The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 32

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

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fowl, or vegetable, and though the men : the camp of the Second they could be seen longed for something different from plain : Connecticut regiments engaged at thoso places. two miles away, scouring over a hill, each camp fare, which did not include fresh vege- : Their mauly and courageous deeds ought to be man strongly relieved against the erimson, tables, he never complained of having suffer-, and will be handed down to our admiring poster- sunset sky. The pursuit was ineffectual, ed the loss of a cent's worth of property. ity by the historian.

however, and the officers and men sadly re- signed themselves to the loss of a good man and efficient officer.

This respect for personal rights is a credit- able feature in the history of the three Con- necticut regiments, and in striking contrast

Yet many papers do not acknowledge half the : honor due to Connecticut for the glorious deeds which she has been and is performing. Connec- tient has to day thousands of loyal hearts ready

The situation of the two regiments while | to the conduet of those from some other States. "to approve and su-tain a judicious and earnest ef- at this place was a dangerous one, as these On the march to Fairfax and Bull Ran the ; fort to publish with justice and due praise the casualties proved, and night after night the'man who acted as guide to General Tyler's ! record of Connecticut and her gallant soldiers. men expected to be awakened by the long division had his hen roosts robbed by the All honor to the courageous soldiers of our State. May God bless and keep them. However dark and dreary the times may appear, we may lopend upon them for truo hearts and brave deeds. roll and the news of the enemy's advance. soldiers of another State on the first night In fact their position was so regarded in Washington, and on the afternoon of Satur- SEXTU'S.

after the departure from Fall's Church. July 12th, while companies G and HI were

102

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[DECEMBER,

OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

For the Connecticut Wur Record. First Connecticut Artillery. FORT RICHARDSON, V.A .. November 28th, 1863. 5

I believe you have already published the history of this regiment, (First Con-

Our time here has not been idly spent. necticut Artillery,) so far as it is con-[ but has been divided between thorough tained in the reports of the Adjutant Infantry and Artillery drills, in Infantry, Brigade as well as Regimental and Com- pany drills, in all which the regiment has attained creditable proficiency, hav- General of Connecticut, embracing the periods of time in which we were at Hagerstown and Williamsport, and in Gen. Banks' Division at Darnstown. ing received much praise for its attain- With our first arrival at this point, where

inents in these respects by competent wewere changed from Infantry to Heavy | judges, which, we are all willing to be- Artillery, about two years since, our par- leive, is merited. ticipation in the Peninsula campaign, in which we had the siege train ; also in the battles of the Peninsula after the evacu- ation of Yorktown, in which we used

Through the summer we have had a great deal of practice at firing, both from heavy guns and mortars, at tar- gets, and in experiments made by or- our thirty ponnd Parrott Rifle, and four ders of the Department at Washington, and one-half inch Rodman Guns, all of with elongated and other projectile, to which were successfully brought off by ns. test scientifically the depth of penetra- and some of which are now in the forts which this regiment garrisons.

tion, &c. These experiments have thus far been confined to this regiment, and

It is also known to many of your read- have been very satisfactory. Accurate reports are made of all these firings, and with accompanying diagrams contribute

ers, that immediately after the close of the Peninsula campaign, we were placed in the forts we now occupy, it being to form a permanent and useful record

then supposed that Washington was

in giving a more thorough knowledge threatened from this side by the enemy, and precision to the science of Heavy the retreat of Gen. Pope having been ! Artillery. One experiment suggested made in rear of the forts now occupied ' and tried by Col. Abbot was of an entire- by us. Since that time we have remain-fly new combination in a mortar pro- ed in this position, with the exception of jectile, which was very satisfactory, and Companies B and M, which were sent to : promises to be quite nseful.

the army of Gen. Burnside, opposite| Our present location is a very pleasant Fredericksburg, with two Batteries of and healthful one. We have none sick eight four and one-half inch Rodman iin our hospital. Our men are cleanly in gnns. Those companies have accompa- [ their persons, and soldierly in their ap- nied that army in all its changes and pearanee.

battles, including Gettysburg, and arei Of our old soldiers, those who came out still with the army of Gen. Meade. They with ns, and have now less than one year received high praise for their conduct in to serve, nearly one hundred and fifty the recent action near the Rappahannock, have reenlisted with us as veteran voluin- in which two Brigades of the enemy were teers, and many new applications are taken prisoners. They are in the Reserve daily made. We feel confident that a Artillery, commanded by Gen. R. O. Tyler, large majority of the regiment will re- who formerly commanded this regiment. main with it until the close of the war.

