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

WRITTEN BY BVT. BRIG.-GEN. WILLIAM H. NOBLE, LATE COLONEL OF THE SEVENTEENTH CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS. THIS regiment was almost wholly enlisted from the sons of Fairfield County. The appointment of its Colonel, William H. Noble of Bridgeport, and the order for its rendezvous as the county regiment at what is now the Seaside Park of that city, were made by Governor Buckingham at the earnest request of leading citizens of the county. The hour was dark, and there was desperate need of soldiers in the field. It was doubted whether the county alone could fill a regiment as rapidly as the whole State, but the men of Fairfield County took the risk. They pledged the Governor to have their good men and true as quickly at the front as any Connecticut regiment. Well did Fairfield County fulfill that promise. Its Colonel was commissioned on the 22d day of July, 1862. Within thirty days the regiment could have marched to the front a thousand strong. To it, Norwalk furnished two companies, A and F; Stamford, Company B; Danbury, Company C; Bridgeport, Company D and parts of three others; Westport, Newtown, and Bridgeport made up Company E; Ridgefield, Redding, and Bridgeport, Company G; New Canaan, Company H; Greenwich, Company I. Company K was furnished mostly from Fairfield and Bridgeport. Every town of the county sent a squad of soldiers to the regiment, which was mustered into the United States service on the 28th day of August, 1862, and left for the front by rail on the 3d of September following. Its departure was a rare scene of patriotic devotion and affection at parting. The date of its moving had become known throughout the county. On the 3d of September, from all its towns there thronged to Bridgeport, filling its seaside camp and the city, the kindred and friends of the regiment. They showered Godspeeds and blessings on their sons, and braced their hearts to the parting by pledges to keep all right and bright at the firesides of the county. The regiment thought it was going straight "to fight mit Sigel," as General Franz Sigel, commanding the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac, had by permission of the War Department early won the consent of the regiment to join his force. On its arrival at Baltimore, however, it found that city alarmed by raids of the enemy's cavalry, and the regiment was stopped by General John E. Wool, then commanding, and after a delay of a day or two was ordered to encamp as auxiliary to the garrison of Fort Marshall. This was an important earthwork and barracks just east of Baltimore, overlooking the city and harbor, and commanding a wide sweep of country. Neither the work given the regiment, nor the duties imposed, nor their military association, were pleasing. It therefore sought, through its Colonel, a transfer to its original destination, Sigel's Corps. This action coming to the knowledge of General Wool so angered him that, late on the night of Oct. 14, 1862, he peremptorily ordered its Colonel to have the Seventeenth Regiment outside of Baltimore before noon of the 15th, or take the consequences. At half-past eleven the next day, the regiment and all its belongings were speeding by rail to Washington. Arriving there at night, they were ordered next morning to Fort Kearney, one of the northwest defenses of the Capital. After about a fortnight at this fort, on November 5th a welcome order came for the regiment to report to General Sigel, at Gainesville, Va. His corps then held Thoroughfare Gap of the Bull Run Mountains. On reaching Gainesville, the Seventeenth was united with the Second Brigade, First Division, of this Corps. This Second Brigade was made up of four regiments of Ohio men--the Twentyfifth, Fifty-fifth, Seventy-fifth, and the One Hundred and Seventh. Later on, the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York was added, making, with the Seventeenth Connecticut, six regiments, which served through the rest of the war close together in Virginia, on Folly and Morris Islands, S. C., and in Florida. All were, either together or in detachments, in Florida under the command of Colonel Noble. Soon after the Seventeenth Connecticut joined the Eleventh Corps, it moved to Hopewell Gap, in the same mountain range, thence after a fortnight to Chantilly, Va., and on December 6, 1862, it began a tedious seven days' winter march, through slush and snow, towards Fredericksburg, Va. The corps was held as a reserve to the advance of General Burnside's Army of the Potomac. After the disaster at Fredericksburg, the Seventeenth spent its winter in camps at Stafford Court House, Belle Plain, and Brooke's Station, Va. All these posts were near landings on the Potomac and the railroad from Aquia Creek to Falmouth. On the last of April orders were given to make ready to move with the corps (now under command of General Howard) in the disastrous campaign of Chancellorsville. This was the first telling work the regiment had faced. The weather was excessively warm, and before Chancellorsville was reached all had got into light marching order, and the road was strewn with surplus impedimenta. The Eleventh Corps crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford on pontoons, and the Rapidan at Germania Ford by a temporary bridge and by fording. On the field of Chancellorsville the Seventeenth was stationed near the extreme right of the line. Two of its companies were on picket in the Wilderness when Stonewall Jackson surprised and routed the Eleventh Corps, whose commander was two miles away at the Chancellorsville House. This was the first trial of the Seventeenth under fire. It lost in the battle (killed, wounded, and missing) 120 men. