USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1872, Vol. II > Part 27
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" THE WOODBURY TROOPS .- The Woodbury Valley Company C. in Colt's Revolving Rifle Regiment, left Woodbury for Hart- ford on Saturday last, accompanied by some of the principal citi- zens of that place. At Waterbury, the Co. was received by Mayor Bradley, and was escorted by the Union Spear Co. and a large body of citizens, to Brown's Hotel, where refreshments were serv- ed. The Co. was then escorted to the depot, where eloquent and
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patriotic addresses were made by Mayor Bradley, H. B. Graves, S. W. Kellogg, and Wm. Cothren, Esqrs., and by Dr. J. G. Beck- with, of Litchfield, who furnishes two sons for the Company, one of whom is the Captain.
" The Company arrived at Hartford about 52 o'clock P. M., and after marching through the principal streets, went to their quar- ters in Colt's steamboat depot, a commodious and excellent place. The Company was highly complimented by the citizens and sol- diers in Hartford, and were pronounced to be one of the finest companies that had yet arrived, in drill, appearance, and good be- havior. They will give a good account of themselves.
" Previous to their departure for Hartford they passed the fol- lowing resolutions :-
" Resolved, That our best thanks are due to, and are hereby ten- dered to the ladies of Woodbury for their indefatigable labors in fitting out our soldiers for the service of the United States in Col. Colt's Revolving Rifle Regiment.
" Resolved, That our thanks are hereby tendered to those of Woodbury who have aided in fitting us out for said service, and we are determined to do them honor under the flag of our country.
" Resolved, That we are under especial obligations to William Cothren, Esq, who has been untiring in his efforts to promote our welfare, and has shown himself to be an honest man, a most libe- ral friend, and a patriot in the highest sense."
The gathering, subsisting during the weeks of drill, and fitting out of this first company furnished by the town, though there were no bounties in this early stage of the war, cost not less than a thousand dollars. It is only by considering these ever-accruing small items of expenditure of the war, in every town and hamlet in the entire North, that we are able at last to grasp an idea of the vast total that the late rebellion cost our government and people.
This " first offering " of our old town, as they marched away from their homes in our beautiful borders, officers and men, were as follows :-
Captain,-Josiah G. Beckwith, Jr.
1st Lieut.,-Wilson Wyant. -
2d Lieut.,-George E Harris.
Orderly Sergeant,-Henry M. Dutton.
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Sergeants,-DeGrasse Fowler, William H. Mckay, Richard H. Spring, and Charles N. Newton.
Corporals,-Burton Downs, Calvin A. Hubbard, Albert Win- ton and George A. Chatfield.
Privates.
Philip H. Wells,
Joseph Marshall, James L. Warner,
Win. H. Cone,
John Ledger,
Frank Martin,
Purnet Bronson,
Franklin Newton,
Gardner Stockman,
George S. Beckwith,
Seth M. Reynolds,
Wilhelmo Sommers,
George McCan,
Philo A. Hamlin,
De Witt C. Curtiss, Dodge,
Arnold Raymaker, Andrew Budge,
John M. Quinn,
Ransom P. Tomlinson,
Trueworthy Munger, Robertson,
Edward Knickerbocker,
Edward A. Root,
Joel F. Sellick,
Wm. C. Barry,
Myron G. Bishop,
Edwin D. Bishop,
Wm. Kensilor,
Henry Booth,
Charles A. Squire,
John Gordon,
Richard Condon,
Hugh S. Gosley, Henry M. Dawson,
Charles Gosley.
After the arrival of the Company at Hartford, it was recruited to the full standard, and Col. Colt's organization having been given up, it joined the 5th Regiment, under Col. Ferry, and was after- wards known as Co. E. of that organization. As such it partici- pated in all the arduous campaigns in which that Regiment was engaged, crowning its glorious record by participating in Gen. Sherman's grand march to the sea !
