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 6
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About this time we were annoyed very much by finding horses loose, and sometimes missing. in the morning and their halters gone. After the Captain had given out new halters each morn- ing for several days he said that we must keep them good for he should not give out any more.
In a few days cach detachment had a stock of halters on hand, and by a remarkable coincidence the cavalry regiment in camp some two or three hundred feet from us were very busy looking for stray horses which they always found without halters. As Christmas approached. boxes filled with catables and memen- toes from those at home began to come in very freely, and there were few who were not cheered by receiving something that had been prepared by loving hands in the old Pine Tree State. During the last of December twenty of the boys took advantage of the opportunity that was given those who had been in the service for two years or more to re-enlist for three years. As an inducement there was offered a government bounty of $102. which with the State and town bounties that were given made a total bounty of $700 and in some cases SSoo, and, what had Perhaps a greater effect, a furlough of thirty-five days. During January others re-enlisted until the number of re-enlisted men
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
in the Battery numbered forty-five, which was nearly sixty per cent of those entitled to the privilege. As only about a third could be spared from the Battery at one time, it was not until we were on the Wilderness campaign in May that the last ones returned from furlough.
During the winter religious meetings were held regularly nearly every evening by members of the Christian Commission and Chaplains of regiments in the artillery brigade camp. Early in the winter a large log house had been built by the soldiers for this purpose, and this was usually well filled, and the meetings were of much interest. A school of instruction for the non-commissioned officers was also maintained and pre- sided over by Lieutenant Haynes, the Sergeants and Corporals inceting on alternate nights. Much interest was taken in these classes and the results were very beneficial in the gaining a better knowledge of gunnery and a clearer understanding of Battery movements and drill. A school of this character two years earlier would have been of great advantage to us. During our two years' service we thought that we had learned all about Virginia mud, but it was not until this winter that we fully understood all its possibilities. Roads after a day or two of use became impassable and a new route had to be taken, until nearly the whole country was a series of abandoned roads. In one place near our camp a six-mule team had foundered in the sea of mud and all that could be seen were the cars of the mules and the floating harnesses. Probably the driver got ashore some way. During January and February the Battery received about forty recruits, which, with those who returned from the hospital, Glled our ranks so that the detachments had a full com- plement of canoneers. The mud would not permit of much mounted drill, but the reviews and inspections were frequent, too frequent we thought. During the winter there was but little to break up the usual routine of camp life.
By this time we had become pretty well accustomed to soldier life, and the days, aside from our little troubles and trials, passed very pleasantly and the pranks of Patterson and Bartlett kept the boys in good humor, while Bartlett's laugh could often be heard sounding through the camp. Perhaps the most excite- ment that we had was on the night that Amasa Weston's tent caught fire and he lay calling for help, but made no effort to get
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out. A crowd quickly gathered and after some very emphatic language had been used to him he made a break through the burning tent, and escaped with a badly burned face which sent him to the hospital for a time. John Rider also added his share towards the boys' amusements. Every member of the 4th Bat- tery will remember "Change Step" Rider and his sudden changes from piety to profanity.
In December Captain Robinson became Chief of Artillery of the 3d Corps, succeeding Captain Randolph, which left Lieu- tenant Kinball in command of our Battery. Lieutenant White being in Maine on recruiting service, the only officers we had with us were Lieutenants Kimball and Haynes. In January Captain Robinson was commissioned Major, but for some reason was not mustered in as such. In April he returned to Maine on account of sickness and died at home carly in the summer. During the winter there was quite a change in the non-cominissioned officers. Among the promotions were Cor- poral Brooks to be Sergeant, and Jerre Keene, Charlie Allen and H. B. Stevens to be Corporals, all being promotions that were well merited. In February Corporal Plummer received a commission as Lieutenant in the 30th United States Colored Regiment, and early in May Sergeant Powers received a com- mission as Lieutenant in a colored regiment, and they left us with the hearty good wishes of the boys and a feeling of regret at the loss of efficient and worthy comrades. During the sum- mer of, 1853 we had a detail of men from the 4th New York Heavy Artillery and among the number was Henry Fowler, better known among the boys as "Old Kyfe." During his stay of a year and a half with us Fowler was our blacksmith, and a more willing comrade never lived, and his well known and inex- haustible good nature was constantly put to the severest tests by the innumerable pranks of Frank Bartlett and the other boys. Fowler died ten years after the war in his native town of White Plains. N. Y., where he was a most respected citizen.
