USA > Connecticut > The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865 > Part 76
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Immediately upon our arrival, Colonel Abbot was placed in command of all the siege artillery of these works, none of which was then in position. lle was soon after- ward appointed acting Chief of Engineers of these lines. Under his direction, our regi- ment, assisted by Colonel Sorrell's Regi- ment N. Y. Vol. Engineers, proceeded to strengthen the lines, which had been admi- rably laid out by Captain Farquhar, then Chief Engineer of this Department. Our guns were soon placed in position. The lines
Captain Osborn, with Company G, was sent, some weeks since, to the redoubt on Spring Hill, opposite Point of Rocks, and Captain Burton, with Company I, a few days extend from near the "Centre House," on the since, to the lines near Petersburg, with James, on the right, to " Point of Rocks," on the Appomattox, on the left, with a re- doubt on the other side of the Appomattox at Spring Hill, opposite " Point of Rocks," -a pontoon bridge now extending across the river between these points.
Upon our arrival here, Major Cook, with the Third Battalion, was placed on the heavy fire,-our return fire being mainly right ; Major Trumbull, with his Battalion, (the Second,) from near the left of the sally
one, Co. B, Capt. Brooks, in front of which is a small redoubt, in which, with other with part of that company.
under the command of Major Cook, on the 16th, on picket duty, for abont thirty-six hours. Since when no picket or infantry duty has been done by the regiment. About the 18th, Captain Pierce, Co. C, was placed under command of redoubt six, Company
L. Captain Pride was also placed in relief, and Captain Gillette, Company A, of a redoubt on the extreme left of the line, near Point of Rocks; Captain Roekwell, First Connecticut Light Battery, then sue- ceeding Captain Gillette in redoubt two. Soon after this an advanced redoubt was placed in front of redoubt six, under the command of Captain Pride with Company L, assisted by a detachment of Baker's Car- ahy (dismounted,) and quite recently Cap. tain Gillette has been changed from the re- doubt at Point of Rocks, and is now in com mand of redoubt six, with Companys A and E,-Capt. Pierce, with Co. C, being in com. mand of redoubt eight, which is armed with guns captured from the enemy at Peters- burg. A water battery was also established lower down on the James, opposite the point where our Monitors lie. This was manned by a detachment from Company II, Lieutenant Dimoek. A day or two since, Captain Hubbard, with the whole of Com- pany H, were transferred to this command. There is also a small redoubt in front of number three, in which is Lieutenant Turner with a detachment from Company F, assist- ed by a detachment of Langdon's Light Battery.
three thirty pound Parrott rifled guns, under the command of General Smith. Captain Bingham, with Company D, was sent yester- day to near the same point with additional guns.
From the 18th of May until the present, the regiment has been frequently under
der the command of Major Cook is redoubt | fragment of a shell from the enemy, a day or two since.
On the 27th of May, Sergeant W. HI. H. troops, is Lieutenant Bangs, Company M, Bingham, Company G, with William B.
Watson, Company Il, Jobn Riley, II. G. Scott, James R. Young and John Keaton of Company I, all privates, were returning with soldiers from other regiments from furlough, when nearly opposite William's Landing, on the James, the boat was stopped by order of General Wilder, then in com- mand there, and volunteers ealled for to aid in a fight then going on at the point, the enemy being in strong foree there under Fitz Hugh Lee. These six men volunteered, and were placed in charge of a ten-pound Parrott rifle gun, which they served with great effect upon the enemy, contributing in a very great degree to the important success of that day. The enemy approached within one hundred and seventy-five yards of our works there in massed columns of attack, and the effect of this gun, double-shotted, was terrific, compelling the enemy to with- draw.
Captain Pride, with Company L, had the honor of participating in another quite bril- liant though short affair on the 25th of May. The enemy had driven in our pickets and captured two companys of the Seventh Con- necticut, in the woods in front of this re- doubt, compelling our picket line to fall back. Captain P. opened upon them with cannister, with deadly effect, eausing them to retreat to cover. He sent out all his gar- rison excepting twenty-one men left to man the guns in the redoubt-at first forty of the cavalry and twenty-one of Company L, with instructions to form a junction with such of our pickets as had remained in line, and soon after Lieutenant Rogers of Company L, with the remainder. The rebels at this time waved a white flag from the point at which the eannister had been fired. As our skir- misli line advaneed to the flag, twenty-three of the enemy surrendered. The enemy suf- ferred severely by the fire fromn Pride's howitzers, losing their Colonel, (Dantzter, 22d S. C.)
