The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 43

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

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od Lieut. George A. Harmount, New Haven.

Co. C .- Capt. L. A. Dickinson, Hariford. let Lieut. A. C. Ilendricks, New Haven. 2d Lieut. II. S. Taintor, Hartford. Co. D .- Capt. Nathan Frankau, New London. 1st Lieut. IL. F. Chappel, New London. 2d Lieut. Geo. D. Potter, New London. Co. E .- Capt. S. D. Byxbce, Norwalk. Ist Lient. Gilbert Bogart, Norwalk. 2d Lieut. Ed. Nearing, Brookfield. Co. F .- Capt. S. E. Clark, New Haven. Ist Lieut. J. P. Lowell, New Haven. 2d Lieut. Theodore Clark, New Haven,

Co. G .- Capt. L. E. Braley, Willimantic. Ist Lieut. Dwight McCall, Natic. 2d Lieut. John Hurlbut, Winsted. Co. H .-- Capt. Joseph Toy, Collinsville. Ist Lieut. A. T. Ashmead, Hartford. 2d Lieut. Geo. II. Hanks, Collinsville. Co. I .- Capt. J. W. DeForrest, New Haven. Ist Lieut. Chas. Cornwall, New Haven. ed Lieut. Stephen Ball, New Haven. Co. K. - Capt. E. K. Abbott, Norwich. Ist Lieut. Jos. D. Roach, Stonington. 2d Lieut. Stanton Allen, Stonington. Hospital Steward, Ed. A. Freeman, Hartford, Co. C. Drum Major, Leonard B. Farren, New Haven, Co. B. Q. M. Serg. Geo. D. MeClellan, New Haven, Co. D. Com. Serg. Solomon Hinsdale, Winsted, Co. G. Serg. Major J. L. Francis, Hartford, Co. C.

Monday morning, Feb. 27, was rainy. About eight inches of new snow lay on the ground, making the traveling anything but pleasant. The Colt Band attended the reg- iment to the depot, where two trains of cars were waiting to convey them to New Haven, and thence on the " Elm City " they took that cold sail down to New York. Running alongside the steamer Fulton, Capt. J. A. Watton, on which already were six com- panies of the Thirteenth Maine. We wero transferred on board, and found, in the crowded hold, a refuge from the cold. We were delayed a few days for ammunition. Lieut. Hanks, Co. II, was detailed to bring on those who were sick in hospitals, and any stragglers that might be fond. March Ist half a foot of snow lay on our decks, and the fog was very thick, but it lifted about The following is a list of the officers of noon, and our noble steamer bore away down the harbor and soon we were far at sea. To many of us this was an untried life, and there was something fearful in the thought that only a plauk separated sixteen hundred souls from death on that one vessel. We searcely saw a sail in the whole passage of eight days to Ship Island, Miss. On the sab- bath services were held on the quarter deck. It was a beautiful day we were off the coast of Florida. Saturday morning a little after daylight wo could discern the sand banks in the distance, and in a short time dropped anchor near the shore and saw the long line

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

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of men, curious for news, who came down to current at least four miles an hour. One, Colburn was in command of the regiment the shore to greet us. There was no wharf,, night, about midnight, all were startled by a all summer. Ile mounted the guns along and we disembarked in small boats. Co. C terrible smashing noise, and the ship eareened the parapet, thoroughly policed the camp, were detailed to " break ont" the cargo, and ; so as to throw men out of their berths. which was in a very filthy condition. Com- pany drills every morning and brigade drills the balance of the regimeut pitched camp in When order was restored we found the ship the sand. Not a board for buildings or floors had been struck by a sunken gunboat, and in the afternoon kept the regiment in a high was to be had, and we eamped up the island : the wonder was it did not sink us. A few about a mile, carrying all our Inggage and |nights after a burning vessel was seen com- stores through the sand.

