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THE
MILITARY AND CIVIL HISTORY
.^v«^
CONNECTICUT
THE WAR OF 1861-65.
COMPRISING A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF
THE VARIOUS REGIMENTS AND BATTERIES,
THROUGH MAECH, ENCAMPMENT, BIVOUAC, AND BATTLE; ALSO INSTANCES OF DIS-
TINGUISHED PERSONAL GALLANTRY, AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY
HEROIC SOLDIERS: TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE PATRIOTIC
ACTION OF CITIZENS AT HOME, AND OF THE LIBERAL SUP-
PORT FURNISHED BY THE STATE IN ITS EXECUTIVE
AND LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENTS.
BY
W; a;" CEOFFUT AND JOHN M. MOEEIS.
ILLLfSTRATED.
c NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED .BY LEDYARD BILL.
1868.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year i86S, by
LEDYARD BILL,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southfem District of New York.
Geo. C. Rand & Avery, Stereotypers and Printers, Boston.
To
John Turner Wait,
LATE SPEAKER «
OF THE CONNECTICUT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;
A Patriot
WHOSE ONLY SON FELL IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY,
AND WHOSE MANY ACTS OF KINEiNESS HAVE ENDEARED HIM
TO THE SOLDIERS OF CONNECTICUT ;
THE RECORD OF THEIR SERVICES AND SUFFERINGS,
IS CORDIALLY DEDICATED.
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 have been exhibited by the Publisher, in overcoming the obsta-
cles tliat 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 pati'iotic support furnished by citizens at home. It presents
no scientific discussion of strategy, and no profound 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 work 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 aiuskets 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,
1 . 1
11 PREFACE.
who were lifted up in the gcaze 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 naraelessrank 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 heroes 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 oflacer 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 her 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 Avas 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 ; 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, ^.nd 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 diflFerent 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 oflUcial 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. {[[
Many gentlemen have placed at our disposal sketches, letters, documents,
and valuable material. Our acknowledgments are duly expressed in these
pages. 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 11. S. DeForest of the Elev-
enth ; Capt. II. P. Goddard of the Fourteenth ; Capt. Henry G-. Mar-
shall and Enoch E. Rogers of the Fifteenth ; Chaplain "W. C. Walker of
the Eighteenth ; Capt. Luther G. Riggs of the Tweoty-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 will 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 Avorthy, 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 narrati\'e. Few books are ever published that are so full of
individual achievement and experience.
We 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 ; but 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.
PAOB
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 IL
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. — Wiusted 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 VL
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 Winthrop. — 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. — Tliey act as Rear-Guard in the Retreat. — Go6d Order maintained. —
They bring ofl" Public Property. — Home, and iluster-out 83
6
6 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
PAOB
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. — 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 Vm.
The Fourth in Maryland. — Dissatisfoction 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 Eleventii. — Recruiting. —
Towns represented. — The Regiment embarks for Annapolis. — Port-Royal Expedi-
tion. — Landing of the Sixtii 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
C H A P T E R 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. — Oflf for the War. — The Ninth badly equipped. — Twelfth
in Campat 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. —
Thanksgiving Day. — Soldiers'-aid Societies. — Systematic ElTort. — 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 XL
The Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh leave Annapolis. — Storm off Hatteras. — Suffering and
Depression. — Battle and Capture of Roanoke Island. — Death of C )1. Charles L. Rus-
sell. — Another Movement. — Battle of Newberne. — Death of Col. A. W. Drake. —
Incidents. — Siege of Fort Macon 162
CHAPTER XIL
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, Act ion. — Special December Ses-
sion. — Party Spirit Rising. — Cornelius S. BushnelJ builds the Monitor . . .182
CHAPTER Xm.
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. Benliam. — Casualties. . . 191
CHAPTER XIV.
The Fourth becomes the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. — Recruits. — Goes with
McClelian to the Peninsula. — "Siege" of Yorkiown. — The Heavy Batteries. —
"Ready." — Jlagruder 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. — J.ickson Ubiquitous. —
The Fifth at Winchester. — Battle and Repulse, — In Maryland again. — Slaughter at
Cedar Jlountain. — Brs^very and Severe Losses of the Fiich. — Stone, Blake, Dutton,
Smith 203
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV.
The Summer of 1862. — The Fourteenth Regiment called for. — The Military Situation. —
Appeal of tlie 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 Fairfield
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 " 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 Fairfield and Litchfield. — The Rendezvous on Long Island 240
CHAPTER XVn. •
The Eighth and Eleventh near Newbeme. — To Newport News. — Re-organization of the
Eleventh. — To Fredericksburg. — Pope, defeated, retreats on Washington. — Col.
Kingsbury in commaiiv
nothing all uniforms brought. A. ivi. v^u^^xv.. - ^x Midu.
( libi/f!>uj2mdu44uJ
THE LADIES OF KILLINGLY. 59
town offered his entire stock of under-clothing to equip the
Mansfield Guards. All day Saturday aiid 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 goino; 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." ^
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 pi-epared 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 Emanuel. The scene was very impressive,
and there were few dry eyes in the hall during the delivery of the aflfecting
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
^ Manuscript Kecord of Middletown during the War, by John M. Douglas.
60 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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 wdiich the State found itself unable so
suddenly to meet. The companies were still besieged by
men begging the j)rivilege 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 Reo-iment.
Despite the utmost efforts of all, many volunteers were
still in citizen's dress; and the new uniforms, mingling with
THE FIE ST EEGIMENT IN CAMP. Ql
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 full 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
gave the use of their sewing-machines ; and several hundred
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 strono-er
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 rio-ht
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 foreio-n
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 EEBELLION.
Enfield, nineteen from Stafford, and nine from Simsbiiry;
D, Capt. Marcus Coon, was from Waterbury ; E, Capt. E. E.
Wild man, 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. E. 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 down 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. 63
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 fre;e 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 ein-
■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 DURING THE REBELLION.
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 elsew^here. Capt. Henry
Peale's company, of the same city, had eight from Preston,
and twelve or fifteen Trom Lisbon, Sprague, and Thompson.
Capt. E. C. Chapman's New-London company contained a few
volunteers from Stonino;ton. Ca])t. Abram G. Kelloo-o-'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 wdth 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 Nev/ 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 flice 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 day were devoted to the facings and march-
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
66 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
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-
alburn, 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 fiimily. 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 aftection 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.
DEPARTURE OF FIRST AND SECOND REGIMENTS. 67
The First Regiment had received Sharpe's rifles. On
Wednesday, May 17, Hon. Julius Catlin, formerly lieutenant-
governor, presented the colors ; ' 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 ^ 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 embroidei-ed,
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.
''' 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.
^ 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, Avhose
name they adopted. Company A, Capt. Douglass Fowler,
was from Norwalk; Company B, Capt. Daniel Klein, Ger-
mans, from New Haven ; Company C, Caj)t. 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 mihtary science and the various
duties of camp and field. They had a better opportunity
to acquire this disciphne than either of the former regiments,
because they were farther removed from the distractions of
the city, and had longer time in which to fimiliarize 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 raarcbecl into Hartford. The. colors were presented
in front of the State House by Gov. Buckingham ; ^ after
which, through a surging and enthusiastic crowd of friends
and neighbors, the regiment marched 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.
* The governor made a brief speech, in which he saiJ, " 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. — Cassius M. Clay Guard. — The Fourth Regi-
ment. — Towns represented. — Departure. — Colt's Revolving Rifles. — It becomes
the Fifth Conneeticut. — Towns represented. — Home Guard. -7- Yale College. — The
General Assembly. — Message of the Governor. — War Legislation. — The Constitu-
tional Amendment. — Great Unanimity of Feeling. — Independence Day.
[N 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 j)osition 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." ^
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 \7fishing-
ton in the days of alarm and peril, before the arrival of
troops, Connecticut was represented by Orris S. Ferry, John
Woodruff, Cornelius 53. Bushhell, A. H. Byington, and WiUiam
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 men~ 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 immediatel}^ raise two other regiments
for three years. Gov. Buckingham had gladly promised
this, because fully convinced that the government would
2 Adjutant-General's Eeport for 1861.
72 CONNECTICUT DtJElNG THE KEBELLION.
need them ; and now issued orders for two regiments from
Connecticut. Men eagerly responded ; though they greatly
feared, that, before they could get to the front, the three-
months' regiments would inconsideratel}^ go ahead, and finish
the war.
The first full companies were accepted for the Fourth
Regiment, and ordered into camp at Hartford. Levi 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, Farmington, 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. Torrino-ton 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. Companj^
G was known as the Wesley an 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 ofier their young lives
to their country.
COL. SAlSrCTEL 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.-Gov. Benjamin Douglass'^
in an earnest speech, concluding thus : "Remember Sumter I
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 3-our 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
reo;iment, 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.*
3 Gov. Douglass, who had hitherto been known as an uncompromising foe of shivery,
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 DURING 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, Southingtou, 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. Grotcn 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 Patnam ; 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. Caul-
kins's History of Norwich.
THE FIFTH REGIMENT. Y5
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 w^orld, 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 DUKING THE EEBELLION.
The call for troops occurred during vacation at Yale ; and,
when the students came back, thej 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,^ 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 mieasj^ " We must be ready for the
next call," they said. Each class became a military com-
pany, with frequent drills and creditable discipline. TIiq
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
^ John Pierpont was born in Litchfield, 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. '7'7
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 rio-ht
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." ^
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 ^ro 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.
^ The Patriotic Record of Yale College, by John M. Morris in Hours at Home, vol.
iii. No. 2.
78 CONNECTICUT DURING THE KEBELLION.
As if foreseeing the magnitude of the war, the governor, at
that early jDeriocl, 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
suo-orested 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 midst 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
alleoriance secured. It is no time to make concessions to
o
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 Conpecticut 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 Sahsbury; 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; u reduction during
the previous year from $26,432.54. The debt in 1858 was $81,161.06.
THEEE-YEAKS' REGIMENTS. 79
authorized the governor to accept the services of ten thou-
sand men for such time as he might deem expedient, they
being Hable at all times to be turned over to the service
of the United States. All acts of the governor in raisin^'-
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 mihtary 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 ; " and, with 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 warflxre.
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
"^ 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 fiimily 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.^
The Corwin Constitutional Amendment was 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.) w^as 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.
Piatt replied, " I vv^ish 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
vvith 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. Sejnnour
and a few others, who, in those early days of the war, were
^ The bounty, in this beneficent form, was secured chiefly by the persistent eflbrts of
William B. Woostcr of Derby.
DEMONSTRATIONS AT WALLINGFORD. gl
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 daughtei's 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 sino-insi; of the Children's Brio-ade.
Some weeks before, Benjamin Jepson had issued a circular,
in which he ursred that all our children mio-ht 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
Avas 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. Maj^or Welch presided : speeches were
made by his Excellency the Governor, Ex-Gov. 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 oiu- fsTthcrs liglitcd,
We will stand, we will stand,
As a noble band of brotliers.
Freer, prouder, than all otiicrs
In the land, in the land ;
While onward, with resistless tread,
Unconquercd, unconquered,
The Union's niiiihty hosts are led,
Our standard waviny; at its head,
Unconquered, unconquered,
• Against the lines of Treason."
CHAPTER VI.
The First and Second Eegiments 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.
fHE clestiriatioii 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 strangre
flag of treason was flaunted at Alexandria. The regiment
arrived not a daj^ 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 camp 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, " Tliank
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.
83
84 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The First Connecticut Rei»:iment 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 cedars ;
the ground thick with underbrusli 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 aruis ;
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 Kegiment arrived, and joined the
First and Second, by whom they were warmly welcomed.
So far as was compatible with military discij)line 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 lor muti-
ny, and so held, without trial, until the final muster-out.
This folly was afterwards atoned for by patriotic sei^ice. Col.
Chatfield took the place assigned him, and devoted himself
with ardor to the work of transforming^ the raw voliuiteers
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.^
^ 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 CONXECTICUT 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.
YouuiT Ellsworth was of Connecticut stock. His g-rand-
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 protege 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 fotal. 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
PRIVATE BUGBEE WOUNDED. g^
summoned by an excited orderly, and aroused by the lono-'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 b}^ 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 be3'ond 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.-
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
^ 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 afterward^ in Mosby's bold riders.
88 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 ^ 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 cloudj^, 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 tagging 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
pitch}' 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
durino; 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,* two men^ 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.^
^ By Jesse H. Lord, in Connecticut War Record. * Wednesday, June 17.
^ Sergeant Austin G. Monroe and Corporal C. E. Hawkes.
^ 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. gQ
The location of the regiments at this time was a perilous
one, — in the extreme front of the Union centre ; and, nio-ht
after night, the men expected to be awakened by the lon^ 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 Waterbary ; 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 excelhnt reo-iment.
It was assigned to Gen. Burnside's force, soon to depart for
North Carolina ; and, on Oct. 17, it left Camp Buckino--
ham for Annapolis. As it passed towards the river, ^he de-
parting soldiers were greeted with waving flags and resciund-
ing cheers from proud relatives and friends, and grateful
strangers, who 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 w^ere obliged to sleep on the
ground, covered only by their blankets and the autumnal
sky. Many favors were received from the hospitable citizens,
amono- 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. Wooll}-, 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 receiviijg 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
treasurer; Charles Goulcl, 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
eflbrt 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.
Eichard 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
were 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 Dnfly, 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 fortj^iine 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 H, 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 drillino; 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 j)i'oposition was soon
accepted by the governor; and his company exchanged
places with Capt. Ruth's Enfield 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 regiment left Hartford, its members
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, Glastonbury, 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 Sprague. 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 IIST 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 Avere 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 tlie 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 oro-anized.
Drills w^ere 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,"
w^rote an officer, " strong men physically, found themselves
128 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLIQN.
entirely unfitted for the profession of arms, and bore the
mortification of resio-nino; that others mi^rht 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-
giment 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 souud of the bugle, the men assemble, and engage with
mai'ked 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 of 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. Solenm prayer goes up to heaven for strength
in the hour of trial, and earnest prayer for protection from temptation's
power ; comrades press home upon 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 v/as 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, recruitino; 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. Stedman was transferred from the Fifth to be
major.
Capt. George M. Southmayd's company (A) was from
Danbury, 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, CajDt.
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 DTJEING 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 sokliers 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 trjang 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 durin"- 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.- The Connecticut troops were
selected to land first. It was thoug;lit that the rebels mio;ht
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 Seveatli Regimeut lauded 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 reconnoissance 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,
^ Lieut. William S. Co2:swell, of the Fifth Connecticut, commanded a detachment
of the signal corps at Port Koyal ; and the success was so marked, that Col. Meyer men-
tioned it in the general orders.
132 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
cong;ratulatino; 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. El}' 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
wngons, 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 hifn 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." ^ 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 by gor-
geous sunrises and sunsets, lovely days and nights, and the ever-changing,
2 Anniversary Address, Chaplain Walker, p. 49.
134 CONNECTICUT DUKING 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
Eegiments 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 BaiTacks at New Haven.
— Ninth and Twelfth at Ship Island. — Blockading. — The " Stone Fleet." — Effect
on the Harbors of the South.
HEN Gov. Buckingham issued orders in Septem-
ber, 1861, for the formation of the Tenth Regri-
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 Assemblv to consider what more the arrow-
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.
Deming 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 KEBELLION.
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-Govs. Toucey and Seymour from their places
on the walls of the senate-chamber.^
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 coumiission 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 might 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." ^
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 rapidly 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
George T. Metcalf of Hartford, second lieutenants. Guns
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
"^ 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 tlii^ special
service.
18
138 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
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 jDrayerfid 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 thej^ 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 charactei". 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 BATTERY 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
Meanwhile, the Ninth Regiment, at New Haven, had been
fining 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 bavins^ 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 ofl&cers 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-
ino- 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 on board. 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 EEGIMENT. 141
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 j and not a
shaving was burned, except for necessary cooking. The 26th
was equipped with warili 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
nothincr in the regrulations 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 DUEING 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, but 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 grouiid, 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 Bnshnell
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-
soundino; 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 H, Canton,
twenty-six ; Hartford, eighteen ; Simsbury and Avon, seven
THE THIETEENTH REGIMENT. 143
each. Company I, Bridgeport, thirty-two ; Southington,
twenty-three ; New Haven, thirteen. Company K, Capt. E.
K. Abbott, Stonington, t^venty-four ; Ledyarcl, 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.
ApoUos 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 w^ere 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, Killinglj^, 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 Marlborough, 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 defined. 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 : nothin'ji: 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 as 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."^
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
^ Chaplain J. H. Bradford, Connecticut War Record, 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 ofhcer
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 fi-om 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. Foui-
regiments had already arrived. There was nothing to eat
except army-rations. An expedition to Horn Island prom-
19
146 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION".
ised fresh beef; but the cattle captured were so poor that they
were not eaten with any reHsh, 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 E-ichard
H. Chappell of New London, giving him general instructions,
and leavinof 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 11th 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-
lity, 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 wdiich 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 niedicines, 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
stockings to the Fifth Connecticut Volunteers, and another
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
State 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 remenil:) ranee made their hearts warm and grateful, in
spite of the f;xct, 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 ^ 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
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 hy
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 societ}'
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. Jlansfiekl, as a militia-officer, was somewhat acquainted with military methods.
Col. Loomis, the United-States mustering-officer, who was a total stranger in New Haven,
finding him thoroughly competent, immediately requested him to prepare the camps of
the three-months' regiiiients, and then to provide rations and all kinds of supplies. This
he performed foithfuily, without com]icnsation, 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, hesidcs 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 1863.
He made numerous journeys to the army on business of ihc supply department, carry-
ing and bringing always messages and packages by the hundred, and distributing often,
at'eithcr end^of his journey, much more than had b^en 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 sufiering at other points was unrelieved. But our
women, as thej 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 Washing-ton on the 3d
of Jul}^ 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 fice 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.- 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
■^ The effort arcw out of the appointment, at an informal meeting in October, 18G1, of
A. C. Twining, Alfred Walker, Charles Carlisle, S. 1). Pardee, Thomas R. Trowbridge, and
Moses C. White, as a committee to aid in furnishing supplies for siek and wonmlcd
soldiers. The other members of the committee assisted from time to time ; but the burifen
of care and labor was borne from the first by Mr. Walker.
152 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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, 18G2, 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.^
These minute statements indicate the nature and value of
materials sent : Box No. 3 contained twenty-nine woolen
blankets, thirty-three bed-quilts, thirtyrthree cotton sheets,
thirty-eight pillows, thirty-eight pairs of pillow-cases. Box
'^ Accompanying this report of five months' work is the tabular statement on p. 153.
ARTICLES FOE 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.
"O
o
■a .
n;
NAMES OF TOWNS.
1 .
! 1
5
a
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E
s
CO
s
'2
3
o
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a
e
o
i
3
CO
5
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is
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1
a
1
n
1-1
i
o
11
a a>
bo
&
a
'3
1
i
o
!U
1
>-]
New Haven
236
328
223
450
288
105 186
762
196!644
205101
1200
126
386
$242.75
East Haven
18
22
19
73
15
7
45
6115
5
1
2
13
2.00
West Haven
19
32
42
62
33
4
19
12
8
18
10
1
57
2
10
3.00
North Haven
3
2
6
10
6
68
5.00
Fair Haven
5
17
32
16
lio
15
115
8
39
10
5
160
5
Woodbridge
5
15
15
8
14
6
12
4
16
Westville
12
9
6
13
2
3
10
22
8
6
6
3
3
Waterburv
22
31
37
27
22
8
i
6
Wliitneyville
5
2
5
1
2
2
3
12
Wallingford
26
47
58
101
90
48
61
18
39
14
io
Prospect
5
7
32
42
5
2
19
2
12
2
23
2.35
Southbury
18
35
23
27
2
41
6
19
44
Merideu
5
11
15
27
46
27
45
36
6
4
26
Orange
10
3
13
40
49
2
15
15
27
2
21
4
4
16
1
5
10
50
17
20
14.20
Branford
Oxford
12
15
G
39
13
63
IG
16
30
i
11
i4
8
68
••1 4
12197
28
35
36
150
5
185
13
125
Cheshire
Milford . . ...
45
3
8
21
90
11
59
41
47
4
1
43
41
34
5142
io
20
6
5
1
North Branford ....
13
North Guilford
1
1
65
1
Naufatuck . . .
26
70
24
20
« 5
7
12
2
5
15
26
4
53
21
io
18
54
15
i
li
6
12
12
41
1
12
17
19
14
Guilford . . ...
Durham
12
41
27
21
Sevmour
18
41
47
53
3
12
21
3
16
14
25
420
7
11
Wolcott
17
22
16
19
1
2
1
6
13
30
5
63
2.50
Bethanv
6
25
33
53
12
2
18
3
33
8
1
4
30
12.00
Mt. Carmel
7
26
13
14
12
8
17
38
3
4
6
14
101
1.75
11
11
"s
29
12
6
4
23
29
'8
82
3
'3
ii
43
8
Rockville
2
11
Woodbury
12
26
20
31
10
1
9
73
1
3
3
5
36
14
102.00
Huntington
13
30
52
42
12
28
1
1
4
34
Plvmouth Hollow . . .
5
36
23
6
10
9
6
13
24
4
30
24
38
Farmin2;ton
3
47
55
22
14
10
23
125
9
45
6
8
29
4
31
Northfield
4
7
25
10
2
23
17
6
6
16
6
12
11
6
16
5
25
41
11
26
3
2
9
i
4
17
6
18
68
4
12
16
8
2
33
Darien . .
14
3
Unionville
Jewett City
13
7
23
2
80
3
12
23
|574
1024J1177
1388
782
210
533
1890
320
919
344
269
2275
552
1312
$387.55
Total Number of Articles
13,098.
Since this table Avas 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 are
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 hill}^
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 sparer!, and the qualitj^ 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 na.mes, 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 selfdenial, perhaps actual
suffering. These records, kept then as a matter of business-
habit, will be hereafter "-arnered 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 BE AVE 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.
TI. 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
squads, at irregular intervals, from Dec. 17 to the date of
departure, and the officers on Feb. 18. England was just be-
ffinnino; to take sides with the Confederates : so the muster-
ino--officer, in addition to the usual oath, bound the men to
serve " against England or any foreign power that may wage
war ao:ainst 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 w^as 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 Raf&le, — all expe-
rienced actors ; and songs by Jeremiah Keefe, James McAl-
lister, Vv^illiam 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 BATTLE. 1^'J
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 outraire
was not promptly apologized for. The force went ashore in
a steam-transport, convoyed by the gunboat New London*
and another ; and the landino; was the sig;nal for the flio-ht
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 qn
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
* The New London v/as formerly a propeller running between New London, Conn.,
and New York, now altered to a screw gunboat with five guns. She was commanded by
Lieut. Abner Reed, and captured many blockade-runners.
158 CONNECTICUT DUKING 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 w^as 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 ^ found
in the commander's tent a dispatch to Gen. Lovell at New
Or]eans : " The Federals are landing in force. I shall
delend the place. Have eight hundred infantry, two com-
panies cavahy, 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
" Under the name of Osborne, Capt. O'Brien appeared, in 1867, as a Tenian 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 exjjedients.
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
160 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 ORLEANS, 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."*^ 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.
^ Col. Sprague's History.
21
CHAPTER XI.
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 Nevrberne. — Death of Col. A. W.
Drake. — Incidents. — Siege of Fort Macon.
HE Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh at Annapohs
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. 153
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 stiflino- with the odor of
bil2:e-water. The Eleventh were huddled tos-ether 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, a long,
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 day. Many of the frailer craft were
lost. For three weeks, the heljDless 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 DUKING THE BEBELLION.
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.
During 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 saw 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 Avhortle-
berry) and tangled vines netted the marshes. Evergreen trees, pi-incipally
pines, were on either side ; and three hundred yards in 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
rio'ht 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 -hne
witli precision and coolness, under a terrible fire. The left
wing was held in reserve. The right commenced firing with
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."^ "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.
Aa^ain Coit entreated him to lie down, and this time success-
fully. We had been thus covered ^or 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 ! " ^
" Bullets and grape-shot flew thick over the men as they lay.
There was a constant ' Hst, list ! ' as the musket-bullets whis-
2 Lieut.-Col. Drake's Diary. ^ ^ Capt. Pardee's Diary.
THE GALLANT TENTH. ]67
tied past, cutting twigs from the bushes not two feet above
their heads, or striking the trees behind which they were
sheltered." ^
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 oat 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,^ '' 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
* Lieut. H. W. Camp's Diary. ^ Rev. Jacob Eaton.
168 CONTSTECTICUT DURING THE REBELLIOISr.
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 by
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 impislled 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 DUEING 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 of 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-
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 five 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." ^ 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. '' Col. Drake's Diary.
HARDSHIPS ENDURED. 271
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. I 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." ^
Gen. Burnside promptly ordered an advance of the entire
division. A massive battery, with casemates and heavy guns,
* 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.^° 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." ^^ " 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." ^^
The Eighth Connecticut had deployed to the left, near the
railroad ; and Capts. AjDpelman'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 rig;ht. 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
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. Burnside's Report. ^*^ Vide Gen. Parke's Report.
1^ Capt. Pardee's Letter.
^ Lieut. Camp's Letter in the Knightly Soldier.
BRAVEEY OF THE EIGHTH AND ELEVENTH. I73
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
advaiicing 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." ^^
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 ken^" ujd by the 23d Massachusetts and Tenth
Connecticut." jjj^> b Eighth Connecticut, 5th Rhode-Island,
and Eleventh ! "^^otiecticut, coming up to their support, the
rebels fled with pi>9cipitation, and left us in undisputed
possession." " s-
The Eighth conimiei the claim of the 4th Rhode-Island
to having first enterea 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
13 Lieut. J. H. Converse's Letter in Hartford Press.
1* Kettell's History of the Rebellion, p. 339.
174 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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 loud 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 amm^^ ntion and general
stores, and a city of considerable militar3gj^portance.
Finding close pursuit impossible, the ^"f^ops stacked arms,
and rested ; killed, cooked, and ate some^ itured beef-cattle
on the south side of the Trent; and ig Qggt^^p.M., the Tenth
Regiment was ferried across with the ist I5r%ade, 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. DEAKE. 1^^
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 " along the whole
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. Upham.
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. Amono-
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 Eebellion, 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
enlistmentrpaper, 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 IVIEADE AND DE. LATHKOP. 177
" Even when a child.
His heart leapt forth to hear them tell of struggles fierce and wild ; "
and lie 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 f)erceptive 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-
ington, N.C. ; and there death found him. He was a fine
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 coimsels 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 DUKING 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 Windliam.
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 Eio-hth 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 EiiJ-hth Connecticut Volunteers at once knocked to-
o
getlier some rafts, got some flat-boats, and floated over to the
Banks a detail of men; carrying across the island uj)on 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 harhette. 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. Comi)any 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 inaptness, " Come on, you d d Yankees !
we are enough for you 1 " 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, ^o 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 Piivate 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 ; and 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 movins: in a circle. The latter drew oft' after
an hour's fio-htinu; ; and the sieo-e batteries increased in
energy, shaking the sand}^ 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.
ST7EEEXDER OF FOET MACOX. 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 twenty 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 fras^ment of a resriment the rebel flasc
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 Eio-hth
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. Edwurd A. Walker, ex-
pressed a desire to have a large tent under his own control
for meetiuQ-s of everv 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 COMMISSIOK 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 ; Yice-President,
Lieut.-Gov. Benjamin Douglass; Corresponding Secretaries,
Eev. 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. Wa3dand, 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, Nopwich, 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 w^ith 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 far-
nishecl with a Hbrary 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 ofij
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 ofl&cers 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 writing. 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 BOAED. 285
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 reHgious read-
ing that was needed, and local soldiers'-aid societies sent on
magazines and papers with other supplies : so the Chaplains'-
aid 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 DURING 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
Eepublicans 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. Slaverj^ 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 testino; 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-an.d-nay
vote of one hundred and forty-nine to sixty-eight, to the
Committee on Federal Relations. Messrs. Chapman of Hart-
ford, and A. R 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 miUtia 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 th^m 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. Piatt,
H. K, W. Welch, A. H. Byington, John B. Wright, and
Charles Atwater, jr., of the Senate ; and Erastus Scranton,
Jolm T. Rice, Amos A. Treat, John T. Adams, David Gallup,
Cornelius S. Bushnell, 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 MERRIMACK. JgQ
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 militia 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 1^ Treat of Bridgeport introduced a resolution
pledging the support of the State to the president in aM
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
wooden 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 insiyrnificant " 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 were 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 oflF 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.
fHE 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." ^ 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, approachilig 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 230st, 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 POOR 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: —
"Poor D ! 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 Avhen 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 brouf»:ht
from the mainland. The Sixth was also eng;ag;ed in makins;
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-
rOKT 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 oflicer 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 barheffe. 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 11th, 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 11th, 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 SOLDIERS. 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 flacj; that came whirlino-
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-
faskie 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 days' 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 REBELLION.
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 Grimball'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 res^iments met with no loss in this affair.
After two or three days more of skirmishing, the division
was pushed forward by Gen. Benham, at dayhght 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 Hue ! ' 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
BE A VERY OF LIEUT. -COL. GARDNER. 199
with the center opposite to the right angle of the enemy's
works, with the design of taking that flank." ~ " The grape
and rifle shots came in showers. When within two or three
hundred yards of the earthwork, the left wing came obliquelj^
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
right wing, conceiving that the time had come when the
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 brouQ-ht 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." ^
Lieut.-Col. Gardner was conspicuous during the confusion
vSpoken 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." ^ 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,
" Correspondent of the Press. ^ Col. Hawley's Report. * Letter in Press.
200 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
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." ^
" 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." ^ " I saw the Seventh
Connecticut Volunteers halt and dress and correct its alicrn-
ment within perhaps three hundred yards of the batteries, and
retire with a well-preserved battalion-front as if on parade." ^
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 leadino; his brio;ade.
Only two companies of the Sixth were engaged ; the body
of the regiment being on picket-duty, and held in reserve.
The battle seems to have been an inexcusable bkmder 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 straiicht from the front throuu;h
his upper lip. Four of his men undertook to carry him to
the rear. While they were doing this, two of them — Ser-
^ Col. Hawley's Report. *> Letter in Palladium. ' Chaplain Wayland.
" 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 WTote, "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
26
202 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
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-
mendQd 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 company
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 liad 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 fliithfully."
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. — Recruits. — Goes with
McClellan to the Peninsula. — " Siege " of Yorktown. — The Heavy Batteries. —
" Ready." — Magrudcr 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." ^ 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 McClellan^ that moved to capture Rich-
mond through the Peninsula. The First was accompanied
1 Adjutant-General's Report, 18G3, p. 78.
2 Gen. George B. McClellan was a son of Dr. George McClellan, formerly of Wood-
stock, Conn.
203
204 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
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,^ 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." "*
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. Doiill, 2(1 New- York artillery, ordnance-oflaccr to siege-train
First Connecticut.
THE SIEGE OF YOEKTOWN. 205
ation, they carted seven hundred and twenty-six loads to the
d^pot.
Only the battery of heavy gnns 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/' ^ The practice was very accurate, although firing at
long range, — two to three miles.
Major DouU 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 I'eqnired in their construction, — yet the condition of the
batteries, and tlie 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."
s Major Doull's Report.
206 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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." ^ 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 days, 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." ^
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 luider 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.
^ Col. Tyler's Report to Gen. Porter. ' Ibid.
COL. TYLER'S EEPOET. 207
R. A. Sedgwick is especially commended for rapidly remov-
ing two 10-pounder Wliitworth'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 Jane 30,
fourteen guns with ammunition w^ere dragged up the steep
ascent of Malvern Hill by Companies B, D, F, K, and I,
working all night after their tedious marches 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 during the whole day on the 1st of July,
spent that night in retiring the siege-train to the present depot near "West-
over Landing : 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, Avho 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
"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-
ino- alono* 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-in force him.^
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 2Tth 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 j 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 55tli
8 Sec 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, himting 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
brio-ade.
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.
Eisks 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
27
210 CONNECTICUT DURING 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
phmged, 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 ; " ^ and forthwith strengthened the command of Gen.
T. J. (" 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 cavahy
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-
^ 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 (Ma}''
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 Moorfiekl, Fremont sent the bat-
talion twenty-one miles to Wordensville to reconnoiter. It
was sundown when the}' started, and very dark as they felt
their way silentl}^ 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 eight}', 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 Avait for a haud-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 DURING THE REBELLION.
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. Za^j-onyi 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 infiintry. 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 eompaii}^ 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 maiutaiu 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 Ibrbidden.
Second, Whoever shall maltreat any citizeu 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,'*^ " 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 beino; mustered out in a
month or two. Soon there were rumors of an advance by
1'^ Adjutant Edward F. Blake.
THE FIFTH UNDER FIEE. 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
fall back 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, —
" 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 rtipid 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
within 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 diirinor this terrible retreat. He remained
at Strasburor, loadino; the wao;ons, lono; 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 Fremont
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 here 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 M fire. This narrow field was swept by all the engines
of clestriiction. 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, ingenuity,
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
1860 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
as early as October, 18G1, the governor had accepted his ser-
vices, and appointed him to be adjutant of the Fifth, then
• near Darnestown, Md. Though a civilian, he had pursued
his military studies so earnestly, that he was able at once to
discharge the duties of his new position to the satisfaction
of even his jealous comrades ; and he was soon a great
favorite in the army, as he had been at home. He was a
cordial, hearty, cheerful Christian ; and was not long in
becoming a ready, spirited, accomplished soldier. His effi-
ciency procured him the appointment of acting assistant
adjutant-general on Gen. Crawford's staff; and in June he was
made major of the regiment, again being passed over his
superiors in rank. Major Blake gallantly led the left of the
regiment at Cedar Mountain ; and, when the little band was
swept back, he was killed instantly by a rebel bullet as he
hiid grasped the colors from the hands of dying men to bear
them on. Col. Ferry said of him, " He is earnest, brave as
the bravest, always ready ; and by his happy temperament
he is the best lightener of the cares, toils, and annoyances
of military life I ever saw."
Lieut. Henry Melzar Button was a son of Ex-Go v.
Button of New Haven, where he was born in 1836. He
graduated at Yale in 1857; after which he studied law, and
commenced a promising practice at Litchfield. At the
breaking-out of the war, he was one of the young Bemo-
crats who threw themselves earnestly into the contest. Indu-
cing scores to join him, he went to Hartford as a private in
the Fifth Regiment ; but he received a lieutenant's commis-
sion for his services in recruiting. Once in the field, he was
popular with officers and men ; being conspicuous for soci-
ality, generosity, buoyancy of spirits, and fortitude amid
di'^comfort. At Cedar Mountain, after Capt. Corliss was
wounded, Lieut. Button led the company, urging them on
while men were falling on every side. The color-guard
were all either killed or wounded. " Lieut. Button is reported
to have seized more than once the colors from some fallen
hero, and to have borne it along to the hands of others still
able to bear it aloft. Buring this heroic and hopeless strug-
gle, his commanding form could not long escape unscathed;
220 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
and he fell pierced by a volley of rebel musketry." He
was very kind to his men, and was much beloved.
Adjutant Ileber 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 out, 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 Eockville wrote
after the battle of Cedar Mountain, —
" It seemed as if the sacrifices were already prepared for tiieir 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 Avhole 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 *o 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 so\-
C '; both slain while bearing forward the flag. Here nobly
SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 221
fell, also, Corporal Oliver G. Brady of Norwalk, Blair of
North Haven, Bailey of Berlin, Thompson of Windham, 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 Fairfield
County. — Eiglitcenth 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. Tlic governor summoned volunteers for the
Fourteenth: Dwight 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. BUCKINGHAJM'S PROCLAMATION. 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 Coxnecticut, — You are again called upon to rally to
the support of the goveruinent. 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 DUEINGf 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 Haveit, 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 nearlj^ 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, Middletbwn, 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, seventj'-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. \yillard, Madison, fifty-three; Old Saybrook, ten ; West-
brook, eight; Clinton, twelve. Company II, Capt. Samuel H.
Davis, New London, fifty-nine; Waterford, twenty; East Lyme,
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 Ledj'ard, fifteen.
On Aus!;. 25, with a numerical strengrth of a thousand and
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 conn-
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.
Kinti-, 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 McAlHster,
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 REGIMENTS. 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, wns a consolidation of about equal
squads from N*augatuck 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. Piatt.
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 EEBELLION.
by Senator Dixon and others, and an eloquent letter was
read from Com. 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 vSix-
teenth Regiment. The names of A. E. Burr (of the Tinjes)
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 contribtite 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 Hart-
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 ; Glastonbury, 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 KEGIMENT. 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 Ehzabeth, 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 w^as issued in July: and William H. Noble
was at once commissigned 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 DURING 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 Sevenfeenth 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 Atnboy ; whence it proceeded
by rail to Baltimore. In its ranks, as a private, was EUas
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 tis^ht 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 depot 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 Count}^,
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 Keach, 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 ; Companj^ F, Capt. Henry Peale, Nor-
wich fifty-nine, Preston twelve, Griswold thirteen ; Company
232 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
G., Capt. George W. Warner, Woodstock forty-four, Putnam
twenty-four, VVindhara 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 afl:ectionate 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 flag of their fathers shall float again in
triumph over a re-united republic." ^
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 p, dozen bullet-holes in the tin
armor, required the fellow to return j;he money to the dupes,
and then sent him to the guard-house.
At four o'clock, p.m., of the 22d, Gov. Buckingham 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-
mended that Sheriff Leverett W. Wessell-s be commissioned
as its colonel. An executive committee was also appointed,
consisting of G. H. HoUister, 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. Jefii-ey 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
30
234 CONNECTICUT DTJEING THE REBELLION.
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.
Robbins 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 eighty. Uniforms and a few old muskets
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 AXD TWENTY-FIEST EEGIMENTS. 235
he is tired of carrying the ' darned thing/ and thinks it just
as well to walk his beat without it."~
Towns were represented in the regiment as follows :" Com-
pany A, Capt. Timothy Guilford, Cheshire, sixtj^-five ; Pros-
pect, eighteen. Company B, Capt. Sanford E. Chaffee, mainly
from Derby ; 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 ;
Waterburj'-, fifteen ; Cromwell, four.
The regiment was paid off; and at ten, a.m., of Sept. 11,
1862, 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. Dutton, 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 Vernon 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 Lieut.-Col. r. B. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
236 CONNECTICUT DURING THE HEBELLION.
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 ;
Willington, 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-pound er 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 TROOPS. 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 hospitably 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
was 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 rapidl}- learned the trials of their new life in
encountering; the wounded and invalids fiom 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,
bringing dead and dying from the battle-field. The men
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-
ing northward across the State to invade the North.
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 hiorhts across the harbor from Fort Mc-
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 Keach, 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 heau-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 loth,
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. —
Recruiting Active. — Meetings and Bounties. — A Draft announced. — The Camps.
— Exemption sought. — Skulks and Cowards. — The Surgeons besieged. — The
White-liver Coraplairrt. — Incidents. — How New Haven filled her Quota. — The Day
of the Draft. — The Mountain brings fortii. — 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
liundrecl 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 7,1.45. 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 month.s, 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 being 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 necessaiy, 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-
leck 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
31
242 • CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
the manner of conducting the draft, with the classes exempt,
and the provision for substitutes. It appeared that Sprague,
Chaphn, Windham, Marlborough, 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.
Durino- 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
apphcation. 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
witb 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 ricrht fore-fino^er. 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,
KEPUGNANCE TO DRAFTING. 243
informing Iiira 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 shirkino-
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 the 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 th^ 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 dollars
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 tegin 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 NUMBEK 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 order 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 bj' 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.
liO : 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 enli?-t
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 oflicers
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 Sufifleld; 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-THIKD 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, ma 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.
The Twenty-third Eegiment 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 Trambull, and
twenty-five from Huntington. Company E, Capt. George
M. Godfrey, contained twenty-five from Wilton, nineteen
from Weston, and thirty-six from Redding. ComjDany 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 DURING THE EEBELLION.
town, five from Ridgefield, and eight from Fairfield. Of
Company H, Capt. A. Dwight Hopkins, Naiigatuck 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. Bailey, was mainly from Dan-
bury ; New Fairfield contributing seventeen, and Litchfield
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. Mjjnsfield, 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 Had(L'im, 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, was 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-four 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
isixteen 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-FOUP.TH AND TWENTY-FIFTH EEGIMENTS. 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 Twentj'-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 ^ip 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. Hayden, 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 exclusivelj^ 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.
32
150 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
did their best to enjoy the day in New-England style ; and
the rememhrance 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 ^ 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 reg:iments, throu2:h their
ofiicers, 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 Eio-hth and Tenth Reoriments, which remained lono;er
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 society
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. Mansfiekl, as a militia-officer, was somewhat acquainted with military methods.
Col. Loomis, the United-States mnstering-officer, 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. lu this capacity, he supplied, besides many other troops, all the regi-
ments raised in our State, imtil a regular United- "^tates post was established at Grape-vine
Point in the latter part of 18G3.
Ho 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 Washino-ton 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.
AVe 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 re-i-ular continued labor. The larwr 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.- 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
•^ The effort arcw out of the appointment, at an informal meeting in October, 18G1, of
A. C. Twining, Alfred Walker, Charles Carlisle, S. I). Pardee, Thomas R. Trowbridge, and
Moses C. White, as a committee to aid in fnrnishing sn])])lies for sick and wounded
soldiers. The other members of the committee assisted from time to time ; hut the burden
of care and labor was borne from the first by Mr. Walker.
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, 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 i\aised 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 hospitahty 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. McDonough, 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 Eace-course, Long
Island, where Col. George P. Bissell was in command.
There were now at Centreville five of the Connecticut
nine-months' regiments — the Twentj'-third, Twenty-fourth,
Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, and Twenty-eight — encamped
tosrether ; a villag-e 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 and patriotic
" Sons of Connecticut," before referred to, for their unweary-
ing kindness and liberalit}^ 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, and 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. — Kc-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 x\fFair of Turner's Gap. — Choice Kebel Literature.
FTER the siege of Fort JMacon, 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 Eischth 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
discussino; 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 defeptive constitutipns
died, worn out in service. Convalescents 'obtained fur-
louo-hs to recruit in the bracinii; 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 DUEING THE REBELLION.
ters; and boots gathered mold. Bathing became a great
kixiuy. 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, aiid 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 Avar 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 o;iven two sons to sustain
the cause of constitutional liberty."
The field and fine of the Eleventh were here re-organized.
Its lieutenant-colonel, a noble and patriotic man, but not of
a militar\^ 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 resjiment. Lieut. Henrv
W. Kingsbury of the regular army, who declined the com-
mission of colonel of the Eleventh in October previous, now
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 fiiiled 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 stricte'st
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 stay
at Newport News, the regiment improved beyond descrip-
tion. From being the most disorderlj^ and slovenlj- in the
division, it became, perhaps, the cleanest and most orderly.
Officers and men of other regiments crowded to witness its
battalion-drills ; and the boj's 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 wretched 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-scnntling. At a little distance,
the li2!:ht 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
33
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 extreme
limits by fierce hills. We were much impressed on our first visit with the
peculiarities of tliis town, primarily having an idea that it was an
insane village on a maniacal march ; but were led to consider tliat 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. iVt last, there was booming of cannon near
Manassas. Orders came to cut down basforao^e to the last
notch. With a sis^h, officers closed their trunk-lids on the
t»;oro:eous uniforms in which thev 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-
s2:eance of their masters ; and, beins: 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 vv'ith 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 son2:s.
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 array beaten and disheartened, and all
available troops were called to strengthen hira. 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 depot 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
ibrces 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 AVashington 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 Ijrigade
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. H. Hill's force. On Sept. 8, McClellan moved his army
northward from Washington with intent to encounter the
enemy.
