USA > Maine > The story of the Maine Fifteenth; being a brief narrative of the more important events in the history of the Fifteenth Maine regiment; together with a complete roster of the regiment , embracing the name of every officer and enlisted man serving > Part 2
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Happily, however, we were in a friendly port, and, furthermore, had thus carly in our military career learned to --- " g-r-o-w-l." The situ- ation was at once brought to the attention of the Mayor of the city, who -upon consultation with and the acquiescence of the commanding officers -- promptly repaired to the wharf where our vessel lay, and in a neat and appropriate speech welcomed the regiment to the hospitalities of the city of Portland ! With deafening shouts of applause the soldiers greeted the invitation. and the regiment at once debarked and marched to the (then) New City Building, which it occupied as " barracks" for a week, and where the soldiers were the recipients of many kindly attentions from the patriotic people of that goodly city.
The week's sojourn in Portland was characterized by no especially noteworthy incident ; though in many respects it was quite pleasureable to the soldiers. Numerous opportunities were afforded for mingling with the people and of attending the religious meetings, social gatherings, etc. A
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number of the members of the regiment also here received calls from rel- atives and friends, while not a few were given brief leaves of absence in which to visit the old home and exchange the parting words with loved ones-a privilege very highly appreciated by those thus favored.
Owing no doubt largely to the seemingly unnecessary exposure to which the men had been subjected on all hauds since breaking camp at Angusta, the list of those sick in quarters and in hospital had again become quite formidable. From forty to fifty quite serious cases were upon the hospital list, to say nothing of those sick in quarters or at their homes ; and despite the most faithful nursing and assiduous attentions from all quarters, it was found, when the hour of departure arrived. that quite a large num- ber must be left behind.
On the 6th of March, the vessel's preparations for the voyage being completed, the regiment again embarked upon the ship Great Republic --- then the largest sailing-vessel afloat -- and at noon of the 7th, amid salvos of artillery and music from the forts in the harbor, and the cheers of the throngs of spectators gathered upon the wharves to witness our departure, we proceeded to sea ; bidding adieu for a time-many, alas! for all time !--- to the dear old "State of the Pine Tree, " and the loved ones scattered all along her hills and vales !
The great ship upon which we had taken passage, with its large and diversified population, seemed like a little world of itself, and was an object of unceasing interest, especially to those who were now making their first voyage " o'er old ocean's wide expanse." Here were nearly or quite one thousand men -- including the ship's officers and crew-quartered upon the vessel, " bunks " being arranged "between decks" and elsewhere, in such manner as to utilize every inch of space ; while " on the ground floor " were a large number of cavalry and artillery horses -- about two hundred and fifty -- so closely "stowed-in" as to be absolutely unable to he down-even in death !
The commissioned officers were assigned excellent accommodations in the ship's capacious cabin and saloons; but, unhappily, the enlisted men hardly fared as well. They were more numerous ; hence, necessarily, less fortunate.
It was found wholly impracticable to issue rations to the several companies, as in camp, and cooked rations were served from the ship's gal- leys. A regular and perhaps the " favorite diet," was a compound known to the " bill of fare" as bean-soup, but which the boys were wout to char- acterize as " bean-swagen ; " and very often, when eagerly crowding about the cook-room at the dinner-hour, waiting to be served, the shouts,- " swagen !" " bean-swagen !" raised by hundreds of voices, and taken up and pasted along in every direction, became a strikingly familiar phrase, if
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not especially musical or pleasing as a chorus. Nevertheless the " swagen" "dinner-cry" seemed to afford the boys infinite amusement and the com- manding officer manifested no disposition to interfere with the sport.
As to the regular bill-of-fare on ship-board, it may as well be con- ceded that it was hardly up to the standard of our first-class hotels, either in variety or as to the method of compounding. It was, however, very fair " army-diet "; and when the boys became accustomed to their changed sit- uation there was no more complaint than was to have been expected. The food was certainly ample in quantity if not entirely satisfactory in quality and variety ; indeed, that there was a sufficiency, and even a surplus, was clearly evinced by the spectacle frequently witnessed, especially in rough weather, of scores of soldiers benevolently sharing a but partially digested " dinner" with the sharks and dolphins following in the vessel's wake !
