USA > Connecticut > The story of the Twenty-first Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. 1861-1865 > Part 3
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The ground on which the regiment was first assembled lay in the suburbs of Norwich, known as the Fair Ground for New London County. Here the Eighteenth Regiment had
21
Organization.
Ixen organized and left for the seat of war on August 22d. In compliance with orders from headquarters, the several companies of the Twenty-first as they were recruited gathered at Norwich. Those arriving first were assigned to temporary quarters till the camp of the Eighteenth should be vacated.
Herewith are noted the order and approximately the date of the arrival of each of the companies; also, the commis- stoned officers of each of the companies, though their election in some cases did not take place till after their arrival at the camp.
August 14th, Company "C," the "Groton Company," arrived, one hundred and one strong, Captain John E. Wood com- manding, who left his work as clergyman to recruit and lead his company. James H. Latham was First Lieutenant and John F. Randall was Second Lieutenant, both of Groton. In the absence of any other place, they were quartered at first in Apollo Hall.
August 15th, the " Mansfield Company "-" D "-arrived ninety-four strong, Captain Charles G. Southworth command- ing, who left his farm for the sterner realities of a military life. Francis S. Long of Windham was First Lieutenant and Alvin M. Crane of Mansfield was Second Lieutenant. This com- pany, with those who arrived previous to August 23d, were assigned to hastily constructed barracks located not far from the Fair Ground.
August 17th, the " Montville Company "-" F"-ninety- two strong, arrived, Captain William Spittle of New London Commanding. He had previously seen service with the three months' men. Henry T. Phillips of Montville was First Lieutenant. Frank Fowler of New London was Second Lieutenant.
August 18th, the " Plainfield Company "-" K "-one hun- dred strong, arrived, Captain Jeremiah M. Shepard of the wthe place commanding. William Clapp of Pomfret was First Lieutenant, and Harry S. Wilson of Plainfield was
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
Second Lieutenant. Both Captain Shepard and Lieutenant Clapp had already seen service in the war.
August 21st, the "Chatham and Colchester Company " -- " H" -- ninety-nine strong, reached the city, with Captain Ralph C. Foote, Jr., commanding, Delos D. Brown of Chat- ham First Lieutenant, Denison L. Brown of Colchester Second Lieutenant.
August 24th, " North Stonington Company "-" G "- ninety-three strong, arrived, with Captain James F. Brown, a recent graduate from Yale, class of '62, commanding. Isaac D. Kenyon of Voluntown was First Lieutenant, and E. Perry Packer of North Stonington Second Lieutenant.
August 25th, "Stonington Company "-"E"-eighty-eight strong, arrived, with Charles T. Scranton, graduate of Yale, class of '61, stroke oar of University boat crew, commanding. Henry R. Jennings First Lieutenant, Franklin H. Davis Second Lieutenant, both of Stonington.
August 26th, " East Hartford Company "-" A" one hun- dred strong, arrived, and marched into camp, attended by Colt's Armory band. Captain Joseph Jordan, Jr., a paper manufacturer, was commander, with Nathan A. Belden First Lieutenant, Philo F. Talcott Second Lieutenant, both of Hart- ford.
August 28th, "Hartford Company " -- " B"-eighty-seven strong, arrived, with Captain Charles T. Martin commander, whose gray hairs showed an age well nigh approaching three score years, but whose erect and manly bearing bespoke much of the vigor of youth still remaining. Josiah Martin, a brother of the Captain, was First Lieutenant, and Daniel G. Knox Second Lieutenant, both from Hartford. By the 21st of the following October all of these had resigned.
Company " I," the " Middletown Company," brought ninety- seven men. The date of its arrival is unknown. It was officered by David Dickinson, Captain, Charles M. Mather, First Lieutenant, both of Middletown, and James Stanley of Norwich Second Lieutenant.
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Organization.
From the foregoing it appears that all but three of the captains and most of the lieutenants won their positions by virtue of the number of recruits secured. Two captains and three or more lieutenants received their appointments because of previous service in the field. The total number of men in the regiment was nine hundred and sixty-six. Seventy recruits were afterwards added, forty-five of whom were transferred to the Tenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry when the Twenty-first was mustered out of service. As compared with other regiments, we find that the Nineteenth had eight hundred and ninety-one men, the Twentieth nine hundred and eighty-one men, the Eighteenth nine hundred and ninety-eight ; all the others had one thousand or more.
