USA > New Jersey > History of the men of Co. F, with description of the marches and battles of the 12th New Jersey Vols. Dedicated to "our dead." > Part 6
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
nation had transformed it into a smoking shell and set our hair a-la-pompadour. We saw our sharpshooters play a neat trick on some of the rebel sharpshooters, who kept up a damaging fire on anyone who showed up near a big tree just in the rear of our line. They had killed one and wounded two more, when two of Berdan's men (one an Indian) came up; but they could not locate the fatal rebel, so they took positions about twenty yards apart and told us to hold up a cap on a ramrod, so that it looked like a head peeping over the earthworks, when the rebel promptly put a bullet through it. By the smoke of his gun our sharpshooters saw where he was-near a small tree on higher ground, quite a distance back from their line of battle-and as soon as our men got their telescope rifles set for the distance, our cap took another look over, got another bullet, and that rebel laid down to rest; another took his place, with the same result; and the third one soon followed the other two-to the hospital or cemetery-and no more shots came from that position.
The dead lay on this field, between our lines, unburied until June 7th (four days), in that hot sun, until the stench became unbearable, when a truce was agreed upon. Both sides sent out parties to bury their dead, and for two hours not a shot was fired, though no one was allowed out in front but the bur- ial parties. We ran about on top of our breastworks, and laughed and talked with the saucy rebels like the best of friends, and James Mosey went over and swapped coffee for tobacco with one of them; but just as the two hours were up, the bugle sounded the recall. They shouted, " Get down, Yanks!" and in less than a minute it was certain death to show a head on either side. A few nights after this we very quietly slipped off and left them listening to the music of one of our brass bands, put there on purpose to amuse them, while we were rapidly moving off by the left flank towards the James River and Petersburg. They never knew we were gone until 9 o'clock the next morning, when we were many miles away, laughing to think how nicely we had given them the slip. And now, after many years, our memories revert to that dreary place, and we feel in our hearts that the title, "Cold Harbor," was
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The Men of Company F,
not all that the name implied; as neither that June weather, nor our reception by the rebels, could be called "Cold." And "Harbor "-a place of refuge or safety-well, no; not to any great extent !
We crossed the Chickahominy River and swamp early in the morning of May 13th, and reached the James quite late the same night; and our bivouac was in a nice clover field, where we rested sweetly after that long march of nearly forty miles. And next day crossed the James River, on boats, near that long pontoon bridge, (said to be one and a half miles), where we waited for rations (that never came), and enjoyed the novel spectacle of unloading cattle from the transports in the middle of the river. A few of them were forced overboard, and the others followed in single file, taking the plunge and swimming ashore. 15th, 10 a. m., we leisurely took up our line of march for Petersburg (seventeen miles), and camped for the night about 8 o'clock, but had hardly got settled down when orders came to hurry on to Petersburg, three miles far- ther, where a battle was going on. And at II o'clock we formed our line of battle on the Hog-back.
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PETERSBURG SIEGE.
The Siege of Petersburg lasted nearly ten months, (from June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865,) and our duties during this long and trying period were of a varied and general character. Other Corps, notably the Tenth and Eighteenth, under Butler, and the Ninth and Sixth in the Army of the Potomac, were assigned to certain portions of the line, which they fortified and held without much change ; whilst our Corps (the Second) and the Fifth were in reserve, and never long in one place. We were here, there and everywhere ; just as needed, strength- ening a line, filling a gap, making assaults, off on raids or building forts and earthworks ; all of which was very exhaust- ive ; and that fearfully hot Southern weather, withi bad water, or no water at all, tried our Northern temperaments nearly to the limit of endurance. Yet our losses were not very great, as we had but few to lose, and our style of fighting was not like that at Chancellorsville, where we thought it cowardly to dodge or get behind a tree ; we had passed that stage, and were now Indian fighters or bushwhackers, quick to see topo- graphical possibilities of a battle-field ; take advantage of every fence, gully, stump, stone or tree, and could get down in the ground as quickly as a mole ; dodge shell or bullet, and laugh and talk of our narrow escapes with the easy grace of a veteran. We soon solved the lack of water problem by digging wells, and finding a good supply and quality at a depth of ten or twelve feet. That stiff white clay needed no bricks or curbing; some of the wells being over twenty feet, and stood for months without caving in.
