USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
616
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
bomb-proofs. After assembling about 150, we marched them off. Myself, with Capt. Trickey and the colors, besides a few men, stopped in the fort. Not much of interest occurred here except a little brush Capt. Trickey had with a rebel captain, in which Capt. Trickey threatened to split the rebel open . . . . Gen. Terry rode into the fort with the flag of Fort Buchanan [he should have said Mound Battery .- D. E. ] wound around his body . We gave him three cheers, when he made this remark: " Boys, rather than that you should cheer for me, I ought to cheer for you." He was attended at this time by only one of his Staff . . . . both mounted on captured horses. About 2 A M. [16th] I started to look around the fort. Commenced with the sea face, and went till I reached the center of the land face, when the sight of the dead which strewed the parapet was too appalling for me to witness, and I returned to the regiment. to find them all ready to move. We marched to our camp inside the works [defensive line], facing Wilming- ton, and laid down for a few hours' rest.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
The second expedition was originally ordered to report to Sherman at Savannah, for deceptive purposes; but was changed when the transports were on their way down the river, passing City Point (Gen. Grant's Headquarters).
Porter said the fleet fired about 50,000 shot and shell, and had as many more on hand. His source of supply was Beaufort, which could be reached both ways in ten hours. He says he was very short of coal, and had he not been supplied by the army the expedi- tion would have been a failure. Nearly every rifled gun in the fleet burst. Two 15-inch guns burst on the monitors. He says about 50 of the sailors got on the parapet, but were swept away in a moment. He was in Fort Malakoff a few days after its surrender to the com- bined armies of the French and English, which they had been months in capturing, and it was not to be compared with Fort Fisher. The Ironsides did the most accurate firing.
The vessels to land the provisions and stores for the army were the A. D. Vance, Fort Donelson, Aries, Emma, Lilian, Tristram Shandy, Britannia and Wilderness, under Lieut .- Comdr. Upshur. The Nonsemond, Moccasin and Little Ada were messenger boats.
Eleven of the gunboats were directed to greatly elevate their guns so as to drop shells into the river, beyond the fort, to prevent reinforcing.
There were several lines upon which the landing of the troops was effected, say about 20. At one time a transport, probably the Geo. C. Leary, had two lines running ashore directly from the sides of her bow, which were used as tow lines for boats laden with troops and munitions of war. The mules were dumped overboard, being blindfolded during the process. They were then towed ashore, a decoy mule first having been landed and tied to a tree in sight of the shore. It is related of the mules that no sooner did their feet touch the bottom than "one couldn't hold 'em more'n he could grensed lightning." The troops on landing immediately double-quicked into the woods and were soon out of sight of the navy. The officer who furnished the foregoing details of landing says he had charge of a boat which finally landed Gen. Terry and Staff after being . soused" and grounded on the sand bar.
.
GUSTAVUS W. INGALLS, Band Master.
CAPT. WELBEE J. BUTTERFIELD.
MAJ. WILLIAM H. THICKEY.
617
Jan. '65.] THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
The naval force formed a semi-circle around the transports, and then used their boats to land the troops.
Steamer MeClellan served as flag-ship for Gen. Terry ; the Atlantic for Gen. Ames (Second Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps) ; the Champion for Gen. Paine (Third Division, Twenty- fifth Army Corps).
Considerable difficulty was experienced in landing, owing to the roughness of the surf, nearly all getting wet-Gen. Curtis being pitched "end over end." The Second Brigade, First Division, Twenty- fourth Army Corps, Col. Abbott commanding, occupied the right of the line on the beach, extending to an evacuated battery. After dark (13th) the several brigades of the Third Division took different positions, Curtis' brigade forming on the right of a part of Paine's (colored) troops. The line extended from the Atlantic to Cape Fear River.
