The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 97

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

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looked upon by all in the Regiment, and of the disgust with which he himself viewed his solitary position-powerless as he was to mend matters. Few knew his feelings at this time. But he was about to leave a career for which nature and a masterly training had so eminently fitted him, and to leave it in bitterness of spirit and disgust. Better days came, however. The last Christian virtue was recommended to the Lient. Colonel, by the line officers, and he resigned. Major, now Lieut. Col. Stedman, took command of the Regiment, and a new era had dawned upon the Eleventhi.

Hle lifted the Regiment at once to a higher state of military discipline. He set it a grand aim, and infused a gentle- manly, chivalric, and military tone into its life, as only the commander of an or- ganization, if he himself possesses those qualities in the highest degree, is able to infuse. But he only paved the way for Col. Kingsbury, who shortly after took command, and who erowned with tri- umphs at West Point, and fragrant with the smoke of all the Peninsular battles, regenerated the Eleventh, and made it the model regiment for discipline, milita- ry spirit and appearance, which it ever after remained.

Graphotype Ing.

For the Connecticut War Record.

Reminiscences of the Eleventh. GRIFFIN A. STEDMAN.

those of the Appomattox, which drank his blood near Petersburg. I must revert to those days of New- bern. We had much sickness then. The Lieut. Col. was the constant visitor of his sick boys, and his fine smile cheered them in many an hour of pain. It was Colonel was a plain farmer of good sense, his character, impressions that were only strengthened during an intercourse of but one of those officers sometimes ap -!

HIe was then Major of the 11th Conn. It is a long time, and it seems still | Vols. A peculiar position it was at that ' then, and afterwards at the mess table, longer, when I endeavor to call up the time. There was no Colonel. The Lient. that I received my first impressions of events that mark it. Yet, fair and clear is the picture of that camp on the Trent. Far below, with the haze of a Southern pointed in the beginning of the war, con- two years, by the legitimate develop- distance softening its contours, nestled'eerning whom a writer in the Atlantic ments of this rare nature. I have already conquered Newbern on the wavy bosom observes, that "they possessed every! said that he was an aristocrat, and I will Christian virtue except that of resigna- now add, an aristocrat in the noblest ac- tion." The line officers, with a few bril-

of its twin rivers. From above, a nar- row reedy peninsula, like a vivid green flame streamed down the river, and liant exceptions, were coarse and ill-in- matched its brilliant hues with the changing azure of the divided waters.

ceptance of the term, when aristocrats were the representatives of mental power

formed. The men were miserably dis- and culture, of moral strength and puri- ciplined. Immagine in the midst of these, ! ty, of grand nims and lofty deeds, and of A dark circle of woods concealed the ja gentleman, by birth, education, habits, ! the most exquisite sentiments perpetuated horizon. Alas, I visited this seene not condition and opinions, a thorough-bred in the pages of romance. Conecive Ten- long since, and the once fair shores of aristocrat, and you will at once be aware nyson's Sir Galahad, or any of King the Trent are now as bare and dry as of the awe with which the Major was! Arthur's mail clad champions; imagine

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

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Kingsley's Francis Leigh, or any of went to Norfolk and Newport News, congenial were the tastesof all! Immag- Queen Elizabeth's pure and chivalrous when, it being suddenly discovered that ine the Field and Staff of a regiment, courtiers ; conjure up, in short, a nature'we had to all appearance used up in the 'none of whom, with one exception, with the purity, delieney, and innocence space of two days, sixteen dozen eggs, ¡drank intoxicating liquors or used tobac- co, and all of whom, with one exception, were under twenty-six years of age. So of a maiden bond to the valor, firmness the mess was re-organized, and the Lieut. and power of a hero, a hundred charming Col. undertook to cater. From that weaknesses blended with adamantine time we had a very elegant table. I am flowed on our life in warm friendship, strength of principle, an elegance of speaking of Newport News. There Col. sparkling conversation, laughter and thought that did not impair the mind's Kingsbury joined us. A disenssion of inexorable firmness, an affectionate dis- this remarkable soldier is out of place position that lessened not the strength of here, except in so far as his character in- character, a number of iron qualities thieuced and developed that of the Lieut. Colonel, and only in so far, shall it be bound together with garlands of roses -- and you have an idea with what eyes I alluded to.

