The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 120

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

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Manross entered Yale College with the class of : Alps, and via l'aris and Havre, reached home in 1850, and soon reached the position as a scholar ; the fall of 1852.

and a man, which he maintained through the course. In the languages he did not stand high,

For several months succeeding his return, Man- ross was engaged in the clock shop, perfecting an simply because they were not to his taste. To invention for cutting the "jewels," thea all the his after regret he neglected them, although his, rage in the clock business. These previously abilities in this line were really of a high order.

were ent by hand from the crystals of Cale When it became necessary for him in the Inbora- | Spar, a process hiborious and expensive. Manross' tory at Gottingen to know the German, he quali- finachine was a success, and is still in the posses- ficd himself in six weeks to follow Prof. Wohler sion and use of his brother, Elijah Manross, of understandingly through his course of chentical | Forestville. Meantime, he continued his studies instruction. In mathematics, his standing wi- higher, but still with these he did no more than was necessary to keep on with the class. English | purpose he closed an engagement with a company composition was his especial aver-ion. The habit of shirking in this department ciong to him through after life. That he had a special gift in this direction which improved would have given him eminence as an author, is proved by the many brilliant fragments that are senttered through his correspondence and journals But

in New York, and in Oct. 1853, he sailed for Ven- ezuela, ia Sonth America. He ascended the Ori- noeo three hundred miles to Angostura, thenee up a branch of that river one hundred and fifty miles to Tupaquien, in the neighborhood of which he spent some six months prospecting gold fin the bed and along the banks of the Turuary in all that appertained to natural science, Man. | River. Ilis snevers here was very encouraging. but subsequent civil commotions in the State of Venezuela, prevented all advantage from his

ross towered head and shoulders above the class, Especially was he at home in Prof. silliman's department. In Chemistry, Mineralogy and Ge- ology, he never tired or faltered. Morning, noun nud night, his little spirit lamp blazed on his

study table, and his blow pipe, test-paper, and | an interesting acconat in Vol. XX, of Silliman's tubes lay scattered about. llis explorations Journal.

covered the entire region surrounding the city. | In April, 1856, in the service of the "Chiriqui On these excursions nothing escaped his notice , Improvement Co." he began extensive surveys and nothing withstood his scrutiny. I have on the Isthmus of Panama, in a district about kaown him after one of these protracted walks, | midway between the Nicaragua and Panama when I had gone supperless to bed through sheer transit routes. in pursuit chiefly of coal mines. :exhaustion and consequent inability to reach our He also made a laborions and minute exploration boarding house, spend half the night in testing , to ascertain the practicability of a road from the some new speeinen which he had picked up on the | Chiriqui Lagoon to the Pacific coast. Ile was

present also at the first discovery of the gold images in the ancient graves at Chiriqui, and was among the first to give an intelligent account of those eurious relies.

In the fall of the same year, he was engaged for several weeks in a survey of gold fields in the upper part of South Carolina and Georgia.

In November, 1856, he entered the service of the " Mexican and Pacific Mining and Land Com - pany," and proceeded to Mexico via St. Louis, New Orleans and Vera Cruz. IIe reached the city of Mexico, Dec. 23d, and remained there a fortaight, making excursions in various diree- tions, with an eye to the discovery of coal fields. Leaving Mexico in January, he crossed down to the neighborhood of Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, and spent several months surveying and loeating iron and copper beds, under grants heid by the Company from the Mexican Government. His Report to the Company, as I am assured by high authority, is a paper of great value, and I know that Manross regarded his discoveries there as of vast consequence, could they but be follow- ed np. From Acapulco, Mimross and his party returned to the States, via Panama and Aspin- wall.

The financial troubles of 1857 arrested his labors in the line of his chosen profession, and so settling down at Forestville, he entered upon an extended course of chemical experiments, varied with the construction of several ingenious and valuable mechanical inventions. During this period he declined several invitations to scientific Professorships-was a defeated candidate for the State Legislature, from his native town, and seemed to lookers on to be drifting into inefficien- cy and uselessness. But Manross was never idle. There was method and labor in even his trifling. The great defeet of his character was a waat of ambition, Ile cared little or nothing for the ap- plause of his fellow-men; not that their appro- bation was not appreciated when it came, but it was not worth his effort to secure it. And so where other men would be fonad scheming and in mineralogy, with a view to employment as a professional inineralogist. In pursuance of this elbowing their way into notice, he plodded quiet- ly on, saying that his turn would come in due time; that if the world wanted him it would find ont its need and call for him early enough, for all the fame he craved. Meantime, he pur- posed that every day should increase his fitness to meet the demand when it came. During this period also, he married, and in the rest of domes- tie life after his many years of wandering, it troubled him little that more aspiring mien thought his talents were rnsting out. Thus the war found him and ronsed him from his repose. Dr. Mauross was naturally an optimist, and there- discoveries. Returning in the early summer of | fore a conservative. He was an ardent Whig in 18AS, and during his absence in Europe, was

