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 8
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" We arrived at Roanoke island March 2nd, being the fifteenth day of our journey, and, after a weary walk up the beach three miles in a dripping rain, we reached Colonel Upton's headquarters. Like a true soldier as he is, he at once welcomed us to Camp Foster and to his hospitalities. We here met the other staff officers of the Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, who gave us a hearty welcome. Colonel Upton and Quartermaster Brown, when informed of the object of our visit, thanked us with tears of gratitude again and again, assuring us how highly they esteemed the kindness and sympathy of friends at home, in sending us down after their sick and wounded, and said if we had brought thousands of dollars from our citizens, it would not have begun to do them as much good -it plainly showed they were cared for while breasting the possibilities of war.
"After spending nearly four days on the island, renewing old friend- ships and forming new, visiting the sick and wounded, seeing and taking by the hand all of our townsmen, and looking out the graves of the dead, we began to make preparations to return home, and suggested that packages or letters entrusted to our care would be safely delivered. . At our embarkation we had upwards of forty boxes of trophies, nearly the whole for Massachusetts, and a large number of letters."
These gentlemen went home via Baltimore, and, after finding a pilot to take their steamer through the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, left for Philadelphia, landing at the depot of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company. Suitable cars were provided for the sick and wounded, fifteen of whom were obliged to be carried from the steamer on litters. In New York, after a breakfast furnished by Colonel Frank E. Howe, they left for the depot of the New York and New Haven Railroad Company, but the men, " sick and wounded as they were, were refused admittance, until Colonel Howe gave his
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personal security for our transportation." At Springfield, Mayor Bemis furnished a bountiful supply of. refreshments in the cars, and, reaching Worcester just before midnight, they were met at the depot by Hon. P. Emory Aldrich, the Mayor, and taken to the Bay State House, where every want was supplied by the city. At noon of March 12th, the sick and wounded Fitchburg soldiers breathed again the purc air of their own loved town.
AN INCIDENT
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which was connected with the battle of Roanoke island has a personal value and a lesson of charity worth remembering. After the engagement upon the island, a diary book was picked up and handed to Lieutenant Drennan. The diary proved to be that of Lieutenant-Colonel Burgwyn of the Confederate army, containing a full personal record from the time he entered the service to the day of the battle ; also, the number of troops on the island, what had been done to strengthen the defences, closing one record just previous to February 8th, by an expression of the hope that " the Lord would give them (the Confederates) strength enough to drive off the invaders," and also a statement that he (Lieutenant-Colonel B.) was probably the youngest officer of that rank in the Confederate or United States service, being then only nineteen years old. The father of this young officer was the Adjutant-General of North Carolina (Confederate.) This diary was forwarded to division headquarters, and afterwards returned to Drennan, who re- tained it during the war, and also watched the fortunes and misfortunes of the original owner. Young Burgwyn escaped from Roanoke, in a boat, was afterwards promoted Brigadier- General and was killed at South Mountain at the head of his brigade. The trunk containing the personal baggage of this young officer was captured by Company A. After the war was over, Drennan wrote to Governor Holden of North Carolina, inquiring for the family of young Burgwyn, and received
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answer, that General B., the father of the younger, was in Europe, travelling in search of his health, and that the mother and sister were living in Boston, during the absence of the elder Burgwyn. Drennan wrote to Mrs. B., and she an- swered, asking an interview. D. found the family on Pemberton square, was received with great courtesy, the mother expressing the warmest gratitude for the return of the diary. During the visit, Mrs. B. cautiously referred to a large oil painting of her late son, which Drennan expressed a wish to see. The mother rolled out the sofa, and, behind it, with the face against the wall, was a handsome painting of her son in full Confederate uniform-the lady remarking that she prized it very highly, but dared not hang it upon the wall, on account of the strong feeling existing against those who had fought against the United States. Drennan, who never had any partiality for rebels, and never believed in any kid glove policy in conducting the war, upon seeing the painting under those circumstances, declared that if those who had been fighting each other were reconciled and could respect each the other's bravery, others should not carry their animosity beyond Appomatox, and requested permission to hang the picture face out, upon the wall, which was granted, and the self-imposed duty gallantly performed : by that act, was taught the lesson, that a dead enemy is no longer a foe, and that those who honorably wore the blue harbored no resentment against a brave man who wore the gray.
