The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Volume 15, Number 16
Thursday, April 21, 2011
More than 200 from Berlin served in Civil War 50 gave their lives By Cathy Nelson Special to The Citizen
(The following Civil War history is from Cathy Nelson, historian and assistant director of the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library. She recently spoke on this topic at the library.) Rev. Elias B. Hilliard, minister of the Kensington Congregational Church was about to enter church when he heard the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter. He threw aside his prepared sermon and then gave a rousing spirited sermon. There are over 209 Berlin men who were soldiers in Connecticut regiments, plus Berlin men who served in other state militia and the Navy. Considering the population of Berlin in 1860 population was 2,146, this was
nearly 10 percent of the total population. Berlin men served in 28 Connecticut regiments. Nearly one-third of the men were in three regiments: 1st Heavy Artillery (47 men), 14th (20 men), and 16th (32 men).
By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen Bethany Covenant Church, 785 Mill St., will be the scene of two major events, aimed at helping stop worldwide hunger, over the weekend beginning April 29. The church works with a famine relief organization and at the end of this month will be engaged in an extensive fundraising event as well
during the war. They died of battle wounds at places like Antietam, Md. and Cold Harbor, Va. They died of diseases such as typhoid fever, diarrhea, and black vomit. And perhaps must tragic of all, they died in Andersonville, Ga. and Florence, S.C. as prisoners of war. The first to die was August Brandt of dysentery on Sept. 20, 1861. The first to die in
battle was James L. Bailey at Cedar Mountain, Va. in August 1862. There are some 109 men who are buried in town cemeteries. The last Civil War veteran to die in town was Henry J. Colby on Nov. 21, 1938 at age 81. The only Medal of Honor was earned by Elijah Bacon during Pickett’s Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg.
Repairs made to a monument that survived test of time Bullet holes, vandalism, lichen among its woes Photo courtesy of the Berlin Historical Society
East Berlin monument.
30 hour famine teaches about real world hunger Activities will raise funds and awareness
The fortunate ones survived the battles and prison and had a unique story to tell. The Berlin-Peck Memorial Library has a diary kept by Henry Sage, a memoir by Jacob C. Bauer, and a published book of letters from Charles Brandegee complied by his grandson Charles Brandegee Livingstone called Charlie’s Civil War. At least 50 Berlin men died
as staging a real-life hunger experience. 30 hour famine More than 25 students from 12 area high schools, with the largest representation from Berlin, will sleep out in cardboard boxes in a “shanty town” during a 30 hour fast. Ruth Satterberg assists with the youth group and is also the senior high Sunday school teacher. She said “We are focusing our learning and fundraising efforts this year toward See Famine, page 10
By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen Scaffolding has surrounded the old Civil War monument in East Berlin for several weeks as repairs have been in progress. The restoration project was commissioned by the Berlin Veterans Commission in preparation for this year’s 150th commemoration of the war which began April 12, 1861. “The stone needs multiple repairs,” said Christoph Henning, a stone carver and restoration expert, who is working on the structure. Henning, who lives on Worthington Ridge, has had commissions that include work for the New York Public Library and the Victoria Mansion in Portland, Maine. As to the East Berlin site, he said. “There is a lot of damage that appears to be vandalism. Bullet holes.” He speculated that numerous areas, speckled with pits, had been struck by BB gun shots, as stone would not deterio-
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
Stone carver and restoration specialist, Christoph Henning, at work on the East Berlin Civil War monuSee Repairs, page 21 ment.