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 7
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معينة وفاز بـ
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WEARING THE BLUE.
drizzling rain. Company A was tramping through the mud and water until eleven o'clock, P. M.
On Saturday morning [February 8], just before seven o'clock, "fall in" was shouted among the battalions. The Twenty-fifth Massachusetts was soon in line, and moved up the road, led by Colonel Upton, Company A, Captain Pickett, having the advance as skirmishers. After marching a mile or more, the pickets of the enemy were encountered and driven in by the skirmishers. The regiment changed direction to the left, leaving the road, the right having advanced to the cause- way while the left wing was considerably to the rear, so that when the latter moved by the left flank it came at once upon . very difficult ground to march over. There was no definite order, so far as the left wing was concerned, and the company commanders seemed to be acting independent-all, however, were trying to move forward in the new direction, supposing a battalion formation would somewhere be found; but the pro- gress through the briars and tangled wild wood, over the bogs and through the slush-holes, was enough to tax the patience of a better man than Job. Napoleon said he had discovered a " fifth element" in Poland, which was mud, and if mud is an element in warfare, we can count these Roanoke briars as the sixth element. The officers and men cutting their way through those terrible brambles, were seeking that applause which comes from duty performed, an applause which waits on success -- that success could only be achieved by going through those brambles.
Very soon was heard the rattling of musketry, and the balls went whistling through the tree branches. The exact position was unknown, and so also was the whereabouts of the right wing. Captain Parkhurst was importuned to climb a tree, and by a lookout, determine the position of the enemy, but before there was time to do this, the return firing of the right wing was distinguished, and then it was known that the right wing was engaged. Very soon a little opening was discovered, and
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there the companies of the left wing were forming, the entire regiment perfecting its line of battle in a few minutes as regu- larly as the formation of the ground and the position of the enemy would allow; "the right resting on a clearing com- manded by the guns of the enemy, the left extending into the woods and thicket. Fire was opened by both parties, our artillery shortly after getting into position, supported by the right wing." [Colonel Upton's Report to Brigade Headquar- ters.] The left wing, with Companies H and I on the extreme left, fronted the enemy's right. The regiment "pressed steadily forward, bringing our lines within about two hundred yards of the enemy's battery." [Colonel Upton's Report.] The firing became rapid, both by artillery and infantry, the companies firing mostly by file. In his official report of this action, Colonel Upton says :-
"Fire was kept up by us without intermission, for about three hours, until about half-past ten o'clock, A. M., when our ammunition being exhausted, I was ordered to form in column by company in rear of our right, which was done in good order. The men rested on their arms, waiting for a fresh supply of ammunition, until the enemy having left his works, I was ordered to advance with the remainder of General Foster's Brigade. I would express my great satisfaction with the conduct of the Regiment, both officers and men. It was, throughout the engagement, of the bravest kind, standing as they did for hours, in the water to their knees, exposed to an incessant fire of musketry, grape and shell, with no disposition on the part of any man to waver. The skirmishing of Company A, Captain Pickett, was performed in a manner that would have done credit to regulars. I can but express my particular satisfaction with the manner in which Lieutenant-Colonel Sprague, Major McCafferty and Adjutant Harkness performed the duties devolving upon them, and the support rendered me by them, throughout the engagement."
The Twenty-third and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Volun- teers moved into the engagement to the right of the Twenty-
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fifth, while the Tenth Connecticut supported the Twenty-fifth in reserve. Just before Colonel Upton retired the regiment, General Reno came upon the field and directed the Twenty- first Massachusetts Volunteers in its occupation of the position held by the left wing of the Twenty-fifth, the Fifty-first New York and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, also swung around to the left front.
