Jan 15 - Rain and sleet all night. Snow all day. 5 or 6 inches on level. Very uncommon here. Warmed tent and got pretty comfortable but damp. Went to hospital etc. My health better.
Jan 16 - Snow on ground, turned cold. Funeral of one of our soldiers p.m.
Jan 17 - Not quite so cold. Suffer some from cold at night. Evg. a wash and a precious letter from Ella. All well.
Jan 18 - Fair and thawing. a.m. bible readings in hospital and distributed tracts. p.m. preached to contrabands. A novel sight. About 300. At 4 to [?] new Episcopal church. Eve a prayer meeting.
Jan 19 - Very hoarse and some sore throat after so much talking yesterday. Rained all day till 3 p.m. L. Whitney called. Col. says perhaps I cannot go home in February. Disappointed but feel reconciled. Write Ella. A man in hospital asked me to pray with him which I did.
Jan 21 - Raw cloudy weather. Went to corral and butchers. Did not accomplish much.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
8 - 14 Jan 1863
Jan 8 - Spent day with Dr. Bare and Mr. Burr at medical purveyor's planning to get to our regiments in p.m. Tried to be useful at fort and hospital.
Jan 9 - Started without them. Perforce left boxes and cot also at Columbus Ky. With others walked over break in R.R. made by late raid. A hard 5 miles. Evening at Jackson. Raining.
Jan 10 - Fine weather. Reached Bolivar Tenn. and my regiment about noon much to my joy. Encamped in a pleasant healthy place. Bolivar is a nice southern town. A warm welcome from Col. Swayne*. Letter here from wife. Tent with and mess with Col. Swayne and adjutant.
Jan 11 - A beautiful Sabbath. Balmy air. Not with standing camp noises, passes it rather pleasantly and profitably. a.m. went with officers to Bolivar but we were disappointed in finding no services. Afternoon at 3:30 preached to the regiment chiefly of Dan 5:24.
Jan 12 - Beautiful weather. Rode about almost all a.m. With Wagar [Swayne] p.m. Visited hospital. Few sick. Eve wrote to Ella. Some diarrhea again. Would gladly be free from it. Engaged a poor homeless negro lad for a servant.
Jan 13 - Mild. a.m. at horse corral. p.m. at hospital and saw contrabands at bridge under charge of Capt. Wright. Saw some albinos. Eve almost warm weather.
Jan 14 - Raining from daylight all day. Staid in almost all day. Reading and writing. In eve stove smoked and damp. Were driven out of our tent by smoke. Soldiers' tents leak.
*Colonel Wager Swayne (10 Nov 1834 - 18 Dec 1909) was born in New York City, but grew up in Columbus Ohio. He graduated from Yale University in 1856 and the Cincinnati Law School in 1859. At the outbreak of the war he joined the army and commanded the 43rd OVI which was forming in Mount Vernon. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General and won the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading a charge at the Second Battle of Corinth Mississippi in October 1862. Late in the war he lost his right leg at Rivers Bridge in South Carolina.
Col. Swayne served as Military Governor of Alabama during the early days of reconstruction after the war, serving from 1867 to 1868. He was a fervant Episcopalian throughout his life, as well as a staunch Republican and Abolitionist. Pictured below
Jan 9 - Started without them. Perforce left boxes and cot also at Columbus Ky. With others walked over break in R.R. made by late raid. A hard 5 miles. Evening at Jackson. Raining.
Jan 10 - Fine weather. Reached Bolivar Tenn. and my regiment about noon much to my joy. Encamped in a pleasant healthy place. Bolivar is a nice southern town. A warm welcome from Col. Swayne*. Letter here from wife. Tent with and mess with Col. Swayne and adjutant.
Jan 11 - A beautiful Sabbath. Balmy air. Not with standing camp noises, passes it rather pleasantly and profitably. a.m. went with officers to Bolivar but we were disappointed in finding no services. Afternoon at 3:30 preached to the regiment chiefly of Dan 5:24.
