USA > Delaware > Four years in the war. The history of the First Regiment of Delaware Veteran Volunteers, (Infantry,) containing an account of marches, battles, incidents, promotions. The names of all the officers and men who have been connected with the regiment from its organization in 1861, to the close of the war in 1865 > Part 4
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sitting on his bed fanning himself, and was evidently suffering much, yet he made no complaint.
A minnie ball had struck him between the eyes, broken his nose, cut off his tongue, and passed out under the chin. The wound had not been dressed. It was blackened and clotted with blood. Neither eye was injured but he could not articulate a word. The surgeon-in-charge sent to me a drink for him, which I poured into a nursery cup, but he shook his head and made signs intimating that he could not drink from that vessel, and I poured it into a common tin cup. He took it and tried to pour it down his throat but could not. He then got on the floor, first on his knees, and then standing upright with his head thrown back as far as possible, tried in that way to get it down, but all his efforts were in vain. Neither could I render "him any assistance. Handing the cup back to me, he laid himself upon his bed as if resigning himself to his fate. Those only who have experienced what it is to witness suffering, without the ability to afford relief, can imagine the sadness of the scene.
The soldier wandered about the hospital for several days and then died of starvation. An at- tendant, as he hurried by, told me that another man wanted to see me in the next ward. As soon as
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I entered he called to me and said, "Chaplain come to me; sit by me; talk to me; pray for me. Having done so, he asked me to talk more and to pray again with him. He seemed much com- forted, and when I left him to attend to others, he kissed my hand as a token of his gratitude. I promised to see him again in the morning-but, alas! when the morning came his bed was removed, and his spirit had gone to that bourn whence no traveler returns. His nurse, a faithful, good fellow, told me that he had died about 3 o'clock, A.M., that during the night he had been much engaged in prayer, though quite restless.
A short time before he died, he became composed, and, as his spirit ascended to God who gave it, his last words were, "Now, Lord, I come." What sudden changes, and how rapid the transitions we meet with. This man, one hour was tossing in pain and sufferings-the bitter fruit of sin-and the next, freed from all its traces and effects, through faith in the atoning blood of the Lamb, had entered that state where there is no death, nor any pain, where all tears are wiped away, and there "is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore."
A little while before, whilst pointing an anxious sinner, mortally wounded, to the "Lamb of God that
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taketh away the sin of the world," the surgeon asked me to go and speak to another soldier, who had just been brought from the amputating room and laid on his cot to die.
As I approached him, I expressed my sympathy for him, and asked him if he was aware of his condition. He said he was. I said to him I hoped he was prepared for another and better world. He said, " No, I am not." I urged him to improve the little time that was left him. He replied, " it is too late." I told him of the thief on the cross-that Christ is able to save to the utter- most, all that come to him; that his blood clean- soth from all sins, though they be as scarlet, or red like crimson. He said again, "it is too late." I repeated the gracious invitations and promises of the Bible, such as, "Turn, why will ye die ;" "Look unto me and be saved;" "Him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out ;" " Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye buy and eat: yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price ;" "The spirit and the bride say come, and let him that heareth say come. And let him that is athirst say come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." He heard me through.
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I paused to see what he would say, wondering how a dying man could decline such gracious invitations, or fail to embrace salvation so freely offered; but they had produced no impression on him, and he replied, "that may do for others-for me it is too late." Thus saying, he turned from me and died.
How dreadful is the lamentation of the lost ! "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved," and for them to hear, when it is too late -- the Saviour says-" Ye would not come to me that ye might have life."
There were so many wounded, and so few to at- tend to them, that the imploring looks and calls of one and another for attention, was harrowing to the feelings and distracting to the thoughts. Some had not had their wounds dressed since they left the front, and others not at all, and they were covered with vermin, which seemed to be eating into their very vitals.