Our first day at Petersburg (June 16tl1) was spent on the "Hog-back," a sharp, narrow ridge near the Friend House, where we had a good view of the rebels in our front ; as they Were driven back by our skirmish line, re-formed in the field
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The Men of Company F,
beyond, where they tried to throw up earthworks, somewhat bothered by our artillerymen, who kept dropping shells among them. And in the intervals we saw those same artillerymen get out their cards and engage in that ever-fascinating game of poker, alternating this with their game of ball. No danger of these men getting scared ; they were seasoned. Whilst we were enjoying ourselves with an old coffee mill, which we found at a nearby house, one of the hang-up variety, which we nailed to a tree (also nailed the corn), and kept steadily at work grinding corn and making Johnny cake, after the very latest improved methods. Not baked in a dirty tin pan, as was the home custom, but by mixing the coarse meal with water and a pinch of salt to a sticky dough, which was stuck on a piece of board, and set up as close as possible to the fire ; and we knew when it was done by its falling off into the ashes.
June 17th, our brigade was sent to the left to help the Ninth Corps, where we made a partially unsuccessful charge, without much loss. But the brigade on our left, less fortunate, made a half circle and came dashing into our line, thinking we were the rebels, leaving many of their dead and wounded just out- side of our lines. One of our company, James Mosey, went out among them after dark, and returned laden with watches, pocket-books and plunder. And here is where we drew that ration of crazy whiskey !
Next day, the 18th, we moved up to the Hare House, where we lay in the road and witnessed that famous charge of the First Maine Heavy Artillery, as they advanced about one hundred and fifty yards in the open field in front of us, and were hurled back with the greatest regimental loss known dur- ing the war. More than six hundred of their men went down on that little plot of about two acres, two hundred of them be- ing instantly killed. ' And their bodies lay as thick as sheaves of grain in a harvest field, whilst the survivors came limping and crawling back, shot, torn and mangled almost beyond rec- ognition. On the 22d, we extended our lines to the left across the Jerusalem Plank Road. We made another unsuccessful charge, where McKnight's battery lost their guns; and for over a month we kept pushing out to the left, encircling the
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
town of Petersburg with an elaborate chain of forts, ditches, earthworks, redans and bomb-proofs, almost to the Weldon Railroad.
July 26th, we were off on the raid to Deep Bottom, crossing the James River far to the right of Butler's position, and threat- ening Richmond. But we found the rebels well prepared for us; and, after a few days spent in skirmishing and capturing that battery of four big black twenty-pound Parrott guns, we got back to Petersburg at daylight, July 30th, after a very tire- some all-night's march, just in time for the Mine explosion, which resulted so disastrously for our Ninth Corps-of which we were witnesses, not participants. Then for two weeks we occupied the rear line works just vacated by the colored troops, where we encountered that new and improved breed of grey- backs (African), much larger and with one more row of teeth than those with which we were already so plentifully supplied, keeping us steadily engaged night and day in skirmishing, until August 12th, when we marched to City Point. The next day, in the afternoon, we took passage on the transports, presumably for Fortress Monroe; but, after steaming a few miles down the river to deceive the watchful rebels, we turned about in the darkness-and water, and next morning at 3 o'clock, we were again at Deep Bottom, with the rebel shot dropping in the water around us. We were quickly on shore and drove the rebels back from the river, but with no better success than on our previous visit. The weather at this time was the hottest we ever experienced; the roads and fields were deep with dust, and the victims of sun-stroke lay thick by the wayside, as we marched and skirmished here and there, try- ing to find their weak place -- which wasn't there. But there was a field of corn off to our right just in condition for roast- ing-ears, and whilst we were gathering our share on one side of the field, the rebels were gathering theirs on the other; and two of our boys (Griscom and Haines) had a friendly chat with two of theirs only a few hills farther up the same row. August 2oth, after dark, we re-crossed the James River on the pontoon bridge, which was covered with hay, muffling the sound from the rebels' ears. And through a pouring rain, mud and inky
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The Men of Company F,
darkness, lit up at intervals with fires by the roadside to guide the route, we marched all night, by way of Point of Rocks, back to our lines at Petersburg, where we arrived soon after daylight, weary, wet and covered with mud. We only had an hour or so to make coffee, when we were hurried off to the left, where our lines were being further extended towards the Yellow House. Here we spent several days in cutting trees and making a slashing in front of our earthworks.
