The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 69

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

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expedition. The result of the expedition Nansemond river, where we remained until having been accomplished (?) we left White the 13th of May, when we were ordered to | House Landing, July 8th, returning by land " Bowers Hill," within seven miles of Suffolk. . to Yorktown. Toward evening a tremendous Arriving at "Bowers Hill " the evening of storm of rain set in and continued until late the 13th, we went into camp near the line at night, wetting us completely through aud of the Seaboard and Roanoke raifront.

making the road almost impassable. Bag-

A large fort was soon laid out near by the gage wagons heavily laden with grain and railroad, and the regiment again took up, stores of all kind stuck fast in the mud and the "shovel and the hoe," to engage in its were burned by our troops to keep them construction. The weather was very warm ; from falling into the hands of the enemy. and the air heated and dusty. Yet the men, Men and animals worn out and exhausted though they much preferred to fight the: by tedious and toilsome marching through rebels with muskets instead of shovels, work- mud and water over roads which in the ed faithfully and well, and in one month had , best of weather are nearly impassable, fell nearly completed two very large and sub- out by the. wayside, and, unable to continue stantial Forts.

¡the march, were picked up by the enemy's

Notwithstanding, our labors here were cavalry who followed closely upon our rear. very arduous and less agreeable perhaps than We finally reached Yorktown, where we had duty with the musket. I still think that at hoped to take transports to Fort Monroe, but no time during our service have the tegi- after halting one day we again resumed the ment seemed to enjoy themselves better, march to Hampton, Va., when after a halt or be in as good spirits as while stationed of one more day we embarked upon trans- here. Our labors closed with the day, and ports and proceeded to Portsmouth, Va., as the cool and balmy air of evening suc- and returned to our oid camp at Bowers ceeded the stifling and heated atmosphere of ilill, having marched the entire length of day, our camp became the theatre of many the Peninsula over the worst of roads, with pleasing and joyous scenes, and the evening , short rations and in the warmest days of the hours passed pleasantly and cheerfully by, year.

made up of mirth and song. Here we were ! Immediately upon our arrival in eamp wont to witness the ludicrous and laugha-iwe received orders assigning us to Provost able exhibitions of the veritable "essence of duty in Portsmouth, Va. Accordingly, on old Virginia," in his purely original charac- the morning of the following day, we broke

ter, as he " hoed it down," amil the shouts enup and proceeded back to the city of of the side-splitting spectators in his most Portsmouth and entered upon our duties as natural and inimitable style.

" Provost Guard," Major Ilirm B. Crosby be-

Here we were often cheered by the en- ing appointed Provost Marshal.

livening song as it floated out upon the still

air of evening, making echoes of melody in this time released from the command of the

the old and silent woods, and bringing to our 31 Brigade, once more assumed command of minds sweet thoughts of home, and remind- his regiment. Lieut. Col. Thos. F. Burpee, ing us of old and pleasing associations far who had been absent from the regiment back in the long ago. for several weeks on account of ill health,

Thus happily the time passed by until the returned to duty during our stay here, with restored health, and entered upon his duties with his usual energy, and did much toward bringing the regiment up to a high stand- ard of excellence and perfection.

Our stay in Port-mouth was characterized by a deep feeling of friendship and an unity of sentiment and action between ourselves and many of the generous citizens of the place, which could but inspire the highest regard and attach us strongly to the ho-pita- ble inhabitants of this portion of the old do- minion.

For the many expressions of regard and the cordial and hearty approval of the de- portment and condnet of the regiment dur- ing our stay in the city, and the many flat- tering encomiums regarding the faithful per- formance of our duty, which have been be- stowed upon us by both the press and the people, we can but return our kind assur- ances of high regard, while we shall ever cherish the remembrances of the associations formed there, as among the most happy and pleasant of our service.

The following is the report of an inspee- tion of the 21st Conn. Volunteers, inspected by Lieut. Col. Geo. M. Guion, of the 148th New York Volunteers, September 7th, 1863, showing the condition and strength of the regiment.

NORFOLK, VA., Sept. 7th, 1863. Captain-In compliance with your orders, I yesterday inspected the 21st Conn. Vols., station- ed at Portsmouth, Va. I found the regiment drawn up in line on Crawford street, under com- mand of Licut. Col. Burpee, the Colonel being absent on special duty.

