CHAPTER VI.

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THE happy days of our veteran furlough flew swiftly by. The regiments that had preceded us, had each enjoyed several months in the State. It was universally expected that the same would be the case with the Thirteenth. Consequently there was much delay in assembling at the rendezvous. But the pressing necessity for more troops at the front defeated their hopes of an extension of the holidays. The Thirteenth was wanted immediately in the Shenandoah Valley.

On the twenty-ninth of August those who had assembled at the recruiting station in Fair Haven, only eighteen officers and one hundred and forty men, were ordered immediately away. At eleven at night we embarked on the steamer Continental, leaving be-hind Major Comstock and the remainder of the veterans. At five A. M. we arrived in New York. From Jersey City at four p. M. we took the cars for Philadelphia, where we arrived at ten and a half P. M., and received a good collation at that model establishment of its kind, " The Union Volunteer Refreshment Rooms." At one o'clock at night we took the train for Baltimore, where we arrived early in the morning. August 31. Here we were furnished a lunch at " The Soldiers' Rest. Again taking the cars we reached Washington at four P. M.

Next day at noon, we left Washington. The cars moved slowly to the Relay House and thence to Harpers Perry, where we arrived about midnight. We

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 remained in the cars until day, when Colonel Blinn crossed the bridge to report for orders, Captain Averill, " formerly Lieutenant of old D," in leaping from the cars, sprained his foot, and was left in hospital.

After waiting till five P. M. we marched across the bridge into and through the village, and up the long steep hill past the fortifications. Going through Hall-town, we moved four or five miles towards Charles-town and bivouacked. The road was very dusty ; the soldiers tired, Report reached us that Capt. Wells, whom we had left in Algiers, lay sick in Hospital at Sandy Hook below Harpers Ferry, and that the non-veterans had done good service with the rest of the Nineteenth Corps in. saving Washington during the dark days of August.

Next morning, September 3, 1864, at eight A.M. the regiment left its place of bivouac, and marched rapidly forward. We passed the jail where John Brown was confined ; the court house where he had Ms trial as lie lay bleeding and helpless; the field, rendered forever historic by the offering of his life for the liberty of the African race. Five years had not passed; but the edict of freedom for that race had been proclaimed at Washington, and a million bayonets were putting it in force! The martyr's body indeed lay smoldering in its lowly grave at North Elba; but with what gigantic strides his soul was marching on !

Our army had this day set out to fight the enemy. We passed the baggage wagons, which had been ordered out of the way of battle. We must hasten, or be too late, and there were those in our regiment

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 who thought it a disgrace to have a fight and the Thirteenth not to be in it. Others felt differently.

Corporal Strange, Co, F, at our first halt this day, shot off the first two fingers of his right hand. Such an accident had not occurred in the Thirteenth since Port Hudson, where it was quite common for soldiers of some regiments to shoot off the right fore-finger.

By a forced march the Thirteenth that afternoon reached the army, some twenty miles from Harpers Perry and two from Berryville, We halted on the left of the pike. Within two hours we were ordered forward into battle as a part of Molineux's brigade. The enemy had fallen back in good order from Charlestown as we advanced, and were making a stand on the road from Berryville to Winchester. About two divisions of troops on each side were engaged. The transition from the quiet and cheerful scenes of home to the smoke-wrapped fields and hellish noise of war was rather startling; but the Thirteenth went in with its. accustomed alacrity. We crossed the pike and advanced under an artillery fire to the front and right, where the musketry was raging. Halting In brigade line, the Thirteenth were sheltered by a slight rise in the ground, while the enemy's shot and shell passed over us to the road on our left. Night closed round us, only illumined by the flashing powder. The shelling and the musketry firing in the darkness re-called many similar scenes in Louisiana. Rain commenced falling and stopped the fighting. We lay in line on the battlefield-a hard night for the Thirteenth.

Next morning the contest was renewed with artillery ; the firing being very brisk half a mile in front

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 of us. The enemy soon gave way and withdrew to-wards the Opequan Creek, which crosses the Winchester pike.

Retiring quarter of a mile our brigade commenced throwing up breastworks. The same was done along the entire line of the Nineteenth Corps. While busied in this work; the writer was detailed at half-past two as field officer of the day. Taking out the relief of seventy-five men, we mot our pickets and sharpshooters in full retreat. A rebel battalion in line with colors flying had attacked and driven them in. The enemy wore closely following. Deploying; we succeeded in arresting the retrograde movement. Several companies arriving as re-enforcements, we re-established the picket line after two hours of sharp fighting. The pertinacity with which they pressed every advantage and clung to every position, surprised us. They meant to make a desperate struggle for the rich valley of the Shenandoah. A few men were wounded on our side. Several of the enemy were killed, as we learned from inscriptions at their graves a few days later.

Picket duty and reconnoissances in force now occupied our time. September 5, the whole of the Thirteenth were on picket. The same day a heavy reconnoitering column found the enemy massed on our right, and our lines seriously threatened. Gold rains at night made us particularly uncomfortable. Every morning, for an hour before daybreak, the army stood in line.

September 6, rain fell all day.

September 7, Molineux's brigade at ten A. M. joined a reconnoitering column, and moved towards

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 Winchester. We returned at evening, having found the enemy in force near the Opequan. Major Com-stock rejoined us.

September 8, it rained all day.

Sunday, September 11, religious services at brigade head-quarters were broken off by a thunder storm.

September 12, a soldier was drummed through the army to "The Rogue's March," escorted by seven men with muskets and bayonets, some of which followed inconveniently near. He wore a hard-tack box, through which his head appeared. On one side was written, ''THIEF ;" on the other, " STOLE PROPERTY WHILE GUARDING IT."

September 13, the regiment was ordered to the extreme left of the works across the Berryville pike. On our right was a section of field artillery ; and next was the Twenty-second Iowa, their right resting on the road.

Our brigade at this time comprised the Eleventh Indiana, One Hundred Thirty-first New York, Third Massachusetts Cavalry, Thirteenth Connecticut, Twenty-second Iowa, and One Hundred Fifty-ninth New York ; all under command of Colonel Molineux.

Thursday, September 15, the regiment was ordered to be under arms at four and a half o'clock A. M. Notice was given by the brigade commander that an attack was every moment expected.

Saturday, September 17, General Grant was reported to be visiting Sheridan. The battle of the following Monday was the result.

Sunday, September 18, after regimental inspection, religious services were conducted at the camp of the Eleventh Indiana by Chaplain Ames of that regiment.

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 Orders were received to move at two o'clock A. M. next day to the Berryville pike and there join the remainder of the brigade. No wagons were to accompany the movement, nor any baggage.

