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Civil War Log Book of Lt. Dwight C. Kilbourn 2nd Ct. Heavy Artillery – This diminutive, leather bound log book has lightly scratched on the front cover:

“D.C. Kilbourn

Bantam Falls

Litchfield County

Conn.”

There are 22 pages in the small booklet, with hand-inked entries on 15 of those pages; from the text and subject matter, most of the entries were likely written in 1863. The entries are rather short; one page includes a period newspaper clipping. Kilbourn’s log entries mention the following: capturing rebel prisoners, killed and wounded soldiers, capturing cannons, Generals Price, Garnett, and McCullogh and the Battle of Bull Run, as well as ship references – The Pawnee, The Freeborn and the Steamer Isabel. A sample of some of the entries read as follows:

“May 31-June 1-Freeborn and Pawne 260, 350 shot & shell. Total 610. Three days. Silenced the enemy’s guns.”

“July 11-Rebel force 10,000……captured 6 brass cannon, 200 tents, 60 wagons, 250 k 200 pris.”

“July 14th-Gen. Garnett killed.”

“July 5-10,000 secession under Price & Mcc. (McCullough) Col. Sigel with 1500 regulars, retreat in order 8 miles, killed 1,000 reb. 10 Fed. 43 wounded retreated 8 miles in order.”

“Loss at Bull Run.”

Also included is an entry of war themed poetry:

“With it in beauty no flag can compare.

All nations honor our banner so fair.

If to insult it, a traitor shall dare.

Crushed to the earth let him be.”

The booklet is in very good condition, with evidence of having been carried in the field, by Lt. Kilbourn. The 2^nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery were pulled from the relative safety of the defenses of Washington, DC, in 1864, to soldier as infantrymen, as Grant went on the offense into Virginia. These Connecticut “Heavies” suffered horrific losses at Second Cold Harbor where there is now a significant monument to their bravery and high numbers of casualties ; although Lt. Kilbourn survived the disastrous events of Cold Harbor, he was wounded in September of 1864, at the Battle of Winchester.

Although the entries are somewhat abbreviated, this small booklet accompanied Lt. Kilbourn through much of his wartime involvement and was most likely with him when he was at Cold Harbor and Winchester. The book measures about 6.25” in height and 4” in width.

Dwight C. Kilbourn

2nd CT Heavy Artillery
( 3-years )

CONNECTICUT
SECOND REGIMENT C. V. HEAVY ARTILLERY.

Kilbourn, Dwight C. (Dwight Canfield), 1837-1914

Dwight Canfield Kilbourn was born at Litchfield, Conn., October 9, 1837, the son of William P. Kilbourn and Caroline (Canfield) Kilbourn. He received a public school education and pursued his professional studies with Hon. Origen S. Seymour and Henry B. Graves at Litchfield. He was admitted to the bar in his native town in the year 1866. In 1887 he was appointed clerk of the Superior Court for Litchfield. Before his admission to the bar he served in the Civil War, attaining the rank of lieutenant in the Second Conn. Heavy Artillery. After the war, Kilbourn was secretary of his regiment for 47 years. When the Connecticut Regimental Veterans’ Association was organized January 28, 1891, he was elected president and was its president for life. He was a member of the Seth F. Plumb Post, G.A.R. of Litchfield. He was a member of the Sedgwick Monument Commission, appointed by Gov. Baldwin to erect an equestrian statue of Maj. John Sedgwick at Gettysburg. He was appointed secretary of the Veterans Association of Connecticut in 1907 and held the office since. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lodge, F. and A.M. and of Darius Lodge, R.A.M. of Litchfield. He was secretary of the Litchfield County Bar Association. As an author his best known work was The Bench and Bar of Litchfield County, 1709-1909, the result of years of painstaking research. His home was filled with books and pamphets relating to Litchfield County. He was a member of the Connecticut Historical Society, member of the Kansas Historical Society, and vice president of the Litchfield Historical Society. He married, July 5, 1866, Sarah M. Hopkins, of Litchfield, daughter of Edward Hopkins and Melissa (Alfred) Hopkins. They had no children. Kilbourn died on October 28, 1914.

Civil War veteran honored in Litchfield

By Republican American – March 4, 2013

LITCHFIELD — A Civil War veteran who was born and raised in Litchfield and went on to a career in law was recognized as the veteran of the month by American Legion Post 44 in Bantam on Saturday. The ceremony at the Bantam Borough Hall honored Union Army 1st Lt. Dwight C. Kilbourn, a veteran of the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment that mustered on the Litchfield Green in 1863 and fought in several battles in Virginia. The honoring of Kilbourn, born Oct. 9, 1837, followed the recognition of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, a Litchfield native, as veteran of the month in February. Post 44 often honors veterans of the Revolutionary War and Civil War during the months. “We are pleased relive the contributions of two gentlemen who contributed so much to their country,” said Kevin Creed, Post 44 master of ceremonies. “We don’t often have a chance to go this far back in history, so when we do it’s a pleasure.” An American flag honoring Kilbourn will fly over the All Wars Memorial in Bantam until April 6. Kilbourn was educated in Litchfield schools, and before joining the Union Army studied at the Litchfield Law School under the direction of teachers Origen S. Seymour and Henry B. Graves. After completing his studies, Kilbourn volunteered for the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment on Nov. 23, 1863. The regiment, with 1,600 men, gathered in Washington, D.C., and marched into Virginia. It fought often, including at the Battle of Petersburg, one of the battles near the end of the Civil War. Kilbourn’s service concluded when the regiment was mustered out of service on Aug. 18, 1865, after having suffered hundreds of casualties.