Subsequently to the disastrous battle of Bull Run, and others in the spring of 1861, there was a lull, and an apparent unwilling- ness on both sides of the fight to risk more than was necessary in actual conflict, while they both were leisurely engaged in collec- ting, arming and drilling their numerous legions. Col. Ferry was ordered, with his Regiment, in July, to guard the Upper Poto- mac in Maryland. This was a dry, distasteful, dull duty, quite different from the stirring scenes which the soldiers expected, when they " left for the front." When the "Woodbury Reds " left Woodbury, it was still judged injudicious to march our
William Barton,
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troops through Baltimore, but they were sent round by An- napolis. Not yet bad Gen. Butler taken possession of that rebell- ious city, which had massacred some soldiers of the glorious Mas- sachusetts sixth, as it was hastening to the rescue of the capitol of the Nation. The writer will ever have a vivid remembrance of that foul deed, as a near relative was among those who shed this first blood to preserve the integrity of the Union. Wood- bury, too, has an abiding interest in this first glorious act of Gen. Butler, in silencing the traitorous city, and opening the way to Washington for the passage of the loyal troops of the North to the capital of their country ; for he is of Woodbury origin. His grandfather, Capt. Zephaniah Butler, who fought under Wolff at Quebec, was a native of Woodbury.
At the Waterbury ovation to our Woodbury Boys, on their way to join their Regiment at Hartford, frequent allusion was made by the speakers to their "marching through Baltimore," and at every such mention, the air rung with their cheers, and with the stern avowal, that they would " march through Balti- more," and they did,-thanks to the wise and vigorons action of Gen. Butler. Being assigned to patrol duty, it was not much to their liking, and they pined for more active duty. In their rough, soldier way of expressing it, they were "spoiling for a fight," and the squelching of the rebellion. Their letters from camp at this time, to friends at home, were full of this complaint about their enforced inactivity. A few extracts from letters received by the author at this time, will show this more fully. They will also show how the soldiers felt in regard to that small number of per- sons, who somewhat faintly clamored for peace. It is these out- pourings of the heart, written on the spot, and with all the feel- ings of the supreme hour, that give us the clearest pictures of the soldier-hearts, that were in the great contest.
The first letter is from Capt. Robert G. Williams, of Co. G., 4th Conn. Vols., afterwards the Ist Conn. Heavy Artillery. He was the last pastor of the 1st Congregational Church in Woodbury, and the people had a great interest in his movements, when it was known that an irresistible, conscientious impulse ecmpelled him to enlist in the armies of the Union.
" CAMP ABERCROMBIE,
HAGERSTOWN, MD., July 31st, 1861.
" WILLIAM COTHREN, Esq-My Dear Friend .- Yours of the 6th of July was received by due course of mail. I was very soon
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detailed, with a portion of my Company, to do escort duty for a train of baggage wagons to Martinsburg, which occupied two days. The next day after my return I was taken sick, and re- mained so for two weeks, and have not yet fully recovered.
"On the 4th of July, the left wing of the Regiment was ordered to Williamsport, to protect stores and provisions there, the Divis- ion under Gen. Patterson having been ordered forward. The day was very hot, we marched slowly for us, and only reached Camp at dark. We bivouaced. I ate my supper just at 12 P. M. At 2 A. M., an alarm raised us all, but it was only an alarm. In the morning we moved Camp and remained there more than a fort- night, expecting to move every day. We had orders to hold our- selves in readiness to march at a moment's notice. Detachments of our Companies were continually sent over to Virginia, and made several captures from the rebels, of various valne. One party went ten miles and back, during the darkness of one night, and took a rebel Captain (Mr. Geary) whom they found hid be- tween two feather beds.
"On Saturday last, I was ordered to report, with my whole Company, at this place in the A M .- We left the camp at Wil- liamsport at 5 A. M., and reached this place at 6-20 A. M., a dist- ance of six miles. I was obliged to ride, and the Company came on under the 1st Lieut., who remained in the rear, and allowed the men to come as they pleased. I overtook the Company just as it reached here. We are highly complimented for our march it being really before breakfast.
" I advised the men to stop at a spring about half way, and eat the breakfast they brought with them. They had their knap- saks, haversacks, canteens and arms. I am happy to report, that Company G. is at the head of the Regiment for discipline and drill. Some of the rest do not like it very well, but such was my aim and purpose
"I am writing now in front of my tent, and also witnessing their gymnastics. They are forming a pyramid, five men at the base, four in the next tier, three in the next, and one or two in the next. With the tiers they easily march around the street. Often, one takes another on his shoulders and marches all around the Camp. Many of them turn somersets, handsprings, &c, and with the musket are equally ready.
