USA > Connecticut > The story of the Twenty-first Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War. 1861-1865 > Part 7
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were too strong with earthworks, cannon and men, and the assault ended the battle for the night.
We were completely exhausted at the close. The guns would recoil some twenty feet at each discharge, and had to be rolled into position.
When the order came to cease firing, the sergeant pre- tended not to hear it. When the order was repeated, the sergeant said to us, "One more shot for luck." When the captain appeared with drawn saber, cursing us, he said in an undertone, " It's the infantry, they don't know when to stop fighting ;" and loudly, several words that we will not repeat here.
My Captain, D. D. Brown of East Hampton, Connecticut, has often told me, that when we left the regiment for the battery, he never expected to see us again alive. There was a perfect shower of bullets around us. They rattled through and completely riddled a board fence in front of the knoll, struck the guns, splintered the spokes of the wheels. Sev- cral men were knocked down by the windage of shells. Shells exploded constantly over and around us. Several officers and men were killed, and many, including several in my regiment, were wounded in our immediate rear. We lived through it all, and fortunately were uninjured. Sunday morning the captain of the battery thanked us heartily for our services, and said, "As no immediate movements seem imminent, we might return to our regiment," which we found resting on Main Street. Reporting ourselves to the Colonel, saluting us, he said, "Are you indeed the six volunteers of yesterday, and all safely back? You may return to your company," adding, " I am proud of my men."
The comrades of Corporal John G. Palmer, furnished the War Department with the following testimonial: Sergeant John C. Ladd, deposeth, " * Upon the Colonel's call for volunteers Corporal John Gideon Palmer, of Company F. jumped forward at once as one of them, and fought with the
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Fredericksburg.
battery until the close of the battle, reporting back to his company the next morning.
"I thought then and now that Corporal Palmer's bravery on that occasion was very conspicuous and commendable, his position being very dangerous, and for his personal heroism that day, I do not hesitate to recommend him for a medal of honor."
Orderly Sergeant Albert Leeds testifies Cor- poral John G. Palmer of Company F, was the first man to step forward at the colonel's call for volunteers, setting the . example for others to follow. He took an active part in firing the guns of the battery, until the close of the battle. The battery was in an exposed position near the enemy's line, and I affirm that said Palmer's offering himself voluntarily to serve with it in such a severe action, was a conspicuous act of personal bravery on his part, and entirely outside of his. line of duty. I recommend him for a medal of honor, as pro- vided by act of Congress."
Hon. O. Vincent Coffin, Governor State of Connecticut, writes the following :
"John Gideon Palmer of this city, has been well known to me for many years, as an honored veteran of the War of the Rebellion-a thoroughly upright, straightforward, honored and trusted citizen. He has long been closely identified with the large manufacturing interests in this city of his uncle, Isaac E. Palmer. He is a member of our Board of Educa - tion, director in one of our banking institutions, etc., and has been in many ways, a prominent, active, and in every respect, excellent member of this community.
Delos D. Brown of East Hampton, Connecticut, being duly sworn, says : That he was an officer of the Twenty- first Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, and commander of Company F, at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, December, 1862. Late in the day of December 13th, the regiment was advanced to a point outside of the city, known as the brick yards, to sustain or support the last attempt to
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capture Maryé's heights. In front of us was a low ridge upon which a light battery was briskly engaged in shelling the heights. During a lull in the assault, the officer commanding the battery, under great excitement, hurriedly appealed to our colonel, for six men, quick, who knew something about firing a gun, as he had not men enough left to work his battery. Our colonel at once called for volunteers. Corporal John Gideon Palmer, company F, the youngest member of the company, at once volunteered for the dangerous errand, was the first to run to the help of the battery, and served with it until the assault ended. His action in so quickly answering to the colonel's call, was a noble example for his comrades. I have several times stated, and repeat it here, that I never ex- pected to see him return again alive, as he with the others rushed to the guns upon which the enemy was concentrating its fire. The colonel complimented them upon their reporting back to the regiment the next day, saying, "He was proud of his men."
