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 5
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On the 25th of September a very fine sabre was presented to Captain Robinson by the Battery, Lieutenant H. C. Haynes making the presentation speech, to which the Captain responded. complimenting the Battery for its efficiency and good standing and expressing his good wishes to all. About this time Rose- crans was being badly pushed at Chickamauga, and the 11th Corps under Howard and 12th under Slocum were sent to his aid from the Army of the Potomac, both corps leaving the Rappahannock on the 24th of September. under command of General Hooker. We had been in the 12th Corps during the summer and fall of 1862 and there always existed a feeling of love for, and pride in, the ch corps.
On the 7th of October General Lee commenced a movement around our right flank, and immediately the whole Army of the Potomac, which had marched all the way from Gettysburg to give battle to Lee, was ordered to retreat. On the 10th we hitched up and about noon moved to near General French's headquarters, where we staid in harness the rest of the day and all night, hearing during the afternoon some firing in the direc- tion of the Rapidan. On the morning of the nith everything was in full retreat, and at eight o'clock, after being harnessed up nearly twenty-four hours, we joined the moving columns, going back over the same route on which we had advanced a month before. The artillery and wagons took the roads and the infantry marched through the fieldis on the left, with a line of skirmishers thrown out. About two miles from Culpeper a little skirmish firing took place within sight, but nothing serious cough resulted to interfere with the race between the two armies for the Rappahannock, and we crossed it on a pontoon about five o'clock, and Hazel River soon after dark, when we went into camp.
On the next morning we moved about a mile and with the
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rest of the artillery brigade went into park and stood in harness all day. Sedgwick with the 6th Corps recrossed the river, and finding Lee crossing at the fords above, wanted to attack, but was not allowed to do so and was called back to the east side of the river, and the next morning ( the 13th ) the foot race was again renewed towards Washington. Our horses had stood in harness all night and about three o'clock we were ordered to report to General Prince ( who had commanded our brigade at Cedar Mountain) at five o'clock and march with the 2d Divi- sion. We marched steadily all day, passing through Warren- ton, and about dark the division halted for an hour or two for a short rest and to get supper. The fences on each side of the road were used for fires and the line of fire on each side of the road for miles was a grand sight. Refreshed and rested, we again started on our night march through the drizzling rain. After passing the fires we entered a piece of woods and in the intense darkness, the caisson of the 3d detachment got out of the road and went over a bank, the caisson landing in a small stream bottom side up, the horses on their backs and the drivers thrown into the bushes. In a little time things were straight- éned out and our march continued until four o'clock, when we went into camp near Greenwich. Sergeant Powers, fearing that the infantry that lay all about us might steal something, very considerately and generously volunteered to sit up and watch the things of his detachment, but when we were called to hitch up, an hour later, he was very much chagrined to find that the only thing that had been stolen was his own overcoat that he had placed by his side. After an hour's rest we were called, and hitching up. resumed the race for Bull Run. About it o'clock we reached Bristoe Station, where we halted an hour and then continued our march, crossing the Rull Run at Black- burn's Ford about four o'clock, and going into position covering the ford. In the meantime the 2d and 5th Corps had become heavily engaged with the enemy at Bristoe ( where we had been at noon). the fight commencing about 3.30 and lasting until dark. The loss on both sides was quite severe. About dark we moved to near Centreville and went into camp for the night.
