CHAPTER XXXVI.

After Cold Harbor. - The First Cavalry. - To Petersburg. - Exploit of the Eighth.Charge of the Eleventh. The Second, Fourteenth, and Twenty-first. - The Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth at Bermuda Hundred. - Wilson's Raid. The First Cavalry. Bold Ride of Capt. Whitaker. - Incidents. - First Connecticut Artillery. Siege-Work of the Summer.- Battle of Strawberry Plains. - The Thirtieth Connecticut at the Mine. - Death of Col. Stedman and Lieut.-Col. Moegling.

EEP to the left" was Grant's constant formula of command; and every swing brought him nearer to Richmond. A change of base, which Napoleon called "the ablest maneuver taught by

military art," was achieved by Grant and Meade, after Cold Harbor, with masterly skill and complete success. One by one the corps were withdrawn from the right, and sent to the rear and left. The right was thus gradually and cautiously refused, and the line developed towards the lower crossings of the Chickahominy. In the mean time, Wilson's division of cavalry, which included the First Connecticut, was sent around the rebel right, straight on Richmond. By this ruse, Lee was deceived, and withdrew his army rapidly towards the capital to intercept what he supposed to be Grant's direct advance by the left. Wilson's cavalry, after seizing and holding Long Bridge, on the Chickahominy, dashed towards Richmond, and drove the rebel cavalry and infantry across White-oak Swamp. Here the First Connecticut was in a spirited engagement. Hard and continuous skirmishing followed for several days, while the infantry corps marched rapidly across the Peninsula to the James.

On the morning of June 10, while the First was on picket, the rebel cavalry made a dash upon the line of the 18th Pennsylvania, and penetrated to the post held by Capt. Joseph

Backus. Major Marcy, in his official report, says, "Capt. Joseph Backus made a gallant defense with his little band; but he was overpowered by superior numbers, and would not retreat, and was shot down; the ball passing through his body, and killing him instantly. Then his squadron, having lost their leader, retired to the protection of the infantry. The brigade was immediately called out, and drove the rebel cavalry back behind their intrenchments. The body of Capt. Backus was found lying in the road, where he fell, stripped of every thing but his shirt. I willingly bear testimony to his soldierly and manly qualities. He was a brave and high-toned gentleman; and, in losing him, the regiment was deprived of a superior officer, and the State of a noble ornament. He was truly loyal, having enlisted in the regiment as a private soldier, and by his own merit won his position as captain commanding a squadron."

Joseph Backus was a resident of Hebron, and at the time of his death he had re-enlisted for three years. While he was a sergeant, he was asked if he did not regret having enlisted; and his prompt reply was, that he should never regret it if he lost all his limbs in the service. After the battle of Ashland, he wrote, "My horse was shot from under me; but, mounting another that came in from the rebel lines, I was again ready for the fight. I just escaped capture, as a rebel officer ordered me to halt and surrender; but I turned, and fired at him. It is a wonder that I did not get hit; but, fortunately, I did not receive that compliment, or get the honor of the slightest wound. But my turn may come. I do not wish you to worry about me. If it is my lot to fall in battle, so let it be. I shall be content. I am determined to do my whole duty. I shall never be taken prisoner. I shall sell life as dearly as possible."

He went with Kilpatrick on his celebrated raid into Richmond; and, in the battle near that city, two bullets passed through his clothing. He sent home a flower "picked within two miles of Richmond, and inside the outer intrenchments." He started from the Rapidan with ninety men in his company, and, after thirty-six days almost continuous fighting, he fell; leaving but fifteen survivors on duty. Lieut. H. J. O.

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Walker of Mystic wrote of him, "A nobler, truer, more generous friend could not be found. He was beloved and respected by every one in the regiment for his gentlemanly bearing and manliness, and for his superior soldierly qualities. The men of his company loved him, and placed the utmost confidence in him; and he gave promise of soon attaining a much higher position in the regiment. Brave to a fault, always ready and willing to perform any duty assigned to him, no matter how tedious or dangerous, he was constantly eliciting praises from all, and had made a reputation that any might be proud to win."

Smith's (18th) corps took transports at White House, and arrived at Bermuda Hundred in advance of the rest of the army, on June 14. Being here joined by Kautz's cavalry division, Smith advanced directly towards Petersburg viâ Point of Rocks. Hinks's colored division rushed on, and carried the first line of works in a spirited manner; capturing one gun and several hundred prisoners. On reconnoitering, the main position was found to be defended by a strong line of redans, partially covered by formidable rifle-pits. The artillery of the works swept the broad, low valley. Smith determined to charge with a heavy line of skirmishers; which, at seven, P.M., of the 15th, were thrown forward from his three divisions. Under a sharp infantry-fire, they carried the line. Hinks's colored troops took four redoubts on the left, while Brooks's and Martindale's divisions captured the important works on the salient. The rebels held their fortifications on the right, and farther to the left.