Jan 12 - Beautiful weather. Rode about almost all a.m. With Wagar [Swayne] p.m. Visited hospital. Few sick. Eve wrote to Ella. Some diarrhea again. Would gladly be free from it. Engaged a poor homeless negro lad for a servant.
Jan 13 - Mild. a.m. at horse corral. p.m. at hospital and saw contrabands at bridge under charge of Capt. Wright. Saw some albinos. Eve almost warm weather.
Jan 14 - Raining from daylight all day. Staid in almost all day. Reading and writing. In eve stove smoked and damp. Were driven out of our tent by smoke. Soldiers' tents leak.
*Colonel Wager Swayne (10 Nov 1834 - 18 Dec 1909) was born in New York City, but grew up in Columbus Ohio. He graduated from Yale University in 1856 and the Cincinnati Law School in 1859. At the outbreak of the war he joined the army and commanded the 43rd OVI which was forming in Mount Vernon. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General and won the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading a charge at the Second Battle of Corinth Mississippi in October 1862. Late in the war he lost his right leg at Rivers Bridge in South Carolina.
Col. Swayne served as Military Governor of Alabama during the early days of reconstruction after the war, serving from 1867 to 1868. He was a fervant Episcopalian throughout his life, as well as a staunch Republican and Abolitionist. Pictured below
1 - 7 Jan 1863
Jan 1 - At Columbus, KY. First day at Mrs. Lester's. Began to be troubled with looseness of bowels. Mr. Burr and Dr. Bare of Indiana lodge in the same room. Have not heard from home since leaving.
Jan 2 - Staid in the house mostly. The trio above moved, left at evening, too expensive here. I felt quite lonely at first.
Jan 3 - Walked down town and felt worse. Felt uneasy about myself and went to a doctor. Opium powders help me.
Jan 4 - Sunday. Fine weather. Too weak to go out to church. Bowel disorder better. Had service for a few in Mrs.Lester's parlor. [?] on John 14:6. A S[unday] S[chool] for children. A good sabbath. How merciful is my Father. Heard of great battle south of Nashville between Rosencrans* and Bragg*.
Jan 5 - Monday. Weather fine. Disorder no worse. Walked down town in a.m. and got tired. Bowels feel sore. Depressed toward evening but reading psalm and prayer more like light in darkness. Wrote to Ella.
Jan 6 - A chilly wind but fair. Feel much better. Pleasant call on Mr. Burr. Saw contrabands. Wrote home. Much interested in life of Alfred and Trals [?]
Jan 7 - Wednesday. Fair weather. Pleasant interlude with Rev. Mr. Carrgill of Ky. and Mr. Scofield, chaplain in a.m. For p.m. trying to get away. Do not yet succeed. Every pleasure in devotions. Feel more used to pain of absense from home. Thinking of dear Ella and reading her old letter tonight.
* Union General William S. Rosencrans was born 6 Sep 1819 in Little Taylor Run, Kingston Twp., Delaware Co. Ohio. He had little schooling. He worked as a store clerk in Utica and Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio. He received an appointment to West Point, graduating in 1842. When the Civil War began he was assigned by Ohio Governor William Dennison as a volunteer aide-de-camp to Major General George B. McClellan who commanded all Ohio volunteer forces at the start of the war. Rosencrans was promoted to Colonel and briefly commanded the 23rd Ohio Infantry regiment which included future presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. On 16 May 1861 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. His victories at Rich Mountain and Corrick's Ford in West(ern) Virginia were among the very first Union victories of the war, but his superior Maj. General McClellan received the credit. In 1862 in the Western Theater, he won the battles of Luka and Corinth while under the command of Maj. General Ulyssis S. Grant. His brusque, outspoken manner and willingness to quarrel openly with superiors caused a professional rivalry with Grant (as well as with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton) that would adversely affect Rosecrans's career.
