USA > Connecticut > The story of the Twenty-first Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. 1861-1865 > Part 28
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At the outbreak of the Civil War, Massachusetts had a brigade organization of its militia, and regiments were sent to the front as brigades, with their Brigadiers given commis- sions of the same rank in the United States Volunteers.
One of the most prominent of these inexperienced Generals was Benjamin F. Butler. He did some excellent service as originator of the idea in the early part of the war, that negroes found within our lines might be held as contraband of war, and hence afterwards known to our Eastern army as contrabands.
As Commander at New Orleans he did efficient work along the duties of a Provost Marshal, and obtained much notoriety through his ingenuity in thinking out new ways of inflicting
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punishment to the enemy's sympathizers. An instance of this was on the death of a Roman Catholic officer of a Connecticut regiment. The General sent to the French Bishop, not asking, but demanding, an interment in conse- crated ground, thinking this would be a source of annoyance. To his surprise, the Bishop answered very courteously, " Cer- tainly, my General, ten thousand of them."
But General Butler was never successful as a corps com- mander on strictly military lines ; still less as a commander of a large army in the field ; but political considerations apparently dictated his appointment to the command of the Army of the James.
Among many detailed to act as clerks at his headquarters was Private Edwin S. Wheeler, Company G. Private Wheeler, who had been fitted for college in 1862, was recommended by Colonel Dutton for appointment as cadet at West Point, and this was approved and confirmed by the Department Com- mander, but the formal commission, though long promised and expected for over a year, was never received. His duties were to write the special orders, properly enter them, and see that they were correctly started to their destination. Many of these orders being important and great care neces- sary in their phraseology, the order clerk was often in the presence of the General, who had a mind of most unusual speed in its operations. A letter or report of several pages, perhaps badly written and obscurely expressed, de- manding from an ordinary man half an hour to fathom its author's meaning, would be correctly grasped by the General in a few minutes. His commands were usually expressed in pencil memoranda, in an extra imperative form, as " Let it be granted ! Let him be discharged !"
His contempt for military law, and his desire to deal out what he called substantial justice, often took high-handed forms. The fact that officers nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate could not be discharged by a depart- ment commander without approval of the Secretary of War,
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did not prevent the peremptory discharge and disgrace of officers whom he thought worthy of such punishment. Neither did he hesitate, contrary to regulations, to put in con- finement a commissioned officer, even of the rank of Colonel, for causes he considered sufficient. Quite likely these men deserved all that they received, but remonstrances that their treatment was illegal had no effect. He found the court- martial much too slow, and in one case of clearly admitted desertion, the man was shot first and tried afterwards. While it would be too much to say he was deficient in moral sense, it is certainly within bounds to describe his point of view on many subjects as entirely unconventional. He brought to military affairs the acute mind of the clever, criminal lawyer, who thought it right to accomplish his ends by any means not in violation of criminal law. And yet, probably he in- tended only to do what he believed, and sincerely believed, to be just. To deserters he was severe. The records at Washington are said to show that less than two hundred deserters were shot during the whole Civil War, but many more than this number must have been shot in the Army of the James alone, during the height of the bounty-jumping. From Connecticut regiments six times as many men deserted as were killed in action.
Like General Hancock, he had a habit of excessive pro- fanity, and his vocabulary in that direction was remarkably full. The Twenty-first had some members with a large line of swear words, but none with the versatility of General Butler. When, through a sudden gust of wind his candles were extinguished, he would sit alone in darkness and invoke the most elaborate condemnation on the country-clodhoppers, as he termed them, who had pitched his tent. He had a most uncommon dislike to music, and serenades at head- quarters were rare. Still, with all his faults, and they were many, he was of great service to his country, and while there Were undoubtedly serious errors, yet the balance must be fairly considered to be largely in his favor.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
LETTER FROM GENERAL DEVENS.
The following letter from General Devens to Governor Buckingham gives a brief account of the history of the Twenty-first Regiment, now about being mustered out of service :
HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-FOURTH ARMY CORPS, RICHMOND, VA., June 17, 1865.
