USA > Connecticut > The story of the Twenty-first Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. 1861-1865 > Part 4
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The waiting cars, as though impatient to hurry the men to the front, with its engine hissing because of the pent up steam, was but an illustration of the spirit of the regiment eager to embark. During the whole afternoon the streets through which the line was to pass, were thronged with citi- zens of Norwich and neighboring towns who had gathered to witness their departure. Here and there in the crowd of waiting spectators was one who had a bouquet or some other
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Off to the Front.
gift as a parting bequest to some particular friend. At the Jepot the crowd was immense, but it was kept back by a guard detailed for the purpose from the regiment. The soldiers gave cheer after cheer as the train moved out of the station, and these were answered by cheers no less hearty from the surrounding crowd. At Allen's Point, some seven miles below the city, the steamer " City of New York " was in waiting, which received and transported the regiment to Jersey City, arriving by daylight next morning. By ten o'clock we left, and reached Philadelphia at three o'clock in the afternoon. Here the Soldiers' Relief Association pro- vided a good dinner which received, many commendations. With pleasant memories of the City of Brotherly Love, we left about nine o'clock in the evening for Baltimore, arriving next morning. In the evening we reached Washington and spent the first night in barracks.
Now the opportunity would seem to have arrived for many patriot to see the Capital of the Nation ; but the powers that be were more interested to employ the soldiers in pre- serving the Capital than in showing them its sights ; hence the opportunity for passes was very limited. Entertained for the night in barracks with sour bread and poorly cooked meat for food, we left next day, September 14th, and went into camp at East Capital Hill. Here we spent the night without the protection of barracks or tents. For the first time we spread our blankets and slept with no shelter over us, save the over-arching sky, which covered alike both our camp and that of the enemy. Yet, strange to say, we all rested well and were not a little surprised to find how comfortably we could sleep in the open air. Experience, I think, will show that the fairly prudent soldier camping out, with all his exposures, is no more subject to colds than the citizen at home ; while throat troubles, caused by close rooms or im- pure air, are seldom experienced.
The contrast between the size and appearance of a full regi- ment just out, and one that had seen hard service for a year
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
or more, appears in the following incident : While on dress parade at this place, one of our number excused from duty was viewing the imposing line of nearly a thousand men, when he was accosted by an old veteran with bronzed coun- tenance and a soiled and worn uniform. "What is that," he asked, pointing to the regiment. " That, sir, is the Twenty-
first Connecticut Volunteers." " Indeed," was the reply. " It is bigger than any brigade I have seen for the last six months." To the proud member of the Twenty-first this remark seemed strange. But when, in less than two years, he saw his own regiment reduced to one hundred and twenty- five men present and fit for duty, he understood its meaning.
Here occurred the first break in the line officers. Captain Wood of Company " C" received his appointment as Chap- lain, while Lieutenants Latham and Randall were advanced one grade, and George P. Edwards, First Sergeant of Com- pany " A," was promoted to be Second Lieutenant.
We were scarcely settled in our first bivouac when we re- ceived orders to march, and on the ISth crossed the Potomac for Camp Chase, Arlington Heights, some two miles from Long Bridge, and in close proximity to Fort Albany. This was one of the forts that formed the defenses of Washington on the side looking towards Richmond. Here, in a camp recently vacated by a Vermont regiment, we found an abiding place for two weeks, and were assigned to the brigade com- manded by Brigadier-General Briggs, in General Casey's divi- sion of the reserved corps for the defense of Washington.
Since we were destined to change ground more than two score times during the following eight months, a description of a regimental camp, according to army regulations, may not be out of place. Little variety from the one set plan is allowed. If any elasticity is tolerated, it is because of thic inequality of the ground that compels a change. The follow- ing directions for a camp are found in the United States Army Regulations :
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Off to the Front.
