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 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
Meanwhile, his mother noticed the boy's strong desire to enlist once more, and was not wholly unprepared for the decision which brought him again to that step. " Mother," he said, as nearly as his words can now be recalled, "you know we have adopted this as our land, and we ought in this hour of peril to do something for the Government, and I think I ought to enter its service." The time had come, and sorrowfully, yet hopefully, the fond parent replied, " Jamie, if you must go, one condition I have to propose, - that you will read a chapter in this Testament (handing him the copy), when not on duty, every night at nine o'clock, and your mother will do the same ; and so we will remem- ber each other." He assented to this, and in the Thir- teenth Regiment, under Colonel Birge, soon took his de- parture. Young Torrance was regarded in his company as a brave and upright soldier, and his Captain reports him as one of the most reliable in his command.
249
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
In the battles of Georgia Landing, October 27, 1862, and of Irish Bend, April 14, 1863, Sergeant Torrance acquitted himself with honor. On Sabbath, May 24, 1863, was the assault on Port Hudson, with the Thirteenth Regiment in the advance, leading the charge. Just previous to the bat- tle, Torrance remarked to a comrade, "The only thing I dislike in the service is the being obliged to fight on the Lord's Day, at least commencing any engagement which could as well be postponed till after the passage of holy time."
It was in this action that young Torrance received his death shot. After little more than a year's service he fell, as the hero should fall, facing the foe and leading in the charge. He had staked all in his country's behalf, and died in her defense. His was a humble career, for it was a mod- est yet manly youth who lived it, who sought ambitiously for no personal renown, but who was earnestly intent on the Government's deliverance.
His brother, Colonel David Torrance of the Twenty- ninth Regiment, who served with great faithfulness and honor, wrote to his mourning mother, when the sad intel- ligence reached him, " Our starry flag where'er it floats, will be dearer now to me, hallowed and consecrated by a brother's blood. Let us give thanks that God has accepted our sacrifice, and that we are permitted to do and to suffer in the cause of liberty, right, and truth."
MICHAEL CORBETT, Thirteenth Regiment C. V. Died of wounds at Baton Rouge, La., May 25, 1863. Age 25.
MYRON W. STARRETT, Twenty-sixth Regiment. Miss- ing in action, and was supposed to have died at Port Hud- son, May 27, 1863.
JAMES PARKERSON, Twenty-sixth Regiment C. V. Mor- tally wounded at Port Hudson, May 27th, and died June 1, 1863. Age 27.
250
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
ALBERT BURNETT, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Killed in the battle of Winchester, Va., June 15, 1863. Age 24.
JAMES MCCRACKEN, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Killed at Winchester, Va., June 15, 1863. Age 28.
CHARLES C. NOYES, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Mor- tally wounded in the battle of Winchester, and died June. 15, 1863. He was a young man of promising talents, ex- emplary in his life, and the only child of his parents.
COURTLAND C. AVERY, Twenty-sixth Regiment C. V. Died of fever near Port Hudson, La., June 23, 1863. He was a son of Courtland Avery of Scotland, Conn., but for many years a resident in Norwich.
WILLIAM M. SHERMAN, Sergeant, Twenty-sixth Regiment C. V. Died June 28, 1863, in the hospital at New Orleans, from wounds received at Port Hudson. Age 25.
NELSON C. THOMPSON, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died of wounds received in the battle of Winchester, Va., June 30, 1863. Age 21.
JOHN CRAWFORD, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died of wounds received in the battle of Winchester, July 2, 1863. He was a young man of estimable character, and resided in Greeneville. Age 25.
ISLAY B. MARTIN, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died of wounds received at Winchester, Va., July 2, 1863. He was a well educated and promising youth. Age 18.
HENRY BROOKS, twenty-sixth Regiment C. V. Died of wounds received in the first charge on Port Hudson, La., July 3, 1863. He was a native of Canada, but for a num- ber of years a resident in Norwich. Age 44. FRANK WHITE, Sixth Regiment C. V. Killed in the assault of Fort Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863. A carpenter by occupation. Age 28.
CHARLES MEISSER, Sixth Regiment C. V. Killed at Morris Island, July 18, 1863. Age 24.
