Chapter IV

The batteries on Tybee Island being already very strongly entrenched (the mortars out of sight of the fort), everything appeared ready for the battle. The Seventh Connecticut was assigned the duty of serving at the mortar batteries and other troops were on duty at the rifled guns. The work before us seemed no easy task, considering the strength of the enemy. Fort Pulaski’s walls were seven feet thick and mounted one tier of guns in embrasures and on en barbette. It was a huge five-sided fortress and was said to have been built by a Connecticut Yankee. Twenty guns, including 10-inch Columbiads, bore upon our batteries at Tybee, which had a decidedly unpleasant look. Col. Olmstead, the commander of Pulaski, was once more and for the last time invited to surrender; but he sternly refused by saying he was put there to defend the fort and not surrender it. Our batteries opened the ball at 8 o’clock on the morning of the 10th of April by a signal gun from battery Halleck. Simultaneously all the guns and mortars blazed away with such a deafening roar that

After the fall of the fort, Col. Chatfield was ordered to dismantle Fort Vulcan, on Jones Island, the battery of mud upon which we had worked with so much zeal. But, by some misunderstanding, our gunboats were drawn off, which left us in rather an unpleasant predicament, had the rebels chosen to come from Savannah and attack us. But Col. Chatfield was equal to any emergency, and with his usual foresight and calm self-possession, he dismounted the 10-inch columbiad in the night and floated it on a raft over to Pulaski, where it arrived safely the next day. In its place we mounted a black log with a barrel on one end. After our evacuation, Johnnie Reb sallied down the river and captured the “Quaker.” We resumed our pleasant camping ground on Dawfuski Island, which was quite a pleasing contrast with that on Jones Island; but the arduous labors imposed upon the Regiment for the past few weeks began to tell upon the men and patients at the hospital were numerous.

We remained here drilling, and with our usual camp duties, till the last week in May, when we were ordered to report at Hilton Head, again embarking on that dreaded steamer Cosmopolitan, but did not 22d. Large quantities of blackberries were ripe in the field, and we found them very palatable and we thought they helped Uncle Sam’s pork to digest. The Brigade under Gen. Wright was here reorganized and composed of the following troops: 6th Conn.; 47th New York; 55th and 97th Penn. Regiments. We here spent the time in brigade drills and the usual picket duties till the 1st of June, when we crossed over to John’s Island. We expected our destination would be somewhere in the vicinity of Charleston, and were not disappointed. After marching several miles we halted at a large sugar plantation for rest. Col. Chatfield addressed us on our mission, and assured us we were marching on to victory or death, as we were going into the hot bed of rebeldom and undoubtedly would see some hard fighting; but he was confident we would meet the issue with determined bravery, and he was to “lead us forward.” This last remark brought forth cheer after cheer for our gallant Colonel. The members of the Sixth felt justly proud of Col. Chatfield.

Our march across John’s Island was slow and tedious, as the guerillas infested us on all sides. Our cavalry scouts were ever on the alert, but, as the road was new to them the rebs used every advantage Col. Chatfield was assigned to the command of our Brigade, and on the evening of June 8th, he moved across the river to James Island, which is only about four and a half miles from Charleston. We rested for the night on Tom Grimball’s plantation. The enemy attacked us the next night in our front, but were repulsed after a brisk skirmish of an hour’s duration. The Connecticut battery was here, doing excellent service under Captain Rockwell, and the gun boats shelled the enemy over our heads, both of which proved valuable assistants to us. The Sixth held the advance picket line on the left for several days, and the rebels annoyed us exceedingly by sudden dashes through the woods upon our front, but we held our position firmly and repulsed every sortie made. Their sharpshooters, posted in trees and in places where they could see our position, very often shot down the picket without giving us a chance to fire back unless we fired at random. Gen. Wright remarked to his staff that he could rest quietly while the Sixth Connecticut held the advance; he was not afraid of the picket line being deserted, as was the case with a Pennsylvania regiment who ran into camp in great haste one night, reporting the advance of the whole force of the Johnnies, when it was found that only a few of them had ventured near our lines to see what material Uncle Sam’s boys were made of. Gen.