After the regiment had passed in review 1 made a thorough and rigid inspection of the offi. . cers and nien, their arms and accoutrements, clothing and general appearance. The regiment was not manenvered in battalion movements on ac- count of want of spacc. I next inspected the Co. quarters, Hospital, Adjutant's and Quarter master's Departments, and Company Books, and submit the following as my report.

In passing in review the companies, although small, appeared exceedingly well. The men march- ed with their heads square to the front, and with ranks well closed up and correctly dres-cd. At the conclusion the regiment was not wheeled into line, but I could not perceive that any distance was lost between the companies. The Lieut. Col. handled his regiment with much credit to himself and his command.

INSPECTION OF ARMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS, The arms, which are bright, Springfield rifle musket-, were, with rare exceptions, in splendid order, almost all of them being perfectly clean, and free from dirt or rust. A few of the guns Col. Arthur H. Dutton having been at need new sights, which the regimental armorer

The Twenty-first Regimental History. CHAPTER SECOND, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 178.

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

1864.]

has as yet been unable to furnish. The aceoutre- ments, with the exception of cartridge boxes, were in excellent condition. Many of the latter were dirty inside and quite a number need new tins.

The regiment is quite deficient in ammunition, a large number of the men having but a few rouuds in their boxes. This deficiency, I am in- formed, is owing to the fact that requisitions for ammunition have not been promptly filled. It should be remedied without delay. The knap- Backs were not brought out for inspection, having been recently condemned. The clothing was in good condition, clean and well taken care of. The general appearance of the regiment was good. The officers are intelligent and gentle. manly, and the men prompt and soldierly in their appearance.

COMPANY QUARTERS.

The regiment is quartered in five large build- ings, two companies in each, and for neatness and order the quarters will compare favorably with those of any volunteer regiment in the service. They, ns also the cook houses, are kept perfectly clean, and free from any accumulation of refuse matter.

The hospital, under the management of Surgeon Lee, shows good care and attention. The sick, numbering some eighteen, are comfortably pro vided with elean bedding, most of them lying upon iron bedsteads.

Company Books were, with few exceptions, correctly written up. Returns for Ordaance and Quartermaster's stores are promptly made out and forwarded. Extra issues of clothing have been charged on the muster rolls.

ADJUTANT'S DEPARTMENT.

The Regimental Books are correctly kept. Gen- eral Orders properly filed and indexed, and all papers pertaining to the regiment carefully pre- served.

QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT.

The returns for clothing and subsistene, forage, de., nre all made out and forwarded to July Ist. The returns for July only await the Quarter- master's signature. He being absent on special service. A regular set of books is kept.

Schools of instruction were formerly held in the regiment, but are not at present.

STRENGTH OF THE REGIMENT. 37 officers, 681 men. Present for duty, 443 men. On inspection, 20 officers, 195 men. On guard, . 159 4

Special duty, 89 " 443 “

All of which is respectfully submitted. Very respectfully,

Your obd't servant, GEORGE MI. GUION, Lt. Col. 148 N. Y. Inspector.

To Capt. GEORGE H. JOHNSON, Asst. Adjt. Gen. Distrietof Virginia.

Report of the inspection of the 21st C. V., inspected by Col. Michael Donohoe, 10th New Hampshire Vols., Sept. 13th, 1863.

HEAD QUARTERA, 10TH N. II. VOLS., 1

JULIAN CREEK, VA., Sept. 14, 1863. 5 Captain :- Agreeable to Special Orders No. 23, Hd. Qrs., Dist, of Va., I inspected the 21st Conu.

Vols on Sunday the 13th inst., and beg leave to 148th N. Y., who were to take our duty in submit the following report.

The regiment was formed in line on Crawford street (Portsmouth) at 10 o'clock A. M. under the command of Lieut. Col. Burpee. I find the strength of the regiment to be.

PRESENT AND ABSENT. TOTAL.

Officers, 37

Enlisted men, 681 718

PRESENT FOR DUTY. TOTAL.

Officers, 30

Enlisted men, 504 594

PRESENT AT INSPECTION.

TOTAL.

Officers, 15

Enlisted men, 220 235

At my request the regiment was drilled in the manual of arms, and I am satisfied that few regi- ments ean execl the 21st. I next inspected the arms, aceoutrements and clothing. The arms are in excellent condition. Having examined care. fully every musket in the line, I found none but what were in the best possible order. Some of the muskets are of the " Whitney " pattern, con- sequently difficult to keep in as good order as the " Springfield," on account of the softness of the metal and the poor finish they received at the hands of the maker. The accoutrements are also in good order, the brasses are well polished, the leather blacked and free from dirf. The inside of the cartridge boxes need a little more care, many of them having been allowed to become damp and not wiped dry. The ammunition is very poor, indeed, and I advise the commanding officer to have it condemned, and draw a new supply.