In chartering the " Republic " for the government transport service, by some oversight, clearly, there appears to have been no stipulation that the vessel be absolutely free of occupants when placed at our disposal; at all events the ship had not long been on her course ere the discovery was forced upon the soldiers that they were sharing their bunks with an inmu- merable, active, living, crawling force, which was waging relentless warfare upon the lawful tenants. The "invading army " was in some measure in- visible, save upon microscopic inspection, yet its rank and file were by no means of a retiring disposition. The peculiar little intruders were never idle, and whenever they honored one with a call they seemed to under- stand just how to assert their presence and to compel respectful attention ! Private and long-protracted interviews were daily if not hourly granted the representatives of this obnoxious clan, and many a weary tour of pick-et duty was rendered necessary on account of their close proximity to " our lines" --- a favorite point of observation for our outposts being aloft, upon the vessel's cross-trees, or in the rigging! Ugh ! - the vile wretches! Nev- ertheless, the agile, unlovely, and pestiferous army grey-back is among the never-to-be-forgotten incidents of the war-period.
Fortunately the weather during the entire voyage was exceptionally fine and there was much to enjoy for those whose physical condition ren- dered a cheerful view of the situation possible. A favorite amusement was sporting with the various representatives of the " finny tribes" over the sides of the vessel ; while the frequent " speaking " of passing vessels ; the mysteries as to atmospherical conditions, etc., of the wondrous Gulf Stream ; the views of light-houses and points of land passed on our course; and the never-ceasing attractions of the mighty ocean itself-all served to render the trip anything but dreary or monotonous. But to the unfortunate vic- tim of disease, and of sea-sickness and its attendant despondency, there was little of romance or of pleasure in " life on the ocean wave," and these were
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rarely heard chanting that popular melody. Of a bright moon-light eve- ning, the magnificent drum-corps attached to the regiment, and which even then had attained a high degree of proficiency in martial music, con- tributed immeasurably to the enjoyments of the voyage, and it was often called into requisition " to drive dull care away."
There was of course considerable sickness on board and the facili- ties for caring for those thus afflicted very limited. The water became scarce and poor as we neared the end of the voyage ; and, in view of the situation as to health-giving and nutritious diet, it seemed a marvel that no death occurred during the voyage.
Of our cargo of two hundred and fifty horses, but nine or ten died, -a somewhat remarkable fact, all things considered.
By a very unfortunate "accident " during the trip, the beautiful regimental banner, presented by the ladies of Aroostook, was lost overboard one night off Abacoa, and it was found impossible to regain possession of it -an incident very keenly regretted by all.
Quite an amusing episode of the embarkation was the discovery, some time after the ship had put to sea, that two of those who came aboard in the garb of " soldiers" were really more appropriately clad when wear- ing the female attire. As the Quartermaster had failed to make requisition for this variety of "equipage," the ladies were at a decided disadvantage.
On the morning of the 4th of April, the joyous cry, " Land, Ho!" swept along the decks, supplemented by the welcome announcement that we were nearing our destination-Ship Island, the general rendezvous of the much-talked-of " Butler Expedition."
As our ship approached the long strip of white sand, bedecked with numberless canvass tents glistening in the sun, with its wharves, ware- houses, huge piles of stores, ammunition, etc., and, in the harbor, an im- mense fleet of vessels of every grade and description, the port presented rather the appearance of an important commercial city than an insignifi- cant sand-bar of the sea.
The " Republic " lay at anchor off the island until the next day -- Saturday, April 5th-when we were towed as near to the wharf as was practicable, and, utilizing river steamers as " lighters," we disembarked. The boys had been upon ship-board twenty-eight days, and, as may well be imagined, were by no means reluctant to exchange the vessel's deck for even this mere apology for terra firma, in utter disregard of the scriptural warnings as to the folly of building upon sandy foundations !
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CHAPTER IV.
SIX WEEKS OF BURROWING IN SHIP ISLAND'S SAND.
SHIP ISLAND .-- SOMETHING ABOUT THE SANDY ISLE. - GEN. B. F. BUTLER, THE KING OF THE REALM --- THE TROOPS UPON THE ISLAND. - OUR BRIGADE ASSOCIATES. -- THE GRAND REVIEW. -- TROOPS AND NAVAL VESSELS QUIETLY SLIP AWAY. - THE MUSIC OF FARRAGUT'S GUNS BOMBARDING THE FORTS AT THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI .-- THE FIFTEENTH ORDERED TO " REPORT TO GEN. . BUTLER," AT NEW ORLEANS.
