The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 93

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

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jringing at home, with us the bugle sounded, " To horse!" This is the more common fate of Sabbath services, as well as of all regular religious services during an active campaign-at least it is the Jease with cavalry. Before starting, we some young lady, waving in a modest, began to hear sharp firing, and learned vet courageous way, the Stars and that our pickets had been driven in. The column moved, but had not gone far

viee. Our pioneers had provided us a We were disappointed in traveling i pleasant spot under the shade of some through this region, to find no expres-| grand oaks, preparations were about com- sion of loyal sentiment. We had hoped ; pleted, and notice had been given to the for, here and there, a smile og word 'of companies, when the order came to strike welcome, but instead, the women looked Itents and prepare to move immediately. as sour, the men, (spies, generally, from| So, at the very time exactly-my watch not more trying to their self-respect- Moseby's gang,) as sullen as any speci -! reminded me-when the church bell was was the elose confinement, for thirty-six hot hours, iu that breathless, intolerable hold. Several of them died on the way -smothered to death-an ignoble end, mens of the chivalry that had crossed our path nearer Richmond. It would not be fair though, to forget one honorable exception. As we passed through one surely, for veterans like them-heroes of | little village, there stood in front of a so many battles. After four days spent pretty cottage by the road-side, a hand- in busy preparation, procuring horses for dismounted men, re-furnishing the whole command with arms-our own Brigade, the Ist, was supplied throughout with Spencer Carbines-we started about sun- set on Friday, the 12th, for Washington. The march through the city was especi- ally pleasant, as the night was very beau-

Stripes. It is needless to observe that she was rewarded by a round of the ; before it was stopped by an attack upon hearty cheers which Connecticut boys the trains in the advance, as well as by threatened trouble on either flank. The Ist Conn., with another regiment, was hurried forward as an advance gnard, know how to give. Moreover, I might add, if it would not be telling seerets, that more than one patriotie young man tiful, and as it was so long since most of seemed to eye that little house with jmir- but met with no opposition, and the

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whole force, fpursued vigorously, went manner in which you have behaved to- steadily on to a point in the vicinity of ; day."

Charlestown, where it came up with the! While the column was retiring, sharp- main body of our Infantry, the 6th and ly followed up, I noticed, as we passed a 19th Corps, and where, therefore, we had hill, from which our guns were busily at no further annoyance from the enemy.

The rebel infantry show a very mark- ed as well as a very wise preference for engaging earbines and sabres rather than bayonets, with guns of their own ealibre, while the rebel cavalry seem to prefer neither ; for they are very rarely visible, except when they can pounce upon some handful of us or upon some un- guarded train of supply wagons or am- bulances. On Monday we moved to a point near Harper's Ferry, our own regi- ment being ordered on, to picket the ex- treme outpost at Union Four Corners, on the Shepherdstown Road where we re- About daybreak on the morning of the 25th the whole Division was sent on a

mained till relieved, Wednesday the 24th. [of the determined conviction that though

. reconnoissance. Several hours' march brought us to Kearneysville, a few miles forward, to fall back no more, when truly from Shepherdstown where the enemy were found in force. The 1st Division, Gen. Merritt, preceding us, had reached their piekets and was engaging their re- serves, trying in vain to draw them through a piece of woods, when General Our whole Brigade-the 1st -- were sent, dismounted, into the woods, and after a

of which, ou a prominent kuoll is said to have been a certain erection, that has be- come historie, one of their bands played for the edifieation of the citizens the "John Brown Song-" Glory Hallelujah" -- reminding them, as the strains entered

work, that in a hollow, just below, some placky General had stationed a band of their dwellings that quiet Sabbath eve- ning, that though the old man's body lay "mouldering in the grave, and his soul was yet " marching on." -- It being found that the enemy instead of continuing their re- retreat, had taken a strong position a few miles from Charlestown, our own forces halted and went into camp just south of the city where they could be prepared for any movement defensive or otherwise.

music-and, above the roar of artillery, above the racket of tramping horses, of hurrying wagons, above the yells that rang in our rear, there could be heard every few seconds, a strain of the Star Spangled Banner. It sounded rather strangely just then. It did not seem pre- cisely the time for glorifications. Yet we could not but feel as we marched along, that those strains, so defiant in the face [So here we are for the present. The of temporary defeat, were only a type two armies are watching each other vigilantly, both intrenching, both ma- of the spirit of faith which should ani- mate our armies and the whole country ; nonvering for some advantage by which to win victory. Here we seem likely to stay for a while, busy with cavalry work, hoping to do our part towards making the campaign a complete snecess. II.

