USA > Massachusetts > Wearing the blue in the Twenty-fifth Mass. volunteer infantry, with Burnside's coast division, 18th army corps, and Army of the James > Part 16
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It was at this time that the siege of little Washington was progressing and Longstreet with a large army was hovering about our lines at Suffolk. Matters at Winfield began to look serious. Captain Parkhurst finally concluded that he ought to be reenforced or else the place should be evacuated. He therefore directed Corporal Francis L. Moore to take some oarsmen and a boat, and start down the river after dark, procced to Plymouth and report the situation to Colonel Pickett. The corporal reached Plymouth, reported as directed and received a message to Parkhurst that he must " hold the fort." In returning, Moore moved along very near to the shore of Edenton bay at the entrance of the Chowan river. He was discovered by the enemy who gave him a volley and several random shots. The corporal however managed to escape without injury and reached Winfield safely.
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WEARING THE BLUE.
A few days after, a young woman came into the garrison and gave information that the rebels were marching on Win- field and would attack the place the next day. This woman was a strong Unionist and known as such. She said she came in person because it would not be safe for a man to travel towards the Union lines, but a female would not be suspected. Preparations for defence were continued, disposition of the forces was made and not one of the faithful garrison thought of surrender, though before night it was known that the enemy's column on the march from the Blackwater was three thousand strong. Fortune, however, favored the little garrison. That night at about ten o'clock, a transport steamer came silently up the river, showing no lights, bearing orders to evacuate the place. It was a most seasonable order, and before eleven o'clock that night, the commands of Captain Parkhurst and Lieutenant MeLane had embarked and steamed down the river. At Holly's landing they took on board seventeen horses. The next morning at ten o'clock, three thousand of the enemy stood confronting the empty block-houses and deserted intrench- ments at Winfield.
In Plymouth, at this time, a daily detail of eighteen men from each company was made to engage in the erection of a' fort and earthworks in rear of the town. Captain Albert HI. Foster had charge of the detail, and superintended the work.
Soon after this labor commenced, the Forty-sixth Massachu- setts Regiment arrived at Plymouth, and encamped near the camp of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts.
On Sunday, March 29th. Chaplain James preached a dis- course in the Methodist Church, his topic being " neutrality." He declared that there could be no honest neutrality. Every man was for the government or against it, and if men do not declare for the government they must be treated as enemies. As usual, the Chaplain looked forward to the ultimate success of our arms by the downfall of the rebellion.
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TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS.
On the 30th of March, [1863] Washington, N. C., was attacked by Confederate forces under General D. H. Hill, the saine gentleman probably commanding the same troops making the experimental trip to near New Berne, earlier in the month. Our small force at Washington consisted of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts [only eight companies of the regiment] under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Luke Lyman ; the Forty-fourth Massachusetts under Colonel Francis L. Lee ; two companies of the First North Carolina Infantry ; one company Third New York Cavalry and one battery Third New York Artillery. These troops, aided by the gunboats in the river received the onslaught of Hill and gave him such a reception that he concluded Washington was not to be given up merely upon demand, and so prepared for hard work and a siege.
The force of the enemy engaged at Washington consisted of Daniels' Brigade of five regiments, Garnett's Brigade of six regiments, Pettigrew's Brigade of six regiments, Robertson's Brigade of Cavalry of three regiments, and forty pieces of artillery. This force amounted to nearly fourteen thousand men and was sufficient to enable General Hill to take posses- sion and hold all important commanding positions in the vicinity of the besieged town. Hill's point, a high bluff some six miles below Washington was seized and fortified, thus enabling the enemy to blockade the river approach to the town. Rodman's point two miles below the town was also occupied, as was Ellison's hill which commanded the fort. This latter position was provided with Whitworth guns.
Fortunately, General Foster was in Washington when the Confederate force arrived. General Hill demanded the sur- render of the town. Foster promptly refused and determined with the small force of twelve hundred men, to resist the efforts of Hill to take the place. Foster called upon the colored people to aid in the defence and some two hundred men came forward and were armed. Though lacking drill and discipline, they rendered very effective aid.
Serg't SYLVESTER P. KREM.
Serg't DAVID I .. DAY.
IRA D. BATES, Prin. Musician.
MICHAEL KEATING.
JOHN A. MOGAFFEY.