On the morning of the 15th the artillery brigade moved about nine o'clock, Battery K. 4th United States, being in advance and the 4th Maine next in line. Soon after starting we passed the
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
5th and 6th Maine Batteries. After a march of five or six miles the brigade was massed behind the hills near Union Mills and soon after a section of Battery K was called for at McLean's Ford, which was held by General Mott's New Jersey Brigade. Battery K not being able, with their smoothbore guns, to reach the enemy's battery that was shelling Mott's Brigade, a section of the 4th Maine with its rifled guns was called for. When the orderly had delivered his message the order was promptly given to Lieutenant Kimball's section : "Drivers and cannoneers mount : trot, march," and starting up the hill, an attempt was made to keep up with the orderly who was guiding them. The route was an old wood road, and with the horses at full gallop and the wheels bouncing over the knolls, stumps and logs. it was a wild ride. The Sergeant, noticing Cor- poral Bates and Patterson apparently looking for a chance to jump off the limber, shouted to them, "Don't jump," and received a very emphatic reply that they had had enough of that kind of a ride. Soon Sergeant Powers was hit by a bullet and fell from his horse. He managed to roll out of the way of the team following, and when asked if he wanted help replied, "No, go on, I can take care of myself." After a ride of two miles the section reached General Mott in the road leading to the ford and was ordered into position, the third piece taking position in the road and the fourth piece in the bushes at the right. As the third piece unlimbered, a shot struck in the road, about 1oo feet in front, and ricochetted just over the boys heads. The General, noticing that the gun detachment was short-handed, asked the Sergeant what he was going to do for cannoneers, and was told that the drivers were to be used. At the same time the Sergeant asked for a detail of infantry to hold the horses, which was promptly ordered but did not arrive until the section was leaving. The position was one of the worst that was possible. The section of Battery K had just been driven from it, the enemy had a complete range, and from the start it was hot. The fourth piece in attempting to get into position had got into difficulty, and so it was the third piece singly against a whole battery. The boys of the third piece were feeding it to the Jolmnies for all they were worth, and at the same time the bushes were being cut down by the side of us and the air was filled with gravel from the road and bursting
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shell. The third piece had fired fifteen shots, in less than half that number of minutes, when a shell passed about three feet over General Mott's head and he at once called "Get out of here." This order was promptly obeyed. As the gun was being limbered, a bursting shell cut Joe French's whip in two and also cut the hame strap of his pole horse, allowing the hames and neck yoke to fall to the ground. The boys lifted the hames so Joe could reach them and hold them up while we got out of there. During the melee the fourth piece got straightened out in time to fire two or three shots. The engagement had been for only a very few minutes, but the boys present pronounced it to be the hottest few minutes that they saw during the service and never could understand how they escaped without more serious loss. The section fell back a short distance and was again getting into position, when Captain Randolph, the Chief of Artillery, ordered the guns to be moved to a position about half a mile to the left and where Captain Robinson soon after came up with the rest of the Battery. Here we had a good position and after a brisk fire for about an hour and a half the Jolinnies quit the dispute. Upon advancing a few days later we learned that we had dismounted two of their guns during the engagement. Here Charles Frost exhibited some very good and successful work in dodging a shell by falling to the ground, , the shell just passing over his back, and when he got up claimed that he had "escaped a great mercy."
During this engagement the third piece fired forty-one rounds in about two and a half hours. We remained in position during the night and towards morning a rain-storm commenced which lasted most of the day and from which we could provide but little shelter.
During the morning of the 16th a little picket firing was heard across the stream in our front, and in the afternoon our cavalry drove the rebel pickets from the woods and across the flats before us.
We remained harnessed up. in position all day and the suc- cevding night, in readiness for action. During the 17th there was some light cavalry skirmishing in our front, but the enemy did not seem to be in much force and on the morning of the 18th they had entirely disappeared.
During the day the 20 Corps with some cavalry moved for-
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
ward on a reconnaissance, and in the afternoon we could hear them having a light engagement in the direction of Bristoe Station.
