The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 56

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

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was a real nobility and dignity in human la- imish between Union negro cavalry and the bor throughout every line and department rebel cavalry at Suffolk, Va.

March 9. Capture of Deeatur, Ala., by

Yet this great expedition was by no means fruitless. The damage it inflieted upon the enemy was enormous. One hundred and fifty miles of railway were torn up; thirty

March 10. Rebel batteries on the Washi- mills and ten thousand bales of cotton

Water Proof, La., by negro troops, assisted

Powell, Mobile Harbor, by Admiral Farra- gut.

Feb. 23, 24, 25. Bombardment of Fort magnitude. General Smith's eooperating cavalry colminn, which was to have reached Sherman from Memphis, failed to get through, March 1. Gen. Kilpatrick within the see- and this failure prevented the expedition from accomplishing more than it did. For it would have been impossible for Sherman to have

ond line of the defenses of the city of Rich- mond.

March 2. Brilliant cavalry expedition, maintained his army in the heart of the ene- under Gen. Custer, on the left flank of Lee's my's country unless he himself had a powerful army. Death of Col. Dahlgren and capture cavalry force, or unless the attention of the

of life. Ile had a strong aversion to mo- nopolized industries, and still more did he Gen. Dodge. abhor the abominable doctrine and Southern

In his Christian character, Colonel Rus- obscurity, shall yet rise in the future, and sell was nominally an Episcopalian. It is | brighten with the praise of posterity. Thrones, said of him that " the pomp and circumstance and empires, and nations, may erumble to of war," instead of blunting the sensibilities ruins; poets, and philosophers, and states- of his nature and hardening his heart, as is men, may have their names enrolled in his- torie records, but when this terrible confliet is ended, and men have returned to their too often the case, had a marked tendeney in softening and subduing his affections, and increasing his reverenee for and dependence peaceful pursuits, will the children of another upon the great Ruler of events. In the last

generation forget the memory of RUSSELL, entry made in his diary, only twenty-four the first volunteer Colonel of our State who hours prior to the battle in which he lost his left his life on the battle field ? As a son, a husband, a father, a eitizen, a patriot, a sol- dier, New England rarely chronicles a better name. life, he says : " We are happily landed on the island. This is half a vietory. We hear the enemy are in strong and superior foree, and what will be our condition on the mor- In the quiet cemetery at Birmingham, along the banks of the Housatonie, he fills a hero's grave. Those who survive this cruel war will yet ereet the enduring monu- ment that shall tell in after ages where sleep the remains of the noblest and bravest of Connecticut's patriotic dead. row is known only to the Giver of all good. If we humbly put our trust in Ilim, and fight bravely, Ile will keep us in the hollow of Ilis hand. If we fall in the midst of bat- tle, He will protect our eause, the triumph of which will bless future generations."

Colonel Russell, in 1851, married an estima- ble lady, Miss Ann Eliza Mitchell, of Hunt- ington, Conn., and three children were born to tlrem, the eldest of which now only sur- vives. They lived together in happy union, and when the war broke out, none parted by gunboats.

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[APRIL.,

burned ; two million bushels of corn de- stroyed ; two hundred prisoners captured, liberate the Union prisoners on Belle Island. and nearly eiglit thonsand negroes liberated. Kilpatrick himself took the direct route to Besides these material results, there was this great military advantage gained : The rail- road east from Vicksburg, across the entire State of Mississippi, was rendered utterly useless. Now no rebel force can ever be- siege Vicksburg, unless its supplies and ma- terials of war be brought over this road, and it will take months for the Confederates to repair it, if indeed they are ever able to do it. The large national garrison at Vicks- burg is thus relieved, and can be safely used against some other point of the enemy's line.

Such, then, are the actual results of this great expedition of General Sherman. What would have been attempted had it been joined by the cavalry of Gen. Smith, is not told us. Only one suggestion is submitted. Sherman, in his official report of the expedi- tion, asserts that Smith was ordered to be at Meridian on the 10th of March. Gen. Polk, in his retreat, did not evacuate that place till the 14th, four days later. Might it not have came separated, and, while gallantly endeav- been designed that Smith's cavalry should have reached the rear of Polk, destroyed his railroad communications, and either forced him to fight with Sherman, or to scatter his army in hopeless confusion ?

