Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-03
FIRST CHAPLAIN OF SEDCWICK POST
Rev. George w. Huntington Relates Hi. Civil War Exper
 ences at Campfire Gathering in Buckingham Memorial Historical Sketch by Rev. Arthur F. Purliss.

Sedgwick post, No. 1, G. A. R., en- tertained Friday evening az their guests at supper Sedgwick Woman's 5 Relief corps. No 16. Sons of Veterans, Daughters of Veterans and the Citi- zens' corps. Over 125 enjoyed the hos 3, diiicious supper. The following menu was served: -
 Oyster Chowder.
 Celery.
 Potato Chips.
 Doushnuts. Rolls.
 Coffee. Cigars.
 Following the supper, Commander Grin M. Price, who acted as toast master, made a brief address of well come. Kinder's quartette sang several pleasing selections, for wlsich they Price then introduced Rev. George w. Huntington of Newburg. N. Y., first chaplain of the post, who related in an interesting manner his experiences in the Civil war.
 In part MT. Huntington spoke as follows:
 At a social gathering in a cottage by the sea I was asked to give some account of my experience in the dark days of the Civil war. I consented to do so to oblige the hostess and not because I had anything thrilling or remarkable to relate. Perhaps it may
 
 sion and I ask your indulgence for the manifest egotism inseparab,e from the subject.
 In the spring of 1863 I was ap- pointed assistant paynlaster in the U. S. navy and was assigned to the ship Ottawa then stationed at the mouth of the St. Johns river in Florida. I sailed from Philadelphia on the sup ply steamer Massachusetts, in com pany with other officers who were go- different Atlantic squadron.
 Our first stop was off the harbor of Charleston. $. C. This was the head quarters of the squadron and of the admiral in command, who, at that time was Admiral Dahlgren. In addi- ton to his flagship we found there dozen or more vessels of various kinds and equipment. Among them were several iron -clads, called moni- tors, that were so low in the water that the high sea where they were stationed almost covered theiYs decks. leaving little to be seen above them except the turret which contained the great guns that made them so formid- able. Below decks they were quite roomy. but. especially in action. day light and air were at a discount. Fer this and other reasons I was glad that I had not been ordered to one of them Ottawa. being a wooden vessel of the i'd style. none of which, are now in the service
 Siockading Ships. Our blockadins ships at Charleston were several miles from the city. whose forts and church spires were was flying over Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, that mp to that time had successfully resisted the attempts of cur combined army and naval forces t" capture them. I may say in pass ing that these forts were never cap- tured by assault. They were aban- doned by their carrisons when Gen eral Sherman's army. moving north ward after it's victorious march to the sea, would have cut them off from the rest of the confederacy.
 Leaving Port Royal we visited a number Of vessels comprising, the biocl$adins fleet on the coast of Geor- sia. stopping just long enough t Q tur- tables and last. but not least. their mail from home. which ordinarily reached them but once a month
 - At length the Massa chusetts reach fds tine bar at the mouth Of the St. .Tohn's in Florida. where I Joined the ship that was to be my abode for up- wards or two years. Much of the time while I was attached to the Ottawa she was engaged in blockade duty. Af- ter the arrival of our army there was no longer occasion for blockading the St. Johns river, which is upward of 200 miles in length, and at various 
 Used Torpedoes in River.
 Quite force of Confederate sol- diers were in it's vicinity who, by in the channel of the river, blew up and sank several of cur army trans ports. To guard against further dis aSters of this kind our ship for sev- fral months patrolied the river for, distance of 100 miles from the sea- beyond which there was not sufficient depth of water for her to go. At this point we came into closer quarters with the enemy than at any time dur ing my experience in the navy. At other times when our ship was iu ac- ton. the firing on both sides was at long range. In this instance a t a nar- row part of the river a masked bat terv suddenly opened fire upon HIS and, before our big guns could silence 1t, the ship was struck in many places by shot and shell, but fortunately se- rious injury or loss of life was avoid ed I have in my possession ugly looking grape shot picked up danger ously near me after the action.
 Later on. the Ottawa was one of the vessels that met the" scouts of SIler- mans army when they reached the coast of Georgia on it's march to the sea.
 News of Lincoln. Death.
 After the fall of Richmond the ot-- tawa was again in the St. Johns riv-. CT anchored off Jacksonville. One morning we saw a naval tug coming up the river with its flag at half mast When hailed by our captain, who in quired what it meant. the startling reply came that Abraham Lincoln. our beloved president. had been assas ated. That indeed was a day of sad ness and gloom. It seemed to the the whole ships company like a per- son bereavement. ..-i. F.
 
 iy 5000 Union soldiers at Jacksonville who had not been released. from the Confederate prison at Andersonville- came to Jacksonville on their way North. Such wretched specimens of caused by exposure. dis ease and starvation. I never saw be- fore, and hope never to see again.
 Prisoners Die on the Road.
 Hundreds of them, after being re-. leased, died on the way before they reached the transports that were to take them home. About 15 miles To< <.1y xri11 4~