For the gallant, patriotic, and brave action recited above of the said Corporal Palmer, I earnestly recommend that he be awarded one of the medals of honor provided by the govern- ment.
The following extracts are from letters from Major-General Daniel E. Sickles :
"DEAR CORPORAL PALMER-I herewith return the papers enclosed with your letter of the 28th instant. They tell an interesting story most honorable to you. You were as modest as you were brave, as I do not remember you ever told me of the Fredericksburg incident. It was a heroic act and deserves the medal of honor you have received for it. It will be a precious heritage to your family."
" You were a faithful soldier, and your service with me was always satisfactory. You are right to preserve your equip- ments and other memorials of your soldier's life."
"Sincerely your friend,
"D. E. SICKLES, Major-General."
MAJOR WILLIAM SPITTLE.
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Fredericksburg.
Captain D. D. Brown, commander of Company F, also writes us as follows :
"Corporal John G. Palmer's services after the battle of Fred- ericksburg, were unusual, and in so many different lines from his regiment, that they are worthy of being put on record.
" In Portsmouth, Virginia, he was detached with three men to guard the family of General Whipple, who occupied a con- fiscated house, being quartered in a Macon House omnibus. In Norfolk, Virginia, was appointed to duty with the provost guard, while the regiment was stationed in the city. From Newport News went on a raid up James River with other troops to Brandon Farms, and helped destroy $300,000 worth of Confederate supplies. Received an injury on this raid, the disability remaining to this time. Was sent to Mower General Hospital, North Carolina, for treatment. At his earnest request was returned to regiment on their return to Portsmouth, and took part in the execution of a deserter from both armies.
"When the regiment joined Butler's forces, he was left in camp, but begged the privilege of joining the regiment which he found on battle-field at Bermuda Hundred. Took part in rebel attack the same night. Few days after moved forward with skirmish line, and was within ten feet of his colonel, when he (the colonel) received his death wound. From White House Landing, was sent to Sixth Corps field hospital; to Harewood General Hospital, Washing-
ton; to Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia. From
there to Clif bourn Barracks, Washington. September, 1864, was transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, and assigned to Second Company, Provisional Cavalry, and "put on duty in the city of Washington. Was often on guard duty at President Lincoln's cottage out at Soldiers' Home. The company served as body guard to the President upon his return to White. House. Was later appointed clerk to the squadron; January 6, 1864, was detached by Special Order No. S, War Department, to accompany Major-General
Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
Daniel E. Sickles, who was appointed an Envoy Extra- ordinay to Bogota, United States of Colombia, South America, on " Secret Service " for State Department. Sailed to Aspin- wall on California steamer, Costa Rica, extending the trip across the Isthmus to Panama. Took British steamer Tamar, to Cartagena, Santa Martha, and Baranquilla. Went up Magdalena River to Honda, and rode mule back over three ranges of the Andes Mountains to Bogota, Capital of United States of Colombia. Was in Bogota when war ended, and Lincoln was assassinated. They arrived at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on United States Gun- boat, July 2, 1865. In the summer was stationed in Boston with General Sickles, who commanded Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He accompanied General Sickles in November, when the General was made one of the five Military Governors of the South, com- manding North and South Carolina, with headquarters at Charleston. Was mustered out of the service December 16th, at Charleston, S. C.
" Remained in civil service in Charleston with General Sickles until September, 1866, when he came north, arriving home just four years to a day, from date of departure for the war."
It will be noticed that Corporal Palmer served in infantry, artillery, cavalry and diplomatic duty. He has quite a batch of papers connected with his army life, also has his whole set of cavalry equipments, with which he guarded Abraham Lin- coln, arranged in a case and hung up in his residence in Middletown, which he shows with pride to his comrades and friends.
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Fredericksburg.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIRST CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS, CAMP OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG, VA.
December 20, 1862. To the New London Daily Star :
A long time has now elapsed and many important events have occurred since my last letter to you, written while we were in Pleasant Valley, Maryland. Were I to go into details I might fill a volume with incidents which have taken place since the Grand Army crossed the Potomac and brought up on the shores of the Rappahannock ; but minor affairs are of no account and sink into ntter insignificance when compared with such experiences as those of last Saturday, December 13th.