From the Second Conn, Light Battery.

We have again become re-united, hay- ing returned to this place from Fort Mor- gan, reaching here on the 10th inst. We came by the way of Lake Pontchartrain and have been absent just six weeks. During that time we have experienced some of the hardest kind of campaigning, have done our share of the fighting, and what is most important of all, have been successful.

time we crossed, the earthworks had been We were cheated ont of our Maryland mortars, and their pieces had been placed campaign, for the rebels, instead of ad -! in position. Our battery was the last to vancing, were falling back followed up carefully, by General Sheridan, with his I go into position, and was placed on the ex- treme left of the semi-circular line of in- trenchments. We were within 800 yards of the southeast angle of the fort, and had to place our guns in position under

After the engagement, Gen. MeIntosh, commanding the Brigade, who has a way in a fight of being where he can see what ' whole force. At Charlestown we met is going on, calledl Col. Blakeslee to him the 6th Corps moving in solid column. and said-" Colonel, I want to thank you! As they went through the city, while and your Regiment for the handsome / passing the large brick church in the rear | the grape and canister of the enemy and

we inay possibly be driven to-day, and even to-morrow, yet the day is surely coming when the old flag is to be borne it " in triumph shall wave" over an un- divided land.

ALGIERS, LA., Sept. 14th, 1864. Returning in the afternoon to the spot we had left in the morning, thoroughly tired with the day's work, we were glad to anticipate a night of refreshing rest --- Wilson's command arrived on the ground. but our anticipation was to be disappoint- ied, for, by 10 o'clock we were again in the saddle, though this time in an op. very severe skirmish, the 1st Conn. with posite direction. It was understood the two or three other regiments, charged | rebels had, after the battle, begun to cross the rebel line with great spirit, driving them in confusion out of the woods, the river at Shepherdstown Ford, and our Division was sent into Maryland to meet In a former letter I gave an account through a corn field, back npon their | them. We crossed the Bridge at Har- of the part performed by the battery in main reinforcements which were advan-Iper's Ferry and after marching steadily the siege, which ended in the surrender of Fort Gaines. The battery remained at the latter fort until the 20th of Ang., when it crossed to the rear of Fort Mor- gan. Only two sections were taken over, the other remaining at Fort Gaines to- gether with Lient. Hotchkiss, who was too ill to accompany us. The charge of cing in several strong columns supported' all night, halted the next morning in the by artillery. As soon as their force and vicinity of Boonsboro. Remaining here position were discovered we were order-' till Saturday we then proceeded thro' ed to withdraw, the object of the expe- Sharpsburg. over the battle ground of dition having been attained. Though the " Antietam, in the direction of Hagers- Ist Conn. was so prominent in the action town, where, it was understood, we were we are thankful to report but two casual- ' to arrest the progress of the enemy if ties. J. N. Knowles, Orderly Sergeant they should advance through one of the the battery thus devolved upon Lient. of Co. C, was wounded slightly on the mountain gaps. But the next morning, Whiting, who, however, proved himself back of the head-a ball grazing the skin Sunday, to our surprise, we were started [ fully equal to the emergency. At the and glancing off. Charles Randolph, of southwarda gain, and at noon found our- Co. II, was shot in both legs, but was selves fording the river at Shepherdstown. [ prepared for the heavy artillery and taken from the field and is now in the Hospital doing well.

