The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 133

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

USA > Connecticut > The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865 > Part 133

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Co. D-Privates Dwight S. Leonard, T. P. Fen- ton, Leander Duncan.

Co. I-Private Willisa Daley.

On the 15th, the different divisions of the army having united, the pursuit was commeneed. With cover of the woods, and the 25th closing up its | the details of this toilsome march, the public are shattered columns, moved to the support of the 18th Conn. which, while this was going on, on the right, hind pushed forward on the left, driving the rebels from their position and capturing a caisson and battery Ing. The woods were soon cleared, the enemy retreating under cover of the fire of the gun-boat " Diana." But the rapid advance of the

already sufficiently well acquainted. Briefly, however, muy it be reviewed as embodying n por- tion of the history of the twenty-fifth, Following up the retreating foe to New Iberia on the Teche, near which extensive salt works were destroyed; thenee to the Bayon Vermillion, where the rebels made a brief stand, securing the crossing of their

1865. ]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

489

panie-stricken columns and then burning the angle of the enemy's works. Advancing under a bridge; thence through Opelousas, the rebel capi- tal, to Barres Landing where a halt was made for a few days while the cotton, sugar and molasses were gathered in from the adjacent district, and secured for the service of Government, Here, also, the twenty-fifth, for the first and guly time during its term of service, was paid off. More than $19,000 were expressed home by the men of the regiment as the result of their six mouth's face of a tremendous fire, the attempt was aban- earnings,

From Barres Landing the march was eontinned through Washington, generally in a line parallel to that of the Atehafalaya, upon Alexandria on the Red River. When within ten or eleven miles of the town, news having been received of its capture the day previous, by our naval forces, the army advanced no farther. Thence turning in an east- erly direction, it partially retraced its steps, stri- king the Atchafalnya at Semmesport, May 19th.

On the 21st of May, Grover's Division embark- ing in transports, descended the Mississippi, and effecting a landing at midnight at Bayou Sara, in- medintely pushed forward to some distance on the Port Hudson rond, the twenty-fifth being em- ployed till morning, unloading the transports of ammunition and supplies.

On the 22d, moving through St. Francisville, after a short march the enemy's outposts were met at Thompson's Creek. The 25th were ordered to the front. Deploying as skirmish- ers, with four companies in reserve, it crossed the stream, and forcing the enemy from their posi- tion bivouaced for the night on the open plain, covering the head of the columnn. The next morn- ing the march was resumed, the 25th still leading ground as skirmishers ever trod. Climbing up through the ravines, dragging its way through cane and brake, torn by briar and bramble, wet to the skin by the dripping foliage, for it had rained heavily the preceding night, the miseries of that morning may be better imagined than described. After a few miles march, the advanced envalry of Gen. Angur's Division, which had ascended the river from Baton Rouge, was met, and a junction of the Union forces effected, thus com- pletely surrounding Port Hudson and effectually precludiag either relief from being carried within, or the enemy escaping without.

Sunday, the 24th, the general advance com- meneed. On every side our forces pushed steadily forward, through the dense forests, forcing back the enemy at all points, and capturing the advanced outposts and redoubts outside the main line of his defences. The next morning the rebels having made a sudden attack on the centre of our lines, driving the regiment there stationed, in considera- ble confusion from its position, the 25th was ordered up to eleur the woods, This it did after a brief but sharp engagement, repulsing the attack, and chasing the enemy through the entire piece of woods into his rifle pits on the other side. For its excellent conduct on this occasion, the regiment received the thanks of Col. Birge.

On the 27th, the 3d Brigade of Grover's Div. was ordered to the right, to support Gen. Weitzel. On reaching the ground, the 159th N. Y. and 2511. Major Burt, of the former regiment commanding.

ble siege, the morning report showed but 96 effect- severe cross-fire through a ravine waist-deep in five men, and six officers for duty. At this time, water, forcing its way over a most ditheult abattis, too, the Surgeon was detached to take charge of the column halted at the foot of the slope leading the Linwood Hospital, and for some time the regi- ment was left without medical attendance of its own, the Asst. Surgeon having been ordered to the Hospital at Baton Rouge. up to the redoubt. This it carried, capturing the ont posts and rifle pits, together with their ocenpants. But beyond, aud between the column and the re- doubt lay au impenetrable ravine, forming a natural ditch. After twice vainly essaying to cross in the

doned, and the two regiments lay on the position they had carried, till ten P. M., when they were withdrawn under cover of darkness. Bivouacing for the night in. the edge of the woods, in the morning the enemy having got the range opened upon the 25th a severe fire, killing and wounding several. The regiment was then withdrawn and Wounded. rejoined the Brigade. The men were thoroughly exhausted, having eaten nothing for forty hours. They had been since the 24th constantly under Co. B-Private William Taylor. fire, and now, for the first time in six days, were able to remove their belts. In this affair, the 25th suffered a loss of five killed, and twenty-two hill, George Nelson, William Hardie.

wounded.