251
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
JOHN SHEA, Thirteenth Regiment C. V. Died of disease at Baton Rouge, La., July 18, 1863.
GEORGE F. EDGERTON, Twenty-sixth Regiment C. V. Died at Port Hudson, La., July 23, 1863. Age 35.
JAMES DUGAN, Twenty-sixth Regiment C. V. Wounded in the hand at Port Hudson, and died of disease on board the steamer while returning home, July 28, 1863.
STEPHEN T. JOHNSON, Twenty-sixth Regiment C. V. Died in the hospital at Mound City, Ill., August 3, 1863. Age 39.
JOSEPH FORESTNER, Corporal, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died at Camp Parole, Md., August 9, 1863. Age 37. WILLIAM MCKNIGHT, Twelfth Regiment C. V. Died at Brashear City, La., August 18, 1863.
LEMUEL BOLMAN, Twelfth Regiment C. V. Died at Brashear City, La., August 22, 1863. Age 44.
WILLIAM T. B. OSBORNE, unassigned recruit. Died at New Haven, September 2, 1863.
ALFRED S. CHAPPELL, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died in Philadelphia, September 17, 1863. Age 37.
HENRY M. BECKWITH, First Artillery C. V. Died at Fort Ward, Va., October 10, 1863.
ABNER T. POTTER, unassigned recruit. Died at Nor- wich, December 24, 1863.
FREDERICK W. BAKER, First Regiment Cavalry C. V. Died at Baltimore, Md., January 27, 1864.
STEPHEN H. SMITH, Thirty-first Regiment U. S. C. T. Died at Philadelphia, Pa., February 23, 1864.
E. C. BUCKINGHAM, Fourteenth Regiment C. V. Died at Brandy Station, Va., March 3, 1864.
DENNIS MURPHY, Twenty-first Regiment C. V. Died at Newbern, N. C., March 12, 1864.
HENRY A. BOTTOMLY, Corporal, Seventh Regiment C. V. He had reënlisted as a veteran, and died during his
252
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
veteran furlough, while on a visit to his family near Boston, March 13, 1864. Age 34. His death was occasioned by disease contracted while in the service.
JOHN CULLIN, Twenty-first Regiment C. V. Died in the hospital at Newbern, March 22, 1864.
WILLIAM H. TOWN, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died in hospital at Sandy Hook, Md., March 28, 1864. Age 29.
JOSEPH H. WINSHIP, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. He was left at Winchester, after the battle of June 15, 1863, to look after the sick and wounded ; was taken prisoner, sent to Richmond, thence transferred to Andersonville, Ga,, and there died April 5, 1864. Age 23. He was an only child, leaving behind him sad parents and a desolate home.
JOIIN MELDRUM, Ninth Regiment C. V. Died at New Orleans, April 8, 1864.
JAMES W. HICKS, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died at Martinsburg, Va.,. April 13, 1864.
MOSES TYLER, Fourteenth Regiment C. V. Captured at Morton's Ford, Va., and died in prison at Andersonville, Ga., April 14, 1864. Age 19.
ALONZO S. CUSHMAN, Corporal, Eleventh Regiment C. V. Mortally wounded at Swift's Creek, Va., and died May 9, 1864. He had reënlisted as a veteran.
PATRICK LLOYD, Fourteenth Regiment C. V. Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 11, 1864. Age 25.
DAVID H. BROWN, Thirteenth Regiment C. V. Died May 15, 1864. A reenlisted veteran. Age 23.
DAVID LACEY, Second Artillery C. V. Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864.
RONALD MCALLISTER, JR., Eleventh Regiment C. V. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. (His father, of the same name, served 14 months in the same regiment.)
JAMES SOUTER, Sergeant, Eleventh Regiment C. V. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. He was born in
253
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
Dundee, Scotland, December 8, 1841, and came to this country with his parents in 1851, who have resided in Greeneville since 1855. When the rebels began hostili- ties by firing upon Fort Sumter, James, who was a clerk in the house of C. D. Browning & Co., comprehended the nature and magnitude of the impending struggle, as few then did, and after mature deliberation, enlisted in Company F, Eleventh Regiment C. V. He was soon chosen Ser- geant ; afterwards upon the illness of the First Lieutenant of the Ambulance Corps, he was detailed to fill his place. He returned to his regiment in season to participate in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, where he fell, and was buried on the field with about one hundred others in the darkness of the night, without lights.
