The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 39

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

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The 16th of December is memorable here, on account of the explosion at Yorktown. From the days of Cornwallis, old, unfortu- nate Yorktown, has not known such a can- nonading. MeClellan, with 101 siege guns, did not do what a spark from a hospita! chimney only sufficed to accomplish. Then it was all preparation and no go off, save the going off of the rebels. Now it was all go off and no preparation.

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[JANUARY,

months. Adams' Express Agent was on jis near, which we hope to enjoy, remember- across the country to Simmesport, sailed up the the ground and took for friends at home jing friends at home, and being remembered Alchafalaya to Red River, down the Red to the a very large proportion of the money paid. as we were last year of them, by receiving a large mail. Soldiers appreciate letters and will enjoy the War Record when it comes. Yours, monthly, --- Mississippi to Bayon Sera, then marched to St. Francisville to the Junction of the Bayou Sara and Clinton roads, where a meeting of the Union Generals and Col. Crierson took place, and where all the arrangements were completed. Quite a number who hal come to the regi- ment sinee muster-day were obliged to wait for their pay till next pay-day. The rules re- garding mustering officers, too, caused some Next day, May 24th, Grover's Divison advanced J. II. B. by the Clinton road towards Port Hudson, our regiment being in the advance ; when we approach- " We are happy to present a graphic letter fed the first belt of woods the regiment was de- confusion. Some Lieutenants, from the blunders of the mustering officers, were eounted as nothing for months, neither get- | from Major MAHER. It forms an interesting chapter ployed as skirmishers, with the exception of two ting pay as soldiers nor as officers, yet doing in the history of the 24th C. V. Companies, which were kept on the road by Gen. Grover as a reserve; the Col. took one side, while Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteers. the Lient. Col. took the other side of the rond, the reserve being under my command. We felt our July 11th, 1863. way cautiously through a dense wood, filled with Tuos. R. TROWBRIDGE, Esq. : deep ravines and underbrush, and met with no duty all the time. In fact, the duties of the Paymaster are getting so complicated that it is almost impossible to be just. Some rom- PORT HUDSON, La., 1 edy will have to be devised which will sim- plify the matter.

Our favorite, Gen. Weitzel, has gone north,

DEAR SIR :- Since I had the honor of : opposition until we reached their first ritle pits, writing to you from Opelousas, our regiment has : (and of which there is a good representation in

and we fear Gen. Butler has an eye on him, : participated in all the movements of the 19th, Harper's weekly for June 27th,) when the rebs and we shall see him no more. The regi- | Army Corps, and of which you no doubt read in , fired two volleys at us, hurting no one ; we fired a ment turned out to salute him en mnas-e as. he rode away, and many were the blessings from honest hearts that attended him. He was much affected at their expressions and the newspapers. The country we passed through coupde of shot at them from a twelve-pounder, and in going to Alexandria, was the finest I ever saw, before the rebs knew we had given the order to For days we saw nothing but immense fields of 'double quick, we were in their works. The rebs, corn and sugar cane; very little cotton appeared ' I suppose, thought discretion the better part of to be raised, the Planters turning their whole , valor, for they left in a hurry by one of the numer- rode in silence several miles, then turning to 'attention to the raising of corn and sugar, princi- ous passages which they knew, and of which we his Adjutant, said, "I must come back, I pally corn. We saw but very few of the white male are thoroughly posted now ; they also left their eannot leave those men." population until we reached Alexandria, I suppose canteens, corn bread and other rebel delicacies. that all the able-bodied men were either con- 'We did not stop at the rifle pits, but pushed right scripted or took to the woods on our approach. 'on to the clearing up of the woods and in sight of The negroes hailed us with delight, with exclama- the fortifications, and within rifle shot. Up to tions of " bless the Lord, the day has come at this point, on that day, we lost none killed. The

Gen. Emory, a veteran sollier, takes his place in command of the Ist Division, 19th Corps.