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Walter was instantly killed. He had been captured at first Bull Run, and was only released from his imprisonment in time to receive the appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. Colonel Noble was severely wounded and his horse shot under him. Horace Greeley, on page 357 of his "American Conflict," singles out for commendation the hopeless rally of this regiment under Colonel Noble, in face of defeat and retreat all around them. After the withdrawal of General Hooker from this battlefield, the regiment and its corps rested near Brooke's Station until the Army of the Potomac began that following of Lee's advance which resulted in the battle of Gettysburg. It reached that battle-field in the fiercest of the first day's fight. The regiment was pushed forward to the extreme right. Two of its companies, as volunteer sharpshooters, were sent to its outmost flank. The regiment was struck by an overwhelming force, under Confederate General Gordon, at Oakhill, now Barlow's Knoll. Here it lost most of its thirty-nine men who fell in that battle. The entire number of killed, wounded, and missing in the action was 198. Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas Fowler was instantly killed; Captain Wilson French was severely wounded; Major Allen G. Brady was severely contused and disabled by a shell-splinter breaking the scapula. On that Oakhill now stands the regiment's monument to its dead in the battle. Looking from Cemetery Hill northward over the field of Gettysburg, it is a conspicuous landmark. Around it sweeps the new military boulevard which is to encompass the entire battle-field. Overwhelmed and repulsed by the superior force of the enemy, the Eleventh Corps retreated to Cemetery Hill. Here the Seventeenth in its brigade line was posted at its northern foot. This place it held through the next two days of the battle. Its position was many times charged upon, but the enemy neither broke through nor disordered its ranks. On the 6th of July the regiment and its corps, with the rest of the army, began that following of the Confederate force which ended in its escape across the Potomac. It was several times close upon their pickets, and at Hagerstown, Md., was right on their breastworks, thrown up to hold off our attack while making ready to get over the Potomac. When the Union army, after two days' delay, advanced, the enemy had crossed that river. The Eleventh Corps soon after passed over on pontoons, and marched, rested, and renewed their tattered clothing, worn from Gettysburg. A few unimportant movements were made and several positions briefly held. Early in August, 1863, at Catlett's Station, Va., the division (then Gordon's) was ordered to take rail for Alexandria and there embark for the Southern Department. The transports reached Folly Island, Aug. 12, 1863. The brigade under General Ames was soon transferred to Morris Island. It there saw the first gun fired in Gillmore's bombardment of Sumter, and its southwest wall battered into sand heaps. The regiment was many times, for several days, in the siege works approaching Fort Wagner. Two of its men were killed and several wounded. For two weeks, in and out of said works, the regiment was constantly under fire from Forts Wagner, Moultrie, and Johnson, and the batteries near Charleston. Shell and round shot reached nearly the whole of Morris Island. The regiment met here the Sixth and Seventh Connecticut, worn by long and hard service in this department. General Terry commanding these and other troops, was the next in rank under General Gillmore. He had made ready to assault Wagner in three columns, when its evacuation over night was announced. On Morris Island, before the fall of Wagner, the Seventeenth, with all the regiments of its division, had volunteered to make a night assault upon the walls of Sumter. But the claim of the navy to that honor relieved it from the chance of death or glory. Both might have been the outcome from such an assault. After Wagner fell, until about February 23, 1864, the Seventeenth with all its division remained camped on Folly Island. A brief expedition to St. John's Island had been the only event. At that date an order came for Ames's Brigade to embark for Florida. The disaster at Olustee threatened to be followed up by an effort to drive our forces out of that district. On arrival at Jacksonville, General Seymour, commanding, gave General Ames a division, of which the First Brigade was under General Hawley, the Second under Colonel Noble. After about a month without incident, the whole force at Jacksonville was broken up. All re-enlisted regiments were sent north to the Army of the Potomac; the Seventeenth relieved the Tenth Connecticut at St. Augustine; the Ohio boys remained at Jacksonville. From this time to the end of the war the Seventeenth's headquarters were at St. Augustine. One company usually garrisoned the old Fort San Marco; the rest were scattered on raids and at posts. The regiment had been but a few days at St. Augustine when all but that garrison were ordered to Volusia, seventy-five miles up the St. John's River, and to hold posts at Welaka and Saunders below. Right away these two out-of-way posts were