The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 117

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

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DEAR RECORD :- It is something over two months since I wrote you, and perhaps a line or two from us would receive a welcome in the promise they gave of the death messenger, were [ February Number of the REconn.

Our trip to New York in November, was any- thing but pleasant, and then, to come back and find our log cabins torn down, rebuilt and occu- pied by a new regiment, was still more perplex- ing. But like dutiful children of Uncle Samnel, we went to work and built new quarters near the old site, where we remained about three weeks. We were beginning to feel quite at home, when we received orders to move about 3-4 of a mile up the line to a place made vacant by the 24th Mass. regiment, (belonging to onr Brigade. ) which had been ordered to Bermuda Hundred for Pro- Fost duty.

After a week of diligent labor, our camp again appears in all its glory, and in a much more uni- form style than the old one, with sufficient room for enlargement to accommodate the 400 reeruits which had just arrived.

Since then our duties have been rather ensier. There is a detail of 40 men each day for pieket, which, with the camp guard, comprises all the reg- ular details, But the men ia eamp do not lay idle, I assure you. Company drill in the morning, and Battalion in the afternoon, with dress parade at 1 o'clock, consumed nearly the whole of these short winter days.

To-day we have had six more Lientenants mus- tered, so that our complement is nearly full, and the regiment begins to look more as it did last spring, when we landed at Bermuda Hundred. The recruits are making rapid progress both in drill and discipline, under our new officers who are old vets.

We linve had snow enough to cover the ground only onee during the winter, but rain enough to make it mp; consequently incalculable quantities of mad. It has been almost impossible during the past month to get a sufficient quantity of ra- tions and forage up from the landing. All the temming is done on corduroy roads, and if one of the terms get off, down, down they go, and good bye mules, their cars only remain ia sight, to inark the spot. Meantime, the driver escapes by come stragetie movement.

Deserters are coming in by seores daily, some- times whole picket posts, officers aud all. come over to our lines. A few days sinee several fam- ilies came from Richmond direct, in a suffering condition. They claim that they are compelled to leave the city to keep from.starving, and that they have their choice to go further South or come over to our lines.

We are now the 3d Brigade of the Ist Divi. sion of the 24th Corps.

The consolidation of the two, (18th and loth) Corps seems to give entire satisfaction to all, but the removal of Gen. Batler from the command of this Department, gives far better, and brings joy to every soldier in the Army of the James. Yours, C. S.

From the 2d Conn. Light Battery. MOUTH OF WHITE RIVER, ARKANSAS, } January 17th, 1865.

The battery is again under marching orders and leaves for New Orleans by the first means of tran-portation. We are to report to the Chief of Artillery of the Department of the Gulf, but whether for po-t duty or to form part or parcel of some expedition we can only conjecture. Mo- bile is thought by many to be the objective point

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and as we took an active part in the siege ending in | panie-but a confident stand, a forward, and a reconnaissance. Starting in the rain on the the surrender of Forts Morgan and Gaines at the victory. entrance to Mobile bay, the prospect of an expe- When the battle began before daylight, on the dition in that direction is not less agreeable than probable. morning of Dec. 19th, they renched Woodstock | that evening, and the next night arrived at " Lazy Springs," within five miles of Harrisonburg. When reville sounded, at four o'ebek on the morning of the 21st. the camp was literally caked

left of the line, onr Cavalry Division, on the ex- treme right, were aroused, saddied and ready for During the two months we have been stationed here, we have had much wet weather, nud conse- quent sickness. Two of our mmber have died and are here bnried, John C. Newton of Strat- ford, and Frederick Holmes of Waterbury. The latter was in the three months' service, and was taken a prisoner at the first Bull Run battle, and carried to Richmond. netion ; but we were obliged to wait about two hours listening anxiously to the roar of the fight | in ice. A hard rain during the night, had as it drew steadily nearer, telling us that our | frozen as it fell, covering everything; so that the forces were being driven-before Custar's band was heard, the Division was ordered forward, the ice and crackled sharply as they were thrown off 1st Conn, being in the advance. At first, on the extreme right of the cavalry line-the three Di. visions, stretched to check the rebel advance- For a few days past we have had fine weather, we were soon moved to the left, across the pike, the mind has disappeared, and our sick, (now but | and in about two hours back again to the right three or four in number,) are well enough to be flank near the ground of our morning camp. We taken with us to New Orleans,

Our duties here have been comparatively light, and we have had ample time to construct com- fortable and convenient log huts. We are only supplied with shelter tents in this Department, but an old veteran will not sleep cold or wet a second night, with a shelter tent, a hatchet, and a mnd hole to start with. Wild game abound in this State, but as fire-arms are not allowed to be discharged we have lind to resort to such con- trivnnees as "dead polls," for "coons and pos- sums," of which quite a number have been caught. Wild geese and ducks, and bears and deer, are also found here.