Lt. Col. Peck, of the Twelfth. is at present : last ;" they frequently joined the regiment by rebels opened on us an enfilading fire of grape and

in command of the 3d Brigade, and Capt. G. E. Clark in command of the regiment. the dozen, and often carried the musket for the canister from the fort, while the sharpshooters, tired soldier, I should have stated that we with Mississippi sporting rifles, opened on us from Pay-day reminds us that we have good . averaged nearly twenty-five miles a day marching, a house about five hundred yards distant. After starting every morning about four, and resting getting a couple of field picces in position, the soldiers who enlisted in the Twelfth Louis- 'ten minutes every hour until we reached a wood house was set on fire by a few shells, and the sharp iana, who neither draw the State bounty of place to camp for the night, always looking out to shooters put hors de combat. It was at this point thirty dollars a year, nor get any aid from Con- camp near a Bayou if possible, so that the men that Gen. Grover's horse was shot from under him. necticut for their families. This we think is a great injustice to them, as long as they might have plenty of water. The officers and I never saw a man take it more cooly than did the uwen were in the lightest possible marching order, General. It was a pretty close. shave for his life. Having left onr emap and garrison equipage, com. Early next morning, Gen, Banks and Gen. Grover help make up the quota from Connectiest. pany att regimental books, officers' clothing, and, were to the front, seeing for themselves the sitna- We have also men whose families reside in in fort, everything that could possibly be spared, tion of affairs, and at nine o'clock we were re- other states than Connecticut, who get no 4: Bayra Bouaf, by order of Gen. Grover. Rath- lieved by the 25th C. V., who took our place.

er nipba-ast news has just reached us that the After a rest of twelve hours our regiment was relais captured everything left there. By the ordered to the front again, and remained there operation, I be se all my clothing except what I seven days without being relieved ; when we got have on may back, but i don't concern me in the relieved we got a rest of several days, doing only

aid for them. The State cannot afford to be small about these things ; let her be gen- erous.

Our last move was in a most terrible Last. Hul they taken wages and all, I would not slight fatigue duty. On Sunday, June 14th, we storm, such a rain as is never seen in Now give me the glorious privilege I bad in participa- were ordered to sling our guns on our shoulders England. The men had just formed in Fine ting in the reduction of this rebel stronghold to and carry cotton bags to fill up the enemy's ditch, on the new ground, when a most terrib !. crash almost leveled them, the lightning

Gave them. The rebels by that move, and the so that the troops might get over the parapet more Iliter zef batteries on the banks of the Missis- easily. It was arranged that three regiments ; ;; ao as to cet off our supplies from New were to precede ours so as to keep down the striking two mules of a team of four, as salas, ferske that the Union aring would be enemy while we approached the works. The the goods were being unloaded, killing them offer I to have the siege of Port Hudson, but in plan was not exactly carried out, because the instantly and severely injuring a colored that they were mistaken, as time proved. 'troops had to advance by the flank through a driver, also stunning several men who were near. The rain poured down in torrents, so that at 9 o'clock the camp was reported by Capt. Dickinson, Officer of the Day, to be "from two inches to a foot under water." Next day we moved again.

The head of the army reached some thirty-five ravine, and it was found almost impossible to get miles al. se Mevaandria, in The direction of over the fallen timber and underbrush, while the

Shreveggest. r.l. | capital.) when orders were ; fire of the enemy was terrific, men falling on every given Datetaan of steps This strategetic inove- side. But before the enemy were aware of it we ment, Bilo'n in connection with Gen. Grant's move : scaled the brow of a hill less than a hundred feet on Jackson, Mas, whereby the garrison at Port from their strongest point and, making a breast- Undson was const lerably reduced, must live for. "work of our cotton bags, opened a brisk fire on over in history. Then commenced a quick and them, so that they were obliged to keep their rapid coffey of the " AAnacomia" around the heads down behind their works.

Thanksgiving day was observed by us. our Adjutant General profanely ortering threat of realdom in the Mississippi, that was! On this day there were many acts of individual divine service at 11 A. M., and an extra prely to choke him before he knew what Gen. iheroism. One of the men whom I enlisted, named ration of whiskey for the men. Christmas Banks was up to. We marched to Cheneyville, P. Il. Gafney, left a sick hed (if the ground can be

