10th Connecticut Infantry Regiment

Recruited in various counties. It left the State November 1, 1861, and proceeded to Annapolis, where it embarked with the Burnside expedition to North Carolina. It was placed in Foster's (1st) Brigade, and was engaged at Roanoke Island, its casualties in that action amounting to 6 killed and 49 wounded. Colonel Russell fell there, the first one of the Connecticut colonels killed in the war. At the battle of Kinston, N. C., -- December 14, 1862 -- the heaviest loss fell on the Tenth Connecticut, it having been entrusted with the most prominent part. It lost there 11 killed, and 39 wounded, out of 366 engaged; five line officers were killed or mortally wounded. The remarkable gallantry of the regiment in this action was publicly acknowledged at its close by General Foster, in words of extreme praise. At that battle it was in Stevenson's (2d) Brigade, Foster's (1st) Division. In April, 1864, the Tenth joined the Army of the James, and participated in all its battles. It was engaged at Deep Bottom with a loss of 8 killed, 64 wounded, and 10 missing. Major Henry W. Camp, the "Knightly Soldier," was killed at Darbytown Road. The regiment was transferred in December, to Foster's (1st) Division, Twenty-fourth Corps, in which command it took the lead in the victorious but desperate assault on Fort Gregg, its losses there amounting to 11 killed and 79 wounded. Its flag was the first on the parapet, and the gallantry displayed there by the regiment was signally acknowledged by General Gibbon, the corps commander.

I am sorry to report the loss of about 35 killed and about 200 wounded, 10 of them probably mortally. Among the killed are Colonel Russell, of the Tenth Connecticut Regiment, and Lieut. Col. Joseph A. Viguer De Monteil, of the D'Epineuil Zouaves, both of whom fought most gallantly.

Reports of Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside, Official Records, Vol IX p. 74.

After the Tenth Connecticut, Colonel Russell, came up, General Foster ordered the Twenty-third Massachusetts and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, Colonel Lee, to pass into the swamp on the right, for the purpose of getting on the left flank of the enemy. Soon after this the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts exhausted its ammunition, and the Tenth Connecticut advanced to its position. All these movements were performed by the regiments under lead of their respective commanders with the most commendable efficiency.

Reports of Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside, Official Records, Vol IX p. 78.

I must mention in my brigade, where all behaved bravely, with particular praise the Twenty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers and the Tenth Connecticut Volunteers. The former, under a severe fire from musketry in the front and exposed to a flanking fire of grape and canister from Fort Thompson, unprotected by the trees, behaved with marked coolness and steadiness. The latter advanced close under the enemy's fire in line of battle, fired with the most remarkable steadiness, and stood steadily up, giving and taking the most severe fire.

Report of Brigadier General John G. Foster, Official Records, vol IX p. 213.

At about dusk, as the advance guard, composed of the Marine Artillery, a company of the Tenth Connecticut, and a portion of cavalry, were crossing Little Creek, on the road from Washington to Williamston, they were suddenly fired upon by the enemy from the opposite side of the creek, concealed in the woods on the right of the road. The cavalry and infantry retired, the Marine Artillery opening fire.

Report of Colonel Thomas G. Stevenson, Official Records, vol XVIII, p. 22.

The Tenth Connecticut advanced steadily to the extreme front, relieving two of Wessells' brigade, which were short of ammunition, and after receiving a terrible fire for some twenty minutes made a most gallant charge in conjunction with the Ninety-sixth Regiment New York Volunteers of General Wessells' brigade, which, with the advance already made (slowly, but surely) of the entire line, forced the enemy to retreat precipitately for the bridge over the Neuse, which they crossed, firing the bridge, which had been prepared for that purpose.

Reports of Major General John G. Foster, Official Records, vol XVIII, p. 56.

I have the honor to request that the Tenth Connecticut Volunteers be relieved from doing picket duty to-night. This regiment last night at dark was ordered to report to Colonel Howell, to man the parapet upon his front; it lay in the water and mud and dew all night, and is broiling in the hot sun to-day. Colonel Otis reports to me that the regiment is as much fatigued, if not more, than if they had been on picket at the front in the shade; that he cannot be responsible for the proper performance of picket duty by the regiment, the officers and men of which are so fatigued. Besides, Colonel Howell informs me that he cannot relieve it until his pickets are relieved.

Official Records, vol XXXVI part 3, 264.

The Tenth Connecticut advanced rapidly as skirmishers, under the command of Major Greeley, and at 7.15 a.m. were in possession of the main line of rebel intrenchments in front of Ware Bottom Church, and thence to the James River. Skirmishers were advanced to the second rebel line, about 700 yards in rear of the main line, driving the enemy's skirmishers therefrom. This regiment had more or less skirmishing from the start. It captured 36 prisoners, including 3 commissioned officers.

Report of Colonel Harris M. Plaisted, Official Records, XL part 1, p. 689-90.

Soon after the assault commenced, and I directed the One hundredth New York, Maj. J. H. Dandy commanding, and the Tenth Connecticut, Col. E. D. S. Goodyear commanding, upon the central work--Fort Gregg. This was a completely inclosed work, stockaded in the rear, with loopholes for musketry, and manned with a full garrison and two pieces of artillery. The assault was commenced at a distance of from 200 to 300 yards from the works, and was made at the double-quick, without a halt, under the most terrific fire of musketry and artillery I have ever witnessed. Many of our brave men went down, but the work was reached without faltering. The commanding officers of both regiments were placed hors de combat, Lieutenant-Colonel Goodyear being severely wounded and Major Dandy killed, the latter on the parapet of the work.

Report of Colonel George B. Dandy, Official Records, XLVI part 1, p. 1195.