The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 38

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

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Eleventh Connecticut Volunteers. GLOUCESTER POINT. V.A. December, 1863. 9

Thanksgiving is fast. We rejoiced at our drill that we compare favorably with the victory before Chattanooga, if not at other regiments, especially in the manual November brought us no move of camp, festive boards and family reunions But of arms. For brigade drill we change a good deal of quiet, with very little ile- the Christmas holidays are close at hand. places with the Tenth New Hampshire, ness. We were glad not to move, for At that time, turkey and cranberry sauce they drilling with our brigade, (Gen. Fort Keyes, which we found filthy and , are relished in Connectient. Apples are Harland's.) and we in theirs, (Col. Steer's,) malarious, by the change of season and food in long winter evenings. The shucks as the distance from our own brigade an eficient system of policing, has be lot muts burn prettily in the fire; their renders it inconvenient to drill with it. come both healthy and neat. Our quiet , meat has a good flavor. Connectient, A detachment of the Sixteenth is now has been disturbed by neither fright, nor sokliers would enjoy these good things in at home recruiting, for we greatly need raid, nor battle. Dress Parade and Gnard Virginia or Southward. I suggest to true an increase of numbers. Instead of the Mounting are all we have seen of the, and liberal men and women and children, long line which we used to make, we can " Pomp and circumstance of War." Yet that such things be freely sent, and I sug- lying ont for parade hardly enough for Dress Parade, with us, if one so lately gest it more freely, because I know that. two good companies.

from civil life may express an opinion, at- while the true soldier finds his whole Besides drilling and camp guard, we traets much interest and commendation heart in this service, and is willing to are also engaged in picket duty, remain- too, and requires not a little preparation, serve either for the war or for death, ing out four days at a time, at Deep Many of our men appear at parade in many in coming from home did vastly Creek and Bowers' Hill, alternately. We coats bright in color, neat and tidy, and more than those at home can do, by any have also two or three stationary picket yet they are the very coats they were bendfictions to us. DE F. post -.

from Connecticut two years ago. Yes. terday was pay day, and the settlement of the year's clothing account toll of a . great saving in clothes and a consequent . increase of pay. One officer expressed for. thirty men, thirteen hundred and twenty-nine dollars.

Thanksgiving Day -- the old New Eng. land day-has come and gone, and so far For the Connecticut War Record. The Sixteenth Regiment. as we could, we celebrated it in a man- ner in good keeping with the Yankee C'IMP SIXTEENTH CONSFOTICUE VOLUNTEERS, { PontsMorin, Va., Dec. 7th, 1863. S enstom. Several companies had their tur- keys, chickens, geese, and other luxuries, Although one correspondent may be with which they made merry. Our offi-

We had bat little idleness in the month sufficient to keep the readers of the RE- jeers kindly allowed us the day to our- past, for the work of a regiment falls up- comp posted as to the condition of our selves. Kind Providence has granted us on one redneed to a third of its number, regiment, an extra letter may not per- and besides the usual routine of duty here ' laps be unacceptable.

many assurances of his favor, and has kept us from dangers seen and unseen.

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

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Let us not add unthankfulness to the list commissioned officer, has been absent for | Private Fred. Gallup, of Co. D, has been of our failings and shortcomings.

A few days since we were cheered by the arrival of a package of RECORDS, to most of us the first receipt. We have already learned to look forward to their arrival with pleasure. Much profit and pleasure is anticipated from their perusal. ADELPHII.

From the Second Light Battery. CAMP BARRY, WASHINGTON, D. C., { December, 1863. Nothing of special interest has occurred in the battery during the past month. We have had the usual weekly inspections, of all the batteries in the camp. There have been but few drills, and these have been confined to batteries recently organ- ized. All the available foree not neces- sary for the ordinary guard duty, has been directed towards making our camp convenient and comfortable for the win- ter. Commodious barracks have been erected for the men, and stables for the horses ; and together with the new head- quarters for the, commander of the post, the new guard-house, new roads and wells, we have as fresh an appearance as new recruits.

In addition, we have new guns and caissons. We formerly had the James' rifle, but are now furnished with the ord- nanee gun, known as the three-inch rifle. They are of wrought iron, and have an extreme range of three and one-half iniles. They are ten-pounders, and are generally used in the army of the Potomac where light field-pieces are required.

