The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 125

Author: Morris, John M., ed
Publication date: 1863
Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck
Number of Pages: 886

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crossing effected on the following day, with very little opposition, and the troops pushed forward rapidly to Germania Ford, on the Rapidan, for the purpose of concentrating at Chancellorsville. General Stoneman, with his cavalry, crossed on Wednesday, to enter upon the grand raid which i the Richmond Examiner characterized as the "most nudaeions enterprise of the war." The diversion from Germania caused the rebels to evacuate their works in front of United States Ford, so that no molestation was offered when the pontoons were laid for the passage of the 2d Corps - Late in the afternoon of April 30th, we moved rapidly down the abrupt, woody bank, and once more set foot on the south side of the Rappahannock. A line of well constructed rifle pita, with more elaborate works for cannon at in- tervals of several hundred yards, commanded the crossing. In their hasty retreat, the rebels left behind two pieces of artillery spiked. Only a few miles now separated us from the scene of op- eratious, and nfter marching through woods and over muddy roads, rendered infinitely worse by the coustant passage of troops. we bivouac for the night a short distnuce from the Chancellor House, n large briek mansion so called from its occupant, V. Chancellor. A shapeless mass of ruins is all that now remains of what gave name to one of the most remarkable battles of the war.

Save an occasional discharge of camion, the fore- noon of May Ist was spent in comparative quiet, neither party seeming disposed to inaugurate the conflict. Movements, however, were in progress with a view to ascertain the enemy's position. In the afternoon the 27th participated in a reconnois- sance for this purpose, which came very near proving an affair of no little importance. Lear- ing our bivouac in the woods, we advanced down the road by the Chancellor House, and ascending a gentle elevation, turned aside into an open lot on the left, near a small dwelling, nfterwards oe- cupied by Gen. Lee as his headquarters, Here a seetion of nrtillery was exchanging compliments in a lively manner, with a rebel battery, a short distance up the road. Several companies were immediately deployed as skirmishers with the remainder as a support, and advanced through the woods to feel the enemy's position, and de- velop his strength. Suddenly the artillery lim- bered up, the skirmishers were called in, and the reconnoitering foree retired to the rear at double quick. This movement was rendered necessary by an advance of the enemy seriously threaten- ing our right flank, but they were foiled in the attempt and fell back before a stubborn fire of mm-ketry and nrtillery. For n few moments we remained ia line of battle in the open ground

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near the Chancellor House, then moving down fire of masketry to our right indicate'l a serious Under cover of this movement, the indomitable Jackson advanced his hordes through the woods, and hurled their solid array on Hooker's right the road a short distance deployed through the attempt to pierce the centre of the Union line .. thick and tangled woods on the left. Appearances | indicated that the rebels were about to charge down from the ridge from which we had just re- tired, but they contented themselves with shell- ing us furiously with their batteries. Long be- fore the eannonade ceased, the mellow twilight of a May evening had passed into the darkness of night, adding to the fearful sublimity of the scene as the rebel guns woke the sleeping forest echoes, and shells careered wildly through the air aud erashed among the trees. Quietly resting over the earthworks and saw the panic stricken Corps dashing inndly to the rear. Who can de- scribe the almost breathless interest with which we listened to the fluctuations of the conflict. Now the avalanche of the enemy is stayed a ino- ment in its course ; then nearer and nearer ap- proaches the sonnd of battle, and it seems as if the next instant the foe will dash in upon our rear. A portion of the 2d Corps hurries away on the ground, we wait for the iron storm to pass. No sooner has the last shell swept over our heads and burst into numberless fragments, than we enter upon the night's work of intrenching our position against the anticipated attack of the mor- row. The rebels were apparently engaged in simi- - Inr work just across the ravine. It was a busy and exciting seene along the lines of the army that night. The rapid strokes of axmen, followed to the scene of strife, and Gen. Hancock, every by the dull souud of fallen trees, rang through the woods in every direction. Details of men were at hand to put the logs in position, while others dug a trench in the rear, and heaped the soil upon them. For some distance in front of the breastworks, trees were cut down for the pur- pose of obstrueting the enemy's advance. After under arms, and at daybreak, May 28, as silently as possible, marched out into the road and past the Chancellor House, and took a new position in Hooker's line of battle. The rebels soon entered the place we had just left, which, however, was of very little value to them, and could easily be re- occupied when circumstances required. We spent the forenoon in building breastworks, while on other parts of the line there was much skirmish- ing and several sharp fights. At intervals dur- ing the day, the enemy opened upon us with shot and shell, discovering our position by the smoke curling above the trees from the camp fires. At noon when rations were being dealt out to the companies, the rebel gunners, doubtless tantalized by the display, seemed determined to involve commissaries and rations in oue common ruin.