After the war, Kilbourn was admitted to the law bar in Litchfield, and began a long professional career. In 1887, he was appointed clerk of the Superior Court for Litchfield, and later became secretary of the Litchfield County Bar Association. In 1891, he was elected lifetime president of the Connecticut Regimental Veterans Association. Kilbourn, who married Sarah M. Hopkins of Litchfield on July 5, 1966, was a member of the Seth E. Plumb Post of the Sedgwick Monument Commission that was appointed to erect a statue of Maj. John Sedgwick at Gettysburg. He also served as secretary of the Veterans Association of Connecticut until his death on Oct. 28, 1914. Kilbourn was a member of St. Paul’s Lodge and Darius Lodge, two Masonic organizations in Litchfield and was vice president of the Litchfield Historical Society. He was known for his work as an author, penning “The Bench and Bar of Litchfield County 1709-1909,” a book that was the result of years of painstaking research. In East Litchfield, where he lived, Kilbourn served as postmaster for many years.

Title: Reunion and dedication of monument at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Wednesday, October 21, 1896, Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery

Author/Artist

Kilbourn, D. C.

Reunion and dedication of monument at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Wednesday, October 21, 1896, Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery [microform] / D.C. Kilbourn, Secretary.

Author

Kilbourn, D. C. (Dwight C.) [Browse]

Format

Book

Language

English

Published/​Created

Hartford, Conn. : Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., 1897 – 34 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

Lieut Dwight Canfield Kilbourn

2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery

Cold Harbor • Tour the Battlefield • Monuments & Markers • Battle Facts • The Armies

The monument to the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment is at the last pulloff on the Cold Harbor Battlefield Auto Tour. It is next to the ‘A Bloody Baptism of Fire‘ wayside marker, which tells more of the regiment’s story.

The front of the monument has the story of the regiment’s attack on June 1 inscribed around the raised Greek cross symbol of the Sixth Corps. The rear of the monument has the crossed cannon symbol of the artillery

From the front of the monument:

2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery

Late on the afternoon of June 1, 1864, Col. Elisha Strong Kellogg and his 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery attacked Confederate entenchments to the west along with other Federal troops from the Sixth and Eighteenth Corps. Kellogg advanced his 1500 men across this ground in three battalions with weapons at port arms.

The combined Union attacks resulted in the capture of approximately 300 prisoners. Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke’s Confederate division halted their further progress with a withering fire delivered from the left flank. Kellogg was killed at the head of the first battalion in front of the abatis and breastworks held by Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Clingman’s brigade.

The remaining men of the 2nd Connecticut regrouped under Col. Emory Upton, and assisted in the capture of the Confederate line at sunset. However, more than 330 of its men fell killed and wounded in these attacks.

May this unit that began the say raw and inexperienced nevermore be known as a “band box” regiment…

From the rear of the monument:

2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery
Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright – Sixth Corps
Brig. Gen. David A. Russell – First Division
Col. Emory Upton – Second Brigade

The 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment at Cold Harbor

BY MARK · JUNE 2, 2019

Cold Harbor is best remembered for the assault near Richmond, Virginia on June 3rd, 1864 that cost thousands of Union casualties and gained nothing during General Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. But there was another Federal assault on the Confederate lines two days earlier that resulted in heavy Union casualties.

This first assault on June 1st involved the Union 6th and 18th Corps. General Philip Sheridan’s cavalry had taken control of the crossroads on May 31st, and the 6th and 18th Corps were ordered there. Major General George Meade ordered an assault on the entrenched Confederate defenders, believing that by taking the Rebel positions, the Federals would be better positioned for a possible breakthrough after all the army was in place.

One of the regiments in Major General Horatio Wright’s 6th Corps was the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, now fighting as infantry. With the enormous casualty numbers piling up during the Overland Campaign fighting, Grant needed reinforcements, and he ordered many of the heavy artillery regiments serving in the defenses of Washington DC to the front to serve as infantry. These heavy artillery regiments were several hundred men larger than even a full strength infantry regiment, and provided several thousand immediate reinforcements, though they had only limited infantry tactic training. The heavy artillerymen  would see much action in the final year of the war, and many regiments would suffer staggering losses.

