![Original letter from Major Samuel Proal Hatfield to Wesleyan University upon the delivery of the Album. This is on the inside of the front cover. The text reads:
PRESENTED to THE LIBRARY OF WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY 1915 “Co. G”, 4th Connecticut Volunteers was organized by the students and mustered into State service in April. The regiment was offered to the United States as part of the State contingent of troops for three months’ service. It was not accepted as such, but its services were requested for three years, to which the regiment aggreed and were mustered May 22, 1861. It was the first regiment mustered into the United States service for the long term. The designation was changed in January, 1862, to “1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery” and as such served through the War.
This album shows some of the scenes through which the regiment and students from the University passed, and me of interest as a record of the peculiar nature of its services. (Artillery [hand-written by Hatfield])
It is desired to be of record, that of the students thus engaged, at the last, in the breaking of the Confederate line at “Fort Mahone,” Petersburg, April 2, 1865, the University was actively represented and the supply of ammunition to the Union Troops maintained through the day, when repeated attacks were made to recover the fort. By breaking the Confederate line here, Richmond was evacuated that night and the Confederacy dissolved like a broken bubble. Wesleyan was part of the bayonet point that broke it up, and the Union was saved.
Many of these pictures were taken by the photographer under my personal direction. The facilities for photo making were not equal to those of the present day.
[signed] S.P. Hatfield
Class of 1862, “Corporal G. Co” [hand-written]
Major, 1st Conn. Artillery
Ordnance Officer Seige (sic) Train
Armies Operating Against Richmond, 1864-5.](http://29.media.tumblr.com/bcDHoztOoqgwl6k2Y9MB36IJo1_500.jpg)
Original letter from Major Samuel Proal Hatfield to Wesleyan University upon the delivery of the Album. This is on the inside of the front cover. The text reads:
PRESENTED to THE LIBRARY OF WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY 1915 “Co. G”, 4th Connecticut Volunteers was organized by the students and mustered into State service in April. The regiment was offered to the United States as part of the State contingent of troops for three months’ service. It was not accepted as such, but its services were requested for three years, to which the regiment aggreed and were mustered May 22, 1861. It was the first regiment mustered into the United States service for the long term. The designation was changed in January, 1862, to “1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery” and as such served through the War.
This album shows some of the scenes through which the regiment and students from the University passed, and me of interest as a record of the peculiar nature of its services. (Artillery [hand-written by Hatfield])
It is desired to be of record, that of the students thus engaged, at the last, in the breaking of the Confederate line at “Fort Mahone,” Petersburg, April 2, 1865, the University was actively represented and the supply of ammunition to the Union Troops maintained through the day, when repeated attacks were made to recover the fort. By breaking the Confederate line here, Richmond was evacuated that night and the Confederacy dissolved like a broken bubble. Wesleyan was part of the bayonet point that broke it up, and the Union was saved.
Many of these pictures were taken by the photographer under my personal direction. The facilities for photo making were not equal to those of the present day.
[signed] S.P. Hatfield
Class of 1862, “Corporal G. Co” [hand-written]
Major, 1st Conn. Artillery
Ordnance Officer Seige (sic) Train
Armies Operating Against Richmond, 1864-5.
