USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1872, Vol. II > Part 39
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" At a town meeting of the legal voters of the town of Wood- bury, holden at the Town Hall in said town, pursnant to warning, Jan. 18th, 1864, the following votes were'passed on motion made.
" Voted, To confirm the votes and resolutions passed at a spe- cial town meeting held on the 13th day of August. 1863, and re- corded in the records of this town, in the Town Clerk's office.
" This vote was passed by yeas 70, nays, 42.
" At a meeting held 15th February, 1864 :-
" Voted, That, pursuant to a statute law of this State, approved Dec. 18th, 1862, entitled ' An Act to authorize Towns, Cities and Boroughs to issne Bonds, or other obligations for War Purposes,' the Town pay to any person, who shall get an accepted recruit to count on the quota of Woodbury, on the last call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men, and actually have him sworn in, to the credit of said town, the sum of seventy-five ($75) Dol- lars, as recruiting expenses, to be paid to him on presenting vouch- ers from the proper authorities, of the recruit's muster, till the town quota is full.
" Voted, That the Selectmen of the town be authorized to issue orders, or other evidences of indebtedness against said town, to meet the expenses as authorized in the foregoing vote, and be di- rected to do so, on presentation of said vouchers.
" Voted, That each man, who shall recruit a man, or men, to fill the quota of the town of Woodbury, shall report daily the name or names of such recruits to the Town Clerk, that it may be de- termined when the quota is full."
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" Meeting held July 30, 1864 :
" Voted, That pursuant to a Statute law of this State, approved Dec. 18th, 1862, entitled ' An Act to authorize Towns, Cities and Boroughs. to issue Bonds or other obligations for War Purposes,' the town pay to a. y person who shall procure an accepted recruit, to count on the quota of the Town of Woodbury on the last call
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
of the President of the United States for 500,000 men, and actu- ally have him sworn into the service of the United States, to the credit of said Town of Woodbury, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars, recruiting expenses, to be paid to him on presenting vonchers from the proper anthorities of the recruit's muster-in, until the quota of the town is filled.
" Voted, That any person who shall furnish a substitute, or rep- resentative, before the draft, shall receive the same compensation as other recruiting agents, provided the town of Woodbury shall have credit for said substitute or representative, on the quota of the town.
" Voted, That the quota of the town be deemed to be thirty- five men.
" Voted, That the Selectmen of the town be authorized to issue orders or other evidences of indebtedness against said town, to meet the expenses authorized in the foregoing votes, and be di- rected to do so on presentation of said vouchers.
" Voted, That each man who shall recruit a man or men to fill the quota of the town of Woodbury, shall report daily the name or names of such recruits to the Town Clerk, that it may be de- termined when the quota is full."
"Special meeting, held Ang. 22, 1864 :-
" Whereas the number of persons on the United States' enroll- ment list for the town of Woodbury, greatly exceeds the number of men subject to military duty residing therein, by reason of which the quota of the town under the late call of the President of the United States for 500,000 men is largely in excess of what it should be, therefore :-
" Voted, That for the purpose of reducing the quota, the Se- lectmen of the town are hereby authorized and instructed to pro- cure the correction of said enrollment list, by the erasure of the names of such persons thereon as are not subject to military duty ; and also to have all persons who have entered, or who may enter the military or naval service of the United States, credited on said quota, who are entitled by law to be so credited, and who
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have not been heretofore so credited, and they are hereby author- ized to pay all needful expenses for these purposes.
" Voted, That pursuant to a Statute Law of the State, approved December 18th, 1862, entitled ' An Act to authorize Towns, Cities and Boroughs to issue Bonds or other obligations for War Pur- poses,' that the additional sum of Fifteen Thousand (15,000) Dol- lars be appropriated from the Town Treasury, to be used for re- cruiting purposes only.
" Voted, Daniel Curtiss and Robert Peck, be appointed agents to fill the quota of the town under the call of the President for five hundred thousand (500,000) men, to procure volunteers or as- sist in procuring substitutes for any citizens of Woodbury who may apply to them for assistance, and said Curtiss and Peck shall have full power to use or apply any part or all of the sum of fif- teen thousand (15,000) dollars, heretofore appropriated, if deemed necessary by them, to fill the quota of the town.
