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 5
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of soldiers, that they could only stand and stare with their mouths wide open : naval officers dazzled us with their pretty uniforms as they swung through the troops, and finally, Burn- side was ubiquitous, with his bob-tailed steed, so familiar to the participants in this expedition - Burnside, always cool - Burn- side, the handsome man on horseback, superintended personally the movement going forward.
As our steamer moved out into the barbor, the great fleet of naval vessels and transports came into full view. The harbor presented a scene of great animation ; steamers whistling and screeching, little tug-boats blowing and puffing as they moved about with orders or towed larger vessels into position. The steamer New York finally anchored at the Point, inside the Light.
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CHAPTER III.
BURNSIDE'S NORTH CAROLINA EXPEDITION -HATTERAS INLET THE STORM - SIGNAL CORPS -THE FLEET OF TRANSPORTS AND GUNBOATS-THE SWASH.
HILE riding at anchor in the harbor of Annapolis, we turn for a moment to the government programme for a Coast Division, to be composed mostly of New England troops, and designed originally to co-operate with the movements of the Army of the Potomac.
McClellan, in suggesting such a Division [September 6th, 1861] to the Secretary of War, said :-
" Organize a force of two brigades, of five regiments each of New England men, for the general service - but particularly adapted to the coast service. The officers and men to be sufficiently conversant with boat service to manage steamers, sailing vessels, launches, barges, surf boats, floating batteries, &c. To charter or buy for the command a sufficient number of propellers or tug boats for transpor- tation of men and supplies, the machinery of which should be amply protected by timber : the vessels to have 'permanent experienced officers from the merchant service, but to be manned by details from the command. A naval officer to be attached to the staff of the commanding officer. The flank companies of each regiment to be armed with Dahlgren boat-guns, and carbines with water-proof car- tridges; the other companies to have such arms as I may hereafter designate, to be uniformed and equipped as the Rhode Island regi- ments are. Launches and floating batteries, with timber parapets of sufficient capacity to land or bring into action the entire force. 0
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"The entire management and organization of the force to be under my control, and to form an integral part of the Army of the Potomac.
".The immediate object of this force is for operations in the inlets of Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac. * *
" You will immediately perceive that the object of this force is to follow along the coast, and up the inlets and rivers, the movements of the main army when it advances."
For this object the Coast Division was organized, but there was found a serious difficulty in obtaining suitable vessels for the purposes contemplated, and very late in 1861, while the division was at Annapolis, the entire programme was changed. It was not until about the time the division was ready to sail upon its mission, that its destination was definitely known, even to its commander. That information was contained in the fol- lowing letter of instructions to General Burnside :-
Head-Quarters of the Army, Washington, January 7th, 1862.
Brigadier-General A. E. BURNSIDE, Commanding Expedition.
General :- In accordance with verbal instructions heretofore given you -- you will, after uniting with Flag-Officer Goldsborough, at Fort Monroe, pro- ceed under his convoy to Hatteras inlet, where you will, in connection with him, take the most prompt measures for crossing the fleet over the bulkhead into the waters of the sound. Cuder the accompanying general order consti- tuting the Department of North Carolina, you will assume command of the garrison at Hatteras inlet, and make such dispositions in regard to that place, as your ulterior operations may render necessary-always being careful to provide for the safety of that very important station in any contingency. Your first point of attack will be Roanoke island and its dependencies.
It is presumed that the navy can reduce the batteries ou the marshes, and cover the landing of your troops on the main island, by which, in connection with a rapid movement of the gun-boats to the northern extremity - as soon as the marsh battery is reduced-it may be hoped to capture the entire garrison of the place. Having occupied the island and its dependencies, you will at once proceed to the erection of the batteries and defences necessary to hold the position with a small force. Should the flag-officer require any assistance in seizing or holding the debouches of the canal from Norfolk -you will please afford it to him.
