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 14
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194
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
WVe presume very few of our citizens had at the time any very just idea of the amount and extent of the work done by the ladies connected with the "Soldiers' Aid." Their rooms in the Rockwell Building were always the scene of the utmost activity. Here were delivered boxes and packages from auxiliary societies scattered throughout the adjoining counties, where they were carefully repacked and forwarded to their destinations.
All the boxes they sent off, were with but few, if any ex- ceptions, safely received ; a fact quite creditable to the business tact and care of the managers at the rooms. Had it been possible to find the letters received by the " Aid," acknowledging the supplies sent forth by it, they would have best revealed how widely distributed were its stores, how keenly appreciated by the recipients, and how prompt and generous were the responses to those who appealed to this Society for help.
Among the knitters of stockings, was a Mrs. Prudence Stoddard, of Noank, aged ninety-four, who sent in with a pair of her own knitting, a note, stating that she had had the privilege of knitting stockings for our soldiers during three wars, beginning with the Revolution. Another lady in Lisbon, aged ninety-one, sent in to the "Aid " one pair of stockings, and one pair of mittens, her own handiwork. Mrs. Cady, of Norwich Falls, and Mrs. Thomas Lathrop, of Norwich Town, aged ninety-two, contributed stockings knit by their yet nimble hands.
Among the most efficient of the societies, auxiliary to "The Soldiers' Aid," was the one supported by Norwich town ladies, whose activity in every good cause entitles them to the highest praise. The name adopted for this sister " Aid Society " was, " The Nightingales," and with most commendable zeal and generous emulation did they labor through the years of our conflict, contributing to the
" THE SOLDIERS' AID . SOCIETY." - WOMAN'S WORK. 195
"Norwich Aid " a steady stream of the choicest stores, and articles for the comfort of our troops.
It originated about the same time that the " Aid " did, under Mrs. Henry Thomas and Mrs. Daniel W. Coit. These two ladies were ably assisted by others, until for constancy and effectiveness in their beneficent giving and working, the Nightingales were unsurpassed.
This Society kept no books of its own, and only a part of what it accomplished appears in the incomplete reports we have given of the " Soldiers' Aid." Everything contributed to the latter by it, was carefully recorded, and no auxilliary was more regular or generous in the offerings it made to the cause.
The Nightingales had a quiet method of working, rather characteristic of all their charitable undertakings ; but it was exceedingly productive, and the soldiers in the field or hospital soon came to recognize what came from them. They cooperated so continuously with the larger Society, that the two seemed more like one organization divided into branches for convenience in laboring.
Miss Carrie L. Thomas was among the most active in keeping the Nightingales to their devoted work, and served as a sort of secretary, reporting to the " Aid " their contri- butions in money and supplies.
The Greeneville ladies acquired a high name for their pa- triotic devotion to the soldiers. They were steady contrib- utors to the " Soldiers' Aid," and were unflagging in their zeal to do whatever would prove helpful to those who were sick or in want. In 1863, they forwarded two boxes of sup- plies to the Union prisoners in Richmond ; one box was sent to Libby, and the other directed to Belle Isle.
By the colored ladies in Norwich was organized, February tenth, 1864, the first " Aid Society," to render assistance to the sick and needy in the two colored regiments sent forth
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by the State. Mrs. Walter Burr stood at the head of this association, and with the circle specially interested in its operations did much for the welfare of the members of the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth Regiments. The record of the doings of this agency has unfortunately been lost, which prevents our giving a summary of what was accomplished.
The following interesting incident, memorializing the patriotism of one of our Norwich ladies, now gone to her exceeding great reward, is worthy of record here. She was among the most active in doing aught that was possible for the comfort of the soldiers, though her labors were so unob- trusive, that not all knew of their extent. Among her papers the following memorandum was found, which will recall her to those who shared with her in the works to which she and others gave themselves during our exciting war years : -
" July 4, 1864.
