
be seen. Their names are James Murphy and William Huntington, the latter from
Hartford." — Narrative of Private W. F. Sage.
780 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
tion through our main lines, and attempted to destroy our
base of supplies.
When the assault was made, the brigade which included
the Second Connecticut Artillery was hurriedly aroused, and
moved to the point of danger, three miles to the right ; but
by the time it arrived the works had been recaptured, and
it marched back.
Lee's assault had not only been wholly unsuccessful, but
had entailed a loss of at least four thousand men in killed,
wounded, and captured, — a loss which he could illy afford.
Moreover, its effect upon his right had been' just the reverse
of what he had anticipated : instead of recoiling, Grant had
sprung suddenly forward upon the left, crowding his antago
nist still nearer to the Appomattox.
When the -Second Artillery was recalled from the right,
instead of returning to camp, it was sent directly against
the enemy's weakened front. Capt. Theodore F. Yaill
wrote, " We were immediately marched to the front of Fort
Fisher, the largest work on the Petersburg line, and about
a mile west of our camp, and there formed near the Tight
of the line of attack, composed of the 1st and 2d Divisions
of our corps, except such parts as were on picket, or in sup
port of batteries. We had about one hundred men on
picket that day in front of the camp. The attack was made
at half-past four, P.M. ; and little trouble was experienced in
accomplishing our object. The rebel picket-line was cap
tured almost entire ; and our own line was established a
long distance in advance of its original position. The detail
oh picket had its share in the work and success of the day ;
occupying the rebel pits that night, ancl capturing more than
their numbers in prisoners. The regiment was relieved at
midnight, and returned to camp."
The loss of the regiment during the engagement was five
killed and sixteen wounded. Among the killed was Ser-
geant-Major E. Goodwin Osborn, shot 'through the heart;
and among the wounded were Capt. Vaill, severely, in the
thigh, and Lieut. Admatha Bates in the foot.
The Fourteenth had participated in the advance still far
ther to the left. Lieut.-Col. S. A. Moore, commanding, re-
THE FOURTEENTH IN A SKIRMISH. 781
ported as follows : " I have the honor to report, that, upon
the 25th instant, I was detailed by Gen. William Hayes, com
manding the 2d Division, 2d Corps, to take a force of live
hundred men, and make a demonstration near the left of
the line held by the corps, for the purpose of drawing the
attention of the enemy from movements which were taking
place farther to the right. The regiments assigned to me
for this purpose were the Fourteenth Connecticut, the 12th
New-Jersey, and 69th and 106th- Pennsylvania Volunteers.
" On our way out to the picket-line, several shells were
thrown at the column by the enemy, without, however,
doing any harm. Upon reaching the picket-line near the
Armstrong House, I deployed four companies of the Four
teenth as skirmishers, under the command of Capt. Mur-
*dock. One company, under Lieut. Russell, was also de
ployed upon the left as flankers. The remainder of the
command being formed in line of battle, we advanced for
about half a mile, most of the way through thick woods;
when we found an intrenched skirmish-line of the enemy
strongly posted on the opposite side of Hatcher's Run.
" We attacked them ; but for a time it seemed impossible
for the men to ford the run, it being wide and 'deep, and the
trees from both banks being felled into the stream, so that
their branches presented a very serious obstacle to crossing.
At length, kowcver, our skirmishers effected a passage, cap-
' turing the enemy's works, with about seventy prisoners, one
of whom was a commissioned officer. Another commis
sioned officer was taken at a house about half a mile far
ther on. At, about eleven o'clock, P.M., the object for which
we were sent out having been accomplished, we returned to
camp, after having destroyed the bridge across the run."
The casualties of the regiment were six wounded, —
Lieut. John T. Bradley severely in the arm, and Sergeant
Russell Glenn severely in the breast. Capt. William Mur-
dock of Middletown, Capt. J. Frank Morgan of Mid'dletown,
and Adjutant William B. Hincks of Bridgeport, received
complimentary mention. Like all the other line-officers of
the regiment they had been promoted from the ranks.
The following enlisted men distinguished themselves, being
' 782 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
the first to cross the run under a heavy fire; some of them
wading in water up to their necks : —
Sergeant Russell Glenn, Sergeant Everett L. Dudley, Cor
poral Hiram H. Fox, Privates Pierce Barren, Edward Riley,
George W. Smith, Patrick Moore, James Kerns, George W.
Sanford, and Pierre Morell.
On the 27th of March, two divisions of the 24th Corps,
including the Tenth Connecticut under Lieut-Col. E. D. S.
Goodyear, and the Thirtieth (colored) under Col. Henry C.
Ward, crossed the James to Bermuda Hundred, and the Ap-
pomattox at Point of Rocks, and pushed around to the left
of the army. On the 30th, about noon, they advanced with
the army, closing in upon the right of Lee. The Fourteenth
was also in this movement. The rain was falling heavily ;
and roads and streams were flooded. Three hundred and'
fifty men of the Tenth were detailed for picket, under Capt,
Henry A. Peck of Bristol. Brisk skirmishing ensued all
day ; and the reserves slept on their arms at night behind a
log breastwork.
The Tenth was destined to important service within the
next three days. On the morning of the 31st, the regiment
advanced wifh the brigade, and after a severe skirmish
drove the erfemy within his works. It pressed forward to a
point within four hundred yards of the hostile fortifications,
and was constantly engaged until dark. Its losses during
the day were Capt. George H. Brown, killed at the head of
his company ; Lieut. Julius Neidhart and eight enlisted men
wounded.
• Intrenchments were now commenced ; and before three
o'clock, A.M., a formidable line of defense, without abatis,
stretched along the front, rifle-pits being also dug for the
pickets. The posts of the latter were thirty yards in ad
vance of the main line, and on the edge of a deep ravine, the
opposite side of which was occupied by the enemy. The
position was such as to render any further direct advance im
practicable without a severe engagement; but the command
was shortly turned out under arms, and ordered to the left
of the brigade, to follow the llth Maine. During some de
lay of that regiment, the rebels charged our outposts ; and
THE FIRST CAVALRY AT FIVE FORKS. 783
the Tenth was advanced again to the works, where it ar
rived just as the enemy came* to the opposite side of the
parapet. A short but sharp fight took place on the parapet
of the work, which resulted in a complete repulse of the
enemy, who was compelled to fall back in confusion. The
picket-line, which had been driven in, was promptly re
established ; and the enemy was forced back to his old posi
tion with -severe loss. The casualties in the Tenth were only
one enlisted man killed and five wounded ; while it had
inflicted severe loss on the enemy, and captured fifty pris
oners. During the day, an attempt was made to strengthen
the line of works, and construct abatis ; but, as the working-
parties suffered severely from the enemy's sharpshooters, it
was deemed best to discontinue the work until after dark,
at which time the line was materially strengthened, and a
good abatis constructed in front.
On the same day, April 1, Sheridan fought the great bat
tle and won the decisive victory of Five Forks. The First
Connecticut Cavalry was here heavily engaged. At sunrise,
the regiment started out under Col. Brayton Ives, with Cus-
ter's division. The force was dismounted, and advanced
against the enemy. The Confederates retired slowly until
they reached that junction of roads known as Five Forks,
where they made a desperate stand. The First was on the
extreme right of the division. About noon, the regiment
halted, in line of battle, at a ravine in a narrow belt of
woods, just in front of which lay a broad open field, and
beyond that a large peach-orchard with its trees in full
bloom. Every thing was quiet ; not a shot had been fired
for some time. The enemy was near, and maintained a sus
picious silence. In a few minutes, one of Custer's staff
dashed up in front of the 3d New-Jersey, which was on the
left, and shouted, " There's a rebel battery over in that or
chard, entirely unsupported ! " The Jerseymen gave a shout,
and dashed ahead pell-mell. Col. Ives restrained the First ;
but they were clamorous to charge.
Col. Ives says, " Officers and men entreated me by looks
and words to allow them to go forward ; and I think I was
persuaded by Capt. Parmelee. I sat on my horse near him ;
784 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
and I never shall forget his eagerness to advance, nor the
appealing look he gave me. - Unable to resist longer, I cried,
•'Forward!' and with a yell the First Connecticut charged
'on the run.' But no sooner had we reached the outer
edge of the woods than the peaceful-looking peach-orchard
assumed a different character. The bright pink blossoms
were blown into the air by bullets, shells, canister, and grape-
shot. Every man who had gone into the open field was
shot down. Fortunately, another staff-officer rode up with
an order for the line to retire. Just at this moment, a shell
struck Capt. Parmelee in the breast, killing him instantly."
In his official report, Col. Ives gives an account of the
succeeding battle, "During the afternoon, our line charged
the enemy's breastworks three successive times. Twice we
were repulsed. The thick woods, the long march, the lack
of rations (we had been -without food for thirty-six hours),
the heavy and incessant fire to which we were exposed, all
united to test severely the bravery and discipline of our
troops. But they bore all without flinching, and charged
for the third time so vigorously, that the rebels threw down
their arms, and Heel or surrendered. In addition to many
prisoners taken by the First Connecticut at this time, two
guns were captured by Major Leonard P. Goodwin and Lieut.
Aaron S. Lanfare. These were the only pieces of artillery
taken by Custer's division in the battle Of Five Forks. After
a short pursuit of the flying enemy, we went into bivouac
for the night."
The regiment had lost one of its most valued officers in
Capt. Uriah N. Parmelee. He was a native of Guilford, and
entered Yale at the age of eighteen. Rev. II. II. Murray, a
college-mate of the deceased, says of him, " I always regard-
^d him as the most promising of all my friends of his age.
His scholarship was good, his reading had been varied and
extensive, his memory tenacious, his understanding clear.
His mind was of a high order. His candor and love of truth
c
were remarkable. I do not think he could equivocate."
But he asked, " What is knowledge worth to me without a
country?" and in his junior year he left college, and volun
teered in the New -York 6th Cavalry. He was an orderly
DEATH OF CAPT. PARMELEE. 785
to Gen. John C. Caldwell at Chancellorsville, and received
the rare compliment of the following mention: —
" I can not close my report without at least a passing notice of my
orderly, Corporal U. N. Parmelee. When a new regiment (148th New-
York) broke under the first deadly fire, he rendered efficient and timely service
in rallying the men, and urging them on. I think him worthy of promotion,
both for his gallantry and other high qualities."
In the spring of .1864, Gov. Buckingham commissioned
him second lieutenant in the First ; and he was promoted, over
all intermediate officers, to be captain, for gallantry at Ash
land. In October, 1864, his squadron, while on picket, was
surrounded by a brigade of rebels, and Compelled to sur
render. The captain was abused ; robbed of money, clothing,
and even of personal effects of no use to his captors ; and
forced to march barefoot over a stony road for many miles :
but he succeeded in two days, by his adroitness and pluck,
in effecting an escape, and rejoined the regiment to enter
more heartily into the work than ever.
Col. Ives wrote of him subsequently, " His body was car
ried to the rear, and laid under a tree till after the battle,
when the men buried it ; placing a wreath of flowers upon the
grave, and marking the spot with a head-board, upon which
was written the name and rank of the deceased. Without
injustice to any of the faithful officers who followed me
through that severe closing campaign, and without undue
laudation of the dead, I can say that I regarded Capt.
Parmelee as the most valuable line-officer in my regiment.
We all loved him ; and our hearts were sad that pleasant
Sunday morning as we marched past his grave in pursuit
of the flying enemy."
Sheridan, by a most rapid and skillful combination, had
surrounded the Confederates at Five Forks, beaten them,
and captured more than five thousand. At midnight, a ter
rific cannonade was opened by the First Connecticut Artil
lery from all the guns bearing on the enemy; and Grant
ordered a simultaneous advance on the morning of the 2d,
by the corps of Wright, Parke, and Orel. At one point, the
rebels were to make a most stubborn resistance, — in the
vicinity of Fort Gregg, which inclosed the Weldon Railroad.
89
786 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Early in the morning of the 2d, Lieut-Col. Goodyear,
commanding the Tenth, was directed "to strengthen his skir
mish-line, and make a demonstration in connection with the
skirmishers of the llth Maine and 100th New -York upon
the enemy's works in front, for the purpose of ascertaining
the strength of the enemy. The advance was immediately
made, but was met by so destructive a fire from the enemy's
line of battle, that farther advance of the skirmish-line in
that direction was impossible. At about nine o'clock, the bri
gade was moved by direction of Brig.-Gen. Foster towards
the right, leaving the skirmish-line in position. A march
of less than two Ijours brought the command in sight of a
formidable line of earthworks, defended by two lines of pali
sading and abatis. Beyond and in sight of these fortifica
tions, the inner defenses on the right of Petersburg were
visible ; the tall spires of the city looming up in the back
ground. In front of the inner line, and equidistant from
each other, were inclosed forts armed with artillery, and the
parapet manned with strong lines of infantry. From these
works, the enemy commenced shelling our men as they
advanced to take their position in front. The Tenth was
deployed in line of battle on the right of the brigade. A
portion of the llth Maine Volunteers were deployed as skir
mishers ; and, the skirmishers of the 1st and 4th Brigades
being in position, the order to advance was given, and the
enemy was driven within his works. The 1st and 4th Bri
gades being in line, and connecting, Gen. Foster ordered the
works in front to be carried by assault.
Capt, Francis G. Hickerson, commanding the Tenth after
•the engagement, thus reports, " The Tenth, supported by the
100th New- York, advanced in quick time to the assault of
the work in its front (Fort Gregg). It was a completely in
closed work, stockaded in rear, with loop-holes for musketry
through the stockade, and manned by a full garrison with
two pieces of artillery. The regiment arriving at a dis
tance of four hundred yards from the works, the troops,
taking the double-quick, pushed on without a halt, under
one of the most terrific fires of musketry and artillery ever
witnessed. Many of our brave men went down ; but the fort
GALLANTRY OF THE TENTH AT FORT GREGG. 787
was reached without - faltering. Lieut-Col. Goodyear fell
severely wounded in the face and shoulder, while gallantly
leading his men in the charge ; and, although wounded early
in the engagement, he would not allow himself to be carried
to the rear, but remained where he fell until the fort was
surrendered. The flag of Connecticut was the first on the
parapet; and a desperate hand-to-hand fight took place
there for the possession of the fort, lasting from twenty-
five to thirty minutes. A portion of the 1st Brigade arriv
ing about this time, our line entirely inclosed the fort ; but
the garrison, although surrounded, still refused to surrender,
and continued to defend the work; while from Fort Baldwin
a destructive fire was poured in upon the backs of such of
our men as were exposed in that direction. Further re-in-
forcements, however,, coming up at this juncture, the fort
was at last surrendered.
" The record of modern warfare rarely shows a more des
perate encounter than that upon the parapet of Fort Gregg.
Union and rebel soldiers were found dead in each other's
grasp. Thirteen rebels were found inside the fort, killed by
bayonet-thrust; and scores were wounded by the same
weapon. The new State colors, never before in a fight,
were pierced by twenty-three bullets, while the Ostaff was
struck three times."
Chaplain Trumbull wrote of the assault and the attendant
casualties, —
" The blue flag of Connecticut was the first on the parapet of the fort.
Nothing very strange in that ! The Tenth maintained its former good
name in the hand-to-hand struggle ; losing well-nigh one-half of all it sent
in, but never lowering its flag for an instant, or giving back an inch once
gained. Col. Greeley being at the North, Lieut.-Col. E. D. S. Goodyear
— well known as from North Haven — was in command. Cheering the
men by encouraging words and courageous bearing, he led them across the
* plain in the face of the deadly fire of grape, canister, and musketry, until he
was struck in the face, and knocked down by a glancing bullet. Rallying
again, he once more pressed forward ; but the second time he fell, wounded
severely by a shot through the shoulder ; and during the remainder of the
engagement he lay near the ditch, watching with closest interest the prog
ress of the fight, and feeling just pride in his brave boys who were doing
their work so nobly. Capt. J. II. Liudsley of Northford was wounded, as
twice before, having a ball in his hip, and narrow escapes from three bul
lets which passed through his clothing. Capt. Brainard Smith of Milford
was shot through the body, and died on his way to hospital. Coming out
788 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
as a private, Capt. Smith had worked his way up to the command of a
company, and was a gallant officer of character and promise. Lieut.
Walter P. Hovey of North Haven was hit in the leg by a grape-shot.
Lieut. Julius Neidhart of New Haven lost his left leg. Lieut. Edward L.
Smith of Branford received three wounds ; one in the head, and two in
the left arm. Other officers who escaped injury were not: less exposed or
courageous than those whose wounds testify to' their valor.
" Neither were officers the only brave ones. There were many enlisted
men whose deeds were worthy of special mention and praise. "When
Sergeant Smith dropped exhausted on the march, the State colors were
taken by Corporal Charles E. Northrup, and carried on in the charge until
he fell wounded in the shoulder. Corporal Northrup is of Darien, a patri
otic young soldier .of a patriotic household. His father and older brother
both died in the service ; the former while a prisoner in the gloomy stockade
at Columbia, S.C. The care of his widowed mother's household thus de
volving on this son; application was made for his discharge from the army,
which would have been doubtless speedily successful ; but, the battle
coming on, he would not leave his post, and was stricken down while
pressing forward in the extreme advance.
" Young George Phillips, a New-Haven boy, was also conspicuous. He
is but nineteen now, yet he has been nearly three years in service. He was
twice taken out of the army by his father on the score of his age ; but the
third time he managed to stay in. He was made a corporal, and put on the
color -guard. When Corporal Northrup was wounded, Corporal Phillips
took tlie State colors, and pressed forward in the advance. Into the ditch,
through the water, up the steep bank, on to the top of the parapet, he made
his way ; and there he stood a target for rebel bullets, holding up the flag,
and counting his life as nothing in its defense. The new flag, never before
in a fight, had twenty-six bullet-holes in it, and three more were in its staff.
Young Phillips was made a sergeant before he left the field that day.
Has he not won his chevrons fairly ? When questioned about it, and
praised for his gallantry by Lieut. -Col. Goodyear, who was witness to
his bravery, he said dryly, ' I worried 'em with the flag. I'd shake it in
their faces ; and then, when they'd grab at it, Parmelee would shoot 'em.'
Joseph E. Parmelee was another color-corporal, a brave boy from Guil-
ford. He stood defending the colors ; and Phillips says he saw him shoot
five rebels through the head as rapidly as he could load and fire again.
He was finally wounded, but not dangerously. Phillips Avas hit with a
brick ; missiles of that kind being freely used in the latter part of the
struggle. His escape from bullets was wonderful.
u Corporal Samuel Bennett, one of the new substitutes, an Englishman,
was wounded in the thigh. He had seen some service in the English
marine force, and was firm and true in the thickest of the battle. Cor
poral Oscar Allen of New Haven, whose step-father was killed last August *
while on the same color-guard, and whose mother has died since his re-en
listment, received a wound which would have proved fatal but for the bul
let's being checked by his breastplate. Corporal Dutton of Company B,
who was one of the very first men on the parapet of the fort, was so
delighted when he saw the blue colors come up, that, even in the excite
ment of the battle., he caught the hand of one of the color-guard, and called
out cheerily, ' Oh ! I'm so proud to see that flag the first here ! " and then
turned 'to his work of fighting, with all his heart in it. In a few minutes,
he fell wounded, and was afterwards reported dead ; but he was taken to
the hospital, and is in a fair way to recover."
FLIGHT OF LEE. 789
Three companies of the Tenth, under Capt. Hickerson,
being on the skirmish-line in front of Fort Baldwin, ad
vanced under a severe fire from that and other works ; and,
after the surrender of Fort Gregg, Fort Baldwin was carried,
the skirmishers of the Tenth being also the first to enter
that work. The regiment had never fought more gallantly
than this day ; and that is superlative praise. It had lost
one officer and ten enlisted men killed, and seventy-nine
wounded. For its conduct in this engagement, the Tenth
was presented with an eagle of rich gilt bronze, represented
with extended wings and open beak, grasping in his talons
arrows and olive-branch, and resting on a globe which was
supported on a handsome cap to fit the staff of the State
colors. The globe bears the inscription, " Presented to the
Tenth Connecticut Volunteers by Major-Gen. John Gibbon,
commanding 24th Army Corps, for gallant conduct in the
assault on Fort Gregg, Petersburg, April 2, 1865."
The assault at this point had not been isolated. Upon the
right the 9th Corps had moved forward, and upon the left
the 6th and 2d ; and each advance had been crowned with
partial or complete success. Wright with his 6th Corps
had pierced the rebel line near Fort Gregg, overborne
all opposition, and made his way straight across the South-
side Railroad to the Appomattox, south of Petersburg. Here
the Second Artillery was again hotly engaged in obtaining
the final success.
Lee was beaten at every point. Scarcely anywhere did
his troops retain a hold upon their intrenchments ; and flight
was the only alternative. Once more our jaded heroes sprang
forward. The enemy's retreat lay up the Appomattox ; but
Sheridan was already in his path, and had swung the 5th
Corps up to Sutherland's, ten miles west of Petersburg, and
stationed his cavalry ten miles still farther west. All day (the
2d, Sunday), preparations for retreat went forward rapidly ;
while Grant's host closed sternly in upon the east and south.
All night, the evacuation went silently forward. Richmond
was fired ; thousands of the panic-stricken people fled with
the army ; and by dawn of the next day Lee was sixteen
miles west, headed for the arrny of Johnston, which was still
facing Sherman defiantly in North Carolina.
790 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
Weitzel, pressing near Richmond north of the James, with
one division of the 24th Corps, and one division of the 25th
(colored) Corps, was attracted by the conflagration, and in
early morning hurried forward over the vacated Confederate
breastworks towards the city.
Lieut.-Col. David Torrance reported, " At sunset of April
2, we witnessed the last rebel dress-parade in Virginia, from
the magazine of Fort Harrison. Early on Monday morning,
April 3, 1865, the picket-fires of the enemy began to wane,
and an ominous silence to prevail within his lines. Very
soon, deserters began to come within our lines, who reported
that the works in our front were being' evacuated. In a little
while, we saw the barracks of Fort Darling in flames ; and
tremendous explosions followed each other in rapid succes
sion. The earliest dawn revealed to us the deserted lines,
with their guns spiked and their tents standing. We were
ordered to advance at once, but cautiously. The troops
jumped over the breastworks, and, avoiding the torpedoes,
filed through the rebel abatis; and then began the race for
Richmond.
" No words can describe the enthusiasm of the troops as
they found themselves fairly within the rebel lines, and
tramping along the bloody roads leading to the capital. The
honor of first entering that city was most earnestly contested.
Many regiments threw away every thing but their arms,
while this regiment ' double-quicked ' in heavy marching
orders. Two companies of this regiment, G and C, that had
been sent forward as skirmishers, reached the city close on
the heels of our cavalry, and were, without the slightest
doubt, the first companies of infantry to enter the city.
Through the heat and dust the troops struggled on ; and at
last, as we came in full view of the city, the air was rent with
such cheers as only the brave men who had fought so long
and so nobly for that city could give."
The Eleventh Connecticut was also here, under Major
Charles Warren,4 and immediately pushed forward. Major
4 Charles Warren was a native of the town of Stafford, and joined the service as a
private in Company B, Eleventh Eeg-imcnt, in October, 1861. He uas promoted to be
sergeant before leaving the State ; became iirst sergeant in March, 18G2 ; first lieutenant,
Octobcr,418C2 ; and captain, July, 1863. Here-signed in December, 1864, at the expira-
THE TROOPS ENTER" RICHMOND IN TRIUMPH. 791
Warren reported, "The brigade (1st Brigade, 3d Division,
24th Army Corps) of which this regiment forms a part was
formed in mass on the New-Market Road, and immediately
advanced towards the rebel capital, preceded by a line of
skirmishers. The^ first line of rebel works was cautiously
passed without opposition. Lines of rebel works were passed
at double-quick, until the spires of the city of which we
had read for four years came in view : the national banners
were unfurled ; bands struck up, i Rally round the Flag,'
when cheer upon cheer from our soldiers rent the air ; and
the city of Richmond was entered in triumph by the national
army about half-past eight o'clock, A.M. The men were
received by the white people with a good deal of enthu
siasm ; but our reception by the colored people was a per
fect ovation. The rear-guard of the enemy passed up Main
Street just ahead of our advance. Many prisoners have been
picked up in the city. After stationing guards over maga
zines, arsenals, and other important places, the Eleventh was
sent to aid in putting out the lire which the rebels had
kindled, and which was fast sweeping the city to destruc
tion. The fire being checked, the regiment was detailed as
provostrguard for the city, which duty they continue to
perform."
Chaplain DeForest wrote, " Our reception was grander
and more exultant than even Roman emperor leading back
his victorious legions with the spoils of conquest could ever
know. We brought government, order, and heaven-born lib
erty. The slaves seemed to think that the day of jubilee
had fully come. How they danced, shouted, waved their rag-
banners, shook our hands, bowed, scraped, laughed all over,
and thanked God for our corning ! Many heroes have fought
for this day, and died without the sight. The heroes of this
battle are those who broke the rebel lines yesterday, and
forced Lee to send a telegram to Jeff. Davis, which cut short
his devotions, and called him out of church to begin his
flight. But by the fortunes of war we are permitted to see
tion of his term of service ; having participated in every battle and march of his regiment.
Two weeks later he was commissioned from civil life to be major, and thereafter led the
•regiment ; being promoted to be lieutenant-colonel in May, and colonel in December, 1865.
lie left the service with a record untarnished.
792 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and feel the long-expected day. It is a day never to be for
gotten by us till days shall be no more."
The First Connecticut Battery and the Eighth and Twenty-
first Regiments were also in this advance to the capital.
Meantime the pursuit was pressed with unparalleled vigor.
Swinton says that Lee, at the head of his twenty-five thou
sand fugitives, expected to be able to join Johnston, and " his
spirits were unusually light and cheerful on the morning of
the 3d." He was probably thinking of his escape from York-
town and Antietam; but he was beset by a different adver
sary now.
The pursuit was conducted along two lines, — Ord with ,the
Army of the James, in which was the Tenth Connecticut,
proceeding by the Southside or Lynchburg Railroad ; and
Sheridan with the cavalry and the 5th Corps, followed by
Meade with the 2d and 6th, along the northerly roads
nearer to the Appomattox. Lee's retreat lay north of both ;
but he must cross both at Amelia Court House and Burkes-
ville, to make sure of escape. With Sheridan was the First
Connecticut Cavalry, and with Meade the Second Artillery,
and the Tenth, Fourteenth, and Thirtieth Infantry.
Before Lee could pass Amelia Court House, Sheridan was
before it at Jetersville. Lee declined battle ; abandoned the
hope of reaching Danville, except by detour, and moved
rapidly westward towards Detonsville. Sheridan flung his
cavalry forward : and early on the 6th, Custer attacked the
wagon-train of the Confederate army at Sailor's Creek.
The First Connecticut was in the advance of the division,
and was the first to charge. The guard of the train was
routed, and many prisoners taken. The regiment then be
came divided. Col. Ives led the right battalion into a piece
of woods near the rear of the train, where the rebels had a
number of guns supported by infantry. The dash of Col.
Ives resulted in a capture by him of five pieces of artillery
with their caissons, besides a hundred and forty prisoners and
two battle-flags. These were the first captures of the day.
One of the flags was taken from the color-bearer of the 1st
Florida by Lieut. A. S. Lanfare of Branford. Major John ,
B. Morehouse, with the left battalion, charged upon the
SUEEENDEE OF EWELL'S COEPS. 793
head of the train, took possession, and burned wagons, and
captured men and horses.
The rebel infantry soon came up, and after a spirited
engagement forced the cavalry to retire ; after which they
threw up intrenchments, and awaited a renewal of the
attack. About three, P.M., Pennington's cavalry brigade
was directed to charge the enemy's works. Col. Ives says,
"•It was a rash order. Not more than a third of the brigade
was present ; men and horses had been on the move since
daylight; the enemy was strongly intrenched; and we could
reach the works only by advancing over an open field. I
had but a handful of my regiment with me ; the balance
being in charge of captured guns, prisoners, &c., and other
wise detached. However, at the sound of the bugles, our
men galloped forward bravely. When we got within easy
range of the intrenchments, we received such terrible vol
leys, that both men and horses were cut down in squads.
It was impossible to withstand the storm of lead ; and we
were driven back. In less than three minutes after the
' charge ' was sounded, one-fifth of the men and horses I led
in were killed outright (my own horse among them), — all
lying in one spot that could be covered by a radius of a rod.
It is but just to say, that, when we subsequently went over
the field to bury the dead, none were found lying so near
the hostile works as those who belonged to the First Con
necticut."
The 6th and 2d Corps soon came up ; and about sunset
the works were carried : and Ewell, finding himself sur
rounded, surrendered his whole corps. In this engagement,
the Second Connecticut Artillery and the Fourteenth In
fantry had honorable part.
On the night of the 6th, Lee crossed the Appomattox by
bridges near Farrnville ; and in the morning was again
closely pursued by the 2d Corps. The Confederates had
but one ration on leaving Richmond ; and now lived as they
could by foraging within the narrow limits allowed them by
the Union cavalry. ** Those men were fortunate who had
in their pockets a few handfuls of corn which they might
parch by the wayside ; but many had nought wherewithal to
100
794 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
assuage the pangs of hunger, save the buds and twigs of
spring, that, with its exuberant bourgeon, seemed to mock
the desolate winter of their fortunes. The misery of these
famished troops during the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th of
April, passes all experience of military anguish since the
retreat from the banks of the Beresina."5 Grant's troops
were also on diminished and irregular rations ; but they
were sustained by that which supplemented scanty food and
rest, — the flush of success, and the assurance of final
victory.
On the 7th, Grant demanded a surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia. Lee asked for a meeting looking to
" the restoration of peace ; " but refused to surrender, and
pushed on. Grant declined to confer for diplomatic pur
poses. The 2d and 6th Corps pursued on the north bank
of the Appomattox ; while Sheridan, with his cavalry and
the Army of the James and the 5th Corps, pushed straight
across the country, forty miles, to Appomattox Station.
Here he arrived on the evening of the 8th, in advance of
'Lee ; captured four trains of cars with food for the famished
Confederates; and flung his command across the narrow
neck of land between the James and Appomattox, directly
in their front. The First Connecticut Cavalry and the Tenth
were present at this point, a hundred miles west of Peters
burg.
Lee resolved to cut his way through, and at dawn of the
9th hurled Gordon's division impetuously upon Sheridan's
horse. The latter gave ground, retiring to the line of the
infantry. Then the rebels, in turn, recoiled. Sheridan
instantly mounted his cavalry, and wheeled it along the
enemy's left flank ; when, just as he was ready to sound the
" charge," a letter from Gen. Lee was brought through the
lines, appointing a meeting for surrender. A truce followed.
About noo^, on Sunday, April 9, in a farm-house at
Appomattox Court House, sat the rival chiefs, and signed
the death-warrant of the Confederacy. The Army of
Northern Virginia, which had been so potential for harm,
was no more. The following were —
5 The Army of the Potomac, p. 614.
SUEEENDEE OF LEE. 795
THE TERMS.
APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, April 9.
GEN. R. E. LEE, COMMANDING C. S. A.
In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th
instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Vir
ginia on the following terms, to wit : —
Rolls of ail the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy
to be given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such
officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual
paroles not to take arms against the United States until properly ex
changed ; and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole
for the men of their commands.
The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked and stacked,
and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will
not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or bag
gage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to their
homes, not to be disturbed by United-States authority so long as they
observe their parole and the laws in force where they may reside.
Very respectfully
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
THE SURRENDER.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
April 9, 1865.
LIEUT.-GEN. U. S. GRANT, U. S. A.
GENERAL, — I have received your letter of this date, containing the
terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, as proposed by
you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter
of the 8th instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the
proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect.
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE, General.
Connecticut troops witnessed the capitulation. The First
Cavalry, under Col. Ives, acted as an escort to Gen. Grant
when he went forward to the conference with Lee. The
Fourteenth, under Col. Moore, was hard by, within sight of
the memorable house. The Second Artillery, under Col.
James Ilubbard, was with the 6th Corps, a short distance
north ; and the Tenth was a mile west, where it had helped
to resist and turn back the desperate charge of Gordon.
The armies were foes no longer ; arid the victors shared
their rations with the vanquished. Among the paroled,
there was, besides the mortification of defeat, a feeling of
relief from a terrible and sanguinary combat. Among the
Union troops there was, superadded to the delight of victory
796 CONNECTICUT DURING THE KEBELLION.
and the joyful foreshadowing of peace, an exultant con
sciousness that the Army of the Potomac, often censured
and always disparaged, had at last won a title to the nation's
gratitude.
Grant turned quickly towards North Carolina, where
Johnston still held out, and whence Jefferson Davis was
flying southward to be captured in ambiguous apparel, —
the baffled leader of a lost cause.
While Grant and Lee were conferring at Appomattox,
Sherman's, army was resting and refitting at Goldsborough.
Twenty thousand men were furnished with shoes, and a
hundred thousand with clothing. The two corps of Terry
and Schofield joined the column ; and on April 10, Sher
man moved out from Goldsborough, at the head of the
strongest army ever marshaled on the continent. North
westward he eagerly pushed, after Johnston's fugitive
command. Next day, the Fifth and Twentieth Connecticut,
with the 20th Corps, entered Smithfield in the advance of
the army. On the 13th, while moving rapidly upon
Raleigh, the soldiers were thrilled with the news of the sur
render of Lee's army. " Our troops gave cheer after cheer
to express their joy; and then, when cheers became too
feeble an expression, uttered yell upon yell, until they waked
the echoes for miles around. Then the bands burst forth in
swelling strains of patriotic melody, which the soldiers caught
up and re-echoed with their voices." 6 They joyfully saw
the end.
No other great, battle was to be fought. Raleigh was
occupied ; and the pursuers had moved out of the. city but
a short distance on the track of the fugitives, when Sherman
received from Johnston a proposition of surrender. On the
17th, a conference was had: terms of capitulation were
drawn, and sent to Washington for .approval while an
armistice reigned.
On this day came down upon the waiting army, like a
thunderbolt, the intelligence of the brutal tragedy in the
Washington theatre, wherein Wilkes Booth played his role
6 The Story of the Great March, p. 293.
ASSASSINATION OF PEESIDENT LINCOLN. 797
of atrocity.7 The blow that convulsed the country nerved
every soldier's arm with a strange anger ; and they prepared
to leap upon the foe in front, the only accessible represen-
tativ.e of a conspiracy which had showed itself capable of
such a cowardly crime. But the armistice was practically
unbroken. Grant came, and the amended stipulations were
approved and executed ; and Johnston's army of fifty thou
sand men laid down their arms.
National restoration was at hand ; and the great martyr
who on Good Friday had laid down his life for republican
liberty was honored anew, the olive-wreath of peace shin
ing like a crown above the laurel-wreath of victory.
7 It is a notable coincidence that the sacrifice of the great martyr of liberty was on
Good Friday, the anniversary of the sacrifice of the Great Martyr of Christianity ; and
that Grant and Sherman received the propositions of surrender from Lee and Johnston
respectively, on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, the most prominent triumphal days
in the life of Christ.
CHAPTER XLV.
Matters at Home. — General Assembly of 1865. — The Governor's Message. — Legisla
tion. — Number of Soldiers sent from the State. — Our Regiments after the Close of
the War. — Two Pictures from Richmond. — Terry and Hawley in Virginia. — Presen
tations. — Muster-out of Connecticut Regiments. — The Fourteenth. — Twentieth.
— First, Second, and Third Light Batteries. — Twenty-first. — Eighteenth. — Six
teenth. — Fifteenth. — Fifth. — Seventeenth. — First Cavalry. — Sixth. — Seventh. —
Twelfth. — Second Artillery. — Ninth. — Tenth. — First Artillery. — Twenty-ninth
and Thirtieth. — Eighth and Eleventh. — Thirteenth. — Thanks of the Legislature.
HE foreshadowing of peace was as cordially
hailed by the patriotic citizens at home as by
the soldiers in the field ; and neither inclined to
ignore the fact that the hope was borne upon
the point of victorious bayonets.-
On the first Monday of April, 1865, the troops of the
nation entered Richmond ; and before noon the telegraph
had conveyed the glad tidings to almost every voting
district of Connecticut. Gen. Buckingham was re-elected
that day by eleven thousand and thirty-five majority over
0. S. Seymour. The four members 'of Congress and every
State Senator were Republicans ; and that party had chosen
nearly three-fourths of the members of the House.
When the General Assembly met, on the first Wednesday
of May, every rebel army was crushed ; and nothing remained
of the Confederacy but a band of traitors, fleeing for their
lives through the forests of Georgia.
O O
The House elected E. K. Foster of New Haven, speaker,
and John R. Buck and John M. Morris, clerks. The Senate
clerk was William T. Elmer. The payments during the year
from the State Treasury had amounted to $4,705,685. The
total indebtedness of the State was $10,523,000.
In his Annual Message, Gen. Buckingham said, after
RATIFICATION OF AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION. 799
expressing gratitude to God for the promise of peace restored
and a government preserved, —
" It is gratifying that our volunteers, from the gallant major-general,
who distinguished himself by storming and capturing Fort Fisher, down
through the various grades of heroic officers, to the less conspicuous but
equally meritorious privates, have not been surpassed by any soldiers in
the service of any government, in patient endurance on the field and in
the hospital, in fortitude under imprisonment and starvation, and in
valor and intrepidity in battle. Their record furnishes strong .evidence
that they entered the service under a deep conviction that it was a duty
they oycd to tfieir country, to humanity, and to God."
In the following language, he urged the immediate rati
fication of the constitutional amendment abolishing sla
very : —
" As slavery has been the cause of our woes and our burdens, it is our
duty to labor for its abolition. An institution antagonistic to liberty,
and opposed to the first elements of Christianity ; an institution, which, in
its barbarous tendency, planned and perpetrated a cowardly, brutal, and
murderous assault upon freedom of speech, and upon fidelity to truth, in
the person of a scholarly and accomplished statesman in the American
Senate ; an institution which instigated the Rebellion, which seized and
imprisoned our sons, and sent them by tens of thousands to the grave by
starvation, and which, to crown its work of infamy, assassinated the Presi
dent, — has forfeited all right to protection and life, and merits our vigorous
and undying opposition. ... If, during this struggle, we shall sustain
the General Government in the performance of its proper functions, abolish
the inhuman system of slavery, punish traitors, and adhere perpetually to
the demands of truth, righteousness, and justice, we may hope that through
out an undivided nation our prosperity will be increased, our peace be
uninterrupted, and our liberties be eternal."
On the 4th of May, H. K. W. Welch of Hartford introduced
into the House a resolution adopting and ratifying the 13th
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, abolish
ing and prohibiting slavery.
The Democratic leaders promised that no opposition should
be made to the passage of the resolution, provided the yeas
and nays were not called. Under this agreement, the re
solution was passed nem. con. ; the Republicans voting "aye,"
and the Democracy maintaining the stipulated silence. In
the Senate, the roll was called^ and the twenty-one Republi
can senators voted " yes." So Connecticut cast her voice for
the abolition of slavery without a dissentient vote.
A day was set apart by each House early in May for
speeches and eulogies upon the death of President Lincoln ;
800 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
and by invitation of the Assembly, Col. Henry C. Deming,
on the eighth day of June, delivered an eloquent and im
pressive oration upon the same subject at Allyn Hall.
But little legislation was needed on war-matters ; and the
time of the Assembly was almost wholly occupied by meas
ures of local interest. Provision was made for funding the
floating indebtedness of the State by authorizing the issue
of three millions of twenty-year six-per-cent bonds, which
should be free Xrom all State and municipal taxation.
Laws were passed validating and confirming all votes,
acts, and proceedings of towns, or their agents, for the pur
pose of aiding volunteers or drafted men, or for the purpose
of filling the quota of the several towns.
By the exertions of Gens. W. H. Russell and Stephen W.
Kellogg, and Cols. Francis Wayland, F. St. John Lockwood,
and others, the militia law of the State was further amend
ed, so that the quartermaster-general was authorized to
furnish uniforms to all members of the militia force except
commissioned officers. The time for the annual encamp
ment was extended to six days; and thus the legislature
finally ingrafted upon the statute-book the proposed law of
1863. The militia force was rapidly organized after the
adoption of this law, which passed into successful operation ;
and, unless altered by some ignorant legislature, it will prob
ably secure to the State for many years to come a suffi
ciently large, well-disciplined force of men, who will at all
times be in condition to take the field for active service
upon twenty-four hours' notice.
The legislature adjourned sine die on Friday the twenty-
first day of July.
When the war ceased, and it was ordered that no more
men be enlisted, it was found that Connecticut had fur
nished a large excess over all the calls of government, and
had sent into the field more men, in proportion to her popu
lation, than any other State except Iowa and Illinois.
The whole number of soldiers enlisted was 54,882 ; and
these, reduced to the standard of three years, left the ac
count of the State as follows : —
STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THE WAR.
801
Three-months' men,
Nine-mouths' men,
One-y.ear men,
Two-years' men,
Three-years' men,
Four-years' men,
Not known,
2,340,
5,602,
529,
25,
44,556,
26,
1,804,
54,882
equal to
say,
48,181
In giving this result, Adjutant-Gen. Morse says,1 —
" It will be. noticed, that in the above statement are given eighteen hun
dred and four men, term of service not known. This is the credit allowed
by the Naval Commission ; and the term of service is to be determined by
the Navy Department. In the statement, these men are counted as three-
years' men. Should the average term of service prove to be for a less
period than this, the credit to the State will be reduced in proper
proportion.
" Thus the State has furnished equal to 48,181 three-years' men, from
which deduct the total quota, also reduced to the three-years' standard, —
viz., 41,483, — and the State has a surplus of 6,G98 in three-years' men,
without reference to its quota under the call of December, 1864. Under
this last call, no troops were required to be furnished from this State. In
fact, no quota was assigned. Your Excellency was informed that the
surplus under former calls more than filled the demand under this, and the
State was exempt."
If Connecticut was eminently blessed in having her affairs
directed throughout the whole period of the war by an
officer so able, skillful, conciliatory, patriotic, and energetic as
Gov. Buckingham, His Excellency was also fortunate in his
official associates. His personal staff was filled as follows :
Adjutant-General, HORACE J. MORSE of Hartford ; Quarter
master-General, WILLIAM A. AIKEN of Norwich; Commissary-
General, THOMAS FITCH of New London ; Surgeon-General,
HENRY A. GRANT of Enfield ; Paymaster-General, WILLIAM
1'iTCii of New Haven.
Roger Averill of D anbury was lieutenant-governor from
1862 to 1865 inclusive ; and he brought to the chair of the
Senate an old-school urbanity, and a rare combination of
impartiality, dignity, and decision. He engaged in con
stant and unwearied service of the State far beyond the
technical duties of his office ; and his heart and purse were
always open to the calls of patriotism.
J. Hammond Trumbull as Secretary of State gave through
, 1 Report of 18GG.
101
802 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the entire war the aid of his ripe culture, varied scholarship,
and zeal in t
at the front.
and zeal in the cause for which his brothers were struggling
When the main Confederate armies had surrendered, and
the war was deemed substantially ended, the troops were sta
tioned for a time in prominent cities and at strategic points
to maintain the authority of government ; while a consid
erable force was dispatched to Texas and Mississippi to over
throw Kirby Smith and Dick Taylor, who still maintained a
warlike attitude in those States. The 25th Corps (colored)
embarked for Texas on June 10, and included the Twenty-
ninth Connecticut under Col. Wooster, and the Thirtieth
under Col. II. C. Ward. They landed at Brazos de Santiago,
July 3, and marched to Brownsville on the Rio Grande.
The Ninth, under Lieut.-Col. John G. Healy, embarked at
Savannah in April, and proceeded to Dawfuskie Island, and
drove off some guerrillas who were oppressing and mur
dering the blacks. On May "2, the battalion returned to
Savannah, and on the 24th was ordered to Hilton Head,
where there was a large mustering of regiments " homeward
bound."
The Thirteenth, about Jan. 1, was reduced from a regi
ment to a battalion of five companies ; and, Col. C. D. Blinn
being among the supernumerary officers mustered out after
long and gallant service, Capt. William E. Bradley assumed
command. Early in January, the battalion was transferred
from the bleak hills of Northern Virginia to warmer quarters
in Savannah, Ga. Here Capt. Bradley enforced the dis
cipline and exhibited the admirable traits of a command
er. On March 12, troops were transferred to North
Carolina to co-operate with Sherman ; and the Thirteenth
was included. They arrived at Newberne on March 14, and
steamed up the river to Kinston. Next day, the Thirteenth
returned to Newberne, and went into camp. Here they had
a brief experience in guarding rebel prisoners, and in pro
vost-duty. Gen. Henry W. Birge, the first colonel of the
Thirteenth, here commanded a division. He had received a
CONDITION OF LEE'S AKMY. 803
brevet commission as major-general, — a promotion recom
mended by Sheridan for conspicuous gallantry at Cedar
Creek. On April 8, the battalion proceeded to Morehead
'City; and four days later, Lieut.-Col. Homer B. Sprague,
captured at Winchester, returned from a long and painful
imprisonment, and resumed command. Early in May, the
battalion returned to Savannah, and, after the capture of
Jeff. Davis, proceeded to Augusta, where the men found
comfortable quarters in buildings which had been used as
Confederate barracks. Capt. Frank Welles of Litchfield
was still detached as aide of Gen. Birge. Capt. N. W.
Perkins of New Britain was acting inspector-general on
Molineux' staff. Capt. Louis Beckwith of New London
wras detailed as ordnance officer. Dr. George Clary of Hart
ford was surgeon-in-chief in charge of the post hospital.
Lieut.-Col. Sprague, in addition to other duties, was appoint
ed superintendent of schools and educational matters, — a
position which he filled with conspicuous ability.
