History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 63

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 63

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

I 1

251

DANBURY.

lieutenant, and Corp. A. M. Whitlock, to be second lientenant. Two privates, W. H. Botsford and E. A. Sage, wero promotod to bo first lieu- tenants. The first assistant surgoon of the regiment was Dr. W. C. Bennett, who became a brigado surgeon. The company largely re-en- listed at the eloso of tho thireo years' term, and so served until the closo of the war. It received fifty-nine recruits, making its total strength ono hundred and sixty-five men.

" After the departure of tho Zouaves from Danbury there camo a lull in military operations liere. Thero was no pressing demand for troops, and no organization was forming. Wo had done our sharo of tho work, and were now waiting to seo how things were going to turn out. Por- haps what we had done would be sufficient. At any rate, there was nothing more to do but to wait and look and speculate. An army had gathered in Virginia, the coming battle-ground, and tho hosts of friends and foes were on the eve of what the greator portion of us believed would be tho decisivo battle of the war. Thoso wero days of eager watch- ing, but the feeling was of that intense nature that found little outward expression.

" At last it came. There was an awful crash, and thon a shock,-such a dreadful shoek ] The battle of Bull Run was fought, and-lost. Our splendid army was shamefully beaten and driven back in defeat and dismay.

"The waiting was over, the watching at an end, and the strong, faith- ful heart of our sturdy town smothered its grief and went bravely to work to build anew.

"Military Hall again blazed with light and sounded with tho tramp of volunteer feet, and the drum and fife awakened the echoes of our streets. Benjamin F. Skinner and William Moegling, fresh from the disastrous battle-field, received authority from Governor Buckingham to recruit a company for the then forming Sixth Regiment, and fell to work at once to execute the commission.

"Oa the night of August 19th a large, enthusiastic public meoting was held in Concert Hall with a view to stimulating enlistments in the now company. Thirty names had already been earolled, aad fourteen more were added that night. Within a week the company was completed, and on the 28th of Angust it departed for New Haven. Although recruited for the Sixth, it was assigned to the Seventh Regiment, and became Company D in that organization. B. F. Skinner was chosen captain, Joseph Duuniug first lieutenaut, and Thomas Hooten second lieutenant. These three were members of the first company of three months' men. Three weeks later, September 18th, the regiment left the State for the front.

" The Seventh served the greater part of its time ia the far South. It was the first to land on the soil of South Carolina, and its flag was the first national color unfurled in that State sinco the beginning of the war. Governor Buckingham promulgated the fact in a special order, and it was read to every Connecticut regiment in the field. This alone was glory eaough, but the Seventh did graud service throughout the war. It saw more fighting than any other regiment in which Danbury had a company, taking part in nineteen engagements, chief among which were the battles of Morris Island and Fort Wagner, and those about Bermuda Hundred. The Seventh was a ' fighting regiment' ia the fullest sense of the term. The Danbury eompaay bore its full share of the work, as tho casualties show, its loss in killed and wounded being greater than the average of the companies. The company had none of its commissioned officers on its return, and yet there were but two promotions from the ranks. Capt. Skinner resigued in February, 1864, First Lient. Dunning left the service in the first year, and Second Lieut. Hooten lost his brave life in battle on the 14th of Juue, 1862. First Sergt. Theodore C. Wild- man was promoted to be first lieutenant, and Private William W. New- man reached the same office. In view of the service of the com- pany, the changes ia position were remarkably few. Most of the company re-enlisted on the expiration of its three years' term, and sorved until the close of the war. Its losses exceeded those of any company Danbury sent to the war. Eleven of its members were killed outright, twenty-seven were wounded, of whom six died from the effects of wounds and twenty-one died with disease, of which number six died in tho An- dersonville prison. The company entered the army with ono hundred and five meu and received sixty-three recruits.

