USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1872, Vol. II > Part 29
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"On the 11th of January, 1862, a strange and heterogeneous assemblage of vessels filled Hampton Roads. Gen. Burnside had been ordered to fit out an expedition to proceed against a certain point on the Southern coast-but where that point was it was re-
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
served for time and events to announce. Accordingly, by dint of unwearied exertion, Gen. Burnside had collected this mass of one hundred and twenty-five water-craft. Utterly regardless of the appearance of this fleet, and with a single eye to utility, he drew upon all the resources of the team merchant service, from the Kennebec to the Chesapeake.
" The land forces, under the command of General Burnside, amounted to sixteen thousand men, with an ample supply of field- pieces and batteries, and all the material of war. The troops were divided into three brigades, under the command of Generals Foster, Reno and Parke, all experienced and able officers of the regular army."
Burnside's expedition, after experiencing all the perils of furi- ous storms, arrived near the island of Roanoke, on the early days of February, 1862, and on the 7th the fleet opened its heavy guns upon the rebel fortifications on the island. The bombardment by the fleet continued all day with unabated fury.
" It was just three o'clock in the afternoon when the United States flag was raised at Ashley's Harbor. The cannonade was still raging at the battery. It continued unabated all day, and as the night was clear and the range was perfect, it did not cease with the going down of the sun. Nothing can be imagined more sublime than a bombardment by night. The glare of the guns, so passionate and spiteful in expression ; the roar of the explo- sions ; the shrieks of the shells, as if demons were howling through the air; the explosion of the shells, with meteoric brilliance and thunder peal ; the volumes of smoke rising into the darkened sky -all these, blended with the gloom of night, present a scene, which, once witnessed, can never be forgotten. About one hour after dark the fleet drew off, and was silent and motionless for the remainder of the night. The land forces had indeed a cheerless prospect before them. Thoroughly drenched and chilled by the cold wintry waves, they were compelled to bivouac on the shel- terless shore, without tents, exposed to a cold north wind, and a heavy rain. Their discomfort, through the night, was extreme. Still they were in good spirits. A landing in force had been ef- fected with the loss of but four men killed and eight wounded. The fleet had been severely handled, by the heavy shot of the bat- teries and the rebel gun-boats. Round shot and shell passed through several of the National ships, killing and wounding a few of their crews. Still no damage was done to interfere with
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the efficient action of the fleet, and all on the island and in the ships waited impatiently, cheered with hope, for the opening of another day."
The morning of Thursday, the 8th, came. It was still cold and dismal, but the loyal troops pressed bravely on, fought a desperate battle, and were successful beyond the expectation of the most hopeful.
" A victory had been won, second to none since the national forces took the field. It was a victory to thrill every loyal heart throughout the land with joy. As the sun went down on that Saturday evening, Feb. 8, it closed a week of glorious work for God and humanity. Even with a spy-glass, from the central bas- tions of Roanoke, no rebel flag could be seen. The national ban- ner floated everywhere. Nothing now remained to be done, but to pursue the rebel steamers to their lurking-places, and to re- establish the national authority in all the important towns, washed by the two Sounds and their tributary rivers. Six forts, 2,500 prisoners, forty-two heavy guns, with a large number of smaller arms and munitions of war, fell into the hands of the victors. The Union loss consisted of 40 killed and 200 wounded. Among the killed was Col. Russell, of the Connectient 10th, a gallant officer, a genial, generous man, a fearless soldier, a warm-hearted Christian. He died universally lamented."
Gen. Burnside was not the man to delay, and with commenda- ble promptness he inaugurated the Battle of Newberne, March 14th, 1862. The gallantry of the Connecticut troops was con- spienous in this battle-Col. Rodman's charge was highly com- mended.
