USA > Illinois > Yates phalanx : the history of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry in the war of the rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 19
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
"Charge those works!"
- -
There was comparatively little to do from this time until June 14, and the men were free to pursue their pleasures in camp with "turn about" for picket duty, and appearance at "dress parade" in the evening.
Occasionally there would be a man wounded from the almost continuous fire of sharp-shooters in our front. We remember that Captain George O. Snowden of Company D was wounded, June 3, through the right thigh, in this manner, and on June 12 there were other casualties. But there was, otherwise, little to do under the little huts of canvas that sheltered the men on the hard-baked yellow clay camp back of the entrenchments.
The thermometer ranged from 103° to 105° in the shade and evergreen boughs and brush were plentiful, brought into use in shielding the men from the glaring rays of a hot sun. Occasionally the General would come to inspect, or the Regimental Band would come out and enliven the scene with lively music; otherwise the men would seem to hibernate, except when running to the Sutlers sweetmeats, or a pack of cards for a little game of "poker," or "seven-up."
On June 16 the men were called on for a march of several miles out on the Richmond Pike, together with the balance of the Brigade and Division. The reason for this move was that we had found the enemy in our front evacuating their line, which as we moved forwards proved only too true. Our line of march was directly through their late position, and we followed on through the timber and clearings until we reached Ware Bottom Church, where we met the "rebs" in large force. In fact, the whole of Lee's army was in motion to oppose General Grant, who visited us on the 15th, whose army, after battling in the Wilderness for days, had crossed the James River and was advancing on Petersburg. The Eighteenth Corps and that portion which had gone to reinforce the Army of the Potomac had returned and was again behind the entrenchments in Butler's army. The principal force that the Thirty-Ninth met with on this day was Pickett's Division, and a lively time was had with them for some hours. It was said that Generals' Lee, Beauregard and Longstreet were present at the front, witnesses of the engagement. The Regiment was thrown out as skirmishers, and suffered considerably. Captain Oscar F. Rudd, Company G, was mortally wounded, and twenty enlisted men were killed or wounded. Captain Rudd was brought back to Dr. Clark who had followed his Regiment to the front that morning, shot through both shoulders, the ball, in its passage, injuring the spinal cord. He was given a hasty examination and dressing and sent to the rear, as the shells and bullets were flying around thickly. At nightfall, two successive assaults were made by the enemy and were handsomely repulsed each time with great loss on both sides.
The morning hours were very sultry and oppressive, and when the enemy was met the fighting was fierce and most bloody for several hours.
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On the morning of the 17th the rebels again assaulted our picket line and were again repulsed and driven back, the Regiment taking twenty-six prisoners. The whole number of prisoners taken by the Thirty-Ninth during the two days' fight was ninety-six. At four p.m. the same day the enemy opened with a heavy artillery fire followed by another assault that resulted most disastrously to them, and where they lost many men taken prisoners. The Sixth Army Corps came to our relief at this juncture, and Terry's Division, thus strengthened, felt that it could withstand Lee, Beauregard, and the devil, if necessary.
General Gillmore at this time was relieved from the command of the Tenth Army Corps, and was succeeded by General Brooks. It was also rumored through camp that Grant had taken Petersburg, and that General Hunter had possession of Lynchburg, Virginia; but these rumors proved to be nothing more than that.
We returned to our old camp on June 18, and were glad to receive the order, for we had no food except what could be gathered from the surrounding country and that had been pretty thoroughly gleaned by the Confederates.
Letter from Sergeant E. J. Thayer to Captain George O. Snowden
Camp Thirty-Ninth Illinois, June 18, 1864.