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The Commodore and yourself having completed your arrangements in regard to Roanoke island, and the waters north of it, you will please at once make a descent ou New Berne; having gained possession of which, and the railroad passing through it, you will at ouce throw a sufficient force upon Beaufort, and take the steps necessary to reduce Fort Macon and open that port. When you seize New Berne, you will endeavor to seize the railroad as far west as Golds. borough -should circumstances favor such a movement. The temper of the people, the rebel force at hand, &c., will go far towards determining the ques- tion as to how far west the railroad can be safely occupied and held. Should circumstances render it advisable to seize and hold Raleigh, the main north and south line of railroad passing through Goldsborough, should be so effectually destroyed for considerable distances north and south of that point, as to render it impossible for the rebels to use it to your disadvantage. A great point would be gained, in any event, by the effectual destruction of the Wilmington and Weldon railroad.
I would advise great caution in moving so far into the interior as upon Raleigh. Having accomplished the objects mentioned, the next point of inter- est would probably be Wilmington, the reduction of which may require that additional means shall be afforded you. I wouldl urge great caution in regard to proclamations. In no case would I go beyond a moderate joint proclamation with the naval commander, which should say as little as possible about politics or the negro, -merely state that the true issue for which we are fighting is the preservation of the Union, and upholding the laws of the general government, and stating that all who conduct themselves properly, will as far as possible be protected in their persons and property.
You will report your operations as often as an opportunity offers itself.
With iny best wishes for your success,
I am, &c , GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General Commanding in Chief.
This, then, was the plan of operations in North Carolina : --
First. Capture Roanoke island and all the ports north of - it, and particularly to hold the debouches of the canal from Norfolk.
Second. Capture New Berne and the railroad going through it, and if possible as far west as Goldsborough.
Third. Reduce Fort Macon and open the port of Beaufort.
Fourth. Circumstances permitting, seize and hold Raleigh, and destroy the Wilmington and Weldon railroad. The fourth part of the " plan " depended entirely upon the capture of the railroad as far west as Goldsborough ; accomplishing
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that, depended upon the number of troops for the service, and it was admitted that possibly an additional force might be required to capture Wilmington.
McClellan's plan of general campaign in February, 1861, proposed a line of operations of which Burnside in North Carolina should constitute the extreme left-Norfolk, cap- tured and held by our forces, constituting the centre, connect- ing Burnside with Buel in East Tennessee, by Raleigh and Lynchburg, and Halleck at Nashville and Memphis, then, by "the reduction of Wilmington and Charleston, connecting Sherman on the left and throw Halleck south to connect with the expedition on New Orleans -- while Mcclellan with the . Army of the Potomac should attack Richmond via the Penin- sula, or that failing, taking Fortress Monroe as a base, cross the James to the rear of the Confederate capital, forcing the enemy to come out and attack. The success of this plan of campaign depended upon Burnside in North Carolina being able to take and hold Raleigh and Wilmington, and upon the favorable movements of. McClellan with the Army of the Potomac.
THE FLEET MOVES.
On the morning of January 9th, 1862, at 8 o'clock, the expedition, comprising one hundred and seventeen vessels, moved out of the harbor of Annapolis. It was the grandest sight ever seen before upon this side of the Atlantic. The steamer New Brunswick, having on board the Tenth Connec- ticut Volunteers, led the way, followed in two lines by the remainder of the fleet. From all the vessels and steamers the most enthusiastic cheers were heard, mingling with the music of a dozen or more regimental bands. It was a beautiful morning as the fleet sailed so grandly into the waters of the Chesapeake. The long talked of expedition was moving- the last letter had been mailed for home, and into thousands of dwellings dotting the country would soon go the messengers
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of affection bearing the last farewell of many a brave soldier, moving upon his last expedition upon earth. Thus, as by letters and telegrams from the soldiers, the news of the more: ment of the fleet sped swiftly over the land, there were thousands of throbbing hearts, and many a silent prayer went up from the homes of the soldiers for the safety and success of the expedition.
