The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 109

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

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ed with the other troops of Gen. Burn- side's Const Division.

350 life gave promise of a career of rare bril- 350 linney and usefulness. Said one who 351 The Burnside Expedition sailed for. 352 knew him well in army life, " He had all North Carolina in January, 1862. Dur. 353 | the elements of greatness." He lacked ing the tedious delay of the fleet on the

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Hatteras Swash, Lieut. Camp gave en- fest haste on his mission, but before he couragement to others by his uniform cheerfuluess, and accomplished much by his energetie and untiring endeavor for the comfort of those shut with him on a elose and unhealthy transport, winning steadily the respect and fervent esteem of officers and meu about him. When the steamer City of New York was wreeked in his sight, he volunteered to aecompany the Captain of his vessel in an attempt to resene the survivors. The old salt at first looked contemptnonsly at the fair faeed yonth who proposed to venture on such a trip, but was induced to accept his proffered service at one of the oars. The storm was fearful. The little boat which put off for the wreck was a mere plaything in the boiling surge, tossed hither and thither by the lashing waves, and the driving gale, shipping more than one sea that seemed sure to swamp it, and being kept on its way only by the stoutest hearts, the strongest arms, and the steadiest nerves. The attempt to a friend at the North, he said in his quiet and modest way :

to reach the steamer proved vain. Hu- man strength was helpless against the combined power of the enraged elements. One after another of the boat's crew gave up in despair, until only a single sailor remained with Lient. Camp, self- possessed and nndannted. The order was given to return to the transport. When

again on his own deek, the captain, whose repulse of cavalry might seem I cannot ment was by no means inactive. On one distrust of the ruddy cheeked youth was tell, but there has been nothing in such changed into admiration for the brave work as has fallen to us hitherto more hearted, unflinching, skillful oarsman, said | exciting than there was for the oarsmen in one of our grand boat raees between Harvard and Yale."

that if he had had a crew of such men as that Lieutenant he could have reached the wreck in safety. Said one who told of it afterwards, "Fear was no part of Lient. Camp's composition. Ile would never have turned back withont orders."

fought Feb. 8th, 1862. The Tenth Reg- iment was then first in action. Just as it enme under fire, Lient. Camp was de- signated by one of Gen. Foster's statl' to return to the landing and order up am- munition. The errand was one requir- ing promptness and energy, involving the securing of a steamer and hunting up the ordnance vessel for supplies, on which the fate of the day might depend. and would not have been entrusted to any bnt an officer of character; yet it was to the bitter regret of Lient. Camp that he was thus deprived of the privi- lege of sharing with his comrades their first baptism of blood. He made great-

could rejoin his regiment the fight was over. He had done his duty, simply and wholly; he had nothing to reproach himself with, nor did he fear that others would doubt him while yet untried in battle; but he bemoaned what he deem- " We groan in spirit at having to stay ed his personal loss in the satisfaction of here idle, while the tight at Richmond is so fierce-every man needed-every man there worth a hundred elsewhere. No- thing else that the war can bring forth will furnish canse for so proud a satis- faction as to have thrown one's weight into the scale while the balance yet trembled. When the race is won there's nothing like feeling that you pulled a good oar on the home stretch." Then, as showing his real interest in hard service, he added, "I don't want to fight for the sake of fighting, but for the sake of ac- complishing something that will tell on the grand result." For that "grand re- sult" he was glad to work, or willing, if

" The sensation of coming under fire is to me very much like that I used to feel in boat racing-exceedingly nervous bus- iness waiting for the signal to give way, but comfortable enough as soon as one has an opportunity to work off the surplus ex- citement. IFow a bayonet charge or a

results of endeavor than for its excite- ment. He wished to do something to- wards closing the war. He would " finish his work ; then rest." While the peninsular campaign was at its height, in the summer of '62, he wrote :

risking and doing for the canse he loved. IJe had not long, however, to wait for an opportunity of participating in the perils and duties of a bloody field. In the hard fought battle of Newbern, March 14th, 1862, the Tenth Regiment was again actively engaged, and Lieut. Camp was then with his company. So cool was he and self-possessed, even while the fight was fiercest, directing the fire of his men and aiding them when their pieces needed attention, "ever," as one said, " with the same pleasant smile on his face," that in admiration of his conr- age, his brave boys called him their Iron Man. In writing of this his first fight need be, to wait. "I have chosen," he said, "my sphere, in which I think I can work most efficiently for God and my country, and if we have thirty years war instead of three, I expect to see it through-or as much of it as comes in my lifetime."

