USA > New Jersey > New Jersey and the rebellion : a history of the service of the troops and people of New Jersey in aid of the Union cause, Pt. 1 > Part 19
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in a whisper; upon the advice of my surgcon, I retired from the field, the command then devolved upon my Licutenant-Colonel, whose report I here enclose.
It would be impossible for me to single out individual cases of courage, where all of my officers and men behaved with such gallantry and discretion. The trophies they took from the enemy speak more cloquently for their actions than any words I might use.
"For able and gallant assistance I owe much to my field officers, their coolness and bravery in manœuvering the men saved much loss of life, confusion and panic. I regret to announce, by the loss of Lieutenant George Burdan, the loss of a brave and efficient officer. My loss in killed, wounded and missing was one hundred and fifty- three, an official list of which I enclose: Killed, 6; wounded, 44; missing, 3.
"LOUIS R. FRANCINE,
"Colonel Seventh New Jersey Volunteers."
To the above, Licutenant-Colonel Price adds the following report of the Seventh, after being left in command :
" The regiment was at a halt, waiting for ammunition, when, finding the regiment, (of the Twelfth Corps,) who had relieved us, falling back, I commanded that we should charge the woods again. We went through the woods nearly to the plank road on our right. Our ammunition being nearly exhausted, the regiment halted. A regiment came up of our troops to hold our place. I retired in good order, until this regiment broke through our ranks. I rallied the regiment on the crest of the hill. The regi- ment then retired in good order to the top of the hill, where we charged to the church on the left. We then rallied and formed in line, immediately behind the batteries that were placed in the carthworks. We remained in this position until the batteries were taken from the field. We then retired to the next line of batteries, which were posted on top of the hill. We remained there until the batteries left their position. During this time, I lost Captain Daniel Hart, of Company E, and Second Lieutenant Riehard Cooper, of Company F, who had acted very bravely, and had done everything in their power to assist me in rallying the men. After the batteries had left, we retired to the Chancellor House, where I found my brigade commander, who Ireported to. Nothing of any note occurred after this ; no casualties occurred, no movement took place, until we left the field on the 6th of May.
"I cannot elose without making mention of Major Frederick Cooper, who, although suffering from a severe attack of rheumatism, staid with the regiment and did all in his power, both to rally and encourage the men.
"I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" FRANCIS PRICE, JR.,
"Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh New Jersey Volunteers."
157
THE SECOND BRIGADE.
manded by General Sickles, occupied the left of our line, the Second Brigade being posted as a reserve to two other brigades of the division. On the afternoon of the 2d, the enemy opened upon this position, but was silenced by our batteries; subsequently, however, charging with infantry in heavy columns and with great impetuosity. But he was met with a determination equal to his own, and finally repulsed, though the brigade was throughout subjected to a terrible fire of musketry and artillery. A second time, however, being reinforced, the rebels advanced, when, being greatly outnumbered, our men fell back. At this juncture, Seeley's Battery, Company K, regulars, was brought up and placed in position, supported at first by another and later by the Fifth Regiment, lying on the side of the road directly in front. The enemy at once brought his guns to bear so as to rake the road, the infantry fire being simultaneously renewed. In the face, how- ever, of this tempest of battle-hail the Fifth Regiment held its position for a time, but other regiments giving way, it was also ultimately compelled to fall back with the battery, Colonel Sewell and acting Major Healey, of the Fifth, being badly wounded, while Colonel Francine and Lieutenant-Colonel Price, of the Seventh, with many other officers, sustained serious hurts. On the following day, the brigade was again engaged, but did not suffer seriously. Its losses in this engagement, in the Jersey regiments, were two hundred and ninety-six. The Fifth and Seventh Regi- ments suffered most severely.12 The total loss, including the
12 The loss in cach regiment was as follows : Fifth, killed 13; wounded 65; missing 16. Sixth, killed 1; wounded 32; missing 8. Seventh, killed 15; wounded 86; miss- ing 13. Eighth, killed 7; wounded 38; missing 2.