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the fire of their sharp-hooters who were Bghter batteries filled up the intervals of calls, he will be greatly missed. His posted behind sand bags placed on the heavier firing, and the continnous rattle death is sincerely regretted by all mem- parapet. The general bombardment was of musketry completed the scene. At [bers of the battery. to commence at daylight on the morning daylight on the morning of 224, a cheer On reaching Algiers, we learned that of the 224. During the night previous. was heant from the right of where our ; Capt. Sterling and Lient. Munger had we succeeded in getting safely posted : battery was posted, which was caught ; gone North, on leave of absence, on ac- and infrenched without damage, although up and soon ran along the entire live. Afcount of sickness. Lieut. Gray is still in white flag waved from the parapet of ;hospital but improving. with many narrow escapes, as the enemy We are at present comfortably situa- ted in a capacions and commodious ware- house, with a dry roof and a dry floor. If not sent to the field soon, we expect to be furnished quarters in New Orleans. were watching our movements and con- the fort, announcing that the inmates had been compelled to ask quarter. The for- mal surrender took place at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and was inade conjointly to the land and naval forces. stantly firing at us. After working all night we were ready at daylight to join the grand chorus of the general bom- bardment, which opened from the fleet and land forces as soon as the day dawn- UNION. ed. The guns of the fort were silenced An examination of the inside of the fort disclosed the fact that the besiegers From the 16th Regiment. had done terrible execution, and the pris- oners said" that the interior of the fort was like a fiery furnace. It was also nights, and fever and agne is becoming ascertained after the surrender that most ! more than common. About one-third of of the guns were spiked, and a vast the detachment are sick either in camp or in hospital. at the first discharge, and made no CAMP OF DETACHMENT, 16TH CONS. VOUS. L ROANOKE ISLAND, N. C., Sept. 19th, 1864. We are having warm days and cold response afterwards The principal du- ties assigned to our battery were to dis- lodge sharpshooters, and to keep silenced three large pieces facing us-one a 10- inch Columbiad, a 68 pounder pivot gun and a 32 pounder. We disabled the en- amount of public property destroyed. At the time we left Fort Morgan a court tire three, hitting them often, and seve- We have had no mail for the last ten of inquiry was being hell there, to which days, which is a privation that we feel Gen. Paige (the former commander of deeply, as we do also the loss of Lient. the fort) had been summoned. ral times directly in the muzzle, and splintering and shooting away their car- riages. We had a fine opportunity for Col. John HI Burnham, who was taken target practice at short range.

On the 25th ult. the battery, with one ! prisoner on the 9th inst., while on his section of the 17th Ohio battery, and; way to the regiment. Col. Burnham five regiments of infantry, crossed the

The bombardment continued through the day and night, with only a slight in. termission. A fire, caused by our shells.

was captured with the regiment at Ply- bay to Cedar Point. This point of land /month, and has been but recently re- (probably the mortars) broke out inside corresponds to Mobile Point, (on which leased by the rebels. Ilis exchange Fort Morgan is situated) and is near having been finally effected, he took pas- Fort Powell. A fortification had been isage from Norfolk to this place, and constructed here for a six gun battery, | while on the steamer Fawn-the little with embrasures complete, and a maga- I steamer that runs through the Chesa- zine in process of construction. Several peake and Albemarle Canal-was again heavy pivot guns had been mounted on reaptared at Coinjock Bridge, within- one the shore. . All the guns had been re -; halt mile of the south end of the canal, moved except a 12-pounder howitzer and within sight of the steamer Trum- which had been dismounted and left con- peter that runs from Roanoke Island to cealed. The gun was loaded with can- fconnect with the Fawn. Lieut. Wilson nister. Weremounted it on its carriage f of the 103d Pen. Regiment, Provost which had also been left, and, after dis- | Marshal of this post ; Major Jenner, late charging it, placed it in position. We Judge Advocate at Newbern; Major took it with us to Fort Morgan when we | Oliver, 5th R. I. Artillery, and 25 others, evacuated the place. We remained at i consisting of soldiers of the 23d Mass., Cedar Point until the 3d inst. when we f and citizens, were also taken. The rebel party, mubering about 70men, was com- posed in part of the crew of the rebel

the fort abont eleven o'clock at night, which lighted the outline of the fort so as to render every objeet on the parapet distinctly visible. This was the occasion of renewed activity on the part of the artillery and mortars, whose shot and shell for nearly an hour, went crashing into the blazing fortress in the ugliest kind of profusion. At this moment a Iull occurred in the firing, caused by the waving of a lantern from the parapet of the fort. Brig. Gen. Bailey and a staff officer rode np to ascertain its purport, which turned out to be a request that we should suspend firing nutil they could subdne the fire within the fort! Gen. Bailey responded to such impudence by demanding the immediate surrender of the fort and garrison. This they would not comply with, and the order was at onee given to commence firing again. And so on throughout the night the heavy Dahlgren guns, which had been taken from the fleet and planted upon shore, hurled their ponderons shot into the flaming fortress, while the mortars dropped their bursting shells almost per- pendienlarly upon parapet and bastion

returned to Fort Morgan. We expe- rienced great diflienlty in unloading and loading at Cedar Point, owing to the [ ram Albemarle, and was commanded by shallow water, and a dilapilated pier. Hopkins, the pilot of that vessel. The The water there was bad and the mos-

Fawn was immediately burned, and the quitoes were intolerable. While at Fort i prisoners were taken to Elizabeth City, Gaines some three or four of our men ! 25 miles distant, at which place Major Jenner and Mr. Julian, a State Senator from New York State, were paroled, and

were sent to the hospital at that point .. Of the number thus sent, one, Lyman _1. Clark, bugler, died. He was a thorough arrived here on the 11th inst., coming a (master of his instrument, and faithful in distance of 25 miles in a small sail-boat. the discharge of his duties. So long | The Trumpeter, after bringing the and citadel. The 30 pounder Parrot and f accustomed to hear his clear and musical Inews here of the capture of the Fawn,

