Tuesday: Battle Line Events, 9:00pm CST (10:00pm EST)
Thursday: Company Drill, 9:00pm CST (10:00 EST)
Friday: Battle Line Events, 9:00pm CST (10:00pm EST)
Saturday: Company Drill, 9:00pm CST (10:00 EST)
Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays are Open, Meaning Drill can occur or Battle Events (depending on numbers).
The Eleventh Regiment was organized and mustered into service at Hartford on November 27,1861 for 3 years service. It remained in camp until December 16 when it was ordered to Annapolis MD. When leaving Hartford, it numbered 927 officers and men. They were led by Colonel THC Kingsbury. A handsome set of regimental colors were presented at New York on December 17, 1861. The regiment encamped at Annapolis and was assigned to Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition. On January 1, 1862 they broke camp and boarded ships: of the regiment boarded the gunboat Sentinel and the other half loaded onto the bark Voltigeur. The next day after sailing from Fort Monroe, a great storm hit the fleet which lasted for several days. The Voltigeur was carried onto the beach at Cape Hatteras. After 29 days on board, the regiment went into camp near Hatteras.
Early in March 1862 the regiment moved to Roanoke Island and joined the forces preparing to operate against Newbern. The regiment had an active part in the attack on Newbern, being near the center of the line and in the final charge their colors were among the foremost on the enemy’s works. After the battle, the regiment encamped on the Trent until July, when it was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg, VA and was placed on duty in that city. Colonel T. H. C. Kingsbury resigned and H.W. Kingsbury was appointed Colonel and G.A. Stedman Lt.-Colonel. The last of August the regiment evacuated the city, crossed the Rappahannock and burning bridges, moved north to Washington to join the army under McClellan for the Maryland Campaign. They were assigned to Harland’s Brigade, in the Ninth Corps. This brigade was in the advance towards Fredrick, and on the 12th of Sept. the skirmish line of the 11th entered the city on the heels of the rebel army. The advance was resumed on the 13th and the rebels were forced back to Turner’s Gap at South Mountain, where a desperate battle took place in the late afternoon on the next day. The 11th was under fire but its loss was small. The advance was resumed on the 15th and 16th, when the enemy was found concentrated behind Antietam Creek. The Battle of Antietam commenced early on the 17th and in the afternoon the 11th was in the advance on the left for the capture of the stone bridge. Two companies were detached as skirmishers under Captain Griswold, and plunged into the creek. It was a literal “valley of death”. Captain Griswold was killed mid-stream and Colonel Kingsbury was mortally wounded. But the regiment held its ground until supported, when a general charge across the bridge was ordered and drove the rebels from the stone wall and the heights beyond. The 11th Connecticut led the charge across the stone bridge. They lost 181, including every field officer. Being nearly out of ammunition, it was relieved but before its boxes could be filled it was again called up to support a battery with the bayonet. The enemy being repulsed and falling back across the Potomac, the regiment went into camp at Pleasant Valley MD. Lt Colonel Stedman was promoted to Colonel of the regiment.
About November 5, 1862 Harland’s brigade broke camp crossed the Potomac at Berlin and marched south until the 9th, when Burnside assumed command and the direction changed to Falmouth, which was reached on November 19th. The brigade camped on Stafford Hills until December 12th when it moved across the river into the city and lay down in the streets waiting for the morrow. Upon the lifting of the fog the next morning the Battle of Fredericksburg began and raged until dark. Harland’s brigade was not closely engaged with the enemy. The 11th supported the pickets connecting the line of Sumner with Franklin on the left. Their loss was small. General Burnside decided to renew the attack the next day by putting himself at the head of his old corps (the Ninth) and the 11th was selected to lead the advance. He was at last dissuaded from the desperate scheme and the regiment was saved. The Connecticut brigade quietly crossed the pontoons on the night of the 14th and returned to their camps. February 6,1863 it moved to Newport News, where it remained until March 13. At this place the Connecticut brigade was noted for its fine appearance on parade. March 13th it was ordered to Suffolk, where a month was spent in building fortifications. About April 10th General Longstreet invested Suffolk and the Connecticut brigade took an active part in the defense.