Lieut. Camp had his full share of pick- et service, and seonting, during the sum- mer and autumn of 1862, for the regi- occasion, when a party from the Tenth had been eut off by rebel cavalry, and word came in that its entire numbers were killed or captured, he asked the privilege of leading a few brave volun- teers beyond the lines. in search of his

Once in camp at Newbern, his fear was, that he had seen his last work at missing comrades. Permission being the front. His restless longing for active service showed itself in his every letter

granted, he went ont in this truly haz- ardous enterprise, and the result was the sought to aid.

The battle of Roanoke Island was to home or friends. "Save me," he ingathering of all the scattered party he wrote in the early spring, "from a suul- Imer in Newbern, or any other place. Our life, except when in active service,

In July, 1862, Lient. Camp was ad- vaneed to a first lientenaney and put in is mere machine-work at best ; endura-[command of Co. D. where he is still ble, even enjoyable, by way of prepara- remembered gratefully for his valable service in disciplining and improving his charge. In August he was called to the adjutaney of the regiment. In that po- sition, on parade and at headquarters as well as in the hour of battle, he filled marked ability.

tion for something better, but as a 'regn- lar beverage,' altogether too insipid and flat. Our wits grow so rusty in this treadmill business -- that's the worst of it. I was beginning, a while ago, to fear that the result of our campaigning would his place always gracefully, and with be in having more brains softened from within than perforated from withont." Ile was at home on his first leave of absence, for a Thanksgiving visit, when Gen. Foster's advance was made to He was not so constituted as to be content in God's service to "only stand and wait ;" yet his desire was rather for the | Goldsboro', and again he was disap-

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pointed by missing battles in which his regiment participated. So deep was his nothing but bits of sunset cloud-a single one is a magnificent boquet. There was a grove of orange trees, some of them in blossom, the pure white buds bursting out of glossy deep green leaves and filling all the air around with per- fume almost too rich and overpowering. There were strange century plants, like mighty cactuses, and unfamiliar tropical- regret at this that when, shortly after, unusual promotion was pressed upon him, he refused it unqualifiedly, pre- ferring that it should be given to some one who had been in the recent engage- ments. When. a month later, an expe- dition was fitting out for the South, which it was thought his regiment would not accompany. he proposed to volunteer on the staff of a general of division, that he might there share a part in anticipated battles and thus, in a meas- ure, redeem what he counted as his recent loss. But the Tenth Regiment moved with the other toops, and Adju- tant Camp was glad to remain with it. The long delay after arrival at Port Royal, and the inaction at St. Helena, with the transfer of command from brave and beloved Gen. Foster, proved a sad disappointment to him as to others. In the early part of spring, the taking possession of Seabrook Island, as a pre- liminary to an advance on Charleston, was an exciting incident of the opening campaign. Then, picketing lines over Leaving Edisto Inlet, July 7th, 1863, Adjutant Camp moved with his regi- ment to James Island, where he had a part in the sharp fight of the 16th ; thence, by a hurried night move to Morris Island, in season for the second against the enemy, with an occasional skirmish, and frequent scouts to neigh- boring islands, furnished a pleasant variety of adventure for three or four months, and in the scenes of greatest activity Adjutant Camp was with the assault on Fort Wagner on the evening foremost in exposure and in efficient endeavors. Ilis love of the beautiful was as marked and sineere as his satis- faction in excitement. His home letters, descriptive of expeditions among the sea islands of the South Carolina coast, like those from other points of interest which he visited in army life, are of rare beauty in their appreciative, graphie truthfulness. Of a visit to the Seabrook gross perfidy they were seized and held as prisoners in spite of the demand for their surrender on the part of Major- General Gillmore. First in prison at Charleston, they were taken thence to Columbia, S. C., where they were in confinement together nearly four place on Edisto Island, he writes thus glowingly : "The grounds about the place were very pleasant, only needing care. There were pathis winding through dense shrubbery and passing by ornamental bridges over a little stream; there were arbors and walks

