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 26
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was attacked on Friday, had her guns manned by Jerseymen, detailed from the Ninth. On the 10th ultimo, this detail asked to be sent back to their regiment, but the Com- modore said, ' the Jersey Blues had shown themselves too good managers of the big guns to allow him to part with them; that they were true blues, and no mistake.' Con- sequently, they remained. One Jerseyman, who had been wounded by a bullet through the head, said it was not much, and walked alone back to the hospital tent, as he said, ' to get something to keep the blood out of his eyes, when he would come back to his company.' The poor fellow fell dead just as he got to the tent. Another, who was shot through the body, and was being attended to by the surgeons, asked to be 'carried back where he could fire upon the enemy.' Still another, belonging to Company K, when required by the Surgeon to stay and assist him in dressing the wounded, cried like a child, and begged to be permitted to 'go into the fight and not play mum.' "
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wing in time to repel a fierce attack from the enemy, where upon Colonel Hartranft promptly placed his regiment on the prolonga- tion of this line. The Ninth then resumed the direct attack, and soon silenced the rebel guns, our sharpshooters picking off their gunners with fatal accuracy of aim. The rebel infantry, however, redoubled their exertions and fought more vigorously than ever. During this time several desperate charges were made by a portion of Reno's Brigade on the right, but all were repelled with con- siderable loss. One of these charges, and the most gallant of them all, was made by the Twenty-first Massachusetts, which succeeded in entering the redoubt on the north side of the railroad, but were driven out at the point of the bayonet by a brigade of Georgians. By this time the ammunition of the Ninth being reduced to ten rounds, General Reno ordered up the Fifty-first Pennsylvania to take its place, but Colonel Heckman begging that he might be per- mitted to charge, the order was finally given. That charge settled the contest. Dashing eagerly forward, leaping from ditch to ditch, now wading knee-deep in mire, now rushing over pit-falls, through an almost impenetrable abattis, the irresistible assailants swept up to the earthworks, climbed their blood-stained, slippery sides, and a moment after had captured the whole line of fortifications in their front, with six guns, one stand of colors, many prisoners, and field. staff and artillery horses. Almost simultaneously the flags of the Ninth waved from two of the enemy's redans, while the right guidon floated from a third, which but a moment before had been occupied by the enemy. The Ninth was followed by the Fifty-first New York, Colonel Ferrero, on the right, and soon after by the entire division, which took complete possession of the rebel works, mounting some sixty-nine cannon. Having thus gained possession of the main line of the enemy's defences, Burnside next turned his attention to the river batteries in the rear, but these were at once evacuated, and both the land and water approaches to Newberne being thus opened, all that remained was to march in and take possession. This was done in the evening, the Ninth, however," going into camp at the junction of the Trent and Neuse Rivers, some four miles from the line of the captured works. In this
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engagement, the regiment lost four killed and fifty-eight wounded, one-sixth of the entire Union loss. Among the killed was Lieutenant W. C. Walker."
Two days after this battle, Lieutenant-Colonel Heckman received his commission as Colonel of the regiment, while Major Wilson was notified of his promotion to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy. At the same time, Adjutant Zabriskie was promoted to the Majority, and Lieutenant Abel, of Company E, was made Adjutant. The regi- ment remained in camp until the 1st of April, when it proceeded to Newport Barracks, relieving the Fifth Rhode Island on duty at that post. The headquarters of the regiment remained at the barracks during the siege of Fort Macon, while various companies were engaged in picket-duty, guarding all approaches from the direction of Wilmington, and losing during these operations nine
7 Among the ineidents of this battle the following may be mentioned : A rebel bat- tery, in front of Company H, having given considerable annoyance, Captain James Stewart, Jr., (afterwards Brigadier-General,) seized a rifle, and, watching his oppor- tunity, shot a rebel cannoneer through the head. On entering the battery, shortly after, the dead body was found and recognized as that of Captain William C. Martin, a rebel renegade from New Jersey.
The New York Tribune, in speaking of this battle, made the following candid state- ment:
" In the capture of Newberne, the Ninth New Jersey Regiment sustained the honor of their State with characteristic gallantry. Though their position in that brilliant engagement was one of great exposure, they bore themselves through the conflict like veterans, suffering more severely than any other regiment on the field. Out of a total loss of three hundred and sixty-four killed and wounded, they lost sixty-two, or one- sixth of the whole, although twelve regiments were in the battle. Bravo for the Jersey Blues !"
