USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron brigade, known as the Detroit and Wayne county regiment > Part 10
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Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteers.
COLONEL - While feeling more than gratified with the conduct of my command at the Review yesterday, I cannot refrain from expressing the extreme pleasure afforded me by the manner in which your Regiment conducted themselves on that occasion. The cool courage displayed by them when first under fire upon the plain of Fredericksburg, had led me to expect much of them, but that they should, in the short time that has elapsed since they entered the service, be able to compare so favorably with the veteran troops with whom they are associated, was not expected. Their soldierly conduct and bearing, efficiency in drill, and the discipline displayed by them, richly entitles them to the position they now hold in the Iron Brigade. It gives promise that a glorious future awaits them. Accept, Colonel, for yourself and men, my sincere thanks.
S. MEREDITH, Brigade-General.
A day or two later, there was a cavalry review near Falmouth, at which Colonel Morrow, Acting-Major E. B. Wight and other officers of the Twenty-fourth were present. The review over, the officers were presented to the President and General Hooker. The latter remarked to Colonel Morrow :
Oh, we are old friends. I noticed your regiment the other day ; it's a splendid regiment ; IT'S AS FINE AS SILK.
The above compliment was well deserved, for no officers had labored harder to make a regiment excellent in discipline. Then there was a commendable rivalry between the companies as to which , should be best drilled, have brightest guns, etc. It received a daily inspection, the right wing by Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan, and the left by Acting-Major E. B. Wight. Besides, the Twenty-fourth being the only Michigan troops in the First Corps, it was determined to sustain the honor of the State.
-
REVIEW BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
On Thursday, April 9, 1863, the First Corps was reviewed by President Lincoln, General Hooker and staff. Chaplain Wm. C. Way thus described the occasion at the time :
The day was fine and at ten o'clock the whole corps was in reviewing position. The batteries were in rear of the troops en masse. Uniforms were clean, guns bright as new, and equipments in fine condition. At two o'clock the booming of cannon announced the approach of the cavalcade, our Battery B doing the honors of the day.
119
WINTER QUARTERS AT BELLE PLAIN.
Looking to the left we saw a cloud of dust, and all eyes were bent in that direction. The expected ones round a curve in the road and gallop past us. President Lincoln was mounted on a splendid bay, richly caparisoned, while General Hooker rode his pet gray on his left. They were followed by a host of officers in gay uniforms, and these in turn by lancers with fluttering pennants, a troop of orderlies galloping after. In the crowd we noticed Master ' Tad ' Lincoln and his orderly.
Having reached the right of the column the cortege rode down the front in review. The numerous banners dipped gracefully, the banners playing while the bugles sounded their flourish of greeting. The President rode down the front with head uncovered. He next took a position with the generals in front, and then commenced the almost ceaseless tramp of the regiments by him, like waves of the sea. As each regiment passed, its banners were dipped gracefully, which was acknowledged by the President by lifting his hat. Mrs. Lincoln accompanied the President, riding in a carriage drawn by four bays, The affair passed off in fine style, and must have been gratifying to the Chief Magistrate. The general bearing of the troops was excellent, and the Iron Brigade was not excelled by any other, while the Twenty-fourth won golden opinions. The marching of the regiment was splendid and fully deserved the high compliment paid it by General Meredith on April 3d. My position was just in rear of the President and reviewing officers, and such that I noticed each regiment in the entire corps, and especially those of the Iron Brigade. No regiment had brighter guns, cleaner accoutrements, or tidier men than the Twenty-fourth.
A SOLDIER'S LETTER ON CAMP AFFAIRS.
As the spring advanced, mild weather and good roads appeared. The peach trees were now in bloom and all nature was gay. On Sunday, April 12, 1863, Peter C. Bird of D wrote from Camp Isabella, to the author, describing camp affairs as follows :
We have fine times here now-inspection every morning and Sundays twice. The men have to turn out with boots blacked, clothes brushed and besides that the two cleanest and neatest men, and the two dirtiest and most slovenly in each company, have their names read on dress parade. So we have a chance to get our names up now.
