USA > Connecticut > The story of the Twenty-first Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. 1861-1865 > Part 10
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a battle with General Longstreet's forces was due to General Hooker, whose operations at Chancellorsville hastily called away the enemy from our front.
LETTER OF SERGEANT WILLIAM B. AVERY, TWENTY-FIRST CONN. VOLUNTEERS.
CAMP FIVE MILES FROM SUFFOLK, VA.
May 10, 1863.
Saturday night, May 2d, we left this place and marched down the Nansemond river sixteen miles, and about four o'clock Sunday morning, crossed the river into the land of rebels, guerillas, bush- whackers, etc. Our little band consisted of two rifled cannons, six of the mounted cavalry, and the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers. We had two skirmishes with the rebels before we came to Chuckatuck. In the last one, one of our cavalrymen was shot in the arm near the elbow. He is getting along very well now. Another cavalryman was hit six times and instantly killed. One bullet went into his left eye, coming out at the back of his head; another went into his mouth, coming out near his right ear ; another went through his right side; another through the calf of his leg ; another hit him on the hip; and another went through his neck. We buried him on the spot where he fell. We then marched on until we came to a corn-field, where we had another fight. One of Company A's men was wounded in the leg by a rebel.
About the same time a man in Company K was hit in the hip by a rebel bullet, and lying down was at first unobserved, but he was soon seen and the boys carried him and laid him down under the shade of a tree, where he lay till he bled to death. His wound was so bad that the bleeding could not be stopped. He
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The Siege of Suffolk.
was buried on the spot where he died. The fight ended, the prisoners were sent across the river, and all was still.
In the corn-field the guns were stacked, all loaded, and every man lay on the ground near his gun, ready at any time should the enemy approach. There the men lay on the ground in the dust, some on the back and arms spread out, some on their side, some on their faces, some across each other, and in this manner lay the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers, tired, sleeping, and well used up, while the hot sun poured its torrents of heat down upon them. There they lay, officers and men together, all asleep. A few rods at our left lay the wounded man of Company K, a little body of men around him, witnessing his dying moments. Soon he left this world, and his body was laid in the ground in the same spot where he breathed his last. Soon after he was buried, crack went a report from a rebel sharpshooter's rifle, and whiz went a bullet over our heads and striking in the dirt. Soon, crack went another from the same direction, the bullet going over our heads. Then the order came to " fall in," and nearly every man had to be severely shaken to wake him up, they being so tired. We were then marched down on the point, near the river, and we dug a rifle pit nearly around it ; there we stayed till morning. The night after the fight about thirty men were placed about a mile in front of us, as pickets, to notify us, should the rebels make an attack.
Monday, a captain and a few men went back and took up the body of the young man last spoken of, brought him down to the shore, and he was carried across the river (on the Union side), and there buried. The man in Company A who was wounded was carried to the shore soon after he was hit and put aboard the gun- boat, where he was well attended to. Monday night we were all taken aboard the gun-boats and carried across the river, when we marched to camp.
A few days ago a body of cavalry went across the river, went nearly to Chuckatuck, and took up the body of the cavalryman, who was killed and buried there. They brought him across the river and buried him on this side. Soon after we buried him (at the time he was shot), the rebels came and dug him up to get his boots, but we had taken them off before we buried him.
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Our regiment is now about six miles from Suffolk, on the Nanse- mond River, building a battery. Our company is doing guard duty at General Dutton's headquarters, about a mile from the regiment. We have enough to eat and drink and enough to do. (Signed) WM. B. AVERY.
BUSINESS AHEAD.
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Bowers' Hill, White House, Yorktown.
CHAPTER X.
BOWERS' HILL, WHITE HOUSE, YORKTOWN.
May, June and July, 1863.
