USA > New Hampshire > A history of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment, Volunteer Infantry in the rebellion war, 1861-1865, pt 1 > Part 7
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" We went back to the place from which we advanced. and camped. On Monday, the 20th, we started for Mill- dale, and made a march of twenty miles, the sun giving
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another specimen of his direct rays upon us, and more men in the brigade fell out than ever before on a march. The march was resumed the next morning at four o'clock, and we made fifteen miles. It was harder than on the day previous, the heat was so intense. At one time the commander of Company G had not a man with him for two miles. The next day the march was taken up at + p. m., and the Big Black was crossed, when the rain came pouring down harder than at any time before, and in ten minutes the road was three inches deep with water. At ten o'clock the regiment camped in a corn- field, where the mud was deeper than in the road. I laid down two rails, took off my boots and socks, and lay down on my downy bed, with a pillow made of my old hat laid on the cracks of the rails, spread my rubber blanket over me. and stopped there until morning.
"At sunrise the next morning the march was resumed, and eight miles brought us to our old camp at Milldale ; and truthfully I can say that home never looked better to me than our old camp. We were quite tired and sick of Mississippi. At the first dress-parade after our return to Milldale, the adjutant read some complimentary orders from Grant, Sherman, Smith, and Parke. They were very flattering. We were praised for our good behav- ior and soldierly bearing, for our heroic and brave con- duct before the enemy, and generally for our prompt action wherever we were placed ; and we were ordered to inscribe on our flag . Vicksburg ' and . Jackson.'"
THE RETURN TO BURNSIDE.
" The troops remained at Milldale and Oak Ridge about two weeks, awaiting transportation North. Transports soon arrived, and the sick, weary, dying men went on board with hopes that they might all once more feel the
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THE RETURN TO BURNSIDE.
life-giving breezes of their own loved homes in the far- away North. The voyage up the river was a long one, and the last of the corps did not reach Cairo until the 15th of August.
" The regiment reached Memphis August 9, at 3 p. m., where it remained until twelve o'clock the next day, giv- ing the men a chance to inhale a little fresh air by getting on shore. Although the mercury marked over 100° in the shade, it was a great relief to the men to leave the sick-quarters upon the crowded steamer for a while. Very many were not able to do so, but they were well cared for during the stay here. But the boys were anxious to get still farther north, and the order to ‘cast off and haul in the gang plank' was a most welcome one to all. The boat was crowded. four regiments being on board, and having as part of its cargo 150 bales of cotton. Cairo was not reached until Wednesday morn- ing, August 12, at 6 a. m., and we left there at 2 p. m. in the cars for Cincinnati. There were forty cars on the train. When ten miles beyond Jonesborough the train broke in two, but was soon connected again, and Cen- tralia was reached at 11 : 30 p. m., where a good lunch of meat and coffee was served. At midnight it was again on its way, reaching Vincennes via Sandoval, where a halt was made for three hours at noon, and a good dinner was served, and at 7 p. m. we reached Seymour. Friday morning at three o'clock Cincinnati was reached. and at seven o'clock the regiment marched to the Fifth Street market, where the boys enjoyed the best meal they had eaten since they left for the South. The regiment then marched across the river to Covington, Ky., and went into camp about two miles south of the river.
" The regiment received a perfect ovation on its march through Cincinnati, and on all sides was heard . That's a bully regiment ! just look at their colors, how they are
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riddled !' And the boys of the regiment will remember to their latest hour the generous, loyal people of Cincin- nati. While lying in camp at Covington, the writer of this and Lieutenant Shepard were commissioned to have placed upon the flag . Fredericksburg,' ' Vicksburg,' and ' Jackson,' which was done in a fine manner in Cincin- nati.
" The camp here was full of rumors. Colonel Harri- man had resigned; Major Farr and Captain Pingree had both gone home on a thirty days furlough ; Quarter- master Briggs had resigned and gone home; Dr. Ross had gone home on sick-leave; Lieutenant Heath had resigned and gone home : Captain Low had gone home on sick-leave : Adjutant Morrison had applied for a thirty days furlough. as well as had Lieutenant Morrison of Company B. A large number of men were ill in various hospitals, and, on the whole, the outlook ahead was not very encouraging. However, the regiment had returned from its Mississippi campaign proud of the good name it had achieved in common with other regiments of the Ninth Corps.
