USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Norwich memorial; the annals of Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, in the great rebellion of 1861-65 > Part 11
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WILLIAM M. PERKINS, enlisted in the navy, September 17, 1861, as first class boy ; joined the steamship " Florida." Sailed in the Port Royal expedition under Dupont. In November, 1862, joined the frigate " Colorado" at Ports- mouth. Was transferred to Cairo, Ill., and ordered to the
I51
NORWICH MEN IN THE NAVY.
ram "Lafayette." Served on the Yazoo River, and in the passage of the Vicksburg batteries ; also in the first and second Red River expeditions. Honorably discharged, September 17, 1864.
J. H. JEWETT, enlisted as seaman, August 28, 1861. Served on gunboat " Rhode Island " and frigate " Santee."
EDWARD FRANCIS, served as ordinary seaman in the navy.
CHARLES TISDALE, enlisted in May, serving as first class boy.
EDWARD TISDALE, entered the navy and served as first class boy.
GEORGE CLARKE, served in the navy as Paymaster's clerk.
ALBERT SMITH, entered the navy, and served as Pay- master's clerk.
WILLIAM FANNING, enlisted and served in the navy as ordinary seaman.
A. E. FULLER, served in the navy in the capacity of clerk.
HENRY HEMPSTEAD, enlisted in the navy and served as landsman.
CHARLES E. BREED, enlisted in the navy, April, 1864, as Assistant Engineer, died April, 1865.
JOHN P. KEHR, served in the navy, and died July 30, 1862.
Y.
ViTHE~
CONSTITUTION
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
1861-65.
" Work, Patriots, for the Union Till the hour of triumph comes ! When the lusty shouts of victory Mingle with rolls of drums ; Till the shadowy clouds of treason Have floated fore'er away, And the sunrise beams of hope and peace Tell of a brighter day."
C. B. HOWELL.
A T the very commencement of the war the citizens of Norwich turned their attention to making provision for the relief of soldiers' families. The first grand rally of the people on Wednesday, April eighteenth, had this object in view, no less than the encouragement of enlistments,
A
Now Buckingham
153
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
and with generous promptitude they commenced subscrip- tions to a fund, which to the end of the war was more than adequate to meet every call upon it. This action on the part of the citizens was in advance of the measures adopted subsequently by the town for the systematic relief of the families of soldiers, by bounties and otherwise, and as an instance of the spontaneous liberality of the people in pro- viding for the immediate needs of the first volunteers, it is deserving of special mention.
The patriotism of the men and women of Norwich, of every grade of means, was from the first pronounced and unwavering, as this splendid record abundantly shows. Mr. Amos W. Prentice stood at the head of this " Patriotic Fund Committee," rendering in this, as in other responsible positions he was called to fill during the eventful years of the war, most efficient and untiring service. Mr. Charles Johnson was appointed treasurer, and with a loyalty as de- cided as it was uncompromising, received the subscriptions to this fund, and aided in administering the same. His personal correspondence with the soldiers was very exten- sive, and his generous admiration of their patriotism made him a ready helper of all whom he could befriend, and the best almoner of the public bounty that could have been selected.
The subscription list was the grandest one which ever received the signatures of our citizens, both when we con- sider its object and the unprecedented liberality to which it showed the people could rise in a trying hour. The original roll on which the names of the subscribers were signed, is carefully preserved by the treasurer of the fund, as a proud memento of the patriotism of our citizens, as well as an historic relic which the passage of the years will convert into a precious heirloom for other days and generations.
The following are the names, and in the order in which
154 THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
they were signed, on this paper, to whose suggestive title we have already alluded : -
"THE SINEWS OF WAR."
Wm. A. Buckingham . $1,000
B. W. Tompkins $100
David Smith
500
George Perkins 50
Wm. P. Greene
1,000
Joel W. White 100
J. Lloyd Greene
500
A. F. Gilman
25
John F. Slater
500
E. P. Slocum
25
L. F. S. Foster
300
S. B. Meech 25
I. M. Buckingham
300
Samuel C. Morgan
200
Leonard Ballou
300
E. O. Abbot 100
Ebenezer Learned
300
Pierce & Robertson
50
Chas. Johnson & Son
300
F. Y. Winship .
25
C. B. Rogers
300
William Prentice .
50
Breed, Prentice, & Co.
500
Gurdon P. Cottrell
25
Henry Bill
300
Gurdon Chapman 25
300
E. R. Thompson 200
Charles Spalding 100
Joseph Selden
100
I. Johnson
50
James D. Mowry
100
W. T. Almy
50
Frank Johnson .