" Voted, That any person who shall first deposit the sum of three hundred (300) dollars with said agents, shall have the first substitute procured by them to apply on the quota of the town, and so on, in the regular order of deposit of said sum of three hundred dollars, until the quota is filled.
" Voted, That the Selectmen be, and they are hereby authorized and directed to pay to, or draw their order on, the Town Treas- urer, for the sum of two hundred (200) dollars, in favor of each and every person who has, since the Ist day of July, A. D. 1864, or shall, prior to the draft, furnish an acceptable substitute for the period of three years, to apply on the quota of the town, and shall produce his certificate from the Board of Enrollment, that such substitute has been furnished, in addition to the three hundred dollars already appropriated at the special meeting of said town, holden July 30th, 1864, provided, that no person shall receive a greater sum than has been paid by him for his substitute exclu- sive of the bounty of $300 paid by the State, making the substi- tute cost the principal $300.
" Voted, That every per. on who has heretofore procured a substi- tute under the last call for five hundred thousand men, shall receive a sum equal to the amount expended by him in procuring said sub- stitute, provided that the sum of three hundred dollars shall first be deducted from said expenses, and the sum actually paid for the
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substitute shall be deemed the amount expended, making that each substitute shall cost the principal three hundred dollars, out of the whole sum the substitute cost.
" Voted, That the appropriation of fifteen thousand (15,000) dollars shall not affect any previous vote or votes, or any appro- priation heretofore made by this town, to encourage enlistments.
" Voted, That the Selectmen of the town be anthorized and di- rected to issue orders, or other evidences of indebtedness against said town, to meet the expenses as authorized in the foregoing votes, and to do so on request of said agents appointed by the town to fill the quota."
" Military Town Meeting, Dec. 21, 1864 :
" Voted, That Daniel Curtiss and Robert Peck be a Committee to fill the quota of this town in the present, or any future call made by the President of the United States for volunteers or drafted men.
" Voted, That said Committee is authorized, at their discretion, to fill said quota, by procuring substitutes for such persons as will pay said committee such sum, not exceeding three hundred dollars, as is necessary to procure such substitutes, or by procuring vol- unteers, and charge the expense to the town.
" Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized and directed to draw orders on the Treasury of this town to carry out the foregoing votes, upon the persons presenting the proper vouchers, that said substitutes or volunteers are mustered into the United States Ser- vice, to the credit of this town.
" Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized and directed to draw orders on the Treasury of this town for all persons that have put in substitutes to the credit of this town since the 5th of Septem- ber last, for such amounts as said substitutes have cost them, over and above three hundred dollars, exclusive of State Bounty and expenses "
In the latter part of the year 1864, permission was granted to all military subjects to procure, and cause to be mustered into the United States service, substitutes, which should protect them from
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
call on any future draft for three years. The last vote quoted above was introduced to assist military subjects to avail them- selves of this privilege. A large number of our military subjects availed themselves of this vote, especially, as a draft had been announced, though no quota for Connecticut had been assigned. There is, however, a grim joke about the matter. For, at the very time this favor was granted, the quota of Connecticut turned out to be full on all calls that had been made, with a surplus of some 7,000 to be applied on some future call, which, however, was never made, and it also turned out, that Woodbury had contri- buted quite a number more than its share of this excess. So, some twenty, or twenty five persons parted with $300 apiece, and the town with an average of $500, or $600 apiece for the same number, while it was unnecessary, for the purpose intended, if they had bad information to instruct them as to passing events. However, the men were forwarded, and no doubt had their influ- ence in " closing out " the rebellion.
As a part of the history of the exhausting individual struggles, which go to make up the record, and the success of the war, two letters of Commissary Sergeant Walter S. Orton, are here record- ed. The last one was written only a brief time before this brave young man received his own death wound, at the battle of Win- chestor. They were written to Deacon Philo M. Trowbridge, who, with the writer, and a few others, particularly identified themselves, not only in the recruiting and sending of men to the front, to assist in the national struggles, but who also identified themselves in caring for the dear ones the brave soldiers left be- hind them, assisting them in their troubles, cheering them in their sorrows, bearing tenderly to the bereaved the news, that their cherished relatives had died in battle, or by fell disease, or by the inevitable accidents incident to the service. This was often a sad duty, calling for sympathetic tears. The general public will never know how sad were the duties performed by this self-constituted committee.
