The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 98

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

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Acting Adjutant William P. Long, 21et Conn. Vols., is recommended to his Excellency the Gov- ernor of Connecticut for promotion for gallantry, planting his eolors among the first on the rebel fortifications.

Corp. F. Clarence Buck, Co. A, 21st Conn. Sharpshooter Battalion, is recommended to the Secretary of War for a medal for courage. Al- though wounded in the arm, he refused to leave the field until the engagemet closed. In addition, he will have his warrant as sergeant.

Ist Sergeant Wm. II. Haynes, Co. G, 7th Conn. is recommended to his Excellency, the Governor of Connecticut, for promotion for marked ability and attention to his duties as acting Lieutenant.

1st Sergeant Benjamin A. Hill, Co. A. 7th Con- nectient, is honorably mentioned for gallantry on the skirmish line on the 20th of September, in the reconnaissance on Richmond. He is appoint- ed a 2d Lientenant in the U. S. colored troops. Sergt. Lewis .A. Cooke, 7th Connecticut, for gallantry on a skirmish line and zeal in perform- ance of duty, is recommended for a medal.

Sergeant. Major George A. Gesner, Co. K, 6th Coun., is recommended for promotion, to his Ex- celleney, to the Governor of Connectient, for atten- tion to his duties, and is recommended to the Secretary of War for a medal.

2d Lieuts. Edward Coc and John Bishop, 29th C. V., (colored troops.) are appointed first Lieuts. for uniform attention to duty.

Stray Items.

IIUMAX NATURE. - Here is a fair illustration, in a young way, of that disinterested kindness we sometimes read of, and one of the ways one might adopt to render a compliance with that Scripture which reads "in honor preferring one to ano- ther." "Now, George, you must divide the cake honorably with your brother Charles." " What is lionorable, mother ?" " It means that you must give him the largest piece." " Then, mother, I'd rather Charley should divide it."

GLOVE LEGEND, -- Then there is the monkish leg- end of St. Gudnle, the patroness of Brussels, who flourished, as the date book says, in the begin- ing of the eighth century, and who one day eame praying in the church with naked feet; praying with such fervor and with feet so nakel, that a charitable priest put his gloves under thein for shoes, to protect them from chilblains and the damp stones. But St. Gndule kicked the gloves away, and went on with her prayers, while the gloves hung suspended in the air for upwards of an hour, to the great marvelling of the beholders. character beneath her cowl.

A HAPPY OLD MAN. - The genial old Grant Thorbarn wrote just after his last birth day : "I have lived another year in this falsely so-called miserable world. I verily believe it is the best world, terrestrial, that ever God made. I have never felt head, heart, nor toothache during the year just gone by, and this day I enter upon my eighty-fifth year. 1 walk without a staff; I sleep without rocking, and eat my food without brandy or bitters. I never was drunk in my life, and never had a rheumatie pain,"

On a beautiful spring day, (April 18th, 1862,) he was laid to rest in the quiet

Ilartford and of his native place. Pub- lic services were held in the church, and every token of sorrow which sincere re- speet, admiration and affection could sug- gest was shown by the people generally. By the side of the mother who bore him he rests, the rippling stream of Farming- ton river and the sighing of the tall pines that shadow his grave, gently sounding his dirge. A pdain free stone monument bearing his last words and the simple sentence " He died that his country might live," perpetuates his memory and teach- es a lesson of patriotism.

The sleep of the hero is sweet, Who dies his country defending. For his labors our praises are meet, And songs of his virtues muending.

What Englishmen Think.

We clip from the London Star, a sin- gle item from an article on our Western Army :

" From Cairo to Atlanta constitutes a record of love of American nationality, and prized ; the most brilliant success which any army could hope to achieve. That obstacles and defeats have been encountered only makes the persistence, which has at length obtained victory, shine out. with greater lustre. Kentucky was cleared of the great Rebel armies in 1862; Tennessee was fought for and won in 1868, and the summer campaign of 1861, more arduous than either of the preee- ding, has rolled back the Confederates from the north of Georgia, and placed Atlanta-the Bir- mingham of the West-at the feet of the eon- queror."

All this, say some in America, is FAIL- CHE.

A Just and Agreeable Order.

