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 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
Steamer Gen. Banks, with the 19th Iowa, three companies 15th Me. and a section of Artillery. Stea ner Northerner, with the ist and 16th regiments Corps D'Afrique. Steamers Bagley, Pocahontas, Haffar, etc., with Cavalry and Artillery ; and a fleet of gun- bats and other war-vessels, as a naval protectorate.
The fleet occupied bat little time in getting into line, being well un- der way before dark of the first evening out. The weather was favorable and no notable incident occurred. But on the second day the gulf was quite rough and the vessels of the fleet became considerably scattered. Sea-sickness, of a severe typo, became epidemie, with a result which may be more easily imagined than described. The Western men, especially. suffered intensely, being, as a rule, quite unfamiliar with old ocean's playful freaks. The poor fellows thus afflicted were pitiable objeets, and they ab- solutely-like Rachet of okdl -- " refused to be comforted."
Oa the 30th the storm became really terrific and tempestuous, the surf breaking over the vessels in a manner quite disagreeable if not a tritte suggestive of the perils of " they who go down to the sea in ships." Some
55
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
of the smaller vessels, especially, were hardly equal to the emergency, and weathered the gale with extreme difficulty. The Gen. Banks, upon which were three companies of the Fifteenth, was but barely kept afloat. An ugly breach was sustained amidships, the cooking-galley smashed into smith- ereens, the steering-apparatus rendered unserviceable, and the situation crit- ical in the extreme. Perhaps three-fourths of all on board were desperate- ly "sea-sick." The lowa Colour, and some of his officers, became frantic. and piteously appealed to Col. Murray to order the vessel in under the guns of the rebel forts on the coast, as, in their view, a Texan prison must be even more hospitable than a watery grave. The officers of the ship contrib- uted not a little to the general panic, urging, very strennously, that unless the vessel was at once relieved of a portion of her cargo she must surely go to the bottom. After a hurried consultation it was determined that dis- cretion and valor were by no means inconsistent ; and, though very reluc- tantly, we proceeded to " dump " a number of bulky articles into the sea. Eleven unusually large and plump mules were thrown overboard; also battery wagons, artillery equipments, and other property. The mules dropped into line in the vessel's wake, desperately cadeavoring to " keep up with the procession," giving way, one by one, from utter exhaustion. But the sacrifice of property proved eminently wise, as the steamer would hardly have " pulled through " but for this course. Indeed she was well- nigh a helpless wreck when the storm cleared away, being taken in tow by the Empire City in the morning and remaining under her protection until reaching the point of destination.
The gale-which had raged furiously during the entire night -- had spent its force before morning-day-break ushering in a placidity of tem- perament as well as an unruffled sea. The day following (the 31st) the sea continued smooth. permitting the fleet, which had become much scat- tered during the storm, to resume its wonted " order of march," and mak- ing such progress that on Sunday, Nov. Ist. the welcome ery, " Land, Ho!" was passed along from vessel to vessel, and at 5 p. m. of the same day we dropped anchor off Brazos Island, at the extreme south-western portion of the Texas coast, and within a few miles of the mouth of the Rio Grande River, the dividing line between Texas and Mexico.
During the voyage one of the soldiers of Company E -- on the Gen. Banks-died ; and while lying at anchor off the coast the solemn ceremony of consigning the body to a watery grave, after the manner of the sailors' burial, was performed-a most impressive and mournful spectacle.
With but few exceptions the vessels of the fleet reached the general rendezvous Nov .. Ist ; and on the Od preparations were commenced for of- feeting a landing -- not a mere holiday recreation, as was very readily dis- covered when the unloading of the horses and artillery was undertaken.
.
56
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
Indeed, the history of the landing of the United States troops upon the same coast at the opening of the war with Mexico -- when several days was occupied in the debarkation of a single regiment, and when Second Lieu- tenant U. S. Grant, in attempting to manipulate the pulleys by which the soldiers were lowered down from the ship to the lighters, was hurled with great velocity some twenty-five feet, into the water. from which awkward and hazardous predicament he was rescued by means of a bucket lowered down from the ship-had prepared our commanders for the difficulties encountered.
CHAPTER XI.
OUR FLAG " PROUDLY WAVES" OVER TEXAS SOIL!