160 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, w4th 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
i
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."*^ 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 w^on the reputation of " an
abolition regiment ; " its officers and men persistently favor-
ing the efforts of the negroes to leave their masters.
^ Col. Sprague's History.
21
262 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
It was now night, and the combat deepened with the dark-
ness. Up and down surged the blazing hnes, reveaUng 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 bod}^ having noiselessly
slipped away hours before.
The fight was won b}^ soldiers of other States ; the Con-
necticut regiments being in reserve. The ITth 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 dependeuce 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 ! " ^
1 Still moi-e precious for a collection of literary curiosities are two Confederate school-
books which lie before us, — " The First Dixie Reader" and the "Primary Geography,"
bpth 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 himl), 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 tour or five
gal-lons 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 gi'and-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 rrturned, 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 are tall and dark complected." " The
African or negro race is found in Africa. They know nothing of Jesus. These people
arc 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 ti'cat 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 cliivalry. You do not understand this 1 Well, when any one im-
poses upon them their motto is to fight." The following is from the a])pended 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 ? A. — An unlawful
blockade by the miserable and hellish Yankee nation." Happy 31r. 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 Confederuie States, Sfc.
During the progress of the war, a blockade-runner was captured, having among 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 titlepage.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Battle of Antietam. — Charge of the Eleventh. — Exploit of Capt. Gibbons. — The Con-
test for the Stouc Bridge. — Inexplicable Conduct of Burnside. — Coolness and Effi-
ciency of the Fonrteentli. — Charge of Harland's Brigade. — Capt. Charles L. Upham's
Company capture a Battery. — Great Bravery of the Eighth. — Gallant Conduct of
Col. Appelman. — 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. — Eetreat
of Lee's Army.
HE 2d Corps began early next morning to
march by the pike over the mountain. The
9th Corps started hite, 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
and 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 ■J
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
bights 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 AJS'TIETAJVI. 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 march, 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. 11. 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.
84
266 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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." ^
All the rebel batteries were now roarimi;. The air ran";
with whistling balls, and the ground quaked w^ith 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 " valle}^ of death."
Companies A and B, under Capt. John Griswold, were
deployed as skirmishers ; and they plunged into t'le swift
stream, here some fifty feet wide and four deep, their daunt-
less coimnander taking the lead. He was shot through the
breast while in mid-river, bat struggled forward, and fell
upon the opposite bank, among the rebels.
The left wing; of the reo;iment 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. Stedmaii's Official Report. ^ 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, inflictino-
a mortal wound.
The men were still fio-htino; • now falliuf? back, and asrain
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 4Gth 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. H. 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 alonii; the south-west
bank, the brigades were fliced to the left, forming three
lines of battle ; Morris's being still in the center, with Max
Weber in fi'ont, 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 ; wliile 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 DUEING THE EEBELLIOK
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 ofl" 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 difiicult 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 fiicing 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 FOUETEENTH 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, imder
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 DUEING THE EEBELLION,
About two o'clock, Rodman's division of the 9tli 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 ujd 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
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." ^
Some officers felt that all was not right. Major Lyon,
Harland's aide, brought word that the rebels w^ere crossing
the Potomac, and filing down the creek on the Union left.
Gen. Eodraan, 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
turther 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 obliged 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.
flefl, 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-info rcements," say
some : but Gen. Harland 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 ever}-
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. Rus.sell lie's 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 vensreance 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
so 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 ofiicers with broken swords and battered uniforms,
but without!* commands. Burnside called for aid. It was no
time to folter ; but one did falter, and refused to advance
with the colors. There is a man for all emergencies ; and a
man was now readj^ 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,
' 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. Stedinan, able only from excitement to stand
lono-er 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
g-reat "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 fiistened 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 fiided 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 were marked with pine headboards, to tell where each
patriot rested.
" In passing over the hill," wrote ChajDlain 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 DUEING 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 thirtj-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,
v/ell-stored memory, vivid imagination, ready command of
language, pleasing manners, and frank, generous disposition,
rendered him a favorite with officers and men.""* 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." ^ " 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."*' 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-
* Lieut. Jacob Eaton. ^ Capt. C. M. Coit. ^ Lieut. Jacob Eaton.
CONNECTICUT'S BEAVE DEAD. 277
cer could be more popular. He had endeared himself to
all." ^ 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 fliith-
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 Thom-
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 3'Oung 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, —
^ Lieut. Jacob Eaton, in ^Memorial, p. 12.
278 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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. He 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 chivahy, 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
PUBLISHEn 3Y LEDYARt) BILL
I^#
DEATH OF COL. KIXGSBUEY AND CAPT. GEISWOLD. 279
cultivated that might have graced the best circles. And so
cono-enial were the tastes of all ! Imaijfine 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 wdiisker,
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 Oedek, No. 47.
...'•' By this sad calamity, the army mourus one of the most accom-
plished of those yoimg officers who iu 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 iu 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
iiigh qualities of mind and heart that form the sterling man as well as the
finished soldier.
" By command of ' Majok-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 march to Antietam. He says, " We admired the
mountain-gorges through which we passed. We saw green-
woods fliir and orchards gay, rich fields, and well-to-do flirm-
houses. We quoted Horace, and discussed questions of moral
philosophy, and skipped over literature, from St. Augustine's
De Cimtate Dei to Hugo's Les Miserahles ; and all this
time, day or night, rain or sunshine, flitigued 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 Eno'lishman is said never to leave Encrland, 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 Abounded, 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. BLIXN AND OTHEES. 281
door of the shed tlie 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 Bandusice, splendidior vitro,
Dulci digno mei'o, 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 bein"- relieved from de-
tached duty at Newberne when he heard that the Eleventh
was going into active service. '•! 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 vouno- 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
memoiy of these brave aud devoted officers v^'heQ we testify in 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 R. Eno of Bloomfield received ti 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 unafiected dignity of deportment." He always
had a quiet care for his men when they were sick, and was
a marked fiivorite 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 BARBER. 283
to Bristol during a vacation, he mafle 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 po§t 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 imconscious. A friend
bending over him heard him murmuring, " O my poor wife,
my poor wife ! " Prof James A. Dana said of him, " His
death is a great loss to the scientific world." Prof B. Silli-
man, 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 militaiy 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 staflf. 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 Avar, 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 ;
CHAEACTEE AND DEATH OF GEX. MANSFIELD. 285
and on his return the citizens of Miclclletown went to Meri-
den en masse, and escorted him home* with every demonstra-
tion of welcome.
He was ajDpointed inspector-general of the United-States
army by President Pierce ; and theTtebellion of 18G0 found
him inspecting the troops of the traitor Twiggs in Texas.
Every ofier 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. lie 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 w^ent ahead
on his own responsibility. All the forts around Washington
were engineered by Mansfield, and built under his superin-
tendence.^
Mansfield was for a time in command at Newport News,
and led our forces in the capture of Norfolk. He w^as here
when McClellan demanded that he be put in command of
Banks's corps in his army. Mansfield was pleased w^ith the
transfer ; and rode across the country, reaching the armj-
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
w^ounded. Internal hemorrhage ensued ; and, on the even-
ing of Sept. 17, Major-Gen. Mansfield gave his life a willing
sacrifice to his country.
^ Credit for the defenses of Washington has sometimes been given to Gen. IMcCleHan ;
but they were all laid out and plans for their erection made b\- Mansfield while Mc('lel-
lan was still iu 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 and 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 DEAWK BATTLE. 287
morning, — to swoop clown 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.
Tiirdy 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 OfHcial Report. —
The Disastrous Repulse. — Whereabouts of the Fifth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and
Twenty-second. — Private Elias Howe, Jr. — The Array 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, Md., across
the river at Berlin, just below Harper's'Ferry,
and passing south-west an 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. Wrio-ht of the Fifteenth now commanded
a brigade ; and on Dec. 1 he marched it back through the
city, and turned down the Maryland bank of the river. The
regiments marched six miles below, and bivouacked their first
288
ADJUTANT ELLIS OF THE FOURTEENTH. 289
night under shelter-tents. After a four-days' march, they
recrossed 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
lovel}^ 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 army ; 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 b.ody lies moldering in
the OTave." ^ The reuriment bivouacked on Bolivar Hei^-hts,
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 vShenandoah, and pushed south-west through
the Loudon 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.
37
290 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
On Nov. 9, the 2(1 Corps reached "Warrenton ; and
Burnside, now assummg command of the army, pushed on,
occupy mg Falraouth on the night of the 10th. 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 flitigue. Here
thev 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 reiriments did not
enjoy this period. An officer of the Eighth wrote, " We
put our little ' dog-tents ' up>on 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 stifi", 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 rajDidly 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 FREDEHICKSBURG. 291
upon at short range by rij9emen 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. Sumner 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 Meri-
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 wore
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 buildin2:s 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 laugiied at for his bungling performance ; when up
he started with an oath, drove his saber through the polished keys, then
292 CONNECTICUT DURING THE llEBELLION.
knocked off the top, tore out the strings, and carried away one 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 finest jewelry store of the city.
The large glass of the windoAvs 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 j)ressed on, and had passed
over a great part of the interval, when met by volleys of
musketry at . short range." ~ 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 EEEDEEICKSBURG. 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 res^iment. The
men ralHed around their wounded chief, and fell back with
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 guus,
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 rieighboring houses flashes the deadly fire of sharpshooters ;
while batteries posted on the higlits behind strong field-woi-ks, 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 bi'isk
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-
cing 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 fur 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 't'imes, on Lee's staff) 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 joraise 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
slauo-hter on the rio;ht 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 the 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 day."
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. Upham 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 FAILURE AT FEEDERICKSBUEG. 295
was moved about two hundred yards in rear of Gen. Wil-
cox's headquarters, where it spent the night. Next morning,
the whole force was recalled across the Kappahannock ; 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 fiitigue-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
bights. He was at last dissuaded from the desperate
scheme by his counselors ; and the bloody and useless
slau'ji-hter came to an end.
The retreat over the central pontoon-bridge was mate-
rially assisted by Major H. B. Crosby of the Twenty-first,
provostrmarshal 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
about three inches deep, so as to conceal the retreat from
the enemy, whose gnns 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, Avere Capt. Elijah W.
Gibbons of Middletown, and Lieuts. Theodore A. Stanley of
New Britain, William A. Coomes of New Haven, and David
E. Canfield of Middletown.
Capt. Gibbons was, before the war, a citizen of Middle-
town, where he had many friends. He was an active and
faithfid supporter of the Sunday school. When the war
broke out, he went as first lieutenant in the Fourth Reg:i-
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. He Imgered a few days, and died in great suf-
ferincj;, but with becomino- resio:nation.
Lieut. Stanley was one of the gallant young Stanleys
from New Britain who gave their lives for the country ; and
Lieuts. Canfield and Coomes received their mortal wounds,
as soldiers should, at the head of their men.
The Twenty-seventh had lost sixteen killed and eight}^-
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 11th Corps, and pressing forward
beyond Manassas.
It marched during that week to Thoroughfare Gap and
other points beyond Centreville, but met no enemy, and
was withdrawn to a camp at Chantilly, nearer Washington.
The reg-iment 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
Ehas Howe advanced the thirteen thousand dollars due
them.
The Seventeenth was not called upon to participate in
the aflair of Fredericksburg, but moved to the vicinity, and,
after the battle, established its winter camp at Broolcs's
Station, south of Stafford Court House. Here the men
found time to build for themselves semi-comfortable bar-
i-ficks, — 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,
298 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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 picketrduty 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. Cowdin'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 down 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 tbe work proceed, that in sixteen days tlie
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 Burnham," 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 j)rovost-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,
Avas 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 discij^line was now adopted in the Twentieth ; drills
were required daily ; schools of instruction were instituted ;
300 CONNECTICUT DURING 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 elFects,
and must in future be totally discontinued. Hereafter no enlisted man
can be jDcrmitted to visit the tent or quarters of a commissioned officer
for the amusement of either party. Except for official purjjoses, it is
highly unmilitary for officer and private to associate together,"
The beautiful w^eks 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 w\as 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 victory. Heaven save us from the necessity of
ever being; oblioced 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 Loudon 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, shipijuilders, 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 AEMS. 301
dered 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, Slocum's corps moved to join the main
army 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 Oran2i:e and Alexandria Railroad, on the 14th. Thev
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 and scanty ; and many
actually suffered for food. While the 12th Corps was at
Fairfax, the rebel Stuart rode with his cavalry 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 DUEING THE EEBELLIOK.
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
j)aymaster. 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, mainlj^,
the regiment owed its efficiency in discipline and drill, Avas
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 Eegiment in Florida. — Capture of St. John's
BhifF. — Sixth and Seventh in South Carohna. — Battle of Pocotaligo. — The Twelfth
at Camp Parapet. — Yankee Enterprise. — Anecdotes of the Thirteenth. — Sen^ices
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.
UPvING 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, Bo.ston, Cosmopolitan, and Neptune,
on the thirtieth day of September, -1802, 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
304 COXNECTICUT DUiUNG THE llEBELLIOX.
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 fi re with their rations in them, and guns unspiked. The
fort v/as 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 llebeldom, who hailed our men as their deliverers.
In the afternoon of Oct. 21, two brigades under Connec-
ticut officers, with Gen. Branrian 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. Terry. The Connecticut regiments had
each five hundred men. The Seventh Reoirnent 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 was 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 A:ND SEVENTH. 305
galling fire of both artillery and musketry. The Sixth suf-
fered severely at this point ; Col. Chatfield and Lieiit.-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 vv^ounded ;
Orderly Sergeant Robert 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-
^06 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
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
durinc*- the same period, and, out of seventy men, returned
with only fifteen fit for duty. Capt. Nathan Frankau was
provost-marshal at Carrollton, Avith 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 Jul}^, 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 dining
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 1, 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 LOUISIAXA 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 thai 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 Rigolets 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. Deraing 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 ; Comj^any 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 Regiment 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 REBELLION.
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 w^itness their dress-parades.
We transfer from Col. Sprague's admirable history of the
Thirteenth some anecdotes showino; 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 Cai'roUton 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 Avood? '
" ' 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 poi'k raw. Pel 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 SENDEE, SIGNAL SERVICE. 309
" ' 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 ! Wliy, no ! It's a reflection on your
sagacity to ask such a question.'
" 'Who tcill 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 oif 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 doii't forget to hring off tlie 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 DUEING THE llEBELLION.
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 heavy 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 Winn'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
marched alono- the North Road until it came within ran^i-e
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 tiank 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 gahant 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 sa^'^s,
" 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 tool^ 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,
vnth 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,
everywhei'e 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 suri'ouuded 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 capacit}^" 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 deej) 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 8tli 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 wei'e whistling demoni-
acally over our heads. We had great confidence in Gen. "Weitzel and Col.
Birge, but not yet in ourselves. Would our men stapd 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. . . . ' P^ile 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
and trees. . . . "We reached the middle of the field. ' Battalion, halt !
Front ! On the center, dress ! ' rang out the voice of Col. Birge. 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 were 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 farther, halted, dressed accurately on the center,
and stood a {qw 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,
with 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 stitt 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. Biro;e aa:ain commanded. The
THE TWELFTH AND THIETEENTH 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 ! 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-
ing 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 reafiments
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 ammunition-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
standino; order to do nothing; rio-ht."
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 ino;ulf them. The Che-Kians^, 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 weaves ; while flash after flash of lurid light-
ning revealed the terrors of the situation. However, the
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,
w^ould 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. 17, and laid out a camp.
1 Chaplain Richard Whcatley.
318 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
Hcardly 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 citj^, and proceeded through the
Gulf, arriving at Pensacola on the 22d ; and the city appeared
in sit^it 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, "F.^vored 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 Comfortal)ly settled in the edge of the
2 Narrative in Stamford Advocate, by Chaplain Eichard Wheatley.
IN CAMP AT BATON 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 unreturning 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 o:unboats. Aarain 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 w^hich 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 Roug;e 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. Cotton.
320 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
The inflmtry 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 ofi", 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." ^
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
sunboat 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."^
* Official Report of Col. Frank H. Peck.
^^s
S^
b£
U
K
m
CHAPTER XXI.
Spring Election of 1863. — The Peace Wing of the Democracy again Demonstrative. —
Buckingham z^ersMs Seymour. — " No more War ! " — The Phitforms. — Gov. Seymour's
Letter. — Appeals from the Connecticut Regiments in the Field. — Sharp Extracts. —
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 Reconnoissances. — Capture of Fort Huger. — 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
mider the banner, " No more war."
Two years of conflict had not seemed to carry forward
the national army. 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 come
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,
have been struck down bj 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
lo 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 mouth, 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 pi-evails 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, —
Oflf 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 ransjed in leno;th 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 FROM THE REGIMENTS. 325
by Col. Eoss, and indorsed " unanimously adopted by officers
and men." The followins; 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 war 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 willing still to bear the hardships and brave the dangers of the field :
we call upon you to decide whether you will sustain us, or give comfort
and strength to our enemies. To us the Southern skies are brightening
with the light 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 Litchfield
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 : —
" Yie 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, we 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 DUKING THE REBELLION.
the Hartford Times, that three-fourths of the regiment were
Democrats. On the 10th, he wrote, that, on the previous
day, 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,
' 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 Fairfield 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
niankiud, — 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. Plere, 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 imani-
mously, resolutions concurrent in spirit with the above. The
ofiicers 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 Hai'tford 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 Serijeant
Reynolds. People of Windham County, remember your own Hibbard
and Corbin. Citizens of Fairfield 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 rig-ht 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 jourpose, 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 niust go on until the 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, in
darkness as well as in light, give the Administration our counsel, our con-
fidence, and our support ; that its power may drive those who have conspired
against the liberties of the people, as vagabonds and fugitives through the
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 aud 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 dolh explicitly and peremptorily declare that it
views the powers of the Federal Government as resulting from the compact
to which 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 raajjority 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 li.
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 beincr 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 DUEING THE REBELLION.
early in the session, a bill introducecl 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 desirnble that Connecticut should be
able to respond similarly. The existing militia-law having
become practically a dead letter. Col. VAight, 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 tlie 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 wdth the 4th Rhode-
Island, the 25th New-Jersey, and the 13th New-Hamp-
shire, in a brigade commanded by Col. Arthur H. Dut-
ton ; leaving the regiment under Lieut.-Col. Burpee. The
Eighth, Eleventh, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Connecticut Re-
ofiments were still brio-aded tOsrether. Burnside resolved
o DO
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 marched back in rain and mud. The command- /
THE CONNECTICUT BEIGADE AT SUFFOLK. 33^
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 Sufiblk, 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,
ancl 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 Sufiblk having
commenced, they left it yet unfinished on the 11th 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 Sufiblk. Gen. Getty commanded the Federal
troops. During the succeeding weeks, considerable valor and
332 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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
everv 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 Nansemond
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 Nansemond, 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 DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 edo-e of the woods and in the woods with wonderful
o
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 Edenton 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 Black water, 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.
During 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 tlart-
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, marching to Wil-
liamsburg, Fort Magruder, Barhamsville, and the Chicka-
hominy^; remaining out a week. The Twentj-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
FORAGING AND MARAUDING. 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 o'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 woi^ien 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 spHt 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 DURING THE KEBELLION.
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, anS 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
Eit>-lith 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 \ ^ere 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 day, 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
sokliers 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 BLACKBEREY EAID. 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 him, 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, WilUamsburg, 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 XXIL
The Tenth Connecticut Volunteers at Newherne. — 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 Eailroad 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-
tibone 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
debilitatino' 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 bad, witbin the single year of army life,
been promoted from second lieutenant for bis 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
reghnent was put in the advance of Foster's brigade, Capts.
Goodj^ear'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 hack the enemy on the other bank.
Two companies of a Massachusetts regiment were the only
other inflmtry 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 uj)on 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."^
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. Camp of the Tenth wrote as follows concerning
this class of people : —
"■ I v>'as 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. ' Sold ! dey all sold ! — chil'en an' gran'ohiTen
au' 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 knowed his mammy. I
^ 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 gvau'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
moi'uin', Aven he all rolled up in blanket 'tween my knees, Massa Green
comed 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 experience 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-
a:ely, knowing that death was the penalty of their offense.
Eut it Vv^as 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, fiirther 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 advantnge 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
the troops, throwing off encumbrances, rushed through the
swamp, and halted for orders on the other side, the Tenth
beino" 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 incessaiit 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] infiintry 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." ~
" 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 hoys immediately stepjDed forward and stripped ; and
on that, cold December day 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 REBELLION.
This was perhaps the severest battle in which the Tenth
was ever eno-aged. It had more than one-fourth of all the
casualties of the expedition, notwithstanding its small num-
bers. Its j)i'<'^i^e 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
V, ithout 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, w^as 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 wounded, 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
v\^ould choose to fall, — leading the advance, — and expired
amid the rattling volleys of his regiment and the loud cheers
of victor}'." His body, like the remains of his comrades, was
lu'ought 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 vv^as 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. 20, 18G3, 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 I " 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 per.^onal 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 situei-
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, aud 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 vrith the feathery pine.
Seats were made bv driving;; crotched sticks into tlie ii'round,
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."^ 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-
lyon's in the Pilgrim's Progress ; whose muscular legs are
horribly striped with black and white ; whose sting is like
tlie 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
2 Chaplain Trumbull in the Knightly Soldier.
THE EIGHTEENTH IN MARYLAND. 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 he 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 Marlborough, 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 froui 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 ofl&cer,
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 fjxmilies 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 welAire 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 oft-contested She-
nandoah Valley. Already had the Rebel and Union forces
350 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
been repeatedly driven through it from end to end, and
ah-eady 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 9tli 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. Donn Piatt, chief-of-staff,
possessed by the same delusion, telegraphed, " All works fine.
Can whip any thing the rebels can fetch here. How is Mrs.
Piatt?" He did not wait Ions;: 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." Tlie 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.'"*
"The Eighteeutli" (commauded by Major Henry Peale) "was sta-
tioned for a few hours iu the southeru 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 iu the north-east,
commanding the Berryville lioad, iu 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-pounder 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." ^
* New-York Herald Narrative. * Major Pcale's Official Report.
352 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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 leadinii: 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 of 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." ^
A letter written by one of the regiment soon after gives
^ New- York Herald Narrative. ^ Major Peale's OtBcial Report.
or'>
FIRST BATTLE OF THE EIGHTEENTH. 3jj3
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 w^e 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
obliired to retreat.
O
" 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 w^as given, ^ Forward, Eighteenth !
Charge bayonets ! Double-quick ! March ! ' and away w^e
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 lono; line of fire streamed from thousands of rifles,
interrupted now and then by the blaze of the battery.
Trees w^ere peeled in all directions. We charged up to the
battery and silenced it, killing or w^ounding 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 Riclunond 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^irk
45
354 CONNECTICUT DURING THE BEBELLION.
the same night, Johnston's division moved off to the right,
and came on the road leading to Cliarleston. 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 were about to be captured. Two or three horses having
been killed, we were unable to move ofi! 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 Briu^ade had taken advantagre of the fio-ht
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,
shatteriuij; 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. PORTEE. 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, Earl/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.
x\t 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 immediatel}'. 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 sincerit}^ 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, -/ap epynai ro~ -.
" 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 KEBELLION.
any Information as to tlieir wliereabouts ; 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
o-athered again at Maryland Heights, under Major Peale.
H. H. Starkweather immediatelj' went to the rendezvous,
carr^nng 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'. The}' 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 Eiclimond 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.
On the second day, the privates were transferred from
Libby to Belle Isle in the James River, now so infomous in
the annals of the war. Here they staid a few weeks, on
scant}- 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 f^ometimes 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 Ijuttons. from Col. Ely, Capt.
Davis, Lieut. Higgin.s, 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 pri-soner. Deprived of liberty, and sub.sLst-
ing on a scanty diet, we are not of all men the most misera-
Ijle 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 exemplarv Christian soldier, and fought as he had
lived, in compliance with hi- conscientious conviciions.
"When the second call for troops came, he had charge of a
school at Greenville ; but he joined Capt. Davi.s'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 fl\llen hero were boiTie
to the grave by his companions in arms. Such were many
of the men who fouLdit in the ranks of our irreat armv.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Battle of Cliancellorsville. — Advance upon the Flank. — The Fifth, Fourteenth, Seven-
teenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-seventh Connecticut Regiments engaged. — The 11th
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
reo-iments 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 11th Corps.
In the march to Chancellorsville, the 11th 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 11th
and 12th Corps were in motion ; the march of the day lying
358
FORDING THE RAPID AN. 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 11th 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 marching 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 cartrid«:e-
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."^ Two miles farther on, they spent the
night around blazing fires.
1 Col. P. B. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
360 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Companies A and H of the Fifth unpacked all the amrau-
nition from the mnlcs, and carried it across by hand during
the evening. In the night also, a detail of men, under Capt.
Samuels. Woodruff of the Twentieth, threw a rude bridge
across the river, which was very seviceable to the 11th and
r)th Corps. They pushed up to the Rapidan in the evening,
where they bivouacked, and enjoyed the easy slumber of
the tired soldier. x\t 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
tride raised above the surface of the ruvshino; and foaminij^
o CD
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 11th
Corps, under Gen. 0. 0. Howard, held the right of the whole
line J Devens's division abutting on a dense wood assumed to
OVER-CONFIDENCE OF HOOKEE AND HOWAED. 361
be impenetrable. On the left was the 3cl Corps, and 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 Farmington, Conn. : and
Satnrda}', 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 w-arned 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
not 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 w^ere over-confi-
dent and incautious, and believed none of the stories of the
flank-movement. Hooker w^rote~ 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
Deveus'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
■^ Vide Swinton's Army of the Potom.ic.
362 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
heavily marching along onr front, and proceeding to our
rio-ht ; and, last of all, an officer reported the rebels mass-
ino- 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
Rido-efield, and Albert H. 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 infimtry, 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-
insc shells and whistlinsr 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 musketr}^, and a shower
of grape and canister in front, flank, and rear. They were
panic-stricken, as most troops would have been." '^
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 w^as dead. Many were slain si-
multaneousl}^ 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
^ Col. Buckingham's MS. History.
THE TWENTIETH UKDER FIRE FOR 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 reo-iment made a brave stand at
o
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 11th 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 11th Corps were Germans, and they were at the
left of D evens.
On Friday, the day preceding Jackson's assault on the
11th 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 11th Corps next day was a severe trial
to both, holding the line innnediately 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, Ave
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, u-ntil 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, ahernating front and rear rank,
with good effect.
V^ " 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 11th 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 anH 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 oif 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 11th 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 CHANCELLOESVILLE. 365
them. Here some severe hand-to-bancl 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 11th ; 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 coukl 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 sulpharoQS 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."*
The Fifth was here under fire in support of a battery ;
the Twentieth held an intrenchment a little at the left ; and
durino-the niyrht 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
* Col. Buckingham's MS. History.
366 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
assaultiDg 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 aud men mauifested 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 11th Corps, and Avas making a murderous attack upon
the center of our position, Avhich was but a short distance to the right
of the portion of the line held by this regiment.
" On Sunday morning, the 3d instant, the enemy appeared in force near
the point of attack on our ceuter 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, Avho 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 covei'ed 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, aud 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 left, 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 CHANCELLORS VILLE. 367
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 captured here ; but the most of the men attained
the new line, where our artillery was massed.^
Major Theodore G. Ellis commanding the Fourteenth, in
his official report, says of the action of his regiment,
"• About sunrise on the morning of the 3d itistant, 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 11th Corps. Doubt, apprehension, anxiety followed.
Gen. Hancock rode up, and informed Col. Bostwick that the
^ Capt. Andrew Upson of Southington was among those taken prisoner. In a letter
to his v.'ife, he gives an interesting account of how he feigned death ; the rifling of his
pockets by the rebels, and their quaint remarks as to how lie died ; and the final discovery
of his ruse by a rebel surgeon lifting his eyelids. Capt. Upson was afterwards killed at
Tracy City, Tcnn., while fighting 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
afj-ain the forest reverberated with the cannonading. At
lemHh darkness dropped among the trees. The Twenty-
seventh continued in position.
Early on Sunday morning the battle was renewed, and
ao-ain 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
niirht. 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, includino; two hundred and seventv of the
Twenty-seventh ; and, this force being entirely inadequate
to hold the extended line, Col. Bostwick dispatched Major
Coburn for re-inforcements.
" In a few moments the shelling ceased ; and flir 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 CHANCELLOKSVILLE. 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 was 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."
47
370 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 i-e-formed 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.*''
The Fifth Kegiment, 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-
*' Batteries P. and M had been detached from the First Connecticut in 1862, and were
engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg, winning commendation lor their conduct. They
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 FIETH. 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 buck 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
won the respect and esteem of the entire command, without
distinction as to rank or position. Ever promiffc to answer
the call of duty, fliUing 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 u]3per 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. He abandoned a prosperous busi-
ness, and gave his heart and hand earnestly to the cause.
After the repulse at Fredericksburg, he wrote, " I do Lope
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 Avorthy 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 death 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, thirtj--
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 Ll)SS 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 ithe 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 DUKING 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. Jewatt 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 Newtown, 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
PEISONERS' EATIONS. 375
knife to sell ? ' — ' No.' And, so me what 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 inarch to Richmond, —
said bill of fare consisting simply of flour and water mixed
together, and dried before the fire. A New-England fiirmer
would regard it a personal insult if one should offer such
stuff" to his hogs. . . . Two days later, at Hjuiover Sta-
tion, each man received five medium-sized crackers and
an ounce of bacon. Our guards were very uncommuni-
376 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBElilON.
oativo. but occasionally sung out. * Git in yer groups of foul's
dar:---
Thousands poured into the roads all along the route to see
the strange procession, and to deride the prisoners as they
marched. " Well, here you are : you've got Kiohmond
now I " shouted one. " Hardly an honest face among 'em."
observed another. •• What you uns want to trouble we uns
ihw?" 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.
rd shoot you I "
So. insulted and exhausted, they arrived at Richmond,
and were quarte^-ed at Libby Prison, the tobacco-lactory. 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 wer^ 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 fet qxiarterm aster 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
uo other diet but granulated pebble-stones and black ink. With a slight
proctjss 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 sutfered eonaiderably 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 thiik substance, which, when baked in
the oven, was styled Johnnif-cale. Then there are fish-balls, manui'actured
from the same compounds. This receipt requires about four meals to one
" XJcut. Sheldon's Eesimental Historv.
OFFICERS AND MEN EXCHANGED. 377
water, and, when moulded together, should be aljle to stand alone any-
where. Divide the aggregate into cakes one inch thick, and about the size
of the palm of the hand. Lay these in rows on the top of the stove ; and,
if there is any fire at all inside, you Avill have superior fish-balls in from
one to three hours."
Within two Aveeks, most of the officers and men were
exchanged at City Point, and hailed the old flag with shouts
of welcome.
48
CHAPTER XXIV.
Eace of the Hostile Armies Northward. — Battle of Gettysburg. — The Fifth, Fourteenth,
Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-seventh Connecticut Regiments engaged. —
Second Light Battery.— The Aflfair 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 iu Virgima.
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 MARCH. 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 13th 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
Gap, — a gorge in the Blue Ridge 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 Williamsj)ort, 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, and 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
11th 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 11th 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 was 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 GETTYSBURG. 3833
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 rano;e of hills a mile south of the town.
The other corps of the army advanced rapidly across the
Pennsylvania line, attracted tow\ards the sharp cannonading ;
and joined the 1st, 11th, 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 11th 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 6tli was
held in reserve. The line described an irre2:ular flatiron
shape, with the toe tow^ards Gettysburg, and the heel to the
south-east. Opposite, Lee was marshaling his forces on a
corresponding series of liights ; while between the contest-
ants lay a mile-wide belt of comparatively^ level and open
ground.
It will bo 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-
38-^82 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 w^on-
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 ii^terven-
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 Mtering
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." '
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 DURING 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.
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 Ewell'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 12tli Corps was stationed along Ewell'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
get some water, our men showing the "Johnnies" where to
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. 3g5
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 Ewell 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 bj^ half
a dozen more, until the firina: extended all alonsr the rii^ht
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." ~ 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 REBELLION.
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 hy 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
Ewell'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. 337
of iacessant and loudest thunder. The soKd 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." ■'
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. Tj-ler'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.
' Col. Buckingham's MS. History of the Twentieth.
388 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 fortj^risoners.
" 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.
" The colors captured belonged to the following regiments : 14th Ten-
nessee, 1st Tennessee, 16th North-Carolina, 52d North-Carolina, and
•ith Virginia. The color of the 14th Tennessee Avas the first taken, and
was captured by Sergeant-Major William B. Hincks ; that of the 52d
North-Carolina Avas 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
couraQ:e 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
cemetery, 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 ; and as
THE GEEAT 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-
ingj blow for blow.
All of Gen. Robert 0. Tyler's reserve artillery was in the
light. 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-raorrow is St. Crispiau.'
Then will he strip his sleeve, and siiow his scar,
And say, ' These wounds I had on Crispiau '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,* — 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 Willimantic, for the New- York Times.
One of the most tireless and enterprising of these was
Byington ; and the " beats" for wdiich 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 and 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 renew communications with Washington.
The Fifth Connecticut Vohmteers 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. 391
The Fourteentli had ten killed and fifty-two wounded •
the latter including nearly all the officers present. Amon''-
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, havino-
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 w^ar 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 w^as by nature a true soldier, brave and skillful ;
and his genial temper, generous disposition, and buoj-ant
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 w\as almost idolized by his
compan}', and was a man of exemplary character and ster-
lintr worth. He was a color-bearer in the ^var 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 EEBELLION,
and admiration felt by his fellow-citizens of Danbuiy. ^ 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 Sergeant 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 Sundaj^ 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, Rufas 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. Henr}^ 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,'' into the Second Regiment. After the
muster-out, young Merwin waj restrained by peculiar home-
duties till it became obvious that the nation must put forth
5 Mr. and Mrs. AVilliara R. White of Danbury gave several hundred dollars to release
from debt the property left by Capt. Moore to his family.
^ 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, iNIajor 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. MEEWIX AND CAPT. CHAPMAX. 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-
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. " Alono; 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 reghnent 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 w^as 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." ''
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
commalnd 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, aiid 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.
■^ Sheldon's History of the Twenty-seventh.
60
394 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
During the night of July 3, 1863, the Union army, 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 ngony 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 j)n.ssing 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 sky, 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
clunu: with both hands to a bavonet 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 Chancellors ville, had
EETEEAT AND PUESUIT 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 reo'iment. Ool. Dwii»:ht 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, ancl 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 6tli
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 11th 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. Dwight 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 s'uccessively 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.
ONNECTICUT 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 Buddins-ton 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-
field. 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 CONJSKCTICUT nUKlNt; THE EEliKLLION.
lie grow up a bright, strong-willed, amiable boy, with a full
sh;ye of that ail venturous spirit whieh sends so many boys
to sea at sixteen years of age.
Ilis lather permitted liiin to ehoose his voeation; and he
entered the navy as a nndshipnian in 182*J. His lirst voy-
age was uuiUm- the eomniand of a lieutenant who had gained
experienee and hont)rable distinetion in the War o( 1812,
and who. having had the priviK\u-e oi' training him lor tlie
serviee oi' his eoinitry. ami having shared with him the
perils of sea and oi' battle, survived in a vigorous old age to
share in a nation's grief at the death oi' his illustrious pupil.
The intimate anil atVeetionate friendship of forty-one years,
between Admiral (nvgory and Admiral Foote. was honor-
able to both.
iMidshipinan l'\H)te's tirst voyage was in the expeihtion
against the }>irates oi' the West Indies. In the eourse of it,
he distin«2;iiislied himself bv eom"aalti-
more. The alarm-bells were rung, and the Union League
rallied at the barricades. The Fii^t Cavalry turned out under
arms, Lieut, Joab 1>. l\ogei"s of Norwich was in command
of a picket post on the Westminster l\oad. and heard the shout
of alarm fivm an excited otheer a;? he dashed by the gnaixis,
declarino: that the rebels were in close pursuit, and uriiinoj
the pickets to Ml back. The lieutenant pi\>posed to remain
at his post until he was ivlieved, or ordeivd in. or di'iven in
by the enemy. He remained, and maintained the honor of
a soldier. About the time of the battle of Gettysburg, the
whole efteetive loive of the battalion was oixieivd to Har-
per* s Ferry.
On July 14. Major Farnsworth, Capt, Blakeslee. and tifty
men. emssed the Potomac by order of Gen. Xaglee. to recon-
noiter the enemy's position beyond Bolivar Height.s, and to
ascertain his strength. Capt. Blakeslee reports. —
" About two miles livm Harper's Ferry, the advance-guard
(eighteen men. under nn'^elf^ charged upon the picket of the
enemy \^ numbering about thirty \ and diwe them in confusion
back upon their reserve. Major F'arnsworth. coming np now,
charged upon the whole i^eserve of the enemy, about two
hundi^d stixmg. The enemy also charged : and it became a
hand-to-hand tight, in nhieh. owing to the disparity of our
numbei"^ they ivpulsed us, ivcovering sevenU prisouei*s whom
we had piwiously taken, and, I am sorry to add, captured
Maior Farnsworth with twentv-four men. The major fouirht
most gallantly until he was overpowered, and taken prisoner.
THE CAVALRY RECRUITED BY REBEL DESERTERS. 403
I took commanf] 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 Jiis courage and good conduct
in the affair."
Sergeant Horace H. 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 rapidl\' growing to a
regiment, received a unique re-inforcement in a hundred and
twenty veterans, — all of tliom 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. Til 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.' " *
* 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 unsoldierlj 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 vig:orous hand all the reo^ular routine of
camp-duties, including 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 day ; 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 w*as 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 DURING THE EEBELLION.
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, — ba}^,
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 flying, 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 MARTINSBUEG. 49*7
They went past the Relay House, and arrivecl 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.^ Major
Peale, with thirt}^ 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 againsi 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 w\as maintained ; and the regiment soon
began to show improvement in drill and general discipline.
Log-houses were built, furnished with stoves and other con-
^ 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 DUEING 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
jDarticipated. 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 liappy 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
OFFICEES OF THE EIGHTEENTH IN LIBBY PEISON. 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 di*ess-paracle. 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 ranks 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, aud 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 #ere 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 w^ith 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 18G4, Col. Ely escaped from Libby with
one hundred and eig^ht other officers, throuo;h 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 Gth 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 Eio-hteenth.'^ "Aroused to morning:
consciousness by the voice of a stalwart darky, our ears were
saluted with, ' All fo' of de mawnin' papers ! Rise, gemraen,
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,
^ 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. Scranton, were paroled,
and went North. In February, 1865, the rest of the officers
of the Eio-hteenth 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,
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 ever;^
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 cloor. I inquired where Mr. lived, and was glad to
get awa}^ 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 day. 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 1 803-64. — The Second Light Battery. — The Seventh in Florida. — Battle
of Olustee. — Ninth in New Orleans. — The Twelfth at New Iberia. — The Thirteenth
in the Rcd-Hiver Expedition. — Battle of Cane River. — Connecticut Regiments Home
on Veteran Furlough. — Speeches and Banquets.
NCAMPED south of the Potomac, the First Ar-
tillery remamecl, 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 satisfagtion, and was
afterwards adopted.
504
THE NINETEENTH CHANGED INTO ARTILLERY. 505
Chaplain Edward A. Walker^ 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 infmtry, and was kept constantly busy in
an easy' service. Sibley tents were obtained ; mails w^ere
regular ; the visits of friends were frequent. In May, Com-
panies A, C, D, E, 11, I, and K moved to some redoubts near
Fort Lyon; while B, F, and G moved to Fort Ellsworth,
near Alexandria. The entire summer w^as 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 o-etting; 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 Piatt,
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 arahulance-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 Terryville, before the war. He was
versatile in his tastes and acquirements, and gave promise of much usefulness.
64
506 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
were " boimty-jiimpers," 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-
loo-o" succeeded to the command. This and the change to an
artillery re:a2:ed in the reduction of Fort Sumter. 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
engagejnent, he occupied a position with the most advanced
^ Chaplain Eaton.
"! Among the prisoners lost was Private George N. Trowbridjre ^f Snfficld. He had
been in captivity since the assault on Wagner, and was now taken again. This time, he
was confined at'Andcrsonville through that deadly summer, and arrived at Annapolis in
the fall, emaciated and diseased, to die — another martyr to the cruelty of a barbarous
foe.
69
546 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION
line of skirmishers, and died a brave soldier and true patriot.
Sero-eant Charles II. Eiple}^ of Windham was a gallant of-
ficer, and conspicuous for courage in every engagement in
Avhich 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
mo.st worthy man, was instantly killed. Sergeant Andrew
B. Nichols of Redding was mortally wounded b}' 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 corn-
pan}^, 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
sterlins; men.
Manv also were wounded. While Serjeant Daniel Mor-
gan of Bridgeport was standing with his hand upon his side,
a ball carried awav his second fino-er, and buried itself in his
watch. He was carried to the rear, his comrades supposing
he had been mortally wounded ; 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 Ea.ton wrote about this time, —
" Geu. A. 11. Terry of Couuecticut, originally colonel of the Seventh
Connecticut Volunteers, is in preat fovor with the corps commanders, sub-
ordinate officers, and soldiers of this army. He handled his division, in the
battles of the 14th, loth, and 16th of May, wi'th masterly coolness and
ability. lie 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 tire, 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
i
THE EIGHTH ATTACKED IN XHE FOG. 547
13th, the whole line advanced to the deserted breastworks
on Drury's BliifF, 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 commandino-
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 enem}', 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 '■ 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 Beport of Lieut.-Col. M. B. Smith, commanding regiment.
548 CONNECTCICUT 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.^
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-
8 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, takino-
care to keep up commimication 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 a 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 scatterino;
fire of musketry."
Gen. H. M. Plaisted, commanding the brigade, said, —
" Of the Tenth Conaecticut 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 uev^er before vs'ere 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 and Otis — for their coolness and
self-possession under tire, 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.
550 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
While the Tenth was moving slowly off, serving as rear-
guard, Adjutant Henry W. Camp, ten months a prisoner, and
just exchanged, came riding towards the front. 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." ^^ Again " the twins," Camp and Chap-
Iain 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 reg-iment ceased firino; 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 BESISTAKCE OF THE TWENTV-FlilST. 551
the captured, and Lieuts. Morris Krazynski and Erastus
Blackmar were wounded.
The Twenty-first, Lieut.-Col. T. F. BurjDee comuianding,
was in the thickest of the fight at Drury's Bhiff, and fought
stubbornly and suffered severely. Of its participation, Capt.
Delos D. Brown wrote, " The fog wfts 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 firml}^, and resisted every assault of the enemy,
notwdthstandinij; the severe fire which was directed ao;ainst
them. Soon, however, it became evident that the rebels were
massing their Ibrces 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, backw^ard 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 2Tth
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
on^ halt-hour. Gen. Smith would have re-inforcements to re-
esfHblish 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 ; aud 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 C 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,
^nd 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. He 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 atM
Nathan A. Belden, and Lieuts. William S. Hubbell, A. 'S.
Button, A. M. Crane, Delos B. Brown, W. P. Long, P. ]?. Tal-
cott, G. W. Shepard, Frank C. Jeffrey, and E. P. Packer for
gallant conduct in the engagement.
THE SIXTH AND TWENTY-FIRST IN 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 Petersburo-.
Col. Stedman 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.
