Private Geo. Brewster

Private Geo. Brewster

George Brewster, of New London, was a private in Company I.  Following the assault of May 27th, he and the other men of that company spent time building breastworks and mounting siege guns to shell out the defenders of Port Hudson. 

On June 14th, it was learned that another assault would be attempted.  The captain of Company I, William Bentley, wrote about the events leading up to the charge: "After a short speech from our brigade commander, Col. Clark [of the 6th Michigan], we marched to the left, a distance of about four miles. 

There we found two brigades and it appeared to us that with such a force we could scale the walls and go anywhere.  Eighty men were selected from our regiment as skirmishers. . . ." [Private Brewster was among them.]  "I readily took charge and marching to the front commenced skirmishing.  We were confident of success.  The regiment soon came up. 

None but the 15th New Hampshire and 26th Connecticut participated in the charge.  The others were to support us.  The rebels opened on us as soon as we came up.  A shell struck among Company A, and killed and wounded seventeen soldiers.

"  George Brewster was shot in the foot during the charge but survived his wound to return home.  Similar to the 27th of May, the soldiers failed to penetrate the defenses of Port Hudson.  Following this assault, the 26th Connecticut had only 200 men left who were fit for duty.