Its destination was unknown even to the officers of the flect, and the grand question discussed on the transports was- " Where are we going-where shall we land, and where strike the blow ?" The sailing masters had only one direction- "Follow the leading vessel ; " and the master of the leading vessel moved under sealed orders, which he could open only when he came to a road that turned off. One envelope, for instance, directed that it should be opened when Fortress Monroe was in sight-opened, it read, "Go to Hampton roads and anchor." Sailing again, the next package would direct to be opened when Cape Henry bore in a specified direction : and when opened, directed the master to make Cape Hatteras, and in case of bad weather, put into Hatteras inlet and anchor ; opposite Cape Hatteras the last package was to be opened, and it directed the vessel to anchor at the Inlet. Thus, the master of the leading vessel only knew as he reached certain points what the destination was. All the other vessels were to follow the leading vessel, and in case of bad weather and separation, were directed to anchor at Hatteras inlet.
The Confederates shared the same ignorance concerning the place of destination - Magruder was in a frenzy at Yorktown; Beauregard was watching for it at New Orleans, and at Nor- folk the excitement of expectation was unrelieved by a single item of information. Our friends at the North were equally in the dark, but just as the expedition sailed, this conclusion was reached :-
" It is said that the character of the fleet, which is composed mostly of light-draft and not particularly strong vessels, renders it extremely
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doubtful that there is any design of weathering Cape Hatteras at this season of the year."
If that editor had known the fact that some of our vessels were Erie canal-boats, and that others were ferry-boats for- merly plying in Boston harbor and which would not be con- sidered safe in a strong south-easter to make the voyage between Hull and Minot's Ledge, he could have assured the public with much more confidence. that there was "no design of weathering Cape Hatteras at this season of the year !" The Richmond Dispatch, however, in a letter from Norfolk, proved that its capacity for guessing was equal to that of our northern editor from whom we have quoted : -
" There are new rumors about the grand Armada of gunboats, rotten hulks and dear bought transport ships. Of course they are to come to Ilampton roads, take their position under the Fort - scarcely eleven miles distant -have a drunken spree at Segar's hotel, and then come in grand style up to Norfolk, leveling the Sewall's Point batteries to the ground, knocking Craney island clear from its foundations, blowing up old Fort Norfolk and the magazine, taking quiet possession of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and so forth and so on. But to be a little more serious - a gentleman recently from the South says the expedition is intended for Norfolk ; and the cor- respondent of a Western paper says it is certainly designed for the waters of Eastern Virginia, including Elizabeth and its branches."
Thus were our friends at the North and our foes at the South bewildered [and we too] ; they were certainly in a fog, just such a dense fog as the expedition found upon the Chesapeake at one o'clock on the morning of January 10th. The fleet was obliged to anchor until nine o'clock, when, the fog lifting, the voyage was resumed, and in a few hours our vessels were riding at anchor in Hampton roads.
The gunboat Zouare, with companies D and H on board; being a slow coach and terribly uncertain at that, did not come up until two days after, i.e., at 7 A. M. on the 12th [Saturday],
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at noon of which day the fleet moved again, and the leading steamer was most certainly headed towards the ocean ! Pass- ing Cape Henry, the leading steamer turned southward. Orders were opened, and then the destination was known to be Hatteras.
Doubling the cape on the morning of the 13th, dark lines of clouds were seen in the distance pregnant with a coming storm, and before many of the vessels could reach anchorage within the inlet, the storm broke furiously with wind and rain. White caps appeared upon the surging waves. the wind increased to a gale, and the great fleet was tossed wildly upon the angry bil- lows. One of the canal-boats went down before doubling the cape, but the second one entered the inlet in triumph. Before night the larger portion of the fleet found anchorage.
HATTERAS INLET. .
The arrival at Fortress Monroe (August. 1861) of Mr. Camp- bell. the master of a merchant vessel which had been wrecked on the North Carolina coast, and who had been for some months a prisoner in that part of the rebel territory contiguous to the vast inland waters of that State, furnished our govern- ment with important information concerning the large contra- band trade there carried on, and the use of Hatteras inlet as a channel by which blockade runners reached the inland waters, and communicated with the people of North Carolina.
As this part of the country became the tramping ground of those who followed the fortunes of Burnside's expedition, and every locality in the vicinity became familiar to them, it will not be out of place here to epitomize its description.
Approaching the coast, we first see the cape making its elbow into the sea, upon the extreme point of which stands the lighthouse, which, in days of peace, warned the mariners against the reefs and shoals which make off from the cape for many miles.
