The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 105

Author: Morris, John M., ed
Publication date: 1863
Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck
Number of Pages: 886

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Home for Disabled Soldiers.

The deep gratitude of our noble people to the

and they are easily fixed to the framework of vessels. They have. moreover, this additional advantage over timber, that they do not require copper sheathing to prevent fouling, they are non-absorbent, neither animal nor vegetable life flourishes upon their surface, and they are in- combustible.

"M. Szerlemy. the inventor, has discovered a fibre which grows in the Southern portions of Germany, and which may be converted into a

able him to compete with the builder of timber atv! iron chips. Not content, however, with forming the sides of ships of paper, the inventor is now engaged in the construction of light field ;pieces, specially adapted for mountain warfare, and these, judging from the results already ob- tained by experiments with paper tubes, will be found to answer the purpose admirably. Tubes "ASYLUM FOR DISCHARGEO AND DISABLED SOLDIERS." I have already been formed of this prepared paper,

facture consists in lapping sheets or rolls of paper moi-tenel with a solution, of which zopissa is the principal ingredient, one over the other, until The requisite degree of thickness or strength is attained, and exposing the material for a short time until it becomes thoroughly hardened."

LE VINER GUNS.

To construct field.pieces of adequate strength and projectile force without excessive weight, ton is for New England soldi rs, and we hope has long been a favorite problem in ordinance. that the Soldiers' Aid Societies will turn their at- ; They were manufactured by Robert Scott, in the 17th century, of hardened leather, and stood ively test. They were effectually used by Gus- tavas Adolphus, or the great and decisive battle necticut. Contributions of money, flour, vegeta- of leipsic ; and it is asserted that to his leathern Les, supplies of any sort, are respectfully solici. cannon, so readily carried from point to point, ted, and may be sent to the Soldiers' All Rooms, . No. 87 Asylum street, Hartford.

Gu-tavns was chiotly indebted for his magnificent victory. Yet leathern canvon seem to have, for . some untoll reason, fallen into disrepute, as there

Menuwhile, we should consider carefully, the is no record of their use in any subsequent battle

328

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[DECEMBER,

OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE, gain some desired information, drove'at once to the front. and the man who

in the enemy's pickets, accomplished went after him needed to get his life in- From the Second Conn. Light Battery. NEW ORLEANS, LA., Oct. 21st, 1864. ; the object with the loss of' ouly one sured." We hope to have him with us ¡horse, bringing in six prisoners. On the 'again before many months, unless the We left Algiers on the 19th of Sept. |13th our Brigade had the good fortune; Government claims him for some larger last, for New Orleans, and were assigned excellent quarters on St. Charles street, corner of Eighth. We have not had to accomplish one of the best feats of the i sphere. Just before sundown, when the campaign. Marching rapidly to the Op- battle had turned, the Brigade charged equan Creek, five miles from camp, they better accommodations for men or horses crossed the stream, drove the rebel pick- since we have been in service than those which we are now enjoying. There is a infantry reserves, the 8th South Carolina, captared them with a squad of cavalry

fine drill ground near our quarters, and the opportunity to manœuvre in field evolutions, has been improved nearly every day.

them at a double quick rate back to the The members of the battery have just had the privilege of exercising the elect- ive franchise. The vote for President and Vice President, was taken at our Creek and over, before a large pursuing force could overtake and recapture the prize. One squadron of our Regiment, under Lieut. Burnham, of Co. D, took barracks on the 17th inst., and resulted |more prisoners than they numbered them- as follows :

Lincoln and Johnson, 64 MeClellan and Pendleton, 12

Some, who style themselves " demo- crats," declined to vote, not being willing to commit themselves to the degrading propositions contained in the Chicago platform.

Since the date of my last letter three of onr number have died: Alonzo Frink of Sharon, and John Clary and Francis Simpson of Bridgeport, Conn. The two former died in hospital, the latter snd- penly at our barracks. We have but one or two in hospital in this city, and the time has about arrived for those who have been North on sick furlough to return.

A deep interest has lately been mani- fested in the battery, upon the subject of religion. Already several profess to have found the "pearl of great price," and scores are attending the meetings which are held almost nightly, for prayer and praise. UNION.

