The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 114

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

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I have always in store a full assortment of

MILITARY GOODS,

which may be ordered and sent to any part of the country from my own measures, or from any others sent by mail. I will execute such orders with the utmost faitfulness.

Wm. B. SMITH, Tailor, 264 Main Street, Hartford1, Conn.

J. G. SMITHE & CO'S Unrivaled U. S. A. Stationery Packet. Put up expressly for the Army.

Thousands of these celebrated packets have been sold to the sobliers in the Union army, mal have given perfect satisfaction. We hold ont to baits of worthless watches or borns jewelry to deceive and! shave our customers : Heware of such gross hinto- sitions ! Send for samples of the three sizes we put up, which will be furnished at our whole sale prices. We also deal in Paper. Envelopes, Walles. de. any of which articles will be supplied at the lowest rates. Sutlers and dealers furni-foul at the lowest market priees, and all goods warranted.

J. G. SMITH & CO., Cor. Orange and Chapel Streets, N. w Haven, Conn.

CROFUT & THOMAS, 273 Chapel Street, ( Bak Building,) New Haven, Ct., Dealers in

Hats, Caps, Trunks, Bags, Umbrellas, and Gent's Furnishing Goods. Customers will find our stock of the above gunds the largest in the State.

LADIES' FURS.

We pay particular attention to this branch of our trade. Our stock comprises the fitist goods in the market. A large pr ; rtion is nudle from Skins of our own selection, enabling bs to afford fine goods at a less price than any other establishment in the city. Also, Intfalo and Fanes IS bes, Buek Mittens, Gloves, de., at prices was than will replace them. Successors to COLLINS & 00.

J. D. SHELLY,

Dealer in

STRAW AND MILLINERY GOODS,

295 Chapel Street, New Haven, Conn.

BUNDY & WILLIAMS' PHOTOGRAPHIC ROOMS, 814 and 326 Chapel St., New Haven, Conn. -0- OIL PAINTINGS, Cabinet and life size.

IVORY TYPES and CARTES DE VISITES in every variety. Particular attention paid to

COPYING OLD DAGUERREOTYPES.

N. B .- Our Rooms are up but one flight of Stairs. J. K. Bundy. S. Williams.

GROCERIES.

The readers of the WAR RECORD are invited to examine at

219 State Street, New Haven,

An uncommonly well selected assortment of

GROCERIES, Wholesale and Retail.

Our FLOUR and TE.1, will certainly please. Our OLD AFRICAN COFFEE is decidedly the best article for the price. Every article warranted, and prices as low as pos- sible. People from the country ean here find a ready sale for their produce at good prices. II. W. THOMSON.

ISAAC T. HOTCHKISS' SONS, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in

217 Chapel St., (next to Railroad Bridge,) NEW HAVEN, CONN.

DAVID T. HOTCHKISS. EDWIN A. HOTCHKISS.

C. BIRK'S

DYEING ESTABLISHMENT,

STATE STREET, near DIVISION, BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

HENRY GLADDING & CO.,

PAPER BOX MANUFACTURERS,

8 and 10 Artizan St., New Haven, Conn. -0-

Orders respectfully solicited, and promptly filled. H. GLADDING. H. ODENKIRCHEN.

GRAIN, FLOUR AND FEED.

The cheapest place to purebase Grain, Flour and Feed this side of the extreme West, is at S. STERLING'S. Jr.,

81 Water St .. Bridgeport, Conn.

Always on hand a large stock of Corn. Meal, Grain, Flour, &e. Merchants from the East will please drop in, and examine quality and prices before pur- chasing in New York or elsewhere. Please send for priees current. S. STERLING, Jr.,

84 Water St., Bridgeport, Conn. -0-

READ ! READ !! READ !!

The EASTON MINERAL WATER IS the greatest remedy yet discovered for eutaneous diseases, such as servi- ula, Erysipelas, Salt Rheum, Chilblins, Tetters, Boils, &e. "It is also the simplest and cheapest rem- edy which has ever been brought before the public. Druggists who wish to obtain it by the bottle or gal- lon, can do so by applying to S. Sterling, Jr., 54 Water St., Bridgeport, Coun., or at the Spring, in Easton. Send for circular, und read the History of its discovery, and the testimonials of those who have used it.