"General Grant returned the Ninth Corps to Burnside with general orders dated July 31, 1863, in these words : ' In returning the Ninth Corps to its former command, it is with pleasure that the general commanding acknowl- edges its valuable services in the campaign just closed. Arriving at Vicksburg opportunely, taking a position to hold at bay Johnston's army. then threatening the forces investing the city, it was ready and eager to assume the offensive at any moment. After the fall of Vicksburg, it formed a part of the army which drove Johnston from his position near the Big Black river into his intrench- ments at Jackson, and. atter a siege of eight days, com- pelled him to fly in disorder from the Mississippi valley. The endurance, valor, and general good conduct of the
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THE MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGN.
Ninth Corps are admired by all ; and its valuable coop- eration, in achieving the final triumph of the campaign, is gratefully acknowledged by the Army of the Tennes- see. Major-General Parke will cause the different regi- ments and batteries of his command to. inscribe upon their banners and guidons 'Vicksburg' and 'Jack- son.' "
" In addition to this very gratifying order from General Grant, the men of the Western regiments were compelled to change their opinion of any troops that had ever been a portion of the Army of the Potomac : so that, instead of thinking they did not know how to fight, they were perfectly surprised at the courage and bravery displayed by the Ninth Corps, especially at Jackson. When in- formed by the men of the corps that that action was con- sidered by them as only a ' sharp skirmish,' they frankly confessed they didn't want to go into any battles ; and the men of both armies became strongly attached to each other.
"Rev. Mr. Woodbury, in his ' Ninth Army Corps,' thus sums up the disastrous effects of this Mississippi campaign : . The campaign in Mississippi was especially severe in its effects upon the officers and men of the Ninth Corps. The excessive heat, the malaria that set- tled like a pall of death around the camp upon the Yazoo river, the scarcity of water and its bad quality, the forced marches, and the crowded condition of the transports told fearfully upon the troops. All the accounts of the move- ment agree in their statements respecting the amount of . disease and mortality which accompanied it. The hard- ships, which' all were obliged to endure, were excessive. Water which the horses refused to drink, the men were obliged to use in making their coffee. Fevers, conges- tive chills, diarrhea. and other diseases attacked the troops. Many sank down upon the wayside, and died 6
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from sun-stroke and sheer exhaustion. The sickness that prevailed on board the transports upon the return voyage was terrible and almost universal. Nearly every night, as the boats lay up on account of low water and the consequent danger of navigation, the twinkling light of the lanterns on shore betokened the movements of burial parties as they consigned the remains of some unfortunate comrade to the earth. When the troops reached Cairo, the men were scarcely able to march through the streets. They dropped in the ranks; and even at the market-house, where the good citizens had provided an abundant and comfortable meal for the worn out soldiers, they fell beside the tables, and were carried away to the hospitals. More than half the command were rendered unfit for duty. There were not able men enough belonging to the batteries to water and groom the horses. Under such circumstances, instances of brave, even of heroic, endurance were not rare, and the soldiers deserved the commendations which their officers freely bestowed.' "
BIOGRAPHIC SKETCHES.
DR. JONATHAN S. ROSS.
Jonathan Smith Ross, son of Samuel and Fannie Put- man (Smith) Ross, was born in Bath, N. H., April 12, 1822, graduated at Dartmouth college with the degree of A. B., and studied medicine with Dr. Adams Moore. of Littleton, N. H .. with Dr. Timothy Haynes, of Con- cord, N. H., at Dartmouth Medical College in 1846, and at the Medical University of Pennsylvania, at Phil- adelphia, from which university he graduated M. D. in 1846. He commenced to practise at Boston, Mass., in April, 1846, but removed to Bath, N. H., in Novem-
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JOHN A. HAYES.
ber, 1846, and subsequently to Great Falls, in Somers- worth, N. H. He represented the town of Somersworth in the legislature in 1855. Upon the formation of the Eleventh Regiment, he was commissioned surgeon August 14, 1862. and followed the fortunes of the regi- ment and brigade to which it belonged until December 7, 1864, when he was discharged from the service for physical disability. During the larger part of the cam- paign, before his discharge from the service, he was brigade-surgeon, and at times had charge of brigade and division hospitals, and later was assigned to duty in Concord, N. H. He was one of the most skilful sur- geons at amputation in the Ninth Army Corps.
