Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

The 29th Conn, was the first Regiment of colored troops raised in this state and Norwalk was represented in chis Regiment by twenty-seven enlisted men. In the 30th Conn., Colored Regiment, which was the last Regi- ment sent by the state, Norwalk had none to its credit. The 1 st, 2nd and 3rd Conn. Batteries of Artillery, Nor- walk sent sixteen men. The 2nd Heavy Artillery being a Litchfield County Regiment, we had but twenty-two men to represent our town. Norwalk had its citizens not only in Regiments from our own state but we find them in the regular army, but get the credit for only four; also in the navy, we had several of our citizens, but can find the record of but two, Edward G. Bishop and Joseph Skidmore. Among the officers appointed by the President we find the name of Major Genl. Wm. T. Clarke, who was a citizen of Norwalk and served with distinction on the staff of Major Gen. McPherson, who was killed in front of Atlanta, July 22nd, T864. While we are trying to give a record of the number of men furnished by the town of Norwalk, we find it im- possible to get a complete record of those who enlisted in other states, who were citizens of Norwalk. Those whom we find accredited to our town are: Geo. FI. Waterburv, 2nd N. Y. Cav. Wm. H. Bates, 5th N. Y. Inf. Geo. I. Buxton, 9th N. Y. Inf. Wm. Cockefer, 9th N. Y. Inf. Justice Disbrow, 41st Ohio. Lewis W. Doty, 8th N. Y. Edward H. Fitch, 5th N. Y. Cav. Edward Flolley, 10th N. J. James B. Hovt, Capt. 9th N. Y. Chas. G. Hyatt, 48th N. Y. Gould J. Jennings, Capt. 59th N. Y. Philo Johnson, 17th N. Y. John F. Lovejoy, 81st N. Y. John M. McLean, 37th N. Y. Wm. E. Montgomery, 1 ith N. Y. Cav. 203 Samuel B. Sherwood, 16th N. Y. Arty. Frank B. Smith, 2nd 111. Arty. Wm. R. Green, 35th N. J. John O'Conner, 35th N. J. Stephen Maning, 17th N. Y. We find by the records that the town of Norwalk furnished nearlv Soo men during the war, and if we could but get at the records of other states there is no doubt of our finding that fully 1,000 men of our town were furnished to put down the most wicked of rebellions, and how many of our Norwalk boys gave their lives to down that rebellion we can never tell. We find that the losses for the State of Connecticut were: Killed in battle, 1,240 Missing, probably killed, 107 Died from accidents, 112 Fatally wounded, . 740 Died in prison, 689 Died of disease, 2,801 Wounded, 5,l66 Accidentally wounded, . 58 Captured, .... 4,o7S Discharged for disability, 4,824 Unaccounted for at muster out 352 Total loss of Connecticut, 20,164 In trying to get together the facts concerning Nor- walk, in the wars of the past we are sorry that there is not a more complete record of the men who stood in the breach and gave their lives to their country, as in the Revolution, we only wish we could have been able to as- certain just who these patriots were, but we should be pleased to know that nearly all of whom we have no record as being from our town, are duly credited to the little State of Connecticut, of which we are all proud. With the end of the Civil War in the summer of 1865, most of the boys of 1861, who were alive, came home, putting aside the implements of war and taking up the pursuits of peace. And we want to say in closing that as a rule the country has kept its pledges to its sol- diers, especially the aged, infirm and crippled. At the grand review of the Army of Sherman and Grant, which was held at Washington, in May, 1865 204 there was suspended across Pennsylvania avenue, a very large banner upon which were these words: The only debt this country can never pay is the debt of gratitude it owes its Soldiers and Sailors, and this debt the coun- try has been paying in many ways during the past thirty- six years. We recall the fact that among the soldiers of the Civil War who reached the highest round of the lad- der of fame were Gen. Grant, Gen. Garfield, Gen. Hayes and the late honored president, Wm. McKinley who, when he enlisted, was a young man of about eighteen and was a lieutenant in the Regiment of which President Hayes was the colonel. So we might go on and fill a book with the names of soldiers whom the country has honored, and prove that as a rule this Republic has been grateful to its defenders. Individuals sometimes forget the men who left all and went to fight the battles of the nation, but the nation does not forget them, even in their old age. In closing this article on Norwalk after 250 years, we earnestly hope that the one who writes 250 years hence will not have to record the facts as we have tried to do, but we hope that there will be a better way of set- tling all our differences than with powder and ball. C. F. HALLOCK. 