THE MAINE BOYS FIRST LAND AND THROW TO THE BREEZE THE " STARS AND STRIPES." --- PERILS OF THE DEBARKATION. - THE ENEMY NOT EXPECTING COMPANY. --- BUT THE REBELS BURN THEIR COTTON AND STORES BEFORE RUNNING AWAY. - A POR- TION OF OUR FORCE OCCUPY BROWNSVILLE AND THE MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE. -- OUR NEW LOCATION AND ITS HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS. - THE FIFTEENTH PREPARES POR A COAST EXPEDITION, TO BE COMMANDED BY GEN. T. E. G. RANSOM.
UITE fittingly, the "poetry" of the occasion-" from Maine to Texas"-was kept constantly in mind, and plans made for the landing of the Maine troops first. The steamer Gen. Banks -- in a disabled condition-was the first to cross the bar, followed closely by the Clinton : the two vessels containing the two Maine regiments. The first boat-load of troops to reach the shore were from the Clinton, but by some oversight, the boat carried no flag ; and, it boing well understood that " the planting of the stars and stripes upon Texas soil" was one of the chief objects of the expedition, there was very naturally more or less rivalry among the soldiers on the two vessels as to who should first accomplish that. great desideratum. This honor fell to the lot of a detachment of Company B. of the Fifteenth Maine. The company happened to be the owner of a company flag, and this was taken ashore in the first boat landing from the Banks-the agile Private James R. Oliver most expeditiously taking it to the roof of an old building on the island, and waving it in the breeze, amidst the tumultuous cheers of the soldiers on the vessels within view of the very romantic and inspiring spectacle. The mon from Maine -- the extreme north eastern state of the Union-had restored the country's flag to a point
57
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
upon the extreme south-western portion of the territory so long held by the confederate forces, and almost within sight of the inhabitants of a foreign nationality. The Maine boys were a long distance from the " State of the Pine Tree." but they were entirely "at home," even upon a barren island, with "Old Glory" proudly floating over their heads !
The landing of the troops, horses, artillery, stores, etc., was accom- plished only with extreme difficulty, after a number of days of arduous labor. Many of the soldiers landed through a dangerous surf, boats frequently cap- sizing in the breakers on the bar, and a number of soldiers and sailors los- ing their lives. The seamen of the naval vessels rendered very efficient ser- vice during the process of disembarkation, a number of their boats and ves -: sels being permanently disabled by this hazardous service on the inhospita- ble Texan coast.
The landing of United States troops upon Texas soil seems to have been considerable of a "surprise-party" to the rebel commanders in Louisi- ana and Texas; indeed, had it been otherwise, a successful debarkation must have been well-nigh impossible. The Sabine affair and the subsequent continned occupation of the Teche by the army under Franklin, with an occasional dash upon the rebels in various directions in that region, had so comptetely absorbed the attention of the enemy on the Louisiana border, that no tidings of the departure from New Orleans of a separate expedition seems to have reached them until the appearance of our ships off Brazos ; accordingly very few rebel troops were concentrated upon the coast. Gen. Bec, commanding the forces in the region of of the Rio Grande, in report- ing the arrival of our ships to Magruder, volunteered the opinion : "I think the expedition is from Fortress Monroe !" That we were wholly unex- pected is the only explanation of the lack of cordiality on the part of the rebels on the occasion of the arrival of so distinguished a party upon this far-away Southern coast.
The rebel commander at Brownsville, on the appearance of our ves- sels, at once dispatched small detachments of cavalry to Point Isabel and the mouth of the Rio Grande, to observe the movements of our forces, while he hurriedly evacuated Brownsville, destroying much valuable property, in- eluding a large number of buildings and considerable cotton in the town. He then " skedaddled," by foot and train, to the centre of the vast sandy desert, from which point he reported our coming to his superior officer, at Houston. Bee's cavalry was overtaken by our advance at Palo Alto Prai- rie, and driven in confusion towards Brownsville. A portion of our force pushed on to the Boca Chica and the mouth of the Rio Grande, occupying Brownsville without opposition on the 6th. Here headquarters were estab- lished and maintained for several weeks. The Fifteenth tarried at Brazos for a couple of weeks ; nearly all the other regiments being dispatched in
58
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
various directions soon after landing upon the island : in the main at Point Isabel, Brownsville, and along the Texas shore of the Rio Grande.