Our siege train has just arrived at City Point. We are of course much gratified with the honor of conducting two siege trains during this war.
On the 23d of May we lost, by expiration of term of service, three hundred and forty- nine men, -about five hundred having re- enlisted as Veteran Volunteers.
Sergeant Tucker, Company A, remained for thirty days longer. Ile was slightly wounded, a day or two before he concluded to remain, not enough, however, to prevent
from batteries Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, the advance redoubt of Captain Pride, redoubt at Spring port, extending left to include redoubt No. 3, Hill, and water battery. Lieutenant Dim and the First Battalion between them. Un- ock was wounded in the side slightly by a his attention to duty. Ilis noble example
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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.
LJELY,
has reflected great cre lit upon himself. le prefer to be where the telling blows are was yesterday discharged from the service, struck. In the great onward march of our and has the pleasing consciousness that he glorious army the Nineteenth Corps must has won the respect or all his officers and'not be idle; they do not care to be, and comrades. General Butler, with his own probably will not be.
hand, wrote at the bottom of his dischargei these words :
Mr. Editor, do you know what heat is ? Does old Sol come down ever in New Haven
"Sergeant Tucker most loyally remained with (>0 that you draw breath as men do rations, his regiment, after his term of service expired, doing his duty most gallantly. No soldier stands better with his officers.
[ igned,] BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General Commanding.
To th's Colonel Abbott added a letter most highly complimentary to him. Ser- geant Tucker may well be proud of his posi- tion. Colonel Abbot offered to recommend him to Governor Buckingham for a commis- sion. This, however, he declined accepting.
The casualties of the regiment since we reached these lines are as follows, viz :
Killed .- Privates Wm. H. Quintan and Wm. Rolleston, Co. I; Jas. McCormick, Co. K; Chas. C. Pollard. Co. G.
Wounded .- Lieut. George Dimock, slightly : pri- vates William Murphy, Co. F; John R. Miller, Co. D.
I am very respectfully, Yours truly, NELSON L. WHITE, Lt. Col. Ist Conn. Art'y.
For the Connecticut War Record. From the Twelfth Regiment.
CABROLTON, L.A., June 21st, 1864. Mr. EL ITOR-There is a concert in my tent to-night. Not vocal -- we have very few singers in the Twelfth-not by the band, they are just going on the parade to give us the tatoo-but a certain winged insect called the "mu-quito," has gathered its forees and is holling carnival to-night : per- haps they are rejoicing that we are to move soon. The orders came this morning "at a moment's notice, in light marching order ;" we know what that means, exactly. The order did not surprise ns, nothing does, bu: the five companies, B, C, E, F and K, who had just left and had fitted up for thew- selves clean and nice quarters in Carlton and at the great hospital half a mile below us, were taken aback a little, to be relieved by a dirty, ungoverned set of men this morn- ing, and ordered to report back to the eamp they had vaeated three days ago. There is no great loss without some small gain, how. ever. We hope the yellow fever will not vi-it New Orleans this summer, but no mor- tal man can tell, and if it should, we should prefer to be somewhere else: besides, we have been educated at the front, and al- though it is pleasant on some accounts to
two to get one? We get more than hot in this flat country. The sweat runs until not a dry thread is on a man, and all at once he begins to shiver, and eold cbills run over him. Ile drops his gun, drops himself, and shake, as if he would tear his body in pieces. No amount of covering warms him until the shake is over ; then follows a fever, his pulse at 130 and his body parched for an hour or two. Every other day an hour earlier these seasons of chill and fever come on and some- times for weeks and months bafile the skill of the surgeon and claim the man as their prisoner. If there is anything that will take the stareh out of a man it is a good chill. Ile feels so mean that he will eat as daily food that terrible bitter medi- eine, quinine. It is about the only thing that will affect them. Such are some of the pleasant little incidents that make up our life.
The appearance of the Twelfth regiment has improved daily since we arrived here. The men vie with each other in keeping themselves and their equipments untarnished.
