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 28
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Hunter, who, good naturedly, asked if those present would not take a little whiskey. 'Thank you,' said General Heckman, 'we have just taken a little sherry wine. (An- other ominous pause, which was broken by the fortunate intervention of the dinner bell. Declining an invitation to dine, General Heckman and his party left, to await the decision of the Commanding-General."
16 To say the least, this curt note was uncalled for, but it was characteristic of General Hunter. The statement as to the imminency of operations in that department or else- where was simply untruc, the demonstration against Charleston having already been abandoned, and no other movement being thought of.
17 In passing the long line of batteries, the steamer had been subjected to a terrific
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parations for the relief of Little Washington, which was still sur- rounded by a large rebel force, and shortly after noon on the 17th, the Ninth, crossing the Neuse, marched towards the imperilled post, closely followed by the other regiments. The road was very heavy, the men at times marching in water up to their knees. At two o'clock, p. m., on the 18th, the column reached Blount's Mills, where Heckman made a reconnoissance, but finding no enemy, rode into the abandoned works of the enemy, followed by the Ninth. These earthworks were situated on a promontory, and commanded every approach to Little Washington with the exception of that from the southeast. 'The evacuation of this very important position satisfied Heckman that the rebel Hill had raised the siege, which proved to be the case. Heckman then dispatched two squadrons of cavalry, with a section of howitzers, to ascertain Hill's line of retreat-General Naglee and staff volunteering to accompany the expedition ; and at a late hour the same night, the following report was received, showing the success of the pursuit :
"JUNCTION GREENVILLE AND WASHINGTON ROADS, } Half-past eight o'clock, p. m.
"DEAR GENERAL: We came upon Hill's rear-guard at this point, charged them, killing one officer and two men, wounding several, and capturing one guidon, one officer and five privates, whom I send to you under guard. I will have the squadron remain here until you arrive with the infantry. I never saw cavalrymen equal to the squadron you sent with me.
"Respectfully,
"H. M. NAGLEE, General."
On the 14th, Major William B. Curlis, with three companies of the Ninth, found the regiment, having marched from Newberne, a distance of some forty miles, in a day and a night,18 and the
fire, and so completely was she riddled that on reaching Newberne her side, and hull resembled a honey comb more nearly than "walls of oak." Before starting on the perilous trip, General Foster had taken the precaution to have the machinery well protected by cotton bales. The Escort was a fast sailer, and besides her machinery had been well oiled and an abundant supply of pine-knots had been provided, which aided greatly in keeping up a full head of steam, and so enabled her to escape the rebels, who felt confident of her capture. More than seventy. Whitworth bolts (so generously furnished the rebels by our English "friends,") poured through the hull of the vessel during the trip-one going through a stateroom which General Foster had occupied only a moment before.
18 Those companies had been left in the hasty embarkation at Helena Island. The march made by them to overtake their comrades is one of the most extraordinary of the war.
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advance being resumed, Heckman entered Washington at the head of his column at three o'clock in the afternoon, receiving a hearty welcome both from citizens and soldiers, who acknowledged him as their deliverer. It was, no doubt, an apprehension of attack from this intrepid command which had induced Hill to withdraw as he did, abandoning all the works he had been at so much pains to construct at Rodman's and Kee's Points and elsewhere. The Ninth returned to Newberne by steamer the following day, and, on the 25th, was sent to its old camp at Carolina City, (consisting of two or three small houses,) where it remained for several weeks, recu- perating from the fatigues of its arduous campaigns.
