| Born in North Stonington in 1840, Courtland G. Stanton—known fondly throughout his life simply as “Court”—left an indelible mark on both his country and the Westerly community as a soldier, skilled tradesman, public servant, devoted firefighter, and businessman.
Early Life and First Steps in Firefighting
As a young man, Courtland moved to Stonington, Connecticut, the town where his family originally lived, where he established himself as a painter. It was during this period that his lifelong dedication to the fire service began. In 1858 Court joined the Undine Engine Company No. 2 of Stonington Borough, an early volunteer company that served as the precursor to the Stonington Steam Fire Engine Company. Even as a young firefighter in Stonington, Court showed the steady resolve and readiness to serve that would define his entire life.
Civil War Service: The 21st Connecticut Volunteers
When the Civil War broke out, Courtland stepped forward to answer the nation’s call. Encouraged, and influenced by his grandfather, John Stanton’s legendary service in the French and Indian, and Revolutionary Wars, it was said John Stanton who fought for the British in the French and Indian War, and against them in the Revolution, was wounded eighteen times in battle. In August 1862, he enlisted in Company G of the newly organized 21st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The regiment mustered in at Norwich under the command of Colonel Arthur H. Dutton, and after being placed in service, Court was appointed to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Stanton saw extensive action across the Southern theater, taking part in major campaigns. He marched and fought in pivotal actions, including the Battle of Fredericksburg, the infamous "Mud March," the Siege of Suffolk, and operations in New Bern and the Defenses of Washington.
On May 16, 1864, the 21st Connecticut engaged in fierce combat at the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, where the regiment suffered devastating casualties, losing 150 out of 600 men in just about two hours. At 4:30 AM on May 16, Confederate General Beauregard launched a surprise counteroffensive on Union lines. A dense morning fog blanketed the low lying battlefield, limiting visibility to a few yards and causing widespread confusion. Confederate Maj. Gen. Robert Ransom attacked the Union right flank, occupied by Brig. Gen. Charles Heckman’s brigade of the XVIII Corps. Heckman’s brigade was struck unexpectedly in the blinding mist, overwhelmed, and quickly routed. Heckman himself was captured along with hundreds of his men, leaving the extreme right of the Union line completely exposed and vulnerable to total collapse.
Positioned near the far right of the Union line was the 21st Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, commanded at the time by the regiments second in command, Lt. Colonel Thomas Burpee. As adjacent units dissolved and fled through the fog, the 21st found itself entirely isolated and facing an advancing Confederate force on both its front and right flank. Recognizing that Confederate troops were wrapping around his position, Lt. Colonel Burpee ordered his men to realign into an L shape by "refusing" (bending back) the right wing of the regiment. This formation allowed them to engage the enemy on two fronts simultaneously at close range. Thick smoke and fog prevented the 21st from seeing other Union units, and cut off from brigade headquarters, Lt. Colonel Burpee received no higher orders. He walked calmly down the regimental line beneath heavy fire to keep his men steady and maintain fire discipline. For over three hours, the 21st Connecticut held its ground against repeated Confederate assaults. The fighting was so intense that men expended upwards of 100 rounds of ammunition per musket, causing black powder to foul their barrels.
With ammunition nearly exhausted, weapons misfiring from heavy buildup, and no reinforcements arriving, Lt. Colonel Burpee recognized that holding the position any longer meant total encirclement. He executed an orderly, disciplined retreat back to the Petersburg Road, preventing the regiment from being surrounded or destroyed.
Courtland, then serving as First Sergeant for Company G, received a battlefield commission prior to Drewry’s Bluff to the rank of Lieutenant. After the battle, Court served on the staff of Gen. Charles Devens at the headquarters of the 3rd Division of the 24th Army Corps as Acting Engineer Officer and Chief of Pioneers. He was among the first to enter the Confederate capital on the morning of April 3, 1865, and was the first officer, not a prisoner, to enter Libby Prison.
Though wounded in service—for which he was granted a federal military pension two decades after the war—Courtland served faithfully until the regiment mustered out in June 1865. His military service earned him immense respect back home, and the Westerly Business Men’s Association formally presented him with an officer's ceremonial sword and belt. This honor was acknowledged in writing by Captain E. E. Whipple of the First Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers in 1898, prior to the Rhode Island Volunteers themselves leaving to serve in the Spanish-American War.
Returning Home: Westerly, "Bohemia," and Civic Duty
Following the war, Courtland returned to New England and settled in Westerly, Rhode Island, where he opened a successful painting business. His craftsmanship and entrepreneurial drive brought substantial prosperity, allowing him to build a fine home at 8 Spring Street in Westerly and establish a beloved seaside cottage named “Bohemia” at Pleasant View Beach (now known as Misquamicut).
Court was deeply engaged in veteran advocacy and civic affairs throughout his adult life, serving as an active leader in the Budlong Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). Alongside fellow veterans such as J. A. Babcock and R. V. Woods, and fellow officers like Lieutenant John B. Brown who also settled in Westerly after the war and later attended the regiment’s annual reunions throughout Connecticut, Court organized Decoration Day ceremonies to ensure the sacrifices of Union soldiers were never forgotten, to honor fallen comrades, and to spend time with veterans who shared the same hardships. Additionally, he was a dedicated member of Franklin Lodge No. 20, F. & A.M., and held a strong connection to Calvary Baptist Church.
27 Years with the Alert Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1
In 1884, Courtland once again answered the call to public safety by helping organize Westerly’s volunteer fire service. He served as an organizer and charter member of the Alert Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 under Foreman Samuel Cottrell, who would later become Chief of Department. For the next 27 years, Court remained an active ladderman with the "Hooks," responding to calls across Westerly and surrounding districts.
His fellow firefighters noted that even as he approached his 61st birthday, he remained "as Alert as ever," earning recognition as likely the oldest active firefighter in line during department parades and gatherings. Courtland served as treasurer for the Alert Hook & Ladder Company for many years. His unique legacy of service stretched from hand-pump engines in Stonington in 1858 all the way through the modernizing era of Westerly's fire department—climbing ladders with a hook in hand and helping rescue people from blazes. This was notably demonstrated in 1896 during a fire at a hotel in Pawcatuck, where members of the Alert Hook & Ladder Company responded promptly, rescuing several people down ladders from the burning building.
A Community Mourns a Faithful Comrade
When Courtland G. Stanton passed away at his home on Spring Street in 1911, the town of Westerly paused to pay tribute. On the morning of his funeral, local stores and places of business closed their doors out of respect for the veteran soldier, businessman, civic leader, and firefighter.
Conducted by Rev. Frederick C. A. Jones, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the service was filled to capacity with neighbors, civic leaders, G.A.R. comrades, Westerly firemen, and fifty members of Franklin Lodge No. 20 in full regalia. At the close of the service, the casket was taken to Forest Hills Crematory near Boston where, in accordance with Mr. Stanton's often expressed wish, his body was cremated. His life of sacrifice, bravery on the battlefield, and nearly three decades of devotion to the Westerly Fire Department remain a proud chapter in the history of our department and town |