" Each company has its tents arranged in two files or rows, each file facing the company street, which should be five or more paces wide. The intervals between the tents, two paces. Between the files of tent's of adjacent companies, two paces. The color line is at right angles to the company streets and ten paces in front of the tents. In front of this is the parade. ground, the 'workshop' of the regiment, where much of their time is spent in drill, guard-mounting or dress-parade. On the opposite side from the parade ground, at the distance of twenty paces from the last company tent, and in a line running at right angles, are the cook tents or kitchens where food is provided for the men. Twenty paces in rear of this line are the tents of the line officers, and twenty paces still farther in the rear are the tents of the field and staff officers, while the baggage train is parked some distance in the rear of all." The beauty of a camp depends not a little upon the careful housekeeping which removes all filth, keeps the streets and grounds well swept and the company quarters neat and tidy. With this duty the officer-of-the-day is charged.
Here is the description of an officer's couch .- Four forked sticks are driven into the ground, across which, at the height of an ordinary bed, two parallel poles are laid. Across these are placed the staves of a demolished barrel, then a bag filled with dry grass from a neighboring swamp, is placed thereon, which, with added blankets, constitutes a very good bed for a soldier. In active service, such a luxury as this is seldom enjoyed, but in camp life, the inventive genius of the soldier is employed to make as good provision as possible for his welfare ; the better the provisions for comfort, the less liability to sickness.
Guard-mounting occurs every morning, varying little from nine o'clock. Each company contributes its quota towards making up the guard for the camp. At the call for guard- mounting, by bugle or drum, each of these details is con- ducted from their respective company streets, under direction of first sergeants, to the parade ground, and are there turned
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
over to the adjutant. Under his direction the ceremony of guard-mounting proceeds, in which each member of the new guard is inspected by the officer-of-the-guard, and the whole turned over to the officer-of-the-day, under whose direction it remains until relieved. The guard thus organized is divided into three reliefs ; each relief is in charge of a corporal, and is on duty two hours and off, four. In no case, however, is any man allowed to leave the guard-quarters, except by per- mission.
The officer-of-the-guard, usually a lieutenant, is assisted by a sergeant. Thus the camp is always guarded by sleepless vigilants. The patient soldiers pace their beats with ceaseless tread, in summer and winter, through storm and sunshine, daylight and darkness, with his faculties alert that he may see if any danger approaches ; while, when " off post," any case of disorder may be committed to his care. It is needless to say that calls from within, for his services, are more frequent than from without. Thus is the good order and safety of the camp preserved, from the hour of its formation to that of its abandonment.
The surgeon's call is sounded soon after breakfast, when . cach soldier suffering from ill health is expected to report to one of the surgeons. If the sickness appears to be sufficiently serious, he is excused from duty. If medicine is needed, he is furnished with a prescription with which he seeks the hospital steward, the pharmacist of the regiment, where it is filled. If special treatment is necessary, he is sent to the regimental hospital, or if the case is more serious, to the general hospital. If the case is chronic, and there are no hopes of recovery, he may be discharged because of disabil- ity. During the history of the regiment, one hundred and eight men died of disease, and one hundred and fifty were discharged because of disability.
Good discipline can be secured only by constant drill. Idleness leads to demoralization. When General Grant took command of the troops which afterwards invested Vicksburg,
41 47
MAJOR CHARLES T. STANTON, JR.
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Off to the Front.
he found some of them employed in digging a canal for the turning of the channel of the river. In this movement the great soldier had but little confidence; however, he allowed the work to proceed. He says, "I let the work go on, be- lieving that employment was better than idleness for the men." But in the estimation of the average volunteer, that labor seems useless, which brings no immediate return. And yet, effective drill is to the soldier, what the gymnasium is to the athlete. It is an indispensable condition for efficiency in service. When in active campaign, or when heavy drafts are made on the men for picket or guard duty, the drill is omitted, but otherwise, never. Trained at West Point, our Colonel brought to Camp Chase, as to all other camps, some- thing of the discipline in which he had been educated. Every day sounded the call for drill. Every day had its allotted tusk. He strove to secure efficiency in every department. Moreover, he now had time to " size up" each of the commissioned officers and to judge of their ability for their respective positions.
