USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 15
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623
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Jan. '65.]
NORFOLK, VA., Jan. 15, 1879.
To Capt. JAMES PARKER : . I was in command . . . . 14 years ago today . . . . the attack- ing column of the army was hid and protected by the river bank as it ap- proached the left flank of the work, but the naval column came up the open beach upon our center. As its success would have been disastrous, I concen- trated all available guns upon this column, and met its assault with the larger portion of my men, posting them upon the ramparts so as to fire down upon the sailors and marines. I particularly noticed in the assault an officer who seemed to lead the column and who was almost recklessly brave, and directed my men to pick him and other officers off, to discourage the assailants. When we afterward met on board the Steamship California at Old Point Comfort (where you had come to see if you could be of any service to me in my wounded condition), you can imagine my surprise, after I had described this officer's dress to you, to learn that you were he, and the pleasure it gave me to know that so brave and gallant a foe had escaped . WM. LAMB.
This chapter lacks one essential to make it complete, and that is the recording of the fact that Gen. Butler was peremptorily re- lieved from his command ( Department Virginia and North Carolina) on 8 Jan. 1865, by order of Gen. Grant. This, Gen. Butler says, was wholly without warning; and he had, he says, the privilege ( ! ) of learning of it through other sources before he received it. He says that up to that day he had every reason to believe that his course had been approved, and that he was also to take charge of the second assault. Gen. Butler expresses the opinion that one of the reasons of his removal was that he was the only officer of any considerable rank, from civil life, then in the army. On the day of his removal he issued his farewell order to the Army of the James. Extracts from it will be found in his Personal Sketch.
This recital of the capture of Fort Fisher is brought to a close by recording the terrible explosion in the fort early on the. morning following the capture. Probably over a hundred lost their lives (of Bell's brigade) and many were buried never to be exhumed. There were also about 30 wounded rebels. Beside these there were about 90 wounded by the explosion, not buried by it. The One Hundred and Sixty-ninth New York was the greatest sufferer, losing about 40 killed and 60 wounded. Cause unknown; but it was surmised that some indiscreet soldier or sailor lit a match in one of the maga- zines. If he did he never can be held accountable on earth for the indiscretion.
Though the story of Fort Fisher has been told, yet there are a few new points gathered by examining the diaries of that 15th day of January : -
One diary says : " The Third New Hampshire was in the ad- vance when the fort was taken and gave the first shout of victory."
Another says : " At 10 A.M., off picket, and marched down the beach to a line of trenches facing Wilmington. . . . . At 6, we marched up as reinforcements, and finished the work already begun. capturing the fort at 10 r.M. After collecting a number of prisoners and marching them to a place of safety, we left the fort and returned to the trenches at 4 A.M. (16th), feeling much rejoiced over the great victory." Luckily, they left prior to the explosion.
624
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
A diary says : "Two of our men (Third New Hampshire) got blown up in the fort this morning." They probably were asleep when the regiment came away. Poor fellows ! 'twas their last sleep on earth, and their death and burial were simultaneous. It has been reported, though probably untrue, that the fort's magazine was blown up by galvanic wire from Fort Caswell.
We remained in the trenches all day of the 16th. The troops in Virginia heard of the fall of Fort Fisher on the 17th, and a salute was fired all along the line. The wounded and prisoners were put on transports the 17th and following days to be sent North. We lay quiet in our trenches nearly all that day, but furnished a fatigue · detail in the afternoon ; and later a reconnoissance by our brigade (by details from each regiment) at night resulted in capturing an entire picket line of 66 men and 2 officers.
The North Point (one of several) was laden with Confederate prisoners, and started for Point Lookout on the 18th, under charge of Capt. Edgerly, he having as a guard a detail from the Sixteenth New York Heavy Artillery (see his Personal for particulars). Many of our men, on the 18th, were permitted to visit the captured works ; and as a result each had a wonderful story to tell of what he saw. We were turned out about midnight, and nearly all had to go on picket to relieve the Sixteenth New York Heavy Artillery (to go with prisoners ).
On the afternoon of the 19th, a scouting party was organized (Third and Seventh New Hampshire and Seventh Connectient), with Capt. Trickey in command of the skirmish line. He was slightly wounded in his finger. We flanked and captured about 50 men of a North Carolina regiment, and they were taken to Gen. Terry's Head- quarters. But few of the Third New Hampshire were with this party, because the larger part of the regiment was on picket. In the even- ing, it began to rain. Did we go into our houses? No; we had n't any, of any description. The rain (a cold one, too) continued all night, and without substantial intermission, for about two days.