The 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery was originally organized as the 19th Connecticut Infantry in September 1862. It served in the Washington defenses as infantry until it was redesignated as heavy artillery in November of 1863. At the time it was called to the front, the regiment was under the command of Colonel Elisha S. Kellogg, who had combat experience as a major with the 1st Connecticut Artillery prior to joining the 2nd. in the 6th Corps, the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery was assigned to Brigadier General Emory Upton’s 2nd Brigade of Brigadier General David A. Russell’s 1st Division.

The large 2nd Connecticut, about 1800 men deployed in three lines; each battalion, consisting of four companies, would lead the assault by Upton’s brigade, with the other casualty depleted regiments in the brigade in a fourth line At about 5 p.m. the 6th Corps, and the 18th Corps to its right, marched forward, with 2nd Connecticut lines separated by about 100 paces. Colonel Kellogg placed himself in front of the first battalion and ordered the column to advance.

The men were able to advance to within 20 yards or so of the main Confederate rifle pits without serious opposition. There, the Rebels had cut down young pine trees and formed them into an abatis–a barrier with the branches interlocked and facing outward–that extended back to the rifle pits. They had left two open paths large enough for four men marching abreast to pass through. As the men of the 2nd Connecticut funneled into these openings, the North Carolinians of Brigadier General Thomas L. Clingman’s Brigade of Major General Robert F. Hoke’s Division opened fire.

The North Carolinians fired a volley, and took down some of the Connecticut men, but many of the shots missed high and hit the ground behind them.

The Federals dropped to the ground, and the next volley mostly went over their heads as well. The regimental historian wrote that “it is more than probable that if there had been no other than this front fire, the rebel breastworks would have been ours, notwithstanding the pine boughs”.

But there was more than just this fire from the front. The 2nd Connecticut had advanced farther forward than the regiments on its left and right. The Confederates began firing into the 2nd Connecticut’s left flank with deadly effect. The Rebels “having unobstructed range on the battalion, opened a fire which no human valor could withstand, and which no pen can adequately describe” wrote the regimental historian. “The air was filled with sulphurous smoke, and the shrieks and howls of more than two hundred and fifty mangled men rose above the yells of triumphant rebels and the roar of their musketry”.

Kellogg was in the process of ordering his men to withdraw when he was shot multiple times, his body caught on the abatis. “The men staggered in every direction, some of them falling upon the very top of the rebel parapet, where they were completely riddled with bullets,–others wandering off into the woods…to find their way to death by starvation at Andersonville, or never to be heard from again” recalled the regimental historian.

With Kellogg dead, Colonel Upton came in an personally took control, ordering the men to lie down and hold their position. “Men of Connecticut, stand by me! We MUST hold this line!”

The men of the 2nd did indeed hold the line, for the rest of the day and into the night. Upton’s brigade, plus the units on either side, had pushed far enough forward to capture the first line of Rebel works. This was the only gain of any significance for the costly assault by the 6th and 18th Corps.

In his report on his brigade’s action in the Overland Campaign from its beginning in May through Cold Harbor, Upton wrote this about the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery:

The Second Connecticut, anxious to prove its courage, moved to the assault in beautiful order. Crossing an open field it entered a pine wood, passed down a gentle declivity, and up a slight ascent. Here the charge was checked. For 70 feet in front of the works the trees had been felled, interlocking with each other and barring all farther advance. Two paths, several yards apart and wide enough for 4 men to march abreast, led through the obstructions. Up these to the foot of the works the brave men rushed, but were swept away by a converging fire. Unable to carry the intrenchments, I directed the men to lie down and not return the fire. Opposite the right of the regiment the works were carried, and several prisoners captured, among whom was Major McDonald, of a North Carolina regiment, who informed me that their flank had been turned. The regiment was then marched to the point gained, and, moving to the left, captured the point first attacked.

In this position, without support on either flank, the Second Connecticut fought till 3 a.m., when the enemy fell back to a second line of works. Colonel Kellogg, its brave and able commander, fell in the assault, at the head of his command. The loss of the Second Connecticut was 53 killed, 187 wounded, 146 missing; total, 386. June 3, another assault was ordered, but, being deemed impracticable along our front, was not made. From the 3d to the 12th of June the brigade lay behind intrenchments. Nearly a constant fire was kept up by sharpshooters; but few casualties occurred.

As Upton wrote, his brigade did not participate in the larger, more famous (or infamous) Union assault of June 3rd. But the 6th and 18th Corps had an estimated 2200 killed and wounded in the June 1st assault, so it was no small affair. “It has always seemed, however, to the survivors of the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, (Upton’s Brigade, Russell’s Division, Wright’s Corps,) that the affair of June 1st was entitled to more than the two or three lines of bare mention which it is tossed off.”

A portion of the Cold Harbor Battlefield is preserved as part of Richmond National Battlefield Park. There is a monument in the Cold Harbor unit of the park honoring the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery at the location of its assault of June 1st. The monument lists the names of all those of the regiment who were killed or mortally wounded at Cold Harbor. Earthworks of both armies are also preserved here, and the landscape of open pine woods is similar to what it was at the time of the battle.