:"The Easton Mineral Water has been analyzed by some of our leading Chemists, and found to con- tain some of the best medicinal ingredients-Iodine, Sulphur. Carbonic Acid Gas, torether with a variety of principles in less quantity, which have the same general effect upon the system.

J. C. FOGG,

PRACTICAL Roofer .- only Agent in New Haven P and Naugatnek Valley, for WARREN'S IMPROVED FIRE AND WATER-PROOF ROOFING, Office 21 Floor,

No. 221 State Street, New Haven, Conn.

Materials manufactured by N. E. ROOFING AND MANUFACTURING CO., of Boston. Tin roof's re- paired and painted, and warranted to stand from 3 to 5 years. All orders sent to J. C. FOGG, New Haven, or F. II. JOHNSON, Waterbury, will receive prompt attention.

S. S. CASE & CO.,

Dealers in Imported and Domestie

TOBACCO AND CIGARS, 98 Asylum Street, Hartford, Conn., (Under Allyn Hall.)

Connecticut SEED LEAF TOBACCO Received and sold on Commission. -0-

We have the finest store and best stock in the State. Call and see ns.

FIRE BRICK

And Glazed Drain Pipe Manufactory. All kinds of Fire Brick and Stove Linings MADE TO ORDER. -0-

SMITH BROTHERS, 132 Water St., New Haven.

NOTICE.

At No. 6 and S Temple Street, you can find LIGHT CARRIAGES

Of all the latest styles. TOPS AND NO TOPS made of the very best stock, and by the best work - men. All kinds of Carriages made to order, and warranted. Repairing done with dispatch.

H. STEVENS, Agent.

N. T. SCOTT.

THIE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

OUR STATE POINTS TO DEEDS, NOT ACRES.

Office, 2 Glebe Building. 1

MORRIS & BENHAM, Publishers. S

NEW HAVEN, FEBRUARY, 1865.

VOL. II. NO. V. / $1.50 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE

Major-General Alfred Howe Terry.

Our readers who will turn to the October number of the WAR RECORD, page 288, will find an excellent biographical sketch of Gen. Terry. We shall not repeat it here.

Ile was certainly born in Hartford, and bred in New Haven. Both vehemently claim him as their own. But if the unbecoming narrowness and ridiculous jealousy expressed by news- papers of both cities accord with the real feel- ings of' editors and people, one is tempted to say that neither city is worthy of him.

Let llartford exult as his birth-place. Let New Haven be proud to have educated him. Let. Connecticut boast that he is her son. Let all give him, as he has given himself, to his country.

Gen. Terry was born Nov. 10th, 1827, and is now 37 years of age.

Ilis career in the Army of the James, is well told by a writer in the New York Times. We print the extract because it is full justice by an unprejudiced authority :

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

To Our Subscribers.

Major-Gen. Alfred II. Terry,

Major Joseph II. Converse.

Capt, Richard K. Woodruff,.

Capt. Chas. A. Tenant ...

Capt. Win. II. Sackett,. 360

21st Infantry,.

10th Infantry,

Second Light Battery,

First Cavalry,.

16th Infantry,

364 365

Second Artillery, 18th Infantry,

366

l'ersonal, (Promotions,). Regimental,

Editorial Column,

Recruiting and the Quota,

Convention of Adjt .- General-,

Convention of Selectmeu,

Soldiers' Home, Ilartford,

We trust that our subscribers who have not paid, will not be offended at receiving bills, no- 359 | tices, and other reminders, because we shall con- 359 ; tinue to send such until we elicit some response. The first Volume of the WAR Reroad ended with July, 1864. Those who wish the second Volume from Angu-t, 1864, to August, 1865, will please notify us by sending $1.50 to pay for the sume. Those who do not wish to continue must pay for what they have had, and notify us to stop the paper. Until they do both, they are by law under obligation to pay, and we shall endeny- or to collect all such bills, The arrearages of those whose subscription expired with July, Ist4, now amount to 874 cents; with the March num- ber they will be $1, and so on to the end of the Volume.