Before being accepted as soldiers of the United States, cach of the enlisted men had to be examined as to his physical condition .: One by one, in a closed room with the examining surgeon, each was tested for defects of vision and physique. It has been stated that the desire to fill the quota of the state, led to the acceptance of some who, under other conditions, would have been rejected. Perhaps there is some truth in this statement. It is very evident that the conditions for entering the regular army at the present time are far more exacting. Yet, in the estimation of the Colonel, there was much to admire. He remarked to a friend, " The regiment, though green, contains as fine a body of men as I have ever seen in similar conditions. I am proud of them."
A military camp during the organization of a regiment is a busy place. In addition to the activities within by which the men are equipped and fitted for service, there is the constant coming and going of friends who claim the right to appear and say goodby to loved ones ; for, be it known, that the soldier's life does not obliterate sentiment, neither does the soldier's oath sever his affections for the home. The work in the camp of every new regiment is two-fold-that of the Quarter-Master in supplying the wants of the men, and that performed on the parade-ground, where in patient drill the
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
citizen is transformed into the soldier. Let us consider for a moment the work of the Quarter-Master's department. Here we find a three-fold division of labor as .scen in the furnish- ing of provisions, clothing and equipments. Provisions are furnished according to army regulations as follows: To each man per day twel e ounces of pork or twenty ounces of beef, eighteen ounces. of flour, or its equivalent in bread, one and six-tenths ounces of coffee, or in its place twenty-four hundredths of an ounce of tea, two and four-tenths ounces of sugar, together with soap, salt, vinegar and candles. At times part of these articles may be replaced with rice, beans, or with mixed vegetables. As far as possible this order is varied, as shown by the following order issued on the field November 4, 1864 :
First Division, Eighteenth Army Corps. " In every period of six days, salt pork once, salt beef once, fresh beef twice, mackerel once, codfish once, hard bread three times, soft bread three times, coffee five times, tea once, onions four times, beets once, turnips once, while beans, sugar, vinegar, candles, pepper, soap, potatoes and sour krout will be issued daily." No soldier need complain that he was ill fed, providing there was no hitch in the Quarter- Master's department. It is assumed, however, that the soldier has good health and sound digestion.
When in camp the rations are drawn daily by the First Sergeant for each company, the Captain's approval being requisite. In case the regiment is on the march or about to leave camp, two or three days' rations may be issued for each soldier. When in camp, the rations are first cooked, then issued to the men. In addition to provisions, clothing, tents and equipments are furnished by the Quarter-Master. The clothing is issued to each soldier by a commissioned officer of the company, as may be necessary, to the amount in value of three dollars and fifty cents per month. If an excess be drawn by the end of the quarter, it is deducted or " stopped "
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Organisation.
from his pay ; if less than the regular amount is drawn, the difference is credited to the soldier.
Equipments consisted of a knapsack provided with straps to fit over the shoulder so that it could be carried when on the march, but laid away as a trunk when in camp. It was the only receptacle for clothing, stationery, or any other arti- cles a soldier possessed. The haversack, filled with one or more days' rations when on the march, and the canteen, with a supply of water, were each suspended from opposite shoulders. The Ordnance Department furnished the arms and equipments for actual warfare. Chief of these was the Springfield rifle, muzzle loading, weighing between nine and ten pounds. A broad leather belt over the shoulder sup- ported the cartridge-box, in which was generally stowed away forty rounds of ammunition, while a belt around the waist supported the cap-pouch and bayonet-sheath. The weight which a fully equipped soldier was expected to carry when in full marching order, was sufficient to exhaust the strongest. On long marches, unnecessary articles were pretty sure to be thrown away, unless the Colonel's foresight ordered them left behind.
As soon as the newly-fledged soldier is in camp and has received his uniform and equipments, he begins to realize more fully the realities of army life. The enthusiasm awak- ened by public meetings and the enlistment fever created and nourished by patriotic neighbors who stay at home, begins to disappear and finally passes away ; while the frequent call of the drum to the various duties, the command of superior officers and the rigid regulations of the camp, combine to in- press upon him the serious change that has come into his hitherto peaceful existence. His surroundings in all respects are new and unfamiliar-new associates, new quarters, new wardrobe, new method of taking his meals, new duties to perform. If, on the other hand, when he gets out of camp, he feels a certain self-esteem and superiority because of his new uniform, yet, when he returns, he finds that he is no better
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
than the rest. Soon it dawns upon him that he is no longer his own master. The oath to support the Constitution of the United States is as yet a theoretical pledge in which he glories, but the obligation to obey the officers appointed over him he finds a practical thing and sometimes very difficult.
