Arthur DeNeufville Talcott

At the monument to the 16th Connecticut at Antietam.

Arthur DeNeufville Talcott is another West Hartford Hauntings discovery. I actually found a death notice for his sister, Sarah, who passed away on September 30, 1851. While trying to find more information about her, I came across the entire family plot in the North Cemetery in West Hartford. The family tree is complicated but made for an exciting read (for a history nerd!). A friend of mine actually found Arthur during her own research and we were thrilled to be able to discuss our discoveries!

First, some background about this particular Talcott family. The patriarch was Samuel Talcott, Jr. of West Hartford. Samuel had twelve children with his three wives. 

If you look at the death dates, you’ll notice that both Samuel and Margaret had died by 1851, leaving ten children orphaned. Samuel III was nearly 30, and with Elizabeth and Thomas at 22 and 20, it would have been possible to continue their father’s wool business and take care of the younger children without sending them to live with other relatives. 

Arthur attended Ellington High School, most likely as a boarding student, for several years before his acceptance to Yale College. During his freshman year, in April of 1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon and the Civil War began. When August of 1862 came around, President Abraham Lincoln called for 300,000 men to volunteer for three years of service.  Arthur and other men took up the call and came into Hartford, organizing under Colonel Frank Beach. 

Over 1000 men gathered in Hartford and BF Blakeslee, a member of the  16th CT volunteers wrote in his memoirs, “the outdoor life, though not hard as yet, was too great for those that had led the quiet and easy life of a citizen.” A few died before they even left the city. On August 24, the men packed up and went by boat then train to Washington. They arrived to see the line of ambulances bring the dead and dying back from the second battle of Bull Run. They camped and marched on and off while making their way to Maryland and stopped at Keedysville. According to Blakeslee, they arrived on September 15, 1862- just before the battle of Antietam. According to Blakeslee, “The next morning dawned beautifully; little did we imagine that bright sun would be obscured by the smoke of battle.” 


He continued, “It was indeed a fearful day for the sixteenth. Without having time allowed to learn even the rudiments of military science, it was hurried forward and was formed in regimental line almost for the first time on the battlefield of Antietam, the bloodiest day America ever saw.” 

The 16th Connecticut had 432 casualties of the 940 men that had gone into battle that day. After the battle, Arthur and the 16th marched south, from Antietam to Falmouth, VA, a trip of over 100 miles cross country. 

My friend and fellow researcher had told me that there were two letters written by Arthur during this period in the Connecticut Historical Society archives.  When I got there, I also checked out a Ledger from Samuel Talcott Sr. The ledger was full of notes on his business, but was also full of handwriting practice by many of the children, and beautiful family drawings by Joseph Talcott, who was ten years older than Arthur. It is entirely possible that Arthur's face is one of those in the book. It’s one of the most exciting and beautiful things I’ve found in my years of research. 

A letter to his “Dear sister” on September 27 noted, “As I suppose you have heard I was wounded in the face by two buckshot and since then have been in the hospital taking care of the wounded. The hospital where I am is about one half a mile from the village of Sharpsburg on the farm of the secesh (secessionist) who skidaddled with the rebel army.” The discovery of the two letters at the Connecticut Historical Society nearly brought me and Tessa to tears. It is rare indeed to find a handwritten letter from the specific person you are researching. Both letters came from Virginia in the two months before Arthur’s death. 

Besides mentioning his early wounds, Arthur wrote advice to the armies in the letter to his sister. “The design of the rebels it to maim as many as possible while our men fire to kill. This accounts for the fact that the dead of the rebels are about the proportion of three to one of ours. I think the rebels theory is the best. It decimates an army faster to wound than to kill because that men have to be detailed to nurse them and also many of them are disabled for life, thus making a bill of expenses for the government in pensions.” This is an astute understanding from a 20-year-old man with a mere two months of army life under his belt. He finishes the letter of September 27 with, “I do not hear from home often that is the only trouble.” A sad note at the end of a lonely sounding letter. 

The second letter, dated October 31, 1862, gives a bit more of a look into the situation in which the young man finds himself. He assures his sister that Virginia is as cold as Connecticut, and says, “it has been as cold down here as it is at home at this time.” He also offers insight into his sister’s situation and concern for her wellbeing. “I know how you are situated and must make allowances for your not writing more often.” And in asking one favor of her, says, “I will tell you what I wish you would send me. A good pair of buckskin gloves with long cuffs to them. I shall need them very much this winter and cannot get them down here. I hope I am not asking too much of you.” 

His sister Isabella died in 1865 at the age of 30, and his youngest sister Mary in 1864. It is possible that one of these sisters was ill, and he knew of her condition. Arthur makes one further note which reflects his first letter, “[My brother] Samuel’s folks do not write very often nor so often as I should think they might and I do not see why they do not. I have received but two or three letters from Bro Samuel and two short notes from Bill. None of my friends write as often as promised except cousin John he answers every letter I write to him.” On the outside of the envelope, Arthur wrote, “If Sternberg can ____ send me some onions. We cannot get them here.” 

On November 19, they arrived in Falmouth, VA and set up camp. On December 3, Arthur died from “extreme privations and hardships of soldier life." Most likely from a fever or illness from lack of food, clean water, and warm clothing. Blakeslee actually wrote on December 10 that clothing was finally distributed and that shoes were especially needed.

The Talcott monument.

Arthur DeNeufville Talcott was the only West Hartford Civil War soldier to die in the war and be disinterred to be reburied with his family. Arthur’s body may have been returned to West Hartford for a December 11 burial. The service was conducted by Myron Morris, who is also buried in the North Cemetery.

A History of the Class of 1863, Yale College: Volume 4, Google Books.