History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 38

Author: Edwin Orin Wood
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Federal publishingcompany
Number of Pages: 861

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On October 19 the regiment was ordered to embark on board the ocean- steamer "Vanderbilt," then lying at Annapolis. It was evidently bound on some distant expedition, but its destination and object were unknown and were matters of endless surmise and speculation among the officers and men during the passage down the Chesapeake. On the "Vanderbilt" with the Eighth was the Seventy-ninth New York Regiment, called the "Highlanders," and neither regiment appeared to be very favorably impressed with the appear- ance or presence of the other. One who was present on board the ship at that time wrote afterwards concerning this: "The men of the Eighth Mich- igan and Seventy-ninth New York looked distrustfully on each other. The ship was rather uncomfortably crowded, having eighteen hundred persons on board, and every effort to obtain better storage by one party was jealously watched by the other. The Eighth regarded the Seventy-ninth as a set of foreigners and sots, and the latter regarded our men as a lot of undrilled bush-whackers tinged with verdancy." How long this state of feeling con- tinued does not appear, but it is certain that there was afterwards developed between the Eighth and Seventy-ninth a friendship which became absolute affection-so strong and marked that it was proverbial among the different commands of the army where the two regiments were known. It was a chain whose links were forged under the hammers of suffering and danger and welded in the fire of battle.

When they arrived at Fortress Monroe they found the roadstead crowded with a fleet made up of war-steamers and transports filled with troops. This fleet, including the "Vanderbilt," went to sea in the morning of October 29, and the sight was grand and inspiring. For a time the winds favored and the sea was comparatively smooth, but afterwards a heavy gale came on in which the vessels were scattered and three or four of them lost. During this time the troops suffered greatly from sea-sickness and overcrowding on

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the transports. The fleet had sailed under sealed orders and its destination was as yet unknown except to the naval and military commanders. At last the storm abated, the vessels, one by one, returned within signaling distance of each other, and the low shores of South Carolina became visible on the starboard hand. Six days, from the time of its departure from Fortress Monroe, which seemed as many weeks, the fleet arrived off Hilton Head, South Carolina, November 4, 1861. The object of the expedition was now apparent, and with a smoother sea and an enemy almost in sight, sea-sickness and dejection gave place to buoyant spirits and eager enthusiasm.

The fleet was composed of fourteen armed vessels, twenty-two first-class steamers, twelve smaller steamers and twenty-six sailing vessels. The com- mander of the fleet was Commodore S. F. Dupont, whose flag-ship was the splendid steam-frigate "Wabash." The land forces consisted of thirteen regiments of volunteers in three brigades-in all, about eleven thousand men -under command of Gen. W. T. Sherman. The Second Brigade, composed of the Fiftieth and One Hundredth Pennsylvania, Eighth Michigan and Seventy-ninth New York, was under command of Brig .- Gen. Isaac I. Stevens.

The channel connecting Port Royal harbor with the sea was guarded on either side by a strong rebel fortification. These were known as Forts Walker and Beauregard, and the reduction of these by the navy was the first work to be done. For three days after their arrival the vessels remained in quiet below, as the weather was not considered sufficiently favorable for operations, but on the 7th the "Wabash" set her signal for battle and advanced to the attack, followed by the other armed ships in their proper order. They moved in a circular line, up past one fort and down past the other, delivering their tremendous broadsides into each as they came abreast of it. With the fire from the ships and the responses from the forts it was almost a continuous volley of artillery, which shook the earth and made the very waters tremble. But at length the fire of the forts began to slacken, their replies grew more and more feeble, and finally the Stars and Bars above their ramparts gave place to the white flag. A little later the standard of the Union floated above the captured works on both sides of the channel.

On the following day the Eighth landed at Hilton Head and occupied Ft. Walker. On the 17th of December it moved to Beaufort, a place of sur- passing beauty, where many of the wealthy people of Charleston had in the old days of peace made their summer residences. It was now found deserted by nearly all its inhabitants except negroes. The camp here was made in a grove of stately and magnificent live-oaks; and but for the losses sustained in the vicinity, the stay of the regiment at this place would have been among the

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most pleasing of all its experiences during its term of service. On the 18th, Companies A and F of the Eighth were sent on a reconnoitering expedition to the mainland, across Coosaw river, and while engaged in this service David Burns Foote of Captain Guild's company, was killed by the enemy; he was the first man of the regiment who fell in his country's service. The Eighth during the time it was stationed at Beaufort was engaged in other reconnois- sances and in picket duty ; detachments occupied Grey's Hill, Ladies' Island, Brickyard Point and some of the neighboring plantations.