Given command of the Army of the Cumberland, he fought against Confederate General Braxton Bragg at Stones River, and later outmaneuvered him in the brilliant Tullahoma campaigne, driving the Confederates from Middle Tennessee. His strategic movements then caused Bragg to abandon the critical city of Chattanooga, but Rosecrans's pursuit of Bragg ended during the bloody Battle of Chickamauga, where his unfortunately worded order mistakenly opened a gap in the Union line and Rosecrans and a third of his army were swept from the field. Besieged in Chattanooga, Rosecrans was relieved of command by Grant.
Following his humiliating defeat, Rosecrans was reassigned to command the Department of Missouri. He was briefly considered as a vice presidential running mate for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. After the war he served in diplomatic and appointed political positions and in 1881 was elected to Congress, representing California. He died 11 March 1898. Pictured below
*Confederate General Braxton Bragg was born in Warenton North Caronlina on 22 March 1817. He entered West Point at the age of 16 and graduated 5th out of 50 cadets in 1837. Bragg served in the 2nd Seminole War in Florida and then in 1843 was stationed at Fort Moultrie where he became friends with a future rival, William Tecumse Sherman. In 1844 Bragg was court-martialed for disobedience to orders and disrespect toward his superior officers for a series of nine controversial articles published in the Southern Literary Messenger called "Notes on our Army" which included specific attacks on the policies of General in Chief Winfield Scott. He was found guilty and received an official reprimand from the secretary of war and suspension at half pay for two months.
From 1845-1847 he fought with distinction in the Mexican-American War under General (later President) Zachary Taylor as well as Colonel Jefferson Davis, future President of the Confederacy. Before the start of the Civil War, Bragg was a colonel in the Louisiana Militia. On December 12, 1860, the Governor of Louisiana appointed him to the state military board, an organization charged with creating a 5,000-man army. On January 11, 1861, Bragg led a group of 500 volunteers to Baton Rouge where they persuaded the commander of the federal arsenal there to surrender. The state convention on secession also established a state army and Moore appointed Bragg its commander, with the rank of major general, on February 20, 1861. He commanded the forces around New Orleans until April 16, but his commission was transferred to be a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army on March 7, 1861. He commanded forces in Pensacola, Florida, Alabama, and the Department of West Florida and was promoted to major general on September 12, 1861. His tenure was successful and he trained his men to be some of the best disciplined troops in the Confederate Army.
Bragg commanded a corps (and was also chief of staff) under Johnston at the Battle of Shiloh, 6-7April 1862. In the initial surprise Confederate advance, Bragg's corps was ordered to attack in a line that was almost 3 miles long, but he soon began directing activities of the units that found themselves around the center of the battlefield. His men became bogged down against a Union salient called the Hornet's Nest, which he attacked for hours with piecemeal frontal assaults. After Johnston was killed in the battle, General P.G.T. Beauregard assumed command, and appointed Bragg his second in command. Bragg was dismayed when Beauregard called off a late afternoon assault against the Union's final position, which was strongly defended, calling it their last opportunity for victory. On the second day of battle, the Union army counterattacked and the Confederates retreated back to Corinth. Bragg received public praise for his conduct in the battle and on April 12, 1862, Jefferson Davis appointed Bragg a full general, the fifth man to achieve that rank and one of only seven in the history of the Confederacy.
After Perryville Don Carlos Buell was replaced in command of the Union Army of the Cumberland by Maj. General William S. Rosencrans. In late December, Rosecrans advanced from Nashville against Bragg's position at Murfreesboro. Before Rosecrans could attack, Bragg launched a strong, surprise attack against Rosecrans's right flank on December 31, 1862, the start of the Battle of Stones River. The Confederates succeeded in driving the Union army back to a small defensive position, but could not destroy it, nor could they break its supply line to Nashville, as Bragg intended. Despite this, Bragg considered the first day of battle to be a victory and assumed that Rosecrans would soon retreat. By January 2, 1863, however, the Union troops remained in place and the battle resumed as Bragg launched an unsuccessful attack by the troops of Maj. General John C. Breckinridge against the well defended Union left flank. Recognizing his lack of progress, the severe winter weather, the arrival of supplies and reinforcements for Rosecrans, and heeding the recommendations of corps commanders Hardee and Polk, Bragg withdrew his army from the field to Tullahoma, Tennessee.