1851, he visited en route, the famous "Pitch Lake," in the Island of Trinidad, of which he gave | thrown much into company with Southern trav-

During bis residence at Gottingen he made vari- ons scientifie excursions, visiting the mines in the Hartz mountains, and other localities of interest. Leaving Gottingen, the two friends girded on their knapsacks and tramped away to Berlin, Vienna, and Trieste, stopping on their way to in-

1866.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

373

elers and students, and being aloof from the im- mediate seene of conflict he felt but little sympa- thy with the anti-slavery sentiment of the North, as it came out on the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law. On his return, therefore, he advo- cated moderation and forbearance, and deprecated all occasion of bitterness between the sections. But the Kansas imbroglio dissipated his neutral- ity, by convincing him of the animus of the Southern heart, and disclosing the drift of the pro-slavery sentiment. His residence and trav- els in other lands, had givea him a deathless at- taelment to, and an ardent admiration of the Union, and he now saw that its real danger lay not in the efforts of a few wrong-headed, but right-hearted reformers; but in the un-Republi- ean spirit and tendency of the Peculiar Institu- tion itself, upon the outbreak of the Rebellion, his first intention was to volunteer in the Engi- neer service, as soon as that branch of the army should demand reeruits. But no opening of this kiad presented itself, and meantime his friend Clark had accepted the post as Major, in the 21st Mass. Vols., and Manross was selected to fill his place in the Faculty of Amherst College, during his absence. Ile entered upon his duties as Prof. of Chemistry and Botany, at the Fall term of 1861, and became immediately popular with the students and respected by the faculty. As a Leeturer he developed fluency and great aptness of illustration, combined with precision and breadth of knowledge enabling him to control its position under the fire of the enemy's batteries, his audiences with dignity and ease. During the yenr of his connection with the Professorship, he laid out and partially filled up a two-fold set of lectures which in their untiuished state evinee the fine scholarship and broad research of their au- thor.

During his residence at Amherst, Dr. Manross' position and feelings on the subject of religion underwent & decided change. Although hitherto strietly correct in his habits, moral iu his life, nnd always respectful in his attention to the elaims of religion, he had not yielded himself to its power. But now he was led to consecrate him- self to the Lord, and the changed eurrent of his life proved the security of his convictions. It was his intention in eompany with MIrs. Manross, to eonneet himself with the Congregational Church of Bristol, on the Sabbath which proved to be the one succeeding his departure for the field. On the day of embarkation with his regi- ment, he said to an old friend who inquired after his prospects for eternity, "That matter 1 have settled satisfactorily." The frankness and earu- estness of his manner emphasized his reply.

During the summer term of 1862, nt Amherst, he canvassed the subject of entering the army. In correspondence with his wife he said: " You can better nfford to have a country, without n husband, than a husband without a country." Returning to Bristol at the commencement of the Fall vacation, he found the citizens there astir with excitement, over the recent call for vohin- teers. At the elose of n speech he made to an assembly of his fellow townsmen, he was atreat- ed to nssume the Captainey of a Company. le eon- sented, and threw himself con amore into the work of organization, and in three weeks from its in- ception, marched his Company, (K, 16th Conn. [ buried.

Vols.) into camp, at Hartford. The Captain was as proud of his Company, as " the boys" were prond of their Captain.

When informed of his purpose to volunteer, his friend Clark urged him to accept the then vacant Majorship in the 21st Mass. Vols. This would have brought him into most congenial companion- ship, as Col. Clark was then in command of that regiment. But " No," was the reply ; "I have promised my boys to go with them." On the deck of the steamer on his way to New York, he said: " If I can only bring out what I know is in my men, I want no different shoulder straps from these I now wear," and this confidence and regard were fully reciprocated. Ifis successor in com- mand of the Company after his death, once said to the Colonel : " Those boys eare more for Man- ross' old shoes, than for the best man in the Regi- ment." More than once, on the march from Washington to Antietam, the Captain was seen carrying the muskets of the wearied meu.

