The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 81

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

USA > Connecticut > The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865 > Part 81

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

J and the endearments of home,

land the leader knew his troops. Dislik-

2-16

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

ing all parade, and sincerely, unosten- making the utmost resistance, or doing a committee was appointed by the Leg- tatiously plain and simple in his tastes, the utmost injury at every moment, which islature of Connecticut to make the nee- the soldiers loved to call him " Farmer it is capable of at any moment. essary arrangements. To. this proposition the friends of the deceased made the fol- lowing reply :- John." Ile was a man of few words, In the terrific battles of the Wilderness, as Generai Grant, in a series of conflicts but of great deeds. Quiet, unobtrusive, unambitious, he excited but little envy, which can find no parallel in the annals while all were ready to do homage to his of war, was compelling the prond hordes virtues and his genius. Twice he was of Gen. Lee to fall back from their offered the supreme command and twice entrenehments, ou the south banks of the Rapidan, to the ramparts of Richmond

he refused it " A man," says Napoleon I, " before he assumes the responsibility and Petersburg, Gen. Sedgwick took a of supreme command, should examine himself."

prominent part. At the elose of the first three day's fighting, he wrote home to his friends :

"My corps have fought splendidly for three days, and they can fight six more as well."

On Monday, the 9th of May, Gen. Sedgwick, at Spottsylvania, was survey- ing the ground to find a good position to post his troops. The bullets of a rebel sharpshooter whizzed over his head. Ile quietly remarked that they could not hit at such a distance, and went on with his reconnoisance. The next shot was fatal. The bullet struek him just beneath the left eye, and passed through his head. HIe fell dead, without a struggle or a pang. And thus was immolated upon the blood-stained altar of Slavery, an- other martyr to God and Liberty. The name of Sedgwick is to be engraved on the same roll with Lyon, and Baker, and Foote, and Wadsworth,-and the long

Gen. Sedgwick was never married. An only sister, tenderly loved, was left in list of our honored patriots, who by their charge of all domestie matters npon the blood have delivered our land from the ancestral estate. To her faithful hand he entrusted the management of all home affairs, while he eonscerated his time and his genius, with undivided energies to the service of his country. That one, with so loving a heart, with a nature so domestie in all its tastes and pleasures, should have lived alone, has doubtless | General's staff, and by a portion of the some explanation in heart experiences, which is not to be divulged to the world. Since Washington Irving's death, the mystery of his lonely life has been solved. But with these sacred secrets, of pure and loving, and earnest natures, the world has no right to intermeddle.

In the great battle of Gettysburg. Gen. Sedgwick arrived on the field with his; honored remains were taken to the New corps late on the second day, after a Haven railroad station. At Bridgeport, march of thirty-three miles. Instantly the remains were removed to a ear draped he went into the battle and contributed jin mourning, and amid the tolling of the most essential aid in the gaining of

bells, and the solemm booming of cannon, that signal victory. Ile carried into were conveyed up the Housatonic road practice the maxim of the first Napoleon, that an army ought to be capable of

" The family of Gen. Sedgwick are deeply sen- sible of the honor which the State has prepared to show his memory ; nor have they failed to take into account the respect which, in such a case, is due to the expressed wish of the State ; but it does not accord with their feelings, that one whose life was so simple, should be buried in any other way, than quietly from the house he loved."

In the mean time, the Legislature of Connecticut, on the 12th of May, passed the following Resolution :-

" Resolved, that in the death of Major General John Sedgwick, who fell gloriously in the bour of victory, May 10th, 1864, Connectient is again called to mourn the loss of one of her most noble sons, and one of the most gallant and accomplish- ed leaders of the national army. Wise in council, of large experience, with rare talent to command, prompt and determined in action, the soul of valor on the battle field, honored by his superiors and his associates, and beloved by all who served under him, his loss, in a crisis like the present, cannot but be severely felt ;- while we bow in re- signation to the blow, which has deprived the country of a tower of strength."

