USA > Connecticut > The story of the Twenty-first Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. 1861-1865 > Part 22
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One morning the Captain of Company - brought in eight deserters from the enemy, and with much satisfaction reported at division headquarters. The following is the report of one of these deserters coming to our line a few days earlier than the present period : "The Confederate line is very weak. Among the conscripts that have been secured to fill up the ranks of the army, half or two-thirds of them are in the hospital, as they are unfit for service by reason of ad- vanced age or extreme youth. The present campaign is the last one they will ever fight. They were well pleased with the nomination of Mcclellan for President, and were waiting for the result of the approaching election with some impa- tience." The deserter assured us that two more would follow him the next night.
One interesting episode that enlivened the monotony of the picket service was the visit of Frank P. Blair, Sr., to Rich- mond on a Message of peace. His way to the Confederate capital was along the Newmarket road. He reached our line in an ambulance. Then, hailing the enemy with a flag of truce, he was escorted by one of the division staff to meet
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an officer from the other side, from whence he passed on to Richmond. To the honest picket who had never witnessed a scene like this, of a citizen passing over the forbidden ground, this event was a great wonderment. The officer in command of the brigade picket asks the division officer-of-the-day who this stranger might be, but he finds him as ignorant as him- self. The division officer asks the General who it was, and received for a reply, " He is a Union man."
During the night Captain Cook of the general staff was seen, and in answer to the inquiry, replied that he did not know, but the staff had come to the conclusion that he was an angel. But next day a copy of a daily paper from Rich- mond fell into our hands, and we there learned that the Honorable Frank P. Blair, Sr., had arrived on a mission of peace. This explained the passing of the mysterious stranger across the picket line. Mr. Blair bore with him a simple note :
DECEMBER 28, 1864.
Allow the bearer, F. P. Blair, Sr., to pass our lines, go south and return.
A. LINCOLN.
This effort resulted in the famous conference at Hampton Roads, where the President and Secretary of State met a commission of three from the Confederacy. But no result followed; only a mass-meeting was held in Richmond soon after and addressed by President Davis and others. Most impassioned appeals were made by the speakers for a continu- ance of the war, which produced a profound impression. The people present, with one heart and voice, resolved that there was but one way left, and that was to fight to the bitter end-an end that came in two months.
This event awakened within the regiment a discussion of the question of closing the war. All wanted it, and yet hardly one would wish for it upon any other terms than that of union. They would rather fight to the end to secure
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it. At the Presidential election recently held, every one of the officers and a large majority of voters among the enlisted men cast their votes for the Republican ticket. In no place was the rejoicing over the election of Abraham Lincoln greater than in the Twenty-first. One writes : " Mcclellan is up for President. Perhaps he may be elected, but I sincerely hope not. We are tired of war. Just as tired of it as you are at home, likely more so. But when we have been so far, have suffered so much, and the prospect is so bright for a successful ending, we do not wish to see it all neutralized by the election of a half-peace, half-war man."
On the 24th of October, General Grant directed General Mead to extend our lines to the left and find the right flank of the enemy. At the same time he directed General Butler to make a demonstration on his left. Accordingly he sent a part of the Eighteenth Corps under General Weitzel to make a demonstration on the Williamsburg road, north of the White Oak Swamp, and part of the Tenth Corps under Gen- eral Terry, to demonstrate on the Charles City and Darby roads. Under cover of General Terry's demonstration, General Weitzel was to push through the White Oak Swamp at Hobson's Crossing, and move up the Williams- burg road to the Confederate line of entrenchments. This plan was carried out successfully.
