The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 17

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

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I selves, and with an earnestness and aban- and men-would be sufficient to crush

The Governor issuing another procla- don, witnessed but once in a lifetime, the serpent rebellion, and each man ex- mation, stating that more troops would devoted their time, influence and money pected that his advent into the rebellious be needed, the report just referred to. to the enlistment of volunteers. No soon- districts would be immediately followed says :

for was the permission to assist in the over- by the clash of arms. It was no holiday

" Within twenty-two days fifty-four . throw of the rebellion given by the call of excursion these devoted men thought of companies tendered their services for the President and the proclamation of the lattending. The known horrors of war and three months and were accepted. The Governor, than the minister left parish the unknown hardships of the camp and President of the United States, having and pulpit, the editor his chair, the mer- ¡ field, (more terrible because less under- declined to accept the services of but chant his store the clerk his desk, the me- stood.) lead no terrors for them. Cheer- three regiments, the others were disband-Ichanie his beuch, the farmer his plow, fully they offered their lives and their all ed. Two of the regiments disbandedli and the laborer his spade. None looked ; upon the altar of their patriotism. Let immediately volunteered for three years ; for office, none calculated on promotion, not such men be denied the meed of or during the war, and were accepted. none regarded personal interest or peen- ! praise.

" Within six days from the issue of the niary benefit, but with enthusiastic love FIRST REGIMENT .* Governor's prochunation, two entire regi- for country and veneration for the flag, The First Regiment Connecticut Vol- ments were raised, armed, equipped, and 'threw themselves, with all they possessed. unteers was organized by Governor Buck. clothed. Connectient has the honor of into " the imminent, deadly breach," de-lingham under the call of the President, having been the first State which sent a termined to sustain at all hazards the gov- and were thus arranged, company-wise, in the regiment : regiment, composed wholly of volunteers. ermment which had protected and defend- completely armed, to Washington." ed them The Nation's flag was thrown

The services of those brave men who' to the breeze from every public and mer- so promptly responded to the call of cantile building. Private citizens evineed their country from motives of the purest their patriotism by a similar display, and, patriotism, however much appreciated at | what was more useful and convincing, by the time they were rendered. have been proffers of assistance and personal effort. so eclipsed by the glory of subsequent Meetings, advertised in the daily jour- organizations which have had the fortune

Infantry Co. A. Hartford, Capt. J. C. Comstock. " E. Danbury, " E. E. Wildman.

" C. W. Locks, " Levi N. Hillman. " G, N. Britain, " " D, Waterbury," Jolin L. Chatfield. Fred. W. Hart.

* I ani under obligation to Col. George S. Burnham, for valuable assistance in the compila- nals, or simply by word of mouth, were tion of this sketch of his regiment.

who unconditionally pledged themselves to support or aid their families during their absence. A galaxy ofnames, whose self-sacrificing tenders of aid, and whose personal efforts glorify their characters, city in our good old State. These times may be counted among the glorious days

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

IS63.]

Infantry Co. B, Hartford, Capt. Ira Wright. ". F, Meriden, Theodore Byxbee.

" II, Bridgeport, “ R. Fitzgibbons.

Itifle " }, John Speidal. Co. D. Marcus Coon, Captain, ", A, Hartford, Geo. S. Burnham. S. W.Carpenter, Ist Lient., W. E. Morris, 2d Lieut., 1

Capt. Burnham was afterwards appoint- ed Lieut. Col., and Lieut. Joseph R. Haw- ley (now Col. of the 7th) was appointed Captain in his place. Capt. Chatfield was appointed Major, and Lient. Marcus Coon, now in the Harris Light Cavalry, Co. G, Fred. W. Hart, Captain, was appointed Captain in his place.

The companies were, for the most part, formed from the very small militia com- panies scattered through the State, with the execution of Rifle Co. A, which was composed entirely of new men, or men generally without any military experi- ence. This company reported to the Adjutant General in just twelve hours from its first conception, ranks full and officers chosen .. George S. Burnham, who joined as a private, was unanimously elected Captain, Joseph R. Ilawley Ist Lieutenant, and Albert W. Drake 2d Lieutenant. These three officers subse- quently became Colonels ; Burnham, Col- onel of the 1st and 22d, Hawley of the 7th, and Drake of the 10th.

At the time of the formation of the company, Capt. Burnham was Lient. Col. of the 1st Regiment Connectient Militia, and was the first militia officer who offer- ed his services to the Governor after the call of the President for troops.

