USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron brigade, known as the Detroit and Wayne county regiment > Part 8
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OUR FIRST CASUALTIES-DRILL ON THE BATTLE-FIELD).
Soon after, the Twenty-fourth formed on the open brow of the hill again, fully exposed to the belching fire of the enemy's guns. It was about 4 o'clock. The regiment soon found shelter again in the friendly ditch, but not before sustaining its first losses in action. A solid shot cut off the arm of John Bryant, and instantly killed
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, DURING THE WAR.
Louis Hattie by severing his head from his body. Both be- longed to Company I. Young Hattie was but eighteen years- old, and the favorite of the regi- ment. The casualty was soon. known along the line and created some unsteadiness in the execution of orders. It was a most trying moment as the cannon balls ploughed through the ranks, and shells shrieked like demons in the air.
Colonel Morrow saw the wavering lines and was quick to discern that no troops would long stand in such a fire unem- ployed, without the privilege of returning a single shot. To bring the men to themselves he halted the regiment and put it through the manual of arms. drill. His sonorous orders : "Attention, battalion! Right dress ! Front ! Support arms, etc." were heard over the field, and with all the precision of a parade, the orders were obeyed. It was a glorious sight to see nearly a thousand men standing at a "support arms," while the air was torn with cannon balls and the very hills seemed to rock under the reverberations. This drill showed admirable discipline, and was creditable to men and Colonel.
The Twenty-fourth again found shelter in the ravine ditch. But soon after, to meet
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BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
some demonstrations from a supposed cavalry attack, it was moved back toward the wood and formed square to resist cavalry. Meanwhile Battery B was sent to contend with two batteries and soon silenced them. The Iron Brigade would have captured them, but the attack of Meade and Gibbon had failed, and the enemy, with loud yells, was following back these divisions. The Iron Brigade was moved by the right flank to ward off this danger, but the work was done by other troops. In this movement a cannon shot took off the head of David Reed of B, and wounded several others.
The enemy had the range again with fatal effect. A fence was in the regiment's front with ditches on each side. Colonel Morrow gave orders to lie down. The men went into the ditch with a plunge pell-mell, officers and men alike. It was well they did so for they were under a terrible crossfire. Remaining there till about dark, another order came to move by the left flank to a position that would be under cover of some woods, where it was supposed they would be out of the reach of the enemy's guns. The most of the Iron Brigade was behind a ditch running from the Bowling Green road to the wood on the river bank. In the last movement of the Twenty-fourth a single shot took off the heads of Lieutenant David Birrell and three others: killing also another and wounding three more, all in Company K.
The Twenty-fourth regiment lay down in the woods on the left of the line, and the grape flew lively over the tree tops. In a short time, they marched back again to the fence where they lay on their arms in the ditch all night, the enemy from several pieces of artillery continuing to hurl canister over their heads far into the night.
It was the regiment's first fight. Nobly had it stood the fiery ordeal of its bloody baptism without the poor privilege of returning an answering shot. It had won honor for itself and old Wayne County, but sorrow filled every breast. It was truly a mournful event when the Captain of Company K, that night, searched for the trunkless head of his son upon the battlefield, while the canister was whistling above him, and placed it with the young boy's remains for burial! Lieutenant Birrell and the latter, Sergeant Wallace W. Wight had slept together the night before and laid plans for the day's contest. Alas, for human hopes! their dreams of youth were brief and they again slept side by side, in bloody graves.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
ON THE FEDERAL RIGHT-CHARGE OF THE IRISH BRIGADE.
The attack by Sumner on the extreme right began about II o'clock, when his forces deployed from the city over the plain and up the elevation in front of Marye's Height, but without avail. The whole field was swept so effectually by converging crossfires from batteries along the semi-circular crest, that a chicken could scarcely get through alive. It seemed folly to march men up into such a vortex of death-a movement which every soldier and officer except the Commander, believed to be useless. Three unsuccessful attempts. had been made to scale these Heights, yet Burnside insisted " That crest must be carried to-night," a resolve born of desperation,. not of judgement or good generalship.
