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 23
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3 A correspondent of the New York Tribune says of this gallant affair :
"The struggle for the possession of the works on our picket line is represented as having been desperate in the extreme. Frequently a determined fight would occur across the works, and in one instance so close were the combatants that one of our men, a member of the One Hundred and Twentieth New York, was pulled bodily over on the rebel side, where, after being beaten until apparently dead with the breach of a musket, he was robbed of his watch, money and boots. He made his escape this morning, minus the articles mentioned, and plus a very sore head. The faces of the men killed and of many wounded bear witness to the gallantry of the struggle, the skin, in some instances, being black with the powder from the enemy's muskets.
In the list of casualties, appears the name of Thomas MeBride, of the Eighth New Jersey Battalion, who was killed while charging with our men to re-capture our works. This gallant fellow, an orderly to Colonel MeAllister, commanding the brigade, when it was known that our picket line had been attacked, begged permission to accompany the detail, carrying ammunition to the front, and on arriving and learning that we were about to charge the enemy, entered the ranks of the assaulting party, and was killed while fighting heroically in the front ranks. As noble as is the example of the . dead soldier McBride, many in the ranks of the Union army have fallen and are destined yet to fall, possessed of a patriotism as exalted and a bravery as sublime as his."
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION. .
placed side by side with the heroic deeds performed in other and greater battles.133
The brigade was now permitted to rest from active campaigning until the 6th of December, when it started with the Fifth Corps and Mott's Division of the Second Corps, on the Weldon Railroad expedition. This march was attended by great discomforts, the weather being stormy and cold, and the roads at times impassable. Moving down the railroad to the Meherrin, the few rebels encoun- tered were dispersed, and the troops commenced the work of de- stroying the track, which was done effectually for a distance of twenty miles. The brigade of McAllister, who, on the morning of the 6th, had been notified of his appointment as Brevet Brigadier- General, took an active part in this work. The troops, having ac- complished the object of the expedition, returned to their position, the Second Brigade, however, going into camp on the Weldon Railroad.34
33 General Mott's order on the occasion was as follows :
"HEADQUARTERS, THIRD DIVISION SECOND CORPS, ) November 7, 1864.
" General Order, No. 67.
"The Brevet Major-General Commanding takes great pleasure in expressing to the command his gratification with the good conduct of the troops engaged in the affair on the night of the 5th instant-resulting in the re-taking of that portion of the picket line wrested from us by an overwhelming force of the enemy, the capture of forty-two prisoners, (including one commissioned officer,) the foreing of the enemy to leave in our hands a number of their dead, and a quantity of small arms and entrenching tools. Special mention is due to Colonel R. McAllister, commanding brigade, who gave his personal superintendence to the operations, and to the officers on his staff, who ren- dered him such effective service. The conduct of the officers and men of the One Hundred and Twentieth New York and Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers, who were directly engaged, is worthy of emulation. Such gallantry, always displayed, would soon bring the rebellion to a closc.
"By command of
Brevet Major-General MOTT.
" J. P. FINKELMEIER, A. A. G."
" General Mott made the following report of the part taken by his division during this movement on the Weldon Railroad :
"On Tuesday, the 6th inst., at two o'clock, p. m., I received orders from Head- quarters Army of the Potomac, to report immediately to Major-General Warren for orders. . On reporting, I received instructions to be ready to move with my division at daylight next morning with six days' rations and one hundred rounds of small army ammunition. Wednesday, the 7th, left eamp at daylight and marched just south of the Yellow Tavern, of the Gurley House, Smith's House, and of the Temple House, following General Ayres' Division of the Fifth Corps, and being joined by Battery B, Fourth United States Artillery, commanded by Captain Stewart, which battery was assigned to my division by the Chief of Artillery, of the Fifth Corps. Thence proceeded south by the Jerusalem plank road, arriving at Hawkins' Tavern at half-past four
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THE SECOND BRIGADE.