From the First Conn. Cavalry.

held in spite of a murderous fire of shell, in which our own Regiment lost one kill- ed and three severely wounded, till the Infantry came up and formed upon the Division were now removed to the left during the day. Gen. MeIntosh. our

on the left flank of the rebel column, precipitating their flying rout-very ets a mile and a half, surrounded their agreeable business to men who were themselves hurried over the same ground fin quick retreat, a few weeks before-the numbering all together one hundred and night when our cavalry were pursued by forty-three, officers and men, and drove the whole of Early's command.

On the night of the 19th the Regiment eneamped in an orchard four miles south of Winchester, lying on the ground where room could be found among the wounded and dead. Ou the 20th, the Division advanced on the Front Royal selves. Road, and on the 21st by daylight, forced a passage of the Shenandoah. The two Brigades in line, charged and routed Lomax' rebel Division, drove them flying and secured the first important advan- through the town and fifteen miles be- tage. On Sunday night the Regiment advanced five miles, surprised and routed

In the great battle of the 19th, before Winchester, which resulted so glorious- |ly, the Ist Conn. struck the first blow

yond. On the 22d, they advaneed up the Luray Valley to Milford, where, finding the rebel pickets, taking possession of the enemy strongly intrenched and them- Lime Stone Ridge, a very strong posi- tion. The Ridge was firmly held till the

selves nearly out of annunition, they returned to Strasburg. Here official in- next morning, when at 3 A. M. the whole telligence was read to the command, of Brigade came np, crossed at once the the victory at Fisher's Ilill, upon receipt Opequan, chased the enemy three miles, of which they were turned back imme- charged, mounted, and carried their diately without rest, toward Milford. Finding, as they expected, the enemy gone, they continued the march through advance had scattered the enemy, taking first line of intrenelaments. It is not commonly the business of cavahry to storm formidable earthworks, and for the : Lnray-where the Ist Division in the gallant style in which it was accomplish- ed, the Brigade were especially com- many prisoners-and eneamped on the mended by Gen. Sheridan, as the position' night of the 24th, at the foot of the gained was almost the key to the whole mountains, reaching the next morning, battle ground. The intrenehments were | New Market, where supplies were wait- ing for them. We wanted to have here a Sabbath service, especially with refer- enec to the victories of the week past, but we were halted only a few hours-

CAMP OF IST CAVALRY, NEAR STRASBURG, VA., Oct. 18th, 1864. 1 spot a strong line of battle. The Third hours full of work-drawing rations, forage and clothing, distributing sanitary The hope expressed in our last commu- nication, that we might have the satisfac- tion of contributing somewhat to the success of the Shenandoah campaign, has the foot. It was found necessary to am- putate his leg, so we lose him for a while. been pretty well realized. The success has been complete, and we have helped to win it. After the army took its posi- tion at Berryville, the cavalry were kept between sixteen and eighty, were order- ed to report to Geu. Early. We rested delightfully and left leisurely the next morning, without getting one sight of constantly at work pieketing and recon- noitering, to take care that Early's force was not removed to Richmond. On the of Sheridan's line, where they remained ! stores, reading letters and papers brought by the mail, cooking coffre, &e .- and by Brigade Commander, was wounded in two o'clock our march was resumed up the Valley. We encamped that night at Harrisonburg, the place appointed by Though he had been but a few months the Rebel Congress, as a rendezvous in command of the Brigade, he had where all males in this part of Virginia, seenred undivided respect as a fearless, skillful, effective commander. His bravo-| ry had come to be a proverb. General Wilson of onr Division, said once, " If 6th our Regiment having been out to he wanted MeIntosh in a battle he sent | Gen. Early or his conscripts. The night

