The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 29

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

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But in addition to the services already alluded to, there are other demands made on our citizen soldiery. They are ex- pected to parade on all military or civic holidays, to receive and escort regiments returning from the war, and generally to contribute their presence to make every procession attractive to the multitnde.

Now, without stopping to inquire how far such expectations are reasonable, let ns consider how much is inolved in these demands upon the militia.

In the first place, every volunteer con- pany must have an armory. This armory must be in a central place, easily accessi- ble, and large enough to contain the arms and equipments of the company, and to keeping uniforms, arms, and armory in furnish room enough for practice in drill- good order. ing in the manual and marching.

But another burden which presses

In the second place, the members of heavily upon the militia, is the time de- the company mnst, in the outset, devote voted to public parades, both those re- considerable time in acquiring a knowl- edge of what is required of them as sol-

gained by diligent and painstaking prac- tice. No one who has not had personal experience of this sort of training, can tention necessary to transform a raw re- ernit into a skillful and practised soldier --

cute all the orders of his superior. But once acquired, can only be retained by continued exertion, The most useful and efficient company is the company that spends the greatest amount of time in

Expense of uniform (for private) ...... $25.00

Expense at State parades. 12.00

Expense at other parades. 20.00

$37.00

To this must be added each man's share of the following expenses :

Rent of armory .$250.00

Fuel and gas. 35.00

Armorer 50.00

Incidental expenses. 25.00

$360.00

The uniform will be serviceable four or five years, but the other expenses are

But we have only begun to indicate annual. In the case of officers, the neces-

bers of the company. It must be lighted. Let us now consider the pecuniary en- couragement given by the State of Con- necticut to its militia. This may be briefly stated : An annual allowance of one hundred dollars for rent of armory, two dollars a day for four days of parade, and exemption from poll tax and jury anty during the term of enlistment. Offi- during the year and heated during the winter, and kept neatly and in good or- der in all respects. At a moderate esti- mate the expense of furnishing will be two hundred dollars, and other expenses one hundred dollars per annum. But this is only the beginning. Each mem- ber of a company must provide himself cers who are required by law to be with a uniform. This involves an expense mounted, are entitled to two dollars per to privates and non-commissioned officers i day in addition to the allowances already of from twenty-five to thirty dollars, and indicated. There are no exemptions but to commissioned officers (including the from poll tax and jury duty. The mem -. necessary equipments) of not less than, bers of these companies are as liable to from sixty to seventy-five dollars. To be drafted as any able bodied men in the these must be added the expense of community.

Now, can any fair-minded person be found, who will for a moment contend that the State is dealing fairly with its volunteer militia?

It is absurd to say that the privilege

quired by law and those volunteer parades of appearing in public in uniform is any which seem to be expected by the com- compensation for the large expense in- diers. This knowledge can only be munity. The law prescribes four days of curred. Not only have uniforms ceased annual parade, and there are always pub- to be a novelty in our streets, but from lie holidays, military funerals, military the commencement of the rebellion up to receptions, and similar occasions, which the riots of July last, our militia compa- form an adequate idea of the time and at- call out one or more militia companies, nies were almost in disgrace. Men, for- Now, as we have already intimated, all getting that there might be an occasion this consumes time -- time which is to when a police force would be powerless quick to understand and prompt to exe- these men equivalent to so much money. to resist the violence of an infuriated With very few exceptions they are en- mob, were disposed to ridicule those who this is not all. The needed knowledge gaged in industrial pursuits, carning having any military discipline, hesitated

wages averaging from two to three dol- lars per day.

We may, then, reducing these facts to one time, considerable danger that the figures, put the case as follows;

to enlist in the service of the gene- ral government. There was, indeed, at State would be really defenseless, partly

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[NOVEMBER.

from the withdrawal of its armed forces to fight the battles of the nation, and partly from the odium which attached to those men who maintained their home military organization.

The scenes of the summer of 1863 in many of our Northern cities, have taught a different lesson, and the important question soon to be settled in our own State is this : Shall we give suitable en- couragement to our militia, or shall we consent to see our volunteer companies disband ? For there is every reason to believe that if the present militia system is preserved, in twelve months there will not be a single effective company in Con- uectient. However our Legislature may be disposed to neglect the just claims of the militia, it is certain that men will not long submit to perform all the labor and pay all the bills, for the privilege of pro- tecting the lives and the property of citi- zens who manifest no disposition to re- quite services which are acknowledged to be important and indispensable.