The Connecticut regiments in the armies of Grant and
Sherman gradually made their way northward, via City
Point on the James. Those which had entered Richmond
when the rebels evacuated it remained in possession. Lee's
army swarmed over the impoverished country, or helplessly
wandered back in the path of their conquerors to be fed.
Chaplain Trumbull wrote home at this time from Rich
mond, "Lee's broken army presents — judging from the
large number of its* members now here — one of the most
wretched sights that could be looked upon. The lowest
creatures in the vilest dens of our Northern cities, and the
forlorn and semi-barbarous isolated dwellers in the most
shamefully-neglected border district of any rural community
in our Eastern States, even the degraded, half-idiotic chil
dren of incest in some of our country almshouses, seern
superior, in all that goes to indicate true manhood, to very
many of the poor beings, who, with sallow, dirt-begrimed
faces, dull, fishy eyes, long, yellow, uncombed hair, and mean
ingless expression of countenance, clad in rags, and at home
in filth, wallow on the ground near the provost-marshal's,
while their comrades are having their paroles stamped for
804 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
transportation. I have often seen 'the rebel soldiers on the
picket-line; in battle, as prisoners, and in the streets of
the cities of rebeldom ; therefore it is not the strangeness
of the motley attire, or the peculiar Southern complexion
of these men, which impresses me : but it is the depth which
was reached when Davis's conscription gathered up these
caricatures upon humanity, not merely ' from the cradle and
the grave,' but from the idiot asylums and the hitherto un
explored regions of slave barbarism, that is startling in this
exhibition."
The following is the companion-picture from the same
free pencil, " Richmond darkys are on all sides, telling of
their joy at the capture of the city. 'I was jus' so happy
wen I kriowed it,' said one, ' dat I couldn't do nuffin but
jus' lay right down and larf. I could jus' roll up an' larf.
I declar, I felt jus' as happy as a man's got religion in his
soul.' * Some folks says a man carn't tote a bar'l flour,'
chimed in another; ' but I could tote a bar'l flour dat day,—
or a bar'l sugar.' ' I seed a rebel gwine down de street dat
O S3
mawnin',' said a third, with an evident appreciation of the
privileges of a freedman, ' wid a big haam ; an' I jus' took
dat haam from him, an' run right down de street ! An' he
holler to me to stop; but I jus' keep dat haam.' Then
follows some touching recital of the sufferings in slavery.
And the colored soldiers move about, telling of their ex
ploits with great gusto. — lions among their later released
brethren. Describing the advance on th6 New-Market Road,
one said, ( We waited for de daylight, 'caus ob de tarpeeders ;
an' den we had de rebel soldiers show us de way. Whew !
de tarpeeders was jus' as thick dar as de wool on de top
ob my head ! ' :
The change of scene was as total as it was sudden, and
nothing more dramatic ever transpired upon the stage
of war. Major-Gen. Alfred II. Terry was now placed in
command of the Department of Virginia; and Brig.-Gen.
Joseph R. Hawley was called from the command of the
forces in and about Wilmington, N.C., to be his chief-of-staff.
Headquarters were at Richmond ; and there the two soldiers,
who wore honors worthily won in the front of battle, strove,
GEN. TEREY IX COMMAND AT RICHMOND. 805
during the months of 1865, to bring peace out of hostility,
evolve order from chaos, and construct a broad base on
which might be upreared a genuine democracy in place of
the false and effete aristocracy that had met its, doom. The
work was enormous ; and its proper performance required
a high order of executive skill, fidelity, military vigor and
promptness, and patient, unwearied industry. Terry and
Hawley combined those qualities as they are rarely found
united in a commander and his chief adviser ; and they were
rendered more efficient by a mutual feeling of admiration
and cordial confidence.
The following order indicates the spirit in which the
department was administered : —
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA.
RICHMOND, Va., June 23, 1865.
GENERAL ORDER, No. 77. *
The laws of the State of Virginia, and the ordinances of the different
cities within the State, having especial reference to, and made to restrain,
the personal liberty of free colored persons, were designed for the govern
ment of such persons while living amid a population of colored slaves :
they were enacted in the interests of slave-owners, and were designed for
the security of slave-property ; they were substantially part of the slave
code.
Slavery has been abolished in Virginia ; and therefore, upon the principle
that where the reason of the law ceases the law itself ceases, these laws
and ordinances have become obsolete. People of color will henceforth
enjoy the same personal liberty that other citizens and inhabitants enjoy :
they will be subject to the same restraints and to the same punishments
for crime that are imposed upon whites, and to no others.
Vagrancy, however, will not be allowed. Neither whites nor blacks can
be allowed to abandon their proper occupations, to desert their families, or
roam in idleness about this department ; but neither whites nor blacks will
be restrained from seeking employment elsewhere when they can not obtain
it with just compensation at their homes, nor from traveling from place
to place on proper or legitimate business.
Until the civil tribunals are re-established, the administration of criminal
justice must, of necessity, be by military courts : before such courts, the
evidence of colored persons will be received in all cases.
By command of Major-Gen. A. II. Terry.
ED. W. SMITH, Assistant Adjutant-General.
The State and city were governed with " an iron hand in
a glove of velvet," firmly and evenly. While the generals
were civil, polite, and kind to all, there was not the slightest
yielding to the demands of the haughty secessionists ; and no
conciliation or compromise with their crime was allowed. .
806 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
All, both white and black, were assured their rights ; but
every attempt to obtain any thing by bluster was at once
suppressed. The commander ruled in the spirit that would
give all rights, to all, — even to the weakest, freedom; even
to the poorest, education; even to the humblest, opportunity.
An administration so combining humanity with power, so
rigorous and yet so beneficent, had never before been given
to the people of Virginia.
The pleasant custom of making presentations to worthy
officers had not yet become obsolete : on the contrary, as
the war approached its close, it became more in use
than ever. Swords, badges of elaborate design, horses,
money, houses, deeds of land, almost every thing acceptable,
was lavished by the grateful citizens at home upon the men
who had stoutly stood between them and ruin. Officers
also exchanged mementoes, sometimes of great value.
A very elegant lOth-Ccfrps badge was presented to Major-
Gen. Terry by a large number of the officers of that organi
zation. The badge represents a bastion fort, and is orna
mented by five diamonds in the center and bastions; the
whole surrounded by a laurel-wreath of green enamel. It is
suspended from a general's baton held in the claws of an
eagle, beneath which appear various military symbols, all of
solid gold and exquisite workmanship.
Gen. Terry also received from New Haven a handsome
sword, accompanied by a letter, recounting his battles and
his deeds, from Mayor Tyler. The following are the clos
ing paragraphs : —
Upon a beautiful winter's day, we were startled with the glad tidings
that Fort Fisher had been stormed and carried by Major-Gen. Terry. You
can picture to your owu mind far better than I can convey to you in words
the feelings of joy that filled every loyal heart, and the thanks that were
offered to God, when those bells, whose tones have been familiar to you
from your boyhood, rang out the glad news, and the booming cannon upon
yonder park proclaimed to our city and to the State that one of the strong
est gates to ^the so-called Confederacy had been broken down and entered
by the courage and perseverance of a son of Connecticut, and an honored
citizen of New Haven.
Gen. Terry, in acknowledgment of the eminent services you have ren
dered in suppressing the unholy Rebellion which has desolated our country
the past four years, and of the many noble traits of the Christian soldier
and gentleman you possess, I am directed by the city council of the city of
New Haven to present to you this sword as a testimonial of their regard and
PRESENTATION OF A SWORD TO GEN. HAWLEY. 807
consideration ; and, in presenting to you this emblem of the profession you
have adopted, we wish you a long and happy life, and hope that your ser
vices may be as effectual in maintaining and perpetuating the peace and
prosperity of our beloved land as they have been with your associates in
arms in restoring the old flag to every State in the Union.
I feel it a high honor, general, to act as the medium through whom
the city of New Haven, for the first time in its history, bestows her honors
upon one of her own citizens.
In behalf of the city of New Haven,
I am most respectfully yours,
MORRIS TYLER, Mayor.
The general responded, —
NEW HAVEN, June 6, 1865.
HON. MORRIS TYLER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OP NEW HAVEN.
Dear Sir. — It is with the highest gratification that I receive the beau
tiful gift, which, through you, the city of New Haven has presented to me.
The approbation of his fellow-citizens must ever be the greatest and
best reward of one who endeavors to serve his country ; and to know that
those among whom my life from childhood upward has been spent look
with approbation upon my efforts to be of use in the great struggle which
is now so happily drawing to a close, to feel that they are satisfied with
the little which I have been able to do in defense of the liberty and integ
rity of our country, gives me a degree of pleasure which I should vainly
attempt to express. I shall cherish and preserve the gift which is the token
of their approbation as one of the proudest mementoes of my military life.
I thank you for the very kind and complimentary terms in which you
have spoken of my career as a soldier ; and I beg you to convey to those
whom you represent my most grateful acknowledgments for the honor which
they have conferred upon me.
"With the highest respect,
I am very sincerely yours,
ALFRED H. TERRY, Major- General.
The citizens of Hartford who had witnessed the military
career of Gen. Hawley, desiring to attest their appreciation
of his conduct and their admiration of his character, pro
cured a general officer's regulation-sword, at an expense of
$1,150.00, to present to him while on duty. The sword was
of rare richness of design, with a blade of the best material,
a grasp and guard of solid silver, and all the ornaments of
solid gold. The grasp is a figure of the Goddess of Liberty
with a drawn sword in one hand and broken shackles in the
other. The guard is the American flag, furled, and tied with
a gold cord, surmounted by a spread eagle. The thrust-
guard is inscribed in raised letters of solid gold, " Presented
by the citizens of Hartford to Gen. Joseph R. Hawley," under
which are the monograms, in the same material, " JRH 7C V."
808 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
A heavy wreath of laurel and oak borders the guard, and
the projection in rear of the hilt is the head of a Roman
warrior. The scabbard is of solid silver, heavily mounted
with gold in bass-relief. Between the two upper rings is a
spirited representation of an infantry charge. On ornament
al scrolls and shields are engraved Bull Run, Siege of Pulaski,
James Island, Pocotaligo, Olustee, Wagner and Sumter, Siege
of Petersburg, Drury's Bluff, Deep Bottom, Deep Run, and
Darbytown Road. Beneath this are the arms of Connecticut
and of the United States. Under the arms is a heavy vine
with leaves and flowers crossed by a sash, which runs through
eight rings on the sides of the scabbard. The lower end of
the scabbard is incased in a heavy chased socket of solid
gold. Accompanying the sword are a Russia-leather sword-
belt heavily embroidered in gold, and the buff-silk sash of a
general officer. These costly trappings are inclosed in a box
made of black-walnut knots exquisitely grained, lined with
red velvet, and with the monogram " JRH " in silver letters
on the lid. Only three more expensive swords had been
manufactured in the country.
Marshall Jewell, Col. George P. Bissell, and J. G. Rathbun,
a committee of the donors, went to Richmond, where the for
mal presentation took place, Aug. 1, in the mansion formerly
occupied by Jefferson Davis, already become the residence
of Gens. Terry and Hawley with their families. There was
a large and brilliant assembly of army officers of distinguished
rank, with ladies, and the loyal governor of Virginia and
staff, to witness the ceremony. Col. Bissell addressed Gen.
Hawley in behalf gf the donors, rehearsing briefly the mili
tary career of the soldier who had won the applause of his
neighbors, and reminding him that the State had been an
admiring witness of his deeds. Gen. Hawley replied, —
GENTLEMEN, — I beg that you will convey to your friends and my own
expressions of my profound gratitude. If they wished to make me happy,
tell them they have done so ; if they wished to reward nge for any thing I
have done or tried to do in the service of my country, tell them I am a thou
sand times rewarded beyond what I deserved. I know how humble my
true merits have been, and I do not wish to overvalue them. I see among
the list of names of those who sent you the names of dear friends, old
schoolmates, the companions of my early years. I see also the names of
persons with whom in former years I have widely differed in politics, and
u
T
THE TENTH REGIMENT AT RICHMOND. 809
who have doubtless heard from me in hot political contests language not
always measured as it would have been had I been an older and a wiser
man. Other names, like yours, are those of neighbors with whom I have
sympathized in all things. These facts affect me deeply.
When I look at the list of engagements there inscribed, I think of the
men in the ranks, the private soldiers, who never wished to be any thing
but private soldiers, who died private soldiers, and whose thousands of
graves scattered over the hillsides of the South give the highest and deepest
proof of their devotion to their country, and without whose patriotism and
heroism to back us, neither I nor any officer in the service could have done
any thing. In the name of these men, I receive your gifts, and for them
only, as without them I could have done nothing. When Gen. Terry and
myself left Connecticut three years ago last September, with the Seventh
Connecticut, we carried with us a noble band of such men of the old New-
England stamp ; and it is to them, and to such men, the country owes its
success, and the officers owe their rank and honor. The bones of many lie
scattered all over the country, and it is not too much to ask that the coun
try shall remember them ; for, as was well said at the grand review at
Washington, theirs is the only debt we can never pay, — the debt we owe
to the men who in the darkest hours have cheerfully laid down their lives
for liberty and their country. We have a right to be proud of these men ;
a right to be proud of the result of their efforts, not only in a restored
Union, but in this also, — that we have utterly and for ever removed the
one great obstacle left by our ancestors in the path of our prosperity and
true glory. Hereafter, all over our land, every being to whom God has
given a soul shall be truly free as to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
And to the outside Avorld, for the benefit of all peoples and- all times, we
have demonstrated the tremendous inherent strength and self-perpetuating
power of a republican form of government.
If here on this spot, within these walls, we are not proud of all this,
what shall satisfy us? Thank God that we have lived in this country!
thank God that we have shared in these glorious labors, and again bless
the Lord for their wonderful termination J
In the following month, Gen. Hawley received a promotion
to be major-general of volunteers by brevet.
When the Tenth returned to Richmond from the capture
of Lee's army, the regiment encamped in a beautiful grove
on the plantation of Dr. Powell, on the Brooktown Pike, two
miles from the city. Col. E. S. Greeley, who had resumed
command of the regiment at Farmville, was here placed in
command of a large brigade. " The Tenth was reported best
in order at each and all of the inspections of the troops of
the division during the months of May and June, when in
spections were discontinued." 2 At this time, the following
letter was signed by all the officers of the third brigade : —
2 Col. Grceley's last report.
102
810 CONNECTICUT DTJEING THE EEBELLION.
RICHMOND, VA., Aug. 25, 1865.
MAJOK.-GEN. TERRY, COMMANDING DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA.
Sir, — We, the officers of the 3d Brigade-, 1st Division, 24th Army
Corps, have the honor to request that Rev. II. Clay Trumbull, chaplain
of the Tenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, receive the rank of major
of volunteers by brevet, for distinguished services in camp and on the field.
Mr. Trumbull has not confined his labors to his own regiment, but has,
in reality, been the chaplain of the brigade ; and as such has won the love
and confidence of all. No man, certainly, could be more faithful in the
discharge of his duties ; none, AVC believe, more successful.
But the fidelity and efficiency of Mr. Trumbull in the performance of
his legitimate duties as chaplain is not the only ground upon which our
request is based. Always at his post in time of danger, he has, on two
occasions at least, displayed marked and conspicuous gallantry ; dashing
into the thickest of the fight to rally and encourage the wavering line.
We earnestly hope that our request may be favorably considered.
We have the honor to be, general,
With great respect [signatures].
The above paper was indorsed as follows : —
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA.
RICHMOND. Aug. 28, 1865.
Respectfully forwarded.
The 3d Brigade referred to within was for a long time a part of the
division which I commanded ; and I am personally cognizant of the ser
vices of Chaplain Trumbull. No officer of his regiment has displayed more
gallantry in action, or done more to animate the men to do their duty, than
he ; and, if the recognition of service asked for within can be made, it
could not be bestowed on a man more worthy.
He is a brave, high-minded, Christian gentleman and patriot.
(Signed) ALFRED II. TERKY,
Major-General Commanding.
Gen. Hawley wrote of the subject of the request, " He
goes habitually, and from principle, into every fight ; not in
the rear with the surgeon, but with the line of battle. He
has shared all the dangers of the Tenth as faithfully as any
soldier, to the best of my knowledge and belief."
The War Department decided that a chaplain was not in
the line of promotion, that his rank was rather religious
than military ; sp the recommendation was not concurred in.
The Connecticut soldiers were generally mustered out of
service in the summer of 1865; and the people of the State
gathered with spontaneous enthusiasm at the centers, and
gave them uproarious greeting. In recording their discharge,
we follow somewhat the order of time.
RETURN AND MUSTEK-OUT OF THE FOURTEENTH. 811
MUSTER-OUT OF THE FOURTEENTH.
The Fourteenth, which had always represented the State
nobly in the Army of the Potomac, and which had had
more opportunities to display its fighting-qualities than any
other of our regiments, and had never flinched from duty
in battle, was first permitted to lay down its burden. When
the 2d Corps passed through Richmond, May 5, en route for
Washington, the Fourteenth led the column of twenty
thousand men, and won many encomiums. On May 23, it
participated in the grand review of the armies of the
United States. The regiment arrived at Hartford, on the
steamer Granite State, on Saturday, June 8, and was . re
ceived with every demonstration of applause. The men,
forming a mere skeleton of the former regiment, were for
mally received by Adjutant-Gen. Morse, Mayor Stillman,
and David Clark, chairman of the committee of arrange
ments ; and marched up State Street, waving their shreds of
tattered flags, none of which the regiment had ever lost.
At the State House, they were welcomed home in a stirring
speech by Col. George P. Bissell ; and Col. Ellis responded;
after which the companies were marched to the hotels, and
provided with an ample breakfast. They were soon paid
and discharged. Adjutant William B. Hincks of Bridgeport
had been promoted to be major ; and Col. T. G. Ellis had
received the brevet rank of brigadier-general. In his final
report, Gen. Ellis wrote, —
" There are some members of the regiment whose names have figured
but little in official reports, who have had much to do with making it what
it was. Quartermaster C. F. Dibble, who remained with the* regiment
from its organization to its muster-out, deserves the highest praise, and
the thanks of every man in the regiment, for his efficient management of
his department. lie waived promotion to retain his position. Had he
left us, his place could not have been satisfactorily filled.
" Surgeon F. A. Dudley was likewise an able and efficient officer ; and
though his abilities were the means of taking him away from the regiment
much of the time, to take charge of the division hospital, yet in battle he
was always at hand to attend to the wounded. He was wounded at Get
tysburg, and taken prisoner at Hatcher's Hun, October, 1864, voluntarily,
through his zeal for our wounded.
" Dr. Levi Jewett, assistant surgeon, was also very seriously wounded
at Reams's Station, Aug. 25, 18G4, while attending to the wounded. A
shell exploded near him, and badly shattered the bones of his face and
head.
,^'ICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
"Assistant Surgeon Charles Tomlinson is also deserving of great credit
for the fearlessness with which he followed the regiment into many of the
hottest engagements to attend to the immediate wants of the wounded."
The record of the regiment had been unsurpassed. It
had been in thirty-three battles and skirmishes ; and of the
1,726 men who had been members of the organization, there
'was a record of more than eight hundred killed and wounded,
besides the many "missing." It had captured five colors
and two- guns from the enemy in fair fight, and more prison
ers than the original number of the regiment ; and at Reams's
Station drew off part of McKnight's and part of the 3d New-
Jersey batteries, which had been left to the enemy.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ..... . 132
Died of wounds . . , .
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missing at muster-out of regiment .
MUSTER-OUT OF THE TWENTIETH.
65
169
416
6
On the 30th of April, the Twentieth started northward
from Raleigh by land, accompanying Sherman's army.
They passed through Richmond, May 11,. and marched for
Washington, where they.arrived on the 20th. The tegiment
took part in the great review by the President and cabinet,
after which it encamped near Fort Lincoln on the Bladens-
burg Road. On June 13, it embarked on the cars for
New Haven, which was reached on the 15th. The regiment
was received with honors due its service, by the State author
ities, Major-Gen. Russell, and the people ; and escorted by
the local military, amid the ringing of bells, the firing of
cannon, and the cheers of thousands, to a collation waiting
at the State House. The men were promptly paid, and
dispersed to their waiting homes. Col. Samuel Ross had
received the brevet rank of brigadier-general " for distin
guished gallantry at Chancellorsville," on recommendation
of Gen. Hooker. Lieut.-Col. P. B. Buckingham became
colonel, and Capt. William W. Morse major, by brevet. The
regiment had mustered in 1,281 officers and men, and had
TWENTY-FIRST, AND FIKST AND THIRD BATTERIES. 813
fought under Gens. McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Meade,
Rosecrans, Thomas, Grant, and Sherman.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ....... 50
Died of wounds ....... 37
Died of disease ....... 77
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 264
Missing at muster-out of regiment .... 2
MUSTER-OUT OF FIRST LIGHT BATTERY.
The First Battery, Capt. James B. Clinton, was mustered
out of service at Manchester, opposite Richmond, on June
11 ; and on the loth reached New Haven. A cordial im
promptu reception was tendered. The battery was escorted
to the State House amid a maze of flags, and there invited
to a collation by Major B. F. Mansfield, .who also addressed
to the men a speech of welcome. They had had no
opportunity to renew their uniforms, and came home in
those which they had worn so worthily in battle. They had
been engaged twenty-five times.
CASUALTIES.
Died of Avounds . 1
Died of disease ... ... 21
Discharged prior to muster-out of battery . . 98
MUSTER-OUT OF THIRD LIGHT BATTERY.
The Third Battery was raised by Capt. T. S. Gilbert in
the fall of 1864, for one year, and was attached to Gen.
H. L. Abbot's artillery brigade, doing good service. It was
mustered out on June 23, and was warmly received in
New Haven on the 25th, and entertained at one of the
hotels. The men were soon afterwards paid and discharged.
MUSTER-OUT OF THE TWENTY-FIRST.
The Twenty-first was among the fortunate regiments;
receiving its muster-out as e/irly as June. Its stay in Rich
mond was brief; and on April 28. Lieut.-Col. James F.
Brown was ordered to proceed with his regiment to Colum
bia, Va,, a village on the James fifty miles west, to establish
a military post, protect the inhabitants, and preserve order.
814 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
It arrived on May 1. Several companies were detached
to do provost-duty in other towns : Company D, Capt. A.
M. Crane, was stationed at Palmyra; Company H, Lieut.
0. D. Glazier, at Bremo Bluff; Company K, Capt. P. F.
Talcott, at Goochland, — these officers acting as provost-
marshals. Capt. Charles Fenton as commissary, and Lieut.
Ransom Jackson as quartermaster, were very efficient. The
regiment was mustered out June 1C, and ordered home,
where it arrived on the 21st. At New Haven, the men
were received with an ovation, welcomed by Major Mans
field, and entertained at the State House. At Norwich also,
the local headquarters, the regiment was received with a
great jubilee, introductory to the other welcomes in towns,
villages, and homes. The regiment brought home the fol
lowing testimony to its efficiency : —
HEADQUARTERS 3r> DIVISION, 24xn ARMY CORPS.
RICHMOND, VA., June 17, 1865.
His EXCELLENCY WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM, GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT.
Governor, — The connection which has existed between this division and
the 21st Connecticut Volunteers is to-day dissolved by its departure for the
State which sent it forth. It is fully entitled to the Iftmor of having served
most faithfully and as long as it services were needed, and of having done
its duty nobly under many most trying and dangerous circumstances. Its
soldiers deserve the reward of those who have continued faithful to the end
of that Rebellion whose writhings are yet visible.
It has worthily maintained the honor of the State of Connecticut, her
loyalty to the Union of our fathers, her deep and stern attachment to the
principles of popular government and of civil liberty. Many brave officers
and men have sealed with their lives their devotion to the cause of the
country, prominent, especially, among whom are Col. Arthur II. Dutton,
the most accomplished among gentlemen and soldiers, who fell mortally
wounded in a skirmish at Fort Walthall, in May, 1864, and Col. Burpee,
who was killed at Cold Harbor, in June, 1864. The memory of these
gallant and distinguished soldiers and all their brave comrades will be
gratefully embalmed in the memory of the people of Connecticut, as well as
in that of their more fortunate companions who return to you in triumph
to-day.
The trials and dangers which this regiment has passed through will only
have made them more fit for the duties and responsibilities of citizens, to
which they now return ; and their conduct hereafter will show, I sincerely
believe, that the fame they have won *by valor and intrepidity abroad in
the field will be maintained by industry, energy, and perseverance at
home. I am very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
CUAS. DEVENS, Jr.,
Brigadier and Brevet Major-General Commanding.
THE EIGHTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH. 815
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ..... 26
Died of wounds .....
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missing at date of muster-out of rejnmeut
33
108
313
2
MUSTER-OUT OF THE EIGHTEENTH.
On June 27, the Eighteenth was mustered out at Har
per's Ferry, having been for three months on provost-duty
at Martinsbnrg. Capt. Joseph Mathewson of Pomfret had
been promoted to be major. Its losses had been heavy, its
service difficult. For two years, it had formed a part of the
uneasy shuttle that had been whirled back and forth
through the Shenandoah Valley, as Sigel, Ewell, Hunter,
Jubal Early, or Sheridan put a hand to the loom. Its efforts
had not always been crowned with visible success ; but suc
cess had come at last, and no regiment could say how much
or how little had been its real part in weaving the perfect
garment of final Victory. The regiment returned to Con
necticut immediately, and arrived at Hartford, on the boat,
at half-past six o'clock on the morning of the 29th. The
men were escorted up State Street, and formed in line on
Central Row, where they were received with speeches by
Gov. Buckingham for the State, Col. G. P. Bissell for the 'City,
Hon. John T. Wait and Representative George Pratt of
Norwich for New-London County, and Senator Bugbee for
Windham County. The soldiers then breakfasted at the
hotels, and eagerly departed for their homes.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action .... 52
Died of wounds .....
Died of disease .
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missing at muster-out of regiment .
MUSTER-OUT OF THE SIXTEENTH.
14
72
323
12
While the Eighteenth was being applauded at the State
House, intelligence came that the Sixteenth was at the
de*pot, having been mustered out of service at Newberne on
816 • * CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
June 24. Another reception was immediately improvised ;
and the regiment, now re-united under Lieut.-Col. J. H.
Burnham, was duly welcomed by Ezra Hall. The men re
ceived a good breakfast, and their share of the applause of
their old friends and neighbors ; after which they returned
gladly to their homes to exchange applauding words and
the army blue for the garb of peaceful citizenship. This
regiment saw little but misfortune. It was hurled upon the
overreached flank of the hottest battle before it had ever
had a regimental parade, or knew any thing of army move
ments ; and, finally, after hovering for a year upon the edge
of the Confederacy, was captured bodily at Plymouth, after
a short contest, and thenceforth reported only to rebel
guards. The Sixteenth lost more at Andersonville and other
prisons than any other Connecticut regiment, — as honor
able dead as they who fall in the fiercest fight at the mo
ment of victory.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ....... 46
Died of wounds ....... 24
Died of disease ....... 224
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 386
Missing at muster-out of regiment .... 27
MUSTER-OUT OF THE FIFTEENTH.
«
The Fifteenth, under Col. Charles L. Upham, was mustered
out at Newberne, June 27. Officers and men had returned
from their short imprisonment; and the " Lyon Regiment"
came home on the 30th, reaching New Haven on July 4, and
receiving there a most enthusiastic reception by thousands
of patriotic citizens assembled to celebrate the national an
niversary. The Fifteenth was composed of true and brave
men; but they felt justly, that beset by calamity, and
stricken by yellow-fever, they never had had an opportunity
to show what they could do.
. CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ....... 15
Died of wounds ....... 15
Died of disease ....... 143
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 327
Missing at muster-out of regiment . 57
THE FIFTH AND SEVENTEENTH. 817
MUSTER-OUT OF THE FIFTH.
Two days later, June 29, the veteran Fifth was mustered
out of service, after taking a prominent part in the grand
review at Washington. Brevet commissions had been issued
to Lieut.-Col. Daboll as colonel, and to Major William S. Cogs
well as lieutenant-colonel. Two thousand and sixty-one
men had been credited to the regiment, and it had been
engaged in some of the sharpest fighting of the war; while
it had marched much farther than any other- regiment from
this State, generally towards the enemy. The regiment
had lost Lieut.-Col. Stone and Major Blake, and a large num
ber of other gallant officers and men. Gen. Ferry, Gen.
Stedman, and Col. Brayton Ives were its graduates. Lieut.
Henry L. Johnson of .Jewett City went out as commissary ;
was promoted to be chief of Gen. Heintzelman's signal-
corps, and distinguished himself for bravery in McClellan's
battles of the Peninsula : the Secretary of War presented him
with two captured battle-flags in token of his bravery. The
regiment arrived home on Sunday ; and the day imposed
the necessity of a quiet reception. A portion of the regi
ment was afterwards enthusiastically welcomed in Danbury.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ... . . . . . 73
Died of wounds . . . . . . . 29
Died of disease . . . . ... . 81
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 600 •
MUSTER-OUT OF THE SEVENTEENTH.
On July 19, the Seventeenth was mustered out at Hilton
Head, and embarked immediately for home. It had had
little leisure during its term of service, and brought home
an honorable record. Three brave lieutenant-colonels —
Charles Walter, Douglass Fowler, and Albert H. Wilcoxson —
were on the list of its slain. The regiment, under Lieut.-Col.
Henry Allen, arrived at New Haven on Aug. 3, and was re
ceived with music and banners, a procession, and a bountiful
collation. Hon. E. C. Scranton, the. patriotic mayor, wel
comed the soldiers; after which Gov. Buckingham and Rev.
103
818 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Dr. Leonard Bacon further addressed them in cheering and
grateful words. Private Elias Howe, jr., of Bridgeport, char
tered a special train ; and they proceeded to that city, where
they were enthusiastically received. Rev. A. R. Thompson
made the welcoming speech, as follows : —
" Veterans of the Connecticut Seventeenth, —
" Three years ago, amid these late summer-blooms, and amid the bene
dictions and with the prayers of loving, throbbing hearts, you went forth
to roll back the tide of armed treason. The hosts of evil had arrayed them
selves in deadly strife to disrupt this glorious Union. Then, fresh and raw,
you took your place in the solid, living walls, which defied its onward
sweep. In letters of blood you wrote your names at Chaucellorsville, under
that gallant, Christian soldier, — the Ilavclock of this Avar, — Gen. Howard ;
and at Gettysburg, — the hilltop of this struggle, — then on the coasts of
the Carolinas and on the shores of Florida, have you left the impress of
your valiant deeds. . . . You have gallantly helped to rescue the country
from- her peril. Well done ! Greeting of welcome we give you to-day. la
the name of these homes, where you have been faithfully remembered in
love and prayer ; in the name of these Christian churches, whose sabbath-
bells are pealing forth their Avelcome ; in the name of your brave asso
ciates, themselves sharers of the heat and burdens of the day ; in the name
of our thrice-beloved and delivered land; in the name of God, — 1 bid
you, brave and faithful soldiers, welcome home ! The work you went to
do you have done. You have returned wiser, doubtless, than you went ;
and you have left men behind you wiser because you went. The valor of
the true sons of the Republic has not only lifted to its place again the flag
which sacrilegious hands dared to drag to the dust, but has nailed it there,
— never to come down while we live, or our children, or our children's
children."
Norwalk also gathered to welcome her heroes ; and ad
dresses were made by Judge Butler and Gen. 0. S. Ferry.
MUSTEK-OUT OF THE FIRST CAVALRY.
Our cavalry had been first in the fight, and it was not
last in muster-out. About June 1, Col. Ives took his
command to Washington, where it participated in the great
review. It was then stationed in the city on provost-duty
until Aug. 2, when it was mustered out of the service, and
ordered home. Its muster-rolls had borne 2,611 men. Lieut-
Col. E. W. Whitaker received a brevet commission as briga
dier-general;3 and Second Lieut. Thomas G. Welles of Hart-
8 Major-Gens. Sheridan, Kilpatrick, Davies, and Kautz recommended Gen. Whitaker
cordially for an appointment in the regular cavalry ; but he made no application. Kil
patrick wrote, " As a cavalry officer, I know no superior of his rank."
THE FIRST CAVALRY AND SECOND BATTERY. 819
«
ford, breve tted captain for gallantry in September, 1864,
was brevetted major in April, 1865. Col. Ives arrived in
New Haven with his regiment on Aug. 5, where it was for
mally welcomed by Major-Gen. William H. Russell, and then
entertained at a banquet at the State House. The men
soon after, dispersed to their homes. This was the last regi
ment remaining in Sheridan's renowned cavalry corps ; and
it had been detained in Washington by Gen. Augur, on ac
count of its orderly and soldierly appearance, as exhibited at
the review. Well might the men who had fought with Lyon,
Fish, Blakeslee, Brayton Ives, Whitaker, and Morehouse,
with Backus, Warner, and Parmelee, be proud of their record,
and well might the State be proud of them ! Gen. Ouster's
official order states that his single division had captured from
the enemy, within the ten-days' campaign, forty-six pieces of
artillery, thirty-seven battle-flags, and over ten thousand
prisoners, including seven generals ; that it had taken, within
the past six months, a hundred and eleven pieces of artillery
and sixty-five battle-flags ; that it had never lost a gun or
a color, and had never been defeated !
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action 24
Died of wounds . . . . .
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missing at muster-out of regiment .
MUSTER-OUT OF THE SECOND BATTERY
8
125
436
59
The Second Battery, Capt. Walter S. Hotchkiss, arrived at
New Haven July 31, from New Orleans, and was officially
welcomed by Mayor Scranton, and entertained in a manner
required by its valuable services. The men were furnished
with quarters, and mustered out on Aug. 9.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ....... 1
Died of wounds ....... 1
Died of disease . . . . . . . 18
Discharged prior to muster-out of battery . . 37
820 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
MUSTER-OUT OF THE SIXTH.
The veteran Sixth, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Daniel Klein,
arrived at New Haven on July 28, and was escorted to the
banquet at the State House by military and citizens. Ex-
Mayor Moses Tyler addressed a welcome to the returned
soldiers, and Col. Klein briefly responded. The regiment
was mustered out of the service on Aug. 21. Its rolls account
ed for 1,813 officers and men ; and they were also accounted
for in battles fought, privations endured, and victories won.
Less had been known of this regiment by our citizens than
of most of the others, partly because Col. Chatfield had in
structed officers and men that it was unmilitary to write
historical letters for the press. All became ambitious that
it should not be known as "a newspaper regiment." Its
history is less full on this account; but the Sixth always
did its whole duty in the field. The Sixth and Seventh
fought side by side ; and, as the Sixth had left the State a
day earlier, it returned a day earlier to its home.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action . 43
Died of wounds .....
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missing at date of muster-out of regiment
46
119
663
23
MUSTER-OUT OF THE SEVENTH.
The Seventh, Col. S. S. Atwell, arrived at New Haven on
the evening of July 29, and was received by the committee
at the wharf, and escorted with the usual triumphal display,
through illuminated streets, to a supper at the State House.
Mayor Scran ton welcomed the soldiers to the hospitalities of
home, and Col. Atwell briefly responded. The regiment was
mustered out on Aug. 11. In the mean time, the jnen
made their way speedily to their homes. The regiment
had borne upon its rolls 2,090 men. It had been commanded
successively by Terry, Hawley, Rodman, and Atwell : it had
been in twenty-one battles; and the memories evoked by
such service as was indicated by its flag were enough to stir
THE TWELFTH AND THE SECOND ARTILLERY. '§21
the blood of any soldier, and excite the grateful emotions
of any citizen.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action . ... ..'.... . 90
Died of wounds ....... 44
Died of disease • . . •"*.""» • • 179
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 587
Missing at date of muster-out of regiment . . 40
MUSTER-OUT OF THE TWELFTH.
The veteran Twelfth, under Lieut-Col. G. N. Lewis, went
from Winchester to Washington, and participated in the
great review ; and then received orders to proceed to Savan
nah, Ga., where it arrived on June 5, and encamped outside
of the fortifications. The battalion was detailed on patrol-
duty for two months. On Aug. 12, it was mustered out,
and ordered home. It was not loth to obey, and on Aug. 18
it reached Hartford in the morning. Mayor Allen Stillman
made a brief speech of welcome in State-house Square, and
introduced Hon. Henry C. Deming, first .commander of the
Twelfth, who greeted his old comrades eloquently ; and they
were soon dismissed. The service of the regiment had been
severe and singularly varied.. Wherever fighting was to be
done, it never shrank ; and was repeatedly in the front of
battle under Butler, Banks, and Sheridan. Only 328 men
came back at muster-out, of 1,826 who had been borne upon
the rolls.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ....... * 50
Died of wounds . . . . . . .16
Died of disease ........ 188
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 501
MUSTER-OUT OF THE SECOND ARTILLERY.
• When the rebels were driven from Petersburg, the Second
Artillery entered it in advance of the 9th Corps. Col. James
Hubbard became provost-marshal of the city ; and the regi
mental flag floated from the top of the Court House. When
the regiment was relieved, it marched out, and again took
possession of its old camp to the south. In this vicinity the
regiment remained for weeks. It was finally returned to
822 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
, duty in the forts around Washington. It was mustered out
of service on Aug. 18, and reached New Haven on the 20th,
where it was greeted with a patriotic display and a bountiful
repast. Col. Ilubbard had received the brevet of brigadier-
general. The organization had borne upon its muster-rolls
2,719 men, and had lost more than a hundred killed in
battle. In Litchfield County, the home of the regiment, the
most cordial welcome awaited them ; and on Aug. 1 Litch
field celebrated their arrival. Welcoming addresses were
made by Hon. John H. Hubbard and Col. Nathaniel Smith.
From that of the latter, we extract some passages : —
" The place of Rice is vacant in your lines. Brave man ! stainless of
ficer ! faithful friend ! The elegant form of gentlemanly Berry, gallant
Wadhams, soldierly Hosford — but I fear lest, if spirits are conscious of
earthly things, these noble men rebuke me sternly in their thoughts for dar
ing thus to single out their names from those of hundreds of others just
as self-sacrificing, just as brave, just as deserving of our gratitude and
honor, whom time forbids us to mention. O sacred brotherhood of noble
men dead for our sakes ! — how shall we ever pa^ the debt of gratitude
that is your due?
" Tell us, ye bards in whose verse Achilles and ./Eneas live, in what im
mortal numbers shall we consecrate their story to eternal fame? His
torians who sleep beneath the shadow of the classic ilex and oleander,
what honor shall we pay to patriots purer than they who fell at Thermopylte
and Marathon? Sculptors that raised the Parthenon, on what monument
or miracle of art, cloud-piercing, shall we engrave the names of our half-
million dead, to be read of men so long as beauty's tears and valor's blood
are symboled by the wild flower and the rose?
u Alas ! art, able to embellish the castles of nobles, kings, and conquerors,
is all unequal to their deserts : it dwindles to artifice before the simple
grandeur of their deeds. These that we miss from among you were our
neighbors, acquaintances, and friends, — unambitious men, free to remain
at home, careful of dependent families, yet so intelligently and truly lov
ing liberty, that, when they saw it in danger, they freely weutto the rescue.
They found subjection to arbitrary military rule a hard thing for citizens ;
but, for the sake of their country, they obeyed. In the dull, uncomfortable
quarters, weary witli routine, sick, discouraged, they longed for home, but
from principle remained steadfast. On the march, under the pitiless sun,
amid the stifling dust, the musket weighing like a cannon on the shoulder,
knapsack and cartridge-box an intolerable load, weary and faint, knowing
* the agony of thirst, they never came late to battle under the rain of death,
amid the howling shot, the rushing, bursting shell, the hissing storm of
deadly musket-balls : in that most trying moment, when one after another
of their comrades began to drop silently by their side, they were steadfast
and true. There they fell, and were buried hastily ; or, after hours of
patient agony, carried to a hospital amid unnoticed thousands, unmurmur
ing, and faithful to the last, they died !
" The beneficent Father, mindful of their sacrifice, has decreed peace
throughout the land, liberty and union throughout all our boundary ; has
MUSTER-OUT OF THE NINTH. 823
*
bade his messengers lay the railroad, stretch the telegraph from ocean to
ocean, from the equator to the pole ; has bade them plant the schoolhouse,
establish the printing-press, and build the church, — that a land filled with
the murmur of schools and the hum of industry ; a land of plenteous fields
and happy homes, echoing the sweet clangor of sabbath-bells ; a land
wherein there neither is nor shall for ever be aught to molest or make
afraid, — shall stand before the ages, their heaven-erected monument.
" Comrades of the fallen ! survivors of the storm ! the very homes made
desolate by their loss will gladden at the sound of your footsteps. Your
native county rejoices to hear of your return. All bid you enter into the
soldier's rest. The screaming fife and rattling drum shall break your
slumbers with their reveille no more. No more at evening the lingering
bugles blow the signal of repose. Enjoy henceforth the freedom you have
earned for all. Enter, soldiers of the Union, enter into possession of the
honors due to citizens that have saved the Republic. The assembled mul
titude greets you ! Children that now look up wonderingly in your faces,
grown to be men and women, shall prolong the tribute of grateful praise.
Long may the day be absent, when, bowing venerable gray hairs to your
only conqueror, the villages shall mourn your loss, and youth and beauty
strew your graves with flowers ! Then succeeding generations, happier
than this of ours, children of long peace and heaven-blessed* liberty, shall
hand down the story of your battles and triumphs. They of that blissful
era, it is reasonable to hope, will know no more personal interest in war
like actions than that they trace their ancestry to you. Treasuring every
memento of your times, interested in hearing the minutest incidents of your
lives, they would charge me with neglect did I fail to speak to you in their
name to-day. They bid me greet you by the title the future will assign you ;
and, by an authority that history shall ratify, proclaim you her HEROES
OF LIBEUTY."
The soldiers of Woodbtiry were afterwards welcomed by
William Cothren and P.- M. Trowbridge.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action . . » . . . 143
Died of wounds ....... 80
Died of disease ....... 186
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 907
MUSTER-OUT OF THE NINTH.
The veteran Ninth was mustered out of service in
Savannah, on Aug. 4, and immediately proceeded north
ward. The battalion, under the valiant Col. John G. Ilealy,
arrived in New Haven on the morning of the 8th, where it
was cordially welcomed by Mayor Scranton, escorted to the
State House amid every demonstration of patriotic joy, and
properly entertained. The achievements of the Ninth had
found little publicity ; but, as this record has disclosed, its
services were of marked value in conquering a peace for
824 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
»•
the re-united Republic : and the gallant Irish-Americans who
stood faithfully by its standard share the gratitude of the
State and the Nation.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ....... 5
Died of wounds ....... 1
Died of disease ....... 240
, Discharged prior to muster-out of battalion . . 376
MUSTER-OUT OF THE TENTH.
The veteran Tenth,2 too, at last came to the end of its
fighting. Oir Aug. 25, the regiment was mustered out of
the United-States service, and returned to Connecticut. It
arrived at Hartford by steamer on Aug. 30, under Col. E. S.
Greeley, now, like Lieut.-Col. Goodyear, brevet brigadier-
general. There were the usual demonstrations, — music,
cheers, speeches, and an escort, — in which were Cols. Otis
and Pettibone, and other former officers of the regiment,
bearing the tattered flag under which they had fought. A
bountiful repast was then provided at the hotels, and the
men had leave of absence for two days ; when they re-as
sembled and received their pay, and said their final good-bys.
The regiment had borne upon its rolls 2,124 men, had been
in twenty-three battles, and had won a reputation ' for re
markable bravery, coolness, persistence, and reliability on
trying occasions, that was always recognized even by troops
of other States. Its services herein recorded are its highest
praise.
CASUALTIES. »
Killed in action 57
Died of wounds ....... 59
D'ied of disease 152
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 692
MUSTER-OUT OF THE FIRST ARTILLERY.
On July 11, the First Artillery returned to the defenses
of Washington, and, on Sept, 25, was mustered out after
2 Major Frank Hawkins of the Tenth, from Derby, inspector-general on the staff of
Gen. G. B. Dandy, died suddenly on June 22. in one of the military hospitals of New-
York City. The Herald said, " Some days since Major Hawkins was exposed to a
severe rain-storm while attending a review of the troops. Congestion of the brain set in
with fatal results. This is a sad instance of the intervention of death in the midst of
human hopes. Major Hawkins had been in the war for more than four vears, throughout
all which time he had been noted for his bravery and dash. After participating most
honorably in the late closing campaign, he parts with life in an unexpected moment."
THE FIRST ARTILLERY AND THE COLORED TROOPS. 825
a service of four years and four months. The following
brevet commissions were issued : Col. H. L. Abbot to be
major-general; Major George Ager to be lieutenant-colonel;
Capts. Henry H. Pierce, John M. Twiss, Charles 0. Brigham,
Charles R. Bannan, George Dimock, William C. Faxon,
Samuel P. Hatfield, Bela P. Learned, William A. Lincoln,
Glenroy P. Mason, George D. Sargeant, and William G.
Pride, to be majors; First Lieuts. Frank D. Bangs, Robert
E. Lewis, E. P. Mason, H. A. Pratt, George F. Bill, Thomas
D. Cashin, Cornelius Gillette, John O'Brien, William H.
Rogers, S. A. Woodruff, and H. D. Patterson, to be captains ;
and Second Lieuts. A. Drown, C. W. Smith, W. H. H. Bing-
ham, G. H. Couch, G. Reynolds, J. II. Casey, and C. N. Silli-
man, to be first lieutenants. Col. Abbot says in his report, —
" Notwithstanding the fine material of which the regiment is composed,
it would have been impossible, without such officers, to have maintained
strict discipline during the last campaign, when, for more than a year, the
regiment was scattered over a front often exceeding seventeen miles in
extent, frequently subdivided into small fragments of companies, and con
stantly receiving raw recruits. When it was collected after the evacua
tion, I was surprised myself to see how it had borne this test ; the men pre
serving almost the same cleanliness and soldierly appeai'ance which had
so distinguished them in garrison. This result can only be attrbuted to
the high character of the officers of all grades, which naturally follows
from the wise and patriotic course of his Excellency the Governor in
appointing them."