The battle of Secessionville was fought the 16th of June. This was a small village north of Stono river, but was strongly entrenched outside. With Gen. Lamar’s forces in the rifle-pits, a strong abatis in front, flanked by creeks and marshy ground and everything in their favor, the task seemed not an easy one to accomplish. Gen. Benham started his forces at daylight, and when near enough to do any service, the command, which consisted of about 7,000 men, wheeled into line and the attack became general. The enemy poured a most galling fire into our forces and mowed down our men with fearful loss. The swampy ground making it impossible to form a line of battle, the forces were massed together, which impeded its progress as well as destroyed its efficiency. After several assaults, the forces were obliged to give up the contest and withdrew in good order, with nothing gained, but with a great sacrifice of life. The whole expedition seemed to have been shockingly managed. Ten thousand men were sent here on a five days’ march with about two days’ rations, and the plan of the battle reflected no credit upon the person who conceived it. It was reported

When Gen. Hunter arrived from the North he ordered an immediate evacuation of the island. The command moved at midnight across the island to Battery Point, where we leveled to the ground two of the enemies’ batteries which they had evacuated for a season, destroyed by fire a long bridge that spanned a river, and then embarked. The Sixth and Seventh Conn. went back to Edisto Island with Gen. Gen. Brannon commanded the post here. We encamped in a fine grove of live oak trees that skirted the banks of the river and considered ourselves fortunate in getting such a pleasant place for our camp. The greater part of the summer months were inactive in this command. The forces settled down for the regular camp drill and discipline. Each regiment took its turn at the ten days’ picket service, which duty called them out to some fine plantations in the suburbs of the town. Here we enjoyed the life of the soldier. Our duties were not arduous and we had opportunity for reading and writing. The fields were filled with sweet potatoes and corn, together with the orange and fig trees which abounded near the houses, made our visits on this picket duty desirable. Our lines skirted the Lieut.Col. Ely left the regiment here at Beaufort, having been promoted to be Colonel of the Eighteenth Connecticut. During the intense heat of the summer many fevers prevailed and a number sickened and died. Yellow jaundice prevailed to a great extent. All seemed afflicted with it more or less, which was about as comfortable to endure as sea-sickness. Capt. Gerrish, of Company “K,” died on the 19th of August, of typhoid fever, after an illness of about three weeks; his loss was deeply felt in the regiment.

It was during our sojourn in Beaufort that orders were issued from Washington for the discharge of all regimental bands. The members of the Sixth deeply regretted the loss of their band; it was such a comfort to hear the strains of music, and we felt that we could march better, yea, fight better, with the band to enliven the scenes that surrounded us; but the order was peremptory and home they went, regretted by all.

In the latter part of October an expedition was conceived by Maj. Gen. Mitchel, commanding the Department of the South, to proceed inland with a Gen. Brannan were selected for the occasion. The first brigade was led by Col. Chatfield, including his own regiment; the second brigade being led by Gen. Terry. The fleet consisted of nine gun boats, three transports, one schooner and two tugs. The Sixth was commanded by Lieut. Col. Speidel, a man noted for his bravery and his keen judgment and foresight. The fleet sailed on the afternoon of the 21st of October, through Broad River, twenty miles from Port Royal, and the next morning at 7 a. m. we landed at a place called Mackay’s Point, at Boyd’s landing. Here the whole command rapidly disembarked and pushed forward. The first brigade led the advance, and the force, in column by companies, kept together as closely as the state of the road would permit. We passed many recently deserted plantations, pushing on over corn and cotton fields, through ditches and swamps for about five miles, when we discovered the Col. Chatfield and Lieut. Col. Speidel were both struck with cannister shots while bravely leading the men. The old Sixth, as if to avenge the wrong, became

Col. Barton, of the 48th New York, landed at the mouth of the Coosawatchie river and proceeded inland to the railroad, where they encountered a train of cars loaded with rebel soldiers. They fired upon them, killing the engineer and also the color-bearer of the “Whippey Swamp Guard,” and captured his flag. The 48th was obliged to fall back, as the rebels outnumbered them three to one, but made good their retreat without the loss of a man. The first brigade was engaged felling trees to bridge the river preparatory to crossing, but the fire of the enemy was so deadly we were obliged to desist. During the lull a locomotive whistle was heard in the distance and a train of cars thundered into the village laden with rebel troops, which was received with cheers for “South Carolina.” Late in the afternoon our ammunition was spent and we were obliged to fall back. The Sixth Connecticut and 47th New Hampshire

The horrors of war were indeed sickening, as the rebels had every position in their favor and their fire was very destructive. Dead soldiers and horses lay in the woods as we passed; broken gun carriages lined the road, and blankets, haversacks and rifles lay around the ground in large numbers. One sight which the writer witnessed gave evidence of true heroism. As the man-of-war’s men filed down the road dragging their guns, one old Jack Tar who had lost his right leg and from which the blood was still oozing, was strapped upon his gun, while his comrades were gently cheering him up. As he passed our regiment he looked up with as cheerful a face as he could command, and, reaching out his arm, patted his gun as affectionately as one would a favorite child. Such heroism should not go unrewarded. Many of our command displayed unflinching courage, and the record of the Sixth Connecticut at this battle was indeed gratifying to its general officers.

