USA > New Hampshire > A history of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment, Volunteer Infantry in the rebellion war, 1861-1865, pt 1 > Part 15
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CAPTAIN L. NEWELL SAWYER.
L. Newell Sawyer was born in Dover, February 25, 1842, and received his education at Friends college, Providence, R. I. At the breaking out of the war he was connected with the American Screw Co., at Provi- dence. He enlisted as a private in Company K, Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers, from Dover, August 9, 1862 ; was mustered into the service September 2, 1862 ; was appointed sergeant, and promoted to second lieuten- ant September 2. 1863 ; promoted to first lieutenant July 25, 1864, and was assigned to Company G; and was promoted and commissioned captain of Company K, September 1, 1864. He was mustered out with the regi- ment June 4, 1865. In August, 1864, he was detailed on the staff of General Griffin as aide-de-camp, and, on receiving his commission as captain of Company K, was
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appointed brigade inspector, Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, which position he held until mustered out with the regiment. April 2, 1865, he was commissioned by the president major of volunteers by brevet "for gallant and meritorious services before Petersburg, Va .. " and immediately after the close of the war was on duty in the provost-marshal's office at Provi- dence, R. I., under Colonel Daniel Hall.
In January, 1866, he took up his residence in Chicago. Ill., where he has since resided. From 1869 to 1873 he was assistant auditor for the Pullman Palace Car Co .; then resigned his position, entering upon the real estate business, and in 1877 he was appointed contracting freight agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad at Chi- cago, which position he still retains.
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CAPTAIN CHARLES E. EVERETT.
Charles E. Everett was born in Dover, June 17, 182S, and received his education in the schools of that city. He was a first-class carriage painter up to the time the Eleventh Regiment was formed, but on August 7, 1862. he enlisted as a private in Company K. December 24. he was promoted to second lieutenant, and September I, 1863, he was commissioned first lieutenant. On May 15. 1865, he was promoted to captain of Company D, but was not mustered. He was mustered out with the regi- ment June 4, 1865. Captain Everett participated in all the campaigns of the regiment, and escaped the shells and bullets in a wonderful manner. Since the war he has resided in Dover, following the same occupation as before the war.
CHAPTER VII.
SERVICE IN KENTUCKY AND EAST TENNESSEE-A MEETING WITH "PARSON BROWNLOW "-AT CUMBERLAND GAP AND KNOXVILLE -BESIEGED-THE SIEGE RAISED -VARIED EXPERIENCES- BIO- GRAPHIC SKETCHES OF CHAPLAINS AND COMPANY OFFICERS.
(BY LIEUTENANT-ADJUTANT W. A. NASON,1 COMPANY F.)
On the 6th of August, 1863, after participating in the campaign which culminated in the surrender of Vicks- burg and the capture of the city of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, the regiment which I had the honor of serving with, the Eleventh New Hampshire, Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, was finally furnished with transportation from the malarial swamps adjacent to the Yazoo river northerly to our old place in the Department of the Ohio. Proceeding slowly on account of low water, we finally arrived at Cincin- nati on the 14th. our numbers sadly depleted by expos- ure and the trying duties attending the campaign. We remained at Covington, Ky., until the latter part of August, and went thence by rail to Nicholasville, march- ing out from there to "Camp Park," a few miles away. On the 9th of September we were on the road again. and, after a few easy marches, reached London, Ky., on the 16th of September, under orders to await the mak- ing up of a train of wagons containing quartermasters' supplies, and to escort it to Knoxville via Cumberland
' This chapter, from the pen of Lieutenant W. A. Nason, of Company F. was read before a Veterans' Association, in Providence, during the winter of 1889-'90, and was kindly furnished by him for the history of the regiment of which he was such an honored member. It is a most valuable contribution to the men of the Eleventh Regiment.
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Gap. The balance of our army corps had already pre- ceded us, and gone to East Tennessee, crossing the mountains through gaps farther north.