COMPANY B.
Leliotype Printing Co., Boston.
WEARING THE BLUE. 191
Brigadier-General Palmer was in command at New Berne and exerted himself to aid Foster locked up in Washington. He sent Captain McDermot of the gunboat Ceres, who volun- teered for the purpose, to run the blockade of Pamlico river with ammunition for the besieged. McDermot succeeded in this bold undertaking during the night of the 3rd of April, and reached Washington at six o'clock on the morning of the 4th, restaking the channel as he moved along, the enemy having removed all stakes and buoys from the river. From Hill's point to the town, the Ceres was under constant fire and yet received little damage.
April 10th two companies of the Twenty-seventh Massachu- setts, C and I, were sent on the Ceres to attack a six-gun battery at Rodman's point. When within two hundred yards, the boat grounded with her broadside towards the battery. The enemy opened a vigorous fire to which the gunboat replied. Under this fire the troops disembarked, landed on the opposite shore, and returned to Washington with only three men wounded.
During the long siege the garrison was forced to lay in the trenches night and day. The soldiers worked incessantly in strengthening the line of earthworks encircling the town and throwing up traverses to protect themselves from an enfilading fire. The amount of work which these troops were compelled to perform may be better understood, when we state that the intrenchments were nearly two miles in length, and that these were successfully defended by eight companies of the Twenty- seventh Massachusetts, ten companies of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts, two companies of North Carolina Infantry and about two hundred Colored Volunteers. When it is considered that the defence of this line was made against the best efforts of fourteen thousand Confederate troops under skilled com- manders, we do not hesitate to say that the defence against such odds, rises to the point of heroic grandeur, equalled during the war only by Mulligan's glorious defence of Lex- ington, Missouri, in the autumn of 1861.
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General Foster called upon General John J. Peck, com- manding at Suffolk, Va., for aid. General Longstreet was hovering about the Blackwater, and learning that Foster had called upon Peck for three thousand troops, at once crossed the river and attacked the latter. But Peck was enough for Longstreet, and successfully defeated the skilled Confederate commander. Under these circumstances however, Peck could not spare any troops to assist in the defence of Washington, and so Foster was compelled to rely upon his own resources.
On the 7th of April, the Fifth Rhode Island, Colonel Sisson, Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers, the Third, Fifth, Eighth and Forty-third Massachusetts, [nine months' regiments] and other regiments to the number of fourteen battalions, with artillery, left New Berne under command of Brigadier-General Spinola. Crossing the Neuse, this brigade marched forward for the relief of Washington. A little after noon of the 9th, the enemy in some force was found posted at Blount's creek, twenty-one miles from New Berne. [Previously, transports left New Berne, April 4th, with troops for the relief of Washington, directed to run the blockade of the river, but for some reason, the attempt was not pushed with vigor and the regiments returned to the city.] At Blount's creek, Spinola had a slight engagement with the enemy, mostly with artillery, our engaged battery being supported by the Forty-third Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel Holbrook. Spin- ola, after making this small effort, [much to the disappointment and chagrin of his battalions, for officers and mien alike were cager to relieve their pent-up comrades,] determined to return to New Berne, and immediately ordered the retrograde move- ment. Upon reaching New Berne, the Fifth Rhode Island Regiment demanded and received permission to run the block- ade to Washington, or land and attack the batteries at Hill's point. The transport steamer Escort, Captain Wall, with this veteran regiment on board, with Colonel Sisson in command, left New Berne at midnight of the 12th, and, on the night of
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WEARING THE BLUE. 193
April 13th, under cover of a heavy fire from the Union gun- boats upon the batteries at Hill's point, passed boldly up the river with its supplies and troops. The stakes that McDermot had planted guided her way, and she successfully ran the gauntlet of sharp-shooters who lined the shore for miles. The arrival of reinforcements and supplies was a happy event for the besieged and almost worn out troops. On the succeeding night, the Escort passed down the river with Foster on board, who left Washington that he might send succor to the garrison. On this return trip of the Escort, some eighteen solid shot and shell struck her, riddling her upper works and consider- ably injuring her machinery. Mr. Pederick, a native citizen of North Carolina, the pilot of the steamer, was killed by a shot from a sharp-shooter.