On the 20th of April, 1861, Companies A, Infantry, and A, Rifle, left Hartford for the rendezvous at New Haven, escort- edl to the station by an immense crowd of the people, who eneonraged them with cheers, making the scene one of the wild- est excitement. These two companies were armed with Sharp's breech-loading rifles, and were made the flank compa- nies of the regiment, on marches gen- erally preceding the regiment as skir- mishers.

On the 22d, the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, or- ganized as follows :

Field and Staff. Daniel Tyler, Norwich, Colonel. George S. Burnham, Hartford, Lieut. Colonel. John L. Chatfield, Waterbury, Major. Theodore C. Bacon, New Haven, Adjutant. Justin Hodge, Barkhamsted, Quartermaster. Henry P. Stearns, Hartford, Surgeon. Frederick L. Dibble, New Haven, Assist. Surgeon. Company Officers. Co. A. J. C. Comstock, Captain, ) G. S. Gouge, Ist Lient., W. Hoffman, 2d Lieut.,

Co. B. Ira Wright, Captain, J. II. Chapman, Ist Lieut., Call of Hartford. D. C. Rodman, 2d Lieut., )

Soon as the regiment went into camp Co. C, Levi N. Hillman, Captain, ' ( all of Windsor Locks. F. F. Marden, 1st Lieut., S. E. Horton, 2d Lient., 1 regular camp rules were adopted and all of Water- bury. cheerfully observed, a marked improve- Co. E, E. E. Wildman, Captain, J. D. Stevens, Ist Lieut., Call of Danbury. J. W. Bussing, 2d Lieut., ) Co. F, Theo'r. Byxbee, Captain, G. W. Wilson, 1st Lient., Call of Meriden. O. S. Sanford, 2d Lieut., ) ment in drill and discipline being notice- able each day. On the 9th of May the regiment embarked on the steamer Bien- ville for Washington, where they arrived Sunday, May 12th. As they marched through the streets of the Capital they all of New Brit- ain. elicited great praise for the perfection of their personal and camp equipage, being W.G.Cunningham IstLt., Co. HI; R. Fitzgibbons. Captain, ) all of Bridge- HI. M. Hoyt, Ist Lieut., Win. A. Lee, 2d Lieut .. port. O. MI. Butler, 2d lieut., furnished not only with tents but with a complete baggage train. The regiment numbered seven hundred and eighty (780) Co. A, (Rifle,) J. R. Hawley, Captain, A. W. Drake, Ist Licut., all of ( Hartford. D. G. Francis, 2d Lient,, men. The next day after their arrival they pitched camp on a spot about two Co. B, (Rifle,) J. Speidal, Captain, all of John Holzer, Ist Lieut., Geo. Louis, 2d Lieut., Bridge- port. miles from the Capital, east of 7th street, near the grounds of Coreoran, the eele- brated banker, who had a rural villa in that vicinity. Camp established, no less than nine hours each day were devoted to drill. The weather was very warm, and the men suffered much from its effects. Many of them had never been aeenstom- fed to exposure or hard labor, but they eign descent stood side by side with the submitted cheerfully to the requirements of their novel position.

The last named company (Speidal's) was composed of men of German de- seent, but there was no company in the regiment which had not representatives of one or more of the Enropean nation- alities. Then as now the citizens of for- descendants of the first settlers, evincing as strong a love for the flag of their adopted country as though they had been born and nurtured beneath its protecting folds.

On the day of the departure from New llaven, orders were read on board the steamer, making known the appoint- ment of Col. Tyler to the rank of Briga- dier General of Volunteers, and the pro- motion of Lieut. Col. Burnham to be

On the arrival of the companies at New Haven, they were quartered at dif- ferent public and private buildings, until Colonel, Major Chatfield Lieut. Col., and Capt. Speidal, Major. The regiment was the Quartermaster's Department could provide the necessary camp equipage, one company (Hawley's) occupying one brigaded with the Second, which arrived on Tuesday, May 14th, and the Third, of the buildings of the College, (Yale.) | which came about a fortnight later. The They soon, however, went into camp camps of the three regiments adjoined near the Hospital. From the moment of each other.

arrival in the city, the companies applied

The First had been eneamped about a themselves rigidly to the mastery of the fortnight when one of those little digres- rudiments of military science. The offi- sions from the monotony of camp life cers, especially, soon found their positions ; occurred, which make np so much the to be anything but sinecures. The regi- attraction of the soldier's pursuits. The ment had to be clothed, the men fed, re- men had finished dinner, and were vari- duced to the rules of military life and ously employed in the brief interval be- perfeeted in the drill. Each man had a tween dinner and drill, smoking, writing, want to be supplied. Some needed one cleaning equipments, and conversation. thing and some another. The Quarter-