The guard mounting at 7 A. M. and dress parade at 6 P. M. show as bright guns and tras-es and elean clothes, and nicely blacked shoes, as any regular regiment. We believe in these things. It is a part of a soldier's duty as inch to keep his elothing and equipments clean as it is to stand guard How much the discipline of our army might be improved by proper attention to these things. A niee looking soldier with a shin- ing gun and brasses that are bright as a mirror will think much more of himself. lIe will not be half as likely to do a thing disereditable to the service. For that reason. perhaps, the behavior of the members of The Twelfth is very highly spoken of both by the General in eominand and by citizens whose premises and persons they guard. Sickness increases as the summer advances. At this season of the year every effort should be made to give the soldiers as many veget- ables as possible. Their living is hard enough at best. It is they who carry the mn-kets, who make the sacrifice in this war. It is they who endure the hardship.
Some of the men who were left behind in Connecticut have been reported dead ; we believe, however, the Provost Marshal will guard Q. M. stores and railroad trains, we bring them to life again. Among all the face of the doctor.
efforts at improvements we think the band has tried as hard to perfect themselves as any cla-s. Their music is so good that the men have determined to help the officers bear the burden of their support.
Well, friends in Connecticut, here goes for the front. Dress eoats, shoulder scales, white gloves, go into that large box and stay in New Orleans till Richmond falls, and Atlanta is ours -- shall we add, till prace comes to us again. God grant us a decisive conflict. Yours, J. H. B.
For the Connecticut War Record. From The Sixteenth Regiment.
CAMP OF DETACHMENT, 16TH CONN. VOLS. ROANOKE ISLAND, N. C., June 22d, 1864. 6 MR. EDITOR :- There have been two more raids, excursions, or expeditions made du- ring the present month ; one at Edenton and the other to Hertford, a thriving place some twelve miles from Ellenton. The result was in each case successful, and lumber, &e., was brought back in large quantities, with the loss of one man who deserted at Hertford. The deserter was formerly in the rebel army belonging to a Texas regiment, and had but reeently joined the Sixteenth. Another of the new recruits, while on guard, two or three weeks ago, was found dead a few rods from his beat by the relief sentry, he having fall- en in a fit and died before he was discovered. llis name was Samuel Johnson, and his friends reside in Baltimore or Washington. Our regiment is kept up with at least an at- tempt at the old style; dress parades week- ly, astonishing the gazing a-semblers who stare with undisguised wonder at the novel sight. Capt. Barnum acts as Colonel, Capt. Pomeroy, the only commissioned officer with us except the Captain commanding, acts as Major : Ist Sergt. Robinson acting Lient. in command of Co. HI; Sergt. Fenn acts as Lieut. in command of Co. Q, and Sergt. Roys as Adjutant. Then we have a Corporal (Carter) to act as Sergt. Major, and frequent- ly privates act as Corporals. It really seems as though all we wanted toenable us to get along very comfortably as a regiment was a few competent men to act as privates. There seems to be the sticker. The men can be found for all the other branches of the busi- ness, but an eligible opportunity awaits a few competent men to act as privates. Surgeon Meyer has not yet joined the regiment and it is doubtful if he does at present. He is an excellent surgeon and his presence will be welcome to all of us who have ever had oc- casion to eome under his care. The health of the regiment is good at present, but at the same time we would like to see the pleasant
ROANOKE.
1:64.]
THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.
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For the Connecticut War Record.
From the Fourteenth Regiment.
CAMP OF THE 14TH CONN. VOLS. ) 11 MILES NORTH OF RICHMOND, VA., June 9th, 1864.
MR. EDITOR :- In compliance with your request I send you a list of the casualties in this regiment from the commencement of the campaign up to the present date. I cannot attempt at this time to give you an account of what the regiment has done. Suffice it to say that we have taken a part in all the movements of the Second Corps, and have been engaged some seven or eight times, not wholly without credit to the regiment.
Colonel Carroll, our brigade commander, who is a regular officer and ene of the best in the army, told us that in the battles of the 5th and 6th " the Fourteenth did nobly, men couldn't have done better." This we consider high praise, coming from sach a source.
In the charge made by our corps upon the morning of the 12th of May, after pursuing the fleeing enemy for some distance beyond their entrenchments, we turned upon them their own cannon, and worked them with some effect. Lieut. Colonel Moore was par- ticularly active in this, and was ably assisted by our Sergt. Major and Orderly Sergeant Bradley of Madison. Capt. Niekols of Nor- wich, with a small guard took back to Corps Headquarters a large number of the captured rebels.