On the 18th of May, Colonel Zabriskie assumed command of the District of Beaufort, during the temporary absence of General Heckman who commanded the department, and about the same time (25th) Surgeon Woodhull was ordered to superintend the erection of the hospital at Morehead City, afterwards known as the Mansfield General Hospital.19 Subsequently, General Heckman was placed in command of the forces and defences of Newberne, which position he held for some time. On the 3d of July, the Third New York Cavalry, and a portion of the First North Carolina Cavalry, having started from Newberne for the purpose of destroy- ing the railroad at Keenansville, some forty-five miles distant, Heckman, with the Ninth New Jersey, Seventeenth, Twenty-third and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, and Eighty-first and One Hundred and Fifty-eighth New York, and Belger's and Angel's Batteries marched as a support, proceeding by way of Pollocksville and Trenton to Free Bridge, on the river Trent, where, on the 6th, the rebels were encountered in some force, and after a sharp fight, compelled to retreat-leaving us in possession of the road and bridge, and so enabling the cavalry to cross and rejoin the infantry on their return from the point against which they were operating. Only three men of the Ninth were wounded in this affair. The cavalry force was eminently successful, destroying several miles of railroad, together with government and commissary
19 Doctor Woodhull was complimented in a General Order for the able and faithful manner in which he performed his manifold duties.
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stores, and a factory for making sabers and other arms. About three hundred fine horses were also captured, while a large number of ne- groes flocked into our lines, eager to be of service. The expedition returning, reached Newberne on the evening of the 7th. On the 14th, the Ninth, with one or two regiments, proceeded to the White Oak River, for the purpose of making a reconnissance, ascertaining by soundings, &c., the best crossings within five miles of its mouth which being done, the force returned, for once having no engage- ment with the enemy. On the 17th, General Foster having been or- dered to the command of the Department of North Carolina and Vir- ginia, with headquarters at Fortress Monroe, General Heckman as- sumed command of the District of North Carolina, and eight days after, with a large force, embarked and sailed up the Chowan River for Winton, reaching that place about three o'clock on the afternoon of the 26th. Here Lieutenant Robert Swain, commanding Company I, immediately landed his men, and advanced a short distance from the river, being soon followed by the entire regiment, which pushed forward for about a mile, when, it being ascertained that the wrong road had been taken, a countermarch was ordered. The Seven- teenth Massachusetts now took the advance, but without deploying skirmishers, supposing the Ninth to be still leading the column. It was not a little surprised, therefore, when, as it moved foward, it was suddenly assailed by a shower of bullets from both sides of the road, along which the enemy lay concealed behind earthworks. Speedily recovering, however, from their momentary confusion, the men of the Seventeenth vigorously returned the enemy's salute, and in a short time, with the assistance of the Ninth, which had now come up, compelled him to evacuate a strong position. A mile beyond, however, the fugitives re-formed behind fresh earth- works, on the right bank of Pattacassey Creek, and prepared again to deliver battle. At this point there was a bridge which Heck- man had been ordered to carry and hold, and he lost no time in attempting the task, advancing the Ninth for the purpose. Moving slowly forward until the bridge was reached, the dauntless Jersey- men, in the face of a galling fire, charged swiftly over the struc- ture right into the works of the enemy, capturing thirty prisoners,
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and putting the remainder of the rebels to flight, with a loss of only a few men wounded-Lieutenant J. Madison Drake being hit in the shoulder, and two or three others otherwise injured. The objective point having thus been reached, Heckman made a dis- position of his forces, and awaited the arrival of General Foster with a force of cavalry from Fortress Monroe, by way of Suffolk.20 This force, consisting of the First New York Mounted Rifles, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and Stewart's (Regular) Battery, arrived on the 27th, crossing the Chowan River at Winton, when it was ascertained that all the cavalry were to operate against Weldon, destroying the important railroad communications at that point, while the infantry were to hold Hill's bridge, taken from the enemy the day previous. Here, therefore, Heckman's command remained until the 30th, when, the cavalry returning, having been unable to turn the rebel position at Jackson, situate some ten miles east of, and covering, Weldon, the entire force proceeded to Winton, and late at night embarked for Newberne.
On the 13th of August, Major-General Peck took command of the District of North Carolina, relieving General Heckman, and on the 26th, many members of the Ninth being sick with chills and fever, the regiment was sent to Carolina City, where it remained unem- ployed for a month and a half. At this time, nearly three hundred men were daily reported sick and unfit for duty. On the 18th of October, the regiment again broke camp and proceeded to Newport News, Virginia, the remainder of Heckman's command, the Twenty. third, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, Eighty- first and Fifty-eighth New York, Third New York Cavalry, and Belger's and Riggs' batteries, reaching the same place on the 20th, and with the Ninth going into camp near the river. Here the regi- ment remained during the remainder of the year.