Major-Gen. Barry, the ablest artillery officer in the United-
States service, paid the following tribute to the superiority
of this regiment : —
" As chief of artillery successively of the two principal armies of the
United States during the four years of war now happily ended, I have
enjoyed personal opportunities for observation. You will on this account
value my opinion when I assure you that the First Connecticut Artillery, in
intelligence and the acquirements and services of its special arm, stands
unrivaled in the armies of the United States."
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action 26
Died of wounds ....... 23
Died of disease ..:.... 161
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 1,071
MUSTER-OUT OF THE TWENTY-NINTH AND THIRTIETH.
Our colored regiments remained in service in Texas during
the summer and autumn, performing garrison and provost
104
826 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
duty, and helping to reduce that fractious State to order.
Early in October, they embarked for home. The Twenty-
ninth was cordially received at Hartford, "on Oct. 22, with
cheers, a procession, and a banquet. Gov. Buckingham made
an address of welcome, from which we extract : —
" For all your services, I tender you, both officers and men, my grateful
acknowledgments and the -thanks of my fellow-citizens. In their name I
greet you with a cordial welcome. I welcome you from sleepless watchings.
from fatiguing marches, from the privations of the camp, and from the clan
gers of the battle-field, to the rest, the pleasures, and the duties which per
tain to peace, to home, and civil life. The revolution in which we have
been engaged, and in which you have taken such an active and interesting
part, has removed one of the greatest obstacles to the advancement of
liberty, and enables me to welcome you to higher hopes of future good.
" And although Connecticut now denies you privileges which it grants
to others, for no other apparent reason than because God has made you to
differ in complexion, yet justice will not always stand afar off. Be patient ;
be true to yourselves. Remember that merit consists not in color or in
birth, but in habits of industry, in intellectual ability and moral character.
Cultivate these characteristics of true worth. Show by your acquirements,
and your devotion to duty in civil life, that you are as true to virtue and the
interests of government and country as you have been while in the army,
and soon the voice of a majority of liberty-loving freemen will be heard
demanding for you eve.ry right and privilege to which your intelligence and
moral character shall entitle you. Again I ask you to accept my thanks
for your patriotic services, and my best wishes for your prosperity and
happiness."
Col. Wooster of the Twenty-ninth spoke in reply, testify
ing to the bravery of his men in battle, even when they
knew that captivity was certain death. Lieut.-Col. Torrance
said, in his report, "The poor rights of a soldier were denied
to them. Their actions were narrowly watched, and the
slightest faults severely commented upon. In spite of all
this, the negro soldier fought willingly and bravely ; and with
his rifle alone he has vindicated his manhood, and stands
confessed to-day as second in bravery to none."
Col. H. C. Ward of the Thirtieth, in his report, says, « Be
fore closing this report, I beg leave to speak briefly as to the
character of the troops I have had the honor to serve with.
I entered the ' colored service' in January, 1864, and have
commanded either a battalion or larger body of colored
troops for most of the time since that date ; and I am con
vinced, that, in all the essential qualities of good soldiers, they
fully meet all requirements, and are equal to the standard of
any service I ever saw."
THE EIGHTH, ELEVENTH, AND THIRTEENTH. 827
CASUALTIES OF THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
Killed in action . . . . . ' • 15
Died of wounds . , ... * . , 4
Died of disease ....... 47
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 47
Missing at muster-out of regiment .... 13
CASUALTIES OF THE THIRTIETH REGIMENT.
Killed in action ....... 23
Died of wounds ....... 22
Died of disease ....... 153
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment '.;'" . 135
MUSTER-OUT OF THE EIGHTH AND ELEVENTH.
The veteran Eighth and Eleventh went to Lynchburg after
Richmond was captured, and did a semi-military, semi-police
duty in that vicinity for several months. They came home
in Dec'ember, had a reception in Hartford befitting their long
and arduous service, and were mustered out. Rowland
Swift addressed the Eighth, and Ezra Hall addressed the
Eleventh, in terms of grateful welcome ; and the companies
and soldiers departed to find more personal greetings in glad
hearts and homes. The regiments had generally marched,
camped, and fought side by side, and shared a twin-chronicle
of heroic deeds, and a long list of gallant dead.
CASUALTIES OF THE EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Killed in action ....... 72
Died of wounds ....... 40
Died of disease ....... 132
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 610
Missing at date of muster-out of regiment . . 11
CASUALTIES OF THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT.
Killed in action ....... 4 85
Died of wounds ....... 41
Died of disease ....... 165
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 579
MUSTER-OUT OF THE THIRTEENTH.
The veteran Thirteenth, the last of the levy of 1861, -was
detained in service more than a year after the war was ended.
In July, Col. Sprague was appointed president of a military
board in Augusta to examine officers for promotion or dis
charge. The battalion soon after proceeded to Athens, and
828 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
therice to Gainesville ; and Col. Sprague assumed command
of the district of Athens, comprising fourteen counties of
Northern Georgia. Afterwards, headquarters were removed
to Augusta. In January, 1866, the battalion was relieved
from duty, and ordered to garrison the district of Alatoona,
comprising one-fourth of the State. The men were anxious
to go home ; and at last, after numerous appeals for muster-
out, setting forth, that, according to the terms of their re-in-
listment, they could not properly be detained after the close
of the war, they rendezvoused at Fort Pulaski, and were
mustered out on April 25, 1866. Three days later, they took
a government transport, and proceeded to New York; whence
they quietly dispersed to their homes to enjoy in civil life
the union and peace for which, through four and a half years,
they had toiled and fought.
CASUALTIES.
Killed in action ....... 32
Died of wounds ....... 13
Died of disease . 129
Discharged prior to March 31, 1866 . . .705
Gov. Buckingham issued the following: —
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas the General Assembly at its recent session :
" Resolved, That the heartfelt thanks and lasting gratitude of the people
of this State are due and are hereby tendered to all Connecticut officers
and soldiers, of every rank and grade, who in the war of the Rebellion have
gallantly borne the flag and nobly sustained the honor of our State, and
who, by long years of faithful service, and on many a hard-fought field,
have aided in preserving to us our institutions, and in demonstrating to the
world that no government is so strong as that which rests in the will of a
free and enlightened people, and that no armies are so invincible as citizen-
soldiers battling for their own liberties and the rights of man.
u That this State will ever gratefully cherish and honor the memories of
those victims of war and rebel barbarities who went forth from us for our
defense, but who come not back to participate in the blessings of that
peace, which, through their efforts and sacrifices, a just God has vouch
safed to us.
" That his Excellency the Governor be requested by suitable proclama
tion tp publish the foregoing resolutions."
Therefore I, William A. Buckingham, Governor of the State of Connecti
cut, in order to effect the object designed by the General Assembly, hereby
issue this proclamation, and call upon the citizens of this Commonwealth
to manifest by expressions of gratitude and by acts of kindness, both to the
living and to the families of the honored dead, their high appreciation of
the sacrifices made by each of the fifty-three thousand three hundred and
CONCLUSION. 829
thirty men, who from this State have entered the military service of the
nation during our recent struggle with rebellion ; and to impress upon their
children and children's children the duty of holding such patriotic services
in honor and perpetual remembrance, and thus prove the enduring gratitude
of the Republic.
Given under my hand and the seal of the State, at the city of Hartford, this
the seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five. r .,
[L.S.] WM. A. BUCKINGHAM.
By his Excellency the Governor.
J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL, Secretary of State.
Connecticut, that went to the war with such promptness •
and lusty energy, had acquitted herself nobly in it. Refer
ring to her part in nurturing and coloring the royal blood
that finally lifted up the two most illustrious captains of the
war, Rev. Dr. Bushnell has said,3 " Nay, it is not quite enough,
if we will know exactly who is entitled to a part in these
honors, that we remember only these dead of the war.
Buried generations back of them were also present in. it
almost as truly as they. Thus, if we take the two most
honored leaders, — Grant and Sherman, — who, besides the
general victory they have gained for the cause, have won
their sublime distinction as the greatest living commanders
of the world, it will be impossible to think of them as having
made or begotten their own lofty endowments. All great
heroic men have seeds and roots, far back, it may be, out of
which they spring, and apart from which they could not
spring at all, — a sublime fatherhood and motherhood, in
whose blood and life, however undistinguished, victory was
long ago distilling for the great day to come of their people
and nation. They knew it not : they sleep in graves, it may
be, now forgot ; but their huge-grown, manful temperament ;
the fights they waged and won in life's private battle; the
lofty prayer-impulse which made inspiration their element ;
their brave, self-retaining patience, and the orderly vigor of
their household command, — were breeding in and in, to be
issued finally in a hero sonship, and, by that, fight themselves
out into the grandest victory for right and law the future
ages shall know. So that, if we ask who are the dead that
8 Commemorative Celebration at Yale College.
830 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
are to be counted in our victory, we must pierce the sod of
Wethersfield and Stratford, of Woodbury and Norwalk, and
find where the Honorable Sherman, the Deacon Sherman,
the Judge Sherman, and all the line of the Shermans, and
their victor wives and mothers, lie ; and then, if we can guess
who they were and how they lived, we shall know who
fought the great campaigns of Atlanta, Savannah, and
Raleigh. So again, if we begin at the good Deacon Grant,
in Mr. Warham's church at Windsor, descending to the
historic Noah Grant of Tolland, fellow-scout with Putnam,
' and captain of a French-war company ; then to the now
living Jesse Root Grant, who removed to Ohio, afterwards
finally, I believe, to Illinois, whose wanderings appear to
be commemorated in the classic name of Ulysses, — we shall
see by what tough flanking processes of life and family the
great general was preparing, who should turn the front of
Vicksburg, and march by Lee and Richmond, and cut off -by
the rear even the Great Rebellion itself. Oh, if we could see
it, how long and grandly were the victories of these great
souls preparing ! The chief thing was the making of the
souls themselves; and when that was done the successes
came, of course."
Not the living chiefs alone are of our maturing : we name,
also, with reverent pride, a long, deep phalanx of departed
heroes who stepped out eagerly from our homes ; leaders on
field and staff; leaders in line and rank, who fell before the
gaunt wolf in rebel prisons, or leaped into the blazing vortex
of battle, and passed triumphant from their heavy shrouds
of blue to the Pleasant Fields where their loved leader was
so soon to greet them again.
The first great martyrs of the war — Ellsworth, 'Winthrop,
Ward, and Lyon — were of Connecticut stock. A Connec
ticut general, with Connecticut regiments, opened the battle
of Bull Run, and closed it ; and a Connecticut regiment was
marshaled in front of the farm-house at Appornattox, when
Lee surrendered to a soldier of Connecticut blood. A Con
necticut flag first displaced the palmetto upon the soil of
South Carolina; a Connecticut flag was first planted in
Mississippi ; a Connecticut flag was first unfurled before New
CONCLUSION. 831
Orleans. Upon the reclaimed walls of Pulaski, Donelson,
Macon, Jackson, St. Philip, Morgan, Wagner, Smnter, Fisher,
our State left its ineffaceable mark. The sons of Connecti
cut followed the illustrious grandson of Connecticut, as he
swung his army, with amazing momentum, from the fast
nesses of Tennessee to the Confederacy's vital center. At
Antietam, Gettysburg, and in all the fierce, campaigns of
Virginia, our soldiers won crimson glories ; and at Port
Hudson they were the very first and readiest in that val
iant little band, — every man a Winkelried, resolved to
gather the shafts of flame into their bosoms to make a path
for Liberty to tread.
On the banks of every river of the South, and in the
battle-smoke of every contested ridge and mountain-peak,
the sons of Connecticut have stood and patiently struggled.
In every ransomed State, we have a holy acre on which the
storm has left its emerald waves, — two thousand indistin
guishable hillocks . on lonely lake and stream, in field and
tangled wildwood, where the long mosses of the Florida for
ests sweep, where the magnolia flowers along the Carolina
coast, where the cotton sheds its snowy wealth, where the
holly of the James drops its ruby berries, where the pines
of the Gulf States chant their dirge ; and in every bloom
ing grave lie buried beneath the sacred dust of our heroes
the broken shackles of bondage and the rusting weapons of
rebellion.
APPENDIX.
THE SONS OF CONNECTICUT RESIDING IN NEW YORK.
NE'
THE sons of Connecticut residing in other States, whom business or personal circum
stances kept from actual army service, were active and faithful as our best citizens in the
State.
In New York and in Washington, Connecticut men had frequent opportunity to aid
and encourage the soldiers of Connecticut, and formed organizations for the purpose.
It is proper to say at the outset, that the Sons of Connecticut rendered these services to
their native State in addition to doing their full share of what belonged to the community
in which they resided.
Mr. Robert II. McCurdy, the honored president of the society in New York, a native
of Lymc, was active in originating and giving practical effect to the first patriotic move
ment in that city, — the great meeting of the people at Union Square on the 20th of April,
18G1 ; a meeting, which, speaking so grandly the voice of the great commercial metropo
lis, exerted an influence perhaps as powerful as that of any public meeting ever held on
the globe.
Air. McCurdy was at that meeting appointed a member of the well-known Union-
Defense Committee, and thereafter gave time and money, without stint, to the great cause.
Mr. Simeon B. Cliittenden, a native of Guilford, whose name appears on the first sub
scription-list in New York for the equipment of the New- York 7th Regiment, was untir
ing and generous throughout the war. As a single instance, we quote from a letter written
by him to Hon. Moses F. Odcll, then a member of Congress, in October, 1863, when the
war had become a dread and a burdensome business : "It is my conviction that it is the
solemn duty and the high privilege of all who love their country, instantly to lend their
cheerful, willing, and effective aid to the great and noble effort to which the President now
summons the nation ; and I ask you, sir, to co-operate with me in such ways as your knowl
edge of the condition of the regiment (Brooklyn 14th) may suggest. I propose to raise
two hundred men for the Brooklyn 14th as my share of the work, and will contribute ten
thousand dollars to be divided among them ; fifty dollars to each man in addition to all
national, state, and municipal bounties which may be available to such volunteers." The
two hundred men were enlisted, the bounties paid, and recruiting further stimulated by
this prompt arid liberal action.
Equallv prompt and efficient, according to their means, unto the very close of the war,
were hundreds of natives of Connecticut located in New York. Indeed, out of the gen
eral patriotic work grew the special efforts for Connecticut soldiers.
Gen. Prosper M Wctmore (of what town?), also a member of the Union-Defense
Committee, had labored night and day in recruiting the Harris Light Cavalry, in which
two companies from Connecticut were enlisted. He learned to esteem and admire among
others the noble face and soldierly bearing of Sergeant Edward F. Lyoii, who was killed on
the cars while passing to the front, in a brave attempt to save the lives of his fellow-soldiers.
Gen. Wetmorc, learning that the body had reached New York on the way home, after
a long search, found a rude pine coffin containing the remains, in the open air, watched by
105 633
834 • APPENDIX.
two faithful comrades, — Sergeants Daniel "Whitaker and P. 0. Jones. An appropriate
guard of honor was promptly secured, entertainment provided for the two sergeants, and
every facility freely furnished.
Gen. Wetmorc at once resolved that there should not again be such an apparent neglect
of proper respect to the heroic dead and due attention to "the comforts of the brave living
soldiers of his native State.
He conceived the design of an organization of the Sons of Connecticut in New York, to
extend fitting courtesies and all needed aid to regiments passing to and from the front
through New York, to the sick and wounded, and to the noble dead of our gallant regi
ments. The plan was heartily approved by Mr. McCurdy, who had, at intervals of his
pressing duties, been contemplating something of the sort. Others fell in promptly and
cordially.
The first meeting was held at the Astor House, on the 25th of September, 1861'. Rob
ert II. McCurdy, Pelatiah Perit, Jonathan Sturgcs, Prosper M. Wetmorc, David Hoadlcy,
R. M. Blatchford, S. Baldwin, I. N. Phclps, W. C. Wetmore, Henry Chauncey, F. Bron-
son, John E. Fo: bes, Rufus L. Lord, Samuel D. Babcock , Charles W. Elliott, Thomas
Lord, George Gj^wold, Henry H. Elliott, J. W. Alsop, W. E. Dodge, W. C. Gilman,
Charles Gould, Simeon B. Chittenden, Waldo Hutchins, A. II. Almy, Elias Howe, jr.,
Joseph Battell, and others among the most eminent business-men of New York, partici
pated in the organization.
A permanent organization was effected by electing as officers, —
President, Robert H. McCurdy ; Vice-President, Prosper M. Wetmorc ; Secretary,
Charles Gould ; Treasurer, William C. Gilman; Standing- Committee, Robert H. McCurdy,
Waldo Hutchins, Prosper M. Wetmorc, Charles W. Elliott, Elias Howe, jr., Joseph
Battell, Jonathan Sturges, A. H. Almy, J. J. Phelps, S. B. Chittenden, and Charles Gould.
The duties of the secretary " were so arduous, that Richard A. McCurdy was soon
appointed assistant secretary.
Gov. Buckingham was immediately notified of the organization and purposes of the
society, and assured them of his hearty gratification and co-operation. He soon after
appointed John II. Almy as agent to act for the State, in connection with the Sons of
Connecticut, to forward the interests and aid the soldiers of Connecticut.
The active work of the society at once began. Of this work, Gen. P. M. Wetmorc,
<i genuine and an accomplished Son of Connecticut, the vice-president of the society,
has furnished a lengthy and carefully-written sketch, which has been reluctantly
abridged to conform to the space allotted; and we desire to acknowledge our indebtedness
while we gratefully take from it the main facts.
Mr. Wetmore modestly refrains in his sketch from self-praise ; but the remaining
officers unite in saying that he was, from the outset, the chief intellectual life and motor of
the society. He was so situated that he could, or at any rate did, give more time and
effort than any other man. He is genial and eloquent; "knows everybody," and is a
general favorite ; is a sterling and tireless patriot ; and thus in all respects eminently
adapted to the noble work to which he gave the greater part of his valuable time for four
years.
The Eighth Regiment was the first to receive the courtesy and attention of the Sons of
Connecticut. A warm breakfast was furnished on the morning of Oct. 18; and on
the 25th the Sons of Connecticut visited their temporary camp at Jamaica, L.I., to pre
sent the regiment with a superb stand of colors. We have already adverted briefly to this
•event, and also to the organization of the society, in one of the early chapters of this
volume, as it naturally connects itself with the history of the regimerft at that time.
The delegation of Sons of Connecticut was quite large. Col. J. H. Almy with a few
earnest words introduced Gen. Wetmore, who rose in response, and delivered a most elo
quent and touching address, worthy of his high reputation and marked abilities. Few
men, however privileged their life or gifted their tongue, can speak to the heart, or stir the
souls of men, with more effect than he.
Col. Harland in a few graceful words accepted the beautiful banner, and pledged his
command to guard and protect it.
The Tenth Regiment was provided with a substantial and agreeable breakfast, addressed
by Col. Almy and Gen. Burnside, and presented with the national colors by S. B. Chit-
SONS OF CONNECTICUT IN NEW YORK. 835
tcnden. The regiment was escorted through the city by a delegation of the Sons of
Connecticut, marshaled by Gen. Wetmore. Music was furnished by Dodsworth's Band.
Next came the Eleventh. The enlisted were provided with a warm and bountiful
breakfast at the Park Barracks. The Sons of Connecticut gave a complimentary break
fast at the Astor House to Gov. Buckingham and staff and the officers of the regiment.
The company gathered was large and choice. The dining-room was elegantly decorated.
No expense was spared to make the occasion truly complimentary, both to the distinguished
governor and the officers of the Eleventh.
Mr. Charles Gould presided. In the opening address, lie said, —
"If ever kind and cordial welcome was due, the Sons of Connecticut in New York
owe such greeting to-day. If warm and grateful hearts ever gave a cordial welcome, we,
the sons and daughters of Connecticut, now give that welcome to you, Gov. Buck
ingham, whose considerate and unwearied care has so completely provided for the Con
necticut troops ; and to you, Col. Kingsbury and your fellow-soldiers, who are going to
join the great army of Freedom, and stand in the ' breach between our loved homes and the
war's desolation.'
" Soldiers of Connecticut, it is not alone a welcome that we give you. Our sympa
thies and blessings will follow your march ; and if each earnest wish for your safety and
triumph could but advance your regiment a hair's-brcadth towards the battle-field and the
shout of victory, so many are those wishes, that our words of farewell would scarcely be
uttered before this flag of yours would float in triumph over the broad field now desolated
by Rebellion, announcing that the conflict was over, and the victory for freedom won, and
won for ever.
Gov. Buckingham was received with prolonged and hearty applause. He gave a suc
cinct r&umtf of the recruiting and legislation for the war in Connecticut, and affirmed that
neither in patriotism nor efficiency was she surpassed by any State.
Speeches were made by Gen. Wetmore, Rev. II. W. Bcechcr, Parkc Godwin, and oth
ers. At three and a half, a beautiful flag was presented to the regiment by Rev. Dr. Joseph
P. Thompson. The regiment was escorted to the boat, at the foot of Canal Street, by the
Sons of Connecticut, with Dodsworth's Band. In the evening, a brilliant reception was
tendered to Gov. Buckingham at the Fifth-avenue Hotel. A distinguished company of
men and a goodly array of beautiful women graced the occasion.
The death of Col. Russell and Lieut. Stillman at Roanoke Island, so soon after the
public reception of the Tenth by them, called forth resolutions of sympathy and patriotic
eulogy.
The remains of thesa gallant officers were taken in charge by a committee of the Sons
of Connecticut, of which John H. Almy was chairman, and reverently cared for, and escort
ed to New Haven. Thenceforward, but with less formality, no less care was taken of the
remains of our Connecticut martyrs.
As the struggle deepened, the faith and the zeal of the Sons of Connecticut wavered not.
Their efforts, both as citizens of New York and as sons of Connecticut, became matters
of calm daily duty. They did what they could of whatever they deemed to be necessary
to win the great conflict. The officers of the association were faithful and efficient from
first to last. We have already spoken of Mr. McCurdy and Gen. Wetmore.
The secretary, Mr. Charles Gould, was a native of Litchfield, and a son of the eminent
Judge Gould of that town. By his earnest and resolute spirit, his administrative ability, and
his wide acquaintance, he added vigor and directness to the efforts of the society. He was
equally constant, faithful, and efficient in all that he did to aid in upholding the nation's
cause.
Mr. William C. Oilman, the treasurer of Norwich, was greatly respected for his integ
rity, his usefulness, and his public spirit. His agreeable manners, his intelligent and
faithful performance of his duties, won the warm regards of his associates in the organ
ization. He died on the 6th of June, 1864, deeply regretted in business-circles and society
by those who were so fortunate as to enjoy his acquaintance.
The active exertions of the officers and Standing Committee were gradually superseded
by the untiring and judicious labors of the State Agent; and, before the close of the war, ,
the principal function of the society was to supply means to execute what was wisely
planned by him.
836 APPENDIX.
THE CONNECTICUT AGENCY IN NEW YORK.
The closing paragraph of the preceding section serves to introduce the co-ordinate and
beneficent work done in New York by Col. John II. Almy, a native of Thompson.
. Col. Almy, in October, 1861, with the unanimous approval of the Sons of Connecticut,
then just organized, was authorized by Gov. Buckingham to act as agent to transact any
business of the State, and to serve the State and its soldiers in any practicable way. He
served up to June, 1862, entirely without compensation, even for the most part paying
his own expenses, although the business had for months absorbed nearly his Avhole time.
From June to November, he received a small salary and his expenses. In November, de
ciding Jo devote his whole time to the work, he was regularly commissioned as assistant
quarter-master of the State, with the rank and pay of lieutenant-colonel of cavalry.
He was of great service to our inexperienced officers in aiding them to supply and for
ward their regiments.
The receptions given to the Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh Regiments, have been de
scribed in the preceding section.
The services of Col. Almy went to much more minute and practical details. The care
of the Thirteenth Regiment, bound to New Orleans, will serve to illustrate his work. He
visited the ship chartered for their transportation, and learned that the terms of contract
did not require the owners to furnish any conveniences for the men. While on one of these
tours of inspection, previous to the arrival of the regiment in New York, he noticed several
drav-loads of oil-casks were being delivered to the ship, and, inquiring, ascertained they were
to be employed in conveying water for the use of the regiment. The contractor was
sought ; and, intimidated by the fear of exposure of the villainous deed, other casks werp
procured, according to the terms of contract. He found the ship entirely destitute of the
needful requirements for a voyage to Ship Island, and provided such as were essential
to the comfort and health of the men. He also secured the shipment of heavy ordnance
and ammunition, that the regiment might successfully resist the numerous privateers then
depredating in Southern waters. The contract for towing the ship out of the harbor
beyond Sandy Hook was given to a tug for two hundred dollars. The owner sub-let it
for one hundred and fifty ; the second sub-let it for one hundred ; and the third again for
forty.
The captain of the tug took the ship as far as Sandy Hook, but not over the bar, and
left her there ; declaring that he had done forty dollars' worth. After remaining there
with adverse winds for two days, Col. Almy was apprised of the situation, procured
another tug, and got the vessel out to sea. Vouchers for all his -expenditures were made
out in official form, which the General Government subsequently paid.
In like manner, according to the varying circumstances of the regiments, he accelerated
the departure and ministered to the comfort of each. Familiar with the docks and mar
kets, acquainted with the ship;owners, and soon on good terms with the United-States
officials, he could meet almost any want promptly.
A collation more or less substantial was served to every regiment, going from the State
or returning, which remained for an hour in the city. These dinners were generally ready
Mid served immediately after the regiments arrived. The well-filled soldiers were good-
natured and docile ; and it was seldom that any quarrel or difficulty of any sort occurred.
The funds for these collations were cheerfully contributed by the Sons of Connecticut
in New York : the care and responsibility of providing fbll upon the agent.
When the sick and wounded were brought from Roanoke Island, he aided to send them
all from New York to their homes in circumstances as comfortable as possible; advan
cing the amount of their transportation from his private funds, but afterwards re-imbursed by
the General Government, lie then made personal application to Secretary Stanton, and
obtained for each of the sick and wounded two months' pay.
Through April, May, and June of 1862, he was busy night and day in receiving and
caring for the sick and wounded of all States, as they arrived from the deadly Peninsula
and from other points. Nine hundred and eight men sick with typhoid-fever, some in a
horrible condition, came sweltering in on one crowded steamer. Hundreds of men, with
wounds slight and wounds ghastly, arrived by every steamer for a time. The worst
cases of fever and wounds were provided for in New- York and the adjacent hospitals.
SONS OF CONNECTICUT IN NEW YORK. 837
But there was then no well-organized hospital-system ; and every man able to endure
travel was foovarded to his home as speedily and as well provided for as possible.
The name, regiment, and destination of every soldier he aided, and his papers, show,
that, in those three months, he furnished transportation for more than twenty thousand
persons, and for many of them much more than transportation.
Col. Almy was 'offered the New- York agency of several States, but accepted that of
Rhode Island only, being adjacent to Connecticut; and declined the others.
His watchful care of the wounded and sick continued. The minute and thorough
manner in which his work was done is illustrated by the case of William Ingraham of the
Twelfth Connecticut Volunteers. Ingraham arrived by steamer from New Orleans at the
point of death with a chronic disorder. His absorbing desire was to get home to die.
Almy sent him on the first train to Mystic, Conn., where he left the cars. He sent a sol
dier attendant with him, and paid his fare. The sick man had ninety-six dollars in cash
with him. Almy informed the conductor of all the facts, and the destination of the soldier.
He telegraphed to trusty patriots in Mystic the time when the man would arrive, and the
money he had with him. Thus every precaution was taken to see that both the soldier
and his earnings were safely transported and promptly and properly cared for.
His disbursements in case of needy, sick, and wounded, were large ; and, though
not regarded as legitimate State expenditures, were necessary for the comfort of the men.
These outlays far exceeded his salary ; but he was often helped out by generous con
tributions, never solicited, but given by the friends of some whom he had assisted. Such
were checks for two hundred dollars from the citizens of Ansotiia by Charles Durand, a
hundred and fifty dollars from Joseph Ripley and son, and others.
After large military hospitals were established in all parts of the country, Almy was
constantly alert to secure the transfer of Connecticut soldiers from hospitals about New
York to the Knight Hospital in New Haven.
The sick and wounded men whom he had aided did not forget him. Thev applied to
him for furlough and bounty, and appealed to him in every sort of difficulty.
The daily general business of the agency was wonderful in extent and variety. The
collection of bark-pay, bounties; correcting errors in passes and descriptive-lists; obtain
ing of furloughs ; the reception of boxes of sanitary goods, and dispatching the same to
their several destinations ; care of baggage ; procuration of regimental flags, guidons, to
gether with musical instruments for various bands and small-arms for officers, and even
clothing for individual soldiers, and discharges for sick and disabled soldiers; permits for
citizens to visit the front ; responses to scores of letters inquiring for missing and dead
soldiers, — were among,his constantly-recurring duties.
The Thanksgiving dinner to the nine-months' troops at Centreville, L.I., in 1863, was
a very successful affair, in consequence of his promptness and efficiency. The Sons of Con
necticut contributed on the occasion nearly eleven hundred 'dollars, besides delicacies for
the table. Almy telegraphed and wrote to Connecticut for turkeys and pumpkin-pies. It
is amusing to read the following telegram to a grave and dignified public man * " Hon.
Benjamin Douglas, can Middletown send down five hundred pumpkin-pies on Wednesday
night ? " t
The pics came, turkeys and "fixin's" with them; and so from many other towns.
More than fifteen hundred turkeys and three thousand pies were distributed, besides barrels
of apples, cakes, and large quantities of other toothsome edibles.
In these absorbing duties, months passed swiftly by. At the end of four years, his
records showed that more than two hundred thousand soldiers of Connecticut and other
States, sixty thousand of them sick or wounded, had passed through his hands; all
receiving transportation, many being otherwise assisted.
He had answered thousands of letters on every conceivable subject pertaining to mili
tary life or service. The copies of the more important ones fill six large volumes.
The average number of daily calls at his office in 18G3, 1864, and the first half of 1865,
for information and aid, was upwards of a hundred and seventy-five ; the average number
of letters for similar purposes, forty-five; the average of telegrams on important matters,
twenty.
The plan of furnishing a bountiful collation to our regiments passing through the
city was carried out during the entire war, both in going and returning. The delicacies
838 APPENDIX.
of the season were often supplied them; thus giving the weary soldier on his return
agreeable token of gratitude for their services, and pleasant foretastes of thg comforts of
home.
No characterization of the energy and efficiency of the New- York Agency need be add
ed ; for no eulogy is so eloquent as facts.
THE AGENCY IN WASHINGTON.
Early in the war, the citizens of Connecticut in Washington organized a Soldiers'-
akl Society, — a sort of central reservoir to receive and disburse supplies to the soldiers
from the State in the vicinity. Admiral A. II. Foote was its first president ; A. II. Bying-
ton and Charles E. Dailcy were among the most active members. An immense amount
of relief was furnished to Connecticut soldiers who languished in the various hospitals.
During the last year, the Agency was directed by Rev. W. A. Benedict, a zealous friend
of the soldier. The Palladium said of him, " Under his administration, hundreds and
thousands can bear witness to its value in relieving those needing its service ; and not a
few owe their lives to the protecting and ministering spirit of this wise provision of State
benevolence." Towards the close of the Rebellion, Mr. Benedict undertook the gratui
tous collection of soldiers' claims under State authority. During the first year, three
hundred and thirteen claims were collected, involving upwards of fifty thousand dollars,
and without a cent to the claimant ; saving to the soldiers interested, at least seven
thousand dollars, which they would have paid to the professional claim-agents.
GEN. AIKEN'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
BRIG. -GEN. WILLIAM A. AIKEX, quartermaster-general of Connecticut,
had a most unusual experience in the spring of 1861, in performing the jour
ney to Washington and back. He left Boston, Mass., for Norwich, on the
same day that the Massachusetts 6th left for the national capital. Every
town and city was excited by the warlike attitude of the South. The tele
graph was thrilled with strange rumors. On Friday evening, April 19,
news reached Norwich of the bloodshed in the streets of Baltimore. Gov.
Buckingham desired Gen. Aikeu to test the possibility of reaching Wash
ington with official dispatches conveying assurances of speedy relief.
He started early on Monday the 22d, while the young men of the State
were rising in arms. All trains beyond Philadelphia were suspended.
On arriving there, Gen. Aiken found another gentleman at the Continental
Hotel with the same journey in view ; and in the morning they pushed on
together with a Pennsylvania regiment. At the Susquehanna, the regiment
halted ; Butler having taken the ferry-boats, with the New-York 7th, around
to Annapolis. The air was full of stories of bridges burned and rails re
moved farther on. The general and his companion obtained an old flat-
boat, and crossed to Havre de Grace, where rebel spies were plenty, and
traitors were brawling about their anxiety to meet the " d d Yankees."
Here, after much effdrt, the travelers hired a man to carry them in a
wagon to Baltimore, persuading him by an extra pecuniary request to drive
within the limits of the city. Gen. Aiken, in a narrative which has been
furnished us, says, " The brilliantly illuminated streets were alive with
people ; some in uniform, and generally wearing the rebel badge upon their
coats. On arriving at a hotel, we retired almost immediately to onr room,
and there remained till morning. AYhat I saw and heard in the crowded
halls convinced me that no avowed Union man could be safe there for a
moment.
" Through the politeness of the proprietor, we were enabled to obtain
passes (signed by Gen. Winder, and countersigned by Marshal Kane, both
bitter rebels) permitting us to pass out of the city limits. By paying fifty
dollars, we engaged a carriage to convey us to Washington ; our number
having been increased by three. We might not have been so fortunate
about the passes, had it not been that the proprietor was a personal friend
of my companion, and also a sympathizer with the distinguished officials
wielding temporary power."
The travelers stopped to bait horses half-way between Baltimore and
Washington ; and this furnished an opportunity to a knot of low-bred
traitors to insult and abuse them, and obliquely to threaten their lives.
Gen. A&en proceeds, " The rumor having just been received that Butler
had landed his 'Yankees ' at Annapolis, that officer was made the subject
of various invitations to ' come on,' with the hint, expressed in gentle
Southern phrase, that he and his ' Yankees' would be summarily sent to a
certain hot locality, the name of which they seemed to reiterate with the
relish of a delicious foretaste.
uWe arrived at Washington at ten, P.M., on Wednesday the 24th.
839
840 APPENDIX.
The unbroken silence of its hotels, and apparent desolation of its streets,
brought vividly to mind the contrasting scenes of the evening previous.
Half a dozen persons crowded around me in the hall to ask questions about
the North ; and I then 'realized the complete isolation of the city. I has
tened to the headquarters of Gen. Scott to deliver a dispatch. It was
eleven o'clock at night. I found the general attended only by two mem
bers of his personal staff.
" After reading the governor's paper, he rose, and said excitedly, ' Sir,
you are the first man I have seen with a written dispatch for three days.
I have sent out men every day to get intelligence of the Northern troops :
not one of them has returned. Where are the troops?' His excited man
ner, and the number and rapidity of the questions that followed, impressed
ine fully with the critical nature of the situation.
" I afterwards went to the house of Mr. Cameron, secretary of war,
who at once admitted me into an audience in his bed-chamber. His inqui
ries were of the same nature, and conveyed a sense of great insecurity.
The situation was indeed alarming. The District was surrounded by
hostile territory ; the spirit of rebellion being, during these few days, as
rampant in Maryland as*in Virginia or South Carolina. A friend in the
Treasury Department advised very strongly against my return by the same
route, as my arrival was already marked, and the general nature of my
business suspected, by the rebel spies that lurked in every street, hotel, and
department.
" At ten o'clock next morning, I called upon the President, and saw him
for the first time in my life, — an interview I can never forget. No office-
seekers were besieging the presence that day. I met no delay. Mr. Lin-
'colu was alone, seated in his business-room, up stairs, looking towards
Arlington Heights through a wide-open window. Against the casement
stood a very long spy-glass, or telescope, which he had obviously just been
using. I gave him all the information I could from what I had seen and
heard on my journey.
u He seemed depressed beyond measure as he asked slowly and with
measured emphasis, ' What is the North about ? Do they know our con
dition?' — 'No,' I answered: ' they certainly did not when I left;' He
spoke of the non-arrival of the troops under Gen. Butler, and of having
had no intelligence from them for two or three days. Having delivered
my dispatch and the governor's words of encouragement, and having en
joyed an interview protracted, by desire of the President, beyond ordinary
length, I took my leave.
'k The sense of the insecurity of the capital, and of that good man's life,
has never again come over my spirit with such weight as then. ' From the
President's words and looks, I saw what a moment of golden opportunity
that was to the conspirators. Only a handful of regulars, a regiment of
volunteers, and Clay's baud of brave men, — these were all the loyal forces
at hand. Foes were without, and their descent from Arlington over Long
Bridge was the probability of any momeat. Foes were within, equally
bitter, jostling the friends of the government on every pavement»and in
every office. Mutual confidence seemed dead, and suspicion had usurped
its place.
" I have referred to the entire separation of the city from the North.
In no one of many ways was it brought home more practically to my mind
than in this : The funds in my possession were in New- York city bank-notes,
'yet their value had suddenly departed. They were worth their weight in
GEN. AIKEN'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON. 841
paper, — no more. During the interview with the President, my financial
dilemma was referred to : I remarked that I hadn't a cent, though my
pocket was full. He instantly understood me, and kindly put me in pos
session of such an amount of specie as I desired. Re-imbursemeut was
made on my return, with many thanks.
" Proceeding to the State Department, I was informed that the expected
troops were heard from, and would soon be in the city. A white flag on
the Capitol would be the signal of their arrival. A few minutes afterwards,
it was run up ; and such a stampede of humanity, loyal and rebel, as was
witnessed at that hour towards the Baltimore depot, can be appreciated
only by one, who, like myself, took part in it. One glance at the gray
jackets of the New-York 7th restored hope and confidence. On Thursday
the 25th, I started northward with a small party thither bound. We trav
eled on an unfrequented route, and crossed the Pennsylvania line, south-east
of Gettysburg, once more in the region of telegraphs, railroads, and loyalty.
Only on the Capitol, at Washington, had I seen the stars and stripes since
entering Maryland.
" The successful accomplishment of my journey was to me a matter of
more than ordinary satisfaction ; for I believe there has been no hour since,
when messages of. sympathy, encouragement, and aid from the loyal gov
ernor of a loyal State were more truly needed, or more effective in the mind
of our late President, than those I had the honor to deliver."
106
CONNECTICUT IN THE NAVY.
HON. ISAAC TOUCEY of Hartford was Secretary of the Navy during the Presidential term of
James Buchanan. On the 9th of January, 1861, a committee of the'House of Representatives
was raised to examine into the location and condition of the vessels of the navy. All the rep
resentatives from Connecticut voted for the committee.*
On the 21st of February. Mr. Dawes of Massachusetts, for a majority of the committee,
reported that the entire naval force available for the defense of the whole Atlantic coast, on
the 9th of January, consisted of the steamer Brooklyn, twenty-five guns, and the storeship Relief,
two guns, while the former was of too great draught to enter Charleston Harbor with safety, except
at spring-tides, and the latter was under orders to the coast of Africa ; that the vessels which
might have been available for protection or defense had been retained at or ordered to distant
stations ; that on the 13th of October, " after these unhappy difficulties had broken out at
home," the Richmond sailed for the Mediterranean, and, even as late as the 21st of December,
the Vandalia left to join the East-India squadron, the Saratoga to join the African squadron, and
others to join the Home squadron at Vera Cruz ; that not one of the twenty-eight vessels dis
mantled in our own ports had been refitted, and this, too, " while §640,039.74 of the appropriation
for repairs for the present year remained unexpended."
The committee declared that the Secretary could at any time, with the existing naval force,
and without impairing the efficiency of the foreign service, have stationed at anchor, within
reach of his own orders, a force equal to the protection of all the property and all the rights of
the government and the citizen, as well as the flag of the country, from any outrage or insult at
any point on the entire Atlantic seaboard. The committee said, " The failure to do this is
without justification or excuse."
Concerning resignations in the navy, they further said, that, since the election, twenty-nine
resignations had been tendered to the Secretary by officers of the Southern States, and " forth
with, and without inquiry, accepted by him; " that E. Farrand, executive officer of the Navy
Yard at Pensacola, met the rebel assailants at the gates of the yard, by previous understanding,
admitted them, " participated in the formal capitulation, and immediately engaged in service
under the new commandant of the yard" (and this while he still held his commission as a
commander in the United-States navy); that his resignation did not reach the Department until
the 21st of January, seven days after official notice of the surrender had been received at the De
partment, and yet it was " immediately and without inquiry accepted." After citing similar
cases, the committee proceed to say, " The conduct of these officers plainly comes within the
constitutional definition of treason against the United States ; . . . and, so long as their resignations
were unaccepted by the Secretary, they could be tried and punished by a court-martial as
traitors. From this they have been relieved by the Secretary himself. The committee are
compelled to condemn such a failure in the discharge of public duty; and they therefore
recommend the adoption of the following resolution: —
"Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy, in accepting without delay or inquiry the resignations
of officers of the navy who were in arms against the government when tendering the same, and
of those who sought to resign that they might be relieved from the restraint imposed by their
commissions upon engaging in hostilities against the constituted authorities of the nation, has
committed a Jrave error, highly prejudicial to the discipline of the service, and injurious to the
honor and efficiency of the navy; for which lie deserves the censure of this House."
Mr. Toucey was further called upon to bear the infliction of a minority report from Mr.
Branch of North Carolina. This congressman, soon an avowed rebel, sneeringly informed the
House, that " the navy seems to have been adequate for all the demands made upon it by the
wise and peace-preserving policy of President Buchanan. If the President who goes into office
on the 4th of March desires to engage in civil war, he will have an ample naval force with
which to begin even so early as the 5th of March ; and there will probably be abundant time
for increasing it before the war closes."
Mr. Branch displayed so much more anxiety to aid treason than to defend the Secretary, that
his report served only to confirm the conclusions of the Majority Report. On the second day of
March, the resolution of censure was passed by ninety-five yeas to sixty-two nays.1 Of the
Connecticut members, Mr. Woodruff voted yea, Messrs. Loomis and Burnham were absent, or did
not vote. Mr. Ferry, rising, said, " Mr. Speaker, believing a vote of censure to be a judicial in-
1 This was a party-vote, — Isaac N. Morris, Democrat, voting in the affirmative ; and Ferry and
Kilgore, republican, in the negative.
842
CONNECTICUT IN THE NAVY. 843
flietion of punishment, and none of the evidence on which the resolution is based having ever
been presented or even read in this House, so that no proof is afforded me to justify such
punishment, I vote no."
Looking back calmly from this distance upon all the facts of the case, it is no more evident
that Mr. Branch's report was made from the standpoint of the maturing Rebellion than that
there were some grave errors of fact, and some of inference, in the report of the majority.
Documents presented in justification of the Secretary show that the active home squadron,
which consisted of three vessels only in 1857, instead of having been reduced to two, had really
been increased to thirteen steam and sail vessels of one hundred and eighty-six guns ; and though,
according to the majority report, but two were in Northern ports on the 9th of January, all were on
our coast by the 1st of March, 1861. Besides these, there were in our navy-yards thirteen brigs,
sloops of war, and steam frigates, with an armament of three hundred and sixty-eight guns more
" that could put to sea before the bombardment of Fort Suniter." There is also evidence that
the East-India, Brazil, and Mediterranean squadrons, instead of being largely increased, had been
materially reduced. In every annual report during his term, Mr. Toucey had earnestly urged
the construction of twenty light-draught war-steamers, " capable of entering the shallow harbors
of the Southern States; " but Congress had failed to act upon his recommendation. It further
appears that the naval appropriation for the year 1860-61 had been reduced $1,000,000; that,
of $1,523,000, only $646,639 remained on the 1st of January to meet the expenditures of the
last half of the fiscal year, a part of which belonged to the succeeding administration ; that
not a ship had been sent to a foreign station since the Presidential election,2 while some had
been quietly recalled.
In regard to resignations: while it is alleged that none were accepted after official notice had
been received that the officers tendering them had committed the overt act of treason, it is not
denied that the Department willingly accepted the resignations of naval officers-who were known
or believed to offer them for the very purpose of " going with their States " out of the Union.
Mr. Toucey not only acknowledged this; but he has pointed with some pride to the fact that
" such had been the course of the Department in promptly removing all seeds of disaffection,
that the secession of eleven States from the Union lost not a single vessel to the service."3
In thus following the ordinary usage of the Department, Mr. Toucey was interpreting the
policy of Mr. Buchanan to do nothing that could " exasperate " the South. They agreed that
the North was the aggressor, and that it ought, therefore, to make the concessions. It does
not appear that Mr. Toucey conspired with traitors, or in any way actively aided the Rebellion;
but, whatever of censure the administration of President Buchanan incurs for inertness, Mr.
Toucey, managing the navy only with a view to peace, must share.
If Mr. Toucey did not show an intuitive perception of the national peril, he was succeeded
by a man who saw it, and resolved to meet it. When Mr. Lincoln became President, in 1861,
he gave the navy portfolio to Hon. Gideon Welles, also of Hartford.4 Mr. Welles was called
upon to accomplish a triple task, more arduous, it is believed, than was ever before demanded
of the maritime power of any government. This was, 1st, The closing of all insurgent ports
and the capture of blockade-runners along nearly three thousand miles of coast ; 2d, The or
ganization of combined naval and military expeditions to recapture the Southern ports and
cities ; 3d, The pursuit and destruction of Confederate cruisers.
