The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 30

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

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out of East Tennessee, to which the Confe.l. erates had so seriously pledged themselves, which left New Orleans towards the end of " even if it should take every man in the October, proceeded safely to the mouth of the Confederacy to do it," has most signally fail- | Rio Grande. Brownsville and other adja- ed, and the whole of this important region isicent points were seized and occupied. The Tlie formidable land and naval expedition . &e., " do ordain and establish this Con- stitution." Thus you have seen that the Constitution, in origin, form and sub- stanee is National, and that the Govern- ment which it establishes is also Vationul. forever decided to remain in our possession. national power is thus re-e-tablished over this portion of Texas, a most extensive con- The powers of this National Govern- In the early part of November, by an ex- ceedingly rapid and brilliant movement, traband commerce thoroughly destroyed, and! Gen. Meade re-transferred his front of opera- a position gained for observing the opera- ment are, as they necessarily must be immense. They depend wholly on the words of the Constitution. In order to tions to the line of the Rappahannock. The tions of the French in Mexico. Aransas i know what those powers are we must enemy were completely surprised, and such Pass, on the coast of the Gulf, one hundred look at the words which declare them. as were not captured fled in hot haste miles north of Brownsville, has been cap-| And that is precisely what we propose to do. But before we do it, let us clear away a little rubbish.

across the Rapidan, abandoning the exten- tured. and a formidable expedition is said to sive huts and cantonments, in which they be on foot which is to operate in Matagorda had undoubtedly expected to winter. The Bay. Meanwhile the National army has Much is said about " sovereign States." Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which the been withdrawn from the Teche District, | We are told that Connecticut is a " sov- Rebels had so thoroughly destroyed the pre- having accomplished the object of distract- ereigu State ; " that South Carolina is a vious month, was rebuilt as fast as possible, / ing the attention of the rebels from the real " sovereign State ; " and so on. Perhaps and then, taking ten days' rations, Gen. points of attack. More full and accurate in- you have been in the habit of using such Meade threw his whole army across the Rap- formation, however, must be had before a language yourself-supposing it to be all idan. The enemy fell back, skirmishing correct understanding can be attained con- right. If the Constitution uses such lun- heavily, till he was found in an almost im- cerning the plans and operations of Gen. guage, it is all right, of course ; if not, pregnable position on the left bank of Mine Banks.

Quot.

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

1983.]

Now Connecticut is a "State," and so State, that is not at liberty to coin money is South Carolina. The Constitution calls or emit bills of credit; or make any- them so. But Connecticut is not a " sov- thing but gold and silver coin a tender creign " State ; neither is South Carolina. in payment of debts; or enaet a law im- The Constitution does not call them so. The Constitution says nothing about

pairing the obligation of contracts ? What sort of a " sovereign " is that State " sovereign States." All talk about the which has no power to lay whatever im- States as " sovereign States " is without any warrant whatever from the Consti- tution. The Constitution repeatedly speaks of "States," but never speaks of "sovereign States." It recognizes the

States as important local divisions of the on ships; or keep troops or ships of war country, and their governments as impor- tant local authorities ; but instead of ment or compaet (of even the most simple leaving the States " sovereign," it takes pains, by most express words, to strip them of every essential attribute of " sov- ereignty," as you shall presently sec.

A " sovereign State " has no legal su- perior ; and has the right and power to lo all those things which other free and " sovereign " States and Kingdoms may rightfully do. A " sovereign " State therefore can change its form of govern- ment at pleasure, as our States cannot do, but as France, for example, has often done. A " sovereign " State recognizes to master, and is controlled by no will except its own. A "sovereign " State herefore may, at pleasure, make treaties and alliances with other "sovereign" States. It may declare war and make peace. It may grant letters of marque and reprisal to privateers. It may coin money ; emit bills of credit ; and make anything, which it pleases to select, a le- gal tender in payment of debts. It may

See now how the Nation has forever enact bankrupt laws and other laws im- taken away from the States every shadow pairing the obligation of contracts. It of claim to " sovereignty." Section 10th may grant titles of nobility. It may, without restraint, lay imposts and duties on imports and exports, putting the pro-

