The Record of a Yankee Regiment

IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION

From the Journal of William H. Warren, Private, of Co. C

No. 1---THE LITERATURE OF THE TIME

The literature of the summer of 1862 has a peculiar interest to all those living now who were old enough at that time to take any note of what was going on around them of public concern. There was much of this kind of reading in all the years of the war, but I think the summer and fall of 1862 exceeded any of the other seasons. Perhaps this belief may come from my being more particularly concerned in that period.

But a great many troops were raised in 1862, and the year being a dull one for work I in common with thousands of others had plenty of opportunity to study the literature and all the other outcomes of the time; and especially to devote ourselves to the discussion of war matters. It was pre-eminently the war year of the war.

On the 1^st of July President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 volunteers, for three years or during the war. In response to this Gov. Buckingham, then the chief magistrate of the state, made the following appeal, and in answer to it the Seventeenth Connecticut volunteers was raised:

I dare say that this proclamation from Gov. Buckingham and the succeeding accounts of some of the public meetings that followed, taken from the local press, will bring to my readers who figured at that time a more vivid picture of the scenes of twenty-three years ago, than any descriptive details I may go into.

In the early part of that eventful month of July I left town for a week. I returned late of a Saturday evening. The Sunday morning was a pleasant one. The sun shone brightly, and way out from the village where the trees waved and the birds sang there as nothing to indicate the human disturbance that had become so common at that time. I walked up Main Street to church at an early hour. On the way I met a friend. He greeted me with considerable fervor and said:

"Our old companions, so-and-so, have been looking for you all week. We are going to enlist in Captain James E. Moore's company, and we want you to join us."

This was a surprise to me. I had a short time before taken a notion to enlist, but on talking with my people about it they had taken such decided grounds against it, that I had given up the idea and thought no more of donning the blue and fine linen of the government.

My friend and I went into church and sat together. I don't know what the sermon was about, and I didn't know then. I might have got some sort of inkling of what was going on in the pulpit, if it had not been for the military zeal and patriotic fervor of my friend. It was the gospel of peace in the one ear and the thunders of war in the other, and the thunders had the majority.

The next day I went up Main street, which differed-in no way particular at least---from the main street of other Fairfield county villages on that day. It was all war-war in the stores, war on the corners, war in the offices, war in the hotels. It seemed as if every one of my fellow citizens had either enlisted or was going to enlist. Drums were sounding. Shops were deserted. Colors were flying. All other employment gave way to the fascination of volunteering one's self, or seeing others volunteer. There were several companies being recruited, but only one for three years-that [being the one Captain] Moore was endeavoring to raise(?)] [MISSING TEXT ON PAGE] ...friend spoke as...[MISSING TEXT ON PAGE]... son by trade. He had served in the Mexican war and in the three months' campaign which culminated in the first battle of Bull Run. So he had some war experience, and being a citizen of good repute beside, he appeared to lead in the matter of getting recruits.

There were two very good incentives to volunteering at this period. One was that a draft was imminent, and the other that business generally was depressed, and employment was scarce. It is not necessary to explain that these two facts were much dwelt upon by those who got commissions on bounties and those who were anxious to fill the quota that they themselves might escape the possible draft.

To those who have never passed through such a period as that of a civil war it is not comprehended what an influence the character of the man who is getting up a company of volunteers would have in effecting enlistments. The man who started the company was no more a commander of it in the eyes of military law, than the last man enrolled in it. But it was generally understood that he who was most largely responsible for the recruiting of a company could be appointed the captain of it if he so desired. So Mr. Moore was already spoken of and addressed as captain, although he had no official claim to the title. And parents and friends, solicitous for the welfare of their members who were to go into the army, were anxious that they should go in charge of someone in whom they had confidence as a man of honor. They felt their offerings to their country would be safer in such a man's hands. Thus Mr. Moore was or any other company organizer who stood well in the community had the support of the parents and other relatives of the prospective volunteer, whatever might have been the inclinations of the volunteer himself.

My people were well acquainted with Mr. Moore, and greatly admired him. I had several companions in his company and so desired to join it. Consequently my opportunities to "join" were numerous and pressing, and eventually successful. In which particular my experience is doubtless similar to that of many another member of the army for the suppression of the rebellion.

On the 28^th of July I went to Military Hill which occupied the third floor of the building corner of Main and White streets, now known as Nichols block, and occupied as a tenement, and signed the roll which was kept there, and right after was sworn into the service of the state.

Of the raising of this company, M.H. Daniels, who became its first lieutenant, and is now a resident of Indianapolis, Ind., writes me the following interesting particulars:

No. 2---THE LITERATURE OF THE TIME

The following is a copy of a statement and address printed in the Danbury Jeffersonian at this time:

With the pressing demand for labor on the farm and in the factory, which has rarely been equaled in this vicinity, we believe there will yet be found those who will make every other consideration bend to their love of the Union and the desire to preserve it. The invited movement for raising a company has been made by Capt. Moore and a better man in a better cause could scarcely be found.