At half-past two o'clock A, M., September 19,1864, being Monday, the Thirteenth moved out to the road, Colonel Blinn was in command. In an hour the whole army was in motion. The enemy was known to be in strong' force six or eight miles distant on the Winchester side of the Opequan Creek. From Lime-stone Ridge, which is a long line of high ground bordering the Opequan on the eastern side and crossing the turnpike, the First Connecticut Cavalry had driven the enemy the night before.

We marched, along in the darkness, much of the way through woods, making frequent halts. At day-break the pause lasted longer, and we formed line of battle. Soon we passed into a flank movement, marching for the most part on the right of the pike, which was crowded with artillery and ambulances. Rapid cannonading indicated that the fight had commenced.

It has often been remarked that what passes under the observation of one man in a great battle is necessarily of very limited extent and imperfectly seen. It is only by comparing the accounts of many eye wit-nesses in different parts of the field, that a view, at once accurate and comprehensive, of a general engagement can be obtained.

As we neared the Opequan, word came to the regimental commanders that the Nineteenth Corps was wanted immediately at the front, and that General Sheridan expected much of it; that the men must

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hastily fill canteens at the stream, and press forward, losing no time. Before reaching the Opequan, Colonel Blinn, who had been sick for several days with chills and fever, was obliged to resort to one of the ambulances, leaving the writer in command.

Having waded the shallow creek the Thirteenth advanced rapidly a mile along the pike which led through a narrow wooded gorge. Then the regiment filed to the right in a straight road leading up a long hill and nearly perpendicular to the general direction of the pike. Along this branch road, on the side farthest from Winchester, the Thirteenth first formed line, the other regiments of the brigade being on the right and left.

After standing here half an hour, we marched by the right flank across the road and into a wood lot, perhaps a quarter of a mile in the direction of the enemy ; thence obliquely to the left into an open field, which commanded an extensive view to the left and front; but the right was hidden by woods. The regiments moved separately some distance to the front, and there the brigade again formed line, connecting with other brigades of Grover's Division. We were moving off to the left down a slope, when Gen, Grover rode up rapidly and ordered us further to the right. The regiment was now on high ground. To the left we saw a portion of the Sixth Corps, which was posted on a hill, breaking and running" to the rear under a hot fire of musketry; and we saw supports rapidly passing to their assistance. In rear of the Thirteenth was a little hollow in which Surgeons Clary and Clarke commenced establishing a hospital for the wounded but the shells came so thick that they were compelled

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 to remove It to a Quaker's house, half a mile back, The artillery fire waxing warm, and everything pointing to an extensive engagement, the writer delivered letters with money into the hands of Dr. Clary; a wise precaution as the event proved.

The regimental commanders had received no information of the plan of the battle. It appears to have been as follows: The Sixth Corps to form on the left, the Nineteenth on the centre and right. These were to amuse the enemy and cover well the mouth of the gorge, from which the whole army had to issue. The Eighth Corps was to come up, pass round the rear of the Nineteenth, mass upon its right, and then hurl itself against the rebel left wing.

The danger in this programme was that the enemy by a determined charge would strike for the mouth of the gorge, cut Sheridan's army in two, and 'hold the only practicable road for the retreat of that portion which should have arrived on the field. This was precisely what Early attempted to do, and he came fearfully near to its accomplishment.

He allowed the Sixth Corps to debouch from the long narrow road between the hills, to come out into the open rolling country and deploy on his right with little resistance. Grover's Division did the same in front of the rebel centre, where Early had massed his troops, Dwight's division, was still coming up. The Eighth Corps was struggling along the bottom of the gorge.

To gain ground to the front and give room for the evolutions of the troops in our rear, a general for-ward movement was commenced. Grover's (second) division was at first crowded, the battalion intervals

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being obliterated, and the regiments overlapping one another. The lines of advance from the defile being divergent, a large gap was soon made between the two corps, and also breaks occurred in our division front. The irregularity of the ground aggravated these unfavorable features.

A heavy fire of musketry was now added to that of artillery. This only seemed to increase the enthusiasm of Grover's men. Our advance commenced with steadiness and in a beautiful line, but gradually quickened into a rapid charge.

One of our first men struck was that brave and faithful first-sergeant, Samuel B. Dunn, Company K, both of whose hands were sadly torn by grape shot, The writer recollects throwing a cord to form a com-press, as the Sergeant held up his mangled hands, A small, crooked brook thick set with bushes, broke the regiment near the centre, it being impossible from the noise to hear the commands. Major Comstock was directed to look after the companies thus temporarily separated on the right, and keep them to the colors the forward movement still continuing

The Thirteenth was now advancing up something like a little valley, raked longitudinally by a hostile battery about quarter of a mile distant, and by a line of rebel infantry, whose position was indicated by the incessant jets of smoke. The rapidity of our advance allowed no time for observation. A tremendous fire was tearing every portion of the field.

The rebel general seemed to have waked up at last. He must have been puzzled at the impetuous onset of Grover's division, in front of which he had concentrated his best troops to pierce our centre. The time for action seemed to have come.

The enemy's first line recoiled before our swift advance, but his batteries kept up their tremendous firing.

Orders finally came to halt. We stopped under a heavy fire. The Thirteenth, farther to the front than most of the line, was at a dry channel, two feet in depth and width, worn by a small brook. Here the men wore allowed to load and fire at will, each man creeping up about a rod from the ditch to deliver the Are. Quito an interval separated us from the other regiments.

Passing to the left and giving instructions to the men to husband their ammunition and not fire with-out careful aim, the writer noticed several men on the right starting up and running to the rear, and at the same instant Lieut. Handy of Colonel Molineux's staff, on his horse, his face pale, his hands uplifted, apparently communicating orders; the men starting to their foot. " What are those orders?" the writer demanded. "Retreat! Retreat! Get to the rear as fast as possible!" he answered, throwing up both hands Early's masses wore coming!

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" Rise up. Pace to the rear. Battalion-About face. Forward-March! Not too fast. Slower. Keep dressed on the centre. Guide on the colors. Slower." Such were the commands given.

Hardly had the retrograde movement commenced, when one of Sheridan's staff officers came riding up at a tearing speed, his horse covered with foam. The regiment had passed two or three rods. The writer had not yet started but was angrily calling out to some of the officers to stop their men from running, " For God's sake!" said the aide; " What does this mean? This retreat must be stopped. This position must be held. It must be held at all hazards." " Battalion-Halt!" commanded the writer at the top of his voice. Those of the Thirteenth who heard the order hesitated a moment, and some obeyed; but the great majority did not hear it, or were swept along In the ever-increasing speed of retreat, " I'll bring them back,' said the aide. " Our brigade commander ordered the retreat," replied the writer. " It's a mistake. This position must be held to the last extremity, By -, if we lose this, all's lost. Hold it, I'll bring support immediately." Plunging his spurs into his horse he disappeared in the direction of the retreating regiments. A hailstorm of metal poured after him.