1864.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

329

of the 26th found us at Staunton, where the command effected extensive destrue- tion of railroad property, track, depot, warehonses, &c., and of ordnance stores, in great abundance, which the rebels in their disorderly flight did not find it convenient to carry off As many of the stores as possible were appropriated for our own use. Ilalf a doz. barrels of hard tack came to our Regiment as its share of the spoils; and to tell the truth, we felt inclined to congratulate the confede rate soldiers, if this was a sample, in quality, of their other food. It was like our own, though with a more positive and palatable taste. Their salt, too, of which a good supply was issued to the Commissa- ries of our Regiment, compared more than favorably with the article which Uncle Sam supplies to us. We found, besides, a large quantity of exeellent hay, at dif- ferent points, baled and ready for ship- ment to rebel markets; a fortunate dis- covery for our poor horses, over a hun- dred miles from any depot of supply. Tuesday, the 27th, we went twelve miles further south, to Waynesboro', to recon noitre, but especially to destroy a valua- ble railroad bridge, at that point. We saw nothing of the enemy till the next day when, late in the afternoon, they very suddenly made their appearance. We were having a quiet, delightful time in a beautiful camp in the woods, prepa- ring supper and arranging for a comfort- able night's rest, when the sound of "Boots and Saddles," cchoed by the bugles of the different Regiments and accompanied by the ringing of artillery with a elatter along the pieket lines, an- nouneed that our peace was at an end. A strong rebel force, Infantry and Cay- alry, brought by rail from Charlottsville had attacked us, and for an hour or two the fight was very severe. After dark the North. Many of them had brought their own conveyances, so that the train ambulances, but of hay wagons, rock :- ways, carts, buggies-in short of every thing on wheels which could Imrry them to a free State. There were about a hun- dred families in all, only a few of which were black, consisting mainly of certain non-contraband religious sects, common we fell back as the enemy greatly ont- numbered ns, and we were over twenty miles from our infantry support. March- ing all night, we arrived the next fore- noon at Bridgewater, on the North River, where we remained quietly till Sunday. We were preparing for religious services in our eamp, Sabbath forenoon, when a staff officer rode up with the intelligence, furnished by sconts, that a division of in that vicinity, heretofore exempt by the rebel infantry, with four thousand caval- ry, were moving toward ns a mile or two distant. They soon crossed at the ford, charged with great bluster our slender line of pickets, and were pressing with

with a light which had been kindled as a warning to bushwhackers. When Lieut. Meigs, a member of Gen. Sheridan's staff, was eruelly murdered by citizens who were under protection of our army ; the Gen. ordered that every barn and house within a certain area, should be burnt. It seems impossible to stop this infamous crime of bushwhacking, except by such terrible retribution.

On Wednesday, we started to escort a train to Martinsburg, reaching there Sun- day forenoon. We expected trouble from guerrilla parties, and were once attacked, but they did not venture very near us. While at Mt. Jackson, we were informed that the rebel Captain MeNeil, noted through this region, was lying wounded at a house in the neighborhood. Capt. Rogers went with a party to learn the truth, and found him suffering from a wound which our Surgeon, Dr. Hub- bard, pronounced fatal. He was the chief of a gang similar to Moseby's, and his death will be a severe loss to that branch of the rebel service. The army wagons which we guarded were filled with refugees from the country about

their peculiar yell through the town. some to get out of a region ever echoing when their column was brought to a sud- den halt. Met with more vigor than they had anticipated, by a portion of our Brigade, they were hurled back over the stream, some of them plunging from the with the sound of war-all longing for the air of liberty aud northern civiliza- tion, of which they had heard so much. At Martinsburg I had the satisfaction of expressing North, for the regiment, as abutment of a burnt bridge, twenty feet the fruits of a long deferred pay day, into the water. They did not see fit to come over again, but remained upon a height on the other side, from which they experimented with shot and shell; but, failing to inflict any harm they gradually retired. Tuesday night the sky about

which had occurred while we were lying at Dayton, over 822,000 (twenty-two thousand dollars,) besides several thou- sand more sent by individuals. It reflects not a little credit upon a regiment when so large a proportion of the soldiers' us in almost every direction, was brilliant hard carnings is sent to promote the comfort of a far distant but never forgot- ten home.

Returning from this trip to the rear, during which we lost a share in that splendid chase after Rosser, we rejoined on the 13th the Division, at the right of Gen. Sheridan's lines. We are rejoicing, every body, at the appointment of Gen. C'nstar to the command of our Division. No record in the cavalry service, in this war or any other, has been more brilliant than his, and it will be strange if the 3d Division, catching his inpiration, does not accomplish more even than it has in the past.