Gen. Butler has, (with whatever fault he may be charged. ) a happy faculty of saying and doing

has, among others, kept an eye on the manliest and bravest of the non-commissioned officers and men under his command, and recently issued an order recommending for promotion a large num- ber of noble fellows, who have performed deeds of nunsual excellence or daring. This ought long

The brave boys from Connectient, who have won recommendation and promotion nre-

First Lieut. C. W. Cook, 21st Conn., acting aid { and the testimony, by a miracle, of the saint's trio

1864.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

307

Recollections of Army Life in the 27th made and unmade so many generals, and bivouac for the rest of the night around Connecticut.

On the 22d of October, 1862, as the shadows of evening were settling down upon Camp Terry, the 27th Regiment began its nine mouths campaign. Prob- ably no regiment, which has left the city of New Haven, so thoroughly con- centrated in itself the deep interest of all classes in the community. Every condi- tion in life, every employment, found their representatives among our number. Many of our most respected and enter- prising mechanies laid aside for a season the implements of their labor to join its ranks ; the public schools of the city contributed one of their most esteemed teachers, and in the room, where of yore he so successfully led on his pupils from step to step in knowledge, hangs his por- trait, to them a daily recurring lesson of noble patriotism and self-devotion. And Old Yale, never faithless to the patriotic instincts of her revolutionary sons, and at whose record in this righteous war none can look but with a just pride, was repre- sented, by several of her children, one of whom fearlessly upheld our regimental colors at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. No wonder that the peo- ple of New Haven followed the career of the 27th with ever increasing interest, and that every item of the battle history it was helping to work out, should thrill the community to its very centre.

Our introduction to the Old Dominion would be incomplete unless the fore- ground of the picture presented to view that bugbear, Virginia mnd, which has

stops the wheels of the Army of the Potomac, with a periodical regularity worthy of the injunctions of a New York lawyer.

huge fires. The next morning Camp Tuttle assumes a veritable existence, and here the 27th settle down to a month's routine and drill preparatory to the rough experience of an actual campaign. Our camp is situated on a rising ground ; some distance in front of the parade, and on the left are the woods, while the right is skirted by the road, across which are the encampments of the 24th and 28th New Jersey and the 127th Pennsylvania which, with our regiment, constitute a Brigade of Abercrombie's Division of the army for the defense of Washington. In the distance rises the majestic dome of the Capitol ready to receive the statue of Freedom, and fitting is the coincidence that this emblem should be elevated to

We had hardly arrived at Camp Sew- ard when the clouds began to marshal their forces for an illustration of their power, and as if to show the minutiae of the forming forces, it began to drizzle slowly. The mist gradually enlarged into drops, and the soil grew softer and softer. As we floundered about we be- gan to realize that the aforesaid mud was not altogether a myth, conjured up by inefficient commanders to excuse inac- tion. As night approached, a strong wind superadded to the rain, swept over the ridge, but we retired, our minds at case, feeling secure in the thought that its position, when liberty for the hum- our tent surely was too well moored to the ground to give way before the blasts blest in the land is ceasing to be a lifeless principle and approaches faithful realiza- tion. of Eolus, and too well trenched about to be flooded. Alas for mortal foresight ! A regimental order sets forth the pro- gramme of daily anty as follows : reveille at six A. M .; guard-mounting at eight ; Co. drill from nine to eleven, and again from one to two; battallion drill from three to four, and dress parade at five P. M .; tattoo at nine, taps at half-past nine. All this was varied by an occasional sea- son of pieket duty a few miles up the Leesburg turnpike. How deceptive is Virginia mud ! Our little squad of five are all unconscious of the howling winds aud pelting rain with- ont, when suddenly a fiercer blast from the caverns of the storm god swoops down upon our devoted shelter, and as if by mutual arrangement, the soft earth yielded np the pins, the edge of the tent sweeps across our faces, and we wake to find the circle of vision enlarged from the narrow limits of our canvass tent to