The writer speaks of this young soldier as of a very dear friend. He was true in all the relations of life He did not enlist for the poor pittance of $100 offered by the town, and the patriotic offer of C. G. Jndson of ten dollars more to the volunteers of his native town, made to show his interest in the course of the town .- No such sordid motive moved him. He had no de- sire to shed human blood. But he saw the need of more men for
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
the service, and determined to leave wife and children, to devote himself to the defense of his country. Greater should be his meed of fame, because he enlisted and went into the war with the sad foreboding that he should not survive it-that he should never reside again in his native town, after he should have marched with the volunteers for their duties at the front. The writer well remembers, even through all the multiplied cares of that beautiful Sabbath day, when there was a hurried gathering of our Wood- bury company to march to Litchfield, the sad parting of Orton with his friends, his wife and children, and his parting remark- " I feel I shall not survive this war. But some must be sacrificed. Some must give up all for the union. I cannot withhold my ser- vices for the salvation of the country."
He was permitted to see his native town and loved ones, on furlough, once and again. But his foreboding became prophecy. He received a gun-shot wound, quite through his breast, from right to left, at the battle of Winchester. Singularly enough, he lived on, wrote cheerful letters to his wife, but finally died of sec- ondary hemorrhage, some two weeks after his injury was received. There is another circumstance connected with this case. Orton was commissary Sergeant of his company, and was not obliged, by any rule, to participate with his musket in battle. Pure pat- riotisin, in meeting a desperate encounter, must, therefore, have sent him to his death. The survivors can but weep in remembrance of his gentle virtues.
" CAMP OF THE 2D C. V. A., Charlestown, Va., Ang. 30th, '64. 5
"FRIEND TROWBRIDGE :- Your letter was received in due sea- son, and as I have a little leisure, being on the sick list, I will en. deavor to give you the details of our movements since May 15th, 1864. I do not know as it will be interesting, as I shall have to write from memory.
" May 15th .- Had orders to march at 12 o'clock, (noon,) to garrison Forts Albany, Stevens, Gregg, Whipple, Hagarty, Berry and others. 16th .- Orders to pack up for a forward movement to the front. Camped near Alexandria. 17th .- Went aboard trans- ports for Belle Plain. Landed at 5 o'clock, evening. Rained very hard; lay in the mud that night; the regiment was paid off.
27
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
18 .- Took up the line of march for Fredericksburg, where we en- camped for the night. 19th .- Left ¡Fredericksburg in the morn- ing for Spotsilvania, where we were assigned to the 2d Brigade, Ist Division, 6th Corps, commanded by Major General Wright; Brigade Commandant, General Upton ; Division Commandant, Major General Russell, who is a regular old farmer in looks and dress. The same night, our regiment had to throw up rifle-pits. Although tired, and on half rations, our boys took hold of the work with a will. 20th .- Formed in line of battle and awaited an attack from the Johnnies. They charged our skirmish line, but were repulsed by our brigade battery. At 9 in the evening made a flank movement in the direction of Hanover Court House. The Johnnies charged our empty breastworks the next morning. We marched until 3 o'clock, the 21st, when we halted at Gunie Station; from thence, across the North Anna river, where our ad- vance attacked the Johnnies, and caused them to retreat. We then encamped until the next morning, 22d, when we threw out a strong skirmish line. One man in our company, by the name of Smith, was wounded in the thigh, our corps being in line of battle all of the time. The next morning, 23d advanced and tore up some 12 miles of the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad. A man by the name of Barns had both legs broken, by the falling of a portion of the track-since died-then lay on our arms in line. 25th .- Recrossed the North Anna, commenced the line of march at 8, morning. Halted, in the afternoon, near Chesterfield. Drew a few hard tack and some fresh beef ; burned the Railroad Station House, and destroyed several cars the Johnnies had to abandon. Marched until 27th, with only a few halts. Crossed the Pamunky river on pontoons; halted after we crossed, and went into camp. 28th .- Marched two miles, and rested for the day. Took up the line of march at 10 o'clock, night; marched to, and encamped near Hanover Court House-29th, (making the second time we were near the above-mentioned place,)-a part of our regiment tearing up the Railroad track, the balance in line of battle, in the woods. 30th .- Moved a short distance, into a swamp, where we threw up rifle-[ its-continual firing on the skirmish line-took up the line of march at 10 o'clock; marched until 10 o'clock, the 1st day of June. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon our corps was ordered to charge the enemy's works, amid a shower of grape and canis- ter. Our men were told to lay down, then charge, after the first fire. Drove the Johnnies out of their pits, carrying two, and then