The regiment came off picket on the morning of the 20th, hav- ing been on 48 hours. We were set at work improving the trenches on the 21st, and labored all day at that pleasant duty. This duty continued on the 22d; for a diary discloses the fact that even the drummers were obliged to work, and on that day " lugged" in branches of trees for an abattis. Appearances indicated that our officers ex- pected an attack from the rebels and made preparations to resist it. A picket detail was called on toward night, and was promptly furnished.
The drummers (poor fellows !) were " lugging " abattis again on the 23d, and we sent a few men to our old camp and comrades in Virginia to assist in the removal of both to this spot.
Will the reader hie with the writer to Virginia for a brief survey of the scene there on the 21th? It was early morning; but it was very evident that the rebels meant to attack the Army of the James. The rebel iron-clads, Virginia, Fredericksburg and Richmond, came boldly down the river to a point near Dutch Gap. Our batteries
625
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Jan. '65.]
opened on them. The rebel gunboat Drury, accompanying the iron- clads, was run ashore, scuttled and sunk, rather than allow it to fall into the hands of Union troops. The three iron-clads retreated. The rebels did not attack the Army of the James, though they were quite ready to do so.
Let's back to North Carolina. The Third New Hampshire, at Federal Point, was still working in and on the fortifications, for that was the name properly belonging to what were once called " trenches."
The writer has refrained of late from distracting the reader's attention by calling him from the recital of highly important matters near by to a distant point, namely : the Department of the South. It was fairly well understood at that time that Sherman had reached the sea, and was moving slowly and cautiously, yet fearlessly, north- ward. Sherman, on the 24th, notified Dalilgren to keep his gunboats active, and added that he (Sherman) would start soon, menacing Charleston, but not attacking it.
The right wing of our regiment had to move on the 25th, to give place and position for two captured field pieces, they having been mounted and to be operated by the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
In the Department of the South, on the 26th, the gunboat Dai Chang, which fought at Fort Fisher on the 15th, was disabled by the rebels on the Combahee River, and was fired by the officers and crew, who escaped. The Steamer Gen. Lyon arrived at New York with 501 of the Fort Fisher prisoners. Fort Delaware was the destina- tion ; but large quantities of ice prevented, and New York was substituted. Capt. M. T. Shepard, Co. H, Sixteenth New York Artillery, had charge. The principal occupation during the day was turfing the works. We furnished a small picket detail at night.
We got a big, big mail on the 27th, the first in about four weeks and first since we left Virginia. It was cold and windy. If we only had our Virginia houses ! During the evening we. moved into the former camp of the Sixth Connecticut. There was no event worth relating till the 30th, when there appears to have been a reconnoissance during the afternoon, the troops being wholly from the colored division. During this little episode our gunboats shelled the woods directly in front of the party.
Capt. Edgerly returned (30th) from his trip to Point Lookout, and we sent 30 men out on picket. To our surprise, and pleasure too, fresh tish was issued to us same day.
A painful (! ) rumor reached us on the 31st that the paymaster was reconnoitring our position, and was liable to attack us in force, led by himself in person. Horrors ! is there no let up to this war?
The price of flour in Richmond the day before Fort Fisher's capture was 81,000 per barrel! This had advanced to $1,250 on the 18th, while gold was $70, and calico was $25 per yard.
626
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. [Jan. '65.
SUPPLEMENT.
IMPORTANT WAR DEPARTMENT ORDERS.
General Order 1, of the 7th, relieved Gen. Butler from com- mand of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina (see Gen. Butler's Personal) .
General Order 3, of the 14th (Resolution of Congress), presented the thanks of the people and Congress to Gen. Sherman and his troops for the '. March to the Sea," though not by that name.
General Order 7, of the 12th, extended the Department of the South to include North Carolina, the Headquarters to remain at Hilton Head, and the Department to be under control and orders of Gen. Sherman (see General Order 12).
General Order 10, of the 26th ( Resolution of Congress) , Resolved, etc., "that the thanks of Congress are hereby presented to Brevet Maj .- Gen. Alfred H. Terry, and to the officers and men under his command, for the unsurpassed gallantry and skill exhibited by them in the attack upon Fort Fisher, and the brilliant and decisive victory by which that important work has been captured from the rebel forces and placed in the possession of and under the authority of the United States, and for their long and faithful services and unvarying devotion to the cause of the country in the midst of the greatest difficulties and dangers . =
General Order 12, of the 31st, made North Carolina a separate Department, detaching it from the Department of the South (see General Order 7) and assigning Gen. Schofield to its command, though still under Sherman.
