Thursday, May 23, 2013

Journey of the Captives - Officers Freed from Libby Prison

Saturday, May 23, 1863

The officers of the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut received their exchanges and were released from Libby Prison early this morning. They began the journey to Annapolis on freight cars at City Point.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 66.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Journey of the Captives - Relocation to Convalescent Camp at Alexandria

Thursday, May 21, 1863

After resting for several days the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut departed from Annapolis and traveled to their convalescent camp at Alexandria.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 66.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Journey of the Captives - Freedom March to Annapolis

Saturday, May 16, 1863

On Wednesday afternoon the enlisted men of the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut regiment began their thirty-five mile march from Richmond to City Point for exchange. Crossing the James River into Manchester they advanced along the main turnpike road to Petersburg. After a grueling and exhausting march led by Confederate cavalry the Twenty-Seventh arrived at City Point on Thursday, where they boarded a steamer boat bound for Annapolis. They stopped for the evening at Harrison’s Landing and proceded past Hampton and Newport News, arriving at Annapolis this morning.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 64-66.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Journey of the Captives - Twenty Seventh Regiment Exchanged

Wednesday, May 13, 1863

After four days in Crew and Pemberton Prison the enlisted men of the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut received the joyful news that they had been exchanged and were released for exchange at City Point. They immediately prepared for the thirty-five mile march to the exchange location at City Point. The officers of the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut were not included in the exchanged and were detained at Libby Prison.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 63-64.

Wounded Return for Service

Wednesday, May 13, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh regained several of their wounded men from hospitals in Fredericksburg.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 69.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Death of Stonewall Jackson

Monday, May 11, 1863

During their captivity in Crew and Pemberton Prison the Twenty Seventh Connecticut heard the news of the death of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson at Guinea Station on the previous day, Sunday, May 10.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 63.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Journey of the Captives - Arrival at Crew and Pemberton Prison in Richmond

Saturday, May 9, 1863

After departing from Guinea Station on Thursday the Twenty Seventh Connecticut reached Richmond. Upon arrival the Twenty Seventh was directed to the Crew and Pemberton tobacco factory which the Confederates had converted into a prison for captured Union soldiers. Crew and Pemberton was directly across the road from the infamous Libby Prison.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 57.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Retreat to Falmouth

Wednesday, May 6, 1863

The Union Army, ordered to retreat to Falmouth, were delayed by heavy rain on Tuesday. This morning at 4 A.M. the Union Army resumed their march and crossed the Rappahannock River at the United States Ford. Marching for twelve hours they finally returned to Falmouth in the late afternoon.

The debacle at Chancellorsville left the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut with only two active companies, D and F, and had reduced their numbers from four-hundred to one-hundred and sixty.

General Darius Couch, commander of the Second Corps, requested a new assignment and was replaced by General Winfield S. Hancock. 1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 69-70.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Journey of the Captives - Arrival at Guinea Station

Tuesday, May 5, 1863

The Twenty Seventh Connecticut reached Guinea Station on route to Richmond. They camped not far from the house where Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson lay wounded from "friendly fire" encountered at Chancellorsville on May 2. They encountered severe weather at Guinea Station which delayed their progress for two days.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 57.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Hooker Decides to Withdraw from Chancellorsville

Monday, May 4, 1863

In the evening General Joseph Hooker held a war council with his officers and decided to move the army across the Rappahannock River to Falmouth.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 69.

Journey of the Captives - On Route to Richmond

Monday, May 4, 1863

On their first day as prisoners of the Confederate Army the Twenty Seventh Connecticut marched passed Spottsylvania Court House on route to Richmond.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 51-56.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Captured by the Confederates

Sunday, May 3, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut resumed the position they held on Friday near the Chancellor House. Companies D and F of the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut were held in reserve. The remainder of the Twenty-Seventh held a position at the extreme flank of the line. After exchanging gunfire with the Confederates during the morning they noticed Confederate infantry movements in their front and in their rear. Colonel Richard Bostwick sent orders to General Winfield Hancock for reinforcements. At that point a Confederate officer approached their line with a flag of truce. He informed the Twenty-Seventh that they were entirely surrounded and entreated with them to surrender in order to avoid further bloodshed. After Colonel Bostwick confirmed that they were indeed surrounded, he surrendered to the Confederates. The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut Regiment, excepting Companies D and F, were now prisoners of the Confederate army.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 51-56.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Engaged in Battle

Saturday, May 2, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut took a position in the woods near the Chancellor House with the Second Corps. They spent all morning and the early afternoon building breastworks for an ensuing attack. They expected an attack along the Orange Plank Road from the east, but in the late afternoon General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson attacked from the west, rolling up the Union line toward Chancellorsville. General Winfield Hancock ordered his Second Corps to stand firm and expect an attack from the front or from the rear.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 48-51.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

First Encounter at Chancellorsville

Friday, May 1, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut spent a long day and night at Chancellorsville. A morning reconnaissance in the woods near the Chancellor House revealed the proximity of the Confederate army. The Twenty-Seventh spent a long evening at arms, busily digging entrenchments and building breastworks for the next day.1

References:
1Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 45-48.