History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 48

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 48
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 48

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1 (In the 19th of January, a new and temutiful State Flag arrived from Trenton, and Major-General O. O. Howard, the commander of the corps, consented to act as the representative of the State and present the banner to the regiment, which he did in an appropriate address. The men of the Thirty-third, clad in their neat, bright Zonave drewe were marshinlled as if for parude, in presence of the corpe, divisiun and brigade common- ders, and the occasion was one of much interest. The Major, Ius com- mander of the regiment, replied to General Howard, Colonel MinHl bring the commander of the brigade. About the ante time, Chaplin Faull, who had held a similar position with Colonel Mindil In the Twenty- seventh regiment, and who was one of the most devoted of his profession In the service, was presented a valuable horse by the men of the regi- mont.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

foot of the steep palisades, which defied assault. But the enemy's batteries. In this gallant charge, the Thirty-third planted its colors within ten paces of the enemy's fort, and effectually prevented his gunners using four pieces of artillery therein. But beyond this, the line could not advance without some de- struction. A small ravine separated the Second Bri- gade, of (feary's Division, from Wood's Brigade, of Butterfield's, and this ravine was unoccupied, but was thoroughly commanded by the rifles of the left wing of the Thirty-third. About dusk the enemy assaulted Butterfield in force, and the regiment performed excellent service in pouring a destructive flank fire into the right of the enemy's crowded columns. As soon as it was dusk, it was determined to secure the guns which had been silenced, and accordingly the Thirty-third, with other regiments of the division, dug away the earth in front of the fort, and quietly fastening ropes to the coveted pieces dragged them into our lines-one being carried away by the Jersey- men who had shared the glory and danger of the charge. The loss of the regiment in this engagement was three men killed, one officer, Captain Bray, and twenty-four enlisted men wounded. Lieutenant- Colonel Fouratt fought the regiment with signal ability, and on this, his first field of battle with the Thirty-third, gained that reputation for coolness and intrepidity which he ever afterwards enjoyed.1 undaunted by the frowning walls, with cheers and yells the men gallantly endeavored to reach the sum- mit, and despite the terrible obstacles, many actually reached the crest, only to fall beneath the murderous bullet, or to be thrust headlong on the rocks below. At length, finding the position invulnerable, reluct- antly and still fighting, the men fell back to their position on the lower erest, where they remained un- til dark, resisting every effort of the enemy to dis- lodge them. After nightfall, it being clear that the capture of the rebel position was impossible, orders were given to withdraw ; and in good order, slowly and silently, Colonel Mindil brought off the regiments under his command. No regiment could have behaved with more splendid valor than did the Thirty-third on this occasion. It was their stubborn attack, mainly, which compelled the detention of the enemy, who thus left open Snake Creek Gap, through which MePherson pushed without opposition, and Dalton. being flanked, was evacuated. The regiment lost in all two officers and four enlisted men killed, and two otlieers and twenty-three men wounded-several of the wounded subsequently dying. Among the killed was Captain Bartlett, who fell at the head of his column, gallantly charging upon the foe. He was an experienced, veteran officer, and had established a high reputation for coolness and courage in the battles of the Peninsula and with the Thirty-third. Lieutenant Joseph L. Miller, who also fell, was now to the service, but with his heart in the cause, he promised to become an excellent soldier, as he was undoubtedly one of the bravest of the brave. The bodies of both these officers were buried by the foe- and about five o'clock, p. M., with the rest of Hooker's the Masonic emblems on Captain Bartlett's person gaining for him a respectful burial. Colonel Mindil promoted the brave and dashing Cochrane, of Company K', to fill Captain Bartlett's place, but before the Governor's commission reached him, he too joined the host of martyrs, falling at Pine Knob a month after- warde. The heavy labors of Colonel Mindil in the charge, leading up the mountain on foot, caused an old wound to re-open, and against his wishes, he was ordered to hospital for treatment. For his part in the action, though overlooked at the time, he was afterwards honored with the brevet rank of Major- General.

