USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 60
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
979
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
hospital, the clerk at regimental headquarters, the adjutants, the quarter- masters and the commissaries. To these were added the orderly at head- quarters and adjutants, the man who assisted the commissary in drawing and dealing out (issuing) the rations, the man for similar dnties with the quartermaster. Another addition to the daily duty mnen might be the regi- mental farrier and regimental armorer. Those named practically included all the daily duty men of a regiment; and yet the list may be still further extended by a few (very, very few) men reported as officer's servants; and in some cases- particularly after we lost all our beautiful wagons - the company wagoners were reported as on daily duty.
In many cases, and apparently no rule about it, some of these men enumerate dunder " daily duty" were on "extra duty ": that is, they were paid a small sum extra [twenty-five cents, I think. - D.E. ] per day ; and this was true in case of the regimental armorer.
The dividing line between " daily duty " and " extra duty " was indis- tinct, misty and crooked. In the case where the regiment almost as a whole (really large daily details) worked on the fortifications at Hilton Head, extra pay was promised, so it was said; and as the regulations required ten consecutive days' labor to entitle one to its benefits, that regu- lation proved our bane. For lo! nine days did we labor and get in our work : but on the tenth, where, O where, were we? Answer : In camp, dis- gusted, disappointed, forlorn.
" Extra duty " also meant where a man was detailed to go to headquarters of the post, say to work in the quartermaster's department as clerk, or as saddler, or as storekeeper, or as wagoner, or clerk at the post adjutant's. and the like. If the duty was at the post, near home, so to speak, he was re- ported as on " extra duty." If, however, he was sent to another post or a long distance from his regiment, so as to be entirely disconnected, then he was reported as on " detached service." As an example of " detached service," the various recruiting parties sent North were good illustrations; and this will include the party sent home after conscripts in July, 1863, from Morris Island. Officers were frequently detached for various purposes. Our first illustration of this was when Col. Fellows was detached, in Jannary, 1862, to command the Post of Hilton Head. Another, when Adjt. Libby was detached at St. Helena to be Gen. Strong's A.A.A .- G. The tables (lists) will furnish further examples. The inen who were to be transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps were reported for awhile as on detached service.
The necessities of the service demand the services of many officers and men, which circumstances actually require shall be selected from regi- ments in the field. Is there a store-house to be built, either for quarter- master, commissary or ordnance stores? Who will build it? Certain men known to be carpenters are selected and detailed for the purpose. Hos- pitals (all kinds) must be supplied with nurses and surgeons. Military posts must have commanders and adjutants, and orderlies and clerks. The posts must also have a post or depot quartermaster, a post or depot com- missary and a post or depot ordnance officer, etc. ; and each must be sup- plied with clerks, orderlies, and men to do the manual labor. Wagons must be used to convey material from one point to another, and wagoners to care for them. Vessels must be unloaded of their stores, and vessels must be loaded for operations within a department, and so on.
The lists given are as complete as the writer has been able to make them, from the limited material at hand. They may not be correct in every detail, may not be absolutely correct as to every date named; but in the main, the list may be relied on.
It will be observed that many men were detailed several times, and some appear to be on some other kind of duty than the handling of a gun, almost continually ; but the only solution of this (from a charitable stand- point ) is that they were found specially fitted for the particular duty, and for this reason were retained. Some of the positions were pleasant and easy and were striven for, and some jealous eyes were cast; but the volume of this latter was quite limited.
980
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
If, in examining the lists, it shall appear that one company enjoyed greater privileges than another, it is fair to say that the apparent difference may not be a real one, but possibly accounted for in the fact that the data of that company was more fully supplied to the writer.
Sometimes an officer was reported on " special duty "; but this term never applied to a soldier. "Special duty " included courts-martial, boards of survey and the like.
The writer had almost forgotten that noble band, the pioneer corps, which may be properly called either special duty or daily duty. These were armed with axe and shovel, in addition to the usual gun, etc. A few men of each company were selected for this duty ; and when on the march, if a tree needed to be cut down. or a marshy spot needed coduroying, or filling up, the pioneers were called upon to do it. They were rarely taken away from their companies, and were not excused from guard duty. In nearly all cases of daily duty or extra duty, the man turned in his gun and equipments. having no use for them.