Before leaving camp, it was understood that certain of the commissioned officers had received a summons to appear be- fore an examining board at General Casey's headquarters, to show their proficiency in military affairs. This summons was supposed to be a hint that their resignations would be accepted. The early removal from the camp, alone prevented the examination. What would have been the result of a volunteer officer "just out," in the hands of an examining board of regular army officers, is not difficult to determine. Severe as this might seem to some, no one can doubt that it was best for the regiment. Though the examination never came off, yet within one month, seven of the line offiers had resigned, and before Christmas, just one third had left for home. How many of these resignations were prompted by a summons to appear before the board, or, how many received from the Colonel the indorsement, "approved for the good of the service," is not known. Very certain it is that many
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
officers hastened their departure because of the threatened examination. Yet it must be added that one, and possibly more, who were summoned, remained with the regiment and earned a place among its most efficient officers.
The routine of camp life is varied on Sunday, when inspec- tion takes the place of drill. In full uniform the regiment is called out and the line is formed, when every article belong- ing to the soldier, including clothing and equipments, is ex- posed to the view of the colonel, who learns by this process, not only what each enlisted man has, but in what condition he keeps his possessions. Is his gun well polished and free from rust ? Does he wash his underclothing regularly ? Does he observe cleanly habits ? Company quarters, too, are
inspected ; no part of the camp escapes. The following gives a program of the first Sunday spent in Camp Chase, as found in a letter written by one of the men: "In the morning I was awakened from sleep by the drum, at half-past five. Then we had to prepare for inspection at eight o'clock, this lasted two hours. At eleven we had preaching services conducted by the chaplain. At, three o'clock some of the more devout gathered in a Bible class. At half-past five was .dress parade, and so ended the day."
1/3.
"LINE-UP FOR COFFEE!"
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Waiting.
CHAPTER V.
WAITING.
(1862.)
On September 20th occurred the first grand review of General Casey's division, being the first in which our regi- ment ever bore a part. The distance marched was consider- able, the delay incident to such occasions unusually long, and the weather uncomfortably hot. Though this review gave to us some sense of our importance, as we saw for the first time that we were a part of a great army, yet the general comment of the boys, as they returned to camp and removed their equipments, was to the effect " a good deal of work for very small returns." For this occasion the soldiers received their dress coats. Only one thing now remained for a com- plete equipment, namely, shelter tents. As we here occu- pied "A" tents, we did not feel the need of them im- mediately, but after breaking camp we found ourselves with no tents at all.
After twelve busy days we left our first camp, and in answer to McClellan's call for re-enforcements, joined the Army of the Potomac. The officers now came down to small valises for their baggage, while the rank and file left their knapsacks to be transported later. The railroad was severely taxed to respond to all the calls for moving troops, hence there were frequent delays. Orders to march reached our camp late at night, September 28th.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
Says the officer of the guard in writing home : "Last night about twelve o'clock orders came to our regiment as well as to others adjoining to be ready to leave early next morning. The scene was full of interest. The previous stillness of the night gave way to the noise of busy activity. Lights were seen going from tent to tent, and the command heard, 'Turi out and be ready to march in the morning.' Then the sound of axes was heard cutting wood for the company cook, and the bustle continues increasing until daylight."
The regiment was formed for marching in the early morn- ing and expected to move at once, but orders came to return to camp and wait until next day. Next morning we reached the city and spent the greater part of the day in Pennsylvania Avenue. At night we encamped on the lawn east of the Capitol building. Never afterwards did we find grounds prepared with such elaborate care or occupy a ground with such costly surroundings. Some of the men took advantage of the opportunity during the evening to visit the Capitol, where they found nearly a thousand of wounded, from the battle of Antietam, fought a few days before. The halls and corridors had been given up to the surgeons for a temporary hospital.