On the morning of the roth we moved at seven o'clock, crossed the stream and passed over the ground occupied by the enemy during the engagement of the 15th, and by way of Manassas Junction to near Bristoe, where we went into camp at about four o'clock. On the next morning we were again on the move at six o'clock, and passing the station we crossed over the battlefield where the 2d and 5th Corps had their hard fight on the 14th, and where the new-made graves were very numer- ous and the unburied dead horses lay very thick on the field. Passing in a westerly direction, after many and frequent halts, we arrived near Greenwich about five o'clock and went into camp near the place where we had halted on the morning of the 14th. On the morning of the 21st we marched at sunrise, and taking a long and circuitous route, arrived at Catlett's Station about noon and went into camp. We remained in this locality until the 30th, moving during the time twice, about half a mile each time, and having a coll, wet and disagreeable time and not remaining long enough in one place to fix up comfortable quarters. The railroad had been completely destroyed west from Manassas Junction by the enemy, and the troops were kept busy rebuilding and putting it in running shape as a means of transportation for supplies. On the morning of the 30th we marched at seven o'clock and arrived at Warrenton Junction, a distance of five miles, about noon, and went into camp near the railroad, a large force of infantry being in line of battle a short distance in front of us. We remained in camp at War- renten Junction until November 7th, having beautiful weather and with nothing of note unless it was the arrest of Sergeant Bates and Corporal Plummer on the afternoon of the 6th by the provost guard for target shooting with their revolvers. As we moved the next morning. nothing more was heard of it.
On the morning of the seventh the whole army started on the advance. We hitched up at four o'clock and at eight o'clock fell into our place in line of march. Early in the morn- ing eight 30-pound and six 20-pound guns passed us on the way to the front, which led us to think that there might be lively work before night. The 5th and 6th Corps under Sedgwick
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moved in the direction of Rappahannock Station, where the enemy had strong works, and the ist and 3d Corps under French moved in the direction of Kelley's Ford, with instruc- tions to drive the enemy across the river. At two o'clock the 3d Corps had succeeded in their task, capturing 1000 prisoners. Towards noon we began to hear firing ahead of us, and about two o'clock, when at Mt. Holly church, we came in sight of our batteries that were engaged.
Leaving our battery wagon and forge with the spare horses, etc., we moved forward to near the river and went into position with three other batteries. Battery E. 1st Rhode Island, being on our right and a little in advance of our position, we could not use our guns with any effect and were obliged to stand for two hours under a very disagreeable artillery fire, shells passing through and over us, but fortunately without damage.
Randolf's Battery E, ist Rhode Island, was quite briskly engaged and lost one man killed and two severely wounded. Just before dark, Russell's Division of the 6th Corps made a most gallant charge upon the enemy's works at Rappahannock Station, about four miles from us, and captured a large number of prisoners, including two brigade commanders. In this charge the 5th and 6th Maine distinguished themselves by their splen- did and gallant work. At eight o'clock we crossed the river on a pontoon and went into park for the night. On the morning of the 8th we started between seven and eight o'clock and moved up the west bank of the river to the railroad and then to the west to Brandy Station, where we halted and went into park, the 1st, 2d and 6th Corps and our own corps being in the imme- diate vicinity. During the afternoon there were some slight engagements as the enemy was being pushed back towards Culpeper.
They had evidently made preparations for remaining through the winter, and their well laid out camps with log hits all built Were very acceptable to Meade's army. On the afternoon of the eth we were started out hurriedly with a brigade of infantry in the dirceiom of Pony Mountain, but after going a short dis- tance the movement. whatever it was, was abandoned and we returned to camp.
On the roth we harnessed up at eight o'clock, ready to march, and at noon moved across the railroad about a mile and went
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
into camp and remained until the next day, when we again moved about a mile to the east and went into camp with the rest of the artillery brigade of the 3d Corps, in a pine grove near the head- quarters of the Provost Marshal ( General Patrick) and about a mile from General Meade's headquarters. For the next two weeks there was but little to disturb our camp life, and as the weather was getting cool, all were busy in building quarters and making ourselves comfortable. The pine trees were utilized in building log huts about four feet high, the shelter tents being used for roofs, and in many of them fireplaces were built with stone, of sticks and mud, and the chimney topped out with an old barrel. One of these huts about six feet by ten accommo- dated four men, two bunks being built across the back end, one above the other, leaving a space about six feet square for our sitting room, dining room and kitchen. We also had to provide shelter for the horses and a stable was built by setting pine logs on end for a stockade and covering the roof with brush. This did not provide much shelter from the rain, but broke off the cold winds.
CHAPTER V.
