CONNECTICUT FOURTEENTH REGIMENT C. V. INFANTRY. (Three Years.)

WRITTEN BY REV. HENRY S. STEVENS, LATE CHAPLAIN OF THE FOURTEENTH CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS. THE organization of the Fourteenth Regiment began under the order promulgated May 22, 1862, to furnish Connecticut's contingent of the fifty thousand men called for by the War Department at Washington to go into "Camp of Instruction" at Annapolis, Md. Recruiting for the regiment began at once, but progressed slowly until, in July, after the Union reverses on the Peninsula, the President called for three hundred thousand volunteers for three years or the war, when it received a tremendous impulse and the regiment filled up rapidly, being the first one to complete its organization under that call. It was recruited from the State at large, having its rendezvous, named "Camp Foote," at Hartford. August 23, 1862, the regiment was mustered into the United States service, and on the 25th, one thousand and fifteen strong, under command of Dwight Morris, left the State, reaching Washington and crossing the Potomac to Arlington, Va., on the 28th. The next morning it went by forced march to Fort Ethan Allen, near Chain Bridge, Va., remaining there holding the defenses during the alarm caused by the second battle of Bull Run, until September 7th, when, having been taken with two other new regiments to form the Second Brigade of the Third Division, Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, it entered on the Maryland campaign, the whole army moving in pursuit of Lee. On the 17th this new regiment was plunged into the battle of Antietam, losing heavily, but winning the encomium of "behaving like veterans." The scene of its engagement was the Roulette farm and near the "Sunken Road," where it was engaged sharply for several hours, and under fire all that day and the following day. September 22d the regiment marched to Bolivar Heights, near Harper's Ferry, Va., remaining there for picket and special duty until October 30th, when it went down the Loudon Valley, Va., reaching Falmouth, near Fredericksburg, November 17th, and on the next day was sent, with the brigade, to Belle Plain, on the Potomac, for guard and fatigue duty. December 6th it rejoined the division at Falmouth, and on the 11th moved towards Fredericksburg, crossing into that city on the 12th. On the 13th, being in the division that first charged the famous stone-wall at the foot of Marye's Hill, it left a heavy tribute of blood and bodies of precious men on the sanguinary field in front of the latter. The regiment was among the last troops to leave Fredericksburg on the evening of the 15th, returning to the old camp about two miles north of Falmouth. Here it remained during the winter and spring of 1863, doing picket duty along the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg. The losses of the regiment were greatly increased during the winter by the death, or discharge for wounds and disabilities, of many officers and men. April 28th the regiment moved with the army on the Chancellorsville campaign, in which it again saw hard service and lost seriously. At night, May 2d, it was sent with the brigade to the right to check the enemy and hold the ground after the disaster of the Eleventh Corps. Returning to camp near Falmouth on the 6th, the regiment staid there until June 14th, when it started on what proved to be the memorable Gettysburg campaign. July 1st Gettysburg was reached, and on the 2d the regiment was placed upon the ridge where, at the center of the Second Corps, its brave men, the body now reduced in size to a battalion, with their sturdy pluck and Sharps' rifles materially assisted in repulsing Longstreet's grand charge on the afternoon of the 3d, capturing five battle-flags and more than two hundred prisoners. During the forenoon of that day eight companies of the regiment captured the large brick barn and the dwelling-house of William Bliss from the enemy's sharpshooters, and held the buildings until ordered to burn them, losing several men. This deed was a brilliant and perilous one, as the buildings were nearly one-half mile in front of our line, and the men were exposed, almost from the start, to a heavy fire from sharpshooters in the buildings and from skirmishers and reserves. July 6th the regiment started with the army in pursuit of Lee; was engaged slightly at Falling Waters, near Williamsport, Md., on the 14th; and then, by way of Harper's Ferry and Loudon Valley, proceeded to the vicinity of Catlett's Station, Va., and along Elk Run, Cedar Run, and near Bristersburg remained doing picket duty until September 12th, except while on an expedition to Hartwood Church, August 31st to September 3d, to support a force designed to operate against rebel gunboats on the Rappahannock. August 6th the regiment received its first installment of recruits, conscripts, and substitutes--the first-fruits of the draft in Connecticut. In a few days, more came, and in a few months the depleted ranks of the Fourteenth were swelled to the