History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 11

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

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We come now to a period when the clouds of war hovered over our land. The war of 1812-14, with the questions of public

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

policy associated with it, excited great interest among the peo- ple of this county. Party spirit was aroused to a high pitch, and political animosities were kindled into vivid flame. The old Federalists as a party denounced the war and its advocates, and quite overbore for a time the influence of the sympathizing Jef- fersonians. After the embargo act of 1807, the occasion being designated as an "alarming crisis," a meeting of the citizens of Windham county was held at the court house to consider the situation. The voice of this meeting disapproved this act as a thing unnecessary, at the same time declaring that "the same patriotic spirit which conducted us to LIBERTY and INDEPEN- DENCE will now animate us when that Liberty and Independence are in danger, and that the American Nation are prepared to sacrifice their lives and fortunes in defence of the only Free Re- publican Government on Earth against the insidious wiles or the open attack of any foreign power."

Notwithstanding the dominance of the federal party and the strong influence of such men as Swift and Goddard, personal ex- perience of the exactions and insolence of Great Britain, as well as the spirit of party, led many to welcome the prospect and de- claration of war. Windham sailors had been taken from Amer- ican ships under false pretenses and made to serve for years in the British navy. The brisk little " Windham " and other craft had been seized and confiscated under Berlin Decrees and Or- ders in Council. The military spirit, revived in the hearts of the young men by what they heard their fathers tell of the revolu- tion, prompted many to accept the tempting inducements held out by recruiting officers and join the military companies that were forming. The following call, issued through the columns of the Windham Herald, illustrates the methods of obtaining re- cruits.

" RECRUITING SERVICE !!

"TO MEN OF PATRIOTISM, COURAGE AND ENTER- PRISE.

" Every able-bodied MAN, from the age of 18 to 45 years, who shall be enlisted for the ARMY of the United States, for the term of five years, will be paid a bounty of SIXTEEN DOL- LARS; and whenever he shall have served the term for which he enlisted, and obtained an honorable discharge, stating that he had faithfully performed his duty while in service, he shall

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

be allowed and paid in addition to the aforesaid bounty, THREE MONTHS PAY, and ONE HUNDRED AND SIX- TY ACRES OF LAND ; and in case he shall be killed in action, or die in the service, his heirs and representatives will be en- titled to the said three months pay, and one hundred and sixty acres of land, to be designated, surveyed, and laid off at publick expense.

" HENRY DYER, " Lieut. U. S. Infantry.

" Rendezvous, Windham, " May 11th, 1812.

" N. B .- A good DRUMMER and FIFER are wanted imme- diately."

It is hardly to be expected that the above appeal should have called out a full army at once. It doubtless met with a ready response, however. But what patriot could resist the following, which was also promulgated through the columns of the Wind- ham Herald :

"The subscriber gives this public notification to all young Gentlemen who have an inclination of serving their country and gaining immortal honor to themselves and their posterity, that · he has lately received fresh orders of Inlistment from govern- ment, which are much more favorable than those he formerly had. The period for inlistment is now fixed at five years, unless sooner discharged, after which time an honorable discharge will be given, where it is merited. Let no male or female disorgan- izer discourage you from engaging in this most laudable under- taking, but voluntarily step forth and tell the world that no usurpers shall maintain ground on Columbia's shore, but that America is, and shall be a distinct republic. Come, my good souls, come forward, let me see you at the rendezvous at Mr. Staniford's, where you will get further information, and some- thing good to cheer the heart.

"WILLIAM YOUNG, JUN., Capt."

Troops were raised by Connecticut, subject, however, only to the order of her governor. Of these troops in Windham county, Daniel Putnam was made colonel of the Second regiment, raised for special service. Of the Second company in this regiment Asa Copeland, of Pomfret, was captain; Ebenezer Grosvenor, first lieutenant; Jonathan Copeland, Jr., of Thompson, second lieutenant ; Jeremiah Scarborough, of Brooklyn, ensign. In the

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Third company George Middleton, of Plainfield, was captain ; Elkanah Eaton, first lieutenant; George W. Kies, second lieu- tenant ; Jared Wilson, of Sterling, ensign. Of the Third com- pany of Cavalry Thomas Hubbard was captain ; William Trow- bridge, first lieutenant ; William Cotton, second lieutenant ; Ralph Hall, cornet. Citizens exempt by age or official position from mil- itary service were enrolled as the First regiment of a volunteer brigade under command of General David Humphreys. Of this regiment Honorable Thomas Grosvenor was colonel: Eliphalet Holmes, lieutenant colonel ; James Danielson, first major. Such men as Lemuel Ingalls, Chester Child, Hobart Torrey, Abel Ar .- drus, Moses Arnold, Shubael Hutchins, Ebenezer Eaton, Syl- vanus Backus, John Davis, Luther Warren and Jeremiah Kins- man were officers in this regiment.