An investigation ought to be instituted in reference to the condnet of Gen. Smith. As

oring to cut his way through, he fell into an ambush and was killed, and the most of his men captured. Gen. Kilpatrick marched down the Peninsula, and in due time ar- rived safely within Gen. Butler's lines.

In the trans-Mississippi department the several national armies are in motion. Gens. has been seen, he ought to have been at Steele and Thayer are moving down fromn Meridian by the 10th ult., whereas he did not leave Colliersville, in the State of Tennes- see, till the 11th ult. It took him nine days to march from Colliersville to West Point, Miss., where he was beaten and forced to retire. In less than four days he reached Colliersville on his retreat !

The past month has witnessed another and probably the last attempt that will be

Arkansas. Gen. Banks is ascending from the Gulf, while General A. J Smith, together with Admiral Porter's gunboats, is advancing up the Red river. Fort DeRiussey-a most formidable work situated on the Red river, and commanding it-has already been taken, and thus far every movement has been suc- cessful.

But the most significant event of the past made to capture the city of Richmond by a month is the elevation of Ulysses S. Grant force of cavalry. The chances of success are | to the rank of Lieutenant General and to the too nneertain, and the hazard too great. Yet ! command of all the armies of the United this last enterprise was fiuely conceived, and : States. He has at once and earnestly en- as far as skill, energy, and daring could go, hered upon the duties of this high position. admirably executed.

No man ever will, perchance no man ever

In the first place, Gen. Custer, with a re- can, deserve more highly of the nation than spectable force of cavalry, was sent to the Gen. Grant, if to the laurels of Vicksburg left of Gen. Lee's army to produce a diver- the shall add the capture of Richmond.

sion in favor of Kilpatrick. This move was eminently successful. The rebel cavalry fairly swarmed about Custer, and his skill in extricating his command deserves the high- est praise.

For the Conuretient War Record. The Thirteenth,

On the morning of the 27th May, after a fieree artillery duel of several hours, the roll of unsketry grew lond and near, and the Thirteenth were ordered toward the right to support Gen. Weitzel, who was fighting hard and said to be gaining ground. We were soon in position in line of battle, waiting orders to move

In your September number is given an Heeount of the Thirteenth from its organ- ization to its arrival at Alexandria. I into the iron death-storm in front, when will briefly trace its history from that time to the present.

Before Gen. Lee was aware of it, Kilpat- rick, with a strong force of cavalry, had we were ordered to support a battery, which was theu hard at work. There we Leaving its resting place on Bayou remained for hours, while shot and shell passed over and around us, tearing down passed his right, and was already in his rear. Col. Dahlgren was then dispatched, with a picked command, southwesterly, under in- Bonf near Alexandria on the morning structions to cross the James river, approach of May 14th, it retraeed its steps toward trees, covering us with branches and

Richmond from the south, and, if possible,

Opelousas, striking off' to the lett at Cl.c- neyville and marching along Bayou De Glace, to Simsport, a distance of eighty miles, marched in three days and a half, most of it through deep mud with one day of drenching rain.

Richmond, destroying the railroads as he advanced. The Confederate capital was completely surprised, so that its citizens read in the daily morning papers of the reported At Simsport we were ferried across the Atchafalaya on flat-boats, by contra- bands, keeping time with their oars to their solemn, minor songs. Disembark- ing we bivonaeked on a beautiful spot on the banks of that swiftly flowing stream. Ilere we rested three days for the other divisions of the army to join us, and on the 21st of May started onec more with anxions hearts for Port IInd- son. advance of the Yankees, who in truth were already within their second line of defenses, After waiting some time and Col. Dahlgren not being heard from, Gen, Kilpatrick reluc- tantly concluded to withdraw. Meanwhile Dabigien had struck the James river near Goochland Court House, where, according to the information of his guide, there was a bridge by which he could cross. This iufor- mation was false, and, for his treachery, the guide was immediately hung. Col. Dahlgren Early in the morning of the 22d, we then advanced towards Richmond from the reached Bayon Sara, fifteen miles above west ; but falling in with a force of rebel in- fantry, he was obliged to make a wide detour to the north. The lager portion of his com- J mand rejoined Kilpatrick. Dahlgren him. self, however, with a small party of men, be-

