History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 42

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 42
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 42

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William Meyer, died May 26, 1864 ; buried in National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tenn. ; Section D, Grava fs.

Charles Stont, killed in artion at Chance lorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. Jolin Wills, died May 24, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tonn. ; Section D, Grave 38 ;.

{Companies Band H were from Jersey City, and (' and K from l'aterson.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65. ( Continued.)

The Twenty-Sixth Regiment .- The Twenty-sixth, like all the nine months' regiments, was hastily formed. It was composed of men from Newark and the adjoining towns-Orange, South Orange, Bloomfield and Caldwell-each furnishing one company, while Newark filled the remaining six. The regiment was mustered into the State service at Camp Freling- huysen on September 3, 1862, and some three weeks Jater, (September 26th,) being othcered and equipped. proceeded to Washington, arriving there the day fol- lowing and going into camp on Capitol Hill. Here being assigned to General Briggs's Brigade, Sumner's

. C'orps, it remained until October Ist, when it was ordered to Frederick, Maryland. On the 14th, the regiment started on its first march, proceeded to Hagerstown, where it was attached to the brigade of which it formed a part until the expiration of its term of service. This brigade was composed of the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Vermont regiments, commanded by General Brooks, and formed part of Smith's Division, Franklin's Corps. General Brooks being soon after assigned to the com- mand of a division, Colonel Whiting took command of the brigade.1 Leaving Hagerstown on the 31st. the regiment proceeded to Berlin, on the Potomae, where it crossed into Virginia, marching to New Bal- timore, and thence to a point on Aquia Creek, where it remained until Burnside having completed his preparations for a movement against Fredericks- burg, it advanced with its division to Falmouth, going into camp on the 6th of December, in the midst of a cold and pitiless storm-the men pitching their tents in the frozen suow. So severe was the cold that the night after the arrival of the regiment, the water froze in the canteens.

On the 11th, marching orders came again. "Twa day- before "-we quote the narrative of one who participated in all the experiences of the regiment- " at evening dress parade, the Colonel had told the men that they would soon go into battle. Ile expressed himself pleased with the conduct of the regiment thus far, and exhorted all to keep cool and obey orders when they came into danger. We started early in the morning and took the road towards the Rappahannock. After going a short distance, we were ordered for the first time to load. We were scarcely on the way again before cannonading com- menced, and as we drew near the river it became more and more distinct. On we went, until reaching the brow of a hill, the valley of the Rappahannock burst upon our sight. At our feet lay an extensive plain, through the midst of which we could trace the course of the river. In the back-ground, the lights of Fredericksburg stood out against the horizon. To our right, the plain narrowed, and just where the hills met the river, lay the little, quaint old city.

1 " At this time the regiment was over a thousand strong. We weer fully and well equipped, with the important exception, however, of our gund, which were old altered musketa, and totally unfit for active service lu respect to men, the regiment was composed of the flower of Forex County True we had lwen hastily brought together, and some hal been enfintodl who were too old or too young or otherwise unfit for service, but the number of there was not too large, and the great funly of the regiment was ronqueel of young active men, mechanies and farmers, nien of char- arter and Intelligence for the most part Out of such material the very barst soldiers might have been made Of our officers Colonel Morris n was alinnet the only one who had wren service, and he had been a cavalry oficer, so that his duties as a commander of an infantry regiment were new to him. Many of the officers were, up to the time of their app int- ment, unacquainted even with the company drilt, and it was Inevitable from the way in which they were chosen that some of them should prove unfit for the positions which they occupied. We had to go through that weeding-out process which all our volunteer regiments went through with." -Notes of an Oficer