F. M. Hale
50
A. H. Hubbard
500
E. Winslow Williams 100
William C. Osgood
50
S. H. Grosvenor 100
Norton Brothers
500
John T. Adams
100
Erastus Williams .
100
N. C. Brakenridge
100
W. L. Nichols
25
James A. Hovey
100
Franklin Nichols 50
William Kelley
50
E. Edwards .
25
James S. Carew
100
Gurdon Jones & Co ..
25
A. Brewster
100
Lewis Edwards 50
Julius Webb
100
M. Safford
25
C. B. Webster
100
R. Farnsworth 100
Enoch F. Chapman
50
A. J. Currier
100
George G. Bottom
50
R. B. Mowry
100
A. Y. Hebard
50
J. M. Huntington and W. H.
Gardner Greene
100
Huntington . 1,000
William Noyes
50
John P. Gulliver 100
Sidney Turner .
50
John G. Huntington & Co. 100
J. Leavens & Son
50
William P. Nash
50
Wm. R. Hitchcock
50
S. R. Parlin 50
James N. Perry
25
Barstow & Palmer 100
O. P. Rice
50
Andrew & Nash
100
George L. Perkins 200
L. W. Carroll
H. K. Hammond . Charles N. Farnam
50
300
Clarke, Harrington, & Co 50
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
155
R. M. Haven
$25
Louis Mitchell $25
S. H. Osgood
100
W. R. Wood
50
George W. Smith
100
Charles A. Rallion 50
S. & S. B. Case
100 William P. Greene, Jr. 50
Z. R. Robbins
50
Benjamin D. Greene
50
P. St. M. Andrews
25
Joseph H. Holm 25
Avery Smith
50
James L. Hubbard 100
E. G. Bidwell
50
Charles Lee
100
H. H. Starkweather
50
Joseph A. Starkweather
50
E. P. Partridge
50
Lorenzo Blackstone
300
Nathan Sears
25
H. B. Cruttenden .
25
Chauncey Palmer
50
John W. Allen
500
Samuel Mowry 100
Frederick Prentice
100
Chester Clark 50
Samuel Prentice
25
Robert Revelle
25
Owen Stead 25
Theodore F. McCurdy
100
Nathan P. Avery
25
Wilson Potter
50
T. C. Gordon 25
Gardner Thurston
25
Charles Browning
25
Willoughby & Co.
100
Charles C. Fuller
25
Edward Chappell
100
C. C. Thompson
25
Alvan Bond .
50
Parley Philipps
25
Alfred P. Rockwell
50
Norris G. Lippitt
25
Daniel W. Coit
200
Willard Bliss
50
Joseph T. Thurston
50
John T. Wait
50
A. H. Vaughn
50
Daniel F. Gulliver
100
A. S. Robbins
50
L. H. Smith
25
Mrs. Russell Hubbard
50
William W. Coit
100
Wareham Williams
100
J. Treadwell Walden
50
J. H. Almy
50
Joseph Williams 50
A. Clark .
50
George Loomis
100
Hiram B. Crosby
50
Henry Ruggles
50
J. Halsey
50
Mrs. Benjamin Lee
50
Jedediah Huntington 300
A native-born non-resident 50
25
Augustus Bowen
25
Augustus Bowen, Att'y for Wm. R. Potter
50
Charles E. Dyer
25
Lewis E. Stanton
25
William McCune
25
George Coit
50
Jesse Caulkins
IO
L. H. Maples
25
William W. Avery 50
Benjamin Durfey
50
Pliny Brewer 25
Richard P. Tracy
IO
Oliver P. Avery 25
Asa Fitch
500
Miss E. A. Dwight
40
William H. Law
100
Lewis A. Hyde
John Dunham
100
Richard Colburn J. G. Hinckley
25
25
Horace Colton
75
E. F. Hovey
25
Russell Rix . 50
156 THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
Mrs. B. Lee (additional) $50
J. B. Shaw $25
G. A. Jones & Co. (additional)
75
Edward Coit
30
Charles B. Platt
25
A. B. Haile 25
Othniel Gager
50 C. G. Child . 25
Richard P. Tracy (additional) 15
Thomas Byrnes
25
Peter Nelson IO
A. H. Emmons
25
Mrs. John A. Rockwell
100
John Eggleston
25
R. P. Stanton
10
John Eggleston (Trustee)
