USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifty-fourth regiment of Masachusetts volunteer infantry, 1863-1865 > Part 12
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forcements had arrived, Seymour might have gone to the Suwanee River, a strong, defensive line.
Seymour arrived at Sanderson with Barton's brigade on the evening of the 11th, amid a torrent of rain. Gillmore on the 11th sent instructions to Seymour not to risk a re- pulse at Lake City, but to hold Sanderson and the south fork of the St. Mary's. Seymour withdrew to Barber's on the 12th.
From Jacksonville on the 10th, Major Appleton, with Companies C, D, F, and K, went to Camp Finegan, where the next day he was joined by Company E, and on the 12th his force marched to Baldwin. This hamlet was the junc- tion of the Atlantic and Gulf, and Fernandina and Cedar Keys railroads. It consisted of a hotel, railroad depot, freight-house, and a few small, unpainted dwellings. The telegraph was in working order from there to Jacksonville. Supplies were brought up by means of captured cars drawn along the rails by horses.
Col. B. C. Tilghman, Third United States Colored Troops, with his regiment, and a company of the First New York Engineers, held the post. Work began and continued daily on intrenchments, block houses, and a stockade. Scouting parties and foraging details went out each day, the latter bringing in beeves, poultry, and potatoes. Pickets from the Fifty-fourth alternated with those from the Third United States Colored Troops, and furnished garrisons for the block houses and stockades.
From beyond the St. Mary's our advance forces had been all drawn back to Barber's by the 13th. Henry was sent to the southward. Capt. George Marshall, Fortieth Massa- chusetts, at Gainesville on the 15th repulsed the noted Captain Diekison, Second Florida Cavalry, with a superior
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force. From Barber's on the 14th a detachment went to Callahan Station and destroyed the railroad and bridges there.
This Florida expedition was a subject of Congressional inquiry. Seymour's letters disclose a most remarkable change of views and purposes. Gillmore was for holding Jacksonville as a base, and Baldwin, Pilatka, and other secondary posts with small garrisons and earthworks. After a conference with Seymour on the 14th at Jack- sonville, Gillmore departed for Hilton Head. In his re- port to Halleck he says, -
" I considered it well understood at the time between Gen- eral Seymour and myself that no advance would be made without further instructions from me until the defences were well advanced."
Seymour, left in command, at once issued a number of orders for the governing of his territory. One of these honored the memory of the regiment's first commander in the following words : -
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, DEP'T OF THE SOUTH, JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Feb. 16, 1864.
General Orders No. 2.
The Camp of Instruction, established by direction from De- partment headquarters on the railroad eight miles from Jackson- ville, will be known as Camp Shaw, in memory of the young and devoted patriot who fell in the assault of July 18, 1863, upon Fort Wagner, S. C., and whose name will constantly sug- gest to the troops of this camp all that is honorable and meritorious.
By order of
BRIG .- GEN. T. SEYMOUR.
R. M. HALL, 1st Lieut. 1st U. S. Art'y, Act. Ass't-Adj't-Gen'l.
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Disregarding his instructions, Seymour prepared to exe- cute the advance which he had resolved to make, seemingly in complete ignorance of the enemy's force. Disaster and failure were inevitable. By letter on the 17th, he informed Gillmore that he would move to the Suwanee River to destroy the railroad. His letter closed with a postscript reflecting upon all his higher officers in these words: "Send me a general for the command of the advance troops, or I shall be in a state of constant apprehension." On the 18th Gill- more did send him a general in the person of General Turner, his chief of staff, not for the purpose requested, but to suspend the movement, bring Seymour back to Bald- win, and deliver letters expressing his surprise at the advance. When Turner, delayed many hours by stormy weather, reached Jacksonville, Seymour was engaged with the enemy.
In response to calls in every direction for help, General Finegan began to receive aid immediately after our retire- ment from Lake City. On the 13th, with a force num- bering two thousand men, he moved forward toward Sanderson, taking post at Olustee, where he constructed strong works, to better defend his position. Reinforce- ments continued to join, so that on the 18th he had forty-six hundred infantry (largely veterans), about six hundred cavalry, and three batteries of twelve guns. The enemy's knowledge of our force was accurate, and of our plans considerable, for despatches from Gillmore to Terry at Folly Island were intercepted and deciphered. Beaure- gard therefore stripped his garrisons elsewhere to meet us in Florida.