Several days had now passed in the usual pre- liminaries to a battle. Hooker had succeeded in drawing the main force of the rebels from their works in the rear of Fredericksburg, and was himself well iutrenched iu the dense woods skirt- ing the plank road and most appropriately called the Wilderness. The line of battle of the Union forees formed n broad wedge, whose base rested on the Rappahannock, the apex terminating at the extreme front beyond the Chancellor Ilouse. The 11th Corps held the extreme right, and next in order were the 3d, 12th, and 2d, while the 5th occupied the left.

Lee is said to have issned orders to his troops to break this line at all hazards. A brief calm followed the desultory movements of the day. The men stood in their places behind the breast- works, gazing into the woods in front, eagerly lis- tening to hear the first sound which should tell where the rebel blow would strike. At four o'clock in tho afternoon, the enemy advanced in heavy force down the plank road, and began the attack in the neighborhood of the intrenchments

became engaged, and the almost unexampled roar of musketry rolled along the line, it was ev- ident that the enemy were fabont to follow up, with even greater desperation the advantage al- rendy gained. True to their old policy, the rebel wing, directly in rear of our present position. leaders massed their troops in dense columns and Let the 11th Corps stand firm, and victory will | launched them upon the Union line, with reckless rest on our banners ere the close of day. The

perseverance. Immediately after breakfast, the current history of the hour tells us how the crisis | 27th, with the exception of two companies, D, was met. But more expressive than history itself|

and F, engaged in other duty, was ordered down was the wild shout of triumph that burst from into the intrenchments we had thrown up, near one end of the rebel line to the other, as it swept | the apex of the wedge the Friday night previous. These works now formed a part of the pieket line of the army, and from the uature of the position and its relation to the movements of the enemy, a large force was required in order to hold it. As is usual in such cases, when a picket in force is ordered, the colors did not accompany the column. As the regiment advaueed at dou- ble quick down the hill into the ravine, it was met by n heavy fire of musketry. A number were wounded, and several shot through the head, just as they entered the breastworks. One or two regiments, whose ammunition was exhaust- ed, were gradually drawn off in small squads. Not succeeding in their first attempt, the rebels mnade no further attack in force upon our part of the line, but concealed in the thick woods confin- nally nnnoyed us with a seattering fire. The considerable effect, as the rebels themselves nfter- wards acknowledged. While the conflict was culminating in other parts of the field, the enemy in our immediate front, were not so idle as appearances indicated. Looking through the woods we could indistiuetly see a large body of infantry making a wide circuit to the right, seem- ingly with a view to attack sowie remote part of the line. A similar movement took place also to the left. " Look out on the right," "look out on the left," passed up and down the line, and every man was on the alert ready to meet them should they attempt to carry our intrenchments.

nerve strung to the highest pitch of excitement, rides up to inform the Colonel that probably we should not be ealled into action, but were to hold our position, and that iu case of necessity we could fight on either side of onr breastworks, plainly pointing to the possibility that the enemy may attack in the rear. Through the woods be- the completion of our intrenchments, we rested hind us we can see batteries of artillery rushing men replied as they had opportunity and with into position near Hooker's headquarters, and in a few moments the forest trembles with the ter- rifie cannonade, vieing with the thunders of hea- ven in the compass of its sound. In the distance the deep, prolonged boom of a hundred pounder swells the bass notes of the chorus. Double shot- ted with grape and canister the field pieces sweep the rebel line with murderous effect. At length darkness put an end to this sublime exhibition of human power; the frightened whippoorwills ceased their pinintive cries ; the quiet moon rose over the bloody field, and nature sank into a silence fairly oppressive. We remained under arms most of the night, frequently changing our position as the emergency required. At eleven o'clock occurred one of those episodes of war- fare which, in startling grandeur and terrible mag- uificence, well nigh border on the supernatural. The forces of Hooker and Lee were resting on their arms, renewing their energies with an hour of broken slumber, and ready to rush to battle at the first flash of dawn. The air was perfectly still and serene, transmitting the rays of the moon with unusual brillianey. Scarcely n sound disturbed the painful silence of the almost inter- minable woods. All at once, the artillery, mass- ed ou the ridge hardly half a mile behind us, with one tremendous crash, poured in its fire up- on the enemy's position, covering the charge of a division of infantry. The thunder of musketry and artillery reverberated through the forest with an effect inconceivable grand. The conflict was fieree but short, resulting in the full accomplish- ment of the intended object, namely, to restore the connection of the lines which had been broken in the battle of the afternoon.