By four o'clock next morning. October Ist, we left camp and soon boarded cars en route for Frederic City, Md. By eight o'clock that night we reached our destination and encamped in the dark as best we could in the suburbs of the town. On the second day following, October 3d, we left for Sandy Hook, near Harper's Ferry. On the way we found a valley scarcely wide enough for a public highway. Here was a narrow road, bounded on one side by the Potomac River, and on the other by a steep hillside, differing in its ascent but little from the roof of a house. At seven o'clock at night the only alternative for us was either to march some miles farther in search of level ground or en- camp on the steep hillside. The Colonel chose the latter, and our camp for this night was unparalleled for its uneven-
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Waiting.
ness. The following is copied from the diary of one of the men : " I placed some large stones, by my side to keep me from rolling down hill. I awoke towards morning to find myself some distance from where I went to sleep, by the side of another soldier, who had likewise rolled out of his own nest. I got up feeling cold, rubbed my eyes, and wondered where I was. I then. went to the bed I had prepared the night before, and found my blankets all safe. Upon looking around, I found that others were in the same fix as myself."
Next day, in continuing our march, we passed through Harper's Ferry, on our way towards Pleasant Valley. Dur- ing the day, we met for the first time a squad of a dozen or more rebel prisoners. In contrast with our newly uniformed men, they appeared as though coming from a desolate country. In the evening, we reached a level field from which a crop of oats had been harvested, and went into camp.
Next day was Sunday and we remained in camp. Colonel Dutton called on General Burnside, in command of the Ninth Corps. The Chaplain preached as usual, and after sunset, accompanied by the Lieutenant-Colonel and a few others, repaired to the Potomac, flowing between our army and the enemy, and there baptised one of the regiment. Next day we reached Pleasant Valley and went into the camp which we were destined to occupy for a period of three weeks. We were assigned to Brigadier-General Harland's command of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps. Asso- ciated with us in the brigade, were the Eighth, the Eleventh, and the Sixteenth Connecticut Volunteers, and the Fourth Rhode Island. Here, as in many other places, the plan of the camp must yield to the inequalities of the ground, that sloped somewhat to the south. The line of headquarter tents, instead of being parallel, was at right angles to the company officers, while in the space formed by the angle, were the tents of the enlisted men. A somewhat dilapitated stone wall separated the parade-ground from the camp of the regiment. However, we made the best of our quarters, and
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
the time was improved by daily drills, which soon showed their effect upon the appearance of the regiment.
During our stay at this place, the roads were good and the weather favorable for military movements. The commander of the Army of the Potomac, now considerably strengthened by re-enforcements, received repeated admonitions from President Lincoln, to move on in pursuit of the enemy. But General McClellan claimed that his troops needed more clothing and equipments, and was never ready to go. "But," said the President, " The enemy need shoes and clothing, and yet they march. Why cannot our men ?"
Our stay here was a time of great pressure upon McClellan, to improve the favorable season for an active campaign. Much valuable time, doubtless, was wasted in delay. If a Grant had been in command, probably our stay here would have been shortened many days. And yet our regiment was one of those which gave rise to the complaint of a destitution of clothing and equipments. We had no tents for the men, and the rubber blankets were turned from their designed purpose of protecting the body from the dampness of the ground, to be used as tents for protection from the chilly dews of night, and later from the driving rain. Says one of the men: "I have been awakened from sleep at night, many a time, to find myself soaking wet by the pour- ing rain." And yet we gained nothing by remaining here. It would have been as well for us to have been on the march, as to have remained in camp, so far as being destitute of tents was concerned. But few events of interest are on record respecting the regiment while here A few improved the opportunity to visit the battleground of Antietam, scarcely a month old, and some ten miles distant.
August 18th, the occupants of the headquarters of our regiment received a visit from General Burnside, who was accompanied by the wife of General Mcclellan and others. While we were waiting here, there appeared a man dressed in citizen's clothes, who sought and obtained from the Colonel
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Waiting.
permission to sell patriotic songs among the boys. Possessed of a good voice, he sang not a little to the great interest and pleasure of the camp. He only regretted, as he claimed, that he could not carry a musket in defense of the Union. But afterwards it appeared that this same person was arrested at Frederick City on the charge of being a spy.
