Greenwich in the American Civil War

Last updated

The town of Greenwich, Connecticut contributed 437 men to twenty-six Connecticut regiments during the American Civil War. [1] Greenwich soldiers fought in almost every major Union campaign, including Bull Run, Gettysburg and the siege of Petersburg. Approximately half of the Greenwich soldiers served in two infantry regiments, the 10th Connecticut Infantry and 17th Connecticut Infantry. [2]

Contents

Greenwich before the Civil War

On the eve of the Civil War, Greenwich was a small agricultural community with a population just over 6,500. Most Greenwich residents, like those of Connecticut, supported the Union cause. However, there was an undercurrent of anti-war sentiment, due to the high volume of trade with the south.

Anti-slavery advocates were well represented in Greenwich and Connecticut in the lead-up to the Civil War. But, attitudes toward slavery were not uniform as many working men feared competition from freed slaves. [3] The last slaves in Greenwich were freed by 1823. [3] Freed slaves had lived in Greenwich for many years prior to the Civil War. They worked and lived alongside their white employers on Greenwich farms, performing the same labors and receiving the same pay. [4]

Greenwich at the start of the Civil War

Greenwich men readily volunteered when President Abraham Lincoln made the call for 75,000 volunteers to defend the Union after the attack on Fort Sumter. In October 1861, the town of Greenwich authorized the payment of an enlistment bounty of $100 for recruits serving a nine-month enlistment in the Union Army. [5] By 1863, as the war was dragging on and Northern morale ebbed, the town of Greenwich increased the bounty to $300 per recruit and the term of service was extended to three years. [5] For an equal sum, Greenwich citizens were allowed to hire substitutes to fight in their place. [5]

Greenwich Soldiers in Connecticut Regiments

Greenwich men served in twenty-six Connecticut regiments. A few Greenwich men also enlisted in New York regiments. These soldiers fought in almost every major civil war campaign, including the battles of First Bull Run, Antietam, Second Bull Run, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg as well as the siege of Charleston and the trench battles of Petersburg. Approximately half of Greenwich soldiers fought in two infantry regiments, the 10th Connecticut Volunteers and the 17th Connecticut Volunteers.

Major Daniel M. Mead Major Daniel M Mead.jpg
Major Daniel M. Mead

10th Connecticut Volunteers

Greenwich citizens were particularly well represented in the 10th Connecticut Volunteers. Company I, of the 10th regiment consisted entirely of Greenwich men. [6] The company's first commander was Major Daniel Merritt Mead (pictured in this section). Major Mead lead the first contingent of Greenwich volunteers into the Union ranks; approximately fifty five young men, averaging 21 years in age. [7] In the ranks of Company I were twelve pairs of brothers, three pairs of brothers-in-law as well as three pairs of father and son serving together. [8]

The 10th regiment saw action in the coastal campaign during the early years of the war, which culminated with the siege of Charleston. The 10th went on to fight the trench battles of Richmond, earning praise from Union generals and Ulysses S. Grant. The 10th regiment was active at the war's very end, when they blocked Robert E. Lee's attempt to escape from Virginia. And, the 10th was present at Appomattox Court House when Lee surrendered to Grant. By the war's end, the 10th regiment had fought in twenty-three battles and at least as many bloody skirmishes. [9]

10th Connecticut Volunteers, summary of major engagements: [10]

17th Connecticut Volunteers

The 17th regiment consisted of Fairfield county men and Company I was made up entirely of Greenwich recruits. [11] The 17th regiment's first assignment was as reserve troops in the Fredericksburg campaign. The regiment subsequently saw action at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the late summer of 1863, the 17th was ordered to Morris Island to support the siege of Charleston. The 17th fought in the siege works fronting Fort Wagner, [12] Charleston's strongest defensive fortification. The 17th finished its military service in Florida, with major engagements at Welaka and Saudners and at Dunn's Lake. [13]

Greenwich African American Soldiers

African Americans from Greenwich fought in two Connecticut regiments, the 29th and 31st volunteer infantry. Both of these regiments were formed in the last 18 months of the war to meet the Union's aggressive drive for new recruits. Twenty four African Americans from Greenwich served in the 29th regiment. [14] Twelve Greenwich African Americans also served in the 31st regiment. [14]

Notable Greenwich Soldiers

Nicholas Fox - Nicholas Fox was the only civil war soldier from Greenwich to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest battlefield recognition. [15] Mr. Fox was awarded the Medal of Honor for an act of bravery in the battle of Fort Hudson, Louisiana, on June 14, 1863. In the battle, Nicolas Fox ran a deadly gauntlet of enemy fire to bring water to wounded Union soldiers, suffering from intense dehydration. He fought with Company H, the Greenwich unit of the 28th Connecticut Volunteers. At the time of his death, Nicholas Fox was one of only 31 Connecticut soldiers to ever receive the Medal of Honor.

