USA > Maine > The story of one regiment; the Eleventh Maine infantry volunteers in the war of the rebellion > Part 22
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August 7th, orders came from corps headquarters calling for one hundred men to volunteer for fatigue work in the Dutch Gap Canal. The men were to have a special payment of eight cents an hour and were to work seven and a half hours a day. About one hundred men volunteered from our regiment.
In the afternoon of August 8th a deserter from the Twenty- fourth Massachusetts was shot in the presence of the brigade. The man had deserted from his regiment while it was stationed at Newbern, North Carolina, and took an opportunity to desert back into the Union lines, expecting to be received as a rebel deserter and sent North in liberty. He came into our lines at the Grover House, where, as fate would have it, a detachment of the Twenty-fourth was stationed for the day. Even then he might have escaped recognition, were it not that a sharp-eyed drummer boy of his old company was present. Recognized, he was impris- oned, tried, convicted, and sentenced to be shot.
Major Camp. of the Tenth Connectiont, then its adjutant,
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was deeply affected by the sad spectacle of a military execution, the first he had witnessed, and at the time wrote a sketch of the scene, from which we quote : " At half-past three the regiments of the brigade were formed, each upon its own parade ground, and then marched to a wide, open plain, bounded on one side by a gentle slope. Here they formed on three sides of a hollow square, the fourth being the vacant hillside, where was a newly dug grave, with fresh earth heaped beside it. The proceedings of the court-martial and the order for the execution were now read to cach regiment by their respective adjutants. Meantime a small column was slowly approaching the place. In the center was a wagon containing the prisoner, securely fettered. A priest rode with him ; a strong guard marched in front and rear. At their head a band played plaintive funeral music, swelling solemnly above a heavy undertone of muffled drums. In the distance they hardly seemed to move, and the sound of the dead march came softly to our ears. At length they drew near, ap- proaching with slow, measured tread ; the drum-beat a deep, subdued roll of thunder, the notes of the wind instruments a piercing wail, as they passed before us and halted opposite the grave. Then all was silence. Every eye was turned toward one spot, every ear attentive. But for the impatient stamping of officers' horses and those of the cavalry squadron drawn up on the hillside, there was hardly more sound than if the place was the same solitary feld it had been bofore armies encamped and marched upon Virginia soil.
" The prisoner left the wagon ; he seemed to step firmly and boldly upon the ground, but we were too distant to see the expression which his face wore. The priest was by his side. They knelt by the grave, and prayer was offered, inaudible to any but the condemned. Then a platoon of twelve men, led by an officer, halted a few paces in front of the spot, and faced toward it. The officer advanced, and read to the prisoner the proceedings of the court and its sentence-a cruel formality it seemed, a needless lengthening of a terrible suspense. Did the prisoner wait with nervous impatience, as we did, for the worst to come ? or did he wish each sentence was a volume, that he might cling a little longer to life ? The reading was finished, a broad white bandage was bound about his eyes, and, with arms firmly pinioned behind his back, he was made to kneel upon his coffin
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of unpainted pine, which had been placed before the grave. Then for the first time the priest left his side, and all fell back who had stood around him. There was a hush, in comparison with which the former silence had been tumult.
" The officer in command of the firing party waved his sword ; each piece was brought to a ready ; again, and they were leveled in aim; the third time, and a quick, sharp volley sounded through a cloud of smoke. The blindfolded, pinioned form tottered for a moment, then bent forward and pitched heavily to the ground. There was a long breath of relief drawn by each who looked on-it was over. Was it ? There might be yet a doubt. The officers stepped forward with a surgeon to examine the body, which lay prone and motionless in its suit of rebel gray. The lungs still feebly expanded, and a low moan seemed to issue from them. Mere mechanical action, the surgeon thought ; but a platoon which had been held in reserve was speedily ordered up, a second volley was fired, and life at length was pronounced utterly extinct. Then the whole force was wheeled into column and marched slowly past the corpse, a gory, ghastly sight, lying where it fell, pierced with twenty bullets."