368 368 368

369

We beg pardon of subscribers who have paid, for occupying space with this matter, but it is to 370 | us of vital importance.

"In April, 1864, when the Tenth Corps was or- dered from the Department of the South to report for duty to Gen. Butler, prior to the movement up the James River, and the occupation of City Point and Bermuda Hundred, Gen. Terry came North with his command, and was temporarily placed at the head of the corps, while it was in process of reor- ganization at Gloucester Point. In all the battles on the James River-at Richmond Turnpike, Drew- ry's Bluff, Deep Bottom, Petersburgh, and on the Varina, New Market and Charles City Roads-Gen. Terry's Division has actively engaged, and in the superb handling of his troops he established for himself a high military reputation for skill and val- or, and was repeatedly complimented in general or- ders. When Gen. Gilmore was relieved from the command of the Tenth Corps, Gen. Terry was ap- pointed his successor, and his comrades in arms were at one time very sanguine that he would be retained at the head of the corps, particularly as he had just received the brevet title of Major-General for "gallant and meritorious conduet." But the claims of the late Maj .- General Birney to the posi- tion were considered, by the commanding General, to outweigh General Terry's, and the former was appointed to the vacaney. During the brief time intervening between Geu. Birney's assumption of the command and the date of his death-a time marked by active operations, both on the part of the rebels and our own forces, on the north side of the James-Gen. Terry's condet was such as to pro- voke the almiration of such a tried soldier as Bir- ney, who took every occasion to show his conti- denee and esteein, especially commending him for the excellent disposition of his division when, early in October Inst, the enemy surprised and routed Kantz' cavalry, on the Darbytown road, and follow- ed up their success by an impetnous dash upon Gen. Batler's lines, which Terry met and stayed, sending Lee's flushed rupscallions staggering baek, deeima-

PAGE 355 357

Recollections of Army Life in the 27th Connectient,-No. III, 361 362 363 363 361

356

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[FEBRUARY,

ted and di-comfitted. That was a proud day for the old Tenth Corps-a day in which the indomitable bott. pluck of Terry's Division turned a disaster into ; a victory. A week after this event Gen. Birney was

grave, and Gen. Terry, for the third time, was called to the command of the Tenth Corps, accepting the honor reluctantly, because it is not pleasant to be the shuttlecock which high military battledores keep in constant transit between a superior and in- ferior command ; but accepting the position, never- theless, with all proper cheerfulness becoming to an obedient sollier. Here he remained for nearly two months, commanding the old Tenth, now reduced by many fierce fights, until its aggregate effective force scarcely exceeded a division in numbers, giv- ing satisfaction to his immediate Commander, and beloved by his troops. Late in November, the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps were consolidated, un- der tho name of the Twenty-fourth Corps, and again Gen. Terry was compelled to give up the com- mand of the Corps for the subordinate position of leader of the First Division of the new position. He was not long in this command, however, before a chance was given him to distinguish himself more highly than ever. The first expedition to Fort

The gallantry and efficiency of Gen. Terry is fully appreciated and attested by others as well as by Gen. Grant.

None will forget the dispatch of Admiral Porter.

"The troops have covered themselves with glory, and General Terry is my bean ideal of a soldier and ; a General."

The Senate of the United States promptly . days after its surrender to the French and the confirmed his appointment to be Major-General British. The combined armies of those two of Volunteers and Brigadier-General of the nations, were many months capturing that Regular Army.

The following resolutions of thanks have been enthusiastically passed by both houses of Congress:

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress are hereby presented to Major-General Alfred Il. Terry, and to the officers und men under his command, for the unsurpassed gallantry nud skill exhibited by them by a column larger in proportion to the garri. in the attack upon Fort Fisher, and the Brilliant and decisive vietory by which that important work has been captured from the rebel forces mal placed assault was a disastrous failure-the American a magnificent success.

in the possession and under the authority of the United States, and for their long and faithful ser- vice, and unwavering devotion to the cause of the . country in the midst of the greatest dinlienlties and dangers.

