History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

The daughter, Sarah L., was married July 19, 1S71. to Rev. John H. Lockwood, of Troy, N. Y., a de- .scendant of several of the old families of Danbury. He was for two years after their marriage pastor of the Reformed Church of Canastota, N. Y. In 187:'. he asstuned the pastorate of the New England Con- MILITARY HISTORY. 43 gregatioiiiil Church of Knidklyii, wIutu he reniaiiioil six years ; went thence to Westtield, Mass., as ])astor of the First Coiifrregational Cliureh, — a positi<m lie still occupies. They have one child, William \n- drew. AGRICULTUKAI, SOCIETY. The Fairfield County Agricultural Society pur- chased the grounds and held their fair on the present location in Norwalk, 18(17, with the following (itheers: Jonathan Camp, President ; Charles E. I'lumb, Sec- retary. The following is a list of the presidents and secre- taries from 1S(J.S to the present time : 1868-71. — Jonathan Camp, President; Charles E. Plunili, Secretary. 1872-73.— Dudley P. Ely, President; Cliarles E. Plundj, Secretary. 1874.— Dudley P. Ely, I'resident ; W. D. Gregory, Secretary. 1875-76.— John P. Beatty, President ; W. D. Gregory, Secretary. 1877-80.— J. E. Wheeler, President; AV. D. Gregory, Secretary. In 1875 the. society was reorganized under a charter from the Legislature as a joint-stock company, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, divided into fifteen hundred shares of twenty dollars each. The grounds of the society are beautifully located on the line of the Danhury and Norwalk Railroad, and contain about thirty aeres,-a good half-mile track, and a fine building containing about fifteen thou- sand square feet of floor-surface, capable of holding and aff^ording perfect protection to all articles of- fered for competition or exhibition ; also a large number of suitalile stalls and yards for stock. The commodious permanent buildings erected on the grounds afl'ord protection and provide unexcelled facilities for the proper classification of all articles sent for exhibition and competition. CHAPTER IV. MILITARY HISTORY. First Regiment — The TliirJ Uegiment — Tiie Fifth Eesiment— Tlio .Sixth Regiment— Tlie Seveiitli Regiment— The KigliUi R glnieiit— The Ninth Regimeut— Tlie T(Mitli Itegiment- Tlie Twelftli Regiment —TlieThirteentli Regiment— TlieFuurleenlh Regiment— TliiTwcnl.v- third Regiment— Tlio Twenty-eiglith Regiment— Tlic Sejuml I.iglit Battery- The First Cavalry— Tlie Seventeenth Regiment. The lightning had scarcely flashed the intelligence to the expectant North that Maj. Anderson and his gallant band had surrendered as prisoners of war to the Southern Confeileraey ere the patriotic sons of Fairfield were rallying to the support of their im- periled country. Men nud money were jiromptly raised, and the record of the countv during the whole struggle is one of which her citizens may justly feel a patricitic pride. THE FIR.«T RECilMKNT. The first regiment which was raised in the State oi' Connecticut for the service of the Fnited States in the late Rebellion was known as the Fir.st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and was recruited mainly from the volunteer militia, to serve three months. Com- pany E was recruited from Ihiiibury, and (.'oiiiiiany K from Bridgeport. Rifle Company !'• also hail a num- ber of men from Bridgejiort. The field- and staff-officers were as follows : Colonel, Datiiel Tyler; lieutenant-colonel, (Jeorge S. Burn- ham ; major, John L. Chatfiehl ; quarternutster, Justin Hotlge; adjutant, Theodore C. Racon ; surgeon, Henry P.Stearns; surgeon's mate, F. L. Dibble; chaidain, (teorge N. Webber; sergeant-m.'ijor, .Tohn L. Spal- ding; quartermaster -sergeant, I. V. li. Williams; drum-major, William .1. Skinner; hospital steward, Josejih Colton. The officers of Company E, the Danbury company, were as follows: Captain, Eliakim E. Wihlman ; first lieutenant, Jesse D.Stevens; second lieutenant, John W. Bussing. Company K, the Bridgeport com]i:uiy, was otiicered astbllows: Captain, Richard Fitzgilibons ; first lieu- tenant, Henry M. Hoyt ; second lieutenant, William A. Lee. The regiment was mustered into the service, seven hundred and eighty strong, April 24, 1S()1, and on the itth of the following May left New Haven for the seat of war. It was armed with Sharp's rifles and S]>ringfield muskets. It was the first regiment which ascended the Potomac. Upon arriving at the front it went into camp at Falls Church, where it remained until .Inly 21st, when it was ordereil to Bull Run, and partici|)atedin that disastrous and memorable struggle. Col. Tyler having been jiromotcd to be a brigadier- general, the regiment, in this its baptism of fire, was commanded by Col. Buridiam. During this contest, which resulted so disastrously to the Union forces, the regiment marched and countermarched until four o'clock P.M., being mncli of the time under sevi're fire. The First retreated to Centreville, having lost (inly eight wounded and nine caiitured. After a brief halt at Centreville it returned to citmp, where it remained several days, and was then, its term of .ser- vice having ex]iired, sent North and mustered out at New Haven, July ;!, 1861. THE THIRD REGLMENT. The Third Regiment was raised in Norwalk, Bridge- l>ort. New Haven, Danbury, New Fairlield, Hartfiird, Meriden, Norwich, and Stamford. It embraced fivi^ rifle and four infantry companies, and was mustered into the service, seven hundred and fifty strong, .May 14, 1861, for three months, with tlie following field- aud stafl'-officers : Colonel, .loliii .