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DR. JOHN A. HAYES.
John A. Hayes was born in Berwick, Maine, March 27, 1838. He received his education in the common schools of his native town, at the academy in Lebanon, Maine, and the New Hampton (N. H.) Institution. He graduated from the Dartmouth Medical College in the autumn of 1861, and was located at the Concord Insane Asylum for a year as assistant physician. He was com- missioned assistant surgeon of the Eleventh New Hamp- shire Volunteers August 26, 1862, and was mustered out with the regiment June 4, IS65. He was on detached service a good portion of the time in different hospitals connected with the Ninth Army Corps, and participated in all of the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged, whether with the regiment or otherwise. and won a high reputation as a physician and surgeon.
After leaving the army he practised his profession for three years in Biddeford. Maine, then removed to Great Falls, N. H., where he has since resided.
1
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He was brevetted a lieutenant-colonel of United States Volunteers March 13, 1865. " for faithful and meritorious services," upon the following recommendation, a copy of which is here appended :
This is to state that Dr. John A. Hayes, late surgeon of the 11th N. H. Vols., served for a year under my immediate supervision, in connection with the Depot Field Hospital of the Army of the Potomac, at Fredericksburg, White House. and City Point, and that he finally acted as executive officer at Burkeville, Va.
He was a first-rate officer, and was entrusted with most responsible duties, in the performance of which he was most reliable and untiring. I cordially recommend him as deserving the brevet of Lieut .- Colonel.
ED. B. DALTON, Late Surg. U. S. V. Brt-Col.
(Formerly in charge Depot Field Hospital, Army of Potomac. )
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ASSISTANT SURGEON JOHN C. W. MOORE.
John C. W. Moore was born at Wells. Me., January 30, 1837. His father. Dr. E. G. Moore, was an eminent physician of Concord. N. H .. and his mother, Eliza Hidden Moore, was a daughter of Rev. Samuel Hidden. a noted divine of Tamworth. N. H. John C. W. Moore graduated at Yale University in 1859. and took the degree of M. D. at Bowdoin college, Maine, in July 1865. He was a medical student when the war broke out. and June 5. 1861. he was mustered into the United States service as a member of Company B. " Goodwin Rifles." Second New Hampshire Volunteers. and was detailed to the Hospital Department. and participated in all of the campaigns of the Second New Hampshire,- Williamsburg and the Peninsula, under Mcclellan, Second Bull Run and Fredericksburg, up to January 3. 1863 .- when. upon recommendation of all the officers of the gallant Second New Hampshire Volunteers.
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EDWARD R. HUTCHINS.
Governor Nathaniel S. Berry commissioned him assistant surgeon of the Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers. He joined the regiment in March, 1863, at Baltimore, Md., en route to Kentucky. He participated in the Mississippi campaign in the summer of 1863, and ac- companied the regiment over the Cumberland moun- tains in October following. He assisted in organizing Knoxville Court-House United States Hospital, had charge of several wards, and was highly complimented by Medical Director Shippen for his executive ability. He was one of the surgeons in charge of 1,000 convales- cents of the Ninth Army Corps, who went by rail from Knoxville, Tenn., to Annapolis, Md., in March, 1864. Dr. Moore was assistant surgeon in the field at the bat- tles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864, and in front of Petersburg, Va. He was detailed to take charge of the sick of the Ninth Corps army train. After a service of three years and three months, he resigned October S, 1864. Since leav- ing the service, he has practised at Andover and Man- chester, Mass., but most of the time he has resided, and still resides, at Concord.
ASSISTANT SURGEON EDWARD R. HUTCHINS.
Dr. Edward R. Hutchins, son of George Hutchins. was born in Concord. He was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers September 2, 1862, and resigned December 25, 1862, being with the regiment at the battle of Fredericksburg. He is at present commissioner of statistics for the state of Iowa, and his residence is Des Moines, Iowa.
CHAPTER IV.
FOLLOWING THE FLAG-BEFORE JACKSON-TROUBLESOME SHARP- SHOOTERS-CAPTAIN ALEXANDER'S DEATHI-ORDERED TO THE REAR-JACKSON EVACUATED-A WHISKEY BET AND A STRAG- GLING MARCH-BIOGRAPHIC SKETCHES OF COMPANY OFFICERS.
(BY CO. E, ELEVENTH, NEAR JACKSON.)