Justus B. Hlawley has been promoted to the position of Second Lientenant. Ile has been for some time Orderly Sergeant, and is well worthy of the rank to which he has been advanced. Other changes will follow upon our arrival at New Orleans, where the necessary musters ean be made among the commissioned officers.

Notwithstanding we leave comfortable quarters for winter, we depart without a sigh except for those we leave beneath the sod.

Previous to leaving New Orleans, quite a reli- gions interest was manifest in the battery, and this interest has not abated during our stay at this point. Our little christian band numbers between twenty and thirty, meets regularly (in a room if we have one, if not in the open air. ) and our meetings are well attended. We are indebt- ed to the noble charity of the Christian Commis- sion, for religious books and papers.

UNION.

From the First Conn. Cavalry.

CAMP OF IST CONN. CAVALRY, ¿ Near Winchester, Va , Jan, 19th, 1865.

The quiet of Oet. 18th-the date I find of our last record-did not last long. Before dawn the next morning, we were roused by the unwelcome sound of " Boots and Saddles," and from then till dark again, little could be heard besides the rat- tle of musketry, the roar of cannon and the va- ried sounds of battle. In the struggle of that day, the 19th of Oct., -- thuit day of great disa-ter, but of greater triumph-the Ist Conn. bore an important part. We shared the gloom of the morning. when the army was flying in utter rout ; we shared the joy of the afternoon as the tide suddenly turned, and, when an aid rode to the front of our Brigade shouting "sheridan hns come," we joined in the cheers ringing all about us, for we felt instinetively that there was to be no

his staff, who watched with some anxiety the result ; but when they reached the top, and drove the enemy flying before them, their shout of ex- ultation was caught up by the Division waiting below, ready to follow if their assistance should be needed. Capt. French soon returned for fur- ther instructions, and the regiment, with most of the Ist Brigade, were ordered to push the enemy back neross Cedar Creek, which was accomplished in spite of some obstinate resistance, and it was dark before the Brigade returned. In the mean- time Gen. Custar had started on his raid after the rebel artillery, leaving orders for the Brigade to follow him ; but it was too Inte when they re. turned, so that they lost their share of the glory of capturing the half a hundred guns, though consoled somewhat by the satisfaction of know- ing that they had accomplished work without which the capture would have been impossible. The Richmond papers say the secret of their dis- aster was the rout of their Cavalry on their left, which, if correct, puts a feather in the cap of the 1st. Conn.

After this the regiment had the usual round of scouting and picketing-eneamped upon the bat- the ground of the 19th-but with no special ex. perience till the 12th of Nov. Early in the morning of this latter date, they started under Capt. Joab Rogers, on a reconnoissanee, met the rebel pickets and drove them across Cedar Creek ; Unt, when abont to return they found that Gen. Rosser had sent a superior foree to attack their flank and rear. Making a hasty retreat, they were reinforced by the rest of the Brigade. re- turned with them, charged the enemy and drove them several miles across the creek. Among the wounded during the day, was Capt. Rogers, who, while bravely leading the regiment in a charge, received in the foot, n bullet shot which necessi- tated a painful operation, and which has deprived us ever since of his valued services.

