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 4
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Here we halted for just long enough to feed our horses and make coffee and about eight o'clock started on our return to camp. The snow had ccased falling and the weather had become very cold. Our clothing had become completely soaked and now it was frozen so that it was difficult for the drivers to mount or dismount without assistance, as many of them did to change with the tired-out cannoneers and at the same time to warin up by having a little run. We took a shorter route back to camp. where we arrived at four o'clock in the morning, completely tired out after our march of more than forty miles in nin teen hours with only one halt to feed. We continued to do picket duty at Bolivar Heights, and this came to be con- sidered by the boys rather in the light of a day's outing every six days, when we would be relieved from the ordinary duties of camp. On account of the snow and mud, drilling was not attempted to much extent, and our camp duties consisted in caring for our horses, providing wood for camp, and guard duty. This came ahont once in ten days and consisted of a stable guard and guard over the guns, a man being on guard two hours and off four during the twenty-four hours. On the whole the time passed very pleasantly and was whiled away in a variety of ways, among which practical joking took quite prominent part. Letter writing was also carried on to a larger extent at this time than at any other of our service. About this time "unknown correspondents" were very popular and some of the boys developed quite a talent in that direction, having several "unknown correspondents" whose names had been obtained from newspapers or other means. This went all right unless things got mixed or the boys forgot their assumed names. In one case the result was a wedding a year later, when Jere Keene went home on his veteran furlough.
During the winter the Army of the Potomac had been on the north bank of the river at Fredericksburg, having under Burn- side fought the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13th. and on January 20-21 had got stuck in the mud in the attempt to make a second attack on Lee. January 25th. "Fighting Joe Hooker" was appointed to succeed Burnside in command of the army and at once entered upon a thorough reorgan- ization of the troops of all branches. About the first of April preparations were commenced for active operations, and on the
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
13th Stoneman started on his raid around Lee and on the 27th the movement was commenced which resulted in the battle of Chancellorsville on May Ist to 4th. The Ist of April there was a general breaking up of camps at Harper's Ferry and we were relieved from picket duty by an Indiana battery. On the 7th we movel to Maryland Heights and occupied the same camp that we had occupied during October after the battle of Antie- tam. The weather was warm and pleasant and our camp all that could be desired, but there was rather a feeling of dissatis- faction that we should be located at a point where there seemed no prospect of active duty, and also a general desire to be with the Army of the Potomac again and to have our share in the coming campaign. Mounted drill occupied a portion of each day's time and served to break the monotony that was becoming distasteful.
While here the question came up, "Who stole the little barrel?" One night, about midnight. some of the boys made a raid on the sutler of the 6th New York Heavy Artillery Regi- ment near us and got a keg of whiskey, and one of the mimber came into camp for a shovel with which to bury it. Patterson, being on guard, noticed the action and his suspicion being aronsed. the next morning he kept his eye on the man. Soon after the morning duties were over, the man started off towards the words, and about the same time several others started in the same direction. Following them, Patterson saw them meet and dig up a keg and proceed to sample its contents. After it had been well sampled they again buried it and returned to camp, when Patterson proceeded to take possession and carried it around through the woods to the opposite side of camp and hid it again.
In the afternoon another visit was made by the boys to the little keg. but it could not be found. Inimmediate search was instituted for the keg and kept up for days without success. The constant absence of the boys from camp, and their frequent consultations while in camp, was noted by the others, and it soon leaked out about the object of their search. To add to their discomfort the cry was constantly resounding through camp. "Who stole the little barrel?" In the meantime Patter- son hali bottled the whiskey and brought is to camp and hid it under the tent floor, of which fact not many who occupied the tent were aware.
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FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
In the Battery there was no better comrade or soldier than Charley Allen. Always ready and prompt in duty, of a cheer- ful disposition but of rather sedate and sober turn, he was never known to do a mean act except in one direction. He rode a little gray horse that was perfectly gentle under saddle and scemed as steady and sober and innocent as Charley himself, but if any one attempted to ride him bareback there was liable to be trouble. Charley, understanding this, was very good in letting the boys have a ride, and was fond of telling them what a nice horse he had and how kind and gentle. If Charley could only persuade some one to ride, the little horse would attend to the rest of it, and more than one lame back and bruised body was the result.