The first summons to arms created considerable excitement. June 21st, 1813, men were ordered to rendezvous in the central taverns of their respective towns, " complete in arms to go to New London as there were British there." Soldiers meeting at the taverns were in some instances marched to the meeting houses, where they were treated to stirring addresses to nerve them for the prospective scenes. Whole companies were drawn up in line ready to march in an amazingly short space of time. Marching to New London, they remained on guard there about three weeks.

Another call came in September. Artemus Bruce, Stephen Ricard, Charles Howard and some twelve or fifteen other Pom- fret boys went out under Captain Copeland and Ensign Gros- venor. Meeting others from Ashford, Windham and other towns, in Norwich, they formed a company ninety-six strong. They embarked in a sloop next day and proceeded to New Lon- don, where they encamped. Here they remained seven weeks, but were not called upon to do any fighting. A detachment of cavalry from the Fifth regiment was stationed at New London and Groton from September 1st to October 31st. These were: Comfort S. Hyde, of Canterbury, lieutenant ; John C. Howard and Jacob Dresser, sergeants; John Kendall and David Hutch- inson, corporals ; Rhodes Arnold, Henry Angell, Charles Bar- rows, Elisha P. Barstow, Zachariah Cone, Ichabod Davis, Abial Durkee, John Gallup, Arnold Hosmer, Jonathan Hammet, Jr., Edward S. Keyes, Dana Lyon, Hezekiah Loomis, William Morse, Zeba Phelps, Elisha Paine, Bela Post, Shubael Strong, Otis Stod-

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

dard and Jasper Woodward, privates. Many others of the sons of Windham, but who had gone out to other fields of life and labor, had entered the service of the country and were honoring themselves, their country and the locality of their nativity by their valorous acquittal of the trusts imposed upon them. Of these we cannot now speak particularly.

The summons to the relief of New London when invasion actually came, August 9th, 1814, awakened something of the old revolutionary enthusiasm. Lieutenant Hough, of Canter- bury, with a small body of militia, helped to defend Stonington from the attack of the British fleet, and he was himself knocked down by a shell, and taken up for dead. David Fuller, of Scot- land, begged leave of Captain Palmer to lead the first company, warned the men at sunrise, and at three o'clock in the afternoon marched off with seventeen men directly for New London. Other companies, drafted from the militia of different towns, followed as soon as possible. Marvin Adams, David Walden and others, from Scotland, reached Norwich town August 23d and lodged in the old court house. Joining other companies at Norwich, they proceeded the next day to New London, running races by the way and giving but little attention to military order. After remaining in New London about six days, they proceeded to Stonington, where they acted as a sort of guard to the town. Some of the men were in uniform, and others wore their Sunday suits. Discipline was easy and so were the duties of the men. Substitutes in standing guard could be obtained at any time for a pint of whiskey. No fighting was called for, and after enjoying a sort of protracted picnic for several weeks the men returned home in safety.

Many scenes and events of that period would afford pleasure in their recital, but the space cannot be afforded to offer them here. Though suffering visited many parts of our land, where the sterner scenes of war were enacted, and dangers hovered about the coast near this part of Connecticut, yet the participa- tion of Windham county in the war really amounted to hardly more than a farce. This fact, however, did not prevent the news of peace being hailed with many and hearty demonstra- tions of rejoicing. The news of Jackson's triumphant victory at New Orleans reached Windham simultaneously with that of the signing of the treaty of peace. The conjunction of good tidings

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

was announced by the Windham Herald, February 16th, 1815, in the following language :

"We congratulate our readers on the heart-cheering news which they will find in our paper of this day. The rumor of the glad tidings of PEACE reached this place Monday afternoon. It was immediately announced by loud peals from the belfry of the meeting house. In the course of the evening this gratifying news was fully confirmed by handbills from Hartford, etc. No event since the peace of the revolutionary war could have dif- fused such general joy. Every countenance appeared glad, and mutual gratulations were reciprocated without distinction of party. The rejoicings were resumed the next day by the ring- ing of the bell, firing of cannon and other demonstrations of joy."