One of our guns was sent for a few days ago for the purpose of making an ex- periment. A gentleman who has been in

of trees, (for instance,) were sufficient to divert the direction of a cannon ball. IIe had provided a plate of wrought-iron, one- half of an inch in thickness, and had placed it upon an axis so that it inelined somewhat less than forty five degrees to the horizon. The surface of this plate which was exposed to the fire was well greased, and fire was opened on it at two hundred yards' distance. The second shot it, at the same time demonstrating to the experimenter that his theory of diverting projectiles by inelined planes was errone- ous.

some months recruiting, and lately with considerable success. He has recently been joined by Capt. A. Sterling and two non-commissioned officers and two pri- vates. There has been but little sickness in our battery during the past month, and that not of a serions nature, and those who have been in hospitals are re- turning to duty. UNION.

For the Connecticut War Record. Eighth Connecticut Volunteers. CAMP NEAR PORTSMOUTH, ¿ December, 1863. 5

DEAR FRIEND AND EDITOR : --- Having a an outline of an incident which occurred in our regiment yesterday. You are aware that there has been an addition made to our regi- ment in the shape of couscripts. Quite a number of them have deserted, and it was found necessary to have an example made of some of them, to put a stop to it. There- fore, two of them who had deserted twice and were caught again, were sentenced to be shot, and the sentence was carried out yes- terday. At 9 A. M., the regiments of this brigade were formed on their respective pa- rade grounds and marched to an open field near Fort Reno.

promoted to Commissary Sergeant, and is worthy of his appointment, for he has done his duty faithfully and is always at his post. Our camp presents a picturesque view of a village. Lig huts are rising, as if by magic, and a great deal of ingenuity is displayed in trying to make them comfortable.

Yours, truly, G. W. F.

For the Connecticut War Record. Fifth Connecticut Volunteers.

MR. EDITOR :- Over a thousand miles of railroad travel, through each of which were seattered little incidents, both sad and amusing, the telling of which will probably serve to while away many an hour hereafter which otherwise might hang heavily, finds the Fifth in Tennes- see, which fact is owing probably to the extreme generosity of our Unele, who, thinking that two years of continuous pedestrianism should be amply sufficient to render our organization thoroughly finniliar with all the " pikes," mud roads, bridges and cross ents in Maryland and Virginia, has kindly transferred us from the worn out and feneeless surface of the " Old Dominion" to enjoy the newer scenery of the " western section," and, if inclination leads, to cultivate the ae- quaintance of the fairer portion of the

A hollow square was then formed, and the men then rested on their guns to await the inhabitants thereof. We would here arrival of the prisoners, with their escort. |suggest to any "Veteran Volunteer "" At half past nine the funeral escort started ! who shall elect to become a member of from the brigade head-quarters, the band | the Fifth, that he invest a reasonable playing a dirge. The band was followed by a detail of eight men, carrying the coffins on stretchers, followed by a section of the Pro- vost Guard.

amount of his unknown hundreds in sauf, yellow snuff, for with a few pounds of this article and no other capital than his " shape" a young man can walk into

Next came two carriages containing the fany conceivable amount of young affee- prisoners and their spiritual advisers. The tions without difficulty for the simple reason that the young ladies all " dip," lars sco " Webster."

The location of the regiment is at pres- fent very agreeable, being on the Nash- ville and Chattanooga Railroad, near exeente them. After the priests (for they Cumberland tunnel, the safety of which were Catholics) had shrived them, they were is entrusted to its care. Col. Packer is made to kneel in front of their coffins, audi in command of the Post.

We have just entered upon the 20th month of our time, and in common with passed into eternity. It was an impressive the others of "onf call" begin to look hit the target and knocked a hole through scene, and it is to be hoped that it will be a forward to the time when we shall doff solemn warning to those that would desert i the dark and sky blue and don the ap- their country's canse.

