The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 130

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

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commanded the bridge across it-the line stretch- froad. Co's D and C, were placed in rear of the!, skirmishers as their supports, and Co. F, was ong

was captured, and at oney marched to Kinston, ¡where we remained about an hour, when we were the advance picket line, so the whole of Ist Bat.fibut upon the cars and taken to Goldsboro. While jwas in the advance. After dark all was quiet onffon the way to Kinston, one of the guard says to the lines, but our men were busy digging rifle pits to shelter themselves from the fire of the enemy's skirmishers, so that in the morning they had very respectable breastworks to lie behind. fand they afterwards proved to be of great ser. vice.

me, " You all didn't think we all had so many men here, did you ?" Not feeling in a very ami- rable frame of mind, I made no reply. IIe con- finned, " We all had 15000 men here that were against you. We got here at two o'clock this morning." At Goldsboro, we were put in charge of the Senior Reserves of the State, Col. McCoy, fcommanding. They treated us very well, giving us the same ration they gave their own soldiers, Come pound of corn meal, and one third of a pound of bacon per day.

The enemy, too, were busy chopping down trees to strengthen their position. The 2d bat .; were drawn up as a support to a Battery of the Bd N. Y. Artillery. Thus we pa-sed the night. Col. Frank Beach, the Col. of the regiment, i. in town. Major Paseo is daily expected, as well expecting that in the morning, with the first glemm of day the " ball' would begin in earnest. Upon the loth inst. all who were able to march $ 1 as several of the line officers. The return of; But to our surprise, " all was quiet," our order, were put on cars and taken to Weldon. The being " not to fire unless the enemy tried to ad- fwounded were left in Goldsboro. We remained vance-simply hold your ground."

"at Weldon until the morning of the 12th, when During the forenoon of this day, (the Sth, )ifwe were again put on cars and takon to Ridge-

¡noon, there was quite a sharp skirmish between a fcompany of the 12th N. Y. Cav. and the enemy, off to our left, and then all was quiet for awhile. "The enemy were busy, however, for early in the afternoon, we found that they had got around our ileft and in our rear. The 27th Mass, was upon four left, and became engaged before we did. From the 15th Regiment. The Advance -- The Capture-The Parole -- The Furlough. They were not able to stand long before such odds, and soon fell bnek beyond our battalion. Major Osborn immediately changed his front so jas to face the enemy's advance, and at once be- enme engaged. As the enemy worked around, four front was again changed, so that we were "facing to what had been our rear. At this time, the contest raged fearfully, our men being deter- mined to fight as long as possible. The musketry firing was very severe-terrific-I think I may safely say that we fought as bravely as troops ever fought, but overpowering numbers obliged us to fall back. This we were compelled to do in great confusion, as there were a number of loose horses running through the field-the battery horses cut loose, and the enemy shelling ns severely. I might have stated that the enemy 'numbered eight to one. We took a direction to onr right, in hopes we might escape being cap- tured. The skirmishers held their line until the Genemy were in the road upon the left of which one of our company was stationed. Lieut. Col. Tolles did not like to leave the line until ordered, but he did so in the hope that he might withdraw before we were entirely surrounded. It was too 'late, however, for the enemy had completely en. feireled us. Some were killed in the rifle pits on the skirmish line, by the enemy in the rear. We lost two officers before the line was abandoned, Capt. Bassett and Lieut. Bishop. Capt. Bassett lied on the field near where he was wounded, which were upon the bank of the Creek, and: going about a quarter of a mile to our right, we but Lient. Bishop lived several days after. After jwere brought to a stand, having arrived at the ing for quite a distance on either side of the edge of the circle. Almost the entire regiment

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way, from which place we marched to Wolf Trap, ja half just passed, we have been " way down ing. such is the character of the soil, that after one on the Richmond and Danville Railroad, a dis: Dixie," and, during no small part of that time,. hour's rain, it becomes like a quagmire; or one tance of nearly sixty miles, arriving there on the; fout off from all communication with the outside vast. quicksand, apparently withont bottom, morning of the 15th inst. On the afternoon of (world. And, more than that, men who are the' . Then we have been compelled to ford many the 16th, during a severe rain storm, we were, most earnest ia doing their duty, are the least: streams, and some of them when the water was inarched over the rickety railroad to Clover Sta- tion, at which place we staid over night. The: (They " point to deeds." disposed to sound abroad their own praises .? so cold that it eut like a razor, and then again, for two or three days in succession, our march following morning the officers were put on the, But we claim to have as clear and good record has been through pine forests which were on fire, top of a train and taken to Richmond. The en-fas any of the brave and honored regiments of our. sending up huge masses of thick, black smoke, listed men had to marehi there. I think the dis-f. (State. We are proud to feel that we have never."