After Gen. Tyler's promotion, Col. II. But while we are doing so well here, port to the commanding officer of the L. Abbot was appointed to the com- our friends at home, who should long Recruiting Department in Connecticut, mand of the regiment.

since have given us a sufficient number : with the following members of this regi-

Col. Abbot is a graduate of West Point of recruits to fill up the regiment, seem ment : Sergt. Wma. P. Fragansa, Co. A; and was second in his class. He has, : to be idle or careless in the matter. We: B. F. Lindley, Co. B ; Sergt. Frank Ross, from the time he graduated, been con- thave endeavored to make a regiment of; Co. C; Sergt. Fred. Curtiss. Co. D; stantly in the army, in the Topograph -; which the State might be justly proud. Sergt. Perry Tomlinson, Co. E; Sergt. ical Engineer branch of the service. He and think we have done so, and yet we Robert Smith, Co. F; and Sergt. II. B. was on the Staff of Gen. Dan Tyler in' now require six hundred men to fill our | Broek way, Co. G. the first Bull Run battle, when he was ranks, we having now but little over wounded in the leg by the same ball'twelve hundred men.

which killed his horse. Ilis eminent sei-

We offer every inducement to all good entific attainments fully qualify him for a soldiers who desire to enter the service. Heavy Artillery command.

They will share with us a reputation which we have already won, and which It seems now well understood that shouldl a siege train become again neces- sary, it will be given to this regiment. is excelled by no other regiment in the service. The certainty that when we Indeed, we have not unfrequently been move from here we take the siege train, called the siege train brigade.

a most desirable position, an opportu- nity for thorough military instruction, which I do not think is equaled in any other regiment; the immediate wants of the Government, evineed by the large bounties offered; the prospects of speedy termination of the war, should those wants be rapidly supplied ; our recent glorious victories, all seem enough to im- pel our young men at home to rapidly fill up the ranks of those regiments which have so faithfully served their country. Are our people at home doing their duty ? Yours, very truly, NELSON L. WHITE, Lieut. Col. 1st Conn. Artillery.

For the Connecticut War Record. First Connecticut Cavalry.

CAMP CHESEBROUGH, BALTIMORE, Dec. 3d, 1863. 5 PRESENTATIONS.

A few weeks ago the members of Co. F brought themselves into favorable no- tice by making handsome surprise pres- ents to their commissioned officers. Sec- ond Lientenant M. D. Upson, more re- cently First Lieutenant of Co. G. received at the hands of Sergeant Robert Smith, in behalf of Co. F, a beautiful sabre, with belt, sash, pistol and holster, valned to- gether at sixty dollars. First Lientenant Amos Clift was honored soon after, by the same generous men, with a similar token of respect and esteem-an elegant sabre, sash and belt worth seventy dol- lars. The same company presented to William E. Morris, their Captain, at the last pay day, a valuable sabre and belt. The sabre alone cost seventy-five dollars.

BOUND FOR CONNECTICUT.

An order has just been received by Capt. E. Colburn, directing him to re-

A few of our men have been on re- cruiting service in the State for several

1863.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

103

months, under Capt. Geo. O. Marcy of certain localities. Home is the most Co. G.

NEW HORSES AND EQUIPMENTS.

When a number of men were detailed to go to Washington for horses to be issued to Co's F and G, it was easy to tell who were the old cavaliers. While the inex- perienced were eager to commence their mounted service by riding forty miles " bare-back," and leading four or five other horses tied together by their necks with a rope, the more knowing ones winked at each other and said, "Deliver me!" Since the horses and equipments have come, the new riders have applied themselves to drilling, and made excellent improvement.

The weather in Baltimore has been balmy and delightful as May, and the men have not failed to improve and en- joy it.

REMOVAL FROM HARPER'S FERRY.

Our soldiers at the Ferry were com- pleting their preparations for a comfort- able stay during the winter, when orders came to break camp and remove to Charlestown, a few miles farther south. A cavalry brigade is now stationed at Charlestown, consisting of portions of the First New York, Twenty-first and Twenty-second Pennsylvania, Cole's Bat- talion of Maryland, and the First Con- neetient. .

