Litchfield enquirer., 1864-05-05
Correspendence of The Enquirer

, NECTICUT HEAVY ARTILLERY-lHEIR APPEAR- ANcR, POSITION, DRILL, DISCIPLINE. &C.
 MR. EDITOR :-lmmense preparations are making for the coming fight, which is to be the grand finale of General Grants Spring campaign. If anybody doubts the fact. let them visit Alexandria and they will be con- vinced. For weeks there has been one con. tinual stream of soldiery, pouring into the Ar my of the Potomac, from the North. It would surprise civilian. and puzzle him to tell where they all come from. Some of them are re-en- listed veterans, but most of them are recruits, and convalescent soldiers from Northern hos pitals. They arrive at Alexandria in squads of from 50 to 100 or 200 men, from all the Northern States, for all branches of the service, and for all regiments of the different branches. Then they are marched to "Camp Distribu- ton" where they are consigned to barracks, and quartered till their "turn comes" to be sent in their regiments. It is a tedious job, distributing them. There are constantly about 2,000 men on hand, and, as they are to be di- vided among nearly as many different regi- ments, it is sometimes necessary for squads to stay there week or two, and even longer, before they are called out. And during all this time they are confined closely within doors, and are not allowed to leave the building to go to their meals, or to wash even, except un der guard. When they are finally started on the road to their regiments, they go with will. Those to the Army of the Potomac, (nearly all of them) go by the Orange and AL exandria Railroad, and, daily, train after train leaves the depot, loaded down with men, horses and supplies in fact, it would seem that there was one continual line of cars clear to the Ar my lines, for the interval between trains is hardly more than three minutes during the first part of the day.
 If General Grant should by any possible unforeseen circumstance fail in his grand march upon Rebeldom, that circumstance cannot be for lack of men. Thero have been endorsements to his forces by recruits. hospitals have been drained of every able-bodied man, and Regi- ments on guard and garrison duty have been sent to the front, and their places supplied by the Invalid Reserve Corps. Everything is be- ing dore that can be done, aud the indications are that when the blow is struck, it will be a successful one, and crusher to Rebellion. Everybody has faith in General Grant. at least, everybody in the q my, and speculations on his plans run high among the soldiers. It would be as hard to make them believe his failure possible, as it would have been McClellan's in hts day.
 The clearing out of the Hospitals here, and at every other place easily accessible from the front, is generally accepted as evidence that the fight is not far off. All sick, ln general Hospi- tals, are ordered to hospitals at the North in their respective States where they enlisted, and are leaving every day.
 A statement has been published in New York and other papers North, to the effect that tho 2d Conn. Heavy Artillery had been order ed to the front. It is mistake, probably a
  visitor who didn't know how much of such stories ought to be believed. The regiment is still doing garrison duty in the Forts in the vicinity of Alexandria, and, for all they know are likely to for the present, although if the wishes of the men were consulted in the mat ter, they would go to the front instantsr.
 Perhaps your readers would peruse with in terest brief account of the condition of the Regiment at present, as it had it's origin in Ltchfed County. There are now, all told, seme 1900 men on the rolls, who are divided into l2 Companies, and distributed as follows Companies c, G, H and L are stationed at Fort Ellsworth, under command of Major Rice Companies A, K, B and E, at Fort Worth, under command of Major Hubbard, and D, F NJ and l. at Fort Williams, under command of Major Ells-the whole commanded by Colonel Kellogg. The regiment is full, and the recruit ing party is called in. There is not, probably, regiment in the service more efficient in drill or thorough in discipline than the 2d Connect, cut Heavy Artillery. Everything is in perfect clock work order. A few recruits, the last en- listed mar the precision of some of the "deep'' movements occasionally, but they are breaking in fast, and after few extra "squad drils'' will equal the veterans On one occasion' while drilling in the manual of arms and bayo- net exercise, the regiment was cemplimented by General Barry Chief of Artillery, who said they equaled the Regulars in their uniformity of movements and general appearance. It was compliment well deserved. The appearance of the Regiment on Dress Parade is grand Every piece of brass and every button is burn ished, and the muskets and bayonets are bright as new silver. Imagine 1900 men making the same movement in the same second-l 800 bayonets glstening in the sunshine and 1,s0O pairs of white gloved hands changing position all at once. If this should come under the ob servation of any of your readers who have rela lives ia the regiment, let them be proud to know and proud to tell of it. Let the breasts of the sturdy yeomanry of Litchfeld hills swell