At the age of 59, Bragg was walking down a street with a friend in Galveston, Texas, when he suddenly fell over unconscious. Dragged into a drugstore, he was dead within 10 to 15 minutes. A physician familiar with his history believe that he "died by the brain" (or of "paralysis of the brain"), suffering from the degeneration of cerebral blood vessels. An inquest ruled that his death was due to "fatal syncope," possibly induced by organic disease of the heart. He is buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama.
Fort Bragg in Fayetteville North Carolina is named for him.
Pictured below as a young man during the war
Jan 2 - Staid in the house mostly. The trio above moved, left at evening, too expensive here. I felt quite lonely at first.
Jan 3 - Walked down town and felt worse. Felt uneasy about myself and went to a doctor. Opium powders help me.
Jan 4 - Sunday. Fine weather. Too weak to go out to church. Bowel disorder better. Had service for a few in Mrs.Lester's parlor. [?] on John 14:6. A S[unday] S[chool] for children. A good sabbath. How merciful is my Father. Heard of great battle south of Nashville between Rosencrans* and Bragg*.
Jan 5 - Monday. Weather fine. Disorder no worse. Walked down town in a.m. and got tired. Bowels feel sore. Depressed toward evening but reading psalm and prayer more like light in darkness. Wrote to Ella.
Jan 6 - A chilly wind but fair. Feel much better. Pleasant call on Mr. Burr. Saw contrabands. Wrote home. Much interested in life of Alfred and Trals [?]
Jan 7 - Wednesday. Fair weather. Pleasant interlude with Rev. Mr. Carrgill of Ky. and Mr. Scofield, chaplain in a.m. For p.m. trying to get away. Do not yet succeed. Every pleasure in devotions. Feel more used to pain of absense from home. Thinking of dear Ella and reading her old letter tonight.
* Union General William S. Rosencrans was born 6 Sep 1819 in Little Taylor Run, Kingston Twp., Delaware Co. Ohio. He had little schooling. He worked as a store clerk in Utica and Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio. He received an appointment to West Point, graduating in 1842. When the Civil War began he was assigned by Ohio Governor William Dennison as a volunteer aide-de-camp to Major General George B. McClellan who commanded all Ohio volunteer forces at the start of the war. Rosencrans was promoted to Colonel and briefly commanded the 23rd Ohio Infantry regiment which included future presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. On 16 May 1861 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. His victories at Rich Mountain and Corrick's Ford in West(ern) Virginia were among the very first Union victories of the war, but his superior Maj. General McClellan received the credit. In 1862 in the Western Theater, he won the battles of Luka and Corinth while under the command of Maj. General Ulyssis S. Grant. His brusque, outspoken manner and willingness to quarrel openly with superiors caused a professional rivalry with Grant (as well as with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton) that would adversely affect Rosecrans's career.
Given command of the Army of the Cumberland, he fought against Confederate General Braxton Bragg at Stones River, and later outmaneuvered him in the brilliant Tullahoma campaigne, driving the Confederates from Middle Tennessee. His strategic movements then caused Bragg to abandon the critical city of Chattanooga, but Rosecrans's pursuit of Bragg ended during the bloody Battle of Chickamauga, where his unfortunately worded order mistakenly opened a gap in the Union line and Rosecrans and a third of his army were swept from the field. Besieged in Chattanooga, Rosecrans was relieved of command by Grant.