"Dear Captain: Your letter of the 14th found me on the picket line yesterday. I was very glad to hear from you and that you were doing so well, and that the rest of the officers were doing finely. Remember me to the Major and tell him our boys are paying the 'rebs' for damage done, and we think have from the start. Day before yesterday the 'rebs' abandoned our front, so the picket reported at midnight; by eight o'clock they had advanced to the big forts in Howlett's Field and found all gone. Got thirty or forty prisoners, some muskets, etc. The troops were speedily put under arms and marched to the front. Our Regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and from the forts to the pike had the extreme front. Saw no 'reb,' however, save about 100 that give themselves up. As soon as we struck the pike the pioneers pitched into the telegraph wire and before we left had cut three miles, removing the wire and burying it. A couple of regiments also went to the railroad and tore up a mile or so of track, warping the rails with fire. As soon as we were on the pike we moved by the right flank about three-quarters of a mile to that house, we lay in line of battle across the road the evening of the 16th. On the other side of the field was plenty of 'rebs.' We held them as long as we could and then fell back slowly to the first line of rebel pits. The Third New Hampshire were on our right. Captain Rudd got an ugly wound in the rear of the picket line. From there we went back to camp and got supper, and then out on picket. After we left, the 'rebs' drove our forces from the fort and our advance was in that ditch we dug on the 20th. The 'rebs' had filled them up, but as soon as we were posted I took some men and went to camp, got a lot of shovels, and opened them again.
"All was quiet until three a.m., when the murmur of voices told us that 'Johnny Reb' was getting ready for a spree. As soon as it was light enough to see, the videttes reported two lines of 'rebs' in our front, covering a fatigue party building an abatis. We hauled in the
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videttes and opened out heavy on them about 300 yards distant. They gave us a volley or two and then broke for their pits. Then all day there was the devil to pay. If you didn't want to be shot at, keep out of sight. About two o'clock they made a break on the Seventh New Hampshire in about the place they came to us on the 2nd, and sent them back kiting. The 'rebs' opened the Eighty-Fifth Pennsylvania and they fell back and that left us open. A, B and part of K were on the reserve. Captain Williams was in command of the picket line and Baker of the whole. Williams was at the reserve when the fuss commenced, and John found himself the only officer in the three left companies. Not thinking it prudent to let them get too far to the left and rear of us, he ordered a retreat, and we fell back to what used to be the 'rebs' advance pits. Taking the shovel again, we soon reversed them, and with our reserves made a good line of battle. Company I and the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts kept their position on the old line, and Companies F, G, and K were deployed as skirmishers to protect their flank.
"In this position we lay until night, when we again took our pits as far as where that road crosses the pits to the right of where we were on the 2nd, and Company B was put out on our flank as skirmishers and at right angles with our line. H did not come up, so D was the left of the line. We had not been there more than five minutes when they opened a fire from a line of battle on our flank and at the same time from the front. B left us in no time, and D, E, and I and F moved by the right flank until we found ourselves in line of battle; then I broke round about half of D for flankers. As I was going to the left of the line a shell passed and exploded right by my head, knocking me on my hands and knees. I thought I was hit, but not finding any blood I did not mind it until the fuss was over, when I found I was stunned and hurt a good deal. I was sick when I went into camp, and the hard work on the skirmish and digging puts, the excitement and shell, quite laid me up, so after all was quiet and no prospect of a relief I came to camp about midnight. The Company had not lost any at noon today, and about fifteen or twenty in the Regiment. Two or three killed; one in K, and Sergeant Harris of Company A.
"The Sixth, Second and Fifth Corps are here, and I expect that they will charge the 'rebs' tonight, or at least relieve our 'boys,' who have now been on picket forty-eight hours, and that after a big day's work in skirmishing through the most infernal hot hole on a hot day. General Terry, when we deployed, ordered us to fix our bayonets. Wan't that smart? Godfrey was on vidette on the pike, and seeing two 'Johnnies' advanced alone and ordered them to throw down their arms and surrender, which they did, but felt rather cheap when they saw only one little 'Yank' to yank them in. Our company took four.
"Rumor says that we have twenty-five pieces of cannon at headquarters captured at Petersburg yesterday and day before. They have been on a big fight there for two days now. I have commenced on our rolls.
"Hoping you may be soon with us, I am, with respect,
Yours truly, E. J. Thayer."
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On June 22 President Lincoln, accompanied by General Butler and a brilliant staff, rode along our line of entrenchments and was greeted with hearty cheers.