A diversion made by General Schimmelfennig on John's Island, S. C., occurred too early, and another by Col. J. B.
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Howell, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania, at Whitmarsh Island, Ga., too late to serve Seymour.
Colonel Hallowell, commanding Jacksonville, occupied the Crespo house as headquarters. The Fifty-fifth Massachu- setts arrived on the 14th, and the next day relieved the Fifty-fourth from picket and provost-guard duty. Colonel Hartwell succeeded Colonel Hallowell in command of the post. Second Lieut. Thomas S. Bridgham, a brother of our assistant-surgeon, first joined at Jacksonville.
With Companies A, B, G, and H, at 8 A. M., February 18, Colonel Hallowell set out from Jacksonville for Baldwin. A march of some eighteen miles was made that day, and the next morning at 8.30 o'clock the Fifty-fourth was again reunited. Our pickets and details were relieved, rations of coffee and sugar issued, knapsacks lightened of much cloth- ing, which was stored, and the regiment moved at 10 A. M., with orders to report at Barber's. The distance of twelve miles was compassed with four halts for rest. Mile after mile of pine barren was passed through, bounding the sandy road on either side, many of the trees bearing the scarification of the axe made to secure the resinous sap. But few habitations were encountered, and those seen were small log or slab huts, in cleared spaces, whose only touch of beauty were the apple and peach trees in blossom.
About 6 P. M. the Fifty-fourth arrived at Barber's, bivouacking in the woods on the left of the road near the First North Carolina. Fires were made ; and the quarter- master having borrowed four days' rations of hard bread, the men made a hasty meal, and turned in for the night. There had been no time or inclination to look about, but there around Barber's house lay Seymour's little army of some five thousand men resting beside the flickering camp-fires.
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Reveille sounded at 5 A. M. on the eventful Feb. 20, 1864, and at seven o'clock the troops began to move, - the Light Brigade in advance, followed by Hawley's, then Barton's, the Artillery, and Montgomery's in rear guard- ing the train. Just before the Fifty-fourth started, Major Appleton was ordered to remain in command at Barber's, with Company E on picket, covering the railroad trestle, and Company A at Barber's house. Lieut. Lewis Reed, with thirty men, was to protect the telegraph line as the column advanced.
In fine spirits, the Fifty-fourth, followed by the First North Carolina, began the march, while the men sang, " We're bound for Tallahassee in the morning." The country was more open than that below. The road ran for long distances beside the railroad. Occasionally the forest widened out into savannas yellow with grasses and dotted with hemlock patches. From a clear sky the warm sun glistened and gleamed through the tall pines bordering the pathway. About every hour the brigade halted for a short rest.
Sanderson, some nine miles from Barber's, was reached by our advance before noon. People there stated that the enemy were in force beyond, and truly predicted our defeat ; but their words were little heeded. Near an old mill be- yond Sanderson, Henry's men came upon a few cavalry of the enemy, who fled when fired upon. Henry halted there until Hawley's infantry and Hamilton's battery came up, when the advance was resumed, the Seventh Connecti- cut, as skirmishers, leading.
Meanwhile, General Finegan at Olustee, receiving word that we were approaching in small numbers, sent out his cavalry under Col. Carraway Smith, with orders to skir-
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mish and draw us on to the works at Olustec. As sup- port he sent the Sixty-fourth Georgia and two companies of the Thirty-second Georgia. Moving forward two miles, where the wagon-road crossed the railroad, the infantry halted, the cavalry proceeding until near a point where the railroad recrossed the country road. The intervening ground, between the two crossings, was the battlefield of Olustee. The Confederates call the action the battle of Ocean Pond, from the extensive lake near the field on the north.
Over the last-mentioned crossing our skirmishers ad- vanced at about 1.30 P. M., Elder's battery occasionally shelling the woods. The enemy's cavalry fell back, as instructed, to their infantry, at the crossing. At that point, Brig .- Gen. A. H. Colquitt had arrived with the Sixth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-eighth Georgia, and ordering the cavalry to his flanks, threw out skirmishers and formed line of battle. Perceiving our strength, he sent for re- inforcements and ammunition.