Following his humiliating defeat, Rosecrans was reassigned to command the Department of Missouri. He was briefly considered as a vice presidential running mate for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. After the war he served in diplomatic and appointed political positions and in 1881 was elected to Congress, representing California. He died 11 March 1898. Pictured below
*Confederate General Braxton Bragg was born in Warenton North Caronlina on 22 March 1817. He entered West Point at the age of 16 and graduated 5th out of 50 cadets in 1837. Bragg served in the 2nd Seminole War in Florida and then in 1843 was stationed at Fort Moultrie where he became friends with a future rival, William Tecumse Sherman. In 1844 Bragg was court-martialed for disobedience to orders and disrespect toward his superior officers for a series of nine controversial articles published in the Southern Literary Messenger called "Notes on our Army" which included specific attacks on the policies of General in Chief Winfield Scott. He was found guilty and received an official reprimand from the secretary of war and suspension at half pay for two months.
From 1845-1847 he fought with distinction in the Mexican-American War under General (later President) Zachary Taylor as well as Colonel Jefferson Davis, future President of the Confederacy. Before the start of the Civil War, Bragg was a colonel in the Louisiana Militia. On December 12, 1860, the Governor of Louisiana appointed him to the state military board, an organization charged with creating a 5,000-man army. On January 11, 1861, Bragg led a group of 500 volunteers to Baton Rouge where they persuaded the commander of the federal arsenal there to surrender. The state convention on secession also established a state army and Moore appointed Bragg its commander, with the rank of major general, on February 20, 1861. He commanded the forces around New Orleans until April 16, but his commission was transferred to be a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army on March 7, 1861. He commanded forces in Pensacola, Florida, Alabama, and the Department of West Florida and was promoted to major general on September 12, 1861. His tenure was successful and he trained his men to be some of the best disciplined troops in the Confederate Army.
Bragg commanded a corps (and was also chief of staff) under Johnston at the Battle of Shiloh, 6-7April 1862. In the initial surprise Confederate advance, Bragg's corps was ordered to attack in a line that was almost 3 miles long, but he soon began directing activities of the units that found themselves around the center of the battlefield. His men became bogged down against a Union salient called the Hornet's Nest, which he attacked for hours with piecemeal frontal assaults. After Johnston was killed in the battle, General P.G.T. Beauregard assumed command, and appointed Bragg his second in command. Bragg was dismayed when Beauregard called off a late afternoon assault against the Union's final position, which was strongly defended, calling it their last opportunity for victory. On the second day of battle, the Union army counterattacked and the Confederates retreated back to Corinth. Bragg received public praise for his conduct in the battle and on April 12, 1862, Jefferson Davis appointed Bragg a full general, the fifth man to achieve that rank and one of only seven in the history of the Confederacy.
After Perryville Don Carlos Buell was replaced in command of the Union Army of the Cumberland by Maj. General William S. Rosencrans. In late December, Rosecrans advanced from Nashville against Bragg's position at Murfreesboro. Before Rosecrans could attack, Bragg launched a strong, surprise attack against Rosecrans's right flank on December 31, 1862, the start of the Battle of Stones River. The Confederates succeeded in driving the Union army back to a small defensive position, but could not destroy it, nor could they break its supply line to Nashville, as Bragg intended. Despite this, Bragg considered the first day of battle to be a victory and assumed that Rosecrans would soon retreat. By January 2, 1863, however, the Union troops remained in place and the battle resumed as Bragg launched an unsuccessful attack by the troops of Maj. General John C. Breckinridge against the well defended Union left flank. Recognizing his lack of progress, the severe winter weather, the arrival of supplies and reinforcements for Rosecrans, and heeding the recommendations of corps commanders Hardee and Polk, Bragg withdrew his army from the field to Tullahoma, Tennessee.
At the age of 59, Bragg was walking down a street with a friend in Galveston, Texas, when he suddenly fell over unconscious. Dragged into a drugstore, he was dead within 10 to 15 minutes. A physician familiar with his history believe that he "died by the brain" (or of "paralysis of the brain"), suffering from the degeneration of cerebral blood vessels. An inquest ruled that his death was due to "fatal syncope," possibly induced by organic disease of the heart. He is buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama.