Apparently small events sometimes change the history of individuals, and communities. We know not by what means our regiment was selected to re-enforce the Army of the Potomac, yet I am sure we shall always be proud of the day that in any way cast in our lot with this world-renowned army; for to it was given the most important mission of the war, as, it was required to guard the Capital of our Nation, on the one hand, while it attempted to capture the Capital of the Confederacy on the other. It had opposed to it, the most formidable army of the enemy, commanded by their most efficient General. The work accomplished by this Army of the Potomac, may be seen in the fact that out of the twelve great battles of the war, in which on an average 15,000 men were lost, all but three were fought by this army. In its entire history 48,902 were either killed in battle, or died of wounds-nearly half of the number reported as killed in battle during the war. Its aggregate losses were 242,750. We give the above on the authority of Major McGinnis, in an oration before the Army of the Potomac. As Chauncy Depew has well said, " To the Army of the Potomac belongs the unequalled distinction of being its own hero. It fought more battles and lost more men than all the others. It shed its blood like water, to teach incompetent officers the art of war, and political tacticians the folly of their plans; but it was always the same undismayed and invincible Army of the Potomac. Loyal ever to its mission and to discipline, the only sound it gave in protest to the murderous folly of cabinets and generals, was the crackling of bones, as cannon balls ploughed through its decimated ranks * * .in - flexible of purpose, insensible to suffering, inured to fatigue,
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
and reckless of danger, it rained blow upon blow upon its heroic but staggering foe, and the world gained a new and better Republic in the surrender at Appomattox. As the Republic marches down the ages, accumulating power and splendor with each succeeding century, the van will be led by the Army of the Potomac."
A HOT TIME IN DIXIE.
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The Advance Into Virginia.
CHAPTER VI.
1
THE ADVANCE INTO VIRGINIA.
October-December, 1862.
From safe and peaceful Norwich the regiment went by rail directly to the defenses of Washington, then garrisoned by the Army of the Potomac, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Ninth Army Corps, on Octo- ber 10, 1862.
The history of the war prior to this date need not here be recounted. Suffice it to say that, upon the whole, the successes of the Union armies had not been conspicuous ; but the spirit of officers and men was undaunted, and there was a general conviction throughout the Army of the Poto- mac that, given only a fair chance, it could teach the gray- coated legions of the Confederacy a lesson that they would not soon forget.
On the 28th day of October, 1862, after more than three weeks of uneventful camp life at Pleasant Valley, and amid the historic and romantic scenery of Harper's Ferry, the grand old Army of the Potomac, under the command of Major-General George B. McClellan, forded the Potomac river at Berlin, and began that long and weary march of nearly two hundred miles, to Falmouth, Va., on the Rappa- hannock river, opposite the city of Fredericksburg, the object- ive point of the expedition.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
On leaving Berlin we passed down on the east side of the Blue Ridge through a sparsely settled country and camped the first night in a grove near what was called Lovettsville, where we remained one day. Here the boys indulged the natural propensity of the soldier for foraging. So many left camp for that purpose that Colonel Dutton sent out a guard detail to bring in all the rovers that could be captured. He also ordered the roll to be called every hour, so that it was diffi- cult to get far from camp. The boys enjoyed a game of base- ball, notwithstanding the march of the day before, and the prospect of a longer march the next day.
Starting at daylight next morning, we encamped, after an uneventful and easy march, at Wheatland. We found here some immense stacks of wheat straw which were utilized for beds, and for one night at least we rested in luxury. There was some foraging here, but as there were some stray rebel cavalrymen around, it was rather restricted. About two weeks before there was a cavalry skirmish here. The next day we were mustered for two months' pay, which was very thankfully received, though there was very little use for money in this wilderness of woc.
November 2d we broke camp and marched twenty or more miles, camping in a field near Unionville, and in the morning, hearing heavy cannonading in the front, we fell in and started on the double quick through Unionville in the direc- tion of Snicker's Gap, where we found our batteries shelling the woods. We marched as far as Ashby's Gap, when we encamped and staid one day in order to give a chance for rest, wash clothing and kill " graybacks." The country through which we had passed after leaving Berlin was very thinly settled, and the places mentioned are really only small settlements, comprising very few houses. There were no able-bodied men to be seen, but only a few women and negroes, the only representatives of the " F. F. V's," for which the state is famed.
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