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DEEP BOTTOM.
AS TOLD IN A WAR-TIME LETTER BY LIEUTENANT JAMES S. STRATTON.
NEAR DEEP BOTTOM, Va., August 18, 1864. My Dear Father :-* Since the afternoon of the 12th inst., our moments of rest and inactivity have been few. We have been under fire nearly all the while since touching the north bank of the James, and, indeed, a rebel battery opened upon us while we were on shipboard. At the mouth of Four- Mile Creek, the Johnnies espied our large steam transport, with her crowded decks, railings and wheel-houses, and com- plimented us with a shell that fell a few feet short, and a solid shot that passed in such close proximity as to make us dodge. The boys say the captain of the steamer was considerably de- moralized, as he put on all steam and carried away a portion of a pontoon bridge, which he had to pass. In the fleet of transports was the "Swan," formerly "Cohansey," of Bridge- ton, under Captain Prior. On the 14th, we were under artil- lery fire from the enemy, and one brigade of our division charged a portion of the line held by the enemy, and although they did all that was in their power to do, they were repulsed with heavy loss. I have been compelled to put up my ink and take the pencil, because of a sharp fire which has com- menced on our right, and which may not end before we are involved in the engagement.
On every such occasion we pack up everything and gird on our armor for the fray. On the morning of the 16th we were for two or three hours under a fire of canister from the enemy, but fortunately our regiment and brigade were massed behind a hill and suffered, the regiment not any and the brigade, but slight loss. About I p. m. of the same day, our regiment was moved out for a charge, and the start was made, but just as the climax was to be capped and either a rebel battery and
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The Men of Company F,
position or a disastrous repulse was to be ours, an aide gal- loped to us and ordered our return. Two minutes later and a recall could not have reached us, and we would to-day have been masters of the position, or the bodies of many of us would have been lying on that field. We were under a pretty sharp fire, but one man in Company B killed was the only casualty.
August 19th, morning .- Whilst writing last evening, the rebels made a desperate assault upon our right (Tenth Corps), but were repulsed, and almost immediately thereafter as- saulted the cavalry guarding our right flank. This seemed so nearly in our rear that it created confusion and consternation among the coffee coolers (cooks) who inceremoniously limbered for Deep Bottom, in consequence of which my mess went without supper.
At midnight we moved to our left, and are now holding a very strong picket line. Near me are two one hundred-pound shells, which our gun-boats dropped near our line, instead of among the Johnnies. It is frequently the case that our own batteries kill and wound our own men. I saw a captain killed and a man wounded by one of our batteries on a hill in their rear. I must bring this to a close and think of getting some breakfast ; roasted and boiled corn appears to be the staple, and I believe I will try some of the former. All well in Com- pany F.
With love, your son, J. S. S.
REAMS STATION.
BY LIEUTENANT JAMES WHITE.