The first work was the creation of a navy. In March, 1861, the total naval force of the
United States, including tenders and store-ships, was forty-two vessels, carrying five hundred
and fifty-five guns, and having a complement of seven thousand six hundred men. The emer
gency demanded an enormous increase without unnecessary delay. Many of the most formi
dable vessels on foreign stations were immediately recalled ; those at the navy-yards were repaired
and refitted; gunboats of a new and powerful class were ordered to be built ; and merchant-
vessels suitable for naval purposes were purchased. The public navy-yards and private
ship-yards of me country were soon echoing with the sound of hammer and saw; and the best
talent and genius were brought into prompt requisition. So rapidly was the great work
pushed, that by December, 1861 (in less than nine months), Secretary Welles reported, that
more than two hundred vessels were in commission, and sixty-four were on the stocks, carrying
an aggregate of 2,557 guns. Not less than twenty-two thousand seamen were employed.
s Excepting the two named in the Dawes report, ordered abroad as substitutes for vessels of
the same class'on the way home.
'•> Mr. Toucey to Hon. John Sherman of Ohio, 1806.
« It is a notable fact that Mallory of Florida, chief of the Confederate navy, was a native of
KidgeliPld in this State. This is not, perhaps, a circumstance to be proclaimed with great pride
especially as Pollard, in his Southern History, says he " was the butt of every naval officer in the
country for his ignorance."
844
APPENDIX.
The report of the Secretary for December, 1864, — four months prior to the close of
hostilities, — gives the following general exhibit of the naval force including vessels under
construction : —
No. of
vessels.
DESCRIPTION.
No. of
guns.
No. of
tons.
113
52
71
Screw-steamers especially constructed for naval purposes . . .
Paddle-wheel steamers especially constructed for naval purposes
Iron clad vessels
1,426
524
275
169,231
51,875
80 596
149
Screw-steamers purchased, captured, &c., fitted for naval purposes
614
60,380
174
112
Paddle-wheel steamers " " " " " " "
921
850
78,762
69 549
671
Total .
4,610
516,396
There were seven thousand six hundred men in the naval service at the beginning of the
war, and fifty-one thousand five hundred at its close.
Secretary Welles was called " too slow " by all the impetuous warriors who saw, or thought
they saw, how they could harness lightning to the war-chariots; and in that respect he was no
more fortunate than President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, or Gen. Grant. Yet there was in
the Administration hardly an officer who understood better how to " make haste slowly." He
was almost the first man who had confidence in the iron-clads; and at the opening of the ses
sion of Congress in December, 1861,- he recommended an appropriation of twelve million
dollars for their construction. He also ordered the tremendous 15-inch guns which were found
so formidable on the monitors.
The achievements of the navy in capturing forts and cities are well known. The total
number of hostile vessels captured and destroyed 5 during the Rebellion were 1,504, or two and
a half for every Union vessel in commission! Of the captured there were steamers, 210;
schooners, 569; sloops, 139; ships, 13; brigs, 29; barks, 25; yachts, &c., 139; rebel rams, 6;
other iron-clads, 10. The rest were burned, sunk, and otherwise destroyed. The captured
property sold for more than $25,000,000.
Connecticut has always been more fully represented in the navy than any other State of
her population; owing, perhaps, to the comparative extent of her seaboard. The number
of her citizens who served in the navy during the Rebellion is not known with accuracy;
but it may be approximately estimated on the basis of the fact that more than three hundred
held commissions. Among these, besides Rear-Admiral Foote, were Rear- Admiral Francis
H. Gregory, who had seen fifty years of service; Com. John Rodgers, forty years of service;
Com. R. B. Hitchcock, forty years; Com. J. B. HuU, fifty-one years; Com. Joseph Lanman,
forty years; Com. C. R. P. Rodgers, thirty-one years; Capt. Stephen Champlin, fifty-two
years; Capt. James Glynn, forty-nine years ; Capt. D. S. Edwards, forty-six years; Capt.
Charles Green, thirty-eight years; Capt. Klisha Peck, forty-seven years. The rank of rear-
admiral is equivalent to that of major-general, that of commodore to that of brigadier-general,
that of captain in the navy to that of colonel.
The Rodgers family of New London has been most remarkable for its naval record. The
paternal grandfather was Col. Rodgers, who commanded the famous Maryland line during the
Revolution, and was frequently mentioned, in Washington's dispatches, for gallantry. His
eldest son was Com. John Rodgers, who fired the first gu-i in the War of 1812, and was
long the senior officer of our infant navy. Another son was Com. George W. Rodgers,
who, for special gallantry during the War of 1812, received a sword of honor from his native
State, and a medal and vote of thanks from Congress. Com. John Rodgers had two
sons; one of whom, John Rodgers, also became commodore, and led the attack on Port Royal
and Fort Sumter during the Rebellion ; and another, Col. Robert Rodgers, served through the
late war, and was twice wounded at the head of the 3d Maryland Infantry^ Two other
grandsons of Com. John Rodgers were Capt. Raymond Rodgers, who was* fleet-captain
during Duponfs attack on Charleston, and Capt. George W. Rodgers, who was killed while
commanding the monitor Catskill in the attack on Fort Wagner. In the family are also
Lieut-Commanding Frederick Rodgers, Master's Mate Joseph Rodgers, and Midshipman R.
P. Rodgers; and Lieut. Alexander P. Rodgers, who fell in the forlorn hope at the storming of
Chapultepec, was a nephew of Col. Robert Rodgars. One of the three illustrious Com.
Perrys married into the family; and there is probably not another name in America that will
compare with that of Perry or Rodgers for the fame won on land and sea in defense of t*ho
Republic.
5 In the renowned fight of the Kearsarge with the Alabama, our State was represented by
Eben M. Stoddard of Ledyard, who was acting master of the Kearsarge at the time of the battle.
TOWN EXPENSES FOR WAR-PURPOSES.
The following table gives the expenditures of the various towns in
Connecticut for volunteers, substitutes, and the support of families. It
includes no voluntary contribution for the relief of the soldiers in field
and hospital : —
NEW-HAVEN COUNTY.
TOWNS.
Expenditure of
Towns for Houn-
ties, Premiums,
Commutation,
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Bounties
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Commu
Grand List,
1804.
and Support of
Families.
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
tation.
New Haven .
8308,027.48
$20,000.00
$10,000
$29,681,409
Branford .
27,180.78
14,300.00
none.
1,075,441
Bethany
5,000.00
1,800.00
626,252
Cheshire .
8,275.00
5,000.00
2,100
1,228,439
Derby ....
37,955.00
27,300.00
4,500
3,027,655
East Haven .
24.319.27
4,500.00
1,514,488
Guilford . . ..
12,591.00
8,250.00
900
1,511,199
Hamden
29,098.00
9,543.00
1,409,091
Madison .
16,800.00
11,200.00
600
836,496
Meriden
91,371.33
10,715.53
4,300,981
Middlebury** . .
5,020.00
1,975.00
1,200
365,123
Milford . . .
46,699.09
5.028.00
1,001,448
Naugatuck . .
42,382.50
1,100.00
5,210
1,130,904
North Branford .
15,402.50
4,800.00
1,800
533,867
North Haven .
10,401.34
3,956.50
2,100
695,477
Orange ....
12,536.05
15,003.00
800
994,122
Oxford. . . .
15.250.00
2,975.00
626,107
Prospect .
3,753.47
1,450.00
210,400
Seymour .
17,800.00
3,150.00
3,000
826,748
Southbury .
20,050.06
*
860,709
Wallingford . .
40,752.00
6,200.00
300
1,796,416
Waterbury
133,525.00
17,500.00
600
6,257,000
Woodbridge .
8,700.00
3,545.02
602,803
Wolcott . . .
*
2,175.00
296,691
932,892.87
181,466.03
33,110
61,410,083
HARTFORD COUNTY.
Hartford .
$269,646.86
$35,403,478
Avon ....
15,094.17
$1,975.00
$1,800
546,454
Berlin ....
35,880.66
4,825.00
none.
1,078,882
Bloomfield
39,235.00,
> 1,000.00
833,529
Bristol ....
55,534.99
13,551.98
2,100
1,765,942
Burlington
20,250.00
2,000.00
3,600
456,487
Canton ....
36,644.63
4,700.00
3,500
1,224,792
East Granby .
13,295.00
1,800.00
1,170
495,888
East Hartford
58,209.46
24,800.00
550
1,464,822
* Not ascertained.
845
846
APPENDIX.
HARTFORD COUNTY. — Continued.
TOWNS.
Expenditure of
Towns for Boun
ties, Premiums,
Commutation,
and Support of
Families.
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Bounties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Commu
tation.
Grand List,
186i.
East Windsor
$45,730.04 $3,000.00
$1,214,300
Enfield. . . .
66,314.00j 4,450.00
2,669,099
Farmington .
89,975.98
9,000.00
$6,000
2,162,570
Glastenbury .
45,947.00
5,950.00
1,422,656
Granby . . v
16,700.00
3,316.00
2,000
609,726
Ilartlaud .
12,492.25
1,300.00
2,100
356,847
Manchester
47,212.70
8,000.00
' 1,632,047
Marlborough .
6,674.00
350.00
305,482
New Britain .
45,628.45
35,000.00
14,400
2,608,418
Rocky Hill . .
20,605.00
130.00
7,000
471,038
Simsbury .
14,575.00
2,500.00
3,600
1.257,503
Southington .
35,695.00
12,250.00
1,564,150
South Windsor .
25,800.00
10,000.00
1,211,873
Suffield . . .
74,224.02
*
1,720,255
West Hartford .
36,981.50
*
1,388,857
Wethersfield .
38,975.50
5,401.00
1,200
1,726,711
Windsor .
3.4,700.00
5,225.00
1.421,333
Windsor Locks .
15,944.98
2,630.00
612,990
1,217,966.19
163,153.98
49,020
67,626,129
TOLLAND COUNTY.
i
Tolland . . .
$16,800.00
$4,400.00
$1,600
$527,969
An clover .
5,887.00
•780.00
279,758
Bolton ....
5,132.00
210.00
300,088
Coventry .
35,834.93'
1,200.00
1,500
912,872
Columbia .
9,961.00
1,100.00
352,161
Ellington .
29,579.00
2,250.00
300
813.499
Hebron
10,200.00
500.00
nothing.
638,197
Mansfield .
26,273.27
5,000.00
3,000
800,635
Somers
19,218.19
1,950.00
795,197
Stafford . . .
50,540.67
6,000.00
1,308,280
Union ....
8,467.00
*
308,008
Vernon.
46,958.22 15,000.00
2.050,246
Willington
7,875.00 3,700.00
2,700
419,664
272,926.28 42,090.00
9,100
9,506,574
NEW-LONDON COUNTY.
New London .
$46,000.00
$18,500.00
• $12,000
$5,448,112
Norwich .
163,170.68
19,600.00
5,700
10,494,035
Bozrah ....
11,678.12
1,000.00
1,200
526,421
Colchester ...
33,902.93
6,900.00
300
1,545,622
East Lyme
35,000.00
3,000.00
2,600
487,873
* Not ascertained.
TOWN EXPENSES FOE WAK-PUEPOSES.
847
NEW-LONDON COUNTY. — Continued.
TOWNS.
Expenditure of
Towns for Boun
ties, Premiums,
Commutation,
and Support of
Families.
Estimated Ain't
paid by Individ
uals for Bounties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Commu
tation.
Grand List,
• -.804.
Franklin .
69,755.00
$900.00
$000
8468,488
Griswold .
33,254.89
3,000.00
900
1,147,000
Groton ....
79,4B6.89
22.000.00
2,549,060
Lebanon .
24,600.00
14,300.00
600
1,140,573
Ledyard
20,711.48
8,325.00
1,800
003,111
Lisbon ....
12,521.00
000.00
317,173
Lyme ....
28,017.17
5,090.00
407,599
Montville . .' .
27,308.14
2,030.00
3,000
1,131,370
North Stonington
27,980.10
5,250.00
4,200
888,000
Old Lyme .
10,913.30
10,325.00
545,258
Preston
40,805.27
9,283.12
900
856,342
Salem ....
15,000.00
000.00
1,200
374.810
Sprague
10,411.05
*
1,156^290
Stoniugton
61,050.00
60,000.00
900
4,963,589
Waterfowl .
31,285.00
1,250.00
932,810
730,067.05
192,553.12
35,900
35,990,142
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Middletown .
$110,777.87
$85,250.00
$9,300 $5,148,779
Haddam .
14,715.00
7,800.00
3,150
868,416
Chatham .
28,000.00
3.516.73
890,387
Chester
10,070.00
800.00
600
374,783
Clinton . ...
3,725.00
4,400.00
2,400
615,537
Cromwell .
20,110.00
2,000.00
568,352
Durham .
13,090.00
3.790.00
850
492,351
East Haddam
41,537.84
10,700.00
1,259,306
Essex ....
8,550.00
8,900.00
3,300
945,709
Killingworth .
7,550.00
14,105.00
346,277
Old Saybrook
2,500.00
4,075.00
3,900
607,990
Portland .
21,980.00
12.930.00
1,811,564
Saybrook .
8,670.00
4,500.00
2,100
548,410
Westbrook
7,910.00
300.00
1,900
557,267
305,785.71
163,066.73
27,500
15,035,188
WINDHAM COUNTY.
Brooklyn .
$18,329.57
$5,100.00
$4,200
$1,037,923
Ash ford
10,859.00
4,502.00
600
509,990
Canterbury
7,831.00
1,635.00
697,571
Chaplin
6,873:75
1,075.00
1,260
300,560
Eastford . . .
7,831.80
*
309,806
Hampton . .
6,179.85
3,092.00
900
429,223
Killingly .
24,050.00
*
1,677,761
* Not ascertained.
848
APPENDIX.
WINDHAM COUNTY. - Continued.
TExpendltB«of|E.t,1n.tedA«'t
Estimated Am't
TOWNS.
ties, Premiums, JSs forli Vt ~
paid by Individ
Grand List,
Commutation, t *r i /
uals for Cornmu-. 1804.
indFamE°f andSutetUu'es.
tation.
Plainfield . . .
$22,282.85 $12,200.00
$7,200
$1,630,024
Pomfret
23,559.00 6,000.00
3,900
1,037,774
Putnam
19,952.97 4,450.00
4,500
1,172,619
Scotland . . .
6,400.00 1,850.00
300
392,175
Sterling
15,180.00 246.00
375,295
Thompson .
16.996.00 16,000.00
2,500
1,679,754
Voluntown
10,860.00 4,500.00
1,200
295,958
Windham .
30,750.00 12,600.00
5,000 2,164,083
Woodstock
53,814.91
2,244.00
900 1,335,753
281,750.70
75,494.00
32,460 15,046,269
FAIRFIELD COUNTY.
Bridgeport
$165,717,08
$12,000.00
$23,000 $7,996,434
Danbury .
134,816.00
19,750.00
none. 4,140,217
Bethel ....
18,839.00
9,150.00
500 671,826
Brookfield .
15,950.00
3,000.00
2,100 691,388
Darien ....
18,'660.86
2,300.00
125 1,176,171
Easton ....
25,254.92
3,000.00
635,643
Fairfield . . .
75,797.40
unknown.
none. 3,424,534
Greenwich
65,531.94
1,215.00
5,400 3.219,783
Huntingtou
#
2,210.00
2,400 728,000
Monroe
15,914.95
900.00
25 646,771
New Canaan .
15,399.71
10,945.00
3,600 1,188.677
New Fairfield
16,910.00
3,625.00
3,300
470,066
Newtown .
44,800.00
18,000.00
12,900
1,863,965
Norwalk . . .
73,967.91
7,971.00
900
4,676,978
Redding
*
3,000.00
1,200,907
Ridgefield .
45,684.63
*
1,224,898
Stamford .
37,486.75
18,750.00
18,000
4,905,256
Sherman .
24,900.00
450.00
427,672
Stratford .
3,600.00
5.524.00
8,400
1,684,417
Trumbull . . .
25,900.00
' 50.00
734,611
Weston
10,000.00
#
513,514
Westport .
41,595.06
1,000.00
1,800
2,406,243
Wilton ....
26,550.58
1,100.00
796,741
903,270.79
123,910.00' 82,450
45,424,762
LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
Litchfield . . .
$31,540.00 $800.00
$1,634.480
Barkhamsted .
26,678.00
9,225.00
$500
541,210
Bethlem
11,697.49
6,750.00
5,350 •
526,000
Bridgewater .
5,100.00
22,650.00
549,705
* Not ascertained.
TOWN EXPENSES FOR WAR-PURPOSES.
849
LITCHFIELD COUNTY. — Continued.
TOWNS.
Expenditure of
Towns for Boun
ties, Premiums,
Commutation,
and Support of
. Families.
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Bounties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Commu
tation.
Grand List,
1804.
Canaan . . .
$14,000.00
§5,400.00
$1,750
$761,342
Colebrook .
*
3,000.00
617,216
Cornwall .
22,522.80
5,231.00
821,246
Goshen
*
f!7,643.00
none.
914,879
Ilarwinton
16,773.52
4,487.82
590,141
Kent ....
20,100.00
3,750.00
643,539
Morris ....
4,137.251 5,500.00
300
407,826
New Hartford
81,590.78} 7,900.00
1,011,917
New Milfbrd . .
57,790.00
8,000.00
500
2,017.306
Norfolk ....
6,315.00
1,700.00
926,931
North Canaan .
35,262.00
*
908,342
Plymouth .
38,517.40
15,300.00
none.
1,835,726
Roxbury .
1,305.00
15,150.09
600
497,248
Salisbury .
42,000.00
5,500.00
3,600
2,066,626
Sharon ....
26,410.88
6,900.00
10,500
1,481,741
Torrington
27,000.00
15,000.00
1,150,256
Warren
6,300.00
6,375.00
357,101
Washington .
19,440.00
1,533.00
1,031,594
Watertown
27,815.97
10,695.00
1,402,481
Winchester
53,849.89
3.791.12
2,161,542
Woodbury
25,065.63
11,718.00
300
. 1,200,795
551,211.6l| 192,998.94
23,400
26,047,310
* Not ascertained.
f In notes to individuals from the town.
SUMMARY.
COUNTIES.
Total War Ex
penses of
Counties.
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Bounties
to Volunteers
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ
uals for Commu
Grand List,
1864.
and Substitutes.
tation.
New-Haven .
S932,892.87i $181,466.03
$33,110
$61,410,083
Hartford .
1,217,966.19 163,153.98
49,020
67,626,129
Tolland . . .
272,926.28 42,090.00
9,100
9,506,574
New-London .
730,067.65 192,553.12
35,900
35,990,142
Middlesex .
305,785.71 163,066.73
27,500
15.035,188
Windham .
281,750.70 75,494.00
32,460
15,046,269
Fail-field .
903,276.79 123,940.00
82,450
45,424,762
Litchfield .
551,211.61
192,998.94
23,400
26,047,310
5,195,877.80 1,134,762.80
292,940
276,086,457
THE GENERALS OF CONNECTICUT.
THE following is a list of natives or citizens of Connecticut, or officers
of Connecticut regiments, who became general officers during the war.1
The town of which the name is appended is cither birthplace or residence.
Where two towns are named, the first indicates the birthplace ; the second,
subsequent residence. Where a brevet is mentioned, the officer held the
full rank next below, except where otherwise mentioned : —
ABBOT, HENRY L.,
BENIIAM, HENRY W.,
BIRGE, HENRY W.,
BRADLEY, LUTHER P.,
BLAKESLEE, ERASTCS,
Col. and Bvt. Major-Gen.
Major-General ;
Bvt. Major-General ;
Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Briadier-General ;
CARRINGTON, HENRY B., Brigadier-General.
CLARK, WM. T.,
Coucii, DARIUS N.,
ELY, WILLIAM G.,
ELLIS, THEODORE G.,
FERRY, ORRIS S.,
GOODYEAR, E. D. S.,
GREELEY, EDWIN S.,
HARLAND, EDWARD,
HAWLEY, JOSEPH R.,
HUBBARD, JAMES,
IVES, BRAYTON,
JUDAII, HENRY M.,
KETCHUM, WM. S.,
LYON, NATHANIEL,
LEE, EDWARD M.,
LOOMIS, GUSTAVUS,
LOOMIS, JOHN,
Brigadier-General ;
Major-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Brigadier-General ;
Meriden.
Norwich.
New Haven.
Plym'th, N. Havem
Norwalk.
Daub'iy, N. Haven.
Norwich.
Hartford.
Bethel, Norwalk.
Lt.-Col. & Bvt. Brig.-Gen. ; North Haven.
Bvt. Brigadier-General ; New Haven.
Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Major-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Brigadier-General ;
Brigadier-General.
Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Norwich.
Hartford.
Salisbury.
New Haven.
Westport.
Eastford.
Guilford.
Stratford.
Windsor. •
1 Other eminent generals were sous or grandsons of Connecticut men ; as Grant, Sherman,
McClellan, Pope, and Wadsworth.
850
THE GENERALS OF CONNECTICUT.
MANSFIELD, Jos. K. F., Major-General ; Micldletown.
MOWER, JOSEPH A., Major-General ; New London.
MACKENZIE, RANOLD S., Brigadier-General (Second Artillery).
XEWTON,
NOBLE, WM. H.,
OTIS, JOHN L.,
JERKINS, JOSEPH G.,
PIERSON, WM. S.,
RIPLEY, JAMES W.,
ROBERTS, BENJAMIN S.,
ROCKWELL, ALFRED P.,
Ross, SAMUEL,
SEDGWICK, JOHN,
SEYMOUR, TRUMAN,
STEDMAN, GRIFFIN A.,
STEINWEHR, A. VON,
SHALER, ALEXANDER,
TERRY, ALFRED H.,
TYLER, DANIEL,
TERRY, .H. D.,
TOTTEN, JOSEPH G.,
TOUTELLOTTE, JOHN E.,
TYLER, ROBERT 0.,
WESSELLS, HENRY W.,
WRIGHT, HORATIO G.,
WILLIAMS, A. S.,
WHITAKER, EDWD. W.,
Major-General.
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bridgeport.
Manchester.
New London.
Windsor.
Brigadier-General.
Brigadier-General ; New Haven.
Bvt. Brigadier-General ; Norwich.
Bvt. Brigadier-General (Twentieth).
Major-General ;
Brigadier-General.
Bvt. Brigadier-General;
Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Major-General.
Major-General ;
Brigadier-General ;
Brigadier-General.
Bvt. Major-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General;
Bvt. Major-General ;
Cornwall.
Hartford.
Wallin^ford.
New Haven.
Norwich.
New London.
Thompson.
Hartford.
Bvt. Major-General ; Litchfield.
Major-General ; . Orange, Clinton.
Bvt. Major-General.
Lt.-Col. & Bvt, Brig.-Gen. ; Ashford.
WHITTLESEY, HENRY M., Bvt. Brigadier-General.
WARD, HENRY C.,
'Bvt. Brigadier-General (Thirtieth).
The service of a majority of these has already been referred to at some
length, either in detached sketches, or in connection with their regiments.
ORGANIZATIONS AND CASUALTIES.
List of organizations from this State which have been iu United-States
service during the war, showing date of entry into, and discharge from
service : —
ORGANIZATION. .
DATK OF MUSTEK-IN.
DATK OF3IUSTER-OUT.
TERM OF SERVICE.
1st Cavalry,
October 26, 1861,
August 2, 1865,
3 years, 9 months.
1st Squadron,
August 13, 1861,
June 23, 1865
3 years, 10 months.
1st Heavy Artillery,
May 23, 1861,
September 25, 1865
4 years, 4 months.
2d "
September 11, 1862,
August 18, 1865
2 years, 11 months.
1st Light Battery,
October 26, 1861,
June 11, 1865
3 years, 8 months.
2d "
September 10, 1862,
August 9, 1865
2 years, 11 months.
3d Independent Battery,
September — , 1864,
June 23, 1865
9 month*.
1st Infantry,
April 23, 1861,
July 31, 1861
3 months.
2d
May 7, 1861,
August 7, 1861
8 months.
3d "
May 14, 1861,
August 12, 1861
3 months.
4th "
Changed to 1st
Heavy Artillery
5th "
July 23, 1861,
July 19,1865
4 years.
6th "
September 1-3, 1861,
August 21, 1865
3 years, 11 months.
7th "
September 17, 1861,
July 20, 1865
3 years, 10 months.
8th "
October 5, 1861,
December 12, 1865
4 years, 2 months.
9th "
November 1, 1861,
August 3, 1865
3 years, 9 months.
10th "
October 2(5, 1861,
August 25, 1865
3 years, 10 months.
llth "
November 27, 1861,
December 21, 1865
4 years, 1 month.
12th "
December 31, 1861,
August 12, 1865
3 years, 8 months.
13th "
.February 18, 1802,
April 25, 1866
4 years, 3 months.
14th "
August 23, 1862,
May 31, 1865
2 years, 9 -months.
15th "
August 26, 1862,
June 27, 1865
2 years, 10 months.
16th "
August 24, 1862,
June 24, 1865
2 years, 10 months.
17th "
August 21), 1862,
July 19, 1865
2 years, 11 months.
18th "
August 22, 1862,
June 27, 1865
2 years, 10 months.
19th "
Changed to
2d Heavy Artillery
20th "
September 8, 1862,
Juno 13, 1865
2 years, "9 months.
21st "
September 5, 1862,
June 16, 1865
2 years, 9 months.
22d "
September 20, 1862,
July 7, 1863
10 months.
23d "
November 14, 1862,
August 31, 1863
9 months.
24th "
November 18, 1862,
September 30, 1863
10 months.
25th "
November 11, 1862,
August 26, 1863
9 months.
26th "
November 10, 1862,
August 27, 1863
9 months.
27th "
October 22, 1862,
July 27, 1863
9 months.
28th "
November 15, 1862,
August 28, 1863
9 months.
29th "
March 8, 1864,
October 24, 1865
1 year, 8 months.
80th "
March — , 1864,
November 7, 1865
1 year, 8 months.
Statement of casualties to the Connecticut Volunteer force during the
war : —
KIND OF CASUALTY.
OFFICERS.
31 EN.
97
1 004
48
663
63
3 246
21
389
Honorably discharged prior to muster-out of organization
385
51
5,451
4 361
51
49
9
481
Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps
16
1,488
27
2
6 281
Drowned ............
1
35
Taken out by civil authority
Dropped from rolls
7
19
56
852
ROLL OF HONOR OP THE CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEER
TROOPS.
ABBREVIATIONS. — D., died In the service; K., killed in battler; P., died in prison; W., died
of wounds received in battle; .4., accidental deaths. No account is taken of those returned as
" missing " and " supposed killed."
First Regiment Infantry.
None.
Second Regiment Infantry.
Burton James M., D.
Fritz James, K.
Stokes Joseph, D.
Third Regiment Infantry.
Case David C., K.
Howard Richard, A.
Leroy Jeremiah 0., K.
Marsh John R., K.
Fifth Regiment Infantry.
Adams Joseph A., A.
Allen Mathias, K.
Ames Andrew J., D.
Andrews Albert C., D.
Arnold Robert, K.
Avery Alex. J., K.
Baierle Jacob, A.
Bailey James L., K.
Baker Daniel B., W.
Barnes Alvin T., K. •
Barre Adolphus H., K.
Bates John, K.
Bennett John, D.
Benton (Capt.) G. S., K.
Barnard George M., D.
Billington Joseph, A.
Blair Joseph O., K.
Blake (Major) E. F., K.
Bordaux Eleazer, D.
Brady Oliver S., K.
Brings John C., D.
Briker John, K.
Buell Giles P., K.
Burlcy John W., D.
Button William M., K.
Bycrs James, K.
Checkin Charles W., K.
Carr Edwin, D.
Covert John, K.
Dailey Thomas, W.
Darley George, K.
Day (2d Lieut.) Putnam, D
Dayton Sherman B., K.
Button (1st I,t.) H. M., K.
Ellsworth William D., D.
Frieldson Henry, D.
Fuller Jared P., D.
Gavegen Thomas, A.
GallaghcY John, W.
Gavine John J., K.
Goslcy Hugh S., D.
Graham John L., D.
Gridley William, D.
Griffith John, A.
Griffin George B., K.
Griswold Edwin C., K.
Goodrich Alfred, K.
Gunn William A., K.
Hall Horace, D.
Hart John, A.
Hawthorne Daniel, K.
Haverty Daniel, D,
Hcaton Henry, K.
Held Lorenzo, K.
Henry Albert L., D.
Higjrins James, K.
ili^ins William, D.
Hill George E., D.
Hill John, K.
Hills Percival S., D.
Hopper Joseph, D.
Howland Elias II., D.
Hoyt Augustus W., K.
Hull John G., D.
Jones Elijah B., K.
Judson Edward L., D.
Kinnc Joseph A., K.
Krome Lewis, D.
Lane George F., K.
Lane Horace E. L., D.
Lane Robert O., K.
Leggctt Elijah, D.
Leggett John, D.
Madden Frederick, D.
Mahoncy James, A.
Manning Matt. H., W. & P.
Matthews Emery S., D.
McCluskey Patrick, K.
McGinness Patrick, D.
Medcmaeh Mai thew J., K.
Mills Seth F., A'.
Mooney Michael, W.
Morr Paul, A.
Morrison James, D.
Morrison Robert C., D.
Murphy Patrick, A.
Murphy Owen, \V.
Ncale Henry H., D.
Nodnie, Crawford II., W.
Nye Styles W., W.
O'Brien Peter, D.
O'Brien William, A.
O'Donnell John, D.
Pierce Alonzo S., D.
Potter Charles C., D.
Prime H. C., A'.
Prindle Trowbridge, D.
Quinn Thomas, A'.
Reynolds Bernard, W.
Rice Charles A., K.
Richards James, D.
Richards James E., K.
Riley James, D.
Rood Rufus S., D.
Rowe Henry, D.
Scribncr Charles B., D.
Sherren James, K.
Smalley Elisha F., D.
Smith "(Adjutant) H. S., K.
Smith Daniel L., K.
Starr George, D.
Stone George F., D. P.
Stone (Capt.) Henry B., W.
Squires Charles A., K.
Strong Thomas G., K .
Sturgess Ilczckiah, D.
Taylor Sherman D., K.
Thompson Charles E., K.
Thompson Joseph, D.
Van an ken Frank, D.
Waldron John, D.
Warner Albert, W.
Werner R. R., K.
Wilcox John, K.
Wheeler Nathan S., D.
Woodhead Bernard, D.
Sixth Regiment Infantry.
Abbott Edwin H., D.
Abbott Woolsey, P.
Ackerman Car!, K.
Allen Henry, K.
Allen (Capt ) Lewis C.,jr.,Z).
Atwater Franklin J., W.
Babcock Anson E., D.
Bodge George E., K.
Baker Joseph, K.
Baker George H., D.
Baldwin Bruce, W.
Baldwin Henry M., D.
Barnes Seth E., W.
Barnes Seth J., D.
Bartlett Halsey, K.
Barton George A., D.
Belchmer Christopher, K.
Bemus Henry, A'.
Bennett Edward, K.
Bethka Charles, K.
Beyer Martin, K.
Bing Edward J., Z).
653
854
APPENDIX.
Blencl Valentine, K.
Bosworth L>. H., D.
Bradley (1st Lt.) W. T., W.
Brandt Henry S., W.
Brooks Jabez C., D.
Brown William H., K.
Brysen Frank, W.
Brysen David, jr., D.
Bulkley Frederick 0., D.
Butler Jesse, A'.
Byxbee John, D.
Chattield (Col.) John L., W.
Cobbe George W. D.
Cook Henry A., D.
Collett Anatole, K.
Collett James, AT.
Crusius Oscar, \V.
Corey William H., K.
Connely Patrick, D.
Davis Luther, D.
Dawley James, D.
Day John W., D.
Debouge Gustavo, K.
Deary Patrick, P.
Delpt Harry, K.
Dewitt William, K.
Dorman Horace, D.
Dorman Andrew, D.
Doyle James, K.
Driscoll John F.
Dupoy Jerome, K.
Dubois Charles, W.
Eaton (Capt.) Horatio D., K.
Freeman Daniel, D.
Frisbey Henry D., D.
Gage Robert B., K.
Gangloff Charles, K.
Gerrish (Capt.) Henry G.,D.
Gibbons Theodore, D.
Gindcr Balthaser, D.
Gilbert James II., D
G^issman William, K.
Gob Charles, K.
Griswold Eugene W., K.
Grogan Charles II., W.
Gussman William, W.
Haller Martin, W.
Hammond ( I stLt.)C.E., W.
Hart Willis A., D.
II ay ward Nahum L., D.
Hausserman Michael, Z>.
Henaingcr George, K.
Hesse Augustus, K.
Hesserick Emil.
Heyne Paul, K.
Hickox Edwin J., D.
Hill Charles T., D. .
Hill Warren F., D.
Hills Sebury D., P.
Hoar Dprbert, K.
Hodge Horace, D.
Holler Martin, W.
Hoyfr Henry W., W.
Ingalls Dexter W., W.
Jones Ira D., W.
Jones Joseph, W.
Johnson (2d Lt.) W. H., W
Johnson Thomas, K.
Kreitling Albert, D.
Keith Charles S., K.
Kelterer George, P.
Kimberly Henry. K.
Kirsten Charles, W.
Lacey William S., D.
Lanergan Luke II., K.
Lawrence Joseph C., D.
Lin ton James, K.
L,omberti Charles, W.
Hack Frank, D.
Vlalone James, K.
Matthews Daniel, A".
Vlayer Jacob, D.
Vlaschmeyer Edward, D.
Maschmeyer William, D.
Messier Charles, A'.
McChine Hugh, jr., W.
\IcKenzce Patrick, D.
VIcKinney James, K.
VIcInro Thomas, D.
Millard Thcron, D.
Milner William, K.
Morris Theodore, D.
VIorehouse William A., K.
Moses Henry, D.
O'Connor Thomas, D.
Ostrum Willard, D.
Palmer David C., D.
Peck Robert C., W.&P.
Peck John W., D.
Pect George B., W.
Perkins William W., D.
Phalen Timothy, A.
Phillips Alonzo.
Phillips Theodore, W.
Picker Patsey, D.
Puffer Reuben S., K.
Quinn James, D.
Ray James, W.
Recoir John H., D.
Recoir Philip H., D.
Reed William, W.
Reeves William M., A'.
Riley Charles, D.
Ringe Henry, K.
Robbins Ralph G., D.
Robinson Theodore T., D.
Rogers Edmond, A".
Root Caleb B., D.
Royce Charles B., K.
Sage Elisha, D.
Schmidt Gustave, W.
Schofield Theodore C., D.
Schofield William, D.
Shultz William, D.
Seely John, D.
Shaw Joseph L., K.
Shepard David G., D.
Smith Oscar L., K.
Soby William, \V.
Spencer Edwin W., D.
Stacey Albert, W.
Stark Michael, K.
Stevens (2d Lieut.) S. S., K
Stinell Herman, K. *
Southergill George, D.
Taylor E. B., W.
Taylor Thomas, W.
Talmadge Fred. A., D.
Tousley Artemus, W.
L'racy Thomas E., I).
Tschumme Conrad, jr., -A
Vaille John R., D.
Volkman Ferdinand, D.
Warner George, \V.
tVatermire Frederick, D.
Waters Henry W., D.
White Frank, K.
Weeks Alphonso, D.
Williams John, D.
Wilcox (Capt.) Jay P., A".
Wind George, A.
Woodford Edgar M., D.
Woods John, AT.
Wooster Joseph A. jr., W.
Seventh Regiment Infantry,
Abell Jared A., K.
Ackcrman Carl, K.
Aekerman William F., D.
Aldrich Judson,
Andrus George W., K.
Angclist David D., D.
Avery Henry.
Bailey Everett, A'.
Bailey L. Ilobart, K.
Baldwin Henry M., D. •
Banning Henry C., D.
Barnes Albert E., D.
nies Seth E., W. .
Bates William P., D.
Bclden Marshall, K.
Bennett Edward, K.
Benson Albert, D.
Bidwell Richard, K.
Blake George, D.
Blakeslec Ed. C., W.
Bliss Samuel, D.
Bliss Edwin S., D.
Bosworth Hiram P., K.
Bottomly Henry A., D.
Bowen Joseph A., W.
Bowers Theodore D., D.
Bradley George, D.
Bradford Lewis, D.
Brandt Henry S., W.
Drainard Francis, W.
Bridgewater Daniel, W.
Brinton Fred. J., D.
Brown William H., K.
Brown William H., D.
Bulkley Fred. O., D.
Burdick Albert, D.
Burdick (1st Lieut.) T., W.
Bunncll George, D.
Button Lorenzo, K.
Burrows George, D.
Byxbee John T., D.
Byxbee Charles, K.
Byxbee John, D.
Calkins Obed H., D.
Chamberlain Ezra.
Clapp Elisha, W. .,
Clark Curtiss S., K.
Clark Walter F., W.
EOLL OF HONOR.
855
Cogswell Stephen, K.
Colcy William H., IV.
Collett Anatolc, K.
Collamorc Warren, D.
Corey William H., K.
Colrin George, D.
Conway James, K.
Cook James K.
Corbin George H., K;
Corsa John P., D.
Crabtrce John W., D.
Crofut William, K.
Crosby Bvron, D.
Daboll Isaac F., D.
Day John W., D.
Dempsey (1st Lieut.) R., K.
DeWitt William, K.
Doane Ed. E., A'.
Doolktlc Lorenzo S., D.
Dowries Chaunccy S., D.
Dubois Charles, \V.
Duncan William, D.
Dupoy Jerome, K.
Eaton Fred. G., K.
Edwards George, W.
Eldcrkin James, K.
English William S., K.
Felch Fred. A., K.
Fillburn Thomas, K.
Flannigan John, W.
Fortune Phillips, K,
Fox Augustus A., D.
Fry Allen, D.
Jcffry Joab, D.
James Giles, W.
Jones Joshua.
Judson Edwin, D.
Gerbiz John, D.
Gilbert Charles, D.
Glincs Henry C., P.
Gob Charles, K.
Goodcll Joseph, W.
Gore Joshua R., D.
Gray Horace, W.
Griswold Eugene W., K.
Guy Allen, D.
Balnea William F., D.
Hall John E., D.
Harrison William H., D.
Hart Henry, D.
Haync Paul, K.
Ilibbard Andrews W., K.
Hitchcock (Capt.) E. S., K.
Hills Seabury, D.
Holmes John T., D.
Ho'rner Julius.
Horton (2d Lieut.) T., K.
Hubbard William, D.
Hull John, D.
Hull Frederick, K.
Hull (2dLt.) Frank, K.
Hunter William, D.
Kay William II., W.
Keith Charles S., K.
Kcyes David D., K.
Kimball Charles W., D.
Kimberly Henry, K.
Lanergan Luke II., K.
Landers Michael, D.
Lewis Francis, D.
Lewis Franklin S., D.
Linton James, K.
McEwen William, K.
Mildoon John, K.
Miller James A., K.
Minor Abraham, A'.
Moore J;imcs, A'.
Nodine Elizir, K.
Nichols Andrew B., K.
Ostrum Willard, D.
Palmer Charles E., D.
Parker Henry C., K.
Pierce Albert W., A'.
Pratt Samuel A., D.
Puffer Reuben S., K.
Quinn James, W.
Quintal Lemuel A., A'.
Reynolds John E., W.
Reynolds Scth W., W.
Riley Chester H., D. fr P.
Ripley Charles H., K.
Robinson Theodore T., D.
Root Henry H., D.
Russell Joseph, D.
Sage Edward B., A".
Saxton Geonie C., K.
Scoficlcl William, D.
Seamans Andrew, D.
Sessions John T., D.
Simons John T., D.
Secley Eli D., D
Shelton Daniel R., K.
Smith Oscar L., K.
Smith Horace M., D.
Soby William, W. '
Sperry Henry N., W,
Spires William, D.
Star (Adjt.) Grosvenor, D.
Sterling James B., D.
Suniner Israel, P.
Taylor Andrew H., K.
Taylor William H., K.
Talcot Horace A., K.
Tappan Thomas, K.
Thomas Willis C., W.
Tifft George J., D.
Treat Dwight W., D.
TenceJlcnf Charles, W.
Tolles Horace A., K.
Upson Hiram, jr., W.
Valentine Sidney, D.
Vibert George, K.
Victory Martin R., D.
Vinton Randolph J., D.
Walker Henry M., P.
Walker Alfred E.
Walker Albert, D.
Ward Edward A., D.
Waterman Charles F., D.
Waterman (Capt.) Jos., W.
Watermire Frederick, W.
Weeks Sylvester N., D.
Wells Selden H., K.
Welton Theodore, K.
Westhrook Thomas, D.
Wildman Henry C., K.
Willard James S., K.
*Wilson John H., A".
Wood (1st Lieut.) C. A., K.
Woodford E.lgar M., D.
Wolcott Frederick W., D.
Wooster James N., K.
Wyant Lewis A., D.
Eiyhlh Regiment Infantry.
Arnold Charles, D.
Baker Albert H., D.
Baker George II., D.
Baldwin George W., D.
Barber Francis E., D.
Bates Wallace W., D.
Beardsly Claudius S., D.
Beckett Asa, D.
Bennett George H., K.
Bently John, W.
Bingham (1st Lt.) L. C.,"W.
Birch George, K.
Bissell Elihu, D.
Bond Henry, D.
Bond Charles, D.
Booth George F., K.
Bosworth Samuel P., D.
Boyle Robert, D.
Bulkley John, D.
Burlingamo Joshua L., D.
Burrows Lorenzo, D.
Branwon Henry, W.
Breed (1st Lieut.) C. A., D.
Brcwster Charles, D.
Bronson Joseph S., D.
Brooks Albion D., W.
Brown Durraine, D.
Carey Dwight, K.
Case Oliver C., K.
Castle Morton, W.
Castle Matthew, D.
Cheney Henry M., D.
Child John, W.
Clark Albert, K.
Clark Sylvanus M., D.
Clark Thomas C., D.
Clark William P., D.
Cockfer John, D.
Cogswell Weston, D.
Cornstock John D., D.
Comstock Edwin J., D.
Daglc George V., K.
Daidson James, W.
Davis Alpheus G., D.
Doming Herbert, D.
Dixon John A., D.
Doolittle John K., W.
Edwards John L., D.
Eldrcdge Nathaniel C., K.
Ellsworth Frederick, W.
Elmorc Harvey E., K.
EbyJohn, W.
Evans Lcvcrett F.,.7).
Fanning Theodore A., W.
Fanning Edward M., D.
Fanning Henry C., W.
Ferris Hilliard, D.
Ferris Robert, K.
Ferris Stephen H., D,
856
APPENDIX.
Finken Henry, K.
Frost Oswin S., W.
Gates John, W. *
Geary Dennis, K.
Goddard (IstLt.) A. M., W.
Green Thomas L., K.
Hanfprd John N., D.
Harris John, D.
Hayes Michael, D.
Hewitt Oscar W., K.
Hodge Chauncy, D.'
Hollister Fitz G., K.
Hoye Thomas, D.
Hunter Joseph L., D.
Huntington Thomas D., D.
Jacklin Ph. H., D.
Jerome Francis D., K.
Jerome Oscar L., D.
Jones Charles, K.
Keach Henry W. L., D.
Kimball Andrew J., D.
Knight William II., K.
Knowlcs John C., D.
Lacoureiere John, D.
Lake David, K.
Langworth Joseph C., D.
Lathrop Oliver, W.
Lathrop (1st Asst. Surgeon)
DC Witt C., D.
Lenthard Carl F., K.
Lewis Charles E., K.
Lewis William G., K.
Litchfield Uriah, D.
Livermorc Henry M., D.
Logan George E., D.
Long William, K.
Lord Orton L., K.
Lyon Mclancthon S., D.
Main (1st Lieut.) E. G., D.
Main Samuel 11., D.
Mann Peter, W.
Marsh George H., K.
Mason Thomas, K.
Mason William A., D.
McCall (Capt.) John, K.
Mclntosh John B., K.
Merrill Charles E., D.
Mills John, D.
Mitchell Diodate J., D.
Mitchell George W., K.
Morcy John, W.
Morgan George K., D.
Morgan Joseph, mD.
Morse Henry 11., K.
Neff Henry H., K.
Neweomb Francis A., D.
Nichols Jerome, D.
Nighting John, K.
Parkerson Josiah, W.
Parkhurst Edward, D.
Patterson Charles, IF.
Payne Charles H., K.
Payne Fitch, D.
Payne Franklin, D.
Pelton James E., D.
Pember Jared, D.
Perkins- George, D.
Peterson William H., W.
Phelan John, K.
Phelps Housley F. D., K.
Phillips John, D.
Pierson Thomas B., D.
Post William, K.
Potter William H., D.
Pound Peter, D.
Randall Henry, K.
Raymond Henry, D.
Rice Robert, IF.
Richards Alonzo I., K.
Richmond Willis B., K.
Riley Lawrence, K.
Roberts Henry M., D.
Roberts Andrew, D.
Robinson George W., K.
Rose Ebcnezer, jr., K.
Rose Franklin M., K.
Rouse Horace G., K.
Rust Cyprian II., K.
Saunders Henry, D.
Scoville Martin, D,
Simonds John II., K.
Sexton Henry D., D.
Stewart Charles B., D.
Strickland Henry E., D.
Stoddard Frederick, D.
Stowc Gilbert H., D.
Sweet William A., K.
Talmagc Elihu, D.
Taylor C. Henry, D.
Taylor Orrin, D.
Taylor Henry H., D,
Thomas Richmond E., K.
Thorn Reuben, D.
Tillotson Lafayette, K.
Tompkins John, D.
Trask Frank, K.
Tuller Isaac H., D.
Tuttle John E., K.
Upton George W., D.
Wadhams Edward, K. '
Wadhams Martin L., K.
Wait (2d Lieut.) M., K.