The following shows the operations of the Fifth Regiment in this battle :
"The regiment had been on picket during the night of the 1st instant, about one mile and a-half from Emmettsburg, on the road leading from that place to Hagerstown. At two o'clock, a. m., the pickets were called in, and the regiment joined the brigade, and at daybreak marched with the brigade towards Gettysburg, reaching the battle- field at about ten o'clock, a. m. From that time until four o'clock, p. m., the regi- ment, in common with the rest of the brigade, changed its position several times, the most of the time under a heavy fire of artillery from the enemy's batteries, which had taken position on the left of the Emmettsburg road. The casualties in the regiment up to this time were few. At about four o'clock, p. m., the regiment was ordered to relieve another regiment in support of battery K, (Captain Seeley's,) Fourth United States Artillery, which was in position near the Emmettsburg road, just south of the
158
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
Pennsylvania and New Hampshire regiments, amounted to five hundred and thirteen.
'apple orchard.' We took this position, moving by the right flank at the double-quick. In order to occupy the front assigned the regiment, it had to be deployed as skirmish- ers, thus forming rather a singular line for the protection of a battery of six guns. At this point the rebel artillery fire was very severe and effective, one battery pouring an enfilading fire, principally of spherical case, immediately up the road. Very soon after we arrived on the road, another or more than one rebel battery opened upon us from the woods at our left and front. Captain Seeley's battery then became engaged, a battery to our right soon after, and one to our left facing south down the road, which had been engaged before we arrived. This artillery fire was kept up very rapidly for an hour or more, our regiment all the time losing men, the most of them, however, being but slightly wounded by the spherical case. During all this time there was no infantry firing on our part of the line. At about five o'clock, however, the skirmish- ers in our front (the First United States Sharpshooters) were driven in, and immedi- ately after a dense line of the enemy's infantry was seen advancing over a knoll, about six hundred yards distant, to our left and front; and as this line advanced, the infantry on both sides became engaged. The carnage at this time was fearful. The regiment to our left, however, was soon compelled to fall back, and our regiment, small as it was and deployed over so large a front, could offer but little resistance to the rebel lines of battle. Seeley's Battery, which we felt to be our special care, was also com- pelled to fall back. The regiment was collected around the pieces of the battery, and it and the battery in retreat. This was kept up until another line of ours was reached, near the position first occupied by our brigade in the morning, and about one hundred yards from our position on the road. During this retrograde movement, we lost many men, and it was at this time that Colonel Sewell, our gallant leader, was severely wounded by a musket ball in the thigh. Captain Healy, acting Major, was also wounded by a shell in the hand and thigh. Before leaving the road, I had been slightly wounded in the head by a musket ball, and had left the field.
"The regiment was now left under command of Captain Godfrey, and reinforcements arriving from the Fifth Corps, was withdrawn from the field; that night the regiment bivouacked near the stream in the rear of the battle-ground. On the morning of the 3d, I rejoined the regiment and took command.
"During the day we were under fire several times, but met with no casualties, the loss on the 2d inst., was nearly fifty per cent. of the whole number engaged.
"We believe that our regiment assisted materially in gaining the victory over the invading rebel army, and have added something to the reputation already won on many hard-fought fields ; every officer and man was in his place and did his duty.
"H. H. WOOLSEY, "Captain Fiftlı New Jersey Volunteers, "Commanding Regiment."
A note from Colonel Burling says of the operations of the brigade at this time :
"We arrived on the field of Gettysburg July 2d, carly in the morning. The day before I was left at Emmettsburg with the brigade and Smith's Battery to guard the Hagerstown road. July 1st, at one o'clock, a. m., I received orders fromn General Meade to immediately join the corps at Gettysburg, which I complied with. The brigade was detached from our division and ordered to report to General Birney, com- manding the First Division. In compliance with orders, I sent the Fifth New Jersey Volunteers to skirmish in front of our division, and the Seventh New Jersey and Second New Hampshire to support General Graham in the Peach Orchard. With the Sixth and Eighth New Jersey and One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania we con- nceted De Trobiand's and Ward's Brigades of the First Division of our corps, and charged across a wheat field, elearing it of the enemy. I then sent the Sixth New
159
THE SECOND BRIGADE.
Upon the retreat of Lee across the Potomac into the Shenandoah Valley, the Second Brigade proceeded to Bealton, where it went into camp, and was rejoined by General Mott on the 29th of August.13 From this time forward until early in October, the
Jersey to a ledge of rocks called the Devil's Den. Eventually we were all driven back from this advanced position. The next day the brigade was massed in support of batteries, when our losses were compartively light."
