The knightly soldier; a biography of Major Henry Ward Camp

Front matter

wiBB vm.

ByChaplain Trumbull

Oass.

Preface

IX stricken from the record, — all, indeed, that could be with seeming propriety. It is hoped that what remains will be ascribed to the affectionate partiality of him who has fallen, and not to any want of good taste on the part of one who was loved by and who mourns him.

Philadelphia,

Decoration Day, 1892.

Chapter I. Childhood And School-days

Personal Character in the American Civil War. — An Illustrative Story. — A Representative Student Soldier. — Henry Camp's Parentage and Boyhood. — Inherited Qualities. — Sensitive Conscience. — Child Sermons. — Beginnings in Sunday-school. — High -school Experiences. — His Teacher's Estimate. — A Year at Home. — Enters Yale. — Confesses Christ. — Dr. Bushnell's Tribute. — The Man-soul in the Child. — Hero-life and Angellife. — A High Future still

Chapter II. College Life

College Athletics. — Boating. — University Races of 1859. — Reflex Influence of a Hard Struggle. — A Ring Won and Worn. — Yale and Harvard Oarsmen in the Army. — Chaplain Twichell's Sketch of the Worcester Regatta. — "A Perfect Man." — Severe Training. — Soldierly Ways. — First Day's Race. — Defeat. — Comfort from "No. 3." — Contagious Courage. — Second Day's Race. — Victory . — Rej oicings . — Sequel . — Testimony of College Comrades. — An Unbelieving Classmate Led to

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XU CONTENTS.

Christ. — Christian Fidelity Recognized. — Characteristics and Conduct. — A Kingly Heart. — A Blessed Memory

Chapter III. Teacher, Law Student, Soldier

Teaching at East Hartford. — Rising War-clouds. — Voting Intelligently. — Standing for Principle. — Studying Law. — Denying Self in not Enlisting. — Joining the City Guard. — Funeral of General Lyon. — Commissioned in the Tenth Regiment. — Farewell Speech at his Sunday-school. — Joying in Prospect of Service. — Joins his Command at Annapolis. — Open-air Prayer-meeting. — Camp Varieties. — A Christmas Gift. — Foster's Brigade. — The Burnside Expedition. — Life on a Transport. — Purity in all Things. — Trials on the " Swash." — A Pull for Life. — A Fair Face and a Brave Heart 34

Chapter IV. Roanoke And New-berne

Advance up Pamlico Sound. — Generals Worth Seeing. — The Night before the Fight. — Personal Feelings. — Battle of Roanoke Island. — The First Wounded. — On Special Duty. — Crying a Cry Out. — Victory and its Cost. — Again on Transports. — Kerosene Water. — Energetic Cockroaches. — Courage in Dark Days. — Patriotism and Chivalry. — Sunset at Sea. — Poetic Musing. — Landing and Bivouacking. — The Battle of New- Berne. — Sensations under Fire. — Another Victory. — The City Entered. — Guard Duty. — Sympathy with Enlisted Men. — Picket-life. — An Alarm. — Bold Scouting.

CONTENTS. Xlll

Contentment in Action. — Love of Home. — Volunteering for Special Service. — Living to a Purpose. — Comparative Casualties, East and West 47

Chapter V. Camp Life And Campaigning

Incidents among the Contrabands. — Fugitives at the Picket-line. — "Dey Sell Ebry One." — Inside View of Slavery. — Praying for Liberty. — Fighting for Government. — Religious Counsel to a Classmate. — Life in Hospital. — Rumors of a Move. — New Brigade. — Captain Vicars's Memoir. — Longings for a Friend. — Promotion. — The Adjutant's First "Consolidated." — A New Chaplain. — The Two Friends. — Forty-fourth Massachusetts. — Tarborough Scout. — Evening Skirmish at Little Creek. — Halt atWilliamston. — Song from the Jack Tars. — Patriotism Thawed Out. — Foraging. — Home Relics Protected. — A Southern Swamp. — John Brown Chorus. — Wayside Prayer. — First Visit Home. — Goldsborough Raid. — A New Disappointment. — Fredericksburg Failure . 74

Chapter VI. The First Charleston Expedition

New Expedition. — Sail to Port Royal. — Department of the South. — Camp at St. Helena. — Battalion Drill. — Sunday-school Work. — Oriental Scenery. — "The Twins." — Wine and Cards. — Seabrook Island. — A Thrilling Advance. — An Evening Skirmish. — Camping in the Rain. — Scouting. — First Attack on Charleston. — Chafing at Inaction. — Outpost Life. — Mammoth Mosquitoes. — Prayer-meeting in the Woods. — Another Separation.