" Our Regiment is doing nothing but guard duty, which is not so actively military as we had hoped, but we have obtained a good
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reputation among the people of Hagerstown and Williamsport, who have sent a petition to Head Quarters, asking that, we be de- tailed to remain at these two places in preference to any other Regiment. Some of the Pennsylvania and Maryland Regiments have behaved rudely, and even cruelly to the inhabitants.
"Two of my Company have been discharged. I wish you to say to Perry Lake and Walter Whitcock, that I have places for them. I wish they would write to me. .
* *
*
Very truly yours,
R G. WILLIAMS."
" CAMP WOOSTER, HANCOCK, Maryland, Ang. 13, 1861.
DEAR COTUREN :
I have just received your welcome letter. I sincerely thank you for your interest in our " Woodbury Boys," and in return will write you as often as I have an opportunity. There is but little news here at present. We expect marching orders every day. Our boys are all eager for fight, but I do not think we shall have much of it to do at present. I think we shall be called to Point of Rocks, about eight miles northeast of this place, soon. The rebels are trying to cross the river at that place, but we do not in- tend to let them do it. Leave that to the Connectient boys. Never fear but I shall do my duty. I shall never flinch in the hour of battle. Never will I cease to fight against the traitors, that would destroy our beloved Union, and that Constitutional liberty which Washington and our forefathers fought and bled for. I do not wish to return home till truth and justice triumph over cruelty and oppression, and not till the name of every lead- ing traitor shall be blotted from every page of decent history, to be enrolled on the roll of infamy.
'. Yesterday, six of ns went out on a scouting expedition, and we captured an old man and his son-both rebels. The son has for the past two weeks been acting as a spy.
" I read your letter to the " boys " in my tent, and- at its close they gave three cheers for " old Woodbury " and three more for
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you. You see we do, not forget old friends. The "boys" often speak of you. I wish you were here with ns.
" We hear there are some secessionists and " peace men" in Connecticut. We cannot understand this. How there can be traitors in our good old State we cannot conceive. It strikes with a deadening force our brave and enthusiastic soldiers. They ought to have our experience with the rebels for a little while. Nothing can so much injure the success of our army as to have the impression prevail among the men that their toils and dangers are ill-appreciated at home, or that there is any considerable party there which would glory in our defeat.
"Jack Ledger and James Warner are both with our Company, and are doing well. Capt. Wyant is well and thanks you for the interest you take in his men. Military life suits me exactly. Our men are improving in drill every day. I will inform you of all our movements.
Yours ever for the Union, WILLIAM H. MCKAY."
" HAGARSTOWN, Maryland, ¿ Ang. 16th, 1861.
DEAR FRIEND :- I thank you for your very excellent, letter, which came to hand evening before last. It was filled with more news than any I have had since I left Connecticut, and contained what I wanted to know-the common incidents of Woodbury life. It brought up the people before me as in review, and their familiar faces passed before me with all the distinctness of former years. With the names came also old recollections; scenes, as you say, very different from my present surroundings. But such is life! change is written on the whole of it. I have for years feared civil war would overtake this country, but did not expect t so soon. I supposed my course would surprise my friends, es- pecially as few of them knew the steps by which I was led to take t. My blood almost boiled when reading the accounts of South- ern treason, and I felt a growing desire to do something myself o punish it. It was very easy to read and cry-" Why do not hey rise and put it down ? "-I could not satisfactorily answer the
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question-" Why do not I join the rising hosts?" Passing through New Haven, to and from Berlin, where I supplied the pulpit six Sabbaths, and seeing the troops there marshalling to defend the best government the world has known, and finding among them many old friends and companions-in-arms, of my early days, I could no longer restrain myself. I supposed all that I could do would be to go as Chaplain, and made application accord- ingly. But no Chaplains were to be appointed, at least then. And when the students from Middletown came to me and said they wanted me to go with them as Captain, and chose me partly be- canse I was a Minister, and when for weeks every former and re- cent acquaintance (besides my wife and children) said I ought to go, I could not refuse. And so here I am. I have thrown myself into the service of my country. If my life is the price of her sal- vation, I freely offer it. It is too good a country, too good a gov- ernment, to be allowed to be overthrown without the must despe- rate efforts to maintain it.