148

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

The hills over which we were passing were grim with batteries, while on the plain beneath the long dark lines of the Union army stretched for miles away into the distance. On the opposite bank we could catch glimpses of the rebel host, and from the hills directly in front of us their batteries peered out half masked by the trees. To the right the cannonading was becoming more and more terrible, and the smoke from the rebel guns hung like a pall over the devoted city. We soen had descended into the plain, and taking our places in the line lay waiting on our arms. The following morning we crossed the pontoon bridge without opposition, and formed in line of battle on the opposite side of the river. Soon the rebel batteries opened, and then, for the first time we felt that we were under fire, for their shells, flying over our heads, frequently hurst just above us, though too high to do any carnage. That night we slept on our arms. The next day was the memorable 13th of December. During the morning everything was comparatively quiet, but in the afternoon the firing became general and heavy all along the line. Around us the shells Hew thickly, and two of our men were wounded. Column after column filed past us on the way to the front, and one regiment after another of our own brigade fell quietly into their ranks and moved off to battle, until we were left alone. We awaited our turn, a little nervously perhaps, but still quietly and hope- fully. We knew that we were not in fighting trini. At last the orders came, and the regiment never moved off in finer style or kept a better line; but we had not gone two hundred yards before the order was countermanded, and we marched quietly back to our former position. Night came on and the firing ceased. We lay down to rest, not knowing how the fight had gone. Little did we dream that the night had closed on one of the darkest days of our nation's his- tory. The next morning was the Sabbath ; but no Sab- bath rest eame to the Army of the Potomac, except to those whoslept their last long sleep under the shadow of those bloody hills. We were soon ordered up and moved to the front under a heavy artillery fire, which however, did us no damage. We took our position along a road beyond which was the skirmish line. The skirmishers kept up a brisk fire all the morning, and the stretcher-bearers passed us with their mourn- ful burdens ; but towards afternoon all became quiet, and we passed the night as hest we could in the muddy road; the next morning falling back near the river. Lieutenant-Colonel Seaver, of the Third Ver- mont Regiment, now took command of the Twenty- sixth. We lay quietly all day, but at night silently crossed the pontoon bridge and in a little while were camped again in the woods on the north side of the Rappahannock-soon after going into winter-quarters near Belle Plain."

The regiment now entered fairly on the routine of camp duty, and under Colonel Seaver's command rapidly improved in drill and discipline. In January,

when Colonel Morrison had resumed command, and Captain Martindale, of General Howe's staff, had been appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, the regiment partici- pated in the "Mud March," suffering greatly and becoming so disheartened that only twenty or thirty men, on the return march, came in with the colors.1