XIV CONTENTS.

— Lack of Oxygen. — Work for Christ. — College Mates. — Excursions. — Beauties of the Seabrook Place. — An Exciting Reconnoissance. — Again under Fire. — Dodging Bullets. — Artillery Duel. — Enjoyable Excitement of Danger. — Commander Rodgers. — Court-martial Service 102

Chapter VII. James Island And Fort Wagner

A New Campaign. — Chowder-party. — Orders for a Move. — Prayer -meeting on Shipboard. — Landing at James Island. — Watching Distant Battle. — An Evening Advance. — Bewilderment on Picket. — More Mosquitoes. — Thoughtful Tenderness. — Second Battle of James Island. — Attack on the Pawnee. — Taking to the Woods. — Captain Rockwell's Battery. — Colonel Shaw's (Fifty-fourth Massachusetts) Regiment. — To Morris Island. — Grand Bombardment. — Assault on Wagner. — Night Battle Scene. — General Gillmore. — Stopping Stragglers. — A Wail of Agony. — Defeat. — The Morning after Battle. — Flag of Truce. — Unfair Capture. — Prisoners. — Fort Sumter. — Charleston Jail 127

Chapter VIII. Prison Life And Escape

Prison Sensations. — The Friends Separated. — Gloomy Forebodings. — From Charleston to Columbia. — Affectionate Letter. — Reunion in Jail. — Prison Occupations. — " De Mates." — Thought Ruled Out. — The Chaplain Released. — Sabbath Evening Reflections. — Columbia and Hartford. — Longings for Liberty. — Plan of Escape. —

CONTENTS. XV

Outfit. — Parched Corn. — Lay-figures. — Moments of Waiting. — Captain Chamberlain. — Ivanhoe in the Kitchen. — Corporal "Bull Head." — Captain Senn. — Nervous Work.— Out and Off.— Joy in Freedom- Trestle -walking. — Refreshing Sleep. — Fear of Detection. — A Long Way Round. — Rain and Darkness. — Spectral Ox-team.— Blind Guide-posts.— A Wet Lodging. — The Lazy Farmer. — Kindness to Animals. — Fire on the Hillside.— Freshet.— A Lost Day.— Terror to Small Boys. — A December Bath.— Cheerless Wakenings. — Sabbath of Hope. — An Unwelcome Attendant. — Discovered.— Prisoners Once More.— Child's Opinion of Yankees.— Politics. — Soldiers' Graves. — A Wellladen Table well Cleared.— Gathering Broom-straw — Soft Pillow.— Tied to the Saddle.— Slip 'twixt Cup and Lip. — Chesterville Jail.— Yankee Menagerie. — A New Jailer. — Attempted Conversion. — Worth of a Good Mother.— Whittling. — Lost Brother. — Pepper Wash after a Flogging. — Genuine Rebels. — Again in Columbia. — Close Confinement. — Satisfaction in Effort. — Box from Home. — Grateful Acknowledgments ... 149

Chapter IX. Libby Prison, Camp Parole, Home

The Regiment in Florida.— Fears lest it should Fight.— No Rest in Prison.— Exchange Rumors— Egg-gatherers of the Orkneys. — New Escape Plans. — Tunneling. — Discovery. — Removal to Richmond. — Ride through Rebeldom— A Night at Petersburg.— Three Hundred Dollars for a Hack.— Life at the Libby.— Baked Mice. — Amateur Cooking. — Opening Boxes. — Dead-lights. — " Boat Up ! "—Reading the Exchange List. — Hamp, or Camp.— Sensations of Liberty.— Stewart Nos. 1 and 2.

