Augustus' Story - A Sad Conclusion

It appears from the newspaper reports and from first-hand accounts that Augustus Baldwin Fairchild's body was never recovered. Augustus is listed in the burial records of the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut, and a headstone for Augustus stands in the Fairchild plot in the Grove Street Cemetery, but it is likely that he is not buried there. His remains are probably interred at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, where eighty-five percent of the burials are unknown. Augustus' headstone at Grove Street is most likely a memorial stone.¹

References:
¹Grove Street Cemetery (New Haven, Connecticut), Augustus B. Fairchild marker, photographed by author 22 May 2009.

Augustus' Story - Report from the Surgeon's Orderly

Saturday, January 10, 1863

The latest report from Fredericksburg surrounding the fate of Augustus Baldwin Fairchild appeared in the New Haven Daily Palladium:

A letter just received from the Surgeon’s Orderly of the 27th, contains as much concerning the martyrdom of young Fairchild, as we shall be likely to know. The writer says: ‘I cannot learn any thing of his fate, further than that he was seen to fall in the fight. Our boys the day after the battle went to search for him, but were fired on by the rebel sharpshooters and were forced to return. Some days after that a number went over under a flag of truce, but nothing could be found of him. He was probably buried by the rebels. He was a quiet, fine young man, and his early death will be remembered with the tenderest emotions by all who knew him. All the officers praised him for his fidelity and gentlemanly worth.’¹

References:
¹"A[u]gustus B. Fairchild" New Haven Daily Palladium (New Haven, Connecticut), 10 January 1863, issue 8, col C.

Augustus' Story - Newspaper Request for Information

Monday, January 5, 1863

A request for information surrounding the fate of Augustus Baldwin Fairchild appeared today in the New Haven Daily Palladium:

Should this little paragraph chance to meet the eye of any member of Co. A, 27th reg., and he can furnish us with any facts tending to throw light upon the military history of A[u]gustus B. Fairchild of that company, at and since the battle of Fredericksburg, he will confer a favor, not only upon the Palladium, but upon many near and dear friends who are still agitated with the conflicting reports, concerning his supposed death. ¹

References:
¹"Untitled," New Haven Daily Palladium (New Haven, Connecticut), 5 January 1863, issue 3, col B.

Augustus' Story - Report in New Haven Newspaper

Monday, December 29, 1862

The New Haven Daily Palladium contained the latest news from Fredericksburg and reported a partial list of casualties. The report held ambiguous information about the fate of Augustus Baldwin Fairchild. "Private Augustus B. Fairchild, whose fate is not definitely known, yet is believed to have been killed, was a young man ever prompt in the discharge of duty, and although modest and retiring in his manner, was a favorite with his company. May God, in His mercy, be present to pour into the hearts of those who mourn for these gallant defenders of our country the oil of consolation, and may the cause for which they so nobly fought and died be in itself a source of much comfort." ¹

Despite the uncertainty of Augustus' fate, his death was reported in the same issue of the New Haven Daily Palladium. "Killed in the battle of Fredericksburg, Augustus B. Fairchild, aged 26 years, son of Joseph Fairchild, Esq., and member of Co. A, 27th Reg. C. V.²

References:
¹"From the Twenty-seventh Regiment," New Haven Daily Palladium (New Haven, Connecticut), 29 December 1862, page 1, col 2.
²"Died," New Haven Daily Palladium (New Haven, Connecticut), 29 December 1862, page 2, col 1.

Augustus' Story - Battle of Fredericksburg

Saturday, December 13, 1862

Augustus Baldwin Fairchild was killed during the assault on Marye's Heights, most likely as he emerged from the swale near the Stratton House. During this phase of the attack the regiment was exposed to a killing fire from Confederate infantry at the base of Marye's Heights and also exposed to Confederate artillery atop Marye's Heights. Additionally the the regiment was likewise exposed to "friendly fire" from Union artillery atop Stafford Heights across the Rappahannock River. General Darius Couch of the Second Corps ordered the artillery to cease fire as he realized that several artillery barrages landed in General Samuel Zook's brigade, of which the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut was a part, as the regiment neared the Stratton House.

Augustus was a quiet and reserved young man, regarded as a gentleman and respected by his comrades. He was sorely missed by all who knew him and dearly missed by his family. The circumstances surrounding his death will unfold with the aftermath of the battle of Fredericksburg.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Augustus B. Fairchild, Pvt., Co. A, 27th Connecticut Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Record Book of Company A, Civil War Collection, Mss. 77, Box 5, Folder A, New Haven Historical Society, 29 - 44. Francis Augustin O'Reilly, The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 2003), 304-307.

Augustus' Story - Day 1 at Fredericksburg

Thursday, December 11, 1862

Private Augustus Fairchild of Company A of the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut remained on the Falmouth side of the Rappahannock River, watching the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment cross under heavy fire. His relative by marriage, Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A of the Twentieth Massachusetts, was among those who crossed the river under intense fire and was later involved in the brutal fighting as the Twentieth Massachusetts fought their way into Fredericksburg. Oliver Stanton Bates was the brother-in-law of Augustus Fairchild's older brother Joseph.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 22-24.

Mustering In and Heading to War

Wednesday, October 22, 1862

The Twenth-Seventh Connecticut Regiment was mustered into service today at Camp Terry in New Haven, with a count of eight-hundred and twenty-nine enlisted men and officers. Among the enlistees was Augustus Baldwin Fairchild, a twenty-five year old coach trimmer from New Haven. Augustus enlisted on September 9 and joined the regiment on October 3. Upon mustering in the Twenty-Seventh departed Camp Terry to embark on railroad cars headed south for war. Augustus would mark his twenty-sixth birthday on Friday, October 24, during the journey south.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 10-11.