His Excellency William A. Buckingham, Governor of Connecticut :
GOVERNOR-The connection which has existed between this division and the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers is to-day dissolved by its departure for the state which sent it forth a few months before the regular expiration of its term of service. It is fully entitled to the honor of having served most faithfully and long as its services were needed, and of having done its duty nobly under many most trying and dangerous circumstances. Its soldiers deserve the reward of those who have continued faithful to the end of that rebellion whose writhings are yet hardly still, and will receive at your hands, and those of the people of Con- necticut, a cordial and generous welcome.
The Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers was organized in Sep- tember, 1862, and was almost immediately, on coming into ser- vice, annexed to the division commanded by General Getty, in the Ninth Corps, and was for the first time under fire at the great battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1863.
Having been transferred to the troops of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, it took part in the siege of Suffolk and the expedition of Major-General Dix up the Peninsula, in the spring of 1863, and in the winter was ordered to North Carolina, where it bore its part in the movements of February and March, 1864, from Newberne, under Major-General Foster.
In May, 1864, it was transferred to the Eighteenth Corps, thus forming a portion of the column operating against Richmond, under Major-General Butler, and was severely engaged in the action of Drewry's Bluff, May 16th, and various skirmishes on this portion of the line.
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The Eighteenth Corps having temporarily joined the Army of the Potomac, was engaged in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3d, and subsequently in the various conflicts of the summer of 1864, in front of Petersburg.
. On the 29th of September, 1864, the regiment formed a portion of the force which gallantly carried by assault Fort Harrison, the strongest work held by the enemy on the north side of the James, and on the 27th of October, took part in the affair on the Williamsburg road.
Without undertaking to recite all the conflicts in which this regiment has been engaged, such is a brief sketch of its history.
It has worthily maintained the honor of the State of Connecti- cut, her loyalty to the Union of our fathers, her deep and stern attachment to the principles of popular government and of civil liberty. Many brave officers and men have sealed, with their lives, their devotion to the cause of the country, prominent, especially, among whom are Colonel Arthur H. Dutton, the most accom- plished among gentlemen and soldiers, who fell mortally wounded in a skirmish at Port Walthall, in May, 1864, and Lieutenant- Colonel Burpee, who was killed at Cold Harbor in June, 1864. The memory of these gallant and distinguished soldiers, and all their brave comrades, will be gratefully embalmed in the memory of the people of Connecticut, as well as in that of their more fortunate companions who return to you in triumph to-day.
The trials and dangers which this regiment have passed through will only have made them more fit for the duties and responsi- bilities of citizens, to which they now return ; and their conduct hereafter will show, I sincerely believe, that the fame they have won by valor and intrepidity abroad in the field, will be main- tained by industry, energy and perseverance at home.
I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
CHARLES DEVENS, JR.,
Brigadier and Brevet Major-General Commanding.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
RECORD OF SERVICE.
The Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was or- ganized at Norwich, Conn., September 5, 1862, with Arthur H. Dutton, Colonel ; Thomas F. Burpee, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Hiram B. Crosby, Major.
Served in the Second Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac, from October, 1862-Third Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Corps, Department of Virginia, from January, 1863-Third Brigade, Second Division, Seventh Corps, Department of Virginia, from April, 1863-Provost Guard, Getty's Division, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, from August, 1863-Heckman's Command, Dis- trict of Portsmouth, First Division, Eighteenth Corps, from December, 1863-Dutton's Command, Newport News, First Division, Eighteenth Corps, from January, 1864-Defenses of Newberne, District of North Carolina, Department of Vir- ginia and North Carolina, from February, 1864-Third Bri- gade, First Division, Eighteenth Corps, Army of the James, from May, 186.1-Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty- fourth Corps, Army of the James, from December, 1864.
SERVICE.
Duty near Washington, D. C., to September 9, 1862.
Joined the Ninth Army Corps, October 10.
Advance on Falmouth, Va., November 1-19.
Battle of Fredericksburg. December 12-15.
Supported the assault on the Heights of Fredericksburg, Decem- ber 13.
Selected to lead the forlorn hope, December 13.
Camped near Falmouth to February, 1863.
Mud march, January 20-23, 1863.
Defense of Suffolk, April ri-May 4.
Operations on Edenton Road, April 13-14.