which the winds would take and waft into our tanee was a little over one hundred miles. Upontyby our bad condnet, in the face of the enemy, or faces, covering us all with a thick coat of lamp the arrival of the officers at Libby prison, Capt. ou the march, or in the camp, disgraced the black, so that we appeared like a vast army of HIateh, the Inspector of Prisons, requested theme worthy name of the excellent Governor of our 'chimney sweeps marching through the laud. to give up their green backs and coin of which . State ; for we rejoice in the name of "Bucking- During this time also, we have known, like the an account would be kept, and when they left the! ham's Legion." And if we may take the word of: "apostle Paul, " both what it was to abound, and prison it would be returned to them.

four commauding Geuerals, the good Governor, to be in need." Some of the time, the army has no reason to blush on our account.

would be abundantly supplied with food, while at

When the 20th A. C. was passing in review be- fother times, the men would not have more than received it again the morning they left. Officers, fore Gen. Sherman, a short time previous to our; fone quarter rations. And as for clothing, some aud men were confined in separate rooms, but in leaving Savannah, the General took particulary of them would have been almost destitute of it, the same building. The officers in charge of the notice of the 20th C. V. He iuquired of one of; if it had not been for the foragers ; aud when we prisons were very civil, as indeed were all with; his attendants, what regimeut that was; "20the reached our base, many of the soldiers were elad whom we came in contact. We were taken from"Connecticut." was the answer. The General then in the rebel gray instead of Federal Blue. Tho prison on Sunday morning, the 26th, and put on frespouded in his peculiar, nervous style, " Good' bine had failed them, and the hated gray was put board the Win. Allison and another flag of truce flittle regiment, good little regiment." "Theyaion out of necessity.

You often have had your heart touched with comander of the 20th Corps. "Good little regi- sympathy while reading of the bare-footed sol- Upon our arrival at Annapolis on the 27th, we; ment, good little regiment," the Gen. remarked diers of the Revolution. It was hard, indeed for were furloughed with but little delay, aud per -; lagain, and passed on. We naturally feel proude them to be without covering for their feet. So it mitted to go to our homes. B. fof such compliments. Aud we have received has been hard for our men to be withont shoes, jothers also.

From the 20th Regiment.

CAMP 20TH CONN. VOL. INFANTRY, Goldsboro, March 30th, 1865. Editor Conn. War Record :

You never said a truer thing, than, when, inrj the Feb. number of the RECORD, you remarked: that " the oth aud 20th Regts. Conn. Vol. Infty. were too busy making history to find time to write." Others may speak in behalf of the brave 5th ; we will try to speak for the 20th.

It is a fact, that we have all been so busy in marching and fighting and peforming other du. ties, during the past year especially, that we have

The campaign through which we have just hardly fouud the opportunity to do the ordinary ipassed, has been one eveatful and fruitful of good: writing of the regiment, and to keep our immedi -; lyesults to the glorious canse of our country. We ate friends posted in regard to ourselves. Now.

have endeavored to do our duty, and that is all'

for the space of one year, the 20th can hardly be; we ask praise for. We think it may be said truly said to have had auy rest. It has been with them, ffof the 20th, that they fight and endure the toils; well nigh one continnal marching, guarding. jof army life, from a sense of duty, impelled by a trains, throwing up defensive works, fighting. executing flank movements, by which the enemy; were hunted out of their strongholds, and many;

istrong realization of the vast importance of the? making corduroy roads, building bridges, and jinterests which are imperilled by the rebellion, jrather than from a desire for the applause of men, It is not uncommon to hear remarks of that char. valuable lives saved. Aud, when, for a time. Fincter made by the officers and men of the regis there has been a panse in the active campaign tement; and just here, doubtless, is the secret of there has been but little rest to either officers orffour success. Conscience, determination, and love of principle are behind our bayonets.

men. For scarcely would the commanders off companies get their official business in regular shape, aud the men secure a new supply of eloth Sherman would set the army in motion again. bent on some ill to the sinking Southern Confede- racy. And well has the army earned the namel. of Sherman's " Iron Clads," for it would seem as if none but iron men eould endure the privation- aad hardships which this army has undergone.