XVI CONTENTS.

— Leaving the Libby. — Sick Privates. — The Old Flag. — The Regiment Moves Northward. — Meeting of the Friends. — A Week at Annapolis. — Privileges of Freedom. — The Tenth at the Front. — Camp at Home. — Unselfish Anxiety 197

Chapter X. Campaigning With The Army Of The James

Paroled Prisoners Exchanged. — A Hasty Leave. — Work of the Regiment. — The Friends Reunited. — Ride to the Front. — Evidences of Disaster. — Search for a Corps. — Glad Greetings in Battle. — Covering a Retreat. — Flying Artillery. — Calculating an Aim. — A Long Campaign. — A Good Correspondent. — Love of Home. — From Praying to Fighting. — Picket Skirmish. — A Night of Peril. — Explosive Bullets. — Volleys Preferred to Snapshooting. — Bermuda Hundred Works. — Major Trumbull's Battery. — Dread of Inaction. — Sounds from Cold Harbor. — Picket-duty. — Danger on the Vedette Line. — Sociable Pickets. — Night Evacuation. — Listening for Life. — Exciting Advance. — Capture of Prisoners. — Howlett's Redoubt. — Fired at by Friends. — The White Flag. — Another Retreat Covered. — Letter-writing under Difficulties. — Severe Shelling. — Moment of Expectation. — Attack Repulsed. — Rare Descriptive Powers

Chapter XI. North Of The James

Crossing the James. — Establishing Pickets by Night. — Columbia Acquaintances. — A Hot Breakfast. — Hair-breadth Escapes.— Torrid Days. — Stormy Nights. — Nar-

CONTENTS. XV11

row Escape. — Uniform Cheerfulness. — Strawberry Plains. — In Reserve. — Dangers of the Rear. — Exposed Picket-line. — Anxious Night. — Busy Morning. — Second Corps Advance. — A Check. — The Straw-hat Hero. — Successful Flanking. — Indian Warfare. — Capture of a Deserter. — A Military Execution. — Forward Movement. — A Week's Hard Fighting. — Lost in the Woods. —Brandishing Watermelon. — Falling Back. — Attacked while Retiring. — Staying a Panic. — Casualties in the Tenth. — Night March and Countermarch 239

Chapter XII. In The Petersburg Trenches

Colonel Plaisted again in Command. — Move from Deep Bottom. — Night-marching. — At the Appomattox Pontoon. — A Rainy Bivouac. — Petersburg in Sight. — Deserted Negro-camp. — Burrowing for Quarters. — Dangerous Dining-place. — Mortar-shelling by Night. — Deadly Fascination. — Weeks of Peril. — Sharpshooting in the Trenches. — Courageous Coffee-bearer. — A Narrow Escape. — Ricochet Shot. — Presence of Death. — Incidents of Picketing. — Wounded Vedette. — Sociability of Enemies. — More Sharpshooting. — A Miss as Good as a Mile. — Rejoicing over Atlanta. — Shotted Salutes. — Railroad Target. — Longings for Rest. — Promotion. — Withdrawal from Trenches. — Halt at the Rear 271

Chapter XIII. Life And Death Before Richmond

From Petersburg to Deep Bottom. — Tedious March. — Gloomy Day-dawn. — Battle of New Market Heights. — General Terry's Approach to Richmond. — Days of Ac-

11 CONTENTS.

tivity and Privation. — Laurel Hill Skirmish. — Happy- Prisoner. — Frightened Women. — Captured Unionist. — The Treasured Flag. — Expired Enlistments. — Flag of Truce. — Wayside Prayer-meeting. — A Morning Attack. — Signs of Retreat. — General Kautz's Flank Turned. — Crash of Battle. — The Wounded Skirmisher. — Flying Infantry. — Flanked but not Frightened. — Victory Won. — Even Terms. — Seen through the Clouds. — New Movement. — Out and in Again.- — Last Night of Life. — The Death - morning. — Darby town Road. — Brilliant Scene. — Battle Opening. — Preparing for an Assault. — Thanking God in Peril. — " Good-by." — Deadly Race. — The Final Charge. — "I do Believe." — The Death-shot. — Last Look at the Flag. — Left on the Field. — Flag of Truce. — Recovery of Body. — Generous Enemy . . . 286