Our duties at London were not arduous, merely con- sisting of light details for guard and picket duty. Our rations, for the first time in months, were very good and quite abundant, and the farmers near us were ready and willing to sell any of their products at a fair price. Game of some kinds was quite plenty, especially gray squirrels, which the boys brought in in large numbers. Besides, there was almost every day some new incident transpiring, and this relieved the monotony of camp-life. and kept the boys in good spirits. All had improved much in health, and began to appear like themselves again. Some, however, still suffered from the effects of the Vicksburg campaign.
Most noteworthy of all was the pleasure we had in meeting two staunch Unionists of East Tennessee, like the Hon. Horace Maynard, and William G. Brownlow better known as " Parson," editor of the Knoxville Whig and Rebel Ventilator. These men had suffered every indignity which the rebels could shower upon them, and probably would have forfeited their lives had not the Union troops taken possession of and held that part of the state. The name of "Parson" Brownlow's paper was no misnomer. but thoroughly indicative of its char- acter. In looking over an old copy printed during the fall of this year ('63), I find that he closes one of his editorials as follows : "They have delighted in expres- sions of contempt for the Great Ruler of the Universe from the opening of this struggle. But their blasphemy has been in keeping with their treason. and with their perjury in starting the ball. These lines are appropriate in the rebel parts, and in their Sabbath and family wor- ships :
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' Show pity, Lord! O Lord, forgive ! Let the repenting rebels live. Are not thy mercies large and free? May not the rebels trust in thee? Should sudden vengeance seize our breath, We must pronounce thee just in death, And, if our souls were sent to hell, Thy righteous law approves it well.'"
These two men passed the night at a small hotel near our camp, and in the morning, as they were about start- ing on their journey towards Knoxville, some of us called around to see them off. As they were taking their departure, the " Parson" advised us not to go far from camp unless in small bodies of three or four, because rebel bush-whackers were quite plenty, and would not hesitate to waylay any of us if opportunity presented : and, should we by chance come in contact with and secure one of these miscreants, that we had better not attempt to take him into camp, but dispose of him on the way, saving all further trouble.
This incident is also related : During our stay here, some of our men discovered a small distillery located on a branch or creek among the hills, where they could obtain all the whiskey they desired. The proprietor told , some of the men that he wanted to obtain another horse, and, if they could help him to one, he would remunerate them in whiskey. Some of our men would not stop to inquire about the ownership of a chicken, or anything of that kind, but we had no first-class horse-thieves among our number. Nevertheless they were ready to put up a little job on the moonshiner, and teach him a lesson. They at first hesitated on account of the danger attending, and the punishment sure to follow if detected. but finally seemed to agree to the proposition, and at once made plans to carry it into execution. A few of
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them called upon him and found where his own horse was stabled, but they also found that he kept a vicious looking dog about the place. They told him that, to prevent any noise if they succeeded in getting a horse from the corral, which would get all into trouble if dis- covered, the dog must be removed until the affair was over. To this he assented, and he was accordingly soon after waited upon and notified that the new horse would be delivered on that night. Early in the evening a little detachment visited his house, and kept him busy while two or three men made their way to the shed where his own horse was kept. Leading him into the woods a short distance, they gave his mane and tail a regular army cut, and also clipped the 'hair on his left fore shoulder, making quite a respectable looking "U. S." Then, covering the old nag with an old army blanket, they led it to the house very quietly. and delivered it according to agreement. After a slight examination in the dark the animal was taken away to be secreted, and the whiskey received in payment was stored in canteens and camp-pails-the boys at once returning to their quar- ters. No more visits were made by those men to the dis- tillery, but in a day or two the distiller came around. looking, not for his own horse, but for pay for the whis- key he had given in payment therefor. This was not forthcoming, but no complaint was made concerning the trade, as he was afraid of trouble on his own part.
The train was to start on the 16th of October, and our little regiment, now recruited to about 300 men, was ordered forward under command of Captain L. W. Cogswell. We were ready at the hour designated, and started on a long and tiresome march in the midst of a heavy rain. The country through which we passed was much broken. and very thinly settled. Spurs of high hills, or mountains, seemed always in our path, while
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the very rough and narrow roads made our progress exceedingly slow.