On the 24th of August, 1864, two divisions of Hancock's Second Army Corps were sent to Reams Station, about ten miles south of Petersburg, Virginia, for the purpose of de- stroying the Weldon Railroad at that point. Arriving there a little after sunrise, having marched about four miles in that direction the day before, details were sent out to destroy the road by tearing up the track, piling the ties, placing the rails across them, firing the ties, and when red hot bending and twisting them, so as to render them useless until re-rolled. There was very little fighting done that day, but early next morning the First Delaware Regiment was sent out as skir- mishers, with the Twelfth New Jersey supporting. We ad- vanced about a mile and a half, but the rebels being reinforced and bringing up two field pieces of artillery, we were com- pelled to fall back to a more advantageous position. The Seventh Virginia was then sent to the assistance of the First Delaware, and Companies F and K of our regiment joining on their left, when we again drove them back and held our line until near 6 o'clock, when we were ordered back to the breast- works at the station, which we found already erected, in the form of a horseshoe ; and which, while we were out holding the enemy in check, were being occupied by the rest of the two divisions, and also with artillery. On coming in we found our brigade (Smythe's) on the left of the line, and we had just gotten into our new position in the works, when the rebels opened upon our right with artillery, following it up with a furious attack, which was repulsed, as was also a second attack on the same point ; but, being heavily reinforced, the third attack was more successful, as they broke through at one point in the First Division, owing to bad conduct of a heavy artillery regiment, and got possession of two guns of Mc-
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The Men of Company F,
Knight's Twelfth New York Battery. At this moment General Hancock came riding up, and ordered our brigade (Smythe's) over to re-take the captured works and guns, on the right side of the horseshoe. The space enclosed by the breastwork was covered almost entirely with a fine growth of timber, and the two Generals, Hancock and Smythe, with their full staffs, and the men of the brigade, swept through that timber just like a whirlwind and re-took those works in less time than it takes me to write this description of it. It was in this charge, whilst in the act of leading his men to re-take this captured battery, that the grand young hero, James S. Stratton, lost his life. He was carried back a short distance from the sta- tion, where it was the sad privilege of the writer, along with other members of our company, among whom were Charles D. Lippincott, Azariah Stratton, H. M. Avis, William P. Haines, and others whom I do not remember, to prepare a burial place for our beloved comrade ; digging his grave with our bayonets and tin cups, for the lack of more suitable tools. This silent burial, on that dark August night, recalls vividly the story of the " Burial of Sir John Moore."
" As slowly and sadly we laid him to rest, On the field of his fame, fresh and gory."
We retreated during the night, and at sunrise next morning we were back in our lines at Petersburg, wishing for no more . Reams Station.
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REAMS STATION.
BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL H. F. CHEW.
August 23, 1864, the First and Second Divisions of the Second Corps, commanded by Major-Generals Miles and Gib- bon, the whole under the command of Major-General W. S. Hancock, consisting of about 10,000 men, left the line of works in front of Petersburg and moved to the left, early in the morn- ing, arriving at Reams Station about 8 o'clock. The object of this move was to destroy the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, to prevent supplies reaching Lee's army at Petersburg. Soon after reaching the station, the men commenced to destroy the road by prying off the rails, taking up the ties and burning them, and laying the rails to heat, so they could not be used again, the Twelfth Regiment doing its share of the work with energy. After this was accomplished, we lay around discuss- ing the battle which we thought would soon take place, be- lieving the enemy would not peaceably let us destroy one of their lines of communication without resenting it. We were not mistaken.
In the evening of the 24th, orders were issued to us to be ready to march at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 25th. Just - previous to that time the orders were countermanded, and we remained. We wondered at its meaning, for we believed if we should remain the enemy would give us trouble. Just about daylight on the morning of the 25th. we heard some firing, which sounded a distance off. We all came to the conclusion that we would soon have some work. Soon our regiment, the Twelfth, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, was ordered to move towards a strip of woods, about one mile from the station. After marching some distance we were halted. when Brigadier-General T. A. Smythe, commanding our bri- gade, ordered us to get ready for the skirmish line. The writer, then Major of the regiment, was ordered to take the
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The Men of Company F,
right of the regiment, consisting of Companies F, A, I, B and H, and deploy them as skirmishers, and advance on the enemy, who were in the woods in front. We advanced into a cornfield and were soon hotly engaged. The skirmish line is one of the most dangerous places in time of an attack. I ordered the men to lie down, take the best care of themselves they could, and not expose themselves more than they could help. I think this was one of the hottest places that I was ever in. It was a hot, sultry day in August. The sun was not only hot, but the firing hot and terrific. We were close enough to the enemy to hear their guns snap, and hear the officers giving their com- mands. Captain F. M. Acton and the writer lay low among the corn, as close to the ground as we could lie, the cornstalks near and around us being cut off by the bullets of the enemy, as though knives were cutting them, the balls striking in the sand threw it in our faces. We were under this fire nearly three hours. We soon heard sharp firing back at the station, and knew that our men were engaged there.
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, General Smythe rode out and ordered me to bring my skirmishers in as soon as possible. This I did in good order, being followed slowly by the enemy. Just before arriving at the station, we heard a yell from the rebels, and knew that they were charging the works at the station, but they were gallantly repulsed by our men. We soon arrived at the station, taking our position in rear of the front line. The enemy finding they could not break through, opened their artillery on us, and the shells commenced to fly thickly around, one bursting near our regiment, wounding Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson and some of the men. He was carried to the rear, and the writer assumed command of the regiment.