The Thirty-third remained with the division en- camped near the foot of the mountain until the morn- ing of the 11th, when under the command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Fouratt, it moved to the left. The three following days were spent in marching, intrench- ing and picket-duty, when, early on the morning of the 15th, the battle of Resaca was commenced, the Thirty-third becoming actively engaged about ten o'clock, A. M., when it charged the enemy up a gentle slope, covered with thick pines, four or five feet high. Being, however, in the second line, the regiment wus not able to fire, thoughi exposed to the full force of

On the 16th the march was resumed, the Thirty-third crossing the Ostanaula and Connasauga Rivers, and thence moving through Cassville, across the Etowah River towards Burnt Hickory. On the 25th, after crossing Pumpkin Vine Creek, the enemy was dis- covered in force near Dallas, or New Hope Church, Corps, the Thirty-third became engaged, driving in the enemy's skirmishers and advancing until dark. when they reached a strong position of the rebels, defended by artillery. Here, for half an hour, 'the enemy's fire was very hot, and in this position the Thirty-third remained during the night, exposed to a drenching rain. On the morning of the 26th, finding further progress impossible, the regiment constructed for itself without much opposition from the enemy, a small line of logs and earth, behind which to rest with security. During the night, these intrenchments were enlarged and strengthened ; and Hooker's Corps for seven days was compelled to remain in this position, during the hottest of weather, whilst Sher- man was operating elsewhere. The only duty was that of picket, and this was unusually dangerous and arduous, every night producing a list of killed and wounded as the videttes were relieved. The two lines were here so close that no one upon either side dared to show his head above the breastworks. All change of pickets and guards took place after dark. Here

1 All this time the Major, D. A. Peloubet, was ulwent nick, and subwe. quently resigned. Lieutenant-Colonel Fonratt commanded in all the four battles of Remura, Dallas, Fine Knob and Peach Tree. The loss of the regiment al Resaca was greater than that of any other in the brigade.

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ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

the brave and talented Captain Field received the mortal wound from which he died ten days after- wards at Chattanooga. Probably the most wretched week of the " one hundred days' campaign " was that spent here ; the opposing hines being within one hun- dred and fifty yards of each other, the firing was incessant ; the stench from the dead bodies which could not be removed, was sickening and their right discouraging; maggots covered the ground in thous- ands, and each succeeding day only added to the strength of the enemy's works. Each night's rest was disturbed by the call to arms half a dozen times in as many hours, and the men were completely broken down with excitement and want of rest, when, at length, Logan's Corps, after repulsing the enemy at Dallas, arrived to relieve Hooker's troops from this uncomfortable position. During the first day's engagement, and the subsequent seven days from May 25 to 31, the Thirty-third lost one ofheer and five men killed and twenty-seven men wounded.

was found impossible to dislodge. The brave and chivalrous Captain Cochrane, so distinguished in every fight, in attempting, with riffe in hand, to silence one of the more accurateof the rebel marks- men, was himself instantly killed. So passed the 16th of June, a day of anxiety and inaction, with its long list of killed and wounded. Throughout, the Thirty-third acted nobly, and was highly commended by Generals Hooker and Geary for its bravery. It lost in this battle of Pine Knob, June 15th and 16th, one officer and thirteen men killed, and one officer nud forty-three men wounded, the total casualties of the regiment during the campaign thus far being eight officers and one hundred and thirty-nine enlisted men. The heavy loss in officers hest shows how gallantly they behaved.