He is remembered as a dutiful son, a diligent scholar, a faithful clerk, and conscientious Christian. His Captain, in a letter of condolence to his parents, says : " The Sergeant is very much missed in the Regiment. Cool, courageous, never faltering, and always ready for every duty, and every inch a model soldier, and by none can the loss be felt more deeply than by myself, for I had almost learned to look upon him as a brother." COMMUNICATED.
THOMAS DUGAN, Twenty-first Regiment C. V. Died in prison at Andersonville, Ga., June 4, 1864.
JOHN T. BRADLEY, Corporal, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Killed in the battle of Piedmont, Va., June 5, 1864. Age 19.
CHARLES T. FANNING, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Mor- tally wounded at Piedmont, Va., June 5, 1864.
WILLIAM H. HAMILTON, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Killed in the battle of Piedmont, Va., June 5, 1864. Age 18.
THOMAS McMAHON, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Killed at Piedmont, Va., June 5, 1864.
17
-
254
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
DANIEL EMMONS, Twenty-ninth Regiment, Colored C. V. Died at Beaufort, S. C., June 13, 1864.
WALTER M. Fox, Second Artillery C. V. Killed at Pe- tersburg, June 22, 1864.
AUGUST EHLERS, Twenty-first Regiment C. V. Died from wounds at Point of Rocks, Va., July 2, 1864.
THOMAS M. BALDWIN, First Regiment Cavalry C. V. Died in prison at Andersonville, Ga., July 3, 1864.
HENRY STEWART, Thirty-first U. S. C. T. Killed at Petersburg, July 7, 1864.
BYRON CROCKER, Thirteenth Regiment C. V. Died of wounds received at Georgia Landing at New Orleans, July 16, 1864. He was the son of the late Thomas Crocker, and one of the party that volunteered to storm the works at Port Hudson under the lead of General Birge.
JOHN DELANEY, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Killed in the engagement at Snicker's Ford, Va., July 18, 1864. Age 18.
KARL REDER, First Conn. Cavalry. Died of wounds at David's Island, N. Y., July 29, 1864.
PATRICK CONKLIN, Twenty-first Regiment C. V. Died of disease at Fortress Monroe, Va., August 2, 1864.
JOHN F TREADWAY, Corporal, First Conn. Cavalry. Died in prison at Andersonville, August 3, 1864. He was the son of F. W. Treadway, of Norwich, and enlisted at New Haven.
JOSEPH A. TRACY, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Wounded at Snicker's Ford, July 18, 1864, and died in hospital at Sandy Hook, Md., August 7, 1864. Age 18.
HENRY F. CHAMPLIN, Tenth Regiment C. V. Died at Andersonville, Ga., August 11, 1864.
JOSEPH A. BAILEY, First Conn. Cavalry. Died in prison at Andersonville, August 13, 1864.
255
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
JOHN BARNEY, Twenty-first Regiment C. V. Died of wounds at Fortress Monroe, Va., August 14, 1864.
JAMES S. McDAVID, First Conn. Cavalry. Captured at Ashland Station, June 1, 1864, died at Andersonville, Aug. 21, 1864. Age 17.
HENRY N. LOOMIS, Twenty-first Regiment. Mortally wounded at Petersburg, and died August 21, 1864. Age 18.
WILLIAM DAVIS, First Conn. Cavalry. Captured at Craig's Church, Va., May 3, 1864, died at Andersonville, August 30, 1864. Age 42.
WILLIAM G. HAYWARD, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Captured at Winchester, was exchanged, and rejoined his regiment ; captured again at New Market, Va., May 15, 1864, and died in prison at Andersonville, September II, 1864. Age 34.
AUGUSTUS BERG, Second Artillery C. V. Killed in ac- tion at Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864.
ALBERT MOFFETT, First Conn. Cavalry. Killed at Win- chester, Va., September 19, 1864.
DANIEL LAIRD, Thirteenth Regiment C. V. Killed at Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864. Age 18.