THE BELVIDERE'S EXPERIENCE.
It should be understood, as a foundation for this sketch, that the Belvidere was one of Sherman's expeditionary fleet, and was not a very large steamer, but rather small - a side-wheeler. It was one of the two selected to carry the horses, wagons, etc., of the First Brigade (Gen. Viele's), the other being the Philadelphia. This of course necessitated the personal attendance of the hostlers and wagoners, to which may be added an infantry officer and small guard. As the Belridere took on board the horses, hostlers, wagons and wagoners of the Third New Hampshire, the fortunes (really misfortunes) of that craft will be related, and perhaps form an interesting article.
The 18th of October, 1861, was the day of embarkation - that is, the embarkation began ; but our Third New Hampshire men and horses got as far as the wharf and then stopped. There was some mistake somewhere. They stopped on the wharf all night; and it rained, too - a wet, chilly rain.
The 19th dawned on our little group of horses and hostlers; and the sun rose, and it also set, but no change in the situation. No rations all day. Food abundant, but none to eat. By evening, our men got a little desperate and went to the Quartermaster of the Twenty-first Massachu- setts with their tale of woe; and he obtained rations for them. the first in thirty hours. They retired to their little plank beds that night with full stomachs; but the sun of the 20th rose again, and not much change for the better. All day, same. At night, our Capt. Clark, who was Harbor Master, came to the sunad's relief and, learning they had not stored away any breakfast or dinner, arranged with Capt. Seull, Gen. Viele's Com- missary, to order supper for them from the Twenty-first Massachusetts, and also put all hands on board the Belcidere.
Next morning. the 21st (Sunday), the Belridere ran out into deep water and anchored. In the evening, np anchor and ran alongside the Ocean Queen, and took from her fifteen hundred bushels of oats, stowing them on deck. Next day, 22d, the Belridere steamed away for Fort Monroe to join the fleet. the major part of which had already gone. A hard blow was experienced on the way, and the enormous pile of oats on deck added to the danger, though the Fort was reached withont damage.
On the 24th, Lient. Dunbar of the Forty-eighth New York came on board the Belridere and took charge of the men and horses. Already the men had begun to be filled with fears as to the sea-worthiness of the Belvidere ; and the first fruit of this was on the 25th, when two men, who were not enlisted men, left the steamer. Their names were C. Heath and D. Cate. Twenty-tive men from the Forty-eighth New York came on board the 26th as a guard.
The Beleidere started with the fleet October 29, and kept up with it till nightfall. The range of the lights on the other steamers was then lost, and the Belcilere was headed nearer the shore. By midnight, the
981
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
wind was blowing very hard. On the morning of the 30th, at + A.M., Jack- man of F (afterward Adjutant) took his turn at watching the horses. [It is chiefly from his diary that this chapter is written. - D. E.] At daylight, it was discovered that the Beleidere was off the coast of North Carolina and about thirty miles from Cape Hatteras. During the day they fell in with the Com. Perry of the fleet, and passed two gunboats. one at 10 and the other at 11 A.M. Heavy swells and strong head-winds blowing. About 1 P.M. an attempt was made to run into Hatteras Inlet, but without success. So they ran out toward and near a gunboat, and dropped anchor off Hatteras Shoals.