On the morning of February 6th, we were awakened at three o'clock by the reveille being sounded, and we immediately struck tents and hitched up, having orders to move at seven o'clock. At nine o'clock the orders were countermanded and we unhitched, with orders to be ready for a move at a moment's notice. During the day heavy cannonading was heard at inter-
LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65. 65
vals in the direction of the Rapidan, and towards night heavy musketry, and we could see the shells bursting in the air. The next morning we were again turned out at five o'clock, but the movement of troops which had been made in conjunction with General Butler's forces on the James had accomplished the pur- pose intended, and the usual order of camp life was resumed. On February 28 General Kilpatrick accompanied by Colonel Dahlgreen started out on the Kilpatrick-Dahlgreen raid in the direction of Richmond, passing to the right of Lee's army by way of Spotsylvania. As a diversion General Custer with 2000 cavalry was sent in the direction of Charlottesville, passing to the left of Lee's army, the 6th Corps, and Birny's Division of the 3d Corps, moving with him to Madison Court House. The result of this move was our loss of quite a number who were taken prisoners, and several were killed, Colonel Dahlgreen being among the number.
5
CHAPTER VI.
TRANSFERRED TO 6th CORPS- WILDERNESS -- SPOTTSYLVANIA --- NORTH ANNA-HANOVERTOWN -- COLD HARBOR.
On the 9th of March General Grant received his commission as Lieutenant General and was placed in command of all the armies of the United States. A few days later he established his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac at Culpeper. On the 23d of March a reorganization of the Army of the Poto- mac was made, which had been under consideration during the winter, in which the five corps were consolidated into three. The Ist Corps was incorporated with the 5th and the 3d Corps was divided, the ist and 2d Divisions being placed in the 2d Corps and the 3d Division in the 6th Corps. This change brought our Battery into th. 6th Corps and. April 10th, our artillery brigade camp was broken up and we moved to the 6th Corps and were attached to the artillery brigade under command of Colonel Tompkins. The artillery brigade of the 6th Corps in the Wilderness campaign consisted of the
Fourth Maine, Lieutenant Kimball.
First Massachusetts, Captain McCartney.
First New York, Captain Cowan. Third New York, Captain Harn.
C. First Rhode Island, Captain Waterman.
E, First Rhode Island, Captain Rhodes.
G, First Rhode Island, Captain Adams.
M, Fifth United States, Captain MeKnight.
To which were added, May irth : Fifth Maine, Captain Stevens.
First New Jersey, Captain Hexamer.
11. First Ohio, Captain Dorsey.
E, 5th United States, Lieutenant Brinkle.
CAPTAIN CHARLES W. WIRITE.
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
From this time active preparations were in progress for the coming campaign which was soon to open. Harnesses and equipements were put in first-class condition and old and worn- out horses replaced. Drilling was resumed and inspections and review, were frequent. On April 18th the 6th Corps was reviewed by General Grant and every one was on the "qui vive" to see the General whose fame and successes had towered above all others. We were rather disappointed to see such a quiet, unassuming man and to have the review pass off with so little fuss and show. The weeding out of everything that would impele the movement of the army was vigorously pushed. Baggage was reduced to actual necessities. All sutlers were sent to the rear and the sick sent to the hospitals, and we all felt that we were down to business as we had never been before.
As we were still without a full complement of men, on April 28th a detail of fourteen men from the 4th New York Heavy Artillery was made to the Battery, who remained with us for several weeks.
