USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 8
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Admiral Dahlgren and Gen. Sherman consulted at Savannah on the afternoon of the 26th. Sherman's plan was to fortify the city, and to draw well back from the seacoast and pounce upon the interior ; but not before New Year's. Dahlgren received notice from the fleet
MAP
RICHMOND
MANCHESTER
SHOWING THE RAILROAD BUILT SINCE THE WAR ACROSS BUTLERS LINES FARMVILLE & POWHATAN RR G
JA
ME
TURNPIKE
JONES NECK
VER
CHESTER STA F
BERMUDA
HUNDRED
CITY PT.
B
- POINT OF ROCKS.
PORT WALTHALL JUNCHI
FORT WALTHALL
TURNPIKE
R R
APPOMATTOX RIV
CITY PT. RR
TO NURFOLK
PETERSBURG
A CEN. BUTLERS LINE
B CONFEDERATE LINE
[NOTE .- The above map is the result of a personal visit to Bermuda Hundred, Sept., 1892, by Lieut>. Brown and Porter and the writer .- D. E.]
(568)
DUTCH CAP
DEEP BOTTOM
RICHMOND & PETER
P
BURG
569
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Dec. '64.]
off Charleston that the rebel iron-clads were about to make a little run down to the fleet ; and Dahlgren went up, getting there the 29th, at 7 A.M.
On the evening of the 20th a lot of raw recruits were received from New Hampshire-123 was said to have been the number. During the 29th the Nantucket and Pussiac arrived off Charleston, making 7 monitors in all.
The troops were arriving back from Fort Fisher on the 30th. The month and the year also pass out without incident, except such as is attached to the Fort Fisher matter; and that has separate treatment.
SUPPLEMENT.
IMPORTANT WAR DEPARTMENT ORDERS.
General Order 297, of the 3d, made the following important changes in the Army of the James : Tenth Army Corps and Eighteenth Army Corps to be discontinued. The white infantry of the Tenth and Eighteenth to be the Twenty-fourth Army Corps. The colored troops to be the Twenty-fifth Army Corps. The Corps Staff and artillery of the Eighteenth to belong to the Twenty-fourth Army Corps ; and the Corps Staff and artillery of the Tenth to belong to the Twenty-fifth Army Corps. Maj .- Gen. E. O. C. Ord assigned to command of the Twenty-fourth Army Corps, and Maj .- Gen. Godfrey Weitzel to the Twenty-fifth Army Corps.
General Order 299, of the 7th, provided for distributing articles of clothing and other necessaries issued by the Government, or con- tributed to prisoners of war, through Col. John E. Mulford, Agent of Exchange of Prisoners of War, at Fort Monroe. . The order appointed two officers, with alternates, then prisoners of war, to act for the Government.
General Order 301, of the 19th, said every officer and man able to do duty was wanted at once in the field, " .. . .. and thus fill up the ranks, strengthen the armies and aid the patriotic and gallant troops, now smiting the reeling enemy with victorious blows."
General Order 302, of the 21st, was a call for 300,000 mnen.
General Order 305, of the 27th, directed that a paymaster be stationed at each draft rendezvous. All money exceeding 820.00 to be taken from recruits when they arrived. Balance to be drawn when they arrived at regiment. At small rendezvous an officer may be detailed to act as paymaster in such cases. A pass-book to be given the soldier, representing the amount taken from him.
General Order 306, of the 27th, placed all the U. S. General Hospitals under the Surgeon-General, and directed that no enlisted man fit for field service be detailed for duty in any capacity in such hospitals ; but men of the companies of the Second Battalion of the
570
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[ Dec. '64.
Veteran Reserve Corps to be detailed for guards, attendants, nurses. cooks, etc., at such hospitals, either with or without officers (of the Veteran Reserve Corps) accompanying.
General Order 307, of the 29th, directed the Quartermaster to furnish coffins and other reasonable and proper facilities for burial of officers who died in hospitals, upon requisition of the medical officer in charge.
IMPORTANT ORDERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH.
(The orders are mostly promulgations of General Court-Martial cases.)
Several staff officers reported at various times during the month, from other Departments, being ordered to the Department of the South by War Department Orders or from Headquarters of the Army.