The funeral ceremonies were solemn- ized in the pleasant little village of Corn- wall, on Sabbath morning, May 15, 1864. It had rained violently in the early hours of the morning, and heavy massess of clouds still floated in the sky ; but the whole of Litchfield county was moved, and from all directions the thronging multitudes eame to honor the dead. During the funeral services, over six hun- dred vehicles were eounted near the mansion of the departed. The exercises, in their simplicity and pathos, were beantifully appropriate to the oeeasion. The Rev. Charles Wetherby, of the vil- lage elmarch, preached an admirable ser- mon from the text, "How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle," giving a brief, but graphie sketch of the deceased. An appropriate address was also made by

Connectient delegation in Congress. A special train was tendered to convey the body to New York. The remains reached New York on Thursday morning, May 12th. The Governor of Connecticut, Prof. Wm. B. Clarke, of Yale College, Win. A. Buckingham, and others of the who had been the former pastor of the most distinguished gentlemen of New York, officiated as pall bearers, as the church at Cornwall. The pall bearers were near neighbors, the early and life- long friends of the deceased. The mili- tary who had been sent to accompany the hody, were present as mourners.

.A plain rosewood coflin inclosed the hero's remains. It was enshrouded in that glorious banner, for which General Sedgwick had so nobly fought, and

to Cornwall. A public funeral was earnestly desired by the community, and bravely died. The coffin was placed in

In every great soul, truly great, there is an underlying element of woman's loving, gentle nature. "Kiss me Hardy," said Lord Nelson, as he was dying, to the friend who was weeping over him. A week or two before Gen. Sedgwick died, he one day went into his tent and found a favorite aid lying down there asleep. lle softly drew near him, bent down and kissed him on the forehead, saying : "You do not know how much I love you." llis fondness for his home, and his love for his ancestral acres were, with him, almost a passion. One day, standing upon his doorstep, he looked around upon the pleasing landscape be- fore him, hallowed by all the associations of childhood, and exclaimed, "Is there another spot on carth so beautiful as Cornwall Hollow ?"

grasp of traitors. Ilis remains, aceom- panied by all the demonstrations of public grief and esteem, were imme- diately taken to Washington, whence they were transferred to his native vil- lage, Cornwall, Connecticut. They were accompanied by two members of the

1864.]

THIE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

247

the General's private room. As the whole vast assembly wished to take a last look of one whom they all so highly revered and loved, for more than an hour they filed slowly through the room, cach one giving a lingering look upon the upturned face of the dead. Dressed in his uniform, he lay in his last sleep before them, a tall, broad browed man. ITis moustache and whiskers were slightly sprinkled with grey hairs. A slight dis- coloration beneath the right eye, indica- ted the spot through which the bullet, had penetrated and passed through his brain.

" As the remains were brought from the house," writes an eye witness, "in charge of the pall bearers, and placed upon the hearse, it was noticed that the sun, which had previously been concealed

by the heavy clouds, suddenly shoue [reputation is irreparable. Neither the

forth, for a moment, in all its splendor, sceming thus to pay a last tribute to the departed, whose life had been so full of glory. So when the coffin was being lowered to its final resting place in the quiet graveyard, a distinct peal of thun- der, like the roar of distant artillery, re- verberated along the heavens, sounding the soldier's requiem."

The remains were followed to their burial by such a funeral procession as Litchfield county had probably never - witnessed before. Over three hundred vehicles were in the mourning train. The grave was dug in the village burying ground, about half a mile from the gen- eral's mansion. When the friendly hands of neighbors had lowered the coffin into its final resting place, the officiating pas- tor, Rev. Charles Wetherby, raising his hands, offered the following benediction : "And now, O thou God of battles, be with our nation in this, its hour of trial; with ns all, evermore. Amen."

" After life's fitful fever he sleeps well." May the tried soldier rest in peace.

Graphotype Engravings.

The portrait of Col. Chatfield in our July mm- ber and that of Col. Russell in our April number, are graphotype Engravings.

The process is entirely new-much cheaper than the ordinary methods-and secures, what is rarely obtained, a "perfect reproduction of the artists drawing."

The excellent graphotypes we have used, were prepared by Talbot & Co., of New York City, who are the Patentees of this remarkable inven- tion. We have purposely refrained from men-

tioning the character of these Engravings that, we might hear the comments of our patrons. They have been universally admired and conunen- ded-many have thought them the best we have presented. We heartily rejoice at the verdict ; because they may be produced for two-thirds the cost of Wood Engravings, and one-half that of Lithographs. We hope they may come into com- mon use for family portraits.