We had another scene this morning. Ira F. Pearsoll of H, who deserted last fall while we lay in the woods near South Mountain, was caught at Grand Rapids, Michigan, about three months ago and sent here under guard. He was tried by court martial and sentenced to be dishonorably discharged with forfeiture of all pay due or to become due, which was a very slight punishment and he thought so too, and boasted and danced around all day yesterday which provoked Captain Merritt so that this morning, the time he was to leave, the Captain formed the company at open ranks and surrounded him with twelve bayonets, and the band behind him, and marched him all around the regiment, the band playing the "Rogues' March." As he passed between our regiment and the Nineteenth Indiana, Captain Merritt ordered him to take off his hat, but he refused. So it was taken off for him. Our regiment followed, hissing and jeering him half way to the Landing.
William H. Ingersoll, of H, was discharged with him for desertion, also. The regiment is disposing of its cowards pretty fast. Colonel Morrow comes it over them
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
so he gets their sentences lightened considerably. In the other regiments they shave their heads, but the Colonel works as hard to help them from being disfigured as though it was his own person. He seems to feel worse than the prisoners themselves and cries while their sentences are being read.
April 14 brought orders to make ready to move at any moment. Knapsacks were inspected and all extra clothing and tents of officers turned in, the latter taking the common shelter tents like the men. On the 15th, a heavy rain storm set in, continuing all night. On the 20th, the first division was ordered out for marching drill, but the storm prevented. The night of the 21st brought new orders to make ready to move at once.
"TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN " IN BIVOUAC .- SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN OF THE REGIMENT.
CHAPTER VII.
CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.
PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION.
J UST as the Twenty-fourth Michigan were finishing their dinners on Wednesday, April 22, 1863, an order came to turn out forthwith with three days' rations and blankets, and in fifteen minutes they were on the parade ground in light marching order, all expectant as to where they were going. But no matter, anything and anywhere, for a change was welcomed with enthusiasm. General Reynolds, commanding the First Corps had sent the following order to General Wadsworth, commanding the First Division :
You will detail two picked regiments to march to Port Conway, at once, with the pontoon train, so as to arrive there to-night, keeping out of sight of the opposite shore of the river. You will direct the officer in command to throw a regiment or part of one, over in the boats, and sweep through the town of Port Royal opposite, capturing all the enemy he can pick up and then return. I will suggest that Colonel Morrow of the Twenty-fourth Michigan be sent in command.
The troops selected were the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Fourteenth Brooklyn ( Zouaves), with one piece of Battery B, under Lieutenant Stewart. The latter rode "Old Bob Tail" which had been in the Battery for sixteen years. His tail had been shot off entirely in battle, and whenever he heard the roar of cannon, he wheeled around so as to face the music. For a full account of this animal the reader is referred to Chapter XXI.
At 2 o'clock the expedition was under way. Generals Reynolds and Wadsworth accompanied Colonel Morrow about half the distance. The weather was fine, but the roads yet bad. King George Court House was passed and the vicinity of Port Conway reached at 10 o'clock at night, the regiment bivouacking in an open field. Port Conway was about eighteen miles down the Rappahannock from Falmouth. The river is about 350 yards wide at this point. This was the birthplace of President Madison, and the ruins of the house where he was born still remained.
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I22
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
It commenced raining at mid-night and continued hard all the- next day. At early dawn, amid the drenching rain, the pontoon boats, thirteen in all, were put together and carried to the river bank. They were composed of a light, pine skeleton, over which a water-proof canvas was drawn. A detail of twenty-five men for each boat was called for, the Twenty-fourth Michigan furnishing its quota of 200 by volunteers, all under the immediate command of Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan. The boats were filled and the men pulled for the opposite bank.
This twilight scene was grand, somewhat like the Revolution event of Washington crossing the Delaware. No floating ice impeded their progress, but a vague uncertainty prevailed. A view of the
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MAP OF MUD MARCH AND PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION.
opposite shore showed numerous rifle pits of great extent from which might blaze a shower of bullets or cannon balls. As they neared the bank what had, in the fog, appeared to be a regiment in line, was but a palisade fence.
Up by the defenses the men passed and swept through the streets of Port Royal, an ancient borough of colonial days. A few of the inhabitants came out, but soon rushed back to their houses and fled with a few hurriedly packed up effects. Two bodies of cavalry made off at high speed, about seventy-five men in all, but not a hostile shot was fired. The town was depopulated of whites, the furniture in the houses remaining as they left it. The "contrabands," as the
Apr. 22, 63, Georg?