The first battle in which the regiments was engaged was that of Coosaw River, or Port Royal Ferry, January 1, 1862. An official report by Colonel Fenton to General Stevens, embracing an account of that engagement, is here given :

HEADQUARTERS, STH MICHIGAN INFANTRY, MAINLAND, PORT ROYAL FERRY, Jan. 1, 1862.

BRIG .- GEN. STEVENS-Sir, I have the honor to report that in compliance with your order this regiment was safely landed at the Adams House on the mainland, having effected the crossing in flatboats from Brickyard Point, Port Royal Island, and took up its line of march towards the enemy's battery at this place at one o'clock P. M. On our approach towards the ferry we were ordered to attack (as skirmishers) a masked battery which opened fire on us from the right. I immediately detached the first two and tenth companies, and directed their march to the left and front on the battery, which was followed by four additional companies to the right and front. The fire of the battery with shells continued on our lines until the skirmishers reached the right. when it was turned on them, and on their approach right, left and front to within fifty to one hundred yards of the enemy's position, a fire of musketry was opened upon them. The force of the enemy, as well as the battery, was concealed to a con- siderable extent by trees, brush and underwood, but appeared to consist of two mounted howitzers, supported by a regiment or more of infantry and some cavalry. The skir- mishers were measurably protected by underbrush and furrows, and continued their fire upon the enemy, which was returned by volleys of musketry and shells from the battery. Our fire was well directed, and seemed to be effective. One mounted officer, who seemed to be very active, was seen to fall from his horse, at which the troops on the enemy's right were thrown into confusion. Their position seemed to be chang- ing to the rear, and as our skirmishers were called off and the regiment formed in line the enemy's fire ceased. The regiment was then marched to its position in line of battle in rear of the fort at this point.

Lieut. Col. Graves led the left and Maj. Watson the right of the skirmishers. The major, in leading on the line, received a severe flesh wound in the leg. I have to report that officers and men behaved with admirable bravery and coolness. The loss of the enemy from the well-directed fire of our skirmishers cannot be less than forty. Our loss is seven wounded, two missing. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. M. FENTON, Col. Eighth Michigan Regiment.

Among those who fell in the action at Beaufort Ferry was Corp. John Q. Adams, of Captain Guild's company, mortally wounded and left in the

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enemy's hands. Some negroes who came into the Union lines two or three days afterwards gave Colonel Fenton an account of his death. They said they saw him after the battle in a wagon at the railroad surrounded by spec- tators. He received water to drink from them but would give no informa- tion. They asked him if it was right to come into their country and drive them off their land. He said it was and that there were those behind who would avenge his fall. He remained true to his flag and was conscious until midnight, when he died. Upon these facts being sworn to, Colonel Fenton embodied them in an official report, to which was appended the following order :

HEADQUARTERS, STHI MICHIGAN INFANTRY, Camp near Beaufort, S. C., Jan. 7, 1862.

Special Orders .-- In consideration of the noble and heroic death of John Q. Adams, corporal in Co. A, the above report will be entered on the regimental records, with this order. By order of

COL. WM. M. FENTON.

N. MINER PRATT, Adjutant.

During the months of January, February and March the regiment was employed in drill and picket duty, but was always ready to respond to march- ing orders. These were constantly expected and were finally received on the 9th of April, when the Eighth left Beaufort and moved to Tybee Island, Georgia, where it was reported to Gen. Q. A. Gillmore commanding the operations against Savannah. It was present, but not engaged, at the bom- bardment of Fort Pulaski on the 10th and IIth, as also at the surrender of that formidable work.