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called a b-d) that morning to go with us; when ment, at Ship Island, and have been during the ; and rank weeds, ) in anticipation of large commercial we got ready to fire he had six men loading for siege of Port Hudson. There is no disputing the enterprise and trade, while the old town, (said to fact that the Negro troops did good service around ; he the second town settled in the United States,) is Port Hudson, and whatever objections there had ; anything but interesting to the visitor, unless he previously been, I heard no one object to them ; be an antiquarian. Fort Clinch, which commands there. It is not reasonable to suppose that field ; the harbor, is garrisoned by two companies of the hands, taken right from a plantation, can be made soldiers in a day. I have not the least doubt that after drilling a proper length of time they can be made very creditable soldiers. him while he fired, and to fill up the intervals he took out his pipe and smoked. There was another man named " Warner," from Cromwell, whom I admired very much for his courage and coolness. After firing he always took a look to see whom he hit. After the surrender, the First Mississippi Ninety-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- ; teers, and appears to be kept in excellent con- dition. regiment, who were opposed to us, said they were At 2 A. M. of the 31st our boats up anchors and run out for St. Augustine, and the weather at Fort Donaldson, at the battle of Shiloh and other battles, and that they had never seen a Let me reiterate my former wish that this foul rebellion may be crushed before my term of service [ now being very favorable, we make the bar at S expires. My faith in the ability and justice of the North has never faltered. thing so daring done as the 24th C. V. did in making a breastwork right under their noses, and had it not been for the planting of the cotton bags that, a man would never have come out of the Thanking you, my dear Sir, for the great inter- est you have taken in my Battalion, I hope God will long preserve you to enjoy your family and country. ravines alive, as they (rebs) had nothing to do but shoot every one that approached their works. After dark, that day, all the regiments were re- called but ours, the Aids not coming to us with Your Obedient Servant, PATRICK MANIER, Major 24th C. T. any orders, so nt night we entrenched ourselves by covering the cotton bngs with earth, and by morning we had a very respectable fortification which the boys called Fort Mansfield, So well For the Connecticut War Record. From the Tenth Regiment. done was it, that our General thought the rebels had constructed a new work during the night, nnd had given orders to one of our batteries to shell ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., ) Dee. 2d, 1863. 1 us, until fortunately the man at the lookout dis- covered our blue jackets. We stopped at this place

MESSES. EDITORS :- I have to-day had the privi- until Port Hudson surrendered, and three days lege of perusing the third number of your paper, once a day, nud company drill ditto; besides and as you do not appear to be posted in the late ; which our regiment furnishes a picket guard every movements of our regiment, I have concluded to | other day, hospital and camp guard every day. write you a few lines regarding them and onr

afterwards, (July 11th.) We have been at the siege of Port Hudson forty-seven days, thirty-three of them our regiment has been under fire, and twenty. five days out of the thirty-three, we have been less than a hundred feet from their works, and fired, ceptable to some of the many friends of the regi- ment at home.

on an average, not less than four thousand rounds of cartridges per day. Our men behaved splen- didly, not a man flinching from his post except from sheer exhaustion. In fact, all our Connecti- cut troops have done nobly before Port Hudson. They seemed to be at the front all the time. From this little earthwork the covered approaches to the woods were dug and the parallels were made, also the zig zag approach right into the enemy's diteh, and we had on the morning of July Sth a mine forty-two feet long under the enemy's works, suitable to eont iin four hundred pounds of powder, and we were ready to blow them sky high if they had not surrendered.

For several days previous to the surrender, of six or seven hours. At the Head, the left wing Gen. Banks might have taken Port Hudson but he | with its baggage was transferred to the stemmer did not want to sacrifiee life when the same thing Escort. At 5 P. M. of the 27th, both boats left the Head for the Sonth, our band on board the Es. cort playing many lively airs while running down could be accomplished by waiting a few days longer. I admire Gen, Banks very much for his prudence in keeping his plans to himself, and also the harbor. At daylight the next morning we' So that we if we spend the winter here our oppor-

for his looking for himself at the situation of affairs. He was in our works early in the morning, middle of the day, late in the evening, and fre- quently at midnight, encouraging the men to per- severe, and success would crown our efforts.

