CHAPTER XI.

CONFEDERATE PLOT TO RECAPTURE NEW ORLEANS - THE NINTH MENTIONED AS AMONG THE DEFENDERS OF THE CITY - THE ENGAGEMENTS AT PASS MANCIIAC AND BAYOU DES ALLEMANDS - LIST OF DEATHS IN THE NINTH DURING 1863 AND 1864 - VETERAN FURLOUGH OF THE REGIMENT - A GREAT RECEPTION IN NEW HAVEN.

EARLY in January, 1864, the Confederates were con¬sidering a plot to recapture New Orleans. A rebel officer, Co. T. J. Reid, Jr., of the Twelfth Arkansas, wrote to President Davis of the Confederacy, submitting a plan for the retaking of the city. Reid had been a prisoner in the hands of the United States authorities since the fall of Port Hudson until Dec. 4, 1863, and had been kept in New Orleans. While thus a prisoner there, he had acquired information as to the strength and location of the Union forces within the city and much other information of value regarding the defences of the city. He mentions the Ninth Connecti¬cut as among the defenders of the place. He unfolds his plans, in detail, to Davis and displays great confidence in the meditated undertaking. He mentions "six large regiments" of Confederates as have been organized "even under the presence of the enemy" and states that these would co-operate in the projected uprising. Thus, while New Orleans was being attacked by Confederates from the outside, these "six large regiments"of rebels would create a diversion inside the city by cutting the telegraph, seizing the arsenal, capturing the general officers, etc. But this plan so carefully considered was never carried out.

In the engagements at Pass Manchac and Bayou des AUemands, La., in 1864, additional glory was reflected

On Jan. 31, 1864, the Ninth formed part of a provi¬sional brigade, in the Department of the Gulf, the other organizations in the brigade being the Twelfth Maine (four companies), and the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York, the whole being commanded by Col. William K. Kimball.

On Feb. 15, 1864, a reorganization of the Nineteenth Corps was announced by which the Ninth Connecticut and the Thirteenth Connecticut were assigned to the Sec¬ond Division, by order of Gen. Banks. Gen. Banks, who had succeeded Gen. Butler in com¬mand of the Department of the Gulf, was a native of Wal-tham, Mass., and was born Jan. 30, 1816. He became a lawyer, a prominent Democrat, and at one time edited a newspaper. During the administration of President Polk, Banks held a position in the Boston Custom house, and in 1849 was a member of the state legislature of Massachusetts, being speaker of the lower branch of that body in 1851-52. In 1853, ne was president of the State Constitutional Convention. In 1853-57, he was a mem¬ber of Congress, and separated from the Democratic party. He was speaker of the National House of Repre¬sentatives in 1855, was elected governor of Massachu-etts in 1858, and served until 1861. When the war broke out, he was president of the Illinois Central railroad. He offered his services to President Lincoln, was commis¬sioned a major general of volunteers in May, 1861, and was given command of the Annapolis military district. He displayed great ability during the war, and in 1865 was again elected to Congress.

Gen. Thomas Williams, in whose forces the Ninth served at the battle of Baton Rouge, was born in New York, 1816. He graduated at West Point, in 1837, and became assistant professor of mathematics there. From 1844 to 1850, he was an aid to Gen. Scott, and rendered

gallant service in the war with Mexico. In Sept., 1861, he was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers and commanded, at one time, the forts at Hatteras.

While Capt. O'Brien was provost marshal and judge of the Parish of St. James, La., he administered affairs so judiciously that he became quite popular with the planters and their negro laborers. The sugar crop was saved, the profits were large and the help received wages in full. Previously the work had been done by slave labor, so that the reception of wages for their work on this occasion was an agreeable experience for the negroes. Capt. O'Brien administered affairs so well that when Gen. Richard Taylor (Confederate) came sweeping along to relieve the besieged garrison at Port Hudson, O'Brien was secretly warned by the planters so that he might escape death or capture. The attention of Gen. Banks was specially called, in June, 1864, to the large number of U. S. soldiers con¬fined in the Parish prison, New Orleans. He decided to investigate the matter and appointed a commission, con¬sisting of four officers for that purpose. One of these officers was Capt. Lawrence O'Brien of the Ninth. They found that for trifling offences, soldiers would be arrested by the police and brought before a judge who would not fine them but would, instead, send them to prison. The commission also found, and so reported to Gen. Banks, that the judge was a secret enemy of the United States and was thus aiding his side by imprison¬ing these U. S. soldiers and thus keeping them away from their regiments. As a result of the investigation, the soldiers were liberated and the judge was arrested and locked up.