."No State shall enter into any treaty. ceeds thereof into its own treasury. It alliance or confederation ; grant letters may, without permission from anybody, lay duties of tonnage on shipping, keep troops and ships of war in time of peace, enter into agreements and compacts with other Powers, and engage in wars of of- fense and invasion as well as in wars of defense. Such powers, as everybody knows, are habitually exercised by all " sovereign " kings, princes, emperors, Such powers are essential to the very idea of " sovereignty." Now what sort of a " sovereign " is that king or State who has lost all power to make a treaty or an alliance ? What sort of " sovereign " is the monarch or State who cannot com- mission a privateer ? What sort of a

posts or duties it pleases upon its own imports and exports? What sort of a " sovereign " is that nation or State, which eannot, without the consent of some su- perior authority, lay any duty of tonnage in time of peace ; or enter into any agree-

and harmless character) with any other nation or State ? What sort of a " sov- ereign " moreover, is that king, emperor, republic, state or nation, which is not at liberty to exercise, without any restraint whatever, the right and power of making war and peace at pleasure ?

Above all, what sort of a " sovereign" is that State which does not possess a single one of the "sovereign" powers just indicated ?

If the States into which this country is divided were ever "sovereign," and independent of each other, (as perhaps in theory, though never in fact, they once were.) they lost their " sovereignty " for- ever at that moment when the Nation, by " ordaining and establishing " the Consti- tution over the whole "land," stripped those States forever of every one of those absolute powers which necessarily be- long to " sovereigns."

of the 1st Article of the Constitution isfor do anything else which any other as follows :

of marque and reprisal; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post faeto law, or law impairing the obli- gation of contracts ; or grant any title of lutionary. It is directly contrary to the nobility.

"No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or du- republics, and states of every description. ties on imports and exports. except what ar, to show you what is the meaning of may be absolutely necessary for executing | the section above quoted. We therefore its inspection laws; and the net produce leave this point, with the statement (which we wish you to test by your own careful examination of the Constitution,

States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Con- " sovereign" is the emperor, republic or gress. No State shall, without the con-land sovereign Nation which " ordained

sent of Congress, lay any duty of ton- nage, keep troops or ships of war, in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay."

No comment need be made on these plain words. They explain themselves. Consider them. Read them over and over. They are words of command- not words of agreement. No State shall do this-no State shall do that. These words are the imperative orders of a su- perior to inferiors-of the whole Nation, which is " sovereign," to the States which are not " sovereign." And as the Constitution in this same Artiele Ist, (and in other artieles, as you will see hereafter,) gives to the National Govern. ment powers of "sovereignty " which this 10th section forever forbids the States to exercise, it is plain that the words of this 10th seetion amount in substanee to this-No State shall here- after be, or pretend to be, a " sovereign" State ; for the essential powers of " sov- ereignty " are hereby expressly and for- ever taken away from all the States.

The use of the phrase "sovereign States" is dangerous, because secession- ism is covered up by that phrase, -- just as it is by the word " compact," as appli- ed to the Constitution, and the words "Confederacy of States," as applied to the Nation. If Connecticut is truly a " sov- ereign " State, she is a nation, and an in- dependent nation, and has a right to make war or change her own form of government, or seeede from the Union, " sovereign " power may do. So may Rhode Island, South Carolina, or any of those other districts of our country which we call States. Therefore it is that se- cessionists and their friends talk so much about " sovereign " States, and the " soy- creignty" of the States. All such talk is false, treacherous, dangerous, and revo- plain words of the Constitution, as you see. Yon do not need our help, nor the help of any lawyer, demagogue or schol-

of all duties and imposts, laid by any State on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United taking nothing on trust from us.) that there is in this country no such thing as a " sovereign " State, except that great

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

DECEMBER,

- and established " the Constitution. Con -! to be Second Lieutenant in Co. A, of his; of Lieut. BREED, who was detached from his necticut is not " sovereign;" South Car- fregiment, and was immediately detached as |regiment, (the Sth Connectient Volunteers,) olina is not " sovereign ;" New York ista "signal officer," in which capacity he dis- not "sovereign ;" but the Nation is " sov. ereign," and there is no other " sovereign" ; quire, and for the rapidity and correctness between the Lakes and the Gulf.

for service on the "signal corps," and who tinguished himself for his readiness to ac-| died at Newport News, Va., in the beginning of an honorable, valiant, patriotic career. with which he discharged the duties of his" Lieut. Wait rejoined his regiment at Freder-

