Col. Speidel never fully recovered from the wound received at Pocotaligo, and the regiment was loth to part with him, as he endeared himself to the boys by his soldierly bearing and commanding ways. He was a brave officer and never flinched on the field, but always inspired the men with true courage and patriotism.
October 20th, five companies of the Sixth went on provost guard duty, relieving the Eighth Maine. We occupied the provost building and had charge of a large number of rebel prisoners, as well as others from Union regiments, who had been guilty of some crime known to military law. Among the rebel prisoners was a Captain Monroe whom the Sixth captured, with others, on Morris Island. He was son of the Mayor of Charleston, and a most bitter
and uncompromising rebel. He evinced no desire to shake hands over the “bloody chasm,” but, on the contrary, was bitterly opposed to the Union and to the hireling soldiers employed by Lincoln. He raved and stormed in the guard house like a mad bull, and swore he would fight us to the bitter end whenever he should be exchanged or released. He was taken to some Northern prison with about 100 other prisoners, a guard from the Sixth accompanying them.
Volunteering having partially subsided in the State, and as the government was in need of more troops, drafting commenced in other States as well as in Connecticut. The Sixth received about 200 men in October; some were conscripts and others drafted men, as but few volunteered for the service. Their advent was not hailed with much pleasure or satisfaction by the old regiment, as they claimed that “forced” men would not fight and could not be trusted in case of an emergency. Some were vile roughs and were frequently in the guard house; while others manifested a disposition to do their duty, and did make very good soldiers. Three of the substitutes deserted from the regiment while on picket, but were captured and placed in close confinement at the provost guard house. While there they succeeded in getting away twice; the first time they were found in Ossanabaw Sound and were returned
to the post, where they were tried for desertion before a court martial, of which Capt. Tracy of the Sixth was president, found guilty and sentenced to be shot to death by musketry. They were then chained hand and foot to a post inside of the provost quarters; and, notwithstanding these precautions, together with a strong guard, they succeeded in getting away again. They took a boat near the pier and made off; but while in Warsaw sound near the shore, their boat grounded and they were captured by a picket boat from the gunboat Patapsco. They were very bold, ingenious men, and their skill and perseverance might have won them honor if rightly applied. The culprits were Germans by birth: privates Henry Schumaker, of Co. “C,” Henry Stark, of Co. “E,” and Gustav Hoofan, of Co. “B.”
In the case of the latter an error was discovered in writing his name, the name Hoofan having been written Hoffman by the Judge Advocate. Col. Duryee wishing to be merciful to the full extent consistent with duty, availed himself of this technical error and protested against his execution. This protest was allowed, and he was saved from death and ordered to return to duty with his regiment. The man was more than pleased at this announcement, but the Judge Advocate, a lieutenant of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania regiment, was severely censured in general orders for his inexcusable carelessness and fatal error.
The following order was issued to the troops for the execution of the deserters:
General Orders, No. 7.
Headquarters Hilton Head,
Hilton Head, S. C., April 16, 1864.
In obedience to General Orders No. 50, Department of the South, Hilton Head, S. C., April 15, 1864, the sentence of private Henry Schumaker, of Co. “C,” and private Henry Stark, Co. “E,” Sixth regiment Connecticut Volunteers, who were tried before a court martial assembled at Hilton Head, S. C., March 4, 1864, for the crime of desertion, and were sentenced to be shot to death with musketry, will be carried into execution at this Post on Sunday the 17th day of April, 1864, at three o’clock P. M., on the field beyond the causeway and in the presence of all the troops of this command. All fatigue work within the line of the entrenchments will be suspended on that day during the afternoon, and every officer and man not upon the sick list or upon other duty, will be present. The firing party will be furnished by the Sixth Connecticut Volunteers. Capt. E. S. Babcock, 9th U. S. C. T., Provost Marshal, will make the necessary arrangements for the execution. The several regiments and detachments comprising the command will report at two o’clock P. M. to Lieut. Woodruff, A. A. D. C., who will be stationed there to direct them to their positions.