Litchfield enquirer., 1867-12-19

soldier in particular lay on his back, per fectly straight and motionless behind lit tie stump; but, about once every half-houl he would cautiously turn over, aim fire and reload! We could not go to their assis. tance. nor could they stir from their peril ous position
 THE SToRMING COLUMN. or the gallant conduct of the Thirteenth when the "Storming Column of One Thousand Men" WAS called for, Colonel Sprague speaks as follows:-
 ':The different companies were called up and the order General Order No. Az, Head lquarters Department of the Gulf was read to them. Volunteering immediately com menced Three days after it's publication one hundred and fifty men of the Thir- teenth Connecticut had volunteered. When it became known that our old Colonel, Birge was to lead them, there were many other accessions. In three weeks, sixteen officers and two hundred and twenty five enlisted men of the Thirteenth had joined than half of those who were present for du- ty. No other regiment nor even any other whole brigade furnished so many men for the enterprise as the Thirteenth Connecti- cut alone. The nearest approach to this was made by the two colored regiments. which together gave two hundred men. The twenty-ffth Connecticut never lacking in patriotism or courage, sent but one off cer and three enlisted men; whose names were several times published, as evincing remarkable patriotism, ill the Annual Re- port of the Adjutant- General of the state of Connecticut Of the companies in the Thirteenth, G did the best, nearly every man present for duty having volunteered This was due in part to the active exer- tions of First Sergeant Charles B. Hutch ins afterwards Lieut.. in the Corps d Afri- que. Among the non-combatants who vol unteered for this perilous work was Hospi- tai Steward William Bishop, Thirteenth Connecticut, as brave man as ever faced battle.
 l *
 June %, the storming column marched up to the ground designated for it's camp. The place was half a mile from the camp of the Thirteenth. It was separated from the rest of the army and organized in two bat talions, which were carefully drilled, in- , structed, and held in readiness to move at five minutes notice. Scaling ladders and other requisite implements were prepar- ing
 ''All the officers present having volunteer cd as stormers, except the sick, it became necessary to appoint some officer to the command of those not included among the stormers. Capt. Comstock, senior officer commanding, accordingly detailed Capt. Sprague to perform that duty, who appoin ted Lieut.. Kinney acting adjutant. Both of these officers were amongst the storm l noI bA 1rfp sured by Colonel Birge that whenever the storming column moved, they should join it.
 s'By the request of the enlisted men, non- stormers, Capt. Sprague on the 27th of June obtained from Col. Birge promised that the remainder of the regiment should follow immediately in rear of the stormers, as their first support; position hardly less honorable than the storming column itself. This showed that the remnant of the Eegi- ment had no intention of tagging behind in the momentous stauggle. So the whole of the Thirteenth was uirtualIy in the as- saulting column.'
 July ?, the name of the Thirteenth officers in the forlorn hope were taken as follows:
 Field and Staff: Col Henry W. Birge, commanding the column.
 Company A-Lieuts. Charles D. Tibbets John c. Kinney.
 Company B.-Capt. A Comstock, Lieut.. Louis Beckwith.
 Company C.-Capt. c. D, Blinn, Lieut.. N. w. Perkinns.
 Company D.-Capt C. J. Fuller, Lieut. Perry Averill.
 Company E.-Lieutenant Charles S.. Beaton.
 Company G-Captain D. H. Finley.
 Company H.-Capt. Homer B. Sprague
 Company I:-Lieuts. Frank Wells, Louis Meissner.
 Company K-Lieuts w. F. Norman, Charles Daniels.
 THE SURRENDER.
 'As special mark of honor the storming brigade entered Port Hudson the morning of July 9, to receive the surrender A de- served recognition of the distinguished services of the Thirteenth was seen in the fact, and our colors and our band were se- lected from all others to grace the trium- phal pageant. We marched down near the railroad depot and then turned to the right past the long line of six thousand prison CTS. These looked ragged and rough, but in good flesh and healthy. They appeared to De rather larger ana taller than the av- craze of our men.s We could hear them repeatedly mutter in low tones, "D- you! You couldn't take us by fighting You had to starve us out!'' At the com mand, Ground Arms!'' they flung them spitefullly down."
 ''Such was the part taken by the Thir teenth Connecticut in the eventful siege o1 Port Hudson. By its heroic conduct in every emergency, and especially on the l4th of June, and more especially still in the Grand Storming Column of one thous. and, the regiment placed itself far in ad- vance of all rivalry. No spot aims the brightness of that page. The regiment stood alone. For days and weeks two hundred and forty y-one of its members look ed death in the face, and offered all their country's altar. Full we'll they knew, for hard experience had taught them the ground which they mus Il pass, the wall of fire and steel they mus climb the whirlwind of sho they must face When all other regiments shrunk back anG clung to life, the Thirteenth Connecticut pressed forward, and with the sublimes courage and self sacrifice they dared tht issue!