state of discipline. They were thoroughly exercised in light and heavy artillery drill, ing down, and a fire guard was organized. and we felt sure if the rebels visited us we We were the fifth regiment on the island. We were anchored in a sail vessel and could Gen. Phelps was in command, living in a do very little it the fire came near us. For- small tent like a true soldier. If it was hard | tunately it struck against the opposite bank drilling in the snow and ice of Camp Lyon, and burned to the water's edge. should give them a warm reception. Our dress parades were often visited by friends of Gen. Phelps and were pronounced by him to excel any he had ever seen in the regular ar- it was much harder in the sand of Ship Commodore Farragut passed the forts with my. A detail of ten men one night assisted Island. All our supplies were brought up his fleet and went on up to New Orleans, and |in the capture of the "Laurel Hill," the on Monday, April 28, the forts surrendered. We were towed up by the gunboat Jackson and Col. Deming was placed in command of ment.

largest boat at New Orleans, and one that has been of very great service to the GoverD -. The river was very high and a Fort Jackson, but orders being changed we | crevasse at Jefferson City threatened to swamp us, but by vigorous exertion it was regiment to ascend the river, and were at stopped.

from the fort, about a mile, by the men, and wood was obtained by sending a fatigne party to the other end of the island, some! four miles, who, having cut the trees and dragged them into the water, tied them to- went on up to New Orleans, were the first gether and then dragged them down, walk- ing in the water often up to their arms. 1 New Orleans fourteen hours before any other troops arrived. Gen. Butler eame and sev- eral regiments landed at once. Not a vessel was at the wharves, the cotton aud sugar had been barned and many of the wharves party of half a dozen one day under Lieut. MeCall, attempting to drag a raft attached to a boat, were driven by one of those sud- den squalls across the sound to near Missis- sippi City. A small. gunboat was sent to their rescue and brought them back next day safe. Water was obtained by digging about three feet in the sand, changing the well once in three weeks. There was nothing what- ever to eat on the island except army rations. An expedition to Horn Island promised freshi beef, but the cattle captured were so poor that we could not eat the meat, hungry as we were.

2nd Asst. Surgeon J. R. Cummings arrived in June to take the place of Surgeon John Welch, who died at Ship Island on board the Fulton. In June we were paid off up to April 30. As the result of having money also. Our first night in the city was spent numerous sutler shops spring up, and too on the wharf opposite the " Mississippi Ware- great indulgence in intoxicating drinks house." We received the first good mail brought a large number of men into the since leaving home, May 2d. Eneamped in guard house, As there was no tent for that Lafayette square, used City Hall for a los- purpose the chapel tent was used, as it had pital, remaining there about four days. The been on Ship Island, and used up in that ser- excitement in the city was intense. The ; vice. For religious services it was occupied vilest abuse from females and children was; at Camp Parapet only one week. Major heaped upon ns especially, when, on the Peck, in command of Co's. B, C, H and K, evening of the first Sabbath, we sung "Star , made an expedition to Manehae Pass, de- crowd in the streets. The clergyman who quite a number of towns on the Lake and preached that morning in Dr. Palmer's on the coast. On Sunday they landed below church, opposite the square, used . these Covington and marched through the sand, words in his prayer: " Why, Oh ! Loid, dragging two pieces of the 2d Light Bat- hast Thou sent our enemies to our shores to tery, Capt. Holeomb. It was exceedingly desolate our land and fill our streets with hot, being the last of July, and as they

A grand review was held on the island in Spangled Banner" and "America" to the stroyed both railroad bridges and visited April, at which sixteen regiments of infantry, besides batteries and cavalry, were present. The Twelfth was complimented on its ap- pearanee and marching .. The drum corps too was one of the best on the island. The force under Gen. Butler was all from New England, except three western regiments.

