USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 92
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OUTWARD BOUND
On Sunday morning, February 15, 1919, 250 of us sailed from Hoboken on the United States Transport Leviathan, once the crowning glory of the Ham- burg-American line, equipped with every modern convenience and luxury; a palatial ocean home for the millionaire globe trotter. Now, however, all had changed-all luxuries and unnecessary equipment had been removed to give place to rafts and life-boats, indispensable when traveling on waters infested with mines and U-boats. On decks, where once had promenaded gaily-attired pleasure seekers, there were now young men and women dressed in somber uni- form, relief workers on their way to the stricken people of the Near East.
Our trip across to France was uneventful and on Sunday, February 23, we anchored in the picturesque harbor of Brest. Of course it was raining when we landed, for there the sun shines but five days out of 365 and the American translation of the name Brest is "Mud." But a town of mud can be very lovely, as we soon discovered in walking about its quaint cobblestone streets, with the picturesque peasants clattering about in their wooden shoes. At 9 o'clock Sunday evening we boarded the train that was to take us across France to Marseilles, an American Red Cross hospital train of ten cars. Each car had thirty-six bunks, eighteen on a side, three deep. During the day the middle bunk was let down and the lower one used as a seat. At the end of each car was a small compartment with a sink and cupboards for holding the tin plates, cups and spoons. On the outside the cars were painted a dull brown, with a large Red Cross at both ends of the two sides and a large "U. S." in the center. Each car had two soldiers or orderlies who served us our "chow"; breakfast of dry bread, bacon and coffee; and dinner and supper of a meat and potato stew called "slum," dry bread and coffee. Retiring for the night was the simple process of removing one's shoes and rolling up in a blanket.
We should have reached Marseilles on Tuesday but our train seemed to be no better than freight, and often we were held up on a sidetrack for hours to let real freight go by. We finally reached Marseilles Wednesday afternoon, March 16, 1919, and found that we were to sail immediately on a British hos- pital ship-the Gloucester Castle-which, during the first year of the war, was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel while on its way to England filled with wounded soldiers; all of the soldiers were taken off safely and a year later the ship was raised and once more put into service.
The Mediterranean was just as I had always pictured it-blue as the sky and calm as a mill pond-so that our sail to Constantinople was most delightful,
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with a three-days' stop at Saloniki in Greece, with its very beautiful harbor and interesting old ruins that crown the hills in back of the city.
IN AND AROUND THE DARDANELLES
On Friday morning, March 14, we sailed into the Dardanelles. We had our mine sweepers out, as there was still danger of mines in that water, and dark coming on before we were out of the Dardanelles, we had to anchor for the night, because no passenger ships were allowed to proceed after sunset for fear of disaster. By Saturday noon we were in the harbor at Constantinople. It was cold and rainy and our dreams of how the great city would look were not fulfilled. We went ashore at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and there were so many of us that we were scattered to the four winds for quarters; some in private families, some in the American Woman's College, and some in a train at the station. Most of us, however, were sent over to stay in three different hotels on Prinkipo, an island about one and a half hours' sail from Constanti- nople, in the Sea of Marmora. It was on this island that the Russian Bolsheviki were to meet with representatives sent by the peace conference.
The island is very beautiful and a popular summer resort for wealthy peo- ple of Constantinople. At this time there was a prison camp on the island, containing several hundred German soldiers; but they were not closely con- fined and roamed freely about the island. The hotels were very different from American hotels. Sanitary arrangements were few and far between and bath- tubs and water running through pipes was a thing unknown. The population was about 4,000, mostly Armenians. Of course, the Armenians were very much interested in us and treated us royally. They gave a party for us at one of the hotels-speeches, music, refreshments and large floral pieces for the committee. Several of us were invited to call at some of the homes there, and they were very kind to us; but sometimes it was very amusing, because all of them could not speak English, and a few of us could speak Armenian; we sat around and smiled at each other at regular intervals.
