The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 25

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

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We have been often told that the end was nigh. pecially in these days, use them with an evil : We need be no longer told, We ourselves can purpose. These words are the slang of free it. The splendid triumph is within our reach, treason. Be on your guard against them. , if we but spring to grasp it. We must not lose lest you be found reasoning and talking like ; the opportunity. Let blows be struck swift and a traitor and a fool, rather than like a patri- ot and man of common sense.

heavy. Let us give no breathing time to our foes. let us pour in our men and overwhelm their van- Fishing armies,

What the powers and functions of our : To us citizens of Connecticut our part is assign- National Government are, we shall see as el. We can do it. But the task is not light or ; had already enlisted in a New Jersey regiment. we read farther. Philosophers and dema- easy. It admits no delay or rest. It can be ac- gogues (who are generally men of no prac- complished by, and only by, immediate, vigorous, tical common sense whatever-especially the Inilted and persistent effort. Men enough can be secured for adequate inducements. philosophers) will tell you that this Govern-

No soldiers in the world are so well fed, so well ment is a very intriente machine. I'erhaps iclothed, so well paid, as those of the Union army. ! tached to the Provost Guard, being men who had you have allowed yourself to think so. Dis- . None, in sickness, so well housed in commodions , either come well recommended or had given good miss the idea. The Government of the hospitals, so well supplied by the Sanitary Com- security for the faithful performance of their Mission and the Soldiers' Aid Societies; so well nursed by gentle, self-denying, patriotic women.

United States is a very simple machine. For every practical purpose any man of: The system and experience acquired in two | sent to the Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteers. common sense, who will take the trouble to years render it certain that much of hardship in read the Constitution, can malerstand the the fell, much of suffering in hospital, unavoid- i ped from New liven on Thursday, Oct. 220. nature and powers of our Government as 'alde in the early part of the war, will not be again well as Judge Story himself did.

incurred. Food will be plenty, transportation abundant, medical attention prompt and efficient.

The reviving courage of the North and the

troops -- for the Rhode Island Battery now in! An overwhchaing force will end the conflict with half the labor and half the loss which a foree formation. Lieut. Hyde's recruiting office is established at New Haven, in Brewster's Building. Large bounties will be offered to all colored vol- barely sufficient must ineur. The present eall will unteers.

secure this overwhelming force.

Many comprehend these facts. Let us make all Know and understand them. Then let adequate inducements be offered. Let bounties be large. Let towns and wealthy individuals, not promise vaguely, but guaranty to every volunteer a reason- able support for all who are dependent upon him, and this so long as they need such support.

The majority of rich men, having liberty, busi- ness and property at stake, have failed to do half their proportionate duty. Why do not a thousand hasten to emulate the noble example of that grand and venerable patriot, James Brewster ?

It is the duty of every citizen, rich or poor, li- able to draft or not, to employ his utmost energies and means to promote enlistments; to devote time, to contribute money, to speak no timorous or doubtful words, but frequent words of cheerful courage and resolute purpose.

Immediate united and strenuous action will fill our quota.

Citizens of Connecticut, Honor, duty, and in- terest conibine to urge you forward.

Resolve to enter on the new year with the ranks of the brave little State well filled. Begin the work to-day, and coase only when the full quota of Connecticut,

" Patient of toil, serene amidst alarms, Inflexible in faith, invincible in arms," shall go forth to save the nation.

CES" Thomas Lynch of the Twenty-third Con- neetieut Volunteers, was examined and accepted last weck as a veteran volunteer. Ile is the first volunteer in this district under the recent call. Let his name be remembered with honor.

CES" Mr. Elisha T. Sage of Cromwell, having been drafted, presented himself for examination before the Board in Hartford. He got exemption papers Oct. 3d, on the ground of having ihree brothers now in the United States service. Oct. 10th he again pre-ented himself, with the assur- ance that he wanted to enter the army any way. Hle was accepted and given a four days' furlough, and Thursday promptly reported to camp.

CEy" Gould Robinson, a returned volunteer, of Co. K. Twenty-third Connecticut Volunteers, has enlisted for the war in the First Connecticut Ar- tillery.