On the 18th we passed through the little town of Bar- boursville, and on the 19th hurried forward towards Cumberland ford. Just before we arrived at the ford an alarm was given by a messenger who had overtaken us, and who said that a body of rebels had appeared on our left flank and was about to attack the train. The left wing of the regiment was ordered back to repel any attack that might be made, but, after a march to the rear of a few miles, we were happy to find that the alarm was false. We continued on our way unmolested, and, cross- ing the river, went into camp to await the arrival of the train.
While resting here, a citizen visited us who pointed out a spot where were buried some Union men who had been captured by some gang, probably of Kirby Smith's command, that had been raiding in Kentucky the year before. While the rebel troops were resting on nearly the same ground we occupied, a drum-head court-mar- tial was held, and those men had been held as spies and hung for their loyalty. They were hastily buried, for bleaching bones could be seen protruding through their scant covering of earth.
We broke camp early on the morning of the 21st, and made an attempt to reach Cumberland Gap, but a furi- ous mountain storm having set in, the road was worse than ever, and nearly impassable ; some were obliged to halt four or five miles from our objective point. The road up the mountain-side apparently had been blocked by immense boulders and logs, for the purpose of ob- structing the passage of any troops from Kentucky. These had been only partially removed, and it was still nearly impossible for the animals of the train to pull their wagons through. It was only accomplished by
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doubling teams, and by the troops lifting the wagons in some places.
On the 22d we reached the Gap, and reported to the commandant at that post. This place naturally was one of the strongest positions the rebels ever held, was well fortified and well armed, and garrisoned by 2,000 Georgia troops. But as soon as Burnside got into Knox- ville he sent out a force that covered their only means of escape, so the commander very prudently surrendered. We made only a short stay there, for orders were received to leave the train, which was now safe, and march for Knoxville as fast as possible. On the 25th we were at Clinch river, and ferried ourselves, without accident, across the stream-then very high from recent rains-in a leaky old flat-boat. On the 28th we arrived at Knox- ville, having been on the march about twelve days, more than half of the time having been stormy, and the roads, therefore, almost impassable. We had very little trans- portation of our own, had lived on short rations, had performed regular guard and picket duty, had assisted the train through the Gap, and had left only two or three men out of the regiment behind us. We were at once ordered into camp a little out of the city, at North Knox- ville, and were told to fix up our quarters and make them as comfortable as possible. We did so, and in a few days had everything well arranged, considering our lim- ited means. The principal part of our corps was at, or near, Loudon, about 30 miles below on the Holston river, watching Longstreet; and Burnside, with less than one half the available force of the rebel leader, had a very long and rough line of communication to keep open. Our camp at North Knoxville was less than a mile from the city. This little settlement was composed principally of Northern mechanics, who had been called there to work in the railroad-shops, and in an iron foundry or
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furnace, built and owned by Northern men who had invested money there, and were doing much towards developing the mines in the immediate vicinity.
We remained in this camp until the morning of the 16th of November, when, before daylight, the long roll called us out, and we were ordered to pack up and march at once. We promptly formed line, and a few minutes later were on the road to the south of our old camp, and a line of battle was formed to hold that approach to the city against the possible advance of the enemy. With a strong skirmish line in advance we remained at this point until late in the afternoon, when we moved forward to a gap which we took possession of as more defendable in case of an attack than the former position.
All day brisk firing had been heard. and reports of Longstreet's attack on our forces in the vicinity of Lenoir's were brought us by a messenger from the city. We remained in this position during that night and the day following, where we could hear the cannonading going on more distinctly. We judged from the heavy firing that a brisk engagement was in progress, and extending nearer to us. Early in the day we were told that the corps trains had begun to arrive in Knoxville, followed in the afternoon by the troops, and with Longstreet not far in the rear. We were called in from our position on the night of the 17th, and. retiring to the city, resumed our place in the brigade.
The trains were packed, camps for troops designated, lines of defence established in all directions, our commu- nications with the outer world cut off, and preparations for a siege begun.
