Litchfield Pride
One’s home is almost always
a source of great pride. For many, Litchfield County was their home and
they were proud of it. One of those people was Charles Goodyear, who
writes fondly of his county, saying that the best men came from her. It
is a sentiment probably shared by many during the war.
Litchfield County, with Litchfield as the county seat, was not always as insignificant as it sometimes seems today. The "Golden Age" of Litchfield was from 1784 until 1834. During the Civil War, the town was already beginning to decline in importance, but was still an important part of Connecticut. Many merchants saw great success in Litchfield, and, possibly even more indicative, was the high number of college students within the county by the early 19th century.
During the Civil War, probably the single most significant instance of county pride was the formation of the 19th Connecticut Regiment, also known as the Litchfield regiment. Only people from Litchfield joined the regiment, and each town was expected to send a certain number of soldiers.
The idea of a Litchfield regiment was started with a meeting in Litchfield on July 22nd, 1862. At the meeting were delegates from all but two Litchfield towns, and those present represented the most influential people in the county. F. W. Gunn was one of the two delegates who came from Washington. The resolutions that came from the meeting passed with near perfect unanimity. The Litchfield Regiments was begun. The 19th Connecticut Infantry was organized from July 25th to September 9th.
The 19th Connecticut would later become the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery on November 23, 1863. A fairly large number of Gunn's students joined the 19th regiment, including Romulus Loveridge, Charley's friend. Many from Washington also joined the 19th. All were very proud of the "County Regiment."
Sources:
http://www.civilwararchive.com/unionct.htm
http://www.litchfieldct.com/twn/history.html
Litchfield Enquirer: Thursday July 24 1862
Litchfield County, with Litchfield as the county seat, was not always as insignificant as it sometimes seems today. The "Golden Age" of Litchfield was from 1784 until 1834. During the Civil War, the town was already beginning to decline in importance, but was still an important part of Connecticut. Many merchants saw great success in Litchfield, and, possibly even more indicative, was the high number of college students within the county by the early 19th century.
During the Civil War, probably the single most significant instance of county pride was the formation of the 19th Connecticut Regiment, also known as the Litchfield regiment. Only people from Litchfield joined the regiment, and each town was expected to send a certain number of soldiers.
The idea of a Litchfield regiment was started with a meeting in Litchfield on July 22nd, 1862. At the meeting were delegates from all but two Litchfield towns, and those present represented the most influential people in the county. F. W. Gunn was one of the two delegates who came from Washington. The resolutions that came from the meeting passed with near perfect unanimity. The Litchfield Regiments was begun. The 19th Connecticut Infantry was organized from July 25th to September 9th.
The 19th Connecticut would later become the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery on November 23, 1863. A fairly large number of Gunn's students joined the 19th regiment, including Romulus Loveridge, Charley's friend. Many from Washington also joined the 19th. All were very proud of the "County Regiment."
Sources:
http://www.civilwararchive.com/unionct.htm
http://www.litchfieldct.com/twn/history.html
Litchfield Enquirer: Thursday July 24 1862