Many of us had witnessed just such a sad scene before -- that of the execution of a deserter on the seashore of Morris Island. He had been a rebel soldier, it was said; had deserted into the Union lines, was released, and finally enlisted in a New Hampshire regi- ment, then attempted to desert back into the rebel lines from Black Island. He was captured by our piekets while making the attempt, was tried, convicted, sentenced, and executed in the presence of all the troops on the island. And late in the fall of 1864 there were many executions of mon caught in attempting to desert to the enemy, so many as to season the nerves of the unwilling witnesses. These deserters were corraled " bounty jumpers " mostly, who hoped to get rid of service in any army. So many were there of these that shooting gave way to more ignominious hanging, and even this soon ceased to affect the sensibilities of the men. I recall that it was a rough joke in our regiment that the company cooks would hover around a gallows tree until its victim was lowered, when they would scramble for the sticks it was made of to cut up for their cook-fires. And Captain Perkins, then commanding Company D, writes now, with evident self-gratulation, that the cooks of that redoubtable
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company were rarely unsuccessful in securing the ghouly prizes they strove for.
It is very gratifying to us to remember that no member of our regiment was executed. We had deserters, as we know, but none tried to reach the enemy-all, or nearly all, failing to return from furloughs, or deserting after the war ended. It was a proud day for me when in Boston in December, 1864, to read in a morning paper that General Butler had relieved the Eleventh Maine by a Special Order from attending military executions, as they, having no deserters, needed no warning.
Perhaps the consideration and the humane treatment dealt ont by our officers of all ranks to our share of the waifs and strays large bounties had tempted from all parts of the world-from all parts of Europe and even from Asia-to enlist in our armies at this eleventh hour of the war kept our wild men from deserting. Our officers and non-commissioned officers were trained to con- sider themselves as " officers and gentlemen," as the Articles of War phrase it, the former wearing the straps that the latter were striving to deserve. And all our officers and commanders were taught to control with a firm hand, without the aid of the brutal punishments in vogue in many regiments.
As a whole, regiments take their tone from their commanding officers ; and those of the Eleventh --- Caldwell, Plaisted, Hill -- were kindly commanders, always appealing to the best there was in their men, whether in camp or field, and their example and moni- tions were copied by all their officers, from captains to corporals.
But we did punish sometimes, and when we did, it was up to the full measure of the misdemeanor -- but always without malice. Neverin our regiment was seen the sight some of us saw at Carver Barracks, when an artillery officer had a drunken artilleryman strapped to a spare wheel, strapped and gagged ; and while the wretch struggled and groaned in his distress --- for to be strapped to a wheel, with back bent over the hub and the weight half- hanging on stretched out legs and arms, cannot be a comfortable position-while the wretch struggled, groaned, and cursed as best he could, the officer stood over him and raved and cursed in shocking rivalry, with the men of the battery standing with scowling faces, only kept from wreaking vengeance for their com- rade by the knowledge that it would be mutiny, and that the pun- ishment for mutiny was death.
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We aimed to shame our culprits rather than to martyrize them. Standing on the head of a barrel was apt to make a man look and feel ridiculous. And when sent to the guard-house, the necessity of doing the foulest camp-cleaning while a prisoner rather took away from the pleasure of idleness ; and when tied up by the thumbs, the knowledge that he need only keep his painful tiptoe position until he would beg pardon and promise . better fashions soon brought him to his senses.
Some one of our shrewd Yankee officers invented a cure for cowardice, too-one that worked like a charm. When two men retreated in an action long before the word to fall back was given, they found that the necessity of standing in an elevated position on a roadside with a placard with the word "Coward " on each one's breast, and at a time when the division was passing along the road, with every passing soldier throwing a more or less witty verbal brickbat, was dreadfully mortifying ; and their experience not only stiffened the knees of these particular recreants when they were next in action, but undoubtedly the memory of it helped many another chap to stay in line, who in his heart believed that there was wisdom and truth in the old ditty which tells us that --
"He who fights and runs away, May live to fight another day."