Soon after, loud cheers were heard at the front; not the "rebel yell," but from the proud ranks of Thomas Francis Meagher's Irish Brigade. With sleeves rolled up, bearing aloft the green flag of Ireland and the Star Spangled Banner, they moved upon the stone wall in that valley of death. For several minutes not a gun was fired on either side. It was a forlorn hope and the desperate charge was. beheld with interest and wonder by friend and foe. As they neared the vortex of death, a hundred guns opened upon them. Closing up. their ranks, they double-quicked for the Heights, but vain task! with fearful loss the gallant charge was a failure.
Next, Hooker was ordered in. Surveying the field and consulting those who had preceded him in the attempt he spurs his horse back to Burnside and urges him to cease the attack. But the latter insists, and Humphrey's division, with empty muskets, 4,000 strong,. formed for the charge. In half an hour, 1,800 of them lay dead and wounded on that bloody plain. Darkness dropped its curtain on the tragic contest. Far better had the bloody efforts ceased after the first assault disclosed the impregnability of the enemy's position, and the fearful slaughter that followed would have been averted.
That night was very cold, and mortal can never know the agony and suffering of the wounded on that crimsoned field. No aid could reach them that night nor the next day, and as the dead stiffened, they were rolled into heaps to protect those still living. A woman residing near the scene said the field at night was blue, but the next morning it was white, as the dead had been stripped of their clothing by the enemy. Burnside resolved to renew the fight the next morning, leading his old Ninth Corps himself, but the unanimous voice of his. Generals prevailed against it and the tragedy was ended.
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BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
AFTER THE BATTLE - COMMENTS.
Returning to the Iron Brigade: by the blunder of an Aidc, General Meredith was relieved by Colonel Cutler of the Sixth Wisconsin, who slightly changed the line of the Twenty-fourth to avoid an enfilading fire. The Seventh Wisconsin was on its left and the other regiments in a second line 200 paces in the rear, which position was occupied during Sunday and Monday. During this time a portion of the Twenty-fourth was sent to the front on picket. There was sharp skirmishing but no engagement, and at intervals a brisk cannonading from the enemy's batteries. Their position was a strong one upon hills covered with a thick growth of wood, protected in front and flank by creeks, marshes and almost impenetrable underbrush. The whole was armed with batteries, ready to repel any effort to storm their stronghold.
On Monday the 15th, General Franklin desiring to know the location and force of the extreme right of the foe, gave Colonel Morrow permission to make a reconnoissance to the Massaponax. In full view of the enemy, with Companies C and I and a few of E, he performed the task which resulted in much valuable information. The movement was hazardous, as they pushed nearly to the enemy's lines and might have been made prisoners easily. The Colonel and men received the thanks of General Franklin on the field for their work.
On Monday the dead of the Twenty-fourth were gathered and the last sad rites performed. They were buried near where they fell, near the banks of the Rappahannock, on the field yet red with their blood. At half-past nine on Monday night, amid a rain storm, silently and secretly, not above a breath, came the order to pack up and be ready to move. At midnight, leaving the battle ground behind, and having placed pine boughs on the pontoon bridges to prevent the rumble of moving artillery, they quietly re-crossed the river at a quickstep, and moved up the hill which they had lately descended so full of hope. On Tuesday morning the whole Union army was safely on the north bank of the river without the loss of a gun.
In the recent battle the Union army numbered 113,000 men, and the Confederate 78,500. The Union loss in killed, wounded and missing, was 12,653 ; the Confederate loss, 5,377. The common voice of mankind will condemn such sacrifice without any gain. Within five weeks after a change of commanders this army lost nearly as
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG ON THE LEFT, DECEMBER 13, 1862-REPRODUCED FROM A POORLY PRESERVED WAR-TIME SKETCH.
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BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
many in action as was its total loss in action on the Peninsula. Yet, we do not wholly censure Burnside for the result. He protested that he was not equal to the command when it was forced upon him. The newspaper generals, too, must share the responsibility for a public sentiment which demanded that an end be put to a so-called "inactivity and delay," utterly regardless of all preparations of the army and essential conditions for success. It was Bull Run re-enacted. The new commander must fight a battle or suffer reproach and contumely from " shin-toasters" at home firesides. He fought and failed. Most generously did he assume all the responsibility, which somewhat blunted the keen edge of criticism.