"On the 24th of August another company was formed. There has always been much that was mysterious surronndiug this organization. It has no record, and not even its officers are fully known. No trace of tho company is in the possession of tho State authorities. It participated iu but one battle, but suffered severely. Like a gourd it grew up and went down in one day. It disbauded with considerable ostentation. In fact, the disbandment covered more ground tbau all its service. But oao dark spot dims its glory. The scars of the wounds received in that battle are deli-

cately concealed from sight, and are only visible to the public when the survivors are discovered in swimming. The battle of Charcoal Run took place on the 24th of Angust, 1861.

" Inmuediately following this tragedy came the Inception of the fifth company in Danbury's contribution to the army. In spite of the rather Inauspicious fact that the organizer was an enterprising undertaker, the formation of the company went rapidly forward, and under almost as great a strain of excitement as signalized the former enrollment.

"On tho 26th of September the company left Danbury for Hartford, where It remained until the 16th of December following, when it went to the front as Company A of the Eleventh Regiment. It was con- manded by Capt. George A. Southmayd. Ilis first lieutenant was Samuel G. Bailey, and the second lieutenant Charles HI. White. The company was called the Averill Rifles, tho namo being adopted in honor of Hon. Roger Averill. It left Danbury to go to llartford on a national fast- day, September 26th, and returned here on Thanksgiving Day, Novem- ber 28th, for the purpose of receiving a stand of colors, a gift front Gov- ernor Averill. The exercises took place in Concert Hall, where the mon- ument now stands, and there are thioso here this evening who vividly remember all its details and will look back npon that November evening with peculiar sensations.

" As a part of the Eleventh Regiment the Averill Rifles participated in ten serions engagements. Chief among these were Antietam, Freder- icksburg, Drury's Bluff, and before Petersburg. Its losses were ten killed or died from wounds and twenty-two wounded. Sixteen of the members died with disease, three of them while prisoners of warat Andersonville. The company was the largest from Danbury in the service. It was orginally one hundred and one strong, and during its term it received one hundred and six recruits, making tho total two hundred and seven. It re-enlisted in 1864, aud was mustered out in December, 1865. It met with many changes. Capt. Southmayd resigned in the summer of 1862. First Lieut. Bailey was promoted to the vacancy, and right after re- signed. Second Lieut. White was promoted to his place, and resigned. The company lost these three officers within the space of two weeks. First Sergt. Henry J. McDonald became major, Second Sergt. D. B. Mans- field was made a second lieutenant, Fourth Sergt. Nathan Cornwall and Corp. George Cassidy first lieutenants. From the ranks David A. Hoag rose to be captain, Johu H. Sniffin to be first lieutenant, Peter W. Ambler, Christian Quien, and Sylvester C. Platt second lientenauts. Charles Par- kor, a recruit, was appointed a quartermaster.

" A company of German citizens in this regiment was commanded by Capt. William Moegling, who was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel, and was twice wounded. From the effects of these wounds he was obliged to return home, and here he died on the 26th of October, 1864, one of the bravest of Danbury's volunteers. There were seven Danbury citizens ia Capt. Moegling's company.

" Tho Eleventh was one of the crack regiments of Connecticut. It was always to be depended npon, and won the hearty approbation of its brigade commanders. When it appeared in New York city on its way to the front it had quite areception, and its soldierly bearing won the praise of the city press.

" The fivo companies whose histories I have briefly sketched comprise tho number of organizations that Danbury furnished to maintain the nation's life in that first year of the war.

" In the regiment of cavalry raised that summer there were a score of Danbury men. In fact, our town was represented ia every company in the troop. There were also recruits from here in every regiuient but the Second that went out of the State that year.

"On the 3d of December, 1861, Andrew Knox, of Danbury, receivel authority from Goveruor Buckingham to raise recruits for the service. Ile immediately began the work, and in a very short time had securo l forty-five volunteers. With these ho reported at Hartford for anty. They were assigned to Company B of the First Heavy Artillery, which had then emerged from the Fourth Infantry. Nelsou L. White was the lieutenant-colonel of this admirable regiment. Knox was made second lieutenant of the company, and was promoted shortly after to be first lientenant. When I have occasion to write his obituary I will speak more particularly of him.