Moving through open pine woods, our advance now met firm resistance for the first time. By General Seymour's direction, Hawley moved his brigade into line. Personally leading the Seventh New Hampshire by the flank to the right, to avoid a small pond, he ordered a deployment under fire. He supposed the noise and confusion caused his order to be misunderstood, for the Seventh scattered, and went drifting to the rear notwithstanding the efforts of Colonel Abbott, his officers, and the gallant color-bearer, Thomas H. Simington. Hamilton placed his six guns under heavy fire within one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy ; and the Eighth United States Colored Troops went into line on the left. Henry, with the Fortieth
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Massachusetts (mounted) and the Massachusetts Cavalry Battalion, held the flanks. Opposed to a superior force and murderous fire, the Seventh Connecticut and Eighth United States Colored Troops were, after excessive losses, forced to give ground. Hamilton, who was wounded, bravely supported the line with his guns, but was finally obliged to abandon two pieces for want of horses to bring them off. Col. Charles W. Fribley, of the Eighth United States Colored Troops, after displaying the utmost gal- lantry, was mortally wounded.
But fresh troops were at hand, for Barton's brigade was coming up, supported by Elder's battery of four pieces on the right, and Langdon's battery of six guns, with a section (two guns) of Battery C, Third Rhode Island Artillery, under Lieut. Henry Metcalf, on the left. Barton formed on the right of the road at the new position taken up by Hawley. Colquitt, however, had received reinforcements, putting the Sixth Florida Battalion and Twenty-third Georgia into line, and the First Georgia (regulars) and the Thirty-sec- ond Georgia, which arrived shortly after, to prolong his left. He then advanced with the Chatham Artillery in rear of his centre, opening a destructive fire along the whole front. Finding feeble opposition on his right, he threw the Sixth Florida Battalion forward to enfilade our line. Barton now only maintained his position at a terrible cost of officers and men, and all his regimental commanders - Col. Henry Moore, Forty-seventh, Major W. B. Coan, Forty-eighth, and Colonel Sammon, One Hundred and Fifteenth New York - wounded. Colquitt's men were out of cartridges for a time ; but supplies came, and fresh troops also, composed of a section of Guerard's Battery, Bonaud's Battalion, the Twenty-seventh Georgia, and Second Florida Battalion.
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The enemy's artillery too was supplemented by a heavy gun mounted on a railroad car. With these accessions to his force, Colquitt moved the Sixth and Thirty-second Georgia to flank the right of Barton's brigade, and notwithstand- ing stubborn resistance, was gradually forcing it back.
General Seymour throughout these events was present on the field, exhibiting great personal gallantry. Discern- ing that victory was not for him, after such grievous losses, he sent to hasten the colored brigade into action, and made disposition to retire under cover of Montgom- ery's attack.
About 2.30 P. M. the colored brigade was resting, - the Fifty-fourth in the shade on the left of the road at a place where wood had lately been felled. Musketry firing had been heard in the distance, but after a time there came the sound of cannon. " That's home-made thunder," said one man. " I don't mind the thunder if the lightning don't strike me!" was the response. Another remarked, " I want to go home!" "You'll stay forever, maybe !" was the reply. Soon an orderly rode up at full speed, calling for the commanding officer. Colonel Hallowell sprang to his feet, and received an order for his rapid advance. In a few moments the regiment was moving at the double- quick, urged on by the heavier sound of battle. When the pace began to tell on the men, knapsacks, blankets, and even haversacks were cast away to lighten their load. At the railroad crossing, Colonel Montgomery. who was lead- ing, was met by a staff-officer from General Seymour, bring- ing the order to move forward he had anticipated.
Nearing the battleground, resounding with cannon-shots and musketry, the dispiriting scene so trying to troops about to engage, of hundreds of wounded and stragglers, was en-
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countered. All sorts of discouraging shouts met the ear as the regiment speeded onward, as, " We're badly whipped !" " You 'll all get killed." Still farther on was part of a dis- abled battery also going to the rear. But through this rift and drift of conflict the tired and panting men pressed on, and led by Sergeant Cezar of Company D, found breath to shout their battle-cry, " Three cheers for Massachusetts and seven dollars a month !" As the Fifty-fourth advanced, the field hospital of the Eighth United States Colored Troops was passed, which its coming saved from the threatening enemy. Adjutant Howard relates that as he was riding over the field beside Colonel Hallowell, General Seymour rode up to that officer and told him in substance that the day was lost, and that everything depended on the Fifty-fourth.
