Introduction (My Research Notes)
These are my research notes from the Middletown weekly newspaper, “The Constitution,” for the subheading “Silence” on the page, “Daniel H. Otis: His Story.” The Constitution came out every Wednesday.
I found it baffling, that after the December 1862 announcements of Daniel Otis' wounding and death in “The Constitution,” there was no further mention as to when his body arrived back home in Middletown, nor was there any funeral announcement for him specifically, or indication as to what day he was to be buried.
With a fine-toothed comb I read over every weekly newspaper for the months of December 1862 (last two weeks), January 1863, February 1863, and for good-measure the first two weeks of March 1863, looking for any hint of information about when Daniel’s remains arrived home or when he was buried.
There was no hint. Not even a speck.
As the reader will see, there was information and updates for numerous other fallen soldiers (Officers and Privates)—many of whom were Daniel’s comrades. The newspaper reported on the arrival of their remains, their Armory Band and Mansfield Guard-led funerals, their burials in which they were “conveyed to their last resting place with military and civic honors,” and synopsis’ of their lives, their lively-hood, and their families.
But not for Daniel.
All quotes from the newspaper are italicized below.
Note: the Record of the Returns Made by Sextons of Cemeteries (aka: Middletown Burial Lists) shows that Daniel H. Otis was buried in Maromas Cemetery on February 8, 1863. Yet, if one were combing the local newspaper of the time, hoping to find information on the arrival of Private Otis' body back home in Middletown, and when he was to be buried, they'd look in vain.
Wednesday, Week of December 24, 1862
> Daniel H. Otis is reported as badly wounded—having “one leg shot off.” Captain Elijah
Gibbons is also reported as wounded.
"WOUNDED—Capt. Gibbons, thigh bone broken; D.H. Otis, badly, one leg shot off; James M. Marble, leg, not badly; C.S. Brooks, leg, not badly; H.A. Lloyd, left wrist, not badly; H.N. Shaw, right arm, not badly; W.H. Johnson, Jr., arm and back; George A. Hubbard, leg, slightly; James H. Sage, slightly; James H. Hilliker, eye, badly."
> "FROM THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. The following letter was
written after the late battle by a member of the 14th C.V. from this
city to his brother. It has been handed [to] us for publication, and contains
many interesting facts."
My additional info: The letter was written by 14th CT Sergeant John G. Pelton. It’s a great letter, and he also includes a list of killed and wounded men in Co. B. Daniel is mentioned: “Daniel H. Otis, leg shot off.” A transcription of that letter can be read on the website: "Constitution: 150 Years Ago in Middletown, Connecticut."
> "THE WEATHER—Saturday and Sunday were as cold days
as are often seen in this latitude. On Saturday morning, the mercury stood at
zero. There was a high wind from the north, which made it seem even colder than
it was. The dust blew in clouds. During the day, although the sun shone clear,
the mercury did not rise higher than five degrees. On Sunday morning, it was
still colder—the thermometer showing three degrees below zero. There was very
little wind, and the weather moderated during the day. A light snow fell on
Sunday night."
Wednesday, Week of
December 31, 1862
> Private Daniel H. Otis and Captain Elijah W. Gibbons are
reported as dead.
> There is also a small paragraph in this weeks paper about how Capt. Elijah Gibbons’ body was delayed in getting back to Middletown:
> There was also a large, two-paragraph write-up on the
death of Elijah Gibbons. Besides the above "death announcement," there was nothing further about Daniel, which is strange, because
a few columns over, in this same newspaper edition, and in the same sentence, they
were both reported as dead (see newspaper clip above).
Wednesday, Week of
January 7, 1863
> There is a nice-sized write-up on the funeral of Private
Robert M. Hubbard (Co. B, 14th Reg.) who was killed at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. There is also a nice-sized
write-up on Captain Elijah Gibbons too. Each write-up was several paragraphs long and both men were buried
the same day. Also, they were both “conveyed
to their last resting place with military and civic honors.”
> There is also a list of wounded soldiers from the 14th
CT.
Nothing about Daniel.
Wednesday, Week of
January 14, 1863
> The “Colt’s Armory
Band” played at the funeral of both Capt. Gibbons and Private Robert Hubbard.
> "BODIES
BROUGHT HOME.--Mr. Thomas G. Lucas
returned home on Saturday evening. He brought the body of John Norton as far as
New Haven, where friends took it in charge, and conveyed it to Guilford for
internment. Mr. Lucas’ special mission was to obtain the bodies of the two Hollister
brothers of Chatham, who had died in their tent from fever. These he obtained
and brought with him. They were taken to Middle Haddam. Their names were Frederick
and Francis Hollister. The funeral was attended at the Episcopal Church in
Middle Haddam on Sunday. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. DeKoven, of
this city. Frederick was age 18 years and 5 months, and Francis 20 years and 4
months."