" The war stood still, and all around then gazed." --- Iliad.
"'Tis hostile ground you tread : your native lands, Far, far from hence ; your fates are in your hands."-Iliad.
" I had rather than forty pounds I were at home."-Twelfth Night.
At three o'clock the next morning, the 13th of July, we were relieved from our post by a company from the Ninth New Hampshire, and were ordered further to the right-and not very far from where we lay all day of the IIth-there to support the Sixth New Hampshire, as they were one of the regiments that formed the first line of battle in front of the Second Brigade. The Second Brigade was very soon in line again, in a heavy piece of pine woods. The Sixth New Hampshire lay in rifle-pits, directly in our front, about eight or ten rods distant. In front of us was a large open field, though before the rude hand of war had seized it it was a large peach orchard ; but then. the zigzag lines of Union rifle-pits were cut through it. showing for a long distance the crooked piles of earth freshly thrown up to shield the heads of those who occupied them from rebel bullets. Picket shooting was carried on all of that day very spitefully. A soldier could not show himself above the pits without getting peppered by the vigilant " Johnnies." who lay concealed in their works, and in the trees on the further side of the
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BEFORE JACKSON.
field eighty rods or more away. There in the pine woods we put in the day listening to the reckless picket shooting and desultory cannonading,-at times from both sides ; but it was not equal to that of the day before, although both armies still faced each other, contending for the mastery. The reason why the Union army did not make an attack on that day was because we were nearly out of shells for the batteries, the ammunition train not having arrived from Vicksburg ; consequently we were delayed in our operations, and the enemy took advantage of it and made good their escape four days after. Our batteries had ammunition enough for firing occasional shots at the enemy, but not enough for a bat- tle. We lay within easy reach of the enemy's shots all that day, upon the soft green grass under the pines.
The rebel army at Jackson called everything into requisition that could be used in war. Many of the citi- zens turned out, and used squirrel rifles, or whatever they had to fight with. and helped the army hunt the Yankees. A good many old flint-lock muskets were used, the cartridges being one ball and three buck-shot. such as were used in the days of the Revolution. In fact. nearly everything that could be used as a weapon was pressed into the service, while the Union army would have been ashamed to be seen with such weapons of war. The Confederate army thought a good deal more about fighting " for their rights " than they did about " red tape" and show, which latter, very many times, the Union army was guilty of. It really seemed, from what we saw there, that fish-spears, pruning-hooks, axes. cleavers, broad-swords, and targes were brought from their hiding-places, where they had rested for years, and made to do duty in defending the city and their homes. . L. remarked that he saw guns on the morning of the 17th, when we advanced into the city, that were minus
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lock, cock, stock, and barrel. With all the poor imple- ments of war that they used, they had a great many mus- kets that were first class : they were as good as those used by the Union boys, and had been put in as skilful hands too.
The Sixth New Hampshire Regiment was very much annoyed a part of the day by occasional shots from a sporting rifle, which they supposed was in the hands of a citizen. He had secreted himself in a good place where he could fire his shots lengthwise of the pits (or for many rods at least) ; and where that " cussed rebel," as they called him, could be concealed was a mystery. The soldiers of the Sixth fired in his supposed direction as their judgment told them, and the more they fired the more "Johnnie Reb" fired, and with all their shots none reached him or hindered him in the work of death on which he was so intent. The boys speculated for a long time, and guessed where he might be ; then one or two would fire as directed by the officer in command, but no sign could they see to show where he was secreted. Those round balls continued to speed past their heads. making that smooth whistle peculiar to a sporting rifle. After suffering his insulting shots for a long time, one of the soldiers, who had been watching for some time, and who had appeared to be in a brown study over the mat- ter, saw a faint puff of smoke come from a clump of bushes-a point they had little suspected. The shot went by him in a moment more, telling plainly that the hiding- place had been discovered. All hands watched with eager eyes the clump of bushes, and very soon another puff of smoke was seen. although very faint. and whizz ! went the ball past them as before. Every man was then ordered to watch the spot, their muskets at their shoul- ders, and every man was to fire at the same time at the same place, and to watch what the effect would be.
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TROUBLESOME SHARPSIIOOTERS.