We, here in the army, as well as you at home, had been looking forward from day to day, in expectation of a terrible blow being struck, and at length it came. I write this because we have in our regiment some faithful, fearless sons of New London, who have gone forth from home and friends and all that's dear to them to uphold their country's flag ; who took part in that day's conflict, and gallantly faced the storm of shot and shell when called upon by their brave commander to do so.
It is true that the Fourteenth and Twenty-seventh, all honor to them, were earlier in the field, and got cut up more than the Twenty-first, but we were ready at the word " go," and went. Our Colonel says of us, having before the engagement had some anxiety as to how we would stand fire : " I now know that I have a regi- ment that is second to none in the service, and one on which I can rely, when the leaden rain and iron hail shower upon us."
Last Friday morning we marched from camp and with the rest of our division proceeded to the pontoon bridge in expectation of immediately crossing on arrival. Owing to the immense number of troops that went before us, we were held back till nearly dark before we were able to move on.
While halting on the north bank of the Rappahannock we expe- rienced the peculiar sensation one has when he hears the unmusical sound of a shell in too close proximity to his cars. One of these dire messengers burst among the Fifteenth Connecticut, just ahead of us, killing one man and wounding two others. Another imine-
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diately after burst on our left ; then came the order for us to fall back out of range, which we did. Then we lay for an hour, and while thus, General Burnside and staff rode past us, and as usual was greeted with thousands of huzzas from " the bold sojer boys." He doffed his hat as usual and rode smilingly on.
Just before dark the order came to march, and away we went over the bridge and into that hot-bed of secession, Fredericksburg. Our company was quartered in a carpenter's shop, and a merry time of it we had all night long, little thinking of the dangers of the morrow. Saturday morning canie and our brigade was ordered down to the bank of the river. We were to support the center under General Sumner. Soon the booming of artillery and the rattle of small-arms told us that a general engagement was taking place. A twelve-pound parrot shot came whistling over the bank about this time right over our company and buried itself in the sacred soil about twelve inches. We all diminished somewhat in stature, but soon straightened up and concluded we were none of us hurt. Soon the shells began to drop in the river beyond us, and all around, till their name was legion; while here we lost four men wounded by pieces of shell. About four o'clock P. M. we were ordered to the front and away we went with a will.
Passing through the outskirts of the city we were subjected to another fire of shell and shot. We halted in the street and took it coolly for about ten minutes in this position, and then marched in line of battle over fences, tearing them down as we advanced, through ditches, until we came upon the Fifth Rhode Island bat- tery, blazing away in good style. It was then evident to us that we had come up to support this battery It was here that Colonel Curtis of the Fourth Rhode Island was killed, a minie ball going through his head.
The officer commanding the battery came to us and called for volunteers to help man the guns, as he was short-handed, having lost many of his men. Six men, all he called for, jumped from the ranks of Company F and went on the dangerous errand. (See Corporal Palmer's narrative.) The night wore quietly away, and just at early dawn we were awakened from our slumbers by the crack of rifles, warning us that we were within short range of the enemy. We were not long in coming to time. On getting into
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line we were marched back to the city to await further orders. They soon came and were in substance as follows :
The Ninth Army Corps were to storm the batteries by a simulta- heous movement at ten o'clock A. M (this was Sunday). Our brigade was to be in advance, and the gallant Twenty-first was to lead the brigade. Our dangerous errand was whispered from mouth to mouth, and pale faces told the forecast of the dangerous task we were to perform. I talked with several of our company, and although all seemed to know and realize the danger of facing those impregnable works, not one talked of sneaking. The com- mon resolve was, we will do our duty, let come what will, and die, if need be, like men, in the ranks. The hour of moving arrived, and the sun in midheaven proclaimed half the day gone, and yet we moved not. We waited " Micawber " like for something to turn up, but it failed to " turn " until the sun retired behind those ugly earthworks and twilight faded into darkness. Then came the order, " The men will sleep on their arms ready to move at a moment's notice." About midnight a volley of musketry aroused us from dreams of the bloody battle-field and caused us to assume the perpendicular instanter. It proved to be only the firing of pickets, and after a few moments' shivering the boys relapsed into quiet slumber again. Morning at length came, and after shaking off the drowsy god, we found we still lived.