On the morning of the 14th, Curtis' brigade was relieved by Pennypacker's, and Curtis moved his troops nearer Fort Fisher, passing along the beach and then forming a line from river to beach and about 400 yards in front of the fort. This line was almost identical with the one on first expedition. Near this line was a rebel graveyard and a few houses, one of which had been used as a hospital.
On the 14th a rebel supply steamer came down to the wharf, and was at once captured at the dock by some of Paine's colored men.
On 17th January the Navy Department directed a salute to be fired from every navy yard in honor of the capture of Fort Fisher.
On the night of the 19th January, two blockade runners -the Stag and the Charlotte, both from Bermuda - loaded with arms, blankets, shoes, etc., were decoyed into Cape Fear River and captured.
The army and the navy vied with each other, after the capture, to see which should first (earliest) convey the glad tidings North. Terry sent the Steamer Atlantic (not then Capt. Eldridge, but Gray) . and Porter sent the Vanderbilt. Both were staunch ships and good sailers ; but the Atlantic reached Fort Monroe fully four hours ahead, with every flag it could muster flying, creating a great sensation.
The New York Herald says : " At dusk Col. Abbott's brigade, owing to the awful nature of the contest, was sent to reinforce our forces within the area of the fort. AApproaching the fort, Col. Abbott's : brigade entered it on the double-quick, under a very heavy fire. All the troops were at once engaged in intrenching themselves within the fort, where the main body of the enemy then was, as well as fromn the enemy near the river, en route to reinforce. At time of surrender the moon was shining brightly."
Of Fort Fisher, Col. Lamb says : The plan of the fort was his own and was approved by Beauregard, Whiting, Longstreet and
618
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[.Jan. '65.
others. The total length was 2,350 yards or 12 miles : land face, 682 yards; sea face, about 1,898 yards. The land face included Sheppard's Battery, which was doubled in strength during the fight. The weak point was the left salient. The land face extended from the Battery (Sheppard's) to the Northeast Redan, the line being a series of isolated gun chambers, with revetments 5 feet 9 inches high, parapet 30 feet thick, and traverses 60x50 feet and 25 feet high at the gun chamber, and connected by covered galleries. From the Northeast Salient the work extended to the Pulpit Battery, at the elevation of nearly 40 feet. Next to the Pulpit, came the Meade Casemates. From the Meade Casemates to the Mound he constructed a series of strong batteries, connected by a heavy curtain. The Mound was 60 feet high and mounted two heavy guns, which had a plunging fire on the channel. A palisade line (pierced for musketry) was erected to prevent a sudden landing and assault by a boat party. Battery Buchanan was a mile away from the Mound.
As showing how closely the government tried to keep the facts connected with the Expedition : a correspondent of the English Army and Nacy Journal was arrested in New York for furnishing details to the public press and requesting their publication, " thereby causing the enemy to reinforce at Federal Point," and was thrown into the old Capitol Prison at Washington. How he came (or got) out the writer is unable to say.
[Comstock to Terry.]
After a careful reconnoissance on the 14th, it was decided to risk an assault. . . . . l'aine's division and Col. Abbott's brigade [Third New Hamp- shire in it] to hold our lines. already strong across the peninsula and facing Wilmington, against Hoke. while Ames' division shoukl assault at the west end. After three hours of heavy navy tiring the assault was made at 3 P.M. on the 15th, Curtis' brigade leading; and as soon as it got in on the west end of the land front. it was followed by l'ennypacker's, and the latter by Bell's brigade. After desperate fighting, gaining foot by foot, and severe loss, at 5 p.M. we had possession of about half of the land front. Abbott's brigade [Third New Hampshire in it] was then taken from our line facing Wilmington and put into Fort Fisher ; and on pushing it forward, at 10 P.M .. it took the rest of the work with little resistance. the garrison falling back to the extreme of the peninsula, where they were followed and captured, among others, Gen. Whiting and Col. Lamb, both wounded . . . . the land front was a formidable one . . the parapet being 14 or 15 feet high
GEN. TERRY'S STAFF.
Col. Geo. S. Dodge
Chief Quartermaster.