1 From the Notes of an Officer of the Regiment, we gather the follow- ing in reference to this famous campaign .

" We moved off at a rapid rute, and as we had lately drawn our winter clothing, our knapsacks were unusually hvavy. On we went for about four miles. We finally camped in a thick woods near Banks' Ford It had been somewhat clondy all day, but for werks there had been no storms and the roads were in splemlid condition, but scarcely had we ref up our shelter tenta before it commenced to rain, and by morning the treacherous soil was like the ' slough of Despond.' The storm. a cold northeaster, continued to rage during the day, and abont one o'clock we were ordered to strike tents and march. We moved about half a mile in the direction of the river, when we halted and sawked Arms. Here any doubts that we might have had respecting our destina- tion were solved, for there, on a little rise of ground before us, a number of pontoon wagons were drawn up. while others were being dragged through the mud to that position. It was certain that we were to at- tempt the juusage of the Rappahanuck vire more. Presently we were ordered to take off our equipments aml were marched a little way back into the woods, where was a pontoon train stuck fust in the wind. Long ropes were rigged to the wagons and the Twenty-sixth took hokl, one company to each boat, to help the train through. We floundered away, some pulling by the ropes, others pushing, and after a good deal of hard work we dragged the boat out of the woods on, or rather info, ojun ground ; for in the woods there lnul been degrees of muddiness. The wheels now went down actually over the hubs. The horses, poor beasts, could of course do nothing to help us, and the train was literally stork. Another regiment was sent to our aid, and with their assistance we dragged the pontoons almost over the horses' backs through the ficht to the hill where the others were drawn up. We were then ordered back to the place where our arms were stacked. By this time if wns dark. We were wet to the skin with the rain, covered with mud and chilled tbrough and through by the cold storm. We remained for some time in this miserable plight, when the Colonel rode up and said : 'Boys, tako off your equipments ; there are forty more of these bonts to be got through to-night and this brigade minst do it ; so prepare for work !' This was adding misery to misery, but we waited and no orders to grapple the pontoons came, but presently the Colonel rode up agam and told us to fall in, as we were going back to our ramp. This news was received joy- fully enough, and after stumbling ulong through the mud and darkness for about a mile, we found ourselves at the place from which we started in the morning. Soon rousing fires were going, by which we dried our- selves and cooked our coffee. We then pitched our tents on the rold, wet ground, and slept as roundly as if we had been in comfortable beds at home. Once during the next day we were ordered to prepare to march, but the order was countermanded. The opinion however was general, that the intended movement had been given up, und at seven o'clock the next day westarted bark towards our okl camps. The march Buon degenerated into n grand straggle, for the men were literally worn out by the three days of terrible work which they had been through. The Twenty-sixth kept together very well until we reached Falmonth. There rations were served out ; among them as an extra favor, a whis- key ration, which did more harm than guml. After leaving Falmonth, the regiment dwindled rapidly away, one after another falling out of the rank», until a mere handful was left. The whole army straggled: here you could see a group of men from two or three different regiments cooly making coffee around a fire, while others were plodtling leisurely along, wie in groupe, some singly. Now and then there would be a wagon, stark so that ten mules could not pull it out, or perhaps a knot of wagons, ambulances and artillery so entangled that it seemed ne ir they could never be separated. Many a poor fellow lay down by the roadside utterly exhausted and helpless, and the army seemed totally demoralized. Only twenty or thirty of the Twenty-sixth came into camp with the colore. For the next two or three days the stranglers kept coming in singly or in group, and order was finally brought out of confusion. Though no notice was over taken of those who fell out on the way home, a number of non commissioned officers were reduced to the ranks for struggling on the oxdicard march, but most of them were soon restored."