Department of the South Statistics for December 1864 are: Total troops, 6,715 ; cases sick, 1,423; died, 49; cases wounded, 288; died, 13.
The Monthly Return shows : - -
Field and Staff
4 men,
5 officers.
Co. A
29
1
B
40
1
C
34
3
66
D
45
66
2
F
49
3
66
F
34
41
48
2
I
51
1
K
31
1
Unassigned Recruits
123
Present aggregate
529
22
551
FAggregate last report
408
23
431
Sergeants
Corporals
3
3
1
3
3
3
6
6
1
Musicians
2
1
2
2
1
0
2
1
I
Wagoners
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
1 8
Deserted
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
3
Absent in arrest
1
1 0
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
6
Prisoners of war: E. 1; Col. Bedel.
Died of disease: II. 1. Executed : G, 1.
Discharged for disability : F, 2. Term expired : A, 1.
Corp. Chas. HI. Berry of Co. II has been promoted to Com- missary Sergeant, cice Com .- Sergt. G. B. Bingham, commissioned as Regimental Quartermaster.
One man of D (JJames Powers), previously reported as " killed in action," proves to be alive and now in Camp Parole, Annapolis, wounded. Another man (Geo. W. Atwood of G), previously reported as " missing in action," is found to be at Camp Parole, sick.
E
F
Ǥ 2
H 3
I
1
4
Totals.
A B C . D 3 4 + 5
4
4
2 1
G
H
571
Dec. '64.] THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Five have joined from desertion : A, 1; B, 1; F, 2; G, 1.
The following table will show the duties and whereabouts of the officers of the regiment : -
Col. Bedel Still reported as prisoner of war (pa- roled this month).
Lieut .- Col. Randlett
On a 25 days' leave.
Dr. Buzzell
Detached.
Dr. Kimball
No Adjutant. On duty.
Lieut. Bingliam
On duty (Regtl. Quartermaster).
A. Capt. Dearborn No Ist Lieutenant.
Detached.
No 2d Lieutenant.
(Apparently no officer in command.)
B. No Captain.
Ist Lieut. Ackerman. Sick in quarters.
No 2d Lieutenant.
C. Capt. Trickey Comdg. regiment.
1st Lient. Woodbury 2d Lieut. Donley
Detached.
D. Capt. Maxwell Ist Lient. MeCoy No 2d Lieutenant.
Detached.
Acting Adjutant.
E. Capt. Wadlia Absent, wounded.
1st Lient. Eldredge 2d Lient. Atherton
Detached service, Concord, N.H.
Paroled, at Camp Parole [actually in Officers' Hospital, Annapolis .- D.E.]
F. Capt. Edgerly
1st Lient. Hazen
No 2d Lieutenant.
G. No Captain.
Ist Lient. White Absent, wounded.
No 2d Lientenant.
H. Capt. Kirwin Absent. sick.
Ist Lient. J. S. James No 2d Lieutenant.
Sick in quarters.
I. No Captain.
Ist Lieut. Hitchcock Comdg. company.
No 2d Lieutenant.
K. No Captain.
Ist Lient. Giddings No 2d Lientenant.
Condg. Co. B.
Losses : Officers -Adjt. Copp discharged on account expira- tion of term; Capt. Houghton, dismissed (and same revoked. See explanation in his Personal).
SPENCER CARBINE.
On duty.
Absent (ordered to appear before Mili- tary Commission at Washington).
Comdg. Co. E.
$
[NOTE .- The mounted officer should have appeared in March or April, 1864, while the regiment was mounted .- D. E.]
(572)
CALENDAR, 1864.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Friday.
Saturday.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday
Thursday.
Friday.
Saturday.
JAN.
JULY
1
10
3
+
5
6
13
14
15
16
10
11
12
13
14
15
10
17
18
19
20: 21
29
23
1
24
25
26
24
25
26
27
29
29
30
31
31
AUG.
1
3
4
5
6
8
15
16
17
18
19
20
14
15
23
24
25
28
29
.... 1
2 .
3
4 5
SEPT.
1
2
3
13
14
15
16
17 : 18
19
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
20
21
22
23 30
24 31
: 25
26
18
19
20
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
20
30
...
APRIL .
1
OCT.