The Eighth Connecticut was again conspicuous in this advance. Col. John E. Ward had not yet been able to return; Lieut.-Col. M. B. Smith was in hospital; there was no major; and the senior captain, H. M. Hoyt, was on the staff of the brigade commander: so Capt. Charles M. Coit commanded the regiment, now in Brooks's division. In his report of the movements of these days, Capt. Coit says,

"The line, advancing, drove the enemy a quarter of a mile, through the woods, at which point their strong fortifications were discovered. The men, covering themselves as much as possible by the trees on the left, and a thick jungle on the right, advanced as close to the works as these afforded shelter, and kept up a deliberate fire on the enemy's works; and our right

were enabled to almost entirely silence the artillery in the strong fort in their front. About noon, the enemy charged upon the center of our line, but were repulsed with considerable loss. At six o'clock, P.M., the two companies (G and K), armed with Sharpe's rifles, occupying the center of our line, having during the day expended their sixty rounds of ammunition, and being unable to procure an additional supply of that caliber, were relieved by two companies of the 118th New-York Volunteers. At seven o'clock, P.M., in accordance with orders from Gen. Burnham, commanding brigade, the skirmish-line the 13th New-Hampshire on the left, and the eight companies of the Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, with the detachment of the 118th New-York, on the right advanced, and, charging upon the enemy's works, captured them, with two hundred and fifty prisoners and five field-pieces."

Chaplain Moses Smith wrote of this:

"To cross the open ground, descend into the ravine in front of the works, and then attempt to enter a well-built, and, as was supposed, a well-manned fort, seemed certain death. But, strange to tell, as the line advanced, few men fell; and the skirmishers alone charged up the embankment, leaped over the parapet, and captured guns, colors, men, and all, before the line of battle could come up. We are told that Gen. Smith, as he saw the result from an eminence near by, leaped and shouted for joy; adding that he felt like giving a commission to the whole regiment that had done that gallant deed."

In the middle of Smith's line, also in Brooks's division, was the Twenty-first Connecticut, commanded by Capt. James F. Brown, in the absence, in hospital, of Lieut.-Col. Hiram B. Crosby and Major Charles F. Stanton. The regiment was held closely in reserve, ready to participate in the fighting, if it became severe.

The Eleventh Connecticut was in Martindale's division, in a brigade led by Col. Griffin A. Stedman, and composed of six large regiments. The division advanced along the Appomattox, on the extreme right of the corps; and the Eleventh Connecticut occupied the left of the brigade-line, and was under command of Lieut.-Col. William A. Moegling. The regiment rushed forward across the plain, over a creek and numerous ditches, steadily driving back the rebels until within thirty yards of the rifle-pits. Here a stand was made; but, after a short engagement, the rebels were driven to their main intrenchments. Just as Col. Stedman was about to

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storm the works under a heavy fire, the brigade was relieved, and sent to the left to assist the colored troops to hold the position they had taken.

Every consideration urged a prompt renewal of the assault at early dawn. This was Smith's intention; but, not being properly supported by Hancock, he felt compelled to wait, while Lee hurried forward his army, and threw a large force into Petersburg. It subsequently appeared that Smith might have captured the city with his own corps, had he advanced promptly and resolutely.

In the mean time, Stedman's brigade was again relieved, and returned to the right; Stedman sending a scouting-party along the river-bank. During the day (the 16th), being informed that Hancock would attack at six, P.M., on the extreme left, Martindale moved forward as a feint on the right. Col. Stedman advanced his brigade, and, after hard skirmishing, took possession of infantry-parapets and a bastion on the left of the road. The Eleventh was again on the skirmishline. After a while, it having become evident that the attack had failed, the division was withdrawn to the position of the morning.

Col. Ellis says, in his official report of the service of the Fourteenth, "Early on the morning of June 16, the skirmishers of our brigade advanced upon the enemy, driving their skirmishers back for upwards of a quarter of a mile, and obtaining a much better position, besides capturing about fifty prisoners. Our loss was very small. Private John Geatley of Bridgeport, in this advance, captured with an unloaded gun three armed rebels, and brought them in as prisoners. In the afternoon, upon the skirmish-line, the same man wounded two rebels, one of them apparently fatally.

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Upon the 17th, our brigade was moved to the left with instructions to support Gen. Barlow's division. At night, we were instructed to advance our line nearer to the enemy's position. The regiment did this in good style, moving forward through a dense and thickly-wooded swamp, driving in the enemy's skirmishers, and taking up a position about fifty yards in front of their line, and opening upon them an effective fire. We held this position for two or three hours, when,