was engaged in battle at Port Hudson; on the latter occasion, though in the reserve, by sheer force of enthusiasm and stress of the emergency, it worked its way to the forefront of the hottest battle. The assault on the Fort proved unsuccessful, and led General Banks, then in command, to call " for a storming column of one thousand men." To the lead of this forlorn hope Colonel Birge was assigned, at his own request, his splendid regiment furnishing one quarter of the desired number of stormers. It was a brave thing to do, and was the fruit of no sudden impulse, no wild thoughtless desperation. The gallant Colonel kept from his men, that he had by choice been appointed to lead the column, not wishing to influence any of them to volunteer, unless self inclined. When, however, it became known that he was to command the 'forlorn hope,' there were many accessions. Two hundred and forty-one of this noble regiment for days and weeks looked death in the face and offered all on their country's altar. They knew well the ground over which they would have to pass, and that the chances were against their ever returning. It was a volunteer service, in a trying hour, and at the risk of life itself. Some of the officers wrote out their wills, transferred money and keep-sakes to comrades who were to remain behind, and wrote their last messages to loved ones at home. It was, as we now contemplate it, one of the most heroic incidents of the war, an imperishable memorial of the selfsacrifice and courage of the men, and their leader, of both of whom the country had every reason to feel proud request of the rest of the men, permission was obtained of Colonel Birge that the remainder of the regiment should follow immediately in rear of the stormers, as their first support, a position only less perilous than that assigned to the storming column itself. This virtually brought the whole regiment into the assaulting force. Fortunately the rebels By surrendered the post before the final assault was ordered. As a special mark of honor, the storming column was designated to enter Port Hudson to receive the surrender ; this it did, the second position being given to the Twenty-sixth Regiment, under Lieutenant-colonel Joseph Selden of Norwich, the colors and band of the Thirteenth being selected from all others to grace the pageant. The regiment, after a return home for a "veteran furlough," took part in the Shenandoah campaign, and was actively engaged in the battles at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. In the Battle of Winchester, September, 1864, and the actions that followed in quick succession, the Thirteenth had a leading part. General Birge's division was in the advance, he himself directing and joining in the charge, which resulted in the utter route of General Early's army. Having meanwhile been promoted to be a Brigadier-general, during this Shenandoah campaign and subsequently, General Birge commanded a division. For his gallant service at Cedar Creek he was recommended by General Sheridan for a brevet commission of Major-general, which he received while in the field, winning thus the highest brevet rank gained by any army officer from Norwich. D IV. 1862. THREE YEAR'S MEN, CONTINUED. Listen, young heroes! Your country is calling! Stay not for questions while Freedom stands gasping! "Never or now! cries the blood of a nation, Poured on the turf where the red rose should bloom ; Now is the day and hour of salvation, Never or now! peals the trumpet of doom." O. W. HOLMES. URING the early part of this year the Union forces made steady progress, and it seemed for a while as if the war was to be brought to a speedy close. All loyal hearts were encouraged, and as it was supposed there would be no more calls for troops, enlisting quite generally ceased. The War Department issued orders April third, discontinuing the recruiting service in every State. The requisition upon the Governor in May by the authorities at Washington for six hundred men to fill up the Eighth, Tenth, and Eleventh Regiments, met with feeble response in Norwich and vicinity. This led to the call for another regiment, and a company was begun in the city for the Fourteenth, but enlistments came in slowly. On July first President Lincoln issued his third proclamation, calling for three hundred thousand volunteers to serve or three years or the war. Governor Buckingham earnestly seconded this call by an appeal to the State on the third of the month, to furnish promptly its quota of men. "Close your manufactories and workshops, turn aside from your farms and your business, leave for a while. your families and your homes, and meet face to face the enemies of your liberties! Haste, and you will rescue many noble men, now struggling against superior numbers, and speedily secure the blessings of peace and good government." These were the closing words of the appeal that again helped to arouse the war spirit of the town. The disheartening result of McClellan's campaign before Richmond caused new solicitude, and though the loyal citizens Bated no jot of heart or hope,” it brought them to realize the need of stronger determination and greater sacrifices, if they would do their part in putting down the still regnant rebellion. One of those stirring war meetings, which from time to time had been held for the purpose of helping forward enlistments, was called for Friday, July eleventh. His Excellency, W. A. Buckingham, presided. Breed Hall was tastefully decorated with flags and bunting, and crowded to its utmost; the enthusiasm and intense feeling of the occasion were not in vain. Besides the most earnest protestations on the part of leading citizens to sustain the war till the rebellion was crushed, a number came forward, and amid the cheers of the multitude enrolled their names among the new recruits now imperatively needed. The meeting spoke the sentiment of Norwich in the following spirited resolution, Resolved, That in common with the people in other parts of the State, we agree to stand by the flag of the Union, and to put forth all our energies for the suppression of the Rebellion, believing, as we do, that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and must be maintained in every State of the Union at all hazards; and in furtherance of these sentiments the following committee is hereby appointed, James Lloyd Greene, John T. Wait, Amos W. Prentice, William M. Converse, J. F. Slater, H. B. Norton, J. W. Stedman, Charles Johnson, James S. Carew, Lorenzo Blackstone, Charles A. Converse, N. C. Brakenridge, H. B. Crosby, — whose duty it shall be to take such measures as may be necessary to procure the speedy enlistment of troops." This Committee decided at once to offer as bounty to those volunteering from Norwich thirteen dollars, making, together with what the State and Government offered, a total amount of one hundred dollars to each recruit. Again, on Thursday, July twenty-fourth, a County mass meeting was held on Franklin Square, presided over by Hon. J. T. Wait, where the enthusiasm of the town and county flamed forth, roused as it was by the speeches of patriotic citizens and soldiers temporarily home. Among the episodes of this monster meeting was the introduction of fourteen members of a Greeneville company now almost full, who sang with thrilling effect a song composed for the occasion. The key-note of the speaking was struck in the repeated and earnestly presented question, "What can I do to aid the Government?" The kindled excitement and interest of this meeting were carried over into a second gathering in Breed Hall in the evening, where representative gentlemen of the County spoke. The enlistment books were kept open on the platform, and during the continuance of the meeting numbers came forward amidst prolonged and |