proportions of a large regiment. September 13th the regiment crossed the Rappahannock and moved to Culpepper, Va., and on the 16th advanced by way of Cedar Mountain to the Rapidan, where it did advance picket duty until October 10th. While at the latter place (September 18th) two deserters from the regiment (substitutes and "bountyjumpers") were shot in presence of the whole division. The army moving northward to intercept the enemy in an attempt to reach Washington, on October 14th the regiment was engaged in a skirmish at Auburn, Va., and later in the same day in a sharp fight at Bristoe Station. Until October 20th, it lay on the north bank of Bull Run, being engaged in a slight skirmish at Blackburn's Ford on the 17th. Returning southward, from October 23d to November 7th camp was near Warrenton, and from November 10th to 26th near Stevensburg, Va. From the latter date to December 2d, the regiment was on the Mine Run campaign. On the morning of November 30th it was under orders and fully expected to engage in one of the most desperate charges the men ever contemplated. So hopeless did it appear that the men, not expecting to survive it, pinned upon their blouses papers upon which they had written their names for their identification. Fortunately and mercifully the order to advance was withheld. December 2d the regiment returned to the former camp near Stevensburg, remaining in that vicinity until the 29th, when winter quarters were fixed at Stony Mountain, a point of observation near the Rapidan, far in advance of the main line of the army. February 6th, 1864, the regiment was engaged in the battle of Morton's Ford. The movement involved wading the icy waters of the Rapidan, charges under fire of artillery and infantry, and a hand-to-hand fight in the dark. The expedition was organized as a diversion to aid a cavalry movement to rear of the enemy, but was mismanaged. The Fourteenth fought splendidly, losing just one-half the number of men lost by the whole division. When the army was reorganized in March the regiment became a part of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps. May 4th the Rapidan was crossed, and the great forward movement of the army began; and from May 5th to June 10th, the Fourteenth was passing over the "dark and bloody ground" of the Wilderness campaign, engaged at Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Tolopotomy, and Cold Harbor, losing daily valuable officers and men, experiencing the hardships, labors, perils, and sufferings incident to that unparalleled series of bloody struggles, and proving themselves veterans of the first class. June 14th the James River was crossed, and Petersburg reached on the 15th, from which date to early August the regiment was occupied in connection with various siege operations in front of that place, taking part in a movement to Prince George Court House June 27th to 29th, and an expedition to Deep Bottom July 26th to 30th, changing camp continually. August 12th to 21st it participated in the second expedition to Deep Bottom, involving a hard and trying march in mid-summer's heat and some severe skirmishing. With but a few hours' rest after returning to Petersburg the command moved for the destruction of the Weldon Railroad. August 24th the men were busy destroying the road, and on the 25th were engaged, at Ream's Station, in one of the hottest fights the Fourteenth ever experienced, losing some of their bravest and best. In this engagement the regiment had the singular experience of being under fire from three directions, and of fighting some of the time from the reverse side of their own breastworks. That night the troops returned to the entrenchments near Petersburg, where the regiment remained, under artillery fire daily, doing hazardous picket duty close to the enemy's works, building or strengthening breastworks, etc.--except while on an expedition to Prince George Court House, September 15th to 24th--until October 25th to 29th, when it was engaged in a spirited action at Hatcher's Run (Boydton Plank Road), in which some excellent fighting was done. In early November the regiment was on duty near Fort McGilvery, moving on the 29th farther to the left to relieve a part of the Ninth Corps, and on the 6th of December still farther on to relieve a portion of the Fifth Corps. From December 13th for a few weeks the Fourteenth had a period of comparative rest, encamped near Fort Clark. February 5, 1864, the men were ordered out of their comfortable quarters to participate in another action at Hatcher's Run, remaining on the field until the 10th, when they went into camp some miles to the left of their recent camp. On the 25th of March the regiment, with three other regiments of the brigade, all under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Moore of the Fourteenth, made a demonstration at the left of the Second Corps line, capturing the enemy's works on the farther side of Hatcher's Run, and about seventy prisoners. This movement was intended as a diversion at the time of the rebel attack upon Fort