Port Hudson, and heard the booming of mortars and explosion of shells, sonnds not unknown, and with which the next fifty days were to make us very familiar. Our march down the river was nninter- rupted, excepting by occasional guerrilla firing. On the 24th we reached our place, as near as was convenient, and the memorable siege eommeneed. The last few miles before coming in sight of the breastworks, was continnal skirmishing, gradually driving the rebels from tree to tree, and from ravine to ravine. During the skirmishing of Sunday, Ist Serg't Torrenee of Co. F. was killed, and his companions obliged to leave his body on the field, where it was found and buried on the 27th. From the 24th to the 27th our position was on the brow of a hill, on the Clinton road, a place of which the enemy had perfeet range, and which dur- ing those days and afterwards, was com- pletely ploughed over by solid shot, shell and grape. Ilere, from a lookout in a tall tree, we ascertained what was oeenrring in front, and what effect onr own shot fprodueed. This tree soon was made a target for sharpshooters, and beenme too hot for comfort.

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

1864.]

leaves, but strangely doing no injury to our ranks. All day we waited there, while hundreds of wounded were carried past, our own loss being but two or three wounded by stray bullets. At dusk the ; Birge. firing ceased, and it became known scorching sun, on the side of a hill, part- we were repulsed with terrible loss.

The sufferings of that day and its terri -; prisoners and heavy guns were taken, ble scenes will never be forgotten. Ear-and the two regiments were stationed to ly in the day Gen. Paine was severely hold the place and fight musquitoes until wounded, and his place was taken by Col. All day long we lay in the communication was reopened with New Orleans.

The 12th commenced repairing engines, ly sheltered from sharpshooters, and at the 13th building railroad bridges, and in During the night the Battery (Duryea's night with the other troops were ordered ja few days we had a locomotive in run- Regular) was placed in position on the to retreat to our old positions, leaving ning order, and the road repaired as far the dead and many wounded on the field. as Bayou Boeuf, the place where all our As Diekens has said of another battle- baggage was destroyed while we were at Port Hudson. field, "Heaven keep us from again hav- ing knowledge of the sights the moon brow of a ravine, within easy musket range of the rebel parapet, hasty breast- works of cotton bales were thrown up, and our regiment lay back of the battery sheltered by fallen trees and the top of beheld upon that field, when coming up the ravine. Here we remained in caves and hollows in the side of the ravine un- til June 14th. Although our sharpshoot- ers were continually fighting duels with

Soon after communication was opened we were ordered to Carrollton, and thence to this place, where we have since remained resting and recruiting after a long and wearisome campaign.

above the black line of distant rising ground, softened and blurred at the edge by trees, she rose into the sky and look- ed upon that plain, strewn with upturned We have had several changes in the the rebs, none in the regiment were kill- faces, that had once at mother's breasts regiment. Col. Birge has been appoint- ed, and only occasionally a man was sought mother's eyes, or slumbered hap- ed Brigadier by the President, for gal- pily." lant conduct at Port Hudson and else- wounded. One day Lt. Beckwith, while trying to punish an impudent rebel. ex- Immediately after the repulse, Gen. where, and no one in the Department wears the star more worthily or grace- fully. posed one foot too much, and immediate- Banks called for a Storming Party of 1000 men, who would agree to take the place or die. Our position was becoming critical. Our base of supplies distant, forage scarce, our rear continually har- rassed by cavalry, and in constant ex- pectation of an attack in force, which we ly became a toe-martyr. Every night our battery would stir them up inside the works, and succeed in drawing on us the fire of the old ten inch "Demorali- zer," which would send its shells over and among us, with a noise like a creak- ing wheelbarrow, but "nobody was were poorly prepared to resist, it was hurt," though several were badly scared. After two or three night's experience we could sleep as well as ever, and not know until morning our narrow escapes. About the first of June Lt. Col. Warner