" On Ihe 25tli of May, Col. A. H. Button, commanding the brigade,
having received orders from Gen. Wilham F. Smith to reconnoiter the left
of the enemy's position, near om* line of intrenchments 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 that runs
along the left of our Avorks 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. Button recalled
the skirmishers ; and the regiment returned to camp with orders to be
ready to continue the reconuoissance early the next morning. On the day
following, the 26th, Col. Button again crossed the ravine with the brigade,
consisting of the Twenty-tirst Connecticut, 58th Pennsylvania, 188th Penn-
sylvania, and 92d New-York, with orders to push the recounoissance until
stopped by the enemy. Gen. Bevens's brigade also moved out on our ex-
treme left, along the Port-Wahhal Road, to co-operate with Col. Button,
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 DURING 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. Dutton, who was then, as usual, on
the skirmish-line, was mortally wounded.""
The command of the brigade then devolved upon Lieut-
Col. Thomas F. Burpee, who shortly received orders to
retire.
Col. Dutton 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 II. Dutton, colonel, Thomas F. Burpee,
lieutenant-colonel, 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. Dutton
commanded a briirade 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. Dix ; while =
during the battle of Drury's Bluff he held the sauie office
under Major-Gen. Smith, corps cotnmander. He v.-as an
officer of much promise. Major Crosby, in announcing his
death, said, " Bold and chivalrous, with a nice sense of honor,
a judgment qniclv 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 forgotten ; 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
OHver S. Sanforcl 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-
hsted 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 tbem 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 fine, 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 lono-er, 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
rifdit andes with the ^-eneral direction of the line. This
movement, of which at the time I had no information, cut
556 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 H. 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-CaroHna)."
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.
B3a^on 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 3''ears 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.
Eodman 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 largely increased, was to consist at first
of forty 30-pounder rifled Parrotts, ten 10-iuch mortars,
twenty 8-inch mortars, twenty Coehorn mortars, and six
100-pounder Parrotts. The guns, ammunition, and materiel
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.
mancl 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 w^ere six enlisted men of the
First, returnino; from veteran farlouo;h. Althouurh no offt-
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
their gun was the only one not silenced by the enemy.
The names of these brave soldiers are Sergeant W. H. H.
Bingham, Company G ; Privates W. B. Watson, Company H ;
James Kelley (afterwards killed by a shell in front of
Petersburg), IL G. Scott, James R. Young, and John Kea-
ton of Company L"
On j\Iay 25, Company G, Caj^t. 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 ent>:ineer.
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
LLL-TREATMENT OP MEN FOR NOT EE-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
march 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 Avorthy 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 otiiers for attempt-
ing to obtain commissions in colored regiments ; . . . about May 4 orderin''-
Ids heavy artillery men who had not re-enlisted, into the ditch for the
i-emainder 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 u* to the tender mercies of provost-marshals, turning us loose on the
world, without pay, without officers, without transportation, without
i-ations, 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 pi-esent 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 Affiih- at Mine Run. — How to build Winter-
Quarters, and how to enjoy them. — Figlit at Morton's Ford. — First Connecticut
Cavahy 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 0. Tyler commands
a Division. — S])irited 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.
ORAGING 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
not 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 11th; 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 euemy 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 FROM 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 manj^ 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 fatig-ue 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, live hun-
dred prisoners and a battery captured, and the skirmish
over, almost before we realh^ 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 iji 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 mornino;, on the u:rass, 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 corpoi'al's guard, or a few more,
that gathered round our colors a few months since.
"I have just burned my bedstead to cook my breakfxst
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, tlu'ough
the steady, heavy rain that improved the darkness of the
71
562 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
night to come down upon us unseen, but not unfelt. This
mo^li^(^ 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
doino's of the niglit 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 ? my dear readers ! there
are at least a fall 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 3' ou 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 farming, 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 dav ; I've taug-ht 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 marching 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 ofiicer, 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 g-entle 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 marches,
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
5G4 CONNECTICUT DUIIING 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 ! " ' 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 bijr camp unroof itself, and get into marching
order in about five minutes' time? dofi^ its wliite canvas iu 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 i'rom 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, Avhen
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, th(^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 marcli was countermanded.
With a rousing cheer all along our lines, off come the dripping pa(tks, 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 v/inter-quarters now immediately at every stopping-place,
whether for three days or for months. It is surprising to see how ojiickly
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, turi-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, ou
1 Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
DEATH OF LIEUT. EDWARD W. HART. 565
two forked stakes, constitutiug the roof, and two more buttoning in to fill
up the gable-ends, — this is the house, nine ieet 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 tiue ; the former (the door) not being
built at all, but /e/?, 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 ; and 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 and drawing-room ; and
still the sleeping apartments (in both stories) are ample ; I'ifles, 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 and water, one cooks, another washes the dishes,
while the other two are most likely on guard or picket duty."
Life ill winter-quarters here does not seem to. have been
very irksome. The days went b}^ 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 Lidies 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 and door-latches are gotten up than
would be registered in the patent-oiriee in a year. The streets are better
policed than they were ; more care is taken in setting out trees, and orna-
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 DUEING THE REBELLION.
dered most efficient service. While his memory will remain
green in 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 marched down to the river; when
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 bri.«:ade containino; 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 followino; 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. Here 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
buildisgs. We lield 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 oiF 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. 5Q7
kets and of the cannon in the distance. Scarcely a sem-
bLance of a Hne 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 leng-th
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 thoroughl}^ 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.
Orciitt 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 w^as 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. \V. 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 DUEING THE REBELLION.
they left for Brandy Station, Va. Here they reported to
Gen. Pleasanton, and were assigned to the cavahy 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 13. 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. Ilurlbut, 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 j^laces with bullets and
buck-shot, and yet, with a wonderful tenacity of life, he lived
several da>'S. 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.
Ell)ridi>;e Colburn of Ansouia 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 much esteemed, — and enlisted in
the army as a private soldier. He was appointed chaplain
of the First Cavalry. His piety was of a cheerful, hopeftd,
sunny sort; and he went with the regiment in its most
l\iTiKi:Tie.d by Le+Tard Bill
668
CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
*Ii/
t fi f>
I'uhhshed by L.'.*;aTd BiU-
GENERAL GRANT IN COMMAND. 569
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,"- 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, wdiere his brother, Lieut. Daniel
Whitaker, was killed leadins; a charo-e. He was detailed as
an aide on Kilpatriclv'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 tlie vernal
sun. Grant took his stand at the side of Meade, in command
of the unfortunate, but always strong and ahvays eager,
Army of the Potomac. By May 3, the great leader w\as
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
rit»-ht; 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 ;
- After the squadron joined the Harris Lipht Cavalry, it was no longer recojinizcd by
the War Department as a ("onneeticut organization. The officers were thereafter com-
missioned by the Executive of the State of New York. The retiinient won honorable
tame when the cavalry force was weak. Davies and Kilpatrick botli won tlieir tirst dis-
tinction as its officers. It was often and hotly engaged, — at Catlett's Station, Brandy-
Station, IMartinsbnrjr, FrcdericksbnrL:-, Chanccllorsville, Gettysburi;'; ahvays doin,::' effective
and honorable service, (.'apt. William M. Mallory of Hartforil, who raised the squadron,
became major of the regiment, a position which he tilled with much credit. The follow-
ins: officers and men were also promoted, — Lieut. L. II. Southard of Hartford to be caj)-
tain ; Lieut. Marcus Coon of W aterbury to be captain; Second Lieut. J. N. Decker of
Hartford to be tirst lieutenant ; Sergeants Philo L. Ives of Hartford, Daniel Whitaker of
Ashibrd, Frederick C. Lord of Naugatuek, and Augustus Martinson of Plymouth, and
Corporal George Castle of Wateriown, to be lieutenants. Lieut. Decker was killed in the
advance to Falmouth in the s])ring of 1862, and Lieut. Whitaker fell at Brandy Station,
Both were bold and skillful soldiers.
72
570 CONKECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
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 regim'ent was sent with Companies C, L, I, and H, 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 inflmtry, 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 durino^ the coming; struo:<»;les ; leavinii: the resi-iment
to Lieut.-Col. S. A. Moore. The regimental report says, —
" We turned northward, and marched to the cross-roads, about five miles
west from ChancellorsviUe, formed by the junction of the plank road from
Chancellorsville to Orange Court House, and the road upon which we
marched. The fii'ing 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 Ave at once became en-
gaged with the enemy. The Fourteenth Avas 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 twentv-five enlisted men.
" The battle was resumed at daylight on the Gth. Our brigade ad-
vanced to the attack, and moved forward about half a mile through the
woods, changing front towai'ds the north-west, and crossing the plank road
running westward from tlie 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 the 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 fiiscinating in the mystery shrouding this
strangest of battles ever fought, — a battle which no man
could see, and whose progress could only be followed b}' 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." ^
8 Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
572 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
But the result was such that Grant, with his eye ever on
Piichmond, moved off by tlie left on the night of May 7, and
began his march to Spottsylvania.
The cavalry skirmished in the advance ; and, on the morn-
ino- 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 watli 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,
wliich was speedily silenced by one of our batteries. The
town was then cleared out by a charge led b}^ our regiment ;
after vvdiich, 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 inflmtry, 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 inarch,
— 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 tv/o 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 Regimept contin-
ues, —
" Oa the 7th, 8th, aud 9th, we were formod in line of battle at various
})oiuts, changiu^ our position more to the south-west. About dark on the
eveuiuuj 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. 5/3
where we lay for some time exposed to a heavy shell-fire in rear of part of.
the 5th Corps. Soon our briirade was in line of battle. We advanced
over the line of breastworks behind which lay part of the corps we were
supporting, and cliarged forward against tlie enemy.
" Our advance was througli 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 ditliculty, 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 bravely 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, Ave opened fire upon such of the enemy as could
he 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 iu
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. "VVe were iu 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, and
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 gims were turned on the
enemy. Two of them were worked by the men of the Foin-teenth, under
the direction of Lieut. -Col. Moore and Lieut. J. Frank Morgan. These
guns were drawn off" 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 11th were passed in the same vic:nit\', with slight changes
of position. About dark 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 (he ITtli, the regiment being on picket, it was formed into a skii-mish-
linc, witli some two or three other regiments, and advanced upon the ene-
my's position. The wliole 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 Heavj^ 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 lieav}" rain. The regiment marched to Fredericksburg,
met the wounded from the Wilderness, and hurried for-
ward to the front.
574 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
When near Spottsjlvania, 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."^
" 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, — Ewell'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 iuto 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.
" Tlie 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 forty thousand of Grant's army had been
placed hors 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, wdiile 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 11th, 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 ; ^ 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.
^ In this famous brigade was a regiment led by Col. Edward M. Lee, a native of
Giiiltbrd, Conn. He was brevetted brigadier-general for gallantry. — See Appendix.
576 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
About daylight, we were proceeding quietly, — the wliole command nearly
exhausted from want 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 fi'>'Iit ensued with the rebel cavalry, in Avhich the First Connecticut
was heavilv engaged, resulting in a rebel defeat ; when we retired out of
reach of the lieavy guns of their intrencliineuts. One of our men, killed
by a 24-pounder as tlie 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
Custer's brigade again made a magnificent charge, and took
the bridge. The force crossed and bivouacked. Chaplain
Hohnes says, ''We had a soft bed that nii»:ht, — our reo-i-
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 afibrded by rubber blankets, our rest was
as sweet as good friends at home were enjoying in their
comfortable beds,"
Next day, they proceeded to the James, and communi-
cated w^ith Butler. On the 17th, they started to return,
crossed the Chickahominy, marched to Baltimore Cross-
roads, and thence on the 22d to White Hou>;e, 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. H. G. Wright*"' succeeded Sedgwick; and the 9th, under
Burnside. Finding the '-hammering" policy too expensive
and too slow, he now ~ 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 marched 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,
^ A native of Orange, Conn. — See Appendix. ' June 20.
GENEEAL JOHN SEDGWICK. 577
Col. Ellis of the Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteers says
in his official report, —
" Oa Sunday the 22tl, we were aguia engaged in skirmishing with the
enemy's cavah-y, near Milford Station. About eleven, a.m., on the 24th,
we moved across the North Anna River, and were engaged most of the
day in a severe skirmish with the enemy. Our line advanced, and drove
the I'ebel skirmishers about half a mile, across a wheat-field on the left,
and through the woods on the right. "We wei*e relieved at night, with our
ammunition entirely expended. Our force this day was seven commis-
sioned offic'ers 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
ofiicers 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, agajn 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 army, 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 fixme
was national ; for he was found wherever blows fell heaviest
and fastest, and where danger was most imminent. Accord-
ino; 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 cohimn 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
Iroiu loss of blood, he 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 bights 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
troo})s. 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 iu 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 ofiSccrs. 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 loAvered 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.
sooner had Grant moved his array south-east-
ward, down the Pamunkey, than Lee withdrew
south-eastward along the front of its right flank.
The Union cavahy 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
eiditeen hours on the dismounted skirmish-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. Mcintosh, command-
ins: the brig-ade, " I must have a resjiment on the left that I
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
581
582 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
regiment, having been in front the day 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 thi'ee 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 narrow an escape I liad 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, with-
out changing the cap."
Capt. Leonard P. Goodwin, commanding the rear squad-
ron, fought bravel3% 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 ho^y. 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 bod}^ 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 v/as 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. Parmelee 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
brigade-line, 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. WARNER 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 followins; thrillinsr 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 in front of the regiment. I rode up, and asked him what he Avas
doing there. He said, ' Mac, I'm wounded in the shoulder.' I urged him
to go to the rear. Pie 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. Pie 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 in 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. AYhipple of Preston was shot
through the body, and instantly killed, while he was stand-
insc in- the middle of the road in the hottest of the fio-ht.
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
of&cers 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
CHARGE OF THE SECOND ARTILLERY. 587
sent out in charge of the pickets. The 5th Corps and the
9th under Barnside,. 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
position.
On the night of the 31st, ^Yright's 6tli 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, H, G, and L, the third, under Major
William B. Ells ; the Avhole 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 constaiit
fire from 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 DUEING THE REBELLION.
flinchino-ly 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 wath 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 liis 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
res:iment never before or afterwards saw.
There were no Union troops upon the left ; and the Coiifed-
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, how^ever ; for they left nearly two
hundred bleedino; on the ground.
SECOND ARTILLjilRY AND FOUETEENTH 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 ; bnt 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. CoitJ
590 CONNECTICUT DURING THE I EBELLION.
and Lieuts. William Murdock, Robert Eussell, 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 Experi-
ences in Foreign Parts. By Dunn Browne. It was the
most witty, genial, and sparkling volume of the }ear. Pro-
fessor Tyler of Amherst, in a memorial address, said of Fiske
when he first began to preach, " His sermons were full of
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 Avork. 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
soou 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 tlie 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.^
Capt. Fiske fell at the head of his company, shot through
j 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 stiMness 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 \ag-
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 wf\.s borne off, at much peril, by Sergeant Junius E.
Goodwin a id Thomas Hannah. He suffered intensely, yet
murmuredj not. Love in him overcame excruciating pain ;
for, forget' ing his suffering, he kept saying, " 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 WiUiam 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 lieiitenant-eolonel 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 boldly
to the charge at Cold llarljor. Saj's 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 fi'dit-
ing. He felt confident we vrould in this our first fight estab-
lish, and ever afterwards maintain, a glorious reputation as a
fight'ing regiment.
" We were soon ordered to the charo-e. Col. Kelloo-o; led us
in bravelj^, coolh^, and steadily; taking the first line of
w^orks, near which he was wounded, he pushed steadilj^ on
to the second line, and called on the 'boys' to capture the
fleeing rebels. ... I went to the left of the battalion, and
on the way passed Col. Kellogg: his face was covered with
blood from a wound in the cheek ; he Avas cheering on the
men. On reaching the main works, wdiich were protecte-'l
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 a:ive wav. 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 countr3^
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 IIEBELLION.
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 tard}''
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 Hubbard- 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
^ 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. Wadhams 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-da3\ 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 fldlen 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, F. W. Daniels, Wil-
laid 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 DUIIING THE KEBELLION.
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;^
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 op on the night of June 2 : Hancock on the
left, then Wright, then Smith, with Warren and Burnside on
the right. Gen. Robert 0. Tjler commanded the reserve ar-
tiller}'. 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." *
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.^ Three of his regimental commanders
were killed.
' A third brother, George, had died in the naval service a year before.
* Swinton's Army of the Potomac.
*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 brevetted major-general " for great gallantry at Cold
Harbor." The following is an extract from tlie letter accompanying the sword : " Of
the daring and steady endurance of tiie division which followed you, with courage ufidis-
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 are 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 ; H. A. Per-
kins; James L. Howard & Co. ; J. U. Trnmhull ; Albert Day, Sons, & Co. ; W. H. D.
, Callender ; J. C. Coleman ; R. Swift ; Watson Beach ; Charles M. Beach ; James Dixon ;
H. L. Porter; J. M. Niles ; 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 H. Post ; N. Kingsbury & Co. ; Collins Brothei-s & 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 bravelj' 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 w^ithin 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 ; in Jive 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 fiiithfully 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. Kellogg & Co. ;
R. Burkett ; Samuel S. Ward ; T. M. Allyn ; H. & W. Keeney ; Tudor Browncll ;
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 DURING THE EEBELLION. ♦
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 flill 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, " 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 AFTER 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;
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
f\iin lay his laurel-wreath, and carve on the tombstone of the
gallant, Dulce et decorum est pro patrla mori I " 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 djing. By his side was the adjutant, smil-
ing, Avithout 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 Kiilingly ; 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 woi'k 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 recounoitering 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
The Tweuty-first, Col. Thomas F. BuriDee 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 sufiered 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 fiiithfully ; 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 eng-ao-ed in the change,
being in reserve. Col. Ellis was at this time detailed to
command the camp at Annapolis, Md., which important posi-
tion he held daring 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 Vvinter of 1803-64, 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. WiUiams
76
602 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
of Rocky Hill, and Cupt. 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 Raid. — The First
Cavalry. — Bold Ride 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 pf 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 Ricfmiond. 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 DURING 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-
inony to his soldierly and manly qualities. He was a brave
and hio'h-toned i»;entleman ; and, in losino- him, the reo;iment
O O 7 7 O -^ O
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 with 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 TOWARDS PETERSBURG. 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 svv^ept the broad, low valley. Smith determined
to charge with a heavy line of skirmishers; which, at seven,
P.M., of the 15th, w^ere thrown forward from his three divisions.
Under a sharp infantry-fire, they carried the lino. 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 riirht,
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 lino, advancing, drove the enemy a quarter of a mile, through the
woods, at wliich 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 ri"ht
606 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
were euabled 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 Avere 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-
inf brigade, the skirmish-line — the IStli 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. 007
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 beino-
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, Sted man'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 rio-ht.
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 enem}^, 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,
G08 COXXECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
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 vio-orous 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 rio;ht of Col. Stedman's brig;ade in the mornino-
reached to the Appomattox, and the left extended nearly to
the Cit3^-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 pufis 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 EEPULSED. 609
They were shortly confronted by a stubborn Hne of battle.
The skirmishers halted under a withering fire, and awaited
support. The sixty rounds brought in the morning had lono-
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
w^heatfield intervening. Here they lay all night and the
next day, scooping up the dirt into earthworks ; and everj'
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. Piice, 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 Aiitietam. For several months, he was de-
tailed to Connecticut in charge of recruits, but rejoined the
reo-iment 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
fio-ht, — a heroic leader amono: heroic men. His death was
easy : without a struggle, he fell into the arms of a brother
officer, and expired."
The Eif'-lith had lost two killed and seventeen wounded.
" Of the dead. Sergeant Fitz G. HoUister 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." ^
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
reg-iments were alternatelv 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. QW
^ " 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, t!iat he is dead. I loved him very dearly. Always
cheerful and happy, he was a most efficient officer, and a perfect o-entle-
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-
ticipnte 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 joinino-
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 retirino^.
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 nig-ht 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 skirmish-liue ; and, after a sharp
en^a'Tement, 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 DUEING THE KEBELLION.
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
brif»"ade 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 fiv6 killed, sixteen wounded, and
eio'hteen 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-
buro- 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 FIEST CAVALEY IN GEX. WILSON'S RAID. 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."^
The force now turned their faces towards Petersburg
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-
genc}", 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 Eiver, and thence to Stony Creek." ^
Here a large force of rebel infantry showed itself, disputing
the crossincr of the Petersburs; and Weldon Road. Gen. \Yil-
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-
2 Official Keport by Major Marcy. ^ Narrative by Chaplain T. J. Holmes.
614 CONNECTICUT DURING 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 thankftd for its preservation, and the supe-
rior conduct of officers and men."^
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
* Report of Major Marcy
HAKDSIIIPS OF WILSON'S CAVALRY. 615
day and niglit is told, when the report shows sixty-two en-
listed men and two ofiicers killed, wounded, and missing.
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
coftee, 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 mucli, 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 Avas his opinion, that
the greater portion of the missing 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 oq
short forage, going sometimes for forty-eight hours Avithout a drop of water.
Then, to appreciate these suff'erings 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 ou
616 CONNECTICUT DDBING 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 mei^ber of his staff, but Lieut. W.
C. Spellman of Hartford, and his entire escort of sixty men.
In his report of the exjjedition, written before he had met
Capt. Whitaker, or received any official report of his move-
ment, he said, " 1 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 eno;a2;ement.
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,
REPORT OF COL. HENRY 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. \yhite 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-batteiy 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.
"■ 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
command. The comfort of the patients has been quite unusual for the
field, owing to the attention of the surgeon in charge, and to the eiforts of
ChapUiin S. F. Jarvis, Firjjt 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.
Matsou, 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.^ Their new chain of redans, con-
nected by powerftil infantry parapets, stretched from the
Appomattox away to the south-west.
In this attitude, a coui^ de mam was projected. Burnside's
corps occupied commanding ground w^ithin a hundred and
fifty yards of the enemy's line ; and in the direct front was a
fort on a re-enterino; anole 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 repassing ; 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
^ See Report of Major Duane, chief engineer.
BUTLEK TEN MILES FEOM RICHMOND. 619
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 Gr, wounded in riglit leg ; Elam T. Good-
rich, commanding Company II, wounded in the hip ; and Henry C. Hall,
commanding Company F, instantly killed by a rifle-ball. It is said, ' Death
loves a shining mai-k.' 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 attain. So anion"; 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, faithiul 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 smiilar, — 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. Martiudale 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."*' Weeks of picket-duty
6 The Knightly Soldier, p. 249.
620 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
followed ; the regiment being under occasional artillery-fire.
Adjutant 11. 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 11th 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 jDOsi-
tion, covering the road from Richmond to Malvern Hill.
Having to cross the James River twice before reaching the
THE TENTH IN 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-
3^ear 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 brao-o-art 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 anxious 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 ov/n 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 vicinity the night be-
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 COLORED TROOPS AT THE MINE. 623
Tallied, and replied in a counter-cliarge ; 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."
Caj)t. 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."
x\mong 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 up 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-
tensit}^, 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 EEBELLION.
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.
Beino" in connnand 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.
Capt. John H. Burton,
Capt. Charles O. Brighara,
Lieut. L. W Jackson,
Lieut. William A. Lincoln, 1
Lieut. George M. Williams, f
Capt. Edwin C. Dow,
Major Thomas S. Trumbull,
Capt. Albert F. Brooker,
Capt. Albert F. Brooker,
Capt. Edw.ard A. Gillette,
Lieut. George D. Sargent,
Lieut. Benjamin Andrews,
Capt. Wilbur F. Osborne.
Capt. Franklin A. Pratt,
Capt. Henry H. Pierce,
Lieut. Henry D. Patterson,
Total,
Armament.
3 30-pdr. Parrotts,
4 "
4 8-inch Mortars,
5 Coehorns,
( 3 30-pdr. Parrotts ">
( 4 8-inch Mortars, J
6 4^-inch Guns,
4 8-inch Mortars,
2 8-inch Mortars,
5 Coehorns,
1 13-inch Mortars,
6 4^-inch Guns,
10 10-inch Mortars,
6 8-inch Mortars,
63 Pieces.
Locality.
Battery 4.
Battery 1.
Battery 10.
!3 to Battery 9.
2 to Battery near
Fort McGilvray.
Battery .5.
( To assume command
■ of Batteries on Line
( of 18th Corps.
Battery 17
!To assume command
of Batteries on line
of 9th and .5th Corps.
In front of Battery 14
Near Battery 1 1 .
Near Battery 12.
On K. R. near Battery 3.
Fort Morton.
Near Fort Rice.
Near Battery 20.
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 ; tbe 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 9tli 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 ofl&cers
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 den. 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 REBELLION.
from the State. He served faithfully, fought fearlessly, and,
havmg 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. Hi's 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 mon-
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. STEDMAX. • 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 rfgime, and that wonderful spirit of
devotion and consistent purity which characterized the
daj^s of knighthood ! These were favorite themes with Col.
Stedman.
" While the force of strict rules, and splendid external
528 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
management, at first controlled the regiment, Col. Stedman
slowly substituted for these a chivalric feeling, a corps
cT esprit, that made every private as anxious to uphold the
reputation of the regiment as the commander himself The
thige 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 mora !)
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. —
Recruiting. — 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. — Repulse and Retreat. — Early attacks Washington. — Affair at Snick-
er's Ferry.
VERY succe.ss 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 b}- special enactment.
This session lasted only four days ; and most of the time
was spent in debate ilpon 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 comjoared to the disgraceful sale of the
imperial purple by the prastorian 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
G30 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 yqyj 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 j^ro 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. Piatt of Meriden was appointed chairman of the
judiciary committee, thus making him by courtesy the
leader of the majorit}' party in the House ; and Col. Dwight
Morris of Bridgeport was placed at the head of the military
committee. The messa^-e of Gov. Buckinuham exhibited
the same calm 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 of its
officers." ^
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 slied 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 nation onward in the path of prosperity, intelligence, and inda-
ence, and upward to a higher level of freedom, civilization, and Christianity,
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,
union, 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 exceUent 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 beino- 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. Piatt of Me rid en immediately appealed
from this decision ; and a long debate ensued, which was con-
tinued through two daily sessions. The yeas and na3^s 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 DUKING 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. Piatt, H. K. W.
Welch, Watrous, Charles Ives, D wight 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.
During the year, there were two calls for troops ; requir-
ing an aggregate of eight hundred, thousand men. The
first was issued on Jul}^ 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 PHOVOST-MAESHAL BKOMLEY. 633
apparent, AdjutantrGen. 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 j^rovisions. 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 ofiice 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 rui-al 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
£0
634 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
aliens from Gei-many. the aliens who were willing to swear they wei-e
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 fiu^nish 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 reachiiio; 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' paj'ing a bounty of three
hundred dollars to eacli 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 otRces 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
^ 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 Depart:mi:nt, Provost-Marshal-Geneual's Bureaxj,
Washington, D.C, March 1, 1866.
Gen. Horace J. Morse, Adjutant-General, Hartford, State of Connecticut.
General, — In reply to your communication of the 27tli ultimo, re-
questing to be informed the quota ap.si2:ned to the State of Connecticut
imder 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,
3Iajor Vet. Res. Corps.
The quota of Connecticut was fall, 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 tlitit material
of the sort now sent us, though inexpressiblj^ vile and pi-
ratical, is the best timber for soldiers, I often hear intimated
or sutrsrested ; and nothino; but the knowledtre 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 ; j^et the men you send now do not
intend to go into battle ! "
G36 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Chaplain H. C. Trumbull wrote with equal earnestness
in August, 1864, —
" Do you knoAV what it is that to-day tends more to dishearten New-
En"-laud sokliers 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
totterin"- 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
"■jven 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
]irofessed Christian to receive commendation for hiring a proxy to keep
llie 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
"•overnment, 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
'' 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-
couraored and diso;usted 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 foct that the Union had not yet been restored
THE TWENTY -NINTH IN CAMP AT BEAUFOET. 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."^
On April 7, the Twenty-ninth (colored), under Col. Wil-
liam B. Wooster, was armed with tlie 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-
fort, where it arrived on the 13th. 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.
3 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.
Q3S CONNECTICUT DUKIXU THE KEBELLION.
After a pleasant winter in M.'.rtinsburg-. 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-dnt}^ in
Maryland. The weather was very disagreeable, and the sol-
(Uers sighed for their cosy quarters at Martinsbnrg. 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 Bolivnr Heights' on
April 9. After a harmless scout up the Loudon Valley, they
arrived at Martinsburii; on the 2Sth.
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 talismanic power. The Eighteenth,
too, remembered the Winchester of a year before ; but they
turned their foces hopefully southward, and marched away,
bandj'ing 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 aflectionate.
A rapid move to Bunker Hill and Winchester, and the
regiment marched over the gi'ound 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 man}- men and gims Sigel had,
and how many would suffice to crush him. On May 9, they
KETEEAT OF SIGEL'S TROOPS. G'39
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 shght skirmish. At three
o'clock, next morning, these regime:its were pushed for-
ward to New Market, and arrived at ten, a.m., in a drenching
rain. The Eighteenth w'as marched into a piece of woods
north-west of the town; and, while partaking of a breakfost
of coffee and hard-tack, the men were ordered into line of
Ijattle 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 rapidl}^, 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. Siafel's main force
wa^ 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 uow appeared on the brow of the hill,
and 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, and that further stay
in that position was Avorse 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 tiau'k at double-quick, on
emergiag 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
rear of the second line, which now awaited the shock. The cannonadiu"-
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 sufiered severely, was forced to retire. For the same reason,
the enemy contented himself with sending forward strong lines of skir-
mishers to harass our uow retreating force ; hiipself advancing very
slowly.
640 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
" Desultory fighting was continued for tliree liours by our firsi ana sec-
ond lines alternately ; when, two fresh regiments arriving, the broken forces
were assembled in rear 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 marched 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, Avhere 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-
dino- 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,
beariu"^ off the hidiest honors of the institution.'* He studied
law in the office of Judge Elisha Carpenter, who says, " 1
never knew any young man who possessed such aptnes^ 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. Tiffliny, 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.^
* 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. Kdgerton and John
B. Van Pelton, were graduates of this institution. A score of her officers and men died
ID. service
6 Lieut.-Col. Nichols died in January, 1868, at St. Paul, Minn., whither he had gone
HUNTER 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 surpkis 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 emj^eror's new clothes " while his single
shift was S!;oino; throug-h 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."
Stronsi: 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 ; but ovcr-cxertion indueed 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
lic resifi-ncd, and returned to Connecticut, he was elected a member of the General Assem-
))!v I f 1865, and served with distinction. The St. Paul Press says of him, " Col. Nichols,
diiring a brief residence of two years in this city, had won for liimself by his brilliant talents,
his fine attainments, and attmctive personal qualities, a higli position in the esteem of the
community and in the regards of many admiring friends. To the graces of the scholar
and tlie 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 fortli from our
colleijes 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 wai' he fell."
81
(342 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
charge by Hunter's whole force. The rebels stood a few
moments, straggled, turned, and fled to theh 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 bearini? 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 riu-ht of Gen. Hunter's
line of battle : its colors took the lead in the first charire,
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. Amono; 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. Mao-mnis 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 was 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 prison
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 ii^Ait 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 DUEING 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 fmlher 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
throuo;h West Viro-inia.
Surf»:eon J. V. Harrinij^ton of Sterling; was left behind
when the Eighteenth moved. His consumptive tendency
had long been apparent, and crossing the mountains pro-
duced a hemorrhage.^ 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
•^ Dr. Harrington was taken as prisoner to Charleston, and held iintil 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, Cliaplain W. 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 gi'eater."
THE SIXTH A2^D NIXETEENTH CORPS 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." " 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 Julv 3. Next morning;, the Eig-hteenth went to Parkers-
burg, md the Kanawha and Ohio Elvers, 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 eagerl}" took this opportunity to relieve his army
from investment at Peter^^burg. 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 diar}^, " 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
" Narrative of Chaplain William C Walker.
646 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
next day recrossed, and pushed southward through the
Loudon 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."^ Orderly-Sergeant Thomas. J. Aldrich of
Thompson was drowned. Capt. Joseph Mathewson was
wounded in the thigh. Lieuts. M. Y. 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 19 th 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 NEAR HAllPER'S FERRY. 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 fall
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 vicinity of Har-
per's Ferry, where a force now gathered to intercept the
raid of Early in Pennsylvania, where he had already burned
Chambersburg.
CHAPTER XXXVIIL
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 Reams's Station. — Casu-
alties. — Incidents along the Line.
ICHMOND and Petersburg were still under the
rebel Has;. The terrific stru2:Q:les of the sum-
mer of 1864 had resulted in a dead-lock of the
oppo.«ing armies. For thirty miles, the parallel
lines of earthworks, batterieSj and forts, bristling
with cannon, and well-manned by tried and veteran troops,
.overlooked the hoi^tile 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 ^a.sco had left no alternative but flanking; and
the plan now was to strike the rebel army 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 lOth, 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
lOth 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 BEISKLY 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,^ 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 rebel 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 Lieut. -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 tcndeited his resignation, it is accepted, with regrets that so gallant
an officer, witli 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 disabilitv
in the loss of a limb, arc ap])reciated 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, R. S. Davis,
Assistattt Adjutant- Genercd.
82
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 more 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 splendidlj", 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.
Toung 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
TERRY'S DIVISION IX THE BATTLE OF DEEP RUN. 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-
raents, 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 Avhole command to remain firm, and, in
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 DUEING 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 fiiUen 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." ~
While this was going on. Col. Wooster received orders
from Gen. Butler to jDush 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 visror 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 ; ^ 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 Exti'act from a full narrative ia the Knightly Soldier, p. 271.
^ Gen. E. I). S. Goodyear, writing of this battle, thus refers to the chaplain of the
Tenth, " Chaplain Trumbull 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 o])cned 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 up, partially stunned, and shook the dirt off
his clothes. Just at this moment, three or four shells burst in the ranksof a couple of
the regiments on our left, and they broke, panic struck, for the rear. In an instant, the
chaplain, pistol in iiand, 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."
g54 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
had rejoined the 10th Corps, and returned with it to the
Bermuda Hundred front.
Nothino" directly had been accomphshed, and the losses on
both sides had been heavy. Of Connecticut troops, the
Sixth had lost six killed, sixty-four wounded, and eleven
missino-. 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 L 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 much praise can not be awarded him. Lieuts. Bar-
ker and Lee, I regret to say, were Avounded 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 elHcient and untiring efforts in caring for
the wounded of the command.
" The men displayed unusual zeal and bravery during the whole engagei-
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. Phimb of
Meriden, 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. HENEY 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
nniversal 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 Antietara. 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, fliith-
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 DUKING 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 sert'-eant; 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 ritle-pits. Adjutant Camp wrote,
■' Capt. White was one of the finest ofiicers 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 li 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
last 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 eftects 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 efiicient 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 JA]\IES. 657
Here, also, Cyrus A. Green of South Coventry was killed.
He was a brave and faithful soldier.^
" Poor Dennis Mahoney was shot through the body early
in the day. It was he who sent for Henry [Chaplain Trumbull]
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
difiicult to match him in the regiment." ^
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 alons; 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
* Cyrus A. Green was one of six sons of William A. Green of Sonth Coventry (form-
erly of Norwich), Conn., all of whom were in the service, and had an honorahlc record.
One of the brothers, Thomas L., was killed in the gharge at Cold Harbor; another,
Cliarles A., was a member of the 15th Massachusetts, fought in several battles, was cap-
tiu\(l, and languished for nine months in as many rebel prisons ; W^illiam H. was in both
the Eighth and Eighteenth, but was discharged for disahility ; 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 Ibrtunes of the First Artillery
through four years' service, and was among the first to enter the city 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.
^ Mahoney was a young Irishman, and enlisted from MancUester.
83
658 CONNECTICUT DURING 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 immediatel}^ 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
bri2;ade advanced in line of battle, under a lieavv 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 upder 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
runnino; at a ri'j;ht ansi-le 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 PETEKSBUEG. 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 fill-
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 ofiicers assembled, and adopted the following : — -
Hesolved, That in all the varied experience of the service, we have ever
found Capt. Hawley fully equal to every emergency ; in camp, the trusty
Q60 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."
" 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." ®
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
^ Report of Lieut.-Col. Moore.
CONNECTICUT REGIMENTS IN THE RIFLE-PITS. 661
flashes of lightning ; and, as we had no stretcher, it was
almost impossible to carrj^ 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 Weldon
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 monotonj^ 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. Tliere 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 vv^ith Avhich 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 I'ays 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 Avas always hailed Avith 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 cxnsine, 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."'^
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
formino: 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 Cliaplain Trumbull in the Knightly Soldier. * Ibid.
DEATH OP CAPT. ISAAC D. KENYOX. 663
establish a line of telegraph from City Point to Fort Pow-
hattan ; -when sixteen were captured bj ^yacle 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. Kenj'on 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 ! " ®
3 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 Twentj'-ninth on the Right. — Rebel
Repulse. — Casualties. — Attack on Terry's Line. — Repulse. — Counter- Attack. —
Death of Major H. W. Camp. — Hawley's Brigade on tlie 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. — Teny 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 28tli, 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 -biidge ; 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 eitherside, 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 reariment headed the storming; column. This
was a gallant charge across nearly a mile of open field to
Chaffin's BlufC 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 Official Report of Lieut.-Col. Brown.
84
666 CONNECTICUT DUEING 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 v/liole hecatombs of precious lives. It was a race
for the prize. Re-inforcements were coming down at ' double-
quick.' Our men saw them approaching, but were soon
enough to snatch from them the otherwise impregnable
hit'-hts." Both the color-sero-eants of the Eighth — William
O CD CJ
S. Simmons of Plainfield and Jacob Bishop of Wilton — re-
ceived commissions " for meritorious daring ; " and Sergeant
Nathan E. Hickok of Danbury, the choice of a commission,
or thirty days' furlough.- The following is an extract from
the order issued by Gen. Butler : —
" Aetiug 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." ^
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
- He declined tlie 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 CHAEGE OF THE TWENTY-NINTH. 667
old flag in tlie 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 Yfillis 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 forw\ird, 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-
insr 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 the}^ leap with their leader over the works."
Without delay, they push quicklj^ 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 DUEINa THE KEBELLION.
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
forw^ard 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 CAPTUEING 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 desire to surrender. Then the order,
' Cease firing! ' was given ; and the air resounded with, ' Come
in. Johnnies, come in ! ' of which invitation a large number
took advantage, and found refuge and safety behind the
works of the detested Yankees. Our packet-line was quickly
re-established, and, being sent out by the flank, completely
surrounded those who had not already given themselves up,
and gathered 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. L'win, 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 just 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 Litchiield,
Conn., the grave of our dear comrade, Seth F. Plumb."
The Twentj-first had lost four killed and twenty-four
wounded. Among the latter were Lieuts. W. S. Hubbell,
George P. Edwards, and E. Perry Packer.
Cajot. Henry R. Jennings of Stonington was mortally
wounded in the breast. He died a month afterwards. Lieut.-
Col. Brown wrote, " ]^o truer patriot or braver soldier than
he has flillen 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
BrtAVEIlY 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 U3 became engaged, including the Seventh
Connecticut with its seven-shooting rifles, the crush 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 sliot 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 ; 1 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 [iOOth New-York] turned and ran. Our men saw it; knew
that their flank was now exj)osed ; 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 firiug 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 ti'ied 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, Vv^hile the skirmish-line was
still engaged, and every moment a renewal of the attack was
GT2 CONNECTICUT DUIIING 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 fro7it line, colonel ? ' Camp asked in his quiet
way ; believing that he 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 grape
and canister ; and to all that charging brigade. Camp set a
splendid example. He forced his way on up to the lar 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, find over against the double
battle-line of the defiant foe. His tall form was the tariret
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-coming
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."^
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 charo-e. 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.
" The memory of Major Henry W. Camp, the gallant officer lost in this
affiair, is deserving of more than a passing notice. The country has never
suffered a heavier loss in an officer 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.
86
674 CONNECTICUT DUIllNG THE EEBELLION.
A life of rare symmetry and of high promise was closed
to earth when this yomig 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, and 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 Darby town 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 OF THE COLORED SOLDIERS. ^75
Camp of Micldletown. 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 s$e 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 we;re 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 indiflPerence ; and Capt. Camp was
obliired 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
fio-ht, 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, Ave 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 HATCHER'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 b}^ the companies which had been
acting; as flankers on the rigfht, 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
I'ight flank, lor 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
vacated, remaining in tliem 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 brii^ade. Before this could be done, however, the enemy
attacked ns 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 Avas directed to hold the position then occupied. The enemy, being
repulsed in this attack, fell back to their works. We remained in the
works till about eleven o'clock, when, pursuant to orders, we withdrew;
leaving a strong picket-line. Throughout the whole day, the conduct of
both officers and men was deserviug of praise. Lieut, Bartholomew, who
was killed, was 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 ensjasrement 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 Wel-
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.*^ 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, 18G5, the Fourteenth was
again called out to participate in 'an advance of the 2d
® 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 bteii called
to follow to the grave a deceased soldier, native of the town. — Norwich Courier.
THE FOUItTEEXTH AND THE SECOND AETILLERY. 079
Corps, now under Humphreys. The regiment marched down
the Vaughn Pioad to Hatcher's Run, and before noon reached
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 Fouiteenth changed front on the
first company, which brought it to face the rebel fiank. 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 efi'ect. 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 the.se 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
680 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
retriments at this point had been partially re-organized. The
men wlio had served the three years for which they origi-
nally volunteered went home, materially reducing the
strength of the regiments raised in 1861." 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 cliaplain, — 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
lieutenant-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 Hartfo'xl, who resigned and returned
home, after three years of devotion to the good of the sol-
" Lieut. H. H. Lincoln of the Tenth died at his home in Soutli Coventry in November.
He had risen from a private soldier for good conduct in every liaitle. He led his com-
pany in many sharp engagements with the enemy ; and. during Lieut. Camp's imprison-
ment, he was adjutant of the regiment. He reached home, on fnrlough, 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 Tor his coming.
Capt. Frederick B. Osborn of the Sixth, from Ne^v 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. He was on the frigate
Niagara when it was en^iaged in laying the Atlantic cable. He enlisted in the three-
months' service. He afterwards joined the Sixth as a private, and was steadily promoted
to a captaincy for etficieucy. Through his great bravery, the colors of the regiment were
saved at the Idoody assault on Fort Wagner. He was i)uried with honors from his resi-
dence in New Haven, his cofBn draped in the flag which he had carried on Morris
Island.
NUMEROUS CHANGES AMONG OFFICEES. 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 reo;iment to
positions 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 suro-eon of the regular army, in charg-e 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,^ and Lieut.-Col.
E. S. Greeley was promoted to fill the vacancy. Capt. E. D.
S. Goodyear became lieutenant-colonel.
Col. John H. Burnham of Hartford declined a commission
as colonel of the Eleventh ; and the regiment, having no field-
officers, w^as commanded by Capt. Randall H. Rice, who had
received a wound at Petersburg, wdiich, it was feared, would
be mortal. He had been promoted from the ranks. Major
John Kies of Killingly had been comj^elled 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,^ 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
^ Col. Otis was a merchant before the war, but left his lucrative business and his quiet
home in Manchester to volunteer in his country's service. ■ He 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 Annajjolis he
commanded a company. His services were always timely and valuable ; and his promo-
tion was steady. He did his whole duty in the Carolinas and Florida, and was hardly
out of a flght^ during tlie months of battle. At Drury's Bluff he made, at imminent
peril, a personal reconnoissance of the Confederate works, which saved a brigade from
rej)ulse and slaughter. At Bermuda Hundred, as general officer of the day, he cutiduct-
ed several sharp fights ; repellini^ the enemy's assault at one time, and recovering a hjst
position at another. At Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, White's Tavern, on Darby-
town l\oad, 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.
'■* 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. He was a young man of high
promise and worth, of good personal appearance, and noble bearing.
60
682 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
as the Tenth and Fourteenth, indeed, there was not one of
the oricj-iDal 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 Trumbull 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 j)icked off. ' What admirable range ! ' ' How
capitally they fire ! ' ' 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 faithfid private of the
11th 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 b idly
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 stuifiug 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.