blood." Monday afternoon we took the reached the high ground of Covington they April 12th the news came that the fleet steamer Mississippi and went up to Camp found springs of purer water than they had were bombarding the forts on the Mississippi river, and orders for us to embark on board the ship E. Wilder Farley, to be towed to the scene of conflict. The regiment never looked better than when marching down the coast that morning to take the boat. We had not lost a man, and left only ten sick in the hospital. It was the work of a few mo- ments to get on board the Farley, and next day we entered the Mississippi, whose water, Parapet, twelve miles, by water. The gans seen for many a long day. Too great indul- had been spiked and gun carriages burned, gence in the water proved disastrous, and two it was said, by the women of the neighbor-'men were sun struck and died on board the hood. We encamped on the left, next the "Grey Cloud," on which the troops made the river. Gen. Phelps' quarters were just on 'expedition. They returned to Hickock's our right, and here we remained six months. landing, where they put on shore the bodies Co. A were sent to Jefferson City in June, of the two men, who were conveyed to Capt. Lewis acting as Provost Marshal, aud Camp Parapet and buried. After coaling returned Sept. 20. Co. F went to Like they pursued their course, visiting Pass Pontchartrain, June 15, with seventy men, Christian, but found no enemy. They gained although very muddy, was welcome to us to and returned, Aug. 6, with only fifteen for , valuable information from prisoners. Theso

drink. We sailed up very near to the gun- boats and witnessed the first day's bombard- ment and the burning of the magazine inside Fort Jackson, but being ordered further down the river, lay at the head of the passes near-

duty.

Capt. Clark was Provost Marshal four companies were first under fire on the

there. Co. D was for several weeks provost Grey Cloud, but behaved themselves man- guard at Carrolton ; Capt. Frankau Pro- fully. A volley was poured into them just. vost Marshal. Col. Deming was sent to as they were leaving the landing below Cor- Washington with despatches by Gen. Butler ington, but our gallant boys, seizing their ly two weeks. The river was very high, the on our arrival in New Orleans. Lieut. Col. pieces, stood up to the work and returned

136

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

1FEBRUARY,

their fire with a will. Descending the river Capt. Holcomb with his 12-pdrs. kept the banks clear a mile or two ahead. The ex- pedition reached Camp Parapet on its return Saturday night.

As we were on the onter defenses of New Orleans we were subject to occasional alarms, and more than one dark night the long roll summoned the Twelfth to their places. Sick men would jump up, and, seizing their pieces, would stagger out to the parale.

The negroes by hundreds came into our camp, and here we saw the first negroes drilled as soldiers, but as Gen. Phelps and Gen. Butler did not agree on that question, Gen. Phelps chose to resign. The evening before his departure the officers of his com- mand, the 12th C. V., 15th Me. and 8th N. H., with a band from the 9th C. V., serenad- ed the General, and heard a few touching farewell words from a man who was willing to sacrifice his commission for principle. No commander was more thoroughly respected |o'clock we received orders to prepare for bat- by his soldiers than Gen. Phelps, and he had tle, the regiment was drawn up in line, and unslinging knapsacks they piled them near seareely left the department before the work he had commenced was carried on by Gen. the road, and forward we went at almost Butler, and the very negroes that were drill- ed at Camp Parapet were enlisted in the 1st, 2d and 3d La. National Guards.

double-quick. We heard the cannon abend and soon met wounded men being brought to the rear. We crossed the bayou and formed line of battle in a field on the right.

Camp Parapet was terribly muddy, and in the months of July, August and September, The rebels in about equal numbers to our

when his resignation from the service was ac- eepted. We were three weeks at Camp Kearney. While there Gen. Butler reviewed the Reserve Brigade at New Orleans, the foree marching out and back about fifteen miles. The Twelfth were complimented for their marching afft they came into eamp as briskly as they went out. Oct. 22 found ns twenty minutes from the time when we crossed the bayou till our boys with a cheer jumped upon the fence near the last ditch, and seized the rebels prostrate as prisoners. The battle was finely planned and as finely executed, and the experience we gained, find- ing it safest and best to rush right on the enemy, was of lasting benefit to us. Cold and on board transports bound up the river. We hungry the Twelfth lay on the ground where sailed quietly during the night, and landed, they had won so splendid a vietory that very at day break, four miles below Donaldsonville. [ cold night. The metal of the regiment had It was very windy, and with one hundred been tried and was not found wanting.

