The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 124

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

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384

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

LAPRIL,

It was long past midnight before the tedions ; they or i think at that time, that my excursion crossing in the blackness of the night was ae- would lead me from danger, and that they were complished, and as boat load after boat load of to bear its brunt and fall under its vicissitudes. exhausted, half-starved soldiers reached the

But a week more, and I lived to see the north side of the Potomae, they dragged them- frebel hosts pass in battle array past my undis- | again entered the service as a private in Co. E, selves up the rugged banks and cast themselves | covered lookout ; - saw our troops move out upon the first vaeant yard of earth or shelving from Culpepper to meet them, and saw them rock, and slept uutil the morning sun had blis- [ each alvance with quick step umuler that cloud tered them into wakefulness, thankful for the rolling river behind them, and greeting Mary- land, My Maryland, as we had never done be- fore.

of smoke that covered the wild havoc of battle. When next I could learn of the contest, I heard that every field officer of the Fifth was gone, and that but two officers and a hundred men

At Hartford, and during the fall and winter [ had come safely back from the conflict. All in Maryland, Lieut. Dutton had been one ever present member on all the convivial gatherings of the officers, and had led with the rest of us the somewhat careless life so common at that time among officers of the service. From our first crossing into Virginia, however, he had become gradually changed. Books became the companions of his leisure hours, or alone with some esteemed comrade, he gave voice to that thorough religious and heroic spirit that lay

others were killed, wounded and missing, and that Stone, Blake, Dutton and Smith had fallen. They all fell as they had lived, true men. Capt. Corliss, commanding Co. C, fell badly wounded in the early part of the contest, as the regiment had just passed out from the woods into an open field, across which swept the rebel bullets like hail, and the command of the Company devolved upon Lieut. Dutton. In front the woods swarmed with rebels, and beneath the sparkling surface, and told of his jat every step some gallant soldier was falling glorious aspirations for the future life, and his in the ranks; but they pressed on, and but a bright hopes for the future of his country. At thinned remnant of them reached the woods. Front Royel, about the last of June, in com- Yet here they made a gallant struggle, and drove baek the rebel line. The Color Gnard all fell either killed or wounded, and Company C bore on the remnant of the flag and fought with desperation. It is reported that one man in this company put seven rebels to the bayo- net in this short encounter. Lieut. Dutton is reported to have seized more than once the colors from some fallen hero, and to have bore it along to the hands of others still able to bear it aloft. During this heroic and hopeless strug- gle, his commanding form could not long escape unscathed, and he fell pierced by a volley of rebel musketry. llis comrades fell baek from the contest, but bore along the sacred remnants of their flag, torn and staff-less. though it was. General Williams was at the outskirts of the wood hastening the retreat, but he stopped for a moment to seize a shred pany with him I attended the last little prayer meeting which assembled in the regiment pre- vious to his death, and as he did on singing that day, I could but feel, that not the lips only, but the heart, entered into the spirit of the hymns. Soon after, he became for a time, a tent-mate of my own, and my interviews with him led me more than ever before, to admire in him the man, the hero and the chris- tian. And in this change he was not alone. It seemed as if the sacrifiees were already pre- paring for their offering. Major Blake was always, at home or in camp, an earnest, devout christian ; but Lieut .- Colonel Stone and Adj. Smith had mingled in all our wild, ceaseless hilarity and revelry that absorbel many a rainy day, and almost every evening of our carly history, with great zest ; but they too, had changed. Amid and contrary to the whole , of the tattered banner, he pressed it to his lips, tenor of surrounding influences, we well reco !- and then pinned it to his breast, and still pre- serves it as a most sacred relie of the gallantry of his favorite regiment, made for its defence, the 9th day of August, 1862. Iect that these three had long ago lett all our carousals,-had for the past months lived such lives -- lives of governed appetites, of sober and earnest resolution and unwavering duty, that E. E. M. we could well say, as we remembered so much and more, " Who of all of us was so well pre- Capt. Jas. R. Nichols. pared as they ?" A few days before Cedar Mountain, I had my last interview with Lient. Dutton, at the camp at Culpepper Court House. I was going to join a party sent to establish and maintain a signal station at the extreme front, on territory known to be occupied by the rebel scouting parties, with whom several severe skirmishes had then lately occurred, and had spent the night with both Dutton and Smith. It seemed as if our " good byes" were more feeling than usual, they warning me to take good care of myself, and expressing considera-