"'To-day, the anniversary of our glorious independence, I have completed the one hundredth pair of socks that I have knitted for the brave soldiers, who are nobly sustaining the honor of our country on many a hard fought battle-field. God grant them success. Theirs will be the glory when the Stars and Stripes wave over a united nation. For them are our prayers, and to them we look with hopeful hearts for the restoration of peace and pros- perity in all our borders. The soldier who receives this pair of socks will gratify me by advising me of the same."
The answer came back after her death, and was a response that showed a brave and thoughtful soldier had been the recipient of her humble gift.
On the completion of her fiftieth pair, a similar note had accompanied it, to which there was returned the following grateful acknowledgment : --
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STEAM TRANSPORT " ATLANTIC," MISSISSIPPI RIVER, September 30, 1863.
DEAR MADAM, - I received a pair of stockings, just before leaving Vicksburg, in which was a note stating that they were the fiftieth pair you had knitted, and donated to the soldiers. You say your prayer is always "for those who are battling for right and their country." Would that the same was felt and uttered by all we leave behind us in the North. I much regret that we have foes both North and South to contend with, but we must trust in " Him who rules all things," and feel that right and jus- tice will in the end triumph.
We are enduring hardships and privations that but a few months since seemed almost impossibilities ; are doing it to pro- tect our once glorious and yet much-loved country. We have left those behind who are dearer than life itself, and have rallied for the protection of the " old flag." We must, we shall succeed. Many have already fallen, and many more will doubtless meet a soldier's fate before the rebels are conquered ; and if it is decreed we shall no more in this life meet our dear ones at home, may God in mercy grant that we may meet where parting is no more.
Allow me to thank you for these stockings ; thank you for the kind interest you manifest in the welfare of the soldiers, and may I think that I have an interest in the prayers of the donor, though a stranger.
We have now started on an expedition to the relief of Gen- eral Rosecrans, and expect to have to march some three hundred miles.
Excuse, and believe me very respectfully
Yours, W. H. KEELING,
Co. H, First Battalion 13th U. S. Infantry ( General Sherman's Army Corps), Cairo, Illinois.
Among the most patriotic and devoted of our ladies dur- ing the rebellion, was Mrs. Dr. Webster. She shared in the
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toils of her husband among the Freedmen, and subsequently served with him in his hospital work, becoming a valuable assistant through her own tender ministries to their comfort and relief.
When in Washington, while Dr. Webster had charge of the Freedmen's Camp, she commenced the first school ever taught among them.
At Springdale Camp at Arlington, she opened a day school, attended by from fifty to sixty pupils. While at four other contiguous camps, she had schools every other day. At first she taught these neglected ones, just out of slavery, and in utter ignorance, from cards hung upon the camp buildings or upon trees. As they advanced, she had a sup- ply of suitable books procured for them. In this way she had, in all, the supervision of between five and six hundred scholars. Writing concerning them at one time, she said : " Twelve or fifteen out of this school of fifty are making rapid progress, learning as fast as any children, and all are well. Some are learning arithmetic remarkably fast."
Again, when at Huntsville, she had charge of the school for the freed children. At this early date it was far from popular to have anything to do with these unfortunate people. She had the honor of being a pioneer in what has since become an extensive and confessedly noble work. Many were the ludicrous as well as painful scenes she witnessed, while laboring in behalf of the Freedmen.
The following extract is from a letter of another of our Norwich ladies, who labored with signal zeal and devotion among the Freedmen of Newbern, showing to what works of beneficence an earnest patriotism prompted some of them.
" LIFE AMONG THE FREEDMEN AT NEWBERN."
"We live in an apostolic manner, as far as a community of goods is concerned. Everybody borrows and begs of his neigh -
" THE SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY." - WOMAN'S WORK. 199
bor. You cannot buy or hire anything in a respectable and civilized way. If we wish to ride, Lieutenant F. is head of the Ambulance corps, and furnishes as many ambulances as we wish.