But we about got even with Charley at last. We used to water our horses in the Potomac River, crossing the B. & O. canal, out of which the water had been drawn, on an old flat boat, which lay at the bottom of the canal. One morning, on the way to water, Charley with his little gray broke out of the line, pushed on ahead, and watering his horses, started back from the river as the rest of the Battery approached on the other side of the canal. Wishing to get across before the others, he made a dash for the crossing, but through some miscalculation reached the bank a few feet one side of the old boat. The little horse, coming on a gallop, placed his front feet just over the bank and, dropping his head. stopped to look at the mud, twenty feet away, at the bottom of the canal. Charley kept on and stopped with his head in the black mud and making frantic struggles to reach the ground with his feet. By the time the boys could reach him he had managed to get his feet on the ground and his head out of the mud, and was making desperate efforts to get the mud out of his ears and mouth. Charley never could lend his little gray after that.
Soon after moving to Maryland Heights the Battery was reviewed and inspected by General Barry, Chief of Artillery, and on the 20th of April we were paid for four months up to March ist.
About the 6th of June. Lee's army started on their move towards Maryland, and on the roth, General Pleasanton, who had crossed the Rappahannock at Kelley's and Beverly's Fords with about 3000 infantry and the cavalry corps, met Stuart's
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
cavalry at Brandy Station, where a severe cavalry fight took place, at the close of which Pleasanton fell back across the Rappahannock. Ewell's Corps of Lee's army left Brandy Sta- tion on the same day and moved in the direction of Winchester, which was occupied by General Milroy with about 9000 troops. On the evening of the 13th an attack was made on Milroy's advanced post at Berryville, the artillery firing being plainly heard by us at Maryland Heights. On the 14th Ewell had moved his corps to Winchester and Martinsburg, and at 6 P. M. an assault was made on Milroy's works, the flashes of the guns being plainly visible and the firing heard from our camp. This attack was a complete surprise and Milroy decided on an imme- diate retreat, abandoning his artillery and baggage trains. The same night a detachment of Kelley's forces at Martinsburgh were attacked and driven from their position in confusion and disorder, with the loss of five guns. On the morning of the 15th a part of the 6th Virginia Battery and other troops, badly disorganized, reached Maryland Heights from Martinsburgh, and in the evening a Lieutenant and five men of Battery D, Ist Viriginia, arrived in our camp, bringing with them a few of their horses, some of which were wounded, with which they had escaped from Winchester. We were under orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice. On the 17th all the troops from Harper's Ferry were moved to Maryland Heights and a line of works was laid out a short distance from our camp. facing north or towards what had been our rear. We were moved to the new line and went into battery and at once proceeded to throw up earthworks. In the meantime Ewell's Corps of Lee's army bad crossed into Maryland and was advancing towards Pennsylvania, and Longstreet and Hill with Stewart's cavalry were moving north In way of the Shenandoah Valley, Stewart and Kilpatrick having a cavalry fight almost daily. On the 24th and 25th Longstreet and Hill crossed the Potomac at Sharps- burg and Williamsport. a few miles north of Harper's Ferry. and on the 25th and 20th Hooker crossed a few miles south of us, so that at the time we were occupying a position between the two hostile armies. On the 27th Hooker occupied South Mountain and Middletown passes, at which date Ewell was at Carlisle. Pa., and on the 28th entered York and advanced to within a few miles of Harrisburgh, the capital of Pennsylvania.
