The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 11

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

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that soon after deprived him of life, and ns the late great struggle at Gettysburg, for on ion, has not since been heard from, and thelof a true friend. Here too were wounded that bloody field was decided the fate of the evidence is strong that he was killed. His : several men and officers, and among them rebellion in the East, and to it a grateful na- horse was seen without a rider and one was tion will ever turn with pride and thanl; ful- found among the dead, by a citizen, that an- ness. Major Brady. During the terrific fighting of Thursday and Friday, when the air was swered in description to him. We hope full of bursting shells and hissing bullets and the reports from exploded caissons, when all

The Eleventh Corps reached Emmettsburg against hope for his safety. Contending with Mouday night, June 20, and on the follow -: the greatest opposition from some of his near- ; around them, man and beast, were falling, ing Wednesday morning received orders to est relatives he entered the service, and with when charge after charge was made upon march to Gettysburg, ten miles distant, with a remarkable perseverance and tenacity of the battery stationed behind them, which the only two short halts on the march. The . purpose certain of the right, he zealously pur- | enemy's batteries had been engaging for men reached the town in two hours, imme-| sued his course. Beneath his quiet and re- 'continuous hours to silence, but in vain, diately passed through it, and, without test. [served nature could be discovered the true when around and over and in front of the ing, went into the battle already begun byl worth and excellence he possessed. Every cemetery hill volumes of smoke were an attack upon the First Corps, which had man of the Seventeenth will ever reeall with wreathing upward, and when thundering marched in advance of us. The Seventeenth : sad pleasure the memory of Billy Hubbell -; reports from hundreds of cannons' mouths was the first Regiment of the Corps that sent pleasure at the recollection of associations forth skirmishers, and while a part of the

deafened the ear, stood fixed the 17th Com. with him, and sadness at the thought of his Regiment. Those who doubted, if any regiment was thus employed under the com-[ untimely death. There fell also the young : there were, of the true valor of Connecti- mand of Major Brady, the remainder was

- gallantly led forward by Lieutenant Colonel in encouraging their comrads by appeals to Fowler, in a charge upon the advancing Anty and patriotism, Crofnt. Dolche, Barni. rebel lines, which proved afterwards to be Bronson, Pickett, Marsh, Burns the color Ewell's troops just arriving upon the scene bearer, and many others who fought bravely of strife. Their line was too long for us, as and died nobly, men whom we unwillingly it was soon discovered that while able to en- spared for this costly sacrifice. gage us in front they were also outflanking

men of patriotic fire, who were ever foremost cut's sons, on the unfortunate field of Chan- cellorsville, here had an opportunity to de- cide how they could fight when an oppor- tunity was given. The enemy here was be- . fore us and we met him. Out of the three hundred and sixty-nine men reported for duty on the first day of the fight, nine com- missioned officers and one hundred and nine-

The division retrented in good order us on the right. General Howard had just: through the town, and with the rest of the ty-eight enlisted men were at the close of corps took possession of the hills behind it. the battle reported killed, wounded and worth, of the First Corps, that the enemy on the most prominent of which was the missing. The Seventeenth Connecticut has I cemetery. The First Corps-that part of it reflected the highest honor upon the old State, and to it should her fervent thanks be given.

were also flanking him on his left and lie must fall back or receive reinforcements, that had cseaped in the conflict -- was sta- Hence we were ordered to fall back to mal itioned on our left. These two corps, num- through the town, but on that front battle- received the intelligence from General Wads-

bering less than ten thousand mon, held the !

It has lost some of its best and trnest

ground at the beginning of the contest the position until the Twelfth came to their aid, men, those of pure principles and firm integ- Seventeenth lost heavily. Lieutenant Colo- As has been often written, this cemetery hill rity. They rest in consecrated soil and their nel Fowler, who had but a short time before was the key to the whole position which memories will ever be cherished by a grate-