"The chief quartermaster is an intimate friend of the family, and we have many favors through him. Lieutenant K. is head of the engineer department, and when we wanted a bell hung, he detailed a man to do it. The bell was found in one house, the wire in another, and after some days work, we can at last get a servant into the house without going out into the rain and cold to call him. To-night, as it looked like clearing, we went out in an ambulance to Howell's Camp, to the entertainment given to the school, but Mrs. Hawley supposing we would not come in the storm, put it off till to-morrow night. We went into the schoolhouse and saw the tree, which looked beautifully. It was an odd ride ; the night was very dark, and the driver missed the road and came near overturning amidst the stumps outside the camp. Returning we rode through the streets, and the camp looked very bright and cheerful. There are no windows to the houses, but you could see the red firelight shining through the cracks between the logs. Many of the doors were open, showing the bright wood fire, and the families sitting round. All was quiet ; we did not see a person outside, except the guards at the church door, but there was singing everywhere.
"We heard 'Rally round the Flag, boys,' 'Shout the Battle- cry of Freedom,' 'John Brown's body,' and as we rode farther on, the voice of prayer from a little gathering, and one of their old wild hymns, ' Jesus died on the cross, on the cross for me.' I never shall forget this last evening of the year.
"New-year's Day in Newbern. I have had many a happy New- year's Day as you well know, but none so truly happy as this one. Last night I could not sleep, and really watched for the morning. At ten, we went to the Methodist church to attend Miss Canady's Christmas tree. She has shown a great deal of taste in making wreaths and adornments for the church, which has been newly white-washed for the occasion, and with the beautiful tree laden with presents (mostly from the Norwich box), presented a charm-
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ing sight. The flag of the school hung from the singing gallery and a large cross of box was placed in front of the tree. The scholars sang a New-year's greeting, then Mr. James made an ad- dress in his happiest manner, followed by the song. There were one hundred and eighty-eight scholars present, from grown up women to little five year olds. A great bag was arranged on a table in front of the tree for the youngest children, who all passed by in order, each one putting in a little black hand, and it was as good as a play to see their faces as they examined the gift, and then held it up for their mothers and fathers to see, who lined the galleries on either side, looking down upon them with eager eyes. The presents of the tree were marked with the names of the scholars. When we had seen them given out we left, the children rising respectfully when we passed down the aisle. Everything passed off with the greatest order and propriety, far more so than many of our Christmas celebrations at home.
" In the afternoon there was a union meeting of all the schools, at the church, when the banners, which had been made by the teachers, were presented to the respective schools, by an appro- priate speech. Three of these addresses were by colored men. They all sang and cheered, and had a glorious time generally. They then marched in procession to the 'teachers' house,' where they formed in a hollow square, sang ' Rally Round the Flag,' and cheered President Lincoln, General Butler, and the teachers. Then they called in front of our house, sang 'America,' cheered Mr. James, General Peck, and General Palmer, and separated, each school marching off to its own camp, in military order.
" At sundown Mr. Johnson and I had an ambulance, and taking two of the teachers, started for Howell's Camp. It had cleared off cold, and by the time we arrived we felt as though we must be at home in the North, we were so freezing cold. Mrs. Haw- ley's tree was splendid. The log schoolhouse and church was full to overflowing, and the lights being all on the tree, behind it, gave a charming effect, much like a bit of fairy land springing out of darkness. Some young soldiers who came with the teachers, made short speeches, helped the children sing, and we
" THE SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY." - WOMAN'S WORK. 201
had a free and easy time. We had 'Rally Round the Flag,' ' Old John Brown,' 'Happy Land,' and other cheery songs, and left at eight o'clock, only because we could not get back to New- bern unless we came away then. The camp is without the lines, and the bridge over the creek is taken up by the picket guard every night at eight o'clock."
Thus earnestly, through associated effort, did our ladies seek to do what they could for the comfort and cheer of the soldiers. This, however, did not exhaust their patriotic zeal, for some were desirous of performing military duty in the only way allowed them by law. Accordingly, at their own expense, they procured acceptable representative recruits, and presented them for enlistment in the service, and in this way had a personal representation in the ranks of the Union Armies. The government, to meet such instances of noble patriotism, had certificates engraved, and issued by the War Department to the persons furnishing such recruits, as an official acknowledgment of their public spirit, and devotion to the weal of the country. The first of these ever issued to a Connecticut lady, was received by Mrs. Augusta E. Ely ; her sister, Miss Elizabeth Green, being the honored possessor of a similar one. The example of these two pa- triotic ladies was followed by others here and throughout the State.