THE RECENT CAMPAIGN.

thy for the heroes of 1865, who fight to perpet- nate that which their fathers fonght to inaugurate -liberty and souud goverment ? Honor tho one -- enwreath their memories with never fading laurels; but remember, also, the suffering braves of to-day.

While on our march, many rumors eame to our ears concerning the designs of the enemy, aad our Generals expected to meet with opposition at several points, but none of a very serious char- peter was encountered till after we had crossed the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville. Up to that a time, the enemy had inade haste to get out of our way. But we had come to press them so closely that they were in danger of losing their train, and they began to hope that they might defeat 'our tired and hungry army. It was after this, hat the uth was once more brought face to face with their old opponents of the 20th of July, at Peach Tree Creek.

HEAVY SKIRMISHING. ·

We will not attempt a detailed account of our. march through the Carolinas. Our position has ing, before the ever restless and earnest Generale been with the left wing of the army, and we have tion of another was sent out on a reconnoissanee. marched more than five hundred miles through

On the 14th of March, our Brigade, and a por- After marching three or four miles, we first met the swamps and rivers, over the hills, and sandyffthe enemy, and the Brigade was divided, General plains, and dismal pine wastes of the Carolina ... Cogswell taking charge of one portion and placing the other nader command of Lieut. Col. We have done our part of road making, bridges building, foraging, cotton buraing. guarding trai #Buckingham, of the 20th. The enemy were fors and marching in the night, through mud andgradually crowded back till they entered some THE REPUTATION OF THE TWENTIETH. (while the heavens were wrathful with thunder works which they had erected. For two or three It has not been the fortune of the 20th to beffand lightning. When it rains in this country, it hours, our forces, skilfully handled by Col. Buck- mentioned in the papers so frequently as somedi makes a business of it; it simply pours, as if thegingham, continued to skirmish with the foe, till of our Connecticut regimeats. For the year and fountain of the heavens were broken up; andg the object of the reconnaissance had been attain-

If, upon being searched, any was found, it, would be confiseated. Those who gave up any,

boat, and taken down to James River to Cox's Landing, having been previously parolled.

fare all good regiments," replied Gen, Williams,

More than onee have we beheld men walking The guard at the Headquarters of the left wing ffover rough ways, and through the forests, where is composed of men selected from the 20th C. V.Ffwere sharp shrubs and angry briars entwined and They are praised by all, while Gen. Slocum says tangled with strong vines, without shoes. The they are the best guard he has ever had. Then feet might bleed, but there was no help for it. again, details for especial duty are often called' (Their shoes had been worn out, and no more ffrom this same 20th C. V. These things indicates could be obtained. Have you no tears of sympa- ¡the estimation in which the regiment is hekl by four superiors. The officers and men, aimost with- ont exception, have shown themselves to be true; and reliable men.

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[MAY,

ed, when they were withdrawn from the field, 'our forees pursued them, seeing many evidence. through thick bushes, and in the water nearly up The 20th C. V. were in the advance, and the only 'of precipitation in their flight. Ambulances and to their waists, was a hot fire from the enemy. casualties of the day were from our regiment. imany wounded were abandoned by them. We Yet, though taken by surprise, they did not fall Lieut. Murry was severely wounded in the leg' found one ambulanee left iu the middle of the back. Discovering the true situation of affairs, near the thigh, and one of the men received a road, with a wounded man in it not yet dead. From: 'they returned the fire of the enemy, checked flesh wound in the leg. Lieut. Murry was an the citizens and negroes, we ascertained that the their advance, and after a very severe fight of jenemy admitted a loss of between two and three' 'one or two hours in duration, aided by an effect- thousand. Our entire loss was less than six hun -; ive fire from our artillery, drove them back, thus Alred. officer respected by all, brave beyond question, and ever ready to perform duty. Our march back to eamp that night, while darkness gathered saving the day, and a portion of the 14th Corps around the tired men, was silent and sad. Late We made only a short march on the 17th, en- from capture, besides cutting off two regiments 'eamping for the night at an early hour. Early in the evening we reached our camp with tired of the enemy, which were taken prisoners by our bodies and empty stomachs. Our General ex- on the morning of the 1Sth, we took up our line "forces. The fight was a terrific one, the rebels pressed satisfaction with what we had done. But, fof march for Goldsboro. The roads being exceed .; confident of victory, fighting with great bravery, on reaching eamp, we learned that our progres- had met with trouble. Six of those that went