On the morning of May 4th we were called at two o'clock and at four o'clock fell in place in line, moving south to the station and then by the same road that we had taken in Novem- ber on the Mine Run trip. We arrived at Germania Ford and crossed on the pontoon at three o'clock and halted for the night. The army was again south of the Rapidan. Hancock with the 21 Corps had crossed at Ely's Ford and was on the left near Chancellorsville, and Warren was with the 5th at Wilderness Tavern at the intersection of the Orange turnpike and Germania plank road, with Sedgwick on the right. Our horses stood harnessed and hitched up, and we rolled ourselves in our blankets and lay down by the guns ready for call at any moment. On the 5th we were called at three o'clock and at once moved down the plank road to the left. During the morning General Grant passed by us with a very small escort of less than thirty cavalrymen. Moving so quietly and with so little show, few would have believe l him to be the commander of the armies of the United States, except for the three stars on the shoulder straps of his well-worn uniform. Arriving near Wilderness Tavern, we were placed in park near the road, with strict orders for no way to leave their gun and in order to water the horses only one pair to be taken from the team at a time. During the
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morning skirmishing had commenced to the west of the road, and by twelve o'clock the fight had become heavy and general. The 6th Corps had faced to the right in unison with the rest of the army and was in position at the right of the Orange plank road, which was held by Warren with the 5th Corps, which had been fiercely attacked by Ewell's Corps. The Wilderness has been described so many times that it is not necessary to say more than that the word fully describes the country, and every one engaged in that memorable conflict distinctly remembers the level country thickly covered with scrub oak and bushes through which it was almost impossible for troops to move and where the range of vision extended only a few yards. In such a place artillery was of very little use, and so this was peculiarly an infantry battle. As the day advanced the musketry increased intensely and by four o'clock it was a constant roll from Sedg- wick's right to Hancock's left, some four miles away. We had been in many engagements during the past two years, but this exceeded anything we had yet heard. The troops were hidden by the thick bushes, so that we could only judge of what was going on by the sound. As the sun set and darkness came on the heavy volleys from the whole length of the line con- tinued, gradually quieting down late in the evening, but with an occasional volley during the night.
In accordance with orders an attack was made at five o'clock on the morning of the Gtli, the whole length of the line. Sedg- wick on the right and Warren in the centre met with stubborn opposition, and, although the fighting was furious and des- perate, did not succeed in making any advance. On the left Hancock broke and drove the enemy for some distance, but a little later Longstreet arrived on the scene with the fresh troops which Lee had hurried forward, and after a most fierce and deadly struggle Hancock was driven back to his position of the night before. During the morning Burnside's Corps had arrived on the field from the Rappahannock with his oth Corps of 18,000 men, and was hurried past the 6th Corps to the assist- ance of Hancock and Warren. We had been awakened at three o'clock and stood listening intently and anxiously all the morning to the sound of the constant and terrific roar of mus- ketry. After nine o'clock there was a little lull until about two o'clock, when there was again a furious attack on Warren's front, just to the left of where we lay.
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LIGHIT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
About half past two we were ordered into position and moving to a slight elevation near the left of the 6th Corps, went into position and unlimbered, with the guns pointed to the woods southwest of us. About dark Ewell made an attack on Sedgwick's right and drove it back in much confusion. From where we were we could only judge by the heavy firing of the fury of the attack ; and by the hurried movement of the troops, that our right had met with a repulse. By this time the field hospitals were filled with the wounded and the ambulances were kept at work to their greatest capacity.
When darkness had settled down on the field of awful car- nage, we again lay down by the guns without taking off our side arms, and waited for the morning. On the morning of the 7th there was a little artillery firing along the line, but the heavy fighting of the Wilderness was over and the day was spent largely in caring for the thousands of wounded and in making preparations for the next movement. To add to the horrors of the situation, the woods had caught fire, and many of the dead were burned as well as some of those who were desperately wounded and lay between the lines.