Gen. Schenck having resigned his posi- tion as Major General Commanding the Middle Department, will soon leave this city to take his seat in Congress, and it is possible this cavalry may soon be or- dered away. But, as soldiers, we have no abiding place, and no strong local at- tachments. Like the Irishman, when asked where he was from, " We're from ivery place but this, and will soon be from this."

The Connecticut boys performed well their part in the recent attack upon Gen. by Col. Boyd, commanding the cavalry brigade at Charlestown. In this expe- talion fought so nobly under Gen. Fre- mont, eighteen months ago, and now a second time they smelled powder and saw blood flow in the streets of Mount Jackson. Soldiers have a strange passion for visiting old battle fields, the scenes of their daring and suffering. Events and associations throw a charm about

sacred spot on earth, and the least men- tion of home to the soldier, or the least message of affection from the loved ones there, brings the

--- " Echoes that start When Memory plays an old tune on the heart."

But next to his own dear home, the last to be forgotten by the soldier, is the place where he faces danger, strikes a blow for his country, and wins the name of a hero.

GETTYSBURG-GRAVES OF CONNECTICUT SOLDIERS.

Your correspondent and a few other members of this regiment were present at the dedication of the National Ceme- tery at Gettysburg on the 19th of No- vember. Portions of the ground are ap- propriated to the several States, and a large number of the patriot remains have been removed from different parts of the battle field and laid side by side in their last resting place. The spot is sacred to every loyal citizen of this Republic, but let the people of Conneetient remember that our own State has an interest in that consecrated ground which all her sons ought to cherish. As I wandered among the graves of the heroes after the crowd had dispersed, my eye fell upon a cluster of mounds, beneath which are sleeping a number of Connecticut soldiers who fell at the battle of Gettysburg. Those gal- lant men had been accustomed to expect a humble resting place at the close of life by the side of their fathers and moth- ers. in their native State, but I deem it an honor, a glorious reward for their pat- riotie devotion, that they are buried in a National Cemetery, where grateful gene- rations will read their names and bless their silent dust. That dedication marks

" Wake your mournful harmonies, Your tears of pity shed for them ; Summer dew and sighing breeze Shall be wail and requiem. Pile the grave-mound broad and high, Where the martyr'd brethren sleep ; It shall point the pilgrim's eye IFere to bend-and here lo weep."

ED. RINER.

For the Connecticut War Record.

The Seventh Regiment.

In the letter published in the October Record, relative to the Seventh Connecti- cut on Morris Island, an error occurred, whether resulting from an omission on my part or on the part of the printer, I have not now the means of knowing.

In enumerating the batteries officered and manned by members of the Seventh Connecticut, the letter, as printed, fails to mention that a battery of three thirty pound Parrotts was commanded by Capt. Atwell, and manned from this regiment. Since the date of that letter the num- ber of casualties in the regiment has |been eonsiderably cularged. A consider- able number have been wounded by shells while in fatigne or on guard at the front. Thus far, however, none of these wounds have proved fatal.

I may add that the successive numbers .of the Record are received with inereas- ing favor among the members of this regiment. DIXWELL.

For the Connecticut War Record. Nineteenth Regiment.

November has been a busy month with this regiment. Drill has been the duty morning, forenoon, and afternoon. The weekly routine has been, as far as circum- stanees would permit, our brigade drill, three battalion, five artillery, and four company drills. Occasionally there has been also re- gimental dress parade at headquarters. A a great day in our nation's history. In- portion of the evenings have likewise been "inployed -- the non-commissioned officers re- citing twice a week in heavy artillery, and the commissioned officers twiee in Robert's ing and dress parade have also had their place. What proficiency and military study

A SKIRMISII. deed, it seemed to me one of the grand- est acts of our Government to bestow such distinguished honor upon the fallen Imboden, in the Shenandoah Valley, led heroes ; and, yielding to the inspiration Evolutions of the Line. Daily guard-mount- of the hour, I paused to repeat the words of Horatio Hale-meaningless words dition our men rode over the old battle when I used to pronounce them at school, will achieve for us in efficiency and reputa- grounds where the little Connecticut bat- in my boyhood, but full of beauty and tenderness now :

" Hallow ye the lonely grave, Make its caverns deep and wide ; In the soil they died to save, Ly the brave men side by side. Side by side they fought and fell, Hand to hand they met the foe : Who has heard his grandsire tell Braver strife or deadlier blow ?