" Danbury is not considered to be specially connected with this regi- ment, and yet thero were fifty-five residents of our town in Lieut. Knox's company, or more than there wore in any company orgamzed here with the singlo exception of Company K, Twenty-third Regiment. I do not include in the count those who belonged to the quota of the town and enlisted here, but simply those who had residence in Danbury.

" I cannot close this record of the year's work without a word for the newspapers of the day. There is a mournfnl pleasure in looking over them and pondering on their maguificeut opportunities for snubbing

İl

252

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

truth. They contain full accounts of all the battles, and one in reading the figures iu the list of casualties cannot help admiring the resources of the South, whatever he may think of its policy. I dare say there were as many Southerners killed in that first year of the war as we had men fighting in all the years. I recall one case where it stated that a Union man killed thirty-five secessionists at one shot. It led me to be- licve that the rebels fought in bales like you sometinics see codfish in a grocery, and I couldn't help shuddering when I thought how thiu their bodies must be. At the same time I wished that I owned that gun. Really, our government did not need one-tenth the troops it raised.

" The second year of the war, 1862, passed half away without witness- ing any organizing action in Danbury. That winter will ever be known as having originated the balmy condition of affairs along the course of the Potomac. All that time the announcement of 'All quiet along the Potomac' was new and fresh, and gave quite a charm to current litera- ture.

"Occasionally there was a descent upon the village of some recruiting- agent with his dazzling prospectus. People were getting used to the war and all that pertained to it possible for them to know, and even the Dan- bury horse patiently submitted to banners and drums.

" In the summer of 1862 there was a call for three hundred thousand more troops, to serve for three years, and Danbury again bestirred herself to gather her sons and send them forth to the fight. There was a public meeting in Concert Hall one July evening. It was a notable gathering in that it had a live Governor to address it, and a live lieutenant-gover- nor to preside over it. Governor Buckingham, the noble hero, was here that night, and Lieut .- Gov. Averill was called to the chair. Both of them made addresses which were appcals that stirred the ardor of Dan- bury as it had not been stirred since the Bull Run disaster.

" It was a tremendous meeting,-the biggest yet held. A large num- ber could not gain admittance to the hall. The building was full. It is said there were over a thousand persons in there that night. You who remember the old hall will agree with me that the ushers must have had years of experience in boxing sardines. When the speaking was over there was a call for volunteers. A tall man went forward. He had the typical military figure,-tall, slim, straight. He wrote his name on the paper presented. It was the first name, and was read to the audience. It was that of James E. Moore. The announcement of this name was received with a storm of applause. Little did he who wrote it, or those who cheered it, anticipate the tragedy that a year later was to quench his lite. Other names rapidly followed, and the first step for the formation of the Wildman Guards was taken. The name was adopted in honor of our fellow-citizen, Frederick S. Wildman. The command thus started soon became a full company, and took the designation of 'C' in the Seventeenth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, then being raised by this county, and the only distinctively Fairfield County regiment re- crnited. Its headquarters were at Bridgeport. On the 28th of August it was mustered into the United States service, and on the 3d of Sep- tember it left the State for the front.

"Capt. James E. Moore was the commander of this company. The first lieutenant was Wilton H. Daniels. The second lieutenant was Henry Quien. The company numbered one hundred aud two on leaving the State. During its term of service it received seven recruits, making its total number one hundred and nine. Its battles were not many, but its record shows that it made the most of its opportunities. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, where it served until after the battle of Gettysburg, when it was transferred to the Department of the South and did duty before Charleston and in Florida. The Danbury company first came under fire at Chancellorsville, where it had one niemi- ber fatally wounded and two less serionsly. Its second engagemeut was Gettysburg. Here its experience was most bitter. Its loss in that fight was the most serious sustained by any Danbury company in any one en- gagement fought. If I recollect aright, the company went into the bat- tle with forty-four members. Of these eleven were killed outright or died shortly from the effects of wounds. Eleven were otherwise wounded and eleven were captured, leaving eleven survivors. Ou that field the brave captain gave up his life, and three of his sergeauts perished with him. The company's casualties during its three years of service were twelve killed ontright or fatally wounded, twelve otherwise wounded, aud seven died of disease. There were but few promotions. Both lieu- tenants, Daniels and Quien, became captain of the company, the former resigning in March, 1864. Sergt. William L. Daniels was made first lieutenant.