NAVAL OPERATIONS.
Late in the afternoon of February Sth, the Confederate flotilla fled up Albemarle sound, and on the next day was followed by fourteen vessels of our fleet, under command of Captain Rowan, who found the enemy [February 10th] at Elizabeth City, on the Pasquotank river, and where, after a severe engagement, lasting forty minutes, the Confederates grounded their vessels and set them on fire. One of the
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Confederate vessels [the Ellis] was saved, and the town also, by prompt effort, was saved from destruction by fire, the enemy having applied the incendiary torch at a number of points.
Edenton was visited, [February 12th] and its capture was easy. On the 19th the fleet went on a reconnoissance up the Chowan river as far as Winton, and also visited Plymouth, on the Roanoke river. The Commodore Perry was fired upon with musketry at Plymouth, and the town was shelled, resulting in some damage to the buildings.
JOINT PROCLAMATION.
On the 18th of February, Burnside and Goldsborough issued a joint proclamation designed for the people of North Caro- lina, few of whom, probably, ever saw it. The document was only significant as showing that the government had not then reached that moral position in the conduct of the war which was ultimately arrived at : --
" We invite you to return to your allegiance, and not compel us to resort further to the force under our control. The government asks only that its authority may be recognized ; and, we repeat, in no manner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws, constitu- tionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or your usages in any respect."
Governor Clark of North Carolina issued a counter-procla- mation, calling upon the men of North Carolina to enlist, to "oppose the invaders " from the mountains to the sea."
DRUDGERY.
On the 11th of February, the Confederate officers captured on the 8th, were paroled and sent off on the steamer S. R. Spaulding. The Twenty-fifth Massachusetts was ordered to escort them a mile and a half to the place of embarkation. Oar soldiers were compelled to carry the luggage of the rebel
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officers on their backs. On each side of the road-way the regiment marched in single file, "toting" trunks, blankets, mattresses and bundles of all kinds, while between the two files marched the Confederate officers. We never knew who gave the order by which our soldiers were degraded. We doubt if anybody intended any such degradation. We have always imagined it was somebody's serious mistake. That none of our soldiers refused to obey orders, is an evidence of the perfect discipline which distinguished the Twenty-fifth Mas- sachusetts and other battalions of Burnside's expedition.
OTHER PRISONERS SENT AWAY.
On the 18th of February, the remaining prisoners, twenty- six hundred in number, were sent to Elizabeth City, one lot on board the steamer New York, Company A, Captain Pickett, of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, being detailed as guard. Before the prisoners left, Lieutenant Flagler fired a few guns from the forts, that the enemy might be informed how well their "spiking" had answered its purpose.
Two days before these prisoners went to Elizabeth City, Lieutenant-Colonel Francis A. Osborn, of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, went to that town and there met Major Allston, representing General Huger, whereupon a basis of exchange was agreed upon.
When the twenty-six hundred Confederate prisoners reached their destination, a regiment of Georgia troops was found in possession of the town, and these Georgia soldiers were intensely indignant that their North Carolina comrades were so soon returned. They seemed to think that the prisoners had in some way failed of discharging their duty in the defence of Roanoke island. The Georgia troops became the judges of the unfortunate North Carolinians. But really, the North Carolina soldiers were not at fault this time ; the trouble was beyond them-beyond Nagg's head, even, for it rested upon Richmond - Richmond, that put three thousand men upon an
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island, without means of escape. These Georgians, however, were decided in the matter, and their feelings were so strong that they refused to give the returned prisoners anything to eat, and rations were actually furnished them from the United States vessels.
After these prisoners were sent away, the battalions upon the island commenced drilling, entering zealously upon camp duties.
The daily duty of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts in Camp Foster, was,-
Company drill, 9.30 o'clock, A. M. - Dinner, 12
M. Battalion drill, 1 to 4
P.M.
Dress parade, 4.30 66
P. M.
"WE CLAIM THE PROTECTION OF THAT FLAG!"