The Kearsage and the Alabama.

To the splendid achievement of the Kearsage, we recur with increasing satis- faction, as we see more clearly its impor- tant results.

" At the distance of a mile," (says the London Times,) "never less than a quarter of a mile, a for- midable ship, the terror of American commerce, well armed, well manned, well handled, is sent to the bottom in an hour."

Europe is amazed at the marvellous precision and terrible execution of Yan- kee guns. The damage to Confederate limitless bluster nor measureless false- hood of shameless confederates can crase the unwelcome fact of utter and dis- graceful . defeat. The London Star thus expresses wide-spread opinion :

" The Alabama has at last met her well-deserv. ed fate. Iler career of lawless destruction has ended in a short fight and an utter wreck. She has gone down under the guns of the first war.

This easy and complete victory is a most gratifying proof of the superiority and efficiency of our navy. The boast- ful and terrible pirate was sunk in one hour, with trifling loss to our ship. Plain- ly the right class of vessels were put on her track.

Yet, the Kearsage was a war vessel of the third rate, carrying but eight guns. What may we expect if occasion offers,

But, we often ask, with impatience- why was she suffered so long to roam the seas? Why were not a hundred obvious. The ocean is a wide and track- less course. All the vessels of our navy might fail for years to intercept the pirate on the open seas. To entrap her

An English writer, appreciating the

case, writes thus-for Englishmen to read :-

" A well-armed gunboat may finish the career of a corsair when the latter is overtaken and brought to battle .- but, let it be well noted, one swift-going privateer may elude for many months the best ships in the British navy. For which reason, if for no other, let us make very enre that no second Alabama steals forth from our harbors, an example to enemies of our own as well as an outrage on our friends and kindred,"

The wholesome anxiety to do tardy jus- tice, manifested in the last paragraph- no argument or entreaty could have aroused. The echoing logie of Ameri- ean guns in the sharp decisive fight in the English chamel forces conviction.

We quote one of several similar evi- dences that the English mind is startled to at least a temporary sentiment of honor and fairness. This extract is from the Manchester Examiner.

" Thus ends the career of one of the most noto- rions ships of modern times, Costly as has been her career lo Federal commerce, she has been hardly less costly to this country. She has sown a legacy of distrust and of future apprehension on both sides of the Atlantic ; and happy will it be both for England and America if with her, beneath the waters of the Channel, may be buried the memory of her career and of the mischief she has done."

Europeans comprehend this fight and its lesson-American tars with American ship she has ventured to encounter. After prey. [ guns on American ships-are competent ing for nearly two years upon marmed merchant- men, and having performed nothing more worthy to maintain American honor and Ameri- - of her boasted prowess than the destruction of a can rights-on any sea, against any foe. gunboat lured by the display of false colors within range of her fire, she has fought her first and last battle."

And the spirit of one wounded sailor, Wm. Gin, is the spirit of all. Though writhing with excruciating pain, at the cheer of victory, he spoke out the patri- otism of his mauly heart, and said-"I would be willing to bear a dozen such wounds to hear that cheer."

Maj-General McPherson.

" A braver soldier never couched lance ; gentler heart did never sway in court."

Though yet young he was one of the foremost superiors aud subordinates. No soldier ever re. ceived from him an unkind or an uncivil word. It is said, and doubtless with truth, that meeting a party of soldiers who had failed to do their duty, vessels sent in pursuit ? The answer is an officer riding along with him inquired, "Gen-

and may grace, mercy and peace, abide from a first-rate American Ship of War ? generals of the age. He was courteous alike to his

eradl, why don't you curse the damned rascals ?" " Sir," replied Gen. MePherson, "I have no more right to swear at them than at you." How clear his perception of the right of every man to polite treatment. There is no better type of the chiv. in some friendly port, was all that could jafrous gentleman. Gen. MePherson was also be reasonably hoped. This, after long and patient vigilance is done-and thus at last the wisdom and efficiency of our navy and naval department are triumph- antly vindicated.

eminently faithful to his duty and to his country. He has neither asked nor accepted a furlough since the breaking out of the war. He believed fully in the justice and transcendent importance of the great conflict, and labored with his whole mind and heart to push it forward to the speedy and triumphant conclusion.

218

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[Arcess,

OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.