805 SOUTH NORfALK LADIES' PATRIOTIC SOCIETY, 1861-1865 By Harriet Aymar. N July following the fall of Fort Sum- ter, when war had actually begun be- tween the North and South, and troops were mustering in cities and villages throughout our northern land, a few ladies met at the home of Mrs. Burr Knapp on Washington Street, .South Norwalk, and resolved them- selves into an association called the "South Norwalk Ladies' Patriotic Society,' whose object was to aid and comfort our soldiers in camp and hospital, or if found wounded on the battlefield. Mrs. David R. Austin, wife of the Congregational pastor, drafted the constitu- tion and was chosen the first president of the society. The other officers, representing the various churches in South Norwalk were: 1st Vice President, Mrs. John Scott; 2nd Vice President, Mrs. Halsey ; Secretary, Mrs. Burr Knap]) ; Assistant Secretary, Miss E. G. Piatt ; Treasurer, Miss Mary Hill, and a board of twelve man- agers In the following year Miss Harriet Aymar suc- ceeded Mrs. Austin as President, owing to the latter's ill health. Mrs. Dennis Piatt was Vice President; Miss Hill, Treasurer and Miss Piatt Secretary. During the last two years of the war Miss Aymar as President and Miss Piatt as Secretary and Treasurer conducted the so- ciety's affairs. The membership fee was twenty-five cents and the society soon became a numerous band. Contributions were received from others outside the society, not only of cash, but of fruits and jellies, wine, books, linen and other supplies. With the funds raised material was pur- chased for garments, patterns of which were furnished by the Sanitary Commission, and also hospital comforts needed for the soldiers. The early meetings of the Patriotic Society were held in private houses, but, after a time Ely's Hall on North Main Street, became the headquarters of the So- ciety, it being a central point and affording betteraccom- modations for the increased number of workers. Ely's 206 block was new then and Mr. Nathan Ely, not only gave the use of the hall for meetings of the Society, but also foi its entertainments to raise money. Soon after or- ganization the question of raising funds became a serious one and it was decided to give a concert, and it is amus- ing 10 recall the discussion which arose over the charge for tickets. The president thought twenty-five cents a fair price, but was opposed by nearly all the members, who said that to charge more than fifteen cents would mean failure. Finally the president asked to be given the decision in the matter, promising if the concert failed to yield to the fifteen cent rate for ever after. The con- cert was a great success. It was given before a crowded house, and went off beautifully, while the profits amount- ed to $90. Professor Merriam, who led the singing, had been promised one-fourth of the receipts, and when he received the money he remarked, "Why, Miss Aymar, I never had so much pay in my life." "Oh!" was the reply, ''Your forte is music, not finance !" The concert was given on August 8, 1862, by the united chorus of the South Norwalk churches, assisted by other amateur singers, who gave their services. The programme was as follows: PART I. 1. Overture to Martha. Slotare. Piano duet. Miss White and Slocum. 2. Let Every Heart Rejoice and Sing. Choir. Accomp't, Mr. Disbrow. 3. La Manola. Huison. Miss Sears, Accomp't, Miss Seymour. 4. On to the Field of Glory. Duet. Messrs. Merriam and Fowler. 5. The Lazy Man. Song. Mr. Nichols. 6 I've a Home in the Woods. Messrs. Merriam, Fowler, Selleck and Craw. 7. Eckert's Swiss Song. Miss Sears. Accomp't, Miss Seymour. 8. Come, Let Us Sing a Merry Round. Choir. 9. Marseilles Hymn. Solo. Mr. Merriam and Choir. Accomp't, Mr. Disbrow. 207 PART II. 1. Lucia di Lammermoor, Orsler. Piano Duet. Misses Slocum and White. 2. Hark! Apollo Strike the Lyre. Choir. 3. Consider the Lilies. Miss Sears. Accomp't, Miss Hill. 4. Rolling Home. Quartette. Messrs. Merriam, Fowler, Selleck and Craw. 5. Vive l'America. Mr. F. Lockwood. Accomp't, Miss Slocum. 6. Robert toi qui j'aime. Meyerbeer. Miss Sears. Accomp't, Miss Hill. 7. The American Flag. Solo. Mr. Merriam. Choir. Accomp't, Mr. Disbrow. 8. A Man's a Man for All That. Song. Mr. Nichols. 9. The Union Forever. Mr. Merriam. 10. Grand Finale. The Star Spangled Banner. Choir and Audience. Accomp't, Mr. Disbrow. What a contrast with similar benefit entertainments to-day, in the theatres, halls and club rooms, were the simple entertainments of charades, tableaux, suppers and concerts in that primitive place, which were the germs of the artistic and elegant- entertainments of to-day.