Quite a number of members of other regiments clustered to the little group, till we had about seventy men. Forming these in line, and causing bayonets to be fixed, the writer waited the return of our brigade, Minutes seemed hours. We knew that great efforts would instantly be put forth to retake the abandoned ground; for if Early once got possession of the entrance

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 to the gorge in our rear, it was all over with our army. We looked every moment for our brigade, It came ; but too late for us!

Emory, Grover, Birge, Molineux, and many other officer's made almost incredible exertions to the retreat, which had now become a precipitate flight, The right of the Sixth Corps like the Second Division of the Nineteenth had given way before Early's tremendous charge. His veteran regiments, however, were broken as our own had been by their impetuosity and the irregular ground; and when they readied the First Division, Nineteenth Corps, which had just formed line and advanced to meet the shock, the tide of retreat began to be rolled back and the Second Division rallied.

Captain DeForest, of the Twelfth Connecticut, in his admirable description of Sheridan's of Winchester, in Harpers New Monthly Magazine, sent the following picture :

"Grover's and Rickett's (First Division, Sixth Corps) commands reached the base from which they had advanced, in a state of confusion which threatened wide-spread disaster. Sixth Corps men and Nineteenth Corps men were crowding together up the line of the Berryville pike, while to the right and left of it the fields were dotted with fugitives, great numbers of them wounded, bursting out of the retiring ranks, and rushing towards the cover of the forest. Some regiments disappeared for the time as organizations. Early's veterans advanced steadily with yells of triumph and constant volleys of musketry, threatening to sweep away our centre, and render our struggle a defeat, almost before it became a battle. It

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was the bloodiest, the darkest, the most picturesque, the most dramatic, the only desperate moment, of the day. General Emory, General Grover, with every brigade commander and every staff officer present rode hither and thither through the fire, endeavoring if threats, commands and entreaties, to halt and re-
the panic-stricken stragglers."
 All this came of the unfortunate order to retreat, while exposed to a heavy and destructive fire.   Men may face such a storm with steady and grim defiance. The Thirteenth had done it many times. But no soldiers can turn their backs to such a tempest, and march slowly away. An irrepressible panic seizes them. They will run !

But we who had remained in position when the red waves of battle were sweeping towards us and the "grey foam was dashing past, were engulphed before we knew it, in the surging flood. The first party approached our left. The writer commanded, " Fire!" but the cry arose, "Don't Fire! They're deserters coming in!" A glance convinced to the contrary, and again the writer commanded, " Fire /" But it was too late. We were prisoners!

The rallied division of General Grover, and the fresh,division of General Dwight, now made a deter-mined stand. Splendid deeds of heroism were performed, by the enemy as well as by our own men ; and many a gallant officer and hundreds of gallant soldiers fell to rise no more. The well-nigh fatal charge was at last arrested. The rebels were forced back far enough to allow the Eighth Corps to come from the defile, pass behind the Nineteenth, and form in dense column on the right. Here, at four P. M., in

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conjunction with the cavalry, they made that long-intended and brilliant charge which turned the enemy's left, A simultaneous advance of the three corps now drove the entire Confederate army from the field.

In this engagement the Thirteenth lost six killed, thirty-nine wounded, and thirty-two prisoners ; among the latter Lieutenant Gardner. The Nineteenth Corps lost nineteen hundred and forty-six killed and wounded.

About sunset the Thirteenth moved a mile or more to the left of Winchester and bivouaced. Next day they accompanied the rest of the brigade in the pursuit. They reached a point near Strasburg. To the left of the highway a mile from town they occupied the crest of a high hill. Here they threw out pickets and passed a very cold night.

September 21, the regiment moved with the brigade several miles to the right and took position about half a mile from the railroad.

Next day was signalized by the splendid victory of Fisher's Hill. The Thirteenth was engaged till past midday in erecting earthworks, tinder the constant fire of the rebel pickets and sharpshooters. It was difficult to get shovels, and our men would much rather fight than dig, yet waited patiently.

The Richmond papers announcing that Early's position at Fisher's Hill was impregnable to the whole Yankee army, must have been received by him just about the time he started in headlong flight down its slopes!

Cannonading had been going on most of the day, when the Thirteenth, late in the afternoon, were ordered

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 forward along the pike. Passing through Strasburg, they charged at first directly up the road, and then to the right, where they received orders to halt and lie down. A severe fire of shrapnel, shell and solid shot was opened upon them, during the charge, and their preservation was truly marvelous, only two being wounded. Dr. Clark, who was present says, "It was like going through hell!" The Eighth Corps, which had so nobly turned the enemy's left at Winchester, now performed a similar and equally gallant service. Creeping on hands and knees half a mile, they sprang at one bound inside the rebel works. At the same instant the Thirteenth, with the rest of the division and corps, made a simultaneous rush on the stronghold, and the stars arid stripes were borne to the summit.

After the battle the regiment pushed on rapidly in pursuit. The road was strewn with broken and burning wagons, ambulances and the debris of a defeated army. Report spread that we had captured every piece of rebel artillery except one. The men were just felicitating themselves on the good news, when they were suddenly opened upon with both musketry and artillery ! This was some three miles from Fisher's Hill. The regiment halted, formed line of battle, and advanced to charge; but the enemy had fled. Pursuing through Tom's Brook, Hawkinstown and Woodstock, the regiment halted on the left of the road at four A. M., September 23, just after passing through the last named town. Rations were issued, arid after four or five hours' rest, they resumed the pursuit, passing through Edinburgh to Mount Jackson. Here the enemy attempted to make a stand ; but the Second

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 Division passing around their loft forced them to evacuate the position. The Thirteenth pressed on, occasionally coming in view of the flying rebels. The regiment kept in the fields to the right of the pike, Wherever a piece of artillery could be brought to bear on the enemy, it was done ; until the Thirteenth reached New Market. Here our men rested through the night, and then marched to Harrisonburgh. The view of the multitudes of camp fires at Harrisonburgh by night was one of great beauty ; the whole amphitheatre of hills being illuminated for many miles around. Resuming the march next morning, the regiment reached Mount Crawford ; the furthest point reached by the Thirteenth ; some twenty-one miles distant from Staunton.