Chapter XIV. Memorial Tributes

Sad Journey Homeward. — Funeral Services. — Official Testimony of Colonel John L. Otis. — Tribute of General Joseph R. Hawley — of Mr. E. G. Holden — of Mr. Charles Dudley Warner — of his Law Instructor — of his Brigade Commander. — A Noble Record. — Its Glorious Close. — Yale Commemorative Celebration. — Dr. Bushnell's Oration. — "Young Lycidas." — Enduring Record by Hartford Citizens. — A Matchless Knight. — Portrait in Yale's Alumni Hall 309

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of Major Henry W. Camp Frontispiece

Full -Page Woodcuts. opposite

PAGE

Camp of Tenth Connecticut Regiment, at Annapolis.

From pencil sketch by H. W. Camp 42

Richland Jail, Columbia, S. C, from the Yard. From

pencil sketch by H. W. Camp 161

Officers' Quarters in Richland Jail. From pencil sketch

Earthworks across Darbytown Road near Richmond,

Va. From pencil sketch by H. Clay Trumbull . . . 300

Illustrative Head and Tail Pieces.

PAGE

Badge of Ninth Army Corps 47

Double-Turret Monitor 102

Sea Face of Fort Wagner 127

Charleston Jail H9

Libby Prison >97

Badges of Tenth and Eighteenth Army Corps 210

Pontoon Bridge across the James River 239

In the Petersburg Trenches 271

Monument to Major Camp, in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Conn 323

xix

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Chapter I. Childhood And School-days

pT^EVER was there a great conflict in which personal character exhibited itself more nobly in heroic daring and in tireless endurance, than in the American Civil War of 1861 to 1865. The best men of the North and the South were in that conflict. Impelled by high principle they gave their whole selves to a life-and-death struggle in behalf of that which, as they saw it, was worth living and dying for. And for their living and dying their country and their race are the better.

History makes prominent the personality and services of the great leaders in that struggle ; but history does not note the story of representative individuals out of the great host of those who never rose to high command, but who by their character and work made the great achievements of the greatest commanders a possibility. Yet it is only in the understanding of the personality and services of such men as these that the great conflict itself can be fully understood, or the forces which operated for its conclusion can be rightlyestimated.

The young soldier whose story is here told can fairly be taken as a representative of the best class of Christian men of education and refinement who kept step to the music of the Union, in following the flag of their country through the vicissitudes of the Civil War, until the need or the possibility of their marching and fighting was at an end. Although only a subaltern until within a few weeks of his death, and at no time having a higher position than that of a regimental field-officer, he had an experience in campaigning and battles that transcended the service of veterans in the principal European wars of this generation. His personality, as well as his service, was of exceptional note. From childhood he impressed those who knew him for his moral beauty, his intellectual power, and his commanding personal presence, " as a splendid specimen of a physical, intellectual, and Christian man ; " and at his death his regimental commander affirmed that "the service never suffered a heavier loss in an officer of his grade," while the commander of his brigade said, "Our cause cannot boast a nobler martyr."

Henry Ward Camp was born at Hartford, Connecticut, February 4, 1839. His father, the Rev. Henry B. Camp, was at that time a professor in the American

INHERITED QUALITIES. 3

Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb; having been, in the earlier years of his ministry, pastor of the Congregational Church at North Branford, Connecticut. His mother, Cornelia L. Baldwin, was a woman of exceptional vigor of mind and tenderness of heart ; while his father was of a peculiarly retiring disposition, although not wanting in strength of personal character. From his parents young Camp inherited those qualities of mind and heart that showed themselves in his rare combination of gentle and unbending firmness, and of shrinking modesty coupled with moral fearlessness, of almost feminine sweetness of spirit, and masculine courage and determination. And to the wise training and the Christian faithfulness of his parents he was indebted for the full development of these inherited traits in their most delightful symmetry.