. A few days after the battle, a boat from the main was seen approaching the island. Upon landing, the occupants were conducted to brigade headquarters, Colonel Upton being in temporary command, in absence of General Foster. As the visitors approached, the commanding officer stood directly under the flag as it waved in the breeze from its staff. The men were eight in number, presenting a substantial appearance, indicating that they were, intellectually and socially, far above the usual average of the citizens of North Carolina whom we had previously met. The men were presented to the com- mandant: " What do they want ?" inquired Upton. At that moment one of them uncovered his gray head, and stepping forward, raised his eyes and his hand towards the national colors, exclaimed with a solemn voice-" Sir, we come to you as citizens of North Carolina, and, in the name of God, in the name of the Constitution to which we are loyal, we claim the protection of that flay!" "You shall have it!" responded the commanding officer, as he grasped the speaker by the hand, while a hearty amen went up from the lips of scores of Union
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officers and soldiers who witnessed the thrilling scene. Ah! we thought, standing there as others did with eyes suffused with tears, there is deep meaning in those words. Those men, representing thousands like them in North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and other States, claim the protection of our flag with all that it symbolizes. They had a right to claim the protection of that flag, and the loyal soldiers representing the government, were in duty bound to extend it.
Under that February sun, in the name of the patriot fathers who established our National Union-in the name of Wash- ington and his compatriots, by the blood that had flowed in defence of that nationality-by the sacred blood of our com- rades who had just fallen by our side, there was an echo in every heart of that solemn promise then and there made to those loyal North Carolinians-"You shall have the protec- tion of that flag!" Upon those simple words of request and answer hinged the righteousness of our cause. The Union army was marching to give loyal citizens protection, and there among the pines and swamps of North Carolina, the little army . of Burnside was doing its best to protect the loyal and punish traitors.
WE LEAVE ROANOKE.
On the morning of March 6th, the Twenty-fifth Massachu- setts formed battalion line upon Roanoke island for the last time. Marching to the lower landing, the regiment embarked again upon transports, eight companies taking the old quarters upon the steamer New York, while Companies I and K went aboard the schooner Skirmisher.
The next day, as the troops lay at anchor in Croatan sound, a little schooner sailed in and anchored under the guns of the fort, having on board a motley crowd of contrabands, looking happy and contented. It seems they were thieves. Their offence might be considered " grand larceny," at all events it was "compound larceny," for they had first stolen themselves,
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- and then the schooner with which to escape to some locality where the Union flag and freedom were respected. The negroes, twenty-four in number, were poorly clad, having scarcely sufficient clothing to make themselves presentable to the public. Neither had they food, -but they were happy, because they breathed the air of liberty !
These colored people, with minds blunted and dwarfed by the odious system under which they had lived, were not without perspicacity ; they understood what the war meant, and they knew where to find friends and freedom.
While at Roanoke and upon Croatan sound, the troops fared sumptuously upon the fresh shad abounding in the waters of the vicinity. A dollar purchased as many as were required to feed a company.
On the 11th of March, the fleet of transports and gunboats once more rendezvoused off Hatteras inlet, preparatory to a second movement, this time upon New Berne.
The schooner Skirmisher, Captain Richmond, a Rhode Island " skipper," being in command, started in tow of the New York, but after getting outside the marshes in Pamlico sound, the steamer grounded. The wind being favorable, the Skirmisher took in the hawser, and setting sails, proceeded alone on the voyage.
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JOHN W. PARTRIDGE.
Sorg't H. N. PARKHURST.
Corp'l Tuos. COTTON.
JOHN M. LAMB.
PETER RICE.
COMPANY D.
CHAPTER V.
BATTLE OF NEW BERNE-THE DEFENCE-LIFE IN NEW BERNE- "THE PROGRESS " NEWSPAPER - EDWARD STANLY - FORT MACON -CAMDEN -- LITTLE WASHINGTON.
N the 12th of March the fleet moved up the sound from Hatteras inlet in the same order it had approached Roanoke island.
At four o'clock, P. M., the fleet entered Nouse river, which is nearly three miles wide at its mouth, and at no point between the sound and New Berne, is it less than a mile in width.
As we approached the mouth of the river, fires were dis- covered along the banks. These were signal fires by which our approach was telegraphed as early as five o'clock, P. M., to the expectant army we were to meet, and to the people of New Berne.