Our curiosity to learn something of the country of which we had taken possession was hardly satisfied by anything seen upon this very unat- tractive island ; though the location was not without interest on account of its historic associations. The island-Brazos Santiago by name-is the Southern extremity of Padre Island, separated from the main land by the Laguna de la Madre-a capacious bay forming a most excellent harbor. The entire island-Padre-is about sixty miles long, though subdivided into several islands, the Brazos subdivision being some eight miles long and something like a mile or more in width at some points. . Immediately across the lagoon, and in full view, is Point Isabel, rendered famous as the base of supplies for Gen. Zachary Taylor's army at the commencement of the war with Mexico, when the American troops occupied both that point and Bra- zos Island. Here too, Gen, Winfield Scott landed in 1842 to take com- mand of the army ; and but a short distance away is the famous battle-fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, where, in May, '42, a then obscure lieutenant in Taylor's little army -- Ulysses S. Grant by name-first inhaled the not very fragrant aroma of smoking gunpowder, as emitted from hos- tile cannon during the shock of battle.
Nevertheless, so far as we were able to see, the country could hard- ly be characterized "as a goodly land," or one of very great fertility. The entire coast, from the Louisiana boundary on the east to the Mexican line on the west, is low and sandy, indented by a continuous chain of lagoon bays, cut off from the sea by elongated and narrow peninsulas and islands, in the main destitute of verdure, and as desolate and uninviting as a ver- itable desert of sand. This condition extends from forty to sixty miles in- land, beyond which is a vast prairie belt with a highly productive soil, abounding in deciduous trees, groves of live oak, etc. In the interior the soil is of great fertility, productive of fine crops of cotton and sugar, wheat, corn, tobacco, etc., the prairies affording pasturage for the finest herds of cattle to be found in America.
But the Fifteenth had something more adventurous on its docket than monotonous garrison duty on this uninviting island of sand ; it be- ing "booked" for an active campaign up the coast, in the direction of Gal- veston. Soon after the occupation of Brownsville Gen. T. E. G. Ransom- a gallant 13th Corps brigadier-reported for duty on the coast, and (Nov. 15th) was assigned to the command of the forces on Brazos Island and at
-* Gen. Grant, in his " MEMOIRS," speaking of this, his first battle, confesses that then, for the first time, he felt sorry that he had enlisted ! " As I looked down that long line of about three thousand armed men, " he adds, " advancing towards a larger force, also armed, [ thought what a fearful responsibility Gen. Taylor mast feel, commanding such a host and So far away from friends !"
59
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
Point Isabel, with instructions to prepare at once for an expedition down the coast, taking fifteen days' rations, a six days' water supply, etc. Some two thousand troops comprised his entire command : boat howitzers and sev- eral gunboats co-operating. Gen. Banks and staff, on steamer Mcclellan, were to accompany us, as by no means disinterested spectators.
CHAPTER XII.
UP THE COAST TO MUSTANG ISLAND AND FORT SEMMES.
A DAY'S PASSAGE ON STEAMER BAGLEY .- WE LAND UPON THE BEACH AND MAKE A FORCED AND SEVERE MARCH UP THE ISLAND ON THE BEACH. - AN ADVANCE UPON FORT SEMMES AND A BLOODLESS VICTORY, -SURRENDER OF THE FORT AND GARRISON. -- GEN. RANSOM MAKES A VERY AGREEABLE SPEECH. - REINFORCEMENTS AND A NEW COMMANDING GENERAL.
SHE Fifteenth took passage on steamer Bagley and sailed on the night of Nov. 15. After a day's passage up the coast the two Maine regi- ments were transferred to small vessels and lighters brought along for the purpose ; and at about sunset of the 16th landed through the surf near the southern extremity of Mustang Island. The landing was effected with very little difficulty, the sea being quite smooth. After a brief rest upon the shore the command was put in motion (at about 10 p. m.) for a very fatiguing all-night march upon the hard, sea-washed beach, in the di- rection of a fortified position held by the rebels upon the northern extrem- ity of the island. Marching some eighteen miles, and taking a brief rest, we resumed, in line of battle, our front being covered by skirmishers march- ing a considerable distance in advance of the main line. At about 8 a. m. of the 17th, a mile south of their works, the enemy's pickets were encoun- tered, who made a slight show of resistance. Our advance at once opened fire and the gunboat Monongahela ran up to an eligible position and tossed a few shell into the enemy's works. The two Maine regiments were at once formed in line as a storming party, led by Gen. Ransom, and were moving steadily forward. with hostile intent, when they confronted a party of rebels bearing a flag of truce. sent out to prevent the useless shedding of blood, by an offer of surrender, without conditions. The proposition was of course very cheerfully accepted by Gen. Ransom. Nearly one hundred
60
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
stalwart Texan Rangers-tall, stout, robust looking fellows-fell into our hands as prisoners, with three heavy guns, a large quantity of stores, and munitions of war. One company from each of the Maine regiments marched within the works and took possession, Col. Dyer being placed in command of the post. The rebel flag was hauled down and the stars and stripes thrown to the breeze in its stead. The rebel flag was brought off as a trophy by the Maine captors, and now hangs immediately over the en- trance of the State Treasurer's office, in the State House, at Augusta. The captured position was known as Fort Semmes. It commanded the approach- es to Corpus Christi Bay and a section of country of very great importance. Corpus Christi, at the head of the bay, being one of the chief cities of the Texas coast.