Appropriate celebrations were held in most of the Windham county towns, the old field-piece of the Brooklyn Matross Com- pany doing triple service in honor of the occasion. All parties rejoiced that the war was ended, and even the bluest federalist exulted in the triumph of his countrymen. So the war of 1812 passed into history, and Windham county had from it but little to darken the peaceful trend of its own experiences. In later years the government made liberal provision by pensions for those who served their country in any way during that period.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CIVIL WAR.

An Age of Prosperity .- Growth of the Union and Anti-Slavery Sentiment .- The Strongest Republican County in Connecticut .- Outbreak of the Rebellion .- County Mass Meeting .- Volunteer Companies Formed .- The Uprising of the Martial Spirit .- Popular Excitement .- Raising the Flag .- Recruiting .- Death of General Nathaniel Lyon .- Windham's Interest in General Mc- Clellan .- Organizations Represented by Windham County Soldiers .- Re- sponses to Later Calls .- The Eighteenth Regiment .- Work of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions at Home .- The Martyrs to the Union Cause.

F OLLOWING the war of 1812-14 a long period of peace and material growth blessed the land with its strengthening effects. Windham county during this period was absorbed in building up her manufacturing enterprises and educating her sons in the principles which were to be put to the fearful test of a four years' war. During all those years of peace the principles which were at last to be involved in war were taking root and firmly establishing themselves in the hearts of the people of this county in common with hundreds of other counties in the north- ern states of the Union. Though but one of the many in this respect, still it may be said of Windham that she was at least one of the conspicuous ones in her devotion to the principles of human freedom and support of the general union of the states.

Though the resources of Windham county were relatively limited, yet her political status enabled her to extend most hearty aid and comfort to the central government. The strong anti-slavery sentiment early developed, deepened and strength- ened by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and concurrent events, overcame partisan and political bias, and made her the strongest republican county in Connecticut. The call to aid in putting down the rebellion at the South met with immediate re- sponse in this county. Meetings were at once held in all the prominent villages, and measures were instituted for carrying out patriotic resolutions. Revolutionary scenes were re-enacted.

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Young men hurried to cities to enlist, or joined in company drill at home; women came together to prepare clothing and lint ; towns hastened to make provision for raising and supplying their prospective quotas. A county mass meeting was held in Brooklyn, April 22d, 1861, at which Governor Cleveland presided. A committee on resolutions, consisting of Daniel P. Tyler, W. H. Chandler, B. F. Palmer, H. Hammond, W. Simpson, J. Q. A. Stone, B. P. Spaulding and Jeremiah Olney, declared that " citi- zens of Windham County would expend their last dollar, and exhaust the last drop of their blood ere they would submit to a disruption of the Nation." Stirring, patriotic addresses were made by many earnest speakers. Sixty volunteers offered to take the field at once, and six thousand five hundred dollars was pledged for the support of the government, Mr. W. H. Chandler heading the list with five hundred dollars. Many volunteer companies were formed in the several towns in advance of state requisition. E. W. Whitaker and Daniel Whitaker, of Ashford, and Lester E. Braley, of Windham, gained admittance into the First regiment of Connecticut volunteers. No man rendered such service in organizing Connecticut's forces as the colonel of this regiment, Daniel Tyler, of Norwich, a worthy representa- tive of the father and grandfather bearing the same name, so long honored in Brooklyn and throughout Windham county. Sixteen Windham county residents enlisted in the Second regi- ment, under Colonel Terry, and a small number in the Third, of which Alexander Warner, of Woodstock, was major, and Doctor John McGregor, of Thompson, surgeon. These regiments were hurried on to the seat of war, and took part in the action at Bull Run, where Doctor McGregor was taken prisoner.