IMPORTANT ORDERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH.
Circular No. 1, of the 4th, forbids further enlistments in the Department from the employees of the Quartermaster, Commissary or Ordnance Departments until further orders.
General Order 4, of the 16th, assumes command of the added territory of North Carolina (see War Department Order), and designates it as the " District of North Carolina, Department of the South."
General Order 5, of the 17th, levies a military tax of one per cent on all goods brought to the Department, for purpose of trade (except District of North Carolina), the value to be determined by the invoices passing through the Custom House at Hilton Head. This tax to be devoted to providing steam and other fire engines, repairing wharves, roads, public buildings and other necessary civil expenses. for the several cities and towns in the Department.
, General Order 6, of the 17th, revokes all of General Order 119 (of 1861) relating to draft and conseription of negroes in the Depart- ment. The previous orders of like tenor are all revoked.
Jan. '65.]
General Order 7, of the 21st, says the city of Savannah and dependencies, having been turned over to him (Foster) by Sherman, he assumes command, and designates it as the District of Savannah (the limits include Fort Pulaski and the adjacent islands). Brevet Maj .- Gen. C. Grover assigned to the command.
General Order 8, of the 21st, announces that Gen. Saxton has been appointed by Gen. Sherman as "Inspector of Settlements and Plantations," and is placed in charge of everything pertaining to the well-being of the negroes. Brig .- Gen. Potter to relieve Gen. Saxton in commanding the District of Beaufort, and that district is enlarged so as to include the intrenched camp near Pocotaligo.
Department of the South Statistics for January, 1865 are : Total, troops, 11,151; cases sick, 1,861; died, 35; cases wounded, 72; died, 1.
The Monthly Return shows : Field and Staff
+ men,
5 officers.
Co. A
28
1
B
48
1
66
C
34
66
3
D
44
66
1
E
49 90
66
1
G
41
1
H
87
66
66
1
66
K
31
1
66
Unassigned recruits
123
[In Va .- D.E.]
Present aggregate
Aggregate last report
A B
C D
5
5
4 3
5
3
6 3
Musicians
2
1
2
2
2
1
0
2 1
1 1
Recruits
0
8
2
0
0
1
3
1
0 7
1 1
0
8
Deserted
0)
0
0 2
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
6
Prisoners of war
0
1 0
0
0
3
0
1
2
0
1
3
4
4
Corporals
2
3
1
4
1
1
0
1
1
0 46
38 0 151
Absent in arrest
1
1
0
0
0
2
1
1
12
Wounded in action
0
The recruits were not the 123 reported at end of December or end of this month as unassigned, but were of another lot apparently arriving on or soon after Ist Jan. The 123 are apparently with the balance of the regiment left in Virginia (and joined, see 17 Feb. ) This report says : " Recruits absent with leave : B, 4; C, 1 ; F, 43 ; II, 32 ; I, 28: total, 108." Why these recruits should be so reported does not appear.
Absent
23 34 27 32 37 83 36 70 66 23 17 20 20 25 27 30 31 25 20 17
431
Absent sick
232
Detached
5 9 6 7 6 7 3 11 17 5
' One man lost by expiration of term (Leavitt of A). One man lost overboard (D) .
F 3
G H 5
I K Totals.
Sergeants
3
4
529 F
20 22
551
1 1
Wagoners
1
1
3
F
I
87
0 57
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
627
ABCDEFGHI I K Totals.
628
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. [Jan. '65.
1st Sergt. Burbank of G is taken up on the rolls. his muster on his commission having been revoked by the War Department.
Two men of C were killed in the explosion of the 16th, and one man (Hoyt of Co. I) was killed in the assault, 15th.
One man of F (Chamberlin) has joined from desertion.
The following table will show the duties and whereabouts of the officers of the regiment : -
Col. Bedel Paroled and on leave.
Lieut .- Col. Randlett
On leave.
Dr. Buzzell
Detached.
Dr. Kimball
No Adjutant. On duty.
Quartermaster Bingham
On duty.
A. Capt. Dearborn
Detached.
No 1st Lieutenant.
No 2d Lientenant.
B. No Captain.
1st Lient. Ackerman Act'g Adjutant.
No 2d Lieutenant.
C. Capt. Trickey 1st Lieut. Woodbury Detached.
2d Lieut. Donley Comdg. Co. E.
D. No Captain.
Ist Lieut. McCoy No 2d Lientenant.
Sick, in quarters.
E. Capt. Wadlia . Ist Lieut. Eldredge
Absent, wounded.