tion, it is determined shall be achieved. ind it has already achieved considerable, as this one fact fully shows, that without any strat- egy or pleading we have been changed from an infantry to a heavy artillery regiment. Governor Buckingham is yet to designate the number of the regiment. It will probably be the Second Connecticut. Till thus desig- nated, we keep to our old number, under

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[DECEMBER,

which we have secured so good a reputation : with an open hand and willing heart and less than two hundred men for dnty, and at home and in the service. When it is re- claimed their privilege to testify in a similar with nearly three hundred in the various membered that we have been out but one way their strong regard for our commanding hospitals of the departments. We are year, and are not even a minimum infantry | officer. Colonel and regiment are tightly | one of those regiments that are always regiment, and are without a single West bound to each other, as various and repeated kept ut work. Not an officer or man, ex- Point officer, we are assured our noiseless! testimonials attest, and will long be remem- effort of study and drill has given a profi- bered, even when home joys again gladden ciency which must have impressed the minds | the heart,

of reviewing officers, to have secured this

It is not all work with us, but occasionally change. But be this as it may, we have a little play, lest Jack should become a dull honorably reached a position in the service boy. On the evening of the Colonel's birth which, though we had hoped for, we had : day, just past, the ladies of headquarters, hardly dared expect, and therein do rejoice,

cept on sick leave or duty, has gone North this year. Surely the regiment must be valuable, or some of the prom- ised furloughs would have been granted. As the Twelfth is a regiment that ean be depended upon, they are always in the front. A year ago, at Labadaville, they not having succeeded to their minds in giving were in the front; all winter on an out- post ; at the destruction of the steamer Cotton; the battle of Bisland ; all the long march to the Pine Woods on the with rifled eannon and infernal machines of Red River : forty-two days at Port Hud- son ; at Brashear; and now again, on

During the month there have been two re- | him the forty stripes save one due, planned views-one of the regiment, by Colonel Ab- to take him by surprise upon his return bott, acting Brigadier General, and one of home. His way to his room was obstructed the brigade by General Barry, chief of arti !- lery. There has been also an inspection of; peculiar construction. But upon the first these fortifications by Major General Auger, ! discharge, suspecting-the result of a ten this second . sweep through Western years' matrimonial campaign --- that the " old Louisiana, we are in front. There is vir- boy " was to pay, he held back and sent his two brave accompanying staff officers ahead to reconnoiter and draw the fire of the ene-

commanding the defenses of Washington. In each of these the regiment acquitted it- self to the approbation of the reviewing and inspecting officers.

Three batteries have been finished-two| my, when, as they proceeded, charge after during the month-within our lines, which i charge of pebbles, bayonets, etc., blazed down are workmanlike, and stand ready for field the stairs, and showers of beans pelted from batteries in case of need. May they never ! above like terrific hail. And the brave ad- be needed ; and may these forts never have ; vanving Lee found what his rebel namesake occasion to open fire, for may our country's arms never meet with that reverse, a foe so getting up stairs I never did see." 11.

tue in "staying by the staff;" there is also in going forth to battle. It may be worthy of praise to labor for one's conn- try ; it is much harder to suffer for it. Although the Twelfth is justly celebrated for its hardihood and endurance, vet we are human, and can be broken down by exposure too prolonged, and when the has found in his northward advances -- " such true merit of a regiment is estimated, those who have been broken down for life and unfitted for military duty by expo- For the Connecticut War Record. The Twelfth Regiment. sure and disease, must be remembered. We think the pale faces, the shaking forms, the wan and wasted bodies of the

near its capital. But should Lee be so unex- pectedly successful, the target firing of Octo- ber assures he would meet with some very sharp shooting from these fortifications.

NEW IBERIA, LA., Nov. 21st, 1SOS. The promotions in and from the regiment MR. EDITOR :- The Twelfth find them- hrave men who come around ns in every have been Major N. Smith to be Lieutenant selves, at this date, three miles below the hospital, tell as much what has been en- Colonel, Captain James Hubbard to be Major, , town of New Iberia, on the Teche, en- James M. Bradley to be First Lieutenant in camped on an old cotton field. The men colored troops.

dured by the soldiers of the Twelfth Con- neetieut as the small line on dress parade ; have shelter tents, (mere strips of cloth and the lengthening list of those whose " final statements " are made up forever, show us that we are not playing with disease, but fighting it.