$0 sooner had the Fifteenth boys " pitched their tents" upon Ship Island than they started out, in pairs and in squads, on a "prospect- ing tour " -- to view the new location. To their amazement they found themselves occupants of a mere hillock of sand thrown up by some caprice of the sea, and so unstable that its shape and size are liable to be more or less affected by every violent storm sweeping across the Gulf. It is only one of a chain of sand-bars, scarcely rising above the level of the sea. and perhaps seven miles in length and three-fourths of a mile in width. There were a few pine trees and seruh oak on a sand-heap at the eastern end of the island, while at the western end was a tolerably good harbor, affording a fine opportunity for the naval vessels and transports of the expedition. The location of the island proved a most eligible one for. the purposes of the expedition. Though near the mouth of the Mississip- pi and within easy reach of the forts guarding the approaches to New Or- leans, it is also but about fifty miles from Mobile Bay, and ouly ten miles from Biloxi, Miss. As the purposes of the expedition were not positively known to either the rebels or the people of the North, and Ship Island was quite as desirable a base for a movement against Mobile or the Texas coast as New Orleans, its selection served the double purpose of affording ample accommodations as a Union naval station and of keeping the rebel author- ities in a constant state of uneasiness as to the point of attack.
As a matter of course the very first duty upon arriving within the territory of this new " kingdom " was to call upon and pay our respects to " the king of the realm," Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, the commanding gen- eral. If any essayed to do this, however, they did not find the General sitting in state at his headquarters, arrayed in full-dress uniform and closely guarded by pacing sentinels, but rather on the wharves, clad in the un- pretentious fatigue cap and blouse, skipping about in a very lively man-
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ner, superintending every detail, and infusing his characteristic energy and enthusiasm into all with whom he came in contact. Few officers or soldiers came ashore from the vessels without attracting the General's attention, and woe-betide any one upon whom that very peculiar eye happened to be fo- cused who was not prepared to promptly and satisfactorily account for him- self. One or two encounters of this description occurred during the de- barkation of our regiment, which occasioned much amusement among the spectators.
Upon our arrival from six to eight thousand troops were quartered upon the island, including one or two cavalry companies and several bat- teries of light artillery. A fortress had also been constructed, manned by a detachment of regular artillerists. Gun-boats, monitors, and naval vessels of all descriptions, were hovering about the island, some at anchor and oth- ers steaming about in pursuit of blockade runners, with whom some very spirited encounters occurred not far from the island. Besides Gen. Butler and his military staff, Gen. J. W. Phelps was upon the island, having oc- cupied it with a brigade as early as December, 1861, thus affording the eccentric Vermonter an opportunity to steal a march upon " A. Lincoln " in the matter of emancipation proclamations ! The army and navy command- ers were in frequent consultation, and everybody seemed absorbed in the work of preparation for a movement apparently of very great importance.
The Fifteenth was assigned to Col. (afterwards Gen.) George F. Shepley's Brigade, comprising the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Maine, and the First Maine Battery. Brigade, regimental and company drill, and the ordinary camp duties, were at once taken up, and continued without interruption during our stay upon the island.
The hard sandy beach which skirted the island constituted an ex- cellent parade-ground, though the tramp through the loose sand in reaching and returning from the beach, was laborious and even hazardous, as many of the soldiers learned to their sorrow. The water was excellent, -though in some cases it was thought wise to dilute with vinegar !- and was to be readily obtained by sinking a barrel in the sand. Fish, oysters, shrimps, etc., were in abundance. Wood for the cook-fires wore rafted from the casterly end of the island; and this labor, with the ordinary camp-duty, the " fatigue-details" incident to the lading and unlading of stores and munitions of war constantly arriving and departing, etc., furnished about all the "exercise" deemed requisite to preserve the health of the troops while on the island.
A noteworthy event of the sojourn upon Ship Island was the grand review of all the troops upon the island, before the commanding general. The parade was formed upon the beach and presented an unusually pretty spectacle. The force then on the island numbered some fourteen thousand,
------
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. nearly all participating. The parade comprised four regiczents and a battery from Maine, one or more regiments from each of the States of Massachu- setts, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island, three Western regiments, and a number of batteries and cavalry detachments.
By the middle of April the naval vessels and dling-craft of all descriptions commeneed to quietly slip away from the island. and soon after a large proportion of the troops embarked upon transports and sailed in the direction of the mouth of the Mississippi. A little lates the reports of heavy and incessant cannonading wafted to our ears front over the water, brought the tidings that Admiral Farragut had commenced the bombard- ment of the Forts at the mouth of the Mississippi, and that oue of the most terrific naval contests in the world's history was in progress, but a few miles away. Though, strictly speaking, not " an affair of the army," we shall have som thing to say of the memorable conflict when the Fifteenth passes the historie spot on its way up the river.