25
Isaac H. Bromley
25
J. W. Hooker
50
Lewis Hyde
50
George W. Kies
25
Wm. Elting & Co. 50
E. A. Huntington
25
James M. Peckham
50 H. G. Ransom .
25
Mrs. N. C. Reynold
50
F. S. B.
100
William B. Wilcox
25
C. Starr Brewster .
100
J. N. Perkins 50
William Bond 100
B. Boardman
25
John F. Arnott
50
J. L. W. Huntington
50
S. A. Whitney
25
Amos E. Cobb
50
Mary W. Goddard
20
Hakes Brothers
50
William Williams
400
Thomas J. Ridgway
50
Alfred Mitchell
100
William Jennings
25
Palmer Smith
25
Grand total
$21,395
One of the subscribers to the above fund drew his check payable to " The Stars and Stripes," while one of the lady contributors sent in a silver cup, made in 1811, and held in the family as a valued heirloom, accompanied by the fol- lowing note : -
"MR. JOHNSON, Treasurer, -
" DEAR SIR : I have no money to give you, but this old cup has been in my family through five generations. It is small, but true. May it not have passed through one revolution to help some brave boy now. I have given my younger son to his coun- try, with regret that his older brother 1 cannot be with him.
" Yours, "
Another lady contributor wrote thus : -
" MR. CHIAS. JOHNSON, Treasurer, -
" DEAR SIR : At a time when the women of our country with
1 This elder son here referred to returned from business pursuits in another part of the world to enlist, and lost his life on the field of battle.
157
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
willing hands to work, and warm hearts to feel, are naturally anxious to do all in their power to help and to cheer the brave men who go forth to battle for the glorious flag which from our childhood we have been taught to hold sacred, - may I, who can do little else than bid them ' God-speed,' be permitted to add my mite to the fund for the benefit of the families of the noble band in whose hearts is enshrined the honor of their country, which, with God's blessing, they will ever defend. It is not in my power to send ready money, but I beg your acceptance of the inclosed coupon - forty dollars.
" Very truly yours, " E. A. D.
" NORWICH, April 22, 1861."
It should be stated in this connection, that in conse- quence of the generous provision of the town for the relief of soldiers' families, and for the promotion of enlistments, elsewhere spoken of at length, the contributors to this fund were not called upon to pay in but fifty per cent. of the amount they severally subscribed. Some, however, had promptly paid their entire subscriptions at the time they made them, and declined to receive back the portion to which in equity, and by vote of the committee, they were entitled. The fund was wisely administered, and brought timely relief and cheer to many a brave soldier, or needy family. There are letters held by the treasurer which at- test the heartfelt gratitude of those who by it were assisted, while to the very close of the war, and even longer, did this fund hold out, proving a source of supply, until all immediate war needs had ceased. This was not the only fund raised by public contribution for the relief of soldiers, and those dependent on them. On the thirtieth of August, 1862, in the great war meeting, the doings of which we have already described, our citizens raised considerably over twenty thousand dollars. This was paid over directly to those to whom the moneys were personally promised on
11
158
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
condition of enlisting, or to the families of those who by these pledges were induced to volunteer.
Nor does this end the tale of citizen benevolence. The aggregate of these free-will offerings would mount up to a greatly augmented sum, if all that was given for objects connected with the war had been recorded. But many were the individual gifts that escaped public notice, and never were reported. The costly and elaborate swords presented to various officers by individual citizens, represent only one item of expense in which not a few were very lavish, while at different times most generous subscriptions were made for the comfort of those of our soldiers confined in Southern prisons. In addition to a Union thanksgiving collection in November, 1863, and a contribution made at the same time by the Second Congregational Sabbath-school for this ob- ject, there was a fund of four hundred and twenty-three dollars raised in the beginning of 1864, three hundred and fifty-eight dollars of which were the result of the " Soldiers' Relief Ball." In April, 1864, at the Union headquarters in this city, where numbers of our citizens had gathered to rejoice over the election news, a sum of two hundred dol- lars was contributed " to be applied especially for the bene- fit of the privates confined in Richmond, who suffer most."
There certainly never was a time in which private benev- olence had so many calls upon it, as during the war, and in no equal period in our national history was so much given by individual citizens. A new era of liberality and of char- itable enterprise seemed to be opened by the war, and the people responded to every appeal for help with unprece- dented generosity.
While we cannot specify how much our citizens did in- dividually or in the aggregate, it is enough to know that they became ready contributors to all the great charities which the sufferings incident to our struggle had created,
159
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
Governor Buckingham stood at the head of " the Connecti- cut Chaplains' Aid Commission," and in support of the work of this organization, our people, either singly, or as gath- ered in the different churches, gave liberally. The objects it had in view, were to supply all Connecticut Regiments with chapel tents, to provide camp libraries and newspa- pers, and in every practicable way to cooperate with chap- lains in their labors for the mental and moral welfare of the soldiers.