1
3
1
5
12
13
14
15
10
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
1×
19
20
21
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
24
25
27
29
23
2+
26
27
30
31
MAY ...
NOV
1
2
3
: 1
5
*+
10)
11 . 1×
12 19
13 20
1 ₺
15
10
17
21
26
20
21
22
23
24
26
29 : 30
27
29
30
.. 1
2
8
9
10
12
13 . 14
11
12
13
14
1.5
16
10
21)
21
. 18 -
19
20
21
13
23
24
3
1
10 . 11
12
13
8
10 17
11
18
19
$
21
23
24
26
27
21
28
29
30
31
MARCH
10 | 11 : 12
5
6
15
10
17
18
19
JUNE .
DEC
=
7
L
15
27 3 10 17 21
.-
1
.
9
3
1
5
6
7
8
10 11
12
20
21
20
30
FEB
1
27
28
20
Ct
6
7
11
3
1
28 5
91
13
23
25
31 1
11
7
10
11. 12
2
18
19
23
18
14
.
9 1 10
1
CALENDAR, 1865.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Friday.
Saturday.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Friday.
Saturday.
JAN. . .
1
15
3
16 :11
12
13
14
10
11
12
13
14
15
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 .
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
. 27
28
23
24
25
26
28
30
31
FEB
AUG.
1
2
5
12
13
14
15
16
17
15
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
19
20
21
22
23
25
20 .
21
22
23
24
25
26
26
27
28
MARCH
SEPT
3
* 4 11
12
14 15: 16
19
20
21
22
16 23 30
25
17
18 : 19
20
21 28
12 19
13
11
9 . 10
11
12 19
13
1.5
15
16
17
24
25
2;
27
..
MAY
1
3
1 11 25
13 20)
12
13
14
15
16 23 30
24
25
21 . 22 . 23
26
20 27
21 2%
20
1
JUNE
3
4
11
12 19
20
14 21
1.5 22
10
11
15 6 12 ; 13
14
10 13. 16 17
17
1×
23
.. .
:
-
5
6
3
1
5
6
T :
30 6
5
6
7
6
G
12
13
14
15
29
27
29. 30
APRIL
1
OCT.
NOV.
1
3
4
9
10
11
8 9
11
15 : 16
1:
14 21 28 5 12 19 26
29
30
. 31
30
25 2
2% | 29.30 31 I
25 1
3
4
10
11
8
10
11
1
27
28 : 29
30
31 1
1
1
.11 18
:
1 24 : 25 | 26 1
+
10
11
16
17
18
22
23
24
26
27
23
2+ 3 10. 17 24 31
6
17.1>
19
27
JULY
1
9
: 29
31
4
5
10
22 23
20
21
DEC.
6
8
JANUARY, 1865.
EW YEAR'S DAY again -our fourth one in the army ; and still the rebels had their arms in their hands. Fort Fisher news reached the Department of the South on that day, to the effect that the fort had been silenced ; but the army, having deemed it too strong to assault, had gone back to Hampton Roads. Fleet Capt. Breeze was the conveyor of this bit of news. Sherman and Dahl- gren consulted about it, and the subject of a part of Sherman's army being sent up at once to take the fort was discussed; but finally Sherman decided he would not divide his army.
Our recently-arrived recruits (substitutes) knew that it was New Year's, and also meant that the rest of us should know it. Several of these interesting chaps got fighting drunk, and made things lively till overpowered by military rules and orders.
About 11 A.M., on the 3d, we got marching orders. The order for our departure stipulated that we should take only efficient men. The last lot of recruits had not yet received arms, and they and the non-combatants and sick were left behind. The effective force con- sisted of about one hundred men only. with about six officers, and was commanded by Capt. Trickey (Lieut .- Col. Randlett being ab- sent on leave). The headquarters of the regiment was considered as having departed, and those left beliind were considered a detach- ment and were so reported. They were commanded by 1st Lieut. John S. James. After the capture of Fort Fisher, this detachment was moved to North Carolina and joined the regiment, as will be shown in its proper place.
