Asa W. Rouse

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Asa W. Rouse

Battle of Antietam

Posted on December 2, 2022December 18, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

On September 17, 1862, Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia clashed with George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac at Sharpsburg, Maryland. This twelve hour battle was the single bloodiest day in American history with 23,000 men killed, wounded or missing.

Union General Ambrose Burnsides ordered the IX Corp to take the lower bridge that spanned Antietam Creek. The Confederate forces were not numerically superior but took positions commanding the heights on the other side of the creek, on the bluffs and in a quarry.

The first assault at 9:00 A.M., by two companies of skirmishers of the 11^th Ohio Volunteers was repulsed. Colonel Henry W. Kingsbury led an assault by the 11^th Connecticut Volunteers at 10 A.M. In an extended front they moved forward to the rail fence and the stone wall near the South and North sides of the bridge. Captain John Griswold of A company plunged into the swift flowing creek with several men but were met by a volley of small arms fire. He was wounded and made it to the far side of the creek where he died. The remaining men had turned back and the regiment was finally forced to retire under the heavy fire of the well concealed Confederates. Colonel Kingsbury died after being wounded multiple times and the 11^th Connecticut Volunteers suffered over 130 casualties, representing one third of their men. Two Mansfield soldiers from Co. K of the 11^th Connecticut Volunteers were killed in the battle, William H. Hall and Asa W. Rouse.

William H. Hall

Posted on November 1, 2022December 18, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

William Harlow Hall was a resident of Mansfield on October 31, 1861 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. H of the 11th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; he was killed in action on September 17, 1862 at Antietam, Maryland. The regiment was ordered to take the lower stone bridge over Antietam Creek and the assault began at 10 A.M. Over one third of the regiment was killed, wounded or missing in that battle. Asa W. Rouse, another Mansfield soldier from Co. H was also killed in the assault.

William H. Hall was born about 1844 in Mansfield to Ambrose and Esther (Batten) Hall. In the 1860 U.S. census in Mansfield, he is a 15 year old farm laborer in the household of Ambrose Hall. His brother, Lorenzo Ambrose Hall, a 19 year old farm laborer in the same household, was also a Mansfield Civil War soldier.

On December 21, 1872, Ambrose Hall applied for a dependant Father’s pension, No. 202,499 that was granted under Certificate No. 286,763.
William H. Hall is buried at the Bedlam Cemetery in Chaplin, Connecticut. His name is listed among the killed in action on the monument of the 11^th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment on the battlefield at Antietam, Maryland.

Posted on October 25, 2022December 2, 2022 by Amanda Rutha

Asa W. Rouse was a resident of Mansfield on November 30, 1861 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. H of the 11th Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was killed in action on September 17, 1862 at Antietam, Maryland. The regiment was ordered to take the lower stone bridge over Antietam Creek and the assault began at 10 A.M. Over one third of the regiment was killed, wounded or missing in that battle. William H. Hall, another Mansfield soldier from Co. H was also killed in the assault.

He was born about 1833 in Connecticut, probably to John and Thirza (Massby) Rouse of Groton. In the 1860 U.S. census in Norwich, he is a 27 year old stone cutter.

On November 4, 1862, his widow, Ann J. Rouse applied for a widow’s pension, No. 5,729 that was granted under Certificate No. 1,846. In the pension file is certification of their marriage and the births of their children. Asa W. Rouse married Ann J. Parkerson at West Greenwich, Rhode Island on November 25, 1858. Their first child, Lovell N. Rouse was born in Norwich, Connecticut on November 19, 1859 and their second child, Mary E. Rouse was born in Windham, Connecticut on April 27, 1862. The death of Asa Rouse left behind a widow, a three year old son and a 4 month old daughter. Both of the children died in 1863.

Asa W. Rouse was buried at the Yantic Cemetery in Norwich, Connecticut. His name is listed among the killed in action on the monument of the 11^th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment on the battlefield at Antietam, Maryland.