After this engagement, the Thirty-third participa- ted in the skirmishes of Nances Creek and Muddy Creek, and the flank of the assaulting columns of the Fourth Corps at Kenesaw. Moving in pursuit of the On June 1, the regiment was moved with the corps towards the left of the army, then to within three and a half miles of Acworth, where on the 6th of June a camp was established, and a week's rest afforded to the men. All this time the Confederates were slowly retreating, fighting every step of the way. On the 14th of June the march was resumed, and a cnemy by way of Marietta, the 7th of July found the Thirty-third in camp in sight of the steeples of Atlanta. On the afternoon of the 17th of July, the brigade crossed the Chattahoochie, and on the 1sth passed over Nances Creek, advancing through the woods in line of battle towards Atlanta. On the 19th, Peach Tree Creek was crossed and a small line position taken up near the Fourth Corps, fronting the of defensive works constructed for the night. On rebel position ou P'ine-Knob. On the afternoon of the 15th of June, Hooker advanced against the enemy, the Thirty-third at first being in the second or supporting line. The enemy slowly and deliber- ately retreating towards his works, the first line charged forward under a heavy fire, when the second line, in which was the Thirty-third, was also ordered to pass to the front and engage the foe. Again, as on other fields, the Thirty-third advanced in splendid order, as if on parade, though under a murderous fire, and soon gained an advanced position within seventy- five yards of the enemy's breastworks. This position they held with tenacity, despite the enemy's attempt to dislodge them. Morning found them inadequately protected. The enemy was very strongly posted above our men, and well protected, and at once availed himself of our exposed position to slaughter our troops by a system of most accurate sharp-shoot- ing. The losses were frightful. The enemy's line of battle overlapping ours, he gradually worked it around more and more, and commenced to enfilade the Union line. A company of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth New York was now ordered forward to check this movement, but were driven back with heavy loss after a gallant effort. Another force met a similar fate, when at last Company I, of the Thirty-third, Lieutenant John C. Smith commanding, was ordered forward, driving off' the enemy's advance and checking his progress. But the work of death did not cease. Many of the men were killed lying behind the works by rebel sharp-shooters, whom it the next day, the memorable 20th of July, the Thirty-third was ordered to advance with the rest of the division, the enemy having fallen back and offer- ing no opposition. About two o'clock r. M., orders from General Geary directed Colonel Fouratt to occupy with the Thirty-third a knoll about five hun- dred yard> in advance of a small temporary line of rifle-pits, which had been hastily thrown up by the First Brigade, and only long enough to cover a single battalion. The regiment at once marched over these works and formed line of battle in the road beyond, a line of skirmishers being deployed in front before the advance was made. Then came the command to "forward," and the movement began. Everything was still and ominous, so unusually so, indeed, that Colonel Fouratt, an old campaigner, expressed him- self as sure of trouble ahead; and he was right. The knoll was reached, arms were stacked, the skir- mi hers told to advance a little further, and rails obtained to commence the construction of a little redoubt for the division artillery. Just then a tre- mendous volley saluted the skirmishers, passing over into the regiment, wounding Lientenant Childs and others. For fifteen minutes the enemy continued to fire rapidly, but the Thirty-third replied as well, and held its position. That defence was of infinite value ; it gave our army in the rear time to prepare, and so prevented perhaps, great disaster. But now the enemy, discovering that but a single regiment replied to his fire, made a flank movement towards the regi- mental right, coming down a ravine, at the same

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

time attacking the left with a rush and a yell. Column after column was closing in on the right and left and front of the Thirty-third, when, deeming further resistance useless, and fearing capture if too long delayed, Colonel Fouratt reluctantly issued the order for retreat. But the enemy had already oecu- pied most of the ravine in the rear of the regiment, and every soldier was compelled to escape for himself. the rebels in overwhelming numbers rushing onward, destroying the color guard and capturing the State flag, the color-bearer being shot dead. But there was no disgrace in this repulse, for the same force which succeeded in driving the Thirty-third, soon drove the entire division, and almost annihilated the Twentieth Corps. In fact, Ilood's whole army had attacked the Thirty-third, and it was the spirited resistance of that regiment which gave our army time to form and repel the savage and unexpected assault. The Thirty-third was soon rallied again, around its national flag, and once more did admirable service in repelling the last onset of the enemy.

The battle of Peach Tree Creek was in all respects a most desperate fight, and no regiment sustained a nobler part than the Thirty-third. Both Hooker and Geary again commended the bravery of the regi- ment. The loss of the regiment was over seventy in killed and wounded-Lieutenants Downes, Aspen and Warren being taken prisoners by the foe. Aspen being badly wounded. The 21st was occupied in burying the dead, and on the 22d the regiment moved to with- in half a mile of the enemy's works surrounding At- Janta. Here heavy works were constructed, and the regiment was under constant fire for over a month, performing the heavy duty of the trenches and the dangerous one of pieket. On the 2d of September, the Thirty-third, with the rest of the brigade, under Colonel Mindil, was among the first troops to enter Atlanta.

The Thirty-third left Chattanooga with over five hundred muskets, and entered Atlanta with a few over one hundred. Three hundred out of the five hundred men were either killed or wounded. It is believed that no regiment of that army can show a similar record.

I'pon entering the city of Atlanta, the Thirty-third was assigned a permanent camp to the right of the McDonough road, about a mile and a-half from the court house. In this camp it remained until Sherman had completed his preparations for the March to the Sea, in which it partook and entered Savannah De- cember 21st.

The armies of Tennessee and Georgia, constituting the invading column of General Sherman, rested at Savannah for about one month, when the grand march through the Carolinas was commeneed. The Thirty- third Regiment, commanded by Colonel Fouratt, was in the Second Brigade, Sceond Division, Twentieth Corps, commanded by General Mindil. After a com- paign of six weeks Goldsborough was reached. The

marching averaged fifteen miles per day, the troops subsisting entirely upon the country, and being mostly employed in the destruction of bridges and railroads, manufactories, rebel storehouses, and cotton. The Army of Georgia, commanded by General Slocum, with which the Thirty-third was identified, was assigned the left flank of the column, being that in the direction of the enemy. The Thirty-third marched North from Savannah about forty miles, and then crossed over into South Carolina, at Sister's Ferry, moving via Robertville and Lowtonville (which the troops completely destroyed), to the Salkahatchie Swamp, and thence towards Blockville, a small vil- lage and station on the Augusta and Charleston Rail- road. Here, while Kilpatrick was fighting at Aiken on the left, and Howard at the crossing of the Edisto on the right, Mindil's Brigade was employed in the destruction of about half a mile of railroad track. Similar work engaged the force elsewhere for a num- ber of weeks both in North and South Carolina.

