The town of Greenwich, Connecticut

Greenwich, Connecticut

Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...

, contributed 437 men to twenty six Connecticut regiments during the American civil war

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.[1] Greenwich soldiers fought in almost every major Union campaign, including Bull Run, Gettysburg and the siege of Petersburg

Siege of Petersburg

The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...

. Approximately half of the Greenwich soldiers served in two infantry regiments, the 10th Connecticut Volunteers and 17th Connecticut Volunteers.[2]

Greenwich before the Civil War

On the eve of the Civil war, Greenwich was a small agricultural community with a population just over 6,500. Most Greenwich residents, like those of Connecticut, were staunch supporters of the Union. However, there was an undercurrent of anti-war sentiment due to the high volume of trade with the south.

Anti-slavery advocates were well represented in Greenwich and Connecticut in the lead-up to the Civil War. But, attitudes toward slavery were not uniform as many working men feared competition from freed slaves.[3] The last slaves in Greenwich were freed by 1823. [4] Freed slaves had lived in Greenwich for many years prior to the Civil War. They worked and lived alongside their white employers on Greenwich farms, performing the same labors and receiving the same pay. [5]

Greenwich at the start of the Civil War

Greenwich men readily volunteered when President Abraham Lincoln made the call for 75,000 volunteers to defend the Union after the attack on Fort Sumter. In October 1861, the town of Greenwich authorized the payment of an enlistment bounty of $100 for recruits serving a nine month enlistment in the Union army. [6] By 1863, as the war was dragging on and Northern morale ebbed, the town of Greenwich increased the bounty to $300 per recruit and the term of service was extended to three years.[7] For an equal sum, Greenwich citizens were allowed to hire substitutes to fight in their place.[8]

Greenwich Soldiers in Connecticut Regiments

Greenwich men served in twenty six Connecticut regiments. A few Greenwich men also enlisted in New York regiments. These soldiers fought in almost every major civil war campaign, including the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg as well as the siege of Charleston and the trench battles of Petersburg. Approximately half of Greenwich soldiers fought in two infantry regiments, the 10th Connecticut Volunteers and the 17th Connecticut Volunteers.
10th Connecticut Volunteers

Greenwich citizens were particularly well represented in the 10th Connecticut Volunteers. Company I, of the 10th regiment consisted entirely of Greenwich men. [9] The company's first commander was Major Daniel Merritt Mead (pictured in this section). Major Mead lead the first contingent of Greenwich volunteers into the Union ranks; approximately fifty five young men, averaging 21 years in age. [10] In the ranks of Company I were twelve pairs of brothers, three pairs of brothers-in-law as well as three pairs of father and son serving together. [11]

The 10th regiment saw action in the coastal campaign during the early years of the war, which culminated with the siege of Charleston. The 10th went on to fight the trench battles of Richmond, earning praise from Union generals and Ulysses S. Grant. The 10th regiment was active at the war’s very end, when they blocked Robert E. Lee’s attempt to escape from Virginia. And, the 10th was present at Appomattox Court House when Lee surrendered to Grant. By the war’s end, the 10th regiment had fought in twenty three battles and at least as many bloody skirmishes. [12]

10th Connecticut Volunteers, summary of major engagements:[13]

Roanoke Island, NC, (February 1862),
Newbern, NC, (March 1862),
Siege of Charleston, S.C., (July 28 – October 25, 1863),
Drewry’s Bluff, VA, (May 1864),
Darbytown and New Market Roads, VA, (October 1864),
Fort Gregg, VA, (April 1865),
Appomattox Court House, VA, (April 1865)

17th Connecticut Volunteers

The 17th regiment consisted of Fairfield county men and Company I was made up entirely of Greenwich recruits. [14] The 17th regiment's first assignment was as reserve troops in the Fredericksburg campaign. The regiment subsequently saw action at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the late summer of 1863, the 17th was ordered to Morris Island to support the siege of Charleston. The 17th fought in the siege works fronting Fort Wagner,[15] Charleston’s strongest defensive fortification. The 17th finished its military service in Florida, with major engagements at Welaka and Saudners and at Dunn’s Lake. [16]

Greenwich African American Soldiers

African Americans from Greenwich fought in two Connecticut regiments, the 29th and 31st volunteer infantry. Both of these regiments were formed in the last 18 months of the war to meet the Union’s aggressive drive for new recruits. Twenty four African Americans from Greenwich served in the 29th regiment. [17] Twelve Greenwich African Americans also served in the 31st regiment.[18]

Notable Greenwich Soldiers

Nicholas Fox – Nicholas Fox was the only civil war soldier from Greenwich to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest battlefield recognition. [19] Mr. Fox was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for an act of bravery in the battle of Fort Hudson, Louisiana, on June 14, 1863. In the battle, Nicolas Fox ran a deadly gauntlet of enemy fire to bring water to wounded Union soldiers, suffering from intense dehydration. He fought with Company H, the Greenwich unit of the 28th Connecticut Volunteers. At the time of his death, Nicholas Fox was one of only 31 Connecticut soldiers to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Captain Frank Munford Kelly - In 1861, at the age of seventeen, Mr. Kelly enlisted in the 44th New York Regiment, known as the Ellsworth Avengers. [20] Through his valor he was soon promoted to Sergeant, then Second Lieutenant, and Adjunct and, finally, Captain. He participated in most of the important engagements of the Civil War, including the battles of Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Antietam and Bull Run. During the course of the war, Captain Kelly was aide de camp to General’s Grant, Meade and Ingalls and was an intimate friend of General Custer.