It fell to our lot to be a part of this expedition. The com- mand to engage in it reached us when we were in camp on the front line some distance to the right of Fort Burnham. We had fifteen minutes' notice to leave camp and moved back to the rear where we were to provide three days' cooked rations in preparation for an advance. By five o'clock the next morn- ing we were on the road and marched till we reached Fair Oaks at I o'clock P. M. When within three miles of Rich- mond we came in contact with the rebel line of defense. Hoping that it might be so weak that we could break through, General Butler obtained permission from General Grant to make an attack. It was done with a part of the
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forces, but the movement drew out such a strong fire from the enemy that all further efforts to advance were abandoned. Towards night we commenced our retreat. There was no moon, clouds had covered the sky, and about night rain began to fall, making the retreat both difficult and disagree- able. Baggage wagons, ambulances, and artillery were moving along the muddy roads at the same time in con- siderable confusion, while the infantry sought for a passage- way as best they could. Connection was at one time broken and we came near losing the way. At length about half-past ten at night, while the rain was still falling rapidly and the roads were slippery with mud, we turned off into the forest to tarry for the night. Some attempted to build fires, but the falling rain and wet fuel caused such attempts to end in smoke. So in one position or another we waited, trying to catch some sleep. Fortunately with the morning sun came clear weather and our return was easily made. We went into our new camp in reserve.
For the most part the old regiments were small in numbers, unless they had received many recruits. We had received but few, and consequently each company occupied from one- quarter to one-sixth the space it occupied in the line at first. One captain writes, " My company, perhaps an average one, has a larger number absent on detached service than is present for duty. I have twenty of the former to fifteen of the latter." To stimulate good discipline and pride in personal appearance, an order was issued from brigade headquarters, relieving from picket and fatigue duty one week the regiment that should make the finest appearance on inspection. On the 20th of February our regiment received this honor, being the second in the brigade to do so.
January 17th, news reached us of the capture of Fort Fisher. Writes one: "While on drill to-day we received news that Fort Fisher had been captured with one thousand prisoners. We gave three times three cheers for General Terry. For a long time after one might hear the different
DISPATCHES.
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regiments cheer, as in turn they each received the news of the victory. A soldier rejoices more than any other over a victory gained, for in each victory he thinks his own task is made lighter." By reason of the mismanagement of the first expedition against the fort, General Butler was relieved of command. The following dispatch, sent by General Grant to Washington, may express his opinion of General Butler's military qualities :
CITY POINT, VA., December 28, 1864.
The Wilmington expedition has proved a gross and culpable failure. Many of the troops are back here. Delay and free talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to Wilmington to defend it. After the expedition sailed froin Fort Monroe three days of fine weather were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself. Who is to blame will, I hope, be known.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
The opinion held by the commanding general was for the most part shared by the rank and file of the army. Writes one : " General Butler is no longer in command, and nearly every soldier in the Army of the James rejoices in the fact. He has been very unpopular, especially now that Fort Fisher is taken. I never had any confidence in him as a military commander."
Whatever may have been said by reporters of the press, the writer does not remember ever to have heard a cheer given by the troops for General Butler, such as is almost always called out by a popular leader, as he appears in the presence of his men.
During the month of December, the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps were discontinued. The white troops were formed into the Twenty-fourth Corps, while the colored troops, to- gether with Ferrero's Division of the Ninth Corps, formed the Twenty-fifth. General Ord was placed in command of
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the Twenty-fourth Corps, General Weitzel of the Twenty- fifth. For the rest of our term of service, we were in the Third Brigade, commanded by General Roberts ; Third Divi- sion commanded by General Devens, Twenty-fourth Corps.
Many hours of camp life during this last winter were enlivened by the music of the different bands, among which were those belonging to our own regiment and to the For- tieth Massachusetts. What the gift of song is to a bird, such is the gift of a band to a regiment. Near the beginning of December came news of the death of Captain Jennings of Company E, who had been wounded on the day of the cap- ture of Fort Harrison. While falling back from ground captured at the left of the fort, but rendered untenable by reason of the gunboats, he was shot through the lungs. Ile was a good officer and loved by the men, an illustration of the worthy, modest men who died for their country. Of a like character and spirit were multitudes in the ranks whose names appear less frequently in public. The following may illustrate : Private died in the hospital, of whom his Captain reports that his only fault, if it be such, was that of staying at his post in the ranks till his health was so far gone - that recovery was impossible. When his condition was dis- covered by his Captain, he was asked why he had not sought an excuse from the doctor. His reply was, "There were so many that fell out because of sickness, real or feigned, that I would not, lest they should say that I was shirking duty."