" The adjutant-general of the State, in his report of the services of the Connecticut troops, speaks in the following distinctive terns of the Seventeenth :

"'Thus ended the honoralle service of a regiment the superior of

which in intelligence, morale, courage, and endurance was not found in the army. Tlic commonwealth of Connecticut will ever cherish the memory of its dead and honor its living.'

"The Fifteenth Regiment went into the service at the same time with tbe Seventeenth. The late Dr. E. F. Hendrick was an assistant surgcon in this regiment, which had fifteen of our citizens. One of these was Charles S. Gray, who entered the service as a sergeant and was promoted to be second lieutenant.

" In September, 1862, Danbury completed her last organizations for the war. These were two companies enlisted for a term of nine months. Both companies were recruited for the Twenty-third Regiment. Each contained eighty-three members. The first was Company B. Its cap- tain was James H. Jenkins. The first lieutenant was the lamented Frederick Starr, who was fatally wounded in the battle of La Fourche, La. The second lieutenant was William B. Betts, who was promoted to be first lieutenant on the death of Starr. Sergt. Henry I. Smith became second lieutenant. The company's loss iu the service were two from wounds and thrce from disease.

"The second company was mustered in as Company K. It was com- manded by Capt. Samuel G. Bailey. The first lieutenant was Edwin H. Nearing, and the second George Quien. The Quiens may be called a family of officers. All its available force, three sons, went into the ser- vice, aud all were officers. The casualties of Company K were the cap- ture of Capt. Bailey and the deaths front disease of four members.

"The regiment served in Louisiana and faithfully discharged the duties assigned to it. Samuel Gregory was the adjutant and Eli Ferry the ser- geant-major of the regiment.

" I have here prepared a table which shows the strength and the loss of Danbury in the war for the Union. . Although our village had organi- zations in but seven of the thirty regiments from the State, it had repre- sentatives in nearly all of them. In this table is given the strengtli of the Danbury companies and the number of Danburians in other con- panies of the same regiments:

Regiment.

Danbury Co. Other Cos.

Total.

Wounded. Killed.

1st.

3d ..

3d I. L. Bat.

Ist Cav.

...

5th

165

173

·6

7th

168

204

8tl:

...

11th

207

228

12th

...

13th

...

14th

...

17th.

109

128

20tlı

...

23d

I66

181

24tht

...

30th

Total

970

390

1360

"This shows that Danbury had six companies in the army whose total membership was 970. In other companies were 390 of her citizens, making a grand total of 1360, or nearly one-sirth of her population. Of these 56 were killed, 91 were wounded, and 89 died of disease, the total of casualties being one-sixth of the contribution.

" This is the record over which Danbury exults while it mourns. In all the towns of this suffering, enduring, brave little State there is none that presents a grander record than this. From the hour when the shame put on Sumter thrilled her loyal heart, she never faltered in the way once set before her. There can no one now or in the future yet to come, however distant it may grow, lay the finger of reproach upon our dear old mother, or say that in aught pertaining to the welfare of her own or of the land she so dearly loves her loyalty had lacking.

"From out the tears that fall for those who in the shock of battle went the royal road to death she looks with grateful pride upon the work so bravely, so nobly wrought, and lays thereon lier earnest benediction."

* Sergt. S. L. White was made captain of Company D. He died of wounds.

+ All deserted.

# Dr. Warren of Danbury, surgeon.

...

Ist H. Artillery.

...