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FOURTHI MAINE B.VITERY
He met with no opposition except the militia that Governor Curtin had hastily called out, and caused the greatest conster- nation and disorder in those places. The writer, twenty years later, spent several weeks in this vicinity, and some of the old citizens had hardly got over their fright then. On the 26th a brigade from the defences of Washington joined us, one of the regiments being the 23d Maine, whose time of service expired on the 28th, at which date they promptly left for home. On the 28th General Hooker was superseded by General Meade, and he with the army pressed on towards Pennsylvania in search of lec's army. General W. H. French was appointed to the command of the troops at Harper's Ferry, consisting of 10,000 men, and on the morning of the 30th we left Maryland Heights in the direction of Frederick, stopping over night about two miles from Knoxville, and arrived at Frederick about four o'clock on the ist of July. The next day (the 2d) we were in camp at Frederick, and on the 3d moved to Monocacy Junction, about four miles from Frederick, where we remained until noon of the 4th. July Ist. 2d and 3d, Lee and Meade had been engaged in the most bloody and hard fought battle of modern times, which resulted in the defeat of Lee's army and his retreat towards Virginia by way of Williamsport. On the 4th, at I o'clock, we left the Monocacy and passing through Frederick arrived at Middletown about dark. At this place the troops were divided and sent forward to take possession of the passes in the mountains between Frederick and the Potomac River. The right section of the Battery moved with two regiments towards South Mountain Gap, and the left section, under com- mand of Lieutenant Kimball, accompanied the 6th New York Heavy Artillery towards Crampton Gap. About dark there came up one of those Southern thunder showers and the rain continued for most of the night. With the rain and mud and the intense darkness we had a most uncomfortable and disagree- able night. The left section with the 6th New York Regiment marched until about It o'clock, when getting into a hilly, wooded and unknown country, a halt was called and it was decided to wait for daylight. Pickets were placed in advance and our guns placed in battery at a cross roads, and taking possession of the shooks of wheat from a wheat field to make beds to keep us out of the mud, we lay down to rest. after drain-
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
ing the canteen that Patterson had cut from the New York Adjutant's saddle in the darkness while he was receiving orders from the Colonel. At daylight on the 5th we resumed our march and passing through Burkettsville, moved into Crampton Gap, where we went into position at the forks of the road. We remained in this position until the evening of the 8th, when we were relieved by our old corps ( 12th) of the Army of the Poto- mac, which had made a march that day of forty-eight miles. While at Crampion Gap our rations had given out and we were obliged to buy food from the citizens, paying for bread from twenty-five to forty cents a loaf and other things in proportion. The right and centre sections during this time were at South Mountain pass, where they had thrown up works and were watching and waiting for the enemy and occasionally hearing the guns of their artillery as they were being used against Kil- patrick's cavalry. On the morning of the oth the left section rejoined the rest of the Battery at South Mountain. The troops from Harper's Ferry were now attached to the 3d Corps and General French placed in command of the corps, succeeding General Sickles, who was dangerously wounded at Gettysburgh. The roads were crowded with troops and it was nearly night before we passed through the gap and went into camp at mid- night. The next morning (10th) we harnessed up early but did not start until about II o'clock, when we made a slow march on account of the crowded roads. We passed near Boonsboro and at six o'clock went into camp near Keedysville on the same ground occupied by us at the battle of Antietam. The infantry and a portion of the artillery were in front of us, occupying the old battlefield. We unharnessed about 10 o'clock, at which time the troops began to move back in the direction of Boonsboro. On the morning of the Hth we marched at 6 o'clock with the rest of the artillery brigade, and passing through Boonsboro, went into camp at nine o'clock at Rockton. Several of the boys visited the 3d and 4th Maine Regiments to see friends and found that they were mere fragments of regiments. The 3d num- bered only 86 men and had been consolidated with the 4th for the time under command of Colonel Lakeman. After resting uniil three o'clock, we resumed our march and about midnight halted at the little village of Roxbury. The morning of the 12th we harnessed carly. We were about five miles from Williams-
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port and the same distance from Hagerstown. Lee's army was between us and the river, two miles distant, in line of battle, and our troops were fast moving up and taking their positions in hne about a mile in front of us. We watched their movements with the greatest interest and anxiety. About noon we were ordered into position at the front, and as we moved across the fields on this beautiful Sabbath day, our thoughts turned back toward our homes and the friends there, and we wondered if we should ever see them again and what the day had in store for us. We were looking for, and expecting, hot work, and there was not much of boisterousuess or laughter as we took our posi- tion in line and unlimbered our guns within sight of the enemy. The skirmishers were keeping up a brisk firing, but neither side seemed willing to make an attack. Slowly the hours wore away, but no general movement was made, and we anxiously watched the skirmishers firing in our front and waited for the coming night. When darkness came we fed and watered our horses, cooked our coffee, and after supper spread our blankets and lay down by our guns for a rest. On the morning of the 13th we were up early, but as the hours passed and no movement was made by either side, we began to wonder what the meaning of it was. Everything was quiet all along the line, except a little picket firing. We remained in the same position all day and again slept by our guns. The next morning ( 14th) the line of battle moved forward and found the enemy had disappeared across the river, except one brigade, which was captured. The army, amazed, provoked, enraged and swearing at Lee's army being allowed to escape us, started slowly in pursuit.