13 The operations of the brigade, in the interval between the battle of Gettysburg and its arrival at Warrenton, July 26th, are thus stated in the official report :
"Sunday, July 5th, we received orders to be ready to move on short notice. Mon- day morning we started after the fleeing enemy, but after a very short march, returned to our starting point. Tuesday, we started at three o'clock, a. m., and marched through Emmittsburg, and reached Mechanicsville near sunset. Bivouacked for the night. Resumed the march at daylight, passing through Frederick, and bivouacked on the Middletown Pike, one mile out, at ten o'clock, p. m. Started at four o'clock, a. m. Marched through Middletown, reaching New Baltimore about noon, where we halted until near dark, resuming the march again, and halted about midnight in South Mountain Pass. Started again at 7 o'clock, a. m., passing through Readysville, and crossed Antietam Creek, and halted until ten o'clock, p. m. Resumed the march, re- crossed the creek, and bivouacked for the night near Boolsville. Marched at six o'clock, a. m., a short distance where the Third Corps was massed, in rear of one of the bridges crossing Antietam Creek, in reserve. Starting again at four o'clock, p. m., crossing the Antietam and marching about three miles to the right, and bivouacked for the night.
"Sunday, 12th, received orders that the General Commanding would attack the enemy. About noon, we moved to the left, and massed in the woods, about one mile and a half in rear of Marsh Creek. Here we bivouacked for the night; remained in this bivouac until Tuesday, the 14th. Started at five o'clock, a. m., to occupy ground vacated by a division of the Twelfth Corps, which had advanced to reconnoiter the enemy's position. As they advanced, we followed within supporting distance. It being discovered that the enemy had crossed the Potomac, we bivouacked for the night. The following morning, we resumed the march at daylight, passing through Fairplay and Sharpsburg, crossing the Antietam over Burnside's bridge, marching about half a mile, and bivouacked for the night. Marched at six o'clock, a. m., the next morning, (Thursday,) to within three miles of Harper's Ferry, and remained until the next after- noon. Resumed the marel at four o'clock, crossing the Potomac and Shenandoah, at Harper's Ferry. Marched one and a half miles towards Hillsboro' and bivouacked for the night ; started at six o'clock, a. m., and reached Hillsboro' about noon; stayed here all night ; starting in the morning at eight o'clock, and marched within five miles of Snicker's Gap, bivouacking for the night; starting in the morning at four o'clock, a. m., and reached Upperville about three o'clock, p. m. Remained here guarding Ashby's Gap until noon of Wednesday, July 22d, when we resumed the march, and reached Piedmont Station, on the Manassas Gap Railroad, about one o'clock, p. m. At a late hour that night I was ordered to be ready to move the brigade with the division at four o'clock, a. m., July 23d, to support the first division of this corps. We reached Lin- den Station in Manassas Gap near noon of the 23d. 'I was here ordered to detail a regi- ment to support a battery on the heights commanding Chester Gap road; the Seventh New Jersey Volunteers were detailed in compliance with that order. I will here state that at the time of our leaving Upperville the Sixth New Jersey Volunteers was detailed to guard the wagon train, leaving me with four (+) small regiments, numbering not muore than five hundred and fifty (550) muskets. We advanced in column of division closed in mass, changing our position from the right to the left side of the main road
160 ·
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
brigade was not actively engaged. Participating, however, in the movements along the Rapidan, which culminated in the withdrawal of our army to the north bank of the Rappahannock, and subse- quently to the vicinity of the Bull Run battle-field. It retired with its division, on the 13th of October, to Centreville, whence it was dispatched to guard McLean's Ford on Bull Run, some two miles above Union Mills, where the enemy was suspected of a desire to cross with a view of flanking our position. This suspicion was soon realized. On the afternoon of the 15th, a large body of cavalry appeared in front of Mott's position, and dismounting a part of his men attempted to drive in our pickets, but was for a time unsuccessful, subsequently, however, the rebels being reinforced, the pickets retired to the north side of the river, whereupon the enemy charged down to the ford, under cover of artillery, with both cavalry and infantry, and taking position in some old rifle pits, opened a murderous fire upon the gallant Jerseymen. But
leading to Front Royal, and rising a high ridge which had been carried by the first divi- sion. I was now ordered forward by General Prince to support the Second Brigade of our division, which had charged and was driving the enemy. The column was imme- diately put in motion and deployed while advancing, and continued to advance in line of battle to a erest of a hill within easy supporting distance of the Second Brigade, where, by General Prince in person, we were ordered to halt. While in this position the enemy opened a slight artillery fire which wounded two men. We remained in this position all night, the men laying on their arms. Early the next morning, I was ordered to advanec, leading the division column, the Second New Hampshire Volunteers were deployed as skirmishers on the right and left of the road, the One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania and Eighth New Jersey Volunteers supported the right, and the Fifth New Jersey Volunteers the left of the skirmishers. In this order we pressed the distance of three miles to Front Royal, the enemy falling baek slowly before us. In approaching Front Royal the line of skirmishers and supports passed over a steep mountain, densely wooded, and with thick undergrowth. After a short stay at Front Royal, I was ordered by General Prince to withdraw my skirmishers and march to the rear by the flank, the object we came for being accomplished.