During the forenoon of the 13th of August the regiments of our brigade received orders to be ready to march with three days' rations. There was much speculation as to our destination, but the majority favored the idea that we were going to the Shenan- doah Valley, where the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, and other forees under Sheridan, were now operating against Early. And the majority rather hoped that we were, for Sheridan was a dash- ing leader, and " the Valley" was a wide field, not like Decp Bottom, where we could not stretch our legs without butting against rebel abatis, batteries, parapets, and rifle pits, all in the sturdy charge of men of " Longstreet's corps."
On the evening of the 13th our regiment went on picket, with Major Baldwin in command. We picketed the woods from Bailey's Creek towards the left. Our picket line, with its reserves, was really a heavy skirmish line, as at Bermuda Hundred, and quite prepared to attack an intrenched picket line or to resist any
parteryet
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attacking force short of a line of battle. And when need were, we could stand up against a line of battle even, given the cover of a stout wood growth, where a tree could be gained by each man of us, and the enemy's line must stand "shoulder to shoulder " -not an unequal match either, while we could keep them at rifle- shot length.
In the night, a sultry one, with little air stirring anywhere, none at all in the woods, so that we of the picket line were all restless and wakeful from the heat, we could hear the rumble of artillery wagons crossing the bridges from the south shore, and the trampling of a host of cavalry horses as they took the same road. We could not tell by which bridge they were crossing. The sound was evidently doadened by hay that had been strewed over the bridges, but still the dull roar of artillery wheels and the clattering of iron-shod hoofs came clearly to our ears, and then after a time there was a continual screeching of boat whistles, indicating that a large number of steamers were gathering along our river front. What it meant we did not really know, but it seemed to many of ne as if our dream of a stirring campaign in the Shenandoah Valley was to remain a dream. Still, somo sturdily contended for a time that what we were hearing was but the arrival of a relieving force. But as the artillery rolled, and the horses tramped, and the whistles blew, it became plain to these even that the crossing force was much too large for a mere relieving one. There could be but one other meaning-for wo knew the signs of the times-and we went to sleep, those that did sleep, with the firm conviction that when we woke it would be to fall into line to learn what sort of soldiers occupied the rebeldom in our immediate front. The knowledge would cost, that we well knew; but what has a soldier to do with cost ? and few if any of our sleepers let the prospect of a fight in the morning disturb their rest. And judging by reason, and our experience the next morning, it is more than probable that the pickets of the enemy were equally well informed of the prospect for the morning, for what we could hear so plainly could hardly escape their watch- ful attention. They not only heard and judged rightly, but passed the word back to their line of battle.
What it all meant, was that General Grant had received infor- mation that General Lee was strongly reinforcing Early, and believed the reenforcements were so largely taken from the troops
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on the north side of the James as to give a chance for a more suc- cessful operation on that side of the river than the late one had been. The troops to be engaged in this second attempt were largely those engaged in the first -- the Second Corps, part of the Tenth, and a cavalry force under General Gregg -- all to be under Hancock's command. But instead of marching directly across the river as before, Hancock's corps was to embark on transports at City Point and more down the river in the afternoon, to give the Confederate spies the idea that it was going to the Valley, but under the cover of the night the transports were to run back to Deep Bottom, the troops were to disembark at Strawberry Plains, move rapidly in the morning, turn the enemy's line on Bailey's Creek, and push for Richmond. The part of the Tenth Corps men in the programme was that we were to assault in our front at daybreak, carry the works, and move up the Kingsland, Varina, and Mill River roads, all near the river bank.
The night wore away, and daylight came. Just as the rays of the rising sun were flooding wood and field and meadow with golden light-a typical summer Sunday morning-there came a sudden riding of mounted officers, sharp, quick commands, a rapid falling into line of the reserves to deploy instantly as skirmishers. Then came the command, " Forward," and the line rushed forward, swallowing pickets and vedettes in its course, and within the time of the telling of it, almost, was met full in the face by the deadly fire of a strong and watchful enemy.