" This charge by Col. Rodman, leading the 4th Rhode Island Regiment, was one of the most heroic deeds of the day. They were in front of a battery of five guns; while there was another battery close by its side of nine guns, protected by rifle-pits. At the double-quick they ran upon the muzzles of these five guns, ponring in a volley of bullets as they ran, rushed through the parapet, and instantly, with the precision of veterans, forming in line of battle, with a bristling array of bayonets bore down upon the other guns, thus capturing both batteries with two flags. The 8th and 11th Connectient and the 5th Rhode Island, followed closely in their tracks, to support them. The enemy fled precip- itately, and the stars and stripes floated proudly over this small portion of the enemy's extended line. A grand charge was now
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made upon the enemy's left, aided by the troops who were already established within the ramparts. The enemy could stand it no longer, and in great confusion they fled. With exultations and shouting's which none can appreciate but those who have passed through such terrible scenes-perhaps the most ecstatic joy of fall- en humanity-the National troops clambered over the ramparts, discharging their guns at the retiring foe, and with huzzas re- peated again and again and again, raised the glorious old banner of National integrity over all the bastions which had just been degraded by the flaunting flag of rebellion. It was a hard fought fight and a glorious victory. Every regiment and almost every man behaved heroically. The 51st New York performed deeds of valor, which will induce every man of the regiment to look back upon that day with pride, so long as he shall live."
The colored population were rejoiced beyond measure at the triumph of the North. The slaves throughout the south, univer- sally, regarded the coming of the Northern armies as the signal for their patriotic deliverance. No language can express the sat- isfaction with which they received the loyal troops,"and the eager willingness they manifested to serve them. " They could hardly believe the evidence of their senses, and could not possibly restrain their delight, when they saw their affirighted masters running before our troops. They had nev- er before dreamed that there could be any earthly power superior to that which their dreaded masters wielded. A slaveholder, breathless with terror, spurred his horse to his utmost speed, by his own door, not venturing to stop. Just then a shell, with its terrific, unearthly shriek, rushed through the air, over his head. A poor slave, a man of unfeigned piety and fervent prayer, in uncontrollable emotions of joy, ran into l HCC his humble cabin, shouting, " Wife; he is running ; he is running, and the wrath of God is after him."
Another devout old negro fell on his knees and prayed, saying "God bless these d-d Yankees." It was the only name he had, ever heard his master give them.
On the 17th of September, 1862, Gen. McClellan fought the desperate battle of Antietam, sometimes called the battle of Sharps-
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burg, as it was fought on the Antietam-creek, over against the village of Sharpsburg. This was the bloodiest day, perhaps, that America had ever seen, and yet the battle closed indecisively. The blood of some of Woodbury's bravest boys saturated the soil of those hotly contested fields. The next great battle in which the Woodbury soldiers received a bloody baptism, was the battle of Fredericksburg, which was fought on the 13th of December, 1862. Our limits do not allow a general description of the battle. A few passages from Greeley's " American Conflict," follow :
" Braver men never smiled at death than those who climbed Marye's Hill that fatal day ; their ranks were plowed through and torn to pieces by rebel batteries, even in the process of formation ; and when at heavy cost they had reached the foot of the hill, they were confronted by a solid stone wall, four feet high, from behind which a Confederate brigade of infantry mowed them down like grass, exposing but their heads to our bullets, and these only while themselves firing. Never did men fight better, or die, alas ! more fuitlessly, than did most of Hancock's corps, especially Meagher's Irish brigade, composed of the 63d, 69th, and 88th New York, the 28th Massachusetts, and the 116th Pennsylvania, which dashed itself repeatedly against those impregnable heights, until two-thirds of its number strewed the ground; when the remnant fell back to a position of comparative safety, and were succeeded as they had been supported, by other brigades and divisions; each to be exposed in its turn to like pitiless, useless, hopeless slaugh- ter. Thus Hancock's and French's corps were successively sent up against those slippery heights, girdled with batteries, rising, tier above tier, to its crest, all carefully trained upon the approaches from Fredericksburg; while that fatal stone wall-so strong that even artillery could make no impression on it-completely shel- tering Barksdale's brigade, which, so soon as our charging col- minns came within rifle-shot, poured into their faces the deadliest storm of musketry. Howard's division supported the two in ad- vance; while one division of Wilcox's (9th, late Burnside's) corps was detached to maintain communication with Franklin, on our left.