His plan of massing on the strongest point of the enemy was a tried military tactic. Greater generals had tried it, and both failed and succeeded. By it Napoleon won his victories; yet it failed him at Aspern and Waterloo. By it Austerlitz, the Bridge of Lodi, and Wagram were won; and later, Magenta and Solferino. Lee adopted it at Malvern Hill and Gettysburg and lost. Burnside had used it at Roanoke and Newbern and won. His heart was in the cause for which he fought, whatever his error in judgment or execution. It is idle to speculate on what might have been. Defeated and despondent, the army resumed its position on the north bank of the Rappahannock.
LOSSES OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
The following were killed on the battle-field :
Second Lieutenant DAVID BIRRELL, Company K.
David Reed, B James R. Ewing, K Louis Hattie, I John Litogot, K
Sergeant Wallace W. Wight, K Francis Pepin, K
The following were the wounded :
Captain WILLIAM A. OWEN, in spine, by concussion of shell, G First Lieutenant CHARLES A. HOYT, in leg, C
Second H. REES WHITING, 66 A Second .6 F. AUGUSTUS BUHL, in arm, by shell, B
Sergeant Robert A. Bain, arm amputated, K .
Sergeant George W. Fox, in shoulder, K
Corporal Daniel McPherson, in hand, C
Corporal Orson B. Curtis, D, lost left arm fighting in Third Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps, while on his way from the hospital at Brooks' Station to find his regiment, by consent of Assistant Surgeon Charles C. Smith.
Corporal John Tait, in shoulder, . G Private John Bryant, arm amputated, J Private Fernando D. Forbes, in shoulder, K
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Charles Willaird, wrist, A Bristol A. Lee, hand, C Clark Davis, head, , B Abraham Velie, arm, . C
George H. Graves, arm, B Robert D. Simpson, shoulder, H
The following were taken prisoners :
Corporal Benjamin F. Buyer, Corporal Irwin W. Knapp,
F
F
Corporal Royal L. Potter,
F
Oliver M. Moon, D Daniel D. Webster, F
John Southard.
E Edward L. Farrell, H
Edward Tracy, E Albert Ganong, K
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The following were missing:
Arnold Stowell, H Alexander J. Eddy, I
Summary : Killed, 7; wounded, 18; prisoners, 9; missing, 2. Total, 36.
The other regiments of the Iron Brigade lost as follows:
Second Wisconsin, II Seventh Wisconsin, . I2
Sixth Wisconsin, 4 Ninteenth Indiana, 6
COMPLIMENTS-MARCH TO BELLE PLAIN.
A Detroit Free Press correspondent said :
Let me record for our children, and our children's children, that the regiment which Wayne county raised in little more than ten days has, on its first field, fully sustained the honor of its State and added glory to the already bright record emblazoned upon the banners of other Michigan regiments.
The day after the battle, General A. P. Hill sent in a flag of truce with which he sent his compliments to General Doubleday in admiration of the unyielding front maintained by his division, and that he never saw troops stand such a shelling in his life. The Confederate truce officer inquired, "What regiment of blue breeches was that ,which withstood so gallantly the terrible enfilading fire of his batteries the evening before?" He was told that it was the Twenty-fourth Michigan.
On December 19, General Meredith wrote to Colonel Morrow:
The Twenty-fourth Michigan behaved splendidly under a terrific and continuous artillery fire, calculated severely to test the oldest and best disciplined troops, proving themselves worthy of association with the Iron Brigade, and it affords me pleasure to say that the compliments paid the regiment for their gallantry on that occasion are well deserved.
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BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
In his official report General Meredith also said :
The Twenty-fourth Michigan is a new regiment, having never before been under fire. They showed themselves worthy of the praises they have received. Their line of battle upon entering the woods was splendid, showing both courage and discipline.
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GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY, COMMANDER OF FIRST DIVISION FIRST CORPS.
General Doubleday in his official report said :
Colonel Morrow's regiment led the advance and carried the woods in gallant style, capturing many prisoners and horses. In this affair my attention was particularly directed to this regiment, which had never before been under fire, and I was pleased to see the courage and alacrity with which they performed the duty assigned them. * * * The enemy were pressing hard upon my center, evidently with an intention to break it, and I used all the means within my power to strengthen that portion of my line. But there was no danger. The men stood as if rooted to the spot and though suffering severely from the enemy's canister they did not yield an inch of ground.