Hoisted anchor again early on the 31st, and overtook the fleet by noon. At this time it was quite pleasant, - a calm before a storm, - and they kept up with the fleet all day and all that night. Friday, 1 Nov., clouds, rain and a double rainbow. The captain of the Belvidere predicted a blow. At noon the gale began, and the Beltidere's crew could see the fleet scatter and disappear, while strange forebodings filled their minds. The Belvidere steered straight for the Wabash, as if safety lay in that direction. About + p.M. they tried to set the fore-sail, but the crew lost its grip on it, and it flapped terribly, starting the upper deck off the hull more than six inches. About 5 o'clock the gangway boards were smashed in. At dark the Belvidere had forged considerably ahead of the Wabash, though not very near to it, being more inshore. The men were terribly sick and more or less fearful of what might happen. The situation was made more interesting by the slipping down of the horses, and the almost vain attempts to place them on their feet again. At 7 o'clock they had an actual pile of four horses, but the indefatigable labors of the hostlers for more than an hour succeeded in reducing the pile. This little diversion
was followed by a joint effort of all hands, including the soldiers ; and the main spanker was hoisted, the Belvidere being put head to the wind. Then the soldiers were desired to assist the carpenter in strengthening the bow. They were all well at it, when a tremendous sea stove in the bulwarks and came near washing every man overboard. The next move was to adopt measures to protect the engine. A loose horse, beyond control, had to be killed - literally pounded to death, there being no refined methods then in vogue, or tools of the "cruelty society" on board. The horses con- tinued to be thrown violently down, and the getting of them up again was a very dangerous pastime and to a certain extent had to be dispensed with. Several choked to death. This was no pleasure excursion, no holi- day picnic. At midnight a quasi conference was held - a death confer- ence: for the great question to solve was, Shall we kill all the horses and throw them overboard ? The question was not much debated, as debate had hardly begun when the rudder chain broke. To the credit of Maine's sturdy six-footers be it said, that at this juncture a Maine man (hostler of the Eighth Maine) caught the end of the chain and held it, Samson-like. till it could be made fast. Abont 2 o'clock on the morning of the 2d. the tiller broke; but the wheel was lashed, and the Belcidere very kindly per- mitted to go where she liked - and that was wherever the winds and waves chose. We who were on the staunch Atlantic thought we had a hard time ; but what of our fellows on the Belridere?
A leak was discovered soon after this, and almost simultaneously came word from the engineer that the shaft had become wrenched; and every man could at once perceive that the engine labored terribly hard at each revolution. "Good Lord ! what next?" At this juncture the captain decided to turn abont. Now, turning abont in a heavy sea is no child's play, nor is it a safe thing to do. As the bow of the Belridere was turned northward, she was struck by a heavy sea on the starboard side, smashing it in. The turn being completed, they had then the winds and the waves in their favor. Upon the discovery of two sails, a flag of distress was hoisted, which was not seen or, being seen, was not heeded.
Early on the morning of the 3d. Cape Lookout was made and a steamer was seen rapidly approaching. and also a man-of-war going South. When the former was within two miles of the Belridere, the man-of-war turned and chased it into an inlet. That it was a rebel steamer, and that the Belridere
982
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
had almost providentially been saved from capture, there was no doubt. At noon, two more sails were seen; and when within two miles of the Belvidere, one turned back, and the other came forward as fast as steam and sail could carry it. The captain and the crew, too, of the Belvidere now thought themselves about to be captured, and set all sail, endeavoring to escape. A shot from the bow-gun of the stranger caused the Belvidere to heave to. The stranger came alongside and, to the immeasurable relief of the frightened crew, proved to be the U.S. Stmr. Albatross. The officers scrutinized the papers of the unfortunate Bolridere and then went on their way. The Belridere arrived off Hatteras Inlet late in the afternoon and signalled for a pilot. Got the pilot: but the water proved too shallow, and the Belridere again steered northward for Fort Monroe, arriving there the 4th. Everything was landed, the men and horses being put into Camp Hamilton, near Fort Monroe. The Quartermaster of the Naval Brigade took temporary charge of the horses. Jackman's diary says at this point, " Mr. Mellalpin, the sutler, treated us very kindly." No soldier needs to have any explanation of the depth of meaning in those few words. Again, his diary of the 5th says : " Got a large tent from the Naval Brigade Camp. The lieutenant commanding brigade gave us five dollars' worth of sutler's tickets and the sutler gave us five dollars worth more." Here is generosity ; here is kindness ! and let it be recorded The diary says again : "6th. We've hired a negro to cook for us, and we've a room to sleep in. We lost twenty horses from the Belridere." On the 12th, the report reached these isolated men that Port Royal had been taken. The Belvidere arrived back on the 15th from Baltimore, repaired; and the men went on board again, the 16th. A diary of that date says, " Hadderkeggerlarga." This may be supposed to be some mild form of preventative of sea sickness, as they were about to go to sea again : or, possibly, something to hang over the bow, to drip in a storm and smooth the waves !
They hoisted anchor at six A.M. 17th, and passed Cape IIenry by nine A.M. and Hatteras at midnight. On the 17th, 'at night, they ran across the U.S. Stmr. Alabama, at anchor, blockading, the officers of which told the Belridere's captain to keep further out to sea, or get caught by rebel priva- teers or hit by some shore battery.