119

ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

At length the spring opened, and the army again struck its tents and prepared once more to measure strength with the foc. Meanwhile, the Twenty-sixth had been supplied with new rifles and greatly im- proved in morale as well as drill. " The men," accord- ing to the testimony of the writer already quoted, " were in the best of health and spirits, and if not anxious for the fray, were still ready for it." On the 28th of April, orders for an advance were received, and the Twenty-sixth onec more moved towards the Rappahannock, bivouacking at night about a mile from the river, and carly the next morning marching continued their flight. We were wild with delight. The terrible Fredericksburg heights had been cap- tured, and we now stood victors on those dreaded hills which we had so often gazed upon from the other side. The Twenty-sixth had fought its first battle, and had done well and courageously. We could now go home proudly, with an honorably scarred flag. Our loss had been light in spite of the fire to which we had been exposed, and we hardly gave it a thought as yet. Now we turned up the road towards the works which the light division had taken that morn- ing, and every now and then, passed the ghastly out to almost precisely the spot where it stood in line corpses of those who had fallen in the morning's in December. Here it remained during the day, fight- charge, and in the front where the First Division now was, we began to hear skirmish firing, soon followed by the 'growling of the bull dogs.' We moved up in the direction of the firing, and away from the heights; pushed on a little further and then halted to replen- ish our ammunition. While we were doing so, the artillery fire suddenly ceased, and the low, sharp musketry rattle began. When we moved off again, we met wounded men coming to the rear. First, one here and there; then they grew thicker and thicker, until the road-side was lined with them. These, of course, were only those who could walk, or he helped on by comrades who were able. That dismal pro- cession was poor cheer for us as we neared the front. However, before we came up with the firing, darkness came on and it ceased. We found that the rebels had made a desperate stand in the pine woods, and had succeeded in checking the advance of the First Divi- sion, and that the old First Jersey Brigade had antlered very heavily. ing meanwhile being in progress at Chancellorsville. The next day, it moved its line back to the side of the hills, but at night was detailed to escort a pontoon train to Banks' Ford, whence it returned to its posi- tion on the following morning. That day the men were permitted to rest, but on the next night the brigade crossed the river, and with the dawn of the eventful 3d of May, moved up into the road in which it lay four months before, but in a position nearer the city than at that time. "The batteries on both sides now opened with tremendous fury "-we again quote from the narrative of a participant-" but behind the bank against which the Twenty-sixth was lying, the men were better protected from the rebel fire than from our own-several being hurt by fragments of shells from the guns just behind us. This state of things continued until about noon, when we were suddenly ordered to take off knapsacks and haver- sacks and pile them up in the road. Then, 'For- ward, double-quick, march !' and forward we went " In the morning everything was quiet, and we were preparing for our breakfast, when, suddenly the report of a gun was heard, and a shell landed in the regiment next to us. This was followed by another and another, and we now saw that they came from the very hills we had taken the day before. The trouble was evident. We were being outflanked and sur- rounded. Immediately slinging our knapsacks, we fell into our places and moved off under a heavy fire from the rebel battery. About five o'clock, after n little skirmishing, the first line of battle, immediately in front of us, became heavily engaged. The firing came nearer and nearer, and shells and bullets swept past us. Soon the word came that 'the first line is being driven back.' Then came the order: 'Atten- tion ! right face, double-quick, march !' and away we went past the broken regiments of the Third Brigade, and filing in front of a battery formed in a ditch about two feet deep, where we awaited the onset. Two hun- dred yards distant on a knoll a little to our left, the yelling masses of greybacks came rushing on, driving before them the last gallant remnant of the first line. 'Fire "' shouted Colonel Martindale, who was now in command, and eight hundred rifles poured their con- tents into the closed ranks of the foemen. They staggered as if struck by a tornado; only for a over the bank, out into the open field, where we were fully exposed to the enemy's fire. On we went, now by the front, now by the right flank, until the rapid pace and frequent changes had thrown the line into considerable disorder. The line became confused but was halted under the terrible fire and brought to order. Then we rushed forward again, and as we approached the foot of the hills, we could see the rebel gunners limbering up their lighter pieces. The Second Vermont, which had got a little ahead of us, were now moving up the steep slope on our right, in beautiful line, and presently we also commenced the ascent. A terrible volley thinned the ranks of the Vermonters, but they pressed on and the enemy began to give way. As we neared the earthwork we expected to receive our share of the musketry fire, but none came, and when at last we came within a few yards of it, we saw that it was deserted and that the enemy had left in it a fine brass field-piece. As we reached the top of the hill we could see the flying foc crossing through a gully and ascending the rise of ground opposite us. We gave them a few shots and they were soon lost to view, but they rallied a little further on, supported by a light battery, and as we came up gave us a volley or two of grape, and then

150

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

moment however, and then though in disorder and scattered, again advanced. They were now almost upon our flank, and it became necessary for us to change our position-for the men on the right, obliquing their fire as the rebels came nearer, were almost firing into those on the left. 'Cease firing! By file left, march "' came the orders in quick suc- cession. The first was obeyed by the whole regiment, and the second by the companies on the left of the line, but towards the right and center it was mistaken, and the regiment broke, but reaching a brush fence rallied. In the mean time, many of the men had fallen in with the Sixth Vermont, which lay behind a little rise of ground, awaiting the onset of the rebel hosts. Although the enemy was at least three times their number, for there was a whole brigade of them, the gallant Vermonters let them conie on until they were actually within a few feet of them, and then rising, poured in a volley which literally decimated the foe. They fled hastily, and the Sixth Corps was saved! Now it was our turn, and the Vermonters, followed by the Twenty-sixth, pressed forward on the flying foe, until we reached the brow of the hill from which they had come. As we went, we took a great many prisoners-among them, the Colonel in com- mand of the rebel brigade in our immediate front. It was now growing dark and we fell back into a new position, and several companies were thrown out as skirmishers.