rounds of cartridges which the men carried with their knapsacks the morning march was severe. The few rebels fired and run. The Twelfth occupied the Catholic Church-it | ahead, straight on. The officers, from the was exceedingly cold. Next day they marched all day with overcoats on. The cavalry skirmished a little, but the fight was reserved for Tuesday, Oet. 25. We had been marching all the morning on the left, the baggage train in front of us. About ten

The superior discipline and drill of the Twelfth showed very plainly ; the line was straight and they knew no duty but to go Colonel down, were perfectly cool, and of course the men were. If the courage dis- played that day by the Twelfth bad been shown oftener in our battles, this war would be short. The battle of Labadieville was de- eisive. The rebels . fled from the whole country of LaFourebe, and west as far as Brashear City.

(To be continued.)

The Three Months' Regiments. (SUPPLEMENT.)

The history of the Third Regiment is unavoid- ably postponed until next month. We present a few supplementary matters.

typhoid fever told fearfully upon us. We own were posted on a plantation road with swamp on their rear and thick woods on An anonymous correspondent from Norwich, who manifests a great deal of interest in the arti- eles on the three months' regiments which we have near the flat-boat on which we walked over ; published, sends us a letter. their right. The shell eame whistling over sometimes had one hundred in the hospital at once. Two lamented officers, Capt. Toy, Co. H, and Lieut. Chas. Cornwall, Provost our heads, one striking in the water very Marshal on Gen. Phelps' staff, died in June, and our little neat enclosure, containing Bayou LaFourche. The Eighth New Hamp- We feel grateful for his contribution, and desire to thank him for his " labor of love." His cor- rections and additions will be found to be valuable. We placed them in the hands of Lieut. Lord, the nearly seventy graves, each resting place shire, somewhat in disorder, were on the left, marked by a substantial head-board, told the Twelfth on the right, the Thirteenth Ct. how sadly we suffered. Surgeon Brownell in reserve a little to the rear. The brunt of; anthor of the articles on the three months' cam- was detached on Gen. Butler's staff, and the battle came on the Twelfth. On they paign, who thus replies; afterwards in St. James Hospital. Surgeons ; marched, only stopping to straighten up the | Leavenworth and Cummings attended morn- : line until they found where the enemy lay, ing call, and Dr. Fletcher, of Co. I, detailed : in a ditch where they had a full view of our as nurse, attended the hospital. No inan in fadvaneing line for at least six hundred yards. the regiment worked more faithfully than he on the meagre pay of an extra duty man.

On Sunday, Sept. 26, we receive! orders i volleys and advanced so rapidly that the to move next morning for Camp Kearney, 'rebels did not wait for them, but fled. leav-' below Carrolton, and before night our tents 'ing their dead and wounded in our hands, the Reserve Brigade under Gen. Weitzel.

were up in the new place, and we were in [ also about one hundred and eighty prisoners. his corrections of errors in my own list. These

Camp Kearney was a very pleasant place, about a mile below Carrolton. . \ dry, level plain for drill and a fine grove in the rear for sha-le. Major Peck was detailed on Court Kearney, and Col. Deming, who had been

from eight, to twelve rounds each. The Thirteenth fired, without orders, one round. Nonwich, Jan, 7th, 1864. Editor Connecticut War Record : As our line was so straight and we advanced so rapidly our loss was not large, considering Marshals most of the time we were at Camp the terrible musketry and artillery fire to officers published in your last number. Capt. which we were exposed. Our loss was two in command of the regiment about three | killed and twelve wounded. The color bear- weeks since his second return from the North,

er was wounded in the mouth. Several of was detailed as Mayor of New Orleans, the wounds were very severe. The whole which position he held until Jan. 31, '63, / time we were under fire was one hour and