viewed him, to whom I bowed in the full- ness of my hero worship. It is almost impossible for me to justify any more than merited admiration, by illustrations. For, my friend bad a horror of newspa- per notoriety and public tattle, which his own youthful ardor, and enthusiasm, even now constrains me to suppress inci- were alive in him. He attempted no less dents that would to the casual reader than to make his regiment like that corps exhibit him in the true light of his char- aeter. Besides, it is scaree easy to do so For though we lived so long together, though I loved him so fondly, though we spent the greater part of many, many moonlight nights in sweet conversation, yet even to me the last veil was never withdrawn, and he walked about, always shrouded in a mantle of dignified reserve -- which, like a very thin coat of iee, was

of cadets he had left at the Military Academy, and the history of the regi- ment attests his success, so far as it was possible to succeed with the material. There was an immediate casting out of officers, and many good and true men went home complaining, unable to com- prehend what was patent to the Colonel, that they were incapable of becoming military men. The Colonel and Lieut. always between him and every other Colonel met like brothers, and it was human being. This was a true Anglo beautiful to see the admiration each yield- Saxon characteristic. Thin and transpa- jed to the other's character. From Col. rent as the partition was to his friends, it was, nevertheless, always there.

The Lient. Col. always lived in very simple style. He had a small wall tent at Newbern, with the bare earth for a floor, and three or four blankets rolled up in the corner to be spread out for his bed at night. A rough stand and a camp stool completed the furniture of his tent. Remember, this was not on a campaign, but in a permanent camp, and at a time when almost every officer's tent was full of an incongruous assortment of the spoils of conquered Newberu. Ilis negro servant slept in the same tent.

Like other officers of kind disposition, he delighted in proenring delicacies for his sick men, and brought up whatever of the kind came into his way. frequent- ly dedicating the tit-bits of his own table to that purpose. However, we did not fare very sumptuously at that time. The Chaplain was eaterer, and the table was meagre, as if purposely designed to

If the Lient. Col. was a representative of the noblest class of gentlemen, the Colonel was the highest type of a soldier. The traditions of the regular Army and the teachings of West Point, vivified by

Kingsbury my friend received his military education. That habit of command, that jealousy of the honor of the straps he wore, that forgetfulness of self and his own inclinations in the true representa- tion of his rank and offee, and that mili- tary knowledge which, ever after, destiny distinguished him.

Ilard struggled the regiment at New- port News to acquire all its Colonel de- mandel; but it suceceded. Harder yet did it struggle afterwards, as the Provost Guard of Fredericksburg, to abstain from all its Colonel denied; but it succeeded. The town of Fredericksburg was never more quiet and peaceful in its happiest days, than when the Eleventh guarded it. And the Lient. Colonel deserved no small share of the praise.

good sense, and in the strietest attention to our duties, through our stay at New- port News and Fredericksburg, until we were summoned with the rest of our corps to Washington, to form part of the army gathering there under MeClellan, for the purpose of expelling Lee from Maryland.

There is not much to tell of our mareh through Maryland. The days were hot and wearisome. But at evening, gath- ered round our huge mess-chest, we nu- corked the vials of our mirth, and the spirits repressed all day gushed forth the merrier then. Often it was in the midst of some charming landscape that we were encamped. 1 fire in the center of a circle of shelter tents, threw its fitful light on the occupants. There was the young Colonel, wrapped in his blankets, with the square, manly face, the profusion of blonde moustache and whisker, the large, earnest blue eye, and the sweet, womanly mouth that could so easily as- sume the expression of firmness and de- termination, and raise up the ends of the mustache, until they seemed to touch the eyes. God bless him, dear Colonel Kings- bury ; he made us all better and nobler, and when I soon after pressed my lips in last adieu upon that forehead cold in death, I felt that when I would next be- hold it, it would be crowned with the au- reola of a hero and saint. There sat, mostly at the Colonel's side, upon a tiger skin blanket, the subject of this sketch. A large heavy brow, with ponderous de- velopments, and very short light hair, overshadowed features lovely and mirth- tul as a schoolboy's. Only the jaw's powerful sweep, and the long blonde mustache, relieved the lower part of his face from that gay and roguish look, that boyish smile, that always lingered there. There was Maj. Moogling, with his straightforward face and brilliant color, and Adjutant Converse, pale, quick and spiritual. Furthermore there was the old Surgeon, stout as a live oak, with

But how pleasant was our social life at this time. The most brilliant conversa- tion flashed forth at each meal. There was an elegance of manner, and a refine- [ kindness and good sense beaming from ment of expression cultivated, that might his eyes, and his ruddy cheeks always mortify the flesh. This lasted until we have graced the best eireles. And so ready to smooth out their thousand

عليك لمذة لتمائية ه الحبال جيدة .