i blankets of our officers and men were stiff with at the summons of the bugle. The ice formed upon the horses was so thick they could with dif- fienlty be saddled. While every one was busy thawing out his blankets and clothes-or melting the iee for a drink of coffee, before it had begun to be light-the command was attacked suddenly remained here till about four o'clock in the after- noon, when Gen. Custar, in his quick, nervous, driving style, hurried the Division on a trot march towards a force of rebel envalry, which had been ordered the Ist Conn. to charge them, as they hy a Divi-ion of rebel cavalry that galloped furi- ously into Gen. Cu-tar's camp with drawn sabres, and for a moment had it their own way ; but only for a moment. The 2d Brigade, upon which the discovered on the right of the 19th Corps, and assault was made, realizing at once the condition of things, proceeded to acknowledge appropriate- were posted upon the snminit of a hill. The fly the early eall, and after an hour's fight, the regiment started, led with coolness aud courage, enemy retired minus a good number of grey- by Capt. E. W. French, our commanding officer. wid charged upward with an ardor and a spirit

backs left bleeding and dead upon the frozen ground. Our loss was slight. Our whole foree that were warmly commended by the General and then retired, the object of the expedition being accomplished, i. e. the enemy having been very effectnally-found. Fifty of our regiment came back with frostbitten hands or feet ; and, to-day, twenty men are suffering, and excused from duty in consequence of the tough experience of these cruel December days.

The New Year opened very pleasantly for ns, with a sumptuous entertainment, which was pro- vided by our good friends at home, in view of the fact that we lost our share of the great Thanks- giving Dinner, having been at the time on de- tached duty away from the Brigade. We were Incky though, in our misfortune on Thanksgiving Day ; for our share of the spoils then would not have compared very weil with the abundant re- past we were permitted to enjoy on the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 2d. Not to tantalize you too unkindly with a minute description of our bill of fare, I will simply state that we bad about a thou- sand pounds of poultry, with an appropriate sup- ply of all the fixings needful for a first class din- ner. We are greatly indebted to the Soldiers' Aid Societies of Hartford, New Haven, Norwich, New London, and the Relief Society of Bridge- port, hy whose co-operation especially, the mat- ter was accomplished. Through their kindness we were also able to distribute to the regiment more than four hundred pairs of mittens and gloves, a pair for nearly every man, and the first they had worn, most of them, during the winter.

We are eneamped-the Sd Division-on the Romney Pike, about two miles from Winchester, and for three weeks have been busily engaged building winter quarters, though the winter is more than half gone, and soon preparations must begin for another campaign. The Regiment has been commanded since the last of Nov. by Col. Brayton Ives, and under his excellent care, is be- ing rapidly improved to the highest point of etti- cieney as a cavalry organization. Lieut. Col. Whitaker, formerly on the staff of Gen. Kilpa- trick, and subsequently of Gen. Wilson, has been

About a month after this, the regiment went more falling back; no further disaster ; no more | with the Division, up the Valley on a very severe | with the regiment for two months, devoting him-

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

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self earnestly to the good of the command. Our only other fiehl officer at present is Major L. P.

In this battle our regiment loses three officers killed, and ten wounded, and seventeen enlisted Goodwin, who has won his gold leaf by his record physical man, and diminishing somewhat, the men killed, one hundred and seven wounded; as soldier since the war began. large amount of accumulated regimental work. | total, one hundred and thirty seven. The officers The greater part of this time the enemy kept up !

We have now present for duty 468. Our Sur- geon, Dr. G. A. Hurlbut, has but a small number | brisk skirmishing, but without loss to this regi- under his special care. The morning report of to-day shows only 37 exensed from duty, nearly all of whom are able to attend sick call, and none in hospital. The general health of the regiment was never better.

Just as I am closing, a battery in our vicinity is making a great racket in honor of Fort Fisher -- in honor of our Conn. General, who finished at a blow, the job which other generalship had pro- nounced impossible. Hurrah for old Connecticut ! II.

The 16th Regiment.

ROANOKE ISLAND, N. C., Jan. 22d, 1865. After an absence of nearly a month, the regi- ment has returned to the Island. On the 6th ultimo, the Sixteenth, with three days' rations, and accompanied by detachments from most of the regiments stationed here, proceeded to Plymouth, from which place an expedition started form Rainbow Bluff, on the Roanoke River, where the rebels have formidable batteries. Much damage was done the enemy by the burning of Foster's Mills and the bridges in its vicinity, but the enp- ture of the bluff was not accomplished as it was not considered practicable. Foster's Mills were about ten miles from Plymouth. Large quanti- ties of grain, &c. were found here, to say nothing of "apple jack," and peach braudy, which was burned by the 16th-especially the apple and peach. The Roanoke Island troops returned here on the 9th inst. Within a weck past, we have constructed our winter quarters in good shape. Many of the men have put up their old tents, stockading them with new boards, while others have built small houses, large enough for three or four men. These with shingled roofs, are neat and comfortable, but at a cost to the men of from three to fonr dollars each, of their hard earnings We have in the regiment a, gentleman of an agri- cultural turn of mind, who from the interest he takes in farms, stoek, barns, de., is called " The Country Gentleman." One would think that a person who could see more beauty in a yoke of cattle than in the flag of our Union, would make a poor soldier, but how different is the case. At night when all disrobe themselves and retire " the Country Gentleman" deliberately removes his boots and "turns in," with his clothes all on, so that in case of attack he can be foremost in re- pelling the foe.