Killed.

Sergt. Robert Buckey, Co. K,; Corp. Ira B. Addis, Co. C,; Privates Erskine Wallace, Co. F,; Archibald Wilson, Co. A, ; William Porter, Co. C. Wounded. Ist Lients. A. W. Converse, Co. C,; D. W. Ens- worth, Co. C.

Co. A-Private Willimn II. Smith.

Co. C- " James Dixou.

Co. D-Privates Joseph R. Washburn, Jeremiah Gninney, Henry MeKinney.

Co. E-Sergeant M. HI. Carrier; Corp. Julius

Co. Il-Privates T. Foote, Norman Whitman. Co. 1-Corp. Orrin Tuttle.

Co. K-Private John Porter,

May we not in passing, be permitted to speak of the brave Robert Buckley, Sergt. Co. K, who fell while rescuing the colors of a sister State. At the time when both regiments were driven back under that most destructive fire that swept the ravine, the standard bearer of the 159th N. Y., was killed, and the colors left upon the field. Buckley hearing of it, without n word, sprang for- ward again into the deadly storm of missiles, and picking up the day brought it safely in, but turning to take up hisgun which he had laid down, received the fatal ball in his breast. With but a groan, his spirit passed away. Noble, generous, and brave, his death east a deep gloom over the regiment. A. a soldier he lived, and as a true sollier he fell.

" Like the day-star in the wave, Sinks the hero in his grave,

'Midst the dew-fall of a nation's tears."

On the 14th of June, a final assault was made on the enemy's works from all the lines of ap- proach. In this assault the 25th participated, being ordered from the right wing to the support of the column, charging from the centre of our lines. Though placed on the reserve, it was soon called into action, and shared in the horrors of that day. Its own loss, however, was but slight, none being killed, and but seventeen being wound- ed.

2d Lieuts, George Brennan, Co. D,; W. E. Simonds, Co. I.

Co. C-Privates Wellington Jackson, John Ca-

. Co. D-John Holthanser, Madison Willis, Brown Marble.

Co. E-Corp. Alex. Patterson, Private J. E. Goodrich.

Co. G-Sergt. Nathan Willey; Corp. Charles Barber.

Co. Il-James A. Richardson.

Co. I-Philo Stevens.

Co. K-Sergt. George E. Terry.

Soon after the unsuccessful assault of the 14th, Gen. Banks issued an order, calling for a thousand volunteers to storm the enemy's works. From the 25th there volunteered, Capt. Chas. L. Norton, Co. A, (Col. Birge's staff;) Adjutant HI. C. Ward; 1st Lient. Il. II. Goodell, Co. F,; Sergt. Major Chas. F. Ulrich; Private Saml. Schlesinger, Co. F,; John Williams Co. HI,; Eli Hull, Co. B. Fortu- untely the services of the "stormers" were not put in requisition, for on the 8th of July Port Ihin- son surrendered.

On the 11th, Grover's Division was ordered to Donaldsonville, where the rebels, under Green, had been hotly pressing the little garrison of "Fort Butler." After two or three days of heavy skirmishing, in which the 25th was not engaged, the enemy abandoning the place, retreating to Brashear City und thence crossing over to Frank- lin.

With this ends the active service of the 25th. It remained at Donaldsonville, Col. Bissell being in command of the Brigade, till the 29th of July, when it was ordered to Carrollton, The convales- eents slowly rejoined from the different hospitals, and on the Eth of Ang. it embarked on the " Thomas R. Scott," arriving safely at Hartford the 17th of Ang. On the 26th, it was paid off and mnster- ed out of the service.

We have now briefly trneed the career of the 25th from its organization, Nov., 1862, to its dis- banding, Aug., 1863. Few regiments, if any, during the same period, can show as bright a record. Leaving Hartford with 811 men, it re- turned with a few over 500, and but twenty-three out of its original thirty-nine officers. Four times did it stand in the fore front of battle; twice was it assigned the post of honor; for more than two months it picketed the outposts, and in the Teche campaign marched over 500 miles,

From the 28th of May till the 4th of June, the regiment was stationed on the right of our line, employed in the usual routine of siege service, furnishing heavy working parties for the trenches, and attending in rifle pits with the 159th N. Y., three days and nights at a time. So worn down und enfeebled by disease and hard labor had it were ordered to carry a redoubt on the north-east | becouse, that on one occasion during that memora-

the advance as skirmishers over about as difficult | Weed ; Privates Edward Sperry, S. T. Cook, Geo. Taylor, John Sydenham, P'at, Farley, P. Mcauliffe. Co. F-Corps. Harlow Spencer, Wallace S. Taleott, (since died of wounds.)