" Hooker's grand division was divided, and in good part sent to reenforce Franklin ; while Hooker himself, believing the attack hopeless, required repeated and imperative orders from Burnside to induce him to order an advance; but Humphrey's division was at length thrown out from Fredericksburg, and bore its full part
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in the front attack, losing heavily. And thus the fight was main- tained till after dark-assault after assault being delivered by di- visions advancing against twice their numbers, on ground where treble the force was required for the attack that sufficed for the defense ; while a hundred rebel cannon, posted on heights which our few guns on that side of the river could scarcely reach, and could not effectually batter, swept our men down from the mo- ment that they began to advance, and while they could do nothing but charge, and fall, and die. And when night at length merci. fully arrested this fruitless massacre, though the terraces and slopes leading up to the rebel works were piled with our dead and our disabled, there was no pretense that the rebel front had been advanced one foot from the ground held by it in the morning. We had reason enough for sorrow, but none for shame.
" Thus closed what the exulting correspondent at Lee's head- quarters of The Times (London) calls ' a memorable day to the historian of the Decline and Fall of the American Republic.' Not so, O owl-eyed scribe! but rather one of those days of bloody baptism, from whose regenerating flood that Republic was divinely appointed to rise to a purer life, a nobler spirit, a grander, more benignant destiny !"
A considerable number of Woodbury soldiers were engaged in all these great battles, scattered through all the Connecticut regi- ments engaged in them. A local historian, confined to prescribed limits, cannot give a connected history of the war. He can only be expected to allude to the prominent events in which the people of the town took a commendable part. It is, therefore, thought best to introduce here letters from the soldiers of Woodbury, de- scribing the part they took, in all these events, and in the several battles, and, it is believed, that it must be far more interesting to our people, coming from their own sons, written on the spot, when the "inspiration was on," and when there could be no temptation to misstatement, than anything that the general historian could write, who is forced to condense all the incidents of a battle into a single statement, showing only general results. In these indi- vidual statements we feel the pulse-beats of the heart. Besides, it is of absorbing interest to know what share our immediate neighbors had in achieving the glorious results described. The account given in these letters will be all that our space will allow for an account of several of the battles.
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" HEADQUARTERS PROVOST GUARD,
Martinsburg, Va., March 7th, 1862.
" FRIEND COTHREN :- When I last wrote you, my determina- tion was (as I then intimated) not to write you again until I could date my letter from Virginia. And now, embracing the first op- portunity after arriving here, I appropriate some "secesh " pen, ink and paper, left in the hurried departure of the owners from this place, on Saturday last, to the laudable purpose of informing as worthy a person as yourself in regard to the appearance of the recent home of the rebels.
"Gen. Williams left Hancock, with his brigade, on Saturday morning of last week. He reached Williamsport that night, and Sunday and Monday were occupied in transporting the brigade across the river. The 5th Connecticut crossed about 9 o'clock on Monday morning, and with a good road before them, and pleasant anticipations of soon having a fight, they gladly hailed the order, " Column, forward !" in the well-known thunder tones of Col. Ferry. By 3 o'clock they were quartered in the churches and public buildings of Martinsburg, and the curious ones having de- posited their knapsacks and accoutrements, were making tours through the town, and picking up little mementoes to send home and to keep as relics of the capture of Martinsburg.
"Being detached from the regiment to serve in the office of the Provost Marshal, it was necessary for me to remain in Wil- liamsport until the Provost Guard crossed the river, which did not take place until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. No sooner had we stepped from the ferry-boat on to the Virginia landing, than the sky, which for some hours had been growing dark and omi- nous with black, watery-looking clouds, began to let fall copious doses of the Hydropathic remedy. I was soon tired with the slow traveling of the guard and prisoners, and with a friend start- ed on ahead. We reached Martinsburg about 8 o'clock, com- pletely drenched. We found the town jammed full of soldiers. The houses were crowded with men and the streets with wagons, mules, gun-carriages and horses. After considerable hunting, blundering and stumbling around, we found a hotel, the landlord of which, with abundant excuses for his poor accommodations, as he termed them, said he could provide for us through the night- Over a hearty supper of warm biscuit, ham and secesh coffee (bar- ley), our host gave us a history of the state of affairs which had
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existed since the blockade. A man could not get a file to sharpen a saw ; a piece of calico large enough to make a child an apron ; tea, salt-scarcely any sugar -- and spices of all kinds were not to be had ; coffee was sometimes obtainable at $1.50 per pound. Such were some of the deprivations rehearsed to us, that the people of the South are obliged to undergo.