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CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.
slaves were known by since the war began, were full of joy and afforded all information they could. Several white females wept profusely, but being assured that no harm would be done them, exclaimed : " Thank God for that."
A wagon-train was seen making fast out of town, but Lieutenant- Colonel Flanigan took a cross street and appeared before the wagon- master unawares. He was called upon to halt, but not being disposed to do so, the sight of a well-aimed "Spencerian " rifle stopped the train. The wagons with their contents of grain and meal were burned and the best animals taken.
After thoroughly searching the town and obtaining what information they could, the expedition re-crossed the river with six
NELSON ENC CO
CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK AT PORT ROYAL, BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN " AND FOURTEENTH BROOKLYN - SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN OF THE " TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN."
prisoners, fifteen horses and mules, a rebel mail and two loyal lady refugees detained there. The captured animals were swum over the river behind the returning boats. One mule braced his feet against the bottom of the stream before deep water was reached and stopped the boat. He was let loose, but being headed for the opposite shore, swam over of his own accord, and the men were there to receive him upon his arrival.
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124
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Stonewall Jackson, with about 6000 men, lay encamped five miles back of the town and the enemy appeared in force and fired upon the last boat as it was being taken from the water, but without injury to anyone. Camp was reached at dark, the men weary and tired. At headquarters it was deemed a hazardous undertaking and there was joy in camp upon their return without accident. The expedition acquitted itself with credit, as the following from Major-General Reynolds will show :
The general commanding takes occasion to thank the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Fourteenth Brooklyn for the prompt manner in which they accomplished the object of the expedition to Port Royal. The endurance shown by their march of nearly thirty-six miles in twenty-four hours, during the very inclement weather of yesterday, proves their valor as tried and experienced soldiers, and entitles them to the highest admiration and praise."
The next day was one of hilarious enjoyment among the men, each of whom kad his story to tell. All felt happy, as it was the first " outing" they had had since the "Mud March." This expedition was simply the prelude to more important movements in the spring campaign thus opened.
THE SITUATION - FITZHUGH CROSSING.
For four months the opposing armies had faced each other on the Rappahannock-Lee with 70,000 men on the Fredericksburg side, and Hooker with 120,000 -on the Falmouth side. The last of April, 1863, Hooker resolved upon a flank movement to compel the enemy to fight outside of his strong intrenchments, or move south.
The Rapidan flows into the south side of the Rappahannock, about twelve miles above Fredericksburg. The United States Ford is about a mile below the mouth of the Rapidan. Bank's Ford is about midway between U. S. Ford and Falmouth. Kelly's Ford is about twenty-five miles above Falmouth. South of Kelly's Ford, twelve miles, is Germanna Ford and the mouth of the Rapidan.
Hooker's plan was to cross a few of his forces three or four miles below Fredericksburg to draw the attention of the enemy ; meanwhile, to move the bulk of his army up to Kelly's Ford, thence south to Germanna Ford, across the Rapidan, and place it in the rear and flank of Lee, compelling the latter to abandon his strong position which he had so successfully held against Burnside's attempt. Wadsworth's Division of the First Corps, in which was the Iron Brigade, was a part of the troops selected to make the feint below Fredericksburg.
125
CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.
At noon of Tuesday, April 28, 1863, the Twenty-fourth Michigan bade farewell to Camp Isabella, their winter home, and marched away to the southwest, bivouacking at night about two miles south of White Oak Church. At II P. M. the regiment was aroused for march. It reached the Rappahannock at day-break, four miles below Fredericksburg, near the Fitzhugh House, on the 29th. Fitzhugh Crossing where the First Division was to be thrown over was near by.
About 5 o'clock, under cover of a dense fog, the pontoon train was run down to the bank of the river and the first attempt made by engineers to unload the boats drew the fire of the enemy from the opposite bank. The darkey drivers unhitched their teams and went up the bank of the river to the rear and out of reach of the enemy's guns, as if Satan was after them. A few of the boats had been unloaded and pushed into the stream. The enemy's fire became so hot that the engineers and train guard had to leave the boats and fall back.