captured, and their force of thirty-nine men and two officers were taken to Andersonville. The two companies left at Volusia, by pluck and strategy held on till relieved. Soon after, General Gordon, then commanding Florida, placed in charge of Colonel Noble all the territory east of the St. John's River. This brought Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcoxson in immediate command of the regiment and of St. Augustine. Generals Birney, Gordon, and Hatch, who severally commanded Florida during 1864, sent the regiment and other forces under Colonel Noble on various raids through Florida. The results of these raids, though successful, were of no great military importance, but they subjected the regiment to the trying effects of the climate, and planted the seeds of lasting disease. On the 24th of December, 1864, when returning across the country from a court martial at Jacksonville to St. Augustine, Colonel Noble was captured by guerrillas and taken to Macon and Andersonville, Ga. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcoxson, thus left in command of the regiment, was, about Feb. 4, 1864, on an expedition to Bradock's Farm, on the South of Dunn's Lake, some fifty miles from St. Augustine, mortally wounded while endeavoring to escape from Dixon's Cavalry. At the same time Adjutant Chatfield was instantly killed, and thirty-two men and two officers and a lot of army teams captured. The men were taken to Andersonville. From this time, the regiment served without any important occurrence through the winter of 1864-5, and the following spring to about June, 1865, when it was ordered to rendezvous at Jacksonville, preparatory to discharge and departure for home. The Seventeenth was mustered out at Hilton Head on the 19th of July, 1865. Thus passed out of the service and into history one of those Connecticut regiments whose entire conduct and capacity conferred immortal honor on the State, and contributed so essentially to uphold the authority of the Nation. ENGAGEMENTS. Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863. Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-4, 1863. Morris Island and Fort Wagner, Aug., 1863. Welaka and Saunders, Fla., May 19, 1864. Dunn's Lake, Fla., Feb. 5, 1865. Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Maj. Allen G. Brady, Seventeenth Connecticut Infantry. Gettysburg, Pa., July 4, 1863. Gen.: In compliance with instructions from headquarters, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Seventeenth Regt. Connecticut Volunteers in the engagement of the 1st, 2d, and 3d instant: The regiment arrived in Gettysburg between 1 and 2 p. m. of the 1st instant, and was marched with the other regiments of the brigade through and to the lower end of the town, and there halted for a moment. Four companies were immediately ordered out by Brig.Gen. Ames, under command of Maj. Brady, to the right of the bridge at the lower end of the town, with instructions to throw out two companies as skirmishers, the other two to be held as a reserve, and to take and hold the brick house to the left and beyond the bridge. Two companies were thrown out, and deployed as skirmishers as rapidly as possible to the right of the bridge, along the creek. The other two, held as reserve, were advanced in line, loading and firing as rapidly as possible, making at the same time a left wheel, so as to swing our right around the house, the reserve keeping near and conforming to the movements of the skirmishers. When near the house, the enemy opened upon us with shot, shell, grape, and canister, which retarded our advance for a moment, until Maj. Brady dismounted, went in front of the line of skirmishers, and led them on until quite near the house. The enemy, anticipating our movements, shelled the house, and set it on fire. We, however, held our ground, and held the enemy's skirmishers in check. Their loss up to this time was at least 5 to 1, most of the men in the four companies being excellent marksmen and having volunteered for this occasion. They consisted of Companies A, B, F, and K, commanded, respectively, by Capt.'s McQuhae, Hobbie, Allen, and McCarty. We continued skirmishing briskly until Maj. Brady received orders from Brig.-Gen. Ames to draw in his skirmishers and return to town as rapidly as possible, and take command of his regiment. The order was obeyed, and we fell back in good order, skirmishing with the enemy, who advanced as we retreated, and tried to cut us off and capture us before we got to the town, but we foiled them in this attempt by making a circuit and entering the town near the upper end, and soon joined the remainder of the regiment, which we found near the lower end of the town. The loss in the four companies under Maj. Brady was 3 men killed, 1 captain and 1 lieutenant wounded, 1 sergeant and 3 men taken prisoners. I would here state that I had great difficulty in drawing in Capt. McCarty's company (K), as they were so earnestly engaged and making such sad havoc among the rebels. The remainder of the regiment (six companies), under Lieut.Col. Fowler, advanced with the other regiments of the brigade to the left and front of the town and directly in rear of the One hundred and seventh Ohio Volunteers, in close column by division; were ordered to the front; advanced and deployed at double-quick, and held their ground--notwithstanding the rush to the rear of troops directly in advance--until ordered by the brigade commander to fall back, which order was obeyed in good order, the men loading and firing as they fell back. Lieut.