KEGIMENTS JNCEEASED BY UNTRIED RECEUITS, 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. Greeley.
Col. Rockwell of the Sixth commanded the 2d Brigade.
Chaplain Jacob Eaton of the Seventh wrote, —
" The expedition was attended with great hardships to botli otRcers and
enlisted men. Many brave men who have served faithfully for three years
have assured me that their privalious and sufferinps during the past week,
on board government transports, and in the uutinished works on Staten
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. OfScers 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 for a 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.^°
As the Connecticut regiments were at this time reduced
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 x\merica. The rest represent twentj--
one different natioiuilities."
1' Lieut. Georize Northro]5 of the Tenth died Nov. 10, of wounds received in action on
the Darl)yto\vn Road, Oct. 1.3.
" He "was born in ihc town of Bethel, Conn. ; served as a private in the Third Regi-
ment during- the three-months' lampaiiin ; enlisted, and was api)ointcd sergeant in Com-
pany D of "this regiment, Oct. I, 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 Dathytown Road. Lieut. Northrop died regretting
only that he had but one life to give for liys country." — liejioii of Col. (Jrcdeij.
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 Sedgwdck,
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 oO-pounder Parrotts to Fort Brady; Lieut. E. P. Ma-
son w^ith four mortars to Fort Sedgwick ; Major Thomas S.
Trumbull with eight guns and two 30-pound Parrotts sent to
the City-Point lines; Lieut. C. R Bannan with one 12-pound-
er to redoubt at Broadway Landing. Capt. H. H. Pierce
took charge of Battery Burpee. Capt. AYilbur F. Osborne
was transferred to Battery No. 11. 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 tlie beginning of the campaign to March 1, 1865,
has been 55,325 rounds, amounting to 1,118 tons of iron.
Upon the Petersburg Unes 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 upoa Fort Harrison, the rebel fleet habitually lav
in the reach near the graveyard, in pliiiu sight of our lines, occasionally
firing upon them. A surprise was planned for them by Gen. Butler, whose
chief ensrineer. Major Michie, erected a battery commanding tlieir position.
During the night of Oct. 21, three 30-poander 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 efiect 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 oae of tlie 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 tliat 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 supplies, m 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 EE-REI.LION.
her magazine, completely destroying her." 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. Silliman, 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
resjjiment had been of more service to the srovernment 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.-"' 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 Bratly was mainly conducted by Lieut. Sterling A. WoodrufF,
of Company C.
1- 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. TEEHY DIEECTED 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 w^ho 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." ^'^
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 dh^ected
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. x\bbott, Hawley 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 Fislier 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 noi-th 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
^^ 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 works. 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 loth,
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 ; probabl}'
it was never equaled." ^*
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.
1* Narrative by Chaplain Jacob Eaton.
688 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE REBELLION.
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MAJ. GEN.U. S.-\/;
ENGRAVED EXPBESS"UY FOR HTSTnPT r-T
CAPTURE OF FOET FISHEE. 689
The rebels met it with a yell and a simultaneous fire. On
rushed the three brig-ades of Ames's division. The fi2;htin2:
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 — noiselesslj^ but swift-
ly along the entire land-front to the very point where the
fierce assault of the navy boys had tailed.
Gen. Terry and Gen. Ames are with the brigade — all
cool, but anxious. Minutes now are worth ordinary years.
When the brigade reaches the sally-port, tlie 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 b}' 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 DURING THE REBELLION.
The Sixth was commanded by Col. A. P. Rockwell. The
Seventh lost two killed and five woimded.
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. lie 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 tlmn 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.^^
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
^^ 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.
CONGRESS THANKS GEN. TERRY. 691
combined armies of those two nations were many months
capturing that stronghold, and it did not compare in size or
streno-th 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 ' heau ideal of a soldier and a gentleman.' " ^°
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 H. 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
Avork has been captured from the rebel 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, leavino^ 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.
1^ Speech of Henry B. Harrison.
'^^S^
mm
M
B
CHAPTER XL.
The Fifth and Twentieth in Tennessee. — Guarding the Railroad. — Fight with Guer-
rilhis. — 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 11th 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 wero 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 AXD TWENTIETH IX TENNESSEE. 693
Harper's Ferry, Martinsburg, Hancock, Piedmont, over the
wild Alleglianies, 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 TuUahoraa. The rebel
guerrillas infested the whole country ; and they now cat 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 Chancellors ville 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. 26 ; 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-
(394' CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
tain and Mission Riclge ; 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.^ 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 liave been very arduous ; and twice witliin
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,"' 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 eflfects 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 TuUahoma. 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. Beardsley of Derby, our brigade
inspector, who is sometimes unlachy, then again 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 mai-k, 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 Don,s:lass Bushnell, a native of New London, was killed in the battle near Chatta-
nooga, lie was major of the 13ih Michigan. i,- i, u
■^ 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 : —
" 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, or watertank ; 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 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 Grant ^ in command of the
armies of the West ; and the different corps were re-organ-
ized and mobilized. The 11th 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-
ino-ham.
The veterans of the Fifth had returned from their fur-
lough home, and the non-veterans hud 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-
* Gens. Grant and Sherman are both of Connecticut ancestry.
THE FIFTH AND TWENTIETH FNDEE 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
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 Spencer^ 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 imj^roved 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 down 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
little after midnight, and moved in the dark four miles,
arriving at the trail at four, am. 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
5 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.
(398 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 11th 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 unfler 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 atlequate 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 w^ere now on disputed territo-
ry ; and both Union and Confederate soldiers had striven in
THE TWENTIETH ASSIST IN CAPTURING CASSVILLE. QQQ
vain to drag tliem off during the daylight. The ground
about the battery was strewn with the dead of both sides.
In the evenino- Lieut.-Col. P. B. BuckinQ-ham 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
H. 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
part}^ 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 infontry 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
bravelj^ 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 Tw^entieth 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 ; wdieii
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 Jeff 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 ai'e 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 bi'eakfast by the roadside. While sitting here, a rebel courier rode in
among them, bearing a dispatch from Gen. 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 SOUTHEEX LADY'S OPINION OF FLANKING. 701
officer on the qui vive, with his troops drawn up ready to repel the Yankees.
He delivered the bogus message, showed tlie genuine pass, and, after being
tboroughly questioned, liad the satisfaction of seeing the rebel army move
biF in obedience to the commands of Joe Hooker. Tlie 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 np 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 doos jes' so
too, with his regiment ; and my 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 KEBELLION.
On the 20th, the colamn 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-
raents. 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, vmtil 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 gi-ouiid.
"• 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,
iu 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 tlie enemy on the front of the right of the 4th Corps. After that
corps had recovered its position in line, Ave 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, and
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 tiie 4th Corps ; and two
companies on my left were oi'dered 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,
altliough 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 ofiicers 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 IX A SEVEKE ENGAGE:\IENT. 703
nition per man, and after the muskets had become so foul from use as to
be almost entirely unserviceable. On being reliev^ed, we fell back a short
distance, and remained under fire, supporting the 136th New-York, until
the enemy retired. Soon after dark, tlae 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 luore 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 w^ounded,
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 COKNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
successive desperate assaults were repulsed by Sherman, and
ao-ain 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, Ave 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 answei'ed. ' 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 uns and we
uus both.' So we learned that there had been a cavalry skii'.mish."
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 alh
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 Railroad. 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 R. Post, Lieut. Theodore Jepson, Lieut. Wellington
Barry, Lieut. Ebenezer B. Fenton, Lieut. Edward J. Murray
and Lieut. Edward Root. Capt. Dickerman and Lieut. Jep-
89
706 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
son were wounded very severely in the head ; and the
injuries of the former ultimately proved mortal.''
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 campaiga 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,'' or
enjoying the soothing influence of home and its ministrations."
•> Ezra Day Dickerman of Hamdcn 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 recciiit 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 generous 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 tor information as to its
position. Failing to get definite directions, he jumped upon a supply-train, which carried
iiim 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 ])erfect health, promoted by
strictly temperate hal)its, he soon rallied, but with the loss of the sight of one eye ; and
was alile 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 jiain, 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.
"> 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 array, 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.^
On Nov. 16 began the wonderful march to the sea.
Sherman's army moved in two divisions, wdth 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 AVilliam 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 1 863 in the Twentieth. The severe duties of the At-
lanta campaign proved disastrous to his health, and he retired to a hospital to die.
** The following epigram was current at this time : —
" Where Hood is, 'twere not difficult to tell.
He swore lie'd go to Naslivilie or to hell;
And hasn't gone to Nashville — very weU I "
708 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
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.^ No other field-battery parti-
^ Connecticnt had still other participation in the fight for Mobile. Lieutenant-com-
mandinn; Edward Terry of Hartford, was in command of Farragut's flagship, the Hart-
ford. Lieut. J. C. Kinney, son of Rev. E. D. Kinney of Westford, was Farragut's signal
ofiBcer on the flagship, and sat on the cross-trees of the fore-topmast. Both showed great
eflSciency 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 fight-
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.^*^
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 full 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 cooks of which had to be replaced by new,
inexperienced ifien 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
1" This result was due not more to the attention of the officers than to the practical
vigilance of the saddler, Daniel W. Hawley.
YELLOW FEVER IN NEW BERNE. 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 of 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, not 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 ejoidemic, and how nobly 3'ou 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-
tor}' of, a half-million of dollars' worth of captured property
which fell into his hands ; leaving the offi^ce, when the Six-
teenth went out of service, with the thanks of his superior
officers. Gen. tiarland 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 COISTNECTICUT DUKING THE llEBELLION.
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 terrible 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
tied 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 day
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,
SUEGEON MAYER MEDICAL PURVEY OE. 713
manly traits, his heart overflowing with kind and generous
feeling, it is difficult to realize that I shall feel the warm
grasf) 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 wa^ 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 XLI.
Sheridan takes Command in the Shenandoah. — The First Connecticut Cavalry, Second
Artillery, and Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Eighteenth Infantry. — At Winchester.
— Kearneysville. — 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 ao-o-ressive movements m the
Do
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 b.y Capt. M. V, B. Tiffimy.
The First Cavah-y was under Col. E. Blakeslee. The
Twelfth was commanded by Lieut.-Col. Frank H. 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 MANETD7EII OF THE FIEST CAVALEY. 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 DURING 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
wall, while the rest mounted. They, in turn, were then
defended by the horsemen wheeled to the front ; and the
force took a hasty retreat across the fields. The enemy had
advanced from the east and west, and was now fighting our
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. Mcintosh 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 1 ever saw. In front
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 fio;ht on foot. The men of the First were all eas-er 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
i
RESIGNATION" 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 Berry ville, 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 undaunted 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 chai'ge, 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 commendations 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 chargced 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 D wight'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 enem3^'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 th6
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 Vv". DeForest of the Twelfth describes the scene in
Harper's Magazine, —
" Grover's find Rickett's divisions reached the base from which they
had advanced, in a state of confusion that threatened wide-spread disaster.
The 6th-Corps men and 19th-Corps men were crowdini^ together up the
line of the Berryville Pike ; Avhile 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 foi-est. 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 onlv desperate moment of the
day."
Dwight's division now came steadily up ; Grover's divis-
ion ralhed ; 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 mortallj^ 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 COXNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLIOK
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
rio-ht, and at foar, p.m., started on that brilliant charo;e 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 of&cers, — Major James Q. Rice of Goshen, Capt.
Fred. M. Berry of Kent, Lieut. Franklin J. Caudee of
Plymouth, Lieut. James P. McCabe of Goshen, Lieut. Wil-
liam H. 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 Middletown, and had been obliged to abandon
the study of the law on account of impaired eyesight. The
call of 1862 found him conductinsj a flourishinsr 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 Geri.
Slough at Alexandria, Va., captain of the picket and patrol
of the city. He gave the highest satisfaction. Li 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, lie issued
orders to the men in the midst of the storm, in the same
clear, miruffled 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
a,fterwards 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,
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. Amono"
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." ^
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.- He studied law with fine
1 Narrative of Chaplain James H. Bradford.
2 The roll of honor of Yale Collcivc 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 ayainst 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 hundied and eighteen colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and majors.
Yale furnished to Connecticut regiments alone no less than twenty chaplains and iifty-
seven surgeons and assistant surgeons ; and her proportion of the otlier 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 rolls to-day show. But discouragements and failures
have never yet appalled us, we assure you. On the contrary, not fo have
re-enlisted would have seemed like abandoning the princi\)les which actuated
us in entering the service. At a proper time, we sliall be ready 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 remaiu 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 we pledge you our lives to carry 3'our flag and our flag with honor into
the face of the enemy."
That pledge was gloriously redeemed.
As has appeared in the course of this record, he was
constantly at the front, and was a great favorite with his
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, " Tell them I
die cheerfully in the performance of my duty at t|ie front."
Capt. S. E. Clark, in his report, says, " Lieuts. Buckley and
Steadman were brave and efficient officers, and men of
unimpeachal)le moral character."
The Thirteenth had lost six killed, thirty-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 heavy. During the next two
remarkable. The Union general officers, alumni of tlie college, were I\Iajor-Gcns.
Alfred H. Terry, Cassius M. Clay, H. W. Cenliam,-A. S. Williams, Frank P. Blair, and
T. Runyon; aiid Brigadier-Gens. James S. Wadsworth, W. II. Noble, L. B. Parsons,
William Birncy, 0. S. Ferry, C. H. Crane, W. B. Woods, J. A. Wilcox, J. W. Noble,
A. W. Bishop, Edward Harland, J. C. Rice, Stewart L. Woodford, Wager Svvayne,
J. T. Croxton, C. L. Fitzhugh, C. C. Dodge, Horatio Jenkins, and L. M. Dayton.
SHEEIDAN IN PUESUIT OF EARLY. 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.^
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 ; and sent
3 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
test. 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
be resolved on retrieving his fortunes, and selected the night
of Oct. 18-19 for an attack on the tlank 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 whisi3ered
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 SUEPEISE AT CEDAR CEEEK. 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
j)ickets, 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 batter}^,
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, " 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 brigrades and divisions shared the same fate. Moli-
o
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 earl^^
and reported at the breastworks ; but the battalion was soon
ordered down the hill. "As we reached the foot of the
hill," says Col. Healy " an aide of Col. Birge ordered us back
np 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 DUKING THE REBELLION.
6th Corps), " Our brigade Avas 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 8th 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 lying down. Col. Mackenzie
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 Middletown. 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 CEDAR CREEK. 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 angrj^ 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 w^ere mostlj^ comprised in Company L, captured entire
v,'hile 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, —
" I 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 Avorks 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.*
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
* "In the course of a few days, the bodies of all the men of the Twelfth who had follen
on the field were collected, and'decently buried within a neat little inclosure, — a substan-
tial head-board at each gjrave, 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 tdeir dead. Every company is rcprescut< d 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."
Serojeant 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
w^ar.
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." Custer 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, lied from
the Shenandoah, with the wreck of an army, never to re-
turn.
After Col. Joseph R Hawley left Florida with his brigade
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 flxtigue-
duty. On April 25, Col. Noble started on a foraging raid
w^itli a large part of his brigade, including the Seventeenth,
to Volusia, 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-swamps and lagoons all day.
They marched twenty miles, and bivouacked as the ^^ellow
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
92
730 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
with excitement over the discovery of shad in the river.
Squads went eagerly at the pastime of anghng, and through
the evening plied their seductive arts. There was more
fishing thai) 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 peoj)le, 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 deploj'ed
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 lono-. 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.
"Wilcoxson.
On July 18, Capt. William L. Hubbell of Bridgeport, with
three companies, marched to Picolata, on the St. John's,
eighteen miles from St. Auorustine, 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 Falstafl^'s 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 disuniform,
from gray-back to butternut, and all intervening shades,
mounted on horses ranging from the pony, weighing about as
732 COFNECTICUT 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 tal^en prisoners, including the bold
guerrilla chief, Col. Watson. Forty horses and other spoils
were also taken back to camp. But the rebels had speedy
revenG[;e for the audacious achievement.
On Dec. 22, Col. 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, 18G5. He was 'deeply impressed by the
horrors of that place ; and, on the way home, he lectured in
Vicksburg, 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,
CAPTUKE AND DEATH OF LIETJT.-COL. WILCOXSOX. 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. Ruggles, 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. Wilcoxsou
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, Avith 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 oflicers 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 aflflicted widow.
734 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
Albert H. Wilcoxson was born in Huntington, 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 GARKISON 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, 18G5, 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
Ptidge 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 beins; Lieut. WilHam 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
o;ood character of the regiment."
Major Allen had now become lieutenant-colonel,^ and
Capt. William L. Hubbell was promoted to be major. On
June 9, the regiment was relieved at St. Augustine, and
^ Lieut. -Col. Allen was born in Nonvalk in 1842. He sensed 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 lather
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 DUEING THE EEBELLION.
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 Camp Ford, Tex. — Gen. E. M. Lee in Libby. — Capture of Major Sanford
and Men of the Seventh. — Adventures of Three Oflieers of the Sixteenth. — Fidelity
of Surgeon Niekcrson. — Thrilling Narrative of Lieut. Bailey. — Deaths at Anderson-
ville. — 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
duugeon 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 askiug 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 thenxselves ! 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 tlie
93 7.37
738 CONNECTICUT DUPJNG 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 :iment advanced with the briy:ade-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 estaljlished, 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 flinchintr under the murderous fire, or trivino; an inch
of ground. Soon after dark, the enemy retired, 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-fielcl, 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-fouu:ht battle-field."
The regiment had lost ten killed and thirty wounded.
Among the slain were Sergeant Edward W. Stanwood, 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 rischt.
The Fifteenth Connecticut was divided into two battalions,
under Lieut.-Col. Tolles and Major E. Vf. 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 ^vas 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 1 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, wh-o were
directed to picket as far as the Upper-Trent Road, wbich
772 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 mtrenched. 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 information that a body of the enemy were raov-
mg 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 hiipetuous 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
gfintlet 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 hfe, 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 mem.ber 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
3'ears 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
afiectation. In 1862, he raised a company in Meriden, and
led it in the Fifteenth, and was the senior captain in the
reoriment 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
kirjd treatment of the men, made him a universal favorite
in the reuriment."
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 arDund
774 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
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 fit'ht — was under Col. Upham in the succeeding action
of the lO'th, 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 GoldsboroLigh, 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 constant
service in the field.
The Sixteenth, as has been seen, suffered a long, disinal,
♦ 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 xVugust 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 iniles ; 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 XLIY.
Spring: of 1865. — The Beginning of tlic Entl. — Petersburg. — Rebel Assault on Fort
Stodman. — 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 Xorth Carolina. — The Capitulation of Johnston's Army.
VERY sign was ominous of the speed}- downfall
of the Confederacj', 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 ^hort
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 Geu: 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 Avere closed at the gorge ; well protected
with abatis and palisading ; supplied with numerous bomb-
proofs ; and placed, at intervals of about six hundred yards,
776 CONKECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION,
on such ground as to sweep the line in front with artillery-
fire. They were connected by strong inflmtry 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 on 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 Stedman 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 tTie terrible fire which habitually took
place in this vicinity ; and being only about two hundred
•yards distant from the enemy's main line. The parapet had
settled greatly during the w^inter ; and, in fine, the work was
much exposed to sudden assault. Company K, FirsC Con-
nectiCVit 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. John 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
DESPERATE REBEL ASSAULT. 777
the parapet of Battery No. 10, First Lieut. John Odell of
New London shouted out, " Fall in to the guns, boys ! " when
a rebel shot him dead. He w^as a young otficer, 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 slia:ht." ^
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.m., 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
l^risoners. The following extracts from the rebel papers
show the effects of our artillerj'-fire. ' It was found that the
inclosed worlvs in the rear, commanding the enem^^'s main
line, could only be taken at a great sacrifice.' ' The enemy ,
massed his artillery so heavily in the neighboring forts, and
^ 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-
in"" 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. Our 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." ~
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 II. Couch of Danbury, and
Sergeant James B. McNamara of Killingworth, for coolness
and decision during the engagement. Lieut. W. H. H.
Bingham of East Haddam, commanding a detachment of
the company permanentl}^ stationed in Fort Haskell, also
merits commendation. I have received a letter from Capt.
J. M. Deane, 21)th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, written
to call attention to the gallant conduct of Private James T.
Murphy of Company L, who volunteered to s^rve a light
, gun in Fort Haskell when its officer and all but two of its
detachment were killed or wounded, and the gun was
" Narrative of Private Walter F. Sage of Berlin.
GALLAXT DEEDS OF AETILLERYMEN. 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.^ 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,
and 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.
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. AVilliam C. Beecher connnanding ; Porter, two
guns, Lieut. Richard E. Hayden commanding. Capt. Gil-
bert w^as instructed by Gen. Benham to hold all the redoubts
hi readiness to o-pen fire in case the enemy made an irrup-
3 " Two men of Company L, seeing that the guns of Battery Haskell were silent, took
sole possession of the hattery, anil eommeneed firing one of the guns. They kept up a
fire on the rebels all through the action ; firing in all one hundred and twenty-five shots.
When it is considered that it takes six men to woi'k a gun, the difficulty of this feat will
be seen. Their names are James INIurphy and William Huntington, the latter from
Hartford." — Narrative of Private W. F. iiage.
780 CONNECTICUT DURING THE BEBELLION.
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. Vaill
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 right
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
on picket had its share in the work and success of the day;
occupying the rebel pits that night, and capturing more than
their numbers in prisoners. The regiment was relieved at
midnight, and returned to camp."
The loss of the re2i;iment duringr the eno;ao^ement was five
killed and sixteen woLuided. Among the killed was Ser-
geant-Major E. Goodwin Osborn, shot through the heart;
and among the wounded were Capt. Yaill, severely, in the
thigh, and Lieut. Admatha Bates in the foot.
The Fourteenth had participated in the advance still fiir-
ther to the left. Lieut.-Col. S. A. Moore, commanding, re-
THE FOUllTgENTH 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 Corp3, to take a force of five
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-
j^loyed 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, however, 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 ^bout 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. Y/illiam Mur-
dock of Middletown, Capt. J. Frank Morgan of Middletown,
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 followinur enlisted men distinn-uished themselves, beino;
782 CONNECTICUT DURING TH^ REBELLION.
the first to cross the rim under a heavy fire; some of them
wading inwater up to their necl^s : —
Sergeant Russell Glenn, Sergeant Everett L. Dudley, Cor-
poral Hiram II. Fox, Privates Pierce Barron, Edward Hiley,
George W. Smith, Patrick Moore, James Kerns, George W.
Sanfbrd, 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
I02: breastwork.
The Tenth was destined to important service within the
next three days. On the morning of the 31st, the regiment
advanced with the brigade, and after a severe skirmish
drove the enemy within his w^orks. 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 shortl}^ turned out under arms, and ordered to the left
of the brigade, to follow the 11th Maine. During some de-
lay of that regiment, the rebels charged our outposts ; and
THE riP.ST 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 ; whiJe 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 d(irk,
at v/hich 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 knofv^n as Five Forks,
where they made a desperate stand. The First was on the
extreme riij^ht of the division. About noon, the reojiment
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 od 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, " Otficers 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
appeahng 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 dowa. 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. Tw^ice" 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 fled 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 nio'ht."
The rei>:iment 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. H. H. Murray, a
colleij-e-mate of the deceased, savs of him, " I always res^ard-
ed 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
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 6 th 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
ill rallyin'j: the men, and urging them on. I think him worthy of promotion,
both for his gallantry and other high qualities."
In the spring of 18G4, Gov. Buckingham commissioneYl
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 enemj'."
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 Ord. 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 2cl, 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 11th 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, hut was met by so destructive a lire 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 hours 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 11th 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
lOOtli 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
GALLANTr.Y OF THE TENTH AT FOET GREGG. 787
was reached without faltering. Lieiit.-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 staff 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 lor an instant, or giving back an inch once
gained. Col. Greeley being at tlie North, Lieut. -Col. E. D. S. Goodyear
— well known as from North Haven — Avas 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. Rallyinn^
again, he once more pressed forward ; but the second time he i'ell, wounded
severely by a shot through the shoulder ; and during the remainder of the
engagement he lay near the ditch, Avatching with closest interest the prog-
ress of the fight, and feeling just pride in his brave boj-s 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 tlirough his clothing. Capt. Brainard Smith of Milford
was shot through the body, and died on his way to hospital. Coming out
788 coisnsrECTicuT during the eebellion.
as a private, Capt. Smith had worked his way up to the command of a
compauy, 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 the State colors, and pressed forward in the advance. Into the ditch,
through the Avater, 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 sei-geant befoi-e 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 Avould 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 was hit with a
brick; missiles of that kind being freely used' in the latter part of the
struggle. His escape from bullets was wonderful.
" Corporal Samuel Bennett, one of the new substitutes, an Englishman,
was wounded in the thigh. He had seea 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 bi'eastplate. 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 woi-k 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. Hiekerson,
being on the skirmish-hne 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 enoi-ati-ement, 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 6tli and 2d ; and each advance had been crowned with
partial or complete success. ^yright with his 6th Corps
had pierced the rebel line near Fort Gregg, overborne
all opposition, and made his way straight across the South-
side Eailroad to the Appomattox, soutli 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 army of Johnston, which was still
facing Sherman defiantly in North Carolina.
•J-QQ CONNECTICUT DUr.ING THE EEBELLION.
"Weitzel, pressing near Riclunond 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, 186-j, 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
PJchmond.
'• Xo 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 noblv for that citv could i»;ive."
The Eleventh Connecticut was also here, under Major
Charles Warren,"* and immediately pushed forward. Major
* Charles Wnrrcn vas a native of the town of StaflFord, and joined the service as a
private in Company B, Eleventh Ive.uimcnt, in O'etobtr, UOl. lie was promoted to be
serj^'eant before leaving the State ; became tirst scr-eant in JNIarcli, 1S62 ; first licntcnant,
October, 1SG2; and captain, July, 18G3. Here-signed in December, 18C4, at the expira-
THE TEOOPS EXTER RICHMOND IN TEIUMPH. 791
Warren reported, "The brigade (1st Brigade, 3d Division,
24tli 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 cantiously
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 yeavs came in view : the national banners
were unfurled; bands struck up, '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 cit}'. After stationing guards over maga-
zines, arsenals, and other important places, the Eleventh ^vas
sent to aid in putting out the fire which the rebels had
kindled, and which was fast sweeping the city to destruc-
tion. The fire being checked, the regiment was detailed as
provost-guard for the city, w^hich duty they continue to
perform."
Chaplain DeForest wrote, " Our reception was grander
and more exultant than even Roman emperor leading back
Iws 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 full}' come. How they danced, shouted, waved their rag-
banners, shook our hands, bowed, scraped, laughed all over,
and thanked God for our coming ! Many heroes have fought
for this day, and died without the sight. The heroes of this
battle are those who broke the rebel lines yesterdaj', 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 ; havinp^ participated in every battle ami march of his resiment.
Two weeks later he was commissioned from civil life to be major, and tlKTeatk-i- led the
regiment ; being promoted to be lientenant-colonel in May, and colonel in December, 1865.
He 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 Ret»-inients 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 w^ere 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 Infimtry.
Before Lee could pass AmeHa 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 th"e
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
SURRENDER OF SWELL'S CORPS. 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 cavahy 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 ^o the First Con-
necticut."
The Gth 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 Farmville; 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 cavahy. " 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 DURING 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, 6tli, 7th, and 8th of
April, passes all experience of military anguish since the
retreat from the banks of the Beresina."^ Grant's troops
were also on diminished and irregidar rations; but they
were sustained by that which supplemented scanty food and
rest, — the flush of success, and the assurance of iinal
victory.
On the 7th, Grant demanded a surrender of the Army of
Northern Yirg-inia. Lee asked for a meetins; lookins; to
" the restoration of peace ; " but refused to surrender, and
pushed on. Grant declined to confer for diplomatic pur-
poses. The 2d and Gth Corps pursued on the north bank
of the Appon^attox ; 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 evenino; of the 8th, in advance of
Lee ; captured four trains of cars with food for the lamished
Confederates ; and flung his connnand 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
infantr3^ 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 noon, 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 —
^ Tlie Army of the Potomac, p. 614.
SUEEENDEE OF LEE. 795
THE TERMS.
Appomattox Coukt House, April 9.
Gen. R. E. Lee, CoMMA^'DING C. S. A.
la accordaace 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 all 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 Avhere they may reside.
Very respectfully
U. S. Gkant,
Lieutenant-General.
THE SURRENDER. ,
Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
April 9, 1SC5.
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
Cavahy, 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 Hubbard, 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 ; and 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 DUKING THE EEBELLION.
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 batfled 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, ^wheri 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." ^ 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.
ASSASSINATIOX OF PRESIDENT LrN'COLN. 797
of atrocity/ The blow that convulsed the country nerved
everysoldier's arm with a strange anger ; and they prepared
to leap upon the foe in front, the only accessible represen-
tative 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 arras.
National restoration was at hand ; and the great martyr
who on Good Friday had laid down his life for republican
^iberty was honored anew, the olive-wreath of peace shin-
ing like a crown above the laurel-wreath of victory.
" It is a notable coincidence that the sacrifice of tlie great martyr of liberty was on
Good Frida}-, the anniversary of the sacrifice of the Great Martyr of Christianity ; and
that Grant and Sherman received the propositions of snrrcnder 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 Way. — Two Picture? from Richmond. — Terry and Hawley in Virginia. — Presen-
tations. — i\Iustcr-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 Le^rislature.
M^^M HE foreshadowing of peace was as cordially
* ^^M li^il^tl 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. Cuckino-ham 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 throuu;h the forests of Geori>:ia.
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
r98
EATIFICATIOX OF AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION. 799
expressing gratitiide 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 P"'isher, 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, iu 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 owed to their country, to humanity, and to God."
In the folio win g:; lana-uaij-e, he urored 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. Au institution antagonistic to lil)erty,
and opposed to the first elements of Christianity ; au institution, which, in
its barbarous tendency, planned and perpetrated a cowardly, brutal, and
murderous assault upon freedom of speech, and upon fidelity to truth, ia
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 loth
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, abolish-
ing and prohibiting slavery.
The Democratic leaders promiset^ that no opposition should
be made to the passage of the resolution, provided the yea?
and na3'S 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 Flo use early in May for
speeches and eulogies upon the death of President Lincoln ;
800 CONNECTICtlT DURING TPIE EEBELLION.
and by invitation of the Assembly, Col. Henry C. Doming,
on the eighth clay of June, delivered an eloquent and im-
pressive oration upon the same subject at Allyn Hall.
But little letrislation 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 from 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 ithe 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 enli.ited was 54,882 ; and
these, reduced to the standard of three years, left the ac-
count of the State as follows : —
STATE GOVERNMENT DUEING THE WAR. gQl
equal to 195
" 1,400
" * 176
" 16
" 44,556
" 34
" say, 1,804
Three-months' men.
2,340,
Nine-months' men,
5,G02,
One-year men.
529,
Two-years' men.
25,
Three-years' men.
44,556,
Four-years' men.
26,
Not known.
1,804,
54,882 « 48,181
In giving this result, Adjutant-Gen. Morse says,^ —
" 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' me7i, 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 m three-year's' 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
Fitch of New Haven.
Roger Averill of Danbury was lieutenant-governor from
1862 to 18G5 inclusive ; and he brought to the chair of the
Senate an old-school urbanity, and a rare combination of
impartiality, dignitj^, 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 18G6.
101
802 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
the entire war the aid of his ripe calture, varied scholarship,
and zeal in the clause for which his brothers were struggling
at the front.
When the main Confederate arm'ies 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 authoritj^ of government ; while a consid-
era?ble 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 Twentj^-
ninth Connecticut under Col. Wooster, and the Thirtieth
under Col. II. C. Ward. They landed at Brazos de Santiago,
Jidy 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 L', the battalion returned to
Savannah, and on the 24th was ordered to Hilton Head,
where there was a larare mustering:: of resriments "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
m 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 Newbeine on March 14, and
steamed up the river to Kinston. Next daj^, 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 AEMY. 803
brevet commission as major-general, — a promotion recom-
mended by Sheridan for conspicuous gallantry at Cedar
Creek. On Aj^ril 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. Earl)^ 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
was 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 re2:iments 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 Piich-
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
shamefally-neglected border district of any rural community
in our Eastern States, ev^en the degraded, half-idiotic chil-
dren of incest in some of our country almshouses, seem
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
304 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
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, telUng of
their joy at the capture of the city. 'I was jus' so happy
wen I knowed 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 cZa^day, —
or a bar'l su2:ar.' ' I seed a rebel crwine down de street dat
mawnin',' said a third, with an evident appreciation of the
privileg-es 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 hiter released
brethren. Describing the advance on the New-Market Road,
one said, ' We waited for de daylight, 'cans ob de tarpeeders ;
an' den we had de rebel soldiers show us de w\ay. 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 H. 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,
GEI3^. TERRY IK COMMAND AT RICHMOND. 805
during the months of 1865, to bring peace ont 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, fidelitj^, military vigon- and
promptness, and patient, unwearied industry. Tei'ry and
Hawley combined tliDse 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 tlie 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
{hid 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 fomilies, 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. H. 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.
g06 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
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-Corps 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 hdton held in the claws of an
eagle, beneath which appear various military symbols, all ol^
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 own mind far better thnn 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 tlie 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 SWOED TO GEN. HAWLEY. 807
consideratioa ; and, in presenting to you this emblem of the profession you
have adopted, we wisli 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, —
Neav IIavex, June 6, 1865.
Hox. Morris Tyler, IMator of the City of New Ha vex.
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-oitizens 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. Ilawley, 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 7CV."
808 CONNECTICUT DURING THE REBELLION.
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 hass-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
witli leaves and flowers crossed by a sash, which runs through
eight rino-s 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
manuflictured 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 ceremon}^ Col. Bissell addressed Gen.
Hawley in behalf of 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 beir 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 me 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
ti-ue 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
808 CONNECTICUT DURING THE EEBELLION.
persons with whom iu former years I have widely differed in politics, and
?rig .?<- Br-v-t Jifaj Gen
THE TENTH EEGJMENT 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 olficei-s 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 Avell 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 forever removed the
one great obstacle left by our ancestors in the path of our prosperity and
true glory. Hereafter, all over our laud, 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 world, for the benefit of all peoples and all times, Ave
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 !
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." ^ At this time, the following
letter was signed by all the officers of the third brigade : —
- Col. Greeley's last report.
102
810 CONNECTICUT DUKING THE REBELLION.
Richmond, Va., Aug. 25, 1865.
Major.-Gen. Tekry, Commanding Department of Virginia.
Sir, — We, the officers of the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Army
Corps, have the honor to request that Rev. H. 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, we 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 whicli 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 moi-e worthy.
He is a brave, high-minded. Christian gentleman and patriot.
(Signed) Alfred II. Terry,
Major-General Commanding.
Gen. Hawley wrote of the subject of the request, " He
goes habitually, and from principle, into every light ; 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 chaplahi was not in
the line of promotion, that his rank was rather religious
than military ; so 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.
EETUEN AND MUSTER-OUT OF THE FOUKTEENTH. 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 arrano-e-
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 stirrino-
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. Eflis wrote, —
" There are some members of the regiment "whose names have figured
but little in official repo\its, Who have had much to do Avith 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 iiis efficient management of
his department. He 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 recjimeut
much of the time, to take charge of the division hospital, yet in battle he
was always at hand to attend to the wounded, lie was wounded at Get-
tysburg, and taken prisoner at Hatcher's Run, October, 1864, voluntarily,
through his zeal for our Avounded.
" Dr. Levi Jewett, assistant surgeon, was also very seriously wounded
at Reams's Station, Aug. 25, 18G4, while attending to the Avounded. A
shell exploded near him, and badly shattered the bones of his face and
Lead.
812 CONNECTICUT DUEING THE EEBELLION.
"Assistant Surgeon Charles Tonilinson 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 ....... 65
Died of disease ....... 169
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment . . 416
Missing at muster-out of regiment .... 6.
MUSTER-OUT OF THE TWENTIETH.
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 regiment
took part in the great review by the President and cabinet,
after wdiich 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, Joy 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 brio:adier-o;eneral " for distin-
guished gallantry at Chancellorsville," on recommendation
of Gen. Hooker. Lieut.-Col. P. B. Buckindiam became
colonel, and Capt. William W. Morse major, by brevet. The
regiment had mustered in 1,281 officers and men, and had
rVTENTY-FIEST, AND FIKST AJSTD THIRD BATTERIES. 813
fought under Gens. McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Meade,
Roseerans, 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. CHnton, was mustered
out of service at Manchester, opposite Richmond, on June
11; and on the 15th 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 OP THE TWENTY-FIRST.
The Twenty-first was among the fortunate regiments;
receiving its muster-out as early 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 DURING 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 Pahnyra; 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 16, 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 3d Division, 24th Army Corps.
Richmond, Va., June 17, 1865.
His Excellency William A. Buckingham, Governor of Connecticut.
Governor, — The conaection whicli has existed betweeu tliis divkioa 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 honor 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 writhiugs 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. Button,
the most accomplislied among gtintlemen and soldiers, who fell mortally
wounded in a skirmish at Port Walthall, in May, 1864, and Col. Burpee,
who was killed at Cold Harbor, in June, 1861. 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.
Tlie 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,
CiiAS. Di^VENS, Jr.,
Brigadier and Brevet Major-General Commanding.
THE EIGHTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH.
815
CASUALTIES.
Killed ia action .....
Died of wounds .....
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missinji; at date of muster-out of rcn-imeut
26
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 Martinsburg. 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 ......
Died of wounds .....
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missinnj at muster-out of regiment .
52
14
72
323
12
MUSTER-OUT OF THE SIXTEENTH.
While the Eighteenth was being -applauded at the State
House, intelligence oame that the Sixteenth was at the
depot, 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
glitdly 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 .....
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missing at muster-out of regiment .
MUSTER-OUT OF THE FIFTEENTH.
24
224
386
27
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 .....
Died of disease .....
Discharged prior to muster-out of regiment
Missinjr at muster-out of regiment .
15
143
327
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 resciment, 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 woimds ....... 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. Wilcoxsou —
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 EUas Ilowe. 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 Connccticnt Seventeenths —
" Three years aiio, amid these hite summer-blooms, and amid the bene-
dictions and with the prayers ot' loviug, throbbiug hearts, you went tbrth
to roll back the tide of armed treason. The hosts of evil had arrayed them-
selves in deadly strite to disrupt this glorious Union. Then, fresh and raAV,
you took your place in the solid, living walls, which detied its onward
sweep. In letters of blood you wrote your names at Chancellorsville. under
that gallant. Christian soldier. — the Ilavclock of this war. — Gen. Howard ;
and at Gettysburg, — the hilltop of tliis 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
Irom her peril. Well done ! Greeting of welcome we give you to-day. la
the name of these homes, where you have been Vaithfully remembered in
love and prayer ; in the name of these Christian churches, whose sabbath-
bells are pealing Ibrtli their welcome ; in the name of your brave asso-
ciates, themselves sharers of the heat and bui'dens 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 sous of the IJepublic 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 cliildren's
children."
Norwalk also gathered to welcome her heroes ; and ad-
dresses were made by Judge Butler and Gen. 0. S. Ferry.
MUSTER-OUT OF THE FIRST CA\*ALRY.
Our cavalrv had been liist in the liixht, 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 Auo". 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;^ and Second Lieut. Thomas G. Welles of Ilart-
3 IMajor-Gcns. Sheridan, Kilpatrick, Davic;:. and Kautz recommended Gen. Whitaker
cordially for an appointuiont in the ie
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 Winkeh'ied, 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 Avave^, — 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.
THK SONS OF CONNECTICUT RESIDING IN NEW YORK.
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 tlie
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 Sans of Connecticut rendered these services to
their native State in addition to doing their full sliarc of what belonged to the community
in which they resided.
Mr. Robert H. McCurdy, the honpred president of the society in New York, a native-
of Lyme, 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,
1861 ; a meeting, which, speaking so grandly the voice of the great commercial metropo-
lis, exerted an influence jwrhaps as powerful as that of any public meeting ever held oa-
the globe.
Mr. McCurdy was at that meeting appointed a member of the -ivell-known Union-
Defense Committee, and thereafter gave time and money, without stint, to the great cause.
Mr. Simeon B. Chittenden, 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 in.stiince, we quote from a letter written
I)y him to Hon. Moses F. Odell, then a member of Congress, in October, 186.3, 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 tea
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 luindred men were enlisted, the bounties paid, and recruiting further stimulated by
this prompt and liberal action.
Equally 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. Pro>]K^r M Wetniore (of what town ?), also a member of the Union-Defense-
Committee, had labored night and day in recruiting the Harris Light Cavalry, in which-
tv\o companies from Connecticut were enlisted. He learned to esteem and admire among-
others the noble face and soldierly bearing of Sergeant Edward F. Lyon, who was killed on
the cars while passing to the front, in a lirave attempt to save the lives of his fellow-soldiers.
Gen. Wetmore; learning that the body had reached New York on the way home, after
a long search, found a rude pine coflln containing the remains, in the open air, watched bv;-
105 633
334 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 filcility freely furnished.
Gen. Wetmore 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 nolile 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 H. McCurdy, Pelatiah Perit, Jonathan Sturges, Prosper M. Wetmore, David Hoadlcy,
R. M. Blatchford, S. Baldwin, I. N. Phelps, W. C. Wetmore, Henry Chauncey, F. Bron-
son, John E. Forbes, Rufus L. Lord, Samuel D. Babcock , Charles W. Elliott, Thomas
Lord, George Griswold, Henry H. Elliott, J. W. Alsop, W. E. Dodge, W. C. Oilman,
Charles Gould, Simeon B. Chittenden, Waldo Hutchins, A. H. Almy, Elias Howe, jr.,
Joseph Battell, and others among the most eminent business-ntbn 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. Wetmore ; Secretary,
Charles Gould; Treasurer, William C. Oilman ; Standinrj- Committee, Robert H. McCurdy,
Waldo Hutchins, Prosper M. Wetmore, 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 H. 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. Wetmore,
a genuine and an accomplished Son of Connecticut, the vice-president of the society,
has fui-nished 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
officei's unite in saying that be was, from the outset, the chief intellectual life and motor of
the society. Ho 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 i-espects 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 oh
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 iiriefly to this
event, and also to the organization of the society, in one of the early cha|)ters of this
Tolume, as it naturally connects itself with the history of the regiment 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 tlieir 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 ])rotect 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-
trricER
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. Wctmore. Music was furnished hy DodsAvorth'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, he 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 triumphover 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 resume 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. Bcecher, Parke 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 these 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. Wctmore.
The secretary, Mr. Charles Gould, was a native of Litchfield, and a son of the eminent
Judge Gould of that town. By his earnest andrcsokuc spirit, his administrative ability, and
his wide acquaintance, he added vigor and directness to the efforts of the society. IJe 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
f\iithful performance of his duties, won the warm regards o*" 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 ai#l 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 H. Almy, a native of Thompson.
Col. Almy, in October, ISfil, with the linanimous 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 fur months absorbed nearly his whole time.
From June to November, he received a small salary and his expenses. In November, de-
ciding to 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, ])revious to the arrival of the regiment in New York, he noticed several
dray-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 were
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 liealtli 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. Tlie 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' wortli. After remaining there
with adverse winds for two days. Col. Almy was apprised of the situation, procured
anotiiertug, 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 njar-
kets, accjuainted 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
and served immediately after the regiments arrived. The weil-filled soldiers were good-
natured and docile ; and it was seldom tliat any quarrel or difficulty of any sort occurred.
The funds for tliesc collations were cheerfully contributed by the Sons of Connecticut
in New York : the care and responsibility of providing fell upon the agent.