Our Regiment suffered, yesterday, a serious loss. While a squadron were on picket at a place called Spring Ilill, they were, just before day-break, surrounded and attacked by a force of over two thousand rebels, two brigades of infantry and one of cavalry, under Gen. Rosser. Of course, resistance to such a body was vain, and the whole squadron, two offi- cers, Capt. Parmalee and Lieut. Havens, with forty men, were compelled to sur- render. Unfortunately, Major George O. Marey, was with them at the time, Harrisonburg, eager to escape with what { and was taken with the rest. He has, they could carry of personal effects to in the absence of Col. Blakeslee, com- inadded the Regiment since Sept. 16th, through the severest part of this Shenan- consisted of not only army wagons and ! doah campaign. He will be greatly missed as a beloved comrade and an es- teemed commander. lle and many of the others taken with him, after three years of faithful service, were about to leave the army for home.

Everything iu this vicinity is for the moment, very quiet. The two armies seem disposed to rest ; pickets are friend- ly and let each other alone; regimental wagons are here, and officers are having a grand chance to write up their accounts; the bugles sound in the morning the drill

payment of $500, but now liable to be forced into the army of the rebellion. Some of these people were ficeing because their honses had been burnt; some to escape persecution for their Union faith; call, which has not been heard since

880

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[DECEMBER,

April last, and one is tempted to think ; that ground, I wonder more and more. We had 'deavors, to share in this gift. Ever treated with the Ittll may last. But General Sheridan really surprised the rebels. Ten minutes delay courtesy and respect before, I feel that I am hon. would have lost the battle and sacrificed who'e heen- Fored now. tonibs of precions lives. It was really a race for the prize. Reinforcements were coming down nt " double quick." Our men saw them approaching, but were soon enough to snatch from them the From the 10th Regiment. otherwise impregnable heights. has gone to Harper's Ferry, it is rumor- ed for an interview with the Lient. Gen- eral ; at all events for some thing, and Yours, for Christ and the country. CHAPLAIN. we shall not be surprised to hear at any moment, the call "to horse." Let it conc. HI.

Friends at home may be assured that we did not achieve that morning's success, save in answer to prayer. God gnided the connsels of our Gen- erals, and nerved the courage of our men. In the Eighth the prayer meeting closed but one hour before the march began. That meeting we ean never forget, for the voices of some of the --

From the Eighth Regiment.

STH CONN. VOLS. VETERANS, 1STn CORPS, } ARMY OF THE JAMES, Oct. 24th, 1864. 5

FRIEND MORRIS :- Will you believe me ? The Eighth C. V. V. has been relieved from the im- mediate front ! Our men think that something surely is about to happen. We have to-day been taken from the Second Brigade, First Division, and are assigned to duty as Provost Guard, at Corps Headquarters. We had become so reduced that the regiment could report but ninety mns- kets, and might well be relieved.

Iu the late movement to the north of the James the regiment suffered severely but added another chapter in its history of worthy service in the cause of betrayed liberty. For meritorious deeds on the moruing of Sept. 29th, Fort Harri-on is to for although having been commissioned, he had never been mustered as Liemenant.' But fairer character never graced a soldier's niform, and be inscribed upon our banner. For noble daring on that day Wm. S. Simmons, Co. F, and Jneob Bishop, Co. II, Color Sergeants, are to receive |he lives embalmed in the affections of home, and commissions. And for like service Corporal Iliekok, Co. A, has the promise of a thirty days' furlough, in lieu of a commission which he de- clined.

We boast not of excellence on that day superior to the rest of our Division. The conduet of the whole body count not be surpassed. Justly did our Divi-ion Commander, Gen Stannard remark, as he was being carried wounded from the field, " I have had the honor to lead the best Division in the whole army." But weare proud to record the fact, that being assigned the post of honor at the head of the storming column, the heroic old Eighth lo a man did its duty, and who could ask for more ?