Unusually gentle and retiring, even for a child, he shunned the boisterous companionship of city boys, and clung to his home, contented with its quiet occupations, and satisfied in its enjoyments. He learned to read almost unaided, and from four years of age he found his chief enjoyment in books. His love of reading was so great, that, after he had devoured all the children's books in the house, he resorted to those far beyond his years. He gained an excellent knowledge of history before taking it up as a study, and was always fond of books of travel. Too close devotion to reading, with too little outdoor exercise, began to affect his head seriously ; and he was so troubled by somnambulism that, during his eighth year, he was sent to Durham, Connecticut, to spend some time with his grandfather on a farm, where books were entirelyforbidden him. This rest to his brain, with the exercise and other advantages of country life, quite re-established his health ; and, after a few months, he returned reinvigorated to his home.

An early observed peculiarity of young Camp's character was the exquisite sensitiveness of his conscience, amounting almost to a morbid dread of transgression. He shrank from every appearance of evil, and was oppressed by a fear of doing wrong. When he was five years old, a sister was born to him. As he first looked at the baby treasure with childish joy and wonderment, a shade of thought came over his face, and he went alone from his mother's room. On his return his mother asked him where he had been. " I've been, mama," he said, " to pray to God that I may never hurt the soul of dear little sister." And this incident is in keeping with his whole course in boyhood.

At six years of age he exercised himself in writing a little book of sermons, taking a text, and making on it brief comments as striking and original as the employment was unique for a boy of his years. In looking over the manuscript, his good mother observed frequent blanks where the name of God should appear. Inquiring the reason of these omissions, Henry informed her that he had feared he was not feeling just

BEGINNINGS IN SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 5

right while he was writing, and, lest he should take the name of God in vain by using it then, he had left the blanks in its stead. The strictest letter of the Jewish law could scarcely exact more reverent use of the ineffable name of Jehovah than was demanded by the tender conscience of this pure-minded boy.

This fear of transgressing induced habits of selfexamination and introspection which gave the boy no little discomfort. His rigid scrutiny of motive and purpose, with his discriminating review of each outward act, revealed to him such imperfections of thought or deed that he sometimes suffered keenly from his merciless self-reproaches. His earliest Sunday-school teacher was Mrs. Roswell Brown, the veteran principal of the infant class in the Sunday-school of the Center Church in Hartford, of which Dr. Joel Hawes was then pastor. In one of his little notes to her, young Camp said, with his characteristic sensitiveness, " I am sometimes afraid I shall love you better than I do my mother. I don't think I do, but I am afraid I shall." " Mrs. Brown," he said, one Sunday morning, as he took his place by her side, " I am afraid I did wrong last Sunday. While you were talking to us all, I wrote my sister Cornelia's name with my finger on the seat. I didn't think it was wrong then ; but I've thought it was, since, and I've wanted to tell you of it." No misdeed of his during four years' stay in that infantclass was greater than the one thus candidly confessed. That teacher says of him, with warmth, " I had nearly four hundred and fifty children under my care in that room, but never but one Henry Camp."

Yet, in spite of his quickly reminding and often - accusing conscience, young Camp was of cheerful temperament, and he richly enjoyed life. His refined and always unselfish sensitiveness made him only more considerate of others, and he was the light of a happy home even while his chief enjoyment was found in the family circle. No laugh was more merry than his, and no one did more than he to provoke a merry and timely laugh.

With the exception of a few weeks at the district school, he studied at home until he was ten years old. Then he entered the Hartford Public High School, which he attended for six years. It was there that he first mingled actively with his fellows. Although he did not seek to lead, he found himself ahead. His comrades looked up to him. In the recitation-room, the playground, and the gymnasium, he was a pattern. Loving outdoor sports and athletic exercises, he practiced and strengthened his muscular powers until his form and figure were a type of his compacted and well-rounded intellectual development.