About the camp everything was orderly master's department was tasked to the'and quiet, but from the Capital came the utmost to keep pace with the demands. I sound of guns and of bells, supposed by Company and regimental officers sup- the men to be the tokens of public sorrow plied from their private resources many ; at the funeral of Col. Ellsworth, which pressing wants which the State was una- ocenrred that afternoon. But presently ble at the time to meet. In this they jall eyes were directed to a horseman, were assisted by the people with open who, on a recking charger, dashed up to hand. Ladies made up into bedding and the Colonel's tent. He proved to be a all of Hartford. | clothing the material furnished by their ; mounted orderly with orders for the regi- male friends, drawing, often, from their own private stores for the comfort of the volunteers.

ment to march with the utmost dispatch to Long Bridge, to protect the easily alarmed Capital from a threatened attack.

54.

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[OCTOBER,

The rattle of the " long roll," which no out to the picket line he meets the re- which shortly afterwards proved so fatal soldier who ever heard can ever forget, lieved picket gnard coming in with a to some of the Ohio volunteers. The ronsed every man. Horses were sad- prisoner blindfolded. He appeared much |next day, Sunday the 16th, a detail of pleased at this evidence of faithfulness, four hundred men, headed by Gen. Tyler and after questioning the prisoner sent and Col. Burnham, started again on the him to the Colonel. He was found to be a brother of the rebel commander at Fairfax Court House, but, as was the dled, accontrements donned, arms exaid- ined, the men fell rapidly into line, and! in just fifteen minutes the camp was de- hazardous attempt to explore the enemy's country by railroad. The cars had pro- eceded but some three or four miles be- yond Vienna, when the conplings of the was sworn and then given his liberty. train broke and they were compelled to return, lashing the cars together suffi- ciently to retain them while backing slow- ly down to the camp. On the way back the crack of a rifle was heard, and George serted, lame men and sick coming from the hospital to accompany their comrades. The march was a hot and hurried one. rule in those days, after examination, he the regiment sometimes on the double- quick filing past others which were being | No doubt this mild treatment of spies by directed to the same point. Men, who our government has resulted in greatly complicating the difficulties which beset our troops in the enemy's country. lined the streets in crowds, cheered, ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and other regiments gave them encouraging During the interim between the arrival II. Bughce, a private of Co. A, fell shot words as they hurried by. Reaching of the regiment in Washington and the through the shoulder. He was standing march to Roach's Mills, several changes near Gen. Tyler, and the shot was doubt- ocenrred in the arrangement of the field less intended for him. The men jumping and line officers.

Long Bridge they were informed that the alarm was a false one, and. disap- pointed they turned wearily back.

A week more passed away, when an- other bearer of orders rides into camp. A short consultation between General Tyler and the Colenel, and orders to move at 12 o'clock that night. (June Ist.) | Col., viec Chatfield. are promulgated. An early tattoo and the men, excepting the camp guard, lie Major. down to rest for two or three hours.

Major Speidal was promoted Lieut.

Capt. Byxbee, Co. F, was promoted ment's favorite panacea-the oath of alle- giance-were allowed to go. Poor Bag- Ist Lieut. Geo. W. Wilson, promoted bee was badly wounded. The ball crash- ed right through his shoulder, carrying

Twelve o'clock comes soon enough. Captain Co. F; 2d Lient. Oliver S. San- and the regiment, followed by its train of ford, promoted Ist Lieut., and Orderly | with it pieces of the bone and leaving a Sergeant Daniel T. Lyon, promoted 2d large ragged hole. He bore the suffering Lient., same company. bravely, only regretting his hurt was not

Capt. In Wright, Co. B, having re- received in a fair fight instead of in an signed, Ist Lieut. Justice HI. Chapman assassin like manner. was promoted Captain. 2d Lient. Daniel (To be continued.) DOMINUS. through the city. Across Long Bridge'C. Rodman, promoted Ist Lieut., and the head of the column answering the George M. Coit, Corporal Rifle Co. A, For the Connectient War Record. promoted 2d Lient. of Co. B.