After refreshing the inner man with hard bread, pork and coffee, the impatient query came from all lips, " What's going to be done next ?" Sure enough no one knew. " Evacuation " began to be whispered about ; the wounded were being removed north of the river, and many other little movements seemed to indicate evacu- ation. Thus matters stood-we still in the city, till just at dark a shell came whistling from a rebel gun right toward us and burst just across the street from us. It was undoubtedly aimed at our fires, over which the boys were busily engaged cooking their sup- pers. No damage was done save the spoiling of an evening meal, as the boys were obliged to " douse the glim " at once. Soon after this we marched again to the outskirts of the city, and lay there for some two hours until ordered to cross the river, which we did at nine o'clock Monday night. We reached our camp after an hour's march and were tired enough to enjoy a good
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night's rest, which we got. I have seen it stated in some papers that the troops were eager for another fight, but I have seen no eagerness manifested in this vicinity to get into such a slaughter- house as was the plain where our noble troops were butchered so inhumanly on Saturday last.
I am, yours, etc., F. F.
WASH DAY.
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Falmouth and Netoport Netes.
CHAPTER VIII.
FALMOUTH AND NEWPORT NEWS.
(November, 1862-February, 1863.)
During our stay of nearly four months at Falmouth, Vir- ginia, from November 19, 1862, to the 13th of the following March, some events occurred aside from the battle of Freder- icksburg worthy of special notice in our history. Of these perhaps the most grievous was an epidemic of typhoid fever which carried off many of our number. This was directly traceable to the excessive hardships and exposures of the march and the camp, lack of tents and unfavorable ground. Our first camp after reaching Falmouth was occupied for only one week, and was by far the most objectionable of all. It was located on a level plain of clayey soil, with an uneven surface, caused by the alternate elevations and depressions of a planted field. The depressions between the ridges seemed well fitted for holding water, which the clayey soil refused readily to absorb. The weather was threatening upon the night of our arrival ; the temperature was chilly and the sky overcast with clouds that betokened speedy rain. Having just ended a four days' march, the men were too tired to be particular, and not knowing where they would be on the fol- lowing day, they adjusted themselves for the night as best they could with only a rubber pouch and woolen blanket for each.
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Twenty-first Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.
No sooner had silence settled over the camp, unbroken save by the heavy breathing of the tired soldiers, than the clouds began to descend. Gently at first, then increasing in the quantity of rain, and the force of the wind, the storm became almost a tempest. The tired sleepers awoke to find them- selves exposed to the storm, or, perhaps, soaking in the pools of water that formed all over the camp. Rising from their beds, no longer endurable, they looked around as best they could in the dark, only to find that all were in a like condi- tion. Still the rain was falling and there was no sign of day- light. No council of war was held, yet very many of the regiment by a common consent, begotten by like interests, laid hold of as many axes as were available, and proceeded to the neighboring forest to cut wood and kindle fires for better protection. There, with rubber blankets thrown over their shoulders, they huddled around the fires, striving to dry their wet clothes and warm their chilled limbs.
The storm continued throughout two memorable days, leaving the ground, which could not be drained, quite unfit for a camp. After a few days we moved to another field sloping to the southward, where a light growth of pine trees and underbrush had lately been cut. In this camp we could establish good drainage, but we could not escape the seeds of disease sown by previous exposure. Shelter tents were now provided for the first time, and we had better quarters, though nothing to boast of, for December. It was now possible for three or four men by combining to have some slight pro- tection from storms. If our stay was prolonged in any camp, very comfortable quarters could be provided by building log houses on a small scale, three or four feet high, plastering the crevices between the logs with clayey mud, which, when hardened, will last for a long time, and covering the whole with shelter tents. In addition to this, some of the more provident built fire-places that afforded a good degree of warmth. Occasionally snow would fall, against which the men were but poorly provided. From the diary of one, we find the
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following : "November 17th, Thanksgiving Day. Snow on the ground ; shoes full of holes and rations short." We were thankful it was no worse.