The last of April 1863 the 11th led a reconnaissance capturing a part of the enemy’s advance line with small losses. Another reconnaissance in force was made May 3rd with small regimental losses. The siege was raised about May 3rd and the brigade moved back to Portsmouth. The last of June the Connecticut brigade was ordered to Yorktown to form part of a force for an advance on Richmond. The brigade marched up the peninsula in a fiercely hot sun and many were sun struck. The advance continued until July 4th when the Connecticut brigade was held at Taylor’s plantation as a reserve, while the rest of the division made an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad. The whole force was ordered back and the 11th went to Portsmouth where it remained until October. It was then ordered to Gloucester Point VA and occupied Fort Keyes and performed garrison duty at Yorktown.
In January 1864, the original terms of enlistment expired. 268 men re-enlisted for 3 years, and received a veteran furlough of 30 days and went home to Connecticut. They arrived in New Haven on January 15th. After the expiration of their furloughs, the regiment sailed south and arrived at Williamsburg VA on March 3rd and was assigned to the 18th Corps. May 4th it embarked and followed gunboats up the James, affecting a landing at Bermuda Hundred. On the 7th the Richmond and Petersburg railroad was occupied and the rebels forced back towards Petersburg, across Swift’s Creek with a regimental loss of 12. On the 13th the 18th Corps made an advance in force towards Richmond, the 11th at the front. The enemy was forced back to a line near Drewry’s Bluff and a line of works near Fort Darling was captured. On the 16th the rebels made a desperate flank attack near Drewry’s Bluff and came near getting into the rear. The 11th checked the enemy in its front, but in danger of being surrounded, Colonel Stedman ordered the regiment to retire. The regimental loss was nearly 200. The army fell back and threw up a line of works from the James to the Appomatox. The 11th worked day and night until these were completed.
The last of May the 18th corps went to re-enforce Grant at Cold Harbor, arriving there June 1st. The 11th was at once sent to the front as skirmishers but met with small loss in the action of the 1st. On June 3rd it was at the front in the grand bayonet charge in the early morning on the line of the enemy’s works. The charge was repulsed with a loss of several hundred in Stedman’s Brigade, of which, the 11th contributed 91. Major Converse, Captain Allen and Adjutant Barnum were mortally wounded. After the repulse the regiment threw up a breastwork with tin cups as a protection from the enemy’s fire. After remaining ten days under continuous fire, the 18th corps moved back to Bermuda Hundred, and on the 14th advanced towards Petersburg, capturing an important line of works with several pieces of artillery. The investment of the city now commenced and the 11th had an active part in the siege until the last of August, being continuously under fire.
Since May 1st the regiment had lost its officers and over 400 men in action. Captain Sackettwas killed June 18th; Colonel Stedman was killed and Lt Colonel Moegling wounded. The last of August the regiment went to the Bermuda Hundred front, and soon after, north of the James to the lines nearest Richmond. On the death of Colonel Stedman and the Lt Colonel, Captain R.H.Rice had become Colonel and Captain Charles Warren Lt Colonel.
On March 1, 1865, the regiment was presented with a beautiful stand of national colors in memory of its late commander Colonel Stedman by Miss Julia Beach of Wallingford. It bore upon its folds the names of eleven battles.
The 11th was now assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 24th Corps and was in the triumphal advance April 3, 1865 into Richmond. It was sent to aid in putting out the fire which was fast sweeping the city to destruction. Lt. Colonel Warren was appointed Provost Marshal, and the regiment detailed for provost duty. It was soon sent to Southwestern VA and performed police duty until Nov when it was ordered to Hartford. The regiment was finally mustered out December 21, 1865 having been in service 4 years and one month.