Goldsborough was the objective both of Sherman and Schofield, and after the former left Fayetteville to resume his march, Johnson rapidly massed his troops at Averysboro and Bentonville, determined to make a last effort for the defence of the tottering Confederacy. At Averysboro a few divisions of the rebel army engaged the First and Third Divisions of our Twentieth Corps, but after a brilliant fight were compelled to retire, when the army was advanced cautiously, on near and parallel roads, and the trains heavily guarded. The weather was wet and stormy, and the marches through the swamps and bogs most exhausting. Mindil frequently marched his troops both night and day in constant rain, felling and split- ting timber most of the time, so as to build roads upon which the trains might pass in safety. At times, leaving camp at four o'clock in the morning, working and toiling all day, midnight found the regiment but six miles in advance. But the troops maintained cheerful spirits, determined to overeome all obstacles. During the engagement at Bentonville, the Second Brigade was assigned to the hazardous duty of con- voying to a place of safety the immense trains of the army ; a service which was highly appreciated by the superior officers. The army reached Goldsborough in safety, having traversed the entire length of the State of South Carolina, destroying all the principal rail- roads connecting Lee's army with its base, and con- suming the greater part of the provisions, means of subsistence and forage in that hitherto inaccessible region of the South. Besides this, Sherman was with- in easy marches of Grant, and the theatre of war be- came narrowed to a district but a few hundred miles in extent. The campaign of Georgia and the Caro- linas virtually decided the fate of the Confederacy.

At length, Grant being ready for his final move, the capaign of Raleigh, the last of the war, was opened. Moving in rapid pursuit of Johnston, Sherman's veterans, at Smithfield, North Carolina, received the 1

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ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65.

gratifying intelligence of Lee's surrender, hailing it with jubilant demonstrations. Near Smithfield, and for an entire afternoon, the Thirty-third regiment successfully fought the retreating rebel cavalry, and there fired the last shots of the war. Johnston's sur- render soon followed, and about a werk after the homeward march was resumed, by way of Weldon, Five Forks, Richmond, and Fredericksburg, the Thirty-third reaching Washington in time to parti- cipate in the grand review of the Armies of the Re- public. The Thirty-third was retained in service until August 2d, lying near Alexandria, when it was ordered to be mustered out, und proveeded to Newark.

This regiment, in a little less than two years, tra- versed a distance of two thousand five hundred miles, over one thousand seven hundred of which were ae- complished by marching. It fought in fourteen battles, and engaged in over a dozen skirmishes. Although but two years in service, the losses of battle and cam- paign were such that the regiment was twice filled. That the Government highly appreciated the services of the regiment, the number of brevets conferred upon its officers clearly shows.

This Regiment was first attached to the First Bri- gade, Second Division, Eleventh Army Corps ; then to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and at the close of the war was attached to what was known as the Provisional Corps, Army of the Potomac.

Battles of the Regiment .- The Regiment took part in the following engagements: Chattanooga, Tenn., November 23, 1863; Mission Ridge, Tenn., November 24-25, 1863; Mill Creek Gap, near Dalton, Ga., May 8, 1864; Resaca, Ga., May 15-16, 1864; New Hope Church, near Dallas, Ga., May 25, to June 1, 1864; Pine Knob, Ga., June 15-16, 1864; Muddy Creek, Ga., June 17-18, 1864; Culp's Farm, Ga., June 22, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1664; Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864; Siege of Atlanta, Ga., July 22, to September 2, 1864; Siege of Savannah, Ga., December 11, to 21, 1864; Averys- boro, N. C., March 16, 1865; Bentonville, N. C., March 18-20, 1864.

FIELD AND STAFF.

Colonel-George W. Mindil, mustered in September 5, 1863 ; mustered out July 17, 1565 ; Colonel Twenty -seventh Regiment, October 3, 1862 ; Brevet Brigadier nud Major-General March 13, 1665.