of the 18th. At noon on the 19th, dur- ing a cessation of hostilities for the removal of the wounded and burial of the dead, he went out with Chaplain |Trumbull-the two being almost in- separable in their army service-to render, at the suggestion of their com- manding officer. what aid they could in the hnmane work progressing. By

months, when Chaplain Trumbull was shaded by foliage too close and thick to |released. In prison as elsewhere, Adju- give passage to a single ray of sunlight ; there were enormous rose-trees lifting far tant Camp commanded the respect of all. No prisoner of any rank was above my head such masses of gold and | treated more uniformly with deferential crimson as I had never seen-cloth-of- gold roses, do you know them ? each as large as half a dozen of any ordinary

so soft that you can compare them with in the young officer's winsome face and dignifiedl presence.

Ilis active mind could not rest in prison. Hle must be again free, again with his regiment. In the month of December, after several postponements of the attempt, he escaped with Captain Chamberlain of the 7th C. V., and the two tramped nearly a hundred miles through the woods and swamps before looking growths to which I could give they were recaptured. Once more in no name. The luxuriance and fullness | Columbia, a new escape was planned in of vegetation is wonderful; every plant | which he was to share, but it was dis- seems to feel itself at home and aban- dons itself to utter dissipation and wantonness of unrestrained develop- A Southern April has more of glowing bloom, fierce intensity of color ment. covered just in time to prevent its ful- filment. Yet another was interfered with by an order for him to go to Rich- mond for special parole procured through the intervention of friends at and brilliance, in contrast with more of the North. This was in April, 1864. sombre shade, density of massive growth, and depth of green gloom be- neath, than Northern midsummer. have spoken of this before, but it was peculiarly noticeable in this garden where cultivation had done its utmost,

After a brief stay at the Libby, he came I through the lines on the 1st of May. The narrative of his prison life and escapes, written in his admirable style, is of thrilling interest. Not even ex- tracts from it can be given in a brief and then left nature to work its own sketch like this, but its substance will will."

appear in his extended biography now in preparation by his friend the Chap- lain.

Ilow he felt when again at liberty, he thus told his comrade in his first let- ter after release: "It was 12.30 when we reached City Point, and saw, for the first time in many months, the stars and stripes as they floated above the New York, which lay there at anchor. I used to think that enthusiasm for the flag was principally a manufactured article, and indulged a philosophical contempt for those who allowed a natu- ral object to occupy the place in their minds which should be filled by the great abstract principle. But I shall have charity henceforth for all 4th of July orators, knowing myself better than I did; and honest feeling, even if it flies the spread eagle a little too high for my taste, shall have cheers instead of sneers from me." Again, writing from Annapolis, he said : "I am just begin- ning to realize that I am free. Until within a few hours the jesting ery of . Boat up-300 officers on board,' would send the same thrill through me which it did at the Libby. I have still a great respect for enlisted men on duty, and half expect some of them to take me in charge as I pass through the streets. My hand doesn't rise to a salute spon-

courtesy than he. The most haughty Southern official, and the most brutal of his guards, recognized, alike, and paid variety, crowded with petals of goldlen involuntary tribute to, the superiority of velvet, so riel and thick and of a color the pure and noble soul which shone ont | taneously -- it requires a distinet volition.

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Did you jump at once back to your old

ment in September, 1864, while yet be lian soldier, to die in the work to which position ?" "How good it is to be fore Petersburg. He was with his regi- he had given himself, and for the canse free !" he said again. But as yet he was ment in its new move across the James; which he loved-the canse which grows and at the battle of New Market Heights, dearer and seems holier for overy new and again in its brilliant and daring dash sacrifice laid upon its sacred altar not entirely at liberty. Ile longed for a full exchange that he might rejoin his regiment, then at Gloucester Point, up the New Market road to Lanret Hill The remains of Maj. Camp being left about moving to the front. " There is a Church, in support of Gen. Terry's ad- jon the field when the assaulting column vanee on Richmond by the central road. retired, they were recovered the day fol- When Gen. Birney recovered the ground lowing by ing of truce and taken to lost by Gen Kantz, Major Camp was the . Hartford for interment.

captain here," he wrote, " who has been paroled, and for whom the authorities are to arrange a special exchange. I wish they'd put my name on the same paper. Uncle Sam may take back my leave of absence, and I'll throw in the half pay and all he owes me too."

only officer besides brave Col Otis with the battle line of the Tenth to meet and repel the determined onset of Law's Al- abama brigade.