To say nothing of squads of the semi-barbarous rebel soldiery- who intrude into every household which rumor breathes conserva, tism or a particle of Union sympathy of, and who order the in- mates to set a table, partake of a repast, and walking out, with oaths and insult, tell them to charge it to Jeff. Davis, I never shall forget the scene which met my eyes on looking out at the window the next morning. The place where we stopped was close by the railroad, and directly opposite was the railroad depot and engine- house, both once large and fine-looking edifices, now partially de. molished .- The broad surface in front and around them, interlaced with its labyrinth of tracks and switches, as you always find in connection with a railroad stopping-place of any importance, was covered with crisped, rugged fragments of broken-down locomo- tives. In one place I should think there were at least forty pon- derous locomotives piled one on the other, some on their side, some bottom up, and others standing on end. It looked as if two or three score of railroads were laid down so as to cross each other at the center, and from the outside of the wheel-like concern a lo- comotive was started with full steam on, one on each track, and all had met in the center. Certainly, if such was the case, a more promiscuous confusion could not have been produced. A high bridge over a small stream was loaded with all the engines that could be crowded on it, and then set on fire. Among the stone pillars, which are all that is left of the bridge, lay the ruins of the wantonly destroyed engines.
"The town itself presents rather a dreary, exhausted appear- ance. Many of the houses are deserted ; the stores are empty, their show-windows and cases presenting tobacco cut and twisted in every conceivable shape, to supply the want of anything else to make them attractive. I am informed that the population of Mar- tinsburg ranged from 3,000 to 4,000, in times of peace, and before these troublons times it was a thriving, growing village.
Gen. Williams' Brigade left here Wednesday morning, and pro- ceeded as far as Bunker Hill, a small place ten miles from here, on the Winchester road, where they still remain. Gen. Banks was
ยท
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at Charleston yesterday. Col. Sullivan arrived here last night, with the advance of the late Gen. Lander's forces, 7,000 strong. The main body, about 15,000 of them, are expected to-night. A concentration of the forces under Banks, Williams, and Gen. Shields, who succeeds Lander, appears to be the object in view
now. When this is done, then Winchester look out.
"The boys all wish to be remembered to you. Hoping to hear from you soon, I am
Sincerely yours, GARDNER STOCKMAN."
"FRIEND COTHREN :- The old political motto, to the " victors belong the spoils," is a favorite one with you of the legal profes- sion. Believing you are not an exception to the general rule, I take the liberty of sending you this addition to your stock of legal text-books. The volume is one provided by the late State of Vir- ginia, for the benefit of the Circuit Court of Berkley County, and was left behind in the hurried evacuation of the Town and Court House by the rebels, on the approach of the troops a few nights ago.
" Although it may never be of practical use in any cases in which you may be employed, I thought, perhaps, you might value it as a relic of the once proud State, whose enactments the highest in the land were bound to respect-but now brought so low, that "none are so poor as to do it reverence." Although a " dead letter " now, I know you will unite with me in hoping, that the day is not far distant, when the letter of the law will assume the dignity to which it is entitled ;- and then, perhaps, the book may be useful for reference.
GARDNER STOCKMAN. Court House, Berkley County, Martinsburg, Va., March 8, 1862.
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" EDINBURGH, Virginia, April 8, 1862.
" FRIEND COTHREN :- As the rain, which is driving so monoto- nous a tune on the roof of the tent, precludes the possibility of a drill this forenoon, I propose to devote the leisure drill hour to the troubling you again with our little troubles.