The Twenty-fourth Michigan made a good appearance in this their first engagement. They were exceedingly anxious to go always to the front, and, resting upon our hard earned laurels, we were generously willing they should do so. But there was little choice of place on that open plain. No soldiers ever faced fire more bravely, and they showed themselves of a fibre worthy to be woven into the woof of the Iron Brigade. Colonel Morrow was equal to all requirements, enterprising, brave, and ambitious, he stepped at once into a circle of the best and most experienced regimental commanders in the Army of the Potomac. - GENERAL DAWES' Service with Sixth Wisconsin.
And thus Colonel, officers and men behaved most nobly. Quartermaster Bell was on the field every day with rations for the men, an exposure to danger rarely made by his class.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Previous to the late battle, the older regiments of the Iron Brigade refused all sociability with our regiment, regarding us with aversion and studiously keeping out of our camp. But its noble conduct on this occasion entirely destroyed this exclusiveness and the greatest cordiality ever after prevailed.
While in camp opposite Fredericksburg, after the battle, the regiment received an agreeable visit of three days from Mr. Stanley G. Wight of Detroit, a brother of Captain Edwin B. Wight. He was a stanch friend of the regiment and during its recruitment period, contributed liberally in its behalf. After remaining in camp four days at this place, the regiment with the Brigade, on Saturday, December 20, moved towards Belle Plain. It marched about ten miles and bivouacked, after wandering about some time on the wrong road. On the morning of the 23d, they moved on to within a mile of Pratt's Landing on the Potomac, near Belle Plain, and began building winter cabins.
LETTER OF CHAPLAIN WILLIAM C. WAY.
CAMP ISABELLA, NEAR BELLE PLAIN, STAFFORD Co., VA., Dec. 31, 1862. S
The hour and circumstances are indeed solemn. It is almost midnight and all is still save the sound of the mournful wind, whose wintry moans are a fit requiem for the dying year-full of interest and sorrow. It has borne many a brave form to the grave and his spirit to the changeless shores of eternity. Its now dimmed eye has witnessed the tear of anguish as it has coursed from the cheek of father, mother, brother, sister, wife and child, because of the fates of war that have carried sorrow to their once happy home. Some stirring scenes and changes have occurred in the Twenty-fourth. Some of our noble boys sleep in honored graves, fallen in defense of our nation's ensign.
In camp here we have buried two of our men, Joseph Gohir and Marcus G. Wheeler of Company F. Exposure for two nights on the battlefield without blankets, has multiplied our sick. We have for hospital use, a log house and two large tents, with stoyes, and straw for bedding, but a lack of proper remedies and food. It is hard for a well man to live on hardtack; much more a sick one. It is almost impossible to get delicacies and medical stores, and the lives of our men are often sacrificed for want of them.
The Twenty-fourth won its spurs in the late battle and has a right to wear the Black Hats of the "Iron Brigade," the only entire brigade that wears them, and the old regiments say that they can now swear by the Twenty-fourth. A rebel force was concealed in a clump of woods, and Colonel Morrow was given permission to "clean out the nest." An Aide said to General Doubleday: " This regiment has never been under fire." Colonel Morrow hearing the remark, replied: "That is immaterial, Sir, we will take the wood," and they did. Then General Doubleday rode up to Colonel Morrow and said: "I am satisfied. Your regiment has behaved most splendidly." Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan proposed three cheers for the General, which were heard above the din of battle.
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BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
A piece of shell struck Captain C. A. Hoyt on the knee, causing a painful contusion. Being advised by the Colonel to retire, he replied: " No, Sir, I have been trying to regard this as a wound, but it won't do. I must try again." Lieutenant C. C. Yemans performed the duties of Acting Adjutant for forty-eight hours on the battlefield. Corporal Silas H. Wood of I, Sergeant Wm. B. Hutchinson of F and Sergeant William Murray of I distinguished themselves by acts of bravery. The instances of individual acts of bravery are numerous. " Right dress" has become a byword in camp since the manual of arms exercise of the regiment under the terrific artillery fire. Many hairbreadth escapes and heroic incidents are related around the campfires.
Memory will carry many of us back to-morrow to other days when peace and prosperity blessed the land, and thousands of brave men who have voluntarily estranged themselves from home were enjoying the gain of their industry with their families on New Year's day. With a wish that our friends at home may have a happy New Year, I wrap my blanket around me and lie down to rest as soldiers do. WILLIAM C. WAY, Chaplain.