6th

...

9th

10th*

...

15th

...

29th Colored.

253

DANBURY.

MILITARY RECORD.

The following record of those who enlisted in the war of the Rebellion from this town is taken from the "Catalogue of Conneetieut Volunteer Organiza- tions," which was prepared from the records in the office of the adjutant-general :

E. E. Wildman, captain Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861.

J. D. Stevens, first lieutenant Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 10, 1861 ; diseh. July 31, 1861.

J. W. Bussing, second lieutenant Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861.

Andrew Knox, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

Milo Dickens, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861

William Moegling, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861.

S. L. Pettit, Co. E, Ist Regt. ; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. G. B. Allen, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861. E. S. Davis, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. Alexander Kallman, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

E. H. Dnnn, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. G. Foot, Co. E, 1st Regt. ; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

John Allen, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861. Charles H. Anderson, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31,1861.

John Bogardus, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861.

C. H. Boerum, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861.

James Blizard, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. May 9, 1861. William Blizard, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. June 10, 1861.

T. F. Bussing, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. James Bradley, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

Aaron H. Byington, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

George W. Banker, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861.

Charles A. Benger, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

H. E. Buckingham, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

W. K. Cowan, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. L. B. Clark, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. W. R. Doane, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. J. L. Day, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. E. H. Day, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. J. S. Dunning, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. Ezekiel Eaton, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861.

T. C. Fieldstone, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

C. Grimm, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. C. A. Gordon, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 : disch. July 31, 1861. W. H. Gibbs, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861. C. W. Hilbrandt, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

W. O. Hoyt, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. W. P. Hoyt, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. Jnly 31, 1861. D. B. Hoyt, Co. E, Ist Regt .; nist. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. Alfred H. Hoddinott, Co. E, 1st Regt. ; must. April 19, 1861; dischi. July 31, 1861.

Otto Hagement, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

James Howath, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch, July 31, 1861.

E. P. Jennings, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; dischi. July 31, 1861.

James Martin, Co. E, Ist Regt. ; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861.

lloraco Purdy, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

F. W. Platt, Co. E, Jst Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. Joseph W. Raymond, Co. E, Ist Regt. : most. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861.

J. R. Ross, Co. E. Ist Regt. ; inust. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861. T. Ross, Co. E, 1st Regt .; inst. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, I&GI.

G. S. Smith, Co. E, Ist Regt .; innst. April 19, 1861; dlech. July 31, 1861. Elson J. Smith, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

B. F. Skinner, Co. E, lst Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

D. Sloan, Co. E, Ist Regt. ; minst. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1801. G. Scott, Co. E, lst Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. Lewis Shack, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. Eli D. Seeley, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. A. Staples, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 186] ; disch. July 31, 1861.

G. Sears, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 186] ; disch. July 31, 1861.

J. 11. Taylor, Co. E, 1st Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. D. A. Veats, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861. E. L. Wildman, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861; disch. July 31, 1861.

Jolin Waters, Co. E, Ist Regt .; must. April 19, 1861 ; disch. July 31, 1861.

Company C.

Seth J. Crosby, must. April 22, 186] ; disch. July 31, 1861.

THIRD REGIMENT.

Company B.

Measner, Herman, must. May 11, 1861; dischi. Aug. 12, 1861.

Company C. (Mustered into service May 14, 1861.)

James E. Moore, captain ; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

Samuel G. Bailey, first lieutenant; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

Charles II. Hoyt, second lieutenant : res. June 10, 1861.

Frederick W. Jackson, sergeant ; pro. to second lieutenant; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

Walter C. Sparks, sergeant; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

lleury C. White, sergeant; disch. Ang. 12, 1861.

John R. Marsh, sergeant ; killed in battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.

Eben L. Barnum, corporal ; disch. Aug. 12, 186].

Seneca Edgett, corporal ; dischi. Ang. 12, 1861.

Milton II. Daniels, corporal ; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

Heury O. Leach, corporal ; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 63

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572