Upon reaching New Berne, Foster at once set about organ- izing a force to move against the enemy surrounding Washington, but before the column could be put in motion, Hill, of his own volition, raised the siege.
At Plymouth, threatened by the Confederate troops at Wash- ington, Colonel Pickett made every exertion possible to put the lines in a properly defensive state. The cannonading at Wash- ington was distinctly beard, and it was well understood that if the garrison there surrendered, our own fate was sealed, for, with the small force at Plymouth, a long defence could not be made against the large army operating ou the other side of the peninsula. The following Regimental Orders were promul- gated at Plymouth : -
Headquarters Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Plymouth, N. C., March 30th, 1863.
General Orders, { No. 64.
In honor of the navy, and more especially in compliment to a brave, accomplished and meritorious officer, the camp of the Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers is hereby designated "Camp Flusser."
By order of O. MOULTON, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding. HENRY McCONVILLE, Adjutant. 25
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TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS.
Headquarters Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Plymouth, N. C., April 15th, 1863.
Special Orders, { No. 99.
First-Lieutenant James M. Drennan, Company F, is hereby detailed as acting Adjutant of this Regiment, and will report for duty at these Headquarters immediately.
By order of
Lieutenant-Colonel MOULTON.
HENRY MCCONVILLE, Adjutant.
Headquarters Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Plymouth, N. C., April 18th, 1863.
Special Orders, Į No. 101.
In compliance with Special Post Order No. 52, of April 18th, 1863, Company D, Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, is hereby detailed to take charge of the Fort lately erected at this Post: the company will encamp on the lawn outside of the Fort and will perform all the garrison duty appertaining thereto.
By order of Lieutenant Colonel O. MOULTON, Commanding. JAMES M. DRENNAN, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant.
Headquarters Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Plymouth, N. C., April 21st, 1863.
Special Orders, Į No. 103.
Captain J. Waldo Denny, Company K, will detail from his company, Sergeant Emerson Stone to act as Sergeant-Major, and he will report to these Headquarters immediately.
By order of Lieutenant-Colonel MOULTON, Commanding Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers. JAMES M. DRENNAN, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant.
April 5th, the siege at Washington continuing, Lieutenant Forbes with Sergeant Charles C. Murdock and nine men were detailed to drill as artillerists, and were given charge of a gun to protect the right flank of our position.
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On the 8th of April, Captain O'Neill went to Roanoke island to superintend the loading of a siege gun for use at Plymouth.
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WEARING THE BLUE.
He returned, April 12th, with one gun which was mounted at the fort, being the first gun placed there in position, April 16th.
There was great anxiety in regard to the result at Washing- ton, and news was sought for and received with eager interest. We could hear the guns daily, but obtained information only upon the arrival of a steamer from New Berne.
April 19th, the steamer Thomas Collyer arrived, and from our diary of that date, we quote as follows : -
"The greatest excitement was created the moment it was an- nounced, 'a steamer coming up the river !' Officers, soldiers, con- trabands, citizens, both male and female residents, hastened to the wharf. Camps were deserted, stores vacated, sutlers' goods left for the benefit of whom it might concern, in the general stampede to the river. Pickett. rode down to the steamer, looking as anxious as" anybody. A parcel of papers was placed in his hands. Couldn't he just look at them? No -he plunged the spurs into the flanks of his horse and away he went. Well, the news ? I jumped upon the steamer and soon had all there was. Foster escaped from Washing- ton on the 14th instant on board the steamer Escort. The steamer was fired into from Hill's point, and the pilot killed. The little steamer Arrow with our mails on board was captured by the enemy on the canal between Roanoke and Norfolk. Among other letters the enemy can read, will be some of mine. There is one sweet comfort about it, they won't read any good of themselves, and fortunately we are all too poverty-stricken to be sending home money, therefore they will get no greenbacks."
That evening we wrote in the diary : -
" There is much speculation about our future. Colonel Pickett is the repository of some great secret. He is terribly reserved ; no power on earth can open his mouth or loosen his tongue. Officers may call - and be -- no wiser. I have my own idea about it, and it is this : that a necessity exists for the contraction of our lines, because it is folly to attempt to hold this point with so few troops, particularly while the enemy are in large force between us and little
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Washington. It is a military necessity that we should evacuate this place, because of our weakness and because the sinall force we have here is needed elsewhere."