Nothing of any particular interest took place after the fight of June 16 until August 13, there being a great lull in military operations along our line. Some of the Tenth Corps had been removed to join the army in front of Petersburg. On July 29 we heard of a great assault and the mine explosion at Fort Harrison in the front of Petersburg-another great blunder of the war, accompanied by a useless sacrifice of life. General Brooks, commanding our corps, was succeeded by Major General D. B. Birney on July 22.
During this period of inaction the writer had permission to go to Fortress Monroe to look after the wounded of the Regiment in that hospital. He found Colonels Osborn and Mann occupying a room together on the second floor of the hospital. They were both under the care of Assistant Surgeon David G. Rush, U.S.V, but were both still confined to bed and suffering with the pain of their wounds.
Dr. Rush was much respected by those who were so fortunate as to come under his care. The acquaintance there formed with the officers of the Thirty-Ninth who were under his special care doubtless had some influence in the Doctor's selection of Chicago as his future home, and the same may perhaps be said concerning Dr. Daniel R. Brower, whom we first met with at Norfolk, Virginia, but who was formerly on the medical staff of Chesapeake Hospital.
In this connection we may mention another medical gentleman, Dr. Daniel T. Nelson, now a prominent physician of Chicago, whom the writer first met in March 1864, when he was an acting Assistant Surgeon, and had been assigned to the flying hospital of the Twenty-Fourth Army Corps by Medical Director J. B. Morrison. The Doctor was with us some months, and was assigned to the duty of keeping the hospital records. We found him to be a very capable and pleasant addition to our staff.
Captain O. F. Rudd occupied a room in the near vicinity, and his wife was with him, but the Captain was fast failing and could not possible survive more than a day or two. Lieutenants Sweetser and Butterfield, and the other wounded officers of the Regiment were in the large ward on the first floor and were not doing as well as could be desired, especially Lieutenant Sweetser, who had been attacked with hospital gangrene and had undergone some painful operations; but he was still happy and hopeful, and said that he would see us later in the war, and he did, for when the writer took charge of the hospital at Ferry Point, Norfolk, Virginia, he came over and remained until he left for home.
The hospital was in a very bad condition, hospital gangrene being very prevalent, and it was a most unfit place for wounded men-especially the main hospital building. It was under the control of Assistant Surgeon McClellan, U. S. A.
The enlisted men of the Thirty-Ninth who where at this place were located in tents, and seemed to be well cared for, yet there were many complaints made relative to the manner of treatment and the quality of rations that were furnished; but this was to be expected in even the best regulated hospitals.
Great dissatisfaction was often expressed at the conduct of the chaplains, and with good reason, too, in many instances, for their ministrations often resulted in doing more harm than good, especially
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where they were so persistent and officious in looking after the spiritual interests of the men as to worry and irritate them. The chaplains, as a class, were noble and patriotic men, and were as zealous in caring for the physical wants of the wounded and dying as their spiritual, both on the field of battle, in hospital, and in camp. But then there was a large number of clerical parasites clinging to the hospital who were too timid to take the field or even accompany their regiments. They were Pharisees, who made it a business to pray aloud in public places that they might be seen and heard of men-they were rotten to the core, not caring half as much for their soul's welfare or "anybody else's" as for the dollars they received per month from "Uncle Sam."
One of our boys made a grievous complaint to me about the religious counselor that frequented his ward. He would come half a dozen times a day, scattering tracts; and sitting down on the cot would tell him that he was looking very poorly and must prepare to die; that if he did not repent of his sins he would surely go to hell.
"Now," said the boy, "I don't waste any such sycophant coming and preaching to me, disturbing the rest that I so much need-irritating me beyond all control by his canting about my sinfulness and telling me that I must die and go to perdition. He is doing me harm all the time! I feel that I shall get well if I have proper care; and if I don't, I am ready to go when the time comes. It was only the other day that one of the sick men here got so incensed at him that he threw a plate at him and told him to go to the devil, and whenever he comes palavering round me I feel like doing the same thing."
This forcing of religious counsel upon men at such times and under such circumstances was most unwise and reprehensible. No good came of it, but rather great injury sometimes.