At Markham Station we bivouacked for the night, and next day marched to seven miles from Warrenton. It was extremely gratifying to me to observe the promptness that both officers and men evineed in overcoming the difficulties of the advance, the weather being extremely warm, and the ground very uneven, and covered in many places with a thick undergrowth almost impassable for man or beast.
I feel indebted to Captain F. W. Eayre, Assistant-Adjutant-General, Lieutenant Cul - ver, A. A. I. G., and Lieutenant Thompson, A. D. C., for their promptness in com- munieating my orders on the field.
Sunday, July 26th, started at five o'clock, a. m., and reached Warrenton at eleven o'clock, a. m., where we went into camp.
Very respectfully submitted,
GEORGE C. BURLING,
Colonel Sixth New Jersey Volunteers, Commanding Brigade."
161
THE SECOND BRIGADE.
the latter had participated in too many hard-fought battles to shrink from such an assault. While one detachment returned the fire of the rebels, another, with shovels, threw up a temporary cover, and thus affording our skirmishers some protection, the fight went on vigorously, until Robinson's Battery and a section of Seeley's being put in position, the enemy's guns were silenced. The skirmishers of the two forces in this brilliant affair were scarcely one hundred yards apart, only the waters of Bull Run flowing between them, and on either side of which they lay concealed behind ridges of earth, showing themselves only to give and receive the leaden compli- ments. Towards evening the enemy retired, and our men, crossing the stream, took possession of both banks. The total loss of the brigade amounted to twenty-nine men, while the enemy lost some sixty in killed and wounded." The defence of the ford was directed
1$ A correspondent of the New York Herald, writing at the time, said: "A Union corporal was caught on the western bank of the river when the rebels advanced, but managed to make his escape from the enemy, immediately on the close of the skirmish. He reports the rebel loss about sixty in killed and wounded, including a colonel." The same writer adds: "General Mott behaved with coolness and courage, and so soon as the enemy withdrew, threw his men across the river, and would have pursued had the opportunity been given him." 1 .
The official statement of our losses is as follows : "Fifth Regiment, 1 killed and ? wounded; Sixth, killed, -, S wounded, 3 missing; Seventh, 5 wounded; Eighth, 2 wounded; One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania, 2 wounded.
General Mott's report of the action of his brigade in this affair is as follows :
"After leaving Centreville with the division, on the morning of the 15th, I was ordered by an aid of General Prince to proceed with my brigade and a section of Seeley's Battery to MeLean's Ford, and to hold it should the enemy attempt crossing at that place. I immediately proceeded there, and ordered Colonel Burling, Sixth New Jersey Volunteers, with his regiment, to take possession of some old rifle pits on the north side of said ford, and to throw out pickets well in front on the opposite side of Buil Run stream. I was informed that General Warren, commanding the Second Corps, would connect with my pickets on the right, and General Carr, commanding Third Division, Third Corps, on my left. The communication was not entirely made when a column of the enemy's cavalry, at half-past two o'clock, p. m., was seen debouching from the woods, in the direction of Manassas Junction, into a large plain immediately in my front. He immediately dismounted a part of his men and attempted to drive in my pickets, whom I strengthened from the Sixth New Jersey, and ordered the One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania to support them, and repulsed his skirmishers, which were soon reinforced and again advanced on my pickets, who, as I had ordered, retired to the riffe pits on the north side of the river. The enemy now brought up a battery of artillery and opened a very sharp and accurate fire, not only on the Sixth New Jersey Volunteers and One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania, occupying the rifle pits, but on the balance of my brigade, which was posted on the high ground and on the right and left of the road leading to the ford. The dismounted men, now in considerable forec, came on with their own peculiar yell, and charged to the brink of the stream, expecting to carry the ford, but that and a member of similar charges
21
162
NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
throughout by General Mott, and was admirable and efficient in the highest degrec.