To those grand organizations, which did so much to miti- gate the hardships of the soldiers, and to rob the battle- field of its horrors, - the Sanitary and Christian Commis- sions, our citizens were interested and regular donors. They never failed to meet generously the repeated calls the " Soldiers Aid Society " of this city made upon them for pecuniary assistance, and it is to the credit of their be- nevolence, that all classes shared in it. The giving was not done by the rich alone, but those of humbler means were proportionately as benevolent, while many a donation came from those who were in really straightened circum- stances. It would make a memorial of lasting interest to this community could the full list of all that was given dur- ing the war by the people, be here presented item by item, but in the absence of this, we have reported enough to show that never before were all animated to such an extent by the impulse of a genuine benevolence.
The war was emphatically an epoch of deeds ; words went little ways unless coupled with brave actions, or gen- erous gifts. Philanthropic sentiments were reckoned of little account, unless converted into such personal labors or benefactions, as they naturally prompt to, if sincere.
Our soldiers in the field were made the recipients of private beneficence to an extent that made them feel that those at home counted it a privilege as well as a duty to
160
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
minister in any way to their comfort. Following with a fond pride the course of those who went out from the town, to fight for all that was dearest, the community felt, and by their actions showed, that the soldiers were entitled to all they could do for them and theirs.
Nor was our citizen patriotism all of one type, - for though it prompted some to give in the manner already described, it led yet others to such personal service and sacrifices as in many cases were never publicly known. One of our citizens, who gave of his own time and effort to aid the government, too infirm to become a soldier, besides being exempt by age from military service, secured for him- self a " representative recruit," at an expense of nine hun- dred dollars, and kept him in the Union army.
Jared Dennis, living at Norwich Falls, contributed five able-bodied sons to the army. Another citizen sent one son into Captain Chester's company, giving him a Spartan father's good-by, in these words, -"Do your duty, my son ; if you fall, your brother shall take your place, and after him I shall go myself."
Nor was it by giving only, all important as that was, that our citizens at home showed their devotion to the National cause. There were voluntary services rendered to the Governor, which converted not a few into "tempo- rary aids" to him, amid the duties and anxieties which at the commencement of the war pressed heavily upon him. Col. George L. Perkins volunteered to bear dispatches from Governor Buckingham to the Secretary of War at Washing- ton, and on Tuesday the twenty-third of April, was dis- patched by his Excellency, being the second "envoy ex- traordinary," sent from Norwich to our then beleaguered Capital. He had a memorable experience, going "cross- lots," as he termed it, in order to reach that city. Commu- nications were known to be severed, and to get through
161
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
Maryland was no easy task, for secessionists and traitors were thicker than hornets. However, all went well as far as Philadelphia, where according to the narrative of Colonel Perkins, " I determined to take the cars to Perrysville, and from thence to Annapolis by boat, accompanied by Major Ames, Quartermaster of the. Massachusetts troops. Mr. Felton, President of the Philadelphia and Baltimore R. R. gave us a letter to Colonel Dare, commanding at Perrysville, requesting him to place one of the company's boats at our service, and put on board a military escort of twenty-five men. We left in the latter without delay, though not with- out some apprehension, as it was reported that two steam- tugs were in the bay to attack any boats conveying troops to Annapolis."
Arriving safely, and reporting to General Butler, they were forwarded by him on a military train to the Junction, and thence by cars, in company with the New York Seventh, and the Rhode Island Regiments under Governor Sprague, reached Washington at noon, Friday, April twenty-sixth.
During his necessary detention at Annapolis, Colonel Perkins had a chance to observe General Butler, who had opened this new route to Washington, by which Baltimore was temporarily avoided. While at his head-quarters, an officer, somewhat new to his duties, reported to him, and meekly waiting to be assigned somewhere, for it was very late, ventured to ask, " Where am I to sleep, General ?" The latter turning upon him a look never pleasant to contem- plate, replied with considerable emphasis, " Young man, do you take me to be chamber-maid to this military post ?" This extinguished the youthful soldier's desire for sleep, and the sleepless Colonel, who might have enjoyed the poor boon thus unsuccessfully solicited by his junior, kept an upright position till his train left at midnight.
162
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
On reaching the Capital he reported at once to Secretary Cameron, whose porter, taking in his full commanding fig- ure, and supposing him to be some distinguished magnate, bore his card up in advance of a number of other less fortunate messengers from Northern States. Here his errand was soon made known, and answering dispatches placed in his hands for Governor Buckingham. Colonel Perkins brought back the first reliable report as to the number of troops in and about Washington, and other facts, which showed in what imminent peril the Capital had been up to this date. He met on his return the Sixty- ninth Regiment of New York, fourteen hundred strong, guarding the railroad from Annapolis to the Junction, with orders from General Butler, " to shoot every one seen meddling with the track, as you would a dog, and tumble his body down the embankment." He also passed, en route for Washington, Major Sherman, afterwards the dis- tinguished General, with a United States Battery of four guns.