A correspondent of the Newark Daily Advertiser said of the battle :
"I never calculated upon witnessing more cool, substantial, effective bravery, than was exhibited by the New Jersey Ninth on that day. Private Luke Davison, of Company K, from Princeton, was shot through the foot, the ball passing clear through the middle, near the instep. He fell, and was ordered to be carried to the rear; but he refused to go, and went on loading and firing very deliberately, until a peremptory order to go back was given. Private Thomas Macquaid, of Elizabeth, was struck by a spent ball on the shoulder, and tumbled down ; but, when being carried back, he suddenly broke away and said, 'Let me take off my coat and see that first ;' and finding the shoulder much swollen, he went on a few steps and concluded to 'take another look,' when he said he 'guessed he'd take a few more shots,' came back and fought bravely until the victory was won. Sergeant Joseph Wright was shot through the shoulder, and sat down in his place a moment, and then slowly turned to his commander, saying, very coolly, almost drily, 'Captain, I am wounded.' That officer finding his company pretty well ent up, and not wishing to send back more men with the wounded than was absolutely necessary, asked 'if he was much hurt?' 'He didn't know,' he said, 'but thought he would let the Surgeon see,' and had gone some distance, when he re- turned, saying, 'Captain, may I take my rifle with me ?' Of course he could."
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enlisted men as prisoners. Now and then bands of guerrillas attacked the outposts, and expeditions were sent out for their cap- ture, being, however, for the most part fruitless of "game."
On the 26th of July, six companies of the Ninth, three compa- nies of cavalry and two pieces of artillery, all under command of Colonel Heckman, started on an expedition to Young's Cross Roads, some thirty-six miles distant, with instructions to co- operate with other forces sent out from Newberne. Reaching the Cross Roads on the following day, Colonel Heckman disposed his infantry in ambush, and then, at the head of a company of cavalry, proceeded some distance down the Onslow road. Suddenly, however, upon turning a bend of the road, he was assailed by a volley from a party of bushwhackers, causing him to retire. A dozen or two of the cavalrymen were promptly dismounted and deployed as skirmishers, but upon advancing it was found that the enemy had retreated across White Oak River, destroying the bridge after crossing. Meanwhile, Captain Hufty, hearing the firing, hastened up with two companies and one gun : this was put in position, and at once opened with canister on the enemy posted on the opposite bank, while parties were detailed to find a ford. The water being found too deep and rapid to be forded, Heckman hastily rebuilt the bridge, and at the expiration of an hour, Captain Hufty dashed across on the double-quick, only to find, however, that the enemy had again retreated, leaving in their hasty flight a quantity of small arms, sabers, &c., together with several horses. Eighteen prisoners were taken, who reported the rebel force to number three hundred men. The Union loss was seven wounded, two severely, while the enemy lost four killed and eighteen wounded. Among the wounded were Colonel Heckman and Surgeon Woodhull-the latter of whom re- ceived two balls in his body and another in his hat, his horse being also badly hurt." After the engagement, the captured guns were
* While many of the surgeons of New Jersey regiments achieved eminence during the war, none attained to a higher place in the esteem of their superiors, or rendered more signal services in their sphere of duty than Doctor A. W. Woodhull, of the " Ninth. When the first call for troops was made, Doctor Woodhull had just attained to a profitable practice in the city of Newark, where he had located but a few years previously ; but, born near a revolutionary battle-ground of the State and patriotic
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examined and each found to be loaded with seven buckshot and two minie bullets.
in every instinet of his nature, he at onee abandoned the prospect opened before liim, and offering his services to Governor Olden, was appointed (August 23, 1861,) Assistant- Surgeon of the Fifth Regiment. He continued in this position, serving most accept- ably, until February 6, 1863, when he was made Surgeon of the Ninth, but was unable to reach his new field of labor until after the battle of Newberne. There, in the crowded hospitals, among the wounded and suffering, he found ample employment for his skill ; and he did not shrink from the task. Unremitting in his labors, faithful and gentle in his attentions-never neglecting a single duty-he wou rapidly upon the confidence and esteem of all in distress, and soon, unconsciously to himself, came to exert a commanding influence both over the well and the sick. He understood, as many do not, that a kind word, a sympathetic touch, an ennobling thought dropped in the craving heart, is oftentimes a better medicine than any known to the schools, and many to whom he, as a Christian healer, spoke a word in season, think of him to-day with blessings on their lips.