Remaining twenty-four hours in Mount Crawford, the regiment returned, September 27, to Harrison-burgh. Here they remained in camp about two weeks. The nights began to be severe, only shelter-tents being allowed to soldiers, and a tent-fly to officers. The regiment was engaged here in the usual picket duty, and was occasionally drilled. Several alarms were had, and the regiment repeatedly " fell in" with all haste. Every morning, an hour before day-light, they stood to arms and remained until sunrise, shivering, but full of fight.

October 7, the regiment marched back to Strasburgh, and went into camp not far from the spot where they had thrown up works just previous to the battle of Fisher's Hill. About this time privates Schweikart and Fuller, while out foraging for the officers' horses, were captured by the enemy's scouts. In

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two or three days the command moved back several miles to Cedar Creek.

October 15, the regiment moved out rapidly half a mile to support the picket line then warmly engaged, The Eighth Corps was attacked in force, and two or three hundred were killed and wounded. The Thirteenth remained out through the frosty night beside a stone wall. Fires being prohibited, they suffered severely. Here they remained next day, exposed to the skill of the rebel sharp-shooters. It was at this time that the commissioners, who had been sent from Connecticut for the purpose, took the votes of the soldiers for the approaching presidential election. It is due to these public functionaries to say, that, being under the rebel fire, they performed their duties with great alacrity, appearing to feel that time was precious. In the afternoon the troops moved back to their position near the creek.

October 18, twenty-seven conscripts arrived from Connecticut. They were assigned to Company K, under command of Lieut. Perkins.

The same day orders were received by the regimental commanders of the Second Division, Nineteenth Corps, to have coffee for the men at three o'clock next morning, and to be in line before daybreak, ready to march on a reconnoissance in force. This order was fully observed.

In the morning of October 19, 1864, the following was the disposition of Sheridan's army before day light :

The three corps d'armee were posted in echelon, descending from the left, each corps being on a moderate

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 elevation, of ground and thus forming one of the three grand steps. First, on the left of the Strasburg pike was the Eighth Corps. Second, on the right of the same road was the Nineteenth, half a mile to right and rear of the Eighth. Third, to the right and rear of the Nineteenth was the Sixth, Crook commanded the Eighth, Emory the Nineteenth, and Wright the Sixth. Wright, by seniority, commanded the whole army until Sheridan's arrival on the field. The extremities of the wings were three miles apart. The ground, on the right of the Sixth Corps was occupied by Torbert's cavalry. A small division of infantry, known as Kitching's Provisional Division, lay on the left of the Eighth Corps looking outward. Our batteries were posted along the front, where a strong line of earthworks and extensive abattis had been constructed. The Second Division, Nineteenth Corps, was under arms, ready to go on their expected reconnaissance.

The enemy, re-enforced by twelve thousand fresh troops, was supposed to be lying entrenched on Fisher's Hill.

Three days previously a brigade of our cavalry occupied the ground over which Early now led his men to turn our left. Two days previously General Emory had reconnoitered the spot, and suggested that it was possible for the enemy to flank us there. But no one dreamed that the rebel commander had the audacity to attempt the perilous enterprise. It was a truly Napoleonic feat.

From the summit of the Massanutten mountain, with a good glass, the position of the whole union army could be seen.

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Before midnight on the eighteenth of October the rebel army commenced that flank movement, to which history furnishes no parallel. Giving orders to his cavalry and light batteries to amuse and threaten our right wing at the proper moment, the remainder of Early's army, not less than twenty thousand, descend-ed into the ravine that stretches along the base of the Massanutten peak, crossed the north branch of the Shenandoah, and crept stealthily two or three miles, passing around the Eighth Corps in perfect silence, and sometimes within easy talking distance of Crook's pickets. Hour after hour the long stream of troops in grey flowed on. They had left their canteens, in order that the tinkling sound might not betray them.

Half an hour before daybreak the division of General Gordon, whose genius is said to have devised this master-piece of strategy, had passed quite around the Eighth Corps, and was massed in close column facing obliquely the left and rear of the Nineteenth ! Opposite Kitching's. Provisional Division, and facing squarely the left flank of the Eighth Corps, were the two rebel divisions of Generals Ramseur and Pegram. Facing the front of the Eighth Corps were the two divisions of the confederate Generals Kershaw and Wharton. Thus lay this doomed corps just at day-break, all unconscious of danger, with rebels to the number of twenty thousand on three sides and less than half a mile distant, crouching and eager to pounce upon their sleeping prey !

On a sudden a terrific roar of musketry and the yells of ten thousand infantry ! It was Early's "Good morning " salutation! His veteran lines moved steady and swift, the little resistance they encountered serving

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 only to keep the charging columns compact. The gallant Eighth Corps, which had won so glorious a name on many a battle field ; the corps which. Sheridan had swung round that great semi-circle at Winchester, like a rock in a huge sling, smiting Early a blow which sent him reeling back to Strasburg; the corps whose lion-spring, swift as a thunderbolt, had landed it in the monster's fiery lair on Fisher's Hill, on the twenty-second of September ; was now rolled up, trodden under foot, and swept away as easily as the whirlwind drives the autumn leaves. In twenty minutes from the tiring of the first gun, the Eighth Corps was a panic-stricken flying mob.

The retreating mass of fugitives first apprised the officers of the Nineteenth Corps how terrible was the blow that had fallen. Almost at the same instant the dense masses of Gordon's division struck McMillan's brigade of the First Division, Nineteenth Corps, which had been hastily pushed to the left rear by Emory, who comprehended the fact that the enemy were out-flanking us. The Twelfth Connecticut was in this brigade, and most gallantly did that noble sister regiment uphold the honor of the state on this, as on every other occasion. They fired three vollies, but the far superior weight of the enemy crushed them, as an elephant would trample down a bulldog. Two other brigades successively shared the same fate in a few minutes. Still onward pressed the rebel columns, and ever rose and rung their terrible battle-yell. They threw out no skirmishers, for they knew the ground perfectly.

Emory threw several brigades of the Nineteenth Corps on the outer side of their own breastworks, as

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 the bullets now came from the rear. Wright pushed the Sixth Corps rapidly to the left and rear to gain full possession of the Winchester and Strasburg pike.

The part taken by the Thirteenth Connecticut was not peculiar. They moved with the remainder of Grover's division, the whole of which was under arms for the expected reconnoissance. Had fifteen minutes' notice of the real state of things been given, the di-vision could have been faced to meet the shock. But almost simultaneously with the first roll of musketry, the fugitives of the Eighth Corps came rushing up and across the pike, and bullets began to fall from the front, left, and rear. By Molineux's order, the Thirteenth, with the rest of the brigade, stepped into the trenches at the first firing. In a few minutes the in-rolling tide of fire and steel reached them, and chaos came with it. By some misunderstanding, the right wing moved off with Col. Blinn; the left, with Major Comstock. Many determined stands were taken by our veterans, who seized every opportunity to hurl back death and defiance at the avalanche of rebels. But every successive position had to be abandoned. In some disorder all the regiments were retreating. Towards noon the two wings of the Thirteenth were re-united.