All the troops of our regiment leave for Frederick, Md., this P. M. You will, therefore, please dircet to that place. We have made a long stay here, and the people are very unwilling that we should go. They say the place has not been so quiet and orderly for fifteen years, as since we have been here, and they have twice sent in petitions to have us remain, but we obey orders and leave.
"I should like to close this as Paul does some of his epistles, es- pecially to the Romans, requesting you to salute all my friends by name, but I have not time. Please give my kindest regards to all my friends and all the patriots of Woodbury. I give you a special commission to do this to our very kind friends, Mrs. Whit- lock and family. I expect Walter to come on and join my Com- pany soon .- I would like to have two or three more from Wood- bury-true men and faithful-come into my Company, as I have a few vacancies.
" Last, but not least, I send my best regards to your good wife and again to all, and remain,
Yours most truly, R. G. WILLIAMS."
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
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"SANDY HOOK, Maryland, ¿ Aug. 16th, 1861.
"DEAR FRIEND,-I received your letter in due course. The war news here is favorable for our side. We have gained a sub- stantial victory in Missouri, though we have had the misfortune to lose General Lyon. Old Connecticut may be proud of the early distinguished martyrs she has furnished in this war. Ells- worth, Ward, Farnham and Lyon, constitute a company of distin- guished names not to be excelled by those of any State, who have in this war yielded up life for the principles of freedom.
" Since I wrote yon, I have been out scouting, with some men from our Company, and we were quite successful. We wished to capture a spy living three miles over the mountain. We went well armed with our rifles. I had also a revolver which our Cap tain lent me. This, with our sabres, made us hard fellows to fight against. We had arrived within half a mile of the place when we met an elderly man. We questioned him closely, and as his answers did not prove to be satisfactory, we tied his hands and took him along with us. We had proceeded but a short distance, when we discovered the trail of a horse. We followed it, and soon found both horse and rider. I ordered him to "halt," or I would shoot him. This had the desired effect; he evidently did not like our looks. We found him to be the old man's son, and the spy we were after. After looking around for others, we start- ed for camp with our prisoners, proud of capturing two armed men. We delivered them over to our officers, and they will be tried as traitors on the 16th inst. So, you see, we are making a small beginning in executing the duties we came here to perform.
Yours truly, WM. H. MCKAY.
" HARPER'S FERRY, Aug. 24, 1861.
" DEAR FRIEND :- We arrived safely at Harper's Ferry after many delays. We could not go by the direct route, because the rebels had destroyed all the bridges. We went from New York to Elizabethport, and thence to Baltimore. At Baltimore we were
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received very cordially. A large number of the citizens of both sexes congregated at the Depot, and about the cars, and greeted us with cheers, assuring us that their sympathies were enlisted in our behalf. I received many little tokens from the ladies of Bal- timore-some of which I mean to send you.
" All we at present have to do, is to go on picket duty, and on guard. I think we shall go out scouting in a few days. We have already taken four of the enemy. All that we have seen have proved to be very cowardly. The reports about the battle of Bull Run are very much exaggerated. I have seen quite a number of men that were in the battle, and our loss was comparatively small to that of the rebels. As to our position here, we are so strongly fortified, that it would be impossible for the whole Southern force to take us. There are thirty Regiments encamped within one mile of us-in fact, all of our best troops, under Gen. Banks, are here. Regiments are coming in daily. We are in possession of all the batteries this side of the river as far as you can see. Four of them I can see as I write. I have, this morning, a fine view of Maryland Heights, where one of our strongest batteries is located. These batteries are so located, that they can sweep the river as far as one can see. The woods are full of game of all kinds. We have plenty of good spring water here close by our camp-ground. We have a plenty of tents, but I prefer, in this hot climate, sleeping on the ground, my rubber blanket under me, and my woolen one over me, with my knapsack for a pillow.
" There is no chance for a fight, and I think it is the intention of General Scott to concentrate as large a force as possible, and wait until cooler weather before he gives the rebels battle. If he should do this, you may expect me home in the spring.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM H. MCKAY."
" FREDERICK, Md., Sept., 1861.
