The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-07-18
CREDIT GIVEN TO 7TH CONN.
Was First Regiment Into Battle Of
oolustee and Last Out, Says
Comrads Henry Rowley.

Henry II. Rowley, Seventh Connecti.
cut, Erie Pa, sends the following clip
ping OF an article IN the Winsted
Comm Herald, which he wrote i'm.
mediately after the battle OF Oolustee.
II is interesting as a contemporaneous
account OF the battle OF Oolustee and
reads as follows:
Camp of the Seventh Connecticut
Camp of the Seventh Connecticut
Volunteers, Near Jacksonville,
Fla, March IS, 1864.
T. M. Clark-Dear sir: In reading
the last issue of the Herald notics
IN the account given of the battle OF
Oolustee that the Fifty.fourth Massa
shusetts and First North Carolina
(colored 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
sredit 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 correspond
ent to speak a truthful word for US;
therefore, 1t is seldom that we get
much II 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 with
the battle of 0olustee. The Seventh
Connecticut was the first into II 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 Henrys 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 skir
mishers, 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 skir.
mishing order, unmasking our advanc-
ing column to the enemy. When to
the rear the regiment formed, took a
new supply of ammunition, and ad.
vanced again, filling a 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, 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 l have the confidence in that
have in the Seventh Connecticut"
This was enough. They took their po.
sition and conducted the retreat
to Barber's 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 tho
regiment was in line, 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, I am happy to say
10 you that l am satisfied with what |
you have done; you have done all l
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 |
ng the knapsacks which had been left
oy other regiments. Although tired.
hungry and footsore, they we're not
allowed to sleep. Details were made
or fatigue duty, to load cars with pro.
yisions, ETC., one company volunteer
ng to push a train Of SIX cars to Jack
a distance OF 20 miles. The
est destroyed such provisions, ammu.
lition, ETC., as could not be got away,
,urning railroad bridges, cutting down
rees to impede the progress of the
nemy, and In the morning started for
jacksonville, passing Henry's Battery
nd Massachusetts, cavalry at Camp
'inegan, where they were on picket,
rriving at Jacksonville on the twenty
econd at 900 p. m. Thus ended the
attic of oolustee, alias "Finegan's
TALL"
Since our arrival at Jacksonville ev-
rything has been quiet except an oc-
asional scare, the result of a few
icket shots. The boys have had no
ents since leaving st. Helena
H. H. r.