General Wright, not feeling safe till the Winchester and Strasburg pike was securely held, kept pushing the Sixth Corps towards this important avenue of communication. At last it got into position on the left of the Nineteenth and in connection with it. The pursuit seemed to have ceased. The enemy were gathering up the fruits of victory. Only their artillery

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continued firing. It was five hours since the action had commenced. The army had been driven about four miles.

The Sixth Corps had gained the pike, and the army had began to assume a formidable attitude fronting the enemy, when Sheridan came with flying speed from Winchester on his superb black charger. Every-body recognized him as ho rode from regiment to regiment with animating words. The troops were resting in line. Sheridan's presence acted like a charm. They felt that they had been taken at a great disadvantage. After infinite difficulty they had once more got into a position to strike back. Even the shattered and dispersed fragments of the Eighth Corps began to crystalize. The cavalry formed a long line across the field, stopped all stragglers, and compelled them to fall in with the nearest organization.

The Nineteenth Corps was for the most part posted in a largo piece of woods. They threw out skirmishers, the Thirteenth being deployed under command of Colonel Blinn. The skirmishers were ordered not to attempt to rally on the battalion, but to join the final charge, each man fairing in with the movement wherever he might be.

After two or throe hours, every moment of which was most industriously employed in re-forming, re-organizing, and preparing, word was brought to Emory that a column in mass was advancing against him. The Nineteenth Corps was all ready for them this time. They struck it near the centre. A steady roll of musketry followed, which lasted several minutes. The enemy retreated in the utmost confusion.

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 This was the first repulse they had received this day.

Another pause of an hour, and the army impatiently awaited the signal for the grand advance which was to restore the fortunes of the day. Sheridan's order came at last: " The entire line will advance. The Nineteenth Corps will move in connect-ion with the Sixth. The right of the Nineteenth will swing towards the left so as to drive the enemy upon the pike."

So the Sixth Corps were to charge squarely up the pike ; while the Nineteenth, outflanking the confederates, were to make a gigantic wheel to the left. The two corps would form an enormous V, inclosing a great portion of the enemy within the angle.

When all was ready the movement commenced. General Birge is said to have seized a flag, rode out in front of our skirmish line, and pointing to a hostile battery, given the signal for charge. With shouts that seemed to shake the hills, fifteen thousand men moved forward in quick time against the sheets of flame that blazed from the long grey ranks and roaring batteries. The shocks were quick, repeated, terrible. From height to height, from wood to wood, from wall to wall, the broken ranks of the enemy re-treated, making a stand for a few minutes at successive wooded ridges, which had been hastily fortified by rude breastworks of rails and earth ; and then re-coiling again before the steady and resistless advance ; until five thousand cavalry, led by such men as Torbert and Custar and Mclntosh, thundered upon their heels, and the lately victorious and magnificent army of Early became a routed rabble !

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Forty-nine pieces of artillery, about half of which were captured from us in the morning; sixty-five ambulances, and a proportionate number of wagons small arms, and the thousand implements of war; fifteen hundred prisoners, and two thousand rebel killed and wounded, were among the fruits of this great victory so wonderfully wrested from defeat. But its chief importance was its crushing effect upon the al-ready reeling confederacy.

The loss of our army was very severe ; not less than thirty-five hundred killed, wounded and missing. The Thirteenth lost two killed, eighteen wounded and nine missing. Among the killed was our brave color-sergeant, Geo. A. Winslow. He fell pierced through the forehead by a rifle ball, beneath the folds of the flag lie bore so gallantly and loved so well. Among the wounded was Major Comstock, whose hand was badly cut by a fragment of shell.

Captain Wells deserves especial mention, for going into battle and sharing the perils of the regiment through the day, though he had in Iris pocket a leave of absence.

That night the regiment slept in the camp it bad-vacated in the 'morning. Next day it moved half way to Strasburg and bivouaced. On the twenty-first it returned to Cedar Creek. After a few days there, it retired s" miles towards Winchester, and went into winter-quarters with the rest of the army. Strong earthworks were immediately thrown up, and soon" after log-huts were built. The place was christened Camp Russell.

December 1, 1864, the regiment moved from Camp Russell to Martinsburg as guard to a wagon train. There on a high hill they remained a week in camp

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 and then returned to Camp Russell. Two weeks later the non-veterans, one hundred and twenty-five in number, left for New Haven to be mustered out of service. Fifteen officers accompanied them, rendered supernumerary by the consolidation of the veterans into a battalion of five companies. They were Colonel C. D. Blinn ; Quartermaster William Bishop; Adjutant F. N. Stanley; Captains J. J. McCord, 0. H. Conrwell, D. H. Fiuley, Perry Averill; First Lieutenants, Robert A. Ripley, J. S. A. Baker, William F. Norman ; Second Lieutenants, J. J. Squiers, George B. Faucher, Charles H. Beatou, J. M. Lyman, B. S. Dunbar.

This consolidation was completed on the twenty-ninth of December, and the Thirteenth Regiment proper ceased to exist as an organization.

The Veteran Battalion, Thirteenth Conn. Vols., being composed chiefly of those who had re-enlisted in the preceding winter for three years or during the war, contained a large proportion of the patriotism and courage of the old regiment. Its members still clung with pride to the battle-torn flags they had so often borne to victory and looked confidently forward to new fields of danger and glory.

December 30, the day after the regiment was consolidated, the battalion moved with the remainder of the army five miles from Camp Russell to Stevenson's Depot, the terminus of the Harper's Ferry and Winchester Railroad, where the battalion was detached to guard the ammunition train of the Nineteenth Corps. A snow storm came on at evening, and next day was terribly bleak and wintry. The intense cold will long be remembered, the thin shelter tents being entirely

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 inadequate to keep out the cold, as the men lay without fires on the frozen ground. Monday, January 2, 1805, another snow storm came on. Our men stood shivering, silent and helpless. January 3d, the battalion moved to higher ground half a mile distant. January 4, another snow storm came and with it much suffering. The battalion, at last oh tainted materials tore building houses, and were just getting them into a habitable condition, when they received orders, January 5, to move by rail with live rest of the Second Division. A cold rain storm came on, soaking the clothing of the men who were kept eight hours in the storm on platform cars. Some had feet frozen ; others, cars and lingers. Proceeding by rail from Harper's Ferry, they arrived at Baltimore, Saturday morning, January 7. .Her* they were crowded into barracks at Camp Carroll, a mile from town. They were packed in like sheep, with hardly room to stand. Private Lantry shot private Black, both of A: cause, ruin.