They always served us with delicious Turkish coffee and cakes and in one of the homes where we called they showed us through the house and, as we were going out, gave us each a beautiful little bouquet of gorgeous English violets, with a rose in the center, all freshly picked from their garden. Think of that in the month of March! This family lived in Constantinople and this was their summer home; but the Turks had made it so uncomfortable for them that they had closed their city house. They were evidently very wealthy; as one had to be to buy even the bare necessities of life in Constantinople. Shoes were $50 per pair, suits in proportion, bread-awful stuff-$1 a loaf, in American money.
Thirty-six of us were assigned to go into the Caucasian Mountains, but then my assignment was changed and I was told to be ready to leave for Derindje, Asia Minor, a very small town on the Gulf of Ismid, about fifty miles up the Sea of Marmora from Constantinople. We made the trip on a United States submarine-chaser. At Derindje we lived in a huge warehouse, 350 by 50 feet and seven stories high-four of them in all, built by the Germans on the Berlin to Bagdad railroad. Each warehouse, when we arrived, was loaded with sup- plies for our relief work and all were under the command of the United States Navy.
While there we were not allowed to go outside the barbed-wire enclosure in
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parties of less than three and one of the three must be armed, for the nearby hills were filled with brigands armed to the teeth, whose one desire was money, even at the expense of a life. My work at Derindje was taking charge of the motor-equipment stores-assembling of motor parts that the cars might be put together (Reo, Ford and Chevrolet), our working day consisting of ten hours.
I was re-assigned to the Syrian Unit and returned to Constantinople, where I waited for further orders until April 23d, when I was notified that we would start the next morning for Beirut. We traveled in box cars, which were very comfortable, with only five persons in a car. We set out April 26th, fifteen people in the party and with our cook car and baggage car, we had five cars. Our first stop was at Konia, where some of our people who were helping at an orphanage showed us about and refreshed us with tea. From there we traveled over great stretches of plains; then up into the Tarus Mountains, and on to the plains again at Adana, where we were side-tracked for two days.
The next stop was at Aleppo, the first city we had seen that savored strongly of the East, and it was very fascinating, its only unpleasant feature being a wind that blows from off the desert the year around, and as the city is sur- rounded by desert sand, the air was always filled with it, and one looked at everything through a mist or haze. The city is extremely old and has an inter- esting and ancient citadel, several very old mosques, and a fascinating bazaar. British troops were everywhere and Saturday afternoon we watched them at horseback racing; while between races we ate cakes and drank tea-strongly flavored with desert sand.
The next day we visited the citadel and one of the mosques and the bazaar, and gazed at the Arabs with admiration as they went by us, dressed in their long, highly-colored robes and their gay turbans. Monday we went up to the Red Cross headquarters and saw some of our people who had been sent there for work some time before, and as there were some 40,000 refugees in the city, as well as hundreds of orphans, there was plenty of work for them to do.
A PARADISE OF FRUITS
That night we left, and on Tuesday reached Baalbeck, a little town in the mountains about four thousand feet above sea level and a paradise of fruit trees, lemon, orange, pomegranate, olive and fig. We stopped here to see three ruined temples which had been built and re-built by the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, and Turks. Our first glimpse of them, just at sunset, revealed a beautiful picture. The next afternoon we went to Ryach, about twenty miles away, where we spent our last night in the box cars, as from there on to Beirut it was narrow gauge and we could not use them.
We were up early Thursday morning and had to carry our luggage across to the railroad platform, for the station was in ruins from air raids during the war. The ride down through the Lebanon Mountains was beautiful and inter- esting ; far below was the Lebanon valley and in the distance the snow-capped Mount Hermon. That afternoon we came in sight of Beirut, and were met a little later in the station by members of the A. C. R. N. E., who had been sent on ahead to escort us to our quarters there, to await permanent assignments.
On Wednesday, having received my assignment, I left for the ancient city of Sidon, about thirty miles down the coast from Beirut. There two of us were assigned to an orphanage of 160 girls and ninety baby boys and girls, where we had the supervision of the children.
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In June I was transferred to a camp for refugees at Port Said, Egypt. Here were 9,000 Armenian refugees, and my work was to take charge of the clothing made for them. I had ten women cutting, twenty-one on sewing machines and five women and one man for odd jobs.