A very gratifying episode of our bloedless victory at Fort Semmes was the graceful congratulatory address of Gen. Ransom to the two Maine regiments, on the parade-ground fronting the fort, as soon as the terms of capitulation had been agreed upon. General Ransom pleasantly compli- mented the Maine troops upon their endurance and perseverance during the exceptionally fatiguing march up the island and the steadiness and sol- dierly bearing manifested as they advanced in line to storm the enemy's works-having not the remotest idea as to what they were to encounter -- and expressing his very high appreciation of the soldierly bearing of both officers and soldiers. In his official report Gen. Ransom also speaks in terms of the highest praise of the Maine regiments and of their command- ers, Col. Dyer and Lieut .- Col. Hesseltine. That this was not merely a matter of form is evinced by the fact that in the same report he speaks of the very unsoklierlike conduct of the commander of the Iowa regiment, who, he says, " constantly discouraged his men by complaining in their pres- ence of the hardships of the march," permitting them to straggle, scatter, etc. During this brief campaign. it may be said in passing, Gen. Ransom completely captured the affections of the Maine troops, and he and they were ever after very close friends.
Soon after the surrender of Fort Semmes the 34th Iowa and a Mis- souri Battery reported to Gen. Ransom, having arrived by steamer War- rior. Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn-a Western officer and a brother of Maine's War Governor, Israel Washburn, jr .-- also reported at about the same time, andy as the senior officer, was assigned to the command of the " Coast Expedition,"-Gen. Ransom retaining the immediate command of the brigade to which the two Maine regiments were attached.
The troops tarried at Fort Semmes nearly a week-a very fortunate occurrence, inasmuch as all the soldiers of the command were weary and " foot-sore," the pedal extremities, especially, requiring careful nursing, to ensure effective service during the remainder of the coast campaign.
61
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
But there was further important work before us, and even the brief season of rest was utilized in preparations for future campaigns. Among these was a re-organization of the command into two distinct brigades- our brigade, commanded by Gen. Ransom, comprising the 18th and 15th Me., the 34th lowa, and Battery F, First Missouri Artillery.
CHAPTER XIII.
UP ST. JOSEPH'S AND MATAGORDA ISLANDS AND THE INVESTMENT AND CAPTURE OF FORT ESPERANZA.
ACROSS ARRANSAS PASS TO ST. JOSEPH'S. - AN OASIS IN THE TEXAS DESERT. - COWARDLY ATTACK BY A FLAG OF TRUCE PARTY AND IT'S SUMMARY PUNISHMENT. -- A TEXAS NORTHER. - THE CROSSING OF CEDAR BAYOG. - ON MATAGORDA ISLAND. - THE MAINE BOYS OBSERVE THANKSGIVING ON A TEXAN ISLAND. - MORE REINFORCE- MENTS. -- ATTACK UPON AND INVESTMENT OF FORT ESPERANZA. - DIGGING RIFLE- PITS DURING A TEXAS NORTHER. - THE REBELS RUN AWAY, BLOWING UP THE MAG- AZINES OF THE FORT. - OCCUPATION OF FORT ESPERANZA AND MATAGORDA BAY.
N the morning of the 22d (Nov.) Ransom's brigade was ferried across Arransas Pass to St. Joseph's Island. and the same afternoon we commenced the march up the island, encamping for the night at a large cattle ranch. some eight miles from the starting-point. The objective point was understood to be Fort Esperanza, a strongly fortified and garrisoned position. at the head of the island.
As a matter of justice to the apparently " God-forsaken country" along the Texas coast, it should be said that, as compared with anything else encountered, St. Joseph's Island is as a veritable oasis in a great sandy desert. Here was to be found excellent grazing land, with its at- tendant fine herds of cattle, with now and then flocks of deer skipping across the pathway of the army with their wonted agility. The cattle were sleek and plump, and ever ready at hand for the frequent fresh-beef ra- tion in which the soldiers luxuriated. In the absence of the usual appli- ances of the butcher's profession the rifle was substituted, and unerring marksmen were always ready able to as gracefully drop a beeve with min- nie-ball as if the lightning-stroke had been the agent of death employed.