The ammunition being exhausted, as stated, the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts retired to an opening in rear of the road-way and rested by divisions in close order. Reno's brigade had been engaged about twenty minutes when the Ninth New York Volunteers [Hawkins' Zouaves] came up the road by the flank at double-quick, halting directly opposite the Twenty- fifth Massachusetts. Just beyond the road, and between it and the enemy, the Tenth Connecticut was lying down, nearly con- cealed by the bushes. As the Ninth New York came along, some of the Tenth Connecticut sprang to their feet. Wearing gray overcoats, they were taken for the enemy and the Zouaves fired ; the entire Tenth Connecticut then springing to their feet, and being very near, sent a panic through the ranks of the Zouaves, who fell back, at least a portion of the regiment, upon the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, which was on its feet in an instant, the men using the bayonets and the officers drawing swords, while with one breath the cry went up, " No Bull Run here !" . Very soon the unfortunate cause of the alarm was dis- covered, order was restored, and the Zouaves moved up the causeway. The steadiness of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts at this exciting moment, deserved as much commendation as was bestowed for its steadiness under fire. The men had shown themselves brave, and now they proved they were not " panicky"-they were solid, not sensational. We do not write of this panic of the Zouaves in a spirit of criticism, for we know how very easily the best troops may become suddenly frightened and lose all self control. At the battle of Gettys- burg, which was fought upon comparatively open fields, the
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"excitement of the contest and the want of self-possession on the part of the soldiers is shown in the fact, that after the battle twenty-four thousand loaded muskets were picked up on the field, and of this number only about six thousand were prop- erly loaded ; twelve thousand contained a double charge, and about six thousand averaged from three to ten charges, while in some there were six balls to a single charge of powder ; some contained six cartridges, a few contained twenty-three charges regularly inserted, and one musket was found with twenty-two balls and sixty-two buckshot. In the accounts of some of the battles in Europe, where the best soldiers of Eng- land, Germany, France and Russia were engaged, similar statistics can be obtained.
And so it happened many times during our war, that the troops were suddenly seized with a panic for which no sufficient cause could be discovered. The panic came, perhaps in the very moment of victory, a terror seizing the troops which no effort of the officers could control. Such was the panic at Bull Run. Sometimes, however, the panic is only momentary. A. few cool men or a few determined officers will easily check it - restore confidence and re-form the broken ranks.
The action continued until the Twenty-first Massachusetts and Fifty-first New York had swung considerably to the left, moving forward and struggling through the swamp for the purpose of flanking the enemy's right. Finally, these troops, much to the astonishment of the Confederates, who believed no human being could work through the pocoson, succeeded in the task and charged the enemy's right. In a moment the flag of the Twenty-first Massachusetts was planted upon the ramparts, followed immediately by that of the Fifty-first New York. The Hawkins Zouaves had been sent into the swamp to the right of the causeway. So soon as the Confederates found that our troops had succeeded in passing the pocoson, they sent a galling fire of musketry in that direction, and for several min- utes gave them a taste of grape and canister, but seeing them-
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selves out-flanked, fled in great confusion just before the Union troops poured into the battery. From the enemy's left, the Zonaves, shouting "Zou ! zou! zou !" went over the parapets and through the embrasures. There was no close action-no hand-to-hand contest-no bloody Zouave charge, for the enemy, seeing the absolute necessity of leaving, left early. The poco- son having failed them, they tried their legs, while Reno and his brigade started in pursuit, followed by Foster's Brigade, which by this time had been concentrated and was re-formed. At this point, the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, detained on the sound by the grounding of its transport, came up fresh, and took the advance of the First Brigade.
As we passed up the island, the road-side was strewn with the equipage of the enemy, thrown away that it might not impede the hurried flight.
Reaching a house near the road used by the enemy as a hospital, every room was occupied by wounded men. On a low cot in one of the corner rooms, covered with a coarse quilt, lay the quivering form of a pale young man, his countenance indi- cating great suffering. It was O. Jennings Wise, the son of Henry A. Wise, who had outstripped all others in fanning the flame of secession in Virginia. After being wounded, he attempted an escape to Nagg's head, but was captured. He survived his wounds but a short time.
After a fatiguing march, but indeed a happy one, our troops reached the head of the island. The Twenty-fifth Massachu- setts made capture of a large number of escaping Confederates during the march, while some of the soldiers, and officers as well, whose minds, "even in fair honor's field," still on their dinner turned, gave chase to ambling pigs whose piercing squeal betokened the instant that the bayonet, sword or bullet had done its work. Near the camp known by the Confederates as " Camp Georgia," some thirteen hundred of the enemy sur- rendered to Foster ; at another locality a surrender was made to Reno, and still another to Parke. A regiment of five
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hundred landed on the island from Elizabeth City just in time not to fight, but to surrender. It was said that several hundred Confederates succeeded in making their escape to the main land.