Our first Sabbath at Camp Tuttle, forms, in most respects, a sample of all

Without stopping to dwell upon the the sky above, black with heavy clouds. [ the rest. Sunday is to the soldier the passage to New York, to Port Monmonth, or upon the generous hospitality of the as the darkness allows, and we again lie down to sleep, not without some mi-giv- ings of another downfall. The tent starts Quaker City, and passing by the night journey to Baltimore, succeeded by a day's rest on the pavements of that city, the morning of the 25th found us in Washington. Camp Seward, on Arling- pected cause of excitement appeared. After dress parade it was announced that in consequence of certain rumored move- ments of the enemy in the direction of Leesburg. it might be necessary to beat ton Heiglits, is soon reached, and quickly long rows of tents rear their white roofs in Gen. Lee's peach orchard. Possibly ! in other days we should have been sun- Our establishment is as quickly righted : most anomalous day of the calendar, es- pecially if situated, as we were, without a Chaplain. The weekly inspection and freedom from drill, are the chief points - again, and only the utmost celerity pre- | which distinguish it from other days. In vents a total cap-ize. The wind, deter- the present instanec, however, an unex- mined never to be beaten, again over- turns our abode as if to dechire the tran- sient nature of our residence at Camp Seward, and we conclude to let Boreas have his way, it finally turning out that marily ejected by a grand charge of that | he had done us a personal favor, as some the long roll, to call the regiment under gentleman's dusky retainers, or perhaps compensation for previous rough treat -- arms at any moment during the night. Of course the very thought of a rebel indicted in the courts for presuming to trespass upon the domain of an F. F. V., and have paid dearly to appease his in- jured feelings. But now the crowd of his arrangements to respond to the call with the utmost promptness. But no drum-beat disturbed our quiet rest; and slaves is dispersed, and " Massa Lee" is not there to dispute our right to posses- sion.

meut. At noon the order came to strike tents, with a view to moving our camp a added new zest to our military existence. few miles up the Potomac. Ours had . Every one was on the qui vive, and made been kindly, though somewhat unseason- ably struck, and all that remained was to roll it up and put it in the wagon. Late in the afternoon the march began. it is a circumstance worth remarking, that although our camp on the Rappahannock lay nearer the rebel lines than almost any other, yet during the whole campaign

Crossing over into Georgetown by the Aqueduct Bridge, and following the pic- turesque course of the river up to Chain Bridge, we return to the left bank and the long roll never sent forth its soul-stir-

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

{ NOVEMBER,

ring notes to call us into battle line at front was it our privilege to picket near we immediately pitched our tent in its night.

Langley. None who were ont on that old place, congratulating ourselves that

At length our turu came to go on occasion, and sat down to the well-spread after all we should have some chance to board, presided over by Mrs. Paine, will soon forget the fair Asmarina, whose

picket, which was not altogether unwel- come, as a relief to the monotonous round of camp duties and as an introduction to 'assiduous attention added so much to the a new phase of experience. Picketing entertainment. near Washington is a mere pastime in The march back to camp was attended TO THE FRONT. comparison with the same duty at the by a driving snow storm, and the cold The soldier, who is untried in the fear- ful ordeal of war, looks forward with a ' front. On the present occasion Co. II, : was so great as to freeze the water in our with detachments from other regiments canteens. On the evening of the next kind of adventurous excitement to the started out one morning, and after march- day reports came in that rebel cavalry time when he shall cross swords with the ing several miles on the Leesburg turn- had got between our pickets and furthest enemy, and especially if his heart is pike, arrived about ten o'clock at the vil- outposts, and the regiment was ordered to be in readiness to turn out at a mo- ment's warning As in the previous in- stance, our services were not required.

lage of Langley, which has recently been the seene of a guerrilla raid. Honses favorably situated at different points of the picket line, were occupied as head- quarters of the different squads. It was our good fortune to be assigned to the principal tavern, and it is but due to the enterprise of the villagers to state that notwithstanding the place consists of but one church and a dozen houses, it is favored with no less than two regular taverns and two boarding houses of minor importance, one of which indicates its character to the public by the sign

rester ant

But we had hardly begun to appreciate the uncertainty always attending the sol- dier's life. After one night's enjoyment of onr improved dwelling, orders came for Co. II, to strike tents, pack up and

We found our hotel deserted by its march over to Hall's Hill, there to clear former proprietor, a rabid secessionist, up a pince for the regimental encamp- who barely escaped arrest by a posse of ment. Arriving on the hill in a pelting United States soldiers.

rain, huge fires were built of the brush

Near the tavern the road divides, one. and stumps which covered the ground, branch leading to Fall's Church, and the and by evening our tents were up, and other to Leesburg. A short distance up we were as comfortable as cirenmstances the latter stands the residence of an old would allow. Hearing of several desert- secession slave-holder, whose son is a ed encampments about a mile distant on general in the rebel army. In front of Miner's and Upton's Hills, many parties the house a sentinel paces back and forth, went out to secure anything which might to look after the old gentleman.