Here perchance is his former neighbor, so friendly with him when he sought hin for a recruit, so noble in his eyes when he voted for him as his officer ; but now, alas, he discovers that a gulf is opening between them ! Not intentional, perhaps, but none the less real.
Then there are the stern requirements of military discipline, and the endless details of camp life. He sees the mistakes of his superiors, perhaps, the needless dignity assumed by some. What is the use of teaching the best squirrel shot in the county how to " load in nine times ?" He does sometimes " kick " internally, and mutterings not loud but deep may be occasionally heard. But all these vanish in the consciousness of present duty.
To the enduring honor of the enlisted man be it said that he bore his part noble and well. He soon learned to adjust himself to his new conditions, to distinguish between the worth of the man and the dignity of the office conferred upon him. There is no daily paper printed in the camp. Yet. somehow the news circulates among the men with marvelous rapidity. The Company fire kept burning by the cook takes the place of the country store as a place of gossip. If the spirits of the men are not ruffled by the spirits of alcohol, there is generally a remarkable degree of good cheer. There is hardly a company in which there are not one or more characters with a marvelous degree of originality and good humor that is used to encourage the desponding and to keep alive the hopes, the spirits and the confidence of the men.
Meanwhile, those who have received the honors of a com- mission begin to feel the responsibility of their position. To sign orders on the Quarter-Master's department for supplies for the Company is very easy. To keep the Company-books
27
Organization.
straight and to account for every one of the thousand articles received and issucd, is more difficult. But to take the Com- pany of one hundred men and so discipline them that each shall observe his position so that the whole body may move as one perfect machine, keeping step in the march -- observing a perfect line in company front-march without crowding- break up into platoons and re-form with no confusion-to accomplish all this is no little task.
Now, that the Captain has brought his company into camp, he begins to realize that he is no longer supreme. He, too, finds the eye of the Colonel upon him-and what is more, upon the hundred men that he has brought with him, for each of whom he is in a certain sense responsible. Then he has a certain reputation to make in the regiment, for all the honors he brought with him into his new office are of little or no value now. He must win his spurs if he would wear them. He may protest that he means well, is kind-hearted and patriotic and self-sacrificing, and universally respected by all who know him-these virtues count for little if he lacks the genius of command.
O, Captain. What can you do with these men to make out of them a good company ? Verily, " the first shall be last and the last first." It happens, sometimes, that some who receive their commissions with hearts throbbing and large expectations, soon give them up in humiliation ; while those before unnoticed develop that adaptness to military life that gives them lasting honor. Who shall these honored ones be? It is not known till the test is made.
Let us a follow a captain through the routine of one day's work. He is up in the morning and in the Company's street at roll call. While waiting for breakfast, he gathers up the undistributed clothing and strives to adjust his accounts. Then come two soldiers for passes to go home. Breakfast is served with a mess-chest for a table and a box for a chair. Now comes the orderly from regimental headquarters with special order No. 19, calling the attention of captains to the
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
lack of discipline in camp.' The Colonel complains of neglect of military courtesy in saluting superior officers. At guard- mounting time the orderly-sergeant reports one man detailed for duty missing. Someone saw him leave camp for the city. Here is a case where an example must be made of the guilty one to prevent like repetition.
Then comes the call for company drill. The Captain lays down his pen, puts on his sword and leads his men out on the parade ground. His eyes must be on the whole company at once ; unless he keeps one of them upon his lieutenant. Then come the marching and counter-marching ; wheeling to the right or moving by the left flank. For a change, the company comes to a halt and he exercises the men in the manual of arms. When his men fail to do just as he wants them to, he is annoyed to find the Colonel standing by, an interested spectator of his work. At last the welcome recall sounds, and he marches his men to company-quarters, to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. He retires to his tent, and finds some callers from his old home neighborhood. Meanwhile there comes the morning report for correction. He thinks the red-tape needlessly exacting. Here comes one of his men who protests that he is not able to drill in the afternoon, yet, has no surgeon's excuse. Now comes a would-be social caller from his own men, one who was for- merly an old neighbor. If the Captain discourages such familiar calls at his tent as contrary to military discipline, he exposes himself to the reputation of one who puts on airs.