Lieut. Col. Richard Fitz Gibbon of the Ninth, issued the following circular from the headquarters of the regi¬ment, Madisonville, La., early in 1864:

Feb. 16, 1864. "There Tjeing a number of men in the several companies of this regiment who manifested a de-

sire, previous to re-enlisting, to be transferred from one company to another, and they having been generally in¬formed by the officers that this desire would be granted, I think it is for the interest of the captains and also the regiment that this should be carried out. In order that it may be done properly, the applications should come from the captains to the commanding officer of the regi¬ment. It is desired that this may be done as soon as con¬venient." Lieut. Col. Fitz Gibbon also issued the following order under date of Madisonville, La., Feb. 26, 1864:

"On the reorganization of this regiment as veteran volunteers, and at the request of company commanders, the following named enlisted men are transferred as fol¬lows: Private Patrick Bowen,1 of Company A, to Com¬pany C; Private James Keegan, of Company A, to Com-C; Private Charles Dimon, of Company D, to Company I; Private Thomas Knablin, of Company D, to Company I; Corporal James Dolan, of Company E, to Company K; Private Michael Dolan, of Company E, to Company K; Private John O'Mara.of Company E,to Company K. All ordnance and ordnance stores, camp [and] garrison equip¬age in their possession will be dropped from the next quarterly returns of the companies, from which they are transferred, and taken up on the returns of the compa¬nies to which they are transferred. Their clothing and whatever other accounts they may have will be trans¬ferred in like manner. Their names will be dropped from the rolls of the several companies from which they are transferred, and will be borne on rolls of the com¬panies to which they are assigned. This order to take effect from March 1, 1864."

In an order issued by Lieut. Col. Fitz Gibbon, at Madisonville, La., Feb. 29, 1864, it is provided that "The camp of this regiment will be removed to-morrow to the grounds formerly occupied by the Eleventh Indiana Vol¬unteers. The tents will be struck at 5 o'clock a. m."

Also spelled Bohan.

In an order issued by the Lieutenant Colonel at Car-rollton, La., March 17, 1864, he announces that "The following officers are hereby appointed an examining board to examine recruits, from the general depot of en¬listment, for this regiment, viz: Surgeon Charles A. Gal¬lagher, Ninth Connecticut; Capt. Michael A. Williams, Ninth Connecticut; Capt. John G. Healy, Ninth Con¬necticut."

The Ninth was now preparing for its furlough North. Col. Cahill issued the following:

HEADQUARTERS, NINTH REGIMENT, CONN. VOLS. CARROLLTON, LA., March 25, 1864. Regimental Order No. 5.

I In compliance with Special Order No. 71, Head¬ quarters Defences of New Orleans, the commanding offi¬ cers of companies of this regiment will turn in to the regi¬ mental Quartermaster all quartermaster stores, camp and garrison equipage and all surplus ordnance stores for which they may be responsible.

II The regimental Quartermaster upon the receipt of the ordnance and quartermaster stores, will turn the above named over to the proper staff departments, * * * in accordance with Paragraph 3, Special Order No. 71, from Headquarters Defences of New Orleans.

III The regimental surgeon, Charles A. Gallagher, will turn over to the proper staff departments all surplus medical stores for which he is responsible.

IV Company commanders will make out and forward to these headquarters, at the earliest possible moment, descriptive lists * * * of all men of their commands who have not re-enlisted.

By order of
THOMAS W. CAHILL,
Colonel Commanding.
Henry Kattenstroth,
Adjutant.

According to an order issued at New Orleans, June 27, 1864, the Nineteenth Corps, as then made up, comprised three divisions, nine brigades, and fifty regiments. The Ninth Connecticut regiment, at that time, formed a part of the First Brigade of the Second Division. The brigade was commanded by Gen. H. W. Birge and the division by Gen. Cuvier Grover. The brigade was constituted as follows:

FIRST BRIGADE.
BRIG. GEN. H. W. BIRGE.
Fourteenth Maine, Col. Thomas W. Porter. Twelfth Maine, Col. William K. Kimball. Twenty-sixth Massachusetts, Col. A. B. Farr. Ninth Connecticut, Col. Thomas W. Cahill. Seventy-fifth New York, Col. R. B. Merritt. Fourteenth New Hampshire, Col. Robert Wilson.