ingly bad, our progress was slow, so that our: and our noble heroes resisting with the greatest march of that day did not come to an end till 5: "firmness, the charges of the greatly superior num-

out in the morning were missing, and it was, o'clock A. M., of the 19th. After a halt of three, bers of the foe. Gen. Slocum, in complimenting thought that one of the number was killed. One man came in with a sabre eut in the head, and another, a negro servant, with a serious wound in loa the march, we were cheered by the songs of. the abdomen.

hours for rest and breakfast, we were on the move the Brigade, declared that we saved the day. again. It was a most beautiful Spring day, and Prominent in that Brigade was the firm and true 20th C. V. It did not falter, but brave among birds, and evidences of bursting life in the the hrave it fought to the end, and encamped at night, with the rest of the Brigade, on the bloody

Early the next morning, the whole left wing, shrubs and flowers beside the road. But soon we! was set in motion over the same road which we heard cannonading in the distance, aud, when ffield, within fifty yards of the rebel lines. had traversed the day before. We passed the' about two o'clock P. M., we were ordered to leave place of the previous day's fighting, and encamp. the train, which we had been guarding, and to hasten forward, old soldiers began to see the bat- ed just beyond the abandoned works of the reb -. cls, in the midst of a pouring rain. We had the tle in the distance. opportunity of passing along that part of the BATTLE OF BENTONVILLE. enemy's lines which was in front of the 20th on the day previous. It was then evident, from the graves that were to be seen, that some of the foc had been compelled to bite the dust from our. bullets.

ACTION OF MARCH SIXTEENTIL.

The next day, the 16th, the army was again ordered forward. Soon we began to hear the' reports of cannon, and it was evident that. Kil. patrick, who was in the advance, was at work with the enemy. In a short time, coming m assailants, and so had fallen baek, during the day. with the advance guard, we were found in line of losing three pieces of artillery. The rebels, battle directly under the eyes of Gens. Sherman. flushed by the advantages gained hy them in the early part of the day, were preparing to real. 'the full benefit of them, and make sure the defeat; of the left wing of the Union Army. Just at. Sloenm and Williams. The line soon advanced. and fighting began in good earnest. The 20th was again in the advance, but did not fail to do. its duty. A movement of a portion of the 20th this time the 3d Division of the 20th Corps, came Corps, through a swamp, supposed by the enemy to be impassable to infantry, brought them on; the flank of the enemy, who were speedily forced, to abandon their first line of works, leaving in' with large pine trees. Also in front of this line. was a deep pool of water. The right of our line our possession three pieces of artillery, the most. of their wounded, and many prisoners. During was held by a portion of the 14th Corps, and the. the day the foe were driven out of three lines of ; 3d Brigade, 20th Corps, was sent to support the works, and at night we intrenched on the battle, fright, while the first and second Brigades werd ordered to the left of our line. Our third Brig.i had been told that there was a Brigade of the: $14th Corps in their froat, and the inen command- field, the 20th C. V: being still in the advance. and immediately in front of the enemy's works There they remained all night in mud and water .: which was continually ineren-ing from a heavytied not to fire till ordered to do so. But it appear -; raia. The enemies of the Republic had been de 'that this Brigade of the 14th A. C., having been feated, but it had been attended with severe los. to ns. Our Adjutant, C. M. Talcott, was wounded; in the arm, as was also Lient. Johnson, while, enemy had discovered that faet, and were excen- Lieut. Barry, who was always brave and faithful,' fting a flank movement, which, if they had sue. was mortally wounded in the breast. He died, freeded in accomplishing, would have proved, early on the morning of the 17th. Besides lisastrons to our arms. Somebody, high ing authority, was at fault in not knowing of thi: these, two were killed on the field, and one died' after having been conveyed to the hospital, and, Ibreak in our lines ; but who it was it would not' thirteen others were wounded. It was a trying. become the writer to intimate, even if he knew .: day for the regiment; but all did well, from the alt is sufficient to know, that sneh was the true! highest to the lowest.

state of the case, and that our fighting 3d Brig ..