He went to his home. Only those On the- 13th of October, Maj. Camp who know that home, and how he loved | fought his last fight. After skirmishing it, and who have suffered in long ah- | from daylight until 2 P. M. of that day sence as he endured in campaigning and against the enemy's position between the in prison, ean appreciate his full joy in i Darbytown and Charles City roads, jacter. He seldom uttered an idle word. that return. Only such can realize what | about four miles from Richmond, the 10th His sentences were full, forcible and pol- nobleness of self-forgetful patriotism in. C. V. was ordered to report to Col. Pond, ished. His purity of speech was prover- bial, yet he had the keenest appreciation and enjoyment of humor, and his wit was . dueed him, on learning, when but five commanding the Ist brigade of Gen. days of the twenty allowed him had passed, that his exchange was effected, to throw up all the remainder of his leave and hasten by the very first train, without even stopping to pack a valise, towards the field where his regiment was already engaged. Foreing his way

Ames' division, to lead in an assault on the rebel works. Those works were of the sharpest edge. He was as grace- strong intrenchments with slashing in their front. The advance to them inust be for several hundred yards by a dense thicket of sernb oaks and tangled laurels and vines, through which men could through every obstacle from Bermuda | foree their way but slowly even if other- Hundred towards Drewry's Bluff, and i wise unimpeded. and which was raked against the warning of nearly all whom ; by a deadly fire of artillery and musketry he met by the way, on the morning off on both front and flank. For the fearfii the defeat of Angust 16th, he rejoined the brave boys of the noble Tenth just as they were coming out of one sharp fight and preparing for another. Those

advance through this, Maj. Camp quietly asked leave to take position with the front line instead of with the second, where he was first assigned, believing who witnessed that glad meeting will | that he eonkl thus do most in enconrag- not soon forget how, even under fire, fing the men in their terrible trial. Then, those tried and trusty soldiers rent the [ while many about him were despondent, air with welcoming cheers, nor how their | he was cheerfulas ever. Speaking hope- brigade and division as well as regi- fully of the possible result, even while he mental commanders hurried forward to give the gallant young officer a hearty greeting.

could not shut his eyes to the more prob- able issne of the move, and expressing to " his name will be recorded with those of his friend his firm unshaken trust in the Savior, whose cause he had long openly

From that hour of rennion with his regiment. Adj. Camp shared in all the lesponsed, he pressed forward in advance perils and endurances of the Army off of the line when the word of command the James in its full five months of nnin- was given. . Unchecked by the crash of grape and ennister, undaunted amid the shower of bullets, faltering not while comrades fell by the score, perseveringly and determinedly he forced his way on, up to the far front of that bloody ad- vanec, and there in full view of the ene- ¡my's works, sought to rally the scattered remnant of his little band under the folds the thickest of the battle's fray, while [ of the tattered flag they had clung to so faithfully and followed so long. .. Come on, boys ! come on !" he called encon- agingly as he stood right before the bristling parapet, in the face of open- mouthed artillery, and over against the double battle line of the defiant foe. Scores of hostile rifles were leveled against his prominent form as for a sve- ond he stood waving his sword and shouting there the onward ery. and the words had hardly passed his lips ere he termitted campaigning. No brief record can tell of the many nights of wakeful- ness, of the many days of burning heat, or of driving storm, in the which the of- fieers and men of that army have shown their devotion to the cause they represent. Establishing new picket lines in the dark- ness, carrying orders along the front in standing against the most furious attack | of the enemy, or while charging npou the intrenched positions of the foe, in ad- vance skirmishing, or while covering the retreat ofa largearmy, in engagements by the score, at Bermuda Hundred. at Deep Bottom, at Strawberry Plains, at Deep Run, at Fussell's Mills, and for weary weeks in the trenches at Petersburg, Adj. Camp showed himself the ever brave, faithful, etlicient soldier, gaining con- stantly in the confidence and affection of fell, shot through and through, again those above and those beneath him.