The arrival of Company K, completed the Reg- iment, and it was immediately ordered to the front. At Washington it was supplied with mus- kets, and hurried forward to the Army of the Potomne, then confronting Lee's advance into Maryland. It arrived just in time for the bloody work at Antietam. The Company had never been on parade nnder arms till it was deployed with the Regiment on the battle field, and detail- ed to the support of a battery. In advancing to

Captain Manross was struck by a eannou ball on the outer edge of the left shoulder blade. The ball passed under his arm leaving a deep indenta- tion in the flesh. He was at once taken from field and died two hours after. He said but little after his injury. Ile told the Surgeon that he was bleeding inwardly, aud could not recover. A powerful anodyne was administered and he soon became unconscious. A friend bending over him heard him murmuring : "O, my poor wife ! my poor wife !"

Thus was extinguished one of the noblest of the many noble lives which have been exaeted by this mereiless rebellion. May God forgive the guilty authors of it, for the nation never ean. A purer patriot, a truer man, a braver soldier, a more generous friend, never breathed.

Prof. James A. Dana said of him: "His death is n great loss to the scientifie world." Prof. B. Silliman, Jr. says: " As an explorer, Dr. Manross possessed remarkable qualifications. For a rug- ged constitution and great powers of endurance. he united great coolness, a quiet but undaunted de- meanor, the courage of a hero, and unyielding perseverance. He lived-but what need is there of eoujecture now ? The world will never know its loss, but his friends will never forget theirs." His remains were forwarded to his friends-an immense eoneourse gathered at his burial-and he sleeps there in the family burial ground, at Forestville, his strong arm pulseless, and his great heart eold and still. O fortunate he to die for such a country, and still more fortunate country to have such as he to die in her defense. The free stone shaft planted on his grave by his be- reaved company, and towering grandly heaven- ward, is only one of thansands that will tell to coming generations where the nation's jewels lie

A Memorial of Sylvester C. Platt.

"He, the young and strong. who cherished Noble longing's for the strife,

By the roadside fell, and perished on the threshold march of life."

This verse is an appropriate reminder of the subject of this memorial. With youthful ardor and strength he longed to do battle for his coun- try's life. But sun-struck on a weary march, he " by the road-side fell." He lingered some days, started for his home, but was not permitted to gain it, ere he fell asleep in Jesus. Ile reached a New York city hospital where, on the fifth of August last, God took him to rest in His heavenly home. Painful it was to his friends that he should die alone, without a kindred eye to look with tender- ness upon him, just too, as it were, at the thresh- old of his loved home; but it mattered little to him, for he was " fit to die."

"It matters little at what hour o' the day, The righteous fall asleep. Death cannot come To him untimely who is fit to die.

The less of this cold world, the more of heaven, The briefer life, the earlier immortality."

When about sixteen years of age, he embraced his Savior, at a Redding Camp Meeting, under the ministration of Dr. Miley. From that period onward, bis christian course was steady and un- deviating. And though stricken friends are made life mourners, through his departure, yet-

"Sweetly remembering that the parting sigh Appoints His saints to slumber, not to die, The starting tear we cheek-we kiss the rod, And uot to earth resign them-but to God."

At the commencement of our national troubles, he at once became deeply and patriotically inter- ested. Ile felt from the first that he ought to join the defenders of his country, and go forth in her service. To these convictions he finally yielded, and breaking away from a large circle of loved and loving friends, he, in the fall of 1862, entered the 23d Regiment Conn. Vols. During his terin of enlistment, he faithfully performed the duties of a soldier, in Gen. Banks' Louisiana eam- Paign, bearing home with him the sear of n wound received at the battle of LaFourche Crossing, June 21, 1863.

A few pleasant months among his friends pass. ed, when impelled by convictions of duty, he again enlisted, and entered the 2d Conn. Heavy Artillery. In n letter to his parents he says : " When I returned to you, I did not think I should re-enlist, but duty and my conscience lade me again offer myself, and I have obeyed. I go forth trusting in the Lord. Dear parents, do not grieve about me, but give me nnto the Lord to do as Ile thinks best. Believe that 'He doeth all things well.' He can protect me amid all dan- ger, and if I fall. it matters not to me-I shall the sooner be at rest. Dear ones, leave me, as I leave you, in the hands of the Lord, trusting that if we meet no more on earthi, we shall meet an unbroken band above."