MARTIN CARL, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died of disease at Sandy Hook, Md., September 25, 1864.
EDWARD F. TISDALE, First Conn. Cavalry. Was cap- tured after his horse had been shot under him, and died at Andersonville, September 29, 1864. Age 18.
ADAM ACKSLER, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died in prison at Madisonville, Ga., October 5, 1864.
EDWARD BLUMLEY, Eighth Regiment, C. V. Captured in an engagement upon the Petersburg Railroad, May 7, 1864, and died at Andersonville, Ga., October 6, 1864. Age 39.
GIDEON McCALL, Thirty-first Regiment U. S. C. T. Died of wounds at Alexandria, Va., October 8, 1864.
256
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
EDWARD ROE, Ninth Regiment. Killed in action at Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864.
THOMAS FILLBURN, Seventh Regiment C. V. Died in prison in Millen, Ga., October 21, 1864.
MOSES STEPHENSON, Twenty-ninth Regiment · C. V. Died of wounds, October 27, 1864.
HENRY W. GREENOUGHI, First Conn. Cavalry. Died in prison in Salisbury, N. C., October 29, 1864.
HENRY LYNCH, Second Artillery C. V. Died of wounds at Baltimore, Md., October 31, 1864.
WILLIAM B. CARROL, Corporal, Seventh Regiment, C. V. Died of disease, November 5, 1864.
SYLVANUS DOWNER, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died in prison at Andersonville, November 5, 1864. He had been chief engineer of the fire department in Norwich, was cap- tured at Winchester, exchanged, rejoined his regiment, and was promoted Color-sergeant. Afterwards wounded in the battle of Piedmont, he was taken prisoner a second time, and carried to the prison-pen at Andersonville, where he died. Age 44.
PATRICK GLYNN, Ninth Regiment C. V. Died of dis- ease, November 25, 1864.
HORACE B. WOOD, Second Artillery C. V. Died in prison at Richmond, Va., December 27, 1864.
HERBERT E. BECKWITH, Corporal, Second Artillery, Mass. Captured at Plymouth, N. C., and taken to Andersonville, Ga., from which he returned, but in so exhausted a condition that he lived but six days, dying December 30, 1864. He was the son of Elisha W. Beckwith, of Norwich, and was born June 23, 1845. Early in the war he manifested a strong desire to enlist, but his youthful age and the wishes of his parents for a while deterred him. Many thought him too young to endure the hardships of a soldier's life, but the excitement and novelty of such a career had a fascination for him, and,
257
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
boy as he was, he too felt the stirrings of that mighty pas- sion which can make of even youth, patriots and heroes. Not that he at this time thoroughly defined his motives, but it was more than idle curiosity that had made him wish to do what he instinctively felt was noble. To have part in the mighty conflict, was his strongest desire. He was a lad of noble impulses, and not unintelligently did he choose that his place should be among the brave defenders of his country.
After some debate as to the wisdom of such a course, he enlisted, October 1, 1861, in the Tenth Regiment, under Colonel Russell. For nearly two years he shared the for- tunes of that noble regiment. He passed safely through the battles of Roanoke Island, Newbern, and Kingston. Through all this period till June, 1863, he acquitted him- self well as a soldier. His fragile form, and boyish coun- tenance frequently excited the wonder as to how he should have come into the rough scenes and stern experiences of military life.
At his father's request he was honorably discharged, June, 1863. His soldierly conduct had gained him the esteem of both officers and men, and at the time of leaving he was to have been promoted Sergeant-major.
In November, 1863, he enlisted for the second time in the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. With this regi- ment he left for Norfolk, Va., the following month, and was stationed at Camp O'Rourke, near the city. On the 10th of January, 1864, he was made Corporal, and was detailed soon after as Orderly to the Adjutant. In February, the regiment was ordered to Plymouth, N. C., where it per- formed garrison duty at Fort Wessels, one of the defenses of that place. On the 20th of April, Plymouth was attacked by the enemy in force, and after a determined resistance was captured. Young Beckwith, with his regiment, was among
258
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
the prisoners taken. They were immediately marched off, and taken under strong guard first to Tarboro, and thence to Wilmington, Charleston, and finally to Andersonville.