Captain Frank Munford Kelly - In 1861, at the age of seventeen, Mr. Kelly enlisted in the 44th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, known as the Ellsworth Avengers. [15] Through his valor he was soon promoted to Sergeant, then Second Lieutenant, Adjunct and, finally, captain. He participated in most of the important engagements of the Civil War, including the battles of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Antietam and Bull Run. During the course of the war, Captain Kelly was aide de camp to Generals Grant, Meade and Ingalls and was an intimate friend of General Custer.

Charles A. Bing - Charles Bing enlisted in 1861 with the 6th Connecticut Volunteers, and spent twenty-seven months as a private in the service of the Union Army. [15] In October 1861, Mr. Bing took part in one of the major initial Union coastal expeditions against the Confederacy. The expedition was composed of sixteen thousand Union soldiers as well as seventy-seven naval vessels and it succeeded in raising the Union flag at Port Royal, in South Carolina. At the time, this was the largest battle fleet ever assembled by the United States.

Greenwich Civil War Record and Monument

Greenwich Civil War Memorial Greenwich Civil War Memorial.jpg
Greenwich Civil War Memorial

The town of Greenwich contributed a total 437 men to twenty-six Connecticut regiments during the Civil War. [1] This represented approximately seven percent of the town's population. [16] Sixty-nine Greenwich men gave their live for the Union cause during the civil war. [16] Nine were killed in battle or died of wounds. Two were missing in action. [16] Another fifty-eight perished, mostly from disease. [16] And, forty-four were captured. [16]

In 1890, the town of Greenwich erected a monument to their Civil War soldiers called the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. [17] The dedication ceremony took place on October 22, 1890, with notable attendees including Governor Morgan M. Buckley, Lieutenant Governor Samuel E. Merwin, both United States senators from Connecticut, and many state legislators. [17] The monument cost $6250 to construct, and was carved from Rhode Island granite by the firm of Lazzari and Barton. [17] It still stands today at the corner of Putnam Avenue and Maple Street. On its sides are inscribed the names of battles in which Greenwich men fought. The monument bears the inscription:

"GREENWICH

TO HER LOYAL SONS WHO FOUGHT

1861 FOR THE UNION 1865" [17]

Today, many street names in Greenwich also serve as reminders of Greenwich's Civil War soldiers, including Mead Avenue, Lockwood Road, Reynolds Place, Husted Lane, Mills Road, Ferris Drive, Peck Avenue and Scott Road.

Appendix

Related Research Articles

The 8th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater in a number of campaigns and battles, but perhaps is most noted for its actions in helping repulse Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Ohio Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 1st Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Western Theater in a number of campaigns and battles.

The 4th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater in a number of campaigns and battles, but perhaps is most noted for its actions in helping secure Cemetery Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Maine Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 10th Maine Infantry Regiment was mustered in for two years of service at Portland, Maine, on October 4, 1861, by then-Major Seth Eastman. It was mustered out on May 8, 1863, also at Portland. The regimental commander was Colonel George Lafayette Beal. The 10th Maine was a re-organization of the 1st Maine Infantry, a regiment primarily composed of men with two-year enlistments that was mustering out after completing three months of Federal service. Eight companies of the 1st Maine were retained in service, with Companies A and D replaced by newly recruited companies.

The First New Jersey Brigade is the common name for an American Civil War brigade of New Jersey infantry regiments in the Union Army of the Potomac. Its official designation through most of its service was as the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, VI Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">118th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment</span> Union Army volunteer infantry regiment

The 118th Pennsylvania Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. They participated in several major conflicts during the war including the Battle of Gettysburg, Siege of Petersburg, and escorted the truce flag of Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Five Forks. The regiment was led by Colonel Charles Prevost until he was seriously injured at the Battle of Shepherdstown in which Lieutenant-Colonel James Gwyn assumed command until the end of the war.