Next day was clear and cold.

January 10th, the first and third brigades marched in a cold rain through the mud, and em-barked under scaled orders, January 11, the battalion went on board the steamer Manhattan. At midnight, January 12, they wore transferred to the steamer Illinois, Friday, January 13, they were towed to sea by tugs. Touching at Fortress Monroe and taking on board rations, they steamed out to sea the same night. The water was rough, but the Illinois came to anchor at evening, January 16, off the Savannah bar. January 17th, they waited all day for a pilot. Wednesday morning, January 18th,

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 they weighed anchor and stood off in the direction of Hilton Head; but soon meeting the steamer on which was General Grover, they returned at his signal to the mouth of the Savannah. January 19th, they landed at last in the evening, two lighters hay-ing taken them up to the city, January 20, they went in a rain storm to the Central Railroad Depot, which they occupied a week. January 28, they moved a mile to the fortifications on the south side of the city and went into camp there. January 27, at night the great conflagration occurred in the city, reaching a magazine of shells, of which the explosions resembled the noise of a bombardment.

At Savannah, Captain Bradley commenced a series of inspections, and used extraordinary efforts for improving the condition find appearance of the men. He enforced the most rigid discipline and displayed many admirable traits of a commander. The battalion soon assumed the beauty and good order which had so distinguished the Thirteenth in its early history, and which their constant hard service in the field had to a great extent rendered impracticable for nearly three years. The weather being mild the battalion recovered from the hardships of the preceding fall and winter. The principal work was picket duty.

Wednesday, March 8, the battalion received orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice with three days' cooked rations. Sunday, March 12, reveille was had at three and a half A. M. At nine p. M. the battalion embarked on Steamer Yazoo for Morehead City, North Carolina. Monday, March 13, they arrived off the mouth of Cape Fear River. A dispatch boat brought orders to proceed to Beaufort, North

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Carolina. The Yazoo put out to sea again. Next morning they landed at Morehead City, marched a mile up the railroad and. took cars for Newbern. Here they arrived late in the evening, March 14. The Thirteenth proceeded on hoard a small boat at mid-night, as a guard of commissary stores. On the fifteenth they steamed slowly up the Neuse river. Thursday, March 16, they remained in one spot all clay, Friday, they steamed slowly along, and anchored at night. Saturday was a repetition of the preceding day. They tied to the bank at dark. Sun-day they started at daylight and moved through the interminable cypress swamp. At noon this extraordinary journey ended, the battalion reaching Kinston. Here they met many of the Fifteenth Connecticut.

At nine and a half, next morning, they started on the return to Newborn, which they reached in five hours. Here they went into camp near the barracks, The ground was a drifting sand heap. March 24, eight hundred rebel prisoners arrived from Goldsborough. March 28, a large number of prisoners and refugees. March 29, seven hundred rebel prisoners came, and among them private John J. Lloyd, who had been captured at Winchester the nineteenth of September, and after various romantic adventures, had found himself there.

April 5, Captain Perkins was sent with a detail of thirty men to conduct four hundred rebel prisoners to Hart Island. The battalion remained in Newbern on provost duty giving great satisfaction to all well-disposed persons, and winning the reputation of being the handsomest and most orderly troops ever seen in Newborn. April 6, tidings came of the capture of

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 Richmond and Petersburgh. April 7, General Birge gave a brilliant soiree at his house in Newborn, April 8, the battalion received orders to go by rail to More-head City, where they went into camp on the left (facing the harbor) of the railroad, and were brigaded under command of Colonel Graham, Twenty-second Iowa. April 11, news came of Lee's surrender, and the joyful event was celebrated by a great "jollification."

April 12, the writer arrived with Lieut. Gardner from rebel prisons and assumed command of the battalion.

Nothing of note occurred till May 2, when orders came to hold the command in readiness to move next morning at daylight. We remained all day and night waiting to embark. Thursday, May 4, at two P. M., we finally went on board the steamer Neptune. May 7, at 8 A. M. after a smooth passage from North Carolina, we disembarked at Savannah. Here we went into the buildings formerly occupied by the Fourteenth New Hampshire. Our brigade comprised the Twenty-second and Twenty-eighth Iowa, the One Hundred Thirty-first and One Hundred Fifty-ninth New York and Thirteenth Connecticut.

Our stay in Savannah was brief, lasting but four days. Orders came at two A. M., May 11. to be ready to march at eight A. M. with three days' cooked rations. At nine we marched out on the Augusta road thirteen miles and then bivouaced. When we were seven miles out, those of our New Orleans recruits, thirty or forty in number, whose term was to expire in May, were sent back to Savannah for muster out by order of General Birge. May 12, we marched sixteen

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 miles. May 13, we marched eight miles, arriving at Sisters Ferry at nine A, M. Here we got rations that came by steamer. As evidence of the destitution of the people in this country, women and children came barefoot eight or ten miles to beg of us a little " hardtack." Fifty men of the Thirteenth were put aboard steamer for Augusta. We left private Henry Williams, Company D, sick of small pox. He soon after died ; the only man we ever lost by that disease.

For several days we continued the march, having reveille at three A. M. and starting at four. Quite a rivalry existed among the regiments in the matter of rapid marching. Two regiments, when the news came of Jeff Davis' capture, were permitted to leave their knapsacks in order that they might sooner reach Augusta ; whereupon the Thirteenth, determined not to be outdone, though heavily loaded with knapsacks followed close on their heels and twice passed them on the road ; making twenty-six miles May 16.

The people along the route looked with little favor upon the Yankee invaders as they termed us. A number of officers, at one of our halts, visited one of the fine residences and were entertained by several ladies with songs and instrumental music. One, more demonstrative than the rest, sung Maryland, My Maryland, with extraordinary gusto. Concluding) she turned to Dr. Clarke and said to that urbane gentlemen in a snappish way, " I spose that males ye mad ; don't it ?" To which the Dr. retorted with provoking coolness, " O, no. We don't care what ye sing, as long as we can lick ye!" She rejoined, " We're not whipped. We're only overpowered."

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"That's what we call licked in the North," said the Doctor.

May 19, at ten A. M. we arrived in Augusta, having marched twelve miles that morning. We went into an old Confederate shoe-factory, corner of Campbell and Ellis streets. May 21, we moved into the Confederate buildings known as the Blackie Hospital, corner of Washington and Watkins streets, on ground owned by the Orphan Asylum.