A little before Christmas we enjoyed a visit from Captain Jeremiah M. Shepard, formerly of Company K. He came among us no longer with the elastic step of his former days, when he so proudly and successfully led his company, but with the halting step of a wooden leg that had taken the - place of that honored limb left at the battle-field of Drewry's Bluff, on the 16th of the previous May. His efficiency as an officer and his social qualities had won a large place in the hearts of the men.
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In November a petition was signed by all the commissioned officers in the regiment, also by the brigade and division sur- geons, and forwarded to Governor Buckingham, asking for the appointment of J. N. Parker, hospital steward, as surgeon of our regiment. Because of his fidelity in his work and his ability as seen in dealing with the sick, it was thought by all that he was both entitled to the office and would fill it with credit. But the fact that he had no diploma conferring upon him the title of " M. D." prevented. His subsequent life fully sustained the confidence reposed in him at that time. In the early days of the following January, Nehemiah Nicker- son, formerly assistant surgeon of the Sixteenth Connecti- cut Volunteers, arrived at camp, bearing the commission of surgeon of our regiment. He soon won the confidence and respect of all. Not a little interest was awakened by the recital of his experience as a prisoner in the hand of the enemy while a member in his former regiment.
Among the organizations that proved a great help to the soldiers were two, the Christian Commission and the Sanitary Commission. The latter was created by the Secretary of War and charged with the distribution of "relief" to the soldiers during the war, including food, clothing, medical stores, hospital supplies, etc. To those of our men who suffered in the hospital there came from the Commission much that was helpful, while some among those at the front in active service received through the medical authorities use- ful gifts that made our hardships less. The Christian Com- mission was organized by the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation for the purpose of ministering both to the physical and. spiritual well-being of the soldiers. Their agents ap- peared with willing hands to help, where they could minister to the sick or wounded. They distributed Christian literature and freely offered their services in cooperation with the chap- lains in promoting religious worship. Money and gifts were distributed by these agencies valued at over six million dollars.
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In February, religious meetings were conducted in our brigade under the direction of agents sent out by this Com- mission. There was an attendance of some two hundred or more at each of the meetings. This assistance supplementing the work of the chaplains was gladly received, and grateful witnesses left testimony as to the good accomplished. The spirit engendered by the Articles of War and that by the Sermon on the Mount seemed somewhat different, though neither conflicts with the other. Each should be helpful to the other. Some of our most efficient officers on both sides were eminent Christian men, their very military discipline tending to strengthen their virtues. And yet to attempt to take advantage of the form of Christianity while destitute of its spirit only leads to discomfiture. The following story is told of an ambitious Colonel, better versed in military tactics than in the Sermon on the Mount. Hearing one day that quite a number from a neighboring regiment had expressed, by rising in meeting, a desire to lead a Christian life, he re- marked, "Do you say that twenty-five rose for prayers in - Regiment ?" " Yes," was the reply. Then, turning to his Sergeant-Major, he exclaimed, "Sergeant-Major, detail forty men from our regiment to rise for prayers to-night.
I won't be beaten by that regiment."
On Christmas somewhat extensive arrangements were made for amusements and a well-arranged programme provided. Heavy clouds with rain in the morning delayed the opening of exercises, but about noon the breaking clouds invited the soldiers to commence their games. First, two men got drunk near the sutler's tent and created no little disturbance. This was quickly quelled and quiet restored. This episode, how- ever, was not on the programme, but was thrown in as extra by the participators. Then as the programme proper was given there were exhibited foot-races, hurdle-races, catching a pig by the tail, climbing a greased pole. Upon a raised plat- form was a cheese-box half-filled with meal, within which was hidden a fifty-cent piece. Two colored boys with hands tied
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behind their backs dove with their heads into the meal in search of the money. The one who could secure it with his mouth became its possessor. These exercises were carried out mainly by the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Pennsyl- vania and Second New Hampshire. In this last winter of our experience as soldiers, we suffered little from the in- clemency of the weather as compared with our first winter. We had learned by experience to provide better quarters and were able to take better care of ourselves. Consequently our health was generally good, with no epidemic of fever as during the year before.