Major Baldwin reports, of this morning's attack :
" About three o'clock in the morning an aid from General Foster rode up and handed me an order. It read, ' You will charge the enemy's line at daybreak.' There was no time for delay. directed Captain Sabine to attend to the formation of the right wing of the regiment, while I did the same on the left. The dis- position had hardly been made when the Tenth Connecticut moved up on the left, and in a minute the whole division appeared marching up in our rear. The order was given to charge, and the men threw their rifles over their shoulders and rushed forward without attempting to fire a shot. Colonel Plaisted and Licuten- ant-Colonel Hill had now arrived upon the ground and assumed their positions. The Eleventh ouistripped the flanking regiments in the race, so that suddenly our left flank was exposed, and, as we were nearing the further edge of the woods, it was enfiladed by
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a murderous fire from a body of rebels concealed among fallen trees. I ordered a charge on this force, and drove the rebels from their position. I then ordered the left to advance again. The men sprang to their feet and rushed forward, but the satisfaction of going with them was denied me, for I was now wounded, slightly in the left knee and severely through the right thigh, and at the same instant that Captain Sabine was mortally wounded in the head."
As Major Baldwin fell, Lieutenant-Colonel Hill sprang to the front and urged the men forward. Swiftly advancing his line, he placed it close to that of the enemy, and for an hour a deadly duel raged between the two lines. Did a man show himself on either side, a score of bullets sped for him, and as the officers of the two lines ran backwards and forwards to keep their men to their work and to see that their wounded were taken away, bullets whistled around their ears in hail-showers. Our loss was heavy. So thin did our line become that the men were a little nervous and wavered as a fierce rebel yell told that they were charging ; but instantly, Plaisted, Hill -- every officer, commissioned and non- commissioned-was rushing forward as if to meet the assailants, alone if need be, and the men rallied and drove the enemy back.
Then came a lull in the fighting, during which the Twenty- fourth Massachusetts came marching up in double column, and, reaching the skirmish line, took up the double quick, sprang past us, and, setting up a tremendous cheer, rushed on the enemy's intrenchments. But not alone ; to the right and the left, from the Tenth Connecticut and the Eleventh Maine, sounded the charging cry, and the three regiments rushed on the enemy's line with such vigor as to break it instantly ; and the rebels, surprised by the unexpected assault, fled to their main works, leaving some prisoners in our hands.
We found stacked guns and the remains of a half-caten break- fast behind the captured works, showing that the rebels had taken advantage of the lull in the fighting to break their fast. and that many of them were so panie-stricken as to leave everything behind them. Our men, breakfastless, snatched at the rebel rations of freshly cooked bread, cooked in the peculiar Southern style (in Dutch ovens covered with coals), and at the strips of fat bacon; and while waiting for the arrival of their own cooks with baked
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beans and coffee satisfied the sharp monitions of their healthy Yankee appetites with the captured food.
Orders now came to General Birney to halt his advance, as the Second Corps had not been able to land and attack at daybreak, as the plan of attack called on them to do, their orders directing that they should attack with us, and General Walker says that firing began on our front at five o'clock. The same officer says that, as the night was dark, the movements of the steamers were slow, and that constant showing of lights and blowing of whistles had to be resorted to in order to prevent collisions in the narrow stream, that it was 2.30 A. M. before the disembarkation began, and that, as there were but three wharves along the Strawberry Plains shore, steamers had to wait for others to unload, the largest steamer, one carrying a whole brigade, grounding in the stream to remain there several hours.
Mott's division had not disembarked until forty minutes past seven, four hours after it should have been on shore to effect the contemplated surprise. At the same hour Barlow's command had landed, except the brigade on the grounded steamer. This delay accounts somewhat for the failure of the expedition, which was based on an attempt to surprise the enemy, and break through their lines before reinforcements could reach them. But it is about impossible to move an expedition on any large scale without the enemy gaining an idea of the possible destination, whatever the ostensible one may be. And this one was no exception to the rule, so that General Lee was well prepared to meet it. The fact is, the expedition across the James had been undertaken upon erroneous information. General Grant believed that three divi- sions bad been sent to reinforce Early. Only one, however (Ker- shaw's), had actually gone. Field's division, of Longstreet's corps, bad remained in the Deep Bottom and Bailey's Creek in- trenchments ; Wilcox's division, of Hill's corps, was at Chapin's Bluff, ready to move down and reenforce Field ; while Mahone's division, also of Hill's corps, with Hampton's and W. H. F. Lee's cavalry divisions, were, on the first intimation of Hancock's move- ment, sent across the James to meet the impending attack.