Dinner is served. Three men call and request a pass for the afternoon. Meantime the hour for battalion-drill ap- proaches, and the Captain wants to refresh his memory con- cerning certain tactical evolutions as laid down by General Casey, before finding himself in a quandary or worse under the Colonel's eye. But he leads his company out, and takes his place in line with some trepidation. The Colonel breaks the battalion into columns and he has little time to think. If he hesitates, because he has forgotten how the unfamiliar
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Organisation.
movement is executed, or if he attempts it and makes a mis- take, he hears the voice of the Colonel, "You are wrong, Captain -. " At length the hour and a half ends, and he is in his tent once more. A brother officer calls to spend a few moments in a social way. Soon a group of men gathers in the Company street, and the sergeant hastens to inform him that Private - has returned from the city with too much liquor aboard and is disorderly. Scarcely has he re- stored order when the call comes for dress-parade, and he again leads his company into line and quite enjoys the simple maneuvers with which he has become familiar and which he performs with no fear of a blunder. Thus the day passes with a succession of anxieties and cares. He reflects that if he has made mistakes, so have others. As he rolls into his blankets upon a hard couch, he consoles himself with the reflection that he has learned something and will be able to do better to-morrow.
But while the private has his duties and the company officers their responsibilities, the Colonel is by no means free from either. If he has the advantage of having no superior in camp, whose criticism he fears, he knows that presently his regiment may come in contact with the stern realities of war, and then its failures or successes will be charged to his credit or discredit. The Colonel of the Twenty-first was not slow to make his presence felt. His very bearing was that of a well-trained soldier. Tall and erect, with black hair and mustache, a piercing eye that detected shams and inspired confidence, with few words, well chosen in conversation, he speedily secured the respect of all. He inspired in both officers and privates a desire to make the Twenty-first a noble regiment among the best in the service. This confi- dence, in fact, was shown before leaving the state, by the gift from the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of a sword with sash and belt, valued at three hundred dollars.
The story is told of a certain colonel in the volunteer service who, as the head of his column approached a wet
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
place in the road, shouted, " Haw round that mud-puddle." The following comes from the best of authority: An inex- perienced colonel of volunteers determines to have his first dress-parade followed by battalion-drill ; consequently when the parade was over, he drew from his pocket a copy of " Casey." Opening the book at random and holding it in his left hand, while drawing the sword with his right, he shouted, " Battalion, right or left face (as the case may be). Forward, right or left ob-lo-quy (as the case may be). March !" Fol- lowed by tableau of anxious suspense in the regiment. Thanks to West Point, no such blunders were possible in the Twenty-first. Neither officer nor private ever suffered from the humiliation of mistakes on the part of their Colonel. Rather, his whole bearing daily awakened increasing respect and confidence.
The following, taken from The Norwich Bulletin of August 22d, may give some light as to the progress of the regiment : "Colonel Dutton of the Twenty-first has taken hold of his duty in earnest. Dress parades are held every evening. The order and decorum prevailing in camp are subject to general remark." " September Ist regular guard mounting was observed and an officer of the day appointed. No pedlers, except the sellers of papers, are allowed on the grounds." "September 4th-The Twenty-first Regiment, Camp Norton, is progressing rapidly. Colonel Dutton seems determined that no effort on his part shall be wanting to make it equal to any in the state. Yesterday a regimental drill and dress- parade was observed that were creditable."
On September 5th the regiment was mustered into the United States service by Captain Watson Webb, U. S. A. The process was simple. Each Company appeared, and the roll was called to show that all were present. Then the men held up their right hands and swore to support the Constitu- tion and laws of the United States, and to obey the officers appointed over them. By this simple act the regiment was turned over to the United States Government to go whither
31.3%
-
LIEUT-COLONEL JAMES F. BROWN.
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Organisation.
it may direct. On the same day each enlisted man received the United States boun y and one month's pay. On the following day the state bounty was received.
Meanwhile, as the time drew near for the departure of the regiment there seemed to be an increasing number of visitors. Parents, wives, sisters, sweethearts, come to say goodby to loved ones, and then return to their homes, and courageously resume the monotonous duties of life with hearts filled with constant anxiety for absent ones. But the soldier boy, with the impress of the goodby kiss on his lips, hastened to his tent, perhaps, to prepare for dress-parade. From this he re- turned to his company quarters where he discussed, per- chance, with his comrades the order just issued to be ready to leave the state for the seat of war the day after to-morrow. His mind was occupied with thoughts and anticipations of the future. The new conditions of the to-morrow dispelled the gloomy forebodings of to-day. Thus he escaped the painful anxiety of those who remained at home, while his whole being was full of interest in the work before him.