Czy Lieut. J. Dunning, formerly of the Sev- enth Connecticut Volunteers, was drafted, but

CZY" On Saturday night, Oct. 6th, two hundred and twenty-five conseripts left the emp at New flaven on the steamer Nathaniel P. Banks, for Alexandria, under charge of Maj. Sears. About seventy of these are drafted men, the rest substi- tutes. About one hundred of them had been at-

duty. These men were allowed to choose the regiment which they preferred, and selected the First Connecticut Artillery. The remainder were

37 Twohundred and six substitutes were ship- They were escortel from the Conseript Camp to the steamer Chas. Osgood, by a strong guard from the Invalid Corps nud detachments of regiments here. They will be joined by a large number in New York, and all, it is understood, will be for- warded to the department of Gen, Gillmore. Those from New liven are said to be assigned to the Sixth Connectient Volunteers.

CZY Gen. ALFRED HI. TERny, second in command un.ler Gen. Gillmore, at Morris Island, has been on a brief vi-it to his friends in New Haven. He is confident of success at Charleston, but says the publie must have patience.

CB- Dr. J. W. HYDE, of Greenwich, has laid aside his profession for the present and accepted a , crumbling fabric of the confederacy alike prove commission from Gov. Beckingham, to raise a that if we respond manfully to this call the period Company of one hundred and fifty men-colored of service will be brief.

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

1863. ]

For the Connecticut War Record. The Three Months' Volunteers. (Continued.)

THE OCCUPATION OF FALLS CHURCHI.

The next day, June 17th, the Second ar- rived and encamped beside the First. The First were that day ordered on another rail- road reconnoisance, but the order was coun- termanded and the regiment was sent to the vicinity of Long Bridge to take part in a re- view. The honor of the contemplated re- connoisance fell upon the First Ohio, under Colonel (now General) A. MeD. McCook. Accompanied by Gen. Schenck, the Ohio men went up the road in the same manner as their Connecticut brothers had gone twice before. A masked battery opened on the train just before it reached Vienna, and a

the monotony of camp life, unless it was wit nessing the daily ascents of Prof. Lowe's man was brought in, shot through the shoul- [ large balloon stationed by the camp of the der. IIe was sent to Alexandria. In the First. afternoon the Connecticut regiments took up the line of march for Taylor's Tavern, Oak THE MARCH TO CENTREVILLE. Ilill. In the meantime, however, a company from each regiment had been sent forward, one on each flank, to act as a corps of ob- servation, with orders to occupy two hills on the west and north. The regiments, taking with them a howitzer loaned by Colonel (now General) Corcoran, reached Oak Ilill before sunset, and immediately threw out pickets and a guard. The field piece was posted to sweep the straight road leading to Fairfax Court House, and the men lay down to recover from the fatigues of the preceding night. The sick and lame, with camp guard-, dozen men were killed and wounded. Just had been left behind at Roach's Mills, to- after noon, the men of the Second Connecti- cut saw a locomotive come down the road showing a red flag, the signal of danger, and they were ordered out under arms. The review at Long Bridge had just closed when the First received orders to hurry to the assistance of the Ohio volunteers, who " were being cut to pieces." Adjutant Bacon was sent ahead to explain to regiments on the route that Col. Burnham was marching his regiment directly across the country by the shortest way, and the men with hurried steps passed through the camps that dotted the landseape, arriving in camp just before dark. The men of both regiments eat a hasty supper, and were furnished with such cooked rations as could be provided. Or- dered into line again about 10 P. M., they

gether with all the camp property, knapsacks and provisions. Here, then, were these two regiments, numbering together not more than thirteen hundred inen, in the heart of the enemy's country, the advance guard of the Union army, eight miles farther into rebeldom than our troops had ever been before, except upon a hasty reconnoisance. By cither Ball's or Bailey's Cross-roadIs the rebels could throw a force in their rear, and for about a week the men lay down nightly to sleep with the expectation of being aroused by an attempt to cut them off. Their situ- ation was too critical to be pleasant, and the arrival of Tompkins' regular cavalry of sixty- seven men, and a section of Varian's battery, was hailed with great satisfaction.