Suddenly from unseen batteries behind us comes a deep roar, and the next moment shell af- ter shell shrieks through the trees and bursts almost in the ride pits. The thought flashes up- on us that the rebels are in our rear, but is dis- missed with the reflection that it is only a Union battery firing too low, and will soon correct it3 false range. Meanwhile our little band had been reduced to less than four hundred men, embracing two hundred and seventy of the 27th, with small portious of the 145th Pa. and 2d Delaware, and this foree being entirely inadequate to hold the extended line, Col. Bostwick dispatched Major Coburn to Gen. Hancock for reinforcements. In a few moments the shelling ceased, aud far up thn road in front appears a rebel officer waving n flag of truce, and slowly ndvaneing, waiting for a re- cognition. The men stopped firing in the inume- diate vicinity of the road, while for a moment the musketry became more brisk on the left flank. At length the rebel officer arrived within a few paces of the works, where he was halted to wait the presence of Col. Morris, of the 66th N. Y., com- manding the whole line. This officer was not to be found, and the responsibility of receiving tho communication from the flag of truce devolved

At the earliest moment on Sabbath morn- ing, May third, thn battle was renewed, but apparently with less vigor than on the pre. we had thrown np the night before. The rapid ceding day, and yet as brigade after brigade | upon Col. Bostwick of the 27th. The rebel, a

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THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[APRIL.,

tall, rough specimen, and yet with the manner of ; their prey. Outnumbered on every hand, and ' the Yankees should succeed in entering the work a gentleman, announced himself as Lieut. Bailey. ; with batteries in front and rear, it would have over the now sloping wails. The general effect of a Georgia regiment, that he had been sent to ; been madness to have attempted to force our way must. I think, be much like staading within the inform ns that we were entirely surrounded, that : through, in the face of such odds. On the return of ; crater of an extinct voleano. Ascending the in- there was no possible avenne of escape, and there. ; Colonel Bostwick from Richmond, he demanded a fore he summoned us to surrender and thus avoid | Conrt of Inquiry to exaanine into the cireuni- the loss of life which would inevitably follow any resistance to the overwhelming force in front

stances of the surrender. That body, however, did not meet in consequence of the early resump- and rear. The Colonel repliel that he did not ; tion of active operations previous to the battle of see it, and proceeded to investigate into the actual went up through the woods in the rear only to find it too true, that the rebels were posted in strong force to bar any escape in that direction.

Gettysburg. Geas. Ilancock nad Brooke fully state of affairs. Meanwhile Lient. Col. Merwin ; exonerated the officers and men of the 27th, from all blame in the misfortune which befell them. The gallant Brooke, with characteristic bravery, when he heard the firing, volunteered to charge Masses of the enemy pouring ia oa the right and ; down with his Brigade to our relief, but for obvi left, revealed at onee the desperate position in ons prudential reasons Geu. Hancock refused per- which we were plneed, while the singing bullets ; mission. WINTHROP. from the woods behiad as well as ia front, indica- ted that the foe were closing in upon us. The OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE. first impulse among officers and inen was to attempt to force our way through. But it was Fort Sumter. From a member of the 20th C. V. 1. HEADQUARTERS, REDOUETS NEAR SE. ANDREW'S DEPOT, CHABLE-TON, S. C., March 9, 1865. evident that such a course would result in the de- struetion of more than half our number, while the remainder would inevitably fall into the hands of the enemy. After a hurried consultation among the officers, a surrender was agreed upon, and the formality had hardly been completed when a heavy line of rebel skirmishers swept out of the woods behind. Only five minutes before, the men stood at their posts undisturbed by even a doubt of their security ; now astonished at the sudden denouement we find ourselves about to enter upon the terrible uncertainties of rebel captivity. And this surprise and mortification was increased by the conviction that serious dis- aster must have overtaken the Union army. The history of the day establishes the fact that Satur- day's misfortune and the subsequent operations of Sunday morning compelled the formation of a new line of battle. The surging conflict had gradually crowded Hooker back, aud late in the afternoon the army retired by his order, to a po- sition some distance ia rear of the Chanceilor Honse. As General Hancock afterwards stated. orders were sent dowa to the 27th to fall back at