Reconnoissance to Chuckatnck, May 3, and skirmishes at Reed's
Ferry Road, Everett's Bridge and West Branch.
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Incidents and Coincidents.
Pursuit of the enemy, May 4.
Duty at White House, July 1-7, during Dix's Expedition towards Richmond.
Provost duty at Portsmouth to September 29; at Norfolk to December 10, 1863, and at Newport News to February, 1864.
Expedition up the James River, January 24-25.
Moved to Morehead City, N. C., February 3-5.
Duty in the sub-district of Beaufort, defense of Newport Baracks to February 12.
Moved to Washington, N. C., and served in the sub-district of Pamlico until May 2 ; then moved to Fort Monroe.
Joined the Army of the James, May 10.
Operations against Petersburg and Richmond, May 10, 1864- April 2, 1865.
Engagements at Drewry's Bluff and Bermuda Hundred, May 12 -16, 1864.
Actions near Fort Darling, May 15.
Fog fight, May 16, Drewry's Bluff.
Ware Bottom Church, May 20.
Reconnaissance along the Bermuda Hundred front, May 25-26, 1864
Battles about Cold Harbor, June 1-12.
Assault at Cold Harbor, June 8.
Petersburg Works, June 15-17.
Mine explosion, July 30, and Battle of the Crater. (In support.)
Trenches before Petersburg to August 27.
Defenses of Bermuda Hundred to September 29.
Battles of Chapin's Farm, Fort Harrison and Newmarket Heights, September 29-30.
Held entrenchments on Chapin's Farm near Fort Burnham to March, 1865.
Reconnaissance in force to Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, October 27-28, 1864.
Reported to General U. S. Grant, March 4, 1865, for secret service.
Expedition to Fredericksburg, March 4-7. " Tobacco Raid."
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
Moved from Fortress Monroe to Kinsdale Landing and raided into Westmoreland County, March 10-12.
Under special orders from General Grant, moved from Point Lookout to White House Landing, March 13-14
Established and protected base of supplies for Sheridan's Cavalry, March 14-24.
Moved to Signal Hill, March 24-25.
Occupation of Richmond to April 3.
Provost duty at Richmond to April 28, and in Fluvanna and Goochland Counties to June 16.
Recruits transferred to the Tenth Connecticut Volunteers and the balance mustered out, June 16.
A SKIRMISH LINE.
FROM THE PENSION OFFICE RECORDS.
The Twenty-first Regiment, Connecticut Infantry Volun - teers, was mustered into the service of the United States, September 5, 1862, at Norwich, Conn., to serve three years. It left that place, September 11, 1862, and arrived at Camp Chase, near Washington, D. C., September 22, 1862. It proceeded then to Frederick, Md., and thence to Harper's Ferry, Va., arriving there about October 9, 1862. It served subsequently as follows : To December, 1862, in the Second Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps,-station,
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December 31, 1862, opposite Fredericksburg, Va., to Feb- ruary, 1863, in the Third Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps,-station February 28, 1863, Newport News, Va .; to May, 1863, in the Third Brigade, Third Division, Department of Virginia,-station, April 30, 1863, near Suf- folk, Va .; June, 1863, in the Second Division, Department of Virginia ; July, 1863, in the Third Brigade, Getty's Division, Department of Virginia ; August, 1863, in Getty's Division, Department of Virginia,-station, August 31, 1863, Ports- mouth, Va .; September, 1863, in Potter's Brigade, Depart- ment of Virginia and North Carolina; to November, 1863, in Barnes' Brigade, Department of Virginia and North Carolina,-station, October 31, 1863, Norfolk, Va .; De- cember, 1863, in Heckman's Brigade, Department of Virginia and North Carolina,-station, Newport News, Va. ; January, 1864, in the Eighteenth Army Corps,-station, Newport News, Va .; February, 1864, in Peck's Division, Eighteenth Army Corps,-station, Washington, North Carolina ; March, 1864, in the District of Pimlico, Eighteenth Army Corps ; April, 1864, in the District of North Carolina, Department of Virginia and North Carolina,-station, Fortress Monroe, Va .; to November, 1864, in the Third Brigade, First Di- vision, Eighteenth Army Corps,-station, June 30, 1864, and August 31st, and October 31, 1864, "In the field ;" to May, 1865, in the Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps,-station, December 31, 1864, and February, 28, 1865, Chapin's Farm, Va.,-station, April 30, 1865, near Columbia, Va.