The clothing of the men is iu very fine order ; coats fit well and well taken care of. I believe that the general appearance of the regiment is equal, if not superior, to any that I have ever in- speeted. The officers appear to good advantage. and the non-commissioned officers deserve credit for their neat appearance and soldierly bearing. The quarters of the men were next examined. I fouud them ia five buildings situated in different parts of the city. Everything was clean and com- fortable at each place, but I must say that the quarters of Co. D. were the best arranged, which reflects great eredit on both the officers and men of the company.

I then visited the Hospital, which is under the charge of Surgeon Lee. Much care is taken of the patients, and having lost no men by death for several months, proves the ability and attention of the Surgeon and his attendants.

The books and papers of the Adjutant's office and of the company commanders are kept as they should be. Reports are correctly made out and forwarded at the proper time, which leaves testimony to the fidelity of those officers.

In conclusion I can safely say that the condition and general appearance of the regiment is as fine as any I ever had the honor to inspect, and close observation will allow mo to predict that the 21st Conn. Vols, can be relied upon in whatever posi tion they may be placed.

Very respectfully, Your obt. servant, M. F. DONOHOE, Col. 10th N. H. Vols. GEORGE II. JOHNSON, Capt. and A. A. G.

On the 29th of September we were or- dered to Norfolk to supply the place of the

Portsmouth. Our duty here was greater than when in Portsmouth, but our stay was very pleasant and agreeable to ourselves, and, judging from many expressions of ap- preciation and regard, was equally so to the loyal residents and occupants of the city. Those who entertained disloyal sentiments probably could not so well appreciate our faithful labors and our untiring devotion to duty.

I think, however, that in the execution of Dr. Wright, the assassin and murderer of Lieut. Sanborn, we convinced even that por- tion of the community that we were the faithful performers of God's service, and their conduct from that day showed that our ef- forts in that line of business was properly appreciated, even by them.

On the 10th day of December we were relieved by the 27th Mass. Vols., and order- ed to Newport News, Va., where we arrived the same day, and encamped within a few rods of where we were when here a year ago. We are now very pleasantly situated, though we still miss our friends of the old 3d, who were with us when here a year ago, and from whom we very reluctantly parted. We have lately been the recipients of a schooner load of good things from the Sol- diers' Aid Society at Bridgeport, Conn., and others, who may rest assured that we highly appreciate their many kindnesses, and the more so from the fact that they came to us from a portion of the State from which few, if any, of our men came, and where the regi- ment must be but little known. This has been the only donation we have received since we came from home, with the excep- tion of eight barrels of apples received last winter, while in the army of the Potomac.

Recruits come in slowly and steadily. Some of them need a little more age and growth in order to make good soldiers. Seventeen arrived here last week from New HIaven, Conn., in charge of Capt. Wm. Spittle of the 21st Conn. Vol., now on duty at Conseript Camp; and, more are expected from different parts of the State. DEL.

To My Mother. BY A SOLDIER

When the twilight stars are gleaming In the cold and distant sky ; When the frosty winds of winter 'Mid the leaftess branches sigh; When the mornings of the tempest Come up from the distant sea, Let my name not be forgotten ; Dearest mother, think of inc.

When across the quivering wire Comes the news of victory won. And you wait with fear and trembling News from him, thy wandering son,

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THE CONNECTICTU WAR RECORD.

[JUNE;

Fear not, mother, God will guide me, Bloody though the strife may be. To Ilis care, oh then, confide me ; Dearest mother, pray for me.

When the tinted shades of twilight Linger round our happy home, And the silver shades of evening Softly glimmer, one by one ; When you gather 'round the table, And replace the vacant chair, Oh! then let my name be mentioned In my mother's evening prayer.

When thy woman's intuition Warns of danger lurking near ; When you feel the tempter's power Is encompassing me here,

Then, dear mother, pray with fervor That sufficient grace I feel

Te encounter vice more deadly Than the foeman's brandished steel.

Oh, if 'mid the din of battle, · I am called upon to die,

When no loving friend is near me, Soft to close my death-dimm'd eye, Pray, dear mother, that in heaven, When thy earthly race is run.

That among Christ's ransomed millions Thou may'st meet thy wandering son.

