Our family story search uncovered a Union soldier in the Okefenokee Swamp. Our second great-grandfather*, George Leonard Merritt, served in the 6th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Company I, during the American Civil War.
Fellow soldier Charles K Cadwell served in Company F. In 1895, he wrote in the introduction to his book, Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5, page 9;
"The object of this work is to give a true and impartial record of the old Sixth Regiment during the war. The author collected the facts from a private diary kept by himself while in the service."
The Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5 page 4Chap II: Camp at New Haven
On September 17, 1861, the regiment, numbering 1,108 officers and men, left New Haven, Connecticut, for Washington, D.C.
After four weeks of endless drilling and inspection by Abraham Lincoln;
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| Lincoln inspects the troops. |
After four weeks of endless drilling and inspection by Abraham Lincoln;
"The 19th of October found us all packed up and tramping up the gang-planks of the steamers to sail on the great expedition, with sealed orders, under Gen. Sherman."
The Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5 page 21
Those orders were part of General Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan. Grandpa Merritt's Infantry unit was assigned to the Navy blockade of the east coast.
What was the Anaconda Plan?
Chap III: Port Royal harbor
"The 7th of November, 1861, will ever remain in the history of the war as one ...when treason and rebellion received a blow from which they never fully recovered."
The Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5 page 24
The Old Sixth was part of the second battle in Winfield's Plan. At the Battle of Port Royal, South Carolina, the Federal Navy was better armed. Precision rifling gave their guns more accuracy and range. After five hours, they overwhelmed Forts Walker and Beauregard at Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Chap III: Connecticut lands the first troops
Connecticut's 6th and 7th Infantry were the first units ashore.
They took possession of the forts and spent several months rebuilding them and raiding the countryside for supplies. |
| Cookhouse during camp in Hilton Head |
Connecticut's 6th and 7th Infantry were the first units ashore.
"After the stars and stripes, the State flag of Connecticut was the first to wave over South Carolina soil, and the Connecticut troops made the first advance into the interior. "
The Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5 page 29
Port Royal Experiment
Chap III Wassaw Sound, Ga.
On January 29, 1862, they boarded the small, overcrowded steamer Cosmopolitan on another secret expedition. They expected a day or two's journey, but storms kept the fleet in the harbor for nearly a week. When they finally set sail for Wassaw Sound, Georgia, they planned to avoid Fort Pulaski and capture Savannah by an inlet.
Their transport ships were further delayed by Commodore Tatnall of the rebel navy when his "mosquito fleet" challenged their gunboats.
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| Expedition to Warsaw Sound Jan 1862 |
"Our condition on shipboard was deplorable; so cramped were we for room that when we lay on the decks at night one could not walk among the sleeping forms without stepping on a soldier.
For sixteen days we were fed on salt pork and beef...with hard tack that was full of vermin, and water that had been put in kerosene oil barrels three months before. The water was so thick in one barrel that the writer saw, it could be lifted up on the finger. ...
We had no water to cleanse our bodies.... Dirt and filth prevailed to an alarming extent, and “gray-backs,” as the boys called them, accumulated upon our bodies in a fearful manner."
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5 page 30
A spotted fever epidemic broke out, and the Division Surgeon ordered them back to Hilton Head.
Chap IV: Capture of Fort Pulaski
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| When Union forces captured it, planters abandoned the island |
"The 20th of March (1862 ed.) again found us under marching orders; this time our destination was Dawfuskie Island. We embarked in the morning and landed at 10 o’clock at night; marched through the woods to the end of the island opposite Fort Pulaski."
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5
The 6th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was engaged in the Union victory at the Siege of Fort Pulaski on the Savannah River, Georgia.
"Fort Pulaski’s walls were seven feet thick and mounted one tier of guns in embrasures and one in barbette. It was a huge five-sided fortress and was said to have been built by a Connecticut Yankee."
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5
Capture of Fort Pulaski
Chap IV: Battle of Secessionville
"The battle of Secessionville was fought the 16th of June (1862 ed.). ...Only two companies of the Sixth were directly engaged. The other portion of the regiment was held in reserve. "
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5
"The enemy poured a most galling fire into our forces and mowed down our men with fearful loss. The swampy ground making it impossible to form a line of battle, the forces were massed together, which impeded its progress as well as destroyed its efficiency. ... Our loss in killed, wounded and missing footed up to 763."
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5
Battle of Secessionville
Chap IV: Beaufort
"...we were sent up to Beaufort. This little seaport town was once the summer resort for the chivalry. ...but how desolate in appearance now, not a white inhabitant of the town remained to greet us ; all had fled. The negro population welcomed the advance of the Union troops and gladly hailed the appearance of their deliverers."
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5
Chap IV: Band of the Sixth mustered out
"It was during our sojourn in Beaufort that orders were issued from Washington for the discharge of all regimental bands."
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5An earlier post about our Yankee kin raised the possibility - based on an incorrect birth date - that he joined the Union as a drummer boy. This needs to be corrected. Grandpa Merritt was wounded months after the band was sent home. Cadwell's book supplies a roster of the company musicians.
Chap V: Florida
"The Sixth Connecticut Regiment left Beaufort on the evening of the 18th of March, bound down the coast. We passed several places of interest on our journey, among which were Mayport Mills, Fernandina and Fort Clinch."
Old Sixth Regiment, Its War Record, 1861-5And that's where we'll pick up next post.
Part 1 Okefenokee Merritt Family Part 5 Burning of Jacksonville
Part 2 George Merritt and Lydia Stewart Part 6 Brothers-In-Law in Arms
Part 3 From the North Part 7 Deserters
Part 4 A Connecticut Yankee Part 8 Yankee in the Swamp
*Note: Relationships, such as grandmother, 2nd great, etc., are expressed from the perspective of the grandchildren of Willis Edgar and Carrie (known as) Mae (Merritt) Musgrove.
Terms of relationship - grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousin, etc. - are used here generically to include relatives such as fourth great-grandfathers, great grand uncles, second cousins twice removed, etc.
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