But the splendid achievements at Fort Fisher required not merely superb leadership, but ; MATCHLESS SOLDIERSIUP. No regiment there engaged will be forgotten while the flag floats, and the Nation lives.

THE FORCES.

The Infantry of the expedition numbered about 9,000, and were ---

2d Division, 24th Corps, Brig .- Gen. Ames. -

3d Division, 24th Army Corps, (colored,) brig .- Gon. Payne,

2d Brig. Ist Division, 24th Corps, Col. Ab- swept away-its defensive strength not seri- ously impaired.

Among the batteries which accompanied the

prostrated by the sickness which laid him in his, infantry, and assisted in protecting the rear one of 2000 marines and sailors, led by Capt. from the assault of Gen. Hood, were three com- `panies of the Ist Conn. Heavy;Artillery.

The troops which took part in the assault, were all of the 24th Corps.

Ist Division, 2d Brigade, (Gen. Hawley's,) under Col. Abbott, Gth and 7th Conn., 3d and Tth N. II.

FORT FISHER.

Federal Point is a long, low, narrow tongue of white sand.

are crossed by high traverses, which, at the same time, serve as bomb-proofs, and between which are mounted sometimes one, and at others two heavy guns. On the north face were fifteen of these tra- verses, and when our men succeeded in capturing the first of these, the second was an earthwork, be- hind which the rebels could retrent, and so on sue- cessively until our men reached the bastion, which was inclosed on all sides."

"These works," says Admiral Porter, "are tremendous. I was in Fort Malakoff a few

Americans, and Englishmen will remember, with feelings somewhat diverse, that the Re- dan was a work far inferior to Fisher, that an assault was made after a heavy bombardment, son than that of Terry, and that the English

THE ACTION.

And be it further resolved, That the President of. the United States be, and he hereby is, requested to commenced. During that day and the next, communicate this resolution to Major- General Ter- the troops were landed at a point about 3 1-2 ry, and through him to the officers and soldiers un- der his command. miles above the fort-lines of breastworks

The laurels of "The Hero of Port Fisher," were thrown up across the sand spit, and Payne's Division, with Abbott's Brigade, and the batteries posted to repel attack from the direction of Willington. Meanwhile also, enre- ful reconnaissance was made towards the fort, and rifle pits and entrenchments rudely con- structed.

At day-break of Sunday, the 15th, General AAmes moved his Division to within 150 yards of the fort. A tremendous cannonade followed. | Ames' Division.

Guns were dismounted, traverses furrowed, stockades broken, barracks shivered to kindling wood. Still the work was not breached nor

At & P. M. two storming coluiuns advanced,

Porter against the sea-face-the other, Ames' Division of about 5,300 veterans, against the Northwestern face-" the most difficult and ar- luous point."

The Navy" column made a most desperate dash-fought with heroic valor, but were quickly driven baek in disorder, with heavy loss.

2d Division, Ist Brig .- Gen. Curtiss'-3d, 42d, 112th, and 117th N. Y. 2d Brig .- Col. Penny packer's-97th, 48th, 76th and 203d The enemy doubtless mistook the seaman's attack for that of the main body, and poured Penn. 3d Brig .- Col. Bell's-4th N. H., 13th into them a terrible fire. The courage of the Ind., 69th and 115th N. Y.

navy boys can not be surpassed, but their as- sault soon became an unorganized rush. We believe that veteran infantry would have car- ried the position. Their sharp-shooters would have thinned out the rebels in the parapets, their support been prompt -- their whole ad- vance without confusion.

The defiant cheer of the rebels, as the sailors sullenly retired, had hardly died away, when another cheer was heard.

" What flutters o'er the northern wall ? Look now, where the smoke breaks through ! Iluzza! huzza ! 'tis Terry's flag "Tis his battle fiag of blue !

And by its side another flies, All torn and gashed with scars ; See, how it flashes through the smoke -- The grand old stripes and stars !