Our stay in Augusta continued till August 27. Captain Bradley was absent on Court Martial in Savannah until his resignation in August. Captain Wells had long been detached as aide of General Birge; Captain Perkins was Acting Inspector General on Molineux's staff. Captain Beckwith was soon detailed as ordnance officer. Surgeon Clary was Surgeon-in-chief, and in charge of the Post Hospital. Lieut, Col. Sprague, in addition to his other duties, was appointed Superintendent of Schools, and Educational Matters, and Superintendent of Public Buildings and all property appertaining to the Ordnance Department.

The battalion was assigned to provost duty which it performed to the highest satisfaction of the good people of Augusta. Their quarters became a model of neatness, and the battalion never looked finer. Hundreds of dollars were expended to procure the men white gloves and blacking. Many were the compliments we received, of which the following is a specimen:

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" Head-Quarters, Post Augusta, June 1,1865. Colonel:

The General is very much pleased with the neat and soldierly appearance of your guard this morning, and thinks it a decided criterion for the other regiments,

Respectfully yours, HENRY LAWRENCE.

Post Adjutant, To Col. H. B, Sprague, Commanding Thirteenth Connecticut Vols.

On the sixth of June, 1865, the following appeared in the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel :

" A stranger, who only saw the beautiful parade of the Thirteenth Battalion, Connecticut Volunteers on Friday last, or who only witnessed every morning the white gloves, the glittering arms and burnished scales of the handsome detachment which this Battalion daily sends to Head-quarters on guard duty, would hardly suppose that these men had done some of the most gallant fighting and encountered many of the severest hardships of the war for three and a half years past. Such, however, is the fact. At ''Irish Bend, at Winchester, at Cedar Creek, at Fisher's Hill, and in many another hard fight their colors have been riddled with shot and shell, and the earth has copiously drunk their blood. Of two thousand men who have belonged to the Thirteenth Connecticut, this little Battalion is all that remains.

" A single incident illustrates its spirit. On the fifteenth of June, 1868, after several most bloody and disastrous assaults on Port Hudson, General Banks published his famous order calling on the thirty regiments

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 of the Union army for volunteers to form a storming column of one thousand men to lead the last desperate charge on the rebel works. Colonel Henry W. Birge, now Brevet Major General commanding defenses of Savannah, immediately volunteered to lead this Forlorn Hope ; and two hundred and twenty-five men and fifteen officers of his regiment, the gallant Thirteenth Connecticut, volunteered to follow him ! So that this regiment alone furnished more men for this storming party than any other whole brigade. Surely, having won the honors, they have a right to wear the laurels!"

These praises were well-deserved. No troops, "white or black, regulars or volunteers, ever kept their quarters, grounds, clothing, arms or accoutrements in handsomer condition than the Thirteenth at Blackie Hospital. Three bathing rooms were fitted up for the men and one for the officers. The most scrupulous cleanliness was enforced. For months Dr. Clark was not obliged to send a man to hospital.

July 18, the writer was appointed President of a board to examine Commissioned Officers with a view to their promotion or discharge.

July 21, the Thirteenth moved with the One Hundred Fifty-ninth New York to the Augusta Arsenal where they remained five weeks. July 22, the writer started for Annapolis as witness in a Court Martial, and was absent several weeks.

August 25, orders came for the battalion to move to Gainesville, Ga, August 27, the battalion proceeded to Athens, whence they marched to Gainesville, Hall County. The district of Gainesville comprised ten or a dozen counties of Northeast Georgia.

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It was a position of difficulty and importance, inasmuch as it was infested with guerillas, bushwhackers and desperadoes from three States. Company A, Lieut. Gardner, was stationed at Jefferson, Jackson County ; Company B, Licut. Taylor, at Clarkesville, Habersham County ; Company I), Lieut. Maddux, at Clayton, Rabun County ; Companies C and E, Captains Beckwith and Sterry, at Gainesville, the battalion head-quarters. Lieut. Col. Sprague was detained at Augusta as President of a Military Commission.

About the middle of September, Lieuts, Pratt and Baldwin were detailed as members of a Court Martial at Washington, Wilkes County. Much game abounds here; and one Lieutenant is said to have displayed great enthusiasm in bagging an imaginary species of bird, known as Yelpertrechers! The process is as follows: After the New England mode of snaring rabbits, paths are made through the thicket, all converging to the point where the bag is. They must be hunted only by night. One person holds the bag-the post of honor ! The rest of the party go away ostensibly to beat the bush, and drive in the gains"!' but really to disperse to their homes or meet at their" rendezvous ! How many our worthy Lieutenant would have caught had he remained all night is uncertain. But after two hours waiting, he discovered that the bag had no bottom, and not a solitary Yelpertrechers-trecher !

October 17, the companies received orders to concentrate at Athens, Clarke County. October 19, pursuant to new orders, A was sent to Washington, Ga, ; C, to Barnesville ; E, to Lexington; B and D were retained at Athens. The duties of officers at these

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county seats were to preserve order, approve con-tracts between whites and negroes, and administer the a amnesty oath.

Athens is the seat of the State University, In the college buildings the Thirteenth was quartered. Drills, inspections and dress parades were held in the camps. Captain Wells, having just returned, was Provost Marshal; Lieut. Tooker, quartermaster; Lieut. Gaylord, adjutant. Sergeant Pfeiffer had charge of Cook's Armory. Sergent Santer, of the jail; Hunt-ley, of the wood-choppers; and Beecher, of the Post Office.

November 8, Lieut. Col. Sprague arrived and assumed command of the District of Athens, which comprised the counties of Rabun, Habersham, Towns, Franklin, Banks, White, Hall, Hart, Clarke, Wilkes, Elbert, Jackson, Walton, Oglethorpe; head-quarters at Athens.

November 15, Lieut. Maddux had leave of absence. He never returned.

