USA > Massachusetts > Historical sketch of the old Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, during its three campaigns in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 : containing the history of the several companies previous to 1861, and the name and military record of each man connected with the regiment during the war > Part 13
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During the siege, Dr. Humphrey was temporarily detached from the regiment, to attend to the sick and
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wounded of Follet's, Howard's, and Davis's batteries, and Dr. Burnham was chief operating surgeon of the divi- sion.
A BARBAROUS ACT.
Early in the siege, one of those occurrences took place, which have disgraced the Confederates so fre- quently. A family, whose house was burned, just out- side our works, attempted to seek safety by fleeing to our lines. A rebel squad commanded them to halt ; they disobeyed, when a volley was fired, killing the woman. The family were entirely rebel, but were not spared on that account. It was one of the saddest sights I ever beheld, to see a little boy coming on before, waving a flag of truce, while the afflicted husband fol- lowed, driving a team on which lay the dead body of his wife, murdered by these fiends.
PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE.
. From this time onward, the enemy lay around our works, - we on a segment of an irregular circle, nine miles long, flanked, at each end of the arc, by a swamp; and the rebels about four miles distant, on a parallel, but, as subsequent examination showed, much weaker line of works. I shall chiefly describe the prog- ress of the siege by extracts from my correspondence, with such omissions and additions as the sequel makes necessary.
From the " Tribune," April 14, 1863: -
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" Nothing of startling interest occurred yesterday. Early in the morning, rebel skirmishers and sharpshoot- ers made their appearance in the edges of the woods, and our own went half a mile or so, outside our fortifica- tions, to exchange shots with them. . A great many lively rencounters took place ; and some of our men, par- ticularly among the Thirteenth Indiana, were wounded. I have yet to learn of the first death on our side, though from our parapets I have seen a great many of the enemy fall. Toward night, the fusillade between the two lines of skirmishers was rapid, and, after dark, the flashes of the guns illuminated the night like the gleaming of fire-flies. Once during the day a battery made its appearance, but the emphatic protest of three forts, enfilading it, soon caused its withdrawal. A couple of shells were thrown over the woods, toward our skirmishers, with no effect ; but, aside from this, the enemy's fire was exclusively of musketry. Our own fort guns and batteries kept pounding away, at intervals, all day and night; and the shots they sent to places where the rebels appeared must have annoyed, if they did not punish, them exceedingly.
" Prisoners and deserters came in at the rate of ten or fifteen an hour, during the latter part of the day. They report that the enemy intend to make another Harper's Ferry of Suffolk, having ample forces, they seem to think, for the purpose, of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, among which are two heavy siege guns. They
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transport their supplies to Franklin by rail, and the re- maining twenty-two miles they are hauled over these execrable roads. If an attempt to take the place is seriously intended, the time during the three days past has been employed in planting batteries behind the woods. There is every indication that the enemy will approach us, if he comes, by the Somerton road, where the rifle-pits are held by the Sixth Massachusetts, One Hundred and Sixty Sixth New York, Hawkins' Zouaves, One Hundred and Twelfth New York, Thirteenth In- diana, Davis's (Seventh Massachusetts) Battery, and swept by a withering fire from three forts He'll have a good time of it, coming over that road.
" Our men are in admirable trim, and are anxious to have the struggle come, such confidence have they in themselves and the strength of their position."
From the " Journal " : -
" Deserters and prisoners came in quite numerously during the day. Our artillery practice is splendid, and when it comes to be directed to the living column, its effect must be tremendous. The Somerton road, on which the Sixth is posted, is guarded by several regi- ments, and is swept by cross-fires from more than sixty cannon. An experienced artillerist and a general de- clares that one hundred thousand men could not emerge from the woods, and form a line of battle, and enter our fortifications. They would be entirely cut up before such a purpose could be effected.
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" Aside from the loss of life, it was one of the prettiest of sights, to stand, last evening, just after dark, about a half mile beyond our works, and see the flashes of our own and the enemy's guns, like thousands of fire-flies, and the great blazes from the deep-mouthed cannon, and the huge lights from burning buildings, and to hear the roar and rattle, and participate in the excitement of the day. The whistle of rebel missiles, uncomfortably near, however, soon modified the pleasure of the time, and I re-entered the breastworks. The firing ceased soon after dark, and was only broken at intervals through the night by the deep booming of our gun-boat cannon, baying deep-mouthed welcome to the foe, and, no doubt, dis- turbing him in his concealment in the woods.