entered upon his new responsibilities and was afterwards so stontly held against the ful people. Around their names will was in charge of the regiment in the absence repeated impetnous charges of the enemy ever be encircled a choice and precious of Colonel Noble, still detainedl by his during the two following days of severe wreath of immortal fame. "They fell at wounds received at Chancellorsville, there fighting. The Seventeenth have played the Gettysburg," in repelling an insolent for gave up his life-a sacrifice to his country. part of men. At one time the famous that was striking at the homes of freedom Hle was by nature a true soldier, and had " Louisiana Tigers," never repulel before, as and a trae civilization, devastating a country from the outbreak of the rebellion given his they afterwards claimed, held even in the rich and prosperous under the benign influ- service to his country. His genial temper, highest esteem by Jackson, their former ences of free institutions. generous disposition and buoyant spirits, leader, pressed forward up to the very stone Requiescant in pace et gloria. SIGMA. united with a forvent interest in the cause he will behind which our men were pastel. had espoused, had won for him an enthusiastic The charges were bold, the men who led For the Connecticut War Record. The Fourteenth Regiment.' CAMP NEAR ELKTON, V.A., August 28th, 1863. 5 MESSRS. EDITORS :-- In looking over the regard, and the men followed him most wil- them brave, the conflict fierce and bloody ; lingly into the deadly strife. There fell also but as unmoved as the stone wall before the senior Captain of the regiment, John C. them stood the Seventeenth, and as con as Moore, of Danbury, one idolized by his com- the recreant sons of Louisiana gained the first mmdur of your faithful Record, and pany and of sterling worth and honest char- wall, just so often did the loval sons of Con- noticing how nearly every Connecticut acter. He was a color-sergeant in the Mexi- neetient repul-e them with slaughter. One Regiment had a hearing in your pages, I can war, and served as a captain in the three of them, afterwards taken prisoner, desired regretted to see that the old Fourteenth months' service. He was an ontspeaking to know what regiment that was that stood had no tongue to speak in its behalf. man, always found to be true to his convie- ( so firm at the wall. " It was the first time,"[ Rather than leave our space vacant in

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

such a goodly company, I venture my- permanently disabled, so that no more | OFFRIAL REPORT OF THE FOURTEENTH .elf' to appear as the representative of; than abont ten of our original roster of AT GETTYSBURG. onr organization, in a few hastily written officers, the non-combatants excepted, re- Major Ellis, commanding the Four- words. The record of the Fourteenth, main on our rolls. In round numbers, teenth Connecticut Volunteers, reports to we fondly believe, will suffer by compari- about two-thirds of our officers and two- the Adjutant-General as follows: son with that of none of her sister regi- thirds of our men have been expended ments. In four grand battles have her in twelve months of service. Is there often in the annals of war a sadder or a braver record than this? As an in- banners been borne among the foremost, and their inntilated remains, torn into shreds, blackened with powder, and soil- ed with the blood of several brave ser- when they were driven in by the advan- cing lines of the enemy. geants who have fallen with the beloved standards in their grasp, have been sent During the forenoon, the regiment was ordered to take and hold two buiklings, a large barn and house, outside of our lines of skirmishers, a little to the right of our position, from which the enemy were seriously annoying our troops. home to be treasured among the ar- chives of the State, and their place is filled with new ones that can be unfurled, but not so dear to our hearts as the okl bundles of rags that we dared no longer trust to the breeze, lest the precious rem- The barn was gallantly charged and A new phase of our earcer now opens before us. Our thinned ranks, filled up by a band of conscripts and substitutes, swell ont once more into a tolerably long line of battle. The most of these new reernits are old soldiers, and though some of them have been trying on ns a few " old sojer " tricks of desertion, the great- er number seem to be good material with which to win other fights and maintain the reputation of the old Fourteenth in this coming Fall campaign on other fields, erushing out the last efforts of the now ! edl the upper part of the barn, and ex- really desperate leaders of the rebellion, and coming in with ns for a share of the Having received orders to destroy these buildings, they were fired in several triumphal greetings that shouldl await our return to our beloved homes from a short but arduons and bloody service in I places. after removing all our killed and behalf of our endangered but saved Re- public. So mote it be ! With this has- taken by four companies under command of Captain Moore, the remainder of the regiment making the attack upon the house, commanded by myself. The whole distance from our lines to these buildings being commanded by the ene- Iny's sharpshooters, we met with some loss in this attack. It was here that Lien- tenants Seymour and Seward were wounded. While the regiment was within these buildings, and firing from them upon the enemy, a case shot enter- nauts should be borne away, and our regi- ment left to send inder bare poles. Four grand battles in less than a year from the time the regiment was organized. In the gallant Second Corps, whose loss at Antietam was one half the whole loss in killed and wounded of the entire army ; whose loss at Fredericksburg was one half the whole Union loss sustained on that bloody field, and whose losses in both Chancellorsville and Gettysburg were greater in proportion to the number en- gaged than that of any other corps in the army ; in sneh a corps of heroes as this, it is the proud claim of our regiment to ploded, killing and wounding some of our men. belong also to French's okl "Fighting Division." And to show whether the Fourteenth is worthy to be numbered in snel company, let it be said that the loss of this regiment at Antietam was one hundred and thirty-seven. Into the ter- rible slaughter of Fredericksburg we marched three hundred and twenty strong, and left on the fiekl one hundred and twenty, or more than one third of Ellis of the battle of Gettysburg.