In a few days more assistance came, and also large quantities of valuable stores, of which latter our friends in Delaware contributed very liberally and of the very articles which were most needed. Among the assistant nurses were several Sisters of Charity. These Sisters have often been justly praised for their efficiency among the sick and
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wounded. But when it has been done to the dis- paragement of Protestant ladies who devoted all their energies to relieving the sufferers, a manifest injus- tice has been donc. I never met the Sisters in the field hospitals, but there were many Protestant ladies of cultivation and wealth, whose whole time, winter and summer, was given up to the soldiers wherever they could be useful, and they were not only diligent, but judicious and self-sacrificing. I know not how mortals could have done more than did Mrs. Dulley, of Pittsburg, Pa., and her assistants at the Chesa- peake Hospital. Mrs. Harris, of Philadelphia, at the front from Antietam to Petersburg; Miss Sim- pler, of Delaware, in Baltimore and other places, and scores of others, all of whose names I cannot mention.
They came from all portions of the country, from Minnesota to Maryland, and gave themselves to the work as if they were attending upon sons or brothers. I doubt whether the world has ever beheld a nobler work done by woman than these patriotic ladies did during the whole time of the rebellion. Their kind offices were not confined to Federal soldiers, but were shared alike by the Confederates. In this they presented a strong contrast to the ladies of Norfolk, who visited the hospital. These latter brought bas-
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kets full of delicacies, and insisted upon carrying and giving them in person to the Confederates ex- clusively. The surgeon-in-charge objected to this, as it was contrary to his practice to allow any dis- tinction to be made in the treatment of the patients at the hospital. He told them that they might be left, and he would give them into the hands of the Sisters for distribution, indiscriminately, among his patients. To this they objected and left the office with their baskets, and attempted to go up to the wards where the Confederates were by a back stair- way. But the surgeon-in-charge met them at the head of the stairs, expressed his surprise, and threat- ened to exclude all visitors if another attempt of the kind should be made. Some of these ladies were rude and unfeeling enough to insult our soldiers by pointing to their wounds and asking them, in a sneering manner, if they had not enough of fighting the South ?
Having been sent from the hospital with their full baskets they offered their contents to some of our convalescent soldiers walking about in the yard, but they declined them, saying, that their Government and friends at home furnished them with all they needed. One of the patients, however, "played sharp" on some ladies whom he met on the ferry
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boat. He had a pass and was going over to Norfolk wearing a Confederate jacket, which he had procured by some means. Supposing that he was a Confede- rate soldier they approached him, and spoke kindly to him-asked him how he was treated at the hos- pital, if he got enough to eat, &c. No, he told them he was half starved and treated very roughly. Their sympathies were very much excited, and they took him home with them and gave him a good din- ner of all the nice things they had .. After dinner he returned to the hospital and enjoyed the joke with his comrades.
No man needs to watch for opportunities to do good more than a chaplain, and he will not fail to find them if he " watches for souls as they who must give an account." And if he " cast his bread upon the waters he will find it after many days." Some of the regiments were ordered to join General Mc- Clellan's army, and, of course, were withdrawn from the neighborhood of Portsmouth and Suffolk. When they left their sick were sent to our hospital. It was my custom to visit the hospital frequently, and to have some religious services in each ward every day. I observed that some of the men were inter- ested in the exercises. On one occasion I met a soldier of a Massachusetts regiment on the street.
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He seemed to want to talk with me, and I gave him the opportunity. When he was quite young he had professed to be converted, and supposed he was a Christian, but in the course of time was led astray and lost all interest in the subject of religion. It seemed to him that " no man cared for his soul," and he cared for no man's. He became careless and indifferent as to his state, and so lived for several years, nothing awakening his attention until he heard the explanations of scripture and prayers at the hospital. These seemed especially adapted to his condition, and all his former interest and feeling were revived. He now desired instruction. The account he gave of himself led me to speak of the nature of religion, of Christian experience, and divine providence. He thanked me for my words of en- couragement, and, I trust, returned from his wander- ings, and renewed his vows to God. He belonged to that class found in the army, and probably in every congregation in civil life, who need a sympa- thizing friend to guide and counsel them in the way of life. They desire to talk on the subject of religion, and yet are too timid to introduce it.