[ add to their convenience. A large bar-

enjoy the fruits of our Monday's labor. The marching orders were countermand- ed, and we settled down once more to our ordinary duties.

bound up in the cause, his motives lie deeper than mere love of adventure, he desires to stand at the post of duty though it be in the deadly charge, and at the cannon's mouth.

At length the last day of November, a beautiful Sabbath, came, and with it marching orders. All attention was now concentrated upon the movement to take eut and brought in from the neighboring place the next day at nine o'clock. The , forest, and soon Camp Tuttle began to present an air of comfort positively in- viting.

cooks were busy preparing ration for the march; the men were arranging their traps in the most portable form, and all looked forward with enger interest to the new scenes before us. At the appointed time, on the following morning, the 27th, with the other regiments in the Brigade, began the march for Washington, leav- ing our comparatively commodious A tents standing. Henceforth shelter tents, and for much of the time no tents at all, were to be our covering. Our final des- tination was all a mystery, until as the days advanced conjecture was enabled, with some probability, to fix upon Fred- ericksburg. The march across Chain Bridge, through Georgetown and Wash- ington, and down the Potomac, 15 miles, consumed the first day, and that night a tired set slept beneath their shelter tents, nestling in the woods by the roadside. again in motion, and before sundown ac- would certainly have thought himselfagain surrounded by the abodes of the Lillipu- tians. By eight o'clock, Dec. 2d, we were

The dinner hour having arrived we;ren plain was covered with the huts and conchide to set aside Uncle Sam's homely debris of a large army, probably Mc- Had Gulliver dropped in among them he fare and take advantage of the enlarged Clellan's, in the winter of 1861. The facilities of entertainment afforded by the ! whole presented a very curious and sug- village. Falling in with the current wegestive sight. Meanwhile, orders came adjourn to one of the boarding houses," to strike tents and re-join the regimeut. kept by a man of secession proclivities, ! It appeared that all the regiments in the complished the appointed distance of 20 whose principles, however, did not inter -; vicinity were ordered to prepare for a miles. through a pleasant country, divi- fere with his untiring efforts to please. ; rapid march. The Army of the Poto- ded into large and apparently well culti- Those who have experienced the necessa- vated plantations. Sambo's glittering mac had but recently crossed the river rily semi-barbarous life of the camp will after the battle of Antietam in pursuit ivory and staring eyes gleamed from appreciate what were our feelings as we'of' Lee, and the enemy were said to be many gateways, greeting us half suspi- sat down to a civilized meal. Attracted threatening Gen. Sigel, in command at ciously. One young colored boy con- by the sign, we subsequently visited the Centreville. In view of this state of eluded he had been beaten quite long "resterant," kept by negroes, who did affairs the reserve in the defences of chongh by his master, and not liking the their best to entertain us. Washington, was called upon to be ready, prospect before him it he remained in Only once more before leaving for the | for any emergency. Returning to camp I slavery, thought best to join the column

In view of the approach of winter, and the probability of remaining in our pres- ent location for some time, it was thought best to make corresponding preparations. Pine logs, with considerable labor, were

1864.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

309

and march to freedom. In anticipation | town, whose secession population hardly of some such proceedings on the part of deigned to glanee at us except from be- the colored population, the planters of hind elosed shutters. Several of its den- that region patrolled the roads on horse- izens had recently been sent to the Old Capitol prison, having been caught in the back, watching our ranks as we filed past to see if some Inekless contraband was jaet of escorting a young rebel lieutenant not harbored therein.

across the Potomne. One of these luck- less individuals is personally known to

The third day brought us within three miles of Port Tobacco, and without the writer, and his plantation is said to standing on ceremony, we encamped on the grounds of a seeession planter, and availed ourselves of his abundant store of hay and straw. By this time on haversaeks were getting low, not having

have contributed that savory dish of pork-steak to which we have already al- luded.