The first death in the Fifteenth since leaving Augusta occurred up- on the island May 9th, of diphtheria, followed closely by fear or five oth- ers, just before embarking for the Mississippi.
The Fifteenth received " sailing orders " about the middle of May, having tarried upon the island a trifle more than six weeks.
CHAPTER V.
THE FIFTEENTH'S FIRST TRIP UP THE MISSISSIPPI
ON BOARD SHIP TAMERLANF. - DECIDEDLY POOR ACCOMMODATIONS . .. TWELVE DAYS AND NIGHTS IN MAKING A SEVENTEEN HOURS' TRIP. - AT TRE MOUTH OF THE "FATHER OF WATERS." -- THE STORY OF FARRAGUT'S PASSAGE OF THE FORTS BRIEF- LY TOLD. - THE OBJECTS OF INTEREST ALONG THE RIVER. -- THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. - THE FIFTEENTH DEBARKS AT CAMP PARAPET, LA.
SHE Fifteenth Maine embarked on board ship Tamerlane, for the Mississippi, May 19th, leaving but a small garrison at Ship Island- the naval vessels cruising in the vicinity being mainly relied upou for the protection of the public property upon the island.
The trip to New Orleans, ander favorable conditions, ordinarily oc- cupies from fifteen to seventeen hours ; but the miserable olt sailing-vessel which had been assigned us for transportation, succeeded in frittoring away
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twelve long and very weary days and nights in making the voyage. Of insufficient capacity, utterly lacking in accommodations for passenger-ser- .vice, inadequate in her supplies, and in all respects unsuitable, the trip was one of very great discomfort. After a few days out a large number of the men were entered upon the sick-list, and these, especially, suffered intense- ly. As there seemed no urgent necessity for the use of a sailing-vessel for the transportation of troops at that period in the history of the expedition, there was, quite naturally, much murmuring during the weary voyage.
The record of the first ten days of the trip on the " Tamerlane " may be told in few words. It comprised head-winds; a becalmed sea; aimless drifting about at the merey of wind and tide; and weary hours of anxious waiting for the steam-tug expected to take us in tow. And when, at the close of the tenth das out, a tow-boat took us in charge and briskly jagged us over the sand-bars-by Pilot-Town -- and on up the river to the vicinity of Forts Jackson and St. Phillip .- she certainly found a grateful and appreciative company, who, if not " a ship-wrecked crew," were nev- ertheless upon a vessel which had long been "in distress."
At the Forts we linger for a season and are afforded the much-de- sired opportunity of taking a view of the scene of the ever-memorable na- val contest so gallantly fought, and gloriously won by Admiral Farragut's command. Let us briefly recall the story.
Forts Jackson and St. Phillip are located about thirty miles above the point where the waters of the great river break through in five different " Passes " on their way to the sea, and some seventy-five miles below New Orleans. The forts are on opposite banks of the river, their guns comt- manding the channel for a long distance. Besides these, the ingenuity of man seems to have been exhausted in various devices calculated to render the position practically impregnable. They comprised chain-cables stretch- ed across the river and securely fastened, sunken vesels, torpedo boats, huge fire-rafts, battering-rams, etc. But. fortunately, Farragut had thor- oughly informed himself as to the situation and was prepared to meet every emergency. He had in his powerful fleet no less than forty-eight vessels, carrying three hundred and ten guns, some of them of very heavy calibre. Many of his ships were "chain-clad," a solid armor of heavy chain-cable being skillfully interlaced about the ships, affording ample protection against shot from the enemy's heavy guns. The wood-work of the vessels had been painted the color of the muddy water of the river, while some were decorated with trees, reeds, etc., that they might not be easily distinguished from objects along shore. In fact nothing was lacking in the way of prep- aration, for a conflict which proved the most desperate and memorable in the annals of naval warfare, in this country or elsewhere.