Surg. Norman S. Barnes
Medical Director.
= A. J. H. Buzzell ( Third N.H.)
Medieal Inspector.
Capt. Adrian Terry
Assistant Adjutant-General.
.. Charles M. Sampson
Assistant Quartermaster.
Charles H. Davis
Chief Commissary.
Geo. F. Towle
Aet'g Ass't Insp .- General.
R. W. Woodbury ( Third N. H.)
Acting Ordnance Officer.
Lient. F. E. Beardslee Signal Officer. J. M. Bradley Chief Ambulance Officer.
To which add Brevet Brig .- Gen. C. B. Comstock, of Gen. Grant's Staff, as Chief Engineer.
Charles H1. Graves
Aide-de-('amp.
A. E. Smith
Aide-de-Camp.
619
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Jun. '65.]
"Twas currently reported at the time that Private Miles O'Reilly , was in New York city when the good news reached there. He was a citizen, but full of the military spirit -and possibly of other . kinds. He at once courted the muses and produced a quantity of poetry apropos to the occasion : -
SHERRY - TERRY - PORTER.
Let us drink in golden sherry, As we oft have drank before ; Let us drink to General Terry, Long of head and body - very : To our own dear Alfred Terry, Of the old Tenth Army Corps.
Fill to Porter and to Terry - They are names that we adore ;
From Connectieut to Kerry, Some in grog and some in sherry " To the Admiral and Terry !" Deep libations let us pour.
Private Miles O'Reilly led a large crowd of adherents into a con- vivial place ; and though the police had been sent for, they kindly permitted him to repeat his poem, treat his personal admirers; and then, forming a procession, they (and he) marched to the police station !
GEN. GRANT'S REPORT.
We are approaching the end of the Fort Fisher tale; yet there is much to be told. Gen. Grant's official report, written in the following July, of both attacks, will be interesting, and is inserted at this point because of the fact that it embraces the two actions and furnishes additional and valuable data. It was made 22 July 1865 and embraced the operations of the whole army. It is known as "Doc. 42." The essential portions relating to the two attacks on Fort Fisher are as follows : -
Wilmington, N. C., was the most important seacoast port left to the enemy, through which to get supplies from abroad and send cotton and other products out by blockade runners, besides being a place of great strategie value. The navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal the harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect. The nature of the out- let of Cape Fear River was such that it required watching for so great a distance that without possession of the land north of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher. it was impossible for the navy to entirely close the harbor against the entrance of blockade runners. To secure possession of this land re- quired the co-operation of a land force, which I agreed to furnish.
I immediately commenced the assemblage in Hampton Roads. under Admiral D. D. Porter, of the most formidable armada ever collected for concentration upon one given point. This attracted the attention of the enemy as well as that of the loyal North: and through the imprudence of the public press, and very likely of officers of both branches of ser- vice. the exact object of the expedition became a subject of common discussion in the newspapers, both North and South. The enemy, thus warned, prepared to mert it. This caused a postponement of the expedition until the latter part of November, when. being again called upon by llon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, { agreed to furnish the men re-
620
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
,
quired at once, and went myself in company with Maj .- Gen. Butler to Hamp- ton Roads, where we had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and the time of starting. A force of 6,500 men was regarded as sufficient. The time of starting was not definitely arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by the 6th of December, if not before. Learn- ing, Nov. 30, that Brage had gone to Georgia, taking with him most of the forces about Wilmington, I deemed it of the utmost importance that the ex- pedition should reach its destination before the return of Bragg, and directed Gen. Butler to make all arrangements for the departure of Maj .- Gen. Weit- zel, who had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy might not be detained one moment.
Dec. 6th, the following instructions were given : -
CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 6, 1864.