On February 5, 1865, General Grant ordered the Fifth an Second Corps again to push out from our left to Ream's Station, and thence to Dinwiddie Court House, the Fifth being directed to turn the rebel right, while the Second assailed it in front. In this movement, McAllister's Brigade formed its line of battle at the Tucker House across the road leading past it, with pickets well to the front, connecting with the Second Division pickets on his left. Here breastworks were partly erected, which, however, were subsequently partly occupied by Ramsey's Brigade of the First Division, McAllister being ordered to form on Ramsey's left and make connection with the right of Smyth's Division. While making this formation, however, our picket line was attacked, and the brigade moved into line behind that portion of the works not occupied by Ramsey's men. At this moment, however, a gap was " discovered in the line between the two brigades, and the Eleventh, intended for the left, was hastily detached and hurried to the right, occupying the breach. They were at once opened upon by the enemy, but promptly returned the fire, which soon became general
o'clock, p. m .; at six o'clock, p. m., received orders from the Major-General com- manding the expedition to pass the divisions of General Griffin and Ayres, and to cross the Nottoway River on the pontoon bridge which had been previously laid; on arriving near the bridge there was some delay occasioned by a wagon having run off the bridge and broken one of the boats. The damage was soon repaired, under the immediate superintendenee of Major-General Warren, and crossed the bridge at half-past seven o'clock and bivouacked near the fork of the roads leading to Stony Creek and Sussex Court House. Thursday, December 8th, I was charged with the protection of the general train. Captain Stevenson, with one hundred and fifty of the Second New York Mounted Rifles, reported to me for duty. At half-past six o'clock, moved the head of the column, consisting of the Second and Third Brigades, the First Brigade, General De Trobriand, with five regiments with him, and; five and in rear of the train, and one hundred of the Mounted Rifles with the five rear regiments; the balance were used to protect the flanks. At half-past eight o'clock, the pontoon train was in motion, and we moved rapidly forward, passing through Sussex Court House and Coman's Wells to the Chambless Farm, where I massed in rear of General Ayres' Division at three o'clock, p. m., reporting my arrival to the Major-General command- ing, and receiving instructions to move forward to within about a mile and a half of the Weldon Railroad, and bivouacked for the night at half-past four o'clock. Friday, the 9th, in pursuance of instructions, moved at daylight, and struck the railroad a little south of Jarrett's Station at half-past seven o'clock, a. m., and immediately com- meneed the thorough destruction of the rails and ties along my division front. After this had been accomplished, I passed down the road to a point about one mile south of the Bailey Honse, and completed the destruction of the road to that point ; and at half-past four o'clock, went into bivouac for the night on the Bailey Farm. About six o'clock, p. m., I received verbal orders from the Major-General commanding that there was a space of about one mile between General Ayres' Division and the Cavalry Divi-
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
along the line. All the regiments of McAllister's Brigade were now behind breastworks, except the Eighth New Jersey, commanded by Major Hartford, which was exposed to a galling fire, but stood nobly to its work. Soon, however, two regiments of the Second Division, (General Smyth,) stationed on the left of McAllister's extended line, and upon which he relied to hold the gap between himself and Smyth's main line, unaccountably gave way on the approach of the enemy, and it became clear that McAllister's troops must fight the battle alone. The distance between his brigade and the First
sion which was not destroyed; moved the division to the point designated, destroyed the road and returned to the Bailey Farm at ten o'clock, p. m. The object of the expe- dition having been accomplished, orders were received to withdraw at seven o'clock, a. m., next morning, following General Ayres' Division. Saturday, December 10th, moved at half-past eight o'clock, a. m., and marched steadily, with but few halts, until six o'clock, p. m., when darkness set in, and the road becoming obstructed with wagons sticking fast, it was impracticable to proceed further, so I massed my division and . bivouacked for the night about three miles from Sussex Court House. Sunday, December 11th, moved at daylight, and marched about three-quarters of a mile, when, coming up to General Ayres' Division, I massed in his rear until he moved off; then proceeded through Sussex Court House to within about three-quarters of a mile of Freeman's bridge on the Nottoway River, when I received orders to mass, and allow the trains and General Crawford's Division to cross and to cover the same. Disposi- tions were accordingly made by throwing out the Eleventh Massachusetts Volunteers as skirmishers on the Sussex Court House road, and the Eighth New Jersey on the Stony point road. Small squads of cavalry were seen on the flanks, evidently watch- ing our movements, and for the purpose of picking up stragglers rather than with the intention of attacking. After passing all the command, with the exception of these two regiments and a seetion of Captain Stewart's Battery, six shots were fired as a parting salute, and by dark the