our whole number. Into the confusion and chaos of Chancellorsville our weak- ened numbers marched only two hundred and twenty all told, and we came forth only one hundred and fifty, losing again, in one short hour's fight, more than one fourth of our number. Behind the stone fence on the erest of the hill, in the very centre of the glorious fight at Gettys- burg, lay of the Fourteenth, one hundred and sixty, and still again more than one third paid with their life or with wounds the price of that magnificent triumph. All our original field officers were disa- Whol and mustered out of service in one short year. Four noble captains killed, and as many more disabled. The most of our Lientenants were either killed or

On the morning of the 3d, we advan- cod two companies as skirmishers under command of Captains Townsend and Lu- eas, who maintained their grond nobly stance of the special trophies of victory, Inntil the grand attack of the afternoon, I mention fire regimental battle flags of the enemy taken in one final charge down that terrible slope at Gettysburg on Fri- day afternoon, July 3d, when the grand attack of Lee was repulsed, and our vie- tory made complete. This is, I belive, the largest number of such trophies that any one regiment can boast of even in that brilliant contest.

wounded and arms. We were again or- dered to support Arnold's battery, and tily written contribution to your Record. formed on its right, where we remained please find subjoined a Roster of the officers of the regiment, and an extraet from the official report of Major Theo. G.

Yours truly, s. F.

ROSTER OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF THE FOUR-

TEENTH CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS.

Major THES. G. ELLIS commanding the Regiment. _idjt. F. B. Doten. Ist Lieutenants.

R. Q. M. C. F. Dibble. Jas. F. Simpson, Co. D.

Chaplain, HI. S. Stevens. John D. Pelton, .

Surgeon, F. A. Dudley. Wilbur Fiske.

Ist Alsain't., Levi Jewitt. Fred'k B. Hawley, #

Captains, Henry L. Snagy.

John C. Broatch, Co. Al Fred'k Seymour.

Jas. L. Townsend, " B. James R. Nickels, " S. W. Carpenter, C! 2. Lieutenants.

W. M. Lucas, D.| Chas. W. Galpin,

Henry Lee, " E. Win. H. Hawley,

Sam't A. Moore, " F. J. W. Knowltou,

Samtel Fiske. " (!)I. W. Wadhams,

Sammuel II. Davis, . H., Fred'k Shalk,

James B. Coit. . K. Geo. A. Foote, Ist Lieutenants. |F. II. Stoughton,

.. If. !

Henry P. Goddard, " B. Sam'l II. Seward, " Lucius L. Dyer, " (. N. P. Rockwood.

under the terrifie shell fire of Friday af- ternoon, from one o'clock until the bat -. tery retired disabled, when I moved the regiment forward and to the left to cover the space previously occupied by the bat- terv.

About this time two rebel lines of bat- tle, extending across the plain for more than a mile, preceded by a line of skir- F. mishers, and reinforced at two points, ou "the right and left by a third line, were observed to emerge from the woods 1. K. 11. 1. about one-third of a mile distant, run- ning nearly parallel to our front, and ad- vancing steadily across the intervening plain. The spectacle was magnificent. They advanced in perfect order, the line C. D. E.| Hof skirmishers firing. Our men were F. formed in a single line of battle along an G. almost continuous line of low stone wall and fence, which offered a considerable 1. K. Iprotection from the enemy's fire. When

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[SEPTEMBER

the first line of the enemy's had advanced much less than at Chancellorsville, it was panied him to the picket post, fearless of to within about two hundred yards, our not because we were not in the thickest any danger, from the whizzing bullets. fire opened almost simultaneously along of the fight for many hours, but it was That Sabbath evening the 17th, with its the whole line. The enemy's first fire for the reason that those on our right brigade, marched back to Funkstown, to was broken, and hurled back upon the and left stood their ground. which point the right of our lines had ad- No fair statement of our position at vanced, bivouaced anywhere we could find second, throwing it also into confusion.

