The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 64

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

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Our thirty days were quickly over, passing as a tale that is told. We came together when our furloughs were out, (but not our visits, ) and from Hartford traveled down to Wallingford, and quar- tered in a brick factory near the station house. We found it like a hive in winter. Our eom'ng acted like a summer day, with a stone thrown against the side of the hive. The old factory for. got its emptiness and silenee. and never did ma- chinery so fill it and craze it as did we. There we passed twelve days, long enough to learn that Wallingford is a fine New England village, with a grand old street bordered with noble trees; that it has its share of tasteful houses and good peo- ple; and while we remember the loyal inhabitants there as most courteous to us and kind to our sick, we bear witness that its whisky is of the most vil- lainous kind.

Saturday, the 27th of February, we took cars for a transport waiting for us off Long Wharf, New Haven. It was the Dan Webster, nasty be- company, and we had it in our brothers of the Eighth and in recruits joining us on board the boat. Our tedious voyage was lengthened at first by an opposing tide, secondly by adverse winds, then by a fog, and all the time by the slowness of the old eraft itself. Speaking of the aggregate, we were cruwded, ill fed, sea-sick, and generally pro- fane and wicked.

The Battery has recently received an addition of forty-one new recruits, who are mostly veteran soldiers, About a dozen more are daily expected, when the Battery will have more than its maxi- Finally, after being "tossed much by sca," we mum. There will be none too many, however, to | tried that by land. Wednesday, March 2d, we

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disembarked without regret, and took MeClellan's | duty. One man, with lungs previously weak, if and fifty other men added their signatures, The mud and corduroy to Williamsburg, one of the not diseased, was never well after we came on idea is salutary for the present. Never existed a oldest, fairest, and most historie towns in this part of Virginia. The 189th New York had left us, as their successors, very fair quarters. Our offi-

shore. He lingered with much suffering about , happier feeling among officers towards each other, four weeks, when he died, and we laid his body or between officers and men, than now. Inasingle in the narrow bed beside those comrades who had i word, we are so/Jiers. Together we are battling cers, for the most part, are in log houses, that | died at the old camp near Portsmouth. The head- ; sloth and immorality now, and holding ourselves board tells the simple tale: " Edwin E. Westover, ready to battle rebels and guerrillas whenever we can find them. Co. K, 8th Reg. C. V. I. ; died March 26th, 1864." We dropped our tear of sympathy for the lone

are good, not to say elegant ; though our frequent rains are making dirty havoe with the Virginia elay in the cracks, which, at the best, is but an extemporized mortar. Ican say nothing in praise of one house, however, unless I speak of the in- . habitant, and it is as well to pass him.

At first the split elapboard houses sufficed for our number of men, but now we are becoming great in numbers, as we modestly suppose we were before in suffering and in valor. The little regi. ment that went home 300 strong now counts 860, and we have room for a few more good men. None others need apply. They will come to a post of honor ; for we hold the advance towards Rich- mond from the south, and our pickets mark the limits of rebeldom in this direction ; and to a post of suffering, too, if they pass many of these rainy nights as some of us have. We are becoming am- phibious, though from the sameness of our rations we can hardly be ealled omnivorous.

While we mention our increase, we have also to record the loss of some of our veterans, who re- peatedly escaped death in battle, only to meet it in another form.

DIED. Charles II. Frink, Co. I, Jan. 24th, 1864, at Sharou.

Aaron Robinson, Co. A, Feb. 24th, at Walling- ford.

William Mantz, Co. A, Feb. 28th, at New York.

Asa Weeks, Co. F, March 9th, at Yorktown. Osear G. Daniels, Co. K, March 3d, at New Haven,

Yours for the war, and longer, DeF.

For the Connecticut War Record. From the Eighth Regiment. CAMP OF EIGHTH REGIMENT C. V., ) DEEP CREEK, Va., April Ilth, 1804.

Give a word of cheer from the Veteran Eightli wife and fatherless child, as well as for the bereaved to all the friends at home, and tell them to hold parents at his home in New Britain, Conn., nor did ; on with brave heart- ; for with God as our leader, Buckingham reelected again, and Lincoln about to be, (so the soldiers say, ) our country is yet to

we forget the brothers of our comrade serving in other parts of the army of our country. The new men who have joined us ure daily becoming (some of be emancipaited and saved. them slowly enough, but becoming) initiated into eamp life and duty. Among them are these who are true men and will become soldiers, worthy of their country and their flag. Others will prove of no benefit to the regiment, either in camp or on the field. A number of these have early exhibited their characters, by generously leaving their ra. tions and quarters all to others, while they have volunteered to provide for themselves. That however, is too much of a good thing, and our kind Uncle Samuel provides for such over-gener-

Yours ever, CHAPLAIN.