" This morning, we are dropping shells from batteries and gun-boats, in all directions, and our sharpshooters are briskly coquetting with the enemy's. The fire is particularly lively for two or three miles down the Nan- semond, from our gun-boats, that are shot at, once in a while, by the rebel riflemen. Report says that a big siege-gun is being planted by the rebels at our old signal station, which is in plain sight. At the rate at which the shot and shell are being deposited in that vicinity, they are finding it rather uncomfortable working.
" The boys of the Sixth, who are on the extreme right, enjoyed their skirmishing last night immensely : twice as many volunteered to go out as were wanted; and after firing off their sixty rounds, some of them came in for
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more, and went out on the double-quick. So far, not one has been scratched.
" On the 15th, the fourth day of our ' siege,' besides the skirmishing of sharpshooters, and some little billing and cooing between our gunboats and rebel batteries, seven or eight miles down the Nansemond River, nothing was done. Very few casualties are reported, and none of them among any of the New England regiments. We are all lying in the trenches and forts this rainy day,- the fifth of our fronting the enemy. The eloquent voices of our cannon are talking in a semi-circle of five miles from the Edenton road, where Fort Dix is shelling the distant woods, around to the Nansemond River, where the gun-boats are scolding the rebel batteries away from any attempt to control the river navigation."
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During the 16th, the usual amount of shelling of woods on our part, and of mutual skirmishing was had, causing a few - some eight or ten - on our side to be wounded, more or less severely. Every advance in every direc- tion, on the part of the enemy, was handsomely repulsed, with comparatively very little effort from us, giving him to perceive clearly enough that there was no link loose in the armor which Gen. Peck had built around us. And every hour the works were made stronger and stronger. Those who deny the industry of the colored men ought to have seen them volunteer to do their part in erecting the defences, and the zeal with which they took hold. I have no doubt that they have built works in
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five days equivalent to a re-inforcement of 5,000 men.
From the signal-station in the heart of the city, every appearance and approach of the enemy was distinctly seen and notified, so that a few minutes sufficed to transfer forces from one point of the defences to another ; and the man at the station telegraphed to gunners, who could not see the effects of their own shots, exactly how to vary, in order to do more execution. In most respects, we could not have asked to be better situated for a suc- cessful fight.
Frequent skirmishes and slight engagements occurred all along the lines, in which the losses on our side were few. The enemy, during the night, would dig rat-holes, each large enough for one man, from which he would shoot at us during the day. At times, for hours, there would be a continual drip, drip, from these sharp-shoot- ers; and yet it was seldom that they hit one of our men.
We frequently shelled them, and sometimes detach- ments were sent out to charge them. On some of these occasions the contest would be in full sight of thousands, who gazed on the conflict with feelings that cannot be described. Up to April 18th, not a man from New Eng- land had been scratched, out of twelve or fifteen regiments in the division.
The nineteenth of April, ever memorable in the history of the country, and doubly dear to the members of the Sixth Regiment, was intended to be held as a holiday ;
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but its character was somewhat changed by circumstances. Our shelter-tents were pitched against the log's of our breastworks, and each man had his accoutrements on ; while the cannonade, and the hum of rifle-bullets from a foe separated from us but by a narrow stream, gave to the day an emphasis that no civic display, no holiday show, could impart. It was the holy Sabbath ; and yet, with all the preparations of war around us, we watched the foe and were ready for his approach.
Deserters began to report that Longstreet had no in- tention of besieging Suffolk, but that he designed to hold us in by a strong front, while he was raking the country of all food, negroes, and animals. During those times, · we appreciated the efforts of Gen. Peck, in obliging us to dig so much for months before: - Spades became trumps with us, and we agreed that, in its place, " the spade is mightier than the sword."
