Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-07-11
STORIES q
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CREDIT GIVEN TO 9TH CONN
Was First Regiment Into Battle
OoIustee and Last out, SaS'
Comrade Henry Rowiey

Henry H Rowley. Seventh ConnecC
| cut Erie Pa, sends the folloWlns olip
! ping of an article In the winston
| (Conn0 Herald which he wrote I'M
mediatelv after the battle OF Oolustee
| 1t is Interesting as contemporaheou,
account of the battle OF oolustee ah'
| reads as follows:
Camp of the Seventh Connecticut
! Camn of the Seventh Connecticut
Volunteers. Near Jacksonville,
Fla. March Is, 1864.
IT M. Clark-Dear sir: In readlna
! the last issue of the Herald notlcs
| in the account given Of the battle o.
! Oolustee that the Fifty-fourth Massa
chusetts and First North Carollns
| (colored regiments) covered the re
| treat. Now. for the benefit or ths
people of the state from which we
| hail | wish to correct this, for de
believe that they wish to have all the
credit that is due them, through tneli
sons who are fighting for their honon
as we'll as that of our common coun
try We have no special correspond
ent to speak a truthful word Tor US;
therefore, it is selGSm that we ge'
much if any credit for the part taken
by us in the engagements in which
Connecticut troops have borne as con
spicuous a part as the troops from
other states. Such is the case WIN
the battle of Oolustee. The Seventh
Connecticut was the first into it an6
the last out. know no better way OF
proving my statement concerning the
matter than to give you the words OF
our commanding general. Coloned
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 Brf
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 rifia
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 advanc
ing column to the enemy. When ia
the rear the regiment formed, took a
new supply of ammunition, and adj.
vanced again, filling gap in the CEN
ter, where they fought with a will,
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, l 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: II 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 DO.
sition and conducted the retreat
through to BARRIERS Ford, arriving
there about three o'clock on the morn.
ing Of the twenty-first 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 line, waiting for all
other troops to pass. General Seymour
rode up in front Of the line, took off
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 1t we'll" The regiment for
second time took its position as rear
guard, and marched to Baldwin's.
Here they had grand time rummag-
Ing the knapsacks which had been left
by other regiments. Although tired
hungry and footsore, they were =
allowed to sleep. Details were MAJ,
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
' " iAip0ue Ihe progress or tho
enemy, and In the morning started for
Jacksonville, passing Henry's Battery
and Massachusetts cavalry at Camp
Ffnegan. 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 a few
picket shots. The boys have had no
tents since leaving St Helena.