The day after the occupation of Oak Ilill waited for a train which arrived at midnight. the camp equipage and baggage of the regi- About an hour before daylight they arrived ments arrived. The men went to work with at the spot where the Ohio volunteers had a will, and soon after the spot presented an . collected their wounded. It was a shocking

animated appearance. About five o'clock in siglit to men unused to scenes of blood. In the afternoon an alarm was given, and for a the gray dawn, the dimness of which was time there was quite a stir. It proved to but faintly relieved by the hazy light of have been occasioned by a couple of servants lanterns, were seen the forms of the poor belonging to the First, who had been out on sufferers writhing in intolerablo agony. The horses, and were chased by some of Tomp- kins' cavalry, whom they mistook for rebels, the cavalry men on their part judging them to be spies or piekets of the enemy.

sight aroused an intense desire for vengeance. A consultation was held between Generals Tyler and Schenck and the Colonels of the different regiments, and it was finally decided to send the Connecticut men to occupy the hill at Falls Church. As it was not prudent to inove in an unknown country in the darkness, the men bivouaced by the rail- calls of the enemy could be easily heard. There was rarely any colli-ion between the pickets. All was quiet along the lines. The road track for a few hours. While waiting here, a good Union man from Vienna, (I am sorry I cannot recall his name,) brought in a little force of Connecticut men was soon in- wagon six dead bodies from the scene of the inas-acre, belonging to the Ohio regiment. One had his head taken completely off by a

of another were shot through by a similar projectile. A short time after a wounded

About the 4th of July a movement on Richmond by the way of Manassas Junction was talked of, and from day to day thereafter the rumor assumed more defined and exact proportions, until at dress parade on the afternoon of July 15th the fact was announced in orders which designated the next day as the time of departure. The First, with the other Connecticut regiments, were at this . time in a brigade commanded by Col. E. D. Keyes of the Eleventh Regular Infantry, a competent and favorite officer. This brigade was one of four under command of Gen. Daniel Tyler, the whole division numbering some eleven thousand men. The division marched from Falls Churehi on the afternoon of the 16th, the Second Connecticut in the advance, the First and Third immediately behind them. The day was beautiful, the sky cloudless, and the air balmy with the perfume of midsummer. The men started off in the gayest spirits, rejoiced that the period of inactivity was past. The bands struck up a lively strain, and the whole scene was rather a pageant of pleasure than a march to battle. The men were in light marching order, without knapsacks, but with their blankets rolled lengthwise and slung over the shoulder. The division took the Vienna road, which ran perfectly straight for a long distance over a succession of hills, so that one could stand on the highest emi- nence and see the whole line. It was a siglit, once seen, never to be forgotten. After arriving at a point that ceased to be familiar to our scouts, skirmishers from the Connecti- cut regiments were deployed in advance of the column on each side of the road, for the purpose of giving notice of "masked bat- teries " and prowling rebels. By nine o'clock the column reached Flint Hill School House, and here the men bivouaced. Pickets were posted, the skirmishers called in, and tho Connecticut regiments lay down on a low, marshy piece of ground, the glorious sky,

Every night Col. Burnham called his offi- cers together and consulted on the details of beautiful by the gorgeous trail of " the arrangements in case of a night attack. Thel

comet," then in the very zenith of his glory, pickets were thrown out so far that the camp ; bending grandly over them. Resting here on the bosom of mother earth, the men could hear distinctly the drum and fife of the rebel camp sounding the tattoo. Two prisoners were brought in that night by the creased by the arrival of the Third Connecti- men of the Second. On the march to this cut and the Second Maine. For about a spot the men had passed over the hill on mouth they remained here, occasionally tak-| which had stood the battery which had round shot, and both hands and the breast |ing prisoners, but nothing occurred to vary | worked such havoc in the ranks of the Ohio

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[ NOVEMBER,

volunteers. The sight re-arroused the thirst, and vicinity will be necessary here, to com- gard sufficiently, exonerate MeDowell from for vengeance.

prehend fully the plan of Gen. McDowell any imputation of incompetency.