After the enemy left Suffolk, it was decided to change the line of defense for the twin cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, bringing it nearer the base of supplies. By this means we should have a shorter distance to guard and fewer men would be needed. Consequently Suffolk, with all its re- cently constructed forts, was abandoned, and a line of defense marked out in a radius some seven miles from Portsmouth. To this new position we were ordered on the 13th of May, and after marching thirteen miles, went into camp at Bowers' Hill near the railroad. Here we remained nearly a month and a half in what proved to be a pleasant and enjoyable camp located on the ground once held by the
" Louisiana Tigers." While here we were kept busy in building forts for the defense of the city. If there is little excitement in the use of the spade, and some discouragement in the amount of work to be done, yet there is encourage- ment in the large numbers to do the work. Each one feels that he is only one out of a great number, and that his indi- vidual task is small. Therefore, with patient, if not with enthusiastic, efforts, Fort Kingsbury was completed and
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received its quota of guns. Also, a second fort was com- menced and was well under way before we left.
But aside from the drudgery of digging with the pick and spade, our stay at this camp was unusually pleasant. The weather was favorable, except when the heat was oppressive. If we were annoyed by mosquitoes and gnats, we comforted ourselves with the thought that no real danger could come from such an insignificant enemy. The officers who failed in their attempts to have their wives with them at Fort Connec- ticut, were now more successful, and on June 7th four ladies appeared in the camp. Writes one of the men in his diary, " Great curiosity for us to see women from Connecticut." Soon it was rumored in camp that our Colonel, now in com- mand of the brigade, was away on his wedding trip. Here, in our usually quiet camp, there occurred one day consider- able excitement caused by a raid on a would-be sutler. Pro- voked beyond endurance by the high prices charged for his goods, the boys rushed upon his tent with groans and cries of " Cut the ropes," etc. The guard was immediately called out and order restored, but in the evening the tent was taken down and goods removed. Doubtless the feeling against him was intensified by the fact that he was once a member of the regiment and discharged at Newport News. He soon left for Connecticut no more to return.
When no enemy threatens and we feel ourselves secure from all danger, there is a freedom from care giving rise to a socia- bility that renders a soldier's life in many respects delightful. Especially is this realized on the part of those who have been recently exposed to some hardships. The quiet of camp life comes as a vacation to the school-boy after the anxiety of a trying examination. One remembers with pleasure the de- lightful evenings here enjoyed, when twilight long lingered between daylight and darkness. The labor of the day was completed. From neighboring camps came the soul-stirring music of the bands, while from our own grounds came the delights of song. Few will forget the sweet melodies of
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Charles Craw and Otis F. Luce of Company A, whose charming voices afforded enjoyment for many an hour to interested listeners. The song, "Do They Think of Me at Home," stirred many a heart.
Not a little interest was manifested in the grotesque con- duct of the colored people as they gathered in the camp, and urged on by the men, would amuse the spectators by singing and dancing. From this race the soldier was always sure of sympathy, and never has the writer known of confidence re- posed in the colored man being betrayed. While on our way from Battery Stevens, an old colored man by the road side was watching us with much interest while we were passing. In response to the words " We have got down here at last," he replied, " Yes, I bless de Lord dat you hab come. I has been praying for it dis long time, and now pray God Almighty dat you may succeed."
One of our neighbors while here was a colored clergyman. Acquaintance with him led to a knowledge of his past his- tory. He thought he had a call to the ministry when he was twenty-one years of age, but he did not know how to read. By the light of pine knots in the evening, after his work was done, he overcame this obstacle, and when able to read the Bible commenced his ministry.
At this camp we welcomed our second Chaplain. Captain John E. Wood, promoted from Company C to this office about the time of our leaving the state, resigned in the follow- ing January. Rev. Thomas G. Brown, appointed April 21, 1863, joined us immediately after receiving his commission and remained till the mustering out of the regiment. He was a Methodist minister and brought to his work a sincere desire to do his duty. By the manifestation of a consistent Christian character, by his genuine sympathy with the men, whether to the ministering to the wounded in battle-his coat was once torn by a shell while on duty under fire-or by humbler acts of kindness and religious counsel in camp, be won the respect and love of the entire regiment. After the
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close of the war, he was a constant attendant at the reunions of the regiment, and no one was more heartily welcomed by the boys than he. It was now about nine months since we left the state, and there were vague rumors in camp that Gov- ernor Buckingham of Connecticut had gone to Washington with a view to have our regiment enrolled as one of nine months' duration. Of course there was no foundation for the rumor, unless it was that our quota would have been filled if such had been the case. Yet it reached even to our friends in Connecticut, which only shows what was the secret wish of many at home, as well as in camp. Two members of the regiment, for desertion, were sentenced by a court-martial to wear the ball and chain for three months-a six-foot chain securely fastened to the ankle with a six-pound ball attached.