MINE RUN --- WINTER AT BRANDY STATION-RE-ENLISTMENTS -- CAPT. ROBINSON CHIEF OF ARTILLERY.
We had just got in pretty good shape for the winter's rest when on the 22d we had orders to be ready to march carly the next morning. It proving rainy, the contemplated movement was postponed, and after being harnessed and packed up several hours, we unharnessed and pitched our tents again.
Next morning. the 24th, the same performance was gone through with. These orders and counter orders and standing around all day in the rain and wind did not contribute very much towards the good nature of the boys, and if the Generals had been near by they possibly might have heard some rather uncomplimentary remarks.
On the morning of the 20th the movement across the Rapidan commenced. We harnessed at four o'clock and at daylight moved out of camp and across the railroad, and with our corps took the road in the direction of Jacob's Ford, where the 3d Corps was to cross the Rapidan. The weather was cold and disagreeable and the roads difficult, being badly cut up by the passage of the long trains of wagons and artillery, so that our progress was slow. This was Thanksgiving day at our homes, and as we ate our Thanksgiving dinner of hardtack and raw pork as we moved along ( not stopping long enough to build a fire to make coffee and cook our meat) we thought of our friends who were gathered around the Thanksgiving table at home, and how much we would enjoy being with them. At dark we reached the Rapidan and found that the crossing for artillery was impossible, and were obliged to go to Germania Ford, four miles below, to cross. The roads were blocked with trains and artillery, and most of the night was spent standing in the road, with frequent short moves. Some of the boys man-
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LIGIIT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
aged to get short naps, but most of us found it too cold to sleep, and were obliged to keep moving around to keep warm. About seven o'clock on the 27th we moved slowly forward and at ten o'clock crossed the Rapidan on the pontoon bridge, and a short distance from the river halted and groomed and fed our horses and had a chance to make coffee. The 3d Corps (our corps) was on the advance and had been slightly engaged with the enemy all of the way as they were pushing forward towards the Orange turnpike. About noon we moved on down the Ger- mania plank road four miles, and then struck across to the right to the Orange plank road and at three o'clock went into park. In the meantime General French had met the enemy in force at Payne's farm, a short distance ahead of us, and becoming heavily engaged, part of the 6th Corps was hurried forward to his assistance, but the hour had become so late that no further attempt to advance was deemed advisable and we remained in place through the night.
On the morning of the 28th French's and Sedgwick's Corps passed to the left to connect with Warren's Corps, and an advance was made along the line of the Orange turnpike. About nine o'clock our Battery came to Robertson's tavern and halted two hours near General Meade's headquarters, and soon after noon advanced to the left through woods and fields. Our progress was slow and we did not go into camp until midnight, when we were but a short distance from Mine Run Stream. where the two armies were facing each other on the opposite banks in line of battle. During the day there had been much heavy skirmishing and reconnoissances made in various direc- tions but no general engagement. During the night of the 28th General Warren with his corps (5th), one division of the 6th and a portion of the 3d Corps, with 300 cavalry, started on a flank movement to the left. but the movement not proving snc- cessful, late on the 20th the troops were returned to the Mine Run line. In the afternoon our Battery moved to the line of battle. with MeKnight's 12th New York Battery on our right and Sleeper's 10th Massachusetts on our left, with the 17th Maine and 105th New York Regiments as supports. The enemy was in plain view about a mile in front of us, busily engaged throwing up earthworks, and we at once proceeded to follow their example. During the day there was some skirm-
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ishing, but time was spent mostly in maneuvering for a posi- tion. During the night of the 29th the 5th and 6th Corps were massed on the right under General Sedgwick, with orders for an assault on the morning of the 30th. On that morning every- thing was quiet along the lines until 8.30, when the artillery on our right suddenly opened all along the line and at the same moment General French rode by us and ordered us to com- mence firing. Our Battery with the 12th New York and 10th Massachusetts immediately commenced a rapid fire upon the enemy's works in front of us, but we received no reply from the enemy. After about half an hour of cannonading. orders were given to cease firing and it afterwards proved that the content- plated attack had been abandoned. Soon after we had ceased firing, the enemy opened with a battery in our front, and their shells, striking among our guns and passing over our heads, did not make as feel very comfortable.