General Hancock intended that General Barlow should move out rapidly and assault near Fussell's Mill with the greater part of two divisions (he commanded his own, and had supervision of Gen- eral Gibbon's while that officer was absent on a short leave), when
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by mere weight of numbers he would have broken through the enemy's line, which at that point was thinly held. But it was four o'clock in the afternoon before Barlow assaulted, and then with only one brigade of Gibbon's division, and unsuccess- fully. Barlow's example of bravery and daring was admirable, . but his troops would not respond to the commands to assault, two brigades, and these the two most famous in the Army of the Poto- mac, flatly refusing to assault the enemy's intrenchments.
It was a terribly hot day in open ground. General Walker says that " the columns moving out from the landing passed between men lying on both sides of the road, literally struck dead by the heat, and that before noon General Mott reported to him that in two small regiments of his division 105 men had been prostrated by the heat." This terrible exposure accounts for the dislike of the men to attack intrenched lines since their experiences in May and June, during which months the best and bravest of the old Second Corps had fallen in the Wilderness, and along the line of battles that had brought Grant to the James. Still, those left were brave men, and in subsequent engagements showed the gallantry that has made the clover-loaf badge famous in history ; but they wanted something like even terms, and could not be induced to believe that it was possible to charge across open fields on intrenched bat- teries, with the galling fire of the well-protected veterans of the Army of Northern Virginia sweeping through their ranks.
" Follow me, men, follow me," shouted a general officer riding rapidly to the head of their recoiling column, as if determined to charge the enemy's works, if he must do so, alone. For a moment there was a bush, as the men swayed back and forth in the edge of the sheltering woods, but not forward into the storm of lead sweeping the field. Then an Irish voice rang out fiercely, " We'll folly ye to Hell"; then, dropping to a wheedling tone, continued, " But don't ye think 'twud be wiser to go by a longer road, Gen- eral ?" A roar of laughter greeted this Hibernian hit, and half- laughing, half-angry, the discomfited general gave the word to fall back.
While the Second Corps was making its slow progress into action, the enemy in our front had retreated to their main line, from which they opened a sharp artillery fire. This line was across a wide field, and so formidable in appearance that an assault was not ordered. It was part of the one described by General Morgan
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in the July movement of the Second Corps as too strong to be attempted with much chance of success, and it was now even more formidable than then, the enemy having added largely to its mili- tary attractions in the meantime.
We spent the day in holding the ground we had taken, the only advance taking place in the afternoon, when a forward movement of our brigade against an as yet unabandoned outlying position of the enemy resulted in the capture of four ten-inch mortars from the rebels. At night we fell in, and, crossing the rebel front, reached the Newmarket road, where we took position, lying on our arms for the night.
Our losses for August 14th at Deop Bottom were as follows :
Field .- Wounded, Major Charles P. Baldwin.
Company A .- Killed, Private Moses Grass. Wounded, Private Aaron Gomery.
Company B .- Wounded, Sergeant Philip H. Andrews; Corporal William Rushton ; Privates Charles M. Prebble, Ezekiel Scott.
Company C .- Killed, Corporal James E. McGinness ; Privates Solon S. Beadle, Charles E. Urann. Wounded, First Sergeant Charles W. Bridgham; Sergeant Allen M. Cole; Corporal John A. Hammond ; Privates Elijah S. Kelley, William H. Newcomb, Wilder Pratt, Ezra Smith, Benjamin D. Willey, David H. Young.
Company D .- Killed, Privates John Hall, Harvey C. Shep- ard, John N. Stanley. Wounded, Corporals Josiah F. Keene, William P. Weymouth; Privates Samuel A. Bragdon, Alfred C. Butler, Francis Collins, William Sherman, Charles D. Starbird, Adelbert Stratton.
Company E .- Wounded, Privates William R. Downs, William IL. Kincaid, Tuttle D. Leathers.
Company F .- Killed, Private Andrew MeCleve. Wounded, Private Samuel H. Stacy.
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