His name will have a good influence upon those who know, and about all do know, how important it is to have a competent leader in every division of the army, whether smaller or greater. We learn that about thirty names are already enrolled on the captain's books. A meeting was held this evening at the law office of Hon. Roger Averill, and the following address and call for a meeting were drafted, to which the annexed signatures were obtained:

CITIZENS OF DANBURY!

The people of our country have been called upon to add 300,000 soldiers to the army of the Union. The enemies of our government are vigilant and active, and duty requires that they should be met by vigilance and activity on our part.

Already the people of the state have arisen in response to the call, and men and money are being bestowed with no illiberable hand. You are asked to contribute your fathers, brothers, sons, yourselves, to this work.

With the proud record which Danbury presents let it not be said that our patriotic old town is behind in furnishing her share to push forward the column. To do this our country needs fighting me, and for the purpose of assisting to obtain them our citizens will meet in Concert Hall, on Friday evening, July 18, at 7:20. We know we need not urge a full attendance. Men of distinction, among whom may be mentioned Gov. Buckingham, are expected to be present and address the meeting.

Roger Averill, Wm. Montgomery, David P. Nichols, George Hill, Frederick S. Wildman, Oliver Stone, Wm. H. White, Lucius P. Hoyt, Lyman Keeler, A.E. Tweedy, Harrison Flint, W.A. Newton, Chas. E. Andrews, J. Amsbury, F.S. Wildman, Jr., Edward Fairchild, Wm. H. Clark, E.R. Whittlesey, Fred S. Blackman, Wm. P. Comstock, Orrin Benedict, G.M. Hoyt, Wm. P. Seeley, Ezra S. White, Ira Morse, Edgar S. Tweedy, G.W. Morris, A.B. Hull, Sam'l Zarkowski, James Harvey, James L. Maynard,C.S. Hunting, A.N. Wildman, O.T. Polly, E.P. Bennett, F.B. Butler, B.F. Ashley, Chas. T. Stevens, John H. Cosler, D.B. Booth, Geo. W. Hamilton, Sam'l. C. Wildman, E.A. Brown, Isaac Smith, John W. Bacon, Ezra M. Starr, Amos N. Stebbins, Stephen Holmes, Levi Osborne, E.S. Sanford, Eli H. Mallory, Geo. Bates, Chas. H. Reed, Almon Judd, Wm. G. Randall.

July 10, 1862."

Nearly one-half of these signers are dead. Only twenty-three of the fifty-five are now residents here.

The meeting was held on the evening advertised. The entire day was devoted to the objects of the call, and the local report says the day would long be remembered by the people of Danbury. A special train with a delegation of citizens left the station here at 9 a.m. for Norwalk, to meet Gov. Buckingham. With their distinguished guest they returned to Danbury, reaching here just before noon. At the Pahquioque shop (Crofut and White's) the men turned out in force, with a cannon, and gave the governor a hearty welcome, to which he made graceful acknowledgement. The village was fully alive to the importance of the meeting, and through the afternoon numbers of people gathered on the streets to talk of it.

Sometime before the meeting was called to order Concert Hall was packed with men and women. Roger Averill was chosen president. Music was furnished by a choir selected from the best musical talent of Danbury and Bethel. An address was delivered by Gov. Buckingham. He stated that he was attending such meetings every night, that in Bridgeport the night before $18,600 was subscribed for hiring volunteers, and that thirty names were enrolled. Remarks were made by Mr. Averill, Elder N.P. Gilbert, (then pastor of the Disciples church), Dr. Hill, of Norwalk, Rev. Mr. Hoyt, of Rochester (then a supply for the Baptist church), Rev. Mr. Crawford, of the Methodist church, Rev. Mr. Clark, of New Fairfield, and others.

An appeal was then made for volunteers, and twenty names were secured. Each man was enthusiastically cheered as he stepped to the platform to give in his name. These were all for Capt. Moore's new company, as the meeting was held to recruit that organization.

The following is a copy of a hand-bill that was generally circulated hereabouts right after this meeting:

State bounty paid for enlisting within 30 days..............................................................$30.00

U.S. bounty upon enlisting....................................................................................... 27.00

In Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Westport, and other towns in the county where companies were being formed similar meetings and advertisements to those just described were taking place.

Captain Fowler, of Norwalk, who commanded Company A, and subsequently became Lieut. Colonel of the regiment, was one of the most popular men in Norwalk. He raised a company for the third regiment, three months men, and also a company for the eighth, three years men, but did not stay long with that company. He was at home when the call came under which the seventeenth regiment came into being was being issued.

One evening, seeing an old comrade of the Third regiment, he asked:

"Don't you want to go in the service again?"

The man replied:

"Captain, if you will raise a company again I will go with you."

Colonel Fowler began the next day to form the company. He first signed the roll. James Russell signed next, and John Crowe followed, and in three days the number desired was secured. The quick work showed the popularity of the unfortunate "Doug" Fowler.

On July 23, the Governor issued special order No. 255, directing the companies formed for the Seventeenth regiment to rendezvous in Bridgeport without delay, and appointed Col. W.H. Noble, of Bridgeport, to the command of the camp.

Shortly after I enlisted the company started for Hartford to join a regiment there, but was prevailed upon to join the camp in Bridgeport, as Captain Daniels described in his letter published last week.