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CHAPTER VI.
SUFFOLK.
A PART of the forces having been sent from Suf- folk to the Peninsula, the First Delaware was ordered to take their place. Suffolk is a small but pleasant village about twenty-five miles from Norfolk on the Nansamond River. It is connected with Norfolk
It and Portsmouth by a railroad from each place. has connection also with. Petersburg on the north, and Weldon on the south, by rail. The country is level, and the land, though not under a high state of cultivation, is of good quality, and susceptible of improvement to almost any extent. It is particu- larly adapted to the growth of early vegetables, and before the war our northern city markets were largely supplied with the earliest fruits and vege- tables from this vicinity.
The change of opinion among the soldiers in re- gard to slavery, negro enlistments, and emancipation was remarkable. There was nothing more apparent than the opposition to emancipation and the enlist-
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ment of negroes on the part of the rank and file of our Regiment. I was probably better acquainted with their sentiments on these subjects than other officers, for they felt at liberty to visit my quarters, and to talk more freely with me than with them.
Whilst we were at Suffolk the President declared his intention, at the expiration of one hundred days, to issue a proclamation of emancipation if the South did not cease to fight against the Government. The suggestion of enlisting the negroes as soldiers was also under discussion, and there was much dissatisfac- tion expressed on account of these proposed mea- sures. One of the most conscientious men we had in the Regiment said to me, that if the negro should be enlisted he would take his musket to the colonel, and say to him, "Here is my gun, and here am I; I will fight no more. You may do with me what you will." I told him he was a soldier sworn to obey his officers, and that he was not responsible for any orders or laws that might be passed, and that it was his duty to obey ; such a course could work nothing but injury to himself and our cause; that, though whilst a proposition or measure was under discussion he might express his opposition, as soon as any mea- sure became the settled policy of the Government, it. was his duty, as a good and loyal man, to acquiesce;
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that we were bound to counsel and support the Go- vernment as far as we were able, and not to embar- rass it, and that we must seek redress of grievances or change of laws in a legal and prescribed way .. What effect the conversation had upon him I know not; but he never gave up his gun until he was no longer able to use it on account of wounds received in battle.
General Mcclellan had retreated from " before Richmond " to Harrison's Landing on the James. General Pope having taken the field, with a flourish of the trumpet, and advanced to the Rapidan, was hurled back upon the entrenchments of Washington, and the Army of the Potomac was ordered to the defence of the Capital. The Confederate army, elated with their success, was crossing the Potomac
into Maryland. Our outposts were withdrawn and the various portions of the army were assembling for a great battle north of the Potomac.
The First Delaware was ordered to join MeClel- lan's army, and on the Sth of September, 1863, we hurriedly broke camp at Suffolk, and repaired to Norfolk, where we embarked on a transport for Washington. Thence we marched to Antietam by way of Rockville, Monocacy, Frederick, Middleton, and South Mountain.
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We arrived at Antietam on the afternoon of the 16th of September. Though the Regiment had been in the field for a year they had not been in an engagement with the enemy, and were eager to see and participate in a battle. There had been some fighting during the day of our arrival, but it was the result of reconnoisance of the enemy's position, and there was very sharp artillery firing after we arrived on the field. On this occasion, Lieutenant James Lewis, having gone to the brow of a hill to witness the firing, was struck by a cannon ball which tore away part of his foot. This casualty to the Lieutenant occasioned him a serious disappointment, and he will regret it for life, probably, not. more because of the loss of his foot, than because he was disabled from taking part in the coming battle. There was not an officer in the Regiment more anxious to meet the foe than he, or one who was more gallant and impetuous. On the same evening, one of the men was sitting on a barrel of beans at the commissary, when a cannon ball struck it and scat- tered its contents in all directions. He very coolly walked off, saying, " If that is the way rations are issued here I would rather not draw any."
