USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1872, Vol. II > Part 28
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Truly yours,
R. G. WILLIAMS.
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"CAMP MUDDY BRANCHI, - Oct. 28th, 1861.
"DEAR COTHREN :- I received yours this morning. Our regi- ment returned here last night, after a hard day's march. Gen. Bank's division was ordered to Edward's Ferry, where some of the Union troops were engaged with the enemy. We immedi- ately struck our tents and commenced our march. On arriving at the scene of action, we learned that the 15th and 21st Massachu- setts Regiments, under Col. Baker, had crossed the river and at- tacked the rebels. Before the arrival of our troops the rebels re- treated back towards Leesburgh, which is considered one of their strongholds. Our troops re-crossed the river and pitched their tents along the banks, and erected our batteries. I suppose this was done in order to have the rebels advance upon us. Gen. Mc- Clellan was here and had an interview with Gen. Banks. We re- mained here the whole of the next day and night, and on the i next morning were ordered to march to our present camping ground. Gen. Williams is here, the commander of our brigade. What the object of our leaders is I do not know, but I think the fight at Edward's Ferry, and the large force we had occupying the position they did, was a ruse to mislead the rebels and have them withdraw their forces from some other position to defend this. It is evident they expected a hard fight, for they brought in their reinforements all night on the cars. It is reported here that we have gained a victory at Springfield. Whether this is so or not I do not know, but it is evident that some general movement is to
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be made soon. Gen. McClellan has so arranged his plans that the Generals under him can act in concert with him. To-day our com- pany are out on picket duty. We are placed along the lines of the Potomac for miles, and are within hailing distance of each other. We shall return to our camp to-morrow, when we are in hopes that we shall soon be called to join the whole Northern force in one glorious struggle for the Union.
" When I was in Connecticut, I heard many say that when they were needed they would enlist (to all such I say come, we want you). If they could be with us and see the bodies of their dead comrades, and see how terribly their bodies were mutilated by Southern rebel cowards, it would fan the little spark of patriot- ism within their breasts into a flame, and they would come out nobly and boldly unite with us in putting down one of the most accursed of rebellions the world has ever known. As we daily see more and more of the rebels, and witness their bitter hatred towards ns, and their, barbarous mode of warfare, which they manifest in thrusting the bayonet into the bodies of our wounded and dead, that fall into their hands, it destroys the feeling of sym- pathy that we have always shown, even to an enemy. I sincerely wish that every Northern man capable of bearing arms would unite, heart and hand, with us in putting this rebellion down, and restoring our beloved country to its former happy and prosperous condition.
"The Woodbury Valley Rifle Company all send their regards to you and to our other friends.
From your friend,
WILLIAM H. MCKAY."
" CAMP LYON, BANK'S DIVISION, Sept. 1861.
" FRIEND COTHREN :- I have just received your letter. W.e left Frederick, Md., on Saturday last, at short notice, at daylight, knowing only that we were going towards Washington. We marched about thirteen miles over a rough Maryland road, and halted in an open lot at the foot of "Sugar Loaf Mountain," on which Gen Bauks has his observatory. We arrived here about dark, built some fires, and as we had no flag in sight, we were
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taken for a rebel Regiment. I was on guard that night, as I al- ways happen to be when we are on a march. Signals were sent up for two or three hours, when, I believe, General Banks recol- lected there was a Fourth Connectiont Regiment coming down to join his Division, which saved us from an attack from our friends. On Sunday we marched thirteen miles more, over the roughest and poorest land in Maryland. We continued our march next day, and here we are now, nineteen miles from Washington. I think we are on the eve of a great battle. For two days past, there has been a constant stream of army wagons passing towards Washington, with provisions, clothing, &c. I am told 1,700 teams have passed in two days.
" We have become well drilled, and are still drilling five hours per day. We think ourselves fully equal to any Regiment in these regions. A beautiful flag has been presented to our Regi. ment by Connecticut citizens of California, as being the first Con- necticut Regiment for three years in the war. I have a good deal of interest in this flag, as our Company is the flag Company of the Regiment. We shall, therefore, probably have a chance, par- ticularly, to defend this flag, and no rebel band will ever take it, as long as one man in our Company is left to defend it.
