The Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, 1861-1865

Members of Stanley Post #11

2011-10-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

The following names of soldiers of the 8th Connecticut were members of Stanley Post #11 of the Grand Army of the Republic in New Britain, Connecticut. Stanley Post was named after New Britain native, Lieutenant Theodore Stanley (Co. F, 14th Connecticut) who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

The names are obtained from the Post records which are housed at the New England Civil War Museum in Rockville, Connecticut. www.newenglandcivilwarmuseum.com

Company A

Sergeant Francis Hart

Private George C. Root

Company B

Private Thomas Smart

Company C

1st Lieutenant Charles T. Andrews

Musician Theodore Brockway

Private Ebenezer Hackney

Private Napoleon B. Remington

Private Albert H. Cross

Company I

Private Lucius Fox

Company K

Private Bartholomew Bailey

The Dead Buried at Antietam (Part 1)

2011-07-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

During a recent visit to the Antietam Battlefield, I ventured into the National Cemetery for the first time. I had always wanted to go there, but for some reason never did. As I finished my battlefield tour, I made a point to go over and visit the Connecticut section and see if I could locate soldiers of the 8th Connecticut. I was very suprised to find many of the headstones, unreadable. Seemingly forgotten. So for a serious of posts, I will post an image of one of the gravestones of the soldiers of the 8th Connecticut who is buried at Antietam National Cemetery with a brief history of their service.

This is the grave of Henry E. Strickland. Grave# 1115. His residence at the time of his enlistment was New Hartford, Connecticut, a town in the hills of Litchfield County. When he mustered into Company A, he was given the rank of Sergeant, which he would hold up until Antietam. Sometime during the assault upon the Harpers Ferry Road, he was struck in the left thigh. His wound would prove to be mortal and Strickland would die on October 10, 1862, twenty-three days after the battle.

Members of the 8th Connecticut on Local Civil War Monuments, Part I

2011-06-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

After the war many small towns and cities raisied money to erect monuments to honor their citizens who volunteered to protect the Union. Today starts a series of posts showcasing those monuments who mention a member of the 8th Connecticut Regiment.

Today's monument is located in Union Park in Middletown, Connecticut. The monument erected in 1874 bears the name of one soldier from Company K, John K. Doolittle. Doolittle first enlisted in May of 1861 and served in Co. B of the 3rd Connecticut Regiment. The 3rd Connecticut saw limited action in the First Battle of Bull Run before returning home in August to muster out.

A little less than two months after returning home, John enlisted again . After enlisting, he was mustered into Company K, one of the 8th Connecticut's flank companies. He would be present during Burnside's eastern North Carolina campaign in 1861. Company K was kept especially busy with constant duty on the skirmish line. When the regiment was transferred to Virginia in the summer of 1862, Doolittle was with them. Marching northward and then westward to counter Robert E. Lee's 1862 Maryland invasion, the 8th Connecticut was engaged at Antietam where Company K was deployed on the regiment's left flank during the "Final Assault." During the assault upon the Harper's Ferry road, Company K briefly captured the abandoned guns of the Pee Dee South Carolina Artillery. As A.P. Hill Division launched its assault, Company K was forced to abandon the guns and fall back to the regiment. The regiment continued to stand its ground alone in front of the Harper's Ferry Road for over 20 minutes being attacked on three sides. Eventually it was forced to retire back to the Lower Bridge.

The regiment lost almost half its strength that day, including Doolittle who had been wounded in the knee. As the Army of the Potomac gave chase to the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia after the battle, Doolittle remained in the Sharpsburg area in a field hospital. He would remain there until October 9th, when he succumbed to his wound and died.

Private Lucius Fox (Company I)

2010-10-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

I found and purchased this image of Private Fox off of eBay a few months ago. It isn't everyday that you find something on there related to the 8th Connecticut that's affordable. So I almost had to buy it. I'm still looking for my g-g-g grandfather who served in Company G. If anyone sees anything belonging to a Michael Farley, please let me know.