The lines were quite irregular. but well chosen. The First Division of our corps held that part beginning on the Holston river to the south-west of the city, and extending around on the northerly side a short distance east of Fort
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Sanders. The Second Division reached thence to the east of, and beyond, the railroad buildings, while the remainder of the line, returning to the river again, was held by the Twenty-third Army Corps. Our position as a regiment was on the left of the Second Brigade, on an eminence which overlooked North Knoxville and the rail- road buildings, and also our lines on the left. Our regi- mental right rested near Fort Comstock. The location was well adapted for defence. It was on the estate of a Mr. Richardson, a native of a town that many of my company enlisted from (Springfield). some of them being his former school-mates. The beautiful yard in front of his house was totally ruined to give place to Fort Com- stock, and the noble shade-trees, on the slope running down to the creek, were slashed. the trimmed tops form- ing an abattis for our protection that would be nearly impassable to any body of troops. The abutments of the little bridge that spanned the creek at the foot of the slope also served as abutments for some very respectable dams which we built, thus holding back the water, and flood- ing quite a large territory which the enemy would be obliged to cross if they should make an attack on our front. From fort to fort, or from battery to battery, we had also thrown out excellent lines of rifle-pits for the infantry. It was somewhat surprising to see how soon they were completed. for although half of the men were constantly on the picket line, or in some of the buildings we used to try and save, and though the men who came off duty at night were suffered to get some rest, yet there were constant details from those just relieved, and I have known all, except a thin line in the trenches, to be obliged to get their night's rest while using spade or pick in strengthening some line of works. Crossing the street, a short distance to the right of Fort Comstock, was Battery Wiltson, occupied, I think, by the Fifteenth Indiana battery
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of rifled guns. The ground, for some distance to the rear of this work and to the creek below, was less obstructed by trees than at Fort Comstock, and nearly all the work of its construction was performed after dark,-as the sharp- shooters could reach a working party, and did so fre- quently, occasionally taking off a man. We used a plenty of sand-bags in the construction of this battery, especially about the embrasures, and these, covered with the green hides taken from our beef-creatures, gave it an appear- ance of greater solidity and stability than an ordinary earthwork.
The rebels, as soon as they had corralled us in the city, were as busy as ourselves in erecting batteries and forts, and day and night, while on picket, we could hear their axe men. in the woods that covered the hills to the north- east of us, cutting trees to give their guns a chance "when the proper time came. We had taken possession of the flour-mill and railroad buildings, and had pre- pared them for defence by barricading the windows and opening loop-holes through the walls. The locomotives were in the round-house partially disconnected, and some of the important parts had been concealed. rendering them useless if captured; and the few cars remaining were drawn as closely together as possible, and prepared with light fuel ready to be fired should the enemy suc- ceed in taking the place.
The long and weary days and nights were passing with no change in our duties to relieve the dull monotony. save an occasional skirmish or sharp picket firing, or an attempt on the part of one side or the other to change its lines, until the night of the 20th, when the little hamlet of North Knoxville, between our picket line and fortifi- cations, was burned to the ground. The dwellings had been taken possession of by a detail of the Seventeenth Michigan with orders to destroy them in case of an
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advance on our line, thus preventing their being occu- pied by the enemy's forces. The walls in each house had been opened, and the spaces filled with the most combustible material obtainable.
On that night, as the enemy threatened an advance, and even succeeded in forcing back a portion of our pickets, the whole settlement was started in a blaze at once, and in less than an hour not a timber was left stand- ing. The large railroad repair-shop that had been occu- pied by the rebels as an armory, and in which had been stored a quantity of small arms and ammunition of vari- ous kinds, was also destroyed accidentally ; and, when the fire had at last made its way to the boxes of ammu- nition, there was a grand fusilade by the bursting of shells, etc., sounding like an engagement near at hand.