The Battery moved forward in the afternoon about two miles and at night camped at St. James College, which had been Lee's headquarters on the 13th. Here was seen something of the havoc of war. The splendid buildings and grounds were strewn with costly books, manuscripts, pictures, furniture, etc., which had been needlessly destroyed. On the 15th we were started about eight o'clock and, marching very fast, crossed the old battlefield of Antietam, and passing the Dunker Church and through Sharpsburgh, camped for the night about three miles south of the town on the Harper's Ferry road. On the corn field between the east and west woods, where the conflict had raged so fiercely the September before, the graves and trenches
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
where the dead had been buried showed very distinctly by the rank growth of the corn.
On the 16th we moved about cight o'clock and after a short march of about six miles went into camp three miles from Sandy Hook, where we remained until about five o'clock the next day, when we resumed our march. Rain had been falling most of the time for two days and the mud was such as can be found only in Virginia and Maryland. The roads were crowded with troops and our progress was slow. At three o'clock in the morning we had not reached Sandy Hook, which was only a distance of three miles. At this time everything came to a standstill and the boys lay down in the road and mud and slept soundly until daylight, when we again moved forward and crossed the pontoon into Harper's Ferry, also the suspension bridge across the Shenandoah into Loudon County, Virginia, and at about one o'clock went into camp near Hillsboro. On the joth we marched about six o'clock and soon after noon went into camp near Snicker's Gap. The 20th we marched with the advanced guard and left camp about four o'clock in the morning, and moving rapidly, passed through Snickersville and Upperville and went into camp about a mile from that place soon after noon. Here we received some new horses to replace the ones that hal become worn out from the last three weeks' constant marching.
The next day (?ist) we remained in camp and spent the day in cleaning up, and it seems that some of the boys did a little foraging, as fresh pork and roast goose was on the bill of fare in some of the detachments. On the 22d we did not move until afternoon, when we took a long, circuitous route and at II o'clock at night went into camp in Manassas Gap, eight miles from Front Royal. Forty men of the 14th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, who had been with us for about three weeks. returned to their regiment at this time, leaving us very short- handed. After about three hours' sleep we were called and at four o'clock on the 23d we moved forward about two miles and went into position, relieving a battery of horse artillery, and having the 3d and 4th Maine for supports. At noon we moved forward a mile and a half to Wapping Heights and were placed. in position on the skirmish line, with the enemy's skirmishers a quarter of a mile in front of us. About one o'clock the skin-
FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
ishers on our side advanced and brisk skirmishing kept up all the afternoon, and the enemy were steadily driven back until five o'clock, when they were about a mile from us. At this time the Excelsior Brigade, with the 3d and 4th Maine, made a charge and drove them from the hill they were occupying, and at the same time we became engaged with one of their batteries and quite an artillery duel ensued, lasting for about an hour, but with Ittle damage to either side. During this engagement we had from our position a fine and extensive view of the skirm- ishing and the movements of the troops as well as the charge that was made.
During the afternoon a flock of sheep appeared in the field between the skirmish lines in our front, and notwithstanding the skirmish firing, the temptation was so strong that Patter- son, Lew Weston and Frank White started out for a shecp, and after chasing the flock all over the side of the hill and almost into the enemy's line they secured the sheep.