For the Connecticut War Record. From the Twenty-ninth Infantry. Ix Caur, 3 MILES FROM ANNAPOLIS, JId., ) March 31st, 1864. 1 Mr. Editor :-

In your Record for March, the Twenty ninth Infantry were reported in barracks at New Ha- ven, guarding white men. Since then a change ons men certain private apartments which honest | has come over the spirit of our lives-though were people at home would not enjoy. One of these individuals has recently appeared in comt mar- tial, and others will soon follow. our dreams told, they would have us still at home. On the 19th inst. there came a staunch, new vessel to New Haven, and the carly moruing of Our regimental band is now doing finely, and their stirring musie. Every such entertainment the 20th-beautiful Sabbath that it was-saw us enlivens many an evening hour in camp with | slowly moving from the end of Long Wharf, that goal of our school-boy walks and seene of idle is a benefit to the wbole camp. For the time the ! dreams among-t the little shipping of our city, sound of profanity is hushed, and purer, sweeter i toward those circumstances which eall for the ex- feelings pervade all hearts. This reminds me of ercise of the greatest manhood. That ealm spring other sources of entertainment now in vogue in | day launched ns indeed into a new life.

What preceded our departure, your readers new aspirations have possessed many of our men. doubtless have from the editorial pen. We were Former associates had been found advancing in much encouraged and pleased by the ovation science, in morality, in piety. The soldiers felt , which surrounded our progress through New IIa- the contrast. Not a few resolved then for the fu-

ven. The tlags thrown out as we passed residen- ture to aim bigh and strive nobly. Some of them ces of patriotic citizens, particularly in Elm street, are hoping to enter college if they live to return and the good will manifested on all hands, wrought home, and Greek, Latin, and algebra fill many on the enthusiasm of our soldiers to the highest otherwise leisure hour. French and German are pitch, and seemed to drown all the grumbling nat- also pursued.

urally attendant upon being cheated out of boun-

Some of our men are emulons of position in the ! ties and kept back from pay. And I believe the Corps D'Afrique, and they are seizing every op- reverence for the color which we received that day is even greater with us than it is with white portunity to refresh their minds in history, geog. raphy, and mathematics, as well as tactics. The ' volunteers for their standards. Notwithstanding, regiment library is eagerly read by all classes, the men seem to think that, after all, the most in- portant color to have and to fight under is that of the United States.

FRIEND MORRIS : At the request of one who has often favored you in former months, but who is particularly occupied just now, I send you a line. The mouth which has now passed since we came to Deep Creek, has been a very severe one for they not unfrequently turning away from their cards to improve mind and heart. Then we have a flourishing lyceum, which now bids fair to make But to drop the story of our departure, of which some persons statesmen as well as soldiers. Our inow we only think to compare in our minds tho day, so far distant, when a war-worn battalion, ¡ tanned by exposure, shall cheer friends in Chapel street once more, and receive its well earned lau- prayer meetings are attended by increasing num- our men. We eate here to do pieket duty, and we have enough of it for our number of men to endure, even in usually pleasant weather ; but thus far we have experieneed an almost uninter- rupted succession of storms. Cold northeast | bers, and divine service on the Sabbath is more ; dusty aud stained, Unt, strange though it be, not winds, bringing torrents of rain, have swept over largely honored by both officers and private sol- diers. Several persons, we think, have been re newed in heart by the Holy Ghost, and new voices | rels. The friends of the regiment of course want thus heard in the place of social prayer. Officers ; to know what our condition is here. It is by 1 0 of the line as well as of the staff now kneel in these praying circles, and speak words of sweet [ soldier requires, first, the sound, well-made body encouragement to the chaplain and the men. In | well clothed; secondly, the musket and accoutre- the same quarters where profanity has been ments ; thirdly, the tent and the rubber blanket, marked, morning and evening devotions are now without which the sound man soon becomes weak. But most of all, the perfect soldier demands strict discipline and generat good usage ; respect for his manhood and character. means the best, though we don't grumble. A us day after day and night after night. Snow. also, has oftimes fallen abundantly. Pleasant days have been angel visits indeed, hailed with rapture, but vanishing as we turned to enjoy. Of course we have had additions not a few to our hospital inmates, but we are happy to say most of the cases have not proved severe, and the health of the regiment has really been improving-for when we first returned from Connecticut, after paid ; so that we believe, in spite of all the impie. the severe exposure endured on the passage, fol- |ty of the army and the unmitigated corruption lowing as that exposure did the relaxation, and and villainy of some of the recruits, there is a in many cases the dissipation, of the thirty days' furlough, a large number was added to the sick