At the time when Doctor Woodhull reached North Carolina, there were comparatively few surgeons at Newberne, and consequently there was little relaxation from labor for those stationed at that post. Among them all none displayed greater skill in the treatment of serious eases than Doctor Woodhull, and this soon coming to the atten- tion of General Burnside, he was at once appointed to a position of great responsibility, in which he exhibited administrative qualities of a high order. Under his supervision hospitals were arranged, which for convenience, comfort and character of accommo- dations, were not surpassed by any in use, while their government was in all respects commendable. When wounded at Young's Cross Roads, he was not more than one hundred yards distant from the enemy, but managed to effect his escape under a shower of balls, when, notwithstanding his hurts, which were serious, one rib being broken and one arm disabled, he dressed the wounds of every man injured in the engagement before leaving the field. In the fall, he was appointed Surgeon in Charge of the Hammond General Hospital at Beaufort, where he remained until the departure of Generals Foster and Heckman for South Carolina. Upon taking the field, he was made Surgeon of Heekman's Star Brigade, in which capacity he served with fidelity for a long time. In the summer of 1863, in addition to his other duties, he superin- tended the ercetion of Mansfield General Hospital at Morehead City, which was pronouneed a model institution of its kind. In the summer of 1864, he served with the brigade in Virginia, and upon returning to North Carolina in the autumn of that year, when the yellow fever was raging at Newberne, he at once offered to assist in the work of combating and extinguishing the epidemic, and through the whole period of its ravages was found constantly at his post.
As exhibiting the arduous nature of Doctor Woodhull's duties, it may be stated that during a part of the time he was in the field, he was obliged to ride a distance of sixty miles, in order to reach all his posts-this duty being uniformly performed twice a week. But it is in the medical statistics of the regiment that we find the most con- clusive evidence of his diligence and skill. These show, that during the time he was connected with the regiment, but three men died in camp or regimental hospital in each year, making nine in all, and this, too, when but few were sent to the general hospital. This was doubtless due to the unceasing care with which Surgeon Wood- hull looked after the habits of the men, the condition of their quarters, the injune- tions he always gave the soldiers to attend carly to any indisposition they might feel, and the pertinacity with which he insisted upon daily inspecting the processes for pre- paring food. These, after all, were the really important duties of a Regimental Sur- geon. On the 13th of March, 1865, Doctor Woodhull was brevetted Lieutenant- Colonel, the honor coming to him unsolicited, and, therefore, so much the more val- uable.
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The expedition from Newberne not being heard from, and provi- sions growing scarce, Colonel Heckman returned with his command to the city, whence several reconnoitering parties were sent out during the following month, but without any material results. On the 31st of August, Lieutenant Thomas Burnett, commanding Company B, was attacked by a large force of rebels about two miles from the camp, but after an hour's fighting, succeeded in driving them. A corporal .of the company was shot in the hand. Subse- quently, two companies under Lieutenant B. W. Hopper, went in pursuit of the rebels, capturing two guerrillas and taking fifty stand of arms.9 From this time until the 30th of October, the regiment was not actively engaged. On that day a force of some thirteen thousand men, under Major-General John G. Foster, started on an expedition for Tarborough-two brigades being transported by water to Washington, and a third marching overland.10 All the troops having come up on the morning of November 2d, the column moved forward, encountering and dispersing squads of rebel rangers as it advanced. After marching some nineteen miles, it became evident that an engagement was imminent, the rebels increasing both. in numbers and audacity. About four o'clock, the advance was checked by a heavy fire from the opposite side of a deep creek, on which a large force of the enemy had posted themselves to dis- pute the passage of the stream, having already fired the bridge. Colonel Stevenson, commanding the Second Brigade, ordered forward the Forty-Fourth Massachusetts, but this regiment, after
9 A very pleasant episode in the eamp history of the Ninth occurred on the same day. The regiment being drawn up for parade, Colonel Heckman was surprised by the presentation of an elaborately ornaniented sword, the gift of the line officers-the presentation address being made by Captain Bondinot. The sword cost seven hundred dollars, and was ever afterwards worn with pride by the Colonel. On the following day, a handsome sword, with sash and belt, was presented to Captain James Stewart by his company-Corporal J. E. Matthews performing the presentation ceremony.
