Episode 42: PVT Herbert W. Beecher and the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery Battery at the Battle of Secessionville

At the Battle of Secessionville, PVT Herbert W. Beecher and the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery Battery supported the advance of the 2nd Division upon the Tower Battery on James Island with their 4x 14-inch James Rifles. Though the Confederate Artillery mostly focused on the several infantry advances upon the Tower Battery, they eventually dueled with the men from Connecticut.

Sources used for this episode:

Beecher, Herbert W. History of the First Light Battery Connecticut Volunteers, 1861-1865. Personal Records and Reminiscences. The Story of the Battery from its Organization to the Present Time. New York: A. T. De La Mare PTG. And Pub. Co., LTD, 1901. https://archive.org/details/historyoffirstli01beec/page/n11/mode/2up.

Scott. Robert, N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 14. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1885. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924080782182&view=1up&seq=3.

Transcript

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Hello everyone, my name is Bill Coghlan, and welcome to First Person Civil War Podcast, which retells the stories of the soldiers, and officers, on the ground in the battles of the Civil War. Episode 42 is entitled Private Herbert W. Beecher and the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery Battery at the Battle of Successionville and relies on his book, history of the First Light Battery Connecticut Volunteers, 1861 to 1865. Personal records and reminiscences. The story of the Battery from its organization to the present time, which he published in 1901. Herbert Willard Beecher was born in Bethany, Connecticut on 31 January, 1839, to a family with roots in the state dating to 1638. Though not specified in census records, he lived in Virginia for several years before returning to Connecticut sometime before the 1860 census. At the beginning of the Civil War, Herbert Beecher worked as a bookkeeper in New Haven and had a strong desire to fight. After the firing on Fort Sumpter, he enlisted in the second Connecticut Infantry A 90 Day Regiment. Which fought at the first battle of Bull Run, then mustered out of service. Connecticut soon received authorization to form regiments of infantry, cavalry, and batteries of artillery for three years of service. One such organization was the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery, which distributed flyers in October 1861 with the following advertisement. A call having been made by this state for a battery of light artillery, and Governor Buckingham having authorized the raising of the same, this communication is sent to secure your active cooperation in recruiting such a company of artillerymen as shall be the honor of Connecticut. Will be the only battery in the field from this state. In fact, more formed as the war progressed, and continues. And will comprise of six pieces of brass rifled ordnance, to be commanded by the most experienced artillerist that can be obtained, and before leaving for the seat of war, will receive a complete outfit. Men are wanted, who will enter into the service with a will to sustain our government, and this appeal is made to you to do what you can to further the cause. If you cannot go, get someone to go in your place. From October to December of 1861, 154 men joined the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery. which Herbert Beecher enlisted as a private on 29 November. The battery formed at Camp Tyler, outside of Meriden, Connecticut. And upon arrival to the camp, Private Beecher's first task in the battery was to care for the horses. I was brought up in Virginia, where roads were bad, and everyone had to ride horseback. Almost the first thing I can remember was being on the back of a horse. And while still a young child, was considered a fair horseman. When I reached Camp Tyler and looked over the battery, I thought it was composed of the worst lot of horsemen I had ever seen. I was overheard as saying so. And for my criticism, got detailed as a writer. I was given a pair of horses. One of them was a kicker. I went to him and said, Whoa, boy! For saying that, I received a kick, which sent me across the alley against the horse on the other side. As he did not like my company any better than the first horse, he sent me back again, and I was again greeted with another kick. Life. At Camp Tyler for the first Connecticut Light Artillery consisted of drill reading, artillery manuals, and caring for the horses. As they completed filling the ranks by early December 1861. On 13 January 1862, Private Beecher and the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery departed camp to travel down to Buford, South Carolina, and was assigned to the Department of the South. The 1st Connecticut Light Artillery had six 14 pounder James rifles, and according to Private Beecher, the pieces were so new that the projectile ranges were unknown. The original design was a six pound smoothbore artillery piece, but as the Civil War began, the James rifle underwent several variant modifications, all of which included rifled bores and increased calibers. It was a beautiful but untried gun. The elongated projectiles were also new and had to be tested. The target practice to determine the ranges at once developed the fact that about half of the percussion shells were worse than useless. They not only often burst as soon as they left the gun, but the gutta percha packing was stripped off and firing, and the shell, instead of following the rifle, cut across it, to