When the regiment arrived at the battle-front, it was about four o'clock. Colonel Hawley in his report thus describes the event : -
" Colonel Montgomery's brigade had come up. The Fifty- fourth Massachusetts, Colonel Hallowell, went into action on our left, the First North Carolina on our right between us and Barton's retiring brigade, halting and firing fiercely, with its right well forward so as to form an angle of perhaps 120° with the line of the Fifty-fourth."
He further says, -
" About that time an aid came to say that the general wished me to fall back, as the enemy were only feinting on our right, and were preparing to flank us in force."
This, then, was the situation as the Fifty-fourth took position : Barton retiring ; the only other infantry - the Seventh Connecticut Battalion - ordered to fall back ;
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and Seymour believing that the enemy were preparing to flank us on the left, where the Fifty-fourth alone were taking post. Well might Seymour think that everything depended on our regiment. Under these adverse conditions the colored brigade was to hold the enemy in check until a new line could be formed in the rear.
Colonel Hallowell led his regiment by the flank into the woods on the left of the road, and forming by file into line, immediately opened fire. The Fifty-fourth had thirteen officers and 497 men in action, with a formation as below, Company D being on the left, -
D B II F K C G I - - -
The following-named officers were present, - Colonel Hallowell, Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper, Acting Adjutant Howard ; Company I, Lieutenant Homans ; Company G, Lieut. David Reid ; Company C, Lieutenant Tomlinson, commanding, and Lieutenant Bridgham ; Company K, Lieu- tenant Littlefield, commanding, and Lieutenant Leonard ; Company F, Captain Bridge ; Company H, Lieutenant Chip- man ; Company B, Lieutenant Newell ; Company D, Lieu- tenant Duren. Assistant-Surgeons Bridgham and Pease, and Quartermaster Ritchie, were on the field. Sergeant Wilkins, of Company D, bore the national flag in the ranks of Com- pany K, and Corporal Peal, of Company F, the State color. Captains Pope and Jewett, of the Fifty-fourth, on Colonel Montgomery's staff. took part in the action.
About the same time the First North Carolina went into action on the right of the road. The Fifty-fourth formed in a grove of pine extending around on every side over ground nearly level. So open was the forest that the
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enemy's line and colors could be seen about four hundred yards distant, with two guns in front of our right well advanced, apparently without much support. On the ex- treme left front were guns covered by the railroad embank- ment. A Confederate plan of the battle shows Bonaud's battalion advanced, supported by the Nineteenth Georgia and Sixth Florida, all between the wagon-road and the railroad, while beyond the railroad to their right were two guns of Guerard's battery and some cavalry. Only the Fifty-fourth in the latter part of the action was on our left of the wagon-road in the battle-front.
Upon taking position the regiment received a steady but not severe musketry fire, with a flanking fire of shell from the artillery on our left front. The horses of the field and staff had been sent to the rear. Colonel Hallowell mounted the stump of a tree some fifty feet in rear of his centre to oversee his men and the position. After a time Companies D and B on the left were thrown back to present a better front and guard that flank. While retiring from making report of this to Colonel Hallowell, Acting Sergeant- Major Swails was wounded.
On the extreme right, Lieutenant Homans, an impetuous and brave officer, noticing the exposed position of the two pieces, sprang in front of his line, and shouting, "Now is a good opportunity ; we'll try and take those guns ! " led his men forward ; but he was soon ordered back into line.
In the centre, where Captain Bridge was prominent, our companies were enduring an increased musketry fire from front and flank. Sharpshooters were observed perched in the trees, but a few volleys brought them down. We were sustaining casualties every moment; but most of the missiles passed overhead.
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Assistant-Surgeons Bridgham and Pease brought their ambulance to the field and proceeded to establish them- selves not far from the line. After some time, and a shell having fallen near by, they retired to a less exposed place. Colonel Montgomery, accompanied by his staff, was round and about the Fifty-fourth line exposing himself freely ; perceiving the strong fire coming from the direction of the railroad, he shouted, "Fire to the left! Fire to the left ! "
Under such conditions after a while the men began to chafe, and exhibit a desire for aggressive action. Already Warren Moorhouse, of Company E, and another man had crept out as sharpshooters. Sergeant Stephens, of Company B, remembered distinctly that " a little black fellow, whose name I cannot recall, would run forward beyond the line in his excitement, discharging his piece, fall back and load, and then rush out again. Our line was doing its level best. Shortly, this man I speak of fell, shot through the head."