By noon we were off - we had n't much to pack ; and by night we found ourselves at Bermuda Landing, having crossed the pontoon at Deep Bottom. We were marched into the woods in a driving snow-storm, for shelter. Bivouacked for the night - and 't was cold, very cold, that night. How we did wish the war was over and we at home ! The weather did not deter us from querying as to where we were going. We found that the Second Division of the Twenty- fourth Corps (which included us) was to go to Fort Fisher, if we could get there. We had five days' rations. We also learned that Hoke's (rebel) division, which had been to Fort Fisher to repel But- ler, had returned and were now in our front again, before Richmond. The fact that it snowed all night innst not be lost sight of. During the 4th the troops began to embark.
(573)
574
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jun. '65.
The Third New Hampshire was turned out about 2 A.M. on the 5th, to embark on the Steamer Gen. Lyons. Our companions on the steamer were the Seventh New Hampshire boys, and we enjoyed each other's society very much. By 5 A.M. we were all on board, and the Gen. Lyons pulled ont into the stream and anchored, with other transports, to give room for others at the wharf. At sunrise we were off for Fort Monroe, arriving there about. 5 p.M., and anchored. We lay there about twelve hours, during which great activity was manifest on all sides. Gen. Terry was in command. We were pleased at that, and were ready to go wherever he said. Our conti- dence in him was unbounded. The fleet was an enormous one, and every kind of a vessel was in it -large and small, steam and sail, armed and unarmed, side-wheelers, propellers and tugs.
BEAUFORT. N.C.
4
A
R
B
0
R
$ $
FORT MACON
f
ATLANTIC OCEAN
We were off very early on the 6th, steaming out to sea and in a southerly direction. Cape Henry was passed at 7.30. The sea was very rough and rapidly growing more so. We were apparently going right into a storm. The wind was practically dead ahead, and the gale got its high heels on during the night. Next morning (7th) we were still heading the same way, but apparently not gaining much. Sea-sickness prevailed during the night to an alarming extent. No attempt will here be made to describe the scenes on board. The gale continued, but not so foreibly ; and we continued our course and with greater success. During the night of the 9th the gale got on its high heels again, and kicked over the stove in the cabin.
On the morning of the 8th, fortunately perhaps, we arrived off Beaufort, N. C., the appointed rendezvous. The sea was so rough we could not anchor, but cruised about, laying off and on all day,
574
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jun. '65.
The Third New Hampshire was turned out about 2 A.M. on the 5th, to embark on the Steamer Gen. Lyons. Onr companions on the steamer were the Seventh New Hampshire boys, and we enjoyed each other's society very much. By 5 A.M. we were all on board, and the Gen. Lyons pulled out into the stream and anchored, with other transports, to give room for others at the wharf. At sunrise we were off for Fort Monroe, arriving there about. 5 p.M., and anchored. We lay there about twelve hours, during which great activity was manifest on all sides. Gen. Terry was in command. We were pleased at that, and were ready to go wherever he said. Our conti- dence in him was unbounded. The fleet was an enormous one, and every kind of a vessel was in it - large and small, steam and sail, armed and unarmed, side-wheelers, propellers and tugs.
BEAUFORT. N.C.
H
A
R B
0
R
f -
ATLANTIC OCEAN
We were off very early on the 6th, steaming out to sea and in a southerly direction. Cape Henry was passed at 7.30. The sea was very rough and rapidly growing more so. We were apparently going right into a storm. The wind was practically dead ahead, and the gale got its high heels on during the night. Next morning (7th) we were still heading the same way, but apparently not gaining much. Sea-sickness prevailed during the night to an alarming extent. No attempt will here be made to describe the scenes on board. The gale continued, but not so forcibly ; and we continued our course and with greater success. During the night of the 9th the gale got on its high heels again, and kicked over the stove in the cabin.
On the morning of the 8th, fortunately perhaps, we arrived off Beaufort, N. C., the appointed rendezvous. The sea was so rough we could not auchor, but cruised about, laying off and on all day,
1
FORT MACON
575
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Jon. '65.]
waiting for orders. We were in sight of Porter's . fleet (naval). There seemed to be no controlling the gale, for it continued obstrep- erous. We didn't anchor till the next night (the 9th) .