Capt. James R. Nichols, 14th Conn. Vol. Iifan- try, died nt the Armory Square Hospital in Washington, Monday, Feb. 20th, at twenty min- utes past five P. M., aged 21. Though a native of Cheriyfield, State of Maine, he was living in Norwich, in this State, at the time of the break- ing out of the rebellion. When the President, nfter the bombardment of Fort Sumter, called for 75,000 volunteers, among the first to enlist wns young Nichols, who became a member of Capt. Harland's company, (now Brig. Gen. Harland.) and served in that company attached to the Sd Conn. Vols. during their three month's service ble anxiety for my safe return. How little did in Virginia. When the Third Regiment wns

mustered out, Nichols resumed his clerkship in Mr. R. W. Haven's crockery store, in Norwich ; but he was not satisfied to remain in civil life, and when the 14th Regiment was being raised,

but left the State as a Sergeant in the same com- pany, from which position he received rapid nnd worthy promotions, till he became Captain of Co. I; and at the time of his death was senior Captain in that regiment. Those who have fol- lowed the history of the Coun. 14th knew some- thing regarding the small number of its officers who have passed through the numerous engage. ments in which the 14th have taken part without receiving one or more wounds.

Capt. Nichols, previous to the action nt Reams' Station, on the Weldon R. R. last Angust, had been one of these, and so fortunate hind he been that his friends hoped and believed that good for- tune would carry him successfully through the war, and he himself it would seem, neither feared nor hesitated to make any exposure, so charmed a life did he bear in battle. It will be remember- edl that the 2d Corps of the Army of the Poto- mac, having made a reconnoissance on the north of the James River, on the extreme right of our forces, withdrew its lines in the night, and made a forced march down to and beyond the left of out lines, striking and destroying the Weldon R. R. at Reams Station. While thus engaged, they were attacked with great impetuosity on the right, left and front, by a couple of divisions from Gen. Lee's army, and were obliged to form a semi- circular line of battle and threw up hasty works for protection. While fighting behind such hns- tily constrneted works, a part of the first Division of the Corps, after having twice repulsed the ter- rible charge of the enemney, was broken through, and the rebel column came pushing down upon the 2d Division which was in rear of the Ist, but part of the semi-circular line of battle, and facing in an opposite direction. In nn instant the 3d Brigade of the 2d Division, to which the 14th Conn, was attnched, was ordered to face by the rear rank, charge the enemy from the works they had just taken, and heal the breach. It was at such a moment when the musketry fire from three sides was constant and terrible, and the space of ground inside the semi-circular line of battle seemed perfectly plowed and perforated with plunging shot and bursting shell, pouring in from all directions, while the fire from the rebel line of battle in the rear, was ns dangerous to ns as thnt in our very front; nt such a moment, when any mistake in order, faltering in duty, or hesi- taney in execution, might destroy the best Corps of the Army of the Potomac, that I last saw Capt. Nichols, as ever. cool, collected, brave, com- manding ; cheering and leading on his men ; men who placed implicit confidence in their Captain, loved him nimost to idolatry, and would follow him anywhere.

The charge was made nnd the works enrried, but the 14th Connectient lind lost brave officers and men, and Capt. Nichols was reported among them, dangerously wounded. For n while he was in the hands of the enemy, who robbed him of his purse, bis revolver nnd his papers, and it was not till after dark that the Captain was found, brought within our lines nnd enred for. He was

1865.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

385

removed to Washington, and became a patient in | Adjatant-General of Volunteers, with the rank of the Armory Square Hospital. There, confined Captain. On General Halleck assuming command to his narrow hospital cot, for nearly six months, of General Grant's army, after the battle of l'itts- with a remarkable spirit of patience, he has look- i burg Lauding, Captain Clark was assigned as Ad- ed forward to health and a return to duty, and to jutant General of the 6th division, and during within a week of his death it was hoped he might recover. He was one of those who, wherever he might be, could not help making friends, and they were many in Washington. Nothing could be done but was done by them to render him as comfortable as it was possible for him to be made. 'During his long sickness, he was never known to grunible or complain. Ile looked upon all as hap- pening for the best, and among his last moments, brave to the end, he remarked, " that he was not afraid to meet death." In his regiment, his repu- tation for gentlemanly conduct, soldierly abili- ties, pure patriotism, and unflinching valor, was second to none. As a model officer he was great- ly respected and sincerely beloved, and his loss is irreparable.