Wcstover Edwin E., D.
Wheeler Edwin, D.
Wheeler Lucius, K.
White Elijah, K.
Wilcox Whiting, K.
Williams John A., D.
Woods Victor, D.
Y'emmons Joseph R., D.
Ninth Regiment Infantry.
Abbot John, D.
Alaby Albert, Z>.
Baggs John, D,
Bowker George, D.
Barry John t., D.
Blakeslce Almon, D.
Bohan Paul, D.
Boyle Charles, D.
Broddcrick James, D.
Brown Daniel H., D.
Brown William, D.
Bouisee Newman, D.
Burgess John R., D.
Burns John, D.
Burke Richard, D.
Burton Charles B., D.
Bush James, D.
Cain Patrick, D.
Calkins Jesse I., D.
Calkins Joseph L., D.
Carey James, D.
Carey William W., D.
Carlin Andrew, D.
Carney Ambrose, D.
Charboucl Paul, D.
Claffec (Sgt.-Maj.) P. T., D.
Clark John, D.
Clark William, D.
Claxton Richard, D.
Cocn John, A.
Colbert Morris, D.
Conner Thomas, D.
'Conner George 0., D.
Coyne John, D.
Covle John, D.
Coxall Henry E., D.
Crowley John, D.
Cruiso John, D.
Cunningham James, D.
Daley Bartholomew, D.
Dailey Patrick, D.
Dikeman George S., D.
Dillon John, D.
Dimon James C., D. '
Donahue James, D.
Doyle Peter, D.
Downey r, i'jholas, A.
Downey Michael, D.
Drassendoft'er Henry, D.
Doyle Peter, D.
Dunn Thomas, D.
Eagan John, D.
Eagan William, D.
Ennes John, D.
Ennis Matthew, D.
Fagan Michael, D.
Fairchild (IstLt.) F. M., D.
Fanning John, D.
Fen ton Peter, D.
Ferris John, D.
Fibbs Wihiam, D.
Finklc Peter, D.
Fitzgerald William, D.
Flamandez Peter, D.
Frazier George, L).
Funt William, D.
Furnace Joseph, D.
Gahatian Joseph, D.
Galligan Philip, D.
Galvin James, D.
Gladding Leverett, D.
Grace William, D.
Green John, D.
Green John, D.
Green John, D.
GrcAi Patrick, D.
Hackett Peter, D.
Hall Jessell, D.
Hallaner Lewis St. V., D.
Harrington Joseph, D.
Ilartigan John, D.
Harvey Thomas, D.
ROLL OF HONOR.
857
Hinvlcy Edward, D.
Moningham James, D.
Weldon Patrick, D.
Hayes Elias, D.
Moore Michael, D.
Woods James, D.
llealy Michael, D.
JNlorrissey Patrick, D.
Woods Patrick, D.
Helling Frederick, D.
Henderson James, D.
Mulvey Charles, D.
Murphy Martin, D.
Tenth Regiment Infantry.
Hill Henry, D.
Murphy Jeremiah, D.
AHen John, D.
Hillyer George, D.
Murphy James, D.
Allyn Asa, D.
Hillver James, D.
O'Brien Thomas, D.
Atwell Benjamin, D.
Hollidi William, D.
O'Brien James, D.
Austin George C., D.
Horton John A., D.
O'Bcrne John, D.
Bailey Albert A., K.
Horton George W., D.
O'Burns Michael, D.
Bartholomew Pliny, D.
Hudson Henry, D.
O'Conner Peter, D.
Bartlett Leonard, D.
Hughes Arthur, D.
O'Neil Mark, K.
Beach Elliott W., D.
Hussey Walter, D.
Otis Dennis, D.
Beardsley Edward C., D.
Irvine Christian, D.
Patchen Charles T., D.
Bell George L., W.
Jewess Frederick, K.
Pearson Philip, D.
Benedict Lewis H., D.
Johnson Lewis II., D.
Potter Charles H., D.
Black Albert, D.
Kain Michael, D.
Potter Frederick, D.
Bomer Frederick W., D.
Kearney Thomas, D.
Prime Edward P., D.
Booth Charles F., D.
Keaveney Michael, D.
Quinn Thomas, D.
Bowen James, jr., W.
Keegan Edward, D.
Quinn Luke, D.
Bradbury Thomas ^., D.
Keenan Peter, D. •
Reynolds Patrick, D.
Bradley William H., D.
Kchoe James, D.
Reynolds Patrick, D. •
Brainard Henry L., D.
Kclleher Roger, D.
Reynolds Michael, 2d, D.
Brainard Whitney S., D.
Kelly John, D.
Rhatigan Edward, D.
Brinton Alexander R., D.
Kenncdey Daniel, D.
Roberts John F., D.
Bromley Lyman W., D.
Kennedey Joseph, D.
Robinson James W. B., D.
Bronson Jeremiah T., D.
Kerlcy John, D.
Robertson Seth, D.
Brooks Sherald A., /v.
Kilgrariff Martin, D.
Rolland Herman, D.
Brown Nelson L., W.
Lackey Luke C., D.
Ross Charles, D.
Brown Joseph M., D.
Lane John J., D.
Rowley John, D.
Brown .Sherman, D.
Lane Patrick, D.
Ryan James, D.
Brower Alfred L., D."
Larkins Patrick, D.
Ryan John, D.
Bunnell Cyrus R., D.
Lauffin Richard, D.
Ryan (2) Timothy, D.
Bunting Alexander R., D.
Lawlcr James, A.
Ryan Cornelius, D.
Burchard Eli, D.
Lynch Thomas, D.
Sanford Stephen, D.
Burdick Charles, D.
Lynch John, 1st, D.
Sanford Oliver, D.
Burns William A., K.
Lynch Patrick, K.
Scully William, D.
Card David J., D.
Lyon Edward, D.
Scott' Michael, D.
Carter John, Z).
McAlloon Patrick, D.
Shaughness Peter, D.
Chadwick William H., D.
McCann William J., D.
Shuentcr Joseph, D.
Clark Henry, W.
McCarthy John, D.
Simpson John, D.
Coffing (IstLt.) J. C., W.
McCormick Thomas, D.
Slawson David A., D.
Collins Joseph, W.
McClune James, D.
Smith John, D.
Cook Samuel, D.
McDonald James, ZX
Smith John, 2d, D.
Cotton Samuel S., D.
McGrath Michael, D.
Smith Martin, D.
Coville Matthew, D.
McGrath Thomas, D.
Smith Peter, D.
Crandall Horatio, D.
McGuirc Constantino, D.
Spellesay Thomas, D.
Cutts Charles L., D.
McEarland Peter, D.
Stafford John A., D.
Day John F., K.
McKenna (2d Lt.) Henry, D.
Stillson David, D.
Davrix Patrick, D.
McLaughlin John, D.
Sullivan Jeremiah, D.
Dickson David, D.
McLanghlin Timothy, D.
Sullivan John, D.
Donovan Jotyn, D.
McMahonc James, D.
Sullivan William, D.
Doolittle Luther H., W.
McPhcrson John, D.
Sullivan Daniel, D.
Downes Henry A., D.
McSorlcy John, D.
Sutter Frank, D.
Drake (Col.) Albert W., D.
McTague John, D.
Tackett James, D.
Dunn Robert, D.
Magce Michael, D.
Tallmadgc Thomas B., D.
Edmonds Daniel, W.
Maher John, D.
Thompson Henry F., D.
Ferris Alexander, W,
Maher John, D.
To bin James, D.
Gerald James S., D.
Mahoney Patrick, D.
Todd Legrand, D.
Gerry William T., W.
Martin John, D.
Tyghe Roger, D.
Gill George, K.
Marlow John, 'D.
Walch John, D.
Goff Thomas, W.
Meany John, D.
Walsh Patrick, D.
Gorton William H., W.
Mcldrum John, D.
Walsh Robert, A.
Graham William N., K.
Mercier Alexander, D.
Waldron Thomas, D.
Gray Henry T., D.
Meredith John, D.
Warner Abraham A., D.
Green Anthony 11., D.
Minahan Thomas, D.
White Thomas, D.
Greene Edwin E., Z).
Molloy Michael, D.
Wells Jeremiah, D.
Grummon Francis H., D.
108
858
APPENDIX.
Hamblin Philo A., D.
Hawkins Grin J., D.
Heldmerick Casper, A.
Henderson Alexander, D.
Hill (2d Lt.) Theron D., K.
Hindle James, K.
Hoadley Harvey S., W.
Holland James B., D.
Hern Michael, W.
Hoyt William, D.
Hoyt (Capt.) Isaac L., D.
Howe William H., D.
House Lorin, A.
Ilowman William H., D.
Hubbard John, IF.
Hubbard Silas W., D.
Hudson William G., D.
Hunter William, D.
Huntley Joseph W., IF.
Hurlhut Roger L., D.
Huxforcl William G., D.
Hyde Chauncey, D.
Ingraham William, IF.
Jarman George, D.
Kane Jerry, D.
Kellogg Alfred, D.
King Samuel W., D.
Kilbourn John R., D.
Lane Leman G., D.
Lathrop Simon, K.
Lester Dwight T., IF.
Lockwpod William H., D.
Lombard Joseph A., K.
Long William, D.
Loveland John F., K.
Lounsbury Henry W., D.
Lyman Levi F., W.
McCarty James, D.
McDonal James, W.
McLeod William, IF.
Manchester Frederick, D.
Maro Patrick, K.
Mason John, D.
Mead (Capt.) Thos. R., D.
Mead Henry H., D.
Mead (Major) Daniel M.,/).
Monson Lyman T., IF.
Morse Orrm II., D.
Mosher Lcander, Z>.
Munsell William, D.
Neal James H., IF.
Ohnsted Osborn, D.
Oviatt Erasmus A., K.
Owen Orville D., L).
Park George B., W.
Pease Gil son, D.
Perkins Henry, D.
Perkins (1st. Lt.)Wm.W., A'.
Raymond Henry M., D.
Reynolds Milo, K.
Reuthsler John, D.
Ride William, A.
Rood Morton, D.
Rooncy James S., D.
Ross John, K.
Rowe Egbert, Z>.
Russell (Col.) Charles L., K.
Russell John E., A'.
Salter William N., D.
Sears Stephen II., D.
Sherman John T., K.
Sherwood Samuel, D.
Simms John M., IF.
Skinner Jesse P., D.
Slaine Peter S., D.
Smith Arthur W., D.
Smith Edgar G., K.
Smith James C., A.
Sniffen William, D.
Speed John W., D.
Stillman (2dLt.)H. M., A.
Taylor Henry S., D.
Taylor Samuel, IF.
Thomas George D., IF.
Tibbals Abraham, D.
Tinker Charles II., D.
Tomlinson Edmund B., D.
Toomey John L., W.
Treat Noyes A., D.
Tucker John W., D.
Tjittle Henry M., D. *
Wallace John L., IF.
Ward Thomas M., D.
Washburn Owen W., D.
Weaver Amos C., D.
Weeks Harvey J., D.
Wells (Capt.) Henry A., K.
Wcston Everett B., D.
Wheaton Albert F., W.
Wheeler ElbertE.. Z>.
Will ox Lucene, IF.
Wilson Robert, D.
Wing George, A.
Wright Frank, D.
Wright Charles M., D.
Vergason Erastus, A.
Eleventh Regiment Infantry.
Andress David, K.
Antonio John, W.
Antonio Manuel, IF.
Bailey George E., A.
Bailey Albert H., D.
Baker Henry E., D.
Barber Charles, D.
Barnstead George T., IF.
Barnum (IstLt.) S. C., TF.
Bates Theodore S., K.
Batty Davis, A.
Beach Benjamin J., A'.
Beers Henry A., A.
Beman Charles, D.
BcmanJob, IF.
Bills George, A.
Bills Prosper B., D.
Bissell Henry, TF.
Blodgct Edward A., D.
Bohr Frederick, K.
Braman Lucian, D.
Brooks John, D.
Bugbee William, IF.
Burke Edward, A.
Burtrand John, K.
Campbell Leander, K.
Canfield William H., D.
Chappell Benjamin F., D.
Chaffee Frank, K.
Clemmcnts John, D.
Cleaveland Chauncey F., D.
Cleaveland Elisha, D.
Cogswell William F., K.
Cole William, D.
Converse (Major) J. II., A.
Converse Rufus, A.
Coville George B., W.
Crome Gilbert R., K.
Culver Fred. D., D.
Cushman Alonzo S., A.
Daly Alliek, A.
Daniels Oscar G., D.
Davis Henry W., A.
Dawley George W., D.
Dayton Lewis, A.
Decker Clark, A.
Deming Edward, A.
Desons Pierre, A.
Didicr Augustc, A.
Dieth Guitar A., D.
Dodge Henry C., D.
Dolan Michael, A.
Duane Charles, A.
Dubois Alfred, A.
Eddy Charles, D.
Erraisch Otto, D.
Evans Willard, D.
Fay John, A.
Ferry Amos, IF.
Fessington Clinton, IF.
Flint Alvin, A.
Ford David M., A.
Ford Henry C., D.
Formia Peter, A.
Fosket Albert O., D.
Frink Charles H., A.
Fuller Edward, D.
Galligcr Michael, A.
George Thomas A., D.
Germiiin Achille, A'.
Gillin John H., A.
Gorman Edward, IF.
Graves Augustus E., D.
Green Joel, D.
Griswold (Capt.) J. D., A'.
Gullock George F., D.
Halbthss William, D.
Hall William II., A.
Ileplin George H., A.
Iliilyer John, D.
Hitchcock William H., A.
Ilollistcr Joseph, D.
Holt Marcus B., D.
Holwell John C., A.
Hopkins William M., A.
Houghton William, A.
Humphreys Edward J., D.
Hutchins William, D.
Jackson Thomas, D.
Jones John, D.
Johnson John, D.
Karcher Ferdinand, D.
Kettle William S., D.
Kingsbury (Col.) H. W., A.
Kirk Roderic, D.
Lane William, A.
ROLL OF HONOR.
859
Lathrop John E., D.
Luwler Thomas, K.
Lawson Ansel, D.
Lee (Capt.) Edwin R., K.
Lewis Francis J., D.
Luce Lozare, K.
Mabb Epliraim, D.
Mack Jesse, D.
Main Henry, D.
Mallory Joseph B., K.
Mantz William, D.
McAlistcr Ronald, K.
McCabc Peter, D.
McNeil Owen, K.
Messin James, K.
Millikcn Davis, D.
Mills Hezekiah P., D.
Mitchell Charles, K.
Morden John B., K.
Morgan James, K.
Morris John, D.
Morse Charles H., K.
Mowry Elisha, D.
Mowry Elisha, jr., D.
Munroe Charles, D.
Munroe John, ft.
Murphy Thomas, A.
Nichols Harmes L., D.
Norton Amasa, D.
Ormsby Oliver P., K.
Parker Lewis L., D.
Parrett Theodore, K.
Paolo Leon, K.
Payne Thomas, D.
Peckham John, D.
Pete Elijah S., D.
Phillips George W., D.
Pike George D., D.
Pinot Etianne, K.
Potter William R., D.
Quinn Patrick, D.
Read Egbert D., D.
Read John H., K.
Remington Thomas F., W.
Rice Samuel B., D. .
Riggs George S., D.
Rising Henry, K.
Roberts Halsey, D.
Roberts Hiram C., K.
Robertson Aaron, D.f
Rodgers Samuel C., K.
Rouse Asa W., K.
Sackett (Capt.) Wm. II., K.
Salter Watson C., W.
SchofieM Henry M., W.
Shepard George A., K.
Sherman Daniel P., D.
Shughrue John S., D.
Slack Wm. H., W.
Smith Wm. B., D.
Smith Wm. A., D.
Smith Henry, K.
Sonderegger Jacob, D.
Souter James, K.
Southworth Henry M., D.
Spellman Charles, Z>.
Swanton George, K.
Standihs Charles, D.
Stevens Frank A., D.
Steimetz Charles, K.
Stiles James B., K.
Storrs Daniel C., D.
Stowe Vivant, K.
Sullivan Michael, K.
Tarbox Daniel I., K.
Thompson Joseph, K.
Todd Albert, K.
Tripp Samuel B., K.
Turner Orrin C., D.
Tuttle Albert M., K.
Tyrrell Willis H., D.
Utley Origen, D.
Von Driest Nicolas, D.
Walker John H., A".
Warren George, W.
Warriner Wm. D., W.
Weeks Fennimore, K.
Wentz Martin. W.
White Joseph, D.
Whitney Edward, D.
Wood John W., W.
Zemiz Claudius, K.
Tivelfth Regiment Infantry.
Allen James E., D.
Allen Jeremiah, D.
Allyn (2d Lt.) Stanton, £>.
Armcnt Samuel R., D.
Arnold Cui'tiss S., D.
Ashley Elisha L., K.
Atkins Solon R., W.
Atwood James L., D.
Avery Alexander W., D.
Babcock Wilson, D.
Babcock Stanton, D.
Baker Albert, W.
Baker Edward, D.
Baker Reuben W., D.
Baker Lovell, D.
Baker Horace, D.
Baldwin George W., D.
Barnum Edgar H., D.
Belden Directus F., K.
Benharn Roland D., D.
Bentley George, D
Bickne'll Charles W., K.
Bigelow Charles, D.
Birch Herman, D.
Bi.-scll Hufus M., D.
Bolman Lemuel, D.
Bolton Emerson O., D.
Bond Austin W., D.
Bonney John, D.
Booth Wijbert II., D.
Britten Henry, D.
Brookman Janies, D.
Brown Charles H., D.
Brundage James L., D,
Bundy George B., D,
Burton Jeremiah, D.
Bushncll John B., D.
Butler Thomas, D.
Campbell Edwin W., D.
Candee William B., K.
Carly Edward, K.
Chapman George W., D.
Church Morris S., D.
Clark Grove, D.
Clark Samuel, D.
Clark Dallas, D.
Cobberly Edward, K.
Collins Charles L., W.'
Cook Reuben, D.
Corn well (1st Lt.) C. W.,Z>.
Congdon Edmund, W.
Couch Edwin N., K.
Cuddy John, D.
Currie John H., Z).
Curtiss George W., D.
Darrow John M., A.
Davis Gilbert A., D.
Davis George D., D.
Davis Nathan, D.
Denison Chester H., D.
Douglass Charles M., D.
Dowd Frank, W.
Dudley Alva M., D.
Dunn Martin, D.
Dyer George M., D.
Emmett Michael, D.
Evarts Joseph V., W.
Farnsworth Gilbert, D.
Farren Charles C., D.
Field Osmer F., D.
Francis (1st Lt.) J. L., D.
Francis Henry J., D.
Franklin Elfo'rd C., D.
Freeland Andrew I., D. '
Freeman Horace II., D.
Flynn Michael, D.
Gardner Thomas, D.
Garner John, D.
Gavitt Lorenzo D., A*
Gilbert Sylvester, K.
GradyJohn, W.
Gray" William D., D.
Green George, W,
Green Martin A., D.
Hale Howard F., W.
Hall Wilson S., D.
Hammond George, D.
Hamm Daniel S., D.
Hayden Henry, K.
Hicks Lester, D.
Hitchcock Fred. J., D. •
Holden John M., D.
Hurd William B., D.
Hnrd John H.. D.
Ingham Frederick, D.
Ingersoll Clarence L., ZX
Irish Ezra, D.
Jillson Henry, D.
Johnson Abner II., D.
Johnson Philo B., D.
Judson Frederick N., K.
Kidder Warren, W.
Kellcy Edward, D.
Lamphere Henry A., D.
Leary Timothy O., A,
Lee Edward N., D.
Lester John E., Z).
Levenworth ( 1 st Asst. Sur
geon ) M. C., D.
Lillie Warren, D.
860
APPENDIX.
Lloyd Henry, K.
Ames Benjamin G., D.
Lord Benjamin, D.
Assaut Christian, A".
Lot'tus Patrick, W.
Baker William, D.
Loveland Marvin, D.
Benedict Aaron, D.
Loring Locke L., W.
Bertz Charles, K.
Lucy John, D.
Betz Edward, D.
Macauless George, K.
Black David, K.
McCarthy Patrick, D.
Blackman Eli B., K.
McClcllan John, D.
Blakesl^e Norman, D.
McKnight William, D.
Blanchard William, K.
Mattler Abram, D.
Bogue Edmund, D.
Maynard Charles C., D.
Bowen Thomas L., D.
Mathewson Joseph, D.
Brady John, D.
Miles Reuben, D.
Brown David H., D.
Miner Jesse L., D.
Burns Thomas, K.
Mitchell William E., A.
Capen Elbridge S., D.
Morehousc Samuel E., K,
Carey Patrick, K.
Moffit John S., D.
Carroll Thomas, D.
Murphy John, D.
Carpenter Walter G., D.
Newell" William J., W.
Catlin Charles, D.
Nixon Thomas N., D.
Chapel Alonzo, D.
Nolan Thomas, D.
Clark John, D.
Northrup Corvus, D.
Clarke (1st Lt.) Jonah F.,Z>.
Parkhurst Wilfred, D.
Cleaveland Charles F., £>.
Parsons Edward, D.
Coffee Jeremiah, W.
Elizur B., D.
Cotnstock John C., D.
Pierce Charles II., D.
Conrad Henry S., D.
Penfidd Evelyn, D.
Corbet Michael, W.
Perkins Charles L., D.
Cramm John, K.
Plan Charles S., D.
Cravey John, D.
Platt George II., D.
Daniels John F., D.
Porter Benedict M., D.
DeWolf Edward, D.
Pratt Gurdon, D.
Dobson Michael, D.
Prowitt Henry M., D.
Downes George, D.
Sackett Ambrose S., D.
Downes George C., D.
Scranton Dayton- R., D.
Doolittle Frank H., D.
Schweikart George, D.
Douglass Reuben H., D.
Seward Henry A , D.
Enland Alexander, D.
Simmons Joseph W., D
Ferris Smith W.,ZX
Sinclair Eugene, A".
Ferris William I., D.
Smith George E., D.
Finlcy Daniel B., D.
Smith John, D.
Fitzpatrick Thomas, D.
Smith John C., D.
Francis Thomas A., D.
Snow George, D.
Freed John, D.
Stebbins Benjamin, D.
Fogerty John, K.
Stecle Charles E., K.
Fox Henry F., D.
Stillman Fred. W.. D.
Garcia Joseph, K.
Sullivan Charles, D.
Gay Moses, D.
Sullivan John P., D.
Gilbert James, D.
Sweet William E., K.
Gilmore William, D.
Thrall Bradley, D.
Gladden Charles R., D.
Thompson Ambrose, A.
Goldsmith George, D.
Thompson William H., D.
Gorman John, D.
Toole Thomas, D.
Greene John, D.
Toy Joseph R., D.
Gunter Thomas L., K.
Tracv Thomas, A'.
Hackette Andrew/ W,
Updyke William, D.
Hassan James, D.
Vanderbilt Henry, D.
Havward John, D.
Walker Joseph, D.
Hopkins Roswell E., A'.
Welch (2d Asst. Surgeon)
Hotchkiss Charles, D.
John B., D.
Hungerford Martin B., D.
Whithead Alphonso B., D.
Hurley Thomas, D.
Winship Charles N., D.
Johnson (2d Lt.) A. T., A.
Youngs George, A".
Jones Benjamin, D.
Youngs John D.
Kcllcher Jeremiah, D.
Thirteenth Regiment Infantry.
Kempton William D., D.
Kimhcrly Albert A., D.
Ackley Abram E., D.
Lane Henry L., D.
Lamed Edward A., Z>.
Leary Patrick, D.
Lewis James C., D.
McGowan John, D.
McGuire James, D.
McLachlan Wells, D.
McManus Edward, K.
Matthews Stephen A., W.
Merwin Charles N., W.
Miesner (1st Lt.) Louis, W.
Miller William, D.
Moore William H., D.
Morris Charles, D.
Moshcr James D., D.
Murphey Edward, D.
Munson Charles, D.
Munson Henry B., D.
Nettleton (1st Lt.) I. F., D.
Nickerson Edwin L., K.
Nops Benedict, D.
O'Brien John, K.
Peck Daniel R., D.
Pile Benjamin, D.
Roach John, D.
Roath Leonard G., K.
Roberts William F., D.
Rogers Gardner B., D.
Reynolds Andrew J., D.
Reynolds William II.,. D.
Reynolds William H., W.
Richmond Edward S., A.
Ruscoe Hiram, D.
Ryan William, D.
Sarles Benjamin O., K.
Secelle Theodore, A.
Selleet George B., D.
Scribner William F., D.
Shardon Martin J., D.
Shea John, D.
Simeons Lewis E., D.
Skiff George C., D.
Slover Chester, D.
Smith James, D.
Stanley Frank E., K.
Stanley Frank W., W.
Strickland (1st Lt.) Jos., -ST.
Sturges Frederick L., D.
Sutliff Friend, D.
Taylor John J., D.
Thorns John W., D.
Tomlinson Charles H., K.
Torrance James, K.
Tryon Charles E., D.
Tyler Fernando H., D.
Tyrell Payne S., D.
Underwood James V., D.
Waldron Frederick E., W.
Warner Aaron C., D.
Weed Ed. R,, D.
Welch Henry, D.
Welch Patrick, D.
Westhus Bemhardt, D.
Wickwire Franklin L., D.
Williams Albert G., D.
Williamson James, D.
Wheeler (2d Lt.) John T., A.
Whitman Elijah N., D.
ROLL OF HONOR.
861
Fourteenth Regiment Infantry.
Abby John, K.
Allen Amory, K.
Allyn Stephen D., W.
Allyn William R., D.
Ames Thomas M., K.
Avery Oliver C., D.
Baldwin George W., W.
Bangston Charles, D.
Banks Wesley, W.
Barker John, D.
Barrows Charles, A'.
Barry Robert, K.
Beber Charles A., K.
Beebe Charles A., K.
Becklcy Birdsey, K.
Benton Raphael W., K.
Ben ton Joel C., D.
Bidwell Lucius E., K.
Blimm (Capt.) Jarvis E., K.
Booth Elisba S., W.
Bond Joseph B., D.
Bouncy William S., D.
Bradshaw William, W.
Brainard Thomas I., K.
Brewer Edward H., D.
Bronson (Capt.) Isaac R., W.
Brooks Charles S., K.
Brcckett Edwin, W.
Brown William C., A'.
Brown Henry, K.
Brown James M., K.
Buckingham E. C.
Briflet Charles F., D.
Burke John, D.
Burrows Daniel L., D.
Burrows Charles, K.
Burton Chester, K.
Burton Lewis G., W.
Butler Nathaniel, D.
Canlicld(2dLt.)D.E.,A".
Carlock George,, K.
Caulkins John F., K.
Cause William M., W.
Cavanagh Francis, A'.
Chadwiek Robert A., A'.
Chapman William, D.
Chamberlain Joseph A., D.
Clark Aaron A., A'.
Clement Moses G., A'.
Clement Nathaniel C., D.
Cole Alonzo E., W.
Comes (2d Lt.) W. A., W.
Comstock Albert 0., D.
Conners James P., A".
Cooper James, D.
Corbit George W., W.
Corbit William H., W.
Crampton Cornctt M., D.
Crosby (2d Lt.) G. H., D.
Cummings John, D.
Cunningham John, D.
Curtis Ilanford, D.
Curtis Benjamin, D.
Daniel John, A'.
Dart Charles E., W.
Davis William, Z>.
Delaney Michael, D.
Dibble Alfred H., K.
Dixon George, D.
Dorman Orrin, D.
Dorcy Edward, W.
Dudley Henry C., D.
Dwight Franklin, W.
Eno Frederick R., K.
Fairchild Amos H., D.
Farmer Harman, W.
Farar David H.. D.
Field Edmund L, K.
Field Chester C., W.
Fiske (Capt.) Samuel, D.
Flint Curtis W., D.
Frost Albert jS., A'.
Fuller Benjamin R., K.
Fuller Franklin, D.
Gibbons (Capt.) E. W., W.
Glossenger William, K.
Goodell William W., K.
Greene John, K.
Griswold Russell, K.
Gurley John, jr., D.
Hamilton Charles T., W.
Harrison Frederick, W.
Hart Thomas, K.
Hart (2d Lieut.) E. W., D.
Ilanford Charles J.
Henderson James, D.
Herring Samuel, K.
Hill Albert M., W.
Hine Luther R., K.
Hodges Nelson, W.
Hollistor Francis, D.
Hollister Frederick J., D.
Hubbard Lucian W., D.
Hubbard Robert, K.
Hull Richard L., K.
Hurlburt John J., D.
Huxham Samuel, K.
Hyatt Charles G., D.
Jackson Patrick, W.
Jacobs William, W.
Janot Joseph, D.,
Jerome Elias L., K.
Johnson Elisha, D.
Johnson George W., D.
Jones Watson, W.
Jones John, W.
Judd Austin, D.
Julian John F., W.
Keam Jacob, K.
Kcegan Michael, K.
Keller Henry, K.
Kelly Thomas, K.
Kcrnin Patrick, A'.
Kenyon Eugene W., D.
Kelsey Alson A., D,
Kittle Stephen D., A'.
Lane John L., D.
Latue Charles, D.
Laughlin Frank, A'.
Leftingwcll Ozias C., D.
Lewis Tlmddeus W., K.
Lloyd Patrick, W.
Lloyd Henry A., W.
Lincoln David B., W.
Lovejoy William F., K.
Madigan Michael, K.
McLaughlin James, K.
McCauley James, D.
McClusky Joseph, W.
McAlhatten Charles, K.
McVay James, D.
Mann Edward W., K.
Mansfield William, K.
Marsh William D., K.
Masterson Patrick, D.
Maynard Jabez B., D.
Maynard Erastus A., D.
May George S., K.
Metcalf Martin V. B., W.
Mills William S., K.
Mills Thomas J., D.
Miller Hermon, K.
Miner John, K.
Mix David, D.
Morgan Henry, D.
Mollan Alfred G., D.
Moore Frederick, D.
Morse Charles D., D.
Mott William, K.
Myers William S., D.
Nichols Bradley, \V.
Niles Frederick W., D.
Norton Arnon L., W.
Norton William H., K.
Norton William E., K.
Norton Francis M., K.
Norton Edward F., K.
Otis Josiah L. D., D.
Otis Daniel II., W.
Osborn Robert W., D.
Orcutt Henry W., K.
Owen Henry, \V.
Packard David, D.
Parks John W., K.
Parsons Heman, D.
Penfield George II., D.
Pcrcey Frank J., K.
Perkins Erastus B., W.
Pcterscn Hans, D.
Phillips Jonathan W., W-
Pickett Birdsey, D.
Pritchard Orlan C., W.
Post John W., D.
Puffer Joseph, K.
Ramsdell \Villiam P., K.
Reardon Cornelius, W.
Redfield John D., D.
Reed Norton A., D.
Richardson Miles G., D.
Rising Roland, W.
Root Sylvanus E., D. .
Russell William, D.
Scranton Francis S., W.
Scranton Thomas M., D.
Scranton Lewis W., D.
Schulte Christopher, D.
Scully James, K.
Seurle Julius F., D.
Shalk (IstLt.) Fred. E., W.
Sbaughncssy Michael, A^.
Shepard James B., A'.
Shiier Anurew, W,
862
APPENDIX. *
Simons Charles, W.
Simmons Daniel, W.
Slessenger Charles, W.
Smith John H., K.
Smith Charles II., D.
Snow Worthington, D.
Sperry Judson E., D.
Spencer Edison W., K.
Stannard Ezra D., D.
Stannard George E., W.
Standish Walter F., K.
Stanley (IstLt.) T. A., W.
Starkey Robert, D. .
Steele Sylvester W., K.
Stevens Horace B., K.
Talcott Lucius, D.
Talcott Samuel L., W.
Taylor Smith S., D.
Tiernay Michael, D.
Timmons Daniel, W.
Tiley Henry, K.
Tucker Hiram H., D.
Tully John B., D.
Tyler Moses, D.
Wadhams (IstLt.) H.W.,/v.
Wadsworth Lucius, D.
Waldo Christopher, D.
Ward Frederick S., K.
Wayner Gottfreit, D.
Webster John R., W.
Welton Frederick F., D.
Wilkie Thomas, W.
Willard (Capt.) Sam. F., K.
Woldert Adam, D.
Wright Dwight II., D.
Yerrington Henry P., W.
Fifteenth Regiment Infantry.
Allen Charles S., D.
Andrews Sidney M., D.
Augur (Lt.) M. C., Q. M.
Baldwin C. S.
Bailey Oscar M., D.
Beach Lyman A.
Baker Francis P., A.
Baker Thomas, D.
Baker James R.
Bassett Hobert- A. D.
Beecher F. K.
Bishop Austin, D.
Benjamin C. A.
Boylen Philip, D.
Barnard Thomas G.
Brooks Thomas, D.
Boylen Luke.
Bradley Edgar S., D.
Bassart Pedro.
Brown Charles C., D.
Brocken Timothy.
Boyle C. A.
Bellwood Theodore.
Burwell J. H.
Carpenter Franklin S.
Clark Dennis, D.
Cook Alvah J.
Coon Joseph, D.
Coulter Samuel, D.
Cullom Michael, D.
Crowley Daniel.
Curtiss Henry L., D.
Culver Henry.
Crandall Dudley W.
Davis John N., D.
Dean George.
Dolph William H., D.
Doolittlc Henry C., D.
Durgal F. S.
Douds Benjamin R., D.
Dudley Edward W.
Dutton Theodore.
Dougherty Bernard.
Divine Patrick, D.
Dugan John.
Ely James S., D.
Fields John L., D.
Foote Philo B., D.
Flynn Richard, D.
Forde John.
Glassford William H., K.
Hill Russell, D.
Hitchcock Andrew B., D.
Hull James C., D.
Hursel Conrad, Band.
Howley Edmund.
Haley Thomas, D.
Hiimmond Joseph, D.
Huntley Albert.
Howe G. H.
Hull H. Ellsworth.
Ivcs Delavan W., D.
Jennings Edward, D.
Johnson Edward.
Keartning Thomas, D.
Kilbridc Mark, D.
Kcnncy Alvin.
Lines James B., D.
Leestrainge Michael, D.
Lewis George H., D.
Linslcy Jacob F., D.
Linsley Samuel M., D.
Lord Henry C.
Lynch Thomas, D.
Martin Henry.
Morse Augustus G., D.
Munson Oliver S., D.
Miller Edward A.
Miller Christian.
Mortimer Alonzo S.
Norton Burritt M., D.
Olmstead Oscar.
Onghemach John, D.
Osborn John.
Parker James B.
Parlon Prescott W.
Pardee Milton P., D.
Peck (Capt.) Henry B., D.
Phelps Austin, D.
Pickett Elliott R.
Pettee Rothens, D.
Ransom Joseph.
Reynolds John, D.
Roberts J. G. L., D.
Roberson William H., D.
Rogers Mason.
Rcdfield Willis, A.
Reynold G. H.
Sperry Henry E.
Sherman Benjamin R., D.
Smith George, D.
Smith Martin L., D.
Spencer Lewis F., D.
Sperry Jared L., D.
Stone Charles E., D.
Smith Jacob A., K.
Smith (Capt.) S. S.
Smith C. R.
Sturgess Joseph A.
Story John O., D.
Striby Emil.
Talmadgc Frank P., D.
Talmadgc John C., D.
Thompson Irvin B.
Treat Noyes.
Tuttlc Beir.s.
Thompson George W.
Thompson (Lt.) W. W.
Uhl William, A.
Wade Charles T., D.
Whaley Albert H.
Sixteenth Regiment Infantry,
Aborns Francis, D.
Eldritch Henry, K. '
Allen George W., K. .
Allen John W., W.
Allen Solomon H., K.
Allyn Ralph, K.
Barber Henry W., K.
Barber (Capt.) Fred. M., K.
Barnes Jesse O., K.
Barnes Gideon S., D.
Barnett Henry, K.
Barrows Dwight, D.
Bcnton Charles H., D.
Bingham John F., K.
Bout Daniel, D.
Braman John P., D.
Brooks James W., W.
Brown (Capt.) Samuel, K.
Brookman George, W.
Burr Francis H., W.
Bushnell James W., D.
Campbell Orville, K.
Cadwcll Mortimer H., D.
Case Hosea E., D.
Case Lowell M., D.
Case Orville J., D.
Chamberla'n Rufus, W.
Champlin Andrew G., D.
Clancy Tcrrence, K.
Cook Asa L., W.
Cooley Frederick P., K.
Cowan William, W.
Cullums William N., K.
Cullums George, D.
DcMars Theodore E., K.
Duff William, K.
Drake (Capt.) John L., K.
Evans Henry D., K.
Fleming Elliott, K.
Foster Philip H., K.
Foster Gilbert B., W.
Gengan James, K.
Gladding Timothy, K.
ROLL OF HONOR.
863
K Grace Michael, K.
Greene Leonard A., D.
Griggs John L., D.
v Grosvener Joseph A., K.
Hagar Edward, W.
Hale Nathan, D.
f Hamilton H., K. tf
Harris Albert S., D.
Hawlev Hobert A., W.
"- Hill Albert M., K.
Hines James, W.
"^ Hines Stephen, K.
Hobbs John F., D.
Hollister Bridgman J., W.
•""Horton (IstLt.) William, K.
Hubbard William H., D.
Hubbard Rufus N., D.
Hunn Horace, D.
Ingram Charles W., D.
•-' Kent John S., K.
King Charles C., W.
Lathrop Whitney E., D.
Lay Horace, W.
Loveland John, W.
Lyman Marcus E., D. i
v Macarty Thomas, K.
t,- McGrath James, K.
Mills Samuel C., W.
Mix (Capt.) Edward H., A.
Morgan Robert P., W.
- Mam-oss (Capt.) N. J., K.
* Mumsell Elijah, K.
Newell Levi H., D.
' Nichols William W., K.
S North William A., K.
,. Parmelee Edward A., K.
Parsons Edwin L., D.
Patrick James, D.
- Pease Charles W., K.
Peckham James W., D.
Perry James M., D.
Pinney Delos R., D.
Pockett Joseph, D.
Porter Linus A., D.
Porter William W., D.
v Prior S. Franklin, K.
Rivers Joseph, W.
Rowley Edwin L., D.
Safford William P., D.
••' Scott Robert, K.
Sharp Theodore W., D.
Shcpard Miles D., D.
Smith Henry L., D.
•'' Smith Michael, K.
^ Snow Nelson E., K.
Stevens Charles G., W.
Sternberg Charles M., D.
Stoughton Sanford, D.
Sugden William, D.
Talcott Avthur D. N., D.
Tennant (Capt.) C. A., W.
Thompson (,1st Lt.) S. H., D.
• Truesdell Augustus, K.
v Twiss Jasoii E., K.
Wardwell Emerson, W.
Warner Horace M., K.
y Washburn Wadsworth A , K.
Waterman Charles II., IF.
White John J., D.
Wilcox Frank E., D.
Wildman Cornelius, K.
Wilsey Julius C., A'.
Wilson Joseph A., D.
Wilson Orvill M., W.
Woodruff Sam uel E., D.
Wright Joseph, D.
Wright Francis H., D.
Wright Jason, D.
Seventeenth Regiment Infantry.
Armstrong Joseph H., D.
Avant William, D.
Arnold Lewis, W.
Barnum Bethel S., K.
Beach Nelson, D.
Benedict Charles S., D.
Benedict William E., D.
Benson ( Capt. ) D. O., D.
Benson Frank J., W.
Blackman Theodore, K.
Black John A., K.
Bradley William F., K.
Bronson August E., W.
Brown Thomas D., D.
Brown Henry, K.
Buttery Elias, D.
Burdett Samuel J., D.
Clark William S., W.
Comstock Samuel, 2d, W.
Crabbe Caseins M., K.
Crofut Stephen C., K.
Cromma Archibald, D.
Cumiskey John, K.
Curtis William, D.
Dauchy William O., K.
Delavan Smith, W.
Delavan Charles L, D.
Ferrin Charles Z., D.
Flynn James, W.
Fowler (Lt.-Col.) D., K.
Fox Michael, K.
Foote Gains St. John, D.
Fry John G., D.
Glover Martin V. B., D.
Graham Thomas R., K.
Gregory William S., K.
Gurnsey George H., W.
Hartning William, D.
I-Iawkhurst William H., D.
Hayes George R., D.
Ilearnc James, D.
llendricks George B., D.
Hickey John, D.
Hoyt John W., D.
Husted Elnathan, D.
Jackson John W., D.
Jarm'an Walter M., K.
Jessop Edwin B., Z).
Johnson Elias, D.
Lewis Charles B., D.
Light James H., D.
Lobdell Eli, D.
Mahan Hugh, K.
McLaughlin Thomas, W.
Metcalf John W., K.
Morgan Wilber B., D.
Moore (Capt.) James, E.,K.
Morrell Charles E., D.
Monger John N., D.
Olmsted Christopher S., D.
Patterson George,. W.
Peck Lemuel, D.
Pickett Edwin D., K.
Potts Joseph M., K.
Purdy Daniel H., W.
Rae John W., D.
Handle Lewis, D.
Reynolds George W., W.
Richards Edward, D.
Rogers William A., W.
Rourke Patrick, D.
Scofield Orlando F., D.
Seymour Francis E., D.
Small Charles S., D.
Smith Edwin R., D.
Stevens Albert, D.
Stevens William T., D.
Taylor Richard D., W.
Walter (Lt.-Col.) Chas., K.
Warren Rufus, W.
Watenvorth James, D.
Weed Raymond, D.
Westlake William W., W.
Whitlock Joseph S., W.
Wilcox Alva E., W.
Wood George H. D.
Woodman Ireneus P., W.
Eighteenth Regiment Infantry.
Adams Russell W., D.
Adams Joseph P., K.
Adams William L., K.
Apley Henry, D.
Asbery George F., D.
Ashley Earl, K.
Baldwin Charles, K.
Barber Charles A., K.
Beckwith Charles II., D.
Bennett Daniel G., K.
Bogue Jabez H., K.
Bosworth Charles A., D.
Buck Lorenzo H., D.
Bundy Asa H., D.
Brown Russell M., K.
Brady John T., K.
Burdick Horatio, D.
Burnett Albert, K.
Burnham Oliver B., W.
Burnham James T., K.
Cahoone Jerome B., K.
Campbell William H., D.
Carr Nathaniel S., D.
Chapman Elias H., D.
Chapman Seth S., D.
Chappel Alfred S., Z).
Cooper Thomas D., K.
Crawford John, W.
Culver (Adjutant) E. B., W.
Cushman Isnart P., D.
Daggett James, A'.
Dilliber Andrew N., K.
Fanning Charles T., K.
Fenton Anson A., K.
Forestner Joseph, D.
864
APPENDIX.
Fox Wallace, D.
Franklin Albert G., K.
Green John S., K.
Green David, D.
Green Nathan B., D.
Hamilton William H., K.
Hayes George S., D.
Herrick John P., D.
Holmes Asher D., K.
Howard George E., K.
Johnson Edwin F., K.
Jones Thomas F., K.
Kinney Thomas, D.
Leonard Irish, K.
Marcy Samuel L., D.
McMahan Thomas, K.
McCraeken II. H., K.
McCracken James, K.
McGinnis(lstLt.)J. T., W.
Martin Islay B., W,
Noyes Charles C., K.
Oatley Stephen H., K.
Paine William II., K.
Parsons Willard O., K.
Penry John, D.
Pickett George W., K.
Porter (Capt.) Ed ward L., A'.
Eawson Stiles, D.
Rood Julius J., D. *
Hose Hiram D., K.
Schalk John, D.
Scott John B., K.
Sharkey Robert, K.
Sheridan Cornelius F., A'.
Simmons Tho'mas, K.
Smith Wallace, K.
Snell Alfred A., D.
Spanking (Capt.) W. L., K.
Tabor Kdwin S., D.
Thompson Nelson C., W.
Thomas Edwin, D.
Thorn hill William S., W.
Town William 1L, D.
Tracy Alfred E., K.
Weeks James M., jr., K.
Woodmancy Albert D., K.
Wilbcr Daniel, A.
Young Walter, A.
Twentieth Regiment Infantry.
Andrus Charles W., D.
Arnold Edwin, D.
Bailey Jarnes B., K.
Barker John W., D.
Barrett James, D.
Bell Grove L., D.
Benham Reuben, K.
Booth Henry T., D.
Bronson Royal L., W.
Brooks Charles W., D.
Brooks Joel J., K.
Buckingham Joel, K-
Buckley John, D.
Burnham Hiram, K.
Cassidy James, W.
Chapman Owen, D.
Clooney William, D.
Coens Michael, Z),
Coleman William A., K.
Davis Charles B., D.
Danner Louis, D.
DeBnnk William, D.
Demay Heman, W.
Dewasa Augustine, D.
Devine Timothy, A.
Dick Charles L., D.
Dickcrman Joel C., K.
Doolittlc ( 1st Lieut.)E. A.,D.
Downs Burton, K.
Dunn James, A.
Farrell Henry, D.
Fillins George W, D.
Finegan John, K.
Ford William M., W.
Foley John, K.
Foster Melvin, D.
Francis Thomas, K.
Garner Thomas, K.
Gaston Samuel N., D.
Geer Henry S., D.
Griffiths (2d Lieut. .)D.N.,^T.
Guilford George S., Z>-
Hale Walter, W.
Hart David W., W.
Hellenthat Philip, 'Z>.
Hendryx James W., K.
Hitchcock Augustus, D.
Hill John, D.
Hotchkiss Julius H., D.
Howd Julius B., D.
Jones David W..JF.
Johnson Thomas, D.
Kane Henry, D.
Kelley Barney W., D.
Kelsey Gilbert I., D.
Knapp John S., D.
Lawlcr John, D.
Lee Erastus R. D.
Lewis Judson, D.