4.90

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[JUNE,

In concluding onr history of the regiment, we would fainotfer a feeble tribute to the memory of its illustrious dead. We would speak of the Christian Hayden, who endured faithful to the end ; of the impetuous Oliver, binding a handkerchief about his wound, and refusing to leave the bloody field ; of the gentle Dewey, whose notes of music are ever singing in our cars; of the brave Buckley, whose heroie soul outstepped the bounds of pru- dence. Would that our words of sympathy and regard were at all adequate to our feelings, but alas! they are broken vessels; they hold not the depths of our wishes. Their memory is blessed. Their rest is sweet.

"How sleep the brave, who siuk to rest, By all their country's wishes blest ? * 4 * * *

By fairy hands their knell is rung ; By forms unseen their dirge is sung; There Honor comes a pilgrim gray, To bless the turf that wraps their chy ; And Freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell a weeping hermit there !"

Recollections of Army Life in the 27th Connecticut.

V1.

While the paroled prisoners of the 27th are en- joying as best they can, the idleness and discon- tent of Convalescent Camp, let us return in thought to the wilds of Chancellorsville, and from those scenes of the third of May, follow the little band which still remains at the front to bear our flag to victory on the heights of Gettysburg. Eight companies were captured on that. memora- ble May morning, but D and F having been de- tached for picket and skirmish duty elsewhere, escaped this unexpected misfortune, and fell baek with the main army, when Gen. Hooker retired to his new line of battle. It will be remembered that wlien the regiment went down to the picket. line that Sabbath morning, the colors remained behind by order of Gen. Brooke. Although the rifle pits were now entirely deserted, the color guard, having no orders to leave, maintained their position until ten A. M., much of the time under a severe shelling. At that hour they were order- ed back, and soon after rejoined the remnants of the command.

The conflict of the morning terminated at 11 o'clock, and, with the exception of a feeble demonstration by Jackson's forces in the after- noon, the remainder of the day passed in con- parative quiet. Meanwhile Hooker had contract- ed his lines, and the army was now massed within a nearly equilateral triangle, its base resting upon the Rappahannock, The 11th and 12th Corps ocenpied the side facing Fredericksburg. On the side looking toward the Rapidan were the 1st. 3d, and 5th, while our 2d Corps was formed in four compact lines at the angle, which was open ground about a two-story white house, on the Ely's Ford road, near its junction with that to United States Ford. This was a strong position, favorable for artillery, and justly regarded as the most important in the whole line. The 27th held a position to the left of the white house, where GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN. Gen. Hooker wow had his headquarters. Sneh continued to be the situation of the army during | termined General Lee to carry out his cherished

the succeeding two days. The enemy seemed disinclined to venture a general attack, but ocea- sionally shelled our intrenehments as if to re-as- sure themselves that Hooker was still there. Affairs could not remain long in this doubtful state. The golden opportunity to crush the reb- els when the thunder of Sedgwick's cammon, ad- vancing from Fredericksburg, tilled the breezes | with the murmuring notes of success, had passed, and now every hour of delay added to the swell- ing torrent of the Rappahannock, threatening to sweep away the feeble threads which conuceted the army with its supplies.

Monday evening, May 4th, Gen. Hooker held a council of war, which decided that it was best to withdraw the army the following night. Accord- ingly, eight o'clock, Tuesday evening, was the ! Army Corps broke camp and started off in the hour fixed upon, but the troops did not begin to move until after midnight, iu consequence of a heavy storm, which carried away some of the bridges. The 27th remained under arms all night, in the rain, with orders to be ready to start at any moment, At length, at four in the morn- ing of May 6th, the regiment fell back with the rest of the Brigade, re-crossed at United States Ford, and after a march of twelve hours, arrived at the old camp near Falmouth. The 64th N. Y. were found quietly ensconced in the few hints, which the seavengers of Falmonth had left stand- ing, and demurred somewhat at leaving their grateful shelter, but finally recognized the prior claim of the 27th. After a few days the regi- inent changed its camp to a more healthy loca- tion two miles further back from the river. The losses of looker's emupaign had reduced our numbers from nearly four hundred men to ane hundred and sixty, embracing D and F, and small squads of other companies, the whole nnder com. mand of the senior officer, Captain Jo eph R. Bradley, of Company F. Dress parades took piace as usual, and duty at the old picket line on the Rappahannock was resumed, bearing very heavily upon our diminished ranks. Occasion- ally the rebel pickets shouted across the river to know where the 27th Connectieut had gone, and in the same breath gave the answer. "to picket around Richmond." On the 15th of May, several of our wounded men came over from Fredericks- burg, having been nine days in the rebel hos- pitals.

