The Newtown bee., 1893-07-21
NeWtoWn Affairs.
THE OLD SEVENTEENTH.
History of the Gallant Regiment. Written by Brig Gen William A. Noble.

History of the Gallant Regiment. Written by Brig Gen William A, Noble.
 The reunion of the 17th regiment Con- necticut volunteers, to be held in New town on August 2S, brings the history of this loyal body of veterans freshly to mind. The following history was writ ten by Gen Noble, and although familiar to the veterans of the 17th regiment, will be perused with interest by their friends. The copy of this history was kindly loan. ed THE BEE by Patrick Wade, Jr., of Bridgeport, member of this regiment. It is as follows:
 This regiment was almost wholly en- listed from the
 SONS OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY.
 The appointment of it's colonel, William H.. Noble of Bridgeport, and the order for its rendezvous as the county regi- ment at what is now the Seaside Park of that city, were made by Gov Buck ingham at the earnest request of lead ing citizens of the county. The hour was dark, and there was desperate need of soldiers in the field. It was doubted whether the county alone could fill a reg iment as fast as the whole state, but the men of Fairfield county took the risk. They pledged the governor to have their firm ac nniaClu at fha front as any Connecticut regiment. We'll did Fairfield county fulfil that promise.
 Its colonel was commissioned on the 22d day of July, 1862.
 WITHIN THIRTY DAYS
 the regiment could have marched to the front thousand strong. To it, Norwalk furnished two companies, A and F; Stamford, Company B Danbury, Con- pany C.; Bridgeport, Company D and parts of three others; Westport, New town, and Bridgeport made up Company E; Ridgefield, Bedding, and Bridgeport, Company c New Canaan, Company Greenwich, Company 1. Company was furnished mostly from Fairfield and Bridgeport. Every town of the county sent a squad of soldiers to the regiment, which was mustered into the United States service on the 18th day of August, 1862, and left for the front by rail on the Sd of September following.
 Its departure was a rare
 SCENE OF PATRIOTIC DEVOTION and affection at parting. The date of it's moving had become known throughout the county. On the 3d of September, from all it's towns there thronged to Bridgeport, filling it's seaside camp and the city, the kindred and friends of the regiment. They showered Godspeeds and blessing on their sons, and braced their hearts to the parting by pledges to keep all right and bright at the firesides of the county.
 The regiment thought it was going straight
 ''To FIGHT MT sIGEL,"
 as Gen Fraz Sigel,. commanding the Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac, had by permission of the War Depart ment early won the consent of the regi- ment to join his force. On its arrival at Baltimore, however, it found that city alarmed by raids of the enemy's cavalry, and the regiment was stopped by Gen John k. Wool, then commanding, and after delay Of a day or two was ordered to encamp as auxiliary to the garrison of Fort Marshall. This was an important earthwork and barrack,
 JUST EAST OF BALTIMORE, overlooking the city and harbor, and commanding wide sweep of country.
 Neither the work given the regiment, nor the duties imposed, nor their military association, were pleasing. It therefore sought, through it's colonel, a transfer to it's original destination, Sigers Corps. This action coming to the knowledge of Gen Wool so angered him that, late on the night of October 14, 1862, he peremptorily ordered it's colonel to have the Seventeenth regiment outside of Baltimore before noon of the 18th. or take the consequences. At half-past eleven the next day, the regiment and all it's belongings were speeding by rail to Washington. Arriving there at night, they were ordered next morning to Fort Kearney, one of the northwest
 DEFENsEs OF THE CAPITAL. After about fortnight at this fort, on November ,, welcome order came for the regiment to report to Gen Sigel, at Gainesville, Va. His corps then held Thoroughfare Gap of the Bull Run Mountains.
 On reaching Gainesville, the Seven teenth was united with the Second Brigade, First Division, of this Corps. This Second Brigade was made up of four regiments of Ohio men--the Twenty fifth, Fifty-fith, ,Seventy-fif ,and the One Hundred and Seventh. Later on, the One Hundred and Fify-seEenth New York was added, making, with the
 SEVENTEENTH CONNECTICUT, six regiments, which served through the | rest of the war close together in Virginia, on Folly and Morris Island, s. C., and in Florida under the command of Colonel Noble.
 Soon after the Seventeenth Connecti- cut joined the Eleventh Corps, it moved to Hopewell Gap, in the same mountain range, thence after fortnight to Chan lilly, Va, and on December 6, 1862, it began
 TEDIOUS SEVEN DAYS winter march, through slush and snow, .nxU rflc Fred or inIra hnrnr Va Ihna afaflr1ac l