"During the night all was quiet, save occasional shots from a rebel battery, and now and then a little skirmish firing. Little by little we moved down towards the river, and about four o'clock in the morning crossed on the pontoon bridge which we had brought up a few nights before. Two hours' rest, and then the Twenty-sixth was sent down to help the engineers take up the pontoons. But we got the boats out, hauled them up the hill, piled bushes over them to conceal them, and then went back into the woods. Being here disturbed by occasional shells from the enemy, we fell in and marched about a mile further back." The total loss of the regiment in this series of operations, in which it displayed a heroism worthy of veterans, was seven killed, sixty-five wounded, and fifty-one missing.1

1 The official reju rt uf Lieutenant-Colonel Martindale, RAYS :

". In furnishing a statement of the casualties in this regiment in the action of the 4th instant, njen the brighta of Fredericksburg, I have the hinnor further to report that the duties wwsigued to the regiment were per- formed substantially in a manner ereditable to the gallantry and personal courage of a majority of the officers and mon. Although compelled to shift positions repeatedlly, the regiment was successfully ralbed three times, delivered its fre with telling effect, and recovered all the ground that had been lost, and wlvanced its skirmishers to the rest of the hill in front of the brigade, which had been or read and retroved by the enemy. In the last advance made by the regiment it had the good fortune to cup- ture many primeber from the Lamina Brigade, which had made the attack upon murs. Among these were l'oned Stafford, commanding the brigada (as was states), whom sword I had the place of receiving from hlm ; a Lieutenant-Colonel, a Major, and several Captains atud minor UIrere, all of whom were werered and went to the rear.

" The total killed, wounded and mining in this action was one hundred

After remaining in a most uncomfortable position for a few days, the regiment moved to Belle Plain Landing, near which it went into camp. The time at which the regimental term of enlistment would expire was now near at hand, and it was not consid- ered probable that it would again be called upon to meet the enemy in battle. But the 3d of June, the day which, as the men believed, terminated their term of service, passed with no signs of release, and the dissatisfaction in the regiment became deep and loud- spoken. Some declared that they would not fight after June 3d. The case was substantially this: When the regiment was gathered at Camp Freling- huysen, the men were sworn into the service on the 3d of September, by a State officer, "for nine months, unless sooner discharged." On the 18th of September, they were again mustered into the service, and this time by a United States officer. The question was, from which muster did the enlistment date? It is casy to see that the opinion might be honestly enter- tained that the enlistment had been for no later a date than June 3d; but the Government took the opposite view, and the regiment was held until after the 18th.

At length, on the 5th of June, the movements of the enemy having been for several days of a some- what mysterious nature, the Second Division was ordered to make a reconnoissance across the Rappa- hannock below Fredericksburg. The order to march was received on the 20th. Advancing with the brigade, the regiment soon stood for the third time on the plain before Fredericksburg. Our batteries went into posi- tion on the river bank, and opened a terrific fire upon the rebels, which was too much for them, and those who could do so ffed across the plain, though the most of them stayed behind the earthwork, literally unable to leave. By this time the pontoon boats had commenced moving down to the river bank. A few minutes later the Twenty-sixth, with the Fifth Ver- mont, were ordered to fall in. The men started on a

and twenty-four, of whom there were known to be killed five, wounded forty-eight, and missing seventy-one.

4. I beg leave to mention in terms of high commendation for unflinch- ing and faithful performance of duty, and the grout assistance rendered to me in the action, Major William W. Morris. Also, for gnilant con- duct, Acting Adjutant Terboue, and most of the commandants of rom- panies, and in particular Sergeant-Major Cummings, Sergeants Sheridan, Untiedt and Mooney, and private Mclaughlin."

Colonel Grant, commanding the brigade, in his congratulatory order to the men, says : " You stormed and took the heights of Fredericksburg, which it is believed, was one of the most brilliant fents of the war. You took three piores of artillery and many prisoners. And although you are not now in possession of those Heights, you were not driven from them, Imit left them to advance upon a retreating fue. At the battle near Banks' Ford you sustained the attack of a vastly superior force-ne low than Three brigades-und repaired the enemy with grent slaughter, faking many prisoners; among them were several Colonels, Majors and line officer."

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 42

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840