Irwin Elroy Warner was only 16 years old at the beginning of 1864, and concerned that the Civil War might end before he had a chance to "fight the rebs." He was so desperate to serve the union that, on Jan. 28, 1864, he told a recruiter he was 18 years old and enlisted in the 2d Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
The 2d Conn. was originally the 19th Conn. Inf, but had received a new designation in Nov. 1863, when it was transformed into a heavy artillery regt. Pvt Warner first served with the 2d Conn. in Washington D.C., where the the unit was assigned during the Spring of 1864. Defending the Union capital was relatively quiet duty, but in May 1864, the 2d Conn. was reequipped as an infantry unit and ordered to join the Army of the Potomac in the field. Warner's life changed dramatically. Suddenly, his regiment was regularly exposed to combat.
The regiments first engagement as an infantry unit was at Spotsylvania Court House on May 19. From then through mid-July, the 2d Conn. was involved in heavy engagements during Union Lt. General U.S. Grant's Overland Campaign in Virginia. The intensity of the fighting proved too much for young Warner. On July 12, 1864 he and his regiment helped repulse Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's attack on Washington D.C..
Six days later, the private deserted.
Although he had been overwhelmed, by the realities of "Fighting the rebs," Warner was still eager to serve his country. On April 10, 1865, he enlisted in the Union navy, under a false name. His true identity was eventually discovered, but he was never court martialed. His pension records state "The charge of desertion has not been renewed nor is any application for its renewal pending as past enlistment being when a minor." Warner served in the navy until Nov. 12, 1867, when he received an honorable discharge. CWT
The 2d Conn. was originally the 19th Conn. Inf, but had received a new designation in Nov. 1863, when it was transformed into a heavy artillery regt. Pvt Warner first served with the 2d Conn. in Washington D.C., where the the unit was assigned during the Spring of 1864. Defending the Union capital was relatively quiet duty, but in May 1864, the 2d Conn. was reequipped as an infantry unit and ordered to join the Army of the Potomac in the field. Warner's life changed dramatically. Suddenly, his regiment was regularly exposed to combat.
The regiments first engagement as an infantry unit was at Spotsylvania Court House on May 19. From then through mid-July, the 2d Conn. was involved in heavy engagements during Union Lt. General U.S. Grant's Overland Campaign in Virginia. The intensity of the fighting proved too much for young Warner. On July 12, 1864 he and his regiment helped repulse Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's attack on Washington D.C..
Six days later, the private deserted.
Although he had been overwhelmed, by the realities of "Fighting the rebs," Warner was still eager to serve his country. On April 10, 1865, he enlisted in the Union navy, under a false name. His true identity was eventually discovered, but he was never court martialed. His pension records state "The charge of desertion has not been renewed nor is any application for its renewal pending as past enlistment being when a minor." Warner served in the navy until Nov. 12, 1867, when he received an honorable discharge. CWT
Irwin Elroy Warner was only 16 years old at the beginning of 1864, and concerned that the Civil War might end before he had a chance to "fight the rebs." He was so desperate to serve the union that, on Jan. 28, 1864, he told a recruiter he was 18 years old and enlisted in the 2d Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
The 2d Conn. was originally the 19th Conn. Inf, but had received a new designation in Nov. 1863, when it was transformed into a heavy artillery regt. Pvt Warner first served with the 2d Conn. in Washington D.C., where the the unit was assigned during the Spring of 1864. Defending the Union capital was relatively quiet duty, but in May 1864, the 2d Conn. was reequipped as an infantry unit and ordered to join the Army of the Potomac in the field. Warner's life changed dramatically. Suddenly, his regiment was regularly exposed to combat.
The regiments first engagement as an infantry unit was at Spotsylvania Court House on May 19. From then through mid-July, the 2d Conn. was involved in heavy engagements during Union Lt. General U.S. Grant's Overland Campaign in Virginia. The intensity of the fighting proved too much for young Warner. On July 12, 1864 he and his regiment helped repulse Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's attack on Washington D.C..
Six days later, the private deserted.
Although he had been overwhelmed, by the realities of "Fighting the rebs," Warner was still eager to serve his country. On April 10, 1865, he enlisted in the Union navy, under a false name. His true identity was eventually discovered, but he was never court martialed. His pension records state "The charge of desertion has not been renewed nor is any application for its renewal pending as past enlistment being when a minor." Warner served in the navy until Nov. 12, 1867, when he received an honorable discharge. CWT
The 2d Conn. was originally the 19th Conn. Inf, but had received a new designation in Nov. 1863, when it was transformed into a heavy artillery regt. Pvt Warner first served with the 2d Conn. in Washington D.C., where the the unit was assigned during the Spring of 1864. Defending the Union capital was relatively quiet duty, but in May 1864, the 2d Conn. was reequipped as an infantry unit and ordered to join the Army of the Potomac in the field. Warner's life changed dramatically. Suddenly, his regiment was regularly exposed to combat.
The regiments first engagement as an infantry unit was at Spotsylvania Court House on May 19. From then through mid-July, the 2d Conn. was involved in heavy engagements during Union Lt. General U.S. Grant's Overland Campaign in Virginia. The intensity of the fighting proved too much for young Warner. On July 12, 1864 he and his regiment helped repulse Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's attack on Washington D.C..
Six days later, the private deserted.
Although he had been overwhelmed, by the realities of "Fighting the rebs," Warner was still eager to serve his country. On April 10, 1865, he enlisted in the Union navy, under a false name. His true identity was eventually discovered, but he was never court martialed. His pension records state "The charge of desertion has not been renewed nor is any application for its renewal pending as past enlistment being when a minor." Warner served in the navy until Nov. 12, 1867, when he received an honorable discharge. CWT
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