Ile was ever found with his company at the pust of duty and of danger in the arduous and eventful campaign in Maryland. Hle ner- er required his men to endure hardships which he was unwilling to share, nor to face dangers in which he was afraid to participate. The firmness, intelligence, loyalty peculiar to the

exercise in order that the whole strength; " I was the only officer on Beaufort Sta- of the Nation may be made available for, tion until the 27th inst., when Lieut. MARVIN its aggrandizement and glory in time of: Wair reported for duty. My station was at sons of New England, were strongly devel- peace and its defense in time of war. : a right angle with the line of fire, so that I oped in his character, and exhibited in his army-life. Ile possessed those qualities which would have rendered him successful and celebrated in the profession for which he was preparing himself. We shall next examine those words of was enabled to judge with acenracy the dis- the Constitution which give to the Na- ; tance over or short a shot fell. The ten- tional Government those vast and neces- sary and " sovereign " powers.

For the Connecticut War Record. Lieutenant Marvin Wait.

MARVIN WAIT, the son of John T. Wait, was born at Norwich, January 21, 3843. He received a thorough academical educa- tion at the Free Academy in Norwich, and

During the terrible and mighty conflict at Antietam his courage, valor, and patriotism, reached their sad but sublime consummation. Here he wrote his claim to honor and grati- with the battery of Parrott guns, which tude with his own blood. He wrote so were too much elevated. From the position at the Williston Academy in East Hampton, of our batteries, it was impossible for the of- Massachusetts, with the intention of prepar- ing himself to pursue the profession of law. [The profession of his father, and also of his ;

deeply and indelibly that the hand of time will never erase it. Being under fire on the morning of the 17th of September, a ball

ficers in charge to see how their shots fell, but owing to observations made by Lieut. from a rebel battery struck in the midst of Wait and myself, and signaled to them grandfather, Judge Marvin Wait, of New : from time to time, an accurate range . was London, after whom he was named.] Ile! obtained by all the batteries, and was not made such proficiency in his studies, that he : lost during the day. After 12 M. curry shot duced some confusion in the company, and entered Union College, at Sebenectaviy, in fired from our batteries fell in or on the fort. the fall of 1860. Possessing a vigorous !At 4 o'clock P. M. a white flag appeared np- mind and tenacious memory he made rapid ' ou the Fort. The proposition to surrender, progress in his collegiate course. lle re -! and the reply, with terms of capitulation, were sent to and from Gen. Burnside, through

his company, killing three men and severely wounding another. Lieut. Wait was cov- ered with blood and earth. This shot pro- several of the men commenced giving way. The brave fellow sprang to his feet amid a shower of bullets, and ordered every man back to his post in the most gallant manner. mained in college till near the clave of the second term, Freshmore year, when, Lis health failing him, he returned home, and in March, 1861, went to Europe. He passed . After this our regiment occupied a hill crest this station, by Lieut. Wait and myself"# [ on the north side of the Antietam till nearly Ile served under Burnside during his whole five o'clock P. M. We then crossed the his- campaign in North Carolina, winning every- toric stream preparatory to charging upon nearly five months in this tour, visiting Bel- where the good opinions of his comrads and the enemy's right flank. As we ascended gium, Holland, and the North of England. the praise of bis superior officers. ilis vers-i the precipitous ridge which skirts the Antie- On his return from Europe he was very so- atile talents, his well-stored memory, his tain on the south, I saw and saluted Lieut. licitous to enter the army, but was finally : vivid imagination, ready command of lan-, Wait. As the company to which he be- induced to resume his course in college in the Fall of 1861. But he was not willing guage, pleasing manmers, and frank, gener- longed was next to the one on the extreme ous disposition, rendered bim a favorite with left, and my own next to the one on the ex- to remain a mere spectator of the great the officers and men of his regiment. 1. treme right flank, we seldom saw each other an officer he was prompt, firm, fearless, and; on the march. Bat as the reginient was here patriotic.

countermarched. we passed each other. This

When a part of the 9th army corps under took place less than an hour before he was

eral other students withdrew and entered the he enlisted as a private soblier in Captain Ward's Company, (D.) Eighth Regiment C. V. At Jamaica, Long Wand, he was de- tailed to act as orderly for Colonel Harland.