10 This foree consisted of the First Brigade, Colonel Amory, composed of the Eighth, Seventeenth, Twenty-Third and Twenty-fifth Massachusetts ; the Second Brigade, Colonel Thomas Stevenson, composed of the Twenty-fourth and Forty-fourth Massa- chusetts, Tenth Conneetient and Fifth Rhode Island ; and the Third Brigade, Colone! Ice, composed of the Third, Fifth and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, and the Ninth New Jersey, with five hundred cavalry, five full batteries of artillery, and a section of boat howitzers, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Manchester, of the Marine Artil- lery.
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a brief engagement, retired, whereupon the Twenty-fourth Massa- chusetts was advanced. But it, too, was soon forced to fall back, before a galling fire, behind the swamp across which it was neces- sary to advance; and again the Ninth New Jersey was ordered to the rescue." At the word of command, with Heckman in advance, the brave Jerseymen rushed on the run through the files of the Twenty fourth and Forty-fourth, dashed past the fort of the enemy, and passing the still burning bridge, halted under a high clay bank, beyond the swamp near Rowles' Mills. Here parties were at once detailed to discover convenient fords above and below the bridge; a third party, under Lieutenant Abel, to examine the condition of that structure; and a fourth, under Lieutenant A. B. Brown, to start the mill near by, for the purpose of drawing off the water from the dam. Lieutenant Abel reporting that the river could be crossed by infantry, Heckman placed Belger's Napo- leons in position, and then as the pieces opened with double-shotted canister, dashed upon and over the burning bridge into the works of the rebels, who fled precipitately before him-leaving a consid- erable quantity of property behind. Darkness coming on, it was impossible to pursue the foe, and Angel's Battery having crossed and taken position, the Ninth bivouacked on the field. Few achievements of the North Carolina campaign were more gallant than this passage of a burning bridge and rout of the enemy, strongly posted, by a single regiment.
From this point, the expedition moved forward, on the 3d, in the direction of Tarborough, learning on the way that the enemy was retreating in great confusion. On the 5th, the force reached a point only four miles distant from Tarborough, but a storm coming on, and it being ascertained that the enemy had been largely rein- forced, it was determined to return, which was done without molestation or loss, other than that inflicted by the storm-the Ninth reaching Newport on the 12th.
11 General Foster, commanding the expedition, remarked: "I know I have one regiment here which can and dares to cross this swamp." and at the same time sent his orders to Colonel Heckman, commanding the Ninth. In and through went the men of the Ninth, but on coming to the other side, it seemed as if the rebels had heard the remark made and order given, for no rebel was to be seen .- Diary of Her- mann Ererts.
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On the 8th of December, Colonel Heckman was assigned to an independent command, consisting of the Ninth New Jersey, a detachment of the Third New York Cavalry, Major Cole, and the First Rhode Island Battery, Captain James Belger, and three days after, at the head of his command, set out, together with all the troops available for duty, (some twelve thousand,) on a march directly inland. The object of this movement, in which a large force participated, was to reach and destroy, if possible, the important railroad junction at Goldsborough, some forty miles distant. On this as on the previous march, squads of rebel videttes were encoun- tered, some of whom were captured, but no evidences of serious opposition were discovered until a point some sixteen miles distant from Newberne was reached, where the road was found effectually blockaded by fallen timber. After a hasty reconnoissance, Heckman determined to push the Ninth through the obstructions, and the regiment accordingly moved forward, the men leaping from tree to tree and from branch to branch, sometimes in water, oftener in mud and mire. Finally, just at dark, the regiment emerged into an open space, where pickets were at once strongly posted on the roads leading to Kinston and Trenton, with instruction to conceal them- selves, and on the approach of any small party of the enemy, to permit him to pass and then close up-thus cutting off his line of retreat. Here the command remained until the following morn- ing, when, the obstructions having been removed, the march was resumed, the advance soon coming up with detachments of rebel cavalry, who sharply contested its progress, but were steadily driven with loss-several being killed and a number captured. Reaching a point ten miles from Kinston, on the morning of the 13th, Colonel Heckman, with the entire cavalry force and a section of the Third New York Artillery-the main column continuing the advance on the main road-made a detour to the left, on the Trent road, for the purpose of cutting off any reinforcements in that direction, and, if possible, attacking the enemy in flank should he be found in position. After proceeding some six miles, he found the rebels in an entrenched position on the opposite side of South- west Creek-the bridge over which had been destroyed-and at