On the night of the 23d another advance was made on our division picket line. and after a sharp skirmish two regiments were compelled to retire for a short distance, whereby the left of our regimental line was turned ; but we held our position until morning, when an order to advance was given, and soon our lines were established on the same ground we had previously held. The pick- ets directly opposed to us were said to be very tricky and treacherous, frequently using cow-bells at night in their movements to avoid suspicion. The first man we had killed outright during the siege was a vidette, who was clubbed to death near his post by the rebels, who were using such means in order to avoid detection. I think it was on the 24th, near noon. that a detachment from my regiment was ordered to the right to support the Fifteenth Indiana Light Artillery located in Battery Wiltson. We were not aware that anything unusual was transpiring when we left our breastworks, but soon we learned that there was a little commotion on the other side very near our regimental head-quarters, where we
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had camped a few days before at North Knoxville. While waiting for matters to mature, our Company F had a reinforcement of one recruit, who was not a regularly enlisted man. but a resident of Knoxville. He came of his own accord to the right of the company near the centre of the battery, and gave a partial story of his life. and told of the wrongs he had suffered at the hands of the rebels, and how they had cruelly taken the life of his brother. After hearing all, we concluded that they were a hard set, and needed correction. But he had come prepared. if occasion offered, terribly to avenge that brother's death. and assist us in repelling any attack that might be made on our lives ; for he had brought with him a whole little arsenal, consisting of a long range rifle, a double-barrel shot-gun, and a navy re- volver, all loaded and ready for immediate use, and talked as though he was good for eight or nine rebels sure. This had been one of the finest days since the siege began, and we had not waited long before we learned why we had been ordered into the battery, for soon the enemy unmasked a gun which they had placed in a redoubt near our old camp-ground. They seemed to want to get the range on Battery Wiltson or find out what was there, for a puff of smoke was followed by a screaming shell, which passed in nearly a direct line over our heads to the rear. and apparently fell near Gen- eral Burnside's head-quarters. In a very short time the general appeared alone, without a coat, and with field- glass in hand. He jumped into one of the embrasures, and looked for a moment, when another shell followed nearly as high as the first. The general said a few words to the lieutenant in command, and that officer soon gave an order to return the fire. This was at once done, a couple of splendid shots being sent in, which silenced the enemy's single gun, and this ended the duel. But
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where was our recruit at this time-our hero who was so sure of eight or nine rebels on his own account? At the front, ready to assist in repelling an attack? Oh, no! but on looking out on the street that led to the centre of the town we saw the last of him, with his little armory in his hands. making for home, or some other place of safety, as fast as his long, thin legs would carry him.
I have already spoken of the rebel pickets using foxy methods of getting in their work, and later we learned more concerning their ways. It was while on duty at the flour-mill, a two- or three-story brick building with flat roof and walls extending above. The windows were barricaded in the lower story, and loop-holes were opened through the walls for observation or defence. Their videttes. or sharpshooters, were well advanced in small rifle-pits, constructed usually with accommodations for two men. On the top of the earth thrown up, a head- log was placed, with loop-holes beneath, through which they constantly watched, ready at any time to give us a shot as opportunity presented. These little pits were changed frequently at night, and. though we could see their occupants sending in a shot occasionally to pick off any of our men who chanced to be exposed. we were not allowed to do anything by way of retaliation : we were simply to watch and wait, and defend and hold our position, if possible, in case of an attack. November 26 was Thanksgiving Day at home, and while on picket duty, with Captain Woodward in command of our part of the line, some of our reserve had the good fortune to capture a fat pig that had been left by its owner at North Knoxville. We had a very good dinner from the same, though without a great variety of relishes and other food. Our orders were nearly the same each day, and Captain Cogswell, who was still in command of the regiment and
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every fourth day in command of the Second Division picket line, was constantly urging us to be always ready, for an attack was now expected at any time. But this extra duty, the continued exposure to the changeable weather, and the scant rations of very poor quality, told on the men very perceptibly. The 27th and 28th were cold and disagreeable days, and especially the latter. The clouds had an unusually dark and heavy appearance, and lights were required at an earlier hour than usual. There was less rest that night than was usually attaina- ble on picket or in the trenches, on account of the spite- ful firing which was indulged in at times, occasionally forcing back a portion of our brigade pickets.
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