The Belridere arrived at Port Royal the 20th, about noon. Jackman's diary says, " Everybody glad to see us; thought us lost. Capt. Randlett came on board." The story is told.
There were on board the Belridere, of the Third New Hampshire, nearly as follows : G, W. W. Ballard, with Col. Fellows' horse; B, Wood- bury Berry, with Lient .- Col. Jackson's horse; F, Ross C. Duffee, with Maj. Bedel's horse ; Tommy (colored ), with Quartermaster Nesmith's horse: F, L. N. Jackman with Adjt. Ilill's horse; F, R. H. Mygatt, with Surg. Moul- ton's horse : - , with Chaplain Hill's horse.
Wagoners .- A, W. L. Bennett (with Dr. Eaton's horse) ; B, Chas. A. Dearborn ; C. Edmund Hackett : D, Geo. R. James : E. M. P. Donley ; F, Joel H. Rhodes : G. Hloyt (didn't embark - discharged at Annapolis) ; H, Beniah Colby ; I, George H. Smith ; K, James M. Hyde.
THE 'GI MEN GOING HOME.
"Twas the 23d of August, 1864 ; and with that date all those original men who had not re-enlisted or been otherwise disposed of by discharge, death, etc., severed their connection with the regiment by minster-ont. The event of muster-ont. so important to the persons interested, had long been looked forward to with anticipation of pleasure and relief. The complete list of men, as shown by the official returns, was as follows: A, 30; B, 33; C, 40: D, 18; E, 25; F. 26; G. 20; 11, 14; I. 23; K, 26; non-commissioned staff 5: total, 260. Many of these men were absent from various causes - wounds, sickness and the like -- and did not, some of them, get actually mustered ont till later.
Capt. Houghton (who says there were actually about one hundred and eighty in all) went in charge of the detachment, and was accompanied by the Chaplain, the only officer who was mustered out at the time - and also
983
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
by Lieuts. Hazen and Hitchcock, the two latter going home by order, but really on leave. The Fourth New Hampshire Band, Walter Dignam, leader, escorted the men about a mile from camp. There was considerable dissatis- faction among the men as to their treatment about the time of muster-ont: i.e., between that day and hour and their final departure for home. The writer, though not personally present (writers seldom are), is of the opinion that it was one of those cases where nobody is to blame. One man. in his diary, goes so far as to say that the men were kept in service after their terms had expired ; but he is correct only on the basis of date of enlistment. which is not the correct basis. The three years is based on " muster-in." and not on the " enlistment." The men knew this, or ought to have known it; but one's wishes - in that case, the anxiety to go home - often govern instead of facts.
The detachment started for the Landing ( Bermuda Hundred wharf) in the afternoon, taking with them a set of colors (see Colors and Color Guard), of which they all felt justly proud. (It may here be noted that almost simul- taneously with the departure of the '61 men, the regiment was ordered away and started at once toward Petersburg.) Remained all night at the Landing and took steamer for Fort Monroe about 9 A.M. next morning (25th), arriving there about + P.M. A barrel of corned beef had been put on the steamer for hunger-appeasing purposes; and this beef is still fresh in the memories of those who partook of it. Here the men expected to be paid off'; but fortune was fickle, and there was no distribution of greenbacks. At 5 P.M. they were on their way to Baltimore, up the beautiful Chesapeake, adown which they came in October. 1861, to join the fleet in Hampton Roads. On reaching their destination. early on the morning of the 26th, the men breakfasted at a public lunch room. Baltimore was always an interesting point ; and many of the men tried to " do the city" in the few short hours of their stay. The next section of the journey was by cars to Philadelphia. Here they "teaed and toasted," erossed over to the Amboy line that night, reaching New York about noon of the 27th. A halt was made at the Park Barracks, near the Battery, where dinner was served. In New York, and no money! This was truly a deplorable combination. One can't see New York if he's impeennious. Some of the men, however, were invited out, and did see a small part of the metropolis. Such was the effect on them that while the detachment was on the pier ready to board (not forcibly) a Norwich Line steamer, these sight-seers persisted in explaining and describing all they had seen to their fellows; and while thus engaged the steamer hauled off and left the whole party.