We had about 4500 troops engaged, composed of the following regiments: 6th Conn.; 4th New Hampshire; 47th and 55th Penn. regiments, in the first brigade under Col. Chatfield. The 7th Conn., 76th Penn., 3d Rhode Island, and 3d New Hampshire, Brig. Gen. Terry, besides the Jack Tars from the frigate Wabash. The total loss to the whole command is not within my knowledge, but the Sixth suffered a loss of five killed, twenty-nine wounded and three missing. Orderly sergeant Robert B. Gage, of Co. “I,” who displayed great bravery on the field, was killed by a rifle ball in the side.

We arrived at Mackay’s Point about eleven o’clock at night, tired and footsore, and bivouacked on the banks of the river till morning, when we commenced to embark, which was completed at sunset, as the wounded were all brought in and tenderly cared for. We returned to our old camp at Beaufort, where we again settled down to the routine of drills, etc.

On the 30th of October our corps commander, Maj. Gen. Mitchel, died of yellow fever after an illness of a few days. The whole command mourned his loss as a brave and efficient general; one who had endeared himself to the soldiers by his many good qualities of heart and his pleasing address. The funeral was attended in St. Helena church at Beaufort. It was quite an impressive scene. The Forty-seventh Pennsylvania regiment acted as escort and was followed by the First Massachusetts cavalry and four pieces of the regular battery, besides detachments from all the other regiments in the command, the naval officers, headed by admiral Dupont, officers

During the winter months of 1862-3 the Sixth remained at Beaufort, steadily increasing in drill and guarding the island from attacks from the main land. While thus comparatively inactive the members cast about for something to relieve the dull monotony of the season, and it was resolved to form a society for our mutual improvement. Having obtained consent of our commander, the society called “The Young Men’s Literary Association of the Sixth C. V.” sprang into existence. The officers elected were: President, Timothy H. Eaton, of Co. “A;” Vice President, Robert McLavy, of Co. “E;” Secretary, James A. Wilson, of Co. “K;” Treasurer, Charles K. Cadwell, of Co. “F;” Executive Committee, Clark M. Loomis and Charles M. Morris, of Co. “F.” We held many interesting debates in the Chapel tent on the leading questions of the day. As the society increased in membership we found our quarters much to small, and, by the consent of the commander of the post, we obtained permission to occupy one of the churches near our camp for our sole use, which we dedicated Chatfield Hall. This we fitted up as well as our limited means would allow, and, by the help of some of our generous officers, we added a small library. The society rapidly increased in interest, and members were admitted from other regiments, and many exciting Col.” were obeyed directly opposite to the command. A large number of visitors were present and were convulsed with laughter at the proceedings, while the participants maintained as much decorum as when on a real parade.

New Year’s day, 1863, found us still at Beaufort, with the privilege of “half holiday.” The day was beautiful and the ushering in of the new year was pleasantly greeted by all, with many a hope and

These exercises closed the pleasures of the forenoon. In the afternoon a running match was first in order, distance 150 yards; first prize, of five dollars, awarded to corporal Botts, of Co. “D;” second prize, two dollars and a half, awarded to private Banty, Co. “D.” The next on the programme was a target placed in the ground to be bored with an auger at twenty paces, blindfolded. The prize of five dollars was awarded to Orrin Lathrop, of Co. “F,” he being the only competitor who touched the target at all. Next came the wheelbarrow races, distance 100 yards; first prize, five dollars, awarded to private Duprey, of Co. “A.” Nearly all the competitors went about a Gen. Brannan and staff and a large number of ladies.

The Sixth spent a great deal of time on the surrounding plantations on picket duty, at which places we were picketed for ten days at a time. Each company made certain plantations their headquarters, while every nook and ravine where the enemy were likely to attack was strongly guarded. For a time we found rebel chickens and pigs more palatable than hard tack and pork. The oranges and figs were not left to spoil upon the trees, and every sweet potato and corn field was visited for supplies. The rebel pickets at Port Royal Ferry were very communicative, and several times we exchanged papers with them. They seemed anxious to “barter” something with a Union soldier whenever an opportunity presented itself. Their stock in trade consisted chiefly of tobacco, which they would readily exchange