Hark ! hark ! there goes the steady roll Of the enlm, well-ordered fire, From veterans of a hundred fights, That will never ebb nor tire.

Curtis had won the foremost mounds That sheltered the rebel van, And down across the traverses. He followed them man to man.

Each mound was as a battle field, And reeked with its bloody-strife ; And not a foot of ground was gained That cost not a hero's life.

Shouting and panting, hand to hand, They fought till the close of day, Till the solemn moon among her stars Looked down on the dreadful fray.

At dark seven traverses had been carried. Each was itself a stronghold. Eight more re- mained, ere the main fort was reached. Quite a number of guns along the sea fronts had bear on the traverses a heavy enfilading fire of musketry and artillery.

The 2d division, after six hours severe fight- ing, was almost worn out. The work lagged. But it must not fail.

Gen. Terry sends for troops which he had long commanded, and had particularly request- ek of Gen. Grant, Hawley's Brigade, command- ed by Col. Abbott.

Its place in the defensive line was filled by tho naval brigade, and it moved splendidly forward to re-enforee the weary and shattered ranks of

There is brief consultation. Ames' division is ordered to keep the rebels basy. The fresh column is moved in the deep shadow of the

On the 13th of Jannary, the bombardment been reversed so that the enemy brought to

are fadeless.

stronghold, and it won't compare in size or strength to Fort Fisher."

" Font Fisher consists of one inclosed fort or bas- tion, from the opposite angles of which spread out at right angles to each other high parapets or eur- Fisher having proved a failure, a second was organ- | tains of earthwork, the sea face to a distance of ized which, under his leadership, has proved a suc- 1.000 yards, and the north face to about a third of cess, the result fully justifying the judgment and : this distance. At regular intervals these curtains sagacity of Gen. Grant in the selection of its com- manding officer."

1865.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

357

frowning parapet-noiselessly but swiftly along the entire land front to the very point where the fierce assault of the navy boys had failed.

Gen. Terry, Gen. Ames and Col. Comstock, (Chief Engineer of Grant's Staff.) were with Col. Abbott-all cool but anxious. Mimites now are worth ordinary years. The 7th C. V. is flung forward in skirmish line, the column is at their heels. Through the stockade and sally-port, over the parapet with a cheer, they dash. The startled rebels rally. Spencer rifles and veteran bayonets make short work ; Fort Fisher is won.

Col. Comstock, forgetful of dignity, claps his hands, shouting, "We've got 'em! we've got 'cm !"

Terry, without a word, steps forward, heads the 7th Conn. and 7th N. H., pushes the ene- my right along the sea front to the last eorner into Fort Buchanan, and compels instant and unconditional surrender.

A few rockets announce to Coin. Porter the victory. A million rockets, roar of guns, peal of bells, scream of whistles, and stentorian cheers, proclaim it with measureless satisfaction and delight.

The 6th C. V., under Col. Rockwell, added honor to former honor. Several promotions have been made in the 6th for distinguished gallantry. We trust that similar promotions will be made in the 7th. The 7th lost six killed, the 6th two.

THE RESULT

Is a capture of 72 guns, 2,200 men, with camp and garrison equipage and ammunition, and the sealing up of the harbor of Wilming- ton. The captures have since swelled the num- ber of guns to more than 160, and includes at least seven valuable blockade runners.

Wilmington in due time will fall. While Grant by threatening it, can keep the rebel troops there from re-enforcing Hardee or return- ng to Lee's army, it may be advisable to delay its capture.

THE PROSPECT.

We are on the sure and shortest road to PEACE. Grant, Sherman and Terry, combining their invincible armies, will, we trust, ere the summer eloses, conquer a Peace which will be honorable and enduring.

Overruling Providence.