XII.
" Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori."
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
" We think with imperious questionings, Of the brothers we have lost, And we strive to track in death's mystery, The flight of each valiant ghost."
" No fear for them ! In our lower field Let us toil with arms unstained, Till at last we be worthy to stand with them On the shining heights they've gained. We shall meet and greet in closing ranks, In Time's declining sun ; When the bugles of God shall sound recall, And the battle of Life be won." JOHN HAY.
I 'T is with a peculiar tenderness we gather up for memo- rial purposes the many names which make our lengthy " roll of the dead." Here come back to us the remembrances
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" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
of brothers, and sons, and citizens ; - those who might have looked forward to contented and busy lives in the various pursuits they left, but who went forth at the sacred call of patriotism, and fell in the cause they risked all they held dear to maintain. Here we behold in impressive form what our war tax was. These names represent the real sacrifices of families and the community. From the fields where they fought, the smoke of battle has long since rolled away, and great Nature has mantled with her verdure each mound and bastion, but the work they wrought, the end for which they yielded up their lives abides secure. "Other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors," so we solemnly con- fess it to be true with us. It is fitting, therefore, that we enshrine in memorial phrase these names, which will ever live as symbols of nobleness and signs of endearment. Wiser laws, humaner institutions, liberties enlarged, and faith exalted, - these are the crimsoned trophies their blood, with that of others, secured us. These shall pro- claim in language more expressive than human lips can utter, in forms more significant than sculptured marble can exhibit, the work and memory of our lamented dead.
Of the more than twelve hundred Norwich citizens (in- cluding representative recruits) who served in the ranks of our armies during the rebellion, and helped on the high seas to maintain the honor of the old flag, who followed through temporary defeat to ultimate victory the national standard, and at last saw the rebel colors go down upon the Ap- pomattox, and shared in the rejoicings with which a grateful nation celebrated its final triumph, one hundred and sixty- seven lost their lives. Forty were killed by the bullet on the field, and the rest died in camp, hospital, prison, or after returning to their homes. These, embracing sixteen com- missioned officers, and one hundred and fifty-one enlisted men, constitute the oblation made by Norwich to rebellion.
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THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
Our list of the " unreturning brave" presents the names, so far as it has been possible to ascertain them, of all who went from this town, whether serving on its quota or not, and nobly proffered their own lives to secure the country from the perils that threatened its certain destruction. Our limited space and knowledge prevent us from speaking with equal fullness of detail of all these fallen heroes, whose sim- ple military records are here given. We do not claim for them any superior merit of devotion or courage over those who went from other towns and States, and met a like fate.
We are justified in praising our own, for we knew their worth, and when they went forth to do battle in behalf of the cause their patriotism led them to espouse, they went in our names, and were followed by our prayers. It is meet therefore that we speak well of them, for we believe them to have been on the whole good soldiers and true men. They claim from us all a grateful remembrance. We cannot for- get that those whom we here commemorate died in our places, and by their cheerful endurance of the hardships of their service, of death itself, saved the State.
" Four hundred thousand men, The young, the brave, the true, In tangled wood, and mountain glen, On battle plain, in prison pen, Lie dead for me and you. For me and you -. Four hundred thousand of the brave, Have made our ransomed soil their grave For me and you, Good friend, for me and you."
To be a good soldier, to maintain an unblemished record, and command the respect of comrades and officers in all the trying scenes of war, is no easy task.
Allusion just here may not be inappropriate to that which we shall have no opportunity of referring to later in our
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"THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
narrative. Against some of the names on our " Roll of Honor," will be found recorded that which carries the im- peachment of disgrace, and it is a cause of sincere regret, at this late date, when the issues of the conflict have largely disappeared, to find our representatives in the Union armies branded with the word " deserter," or with what is indica- tive of ignominious punishment.