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At eight o'clock, P. M., the fleet came to anchor in a wide bay, opposite Slocum's creek, some seventeen miles below New Berne. Lights were seen up the river, and attempts were made to conceal our presence and strength from the enemy. But both were known in New Berne that night.
In that city upon the Neuse, famed for its pleasant society and its many joyous occasions, there was a fearful hurrying to and fro as the word went forth from mouth to mouth, -" The Yankees are on the river!" Belgium's capital was no more excited when the announcement was made at its social gath- erings, that Napoleon with his army was within ten miles of its gates.
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General L. O'B. Branch, in command of the defences of New Berne, had his headquarters in the city, and there was the centre of excitement during the night of the 12th, and until after the battle.
Branch was a native of North Carolina, and in 1862 was forty-two years of age. He was a lawyer, and a graduate of Princeton College, N.J. He was a democratic member of the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth Congress, holding his seat until the secession movement became organized, when he vacated and commenced raising troops for the Confederate service. In November, 1861, the Confederate Congress confirmed his appointment as a brigadier, and he was detailed to the com- mand of the southern coast of North Carolina, which pitted him against Burnside, and as we shall see, insured his defeat in his first battle.
DEFENCES OF NEW BERNE.
The enemy had two lines of defence. The first, a strong earth-work near Slocum's creek, commanding the railroad and turnpike. This position had not been made very strong, and the works were evidently not completed, and were evacuated. The second line of defence was about ten miles from Slocum's creek, being a line of intrenchments extending from the river to the railroad for a distance of nearly a mile, supported by another line on the inland flank of rifle pits and detached intrenchments in the form of cursettes and redans constructed upon knolls with ravines between, terminating on the Confed- erate right in a two-gun redoubt, and beyond, a swift, deep brook bordering a swamp.
On the river covering their left, was Fort Thompson, a hex- agonal work, having a bomb-proof and armed with thirteen heavy guns. This fort was both a land and water battery, ten guns bearing upon the river, which, by pivot carriages, could be turned against a land force, and three guns enfilading the field in front of the intreuchments, and which might sweep
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the line of breastworks in case the enemy were driven ont. Above Fort Thompson was a strong river battery of eight guns ; above that, a bomb-proof fort not completed, and having no armament; and above this, another river battery of four guns. Upon the river front of Fort Thompson was a block- ade of sunken vessels and piles, very formidable ; beyond which innumerable torpedoes had been sunk for the purpose of blowing up any vessel that passed up the river without the open sesame. The entire line of intrenchments were thor- oughly made, protected by a wide, deep moat filled with water. In front of their left intrenchments, where the First [Foster's] Brigade contended, was an abatis of felled trees and brushwood and a battery of two guns, happily not mounted. The enemy's right appeared to be perfectly im- pregnable, and this position was to be assailed by the brigades of Reno and Parke. The right of their line was upon ground elevated considerably above the position occupied by the at- tacking troops. A small stream of water, a little creek or run, meandered in front of the intrenchments, and an abatis, seemingly impassable, covered all the position. Huge trees with branches on, were felled and piled so thickly, that Reno's and Parke's troops, apparently, might as easily scale the walls of Troy, as make a passage through. An army be- hind these fortifications, shielded from the shot and shell of an attacking party, should make a long, if not a successful defence.
As we have said, Branch was in command of the Con- federate army. His force consisted of eight regiments of infantry, five hundred cavalry and artillery for river and land defence of forty-three guns. Is it any wonder that with this extraordinarily strong position, with a body of troops fully equal to the number of Burnside's division, and with artillery quite in proportion to the line of defence and the number of defenders ; is it any wonder that Branch was happy, and that New Berne was happy, and that the sound of revelry went
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gaily on as the Yankees took position opposite Slocum's creek ? There was no question in New Berne as to the result. "The Yankees can never take our position"-" If they at- tempt to pass the blockade they will be blown up"-" Our works are impregnable." And then, you know, one Confed- erate was equal to four Yankees ; therefore, figuring by that rule, it is easy to see why New Berne people were happy as our fleet lay at Slocum's creek.