Absent, wounded (really detached), Concord.
Detached (General Court-Martial), Alexandria.
On duty.
F. Capt. Edgerly
No Ist Lieutenant. No 2d Lientenant.
G. No Captain. 1st Lient. White . No 2d Lieutenant.
Absent, wounded.
H. Capt. Kirwin 1st Lieut. James No 2d Lieutenant.
Absent, sick.
Absent, sick (with balance of regi- ment at Laurel Hill, Va.)
I. No Captain. 1st Lieut. Hitchcock No 2d Lieutenant.
Detached (with prisoners to N.Y.)
K. No Captain. 1st Lient. Giddings .
No 2d Lieutenant.
Comd'g Co. B.
Officers' loss : Capt. Maxwell discharged (expiration of term) ; 1st Lieut. Hazen dismissed (revoked : see his Personal) .
A memorandum says : "Recruits arrived 1 Jan. : B, 1; F, 11 ; H, 6; 1, 10: total, 28," and that these 28 were borne on the rolls with the 123 who arrived 30 Dec. As a matter of fact, four squads left Concord during December, 1864: 64 the 15th, 2 the 17th, 90 the 19th and 80 the 29th. The latter arrived at regiment 2 March 1865. The three others probably became one at Galloupe's Island, and got divided in a complex manner en route to regiment.
·
2d Lieut. Atherton
Comdg. Regiment.
FEBRUARY, 1865.
IIIS first day of this second month of the new year is the date affixed to a circular issued in New Hampshire, by our esteemed Secretary of State Tenney. [1889 : He is at Norwich, Conn., occupying several responsible posi- tions, and is highly esteemed .- D.E.] In this circular he said that the Supreme Judicial Court had decided that the act of the Legislature relative to voting in the field was con- stitutional and binding. This bill provided for an election on 14 March 1865, for electors for President and Vice-President, and for Representatives to Congress. [Of this later, if aught is found. -D.E.]
On that day, too, we were anxiously waiting for and expecting the balance of the regiment, with our baggage and Col. Bedel, whom . we heard had been exchanged. We also expected Lieut .- Col. Randlett. who went home in December with Lient .- Col. Plimpton's body. These, and more, were needed, as our officers for duty had been hard worked. The works were completed on the 2d, and glad were we to hear the announcement, "It is finished."
Lieut. Hitchcock and his detail got back the 4th from New York, where he had been with rebel prisoners. We heard rumors of propositions of peace on the 5th. Peace, blessed peste! How heartily we would welcome thee -i.e., provided the other fellows. ask for it. Why not? On that same day. singularly too, it appeared that our boys were turned out under arms in response to a false alarm - the first time for several days. Notwithstanding the "peace" rumor, we sent 40 of our boys ont at night to do valiant pieket duty, peace or no peace. Same day, our gunboats shelled the rebels a little : they were in the woods, up the beach, some distance off. Wes got a mail on the 6th. direct from the North. In it. of course, all the controversy in the press about the Butler-Porter-Fort Fisher- Powder Boat imbroglio ; and we had a great time over it, discussing it pro and cou long after the military rules required us to be asleep.
Same day, also, Gen. Gillmore arrived at Port Royal to relieve Gen. Foster in command of the Department of the South. The latter was said to be still suffering from an old Mexican war wound. The mail " direct from the North " gave us other matters to discuss as well as Fort Fisher. for it brought in its interior " A list of recent promotions in the Third New Hampshire." Was there any " kicking" at the list? Yes; and very, very high, too; but such kicking only exhausts one without changing the list one iota.
(629)
630
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[ Feb. '65.
The transports of Gen. Schofield's corps (the Twenty-third) arrived on the 7th, laden with the veterans of that command. On that day, also, something rather funny occurred in the Department of the South. Gen. Gillmore had gotten ont a book on the siege of Charleston. Dahlgren saw a copy for the first time; and in about a dozen glances he took in, as he thought, the whole of it, and at once sent request to his Department to be relieved.
The Twenty-third Corps was still arriving on the 8th, and to all appearances we were getting ready to advance on Wilmington. This massing of forces was not without a purpose.
We began to see .the preparations take shape on the 9th, when we were ordered to take three days' cooked rations and be ready to march in the morning (10th). During the 9th, the Twenty-third Corps landed. They were said to be from Gen. Thomas' army. Gen. Schofield, being a Major-General, outranked Terry and assumed command of all the forces in this vicinity. Our order to move was countermanded about midnight.