Charles Bing - Charles Bing enlisted in 1861 with the 6th Connecticut Volunteers, and spent twenty seven months as a private in the service of the Northern Army. [21] In October 1861, Mr. Bing took part in one of the major initial Union coastal expeditions against the Confederacy. The expedition was composed of sixteen thousand Northern soldiers as well as seventy seven naval vessels and it succeeded in raising the Union flag at Port Royal, in South Carolina. At the time, this was the largest battle fleet ever assembled by the United States.

Greenwich Civil War Record and Monument

The town of Greenwich contributed a total 437 men to twenty-six Connecticut regiments during the Civil war. [22] This represented approximately seven percent of the town’s population. [23] Sixty-nine Greenwich men gave their live for the Union cause during the civil war. [24] Nine were killed in battle or died of wounds. Two were missing in action. [25] Another fifty eight perished, mostly from disease. [26] And, forty four were captured. [27]

In 1890, the town of Greenwich erected a monument to their Civil War soldiers. The monument still stands today, at the corner of Putnam Avenue and Maple Street. On its sides are inscribed the names of battles where Greenwich men fought. The monument bears the inscription “To her loyal sons who fought for the Union.”

Today, many street names in Greenwich also serve as reminders of Greenwich’s Civil War soldiers, including Mead Avenue, Lockwood Road, Reynolds Place, Husted Lane, Mills Road, Ferris Drive, Peck Avenue and Scott Road.

Sources and References for Further Research

• 1) Croffut, W.A. and Morris, John, M., “The Military and Civil History of Connecticut during the war of 1861-1865” (New York, Ledyard Bill on Fulton Street, 1869).
• 2) Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press).
• 3) Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913).
• 4) Mead, Edgar, T. “Greenwich Grows Up”, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.
• 5) Greenwich News, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.
• 6) Connecticut Civil War Regiment Muster documents, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.
• 7) Ross McCain, Diana, “Connecticut’s African American Soldiers in the Civil War”, (Connecticut Historical Commission).
• 8) Newton, Alexander H, “Out of the Briars”, (African Methodist Episcopal Book Concern, 1910).
• 9) Marshall, Henry G. (Transcribed by Jeffrey B. Mead for Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich), “History of the 29th (Colored) Regiment, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.
• 10) Marshall, Henry G (Transcribed by Jeffrey B. Mead for Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich), “History of the 31st (Colored) Regiment, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich.

End notes

• [1] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 400, 401
• [2] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 400
• [3] Mead, Edgar T. “Greenwich Grows Up”, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, Page 68
• [4] Mead, Edgar T. “Greenwich Grows Up”, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, Page 68
• [5] Mead, Edgar T. “Greenwich Grows Up”, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, Page 67
• [6] Mead, Edgar T. “Greenwich Grows Up”, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, Page 79
• [7] Mead, Edgar T. “Greenwich Grows Up”, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, Page 79
• [8] Mead, Edgar T. “Greenwich Grows Up”, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich, Page 79
• [9] Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913), Page 126 - 139.
• [10] Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913), Page 130
• [11] Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913), Page 137
• [12] Croffut, W.A. and Morris, John, M., “The Military and Civil History of Connecticut during the war of 1861-1865” (New York, Ledyard Bill on Fulton Street, 1869), Page 824
• [13] Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913), Page 239
• [14] Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913), Page 243
• [15] Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913), Page 247
• [16] Hubbard, Frederick A. “Other Days in Greenwich”, (New York, J. F. Tapley Company, 1913), Page 248
• [17] Connecticut Civil War Regiment Muster documents, Historical Society of Greenwich
• [18] Connecticut Civil War Regiment Muster documents, Historical Society of Greenwich
• [19] Greenwich News, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
• [20] Greenwich News, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
• [21] Greenwich News, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
• [22] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 400, 401.
• [23] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 401
• [24] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 401
• [25] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 401
• [26] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 401
• [27] Hines, Blakie,” Civil War Volunteer Sons of Connecticut”, (American Patriot Press), Page 401

External links

• http://www.ctfortheunion.com Connecticut for the Union - Website with "Greenwich for the Union!" documentary film
• http://www.hstg.org The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
• http://www.greenwichlibrary.org Greenwich Public Library
• Connecticut in the American Civil War
  Connecticut in the American Civil War
  The New England state of Connecticut played a relatively small, but important role in the American Civil War, providing arms, equipment, money, supplies, and manpower for the Union Army, as well as the Union Navy...
  
   - Overview of Connecticut's role in the Civil War
• List of Connecticut Civil War units
• 10th Connecticut Regiment Infantry
  10th Connecticut Regiment Infantry
  The 10th Connecticut Regiment Infantry was one of Connecticut's most successful civil war regiments, compling an exemplary record of service in the Union Army. The 10th Regiment saw action in the coastal campaign during the early years of the war, which culminated with the siege of Charleston...
  
  - History of 10th CT Regiment's major battles