" My most sincere thanks are due your corres- pondent, whose modesty, equaling his industry, withholds him from accepting the credit that is clearly his due. I have found his lists of officers to be invaluable in enabling me to perfect what The command " fire" was given, and our no- ble boys poured into them such repeated would otherwise have been crude and unfinished. I have availed myself largely of the results of his labors, and am not willing to assume credit for the research and industry that elcarly belongs to him. " The list of additional names of officers from the First Regiment I beg you will publish, and also The Twelfth fired at will advancing, and ; errors were unavoidable, owing to the similarity of names, and in some cases their defective or- thography."

DEAR SIR :- I note four errors in your list of John Griswold, (Eleventh Regiment, ) and Lieuts. Smith, Henry A. (Twenty sixth, ) Tourtelotte, Mar- shall I. (Sixth,) Wilson, Henry L. (Twenty-first,) were not members of the First Regiment.

Of these, Capt. Griswold, however, deserves more than a passing mention, Grandson and great.

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

137

grandson of our former Governors Griswold, he | so much so, that when lying in hospital after the was at the breaking out of the war engaged in business in the Pacific, but at once gave it up and came home overland to offer his services to Gov. Buckingham in any capacity. He first received a eommission to recruit, and later one as Captain in the Eleventh Regiment, (Co. I.) He led his eom. pany at Roanoke, Newbern, and all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, till finally, at Autietam, he received his mortal wound while cheering on his men. IIe was honest in the belief-

I send herewith lists of officers who have re- men.

entered the service from the Sceond and Third , Regiments, also one of officers from the First ad- ber (1,398) only 157 are nine months' men -- going ditional to those published by you. These lists to show that they were not led by a love of filthy are, I believe, as accurate as they can be made lucre in reenlisting.

without access to the Adjutant-General's office. ;

" Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,"

You will make such use of them as you see fit.

Former Company.

Former Bank.

NAME.

Present Regiment.

Present Rank.

Residence.

Remarks.

A, (Rifle.) Private.

Billings, Henry R.

20th.

Ist Lieutenant.

Hartford.

Private.

Chamberlin, Sam D.

16th.

Ist Lieutenant.

Hartford.

Private.

Gilbert, Raphael

7th.

2d Lieutenant.

Cromwell.

Private.

Jones, Devereux

Ist Louisiana.

2d Lieutenant.

New Britain.

Sergeant.

Knox, Andrew

Ist Artillery.

Ist Lieutenant.

Danbury.

Private.

Lewis, B. G.

6th.

2d Lieutenant.

Bridgeport.

A, (Rifle.) Private.

Lyon, Edwin L.

U. S. A.

2d Lieutenant.

Hartford.

Private.

Martinson, Augustus

New York Regt. 2d Lieutenant. | Waterbury.

Killed in action.

II.

Private.

Nearing. Fred E.

8th.

ed Lientenant.

Brookfield.

Private.

Phelps, Horace E.

12th.

U. S. A.

B. Surgeon.

IIartford.

Private.

Stevens, Geo. M.

8th.

2d Lieutenant.

.Saybrook.

Private.

Smith, Jas. T

1st Louisiana.

2d Lieutenant.

IHartford.

B, (Rifle.)

Private.

Schlacter, Fredrich

11th.

Ist Lieutenant. |New Haven.

B, (Rifle.) Private.

Soder, George

6th.

Ist Lieutenant. ! Bridgeport.

F. and S. Q. M. Sergt.

Williams, Isase V. B.

6th.

Quartermaster. Preston.

Resigned.

2dl Lieut.

White. Geo. M.

15th.

Captain.

New Haven.

|Sergeant.

Wright, Frank B.

27th.

2d Lieutenant.

¡Meriden.