On the morning of April lith twenty-one mortar-boats, under the
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command of Com. Porter, steamed up to the Forts, and on the 18th opened a most terrific bombardment, continuing three days without cessation, but with no perceptible results. At the onset the rebels sent down a huge fire- raft, piled very high with wood soaked in turpentine -- a " firey monster " indeed ! But a boat shot out from the fleet, and, with grappling irons, so " curbed " the " monster " that he was harmlessly led to the shore, and al- lowed to burn to the water's edge ! During the three day's cannonade, the scene simply beggars description. It was a long-prolonged shower of perpetual thunder and lightning, which seemed to shake earth and heaven from their very foundations. But it was an inexcusable waste of ammu- nition and entirely barren of results. Neither forts or ships manifested the slightest disposition to yield. And when the brave old Admiral became satisfied that this was the situation, he heroically determined to " run the forts," in spite of the obstructions in the river thought -by many to be im- passable. Under cover of the night men with hammer and chisel were op- erating upon the massive chain-cable stretched across the river, and in due time it was severed in twain and the hulks to which it was fastened drifted harmlessy down the river. When all was in readiness the Admiral formed his fleet into what the soldiers might have called " three ranks, open order," or in three distinct lines or divisions. One took the middle of the stream, the others closely hugging either shore. The centre-line addressed itself to the task of looking after the rebel gun-boats and the obstructions in the river ; the flanking divisions concentrating their batteries upon Forts Jack- son on the left bank and St. Phillip on the right. The stately march com- meneed at one o'clock in the morning. The forts at once opened a most merciless fire, the ships as briskly responding ; and as for a long distance the vessels were within range of the enemy's guns, such a shower of shell, cannon-ball, grape, and other engines of death, has rarely ever been ex- perienced, before or sinec. The river was gorgeously illuminated by the rapid and incessant firing, aided by the numerous great fire-rafts sent down upon the fleet from above. It seemed a marvel that our vessels were able to weather such a terrible storm of leaden hail! But, with comparatively trifling loss, the ships moved steadily forward and majestically passed the forts, and soon were beyond range of the enemy's guns! Then a fleet of rebel gun-boats was encountered arrayed in line-of-battle. on the river; but in less than thirty minutes eleven of these were riddled and dismantled and their hulks left high and dry upon the river's banks, our war-ships making little more account of them than if they had been a swarm of postiferous Louisiana mosquitoes! Simultaneously with. Farragut's rash exploit Gou. Batler embarked troops upon small boat, and sent them to the creek ; and bayous in rear of the forts, but the garrisons were " tired of the strife." had mutinied and spiked their guns, and were right glad of an opportunity
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to surrender. And, without further incident worthy of record, the great commercial metropolis of the South-filled with as bitterly rebellious a population as was ever allowed to escape unhung -- awoke from its slumbers on the morning of the 24th of April, to find seventeen of the despised Yankee war-vessels at its levees, flaunting the hated stars and stripes in their very eyes, and even audaciously demanding the surrender of the city ! Though, after the manner of the renowned Bombastes Furioso, there was a deal of the silliest of twaddle from the Mayor of the city and others, and the atmosphere was lurid with sulphurous threats, oaths and scowls, a small force of marines quietly marched a-hore and soon after threw to the breeze the proud emblem of American nationality, from the flag-staff of the U. S. Mint ! NEW ORLEANS WAS OURS! Gon. Butler at once assumed the military command to which he was so eminently adapted and in the admin- istration of which he justly achieved very great renown.
The entire loss of the naval forces during the battles incident to the opening of the Mississippi to New Orleans, aggregated but thirty-six in killed and one hundred and twenty in wounded. The rebel loss has never been reported.
After leaving the Forts the passage up the river was one of rare enjoyment. On either bank, extending rearward as far as the eye could reach, lay fertile plantations, with their rich and diversified scenery, com- prising groves of magnolia and orchards of orange; the growing crops in the fields ; grand old mansions, deserted and lonely; hundreds of negrocs about the quarters, or in the fields, sending greetings through the medium of various unique demonstrations-forming a variegated panorama of rare interest to those viewing the enchanting picture for the first time. Then there were those objects of historic interest associated with the closing scenes of the war of 1812, where intrepid old Andrew Jackson so signally routed the forces of Packenham, -- the very flower of the British Army, --- leaving that accomplished officer dead upon the field, with over two thous- and of his force killed and wounded. Soon we reach the famous crescent- shaped bend in the river, abruptly disclosing to view the great city of New Orleans, with its stately ships now lying idle at the wharves; its great publie thoroughfares and squares now well-nigh deserted ; its noted markets and great warehouses tenantless and mouldy with disuse ; and the entire picture strikingly suggestive of war's blighting and withering effects.
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