Fort Bragg in Fayetteville North Carolina is named for him.
Pictured below as a young man during the war
1862
Received appointment as chaplain of 43rd Ohio reg. Nov 21, 1862. Made preparations. My wife to stay at Mother Howard's. Left Elyria with painful partings, December 12th. Left Columbus after papers arranged and mustering in, December 18. Mrs. Benham accompanied me. On reaching Cairo [Illinois] found a rebel raid had broken the R[ail] Road line southward, so had nothing to do but wait for an opportunity to go through at Columbus Ky, and Cairo near three weeks. Tried to be useful some among soldiers. Sick a few days in Columbus Ky. Recovered some.
Below is a story from the August 27, 1862 Elyria Independent Democrat telling of the circumstances surrounding Richards departure for the war, as well as other men from Elyria.
The text reads:
THE CINCINNATI SCARE - On receipt of the call of the Governor for volunteers to defend Cincinnati, the whole country seemed desirous of turning out. Twenty-nine from this place "armed to the teeth," among whom were two of the pastors of our churches, Messrs. CHITTENDEN, and LEONARD. Not being able to get transportation via Columbus, they went to Sandusky City, and from thence over the Mad River Railroad -- Nearly a hundred from Oberlin and the neighboring townships, went the same route, while some seventy, who gathered at LaGrange, got only as far as Columbus, when they were turned back by order of the Governor.
Had all gone who desired to, from various parts of the State, a pork famine would have been created in Porkopolis within a week. It was gratifying, however, to see a disposition to rally, when our soil was threatened with invasion, and it is fair to presume that most of the men were earnestly desirous of serving their country, while some, doubtless, considered this a cheap way to ventilate their patriotism without incurring much risk.
The scare was greater the farther one departed from Cincinnati, but the rally of troops will have a good effect, even though they return without "drawing a bead" on a rebel. We know the pluck of those who went from here, and have borrowwed no trouble about the safety of Cincinnati since their arrival there. We shall be on hand to welcome their return, and hope every man will answer "all sound" when the roll is called.
LATER - Six of the volunteers have returned, and the rest have been accepted for one month's service. Our patriotic parsons are among those who remained, determined to serve their country more acceptably than in the mere pleasure ride to Cincinnati.
The Elyria Independent Democrat was "published every Wednesday in Baldwins new block, directly opposite the Beebe house." George G. Washburn was the publisher and proprietor.
introduction
This is the Civil War diary of Richard Lucius Chittenden, chaplain of the 43rd Ohio regiment. Below is a picture of Richard.
He was also the rector of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio at the time. I am transcribing the diary as copied by his daughter Mary Chittenden Parks (b. 2 March 1866 in Elyria, Ohio), while she was living in Paradise, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the years 1905-1907. Some of Mary's handwriting is hard to decipher and I do not have the original diary to compare with, so there may be words that I cannot decipher...sorry about that! I have no idea where the original diary is, or if it is even extant. The handwritten copy from which I am working is the property of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Elyria, Ohio.
Below is a picture of St. Andrew's in 1850.
The first entry in the diary is dated 1862 and is an introductory paragraph. The diary actually begins 1 Jan 1863. The final entry is June 13 1865.
Richard enlisted on 14 Nov 1862, and was a part of the Field and Staff Officers of the 43rd Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry which mustered in from 31 Aug 1861 to 29 Jan 1862 at Camp Andrews, Mount Vernon, Ohio. They were mustered out on 13 July 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky by Captain William H. Carr of the 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
Richard was born on 10 July 1830. He was born in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, the eldest son of Asahel Chittenden (born May 1797 in Waterbury, Connecticut - died March 1880 in Columbus, OH) and Harriet Herpin Treat (born 1810 in Connecticut - died June 1872 in Columbus, OH) who were married in March 1829. They moved west to Columbus Ohio in 1829.
Richard graduated with honors from Kenyon College in 1849.
