The first step towards Appomattox Court House was taken by Sheridan February 27, 1865, when committing his winter quarters to the flames, and with bands playing and flags flying, he started on his great raid from Winchester to Petersburg via Waynesboro, which place he reached March 2d, Custer’s division in the advance. Here were Early’s headquarters. The enemy were strongly posted on a ridge with artillery. They must be dislodged. The First Connecticut and two other regiments were assigned to Lieutenant-Colonel Whitaker for this purpose. They were secretly put on the rebel left flank and dismounted in mud knee-deep. An ice storm prevailed and the shells crashed fearfully through the ice-covered trees.
General Custer praised the First Connectict Volunteer Cavalry during the Civil War.
The next day the command was at Charlottesville and marched thence eastward, working untold destruction on railroads, bridges, and canals. Near Ashland, March 14th, Longstreet attempted to intercept Sheridan, but was discovered by Lieutenant-Colonel Whitaker, who, taking Captain Neville’s squadron of the First Connecticut, drove the rebel skirmishers at a gallop, and uncovered their infantry. Sheridan then avoided battle by recrossing the North Anna. In this spirited charge the squadron lost seventeen men, including the brave and genial Lieutenant Clark, who was killed. He was one of the original battalion and universally beloved. The command was at White House March 21st and before Petersburg on the 27th.
Here Colonel Ives, who had been absent recruiting, rejoined the regiment, which, at sunrise, April 1st, was at Five Forks. There had already been much fighting here, but without success. The brigade, dismounted, made a resolute attack, but was repulsed. Among the lost here was Captain Parmelee, one of the bravest of the brave, killed by a shell while gallantly leading his men. The battle raged fiercely. In the afternoon our lines charged twice without avail. The third time they were successful, capturing 6,000 prisoners and many guns and flags.
“In this memorable battle,” writes General Custer, “the First Connecticut achieved the honor of being the first to leap the enemy’s breastworks, seize his cannon, and turn them on the retreating foe.” The two guns thus gallantly captured by the First Connecticut were the only ones taken at that time by Custer’s division.
For two days they pursued the flying enemy. On the 3d, at Sweat House Creek, the division had a sharp engagement, but soon won victory. On the 7th the First Connecticut led the advance. It attacked Lee’s wagon train near Harper’s Farm, and routing the guard, separated; Colonel Ives with the right battalion charged a battery in the woods defended by infantry, and captured five guns with caissons, men; and horses, and two battle-flags; Major Moorehouse with the left battalion went towards the head of the train, capturing men, horses, and mules, and burning wagons; but the enemy being reinforced, the regiment retired with its splendid trophies. About 3 P. M. the brigade was ordered to charge the enemy’s breastworks mounted. It gallantly galloped forward, only to be terribly repulsed. Colonel Ives’s horse was shot under him, and the dead of the First Connecticut lay nearest the enemy’s works.
At sunset these same works were again attacked in force and 5,000 prisoners captured. On the 9th Sheridan saw that the end was near. He had cut off the enemy’s way of retreat and was just advancing to a grand final charge. A flag of truce appeared asking a cessation of hostilities. Under it Lieutenant-Colonel Whitaker of the First Connecticut, Custer’s chief of staff, entered the rebel lines, and with General Longstreet (acting at Lee’s request), made the negotiation which stopped the fighting.
Soon after, the regiment itself was detailed to escort General Grant when he went to receive Lee’s surrender. These two unique events were glory enough for one day. The remaining story is short. The regiment went nearly to Danville with Sheridan, but on Johnston’s surrender, marched back to Washington, where it took part in the grand review, and was found so excellent as to be selected for provost duty in the city, where it remained until August. A battalion of it was sent to Gettysburg at the laying of the cornerstone of the soldiers’ monument there July 4, 1865.
On its muster-out it was allowed to return to its state mounted, a privilege granted to no other regiment in the service. It was discharged at New Haven, August 18, 1865, almost three years and ten months from the date of its first encampment at West Meriden. Its record is a noble on an honor to itself and to the state that sent it out.
From “Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1865″ published by the Connecticut National Guard in 1889.
