USA > Maine > History of the Fourth Maine battery, light artillery, in the civil war, 1861-65; containing a brief account of its services compiled from diaries of its members and other sources. Also personal sketches of many of its members and an account of its reunions from 1882 to 1905 > Part 2
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While at Little Washington there was much sickness and a hospital tent was established which was kept well filled. Among the other occupants of the tent were Sergeant Lewis Brown and George Handy, who had typhoid fever. from whch Sergeant Brown died and was buried with military honors. He was a favorite among the boys and much respected by the officers and his loss was deeply felt. Asa Witham also died here and with Sergeant Brown was buried under a large locust tree in a field near our camp. His loss was deeply felt. While here Charles Frost was taken sick with the smallpox and to quar- antine him was given two sheher tents, and with John Sylvester to take care of him was sent out in a field about a mile from camp. With no medical attendance, only army rations to live on, and in an exposed shelter tent during the rainy weather that was then prevailing, we never expected to see him again. While he was in a critical state the Battery leit for Culpeper and in about a week Frost had recovered suffi- ciently to walk and with Sylvester started to join the Battery.
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
While on the way they were captured by the enemy's scouts, who seeing Frost's feeble condition told him to go on but started with Sylvester through the woods. After going a short distance they asked Sylvester what was the matter with the other fellow and was told, in broken English, "He got small- pox, I give him to every one of you." They told Sylvester to go, that they did not want him, and rejoining Frost both arrived at the Battery near Culpeper. but Frost was not allowed by Capt. Robinson to come into camp and went to the hospital at Culpeper, where he .only obtained admittance by claiming that he had scalded himself by falling over a kettle of boiling coffee which had caused his face and hands to peel.
Three or four days later when the army started on their hasty retreat, Frost found that he with some others were to be left for the enemy to pick up, and stole his way back to Washington on the top of a box car.
About the middle of July General Lee had started Jackson to oppose Pope crossing the Rapidan. Reaching Gordonsville, Jackson discovered that Pope's forces outnumbered those of his own comman 1 and remained inactive until reinforced by A. P. Hill, early in August, when an advance was made to the Rapi- dan and General Banks' advance pickets driven from Bernett's Ford on the 8th. On the morning of the 6th the Battery left camp at Little Washington, moving with the rest of the division and passed through Sperryville and Woodville towards Cul- peper, where we arrived about midnight of the 8th and went into camp about a mile north of the town. Early the next morn- ing ( the gth) we hitched up and stood in harness until abont o o'clock, when the horses were unharnessed and taken by the drivers to a field some distance away to graze. About an hour later they were hastily called in and harnessing up we started towards Cedar Mountain, from which direction artillery firing could be heard. Passing through Culpeper we moved at a trot. most of the way, for about eight miles and hahed in a piece of woods nearly a mile in the rear of our line, which was then skirmishing with the enemy. The day was intensely hot and the road crowded with troops of all kinds with their ammunition and baggage wagons hurrying to the front. The dust was so thick and suffocating that at times it was difficult to get our breath, and we passed many lying by the road completely pros-
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trated and others suffering from sunstroke. Upon our arrival at the woods, spoken of above, General Prince, commanding the brigade to which we were attached, placed Captain Robinson under arrest for some reason, the exact nature of which was never clearly understood but was generally supposed to be run- ning by other troops and getting out of place in the line.
There was not a very good feeling existing between the General and Captain Robinson, as was shown by a little incident that occurred in the morning. After first harnessing up, the Captain sent a Lieutenant to the General asking for orders, The General very curtly replied. "When I have orders for Cap- tain Robinson I will send them." This reply did not put the Captain in the best of humor and perhaps had an effect on him during the remainder of the day.
After about half an hour in the woods the Captain was relieved from arrest and we moved out across an open field about half a mik and went into park behind some hay stacks at the Hudson House on the north side of the Mitchell Station road and to the left and rear of our batteries that were then engaged.
It was while crossing this field that we first heard the music of shells as they came tearing through the air over our heads. Being aimed at our batteries on the hill, they passed high enough over us to be harmless, but they caused such a feeling of nervousness and apprehension that we did not feel like loiter- ing on the way.