The most trying experience a soldier can have is to lie quietly under an artillery fire and be obliged to remain inactive, as he watches the shells go ploughing through the earth and through the ranks, and listens to their terrific shrick as they pass just over his head. We gave no response ; the enemy ceased firing. and for the remainder of the day we remained quietly in position watching the picket firing in our front, which was kept up through the day. 'The weather was intensely cold and when it came night preparations were made to make ourselves as com- fortable as possible. Large quantities of fence rails were brought for fires, and after our horses had been cared for and we had par- taken of our hardtack and coffee, the paulins from the guns were spread close to the fire as a protection from the frozen ground, and we lay down close together. spoon fashion, cover- ing ourselves with our blankets. One disadvantage in this way of sleeping was that one was obliged to rest on the same side the whole night, not being able to turn over unless the whole row turned at the same time. A detail was made to keep the fires burning, and although our feet were as near the fire as they could be without burning, it was a most uncomfortable night and we did not sleep much on account of the cold. On the picket line a few hundred feet in front of us some of the pickets were found in the morning frozen to death.
The movement, considered as a failure, had proved to be a
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
complete success, and early on the morning of the Ist of Decem- ber the movement of the army back to its old quarters began. About five o'clock we were quietly turned out and with three other batteries of our brigade under command of Captam Rob- inson moved out to the turnpike by moonlight, and with a large portion of the artillery from the other corps joined the reserve artillery and started back towards the Rapidan. The morning was intensely cold and the roads, which had been terribly cut up during the past three days by the artillery and hundreds of baggage wagons, had been frozen solid. making the roughest traveling possible. We had gone but a short distance before two of our gun and caisson axles broke, which caused some delay. A drag pole was improvised to take the gun along, the ammunition from the caisson was buried. and the wheels and body piled on the other caissons. About noon we arrived at the river at Culpeper Mine Ford, five miles below Germania Ford, and crossing, moved out two miles and went into park. Throughout the day all the roads were crowded with the artil- lery and trains moving to the rear. During the night we were called to hitch up, but did not move out of camp, and in the morning ( December 2d) the infantry began to pass us on the way to Brandy Station. About noon we fell in with the columnm of march. moving with the ed and part of the 6th Corps. The artillery had the roads and the infantry marched in several columns through the fields and woods on either side. Owing to the blocked condition of the road, our progress was slow, and soon after dark and about four miles from Brandy Station, we turned out of the road near a small stream and halted for the night without unharnessing.
On the morning of the 3d we resumed our march at sunrise and about to o'clock arrived at our old quarters which we had left a week before. The week of the Mine Run campaign had been one of the most uncomfortable of our army experience, it having been either rainy, muddy or cold all of the time. Although again in our old camp, we were not allowed to rest but during the next two days we harnessed and packed ready to inove three times, and after standing a few hours would receive orders to unharness and pitch our tents again. Pos- sibly some one could see the need of this, but we could see no fun in it. We had now been in the service two years and had
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received but a very few recruits, while our losses from death. discharged for disability, and absent in the hospital had reduced our numbers to 83. or a little more than one-half of our full number. As the drivers and those detailed for special duty, such as teamsters, artificers, buglers, etc., had to be kept in full numbers, this reduced our cannoneers to two to each gun in addition to the Sergeant and Corporals.
After a few days we began to icel pretty sure of remaining where we were for the winter, and went to work in earnest to make ourselves as comfortable as possible by remodeling and improving our log huts and camp, corduroying the stable for the horses and grading up the grounds. At this time orders were issued that we should not use the trees near camp for fire wood, and Captain Robinson would not allow teams to haul any for tis unless we would consent to have a Battery cook. The boys objected to having a company cook and insisted upon each detachment drawing its rations and cooking as suited them- selves. The result was that all wood for fires and cooking pur- poses had to be brought ou the back for more than a mile.
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