Gen. Butler : The first object of the expedition under Gen. Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If successful in this, the second will be to capture Wilmington itself. There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of the enemy's forces, now looking after Sherman in Georgia. The directions you have given for the numbers and equipments of the expedition are all right ex- cept in the most unimportant matter of where they embark and the amount of intrenehing tools to be taken. The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting a landing on the mainland between Cape Fear River and the Atlantie, north of the north entrance to the river. Should such landing be effected while the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and the batteries guarding the entrances to the river, the troops should entreneh themselves and, by co-operating with the navy. effect the reduction and capture of those places. . These in our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of Wil- mington would be sealed.
Should Fort Fisher, with the point of land on which it is built, fall into the hands of our troops immediately on landing, then it will be worth the 'attempt to capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise. If time is consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the second will be- come a matter of after consideration. The details for execution are en- trusted to you and the officers immediately in command of the troops. Should the troops under Gen. Weitzel fail to effeet a landing at or near Fort Fisher. they will be returned to the armies operating against Richmond without delay.
Maj .- Gen. B. F. BUTLER.
U. S. GRANT. Lieut .- General.
Gen. Butler commanding the army from which the troops were taken for this enterprise. and the territory in which they were to operate, mili- tary courtesy required that all orders and instructions should go through him. They were so sent ; but Gen. Weitzel has since officially informed me that he never received the foregoing instructions, nor was he aware of their existence umtil he read Gen. Butler's published official report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my endorsement and papers accompanying it.
I had no idea of Gen. Butler's accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off from Bermuda Ilundred: and then did not know but that Gen. Weitzel had received all the instructions and would be in command. I rather formed the idea that Gen. Butler was actuated by a desire to witness the effect of the explosion of the powder-boat. The expedition was detained several days at Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the powder-boat. The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon Geu. Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter.
The expedition finally got off Dee. 18th, and arrived at place of rendez- vous off New Inlet. near Fort Fisher, on the evening of the 13th. Admiral Porter arrived on the evening of the 18th, having put into Beaufort to get ammunition for the monitors. The sea becoming rough, making it ditticult to and troops, and the supply of water and coal being about exhausted, the transport feet put back to Beanfort to replenish : this, with the state of the weather, delayed the return to the place of rendezvous until the 24th.
621
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Jun. '65.]
The powder-boat was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the re- turn of Gen. Butler from Beaufort; but it would seem, from the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the enemy were never en- lightened as to the object of the explosion until they were informed by the Northern press.
On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a reconnois- sance under Drevet Brig .- Gen. Curtis pushed up toward the fort. But before receiving a full report of the result of the reconnaissance, Gen. Butler, in direct violation of the instructions given, ordered the re-embarkation of the troops and the return of the expedition. The re-embarkation was ae- complished by the morning of the 27th. On the return of the expedition. officers and men - among them Brevet Maj .- Gen. (then Brevet Brig .- Gen.) N. M. Curtis, Ist Lient. G. W. Ross, Vermont regiment, Ist Lient. Geo. Walling and 2d Lient. Geo. Simpson, Forty-second New York Volunteers - voluntarily reported to me that when recalled they were nearly into the fort, and in their opinion it could have been taken without much loss.
Soon after the return of the expedition. I received a despatch from the Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off' Fort Fisher, and expressing the conviction that under a proper leader the place conld be taken. The natural supposition with me was that when the troops abandoned the expedition, the navy would do so also. Finding it did not, however, I answered on the 30th December. advis- ing Admiral Porter to hold on and that I would send a force and make another attempt to take the place. This time I selected Brevet Brig .- Gen. (now Maj .- Gen.) A. H. Terry to command the expedition. The troops com- posing it consisted of the same that composed the former, with the addition of a small brigade numbering about 1,500 and a small siege train. The latter it was never found necessary to land. I communicated direct to the commander of the expedition the following instructions : -
CITY POINT, VA., Jan. 3, 1865.