When we left our winter quarters on the Rapidan, we had about three hundred and fifty fighting men. Our loss has been somne- what over half that number, and many of those who have left tis are men whom we could ill afford to loose. Among them are such men as Ilenry Lyon of New Haven, our Color Bearer, Sergt. Charles M. Scoville of New Britain, and Sergt. Edwin Stroud of Middletown. Stroud is the man who single handed captured and brought in five armed rebels at Bristoe's Station last fall
Three of our little company of officers, Captain Fiske and Lieuts. Shalk and Wad- hams, were killed or have since died of their wounds. Their memory will always be very precious to us. The friendship between us was of no common order. It had been strengthened by the many dangers and hard- ships we had passed through together, as well in General Bank's army.
as by the social intercourse of the past win- ter. Perhaps at some future time I may be able to give you some little sketch of the men and their services.
We now number about ten officers and Yer of our men who have been absent in hos- Istals or in camps paroled, having joined us
again within the past few days. We are'in hopes that some of our number at least, may be spared to witness and participate in Grant's triumphal entry into Richmond, but all feel convinced that more hard labor and fighting awaits tis before that object can be attained. The Fourteenth forms a part of the Third Brigade of the Second Division of the Second Army Corps.
Our Corps commander is Hancock, our Division commander, Gibbon, our Brigade commander was Colonel (now General) Carroll ; since he was wounded the Brigade has been commanded a part of the time by Colonel Ellis of our regiment, and a part of the time by Colonel Smyth of the first Del- aware, tbe senior officer.
Yours truly, H.
For the Connecticut War Record. From the Second Conn. Light Battery.
ALGIERS, LA., June 21st, 1864. The Battery left Brashear City on the night of the 17th inst. and arrived at day- light the next day at this place. We have gone into park, temporarily, near the depot, and as we understand, are awaiting transpor- tation to some point up the river. Our des- tination is supposed to be Morganza. Just previous to our leaving Brashear City our section of the battery went on a reconnoit. ering expedition up the Teche country. We were accompanied by cavalry and infantry, and two gunboats. The object of the expe- dition was to ascertain whether any force of the enemy were in our vicinity. Some at- tempts had been made by Dick Taylor's for ces to cross the line of the Atchafalaya, but without success.
The right section of the battery under Lieutenant Hotchkiss has just joined us. This section has been on detached service at Thibodaux for some months. Several men who were sent thither under Lieutenant Gray to man a couple of howitzers to operate with cavalry have also returned to the battery. We have a full complement of men, al- though a few will be left here in the hospi. tal. The weather is getting to be very warm, but having become acclimated we are ena- Uled to perform any duties to which we are assigned. We are expecting active service
UNION.
Corp. Chas. E. Young, son of the late Charles Young of New London, of the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts regiment, was killed in one of the late battles in Virginia.
For the Connecticut War Record.
From The Eighth Regiment.
CAMP OF THE STH REGIMENT, CONN. VOLS .. } CHESTERFIELD Co. VA., June 20. 1804. 5 FMEND MOREIS :- Another month of the unpar- alleled campaign has passed; another month of marching and fighting. Gen. Grant engages in war as other men engage in the ordinary avoca- tions of life. Ile is neither ashamed nor afraid of his work, but adapting his plans to developing circumstances per-istemily presses forward. Un- less the old adage, " Where there's a will there's a way," now for the first time proves untrue, then Richmond, like Fort Donelson and Vicksburg, will surely fall, even if to accomplish it the campaign last a full twelve mouth.