. Washington, where scarcely an eye sees them as they march steadily and silently

challenge of the vigilant sentinels who guard its entire length, and then on

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Sept, 29th, 1863. Ist Lieut. Edwin F. Marden, Co. C, Mr. EpiroR :- I happened to see in the through what appear to be mere apolo -; was dropped from the roll, and 2d Lieuts. columns of your last, a piece headed "The gies for ronds, the men tramp, tramp, in Stoddard E. Horton and George M. 7th Coun. before Fort Pulaski." It appears impressive silence. Reaching Roach's ' White were made Ist and 2d Lieuts. re- to me the writer signing himself H. L. W., Mills, on the line of the Alexandria and ; spectively of the same company.

jis trying to run down the 48th N. Y. S. V.

Leesburg Railroad, at sunrise. the regi -! Quartermaster Hodge was appointed a little. Now I, being an officer in that ment relieves the 12th N. Y., Col. Batter- Brigade Quartermaster, and Morton F. regiment at the time the writer speaks of, field. Pickets are established, sentinels Hale was made Quartermaster in his think it my duty to show his error. I have posted, and the men go to work to re- place. a good many friends in the 7th Conn. Vols., establish a eamp. At once the regular ! routine of drill is resumed. \ day or : missary.

William G. Ely was made Acting Com- and will not injure the regiment in any way. Ist. The 48th did as much in erecting two after their arrival the camp was! Rov. Geo. N. Webber, having been batteries to reduce Fort Pulaski as the 7th visited by Gen. MeDowell, who enquired .appointed Chaplain, subsequently (June did, and manned a battery and fired at the of the Colonel how many times the regi- 14th) arrived and entered upon the dis- | Fort during the action from the lower end ment had been called up in the night by charge of his duties. of Bird Island.

2d. (\ New Year's Call, Jan. Ist, 1862.) The 48th N. Y. were under a heavy fire at.

needless alarms from its pickets. " Nev-| On the morning of Saturday, June er," was the reply, " unless there has: 15th, theregiment was ordered to furnish been some legitimate occasion." "Thank one company to go up the railroad to Port Royal Ferry, three men being wounded. heaven," responded the General, " there ' Vienna. The trip was performed in safe- And at the assault on Fort Wagner. the 48th was among the leading regiments, losing a great number of officers and men. The is one regiment this side of the Potomse ty, and the men returned withont having that does not unnecessarily alarm itself."' been molested. The movement was in- " How are your pickets posted ?" "We doubtedly intended as a reconnoisance 48th would not have had the name Fort try to guard against possible surprise,"; and probably gave the enemy, by means Pulaski on their flag if they had not a right answered the Colonel. " Well," rejoined of spies who infested the country, an to it. Respectfully, &e., the General, "I will see." As he rides opportunity to make the preparations! MILES.

Lient. Col. Chatfield was appointed mishers, and after scouring the woods Colonel of the 3d Regiment, rice John Arnold, resigned. .

from the cars were deployed as skir- soon returned with a number of prison- ers, white and colored, but the culprit re- mained undiscovered, and the prisoners, after the administration of the Govern-

wagons bearing the tents and commissa- riat stores, winds its way through the ! dark woods into the broad streets of

1403.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

too late to leave, and the steamer with- that you are the man to lead the column, drew. She again returned with the and that your battalion must head the For the Connecticut War Record. . companies that night, and they were suc- advance." The men were soon awaken- The Seventh Connecticut Volunteers. MORRIS ISLAND, Sept. 4, 1863. cessfully disembarked. After being for. ed and the line formed, at about 2 A. M. two days eneamped on Folly Island, on The story of that assault I do not need In iny communication under date of the evening of the 8th, they were, with to rehearse. The people of Connecticut June 25th, I brought the history of the other forces, ordered into boats for the have shed tears of grief and pride, of af- regiment up to that point. Here let me purpose of entering Light House Inlet, fection and bereavement, over the ex- set right a misprint which transpired in and attacking the batteries on Morris Is- ploits of their sons on that gray fatal that narrative. It was Co's I and K. land. But unavoidable delay took place morning, over their steady advance, their (and not D and K,) which left St. Au- and after the men were in the boats, it fiery onset, their charge up the slope and gustine to join the detachment under was decided to defer the attack till the the parapet, in the very face of the ene- command of Lieut. Col. Rodman. Under next night. Accordingly on the nighti my's guns, their occupation of the exter- ordinary circumstances an error of this of the 9th, our troops were again cin- nal wall, their agonies of rage and grief kind would pass unremarked. But in view barked into boats, and rowed through at the faltering and rout of their support, of the fact that the Record will no doubt Folly Creek, into Light House Inlet. their reluctant retreat, the re-formation be filed and kept as a household treasure Early the next morning, our guns on; of the ranks and the sad roll call. that in the home of many a brave volunteer. Folly Island opened a heavy fire on the showed a loss of more than half the min- there ought to be no error, to prevent a rebel works on Morris Island. The en- ber taken to the field, and of seven ont member of the gallant detachment from emy replied by throwing shell and grape ; of the eleven officers who were in the making good his claim to a share in its glory.