In the Bishop's address at the 37th Annual convention of the Diocese of Ohio, meeting at Grace Church, Sandusky 27-30 Sept 1854 Richard was mentioned as a candidate for holy orders.
The General Catalog of Kenyon College 1826-1899 lists Richard as a non-graduate of the Theological department for 1857.
In 1857 Richard was in Chicago, Illinois serving as an assistant at Trinity Church, where he was ordained by the Rt. Rev. Henry John Whitehouse, Bishop of Illinois on Wednesday, 11 Nov 1857.
Below is a picture of Bishop Whitehouse, second Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois.
At the 21st annual convention of the Diocese of Illinois, meeting at St. Paul's Church, Springfield 15-17 Sept 1858 Richard is listed as the rector of Zion Church (now called Grace Church), Freeport. He became rector of Zion Episcopal Church on 9 May 1858. Their original 1852 building was destroyed by a tornado on 18 July 1861, a year after Richard left to return to Ohio. In his convention address Bishop Whitehouse mentioned Richard's ordination in Chicago, and in another report he is listed as a candidate for ordination. St. Andrew's first rector, the Rev. Anson Clark, is listed as the rector of Emmanual Church, Rockford, Illinois in the convention report.
Richard married Ella Rebecca Howard of Elyria on 18 Sept, 1861. She was born in June 1838 in Washington DC, the daugher of Sebra (Sebring) and Ellen Howard. The family had moved to Elyria by 1850 and attended the Methodist Church. Ella's father was a contractor according to the 1859 Elyria city directory. The family home was on the West side of Cedar street North of Broad street. Ella's father died on 19 March 1862. The Chittenden home was at the corner of Middle Avenue and 3rd street, the site of the present church building.
Ella was received into the Episcopal Church by Assisting Bishop Gregory T. Bedell. Richard and Ella were married by Bishop Charles Pettit McIlvaine at St. Andrew's, one of the few couples at the time who were actually married in the church builing as most couples were married in the rectory or their own home. One of the witnesses was Wagar Swayne, the man who would soon be one of Richard's fellow officers in the 43rd OVI. He must have been a personal friend of Richard to be a witness at his wedding. They both grew up in Columbus, although Richard was four years his senior.
At the time of the 1850 census Richard was living in Ward 2 of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio and was a student.
At the 1860 census Richard was renting rooms from the Norton family in Elyria and had taken up the post as Rector at St. Andrew's. Oddly there is no Norton family listed in the 1859 Elyria city directory. Perhaps the Norton's moved to Elyria just before Richard did.
At the 1870 census he was living in Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio. His mother-in-law, Ellen Howard (born c.1810 in Maryland) and Ella's sister Emma C was living with them (Mr. Howard had died in March 1862). They had one daughter, Mary Campbell Chittenden (Parks), born 2 March 1866. Their son Lucius Howard Chittenden who had been born in 1863 died on 3 Feb 1865.
At the 1880 census they were in East Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Two more daughters had been born, Harriett E (Witmer) in 1871 and Grace M (Taylor) in 1875. Ella's sister Emma C Howard (b. 1849/50) was still living with the family as well as her mother's sister Caroline Howard (b. 1815).
By 1895 Richard was the rector of three small parishes in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; All Saints, Paradise, Grace Church, Nickel Mines and Christ Church, Leacock. All three seem to be extinct now, but their cemeteries still exist.
Richard died 15 Nov 1913 in Paradise, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania and is buried in All Saint's Episcopal Cemetery. Ella died in 1920 and is buried beside her husband.
He was also the rector of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio at the time. I am transcribing the diary as copied by his daughter Mary Chittenden Parks (b. 2 March 1866 in Elyria, Ohio), while she was living in Paradise, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the years 1905-1907. Some of Mary's handwriting is hard to decipher and I do not have the original diary to compare with, so there may be words that I cannot decipher...sorry about that! I have no idea where the original diary is, or if it is even extant. The handwritten copy from which I am working is the property of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church in Elyria, Ohio.
Below is a picture of St. Andrew's in 1850.