New Berne had a newspaper. It was called "The Pro- gress." Its editor had taught the people that the defences were complete and impregnable. On the morning of the 13th its last issue appeared under the Confederate regime,. A sig- nificant article was the following, and all the editor chose to say about the Yankees at Slocum's creek : -
. " The signals on the Neuse river, below our batteries. gave news of the approach of the enemy yesterday afternoon about five o'clock. A boat was immediately dispatched down the river, and on its return we were placed in positive information of the presence of ten steam- ers and one large transport schooner in the river, only about twelve miles below New Berne and within a few miles of the lower batteries. Everything was active and preparations were busy here last night, and a battle is certainly expected to-day, which will probably decide the fate of New Berne."
Those signal-fires told the story of the coming Yankees, and there was wild joy among the lowly of New Berne and the surrounding country. From many a little cabin went up prayers for our success. And that night the followers of Jefferson Davis drew fresh inspirations of determination to die in the last ditch. Not a dream of fear-not a thought of defeat. The dance went merrily on in the halls of New Berne ; the saloons and hotels were filled with citizens and a goodly mixture of officers and soldiers from the camps below. Upon every side were heard exclamations of defiance and predictions of great exploits to be performed when the "mer-
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cenary Yankees" should open their guns upon the elite of the Carolinas, the unterrified of Georgia, and the first family rep- resentatives of Virginia.
Branch had his head-quarters in New Berne, at a modest little house on Pollock street, near East Front street. From this place he commanded his troops, four miles below. He remained on Pollock street while his troops were digging trenches, throwing up earth-works, sinking rifle-pits, preparing abatis, and in numerous other ways getting ready to die in the last ditch.
Branch commanded over nine thousand men, including cav- alry and a large amount of artillery, as we have stated. The troops of Burnside attacking the defences, did not number nine thousand men, and there was no cavalry and no artillery, except a few boat howitzers, which, under naval officers did wonderful execution.
And so, on the beautiful evening of March 12th, the nine thousand men of Burnside rested on the transports, while the nine thousand under Branch lay behind the intrenchments or. made New Berne echo with the song of anticipated victory.
On the morning of March 13th, the gunboats shelled the woods up and down the river bank, and under this fire the army landed at Slocum's creek. There was great rivalry to be the first on shore, and many of the soldiers jumped into the water where it was from three to four feet deep and waded to the land. A part of Companies A, C, D and K, of the Twenty- fifth Massachusetts, landed in the first boats.
It rained. Burnside's troops usually moved in the rain. It was a water division. The army entered Hatteras inlet in a tremendous rain storm, the landing at Roanoke was in the rain, and now, at Slocum's creek, the rain came down in torrents. Forming line near the creek, the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts commenced the march towards New Berne, a portion of Reno's brigade leading the column. Moving on some three miles, some deserted barracks were reached.
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Another march brought the troops to the main road and the first line of defences, which was also found deserted by the enemy. After the lapse of years it is hard to discover by what rule of policy or strategy the Confederate commander determined to make no defence at that point. It was the blunder of Roanoke repeated. The evacuation of those earth- works inspired our soldiers with new enthusiasm. The troops argued that if the enemy gave up such works as they saw before them without an effort at defence, they would not hold out long behind other works when the dogs of war should be let loose upon them.
The march forward was slow and tedious. It was mud below us and rain above. Soon after dusk the First Brigade turned into the woods to the right of the road, and there bivouaced for the night, within range of the enemy's guns. The march had been severe, not because of the distance, but on account of the frequent halts, the unceasing rains, and the viscid condition of the mud. Upon this march the soldiers had enough of Napoleon's fifth element. Some of the boat how- itzers became stuck and could not be moved. Corporal Wilson of Company G, was detailed with a squad of soldiers, one contraband, and a pair of diminutive North Carolina oxen, to go back and render aid to the naval officers. He gave efficient aid to Captain Bennett of the Cossack in drawing his howitzer out of the mud. As the corporal came into the bivouac, very late, bearing a full grown chicken with which to appease the appetite, he was not interrogated as to the length of time required to draw a howitzer from a mud-hole. That chicken was probably the pioneer to suffer martyrdom from Yankee hands in the vicinity of New Berne. It was not the last chicken that died for the Union cause !
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