The next morning at five o'clock the and the operations of the Union army. To return to our Connectieut brigade. column was again in motion. Leaving Fair- From Centreville, the headquarters of the Promptly at the hour appointed the brigade fax Court House on the left, the Connecticut Union forees, and in the vicinity of which started, the First Regiment leading, followed

brigade passed through Germantown about noon, and taking the road to Centreville, they were eneamped, led three roads. The northern, or uppermost, was the Warrenton bivouaced about midway between that pike, leading directly west and erossing Bull place and Germantown at about four o'clock Run by the now famous Stone Bridge. Still

by the Second Connecticut, Second Maine, and the Third Connecticut. The morning was splendid, the sky cloudless and the moon almost at its full. Though fatigued by the that afternoon. An alarm from the pickets farther north was a ford called Sudley's. exertions of the past few days, and unre- about midnight, which, however, proved to The second, or middle road, the one before freshed by the broken sleep of the bivoune, have been causeless, was the only occurrence referred to as crossing at Blackburn's, touched the men moved forward with alaerity, in- that disturbed the rest of the weary soldiers like Ran about four miles below the Warren- spirited by the near prospect of a fight. ton road. One other led from Centreville They took the Warrenton road, but after south, erossing the stream and running along marching some three miles were filed off the the right bank to Union Mills. Cub Run is road and kept waiting to allow Heintzelman's that night. The next morning, Thursday. July 1Stli, the division was again in motion, and reaching Centreville, the main body, including the Connecticut brigade, went into a branch of Bull Run, emptying into it and Hunter's columns to pass. Starting bivouac. Gen. Tyler, with Richardson's about half way between the Warrenton and again, they were halted at a point favorable Mana-sas roads, and crossing the former at; for the purpose, to guard the road leading about two miles from Bull Run. Both ; from Manassas. In consequence, the brigade banks of the latter stream are high, but the | did not reach the stream until nearly ten western being the most woody, was selected by the enemy as favorable for coneealing

brigade, consisting of New York, Massachu- setts and Michigan regiments, with Ayres' battery and two other guns, pushed on to Blackburn's Ford over Bull Run, and there engaged the enemy posted on the right or western bank of the stream. Our Connecti- cut men in Centreville could plainly hear the booming of the guns, and they chafed to enter the fray. Before sunset the sounds of attack was to be made by Hunter and strife had ceased, and the men, tired and ! hungry, (for their cooked rations bal been rear, if possible. To accomplish this, they eaten and the supply trains had not arrived.) slept as only soldiers ean. That night and the next day passed quietly. On the 20th,

o'clock. During all this time, or at least from six o'clock in the morning, they had batteries and infantry. The plan of battle been within sound of the guns and the was to threaten the enemy at the crossing of ! shrieking shells from Ayres' and Carlisle's each of the roads mentioned, but the main

batteries, just ahead. Before reaching the bridge the brigade filed to the right across Heintzelman on the enemy's left flank and the fields, and as soon as they showed them- selves received a severe fire from the enemy's were to move straight forward on the War- batteries. Col. Keyes, commanding the renton road, as though to attack at Stone brigade, says in his report: " At quarter Bridge, but before reaching it to pass to the past nine A. M., at the distance of half a Saturday, orders to prepare three days' ra- right up the stream, erossing at Sudley's: mile from Bull Run, I was ordered by Gen. tions were received, and the men with . Ford, where it was believed the enemy had Tyler to incline the head of my column to alaerity set about the work, glad to see pre- to force stationed. But what was the sur -: the night and direct it through an open field paratious for the real business of war. prise of IIunter when, after being allowed to to a ford about eight hundred yards above cross, he found himself confronted by an the Stone Bridge. Before the whole brigade BATTLE OF BULL RUN. enormous force of the enemy with batteries | had entered upon the new direction, the Sunday, thememorable 21st of July, found in position and every preparation made to enemy opened fire from a battery across the our Connectieut brigade at Centreville, with , receive him. Treachery of the foulest kind Run, and threw upon the First and Second orders to march at two o'clock in the morn- had done its work, and plans, kept secret Regiments Connecticut Volunteers, some ing. The rebel army, under Beauregard, from all but division commanders and those twenty or thirty rounds of shot and shell, was believed to be strongly posted on the who must of necessity understand them to, which caused a temporary confusion and ground just west of Bull Run, with a reserve insure unity of action, were perfectly familiar wounded several men." The loss would at Manassas within easy supporting distance ; . to Beauregard. The programme was, how- I have been much greater among the men but but of his exact foree and the details of his ever, carried ont in a successful manner; for for their halit of dropping flat at the dis- arrangement the Union commanders were it is no fanlt of the arrangements that our charge, allowing the missiles to pass over not informed. On Thursday, to be sure. troops were driven from the field. If the; them and then taking the double-quick. Gen. Tyler had felt the enemy and possessed day's disaster can be attributed to anything | The brigale crossed the stream, and coming himself of the heights at Blackburn's Ford. over which our government or generals had [ out on the plain beyond the wooded bank, on the direet road to Manassas, the enemy control, it must be to the delay, never satis -! the enemy appeared in full view. The First haring contented himself with the occupancy factorily explained, which occurred at Cen- halted, delivered their fire by file, and then of the opposite or western bank of the treville. If the battle of Thursday, at Black- went forward with the rest of the brigade stream. On Friday and Saturday also, at- burn's Ford, had been followed up by ai and formed in line of battle on the left of tempts at reconnoisanee had been made, general attack the next day on the same plan Sherman. Ilis brigade, however, being or- but they failed to reveal with much minute- substantially as that of the battle of Sunday, | dered farther to the right, the Connecticut ness the disposition of the enemy. Beaure- no one can doubt that our success would have troops fought the whole day without support from, or connection with, any others not in their brigade. In relation to the reception of the Connecticut men, Col. Keyes says: so, will be apparent shortly. " The First Regiment Connectient Volunteers gard, however, had the fullest information been fill anul entire. But want of knowledge not only of our position and strength, but of of the country and the enemy's position, the intentions of MePowell. That this was some delay in receiving supplies, and, above all, the belief that Gen. Patterson would An imaginary map of the field of battle | prevent Johunston from reenforeing Beaure-I was met by a body of cavalry and infantry,