Capt. Blinn has been appointed Colo- nel; Capt. Sprague, Lt. Col., and Capt. Comstock, Major. Lt. Col. Sprague, how- ever, has accepted the command of the 3d regiment Corps de Afrique. Capt. Cornwell is in command of a company of becoming necessary to take the place er | Cavalry, detached from the regiment for raise the siege. Accordingly the call important service around this post. was made. You know how well the 13th Capt. Grosvenor has taken command of responded. Its Colonel (Birge) led the | the 2nd regiment Corps de Afrique at stormers. Two HUNDRED AND TWENTY. Ship Island. Capt. Tisdale is Lt. Col. of was obliged by indisposition to leave the FIVE of its men and all but one of theja white regiment raised in New Orleans regiment and go to New Orleans, and officers volunteered. No other regiment for the defense of that city.

the command devolved on Capt. A. Com- furnished one-eighth as many. Fortu- stock, who remained in command during the siege and until the Ist of November. and the expected sacrifice was not made.

On June 14th, the second assault took On the 9th the formal surrender took jand Norman are home on furlongh. Lt. place, and the " Storming Party," led by Bishop is Acting Quartermaster. 4 Col. Birge and bearing the 18th's flag, were the first to enter in triumph, and it THIBODEAUx, LA., Dec. 15th, 1863. J. C. was before them, that the rebels were obliged to " ground arms."

place, followed by the second repulse. Of this enough has been already written, and little enough is known at home. Few, but those who survived it, know what an indescribably terrible day it was. The regiment starting in the reserve at On July 11th, the regiment left with Grover's Division for Donaldsonville, day-break, found itself in three hours in the extreme advance, within less than a where Diek Taylor's army had been stone's throw of the works, unable to blockading the river, and assaulting the advance further. Col. Holcomb of the ' fort. Ist La., (white,) formerly our Major, was | Soon after our arrival he commenced a in command of our brigade until his hasty retreat for the Toche. Gen. Banks: death. IIe fell as we charged over the ordered Gen. Grover to send him his two top of a ravine near the parapet-fell while ' best regiments for special service. Gen. with drawn sword he turned to rally Grover sent the 12th and 13th Connecti- once more his rapidly thinning ranks. He cut. This while he had the entire 19th was a noble-hearted gentleman, a brave corps to select from.

and efficient officer, and died as he had, We were immediately sent under Col. lived. Near him Lt. Strickland of the. Peek of the 12th to Brashear City by sen, 13th, was killed, and among the wounded, to endeavor to intercept the retreat. It were Capt. Grosvenor and Lt. Gardner. was too late to accomplish much. A few

The Roll of Honor.

We are happy again to make grateful acknowledgment to our unknown and modest friend from Norwich, who sends us a very carefully prepared list of names for a roll of honor, which we thus com- mence :

NORWICH, March 11, 1864. Editor Connecticut War Record :

DEAR SIR-The enclosed list of volunteers for ¡the storming party of Port Hudson, covers all from Connecticut regiments, and may be of service to you. It is taken from Gen. Birge's list, and is reliable:

The volunteers from the Thirteenth comprised

Adjutant Whittlesey has resigned ou nately the place surrendered July 8th, account of ill health. Capts. McCord and Finley, Surgeon Clary and Lts. Tibbets

-- 176

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD).

ÅPEIL,

nearly the entire regiment, and all officers present [ols, Vietor Pinsard, George Prindle, Mozart J. ry, Ilebry Keltrath, Edward Smith, Edward for duty, with two exceptions. Thomas, Henry Whileman.

I send also Banks' general order on the occa- sion. Yours truly, "IGNOTUSQUE MODESTUS"?

Say I. Q. M., for short.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, 19TH ARMY CORPS, BEFORE PORT HUDSON, June 15, 1863.

[General Orders No. 49.]

The Commanding General congratulates the troops before Port Hudson upon the steady ad- vanee made upon the enemy's works, and is con. fident of an immediate and triumphant issue of the contest. We are at all points upon the thresh- old of his fortifications; one more advance, and they are ours. For the last duty that victory im- poses, the Commanding General summons the bold men of the Corps to the organization of a storming column of a thousand men, to vindicate the flag of the Union and the memory of its defenders who have fallen. Let them come for- ward.