the great injury of the gun. With the ammunition issues identified and fixed, The 1st Connecticut Light Artillery would soon play an active part in the operations against Charleston, South Carolina. After the success of the Battle of Port Royal, the Union, army and Navy expanded its presence on the South Carolina coast. and prepared offensive operations on Charleston, the site of the opening shots of the war. In early June, 1862, the Department of the South occupied several islands south of Charleston Harbor, including James Island. According to Major General David Hunter, the commander of the department, and the overall expedition, The intent of occupying these islands was for the larger purpose of attacking Charleston by land. But he was unable to bring his entire force onto the island, and decided to wait until transports could return. The Confederates on James Island were not idle with their foe so close to the city of Charleston. As part of an increase of fortifications in the area, they constructed the Tower Battery just outside of the small town of Secessionville. And Major General Hunter assessed that this position was too strong for an assault with the men that he had. I therefore determined to make no forward movement. Having satisfied myself by reconnaissance of the increase of the enemy's strength, I gave positive orders to General Benham. that no advance should be made until further explicit orders have been received from these headquarters. General Benham disobeyed these positive orders and clear instructions. Brigadier General Benjamin w Benham was placed in tactical command of Brigadier General Horatio Wrights first division and Brigadier General Isaac. I Stevens' second division, which included private feature in the first Connecticut Light artillery Major General Hunter included the order to Brigadier General Benham dated 10 June 1862 in his report. In leaving the Stono River to return to Hilton Head, I desire in any arrangements that you may make for the disposition of your forces now in this vicinity, you will make no attempt to advance on Charleston or to attack Fort Johnson until largely reinforced, or until you receive specific instructions from these headquarters to that effect. Major General Hunter further stated that Brigadier General Benham should select a proper location for a fortified encampment, with proper amenities and securities from the gunboats, and then himself depart for Hilton Head. The position he selected for the camps of the 1st and 2nd Divisions proved too close to the Confederates, and instead of moving his camps to a safer position, Brigadier General Benham disobeyed Major General Hunter and ordered an assault upon the tower battery at Secessionville. Private. Beecher gathered the account of Captain Alfred p Rockwell, commander of the first Connecticut Light Artillery when he reported to Brigadier General Stevens on 15 June to receive the battery's orders for the advance on secession bill. The Orders gave so little indication of what was expected of the Battery in its first important action, being in general, to follow a certain regiment, and keep in advance of another, that Captain Rockwell said. General, may I ask what is the plan of battle? Dammit, sir, there isn't any plan, the general replied very emphatically. You will fire when you get a chance, and be careful not to hit any of our own men. It seemed quite clear that General Stevens did not approve of the movement. During the night of the 15th into the morning of the 16th of June, both Union divisions departed their camps and marched, as silently as possible, toward the Confederate fortifications at Secessionville. The wheels of the artillery pieces and the caissons were muffled. And eventually private. Beecher and his battery formed in support of Stevens' division of two brigades, which was in position by 3:30 AM 30 minutes later, as the cloudy day dawned, the assault began. Brigadier General Stevens' division began their advance upon the Confederate fortifications and the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery divided into the howitzer, or center section, and the right, or rifle section, to support the advance and move guns at the same time. Of the four pieces of artillery on the battlefield, Private Beecher does not say which one he manned. The Howitzer section of the battery, on reaching the field, moved obliquely in the rear of the 8th Michigan and the Highlanders. These were the lead regiments of both brigades, and took up a position on the left of the Michigan regiment about 500 yards from the tower of the fort. And opened fire upon the enemy's earthwork, very soon after the enemy had commenced firing. From this first firing position, the howitzer section moved over an embankment, which the artillerymen and a company of engineers had to clear to allow the guns to safely pass. As the section moved, they almost lost a gun. An accident happened to one of the guns and limbers in hurrying across a deep ditch. It capsized. Such an unfortunate occurrence might have caused a panic had not the comrades been feverishly excited. Gun and limber was quickly lifted up, ready to go on with the other. How was it done? Not a man or officer could tell. Comrade Lord often says that it seemed to him that he and Comrade Scranton lifted it up themselves. Keep in mind that one James gun weighed approximately 900 pounds, so an entire gun crew and the horses was most likely employed. But this still does not discount that the artillerymen were probably running on some level of adrenaline, being that this was their first fight, and that they were now under fire from the Confederate artillery. Comrade Holly