The day after the capture of Fort Fisher, three rows of torpedoes were discovered beneath the ridges of sand, extending along the entire acees- sible front. At the two points where the army and navy columns made their respective assaults, the wires, connecting the torpedoes with the gal- vanic battery within the fort, had been severed by the shells from the fleet. Elsewhere they re- mained intact, Had not the wires been severed at these points, or had the assault been made at other points, hundreds of veterans might have been blown to atoms, and their matchless bravery made fruitless. Gen. Terry, when informed, was affected almost to tears, and said earnestly, " It is the great goodness of God."

Major Joseph H. Converse. " Who dies in vain

Upon his country's war fields and within The shadow of her altars ? Feeble heart ! I tell thee that the voice of patriot blood, Thus pour'd for faith and freedom hath a tone Which from the night of ages, from the gulf Of death shall burst and make its high appeal Sound unto earth and heaven."

MRS. HEMIANS.

Sublime and serene resignation does this thought of the gifted poctess beget-though all inadequate to cheer the sad hearts of those who lionored and loved Joseph II. Converse-and they were many.

I knew him in his royal prime-a generous man and intrepid soldier. Since "glory and the grave" claimed him, I have scanned with mournful satisfaction, his early days and de- velopments. Ile was born at Stafford, of vigo- rous, New England stock, plain, practical, intel- ligent and enterprising. Ile made energetie improvement of good advantages for education. Ile prepared for college, at Suffield and North- ampton, but did not enter. Among his studies he preferred the modern languages and mathe- matics. One of his early instructors, M. C. Ballard, of Windsor Locks, speaks with enthu- siasm of the ease and rapidity of his progress in these favorite branches of study.

Ile was a keen and judicious observer of men and things. Few see as much on a jour- ney, or learn as much from a page of history, as he did, and few possess information so wide in range and practical in character.

Ile was very thorough, systematic and per- sistent. He was just about to undertake busi- ness in the West, when the memorable call for 75,000 men was issued. Among the foremost of those whose prompt response proved the United States to be a Nation, is recorded the nanie of Orderly Sergt. J. II. Converse, of Co. A, Ist Conn. Vols. He used to smile when the first battle of Bull Run was mentioned. and say he believed that he did as well as the rest.

The fact is honorably historic that the C'onn. regiments were last to leave that disastrous field, and left it in good order. During the re- treat, a battery, whose horses and riders were unmanageable, dashed past. Sergeant Con- verse was knocked down, stunned, and consid- erably injured. llis comrades helped him

in promoting the discipline of the company. Confined with others on rickety and crowded transports off tempestuous Hatteras, he bore the rigors of storm, confinement, and short rations, with cheerful fortitude.

Ilis splendid conduct at the battle of New- bern, was observed with approval, as is most emphatically indicated by a commission as First Lieutenant, dated March 18th, 1862. A sketch of the battle, written for home perusal, and afterwards printed in the Hartford Press, is one of the most graphie and accurate pub- lished at the time. He subsequently forward- ed many spiey and eloquent letters to the same paper-signing with his initials, J. II. C.

The narrative now flows, for a while, inost fittingly, from the graceful pen of an intimate and valued friend, both of the subject and the writer of this article, who is, from racy and from pathetie sketches, already. well known to the readers too, of the W ARR ECORD as " Horse John." We, too, blend our modest efforts in a mutual tribute to him, whose memory, com- mon toils, perils, joys and aspirations have made priceless to both.

"He was taken sick a few weeks after the bat- tle of Newbern. As he was a 1st Lieutenant I decided upon giving him a share of my own large room. Pretty soon he recovered; and then shone forth that humor, that flashing satire, and that capacity of understanding and entering into the ideas and feelings of others, which made his society so charming on all sub- sequent occasions. By the slow and solemn Trent stood our hospital, the ancient home of a Revolutionary General. Huge old mulberry trees embowered it, and opposite, a reedy pen- insula stretched its green tongue far down tho river. There we swung in hammocks through the long summer afternoons, reading hoary magazines that had come in the boxes of Sani- tary or Soldier's Aid clubs, or dreamily discus- sing authors and books. Thither came the fat captain of C's company to relate his oleaginous [jokes. Thither came the Major to cheer his sick boys, and say a kind word to the doctor. And then I first knew, and esteemed him.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 114

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