On the 16th of April seven companies of the regiment (A, B, G, D, H, I and K, each about forty strong) were detailed with a detachment of Rhode Island artillery as an escort to Lieut. C. H. Wilson, chief of the topographi- cal engineers, department of the South, to make a reconnoissance of Wilm- ington Island with a view to the erection of fortifications upon it if found practicable. The force was embarked on the steamer "Honduras" and moved to the execution of the duty assigned. This resulted in an engagement with a force of the enemy consisting of the Thirteenth Georgia, "Oglethrope Light Infantry," and the "Altamaha Scouts," in all about eight hundred strong. A detailed account of this movement and battle is given in Colonel Fenton's official report of which the following is a copy :

HEADQUARTERS, EIGHTH REGIMENT MICH. VOLS.

On board steamer "Honduras," off Wilmington Island, Ga., April 16, 1862, 11 P. M. LIEUT. W. L. M. BURGER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General :

SIR-I have the honor to report, for the information of the general commanding, that in compliance with Special Orders No. 41, I embarked with seven companies of

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the Eighth Michigan Regiment, as an escort to Lieut. C. H. Wilson, Topographical Engineer, on a reconnoissance of Wilmington Island. Two companies were landed at Scriven's plantation under command of Capt. Pratt, with orders from Lieut. Wilson to skirt Turner's Creek. The other five companies were landed at Gibson's plantation. Two of these companies were ordered to skirt Turner's Creek. A third was to take the road to the right, towards the ferry at Canan's Bluff, to protect the boat-party up Oatland Creek. Owing to the small number of boats, and the distance from the steamer, which was aground, some delay occurred in the disembarkation. I directed Lieut .- Col. Graves to follow with the second company to skirt Turner's Creek; but he by misdirection took the road to the right, towards Canan's Bluff, and on landing with the remaining companies, I received information from him that the enemy were in force at Flatwood's plantation, and to the left of the road. This made the recon- noissance with boats unsafe, and I ordered the companies all in and stationed the remaining companies to guard against an attack at our landing, and sent out strong pickets on both roads. I believe the advance of the company to the right, instead of along Turner's Creek, saved my command, as it sooner enabled me to post the men to advantage, and take a position from which the enemy's approach could be observed. The enemy appeared to be the Georgia Thirteenth, about eight hundred strong, armed with Enfield rifles. As they approached, about four P. M., with a strong body of skir- mishers in the skirt of woods below the road, the companies to the right and left of the road, in accordance with my instructions, opened fire. I immediately sounded the charge for an advance of the companies in the rear of the first line; but the first line, misunderstanding the signal, feli back to the next company. A constant and effective fire was kept up on both sides from the cover of the trees and bushes. Lieut. Wilson, who had returned with the boat's party, here proved of great service to me, and took a party, at my request, to the left. I ordered a company to the right, to flank the enemy. Both operations were successful, and in a few moments the enemy retreated in confusion, leaving several dead on the field, and followed by our men with loud cheers. It being now about sunset, I recalled our troops, and, giving to Lieut. Wilson the command of pickets stationed to guard against surprise, formed the companies into line as originally posted. sent the dead and wounded in boats to the ship, and gradually, and very quietly, under cover of darkness, withdrawing the men, sent them on board as fast as our limited transportation would allow. At the last trip of the boat I embarked, accompanied by Lieut. Wilson, Lieut .- Col. Graves, and the remainder of the command, at about ten o'clock P. M., and immediately brought on board the two companies left at Scriven's plantation. After the enemy retreated we were unmolested. It is due to the officers and men of the command to say that generally they behaved with cool and intrepid courage. Adj. Pratt fell dead near my side, gallantly fighting, musket in hand, and cheering on the men. Our loss, I regret to say, was compara- tively large-ten killed and thirty-five wounded, out of a command of three hundred men. Among the wounded was Acting Lieut. Badger, of Co. C, who was in charge of the advanced picket, and exhibited undaunted courage. He, with one of his men, was taken prisoner. Both escaped, and were brought in when the enemy retreated. The captain of the "Honduras" is deserving of great credit for his kind attention to the wounded, and he afforded us every facility for the comfort of officers and men in his power. I respectfully refer you to Lieut. Wilson's report, which I have seen, which contains some facts not embraced in this report; among others, in relation to the men detailed in charge of the field-pieces on board ship, who were vigilant and attentive. Herewith I transmit a list of casualties. I am, very respect- fully, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM M. FENTON, Col. Commanding.