happy increase of healthy religious principle and The Twenty-ninth has excellent men, well clothed. It has nothing else. Two weeks in An- napolis, and yet without arms! Tents are deigned feeling. The total abstinence pledge has also been list. With one exception, however, these have traveling through the regiment. Eighteen com- all become convalescent, and most returned tol missioned officers led the roll, and one hundred | us, but those who ought to know say that a black

our eamp. Since we returned from Connecticut.

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[MAY,

mnn can do without a rubber blanket. Discipline | House, Warrentou Junction, arriving on the 25th die in battle, he is as really to be counted, with at our assigned post in the First Brigade, Third the multitudes in the army slain by disease, minong the martyrs of the war.

we maintain by persuasion only, mounting guard with sticks and cornstalks, or with nothing. Out- Division of the Cavalry Corps. After several side our own camp, there is small respect for our manhood.

As we marched through the streets of the sin- rotted town of Annapolis, a woman, "Fashioned aot slenderly, Old, aad not fair,"

flung open her door, looked with evil eye np and down our black line, aad cried, with a Southern oath, " You d-d black sons of b-sl you'd better go home, d-a you! What did you come down here for ?"

Such greetings, of which we received plenty less striking, we expected and enjoyed. But when, after we had been assigned to barracks, and thea were told that when so promised it was thought we were white, and that now we could go into tents, we began to see shadows on our pathway. For several weeks after our encampment, the weather was cold and wet, making summer quar- ters-tents without fires-anything but pleasant. The men, however, bore their discomforts with great cheerfulness, like true soldiers, aad but a small number became sick. The health of tlie regiment is remarkably good : out of 768-our aggregate now in emp-not more than 25 or 30 on an average, daily, require medical attention. The most even of these, disabled by ordinary Ben Butler once reigned in Annapolis. Alas! that now he is afar off. But his happy rule was too short for him to squelch one insignificant corpora- tion, called the "Annapolis and Elk Ridge R.R. Co." Soldiers of the United States in uniform, off duty or on, dark complexioned, cannot ride on their cars without a pass eertifying that they are free men. Preposterous idea! that any one in the service of our free government ean be a slive. Most foolish notioul that it is the duty of some |colds or other slight disorder. It will be, perhaps, petty marshal to enforce the unrensonable and quibbliag rules of a disloyal corporation.

Thus at every side the black soldier is met by | understands how to eare for the sanitary interests the announcement, old and trite though it be, that he is a " dog of a nigger."

But, notwithstanding all our poverty, all the are not so fortunate. Colonel Wm. S. Fish, our sneers nnd trials which we encounter now, or in commandiag officer, is still detained in Washing- the future may be called to endure, there are in [ ton, much to our regret that military qualities so rare as his should be, at a time like this, lost to us and to the service. Our Lieutenant Colonel, the men of this regiment qualities which adverse circumstances will but develop, and which shall assert our claims in such a manner as to convince : Charles Farnsworth, is at the parole camp, An_ the most querrulous. Beginning early, we mean | napolis, having been released from Libby Prison. so to educate our men as to make them the best of Ile was captured July 14th, 1863, while on a soldiers, and when they become citizens, law abi- scout from Harper's Ferry, and since then, till the ding.

14th of last month, suffered patiently that worst

Not a straggler fell from our ranks ia our long experience which soldiers for the Union have been march to the transport at New Haven, and the ' called to bear-confinement in a rebel dungeon. medical inspector in his visit to-day, has done ns ! We feel that the regiment has been honored by the honor to pronounce our camp the cleanest and the heroism of his unflinching fortitude there not best in the department. , less than by the fidelity of his service while he

Within n day or two we have been joined by the was with us in camp or in the field. He will be 26th U. S., from New York City, and by the 1st welcomed back whenever his exchange ean be Michigan C. V., both splendidly equipped in every . effected. respect, the latter even to a band, while we are ; objects of charity. Who wants to pity na ?