From the First Connecticut Cavalry.

1st Cosy. CavaLey. near CITY POINT, VA., July 80, 1564. 5

MR. EDITOR :- If any friends of our Regiment have searched your Record in guarding our own. Some days we were eighteen or twenty hours in the saddle- riding all the while with but brief in- termission for rest or food.

vain for an account of our operations du- ring the past few months ; we regret their disappointment. But it has not been pos-

. sible, before this, to send you any report. Perhaps, even at this late day, some may cipal points in our experience since the campaign began.

It is generally understood that the Cavalry arm of the service has been more constantly employed this summer, and has rendered more effective aid than ever before during the war. And the Ist Conn. has had its full share of hard work.

Our Division of the Corps-the 3d, and sent into the woods-the 1st Conn. being in the advance. _ An hour's sharp skirmishing resulted in the rout of the enemy-but they soon returned reinfor- ced by Infantry-when the object of the reconnaissance being accomplished, the Division retired. We were glad when the day elosed and there was promise of rest-but our blankets had hardly been under Gen. Wilson, broke camp near Strasburg, May 3, about midnight, and started for Germania Ford on the Rapi- dan. We marched steadily and rapid- ly -- only halting, from time to time, to allow columns of Infantry and Artillery to pass-and at daylight, forded the River -- not waiting for the Pontoon Bridges just arrived and ready to be spread upon the ground after a meagre Jaid. After crossing we pushed, at once, evening meal, before orders came to pre- to the heights on the other side-pass- pare, at once, for a long and trying march-whither, no one knew but every one guessed-instructions being given to leave behind every horse and every man unfit for the toughest of Cavalry expe- rience. The night was mostly spent in preparation -- the night whose rest we had so longed for -- and, by daylight, we were off for Richmond, the whole Cavalry Corps being now together under Gen'l Sheridan. From that time, being within the enemy's lines, we were exposed to frequent assaults on the march or wherev- er the column halted for the night-and, though with the three Divisions together we had a force of some eighty-five hun- Ared effective mounted men, the enemy, with smaller bodies, could annoy us ex- cedingly, as the line of march lay chief- ly through dense woods and through re- ing strong earthworks-that fortunately were not manned-and did not rest till late in the afternoon, we reached a place called Parker's store. Starting by day- light the next morning, we marebed un- interruptedly till our advance was checked about noon, at Shady Grove Church, by a strong force of the enemy-Cavalry and Infantry. After some severe skir. mishing, the Division was withdrawn to a better position, from which our Ar. tillery could operate effectively-check. ing altogether their advance. Sub-e- quently, finding that we were being sur- rounded, Gen. Wilson ordered us to fall back, by a cross road, in the direction of the Aldrich House. We were pursued by the enemy in superior force-our ren guard was assailed-and the whole Divison halted for a general engagement. gions which commanded fine points of Just then a courier brought the welcome defence. Intelligence that reinforcements were at hand, and soon we were gladdened by the appearance of the 2nd Division, Gen. Gregg, with whose aid the enemy, after hard fighting for several hours, were de- feated and driven back several miles.

From that time hardly a day passed 'but, in a few moments, a shell came buz- without its engagement, more or less zing through the air, exploding in the severe. We were almost constantly em- ployed making reconoissance, annoying in different ways the enemy's flanks or

Early on the morning of Sunday, May 7, after having spent the night on picket care to see a cursory review of the prin- lat a point within the fortifications of Dam Station, our eyes were refreshed by Fredericksburg, we started on a reconnois- sance for Spottsylvania Court House- no opposition met us till within a mile of the place, when the rebel pickets were driven in, and a gun opened upon us which was speedily silenced by one of our batteries. The town was then cleared out by a charge led by our Regiment, -after

woods near by, and before the summons, in this shape, had been repeated many times-every officer and man was in the saddle ready for the battle which followed. "The Rebels, having discovered our posi- tion during the night, had planted their batteries accordingly; but, after a brief struggle, they were driven back towards the R. R. When we reached Beaver the sight of work which one of the Di- visions had accomplished during the night ; R. R. buildings had been burned, track and rolling stock destroyed, and min effected generally. It was here the train was captured with ten day's rations for Gen'l Lee's Army. At the same time, several hundred Union prisioners started which a considerable force dismounted for Dixie, were released, and a happier set of men it would be difficult to find.