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The part of Lieutenant Wilson's report to which Colonel Fenton alluded as having reference to the detachment in charge of the field-piece was as fol- lows: "Lieutenant Caldwell and sixteen men of the Rhode Island volunteers, with one light six-pounder, were left in charge of the steamer. The gun could not be handled on account of the inability of the boat to lie alongside the landing. After holding the ground for three hours the entire force was quietly embarked without further accident, though it must be con- fessed that had the enemy renewed his attack while we were embarking we should have suffered great loss. Our five small boats could not move more than fifty men every thirty minutes, and the steamer lay in such a position that the six-pounder could not be brought to bear without jeopardizing the lives of our own people."

From Wilmington Island the command returned to Beaufort, and the first knowledge which General Stevens had of the battle of the 16th was conveyed by the arrival of the dead and wounded from that field. The dead were buried with all military honors, the entire brigade attending their funeral.

Next came the presentation to the regiment of a beautiful flag furnished by citizens of Genesee county and forwarded by a committee composed of Hon. J. B. Walker. George T. Clark and Charles P. Avery. It was of the richest and heaviest silk, and fringed, tasseled and starred with gold. On its stripes in golden letters were the words "One Country, One Destiny," "Eighth Michigan Infantry." On its staff was a silver plate bearing the engraved inscription : "Presented to the Officers and Soldiers of the Eighth Regiment. Michigan Infantry, by their friends and neighbors of Genesee County." It was sent by the donors "in token of their high respect for the Eighth Regi- ment, on account of their gallant conduct at the battle of Coosaw," and it arrived at Hilton Head on the very day when the men of the Eighth were again distinguishing themselves at Wilmington Island.

The ceremony of presentation was imposing. At evening parade on the 25th of April the regiment was formed on three sides of a hollow square, of which the fourth side was formed by General Stevens and his staff. The color was in the center. It was formally presented to the regiment by General Stevens, who, after making a few introductory remarks, and reading aloud the letter of the committee at Flint, said :

Soldiers of Michigan : It is gratifying to know by this letter from your friends that your services are appreciated by them; and I, who on the day alluded to, was your commanding general, feel proud in referring to the occasion which calls forth from your friends at home such an acknowledgment. Your bravery and undaunted courage, led on by your gallant colonel in face of the enemy at the battle of Coosaw, deserves, as it has received, the highest commendation.

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This banner comes at a propitious moment. You have added to the reputation already acquired another brilliant achievement. While this flag was consigned as it were to the tender mercies of the deep, and on the very day of its safe arrival at Hilton Head, you were testing the strength of your arms against overwhelming odds of the enemy on Wilmington Island, adding new lustre to your already brilliant career, and giving new evidence of your intrepidity and bravery. * *

Unfurl that flag! Let it float to the breeze! There, fellow-soldiers, is your banner ! Inscribed upon its ample folds is the motto, "One Country, One Destiny !" It is surmounted by the eagle-emblem of strength-and bearing on its outstretched wings the prestige of victory. Like the eagle of Napoleon and of ancient Rome, its march is onward and upward. Upon the folds of that banner is the work of fair hands, the daughters of Michigan, your loved ones at home, endeared to you by the tender ties of mother and daughter, sister and friend. That is the flag the gallant Jackson bore aloft when he said, "The Union : it must, it shall be preserved !" It is the flag Washington fought for and sustained. We are following in the foot. steps of our brave and heroic ancestors. Let us, like them, while in the discharge of our duties as soldiers, and rejoicing in successes, remember our obligations as Christians. Commit it to the God of Battles. His arm will be stretched forth to succor and to save. Here, upon our knees, in the presence of Almighty God, let us invoke His blessing. I call upon you, chaplain. It is fit and proper that it be con- secrated with prayer.

The chaplain responded in an earnest and eloquent prayer. The colors were received in due form, with drums beating, and arms presented. Then Colonel Fenton spoke, thanking the general and congratulating the officers and men of his regiment. In concluding, he turned towards the flag, as it was held aloft by the tall color-bearer, and said :

Color-bearer and Color-guards : I know you all, and know you well. That banner in your hands will be proudly borne and bravely defended. And should you fall, you will wrap its folds around you, defending it while life remains. Soldiers. you may well feel proud that you have been honored by your general, in the presen- tation of that flag. You will stand by it to the last. I feel and know you will. You have tried on the soil of both South Carolina and Georgia, and, one and all, you will maintain the character you have acquired, and do honor to the state which has sent you forth.