There were many other shops, carpenter, shoe, tin and blacksmith, a comb factory, weaving room, bakery, diet kitchen, and a main kitchen where all of the food for the refugees was cooked. There was also a store in Port Said where the articles made at the camp were sold. Here the working day was of only eight hours, on account of the extreme heat and mugginess.
During July I had one week's leave and took a trip to Jerusalem, which I found a very fascinating place, with its narrow, dark, covered streets and its quaint little shops; but by far the most interesting place was the Temple area lying along the east wall of the town, and in space equal to one-sixth of the entire city. It is there that the past speaks with tremendous power, and one could wander about for days and never weary of studying the old gates and towers and temples, tangible records of ancient history.
As to the sacred places, I must confess that I was not thrilled to the very depths as perhaps one should be. The surroundings are so gaudy, and the authenticity of the detail so questionable, that I found it most difficult to pic- ture Christ's life and sufferings amid such scenes; and it was always with a feeling of relief that I stepped out into the light of day. It was when I stood upon the summit of the Mount of Olives that I felt the nearness to Christ and the times in which he lived, for time has made but few changes there; and as one looks out across the billowy hilltops of Judea to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea, it is then that one feels the presence of that Great Spirit which lives forever throughout the world.
Returning to Port Said, I was given charge of both the clothing and carpen- ter shops, and this kept me very busy. During August about three thousand refugees were able to return to their homes, reducing the number in the camp to about six thousand. From then on, refugees were constantly returning to their homes.
THE GREAT TRAGEDY OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE
It was during my work in Egypt that my eyes were really opened to the great tragedy of the Armenian people. Of course I had read article upon article of their suffering and misery, I had seen them begging in the streets of Constantinople, literally "a rag, a bone and a hank of hair." But it was when I worked with them and listened to the stories from their own lips of their struggle for life that I realized most keenly their pitiable plight; the oldest Christian nation, wandering, homeless, forlorn, destitute of all the material things that make life possible, but holding with the last ounce of their strength a deep belief in a great power above that of man, which would eventually lead them to their own.
Their journey to the haven of refuge in Egypt was one beset by great dangers and hardships; traveling on foot across the fiery Arabian desert, or fighting day and night against the biting cold of Northern Russia, and hence by sea to Egypt. They arrived at camp with all that they possessed in the world carried in their two hands, eyes dulled by fever and disease, but always strug- gling forward with dragging steps, for above them hovered the black cloud of death, with hand raised ready to strike if one of them should falter.
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With what a different spirit did they leave when the time came for them to go north once more! The light gleamed from the once fever-glazed eyes; their life-long dream was to be fulfilled, they were going back to their homes, no longer to lead the lives of hunted animals, and peace would be theirs forever.
But listen to the end of their story. Fully two-thirds of these 9,000 souls died the following winter from massacres, starvation and exposure !
In October orders came to close up all industries as the camp was to be moved. This we did; and then the plans were changed and we stayed on; but the industries were not re-opened and I was transferred and had charge of the store in town. On November 5th came the order to close up and report at Beirut. We left Port Said on the 28th of November and went up to Jerusalem. We spent several days there, going from there to Haifa, from Haifa to Damas- cus, and from Damascus to Beirut.
Upon arrival in Beirut we waited a week for orders. I was then sent to Tripoli, to an orphanage, where I was supervisor and housekeeper for about one hundred and fifty Syrian girls, made orphans by the war. I worked there for three months and on March 9th I left Tripoli for my next "assignment"- Home !
And now that that assignment, "Home," has been reached, what is my impression of that far-away country ? It is a land old and worn, its people struggling, struggling, always against great odds, to realize the hopes and ambi- tions that every man has the world over, whoever he may be; freedom from oppression and the opportunity to work out his own salvation. They look to us, the people of the West, to give them aid in this their last stand against the oncoming storm that has power to engulf them.