- the same time; but they failed to reach us. and while the rest of the army had retreated to the now line, the 27th still remained at the extreme front of the old, entirely unconscious of this change of position. Our situation in a ravine, surrounded by dense woods, readered it impossi. ble to observe the movements going on in other. parts of the extended field. The enemy already aware of Ilooker's withdrawal, immediately planted a battery behind ns, supported, as one of the rebels afterwards said, by two brigudes of in- fantry.

The experience of Major Coburn immediately , after the shelling, while en route to deliver the Colonel's request to Gen. Hancock, more than con -. firms this statoment. On his way to the rear he ; was accompanied by one of our sergeants severe- ly wounded in the early part of the action. They had passed hardy haif a mile through the woods when they were taken prisoners, and the Major was conducted into the road, where he found a large part of Stonewall Jackson's Corps uader command of Maj-Gen. Anderson. Already they had formed their skirmish line and were crowd- ing forward with all possible speed, certain off ing the kind intentions of the garrison, in case

Oa the 3d of March, I got permission to visit Fort Sumter. We first went to Charleston for a pass from Gen. Ilatch, and then songht for a boat which was finally furnished by the Quartermas- ter, with a erew. We started about 1 P. M., from the wharf, and were about an hour pulling down to the Fort. The day was fine, with just ---- sea enough to make it pleasant. Our gunboats aad monitors are lying at anchor all about the harbor, looking very much at home, and rather saucy. On reaching the Fort, the landing place struck tac as being rather poor for such a fort, and I conid see no proper entrance. The walls on this side, ( towards the city, ) were too much damaged, but the little old wooden wharf, with its outer end resting on an old sunken steamer, was altogether out of character. A few colored soldiers were at work ou the wharf when we landed, and on asking them where the cutrance was, they pointed to a hole in the wall. which we found to be a kind of tunnel about 216 feet high, abont the same in width, and about 100 feet in length. I thought there must be some other entrance, and not wishing to crawl in through a hole backed out, aad looked for the grand sally port, which I had expected to find. but it was non est, and we had to crawl through. There was no garrisoa in the Fort, all was solitude and silence, the terreplein dug into holes, and plowed into furrows, and nearly cover- ed with pools of stagnant water. An old bursted Columbiad lay near the eenter, and 15-inch round, and son lb. rifle shot scattered about plentifully. The inner wall which was once so graad, with its tiers, arches and abutments, was nowhere visible, but in its place a circular bank of sand, brick, stone, and other debris sloping inward, and sup- ported at irregular intervals by the rude baskets tilled with sand, called gabions, which were intro. dneed to keep the bank from covering certain heavy timber fronts, pierced for musketry and facing the center of the Fort, showing that there were still cavities under that enormous bank where casemates had once been, and also show-