Steadman. There followed a rest of only two days and then the brave old "Fighting Fourteenth," that had known little else than campaigning and fighting, entered on its final campaign, the movement of the Army of the Potomac that was to extinguish the Rebellion. On the 28th of March the corps left entrenchments, and from that day on, until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, the regiment was engaged in forced marching, skirmishing, charging earthworks and lines of battle, and pressing the flying enemy, rounding up its field history with a glory the greatest that could be coveted by the patriotic Union soldier--"in at the death." The march was hard and pressing, the discipline strict, and the rations very scanty, but hope that the end of the war was near kept up the spirits of the men. They were at the actions at High Bridge and Farmville, April 7th, and on the 9th lifted up their voices with the victorious rejoicings that the Rebellion was crushed and their battles were over. From April 14th to May 2d was spent at Burksville, Va., guarding captured stores, and then the homeward march began, the Fourteenth having the honor of leading the glorious Second Corps while passing through the late rebel capital, Richmond, on the 6th. The men passed with strong emotions the places of former dreary imprisonment of some, scenes of many of their former bloody battles on the route to and at Fredericksburg, and on the 15th went into camp near Alexandria, Va. On the 23d the regiment took part in the "Grand Review" of the armies at Washington. On the 30th the recruits were transferred to the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and on the 30th the original members were mustered out of the United States service, near Alexandria. June 1st the joyous journey home began, and on the 3d Hartford was reached, where a grand ovation awaited the body. May 10th witnessed their muster-out of the State service, with a record as to battles fought, losses met, and hardships endured, unsurpassed by many regiments of the Union army, and with the proud consciousness that they had served their country in the hour of her peril and had helped to save the Union. The service of the Fourteenth was exceptional among the Connecticut infantry regiments. Of these it was in the greatest number of battles, and in proportion to its numbers and length of service lost much the largest percentage of men in killed, wounded, and died in the service. It was in thirtyfour battles and skirmishes, some of the battles ranking as the greatest and most sanguinary of the war--and the Fourteenth was in the thick of them--while some of the skirmishes would rate as battles. The regiment never lost a color, but captured several colors from the enemy; lost comparatively few men as prisoners, though capturing many from the foe. For months the first State flag, rent by shell and bullet, was too much tattered to be unfurled, and the new flag with which the State replaced it (August 25, 1863) was nearly as badly wrecked before the regiment returned home. It would appear invidious among the many brave men of this sterling old regiment, who fell or who proved their loyalty and valor in battle, to make distinctive individual mention; but we may say that the organization was fortunate to a rare degree in its leaders. Colonel Morris, commanding the brigade, and Lieutenant-Colonel Perkins, a fine and thorough soldier, the regiment, at Antietam, led their commands most gallantly, as did the latter and Major Clark the regiment at Fredericksburg, where both were disabled for further field service; while Major, subsequently Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, Ellis, one of the most courageous, cool, and accomplished officers in the service, led it with unsurpassed valor at Gettysburg and Bristoe Station, and the regiment, and at times the brigade, through the Wilderness campaign. During much of the latter campaign (as well as at Mine Run in November preceding) and afterwards, on to the end of the war, in nearly every engagement Lieutenant-Colonel Moore, of fiery, dashing courage, led the regiment. He was ably assisted, and sometimes relieved in command, by Majors Coit, Broatch, and Hincks, and Adjutant Doten; all men of character, ability, and staunchest courage-all receiving high encomiums, never a censure. But most of the line officers and men at their backs had kindred bravery and deserve like praise. ENGAGEMENTS. Antietam, Md., Sep. 17, 1862. Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. Chancellorsville, Va., May 1 to 3, 1863. Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863. Falling Waters, Va., July 14, 1863. Auburn, Va., 0ct. 14, 1863. Bristoe Station, Va., Oct. 14, 1863. Blackburn's Ford, Va., Oct. 17, 1863. Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 1863. Morton's Ford, Va., Feb. 6, 1864. Wilderness, Va., May 5 and 6, 1864. Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1864. Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 13, 14, 18, and 22, 1864. North Anna River, Va., May 24 and 26, 1864. Tolopotomy, Va., May 31, 1864. Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. Cold Harbor, Va., June 6, 1864. Petersburg, Va., June 11 to July 6, 1864. Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 15 and 16, 1864. Ream's Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864. Boydton Plank Road, Va., Oct. 27, 1864. Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5, 1865. Hatcher's Run, Va., Mch. 25, 1865. High Bridge, Farmville, Va., and Surrender of Lee's Army, March 30 to April 10, 1865. Antietam after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Sanford H. Perkins, Fourteenth Connecticut Infantry, of the battle of Antietam. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH REGIMENT CONN. VOLS., Sharpsburg, Md., September 19, 1862. We broke bivouac at camp near Keedysville, Md., on the morning of the 17th of September, taking position on the right of your command according to order, and marched about two hours by flank, when we formed line of battle and moved forward a distance of about one-half mile, where we became engaged, our position being in a corn-field west of William Roulette's farm-house, the enemy occupying a position on the summit of a hill to our front. The Fifth Maryland Regiment being slightly in our advance, I reserved my fire until they broke, which threw three companies of my right wing into confusion, when we opened fire from the left and immediately proceeded to rally the right, which having been effected, we held our position under a severe cross-fire for nearly three hours, during which time, my horse being disabled, I was obliged to continue with my command on foot. I cannot omit saying that during the time above mentioned my right and center were broken twice, but rallied on the colors and formed in good order, and when ordered to retire, moved from the field with precision, after which we accompanied you to support Gen. Kimball, who was retiring for ammunition, and took position near a stone wall east of the farm-house, holding the same until ordered to support Col. Brooke. During this movement, while marching by flank, a shell was thrown into our ranks, killing several of our men. The ranks were at once closed, the regiment moving forward at quick time and in good order. At this time and during the remaining thirty-six hours, being under your immediate command, requires no further detail. Where all behaved so well it may seem invidious to particularize, but I feel bound to mention Capt. Blinn, of Company F, and Capt. Willard, of Company G, who fell at their posts gallantly cheering their commands. Also First Lieut. Coit, commanding Company K, and Lieut. Crosby, of the same company, were dangerously wounded, leaving that company without a commissioned officer. Acting Adjutant Lucas, Assistant Adjutant-Gen. Ellis was disabled. Sergeant Mills, color-bearer, was severely, if not mortally, wounded while bearing and waving aloft our standard, and his place was filled by Lieut. Comstock, Company H, who with Sergeant Foote, of Company I, retained them until the close of the action. Our colors are riddled with shot and shell, and the staff broken. Capt. Gibbons, of Company B, deserves notice, who, finding the farmhouse occupied by a large force of the enemy, ordered his company to advance and fire, scattering them and driving a portion of them into the cellar, where, by closing the door, a large number of them were captured. As you are aware, our men, hastily raised and without drill, behaved like veterans, and fully maintained the honor of the Union and our native State. Total killed, wounded, and missing, 156. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, SANFORD H. PERKINS, Lieut. Col. , Commanding Fourteenth Regiment Conn. Vols. Col. DWIGHT MORRIS, Commanding Second Brigade, Gen. French's Division. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 19. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 27 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Maj. Theodore G. Ellis, Fourteenth Connecticut Infantry. Camp near Gettysburg, Pa., July 6, 1863. Sir: I have the honor to report the following as the part taken by the Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteers in the late battle at this place: We arrived on the ground on the morning of the 2d instant, after being out the night before on picket some 2 miles back, and rejoined the brigade. During the forenoon we supported Woodruff's battery, regular artillery, until our position was changed farther to the left, to support Arnold's (First Rhode Island) battery. Here we remained all night, with a slight change of position, throwing out pickets to the front. During the day the regiment was at times under a heavy shell fire, but met with no loss, excepting in the case of Capt. Coit, who was seriously injured accidentally by a runaway horse. On the morning of the 3d, two companies were advanced as skirmishers, under the command of Capt.'s Townsend and Lucas, who maintained their ground nobly until the grand attack of the afternoon, when they were driven