His many fricuds in Connecticut, who have been looking forward to the time when he should be able to return home, will sincerely mourn for the modest young soldier they delighted to honor. An ex-ofneer of his regiment, who having known him intimately and followed with him for years the various fortunes of the Army of the Potomne, who never knew an order that Capt. Nichols hes- itated to obey, or the emergency he was unequal to fill, desires to place upon record this little tribute of affection. C.

Brig. Gen. William. T. Clark. From the Norwalk Gazette.

Gen. Clark is a son of Levi Clark, Esq., and was born and brought up in Norwalk. At one time he was a teacher-and a good one, too-in one of our District Schools. Some few years before the breaking out of the rebellion, he married a Hartford lady, removed West, and, we believe, commeneed the practice of law, His subsequent career is told as follows, by Prentice, of the Lon- isville, (Ky.) Journal :

Lieut. Col. William T. Clark, chief of Staff and Assistant-Adjutant-General of the Department and Army of the Tennessee, has recently been Promoted by the President to be a Brigadier- General of Volunteers, and his many friends be- longing to the old Army of the Tennessee, par- tieularly the 17th corps, will rejoice to hear it. Gen. Clark, at the breaking out of the war, was engaged in the practice of law at Davenport, Iowa, and earned for himself, ly strict attention to business, a very enviable reputation. In Sep- tember, 1861, he received permission from the Gov. of Iowa to raise a company of infantry for the three years' service, which he soon effected, and was duly elected its Captain. After the organization of the regiment (13th Iowa.) of which Col. (now Gen ) MI. M. Crocker was the commander, Capt. Clark gave up his position as Captain, accepted, at the urgent request of the officers, the Adjutancy, which place he filled with more than ordinary ability. On the arrival of his regiment at Jefferson City, Mo., he was de- tached from his command and assigned to duty on the staff of Brig. Gen. Mckean, then com- manding the district.

that memorable campaign distinguished himself on several occasions. During the three days' fighting at Corinth, on the 3d, 4th, and 5th of Oc- tober, 1562, Captain Clark was in the thickest of the fight. In the pursuit of Price, after the bat- tle, Captain Clark met for the first time, the Inte Major-General MePherson, who at once reeog- mized in him the qualifications of an excellent officer. After the pursuit was discontinued, and the troops had returned, Major-General MePher. son, who had just received his appointment as Major-General, was immediately assigned by General Grant to the command of all the troops then at and in the vicinity of Bolivar, Tennessee, to prepare and organize them for the fall and win- ter campaign. He selected Captain Clark as his Adjutant General at onee, and, on the 24th of November following, he was made a Major. Af- ter the return of Gen. Grant's army to the Yocona, it was reorganized and Major Clark assigned as Adjutant-General of the 17th army corps, and he accompanied it to Lake Providence, Louisiana, and Milliken's Bend, and also during the siege of Vicksburg. He is a man of iron will, and a strict disciplinarian ; as an Adjutant-General he has no superior.

In March, 1863, he was made Lient. Colonel, and in March, 1864, he accompanied Major-Gene- ral MePherson as Adjt .- Gen. and Chief of Staff of the Army of Tennessee, and remained with him until his death, on the 224 of July. in front of Atlanta. It was on this bloody fiehl that Col. Clark well and nobly earned his star. With the rallying ery of ". Mel'herson and vengeance," he led a brigade into the thickest of the fight. The death of his commanding General, in the heat of the battle. devolved new duties and responsibili- ties upon his Adjutant, and well did he bear them all. His services upon that day could not be overlooked, and he received the warmest recon- mendations for promotion from Gen. Sherman and other officers. The President in thus appoint- ing him a Brig .- General, has placed a star upon the shoulders of an officer who has justly earned it, and who will never disgrace it.

Lieut. Edward K. Wightman.

Lient. Wightman, Third New York Volunteer ?. a native of Middletown, was killed in the assault. ] on Fort Fisher while lending his men to the ! in battle. charge. Ile graduated at the Freo Academy in that city in 1834, became a contributor to several

of the journais, and contributed one article to the field, as well as of stronger ties that were the Shoe and Leather Reporter, which was re. Isundered when he fell, shall be held by us as a

published in Great Britain, Germany and France. and was used by the Home Department of the; United states. Hle enlisted in the 9th N. Y. Vols .. 1 in 1812, and served with them until they were : mistered out, when he was transferred to the Sd ! New York. He thrice declined commissions, and" this list one did not reach his reziment till his. death. - Noricich Courier.