In another article we shall endeavor to indicate the policy which should be pursued. MILITIA.

CES" A new Militia Company has just been or- ganized in Meriden, to be designated as Co. I. Second Regiment, Second Brigade Connecticut Militin. It is officered as follows :

Captain-Jacob Eaton of Meriden.

First Lientenant-E. William liliss of Meriden. Second Lieutenant-W. W. Lee of Meriden. This company is composed of excellent inte- rial, and its officers are men of character and pro- sition in Meriden.

CS" At an election of officers held at the armory of the New Haven Grays, the following officers were elected: Captain, George L. Northrop ; First Lieutenant. Frank D. Sloat. Press of business comp-led Mr. Sloat, with great regre', to decline the puroffered honor. At n subsequent meeting they chose, manimously, First Maintenant, . L.

Bradley ; Second Ijentenant, J. D. Dewell. Both cisms from those who earnestly desire to see the theer gentlemen have accepted the positions.

C3:" Brief communications are solicited from members of the militia throughout the State. Tlen WAR Ricoan of Connecticut is not complete until their services are recorded. We hope to represent and sustain the State Militia in our columns.

[?"" It is delightful to record the endluring le. nevolence of the soldiers' friends in Connecticut The patient selfdenial, the abiding sympathy .. the datiy and wearisome toil endured by the wo. men of Connecticut, cheerfully and gladly, they

prove patriotism deep, earnest, and changeless as | fully written history of the " Three Months' Vol the world's history records.

We expect to publish in our next number a his. totical sketch of the Hartford soldiers' Aid Socie- ty, aml what it has accompli-hed.

It is a noble chapter which must not be lost.

27" The attention of our readers is respectfully years servire. We regret that want of spare invitedtothe advertisement of Mesers. S. M. Ward compels is to postpone this roll of honorable & th, which will be found in another part of this ! names mitil the Decunder issue.

paper. We are personally acquainted with the termbare of this firm, and can vouch for their re- eponsibility in all business arrangements which they may make, as we have a thorough knowledge" of their norrantile integrity, and their full ability to meet all obligations. This notice, of course, is intern best for sinh of our readers as have no ac- quain' ance with this firm; to all who know them. ho prommenlation will be necessary.

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

NOVEMBER, 1863.

All communications should be addressed to "THE Cox- SECTICUT WAR RECORD."

" We have committed no oppression, have brok- en no compact, have exercised no unholy power ; we have been loyal, moderate, constitutional and just.

" We are a majority of the Union, and WE WILL GOVERN OUR OWN UNION WITHIN OUR OWN CONSTI- TUTION."

E. D. BAKER, Colonel and Senator.

The November number of the Connecticut War Record is the first for which the present Editor is wholly responsible.

The War Record is yet far below the ideal which the Editor, in his devotion to this noble work, aspires, by untiring industry, to attain.

The increasing regularity and appropriateness of our correspondence, and the growing appreciation, on the part of all contributors, of the exaet sphere and demands of the journal, combine to augment the interest and enhance the value of each succes- sive number.

That we are meeting a real want of our soldiers and of our people, and meeting it more and more satisfactorily, is most agrecably demon- strated by the rapid increase of our circulation. Were our subscribers few, at the low rate of one dollar a year we could not hope to do justice to the gallant soldiers of our brave little State, or to their benevolent and self-denying friends at home. But the extensive circulation which a gen- erons people seem likely to give us, will, we trust, afford nians adequate to the praiseworthy task. We are relieved of anxiety an | stimulated to still greater exertien by these manifestations of public interest and favor.

[?" We cordially invite suggestions and criti- War Rerord complete and worthy of our noble soldiers.

ET" Excess of matter has compelled us to defer several communications of value, and among them an article on the rerent draft and its enforcement. But the most of these articles, if we choose to print them, will be as fresh in December as now.

:7" It is with pleasure that we refer to the care-

untrers," which is confiuned in the present num- ber. The history of the First Regiment is com- pleted with the evroption of a list of its members who have won deserved promotion in the three

CE- Some subscribers may fail to receive the Wasz Recono regularly. Let such inform us im- mediately, and we will do all that we can to repair past and present future delays or losses. Let the subscriber write very Justinetly his name and post office address. In that ami-inke is quite frequent- ly fomml.