One of the shells struck near a group of calves that were feeding in the field and it caused us a shout of laughter to see them run. At this time it was three o'clock, and after remain- ing at the hay stacks about fifteen minutes, we were ordered into position on the left of the batteries already engaged at the right of the Hudson house, the 6th Maine Battery a little later taking position to the left of the house in line nearly at right angles to the one which we occupied.
As we went up the hill into position it was coming pretty hot and we met some very severely wounded men being brought off the field from the battery on our right ( perhaps Crounse's Bat- tery K. Ist New York. ) and several of their horses had just been struck. As we unlimbered we at once diew the fire of the enemy's guns and had all that we wanted to attend to. It was not long before Abel Davis of Sergeant Robertson's detachment
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
was struck in the leg by a piece of shell and carried to the rear, and Charles Sally, who took his place, soon after received a severe scalp wound from a piece of shell, but he did not have to be carried off the field, because none of the boys could catch him. When we next heard of him he was in the hospital at Wash- ington, and later was transferred to the Invalid Corps, where he served out his three years' term.
Lieutenant Eaton's section on the left occupied lower ground and was more protected than the rest of the Battery and did not suffer the loss of any men. It was in this section that Captain Roboson took up his position during the fight. Lieutenant Haynes' section on the right seemed to get the brunt of the fire and after about fifty rounds from each gun had been fired, a shell struck the wheel of Sergeam Bangs' piece and glancing struck Byron Phillips, tearing away part of his chin and shoulder. He was taken to the rear, where he died about two hours later and was buried in the garden of the Hudson house. A little later Sergeant Owen's piece was struck by a shell and the axle broken, so that it could not be used again. The splinters slightly wounded several of the gunners and the con- cusson of the shell as it struck and exploded very near Ambose Vittum's head caused a deafness in one ear from which he has never recovered. Hannibal Powers of this piece was also struck by a ball from a case shot which passed through his boot and lodged in his stocking and pants which he wore inside of his boots. He was about to start to the rear but was advised to take his boot off and see how bad the wound was. When the boot was pulled off the bullet rolled out and Powers resumed his duties. Several other men were wounded. among others James Smith, who received a scalp wound but remained at his post. Both of the right pieces were moved to the left of the Battery, about five o'clock, the first piece being unserviceable, and the second piece being short- handed, Lieut. Haynes took hold and helped in working the gun. The enemy's batteries were placed on the face of the mountain in the woods on much higher ground than we occupied, and as they were nearly concealed they had much the advantage of us in position. In the corn field in our front, where Prince's and Geary's Brigades assailed Early's Brigade vigorously. Early was sorely pressed for a time, but receiving as reinforcements
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FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
Taliaferro's Brigade and a portion of Thomas' Brigade, the ad- vance of Prince and Geary was checked. The conflict in this corn field was stubborn and sanguinary and the loss very severe. In an effort to rally his command General Prince was taken pris- oner by a prvate of the 23d Virginia, surrendering his sword, however, to General Taliaferro.