A HARD HEADED Bet.r. - An Irishmian quarrel- ing with an Englishman, told him if he did not

Ou the 9th of September, 1862, Lieut. Clark |hold his tongue, he would break his impenetrable ! was promoted by the President to be Amistanti head and let the brains out of his empty skull.

Presentation of a Flag.

CAMP 11TH REGT. CONN. VOLS., { In the Field, Va., March Ist, 1865.

The Eleventh Conncetient Veteran Volunteers were this day formally presented with a ningniti- cent and richly wrought National Flag, from Miss Julia 1. Beach, of Wallingford, Conn. In material, taste and beauty, it is all that could be desired. The names of eleven battles are carried upon its folds, and a silver ferrule upon its staff bears this inscription, viz :

TO THE 11TH REGIMENT CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS, THIS FLAG IS PRESENTED BY JULIA A. BEACH,

IN MEMORY OF THEIR IUBE AND VALOROU'S COMMANDER, COLONEL AND BRIGADIER-GENERAL, GRIFFIN A. STEDMAN, Ja. FALLEN BEFORE PETERSBURG, VA., AUG. 6rn, 1861, AND IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE REGIMENT, WHO HAVE NOBLY DARED AND DIED IN ITS DEFENCE.

Chaplain Smith of the Sth Conn., in his presen- tation speech said, that when the Banner under whose folds he led this regiment through so many storms of iron, had become tattered and worn, it was meet, it was sublimely fitting that one dearer to hin than life, should with woman's heroie heart, lift again the ensign and fling these glow- ing colors to the breeze.

Major Warren accepting the Flag, and replying for the Regiment, pledged its effort to prove itself worthy of the honor conferred on it to-day, by donor, adding, may God help us to defend it, and bear it with honor through any seenes we may be called to pass, until its colors wave triumphantly over a united, peaceful and happy country.

At a meeting held by the Othicers of the Regi- ment, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :-

WHEREAS, Miss Julia A. Beach has presented to this Regiment a National Flag of unusual rich- ness and beauty, bearing on its folds the names of our Battle Fields, and being in itself a me- morial of our pure and valorons Commander, Colonel and Brigadier-General Griffin A. Sted- man, Jr., who fell before Petersburg, Va , Aug. 6th, 1864. Therefore-

Resolved, That with gratitude we accept this ensign of the Nation which speaks to us alike of the glory which the Eleventh Regiment has won on many bloody fields, of our brothers in arms, who have fallen, and especially of our nolde, pa- tritic, and long.cherished Commander, who led us so well, whom we followed so confidingly, and who, after repeated wounds, wonderful escapes, and continued hardships in the field, showed the same herwie fortitude in dying, as he had daring

Rsolved, That this gift, springing, as it were, from his honored grave, and in the circumstances of its presentation, telling of companionship in

sacred and perpetual memorial of his charaeter, uf his manhood, of his soldierly and social vir- thes, and while it reminds us of our loss, it shall al-o incite ns to emulate his worth.

Resolved, That a copy of these Resolutions be Fent to Mi-s Beach, to MIrs. Stedman, aud that they be engrossed on the Record Books of this Regiment.

C'ninta . WangEs. Maj. 11th C. V., ) H. S. DEFOREST, Chaplain, " Committee. CHA4. IL. SIMMONS, Capt.

We append a just and beautiful tribute to Gen. | Stedman.

386

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[APRIL,

In Memoriam.

Nobly he fell ! His country's life Was dearest to his brave young heart ; Not for the fame which springs from strife Did he go forth to aet ids part. Not with the ignoble pride of kings, Who seek a place in glery's vau ; But for the sake of better things,- For God, for Country, and for Man !

Young-with n heart forfuny fate, With purest motives for the right, No wonder that his hopes were great, And beautiful with dazzling light. Yet there was sadness in his eye, As round the sunset's golden beam A passing cloud mny sometimes lie, Like the thin shadow of a dream.

'Twas only transient sadness there, For the one purpose of his soul Was still unchanged: to do and dare Where the dread battle-thunders roll ! Like Murat's plnme, his form was seen E'en in the thickest of the fray, And his own sword flashed its bright sheen Wherever victory led the way.

They weep who loved him ; and the blow, So fatal to his earnest life, How crnel ! Only those may know Whose prayers went with him to the strife. Dear girl, thou who didst keep his love So sacred in thy heart's pure sbrine, From Faith's bright altar look above, For sweet submission is Divine.

"Tis hidlowed ground where Stedman lies, And liberty enshrines bis name ; The nation's memory never dies, And he is one with her in fame : One with the patriots of yore ! Far down the corridors of time, His deeds shall tell forevermore Of one who made his life sublime !