The enemy made other charges, but were repulsed. The fighting was terrible, every man doing his duty. We knew if we gave way the enemy would capture us all. General Han- cock rode up, asking if I commanded that regiment. I re- plied that I did. He then ordered me to move forward, which we did, but had not gone far before he ordered us to support one of our batteries. I think it was a New Jersey battery, and
Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. 81
it did its duty, as New Jersey soldiers always did. Very soon, the enemy being reinforced, made another charge, breaking the First Division. Some of this division and some from our division seeing the Twelfth in line, rallied around our flags, cheering with a determination not to fall back any further I soon had some fifteen hundred men in line, full of courage. Cap- tain Bronson, of General Hancock's staff, came with orders from the general ordering me to charge the enemy, and drive them out of the works. Bronson said he would go with me. We both stepped out in front, when I ordered the regiment to charge. They did this in gallant style, driving the enemy out and re-capturing two pieces of artillery, which the enemy had taken previously. Captain Bronson was killed before he reached the works ; also, Lieutenant James S. Stratton, brother of Captain E. L. Stratton. Lieutenant James S. Stratton (" Lit- tle Jim," as we used to call him) was a brave officer, and loved by us all. On the afternoon of the 24th he told me he did not believe he would live through the next battle. I think he must have had a presentiment of it, as many other soldiers did.
After driving the enemy out of the works, we were still hotly engaged, and the battle raged until long after dark. While in the works, Lieutenant John Rich, of this county, was killed. The enemy captured several pieces of artillery and turned them on us. Two pieces were recaptured by the Twelfth New Jer- sey. It was said that the enemy attacked us with General A. P. Hill's and part of Longstreet's Corps, numbering some thirty thousand men. There may have been less than that number. but one thing I do know, that they had more than I wanted them to have. At one time during the battle one of our sur- geons happened to get right into it, and he came and asked me where was a safe place, and how to get out. I told him the safest place was where he was, and not to bother me any more, as I had my hands full.
Our loss was heavy, the enemy capturing between twenty-five hundred and three thousand prisoners, and some eight or ten pieces of artillery. The Twelfth New Jersey lost two officers killed. Captain F. M. Riley (now Cashier of the Cumberland Bank, of Bridgeton) and some seventeen privates were captured by the enemy, and a number of the men killed and wounded.
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The Men of Company F,
Some time late in the evening, being thirsty, not having had a drink of water since early in the morning, I asked one of my color corps, James Stanton, to go get me some. He started off with his canteen, but had not been gone long before he re- turned with his canteen filled. He said he found a well just on the left of the regiment, and told me the enemy was getting water out of the same well. He knew they were rebels by their conversation, it being so dark they could not distinguish each other. I considered this important news, and felt some- what apprehensive for the safety of the regiment. I reported the matter to General Gibbon, who told me to report it to General Smythe, our brigade commander; in addition, he told me to withdraw my men as quietly as I could, which was done without losing a man.
The Twelfth New Jersey had been separated from the rest of the brigade early in the day, and when returning to the station we fought as a regiment under the immediate command of General Hancock, and I received most of my orders from him. Let me say here, that the officers and men of the Twelfth New Jersey thought there was no man like Hancock, and would go wherever he wished, believing and knowing he would bring them out right. He was my beau ideal of a soldier. I always found him a gentleman in every particular.
Why we were left to fight our way out from Reams Station without being reinforced, I never could tell, and do not know to this day. This is the battle in which General James A. Beaver, ex-Governor of Pennsylvania, lost his leg. Meeting him not long ago, I asked him if he remembered Reams Sta- tion. He gave me a warm grasp of the hand and asked, " Were you there?" I told him I was. Patting his leg, he said, " I left part of it there." Late in the night of the 25th, we left Reams Station quietly, and returned to our camp in front of Petersburg, feeling we had the worst of the bargain. Our wounded were left behind, not having enough ambulances to bring them off the battlefield. Lieutenant Stratton was buried by the men of his company (F) with their tin plates and cups, not having any shovels. I consider that the battle of Reams Station (though not occupying a great place in the history of the war) one of the hottest fights I was ever in, and
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