April 22nd 1861 - The First Connecticut Regiment Mustered into Service at New Haven Connecticut

From the journal of Pvt. Horace Purdy.

Monday April 22nd 1861, New Haven, Connecticut


“Pleasant. Was sworn into the service of the U. States by Col. S. Loomis of the 5th United States Infantry. The examination and the administering of the oath was done on the Green in front of the State House [demolished in 1889]. The examination was not very close.”

From his letter to his wife from the same date:

"We were not personaly [sic] inspected at all. The U.S. officer and the surgeon simply passed along the line and if they saw one who looked rather old or pretty young he would ask them their age. Nelson White took the oath with us. For fear that he would not be accepted he told them he was 23 years old. The surgeon was aquainted [sic] with him, he looked at him and smiled and passed along. The city is all excitement, the miletary [sic] are pouring in from all parts of the state. There is more than enough already here for the first Reg. We are now only waiting for our equipments, as soon as those are procured [sic] we shall be ready to march. I intend if we are not ordered away too soon after we are equipped to have my picture taken with all my regimentals on, overcoat, knapsack, and a Sharps rifle in my hand, and send it to you. So that you can see just how I look as I leave N. Haven for the war."

"We may be ordered away in a few days, by the middle of the week I think. Direct to the N. Haven House then they will be brought to the hotel. This I shall send by a person going to Danbury I think. Tomorrow we expect the other Company here from Danbury to be put with the 2nd Reg., we will go with the first.

Other events on this date:
     - Robert E. Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces.

Numerous northern and southern units were mustered in on this date.