Editor of the Connecticut War Record :

Sia :- In your list of promotions in the First Regiment, there is one bright name omitted. Augustus Martinson of Plymouth, was a private in the Waterbury company, Capt. Chatfield, First Regiment. IIe entered the Connecticut Squad- rou, Ilarris Light Cavalry, in August, 1861. In December, 1862, he was promoted to Lieutenant, and was killed June 17th, 1863, at the battle of Aldie, Virginia.

Yours, with respect, W. W. B.

Sergeant Joseph Converse of the First, now the accomplished Major of the Eleventh Regiment, is | Cavalry. accredited to the town of Stafford, but belongs in Windsor Locks.

The Conscript Camp, Fair Haven.

plied to this camp, as there are no conscripts here. "United States Rendezvous," as it is some. times called, is a truer designation.

The camp embraces, all together, 1517 men, with 53 officers, all under command of Brig. Gen. Hunt.

The following is a list of Detached Officers now on duty at this camp:

Capt. WILLIAM B. Scans, 2d Rhode Island In- fantry, Commandant of the Camp. Capt. Lester E. Bradley, 12th Connecticut, Pro. the service by wounds or disease, they are organ- rost Marshal.

Capt. Ezra Sprague, 20th Connecticut, Post Treasurer.

Lieut. James N. Coe, 2d Connecticut Artillery, Post Adjutant ..

Lient. J. G Saunders, 35th Ohio, Assistant Quartermaster.

Capt. Arnold Wyman, 1st Rhode Island Cav. alry.

hundred and ninety.two. Several hundred of this Capt. William R. Saunders, 5th Rhode Island | class are sent to their respective regiments every Artillery.

: week.

The method of replenishing the army, ein- ployed so extensively of late-leaving the whole business in the hands of unprincipled spceulators- Lieut. Michael Kennedy, 9th Connecticut. Lient. Frank Wells, 13th Connecticut. Lieut. II. B. French, 15th Connecticut, though it has brought us many valuable recruits, has infested our camp with crowds of the vilest men-professional pickpockets and gamblers from New York and elsewhere; men who have enlist. ed for the express purpose, after seeuring the Lieut. Theodore Gray, 17th Connecticut. Lieut. Elisha B. Chipman, 21st Connecticut. Lient. Winthrop &. Moore, 7th Rhode Island. Lieut. George W. Darling, Ist Rhode Island bounty, of stealing all within their reach, winning ail they can with gambling tools, and then desert- ing at the earliest opportunity. It is a rare thing Lieut. Richard Rich, Battery C, Ist Rhode Island now, if it ever occurs, to have a squad of men Artillery.

The officers not fully occupied here are, with sixty-six non-commissioned officers and privates, constantly engaged in escorting detachments of te.

INVALID CORPS.

There are four companies of the Third Regi- ment of the Invalid Corps, numbering 293 men. The other companies of this regiment are, two at Hartford, Conn., and four at Washington. In the absence of Col. F. D. Sewall, the detachment here is commanded by Lieut. Col. John Speidel. The men of this corps represent many different regi. iments from all parts of the land. Disabled in lized to perform such duty as they are able to. They are commanded by officers who, like them- selves, bave been searred by the fortunes of war, and are thus unfitted for field duty, but who stand ready for any service which it is in their power to render the Government.

RECRUITS.

boards. The amount raised in this way, together with the confiscated bounty money of deserters, is made to constitute a special Post Fund for im- provements about the camp. But though this in- cidental good has resulted from the rotten ele- ment, referred to, it is most deroutly to be hoped that no more of this sort of recruits will be sent here to poison our camp, and to the army, to rob and pollute our brothers who have through three weary years borne the burden of the war. We hope the new call will be answered by a different . class of men-men like those who went a year und two years ago, and when the war began --- men who are not bought. It cannot be that tho patriotism of the young men of the loyal States is quite worn out.

THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

The larger proportion of soldiers now in camp

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 43

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