My additional info: The Hollister Brothers were both Privates in Co. K, 14th Reg. C.V. They both died from typhoid fever (within 30 minutes of each other) at Falmouth on December 23, 1862 from EXPOSURE! Notice what Civil War historian, John Banks says about the brothers in his blog post:
“At Antietam, each brother lost his
blanket and stunningly had yet to secure a replacement…Often shivering in the
cold, Francis and Frederick, both ill, huddled around a campfire to stay warm
in late December in Falmouth, where disease was rampant in Union army.”
The Hollister brothers were were
buried back home in Connecticut on Sunday, Jan. 11, 1863. So, it took nineteen
days for the poor Hollister brothers to be buried back home in Chatham,
Connecticut after they died of exposure on December 23, 1862 in Falmouth, VA. It’s
disgraceful that anyone, especially ones as young as the Hollister Brothers,
should die of EXPOSURE!
> "THE 14TH CONN.—This regiment has been encamped about two miles west of Falmouth in front of our army. Capt. Bronson of New Haven is in command. The regiment is in good condition and well-clothed, only wanting dress coats, and in better health than they have been for a long time. On a New Year’s Day they received their baggage and trunks from Washington. The regiment draws 400 rations."
My additional info: Poppy-cock! Soldiers complained that the camp at Falmouth was cold, uncomfortable, and miserable! The article has the nerve to try to convince the readers that the soldiers were “in better health than they have been for a long time,” even though the same newspaper edition just ran a story about the Hollister brothers “who had died in their tent from fever.” The truth of the matter was that these men were dropping dead from disease and exposure to the elements. Nothing’s really changed, has it? Different time period—same old media spin.
Nothing about Daniel.
> "The weather during the past week has been very changeable. The
coldest day was Thursday, when the mercury stood at 7 degrees at sunrise. Many
were hoping for a snow storm the last of the week. But on Saturday the weather
moderated and it began to rain. During the night it rained in torrents, the
wind blowing a gale from the south. Sunday was mild and spring-like."
Wednesday, Week of
January 21, 1863
> There was an article on the death of Corporal Henry A. Lloyd, color-bearer of
14th Regiment (Co.B), which included several nicely-written paragraphs on
Lloyd’s life and death. In a separate section, there was also a few sentences
announcing that the body of Corp. Henry Lloyd would be brought back to
Middletown “today,” and when the
funeral services would take place.
> The appointment of 2d Lieut. William I. Broatch (Co. A,
8th Regiment) to 1st Lieut.
Nothing about Daniel.
> "THE WEATHER—On Friday the
thermometer registered fifty-six degrees at sunrise, and on Saturday sixteen
degrees. Monday was the coldest morning of the week, the mercury being at seven
degrees. Last week there were heavy rains extending through three days until
Friday night."
Wednesday, Week of
January 28, 1863
> A small paragraph about the funeral of Corporal Henry
Lloyd, and that the Mansfield Guard, who under the command of Elihu W.N. Starr,
escorted the procession to Mortimer Cemetery.
> Several paragraphs on the death, the arrival of his
remains, and the funeral of 31 year-old, Sergeant Henry S. Geer (Co. D, 20th
Reg.) One of his comrades wrote a touching poem that was included in the
article.
> "ANOTHER SOLDIER GONE—17 year-old Edwin J. Clark, son of
J.N. Clark of Middletown (Co I, 21st Reg) died of exposure at
Falmouth, VA on January 2nd. “To
the last, he was full of patriotic enthusiasm, and his last words were to ask
whether our flag waved over Fredericksburg.”
My additional info:
another soldier dies of EXPOSURE! So much for being “in better health
than they have been for a long time," as mentioned in the January 14, 1863 edition, above.
> SOLDIERS’ REMAINS—Private Andrew Shrier, Co. I, 21st
Reg died in a hospital and was buried in Farmhill Cemetery. Private Eugene
Kenyon, Co. B, 14th CT, died in a hospital and “was buried a few days since in Westfield.”
Nothing about Daniel.
> "THE WEATHER—The average temperature for the week at sunrise has
been 30 degrees. The coldest morning was Thursday, when the mercury stood at
26. The highest temperature at sunrise was on Sunday, at 36 degrees. There has
not been a clear day during the week."
Wednesday, Week of
February 4, 1863
> "Capt. Parker of the 21st C.V. is at home in Portland, on
a leave of absence on account of his health."
> "Lieut. Lucas of Co. B, 14th Regiment, returned to this
city [Middletown] a few days since on a short furlough"
> There is also a very large paragraph about the death of
Corporal Samuel Osgood Wells of Middletown (Co I, 21st Reg).
> And of course, the world needs to know that “Tom Thumb is to be married in New York on
the 10th of February.” Thank god for that breaking news!
Nothing about Daniel.
> "The Weather: The warm weather has continued during the past week until this (Tuesday) morning, when the temperature fell to 15 degrees. The average temperature at sunrise has been 25 degrees, the warmest morning was Monday when the mercury stood at 37 degrees. Saturday and Sunday the weather was clear and mild."