The engineer officers, in laying out the defenses to be constructed by the troops, had little regard for the wishes of property owners. One of the forts on which we labored was located in the midst of a six-acre field of corn, now partly grown. A commission was appointed, consisting of three citizens of the neighborhood and three officers of the regi- ment, to assess damages. Perchance, if the owner could prove his loyalty to the flag, he might, at some time, secure damages. Of the three citizen commissioners who signed thie report, two, unable to write their names, made their mark. And yet these were chosen by the property owner as among the most competent of his neighborhood.
In the course of our stay here, we came in contact some- what with our civilian neighbors in the immediate vicinity, prompted, in part, perhaps, by a desire to secure fresh eggs, or other supplies for the mess, or in part, for sociability or curiosity. In one instance there was found the foot-wheel, or small spinning-wheel, with the hostess dressed in cotton cloth, the material of which had been raised by her husband, while the labor of transforming the fabric into a dress had been per- formed by the hands of the wearer. When one ventured to speak of the factories at the North, where one person, by
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machinery, could do the work of fifty with a spinning-wheel, she replied that she had always made her own cloth for her clothes and did not want any factories. When told of the schools at the North, where it was expected that every- one would learn to read and write, she replied that she did not care for schools ; she had never known how to read, and her children could get along as well as she had done. This, in her estimation, seemed amply sufficient.
But an end comes to the history of every camp. One fort had been completed as the work of our hands, and a second was in process of construction. And now, after a residence of nearly six weeks at Bowers' Hill, with its pleasant surround- ings, we regretfully leave to join in the campaign up the Peninsula. This movement was directed by authorities from Washington. It was hoped that since General Lee, with all the troops at his command, had invaded the northern states, there might be a chance for the Fourth Corps to make a successful advance upon Richmond. But experience proves that our troops would have been of more value in assisting the Army of the Potomac than by any attempt to capture a city so securely defended as the Confederate capital. How- ever, we must make the attempt to gain the wisdom. Conse- quently, the entire force, amounting to fourteen thousand men, embarked on transports, at Yorktown, for White House Landing, except the cavalry, which, led by General Spear, made its way up the Peninsula by land. This force, amount- ing to a thousand men, destroyed the bridge over South Anna, near Hanover, thus intercepting railroad communica- tion between Richmond and Fredericksburg. General Getty was dispatched to Hanover Court House, while General Keyes with five thousand men set out for Richmond. But it was found that the enemy had not left their Capital without ample defense. After losing twenty men, General Keyes abandoned all attempts on the city, and both his own force and that of General Getty returned.
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The three weeks devoted to this campaign afford some events worthy of notice. The summons to join this move- ment reached us at Bowers' Hill one Sunday afternoon. Next morning we embarked on transports at Norfolk, and pro- ceeded to Yorktown, where we encamped at night. In close proximity to our camp were works of historic interest, which were visited by many of our men. Here were the elaborate works thrown up the previous year by General Mcclellan. In our front was a large plain near the midst of which, enclosed by a low railing, was marked the spot where at the close of the Revolutionary War, Cornwallis had surrendered his army to Washington. In this field there were acres covered with low blackberry vines, the fruit of which was now ripe, affording a luxury to many of our men. In the estima- tion of some, this event was of sufficient account to give a name to the expedition, " the blackberry raid."