Officers who lead the column of victory iu this last assault, may be assured of the just recognition of their services, by promotion ; and every officer and soldier who shares its perils and its glory, shall receive a medal fit to commemorate the first grand success of the campaign of 1863 for the freedom of the Mississippi. Ilis name will be placed in general orders upon the roll of honor.

Division commanders will at once report the names of the officers and men who may volunteer for this service, in order that the organization of the column may be completed without delay.

By command of Maj. Gen. BANKS.

[Signed] RICHARD B. InwIs, Asst. Adj. Gen.

[Official. A. A. G.]

STAFF OF COMMANDING OFFICER OF COLUMN.

Colonel IIenry W. Birge, (13th C. V.,) com- manding 3d Brigade, Grover's Division. Captain Edward C. Weeks, ( Acting Master U. S. N.,) A. A. D. C. Birge's Staff.

Captain Charles L. Norton, (25th C. V.,) A. D. C. Birge's Staff.

Asst. Surgeon George Clary, (13th C. V.,) do. FIELD AND STAFF, FIRST BATTALION.

George A. Harmount, (Adjutant 12th C. V.,) Adjutant.

Hospital Steward Wm. Bishop, (13th C. V.) 13TH REGIMENT CONN. VOLUNTEERS.

Co. A.

1st Lieut. Charles E. Tibbetts, 2d Lieut. John C. : Anton Scholasser, Martin Shaddie, Martin Shur-

Kinney.

Corporals Franeis J. Wolf, Christopher Fagan, ' man, Anson F. Super, L. W. Tinker. Andrew Black.

Privates Michael Cunningham, Walter Egan. John Fagan, Francis Caffrey, James Gilbert, Ed- ward Lautz, Joseph Mack, John Martin, John Me. Guire, Henry Morton. John O'Keefe, Loren Pen- field, John Quigley, Thomas Riley, Charles Row- ell, John Smith, Edward Stone.

Co. B.

Captain Apollos Comstock, 2d Lieut. Louis Beckwith.

Sergeants George E. Fancher, Alonzo Wheeler, ! Louis Miesner. George II. Pratt.

Sergeants Abner N. Steny, Samuel Taylor, San- Corporals Roswell Taylor, Francis E. Weed, ter Engelbert, John Duress,

Isane W. Bishop. Privates George M. Balling, John J. Brown, Garrett Herbert.

Wm. E. Casey, Balthazar Emmerich, Peter Gen-

Robertson, Sidney B. Ruggles, Felix Scheryer, Louis Schmidt, Frederick L. Sturgis.

Co. C.

Captain Charles D. Blinn.

2d Lieutenant Newton W. Perkins,

Sergeants Everett 8. Dunbar, Charles H. Gay- lord, John N. Lyman, John Maddox.

Corporals Lewis Hark, Homer MI. Welch, Ev- erett E. Dunbar.

Privates Willis Barnes, Seymour Buckley, Chauncey Griffin, Charles Hotchkiss, Charles Mitchell. John Odell. Frederick Pindar, Joseph II. Pratt, George Rorabaek, Mortimer II. Scott, Jo- seph Taylor, Daniel Thompson.

Co. D.

Captain Charles J. Fuller.

1st Lieutenant Perry Averill. Sergeants Jolin J. Squires, Ezra M. Hall.

Corporals William Finimore, Andrew Holford, Edward Altano.

Privates Thomas B. Andrews, Anemar Asten- hoffer, Henry F. Bishop, Charles Britz, John Cro- vey, John Dillon, John Fee, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Grottis Folkling, Henry F. Fox, Joseph A. Gard- ner, Newton Gaylord, Gasper HIcidrieks, Lonis Ilettinger, Julins Camp. Henry Kuhlinan, Henry Long, George Lesser, Luke MeCabe, Frederick Poush, Henry E. Pulling. Horace B. Stoddard, Win. II. Tueker, Martin Tyler, Louis Walters, Ed. ward Welden.

Čo. E.

2d Lieutenant Charles HI. Beaton.