On the 23d the march was resumed. As we were approaching the quemy's fortified position a guard of mounted infantry was kept some dis-
62
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
tance in advance, under command of Capt. C. S. Ilsley. As the advance reached Cedar Bayou a small party of rebels, displaying a flag of truce, was espied upon the opposite shore, the southern extremity of Matagorda Island. With that due respect for a flag of truce which has ever characterized civ- ilized warfare, Sergeant James Saunders (Co. F, 15th) was sent over to ascertain the wishes of the party. He disrobed and swam the bayou; our advance-guard remaining upon the lower shore. The flag-of-truce was in charge of the rebel Maj. Hill (said to have been an artillery officer of con- siderable capacity sent to conduct the defense at Fort Esperanza in the threatened attack.) The Major undertook to inquisitively interrogate Ser- geant Saunders upon various matters connected with the expedition, and especially as to the disposition of the rebel garrison at Fort Semmes, (the rebel authorities affecting to believe that they had been cruelly dealt with and that two citizens of Texas had been hung in the rigging of our vessels.) The Sergeant very properly refused to give any information upon the sub- ject, and in the dispute that ensued the Major drew his revolver and shot at Saunders -- unarmed and naked as he was-wounding him quite severe- ly. Our soldiers on the opposite shore witnessed the struggle, fired, and the Major was very soon seen to limp away ; the Sergeant taking to the water and returning to his comrades on St. Joseph's Island. The dead body of the Major was discovered when our force crossed. lying upon the sand a few hundred yards from the spot where he received the fatal shot. Thus speedily was the inhuman outrage upon Sergeant Saunders avenged.
The crossing of the Bayou was found to be a more diffenlt task than had been anticipated ; the presence of one of those terrific gales, termed "Texas Northers," rendering any effort in that direction during its prevalence practically unavailing. The Pass was deep and something like three hundred yards wide, with a very strong current, exposed to the fierce gale sweeping down the Gulf -- the angry waves being dashed upon the beach with very great velocity. We could, therefore, only stand idly by, endeavor to keep ourselves from freezing, and await developements.
And while the subject of " Northers" is under consideration it may as well be said that these periodical gales are really a terror. Swooping down upon the bleak, unprotected coast, once or twice a week during the winter season, and holding high carnival for two or three days at each visit, they are well-nigh unendurable. For genuine frigidity they completely throw our New England winter gales into the shade. The loose sand is scattered, in vast clonds, in every direction, toppling over tents, filling eyes, cars and nostrils with sand, and inflicting innumerable indignities. The only resort of our soldiers-having a limited supply of clothing and camp equipage -was to barrow in the sand, in pits dug from eight to ten feet. deep, and covered with raw-hide from cattle recently butchered- a custom
63
THE STORY OF THE MAINE FIFTEENTH.
giving some point to one of the jokes of the regimental wag -- the inimitable Lieut. Plummer -- " it's a mighty mean country where a man must dig his own grave and crawl into it, without the aid of mourners and waiving the customary ceremonies !" But a "Texas Norther" cannot be adequately described ; it must be experienced to be fully appreciated.
It was found, when the gale had somewhat abated, that it was wholly impracticable to bridge the bayou; indeed, to cross by any means was no holiday recreation. The crossing by means of rafts was finally con- cluded upon as the most practicable method. The engineer corps had brought along four large yawl-boats, and by lashing these securely together a ferry was provided of sufficient capacity to carry the troops, wagons and artillery, the horses and mules being compelled to swim, with the assistance of leaders. A number of days was occupied in crossing the force, and the task was laborious and disagreeable. Our brigade held the advance and was the first to cross, (on the 25th) our first duty upon reaching Matagorda being the burial of the dead rebel major, whose comrades, in their haste to get away, left the body lying stiff and cold upon the sand. We made a seven-mile march up the island the day of crossing, going into camp at 9 p. m. to await the arrival of the remainder of the force.
By a most happy coincidence the line of march led us by a ranch- man's abode whose poultry-yard was exceptionally well-supplied; and one of the boys was so inconsiderate as to pass the word along the line that Nov. 25th, in Maine, was being observed in that joyous festal season so dear to the heart and stomach of every New Englander-Thanksgiving Day ! That the soldiers were unable to resist the temptation to make timely requisition upon the poultry-supply goes without the saying ; but the appetizing repast established a connecting link between us and " the dear ones at home " so ennobling as to amply atone for any wrong-doing in the matter of depredations upon that far-away Texas hon-roost !
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.