-Col. Fowler was killed when the regiment advanced and deployed. Capt. Moore was killed about this time, and Capt. French and Lieut. Quinn were wounded, and many of the men were killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. When the regiment reached the town, the four companies under Maj. Brady were still skirmishing with the enemy, and remained so until Brig.-Gen. Ames sent an aide with orders for Maj. Brady to return with his command and assume command of his regiment, he being the only field officer of the regiment present. Upon arriving in the town, Maj. Brady assumed command of the regiment, and reported immediately to Brig.-Gen. Ames for instructions. The enemy were at this time advancing rapidly through the town. The regiment was immediately deployed in the streets, and fired several volleys into the ranks of the enemy, which thinned their ranks and retarded their advance. We kept the enemy from advancing through the town until ordered to clear the street of our men for the purpose of planting a battery. The battery not being placed in position as intended, and the regiment being in line on the sidewalk, the enemy took advantage of this, and, with a superior force, rushed though the main street, which compelled us to fall back, which we did reluctantly, but not without contesting the ground inch by inch. As we retreated, we loaded, halted, and poured destructive volleys into their ranks, which cleared the main street of them several times, but we found the enemy too many for us. They poured in from every street in overwhelming numbers, which broke our ranks. Upon arriving near the battery on Cemetery Hill, the regiment was halted, and formed in line of battle fronting the town. About this time Maj.-Gen. Howard, who was in the thickest of the battle, regardless of danger, asked if he had troops brave enough to advance to a stone wall across a lot toward the town, and said he would lead them. We replied, "Yes, the Seventeenth Connecticut will," and advanced at once to the place indicated, remained a few moments, and again advanced across another lot still nearer the town and behind a rail fence at the upper end of the town, which position we held until late in the evening, exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's sharpshooters, when the whole regiment was ordered out on picket, and performed that duty until 2 o'clock of the 2d instant, when we were relieved, and took a position behind the rail fence and 150 paces farther to the right of the place we occupied before going out on picket. We remained in this position, exposed to the enemy's batteries and sharpshooters, until 7 p. m., when we were ordered to the extreme right, behind a stone wall on each side of a lane, below the battery opposite the cemetery entrance. Two companies were advanced to the grain field near the woods, through which the enemy were rapidly advancing. We covered the wall on each side of the lane by compelling about 300 stragglers, who had no commander, to fall into our line. We had not more than time to form behind the wall before the enemy were discovered advancing rapidly upon us on our right and a full brigade obliquely toward our left. When within 150 paces of us, we poured a destructive fire upon them, which thinned their ranks and checked their advance. We fired several volleys by battalion, after which they charged upon us. We had a handto-hand conflict with them, firmly held our ground, and drove them back. Soon after, some of the troops on our left giving way, the rebels succeeded in getting in our rear. We again drove them back and held our position. It was during this conflict that Maj. Brady was wounded by a fragment of shell, which hit him upon the right shoulder. After the enemy had been driven back, the firing ceased, excepting occasional shots from their sharpshooters. We were relieved by the Fourth Ohio Volunteers, and were ordered to change front to the left behind a wall running at right angles with the one we had just occupied, and fronting the town, and where the enemy entered on our left. We remained at this wall all night and during the whole of the 3d instant, exposed to a cross-fire of the rebel batteries and their sharpshooters. With the latter our best marksmen exchanged shots, and succeeded in dislodging many of them. When the regiment entered the engagement on the 1st instant, it numbered 17 officers and 369 enlisted men. We report at the present time 9 officers and 120 enlisted men. Capt. Wilson French and Lieut. Bartram are the only officers known to have been taken prisoners. The former was wounded in the first day's engagement. We are not aware that either of them was paroled. The regiment behaved gallantly. No troops in the world could behave better. Both officers and men are deserving of great credit for their coolness and bravery throughout the entire three days battle. There are many deserving of especial mention for bravery on the field, but they are so numerous I will not undertake to give their names. The coolness and bravery displayed by the officers and mer of Company D exceeded anything I ever saw. I am, general, your most obedient servant, A. G. BRADY, Maj., Comdg. Seventeenth Connecticut Vol. Infantry. Brig. Gen. A. Ames, Comdg. Brigade. Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

Connecticut 17th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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