I see in late Northern newspapers greatly exag- gerated accounts of the loss the Negro troops sustained before Port Iludson; that they went into the fight nine hundred strong, and that only

was a famous auxiliary to special invitations. charges they made they lost twenty eight killed | Many of us, also, had an opportunity to ride on nnd one hundred and fifty-three wounded ; enough | the Florida Railway, which, by the way, our peo-i to be sure, but not so many as some white regi- ple are tearing up for use to better advantage ofse. ments lost with half their number of men. The ! where. The new town of Fernandina has several Second Negro regiment, which gets all the credit

A. M., and at 11 A. M., the tide having risen to a convenient height, we cross by means of the Roundabout Channel into the harbor, the Twenty- fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers (which preceded us three weeks) honoring us with a sa- lute of thirteen guns as we passed Fort Marion. Making the wharf, we were disembarked, and after a few preliminary arrangements were marched to a vacant lot about a quarter of a mile north of the town, where our camp was quickly formed and tents pitched, the companies assembled for the regular two months' muster, and the men ready for supper by sundown. We have now been here thirty-two days, and feel established, and for a sick regiment perform quite an amount of duty : Brigade drill three times a week, battalion drill

Our men, nevertheless, improve rapidly. We present whereabouts, which will probably be ac- have about one hundred and thirty sick. On picket days every second man is on duty, on other days every fourth man.

The climate here is said to be very salubrions used up by the arduous duties imposed upon it at ! and equable, but since our arrival it has been the St. Helena, Seabrook, James and Morris Islands, that recuperation to both officers and men was ab- solutely necessary, so towards the last of October we were ordered to this place for that purpose.

very reverse of the latter good quality. For in- stance: Nov. 10th, very cold wind, thermometer During the night of October 25th, the right wing of the regiment, with all the sick of the regi- ment, and its own baggage, embarked on the 40° at 6 P. M. ; next morning at 6 o'clock, 36° ; Nov. 14th, SCº at noon, in the shade; Nov. 30th, 76° in the shade, at noon; Dee. Ist, I had no op- portunity to observe the thermometer, but ice was formed, in exposed places, one-fourth of an steamer Monahasset, which left soon after for Hilton ; inch thick at daylight in the morning, and it Head. Next afternoon, the left wing, with its baggage; followed, aboard the steamer Canonicus- both boats safely arriving at the Head after a trip, to as great variations of temperature ns in Con-

was very cold all day nnd the following night. Thus you will observe that we are here subjected Dectieut, although the cold is never so severe. The hottest weather of summer is said to be 96º Farenheit, and the mean temperature of the year about 76° Farenheit. Snow has been known to fall onee during the life of " the oldest inhabitant."

were off Fernandina, and as the wind and sea [ timities for sleigh riding and skating are liable to be quite limited.

were nafavorable to crossing the very peculiar and : dangerous bar at St. Augustine, the pilots ran the ! boats up the Amelia river and anchored in front of the new town, where we lay until 2 A. M. of tlie 31st.

Yours, OPTICUS.

There are from four to five hundred letters

This four days' delay at Fernandina, though te- | belonging to members of the nine months' regi- dious, gave us an opportunity to see the pace, i ments, at the Adjutant General's office in Hart- ford. If a member of any of these regiments has

while a spirit of sociability and good feeling was three hundred returned to tell the tale. Now the | cultivated between our officers and those of the i failed to receive letters of value which were sent truth is, the First and Third Colored regiments, together, were thirteen hundred strong, and were posted on our extreme right, and in the three

Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, which to him, he would do well to look among these for now garrison the place; nnd our splendid band the missing epistles.

A man named Tucker enlisted in New Haven recently, who has been seven years in the navy, and was on the San Jacinto at the time of the Trent affair.

037"Duty of the dny-to fill up Connecticut Reg-

fine houses of recent construction, and it is laid ont | for what the First and Third did, are, this mo- with broad streets, (now well covered with grase | iments.

The Tenth Regiment had become so thoroughly

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HOME DEPARTMENT. time, and engross the earnest attention of ja code of rules punishing those who neglect our Legislature, of so much importance as their military duties. Attempts to enforce Our State Militia. this very subject of an efficient State Militia. Whether we look upon the militia as a force NUMBER THREE. needed for home defense, or for the prompt suppression of riots, or as the best school these rules will lead to endless aud expen- sive litigation. And, meanwhile, there will be waating that evident and immediate ne- In previous articles we have considered the necessity of giving increased encourage- ment to our State Militia, We have en- deavored to prove that this necessity is im- perative, and that without such increased cessity for a State Militia, which would ma- for acquiring that military education and terially aid in the enforcement of the re- discipline which are so imperatively called for in the volunteer army of the United States, the whole subject is one of pre-emi- encouragement we shall soon have no mili- inent and controlling interest.

tia organization worth preserving. Now, if the facts which we have stated are correct, and if the inferences which we have drawn ! from these facts are legitimate, it is obvious that there must be grave, inherent defects in the present militia system. Itis, at any rate, absolutely certain that the active militia force in the State is contemptibly small.