Whc^n the sick and wounded were brought from Roanoke Island, he aided to send them
all from New York to their homes in circiimstauces as c6mfor'able as possible; advan-
cing the amount of their transportation from his private funds, but aftei wards rc-imbursed by
the General Government. He then nunle personal ajiijlication to Secretary Stanton, and
obtained foreach of the sick and wounded two months' pay.
Through April, Mav, and Juno of 1862, he was busy night and day in receiving and
caring for the sick and wounded of all States, as they arrived f»om 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 YOEK. 837
But there. was then no well-organized hospital-system; and every man able to endure
travel was forwarded 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, a'nd 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 thc'soldier
and his earnings were safely transported and promptly and propoi'ly 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 for 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 Ansonia by Charles Durand, a
hundred and fifty dollars from Joseph Kipley 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. They applied to
him.for furlough and bounty, and appealed to him in every sort of difficulty.
Tlie daily general business of the agency was wonderful in extent and variety. The
collection of back-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 aflfliir, in consequence of his promptness and efficiency. The Sons of Con-
necticut contributed on the occasion nearly eleven hundred dollars, besides delicacies for
thetablQ. Almy telegraphed and wrote to Connecticut for turkeys and pumpkin-pics. It
is amusing to I'cad the following telegram to a grave and dignified public man: "Hon.
Benjamin Douglas, can Middletown send down five hundred pumpkin-pies on Wednesday
night?"
The pies 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 suljcct 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 1863, 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 imimrtant 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 })leasant foretastes of the 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'-
aid 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 Cliarles E. Dailey were among the most active members. An immense amount
of relief was famished to Connecticut soldiers who languislffid 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. Aiken, quartermaster-geDeral 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., tor Norwich, on the
same day that the Massachusetts Gth 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 i-umors. On Friday evening, April 19,
news reached Norwich of the bloodshed in the streets of Baltimore. Gov.
Buckiughani desired Gen. Aiken 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 effort, the travelers hired a man to carry them in a
wagou to Baltimore, persuading him by an extra pecuniary request to drive
within the limits of the city. Geu. 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 our room,
and there remained till morning. What I sa^v 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 Washingtou ; our number
having been increased by three. We might not have been so fortunate
about the passes, liad 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 halfway 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. Aiken proceeds, " The rumor iiaving 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
cei'tain hot locality, the name of which they seemed to reiterate with the
relish of a delicious foretaste.
"We arrived at Washington' at ten, p.m., on Wednesday the 24th.
839
g40 APPENDIX,
The unbroken silence of its hotels, and apparent desolation of its streets,
brouMit vividly to mind the contrasting scenes of the evening previous.
Half a dozen persons crowded ai'ound 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 &en. 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 tlie 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
me fully with the critical nature of tlie 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 natui-e 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-
coln was alone, seated in his business-room, up stairs, looking towards
Arlington Heights through a wide-open window. Agai-nst the casement
stood a very long spy-glass, or telescope, whicli he had obviously just been
using. I gave him all the information I could from what I had seen and
heard on my journey.
" He seemed depressed beyond measure as he asked slowly and with
measured emphasis, ' What h 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.
"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, 1 saw what a moment of golden opportunity
that was to the conspirators. Only a handful of regulars, a regiment of
volunteers, and Clay's band 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 moment. Foes were within, equally
bitter, jostling the friends of the government on every pavement and in
every office. Mutual confidence seemed dead, and suspici»n 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 : Tlie 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. S41
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-imbursement was
made on my return, Avith 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 northAvard with a small party thither bound. "We trav-
eled on an unfrequented route, and crossed the Pennsylvania line, south-east
of Gettysburcr, 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 Avas to me a matter of
more than ordinary satisfaction ; fori believe there has been no hour since,
Avhen messages of sympathy, encouragement, and aid from the loyal gOA--
ernor of a loyal State Avere more ti'uly needed, or more efiective 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 i-aised 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 Blassachusetts, 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 Blcditerranean, 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 $646,639.74 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 tlic property and all the rights of
the government and the citizen, as well as the flag of the countrj', 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 na?vy, 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 Deparlment 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 Jiimself. 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 : —
"Uesolved, That the Secretary of the Navy, in accepting without delay or inquiry the resignations
of officers of the navy wlio 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 liostilities against the constituted authorities of tlie nation, liaa
committed a grave error, liighly prejudicial to the discipline of the service, and injurious to the
honor and efficiency of the navy; for which he deserves the censure of this House."
Llr. 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 liegin 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
Mai-ch, the resolution of censure was passed by ninety-five yeas to sixty-two nays.^ 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, Uepublicau, in the negative.
842
CONNECTICUT IN THE NAVY. 843
fliction 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 /io."
Looking back cahiily 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 JMarcli, 1861. Besides these, there were in our navy-yards thirteen brigs,
sloops of war, and steofli frigates, with an armament of three hundred and sixty-eight guns more
" that could put to sea before the bombardment of Fort Sumter." 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 $046,639 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," while some had
been quietly recalled.
In regard to resignations : while it is alleged that none were accepted after oflScial 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."^
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, lie 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.* 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 foi-eign 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 the 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.
2 Excepting the two named in the Dawes report, ordered abroad as substitutes for vessels of
the same class on the way home.
3 IMr. Toucey to IIou. John Sherman of Ohio, 1800.
* It is a notable fact tliat Mallory of Floiida, chief of the Confederate navy, was a native of
Ridgefield 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 uaval oSicer in the
country for liis ignorance."
844
APPENDIX.
The report of the Secretary for December, 1864, — four months prior to the cbse of
hostilities, — gives tlie following general exhibit of the naval force including vessels under
construction: —
No. of
vessels.
113
52
ri
149
174
112
671
DESCRIPTION.
Screw-steamers especially constructed for naval purposes . . .
Paddle-wheel steamers especially constructed for naval purposes
Iron-clad vessels
Screw-steamers purchased, captured, &c., fitted for naval purposes
Paddle-wheel steamers " " " " " " " '
Sailing vessels of all classes
Total
No. of
No. of
guns.
tons.
1,426
169,231
. 524
51,875
275
80,596
614
60,380
921
78.702
850
69,549
4.610
510,396
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-cliariots ; 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 Oi 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 mointors.
'J"he achievements of the navy in capturing forts and cities are well known. The total
nimiber of hostile vessels captured and destroyed ^ 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 tlie 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. Hull, fifty-one years; Com. Joseph Lanman,
forty years; Com. C. R. P. Rodgers, thirty-one years; Capt. Stephen Champlln, 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, fort^y-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 ofcolonel.
The Rodgers family of New London has been most remarkable for its naval record. The
paternal grandfather was Col. Rodgers, who commanded the famous JLaryland line during the
Revolution, and was frequently mentioned, in Washing'ion's dispatches, for gallantry. His
eldest son was Com. John Rodgers, who fired the first gun 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 JIaryland Infantry. Two other
grandsons of Com. John Rodgers were Capt. Raymond Rodgers, who was fleet-captain
during Dupont's 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 Rodgers. One of tlie 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 laud and sea in defense of the
Republic.
* In the renowned fiftlit of the Kearsarge with the Alabama, our State was represented by
Ebcn M. Stoddard of Ledyard, who was acting master of tlie Kearsarge at the time of the battle.
TOWN EXPENSES FOR WAR-PURPOSES.
The followiug 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.
Expenditure of
Towns for IJoun-
Estimated Am't
Estimated Am't
TOWNS.
ties, Premiums,
Commutation,
and Support of
Families.
paid by Individ-
uals for Bounties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
paid bj' Individ-
uals ^for Commu-
'tation.
Grand List,
1801.
New Haven . .
$308,027.48
$20,000.00
$10,000
$29,681,409
Bran ford . . .
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
1G,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 . . .
4G,G99.09
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 .
10,404.34
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 . . .
8269,646.86
$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
Burliuirton
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.
Expenditure of
Tcfwns for Boun-
Estimated Am't
paid hy Individ-
uals for liounties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
Estimated Am't
TOWNS.
ties, Prrmiums,
Commutation,
and Jiupport of
Families.
paid by Individ-
uals for Commu-
tation.
Grand List,
1801.
East Windsor
$45,730.04
$3,000.00
$1,214,300
Enfield ....
66,314.00
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
16,700.00
3,316.00
2,000
609,726
Hartland . . • .
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 . . ,
34,700.00
5,225.00
1.421,333
AVindsor Locks .
15,944.98
2,630.00
612,990
1,217,966.19
163,153.98
49,020
67,626,129
TOLLAND COUNTY,
Tolland . . .
$16,800.00
• $4,400.00
$1,600
$527,969
Andover
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.
TOWX EXPENSES FOE WAR-PUr.POSES.
847
NEW-LONDON COUNTY. — Continued.
TOWNS.
Franklin .
Griswold .
Gi'oton .
Lebanon .
Ledyard
Lisbon .
Lyme .
Montville .
North Stonin:
Old Lyme.
Preston
Salem .
Sprague
Stonington
Waterford .
ton
Expenditure of
Towns for Uoun-
ties, Premiums,
Commutation,
and Support of
Families.
$9,755.00
33,254.89
79,43G.S9
24.600.00
20,711.48
12,521.00
28,017.17
27,308.14
27,980,10
10,913.36
40,805.27
15,600.00
10,411.65
61,656.00
31,285.00
730,067.65
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ-
uals for lionnties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
$900.00
3,000.00
22.000.00
14.300.00
8,325.00
600.00
5,090.00
2,630.00
5,250.00
10,325.00
9,283.12
600.00
*
00,000.00
1,250.00
192,553.12
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ-
uals for Commu-
tation.
$600
900
600
1,800
3,000
4,200
900
1,200
900
35,900
Grand List,
iS(J4.
$468,488
1,147,000
2,549,000
1,146,573
603,111
317.173
407,599
1,131,370
888,600
545,258
856,342
374,810
1,156,290
4,963,589
932,816
35,990,142
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Middletown . .
$116,777.87
$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
Cliester . . .
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
945,769
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
1.811,504
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.
TOWNS.
Estimated Am't
paid by Individ-
uals lor Commu-
tation.
Grand List,
1804.
Plainfield .
Pomfret
Putnam
Scotland .
Sterling
Thompson .
Vohmtown
Windham .
Woodstock
$22,282.85 $12,200.00
23,559.00 6,000.00
19,952.971 4,450.00
6,400.00 1,850.00
15,180.00' 246.00
16.996.00 16,000.00
10,860.00 4,500.00
30,750.00 12,600.00
53,814.91 2,244.00
$7,200
3,900
4,500
300
2,500
1,200
5,000
900
$1,630,024
1,037,774
1,172,619
392,175
375,295
1,679,754
295,958
2,164,083
1,335,753
281,750.70 75,494.00
32,460 ! 15,046,269
FAIRFIELD COUNTY.
Litchfield .
Barkhamsted
Bethlem
Brida;ewater
.$31,540.00;
26,678.00
11,697.49
5,100.001
$800.00
9,225.00
6,750.00
22,650.001
$500
5,350
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
Huntington
*
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
Yfestport .
41,595.06
1,000.00
1,800
2,406,243
AViltou . .
26,550.58
1,100.00
796,741
903.276.79
123,940.00
82,450
45,424,762
LITCHFI
ELD COUN
TY.
$1,634,480
541.210
526,060
549,765
* Not asccrtaiued.
TOWN EXPENSES FOE WAR-PUEPOSES.
849
LITCHFIELD COUNTY. — Continued.
Expenditure of
Towns lor Boun-
1 Estimated Am't
paid by Individ-
uals for Bounties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
Estimated Am't
TOWNS.
ties, Premiums,
Commutation,
and Support of
Families.
paid by Individ-
uals for Commu-
tation.
Grand List,
1864.
Canaan . . .
$14,000.00
§5,400.00
$1,750
8761,342
Colebrook .
*
3,000.00
617,216
Cornwall .
22,522.80
5.231.00
821,246
Goshen
*
fl 7,643.00
none.
914.879
Harwiuton
10,773.52
4,4,S7.82
590,141
Kent . .
20,100.00
3,750.00
643,539
Morris . .
4,137.25
5,500.00
300
407,826
New Hart fort
31,590.78
7,900.00
1,011,917
Xew Millbrd
57,790.00
8,000.00
500
2,017,306
Norfolk .
6,315.00
1,700.00
926,931
North Canaai
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
Woodbuiy
25,065.63
11,718.00
300
1,200,795
551,211.61
192,998.94
23,400
26,047,310
* Not ascertained. t
su
In notes to indi\
MMARY.
iduals from the to
wn.
COUNTIES.
Total War Ex-
penses of
Counties, |
Estimated Am't
p:iid by Individ-
uals for Bounties
to Volunteers
and Substitutes.
Estim.atcd Am't
paid by Individ-
uals for Commu-
tation.
Grand List,
1804.
New-Haven . .
8932.892.87,
6181,466.03
$33,110
661,410,083
Hartford .
1,217,966.19;
163,153.98
49,020
07,626,129
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
32,400
15,046,269
Fairfield . .
903,276.79
123,940.00
82,450
45,424,702
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.^
The town of which the name is appended is either 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, IIexry W.,
BiuGE, IIenuy W.,
Bradley, Luther P.,
Blakeslee, Erastus,
Col. and Bvt. Major-Gen.
41
Major-General ;
Bvt. Major-General ;
Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Carkington, 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 8.,
Harland, Edward,
Hawley, Joseph R.,
Hubbard, James,
Ives, Brayton,
*
JuDAH, 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. Haven.
Norwalk.
Danb'ry, 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 ;
Briga.dier-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,
McCIellan, Pope, and Wadsworth.
850
THE GENERALS OF CONNECTICUT.
851
Mansfield, Jos. K. F., Major-General ; Middletown.
Mower, Joseph A., Major-General ; New London.
Mackenzie, Ranold S., Brigadier-General (Second Artillery).
Newton,
Noble, Wm. H.,
Otis, John L.,
Perkins, Joseph G.,
PlERSON, Wm. S.,
Major-General.
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bridgeport.
Manchester.
New London.
Windsor.
Ripley, James "W., Brigadier-General.
Roberts, Benjamin S., Brigadier-General ; New Haven,
Rockwell, Alfred P., Bvt. Brigrfdier-General ; Norwich.
Ross, Samuel, Bvt. Brigadier-General (Twentieth).
Sedgwick, John,
Seyjiour, Truman,
Stedman, Griffin A.,
Steinwehr, a. Von,
Shaler, Alexander,
Terry, Alfred IL,
Tyler, Daniel,
Terry, H. D.,
Totten, Joseph G.,
Toutellotte, John E.,
Tyler, Robert O.,
Wessells, Henry AV.,
Wright, Horatio G.,
Williams, A. S.,
Whitaker, Edwd. W.,
Major-General ;
Brigadiei'-General.
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Major-General.
Major-General ;
Brigadier-General ;
Brigadier-General.
Bvt. Major-General ;
Bvt. Brigadier-General ;
Bvt. Major-General ;
Bvt. Major-General ;
Major-General ;
Bvt. Major-General.
Lt.-Col. & Bvt. Bri;j.-Gen.
Cornwall.
Hartford.
Wallingford.
New Haven.
Norwich.
New London.
Thompson.
Hartford.
Litchfield.
Orange, Clinton.
Ashford.
Whittlesey, Henry M., Bvt. Brigadier-General.
Ward, Henry C,
Bvt. Brigadier-General (Thirtieth).
The service of a majority of these has already b^en referred to at some
length, either in detached sketches, or in connection with their regiments.
ORGANIZATIONS AND CASUALTIES.
List of organizations from tliis State which have been in United-States
service during the war, showing date of entry into, and discharge from
service : —
ORGANIZATION.
DATE OF MUSTEE-IN.
DATE OF MUSTER-OUT,
TERM OF SERVICE.
1st Cavalry,
1st Squadron,
1st Heavy Artillery,
2d
1st Light Battery,
2d
3d Independent Battery,
1st Infantry,
2d "
3d "
4th "
5th "
6th "
rth "
8th "
9th "
10th »
11th "
12th "
13th "
14th "
15th "
16th "
17th "
18th "
19th "
20th "
21st "
22d "
23d "
24 th "
25th "
26th "
27th "
28th "
29th "
30th "
October 26, 1861
August 13, 1861
Mav 23, 1861
September 11, 1862
October 26, 1861
September 10, 1862
September — , 1864
April 23, 1861
May 7, 1S61
May 14, 1861
Changed to 1st
July 23, 1861
September 13, 1801
September 17, 1861
October 5, 1861
November 1, 1861
October 26, 1861
November 27, 1861
December 31, 1861
February 18, 1862
August 23, 1862
August 26, 1862
August 24, 1862
August 29, isae
August 22, 1862,
Changed to
September 8, 1862
September 5, 1862
September 20, 1862
November 14, 1862
November 18, 1862
November 11, 1862
November 10, 1862
October 22, 1862
November 15, 1862
March 8, 1864
March — , 1864
August 2, 1865,
June 23, 1865,
September 25, 1S65,
August 18, 1865,
June 11, 1865,
August 9, 1865,
June 23, 1865,
July 31, 1861,
August 7, 1861,
August 12, 1861,
Heavy Artillery
July 19, 1865,
August 21, 1865,
July 20, 1865,
December 12, 1865,
August 3, 1865,
August • 25, 1665,
December 21, 1865,
August 12, 1865,
April 25, 1866,
May 31, 1865,
June 27, 1865,
June 24, 1865,
July 19, 1865,
June 27, 1865,
2d Heavy Artillery.
June 13, 1865,
June 16, 1865,
July 7, 1863,
August 31, 1863,
September 30, 1863,
August 26. 1863,
August 27, 1863,
July 27, 1863,
August 28, 1863,
October 24, 1865,
November 7, 1865,
3 years, 9 months.
3 years, 10 months.
4 years, 4 months.
2 years, 11 months.
3 years, 8 months.
2 years, 11 months.
9 months.
3 months.
3 months.
3 months.
4 years.
3 years
3 years,
4 years
3 years
3 years
4 years,
3 years
4 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
2 years
1 year,
1 year.
11 months.
10 months.
2 months.
9 montlis.
10 months.
1 month.
8 months.
3 months.
9 months.
10 months.
10 months.
11 months.
10 months.
9 months.
9 months.
10 months.
9 months.
10 montlis.
9 months.
9 months.
9 montlis.
9 months.
8 months.
8 months.
Statement of casuaUies to the Connecticut Vokmteer force during the
war : —
KIND OF CASUALTY.
OFFICERS. MEN
Killed in action
Died from wounds
Died from disease
Missing
Honorably discharged prior to muster-out of organization
Discharged for disability
Dishonorably discharged
Cashiered
Resigned .
Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps ....
Executed
Deserted
Drowned
Taken out by civil authority
Dropped from rolls .... ....
852
97
1,094
48
663
63
3,246
21
389
385
5,451
51
4,361
51
49
9
481
16
1,488
27
2
6,281
1
35
19
7
56
ROLL OF HONOR OF THE CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEER
TROOPS.
Abbreviations. — Z>., died in the service; ft"., killed in battle^ P., died in prison; IT., died
of wounds received in battle; A., accidental deatlis. No account is taken of those returned aB
" missing " and " supposed killed."
First Reyiment In/antn/.
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 K., 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.
Caierle Jacob, J..
Bailey James L., K.
Baker Daniel B., W.
Barnes Alvin T., K.
Barre Adolplms H., K.
Bates John, A'.
Bennett John, D.
Benton (Capt.) G. S., K.
Barnard George M., D.
Billitigton Joseph, A.
Blair Joseph O., K.
Blake (Major) E. F., K.
Bordaux Eleazer, D.
Brady Oliver S., K.
Bri.
Chattield (Col.) John L., W.
Cobbe George W. D.
Cook Henry A., D.
Collett Auatole, A'.
Collett James, K.
Crusius Oscar, W.
Corey William H., A'.
Connely Patrick, D.
Davis Luther, D.
Dawley James, D.
Day John W., D.
Debouge Gustave, K.
Deary Patrick, P.
Delpt Harry, K.
Dewitt William, K.
Dorman Horace, D.
Dorman Andrew, D.
Doyle James, K.
DriscoU John F.
Dupoy Jerome, K.
Dubois Charles, W.
Eaton (Capt.) Horatio D., AT.
Freeman Daniel, D.
Frisbey Henry !)., D.
Gage Robert 13., K.
Gangloff Charles, K.
Gerrish (Capt.) Henry G., D.
Gibbons Theodore, D.
Ginder Balthaser, D.
Gilbert James H., D.
Glissman William, A'.
Gob Charles, A'.
Griswold Eugene W., AT.
Grogan Charles H., \V.
Gussman William, W.
Haller Martin, W.
Hammond ( 1 st Lt. ) C. E., W.
Hart Willis A., D.
Hayward Nahum L., D.
Hausserman Michael, D.
Henninger George, AT.
Hesse Augustus, K.
Hesserick Emil.
Hey he Paul, AT.
Hickox Edwin J., D.
Hill Charles T., D.
Hill Warren F., D.
Hills Sebury D., P.
Hoar Derbert, K.
Hodge Horace, D.
Holler Martin, W.
Hoyt Henry W., W.
Ingalls Dexter W., W.
Jones Ira D., W.
Jones Joseph, IF.
Johnson (2d Lt.) W. H., TF
Johnson TThomas, AT.
Kreitling Albert, D.
Keith Charles S., AT.
Kclterer George, P.
Kimberly Henry, K.
Kirsten Charles, W.
Lacey William S., D.
Lanergan Luke li., K.
Lawrence Joseph C, D.
Linton James, K.
Lomberti Charles, TF.
Mack Frank, D.
Malone James, A'.
Matthews Daniel, AT.
Mayer Jacob, D.
Maschmeyer Edward, D.
.Maschmeyer William, D.
Messier Charles, K.
McChinc Hugh, jr., IF.
McKenzee Patrick, D.
McKinney James, AT.
Mclnro Thomas, /-*.
Millard Theron, D.-
Miliier William, K.
Morris Theodore, D.
Morehouse William A., K.
Moses Henry, D.
O'Conner Thomas, D.
Ostrum WiUard, D.
Palmer David C, D.
Peck Robert C, IF. & P.
Peck John \V., D.
Peet George B., TF.
Perkins William W., D.
Phalen Timothy, A.
Phillips Alonzo.
Phillips Theodore, TF.
Picker Patsey, D.
Puffer Reuben S., AT.
Quinn James, D.
Ray James, TF.
Recoir John H., D.
Recoir Philip H., D.
Reed William, TF
Reeves William M., K.
Riiey Charles, D.
Ringe Henry, A'.
Robbins Ralph G., D.
Robinson Theodore T., D.
Rogers Edmond, K.
Root Caleb B., D.
Royce Charles B., K.
Sage Elisha, D.
Schmidt Gustave, TT^.
Schofield Tiieodorc C, D.
Schofield William, D.
Shultz William, D.
Seely John, D.
Shaw Joseph L., A".
Shepard David G.,Z).
Smith Oscar L., K.
Soby William, W.
Silencer Edwin W., D.
Stacey Albert, TF.
Stark Michael, A'.
Stevens (2d Lieut.) S. S., 7v.
Stinell Herman, K.
Southergill George, D.
Taylor E.B., W.
Taylor Thomas, TF.
Talmadge Fred. A., D.
Tousley Artemus, IT^
Tracy Thom is E., D.
Tschumme Conrad, jr., D.
Vaille John R., D.
Volkman Ferdinand, D.
Warner George, W.
Watermire Frederick, D.
Waters Henry W., D.
White Frank, A'.
Weeks Alphonso, D.
Williams John, D.
Wilcox (Capt.) Jay P., K.
Wind George, A.
Woodford Edgar M., D.
Woods John, K.
Wooster Joseph A. jr., TF.
Seivnth Regiment Infantnj,
Abell Jared A., K.
Ackerman Carl, K.
Ackerman William F., D.
Aldrich Judson,
Andrus George W., K.
Angelist David D., D.
Avery Henry.
Bailey Everett, AT.
Bailey L. Hobart, K.
Baldwin Henry M., D.
Banning Henry C, D.
Barnes Albert E., D.
Barnes Seth E., IF.
Bates William P., D.
Belden Marshall, K.
Bennett ICdward, K.
Benson Albert, D.
Bidwell Richard, K.
Blake George, D.
Blakeslee Ed. C, TF.
Bliss Samuel, D.
Bliss Edwin S., D.
Bosworth Hiram P., K.
Bottomly Henry A., D.
I5owen Joseph A., TF.
Bowers Theodore D., D.
Bradley George, D.
liradford Lewis, D.
Brandt Henry S., TF.
Brainard Francis, TF.
Bridgewatcr Daniel, TF.
Brinton Fred. J., D.
Brown William II., A'.
Brown William IL, D.
Bulkley Fred. O., D.
Burdic'k Albert, D.
Burdick (1st Lieut.) T., TF.
Bunnell George, D.
Button Lorenzo, K.
Burrows Georye, D.
Byxbee John T., D.
Byxbee Charles, A'.
Byxbee John, D.
Calkins Obed H., D.
Chamberlain Ezra.
Clapp Elisha, IT^.
Clark Curtiss S., K.
Clark Walter F., IF.
EOLL OF HOKOE.
855
Cogswell Stephen, K.
Coley William H., IF.
Collett Anutole, K.
Collami)re Warren, D.
Corey William H., A'.
Colrin George, D. .
Conway James, K.
Cook Jame-:, A'.
Corbin George H., K.
Corsa John P., D.
Crahtree John W., D.
Crofut William, K.
Crosbv Bvron, D.
Dabol'l Isaac F., D.
Day John W., D.
Dempscv (1st Lieut.) R.^ K.
DcWitt'WiUiam, A.
Doane Eil. E., K.
Doolittlc Lorenzo S., D.
Downci Chauncev S., D:
Dubois Charles, W.
Duncan William, D.
Dupoy Jerome, K.
Eaton Fred. G., K.
Edwa'ds George, \V.
Elderkin James, A.
English William S., K.
Felch Fred. A., AT.
Fillburn Thomas, A.
Flannigan John, W.
Fortune Pliillips, AT.
Fox Augustus A., D.
Frv Allen, D.
Jeffry Joab, D.
James Giles, IF.
Jones Josltua.
Judson Edwin, D.
Gcrbiz John, D.
Gilbert Charles, D.
G lines Henry C, P.
Gob Charles, A.
Goodell Joseph, TF.
Gore Joshua R., D.
Gray Horace, IF.
Griswold Eugene W., AT.
Guv Allen, D.
Haines William F., D.
Hall John E., D.
Harrison William H., D.
Hart Henry, IJ.
Hayne Paul, A'.
Hibbard Andrews W., K.
Hitchcock (Capt.) E. S., A'.
Hills Seabury, D.
Holmes John T., D.
Horner Julius.
Horton (2d Lieut.J T., K.
Hubbard William, D.
Hull John, D.
Hull Frederick, A'.
Hull (2dLt.) Frank, A.
Hunter William, D.
Kav William H., TF.
Keith Charles S., A.
Kevcs Darid D., A.
Kimball Charles W., D.
Kimberly Henry, A.
Lanergau Luke H., K.
Landers Michael, D.
Lewis Francis, D.
Lewis Franklin S., D.
Linton James, A.
McEwen William, A".
Mildoon John, A'.
Jlillcr James A., A.
Minor Abraham, A'.
Moore James, A'.
Nodine Elizir, A.
Nichols Andrew B., A.
Ostrum Willard, D.
Palmer Charles E., D.
Parker Henrv C, AT.
Pierce Albert W., A.
Pratt Samuel A., D.
Puffer Reuben S., K.
Quinn James, TF.
Quintal Lemuel A., A.
Reynolds John E., TT^.
RcVnolds Scth W., TF.
Riley Chester H., D. ^- P.
Ripley Charles H., K.
Robinson Theodore T., D.
Root Henry H., D.
Russell Joseph, D.
Sage Edward B., K.
Saxton George C, A.
Scoficld William, D.
Seamans Andrew, D.
Sessions .John T., D.
Simons .John T., D.
Secley Eli D., D
Shelton Daniel R., AT.
Smith Oscar L., A.'
Smith Jlorace M., D.
Soby William, TT'.
Sperry Henry X., IT^.
Spires William, D.
Star (Adjt.) Grosvenor, D.
Sterling James B., D.
Sumner Israel, P.
Taylor Andrew H., K.
Taylor William H.. A.
Talcot Horace A., A'.
Tappan Thomas, A'.
Thomas Willis C, TF.
Tifft George J., Z>.
Treat Dwight W., D.
TenceUent Charles, TT"".
Tolles Horace A., A.
LTpson Hiram, jr., TF.
Valentino Sidney, Z).
Vibert George, A.
Victory Martin R., D.
Vinton Randolph J., D.
Walker Henrv M., P.
Walker Alfred E.
Walker Albert, D.
Ward Edward A., D.
Waterman Charles F., D.
Waterman (Capt.) Jos., TF.
Waternrire Frederick, TF.
Weeks Svlvester N., D.
Wells Se'lden H., K.
Welton Theodore, K.
Westbrook Thomas, D.
Wildman Henry C, K.
Willard James S., A.
Wilson John II., A.
Wood (1st Lieut.) C. A., A.
Woodford Edgar M., D.
Wolcott Frederick W., D.
Wooster James N., K.
Wyant Lewis A., D.
Eif/klh Regiment Infantry.
Arnold Charles, D. '
Raker Albert H., D.
Baker Geor^re 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.
Bentlv John, W.
Bingham (1st Lt.) L. C.,TF.
Birch George, A.
BisscU Elihu, D.
Bond Henry, D.
Bond Charles, D.
Booth George F., K,
Bosworth Samuel P., D.
Boyle Robert, D.
Bulk ley John, I).
Burlingamc Joshua L., D.
Burrows Lorenzo, D.
Brannon Henry, TF.
Breed (1st Lieut.) C. A., D.
Brewster Charles, D.
Bronson Joseph S., D.
Brooks Albion D., TF.
Brown Dnrraine, D.
Carey Dwight, A.
Case Oliver C, A'.
Castle Morton, TF.
Castle Matthew, D.
Clieney* Henrv M., D.
Child John, TF.
Clark Albert, A'.
Clark Sylvanus M., D.
Clark Thomas C, D.
Clark William P., D.
Cockfer John, D.
Cogswell Weston, D.
Co'mstock John D., D.
Comstock Edwin J., D.
Dagle (5eorge V., A^.
Daidson James, TF.
Davis Alpheus G., D.
Dcming Ilcrbert, D.
Dixon .John A., D.
Doolittle John K., TF.
Edwards John L., D.
l->ldredge Nathaniel C, K.
Ellsworth Frederick, TF.
Elmore Harvey E., A.
Eby John, IT".
Evans Levcrett F., D.
Fanning Theodore A., W. ■
Fanning Iklward M., D.
Fanning Henry C, TF.
Ferris liilliard, D.
Ferris Robert, A.
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.
Hanfoi-d Jolin N., D.
Harris Joint, D.
Hayes Michael, D.
Hewitt Oscar W., K.
Hodge Chauncy, D.
Hollister Fitz G., K.
Hoye Thomas, D.
Hunter Joseph L., D.
Huntinc^ton Thomas D., D.
Jacklin'Ph. H., D.
Jerome Francis D., K.
Jerome Oscar L., D.
Jones Charles, A'.
Keach Henry W. L., D.
Kimball Andrew J., I>.
Knight William H., K.
Knowles John C, D.
Lacoursierc John, D.
Lake David, A'.
Laugworth Joseph C, D.
Lathrop Oliver, IF.
Lathrop (1st Asst. Surgeon)
DcWitt C, D.
Lenthard Carl F., K.
Lewis Charles E., K.
Lewis William G., A'.
Litchfield Uriah, D.
Livcrmorc Henry JL, D.
Logan George E., D.
Long William, K.
Lord Or ton L., A'.
Lyon Mclancthon S., D.
Main (1st Lieut.) E. G., D.
Main Samuel U., D.
Mann Peter, W.
Marsh George H., K.
Mason Thomas, K.
Mason William A., D.
McCall (Capt.) John, A.
Mcintosh John B., A'.
Merrill Charles E., D.
Mills John, I>.
Mitchell Diodate J., D.
Mitchell George W., A'.
MoreyJohn, W.
^Morgan George K., D.
Morgan Joseph, D.
Morse llcnrv 11., A.
Neff Henry H., A.
Newcomb Francis A., D.
Nichols Jerome, D.
Nighting John, A'.
Parkerson Jo^iah, TF.
Parkhurst Edward, D.
Patterson Charles, W.
Payne Cli-ules II., K.
Payne Fit h, D.
Payne Fn. nklin, D.
Pciton James E., D.
Pember Jared, D.
I'orkins George, D.
Peterson William H., TF.
Phelan John, K.
Phelps Ilousley F. D., K.
Phillips John, D.
Pierson Thomas B., D.
Post William, A'. «
Potter William H., D.
Pound Peter, D.
Randall Henry, A'.
Raymond Henry, D.
Rice Robert, IF.
Richards Alonzo L, K.
Richmond Willis B., A.
Riley Lawrence, A.
Roberts Henry M., D.
Roberts Andrew, D.
Robinson George W., A.
Rose Ebenczer, jr.. A'.
Rose Franklin M., A'.
Rouse Horace G., A'.
Rust Cyprian H., A.
Saunders Henry, D.
Scoville Martin, D.
Simonds John H., K.
Sexton Henry D., D.
Stewart Charles B., D.
StrickJand Henry 10., D.
Stoddard Frederick, D.
Stowe Gilbert 11., D.
Sweet William A., A.
Talmagc Elihu, D.
Taylor C. Henry, D.
Tavlor Orrin, D.
Taylor Henry II., D,
Thomas Riclimond E., K.
Thorn Reuben, D.
Tillotson Lafoyette, A.
Tompkins John, D.
Trask Frank, K.
Fuller Isaac H., /A
Tuttle John E., K.
Upton George W., D.
Wadhams Edward, K.
Wadhams Martin L., K.
Wait (2d Lieut ) M., A.
Westover Edwin E., D.
Wheeler Edwin, D.
Wheeler Lucius, A.
White Elijah, A.
Wilcox Whiting, A.
Williams John A., D.
Woods Victor, D.
Yenimons Joseph R., D.
'Ninth lieglmcnt Infantri/.
Abbot John, D.
Alaby Albert, D.
Baggs John, D.
Bowker George, D.
Barry John T., D.
Blakeslee Almon, D.
Bohan Paul, D.
Boyle Charles, D.
Broddcrick James, D.
Brown Daniel H., D.
Brown William, I).
Bouisee Newman, D.
Burgess John R., D.
Burns John, D.
Burke Richgrd, D.
Burton Charles B., D.
Bush James, D.
Cain Patrick, D.
Calkins Jes.«c L, D.
Calkin.S'Joseph L., D,
Carey James, D.
Carey William W., D.
Carlin Andrew, D.
Carney Ambrose, D.
Charbouel Paul, D.
Claifee (Sgt.-Maj.) P. T., Z).
Clark John, D.
Clark William, D.
Claxton Richard, D.
Cocn John, A.
Colbert Morris, D.
Conner Thomas, D.
Conner George O., D.
Coyne John, D.
Coylc John, I).
Coxa 11 Henry E., D.
Crowley John, Z>.
Cruise John, D.
Cunningham James, D.
Daley IJartholomew, D.
Dailcy Patrick, D.
Dikeman George S., D.
Dillon John, D.
Dimon James C, D.
Donahue James, D.
Doyle Peter, D.
Downey xNi'jholas, A.
Downey Michael, D.
Drassendoffer Henry, D.
Doyle Peter, D. ■
Dunn Thomas, D.
Eagan John, D.
Eagan AVilliam, D.
Ennes John, D.
Ennis Matthew, D.
Fagan Michael, D.
Fairchild (IstLt.) F. M., D.
Fanning- John, D.
Fenton Peter, D.
Ferris John, D.
Fibbs William, D.
Finkle Peter, D.
Fitzgerald William, D.
Flamandez Peter, D.
Frazier George, D.
Funt William, D.
Furnace Joseph, D.
Gaha:;an Josejjh, D.
Galligan Philip, D.
Galvin James, D.
Gladding Leverett, Z).
Grace William, D.
Green John, IJ.
Green John, JJ.
Green John, D.
Green Patrick, D.
Hackett Peter, D.
Hall Jessell, D.
Hallaner Lewis St. V., D.
Harrington Joseph, D.
Ilartigan John, D.
Harvey Thomas, Z>.
ROLL OF HONOR.
857
ITawloy Edward, D,
Haves Elias, D.
Ilcaly Michael, D.
Helling Frederick, D.
Henderson James, D.
Hill Henry, D.
Hillyer George, D.
Hillver James, D.
Holiidi William, D.
Horton John A., D.
Horton George W., D.
Hudson Henry, D.
Hughes Arthur, D.
Hussey Walter, D.
Irvine Chriiitian, D.
Jewess Frederick, K.
Johnson Lewis H., D.
Kain Micliael, D.
Kearney Thomas, D.
Keaveney Michael, D.
Kee_^an Edward, D.
Keenan Peter, D.
Kehoe James, D.
Kclleher Roger, D.
Kelly John, D.
Kennedey Daniel, D.
Kenncdey Josej^h, D.
Kerley John, D.
Kilgraritf Martin, D.
Lackey Luke C, D.
Lane John J., D.
Lane Patrick, D.
Larkins Patrick, D.
Lauffin Richard, D.
Lawler Jamesj A.
Lynch Thomas, D.
Lynch John, 1st, D.
J-ynch Patrick, K.
Lyon Edward, D.
McAlloon Patrick, D.
McCann William J., D.
McCarthy John, D.
McCorniick Thomas, D.
McClune James, D.
McDonald James, D.
JNIcGrath JNIichacl, D.
ilcGrath Thomas, D.
McGuire Constantine, D.
JMcFarland Peter, D.
McKenna (2d Lt.) Henry, D.
JNIcLaughiin John, D.
McLaugidin Timothy, D.
McMahcnc James, D.
McPherson John, D.
McSorley John, D.
McTagu" John, D.
Magce"j\lichael, D.
jMaher John, D.
Maher John, D.
IMahoncy I'atrick, D.
]\Lirtin John, D.
JLirlow John, D.
jNIeany John, D.
Mcldrum John, D.
Jlercier Alexander, D.
JMcredith John, D.
Minahan Thomas, D.
Molloy Michael, D.
108
Moningham James, D.
MooreMichael, D.
Morrissey Patrick, D.
Mulvey Charles, D.
Murphy Martin, D.
Murphy Jeremiah, D.
Murphy James, D.
O'Brien Thomai, D.
O'Brien James, D.
O'Berne John, D.
O'Burns Michael, D.
O'Conner Peter, D.
O'Neil M«rk, A'.
Otis Dennis, D.
Patchen Charles T., D.
Pearson Piiilip, D.
Potter Cluirles H., D.
Potter Frederick, D.
Prime Edward P., D.
Quinn Thomas, D.
Quinn Luke, D.
Reynolds Patrick, D.
Reynolds Patrick, D.
Reynolds Michael, 2d, D.
Rhatigan Edward, D.
Roberts Joim F., D.
Robinson James W. B., D.
Robertson t^eth, D.
Rolland Herman, D.
Ross Charles, D.
Rowley John, D.
Ryan James, D.
Ryan John, D.
Ryan (2) Timothy, D.
Ryan Cornelius, D.
ISanfbrd Stephen, D.
Santbrd Oliver, D.
Scully William, D.
Scott" Michael, D.
Shaughness Peter, D.
Shuenter Joseph, D.
Simpson John, D.
Slawson David A., D.
Smith John, D.
Smith John, 2d, D.
Smith Martin, D.
Smith Peter, D.
Spellesav Thomas, D.
Stafford John A., D.
Stillson David, D.
Sullivan Jeremiah, D.
Sullivan John, D.
Sullivan William, D.
Sullivan Daniel, D.
Sutter Frank, D.
Tackett James, D.
Tallmadge Thomas B., D.
Thompson Henry F., D.
Tobin James, D.
Todd Legrand, A
Tvghe Roirer, D.
Walch John, D.
Walsh Patrick, D.
Walsh Robert, .-1.
Waldron Thomas, D.
Warner Abraham A., D,
White Thomas, D.
Wells Jeremiah, D.
Weldon Patrick, D,
Woods James, D.
Woods Patrick, D.
Tenth Regiment Infantry.
Allen John, D.
AUyn Asa, D.
Atwell Benjamin, D.
Austin George C, D.
Bailey Albert A., K.
Bartholomew Pliny, D.
Bartlett Leonard, D.
Beach Elliott W., D.
Beardslev Edward C, D.
Bell George L., W.
Benedict Lewis H., D.
Black Albert, D.
Bonier Frederick W., D.
Booth Charles F., D.
Bowen James, jr., W.
Bradiiurv Thomas E., D.
BradleyWilliamH, Z).
Braiiiard Henry L., D.
Brainard Whitney S., D.
Brinton Alexander R., D.
Bromley Lyman W., D.
Bronson Jeremiah T., D.
Brooks Sherald A., K,
Brown Nelson L., W.
Brown Joseph M., D.
Brown Sherman, D.
Brower AUred L., D.
Bunnell Cyrus R., D.
Bunting Alexander R., D.
Burchard Eli, D.
Burdick Charles, D.
Burns William A., K.
Card David J., D.
Carter John, D.
Chadwick William H., D.
Clark Henrv, W.
Coifing (1st Lt.) J. C, W.
Collins Joseph," W.
Cook Samuel, D.
Cotton Samuel S., D.
Coville May;hew, D.
Crandall Horatio, D.
Cutts Charles L., D.
Day John F., K.
Davrix Patrick, D.
Dickson David, D.
Donovan John, D.
Doolitile Luther H., W.
Downes Henry A., D.
Drake (Col.) Albert W., DT
Dunn Robert, D.
Edmonds Daniel, W.
Ferris Alexander, W.
Gerald James S., D.
Gerry William T., W.
Gill George, A'.
Goff Thomas, IF.
Gorton William H., W.
Graham William N., K.
Gray Henry T., D. •
Green Anthony H., D.
Greene Edwin E., D.
Grummon Francis H., D.
858
APPENDIX.
Hamblin Philo A., D.
Hawkins Orin J., D.
Hcldinerick Oasper,^.
Henderson Alexander, D.
Hill (2d Lt.) Theron D., K.
Hindle James, K.
Hoadley Harvey S., W.
Holland James B., Z>.
Hern Michael, W.
Hoyt William, D.
Hoyt (Ca])t.) Isaac L., D.
Howe William H., D.
House Lorin, ^1.
Howman William H., D.
Hubbard John, IT.
Hubbard Silas W., D.
Hudson William G., D.
Hunter William, f>.
Huntlev Joseph W., W.
Hurlbut Ho-cr L., D.
Huxford William G., D.
Hyde Chauncey, D.
Ingraham William, W.
Jarman George, D.
Kane Jerry, L).
Kellogg Alfred, D.
King Samuel W., D.
Kilbourn John R., D.
Lane Lcman G., U.
Lathrop Simon, A'.
Lester Dwight T., W.
Lockwood William H., D.
Lombard Joscpli A., A'.
Long William, D.
Loveland John F., K.
Lounsbiiry Henry W., D.
Lyman Levi F., W.
McCarty James, D.
McDonal James, W.
McLeod William, W.
Manchester Frederick, D.
Maro Patrick, A'.
Mason John, I).
Mead(Capt.) Thos. R., Z>.
Mead Henry H., D.
Mead (Major) Daniel M., Z).
Monson Lyman P., W.
Morse Ornn H., D.
Mosher Leander, D.
Munsell William, D.
Neal James H., W.
Olmsted Osborn, D.
Oviatt Erasmus A., A'.
Owen OrvilleD., U.
•Park George B., IF.