On the 10th Gen. Terry ordered the plan of proceeding to the place where we were to take a hand in something or other. We didn't know exactly what that was-except, in a general way, we knew that Fort Fisher was the plum we were to pick if we were able. He directed that the transports follow the naval vessels as follows : -
GUNBOATS
TRANSPORTS
Mc Clellan
by the Enterpe.
Livingstone
Atlantic.
Verona
Prometheus.
Tonaranda
Gen. Lyons (3d and 7th N. H.)
De Molay
66 California.
Thamex
Weybosset.
Champion
* North Point.
Com. Du Pont
Russia.
Montank
" * Blackstone.
Idaho.
* Hospital vessels.
The gale started in afresh on the 10th-carly, too-and the transports were obliged to put to sea for safety, and cruised about. The sailors prophesied a regular " norther."
Moved about all night : and a rough night it was. One unfortu- nate man (Charles Brown of Co. D, a substitute recruit), lost his life. He was on guard, and the probability is that a sudden lurch of the vessel threw him bodily overboard. No one was with him ; but some one saw him disappear; and that was the end of poor Brown. It is said that he had a very large sum of money upon his person, in a money belt -perhaps a thousand dollars. The ery of " Man over- board !" resounded throughout the ship at half-past two, making the cold ehills go up and down one's spinal column in a fearfully rapid 'manner : and 'twas only when they finally took refuge in one's marrow that he could rush to the deck, to find that a comrade had gone and was beyond human help. We could do but little else till morning than talk about the sad occurrence. To be sure, the vessel was turned about, and a semi-search made; but 'twas of no avail, and under the circumstances could not have been otherwise.
In the morning ( 11th), we ran in near the shore and anchored, the storm having sufficiently abated. Three days' rations were issued to us during the afternoon, and we were ordered to be ready to go ashore at a moment's notice. The boys fretted and worried about the storm a great deal. "The delay," said they, "gives them rebels a chance to reinforce, which we can't do."
On the morning of the 12th we started (that is, the fleet) and off we went in high spirits, the navy leading and the transports following, our brigade bringing up the rear.
A peep at the Department of the South that day showed the Secretary of War there on the Neruda (arrived 9th) ; and with him. for conference and a lunch ( with fixin's, of course), Gens. Sherman, Meigs, Foster and Barnard, Admiral Dahlgren, Col. Townsend and others.
SPENCER REPEATING CARBINE -SEVEN ROUNDS.
SPENCER CARBINE ENLARGED TO SHOW
SPENCER CARBINE.
0
MECHANISM AND MAGAZINE
(576)
SPENCER CARBINE MAGAZINE - NOT LOADED
16-7
---
\\\\\SPRING !!
IL-+-+-
MADE OF TIN TUBING
FOLLOWER
SPENCER CARBINE MAGAZINE - LOADED.
SPRING AND
FOLLOWERY
-
2
3
4
5
6
7
577
Jan. '65.]
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
We return to North Carolina and the fleet. The day was fair. The fleet of transports arrived near the place of operations during the night, the fleet of gunboats already there having hammered away at Fort Fisher during the previous day. At daybreak (13th) our gunboats began shelling the woods and shore north of the fort, to clear those places of rebels, if any there. The landing began after the shelling had continued about an hour. We were in plain sight of the fort, which presented an appearance never before seen by us. In general appearance it resembled a long row of immense hay- cocks. The landing of the troops occupied the time and attention of everybody while it was in process. This operation was completed about 5 o'clock, after which the gunboats devoted their undivided attention to the fort, pitching in their shells and other missiles of death till long after dark. The Third New Hampshire was desired to go on picket, and the boys consented. They were on dangerous ground, although out of range of the common, ordinary gun, to be sure ; but who knew that we were not walking over torpedoes, or that a masked battery, or a dozen of them, might not open on us during our tour of duty and annihilate us, or worse? We didn't take many naps that night.
The 14th was occupied by the navy in shelling the fort; and the Terry wing was busy landing artillery, mules, teams and other warlike playthings. A diary says : " We had an abundance of cap- tured meat today. Drove the enemy away from some houses this forenoon, where they were troubling the men on the beach, and silenced them this afternoon, wounding some. Orders tonight to withdraw the brigade down the beach, but only moved a little way and then on picket again." Another diary says : "We arrived within a mile and a half of the fort today." Still another diary says : " The enemy tried to kick up a muss with our pickets ; but we soon silenced them with our seven-shooters." That night, Gen. Terry was said to have gone on board the flag-ship, the Malrern, to arrange full details for the fight which we all felt certain was to come off the next day.