During the height of the engagement Chas. Patterson gave vent to a volley of profanity, but one of the boys who was ordi- marily mildly addicted to the same vice earnestly remonstrated with him not to swear there. The battery wagon and forge had been brought up and left at the hay stacks where a portion of the time they were nearly as much exposed as the Battery. The boys attached to this portion of the Battery did not enjoy this. as they were supposed to be non-combatants and left at the rear. Some of those whose duties did not call them to the front ren- dered very acceptable service by bringing water to the very thirsty men at the guns, and particularly among these was D. O. Dearborn. During the conflict in the cornfield, Trimble's Brigade, by a detour, had gained a position on our left flank and was prepared for a simultaneous attack, with Early in our front. Just at dusk a volley from the corn field, not many yards in front of us, passed just over our heads, when the order was given to limber to the rear. A little delay was caused to one of the caissons where a wounded horse was being replaced, and as we left the field the enemy came on a charge out of the corn field just in front of us. Patterson and Chandler, who were assisting a wounded man off the field, had to leave him and narrowly escaped capture. The enemy had broken our left and everything was partaking of the character of a rout and every- Offe was for himself. The 6th Maine Battery on our left stoutly resisted the charge made on them by Trimble's Brigade and held their ground until all others had time to get by, when they withdrew. Their loss was very severe and Captain McGilvery and the Battery deserved great praise for their heroic work. Everything now was in the greatest confusion and all made their best time across the field towards the rear. As we crossed the little creek a gun of some Battery was hopelessly stuck in the mud and left for the chemy. As we passed through the woods we found that MeDowell's Corps and part of Sigel's were lying there in line, and as we passed through their line a sense of
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
security at once prevailed and the mad rush ceased. We passed a short distance to the rear and went into park, and, the horses having had neither water nor food since early morning, the drivers were sent to a corn field near by to cut corn for the horses. While thus engaged, the enemy, thinking they had routed the whole of Pope's army, made a charge up through the woods and unexpectedly came upon McDowell's line, which poured upon them a murderous volley that completely routed and sent them back. The 2d and 5th Maine Batteries received great credit for the part they took in this affair. It was rather remarkable that of the five Batteries organized and encamped at .Augusta the previous winter, four of them, the 2d, 4th, 5th and 6th, should meet for the first time since leaving home and cach of them have their first engagement in the same battle.
The Chief of Artillery in his report to General Banks speaks as follows-"Officers and men stood firm and unflinching to the cnd. Captains McGilvery. Robinson and Rohmer were con- stantly under fire working their guns with coolness and discrim- ination. Well done I can truly say for officers, non-commissioned and privates of all the batteries."
At the time the enemy made the charge in the woods one of our Batteries which was occupying a position about half a mile in the rear, by some mistake opened fire, their shell striking in rear of MeDowell's line and in our immediate vicinity. It was instantly taken for granted that the enemy was in our rear and at once the stampede commenced afresh. Not waiting for the drivers, who were after the corn for their horses, others took their place and we started towards the rear. As we went down the field a man terribly wounded was waving his hat and shout- ing for us not to run over him. The road was filled with bag- gage wagons desperately pushing and struggling to get along and the fields were filled with artillery. ambulances and huu- dreds of straggling infantry, all heading towards Culpeper. General and staff officers were riding at full speed and fran- tically shouting, commanding and entreating that a stop be made, and that it was all a mistake. In a few minutes the firing from the rear had ceased and when it became understood that someone had blundered quiet was at once restored ; and tired, hungry, thirsty, with feelings of sadness, disappointment and discouragement, we lay down by our guns and horses for a little
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needed rest. The loss in killed and wounded in Banks' Corps in the battle was 1,759, or 22 per cent, which is a remarkably high rate and shows the pluck and high fighting qualities of the troops engaged.
After such brilliant promises from an army commander, to suffer such an ignoble defeat was not what we were expecting, and when it became understood that Banks' Corps of less than 8.ooo had been sent, or permitted to go forward, to attack Jack- son with an army of 20,000 and that Sigel's and McDowell's Corps had been lying close at hand without being moved to our assistance until we were being driven from the field, crushed and overpowered. our confidence in "Headquarters in the saddle" Pope entirely disappeared.
The next morning ( 10th) we moved a short distance to the rear to a piece of woods where we were somewhat protected from the intense heat, and the day was spent in replenishing our empty ammunition chests, repairing the damaged guns and cleaning up. Here L. Weston and several others who had been in the hospital rejoined the Battery and they afterwards said that we were the dirtiest, toughest lot of men they ever saw. At the front the day was spent in bringing off the wounded and burying the dead under flag of truce and some of our officers took advantage of the opportunity to go over the battlefield.
From here we moved back to near Culpeper and went into camp about a mile south of the town, where we remained until the 19th.
CHAPTER II.
POPE'S RETREAT -- RAPPAHANNOCK STATION-SULPHUR SPRINGS -- 2d BULL RUN -- INTO MARYLAND-ANTIETAM-MARY- LAND HEIGHTS.
In the meantime Jackson, not feeling that his force was strong enough to push Pope, had fallen back to the Rapidan to await reinforcements from Lee's army which was in front of Rich- mond.