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CHAPTER XXIII CIVIL WAR RECOLLECTIONS, 1861-1865
WINDHAM IN THE CIVIL. WAR-ROLL OF ENLISTMENTS OF WINDHAM-ROSTER FRANCIS S. LONG POST-SCOTLAND-CHAPLIN-CANTERBURY-WINDHAM COUNTY OFFICERS-LEWIS SMITH'S STORY-GEN. NATHANIEL LYON-SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS, WINDHAM COUNTY
It was not the intention of this work, nor has any attempt been made, to collect data concerning the part of Windham County and its towns in the Civil war, as that record is available in other published works. But in a few instances articles and information have come in, which are too valuable to omit, and they are therefore published.
The excellent article by James Haggerty of Willimantic came in response to a special request from the editor, because of Mr. Haggerty's unique record as one of the very youngest, if not actually the youngest, in the country to enlist for the Union. His story of the Town of Windham in this relation is thoroughly typical, and will show the spirit of that time, and indicate the ready response which came from all of the towns of the county.
The "roll of enlistments from the Town of Windham" was carefully com- piled for this work by the late Capt. Jerome B. Baldwin only a few days before his death, and his intense interest and determination to complete this record, even when, as is now known, he felt that he had not long to live, was an act thor- oughly characteristic of his patriotic devotion and civic pride, as evidenced not only by his career as a soldier, but throughout all his later civilian life.
The other data, from several towns, and gleaned from public records, was contributed by various persons and is gladly published. This includes certain data relative to the Spanish-American war.
WINDHAM IN THE CIVIL WAR By James Haggerty
In 1859-60 the good people of Windham were pursuing their ordinary voca- tions without any thought of engaging in strife with their brethren of the South- land. While it was noticeable from time to time that discouraging rumors came from the other side of Mason and Dixon's line, still the people contented them- selves with the thought "the South will never resort to arms." At that very period, the South was doing everything possible in preparing for the conflict. The people were recovering from the panic of 1857 and conditions were becom- ing normal again.
Strange to relate, a certain native-born element in the town were pro-slavery men. They openly voiced their sentiments and swore they would support the South and its institution of slavery. But when, as from a clear sky, the war cloud descended upon this peaceful community, there was no more pro-slavery talk, but instead each and every one swore allegiance to the government and
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went forth to uphold the honor of the old town and battle for the cause of freedom. Many of those boys lie buried in southern soil.
With the news of the attack upon Fort Sumter, the town became wildly excited. Public meetings were held in the basement of the Methodist Church. The townspeople, laying aside party lines, assembled in great numbers. Resolu- tions were adopted calling for the support of all patriotic citizens. Everybody was filled with enthusiasm. The good women of the town immediately formed themselves into committees for the welfare of the cause.
JAMES HAGGERTY
At that period a company of militia was stationed in the town. For some unknown reason they were not called to fill the quota. Two men of this company, Thomas Gallagher and John Weaver, enlisted and went to the front. Gallagher was killed at Seven Pines, and Weaver died in the service. However, the honor of being the first man to enlist from the Town of Windham belongs to William Henry Davis, who joined the Third Connecticut Infantry and took part in the battle of Bull Run. Davis afterwards served three years in the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
When news of the disastrous battle of Bull Run reached Windham, the peo- ple were not cast down. At a meeting held in the basement of the Methodist Church, with Horace Hall presiding, it was the sentiment of all present, "That the town should and would furnish any means in its power in men and money to prosecute the war to the uttermost limit."
Recruiting and enlistments began immediately. Parades and patriotic rallies relieved the pent-up feelings of the people. Then came the national call for 500,000 men. Immediately recruiting stations were established. Men began to enlist for the various Connecticut regiments forming for the field. A recruiting office was opened in the basement of the Bassett Block, in charge of Francis R.
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Long. Captain Long was killed July 30, 1864, in front of Petersburg while in command of sharpshooters along the Union line of works.
From a peace-loving pastoral people, unaccustomed to war with its attendant horrors, the citizens of Windham awakened to the fact that the Union was in danger. The aftermath of Bull Run roused the people of the town to act in such a manner that for four long years thereafter, men and money, likewise supplies of all kinds, were generously provided to assist the men at the front, and uphold the honor and integrity of this historic old town.