In the latter part of November rumors extensively prevailed of an intention among the blacks to massacre all the whites on the first of December, A negro near Watkinsville had been seen with a shot gun. Another said, " We's gwine to have our rights." Another, sixty years old, had been a servant in the Confederate army, and his master had told him he knew enough to be Captain ; and so Uncle Reuben was called Major. A single-barrel pistol had been found in a black man's trunk. Mr. Phinizy of Athens, had picked up a mysterious letter containing dark hints. A secret association for .mutual improvement among the colored people was known to be holding

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 weekly meetings. Two young men came riding: at a furious speed from Mistress King's plantation three miles from Athens, and reported that they had blacked their faces and had smuggled themselves into one of these secret meetings, and had heard,-well, they hadn't heard anything, but they were satisfied mischief was brewing, and they demanded a guard. Eleven negroes were dragged out of bed at Watkinsville at midnight, taken a mile off to the river bank, made to. kneel on the brink, blindfolded, pistols were fired over their heads, their hands were tied, a solemn oath ad-ministered, and instant death threatened if they diet not say they belonged to an armed association; and on such extorted, contradictory, and utterly vague. confessions, the Sheriff of the County, and a magistrate of the (terribly) Inferior Court, had them arrested and brought before the writer. The whole country was in a state of consternation, and applications innumerable were made for guards of soldiers, And all arose out of precisely nothing. The credulity of these people was stupendous.

November 29, Lieut. Pratt was detailed for duty in the Freedmen's Bureau. December 1, Captain Wells-was sent with companies A and B to Washington, Ga, December 4, the writer was appointed Commissioner: of the Freedmen's Bureau for the District of Athens, The same day the battalion removed from the college. buildings to the Military Academy a mile and a half distant, to give opportunity for repairs in view of Becoming session.

December 6, Acting Commissary Sergeant W, H. Tucker, died from injuries received by being flashed against a tree, while on horseback three days before.

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He was a brave, faithful, intelligent man. We buried him with military honors, the Episcopal service being lead by Lieut. Col. Sprague.

December 23, a circus was exhibited in Athens, at which Sergeant Sperry with a guard was sent from the Thirteenth by request of the Mayor. The civil authorities soon sent back the military guard as being unnecessary, and the consequence was that the performance broke up in a "free fight."

The same day orders were received to move the battalion head-quarters to the Augusta Arsenal with Companies A and B. Company C, Lieut. Baldwin, was sent to Washington, Ga.; Company D, Captain Beckwith, was sent to Sparta, Hancock County ; Company E, Captain Sterry, was left at Athens.

Christmas day was celebrated in Southern style, A great uprising of the negroes was anticipated by the feeble-minded. For abundant caution a large number of supernumerary policemen were sworn in, each Of whom armed himself with a pistol and a brandy flask. Towards evening they were all drunk. The Thirteenth being on the eve of departure for Augusta, many of the soldiers were insulted and attacked 011 the, streets. The citizens formed line of battle across the street and refused to let soldiers pass. Whereupon the latter came rushing to the Military Academy to get their muskets. Great was the alarm. Guns, pistols, knives and clubs were freely used. The venerable Dr. Hoyt, Presbyterian clergyman, a man of great worth, hastened to the writer, and begged him to use all his power to quell the riot. The mayor sent two messengers on the same errand; the first of whom was intercepted by the soldiers, beaten and sent

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 back. The second was more successful. He brought the following communication: Col. Sprague:

Dr. The excitement Doun Toun great. I fear there will great trouble Some of our • young Men are ex cited and Some of yours under influence of Spirit They have already met in combat and there will be Serious times, I hope col You will in behalf of the law and Order Citizens protect The Town.

You Respect.

S. C. Reese, Mayor. Dec. 25, 1865.

Seizing and detaining every soldier, as they came running back, the writer sent Captain Beckwith with about twenty picked men, mostly non-commissioned officers, with orders to arrest all soldiers and disorderly persons, shut up every dram shop, and notify every proprietor of places where liquor was kept, that if another glass was sold or given away the entire stock would instantly be smashed and the owner imprisoned. When the captain arrived in sight, the line of citizens broke and vanished. Perfect order reigned through the night in that literary town.

Next morning the troops left by rail.

Wednesday evening, December 27, Companies A and B arrived in Augusta. Captain Gardner was seat with A to the powder mills; Lieut. Taylor, with B5 to the arsenal. Captain Wells was detached as A. A, A. General on General King's staff.

January 3, 1866, the battalion was relieved from duty at Augusta, and ordered to garrison the District

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 of Altoona, Northwest Georgia, comprising about one fourth of the state, with headquarters at Atlanta. Company B, Lieut. Taylor, was left for guard at Department Head-quarters. Lieut. Col Sprague and Lieut. Gaylord were retained as members of a Military Commission; Captain Perkins was Provost Marshal, the duties of which office he had been discharging for several months.

Lieut. Taylor, with his company, had charge of the Augusta jail for a few weeks, and then removed to the first building occupied by the Thirteenth in Augusta, corner of Campbell and Ellis streets.

Captains Sterry and Gardner and Lieut. Baldwin arrived with E, A, and C, in Atlanta, January 10 ; Beckwith, with D, January 11. The soldiers were quartered in tents and in the City Hall, and soon afterwards D and E were put into log houses. These were without floors; the ground was muddy, and the weather severe. Beckwith commanded the District; and Sterry the battalion. Little of interest occurred here. The soldiers were most uncomfortable; and despite the judicious efforts of Drs. Clary and Clark, many of them became sick.

Atlanta had been a vast wreck; a chaos of ashes, burnt walls, cinders, and the " abomination of desolation;" but it was now rapidly reviving, and the sound of the hammer and the saw was heard on every side.

In February, Lieut .Baldwin seized a rebel flag which was flying on a locomotive, as it passed through the city. The engineer and fireman were sent to Augusta, and there released under bonds by Captain Perkins, Provost Marshal. Soon after Lieut Baldwin was sent with

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 Company C to Dahlonega, to guard the U. S, Mint and other national property and preserve the peace.

In March, Lieut. Taylor with his company was sent to Atlanta.

Great discontent prevailed among the soldiers at being kept beyond the term for which they re-enlisted; they always insisting that the government had no' right to detain them beyond the expiration of the war. Numerous applications by the battalion commander to secure their muster-out were unsuccessful, until April 13, 1866, when orders came for the battalion to rendezvous at Fort Pulaski for that purpose. They arrived there Friday, April 20. April 25, we were mustered out by Major Butler. April 28, we took the government boat for Savannah; where we were transferred to the ocean steamer General Barnes, for Few York. At five o'clock p. M., April 28, we left Savannah. As we passed Fort Pulaski, we were saluted with six guns. The One hundred Seventy-sixth New York accompanied us.

Tuesday morning, May 1, we readied New York City, We were taken by government steamer to Hart Island, twenty-two miles distant. Here the enlisted men were paid on Saturday, May 5. They took the Paymaster's boat for New York City, and there dispersed. The officers were detained till Monday, May 7, when they too met for the last time, arid parted.

So dissolved the last military organization from Connecticut in the service of the United States; twelve officers and one hundred and seventy-seven men only remaining of the thousands who had marched under the blue folds of our Connecticut flag.