Richard enlisted on 14 Nov 1862, and was a part of the Field and Staff Officers of the 43rd Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry which mustered in from 31 Aug 1861 to 29 Jan 1862 at Camp Andrews, Mount Vernon, Ohio. They were mustered out on 13 July 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky by Captain William H. Carr of the 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
Richard graduated with honors from Kenyon College in 1849.
In the Bishop's address at the 37th Annual convention of the Diocese of Ohio, meeting at Grace Church, Sandusky 27-30 Sept 1854 Richard was mentioned as a candidate for holy orders.
The General Catalog of Kenyon College 1826-1899 lists Richard as a non-graduate of the Theological department for 1857.
In 1857 Richard was in Chicago, Illinois serving as an assistant at Trinity Church, where he was ordained by the Rt. Rev. Henry John Whitehouse, Bishop of Illinois on Wednesday, 11 Nov 1857.
Below is a picture of Bishop Whitehouse, second Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois.
At the 21st annual convention of the Diocese of Illinois, meeting at St. Paul's Church, Springfield 15-17 Sept 1858 Richard is listed as the rector of Zion Church (now called Grace Church), Freeport. He became rector of Zion Episcopal Church on 9 May 1858. Their original 1852 building was destroyed by a tornado on 18 July 1861, a year after Richard left to return to Ohio. In his convention address Bishop Whitehouse mentioned Richard's ordination in Chicago, and in another report he is listed as a candidate for ordination. St. Andrew's first rector, the Rev. Anson Clark, is listed as the rector of Emmanual Church, Rockford, Illinois in the convention report.
Richard married Ella Rebecca Howard of Elyria on 18 Sept, 1861. She was born in June 1838 in Washington DC, the daugher of Sebra (Sebring) and Ellen Howard. The family had moved to Elyria by 1850 and attended the Methodist Church. Ella's father was a contractor according to the 1859 Elyria city directory. The family home was on the West side of Cedar street North of Broad street. Ella's father died on 19 March 1862. The Chittenden home was at the corner of Middle Avenue and 3rd street, the site of the present church building.
Ella was received into the Episcopal Church by Assisting Bishop Gregory T. Bedell. Richard and Ella were married by Bishop Charles Pettit McIlvaine at St. Andrew's, one of the few couples at the time who were actually married in the church builing as most couples were married in the rectory or their own home. One of the witnesses was Wagar Swayne, the man who would soon be one of Richard's fellow officers in the 43rd OVI. He must have been a personal friend of Richard to be a witness at his wedding. They both grew up in Columbus, although Richard was four years his senior.
At the time of the 1850 census Richard was living in Ward 2 of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio and was a student.
At the 1860 census Richard was renting rooms from the Norton family in Elyria and had taken up the post as Rector at St. Andrew's. Oddly there is no Norton family listed in the 1859 Elyria city directory. Perhaps the Norton's moved to Elyria just before Richard did.
At the 1870 census he was living in Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio. His mother-in-law, Ellen Howard (born c.1810 in Maryland) and Ella's sister Emma C was living with them (Mr. Howard had died in March 1862). They had one daughter, Mary Campbell Chittenden (Parks), born 2 March 1866. Their son Lucius Howard Chittenden who had been born in 1863 died on 3 Feb 1865.
At the 1880 census they were in East Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Two more daughters had been born, Harriett E (Witmer) in 1871 and Grace M (Taylor) in 1875. Ella's sister Emma C Howard (b. 1849/50) was still living with the family as well as her mother's sister Caroline Howard (b. 1815).
By 1895 Richard was the rector of three small parishes in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; All Saints, Paradise, Grace Church, Nickel Mines and Christ Church, Leacock. All three seem to be extinct now, but their cemeteries still exist.
Richard died 15 Nov 1913 in Paradise, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania and is buried in All Saint's Episcopal Cemetery. Ella died in 1920 and is buried beside her husband.
Below are the colors of the 49th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry
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