Detached portions of their lines were either battle, and the part our regiment a place to lie, expecting that when morning rallied, and for a short time maintained took in each, has ever yet met my eye in came an opportunity would be given to join their ground. Being mowed down by our terribly destructive fire, they com- print. No statement can be given that in a general attack. Morning came, and would convey to one who was not there with it strong reinforcements, but no signs meneed falling back, when a portion of a just idea of our labors and our danger. of an attack, Why we delayed we could not this regiment charged upon them, cap- turing five regimental battle flags and over forty prisoners. There also after- wards came into the lines of this regi- ment about one hundred or more of the enemy, some of whom were wounded, and gave themselves up.

[The above is an extract from a private letter from a brave officer in the 20th C. V. It was the fact that full and "fair statements" of the part taken by our Connecticut soldiers in this great war, could not be expected in the widely cireu- Inted journals, which induced us to establish the REconD, and we trust that in every one of our Regiments, writers will be found who will rescue Among the officers who personally sur- from oblivion every fact worthy of mention, Pwhether it concerns the whole Regiment or any meinber thereof. We shall be glad to receive ! communications, not only from our regular cor- respondents. but from any officer or soldier who can send ns anything of general interest.]

rendered to me were the following:

Colonel John Fite, 7th Tennessee, and Lieutenant Colonel W. J. George, Ist Tennessee, not wounded ; Lientenant Colonel Parkes and Major John J. Rich- ardson, 52d North Carolina. Among those who were taken prisoners or came within our lines wounded were the fol- lowing line officers: Captains G. A. Graves, George Gillian, and J. A. Kin- cain, and First. Lieutenant J. C. Warren, 52d North Carolina; J: N. Robertson, 5th Alabama. There were many of the field and line officers captured whose interesting. names were not ascertained.

explain. Tuesday morning came, and, alas ! the displeasing intelligence that the rebel army had escaped. This event has passed into history, and is perhaps seldom thought of by the people at large, but not so with the men, who, enger for the contest, and anxious to add another and a final blow which might destroy their old foe, and thus preclude the necessity of another campaign in Virginia, saw their hopes at once unreal- ized, and were obliged to march to Williams- port only to see where their foe hnd escaped, and then again by rapid marches to retrace their steps over familiar ground, through 1 Seventeenth Regiment. Middletown, Jefferson, to Berlin, to the Po- Monats ISLAND, S. C., ) August 28, 1869. 5 tomac, which was erossed on Sunday the 19th. The next Sabbath found us encamped Your last Record of the 17th C. V., left it |in that desolated region that surrounds at Boonsboro', on its return march from the, Warrenton Junction, a place destitute of battle field of Gettysburg. Since then its | good, and even of a sufficiency of water, and experience has been varied, and somewhat

also of shade, as the several armies that have made this important point a camping ground have dismantled it of its forests and woods. We had begun to think that summer quar-