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was immediately sent back with soldiers absent on duty at Magnolia, being in each side of the road. After a stubborn from the 16th and other regiments, un- command of the forces at that place. fand well contested fight for nearly two der command of Col. Wardrop, of the Four other companies of the Lith C. V. hours, Co !. Harris found his little band 99th N. Y. Had they proceeded at once stationed at Picolata, Companies A, C, had been flanked and surrounded, gave to Elizabeth City or Edenton, they would 1, and K, under the command of Major the word for his men to charge and cut have headed off the marauders and easily Henry Allen. a very fine young officer, captured the whole party, and retaken and who is esteemed and respected by the prisoners, but unfortunately they every one in the Regiment, and who missed the opportunity.

does all in his power to provide for the

Col. Burnham is said to have been un- wants of the boys under him. I wish I dannted, insisting that a rebel soldier could say with the old Razor Strop man, who relieved him of his pocket-knife, " there is a few more of the same sort should return the same, but expressing left."

sorrow at his capture, on account of his ; Picolata is about 18 miles west from mother, on whom the news of his second : Augustine, and situated, what is left of it, captivity will fall heavily.

on the St. Johns River, and about 40 BOANOKE. miles from Jacksonville. The companies From the 17th Regiment. I speak of, were sent here some seven CAMP OF THE DETACHMENT OF THE ITTH C. V .. ) PICOLATA, FLORIDA, Sept. 13th, 18.4. 5 weeks ago, to do picket duty along the river, and holdl the place, while font MR. EDITOR :- I have several times other companies which had left Angus- thought of writing yon a letter, giving ; tine under Lieut. Col. Wilcoxson, went you a little idea of what our regiment is' to Jacksonville to join some other forces doing, but have always backed down' to go on a raid to Baldwin, upon the line from the attempt, for the reason that I of the Railroad to Jacksonville. All the thought I should make a very poor cor-| forces were in command of Col. Noble, respondent in writing anything that of the 17th Reg. C. V., acting under or- would interest the friends and readers of ders from Gen. Hatch, commander of this your valuable WAAR RECORD, but as " faint : District. The expedition did not meet heart never won fair lady," I have con- | with much opposition on the march ; but cInded to make the effort, and leave it to few rebs were seen, and they left as soon your criticism, if I have not made a bad as the boys drew sight on them along job of it. So here it goes : the barrels of their Springfields. A halt

their way through, and save themselves from being captured. The Colonel and about 100 of his men made their escape. The rest were taken prisoners. Most of the 75th Ohio men captured, had but a few days to serve, their time expiring on the 6th of this month. The forces under Col. Noble being upon another route, were not aware of the disaster to Col. Harris and could return him no assist- ance in time. The expedition proceeded to Magnolia, on the St. John's River, some 30 miles from Jacksonville.

The companies of the 17th that had been on the raid returned to Augustine with Lient. Col. Wilcoxson. We still remain here to hold this post.

The health of the men is very good -- weather very warm indeed.

Yours, truly, J. II. P.

From the Second Conn. Light Battery. FORT GAINES, DAUPHIN ISLAND, ALA., } Ang. 11th, 1864. 5

The six guns and caissons of the battery with a fall compliment of inen and horses, for one sec- I tion, left Algiers ou the evening of the 30th of { July, under charge of 1st Lieut. Walter S. Hotels- kiss. Capt. Sterling went to the hospital a few days before. We left in eamp at Algiers about thirty of our men, together with the balance of our horses, baggage and battery wagous, forge and some camp equipage, under charge of Lieut. Munger, who left hospital to assume the duty. Lieut. Whiting acecompanied the expedition. Lieut, Gray was yet in the hospital. On the day of our departure we received the painful intelli- genee of the death of one of our much beloved comrades, Edward F. Moody, who died at the marine hospital in the city of New Orleans. By his