"I should like to be in old Woodbury for half a day, but do not know as I shall ever see the town again, though I hear that General Banks thinks it will be but a short war. We are one mile from the Potomac. Johnson's army is on the other side of the river, a little below. We can see a plenty of the rebel Cavalry, and will have a brush with them if they cross the river. Let them come, if they think they have any business here-they will have a warm reception. Write often. It relieves the tedium of camp life to hear from friends.
Yours very truly,
WILLIAM H. PROCTOR."
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" CAMP NEAR DARNESTOWN, Oct. 1861.
DEAR AMERICAN .- I have been waiting for some new move- ment in our Brigade, or I should have written you before. There has been no new movement yet, though the various regiments have been concentrating near each other. The object of Gen.
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Banks is to have the men under him in the right place at the right time. The great trouble with most of our leaders has been, their men have been so scattered they could not be brought as reinforce- ments in time to be of any use. Our loss at the battle of Lex- ington does not discourage us. It is thought by all of us soldiers that Gen. Fremont will retrieve the loss, by re-taking all we have surrendered to the enemy. I sincerely hope it will prove in the end to our advantage.
" All the men place great confidence in Gen. Banks. The strict discipline which he enforces in his Brigade only increases our con- fidence in him as an able leader. I think this month will make a great change in the affairs of our government. We are thorough- ly prepared for battle, and ready to strike a blow at any moment. I think the people of good old Connecticut will soon hear news that will rejoice their hearts. I see that Connecticut is doing no- bly in raising troops for this war. Let all those who wish to take a part in the defence of our country, enlist immediately, and unite with us, who have preceded them in this most righteous contest. To the patriotic citizens of Woodbury, who have sent their sons, and used their money and influence for this war, to our friend, Mr. Cothren, the father of our Company, we send our sincere thanks, and hope in the day of battle to prove ourselves worthy of their kindness.
Yours, ever, WM. H. MCKAY."
" CAMP ELLSWOTH, Md., Sept. 14th, 1861.
"FRIEND COTHREN :- I have to plead guilty for not writing you, our best friend, before this time. You will have to pass sen- tence upon me for the utmost the law will allow, as I have no ex. cnse except the exigencies of the service in defence of our com- mon country.
Almost all the men of Company E are well-there are a few cases of measles. The Woodbury Company has made great im- provement in drill since it left Hartford. It cannot be beat by any Company in the 5th Regiment. The whole Regiment is ready for a fight, or for any duty. They hold themselves ready to march at a moment's notice, night or day. We will, in any event give
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a good account of ourselves. We should be glad to have you give us a call at camp at any time. You would receive a warm reception from your Woodbury Company .- We have had several false alarms. I think that the great battle will be fought at the Chain Bridge, and if so, you will hear a good account from Coth- ren's Woodbury Rifles.
Very truly yours, WILSON WYANT, Captain Co. E., Fifth Regiment, C. V."
"CAMP ELLSWORTH, Md., Sept. 16, 1867.
" DEAR COTHREN :- I have received some papers from you to- day, and by them I see that old Connecticut is not thoroughly purged from traitors yet, but the promptness with which all such sentiments are put down, shows that the people of Connecticut are true in their love for the Union. I can not but compare re- bellion at the North with that of the South. Rebellion at the North and South should be placed on a par. The strength and baseness of the one equals that of the other .- Every day we see the weakness of the South in her struggle with the North. Every day the South diminishes in strength in the same ratio that the North gains. Rebellion has been at its height-its end is near. The war news at present is not very exciting. In my last I told you we were expecting a battle every minute. We were told that the rebels, in considerable force, were making an attempt to cross the Potomac. The captains of each Company immediately gave their men 70 rounds of ammunition, and in a short time we were ready for battle. We soon found the report untrue, and all the men were disappointed in not having a chance at the rebels. We expect marching orders every day. I will write you as soon as we make another move, which we hope will be soon. Tell all the " Woodbury Boys" to hurry up, if they expect to take part in this struggle.
Yours very truly, WILLIAM H. MCKAY."
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" UNITED STATES SHIP SAVANNAH, Newport News, Virginia.