The 15th of January, 1865, arrived. The writer finds himself confronted by a plethora of data as to the doings of that memorable day. It is a great story - that of Fort Fisher - and needs careful selection, judicions pruning and a peculiar skill for presenting the various parts and pareels in a readable, truthful, fairly stated, reliable story. The writer finds himself a little short of thus being fully endowed. He is, however, in for it, and will say in brief that the matter has been carefully prepared.
39
578
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
[Jan. '65.
FORT FISHER.
A cursory description of the fort, and its value to the Con- federacy, will first be of interest. It was located on the southerly end of a long and narrow spit of land, lying on the easterly side of the entrance to Cape Fear River, the latter being the highway, by water, to Wilmington. There was a pretence, to be sure, of block- ading this port, but to no purpose. It was notoriously true that blockade-runners went in and out, almost at will, with the result to be expected : the rebels traded all they chose, and Wilmington was their chief port of entry.
·
In general shape, looking at it from a more southerly point, the fort looked like an immense figure 7; while a view from the other point -say from the point of attack - had one been "up in a balloon," the appearance would have been like a huge letter L. The fort was not a continuons work, but rather a series of works, and a bird's-eye view resembled a row (shaped as described) of immense hay-cocks. The top of the 7-or the bottom of the L-formed the land face, which was the point of approach and attack, while the longer remaining part formed the sea face. Along the land front (which practically extended from Cape Fear River to the sea) was a strong palisade (some call it a stockade), extending from water to water, near the center of which was a sally-port. At the extreme point of the spit of land was Fort Buchanan, a strong work; while opposite to it (across the mouth of the river) lay Fort Caswell, of no mean calibre. At the extreme sontherly point of the fort itself was an extra large work called the Mound Battery. With this gen- eral description, the reader must for the present be content, as he will obtain further descriptions in the account itself at various points of its narration.
It is next to impossible to write a chapter, on Fort Fisher, and not include in it both attacks, Gen. Butler, the powder-boat, Admiral Porter and Gen. Terry (and the Third New Hampshire, of course).
THE POWDER-BOAT.
Whenever Fort Fisher is mentioned, as a war matter. there seems to be inseparably connected withit that ghoul of a powder- boat, which has caused so many blessings ( ! ) to be rained down on Gen. Butler's head. But how many know the facts? Not one in a hundred, probably - and never will unless they investigate. The simple and really lonesome fact that he tried to take Fort Fisher by blowing up a boat near it, filled with powder, is simply accepted instanter as an evidence that Gen. Butler was a fool. But he wasn't. Why should he think that such an explosion would dismount the guns of Fort Fisher, and that result be tantamount to taking the fort? He had very good reasons, as will be shown. Right here let it be
579
THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Jan. '65.]
understood, the writer is not attempting to take care of Gen. Butler. Gen. Butler always did and always will take care of himself. The cause for his opinion as to the effect of a powder explosion occurred on the 1st day of the previous October, at Erith, England. On that day there were two barges, presumably side by side, laden with powder -one hundred and fifty thousand pounds ; and it accidentally exploded, with fearful effect. The noise was heard for over ninety miles, and people over twenty-five miles distant thought it was an earthquake. Grant's mine at Petersburg had only fourteen thou- sand pounds of powder - less than one-tenth of the quantity at Erith. His explosion blew up a regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery. At Erith, twelve persons were killed and over twenty wounded. The embankment of the river (artificial in part ) was blown away for the space of one hundred yards; but the tide being for- tunately low at the time, repairs were quickly made and the sub- mersion of the adjacent country averted. Buildings that covered acres were blown down, and became heaps of brick, dirt and timber. The estimated value of the buildings and other property destroyed was five millions of dollars. At Woolwich, four miles off. a shower of letters came down. Animals and birds were seriously affected, being struck motionless, and then on recovering becoming almost wild with frenzy. A human finger fell at Deptford, about three miles off; and in the Crystal Palace, in London, many paintings were thrown down and several doors forced open.
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