Though the health of the regiment for the | which they button together,) and the mouth has been generally quite encouraging, fofficers have "A" tents, about six feet yet there have died Lieutenant Hiram D. 'square : but in your well furnished par- Gaylord, of Norfolk, on the 18th inst .- the lors in Connecticut you can seareely con- Since September 17th, the Twelfth, first officer the regiment has lost by death ; revive how we prize these little comforts. still under the much loved Weitzel, have William H. Norville, Co. C, 29th inst. ; and , Almost six months we were-men and ' marched to Opelousas and Barry's Land- Julius Winship, Harwinton, suddenly, 80th officers too-without any tents whatever, 'ing, where, after a ten days' sojourn, they inst. Thus far, nearly every one of our dead exposed to all kinds of hardship, making ; returned to New Iberia, one hundred have been sent home by the voluntary een- long marches, fighting hard battles, en- and eighty miles, besides counter- tributions of the companies. "Juring heat, hunger, crowded on boatsmarches.

Our Colonel has just been surprised by the, where all could not find room to lie The weather is fine most of the time, presentation, mainly from the privates, of a down, drinking the most miserable water, and the men are in good health, and the splendid and valuable horse-one on which from which even eattle at home would ocensional capture of a hundred rebels we are not ashamed to see him appear on ; turn away in disgust, abcays in front, keeps them in good spirits. any occasion. This renewed testimony of and subject to constant alarms, building attachment was entirely unexpected, and railroads and bridges, and then, instead called forth an expression of thank, which

of a quiet eamp in which to recruit our must have abundantly repaid the donors ! wasted energies, spending the worst sea- At the organization of the regiment, the off- [son in the year, viz. : August and Sep- cers presented him with a like gift, which

If we ever get a "breathing spell," we have a better library than the rebels captured from us at Brashear, waiting for us at New Orleans, purchased by the regiment.

Ist Lieut. Hendricks of Co. C, has re-

¡tember, in one of the most unhealthy lo- had become impaired greatly to his regret, [calities in Louisiana. Nearly all the cently been promoted to be Captain of for "Jim " was a "character" in the regi-| regiment were sick at Brashear City, so Co. E, rire Capt. Byxbie, resigned, and ment. Now the men have stepped forward ! that the fall campaign was entered with [ private Henry Tuttle of Co. C, promoted

105

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

1863.]

to be Quartermaster, vice C. V. R. Pond, resigned.

Alj. Geo. Harmount, promoted to be Lieutenant Colonel Third Louisiana En- gineers ; private S. G. Lewis, Co. B, to| Heights, Virginia.

be Lieutenant in the First Regiment Corps de Afrique.

Perhaps we are too late for the De- cember WAR RECORD. Our mails are slow. Yours truly,

J. II. B.

For the Connecticut War Record.

The Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers.

In attempting a history of the Twenty- first Connecticut Volunteers, I am compelled to go back over a period of more than four- teen months, to the time of its organization at Norwich, Conn., in the month of August, 1803.

It is necessary to go back thus far, from the fact that, notwithstanding that there are many in its ranks and among its officers who are well able to write its history, yet for some unaccountable reason no one has ever taken it upon themselves to do so. And so we are to- day, after more than fourteen months of ser- vice, compelled to confess that we, as a regi- ment, are minus " our own correspondent." True, some few letters liave struggled forth in- to the light and found their way into print, but they have been so few and fragmentary that they can hardly be said to form a very im- portant record.

I have therefore consented at this late day to write out a few facts and incidents relating to the past and present of the Twen- ty-first Regiment, and in doing so shall very hastily and briefly review the first year of its service, without expecting to do justice to any part of it.

Sept. 13, arrived at Washington, D. C.

Sept. 14, went into camp at East Capitol arriving at Cedar Grove.

IIill.

Sept. 17, moved camp to Arlington ; eight miles of Fredericksburgh.

Nov. 19, arrived at Falmouth, opposite Oct. 1, ordered to Frederick City, Md. Oct. 3, ordered to Sandy Hook, Md. Oct. 4, Left Sandy Hook for Sharpsburgh, Virginia. Fredericksburgh, having in twelve days marched over 175 miles. Everybody is al- ready well acquainted with the reason of the delay at Falmouth before the attack upon Fredericksburgh. Pontoons failed to come Oct. 6, returned vin Sandy Hook to Pleasant Valley, Maryland, and joined the up, which occasioned long delay, so that the 2d Brigade of the 3d Division of the 9th , rebels took possession of the Heights beyond army corps, where we remained until the the city, and rapidly fortified them. Thus, 28th day of October.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 32

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