Published by The History Press
Charleston, SC 29403
www.historypress.net
Copyright 2013 by John Banks
All rights reserved
Front cover, top, left to right: 16th Connecticut adjutant John Burnham (Connecticut State Library); 16th Connecticut Captain Newton Manross (Archives and Special Collections, Amherst College); Privates Edward Brewer and Amos Fairchild of the 14th Connecticut (Middlesex County Historical Society); and 16th Connecticut Private Fellows Tucker (Connecticut State Library). Bottom: 14th Connecticut monument at Antietam (Tad Sattler).
First published 2013
e-book edition 2013
Manufactured in the United States
ISBN 978.1.61423.983.3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Banks, John, 1959-
Connecticut Yankees at Antietam / John Banks.
pages cm. -- (Civil war)
Summary: This book chronicles the history of Connecticut soldiers during the Civil War at the Battle of Antietam-- Provided by publisher.
print edition ISBN 978-1-60949-951-8 (pbk.)
1. Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862. 2. Connecticut--History--Civil War, 1861-1865. I. Title.
E474.65.B326 2013
973.7336--dc23
2013027704
Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As we sat in his living room reviewing old glass-plate negatives of his family and chatting about his ancestor who was wounded at Antietam, Roger Spear chuckled and then revealed a surprise. You know, I was born on September 17, he said, pulling out his Connecticut drivers license to prove he was indeed born on the anniversary of the battle. It was just one of the many neat moments spent with descendants of Antietam soldiers in the course of researching this book. Spear has never been to the battlefield where his great-great-grandfather Richard Jobes had his left forearm shattered by Rebel gunfire, but he aims to go to Sharpsburg, Maryland, someday.
Nearly two decades ago, Marcia Eveland and her husband visited Antietam during their honeymoon, walking the ground where her great-great-great-uncle, Captain Newton Spaulding Manross, was killed. A pastor in a Connecticut church, Eveland has a strong passion for English history, especially King Richard III. She also has a soft spot in her heart for the captain of the 16th Connecticut. Like Spear, she generously shared her time and the story about one of the prized relics in her familys collection: Manrosss shiny presentation sword, a gift of the people of Bristol, Connecticut, before he went off to war. Evelyn Larsons ancestor, 14th Connecticut private Robert Hubbard, was killed by friendly fire on William Roulettes farm. She shared with me terrific letters written by her ancestor and two by Roulette to the Hubbard family.
There are six other descendants of Antietam soldiers whom I have never met in person, but I am especially grateful for their help. George Baker is a descendant of 11th Connecticut private Daniel Tarbox, an eighteen-year-old soldier who met his demise near Burnside Bridge. Baker sent me transcripts and copies of Daniels many letters home to his father back in Brooklyn, Connecticut, and a wealth of other information about the soldier. Barbara Powers supplied letters and more about her great-grandmother, Maria Hall, a nurse beloved by Connecticut soldiers. I also thank Nicholas Pratt, who has enormous pride in his ancestor, William Pratt of the 8th Connecticut, who was wounded at Antietam. A Confederate hospital steward narrowly missed slicing open the privates femoral artery. If he had, I wouldnt be here, Pratt said during our first conversation. Irene Coward Merlin and Chris Cuhsnick supplied a ton of information on their ancestors, 8th Connecticut private Peter Mann and his daughter, Antietam Burnside Mann. I also appreciate the assistance of Evan Griswold, who allowed me access to the cemetery where his ancestor, Captain John Griswold of the 11th Connecticut, is buried.
Reenactor extraordinaire Tad Sattler, an expert on the 14th Connecticut, helped immensely in tracking down images. He also took the photo of the 14th Connecticut monument at Antietam that appears on the cover. Matt Reardon, whose great-great-great-grandfather, Private Michael Farley of the 8th Connecticut, survived Antietam, often went above and beyond. A teacher, Reardon is also executive director of the excellent New England Civil War Museum in Rockville, Connecticut.
Two of the best resources for researching the states Civil War experience are the Connecticut State Library and Connecticut State Historical Society, both in Hartford. Richard Malley, head of research and collections, and his staff at the historical society are always helpful. At the Connecticut State Library, the staff in the history and genealogy departmentespecially Jeannie Sherman, Mel Smith, Christine Pittsley and Kevin Johnsonguided me through nooks and crannies. Much Civil War history is untapped in the archives there, waiting for others to tell the tales. Deborah Shapiro and Pat Tulley of the Middlesex County Historical Society in Middletown, Connecticut, shared soldier photographs in the societys collection and plenty of good info. Clifford T. Alderman of the Unionville (Connecticut) Museum provided excellent information on 16th Connecticut captain Nathaniel Hayden and Hall. Bob Zeller, president and co-founder of the Center for Civil War Photography, kindly allowed me to use a photo from his collection of Hall taken at Smoketown Hospital. Sallie Caliandri of the Berlin (Connecticut) Historical Society also was very helpful.
Connecticut researcher Mary Falvey, who knows where the bodies are buried in Hartford-area cemeteries, was always eager to help or point me in the direction of a great story. Jay Manewitz at the Bristol (Connecticut) Public Library generously laid out the librarys holdings on Manross, and Margaret Daikin of the Amherst (Massachusetts) College library e-mailed me rarely seen photos of him for use in the book. I am also indebted to Scott Hann, whose fabulous Antietam collection would be the envy of many museums in the country. He allowed me to publish his cartes de visite of 16th Connecticut captain Frederick Barber and Tarbox. Dr. Robert Bedard, who goes by Mick, let me pester him about medical terminology, and antiques dealer Harold Gordon supplied information that proved to be invaluable. In Maryland, Terry Reimer, director of research at the National Civil War Medical Museum in Frederick, and Ted Alexander and Stephanie Gray at the Antietam National Battlefield library were especially helpful. Sean Hintz provided great guidance on the photography in this book, and longtime journalism pal Chris Morris created the Connecticut map illustration. And, of course, special thanks to my wife, Carol, and daughters, Jessica and Meredith, who now know a little bit more about what happened in Maryland so long ago.