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
the third line of the Johnnies works. Privates A. D. Galpin and F. F. Kane, were killed before they reached the first line of works. (It will do for me to explain a little of the following.) It was there our brave Colonel fell, at the head of his regiment, not giving up until killed-he being wounded three times before he received the fatal shot. Some say he was drunk-but that is not true-he died sober, and he died a brave, true, and noble officer. We never shall see his like again, while in the U. S. service. We lay in the pits until the next day, 2d, when we were relieved, marched to the rear, but within range of the minnie. balls and shells. It was there that Isaac Briggs received his wound, while laying in his tent, reading. Nothing of any note transpired until the 12th, when we again made a flank movement, starting at 9 in the evening, and marched until 5 o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th, when we encamped, after crossing the Chickahomany. 14th .- Marched 10 miles, then encamped, near the James river. 15th .- Marched two mile ,, then camped in a corn-field. 16th -Took up the line of march at 5 in the afternoon-rested on the banks of the James two hours, then went aboard of transports at 12, night, touching at City Point; from thence, to Point of Rocks, where we remain- ed. We heard cannonading in the direction of Petersburg. Re- mained in camp until the 19th, then crossed the James river on pontoons, and marched to within two miles of Petersburg; en- camped that night,-the 20th, our regement went on picket duty, and we could see the churches in the city, and some of the streets. 21st .- The Johnnies shelled onr batteries, but did no harm. 22d. -Were under fire of the Johnnies. Took up our line of march at 9 in the evening, going in a south-east direction, until the morn- ing of the 23d, when we rested four hours, then formed a line of battle, one half of the regiment as skirmishers, and the remainder as reserve. One private of our company, by the name of Ruel Hazen, was killed on the skirmish line. Romayn Hard had a ball put through his cap, which was attached to his haversack, doing no harm to him. We withdrew our line, and went to building breastworks, in anticipation of an attack-lay in the pits all night. 24th. - Changed our position several times during the day-build- ing rifle-pits. 25th .- Remained in the same position, clearing up the woods in our front. 26th .- Our company on picket-all quiet along the line. 27th .- Cleared up a camp ground. 28th .- Re- mained in camp. No duty to do, only for Walt .; he had to write all day. Reviewed by General Wright. 29th .- Marched down
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to Reams Station, to support the cavalry raid on the Welden and Petersburg Railroad, and effectually cut the road-remained there that night. 30th .- Marched four miles up the Jerusalem plank road, and encamped until July 2d, when, returned to near where we were emcamped, the 28th .- There we remained until the 9th. Then took up the line of march at 9, night, and marched until 9 o'clock, the 10th, when we reached City Point, on our return to Washington, D. C. Took the transports at 5 o'clock in the after- noon, reaching our place of destination, (Washington,) the 12th, where found the Rebs in force, within five miles of the city. We lay in riffe-pits that night. 13th .- Went into camp near Fort Ste- vens-remained until 12, night,-marched a short distance, then encamped. 14th .- Marched till 5 o'clock, and halted at Poolsville, -encamped all night. 15th .- A rebel spy was hung on the left of our brigade. He remained hanging from one, morn., until sun- set. Remained in camp until the 16th .- Took up the line of march at 5, morning; crossed the Potomac at White Ford; water waist deep. Encamped that night three miles west of Leesburg. Our company went on picket. Remained here until the 18th .- Started on the march, passing through Hamilton, Thompsonville, and Snicker's Gap, which we reached after Hunter's men shame- fully fled from the Rebel front. There would have been a total rout of all his command, had not our Corps come up and opened their batteries upon them. We went into camp, and remained on the banks of the Shenandoah until the 20th, when we crossed the above named river, and marched to within two miles of Beers- ville-then we left the Johnnies under charge, or rather for Gen. Crook to take care of; then recrossed the Shenandoah, and march- ed through Snicker's Gap, the 21st, marching all night, and until night of the present date, when we encamped, four miles east of Leesburg, on Goose Creek. 22d .- Marched in the direction of Washington, where we encamped on the Leesburg and Alexan- dria turnpike. 23d,-Crossed the Chain Bridge, and encamped near Tenallytown, where we remained until the 25th. We were then ordered to join our old Corps (the 22d). We then marched through Georgetown, and our company was assigned to Fort Clegg. Here we remained until 2 o'clock, the 26th, when we were ordered to pack up, and join the 6th Corps; marched until 10 o'clock that night, the company having five hours the start of our regiment. 27th .- Started on the march at daylight, passing through Rockville and Clarksville, encamped at 5 o'clock. 28th.