This regiment during the period of its service, participated in the following named engagements : Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862 ; Suffolk, Va., May 3, 1863; Drewry's Bluff, Va., May 16, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1-12, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 16-September 20, 1864 ; Cha- pin's Farm, Va., September 29-30, 1864; Fair Oaks, Va., October 27, 1864 ; Richmond, Va., April 3, 1865.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
The regiment was mustered out of service at Richmond, Va., June 16, 1865.
Very Respectfully,
F. T. AINSWORTH, Colonel U. S. Army, Chief Record and Pension Office.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY, WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM,
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, The General Assembly, at its recent session,
Resolved, " That the heartfelt thanks and lasting gratitude of the people of this state are due, and are hereby tendered, to all Con- necticut officers and soldiers of every rank and grade, who in the War of the Rebellion have gallantly borne the flag and nobly sustained the honor of our state, and who, by long years of faith- ful service, and on many a hard-fought field, have aided in preserv- ing to us our institutions, and in demonstrating to the world that no government is so strong as that which rests in the will of a free and enlightened people, and that no armies are so invincible as citizen soldiers battling for their own liberties and the rights of man.
" That this state will ever gratefully cherish and honor the memories of those victims of war and rebel barbarities, who went forth from us for our defense, but who come not back to partici- pate in the blessings of that peace, which, through their efforts and sacrifices, a just God has vouchsafed to us.
"That His Excellency the Governor be requested, by suitable proclamation, to publish the foregoing resolutions."
Therefore, I, William A. Buckingham, Governor of the State of Connecticut, in order to effect the object designed by the General Assembly, hereby issue this proclamation, and call upon
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the citizens of this commonwealth, to manifest by expressions of gratitude, and by acts of kindness, both to the living and to the families of the honored dead, their high appreciation of the sacri- fices made by each of the fifty-three thousand three hundred and thirty men, who from this state have entered the service of the nation during our recent struggle with rebellion ; and to impress upon their children and children's children, the duty of holding such patriotic services in honor and perpetual remembrance, and thus prove the enduring gratitude of the Republic.
3 L. S.
Given under my hand and the seal of the State, at the City of Hartford, this, the seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM.
-
V
2
THANKSGIVING DINNER.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE END OF THE WAR.
The spring of 1865 brought with it large hopes of speedy success, and anticipations were cherished of those movements that would lead to the end of the war. General Sherman's army was at Goldsboro, N. C., about one hundred and fifty miles distant. It was possible in the union of these two great armies to overcome any obstacle. But would General Lee remain idle and permit this? Early in the month of March President Davis and General Lee had a consultation about the situation in and around Richmond, and they both agreed that both of these places could not be held much longer and that they must get away as soon as possible. It was only the muddy roads that prevented earlier movements. Meanwhile General Grant purposes to crush the Army of Northern Virginia before the arrival of Sherman's troops, that the Army of the Potomac may have the full credit of the victory.
General Lee strikes the first blow in a movement of the new year. To render his plans for escape the easier of execution, he determines to attack our line near the center, that, so our left flank being weakened by taking troops therefrom for support elsewhere, escape by his right flank may be easier. Accordingly, on March 25th, he makes an attack on Fort Steadman and surrounding works, breaking through our line at the place once held by our regiment, But his movement,
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at first successful, ends in a complete failure with a loss of four thousand men on his side to two thousand on ours. Meanwhile General Grant is as impatient to begin the campaign as General Lee is to get away, but he must await the arrival of General Sheridan, who has been sent on an expedition to the north of Richmond.
To establish a base of supplies for Sheridan's cavalry upon their return, our brigade is sent to White House Landing. Here we are joined by his troops on March 18th, and after waiting nearly a week for the recruiting of the horses, we start for our old position in front of Richmond by way of Harrison's Landing. Our first day's march is made in com- pany with one brigade of the cavalry to Chickahominy, where
CAPTAIN WALTER P. LONG.