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That lighthouse was lightless at the time the expedition approached the cape.
Men who loved darkness rather than light, had shut off that important beacon, and those who came upon this dangerous coast must do so at their peril.
Rounding the cape, we pass down some fifteen miles and then find a narrow tongue of sand forming a convex arc, vary- ing from an eighth of a mile to a mile in width, and skirting the entire eastern coast from Virginia's southern line to the most northerly point of South Carolina. This sandy bar is pierced by narrow openings, the most important of which are Oregon, New and Loggerhead inlets north of the cape, but not having water sufficient for ordinary draft vessels; Hatteras and Ocracoke inlets between capes Hatteras and Lookout, the former being chiefly used for navigation, having a capacity to float vessels drawing from seven and one-half to eight feet of water.
South of Cape Lookout we find Old Topsail inlet opening to the harbor of Beaufort, N. C., and guarded on the southerly side by Fort Macon. Still further south we discover numerous inlets opposite the counties of Ouslow and New Hanover, when we reach the mouth of the Cape Fear river, at the head of which stands the important town of Wilmington.
Hatteras inlet, where the fleet anchored, was a narrow open- ing reached from the sea by ever changing and irregular chan- nels over a sandy bar which formed a deceptive barrier to the most skilled navigator. Inside the inlet is another bar called " Bulkhead " and " Swash," through which certain channels permeated capable of floating light draft vessels, having at high tide a water depth of seven feet one inch.
This inlet opened into Pamlico sound [formerly, and prob- ably more properly spelled " Pamplico"] a large sheet of water eighty-six miles long from northeast to southwest, and from ten to thirty miles wide. The Pamlico and Neuse rivers empty into this sound, the former from the northwest and the
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latter from the west-southwest. Upon the left bank of th: former is situated the town of Washington [known as " little Washington "] and upon the latter the city of New Berne is located, some thirty miles from its mouth. At New Berne, the Trent river, navigable for small craft, flows into the Neuse -- the city being built upon a point between the two rivers, that is to say, upon the right bank of the Neuse and left bank of the Trent.
Stretching down from Cape Henry is Currituck sound, fifty miles long and from two to. ten miles wide, and this empties into Albemarle sound, a noble sheet of water extending cast and west sixty miles, and having a width of from ten to thirty miles. Into this sound flows at its western extremity, the Chowan river from the north, navigable to near the Virginia line, and the Roanoke from the west, navigable for thirty miles, and upon which is located, on the right bank, and eight miles from its mouth, the town of Plymouth. Near the mouth of the Chowan river, upon a little bay jetting northerly from the sound, is the beautiful little town of Edenton. At the eastern extremity of the Albemarle, the Pasquotank river flows from the north into the sound, and some fifteen miles from its mouth, and on the eastern side, is the town of Camden, in the county of that name ; and still more northerly and on the opposite bank, is Elizabeth City, the chief town of Pasquotank county.
South of Albemarle, and between that and Pamlico sound, is located Roanoke island, twelve miles long from north to south, and from one to three miles wide. On the east side is a harrow strip of water, known as Roanoke sound. not suitable for navigation. This strip of water is divided from the ocean by the tongue of sand before described, and opposite the island on this sand bar is the little hamlet known as Nagg's Head. West of the island is Croatau sound, which affords passage for all vessels between Pamlico and Albemarle sounds Roanoke island commands Croatan sound, and consequently the highway
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of waters leading to Norfolk via the canal connecting Curri- tuck sound with the North and Elizabeth rivers, flowing to that city.
It will be seen by this description, that Roanoke island was the " key " to Norfolk, and Hatteras inlet a most important position to be held as the only available channel for reaching Roanoke island and other places of importance on the eastern coast of North Carolina.
As was before stated, the government became satisfied in August, 1861, of the importance of possessing Hatteras inlet, and an expedition to that place was confided to Commodore Stringham of the navy, and General Butler of the volunteer army.
Stringham had a fleet consisting of the frigates Minnesota and Susquehanna, sloops of war Wabash, Pawnee and Cum- berland. and the advice boat Harriet Lane.
Butler, then commanding forces at Newport News, embarked on two steamers with a force of nine hundred men.