The writer has stood beside hundreds of soldiers when dying from disease or wounds, and he has never yet seen one manifest the least fear in facing death. Often have they expressed themselves as willing and glad to go. One case is well remembered, that of a young drummer boy suffering with chronic diarrhea and under his care at the post hospital Norfolk, Virginia, in 1865. He knew that he could not get well-was wasted away to a mere shadow which was growing darker and darker for him each day. In visiting through his ward one morning he found him clothed and sitting up beside his bed. Says he: "Doctor, I want to ask you a question. You know that I cannot live, and I want to know how long it will be before I die."
"Why, Johnny, you seem pretty strong and cheerful this morning, and you must not go so gloomily."
"Yes, I know, Doctor, that I feel a little better, but it's all owing to the milk-punch and the stimulants. I want to know how long you think I can live. I am getting tired of living, for I feel myself a nuisance to everybody and I want to go. I have got a mother and sisters at home, and oh! I should be so glad to see them and have them here with me for a little time; but I shall never see them again in this world."
He was told that it was impossible to say how long he might live, but that he would soon be released from his troubles. It was promised to write to his friends. In making the evening round through the wards his bed was found vacant-he was in the dead-room.
While on the subject of army chaplains it may be proper to mention a little incident connected with our Chaplain, the Rev. C. S. McReading. While we were at Winchester, Virginia, in 1862, Chaplain Mac, as we termed him, was invited to pray in a Methodist church presided over by the Rev.
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Dr. Brooke. It was seldom, during our stay near Winchester, that public service was held in the churches on Sabbath day, for the reason, as a soldier said, "the people were afraid to show themselves in their homemade clothes"; and it was a fact that even wealthy families were obliged to wear clothing of the coarsest description. The chaplain, who was invited to occupy the pulpit and assist in the services, was called upon to make the prayer, and he invoked the Deity most fervently for the "success of the Union armies"-"the speedy suppression of this wicked and causeless rebellion"- "for Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States," and for "the Congress then in session at Washington"-a style of invocation that was new to the people of Winchester. He was never again invited into the pulpit at Winchester during our stay.
On August 13 the Regiment, then in command of Captain Leroy A. Baker, the senior officer present, was called upon to move out of camp to once more face the enemy. The movements of the Thirty-Ninth on this day, and the fierce and bloody battle that followed on the 16th of August, are graphically described by Homer A Plimpton, who took an active part in it, as follows:
An Account of the Battle of Deep Run, Virginia, August 16, 1864.
"When we broke up camp on the 13th of August, we concluded, from the nature of the orders, that we were to embark on transports and proceed to some point which, according to various surmises, was supposed to be somewhere between Washington and Mobile. When, however, we reached the river where we naturally expected to find the transports with steam up and everything in readiness for our reception, we beheld not the above, but a long line of pontoons stretched across the river. Over these we went 'marching on,' and did not stop until we found ourselves massed in a piece of woods near the enemy's line of advanced works not far from Deep Run. When morning dawned, skirmishing commenced, and it was not long before our brigade was in motion and in readiness for a charge. We charged the rebels and drove them from their first line to a second, more formidable.
"During the balance of the day we moved about from one place to another, and at night went on picket. At one o'clock, however, we were quietly withdrawn and moved back to the pontoon bridge, crossed over, and moved down the stream about half a mile recrossed on another pontoon, and found ourselves with the Second Corps, General Hancock command- ing. Both corps commenced moving towards Richmond. We advanced to within about eight miles of the city, when we came in contact with the enemy entrenched. Our Regiment supported a battery all day and the next night. No general engagement took place that day.
"On the morning of the 16th, the day following, our Brigade received orders to move to the right of the rebel works in support of regiments thrown out as skirmishers. We were soon brought under fire, and were not long in ascertaining that the force before us was by no means small. We found that the enemy had been driven from their rifle-pits, and were now inside their main works. We soon moved forward over the line of skirmishers to within 200 yards of the rebel entrenchments, screened, however, from view by dense woods. We here received notice from our Division General A. H. Terry, that our Brigade had been selected to 'charge those works!' Between us and 'those works,' was a strip of slashing about 100 yards wide,
"Charge those works!"