The regiment still has its Headquar, was made at Baldwin; intrenehments ters at St. Augustine, having been order- were soon thrown up, in case of emer- ed there from Jacksonville last April to geney. The troops staid about three relieve the 10th Coun. Regiment, since : weeks, when orders came that a further which time the men have had all they advance was to be made towards Janes- could attend to, in the way of picket. ville, so off they started, and upon reach- camp and fatigne duty, and as Col. Noble ing a place called Trail Ridge, some 15 has great faith in the pedestrian abilities miles from Baldwin, Col. Harris, of the of the regiment-that they eau march 75th Ohio, with a portion of his regi- more miles in less time than any other , ment, who are mounted, and a company death the country has lost a noble hearted young regiment in this Department, he has holj of the Ith Mass. Cavalry, were detached |man, and the battery oue of its most estimable them on several raids with him through | from the main body and went upon a members. the country. reconnaissance towards Gainsville. They

On the evening of the 31st of July, we dropped anchor at the mouth of the Southeast Pass. The next morning we started on our way and again halted on reaching Ship Island, where we remain- anchor. After a half day's delay, we started for Dauphin Island, reaching there just before sundown, on the evening of the 3d of August. The infantry troops of the expedition immediately

As I have before remarked, the Anty 'reached the village of Stark, without in- comes pretty hard on the boys. on aefterruption, and there found some rail- count of the smallness of the Regiment | road ears and subsistence stores which led for a day and a half. From thenee we pro- at this time. Companies E, G. and D. | they destroyed; then encamped in the ceeded to Petit Blois Island and again dropped garrison Fort Marion, at the upper en.l of the city, while Cos. F, and II, are quar- tered at the U. S. Barracks. at the lower! woods close to Gainsville. This was on the 16th. Next morning Col. Harris discovered about fifty Johunies just out- end of the city. Details are made from ! side of the town; he ordered a charge, ; commenced to disembark in small boats, upon the each for picket, camp aud provost guard driving them, and still keeping up the sandy beach. Hundreds, however, jumped into duty; they also drill on the artillery the water from the light-dranght transports, and waded ashore. The battery was loaded on a barge which was run aground, and the pieces let down the gang plank into the water, and drawn ashore by hand. The disembarkation was a every day. The companies in St. Angus- tine are under the command of Lieut. Col. Wilcoxson, and who is in temporary pursuit, till they crossed the railroad the other side of the town. There his small force was attacked by a large force of rebels, supposed to number about 1500, command of the Post. Col. Noble ielwho were in ambuscade bohind hillocks scene for a painter. There was no moon, but a

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violent thunder storm lent vivid tlashes of light- | was no less intense and absorbing than the con- | freight train, fifty to a car. Roach Harper's Fer- ning to relieve the darkness. In three hours the fest was desperate and bloody. Of the threefry at daylight, march up Maryland Heights, go rebel gunboats the Selma was speedily captured, finto rifle pits. In a drenching rain next morning and the other two were soon out of the fight. The rebel ram, however, built as it had been, by battery, houses, forage, rations, and our cmmap and garrison equipage was miloaded and without the slightest accident. An officer of Gen. Granger's staff, said he would not have believed it possible had he not scen it, although he had before seen Connecticut boys work.

Fort Gaines is situated on the Northeast ex- tremity of Dauphin Island, and is about ten miles distant from the place where we disembarked. During the night of the 4th inst. our battery was moved to the front, and planted behind some sand hills within 1600 yards of the fort, and on a line with the front pickets of the infautry. The attack by the fleet was to be made on the morning of the 5th and the passage of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines attempted. The former fort stands on the main land and commands the entrance to Mo- bile Bay. The distance between the two forts is about five miles. At sunrise the Monitors Te- cumseh, Chickasaw, Winnebago and Manhattan, took the lead, followed by the Hartford, (flag ship,) Brooklyn, Oneida, Metncomet, Tennessee, and others of the wooden fleet. As the vessels came within range, Fort Morgan was at once all ablaze, with her hundred guns raining shot and shell upon the fleet, which responded with her hundred pounder Parrots, from the advance ves- sels, and presently with broadside after broad- side from the wooden ships. The Monitor Te- cumseh was in advance, sounding the channel, and when just abreast Fort Morgan suddenly dis- appeared, having run upon a torpedo. The firing from both sides was terrific, but the fleet passed in safety, save the ill-fated Monitor. No sooner had the fleet passed Fort Morgan than three rebel gunboats, the Selma, Morgan and Gaines, opened fire on our advancing vessels, which were now ap- proaching Fort Gaines. The rebel ram Tennes- sce, the pride and hope of the rebel navy, and which they were wont to boast could sink all the Yankee crafts that dared invade the waters of the "Southern Confederacy," was also preparing to enter the contest. As our fleet approached Fort Gaines, it opened fire, and immediately our battery opened fire upon the rear of Fort Gaines. The rebel pickets jumped up in astonishment at our first discharge, being utterly surprised, and

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 93

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