The brigade subsequent to this action participated in all the movements of the corps up to the close of the year, but was not again engaged-finally going into winter quarters at Brandy Sta- tion. 15
were repulsed handsomely by my men in the rifle pits, assisted by a detachment from the Fifth New Jersey Volunteers that were occupying a small earthwork a little to my right of the ford (all under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Gilkyson, Sixth New Jersey Volunteers), with considerable loss to the enemy and but slight to my com- mand. I ordered Lieutenant Smith, commanding a section of Sceley's Battery, to open with grape, shell, or whatever he had that would be most effective in repulsing the advance of the enemy, when to my surprise, he started to leave with his guns, giving as a reason that he was afraid of losing them. As my whole brigade and the Bull Run river were between the enemy and him, I did not think that the danger was imminent. I, therefore, repeated the order, when he fired but two or three rounds, and again limbered up for the purpose of leaving. About this time a section of Robinson's Battery (Fourth Mainc,) reported, so I allowed Lieutenant Smith to leave with his section. The conduct of this officer, to say the least, was very strange. Upon inquiry, I am informed that it was the first time he had had a separate command, that he was a young officer, and has formerly conducted himself gallantly, and I hope by passing this over, he will prove by his future actions that there was an error in judgment and not a willful disobedience of orders. When the section of Robinson's Battery reported, it was so short of men that I had to detail some of my infantry to hold the horses and put the drivers to working the guns. There being no officer with the section, Captain J. M. Crawford, A. A. D. C., took command, and got one of the guns to work, which did considerable execution. I was informed that the sergeant who started in command, and was ordered to report to me, was wounded on the way. Captain Randolph now reported to me that the balance of Captain Robinson's Battery had arrived, which he had posted to my left, and also took the section with him. The men in the rifle pits had now nearly exhausted their ammunition, and I relieved them with portions of the Fifth and Eighth New Jersey Volunteers, which was successfully donc without losing a man, although under a sharp musketry fire. The action lasted about two hours, then the enemy withdrew with a loss (as I afterwards learned,) of some sixty killed and wounded, and with a portion of his artillery disabled-the latter showing that Captain Robinson did good service with his battery. At about seven o'clock, p. m., the One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Volunteers, Lieutenant- Colonel Bowers, reported to me with abont three hundred and fifty inen (350). I placed him on the left of the road leading to the ford; and although under a heavy artillery fire for a short time, I am happy to state, met with no casualties. The officers and men of my brigade behaved with their accustomed gallantry, and well sustained their hard earned reputation, and gave the enemy their usual greeting. My command can hardly be called a brigade, although consisting of five (5) regiments. The field return showed, on the morning of the action, but six hundred and ninety-one (691) muskets, but I have the consolation of knowing that the numbers that have been lost arc nobly accounted for."
15 During the winter, Colonel Burling, of the Sixth Regiment, was obliged to quit the service, with which he had been connected from the start-having entered the three months' service in command of a company from Burlington; and, after serving for that term, joined the Sixth (three years') Regiment as Captain, serving in that capacity until March, 1862, when he was made Major of the regiment, continuing as
163
THE SECOND BRIGADE.
On the 3d of May, General Grant, who had succeeded to the command of all our armies, having completed his preparations for a summer campaign, ordered an advance towards the Wilderness, a densely-wooded tract of table land, stretching southward from the Rapidan nearly to Spottsylvania Court House. The Second Corps, with which the Second Brigade16 was now identified, crossed the river at Ely's Ford, and moved straight on to Chancellorsville, where it arrived on the 5th, scarcely a shot having been fired. Meanwhile the other corps were brought into position, and the enemy took up a line parallel with our advance. On the 5th, the Fifth Corps, under Warren, was heavily assailed by a large force of the enemy, the Sixth Corps being at the same time attacked by another force under Ewell, and a stubborn battle ensued, night closing upon the field. Meanwhile, the Second Brigade had been advanced to an elevated position on the Brock road, which extends to the east towards the Spottsylvania and Fredericksburg road, where breastworks were hastily thrown up-two regiments, how- ever-the Fifth and Eighth New Jersey, under command of Col- onel William J. Sewell-moving up the road to its junction with what is known as the Furnace road, where Sewell was placed in command of the skirmish line. From this position, an advance was presently ordered, and the men dashed impetuously over the breastworks, eager to engage the foe. At this point, however, as elsewhere upon the field, so dense was the undergrowth that it was
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