"There was a charm about him even then, which attracted all who knew him," says Mr. S. M. Capron, one of his high-school teachers. " I never had a pupil who possessed a purer character, or more completely won the respect, and even admiration, of his teachers. He despised everything mean, everything

ENTERING COLLEGE.

vulgar ; and his generosity and manliness in his intercourse with other boys made him a general favorite among them. He was remarkably truthful also, and this never from a fear of consequences, but with a spontaneity which showed that truth was at the foundation of his character. As a scholar he was very faithful, accurate, and prompt in his recitations; especially copious and rich in his choice of words; of superior talent as a writer. No one stood above him in his class; and he took some prizes, while in the school, for English composition and other exercises. But it was chiefly his uncommon nobleness of character which made him conspicuous then, as in later

years."

In the summer of 1855, Camp passed an examination for admission to Yale as a Freshman. But as he was yet only sixteen, and had been so long in seldom intermitted study, his judicious parents strongly advised his waiting another year before entering on his collegiate course. The disappointment to him was severe; yet he yielded gracefully, as always, to the judgment of his parents, and for a twelvemonth occupied himself in outdoor exercise, in attention to pencilsketching, and in the study of French and German. He joined the Freshman Class of Yale in September, 1856. Then commenced his life away from the home he had so dearly loved, and in the possession of which he had been so favored. Then, first, he was obliged to forgo the privilege of speaking in all freedom of the experiences of each day to those whose sympathy and affection were not to be doubted.

It was not long after he entered college, that he sought a new tie with his loved ones at home, in a public recognition of the tie that bound them all to a common Saviour, by making an open confession of his faith in that Saviour. It was during his spring vacation, in 1857, that he connected himself with the North Congregational Church, at Hartford, of which his parents were then members, under the pastorate of the eminent Dr. Horace Bushnell.

That good pastor writes with enthusiasm of this young parishioner, as he knew him from childhood to the close of his life :

" It was my privilege to know this young patriot and soldier from his childhood up. The freshly vigorous, wonderfully lustrous, unsoiled look he bore in his childhood, made it consciously a kind of pleasure to pass him, or catch the sight of his face in the street. I do not recall ever having had such an impression, or one so captivating for its moral beauty, from any other child. And it was just as great a satisfaction to see him grow as it was to see him. I used to watch the progress of his lengthening form as I passed him, saying inwardly still, 'Well, thank God, it is the beautiful childhood that is growing, and not he that is outgrowing his childhood.'

" The noble man-soul was evident enough in the child, and when it was bodied forth in his tall, mas-

DR. BUSH NELLS TRIBUTE. O,

sive, especially manly person, it was scarcely more so. Indeed, the real man of the child was never bodied forth, and never could be, without a history of many years, such as we fondly hoped for him, but shall never behold. He died, in fact, with his high, bright future shut up in him, — it will only come out among the angels of God; and, I doubt not, will make a really grand figure there. Seldom have they hailed the advent among them, I think, of a youth whose kinship, and peership and hero-life begun, they will more gladly acknowledge. Indeed, I have never been able to keep it out of my mind, since I first heard of his death, that there was some too great aptness in him for a place among these couriers and squadrons of glory. It seems to be a kind of extravagance to say this, but I know not how otherwise to describe real impressions. He was such a man as, going into a crowd of strangers, would not only attract general attention by his person, by his noble figure and the fine classic cut of his features, by the cool, clear beaming of his intelligence, by the visible repose of his justice, by a certain, almost superlative sweetness of modesty ; but there was, above all, an impression of intense purity in his looks, that is almost never seen among men, and which everybody must and would distinctly feel.

" But I am only describing here what others felt as truly as I, and could describe, if they would, much better than I ; though, perhaps, the acquaintance I

IO THE KNIGHTLY SOLDIER.

had with Henry's interiorly personal character and struggles in the matter of religion may have prepared me to note more distinctly than some others would the signs outwardly appearing. He came to me a great many times, from his early childhood onward, to lay open his troubles, and obtain spiritual direction. My conviction, from the very first, was, that I had nothing to do with him but to put him in courage, and enable him to say, 'I believe.' I never saw him when I did not think he was a Christian, and I do not believe that he ever saw himself early enough to properly think otherwise. Still, he did think otherwise much longer than I wished. The difficulty was to get him away from the tyranny of his conscience. It was so delicate and stedfast and strong, that his faith could not get foothold to stand. I feared many times that he was going to be preyed upon all his life long by a morbid conscience. Still there was a manly force visible, even in his childhood; and I contrived, in what ways I could, to get that kindled by a free inspiration. To get him under impulse, afterwards, for the war, was not half as difficult, — all the less difficult that the point of my endeavor was already carried ; for, having now become the soldier of Christ, by a clear and conscious devotion, he had only to extend that soldiership for the kingdom of heaven's sake.