Coming off duty after a storm, the officer-of-the-day writes : " At half-past five this morning, I visited the guard. The ground was quite muddy because of the rain yesterday, and is now freezing a little. I found three of the guard around one fire drying their feet and their clothes, with their guns stuck in the ground by the bayonet. Another was absent from his post seeking greater comfort by the cook- stove. Should they be reported it would go hard with them, but they will not be reported. One evening the entire regi- ment was called out to support a battery. The night was excessively cold for Virginia. Some, with overcoats and boots on, lay down and covered themselves with two or three thicknesses of blankets "to enjoy" a troubled sleep, and would awake with cold feet and frost well nigh a quarter of an inch thick on their blankets, while others would gather around a smouldering fire and trust to its scarcely genial heat for comfort. Amid exposures like these, it was not strange that there should have been an epidemic of typhoid fever, in which sickness and death visited the camp with alarming frequency.
One promising boy of nineteen years of age, from a home of comfort, reached Falmouth excessively tired. When con- plaining of his weariness in bearing the heavy burden of his equipments, he was asked why he did not fall out of the ranks. "I did not think it would be right," was his reply. He gladly retired to rest with little preparation against the approaching storm. By early morning he awoke to find one of his legs soaking in the water. Shivering with the cold, he awaited the coming day. He was found by his comrades, disabled for duty. With delirious mind and an eye already glazed by fever, he was taken to the hospital, a small dwelling, where from twelve to eighteen were placed upon the floor in a single room. As he patiently lay there in
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his delirium, he tells his friend who visited him, " Mother is up stairs ; she has a lot of good things for me." Again : "Mother stays up by your tent, doesn't she?" In a few days he was forwarded to a general hospital, where he soon succumbed to the fever and died.
Another youth, who had left a happy home with fond parents and loving brothers and sisters, was noticed by his company officer when at drill to be absent-minded. He was just a little behind time in executing the orders in the manual of arms. When asked if he felt well, he replied, " No, sir ; not as well as usual." He was excused from drill and sent to his quarters. Next morning, by five o'clock, in his delirium he reported at the tent of the hospital steward and said that he had seen his company officers, and made arrangements for staying in the hospital. Perceiving his condition, he was taken in and cared for as well as possible. But it was only a few days before the sickness terminated in death.
Another faithful soldier, so weak that he could hardly walk, reported to the surgeon at the "sick call." He was required to report to the hospital and stay there. Soon he reported to the physician with the information that there was no empty bed for him, and only room enough in the hospital tent to spread his blanket upon the ground, at the end of one of the row of beds. He asked leave to return to his own tent, which was much more comfortable.
In view of all this, it is not to be wondered at that there should have been an epidemic of fever, that four captains should be absent by reason of sickness, that from our regi- ment twenty should have been buried in one short month, not to mention those who died in general hospitals. No wonder that this camp, so fatal to the regiment, should have received the name " Camp Death." To meet this alarming increase of sickness, Surgeon Soule was recalled from the division hospital, where he had been on duty in caring for the wounded. New measures were devised in the care for the sick and soon a better condition was apparent. A new
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camp was selected upon higher ground, to which we moved January Sth. Here we found better quarters for the men, better adapted for cheerfulness and good health. And yet the remembrance of Camp Death will never be effaced from the memories of the living. Of the number lost from our regiment during the entire term of service, one hundred and fifteen died of disease. Of this number thirty-four died oppo- site Fredericksburg, eighty-one in all other places ; but some of the latter number died as a result of disease contracted here, so that we may safely say that, during the three years of our service, of all those that died from disease, nearly one- third died at this place, or from disease contracted here, during a period of less than eleven weeks. In one-thirteenth of our time of service, nearly one-third of the deaths from disease occurred herc.
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