The Twenty-fourth Michigan and Sixth Wisconsin were ordered down, and taking position on the river bank, kept up a fire across the river for some time in the fog. When the fog began to rise and the dim outlines of the enemy's works came into view, these two regiments were ordered back about 300 yards to a less exposed position. During this part of the engagement, Joseph Coryell of F was killed.
Further attempts to unload the boats and lay the bridge while the fog lasted proved equally unsuccessful. It being evident that the bridge could not be laid unless the enemy were driven from the rifle pits, a storming party was organized to cross the river in open boats and drive the enemy from their intrenched position at the point of the bayonet.
This seemed more of a forlorn hope than the famous crossing of the Seventh Michigan at Fredericksburg. The heights opposite were more impregnable and manned with more troops. The river at this point was wider. The bank to be charged up was steeper, it being almost impossible to climb it, as the undergrowth was very thick, and the enemy had formed an abatis by felling trees with the tops down the hill. The rifle pits were manned with a brigade composed of the Sixth Louisiana and Twentieth Alabama, and three other regiments.
The storming party consisted of the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Sixth Wisconsin, while three companies of the Second Wisconsin were detailed to run the pontoon wagons down the bank and launch the boats. All being ready, with a ringing yell, off rushed the
I26
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
storming party on the double-quick, down the bank to the boats, and a moment later, amid a terrific fire, were pulling for the opposite shore, using poles and the very butts of their guns for oars. A landing effected, up the difficult bank they charged amid the blaze of musketry to the very rifle pits, which they scaled, and completely routed the enemy within, killing several and capturing 103 prisoners, including a Lieutenant-Colonel and two other officers, as well as all of the cannon.
FITZHUGH CROSSING .- "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN" AND "SIXTH WISCONSIN" CROSS THE RAPPAHANNOCK IN BOATS AND CARRY THE OPPOSITE HEIGHTS. SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
The Twenty-fourth Michigan was in the lead, its flag landing first, though there is a dispute as to which regiment belonged the boat first to land. It matters not. It was a neck and neck race, between two friendly regiments of the Iron Brigade, in a hazardous and brilliant movement, and there were bullets and glory enough for both. Just seven minutes elapsed from the time the Twenty-fourth unslung knapsacks until they had scaled the heights and the task was completed, a most daring achievement that won favorable notice from the whole division.
Meanwhile, General James S. Wadsworth swam his horse across the Rappahannock and riding his dripping steed in front of the regiment which had just been drawn up in line, took off his cap, which had been perforated with two of the enemy's bullets, and exclaimed :
" God bless the gallant Twenty-fourth Michigan. God bless you all."
I27
CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.
After the crossing, the boats were sent back after the rest of the Iron Brigade, who lost no time in following up their comrades. The bridges were laid and the rest of the division crossed, occupying the lower part of the Fredericksburg battle-field of December 13, 1862.
As soon as the bridge was completed, the Iron Brigade moved to the left to prevent a flank movement of the enemy, and formed in oblong square, near the edge of some woods that lined the river bank. The left of the Twenty-fourth Michigan rested on the Rappahannock, the regiment at right angles with the river. On its right, and parallel with the river, was the Nineteenth Indiana, aligned and joined to which were the Second and Seventh Wisconsin, while the Sixth Wisconsin extended at right angles with the right of the Seventh to the river. Around this parallelogram was a ditch in which the men took shelter for the night. The enemy's pickets were in full view, but by agreement under a flag of truce sent in by the enemy, there was no picket firing.
The next day, April 30, the men hastily threw up breast-works as a protection against musketry, putting in all the farming implements on the plantation-mowers, reapers, plows, drags, fanning mills, etc. Everything went. While so engaged, the enemy kept up a lively shelling from 5 to 7 P. M. which was vigorously replied to by our batteries across the river. A solid shot killed Sergeant Asa Brindle of B, and Sergeant John Tait of G, and wounded two others. As soon as night came, the men went to work in good earnest and by daylight on Friday morning, May Ist, had a line of intrenchments strong enough to resist solid shot and shell. The two Sergeants that were killed, were buried within the lines of the intrenchments with appropriate religious services, conducted by Private Willian R. Graves, a "local preacher" of the Methodist Church.