With the exception of slight skirmishes, one day fol- lowed another without much variation. We kept close watch from our rifle-pits and parapets, and, on seeing a little puff of smoke, took the hint, and stepped aside before the messenger of death had quite time to reach us ; and many a souvenir of Suffolk was brought away, in the shape of a bullet well intended, but that failed to perform the errand on which it was sent. Some of them, how- ever, came surprisingly near, and a few left emphatic marks on the persons of soldiers. The wonder was ever new that so many could be fired and so few hit, - not one to ten thousand shots.
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April 23d, we were all laughing over a jolly and per fectly sailor-like adventure that occurred.
A detachment of tars, to the number of seventy-five, landed on the left bank of the Nansemond, with a little howitzer, and a mule-cart load of ammunition, and pro- ceeded toward the village of Chuckatuck, a short distance from the river. As they approached the place, they found it in possession of a squad of rebel cavalry, that seemed to be the rear-guard of a retreating force. Firing immedi- ately commenced, whereat the mule attached to the am- munition cart became greatly " demoralized," as the rebels call being afraid, and he broke, and ran for the enemy. Seeing that they were in great danger of losing all their ammunition, our nautical allies, regardless of rebel shots, went on the double-quick after the supplies, meanwhile peppering away at the enemy. This movement was a new one to the rebels, and in a short time nothing could be seen but the tails of their horses. The tars caught. their refractory animal, and found a rebel captain and three soldiers killed, and captured three horses, and last but not least, the "town" of Chuckatuck. The end of the adventure corresponded with the beginning. One of the sailors attempted to ride one of the captured horses home, and the animal, not used to marine methods of steering, ran away with his rider, who shouted "Avast ! " " Belay!" and all the terms he could think of, in vain. Not liking his position, he drew his revolver, and plunked a ball through the head of his horse, and literally brought him to.
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On the 24th, a reconnaissance proceeded by the Eden- ton and Somerton roads. The Edenton force was quite large, under Col. Foster, of the Thirteenth Indiana ; and the Somerton expedition was commanded by Col. Buhler, of the One Hundred Sixty Fifth Pennsylvania, leaving Col. Follansbee, of the Massachusetts Sixth, in command of the entire front toward these roads. Lieut-Col. Beals, of the Sixth, led the right, and our force pushed on to a position just in front of the rebel rifle-pits, when our bat- tery shelled the enemy with great severity, and the skir- mishers worked their way up as near as was contem- plated in the movement, - the object on the Somerton road being to engage the enemy's attention, while the real engagement in force was on the other road. The boys went in gallantly, the Sixth - the only New England regiment on this road - consisting of companies C, G, H,and I, with small details from all the other companies except D, behaving as coolly as could be asked. The only reply was from the enemy's rifle-pits.
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Out of about forty killed and wounded, the Sixth had one man slightly wounded, C. C. Foot, company G. The same day, Horace W. Waldron, of company D, was wounded in the leg by a ball from a sharpshooter. His company was stationed at the Petersburg Railroad Bridge two weeks, skirmishing with sharpshooters; and his was the first injury received, though John Hood, of company D, was knocked over by a ball that passed through a seven- inch cypress log, and struck him on the breast. The es- capes that might be chronicled seem almost miraculous.
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On Sunday, the 26th, quite interesting interviews took place, under a flag of truce, in front of our camp, be- tween Col. Follansbee, Major Stott, who was officer of the day, and other officers, and a party of rebel officers. At the first meeting, in the morning, quite a shabby repre- sentation of the enemy appeared. The colonel wore a pair of blue pantaloons, with a sergeant's stripes, and other integuments equally unsuitable to his rank, includ- ing a shocking bad hat ; and his confrères were in keep- ing with him in their habiliments, for the only uniform the rebels seem to have hereabouts is a lack of uniformity. At an adjournment, in the afternoon, however, a different set attended, more fortunate in their apparel, and dressed in cadet gray, showing that some of the enemy, at least, can wear good clothes. Cigars and refreshments circu- lated (at the expense of our officers, of course), and all drank to peace, without specifying the conditions. At the second meeting a general order from Gen. Longstreet was produced, prohibiting all flags of truce, unless or- dered by the commander-in-chief of one of the armies.
John Humphrey, on the 27th April, John M. Davis, on the 28th, and Geo. B. Whitney, on the 28th, all of company D, were slightly wounded.
