A SOLDIER WITH THE RIGHT SPIRIT.–

13. August 2008 by admin.

Henry W. Camp, Adjutant of the Tenth Connecticut volunteers, was made prisoner by the rebels at Morris Island, off Charleston, in July, 1863. After ten months’ confinement in the jails of Charleston, Columbia, and Richmond, he reached his home in Hartford on the 7th of May, being released on parole. In five days the news reached him of his exchange; and though he had a leave of twenty days, he started at once for his regiment in Butler’s department, above Norfolk, on the James. On reaching Bermuda Hundreds he learned that the Tenth Connecticut had gone to the front, and was then probably engaged with the enemy. Pressing forward as speedily as possible, he met the retreating column of the Eighteenth corps falling back from the attack of Beauregard. They told him that the road by which he could reach his regiment was already in possession of the enemy, and that an attempt to proceed under the circumstances would only throw him again into a rebel prison. Nothing daunted, however, he kept on, and about ten o’clock in the morning reached his regiment just as it was coming out of one brisk skirmish, and was about advancing to another attack.

Within fifteen minutes he was at his place, under fire, and bearing himself gallantly, as always.

His conduct excited the warmest admiration on the part of the regiment. Notwithstanding the engrossing excitement of the battle, officers and men hailed his return with cheer upon cheer in the very face of the enemy, and with the Minie balls flying thickly around them.

Col. Plaisted commanding the brigade, joined in the greeting given to the beloved officer whose conduct was so praiseworthy, and even Gen. Terry, the division commander, swung his hat in the general cheering, and rode forward to welcome in person the returning adjutant to his old command.

How much richer in true honor and pleasure that manly greeting by the regiment in battle line and under fire, than all the flattery and delight that a prolonged furlough in his native city could have afforded him!

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