A later and slower boat. the -, of the same line, took the party at about 5 p.M. away from the giddy city, en route to New Hampshire. It Norwich, Conn., next morning ( Sunday, 28th ), a special train was provided, after telegraphing to New Hampshire, and they were soon whirling away for the green hills. ete., arriving at Concord, rid Worcester, Nashua and Manchester, at about half-past two in the afternoon.
The party was met at the depot by Adjt .- Gen. Natt Head (the indefati- gable) and members of the Governor's Staff, besides a large crowd of people to give cordial welcome. A procession was formed, and the gallant heroes were escorted to Phenix Hall, 'mid the strains of martial music and the ringing of church bells. Adjt .- Gen. Head, taking Capt. Houghton's arm, headed the procession, which on arrival at the Phenix found not only a large committee on reception, but in addition, Gov. Gilmore and several other State officials on the platform. Here Capt. Houghton, in a few well-chosen words, turned over his men and the colors to the hospitality and custody of the State. Capt. Dow's letter to the Governor respecting the colors was at the same time handed to the Governor. Gov. Gilmore and Adjt .- Gen. Head both warmly welcomed the veterans: and soon after these tired and hungry men and their entertainers were seated around the well-filled tables in the Phenix dining room. It need not be related that our returned soldiers acquitted themselves well at this little pastime. This over, and it was arranged that the men should remain in Concord till next morning, when they were furnished transportation to their homes, to return in a few days for final payment.
984
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
On Monday, 5 Sept. 1864, the men reassembled at Concord, when they received their final pay and discharges. Maj. Henry S. Mac Farland was the paymaster, and the payment took place at his office, Main Street. Adieux were in order, and the heroes of many a fight scattered to various points, becoming citizens once more.
Dr. Buzzell of the regiment was present at the paying off, being on special duty among the general hospitals: and having a desire to see the men once more, was unable or resist the temptation. Capt. Houghton never returned to the regiment (see his personal sketch). Lient. Hazen returned to regiment in November, 1864, having been detained by sickness. Lieut. Hitchcock returned to regiment in September, 1864.
COMPANY FUNDS.
[Contributed by Capt. R. W. Woodbury. ]
The army ration is a liberal allowance of all necessaries for the support of the soldier ; and so liberal is it, that to actually use all that is allowed, is to waste a portion thereof. A company in garrison may, therefore, take from the post commissary a lesser amount of any or all of the various items constituting the ration, and in lieu thereof receive cash at the cost price of the supplies. If the men cannot consume all to which they are en- titled, then the drawing of the full ration is evidently unnecessarily expen- sive to the government on account of transportation, and at the same time it educates the soldiers in wasteful habits. If, therefore, the government can reduce the amount of transportation by the payment of money to the soldiers, and the latter are satisfied with the exchange, it is certainly a gain to both. The fact is, that the soldiers are not only satisfied, but gratitied ; because with this fund may be procured for them some of the luxuries of
life-food, books, sports. Such changes in their food constitute an agreeable relief from the plainer and more substantial edibles supplied by the government. Beans, hard-tack and mess beef can have no substitute for the necessities of the soldier: bnt a mess of " flap-jacks" satisfies the stomach and relieves from that feeling so destructive of the morale of the soldier - the being " tired of it."
The company fund, therefore, when carefully managed by a thoughtful and honest council (composed of the commissioned officers of the company), may be made an engine of great power; and it may be reasonably claimed that as between two companies, one with a large fund liberally employed for the men, and the other having none or little, the difference in the spirit of the two organizations is largely in favor of the former. From this state- ment it will be inferred that all companies do not enjoy company funds, which is the fact ; and when they do not, the fault is entirely with the com- manders, and nobody else. The drawing of the company rations may be attended to by a non-commissioned officer or even the company cook: but that fact will not relieve the company commander from any real responsi- bility. He must know and see to it that every soldier and subordinate per- forms the duty assigned him - that every detail is properly attended to; and if not, why not. He is the father, who exercises a wise thoughtfulness for all those who have surrendered to him their right to watch for and protect their interests, and that responsibility he cannot waive or transfer. The captain who forgot what his volunteer men had given up, and who forgot that he was the only man living who could best protect their interests. and that it had been made his saered duty to do so. should have been in the ranks and not in command of them.
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.