The morning after writing that, we arose early to find the ' New York Battery on board the steamer and our neighbors of the Forty-sixth Massachusetts breaking up housekeeping ; tents struck, and everything packed. The North Carolina Company had all luggage packed and was ready to move. The secret was no longer concealed: evacuation was the order. The Twenty-fifth Massachusetts was to remain behind as a rear guard. After all the other troops had left, we were to blow up the fort, destroy the intrenchments and follow on.
But-and it shows how uncertain is everything in the army, just as the Forty-sixth Massachusetts was ready to leave, the steamer Mussusoit came puffing up the river. She brought the welcome news that the enemy had raised the siege of Washing- ton and left that vicinity in haste. Orders for evacuation were countermanded. As a matter of course, our soldiers were happy : once more they breathed freely : once more they smiled, visions of death, Richmond and captivity passed quickly away. The enemy signally failed in his second great attempt to drive us out of North Carolina.
Our little force at Winfield, as before stated, evacuated that place on the 17th of March, and the gunboat Southfield returned to Plymouth from little Washington on the 18th.
April 30th a party of officers and meu of the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiments, under command of Captain Flusser of the Navy, went up the Roanoke river in a naval launch for the purpose of surprising and capturing a picket post of the enemy supposed to be at Hyman's landing. Reaching the landing late in the evening, the enemy was not found posted there as expected. Mr. Hyman was called upon and brought out in his night dress, expressing however the most perfect ignorance as to the locality of the enemy's
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pickets. Flusser, drawing a short sword, applied its point to about the centre of Mr. Hyman's body and gravely in- formed him that unless he told the exact truth, the little sword would be run through his body. Hyman persisted in his ignorance of the enemy's locality, until the point of the sharp instrument began to draw a little blood, when his wife appeared upon the scene urging him to save his precious life by telling the truth, whereupon he revealed the fact that the picket of the enemy was stationed near a little school house three miles away. Leaving a guard to watch Hyman, the party pushed on and soon had the picket force of the enemy sur- rounded. This force consisted of twelve men and their horses. Before reaching them our party received the fire of their vidette, one man being wounded. The man who fired immedi- ately ran and was chased for some distance by Lieutenants McConville and Drennan, who in vain attempted his capture. With eleven prisoners and the horses, the party returned to Hyman's landing. There was no conveyance for the horses and so Lieutenant Drennan with a small guard, was left there with the animals until lighters were sent up from Plymouth on which the party and horses were conveyed to our lines. Some of the men captured at this time were found to be the same that had been under Lieutenant Knott's command below Kinston, and who had accompanied him upon his flags of truce to our lines at Deep Gully.
On the 3rd of May, the Eighty-fifth and One-hundred-and- third New York Volunteers, a part of Brigadier-General Wessells' Brigade, arrived at Plymouth. They came for the purpose of garrisoning the place, relieving the regiments and companies that had served under Colonel Pickett. As the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts had performed the work of build- ing the new fort, named Fort Williams, in honor of General Williams, killed at Baton Rouge, La., our regiment was assigned the duty of raising the Stars and Stripes over its parapets. The regiment was escorted to the fort by the band
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of the Forty-sixth Massachusetts. The troops assembled around the flag-staff, and uncovering their heads, gave the flag three hearty cheers as its folds opened to the breeze while the band of the Forty-sixth Massachusetts performed the National airs. Chaplain James was to have given us an address at the flag raising, but he was laid up with an ague fit, shaking for dear life.
On the 3rd of May the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts went on board the steamers Collyer and Emeline and moved away from Plymouth.
ALBERT N. BONN.
CHAS. H. KNOWLTON.
GEO. F. PENSIMAN.
DANIEL. W. BURT.
JAMES WESSON.
COMPANY A.
Heliotype Printing Co., Boston.
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CHAPTER XI.
COMMANDER FLUSSER -WHAT WAS IT ?- DOVER SWAMP-
- SHOVEL BRIGADE-TWENTY-FIFTIL MASSACHUSETTS IN CAMP OLIVER-END OF NINE MONTHS' SERVICE --- LITTLE WASH- INGTON -- TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS LEAVES NORTH CAROLINA FOR VIRGINIA.