last man was across the river, without any hostile demonstra- tions from the small force that followed our rear. Bivouacked at half-past eight o'clock about three miles north of the Nottoway River on the Jerusalem plank road. Monday, December 12th, moved at seven o'clock, a. m., along the Jesusalem plank road towards our old camping ground; reported at Headquarters Second Army Corps at two o'clock, p. m., and went into camp outside of the fortifications between the Halifax and Vaughn roads. As the division was not engaged with the enemy, the operations were limited to foreed marches of six days and nights, exposed to the most inelement weather of the season, the destruction of the railroad and devastation of the country. Officers and men performed their duty with alacrity, although at times suffering se- verely on account of the extreme coldness of the weather. The first day's march was very severe on the command, being in rear of the column, and having in one of my brigades many recruits and new men unused to marching which caused many to straggle, consequently they failed to arrive at the river before the bridge was taken up, and were, therefore, taken up by the cavalry and returned to the headquarters of the corps. My brigade and battery commanders, together with the officers of my staff, carried out all orders with promptness and zeal, and deserve commendation as on many former occasions.
" My loss, which was from straggling, as no eaualties occurred where the nien stayed with their commands, was two killed, two wounded and twenty-five missing. Total, twenty-nine."
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THE SECOND BRIGADE.
Brigade of General Smyth being some three hundred yards, offered an opportunity for the enemy to press in and take our troops upon the flank, which would in all probability, if accomplished, prove fatal to our position. McAllister, therefore, seeing the danger, di- rected the Seventh New Jersey, the third regiment from the left of his line, and formed at a different angle so as to enable them to enfilade the enemy's columns, to oblique its fire, which was done. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Adams, commanding a section of a Massa- chusetts battery, stationed on the extreme left rear, poured in a de- structive fire, its shells crossing the fire of the Seventh at nearly right angles, while Green's section, still more advantageously posted, took the enemy directly on the flank. Thus terribly assailed, exposed to a withering fire in front and on either flank, the enemy soon recoiled, and for a time there was a lull. But, re- covering from his confusion, and massing his columns afresh, the rebels again dashed forward, but again they fell back before the terrible fire. Then, all along our lines, the men took up the air, "Rally 'round the flag, boys," sending out its defiant strains over the ensanguined field. The heavy firing had now ceased for the time, but again the pause was of short duration. Soon as the night closed in, the rebel General Mahone, with his famous "Fight- ing Division," made a rush for the gap in our lines; but once more our men were prepared, reinforcements having fortunately come up, and again the assailing columns were rolled back, and at last the victory was ours. From prisoners, who subsequently came in, it was learned that the enemy had suffered very severely. The prisoners represented three different divisions of the rebel army, showing that they had a formidable force in our front," and had
35 The enemy, in this engagement, was commanded by General Gordon, who, in a conversation with General McAllister, some time after the elose of the war, stated that he had three full divisions on the field, and had never felt more confident of victory. He had informed himself thoroughly as to our position, a spy, dressed in the uniform of a Major, having penetrated our lines, and actually witnessed the disposition of our troops. When told that he had been beaten by a single brigade, General Gordon ex- pressed the greatest surprise, and frankly declared that the achievement was one of which any officer had reason to be proud. General Gordon's admissions as to the strength of his force are important, as entirely confirming the elaim of the Jersey Brigade that they had vanquished in this fight vastly superior numbers.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
been determined, if possible, to break our lines. Had they suc - ceeded, they might have inflicted almost irreparable disaster on our army ; and it was an appreciation of this fact which stimulated our troops to a bravery and endurance which deserved and elicited the very highest encomiums-not an officer or a man having left his post during the engagement. The loss in McAllister's Brigade was fifty-three, mainly in the Eighth New Jersey, which was pe- culiarly exposed. As in many other instances, the credit of this victory was given to others than those who really achieved it; but the Jerseymen who that day so heroically resisted the rebel onslaught, know, and it is due to them that it should be recorded, that they, and they alone, of McAllister's immediate command, saved the army from a calamity whose consequences would have ,reached far beyond that desparately-contested field.36
36 The following papers relate to this engagement, and explain, in full, its incidents and importance. The first is an extract from General McAllister's official report, as follows :
"According to orders received, we broke eamp and left at seven o'clock, a. m., on the morning of the 5th, the brigade (the Third) following the Second, commanded by General West.