Here five weary months were passed. Beckwith's jour- nal gives his experience in that terrible prison-pen. It is substantially a history of suffering, cruelty, and of every in- humanity possible to a desperate and unprincipled foe. " This is a miserable place," he writes in one place, " so little care is taken of it, especially of the sick, who die in large numbers." Exposure to the summer's scorching sun, and then to the night-dews, made its impress soon on the youthful soldier. It is painful to read of the struggle he and others had to make to live on the scanty and unwhole- some rations dealt out there. On the 4th of July, he writes : " This most glorious day has passed almost in misery, in the most miserable place almost on earth." Sometimes he speaks of rations of rotten bacon, and again of the non- issue of the usual rations. The tale of suffering is affecting to read, and yet no word of complaint escapes him. Of his personal sufferings and patient hopeful spirit, friends at home knew comparatively little, till companions of his es- caped from that pen of death, and told what they witnessed. Their account of his hopeful courage and resolute endur- ance, was most full and touching. Unable to digest the only food furnished them, Beckwith was among the first to experience the pangs of unsatisfied hunger. His calm rela- tion in his diary of some terrible fact, such as the failure of water, or the appearance of disease, shows how the fearful schooling of these months had familiarized him with the most excruciating suffering. Singularly reticent as to his own interior life, he notes usually whatever he sees of in- terest. The recurrence of the holy Sabbath appeared to make him long most of all for his Christian home. " At
259
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
times," he says, "I fancy I hear the church bells in Nor- wich."
September 12th, 1864, came the welcome news of deliv- erance through exchange, and he left the prison, though with the signs of a not far distant death. Taken to Charles- ton, he with the rest was transferred to one of our trans- ports, and brought North. December 24th, he reached Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md., and on the 28th was removed to the hospital. Pale and weak, with his lungs almost gone, after the exposures incident to his prison-life, he went di- rectly to his bed in the hospital, and died two days after, December 30, 1864.
JAMES MASSEY, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died in prison at Florence, S. C., January 7, 1865.
CHARLES H. MONROE, Twenty-ninth Regiment C. V. Died at Fortress Monroe, Va., January 11, 1865.
EDWARD CAMPBELL, Fourteenth Regiment C. V. Died of disease at Washington, D. C., January 18, 1865.
PATRICK MCNAMARA, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died of disease, January 18, 1865.
SILAS BROWN, Twenty-ninth Regiment C. V. Died at Santiago, Texas, January 25, 1865.
GEORGE BROWN, Tenth Regiment C. V. Died at the Point of Rocks, Va., January 27, 1865.
WALTER BURGOYNE, Twelfth Regiment C. V. Died February 5, 1865.
GEORGE W. WARD, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died in prison at Andersonville, Ga., February 6, 1865. He was taken prisoner at Winchester, and confined successively at Belle Isle, Danville, and Andersonville. His manly forti- tude and genial temperament long sustained him, but con- tinued hunger, confinement, and ill-usage at length brought him to the grave, after he had been twenty-one months a
260
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
prisoner. He had fine musical talents, was a steadfast patriot, and had many warm personal friends. Age 26.
ISRAEL VARNEY, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Captured at New Market, Va., May 15, 1864. Died in prison at Flor- ence, S. C., February 10, 1865.
HENRY C. GASKILL, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died while en route to be exchanged, at Danville, Va., February 20, 1865. He was the son of Benjamin Gaskill, of Greene- ville, was wounded at Piedmont, taken prisoner at Winches- ter, and kept in long and barbarous captivity. When at length released he was so reduced by starvation and expos- ure that he died on his way home. Age 33.
RICHARD H. BOGUE, Sixth Regiment C. V. Died of disease, February 23, 1865.
ALEXANDER DRISCOLL, First Conn. Cavalry. Died of disease at Annapolis, Md., March 7, 1865.
JOSEPH DAVIS, Eighth Regiment C. V. Died at the Point of Rocks, Va., March 10, 1865.
JOHN BEST, Second Artillery C. V. Killed near Peters- burg, Va., March 25, 1865.