Gen. Henry W. Birge, commanding this brigade, was a native of Connecticut, and when the war broke out was a resident of Norwich. In May, 1861, he was commis¬sioned as major of the Fourth Connecticut regiment, but resigned that position and in November, 1861, was made colonel of the Thirteenth Connecticut. He led the latter to Ship Island, Miss., and thence to New Orleans, later participating in operations throughout that section. In September, 1863, he was commissioned brigadier general. He took part in the Red River campaign and in Sheri¬dan's operations in the Shenandoah Valley. In June, 1865, he was appointed to command the military district of Savannah, Ga.

The following order is self-explanatory:

Aug. 15, 1864. "Captain O'Brien, 9th Connecticut Volunteers, will take command of, and distribute to their regiments, all enlisted men now at Camp of Distribution in this city, whose regiments are serving in the Army of 12

the Potomac. All officers en route to their commands, junior in rank to Captain O'Brien, will render him such assistance in the discharge of this duty, as he may re¬quire. The Quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation." (By command of Major Gen. J. J. Reynolds).

The following is a list of members of the Ninth who are recorded as having "Died" during 1863 and 1864, to¬gether with the place where each belonged. The list does not include those killed during that period: COMPANY A.

Private Daniel Mullen, New Haven.
Private John Donohue, Branford.
Private James Foley, New Haven.1
Private Patrick Cullen,2 New Haven.

COMPANY B.
Private Thomas Dunn, New Britain.
Private Patrick Green, Meriden.
Private James Lawler,3 Middletown.
Private John Lynch, 1st, Cheshire.
Private Michael Magee, Meriden.
Private Alexander Merceir, Cheshire.
Private Thomas Minahan, New Haven.
Private William Casheen,2 Meriden.

COMPANY C.
Private Timothy McLaughlin, New Haven.
Private John T. Barry, New Haven.
Private Roger Kelleher, New Haven.
Private Garrett Birmingham,2 New Haven.
Private John Smith, 2d, New Haven.

COMPANY D.
Private Nicholas Doyle, Bridgeport.
Private Peter Keenan, Bridgeport.

1 Place of muster in.
2 Died while a member of the Ninth Battalion, C. V.
3 Drowned.

Private Peter O'Conner, Bridgeport.
Private Dennis Otis, Bridgeport.
Private Philip Pearson, New Orleans, La.1

COMPANY E.
Private Cornelius Ryan, Derby.
Private John McTague, Camp Parapet, La.1
Private Matthew Gallagher, New Haven.

COMPANY F.
Corporal Carl G. Bernhardt, Westbrook.
Private John Fanning, Waterbury.
Private John McCarthy, New Orleans, La.1
Private John McSorley, Norwich.

COMPANY G.
Musician Dennis Deegan, Middletown.
Private John Rynes, New Orleans, La.1
Private James Galvin, Hartford.
Private Peter Hackett, Hartford.
Private Cornelius Lehon, Portland.
Private Joseph Furnace, New Orleans, La.1
Private Otto Lefevre,2 New Orleans, La.1
Private Thomas Spellesay, New Orleans, La.1

COMPANY H.
Corporal James O'Brine, Carrollton, La.1
Corporal Patrick Glynn,8 Norwich.
Private John I. Cain, Danbury.
Private John Meldrum, Norwich.
Private Newman Bruisee, New Haven.
Private Henry F. Thompson, Portland.
Private James Carey, Carrollton, La.1
Private John Green, Carrollton, La.1
Private Patrick Gray, New Haven.

1 Place of muster in.
' Transferred to ist Regt., Texas Cavalry, Nov. i, 1862; died at Hempstead, Tex., Aug. 30, 1864.
3 Died while a member of Company C, Ninth battalion, C. V.
NOTE.—To the above add the following: Company D, Wagoner Henry Dressen-doffer. New Orleans, La.; Wagoner William Fibbs, Bridgeport. Company G, Private Heenan Greenhart, Hartford; Private James Cunningham, Hartford. Company H, Private Oliver Sanford, Portland.