"o "While before Winton, and in bivouac, Private Charles Muller, Company A, of the Ninth Regiment, from Newark, went into the woods for pleasure, carrying a small wooden stick in his hand, when he came up with three rebels standing under a tree, their loaded guns, with equipments, standing by their side at the tree; to secure the arms and to tell the men that they were his prisoners, was the work of a moment. and carrying the arms himself, with the men walking before him, Charles returned to camp, still with the wooden stick in his hand. His march past the artillery and cavalry guards, and his arrival in the camp of the Ninth, caused much amusement among the men."-Diary of Hermann Everts.
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On the 16th of January, 1864, General Heckman being ordered to the command of the District of Suffolk, issued the following farewell order, which was read to the Ninth at dress. parade :
"HEADQUARTERS, NEWPORT NEWS, L January 12, 1864.
" General Order, No. 2.
" Having been relieved from the command of the brigade, by Special Order, No 12, from Headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, I, therefore, bid farc- well to the officers and men composing the command. The intercourse, both official and personal, between myself and those serving in the command, has been highly satisfactory, and will always be remembered with pleasure. To those troops which formed a part of my old command I bid an affectionate farewell. From my first association with them at Trenton, through the perils and affliction at Hatteras, the gallant charges at Roanoke and Newberne, the noble daring and brilliant deeds at White Oak, Southwest Creek, Kinston, Whitchall and Goldsborough, my feeling towards them has been one of affection and pride.
"Called to another command, I will continue to watch over you with unabated interest, feeling confident that your future history will be equally brilliant as the past.
"By order of
"C. A. HECKMAN.
"W. H. ABEL, Captain and A. A. G."
The term for which the Ninth . had volunteered having now nearly expired, Colonel Zabriskie, on the 21st, addressed the regi- ment on the subject of re-enlistment, a majority having already expressed a wish to do so if the Colonel would agree to remain in command. In his remarks, Colonel Zabriskie stated that he would cheerfully continue with the command which had already achieved so enviable a distinction, and two-thirds of the entire number at once re-enlisted for " three years or the war." The number required to entitle the whole regiment to a veteran furlough, in accordance with the regulations announced by the War Department, being thus secured, the regiment, on the 31st, embarked, and on the 2d of February sailed for the North, reaching Jersey City the fol- lowing day. On the 4th, upon landing, the command was formally received by the city authorities, after which, having paraded the principal streets, it was entertained at Taylor's Hotel, and late in the afternoon, proceeded to Trenton, where its arms were stored, and the men scattered to the homes, where fond ones awaited their coming.
During the absence of the Ninth, the portion who did not re-enlist were ordered on a reconnoisance to Deep Creek, where, the enemy appearing in strong numbers, the little band, under command of
.
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Lieutenant Thomas Burnett, was compelled to retreat, leaving the bodies of Albert Nutt and Joel Hulse, of Company D, in the hands of the rebels, who mutilated them in a horrible manner. General Heckman, who was at Getty's Station, on learning of the affair, hastened to the relief of the detachment with five hundred men, and, enraged at the wanton cruelty of the enemy, did not halt until the menacing force was driven into North Carolina. During the pursuit, the rebels, who were under command of General Ransom, and numbered four regiments, were severely punished for their barbarism.
