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Warner P. Lord
141 WildcatRoad
Madison, CT 06443
The Civil War
Letters of Dexter Lord
Introduction
Dexter Lord and his brother Amos enlisted in the 26th Infantry Regiment, Company C on August 22, 1862. They went to Norwich, CT and then to Camp Buckingham, Brooklyn, NY on November 10th.
While at Camp Buckingham Amos died of typhus. Elizabeth Alice Ely records his death and funeral in her diary. It is possible that Amos never reached Camp Buckingham dying before the troops left Norwich. His place of burial remains a mystery.
Dexter boarded the ship "Empire" on December 4, 1862 and arrived at Ship Island, Lousiana on December 13.
On December 18, 1862 he was at Camp Parapet. He was paid in full January 21, 1863 and again on January 22. He died of typhus on March 26, 1863 having never seen battle. There is evidence in his letters to suggest he was paid to substitute for another. He wrote that he would never again sell himself so cheaply.
A Civil War Encampment Similar to Camp Parapet (Very large image)
D. Hamilton Hurd in his 1990 "History of New London County Connecticut" records that several of the men of the 26th Regiment who died were embalmed and shipped home at the expense of their comrades. Perhaps this generosity included Dexter as there is no record of his burial in the south.
Another account states that when the regiment sailed down the Thames River bound for Brooklyn from Camp Russell in Norwich, the crowd cheered and the band played "The Girl He Left Behind".
News Flash!!! I received the following e-message from Lawrence Matthew who is researching Dexter's regiment, the 26th Connecticut:
I did some further research and have a definite lead on Dexter's place of burial. An article in the June 25, 1863, edition of the New London Chronicle makes reference to an issue of the regimental newspaper and reads: "The paper states that upon the arrival of the patients at the hospitals in New Orleans they are washed and furnished with clean clothes. Everything that can be done for their comfort is promptly attended to. The remains of Adam C. Bently, of Co. K, and Dexter M. Lord, of Co. C were placed ashore at Key West, where their friends can procure their bodies next winter, if they will correspond with the residents of that place." (Emphasis Added).
Larger Photo of Dexter (98K image)
Updated February 17, 2001