and again, to die without a struggle, but Again tendered unsought promotion, to die gloriously. to die as he had lived, he was mustered in as major of his regi- the brave, self-sacrificing, heroic Christ-

A life of rare symmetry and of rare promise was closed to earth when this young officer lay down to die. He was a fine scholar, of clear head, close reason- ing powers and mature judgment. Ilis correctness of taste and delicacy of sen- timent were as marked as the vigor of his intellect and the strength of his char-

ful and attractive as he was manly and dignified. His unbending integrity, his strict conscientionsness, bis high sense of honor, were well known and remarkable. None ever knew him do a mean or un- generous aet, or heard from his lips an ungentlemanly expression. And above all. his retiring modesty was as marked as his ability. He shrink from notice, and never aspired after station or promi- nence. Yet every place he was in he filled with distinction, and as advanced position imposed on him new duties, his latent powers would have been aroused to the full discharge of all his responsi- bilities.

"Our canse cannot boast a nobler mar- tyr than Henry W. Camp," said good Col. Plaisted, his brigade commander ; Ellsworth and Wifithrop, youthful heroes who have given their lives to their coun- try." And his name is doubtless also written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

H. C. T.

The Patriot's Pledge.

Our native land ! to thee,; In one united vow, To keep thee strong and free, And glorious as now- We pledge each heart and hand; By the blood our fathers shed, By the ashes of our dead, By the sacred soil we tread, God for our Native Land.

THE USUAL APOLOGY. - Logan happened one evening to be at a convivial party in Irvine, when the toast and the song performel their merry round. A lady present being called on to contri- bute to the hilarity of the evening, excused her- zelf by saying that she had only one song, and it was so threadbare she was afraid to sing it. " Hoot, madam," cried our wag, "so much the better, for if it's threadbare you'll get the easier through it."

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HOME DEPARTMENT.

Two Hours Among the Records.

Many have no idea of the nature and amount of business done at the office of the Adjatant General of Connectient, and few have adequate conception of the thorough system, the neatness, accuracy and minuteness of detail with which the work is done.

Let us glance at matters in the offlee, and first sit down at the

DEPARTMENT OF RECORDS.

Here are hundreds of original documents, inelu- ding official reports by the commanding officers, of all movements of regiments -- all engagements and the casualties-the mister rolls of every reg- iment and battery from the State sworn into the service of the U. S., containing the name, compa- ny, rank and residence of every officer and mnan, filed away with full descriptive lists-all the sub- sequent bi-monthly muster rolls prepared and forwarded from each regiment and battery, sta- ting the actual number of men on duty, the num- ber on the rolls, with all promotions, casualties, men detailed or sick, additions, losses or other changes. Besides, reports as complete as persist- eut effort can secure, are obtained coneerning Connecticut soldiers in various hospitals through- out the land. All these original doennients are carefully assorted, labeled and filed away for future reference.

The design of these voluminous and detailed reports is to keep aeenrate record of every man who has entered the service of the U. S. in Con- neeticut organizations with the facts of his sub- sequent career essential to correct returns, and to ensure justice, as well as prevent fraud in distri- bution of pensions, and back pay or bounty.

In the confusion and press of labor suecced- ing a sanguinary engagement, wounded men get seattered through many and distant hospitals and here trace of some is inevitably lost, Unt so far as the work in the office of the Adj .- General is concerned the system is perfect and, all faets obtained are preserved, systematized, and . made available.

Records of this sort are kept in every State, with more or less aceuraey. For this purpose. In the office of the Adjutant General of Massachu- setts there is a long row of iacks, one for each regiment, and the muster rolls as returned are placed each on its proper rack. But the muster rolls grow numerous and unwieldy, and it often becomes necessary in tracing the history of a sin- gle soldier to hunt through a voluminous pile, and not nufrequently the search is fruitless.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 109

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