* The father of the deceased has in his posses-1 sion a very beautiful " battle Hag," awarded to his son by the head of the Signal Department for mer- At Annapolis, Maryland, he was promoted itorious conduct in the reduction of Fort Macon.

struggle for national unity and life. Hlis no- ble heart kindled with a manly unselfish de- sire to aid in defending ant perpetuating our Republican Democracy. He remained Gen. Burnside left North Carolina on July 'kithd. The expression which rested upon but a short time in college, when he and sev- 6th, 1562, Lient. Wait returned to his com- his countenance, and his whole manner, are pany, having been commissioned a short indelibly fixed in my mind. The manly, army. Immediately after returning home time before as First Lieutenant. He returned heroic, determined fire of his eye, and the to Norwich a short time after with the body , battle smile of loyalty which rested upon his youthful face told how sublime was his pur- pose, how great was his devotion to conutry. lle comprehend the important and stupen- duous issues of the conflict. Ile gave all

Through the Constitution this "sover- appointment. "Ile served as a member of icksburg just before it evacuated that place. eign" Nation has given to the National the signal corps' at the battle of Roanoke Government certain vast and "sovereign", Island, on Burnside's flagship, and at the re- powers which the States are expressly . duction of Fort Macon," in which engage- forbidden to usurp, and which it is neces- [ ment he was commended as follows, in the sary that a National Government should official report of Lieutenant Andrews :

inch shell were falling almost without excep- tion more than three hundred yards beyond the Fort. Lient. Wait and myself contin- ned to signal to the officer in charge until the correct range was obtained. The eight- inch shell were falling short-we signaled to the officer in charge of that battery with the same effect. The same was the case

We will now briefly consider the closing scenes in his noble life.

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

1563.]

that he could give to the cause of Justice, of defiance and death. Shot, and shell, and fell at his post while urging on the men into Liw, an ! Liberty-his young and promising musket balls hurtled, screamed and hissed that terrible storm of shot and shell. He life. Permit me to briefly refer in this con- through the air. The 16th Connecticut, 'was a brave, noble-hearted man, and highly nection to the sanguinary and unsnecessful which was next on our left, did all they 'esteemed by all who knew him." The un- charge jo which Lieut. Wait and hundrels could do, and that was little. Hwing en- flinching hero was first wounded in the right of other Connecticut inen fell bravely fight-| tered the field but a few days before, miused : arm, which was shattered. He then dropped ing. At half past five o'clock Rodman's di- vision of the 9th corps was ordered to carry the enemy's position on their extreme right. We had to ascend several parallel ridges of considerable elevation before reaching the rebel lines. The enemy poured a furious

to movements in line under fire, and becom- his sword to his left hand ; he was after- ing massed together within a few yards of a | wards wounded in the left arm, in the leg, concealed foe, they were soon forced, broken and in the abdomen. He was then assisted and bleeding, back. (The men stood nobly : to leave the line by private King, who soon and fought as well and as long as they met Mr. Morris, the brave, indefatigable could.) The 4th R. I. gave away for some and galling cross-fire upon us from two bat- Treason best known by themselves.

Chaplain of the Sth Regiment. The Chap- lain then conducted Lieut. W. to the fence before alluded to, and private King returned

It may seem like interested praise to some, but history permits me to say truthfully that | to his company. Lieut. W's last words to the old Eighth seemed to be fired with im- private King were, "ARE WE WHIPPING of position, and as their lines were hidden ; mortal courage on the crimsoned heights of THEM ?" A braver man than Marvin Wait by the hill crests, we could not determine ; Antietam. Its record shows that one half never confronted a foe; a more generous their real strength. After our batteries in lits number there fell either killed or woun ]- heart never beat; a more unselfish patriot ed. In vain this out-flanked, deciminated i never fell. Connecticut may well cherish

moved on the double quick over the first regiment tried to roll back the living tide | and honor the memory of such sons.

Resolutions expressing the high esteem in second. The advancing lines, which con -! they poured into the very front and face of which Lient. Wait was held as an officer and sisted of two brigades, here halted prepara- the exultant enemy. Deeds of valor, un -! companion, and tendering the highest regard tory to making the final assault. The rebel host was but a few rods in advance. The wavering courage, even desperation of par- pose could not press back the foe. Among Ist Brigade (Hawkins') was to charge; the the bravest who there fought and fell was | marks, by the officers of the Eighth Regi- Lieut. Wait. "Just before he was wounded

and deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased, were adopted, after appropriate re- ment, at Pleasant Valley, Md., Oct. 10th, 1862.

MERIDEN, Conn. J. E.

The Song of the Shell. BY J. WARREN NEWCOMB, JR.