The fleet sailed August 26th. and the next day anchored off Hatteras inlet. The inlet was defended by an octagonal field- work on the northerly side of the entrance, which was made of sand, having magazine and bomb-proof shelters, and known as Fort Hatteras. Its armament, not complete at that time, comprised ten navy thirty-two pound guns. The approach by land to this fort was difficult, on account of the swampy nature of the soil. Northeasterly of Fort Hatteras, and covering the entrance from the open sea, the Confederates had erected a square redoubt mounting five guns, known as Fort Clark, and still further up the sandy tongue of land, was an cpaulement, having two guns, intended to aid in resisting a landing of troops from transports. These defences were occupied by about one thousand men under general command of Colonel Martin of the Seventh North Carolina Regiment, and Major Andrews, who had the immediate command of the forts. Commodore Barron bad command of the naval defences of the
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State, the importance of which command may be seen as we go along.
August 28th the fleet under Stringham commenced bom- barding the forts, while the troops under Butler made prepa- rations for landing. The Federal guns poured their shells into the enemy's works, and the compliment could not be returned in kind as the distance was too great for the range of the fort guns. At noon the rebels took down their flag from Fort Clark and escaped to Fort Hatteras. The troops landed under Colonel Max Webber and took possession of the evacuated fortification, but could not hold it on account of the fire from Fort Hatteras. Webber tried to get possession of the two gun epaulement, but did not succeed, and finally, the winds rising and stormy Hatteras donning her roughest garments, the vessels were compelled to put off from the shore, leaving poor Max Webber and his troops in great peril and anxiety upon the sand-bar. But the Confederates were in greater confusion and more anxiety, and in that fact our troops found their salvation. Reinforcements expected from New Berne had not arrived, their gunners were inexperienced and the range was too great to render their pieces serviceable against the fleet of Stringham, and so, having as much on their mind as they could well sus- tain, they lot Max Webber and his faithful soldiers severely alone through the night.
In the morning the sea was calm and the bombardment was resumed. The enemy took refuge in their casemates. Max Webber again took Fort Clark, and this time was able to turn her guns upon a Confederate steamer that was trying to reach a landing with the expected reinforcements from New Berne. The fleet was preparing to enter the inlet -the rebel rein- forcements retired and returned to New Berne, and, under these circumstances of discouragement, Commodore Barron at eleven o'clock, raised the white flag. This result was una- voidable. By this surrender, seven hundred prisoners, twenty- five pieces of artillery and other property besides the forts fell
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into our hands, and Hatteras inlet became the base for naval and military operations, of which we shall learn more as we advance.
The Ninth New York Volunteers, under command of Colonel Hawkins, was left to hold the inlet, and were found there by the fleet of Burnside.
The inlet from point to point was not over half a mile in width, and the water rushed through upon every change of tide with fearful rapidity. The bottom being sandy, vessels con- stantly dragged their anchors, and " cat-head drills," as the bumping and thumping of one vessel upon another were face- tiously called, were of frequent occurrence.
At its best, Hatteras inlet is a dismal place. It was made in a single night by a tempest. Years ago, a farm house with its grapery and garden, stood on the spot where our vessels an- chored, all washed away by the angry waves in one night of fearful storm, the family escaping up the sandy bar to the light-house at the cape. Upon some portions of this ridge dividing the ocean from the sound, may be seen little clumps of dwarfed live oaks, and sometimes, fertile spots where marsh grass grows thinly. Several hundred people are scattered along this bar, who get a living, such as it is, by fishing, gath- ering oysters, picking up a wreck now and then, and doing a little piloting. Most of these people were born there, and had never seen any other locality. Ignorance is bliss, and these people are supremely happy. The centre of the universe is at Hatteras-so think these simple people. Some of the fisher- men have wandered off as far as the " Main," as they call the eastern shore of North Carolina. Schools are considered an innovation upon the customs of " the fathers," and really, it don't require much learning to catch Hatteras fish and oysters. Somewhere up the bar, is a meeting-house with a little church organization, and a little burial place with wooden head-boards to the graves. There are women here who never wore shoes. They seldom see any money -indeed don't need it, and are
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