Lucius Fox enlisted as a Private on September 27, 1861 in the small town of Washington, Connecticut. Washington is located in the northwestern hills of Litchfield County. Fox was one of twelve Washington men who served in the 8th Connecticut during the course of the war. Eleven served in Company I and one served in Company E. Company I was basically a company made up of Litchfield County men.

When Fox enlisted he signed up to serve three years. When the opportunity came to re-enlist as veterans in the winter of 1863, Fox declined. He finished his three year term on September 26, 1864 when he was mustered out.

Private William S. Reed (1861-1864)

2010-04-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

I wandered into Preston City at around 6:00pm last night (April 7) after having some time to kill before my class at 7:00pm. As I drove into the center of town, I saw a cemetery to my left up on a hill. So I decided to check it out and see what I could find. Well I found not one but two members of Company G buried there. Phineas Davis and William Reed. But for today's post, we'll focus just on Reed.

William S. Reed resided in Preston City, Connecticut when the was broke out in 1861. At age 31, he enlisted for three years service on September 30, 1861 and was mustered into Company G, the "Stonington Company" that same day. He went on to serve at places such as New Berne, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Port Walthall Junction, Drewry's Bluff, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. He was mustered out of the army on September 20, 1864, just a few days before the attack on Fort Harrison.

He died on May 19, 1905 at the age of 72. He was buried at Preston City Cemetery in Preston, Connecticut.

If you wish to visit Reed's grave today, its pretty easy to find. If you enter the cemetery at the main gate off of Shetucket Turnpike (Rt. 165), the grave is located just off to the left at the bottom of the hill. You're not able to drive to the grave, you'll have to walk up to it.

The National Colors

2010-03-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

I wanted to apologize to my readers for taking such a long break. Graduate school has taken up quite a bit of my time. Now that the semester is winding down, I have a little bit more free time on my hands.

Today, I wanted to write very briefly on the present status of the 8th Connecticut's National Colors.

Thankfully the colors of the 8th Connecticut have been preserved and are on permanent display at the Connecticut State Capitol, located in the Hall of Flags. Two of their national colors are on display here. Also, nearby is their state colors. (Those will be shown in a later post.)

If you are looking for one of the regimental colors carried by any Connecticut unit, this would be the first place I'd look for them.

I apologize for the quality of the picture below. I think I might have to make another trip down there soon to try and get a better shot. When I do I will post it on here.

The Eighth Connecticut's National Colors, the one they carried at Antietam, is the one on the far left.

Private Booth Lattin

2009-12-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

Booth Lattin was a resident of Brookfield, Connecticut when he enlisted as a Private on October 10, 1861. He was mustered into Company I on the same day. Lattin would serve with the 8th Connecticut throughout the North Carolina campaign, at Frederick, Maryland, at South Mountain and then at Antietam. During the Battle of Antietam, during the advance on the Harper's Ferry Road, Lattin was severly wounded in the arm.

What really isn't clear is what happened to Lattin next. It is not known if he ever returned to his company after his wounding. He did however complete his three year term of service. He would be discharged on October 10, 1864.

During the later part of his life he did spend time at the Fitch Home for Disabled Soldiers in Darien, Connecticut. When he died on December 13, 1904, he would be buried in the section of Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien, where other residents of the Soldier's Home were buried.

Snavely's Ford

2009-11-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

It was here on September 17, 1862 between 1:00-1:30pm that Rodman's Division along with Ewing's Brigade crossed Antietam Creek. Two and half hours after crossing here these men would be involved in the "Final Assault."

Harland's Brigade

8th Connecticut

16th Connecticut

4th Rhode Island

Fairchild's Brigade

9th New York

89th New York

103rd New York

The Colonel's Grave

2009-11-07T18:44:00.001-08:00

Edward Harland's grave is located at Yantic Cemetery, near Norwichtown, Connecticut. The cemetery itself is the location of many Civil War figures, including Governor William Buckingham, Brevet Major General Henry Birge and countless other Civil War veterans.