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and it was no easy matter to cross such obstacles under a galling fire. We formed just inside of the woods, out of sight, but near enough to the rebels for them to hear our commands:
Courtesy of the National Archives
Members of the Thirty-Ninth guarding a pontoon bridge over the James River
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"The Brigade was formed in double column on the center at half distance by regiments, the Thirty-Ninth being on the extreme left. When all was ready, the command 'Forward!' was given, and we moved off on common time, with arms at a 'right shoulder shift;' but as soon as we reached the edge of the slashing we received a deadly volley from the enemy which brought the guns down to a 'trail,' and our colors to the ground. These were immediately picked up by an officer [Lieutenant Norman C. Warner, Company E], and away we went with a regular Western yell, on the full jump, over logs, tree-tops and stumps thrown about in inextricable confusion.
"The scene that now presented itself to my view I shall never forget-whole divisions of the advancing column swept down in the twinkling of an eye. On every hand could be seen the dead and dying men-our own comrades, who but a short time before were buoyant and hopeful, with no thought of death to make them sad.
"But notwithstanding this terrible slaughter, the old Western brigade did not stop, but made directly for the rebel breastworks bristling with bayonets and alive with men; nor did the enemy give way, but fought us hand-to-hand as we attempted to mount the works. Our colors were again shot down. Lieutenant Warner, who was carrying them, losing a leg. Another officer snatched them up and sprang upon the parapets, followed by scores of others, who leaped over right among the 'Johnnies,' and commenced using the bayonet and clubbed musket. Soon a break was made and then began the capturing of prisoners. After we got over the works, we immediately swung to the left and moved down the trenches, hauling out the 'graybacks,' who begged lustily for mercy. In a short time we had possession of the line and nearly 800 prisoners and five stands of colors.
"A brave young private, Henry M. Hardenburgh, of Company G, captured one of the latter after a hand-to-hand fight with the color-sergeant of the Tenth Alabama, whom he left dead on the field. General Birney, our Corps Commander, to whom he delivered the flag, complimented him very highly. Since coming here, while on duty in the trenches, he was mortally wounded by a piece of shell. A day or two after his death his appointment as First Lieutenant in the Thirty-Sixth United States Colored Troops was received at our headquarters from Major-General Butler, for gallantry on the field, but it came too late. He is silent in the grave, all unmindful of earthly rewards.
"After getting possession of the works spoken of before, the fighting by no means ceases. The enemy was constantly receiving reinforcements, and by some means or other succeeded in regaining possession of a portion of the line on our left, to which another brigade had been sent. Having gained this advantage, which uncovered our left flank, they soon rendered our position untenable, and we were, per consequence, compelled to give back, which we did under a raking fire.
"We remained on the north side of the James, skirmishing and fortifying, until the 20th, on the night of which we returned to our old camp. Our loss while on the north side was ninety-seven men and seven officers killed, wounded, and missing. Three of the seven officers are among the killed."
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The morning report of the Regiment on August 16 showed only 228 men fit for duty, fifteen of whom were on detail, leaving only 213 with eleven officers to enter into this assault. The loss was ninety-seven men and seven commissioned officers, and when it retired and returned back to camp it did so with 116 men commanded by four officers, of whom Captain Plimpton, Company G, was the senior officer.
SCENE OF ASSAULT, AUGUST 16, 1864.
Captain Leroy A. Baker, who commanded the Regiment, fell, struck by a bullet that so shattered his leg that amputation was found to be necessary.
Lieutenant Norman C. Warner, Company E, was struck down while gallantly bearing the colors of the Regiment, which he had torn from the bloody hands of Sergeant Henry M. Hardenburgh, Company G, and so tight was the grasp of Hardenburg upon the folds that the piece grasped by him remained within his hand when the banner was taken by Lieutenant Warner. Lieutenant Warner was also compelled to lose a leg, and as he was being borne back to the hospital his thoughts reverted to the mother at home, whom he was so anxious should be spared the intelligence of this calamity until able to communicate the matter in his own way, that he cautioned the boys, "Don't tell mother! Don't tell mother!" This seemed to occupy his mind more than the painfully shattered leg that was being borne back to the surgeon's knife.
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