Upon reaching the head of the island, the Twenty-fifth Mas- sachusetts took possession of barracks, where the soldiers immediately made themselves as comfortable as possible. The Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Massachusetts occupied in one camp some large wooden barracks supplied with fire-places, windows, and separate rooms for the officers. The camp was known as "Camp Foster." Within our brigade lines were two thousand one hundred Confederate prisoners, allowed to move at will under certain restrictions. They had the same rations as furnished our troops, and were even allowed to draw their rations before our companies were sup- plied. If they did get their rations served first, our soldiers found lively compensation in standing guard over them !
In this action [February 8th] the Federal loss was forty-two killed and two hundred and nine wounded.
The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was less than that of the Federals, but we have no reliable data respecting it.
Our capture of prisoners amounted to two thousand five hundred and twenty-seven ; of small arms, three thousand five hundred ; of ammunition the quantity was large, - seventy- five tons in all. We also came in possession of all the guns in the forts, which the enemy so imperfectly spiked, that a few hours labor made them as serviceable as ever. The commis- sariut of the enemy was well supplied. Indeed, there was a sufficient amount on hand to supply a garrison during a siege. A goodly quantity of flour, ham, bacon, lard, etc., came into our possession, and was distributed to the troops as needed, and this extra supply came quite opportune, in consideration of the large number of prisoners on our hands requiring to be fed.
The Twenty-fifth Massachusetts lost six killed and forty-two wounded.
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LIST OF THE KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND, FEBRUARY 8TH, 1862.
Killed.
Corporal Randall Mann, Company H; Private Michael Bresnihen, Company E; Privates Eugene Gantner, Velentine Suter, of Company G; Privates Levi Ball, Thomas Kelley, of Company I.
Wounded.
Surgeon J. Marcus Rice (contused wound); Captain Albert H. Foster (eye), Company D; Lieutenant Nathaniel H. Foster (arm fractured), Company H; Corporal Horace E. Brooks (ankle), Privates Charles S. Bartlett (arm), S. S. Dresser (leg), Henry F. Knox (neck), D. B. Bigelow (leg), of Company A; Private Edwin F. Pond (wrist), Company B; Privates John P. Burke (head), Wm. Chaffee (neck), Chas. Couklin (arm and body), Edward R. Graton (body), Albert II. Holman (slight), Samuel Hall (body), Thomas M. Magee (body), Cyprean K. Stratton (body), of Company C; Corporal John Howell (leg), Privates Dennis Sheehan ( side ), Thomas Mckeon ( wrist ), l'eter Brady (stomach), Ephraim Smith (shoulder), James Mitchell (thigh), of Company E; Privates John A. Gilchrist (jaw), Chas. II. Stratton (leg), Geo. W. Rice (leg), of Company F; Privates Christian Claes (leg), Cristoph Linhardt (hand), Baptist Reno (breast), Ferd'n Selwan (hand), George Vetter (arm and breast), Daniel Williams (arm amputated), of Company G; Privates George E. Kent (breast), Henry H. Ware (thigh), Wm. H. Eveleth (thigh), of Company H; Privates J. L. Brown (scalp), Warren L. Wheeler (body), S. F. Jillson (thigh), A. M. Cobleigh (leg), of Company I; Privates Edwin F. Pratt (leg), Samuel Thurston, (thigh), Frank S. Sibley (thigh), of Company K.
One of the wounded, Private Edward R. Graton of Company C, afterwards died. He was a resident of Leicester, and was saved from instant death by having in his breast pocket a small Episcopal prayer-book. Probably this book prevented the bullet from going directly through his heart. A very peculiar circumstance in connection with this event is that the bullet which pierced Graton's body first struck and tore, but did not destroy, a poctical version of a portion of the third Psalm - the centre of the mark made by the ball being between the following verses : --
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"Thou, Gracious God, art my defence, Ou thee my hopes rely ; Thou art my glory, and shalt yet Lift up my head on high.