LIEUTENANT COURTLAND G. STANTON.
we encamped for the night. Next day we are joined by the rest of the army, and passing by Charles City Court House, where we find the ruins of a few burned buildings, we reach Harrison's Landing about sundown.
Next morning we fell into line about six o'clock, and after waiting three hours for the cavalry to get under way, we cross the James on a pontoon bridge, and reaching our old place, go into camp nearly two miles from our former camp and one mile from Deep Bottom near Battery Number Nine.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
Here we relieved the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth New York Regiment, which, with other troops, hastened forward to join in a general movement toward the left, while our division, together with one division of colored troops, under command of General Weitzel, remains in front of Richmond. Here we stay and await the result of speedily developing movements that precede the surrender of General Lee's army at Appo- mattox Court House.
It was Sunday, April 2d, while President Davis was at church, he received word from General Lee that the line in front of Petersburg was broken, and that Richmond must be immediately evacuated. By two o'clock President Davis left, and was followed during the night by the entire army. By three o'clock on the morning of the third we were called out and from that time rested upon our arms. Soon was heard a terrific explosion, to be followed after a short interval by another -- the explosion of the rebel gunboats on the James. After a hasty breakfast we march out toward the picket line, but find no one there to challenge our advance. Then the breastworks are reached, and they, too, are deserted. We hasten on towards the capital of the Confederacy, some seven miles in our front. No one complained of a shoe hurting his foot, no one lags behind because of weariness, but elated with the cheering prospect, we make no halt till we reach the suburbs of Richmond. Another brigade had preceded us and already were in the city, having reached it by another road.
With feelings of great satisfaction we now pitch our camp in perfect safety on the very spot the Army of the Potomac had striven to reach for the past four years, and for which it had sacrificed a hundred thousand men. A laudable curi- osity now takes possession of all to see the city. But the visitor finds that the prey, won at so great a sacrifice, had suffered hard usage at the hands of the former defenders, for the city had been swept by a great fire that had destroyed nearly its entire business portion. Probably for the purpose
----
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of preventing certain stores from falling into our hands, the enemy on leaving had set them on fire. But the fire, escaping control, spread with great fury till it was checked by the opportune arrival of our troops, who joined with the citizens in extinguishing the flames.
The following extract, written by one of the members of the regiment to a near relative and by him published in the Willimantic Journal, April 13, 1865, may convey some idea of the condition of the city :
"To-day (April 4th) I have spent much of the time in Richmond visiting Libby Prison, the Capitol, President Davis' home, Spottswood Hotel, etc., etc., and will give you a brief account of my travels. Captain T -- went with me. The first thing we noticed was two or three hogs in the street, which I supposed to be a necessary appendage of a Southern city.
"The first point of interest reached was Libby Prison. This is a place of no very inviting accommodations, I assure you ; but now we saw it filled with Confederate prisoners. We made no attempt to go through it, as there was so large a crowd around the door, that it would have been very difficult. One poor fellow, no doubt, thinking his lot a hard one, asked ' how long he would have to stay before he got a hearing?' Captain T- replied, 'get a hearing! you ought to stay there three years.' * The destruction by the fire is immense. On Main Street the buildings were burned, and the bricks had fallen on the sidewalks, so that it was with difficulty that we could get through even the centre of the street. As I passed through the street, I thought that 'po- etic justice ' was here represented.
"I was wandering over the ruins of Richmond. Stopping at a store which had escaped the fire, I entered into conversation with a man, evidently a strong secesh. While talking, a lady came up with a basket on her arm, with the inquiry, 'Can you tell me, sir, where the commissary is?' 'No,' I re- plied, ' I have not been in the city long. Do you wish pro-
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vision ?' ' Yes,' she replied, 'we have nothing to eat ; there ain't anything in the city to get, and unless we get pro- visions, remember, we shall starve, and if we do, you will,' and she hurried off with a look sour enough to bite your head off, implying, if such a thing should happen, we, alone, would be the cause of it.
"Passing along some distance, over bricks, rubbish, etc., we arrived at the Capitol. This presented no very inviting
SHARPSHOOTERS.
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