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 1263
Started on the march, passing through Hyattstown, Urbana, join- ing the company at the Monocacy river, crossed the river and marched to Jefferson, where we encamped at 10 o'clock, night. 29th .- Marched ; passed through Knoxville, Harper's Ferry, and encamped on Bolivar Heights. 30th .- Came back from Bolivar Heights, passing through Harper's Ferry, and Knoxville; march- ed until 2 o'clock, the morning of the 31st, when we encamped near Frederick. 1st-Remained in camp. 2d .- Marched one mile and encamped. 3d .- Passed through Buckettown, forded the Monocacy, and encamped on the bank. 4th,-Divine Service in camp. 5th .- In camp. 6th .- Took up the line of march at 10 o'clock; marched all night, and the 7th, encamped on Bolivar Heights. Remained in camp until the 10th, when we started on another raid after the Johnnies, passing through Berryville, and Charlestown. Halted for the night at 5 o'clock. 11th .- Marched up the Shenandoah Valley, encamped at 6 o'clock for the night. 12th .- Marched until 9, evening, passing through Newtown. Halted for the night. 13th .- Marched to within four miles of Strausburg, passing through Middletown. The Johnnies made a stand, and we popped away into them. We fired into their rear all of the way from Berryville up the valley. We remained in camp until the 6th, when we returned to Harper's Ferry, destroy- ing grain and hay, gathering up cattle and horses. Our boys for- aged all the way back ; at Winchester we burned a large flouring mill. The Johnnies followed us to Harper's Ferry, or rather to Bolivar Heights, where we made a stand, and captured, during last week, some 1,500 prisoners. 18th .- They fell back, and we followed them as far as Charlestown, where our cavalry attacked their rear. We don't want to fight them, but bother them, in or- der to keep them from going to Richmond, to reinforce Lee. Well, my friend, I am tired, and I think you will be, by the time you get this letter read."
" If you choose, you may read this to Cothren, and my brother Fred; also to Capt. Sperry. Remember me to all inquiring friends, especially Mrs. 'T."
Yours, fraternaily, Sergt. W. J. ORTON."
.
1264
HTISORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" COLD HARBOR, Va., 12th June, 1864.
" FRIEND TROWBRIDGE :- I received your letter day before yes- terday, and I was happy to hear from you. Time has made seve- ral changes since I last wrote to you. Our regiment marched day and night, commencing May 18th, up to June Ist. We marched all night of May 30, and up to June 1st, at 10 o'clock, and about 5 o'clock of the same day made a charge on the rebel rifle-pits, taking three, but owing to the want of support could not hold but two of them. Our Colonel was killed, after receiving four wounds. He led the charge. Our loss is 380, killed, wounded and missing. Old soldiers say that our regiment was whipped three different times, but our men did not know it, and continued to fight. Our regiment took between 5 and 600 rebel prisoners. They came in fast, for a while. Almond D. Galpin was killed, also Friend F. Kane, at the commencement of the charge-Galpin by a shell, and Kane by a ball. Briggs was wounded two days after in his tent, by a ball from the rebels striking him on the foot, I think that is all of the old men. L. H. Hotchkiss is wounded in the hand; some eleven of the men were slightly wounded. I have forgotten Corporal Wellman, he was wounded in the face, also in the arm. Several of our boys are sick with the summer complaint. We have communication opened to the James river, and we shall get our supplies from there. Balls and shell whistle all of the time. Our company are out on picket. My duty does not take me away from camp. The rebels that I have talked with say, this is the last campaign. They also say that that Ewel, Beau- regard and Lee make speeches to the men every night. Some think we are sure to win. They admit that they cannot tell any- thing about Grant's movements. Well, I must close, as my duty will not permit me to longer indulge in writing to my friends.
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