We have at last a Major. Captain Ward, of lee, an experienced aad accomplished officer, who Co. E, a most finished officer and gentleman, has is earnest and uatiring in endeavor to promote the received the promotion, which gives entire satis- efficiency of his command. Our other field officers | fnction. The regiment now needs its Lieutenant are Major George O. Marey and Major Brayton . pied by officers, is suid to have been built by Dula- Colonci, two Ist Lieutenants, aad a chaplain.

Yours truly, B. W. E.

From the First Connecticut Cavalry.

CAMP OF THE FIRST CONN, CAVALRY, 1

days of fruitless search for a dry spot upon which to encamp, we fonad a good site where our tents

April 5th, Sergt. George A. Fish, of Company Il. died near Grove Church, Va., from injmies in- were pitched, and where they have remained till flieted by guerrillas a few days before. He received over twenty wounds, the more serious of them after he had surrendered and with his own re- volver. Ile was a tried and trusted soldier, al- ways ready, wherever duty called. At the time when he with his party were attacked two mem- bers of Company II were taken prisoners aad are now in the hands of the enemy-Frederick Tetro and Daniel Mehan. Picketing and scouting con- stitute just now our principal work. About thirty-

the present time. We are situated about two miles from the rebel pickets, within sight of their camp fires, and upon nn elevation which com- mands a view not only of many interesting points in rebeldom, but of n delightful country on this side of the Rapidan. The Blue Ridge, its peaks still covered with snow, towers magnifi- cently to the West. In almost every direction, scattered over valleys and hills, are camps with- out number. Within a mile lies Stevensburg. |three per cent. of the regiment are all the while though what, we are told, was once a pretty rural village, is, like all this section of Virginia, n deso- late ruin.

at the very extreme front. Detachments remaia ut three or four days, sometimes twice as long, and are then relieved. There is every indientiou that Virginia is to witness within the next sixty days the great shock of the war. We of the First Connecticut Cavahy are glad that it is to be our privilege to share in a struggle which, with the blessing of Providence, may virtually finish the rebellion, and we mean to do our whole duty. H.

Second Connecticut Artillery.

April 25, 1864.

Amid the extensive moving of regiments, pre- paratory to the Spring campaign, it has been ex- pected this regiment would receive marehing or- ders. If Madam Rumor could have sent us to the front, to Tennessee, or to Texas even, we should most nssuredly have gone, if not as artil- lery thea as infantry ; for she hus labored indus- triously and perseveringly to accomplish it. Nev- ertheless, we are still here in the region of Alex- aadria, Va., that seessh and corruptiag city, the moral miasma of which this regiment has breathed to its great detriment since it left Connecticut. Not, however, because the regiment has not been offered for the field, for this has been several times requested by the proper officer. Still like good soldiers, carrying out their first duty, we are obeying orders, and remain in gurrison, while others have gone and are going to reap glory, possibly shame, more certainly depletion.

Fort Ellsworth, the nearest to Alexandria, is one of the oldest forts ia this line of defenses, nnd was commenced by the Ellsworth Zonaves just after the taking of Alexandria. It is located on In the absence of colonel and lieutenant colonel the regiment is commanded by Major E. Blakes- Suters Hill (not Shnters as it is sometimes called,) on the east front of which was once a large and beautiful residence, burned some time before the war, owned by Richard Dulaney, n relative of the Fairfixes. The building now standing and occu- lves, the latter of whom, though nbseut now, is expected sooa to rejoin us. ney expressly for Rob. Ashby , strongly secesh in sentimeat, cousin to Col. Ashby of the Black Horse With regard to the general condition of the reg. iment there is nothing especially interesting to communicate. Cavalry (rebel.) A large brick cistern connected with the barn of the original building, was for a We linve had but two deaths since our record was sent you in February. time used by our troops as a magazine, but lately dug up for the bricks. I am told, (whether truth- On the 1-tth of March James Foster, of Company M. from Meridea, died of typhoid fever at Balti- fully or not I cannot say, ) by na old inhabitant, that Washington would like to have had the capi- tol located upon this hill, but was unwilling to ask more, after a sickness of abont two months. Leav. Iso much for his own state. A beautiful location