" DEAR FRIEND COTHREN :- Your favor of the 30th ult. came to hand yesterday. I will write a letter soon for the public, giving my views of " peace " meetings. It will make war for our people at home to cry for peace till treason is punished and rebellion sub. dued. I came to save our country from a Cataline conspiracy,
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which aimed to destroy our liberties, and the best government the world has ever known. And now, for timid do-nothings and dol- la"-lovers to crouch around the kitchen corners and cry-" Don't ! -let them alone; war will ruin us; better give up," will make the war closer home, for I cannot see how a true patriot can allow the country any other basis than that upon which our fathers planted it. And I hope there are patriots enoughi left to fight all traitors, even if near neighbors and own relations. If the wiping- out process must begin in New England, so be it. If this gov- ernment is overthrown, the light of the world is extinguished, and human liberty is put back into the dark ages. Self-government will be proven impossible, might will make right, and the weaker everywhere must serve the stronger.
" I should like to hear some of those " peace meeting" speeches, and I should like to have the privilege of answering them. The makers and approvers ought to be consigned at once to the posi- tion and service of the slaves whose chains they would forever rivet, and whose bondage they are perpetuating, as well as extend- ing the area of slavery.
"These States can never be occupied by two governments. One or many will be the governments of this country. If many, how long will peace exist between them ? With custom-honses and police at every State boundary, traveling will be delightful, and commerce, now the life-blood of nations, will gradually dry up, and the petty Republics of the United States will be in one constant ague of fear of the power of all their neighbors.
" What do these "peace men " propose? Submission to Jeff. Davis ? Let them go and wear his collar a little where he now rules. He has driven off a sister of mine and her husband from the home where they have always lived, and from the church and congragation to which he has preached for twenty years and more, because he loves the government Jeff. Davis once and again swore to sustain.
" Will they divide the country with him ? Show me the farmer who says yes, and I will go and squat on his farm, and if he ob- jects, I will cry -- " All I want is to be let alone," and if he wants peace I will divide his farm with him, and be very peaceful till I become strong enough to take the whole.
"Perhaps you have thought me too phletmatic to become much excited, but my blood fairly boils when I think of this rebellion, and the ends sought by its authors, and I cannot think of peace
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till they who have disturbed our peace are so punished that they, nor any one else, will attempt to do it again while the earth re- volves.
Truly yours,
R. G. WILLIAMS."
"CAMP SHERMAN, FREDERICK, Md., ¿ Aug. 29, 1861.
" DEAR COTHREN :- I will improve the few moments I have to spare in giving you a little history of what we are doing at pres- ent. How long we shall remain here I cannot tell. The whole of Gen. Banks' Division has removed from Harper's Ferry, and at present we are but a few miles from Frederick city, near a little village called Hyatville -Why we have removed here I cannot, tell, unless the locality is better for sending the troops to any place where they may be wanted, at the shortest possible notice. We can send men to Washington or Harper's Ferry in a few hours. We are thirty miles from Washington; twenty eight from Balti- more; and thirty-one from Harper's Ferry. So you see our posi- tion is a good one. There must be as many as 40,000 men here under Banks, and we are so concealed by being encamped in the woods, that the enemy, or a stranger, would not suppose we had more than three or four regiments. We are encamped about sixty rods from the main road to Washington, and at the least alarm, could call together a sufficient force to destroy any force the reb- els could send against us.
"I see by some of the northern newspapers, that there are men who talk about a compromise with the South. Such a comprom- ise I sincerely hope the North will never make, till the rebels lay down their arms and cry for " peace " themselves. They neither offer or desire any peace. I say for one-"no compromise with traitors !" I know it may cost the lives of many, but it is far better to sacrifice the lives of thousands of our men, and crush rebellion at once and forever, than to compromise with traitors, who, as soon as they could regain their strength, would renew their attempt more successfully than ever to destroy our beloved Union. I see some think this war will be a long one, but I do not. The government is prepared indeed for a long struggle, but what is to be done will be done speedily. The little rever es we have
.
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received at the commencement of the war have been a good lesson to us, for they have caused a reorganization of the whole Northern army on different principles. Johnson with his army is in a des- perate condition. He is nearly surrounded by Mcclellan on one side and Banks on the other, ready to follow up any advantage that may be found. We feel sure of him. We may have march- ing orders at any moment .- The health of our Regiment is good. -only seven in the hospital. Tell our friends we will do our best for the honor of " Old Woodbury."
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