The 74th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment which served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was one of many all-German regiments in the army, most notably in the XI Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Its combat record was marred by the perceived poor performance of the entire corps at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, when parts of the corps routed during Confederate attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army

The 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of ten companies that came from various counties across North Carolina and Virginia. It is famous for being the regiment with the largest number of casualties on either side during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">75th Ohio Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 75th Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 75th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment from southwestern Ohio in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, most notably in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and then in the siege operations against Charleston, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maine in the American Civil War</span> Union state in the American Civil War

As a fervently abolitionist and strongly Republican state, Maine contributed a higher proportion of its citizens to the Union armies than any other, as well as supplying money, equipment and stores. No land battles were fought in Maine. The only episode was the Battle of Portland Harbor (1863) that saw a Confederate raiding party thwarted in its attempt to capture a revenue cutter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut in the American Civil War</span> Union state in the American Civil War

The New England state of Connecticut played an important role in the American Civil War, providing arms, equipment, technology, funds, supplies, and soldiers for the Union Army and the Union Navy. Several Connecticut politicians played significant roles in the Federal government and helped shape its policies during the war and the Reconstruction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert O. Tyler</span> United States Army brigadier general (1831–1874)

Robert Ogden Tyler was an American military officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1853 and fought in the Yakima War and the Utah War. He commanded the Artillery Reserve in the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, where his artillery batteries played an important role in the Union victory. Tyler also led a division of heavy artillery turned infantry during the Overland Campaign in 1864. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Cold Harbor and served in administrative duties for the remainder of the war.

The 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry was a Union Army cavalry regiment that served in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the Shenandoah during the American Civil War. It was formed in 1861 as the Philadelphia Light Cavalry and the 70th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers by Richard H. Rush who also served as colonel from 1861 to 1862. At the request of Major General George B. McClellan, the regiment was equipped with lances which prompted the unit to be known as "Rush's Lancers." The lances proved ineffective in battle and the regiment was issued carbine rifles in 1863. The regiment served in many of the key battles in the Eastern theater of the American Civil War and were mustered out in August 1865.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Connecticut Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 7th Connecticut Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Because it was in the same brigade as the 7th New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment, both regiments were often jointly called the '77th New England'.

The 10th Connecticut Infantry Regiment was one of Connecticut's most successful civil war regiments, compiling an exemplary record of service in the Union Army. The 10th Regiment saw action in the coastal campaign during the early years of the war, which culminated with the siege of Charleston. The 10th went on to fight the trench battles of Richmond, earning praise from Union generals and Ulysses S. Grant. The 10th was active at the war's very end, when they blocked Robert E. Lee's attempt to escape from Virginia. And, the 10th was present at Appomattox Court House when Lee surrendered to Grant. All told, the 10th regiment fought in twenty three battles and at least as many skirmishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 82nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois in the American Civil War</span> Union state in the American Civil War

During the American Civil War, the state of Illinois was a major source of troops for the Union Army, and of military supplies, food, and clothing. Situated near major rivers and railroads, Illinois became a major jumping off place early in the war for Ulysses S. Grant's efforts to seize control of the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers. Statewide, public support for the Union was high despite Copperhead sentiment.

The following list is a Bibliography of American Civil War Union military unit histories. More details on each book are available at WorldCat.

The 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123rd New York Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 123rd New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

References

  1. 1 2 Hines, pp. 400–401.
  2. Hines, p. 400.
  3. 1 2 Mead, p. 68.
  4. Mead, p. 67.
  5. 1 2 3 Mead, p. 79.
  6. Hubbard (1913), pp. 126–139.
  7. Hubbard (1913), p. 130.
  8. Hubbard (1913), p. 137.
  9. Croffut & Morris (1869), p. 824.
  10. Hubbard (1913), p. 239.
  11. Hubbard (1913), p. 243.
  12. Hubbard (1913), p. 247.
  13. Hubbard (1913), p. 248.
  14. 1 2 Connecticut Civil War Regiment Muster documents, Historical Society of Greenwich
  15. 1 2 3 Greenwich News, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Hines, p. 401.
  17. 1 2 3 4 La Lancette, Thomas and Donna (1997). Lest We Forget: A Guide to the Civil War Monuments, Memorials and Markers of Connecticut. Preston. pp. 73–76.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Works cited

  • Croffut, W. A.; Morris, John, M. (1869). The Military and Civil History of Connecticut during the war of 1861-1865. New York: Ledyard Bill on Fulton Street.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Hines, Blakie. Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut. American Patriot Press.
  • Hubbard, Frederick A. (1913). Other Days in Greenwich. New York: J. F. Tapley Company.
  • Mead, Edgar, T. Greenwich Grows Up. Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Further reading