The 17th of September, 1862, can never be for- gotten as long as their lives a member of the First
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Regiment of Delaware, who was present at the battle of Antietam. I need not speak of the part the Regi- ment took in the action, since Colonel Andrews has kindly furnished me with his official report after the engagement, and allowed me to publish it in this connection.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DELAWARE INFANTRY, THIRD BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, SECOND CORPS, NEAR SHARPSBURG, MD.
Captain Burleigh, A. A. G. on the staff of Brigadier-General Max Weber.
Captain :- The First Delaware Infantry, forming the right of Brigadier-General Max Weber's Brigade, after fording Antietam Creek, marched in column for a mile, then facing to the left, advanced in line of battle, forming the first line of General French's Division. The enemy's batteries now opened a severe fire. Having advanced steadily through woods and cornfields, driving all before us, we met the enemy in two lines of battle, posted in a road or ravine four feet below the surface of the adjoining field, with a third line in a cornfield in the rear, the ground gradually rising, so that they were able to fire over the heads of those in the ravine; our right was also exposed to the sudden and terrible fire from the troops who succeeded in breaking the Centre Division of the line of battle. We were at this time about twenty paces off the enemy, and returned their fire for some time with much coolness and effect. A charge was then ordered and attempted, but our second line, composed of new levies, instead of supporting our advance, fired into our rear. We had now lost one-third of
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our men, and eight officers commanding companies were either killed or wounded. Under these circumstances, we fell back gradually to a stronger position, until relieved by our third line, composed of veterans, under General Kimball. This was our first battle, and I cannot speak in too high praise of the conduct of the officers and men.
The following officers, all commanding companies, were killed or wounded :- Killed, Captains Watson, Leonard and Rickards.
Wounded, Captains Yardley, Woodall, and Shortledge, and Lieutenants Swiggett, and Tanner. In fact but few escaped. The Color Guard were all killed or wounded; the field officers' horses killed.
The command exhibited a degree of gallantry, efficiency, and personal bravery seldom equalled. I must also particularly mention the services of Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkinson, Major Smyth, and acting Adjutunt Pastles, who bchaved with exem- plary coolness and bravery.
JOHN W. ANDREWS, Colonel First Delaware Infantry. September 18th, 1862.
The loss the Regiment sustained by the death of Captains Watson, Leonard and Rickards was keenly felt. Colonel Andrews mourned their loss as good and brave officers. Captain Watson was commander of Company A, and his position was on the right in the battle. His company wore the Zouave uniform and were always conspicuous, and, it is supposed that, on the day of the battle, they attracted the especial attention of the enemy, for they suffered,
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in numbers, more heavily than other companies. They were regarded by the commanding officer of the Regiment as among the best drilled in the ser- vice. The Captain was absent on duty in Wilming- ton, when he heard that the Regiment was in Mary- land and likely to engage the enemy. He immedi- ately repaired with great haste to join his command and to lead them in battle. He was one of the first who fell.
Captain Leonard commanded Company B, on the extreme left of the Regiment. In those days one Regiment numbering about nine hundred men, was as large as many of the Brigades were after the battles. It is sufficient evidence of his gallant con- duct to say that he fell in a hand-to-hand encounter within or near the enemy's lines.
Captain Rickards commanded Company C. He was wild with excitement when he heard that our colors were left lying on the field, and whilst brandishing his sword and calling for men to follow him, to re- cover the flag, was shot and killed. He did not reach the colors, but they were faithfully guarded by the color-bearer, Sergeant Eccles, who, having been wounded, had gathered them up and lay upon them till relief came, when he carried them with pride from the field.
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The magnitude of the war to support the Govern- ment and maintain the Union, when compared with the war of the Revolution, in which our fathers achieved our independence and established our nation- ality, far exceeded it in the numbers engaged, the material employed, and the losses sustained.
In the battle of Lexington, the Americans lost eight and drove the British back to Boston. At Bunker's Hill, the British made three charges, two of which were unsuccessful, and lost two hundred killed and eight hundred and twenty-eight wounded. The Americans lost one hundred and thirty-nine killed, and three hundred and fourteen wounded.