During the regiment's tarry here the old battle-ground of December 13 was visited and the bodies of Lieutenant Birrell and Sergeant Wight, of K, were removed to the north side of the river. In January previous a request was made under a flag of truce for the enemy to allow the friends of Lieutenant Birrell to remove his body, but General Lee refused the request. All day Friday the men lay behind their breastworks, there being no firing from the enemy. At night, orders came to make ready to march.
On Saturday morning, May 2, the Iron Brigade was up and had breakfasted at 4 o'clock. At 7 o'clock they received a lively shelling from a battery, which was soon after silenced by our battery over the
128
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
river. Soon after the recrossing of the river began. The men crawled out of their pits and down the hill to the river bank,. unobserved, and then came back again in full view of the enemy, giving them the idea that we were receiving reinforcements. Again the enemy opened fire with large caliber guns from the heights and kept it up until our last man was safely across the river.
During the recrossing, the colored servant of Lieutenant Witherspoon had gone across the pontoon leaving his pack-mule hitched to a stake on the south bank. Prevented by the sentinels from crossing to get the mule, he very excitedly, amid the dropping of the enemy's shells around, yelled out, " Tie dat mule loose! tie dat mule loose !" Presently a shell cut away the stake to which he was tied and the men rolled the mule over the bank into the river. He swam across and was received by the darkey driver, to the merriment of the men.
The pickets of the Iron Brigade were the most exposed and last to come over the river. Company H of the Twenty-fourth was deployed as skirmishers on the left, the left of the company resting on the river about 500 yards below the works. Lieutenant Grace was in command of the company at the time. Orders came to retire the skirmishers, as the troops had crossed the river. Lieutenant Dodsley could run faster than Lieutenant Grace and so ran to the left and ordered the men back who ran for the works. About half a dozen men with Lieutenant Dodsley had to take to the bank of the river which was covered with underbrush. When they arrived at the crossing the bridge was taken up and a boat left for them to cross in, Lieutenant Dodsley being the last man to get into the boat. Some prisoners 'during the assault on the rifle pits, recognized their captors as Twenty-fourth men and said: "You boys crossed at Port Royal the other day and are not afraid of anything."
The following were the casualties of the Twenty-fourth Michigan at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29 and 30, 1863 :
KILLED ON THE BATTLEFIELI) :
Sergeant Asa W. Brindle, . B Forest C. Brown, C
Sergeant John Tait, G Joseph Coryell, F
DIED OF WOUNDS : G
William H. Jamieson, foot amputated,.
WOUNDED :
First Lieutenant GEORGE W. BURCHELL, shoulder, G
Sergeant George W. Haigh, wrist, D
Sergeant Shepherd L Howard, arm, D
WILLIE YOUNG, DRUMMER BOY, YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE REGIMENT.
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CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.
Herman Blankertz, foot, A Richard Downing. D
Thomas A. Wadsworth, foot, A Aldrich Townsend, . D
Leander Bauvere, arm, B Andrew Waubec, leg, E
Richard Conners, head
B James D. Shearer, hand, . F
John M. Doig, foot, C Henry Robinson, head, G
Hiram W. Hughes, hand, C
Joseph Ruby, face, . H
James McKee, arm, .
C John L. Stringham, head,
I
Samuel W. Phillips, foot,
C Lilburn A. Spaulding, arm, . K
Ludovico Bowles, neck, D
Summary: Killed and mortally wounded, 5; other wounded, 20. Total, 25.
Our losses would have been greater, but during the fog the enemy fired at random, and while in the boats the shots of the enemy passed over them as they neared the opposite bank.
CHANCELLORSVILLE-STRATEGY - WITHDRAWAL.
The operations about Fitzhugh Crossing were merely a ruse to hold the attention of the enemy about Fredericksburg while the greater operations of the army were to occur farther away. To the First, Third and Sixth Corps was assigned this duty, and it proved very successful. During its progress the rest of the Army of the Potomac marched to Kelly's Ford, thirty miles away, thence south to the Rapidan, which was crossed by the men fording the stream up to their armpits. They proceeded to Chancellorsville, a place containing but a single house, about ten miles a little south of a direct line west from Fredericksburg. Here they were joined by the Second Corps via the United States Ford and the Third Corps also. On Friday morning, May Ist, five corps were successfully in the enemy's rear, compelling him to come out of his intrenchments at Fredericksburg. The First Corps joined the flanking column on Sunday, May 3d.
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