Pease Gilson, D.
Perkins Henrv, D.
Perkins (1st. Lt.)Wm:W.,ir.
Raymond Henry i\I., D.
Reynolds Milo, A'.
Reuthsler John, D.
Ride William, A.
Rood Morton, D.
Rooncy James S., D.
Ross John, K.
Rowe Egbert, D.
Russell (Col.) Charles L., A".
Russell John E., A'.
Salter William N., D.
Sears Stephen H., D.
Sherman John T., K.
Sherwood Samuel, D.
Simms John M., W.
Skinner Jesse P., D.
Slaine Peter S., D. ■
Smith Arthur W., D.
Smith Edgar G., K.
Smith James C, K.
Sniffen William, D.
Speed John W., I).
Stillman (2d Lt.) H. M., A'.
Tavlor Henry S., D.
Taylor Samuel, W.
Thomas George D., W.
Tibbals Abraham, D.
Tinker Charles H., D.
Toinlinson Edmund B., D.
Tooniey John L., IF.
Treat Noyes A., D.
Tucker John W., D.
Tuttle Henry M., D.
Wallace John L., W.
Ward Thomas M., D.
Washburn Owen W., D.
Weaver Amos C, D.
Weeks Harvey J., D.
Wells (Capt.) Henry A., AT.
Weston Everett B., D.
Wheaton Albert F., W.
Wheeler Elbert E., D.
Wilcox Lucene, W.
Wilson Robert, D.
Wing George, A'.
Wright Frank, D.
Wright Charles M., D.
Vergason Erastus, A'.
Eleventh Regiment Infantry.
Andress David, AT.
Antonio John, IF.
Antonio Manuel, TF.
Bailev George E., A'.
Bailey Albert H., D.
Baker Henry E., D.
Barber Charles, D.
Barnstead George T., IF.
Barnum (IstLt.) S. C, IF.
Bates Theodore S., A'.
Batty Davis, A'.
Beach Benjamin J., K.
Beers Henry A., K.
Beman Charles, D.
Beman Job, IF.
Bills George, K.
Bills Prosper B., D.
Bissell Henry, W.
Blodget Edvvard A., D.
Bohr Frederick, K.
Braman Lucian, D.
Brooks John, D.
Bugbee William, IF.
Burke Edward, A',
Burtrand John, K.
Campbell Leander, K.
Cantield William H., D.
Chappell Benjamin F., D.
Chaffee Frank, K.
Clemments John, D.
Cleaveland Chauncey F., D.
Cleaveland Elisha, D.
Cogswell William F., A'.
Cole William, D.
Converse (Major) J. H., K.
Converse Rufus, K.
Coville George B., W.
Crome Gilbert R., K.
Culver Fred. D., D.
Cushman Alonzo S., K.
Daly Allick, A'.
Daniels Oscar G., D.
Davis Henry W., A'.
Dawley George W., D.
Davton Lewis, AT.
Decker Clark, A'.
Deming Edward, K.
Desons Pierre, K.
Didicr Auguste, K.
Dieth Gustar A., D.
Dodge Henry C, D.
Dolan Michael, K.
Duane Charles, K.
Dubois Alfred, K.
Eddy Charles, D.
Ermisch Otto, D.
Evans Willard, D.
Fay John, AT.
FeiT}' Amos, IF.
Fessington Clinton, IF.
Flint Alvin, K.
Ford David M., K.
Ford Henry C, D.
Formia Peter, AT.
Fosket Albert 0., D.
Frink Charles H., K.
Fullef Edward, D.
Galliger IMichael, AT.
George Thomas A., D.
Germain Achillc, AT.
Gillin John IL, K.
Gorman Edward, IF.
Graves Augustus E., D.
Green Joel, D.
Griswold (Capt.) J. D., K.
Gullock George F., D.
Ilalbfass William, D.
Hall William H., A\
llc))lin George H., K.
HillYer John, D.
Hitchcock William H., K.
Hoi lister Joseph, D.
Holt Marcus B., D.
Holwcll John C, A'.
Hopkins AVilliam M., AT.
Houghton AVilliam, K.
Humphreys Edward J., D.
Hutchins William, D.
Jackson Thomas, D.
Jone> John, D.
Johnson John, D.
Karcher Ferdinand, Z).
Kettle AVilliam S., D.
Kingsbury (Col.) H. W., AT.
Kirk Roderic, D.
Lane AVilliam, A'.
ROLL OF HONOE.
859
Lathrop John E., Z).
Lawler Thomas, K.
Lawson Ansel, D.
Lee (Capt.) Edwin R., K.
Lewis Francis J., D.
Luce Lozare, K.
JIabb Ephraim, D.
Mack Jesse, D.
Main Henry, D.
Mallorv Joseph B., K.
Mantz 'William, Z).
McAlister Ronald, K.
McCabe Peter, D.
McNeil Owen, K.
Messin James, K.
Milliken Davis, D.
Mills Hezekiah P., D.
IMitchell Charles, A'.
Morden John B., A'.
Jlorgan James, K.
Morris John, D.
Morse Charles H., K.
Mowry Elisha, D.
Mowry Elisha, jr., D.
Munroe Charles, D.
Munroe John, K.
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 U., D.
Pinot Etianne, K.
Potter William R., D.
Quinn Patrick, D.
Read Egbert 1)., D.
Read John H., A'.
Remington Thomas F., W.
Rice Samuel B., D.
Riggs George S., Z).
Rising Henry, K.
Roberts Halsey, D.
Roberts Hiram C, K.
Robertson Aai-on, D.
Rodgers Samuel C, A.
Rouse Asa W., A'.
Sackett (Capt.) Wm. H., A.
Salter Watson C, W.
Schofield Henry M., W.
Shepard George A., A^.
Sherman Daniel P., D.
Shughrue John S., D.
Slack Wm. H., W.
Smith Wm. C., D.
Smith Wm. A., D.
Smith Henry, A.
Sonderegger Jacob, D.
Souter James, A.
Southworth Henry M., D.
Spellman Charles, D.
Swanton George, A.
Standihs Charles, D.
Stevens Frank A., D,
Steimetz Charles, A.
Stiles James B., K.
Storrs Daniel C, D.
Stowe Vivant, A'.
Sullivan Michael, AT.
Tarbox Daniel I., K.
Thompson Joseph, K.
Todd Albert, A.
Tripp Samuel B., AT.
Turner Orrin C, D.
Tuttle Albert M., A.
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., IF.
Zemiz Claudius, A.
Tweljlli Rer/iinent Infantnj.
Allen James E., D.
Allen Jeremiah, D.
Allyn (2d Lt.) Stanton, D.
Arment Samuel R., D.
Arnold Curtiss S., D.
Ashley Elisha L., A".
Atkins Solon R., W.
Atwood James L., D.
Averv Alexander W., D.
Babcbck 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., A.
Benham Roland D., D.
Bentlev George, D.
Bicknell Cliarles W., K.
Bigelow Charles, D.
Birch Herman, D.
Bisscll Huius M., D.
Bolman Lemuel, D.
Bolton Emei'son O., D.
Bond Austin W., D.
Bonnev John, D.
Booth "Wilhert H., D.
Britten Henry, D.
Brookman James, D.
Brown Charles H., D.
Brundage James L., D.
Bundy George B., D.
Burton Jeremiah, D.
Bushnell John B., D.
Butler Thomas, D.
Campbell Edwin W., D.
Candee William B., K.
Carly Edward, A.
Chapman George W., D.
Church Morris S., D.
Clark Grove, D.
Clark Samuel, D.
Clark Dallas, D.
Cobberlv Edward, K.
Collins 'Charles L., W.
Cook Reuben, D.
Cornwell (IstLt.) C. W.,Z).
Congdon Edmund, W.
Couch Edwin N., A.
Cuddy John, D.
Currie John H., D.
Curtiss George W., D.
Darrow John M., A.
Davis Gilbert A., D.
Davis George D., D.
Davis Nathan, D,
Denison Chester H., D.
Donglass Charles M., D.
Dowd Frank, IF.
Dudley Alva M., D.
Dunn Martin, D.
Dyer George ]M., D.
Emmett Michael, D.
Evarts Joseph V., \V.
Farnsworth Gilbert, D.
Farren Charles C, D.
Field Osmer F., D.
Francis (1st Lt.) J. L., D.
Francis Henrv J., D.
Franklin Elfo'rd C, D.
Frecland Andrew I., D.
Freeman Horace H., D.
Flynn Michael, D.
Gardner Thomas, D.
Garner John, D.
Gavitt Lorenzo D., A,
Gilbert Svlvester, A".
GradvJohn, IF.
Gray'WillianiD., Z).
Green George, IF.
Green jNLirtin A., D.
Hale Howard F., IF.
Hall Wilson S., D.
Hammond George, D.
Hamm Daniel S., Z).
Hayden Henry, K.
Hicks Lester, D.
Hitchcock Fred. J., D.
Holden John M., D.
Hurd William B., D.
Huid John H.. />.
Ingham Frederick, D.
Ingersoll Clarence L., D.
Irish Ezra, D.
Jillson Henry, D.
Johnson Abncr II., D.
Johnson Philo B.. D.
Judson Frederick N., K.
Kidder AYarrcn, IF.
Kelley Edward, D.
Lamphcre Henry A., D.
Learv Timothy O., xi.
Lee Edward N., D.
Lester John E., Z).
Lcven worth (1st Asst. Sur-
geon) M. C, D.
Lillie Warren, D.
860
APPENDIX.
Lloyd Henry, K.
Lord Benjamin, D.
Loftus Patrick, W.
Loveland Marvin, D. *'
Loring Locke L., W.
Lucy John, D.
Macauless George, K.
McCarthy Patrick, D.
McClellan John, D.
McKnight William, D.
Mattler Abram, D.
Maynard Charles C, D.
Mathewson Joseph, D.
Miles Reuben, D.
Miner Jesse L., D.
Mitchell William E., A. ^
Moreliousc Samuel E., K.
Moffit John S., D.
Murphv John, D.
NewelfWilliam J., W.
Nixon Thomas N., D.
Nolan Thomas, D.
Northrup Corvus, D.
Parkhurst Wilfred, D.
Parsons Edward, D.
Elizur B., D.
Pierce Charles IL, D.
Penfidd Evelvn, D.
Perkins Charles L., D.
Piatt Charles S., D.
Piatt George II., D.
Porter Benedict M., D.
Pratt Gurdon, D.
Prowitt Henry M., D.
Sackett Ambrose S., D.
Seranton Dayton R.. D.
Schweikart George, D.
Seward Henry A , D.
Simmons Joseph W., D
Sinclair Eugene, A'.
Smith George E., D.
Smith John, D.
Smith John C, D.
Snow George, D.
Stebbins Benjamin, D.
Steele Charles E., A'.
Stillman Fred. W.. D.
Sullivan Charles, D.
Sullivan John P., D.
Sweet William E., A'.
Thrall Bradley, D.
Thompson Ambrose, A.
Thompson William H., D.
Toole Thomas, D.
Toy Joseph R., D.
Tracy Thomas, K.
Updyke William, D.
Vanderbilt Ilcnry,'Z).
Walker Joseph, D.
Welch (2d Asst. Surgeon)
John B., D.
Whithead Alphonso B., D.
Winsiiip Charles N., D.
Youngs George, K.
Youngs John D.
Thirteenth Regiment Infantry.
Ackley Abram E., D.
Ames Benjamin G., D.
Assaut Christian, A".
Baker William, D.
Benedict Aaron, D.
Bertz Charles, K.
Betz Edward, D.
Black David, K.
Blackman Eli B., A'.
Blakeslee Norman, D.
Blanchard William, K.
Bogue Edmund, D.
Bowen Thomas L., D.
Brady John, D.
Brown David II., D.
Burns Thomas, K.
Capen Eibridge S.,,D.
Carey Patrick, A.
Carroll Thomas, D.
Carpenter Walter G., D.
Catlin Charles, D.'
Chapel Alonzo, D.
Clark John, D.
Clarke ( 1st Lt.) Jonah F., D.
Cleaveland Charles F., D. .
Coffee Jeremiah, W.
Comstock John C, D.
Conrad Henry S., D.
Corbet Michael, W.
Cramm John, K.
Cravey Jolin, D.
Daniels John F., D.
DcWolfEdwanl,Z>.
Dobson Michael, D.
Downes George, D.
Downes George C, D.
Dooliftlc Frank H.. D.
Douglass Reuben H., D.
Enland Alexander, D.
Ferris Smith W ,D.
Ferris William I., D.
Finley Daniel B., D.
Fitzpatrick Thomas, D.
Francis Thomas A., D.
Freed John, />.
Fogertv John, K.
Fox Henry F., D.
Garcia Joseph, K.
Gay Moses, D.
Gilbert James, D.
Gilmore William, D.
Gladden Charles R., D.
Goldsmith George, D.
Gorman John, D.
Greene John, D.
Gunter Thomas L., K.
ilackette Andrew, IF.
Hassan James, Z>.
Hayward John, D.
Hopkins Ro'-well E., K.
Hotchkiss Charles, D.
Hungerford Martin B., D.
Hurley Thomas, D.
Johnson (2d Lt.) A. T., A.
Jones Benjamin, D.
Kellcher Jeremiah, D.
Kempton William D., D.
Kimberly Albert A., D.
Lane Henry L., D.
Larned Edward A., D.
Leary Patrick, D.
Le wis 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.
Rloore William H., D.
Morris Charles, D.
Mosher James D., D.
Murphey Edward, D.
Munson Charles, D.
Munson Henry B., D.
Nettleton (1st Lt.) I. F., Z).
Nickerson Edwin L., K.
Nops Benedict, D.
O'Brien John, K.
Pe.k Daniel R., D.
Pile Benjamin, D.
Roa'li John, D.
Roath Leonard G., K.
Robert-; William F., D.
Rogers Gardner B., D.
Reynolds Andrew J., D.
Reynolds William H., D.
Reynolds William H., W.
Richmond Edward S., A.
Ruscoc Hiram, D.
Ryan William, D.
Sarles Benjamin O., K.
Secellc Theodore, A.
Sellect George B., D.
Scribner William F., D.
Shardon Martin J., D.
Shea John, D.
Simmons Lewis E., D.
Skiff George C, D.
Slovcr Chester, D.
Smith James, D.
Stanley Frank E., A.
Stanley Frank W., W.
Strickland (1st Lf.) Jos., A.
Sturges Frederick L., D.
Sutliff Friend, D.
Tavlor John J., D.
Thorne John W., D.
Tomlinson Charles H., K.
Torrance James, A".
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 Bcmliardt, D.
Wick wire Franklin L., D.
Wi liams Albert G., Z>.
Williamson James, D.
Wheeler (2d Lt.) John T., A.
Whitman Elijah N., D.
ROLL OF HONOE.
861
Fourteenth Regiment Infantiy.
Abby Jolin, A'.
Allen Amorv, K.
Allyn Stephen D., W.
Allyn William R., D.
Ames Thomas M., K.
A very Oliver C, D.
Baldwin George W., W.
Bangston Charles, 1).
Banks Wesley, W.
Barker John, D.
Barrows Charles, K.
Barry Roliert, A".
Beber Charles A., A".
Beebe Charles A., K.
Beckley Birdscy, K.
Benton Kaphael W., K.
Benton Joel C, Z>.
Bidwell Lucius E., K. "
Blimm (Capt.) Jarvis E., A.
Booth Eiisha S., W.
Bond Joseph B., D.
Bonney William S., D.
Bradshaw William, W.
Brainard Thomas I., A'.
Brewer Edward II., D.
Bronson (Capt.) Isaac R., IF.
Brooks Charles S., A'.
Brcckett Edwin, W.
Brown William C, K.
Brown Henry, A.
Brown James M., A.
Buckingham E. C.
Briflet Charles F., D.
Burke John, D.
Burrows Daniel L., D.
Burrows Charles, A.
Burton Chester, A.
Burton Lewis G., W.
Butler Nathaniel, D.
Canlield(2dLt.)D.E.,A^
Carlock George, A'.
Caulkins John F., A.
Cause William M., W.
Cavanagh Francis, A.
Chadwi.k Ro'icrt A., A.
Chapman William, D.
Chamberlain Joseph A., D.
Clark Aaron A., A'.
Clement Moses G., K.
Clement. Nathaniel C, D.
Cole Alonzo E., \V.
Comes (2d Lt.) W. A., ]V.
Comstock Albert O., D.
Conncrs James P., K.
Cooper James, D.
Corhit Gorge W., W.
Corlnt Vniliam H., W.
Crampion Cornett M.,D.
Crosl)y (2d Lt.) G. H., D.
Cummings John, D.
Cunningham John, D.
Curtis Ilanford, Z).
Curtis Benjamin, D.
Daniel John, K.
Dart Charles E., W.
Davis William, D.
Delaney "Michael, D.
Dibble Alfred II., A.
Dixon George, D.
Dorman Orrin, D.
Dorcy Edward, IF.
Dudley Henry C, D.
Dwight Franklin, W.
Eno Frederick R., K.
Fairchiid Amos H., D.
Farmer Ilarman, W.
Farar David II.. D.
Field Edmund I., A'.
Field Chester C, W.
Fiske (Capt.) Samuel, D.
Flint Curtis W., D.
Frost Albert S., A'.
Fuller Benjamin H., A'.
Fuller Franklin, D.
Gibbons (Capt.) E. W., W.
Glcfssenger William, A'.
GoodeU'William W., A.
Greene John, A'.
Griswold Russell, A'.
Gurley John, jr., D.
Hamihon Charles T., IF.
Harrison Frederick, IF.
Hart Thomas, K.
Hart (2d Lieut.) E. W., D.
Hanford Charles J.
Henderson James, D.
Herring Samuel, A'.
Hill Albert M., IF.
Hine Luther R., A.
Hodges Nelson, IF.
Hollister Francis, D.
Hollister Frederick J., D.
Hubbard Lucian AV., D.
Hubbard Robert, A'.
Hull Richard L., A.
Hurlburt John J., D.
Huxham Samuel, A.
Hyatt Charles G., D.
Jackson Patrick, IF.
Jacobs William, IF.
Janot Joseph, D.,
Jerome Elias L., A.
Johnson Eiisha, D.
Johnson George W., D.
Jones Watson, IF.
Jones John, IF.
Judd Austin, D.
Julian John F., IF.
Keam Jacob, A'.
Keegan IMichael, A'.
Kcliur Henry, A'.
Kelly Thomas, A'.
Kern in Patrick, A'.
Kenyon Eugene W., D.
Kelsey Alson A., D.
Kittle Stephen D., A'.
I^ine Jo'hn L., D.
Latue Charles, D.
Laughlin Frank, A'.
LeftingwcU Ozius C, D.
Lewis Thaddcus W., K.
Lloyd Patrick, IF.
Lloyd Henry A., IF.
Lincoln David B., IF.
Lovejoy William F., K.
Madigan Michael, K.
McLaughlin James, K.
McCauley James, D.
McClusky Joseph, IF.
McAlhatten Charles, A^.
McVay James, D.
Mann Edward W., A'.
Mansfield William, K.
Marsh William D., A'.
Mastcrson 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 Joiin, A.
Mix David, D.
Morgan Henry, D.
Molian Alfred' G., D.
Moore I'rederick, D.
Morse Charles D., D.
Mott William, A'.
Myers William S., D.
Nichols Bradley, IF.
Niles Frederick W., D.
Norton Anion L., IF.
Norton William II., A.
Norton William E., K.
Norton Francis iM., A.
Norton Edward ¥., K.
Otis Josiah L. D., D.
Otis Daniel H., IF.
Osborn Robert W., D.
Orcutt Henry W., A^.
Owen Henry, IF.
Packard David, D.
Parks John W., A.
Parsons Ileman, D.
Penfield George H., D.
Percey Frank J., A'.
Perkins Erastus B., W.
Petersen Hans, D.
Phillips Jonathan W., W.
Pickett Bird,>ey, D.
Pritchard Orlan C, TF.
Post John W., D.
Puffer Joseph, A'.
Ramsdell William P., K.
Reardon Cornelius, IF.
Redficld John I)., D.
Reed Norton A., D.
Richardson Miles G., D.
Rising Roland, IF.
Root Svlvanus E., D.
Russell* Wdliam, A
Scranton Francis S., IF.
Scranton Thomas ]M., D.
Scranton Lewis AV., D.
SchultC Christoijher, D.
Scully James, K.
Searle Julius ¥., D.
Shalk (IstLt.) Fred. E., IF.
Sbaughnessy Michael, A'.
Shcpard James B., A'.
Shiier Andrew, W.
862
APPENDIX.
Simons Churlcs, W.
Simmons Daniel, W.
Slcssenv'cr Cliarlcs, IF.
Smith John H., A'.
Smith Charles H., D.
Snow Worthington, D.
Sperry Juclson E., D.
Spencer Edison W., K.
Stannard Ezra D., Z).
Stannard George E., W.
Standish Walter F., A'.
Stanley (IstLt.) T. A., W.
,Starkey Robert, D.
'Steele Sylvester W., A'.
Stevens Horace B., A'.
Tak-ott Lucius, D.
Talcott Samuel L., W.
Taylor Smith S., D.
Tiernay Michael, D.
Timmons Daniel, W.
Tiley Henry, A'.
Tucker Hiram H., D.
Tully John B., D.
Tyler Moses, D.
Wadhams ( 1 st Lt. ) H.W., K.
Wadsworth Lucius, D.
Waldo Christopher, D.
Ward Frederick S., K.
Wayner Gottfreit, D.
Webster John R., W.
Welton Frederick F., D.
Wilkie Thomas, \V.
Willard (Capt.) Sam. F., A.
Woldert Adam, D.
Wri.eht Dwioht IL, D.
Yerrington Henry P., ]V.
Fijleenth Regiment Infantrij.
Allen Charles S.,Z).'
Andrews Sidney JSI., 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 Hohert A. D.
Beecher F. K.
Bishop Austin, D.
Benjamin C. A.
Bo/len 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.
Bell wood 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 Hcifiy L., D.
Culver Henry.
Crandall Dudley W.
Davis John N., D.
Dean George.
Dolph William H., D.
Doolittle 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., A'.
Hill Russell, D.
Hitchcock Andrew B., D.
Hull James C, D.
Hursel Conrad, Band.
Howlev Edmund.
Haley Thomas, D.
Hammond Joseph, D.
Huntlev Albert.
Howe G. H.
Hull H. Ellsworth.
Ives Dclavan W., D.
Jennings Edward, D.
Johnson Edward.
Kcartning Thomiis, D.
Kilbride Mark, D.
Kcnney Alvin.
Lines James B., D.
Leestrainge Michael, D.
Lewis George H., D.
Linsley Jacob F., D.
Linslcy Samuel j\L, 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.
Robcrson William H., D.
Rogers Mason.
Redfield 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., Z).
Stone Charles E., D.
Smith Jacob A., K.
Smith (Capt.) S. S.
Smith C. R.
Sturgess Joseph A.
Story John 0., D.
Striby Emil.
Talmadge Frank P., D.
Talmadge John C, D.
Thompson Irvin B.
Treat Noyes.
Tuttle Beirs.
Thompson George W.
Thompson (Lt.) W. W.
Uhl William, .1.
Wade Charles T., Z).
Whaley Albert H.
Sixteenth Regiment Infantry.
Aborns Francis, D.
Aldritch Henry, A.
Allen George W., A'.
Allen John W., IF. _
Allen Solomon H., A.
Allyn Ralph, A'.
Barber Henry W., A.
Barber (Capt.) Fred. M., K.
Barnes Jesse O., A.
Barnes Gideon S., D.
Barnett Henry, A.
Barrows D wight, D.
Benton Charles H., D.
Bingham John F., A.
Bout Daniel, D.
Braman John P., D.
Brooks James W., IF.
Brown (Capt.) Samuel, A.
Brookman George, TF.
Burr Francis H., W.
Bushnell James W., D.
Campbell Orville, A.
Cad well Mortimer H., D.
Case Hosea E., Z).
Case Lowell M., Z).
Case Orville J., D.
Chaniberla'n Rufus, TF.
Champlin Andrew G., D.
Clanc}' Terrence, A.
Cook Asa L., IF.
Cooley Frederick P., K.
Cowan William, W.
Cullums William N., K,
CuUums George, D.
DcIMars Theodore E., K.
Duff William, K.
Drake (Capt.) John L., K.
Evans Henry D., A.
Fleminti Elliott, K.
Foster Philip H., A.
Foster Gilbert B., IF.
Gengan James, A'.
Gladding Timothy, K.
EOLL OF HONOll.
863
Grace Michael, K.
Greene Leonard A., D.
Griggs John L., D.
Grosvener Joseph A., K.
Hagar Edward, W.
Hale Nathan, D.
Hamilton H., A'.
Harris Albert S., D.
Hawlev Kobert A., W.
Hill Albert M., K.
Hines James, W.
Hines Steplien, K.
Hobbs John F., D.
Hollister Bridgman J., W.
Horton (IstLt".) William, A'
Hubbard William H., D.
Hubbard Rufus N., D.
Hunn Horace, D.
Ingram Charles AY., D.
Kent John S., K.
King Charles C., W.
Lathrop Whitney E., D.
Lay Horace, IF.
Loveland John, W.
Lyman Marcus E., D.
Macarty Thomas, K.
McGrath James, A'.
Mills Samuel C, IF.
Mix (Capt.) Edward H., A
Iklorgan Robert P., IF.
Manross (Capt.) N. J., K.
Mumsell Elijah, A'.
Newell Levi H., D.
Nichols William W., K.
North William A., A'.
Parmelee Edward A., K.
Parsons Edwin L., D.
Patrick James, D.
Pease Charles W., K.
Peckham James W., D.
Perrv James M., D.
Pinney Delos R., D.
Pockett Joseph, D.
Porter Linus A., D.
Porter William W., D.
Prior S. Franklin, A'.
Rivers Joseph, IF".
Rowley Edwin L., D.
Safford William P., D.
Scott Robert, A'.
Sharp Theodore W., D.
Shepard Miles D., D.
Smith Henry L., D.
Smith Michael, K.
Snow Nelson E., K.
Stevens diaries G., TT'^.
Sternberg Charles ]\L, D.
Stoughton Sanford, D.
Sugden AVilliam, D.
Taleoit Arthur D. N., D.
Tennant (Capt.) C. A., W.
.Thompson (1st Lt.) S. Yi.,D.
Truesdell Augustus, K.
Twiss Jason E., K.
Wardwell Emerson, TF.
"Warner Horace M., A'.
Washburn Wadsworth A., /v.
Waterman Charles IL, \V.
White John J., D.
Wilco.x Frank E., D.
Wiklman Cornelius, K.
Wiisey Julius C, K.
Wilson Joseph A., D.
Wilson Orviil M., IF.
Woodruff Samuel E., D.
Wright Joseph, I>.
Wright Francis H., D.
Wright Jason, L).
Seventeenth Regiment Infantry.
Armstrong Joseph H., D.
Avant William, D.
Arnold Lewis, IF.
Barnum Bethel S., K.
Beach NeUon, D.
lienedict Charles S., D.
Benedict William E., D.
Benson (Capt.) D.O^,Z).
Benson Frank J., IF.
Blackman Theodore, K.
Black John A., A'.
Bradley William F., A'.
Bronson August E., TF.
Brown Thomas D., D.
Brown Henry, K.
Buttery Elias, D.
Burdett Samuel J., D.
Clark William S., IF.
Comstock Samuel, 2d, TF.
Crabbe Cas>ius M., K. ,
Crofut Stephen C, K.
Cromma Archibald, D.
Cumiskev John, K.
Curtis William, D.
Dauchy William O., K.
Delavan Smith, TF.
Delavan Charles I., D.
Ferrin Charles Z., D.
Flynn James, IT".
Fowler (Lt.Col.) D., ^.
Fox Michael, "A'.
Foote Gains St. John, D.
Fry John G., D.
Glover Martin V. B., D.
Graham Thomas R., A'.
Gregory William S., K.
Gurnsey George H., TF.
Hartning William, D.
Hawkhurst William H., D.
Hayes George R., D.
Hearne James, D.
Hendr]cks George B., D.
Hickey John, D.
Hoyt John W., D.
Husted Elnathan, D.
Jackson John W., D.
Jarman Walter M., K.
Jessop Edwin B., D.
Johnson Elias, D.
Lewis Charles B., D.
Light James H., D.
Lobdell Eli, D.
Mahan Hugh, K.
McLaughlin Thomas, TF.
Metcalf John W., K.
Morgan Wilber B., D.
Moore (Capt.) James, E., A".
Morrcll Charles E., D.
Monger Joim N., D.
Olmsted Christopher S., D.
Patterson George, IF.
Peck Lemuel, L).
Pickett Edwin D., K.
Potts Jose|)h M., K.
Purdy Daniel H., IF.
Rae John W., D.
Randle Lewis, D.
Reynolds George W., W.
Richards T^dward, D.
Rogers William A., TF.
Rourke Patrick, D-
Scotield Orlando F., D.
Seymour Francis E., Z).
Small Charles S., D.
Smith Edwin R., D.
Stevens Albert, D.
Stevens William T., D.
Tavlor Richard D., W.
Walter (Lt.-Col.) Chas., K.
Warren Rufus, IT".
Waterworth James, D.
Weed Raymond, D.
Westlake William W., W.
Whitlock Joseph S., TF.
Wilcox Alva E., TF.
Wood George IL D.
Woodman Ireneus P., TF^.
Eighteenth Regiment Infantry.
Adams RusseU W., D.
Adams Joseph P., A'.
Adams William L., K.
Apley Henry, D.
Asbery George F., D.
Ashley Earl, A'.
Baldwin Charles, K.
Barber Charles A., K.
Beck with Charles H., D.
Bennett Daniel G., K.
Bogue Jabez H., A'.
Bosworth Charles A., D.
Buck Lorenzo H., D.
Bundy Asa H., D.
Brown Russell M., K.
Brady John T., K.
Burdiek Horatio, D.
Burnett Albert, K.
Burnham Oliver B., W.
Burnham James T., K.
Cahoone Jerome B., K.
Campbell William H., D.
CaiT Nathaniel S., D.
Chapman I'^lias H., D.
Chapman Seth S., D.
Chappel Alfred S., D.
Cooper Thomas D., K.
Crawford John, IT^
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., A'.
Green David, D.
Green Nathan B., D.
Hamilton William H., K.
Hayes George S., D.
Herrick JohnP.,/).^
Holmes Asher D., A'.
Howard George E., K.
Johnson Edwin F., K.
Jones Thomas F., AT.
Kinney Thomas, D.
Leonard Irish, K.
Marey Samnel L., D.^
McMahan Thomas, A'.
McCracken H. H., A\
McCracken James, A'.
MeGinnis(lstLt.)J.T., JF.
Martin Islay B., W.
Noyes Charles C, K.
Oatlcy Stephen H., A'.
Paine William H., A'.
Parsons Willard O., A'.
Pcnry John, D.
Pickett George W., K.
Porter (Capt.) Edward L., A'.
Rawson Stiles, D.
Rood Julius J., D.
Rose Hiram D., K.
Schalk John, D.
Scott John B., AT.
Sharkey Robert, K.
Sheridan Cornelius F., A'.
Simmons Thomas, A'.
Smith Wallace, A.
Snell Alfred A., D.
Spaulding (Capt.) W. L., A'.
Tabor Edwin S., D.
Thompson Nelson C, W.
Thomas Edwin, D.
Thornhill William S., W.
Town William H., D.
Tracy Alfred E., A.
Weeks James M., jr., K.
Woodmaney Albert D., A.
Wilber Daniel, A.
Young Walter, A.
Twentieth lieghnent Infantry.
Andrus Charles W., D.
Arnold Edwin, D.
Bailey James B., K.
Barker Joim W., D.
Barrett James, D.
Bell Giove 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, IF.
Chapman Owen, D.
Clooney William, D.
Cocns Michael, D.
Coleman William A., A".
Davis Charles B., D.
Danner Louis, D.
DeBank William, D.
Demay Heman, W.
Dewasa Augustine, D.
Devine Timothy, A.
Dick Charles L., D.
Dickerman Joel C, A'.
Doolittle (1st Lieut. ) E. A.,D.
Do^vns Burton, A.
Dunn James, A.
Farrell Henry, D.
Fillins George W., D.
Finegan John, A.
Ford William M., W.
Foley John, A.
Foster Melvin, D.
Francis Thomas, A".
Garner Thomas, K.
Gaston Samuel N., D.
Geer Henry S., D.
Griffiths (2dLieut.)D.N.,A'.
Guilford George S., D.
Hale Walter, W.
Hart David W., W.
Hellcnthat Philip, D.
Hendryx James W., K.
Hitchcock Augustus, D.
Hill John, D.
Hotchkiss Julius H., D.
Howd Julius B., D.
Jorfes David W., W.
Johnson Thomas, D.
Kane Henry, D.
Kclley Barney W., D.
Kelsey Gilbert I., D.
Knapp John S., D.
Lawler John, D.
Lee Erastus R. D.
Lewis Judson, D.
Lyon Charles E., D.
McLean iohx\,'D.
Moss Franklin, D.
Moss Titus, A'.
Morse Edward L., D.
Morse Francis B., D.
Mulvey Barnard, A'.
Murphy Patrick, D.
Norton Luzerne T., K.
O'Brien George, K.
Peck Allen L., D.
Perry John D., A'.
Piatt 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., IF.
Roberts Charles F., A'.
Root John S., A'.
Roswell Philo, IF.
Rowell David B., IF.
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 HcrDert E., D.
Smith Charles H., K.
Smith (Capt.) Henry C.,^.
Spencer Samuel T., D.
Steers William H., D.
Stillman Albert, A'.
Talmadge William E., D.-
Todd Henry A., D.
Upson (Capt.) Andrew, K.
Watkins Hiram B., D.
AVhitlock Frederick, D.
Whittaker William, D.
White Thomas, D.
Williams Charles, D.
Williams Frederick H., IF.
Twenty-Jirst Hegimenl In-
fantry.
Adams Edwin H., D.
Adams Daniel L., W., _ .
Andrews Charles B., W. '
Avery Charles, K.
Babcock Albert C, D.
Babcock Henry O., D.
Bennett Theodore F., AT.
Benjamin Sidney, D.
Bliss George E., D.
Brackett John M., D.
Brainard Fred. K. Z., D.
Brainard Stillman, L>.
Brightman Denison, A".
Brown Henrv D., D.
Brown Charles F., D.
Burdick Alfred L., D.
Burpee (Col.) Thomas, TF.
Carney Martin, IJ.
Carpenter Joseph AV., D.
Chollard John A., D.
Chajiman Rufus C, D.
Clark William H., D.
Clark Edwin J., D.
Clifford Michael, D.
Crosbv Gcoriie H., D.
Culliti John,' A
Dart Edwin F., D.
Davis Elias N., D.
Davis Jarries A., D.
Douglass David R., D.
Dutton( Col.) Arthur H., TF.
Edgerton Gecrge, D.
Ekiredge Aaron W., 7v.
Ecclcston Edwin F., D.
Ellsworth James B., D.
Farnham Sidney B., D.
Fitzgerald John, IF.
Flint George B., D.
Freeman Alfred J., A.
Gay Thomas W., D.
Geer John B., D.
GoffJamesB,/).^
Greene Lyman, K.
Greene Charles T., D.
Greenfield Cliarles T., D.
H'iath Amos F., K.
EOLL OF HONOR.
865
Heath J.imes A., D.
Hulsc William, D.
Hyatt James W., D.
Johnson William, W.
Jones Edwin B., D.
Lamb Warren A., D.
Landrigan Daniel, D.
Lash Gottlob, TT^.
Litchfield Elisha P., D.
IMasuire Thomas, D.
Maynard Aucjustus E., D.
Main Jesse M., D.
Main*Latham H., D.
ilcCammon James, W.
Marrow Thomas, K.
Z\IcMellen John J., D.
Metcalf Mason M., D.
ilinor Joseph H., D.
Mulligan Patrick H., A.
■ jNIusgrave Fi-ancis J., D.
Murphy Dennis, D.
Munsell Wdliam S., K.
Noble Hiram, D.
Norton John, D.
Olmsted Evelvn, D.
Owen Elijah E., D.
Parsons Henry A., D.
Pease Cyrus J., K.
Perkins Julius A., D.
Peck Dwight B., D.
Peters Hewlett, D.
Phillips Curtis, D.
Pickett William, K.
Pitcher Henry, D.
Prentice A. LeRoy, £>.
Reynolds Alfied E., A'.
Rich Bernice B., D.
Rogers Charles H., D.
Robinson James A., D.
Robinson William, D.
Robinson Calvin N., D.
Sheppion Daniel, A'.
Shaylor Justin R., D.
Sheppce Amos, D.
Stanton Joseph W., D.
Staples Charles A., D.
Starkweather Benjamin, K.
Staplins Stephen, D.
Stemm Max, D.
Sutton George C, D.
Thomas George S., D.
Thorne Henry W., A'.
Tucker Frank, D.
Watrous Timothy, D.
Wells Samuel O.", D.
West Alfred M., D.
White Rufus C, K.
Wilcox Chancy F., D.
Wilcox Leonard, D.
Williams Charles H., W.
Wilson William, D.
Wood George W., D
Wyllvs Whitins S., D.
York William R., D.
Twenty-second Regiment In-
Jantrij.
Allen David R., D.
109
Boos William, D.
Buck D. Winthrop, D.
Corbin John W., D.
Edgerton Allton L., D.
Easton Oliver, jr., D.
Ellenberger Charles, D.
Foster Elcazer B., D.
Franeis Charles J., D.
Goodwin David B., D.
Hemingway Daniel E., /).
Lathrop Benjamin F., D.
Porter Leroy S., D.
Rice Rodney H., D.
Spencer Frederick A., D.
Shepard Alonzo, D.
Turner Charles D., D.
Willard Eugene B., D.
Welch John, A.
Twenty-third Regiment In-
fantry.
Adams Charles, D.
Ahern Daniel, D.
Barnuni Frederick C, D.
Beers Hawley, D.
Bradley Daniel B., D.
Bron^on Luther N., W.
Burton Roflin S., D.
Carter ELenry, D.
Carter Ammi, D.
Cole Julius N., D.
Comstock William E.^D.
Cornell Thomas C, A'.
Crofut Charles W., D.
Curtis Frederick L., D.
Deforest George W., D.
Dexter Hcnrv L., D.
Eastford Cvrus B., D.
Edwards David S., D.
Gage Sclah, D.
Gillett David A., D.
Godfrey (Capt.) G. M., Z).
Goodale Grimes, D.
Gorham Lewis H., D.
Hamlin Almon E., D.
Hamlin William R., D.
Johnson George B., D.
Knajip Michael F., D.
Keller Adolph, A'.
Lillis John, D.
Light Charles, D.
Lockwood Charles, D.
Ma-rshall John, D.
Mead Watson M., D.
Meeker Charles S., D.
Merwin Francis B., D.
Moulthrop Abraham L., K.
Nichols Franklin W.,D.
Ould Samuel, W.
Peck (2d Lieut.) E. F., D.
Parke William W.. D.
Porter George A., D.
Porter George B., K.
Scofield William, A.
Serine Orrin, D.
Scribner Aaron 0., D.
Smith Dwight L., D.
Starr (1st Lieut.) Fred., W.
Treat Frederick W., D.
Webster Joel F., D.
Wheeler Abel M,, W.
Wood Cyrus, D.
Ti^enty -fourth Regiment In-
fintry.
Alexander Lucius P., D.
Avery Timothy A., D.
Baker Charles; D.
Barry John, K.
Barry Patrick, A.
Bray William, jr., K.
Brainard Harris A., IF.
Brown Henry B., D. ■
Bushnell Sercno H., W.
Carroll Charles, K.
Carroll John F., K.
Clark Samuel E., D.
Cottar John, D.
Cunis Julius,/).
Dibble Charles A., K. "
Dickinson Aaron B., Z),
Dunn Edward, D.
Eaton Edward, K.
Evans Hiram, D.
Galligan Philip, Z).
Gaylord Marslmll, Z).
Gillett Oscar A., D.
Goodyear Gardner F., Z).
Goodyear Lyman J., D.
Goodyear (2d Lieut.) L., Z).
Greenwood Samuel E., A.
Ives Edgar D., A.
Keene Edward, Z>.
Lyman Thomas, D.
M'ason Frederick S., D.
McCartv John, K.
McCartin Patrick, D.
Merriman Harvey, K.
Miller Amos G.,'^.
Ne'ttleton Erwin, D.
O'Donnel John, T).
Owens Patrick, Z>.
Paddock Luman, D.
Parker Elisha, D.
Peck Andrew, D.
Penfield Augustus, Z).
Pierpont Horace, D.
Piatt Newell H., B.
I'latts Samuel S., W.
Post (1st Lieut.) B. Q,.,T).
Potter Charles H., D.
Pratt Selden, D.
Rigby Charles, K.
Riley Thomas, Z).
Robinson William H., Z).
Rutty Ellsworth, Z>.
Scott Selleck, A'.
SchoU Henry, W.
Sizer Albert'M., D.
Smith Robert, A'.
Spencer Cyrus, D.
Spencer Russell, Z).
Stevens Charles D., Z).
Walters Henry, D.
Warner Wallace R., Z). *
Weimore George, Z>.
866
APPENDIX.
Wilcox Miner J., D.
Wilcox George W., D.
Wooding Hobart, D.
Wright Sereno A., D.
Twenty-fifth lirgiment 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 0., 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 Leverctt H., D.
Cook Charles S., W.
Dart Fred. W., D.
Dewey {2d Lieut ) D. P., K.
Denley George C, D.
Deming Philip, D.
Faulkner VVdiiam G., W.
Francis John M., D.
Gower Edwin J., D.
Gower Sparling J., D.
Graham Alljcrt, A'.
Grey Zebulon, A'.
Griffin Emorv M., D.
Grover Charles D., IF.
Haydcn (Capt.) S. S., A'.
Holcomb John 0., D.
Holden Jonas G., K.
HoUister Andrew, D.
House William W., jr., D.
Hunt John II., W.
Hyer Eliziir, I).
Jackson Wellington, K.
Johnson (Capt.) N. P., Z).
Jones Alonzo S., D.
Latham Webster B., D.
Lawton Samuel A., K.
Long Michael, />.
Marks Lucius F., D.
Martin John, A'.
Moore John C, D.
Newberry Horace H., D.
Oliver (2d Lieut.) W. A., IF.
Palmer Andrew, D.
Parmlee Charles M., D.
Parsons Norton T., D.
Prindie Edward D., A'.
Porter William, K.
Robinson George K., D.
Robinson George, D.
Rockwell Henry E., IF.
Rogers Chauncey, D.
uRogers William, jr., D.
Root Cyrus, D.
Skinner (Surgeon) A. B., D.
Simpson George W., D.
Talcott Wallace S., IF.
Taylor Charles, D.
Thomas Emerson B., D.
Thompson Albert F., D.
Thrall Jason, D.
Ticknor Frederick W„ D.
TuUer Leroy, D.
Twinintr Charles E., IF.
Tuttle William IL, D.
Upson Charles, D.
Wallace Erskine, IF.
Warner Hiram L., D.
Ward Elijah, D.
Webster Linus E., IF.
Wheeler James E., D.
Willis Madison C, D.
Wilson Archibald, A'.
Woodruff Alson T., D.
Wright James W., D.
Wright Henry D., A'
Twenty-sixth Regiment In-
fantry.
Aver}^ Courtland C. D.
Bailey Edwin W., IF.
Bailey Henry Cit, D.
Bailey Pruscius, D.
Barber John, D.
Barker Joseph R., K.
Barn.es Amos D., D.
Beckwitii Charles J., D.
Beebe Samuel P., D.
Bcrger Leonhard, D.