at our boats, which were crowding the in- charge. Never while Putnam, and Hale, let, right under the fire of the rebel guns. and Prescott are household words, never till Groton Heights have sunk to a level

Let us now, leaving the six companies | After enduring this for a while, Lt. Col. to garrison the post of St. Augustine, fol- Rodman said to Gen. Strong, "Let me with the Sound, never while men esti- low the remaining four companies, A, B, land and take these batteries." The I, and K, under Lt. Col. Rodman. The General hesitated, but carried along by two latter companies, leaving St. Angus-, the resolute, confident bravery of the Lt. tine on the 25th June, as heretofore: Colonel he consented. Instantly the

the following day, at "Sea Brooks," a their oars, pressed to the shore, and plantation lying on the west coast of stormed and took a line of rifle pits, re-

their charge upon Fort Wagner.

Lt. Col. Rodman being wounded, the Hilton Head Island. It is on this plan- ceiving almost with impunity the fire of command now devolved upon Capt. Gray, tation that the new work, "Ft. Mitchell," the enemy, and returning it with fatal the senior officer. The detachment was is erected, designed to command the pas- sage through Skull Creek. On the 28th

. Jime, the battalion removed by steamer

effect. Word was at once sent to Gen. assigned to the duty of Provost guard Strong of the capture of the rifle pits. for the Island. Previous to the second attack on Fort Wagner, on the night of the 18th, a battery of two 30 1b. Parrotts

lIe landed all his forees which, uniting to St. Helena Island, where they were in- [ with the battalion, carried the remaining corporated into the Brigade of Gen. Geo. works, amounting to eleven one gun bat- were assigned to Capt. Gray, and a de- C. Strong. Probably every member of teries, and the day found our troops in tail from the detachment. This battery the detachment, as long as he lives, will possession of all of the Island up to Fort . participated in the bombardment of Fort remember it as one of the glories and Wagner.

Wagner, that was designed to prepare pleasures of his life that he was under In the course of the forenoon Gen. | the way for the assault of the 18th. Ou the command of this gallant and chivalrie Gilmore having crossed over to the Is- the night of the attack, it was the duty leader. The degree of discipline which iland, Lt. Col. Rodman, in conversation ; of the remainder of the battalion, acting le exacted of his troops prepared them with him, expressed his gratification at as Provost guard, to keep stragglers to for victory, while his ardor, his bravery, the success of the movement. The Gen- their post and to prevent them from re- eral replied, " Don't you suppose that I treating to the rear.

his sympathy for the soldier, carried them beyond themselves in attempts and knew whom to put in the front ? 1 achieving great results. "We used to remember what your regiment did on think it was rather tough when he kept Tybee."

Rarely during the present war has a scene been witnessed surpassing in inter- est that which was presented on the Plaza During the day our lines were pushed of St. Angustine on the morning of the

ns on brigade drill day after day in the sun," said one of the detachment, " but forward as far as possible, and a begin- 21st July. The steamer had arrived bring- when we came to go into the field welning was made toward erecting some were very glad to have had the drill."

Meanwhile the plans for a movement

'ritle pits.

ing the first news of the siege of Charles- ton, the account of the occupation of Mor-

At night the troops lay down to rest. ris Island, and of the charge upon Wag- against Charleston had been projected. worn out with the toils of the day, and ner. The Colonel at onee had the com- and on the 4th July, the battalion em- with the fatigue of the two preceding i panies marched to the Plaza, knowing that birked on a steamer for Folly Island. nights, both of which they had passed all of the regiment would be interested in They reached the inlet about three the cramped in open boats. But about mid- hearing tidings from their comrades. As next morning, but as it was desired to keep night, Gen. Strong aroused Lt Col. Rod- he recounted what he had learned of the from the knowledge of the enemy the ! man, saying, " Itis determined to assault events, and as others who had just come In Wements of our troops, it was deemed Ft. Wagner to-night, and we have decided | from Port Royal told what they had

imate their patriotic valor by the story of Foote's conquests on the Western waters, will they cease to tell their children of the 7th Conn. battalion, and stated, reported to Lt. Col. Rodman on; word was given, the 7th Coun. stood to their leader, the bravest of the brave, and

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 17

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