OLD LETTERS .- Extracts from Soldiers' lettere, whether new or old, received by friends at home, will be welcomed byus.

RETURNED SOLDIERS .- Our returned soldiers have, every one of them, in their possession, inei- dents of the eamp, hospital, or battle field, which would be of interest to the public. Let us hear from our returned soldiers.

To OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS, --- While we shall rely on our regular correspondents to keep us thoroughly informed with reference to their re- speetive regiments, we shall at the same time be glad to hear from all Connecticut soldiers or offi- eers, who may have anything of interest to com- municate. We wish them to make the Record their organ.

CE" We shall hereafter print a few advertise- ments. Our patrons and friends may be sure that by admitting them we shall not reduce the average amount of reading matter, while we shall be en- abled to improve its quality.

To SUBSCRIBERS IN THE ARMY .- We are receiv- ing handsome lists of subscribers from our regi- ments in the field. Many soldiers will prefer to have their copies sent home for preservation. They have only to send us the address to which they will have their papers mailed, and their wish- es in this respect will be attended to.

To SUBSCRIBERS AT HOME .- Our list is now probably donble what any Connecticut journal ever obtained in the same time, but we desire to double it again within the next three months. Even then we expect to spend for the present year the sum total of our receipts in giving interest to its pages.

We therefore have no hesitation in earnestly soliciting subscriptions and in ealling on all persons , whether in the army or at home, who appreciate the objects of this journal, to aid us in our under- taking. Our people may well feel some degree of pride in the fact that our State is the only one in the Union that has such an army journal of its own. Proper cooperation on their part will make it not only a handsome success, as the pub. lie seem now to regard it, but a brilliant one, and a lasting lionor to our State. It will be such just in proportion to the efforts of our friends to make it so. We shall do our part. If each subscriber on our list will do his part, and send us the names of one or two more subscribers, the work will be done. We present no peenniary or horticultural indneement, either in the shape of clab-price or strawberry plant. The price of the journal is already too low in proportion to its cost. But we appeal to State feeling and State pride to sustain, if it is only in honor of our sokliers, a journal ex- pressly devoted to recording their achievements,

To CORRESPONDENTS .- Correspondents mm-t not frel aggrieved if their favors are not always pub- lished in full. It argues no dissatisfaction on our part, with either the matter or style of the com- munication. The necessity of abbreviation is often imperative. Conciseness of statement and terse. Dess in expression on the part of correspondents, will save much clipping.

BACK NI MBERS .- Back numbers which have been lost, may be replaced by sending to " Tak CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD, New Haven, Conn."

POSTAGE. - Postage on the WAR RECORD is only one cent a month.

شعاع

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

OUR STATE POINTS TO DEEDS, NOT ACRES.

PECK, WHITE & PECK, ) Publishers.

NEW HAVEN, DECEMBER, 1863.

VOL. I. No. 5. { $1 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE,

For the Connecticut War Record.

Record of Events.

Oct. 28. Capture of Arkadelphia, Ark., by Gen. Steele.

Nov. 3. Defent and capture of guerrillas at Lawreneeburgh, Tenn.

Nov. 3. Repulse of the rebels at Colliers- ville, Tenn.

Nov. 3. Rear guard of the Thirteenth Army Corps overpowered at Buzzard's Prairie, La., with severe loss.

Nov. 4. Landing of Gen. Dina's troops on the east bank of the Rio Grande, Occu- patiou of Brownsville, Texas.

Nov. 5. Successful skirmish with the Reb- els at Marysville, East Tennessee.

Nov. 5. Col. IIatch drives the Confeder- ates across the Tallahatchie river, Miss.

Nov. 6, 7. Victory of Gen. Averill at Droop Mountain, West Virginia ; 300 of the ettemy killed and wounded-100 prisoners and 3 guns captured.

Nov. 7. Victories of Gen. Mende at Rap- pahannock Station and Kelly's Ford, Va. Capture of 2000 prisoners and 4 guns.

Nov. 7. 600 Federals and 4 cannon cap- tured by the Rebels at Rodgersville, East Tennessee.

Nov. 12. Successful envalry skirmish with Jeb. Stuart, at Mitchell's Station, Va.

within striking distance of the Rebel center.