RESIGNATIONS -PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
During the closing days of the year, several officers of the Twenty-fourth resigned, each for sufficient reasons. Before the regiment started for Belle Plain, after the battle, Major Henry W. Nall left it on sick leave to go to Baltimore Hospital. His health was so precarious from arduous service in the Peninsula Campaign, that both himself and some of the officers of the regiment believed he would never return, and their expectations were well founded. Captain Edwin B. Wight was immediately appointed Acting-Major and eventually succeeded to the full majority after the death of Major Nall, a few months later. The following officers resigned about this time: Captains James Cullen, Isaac W. Ingersoll and Warren G. Vinton; and Lieutenants John M. Gordon and John J. Lennon. The resignation of Captain Vinton was against his wishes, but in compliance with the advice and assurance of the Surgeon that his life depended upon his retirement from the exposures of the field. He had shown great zeal and sacrifice of business and money in the organization of the regiment, and was loth to leave it, and utterly refused to do so until after its first engagement.
During the fall and closing months of 1862, the Western Armies had not been inactive. During August, the general operations of the main armies, east and west, were in favor of the South. On September 16, the Confederates captured 4,000 Union prisoners at Mumfordsville, Kentucky. But on the 19th and 20th, General Rosecrans defeated the Confederates with great loss at Iuka, Mississippi. On October 3d, the Confederates were defeated with great loss at Corinth, Mississippi. The Confederate Army in the
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
West pushed headlong for Louisville, while Lee was invading Maryland, but was compelled to retreat, during which a bloody battle 'was fought at Perryville, Kentucky, when it was forced to resume its retreat south.
On December 3Ist, the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River, in Tennessee, commenced with a Federal repulse. The battle was continued with great slaughter on both sides the two following days. But on January 3d, the Southern Army retreated. Of the many minor engagements east and west, we shall attempt no mention, as they are without the scope and object of this volume. The Union losses only stimulated the iron resolution of the North which showed, amid its reverses, an unfaltering spirit to furnish whatever was required for success, in men and money.
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CHAPTER VI.
WINTER QUARTERS AT BELLE PLAIN.
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION - CAMP ISABELLA -
ARMY CABINS.
D URING the reverses in the summer of 1862, President Lincoln took a vow that if Providence would bless the Union arms with an important victory he would exercise the war powers of the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army and emancipate the slaves. Accordingly, after the brilliant victories of South Mountain and Antietam in September, he issued a warning proclamation to the Confederate States in rebellion, that unless they returned to their allegiance within one hundred days, he would declare every slave free within the borders of districts still in rebellion on January 1, 1863. He was punctual to his warning and issued such proclamation, declaring all slaves forever free in such States and parts of States as were still in arms against the Union.
Prior to the firing upon Fort Sumter there was no disposition in the North, except with a few harmless abolitionists, to disturb the slave conditions of the South -certainly not by the Democratic party, while the Republican party had ever disavowed any interference -their doctrine simply being limitation of slavery within its then existent borders. But when the South rent the Union and drenched our land with blood in slavery's behalf, abolitionism became less odious. One battle is sufficient to educate and convert a nation to an idea, and as regiment after regimeut of Northern soldiers left for the South, thousands of them never to return, there was but little opposition in the North to the action of the President. Some discussion was excited, but it gradually died out in approval of his course.
Camp Isabella, named after the Colonel's wife, who brightened camp life by her genial presence during the winter, was to be the home of the Twenty-fourth Michigan for the next four months. It
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
was situated upon the side of a steep knoll or bank of one of the numerous ravines that break up the surface of the country around, so that no level camping ground could be found. It was about three miles from Belle Plain where Potomac Creek enters the larger river of that name, and whose expanse can be seen from the camp. Upon arrival here the men began to build winter habitations with material from the neighboring woods.
These army cabins had a variety of style. Some were dug out of the steep bank; others made of small logs. They were about eight by ten feet in size and five feet high, with shelter tents for roof and gable coverings. The hillsides furnished good fire-places, which were
HEADQUARTERS OF THE "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN " AT CAMP ISABELLA, BELLE PLAIN, VA., DURING WINTER OF 1862-3 .- SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN, OF "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN."
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