Sullen, and strong, and thick, and tall, Kises the bastion's mouted wall. The glacis is smooth and the ditch is deep, And the weary sentry may never sleep ; Over the parapet, heavy and dan,

Peers the mouth of the barbette gun.

While fightnings flash and tempests glow From the gloumier casemates down below, Strunz is the work and stout the wall, But before my song they must crumble and fall-

C'rumble away to a heap of stones,

And red with the blood that flowed as they fell, Their requiem sung by the howling shell.

Flansting, and boasting, and brisk, and gay, The streets of the city shine to-day. Forts w Shout, an army within, To bank of surrender were deadly sin ;

to encourage his men still further by his own example, and at last nobly fell pierced by For tie foc far over the wave abide, bullet after bullet." Major Ward, of the 8th, wrote as follows to the afflicted parents : Comes the sereuch and the rear of the howling shell ; And no guns can reach o'er the flowing tide. They ain't ? Through the air with a rush and a yell, And the popolons city is all alive

fuld for want of support. As the first " When first wounded he was advised to leave . With the bers that are leaving the ancient hive ; brigade became engaged with the enemy, a but would not, and before leaving received And the market-places are waste andl bare, simultaneous flash of fire and roll of mus- three shots. I think, however, that his mor- And the smoke hangs thick in the poisoned air; And the ruins alone shall remain to tell ketry with the terrifie thunder of nearly tal wound was received while being taken to three hundred pieces of artillery blazed and the rear. The loss of your son is a great crashed from the right to the left of both ar-| one to the regiment. No officer could have mies, a distance of four miles. It was a' been more popular, either with the men or scene sublimely and terribly grand. The ; with his brother officers, By his soldierly fir-t brigade was soon swept away by a with.

Where the hymn of destruction was sung by the shell.

Traitorons and bloodthirsty, mad with wrath, Charleston stands in the nation's path- Stands und flaunts a bloody rag, Insn'ting the stars on the dear old fing. But S nuter is crumble l and ground away, And Wagner and Gregs are onrs to-day, qualities, good spirits and easy manners he . And over the water, on turions wings. ering fire. Our brigade was then ordered to had endeared himself to every one in the The shell from the " Swamp Angel " flies and sings. It sings of the death of the traitorons town, a lvance into the harvest of death. On wejleast acquainted with him. He died in a It sings of red naaded rebellion Crushed down, pressed over the wounded, dying, dead, and good cause and like a brave man." Capt. Sharp are its cadences, harsh its song, It shriek for the right, and it crushes the wrong ; lidting within twenty rods of the enemy, Host of Co. , said in a letter to the pa- And never a blast shaking nethermost hell, joured upon their exultant masses a storm | rents of the deceased, "Lient. Marvin Wait |

Cried vengeance and wrath like the song of tho shell.

teries as we were massed at the foot of the first rilge awaiting the disposition of our artillery. The enemy had all the advantage

advance engaged those of the enemy, we ridge, and took a position at the foot of the which set against them. Volley after volley

2d Brigade (Harland's) was to aet as a re -! serve. The 8th and the 16th Connecticut he was seen closing up the ranks of his were in the 2d Brigade. Beyond the crest 'company and dressing them in line as delib- whichi covered our lines was a slight depres- erately as though on dress parade." Capt. . Coit, an accomplished officer and most relia- ble man wrote as follows, soon after the bat- i tle, concerning Lieut. Wait's death : " The Chaplain took Lieut. W. to a sheltered spot under the fence," (about five rods in rear of the line.) " and after looking at his wounds sion or hollow, bounded by another gentle ridge in advance; then came an open lot, skirted by a cornfield to the left, toward the Antietam. On the opposite side of the open field, behind an embankment formed by the road which runs up to Sharpsburg was post- cd a rebel brigade. In the cornfield to the left him, telling him he would send an am- left was concealed another rebel brigade. bulanee as soon as possible, supposing that These lines were strongly supported. Thus we should be able to hold the field till rein- our slender line was exposed to a murderous fire on the front and on the flank. And it If Lieut. Wait had only left the battle of his is well known that many of the regiments ! own aeeord when first hit in the arm, all previously repulsed on the enemy's left were would have been well, but he bravely stood afterwards massel upon their right, to meet the very charge which we finally made. Every one who confronted the rebels in the charge upon their right knows that we only

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 30

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