In the early part of the month General This was effected on the 23d of November, Nov. 15. Federal Cavalry repulsed at Marysville, East Tenn. Sherman was ordered to abandon the recon- by the seizure of Orchard Knob -- a range of struction of the Memphis and Charleston' bills intermediate between Chattanooga and Nov. 16. Severe Engagement at Camp- bell's Station, East Tennessee. Burnside holds Longstreet in check all day. Railroad, and report to Gen. Thomas at Missionary Ridge. On the next day Gen. Chattanooga. By sending Gen. Longstreet Hooker stormed and seenred a strong posi- with a very large detachment into Erst Ten- tion, far up on the north slope of Lookout Nov. 16, 17. Enemy shelling the Union Jusition at Chattanooga. Very slight ensu- alties. nessee. Gen. Bragg had already committed Mountain, while Gen. Sherman, crossing the the military blunder of dividing his army in Tennessee above Chattanooga, carried and the face of an active and energetic opponent, held several important points along the Nov. 17. Capture of Arkansas Pass, Texas, with whom it was not safe to trifle. Taking northeastern extremity of Missionary Ridge. by Gen. Banks. 100 prisoners and 3 guns tackon. prompt advantage of this Ulunder, and being Communications were also opened between Nov. 18. Severe engagement on the Kingston Road, a few miles from Knoxville, Between Burnside and Longstreet. Losses Cout equal. now re-enforced by the arrival of Sherman, . our center, at Orchard Knob, and these gen- Gen. Grant at once assumed the offensive, erals. On the morning of the 25th it was It may not be inappropriate to give a discovered that the rebel left had evacuated brief description of the historic fieldl on, Lookout Mountain. With his characteristic which the great struggle took place. Stand- audacity, Ilooker at once gave pursuit, and Nov. 18. Cavalry skirmish at Germanna ing in front of the town of Chattanooga and sweeping down the eastern slope of Lookout For.l. on the Rapidan.

looking to the southwest the eye rests upon again encountered the enemy along the Nov. 19. Knoxville besieged. Heavy ar- L'hery firing upon the city. the bold, abrupt steep of Lookout Mountain, southerly portions of Missionary Ridge. twenty-four hundred feet high. Following Meanwhile on our extreme left, Gen. Sher- Nov. 23-27. Gen. Bragg utterly defeated the view to the left, in the valley at the base man male two unsuccessful assaults upon ar I driven from Lookout Mountain, Mission- fof the mountain, there runs a small stream the Rebel position. It then beenine evident :) lage and Bingold. Capture of 6150 called Chattanooga Creek, separating Look- that Bragg had weakened bis center in order i will, 48 eunon, and over 7000 stands out from Missionary Ridge. This ridge lies to re-enforce his right. The propitious mo- of arms. Uniou loss 3200.

directly in front of our point of observation ment had now arrived. The corps of Grau-

enemy. Its only redeeming feature was its

ascent and easily swept by artillery. Yet

Nov. 1-30. More or less continuous land this could not compensate for the radical and naval bombardment of Sumter and the ; error of thinness of line, resulting from an

other Forts of Charleston Harbor, inter- -persed occasionally with throwing shells into the city, from Gillmore's batteries.

excessive extension of an inferior foree.

Upon this weakness of the enemy, the plan of attack seems to have been based. Ilis right and left wings were to be simul- For the Conncetient War Record. Review of Events. taneon-ly engaged, whereby he would be compelled to maintain his extended line, up- on the center of which, at the appropriate NUMBER FIVE. The storm of war for this year is well nigh time, the main body of the national army over. nearly closed the campaigns of eighteen The events of the past month have , was to be hurled.

To execute this plan, it was necessary that hundred and sixty-three, and, thank Heaven, ; a position should be gained which would be

the nation is victorious.

Nov. 23, 25. Successful cavalry fights in and sweeps around to the east and northeast the Teche Distriet, La. Capture of 100 in a succession of steep and high hills, till it prisoners. reaches the Tennessee River.

Nov. 24. Capture of 62 guerillas near Washington, N. C.

Along this extended line, from Lookout Mountain on the southwest to the termina- Nov. 25. Longstreet repulsed at Knoxville. | tion of Missionary Ridge on the northeast, Nor. 27. Enemy defeated at Jones' Cross lay the Confederate army, forming the are Roads, Va., by the 3d Corps of Gen. Mendes of a circle of which the center is Chattanoo- arıny.

ga. The military vice of this position was Nov. 27. Successful Cavalry raid to Cleve- | this: It was far too much extended to ad- land, Tenn. Destruction of the railroad, mit of a successful defense against a superior munitions of war, &c.