At 4 o'clock, May 1, said my correspondence with the "Tribune," " The New York Ninety-Ninth, Col. Wardrop, led by Lieut .- Col. Nixon, Col. Wardrop being brigade commander, was ordered to cross the South Quay Bridge and ascertain the strength of the enemy in the rifle-pits
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fronting Gen. Terry. The enemy had been permitted to honeycomb the land across the river with his rifle-pits, so that he not only was able to annoy the gunners on the forts, but to wound men in the roads, and even in the camps on the South Quay. After having been very active and annoying for several days past, they had become very quiet, and the Ninety-Ninth was sent out to reconnoitre. Laying plank across the gap in the bridge, about two hundred and fifty went over. The enemy understood the movement, and succeeded in decoying the brave fellows . along, by firing only an occasional shot, until they were very near the rifle-pits, when the hottest volleys were sent out from behind their breastworks, and large reinforce- ments emerged from the woods and deployed from the rear of the pits. Then the cannon from Fort Nansemond, the South Quay batteries, and from light batteries which had been playing on the rifle-pits with accurate aim and thorough execution, were pointed at the advancing col- umn of gray. The whole scene was in full view of thou- sands ; and our boys, who were compelled to be inactive spectators, could not repress cheers of joy as they saw the solid shot and shell plough through the ranks of the enemy. Wehave no means of knowing the loss of the rebels, but it must have been very large compared with our own.
" Meanwhile, our infantry being entirely inadequate to the work of advancing on such a force, fell back and re- crossed the bridge, leaving, however, twenty or thirty
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of their number killed and wounded on the field, within a short distance of the enemy's sharpshooters. The en- gagement lasted about two hours.
"At about sundown, some two hundred commenced the hazardous work of bringing off the dead and wounded. As each one, bent on his humane errand, and without arms, crept along behind what shelter the formation of the land permitted, the murderous villains in the rifle- pits would exercise their skill in shooting at them, until it became so dark that they could not see to draw a bead. But the brave fellows persevered, notwithstanding, and brought off every one of the killed and wounded.
" Among those who volunteered to this humane work was Quartermaster-sergeant O. F. Swift, of the Sixth Massachusetts (of Falmouth). The whole, scene was in full view of our regiment. The number of casualties was forty-one killed and wounded, - all of the Ninety- Ninth New York. The Ninety-Ninth was partly raised in Massachusetts. The list of killed and wounded -forty- one out of two hundred and fifty - tells an honorable story of gallantry in behalf of the Ninety-Ninth."
THE SIEGE RAISED.
Circumstances had for several days indicated that the force beleaguering Suffolk, after twenty-two days in front of it, were about departing; and on Sunday, May 3d, Gen. Getty and a strong force crossed the river to test their position, and ascertain their intentions. En-
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gagements took place at several points ; but the enemy were evidently on the move, as was afterwards ascer- tained, to the assistance of Lee.
The Sixth was kept behind the fortifications, in reserve, though the writer of these pages was out to the front, and was a sad spectator of the fall of Rev. Dr. F. E. Butler, chaplain of the Twenty Fifth New Jersey, an estimable gentleman and faithful officer. He accompanied him to his quarters, and assisted at his funeral service. It was soon ascertained through deserters, prisoners, residents along the roads, and the ever faithful contrabands, that the rebels were hastening across the Blackwater. The gen- eral movement commenced at sundown, Sunday.
THE ENEMY PURSUED.
The Sixth joined in the pursuit, on the morning of the 4th, on the Somerton road. The following letter was written at the time for the Boston "Journal : " -
"The ' siege of Suffolk' has been raised. The be- leaguering foe has ' folded his tents like the Arabs, and silently stolen away,' only he hadn't a chance to steal any tent, and so had none. And to-day we are return- ing from shelter-tents to barracks, and from rifle-pits to our old shanties, without any running accompaniment of whizzing bullets whenever we show our heads. The inky Blackwater, twenty-two miles away, rolls between us and the discomfited rebels. We are all as willing to ' speed the parting ' as we were ready to ' welcome the coming guest.'