"As far as he was concerned, the kingdom of heaven was not worsted when he fell ; but the loss to

DISAPPOINTMENT AND HOPE. I I

his country and his comrades in arms was certainly great, greater than most of us will know. Besides, it is a great and sore disappointment to us all, that we are cut off abruptly from that noble and high future we had begun to hope for him. Let us believe that he can have as high a future where he is, and resign him gladly to it ! "

Chapter II. College Life

/£>IS outdoor life, with its active exercise, in his year of waiting to enter college, had prepared young Camp for an active interest in college athletics, and his fine physique and bounding health made him a man of mark in that sphere. Boating was his special delight, and in his Junior year he was a member of the University crew that represented Yale at the Worcester regatta, in July, 1859.

That regatta was an era in his life, and its influence was important in shaping his whole future course. In it he first realized the keen enjoyment of exciting endeavor, and attained the satisfaction of accomplishing something, through the straining of every nerve in a contest with his fellows, while stayed by the consciousness that he held the honor of those whom he loved in his keeping. He gave himself up to the struggle, both in preparation and performance, with his whole heart and soul, and seemed to secure thereby

a relish and a fitness for such work as that to which he 12

YALE AND HARVARD BOATING MEN. 1 3

was subsequently called for his country. A ring made from the gold of the regatta prize, he wore to the last, — refusing to part with it, even at an extravagant price, when most pinched for the comforts of life in a Southern prison; and it was finally drawn from his finger by an enemy, when he lay in death on the field of his last battle.

The Yale and the Harvard crews in the Worcester races of '59 were:

Yale. Harvard.

H. S. Johnson (stroke), C. Crowninshield (stroke).

Charles T. Stanton, Jr. W. H. Forbes.

Henry W. Camp. E. G. Abbott.

Joseph H. Twichell. H. S. Russell.

Charles H. Owen. J. H. Wales.

Frederick H. Colton. J. H. Ellison (bow). Hezekiah Watkins (cockswain).

It is a noteworthy fact, that every man of the Yale crew, and a majority of those from Harvard, were subsequently in the Union army.

Of Johnson, Camp wrote, when he met him in North Carolina on the staff of General Ferry : " He is an aide, ranking as lieutenant, — very nice little position, — left the signal corps some time since to take it. Signaling, he didn't like at all, — no fighting, — slim business, — at it through the whole Peninsular campaign, and was heartily sick of it. At Fair Oaks, he volunteered on some general's staff, and went in — lively time — horse shot under him. That was more like it." Stanton, as captain in the Twenty-first Connecticut Regiment, was wounded at Drewry's Bluff. He was subsequently commissioned lieutenant-colonel, but was mustered out in consequence of the severity of his wound. Owen, Camp's early playmate, schoolfellow, and always attached friend, was in the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and later on the staff of General Robert O. Tyler, receiving at Cold Harbor a wound, the effects of which he must carry to his grave. The stalwart arms of Stanton and Owen were often admired by enthusiastic boatmen in the days of college racing. The right arm of Stanton and the left of Owen dropped powerless by their sides in the same good service for their country. For three years, Twichell filled with rare usefulness and acceptance the chaplaincy of the Second Regiment in General Daniel E. Sickles's Excelsior Brigade, of New York. Colton, as an army surgeon, had Owen under his skilful charge at the Douglass Hospital, in Washington. Watkins fought nobly as colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-third New York Regiment. Crowninshield and Forbes are, at the writing of this, colonel and lieutenant-colonel of the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, the former command of the lamented General Lowell. Abbott fell at Cedar Mountain, while Russell, going out a captain in the Second Massachusetts Infantry, returned the colonel of a colored cavalry regiment. A noble record of noble men !