Bentlcy Adam C, D.
Bogue" David G., D.
Brooks Henry, W.
Bromley Miles, D.
Brooks Augustus 0., D.
Brooks Hen IV, IF.
Brown William J., IF.
Brown Andrew H., IF.
Burlingame Albert J., D.
Bntton^Edward, )F.
Chapcll Horace L., IF.
Chapell George H., IF
Chapell John O., K.
Chapman Andrew M., D.
Chapman William E., W.
Child Chester R., D.
Cburch William II., D.
Church William W., D. ■
Christie Edwin L., D.
Clark Ebenezer J., D.
Coonev James, A'. ■*
Crandall Charles P., IF.
Daniels John C, D.
Dugan James, D.
Edgerton George F., D.
Edwards Horatio N., D.
Ellis Rodman, D.
Fellows William C, D.
Ferrister Dennis, IF.
Flike Joseph, A'.
France George, D.
Franklin Allen H., D.
Frink Thomas H., D.
Gard Frank W., D.
Geer Cyrus M., IF.
Gray George S., Z>.
Gray Montgomery, D.
Green Elisha N., D.
Griffiths Jared, D.
Haire William H., D.
Harding Thomas R., W.
Henrick Philip, A'.
Hobson Wolcott, IF.
Holmes Daniel, W.
Holmes George R., D.
Jacobs (2d Lieut.) H.t\, W.
Johnson James W., D.
Johnson Stephen T., D.
Kenyon (1st Lt.) M. R., D;
Keyes Edwin R., IF.
Kohl Joseph, IF.
Latham William P., IF.
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., D.
Main Nathaniel, D.
Main David W., D.
Main William A., D.
Manace Thomas, D.
Manning (2d Lt.) E. P.,Z).
Martin David A., D.
Matthews John H., D.
Maynard John, D.
Maynai-d Appleton J., D.
Maynard Joseph S., D.
Miller George, D.
Miner Charles H., W.
Miner Charles H., D.
Miirrav William, D.
M vers "E lias E., Z>.
Niles John A., IF.
Nve John, K.
Osborn William B., TF.
Palmer Noyes W., D.
Parkenson James, IF.
Phillips John, D.
Phillips Norman A., IF.
Prentice John R., D.
Randall (Capt.) Jedediah, W.
Rathburn Elisha K., D.
Rowland Alonzo W., IF.
Hoath Daniel H., D.
Robbins Henry, D.
Ruckert John, D.
Seignions John L., IF. •
Shirley Thomas H., D.
Sheffield Nathan S., A'.
Sherman William J., IF.
Slater Rudolph, K.
Smith Albert, IF.
Smith Henry L., D.
Snow Lucius J., D.
Stanton (Capt.) John S., K.
Sterrv Phineas B., IF.
Tabrecht Thomas, D.
Thompson James F., K.
Tillottson Joseph A., A'.
EOLL OF HONOR.
867
Tinker James, D.
Tooker William N., D.
Wai'ner Ulysses S., W.
Watrous William H., D.
Weemcs Thacldeus M., W.
Whipple Austin, D.
Willey Charles W., K.
Winchester John B., K.
Wood Nathaniel M., D.
Young Albert F., D.
Twenty-seventh Regiment In-
fantry. _^
Ailing Frank E., ~K.
Ailing Charles L., D.
Jialdvvin George C., D.
Barrett Thomas E., A'.
Beecher Nelson N., D.
Bennett Joseph, W.
Bomherdt William F., D.
Bodwell William, W.
Brown George, A'.
Burke William, K.
Cabanis Albert, K.
Castle Andrew B., K.
Chapman Jcded, jr., K.
Clark Samuel B., A'.
Clark John G., D.
Clinton James G., K.
Cobb Benjamin H., D.
Confrey Michael, K.
Condon Patrick, W.
Cornwall Charles E., K.
Dolph Edward B.,Z).
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, K.
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.
Hilliard Henry B., D.
Hull Joseph, D.
Johnson Frank A., D.
Johnson Josiah, W.
Judson Marcus 0., K.
Judson George J., K.
Keller Gilbert, K.
Lounsbury John W., D.
Marks Treat A., D.
Merwin (Lt.-Col.) H. C.,A'.
Mimmack Geortre H., K.
Mit.'hell John, W.
Phile William M., D.
Plumb Sidney H., D.
Rawson John, K.
Renter William, K.
Robinsoo John S., D.
Russell Henry D., W.
Schlieden Jacob, D.
Seliuerzer (Capt.) B. E., A'.
Scott William O., K.
Shelley Rufus S., W.
Smith Hezekiah P., D.
Sperry Gany B., A'.
Tayldr (Capt.) A. C, W.
Thomas Corydon N., A'.
Thompson Joseph B., D.
Thompson Edward, K.
Thompson Sidney R., W.
Tucker Lewis M., D.
Welton Harvey S., D.
Wilford George G., W.
Wilson William E., K.
Twenty-eighth Regiment In-
fantry.
Barber Samuel C, D.
Bai-den George, D.
Banks Stephen, D.
Bemus Charles F., K.
Beers Georue, D,
Bissell William E., D.
Blake OrviUe 0., D.
Bouton Spencer, D.
Brazie 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 H., D.
Dayton Walter B., D.
Disbron Richmond, D.
Dowd Thomas F., W.
Durand {1st Lieut.) C, A'.
Duvall Daniel W., W.
Feriis Jay, D.
Fillow Henry B., D.
Ford Aaron N., D.
Gregory Charles B., D.
Haggerty Michael, W.
Hanford Benjamin F., D.
Hartson George W., IF.
Hoag (Capt.y David D., A'.
Holiister Lewis, D.
Hoyt Andrew, D,
Hoyt John E., D.
Hubbard Mvron N., D.
Hungerlbrd'(2d Lt.) L., D.
Hungertbrd Oliver P., D.
Kenney Elmore C, D.
Kenney Noxon E., D.
Kiley Eugene, K.
Lamson William, D.
Leeds (Capt.) F. R., Z).
Lockwood Andrew J., D.
Lockwood Henry B., D.
Lyon ( Surgeon j R. P., D.
McArthur R. A., W.
Madara Charles, D.
Marsh Decatur D., D.
Mead Hibbard, D.
Mills William H., 2d, D.
MoUet Thomas W., D.
Nott Egbert F., K.
Ormsbee John E., D^
Partlow Richard, D.
Piatt Gabriel W., D.
Riley Eugene, A'.
Rosborough Charles A,, IF.
Scofield Lewis B., D.
Searles George R., D.
Shaw Ovid P., K.
Sherwood Nathan, D.
Smith Talcut, IF.
Totton William PL, D.
Turner Cornelius, D.
Vail James, K.
Walton William H., D.
Warden Jason, A'.
Washburn Charles E., D.
Watson Cassius, D.
Waterbury Andrew C, D.
Waterburv Stephen R., D.
Webb William O., D.
Wellcr John L., D.
Weliman Joseph, D.
Wellstood John G., jr., D.
Wheeler Mai-k H., K.
Wilmot George W., K.
Woodin Charles E., IF.
Wright Columbus C, D.
Youngs WiUiam H., 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 Joiin R., D.
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, D.
McCoy George H., D.
Mclntyre Gurnish, D.
Maticer Benjamin, D.
Meade William, D.
Montgomery James H., Z).,
868
APPENDIX.
Murray John F., D.
Nelson Theodore, D.
Odell William M., D.
Ostis Raymond, D.
Price John, D.
Richards Samuel, D.
liogers 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 LaFayctte, D.
Vance Thomas, D.
Watson Horace, D.
Williams Moses, D.
Williams George W., D.
Thirtieth Rerjiment Infantry
(colored).
Baker William, D.
Berdan Spencer, D.
Cunningham Alexander, D.
Daniels Josiah II., D.
Gibson James, D.
Hannibal William, D.
Hawkins Allen, D.
Johnson Frank, Z>.
Kanaka Friday, D.
Marshall Andrew, D.
Parker Levi, D.
Sherman Thomas, D.
Wilson Isaac, •/).
Thirty-first Regiment Infan-
try [colored).
Dom Samuel, D.
Smith George, D,
Thomas John, D.
Walker John, D.
Drafted ynen 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.)
AUyn Henry W., W.
Bailey Cornelius H., A.
Batchelder George A., D.
Bishop Wallace A., D. '
Burwell 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 George A., D.
Patterson Sillman P., D.
Pendleton Damon S., D.
Riddock Thomas W., K.
Session Thomas, K.
Snell Charles D., D.
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.
Bngbee Sylvester C, K.
Burke John, D.
Burbank William L., D.
BiM'lingame Harris, Z>.
Carr Andrew C, D.
Carver Michael, K.
Chaffee Euirene A., D.
Crandall Robert B., D.
Falon George, K.
Flannagan Michael, K.
Fox Albert M., K.
Hiller Frederick J., K.
nine Charles H., D.
Holcomb Lucius E., D.
Jameson (Q. M. Sergt.) J.
S. died in Hospital at An-
derson ville.
Johnson Richard, D.
Lecrienier Giles P., K.
Morgan John, D.
Nilcs (Capt.) Albert II., D.
Peters John A., D.
Shields John T., D.
Sterling Theodore, D.
Thatcher Stephen G., D.
Tilletts George W., D.
Towner Terrencft, D.
Tompkins Enos, A.
Tra-ansee William P., D.
Warner (Capt.) A. G., A'.
Whipple Samuel S., 2v.
Williams (1st Lt.) Charles
P., jr., D.
Winchester Daniel B., A.
First Light Battery C. V.
Bullard Henry B., D.
Cook Fanfield, D.
Gillette Nathan, D.
Goodale George A., D.
Graham William L., D.
Havs James, D.
Hull Joseph H., D.
Metcalf (1st Lieut.) G., W.
McLean Hector, D.
Moore William E., D.
Norton Jonathan G., D.
Pettibone Fred. K., A., D.
Roberts Edmund JM. 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 Anson 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 llegiment
Infantry.)
Ackerbey James B., D.
Alvord Edwin B., I).
Anderson William H., D.
Atherington Edgar, D.
Austin Angell A., D.
Avery Francis B., D.
Barrett G orge, 2d, D.
Bassett John^M., Z).
Beckwith Henry M., D.
Beel)c Gilbert, jr., D.
Bingham Eliplialet N., D.
Blakeslee George L., D.
Bowen John P., D.
Brandt August, D.
Bushnell Frederick, D.
Clark Charles, D.
Clark Henry W., D.
Comstock Charles F., A.
DeForrest Daniel B., D.
Diggen James, D.
Donahue James, D.
Dorman Fernando, D.
Ellsworth Havilah I., D.
Farrell Loren J., D.
Gardiner Dwight, D.
Glamey Samuel C., D.
Grant Frederick L., D.
Griffin Clement, D.
Griswold Sidney, D.
Goodyear Waldstein, W.
ilarvey Robert F., D.
Holders Charles H.. 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.
McNeillc Edward, A.
Malone John H. S., D.
Mathes Henry, K.
Minor James, D.
Morand Patrick, D.'
Munroe Wifliam H.,' D.
Munson Reers W., D.
EOLL OF HONOK.
869
Murphy William H., D.
Nettlcman Rolan A., D.
Noble William D., D.
O'Conner Patrick, D.
Osborn Frederick A., D.
Owen Leverctte B., D.
Parmlee George, D.
Payne George E., D.
Perkins Thomas D., D.
Pendleton George W., D,
Porter James M., D.
Post Ezekiel L., D.
Potter William R., D. ^
Qninlan William H., K.
Robertson Thomas, D.
Rogers Thomas J., D.
Roiers Leverctt M., D.
RoUcston William N., K.
Ryder John Q., D.
Ryan Samuel S., D.
Searlc Henry jM , 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 11 , D.
Stevens Henry S., D.
Stowe Luke, D.
Sweetland Julius, D.
Taylor Charles, D.
Trowbridge James A., D.
Turner James E,, D.
Warner Azariab, D.
Webb James W., D.
Wliiting John O., D.
Wilson George A., D.
Second Regiment Ai-tiUery
C. V.
Adams Charles, jr., W.
Andrus Franklin, K.
Baldwin Isaac, K.
Barber Norm an B., D.
15arnes Th.codore A., K.
Barrett Augustus E., Z).
Beach George L., W.
Beckwith Albert, D.
Benedict Harlan D., D.
Boughton Ezra B., K.
Bradley John H., D.
Bradley Ira S., D.
Bragg Robert W., A".
Brasliing I'red. W., K.
Bristol Henry B., A'.
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.
Coe Joseph E., D.
Cole Philo L., D.
Colby Henry, D.
Colt Williaiii H., A'
Comstock George, K.
Cook Moses, jr., D.
Cone Giles A., D.
Comins Alfred, K.
Dains William H., D.
Daniels Frederick W., K.
Demuth Jacob, W.
Downs Lewis, A'.
Egsrleston Horatio d , D.
Elwell Timothy, D.
Evans Orlando D.. D.
Evarts Jared P., K.
Everett George, K.
Fallen Stephen, K.
Ferris Charles i)., D.
Ferris Mvron, K.
Feron Plulo A., K.
Ford Harvey, D.
Foster Thomas B., D.
Fox ^Valter M., A'.
Fox Harvey H., D.
Galpin Almond D., K.
Gillett Chester, D.
Gibbs Samuel E., K. ,
Gil>bs Birdsey, A'.
Glover Wesley F., D.
Griffith Edward, K.
Guernsey Charles E., W.
Hall Charles D., D.
Hall Jolm E., K.
Hard Henry F., D.
Harriniiton George W., D.
Hart Willard, K.
Hempsted (2d Lt,) G.B., D.
Henderson William G., D.
Herald William, D.
Hickey Edmund, K.
Hitchcock Oliver, K.
Hinraan Charles C, D.
Holt George H., D.
Iloyt George A., jr., D.
Hubbard William R., D,
Hubbard Franklin W., D.
Hubbell Mvron, D.
Hull Alonzo J., K.
Hurlburt William S., D.
Hurlburt George W., D.
Huxley Matthew H., D.
Hyatt Henry H., K.
Idc Leander, />.
Iffland John, K.
Jackson Charles W., K.
Jackson Andrew, K.
Johnson Jerome, D.
Johnson William W., D.
Jones Albert A., A'.
Jome Alfred, W.
Kaine Patrick, K.
Kane Friend F., K.
Iveegan Patrick, K.
Keliey William, A'.
Kellogg Arthur G., D.
Kellogg (CoDElisha h.,K.
Lacy David, A'.
Lake David D., K.
Lapham John, D.
Leach William B., W.
Lewis EdL'ar B., D.
Lord Simeon W., D.
Lownsbury Banks, D.
Lyman Daniel E., D.
Lynch Patrick, A".
Mann Thomas, IF.
Mansiie'd X-rman, IF.
Martin John, A".
Martin John, A'.
Martin Walter, K.
Mattoon llii-am, W.
McBirney George H., K.
Meeker Benjamin, AT.
Merwin Edward R., D.
Miller Henry W., K.
Miner Orson IM., K.
Miner Henry M., D.
Mooney James, K.
INIorris Ezra B.. A'.
Morse Apollos C, W.
Murphy Joiin, A'.
Xewl)urn Nelbert P., D.
North Pascal P., D.
NorviUe Wil iam IL, D.
Ostrander Adam, K.
Ostrander James, jr., D.
Ostrander Peter, D.
Painter Frederick K. D., K.
Palmer Lucius C, IF.
Parks Joseph P., K.
Parmalee Willard H., K.
Parmalee Watson, D.
Payne Joseph B., K.
Pease Harvey, W.
Perkins Rue! IL, K.
Preston Jertmie, Z>.
Pierce Georee, K.
Pollard John, W.
Polly James C, D.
Potter George W., W.
Reed Ciiarles, A'.
Rexford Henry A„ A'.
Richardson William W., D.
Riley Peter, D.
Robinson William T., D.
Rouse Lucicn G., D.
Ryan Patrick, K.
Ryan Lant, K.
Sanford Andrew IL, D.
Segur Charles H., K.
Scott Elias P., A^
Scull Robert, A'.
Skiff George A., K.
Sidney James, D.
Smith Lyman J., jr., K.
Sothergiil Robert, A'.
Sparks^ Walter C, A'.
Stanley Clutrles H., K.
Starks"Darwin S., D.
Stevans Franklin B., K.
Stewart John H., D.
Sterry Myron R., K.
Stoll'John B., A'.
Stone Merrietti H., D.
St. John Lewis, D.
870
APPENDIX.
Straight Henry C, K.
Tatro George A., K
Teeter John M., K.
Tliomas Charles L., D.
Thomas Horatio S., D.
Thomas John, D.
Thompson Richard S., D.
Thorp David J., K.
Tilford Homer F., K.
Tolles Burnitt H., D.
Volusen Caralf, D.
Wadham Uri, D.
Wadhams (Capt.) L., W.
Wadsworth Josiah J., D.
Warner John, K.
Warner William C, D.
Watson William S., Z).
Watt Robert, K.
Webster Frederick B., D,
White John S., D.
White John II., D.
Wheeler Curtiss, W.
Whiteman Monroe, K.
Wilson William S., D.
Winship Julius, D.
Wooden Amos, D.
Woodford Julius, D.
OUR MARTYRS AT ANDERSON VILLE.
For the only complete roll of the martyrs who perished at Andersonville, the nation is
indebted to private Dorence Atwater of Plymouth, Conn. Younp 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 otfice, 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 ilarch, 1865. He alleges that he sold to Col.
Breck of the War Department, for three hundred dollars, the privilege of copving 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 Sliss Barton, published the roll for the benefit of
surviving friends. The following are the names of the martyrs from Connecticut : —
[All persons numbered below
12,.367 died in 1864 ; above
that number, in 1865.]
^'o- "f X.ime.
grave.
2.380 Anderson, A.
3461 Batchelder, Benj.
3634 Baty, John
730G Brunkissell, H.
2833 Brennon, M.
3224 Burns, John
10414 Blumley, E.
545 Biselow, William
11965 Ball, H. A.
12089 Brookmeyer, T. W.
13152 Burke, H.
12209 Bone, A.
10682 Burnham, F.
10690 Barlow, 0. L.
10876 Bennett, N.
5806 Brown, C. H.
5919 Boyce, William
6083 Bishop, B. H.
6184 Bushnell, William
7763 Bailey, F.
2054 Brewer, G. E.
5596 Bm-ns, B.
5632 Balcomb
5754 Beers, James C.
1636 Birdsell, D.
4296 Blakeslee, H.
3900 Bishop, A.
1493 Bessanon, Peter
2720 Babcock, E.
2818 Baldwin, Thomas
2256 Bosworth, A. M. D.
5132 Boucin, John
5152 Brooks, William D.
5308 Bower, John
.5452 Bently, F.
5464 Bently, James
4830 Blackman, A.
7742 Banning, J. F.
No. of „
grave. ^«™e.
8018 Ballentine, Eobert
2408 Bassett, J. B.
12540 Bohine, C.
12620 Bemis, Charles
3707 Chapin, J. L.
3949 Cottrell, P.
3941- Clarkson
4367 Culler, M.
4449 Connor, D.
4848 Carrier, D. B.
6060 Cook, W. H.
6153 Clark, H. H.
6846 Clark, W.
5799 Champlain, H.
336 Cane, John
620 Christian, A. M.
775 Crawford, James
7316 Chapman, M.
7348 Cleary, P.
7385 Campbell, Robert
7418 Culler, M.
7685 Carver, John G.
7780 Cain. Thomas,
9084 Crosslev, B.
10272 Col tier," W.
11175 Callahan, J.
11361 Candee, D. M.
25 Dowd, F.
7325 Davis, W.
2813 Davis, W.
3614 Damery, John
7597 Diebenthal, H.
8568 Donoway, J.
8769 Dunton,W. H.
5446 Dugan, Charles
11339 Dean, R.
11481 Demmings, G. A.
11889 Downer, S.
11961 Demming, B. J.
3482 Edmonds, A.
4437 Easterly, Thomas
Xo. of
grave.
4558
7346
7603
8968
11608
12442
186
1277
2612
4444
4465
5123
^82
5913
5556
8028
9089
10255
12188
3028
4096
4974
4015
5173
7057
7.337
7592
7646
9423
10300
10396
49
2336
3195
3448
3559
1350
3053
5029
5162
5352
871
Same.
Earnest, H. C.
Ensworth, John
Edwards, 0. J.
Evans, N. L.
Emmett, W.
Eaton, W.
Fluit, C. W.
Francell, Otto
Fry, S.
Fibbles, H.
Fisher, H.
Florence, J. J.
Fuller, PI. S.
Frisbie, Levi
Fogg. C.
Feely, M.
Filby, A.
Frederick, John
Fagan, P. D.
Gordon, John
Gray, Pat
Grammon, James
Gullerman, J.
Gilmore, J.
Gallagher, P.
Gott, G.
Goodrich, J. W.
Graigg, W.
Guina^ H. M.
Grady, M.
Gladstone, William
Holt, Thomas
Hughes, Edward
Hitchcock, Wm. A.
Hall, William G.
Holcomb, D.
Hilenthal', James
Haskins, James
Hollister, A.
Hally, Thomas
Hanson, F. A.
872
APPENDIX.
No. of Kame.
^°- l^ Name.
No. of
grave.
grave.
grave.
6695 Hodges, George
6426 Messey, M.
2405
4937 Harwood, G.
6451 McGee, Thomas
2474
0964 Hovt, E. S.
6570 JMcDavid, James
3010
7012 Hull, M.
6800 Meal, John
3026
7380 Holcomb, A. A.
6902 Mape, George
3041
7642 Halv, W.
6240- Marshall, L.
3522
7757 Hubbard, H. D.
7547 Mcore, A. P.
3.598
8148 Hubbard, B.
7852 Miller, F. D.
4212
8413 Haywood, E.
8150 Modger, A.
4316
SO 13 Heath, J.
8446 Matthews, S. J.
4555
9129 Hall, B.
8501 Meyers, L.
4722
9369 Hearr, W.
9170 Mcrts C.
4892
9981 Hurley, R. A.
9321 Milor, W.
5385
12086 Hibbard, A.
10695 M"Creieth, A.
5563
12117 Hancock, W.
10914 UcKcon, J.
5712
12163 Hudson, Charles
11 587 Murphv, W.
5725
9340 Islay, H.
11533 McDowell, J.
6734
737 Jamieson, Charles
12134 Montjoy, T.
7070
5221 Johnson, John
5044 Nichdls, C.
7975
7083 Johnson, G. W.
6222 Northiop, John
8038
7365 Jamison, John S.
7331 North, S. S.
8235
7570 Jones, John J.
10895 Nichols, M.
9-04
7961 Jones, James E.
4565 Orton, H. C.
9435
8502 Johnson, F.
7511 Olena, R.
9468
11970 Johnson, C. S.
8276 Orr, A.
9987
12340 Johnson, W.
1960 Pcndelton, W.
101-8
1-590 Kingsbury, C.
3868 Pompev, C.
10247
5186 Klincland, L.
4356 Parker," S. B.
10476
6374 Kempton, B. F.
3803 Phelps, S. G.
10787
6705 Kershoff, B.
4934 Pinible, A.
-2005
6748 Kclley, F.
5002 Plum, James
12288
7749 Kalty, J.
5386 Patchcy, J.
541
8065 Kimball, H. H.
7487 Post, C.
4443
8866 Kohlenburg, C.
7688 Poteche, A.
5427
10233 Kern, T.
9248 Phillips, J. I.
5479
3401 Lendon, H.
9444 Padfrey, Svlvanus.
7723
5893 Lastry, J. ,
9533 Painter, N". P.
10035
5499 Lewis, J.
106-6 Puritan, 0.
10142
6124 Leonard, W.
12616 Peir, A.
11089
7912 Levanaugh, Wm. 0.
2804 Ruther, J.
3107
7956 Linker, C.
2871 Reed, H H.
401
9219 Lewis, G. H.
3674 Risiev, E.
2158
10228 Lee
4636 Reins, William
2601
74 Mills, W. J.
5902 Ross, D.
5.543
119 McCaullery, James
0400 Robinson, H.
5222
2295 IMiller* Charles
6796 Riniiwood, R.
4649
3516 McCord, P.
8078 Reed, John
5675
3644 Miller, A.
8170 Richardson, C. S.
6138
3410 Mould, James
8345 Rav, A.
6918
3932 McGinnis, J. W.
7310 Reed, Robert K.
8024
4079 Miller
8662 Roper, H.
9028
4417 Messenger, A.
10029 Roiunson, J. W.
9265
4492 McLean, William
10196 Richardson, D. T.
9212
4595 Marshall, B.
10416 Reynolds, E.
10033
5238 Mickallis, F.
12031 Rathbone, B.
12600
5328 Miller, H.
4 Stone, H. I.
6364
6342 Malone, John
234 Smith, Horace
Seward, G. H.
Stephens, E. W.
Scott, W.
Sutcliff, B.
Stuart, J.
Smite, J.
Sherwood, D.
Smith, C. E.
Straubell, L.
Straum, James
Sullivan, M.
Steele, Samuel
Shultz, C. T.
Stino, P.
Steele, Samuel
Smith, S.
Steele, James M.
Stephen*, B. H.
Smith, Henry
Short, L. C.
Smally, L.
Starkweather, E. M.
Sutliff, J.
See, L.
Slihg, D.
Schubert, K.
Sparring, T.
Steele, H.
Stauff, J.
Swift, J.
Smith, J. T.
Taylor, Moses
Thompson, Wm. T.
Thompson, F.
Tibbels, William
Treadwav, J. H.
Tisdale, Edward F.
Taylor, J.
Turner, H.
Valter, H.
Winship. J. H.
Weldon, Henry
Warner, E.
Wikert, Henry
Wright, C.
Wheely, Jam^s
Wenchell, John L.
Way, H. C.
Wiggleworth, M. L.
West, Charles H.
Williams, H. D.
Wheeler, J.
Ward, Gilbert
Weins, John
Ward, G. W.
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 to 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 Wildernes'-i, 570 ; battle of Spottsylvania, 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. Trambull, 760; rebel assault on Fort Stedman, 775 to 779 ; muster-
out, 824, 825.
873
874 REGIMENTAL INDEX.
Second Heavy Artillery — (Nineteenth Infantry.)
Nineteenth regiment called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224; organization and departure,
232.to 234 ; arrival at Alexandria, 233 ; 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,
51 8 ; 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, 1 1 9, '1 20 ;' 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, guai'ding railroads, 693 ; near Cumber-
land Tunnel, 694 ; incidents, 695, 696 ; join Sherman's army for the great raai'ch, 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, 131, 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, 682 ; 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, 508 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 AVilmington, 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, 124; life at Annapolis, 127, 128, 130; supplies, 149, 150; enibark 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 Hxmdred, 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; at Roanoke Island, 165 ; the battle, 166, 167 ; sketch of
Col. Ch.arles 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 EEGIMENTAL INDEX.
organization, 256, 257 ; to Fredericksburg, 258 ; the march to Antietam, 259 to 203 ;
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 ; at Glou-
cester Point, 480 ; veteran furlough, 521, 522 ; np the James, 537 ; at Bermuda Hundred,
538 to 541 ; Drury's Bluff, 542 to 552 ; casualties at Cold Harbor, death of Major Con-
A-erse, 597 to 599 ; advance on Petersburg, 606 ; battle, 608 to 010; work in the trenches,
618, 619 ; at the mine, 625 ; death of Gen. Stedman and Col. Morgling, 625 to 628 ; at
Bermuda Hundred, 061 ; promotions, &c., 681 ; recruits, 683 ; presentation of flag, 704 ;
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, 140 ; up the river, 159 ; first regiment to. aiTive at New Orleans, 100 ;
Pass Manchac expedition. Camp Parapet, 300, 307 ; battle of Georgia Landing, 313 to
316 ; the gunboat Cotton and the Diana, 319 to 321 ; at Irish Bend, 403 to 407 ; invest-
ment 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. Peek, 721, 722; battle of
Cedar Creek, 724 to 729; locations and promotions. 700; muster-out, 821.
Thirteenth Infantry.
Origin and organization, 143 ; in barracks at New Haven, 145 ; supplies, 150 ; to Ship
Island', 154 to 150 ; to New Orleans, 160, 161 ; to Camp Parapet, anecdotes, 307 to 309 ;
battle of Georgia Landing, 313 to 316; at 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, 420, 421 ; at Thibodeau, 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 ; an-ival at
Arlington, 237 ; march to Antietam, 260 to 203 ; battle of Antietam and casualties, 204
to 287 ; pursuit of Lee to Fredericksburg, 288 to 290 ; battle and casualties, 291 to 297 ;
advance to Chancellorsville, 358 to 300 ; battle and casualties, 361 to 374 ; advance to
Gettysburg, battle, victory, casualties, pursuit, 378 to 390; at Stevensburg, 500; Capt.
Fiske's view of soldiering, 501 to 563 ; Mine Run, 564 ; how to make winter quarters, 564,
565; fight at Morton's Ford, 560, 567 ; battle 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, 049 ; return to the
left, 057 ; on the Weldon Railroad, battle at Reams's Station, casualties, 658 to 001 ; at
Prince George's Court House, 604 ; fight for the Southsidc railroad, 076 to 078 ; battle on
Hatcher's Run, 078 to 680 ; location in spring of 1805, 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 330 ; blackberry raid, 330 to 340 ;
near Portsmouth, 475 to 479 ; to Newberne, 481 ; to Plymouth, 482 ; return to Newberne,
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, 810.
Sixteenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; reci'uiting, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 227 to 229 ; arrival
in Virginia, 237 ; march to Antietam, 200 to 203 ; 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 33l ; siege of Suffolk, 331 to 330 ; blackberry raid,
330 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, 520 to 535 ; escape from captivity, 744 to 746 ; to Fos-
ter's Mills and Newberne, 774; muster-out, 815, 816.
REGIMENTAL INDEX, 877
Seventeenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224 ; organization and departure, 229, 2.30 ; detention
in Baltimore, 237, 238 ; moves into Virginia, 297, 298 ; advance to Chancellorsville, 358
to 360; battle and casualties, 361 to 374; advance to Gettysburg, 1)attle, 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. Wilcoxson, 733, 734 ; detached service, 735, 736 ; muster-out, 817,
818.
Eighteenth Infantry.
Called for, 222 ; recruited, 223, 224; organization and departm-e, 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 ; heavj' losses, 354, 355 ; imprisonment, 356, 357 ;
at Slartinsburg, refitting, 497 ; social life, 498 ; prison experience, 499 to 503 ; spring of
1864, under Sigel, 638 ; battle of JSTew IMarket, 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, 647 ; in the
Shenandoah, 714; again at jNIartinsburg, 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
Goldsbovongh, 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 Fredericksburg and casual-
ties, 291 to 297 ; to Newpo'rt News and Suffolk, 330, 331 ; siege of Suffolk, 331 to 336 ;
blackberry raid, 336 to 340; provost-duty in Portsmouth, 477 to 479; at Norfolk and
Newport News, 481 ; a raid, 483 ; to Moreliead City and Newberne, 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. Button, 554 ; losses at Cold Harbor, death of Col. Burpee,
600, 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, 661, 662; 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 and 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.
Tioeniy-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 and Brashear, 429, 430 i imprisonment,
casualties, and muster-out, 432, 433 ; prison-life, 743 ; muster-out, 433 to 435.
Twentyfourth 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.
378 REGIMENTAL INDEX.
TwenUj-fflh Infantry. — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 241 to 245 ; orjranization and departure, 249, 250 ;
from Long Island to Ship Island, to Louisiana, 316, 317 ; to 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, 422, 423 ; muster-out, 434, 435.
Twenty-sixth Infantry — Nine Months.
Called for, 240 ; recruiting and draft, 24J to 245 ; organization and departure, 250, 251
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 360; 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 Pensacola, encampment
and service, 318, 319 ; investment and captnro of Port Hudson, 408 to 419 ; casualties
and incidents, 426, 427 ; muster-out, 434, 4;>j.
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
Darbytown 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 appeai'ance 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 to 827.
INDEX OF NAMES.
[Xarnes incidentally mentioned are not embraced in this Index.]
Abbev, William H., 250
Abbon, 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
Abernethv, E. P., 108
Adams, Hon. John T., 188,
630
W. L., 642
Addis, Ira D., 422
Wm. J., 248
Agar, George, 207, 504, 825
Aggett, R., 449
Aiken, Wm. A., 231, 801,
839
Aldricb, Thomas J., 646
Alexander, J. H., 180, 633
■ Walter S., 425
Allen, Amory, 567
Amos S., 597
Charles W., 522
E. 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
W. C, 597
Oscar, 788
Ailing, Frank E., 297
Almv, Amos H., 464, 834
John H., 130, 237,317,
834, 835, 836, 837
Allison, John D., 44
Allyn, Roswell, 514
Stanton, 145,306,514,
515
T. M., 227, 597
Ambroster, Albert, 246
Andrews, Benj., 624
D. C, 545
Levi, 448
Andross, Edraond, 17, 18
Auger, Marshall C., 712
Anthony, R. C, 430
Appelman, Pliram, 24, 48,
•172, 179, 188, 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, Dorence, 871
Chas., 81,188
Atwood (Dr.), C. H., 241
Austin, Willard, 654, 762
Averill, James, 432
Perry, 405
Hon. Roger, 801
Ayers, Edwin D., 345
Avers, Henry, 426
W. H., 623
Babcock, 424
Chas., 228
James F., 52
Samuel D., 834
Backus, Joseph, 494, 584,
603-4, 819
Bacon, C. A., 448, 46.7
(Dr.), Francis, 97,195,
201
(Rev. Dr.), 183, 226,
435, 523, 818
John W., 48
(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, 428, 431
Baldwin, James, 505
L., 448
S., 834
Bancs, Frank D., 779, 825
Banks (Capt.), 519
Bannon, C. R., 684, 825
Bantly, Francis, 448
Barber, Fred. M., 228, 282
Barbour, Lucius, 123, 596
Barker, Chas. E., 539, 544,
651,654; (Lt.), 447
Barnes, 48
Stewart, 475
Barnum, B. S., 392
Barnum (Adj.), 611, 774
Saml. C, 597, 599
Jos. H., 488 ■
P. M., 752
Ban-ett, R. Cecil, 601
Thos. E., 297
Robert N., 47
Mrs. E., 471
Barron, Pierce, 782
Barry, Wellington, 705, 770
Bartholomew, P., 678
Barton, Miss Clara, 871
Bartlett, Egbert, 464
D. W., 390
J. H. & Sons, 146
Frank, 679
Bartram, David J., 392
Andrew B., 410
Bassett, Julius, 227, 772, 773
Mrs., 471
Bates, Admatha, 780
Theo. S., 281
(Capt.), 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
L W., 422
(Miss), Julia A., 764
Moses Y., 52, 81
Watson, 596
Beard (Col.), 566, 567
Beardslev, A. E., 694
(Lt.),302
A., 47, 464
Chas., 773
Fred'k, 752
Beckley, Wm. A., 244
Beckwith, H. C, 468
Theo. L., 253
(Gen.), 312
879
880
INDEX OF NAMES.
Beckwith, Louis, 803
Beecher, Rev. H. W., 835
Belcher, Arthur, 48
Belden, N. A., 335, 552
D. H., 107
Bell, John, 29
Bellows, George, 654
Benham (Gen.), 192, 195,
197-8, 722
(Lt.), 195
Bennett, Ezra P., 242
Samuel, 788
Thos. G., 670
Benedict-., W. A., 838
Benson, Y). 0., 230
Bent, B. jr., 188
Bentley, Wm. H., 251
Benton, Wm., 309
(Lt.), Geo. M., 728
Geo. S., 371-2
Berkley, W., 448
Berry, Fred M., 720, 822
Wm. A., 74
William, 728
Betts, James W., 216
Fred C, 733
Bideraan, John, 448
Bidwell, Henry L., 143
Biel)el, Henry, 122, 542
Bill, Henrv, 50, 231
Geo. F., 825
Lcdvard, 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,
31.9, 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
Blackmer, 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
Blotchford, R. M., 834
Blinn, Chas. D., 143, 306,
519, 525, 714, 718,
728, 726, 765, 802
J. E., 225, 281
Bliss, John F., 448
Blodgctt, R., 448
Bloss, L. L., 241
Boardman, Henry, 139
W. W., 471,472
Bodwell, 393
Augustus, 766
Boem, L., 52
Bohan, John, 421
Bond, Thos. H., 52
William, 448
Booth, Geo. F., 277
Bostwick (Col.), 367, 368,
3G9, 378, 379
Richard S., 267
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), 144,
404, 727
Byron, 556, 651
Brady, A. G., 229, 380, 392,
■ 450, 729
Oliver G., 221
Wm. F., 553
Bradley, J. R., 252, 371
J. T., 642
Geo. G., 673
Lester E., 142
Wm. E., 720, 802
Wm. H., 433
(Miss), E., 471
R. O., 772
Bragg, Wm., 156
Brainard, H. A., 421
Francis, 327
Brally, Lester E., 404
Brandagee (Hon.), Augus-
tus, 48, 77, 135
Brannan, Patrick, 545
Branch, Joseph W., 26
Breed, Chas. A., 256
Brennan, John, 404, 420
George, 422
Brewster, James, 68, 152
Chas. T., 549
John H., 705
Briggs, Chas. E., 583
Thos. R., 105
Brigham, Geo. N., 660
Chas. 0., 624, 825
Briscoe, Chas., 78
J. A , 448
John, 570
E. S., 670
Bristol, Wyllis, 226
Broatch, John C, 658, 677,
765
Brockett, Chas. A., 545
Bromley, Isaac H., 231, 349,
457, 6.33
Miles, 435
J. B., 308, 408
Bronson, Aug. E., 392
J. R., 372
Leonard, 372
Isaac R., 225
Brookes, A. F., 624, 684
(Col.), 206, 269
Brooke, A. D., 597
Brown, 116
Delos D., 477, 479,
481, 484, 536, 551,
552
(Chaplain), 552
Chas. D., 502
Chas. H., 426
(Miss), C. L., 471
Geo. H., 650, 655, 782
(Capt.), 412, 504
(Lt.-Col.), E. S., 670,
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. T>., .373
Thos. G., 552
(Mrs.), Roswell, 470
(Mrs.), G. S., 470
Vernon H., 146
Wm., 588
Browuell, Henry Howard,
709
(Dr.), C. M., 63
Tudor, 597
Brims, IL, 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, 6.3.3,
785, 798, 801, 814,
■ 815, 817, 818, 826,
828, 829, 834, 835,
836, 839
(Col.), P. B., 7, 234,
235, 300, 302, 359,
360, 361, 362, 365-
76, 366-76, 385,
386, 387, 695, 696,
697, 698, 700, 702,
704,767-8, 769,812
Hiram, 530
J. W., 431
BueU, Wm. G., 687
INDEX OF NAJVIES.
881
Buckinaham, F. W. H., 687
(Mrs.), M. H., 470
Eugbee, Geo. H., 87
Edwin H. (Hon.), 815
Sylvester, 616
Bulkelv, Chas. E., 505
E. A., 227
Bunce, John L., 227
J. B., 470
Bunnell, Geo. W., 766
Burdick, Tlieodore, 436, 446
Thomas, 47
(Capt.), 201,305, 440.
679
Burbank, R. S., 72
Burke, Thos. F., 482, 487,
534, 744
Burkett, R., 597
Burley, 697
Burnham, Geo. H., 45, 46,
456
Geo. S., 241, 246
(Gen.), 87, 96, 247,
482, 487, 532, 540,
774
John H., 335, 476,
478,681, 816
A. v., 612
, (Mrs.), 476
(Hon.), 842
Burrall, Chas. L., 47, 78
Burr, A. E., 228,323
H. P., 230
Wm. A., 513
Burns, Henry, 392
Burpee, Thos. F., 225, 235,
3.']0, 477, 484, 551,
5,54, 600, 814
Burton, John H., 624, 684
Bushnell (Rev.), Horace. 15,
16,26, 27, 28, 674,
829
C. S., 52, 71, 188,
190, 226
Douc;lass, 694
Edward W., 721, 728
Busteed, Richard, 231
Butler (Mrs.), Sophia, 63
(Mrs.), A. W., 470
John A., 596, 609
Byam, 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, 705
Cahoone, J. B., 642
Callender, W. H. D., 596
Calkms(Rev.),Mr., 523
Camp, Howard A., 666
B. H., 592
F. E., 675, 421
111
Camp, II. W., 165, 172, 174,
175, 342, 348, 442,
443, 451, 550, 620,
649, 662, 671, 672
Camp, Henry S., 673, 674
Hiram, 244
Campbell, Haivey, 663
Candee, J. D., 226
Franklin, J., 720
(Mrs.), C, 471
(•Mrs.), L., 471
Canfield, Smith, 721
David, E., 296
Cannon, John S., 137
Carr, 109, 110
D. H., 226
Carroll, Charles, 120
Cai-lisle, Chas., 151, 471
Carpenter, 78.
Carpenter, Ezra D., 502
Elisha, 415, 458, 640
Samuel W., 225
Carter, C. H., 62
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
Wilham, 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., 507
Chartee, S. E., 235, 370
Chalkcr, Wm. S., 71
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
Jedcdiah, 392-3
George D., 457
(Mrs.), R., 471
E. C, 64
Chappell, Rich. H., 146
Chapin, George D., 73
Charnley, Wm. S., 52, 226
Chatfield (Col.), 62, 85, 95,
97,99,120,197,121,
198, 200, 304, 305,
440, 443, 444, 452,
453, 507, 655, 733,
734, 820
Chauncy, Henry, 834
Chene_v, F. W., 64, 228, 271
Chipman, Justin H., 74
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, 412,
414, 420, 516, 711,
719, 722, 766
A. N., 227
Cyrus C, 72, 237,
396
David, 64, 811
E. W., 654
George, 246
Jonah F., 319
Clark, Wm. F., 615
William, 421
(Gen.), 411
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, J. O., 167
Cluseret (Col.), 213
Coates, Thos. C, 125
Coburn, J. H., 231, 378, 383
Cockroft, Ambrose; 448
Cochrane, J. J., 449
Coe (Lt.), 447
Lyman W., 62
Coffin, George, 53
John C, 346
Cohn, Alexander, 728
Cogswell, Wm. S., 7, 131,
302,707,767,817
Wm., 721
Wm. H., 720
Coit, Alfred, 188
Charles M., 166, 276,
540, 597, 605, 676,
680, 764
James B., 589
Cokburn (Maj.), L., 97
Colby, Henry, 577
Colbiirn (Dr.), J. M., 48
(Col.), 144, 160, 307,
319, 722
Elbridge, 138, 494,
516, 568
Ledyard, 306, 714
Cole, George W., 040
Coleman (IVIrs.), J. E., 470
J. C, 590
William A., 374
Colgrove, Ransom, 667
Coliender, W. H. D., 470
Collins (Miss), C, 471
Brothers & Co., 468
596
Erastus, 227
Colt (Col.), 73,320
882
INDEX OF NAMES.
