The New London Daily Chronicle (Connecticut) this week announces the arrival of Richard Fuller, Southern Baptist Convention president, in New York City following the SBC meeting in Savannah.
Rev. Dr. Fuller of Baltimore has arrived from Savannah, where he uttered treasonable sentiments at a meeting of the State Baptist Convention. Government is watching him.
Meanwhile, Baptist layman Elijah W. Gibbons (born November 29, 1831; pictured), a cabinet maker and painter from Middletown, Connecticut has been a Baptist since the age of nineteen and is a faithful member of the Middletown Baptist Church, were he is a Sabbath School teacher and sexton, regularly attends prayer meetings, and assists his pastor in ministering to area residents. He is also a vocal abolitionist. When news of John Brown’s execution reaches Middletown, he rings the church bell, resulting in his being relieved of his duties as sexton.
At this time, he is a little known Baptist compared to the famous Richard Fuller, but no less an ardent patriot for his own nation, the United States. The first call for troops sounds in Middletown, and Gibbons today enlists in the 4th Connecticut, later the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery. Thus begins Gibbons’ journey toward becoming a legendary Connecticut Civil War officer.
Elected as 1st Lieutenant of Company G, Gibbons serves faithfully in the months following. Yet after nearly a year of service in garrison duty, he is forced to resign on May 6, 1862 because of a conflict with a senior officer. Upon his resignation, Gibbons returns to Middletown. Shortly thereafter Connecticut issues a new call for troops, and Gibbons enlists again. This time he is chosen as captain of Company B of the 14th Connecticut volunteers, demonstrating capable leadership in the ensuing months. Loyal to his men, he turns down a promotion to Major of a different regiment in order to remain with Company B.
Demonstrating brilliant leadership at the Battle of Antietam (Maryland) – with 23,000 deaths on September 17, 1862, the single bloodiest day of the Civil War – Gibbons successfully fights the Rebels while suffering few loses in his unit.
Yet Gibbons does not survive the war.
At Fredericksburg he was advancing courageously with the regiment, when a rebel ball shattered his thigh, and he fell. He was picked up by the men who loved him so dearly, and conveyed to the Falmouth side of the river, where he lingered in great suffering but sweet resignation for six days until the 19th of December when he died. His body was interred with military honors by his regiment, but subsequently was removed to Middletown, where funeral services were held from the Baptist church of which he was a member, January 3, 1863.
After the war, a member of Gibbons’ new regiment remembers him:
A personal pride in dear old “B” Company doubtlessly affects my judgement, but I think no survivor of the regiment will agree with me that no company in the regiment, all things considered, ever looked or did much better. And this was owing to one man more than any other, and that Elijah W Gibbons. He showed what could be done for men, and officers and men should alike bless his memory.
His death is long mourned by his fellow soldiers:
Capt. Gibbons’ death was a great blow to his family, who idolized him, and to a large circle at home, but his company and his fellow officers missed his influence and example sadly, and at our regimental reunions, years after his death, we somehow feel as If we needed him with us. But if he cannot come to us let us trust that it may be our fate to meet with him at that greatest of all reunions, in the sphere.
Sources: New London Daily Chronicle (link) – note the incorrect reference to “State Baptist Convention” when referring to the SBC; Gibbons’ Soldier Biography (link) and (link); detailed information about Gibbons’ actions at Antietam (link); the Battle of Antietam (link)