After the battle of Chancellorsville, Gen. D. N. Couch, the Corps Commander, was relieved at his own request, and our Division General, W. S. Hancock, justly characterized as the very imper. sonation of war, succeeded to the command, which he has continued to hold until within a few months. As soon as possible after the return of our commissioned officers from Richmond, a part were exchanged, and Lient. Col. Merwin, Maj. Coburn, and Lients. Frank Chapman, Bur- diet, Rice, Muhlner and Cross rejoined the regi- ment on the 11th of June. The Lieut, Col. took counand of the battalion, now consisting of three companies, an additional one having been formed from the remnants of the captured companies, and placed under command of Captain Jedediah Chapman.

plan of invading the North. Hooker's position in front of Fredericksburg being unfavorable for attack, the rebel chief early in June began a series of movements with the view of drawing him away from the river. Leaving Hill's Corps in the works at Fredericksburg to keep up appearances, he concentrated Ewell's, Longstreet's and Hood's forces at Culpepper Court House, near the upper waters of the Rappahannock, and about the mid- dle of June pushed forward rapidly into the She- nandonh Valley, and either captured or defeated the feeble Union force opposing his march. Meanwhile, Hooker's watchtul eye was upon him, nud the Sixth Corps crossed the river just below Fredericksburg to determine the strength and in- tentions of the rebels. A few days Inter, several direction of Warrenton, for the purpose of watch- ing the movements of the enemy, and covering the approaches to Washington, while on the 9th, the cavalry inflicted a severe blow upon Jeb. Stu- art's troops, who were gathering in strong force at Kelly's Ford, twenty-five miles above Falmouth, intending to sweep with destruction the fertile fields of Pennsylvania.

The 2d Corps was the last to leave the line of the Rappahannock. On the Sth of June, the 27th Conn. received orders to be ready to, march at any time, with three day's rations, and contiuned in this waiting posture until the 14th inst., when the final orders came, and at three P. M., the reg- iment with the rest of the Brigade acting as rear guard to the Corps, moved up the river to Bank's Ford, relieved our piekets, reconnoitered the ene- my and retired toward Stafford Court House. This little hamlet was left behind in flames. For several days, the Corps followed the roads near the Potomne, passing through Dumfries, Oeco. quan and Fairfax Station, and arrived at Centre- ville on the 19th. The route now turned still farther to the left, crossing the old Bull Run bat- tle field, which had witnessed the decision of two campaigns. Time had not effaced the evidences of those disastrous days. Silently the troops moved over the field, and the thoughts of many a one among the older regiments and of some in our own, hurried back to those scenes with impres- sive distinctness, as the bleached bones of the fallen, or the rubbish of battle lay scattered along the roadside. After a severe march of twenty miles, in the rain, the regiment arrived at ten in the evening of June 20th, at Thoroughfare Gap, a wide gorge in the Blue Ridge. The intensely exhausting . march from Falmouth, made the four days of comparative rest at the Gap exceedingly welcome. Here the troops were ocenpied in pick- cting the pass in order to prevent the enemy from crossing the mountains. Meanwhile to the north, Stuart and Pleasanton were once more on the charge nt Aldie, Upperville and Middleburg, and their muffled cannonade echoed among these hills and pleasant valleys, surely not unused to the sound, repeating itself again and again, as if from as many different directions.

June 25th, the regiment fell in at an early hour, ready to fight, or march, as circumstances might require, for the rebels were approaching with malicious intent to capture the Corps' beef cattle,

The result of the battle of Chancellorsville de- fand sharp picket firing indicated the possible necessity of adopting the former alternative. But

1865.1

THE CONNECTOUT WAR RECORD.

-191

after remaining a while in line of battle, with no with the Tancytown road, gradually diminishing serious demonstration on the part of the enemy, the Corps advanced on the road to the Potomac, nud at midnight of the 25th crossed at Edward's Ferry, The next three days were passed in eon- tinuons marching up the Valley of the Monocacy River, through many quiet Maryland villages, / Round Top, the Union line extends north ward in among them Poolesville, Frederick City, Liberty, Johnsville and Uniontown.

