Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-21
FIRST REGIMENT, o. g. ".

F1n9A BnU1NAn ~ - Il
rho Grand Reunion To-Day Adj
denda 60 she History and Roster
or tho Connecticut Cavalry Volun-
teers. 1s61.1885, Prepared BY Brig.
adler General Erastus Blakeslee -
"Reminiscences and Well Fought
Battles.
The First Regiment, Connecticut Cavalry
Volunteers, holds its annual reunion at Lin
coin Rink in this city to-day. 1t is one of
the big Connecticut military reunions of the
year and large number of veterans and
their friends will participate in it. The ex-
ercises open at II O'Clock.
In connection with the event we print be-
low several extracts from an addenda to the
history and roster of the Connecticut Cavalry
Volunteers from s61-1s65, which has been
prepared by Brigadier General Erastus
Blakeslee of Spencer, Mass, formerly pastor
of the Second Congregational church of Fair
Haven. Part of the account is reprinted
from the reports of the operations of the LIST
@. O. ", originally published in the Con-
necticut adjutant-general's reports for 1864,
'65 aud '66. Important points in the history
of the command not touched upon In these
reports have been added from original docu-
ments in the possession of General Blakeslee.
The account begins with organization and
compaigns of 1862.
The First @. @. v. was originally recruited
under orders from Governor Buckingham,
dated October /, 1861, as battalion of four
companies, one from each congressional dis
trict in the State. It assembled at Camp
Tyler, Hanover (West Meriden), October %,
under temporary command of Major Henry
Boardman Of the First company Governors
Horse Guards of Hartford, and was muster
ed in the United States service October 20,
with Major Judson NJ. Lyon, of Wood
stock as commander. The battalion
remained in this camp for about four months.
The long looked for marching orders came
at last, and the Goth of February, 1862, the
battalion SAG strong gladly waded out of the
slush of Camp Tyler and marched to New
Haven, where it took the boat for New York,
whence it went by rail from Perth Amboy to
Pittsburg, Pa, and thence by boat in a
driving snow storm (from which the horses
on the open deck suffered much during the
night down the Ohio river to Wheeling, Va,
for duty to Major General William
s. Rosecrans, commanding department.
On the 9th of March the battalion was
moved on the b. & o. R. R. to New Creek,
en- route for Moorefeld, Va, to enter active
service in the brigade of General Robert G.
Schenck. The first casualties here occurred
April Sd, in company B, which while scout
| ing toward Winchester was fred on from
ambush, Captain Farnsworth and Buglel
voltz being wounded. Captain Fish of com
pauy @ was so active and troublesome to the
| enemy that, as was reported, they offered 6
reward for his head. April Goth General
Schenck arrived in camp, and assuming com
mand, detailed company A as headquarters
gard, a position it occupied until the close
Of the second Bull Run campaign.
Describing the engagement at Cedar Noun.
tain, the account continues: About this time
Major Lyon resigned and Captain Middle
| battalion Joined in the pursuit of Jackson tC
the Rapidan, and on the 18th was assigned
to the brigade of Colonel J. Beardsley, Ninth
N. Y.O.V., with which 1t acted till the close
of the campaign. On the 10Th and Goth the
brigade helped cover Pope's retreat from the
Rapidan to the Rappahannock, and on the
22d was present with the reserve at the bat.
battle at Waterloo Bridge on the
Gath and attacked and drove out
rebel infantry at Sulphur Springs
on the 25th. On the 26th 1t was in the rear
guard of Pope's retreat to Warrenton. The
28th found it engaged at Thorntons Gap, the
Goth at Groveton and the 30th at Manassas
ed Bull Run), where it covered the rear Of
infantry to prevent struggling. After this
disastrous engagement, portion of the bat.
TALON held the causeway and bridge across
Bull Run, and by enforcing order among the
trains, prevented stampede and compelled
all to pass over in order, thus saving many
guns and wagons. The command was AGAR
engaged at Chantilly on Sept. 1st whence
on the I'd and Sd 1t helped cover the shat
tered fragments of Pope's army falling baol
within the defences of Washington.
49, k1c
made up of Captain Blakeslee's report o.
the Bolivar Heights fight, and his repor
from January 90 to June /, 1864. Thi
comprised: Leaving Baltimore, at the from
again, Stevensburgh, the Wilderness cam
paign, Sheridan's raid to Richmond, Han
over Q. H., and Ashland. The days of tn
Wilderness campaign were graphically de
scribed, as was the engagement ct Hanove
court house. Extracts from a letter from
General Wilson to General Blakeslee, dates
June 25, 1889, and inserted here states You
regiment caught the brunt of their attack a
Ashland Station, on the railroad, and by it
dashing gallantry and stubborn fighting helt
then. In check, thereby enabling me to reunit
the two brigades and withdraw safely to
junction with the Army of the Potomac
which had meanwhile swung full day
march to the left from the Tolopotomoy
| where we had left it.
The history 10 continued through officia
reports, the principal points touched upol
being: Covering the rear in Grants move
ment across the James, death of Captain
Backus, Wilson's raid and Ream's Station
Sheridans Shenandoah Valley campaign
Winchester, Front Royal, Staunton, Waynes
boro, Cedar Run Church, the Lazy Spring
|, raid, capturing Harry Gilmore, Waynes
, boro, Ashland, farewell to Winchester
Waynesboro, Ashland, Five Forks, Swea
House Creek, Harpers Farm, Appomstto
Q. H., Home.
The medals of honor awarded by Congress
to members of First Connecticut cavalr
are:
| Captain Edwin NJ. Neville, Company G, "for cal
ture Of dag, Sailors Greek, Va, April 9, 1865"
First Lieutenant Aaron 8. Lanfare, Company
.'for capture of flag from Eleventh Florida Il
Private Charles II. Marsh Company d, ..for cal
, | ture of flag, Back Creek Valley, Va, July 5
| 1864"
, | The brevet rank conferred upon officers OF Il
First Connecticut cavalry:
| Colonel Erastus Blakeslee. brevet brigader gen
raj. for gallant conduct at Ashland, Va" to da
| from March 10, 1885,
, | Colonel Brayton Ives, brevet brigadier genera
| "for gallantry at the battles Of Reams Station
) Deep Bottom, Five Forks and Sailors Creek, Va,
/ Lieutenant Edward w. Whitaker, brevet bri
| adler general" for gallantry and uniform GOOD CO.
| duct. to date from March Is, 1865.
| F., brevet captain September 20, 1854; brevet m
tor April 1855; brevet lieutenant colonel May
I'll board of Health.
The board of health transacted only TO,
tine business at its meeting last evening
! Some old wells were abolished and John "
l N;nhaIa ii - GIL ..rJhnyo