The enemy having abandoned their strong line farrived just in time to save the day. The first: of works during the night, the following morning; that our brave boys knew, while advancing;

Thus did the Sabbath day elose to us, amid peal on peal of musketry, and the heavy booming of eannon, and seenes of earnage. We had saved the day, and defeated the enemy. But it had cost us much. Three from the 20th were killed

Not far from 3 o'clock P. M., we found ourselves on the field, thirty-five were wounded, and six or seven of them mortally. That was a sad night ito our inen. The stontest could hardly refrain from weeping, as they placed their comrades in

immediately in the presence of the enemy, who., having ascertained the number of our forces, passing that way, had massed 35 or 10,000 troops. with the determination to annihilate the whole the honored grave or bore thein to the rear left wing, and capture our artillery and train. Two Divisions of the 14th Corps were in the ad -; vanee, and having encountered the enemy carly in the morning, were unable to maintain their ground against the superior numbers of their. wounded. Our Brigade lost 78 men in the battle, and the 20th lost 38 of that number. And thus again did the " Buckingham Legion," led by our efficient and courageous Lieut. Colonel, and other brave and true officers of the line, do honor to our aative State, and to him, oun wise and noble hearted Governor, after whom we were named, at the first. We shed a tear for our comrades, dead, or suffering from wounds, and extend our hearty sympathy to the bereaved ones at home, and then renew onr vows to our country, gird- 'ing on our armor for new confliets, hoping still to the rescue, and was immediately formed in' to do our duty to our country and our God, and line of battle. The enemy had their line of hat. thus help usher in the happy day, when the sun- itle in a swamp of dense growth of underbrush .: shine of peace shall gladdea onr land again.

MARCH TO GOLDSBORO.

On the night of the 19th, the enemy fell back a mile and a half, leaving his dead unburied, and our Brigade was ordered to the left of the line, where we threw up works. But it soon having been ascertained that the enemy had retreated again before ns, we, having meantime been rein- forced largely, were ordered on the march agaia, faccording to the General's original plan, for roughly handled in the morning, had moved to, Goldsboro, and here we are now, so many of us ¡the rear, leaving a wide gap in our line. They

is are left. When the regiment left Savannah, it numbered 306 men for duty. Out of that number we have lost, in various ways, 70 men. We have on our rolls now, not far from 560 men.

The regiment is now in command of Lieut. Col. Buckingham. Col. Ross and Major Pardee are both absent -- the Col. being detached for recruit- ing purposes, at Hartford, and the Major being away from ill health.

With this, is seut a list of ensualties of the regiment on this campaigu. C. N. I ..

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

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PERSONAL. -

List of Appointments and Promotions in the Connecticut Volunteer Force, for the month of April, 1865.

IST ARTILLERY.

Major George Ager to be Lient. Col., with rank? from the 25th day of April, 1:65, vice Trumbull .: Cavalry, formerly of Colchester, is honorably deceased.

For distinguished services in the recent battles[ anentioned by Gen. Newton, for " fighting despe -. before Petersburg and Richmond, Va., Captaini frately " at St. Marks, Fla.

Henry H. Picree to be Major, with rank from the; 25th of April, 1865, vice Ager, promoted.

5TH REGIMENT.

1st Lient. James Butterfield to be Captain, vice Whitney, discharged.

Ist Sergt. Enos A. Sage to be 1st Lieut., vieet Henderson, killed in battle. 1st Sergt. Lowell M. Snow to be 1st Lieut., vicc Wilson, discharged for disability.

Sergt. Major John HI. Brewster to bo 1st Lieut .. vice Botsford, declined commission.

1st Sergt. Philander Alden to be 1st Lieut. vice! Butterfield, promoted.

Ist Sergt. George F. Selleck to be 1st Lieut., vice; Redfield, commission revoked.

2d Asst. Surg. Andrew 1. Gilson to be 1st Asst. - C. V., recently enlisted as a private for tho 5tl Surgeon, vice Bissell, promoted.

All with rank from the 6th of April, 1865. STH REGIMENT.

Major Wm. M. Pratt to be Lient. Col., with rank. from the 20th day of April, vice Smith, honorably: discharged.

Sergt. Major Joseph II. Jewett to bo Ist Lient. vice Weed, innstered ont.

Sergt. William HI. Peek to be Ist Lieut., vice Ives, discharged.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 130

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