DEAR FRIEND :- I thought you might like to hear from the seat of war on the water. I have addressed several letters to my friends, but have received no reply. I am now hard at work pre- paring mess for eleven men, but that is not half they require of us. They wish us to do about six things at once; so I must write in a hurry. I even sleep so fast, that I have no time to dream. When we are at sea, the sleeping is done with our eyes open, ac- companied with pulling ropes at all hours of the day and night, in all kinds of weather. In the forenoon, at 10 A. M., our officer drills us, and you had better understand he drills us, too. After that we drill at the big guns. This ship carries twenty-five large guns, and two small Dahlgren guns. We have often been as far as Cape Hatteras, on the North Carolina shore, chasing Privateers, but, so far, they have proved too fast for us. We stopped a schooner on Sunday night, which claimed to be from Ireland. Our Captain let it pass, but a few days after, one of our Steam Frigates overhauled the same craft, and she proved to be a Pri- vateer, valned at $98,000,-too bad for us to lose her. We might have had so valuable a prize if our officers had been a little sharper.
I will now tell you about our first fight with a Rebel steamer. She came down about midnight from Norfolk, and gave us a fair challenge to fight by raising a red flag. She fired two shots at us before we could get our guns to bear on her. I am 2d Captain of the after pivot one inch gun. We put in a ten second shell, but it fell short of her, bursting in the air. We then used fifteen second shells, and those came near striking her. She was nearly four miles distant from us. You will think this a great distance to be fighting with an enemy, but great as it is, the Privateer made the best shots. She had a rifled canon, and fired nineteen shots, ten of which whistled through our mizzen rigging, directly over our heads. One ball struck the mainmast about forty feet from deck, cutting away the iron band and about one-third of the mast. I tell you the boys began to look wild as the splinters flew about their cars. At every shot we fell flat on our faces, and held our breath as the balls struck on the other side of the ship. Ev- ery moment we expected the balls to crash through the bulwarks, and send us to the other world. One shell exploded under our
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ship, and it made everything tremble. As soon as the men could get the ship around broadside, we opened our port battery upon them, throwing shot and shell in quick succession. The Union troops on shore fired their rifled cannon, and it soon became so hot that the rebels left. The next day a flag of truce came down from Norfolk, sending a dispatch to our Captain, asking him how he liked their shots, and saying, that they would take or sink all the ships we could bring here, as they were coming down with three steamers to take us to Norfolk in less than three days. Our ships here are the Yorktown, Germantown and -. We have not seen their ships yet. We doubt very much whether they can do that little job! Our Captain sent back word to them, that he had the best men that had ever shipped on board ship. He said, before they took the Savannah, there would not be enough left of it to carry off.
" We hold ourselves ready for instant action, sleeping on our arms ; our guns are sighted and primed, and ready for any ship that approaches us. I shall ever try to do my duty in the great cause in which I have enlisted, hoping to see you again when " war's dread blast is over.
From your friend, JAMES H. MANVILLE."
" CAMP ON THE POTOMAC, near Muddy Branch, Sunday, Nov. 17th, 1861.
"FRIEND COTI REN :- Sunday in New England and Sunday in Maryland ; in one the deep toned bells are calling its quiet, church- going inhabitants to their accustomed places of worship; rough visages are clean shaved, dirty ones are washed, clean collars, clothes-brushes, boot-blacking, &c., are in great demand. In the other, rattling drums are furiously sounding the hour of inspec- tion, knapsacks are being packed, ramrods are continually jingling in burnished guns, careless fellows, who never know where their accoutrements are, are rummaging around for haversacks, cart- ridge-boxes, canteens, &c. Orderlies are loudly calling for their respective Companies to " fall in ; " lazy ones, at the eleventh hour, are hurriedly rubbing a rusty gun, or scouring a corroded belt- plate; regimental bands are roaring Yankee Doodle or IIail Co-
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lumbia, the signal for guard mounting; such is Sunday on the Potomac .- Company A, returned from picket on the river late last night. We slept none during our twenty-four hours' picket duty, and consequently myself as well as the rest do not feel very wide-awake to-day. But your letter of Nov. 11th is by me un- answered. Mckay is unable to write you, and it devolves upon my dull comprehensiveness to keep you posted. There is not much news outside of our own camp.
"The favorable accounts of our naval expedition spreads a gleam of satisfaction on almost every countenance, and furnishes a theme of conversation and speculations as to what will be done next, to occupy our minds during leisure moments.