Nearly a mile that column moved in open view of the heights to be carried. Ten ginis, three of them hundred pounders, stood open-monthed be- hospitals to fight this war to its just and worthy end. The wounded officers of Sept. 29th, Lient, Colonel Smith, Capts. Roberts and Morgan, and Lieuts, Foss, Knevals and Rathburn, are all doing well, and we hope to greet them all with us again. Capt. Hoyt and Lieuts. Weed, Dougherty, Stevens ! and Lane, have been mustered out on expiration of fore us. We had already driven the enemy's pickets two miles, and we could not expect to surprise our foe. To one following that column as it advanced on those strong works, terrible failure seemed almost certain. But the order had been given, and on and on those heroes trod. Again, on the 13th, ouly six days after, six eom- panies of the loth, (abont 70 men.) were detach- service. Col. Ward has been commanding the ed from this the 3d. and placed with the 2d Brig. Brigade; Capt. Coit, who has recently received the commission as Major in the regiment, has been nde, to charge the enemy's works. This was a sad time to all engaged, but more especially to our acting Asst. Adj. Gen. on Brigade staff; und Capt. : little band, for although they charged gallartly, they were compelled to fall back, the enemy burg, has been commanding the regiment. He | being in too large timbers behind their strong Ilere comes a bleeding Lientenant, borne by lov. has the affections of the men, and worthily re. ! works for our small force to drive them ont. In ceives the commendation of superior officers. . 1 Each moment seemed Rn age of suspense. Now a solid shot erashing through the ranks; now a murderous shell exploding in their midst, and seon, most deadly of all, the vollies of musketry. " Who can come back alive ?" } cried, and must ! Goodrich, who was wounded in front of Peters- have turned away in agony. But help is needed. ing men of his eommand. Here limps our wound. this charge, we lost onr gallant. young Major, II. ed Colonel, supported by two brave boys. Here few days since the Captain surprised the Chaplain ' M. Camp, killed, and 75 enlisted men killed or cries a dying man for the Chaplain. Here

HEAD-QUARTERS 10TH CONN. VOLUNTEERS, In the field before Richmond, Va., October 28th, 1864. -

DEAR RECORD :- The month of Oet. has been one of the most important, as well as destrue:ive to our shattered ranks, of any one month since we left the quiet old Nutmeg State, just three years ago, with a thousand men. Although we dead last mingled with ours, in that tent of | lay in the trenches before l'etersburg through a prayer.

Our killed and wounded that morning, were sixty-eight; eight killed. Among these lost were two Lientenants, Chas. N. Irwin, of New Milford, whose term of service had just expired, and who was expected home each train, when the melan- choly tidings arrived; and James B. Kilbourne of New Haven, who had but recently been com- missioned. One other name I must mention mong onr honored dead. Our rolls record him only as an enlisted man, with rank of sergeant; , three of the engagements which are of the most importance.

part of Aug. and mostly all of Sept., every day exposed to the shot and sheil from the enemy's guns, our loss was but a unit compared to what it has been since we crossed the James, on the 29th of Sept. last. We have not only been en. gaged in a number of battles, but in no less than six instances have we performed an important part in skirmishing with the rebels while recon- noitering their position, usually losing several killed or wounded. I will only mention two or

The first fight of importance, and one in which our little handful of men particularly distin- quished themselves, took place on the 7th inst. The enemy, in large force, made a vigorous at- tack on our lines, and had driven in our envalry pickers, and were fast pressing back the Brigade on our right, when our Brigade. (Col. Plaisted, of the 11th Me., commanding,) was sent to their support. The enemy three to our one. came upon ns with terrible fury, und confident of success, charged onr Brigade, which numbers in all not over 600 men. At this critient period the 100th N. Y. broke and fled in confu-ion; it now seemed that our fate was sealed, but not so ; our brave Com-

in the hearts of his comrades. Ile led in the closing prayer of that last, meeting before the figlit, and his last words as the column moved for the charge were respecting " that good meeting," and the preciousness of Christ to the soldier. Even the cusker in which such a jewel has been carried, is prized ; and as we write here in camp, on the burying ground of Litchfield, Conn , weep- ing friends are preparing the grave of our dear comrade. Seth F. Phimb.

But few incidents of interest ocenrred as we maintained the coveted position in front of our mander, Col. Otis, paced up and down the lines, watchful foe. Gunboat and mortar shells have exhorting the men to stand firm, and they did, added to the list of our wounded and our dead. | pouring such volleys of musketry into the ranks Antumnal storms have increased our sick li-t; of the advancing foe, that they were compelled to retire, leaving the fieldl strewn with their dead sonte have left us because their three years ser- vice had expired, and others have returned from ! and wounded. Our loss was very small, owing to the steadiness of our men. We drove them in confusion beyond the line we had lost, and which we now hold. Not only our Brigade but Division Commander spoke highly of the conduct of the Regiment in this fight.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 105

Author: Morris, John M., ed Publication date: 1863 Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck Number of Pages: 886

Author: Morris, John M., ed
Publication date: 1863
Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck
Number of Pages: 886