Lyon Charles E., D.
McLean John, D.
Moss Frankl'n, D.
Moss Titus, A'.
Morse Edward L., D.
Morse Francis B., D.
Mulvey Barnard, K.
Murphy Patrick, D.
Norton Luzcrne T., K.
O'Brien George, K.
Peck Allen L., D.
Perry John D., K.
Platt Zenas, D.
Potter Samuel, K.
Powers John, A'.
Prout Titus M., A.
Preston John L., K.
Redshaw Thomas, K. •
Richardson James D.
Roberts Charles H., W.
Roberts Charles F., K.
Root John S., K.
Roswcll Philo, W.
Rowell David B., W.
Royce Albert L., D.
Russell Albert F., D.
Shipmaker George B., W.
Simons Thomas, W.
Skelly John G., D,
Smith Joel, D.
Smith George E., D.
Smith Herbert E., D.
Smith Charles H., K.
Smith (Capt.) Henry C.,A.
Spencer Samuel T., D.
Steers William H., D.
Stillman Albert, K.
Talmadgc William E., D.
Todd Henry A., D.
Upson (Capt.) Andrew, K.
Watkins Hiram B., D.
Whitlock Frederick, D.
Whittaker William, D.
White Thomas, D.
Williams Charles, D.
Williams Frederick II., }V.
Twenty-first Regiment In
fantry.
Adams Edwin H., D.
Adams Daniel L., W.,
Andrews Charles B., W.
A very Charles, K.
Babcock Albert C.,D.
Babcock Henry 0., Z).
Bennett Theodore F., K.
Benjamin Sidney, D.
Bliss George E., D.
Brackett John M., D.
Brainard Fred. K. Z., D.
Brainard Stillman, D.
Brightman Denison, K.
Brown Henry D., D,
Brown Charles F., D.
Burdick Alfred L., D.
Burpee (Col.) Thomas, W.
Carney Martin, D.
Carpenter Joseph W., D.
Chollard John A., D.
Chapman Rufus C., D.
Clark William H., D.
Clark Edwin J., D.
Clifford Michael, D.
Crosby George H., D.
Cullin John, D.
Dart Edwin F., D.
Davis Elias N., Z).
Davis James A., D.
Douglass David R., D.
Dutton (Col.) Arthur H., W.
Edgerton Gecrge, D.
Eldredgc Aaron W., K.
Eccleston Edwin F., D.
Ellsworth James B., D.
Farnham Sidney B., D.
Fitzgerald John, W.
Flint George B., D.
Freeman Alfred J., K.
Gay Thomas W., D.
Geer John B., £>.
Goff James B , D.
Greene Lyman, K.
Greene Charles T., D.
Greenfield Charles T., D.
Heath Amos F., K.
ROLL OF HONOR.
865
Heath James A., D.
Boos William, D.
Hulse William, D.
Buck D. Winthrop, D.
Hyatt James W., D.
Corbin John W., D.
Johnson William, W.
Edgerton Allton L., D.
Jones Edwin B., D.
Easton Oliver, jr., D.
Lamb Warren A., D.
Ellenberg'cr Charles, D.
Landrigan Daniel, D.
Foster Eleazer B., Z).
Lash Gottlob, W.
Francis Charles J., D.
Litchfield Elisha P., D.
Goodwin David B., D.
Maguire Thomas, D.
Hemingway Daniel E., D.
Maynard Augustus E., D.
Lathrop Benjamin F., D.
Main Jesse M., D.
Porter Leroy S., D.
Main Latham H., D.
Rice Rodney H., D.
McCammon James, W.
Spencer Frederick A., D.
Marrow Thomas, K.
Shepard Alonzo, D.
McMellen John J., D.
Turner Charles D., D.
Metcalf Mason M., D.
Willard Eugene B., D.
Minor Joseph H., D.
AVelch John, A.
Mulligan Patrick H., A.
Musgrave Francis J., D.
Murphy Dennis, D.
Twenty-third Regiment In
fantry.
Munsell William S., K.
Adams Charles, D.
Noble Hiram, D.
Ahern Daniel, D.
Norton John, D.
Barnum Frederick C., D.
Olmsted Evelyn, D.
Beers Hawley, D. •
Owen Elijah F., D.
Bradley Daniel B., D.
Parsons Henry A., D.
Bronso'n Luther N., W.
Pease Cyrus J., K.
Burton Rollin S., D.
Perkins Julius A., D.
Carter Henry, D.
Peck Dwight B., D.
Carter Ammi, D.
Peters Hewlett, D.
Cole Julius N., D.
Phillips Curtis, D.
Comstock William E., D.
Pickett William, K.
Cornell Thomas C., K.
Pitcher Henry, D.
Crofut Charles W., D.
Prentice A. LeRoy, Z).
Curtis Frederick L., D.
Reynolds Alfred E., K.
Deforest George W., D.
Rich Bernice B., D.
Dexter Henry L., D.
Rogers Charles H., D.
Eastford Cyrus B., D.
Robinson James A., D.
Edwards David S., D.
Robinson William, D.
Gage Selah, D.
Robinson Calvin N., D.
Gillett David A., Z).
Sheppion Daniel, K.
Godfrey (Capt.) G. M., D.
Shay lor Justin R., D.
Goodale Grimes, D.
Sheppee Amos, D.
Gorham Lewis H., D.
Stanton Joseph W., D.
Hamlin Almon E., D.
Staples Charles A., D.
Hamlin William R., D.
Starkweather Benjamin, K.
Johnson George B., Z>.
Staplins Stephen, D.
Knapp Michael F., D,
Stemm Max, D.
Keller Adolph, K.
Sutton George C., D.
Lillis John, D.
Thomas George S., D.
Light Charles, D. '
Thome Henry W., K.
Lockwood Charles, D.
Tucker Frank, D.
Marshall John, Z>.
Watrous Timothy, D.
Mead Watson M., D.
Wells Samuel 0., D.
Meeker Charles S., D.
West Alfred M., D.
Merwin Francis B., Z>.
White Rufus C., K.
Moulthrop Abraham L., K.
Wilcox Chancy F., D.
Nichols Franklin W., D.
Wilcox Leonard, D.
Ould Samuel, W.
Williams Charles H., W.
Peck (2d Lieut.) E. F., Z).
Wilson William, D.
Parke William W., D.
Wood George W., D.
Porter George A., D.
Wyllys Whiting S., D.
Porter George B., K.
York William R., Z).
Scofield William, A.
Serine Orrin D.
Twenty-second Regiment In
Scribner Aaron 0., D.
fantry.
Smith Dwight L., D.
Allen David R., D.
Starr (1st Lieut.) Fred., W.
109
Treat Frederick W., D.
Webster Joel F., D.
Wheeler Abel M., W.
Wood Cyrus, D.
Twenty -fourth Regiment In
fantry.
Alexander Lucius P., D.
Avery Timothy A., D.
Baker Charles, D.
Barry John, K.
Barry Patrick, A.
Bray William, jr., K.
Brainard Harris A., W.
Brown Henry B., D.
Bushnell Sereno H., W.
Carroll Charles, K.
Carroll John F., K.
Clark Samuel E., D.
Cottar John, D.
Curtis Julius, D,
Dibble Charles A., K.
Dickinson Aaron B., D.
Dunn Edward, D.
Eaton Edward, K.
Evans Hiram, D.
Galligan Philip, D.
Gaylord Marshall, D.
Gillett Oscar A., D.
Goodyear Gardner F., D.
Goodyear Lyman J., D.
Goodyear (2d Lieut.) L., D.
Greenwood Samuel E., A.
Ives Edgar D., K.
Keene Edward, D.
Lyman Thomas, D.
Mason Frederick S., D.
McCarty John, K.
McCartin Patrick, D.
Merriman Harvey, K,
Miller Amos G., K.
Nettleton Erwin, D.
O'Donnel John, D.
Owens Patrick, D.
Paddock Luman, D.
Parker Elisha, D.
Peck Andrew, D.
Pcnfield Augustus, D.
Pierpont Horace, D.
Platt Newell H., D.
Platts Samuel S., W.
Post (1st Lieut.) B. C., D.
Potter Charles H., D.
Pratt Seiden, D.
Rigby Charles, K.
Rilcy Thomas, D.
Robinson William H., D.
Rutty Ellsworth, D.
Scott Selleck, K.
Scholl Henry, W.
Sizer Albert M., D.
Smith Robert, K.
Spencer Cyrus, D.
Spencer Russell, D.
Stevens Charles D., D.
Walters Henrv, D.
Warner Wallace R., D.
Wetmore George, Z>.
866
APPENDIX.
Wilcox Miner J., D.
Wilcox George W., D.
Wooding Ilobart, Z).
Wright Screno A., D.
Twenty-jifth Regiment In
fantry.
Addis Ira B., K.
Arnold Charles R., D.
Barrows Samuel F., D.
Beach John W., D.
Bennett Noble H., D.
Bissell Carlos F., K.
Bissell William O., D.
Booth Austin C., D.
Brandly John, D.
Brooks Abner S., K.
Bulkley Robert, K.
Button William, W.
Carrier Miletus H., W.
Carter John, D.
Chadwick James A., D.
Chapman James B., D.
Clapp (2d Lieut.) C., D.
Cobb Charles A., D.
Coe Leverett II., D.
Cook Charles S., W.
Dart Fred. W., D.
Dewey (2d Lieut.) D. P.,K.
Denley George C., D.
Deming Philip, D.
Faulkner William G., W.
Francis John M., D.
Gower Edwin J., D.
Gowcr Sparling J., D.
Graham Albert, K.
Grey Zcbulon, K.
Griffin Emory M., D.
Grover Charles D., W.
Hayden (Capt.) S. S., K.
Holcomb John 0., D.
Holden Jonas G., K:
Hollister Andrew, D.
House William W., jr., D.
Hunt John H., W.
Hyer Elizur, D.
Jackson Wellington, K.
Johnson (Capt.) N. P., D.
Jones Alonzo S., D.
Latham Webster B., D.
Lawton Samuel A., K.
Long Michael, D.
Marks Lucius F., D.
Martin John, K.
Moore John C., D.
Newberry Horace H., D.
Oliver (2d Lieut. ) W. A., W.
Palmer Andrew, D.
Parmlec Charles M., D.
Parsons Norton T., D.
Prindle Edward D-, K.
Porter William, ft.
Robinson George 11,, D.
Robinson George, D.
Rockwell Henry E., W.
Rogers Chauneey, D.
Rogers William, jr., D.
Root Cyrus, Z).
Skinner (Surgeon) A. B., D.
Simpson George W., D.
Talcott Wallace S., W.
Taylor Charles, Z>.
Thomas Emerson B., D.
Thompson Albert F., D.
Thrall Jason, D.
Ticknor Frederick W., D.
Tuller Leroy, D.
Twining Charles E., W.
Tuttle William H., D.
Upson Charles, D.
Wallace Erskine, W.
Warner Hiram L., D.
Ward Elijah, D.
Webster Linus E., W.
Wheeler James E., D.
Willis Madison C., D.
Wilson Archibald, K.
Woodruff Alson T., D.
Wright James W., D.
Wright Henry D., K.
Twenty-sixth Regiment In
fantry.
Avery Courtland C., D.
Bailey Edwin W., W.
Bailey Henry C., D.
Bailey Pruscius, D.
Barber John, D.
Barker Joseph R., K.
Barnes Amos D., D.
Beckwith Charles J., D.
Beebe Samuel P., D.
Berger Leonhard, D.
Bentley Adam C., D.
Bogue David G., D.
Brooks Henry, W.
Bromlcj' Miles, D.
Brooks Augustus O., D.
Brooks. Henry, W.
Brown William J., W.
Brown Andrew II., W.
Bui'lingame Albert J., D.
Button Edward, W.
Chapell Horace L., W.
Chapcll George H., W.
Chapell John 0., K.
Chapman Andrew M., D.
Chapman William E., W.
Child Chester R., D,
Church William H., D.
Church William W., D.
Christie Edwin L., D.
Clark Ebenezer J., D.
Cooney James, K.
Crandall Charles P., W.
Daniels John C., D.
Dugan James, D.
Edgerton George F., D.
Edwards Horatio N., D.
Ellis Rodman, D.
Fellows William C., D.
Ferrister Dennis, W.
Flike Joseph, K.
France George, D.
Franklin Allen H., D.
Frink Thomas H., D.
Gard Frank W., D.
Geer Cyrus M., W.
Gray George S., Z).
Gray Montgomery, D.
Green Elisha N., D.
Griffiths Jared, D.
Haire William H., D.
Harding Thomas R., W.
Henrick Philip, K.
Hobson Wolcott, W.
Holmes Daniel, W.
Holmes George R., D.
Jacobs (2d Lieut.) H.F., W.
Johnson James W., D.
Johnson Stephen T., D.
Kenyon (1st Lt.) M. R., D.
Keyes Edwin R., W.
Kohl Joseph, W.
Latham William P., W.
Lombard James, K.
Lord Dexter M., D.
Lord Ames W., D.
Lyons Orrin E., K.
Lyon Origen, D.
Luther Orrin M., D.
Lyman Christopher A., ZX
Main Nathaniel, D.
Main David W., D.
Main William A., D.
Manace Thomas, D.
Manning (2d Lt.) E. P., D.
Martin David A., D.
Matthews John H., D.
Maynard John, D.
Maynard Appleton J., D.
Maynard Joseph S., D.
Miller George, D.
Miner Charles H., W.
Miner Charles H., D.
Murray William, D.
Myers Elias E., D.
NilesJohnA., W.
Nye John, K.
Osborn William B., W.
Palmer Noyes W., D.
Parkenson James, W.
Phillips John, D.
Phillips Norman A., W.
Prentice John R., D.
Randall (Capt.) Jedediah, W-
Rathburn Elisha K., D.
Rowland Alonzo W., W.
Roath Daniel H., D.
Rohbins Henry, D.
Ruckert John, D.
Seignions John L., W.
Shirley Thomas H., D.
Sheffield Nathan S., K.
Sherman William J., W.
Slater Rudolph, K.
Smith Albert, W.
Smith Henry L., D.
Snow Lucius J., D.
Stanton (Capt.) John S., K.
S terry Phincas B., W.
Tabrecht Thomas, D.
Thompson James F., K.
Tillottson Joseph A., K.
ROLL OF HONOR.
867
Tinker James, D.
Tooker William N., D.
Warner Ulysses S., W.
Watrous William H., D.
Weemes Thaddcus M., W.
Whipple Austin, D.
Willcy Charles W., K.
Winchester John B., A'.
Wood Nathaniel M., D.
Young Albert F., D.
Tweiity -seventh Regiment In
fantry.
Ailing Frank E., K.
Ailing Charles L., D.
Baldwin George C., D.
Barrett Thomas E., K.
Beecher Nelson N., D.
Bennett Joseph, }V.
Bomherdt William F., D.
Bodwell William, W.
Brown George, K.
Burke William, K.
Cabanis Albert, K.
Castle Andrew B., K.
Chapman Jeded, jr., A'.
Ciark Samuel B., A'.
Clark John G., D.
CHnton James G., A".
Cobb Benjamin II., D.
Conf'rey Michael, K.
Condon Patrick, W.
Cornwall Charles E., K.
Dolph Edward B., D.
Dunn Patrick, W.
Eddy Jairus C., W.
Fairchild Augustus B., K.
Farr Edward B., K.
Fowler Richard H., W.
Fowler Samuel, 2d, W.
Goodwin John, A^.
Goodwin William A., jr., K.
Goodwill William, D.
Hazzard Edward C., D.
Higgins Loren M., W.
Hill George S., D.
Hill William G., W.
Hill Henry B., W.
Ililliard Henry B., D.
Hull Joseph, D.
Johnson Frank A., D.
Johnson Josiah, W.
Judson Marcus O., K.
Judson George J., K.
Keller Gilbert, K.
Lounsbury John W., D.
Marks Treat A., D.
Mcrwin (Lt.-Col.) H. C.,K.
Mimmack George H., K.
Mitchell John, W.
Phile William M., D.
I'lnrnb Sidney H., D.
Rawson John, K.
Reiner William, K.
Robinson John S., D.
Russell Henry D., W.
Schlieden Jacob, D.
Schuerzer (Capt.) B.E., K.
Scott William O., K.
Shelley Rums S., W.
Smith Hczekiah P., D.
S perry Gany B., K.
Taylor (Capt.) A. C , W.
Thomas Corydon N., A'.
Thompson Joseph B., D.
Thompson Edward, A'.
Thompson Sidney R., W.
Tucker Lewis M., D.
Welton Harvey S., D.
Wilford George G., W.
Wilson William E., K.
Twenty-eighth Regiment In-
Barber Samuel C., D.
Burden George, D.
Banks Stephen, D.
Deraus Charles F., K.
Beers George, D.
Bissell William E., D.
Blake Orville 0., D.
Bouton Spencer, D.
Brazic Jourdin, D.
Bronson William N., D.
Byxbee Nathan R., D.
Caldwell Samuel, D.
Churchill David, D.
Clark Edward T., D.
Clock George W., D.
Conkwright Alexander, D.
Cook George W., D.
Crane Joseph W., D.
Curtis Erwin W., D.
Dailey Henry, D.
Darrow John II., D.
Dayton Walter B., D.
Disbron Richmond, D.
Dowd Thomas F., W.
Durand (1st Lieut.) C., A'.
Duvall Daniel W., W.
Ferris Jay, D.
Fillow Henry B., D.
Ford Aaron N., D.
Gregory Charles B., D.
Haggerty Michael, W.
Hanford Benjamin F., D.
Hartson George W., W.
Hoag (Capt.; David D., K.
Hollistcr Lewis, D.
Hoyt Andrew, D.
Hoyt John E., D.
Hubbard Myron N., D.
Hungerford (2d Lt.) L., D.
Hungerford Oliver P., D.
Kenney Elmore C., D.
Kenney Noxon E., D.
Ivilcy Eugene, K.
Lamson William, D.
Leeds (Capt.) F. R., D.
Lockwood Andrew J., D.
Lockwood Henry B., D.
Lyon ( Surgeon J R. P., D.
McArthur R. A., W.
Madara Charles, D.
Marsh Dccatiir D., D.
Mead Hibbard, D.
Mills William H., 2d, D.
Mollet Thomas W., D.
Nott Egbert F., K.
Ormsbee John E., D.
Partlow Richard, D. '
Platt Gabriel W., D.
Riley Eugene, A'.
Rosborough Charles A,, \V.
Scofield Lewis B., D.
Searlcs George R., D.
Shaw Ovid P., K,
Sherwood Nathan, D.
Smith Talcut, W.
Totton William H., D.
Turner Cornelius, D.
Vail James, K.
Walton William H., D.
Wardell Jason, K.
Washburn Charles E., D.
Watson Cassius, D.
Waterbury Andrew C., D.
Waterbury Stephen R., D.
Webb William 0., D.
Weller John L., D.
Wellman Joseph, D.
Wellstood John G., jr., D.
Wheeler Mark H., A".
Wilmot George W., K.
Woodin Charles E., W.
Wright Columbus C., D.
Youngs William II., D.
Twenty-ninth Regiment Infan
try (colored).
Adams Henry E., D,
Addison John S., D.
Benson Thomas, D.
Brown Charles, D.
Carroll John, D.
Copelin Richard, D.
Collins Francis, D.
Coffin Abram P., D.
Closson William, D.
Dennis Francis, D.
Dulliran Henry, D.
Frank Oliver, D.
Freeman John R., Z).
Freeman John, D.
Gaul William H., D.
Gipson Robert A., D.
Glazier Henry, D.
Halstead Albert, D.
Hawley James, D.
Hempstead James M., D.
Holbert Morris, D.
Holmes Joseph, D.
Howard Peter, D.
Johnson Thomas, D.
Johnson Peter, D.
Lewis Emor, I).
McCoy George H., D.
Mclntyre Gurnish, D.
Maticer Benjamin, D.
Meade William, D.
Montgomery James H., D.
868
APPENDIX.
Murray John F., D.
Nelson Theodore, D.
Odell William M., D.
Ostis Raymond, D.
Price John, Z>.
Richards Samuel, D.
Rogers Lyman R., D.
Roasting Richard, D.
Royce Lyman R., D.
Russell William, D.
Saulsbury Jeremiah, D.
Seymour Austin, D.
Simmons Virgil, D.
Steward William, D.
Storms LaFayette, D.
Vance Thomas, D.
Watson Horace, D.
Williams Moses, D.
Williams George W., D.
Thirtieth Regiment Infantry
(colored).
Baker William, D.
Berdan Spencer, D.
Cunningham Alexander, D.
Daniels Josiah H., D.
Gibson James, D.
Hannibal William, D.
Hawkins Allen, D.
Johnson Frank, D.
Kanaka Friday, D.
Marshall Andrew, D.
Pasker Levi, D.
Sherman Thomas, D.
Wilson Isaac, D.
Thirty-first Regiment Infan
try (colored).
Dorn Samuel, Z).
Smith George, D.
Thomas John, D.
Walker John, D.
Drafted men assessed to R. I.
Artillery.
Bush William, D.
Hakes Peter, D.
Jackson Albert G., D.
First Squadron Cavalry.
(Known as Companies C and
D 2d New- York Cav.)
Allyn Henry W., W.
Bailey Cornelius H., A.
Batchelder Gconrc A., D.
Bishop Wallace A., D.
Burwcll George W., D.
Decker (1st Lieut ) J. N., K.
Flaherty John, W.
German William A., A.
Hallock Dudley, D.
Hosford Nathan F., D.
Martinson (2d Lieut.) A., K.
Me Stone Henry, D.
Norton Ellsworth H., K.
Oakley Gilbert, W.
Orvis Geonre A., D.
Patterson Sillman P., D.
Peudleton Damon S., D.
Riddock Thomas W., K,
Session Thomas, K.
Snell Charles D., Z).
Whittaker (1st Lt.) D., K.
Wilson Henry M., D.
First Regiment Cavalry.
(Originally organized as First
Battalion Cavalry.)
Backus (Capt.) Joseph, K.
Baker Frederick W., D.
Blivin Isaac T., D.
Bugbec Sylvester C., K.
Burke John, D.
Burbank William L., D.
Burlingame Harris, D.
Carr Andrew C., D.
Carver Michael, K.
Chaffee Eugene A., D.
Crandnll Robert B., D.
Falon George, K.
Flannagan Michael, K.
Fox Albert M., K.
Hiller Frederick J., K.
Hine Charles II., D.
Holcomb Lucius E., Z).
Jameson (Q. M. Scrgt. ) J.
S. died in Hospital at An-
dersonville.
Johnson Richard, D.
Lccrienier Giles P., K.
Morgan John, D.
Niles (Capt.) Albert II., D.
Peters John A., D.
Shields John T., D.
Sterling Theodore, D.
Thatcher Stephen G.. D.
Tilletts George W., D.
Towncr Tcrrence, D.
Tompkins Enos, A.
Traganscc William P., Z).
Warner (Capt.) A. G., A'.
Whipple Samuel S., K.
Williams (1st Lt.) Charles
Winchester Daniel B., A.
First Light Battery C. V.
Bullard Henry B., D.
Cook Fanfield, D.
Gillette Nathan, D.
Goodale George A., Z).
Graham William L., D.
Hays James, D.
Hull Joseph H., D.
Mctcalf ( 1st Lieut.) G., W.
McLean Hector, D.
Moore William E., D.
Norton Jonathan G., D.
Pettibonc Fred. K., A., D.
Roberts Edmund M. B., D.
Spencer Reuben A., D.
Spencer Henry H., D.
Taylor James J., D.
Warner Levi J., D.
Wilmot Henry L., W.
Second Light Battery C. V.
Bulkly Nathan, D.
Chase Edward B., D.
Dart An son W., D.
Hartshorn Tyler W., D.
Peck James A., D.
Ryan Dennis, D.
Wood James G., D.
First Regiment Heavy Artil
lery C. V. '
(Formerly Fourth Kegiment
Infantry.)
Ackerbcy James B., D.
Alvord Edwin B., D.
Anderson William II., D.
Atherington Edgar, D.
Austin Angell A., D.
A very Francis B., Z).
Barrett George, 2d, D.
Bassett John M., D.
Beckwith Henry M., D.
Beebc Gilbert, jr., D.
Bingham Eliphalet N., D.
Blakeslee George L., D.
Bo wen John P., D.
Brandt August, D.
Bushnell Frederick, D.
Clark Charles, D.
Clark Henry W., Z).
Comstock Charles F., A.
DeForrest Daniel B., D.
Diggen James, D.
Donahue James, D.
Dorman Fernando, D.
Ellsworth Havilah I., D.
Fnrrell Loren J., D.
Gardiner Dwight, Z>.
Glamcy Samuel C., D.
Grant Frederick L., D.
Griffin Clement, D.
Griswold Sidney, D.
Goodyear Wald'stein, W.
Harvey Robert F., D.
Holders Charles II.. D.
Hubbard Talmage N., D.
Hungerford Gordon H., D.
Hyland Thomas, K.
Kain James, D.
Kain George W., A.
Lewis Daniel W., D.
Loomis William T., A.
Lynch Owen, D.
McCarthy John, D.
McCormick James. K.
McClure John C., D.
McNeille Edward, A.
Malone John H. S., D.
Mathes Henry, K.
Minor James, D.
Morand Patrick, D.
Munroe William H., D.
Munson Reers W., Z).
ROLL OF HONOR.
869
Murphy William II., D.
Nettleman Rolan A., D.
Noble William D., D.
O'Connor Patrick, D.
Osborn Frederick A., D.
Owen Leverette B., D.
Parmlee George, D.
Payne George E., Z>.
Perkins Thomas D., D.
Pcndleton George W., D.
Porter James M., D.
Post Ezckiel L., D.
Potter William R., D.
Quinlan William H., K.
Robertson Thomas, D.
Rogers Thomas J., D.
Rogers Leverett M., D.
Roileston William N., K.
Ryder John 13., D.
Ryan Samuel S., D .
S«arle Henry M , D.
Seymour Alexis J., D.
Shoals Charles, D.
Skelly William W., D.
Sherman Thomas G., D.
Smith William E., D.
Smith Edward P., D.
Spaulding George II., D.
Stevens Henry S., D.
Stowe Luke, D,
S \veetland Julius, D.
Taylor Charles, D.
Trowbridge James A., D.
Turner James E., D.
Warner Azariah, D.
Webb James W., D.
Whiting John 0., D.
Wilson George A., D.
Second Regiment Artillery
C. V.
Adams Charles, jr., W.
Andrus Franklin, K.
Baldwin Is^ae, K.
Barber Norman B., D.
Uarnes Theodore A., K.
Barrett Augustus E., D.
Beach George L., W.
Bcckwith Albert, D.
Benedict Harhm D., D.
Boughton Ezra B., K.
Bradley John II., D.
Bradley Ira S., D.
Bragg "Robert W., K.
Brashing Fred. W., K.
Bristol Henry B., K.
Burton William, K.
Butler William, D.
Calhoun Henry A., D.
Caul James, K.
Case James H., D.
Castle Edgar J., W.
Clark Harvey, D.
Clark Sheldon, D.
Cleveland Charles G., D.
Cos Joseph E., D.
Cole Philo L., D.
I Colby Henry, D.
Colt William II., K.
Comstock George, K.
Cook Moses, jr., D.
Cone Giles A., D.
Comins Alfred, K.
Dains William H., D.
Daniels Frederick W., K.
Defhuth Jacob, W.
Downs Lewis, K.
Egglcstoii Horatio G , D.
Elwcll Timothy, D.
Evans Orlando D., D.
Evarts Jared P., K.
Everett George, K.
Fallen Stephen, K.
Fen is Charles D., D.
Ferris Myron, K.
Feron Pliilo A., K.
Ford Harvey, D.
Foster Thomas B., D
Fox Walter M., K.
Fox Harvey H., D.
Galpin Almond D., K.
Gillett Chester, D.
Gibbs Samuel E., K.
Gibbs Birdscy, K.
Glover Wesley F., D.
Griffith Edward, A'.
Guernsey Charles E., W.
Hall Charles D., D.
Hall John E., K.
Hard Henry F., D.
Harrington George W., D.
Hart Willard, K.
Ilempstcd (2d Lt,) G.B., D.
Henderson William G., D.
Herald William, D.
Hickey Edmund, K.
Hitchcock Oliver, K.
Hinman Charles C., D.
Holt George H., D.
Hoyt George A., jr., D.
IIubbard William R., D,
Hubbard Franklin W., D.
Hubbell Myron, D.
Hull Alonzo J., K.
Hurlburt William S., D.
Hurlburt George W., D.
Huxley Matthew H., D.
Hyatt Henry H., K.
Ide Leandcr, I).
Iffland John, K.
Jackson Charles W., K.
Jackson Andrew, K.
Johnson Jerome, D.
Johnson William W., D.
Jones Albert A., K.
Jome Alfred, W.
Kaiiic Patrick, K.
Kane Friend F., K.
Kcegan Patrick, K.
Kelley William, K.
Kellogg Arthur G., D.
Kellogg (Col.) Elisha L., K.
Lacy David, K.
Lake David D., K.
Lapham John, D.
Leach William B., W.
Lewis Edgar B., D.
Lord Simeon W., D.
Lownsbury Banks, D.
Lyman Daniel E., D.
Lynch Patrick, K.
Mann Thomas, W.
Mansfield Norman, W.
Martin John, A".
Martin John, A".
Martin Walter, K.
Mattoon Hiram, W.
McBirney George H., K.
Meeker Benjamin, K.
Merwin Edward R., D.
Miller Henry W., K.
Miner Orson M., K.
Miner Henry M., D.
Mooney James, K.
Morris Ezra B., K.
Morse Apollos C., W.
Murphy John, K.
Newburn Nelbert P., D.
North Pascal P., D.
Norville William H., D.
Ostrander Adam, K.
Ostrander James, jr., D.
Ostrar.der Peter, L>.
Painter Frederick K. D., K.
Palmer Lucius C., W.
Parks Joseph P., K.
Parmalee Willard H., K.
Parmaree Watson, D.
Payne Joseph B., K.
Pease Harvey, W.
Perkins Rucl" II., K.
Preston Jerome, D.
Pierce George, K.
Pollard John, W.
Polly James C., D.
Potter George W., W.
Reed Charles, K.
Rexford Henry A,, K.
Richardson William W., D.
Riley Peter, D.
Robinson William T., D.
Rouse Lucien G., D.
Ryan Patrick, K.
Ryan Lant, K.
Sanford Andrew II., D.
Segur Charles H., K.
Scott Elias P., A".
Scull Robert, K.
Skiff George A., K.
Sidney James, D.
Smith Lyman J., jr., K.
Botha-gill Robert, K.
Sparks Walter C., K.
Stanley Charles II., K.
Starks Darwin S., D.
Stevans Franklin U., K.
Stewart John II., D.
Sterry Myron R., K.
Stoll John B., K.
Stone Merrietti H., D.
St. John Lewis, D.
870
APPENDIX.
Straight Henry C., K.
Tatro George A., A'
Teeter John M., K.
Thomas Charles L., I).
Tiiomas Horatio S., D.
Thomas John, D.
Thompson Richard S., D.
Thorp David J., K.
Tilford Homer F., K.
Tolles Burnitt II., D.
Volusen Caralf, D.
Wadham Uri, D.
Wad hams (Capt.) L., W.
Wadsworth Josiah J., Z>.
Warner John, K.
Warner William C., D.
Watson William S., D.
Watt Robert, A'.
Webster Frederick B., D.
White John S., D.
White John H., D.
Wheeler Curtiss, W.
Whiteman Monroe, K.
Wilson William S., D.
Winship Julius, D.
Wooden Amos, D.
Woodford Julius, D-
OUR MARTYRS AT ANDERSONVILLE.
For the only complete roll of the martyrs who perished at Andersonville, the nation is
indebted to private Dorence Atwatcr of Plymouth, Conn. Young Atwater was captured,
with others of the First Squadron, near Hagerstown, Md., in a fight with Lee's retreating
army, and was taken to various prisons, ultimately arriving at Andersonville in February,
1864. Being a neat penman, he was soon detailed as a clerk in the surgeon's office, to
keep the daily record of deaths. While serving in this capacity, knowing of the appalling
mortality inside the stockade, he secretly made a duplicate roll of all the deaths, which he
surreptitiously brought away with him in March, 1865. He alleges that he sold to Col.
Brock of the War Department, for three hundred dollars, the privilege of copying the
rolls ; the originals to be returned to him. Breck retained the whole. Afterwards, in
visiting Andersonville with Miss Clara Barton to mark the graves, Atwater recovered
possession of his list, and, on refusing to deliver it to the War Department, was seized
by Col. Breck, court-martialed, convicted of theft, and sent to the Albany Penitentiary
as a criminal. He was released with impaired health under a general amnesty, and, with
the encouragement and assistance of Miss Barton, published the roll for the benefit of
surviving friends. The following are the names of the martyrs from Connecticut : —
No. of N
grave.
4558 Earnest, H. C.
7346 Ensworth, John
7603 Edwards, 0. J.
8968 Evans, N. L.
11608 Emmett, W.
12442 Eaton, W.
18G Fluit, C. W.
1277 Francell, Otto
2612 Fry, S.
4444 Fibb'.es, H.
4465 Fisher, H.
5123 Florence, J. J.
5382 Fuller, H. S.
5913 Frisbie, Levi
5556 Fogg, C.
8028 Feely, M.
9039 Filby, A.
10255 Frederick, John
12188 Fagan, P. D.
3028 Gordon, John
4096 Gray, Pat
4974 Grammon, James
4015 Gullerman, J.
5173 Gilmore, J.
7057 Gallagher, P.
7337 Gott, G.
7592 Goodrich, J. W.
7646 Grains:, W.
9423 Guina, H. M.
10300 Grady, M.
10396 Gladstone, William
49 Holt, Thomas
2336 Hughes, Edward
3195 Hitchcock, Wm. A.
3448 Hall, William G.
3559 Holcomb, D.
1350 Hilenthal, James
3053 Haskins, J.ames
5029 Hollister, A.
5162 Hally, Thomas
5352 Hanson, F. A.
871
[All persons numbered below
12,367 died in 1864 ; above
Save' *•—
that number, in 1865.]
8018 Ballcntine, Eobert
Vf» of v
2408 Bassett, J. B.
gmve. *ame-
12540 Bohine, C.
2380 Anderson, A.
12620 Bemis, Charles
3461 Batchelder, Benj.
3707 Chapin, J. L.
3664 Baty, John
3949 Cottrell, P.
7306 Brunkissell, H.
3941 Clarkson
2833 Brennon, M.
4367 Culler, M.
3224 Burns, John
4449 Connor, D.
10414 Blumley, E.
4848 Carrier, D. B.
545 Bigclow, William
6060 Cook, W. H.
11965 Ball, H. A.
6153 Clark, H. H.
12089 Brookmeyer, T. W.
6846 Clark, W.
13152 Burke, H.
5799 Champlain, H.
12209 Bone, A.
336 Cane, John
10682 Burnham, F.
620 Christian, A. M.
10690 Barlow, O. L.
775 Crawford, James
10876 Bennett, N.
7316 Chapman, M.
5806 Brown, C. H.
7348 Cleary, P.
5919 Bovce, William
7385 Campbell, Robert
6083 Bishop, B. H.
7418 Culler, M.
6184 Bushnell, William
7685 Carver, John G.
7763 Bailey, F.
7780 Cain, Thomas,
2054 l'>rewer, G. E.
9084 Crosslev, B.
5596 Burns, B.
10272 Collier," W.
5632 Balcomb
11175 Callahan, J.
5754 Beers, James C.
11361 Candee, D. M.
1636 Birdscll, D.
25 Dowd, F.
4296 Blakeslee, II.
7325 Davis, W.
3900 Bishop, A.
2813 Davis, W.
1493 Bessanon, Peter
3614 Damery, John
2720 Babcock, B.
7597 Diebcnthal, H.
'2818 Baldwin, Thomas
8568 Donowav, J.
2256 Bosworth, A. M. D.
8769 Dunton,W. H.
5132 Bougin, John
5446 Dugan, Charles
5152 Brooks, William D.
11 339 Dean, R.
5308 Bower, John
11481 Demmings, G. A.
5452 Bently, F.
11889 Downer, S.
5464 Bently, James
11961 Demming, B. J.
4830 Blackman, A.
3482 Edmonds, A.
7742 Banning, J. F.
4437 Easterly, Thomas
872
APPENDIX.
No- of Name.
*°-v°pf Name.
grave.
gra\ e.
6695 Hodges, George
6426 Messey, M.
4937 Harwood, G.
6451 McGee, Thomas
6964 Hovt, E. S.
6570 McDavid, James
7012 Hull, M.
6800 Meal, John
7380 Holcomb, A. A.
6902 Mape, George
7642 Halv, W.
6240 Marshall, L.
7757 Hubbard, H. D.
7547 Moore, A. P.
8148 Hubbard, B.
7852 Miller, F. D.
8413 Haywood, E.
8150 Modger, A.
8613 Heath, J.
8446 Matthews, S. J.
9129 Hall, B.
8501 Meyers, L.
9369 Heart, W.
9170 Merts, C.
9981 Hurley, R. A.
9321 Milor, W.
12086 Hibbard, A.
10695 McCrcieth, A.
12117 Hancock, W.
10914 McKeon, J.
12163 Hudson, Charles
11587 Murphy, W.
9340 Islay, H.
11538 McDowell, J.
737 Jamieson, Charles
12134 Montjoy, T.
5221 Johnson, John
5044 Nichols, C.
7083 Johnson, G. W.
6222 Northrop, John
7365 Jamison, John S.
7331 North, S. S.
7570 Jones, John J.
10895 Nichols, M.
7961 Jones, James R.
4565 Orton, H. C.
8f>02 Johnson, F.
7511 Olena, R.
11970 Johnson, C. S.
8276 Orr, A.
12340 Johnson, W.
1960 Pcndelton, W.
1590 Kingsbury, C.
3868 Pompey, C.
5186 Klincland, L.
4356 Parker, S. B.
6374 Kempton, B. F.
3803 Phelps, S. G.
6705 Kershoff, B.
4934 Pimble, A.
6748 Kelley, F.
5002 Plum, James
7749 Kalty, J.
5386 Patchcy, J.
8065 Kim'ball, H. H.
7487 Post, C.
8866 Kohlenburg, C.
7688 Poteche, A.
10233 Kern, T.
9248 Phillips, J. I.
3401 London, II.
9444 Padf'rey, Sylvanus
5893 Lastry, J.
9533 Painter, N. P.
5499 Lewis, J.
106-6 Puritan, O.
6124 Leonard, W.
12616 Peir, A.
7912 Levanaugh, Wm. 0.
2804 Ruther, J.
7956 Linker, C.
2871 Reed, H. H.
9219 Lewis, G. H.
3674 Risley, E.
10228 Lee
4636 Reins, William
74 Mills, W. J.
5902 Ross, D.
119 McCaullery, James
6400 Robinson, H.
2295 Miller, Charles
6796 Ringwood, R.
3516 McCord, P.
8078 Reed, John
3644 Miller, A.
8170 Richardson, C. S.
3410 Mould, James
8345 Ray, A.
.3932 McGinnis, J. W.
7310 Reed, Robert K.
4079 Miller
8662 Roper, H.
. 4417 Messenger, A.
10029 Rohinson, J. W.
4492 McLean, William
10196 Richardson, D. T.
4595 Marshall, B.
10416 Reynolds, E.
5238 Mickallis, F.
12031 Rathbone, B.
5328 Miller, H.
4 Stone, H. I.
6342 M alone, John
234 Smith, Horace
Name.
No. of
grave.
2405 Seward, G. H.
2474 Stephens, E. W.
3010 Scott, W.
3026 Sutcliff, B.
3041 Stuart, J.
3522 Smito, J.
3598 Sherwood, D.
4212 Smith, C. E.
4316 Straubell, L.
4555 Straum, James
4722 Sullivan, M.
4892 Steele, Samuel
5385 Shultz, C. T.
5563 Stino, P.
5712 Steele, Samuel
5725 Smith, S.
6734 Steele, James M.
7070 Stephens, B. H.
7975 Smith, Henry
8088 Short, L. C.
8235 Smally, L.
9-04 Starkweather, E. M.
9435 Sutliff, J.
9468 See, L.
9987 Sling, D.
101-8 Schubert, K.
10247 Sparring, T.
10476 Steele, H.
10787 Stauff, J.
-2005 Swift, J.
1 2288 Smith, J. T.
541 Taylor, Moses
4443 Thompson, Wm. T.
5427 Thompson, F.
5479 Tibbels, William
7723 Trcadway, J. H.
10035 Tisdale, Edward F.
10142 Taylor, J.
11089 Turner, H.
3107 Valter, H.
401 Winship. J. H.
2158 Weldon, Henry
2601 Warner, E.
5543 Wikert, Henry
5222 Wright, C.
4649 Whecly, James
5675 Wenchell, John L.
6138 Way, H. C.
6918 Wiggleworth, M. L.
8024 West'. Charles H.
9028 Williams, H. D.
9265 Wheeler, J.
9212 Ward, Gilbert
10033 Weins, John
12600 Ward, G. W.
6364 Young, C. S.
REGIMENTAL INDEX.
(For general topics treated, see Table of Contents.)
First Regiment — Three Months.
Volunteering in all parts of the State, 38 to 55 ; ordered to rendezvous at New Haven,
58 ; the work of equipment, 58 to 61 ; in camp, 61 ; organization, 61, 62; for the seat of
war, 67 ; Colonel Daniel Tyler, 70 ; arrival in Washington, 83 ; in Virginia, 87 ; first
Connecticut man wounded, 87 ; Blackburn's Ford, 93 ; battle of Bull Run, 94 to 99 ;
muster-out, 100.
Second Regiment — *• Three Months.
The first uprising, 38 to 55 ; preparation for rendezvous, 58 ; encampment at New
Haven, 64 ; equipments, supplies, and " good advice," 65, 66 ; departure, 67 ; arrival in
Washington, 84 : in Virginia, 88 ; Blackburn's Ford, 93 ; battle of Bull Run, 94 t<J 99 ;
muster-out, 100.
Third Regiment — Three Months.
The first uprising, 38 to 55 ; rendezvous at Hartford, 67 ; organization and muster, 68 ;
equipment and drill, 68 ; departure, 69 ; arrival in Washington, 85 ; in Virginia, 89 ;
Blackburn's Ford, 93 ; Bull Run, 94 to 99 ; muster-out, 100.
First Squadron Cavalry.
Organization and departure, 102 ; subsequent experience, 569.
First Regiment Cavalry.
Origin of the battalion, 137 ; in camp at Meriden, 138 : departure, 139 ; supplies, 150 ;
near Wheeling, 208 ; fighting bushwhackers in West Virginia, raids, battles, and incidents,
209 to 213 ; a Thanksgiving dinner, 472 ; second battle of Bull Run, 489 ; near Twalley-
town, 490 ; battalion changed to a regiment, 491 ; beyond Bolivar Heights, 492 ; at
Baltimore recruiting, 493 to 496 ; to the front, 496, 497 ; at Brandy Station, incidents and
casualties, 567 to 569 ; battle of the Wilderness, 570 ; battle of Spo'ttsylvania, 572 ; to
the rear of Lee's army, 575, 576 ; the fight at Ashland, 581 to 586 ; picket-fight, 603, 604 ;
on Wilson's raid, 612 to 616 ; exploit of Capt. Whitaker, 614 ; in the Shenandoah, 714 ;
narrow escape, 715, 716 ; battle of Kearneysville, 716, 717 ; Opequan Creek, 718 ; Fisher's
Hill, 723 ; a squadron captured at Spring Hill, 724 ; battle of Cedar Creek, 724 to 729 ;
prison-life, 753 ; in the Shenandoah, spring of 1865, 757 ; in front of Richmond, 758,
759 ; battle of Five Forks, 783 to 785 ; pursuit of Lee, 792; 793 ; west of Appomattox,
794; muster-out, 818, 819.
First Heavy Artillery — (Fourth Infantry.)
Promised to the Government, 71 ; rendezvous and organization, 72 ; departure, 73 ;
in Maryland, 117 to 119 ; life at Fort Richardson, 133, 134 ; supplies, 148, 149 ; changed
into First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, 203; to the Peninsula in 1862, movement of
heavy ordnance, 204 ; impartial commendation, 205 ; the seven-days' fight, 206 ; Malvern
Hill, 207 ; withdrawal and return, 208 ; still in the Arlington forts, 504, 505 ; removal to
Bermuda Hundred, 557, 558 ; return of non-veterans, 559 ; arrival of the siege-train,
617,618; at the mine, 624; location of batteries, constant service, 684; engagement
with the rebel navy, 685 ; impartial commendation, 686 ; in front of Petersburg, 759 to
761 ; death of Col. Trumbull, 760 ; rebel assault on Fort Stedman, 775 to 779 ; muster-
out, 824, 825.
873
874 EEGIMENTAL INDEX.
Second Heavy Artillery — (Nineteenth Infantry.)
Nineteenth regiment called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224; organization and departure,
232 to 234 ; arrival at Alexandria, 238 ; at Fort Worth, changed into the Second Con
necticut Heavy Artillery, 505, 506 ; join the army at Spottsylvania, 573, 574 ; to the
North Juna, 577 ; battle of Cold Harbor, 587 to 589 ; death of Col. Kellogg and other
casualties, 592 to 596 ; advance on Petersburg, 606 to 611 ; defence of Washington, 645 ;
at Parke's Station, 678; in the Shenandoah, 714; battle of Opequan Creek, 718 to 722;
death of Major Rice, 720; battle of Cedar Creek, 724 to 729; return to Petersburg, 761 ;
fight near Petersburg, 780 ; pursuit of Lee, 792 to 794 ; muster-out, 821 to 823.
First Light Battery.
