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THE

Old Sixth Regiment,

ITS

WAR RECORD, 1861-5,

BY

CHARLES K. CADWELL,

Late Sergeant of Co. F.

NEW HAVEN, CONN., 1875.

NEW HAVEN:
TUTTLE, MOREHOUSE & TAYLOR, PRINTERS.
1875.

TO

THE LOYAL WOMEN,

WHOSE

HUSBANDS, BROTHERS AND FRIENDS

CAST THEIR LOT WITH THE OLD SIXTH

IN

DEFENCE OF THE FLAG,

THIS MEMORIAL OF PATRIOTIC SERVICE IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED

By the Author.

INTRODUCTORY.

The object of this work is to give a true and impartial record of the old Sixth Regiment during the war. The author collected the facts from a private diary kept by himself while in the service. Less has been known of the Sixth by our citizens than most of the other regiments; perhaps this is due partly to the fact that when we arrived in Washington Colonel Chatfield instructed officers and men that it was unmilitary to write letters for the press; he desired that the War Record should know the record of the Sixth, and not the newspapers only. Its history is less full on this account; yet none can say that the record of the Sixth is sullied. In many trying places the regiment proved itself honorably and gained confidence from its corps and department commanders.

There may be errors in this work, and if any are inclined to censure, I trust they will remember that very few histories are without them; yet they are errors of the head and not of the heart. If what is here written meets the approval of the old members and the intelligent readers in general, I shall feel that my labors have been amply rewarded.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

In camp at New Haven.—Fall in for rations.—Uncle Sam’s “Tanyards.”—Squad drills.—An old man’s blessing.

CHAPTER II.

Off for the conflict.—Reception at Philadelphia.—Through Baltimore at night.—Cattle cars to Washington.—“Soldiers’ Retreat” in Washington.—Fat pork and muddy coffee.—Visit the Capitol.—Camp at Meridian Hill.—At Annapolis, Md.—Embark on an Expedition.—Terrible storm at sea.—Incidents, &c.

CHAPTER III.

In Port Royal harbor.—The ball opens.—First naval engagement of the war.—Forts Walker and Beauregard.—Union fleet bombard the rebels.—Complete rout of the enemy.—Triumphant victory for the Union.—Great enthusiasm.—Connecticut lands the first troops.—Terrible scenes on land.—Rebel pigs and chickens.—Uncle Sam’s rations at a discount.—Warsaw Sound, Ga.—“Greybacks accumulate.”—“Sketch for special artist.”—Spotted fever.—Deaths daily.—The old Sixth unfit for duty.—

Ordered to Hilton Head.—Dawfuski Island Camp.—Jones Island on Savannah river.—Fort Vulcan built of mud.—Yankee ingenuity and cunning displayed.—High tides, &c.

CHAPTER IV.

Capture of Fort Pulaski.—Heavy bombardment.—Back to Dawfuski Island.—North Edisto Island blackberries help Uncle Sam’s pork to digest.—Across John’s Island.—Col. Chatfield’s speech, victory or death.—Tedious rain.—Guerillas cut off our supplies.—Three days without food.—50 cents for a “hard tack.”—Arrive at Legareville on the Stono river.—Cook rations.—Across the river to James Island.—Tom Grimball’s Plantation.—Rebel advance.—Battle of Secessionville.—Evacuation of James Island.—Go to Beaufort.—Band of the Sixth mustered out.—Expedition to Mackay’s point.—Battle of Pocotaligo.—Col. Chatfield and Lieut. Col. Speidel wounded.—Whole command return to Hilton Head.—The Sixth at Beaufort.—Death of our department commander Maj. Gen. Mitchell.

CHAPTER V.

Off for Florida.—Land at Jacksonville.—Occupy houses instead of tents.—Skirmish with the enemy.—Streets barricaded to prevent incursions of the rebel cavalry.—Sermon by Rev. Mr. French.—Evacuation of Jacksonville by Union troops.—Town fired by the 8th Maine and a colored regiment.—Back to Beaufort.—Thirty-five hours in the town.—Embark again—a fizzle.—Back to Hilton Head.—Off again; land at Folly Island.—Battery building at night.—Speak in whispers.—Up Folly river.—Capture of the southern portion of Morris Island.—Brilliant charge of the Sixth.—Capture a rebel flag.—Assault on Fort

Wagner.—Terrible scene at night.—Awful carnage.—Col. Chatfield twice wounded.—Union force repulsed.—The ranks of the Sixth terribly shattered.—Ordered to Hilton Head.—Death of Col. Chatfield.

CHAPTER VI.

Our new Colonel.—Great dissatisfaction thereby.—Part of the Sixth re-enlist.—Deserters shot.—Death of Captain Allen.—Up to Virginia under Butler.—Ascend the James river.—Bermuda Hundred.—Skirmish with the enemy.—Battle of Chester Station.—Death of Captain Wilcox.—Advance on Drury’s Bluff.—One of Butler’s “masterly movements.”—Battle of Drury’s Bluff.—Union forces “change front to the rear.”—Resignation of our new Colonel.—Appointment of Captain Rockwell as Colonel of the Sixth.—President Lincoln rides by.—“What mean those cheers.”—Battle of Strawberry Plains.—Hancock’s works.—Battle of Deep Run.—In holes around Petersburg.—Discharge of the non re-enlisted men.—Their reception in New Haven.

CHAPTER VII.

Around Petersburg.—Advance toward Richmond.—Attack on Battery Harrison.—Draft riots