On the 10th of September, the day preceding the departure, there was an unusual crowd on the ground. To quote from the daily press. "A general admiration was expressed at the appearance and marching of the men. They appeared with their new arms for the first time. The occasion was the presentation of state and regimental flags from the ladies of Norwich and Stonington. The Norwich band was present. The presentation speech was made by Mayor Greene of Nor- wich. In reply, Colonel Dutton said : " I desire to thank the ladies of Eastern Connecticut for this magnificent present. At some future day-many months hence, perhaps-we hope to bring these colors back to you, time-worn, dust-covered, bullet-torn they may be, but polluted by the touch of a rebel,
Some of us will never forget the first impressions of the " large contract" we had undertaken. When we first received our rifles and saw the bright sun reflected from a thousand
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
glistening bayonets, as we marclied out to take our places in the battalion, it certainly looked like business; and the probable sensation of seeing a thousand such bayonets " on the other side," and in hostile hands, came nearer to us than ever before.
The Regiment left the state with the following roster of officers :
FIELD AND STAFF.
ARTHUR H. DUTTON, Colonel.
THOMAS F. BURPEE, Lieutenant-Colonel.
HIRAM B. CROSBY, Major.
CLARENCE E DUTTON, Adjutant.
HIRAM W. RICHMOND, Quarter-Master.
WILLIAM SOULE, Surgeon.
LEWIS E. DIXON, First Assistant Surgeon.
J. HAMILTON LEE, Second Assistant Surgeon.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
CRISTOPHER A. BRAND, Sergeant-Major.
EDWARD GALLUP, Quarter-Master Sergeant.
JOSEPH D. PLUNKETT, Commissary-Sergeant. JAMES E BARBOUR, Hospital Steward.
LINE OFFICERS.
COMPANY A.
JOSEPH JORDAN, JR., Captain.
NATHAN A. BELDEN, First Lieutenant.
PHILO F. TALCOTT, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY B.
CHARLES T. MARTIN, Captain. JOSIAH H. MARTIN, First Lieutenant. DANIEL G. KNox, Second Lieutenant.
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1758048
Organisation.
COMPANY C.
JOHN E. WOOD, Captain. JAMES H. LATHAM, First Lieutenant
JOHN F. RANDALL, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY D.
CHARLES D. SOUTHWORTH, Captain. FRANCIS S. LONG, First Lieutenant. ALVIN M. CRANE, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY E.
CHARLES T. STANTON, JR., Captain. HENRY R. JENNINGS, First Lieutenant. FRANKLIN H. DAVIS, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY F.
WILLIAM SPITTLE, Captain. HENRY T. PHILLIPS, First Lieutenant.
FRANK FOWLER, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY G.
JAMES F. BROWN, Captain. ISAAC D. KENYON, First Lieutenant. E. PERRY PACKER, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY H.
RALPH C. FOOTE, JR., Captain. DELOS D. BROWN, First Lieutenant. DENNISON L. BROWN, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY I. 1
DAVID DICKERSON, Captain. CHARLES M. MATHER, First Licutenant. JAMES STANLEY, Second Lieutenant.
COMPANY K.
JEREMIAH M. SHEPARD, JR., Captain. WILLIAM CLAPP, First Lieutenant. HARRY S. WILSON, Second Lieutenant.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
CHAPTER IV.
OFF TO THE FRONT.
(September 11, 1862.)
There was much of patriotic inspiration in the confiding spirit with which the Twenty-first left camp on September IIth and proceeded on its appointed mission. Could the men have realized that the " some future day, many months hence, perhaps," the anticipated time for the return as ex- pressed by the Colonel, was to be lengthened to nearly three years ; that they were to lose in battle more than an average of the volunteer regiments; could they have seen the picture they were to present upon their return when each company was reduced to about one-third its original size ; and could they have considered that of the thirty-eight commissioned officers only six would return with the regiment, there might have been less of exuberance on the part of the men. But it is well, perhaps, that such forecasts are hidden from the newly enlisted soldier.
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