On the 13th General Longstreet's Corps accompanied by Gen- eral Lee left Richmond to join Jackson's forces. Arriving at Gordonsville a few miles south of the Rapidan a halt was made and General Lee by his own observations satisfied himself of the very weak position that Pope was occupying and on the 20th crossed the Rapidan and joining Jackson's forces moved for- ward to attack.
On the morning of the 18th Lieutenant Haynes had taken a detail of men and the wagons to a field about two miles away to cut and bring in grass for the horses. About noon orders were received to move immediately and Lieutenant Haynes was called in with all possible speed. Upon their arrival the Battery moved back to the village and stood in harness until the forenoon of the Igth, when we started from Culpeper towards Rappahan- nock Station, the whole army being on the move in the same direction. Arriving at the river after dark we crossed at Bev- erly ford just below the railroad bridge and went into camp for the night. Soon fence rails were gathered, fires built and coffee made and our salt pork cooked by holding it on a stick over the fire. Supper being caten we rolled ourselves in our blankets and were soon asleep.
When we had crossed the river we were notified not to use the water from the river to drink or make coffee with, so while unhitching, some of the boys started out with canteens to obtain
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water. A short distance in the rear, in a swampy piece of ground, a large puddle was found from which the canteens were filled and coffee made, which we enjoyed immensely. The next morning upon going again for water it was found that upon the opposite side of the puddle from which the water had been obtained, and partially in the water, was lying a dead hog, about half decomposed, so it was decided to look elsewhere for water. During the day our cavalry was driven back and towards night the skirmish line was within sight across the river. Our battery wagon and forge, etc., was then sent back to the woods, in the rear, and the guns placed in battery near the ford. The next morning the enemy appeared in small force on the opposite side of the river and skirmishing continued on our front during the 21st and 22d, and considerable firing was heard both up and down the river. During this time we remained in position covering the ford. On the morning of the 23d a strong force appeared in our front and we had a sharp engagement with their batteries and also shelled the woods where their infantry was posted. One of their batteries attempted to get into position on the hill near the railroad, but a few well directed shots from our battery brought one of their gun teams down all in a heap and caused them to turn back, and no further attempt was made to occupy the position. One or two of their pieces seemed to have been seriously damaged during the scrap.
It was while we were in this engagement that several recruits came to us, and finding the battery wagon, forge and spare horses in the woods, they remained with them. The enemy's shots being a little high passed over our heads and striking among the trees, where they were, made quite a racket and caused a stampede. The boys thought it was rather a warm Itception. Lieutenant Eaton's darkey, "Sam," white with fear. came up to the front and refused to go back, telling the Lieu- tenant, "Fo' God, Massa, I get killed back there."
About 9 o'clock we were ordered to move up the river ser- cral miles to Sulphur Springs, and after crossing the railroad a shell just missed Captain Robinson, passing between his head and his horse's head. About this time we came to a creek, which we forded, and found the water so high that it came over the top of the ammunition chests, wetting quite a portion of our ammunition. The evening before we had drawn three days'
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
rations and most of the boys had placed their haversacks on the guns and caissons, and the result was a queer mixture of coffee, sugar, salt, pepper, soaked hardtack and mud. Our rations for the next three days were principally roasted corn and a little fresh beef without salt. Chapin in his diary at this date says : "We live mostly on faith now and I pray that we may have success." About two o'clock we made a halt and spread out our ammunition for an hour or two to dry, and we also tried to dry our hardtack but could not get the mud out of it. We arrived at Sulphur Springs about two o'clock at night and the next day (24th), the enemy appearing on the opposite side of the river, we had a light engagement with one of their batteries towards night. General Lee, finding that Pope was occupying a very strong position on the east bank of the Rappahannock extend- ing from Waterloo Bridge south to the Rapidan, held Long- street to oppose Pope along the Rappahannock, while Jackson made a flank movement. On the morning of the 25th Jackson moved from Jefferson, opposite Sulphur Springs, to the north and crossed the Rappahannock at Hinson's Mills, about ten miles north of Sulphur Springs, and continuing in a northerly direction, that night camped at Salem. On the morning of the 26th Jackson resumed his march but changed his course to an casterly direction, and passing through Thoroughfare Gap, at night was occupying a position from Gainesville to Bristoe Station on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, many miles in rear of Pope's army and between him and Washington, and also a large portion of MeClellan's army which was on the way from the Peninsula to join Pope.