in by the advancing lines of the enemy. In the forenoon the regiment was ordered to take and hold two buildings, a large barn and house, outside of our lines of skirmishers, a little to the right of our position, from which the enemy were seriously annoying our troops. The barn was gallantly charged and taken by four companies, under the command of Capt. Moore, the remainder of the regiment, commanded by myself, making the attack upon the house. The whole distance from our lines to these buildings being commanded by the enemy's sharpshooters, we met with some loss in the attack. It was here that Lieut.'s Seward and Seymour were wounded. While the regiment was within these buildings and firing from them upon the enemy, a case shot entered the upper part of the barn and exploded, killing and wounding some of our men. Having received orders to destroy these buildings, they were fired in several places, after removing from them our killed and wounded. We then returned to the picket reserve, bringing off all our wounded and arms. Being again ordered to support Arnold's battery, we formed on its right, where we remained under the terrific shell fire of Friday afternoon, from 1 p. m. until the battery retired, when I moved the regiment forward and to the left, to cover the space previously occupied by the battery. About this time two lines of battle, extending across the plain for more than a mile, preceded by a line of skirmishers and re-enforced on the right and left by a third line, were observed to emerge from the woods, about one-third of a mile distant and running parallel to our front, and advanced steadily across the intervening plain. The spectacle was magnificent. They advanced in perfect order, the line of skirmishers firing. Our men were formed in a single line along an almost continuous line of low stone wall and fence, which offered considerable protection from the enemy's fire. When the first line of the enemy had advanced to within about 200 yards, our fire opened almost simultaneously along our whole line. The enemy's first line was broken and hurled back upon the second, throwing that also into confusion. Detached portions of the line were rallied, and for a short time maintained their ground, but being rapidly mown down by our terribly destructive fire, they commenced falling back. A portion of this regiment then charged upon the retreating rebels, capturing five regimental battle-flags and over 40 prisoners. There also came into the lines of this regiment about 100 or more of the enemy, some of whom were wounded, and gave themselves up. Among the officers who personally surrendered to me were the following: Col. John A. Fite. Seventh Tennessee. and Lieut. Col. N. J. George, First Tennessee [Provisional Army], not wounded; Lieut.-Col. [Marcus A.] Parks, Fifty-second North Carolina, and Majj. John Q. Richardson, wounded. Among those who were taken prisoners or came within our lines wounded were the following line officers: Capts. G. A. Graves, Twenty-second North Carolina; George Gilliam, Fifty-second North Carolina; J. M. Kincaid, Fifty-second North Carolina; First. Lieuts. J. C. Warren, Fifty-second North Carolina, and J. N. Robertson, Fifth Alabama [Battalion]. There were many other field and line officers captured whose names were not ascertained. The colors captured belonged to the following regiments: Fourteenth Tennessee, First Tennessee [Provisional Army], Sixteenth North Carolina, Fourth Virginia, and Fifty-second North Carolina. The colors of the First [Provisional Army] and Fourteenth Tennessee and Sixteenth North Carolina have each the following inscriptions: "Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Shepherdstown, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Ox Hill, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Frazier's Farm, Cedar Run, Manassas." The colors of the Fourteenth Tennessee were the first taken, and were captured by Sergt. Maj. William B. Hincks. Those of the Fifth-second North Carolina were new, without number or inscription, and were taken by Corpl. Christopher Flynn, of Company K. Those of the Sixteenth North Carolina were taken by Private E. W. Bacon, of Company F. The colors of the Fourth Virginia were turned over to the provost guard, which took charge of the first lot of prisoners taken.* The following is a corrected return of the killed, wounded, and missing in the above engagement: Officers and men. K. W. M. T. Commissioned officers ............ ... 10 ... 10 Enlisted men ..................... 10 42 4 56 Total ...................... 10 52 4 66 K=Killed. W=Wounded. M=Missing. T=Total. The regiment went into action with about 160 muskets. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THEO. G. ELLIS, Maj., Comdg. Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteers. Lieut. William P. Seville, A. A. A. G., 2d Brig., 3d Div., 2d Army Corps.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

Connecticut 14th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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