Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-07-10
CREDIT GIVEN TO 7TH CONN.
Was First Regiment Into Battle OF
Colustee and Last Out, Says
Comrade Henry Rowley.

cut, Erie Ia, SenGS the 1QIl0Wlng cap
ping of an article in the Wineted
Comm Herald, which he wrote i'm
nediately after the battle OF Oolustee.
It is interesting as a contemporaneous
account of the battle of Oolastee and
reads as follows:
Camp OF the Seventh Connection
Camp of the Seventh Connecticut
Volunteers, Near Jacksonville
Fla, March Is, 1861
T. NJ Clark-Dear sir: In readii.e
the last issue of the Herald l notice
in the account given Of the battle OF
Oolustee that the Fifty-fourth Massa-
chusetts and First North Carolina
(colored regiments) covered the re
treat Now, for the benefit OF the
people of the state from which We
hail I wish TO correct this, for | do
believe that they wish TO have all the
credit that is due them, through their
sons who are fighting for their honor,
as well as that of our common coun-
try. We have no special CORES pond
ent to speak truthful word for US;
therefore, it is seldom that We get
| much if any credit for the part taken
| by US in the engagements in which
Connecticut troops have borne as con-
spicuous part as the troops from
other states. Such is the case with
the battle of Oolustee. The Seventh
Connecticut was the first into it and
the last out. | know no better way OF
proving my statement concerning the
matter than to give you the words OF
our commanding general. Colonel
HaWley's brigade, composed of the
Seventh New Hampshire, Eighth Unit
ed States Colored Infantry and Sew
enth Connecticut, was second in the
advance, Colonel Henry's Light Bri
gade being the first Three miles be-
yond Sanderson, by order of General
Seymour, the Seventh was brought to
the front and into position as Skin
mishcrs, and moved on, driving before
them a squadron of rebel cavalry.
This was kept up until we came up
with the main body, exchanging shots
with a force of rebels posted in rife
, pits and in a dense wood. At this
place, and in position as skirmishers.
the force of the enemy was kept at
bay for about 20 minutes, after which
we retired to the rear in regular Skin
mishing order, unmasking our adyanc
ing column to the enemy. When to
the rear the regiment formed, took q
new supply Of ammunition, and ad
yanced again, filling a gap in the cen
| ter, where they fought with VIII
After the fight was over, before the
retreat was ordered, the regiment was
in line of battle Colonel HaWley was
| sitting near US upon his horse. Gen
eral Seymour rode up and said: "'Colo-
mel, / wish to have your regiment act
as rear guard; there will be a com
| pany of cavalry still in your rear"
/ After telling how he wished it conduct
ed he said: Il hate to ask this of you.
colonel but there is not a regiment
| that have the confidence in that ]
have in the Seventh Connecticut"
This was enough. They took their pc.
sition and conducted the retreat
through to BARRIERS Ford, arriving
| there about three o'clock on the morn.
| ing of the twenty-frst. After resting
| until seven o'clock the retreat was
again commenced. BY General Sey.
mour's order the Seventh was again
retained for rear guard. While the
regiment was in lire, waiting for all
| other troops to pass, General Seymour
rode up in front Of the line, took of
his hat. and said: Men Of the Sew
| enth Connecticut, / am happy to SAY
to you that / am satisfied with what
you have done; you have done all
could ask; you have done your duty
and done it we'll" The regiment for
| a second time took it's position as rea7
guard, and marched to Baldwin's
Here they had a grand time rummag
ing the knapsacks which had been left
by other regiments. Although tired
hungry and footsore, they were not
allowed to sleep. Details were made
for fatigue duty, to load cars with pro
visions, etc, one company volunteer
ing to push train of six cars to Jack
sonville, distance Of 20 miles. The
rest destroyed such provisions, ammu
milton, etc. as could not be got away
burning railroad bridges, cutting down
trees to impede the progress of the
enemy, and in the morning started fol-
Jacksonville, passing Henry's Battery
and Massachusetts cavalry at Camp
Finegan, where they were on picket
arriving at Jacksonville on the twenty
second at 900 p. m. Thus ended the
battle of Oolustee, alias "Finegan's
Ball"
Since our arrival at Jacksonville ev
erything has been quiet except an oc
casional scare, the result of few
picket shots. The boys have had nc
tents since leaving st. Helena
H. H. r.