I inclose specimens of State money, presented by Henry Clarke, a private in Co. A, 85th New York Regiment.

ROANOKE.

The Second Artillery.

Though the 2d C. V. A. has not appeared in the columns of the WAR RECORD for several months, it has nevertheless been in the field, as our deeimated ranks, the hospital records, and our own never-to-be-forgotteu experience clearly Inake known.

battery has full range of the regiment, and many arecut down, still it firmly maintain+ its ground till .ordered elsewhere. At another time it charges Your Sept, number, in the article then publish- upon a battery, drives the men from the guns, ed, left us at Halltown, near Harper's Ferry. | but the cavalry capture them.

With the Army of the Shenandoah Valley, we remained in this place one week, recruiting the

ment. Sabbath morning, however, Aug. 28th, long before it was yet day, our sInmbers are dis- turbed by the summons, " be ready to move at dawn." Soon all is again astir, and the weary work in which we have engaged so constantly the previous mouths, is again resumed. We march, however, but a few miles, to the place we left Sabbath night, a week ago, one and a half miles be- yond Charlestown, which place, of course, re- minds of John Brown, and the bands proclaim to us and the inhabitants of this once aristocratic place, that bis "soul is marching on," as they

killed are Maj. J. Q. Rice, Lieuts. F. J. Candce and II. Hubbard. The mails of the day before brought the latter officer intelligence of severe and probable fatal sickness ia his family; one signature more to his application for leave of ab- sence, and his steps would have been homeward bonud instead of the fatal battle field.

Early the next day we pursue the fleeing foe. Wrecked caissons, ambulances, army wagons, &c., mark their course. We find them entrench- ed in that strong-hold to which we drove them, and from which weretreated only a few weeks since -- Fisher's Ilill, 18 miles from Winchester. Sher- idan reconnoiters and skirmishcs, draws his lines and the Sonth must be fully aware by this time. nearer and nearer to the enemy. and about the mid- dle of the P. M., Sept. 22d. falls upon them. Without much fighting they are driven. by being flanked, from their entrenchicents. They seem to have been taken unexpectedly, possibly rely- ing too confidently upon the strength of their position. At all events, they leave behind them clothing, which they have just drawn, and the boxes of the caissons, with the ammunition in them, still by the side of the embrasures, where they had probably placed them for convenience. In this attack the nineteenth Corps are in the center of the foe and engage them there; the sixth, our own Corps, is ou their (the enemy's) left, while the eighth is still further upon the left, extending up and around upon the mountain side, concealed by the woods and thicket. As they come down, the sixth advances, and through woods and ravines and over breastworks makes its way, the enemy too disheartened or surprised to make other than n faint resistance. In this battle and the skirmishring connected with it, the loss to our regiment is two enlisted men killed and twenty wounded.

