During this period the headquarters of the regiment were at Camp Cheesebrough, Baltimore, Md. Major Fish was provost marshal. The secession element being strong in Maryland, the business of the office was large. Several officers from the regiment were appointed assistant marshals, and large details of its men were constantly on provost duty in the city and on provost and scouting expeditions to various parts of the State. Captain Farnsworth had charge of the camp.
Under his energetic lead, the men rebuilt the barracks and erected officers’ quarters, paved the company streets with brick, and graded and turfed the ground between. Barns were also built, and a hospital and chapel. July 5th he was ordered with 180 men to Harper’s Ferry, then occupied by the enemy. On the 14th, with forty-nine men, he attacked a rebel picket on Bolivar Heights, numbering, with their reserve, 200 or more, but his horse becoming disabled under him, he was captured with more than half of his men; the remainder withdrew, bringing several prisoners captured by them.
August 7th the battalion took part in an expedition under Colonel Vinton, Sixth Michigan, which was surprised in camp at night near Waterford, Va., and suffered considerable loss. Later, the First Connecticut, under Lieutenant Rogers returned the compliment by surprising a rebel camp in the same region and capturing a large number of prisoners. Afterwards, with other troops, it made two expeditions to Winchester, and one in November, of fifteen days, to Harrisonburgh, meeting the enemy each time.
Meanwhile, large additions were being made to the regiment. In January, 1864, its ranks were full, and Major Blakeslee, who had been on recruiting service for some time, was ordered to Baltimore to assume command. The detachment at Harper’s Ferry was sent back and the recruits put under rigid drill and discipline. The regiment was mounted and fully equipped, and on March 8th, 675 strong, marched to join the Army of the Potomac.
From “Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1865″ published by the Connecticut National Guard in 1889.