1864.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

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wrinkles in a good laugh. The Quarter- the flank, half way between the contend- master, tall and melancholy, with a most ing armies. From morning until night, gentlemanly air, and myself, were the last and least. Antietam took the Colo- nel from ns. Ilow I remember Lt. Col. Stedman coming in towards night, and after visiting all the wounded of our Regi- ment, saying to me:

"Doctor, I believe I am shot through the leg." It was not a very serious wound. He stayed until the Colonel had breathed his last. When I came to him and said : "The Colonel has opened his eyes, and given me the sweetest, most brilliant smile, and then closed them for- ever," he silently pressed my hand, and went to take a last farewell look at him who had loved him so much, and whom we all adored. Then he went -home. When he returned he wore the Eagles. | them, every Colonel selected some house We went on our march, down Virginia. I never spent a more pleasant time. The Colonel was compelled by his wound, to with his company, every Colonel with ride in an ambulance. But every evening we would have a re-union around the mess-chest, and afterward around a fire. How late we used to sit talking of the world and its manners, of the brilliant actions of renowned men ; recapitulating the wittiest sayings, the rarest thoughts, and the queerest stories. How we tried to diseuss that exquisite politeness, that delicate chivalry, which graced the last days of Francis, old Regime, and that wonderful spirit of devotion, and consis. teut purity which characterized the days

December night the Colonel rolled him- self in his blanket, and lay down in the muud of the street, by the colors of the regiment, and we lay down around him. Next day, we scenred an old stranded bont in which we located headquarters. Then, the plan of attacking in column was mooted, and the Eleventh were chosen to precede the column composed of two Army Corps, as skirmishers. was virtually devoting the regiment to of Knighthood. These were favorite joiced, and to their praise be it told, the

themes with the Colonel. Often with the cnemy's pickets not a quarter of a mile distant, have we laughed over the brilliant seandal of Charles First's or Maria Antoinette's court. And with quaint, musty histories of decayed German courts, dug from quaint musty memories, piled up in libraries on the continent, I have charmed his attention many times. In more lonely hours he would confide hopes, attachments, family histories to my ear, and the more I knew of him, the purer and greater I knew him to be.

A pleasant thanksgiving it was that year. We had General Harland to din- ner. Ile tanght us how to cat apple dumplings in the old-fashioned way, with sugar. We had quite a merry time in camp, the men having received rations of hot punch.

Soon after, the battle of Fredericks- burg was fought. We were not in the fight, but held the extreme picket line on

we saw the long brigade lines of men, with four or five flags flaunting over them, sweep up the fatal hill, upon the side of which, behind a stone wall, the enemy were posted. All was silent. Then from the stone wall flashed one shot, then another, and then a long line of fire developed, and leaped and sub- sided, and flashed and disappeared until one flag fell, and then another, and ano- ther, and finally the long line broken, the fragments turned and retired rapidly, -- from morning until night, one brigade after the other. We cried with vexa- tion.

of patriotism which made every man in- dividually adore himself as a hero and martyr of liberty, was brushed away, and they felt themselves soldiers, links of a chain, pieces of machinery, but pieces that were conscious of the glory which was earned by the whole, and that strove for it united, and each in his place. Besides this, they were a gentlemanly regiment, by the influence of the gen- tleman at their head, and who always up- held their dignity as men, in their higher character as soldiers. No work unwor- thy of a soldier, was ever put upon them ; no private details as cooks, and servants, and hostlers were allowed ; no insult to the men was ever permitted from When the regiments lay in the streets of Fredericksburg with the enemy before arbitrary superiors. In consequence, we find such facts recorded as the march of the Eleventh from Yorktown to White to sleep in. Col. Stedman said: " At such a time, every Captain should sleep House, in July, 1863, where not a man fell out of the ranks, notwithstanding the hot sun, and the dusty road -- where his regiment." And in the cold of the | not a chicken was stolen, not a tree rob- bed, notwithstanding their hard fare. Or such an occurrence as happened last winter, where a sentinel stood by the arsenal which was burning at Yorktown, and budged not from his place, thongh shell and shot were flying around him by hundreds, from the burning magazines.

Another must write the history of his Inst campaigns, his history as Brigade It | Commander, his history as dying hero. That is not for me, who loving him in a glorious death. But the Colonel re- life, adore him in death, and to whom his departure is not the hiss of a musket ball, the pouring out of a heart's blood,

men shared his joy. That plan was soon abandoned, however, and we re-crossed j in short, an every day occurrence of bat- the river.

tle, but an apotheosis grand and beauti- ful. It only remains for me to lay the friend's wreath of immortelles upon the grave, on which they have written : Brigadier-General Griffin A. Stedinan.

And read again on that clear brow, Where victory's signal flew ! Har aret were life! Yet, by the mouth firm set, And look made up for Duty's utmost debt, -- I could divine he knew

That death within the sulphurous hostile lines, In the mere wreck of nobly pitched designs, Placks hearts-ease, and not rue.