About eight o'clock we were moved to a new position on the extreme right of the line, facing a piece of woods in the direc- tion of the Rapidan, having as support the 7th Maine Regi- ment. About two o'clock General Sedgwick with his staff came to where we were and remained with the Battery some little thine. When he found that there were no troops to the right of ns, he ordered a brigade to be placed on our right, and sent the 6th New York Cavalry to advance to the front and remain until driven in. About an hour later we were relieved by Cap- thin Harn's 3d New York Battery of brass guns. We then moved to the rear and went into park and had an opportunity to water and grain our horses.
Soon after dark we moved out to the plauk road, when we halted about two hours for the troops to pass, when we fell in line, moving to the south in the direction of Spottsvivania. A move of this kind was something that we had not been accus- tomed to, as we had usually after a battle either merely held our position or moved in the direction of Washington and then waited two or three months for another movement. Evidently General Grant did not understand the tactics that had prevailed
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in the East. As we moved out in the direction of Richmond, the cheering among the troops was loud and hearty and the boys were in the best of spirits. Owing to the crowded con- dition of the road our progress was slow and unsteady, and not until sunrise had we reached Chancellorsville. Then passing the Chancellor house which had been General Hooker's head- quarters during the battle, we crossed the old battle field, which showed many marks of the fierce conflict which had raged there when Stonewall Jackson had rolled back in confusion the 11th Corps, and the 3d Corps had so desperately held its ground and arrested his further progress. We moved on until about ten o'clock, when we halted and went into park and had a chance to make coffee and groom, feed and water our horses, after a march of fourteen hours. This was the 8th day of May; a beautiful Sabbath morning. but nothing in our surroundings indicated a day of rest. It had been a foot race from the Wilderness, and by an unfortunate combination of circum- stances the Johunies came in just a little ahead, and seized the coveted position : but there was no disposition shown by Grant to take a backward step, and troops were being pushed to the front and placed in position ; skirmishing was vigorously going on all along the front. and in the afternoon heavy infantry firing on the left and some artillery to the right of us.
About two o'clock we were moved down the road half a mile, and two hours later returned to our old position. The wounded had been brought along from the Wilderness to be forwarded to Fredericksburg, and the ambulances not being sufficient to accommodate the great number, hundreds of baggage wagons were crowded with the unfortunate sufferers.
An army baggage wagon is not a very comfortable thing for a well man to ride in, and as we saw these cumbersome, spring- less wagons jolting over the rough roads in the intense heat and stifling dust, filled with a dozen severely wounded, some with the stumps of their amputated limbs sticking out of the side or end of the wagons, it caused the stoutest heart to feel sad. Often a halt would be made and the dead from the wagons taken out and left by the roadside.
On the morning of the oth we were called early and remained in about the same location during the day. The 6th Corps occupied the centre of the line with the 5th, the ad Corps was
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
on the right and the 9th Corps on the left. During the day there was a constant movement of troops, and quite severe fight- ing at several points, especially on the left, where Burnside with the 9th Corps pushed the enemy back to near Spottsylvania Court House. During the day General Sedgwick, our corps commander, was killed by a sharpshooter, and his loss cast a gloom over the whole corps. Few officers had so endeared themselves to their command as had "Uncle John," as he was familiarly called.
On this day General Sheridan with the cavalry cut loose from the army, and passing by the right of Lec's army, made his cele- brated raid in which he destroyed a large amount of the enemy's supplies, recaptured several hundred prisoners, and fought and defeated the enemy's cavalry under Stuart. In this battle, a few miles from Richmond, the able commander of the Confed- erate cavalry was killed, and the outer fortifications of the rebel capital were entered. cansing the greatest consternation and alarm in that city. About this time a new feature was intro- duced in the army of issuing bulletins to each command at fre- quent intervals, giving us news of the movements and successes of both our own and other armies. The beneficial effect of this recognition of the rank and file was very marked, in the spirit of confidence and enthusiasm that it aroused. During the roth we remained in about the same position. During the afternoon Upton's Brigade of the ist Division of our corps made an assault upon the enemy's line, near the "Bloody Angle," and suffered quite severely in killed and wounded.