June 26th, we left Yorktown on transports, and on the same day reached White House Landing. Upon going into camp at this place we received the news that General Dix had appointed our regiment as provost guard, with Major Crosby as provost-marshal. This appointment was received with great satisfaction on the part of the men, as it indicated the confidence reposed in us as a reliable, well-drilled regiment ; we were also quite sure of escaping the dangers of severe fighting, should such occur. However, some rather ques- tioned their good luck, thinking that, if the army gained any glory in battle, they would be deprived of the same. Because of this appointment, we remained at the landing, guarding supplies and other property that might be exposed in any way. We were also to guard all prisoners that were not held by their respective regiments, and especially to have care of any that might be captured in battle. There were for us more freedom and greater privileges in this position than we otherwise should have enjoyed.
June 27th, Colonel Spear's expedition returned from the successful effort to destroy the bridge over South Anna,
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bringing with them one hundred and five prisoners, besides thirty-five baggage wagons with three hundred mules. They also destroyed forty wagons and six thousand bushels of grain. Among the prisoners was General W. H. F. Lee, captured in his own private carriage, which was brought in and left near our camp, while the prisoners were sent by transports down the river. It soon became evident to many that the carriage of so distinguished a general might have some mementos worthy of being sent to friends at home, and soon it was discovered that the vehicle was somewhat mutilated. Learning of this, General Dix, whose head- quarters were on board a transport, desired the provost- marshal to make a thorough search in his camp for any relics of the captured property. If any were found, he must report the guilty party, for he had given his word of honor that the carriage should not be injured. At once every officer was summoned to appear before the provost-marshal, and direc- tions were given to make a thorough search in every company street throughout the camp. With these directions, there was the added command, "I should be very much mortified, and very sorry to find that any of our men should be discovered among those that had injured the carriage."
The officers fully shared in the feelings of the major, and the "thorough search" revealed not one vestige of the vehicle in camp. They so reported, and it was at once con- cluded that another regiment in camp, not far away, had per- haps been the guilty party, and General Dix was so informed. We never heard that he believed the report implicitly.
July 4th, about one-hundred of our regiment were sent out as guards of supplies for General Getty's division. They started at 2 o'clock A. M., and halted for the night at 10 P. M., marching by way of King William's Court House. Next day, having marched twenty iniles, they met the division, returning to White House Landing, where they arrived on the seventh. With the return of these expeditions, there was a large number of contrabands that came in and sought access
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
to Union territory. It was here that news reached us of the victory at Gettysburg, and the capture of Vicksburg. The good fortune of our arms at these important points, compen- sated in a measure, for our lack of success in our advance toward the rebel capital. The following letter, written July 7th by one of the regiment, may show the spirit of a soldier in view of these victories: "Lee's army is defeated. This morning news reached us that Vicksburg had fallen. The enemy has left Tennessee. Prosperity has once more smiled upon us. Dark hours, filled with the deepest anxiety, have given way to great light, and every true, loyal heart to-day rejoices. I sincerely thank God for it. Never before have the affairs of our country looked so prosperous, and never have I felt so encouraged as now. I cannot write my thoughts upon this subject-a soldier's heart feels what it cannot express."
July 8th, the day after General Getty's expedition arrived. we started on our return to Yorktown. Now appear some of the inconveniences of being provost guard for an army. We have to march as rear guard, the cavalry only being behind us. We have orders to bring up all stragglers, as any left may fall into the hands of the enemy. The following description found in a letter, written the next day after reach- ing Yorktown, may give some idea of the work left to our regiment : "Our march from White House Landing to this place was decidedly the hardest marching we have done. The distance was fifty miles, which we completed in three days. Being rear guard, it was our duty to bring up the stragglers of the whole army, which was not a very agreeable duty. The first day it rained very hard for nearly three hours, swelling the streams that crossed the road, so that we all got our feet well soaked. We encamped about nine in the evening. I went to a brook and washed the mud from my trousers and stockings, then wrapped myself up in my blanket, that I had used during the day to protect me from the rain, took off my boots to be used for a pillow, and slept
CHAPLAIN THOMAS G. BROWN. (The Hero of Drewry's Bluff.)