Now there occurred an episode which shows that the colored soldiers, of the Fifty-fourth at least, possessed other than passive courage. They had, as stated, endured the situation with growing impatience. Suddenly Sergeant Wilkins, with the national flag, was seen advancing, fol- lowed by the men about him. They had proceeded some one hundred and fifty paces when Colonel Hallowell, realizing that the regiment without orders might follow them into a dangerous position unsupported, sent word for a return.
Meanwhile in the action Captain Jewett (who had been relieved from staff duty at his own request), Lieuten- ants Littlefield and Tomlinson, and many men had been
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wounded, and some killed. The regiment had been firing very rapidly ; for many of the men, by jarring their pieces on the ground, sent the loads home without using the ram- rods. It was observed that the musketry fire of the enemy was more effective than that of their artillery. Their shells were fired too high, passing over into the trees back of the Fifty-fourth. From the heavy gun on the railroad car came reports which dominated all other battle sounds.
This spirited movement into action of the colored brigade is acknowledged to have caused the enemy's right to give way somewhat, and imperilled the guns of Captain Whea- ton's Chatham Artillery. Under cover of its onset Sey- mour withdrew his white troops to a new line some one hundred yards in the rear, - Langdon being forced to aban- don three of his guns. This retirement was continued in successive lines of battle. A newspaper correspondent, writing of the action, said, " The two colored regiments had stood in the gap and saved the army." But the cost had been great, particularly to the First North Carolina, for it lost Lieut .- Col. Wm. N. Reed, commanding, mortally wounded ; Maj. A. Bogle, Adjt. W. C. Manning, three cap- tains, and five lieutenants wounded ; one captain killed, and some two hundred and thirty enlisted men killed, wounded, or missing. Having maintained the contest for some time, it was withdrawn.
Every organization had retired but the Fifty-fourth, and our regiment stood alone. From the position first taken up it still held back the enemy in its front. What had occurred elsewhere was not known. Why the Fifty-fourth was left thus exposed is inexplicable. No orders were received to retire. No measures were taken for its safe withdrawal. It would seem either that the position of
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the regiment was forgotten, or its sacrifice considered necessary.
Darkness came on early amid the tall pines. It was now about 5.30 P. M. The Fifty-fourth had lost heavily. Cor- poral Peal, with the State color, was mortally wounded, and from his hands Corp. Preston Helman, of Company E, received the flag. Of the color guard Corporal Gooding, of Company C, was mortally wounded, and Corporals Glasgow of B and Palmer of K were also wounded. One other non- - commissioned officer was killed, and seven wounded. Only a few cartridges remained in the boxes ; more were brought, but they proved to be of the wrong calibre.
From the sounds of battle extending behind our right, it at last became apparent that our forces had fallen back. Colonel Montgomery was with the Fifty-fourth, and seems to have determined to retire it in his bushwhacking way. This he did, as his staff-officer Captain Pope relates, by telling the men to save themselves. Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper recalls that the men informed him that Montgomery said, " Now, men, you have done well. I love you all. Each man take care of himself." But this plan did not please Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper, so telling Color Sergeant Wil- kins to stand fast, and securing the co-operation of officers and reliable men near at hand, he shouted, " Rally !" and a line was again formed.
At this time Colonel Hallowell with others became sepa- rated from the main portion. Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper, thus in command, briefly addressed the men, ordered bayo- nets fixed, and exercised the regiment in the manual of arms to bring it completely under control. Lieutenant Loveridge of Montgomery's staff at Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper's request rode out to the right, and returning,
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reported the enemy following our forces without order. The regiment was then directed to give nine loud cheers to make it appear we were receiving reinforcements. In line of battle faced to the rear the Fifty-fourth then marched off the field, stopping every two or three hundred yards and retiring again. The enemy did not follow closely, but some of their cavalry were on the right flank. Stray cannon-shots and musket-balls occasionally fell about. After thus moving back some considerable distance, the Fifty-fourth, passing through woods, came in sight on the left of part of a regiment armed with breech-loaders. This body of men retired, and soon another body of men was encountered, which also retired. At last the regiment came up with Seymour's main force, where Colonel Hallo- well found it, and assumed command.
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