We have preferred not to enter into any discussion as to the cases of such, but rather leave them to appear as they do, exceptional ; and from the fact that but few names are thus shaded over with aught dishonorable, to claim with greater confidence for our soldiers in general, a more than average record for courage and fidelity.
We know but very little of the circumstances of those whose military history, according to the Adjutant's rolls, was not above reproach. And we are apt now to forget what some high-spirited and true men had to suffer from incompetent or severe officers ; what disappointments in the way of promotions, earned or promised, embittered them, and tempted them to unsoldierly conduct. There were well established instances where those who had of- fended, through thoughtlessness of consequences, or through unusual temptations, were treated with a military rigor which gave some army officers the reputation of arbitrary and needless severity. There were yet other instances where the accused were technically guilty, but the mitigat- ing circumstances so numerous, as to make the execution of the sentence impolitic, if not unjust. We do not claim that all our representatives proved in the army all that we fondly hoped they would. We simply bespeak a charitable judgment upon every soldier, whose record is not altogether stainless. Thankful ought we rather to be, that our boys bore themselves so well, and with such uniform honor For they were away from home restraints, and exposed to the
I4
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THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
demoralizing influences inseparable from war ; they were often brought into contact with bad men, who had entered the army with unworthy motives ; many of them were in what they regarded as the enemy's country, and were tempted to chafe under that military surveillance which kept them from indulging in private forays upon what the rules of war obliged them to leave intact.
There were, however, many instances of private daring, and self-sacrificing service, which more than counterbal- anced whatever brings discredit upon any on our "roll of honor." There were brave deeds performed by privates which never caught the eye of reporters, and so never found their way into the public papers.
Of J. DICKINSON RIPLEY, Hospital Steward of the Eight- eenth, who lost his life soon after the war closed, in the burning of the steamer " Commonwealth," at Groton, it is said, that after the battle of Winchester, in which he was severely wounded, he devoted himself first to dressing the wounds of his regimental comrades, leaving attention to his own sufferings till he had done all he could to mitigate the pain of those whom rebel shots had injured.
Such instances of unselfish devotion to the comfort and help of others, we believe, were not infrequent ; and they redeem the common soldiers, those upon whom fell the bur- dens and few of the honors of the struggle, from the charge of being mere hirelings, indifferent to the high duties which, we claim, must have been inspired by patriotic feeling. In the pocket of a Union soldier, far gone with fever, was found a red morocco Testament, and a poor little note-book half soaked through with rain or swamp-damp, in which a few wandering pencil-notes were still legible, and this little couplet altered from an old song :-
" Not a sigh shall tell my story,
Silent death shall be my glory."
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"THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
I will match that last line, has one well said, against the lines on whose simple feeling great poets have been floated into fame.
In fact, it may be claimed that "it was the distinction of all the better class of volunteers that they bore, not only the brunt of fighting and the lassitude of defeat, but all the infirmity and skepticism of their comrades. And their moral power alone made them equal to it. The best men were centres of conscience, planted like flags that have re- ceived oaths that they shall never touch the ground. In other lands the nerve of standing armies, that which alone makes them trustworthy in war, and harmless in peace, is an immovably true and valorous body of officers. But the trustworthiness which volunteered for us was not designated alone by shoulder-straps ; it was a conspicuous distinction of the private. The instinct of the soldier filled the gaps where incompetency fell and disappeared. He stepped into the place, and showed his commission till a better one ap- peared. He secured to nature time enough to grow her General, and fought it out on that line three years before he came."
" The first campaign went on with treason and ravin fas- tened to the throat of the country, incompetency and inex- perience hugging every limb, unguarded expenditure and waste the impudent camp-followers of every regiment, and indefinite policy damping every cartridge. Into this bor- der-land the common soldier built his road ; at one end of it a hearth-stone that flickered more tremulously than ever with endeared life-breaths ; at the other he could not see the head-board at Andersonville and Salisbury ; nor the road thither blazed by the sharp edge of war. We have forgotten the weeks and months of popular depression, when our fate lay in the hands of these men at the front, who rallied instantly at the approach of genuine danger,
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