CHAPTER IN.
NEAR THE RAPPAHANNOCK-NEAR CULPEPER -- RETREAT TO CENTREVILLE - MCLEAN'S FORD -- KELLY'S FORD -- BRANDY STATION.
General Lee, finding that Meade's army was in force at this point, turned back and crossed to the east of the mountains fur- ther up at Thornton and Chester Gaps, and arrived at Culpeper on the 24th. On the morning of the 24th a brigade of infantry moved forward, accompanied by the Keystone Battery, as far as Front Royal, about four miles, but the enemy had entirely disappeared and upon their return, about noon, we all started back down the Gap in the direction of Warrenton, our corps (34) being accompanied by the 2d, and the 5th following a day later. About nine o'clock we went into camp, after a hot and hard day's march. On the 25th we were attached to a brigade of Prince's Division, and harnessed up about 10 o'clock and waited for the army to pass. For nine hours the roads were filled with troops and trains, and it was not until six o'clock that our brigade fell in behind the last wagon as rear guard. The roads were terrible and about to o'clock we had a heavy shower to soften the mud. It was after midnight when we went into camp. wet, tired and mad. On the morning of the 26th we marched at seven o'clock and passed through Warrenton about IL O'clock, and three miles from the town went into camp, where we had a few days' rest, and improved the time in cleaning up our guns and harnesses as well as ourselves. While here the "Keystone Battery" of our brigade, with whom we were on very friendly terms, left us for home, its term of service having expired.
On the morning of August ist we started on the march again in the direction of Sulphur Springs, but after going three of four miles, countermarched and took another road, and about
4
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FOURTH MAINE BATTERY
sunset went into camp two miles from Bealton. During the day we had passed over roads and ground that had become familiar to us on our march from Sulphur Springs a year before. The next morning we moved camp to the edge of a piece of woods, where we remained several weeks with but little to break the monotony of camp life except daily drills and frequent reviews and inspections by officers of all sorts and grades from General Meade down to Captain Robinson. While here the weather was intensely hot, the thern ometer at times being over a hundred. and after a few days in camp the flies became the burden of our lives. In eating we had to drive them off the food and then bite quick or we would get a mouthful of flies. Many of the other Maine troops were camped in our vicinity and much visiting was done between the regiments and bat- teries. On the 18th of August Lieutenant White went to Maine on recruiting service and did not rejoin the Battery until the following May at Spottsylvania. On the same date, L. Hunton, who was injured on our march from Cedar Creek the year before, rejoined the Battery. The same day we moved camp about a mile to a more desirable locality, but found just as many flies. At this time we first witnessed a military execution, when five deserters were shot in the 5th Corps, not far from our camp. Large bounties were then being paid to recruits and many were making a regular business of enlisting, and deserting at the first opportunity, then again enlisting : and in order to break this up it became necessary to enforce the penalty for desertion.
The 12th of September, the cavalry and the 2 Corps crossed the Rappahannock., and from the sound of the cannonading we knew that they were engaging the enemy. By night the enemy had fallen back and the 2d Corps occupied Culpeper.
On the 15th we broke camp at 4 P. M. and took the old road towards Sulphur Springs and went into camp about dark. The next morning we moved at seven o'clock and taking the fields and woods, crossed the east branch of the Rappahannock about one o'clock and the main river about four o'clock, arriv- ing within five miles of Culpeper at midnight, after a long and hard day's march. During the afternoon we had a caisson axle broken, which caused us much annoyance.
On the morning of the 17th, we marched at seven o'clock and after repeatedly halting and marching we went into camp
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I.IGIIT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
at four o'clock a mile north of Culpeper, very near the ground that we had beenpied more than thirteen months before. We remained bere more than three weeks, with frequent rumors of moving and once going so far as to pack up with eight days' rations and forage on our caissons. While here very interesting religious meetings were held each evening in the artillery brigade can p, which were attended regularly by many of the members of the Battery.
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