The fifth day of our march, and the last on the Maryland side of the Poto- been replenished sinee leaving Camp Tut- mae, opened rather inanspiciously, and tle, and many were disposed, contrary to by the time we reached the river bank at Liverpool Point, a cold rain storm set in, in which we were obliged to stand a eou- ple hours awaiting our turn to be ferried aeross to Aequia Landing. At length the rain changed into driving snow, and when we arrived at the Landing, the sur- rounding hills were white with the gene- rous deposit. The village at Aequia Creek, after being evacuated sundry times, had burnings to become the base of supplies for Burnside's army before Fredericks- burg. Busy carpenters were rearing storehouses eventually to take their turn orders, to forage upon the farm-yards, hen-roosts and hog-pens of the strong se- cession element which prevailed through- out that region. Uncle Sam's cartridges in too many cases, were not conscien- tiously preserved to fire at rebels in arms, but every few minutes bang went a gun, and some rebel in heart was minus a brace of chickens, a pig or ealf, which graced the breakfast table of a Union volunteer. Our company cooks, by hook or by erook, had procured some secession pork, and when we arose the next morn- ing, a very savory smell greeted our nos- trils, as the steak hissed over a fire made of seeession rails, and we all partook of of vessels of every description, loaded it with a genuine relish, remembering, in obedience to Paul's injunetion, to ask no questions for conscience sake. Many were the ehiekens' heads scattered along the route of this day's march, no less

In the snow we disembarked, and after situation seareely bestowing a thought many delays, reached our camping upon the weather without, little realize ground on a hill-side, a mile or more up: the magie influence of old Sol's genial than fifteen having been counted within the railroad. It was now evening, and contenance upon the physical and men- the space of a few feet, and numberless the prospeet seemed anything but en- tal state of the soldier. The sun's beams couraging in view of the fact that the, seem to flash through and through his storm continued with even augmented physical and spiritual being, dispelling fury. We pitched our shelter tents and. the temporary depression which the wear ¡made our beds in the snow, and built and tear of hardship may have produced, fires, under circumstances which would | and the dark pieture of former privation have discouraged that gentleman whom ; fades away before the fresh, smiling face we are wont to look up to as a model of; of nature. feathers to match. Occasionally, one more bold in iniquity than the rest, would trudge by with an unfortunate hen dang- ling at his back, with as much assurance as though fortified by a carte blanche from his venerable Unele in Washing- ton, to levy his rations on the neighboring country, and one was seen trying to con- patient perseverance. Almost the first ; To-day, our worthy Chaplain, Rev. J. thing the soldier has to learn is, how to. W. Leek, joined the regiment, and though make a fire. Let the problem be this : our long deprivation of a Chaplain's wood soaked in water an indefinite labors was certainly most undesirable, period, six or more inches of snow yet thereby we could the better appre- ciate the kindly qualities of head and and heart he brought to his work. eeal a quarter of a calf which, notwith- standing all his efforts, like the ass, in the fable, who donned the lion's skin, would show his ears. It is but just to remark that few of these depredations were committed by members of the 27th, the most of them being chargeable to WINTHROP. Jerseymen and Pennsylvania Dutchmen, who showed a proficiency in such things entirely unattainable by Connecticut Yankees.

Dee. 4th, we passed through Port To- baeco, a very ordinary, shabby looking

on the ground, and the air full of it ; fin- gers all thumbs, and thumbs all fingers ; required to build a fire. The soldier who, after a brief experience in the army, cannot bring this problem to a triumph- ant solution, should be mustered out of the service immediately, as untit to per- form military duty. So essential to the soldiers' comfort is this skill, would it | dle the climax of delicacies.

not be well for that august committee in Washington, who sit in judgment on the qualifications of applicants for appoint- ments in evlored regiments, to test the ability of these gentlemen in this parti- eular. The suggestion is certainly as good as four-fifths of those thrust upon our attention in these days.

To add to the discomfort of the case our supplies were entirely exhausted. The old refrain of the reading books :

" Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink ;" requires only a slight alteration to describe our circumstances exactly.

Pork and hard tack everywhere, but not a bit to ent, for only a mile or more distant the wharves and storehouses at the landing fairly groaned with these ar- titles, which we, however, could not ob- tain owing to inflexible red tape, and also to the fact that the railroad was entirely monopolized in carrying subsistence for the army at Falmouth. A very limited supply of saw-dust gingereakes constitu- risen again from the ashes of several ted our bill of fare until the evening of the next day.

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 98

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