states that a solid shot struck the ground close to the capsized gun, making the dirt fly and knocking him down. A cry went up that he was killed. But he was on his feet again in a moment. None the worse for the experience. Private Beecher in the first Connecticut. Light artillery reunited in the second firing position as the assault of the second division continued upon the tower battery. After getting into position, the howitzers poured a galling fire into the fort, and the enemy realized that the Connecticut men knew how to handle their guns. The right section, arrived upon the field at the double quick, and was advancing to support the center section. When Captain Rockwell received orders to send one piece to support Lieutenant Porter and to plant one gun in the road to protect the left flank. Accordingly, one piece joined the Howitzers and the three guns did some effective work under conditions that tried men's souls. Though the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery targeted the tower battery and the infantry coming to its support, By the report of Colonel T. G. Lamar, commander of the 1st South Carolina Artillery and the Tower Batteries commander, his priority in the fight was not an artillery duel, but fending off the several infantry advances upon his position. He personally sighted the 8 inch Columbiad, loaded with grapeshot, which was used against infantry, and directed the commanders of the other artillery pieces in the fort to use canister, which also was used against infantry. In marching to the support of the Tower Battery and forming on its right, col. J. McEnery of the 4th Louisiana Battalion did come under the guns of the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery Battery. In crossing this open marsh, and while placing the battalion in position on the outer edge of the woods, it was exposed to a terrific fire from the enemy's gunboats, siege battery, fixed batteries, and small arms. I then ordered the men to advance in the skirt of the woods, the better to view the enemy, and afforded protection from the incessant fire of the enemy. At this point for half an hour, the fire on both sides was indeed terrific. As the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery continued to fire upon the Tower Battery, the Confederates began to train several guns upon them. Private Beecher and others noted that with the grapeshot and canister were pieces of shells, glass bottles, old horseshoes, nails, and chains which fell like hail round the men's heads, pretty thick Never was the battery more exposed to a heavy fire. Furious at the excellent work done by the Connecticut men, the enemy was determined to silence the battery. And the heavy fire of grape, canister, and solid shot was poured from the enemy's earthworks, which he described as at a distance of less than 500 yards. It seems almost miraculous that none was killed. The two howitzers were firing so rapidly that the guns became very hot, And Comrade Lord, who was on his knees, cursing like a pirate, says Comrade Scranton was burnt as he loaded it. By God! exclaimed Lord. it is so hot, it sizzles! The infantry assaults at the Battle of Secessionville ultimately failed, and the Union Army had no choice but to retreat. While the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery suffered no casualties, the infantry regiments that participated in the assaults were decimated. Major General Hunter placed Brigadier General Benham under arrest. and began court martial proceedings against him for disobeying his orders. With the reinforcements still missing, and now the defeat at Secessionville, Major General Hunter had no choice but to abandon James Island, and shifted his forces elsewhere. Private Beecher remained in the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery Battery and mustered out of service as a corporal at the end of his enlistment on 6 December 1864. In 1901, Herbert Beecher published History of the First Light Battery, Connecticut Volunteers, 1861 to 1865. Personal Records and Reminiscences, the story of the battery from its organization to the present time. At the beginning of his book, he credits the entire battery and their families in the production of the history of the First Connecticut Light Artillery. The historian, believing that the record of the battery was worth preserving in imperishable shape, determined to do all that was possible to make the history as perfect as circumstances would allow. It was his desire. That story of the battery should be told by its members as nearly as possible in their own words To obtain this result, he has written hundreds of letters, traveled thousands of miles, and interviewed many of the surviving comrades and the descendants of those who have passed from the Earth life. In order that this history may be a valued possession through the succeeding generations. Thank you for listening to the 42nd episode. The link to private Beachers book and links to social media are available on the podcast website. First person Civil War podcast.com. On Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn this week, you will find a picture of Private Herbert W. Beecher, sometime during the war. The history of the 1st Connecticut Light Artillery is worth a glance, not just because this book has numerous pictures of the men who served, but also several sketches of battles, picket duty, and daily life. In two weeks time, Sergeant William H. Tunard of Company K, 3rd Louisiana, provides next episode's first person account at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. My name is Bill Coghlan, and thank you for listening to First Person Civil War Podcast.