Colton (Mrs.), N., 470
Comstock, Apollos, 143, 306,
714, 728
J. C, 45
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
William, 654
Cooke, E. B., 62
S. T., 64
Coomes, William A., 295
Coon, John, 667
Marcus, 62, 102, 569
Cooper, A. V., 499
Copeland, Harvey, 102
Corliss, George W., 74, 464
Corbin, , 327
Cornisli, Virgil, 470
Cornwall, 393
C. M., 392
Charles W., 306
Cosgrove, A. M., 58
Cothren, William, 52, 823
Couch, G. N., 825
Cowen (Mrs.), S. J., 470, 479
Cowlcs, 11. P., 252, 522
Henry F., 502
J..F., 600
Lester W., 758
Lvman, 226
(Mrs.), S. M., 470
Covell, George B., 599
Couch, Ansel H., 778
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
P., 52
(Dr.), 404
Cunningham, 78
John, 615
Curtis, Elliott M., 25, 513
George F., 667
George, William, 90
F. L., 432
Judson, 107
L. N., 600
(Sgt.-Maj.), 311
Cushman, E. M., 4G9
DaboU, Henry W., 221, 363,
707, 767, 817
Daley, Thomas B., 623
Dana, James A., 283
Daniels Albert E., 130, 371
F. W., 595
. Wm. L., 735
Wm. A., 363, 705
Darrow, Barrett, 250
Dauchy, Wm. O., 392
Davenport (Eev.), J., 17
Davis, Henry C, 231, 349,
532, 5.34
R. S., 649
Theo. R., 227
Samuel H., 225
Sylvester, 612
(Gen.), 568
(Capt.), 351
Day, Albert, Sons, & Co.,
596
Erastus S., 188, 327
John, 50
Calvin, 227, 468
Putnam, 120
Dayton, L. M., 7-2
Dyer, E. B., 583, 616
Deane, James, 5S2
(Capt.), J. M., 778
De Bourge, G., 4i5, 446
Decker, J. N., 569
De Forest, J. W., 142, 719
(Chaplain), 610, 662,
791.
C. D., 135
H. C. 599
Henry S., 7, 480, 625,
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
Jared S., 62, 64
U. A., 72
Dennison, Chas. S., 130
Dcnslow, G. A., 248
Desborough, John, 14
Dewell, John H., 129
Dewey, Daniel, 407
DcVv itt, Wrn., 441
Dexter, J. N., 201
Dibble, 81
C. F., 811
Dickerson, A. A., 534, 744
David, 52
Dickinson, L. A., 142, 766
Z. C, 448
David, 64, 236
Dickernum, Ezra D., 235,
696, 697, 700, 705,
706
J. C, 392
(Mrs.), 471
Dimmock, Geo., 825
Dixon (Hon.), James, 33, 36,
226, 286, 596
(Mrs.), 470
John A., 277
Charles, 531, 532
Doane, John J., 105
Dodge (Gen.), C. C, 722
Donnelly (Col.), 216
Donphoe (Col.), 477
Dooiittle (Chaplain), J. B.,
699, 700, 712
E. A., 693
Dorr, E. C, 206
Dorrance, David, 7
Douglass (Hon.), Benjamin,
52, 73, 183,286,435
Benj. C, 424
(Dr.), 97
John M., 7, 59
John C, 552
Stephen A., 29
Doull (Maj.), 205
Dow, Edwin C, 624, 684
Downes, Wm. E., 226, 464
Downing, H. A., 623
Drake, A. W., 45, 97, 126,
166, 170, 171, 173,
176, 282
John L., 228, 282
Drown, Azro, 77G, 777, 779,
825
Duane (Maj.), 618
DuBois, Cornelius, 252, 698
(Mrs.), 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, Cliarles, 426
Duryee, Redfield, 97, 445,
506
Durver, C, 650
Dutton, Arthur II., 218, 2.35,
3.30, 335, 337, 477,
483, 484, 538, 542,
553, 554, 600, 814
A. S., 552
Henry M., 217, 219,
233
(Hon.), Henry, 82
(Corpl.), 780
Eaton (Chaplain), Jacob,
110, 167, 272, 276,
277, 327, 543, 545,
546, 557, 569, 655,
683, 688, 762, 763
(Hon.), W. W., 104,
105, 323, 328
(Gov.), 14
Eastman, Henry A., 273
INDEX OF NAMES.
Eddy, Hiram, 63, 99, 569
Martin B., 448
Edircrton, A. J., 640
Edwards, George P., 666, 670
Charles H., 248
Elliott, Chas. W., 226
Ellis, Theo. G., 299, 3G7,
386, 388, 396, 508,
566, 570, 577, 601,
607, 765, 811
Elmer, Wm. T., 327, 329,
630, 798
Elmore, Harvcv E., 277
Ells, Wm. B., 233, 506, 587,
588, 592, 714, 761
Ellis (Rev.), 54
Ellsworth,. E. E., 86, 111,
830
Wm. B., 233
John, 86
(Jud-c;, 27
W. W., 86, 227
Ely, Wm. G., 121, 131, 132,
231, 238, 349, 350,
351, 354, 355, 357,
499, 500, 501, 640,
'642, 644, 715, 717
Calvin S., 252
Alexander, 97
llichard S., 597
Emploj-ces, The Colt, 468
Englcs, J. S., 514, 621
Endish (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
Farnsvvorth, Chas., 139, 209,
490, 491, 492, 496
(Dr.), 243
Farrcn, John W., 226
Farrcnd, E., 842
Faxon, W. C, 558, 617, 825
Faxton, Wm. C, 779
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, 277
Sam. P., 149,219,252,
456
Ferry, Orris S., 32, 35, 71,
74, 214, 219, 722,
762, 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,
519, 560, 564, 565,
566, 589, 590, 636
Fiske, W. 0., 421
Fitzgibbons, R., 62, 311, 511,
512
Fitch (Mrs.), .1. W., 471
(\lrs.),EniilvM., 471
Thomas, 48,"801
A. G., 248
Jolin, 27
William, 801
Fletcher (J)r.), .306
(Gov.), 18
H. J., 420
Flower, E., 468, 596
Flynn, Michael, 616
Foley, John, 1 25
Folsom, Wm., 244
Forbes (Lt. Col.), 533
Ford, Roger M., 291, 619
Foot, Rolf C, Jr., 236
Andrew Hull, 226,
397
(Rev.), John, 397
Foskett, 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, il5, 231
Samuel S., 669
Fountain, Noah L., 86
(Dr.), 337
"Forlorn Hope," The, 416,
417, 418
Fowler, Richard H., 297
Douglass, C8, 124,
229, 380, 381, 391,
729, 817
Foy (Capt.), 142, 305
Fox, Hiram li., 782
Francis, -James M., 320
Daniel G., 122, 194
John A., 501
(Capt.), 131
Frankau, Nathan, 142, 306
Franklin, Wm., 244
French, Wilson, 362, 392,
731, 7.33
Edwin G., 494
E. W., 728
Fritz, James, 99
Frisbie, A. L., 696
Frye, Frederick, 68, 107,
125, .306, 312, 511,
513
Gage, Rolicrt 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
Gasney, Geo. A., 676
Gates, H. P., 475
Gavitt, A. L., 705
Geatlcy, John, 607
Geer, Aug. M., 424
Na,than H., 575
German, Wm. A , 102
Gerrish, Henry G., 122
Gibbs, Sanmol E., 595
(Miss), J., 471
Gibbons, E. W., 225, 267, 296
Richard B., 125
T. F.. 513
Gill, Henry B., 651, 654
GUlette, Cornelius, 617, 825
E. A., 624, 684
Robert H., 690
(Hon.), Francis, 690
Gilbert, C, 558
Lucius, 226
Jesse B., 421
S. G., 143
Raphael, 448, 544
Smith S., 609
Thus. S., 207, 779,
813
N. B , 779
Gilmau (Prof.), D. C, 82,
226
George, 435
W. H., 124
Wm. C, 54, 253
Gilmore, Patrick, 248
Gilson, A. J., 705, 769
Glasson (Capt.), 123
Glazier, O. I)., 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., 7, 540, 565
Godfrey, Geo. M., 247, 432
Goff, Christian, 250
O. S., 673
Gold, Edward F., 233
Goodell, Wm., 600
W. W., 391
Goodenough (Mrs.), J., 471
Goodrich, Frank B., 464
L. S., 457
E. T., 619
Goodscll, E. B., 107
Goodwin, L. P., 570, 58.3,
758, 784
(Set.), 490
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
884
INDEX OF NAMES.
Gootlyear, L. G., 421
(Capt.). 342
Gore, Asa A., 403
James W., 64
Horace H., 493
Gossman, Jolin, 770
Gould (Ju(l?;e), 27
Charles, 125, 253
Graham, Ira A., 679
Granger, Albert S., 59, 74
Granaiss, 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.), ri. A., 188,801
Matthew, 830
Noah, 830
Jesse Root, 830
Grav, 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
Jarncs A., 595
J. Lloyd, 50
Stephen S., 595
Griggs, Charles, 717
Griffiths, Dana N., 373
Gnlley, Chas. T., 522
Griswold (Rev.), S. S., 48
— , 278, 280
John, 130, 266, 273,
279
Warren, 227
& Co., 58
Greenman & Co., George, 48
Greenman, George, 601
Grow (Hon.),G. A., 115
Grover, Chas. D., 407
Grosvenor, Chas. H., 307
Guyer, Tliomas, 458
Guilford, Timothv, 235
Haffv, Bernard, 448
Hakes Isaac W. Jr., 231, 349
Hale, F. M., 50, 231
H. S., 183
Ezra, 524
Charles W., 247
Leonidas R., 307
Henry C, 619
Hal], A. J.,"595
Edwin D., 548
(Hon.), Ezra, 816, 827
N. C, 244
(Chaplain), 184
Henry C, 548
Ilammersly, Wm. J., 227
Hammond, A. G., 596
(Mrs.), A. G., 470
C. E., 612
Hamilton, 142
David B., 216
Hand (Surg.), D. W., 711
Ilarland, Edward, 68, 123,
125, 128, 173, 178,
270, 271, 272, 273,
294, 475, 482, 521,
537, 711, 712, 722,
771
Plarmon, George, 119
Harrington, Ctark, 250
J. v., 644
Harrison, H. L., 156, 186,
327, 630
H. B., 183, 226, 687
(Dr.), B. F., 52
Grace, 52
(Miss),S. B., 470,471
Hart (Surg.), 345, 673
F. W., 62
Matthew, 525
Edward W., 565
Charles, 432
Willard, 595
Harvev, John, 730
"Allen W., 227
Hastings (Mrs.), A. F., 470
Hatch, Calvin B., 505
(Mr ), 361
Hatfield, S. P., 557, 617,825
Havens William II., 724
Hawley, Josejjh R., 45, 46,
61, 62, 63, 97, 105,
123, 13i; 176, 192,
193, 196, 199, 200,
202, 296, 326, 436,
449, 508, 509, 510,
538, 546, 548, 549,
635, C51, 652, 670,
680, 682, 729, 762,
804, 805, 807, 808,
809, 810, 820
(Mrs. Gen.), 490
Monson, 108
(Mrs.), Monson, 465
Daniel W., 710
Wm. H., 59,658,659
Hawkes, C. E., 88
Hawks, D. W., 502
Hatch, Calvin B., 592
Charles P., 435
Edward W., 183
Hawkins, Frank, 768, 824
Joseph, 230
Hayes, Aleck, 566
Hayden, Richai'd 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
Heuiingwaj^, L. G., 72
(Major), 207
Hendi'ick (Surgeon), Eli F.,
710, 711
A. C, 721
Hendricksen (Rev.), 62
Henderson Alexander, 167
James P., 769
Hennesse}', James P., 125
Hewitt, Oscar W., 277
Hickerson, F. G., 662, 786,
789
Hickok, N. E., 665
George A., 233
Higgins (Lt.), 357
James D., 533
Hill, B. A., 676
Theron, 346
Joim, 766
Hilliard, Henry B., 434
Hillhouse (Miss), H., 471
James, 28
(Mi.ss), J., 471
Hillman, Levi N., 61
Hillgar, Charles F., 246
Hincks, Wm. B., 589, 781,
811
Hinckley, E. S , 642
Arthur T., 219
Ilinman, Stephen N., 582
Hme, J. W., 244
E. C, 651, 654
Hintz, Henry, 534
Hitchcock, Roland, 40
E. S., 122, 194, 199,
200, 201, 327, 392
Hoadley, Frederick, 420
Hoag, 1). D., 252, 426,'609
(Capt.), 412
Hobbie, Charles A., 2.30, 730,
Horace, 448
Holbrook, L., 644, 766
Holcomb (Surg.), H. V. C,
52, 712
Richard E., 412, 420
(Major), 307
Holden, Jones G., 407
Hollister, 22, 23
Fitz G., 610
J. C, 226, 457
G. H., 233
Ilollenbeck, N. S., 72
Holden, A. M., 762
Holmes, 327
Theo. J., 473
C. M., 673
INDEX OP NAMES.
885
Holmes, Chas. E. L., 2i7, 427
Clivistoplier, o45
T. J., 568, 586, 613
(Chaplain), 572, 615,
724
(Col.), 428, 429
Honslow, Koper, 440
Hooker (Rev.), 15
Hopkins, A. D., 248, 428,
4.31
(Gov.), 14
James M., 152
Horn (Lt.), 599
Home, Samuel B., 46
Horton, William, 282
Thomas, 201, 327
Hosfoid, B. F., 505, 727
Hotchkiss, Geo. F., 252
W. S., 236, 709, 819
House, Wm W., 423
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, Heury M., 123, 292,
478, 605
Israel L., 126
Hubbard, 327
James, 2.33, .506, 587,
588, 594, 714, 761,
795
(Hon.), John H., 53,
243, 822
D. R., 119,207
(Dr.), Robert, 373
Richard D., 176, 183
O. H., 431
O. S., 430
H. J., 119
Horace, 720
Samuel, 227, 295
Wm. H., 476
Hubbell, Wm. S., 392, 552,
670, 731, 735
Hudson, Edward P., 121
Philip W., 126
Hull, Ezra M., 316
Andrew, 397
Humi)hcv, 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., 75S
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
IngersoII (^ilrs.), C. A. 471
Jarcd, 19, 49
Irwin, Charles N., 669
Ives, Bravton, 495, 614, 615,
715, 757, 758, 78.3,
785, 792, 793, 795,
817, 818
Charles, 52, 632
E. D., 421
John S., 403
N. P., 152, 475
L. C, 468
Philo L., 564
(Mrs.), Theron, 470
Jacobs,' Hervcy F., 424, 425
Jackson, L. W., 557, 624
C. W., 506
John R., 545
Ebenezer, 286
F. W., 124
Ranson, 814
Jarman, W. M., 449
James, Giles, 441
Jameson, J. S., 616, 753
Janes, Charles A., Jr., 595
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, II. R., 670
Jepson, 126
Theodore, 694, 705
Benjamin, 81
(Mrs.), B., 471
Jewell, W. P. & Son, 434, 468
Marshall, 597, 808
(Mrs.), P., 470
Jewett, Eleazer, 104
(Dr.), Levi, 660, 811
D. L., 374
(Dr.), P. A., 185
Johnson, David F., 247, 428
H. P., 248
N. P., 249, 423
J. N., 501
Jas. B., 67G
W. H. H., 770
And. T., 316
George, 534
Frank, 432
E., 80
Wm. B.,183
George VV., 246
Timothy D., 129
Jones, Devereaux, 1 56, 307
Cvrus D., 252
Edward F., 44
David W., 374
Edward W., 233, 761
Elijah B., 220
Jordon, Joseph, Jr. 233
(Lt.), 441)
Judd, Lewis, 126
, (Mrs.), J. F., 470
Kattensbroth (Adj.), 311
Keables, A. L., 669
Kcach (aiajor), 238
Ephi-aim, 231, 249
Kcaley, John J., 248
Keaton, John, 558
Keenv, Henrv, 227
" H. & W., 597
Keith, James M., 754
Kecfc, Jeremiah, 156
Kellogg, A. G., 64, 88
E. S., 48, 72, 233, 506,
573
Hawlev, 227
E. N. & Co., 468, 597
Enos, 118, 207, 230,
730, 735
(Col.), 238, 587, 588,
592, 593, 594, 655
Stephen W., 62, 631,
800
Robert H., 526, 527,
529
Kelly, James, 558
Kendall, Joshua, 458
Kent (Col.), 49
Kenyon, I. D., 663
J.Iartin R., 423
Marshall, 009
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., 276, 277
Kingsburv (Col.), 164, 256,
259, 266, 273, 278,
279, 521, 598, 027
F. J., 183
N. & Co., 468, 596
H. W., 129
T. H. C, 129, 241
(Lt.), 278
Kingsley, Tlios. G., 241, 250,
2:1,411, 426, 427
Kinuey J. C, 5, 8, 7.08
(Rev.), E. D., 708
E. A., 766
Thomas, 106
Kinsley (Dr.), 27
Kirkham, Austin P., 100
Klein, Daniel, 68, 121, 553,
680, 683, 820
Kloch, Chas. II. 657
Knapp (Capt), 238
Samuel R., 232
Knipe (Gen.), 697, 707
886
INDEX OF NAMES.
Knowlton, 24
J. W., 391
Daniel, 111, 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., 84
Herbert, 61
Landon,'Chas. B., 253
Lane, D. F., 74, 217
J. H., 616
Lanfare, Aaron S., 784, 792
Lansing, James H., 226
Larned (Miss), A., 471
Latham, J. II., 552
Latimer, E. H., 496
Lathrop (Dr.), De Witt C,
177
Lawton, Thomas, 52
Law, John E., 188
Lawrenre, Thomas, 323
Lawton (Rev. Mr.), 132
Leach, Arnold, 97
Learned, B. P., 618, 825
Leavenworth, M. C., 316
Lee, E. M., 280, 500, 575,
578, 743
E. R., 129
James E., 752
Charles E., 752
H. B., 651, 654, 655
W. T., 596
Henry, 660
E. R., 175, 655
Leete (Gov.), 16
Leeds, Francis R , 252, 318
Ledyard, William, 24
Leggctt, Robert, 100, 126,
341, 344, 345, 452,
514, 574, 649, 650
Leroy, J. 0., 99
Lewis, George N., 68, 142,
301^ 420, 570, 714,
725, 700,821
Charles E., 277
(Major), 404
William G., 277, 470
B. S., 054, 542
Robert, 770, 778, 825
Lilley, John, 042 .
Lillibridge, Geo. H., 507, 590
Lincoln, Abraham, 29, 30,
31, 39, 42, 83, 80,
535, 624, 799
William A., 825
H. H., 080
Lindsay, 502, 620, 621
Lindsley, J. H., 672, 787, 788
C. A., 220
Lines, Edward, 392
Lippitt, 48
Lockwood, F. St. John, 800
D. B., 388
Logan, S. G., 084
Lombard, Joseph A., 175
Long, P., 606
Francis S., 624
Walter P., 552, 063,
664, 669
Loomis (Hon.), Dwight, 32,
150
Benjamin C, 247
Lord, F. C., 569
Horace, 227
Tom, 200
Jesse H., 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, 768,
819, 8.30
(Major),208, 213, 270,
490
R. P., 420
Hanford, 108
Henry, 592
E. L., 102
Judson M., 139
Lyman (Rev.), Charles N.,
708
Henry, 002
Mabbott, Alonzo, 421
(Capt.), 415
McAllister, Alexander, 226
James, 156
McBarney, Geo. H., 595
McBrien, James, 448
McCabe, James P., 720
McCail, John, 272, 548
A. D., 721
McCarty, John J., 280
McCartin, Michael, 125
McCormick, Jos., 508
McCurdy, Robt. H., 54, 124,
150, 253
Charles J., 34, 54
McCord, J. J., 143, 518
McDonald, H. J. M., 550,
764
Alexander, 585
G. E., 778
McDonough, Louis R., 252
McEwen, William, 540
McFarland (Bishop), 92
McGee, R., 449
McGlaffin, Charles E., 728
McGrath, Walter, 409
McKenzie (Col.), 714, 720,
701, 762
R. S., 594
McKinley, Tlios. H., 670
McManus, Thomas, 402
McNamara, James B., 778
McReynolds (Col.), 177,351
Maguire, Thomas, 74
Maginnis, J. T., 640, 642,
643
Maher (Major), 419
Patrick, 403
Mahoney, Dennis, 659
Maine, Edwin G., 272, 276
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 (Major), 583, 584,
613, 614, 615
George O., 495, 570,
612, 715, 718, 723,
724
Marsh, E. W., 595
D. E., 505
John R., 99
George H., 277
William S., 105
William P., 291
Charles H., 489
Marshall Henry G , 7, 766
(Mrs.), Horace, 467
Martin, Charles T., 235
Leonard P., 490
Martinson, Augustus, 509
Marion, Edwin, 220
Mason John, 14
J. B., 623
E. P., 084, 686, 825
G. P., 618, 825
Mather, Roland, 227, 596
Matthewson, Charles, 129
Joseph, 231, 639, 646,
815
Ezra J., 232
(Capt.), 349
Matson, N., 618
May, Wm. H., 248,428,429,
431
Mayer (Surg.), 274, 278.
280, 281, 282, 462,
484, 598, 626, 710,
711, 713
George A., 307
Nathan, 476, 477
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
INDEX OF NAMES.
887
Melancthon (Surg.), 475
Merritt, James, 225
Meniam, E. J., 654
Men-iman, M. M., 596
Merrill (Sgt.), 156
Oscar F., 307
Merwin, Henry C, 353, 369,
378, 392
Ira, 52
Metcalf, George T., 137, 542
Meyer (Surg.), 255
(Col.), 131
Michie (Major), 685
Middleton, Georee W., 253
Middlebrook (Capt.), 139,
209, 211, 212, 213,
490
Henry, 779
Millen, John, 728
Miller (Rev.), 52
Joseph, 448, 654
D.H., 427
Peter, 615
Milford, Henry P., 586
MUls (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
(Cap:.), 485, 486
Mobbett, Alonzo L., 248
Moegling (Major), 267, 273«
625, 627
William, 129, 281
Wm. A., 599, 606,
608, 619
Wm. C, 610
Monroe, Austin G., 88
Moore, Samuel A., 381, 386,
392, 566, 570, 573,
589, 658, 660, 677,
780, 795
J. E., 68, 230, 391
James II., 540
James M., 660
Pat., 782
E. Lewis, 510
& Johnson, 597
Morehouse, Wm. A., 446
John B., 212, 494,
568, 612, 613, 715,
757, 792, 819
Morrell, Pierre, 782
Morgan, 105, 272
Henry E., 180, 291,
333
J. F., 573, 781
A.M., 669
Daniel, 546
Morris, 184, 289
(Gen.), 238,349
Morris (Chaplain), Jolrti M.,
77, 183, 258, 275,
337, 798
S. A., 679
Horace J., 456
Wm. E., 494
Dwight, 222, 260, 267,
395, 396, 6.30, 632
Morrow, J. J., 727
Morse, Horace J., 633, 635,
801, 811
(Adj. Gen.), 463
A. C, 595
109, 110
Charles W., 534
Samuel F. B., 27
Wm. W., 235, 812
Moss, Titus, 374
Mullen, Father, 156
Munger George, 236
Munson Edward 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, diaries W., 123
Narramore, Robert, 464 ■
Nearing, Edward, 429
NefF, I. F., 762
Neidhart, Julius, 782, 788
Nelson, John A., 63, 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, 23 1,350,354,
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
Nolkes (Rev.), W. C, 49
North, John G., 61, 82, 522
Henry, 735
Northam, Chas. H., 227
Northrup, 423 ; George, 683,
765
Cyrus, 77, 186
Lewis, 428
Charies E., 788
Norton Brothers, 50
(Mrs.), 471
Norton, Henry B., 71, 497
Charles L., 461
Francis M., 567
(Mrs.), W. A.,471
L. F., 590
(Mrs.), L. H., 465
Noyes, Benjamin, 61
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
(Mrs.), J., 470
O'Reilly, Father, 92
Ormsby, O. P., 281
Osborn (Col.), 549
Arthur D., 67, 226,
244
E. G., 780
E. W., 64, 227, 392,
772, 773, 776
Thomas B., 57
S. 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
S. B., 324
Packer, E. P., 552, 666
E. R.,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
Geo. E., 405
John C, 227
Sanford B., 514
Pardee, ,126
Benj. S., 126, 128,
164, 165, 166, 172,
341,457,460
». W., 227
Henry C, 235
H. E!, 226, 522
(Lt. Col.), 162
Steplien 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
888
INDEX OF NAMES.
Parmelee, Leander, 448
S. T., 244
Parsons, Edgar H., 448
J. C, 596
L. S., 52
Pasco, Henry L., 228, 482,
534
(Major) 485, 531
Patch, William, 214
Patterson (Dr.), H. D., 624,
779
Payne, A. E., 513
Josepli B., 595
Pcale, Henr}^, 64, 231, 238,
351-5,356,497,638,
642, 717, 766
Pease, L. E., 78
Peek, Albert W., 730
Peck, A. W., 433
Prank H., 321, 410,
420, 516, 524, 714,
719, 721
D. J., 226
David J., 188, 244
Edward 0., 109 234
Henry A., 621, 655
(Capt.),782
Henry B., 227
Jabcz B., 433
John P., 431,4.58
(Miss), P., 471
Nelson J., 433
Pemherton, Mr., 337
Penrose, J. J., 49
Perkins, B. E., 346
D. D., 456
Farren, 53
J. H., 72
(Miss), Eliza P., 466
H. A., 227, 596
James H., 247
S H., 222, 237, 260,
269, 396
(Lt. Col.), 293
(Dr.),N. S., 346, 347
AVm. 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
(Mrs.), 115
Phillips, Allen F., 493
Daniel, 227, 468
(Mrs.),D., 470
F., 773
G. W., 49, 327, 458
Henry T., 581
W. E., 583
Piatt, Donn, 350
(Mrs.), 350
Pickett, Edwin D., 392
Pierca, Henry H., 556, 624,
684-6
Pierpont, E. F., 448
(Rev.), John, 76
Walter, 586
Pinkerman, P. A., 226
Piatt, John, 108
Oscar, 505
Hon. O. H., 46, 80,
188, 227, 630, 631,
632
Plumh, D. W., 48, 458, 464
(Mrs.), H. 471
S. F., 669
S. W. W., 654
Plyrapton (Dr.), 49
Pomeroy (Senator), 109, 116
Porter (Asst. Surg.), 201
(Capt.), 688
Edward L., 355
(Lt.), Horace, 192 •
H. L., 596
Isaac G., 355
John A., 226
Selden T., 137
Post, Ambrose W., 706
B. C, 421
O. R., 699, 700, 705
Oliver R., 706
Wm. H., 596
Potter, G. W., 595
Powell, James P., 227
Pratt (Mrs.), D. C, 471
(Miss.), Esther, 470
Pratt, Franklin A., 624, 684
Gilbert, 105
H. A., 686
James T., 34, 187
Wm., 764
Wm. M., 540, 680
Pray (Lt.), 599
Prentice, Hon. Amos W., 50,
231
Chas.H., 596
Preston, E. B., 3.34
Pride (Capt.), 556
Prindle (Capt), C. E., 143
Provost, Norman, 448, 542
Prouty, Bcnj. F., 121
Punderford,'john A., 227
Putnam, 20, 21, 22, 24
Radford (Col.), 98
Raffle, Chas., 156
Randall, Isaac, 48
Jedcdiah, 251, 424
Silas B., 48
Mr. ',302
Rankin, Edw. E., 228
Ross, Sam'l, 234, 693
Rathburn, J. A. ,669
J. G., 596
Raymond, Stephen, 104
Rebstock, Wm., 448
Read, John R., 281
Reed, Abncr, 157
Reeve (Judge), 27
Reeves, Wm., 446
ReiJ, Robert K., 754
Rich (Mrs.), G. B., 471
Rexford, Henry A., 595
Reynolds (Capt.), 625
Geo., 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
John P., 147
John T., 188,630
Randall H., 335, 609,
681
Richardson (Gen.), 578
Richmond, Collins, 779
Rigby, Chas., 421
Riggs, Luther G., 246, 334
Riley, Ed., 782
(Lt.), 426
Ripley, Charles H., 546
(Col.), 48.3-4
(Gen.), 449.
Luther, 105
272
Roach, Jas.'D., 412, 420
Roath, Leonard G., 406
Roberts (Mrs.), B. N., 470
(Mrs.),B. S., 471
Hiram C, 281
Wm. J., 274, 669
(Mrs.), W. W., 470
Robhins, T. H., 407
Robinson, Chas., 623
Ellis B., 407
Henry C, 227, 523
Timothy B., 5.34, 744
Rockwell, A. P., 198, 303,
442, 501, 548, 672,
680, 683, 690
J. P., 642, 650
(Dr.), P. G., 62.
Rockwood, N. P., 590
T. H., 207
Rodman, Daniel C, 122, 132,
194, 195, 436, 543,
557, 680
(Gen.), 270, 271, 273
(Lt. Col.), 131, 439,
441, 539
Rogers, C. B., 226
Edmond, 446
Enoch E., 773
J. B., 492, 695
Joab B., 717
AVm. H., 556
Root (Lt.), Ed., 705
E. B., 246
E. K., 597
(Mrs.), J. A., 471
John G., 246
John S., 374
S. J., 68
Owen, Day, &, 597
Rose, .Jonathan, 54 [701
Ross (Col.), 325, 373, 698,
INDEX OF NAMES.
889
Eoss, W. E. W., 623
Rossman, Wm. H., 448
Rouse, VV. D., 667
Rowland, Thos. F., 190
Kowell, David B., 694
Royce, Jolin E., 700
Runvon, T., 722
Ruggles, Geo. B., 730, 733
Russell, Chas. L., 97, 126,
167,453
(Col.), 126, 146, 164,
165,655, 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
(Mrs.), W. H., 471
, 272
Rust, C. H., 277
Ruth, Patrick K., 123
(Capt.), 126
Sackett, Wm. H., 609, 610
Salisbury, E., 152
(Mrs.;, E. E., 471,
472
Sanford, E. A., 226
George S., 108
George W., 782
Hon.'Henry S., 149
H., 471,472
Julius, 247, 428, 431
Oliver S., 122, 194.
449, 539, 543, 555,
556, 557, 744
Sargent, Geo. D., 624
Satterlee (Surg.), Dwight,
476
Savage, W. L., 655
Sawyer, Silas W., 125, 513
Savers (Sergt), 611
Sciialk, F. E., 589, 591
Sclileiter, 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
t^cUick, 421
Thos., 74
(Lt. Gen.), Winfield,
70, 83
Scoville, Chas. M., 592
Scranton, A. G., 502
Erastus, 188
Hon. E. C.,57
Seaver, Heber W., 228
Sedgwick, R. A., 207
(Gen.), 179, 574, 575
Seeley (Mrs.), Wm. E., 465
■ A., 458
Albro, 735
Seger, Philip B., 236
Selden, Joseph, 411, 414,
423, 424, 426
Senglaube, Louis, 567
Seward, S. H., 391, 590
Wm. T., 137, 570
Sexton, Bolles, & Co., 597
Seymour, E. W., 233
Edward, 243
F. S.,39l
Griswold & Co., 596
Hon. O.S., 234. 630
Gov. Thos. H., 78,
' 80, 103, 136, 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
(Lt.), 374-5
W. D., 383
Shelton (Dr.), 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 (iliss) E., 471
(Gen.), 116, 502, 535,
536, 695
Philo B., 236, 517
Tecumsch, 95
T. W., 123
Shipman. N., 596
W. D., 227
Shultas, Chas. C, 246
Sidders, Chas., 409
Sidney, Sir Philip, 425
Silliman, B., Jr., 283
Silloway, Wm. F., 230 __
Simras, John M., 346-47
Simonds, John H., 277
W. E., 422
Simons, Thos., 392
Simmons, Wm. S., 666
Simpson, Jas. F., 6G0
Samuel, 81
Siprell, D. W., 72, 119
Skiff (Dr.), 522
Skinner, Ahlen B., 423
(]\Ivs.),x\. N., 471
Beni. F., 122
B. F., 195, 437,447,
508-10
Jeffrey, 233, 714, 720
761
(Miss), J. W., 471
S. W., 617
Slade, Lucius M., 48
Slater, John F., 50, 231
(Misses), 62
Smith, Abner C, 771
(Adj.), 218-20
AU)ert, 424
Alfred, 468, 470
Charles, 107,374,392,
735
Charles, Jr., 449
Danl. L., 220
David, 50, 231
Ed., 750
Elisha F., 227
E. Y., 124
Francis, 728
Gad N., 505
George F., 82
Geo. G., 307
Geo. W., 782
Heber S., 220
Henry C, 235
H. n., 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
Peter J., 751
Rufus, 458
Seymour W., 770
S. S., 227
Septimus S., 712
Thos., 468, 596 •
Wm. A., 069
W. F., 5.36, 551, 553,
554, 5SG, 596, 625
W. G., 654
W. W., 700
Smvth (Col.), 659
Snagg, Henry L., 391
Snow, M. L., 705
Soby, Wm., 327
Soule, E. F., 449
Souter, James, 599
Southard, L. IL, 102, 5^9
Soutlnnayd, Geo. M., 129
Southworth, Chas. G., 236
Sparks, Walter C., 595
Spaulding, J. L., 50
Reuben, 640
Wm. L., 639-40
Speidal, John, 01, 121, 304,
305, 373, 506, 797
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
890
INDEX OF NAMES.
Sprague (Capt.), 155, 308,
401
Ezra, 700, 7C9
Homer B., 143, 155,
161, 308, 313, 403,
578, 714, 719, 725,
728, 765
(Lt. Col.), 420, 718
(Surg.), 114, 115
Sprenkle, D. &V., 567
Spring, And. J., 751
Speed, Fredk., 510
Standish, Walter F., 391
Stanley, T. E., 296
Frank AV , 406
(Lt.), 29G
Stannard. Geo. J., 667
Stanton, Chas. T., Jr., 236,
552, 606
John L., 251, 423
Stanwood (Lt.), Ed. W., 771
Starkweather, Hon. H. H.,
50, 356
John C, 117
(Mrs.) N., 470
Starr, Benj , 654
E. W. N., 241
Fredk., 327, 432
Stedman (Col ). 266, 267,
273, 274, 279, 541,
550, 553, 597-99,
601, 616, 619
Edmund C, 390
G. W., 420, 721
(Gen.), 625-28
Griffin A., 74, 129,
256, 278, 538, 606-
608, 764
John W., 50, 231
(Lt), 722
Sterling (Capt.), 517
D. H., 50
(Mr.s.), Daniel H., 465
John W., 236, 388,
517, 70S, 709
Sherwood, 380
(Mrs.), W. G., 464
Stearns, Albert, 68
(Gen.), 199, 200
Stevens, John G., 431
S. S.+ 235, 446
StCT^art, James, 705
Stickney (Col.), 429, 430
Stiles, Bob, 375
Henry H., 227
Stillman, Albert, 374
(Mrs.), A. S., 470
H. M., 169
Stille, Chas. G , 464
Stocking, Gilbert M., 706
Stoddai-d (Mrs.), Prudence,
119
Eben M., 844
Stokes, Joseph, 99
Stoll, nenrv,410 [220
Stone, H. B., 74, 213, 218,
Stone (Rev. Mr.), 357
W. W., 77
Storrs (Miss M.), 471
(Dr.), 274
(Sergt.),M., 180, 680
Stoughton, Frank E., 391,
677
Stottlar, John, 654
Straiiiht (Col.), 499
Striby, Fredk., Jr., 448
Strickland, Jas., 420
(Lt.), 413
(Mrs.), W. T., 470
Strong, Clark, 421
(Major), 157
Stroud, Ed'win, 592-
Stuart, 23
Sturgis (Major), 114
Sullivan, 24
Surret, Thos., 669
Sutliff, Elbert, 750
Sutliffc, Lucas, 196
Swan, Frank, 246
Swayne (Brig. -Gen.), Wager,
722
Sweetland, J. C, 676
Swift, Rowland, 522, 596
Taft (Mrs.), C. A., 470
Taintor, M. A., 051, 652
Talcott (Miss), Mary, 470
C. M., 770
Charles H , 250
P. F., 552. 814
(Mrs.), T. J., 470
Talmadge (Col.), 234
Taylor, Addison C, 252,296
Isaac, 448
J. C, 426
John, 338, 339
iuoses, 083
(Rev.), 286
, 305
Westlove, 392
Tarbox, Daniel S., 281
TaiT, H. G. H., 700, 705
Tennant, Charles, 484
Cfliarles A., 335
Terry, Alfred IL, 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, 466
^eorge H., 119 '
Thompson (Rev ), Alex. R.,
183, 229, 818
Gideon, 108
John, 507, 650, 689
Wm. W., 201, 221,
651, 712
Silas W„ 311
(Mrs.), W., 490
Thornberg (Dr.), 530
Thornett (Capt.), 102
Thomas B., 102
Thorp, E. A., 670, 766
Thorpe, David J., 595
Tibbe, R., 449
'Tibbetts, John A., 39
Tiffany, Charies C, 680
M. V. B., 501, 640,
646, 714, 717
Tisdale, E., 143
(Capt), 307, 315
Titus, George N., 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, 461, 790,
826
Torrence, James, 409
Torrey, George, 350
Train, Abner L.. 188
Tracy, Charies A., 367
J. A., 461
John N., 122, 542
Traganza, Wm. P., 138
Treat, Amos, 34
(Mrs.), A.,
Amos A., 18S, 189
(Major), 16
Trowb/idgc, George N., 545
O. E., 432
P. M., 823
W. IL, 432
Thomas R., 51, 127,
151, 244, 471
Trumbull, Gurdon, 597
H. Clav, 65, 67, 178,
341, '344, 345, 348,
451, 513, 514, 523,
550, 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
JohnF., 105
Tubbs, William H., 225
Tuck<.r, Edwin A., 244
James S., 6G7
Turner, J. A., 119
Marx C, 534
Turnbull (Rev.), Robert, 183
Tuttle, H. E., 592
Twining, A. C, 119,151,471
(Miss), M. P., 471
INDEX OF NAMES.
891
Twiss, John M., 825
(Capt.), 776, 779
Tyler (Gen.), Daniel, 70,84,
87, 92, 93, 95, 96,
97,98, 133,205,206,
212, 225, 231, 494,
504
Hon. Morris, 435, 521,
, 523, 525, 722, 806
Moses, 820
Daniel P., 49
Robert O., 133, 203,
383, 389, 470, 505,
517, 559, 574, 596,
599
LeviE., 570 '
Upham, Charles L., 27, 29,
124, 479
Upson, Henry, 201
Van Pelton, J. B., 640
Vaill, T. J., 725
T. F., 645
Van Keuren (Lt.), 439
Vinton, Edward C, 510
Wadhams, Edward, 548, 591
. Henry W., 591
Luman, 588, 589, 592,
594, 595
Wadsworth (Capt.), 18
Daniel, 86
(Gen.), 381
(Brig. Gen.), Jas. J.,
722
N. M., 53
Wait Hon. John T., 231,
2/ 4 J 276, 522, 548 "
Marvin, 265, 272, 276
Walker, Alfred, 151, 152,
157, 182,471,474
(Chaplain), Edw. A.,
119, 133, 182, 505:
640
(Lt ), Chas., 97
Chas. H„ 272
(Capt.), E. A., 118
H. J. O., 494, 604
John, 545
W. C, 499, 644, 645,
646
Wallace, E., 422
Thomas, Jr., 464
Walter, Chas., 229, 362, 373
Walworth (Judge), 27
Warburton (Mrs.), 468
Ward (Capt.), 11
(Col.), 334
Henry C, 405, 409,
422, 423, 461, 601,
782
(Col.), James, 91
James Harmon, 91
John E., 124, 273, 332,
478, 540, 605, 680
(Miss), Lvdia R., 464
(Major), 276
Sam'uel S., 597
Warden, Jason, 426
Warner, Abner S., 477
Warner, Addison 0., 583,
584
(Capt.), 238, 585
(Col.), 405
Geo. W., 232, 501,
640
(Major), 97
Rufus, 392
Warner (Hon.), Sam., 24, 52
Warren, Chas., 764
, 24
Warriner (Rev.), E., 137,138,
209, 489, 496
Washburn, Geo. A., 271
Washington, Geo., 22
Watcrbury, Geo. A., 426
Waterhouse (Mrs.), C. R.,
471
Waters, John M., 533
John, 654
Watrous, , 632
Watson, W. B., 558
Wayland, Francis, 183
Francis, Jr., 226, 522
M., 183, 184, 185
(Chaplain), 200, 201,
523, 655
Webb (Lt.), 245, 246
W. M., 6.50, 655
Webster (Dr.), C. B., 467
Weemes, Thad. M., 424
Welch (Hon.), E. K., 52, 82
H. R. W., 188, 632
H. M., 183, 226
(Asst. Surg.), John
B., 156
(Dr.), 243
Moses C, 697
(Rev.), 302
Weld, Mason C, 249, 402,
422
Weldon, T. N., 705
Wells, Alfred, 247, 431
Curtis B., 214
Henry A., 126, 346
Welles, Frank, 728
(Mrs.), Oswin, 470
(Mi-s.), Sec, 469
Wessels, Henry W., 402,486
Leverett, W., 233,
720
Leverett, 457
(Col.), 234, 238, 506
(Gen. J, 488
Westover, W. W., 567
Wetherby (Rev.), Chas. N.,
'580
Wetmore, Prosper M., 54,
125, 130, 253
Whaples, W. W., 654
Wheatlev, Richard, 317,318,
'426
Wheaton, Albert F., 346
Wheeler, A. M., 432
John D., 227
John I., 316
Wheeler, Jonathan, 49
Mark H , 426
Wheeler (Sergt.), 585
Wheelock, S. B., 253
Whipple, Samuel, 583
Samuel S., 585
Whitaker (Capt.), 616
Daniel, 569
Edward W., 102, 569
586, 614, 645, 757
Whitcomb (Dr.), 274
J. B., 279
White (Col.), 133
Elijah, 277
Geo. M., 227
Geo. W., 772
H. D., 226
(Lt. Col.), 118
Moses C, 151
(Dr.), M. C, 471
Nelson L., 47, 556,
617
S. L., 655, 65G
(Mr. and Mrs.), Wm.
D., 392
Whiting, F. K. H., 709
Whitney, E. P., 105
Eli, 27, 226
Whittlesey, 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 (Adj.), 361
A. H., 362, 371, 381,
450, 729, 731, 732,
783
Wildman (Capt.), 47
E. E., 62
(Miss), Elizabeth, 407
F. S.,467
(Miss), Mary, 467
T. C, 651
Wilkinson, E., 49
Willett, John B., 766
Willey, Hon. Hiram, 231
Willa'rd, Samuel F., 225, 281
Williams, A. S., 722
Frank, 87
Geo. S., 234
George M., 624
(Rev":), John, 183
J. D., 224
(Gen.), 310, 311
Joseph D., 456
R. G., 72
William C, 661
, 48
Wiilimann, Joseph, 433
Wills, Alfred, 428
Wilson,G. W., 46
J. H., 446
P. P., 705
Robert, 304
,393
Winchester & Davies, 61
(Mrs.), Wm., 471
892
INDEX OF NAMES.
Winslow, Geo. A., 728
Winthrop, Gov. Jolin, 16,
17
Francis R., 89
Theodore, 89
(Maior), 111
Wistai- (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, 119
Woodruff (Chaplain), 454
D. A., 6.54
(Rev.), G. W., 183
(Hon.), John, 32, 71,
226, 244
(Rev.), R., 623
K. K., 623
Richard K., 766
S. A., 686
S. F., 700
Samuel S., 235, 360
(Mr.), 449
Woodwai-d (Dr.), A., 114,
185, 426
James M., 24
John A., 431
Woolby, J. J., 11, 124, 183
Woolsev, Thco. D., 183
(Miss), D., 471
Worden, Samuel D., 357
Wooster (Col.), 366, 37!5,
378, 386, 653, 667
D. B., 505
Wm. B., 47, 80, 234,
461, 637, 648, 649
Work (Mrs.), T. J., 470
Wright, Benj., 514, 670
Dexter R., 46, 222,
227, 288, 329, 330,
458, 460
(Gen.), H. G., 12,3,
202, 594, 596
Horace W., 545
Ira, 45, 63
John B., 188
T., 623
Wm., 125, 573
Wyant, Wilson, 74