Thus far the army had been mameuvred so as to cover Washington and Baltimore, nad now a> the rebel plans became more apparent, General Meade, who had recently superseded Gen. Hooker, directed a concentration of his forces in the vicin- ity of Gettysburg. The 1st Corps held the advance, followed by the 11th, and on Wednesday morning, July 1st, drove the enemy's skirmishers through the town. Gen. Reynolds in command of the Corps, without hesitation, moved forward to the attack, and met death while bravely post- ing bis troops on the heights beyond. The rebels fell baek slowly in order to give time for Ewell's men to come to their aid, and this being accom- plished, they were more than a match for the combined 1st and 11th, with whose now united columns rests the decision of the day. At three ; the centre on Cemetery Hill, while along Cemetry in the afternoon, the enemy thus re-enforced, took ! the offensive and compelled Gen. Howard, now in command, to withdraw his troops to the south of the town, and the close of the day left him a mile and a half sonth of Cemetery Hill, in the seenrely intrenehed on Cemetery Hill.

While these seenes were taking place around Gettysburg, the 27th Connectient, with its Corps, leisurely moved up to Taneytown, just below the Pennsylvania State line. Here the troops rested a few hours, unconscious that the first of a trio of glorious battle days was already in progress. But soon the ominous notes of Howard's and Ewell's cannon strike on the ear, and add new emphasis to the call from the front for re-euforce- inents. Preceded by Gen. Hancock, the Corps advanced rapidly to within three miles of Gettys. burg, and were ocenpied until midnight in throw- ing up intrenchments. At early dawn, July 2d, the Brigades moved forward to take the place as signed them in the line of battle. Already the fitful fire of opposing piekets and skirmishers can be heard in the distance, with the occasional boom of heavy ordnance. The shock of battle, which is to determine the fate of the rebel inva- sion, will at farthest be postponed but a few | Meanwhile re-enforcements from the 5th and 2d hours. Just before arriving into position, and while the troops were resting under arms, the

. commander of our Brigade assembled the officers and briefly reminded them of the desperate char- aeter of the emergency, and urged the importance . and necessity of devoting every energy to ensure the successful issue of the conflict.

In order to understand the various positions of ad Corps, are slowly retiring to the rear. A few the 27th during the action, let us briefly sketch steps more bring the men under the full sweep of the eneiny's fire. Lieut. Col. Metwin falls while the line of battle as adopted by Gen. Hancock, and along which the several Corps were arranged. [ leading the command with his neeustomed brave. as they arrived on the field. Three important fry. Under Major Coburn, the line still presses roads, the Emmettsburg, Taneytown, and Balti- more Turnpike, converge in Gettysburg from the south. At their junetion just below the town is the natural key of the position, the now historie Cemetery Hill. This elevation forms the north- ern end of a ridge prolonged about four miles

forward at. double quick, through the wheat field and woods beyond, driving the rebels a quarter of a mile across a ravine, which on the further side rises into a precipitous ledge. The men with much difficulty clambered up the rocky steep, Int as they appeared upon the erest of the hill, almost exactly due south, near to and parallel the enemy drawn up in readiness just beyond,

rounding level, then rises again into the forest crowned Little Ronnd Top, or Weed's Hill, and terminates in the yet higher ascent of rocky Round Top itself. Beginning on the left at nearly a straight course along Cemetery Ridge, and at Cemetery ITill bends back to the east in the general form of a half circle, with a radius of three fourths of a mile, Cuhp's Hill and several minor eminenees lying in the circumference; and the extreme right, crossing Rock Creek, which flows at the base of these heights, rests npon the woody sunuait of Wolf's Hill. The rebel forces ocenpied a series of heights corresponding to these, with an intervening belt of comparatively level and open country from one to two miles in width.

The forenoon of Thursday, July 2d, passed with no demonstration on either side. The hos- tile forees are rapidly marshaling on the opposite ridges. In the Union line the 12th Corps holds the eminences near Rock Creek, on the right; next is the 1st on Culp's Hill, then the 11th at Ridge are successively drawn up the 2d, 3d, and 5th, with the 6th in reserve near the Taneytown road. The 27th Connectient was stationed about line occupied by our 2d Corps on the left centre. Ilere the regiment remained nearly all day in quiet preparation for the conflict, which threat- ened at any moment to mar that penceful land- senpe of thrifty farm houses, and waving har- Vests. -

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 133

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