He reported, as doing guard-duty at the White House, Hon. Cassius M. Clay, commanding one hundred and twenty-one volunteers armed with rifle, revolver, and knife. Hon. Abraham Wakeman of New York, was pa- trolling as sentinel before the Presidential mansion, when he went to call on Mr. Lincoln. An alarm was given a night or two previous to his arrival, on which occasion this unique company of " Honorables," was formed in five min- utes, several in stocking feet, with orders from Clay, "to fire deliberately and fire low, and at the proper time use the knife ; " adding, as only a Kentuckian of his stamp could, " I am fond of chopped meat."
These are facts I glean from the very interesting letter, which conveyed in full to Governor Buckingham, the re- port of the journey and the discharge of the commission
163
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
with which intrusted ; and with Colonel Perkins' own sum- mary, I give this as one chapter in the varied services in which many afterwards bore an equally important part : -
" I passed through Egypt (i. c., Maryland) without being shot, though in perils of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, in perils by plug-uglies, in perils in the city, and in perils among false brethren. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in the night-dampness."
On the eighteenth of June, 1861, Mr. E. P. Slocum, agent of Adams' Express, who always took a lively in- terest in the well-being of our soldiers, advertised that he would take packages to them free of charge. He supposed many in the community, who had friends and kindred in the three companies Norwich had now in the advance of the Union army, would be glad to avail themselves of this opportunity to have conveyed to such anything that would add to their comfort, and be pleasant reminders of those they had left behind them. The advertisement hardly ap- peared, before bundles and boxes and packages of all sizes and descriptions began to be delivered, and it seemed as if all the people were actuated by one common impulse.
However, Mr. Slocum bravely stood to his generous offer, and complacently looked on the accumulating pile of good things, of which he was to be the gratuitous al- moner, and giving full time for all who felt disposed to get their contributions to his office, crowded now to the full with donations, he started with the proposed free load. Three large express wagons were required to convey the goods to the Depot. Arriving in due time in Washington, he sought most diligently for the means of transporting his precious freight to the expectant boys, who were now encamped on Virginia's sacred soil.
164
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
After only such vexatious delays, and magnificent ram- bles from one end of the city's expanse to the other in search of a vehicle and driver, he succeeded in chartering two ancient steeds, a couple of adolescent darkies, and the waited-for-wagon. He loaded up and started for the Old Dominion. Getting by the inquisitive pickets, numerous enough to prevent any over-long trot with the fiery cours- ers, he neared the camp.
Discovered while yet a great way distant, the narrator, Mr. Bromley, thus presents the scene : " Mr. Slocum was greeted by the familiar voice of Joab Rogers, who had lifted up his eyes, and discerned him afar off. The alarm once given, the progress of our missionary was a continued ova- tion. The boys rushed out bare-headed, bare-footed, or in any costume that came handy, and cheered, and shouted 'Hi,' and cheered, and when they got tired of that, gave several rounds of cheers.
" Once in the camp, the boxes were unloaded, and opened in a twinkling. Then the boys stopped shouting, for they found this a difficult matter while doing picket duty on the good things, and crowding cartridges of pies and cakes, and other sundries down their throats, which seemed to have be- come double-barreled for the occasion. Everybody came out strong in that sudden exigency, and Mr. Slocum thought the spectacle was worth travelling a great way to behold.
"The boys appeared well, brown, and hearty, having ex- perienced a considerable average addition to their bulk and weight. As a sporting item, it is well enough to mention that his ebony jockeys achieved the entire distance from Camp Tyler to Washington, not over ten miles, in five hours."
This may serve to show how soon these "first things," which the necessities incident to war set our people to doing, lost the charm of novelty, and became matters of only ordinary significance, though none the less important
165
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. - CITIZEN-SERVICE.
and helpful. This is the story of the first boxes sent to the soldiers, but as already stated, such gifts soon became very frequent, and were sent regularly, with a liberality and thoughtfulness that made them of invaluable service to our boys, when in camp, hospital, or prison.
Among other objects for which the Governor dispatched Special Agents, and which showed his thoughtful, wide reaching care, was to look after Connecticut soldiers in the hospitals of the West and Southwest. Capt. L. A. Gallup, formerly of the Twenty-sixth Regiment, was in August, 1863, entrusted with this duty, and reported as follows, on his return from this mission of mercy : -
NORWICH, CONN., September 10, 1863.
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