"On passing the Cummings' House, we were halted, and I was ordered by Brevet- Major-General Mott to place my brigade in line of battle near the Tueker House, across the road leading past it, and to throw out pickets well to the front, connecting them with the Second Division pickets on my left; also to guard well my right. This was accomplished in a very short time, giving my personal superintendence to the placing of the piekets, and their connection with the Second Division pickets, on the road leading through the left center of my line of battle, as directed. After taking a sur- vey of the whole field, and making myself acquainted with the roads and swamps in my front and riglit, I returned to my command. At half-past twelve o'clock, p. m., I received orders from Major-General Humphreys to build breastworks. My men went at it with a will, and soon had the works well under way, at the same time extending them towards the swamp on the right, to prevent my being flanked. Meanwhile, an order was received from Brevet Major-General Mott, to throw a regiment across a road, a considerable distance from my left, leading down towards the Armstrong Mill. I placed there the Seventh New Jersey Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Priec, and had my brigade to connect with him, by taking distance to the left. These works are now nearly completed. At half-past three o'clock, p. m., a staff officer from Brevet Brigadier-General Ramsey presented a telegram from Major-General Humphreys, order- ing General Ramsey to relieve me in my position; at the same time, the head of General Ramsey's Brigade was on the ground, with the General leading it. I obeyed the order, and sent my Adjutant-General (Captain Finkelmeier) to Division Head - quarters for orders, massing, in the meantime, my brigade in the rear. At four o'clock, p. m., received orders to form on the left of General Ramsey. I at once commenced the movement. My right regiments were just filing in, when the attack was made on the pieket line. I then ordered ' double-quick,' and the men moved in rapidly. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Willian, of Major-General Humphrey's staff, then informed me that
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193
THE SECOND BRIGADE.
On the 25th of March, General Mcade, believing that the enemy's lines in front of the Second and Sixth Corps had been greatly de-
there was a gap in the line, between myself and Ramsey, caused by General Ramsey closing to the right. My rear regiment, the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers, Colonel Schoonover, intended for the left of the line, was taken off and hurried into this gap. They received a fire from the enemy and returned it, causing the left of the enemy's line of battle to falter and lay down. The fire was taken up all along the line, as fast as my troops were formed. Thie piekets in my new front having run in without firing a shot, left the enemy right on us before I had my line completed. Regiment after regiment opened on the rebels, as fast as they wheeled into position, causing their line to halt and lay down. The left regiment, Eighth New Jersey Volunteers, under command of Major Hartford, had no works, and were exposed to a terrible fire in their unprotected position, but they stood nobly and fought splendidly ; not a man of this regiment, or, indeed, of the whole brigade, left for the rear. Major Hartford and his regiment deserve particular credit for the gallantry they displayed in getting into position under the severe fire, and holding it without works, while two regiments from the Second Division, that had been laying for hours a little to my left, on the approach of the enemy gave way without firing a gun, leaving still a much larger space between my left and the right of the Second Division. After completing the line on the left, under charge of Captain Bowers, A. A. D. C., I rode along the line with my Adjutant-General, encouraging the men to stand firm, and the day would be ours. The One Hundred and Twentieth New York Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Loekwood, on the right of the Eighth New Jersey Volunteers; the Colonel and his officers were all on their feet, doing the same. The Seventh New Jersey Volunteers, Colonel Priee commanding, eame next. This regiment was formed at a different angle, so as to enable the men to pour an enfilading fire into the enemy's lines and prevent them from advancing into the gap. I gave the order, and it was executed handsomely, and added very much to the repulse of the enemy. Had it not been for this and the aid of the artillery, commanded by Lieutenants Green