The Red Cloud chief., 1913-07-10
STOR!i!EESS 2
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CREDIT GIVEN TO 9TH CONN.
Was First Regiment into Battle Of
Oolustee and Last Out, Says
Comrade Henry Rowley.

Henry II. Rowley. Seventh Connect.
cut. Erie Pa, sends the following clip. |
ping OF an article In the Winstcd
(Conn.) Herald. which he wrote i'm
mediately after tho battle Of Oolustee.
II is interesting as contcmporaneous
account OF the battle OF Oolustce and
reads as follows.
Camp of the Seventh Connecticut
Camp OF the Seventh Connecticut
Volunteers, Near Jacksonville.
Fla. March IS, 1864.
T. NJ. Clark--Dear sir: In reading
the last issue Of tho Herald I notice
In the account given OF the battle Of
Oolustee that the Fifty.fourth Massa.
chusetts and First North Carolina
tcolored regiments) covered the re-
treat. Now. for the benefit OF the
people OF the state from which we
hail | wish to correct this, for | do
believe that they wish to have all the
credit that Ia due them, through their
sons who are fighting for their honor.
as well az that Of our common Coun-
try. We have no special correspond.
ent to speak truthful word for us;
therefore, Il In 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 II and
tha In I ~ hat tar IN nf
proving my statement concerning tho
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 Brl-
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 skir-
mishors. 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 skirmshers.
the force OF the enemy was kept mt
bay for about 20 minutes, after which
we retired to the rear In regular skir.
mishing order. unmasking our advanc-
ing column to the enemy. When 10
the rear the regiment formed, took a
new supply OF ammunition. and ad
vanced again, filling n gap In the cen
ter. where they fought with will
After the fight was over, before the
retreat was ordered, the regiment was
in line OF battle. Colonel JIawley wal
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 com
pany Of cavalry still in your rear.
After telling how he wished it conduct
ed he said: ~ 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 po
sition and conducted the retrea
through to Barber's Ford, arriving
there about three o'clock on the morn
ing OF the twenty-first. After resting
until seven o'clock the retreat wa,
again commenced. BY General Sey
mour's order the Seventh was agair
retained for rear guard. While tn;
regiment was In line. waiting for al
other troops to pass. General Seymour
rode up in front OF the line. took of
his hat, and said: Men of the Sew
enth ConDhcticut. I am happy to sa'
to you that am satisfied with whn
you have done; you have done all
could ask: you have done your dut!
and done It WELL" The regiment TO
q second time took its position as rea
guard, and marched to Baldwin's
Here they had a grand time rummas
ing the knapsacks which had been lei
hungry and footsore. they were no
allowed to sleep. Details we're mad
for fatigue duty, to load cars with pre-
visions. ETC., one company volunteer
ing to push a train of six cars to JACK
sonville, a distance OF 20 miles. Tn
rest destroyed such provisions. ammu
milton, etc, as could not be got away
burning railroad bridges, cutting dow
trees to impede the progress OF tn
enemy. and In the morning started 10
Jacksonville. passing Henry's Batter
and Massachusetts cavalry at Cam
Finegan. where they were on picket
arriving at Jacksonville on the twent,
second at 800 p. m. Thus ended tn
battle OF Oolustee. alias "Finegan'
Ball"
Since our arrival at Jacksonville e,
erything has been quiet except an o,
casional scare, the result OF fe,
picket shots. The boys have had n
,, tents since leaving st. Helena.
II. II. r.