We shall devote no time to an examina- tion of the policy of requiring all the able- Nominally, there are eight militia regiments ; bodied men in the State, within certain in Connecticut. Of these regiments, the Ist has five companies, the 2d has six compa- nies, the 3d has three companies, the 4th two might have decided advantages over every companies, the 5th, 6th and 7th have one other system that could be devised, but no company each, and the Sth bas nine com- sensible man who has given any thought to panies. These, with two light batteries, con- 'the matter, believes that this is practicable. stitute the whole nominal militia force of: Let us then briefly consider the policy of Connectieut. Of these eight regiments, fa draft as a mode of filling up the ranks of only three have field officers, while there is our militia. We say in the outset that we not a single Brigadier General in the State. . do not believe that the object at which we Of the twenty-eight companies included in 'are aiming can be accomplished in this way. these cight regiments, a considerable portion Our reasons for this view are as follows : are practically defunct, and should be dis- banded at once.

In the first place, a draft is a tedious, ex- pensive, nopopular and unsatisfactory expe-

But further, we doubt if more than two dient. It can only work to any advantage of these militia companies can show an ef- where the need of men is most urgent and fective force of more than fifty men each. " immediate, and the power directing it is In a word, we do not believe that we have ample, resolute and effective. The existing in the State six hundred men who could be ; necessity must be apparent, and must be, forty holder, and desire to be protected in the en- relied upon for active military duty as mem- alo, a continuing necessity, for public opin- bers of militia companies. This is, in our view, 'ion will hardly approve a drak under any a very humiliating confession, but it is high other state of things.

time that the facts in the case were generally

Then again, a great deal of expensive understood. We cannot see that anything machinery is necessary to make a draft ef- is to be gained by suppressing or ignoring fective. There must be enrollment lists care- the present condition of our militia organi- frilly made and carefully connected, there! zation. Indeed, we cannot doubt that one must be a board to hear and decide cases of adequate protection to the lives and property of reason why our Legislature has hitherto men claiming exemption, there must be shown so much apathy in reference to this medical examinations, and many other na- whole matter, has been because it does not voidable details, before the draft can be appreciate the actual state of the militia of properly said to be completed. Connecticut.

But when all this has been done, the real

Now there is no manner of doubt that business has only been commenced. The under a wise and fostering system of legis. 'men who have been drafted must be organ- lation upon this subject, we might easily , ized into companies, regiments and brig- have eight full regiments, forming two ades, Nor is this all; the militia so organ- brigales, and constituting in the whole. one, ize I must be compelled to perfect themselves division. The State of Connecticut ought . in drill and discipline. It is not too much to be satisfied with nothing less than this, 'to presume that men called against their Indeed, excepting the consideration of meas , will to perform an mcompensated service, ures for re-enforcing our armies in the fieldl,; will manifest very little alacrity in prepara- there is no inquiry which can occupy the tion for that service. There must be, then,

quired provisions. Public opinion will not appreciate the importance of keeping up a system which mainly contemplates the cure of a coming evil, because public opinion Let us then consider what plan can be deals with existing facts, and postpones, until adopted, which gives the fairest promise of ! success in so desirable an enterprise. There are two modes of raising our militia force to the requisite number, -by drafting and by volunteers. the actual crisis, the measures to be adopted for meeting that crisis. However much we may regret this, our regret furnishes no ex- ense for shutting our eyes to the fact. Any legislative action which has not the cordial support of public sentiment is, practically, a dead letter, and merely encumbers the stat- ute book with inoperative provisions. Our ages, to do military duty. Thoroughly and ! " Maine Law " is a conclusive illustration of inexorably carried out, such a system the truth of this position.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 39

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