DAVID CRAMER, Second Artillery C. V. Killed in action at Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
THOMAS KEELER, Second Artillery C. V. Killed at Fort Fisher, N. C., March 26, 1865.
FRANCIS W. TAYLOR, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died at Annapolis, Md., March 28, 1865.
JAMES KENELEY, Tenth Regiment C. V. Killed at Petersburg, April 2, 1865.
ANTON BURGMAYER, First Conn. Cavalry. Died at An- napolis, Md., April 11, 1865.
GEORGE W. Fox, Eighteenth Regiment C. V. Died at Martinsburg, Va., April 17, 1865.
CHARLES E. BREED, U. S. N. Engineer. Died of dis- ease contracted in the service, April 1, 1865. He entered
/ Early
1TOUT 18TH 70
261
" THE UNRETURNING BRAVE."
the navy in April, 1864, and though not able at that time to endure a soldier's hardship, he hoped to be of some ser- vice to the Government on one of its vessels. With a gen- erous feeling that what he could he ought to do, he took his place on the ship, and by faithful unpretentious duty did his part in erushing out the rebellion. The exposures and labors of his position, however, proved too much for his strength, and reluctantly, though after persistent trial, he was obliged to seek discharge from duty. He came home in February, 1865, with the symptoms of fatal disease, and lingered till the following April, when he died. Age 19.
JOHN MCDONALD, Ninth Regiment C. V. Died May 2, 1865.
ABBOTT HOWELL, Thirty-first U. S. C. T. Died at Brownsville, Texas, July 16, 1865.
EDWARD FRANCIS, Twenty-ninth Regiment C. V. Died at Brownsville, Texas, September 17, 1865.
THE LOST IN OTHER THAN CONNECTICUT REGIMENTS.
JAMES WILLIAMS, Second N. Y. Artillery. Died of dis- ease, at Alexandria, February, 1862.
WILLIAM D. LATHROP, Fifteenth Regiment Ill. V. Died at Paducah of wounds received at battle of Shiloh, April 22, 1862.
EDWARD R. MOORE, Fifty-seventh Regiment N. Y. V. Died of disease at Newport News, Va., September 16, 1862.
JACOB W. MILLER, Fifty-first Artillery. Son of J. W. Miller, Norwich Town. He was with his regiment, which he joined soon after the war broke out, in the North Caro- lina campaign, under General Burnside; in the Army of the Potomac at South Mountain and Antietam ; in Grant's army at Vicksburg ; and in the battles of the Wilderness. In the conflict near Spottsylvania, May 18, 1864, he was
262
THE NORWICH MEMORIAL.
shot through the heart. Age 16. He had never been ab- sent an hour from his post during his connection with the army, and was buried on the battle-field. His commanding officer, writing to his friends, bore grateful testimony to his soldierly faithfulness and courage.
JOHN W. PETERS, Fourteenth Regiment R. I. V. Died of disease, at Fort Jackson, La., August 24, 1864.
CHARLES J. TOSSETT, Fourteenth Regiment R. I. V. Died of disease, at Fort Jackson, La., November 20, 1864.
CHESTER H. HALLAM, Fourteenth Regiment R. I. V. Died of disease, at Fort Jackson, La., March 1, 1865.
IN
MEMORIAM.
XIII.
IN REBEL PRISONS.
" For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink : I was a stranger, and ye took me not in ; Naked, and ye clothed me not ; Sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.
" Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee ?
" Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
T HE saddest memories of all the war are awakened by the names,- Andersonville, Libby, Belle Isle, Florence, Salisbury, Charleston. They are the names of prison pens, so hideous and foul, where the treatment was one of such systematized and unrelenting cruelty, that before them the cheek still blanches, and the heart of every patriot is stirred with emotions he cannot trust to utterance. The story of the inhumanity with which they were managed, of the bru- tality, sickness, disease, starvation, and death that were in- separable from life in them, makes one shudder who is obliged to look even now into their history.
The public were slow in coming to any realizing sense of the barbarity of the rebel authorities as displayed in the ar_ rangement and conduct of these fearful prisons, but every returned prisoner brought back his tale of suffering, and soon Congress itself instituted an official inquiry, which though failing to reach the public ear, substantiated, in the facts developed, the worst reports that had become current.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.