Capt. John Griswold. IN MEMORIAM.

A Dieu mon amo, Ma vie au roi, Mon cœur aux dames, Ilonneur pour moi.

My soul is God's, My life, my country's thine My heart is, ladies. yours. My honor-that is mine.

Motto of a French Knight.

We marched sido by side from Washington to pended from the trees, to protect those in the Antietam creek. My horse hnd been lamed, and open air from the night dews. I stopped one of was left at Alexandria Thus it came, that I en- ; the numerous teams that came in the wake of the joyed those precious communientions with him, whose noble death was the appropriate solution of his noble life.

army, and partly by entreaties, partly by impre. cations, succeeded in being allowed to take some sugar, some coffee, and hard bread, therefrom. Thus my poor wounded had something to eat. My negro servant, furthermore, seized a pair of

At noon on the following day, the ambulances ar-

Ile was a great hearted gentlemnn. Well born, liberally educated, and wonderfully retentive of all the studies in ancient and modern literature, chickens and a small pig, and boiling them nlto- to which he had given so much of his time. But gether, made some tolerable soup for the bullet more than this, his eharacter was trained, and his ; riddled sufferers. The night passed. Three died. told me of the interview between General Burn- heart disciplined. Allow me to illustrate.

The sun shone with dazzling splendor. The ffived that took them to Middletown. I was at the General how he had insisted on being relieved heat was intense. It was one of those oppres. ¡ liberty to proceed. I rejoined my regiment in the sive September noons, and we had marched ten fevening, near the battlefield of Antietam. At miles, over a white, dusty rond during the morn- eleven A. M., on the eventful day, we were order -! ing. The place where we rested was a large field, 'ed down to the bridge. We were on the extreme ; down Burnside's checks; of the refined comtesy skirted by a few straggling trees. Everybody left. The two wings of the regiment deployed on | which some ten minutes previons to his decese, was tired to death, everybody was choked by | either side of the bridge. Le and his company dust, everybody suffered from the great heat. 1 advanced as skirmishers to ford the stream. Ilisi ble retchings, made him say : "Gentlemen, it is found him sitting on a clean stone, under one or legitimate place wns forty puces behind his com- perhaps impolite to mention it at such a tinte, but the trees, covered with dust and perspiration. He, pany. But they hesitated to ndvance. The en- immediately offered me his seat, with a polite bow, emy's bullets enme swiftly. Then, sword and pis- and asked me to share his dinner. Hard breadand tol in hand, he hurried to the front, leaped into salt beef ! but eaten with elegance, and with nn air the water, nnd crossed. Half wny across, the might have exclaimed with his favorite anthor:

that would have become a princely banquet. The | fatal bullet struck him, Ile staggered, hut exert- conversation turned on the geological forniations : ing his strength, dragged himself to the other side. found in the Sandwich Islands, and he, who lind, One of his men followed.

been there, connected with his remarks, such bril -. They told me. In baste I mustered four men, liant descriptions of scenery and manners, that 1 and with a stretcher we brought him over to our seemed bathing with the Kanalins in their nzure' side. The old Surgeon of the Regiment, in the coves, or tasting the rare air on the summit of their . meanwhile, brave as a lion, had snatched a mus- volcanoes. Finally I arose, with the ideaof having ket, and leaning against one of the magnificent attended a " petit dinner," in some tasty salle or ; willows that wave over Antietam ereek, blazed manger. " I shall throw away the contents of my ; away at the enemy.

We took him into a low shed near the bank, and laid him on the straw. The gallant fellow, sensi- tive as a Roman to the exhibition of pain, like a Roman, had covered his face. When I removed the handkerchief, he was ashy pale, so much had he suffered.

"Doctor," he said, " pardon the trouble I give you, but I am mortally wounded, I believe?" I examined. The bullet had passed through the body in the region of the stomach.

" You are, Captain," I replied.

" Then, let ine die quickly and without pain, if you can," he replied. "I am perfectly happy, Doctor. This is the death I have always wished to die. Not even the pains of this body ean make me unhappy. But oh!" here another spasm of suffering came on. I gave him some morphine. Ile felt easier. Seeing through the door of the shed, the blue water flash in the sunshine, he re- peated the first lines of one of those gems of Horace, we had so often admired:

. " O Tons Bandusiae, splendidior vitro. Dulei diguo mero, non sine floribas."