Private Napoleon B. Remington

2009-11-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

Napoleon B. Remington enlisted as a Private on September 3, 1861. He was a resident of the town of New Hartford. He was mustered into Company C, 8th Connecticut Volunteers on September 25, 1861. He was no doubt among friends, Company C was made of many men from New Hartford and the surrounding area.

He would see action with the Eighth on Burnside's North Carolina Expedition. He was present at the battles of Roanoke Island, New Bern and the siege of Fort Macon. During the battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, Remington was wounded in the foot. He was discharged with a disability on January 12, 1863. The disability probably related to his Antietam wound.

Remington died on August 8, 1917 and was buried in Fairview Cemetery in New Britain, Connecticut.

Note: The spelling of Remington's name seems to differ between two spellings. Napolian on his gravestone and Napoleon in the Adjutant General's report

Private Theodore A. Fanning

2009-11-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

Private Theodore A. Fanning was born in New York City on April 19, 1837 . He was 24 years old living in Norwich when he enlisted on September 3, 1861. He was mustered into Company D on September 21, 1861. He would served with the regiment up until the Battle of Antietam.

At Antietam on September 17, 1862 during the advance on the Harper's Ferry Road, Fanning was wounded in the left hip. The wound proved mortal. He died on October 19, 1862 at the age of 25. His body was brought home and buried in Yantic Cemetery, near Norwichtown, Connecticut. He left behind a wife, Eliza and a two year old son, Angleo.

Colonel Edward Harland

2009-11-04T14:13:00.000-08:00

I thought the best way to start out a blog about the 8th Connecticut was to mention a little about their beloved first commander, Edward Harland.

Edward Harland was born in Norwich, Connecticut on June 24, 1832. He graduated from Yale University in 1853 and was admitted to the bar two years later. When the War broke out Harland helped organize a infantry company, which would eventually become Company D of the 3rd Connecticut Volunteers. Harland would serve as its Captain and commanding officer. He went on to serve with them at the First Battle of Bull Run. After the battle, the 3rd Connecticut was disbanded. Harland wishing to continue his service set about raising a new regiment. That regiment would become the 8th Connecticut.

He was commissioned as Colonel of the 8th Connecticut on October 5, 1861. He would serve with the regiment through Burnside's coastal operations in eastern North Carolina. In North Carolina he would be present at the battles of Roanoke Island, New Bern and at the Siege of Fort Macon. In mid-1862 the 8th was moved to Virginia where it was placed in the newly formmed IX Corps under Burnside. At this point Harland recieved command of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the IX Corps. The brigade consisting of the 8th Connecticut, the 11th Connecticut and the 4th Rhode Island. His brigade spent a month doing picket duty in Fredericksburg. With the impeding Confederate invasion of Maryland, Harland's brigade were sentin pursuit of Lee's army. The brigade while present at the Battle of South Mountain was not actively engaged, it was held in reserve. A few days later at the battle of Antietam, Harland distinguished himself as a brigade commander during the "Final Assault." After the division commander, Brig. General Isaac Rodman was mortally wounded during the attack, Harland took command of the division and led it well. While the attack eventually failed, Harland won enough merit to be promoted to Brig. General on November 29, 1862.

The brigade would see minor action later that year at the Battle of Fredericksburg. While the brigade was moving towards Marye's Heights late in the day, Harland watched Fairchild's brigade suffer from several friendly fire volley incidents. Harland realizing the attack fruitless and daylight almost completely gone ordered his brigade not to advance. In effect saving many lives.

Harland led his brigade during the Siege of Suffolk. After the siege had been raised he was transferred to North Carolina where he would command the Sub-District of Pamlico and later the defenses at New Bern. He remained in New Bern until January of 1865, when he was given command of a brigade under Major General Jacob Cox and led it at the Battle of Wyse Fork.

On June 22, 1865, Harland resigned from the Army and returned home to Norwich where for many years he would become active in the Grand Army of the Republic. He also served in the state legislature, and as the State's Adjutant General. Edward Harland died in Norwich on March 9, 1915. He was buried in Yantic Cemetery, near Norwichtown, Connecticut.