Wednesday, Week of
February 11, 1863
> A long list of “promotions
and appointments” of those in the 14th C.V., near Falmouth, VA.
> STILL ANOTHER! The body of Sergeant Richard Robinson,
whose widowed mother lived in Middletown, was “daily expected.” He belonged to a New York Regiment and will be
buried in Portland, CT. The editor than asks, “Will not the patriotic men of that town turn out and give his honored
remains a soldier’s burial.”
> MAJOR CLARK of the 14th CT arrived back home
in Middletown. “He was wounded at the
Battle of Fredericksburg, and is quite lame.”
Nothing about Daniel.
> EXTRA-ORDINARY WEATHER! The previous week’s weather
made the headlines! Interestingly, that was the week that Daniel Otis was
buried. The headline read: “Cold Weather
and Extraordinary High Range of the Mercury in the Barometer at Middletown,
Conn.”
Wednesday, Feb. 4, was a cold morning, the thermometer about
the city varied from 4 to 7 below 0. The river was shut up and crossed at the
ferry by foot passengers this day.
Thursday, Feb. 5, was another sever cold morning,
thermometer was 11 below 0—the greatest degree of cold experienced this winter.
Thursday, 5—this morning the mercury in the barometer stood
at 31 inches by several instruments in this city, located 60 feet above the
level of the river. This is higher than has been before seen so far we know.
Saturday, 7th inst.—Barometer 29.87, A.M. At 2 in
the morning, fine and moonlight, some fleecy clouds from north passed over the
moon’s surface. Barometer 30.27 at 4 P.M., 30.29 at 8 P.M. (This was the day
before Daniel Otis was buried).
My additional info: So, the week Daniel’s body is home in Middletown and ready for burial (including the eve of his burial), the greatest degree of winter cold is experienced and it was the highest range of mercury in the Barometer to be seen at Middletown. Strangely enough, the year Daniel was born, in 1847, boasts one of the “Greatest Depressions of the Barometer Observed at Middletown, Connecticut.” Kind of an uncanny “coincidence,” don't you think?
Wednesday, Week of
February 18, 1863
> Update on 17 year-old, Private Edwin J. Clark (Co I,
21st Reg), who was written about on the week of January 28, 1863 (see above).
Private Clark “was sent on by express
from Washington” and reached Middletown on February 17th. The
article talked about his funeral and where he was buried at Indian Hill
Cemetery. So, it took about 46 days from the time he died on January 2, until
his body arrived in Middletown on February 17th.
> Update on Sergeant Richard Robinson, who was written
about in the week of February 11, 1863. There was a funeral for him and “the Mansfield Guard and a portion of the
military company from Portland escorted the remains.” An interesting
account of Sergeant Robinson was published in the same paper. The account is
five, very large paragraphs about his life.
> Private Nathaniel S. Butler (Co. B, 14th CT)
of Maromas, Middletown was reported dead from typhoid fever. Daniel Otis
enlisted with him, and more can be read about Nathaniel HERE. The body of Nathaniel Butler never came home.
> Private William Russell (Co. B, 14th CT),
died of dysentery on February 10, 1863 in Falmouth, VA. The article says that “His body is expected to arrive by the noon
train to-day [February 18, 1863], and
the funeral will probably take place on Thursday at 2 p.m.”
> "INFORMATION WANTED—friends of Corporal William G. Bonney
of Middletown (Co. B, 14th CT) were looking for information as to
where he was. They last heard he was in a hospital at Harper’s Ferry."
Nothing about Daniel.
> "THE WEATHER—Friday and Saturday were cold days. On the morning of the latter the mercury stood as low as 6 degrees. The warmest morning was Sunday, when the mercury stood at 36. Average temperatures for the week as sunrise was 23 degrees."
Wednesday, Week of
February 25, 1863
> Rev. Henry Stevens, chaplain of the 14th Regiment was
home in Middletown for a few days.
> BODIES BROUGHT HOME—Sergeant S.M. Gaston of Co. D, 20th
Regiment arrived in Middletown on February 21st with the bodies of Private
Charles W. Brooks and Private Owen Chapman.
Nothing about Daniel.
Wednesday, Week of March 4, 1863
> The death of Private William Russell (Co. B, 14th CT)
was mentioned in the week of February 18, 1863. He is mentioned again this week
when his body “has at last reached here
from Washington. The funeral will be attended this afternoon at 2 o’clock
at the Scotch church…the burial will be at Mortimer Cemetery.”
> RETURNED—“The
following from the 24th Regiment have returned home—Capt. Charlie Edwards,
Lieut. Dayton Johnson, F.B. Comstock, and Charles G. R. Vinal.” I assume these men returned home alive?
Nothing about Daniel.
Wednesday, Week of
March 11, 1863
> Back on the week of February 18, 1863, enquiry was made
into the whereabouts of Corp. William Bonney (Co. B, 14th CT). This week is
giving an update on him: “Last week he
was brought to the hospital at New Haven from Frederick, Maryland. He will
probably obtain a discharge.”
Nothing about Daniel.