pointments of the civilian-as we shall

The health of the regiment is good, thanks do unless the " $402" should lead us from to our worthy Dr. Stocking. There has been ' our present determination, which latter The recent indueements to volunteers a number of promotions in the regiment. is very improbable in the ease of your will soon fill up the battery to its required Orderly Sergeant Irwin, of Co. I, has been : correspondent. Not that we have ceased number. Lieut. Hotchkiss, with a non-| promoted to Second Lieutenant of Co. E. to be patriotie, but then, if we should all

procession was closed by a seetion of the the army, conceived the idea that branches Provost Gaard. As the eseort euterel the jand snuff is scaree-for further particu- square a solemn silence prevailed. After the escort had marched around the square, the prisoners were taken out of the carriages and led up in front of the detail that were to

bandages put over their eyes. Soon the fa- tal order was given to fire, and their souls

and there have been two grand reviews | few leisure moments, I propose to give you

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ITHE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[JANUARY'

enlist again and so go toward filling up: Fourteen beds inside. White blankets, [mission. He is delighted with the regiment. the present call for three hundred thon- white sheets, white pillowcases. Patients Compliments Lieut. Col. Burnham on his work, and with justice. For, nobler and manlier officers than he, I know but two, and one of these is dead. sand, it would debar a great many offhave oysters, chocolate, butter, milk. Had those at home from the privilege of en- ja turkey New Year's day. Think being sick listing and becoming veterans, and it is |is next thing to Paradise. Sometimes it is. fine to be a veteran.

Ilospital just finished before Christmas. There is one point to which I wish to Ladies got together on the last day. Thir- · fteen ladies in camp. Went to stringing up

call your attention :

We have been drilling for some time. But at present we have a dirty job on our hands,-repairing the road to Portsmouth. However, our boys keep neat and clean, and above all, in good spirits. They have eamed quite a reputation for picket service. One

Among those who responded to the evergreens. Ingenious gent manufactured first call for three hundred thousand were flowers. Materials : lint and red flannel. many men of family, mechanies and oth- Hung them up. Round wreaths and square erwise, who by industry and economy wreaths. Loops and ends. Things by cour- day, the officer of the day neglected to send had succeeded in laying by a small tesy called stars. Lint and red flannel flow- | the countersign to the pickets. Night came. amount of this world's goods : and many fers looked splendidly. Officers went about

Pickets instructed to pass no one. No coun- of them had, with a provident eye to the borrowing flags. Toted the big flags of the tersign known. By and bye officer of the future, purchased small residences for the 8th and 15th down here. Also the brigade comfort of themselves and families. flag and our own. Draped them round the These men volunteered for their country, walls. Fiddlers arrived at nine in the eve- and yet the State has, by paying tremen- ining. Brass instruments did the heavy. La- dons bounties, doubled and trebled the dies on their musele as regards dress. Hair taxes upon the property of these men : done up wonderful. Miles of ribbons. thus, not only accepting their services, ! Fiddles begin. Tom, tom, goes the brass

ters of the pickets, and passes officer of the day, who steams with anger. Boys did

day appears. Halted. "Friend with the conntersign." "No one passes here." Offi- cer angry. Insists on passing. No go. Prieks his horse on. Corporal commanding three men, charges bayonets on him. Offi- cer gives in, and requests that they send for their officers. They do so. Captain appears, but absolutely compelling them to con- thing. Are you engaged, Mrs. ---? Very | after one hour and a half, from the headquar- tribute, in addition to their time, health, happy! thank you ! And away, in whirls and perhaps lives, money to assist in buy- more or less artistic, goes private and officer. Now is the State intending that these'a single miss ! and all to celebrate the house- men shall lose this additional tax, or is |warming of our hospital.

ing into the field the laggards at home. Irummer and major, matrons and-no, not their duty. Obeyed their orders.

A Temperance Society has been started. Great division among the members. Is cider an intoxicating drink or not ? Discussions

she willing to grant the property holding: So much for sick bodies. And now for volunteers sneh a bonus as shall relieve 'sick souls. We've also built a chapel. A | without end. Loth to give up eider. them from the burden of this additional nice tight house, floored, and warmed, with Pleasant memories associated with it. Win- ter evenings, and laughing Misses. Chaplain taxation. It is an open question, but benches, and a real pulpit. None of the there is a question of justice involved make believe things, that go for pulpits in raises the banner against eider. Marshals which should be looked to. The writer the army generally. No pork barrel with a | his clan. Opponents raise their voices. owns not a square inch of ground, and blanket thrown over. No masked hard bread Their tongues are a thousand, their tastes his friends always used to say he never box. Couldn't think of it! A real pulpit. are one. Don't know how it will end. would, so his motive in writing is not Queer shaped things have been in the hands Men well fed at present. Nice beef. Good bread. Plenty of potatoes and onions. Every man's breath smells of the latter. Would think you were in Wethersfield. Extra fare for holidays. Buy turkeys and geese. Boxes selfishness, but justiee. "co. A." of the ladies for days. They've covered them with purple and fine linen. They turn out From the Sixteenth Regiment. CAMP 16TH CONS. VOIS., ) Jan. 1, 1863. parties are concerned. Had to practice to be reading desks, lamp stands, stools to kneel on. And, moreover the ladies have been" impracticable of late, as far as whist come from home. Cakes and jellies. Potted thing ?. Oh, my ! nice warm presents. The home thinks of us. God bless the home, and give it a happy New Year.