Ile then turned, and gave me directions regard- ing his baggage and servaut. Having arranged his worldly affairs as well as he eonld, he added : "And tell them at home that I died for my country."

The habits of refined life hung to him still. Ile thanked me for my services in elegant phrase, and attracted my attention to the number of wounded that now filled the shed, intimating that he feared that he had monopolized too much of the time of so good a Surgeon, on the day of bat- tle; lie requested some more morphine. Indminis- tered it.

After that, I had my hands full. Still, from the midst of my task, I was summoned to the side of my Colonel, dying with four bullets through his body. I pressed the Captain's band ere I went, and saw him no more. At the place where the Colonel lay, there were hundreds of wounded. All that day, most of that night, I worked. Even at midnight, the Chaplain of the Sth C'onn., who had been under fire all day, res- euing and bearing off his wounded, brought another batch into the barn.

Next day the Quartermaster told me the rest : side and our Captain; of our Captain reminding from the office of P'ost Commissary at New bern, when he heard that the 11th Conn. was going into active service ; told me of the tears rolling when the wound in his stomach enused disagreea- if you will excuse me, I must evacuate my stom- ach ;" and told me of the calm passing away of that philosophie, heroie, and christian spirit. He

Non usitnta nee tenui ferar Penna biformis per liquidum aethera Vates, neque in terris morabor Longius: invidiaque major U'rbes relinquatn.

Upon his tomb stands the broken marble pillar. with his country's flag, and the laurel wreath. Below nre the words: " John Griswold."

nonSE Jons.

haversaek now," said I, swinging that much hented receptacle of supplies in my hands. "Permit me to investigate," cried he, taking it from my hands. To shield them from the heat, the catables were lodged in a nest of bay. "This then is the rea son," eried he, " for leaving your horse at Alex. andria! You desire to eat its forage yourself ; you Nebuchadnezzarize !" At this moment Geu. Ferraro and staff galloped by. One of the horses had a long stream of slaver pouring from its nos- trils and mouth, " Behold," said he, "the sun is very hot. This poor horse's head is melting."

We admired the mountain gorges through which we passed. We saw greenwoods fair, and orchards gay, rich fields, and well-to-do farm houses. We quoted Horace, and discussed ques. tions of moral philosophy, and skipped over liter- ature, from St. Augustine's " De civitate Dei," to Ilugo's " Les Miserables." And all this time, day or night, rain or sunshine, fatigued or fresh, hun- gry or satiated, he would preserve the like cheer- fulness of demeanor, and never forget the least of those courtesies which make life in refined eireles run in such an even course. It was as if he were never out of the drawing room, just as an English- man is said never to leave England, no matter where he travels. Ile carried an imaginary " sa- lon" with him, and whoever approached him- felt bat he had entered n circle of refinement. Nor was this extended to squads alone. He was particular in extending the same courtesies to the soldiers under his command.

South Mountain was reached. All night I was occupied in dressing wounds, operating or assist- ing at operations. A poor two roomed house, filled with wounded men, its garden choked np with the maimed and the crippled, was left in my i charge next morning. Rubber blankets were sus-

1864.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

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OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

For the Connecticut War Record. From the Eighth Regiment. CAMP OF EIGHTH REG. CONN. VOLS., CHESTERFIELD Co., VA., May 18th, 1864. 5 FRIEND MORRIS :- In my last I deseribed the Eighth Coun. resting in eamp. In this I must speak of them in the field and the trenches. The work began Saturday, May 7th. The object in view was to strike the Richmond and Petersburg R. R. Our Brigade-Gen. Burnham's-was in advance, and our regiment led the brigade. The ad- vanee of the enemy was soon found. The Eighth Conn. was the skirmishing regiment, and a more trying place ean scarcely be imagined than they occupied that day The heat was excessive and the enemy concealed. Along those ravines and in those thickets brave men fell. But firmly and steadily the advance continued. Late in the P. M. the enemy was brought into plain view and actual fight. The Eighth, tired as they were, were brought into line and in that open field withstood both artillery and infantry until, ammunition exhausted, they moved slowly to the left and came off the field with the paee and coolness of tired laborers re- turning from their toil. Yet not all re- turned-seventy-two, or one-fourth of the morning line, were killed, wounded, or missing, and only five were missing. Four lieutenants fell, two of them, Bingham and Goddard-noble men-mortally wounded. But figures do not begin to speak of that day's labor. Our gallant Colonel, so cool aud so beloved, was so severely injured by a canister, that for some time he will not be

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 69

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