Lieutenant Colonel -Enos Fouratt, musterod in September 4, 1863 ; mus- tored out July 17, 1865 ; Brevet Colonel March 13, 1866 ; promoted Colonel Tenth Regiment March 31, 1865 ; not mastered.

Majore-David A. Peloubet, mustered In September 4, 1863 ; resigned Angunt 8, 1864.

Thonww O'Connor, mustered in March 27, 1865; Captain Company F, August 15, 1863 ; Major vice Polonbet, resigned ; re- signed April 3, 1865.

Nathaniel K. Bray, mustered in April 28, 1805 ; mustered out July 17, 1806 ; Captain Company I, December 20, 1×63; Major vice O'Connor, resignedl.

Adjutants-William H. Lambert, mustored In July 25, 1863 ; promoted Captain Company .A, December 20, 1863 ; Brevet Major March 13, 1866.

stephen Marson, mustered in January 1;, 1864 ; mustered out July 17, 1885 ; Sergeant Major September 6, 1803 ; Adjutant vice Lambert promoted Brevet Captain and Major March 13, 1865.

Quartermasters-Junies B. Titmau, mustered in Angust 1, ING; ; Frøigned January 26, 1864.

John A. Milller, munstered in June 1, 1864 , mustered out July 17, 1465 ; Commetoned Quartermaster vice Titman resigned.

Surgeon-James Kelley, mustered in July 13, 1-3 mustered out July 17, 1×65.

Assistant Surgeons-J. Henry Stiger, mustored in July 20, 1×3 ; mustered out July 17, 1865; Commissioned surgeon, April 1, INGS, but mus- tered.

Charles W. Stickney, mustored in August 3, 1x63.

Chaphan-John Faull, mustered in September 5, 1803.

NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.

Sergeants Major-Stephen Pierson, mustered in August 29, 1863 , Privato Company (; Sergeant Major September 6, 1963 ; Commeioned Second Lientenant Company E, October 14, 1an3 ; not mustered ; promoted Adjutant December 20, 1863.

James J. Deegan, mustered in August 17, 1563 . First Sergeant Com- ponny F ; Sergeant Major January 16, 1864, promoted First Lieu- tenant Company II, June 28, 1864.

John O'Neill, mustered in August 29, In3 , Sergeant Company K ; Sergeant Major August 4, 1861 ; Commissioned Secoml Lieutenant 1. S. C. T., Jannary 7, 1865 ; dischutge revoked by order War De- partment January 2%, 1865.

Alfred W. Bergen, mustered in August 20, 1863 ; First Sergeant Company C, Sergeant Major December 27, 1564 ; promoted secund Lieutenant Company A, March 31, 1865.

Barney Decker, mustered In September 4, 1863 ; mustered out July 17, 1865 ; sergeant Company D; Sergeant Major May 1, 1×05.

Quartermaster Sergeants-Orlando K. Guerin, musterel in August 20, la3 ; Private, Company E ; Quartermaster Sergeant September 5. Isus ; promoted Second Lieutenant l'omjany 1. November 1, 1864.

James A. Struble, mustered in September 4, 1863 ; mustered out July 17, 1865 , Private, Company 11 ; Quartermaster Pergrant Jan- unry 29, 1865 ; discharged at Newark, N. J., Tel. Ins., War Depart- ment, A. G. O., Washington, D. C., May 3, 1865.

Commissary Sergeants- James Allen, mastered in August 20, 1863 ; Private Company I; Commissary Sergeant September 5, 1863 ; Private Company G, November 14, 1ant.

Martin Foster, mustered in August 20, 1×13 ; mustered out May 29, 1865 ; Sergeant Company G ; Commisery Sergeant Noventa-r 14, 1×63 ; discharged at Lincoln United States Army General Hospital, Washington, D. C', Tel. Ins., War Department, A. G. O., Washing- ton, D. ('., May 3, 1863.

Timothy J. Holly, taustored in August 27, 183 ; mustered ont July 17, 1865 ; Sergeant Company H ; C'ummuisury Sergrant Juuo 1, 1865.

Hospital Stercard-James Van Blarcom, mustored in September 1, 1565 ; mustered out July 17, 186 ; Privato Company D) ; Hospital Steward september 6, 1563.

Drum Major-Nathaniel P. Morris, mastered in August 20, 1-3, mus- tered ont July 17, 1865 , Private Company C'; Drum M.yor March 1, 1xC4.

Principal Musician-William E. Preston, minsterod in September 4, 1863 ; minstereel ont July 17, 1565; Musician Company D; Principal Musician Muy 18, 1864.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 48

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