Again, on the 10th, we were ordered to be ready to go at 7 A. M. on the 11th. . A diary of that date says: "Windy and pleasant. Inspection at 2 P.M. The pickets have been firing, and the gunboats opened up the Cape Fear River and down to the Half Moon Battery." The colored troops went on another reconnoissance.
The 11th arrived in due time; and off we went at 8 A.M., as we fully believed, bound for Wilmington. We had lain around the coast (near Fort Fisher) long enough ; and it was a relief to start now for the interior, for the purpose of taking something. We were full of life and big with hope, superinduced perhaps by the fact of the large force of which we were a part. Our first opposition was at Half Moon Battery, approaching which our regiment deployed as skirmishers and charged our erring brothers' picket line, consisting of 54 men of the Seventeenth North Carolina, capturing it almost entire. This elated us to a point where some came near losing their heads. After our little mid-day lunch, we made another advance, and succeeded in driving the enemy back to his works. A diary says we lost that day one killed and five wounded; another says, two killed and four wounded. The captured referred to exceeded in numbers those of the entire attacking party. At night we fell back, as a precautionary measure, to our ritle-pits and established a picket line in front. "Our forces have been fighting all around today ; and now that the river is open to us, we have quite an advantage, as both flanks of the enemy can be (and were) shelled by the gunboats." We had a night of constant alarm, with not much sleep for anyone.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLS., FEDERAL POINT, N. C., 12 Feb. 1865.
E. LEWIS MOORE, Capt. and Asst. Mit .- tien.,
Second Brigade, First Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.
Captain: I have the honor to herewith submit a report of the part taken in the reconnoissance of the 11th inst. by the Third New Hampshire Volunteers. I broke camp about 8 o'clock A.M., and moved with the other regiments of the Second Brigade. Marched up the beach about one mile,
631
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Feb. '65.]
when I was directed by Gen. Abbott, Commanding Brigade, to move my command to the front and deploy a skirmish line. I deployed the right wing, holding the left in reserve. Capt. JJ. H. Edgerly, commanding skirmish line; and Lieut. G II. Giddings. reserve.
Gen. Abbott wished me to use my own discretion in manuvering, and engage the enemy when I found them ; but requested me not to press them so closely as to bring on a general engagement. and also to be careful, if I crossed the Lagoon near the head of Myrtle Sound, of our right flank, as the enemy might have a force in Half Moon Battery, about half a mile further up the beach. Moved forward: and when near the Lagoon. no foree appearing in the battery, we crossed by making a left half wheel, then moving a short distance by the left tlank. I then halted the line and, with Capt. Edgerly, personally reconnoitred, and found the enemy in some force behind the same rifle-pits captured from them on the 19th January, with additional work on their left and abattis in front.
We decided to strengthen the skirmish line, by sending Lieut. Ackerman with twenty men to our left flank, which would enfilade the enemy on their right, and move forward. Did so, and when within a few yards of the pits discovered they were very well manned, but thought the firing was not very severe. I was undecided for a moment what further course to pursue, as my directions were not to bring on a general engagement. But I knew if we remained as we were in an open field, within thirty yards of an enemy well protected, we must suffer severely ; and having entire confidence in the men, and knowing Capt. Edgerly would do his work; I decided to charge the pits. Within perhaps three minutes we had possession of the work and (64) sixty-four prisoners, which was nearly the number our line consisted of.
The promptness of Lient. Ackerman in entilading the left, and Capt. Edgerly in moving to the right on gaining the work, rendered it impossible for the greater portion of the enemy to retreat. Lient. Giddings promptly moved up the reserve and planted our colors on the work, sent the prisoners to the rear, threw out videttes, and proceeded to learn our casualties, which, to my surprise, I found to be only (1) one man wounded in the head. This slight loss cannot be attributed to anything but the extreme promptness and good conduct of the men in getting possession of the work after the order was given.
The brigade now moved up, and I was again ordered to advance. We were now in plain view of the enemy's works. Moved a little to the right, and across an open field, and there met a severe fire ; but moved rapidly and obtained cover in the edge of a belt of woods, not more than (60) sixty yards from the enemy's works, which we found to be well manned. Here the undergrowth and swamp rendered it impossible for a further advance with anything like . concert or safety. I therefore halted and reported circumstances. The position was looked over by staff officers of Gen. Abbott and Gen. Ames. It was. I believe, decided that a further advance with a skirmish line was impracticable ; and the object of the reconnaissance having, I think, been accomplished, the line was withdrawn about sunset. I returned with my command to the rifle-pits, and was ordered to remain on picket. the other fonr having been withdrawn. My casualties in the second advance were (1) one man killed and (4) four wounded.
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