uer slope by a rude pathway on the Morris Island side, the Fort appears like a cirenlar bank of material which had been ponred out where it now lies, without the slightest attempt at ar- rougemeat, and the pieces of brick, stone, and iron, of which it is composed, have been so worn by the constant punching, pushing, pounding, tumbling and abuse of all kind which they have received, that they appear more like potatoes and cobble stones than what they really are. The top of the Fort, (I cannot say the parapet, for there is no wall of any kiad visible on that side, ) is defended by four of the old-fashioned small 12-ponader Howitzers, (the shot guns of artillery,) for throwing canister with small charges of power. There are also some portable Chevaux de Frieze, which were kept inside the Fort during the day, and carried out at night; about half way down the outer slope, are trip wires stretched by means of stakes driven into the bank. I descended this bank to the water's edge, and fouad that nearly one- half the bank near the bottom is composed of expead- ed shot and shell of all sizes, shapes and deserip- tions, and there I found the reason for the pecu- liar entrance to the Fort in the fact that the old entrance on the James Island side, was entirely obliterated, and the wharf badly torn up. Tho present entrance was evidently bored as a "mili- tary necessity." Passing around towards the channel, the walls on that side are protected by gabious and sand bags about ten feet thick, and are not much damaged except above the protee- tion. I then returned inside, and attempted to explore the "rat holes," but having no light, I kaocked my head, and began to sink into mud of very uncertain composition. I gave up the attempt, with the impression that these subterra- nean shelters were very strong, very extensive, and very dirty. And this is Sumter, the scene of the gallant defence by Major Anderson and his brave garrison, the spot where our Flag was first fired upon by traitors, who little knew what they were bringing upon their own heads by the act ; the place most persistently attacked, and obsti- nately defended during this war ; the place which has received more battering, and developed the resources of artillery to a greater extent, than any place on earth, and is now in ruias, as thorough as its resistance has been obstinate. But over all floats the Flag of the Free. It is "re-possessed aad re-oeenpied," and we will soon make it more impregnable than ever, and hold it as an effectnal warning to traitors forever.

J. II. D.

From the 8th Regiment.

STH REGT., CONN. VOLS., 24TH CORPS., } Army of the James, Va., Feb. 20. 1865. $

FRIEND MomIS :- Agaia the Veteran Eighth is in line. During the two months since I have written, the old meu have been returning from the hospitals - serred, amimed, disabled in varions ways, but enger to be if possible in tho old organization-the new men have been drill- ing, how quickly they catch the espit de corps, and now with pride we stand again in brigade;

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2d Brig., 3d Div., 24th Corps. We have present nearly 500 mea ; our aggregate for duty is 250. We had hoped to have received more recruits; at least enough to make good the number of those who are compelled to leave the service on account of disability. But we see by the papers that the " quota is filled," and with the people at home that is the "end of the law" for patriotism. We beg leave to suggest that quotas ia these days are not regiments ; names on paper with no equiva- lent of inen on the field will not strike the heavy blows now needed in fiuishing this Richmond campaign,

For ourselves, we do uot complain of the sub- stitutes received ; in the Eighth, we are proud to HEADQUARTERS, IST CONN. CAVALRY, WINTE HOUSE, VA., March 21, 1865. say, veteran, volunteer, drafted men, substitute, all stand upou equal footing, and by wholesome discipline-some require lead and saltpetre-all can be made good soldiers. It is not the kind of men but the want of men of which we speak. The noble cause indeed deserves and will honor the best men in all the land; but even such men as the brokers actually send, with all the tempta- tion to desertion which high bounties present, do become, we are happy to say, what many of them jeold, from our cozy, comely huts. We had made would no where else become, true iaen, patriot soldiers, Christian heroes.

The Chaplain was in Conn. during most of the month of Jan., but through the agency of the Christian Commission God began to move upoa the hearts of some of the regimeat and Ile has been carrying on Ilis work sinee. Profane lips have beco:ne praying lips; reading has taken the place of amibling; Christians rejoice, and new voice. !. it of the love of Jesus. During the ab- grace of the Chaplain also, the men of the regi- thenit ereeted a chapel, (the canvass roofing being furnished by this same blessed agency, the Chris- tian Commission,) and they warmly welcomed him to preach in the new house, on the very day of his return. Preaching under these circum- stances was delightful, and so it continues to be. Men eager to listen; some ready to obey ; Chris- tians supporting, and God erowning the work. We have also our regimental Library, 80 vols., again with us; and we almost avariciously use both chapel and books because we must doubt- less soon leave them, to advanee upon the foe. , For, sunny days are increasing, the ground is be- coming settle for spring, Sherman is moving northward with the sun, aud we must co-operate in favor of peaec. The Eighth cannot promise what it could and did one year ago when it left Conn., with its new title " Veterau;" for it has less than half the number of effective men then possessed. However, the old spirit still lives, and with buoyant hopes the men are ready to share in the "elosing campaign."

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The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 125

Author: Morris, John M., ed Publication date: 1863 Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck Number of Pages: 886

Author: Morris, John M., ed
Publication date: 1863
Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck
Number of Pages: 886