HE Twenty-fifth Massachusetts moved from Plymouth at seven and one-half o'clock, P. M., of the 3rd of May, and as we passed down the river, Captain Flusser, the brave and gallant "Charlie Flusser," sent up fireworks from the Perry, making a most brilliant pyrotechnic display. From the decks of the gunboats came the hearty cheers of the marines and sailors. The ovation was very warm and cordial, a testimony of the good opinion formed by our coadjutors of the navy, of the officers and men of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts.
Here we will anticipate a little, and, speaking of Lieutenant- Commander Flusser, will relate the closing up of his life of usefulness, and follow him to that last resting place appointed for all the living.
Captain Charles W. Flusser was a brave man, a thorough and gallant officer, a genial, high-toned gentleman. He was a favorite with many officers of our battalion, and, having an opportunity many times of testing the bravery of the
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men, he had formed a high opinion of the regiment, which found expression in the parting salute and magnificent pyro- technical display already spoken of.
Flusser remained at Plymouth with the Miami, and joined Wessells in the defence of the place when attacked by the enemy upon land and water, [April 18th, 1864] which attack resulted in his sad death while gallantly standing at his guns engaged in close action with the rebel ram Albemarle, which had been long expected and long the dread of our forces at Plymouth. The death of Flusser gave the enemy control of the Roanoke river, and Wessells, after a brilliant defence, was compelled to surrender.
Flusser was a native of Kentucky, and entered the navy, July 19th, 1847. At the breaking out of the war he was a Passed-Midshipman, and for gallant service was promoted to the grade of Lieutenant-Commander, July 16th, 1862. Being a Kentuckian, strong influences were brought to induce him to desert his country for the Confederate service. Among others who invited him to join the Secessionists, was his comrade Hollins, afterwards an officer of the Confederate navy. His reply to Hollins, so characteristic of the man, has been made public :
" Dear Cap .:- I shall never do it. What? be one of the very first to fire on the Flag? Not I. I have no appetite for argument to-night; my heart is sick. Is it not enough to drive an honest man out of his senses to find thieves making a great nation destroy itself ? Where are your wits, man? How can this business end ? In 'peace' and slavery ? The end may bring the death of both forever, and, worse, inaugurate an era of blood unparalleled. * Just look at the prospect - blood, rapine, desolation, war. Hollins,
' Thou canst not shake thy gory locks at me,
And say I did it.'
" Yours in Union,
C. W. FLUSSER."
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WEARING THE BLUE. 201
Early in the war he received command of the gunboat Commodore Perry, and joined Goldsborough in the attack upon Roanoke island [February 7th, 1862]. Three days after, he was engaged with the rebel fleet at Elizabeth City. Flusser made for the vessel of the rebel Commodore and hailed, to demand her name and character, and was answered, " the Confederate Seabird, Commodore Lynch commanding." " Tell the Commodore to get out his fenders-I'm coming alongside !" was the answer of Flusser, and, suiting the action to the word, the Perry put on full steam and struck the Seabird amidships and sunk her, Commodore Lynch making his escape . over the taffrail without waiting to receive his distinguished visitor in accordance with the etiquette usual among naval officers.
As we have said, at the time of his death he was in command of the Miami. The Whitehead was a picket up the river, and was to notify the vessels of the fleet season- ably, of the approach of the rebel Albemarle. The Whitehead observed the approach, but was cut off from a passage directly down the river, and compelled to use the island channel, so that the Albemarle gave the first notice of her own approach. Flusser perceiving the danger, at once lashed the Miami to the
Southfield, and stood at his guns, closing in on the ram. As was, his habit, he sighted the guns himself. Closing with the ram, which was unable to open its ports, Flusser, at No. 1 gun, [nine-inch] was told it was loaded with shell, but, saying " never mind "-pulled the lock-string, and the shell pounding against the iron side of the ram, rebounded, a part striking Flusser in the side, killing him instantly.
From that contest at Plymouth, the body of the heroic Flusser was borne to New Berne, where April 23rd, amid the tolling of bells and the firing of minute-guns, he was consigned to the tomb in the presence of hundreds of his late comrades in arms. Men of Massachusetts performed the last service in his honor, a detachment of four companies 26
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of the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery acting as the escort.
Years may pass away, and yet the mentioned name of Flusser will send an electric thrill to many a brave and manly heart.
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