" Looking unto Jesus," here below, our friend now looks upon Ilim without a dimning veil be. twoen.

May the stricken ones follow his example, and eventually euter into his rest.

H. W. WHEELER.

374

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[MARCH,

Sergt. Junius E, Goodwin.

MR. EDITOR :- In your Oct. number of the WAR RECORD, in the list of casualties from the 14th Regienent, C. V., at the battle of Reais Station, among the wounded, appears the name of Sergt. Junius E. Goodwin, Co. K, wounded in the leg. Sergt. Goodwin was severely wounded in both legs, and after two or three unsuccessful attempts to carry him from the field, was finally left in a weak and exhausted state, and as he has not since been heard from, it is feared that he died soon after from pain, and loss of blood.

It seems due to one who so nobly volunteered in his country's service, and deemed no sacrifice too great for the cause of liberty, and for the pro- tection of the " Dear Old Flag," that some record be made of his character and services.

We commence with a few extracts from letters received from the army. One from a prominent offieer, speaking of him says: " My acquaintance with Sergt. Goodwin, was of no common eharae- ter ; starting out from Hartford at the same time, in that gallant 14th Regiment, we were necessarily intimately associated, and I am happy to say that I have never had reason to regret any confidence placed in Junius. I always found him true to his Co., to his Regiment, and his country. No brater man has Conn. sent into the fieldl. I last saw him at the battle of Reais Station; he was ae- tively engaged with the men in throwing up the defenees, and was encouraging them with ' kind words,' apparently full of health and spirits."

Another, writing from the same Regiment, says: "I need not tell you of Sergt. Goodwin's noble and gallant conduct while engaged in that terrible hattle, for you have doubtless heard it many times. He was badly wounded in the thigh, the ball crushing the bone, and entering the other leg. I assisted in the last effort that was made to get him off'; he was very weak from loss of blood. We carried him with great difficulty a quarter of a mile in a terrific thunder storm. We had to piek our way in the darkness, by the flashes of lightning, and as we had no stretcher, it was almost impossible to carry him. His wound was so painful that he begged to be put down, but we cheered him up as well as we could. till we reached the spot where we had left the Regiment, and found them gone, and there was no means of conveyanee at hand, and we were obliged to! leave him. ITis mind appeared to be wandering, and be seemed to be saying something of home. We did not think he would survive the night ; we covered him with an overcoat and placed a pillow beneath his head, and left him to his fate. He was a noble and patriotic young man. Wel all loved him, and would gladly have done any thing in our power to save him."

In an extract from another letter. the writer says : " Ile cannot be too highly praised. When the boys speak of the many brave men they have lost, his name is sure to be among the first; he was loved by all, and his bravery was never doubted. At the fight on the North Auna River, the Regiment was ordered to charge the rebel WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God, in the midst of battle, to remove from our number, in the pride of manhood, our fellow Officer and beloved associate, CAPTAIN WILLIAM II. HAW- LEY ; therefore, be it works ; the men at first faltered ; not so with Ju- nius, he was first to mount the works, and called for the boys to follow him, and through the hot- test of the tight, he was the foremost of all, set. Resolved, In the death of Captain Hawley, we ting an example of heroic bravery to both officers | mourn the loss of one of the best oflieers of the

and men. llis age was twenty-one years and six months, and he had been anticipating the privi- lege of easting his vote for the first time at the Presidential election, and also of soon reeciving a commission, which had already been promised him, but which came too late. Ile has no doubt, passed away from all earthly honor, and rests with that 'great host,' who have fallen in crushing this ernel rebellion." G.

Ilartford, Dee. 31st, 1864.

From the Danbury Jeffersonian. Corp. Lewis P. Osborn.

Corporal Lewis P. Osborn, of Co. C. (17th Regiment,) died at Pieolata, on the last day off October, with inflammation of the bowels. We deeply mourn the loss of our comrade, and regret it the more from the fact that he had but a short time since returned to us from his home after a long illness, and again entered upon his duties as a good and faithful soldier. He was beloved by all who knew, and loved best by those who knew him best. His uncomplaining conduct as a sol- dier under all circumstances, is an example left us worthy of imitation. His remains rest a few rods from the eamp, under a live oak tree, on the ground known as the night picket's post. Lewis has many times faithfully performed his duty on that very post.