" Since whensoe'er, in my distress, To God I made my prayer, He heard me from His holy place ; Why should I now despair ? "
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The body of Corporal Mann was sent to his home in Lei- cester, Mass., where, on the 14th of March, his obsequies took place in the, meeting-house of the first parish in that town. The casket containing his body was covered with the national flag. The services were largely attended. In an appropriate discourse, the venerable Rev. Dr. Nelson said that young Mann was not the first of his family to lay down his life in defence of the country. In the war of 1812, an uncle of Corporal Mann, Mr. Sabin Maun of Worcester, fell mortally wounded at the battle of Queenstown, but in those days there were no facilities for sending home the dead in battle, and from Queenstown, only a vest, perforated by the fatal bullet, was sent home as a relic of the dead soldier. Corporal Mann served in the three months campaign at Fort MeHenry, and was respected by all his comrades for his unselfishness and modesty. He was an earnest, intelligent soldier, therefore he was brave.
The church edifice was draped in mourning emblems, the flags of the town were displayed at half-staff, the bells tolled out the funeral knell, and every possible mark of respect was paid to the young soldier, dead.
All the soldiers who were killed, or died on Roanoke island, were tenderly buried upon a soldiers' lot, which was well fenced, and set apart for the purpose by solemn services, conducted by Chaplain James, Gilmore's Band of the Twenty- fourth Massachusetts, furnishing appropriate music.
Corp'l RANDALL MANN.
Ist Serg't THOS. GLEASON.
Lieut. Col. DAVID M. WOODWARD.
ت السياسية
CHARLES F. CURTIS.
GEO. EMERSON KENI.
COMPANY H.
WEARING THE BLUE. 81
In 1864 we revisited Roanoke island and rode to that little burial place, finding it in good order, and the head-boards well preserved.
Among others killed in action, were Colonel Charles L. Russell, of the Tenth Connecticut Volunteers, a much respected officer, and Lieutenant-Colonel Vigeur de Monteuil, of the D'Epineuil Zouaves. The latter's regiment was with the expedition as far as Hatteras, but for want of transportation, returned to Fortress Monroe. Monteuil, disappointed that his regiment was obliged to return, obtained permission to remain and proceed with the division as a volunteer. With a Sharp's rifle he engaged in the action, and met . his death, deeply lamented. He was buried in the soldiers' burial ground, the obsequies being directed by Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi and officers of the Twenty-first Massachusetts, and attended by most of the officers of the First Brigade.
On the evening of the battle of Roanoke island, the " boys in blue," and those clothed in homespun gray, sat about the camp-fires, discussing the events of the day. A few hours before, deadly focs, later, passive enemies, smoking their pipes together and talking of the future. The great majority of the prisoners were uneducated, ignorant men, fair representatives of the " poor white trash " of the Southern country. A few, as for instance, the officers and men of the Richmond Blues, were well educated and well informed, evidently the cream of Richmond society. Only a very few of the prisoners, less than a hundred, were able to sign their names to the parole required before they were discharged from the island.
The result of the action on the 8th of February occasioned much joy to all our troops. The soldiers felt that the victory, with such comparatively small loss, repaid them for all the hardships experienced on board the transports. The com- manding officers shared this feeling, and expressed their satisfaction in general orders-that of General Foster being particularly pleasing to the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts.
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Headquarters Department North Carolina. Roanoke island, February 9th, 1862.
General Orders, ? No. 5.
The general commanding, congratulates his troops on their brilliant and successful occupation of Roanoke island. The courage and steadiness they have shown under fire is what he expected from them, and he accepts it as a token of future victory:
Each regiment on the island, will inscribe on its banner, "Roanoke Island, February 8th, 1862."
The highest praise is due to Brigadier-Generals Foster, Reno and Parke, who so bravely and energetically carried out the movement that has resulted in the complete success of the Union arms.
By command of Brigadier-General A. E. BURNSIDE. (Signed) LOUIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General.
Headquarters First Brigade, Department of North Carolina, Roanoke islaud, February 23rd, 1862.
+ General Orders, l No. 5. 1
The great pressure of business alone has delayed the Brigadier-General commanding, in thanking the troops of his brigade for their conduct preceding, during and subsequent to the fight of the Sth inst.
The cheerful manner in which officers and men behaved during the comfort- less night preceding the fight, the willingness with which they plunged into the swamp [deemed impassable by the enemy.] and the coolness and steadiness displayed by all when under fire of the enemy, merits the praise of their commanding officer, and it is with the greatest willingness and pleasure that he now gives it to them, and sincerely congratulates himself that he has the command of such a brigade.