In all the events which crowded upon each other during those early years of the war Windham county took a deep interest. The excitement and strange fascination which seized the people when the blare of martial movements swept like a noontide con- flagration over the land will be remembered by those who were living at the time as long as memory shall serve its mission to them. But how like a dream it has already become! Were it not for an occasional mound in the graveyard, an empty sleeve or otherwise disfigured body, or the face of a loved one whom the fortunes of war have never returned to the home whence he went out in the freshness and vigor of his young manhood, we might almost be tempted to set our recollections of the war down

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as a dreamy illusion of our minds-a picture of the past con- jured up by the imagination laboring under some strange spell of abnormal excitement. But there are enough of these sad material evidences to painfully refresh our fading memories and make real the misty recollections of the scenes associated with the great civil war. The people of Windham county heard the strains of martial music, as one after another companies of soldiers, in progress of forming and filling their ranks and marching to some rendezvous to enter the service, came through the different towns and villages. They heartily joined in rais- ing the dishonored flag to every position of prominence where it could float on the pure breezes of these immortal hills and proclaim to the stars of heaven and to the noon sun their de- termination to avenge the dishonor that had been attempted upon it, and to preserve, at the cost of their treasures or their lives, the fullness of its emblematic significance. One of the prominent figures of the early part of the war was General Nathaniel Lyon, a son of this county, and one of the early and conspicuous martyrs to the cause of the Union. His death was deeply mourned by the whole loyal country, but to Windham county the death was one of augmented importance from the fact already mentioned of his association with the county, and still further from the fact that hither his remains were brought and laid away in their final resting place amid impressive cere- monies, which were witnessed by the largest concourse of people ever assembled within the county. It was estimated that his funeral and interment at Eastford was attended by twenty thou- sand people. A more particular account of it will be found in connection with the history of that town.

The promotion of General George B. McClellan to the com- mand of the Union army was another event in which Windham county was peculiarly interested by local association. He was the son of Doctor George McClellan, a distinguished Philadelphia surgeon, whose boyhood was well remembered in Woodstock. James, the father of the latter, was the son of General Samuel McClellan, who was among the prominent figures of this county during the revolution. Thus the name could not but awaken enthusiasm and hope for his success in the hearts of the Wind- ham county people, and only the unwelcome conviction that the modern general lacked something of the fire of his ancestors, and did not share their anti-slavery views, overcame this early predilection.

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The events to which we have referred in general and in par_ ticular, all awakened the deepest interest in Windham county, stimulating activity in enlistment and military preparation. · Young men kept back by the reiterated declaration that they would not be needed, were mustered by hundreds into the quickly forming regiments. About fifty were included in the Fourth regiment. Company H, of the Fifth regiment, Captain Albert S. Granger, of Putnam; Company A, of the Sixth, Cap- tain Thomas K. Bates, of Brooklyn : Company K, of the Seventh, Captain Charles Burton, of Killingly, who was succeeded by Cap- tain Jerome Tourtellotte, of Putnam; and Company F, of the Eighth, Captain Elijah T. Smith, of Plainfield, were almost wholly filled with Windham county men, while others still en- listed in other companies. The Whitakers and Edwin L. Lyon, of Ashford, were enrolled in Cavalry Company B. Judson M. Lyon, of Woodstock, was major of First regiment cavalry, and Andrew B. Bowen captain of Company A, with some thirty men from Woodstock and towns adjacent. The Eleventh regiment was greatly beloved in Windham county. Officers of this regi- ment from here were Charles Matthewson, of Pomfret, lieuten- ant colonel; Reverend George Soule, of Hampton, chaplain ; Doctor James R. Whitcomb, of Brooklyn, surgeon; George W. Davis, of Thompson, quartermaster sergeant. The companies of Captain Clapp, of Pomfret, and Captain Hyde, of Plainfield, were mostly made up from this county. Many from the south- ern towns enlisted in Company G, of the Twelfth regiment, sometimes called the "Lyon Guards," under the veteran Captain Braley, of Windham. Alexander Warner, of Woodstock, went out as lieutenant colonel of the Thirteenth. Windham's contri- bution to this regiment were mostly included in Company E, of which E. E. Graves, of Thompson, was first lieutenant.

These soldiers received generous bounties from their respec- tive towns and ample provision for their families, and went out hopefully to their varied posts of duty and service. After six months of military vicissitudes, culminating in the withdrawal from the siege of Richmond, the towns were again called to raise their proportion of " three hundred thousand more." East- ern Connecticut responded with such alacrity that the Eighteenh regiment, raised in New London and Windham counties, though the last one summoned, was the first one to be ready to leave. This regiment was in line of march by the 22d of August, 1862.