Buell of Battery "B." 4th Regulars, in "The Cannoneer." gives the following regarding Upton's charge:
"To the left was a pine grove, more open than any woods we had seen in these parts, and we observed that a heavy line of battle of the 6th Corps infantry was massed in this grove. lying down. There was a hollow in front of us, and in this were two batteries of the 6th Corps -- McKnight's ("ML," 5th Regulars), and Kimball's (4th Maine). In front of these was rising ground, just high enough to shut out the rebel works in our immediate front, but we could plainly see their heavy works on the hill beyond, which was the famous "Angle." In the course of half an hour these two 6th Corps batteries were thrown for- ward to the top of the rising ground in our front, where they
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unlimbered and opened furiously. The sound of the enemy's reply showed that they were close up to his works, and his shot and even bullets which passed over them reached us. * * Suddenly the batteries in front of us ceased firing, and then the infantry that was in the pine woods to our left broke cover and in magnificent style swept past our flank and out into the open ground, over the little rise, thence down upon the rebel intreneluments and out of sight from where we were. Their right marker passed very close to us and we saw the colors of the 5th Maine and 12Ist New York Regiments."
Buell was mistaken in regard to the 4th Maine Battery. It was McCartney's Ist Massachusetts. The 4th was not in action on the 10th.
On the morning of the 11th we were turned out as usual at three o'clock and remained in readiness to move until about nine o'clock, when we were ordered to the right a short distance and went into position, relieving another battery. In the afternoon the left section, under command of Lieutenant Haynes, was sent with a brigade of the 2d Corps and a battalion of cavalry on a reconnoissance extending several miles to the right. A few small detachments of the enemy's cavalry were met and a little shooting was indulged in, but without any very serious results on cither side. We rejoined the Battery, which had been withdrawn from the line of battle, about dark, and after caring for our horses and feasting on hard bread and coffee, spread the paulins of the guns to protect ourselves from the rain and prepared for a night's rest.
About two o'clock A. M. on the 12th we were called and joined in the movement of our corps to the left. In the dark- ness and med our progress was slow and we had made perhaps two or three miles when we went into park about daylight. At eight o'clock we were ordered to the front, and leaving the bat- tery wagon, forge and spare horses, we moved rapidly to the front through a piece of woods and struck our lines where one of our batteries was hotly engaged.
We turned to the left, passing through the battery, which ceased firing for us to pass. Just after leaving the battery one of our caissons became stalled in crossing a small creek and the left section was compelled to stand for several minutes broad- side to a most severe fire from the enemy's batteries at short
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LIGHT ARTILLERY, 1861-65.
range from the opposite hill. The writer well remembers how uncomfortable it made him feel while standing there as he heard a shell explode a few feet in front of him and the pieces bang up against a big oak tree, and how quickly he dismounted and got under cover. After crossing the creek our way was across an open field for a third of a mile, exposed to a most furious artillery fire. If ever good time was made, we made it there, and fortunately only with the loss of two horses wounded. Lieutenant Kimball, who was in command, had a close call, his cap visor being grazed by a piece of shell. A short distance beyond the field, we were placed in position and a Sergeant sent back for spare horses. Upon his return across the field with the horses the enemy evidently took the party to be an officer and his staff and did some very good shooting. "Old Dean," who was of the party, said afterwards that if his horse had not known more than he did he would have been killed. The horse stopped just in time to escape a shell that exploded just in front of him and a few feet behind the Sergeant.
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Early in the morning Hancock had made the famous assault at the "Bloody Angle," at the time quite commonly known as "Hell's half acre," capturing a portion of the enemy's works and the rebel General Johnston with his whole division.
The enemy made the most desperate efforts to recover the lost ground and never were greater deeds of valor shown or more desperate fighting done than on this day. The roar of musketry and artillery was terrific during the whole day. At one point the opposing forces occupied the opposite sides of the same earthworks and were within a few feet of each other, and when night came the dead were three and four deep. At one point the bullets flew so thick that an oak tree twenty-one inches through was cut off, and fell in the enemy's lines. The stump was afterwards cut off and sent to Washington, where it is preserved as a relic of the war.
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