Angel of death, lingering near, Stay thine edict, stern, severe!

Warm hearts fondly wait to greet Ilim thou eallest -- stay thy feet !

Vain our pleadings, all in vain ; Our young comrade, death has slain.

Ile shared the soldier's common lot ; No mother watches by his eot;

Nor weeping sister lingers near, A brother's parting words to hear ;

Nor fond wife's arms are round him thrown; But still he did not die alone.

Ilis every want was supplied, And comrades watched him till he died.

We clothed his form in Union blue, And eotlined it from mortal view.

Then bore it to a hero's rest, Beneath the soil his foot oft pressed.

We fired o'er him a parting shot, And slowly left the fatal spot.

And now we write o'er his grave -- " Here rests a soldier, hero, brave." " THEOPHILUS."

Picolata, Fla., Nov. 8, 1864.,

Capt. William H. Hawley.

CAMP OF THE 14TH CONN. INFANTRY, In the field, near Petersburg Va., August 26th, 1864.

At an informal inceting of the Commissioned Officers of the Fourteenth Regiment Connecticut Infantry, held as above, CAPTAIN WILLIAM II. HAWLEY, was announced as killed in the sangui- nary action of the day previous, and the follow- ing preamble and resolutions presented and unan- imously adopted:

regiment, bound to us by ties of the strongest affection, au affection strengthened by two long years of mutual triumph and disaster.

Resolved, That in all the varied experience of the service we have ever found Captain Hawley fully equal to every emergeney ; in camp, the trusty counsellor, the agreeable companion, the faithful friend; on the march, while a strict dis- eiplinarian, not without merey ; in action always composed, though brave to a fault. He had the respect and love of all who knew him, and his manifold virtues will ever be remembered.

Resolved, That while we tender our heartfelt sympathies to his family and relatives in their be- reavement, we claim the privilege of sharing with them the fullness of grief.

(Signed) S. A. MoonE, Lieut. Col. 14th C. V. JAs. B. COIT, Major. WILLIAM B. HINCKS, Adjutant. JOHN C. Broren, Captain.

ROBERT RUSSELL, Lieut.

W.M. MURDOCK, ¥

PERKINS BARTHOLEMEW, ..

GEO. A. STOCKING FRANKLIN BARTLETT,

J. FRANK MORGAN, Captain.

FRANK E. STOUGHTON, " IRA A. GRAHAM, Lieut.

THOS. A. SMYTH,

Col. Comd'e 3d Brig. 2d Div. 2d Corps. THERON E. PARSONS, A. A. A. G. 3d Brig., 2d Div., 24 Corps.

FRED. B. DOTEN, Capt. and A. D. C. 3d Brig., 2d Div., 2d Corps. Jxo. L. SPARKS, Capt. and Brig. Inspt. DAVIN YARDLEY, Capt. and A. A. D. C. E. C. ALEXANDER, Capt. &c.

Charles Gates Cleveland was born in Harwin- ton, Oct. 28, 1834, the son of Horatio Cleveland. In his childhood his parents removed to Plymouth, and from this town he enlisted in the 19th Regi- ment, (now 2d Conn. Artillery,) in the Fall of 1862. He was attached, with most of the Ply- mouth men, to Co. D., and served faithfully in his place until prostrated by sickness. He died Jan. 20., 1863. in the hospital near Alexandria, was brought home, and buried among his friends with appropriate services by the Rev. D. F. Lumsden, Rector of St. Peter's Church. Mr. Cleveland was unmarried.

Valor.

Ile is truly valiant that can wisely suffer The worst that man ean breathe; * * * And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart

To bring it into danger. SHAKSPEARE.

Perfect valor consists in doing without witnesses all we should be capable of doing before the world. ROCHEFOUCAULT.

The truly valiant dare everything but doing any other body an injury. ...

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

A valiant man

Ought not to undergo, or tempt a danger But worthily, and by selected ways. Ile undertakes by reason, not by chance. BEN. JOHNSON.

A brave man is not he who feels no fear, For that were stupid and irrational ;

But he whose noble soul its fear subdues.

And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from. BAILLIE.

This is true courage, not the brutal force Of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve Of virtue and of reason. Ile who thinks Without their aid to shine in deeds of arms, Builds on a sandy basis his renown.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 120

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