Happy their end, Who vanish down life's evening stream,

Happy long life, with honor at the close,

chivalric feeling, a corps d' esprit, " Friends' painless tears, the softened thought of foes ! And yet, like him, to spend

All at a gush, keeping our first faith sure

From mid-life's doubt and eld's contentment poor ; What more could Fortune send ?

.. ....

at first controlled the regiment, Colonel ; Placid as swans that drift in dream R mind the next river-bend !

Stedman slowly substituted for these a

that made every private as anxious to uphold the reputation of the regiment as the commander himself. The tinge

Soon after my connection with the Eleventh ceased. The bright affection- ate smile with which the Colonel congrat- ulated me on my promotion, will never fade from my memory. . "Doctor," Brave, good, and true, he said, " we shall always claim you as !I see him stand before me now, one of the Eleventh. We merely lend yon to your new regiment."

Let me here point out the influence that Col. Stedman exerted upon the 11th, which Col. Kingsbury had already made one of the best disciplined regiments in the service. While the force of strict rules, and splendid external management

306

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[NOVEMBER,

We bide our chance, Unhappy, and make terins with Fate, A little more to let ns wait :

HIe leads for aye the advance, Hopes forlorn-hopes that plant the desperate good For nobler Earths and days of maniier mood ; Our wall of circumstance

Cleared at a bound, he flashes o'er the fight, A saintly shape of fame to cheer the right, And steel each wavering glance.

I write of one, While with dim eyes I think of three : Who weeps not others fair and brave as he ? Ah when the fight is won, Dear Land, whom trillers now make bold to seorn, (Thee ! from whose forehead earth awaits her morn !) How nobler shall the sun

Flame in thy sky-how braver breathe thy air, That thon bred'st children who for thee could dare, And die as thine have done !

HORSE JOIN.

Captain Edwin R. Lee.

CAPT. EDWIN R. LrE, Co. D, 11th C. V., was killed at the battle of New bern, N. C., March 14th, 1862. He was born April 28th, 1833, in Pleasant Valley, Litchfield C'o., Conn, the third of a fan- ily of five. Descended from revolution- ary stock, he grew up with an intense ;

republican institutions as something worth all toils and sacrifices. Until the age of 17 he remained at the old home- stead with his father, a plain New Eng- land farmer. when he became an appren- tice to the machinist trade. From 1855 to the time of his commission he resided in Hartford. Naturally of an ardent and enthusiastic temperament, he engaged earnestly in the political campaign of 1860. making speeches and otherwise laboring to secure the election of Lincoln and : Hamlin. He joined the City Guard of Hartford the following winter and became an adept in the minntie of military drill. Matters of a personal nature preventedi

him from participating in the three : a great many appropriate and telling things. IIe

months campaign, Int the second call for troops found him ready, and in Septem- ber, 1861, he, in company with an officer of the returned 2d regiment, began en- listing men. Having filled his company ranks, he was commissioned as captain and assigned to the 11th regiment, which was tago to have been the uniform practice throughont somewhat a disappointment, as he had . the army. Our brave boys have too often felt, expected to serve under his valued friend, 'and with good reason, that high merit or conspic-

nons courage did not seenre just advancement. We trust that day is past, and that this good well known ; its passage to Hatteras, the example will become the established rule,

Col. Russell of the 10th. The subse- quent bistory of the 11th regiment is storm and the landing. On the morning . of the 14th March as he was wheeling his company into line in front of the elle-

my's breastworks, a shell struck Capt. to Brig. Gen. Stannard, has special mention for Lee in the abdomen, tearing out his side distinguished gallantry, and is recommended to and shattering his sword arm. One of, his Excellency, the Governor of Conneetient, for his men sprang to his side as he fell, and promotion. raising his head inquired, "Captain, ran | Wm. S. Simmons and Jacob Bishop, Color Ser- we do anything for you ?" He answered, Igeants of the 8th Conn. Vols, are commended for "No. Tell my brother I died at the post

planting their colors on the parapet of the fort of duty. Good-by. Go on for your among the earliest. Sergts. Bishop and Simmons country." These were the last words of the youthful patriot hero.

are promoted to 211 Lieuts, in the U. S. colored troops; with the approval of the President.

Corp. Nathan Hickock, 8th Coun, Vols, honor- able meution for his gallautry in capturing a rebel village where he first saw the light, his battle flag, and is recommended to the Secretary remains escorted to their last home by

of War for a medal. Ilis colonel will see that he the City Guard and many citizens of has his warrant as a sergeant.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 97

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