On Sunday, July 12th, our Division, con- sisting then of eight regiments with an ag- The colors captured belonged to the Ist Tennessee, 16th North Carolina, 3211 North Carolina, 4th Virginia. The col- ors of the 1st Tennessee, 14th Tennessee to Ilivrerstown. This traveling at the heels and 16th North Carolina, have the fol- lowing inscription on each : Seven l'ines. Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Sheppards- town, Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville. Ox hill, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg. Frazier's Farm, Cedar Run, Manassas. The color of the 14th Tennessee was the first taken, and was captured by Sergeant-Major William B. Hineks. That of the 52d North Carolina was taken by Corporal Christopher Flynn. Co. K. and that of the 16th North Carolina by pri- vate E. W. Bacon, Co. F. following regiments: 14th Tennessee. Gregate strength of only twelve hundred ters and a period of rest and quiet was in men, accompanied by Gen. Kilpatrick and his'store for ns, when suddenly, on the 1st of detachment of cavalry upon a reconnoisance August, we were ordered to Greenwich, and as suddenly, on the 3d, ordered baek. Why of cavalrymen was rather novel to us, and this movement was made, no one as yet out- the rapid marching was not very pleasant. ' side of the circle of Headquarters has been However, we surprised the enemy, dashed able to decide. Doubtless some great feat upon his lines, took about one hundred ! of strategy, which it was not intended we prisoners, drove them in disorder through ; should understand. Nevertheless we are the town to their strong entrenchments in contented with our ignorance and begin the rear of it, which constituted the loft de-'again to make arrangements for "Summer fenses of their main front line. The men of bowers," entertaining the idea that no ad- the 17th will long remember this expedition, ; vance is to be made until we are reinforced .and will never forget the cordial reception by the conscripts. Delusions are a part of extended to us by the staunch unionists of the destiny of the soldier. Three days only Hagerstown, who for five weeks had been had been passed in camp, when the order guarded by rebels in a manner not wholly comes for the 1st Division of the 11th corps Killed, 10; wounded, 52; missing. 4. Total loss, 66. The regiment went into action with about 160 muskets. economical to their parse or stores. The to report at Alexandria by rail transporta- young ladies were especially enthusiastic in tion, then to await further orders. All now, their kindness, thus forming a striking con- from the general to the private, were on a trast to the apathy and penuriousness we' footing, for all were equally surprised at the For the Connecticut War Record. The Twentieth Regiment. . had witnessed in Pennsylvania. The staff order and ignorant of our destination. oficers have not forgotten the kindness ex- There was hurrying to and fro, a general I tell you, friend C., the last emmpaigu ; tendel to them by the families of Dr. Dor-i" turning over" of Quartermaster's and Com- of about fifty days was calculated to test jey and ex-mayor Cook, while Captain - missary's stores, and wagon trains, and at the endurance of the strongest, and, will fight more leavely as he recalls the no- evening the 17th might have been seen although at Gettysburg our loss wasable heroism of the young lady, who accom- thickly packed in baggage cars on their way

1863.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

to Alexandria. Such discomfort, such ac- cumulated inconveniences, were never expe- rienced by passengers before. Cramped up and wedged down between several soldiers, in repelling a night attack of his cavalry with the drippings of a candle "o'er him upon the forces stationed there. gently stealing," your humble servant in vain strove to reconcile himself to his condition, by taking a patriotic view. On arriving at

In the latter part of January the battery was ordered to Wolf Run Shoals on the Ocoquan river, to guard the ford. The Alexandria at midnight we were unloaded, Bull Run river empties into the Occoquan or rather dumped out, to lie anywhere about two and one half miles above here, Providence might provide us a resting place. and in connection with the latter river forms The afternoon of the next day found us aboard the Jolin Brooks, bound for Fortress Monroe and Newport News. Gradually we began to discover that Charleston was our place of destination and that we were to have the enviable distinction of adding to the laurels won at Gettysburg, by uniting with our bretbreu in the subjugation of Sumter and Charleston.

For the week passed we have watched with interest the progress of the siege, and have been fortunate in losing ouly one man killed and one wounded" while lying exposed in the trenches. When you hear from us again, I trust that you will receive the joyful intelli- genee of our complete success and the occu- pation of Charleston by the Army of the Union, in which Connecticut can boast of a good representation in her 7th, 10th and 17th regiments.

Yours, SIGMA.

For the Connecticut War Record.

From the Second Connecticut Light Battery. CAMP NEAR WOLF RUN SHOALS, VIRGINIA, June 22, 1863.

This battery was organized at the city of Bridgeport, in the month of August, 1862, and was mustered into the United States service on the 10th of September following, "for three years or during the war." It is | Edward B. Chase of Danbury, and James composed of the best material as regards G. Wood of Bridgeport. "UNION." officers and men, and is unsurpassed in its general equipments by any battery in the service. It is armed with four six-pounder rifled guns, (James' patent,) and two twelve pound howitzers. Captain John W. Ster- ling is the commander, and lie, together with his associate officers, command the confidence and respect of the men.

fax Court House. The battery was en- a furious rattle of sharpshooters and bang- camped at the latter place at the time of ing of cannon. Ilow can a man write arti- Stuart's raid in December last, and assisted cles in such a place and under such circum- stances ?

A reporter can go to the rear and sit down to his pen and paper. A Captain must always be with his company, ready at any moment to repulse a sally or make an attack. Besides, I had no paper and no money to buy paper, for we have not been paid for over six months. I wrote three or the southern outer line of the " Defenses of four times to my wife on the backs of old Washington." The Ocoquan is a fast flow- forders and on bits of ammunition paper; ing stream, with precipitous banks, and is subject to sudden rises and falls. It has no bridges across it, but has a ferry at Ocoquan

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 11

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