" Col. Ferry has returned to us safe and sound. He appeared quite suddenly among us last Thursday afternoon. He came in wrapped up in a large rubber overcoat, but despite his disguise he was recognized, and cheer upon cheer rent the air, greeting him with the warm welcome of soldiers who love and respect their commander. But the enthusiasm with which he was received was redoubled when it became known that he brought the paymaster with him. And to crown all, in the wake of the paymaster fol- lowed the sutler's wagon, returning from Washington, laden with cakes, candies, oysters, and all the available good things he could lay hands on in Washington.
" We received our two months' pay, $26.00, with an additional belief in the unbounded resources of Uncle Sam's pocket. We have got an eye open for Col. Irish, who promised to visit us in November. He will find the 5th as eager to do business with him as they ever were.
" But among all that is pleasant, I must also write the reverse. Friend Mckay is seriously ill. He has a severe attack of neural- gia and rheumatism combined. He is now in Captain Wyant's tent, where everything for his comfort is done. I see him three . or four times a day. To-day he is a little better. Should any change for the worse take place, I will immediately write you.
" Hoping this will find you in as good health and spirits as my- self, I remain,
Yours truly, GARDINER STOCKMAN."
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" CAMP TRUMBULL, Nov. 18, 1861.
"FRIEND COTHREN ;- Yours of the 12th came duly to hand and I was glad to hear from you. The 5th Regiment boys are making good progress in their drill. We expect that we shall go into winter quarters in a few days at Rockville, Md. It is getting rather cold here to stay in our tents much longer. Our Colonel has recovered from his sickness and rejoined his Regiment. The 5th has received its two months pay, and our boys will send home to their friends some eight thousand dollars, which speaks well for the 5th Regiment. Your friend Mckay is some better ; I took him to my tent and am doing all I can for him. My duty, or the duty of the Regiment, is mostly picket gnard duty on the Potomac river. We guard some six miles of the river. I had the pleasure of being a witness to some fighting or skirmishing on the Virginia side of the river at Edward's Ferry. I think if the 5th Regiment has a chance, it will give a good accout of itself. We should like to see the light of your face down here. William sends you his best respects. Idon't think that the 5th Regiment can be beat by any volunteers that have been in the field no longer than it has been. Spring, Dawson, Raymaker, Root, and all the Cothren Ri- fles are doing well except Mckay, and he will soon get well. I have a stove in my tent. So you see that McKay will be taken care of. I shall do all I can for him, not only on your, but on his own account, for William is a good boy. Please to write often. The " boys " all like to hear from you, for you are a good friend to the " boys," and we all thank you for what you have done.for us.
€
Yours truly,
WILSON WYANT, Capt. Co. E., 5th Regiment."
" CAMP BURNSIDE, Annapolis, Md., Dec. 26th, 1861.
" FRIEND COTHREN :- I promised to write yon often, and I have waited a long time, hoping to have something important to write yon, or, at least, to inform you we had arrived at some important place, and were ready to serve our country effectively. It has
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seemed as though we should never be ready to start, but it is most probable that we shall go in Gen. Burnside's expedition, some- where, the first or second week in January. There are some twenty-five or thirty transports here to take ns off. A new dock is being built to facilitate the loading of military stores. It has been a very poor place for landing.
The city is a very old looking place. The houses are poor and look deserted. We see now and then a white person, and plenty of pretty good looking "darkies," but we have no intercourse with the people here.
" The Woodbury boys in Capt. Smith's Company are all very well, fat and hearty, with enough to eat and that which is good. We like Uncle Sam's business first-rate, and are ready at all times (as are all of Capt. Smith's company) for a fight. In fact, " we are " spiling for a fight," and we hope to arrive at the lower end of Dixie pretty soon. We drill 43 hours each day, and are as well drilled as any regiment in the field. When it comes to fighting, give us the Woodbury and Waterbury boys, say we. We have had three or four division reviews. There are twelve Regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and one of artillery already here in readiness for the expedition. The 11th Regiment, C. V., arrived here last Friday, and glad were we to see some more of the Con- necticut boys. Roderick Freeman and Daniel Taber came amongst the rest. Rod, though he is colored and cannot go in the ranks, chooses to go with the Woodbury boys, as cook and waiter.
"We have lost one man in our Company and there is another man out of A. dead at the hospital. Our Regiment is pretty healthy-only fifteen or twenty in the hospital.