Wednesday, May 11, at noon, while we were feasting on hard tack and cof- fee, our felicity was interrupted by the sound of sharp firing in the advance, near the locality known as Yellow Farm. Our Regiment was ordered forward with others, as a support, and drawn up ready for work, but were not needed. The en- emy were routed by the Ist Division, especially by Gen. Custer's Michigan Brigade-their Batteries destroyed or captured and their pet General-J. E. B. Stuart-killed. The Corps was prepar- ing then to move on, when the sound of heavy artillery was heard upon one of our flanks. The whole force was so dis- posed as to receive advantageously the anticipated attack, but it did not come, and about midnight our march was re- snmed. The march of that night will not soon be forgotten by any who shared its experience. Knowing the enemy were upon our flanks and rear, there was every reason to expect an assault, which in the dark it would be difficult to repulse-and what made every one more sober, was the consciousness that for want of an ad- equate supply of ambulances-which are regarded altogether incompatible with raids-most of the wounded-if any there were-would be left by the road- side to take care of themselves, or at the merey of an exasperated foc. We marched on, however, without interrup- tion, on the main pike to Richmond, and when within three miles of the city, onr Division, being in the advance, took a

Having halted one night, a little after midnight, near Hanover Junction-we were aroused, at 3 o'clock, with orders to prepare to move immediately. Every one being extremely exhausted, only a few heard or at least heeded the call; road for Meadow Bridge, en route for the

1361 ]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

24.9

Peninsula. About daylight we were pro- cceding quietly-the whole cominand

via Bottom's Bridge. Stopping at Mal- was to proceed in the direction of Ash- vern llill to rest, we had the pleasure of land to divert the enemy. Col. Chap- nearly exhausted from want of food and | being shelled by our own gun-boats in man succeeded in his work and we snc- rest, many sleeping in the saddle-when |the river-being taken for rebels; but a shot, so heavy we knew it must have no lives were lost before the guners were signalled and informed of their mis- come from the fortifications by the city, revealed to us that we were in a deci- take. Having encamped here for the dedly perilons locality. A severe fight night, we marched the next day, Sunday, ensued with the rebel cavalry, in which the Ist Conn. was heavily engaged, re- sulting in a rebel defeat, when we retired out of reach of the heavy guns of their train, and when about mounting to entrenchimeuts. One of our men, killed by a twenty-four pounder, as the Regi- ment were drawn up in line of battle in at least so rumor said, that the rebels an open field, we buried under a wide- spreading tree, and during the brief ser- vice a shell burst very near us. From

ceeded admirably in ours-viz: in at- tracting the enemy-for within a mile of Ashland we were surrounded by four Brigades of rebel cavalry. The Ist Conn, was in the rear, and behind us was May 15, to Hascall's Landing on the the pack train, wagons and led horses of James, where we were enabled to see a the whole Brigade. It was my fortune transport Inden with abundant supplies, to have gone back for a moment to the a most rapturons sight to men so nearly starved as we were. We rested there ; return, I was startled suddenly by a rush, for a day or two till it was discovered, a yell, a volley, which indicated that we were in a very undesirable situation. had thrown a pontoon across the river at Instantly the train was thrown into a Fort Darling, and were meditating a visit, in large force, to our rear. Under our position upon an eminence, we could the circumstances it was deemed prudent impenetrable clond of dust, in grand to change our base, and one march was resmmed via White House, back to the

panic, horses, wagons and dismounted men hurried forward through an alnost witness a fierce struggle in the plains be- low. The other Divisions took a more confusion. Our Regiment falling out of the road into the woods to allow the direct road, but by the time they reached Army of the Potomae. The Corps; train to pass, formed at once and checked Meadow Bridge, a force of Beauregard's the assault. But being alone, the rest infantry had arrived there prepared to contest its passage, and with orders to hold it at all hazards, The battle was was then divided-the Ist and 2d Divi- sions operating on General Grant's left 'of the Brigade having moved a mile for- flank, our Division on .his right. We had a severe experience in rapid march- very severe-fought mostly in a violent ing from point to point-in skirmishing day and night, but no serious engage- ment till May 31st. Gen. Wilson having been ordered to destroy certain bridges

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 81

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