Lieut.-Gov. Benjamin Douglass went to the front for the remains; and all the way home they were greeted with demonstrations of patriotic regard. No man was better known or loved in Middletown than Mansfield. To religion he was early committed at the altar of his ancestral church; to law he always paid sincere regard; to education he gave liberally of his fortune; to liberty he gave his life. The funeral was attended from the North Congregational Church of Middletown on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Brief addresses were made by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Taylor, and by his Excellency Gov. Buckingham, Ebenezer Jackson, and Senator Dixon. Military companies were present from all sections of the State, and the common councils of four cities; and to earth, with honors, were committed the remains of a sterling soldier, to whose memory generations will do homage as they read the names of those who gave their lives in the cause of liberty protected by law. THE DEAD AT ANTIETAM.9 Here fell our best and bravest, Kingsbury Oh, rare and royal was the sacrifice! Where death came hurtling; and for you and me Amid the mad, tumultuous whirl of flame. And then the gentle goddess Liberty — The purple drops of their vicarious love. The sequel to the battle of this day need not be rehearsed. The soldiers of the whole army expected to move next 9 By W. A. C. ANTIETAM A DRAWN BATTLE. 287 morning, -to swoop down upon the over-matched enemy, and give him the coup de grâce. Instead of that, a truce was proclaimed, and the rebels permitted to bury their dead. This gracious office was neglected, and the time was occupied by them in getting the trains and guns to the rear; and the sun of Sept. 19 found Lee's army safely across the Potomac, and, with some plausibility, claiming Antietam to have been a drawn battle. CHAPTER XIX. Tardy Pursuit of Lee. - The Eighth, Eleventh, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers. Gen. Burnside in Command.-March to Falmouth. The Eighth lay the Pontoon-Bridge. - The Battle of Fredericksburg. Gallantry of the Fourteenth and Twenty-seventh.-Gen. Harland's Official Report. The Disastrous Repulse. Whereabouts of the Fifth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-second. Private Elias Howe, Jr. - The Army Ration. - Camp at Stafford Court House. IX weeks after the battle of Antietam, McClellan's army began tardily to pursue Lee; moving from camp in Pleasant Valley, Md., across the river at Berlin, just below Harper's Ferry, and passing south-west on the east side of the Blue Ridge. The Eighth, Eleventh, and Sixteenth Connecticut Regiments were nearly together, and the Twenty-first now joined the brigade. Little of importance occurred to them until they reached Falmouth on Nov. 19, having made a hundred and seventy-five miles in twelve days. The Fifteenth Connecticut, after serving in Washington as "Casey's pets" for a few weeks, moved across Long Bridge on Sept. 17, and re-occupied their former camp on Arlington Heights. Here they remained six weeks, sending a guard daily to the disagreeable duty of guarding Long Bridge. On Nov. 3 they removed to Fairfax Seminary, two miles back of Alexandria, and pitched a camp of Sibley tents. Here they dug some rifle-pits, industriously prosecuted drill, and had their first experience in picket-duty five or six miles beyond. Col. Dexter R. Wright of the Fifteenth now commanded a brigade; and on Dec. 1 he marched it back through the city, and turned down the Maryland bank of the river. The regiments marched six miles below, and bivouacked their first ADJUTANT ELLIS OF THE FOURTEENTH. 289 night under shelter-tents. After a four-days' march, they recrossed at Acquia Creek, and slept upon the snow, which now covered Virginia with a thin coat. Reaching Fredericksburg, the regiment was put into Harland's brigade. After the battle of Antietam, the Fourteenth encamped in a lovely grove near the scene of Hooker's fight, where a few days were given to recuperation and an honorable burial of fallen comrades. The regiment had gone through the baptism of blood without flinching. Gen. French in his official report said of Morris's brigade, "There never was better material in any army; and in a month these splendid men will not be excelled." It is proper to say that Adjutant Theodore G. Ellis of the Fourteenth showed great efficiency in the battle. During the year before the war, he had been a member of an accomplished military company of young men in Boston; and he now brought to the brigade knowledge, skill, activity, and bravery that were of marked value. On the 22d, the regiment marched with the 2d Corps to Harper's Ferry, fording the Potomac, waist-deep, just above the often-destroyed railroad-bridge. It was a most animated scene; the enthusiastic thousands filing across, while the splendid band of the Fourteenth poured forth the stirring strains of " John Brown's body lies moldering in the grave." The regiment bivouacked on Bolivar Heights, and remained there nearly six weeks, living in a few filthy old tents dug up from the spot where they had been hastily buried by Miles's men when the place surrendered. Many attempts were made to get the baggage of officers and men left at Fort Ethan Allen; but, although Gov. Buckingham sent out a commissioner on purpose, red tape was too mighty to be prevailed against. The men had no changes of clothing, and could not keep clean. Much sickness prevailed. Marching orders were welcome; and on Oct. 30 the regiment crossed the Shenandoah, and pushed south-west through the Loudon Valley. Here the delinquent knapsacks were sent after them, but, not overtaking them, were stored in a barn; and shortly afterwards the needy rebels appropriated the whole supply. 1 This band became one of the very best in the army. On Nov. 9, the 2d Corps reached Warrenton; and Burnside, now assuming command of the army, pushed on, occupying Falmouth on the night of the 19th. Morris's brigade was detailed for duty at Belle Plain, where the men soon bivouacked on the sandy soil; and the drenching rain added discomfort to the hunger and fatigue. Here they staid two weeks on guard. The Fourteenth enjoyed a good Thanksgiving dinner, mostly obtained by foraging; and ate and drank to the "good ship Mayflower." It moved back to Falmouth on Dec. 6, and encamped with the vast army now gathered there. The Twenty-seventh Connecticut had left its camp at Langley's, and hurried down the Potomac; and now joined the 2d Corps in Hancock's division. Burnside's army was divided into three grand divisions of two corps each; and the 2d Corps (in which was the Fourteenth) and the 9th Corps (in which was the Connecticut brigade) formed the right grand division under Gen. Sumner. The Connecticut regiments did not enjoy this period. An officer of the Eighth wrote, “We put our little dog-tents' upon the sticky red mud of Virginia; made smoky fires outside, of wet wood; half cooked our scanty food; warmed and dried ourselves as we could, standing by the wretched fires in the rain: then we spread our blankets on the soft mud, and slept. We slept; for we were tired out: but we awoke stiff, rheumatic, and cross. The weather was damp or rainy for several days, and few of us got our clothing dry under four days. It has rained about five days of the week." Burnside had marched rapidly to Falmouth; but, before he was ready to cross the river, Lee, whom he had run away from at Warrenton, was in his path again, occupying intrenchments five miles long in the rear of Fredericksburg. At last, every thing was ready. Sumner and Hooker were to cross their grand divisions at Fredericksburg, and Franklin two miles down the river. Before dawn of Dec. 11, the pontoon-boats were launched from the teams, and men hastened to build the floating bridge. As soon as the fog lifted slightly, they were opened |