In five days, we are again, at three A. M. packing up for another move, which brings us to Clifton, and we encamp for the third time, on the same farm, but this time with more marked effect, through foraging and building of breast works. But before the tents are pitched, and just at even- ing, heavy and rapid firing is heard on our left, first musketry and then cannonading. The indi- cations are we shall soon be in battle, but are gladly disappointed, as the Sth Corps nnexpect- edly attacked, is sufficient to repel the enemy. Here we enjoy a fortnight's rest, camp assumes increasing comeliness, the men begin to think of winter quarters, so cold is the weather, and some actually prepare for a prolonged stay. But Sab- bath noon, Sept. 18th, we learn we have no con- tinuing abode licre, as we are ordered to march at two o'clock. Tents are accordingly struck and we are ready to fall into line, when the order comes, "put up tents." A while past midnight, however, we are turned out to pack up again, and in a thick darkness start on our way across lots. where, we know not. But when we strike the Berrysville and Winchester pike, and follow it, All the night we pursue them, and during the forenoon halt at Woodstock for rations, which came up after the battle commenced, and have been following the troops through the night. These received and the men a little rested, we are on the inarch again, go a few miles, and halt for the night, intensely wearied. But the morning finds us on the way again, and just beyond Mt. Jackson, a beautiful little village, where Stone- wall Jackson crected a generel hospital for the valley, we find the enemy posted on the opposite bank, across a plain near two miles in width, with cavalry and infantry skirmishers out. We sent ont skirmishers, cannonade them nwhile across the plain, then ford the stream, and in several columns " forward, march." We soon come upon their vacated camp. evidently hastily left, and in a short time are sufficiently nes: to send shot and shell into their rear. Then commences an exci- ting seene. Several batteries are hurried to the front, halt, and fire n few rounds, then hitch on, hasten forward, halt, fire a few more slots, hitch on again, and with horses on the jump. press on- we " guess." Nine o'clock brings us to the Ope- quan, and within sound of firing. We cross, pass on a mile or more, and find a battle has com- meneed by the cavalry. They left Clifton several hours before us, have driven in the enemy's pick- ets and are now engaging the main body. Onr brigade files into a narrow ravine amid flying shell, one of which wounds and eventually canses the death of one of our number. In this ravine the regiment and the brigade lay down for a while, and then march for the conflict. They enter just as part of the nineteenth Corps are falling back, and in time to aid in successfully stopping the receding tide. The battle is reso- lute and persistent on the part of the enemy. falling back only, as actually forced by greater resoluteness and persistence displayed in charge after charge, driving the foe in total rout beyond Winchester. Night coming on, our wearied forces halt just outside that city. During the fight Gen. Upton commanding the brigade, takes Cos. D), and F, nlone, far in advance, for the purpose of driving a portion of the enemy froin their position, and is successful. At one time a rebel | ward. Thus the artillery, outstripping the foot- man, become the skirmish line. All this time the infantry, in ten columns, across this beautiful grassy vale, progressing as fast as heat and fail- ing strength will allow. This kent up till just at

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night, forming a sight seldom seen, and once seen ever to be remembered. Gen. Sheridan and his staff are with the front battery on the hill-side being thoroughly read. It is located in the iment. that skirts our right, observing the whole. At chapel, and is in the care of a librarian and the Chaplain. On the whole, we are very pleasantly situated, and preparing ourselves for any service which may be required of us in the future. New Market the Rebs. halt long enough to hasten the three or fonr gnas left them to a near eleva- tion, aud fire one round. And with the going down of the sun, when the rear of their train is full in our view, and desperation seems their only hope, a strong skirmish line is thrown out and fire vigorously. The cavalry are all on other routes, the infantry are so exhausted and so far in the rear, and night is so near, or seemingly large captures could easily be made. Iu the moraing, tired and jaded as men and animals must have been, the bird has flown. II

I will add, several copies of your paper are re- ceived weekly. In addition, we have thirty-five copies of the Norwich Weekly Courier; twelve copies of the Windham County Transcript ; eight copies of the Willimantie Journal, and upwards of twenty copies of the Christian Secretary. One hundred and fifty religious papers, of vari- ous denominational character, are distributed weekly, and from thirty-five to forty dailies. But our own State papers are the most highly appre- ciated. At present, we are well supplied with reading matter, for which we are under many ob- ligatioas to our home friends.

CHAPLAIN.

P. S .- I propose to furnish you a brief state- ment, hereafter, of the history of this regiment for your April mumber. C.

The 18th Regiment. HALLTOWN, VA., Feb. 11th, 1865.

MIR. EDITOR :- The Headquarters of the 18th is still at Halltown, Va. Our camp is on the right of the Railroad, and about. fifty rods from it, on the summit of a hill, with breastworks in front, a part of which were thrown up by the 18th Regi- ment in Angust, 1864. They reach from the Po- tomac to the Shenandoah, a distance I believe of nbout five miles. The rebels, however, have not troubled this road or telegraph lately, probably on account of the stringent orders of Gen. Sheri- dan, that ia case they injured the line, that the citizens who lived within a certain distance should suffer equal damage. And as many of the resi- dents along this line are rebel sympathisers, the road is spared on that account.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 117

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