They did not have long to wait, for in a very few minutes another faint puff of smoke was seen from the clump of bushes. and in an instant a fearful volley of musketry was fired by the regiment, that went tearing through those bushes making green leaves scatter to the breezes. Whatever became of " Mr. Reb" they never knew. One thing they did know, and that was, they were never troubled with any more shots from that quar- ter, and the probability was that he was killed or severely wounded.
At that very time, as well as during the day when the Eleventh supported the Pennsylvania regiment three days after, a sharpshooter troubled us very much by sending his shots into the woods where we lay. He had a picked position where he was concealed, and we could not tell where he was ; neither could the front line, for as they were lower than we were he could not see them or they him, and his shots passed over their heads. He doubtless thought we were in the thick pine-tops, for very often his shots would whistle through the tree-tops, cutting off a limb as large as my arm. plainly telling us that he had a good weapon and knew how to use it. Then some of his shots would come very low, and at one time a stack of guns was struck. and the stock of one shattered to splinters by his well aimed shot. All that we could do was to let him enjoy himself " pegging away at the Yankees." for it afforded him lots of fun and he touched no one of us. if I remember correctly, with one exception. A big Irishman from Company K undertook to go out and ascertain where he lay, and to " give him h-l" as he termed it. He poked slowly to the edge of the wood. and stopped to survey the ground in front before advanc- ing any further, when whizz ! came one of those large musket-balls and just touched the lower part of the Irish- man's ear. He made a big dodge, and started back,
t
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exclaiming, as he shook his fist, "Oh, you son of a -! " and that made lots of fun for awhile.
We were then in front of that miserable siege gun, and very often some of its heavy shots, sixty-four pounders. would come tearing through the tree-tops, reminding me of a small earthquake, particularly so when they explod- ed among the pine trees, and the pieces of iron would hum, and the green boughs would drop all around us. Sergeant Lyford of Company C was leaning against a tree, when a shot from that gun cut off the top of the same tree, and as a matter of course made a racket above his head that caused him to look up and see what was going on, he in the meantime exclaiming loudly, " Fire a little lower if you please, if you intend to kill me !"
Our rations were poor and very scarce, and the water we had was far worse. We dipped it from little mud holes in the ground. consequently it was a trifle thick. Our rations consisted mostly of green corn issued by the commissary, and right glad were we to get that. When such rations were issued to us, L. would look at them for a moment, and then break out with . Who wouldn't be a malicious man !"-militia man. We lived on faith and very poor browse. We had faith that right would win at last, though many a brave soldier would die in that hard campaign ; and there in that pine forest and its surroundings
" They sleep their last sleep, they have fought their last battle.
No sound can awake them to glory again !"
We remained in our position in the woods on the night of the 13th, in readiness to assist the front line in case of an emergency. A sad thing happened on the picket line that night, at the very place where Company E picketed the night before. Captain Alexander, of the Ninth New Hampshire, commanding the company which guarded
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CAPTAIN ALEXANDER'S DEATH.
the left of the line that night, had stationed every man at his post, and all was in readiness for the night. It was another very dark night, such as Company E saw there the night before. The captain passed along the line from post to post-the pickets were stationed beside the large trees, about one rod apart-to see if everything was all right. As he left one post to pass to another, he either got bewildered in the darkness because the line was not straight, or it was sheer carelessness on his part ; for instead of following the line he walked directly off' in front of the pickets, and it was supposed he walked in a half circle, which made him appear again advanc- ing toward his own pickets. His foot-steps upon the green grass and leaves were quickly heard by the watch- ful picket-one of the captain's own men-who, in that tone of voice so well known upon the picket post, chal- lenged him at once with "Who comes there?" The captain answered, "It's me." Then the picket was more aroused and almost confident that the person advanc- ing was a rebel picket creeping upon him under the cover of the darkness ; and again in an excited voice, but loud and clear, he challenged with " Tell me who me is, quick !" at the same moment drawing back the hammer of his musket. The captain repeated the same words as before, "It's me, it's me," which was indeed very thoughtless considering the position in which he was placed as a picket within a stone's throw of the enemy. That answer was sufficient. The picket, faith- ful in the discharge of his duty. was confident it was a rebel, as the captain's answer was by no means a military one. It was the work of a moment. The picket's rifle blazed out in the thick darkness; a sharp report rang through the forest ; and poor Alexander fell with a slight groan, but mortally wounded. He was not instantly killed, his thigh being broken near the body. The scene
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