Nov. 30. Longstreet severely repulsed at natural strength, running, as it did, along Knoxville, with loss of 1000 killed, wound- the sumunits of mountains, very difficult of ed and captured.

9-1-

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[DECEMBER

ger and Palmer, composing the whole of the Run, covered in front by an impassable old Army of the Cumberland, were ordered , swamp, and protected by earth-works, ritle- to advance from Orchard Knob, directly up- pits and abattis. A direct assault was deem- on the Rebel center. No such grand assault jed fool hardy. It was then decided to attack has heretofore been made by the National and turn the right flank of the enemy, while army on any battle-field of the war. Straight at the same time their left flank was to be up the steep, precipitous heights of Mission- seriously engaged, and a formidable demon- ary Ridge went those magnificent columns, stration made upon their center. After one and sealed the summit. The center broken, 'unfortunate postponement, owing to a failure

The plan of these articles requires us to confine ourselves closely to the words of the Constitution in our efforts to find out what the meaning of the Constitution is. This plan is certainly an honest and safe one. Any other plan would lead us the whole Rebel line at once gave away in of connection between some of the corps, into historical or legal or philosophical great confusion and consternation, Rapid the ball was opened on the morning of the pursuit converted their retreat into an utter 30th by vigorous artillery firing, continued rout. On the 27th Bragg, with his shattered for upwards of an hour. It was then si- ¡lenced by order of Gen. Meade, aud the

remnants, endeavored to make a stand at Ringold. But Hooker soon drove him from whole army proceeded to withdraw across this position by storm, though not without the Rapidan, to its original position. severe loss to himself. Ilere the battle end- The real cause of this retreat cannot as vet be asserted with positiveness. It was ed. Thus was the army of Gen. Bragg lifted from the immediate front of Chattanooga, probably believed that the chances of suc- and, defeated, disheartened and demoralized, burled back upon Dalton with terrible loss of men, artillery and materials of war.

cess, in an assault upon the enemy's strong position, were extremely doubtful. Besides, the lateness of the season, the severity of

On the 14th ult. Gen. Longstreet crossed the weather, the utterly precarious condition the Tennessee River at Loudon and advanced of the roads, the isolation of the army from against Knoxville. The distance is only its base, the difficulty of procuring supplies, thirty-one iniles. Yet so severely and con-jand particularly of obtaining accommoda- stantly was he checked by Burnside, that it tions for the wounded, all these are strong was not till the 19th that the city was regu- grounds for justifying the conduet of Gen. larly invested. When Longstreet heard of Mende. the stunning disaster which had befallen Operations in Charleston Harbor furnish Bragg, seeing the impossibility of effecting a no anticipations of a speedy reduction of junetion with his chief, and aware that the the city. Fort Sumter has been most fear- procrastination of a siege was extremely dan -; fully and thoroughly battered. In doing gerous, he ordered an assault upon the na- this Gen. Gillmore has accomplished all that tional defenses. In this he suffered a severe is within his power. The task of destroy- and bloody repulse. He then abandoned ing the interior defenses devolves upon the the siege, and, passing by Knoxville, started navy, But judging from the past, there is en the double-quick for Western Virginia, hardly any reason to expect that this will be So the purpose of driving the Union army : resolutely attempted.

For the Conncetient War Record, THE CONSTITUTION. NUMBER FIVE.

discussions, which might be entertaining, but which would divert us from the ob- ject in view. Most certainly the best way to understand a thing is to look into it. Therefore we mean, throughout these articles, to stick closely to the words of the Constitution, and to bring your com- mon sense constantly to bear on those words, so that you may all the while know for certain that you understand what we are talking about.

You have seen that the Constitution is not a " compact," and does not call itself a " compact ; " but that it is a Constitu- tion, and calls itself a Constitution and nothing else. You have seen, in its first sentence, that it does not profess to have been made by several different nations, but that it does profess to stand simply and only upon the will and by the author- ity of one " People " or nation, namely, " the People of the United States." That this great, living, powerful, one Nation does exist, is a matter of simple eyesight to us all. From the mouth of this one Nation, and from no other source what- soever, come all the words of the Consti- tution, beginning with the solemn form -- " We, the People of the United States "

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 29

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