Rest, soldier, rest ; thy task is donc, The battle calls no more for thee ; Thou hast a nobler victory won Than Spartan at Thermopylae. Rest thon in peace. The flag still waves, -- The dear flag of thy love and pride ; Its stars watch o'er our myriad graves. And guard the heroes who have died.

ARTHUR ELWELL JENKS.

Recollections of Army Life in the 27th Connecticut. IV.

April 8th, President Lincoln reviewed the army, preparatory to opening the Spring Cam- paign. Fifty or sixty thousand men were in line. and probably the army was never in better con- dition than at that time. One week later, orders were received to supply the men with eight day's rations, five to be enrried in their knapsacks, and three in their haversneks. tover-coats, dress. coats, and everything which could possibly be dispensed with, were to be turned in to the Quar- termaster. Ench day company inspections were held, to see that the men were prepared ns the orders directed. About this time the regiment was transferred to the 4th Brigade, under the command of Col. J. R. Brooke, of the 53d Pa. A storm of two day's duration, postponed the forward movement n short time, but by the 27th of the month, the weather leenme tolerably ret.

itled, and now began a campaign which it was

The Division having assembled near Gen. Han- cock's headquarters, began the march for United States Ford, at seven in the morning. We passed inany deserted encampments, whose late occu- pants, like ourselves, were on the move. Instead of following the direct course of the river up to the Ford. which was only ten miles above Falmonth. we pursued a very cirenitons route, and after an easy march halted in a strip of woods, where we eucamped for the night. The next day at even- ing, we had just pitched our tents and built fires, and were in the act of making coffee, and frying a bit of pork or beef, when the order came for the 27th to fall in with all possible dispatch. Suppers were thrust into haversacks, without much regard to order, and in a few moments the regiment marched off about a mile to picket iu the woods. This duty occupied us until the next afternoon, when we were relieved. nnd hastened on to over- take the rest of the Brignde, which lind nlready broken camp. During the night previous, n light fall of rain took place, just enough, however, to put the roads in bad condition. All along the route, pioneers were thrown out in advance, to corduroy the worst places for the passage of the trnins. As far as the eye could reach, a continu- ou- line of army wagons filled the rond, urging their wny forward with the greatest difficulty. The woods on cither hand rang with the sharp crack of the teamster's whips, and simultaneously a chorus of wild shouts burst front the driver and the men pushing at the wheels, while high above the din rose shrill cries, resembling the notes of the serecch-owl. Then, with a quick, jerking jump, the nimble mules landed the team in the next rnt to await the repetition of the same magical sounda.

Advancing to within a short distance of the fondly hoped would result in the capture of Rich- ; Ford, the Corps halted to await the completion of mond. In the morning we sent out an additional the preparations for crossing. The sun now burst forth from the canopy of clouds as if in glad sym- pathy with the exhilaration which pervaded all hearts in consequence of the encouraging news from the front. A dispatch from Gen. Ilcoker announ- ced that the successes of the 5th, 11th and 12th Corps, were all that could be desired and that the rebels were retiring. These Corps broke eamp early on Monday morning, April 27th, and took the route to Kelly's Ford, twenty-five miles above picket of over three hundred men, leaving hard- ly a corporal's gnard in camp. All day artillery and cavalry, pack mules and wagon traina, were passing eamp, on their way to the right. Late in the evening, orders came to strike tents. pack up as quietly as possible and report on the Division parade at day-break. Our piekets returned at two o'clock the next morning. The camp was now full of bastling preparation. The huts all illuminated; tho enger hum of voices, men hur- Fredericksburg. The pontoons were laid and a rying to and fro ; the decided tones of command, combined to form a seene of excitement nowhere found but in the army. At daybreak the regi- ment fell in and bade farewell to the dismantled camp, to enter upon an experience none of us had ever contemplated as likely to fall to our lot. Camp near Falmouth will linger vividly in memory, when other more startling scenes of army life have faded into oblivion. Om four months' residence witnessed a complete change in the face of the country. A few stumps, or a solitary tree, were all that was left of the forests which four months before, waved over a hundred square miles of territory. Here and there a house, tenantless, fenceless and dingy, or a black- ened ruin, with only a bare chimney standing, loomed above the naked landscape, a picture of complete desolation. And this seene finds its counterpart in many a district of the Old Domi- nion, from Washington to Richmond, aud down the Shenandoah Valley.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 124

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