"The first grievance of which we have to complain is this : A certain few of us (Woodbury boys), upon discovering among the local items of Woodbury, in a Litchfield Enquirer, lately sent us a brief mention of Wm. Cothren's illumination (the only one in the place), on the night of the anniversary of Washington's birth- day, electrified the entire camp by three such rousing cheers, that, some one, who thought that such a noise could not be made on any occasion of less importance, speedily set afloat the report that Richmond was in possession of Burnside, the stars and stripes were waiving over New Orleans, the whole South were throwing down their arms, and the paymaster had come-all this, of course, elevating the spirits of the regiment only to let them fall again, and vent their disappointment in wrath upon our innocent heads, for making such a hooting, over some Woodbury celebration way up in Connecticut, as they termed it.
" We are to soon lose our much loved and respected Colonel. He leaves us this week for Washington. It is hard for us not to express a little selfishness by saying that we hope he will not go, But Col. Ferry merits his promotion. The country needs him to act in a more extended field than his lot has hitherto fur- nished him. We must part with him and allow the future of the regiment to look dark-why, you shall know in good time. I am not at liberty to say just now.
"Since I last wrote you, which I think was from Martinsburg, we have advanced by easy marches some fifty-five miles towards the interior of the State, and probably as soon as the bridge over the north branch of the Shenandoah, which the rebel Jackson burned in his retreat, is rebuilt, we shall continue our onward movement-that is if Jackson has no objections .- He will be obliged to bring forward some very forcible arguments in order to prove to our satisfaction that it is not advisable for us to pro- ceed on our Southern tour, for we are full of the spirit of the en- terprise. We have started, and would be very much disappointed should we be obliged to retrace our steps, or even to remain where we are.
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" Since we have passed the Rubicon Potomac, and been travel- ing in the land of ' Dixie,' the favorite pastime of jayhawking (you being of the legal persuasion of course understand the im- port of the term,) has been extensively indulged in. You would enjoy it with us could you form one in our battalion of jayhawk- ers, as we fall in with the estate of some F. F. V., ingloriously de- serted upon our approach .- Quickly deploying, what thorough searches are instituted for bee-hives of honey, chickens, turkies, geese, &c. Smoke-house doors are battered in with musket butts, and from them emerge whole sides of bacon, sausages, beef and hams, which seem to have suddenly caught the evacuation spirit so lately prevalent in this vicinity. While through the lofty, de- serted halls of the proud old mansion rings the muffled footfall of grim visaged warriors, crowding to the " banquet hall" to search in its cupboards and closets for jars of jelly, piekles, butter, &e. Secesh emblems, and everything of curiosity or utility to a soldier, are taken care of, and in time many center-tables and mantel-pieces of Conneetient will receive additions to their stock of curiosities, mementoes and relics.
" One little incident I must relate to you. The orders against pillaging or jayhawking are very stringent. All who are detected in it are most severely punished. On the day after our entrance into Martinsburg, Col. Knipe, of the 46th Penn. Vols., met one of the members o his regiment, of Hibernian origin and wit, who was carrying a fine, large goose towards camp, whose head, by being turned around two or three times, was "hanging perfectly loose," as the boys say. The fellow knew the penalty attached to his offense. He also knew that his Colonel was aware that the paymaster had not been seen for a long time-so any story about purchasing the goose would not be swallowed by Col. Knipe.
"' Where did you get that goose, sir ?' was the Colonel's first question.
"""Back on the road a bit, your honor.'
"' Well, sir, you know what the consequences are-you have disobeyed orders. What is your name, and what company do you belong to ? '
"'Arrah now, Colonel, be aisy till I tell me story to you. Yer see, Colonel, as we marched up the town, yesterday, with our gal- lint flag a stramin, out comes a party of dirty, blackguarding, se- cesh geese, and hissed at the flag, yer honor. It made the blood
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of me bile, sir, to see the dirty craythers hissing at the flag we're all fightin for, and I marked the foremost one, sir-I marked him
H.C.CURTIS
till I'd know him agin, it being against orders to lave the ranks. And to-day I went back and hunted him, and broke his head off for him, the same as I would any secesher that would hiss down me country's stars and stripes. And I thought, yer honor, it was a sin to cast him away when he was killed, so I brought him along.'"
"Col. Knipe could not refrain from indulging in a hearty laugh at the fellow's wit. So telling him to let things alone that did not belong to him, in future, the Colonel sent him along to roast his goose, and think, while eating it, of his narrow escape from the clutches of the court martial.
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