Sergeants Nicholas Schue, Richard Crolley.

Corporals Robert C. Barry, Leonard F. Dugall. Privates Jacob Brown, Adamn Gize, Frederick Harris, George W. Howland. Michael Murphy, Charles F. Odekover, Fritz Odekover, F. F. Pfeif- fer, Andy Regan, Frederick Schuh, Joseph Vogel, August Wilson.

Co. F. Sergeants Engene S. Nash, John T. Reynolds. Corporal James Case.

Privates James Barry, George Bogue, David Brown, Henry Clousent, James Cosgrove, Byron Crocker, Heury Finney, David Jacques, Abel Johnson, Patrick Leach, Patrick Martin, Thomas MeCormick, James O'Neil, Thomas Powers, Orrin Price, Theodore Siecel.

Co. G.

Captain Denison II. Finley.

Sergeants Samuel L. Cook. Charles B. IIutchins, John W. Bradley, Francis Huxford.

Corporals Timothy Allen, Louis Fostick, Moses Gay. Edward Bogue.

Privates Frank Austin. George J. Austin, John Brand. John Ceeressole. Win. B. Crawford, Charles Culver, James Gay, Albert Hopkins, John Hunk, Henry A. Hur!burt, Asahel Ingraham, Jeremi S. Jordan, Michael Kearney, Joseph Kemble, Albert Lehleitner, Willian: M. Maynard, William J. Me- Grath, John MeKevan, Daniel Moore, Morris New. house, Timothy O'Connell, William 11. Reynolds, Eilis B. Robinson, Henry Robinson, John Ryan, rer, Charles Siddus, Edward Skinner, John Suar-

Co. II.

Captain Homer B. Sprague. Sergeant William II. Iluntley.

Corporals George II. Twitchell, Thomas Harri- số0.

I'rivates Philo AAndrews, Heman W. Bailey, Mi- ram B'ackman, John Blake, Dennis Doyle, Francis Patterson, William II. Smith.

Co. I. Ist Lieutenant Frank Welles, 2d Lientenant

Corporals Francis W. Preston, Joseph Franz.

Co. K. Ist Lientenant William F. Norman, 2d Lieuten- ant Charles Daniels.

Sergeants Miles J. Beecher, George A. Winslow, Charles E. Humphrey.

Corporals Herman Sanders, Herbert C. Baldwin, Robert Hollinger. John Nugent.

Privates John Bennett. Benjamin E. Benson, Frank C. Bristol, George Clancey, William J. Co- jer, Thomas Duffy, Sammel Kaves, Edward Ellison, John Gall, Thomas Griffin, William Kraiger, Peter Mahoney, Thomas Morris, Richard O'Donnell, George C. Russell, Bernard Stamford, John Story, Bartlett Tiernan,

IST REGIMENT LOUISIANA ( WHITE. )

2d Lieutenant James T. Smith, formerly of the 13th C. V.

12TH CONN. VOLS. Co. A. Private Charles J. Constantine.

Co. B. Sergeant John Muller.

Private Charles Dubois. Co. C.

Corporal Jolin Moore.

Privates George F. Dixon, Willoughby Hull, William Putnam, Christopher Spies, John P. Wood- ward.

Co. D. Sergeant Alexander Cohn. Corporals George Shaw, James Robinsen. Privates Leonard Farrell, George Kohlen, Reu- ben Miles, Frederick C. Payne.

Co. E. Private Edward Millerick.

Co. F.

Private James IJ. Scranton. Co. G.

Captain Lester E. Bralev. 1st Lientenant A. Dwight MeCall.

Sergeant C. E. MeGlafllin.

Corporal John T. Gordon.

Privates Ofiver C. Andrews, James E. Chase, James Dunn, Patrick Fitzpatrick, Patrick Franney, William Jobin, Joseph W. Weeks. Co. II.

Sergeants John W. Phelps, Solomon E. Whiting, Joseph W. Carter.

Privates William Converse, Hugh Donnelly, Warren Garnon, Milo P. Higley, William Leming, Thomas MeKay, Melvin S. Nichols. Co. K. Ist Lietenant Stanton Allyn.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 56

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