During the 25th Banks' Corps, to which we belonged. moved back to near Warrenton. On the 26th the corps moved in a southerly direction and at night was at Fayetteville. On the nights of the 24th and 25th we made all-night marches in addi- tion to our day marches. By this time Pope had discovered Jackson's move and on the morning of the 27th the corps took an easterly direction and at night was well advanced towards Warrenton Junction. Here General Banks received instruc- tions from General Pope to cover the railroad trains at that place, consisting of four engines and 123 cars, until General Porter had passed, and then to rebuild bridges and track that had been destroyed and run the trains back towards Manassas.
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On the evening of the 28th Banks' Corps was near Little Run, between Catlett's and Bristoe Stations, with the trains well up to the bridges that had been destroyed near Bristoe.
On the morning of the 20th Longstreet had joined Jackson near Groveton and the battle of the Second Bull Run was fought on that and the succeeding day. Our corps being occupied in covering and bringing back the trains, had no hand in the ter- rible conflict that was raging very near and within our hearing, and which ended in Pope being driven back across the Bull Run on the 30th.
About six o'clock on the evening of the 30th we had arrived within two or three miles of Manassas Junction, where we were halted, and after standing a short time were turned quietly around and marched rapidly back to Bristoe Station, where we camped for the night. We could not understand it at the time but later learned that Longstreet was between us and the rest of the army, thereby completely cutting us off. The next morning before light we were quietly awakened and ordered to harness and hitch up without making any noise, and by day- light we were ready to start. As it was impossible to get the trains back to Bull Run, Banks had been instructed to burn them in order to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands. As we started south across the railroad the work was being rapidly carried into effect and the flames were shooting high from the long trains of cars filled with quartermaster's and commissary stores, while near by a train of ammunition wagons was suffer- ing a like fate and from which loud explosions came rapidly as the fire reached their contents. The boys who were fortunate enough to be near the burning cars were not prevented from supplying themselves with needed articles and men were soon seen hastening along loaded down with spoil. Some would have huge bales of stockings, others of blouses, overcoats, boots or shirts, but these were either soon distributed by trading or abandoned. It was a dark, rainy day, and our route was over dirt roads and much of the way through woods. We did not fully understand the situation but knew enough to realize that we were in danger and without complaint kept up our rapid march through the rain and mud. As we made no halts for food or water, we found it dificult when fording streams to force the thirsty horses across without allowing them to stop.
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
and before night some of them fell and were left dying from thirst and exhaustion.
About dark we reached the Bull Run stream and fording it were once more in connection with our army, which had been massed near Centreville. This night we were placed on picket duty covering the stream, and the next day (September Ist) again took up our march with the rest of the army towards the defences of Washington.
In the afternoon we passed Centreville and to the left of the road as far as the eye could see the open fields were solidly filled with moving troops and trains.
It was a magnificent sight and very rarely has such a large body of men been seen together. About five o'clock we crossed Difficult Creek, a small stream of a few inches of water, and a short distance beyond halted near some thick woods. About this time there came up one of those thunder showers which only Virginia can produce. The rain came down in torrents and the thunder and lightning were terrific. About six o'clock it moderated somewhat and some of the men were sent back with the spare horses to cross the creck for corn, but soon came back, saying that the creck was running a flood four feet deep. Just before sunset. in the midst of the terrific thunder storm, the enemy made an attack on Pope's right at Chantilly, about a mile from where we were, and we could distinctly hear the volleys of musketry between the peals of thunder, and knew they were having it hot and were not sure but we might be in it ourselves very soon. About dark the fire slackened and it was at this time that General Kearney was killed, about a mile to the right of us. We were soaked through and, cold and shiv- ering, were about to build fires to make our coffee, but orders came to allow no fires nor lights of any kind, as the enemy were very near and it might reveal our position. Even General Banks allowed no lights at his headquarters.
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