" The news has just come into camp that England is going to help the rebels. Let her come on. The North is ready for her. I am ready and willing to spill my blood, if necessary, to help teach her to mind her own business, and such is the determination of all the boys.1
"Our division, which is the largest yet organized, is all en camped in sight. The transports are being loaded rapidly, and we shall soon be off to some important point, when you may ex- pect to hear a good account of us.
Yours truly,
JOIN E. TUTTLE."
1 This brave young soldier fell at the Battle of Antietam, pierced by a bullet through the heart-a modest but noble sacrifice for the salvation of his country.
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HANCOCK, Md., Jan. 21, 1862.
"DEAR AMERICAN :- It is a long time since I have heard from the vicinity of home, or seen a copy of your paper, so I write you a few lines in this time of general army inaction. The 5th Regi- ment is encamped at Hancock, some sixty miles north of Frede- rick City, Maryland. The rebel general, Jackson, is about six miles from our lines, and has under his command some fourteen thousand men. Onr third brigade, with that of Gen. Kelly, num- bers about fifteen thousand men, and as soon as the Potomac shall fall so that our men can get across, I think we shall give him bat- tle. The Potomac has risen some twenty five or thirty feet during the late rains, and it is impossible to cross at present.
" The cry of both men and officers is 'over to Dixie's land.' We are all tired of inactive camp life. We had much rather en- ter on active duties, finish up the business, and come home, than to be loitering here. For some months, we have not understood why we did not fight, and whip out the rebels, but suppose it is all right, and that there is some good reason, though we 'do not see it.' The duty of the soldier is to obey, and we do that cheer- fully.
"The most of the 'Cothren Rifles,' Company E., are in good health and spirits ; Raymaker, Root, McKay, Spring, Dawson, the brothers Bishop, and all the rest send their kind regards. I have been sick of late, and am boarding with a private family till I am better. Am improving slowly, and hope to be 'all right' soon.
"Our Regiment has just been paid its two months' wages, and a large part of the whole is being sent to friends at home.
" About the first of the month, we heard our friend and father of our Company, Mr. Cothren, of Woodbury, was on his way to visit us, and were very much disappointed when he failed to reach us. Our regret was greatly increased when we learned that he was unable to continue his journey to us from Washington on ac- count of his illness. We greatly hope he will 'try again ' to see us, soon.
Yours truly, WILSON WYANT, Capt. Co. E., 5th Reg't C. V." 1
This letter was written to the editor of the "Waterbury American."
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The foregoing letters, written in the spirit of the hour, while the influence of the vast conflict which had been inaugurated was strong upon the hearts of all, have been introduced to show how the enthusiasm of the time transformed the humblest in our com- munities into heroes, and how those who had received only a com- mon school education, and had perhaps never been called to write a specimen of English composition in their lives, were enabled, under the inspiration of patriotic fervor, correctly to appreciate the great principles involved in the contest, and to correctly, elo- quently and forcibly express them in these communications to friends. Not one of the writers of the preceding letters had re- ceived any thing but the advantages of our common country schools, except the Rev. Mr. Williams, and it is submitted that these productions compare favorably with those of men who have received the honors of our Universities. They show, too, how the events transpiring at the North struck these brave young hearts. The President and the entire North, loving their country, and lov- ing the arts of peace, hesitated long in this first unlucky year of the war of the rebellion, to strike at and extirpate the great root of all this evil-the omnipotent curse of slavery. The all-perva- ding wish was to see how peace could be restored, and slavery remain unscathed. All possible devices to this end were entered upon, but without satisfactory result. And thus the year of 1861 came gloomily to a close.
1862. The year 1861 had closed, while the affairs of the nation were enveloped in gloom. The results of the year, so far as the union arms were concerned, had not been, on the whole, a success. Great preparations had been made, and great expectations had been raised, but there had been but a moderate share of success, and a plentiful harvest of disaster. Many a devout Christian somewhat irreverently began to think that "the Devil reigned," or perhaps it is more charitable to suppose, that they merely thought the time spoken of in Revelations, when Satan was to be " loosed for a season," had arrived. But the time for inaction seemed, with the opening of the year, almost to have passed away. Vast movements were on foot, and the war appeared to be taking a decisive turn.
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