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Enlistment in it, especially in the north part of the county, was greatly stimulated by the return of Doctor McGregor, after more than a year spent in captivity. A public reception given him on Thompson Green was very largely attended, and his changed appearance and affecting story made a very deep im- pression, rousing sober, thoughtful men to a truer apprehension of the nature of the contest. The Eighteenth was the most emphatically representative regiment of Windham county. Col- onel Ely was of Killingly parentage. Lieutenant Colonel Nich- ols, a favored son of Thompson, was widely known in other towns Major Keach was a Killingly veteran, while Assistant Surgeons Harrington and Hough were familiar residents of Sterling and Putnam. Companies of Windham county men were commanded by Captains T. K. Bates, of Brooklyn; Joseph Matthewson, of Pomfret; G. W. Warner, of Woodstock ; C. D. Bowen, of Windham, and E. J. Matthewson, of Killingly. Doc- tor Lowell Holbrook, of Thompson, and Reverend W. C. Walker, of Putnam, at a later date went out as surgeon and chaplain re- spectively, of this favorite regiment. Windham was also well represented in Companies D, J, and K, in the Twenty-first regi- ment, and in Company G, of the Twenty-sixth. Addison G. Warner, of Putnam, having recruited more than a hundred men for the First Cavalry, was commissioned captain, in January, 1864.

Windham also furnished recruits for the artillery and other regiments, and paid her proportion for the colored regiments, promptly fulfilling from the first to the last every requisition of government. More earnest in filling her quotas than in seeking for office, she furnished proportionably more subalterns than commanders, though many of Windham birth or stock who went out from other places, gained a high rank and rendered distinguished service. At home as in other sections there was great outflow of private liberality, money and labor being freely expended in sending comforts to friends who had gone to the front, and to the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, in every neighborhood Soldiers' Aid Societies were busily at work, and "prayer was without ceasing of the church unto God " for help and deliverance.

Of the service rendered by the men sent out from Windham county it is impossible here to give a detailed report, but there is good reason for belief that it compared favorably with that of the great mass of volunteers, and in many instances was sig-

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nally effective. Still less can we speak in detail of the lives that were sacrificed. Each town has its death-roll and its honored graves, which the people yearly decorate. Some of these heroes were among the best and brightest young men of Windham county ; most worthy to be remembered with those of a previous generation, who like them had given their lives for their coun- try. We need not fear that their names or their deeds will be forgotten. Enrolled in the archives of the state and nation, em- balmed in every patriot heart, their fame will but grow brighter with the lapse of years. Mustered into the great army that from age to age in every clime has raised the "battle-cry of Freedom," the men whose names are inscribed on Windham's latest war record may be sure of imperishable remembrance.

CHAPTER IX.

WINDHAM COUNTY OF TO-DAY.

Its Towns and their present condition .- Their Population at different periods .- Conspicuous Citizens .- Presidential Candidates .- Honored Sons of Windham. -State Senators .- Presidents pro tem. of the Senate .- Speakers of the House. -Present Representatives .- The Courts .- County Officers .- Literary Asso- ciations .- Agricultural Society .- Temperance Society .- Temperance Move- ments.

HE towns at present comprising Windham county are fif- teen in number, viz., Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Plainfield, Pom- fret, Putnam, Scotland, Sterling, Thompson, Windham and Woodstock. In these are also included the incorporated bor- oughs of Danielsonville and Willimantic. The following brief synopsis of them will assist the reader to a better understand- ing of them. Ashford, first mentioned in 1710, lies in the north- western part, is an agricultural town, and has a population of 1,041. Its grand list amounts to $275,534. It has no railroad within its borders. The post offices in it are Ashford, Westford, West Ashford and Warrenville. Brooklyn, the county town, was incorporated in May, 1786, the territory composing it being taken from Pomfret and Canterbury. It has a population of 2,308, and its grand list amounts to $1,451,404. Its principal in- dustries are agriculture and the manufacture of cotton goods. Canterbury was incorporated in 1703, being formed from Plain- field. It is an agricultural town and has a population of 1,272. Its grand list is $482,166. It is located in the southern part of the county, and contains post offices Canterbury, South Canter- bury, Westminster and Packerville. Chaplin, lying on the west- ern border of the county, was taken from Mansfield and Hamp- ton, and was incorporated in May, 1822. It has a population of 627, and its grand list is $204,730. The principal industries are agriculture and paper making. Its only post office is Chap- lin. Eastford lies in the northwest part of the county, and

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 11

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506