On the 15th of March, the gallant Ninth, strengthened by a number of recruits, once more set its face towards the field. Reach- ing Portsmouth, Virginia, on the 17th, it proceeded to Getty's Station, where it re-united with Heckman's command, which con- sisted of the Eighty-first, Ninety-sixth, Ninety-eighth and One Hundred and Thirty-fourth New York, First Brigade; Ninth New Jersey, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh Massachu- setts, Second Brigade; Fourth Rhode Island, One Hundred and Eighteenth New York, Eighth Connecticut, Tenth and Thirteenth New Hampshire, Third Brigade ; with nine batteries and thirty-two pieces of artillery, mounted on the line of fortifications. On the 14th of April, " Heckman's old Brigade" embarked at Portsmouth and sailed up the Chuckatuck River, landing on the following day at Cherry Grove, the enemy being met near that point and engaged by several companies of the Ninth, with a loss of a number of men wounded. The rebels retiring, the command advanced to Smith- field, a point some miles northward of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad; but returned the next day to its camp, where, on the 26th, it was transferred to Yorktown. From this point the division advanced towards Williamsburg, a large number of transports, crowded with troops, meanwhile, sailing up the York River. Heckman's movement being designed only as a feint, he suddenly countermarched to Yorktown, embarked his division, and during the night sailed down the river, with the Eighteenth and Tenth Corps, to Fortress Monroe. On the morning of May 5th, the fleet again moved, the iron-clads in advance, and at six o'clock in the
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evening, the Ninth disembarked at Bermuda Hundred, on the south side of the James River-being among the first to land. Bivouack- ing about two miles from the river, the division, at six o'clock on the morning of the 6th, moved forward, the Ninth, as usual, having the post of honor, Company D, Lieutenant J. Madison Drake, being deployed as skirmishers. At this time the army of the Potomac was just emerging from the Wilderness, after its terrible encounter with Lee, and the movement of Butler's army towards Petersburg was part of the grand plan by which General Grant hoped to reduce the rebel capital and put an end to the rebellion. There was a possibility of desperate fighting, needing the sturdiest courage and most robust endurance, and it was only natural, this being true, that the veterans of the Ninth should have the post of honor and of danger. Moving steadily forward, the regiment at noon came within sight of Petersburg, halting at a point north of the Appo- mattox River, three miles from the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad. From this point, General Butler, two hours later, ordered Heckman to advance towards Petersburg, and ascertain, if possible, the position and strength of the rebel army, but not to bring on a general engagement. The "Star Brigade," proud to head the column, obeyed this order with the utmost alacrity, advancing to Port Walthall Junction, where, strongly posted, it found Beau- regard's South Carolina Army, just arrived from Charleston. Beauregard, seeing the small force sent against him, at once opened the engagement, our men being obliged to fight in an open field, while the enemy had the advantages of good protection and a bright sun at their backs. The contest, necessarily, under these circum- stances, was a very unequal one, but our troops stoutly held their ground, continuing the engagement for some two hours, when, in obedience to orders, they retired. The Ninth in this engagement lost four killed and thirty wounded. General Heckman had his horse killed under him, the faithful animal being pierced by no less than thirteen bullets. On the morning of the 7th, the brigade again moved to the scene of hostilities, speedily finding the enemy and bringing on an engagement, during which General Weitzel moved around to the right, with a view of destroying the railroad between
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Petersburg and Richmond. For some time the fighting was less severe than on the preceding day, but about noon, the enemy, evi- dently determined to drive Heckman from his position, advanced in strong numbers, rendering his situation extremely critical. But just at this moment, as the combatants were coming to close quar- ters, the enemy were startled by a heavy fire in their rear. Weitzel. having torn up the railroad for a distance of seven miles, had fortu- nately discovered the designs of the rebels, and at once attacked them with great ardor, inflicting considerable loss, and causing Beauregard to abandon altogether his purpose of assailing Heckman, and to act for the remainder of the day purely on the defensive. At sunset, Heckman and Weitzel, having accomplished their object, returned to their camp, the Ninth having lost one man killed and ten wounded.