The defence of Sullivan's Island was regarded as one of the most brilliant events of the Revolutionary War. The Americans lost but ten killed and twenty- two wounded, and the British lost two hundred in killed and wounded.
At Stony Point, the British lost sixty-five out of six hundred, and the Americans lost one hundred out of twelve. At the Battle of Germantown the Amer- icans captured one hundred and twenty prisoners. At first the British were repulsed at several points, and retreated in disorder, but the Americans them- selves became panic stricken, and were in the end. completely routed.
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Burgoyne having lost in two successive engage- ments from twelve to fifteen hundred, and being cut off from all retreat, surrendered his army of five thousand seven hundred and fifty-two men, with five thousand stand of arms. He lost one general officer killed, and the Americans had one general wounded. Yet these battles were called " bloody " and "bril- liant." What, in comparison, were the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Gettys- burg, in the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, around Rich- mond, and before Petersburg ? One of our officers re- marked to me after the battle of the 3d of June, at Cold Harbor, that a battle was now hardly called respectable except we had ten thousand casualties. In some of the battles in which our Regiment was engaged, our losses alone was nearly as great as the losses of the Revolutionary army in some of their great battles.
It was not a matter of surprise to me that the Rebel army had not been followed after the battle of Antietam, when I compared the condition of our Regiment at Harper's Ferry, with its condition at Suffolk three weeks before, and reflected that other Regiments had probably lost as heavily. Besides the loss sustained in battle, we had over seventy on' the sick list and in the hospital.
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Although Harper's Ferry, previously to the war, had been regarded a healthy place, it proved not to be so to our soldiers. After resting there for about three weeks, the army began to move against the enemy on the 26th of October. They passed over the Shenandoah River at the ferry opposite the town, and thence by way of Loudon valley, skirmishing as they advanced, to Warrenton.
At Warrenton, General Mcclellan was superseded by General Burnside, who led the army rapidly to Falmouth, on the north side of the Rappahannock River. Here the army rested till near the middle of December. Colonel Andrews had been assigned to the command of the Third Brigade. Lieutenant- Colonel Hopkinson had resigned on surgeon's certifi- cate, and the command of the First Delaware de- volved on Major Thomas A. Smyth.
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CHAPTER VII.
FREDERICKSBURG.
AT sunrise on the 11th of December, 1864, va- rious columns of the Army of the Potomac were moving, from different points, over the hills and through the ravines upon Fredericksburg.
The morning was intensely cold; the ground frozen and slippery. Our camp was about three miles from Falmouth on the north side of the Rap- pahannock, and about four miles from Fredericks- burg. It was necessary to move by a circuitous route to keep out of the view of the enemy, and out of reach of his shells in case he should challenge our progress. A council of war had been held the pre- vious night, at which it was determined to attack the heights of Fredericksburg, and it was generally known what was before us-a battle; but no ono knew with what success to the army, or what result to himself. All seemed in good spirits, and hopeful of victory. There was, however, a silence and seri- ousness in the ranks very different from what we
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had witnessed in other marches. Not an oath or imprecation reached our ears. The line of march might have been followed by the cards strewn along the way if there had been nothing else to mark our course. Though men say "there is no harm in card- playing if they do not gamble," I have never known a pack to be found in the pocket of a dead or wounded soldier, and I am quite sure enough have been thrown away previously to a battle to supply the commands. Why is it so? We have heard men say they did not want a pack of cards found on their persons if they should be killed. No! whether an innocent amusement or not, no one dying wants to leave such a suspicion of an irreligious character and life as involuntarily arises in the minds of the living upon finding such evidences. Even the ungodly de- sire "to die the death of the righteous, and that their last end may be like his." Though they pursue the bad man's ways, they would like to attain the good man's end. Vain hope! "The wicked shall be turned into hell." " They who have done good shall rise to life everlasting, and they that have done evil to shame and everlasting contempt." God cannot be deceived, and will not be mocked. Then let the simmer forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, who
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