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They began their retreat simultaneously with the cross- ing of Gen. Getty's troops on the night of Saturday, and during the fighting of Sunday they were already depart- ing. What Gen. Peck set in motion to feel their position, they regarded as a movement in force to flank them ; and though they professed a desire to meet us outside of our works, yet at the first serious attack they hastened to de- part. On Monday morning, at daylight, not a regiment was left within five hours' march of our troops, and be- fore noon of Monday they were across their Styx, in the Hades beyond.
" The Sixth Regiment and other forces, not knowing but they might be on a ruse, started on their track at sun- rise. We followed the Somerton road twelve miles; but aside from stragglers and deserters, not a rebel soldier could be found. About a hundred were picked up on that road, and more than as many more on other roads, by other forces, that have explored all the approaches to this place, even as far as Carsville. The roads are en- tirely clear of men, though the excellent earthworks on all those approaches show that there would have been warm work had we gone out to assault them ; for it must be confessed, that for neatness and beauty,- though I cannot think for strength,- they far surpass ours. But their character establishes one fact : if they came here intending to assault our works, they immediately aban- doned that purpose, for their works are too far out to command our entrenchments, and they are constructed
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solely to defend against attacks Suffolkward. This they do effectually.
LONGSTREET'S PURPOSE.
" I talked with a good many prisoners and deserters, and residents along the road, black and white, who lis- tened to the conversation of officers ; and they all agree that the expedition was for forage, of which there is good evidence to make one believe they obtained an immense quantity.
" One deserter tells me that he heard a quartermaster say they had obtained 1,500,000 pounds of pork, besides beef, corn, etc. ; and one bright fellow - a contraband - told me he saw an immense drove of cattle, in which, he heard a man tell an officer, there was about a thou- sand head, besides other droves he saw. Think of the army this immense quantity would feed, and then think that we have been "protecting' it all this time, in other words, saving it up to enable the enemy to protract the war. Every highway and cross-road has been ransacked and raked clean of all portable food, paid for in Confed- erate scrip, or taken without pay,- which amounts to pretty much the same thing, - leaving the impoverished inhabitants with scarcely enough to keep the wolf from the door till the lean and stingy earth hereabouts can be made to send out a little corn, or a few long-nosed shoats can grow into something resembling 'meat.' The Lord pity the women and children among them! The food
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they obtained was immediately transported towards Franklin, and thence by rail to feed Southern soldiers.
OUR PURPOSE.
" Surely the Sixth Regiment and the Seventh Battery have reasons for thankfulness as they remember how they have escaped. For twenty-two days, company D has been stationed at a post where, it is within bounds to say, ten thousand balls were fired at them by sharpshooters, and , yet but one was seriously hurt, and he is doing finely, while the others have been more or less exposed all the time, and in one sharp skirmish, and all preserved. So the Seventh, on Sunday, occupied a post of great expos- ure, and did excellent service ; and, though shells hit cannon and wounded horses, not a man was harmed.
" We are all quiet to-day, and it seems like Sunday to us all. Whether we shall remain as we are, or be sent in advance, or go around and help gallant Joe Hooker, we know not. Undoubtedly, great changes in the disposition of the forces will immediately take place. Of them it is not proper that I should tell what I know, which I may say, en passant, is very little.
"The enemy's loss, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, was estimated at from eight hundred to one thousand. Our loss during the twenty-three days was forty-four killed, two hundred and twelve wounded, and very few prisoners. Gen. Peck issued the following congratula- tory order : -
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HEAD-QUARTERS, U. S. FORCES,
SUFFOLK, VA., May 5, 1863.
General Order No. 31. The Commanding General recognizes in the issue of the ineffectual investment of Suffolk for twenty- three days by the enemy, and in the final withdrawal of his baffled and dispirited forces, marked evidences of the Almighty's, favor. With the acknowledged flower of his army, after long premeditation, with superior numbers, and under his ablest gen- erals, he has failed. In view of this gratifying test of the forti- tude and gallantry of the officers and soldiers of this command, the General Commanding tenders them renewed expressions of confidence and thanks.
By command of Maj .- Gen. PECK.
BENJ. B. FOSTER, Maj., A. A. General.
There were apprehensions that the enemy might re- turn, and heavy details were hard at work on the defences, and large numbers were constantly kept on picket. The weather, meanwhile, grew very warm, and for a week we enjoyed the accompaniments of a south- ern spring.
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