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once ordering the cavalry to dismount, speedily drove the rebel skirmishers into their works-after which a section of artillery was brought into action and a vigorous fire opened on the enemy. Major Coles, with his dismounted cavalry, having meanwhile approached to within short musket range of the enemy's works, had discovered several pieces of artillery and a considerable body of infantry, and this discovery seeming to make a direct attack unwise, Colonel Heckman directed Morrison's Battery also to open, which was done in an effective manner, the enemy responding with equal spirit. While this was going on, three companies of the Ninth were deployed to the left of the enemy along the bank of the creek, with instructions to cross and attack in flank the moment that Morrison's Artillery ceased its fire. A mill-dam having been discovered on the rebel right, the remainder of the regiment was placed in a convenient position for crossing at that point, awaiting the signal to advance-the movement being supported by Wessel's Brigade. At length the firing ceased, and the Ninth cautiously crossed the dam, pressing straight up to the rebel works, when, being discovered by the enemy, they dashed with a cheer right against the foe, the last of whom passed safely out, as the assailants climbed through the embrasures into the fortifications.12 Thus once more the gallant Heckman, with a handful of men, had put the enemy to flight, capturing a strong position, defended by two thousand five hundred men and one piece of artillery. But only a moment was given to exultation, when the Ninth again started forward. Upon turning a bend in the road, some five hundred yards from the works, it received a charge of grape and canister from a twelve-pounder, but a minute after, members of Company A were astride the gun, clubbing the gunners with their muskets. The drivers, succeeding in extricating their horses, managed to join the main force, which was now retreating in great disorder, the rear guard, however, being soon overtaken, and a large number captured, together with a caisson, a guidon and other trophies. The pursuit was kept up with great vigor for a considerable distance,
12 A rebel officer was heard to exclaim to his men, "There comes that Dutch Heck- man. You had better save yourselves while yer have the time,"
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when, an open country being reached, Heckman halted and awaited the arrival of the column. Later in the day he moved across the open space at the head of a squadron of cavalry, and coming upon the enemy posted in the timber, again ordered up the Ninth, the right wing of which, deploying, dislodged the rebels, with the loss of but one man wounded.
The advance had now reached a point within only two or three . miles of Kinston, where the enemy was concentrated in large force, and strongly posted in the woods. On the following morning, at seven o'clock, the skirmishers of the Ninth, once more advancing, again entered the heavy timber, shortly after becoming warmly engaged along the entire line. Hotly pressing the skirmishers of the enemy, the Ninth, far in advance of the main body, was suddenly fired upon by several pieces of heavy artillery, posted on rising ground about a mile from the bridge leading across to Kinston. Satisfied that his further advance would be vigorously disputed, Colonel Heckman, after wading the swamp, fronting the enemy's line, and finding the position to be naturally a strong one, covered by an almost impenetrable swamp on three sides, and the Neuse River on the other, and defended by artillery and a large force of infantry, ordered up Morrison's Battery with a brigade of infantry as a support. The battery being placed in a commanding position, at once opened the engagement, known in the records of the war as the battle of Kinston. Shortly after, while making a detour to the right with the Ninth New Jersey and Seventeenth Massachusetts, Heckman discovered two rebel regiments moving in the direction of the woods on his left, and almost simultaneously with his formation to meet this demonstration, two other regiments were found lying under cover of a slightly-elevated stretch of ground, immediately on the right of the Ninth. At this moment, fortunately, he was reinforced by the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, Fifty-second New York, Colonel Gray, and the Eighty-ninth New York, Lieutenant-Colonel Weldon, with a section of Wiard guns. These were put in battery on the extreme left of the line of battle, supported by the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, facing to the right, while the Fifty-second and Eighty-ninth New York were ordered
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