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

IS63.]

which it repelled, and at several other en- | treat. The Third Connecticut had been de- music playing, confident in their strength counters of different parts of the -line the tached and with the Second Maine were and ardent in anticipations of a glorious holding the enemy at bay near tho rebel bat- victory, must now be traversed in the silence tery which they had driven from its first of night, without music, with furled banners, position . smarting at the idea of defeat, footsore, de- enemy constantly retired before us." Ilunter and Heintzelman had driven the enemy from several positions, Burnside's brigade being in the advanee when the Connecticut brigade In relation to the retreat, Col. Burnham jected and disgusted. came up. The Union forces then advaneed, says : " While halting for orders, a mounted aid rides up and direets the two regiments to march by the right flank. The Second files by the first, and the latter regiment falls in, supposing they are to be placed in a surely and steadily driving the rebel troops from one point to another down the stream to a piece of woods commanded by a bat- tery of eight guns strongly posted and sheltered by a house, log hut, fenee, and hedge. Ilere our Connecticut boys were re- ceived by the severest fire they had as yet

At ten o'clock P. M. the brigade started on the return mareh to Falls Church. All night the line pushed on silent and sad. Al- though such extraordinary labors and fatigues told fearfully on the men, they bore them more effective position. But those infernal uncomplainingly, and obeyed the orders of guns of tho rebels approach nearer and [ their officers without question. About day- nearer, and as the two regiments near the encountered. The enemy's battery was han- open plain, everything is seen and under- dled with rapidity and great aeeuraey, and their infantry support poured in a eeaseless fire. The brigade then marehed by the left flank, and the Third Connectieut and Second Maine were ordered to charge the battery, which was gallantly attempted, but Col. Keyes, believing that the firing would anni- hilate his line, eountermanded the move- ment, and the battery and its support was retired to a height beyond.

Tompkins' eavalry, and then waited patiently the level they reach the woods, when the in the rain for orders to move. Just at dark enemy's cavalry come down. Facing by

possibility, at about eleven o'clock P. M. Run, the bridge aeross which is crowded with reaching the camps of the Ohio regiments the hurrying masses of disorganized troops. Without mingling with them they ford the

and the Second New York, which had been left vacant, their late oeeupants having been stream, and forming in line, protect the rear in too great a hurry to reach Washington to from the rebel cavalry, which here prudently withdrew."

take them with them on their retreat from the battle field. The First and Third Con- ncetieut occupied the Ohio camps that night,

At Cub Run bridge, the thirty-pounder Parrott gun, which had been stationed with and the Second that of the New York regi- Ayres' and Carlisle's batteries at the Stone Bridge, was mired and left. Col. Burnham

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 25

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