EDITORS WAR RECORD :- I wouldn't say singing. Belong to the choir. Going to so. Indeed I wouldn't. But all the world blaze out next Sunday at the dedication of will bear me out. The batteries in our viein- the chapel. So we are going to worship in · With affectionate wishes, yours, HORSE JOIN. itiy, the regiments in our brigade, and the style, and nothing less. You may smile at very portly gentleman who came down on our pine slat chapel and extemporized choir. part of the State of Connecticut to investigate Smile on. I have bowed in every grand For the Connecticut War Record. the state of the soldiers, all agree that we have church, from the incense clouded altars of From the. 2d Connecticut Light Battery. the finest Regiment Hospital in this Depart. St. Peter's, to the music reverberating aisles CAMP BARRY. WASHINGTON, D. C., ¿ December 31st, 1863. 5 ment. Pine logs, hewed smooth on all four of St. Paul's, and I vow, I can worship in sides, placed symmetrically upon each other. this homely little chapel, with as much rev- with a floor of boards, roofed with pine erence as in any of these.

slats, with a ceiling of tent flies. Four, Col. Beach has returned, and the boys re-

The past two months have furnished very little of interest worthy of special mention in connection with the history of the battery, and self- denial to be a good soldier when

windows during the day. A coal oil lamp ceived him with three cheers. Bowed, with | notwithstanding it requires as much patience at night. A fire in the chimney both day his moustache in smiles. Serenade in the and night. Two doors, and a turret from evening. Grand enthusiasm. Everything there is a lull in the operations of the army, which floats a red flag with a white 16 on it. spontaneons, and all previous feelings turned'as it requires courage and self-reliance to be Flag made out of a pair of red flannel diaw- into one gush of affectionate recognition. Ile a successful one in time of battle. Those ers. Queer seam in the center, but no mat- is at present in command of the brigale, who perform the arduous labors of the camp, Gen. Harland being on some Military Com-for pine and perish in the hospital, are no ter.

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1864.]

less co-laborers in extinguishing treason than often in colored light and tracing curves, wet not pass examination, but two hundred and those who yield their life-blood to quench its; thought perhaps of death, certainly of beauty. Inrid flame amid the clash of arms.

sixty-four have passed and been sworn in. Soon followed the first two of the four great To-morrow the mastering officer is ex- For the past month we have been in bar- explosions. A column of fire and smoke pected, and this number, perhaps even a few mounted heavenward, wonderful in size and more, will be in for the second term. Let any other regiment do better if they can. We believe that the Eighth regiment at present is unrivaled. grandeur. It rolled its folds, dark yet lu- minous, sidewards and upwards, till it seemed to half reach the clouds starting from its base, and using this as the background of With such a spirit in our army our the scene, scores of shells were tracing their | country will stand. It is a pleuge of God's terrible parabolas in lines of fire. They had favor. I rejoice to be in the midst of such patriotic devotion. not reached the earth, when a second explo- sion followed brighter and grander than the I have already met with some interesting cases of religious inquiry. We hope for \ dom witnessed by man. As the smoke rolled ; God's favor and enlistments under Jesus. first. It was a volcano scene, such as is sel- away fire darted here and there, like light- ning running on the ground. It was the

far and wide, and so the lesser displays went fon, till at midnight, and especially at four o'clock, an earthquake shock was repeated, scattering a brick building to the four winds. For the most part, we were lookers on, at a safe distance. But some of our regiment are daily detailed for the guard at General Wistar's Head Quarters. Two of that guard, Adelbut Spencer, Co. II, and Charles Cady,

