Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-30
The Mutiny Of Company K.---An IncI-
dent Of she War as Told by - Veteran.


dent Of she War as Told by - Veteran.
1t WAS in September, 1861. The old Fourth
Connecticut Infantry 10y at White Oak
Springs, few miles from Frederick City
Maryland. The regiment was ragged, nearly
barefooted, with no pay, and generally dis
contented and demoraized. There was q
doubt in the minds Of the men as to whether
the United States had accepted them or
whether they we're still in the service of the
state Of Connecticut; the general government
had neither paid nor clothed them, and the
state uniforms which they wore when they
left Hartford in May had become unfit for
service there was not whole pair of trous
ers in the regiment, and the old green felt
blankets were utilized by many as a covering
by day we'll as by night. Some of the men
thought that the regiment ought to go home;
that they we're out only for three months, and
an effort was being made to keep them for
three years, but there were men who did not
quite understand it, and so the trouble grew,
and one morning Captain Lepprell Of Com
pany K reported to headquarters that his
company was standing in the company street
with their rifles in their hands, but absolutely
refusing to obey his orders.
Lieutenant Colonel White went over to
Company K street, and there stood the men
in line, their rifles at order arms, their car.
fridge boxes on, forty rounds of ball cartridge
10 each mans box and their rifles, perhaps,
loaded. Colonel White tried his authority,
but the men ignored him oatbs and mutter
ings of discomfort we're heard from all along
the line. Colonel White returned to head
quarters satisfied that the authorities had got
to deal with an armed and stubborn mutiny.
Captain Kellogg of Company B was order
ed to get his company into line. Company
b, fall in" was the order next heard, and in
a hi. ~ inc r. Nafv
ed his men in line. Lieutenant Colonel White
then came before Company B and made them
q short address, at the close of which he said
Now, men, you will have an opportunity to
show your subordination or insubordination
Any of you men who are not willing and rea-
dy TO obey any and all orders given you by
your officers can step two PAGES to the 'front.'"
Not a man moved.
Captain Kellogg then took command Of the
Company and they were marched over to
Company X street, and halted directly in front
Of, and about five PAGES from, Company X,
facing them. The situation then was about
as follows
Company X armed with muzzle loading ri
hes not known to the authorities whether
loaded or not the men standing at order arms
and having in their cartridge boxes forty
rounds Of ball cartridge each, and every man
stubborn. threatening and insubordinste.
Company standing at shoulder arms"
armed with Sharps breech loading rifles, not
loaded, each man with forty rounds of ball
cartridge in his cartridge box, and every man
subordinate and awaiting orders.
Captain Lepprell of X company then gave
the order to his company, Shoulder arms"
Not a man responded to the order but oaths
and threats we're heard all along their line.
Captain Kellogg then assumed command of
X company, and ordered, Shoulder arms !"
Not a man responded. Turning to company
b, Captain K logg ordered LOAD for action "
and every rife came down to the position OF
load, the chamber was lhrown open with a
click, ball cartridge was insertedin each rife,
the chamber closed, the hammer thrown back
to half cock and the next order awaited. Ii
came, "B company, ready 7" and every ham
mer went up to full.cock.
aim ~ and every man in Company B,
looked along his rife barrel into the very face
of his comrsde in Company X.
Turning TO Company X, Captain Kellogg
ordered, * Company, shoulder arms !" not
man responded.
Drawing out his watch, Captain Kellogg
said " If that order / not obeyed in sixty
seconds, there will be no Company K in this
regiment" and every man in both companies
knew he meant Just what he said.
Thirty seconds passed, and no one in Com
phuy N nhu Wthhcucu II was u tQTlllluR
moment but ere the second hand marked
forty five seconds, the muskets of Company
X began to come to shoulder, and in less
than ten seconds more, every man stood at
shoulder arms" The welcome order to B
company was, "reoover arms" If any man
has stood at ''sim" for a minute, he will know
how welcome the order was but il he has
stood at "Aim" against his own comrades for
a minute. he wilfknow how more than vel
come the order 'recover arms" was to Com
pany B.
The next order was to Company K, 'Or-
der arms" Every man responded promptly.
stack arms" and every rifle was stacked
instantly. 1.-TWO PAGES to the rear, march,"
and Company X we're disarmed. Company
'B" was ordered to shoulder arms and we're
then marched in between Company TX" and
their rifles. Company *" was then march
ed as prisoners TO headquarters, where each
mans arms we're bound with ropes and the
whole company we're taken of under guard
to General Banks's headquarters and turned
over to the provost marshal. After several
weeks of confinement they were all returned
to duty, and in less than six months the old
Fourth Connecticut Infantry was transformed
into the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery
and had become the best drilled, disciplined,
clothed, armed and acooutred regiment In the
volunteer service. In moral, 'esprit de oorps,"
physique. and all characteristics that make up
a splendid regiment 1t stood in the trout rank,
and from that time TO the end of the war 1t
| did most excellent service, winning numerous
emblazonries for its oolors. Captain Kellogg
was afterwards promoted to the colonelcy of
the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery and
fell dead pierced with many bullets while
leading his regiment in a gallant charge at
Gold HATbor. Hartford (ConR,) Times