and Adams, of the Tenth Massachu- setts, who were throwing their fire across the swamp at a right angle with my enti- lading fire, all would have been lost. These artillery officers deserve great eredit, and I have the pleasure to mention them favorably. The enemy advanced with a yell, well known to us all, and fell back. Again they advanced, with a determination to break my line, but again my ranks stood firm, and rolled baek the tide of battle, in a highly creditable manner. Prisoners say that they advanced in three lines of battle; from all that I could see and learn, I think that was the ease, though the woods pre- vented our seeing their movements. In riding along the line, I found Chaplain Hop- kins, of the One Hundred and Twentieth New York, using a gun and firing constantly, and encouraging the men to stand firm. He is deserving of mention. When asked what he was doing with a gun, the Chaplain quietly replied, 'Helping the boys a little, sir.' Before the battle ended, Major-General Humphreys and part of his staff came up on the line, and he was an eye-witness of the seene before him. It was a pleasing sight to see how the appearance of the Corps Commander inspired our men to new efforts. The third attack of the enemy, then attempted, ended in a complete rout, aud, night closing in, they fell back to the woods, leaving their dead beliind., During the latter part of the engagement, two regiments of the Second Division eame up to support my line, and, at the elose, the whole of the Second Brigade formed on my left. A number of prisoners caine in during the evening, and were forwarded. During the night, our pickets were thrown out, and, tired and exhausted as the men were, most part of the night was spent in building breastworks, on the left of the line ; the rest laid on their arms during the night. On the 6th of February, the strengthening of the line was continued, our pieket line advanced, and details sent in front to slash the timber and bury the enemy's dead. In the afternoon, part ot mny cominand was sent out on a reeonuoissance towards the enemy's lines, which were then discovered to
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
pleted, ordered an advance. Under orders from General Mott, to drive in the enemy's picket, General McAllister sent in the Eleventh New Jersey and One Hundred and Twentieth New York Regiments for that purpose. These regiments gallantly advanced across an open field, in face of a bitter fire, and promptly captured the works, with some fifty prisoners-an attempt to retake the line being as promptly repulsed. Two additional regiments were then advanced, and two others, the Seventh and Eighth New Jersey, carried to the right of the division. Meanwhile, the First Division of the corps, under General Miles, had been attacked by the enemy, but had held its ground. Later in the day, Lieutenant-Colonel Schoonover, with his command, was again attacked and driven from the works occupied in the morning, but the Seventh and Eighth going to his help, his line was re-established and securely held. During the day, McAllister captured one hundred and fifty
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be about a mile and a half from our own. February 7th, packed up and remained under arms until dark, one-fourth of the command remaining under arms all night. In conclusion, permit me to say that my officers and men did all that could be desired of them, the former encouraging the men to stand firm, regardless of their own per- sonal safety, and the latter firing low, as directed. To mention some, would be doing injustice to others. I must, however, not omit to notice my Adjutant-General, Captain J. P. Finkelmeier, who fully sustained his previous reputation for gallantry and bravery in action, advising and encouraging officers and men everywhere, under the most ter- rific fire. Also my aids, Captain Charles F. Bowers, A. A. D. C., Captain Louis M. Morris, Brigade Inspector, and Lieutenant William Plimley, A. A. D. C., who went into the thickest of the fight with a will, whenever ordered. [Lieutenant Titus and some of the men carried boxes of ammunition up to the very front, and there dis- tributed it under fire.] Subjoined, I have the honor to submit a statement of casu- alties : Seventh New Jersey Volunteers, 1 enlisted man wounded ; Eighth New Jersey, 11. enlisted men killed, 2 commissioned officers and 35 enlisted men wounded ; Eleventh New Jersey, 1 enlisted man killed, and 1 enlisted man wounded; Eleventh Massachu- setts, no casualties ; One Hundred and Twentieth New York, 2 enlisted men wounded. Total, 53.'
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