Origin, 137 ; in camp at Meriden, 138 ; departure, 139 ; on James Island, 198 to 200 ;
capture of St. John's Bluff, 303, 304 ; on James Island again, 438, 439 ; fight, 442 ; hon
orable mention, 448 ; at Bermuda Hundred, 538 to 541 ; at Drury Bluff, 542 to 552 ; at
Deep Bottom, 649 to'657 ; in front of Richmond, 761 ; into Richmond, 792 ; muster-out,
813.
Second Light Battery.
Organization and departure, 236 ; near Wolf-run Shoals, 517 ; embarks for New Orleans,
518; to the mouth of Mobile Bay, 708 ; the reduction of Fort Morgan, 709 ; return to
Louisiana, 709 ; again in Florida, battle of Blakeley in April, 1865, 710 ; location, 761 ;
muster-out, 819, 820.
Third Light Battery.
Location, 761 ; assault of rebels on Fort Stedman, 779 ; muster-out, 813
Fifth Infantry.
Col. Samuel Colt's battalion, 73 ; disbanded and re-organized, 73, 74; departure, 101 ;
in Maryland, 11 9, '120; becomes " the foot cavalry," 134; supplies, 148, 149; sufferings
during the winter of 1861-2, 213; across the Potomac, 214; battle of Winchester and
retreat, 215, 216 ; battle of Cedar Mountain, casualties, 217 to 221 ; life in Virginia, 299
to 302 ; advance to Chancellorsville, 358 to 360 ; the battle and casualties, 361 to 374 ;
advance to Gettysburg, battle, victory, casualties, pursuit, 378 to 396 ; veteran furlough,
523 ; transferred to Tennessee, 692 ; the journey, guarding railroads, 693 ; near Cumber
land Tunnel, 694 ; incidents, 695, 696 ; join Sherman's army for the great march, 697 ;
the battle of Resaca, 698 ; at Casville, 699 ; battle of Peach-tree Creek, 702, 703 ; capture
of Atlanta, casualties, 705, 706 ; through Georgia to the sea, 707, 708 ; the march from
Savannah to Goldsborough, battles, incidents, and casualties, 766 to 771 ; muster-out,
817.
Sixth Infantry.
Volunteering begun, 102; rendezvous at New Haven, 120; organization, 121,122;
departure, 123; at Annapolis, 123; at Hilton Head, l3l, 132; supplies, 150; in War
saw Sound, 191 ; assault on Fort Pulaski, 194 ; to James Island, 197 ; battle, 198 to 202 ;
battle of Pocotaligo, 304, 305 ; in Florida, 436 ; on Folly Island, 437, 438 ; capture of
Morris Island, 439, 440; assault on Fort Wagner, 442 to 446; mention for gallantry,
448 ; return to Hilton Head, 449 ; at Hilton Head, 506, 507 ; veteran furlough, 523 ; up
the James, 537 ; at Bermuda Hundred, 538 to 541 ; Drury's Bluff, 542 to 552 ; skirmish
of May 20, 553 ; assault on railroad, 611, 612 ; at Deep Bottom, 648, 649 ; battle and
casualties, 649 to 657 ; in front of Petersburg, 662 ; on the Darbytown Road, 668, 670 ;
resisting an attack, 671, 672 ; assault on the rebel right, 672, 673; fight on the Darby-
town Road, Oct. 27, 674 to 676 ; promotions, &c., 680 ; expedition to New York, 682,
683 ; capture of Fort Fisher, 686 to 691 ; advance on Wilmington, 761, 762 ; muster-out,
820.
Seventh Infantry.
Volunteering begun, 102; rendezvous at New Haven, 120; organization, 122, 123;
departure, 123; at Annapolis, 123 ; at Hilton Head, 131, 132; supplies, 150; on Tybee
Island, 192 ; reduction of Fort Pulaski, 193 to 196 ; the post of honor, 197 ; to James
Island, 197; battle, 198 to 202; battle of Pocotaligo, 304, 305; in Florida, 436; on
Folly Island, 437, 438 ; capture of Morris Island, 439 ; assault on Fort Wagner, 440 to
REGIMENTAL INDEX. 875
442 ; second assault, 443 to 446 ; detailed as artillery, 447, 448 ; mention for gallantry,
448; to St. Helena Island, 449; to Olustee, 507 ; the battle and reverse, 503 to 511 ;
veteran furlough, 522, 523; up the James, 537; at Bermuda Hundred, 538 to 541 ;
Drury's Bluff, 542 to 552 ; Major Sanford and eighty men captured, 555 ; assault on
railroad, 611, 612 ; at Deep Bottom, battle and casualties, 648 to 657 ; in front of Peters
burg, 662 ; on the Darbytown Road, 668, 670 ; resisting a rebel attack, 671, 672 ; assault
on the enemy's right, 672, 673 ; fight on the Darbytown Road, 674 to 676 ; promotions,
&c., 680 ; expedition to New York under Hawley, 682, 683 ; capture of Fort Fisher, 686
to 691 ; prison-experience, 744 ; advance on Wilmington, 761 to 764 ; death of Chaplain
Eaton, 763 ; honors to Gens. Terry and Hawley, 804 to 809 ; muster-out, 820, 821.
Eighth Infantry.
Volunteering begun, 102; rendezvous at Hartford, 120; organization, 123, 124; de
parture, 1*24; life at Annapolis, 127, 128, 130; supplies, 149, 150; embark for "North
Carolina, 162 ; the passage and the gale, 163, 164 ; at Roanoke Island, 165 ; embark for
the Neuse, 170; battle of Newberne, 172 to 174; race for Newberne, 174; assault on
Fort Macon, 178 to 180; surrender of the fort, 181 ; return to Newberne, 255 ; to New
port News, 256; to Fredericksburg, 257, 258 ; the march to Antietam, 259 to 263; the
battle of Antietam and casualties, 264 to 287 ; pursuit of Lee to Fredericksburg, 288 to
290; battle and casualties, 291 to 297; to Newport News and Suffolk, 330, 331 ; siege
of Suffolk, 331 to 336; blackberry raid, 336 to 340; near Portsmouth, 475 to 479;
veteran furlough, 521, 522; up the James, 536; at Bermuda Hundred, 538 to 541;
Drury's Bluff, 542 to 552 ; casualties at Cold Harbor, 597 ; advance on Petersburg, 605
to 608; casualties, &c., 610; work in the trenches, 618, 619; at the mine, 625; at Ber
muda Hundred, 661 ; loss of a working-party, 662, 663 ; to Chaffin's Bluff, capture of
Fort Harrison, 664 to 666 ; defence of Fort Harrison, 668 ; casualties, 669 ; promotions,
&c., 680 ; headquarters' guard, 684 ; promotions, 764 ; into Richmond, 792 ; muster-out,
827.
Ninth Infantry.
Volunteering begun, 102 ; rendezvous at New Haven, 125 ; organization, 125 ; in camp
at Lowell, 140; at Ship Island, 140, 141; capture of Bixoxi, Miss., 157; fight at
Pass Christian, 158; first regiment on main land in Department of the South, Butler's
commendatory order, 159; up the river to New Orleans, 159, 160; the Pass Manchac
expedition, 306; to Vicksburg, great suffering, 309, 310; battle of Baton Rouge, 310,
311 ; a raid on the enemy, 312 ; in defenses of New Orleans, 511 to 513 ; veteran furlough,
524, 525; at Deep Bottom, 622; in the Shenandoah, 714; at the battle of Opequan
Creek, 718 to 722 ; battle of Cedar Creek, 724 to 729; battalion ordered to Savannah,
765 ; to Hilton Head, 802 ; muster-out, 823, 824.
Tenth Infantry.
Volunteering begun, 102; rendezvous at Hartford, 126; organization, 126; life at
Annapolis, 127, 128, 130; supplies, 149, 150; embark for North Carolina, 162; the
passage and the gale, 163, 164; af Roanoke Island, 165 ; the battle, 166, 167 ; sketch of
Col. Charles L. Russell, 167, 168 ; up the Neuse, 170 ; bivouac, 171 ; battle of Newberne,
172 to 174; death of Col. A. W. Drake, 175 to 177 ; the Tarboro' raid, 341, 342; battle
of Kinston, 343 to 347 ; on St. Helena Island, 347, 348 ; on James Island, 438, 439 ; fight
on James Island, 442 ; assault on Fort Wagner, 443 to 446 ; siege-work, to St. Augustine,
450, 451 ; death of Col. Chatfield, 452 to 455; still in Florida, 513, 514; veteran fur
lough, 523, 524; up the James, 537 ; at Bermuda Hundred, 538 to 541 ; Drury's Bluff,
542 to 552 ; assault of June 15, 611 ; at Deep Bottom, 619 to 622 ; battle and casualties,
648 to 657 ; in front of Petersburg, 662 ; on the Darbytown Road, 668 ; on the New
Market Road, 670 ; resisting an attack, 670, 671 ; assault on the rebel right, 672, 673 ;
death of Major Camp, 673, 674 ; fight on the Darbytown Road, Oct. 27, 674 to 676 ;
promotions, &c., 681 ; expedition to New York under Hawley, 682, 683 ; promot'ons, 765 ;
moved to the left of the line, 782, 783 ; assault on Fort Gregg, 786 ; capture, incidents,
and casualties, 787 to 789; pursuit of Lee, 792; condition, &c., 809, 810; muster-out,
824.
Eleventh Infantry.
Volunteering begun, 102; first companies arrive at Hartford, 126; organization, 129;
life at Annapolis, 130 ; embark for North Carolina, 162 ; the passage and gale, 163, 164 ;
beached near Hatteras, 164 ; up the Neuse, 170 ; bivouac, 171 ; battle of Newberne, 172,
173, 174; in the rebel barracks, 175; return to Newberne, 255; to Newport News, re-
876 REGIMENTAL INDEX.
organization, 256, 257 ; to Fredericksburg, 258 ; the march to Antictam, 259 to 263 ;
battle of Antietani and casualties, 264 to 287 ; pursuit of Lee to Fredericksburg, 288 to
290 ; battle and casualties, 291 to 297 ; to Newport News and Suffolk, 330, 331 ; sieire of
Suffolk, 331 to 336 ; blackberry raid, 336 to 340 ; near Portsmouth, 475 to 479 ; at Glou
cester Point, 480 ; veteran furlough, 521, 522 ; up the James, 537 ; at Bermuda Hundred,
538 to 541 ; Drury's Bluff, 542 to 552 ; casualties at Cold Harbor, death of Major Con
verse, 597 to 599 ; advance on Petersburg, 606 ; battle, 608 .to 610; work in the trenches,
618, 619 ; at the mine, 625 ; death of Gen. Stedman and Col. Morgling, 625 to 628 ; at
Bermuda Hundred, 661 ; promotions, &c., 681 ; recruits, 683 ; presentation of flag, 764 ;
into Richmond, 790, 791 ; muster-out, 827.
Twelfth Infantry.
Origin, 136, 137 ; recruiting, 141 ; organization, 142, 143; in camp at Hartford, 144;
to Ship Island, 145, 146 ; up the river, 159 ; first regiment to arrive at New Orleans, 160;
Pass Manchac expedition, Camp Parapet, 306, 307 ; battle of Georgia Landing, 313 to
316 ; the gunboat Cotton and the Diana, 319 to 321 ; at Irish Bend, 403 to 407 ; invest-
•mcnt and capture of Port Hudson, 408 to 419 ; casualties and incidents, 420; at New '
Iberia, re-enlisting as veterans, 514 to 517 ; veteran furlough, 524 ; in the Shenandoah,
714; battle of Opequan Creek, 718 to 722; death of Col. Peck, 721, 722; battle of
Cedar Creek, 724 to 729; locations and promotions, 766; muster-out, 821.
Thirteenth Infantry.
Origin and organization, 143 ; in barracks at New Haven, 145 ; supplies, 150 ; to Ship
Island, 154 to 156; to New Orleans, 160, 161 ; to Camp Parapet, anecdotes, 307 to 309;
battle of Georgia Landing, 313 to 316; at Baton Eouge, 319; diversion towards Port
Hudson, 401 to 403 ; at Irish Bend, 403 to 407 ; Investment and capture of Port Hudson,
408 to 419 ; casualties and incidents, 420, 421 ; at Thibodcau, 518 ; battle of Cane River,
519, 520; veteran furlough, 525 ; in the Shenandoah, 714; battle of Opequan Creek, 718
to 722 ; battle of Cedar Creek, 724 to 729 ; battalion ordered to Savannah, thence to
North Carolina, 765, 802, 803 ; muster-out, 827, 828.
Fourteenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 225 ; arrival at
Arlington, 237 ; march to Antietani, 260 to 263 ; battle of Antietam and casualties, 264
to 287 ; pursuit of Lee to Fredericksburg, 288 to 290 ; battle and casualties, 291 to 297 ;
advance to Chancellorsville, 358 to 360 ; battle and casualties, 361 to 374 ; advance to
Gettysburg, battle, victory, casualties, pursuit, 378 to 396; at Stevensburg, 560; Capt.
Fiske's view of soldiering, 561 to 563 ; Mine Run, 564 ; how to make winter quarters, 564,.
565; fight at Morton's Ford, 566, 567; buttle of the Wilderness, 570, 571; battle of
Spottsylvania, 572, 573 ; to the North Anna, 577 ; to Cold Harbor, 587 ; casualties, 589
to 592; advance on Petersburg, 607 to 611; at Deep Bottom, 622, 649; return to the
left, 657; on the Weldon Railroad, battle at Reams's Station, casualties, 658 to (501 ; at
Prince George's Court House, 664 ; fight for the Southsidc railroad, 676 to 678; battle on
Hatcher's Run, 678 to 680; location in spring of 1865, 765 ; on Hatcher's Run, 780, 781 ;
pursuit of Lee, 792; muster-out, 811, 812.
Fifteenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 226, 227 ; arrival at
Washington, 237 ; to Fredericksburg, 288, 289 ; battle and casualties, 290 to 297 ; to New
port News and Suffolk, 330, 331 ; siege of Suffolk, 331 to 336 ; blackberry raid, 336 to 340 ;
nea Portsmouth, 475 to 479 ; to Newberne, 481 ; to Plymouth, 482 ; return to Ncwbernc,
485, attack on Washington, 537; at Newberne, 538; the yellow-fever, 710 to 713;
expedition to Kinston, 766; battle and capture, 771 to 774 ; death of Major Osborn, 772,
773; muster-out, 816.
Sixteenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; recruiting, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 227 to 229 ; arrival
in Virginia, 237 ; march to Antietam, 260 to 263 ; battle of Antietam and casualties, 264,
to 287 ; pursuit of Lee to Fredericksburg, 288 to 290; battle and casualties, 291 to 297 ;
to Newport News and Suffolk. 330 to 331 ; siege of Suffolk, 331 to 336 ; blackberry raid,
-336 to 340 ; near Portsmouth, 475 to 479 ; to Newberne, 481 ; to Plymouth, 482 ;
return to Newberne, 485 ; return to Plymouth, 486 ; the town besieged, 486, 487 ; the
surrender, 488 ; prison experience, 526 to 535 ; escape from captivity, 744 to 746 ; to Fos
ter's Mills and Newberne, 774; muster-out, 815, 816.
REGIMENTAL INDEX. §77
Seventeenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 229, 230 ; detention
in Baltimore, 237, 238 ; moves into VirgiWa, 297, 298 ; advance to Chancellorsville, 338
to3GO; battle and casualties, 3G1 to 374 ; advance to Gettysburg, battle, victory, casual
ties, pursuit, 378 to 396 ; in front of Fort Wagner, 446, 447 ; mention for gallantry, 449;
on Folly Island, 450 ; at St. Augustine, Florida, 729 ; perilous raids, 729, 730 ; McGisto
Creek, 730, 731 ; capture of Baldwin, 732 ; capture of Col. Noble, 732 ; expedition for
cotton, death of Col. Wileoxson, 733, 734 ; detached service, 735, 736 ; muster-out, 817,
818.
Eighteenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 231, 232 ; in Balti
more, 238 ; life at Fort Marshall, 348, 349 ; to the Shenandoah valley, 349, 350 ; battle of
Winchester, 351 to 353 ; surrender, 354 ; heavy losses, 354, 355 ; imprisonment, 356, 357 ;
at Martinsburg, refitting, 497 ; social life, 498 ; prison experience, 499 to 503 ; spring of
1864, under Sigel, 638 ; battle of New Market, 639 ; casualties, 640 ; under Hunter, battle
of Piedmont, 641, 642; casualties, 642, 643; descent on Lynchburg, 644; the retreat
northward, 645 ; battle of Snicker's Ferry, 646 ; retreat through Winchester, 617 ; in the
Shenandoah, 714; again at Martinsburg, 717; location, &c., 766 ; muster-out, 815.
Twentieth Infantry.
Recruiting, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 234, 235 ; arrival in Washington,
238, 239 ; life in Virginia, 299 to 302 ; advance to Chancellorsville, 358 to 360 ; battle and
casualties, 361 to 374 ; advance to Gettysburg, battle, victory, casualties, pursuit, 378 to
396 ; transfer to Tennessee, 692 ; the journey, guarding railroads, 693 ; at Cowan, fight
with guerrillas, 694 ; incidents, 695, 696 ; join Sherman's army for the great march, 697 ;
seizure of Boyd's trail, 697,698; battle of.Resaca, 698; capture of Cassville, 699; at
Alatoona Pass, 700 ; flanking, 701 ; battle of Peach-tree Creek, 702, 703 ; capture of
Atlanta, casualties, 705, 706 ; through Georgia to the sea, 707, 708 ; from Savannah to
Goldsborough, battles, incidents, and casualties, 766 to 771 ; pursuit and capture of John
ston, 796, 797 ; muster-out, 812, 813.
Twenty-first Infantry.
Recruiting, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 235, 236 ; arrival in Washington,
239 ; pursuit of Lee' through Virginia, 288 to 290 ; battle , of Fredcricksburg and casual
ties, 291 to 297 ; to Newport News and Suffolk, 330, 331 ; siege of Suffolk, 331 to 336 ;
blackberry rr.id, 336 to 340 ; provost-duty in Portsmouth, 477 to 479 ; at Norfolk and
Newport News, 481 ; a raid, 483 ; to Morehead City and Newbernc, 484, 485 ; up the
James, 537, 538 ; at Bermuda Hundred, 538 to 541 ; Drury's Bluff, 542 to 552 ; near Port
Walthal, 553 ; death of Col. Dutton, 554 ; losses at Cold Harbor, death of Col. Burpee,
GOO, 601 ; advance on Petersburg, 606 to 610 ; near the Appomattox, 616 ; work in the
trenches, 618, 619; at the mine, 623, 624 ; at Bermuda Hundred, 6G1, 6G2; exposure and
casualties, 663 ; to Chaffin's Bluff, 664 ; capture of Fort Harrison, 665 to 667 ; defense
of Fort Harrison, 668, 669; casualties, 670; promotions, £c., 681; expedition to
Fredericksburg, 764, 765 ; into Richmond, 792 ; muster-out, 813 to 815.
Twenty-second Infantry — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; organization arid departure, 246, 247 ;
on picket in Virginia, 298, 299 ; to Suffolk, 332; siege of Suffolk, 334 to 336; to West
Point, 336 ; home and muster-out, 433 to 435.
Twenty-third Infantry — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; organization and departure, 247, 248;
from Long Island to Ship Island and Louisiana, 316, 317 ; at Camp Parapet, 427 ; along
the Opelousas Railroad, 428 ; battles at La Fourche andBrashear, 429, 430 ; imprisonment,
casualties, and muster-out, 432, 433 ; prison-life, 743 ; muster-out, 433 to 435.
Twenty-fourth Infantry — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; organization and departure, 248,
249; from Long Island to Ship Island, 316, 317; to Baton Rouge, 319 ; diversion
towards Port Hudson, 401 to 403 ; at IriSh Bend, 408 ; investment and capture of Port
Hudson, 408 to 419 ; casualties and incidents, 421, 422 ; muster-out, 434, 435.
878 REGIMENTAL INDEX.
Twenty-fifth Infantry. — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; onranization and departure, 249, 250 ;
from Long Island to Ship Island, to Louisiana,^16, 317 ; to Baton Rouge, 319 ; diversion
towards Port Hudson, 401 to 403 ; at Irish Bend, 403 to 407 ; investment and capture of
Port Hudson, 408 to 419 ; casualties and incidents, 422, 423; muster-out, 434, 435.
Twenty-sixth Infantry — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; organization and departure, 250, 25 ;
from Long Island to Ship Island, to Louisiana, 316, 317 ; at Camp Parapet, 319 ; invest
ment and capture of Port Hudson, 408 to 419; casualties and incidents, 423 to 427;
muster-out, 434, 435.
Twenty-seventh Infantry — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; organization and departure, 251, 252 ;
to Fredericksburg, 290 ; battle and casualties, 291 to 297 ; advance to Chancellorsville,
358 to 3GO; battle and capture, 361 to 372; imprisonment, 374 to 377; advance to
Gettysburg, battle, victory, casualties, pursuit, 378 to 396 ; muster-out, 434, 435.
Twenty-eighth Infantry — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; organization and departure, 252 to
254 ; from Long Island to Ship Island, to Louisiana, 316, 317 ; to Pcnsacola, encampment
and service, 318, 319 ; investment and capture of Port Hudson, 408 to 419; casualties
and incidents, 426, 427 ; muster-out, 434, 435.
Twenty-ninth Infantry — (colored).
' Organization, 460 ; to Annapolis, 461 ; at Beaufort, 637 ; joins the Army of the James,
648 ; at Deep Bottom, 648 to 657 ; in front of Petersburg, 662 ; up the New-Market
Road, the charge, 667 ; defence of Fort Harrison, 668 ; casualties, 670 ; fight on the
Parbvtown Road, Oct. 27, 674 to 676; location, 764; into Richmond, 790; to Texas,
802 ; "muster-out, 825 to 827.
Thirtieth Infantry — (colored).
Enlistment begun, 461 ; organization and appearance at the front, 601, 602 ; the assault
at the mine, 622, 623 ; to the left of the line, 782 ; pursuit of Lee, 792 ; to Texas, 802 ;
muster-out, 825 tc 827.
INDEX OF NAMES.
[Names incidentally mentioned are not embraced in this Index.]
Abbey, William H., 250
Abbott, E. K., 143
Charles S., 235
Ed. T., 750
Henry L., 504, 557,
559, 617, 624, 684,
686, 687, 776, 778,
813, 825
J. C., 687, 689
Abcrnethy, E. P., 108
Adams, Hon. John T., 188,
630
Charles, Jr., 595
W. L., 642
Addis, Ira B., 422
Wm. J., 248
Ager, George, 207, 504, 825
Affijett, K., 449 [839
Aiken, Wm. A., 231, 801,
Aklen, W. C., 597
Aldrich, Thomas J., 646
Alexander, J. H., 180, 633
(Rev.), Walter 8., 425
Allen, Amory, 567
Amos S., 597
Charles W., 522
Ed. P., 74, 597
Ethan, 24,
Henry A., 448
» Henry, 392, 599, 729,
732, 733, 735, 736,
817
John, 106
John W., 50
Lewis C.jun., 121, 537
James L., 557
Geo. W., 766
Oscar, 788
Ailing, Frank E., 297
Amos H., 464
Almy, Albert H., 834
John H., 130, 237, 317,
834, 835, 836, 837
Allyn, Roswell, 514
Stanton, 145, 306, 514,
515
T. M., 227, 597
Armbraster, Albert, 246
Andrews, Benj., 624
D. C., 545
Levi, 448
Andross, Edmond, 17, 18
Auger, Marshall C., 712
Anthony, R. C., 430
Appelman, Hiram, 48, 124,
172, 179, 271, 272
Arms, C. J., 475
Arnold, John, 68
(Col.), 85
Alsop, J. W., 834
Ashmead (Mrs.), J. H., 470
Atwell, S. S., 199, 201, 447,
672, 683, 762, 820
Atwater, Dorcnce, 871
Chas., (Jan.), 81, 188
Atwoo'd (Dr.), C. H., 241
Austin, Willard, 654, 762
Averill, (Rev.), James, 432
Perry, 405
Hon" Roger, 801
Ayers, Edwin D., 345
Henry, 426
W. H., 623
Babcock, 424
Charles, 228
James Fv 52
Samuel D., 834
Backus, Joseph, 494, 584,
603-4, 819
Bacon, C. A., 448
(Mrs.), 467
(Dr.), Francis, 97,195,
201
(Rev. Dr.), 183, 226,
435, 523, 818
(Mrs.), William, 471
Theodore, 97, 122,
195, 523, 540, 555,
556
Bailey, Charles, 431
Cornelius H., 102
Everett, 546
Geo. E., 281
, 221
G. W., 746
H. L., 546
J. M., 450
S. G., 248, 423, 431
Baldwin, James, 505
L., 448
S., 834
Bangs, Frank D., 779, 825
Bannan, C. R., 684, 825
Bantlv, Francis, 448
Barbe'r, Fred. M., 228, 282
B arbour, Lucius, 596
Barker, Chas. E., 539, 544,
651,654, 447
Barnes, 48
Stewart, 475
Barnum, B. S., 392
Barnum (Adj.), 611, 774
Saml. C., 597, 599
Jos. H., 488
P. M., 752
Barrett, R. Cecil, 601
Thos. E., 297
Mrs. E., 471
Barren, Pierce, 782
Barry, Wellington, 705, 770
Bartholomew, P., 678
Barton, Miss Clara, 871
Bartlett, Egbert, 464
J. H. & Sons, 146
Franklin, 679
Bartram, David S., 392
Andrew B., 410
Bassett, Julius, 227, 772, 773
(Mrs.), 471
Robert N., 47
Bates, Theo. S., 281
Thos. K., 121, 231,
356
Battell, Robbins, 34, 234
Joseph, 834
Batterson, J. G., 597
Beach, Chas. M.. 596
(Col.), 271, 274,482
Frank, 487
Francis, 228
Geo. L., 595
I. W., 422
(Miss), Julia A., 764
Moses Y., 52, 81
Watson, 596
Beard (Col.), 566
Beardsley, A. E., 694
(Lt ), 302
(Dr.), A., 47, 464
Chas., 773
Fred'k, 752
Bcckley, Wm. A., 244
Beckwith, H. C., 468
Theo. L., 253
(Gen.), 312
Louis, 803
Beecher, Rev. H. W., 835
Belcher, Arthur, 48
Belden, N. A., 335, 552
679
880
Belden, D. H., 107
Bell, John, 29
Bellows, George, 654
Benham (Gen.), 192, 195,
197-8, 722
(Lt.), 195
Bennett (Dr.), Ezra P., 242
Samuel, 788
Thos. G., 670
Benedict (Rev.), W. A., 838
Benson, D. 0., 230
Bent, B. jr., 188
Bcntley, Wm. H., 251
Benton, Wm., 309
Geo. M., 728
Geo. S., 371-2
Berkeley, W., 448
Berrv, Fred M., 720, 822
Wm. A., 74
William, 728
Betts, James A., 17, 216
Fred C., 733
Biderman, John, 448
Bidwell, Henry L., 143
Biebel, Henry, 122, 542
Bill, Henry, 50, 231
Geo. F., 825
Ledyard, 55, 515
Bingham, W. H. H., 558,
825
Levi C., 540
Birdsall, Sam. T., 252
Birge, H. W., 119, 143, 155,
156, 307, 312-16,
319, 409, 415, 423,
518, 715, 725, 802,
803
Bishop, E. W., 772, 773
J. A., 244
Jacob, 666
A. W., 722
William, 406, 520
Bissell, Geo. P., 241, 249,
253-400, 401, 405,
407, 423, 808, 811,
815
J. W., 400
Wm., 233
Bixby, F. G., 497
Blackmar, E., 551
Blakeslee, Erastus, 210, 211,
446, 487, 491-3,
495-6, 533, 534, 567,
570, 581, 583-4,
585-6,612,714,715,
716, 724, 757, 819
B. F., 271
Edward C., 446
Blakeman, Geo., 464
Blake, Edward F., 214, 216,
218, 817
Eli W., 218
Henry T., 183 (Mrs.),
471
Blatchford, E. M., 834
Blinn, Chas. D., 143, 306
519, 525, 714, 718,
728, 726, 765, 802
Blinn, J. ±,., 22.1, 281
Bliss, John F., 448
Blodgett, R., 448
Bloss, L. L., 241
Boardman, Henry, 139
W. W., 471, 472
Bodwell, 393
Augustus, 766
Bohan, John, 421
Bond, Thos. H., 52
William, 448
Booth, Geo. F., 277
Bostwick (Col.), 367, 368,
369, 378,379
Botts, John H., 539
Boudren, Thomas, 122
Bowman, Chas. F., 772
Bowen, Andrew, 139, 490
Chas. D., 232, 349,
351
Bowns, Wm. A., 774
Bradford (Chaplain), J. H.,
144, 404, 727
Bvron, 556, 651
Brady, A. G., "229, 380, 392,
450, 729
Oliver G., 221
Bradley, J. R., 252, 371
J. T., 642
Geo. G., 673
Wm. E., 720, 802
Wm. F., 553
Wm. H., 433
(Miss), E., 471
R. O., 772
Bragg, Wm. B., 156
Brainard, H. A., 421
Francis, 327
Braley, Lester E., 142, 404
Brandagee (Hon.), Augus
tus, 48, 77, 135
Brannan, Patrick, 545
Branch, Joseph W., 126
Breed, Chas. A., 256
Brennan, John, 404, 420
George, 422
Brewster, James, 68, 152
Chas. C., 549
John H., 705
Briggs, Chas. E., 583
Brigham, Geo. N., 660
Chas. 0., 624, 825
Briscoe, Chas., 78
Bristol, Wyllis, 226
J. A , 448
John, 570
E. S., 670
Broatch, John C., 658, 677,
765
Brockett, Chas. A., 545
Bromley, Isaac H., 231, 349,
457, 633
Miles, 435
J. B., 308, 408
Bronson, Aug. E., 392
J. R., 372
Leonard, 372
Isaac R., 225
Brooker, A. F., 206, 624, 684
Brooks (Col.), 269
Brookes, A. D., 597
Brown, (Senator), 116
Delos D., 477, 479,
481, 484, 536, 551,
552
(Chaplain), Thos. G.,
552
Chas. D., 502
Chas. H., 426
(Miss), C. L., 471
Geo. II., 650, 655, 782
(Capt.),412, 504
(Lt.-Col.), 670
Elias S. 758
H. H., 676
H. B., 390
F. A., 470
Samuel, 228, 282
J. F., 236, 483, 606,
616/665, 764, 813
Matthew, 773
Thos. D., 373
(Mrs.), Roswell, 470
Vernon H., 146
Browne (Mrs.), G. S., 470
Brownell, Henry Howard,
709
(Dr.), C. M., 63
Tudor, 597
Bruns, H., 534
Buck, John R., 630, 798
Buckingham (Gov.), W. A.,
33, 35, 37, 47, 50,
56, 57, 63, 69, 70,
71,81,115,126,130,
131, 135, 140, 144,
175, 183, 185, 186,
188, 197, 222, 223,
226, 234, 286, 289,
322, 323, 324, 327,
328, 402, 434, 445,
457, 459, 466, 521,
525, 580, 630, 633,
785, 798, 801, 814,
815, 817, 826, 828,
829, 834, 835, 836,
839
(Col.), P. B., 7, 234,
235, 300, 302, 359,
360, 361, 362, 3(55-
76, 366-76, 385,
386, 387, 695, 696,
697, 698, 700, 702,
704,767-8, 769, 8d2
Hiram, 530
J. W., 431
Bucll (Mrs.), M. H., 470
Bugbee, Geo. H., 87
Edwin H. (Hon.), 815
Sylvester, 616 /
Bulkeley, Chas. E., 505
E. A., 227
Bunce, John L., 227
J. B., 470
Bunnell, Geo. W., 766
Burdick, Theodore, 436, 446
INDEX OF NAMES.
881
Burdick, Thomas, 47
(Capt.),201,440
Burbank, R. S., 72
Burke, Thos. F., 482, 487,
534, 744
Burkett, K., 597
Burley, J. W.,697
Burnham, Geo. S., 45, 87,
96, 241, 246, 247,
456, 482, 487, 532,
540, 774
John H., 335, 476,
478,681, 816
A. V., 612
(Mrs.), 476
(Hon.), 842
Burr, A. E., 228, 323
H. P., 230
Wm. A., 513
Burns, Henry, 392
Burpee, Thos. F., 225, 235,
330, 477, 484, 551,
554, 600, 814
Burton, John H., 624, 684
Bushnell (Rev.), Horace, 15,
16, 26, 27, 28, 674,
829
C. S., 52, 71, 188,
190, 226
Douglass, 694
E. W., 721, 728
Busteed, Richard, 231
Butler (Mrs.), Sophia, 63
(Mrs.), A. W., 470
J. A., 596
John B., 609
Bryan, B. S., 226
Byington (Hon.), A. H., 71,
188,389,390,838
Byxbee (Capt.), 142, 762
Theodore, 62
S. D., 404
Cady (Mrs.), Abiah, 149
Chas. H., 480
Cahill, Thos. W., 125, 141,
157, 159, 309, 311,
312, 511, 512, 524.
622, 765
Cahoone, J. B., 642
Callender, W. H. D., 470,
596
Calkins (Rev.), Mr., 523
Camp, Howard A., 666
B. H., 592
F. E., 421, 674-5
H. W., 165, 172, 174,
175, 342, 348, 442,
443, 451, 550, 620,
649, 662, 671, 672,
673, 674
Hiram, 244
Campbell, Harvey, 663
Candee, J. D., 226
Franklin, J., 720
(Mrs.), C., 471
(Mrs.), L., 471
Cannekl, Smith, 721
David, E., 296
Cannon, John S., 137
Carr, 109, 110
D. H., 226
Carroll, Charles, 120
Carlisle, Chas., 151, 471
Carpenter, 78.
Carpenter, Ezra D., 502
Elisha, 458, 640
Samuel W., 225
Carter, Daniel, 52
• Josiah M., 186
Carver, Michael, 491
Thomas, 741
Case, David C., 99
Case, Lockwood, & Co., 46
W. Chester, 711
Casey, James H., 779, 825
William B., 374
Cashin, T. D., 684, 825
Castle, George, 569
Catlin( Hon.), Julius, 45, 67,
227
Cyrus, 233
Abijah, 188
Caulkins (Miss), F. M., 74
Chadwick, Robert A., 567
Chaffee, S. E., 235, 370
Chalker, Wrn. S., 17
Chamberlain, V. B., 40,
201, 305, 436, 439,
440
(Mrs.), F., 470
Champlin, Daniel, 251
Stephen, 844
Chandler, W. H., 49
Chancellor, 360
Chapman (Col.), 97, 215,
218, 299, 302
(Hon.), Charles, 187,
226, 240, 632
Jcdediah, 392-3
George D., 457
(Mrs.), R., 471
E. C., 64
George D., 73
Justin H., 74
Chappell, Rich. H., 146
Charnley, Wm. S., 52, 226
Chatfield, John L., 62, 85,
95, 97, 99, 120, 197,
121, 198, 200, 304,
305, 440, 443, 444,
452, 453, 507, 655,
820
Amanda, 453
Henry W:, 733, 734
Pulaski, 453
Chauncy, Henry, 834
Cheney ^ F. W., 228, 229, 271
Chrisholm (Col.), 93
Churchill (Mrs.), 470
Chittenden, Simeon B., 54,
127, 253, 833, 834
Chitty, Henry E., 346
Clapp, William, 129
Clark, Sidney E., 142, 4ia,
420, 516, 719, 722,
766
A. N., 227
Clark, Cyrus C., 72, 237,
396
David, 64, 811
E. W., 654
George, 246
Jonah F., 319
Wm. F., 615
William, 421
(Gen.), 411, 414
Clary (Dr.), George, 406, 803
Clift, Amos, 48, 180
Clinton, James B., 813
Cleveland, Chauncey F., 34,
115,327
Chester D., 761
E. S., 597
(Rev. Dr.), 52
Close, I. O., 167
Cluseret (Col.), 213
Coates, Thos. C., 125
Coburn, J. H., 378, 383
Cockroft, Ambrose, 448
Cochrane, J. J., 449
Coe (Lt.), 447
Coffin, George, 53
Coifing, John C., 346
Colin, Alexander, 728
Cogswell, Wm. S., 37, 131,
302, 707,767, 817
Wm., 721
Wm. H., 720
Coit, Alfred, 188
Charles M., 276, 540, '
597, 605, 676, 680,
764
George M., 166
James B., 589
Colburn (Maj.), L., 97
(Dr.), J. M., 48
(Col.), 144, 160, 307,
319, 516,722
Elbridge, 138, 494,
568
Ledyard, 306, 714
Colby, Henry, 577
Cole, George W., 640
Coleman (Mrs.), J. E., 470
J. C., 596
William A., 374
Colgrove, Ransom, 667
Collins (Miss), C., 471
Brothers & Co., 468,
596
Erastus, 227
Colt (Col.), 73,320
Colton (Mrs.),N., 470
Comstock, Apollos, 143, 714,
728
J. C., 45, 306
Converse, J. H., 173, 258,
265, 273, 597, 598,
599, 627
A. W., 422
Cook, 327
G. B., 206
J. R., 68
Lewis A., 654, 676
C. W., 667
882
INDEX OF NAMES.
Cook, William, 654
Cooke, S. T., 64
Coomes, William A., 296
Coon, John, 667
Marcus, 62, 102, 569
Cooper, V. A., 499
Copeland, Harvey, 102
Corlies, Gerald H., 464
Corliss, George W., 74
Corbin, , 327
Cornish, Virgil, 470
Cornwall, 393
C. M., 392
Charles W., 306
Cosgrove, A. M., 58
Cothren, William, 52, 823
Couch, G. H., 825
Ansel H., 778
Cowen (Mrs.), S. J., 470
Cowles, R. P., 252, 522
Henry F., 502
J. F., 600
Lester W., 758
Lyman, 226
(Mrs.), S. W., 470
Covell, George B., 599
Crabtree, John W., 754
Crane, Alvin M., 552, 814
Crary (Dr.), 324
Crofut, George S., 247, 428,
429, 430
J. M., 85
Stephen C., 392
Croffut, D. K., 464
W. A., 389
Crosby, Hiram B., 235, 295,
335, 477, 552, 554,
606, 681
Croxton, J. T., 722
Culver, E. B., 640, 642, 643
Cummings, J. H., 684
(President), 52
(Dr.), 404
Cunningham, 78
John, 615
Curtis, Elliott M., 513
George F., 667
George William, 90
F. L., 432
Judson, 107
L. N., 600
(Sgt.-Maj.),311
Cushman, E. M., 469
Daboll, Henry W., 221, 363,
707, 767, 817
Daley; Thomas B , 623
Dana, James A., 283
Daniels Albert E., 130
F. W., 595
Wm. L., 735
Wm. A., 363, 371,705
Darrow, Barrett, 250
Dauchy, Wm. 0., 392
Davenport (Rev.), J., 16, 17
Davies (Gen.), 568
Davis, Henry C., 231, 349,
532, 534
R. S., 649
Davis, Theo. R., 227
Samuel H., 225
Sylvester, 612
(Capt), 357
Day, Albert, Sons, & Co.,
596
Erastus S., 188, 327
John, 50
Calvin, 227, 468
Putnam, 120
Dayton, L. M., 722
Dyer, E. B., 583, 616
Deane fCapt), J. M., 778
De Bourge, G., 445, 446
Decker, J. N., 569
De Forest, J. W., 142, 719
(Chaplain), 610, 662,
791
C. D., 125
H. C., 599
Henry S., 3, 480,625
Albert, 677
Delavan, J. S., 618
Deming (Hon.), Henry C.,
42, 46, 78, 81, 115,
135, 136, 160, 307,
722, 800, 821
Chas. J., 233
Dempsey, Robert, 507, 510,
. 511
Dennis, J. B , 122, 195, 437,
447, 539, 543, 544,
555, 556
0. A., 72
Dennison, Chas. S., 130
Denslow, G. A., 248
Desborough, John, 14
Dewell, John II., 129
Dewey, Daniel P., 407
DeWitt, Wm., 441
Dexter, J. N., 201
Dibble, 81
C. F., 811
Dickerson, A. A., 534, 744
David, 52
Dickinson, L. A., 142, 766
S. C., 448
David, 64, 236
Dickerman, Ezra D., 235,
696, 697, 700, 705,
706
J. C., 392
(Miss), 471
Dimock, Geo.^825
Dixon (Hon.), James, 33, 36,
226, 286, 596
John A., 277
Charles, 531, 532
Doane, John J., 105
Dodge (Gen.), C. C., 722
Donnelly (Col.), 216
Donohoe (Col.), 477
Doolittle, J. B., 712
John H., 699, 700
E. A., 693
Dorr, E. C., 206
Douglass (Hon.), Benjamin,
52, 73, 183,286,435
Douglass, Bcnj. C., 424
(Dr.), 97
John M., 3, 59
John C., 552
Stephen A., 29
Doull (Maj.), 205
Dow, Edwin C., 624, 684
Downes, Wm. E., 464
Downs, E. 226
Downing, H. A., 623
Drake, A. W., 45, 97, 126,
166, 170, 171, 173,
176
John L., 228, 282
Drown, Azro, 776, 777, 779,
825
Duane (Maj.), 618
DuBois, Cornelius J., 252,
698
(Mrs.), H., 471
Dudley ( Dr. ),F. A., 678, 811
F. B., 391
(Rev.), 155
Everett L., 782
Duffy, John, 125
Duganne, A. J. H., 431
Dunford, J. C., 72
Dunham, Austin, 227
Jas. E., 108, 230, 298
Dunlap, Thomas, Jr., 766
Durfee, Wm. H., 669
Durand, Charles, 426
Duryee, Redfield, 97, 445,
506
Dutton, Arthur H., 235, 330,
335, 337, 477, 483,
%484, 538, 553, 554,
600, 814
A S 552
Henry M., 217, 218,
219, 233
(Hon.), Henry, 82
Dwyer, C., 650
Eaton (Chaplain), Jacob,
167, 272, 276, 277,
543, 545, 546, 557,
569, 655, 683, 688,
762, 763
(Hon.), W. W., 104,
105, 110, 323,328
(Gov.), 14
Eastman, Henry A., 273
Eddy, Hiram, 63, 99, 569
Martin B., 448
Edgerton, A. J., 640
Edwards, George P., 666, 670
Charles H., 248
Elliott, Chas. W., 226.
Ellis, Theo. G., 367, 386,
388, 396, 566, 570,
577, 601, 607, 765,
811
Elmer, Wm. T., 327, 630,
798
Elmore, Harvey E., 277
Ells, Wm. B., 233, 506, 587
588, 592, 714, 761
Ellis (Rev.), 54
INDEX OF NAMES.
883
Ellsworth, E. E., 86, 111
830
John, 86
(Judge), 27
W. W., 227
William, 86
John, 86
Ely, Win. G., 121, 131, 132,
231, 238, 349, 350,
351,- 354, 355, 357,
499, 500, 501, 640,
642, 644, 715, 717
Calvin L., 252
Alexander, 97
Richard S., 597
Employees, The Colt, 468
Engles, J. S., 514, 621
English (Hon.), James E.,99
Wm. S., 546
Eno, Fred. R., 282
Ensworth, D. M., 422
Ericsson (Capt.), John, 190
Erwin (Mrs.), 470
Eustis (Rev.), Wm. T., 52,
226
Evans (Rev.), P. S., 183
John, 390
Fardon, I. G., 667
Farnham, Noah L., 86
Farnsworth, Chas., 139, 209,
490, 491, 492, 496
(Dr.), 243
Farren, John W., 226
Farrend, E., 842
Faxon, W. C., 558, 617, 779,
825
Felch, F. A., 448
Fellows, R. S., 226
Fenn, Aug. H., 727, 761
Fenton, E. B., 705
Charles, 814
Ferguson, S. B., 108
Ferris, Weston, 739
Robert, 27
Sam. P., 149, 219, 252,
456 »
Ferry, Orris S., 32, 35, 71,
74, 214, 219, 722,
817, 818
Fessenden, E., 597
Finch, Lucius R., 226
Fish, Wm. S., 139, 209, 490,
491 ,
Geo. A., 568
Fisher & Co., 58
Fiske, Samuel, 264, 268, 269,
560, 564, 565, 566,
589, 590, 636
W. 0., 421, 519
Fitzgibhons, R., 62, 311, 511,
512
Fitch (Mrs.), J. W., 471
(Mrs.), Emily M., 471
Thomas, 48, 801
A. G., 248
John, 27
William, 801
Fletcher (Dr.), 306
Fretcher, (Gov.), 18
H. J., 420
Flower, E., 468, 596
Flynn, Michael, 616
Foley, John, 125
Folsom, Wm., 244
Foot, Rolf C., Jr., 236
Andrew Hull, 226, 397
(Rev.), John, 397
Forbes (Lt. Col.), 533
Ford, Roger M., 291, 619
" Forlorn Hope," The, 416,
417,418
Foskitt, Geo. H., 249
Foster, H., 128, 167, 172, 173,
344, 786
Wm. H., 470
E. K., 67, 125, 798
(Hon.), LaFayette S.,
32,33, 36, 115, 231
Foss, Samuel S., 669
Fountain, (Dr.), 337
Fowler, Richard H., 297
Douglass, 68, 124,
229, 380, 381, 391,
729, 817
Fox, Hiram H., 782
Francis, James L., 320
Daniel G., 122, 131
John A., 501
Frankau, Nathan, 142, 306
Franklin, Wm., 244
French, Wilson, 362, 392,
731, 733
E. W.,494, 728
Fritz, James, 99
Frisbie, A. L., 696
Frye, Frederick, 68, 107,
125,306, 312, 511,
513
Gage, Robert B., 305
Gallagher (Surgeon), 310
(Hon.), James, 52, 244
Gallup, Loren A., 250, 424,
434
(Hon.), David, 188,
632
Gardner, 156
Wm. C., 719
Gardner, James M., 307
Gardiner, G- F., 123,193, 199
Garvey, Patrick, 125
Gasner, Geo. A., 676
Gates, H. P., 475
Gavitt, A. L., 705
Geatley, John, 607
Geer, Cyrus M., 424
Nathan H., 575
German, Wm. A., 102
Gerrish, Henry G., 122
Gibbs, Samuel E., 595
(Miss), J., 471
Gibbons, E. W., 225, 267, 296
Richard F., 125
T. F., 513
Gill, Henry B., 651, 654
Gillette, Cornelius, 558, 617,
825
Gillette, E. A., 624, 684
Robert H., 690
(Hon.), Francis, 690
Gilbert, Lucius, 226
Jesse.B., 421
S. G., 143
Raphael, 448, 544
Smith S., 609
Thos. S., 207, 779,
813
N. B., 779
Gilman (Prof.), D. C., 82,
226
George, 435
W. H., 124
Wm. C., 54, 253
Gilmore, Patrick, 248
Gilson, A. L, 705, 769
Glasson (Capt.), 123
Glazier, O. D., 814
Gleason, Isaac C., 248, 421
Glenn, Russell, 781, 782
Glissman (Corp.), 446
Glover, Joseph, 619
Martin V. B., 373
Goddard, Alfred M., 475, 540
Henry P., 3, 540, 565
Godfrey, Geo. M., 247, 432
Goff, Christian, 250
0. S., 673
Gold, Edward F., 233, 234
Goodell, Wm., 600
W. W., 391
Goodenough (Mrs.), J., 471
Goodrich, Frank B., 464
L. S., 457
E. T., 619
Goodsell, E. B., 107
Goodwin, L. P., 490, 570,
583, 758, 784
J. E., 660
Wm. A., 297
Hiram, 186
Jonathan, 227
Goodyear, E. D. S., 126, 549,
620, 621, 653, 681,
765, 782, 786, 787,
788, 824
L. G., 421
(Capt.), 342
Gore, Asa A., 493
James W., 64
Horace H., 493
Gossman, John, 770
Gould (Judge), 27
Charles, 125, 253
Graham, Ira A., 679
Granger, Albert S., 59, 74
Granuiss, Samuel H., 142,
404,411, 420
Grant (Gen.), 535, 536, 596,
696, 789, 794, 795,
796, 797, 803, 813,
829
H. L., 448, 680
(Dr.), H. A., 188,801
Matthew, 830
Noah, 830
884
INDEX OF NAMES.