The following day being Sunday, the regiment remained in camp, but on the morning of the 9th, both corps of Butler's command moved southward to Swift Creek, three miles from Petersburg- Heckman's Brigade again having the advance. The enemy, though strongly posted at the creek, were at once attacked and driven some two or three miles with heavy loss, our troops tearing up the track . of the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad as they advanced. Coming, however, within two miles of Petersburg, on the turnpike, into which the column debouched from the track of the railroad, the enemy was encountered in strong force, and fighting was immediately resumed, continuing with great violence until darkness put an end to the combat. Both armies held during the night the ground occupied during the day ; the rebels seeking in vain, by a swift dash upon our pickets, at midnight, to break our lines. During the day, some two hundred prisoners were taken from the enemy. The loss of the Ninth was one man killed and nine wounded. On the following day, Heckman's Brigade was not engaged, but on the 12th, the whole army again advanced, encoun- tering the enemy on the Richmond and Petersburg turnpike. After some skirmishing, Weitzel's Division established itself on the turnpike, driving the enemy on the run in the direction of Fort Darling. Night closing active operations, both armies rested on
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their arms until the 13th, when skirmishing was resumed at day light, and continued with little intermission during the entire day, the enemy being gradually driven at all points of the line. It being rumored that the rebels were evacuating Fort Darling, (Drury's Bluff,) General Heckman dispatched Captain Samuel Hufty with one hundred men of the Ninth to reconnoiter the enemy's position, which duty was satisfactorily performed, the party returning before daylight with a report that the enemy still occupied the fort, with their lines established as during the previous day. On the morning of the 14th, the artillery opened vigorously upon the enemy. Heckman's Brigade soon after advancing, with Companies D and G, of the Ninth, commanded by Lieutenants Drake and Peters, deployed as skirmishers, and compelling the enemy to fall back to their fortifications. Lieutenant Drake, upon discovering the works of the enemy, halted his command to await the arrival of General Heckman, who soon after coming up, the two stealthily crept some distance to a point under the brow of a hill, where, as they were examining the rebel position, they were discovered and fired upon, but fortunately without injury. Heckman, now under- standing the situation, at once ordered Drake to drive the enemy behind his works, which was speedily done without loss to his com- mand. At noon, Companies D and E were relieved by Captains Hopper and Townley, who silenced the enemy's guns, and during the remainder of the day rendered them useless, our sharpshooters picking off every rebel gunner who ventured to show his head. Our army at this time was facing northward, and operating against Richmond. The enemy held a strong line of works, extending from Fort Darling on the right to the Appomattox River on the left, and it was towards the capture of this fort, which com- manded the James, that the attention of our forces were particularly directed.
On the 15th a sharp musketry fire was kept up all day, but no general demonstration was made. During the day, learning that the enemy were in very strong force, and preparing to assume the defensive, General Heckman, whose old brigade held the extreme right, asked for reinforcements of infantry and artillery, but these
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could not be furnished. During the evening, the purpose of the enemy to make an attack becoming still more obvious, a second request for reinforcements was made, but being again denied, preparations were at once made to hold the position without them, if at all possible. Passing along his thin and extended line, the gallant Heckman apprised his men of the probability of an attack, and directed them to construct as quietly and rapidly as possible a breastwork of such materials as they could gather, in order that they might defend to the last the position which it was so important they should hold. Silently but rapidly stacking their arms, the men obeyed the order of their chief, in whose sagacity they had implicit confidence, and whose expectation of an attack was very soon realized. At midnight, the rebels moved out from their works, massing strongly on Heckman's extreme right, held by the Ninth New Jersey. Between this point and the river, a distance of a mile and half, were posted two squadrons of cavalry, who, however, could not operate owing to a dense swamp. Just before daylight, the enemy, having obtained position, rushed with great impetuosity upon the pickets, but after a desperate struggle was forced back by the heroic Captain Lawrence, and day broke, thanks to the vigilance of Heckman and the gallantry of his men, with our lines still unbroken. But that day which broke so calmly over the field, (16th) was a sad one for the "Star Brigade." Shortly after dawn, under cover of a dense fog which completely concealed the enemy from our view, five picked brigades in column debouched from the rebel works, and rapidly advancing, drove in our pickets, pressing up on a run to our main line. Heckman's Brigade, hearing their approach, swept instantly into line, and in steady column awaited their coming. On and on they came, careering madly to the shock. Still the veteran brigade stood immovable, holding its fire. But at last, when only five paces intervened between the rebel bayonets and that inflexible line, one simultaneous, resistless volley swept into the faces of the exultant foe, smiting scores to the earth, and hurling the whole column backward in dismay and confusion. But soon, encouraged and rallied by their officers, the doomed rebels, reforming, again advanced to the attack, but
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