Recruiting started immediately. Marching clubs were organized. Old Frank- lin Hall was used as a drill hall. An organization known by the name of "Wide- awakes" came into existence and the best citizens of the town became members. The old Willimantic Bank, comprising many of the leading citizens of that day, including William Curtis Jillson, John Moulton, Lyman Jordan, Tom Rollinson, and many others, gave their time and efforts in helping along the good cause. Whiting and James Hayden, John Tracy, the Lincolns, Halls, Campbells, and all the old families gave aid and assistance. Public meetings were numerous. Everybody was filled with patriotism and a desire to stand by the government in every emergency.
The sole exception in the entire town was a well-known hotel keeper, who, in season and out of season, was pronounced in his arguments against the Union, the government, and anything pertaining to the Union cause. Instead of send- ing him to jail for treason, he was allowed to go south with the avowed intention of joining the Southern army. And this is what happened to this unpatriotic son of old Windham. Instead of joining the confederates, he went to Washington, bought horses and a wagon, filled the wagon with supplies, and followed the Union army to Centerbrook, Va., as an army sutler or trader. In the rout after the battle of Bull Run he was captured by the Confederates. When they came up to him, he was very gracious, and saluting them joyfully, said : "Gentlemen, I am in favor of the South." "Well," said an officer, "if that is so, why didn't you come down here and take up a gun?" "I couldn't get away," said the ex-hotel keeper. "All right," said the officer, "we will take care of you." And they did so. He was sent to Richmond and for three years was confined in a cell in Castle Thunder as a spy. In 1864 he was released. He came home a physical wreck, and died shortly after his arrival.
Among the many who did everything in their power to help the cause was James Walden. The only telegraph office in the town was located in Mr. Walden's store. Here the citizens would gather to get the latest news. Here the first news of the defeat at Ball's Bluff, Big Bethel, and Bull Run were received.
Another patriotic citizen was John Brown. Mr. Brown, although well advanced in years, was an ardent supporter of everything that would be of benefit to the cause. After the war he was for many years postmaster.
Recruiting began at once for the various regiments. The Fifth Connecticut Infantry was forming in Hartford. Colonel Baker, a regular army officer, and a native of Windham, was in command. Quite a number of Willimantic boys joined. Among them was Lieut. Salem Purinton and Orderly Sergeant Luke Flynn. The Seventh Connecticut Infantry, commanded by Gen. Joe Hawley, afterwards United States senator, held a large number of our townsmen.
The Eighth Connecticut Infantry had a number from Willimantic, including Lieut. James Roberts. The Eleventh Connecticut Infantry was also well repre- sented by our town. The Twelfth Connecticut Infantry had an entire company
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from Windham, commanded by Capt. Lester Braley. The Fourteenth Con- necticut Infantry contained many Windham men, including Lieut. Thomas Wood, who was killed. The Eighteenth Connecticut Infantry had an entire company of 100 men from Windham commanded by Capt. Charles Bowen, Lieutenants Locke, Long and Loomis. The Twenty-first Connecticut Infantry had a large number of Windham men, including Jerome B. Baldwin. The First Artillery, the First Cavalry, and some other regiments from our state had members from Windham.
When the war broke out, the colored population of Windham was composed of only two families. A representative from each family went to the front. James Jackson served faithfully in the Twenty-ninth Connecticut Infantry, and Charles Watson was a member of Company H, Eighteenth Connecticut, and died a prisoner of war at Saulsbury, N. C.
Daniel O'Sullivan was a lieutenant in the Ninth Connecticut Infantry. Owing to slowness in organizing regiments, many Windham men went to New York, Boston, Providence, and other cities, joining organizations in these places. Among them was Michael Duffy and William Gallagher, who joined Meagher's Irish Brigade. Duffy was badly wounded and received a medal of honor. Gallagher was killed.
Another medal-of-honor man from Windham was Patrick Fitzpatrick of the Twelfth Connecticut, who was one of the "forlorn-hope" at the assault upon Port Hudson.
The men of Windham who went to the front to battle for the cause of free- dom were man of stability. They fought for four years in a manner satisfactory to themselves and the cause they represented. Upon every battlefield of the Southland the sons of old Windham were represented, and there today they lie in immortal glory.
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