THE FREDERICKSBURG RAID IN MARCH, 1865.
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY CAPTAIN W. S. HUBBELL AT THE NINTH REUNION OF THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT CONNECTI- CUT VOLUNTEERS, IN SOUTH COVENTRY, MAY 16, 1878.
In one of the periodicals of the American Peace Society we find objection made to the gay uniforms and equipments of a soldier. Instead of scarlet and gold, the critic proposes to dress the warrior in colors of mourning. Let him put crape instead of plumes on his chapeau, and let him make no attempt to disguise his murderous business. Doubtless this opponent of war would rejoice to destroy every martial decoration, and to make every camp-fire cheerless and every march a funeral procession. But, we who know that a man can be a soldier, and yet have no murder in his heart, or crime upon his hands, are confident that this gloomy and sepulchral view of the profession of arms is not likely to find favor in the world. * The Fredericksburg raid of March, 1865, is to be our theme to-day, and we are setting
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out on a military frolic, instead of a weary march with a bloody encounter at its close .. Be it remembered, however, that when our marching orders came to us, we had every reason to imagine that we were to be led at once to a murderous assault upon those impregnable earthworks en- circling Richmond.
The time of our story, as we have just said, is the spring of the last year of the war, within a month of the great collapse of the Southern Confederacy. We were housed in snug quarters behind Fort Harrison, the nearest point of all the army of besiegers to the rebel capital, it being only about four miles along the Varina road to Richmond. * The month of February had closed with cheering tidings from Sherman. Charleston and Columbia were reported cap- tured, and shotted salutes of one hundred guns were fired in honor of the victory, as also a day or two later over the surrender of Fort Fisher at Wilmington. The air was full of rumors by day, and the picket line at night drove a brisk business in receiving deserters.
March Ist was celebrated by a horse race on the New- market road, between some of the corps and division staff, and at evening our Brigade Commander received private warn- ing that we were to move on the first pleasant day. All day Tuesday, March 2d, the rain fell in torrents, and on Friday there was still more rain. The pickets and the fatigue duty details were muddy and bedraggled enough, and a whiskey ration scarcely consoled them for their dismal exposure. Our Brigade Commander, General S. II. Roberts, was corps officer-of-the day on Friday, and was suddenly summoned to corps headquarters about noon, whence he returned to our camp with the following orders : The brigade was to be at Deep Bottom by noon of the following day, there to take transportation for a secret expedition. Each enlisted man must carry sixty rounds of ammunition on his person, ten ambulances with forty stretcher-bearers, and ten days' rations to accompany the command. When the force is all em-
r
RELICS IN EXCHANGE HOTEL, FREDERICKSBURG COMRADE ELANDER COTTON, PROPRIETOR.
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barked the Brigade Commander and his Adjutant-General are to report in person to General Grant at City Point, and there receive further instruction. Such was the startling message.
The next morning, March 4th, just about the time when the inauguration exercises were beginning at Washington, and Lincoln was taking his second oath of office, we started on our march of five miles to where our transports lay. The rain had not ceased and the roads were knee deep with mud alongside the corduroy. By four o'clock, our brigade, in- cluding the Twenty-first Connecticut, Fortieth Massachusetts, Fifty-eighth and One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Pennsyl- vania, and the Second New Hampshire were all packed on board ship, and at 4:30 the flotilla dropped down stream below City Point, while General Roberts and his Adjutant went ashore to hold their mysterious interview with the Com- mander-in-chief. Few of us, at that time had ever seen General Grant, and probably not one of us all had ever exchanged a word or even a salute with the taciturn Ulysses. Curiosity was doubly aroused, therefore, in the visitors, first to see the redoubtable warrior, and second to learn from him our probable fate during the ten days to come. He was seated in the roughly boarded hut where his Adjutant- General's office was established, and with him were General Rawlins, Colonel Bowers, Colonel Dent, and the full-blooded Indian, Colonel Parker, of his staff.