COMPANY I.
Private John Cooney,1 Lowell, Mass.
Private Martin Murphy, Northampton, Mass.
Private William Hollidi, Carrollton, La.2

COMPANY K.
Sergeant William Brown, Derby.
Private Charles Ross, Hartford.

By special order No. 19, issued by Col. Cahill, at Carrollton, La., April 4, 1864, the non re-enlisted men of the Ninth, and others not entitled to the furlough, were assigned to Capt. Wright of the regiment, during the absence of the latter at the North. Lieut. Joseph H. Lawler was, at his own request, relieved from duty with Company H, and was ordered to report for duty to Capt. Wright.

In the meantime, the U. S. transport Continental had been provided to convey the regiment North on its fur¬lough. The Continental was moored to a wharf at the head of Jackson street, New Orleans. The Ninth was transported from Carrollton to New Orleans by rail and marched to the boat. A special guard of three men from each company was detailed for duty at the steamer. Embarking, the regiment was assigned quarters for the voyage, and soon after, lines were cast off and the Con¬tinental started on her journey. Officers and men were in excellent spirits, at the prospect of visiting home, and the passage proved very enjoyable. The Continental, which also had the Eighth Vermont regiment aboard, reached Long wharf, New Haven, at 5 p. m., Friday, April 15.

The city was en fete to welcome the returned veterans. The New Haven Palladium speaking of the event, in its issue of April 16, 1864, says: "New Haven honored the brave boys of the Ninth yesterday. Col. Cahill and about

1 Drowned.
2 Place of mutter in.

400 of his re-enlisted men arrived at Long wharf on the transport Continental, yesterday afternoon, after a pleas¬ant passage. * * * The veterans were landed, formed in line, and inspected at the end of Long wharf. They were then marched up to the head, where they were met by the imposing military escort which our patriot¬ism had provided for them." Church bells were rung, cannon fired and other welcoming features displayed. The Eighth Vermont also landed and participated in the parade, receiving a cordial greeting. The line was made up as follows, as stated in the Connecticut War Record, a publication of the period:

Second Company, Governor's Horse Guards.
Band.
One Company of the Third Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps, from the U. S. Rendezvous.
Detachment of the Second Battalion. Veteran Reserve Corps, from the Knight Hospital.
Detachment of 30 men on Recruiting Service, from the U. S. Rendezvous.
The New Haven Grays, Capt. Northrop.
The National Blues, Capt. Hollister.
The Governor's Foot Guard, Major Camp.
The City Guard, Capt. Richards.
The Emmet Guard, Capt. Wrinn.
Reception Committee in carriages.
Mayor Tyler, Maj. Gen. Russell, and the Rev. Father Hart of St. Patrick's church.
The Ninth Regiment,1 Connecticut Volunteers,
Col. Thomas W. Cahill.
Band.
The Eighth Vermont Regiment, Col. Dutton.

The Ninth received a tremendous welcome from the multitude lining the route of march. The veterans were escorted to the State House, in New Haven, where an address of welcome was delivered by Mayor Tyler. An eloquent address was also delivered by the Rev. Father Hart, in the course of which he said:

"We hoped for great things from you; and I proclaim before you that our hopes have not been disappointed,—

1 The re-enlisted veterans.

no, not in a single instance. We have followed you from Ship Island to Pass Christian, your first encounter in war, when, after having conquered the fathers, you gave bread to the starving children. We followed you to New Orleans. We found you in the expedition bound for Vicksburg. There many of your noble brothers in arms laid down their lives upon their country's altar. Sacred be their memories to-night! Honored be the graves in which their patriotic dust is laid to rest! and may our country, for which they died, care for their widowed and orphaned ones. From Vicksburg, we watched your steps to Baton Rouge, now made famous by your exploits; where, after a most desperate contest, lasting for hours, your gallant colonel was placed in command, by whose efforts the day was won, and the enemy defeated, forced to retire, leaving their dead and wounded in your hands. You have done well. We are proud of you. Other regiments have fought more than you, because they had it to do. You have done all the fighting given you to do, and done it well. We honor you, therefore, and were proud of you when we heard of your congratulatory orders, and your compliments for discipline and bravery."

During the exercises, a dinner was served the veterans. The Ninth went into camp in New Haven, and the men were given opportunities to visit their homes and families, from whom they had been absent so long.