The manner in which, without confusion, the Massachusetts Twenty-fifth withdrew from the front, when their ammunition was exhausted, and the manner in which the Tenth Connecticut formed line of battle under fire of the enemy, particularly deserves mention. General Foster has to mourn in common with the brigade, and more particularly with the Tenth Connecticut Volunteers, the loss of Colonel Charles L. Russell, who fell dead at the head of his regiment, gallantly doing his duty, and also tenders his sympathy to the brigade for the loss of officers and men it has sustained.
By order of Brigadier-General J. G. FOSTER. SOUTHARD HOFFMAN, Assistant Adjutant-General.
WEARING THE BLUE. 83
Headquarters Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Camp Foster, Roanoke island, February 10th, 1862.
General Orders, Į No. 1.
The gallant conduct of this regiment throughout the entire engagement of the 8th inst. elicits from the colonel commanding the highest praise.
It was such as the Heart of the old Bay State had the right to expect of her Sons, and he trusts that on all future occasions, their well earned reputation may be fully sustained.
By command of . Colonel EDWIN UPTON. E. A. HARKNESS, Adjutant.
The day after the battle, the writer visited the hospital of the First Brigade, near Camp Foster, where the wounded were made as comfortable as circumstances permitted. The hospital was in charge of Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston, Surgeon of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts. We have already spoken of him as a surgeon of great skill in his profession. His treatment of the soldiers was always tender- he seemed to feel for them as if he bore their ghastly wounds in his own body. His heart was in the work.
From the writer's diary, written at the time, we give some extracts concerning hospital scenes : ---
" A. true patriot endures pain without a murmur, because he believes the cause is just, and he feels it a privilege to be a martyr in so holy a crusade, Old John Rogers died at the stake, but he died rejoicing and praising God, whom he served. Who will say that John Rogers suffered death? He counted it joy rather than suffering. Many of our wounded soldiers feel the same way. I saw a patriot soldier dying from a wound in the breast. [Sergeant Mathews, Twenty-first Massachusetts, from Worcester County.] He was a young man of prepossessing appearance, and of more than ordinary intelligence. As the death damp stood on his brow, I took a place by his little camp bed, and. taking him by the hand. expressed my sympathetic thoughts - spoke of his duty performed, and of the crown that was waiting for his coming. He looked up
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into my face with a sweetly pleasant expression, saying : 'I am conscious. I must die, and feel happy that I can die in so noble a cause !' In the same hospital, I saw a fine looking man, with both legs amputated. [John Lawrence, of the Ninth New Jersey Volunteers.] He was doing well, and looked happy, but the sight of a man with both legs gone, started the tears. If I had seen him shot dead, it would not have moved me-but this almost total helplessness was too much. As I looked at him, the soldier address- ing me, said - you are feeling bad; what do you feel bad about?' I expressed my sympathy, but he cat me short, by saying, almost with a laugh : . why, I'm all right -feel first rate, and only wish I had two more legs to give my country.'"
Lawrence survived, and was provided for by the people of the town where he lived. We wish it was proper to state how nobly Dr. Green assisted him, when at one time since the war, he found him needy-how nobly the good doctor and some of his friends placed him beyond want. But that is one of the unwritten good deeds of Dr. Green.
COMMITTEE FROM FITCHBURG ON THE ISLAND.
The citizens of Fitchburg, always alive to every means that could be made available for the relief of soldiers wounded, or in the hands of the enemy, nobly responded to all calls for money and provisions, and, in December, 1861, the citizens, in town meeting assembled, appropriated one thousand dollars for soldiers of that town in the army, to be used as a committee then appointed might deem expedient. After all great battles, committees were sent to the front with supplies, and to care for and take home the wounded. After the battle of Roanoke island, Messrs. Hale W. Page and L. H. Bradford proceeded to Roanoke to look after the dead and wounded of the Twenty- first and Twenty-fifth regiments. Dr. Hitchcock of Fitchburg also visited the island, under the auspices of Governor Andrew, and was warmly greeted by all Massachusetts soldiers.
WEARING THE BLUE. 85
Upon the return of Messrs. Bradford and Page, they made a report to the selectmen of Fitchburg and the Soldiers' Relief Committee, in which is given a full account of their journey. They also say : -
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