The military family were just about to dine, and by invita- tion of him who wore the stars, we followed the procession to the modest cabin, where dinner was spread on a deal table with picces of shelter tent for table cloth. Here we were presented to Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Rawlins, and sitting down nearly opposite the General, partook of the plain soldier's fare which was set before us. It was truly difficult to realize our hunger in the presence of such a dinner party, but after all mach food mechanically found its way to our mouths as usual. No drink, save water, coffee and tea was visible,
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
either here or in the office we had just left. Truth requires us here to state that General Grant's headquarters was the only abode of any officer of rank which we ever visited during the war, where we were not offered, or did not dis- cover whiskey to drink.
Dinner concluded, the officers returned to the Adjutant- General's quarters and General Grant began his verbal in- structions to General Roberts. Soon he paused and said, " ] will write out your orders for you." Taking pen in hand, General Grant lit a fresh cigar and wrote steadily for several minutes, interspersing an occasional word in the conver- sation which went on between the others already mentioned. Having covered four pages of large-sized letter paper with in- structions, the manuscript was copied by Colonel Bowers and the copy securely locked in a desk drawer and the precious original handed to General Roberts, who was wished all success, and at once departed for the steamer " Metamora " and Hampton Roads. The secret of our destination was therefore known to but two persons in our brigade, and at least one of these two found the secret a very uncomfortable one to carry, since he was beset by the curious with questions at every turn of his path. Another stcamer now joined our expedition, on board of which was a detachment of the First New York Mounted Rifles, under Colonel Sumner, and at Fortress Monroe our little fleet was swelled by the addition of three navy and two army gunboats as a convoy.
The demand for Rappahannock pilots to man our five steamers first gave a clue to our course, and all day Sunday the reporters were edging about our transports to pick up information of what might be our errand. By five o'clock in the afternoon we were ready to start, and with the weather clear but cold we steamed away toward the beautiful river. Monday morning found us well advanced up the Rappahan- nock, and our gunboats shelled the rebel signal stations vigorously as we passed on. At the Tippebannock station, the " Northener," with one thousand troops on board, got
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aground, and the " Harger," which was following close in her wake, ran into the big transport, smashing her guards and creating much confusion. This, however, was the only mishap of the voyage. A gunboat went to the "North- erner's " relief and after some hours' delay, pulled her off the shoal, while the rest of the expedition kept on the winding river, picking their way daintily past the suspected torpedoes, now and then sighting a rebel scout on either bank, and at last between five and six o'clock on Monday afternoon, March 6th, reached the wharves of Fredericksburg in safety.
In his verbal instructions, General Grant had stated that a large quantity of tobacco was about to be sent from Rich- mond to Fredericksburg to be smuggled across the lines, and to be exchanged for bacon from New York. This they were directed to seize and destroy. We were ordered to take the city, if it could be captured without loss, but were not to risk our men if the city was stoutly defended. "However," said Grant, " I think you will find no rebel troops there, except a provost guard." The tobacco train could not come nearer than four miles to the city, on account of the tearing up of the track, but was to be sought at a place called Hamilton's Cross Roads, where was also a railroad bridge, which we were directed to burn. This Cross Roads was therefore our first objective point, and as we were allowed to land without opposition, the cavalrymen and their horses were speedily disembarked, a guide secured, a squadron mounted, and with Captain Elder as aide-de-camp, were soon tearing away over the hills toward the expected train. This all-important move being well begun, the Fortieth Massachusetts were gotten ashore, a picket detail sent off and posted, a strong patrol organized to watch the streets, and the gunboats anchored with their broadsides to sweep all the approaches to our camp on land and water. All the men save the troopers and the Fortieth Massachusetts were kept in snug quarters on ship- board, much to the disgust of those who anticipated a roving night of it in Fredericksburg.
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