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Bowers' Hill, White House, Yorktown.
as best I could. Next morning we were up by four o'clock, and soon were on the march with short rations. The day was extremely hot, and we must needs march twenty-two miles before going into camp for the night. The morning of the third day we started by sunrise; some of the regiment had no breakfast whatever, some had fresh pork that they had captured along the way, which was cooked and eaten without salt, or bread or vegetables. We had not gone many miles, however, before we met the supply train from the commissary department, which furnished us with a much needed breakfast and army rations. The canvas-covered baggage wagons, as they came jolting over the roads, never looked better, and hunger was a good seasoning for the hard-tack and coffee. I was on guard with Lieutenants S. and C. We had not gone far when we found a soldier unable to march by reason of sickness. I saw a darkey a short distance off with a team, which I pressed into service, and secured a ride for the patient, as I did for others in like condition. We reached Yorktown and went into camp about dark. When I pulled off my boots, I found my feet blistered, a condition, I believe, in which most of the regiment shared."
Next day, not a few of the men availed themselves of York river as a resort for bathing, for which, with its beautiful, sandy shore, it afforded unrivaled facilities. July 12th, we started for Hampton, encamping for the night at Big Bethel, where one of the first battles of the war was fought. Only two houses were to be seen, and those not prepossessing in appearance. On the second day we arrived at Hampton about noon. This was a village of over a thousand inhabit- ants before the war, with some fine buildings, but these were burned by General Magruder, leaving the beautiful location peopled with a few whites and many blacks, who sheltered themselves in miserable shanties. Next day we left on steamer " Express" for Portsmouth, from whence we marched to our old camp at Bowers' Hill. Very glad were we to reach this place, after an absence of nineteen days. Before night,
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however, we received orders to report to Portsmouth as provost guard. This was very welcome news, as it secured a permanent place, good quarters, and city life. But in view of the previous march, we were allowed to stay in camp till next day, when we struck tents, turned in much of our camp equipage to the government, and left with pleasant hopes, in anticipation of our renewed duties at Portsmouth. Doubtless the report of the Assistant Inspector, General Donohue, had not a little to do in securing for us this position. While at Bowers' Hill, after inspecting our regiment, he reports : " I believe this regiment equal, if not superior, to any I have ever inspected. I predict that the Twenty-first Connecticut Vol- unteers can be relied upon to fill any position to which it may be assigned."
A HALT ON A HOT DAY BESIDE GOOD WATER.
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Provost Life in Virginia.
CHAPTER XI.
PROVOST LIFE AT PORTSMOUTH AND NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE REGIMENTAL REUNION AT EAST HAMPTON, MAY 17, ISSI, BY CAPTAIN W. S. HUBBELL.
It is of the lights more than the shadows of army life that I now propose to speak. We were no strangers to the severer, the ghastly side of war. But it was our good fortune also to look upon Mars in his more festive moments and to see what may be called the sunny side of the grim monster. Such was our experience at Portsmouth and Norfolk, Va., which I shall endeavor to recall in these pages. There is a legend concerning one of the picket boats which were used to explore the shallow streams emptying into the upper Potomac. According to the story, this little steamer was of exceeding light draught-in fact almost capable of making passage where a heavy dew had fallen over night. Of course such a penetrating craft was much valued and won renown for many exploits. At last the command of the tiny vessel was given to a new and ambitious captain. He was deter- mined to make it hot alongshore for the rebels, who had hitherto kept out of musket range. He therefore borrowed a ten-pound Parrot gun, from a battery at the rear, and after much difficulty, established the ordnance amidships of his
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craft, which staggered fearfully under the new burden. He then steamed slowly up the creek until within range of a farm house, which he supposed to be the headquarters of a rebel cavalry outpost. . The gun was loaded with a double charge and carefully trained upon the distant station. The lanyard was pulled and a terrific explosion rent the air. But, as the tale concludes, the ten-pound projectile remained stationary in mid-river, while the gunboat itself, cannon and all, was blown by the recoil clean across to the Federal side, and landed high and dry upon the bank.
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