\riiold; licuteuaiit- colonel, Allen G. Bnidy ; major, .VIexander Warner; 44 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. adjutant, Frederick J. Peck ; quartermaster, Eichard E. Holcomh; surgeon, John McGregor; assistant surgeon, Matliew C. Newton ; sergeant-major, Wil- liam E. Brady ; quartermaster-sergeant, J. H. Alex- ander; drum-major, L. B. Farrcn ; fife-major, Wil- liam R. Miller; chaplain, Junius M. Willey (enlisted June 14th). The line-officers were as follows : Conipnii!/ ,1.— Captain, Douglass Fowler; first lieu- tenant, Ciilbert Bogart ; second lieutenant, Stephen 1). Byxhee. Company B. — Captain, Daniel Klein ; first lieuten- ant, William K. Sehmitt; second lieutenant, Charles Rose. Company P.— Captain, James E. Moore ; first lieu- tenant, Samuel G. Bailey ; second Hcutenant, Charles H. Hoyt. Company D. — Captain, Frederick Frj-e; first lieu- tenant, S. H. Gray; second lieutenant, Elliot M. Curtis. Bijie Company A. — Captain, George N. Lewis; first lieutenant, John Brennan ; second lieutenant, L. S. Bolles. liifte Company if.— Ca])tain, Jared R. Cook; first lieutenant, ; second lieutenant, A. S. Cowdry. Jiifle Company C. — Captain, S. J. Root ; first lieu- tenant, L. C. Allen ; second lieutenant, J. S. A. Baker. Bifc Company i).— Captain, Edward Harland ; first lieutenant, C. AV. Spalding; second lieutenant, Wil- liam W. Barnes. Jtifle Company E. — Captain, J. A. Nelson; first lieutenant, Henry Finnegus ; second lieutenant, AVil- liam Wright. Riflf Company /".—Captain, Albert Stevens; first lieutenant, Wells AUis; second lieutenant, Isaac L. Hoyt. Col. .\rnold resigned before leaving the rendezvous in Hartford in consequence of ill health, and the com- mand was given to John L. Chatfield, who enlisted May 31st, and became very jiopular with the rcgi' ment. The Third left Hartford for the front May 10, 1861. Upon its arrival at Washington it went into camp at Camp Douglass, where it wa.s put under vigorous drill until June 23d, when it was ordered to Camp Tyler, or Falls Church, where for several days it hclil this exposed position. Tlie regiment was first brigaded with the First and Second Connecticut and Eleventh Maine, July loth, and placc<l under the command of Col. E. D. Keycs. On the following day Keyes' command moved for- ward, the Third in the advance. At Blackburn Ford they encountered Longstreet's division, and during two days the brigaile held this advance ]>ost. Tlir Tliird participated in the memorable battle of Bull Hun, .Fan. 21, ISGl, and their conduct in that disastrou.s field justly merited the many encomiums of |)raisc bestowed 1>y the commanding officers. Gen. Keyes, in his official report, says, "The gallantry with which the Second Regiment of Maine and the Third of Connecticut Volunteers charged up the hill upon the enemy's artillery and infantry was never, in my opinion, surpassed." The Third was the hist to leave the field, and it left it, not like the great ma.ss of the Union army, in a rout, but in good order, pro- tecting the retreating army from the victorious enemy. Gen. Tyler said that it was these sons of Connecti- cut who ".saved us not only a large amount of public pro])crty, but the mortification of having our standing camps fall into the hands of the enemy." In this battle Sergt. JIcGregor was captured, but released. The regiment had four killed, thirteen wounded, eighteen captured, and six missing. The muster out was at Hartford, Aug. 12, ISOl. THE FIFTH REGIMENT was organized in the summer of 1 SGI, and entered the service with Orris S. Ferry, of Norwalk, as colonel. He was subsequently United States senator. This regiment was originally recruited in Hartford as the First Connecticut Revolving Rifle Regiment, with Samuel Colt as colonel, but, some misunderstanding having occurred. Col. Colt's commission was revoked, and the regiment was reorganized as above. There was only one company from Fairfield County in the regiment, — Company A, — commanded by Henry B. Stone, of Danbury, with James A. Betts as first lieutenant and William A. Daniels second lieu- tenant. William C. Bennett, M.D., of Danbury, was the first assistant surgeon. The regiment i>articii>atcd in the following engagc- mcnt.s: Winchester and Cedar Mountain, Chanccl- lorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Dallas, Marietta, Pcach- Trcc Creek, Atlanta, Chesterfield Court-House, and Silver Run. Casualties : Killed, 93 ; died of wounds, 29 ; died of di.sease, 81. Several died in Anderson- villc prison. The regiment was mustered out July 19, 1865. THE SIXTH REGIMENT.