SAMUEL KIMBALL ELLIS
Rockville, Conn.
Past Commander and Chaplain of Burpee Post, No. 71, G.A.R.
THE TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT
Connecticut
Volunteers
IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
History, Reminiscences, Description of Battle of Irish Bend, Carrying of Pay Roll, Roster.
PUBLISHED JUNE, 1913
PRESS OF THE ROCKVILLE JOURNAL
ROCKVILLE, CONN.
Brief History of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers,
from the pen of Colonel George P. Bissell.
Experiences and Reminiscences of Samuel K. Ellis of Rockville,
who went out as a Private
in Company G, Twenty-fifth Regiment.
A Complete Account of the Battle of Irish Bend,
Given by Major Thomas McManus.
How the Pay of a Regiment Was Carried to New Orleans
by First Lieutenant Henry Hill Goodell.
GEORGE P. BISSELL
Deceased
Colonel 25th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, C. V.
The Twenty-fifth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, (George P. Bissell, Colonel), was recruited in Hartford and Tolland Counties, in the fall of 1862. The regiment was composed of the very best material, being almost exclusively young men impelled by patriotic motives, and from the first they took a high stand for efficiency and good discipline.
Later in its history, when the regiment had been tried in marches and battles, it was thus described by Adjutant-General Morse in his report to the Legislature for 1864: "This is one of the best of our nine months' regiments and bore a conspicuous part in the advance upon, and the campaign preceding, the fall of Port Hudson. By the bravery always displayed on the field of battle, and the patience and endurance manifested on many long and arduous marches, it has won for itself a high and lasting reputation."
The Twenty-fifth was mustered into the United States service November 11, 1862, and on the 14th sailed from Hartford for Centerville, L.I., to join at that rendezvous the Banks Expedition. The muster-roll showed 811 men thoroughly drilled and well appointed, except that they were without rifles which were later served to them on the ship after their arrival on the Mississippi River. The regiment embarked November 29, 1862, in two divisions;—one division of five companies under command of Colonel Bissell on the Steamer Mary Boardman; and the remainder under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Stevens on the Steamer Empire City. The destination of the expedition was unknown when the vessels sailed as the sealed orders were not to be opened until we had sailed twenty-four hours to the southward and eastward. The orders, when opened, were found to be simply to report at Ship Island, off the mouth of the Mississippi River, allowing a stop at Dry Tortugas for coal if necessary. The ships duly arrived at Ship Island and proceeded at once up the river to New Orleans where they arrived on the 14th of December, 1862. On the 16th, the Mary Boardman, with several of the other ships proceeded to Baton Rouge, wher