Following the date of my last, a few days were spent by the Eighth Conn. in strengthening the fortifications between the James and Appomattox rivers. On the afternoon of May 28th, our corps, (the 18th,) and part of the 10th, Major Gen. W. F. Smith of the 18th Corps commanding the whole, moved to Bermuda Landing. where all em- barked for some, tous unknown, destination. And here let me say, that if Gen. Grant's plans are as completely unknown to the rebels as to his own sol- diers, no wonder they are puzzled. The beautiful Sabbath sun of May 29th saw us gliding down the noble James river. Monday we ascended the York, and after too many delays to be mentioned,-(gov- ernment transports are supposed to be paid " by the day" and time spent aground may be no loss to the owners ; but hours seem long when men are packed, as we were, like cattle, into every nook, corner or space of a leaky old barge whose wa- ter tanks were empty)-after too many oaths to be respectable, and sume singing and praying. for we held our Sabbath services even there, we reached White House at sunset, and in time were again upon " sacred soil." Our position secured a firm base for the Army of the Potomae, and the next P. M. we advanced rapidly towards Rich- moud. The following morning, June Ist, we re- sumed our march, and although considerable time and strength were lost in turning towards New Castle on the l'amunkey, and returning again, by mistaken orders, yet nbont 3 o'clock P. M. we formed a junction with Grant's advance near Conl Harbor, and immediately prepared to press the foe. The whole of Gen. Smith's command was weary with marching in excessive heat, and al- mest blindmg, suffocating clonds of dust. But our lines of battle were soon formed, and immediately advanced in the direction of the rifle crack of the skirmishers. The fight was sharp and continued until dark. The enemy were driveu along the whole line. In front of our brigade two lines of rifle pits were carried by charge, a strong position was Taken and the Eighth C. V. left in the front for the night. Monday night revealed strong rebel entrenchments and sharpshooters only a few yards in our front. Further advance at that point would cost too many lives, and we in turn entrenched and eyed the enemy. In holding this ground we were constantly exposed more or less to repel bullets, and each day some brave boys fell. During the first four days of June twenty- tive were cut down. This might not seem a large number in some regiments ; but it more than deci- mated our aheady reduced ranks. All our casual- ties nt Coal Hurbor were thirty-seven ; six were
Warren S. Smith, of the 2d Vermont, who has ":" hundred and seventy five men, a num- been a brave und faithful soldier from the berin. ning of the war, and was killed on the 13th ult. was A native of Hartford, and a son of the former standard bearer of the Phalanx .- Hartford Post. billed on the field and three mortally wounded.
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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.
[JULY,
Of these last I must say a few words respecting one, whose loss is felt by us all. I refer to Albion D. Brouks, Orderly Serge.it of Co. A. In early life he gave himself to Jesus Christ, and hoped to seventeen wounded. Of the dead, Fitz G. Hollister, Sergeant of Company I, was as worthy a man as become a minister of Ilis Gospel. At the com- mencemeut of this war, he was studying to pre. Fever graced the ranks of the Eighth. lle was dif pare for that work. But the call of his country tident but intelligent, retiring but influential and faithful even unto death, both to God and his seemed to him the call of God. Like many a no- ble youth he left the school for the camp-the Cias- country. He is embalmed in the hearts of alt who sies for the Tactics and Manual of Arms. Unlike I really knew him. Dead, he yet lives.
too many in our nriny, he did not leave his piety at home. lle entered the army to serve God, and he !
While the Army of the Potomue was coming up, we lay supporting our batteries upon the did serve God. In the tent, on the march, in the | heights which we had captured On the evening trenches, in the fight, in the hour of death, he maui- of Friday the 17th, being relieved, we re-crossed fested a power controlling heart and life. Enough of the Appomattox to the camps which we had eap- the old man was exhibited to show its native char- acter ; but it was subdued by grace. Wl'e think that he only fuund his congregation and was preaching in the army sooner than he would have entered the pulpit, if he had remained nt home. When the
tured twice before. Yesterday was to us a Sab- bath indeed. Saturday had been a day for washi- ling and sleeping. Men who have served in the army alone know how such n day is improved. Sunday morning dawned cahn and beautiful ns ture of the Ist North Carolina Union Volunteers These rumors were strengthened by the depar- regiment re- enlisted, Brooks was prompt to en- formerly in our New England hontes. But, as if on the morning of April 27th, and on the morning of roll himself among the veterans; but even then he did not relinquish the hope uf earlier days, but still improved his leisure hours in camp, pursuing Latin and Greek. He was wounded on the morn- ing of June 2d, and died on the evening of the SJ. Ile suffered severely, and keenly felt the dia- appointment of life cut short, but often said, ; his men work on Sunday. In our services that "God's will be done." When the messenger was evidently near, he looked up to us who stood around him and calmly said, " I am going." Then elosing his eyes lie slowly repeated, " Lo 1 am
designed to insult both God and man, an order enme summoning a large part of the regiment to the 28th it became evident to all that the place was to be evacuated. The 21st were ordered on board fatigue duty. An hour later, however, the detail | the Transport "John Farren," but were subse- returned with some smiling countenances. Gen- eral Smith in person had relieve i them and told them himself that he did not feel willing to have
day we publicly thanked God and have taken courage.
During the whole of this month the regiment has been deprived of its superior officers. Colo- with you always, even unto the end." Thus he | nel Ward has not yet been able to return to duty. luft us ; nd we felt that even nmid the roar of ; Lieut. Colonel Smith is on the sick list and in the cannon and the groans of the dying it is good for | hospital; we have no Major. Captain II. M. the Christinn to die. "lle has fought a good fight, he has kept the faith."
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