STEVENSAURG, VA., April 21, 1861. 5 Mn. EDITOR :- The First Conncetient Cavalry, whea Inst reported to the WAR REconn. was at Baltimore, nuder orders to join the army of the [ ing an attractive home, in the full vigor of carly ! indeed would it have had, coannanding a view of l'otomac. Leaving Camp Chesebrough on the 8th of Inst month, the regiment marched via An- manhood, inspired by the hope of contributing to ; the Potomac for miles. In the southeast corner of the support of the Government, he fell at the very ¡the fort on this hill, early ia the war a soldier napolis Junction, Washington, Fairfax Court | threshold of the service, But though he did not | was hung, for killing n female in Alexandria. The

a relief to many anxious friends to kaow that we have a surgeon, Major George A. Hurlburt, who of a camp, a man skilled in his profession, nnd besides, a kind hearted geatlemaa ; all regiments

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regiments of the region were called out to witness the execution. This fort has been garrisoned at different times by five or more different regiments. In the fort are several brass pieces used in the Mexiean war, bearing the inscription, " Duncan, Paloalto, Resaco, Monterey, Molino, Cherubusco, Mexico." In this fort there is also kept as a curiosity, a singular piece of naval artillery, enlled a short eannonade, a thirty-two-pounder- so estimated probably in its day-said to have been left by the English in the war of 1812, but must have been cast long before that. Iu contrast with tho other guns of the fort it shows the very great improvement made in that line; for it excites wonder if it can ever have been either of the can- non or mortar kind. This fort is now undergoing extensive repairs and alterations.

Fort Williams, the next on the west, was built last year, and in a manner showing that time ned experience have wrought improvement in the con- struction of such fortifications. And as great pains have been taken and taste displayed in or- namenting and grassing it, it is a gem of its kind, and one of the few forts in the line uniformly re ported by inspecting officers as "ex" (exertaut.) This fort is on the grounds once owned and oeen- pied, but deserted five days after President Lin- coln's inauguration, by Cooper, now Adj. Gen. of the Rebel army, formerly of the War Department, Washington. Only a few days before leaving, speaking with a neighbor of the course the south were taking, he remarked, ns he may yet find sor- rowfully truthful, that "it had everything to lose and nothing to gain." The day before departing he seemed in mneh trouble of mind and was ob- served very anxiously pacing the piazza of his house. His furniture was removed by his son-in- law, Col. Whraton of our troops, but was nfter- wards confiscated and sold by the government. Cooper married Miss Mars Mason, sister to Mason, of Mason and Slidel notoriety; nnd this may ac- count in part for his going over to the south ; at least some of his late neighbors so think, who speak quite highly of him as a neighbor. The cellar of his house is the bomb-proof of the fort.

Fort Worth, the next and largest of the three garrisoned by this regiment, is on the grounds formerly owned by a Mr. Hurbert, who was in company with Rob. Ashby, in the mercantile business in Alexandria, Ile was a bachelor, and is now or was a Col. in the rebel army, and is re- ported to have lost a leg in the war. llis house stood within the fort. In this fort are two of the famous Whitworth guns, presented to the Gov- ernment by loyal Americans in Europe, said to carry six miles. It is reported that Gen. Hooker fired one of them at a house five miles distant nnd hit it. There are nlso in this fort several of the guns used by Majors Ilemingway nnd Kellogg of the first Connecticut, the latter now Col. of this regiment, in the l'eninsula enmpaign, and drawn at niglit by the men up the steep declivity of Mal- vern llill, where it was supposed impossible to get them. But in the morning there they were

finding the needed tools as best they could, a white oak tree of the right size was cut and a new tongue roughly made and the gun soon on its way. That tongue still serves the gun. This fort is commanded by Major James Hubbard; Fort Wiliams by Major William B. Ells ; Fort Ells worth by Major James Q. Rice.

Engles for his efficient aid in this instance, and he entered into the affair with the same heartiness as if the rebels were on land.

On Sabbath morning the propeller Tappahan- nock reached St. Augustine from Jacksonville, bringing the Seventeenth Connecticut Volun- teurs, Colonel Noble commanding, to relieve the The building now occupied as the headquarters of the regiment, before the breaking out of the war was the residence of a Mr. Whitmore, also n mer- chant in Alexandria. Anticipating the war he went north nad purchased a large stock of goods on credit, which he took to Richmond. This is Tenth, that the latter might go north for more active service. The Seventeenth shows a fine set of men, and was very soon settled down in quarters, having dress parade at sunset on the plaza. In the evening a farewell religious service was conducted in the Episcopal church by the the last known of him, except that he is reported Chaplain of the Tenth. Both regiments were to have become quite wealthy, and all in real estate.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 64

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