The speech was followed by three-times-three cheers for the colonel, the color, and its donors, and the ceremony, which had been witnessed by a large number of soldiers of other commands and by many citizens of South Caro- lina, was over.

During the month of May the Eighth was engaged on picket duty and other similar service on Port Royal Island. On the 2d of June it moved thence to Stone's River, South Carolina, to relieve the Twenty-eighth Massa- chusetts Regiment on picket on James Island, where the Eighth arrived on the day following its departure from Port Royal. Here it was attached to the First Brigade of the Second Division under General Stevens ; the brigade

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was placed under command of Colonel Fenton, and Lieutenant-Colonel Graves succeeded to the command of the regiment.

The battle of James Island, or Secessionville, as it is frequently called, was fought on the 16th of June. In it the Eighth Michigan took a more prominent part and suffered more severely than any other regiment, and. taking everything into consideration, its losses here were more terrible than it sustained on any other field during its long and honorable career. Secession- ville, the scene of the battle, was described by Dr. J. C. Wilson, surgeon of the Eighth Regiment, as "a village composed of a few houses whose owners have seceded from them, situated on a narrow neck of land jutting into the stream on the east side of James island, skirted by tidal marshes and swamps on either side, and difficult of approach, except from the westward, where is a rebel fort which commands this entrance." The fort was a formidable earthwork with a parapet nine feet in height, surrounded by a broad ditch seven feet deep and protected by a broad and almost impenetrable abatis. The neck of dry land over which alone it was approachable was barely two hun- dred yards in width and every inch of it could be swept at close range by can- ister from the six heavy guns of the fort and by musketry from its defend- ers. And it was over such ground and to the assault of such a work that the troops of Stevens' division moved forward at four o'clock in the morning of that bloody and eventful 16th of June, 1862.

The attacking column was made up of Colonel Fenton's and Colonel Leasure's brigades, the former composed of the Eighth Michigan, Seventh Connecticut and Twenty-eighth Massachusetts regiments, and the latter of the Forty-sixth and Seventy-ninth New York and One Hundredth Pennsyl- vania, with four batteries of artillery-in all three thousand three hundred and thirty-seven men. The following account of the battle was written by the correspondent of the New York Tribune, then at James island, and pub- lished in that paper immediately after the fight :

The advanced regiments were the Eighth Michigan, the Seventy-ninth New York and the Seventh Connecticut. There is some confusion as to the order in which these regiments came up to the fort; it seems, however, from the best information within reach, that the glorious but unfortunate Eighth Michigan was the first there, led by its gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Graves. The immediate assault upon the fort was not successful, and the cause of its failure, as is usual in such cases, is difficult to determine. *

* It appears,, from the statements of some of the officers and men in these regiments, that about one half-mile from the fort there was a narrow pass through a hedge, and the men were compelled to pass through, a very few abreast, thus delaying their advance. The Eighth Michigan got through and pushed on with great vigor up to the fort, which they assaulted with a shout. They were met with a murderous fire from the fort in front and from flanking batteries. A few of these

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brave men overcame all dangers and difficulties and, rushing over the dead bodies of their slaughtered comrades, actually climbed into the fort; but it was impossible for them to maintain their ground there against the fearful odds which opposed them, the men who should have supported them being delayed in passing through the hedge.

The Eighth was obliged to fall back as the Seventy-ninth New York came up, led by the brave Colonel Morrison, who mounted the walls of the fort and discharged all the barrels of his revolver in the very faces of the enemy. Wounded in the head, and unsupported, he was obliged to retreat. About as far behind the Seventy-ninth as that regiment was behind the Eighth Michigan came the Seventh Connecticut, which made a spasmodic and almost independent effort against the fort, but was obliged to fall back. Thus the brave regiments which were intended to act in concert as the advance went into the fight one at a time, one repulsed and falling back as the other came up, thus creating confusion, and rendering abortive the charge on the fort at this time.

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History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 38

Author: Edwin Orin Wood Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Federal publishingcompany Number of Pages: 861

Author: Edwin Orin Wood
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Federal publishingcompany
Number of Pages: 861