General : The expedition entrusted to your command has been fitted out to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C .; and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls. Yon will then proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet lying off' Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, Commanding North At- lantic Blockading Squadron. It is exceedingly desirable that the most com- plete understanding should exist between yourself and the naval commander. I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each branch of the public service, so that there may be unity of action. It would be well to have the whole pro- gramme laid down in writing. I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes. I would therefore defer to him as much as consistent with your own responsibilities.
The first objeet to be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against that fort. You want to look to the practicability of receiving your supplies and to defending yourself against superior forces sent against yon by any of the avennes left open to the enemy. If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will not be abandoned until its reduction be accom- plished or another plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters. My own views are that if you effect a landing, the navy onght to run a portion of the fleet into Cape Fear River, while the balance of it operates on the outside. Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher or ent it off from sup- plies or reinforcements while the river is in possession of the enemy. A siege train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fortress Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you if required. All other supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them. Keep the fleet of vessels with you nutil your position is assured. When you find they can be spared. order them back, sending such of them as you can spare to Fortress Monroe to report for orders. In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back to Beaufort, and
622
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
report to these headquarters for further instructions. You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed. Gen. Sheridan has been orderd to send a division of troops to Baltimore and place them on seagoing vessels. These troops will be brought to Fortress Monroe and kept there on the vessels until you are heard from. Should you require them, they will be sent to you. U. S. GRANT.
Brevet Maj .- Gen. A. H. TERRY. Lieut .- General.
Lieut .- Col. C. B. Comstock, Aide-de-Camp (now Brevet Brig .- Gen.), who accompanied the former expedition, was assigned in orders as Chief Engineer to this. It will be seen that these instructions do not differ materi- ally from those given for the first expedition, and that in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher. This was a matter left entirely to the discretion of the commanding officer.
The expedition sailed from Fortress Monroe on the morning of the 6th [Jan. ], arriving on the rendezvous off Beanfort on the 8th, where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its destination that evening. Under cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the troops commeneed on the morning of the 13th, and by 3 p.M. was completed without loss. On the 14th a reconnoissanee was pushed to within 500 yards of Fort Fisher and a small advance work taken possession of, and turned ont a defensive line against any attempt that might be made from the fort. This reconnaissance disclosed the fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by the navy fire. In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was captured, with its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by the combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important successes of the war. Our loss was : killed, 110; wounded. 536. On the 16th and 17th the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works on Smith's Island, which were immediately ocenpied by us. This gave us entire control of the month of the Cape Fear River. At my request, . Maj .- Gen. B. F. Butler was relieved. and Maj .- Gen. E. O. C. Ord assigned to the command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.
U. S. GRANT. Lieut .- General.
Of this famous case the Army and Nary Journal says : -
At 7.30 A.M. (13th) the fort opened on them (the navy) as they approached; but they quickly took up their positions within 1,000 yards of Fort Fisher and began to fire about 8.30 A.M. . . . . The inner division had meantime been shelling the woods (without provoking a reply) near the point selected for landing the troops, about 33 miles above the fort, near the deserted Half Moon Battery . . . . the boats of the fleet were then called away for landing the troops, and, starting simultaneously at 9 o'clock from all the transports, soon carried them through the surf. some of the men eagerly jumping into the water waist deep. The first boats to reach the shore contained a part of the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth New York: and Bell's Third Brigade of Ames' division was soon ashore, followed quickly by the First. In about an hour enough troops were landed to push out a skirmish line, and all the force designed for attack was ashore before 3 P.M. The proper line was now formed and our troops retook possession of Half Moon Battery. Before 4 r.M., the troops started down the beach toward Fort Fisher, with skirmishers out . . . . Col. Curtis ( 15 Jan. ) led . . . . with his brigade . . . . and effected a lodement on the west end of the land front (next Cape Fear River) ; Pennypacker next, with his brigade; then Bell with his . . . . lastly (about dark ), Abbott's brigade came up from the defensive line, the marines taking its place.
The following letter. from Lieut .- Col. Lamb, the Confederate officer in command of Fort Fisher, to Capt. James Parker of the Union navy, will be of interest :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.