For the Connecticut War Record. From the Twelfth C. V. NEW IBERIA, LA., December 21st, 1863. 5

MR. EDITOR :- Those who believe we have no cold weather in this part of the country, ought to have been here the past month. lee has formed more than one night half an inch thick. But it is not the cold that we suffer from so much as the dampness ; at sundown the air seems filled with moisture; Co. F, were early in the evening stationed to one's clothes get wet ; if we lie down our watch a jeweler's shop, almost within scorch- : blankets are very damp and remain so all ing distance of the fire. They were not re- lieved, and amid showers of brick and burst- out fires, sleeping on the ground, how can ing bombs from the several explosions of that long night, they stood at their post, Romans in modern times. Il. S. DC F.

night, and living in the thinest canvas with- we expect to keep warm ? Then when a heavy rain comes, and we get wet through, and a cold wind follows blowing for a week From the Eighth C. V. right out of the North, why should we not shiver ? But, you say, build chimneys, make yourselves fireplaces, keep warm. We Extract from a letter of the Chaplain to the have moved six times and no transportation is furnished for fireplaces. We congratulate

Editor. The health of the regiment is remarkable, ourselves that it will not be cold always.

The Twelfth increase weekly in men for

Only two men in their beds in the hospital, and they are disabled rather than si. k. One duty. The hardihood of the men will not was accidentally shot, not seriou-ly, and the ' allow them to stay sick long. They come other is suffering from a large abscess. Since, back to us from the hospitals of New Or- I have been here the camp has been all alive' leans, and only a very few are on our morn- with the idea of reenlisting. If any one at. ing sick report. Drill, picket and gnard home has believed that the old soldiers are i duty command our attention. Every forage ready to give up this contest, such an one ' train goes with a strong guard, every steam- should have been in this camp for two days 'boat in its long passage down the Teche, past. Almost every able bodied man in the loaded down with cotton, sugar and mo- regiment, after the experience of some of, la-ses, has a guard, for we live in a country the hardest of campaigning, as you know, where people can be citizens or soldiers as is ready to bind himself for another three ' suits their convenience, and every feeble years, if necessary to end this wicked war. band of men away from our lines get gobbled. Three of the Twelfth, guarding planta -.

Early in the evening we saw the fire from the Gloucester side. It steadily burned it- It was found that of these men now on the ground, there were two hundred and, tions, were carried captive by the enemy a seventy-seven who had served from the com- few weeks since, but were recently exchanged. mencement of the regimental service. Only . They were treated as well as could be ex- such as these, or at least such as had served pected. way, spreading as it went, and after an hour or so, a premonitory flash was followed by bursting shell. The batteries then opened. and were kept playing till the fires were quenched by a rain storm the next day. two years, were allowed to enter the veteran ! We have been paid off this month ; for Like some grand 4th of July display, these corps, and two hundred and seventy-four some who have been wounded and furlough- loaded sky rockets cleaved the air, burning names were enrolled. A very few could | ed, it was the first payment in several

racks for the first time since we entered the service. It is worthy of remark in this connection that we have not now a sin- gle man on the siek list of those who have been with us sinee we have occupied our barracks. During the past month Lieut. Hotelikiss has returned to the battery, and is now in command in the absence of Capt. Sterling. Lieut. Hotchkiss brought with him seven new recruits who have been as- signed to detachments, and who are already well advanced in the routine of duty. The place for new reernits is with old organiza- tions, where they are at onee absorbed, and bursting of what the explosion had scatteredl become readily efficient soldiers.

Capt. Sterling, together with Sergeants Wm. J. Gould and Henry R. Chafl'ee, Cor- poral E. A. Holste, and Privates Wyllis Still- man and David Sterling, are at present de- tached for recruiting service, and stationed at Bridgeport. When the time arrives for the opening of the Spring campaign, the battery promises to have its complement of members. We have the usual amount of brigade drills, inspections and reviews, and are otherwise quietly passing the winter without the exposure, privation and sickness, which almost invariably attend the vicissi- tudes of camp life. UNION.

From the Eleventh Regiment. 11th CONN. VOLS., GLOUCESTER, VA., Dec. 31. 5 Life and things at Fort Keyes have passed for another month, much as before. It is not well to burden your columns with expe- rienees which are common to the army everywhere, nor to add much to our last let- ter, still waiting to be published. 3

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 38

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