Grant, Jesse Root, 830
Ofay, Miles, 517
S. H., 122, 132, 194,
437, 439, 440, 444,
447
Graves, B. L., 177, 621
(Rev.), Samuel, 425
Greaves (Capt.), 342
Gregory, J. M., 727
Greeley, Edwin S., 523, 537,
548, 611, 621, 656,
672, 681, 683, 765,
787, 809, 824
Horace, 390 .
. (Mrs.), E. S., 471
Green (Miss), A. E., 467
Wm. H., 657
Geo. H., 657
Albert C., 498
Thos. L., 657
Nelson H., 657
(Miss), Elizabeth, 466,
467
Wm. P., 50, 657
Cyrus A., 657
Greene (Mayor), 435
(Lt.), 447
James A., 596
J. Lloyd, 50
Stephen S., 596
Griggs, Charles, 717
Griffiths, Dana N., 373
Grilley, Chas. T., 522
Griswold (Rev.), S. S., 48
John, 130, 266, 273,
278, 279, 280
Warren, 227
& Co., 58
Greenman & Co., George, 48
(jreenman, George, 601
Grow (Hon.), G. A., 115
Grover, Chas. D., 407
Grosvenor, Chas. H., 307
Guyer, Thomas, 458
Guilford, Timothy, 235
Hany, Bernard, 448
Hakes Isaac W. Jr., 231,
349
D. W., 502
Hale, F. M., 50, 231
Hall, (Chaplain), 184
Charles W., 247
Edwin D., 548
(Hon.), Ezra, 524,816,
827
Henry C., 548,619
H. L., 183
Leonidas R., 307
N. C., 244
Hallenbeck, N. S., 72
Hammersly, Wm. J., 227
Hammond, A. G., 596
(Mrs.), A. G., 470
C. E., 612
Hamilton, 142
David B., 216
Hand (Surg.), D. W., 711
Harland, Edward, 68, 123,
125, 128, 171 178,
270, 271, 272, 273,
294, 475, 482, 521,
537, 711, 712, 722,
771
Harmon, George, 119
Harrington, Clark, 250
J. V., 644
Harrison, H. L., 186, 327,
630
H. B., 183, 226, 687
(Dr.), B. F., 52
Israel, 52
(Miss), S. B., 470,471
Thomas, 156
Hart (Surg.), 345, 673
F. W., 62
Matthew, 525
Edward W., 565
Charles, 432
Willard, 595
Harvey, John, 730
Allen W., 227
Hastings (Mrs.), A. F., 470
Hatch, Calvin B., 505
(Mr), 361
Hatfield, S. P., 557, 617, 825
Havens William H., 724
Hawley, Joseph R., 45, 46,
61, 62, 63, 97, 105,
123, 131, 176, 192,
193, 196, 199, 200,
202, 296, 326, 436,
449, 508, 509, 510,
538, 546, 548, 549,
635, 651, 652, 670,
680, 682, 729, 762,
804, 805, 807, 808,
809, 810, 820
Monson, 108
(Mrs.), Monson, 465
Daniel W., 710
Wm. H., 658, 659
Hawkes, C. E , 88
Hatch, Calvin B., 592
Charles P., 435
Edward W., 183
Hawkins, Frank, 824
Joseph, 230
Hayes, Aleck, 566
Hayden, Richard E., 779
Sam. S., 249, 407, 599
Nathaniel, 228
Haynes, John, 15
William H., 201, 676
Healy, John G., 513, 714,
725, 727, 765, 802,
823
Heath, A. A., 105
Hemingway, L. G., 72
(Major), 207
Hendrick (Surgeon), Eli F.,
710,711
Hendrick s, A. C., 721
Henderson Alexander, 167
James P., 769
Hennessey, James P., 125
Hewitt, Oscar W., 277
Hibbard, 327
0. H., 430, 431
H. J., 119
Horace, 720
Samuel, 227, 295
Wm. H., 476
Hickerson, F. G., 662, 786,
789
Hickok, N. E., 666
Hickox, George A., 233
Higgins (Lt.), 357
James D., 533
Hill, B. A., 676
Theron D., 346
John, 766
Hilliard, Henry B., 434
Hillhouse (Miss), H., 471
James, 28
(Miss), I., 471
Hillman, Lcvi N., 61
Hillyer, Charles F., 246
Hineks, Wm. B., 589, 781,
811
Hinckley, E. S , 642
Arthur T., 249
Hinman, Stephen N., 582
Hine, I. W., 244
E. C., 651, 654
Hintz, Henry, 534
Hitchcock, Koland, 40
E. S., 122, 194, 199,
200, 201, 392
Hoadley, Frederick, 420
Hoag, D. D., 252, 412, 426,
609
Hobbie, Charles A., 230, 730,
Horace, 448
Holhrook, L., 766
Holcomb(Surg.), H. V. C.,
52, 712
Richard E., 307, 412,
420
Holden, Jonas G., 407
Hollister, 22, 23
Fftz G., 610
J. C., 226, 457
G. H., 233
Holden, A: M., 762
Holmes, 327
Theo. J., 473
C. M., 673
Chas. E.L., 247, 427
Christopher, 545
T. J., 568, 572, 586,
613, 6J5, 724
(Col.), 428, 429
Honslow, Roper, 440
Hooker (Rev.), Thomas, 15
Hopkins, A. D., 248, 428,
431
(Gov.), 14
Hoppin, James M., 152
Horn (Lt.), 599
Home, Samuel B., 46
Horton, William, 282
Thomas, 201, 327
Hosford, B. F., 505, 727
INDEX OF NAMES.
885
Hotchkiss, Geo. F., 252
W. S., 236, 709, 819
House, Wm W., 423
Houston, A. P., 108
Hovey (Hon.), James A., 50,
231
Walter P., 788
Howard, Charles T., 227
James A., 449
James L. & Co., 596
Mark, 227
Richard, 86
Howe, Jr., Elias, 108, 297,
818
John I., 464
Edmund G., 596
Howell (Col.), 553
Hoyt, Henry M., 123, 478,
605
Israel L., 126
Hubbard, James, 233, 506,
587, 588, 594, 714,
761, 795
(Hon.), John H., 53,
243, 822
D. R., 119,207
(Dr.), Robert, 373
Richard D., 176, 183
Hubbell, Wm. L., 392, 552,
670, 731, 735
Hudson, Edward P., 121
Philip W., 126
Hull, Ezra M., 316
Andrew, 397
A. J., 595
Humphey, Joseph, Jr., 233
Hunt, D. C., 392
Huntoon, Samuel T., 250
Hurd, A. C., 448
Hurlburt, Charles D., 431
Samuel E., 568
(Surg.), Geo. A., 758
Hutchinson, J. I., 510, 651,
654
(Lt.), 447
Huntington, Wm., 779
W. H., 50
James M., 50
Huxman, Samuel, 391
Hyde, Alvan P., 187, 240
Wm. I., 129
Ingersoll (Mrs.), C. A. 471
Jared, 19
Irwin, Charles N., 669
Ives, Bray ton, 495, 614, 615,
715, 757, 758, 783,
785, 792, 793, 795,
817,818
Charles, 52, 632
E. D., 421
John S., 403
N. P., 152, 475
L. C., 468
(Mrs.), Theron, 470
Jacobs, Herrey F., 424, 425
Jackson, L. W., 557, 624
C. W., 506
John R., 545
Jackson, Ebenezer, 286
F. W., 124
Ranson, 814
Jarmon, W. M., 449
James, Giles, 441
Jameson, J. S., 616, 753
Jarvis, Geo. C., 507, 651, 654
Samuel F.. 505, 618
Jeffry, Frank C., 552
Jacob, 327
Jenkins, James H., 428, 429
J. R., 430, 431
Jennings, H. R., 670
Jepson, 126
Theodore, 694, 705
Benjamin, 81
(Mrs.), B., 471
Jewell, M. P. & Son, 434, 468
Marshall, 597, 808
(Mrs.), P., 470
Jewett, (Dr.), Levi, 660, 811
D. L., 374
(Dr.), P. A., 185
Johnson, David F., 247, 428
Henry L., 817
H. P., 248
N. P., 249, 423
J. N., 501
Jas. B., 676
W. H. H., 770
And. T., 316
George, 534
E., 80
Wm. B.,183
George W., 246
Timothy D., 129
Jones, Devereaux, 1 56, 307
Cyrus D., 252
(Col.), 44
David W., 374
Edward W., 233, 761
Elijah B., 220
Jordon, Joseph, Jr., 235
(Lt.), 440
Judd, Lewis, 126
(Mrs.), J. F., 470
Kane, J. H., 616
Kattensbroth (Adj.), 311
Keables, A. L., 669
Reach, Ephraim, Jr., 231,
238
Kealey, John J., 248
Keaton, John, 558
Keeny, Henry, 227
" H. & W., 597
Keith, James M., 754
Kecfe, Jeremiah, 156
Kellogg, A. G., 64, 88
E. S., 48, 72, 233, 506,
573
Hawley, 227
E. N. & Co., 468, 597
Enos, 118, 207, 230,
730, 735
(Col.), 238, 587, 588,
592, 593, 594, 655
Stephen W., 631, 800
Kellogg, Robert H., 526, 527
529
Kelly, James, 558
Kendall, Joshua, 458
Kenyon, I. D., 663
Martin R., 425
Marshall, 609
Kerns, James, 782
Keyes, E. D., 93, 97
Edwin R., 425
David D., 545
Kibbee, I. N., 640
T. C., 633
Kies, George, 502
John, 681
Kilbourne, James B., 669
Kimball, 267
King, John A., 124
J. W., 226
Lewis D., 277
Kingsbury (Col.), 129, 164,
256, 259, 266, 273,
278, 279, 521, 598,
627
F. J., 183
N. & Co., 468, 596
T. H. C., 129
Kingsley, Thos. G., 241, 250,
251, 411,426,427
Kinney J. C., 708
(Rev.), E. D., 708
E. A., 766
Thomas, 106
Kinsley (Dr.), 27
Kirkham, Austin P., 100
Klein, Daniel, 68, 121, 553,
680, 683, 820
Kloeh, Chas. H. 657
Knapp (Capt), 238
Samuel R., 232
Knipe (Gen.), 697, 707
Knowlton, 24
J. W., 391
Daniel, 111 »
Danford, 115
Knox, Andrew, 106
Krazynski, M., 479, 551
Lacey, Wm. H., 230
Ladd, H. O., 185
Lake, David, 277
Lamb (Col.), 688
F. A., 615
Lamphere, J. D., 545
Lancey, S. H., 61, 84
Landon, Chas. B., 253
Lane, D. F., 74, 217
Lanfare, Aaron S., 784, 792
Lansing, James H., 226
Lamed (Miss), A., 471
Latham, J. II., 552
Latimer, E. H., 496
Lathrop (Dr.), De Witt C.,
177
Lawton, Thomas, 52
Law, John E., 188
Lawrence, Thomas, 323
Lawton (Rev. Mr.), 132
Leach, Arnold, 97
886
INDEX OF NAMES.
Learned, B. P., 61 8, 825
Leaven worth, M. C., 316
Lee, E. M., 500, 575, 743
E. E., 129, 175, 655
James E., 752
Charles E., 752
H. B., 651, 654, 655
W. T., 596
Henry, 660
Leete (Gov.), 16
Leeds, Francis K., 252, 318
Ledyard, William, 24
Leggett, Robert, 100, 126,
341, 344, 345, 452,
514, 649, 656
Leroy, J. 0., 99
Lewis, George N., 68, 142,
420, 576, 714, 725,
766, 821
Charles E., 277
(Major), 404
William G., 277
B. S., 654, 542
Robert, 776, 778, 825
Lilley, John, 642
Lillibridge, Geo. H., 567, 590
Lincoln, Abraham, 29, 30,
31, 39, 42, 83, 86,
535, 799
William A., 624
H. H., 680
Lindsay, A. H., 502
Lindsley, J. H.,620, 621,672,
787
C. A., 226
Lines, Edward, 392
Lippitt, A. C., 48
Lockwood, F. St. John, 800
D. B., 388
Logan, S. G., 684
Lombard, Joseph A., 175
Long, P., 666
Francis S., 624
Walter P., 552, 663,
664, 669
Loomis (Hon.), D wight, 32,
150
Benjamin T., 247
Lord, F. C., 569
Horace, 227
Tom, 200
Jesse H., 3, 88
Lounsbury, Stephen, 108
Cooke, 186
Lovejoy, Frank M., 227,
295
Lowell, John P., 728
Luddington, Lewis, 678
Lucrenia, G. P., 616
Lucas, Walter M., 391
Lyon, Arthur E., 441
(Gen.), 102, 111, 112,
113, 114, 115, 819,
830
(Major), 208, 213, 270,
490
R. P., 426
Hanford, 108
Lyon, Henry, 592
E. L., 102, 162
Judson M., 139
Lyman (Rev.), Charles N.,
768
Henry, 662
Mabbett, Alonzo, 421
(Capt.), 415
Mayne, G. A., 307
McAllister, Alexander, 226
James, 156
McBarney, Geo. H., 595
McBrien, James, 448
McCabe, James P., 720
McCall, John, 272, 548
A. D., 721
McCartin, Michael, 125
McCormick, Jos., 568
McCurdy, Robt. H., 54, 124,
156, 253
Charles J., 34, 54
McCord, J. J., 143, 518
McDonald, H. J. 550, 764
Alexander, 585
G. E., 7'78
McDonough, Louis R., 252
McEwen, William, 546
McFarland (Bishop), 92
McGee, R., 449
McGlaffin, Charles E., 728
McGrath, Walter, 409
McKenzie (Col.), .714, 761,
762
R. S., 594
McKinley, Thos. H., 670
McManus, Thomas, 402
McNamara, James B., 778
McReynolds (Col.), 351
Maguire, Thomas, 74
Maginnis, J. T., 640, 642,
643
Maher, Patrick, 403, 419
Maine, Edwin G., 277
Mallory, Charles & Sons, 48
Wm. H., 102, 569
Manning, Edward P., 425
Manross, N. S., 228, 282,
283
Mansfield (Mrs.), H., 471
(Lt.), 195
Samuel M., 248
Jos. K. F., 89, 283,
554
B. F., 150, 522, 813,
814
Jared, 283
D. B., 609
Manville, G. W., 773
Marble, Edwin, 435, 523
William S., 556, 689
Marcy, George O., 495, 570,
583, 584, 612, 613,
614, 615, 715, 718,
723, 724
Marsh, E. W., 595
D. E., 505
John R., 99
George H., 277
Marsh, William S., 105
William P., 291
Charles II., 489
Marshall Henry G , 3, 766
(Mrs.), Horace, 467
Martin, Charles T., 235
Martinson, Augustus, 569
Marvin, Edwin, 220
Mason John, 14
J. B., 623
E. P., 618, 684, 686,
825
Mather, Roland, 227, 596
Mathewson, Charles, 129,349
Joseph, 231, 639, 646,
815
Ezra J., 232
Matson, N., 618 [431
May, Wm. H., 248,428,429,
Mayer (Surg.), Nathan, 274,
278, 280, 282, 462,
476, 477, 484, 598,
626, 710, 711, 713
Maynard, J. C., 250, 424
G. L. M., 667
Mead, Daniel M., 341
Thos. R., 127, 341
Meeker, Benjamin, 595
Lorenzo, 121,539,542,
680
Melancthon (Surg.), 475
Merritt, James, 225
Merriam, E. J., 654
Merriman, M. M., 596
Merrill (Sgt.), 156
Oscar F., 307
Merwin, Henry C., 369, 378,
392
Ira, 52
Metcalf, George T., 137, 542
Meyer (Surg.), 255
(Col.), 131
Michie (Major), 685
Middleton, George W., 253
Middlebrook (Capt.), 139,
209, 211, 212, 213,
490
Miller (Rev.), 52
Joseph, 448, 654
D. H., 427
Peter, 615
Milford, Henry P., 586
Mills (Capt.), 507
Charles C., 555, 556
John S., 710
B. K., 108
Miner, Abraham, 545
Wm. T., 458
Mitchell (Capt.), 307
William, 426
Louis, 51
A., 143
Mix, Edward H., 119, 482,
485, 486 •
Mobbett, Alonzo L., 248
Moegling, Wm. C., 129, 267,
273, 281, 599, 606,
608, 610, 619, 625,
627
INDEX OF NAMES.
887
Monroe, Austin G., 88 •
Moore, Samuel A., 381, 386,
392, 566, 570, 573,
589, 658, 660, 677,
679,780, 795
J. E., 68, 230, 391
James R., 540
James M., 660
Pat., 782
E. Lewis, 510
& Johnson, 597
Morehouse, Win. A., 446
John B., 212, 494,
568, 612, 613, 715,
757, 792, 819
Morrell, Pierre, 782
Morgan, Henry E., 105, 180,
272, 291, 333
J. F., 573, 781
A. M., 669
Daniel, 546
Morris (Chaplain), John M.,
77, 183, 184, 258,
275, 337, 798
Wm. E., 494
Dwight, 222, 238, 260,
267, 289, 349, 395,
396, 630, 632
Morrow, J. J., 727
Morse, Horace J., 456, 463,
633, 635, 801, 811
A. C., 595
109, 110
Charles W., 534
Samuel F. B., 27
Wm. W., 235, 812
Moss, Titus, 374
Mullen, John, 728
Munger George, 236
Munson Edwin B., 127
M. W., 81
Murdock, Wm., 590, 677,
781
Murphy, James T., 778, 779
Murray, E. J., 705, 769
Myers, Frederick, 126
Mygatt, A. B., 77
Napheys, George H., 250
Nash, Charles W., 123
Narramore, Robert, 464
Nearing, Edward, 429
Neff, I. F., 762
Neidhart, Julius, 782, 788
Nelson, John A., 68, 125
Nettleton, Isaac F., 313
Elliott W., 771
Neville, E. M., 583,612
Newton (Dr.), 345
Nickerson (Dr.), Nehemiah,
746
Edwin L., 406
Nichols, Horace, 108
Andrew B., 546
Monroe, 231, 350, 354,
501, 640, 641
James R., 573, 660
Stephen M., 428
Charles H., 542, 612
Niles, A. F., 490, 492
J. M., 596
Noble, Wm. H., 50, 108, 229,
297, 361, 362, 394,
450, 722, 729, 731,
732
J. W., 722
Noblett (Capt.), 430
North, John G., 61, 82, 522
Henry, 735
Northam, Chas. H., 227
Northrup, , 423
George, 683, 765
Cyrus, 77, 186
Lewis, 428
Charles E., 788
Norton Brothers, 50
(Mrs.), 471
Henry B., 71, 497
Charles L., 461
Francis M., 567
(Mrs.), W. A., 471
L. F., 590
(Mrs.), L. H., 465
North, Benjamin, 61
Noyes, Enoch, Jr., 250
Wm. Curtis, 234
O'Brien, Dennis, 448
Lawrence, 158
John, 825
Orcutt, Henry W., 567
Odell John, 777, 779
Oliver, Wm. A., 407
Olmstead, Chas. H., 195
(Mts.), J., 470
O'Reilly, Father, 92
Ormsby, O. P., 281
Osborn (Col.), 549
Arthur D., 67, 226
E. G., 780
E. W., 64, 227, 392,
772, 773, 776
Thomas B., 57
J. C., 448
F. B., 445, 680
W. F., 558, 624, 684
Otis, John L., 452, 514, 537,
548, 549, 619, 620,
622, 653, 656, 670,
671, 672, 673, 681
Oviatt, George B., 407
Owen, E. H., 470
L. B., 324
Packer, E. P., 552, 666, 670
Warren W., 74, 302,
364, 378, 693
Page (Dr.), 177
Paine, W. H., 642
Painter, M. G., 545
Palmer, , 327
Andrew, 103
Chas. E., 122, 132,
199, 202
C. S., 195
John C., 227
Pardee, Benj. S., 126, 128,
164, 165, 166, 172,
341, 457, 460
Pardee, D. W., 227
Henry C., 235
H. E., 522
(Lt. Col.), 162
Stephen D., 151, 183,
226,471
Park, Joseph P., 595
Parker, Charles, 46, 47
Frederick A., 235
H. C., 546
Timothy R., 248
Parmelee, Uriah N., 584,
724, 783, 784, 785,
819
Joseph E., 788
Leander, 448
S. T., 244
Parsons, Edgar H., 448
J. C., 596
L. S., 52
Pasco, Henry L., 228, 482,
485, 531, 534
Patch, William, 214
Patterson, H. D., 624, 779,
825
Payne, A. E.. 513
Joseph B., 595
Peale, Henry, 64, 231, 238,
351-5,356,497,638,
642, 717, 766
Pease, L. E., 78
Peck, A. W., 433, 730
Frank H., 321, 410,
420, 516, 524, 714,
719,721
David J., 188, 226
Edward O., 109, 234
Henry A., 621, 655,
782
Henry B., 227
Jabez B., 433
John F., 431
(Miss), P., 471
Nelson J., 433
Pemberton, Mr., 337
Penrose, J. J., 49
Perkins, B. R., 346
D. D.,455
Farren, 53
(Miss), Eliza P., 466
H. A., 227, 596
James H., 247
N. W., 803
S. H., 72, 222, .237,
260, 396
(Lt. Col.), 293
(Dr.),N. S., 346,347
Wm. W., 346
Joseph, 45
Perry (Col.), 195
(Lieut.), 447
(Sergeant), 727
E. S., 651
Peters, John A., 489
(Rev.), Saml., 24
Peterson, Wm. H., 669
Pettibone, Major, 341, 343
Phelps, Horace E., 728
John S., 115
888
INDEX OF NAMES.
Phelps, (Mrs.), 115
Phillips, Allen F., 493
Daniel, 227, 468
(Mrs.), D., 470
F., 773
G. W., 49, 327, 458
George, 788
Henry T., 581
W. E., 583
Piatt, Donn, 350
(Mrs.), 350
Pickett, Edwin D., 392
Pierce, Henry H., 556, 624,
684-6, 825
Pierpont, E. F., 448
(Rev.), John, 76
Walter, 586
Pinkerman, P. A., 226
Platt, John, 108
Oscar, 505
Hon. 0. H., 46, 80,
188, 227, 630, 631,
632
Plumb, D. W., 48, 458, 464
(Mrs.), H. 471
S. F., 669
S. W. W., 654
Plympton (Dr.), 49
Pomeroy (Senator), 109, 116
Porter (Asst. Surg.), 201
Edward L., 355, 688
(Lt.), Horace, 192
H. L., 596
Isaac G., 355
John A., 226
Selden T., 137
Post, Ambrose W., 706
B. C., 421
Oliver R., 699, 700,
705, 706
Wm. H., 596
Potter, G. W., 595
Powell, James P., 227
(Dr.), 809
Pratt (Mrs.), D. C., 471
(Miss.), Esther, 470
Pratt, Franklin A., 624, 684
Gilbert, 105
H. A., 686, 825
James T., 34, 187
Wm. M., 540, 680, 764
Pray (Lt.), 599
Prentice, Hon. Amos W., 50,
231
Chas. H., 596
Preston, E. B., 334
Pride, William G., 556, 825
Prindle (Capt), C. E., 143
Provost, Norman, 542
Prouty, Benj. F., 121
Punderford, John A., 227
Putnam, 20, 21, 22, 24
Radford (Col.), 97, 98
Raffle, Chas., 156
Randall, Isaac, 48
Jedediah, 251, 424
Silas B., 48
Mr. ,302
Rankin, Edw. E., 228
Ross, Sam'l, 234, 693
Rathburn, J. A., 669
J. G., 596, 808
Raymond, Stephen, 104
Rebstock, Wm., 448
Read, John R., 281
Reed, Abner, 157
Reeve (Judge), 27
Reeves, Wm., 446
Reid, Robert K., 754
Rich (Mrs.), G. B., 471
Rexford, Henry A., 595
Reynolds, G., 625, 825
(Gen.), 380
G. G.,
(Sergt.), 327
Wm. H., 612
Rice, Chauncey D., 48
E. J., 216
J. C., 722
James Q., 233, 506,
587, 714, 720, 822
John P., 147
John T., 188,630
Randall H., 335, 609,
681
Richardson (Gen.), 578
Richmond, Collins, 779
Rigby, Chas., 421
Riggs, Luther G., 3, 246, 334
Riley, Ed., 782
(Lt), 426
Ripley, Charles H., 546
(Col.), 483-4
Luther, 105
E. H., 272
Roach, Jas. D., 412, 420
Roath, Leonard G., 406
Roberts (Mrs.), B. S., 470,
471
Hiram C., 281
Wm. J., 274, 669
(Mrs.), W. W., 470
Robbins, T. H., 407
Robinson, Chas., 623
Henry C., 227, 523
Timothy B., 534, 744
Rockwell, A. P., 198, 303,
442, 548, 672, 680,
683, 690
J. P., 501, 642, 650
Rockwood, N. P., 590
T. H., 207
Rodman, Daniel C., 122, 131,
132, 194, 195, 436,
439, 441, 539, 543,
557, 680, 820
(Gen.), 270, 271, 273
Rogers, C. B., 226
Edmond, 446
Enoch E., 3, 773
I. B., 696
JoabB., 492, 717
Wm. H., 556, 825
Root (Lt.), Ed., 705
E. B., 246
E. K., 597
Root, (Mrs.), J. A., 471
John G., 246
John S., 374
S. J., 68
Owen, Day, &, 597
Rose, Jonathan, 54
Ross, Samuel, 325, 373, 698,
701, 812
W. E. W., 623
Rossman, Wm. H., 448
Rouse, W. D., 667
Rowland, Thos. F., 190
Rowell, David B., 694
Royce, John E., 700
Runyon, T., 722
Ruggles, Geo. B., 730, 733
Russell, Chas. L., 47, 97, 126,
164, 165, 167, 453,
655, 781
(Gen.), 65
F. W., 458
George D., 47, 64
(Dr.), G. W., 185
James L., 179
Robert, 590, 677
Samuel S., 168
Wm. H.,183, 188, 226,
800, 812, 819
(Mrs.), W. H., 471
Rust, C. H., 277
Ruth, Patrick K., 123, 126
Sackett, Wm. H., 609, 610
Salisbury, E., 152
(Mrs.), E. E., 471,
472
Sanford, E. J., 226
George S., 108
George W., 782
Hon. Henry S., 149
H., 471,472
Julius, 247, 428, 431
Oliver S., 122, 194,
539, 543, 555, 556,
557, 744
Sargent, Geo. D., 624, 825
Satte»lee (Surg.), Dwight,
476
Savage, W. L., $55
Sawyer, Silas W., 125, 311,
513
Sayers (Sergt), 611
Schalk, F. E., 589, 591
Schleiter, 143, 307
Schnable, Ellis B., 107, 110
Schutze, Henry, 58
Schweizer, B. "E., 252, 293,
296
Scott, Geo. E., 635
H. G., 558
John B., 642
(Misses), 88
LeHick, 421
(Lt. Gen.), Winfield,
70, 83
Scoville, Chas. M., 592
Scranton, A. G., 502
Erastus, 188
(Hon.), B.C., 57, 817,
819, 820, 823
INDEX OF NAMES.
Seavcr, Heber W., 228
Sedgwick, R. A., 207
(Gen.), 574, 575
Seeley (Mrs.), Wm. E., 465
' A., 458
Albert O., 735
Segee, Philip B., 236
Selden, Joseph, 411, 414,
423, 424, 426
Senglaube, Louis, 567
Seward, S. H., 391, 590
Wm. T., 137
Sexton, Bolles, & Co., 597
Seymour, E. W., 233
Edward, 243
F. S.,391
Griswold £ Co., 596
Hon. 0. S., 234, 630,
798
Gov. Thos. H., 78,
80, 103, 228, 332
Shailer, Chas. M., 654
Shalk, Fredk., 391
Sharp, Albert F., 391, 620,
649, 655-6
Shaw (Col.), 443
Sheffield (Capt.), 179
Sheldon, Joseph, 244, 472
(Mrs.)-, J., 471
(Lr.), 374-5
W. D., 383
Shelton (Ur.), 124
Edward N., 47
Shepard, David G., 305
Jeremiah M., 236,
552
J. H., 335
Brothers, 345
(Capt.), 552
G. W., 552
S. B., 556
Sheridan, Terrence, 513
Sherman (Miss) E., 471
(Gen.), 95, 116, 502,
535, 536, 696, 789,
796, 797, 802, 803,
813, 829
Philo B., 236, 517
John, 830
T. W., 123
Shipman, N., 596
W. D., 227
Shultas, Chas. C., 246
Bidders, Chas., 409
Sidney, Sir Philip, 425
Silliman, B., Jr., 24, 283
C. N., 825
Silloway, Win. F., 250
Simms, John M., 346-47
Simonds, John H., 277
W. E., 422
Simmons, Wm. S., 666
Simpson, Jas. F., 660
Samuel, 81
Siprcll, D. W., 72, 119
Skiff (Dr.), 522
Skinner, Alden B., 423
(Mrs.), A. N., 471
Skinner, Benj. F., 122
B. F., 195, 435, 447,
508-10
Jeffrey, 233, 714, 720,
761
(Miss), J. W., 471
S. W., 617
Slade, Lucius M., 48
Slater, John F., 50, 231
Smith, Abner C., 771
Albert, 424
Alfred, 468, 470
Brainard, 787, 788
Charles, 107, 374, 392,
735
C. W., 825
Charles, Jr., 449
Danl. L., 220
David, 50, 231
Ed., 750
Edward W., 805
Edward L., 788
. Elisha T., 227
E. Y., 124
Francis, 728
Gad N., 505
George F., 82
Geo. G., 307
Geo. W., 782
Heber S., 218, 220
Henry C., 235
H. H., 201
Ira S., 602
James, 779
Jas. T., 307
(Judge), 27
L. R., 226
Martin B., 124, 478,
547, 605, 669, 757
Moses, 546, 606, 610,
618,666,669
M. L., 746
Nathaniel, 233, 506,
594, 882
Peter J., 751
Rufus, 458
Seymour W., 770
S. S., 227
Septimus S., 712
Thos., 468, 596
Wm. A., 669
W. F., 536, 551, 553,
554, 586, 596, 625
W. G., 654
W. W., 700
Smyth (Col.), 659
Snagg, Henry L., 391
Snow, L. M., 705
Soby, Wm., 327
Soule, E. F., 449
Souter, James, 599
Southard, L. II., 102, 569
Southmayd, Gtfo. M., 129
Southworth, Chas. G., 236
Sparks, Walter C., 595
Spaulding, J. L., 50
Reuben, 640
Win. L., 639-40
Speidal, John, 61, 121, 304,
305, 373, 506
Spellman, W. C., 616
Spencer, Albert, 480
J. F., 676
Wm., 697
Sperry, Eli, 234
H. T., 597
N. D., 226, 244
Spittle, Wm., 236, 335
Sprague, Ezra, 700, 769
Homer B., 143, 155,
161, 308, 313, 401,
403, 420, 578, 714,
718, 719, 725, 728,
765, 803, 827, 828
(Surg.), 114
Sprcnkle, D. & F., 567
Spring, And. J., 751
Speed, Fredk., 516
Standish, Walter F., 391
Stanley, T. A., 296
Frank W., 406
Stanton, Chas. T., Jr., 236,
552, 606
John L., 251, 423
Stanwood, Ed. W., 771
Starkweather, Hon. H. H.,
50, 356
John C., 117
(Mrs.) N., 470
Starr, Benj., 654
E. W. N., 241
Fredk., 432
Stedman. Griffin A., 74, 129,
256, 266, 267, 273,
274, 278, 279, 5:J8,
541, 550, 553, 597-
99, 601, 606-608,
616, 619, 625-28,
764, 817
Edmund C., 390
G. W., 420, 721, 722
John W., 9Q, 231
Sterling (Capt.), 517
D. H., 50
(Mrs.), Daniel H., 465
John W., 236, 388,
517, 708, 709
(Mrs.), W. G., 464
Stevens^ Albert, 68
(Gen.), 199, 200
John G., 431
S. S., 235
Stewart, James, 705
Stickney (Col.), 429, 430
Stiles, Bob, 375
Henry H., 227
Stillman, Albert, 374
(Mayor), 811, 821
(Mrs.), A. S., 470
Henry M., 169
Stille, Chas. G , 464
Stocking, Gilbert M., 706
Stoddard (Mrs.), Prudence,
149
Eben M., 844
Stokes, Joseph, 99
890
INDEX OF NAMES.
Stoll, Henry,410 [220
Stone, H. B., 74, 213, 218,
Stone (Rev. Mr.), 357
W. W., 77
Storer (Miss M.), 471
Storrs (Dr.), M., 180, 274,
680
Stoughton, Frank E., 391,
677
Stottlar, John, 654
Straight (Col.), 499
Striby, Fredk., Jr., 448
Strickland, Jos., 413, 420
(Mrs.), W. T., 470
Strong, Clark, 421
(Major), 157
Stroud, Edwin, 592
Stuart, 23
Sturgis (Major), 114
Sutliff, Elhert, 750
Sutliffe, Lucas, 196
Swan, Frank, 246
Swayne (Brig.-Gen.),Wager,
722
Sweetland, J. C., 676
Swift, Rowland, 522, 596, 827
Taft (Mrs.), C. A., 470
Taintor, M. A., 651, 652
Talcott (Miss), Mary, 470
C. M., 770
Charles H., 250
P. F., 552, 814
(Mrs.), T. G., 470
Tallmadge (Col.), 234
Taylor, Addison C., 252, 296
Isaac, S., 448
J. C., 426
John, 338, 339
Moses, 683
(Rev.), 286
,305
Westlake, 392
Tarbox, Daniel L., 281
Tarr, H. G. H., 700, 705
Tennant (Dr.), Charles, 484
Charles A., 335
Terry, Alfred H., 64, 89, 97,
99, 120, 123, 131,
168, 202, 304, 348,
438, 538, 541, 546,
611, 612, 648, 652,
672, 687, 689, 690,
691, 722, 755, 804,
805, 806, 807, 808,
810, 820
Edward, 708
Thacher (Miss), A., 471
(Mrs.), Daniel, 464
Thomas, David S., 376
(Miss), Carrie L., 466
George H., 119
Thompson (Her.), Alex. R.,
183, 229, 818
Gideon, 108
John, 507, 650, 689
Wm. W., 201, 221,
651, 712
Thoraberg (Dr.), 530
Thornett, Thomas B., 102
Thorp, E. A., 670, 766
Thorpe, David J., 595 ,
Tibbe, R., 449
Tiffany, Charles C., 680
M. V. B., 501, 640,
646, 714, 717
Tisdale, E., 143, 307, 315
Titus, George W., 705
Tolles, Samuel, 227, 294, 478,
771, 772
Tompkins, , 150
Tomlinson (Dr.), Chas. 812
O. K., 567
Russell, 108
Toucey (Hon.), Isaac, 36,
136, 842, 843
Tourtelotte, Jerome, 123, 195,
437, 440
Townsend, Jeremiah, 507,
539
James M., 201, 202
Torrance, David, S, 461, 790,
826
Torrence, James, 409
Torrey, George, 356
Toy (Capt.), 142, 306
Train, Abner L., 188
Tracy, Charles A., 367
J. A., 461
John N., 122, 542
Traganza, Win. P., 138
Treat, Amos, 34
(Mrs.), A., 471
Amos A., 188, 189
(Major), 15, 16
Trowbridge, George N., 545
O. E., 432
P. M., 823
W. II., 432
Thomas R., 127, 151,
244, 471
Trumbull, Gurdon, 597
H. Clay, 178,341,344,
345/348, 451, 513,
523, 569, 621, 636,
653, 662, 671, 682,
787, 803, 810
J. Hammond, 596,637,
755, 801, 829
(Gov.), Jonathan, 20,
22, 23, 28
Thos. S., 624, 684, 761
John F. (Jr.), 105
Tubbs, William H., 225
Tucktr, Edwin A., 244
James S., 607
Turner, J. A., 119
Mark C., 534
Turn bull (Rev.), Robert, 183
Tutde, H. E., 592
Twining, A. C., 1 51-, 471
(Miss), M. P., 471
Twiss, John M., 776, 825
Tyler (Gen.), Daniel, 70,84,
87, 92, 93, 95, 96,
97,98,133,205,206,
212, 225, 231, 494,
504
Tyler, Hon. Morris, 435,
521, 523, 525, 722,
806
Moses, 820
Daniel P., 49
Robert 0., 133, 203,
• 383, 389, 470, 505,
517, 559, 574, 596,
Levi E., 570
Upham, Charles L., 124, 479
Upson, Henrv, 201
Van Pelton, J. B., 640
Vaill, T. F., 3, 645, 725
Van Keuren (Lt.), 439, 510
Vinton, Edward C., 510
Wadhams, Edward, 548, 591
Henry W., 591
Luman, 588, 589, 592,
594, 595, 822
Wadsworth (Capt.), 18
Daniel, 86
(Gen.), 381
(Brig. Gen.), Jas. S.,
722
W. M., 53
Wait, Hon. John T., 231,
276, 548, 815
Marvin, 265, 272,, 276
Walker, Alfred, 151, 182
(Chaplain), Edw. A.,
118, 119, 133, 182,
505, 640
Chas. H., 272
H. J. 0., 494, 604
John, 545
.W. C., 3, 499, 644, 645,
646
Wallace, E., 422
Thomas, Jr., 464
Walter, Chas., 97, 229, 362,
373,817
Wai worth (Judge), 27
Warburton (Mrs.), 468
Ward (Capt.), 830
(Col.), 334
Henry C., 405, 422,
423, 461, 601, 782,
802, 826
(Col.), James, 91
James Ili.rmon, 91
John E., 124,273,332,
478, 540, 605, 680
(Miss), Lyclia R., 464
(Major), 276 .
Samuel S., 597
Wardell, Jason, 426
Warner, Abner S., 477
Addison G., 583, 584
(Capt.), 238, 585, 819
(Col.), 405
Geo. W., 232, 501,
640
(Major), 97
Rufus, 392
Warner (Hon.), Sam., 24, 52
Warren, Chas., 764, 790, 791
, 24
Warriner (Rev.), E., 137,138,
209, 489, 496
INDEX OF NAMES.
891
Washburn, Geo. A., 271
Waterbury, Geo. A., 426
Waterhouse (Mrs.), C. R.,
471
Waters, John M., 533
Watrous, , 632
Watson, W. B., 558
Way land, Francis, 183, 800
Francis, Jr., 226, 522
M., 183, 184, 185
(Chaplain), 200, 201,
523, 655
Webb (Lt.), 245, 246
W. M., 650, 655
Webster (Dr.), C. B., 467
Weemes, Thad. M., 424
Welch (Hon.), E. K., 52, 82
H. K. W., 188, 632,
799
H. M., 183, 226
(Asst. Surg.), John
B., 156
(Dr.), 243
Moses C., 697
(Rev.), 302
Weld, Mason C., 249, 402,
422
Weldon, I. N., 705
Wells, Alfred, 247, 431
Curtis B., 214
Henry A., 126, 346
Welles, Frank, 728, 803
(Mrs.), Oswin, 470
(Mrs.), Sec., 469
Thos. G., 818
Wessels, Henry W., 402,486,
488
Leverett,W.,233,234,
238, 457, 506, 720
Westover, W. W., 567
Wetherby (Rev.), Chas. N.,
"580
Wetmore, Prosper M., 54,
125, 130, 253
Whaples, W. W., 654
Wheatley, Richard, 317,318,
426
Wheaton, Albert F., 346
Wheeler, A. M., 432
John D., 227
John I., 316
Mark H., 426
Wheeler (Sergt.), 585
Wheelock, L. B., 253
Whipple, Samuel S., 583,
585
Whitaker (Capt), 616
Daniel, 569
Edward W., 102, 569
586, 614, 645, 757,
818, 819
Whitcomb (Dr.), J. B., 274,
279
White (Col.), 133
Elijah, 277
Geo. M., 227
Geo. W., 772
H. D., 226
Nelson L., 47, 118,
617
Moses C., 151
(Dr.), M. C., 471
S. L., 655, 656
(Mr. and Mrs.), Wm.
D., 392
Whiting, F. K. H., 709
Whitney, E. P., 105
Eli, 27, 226
Whittlcsey, Chas., 246
Wightman, J. C., 415
Wilcox, Chas. M., 252, 371
(Gen.), 295
J. A., 722
J. P., 539
Noah, 667
Whiting, 277, 278
Wilcoxson, A. H., 361, 362,
371, 381, 450, 729,
731, 732, 783, 817
Wildman, E. E., 47, 62
(Miss), Elizabeth, 467
F. S.,467
(Miss), Mary, 467
T. C., 651
Wilkinson, E., 49
Willey, Hon. Hiram, 231
Willard, Samuel F., 225, 281
Williams, A. S., 722
Frank, 8 7
Geo. S., 234
George M., 624
(Rev.), John, 183
Joseph D., 224, 310,
311,456
R. G.. 72
,48
Willimann, Joseph, 433
Wills, Alfred, 428
Wilson, G. W., 46
J. H., 446
P. P., 705
Robert, 304
Wilson, , 393
Winchester & Davies, 61
(Mrs.), Wm., 471
Winslovv, Geo. A., 728
Winthrop, Gov. John, 16,
17
Francis R., 89
Theodore, 89, 111,830
Wistar (Gen.), 550
Wolcott (Gen.), 21, 24
Wood, Charles A., 545
Enoch, 230
Frederick, 108
John E., 236
T. S., 623
Woods, W. B., 722
Woodbridge (Miss), Jane.,
470
Woodford, S. L., 722
C. W., 754
Woodhouse, Levi, 68, 72, 1 19
Woodruff (Chaplain), 454
D. A., 654
(Rev.), G. W., 183
(Hon.), John, 32, 71,
226, 244
(Rev.), R., 449, 623
Richard K., 623, 766
S. A., 686,825
Samuel S., 235, 360,
700
Woodward (Dr.), A., 114,
185, 426
John A. ,431
Woolley, J. J., 183
Woolsey, Theo. D., 183
(Miss), D., 471
Worden, Samuel D., 357
Wooster, William B., 47, 80,
234, 366, 375, 378,
386, 461, 637, 648,
649, 653, 667, 802,
826
D. B., 505
Work (Mrs.), T. J., 470
Wright, Benj., 514, 670
Dexter R., 46, 22:2,
227, 288, 329, 330,
458, 460
(Gen.),* H. G., 123,
202, 594, 596, 785
Horace W., 545
Ira, 45, 63
John B., 188
T., 623
Wyant, Wilson, 74
RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
TO— ^ 202 Main Library
LOAN PERIOD 1
HOME USE
2
?
4
5
6
ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS
1 -month loans may be renewed by calling 642-3405
6-month loans may be recharged by bringing books to Circulation Desk
Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date
DUE AS STAMPED BELOW
APR 2 5 198?
0£C
-
FE824198Q
JUN24 19
AUTO DISC CIRC
JUN 1 5 1996
17 '93
y-/ y
'
i (Hi*-7
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
FORM NO. DD6, 60m, 12/80 BERKELEY, CA 94720^^1 $
ui.ni.nni. LlDOHn T - U.U. BtfmtLhT
BOOD3MeiSb7
WWM
olrt: "•" • i
.
j
: