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 38
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preparing to cross the Rapidan, orders were received to detach the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, under Hooker, for service in Ten- nessee, and on the 24th of September, breaking camp, the Thirteenth marched out with its corps, going to Bealton Station, whence," on the 29th, taking cars, it proceeded through West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee to Stevenson, Alabama, reaching that place October 4th, having in seven days and nights traveled a distance of one thousand one hundred miles. The duty now assigned the corps, was that of keeping open the long line of com- munications, over which the supplies of our army at Chattanooga. were carried, and the troops soon became busily engaged, moving from place to place, endeavoring to clear the railroad of obstruc tions, and catch the rebels who were destroying it. Moving on the 10th, to Tullahoma, Tennessee, a regular guard from the Thirteenth was established on the Nashville and Chattanooga road, but soon after, after various marches and countermarches, the regiment was ordered to a point near Normandy, where the men at once proceeded to make themselves comfortable. While here, Rev. Samuel C. Hay was elected Chaplain of the regiment, Rev. Mr. Beck having resigned some months previously. On the 15th
5 The following extract from the diary of an officer of the regiment relates to this transfer :
"Sunday, September 27th. We were loaded in cars and bid farewell to the scenes of onr army experience in Virginia-farewell to the noble Army of the Potomac-the most gallant of the Republic.
" September 2Stl. We passed through Alexandria and Washington and the Relay House over the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, through Harper's Ferry, Martinsburg. Hancock, Cumberland, Altamont, Grafton, and left the train when we reached (Sep- tember 29th) the Ohio River, and marched across on a pontoon bridge at Bellair on the following morning.
" September 30th. Before daylight we started on the Ohio Central Railroad, passed through Cambridge, Zanesville and Columbus; thence by Columbus and Xenia Railroad to Xenia, and thence by Xenia, Dayton and Western Railroad to Richmond : (October 1st,) thence by Indiana Central Railroad to Indianapolis. During the trip through Ohio-particularly at Dayton and Xenia-the soldiers were feasted to all the good things the country afforded, at the hands of many of Ohio's lovely daughter -. We left Indianapolis in the evening on the Jeffersonville Railroad, and in the morning of October 2d, we reached Jeffersonville on the Ohio, crossed in a ferry-boat ! Louisville, Kentucky; thence through the State and the State of Tennessee, passin through Nashville during the night, and after changing cars (October 3d,) moved on to Stevenson, Alabama, passing through the Stone River battle-field, where we left the cars (October 4th,) on Sunday morning, after seven days and nights travel in the cars and a journey of one thousand one hundred miles."
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of December, Lieutenant-Colonel Grimes rejoined the regiment, and shortly after, Captain George A. Beardsley was appointed Major, Lieutenant Pierson being promoted to the command of Company D, in place of Beardsley, promoted. Captain Van Rensselear was about the same time commissioned Major of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, Lieutenant Miller being made Captain of Company A. Late in December, the regiment was divided, Company F being located some two miles from the others. And now settling into winter-quarters, the regiment enjoyed a season of comparative rest, interrupted only by occasional expeditions into the surrounding country, in which important service was performed." Early in
" The following extract from the notes of an officer of the regiment shows its daily movements during this period :
"November 12th. We found on reaching this department that there was a con- siderable feeling of contempt for soldiers of the ' Army of the Potomac.' They con- sidered us ' band-box' soldiers ; taunted the men for wearing ' white collars,' and they seemed to have the impression that the Eastern army could not fight because it had not defeated Lee on every occasion. Had they been met by the same men at the West as at the East, that army would have learned a different mode of fighting or been annihilated. At the battle of Chickamauga they had a taste of Lee's army. The difference is mainly in discipline, and is apparent in every department in the appearance of the men, the want of respect for officers-but especially the disposition of every man to rely upon himself and choose his own course of action, which course renders an army in battle weak. It was not long, however, before they came to respect us as representatives of the Eastern army. (Hooker's Twentieth (Star) Corps was afterwards the pride of that army.)
"November 26th. Thanksgiving Day has come again, but there is no thanksgiving dinner for us. Our men have been amused by a target excursion to the other side of the river. Each company selected five men to shoot for the prizes which had been offered for the best target made by any company, firing at the distance of fifty, one hundred and one hundred and fifty yards, and for the best shot at two hundred yards. Company H received the first prize, and Sergeant Cramer the other. Then we had a rabbit race, a pig race and a foot race by the men; and that, together with music and dancing, finished up the day.
"December 25th-Christmas-the men have been having a very pleasant time. The officers had contributed a sufficient amount to provide a fine dinner of turkeys, chickens, roast pigs, beef, &c. Tables were built on the parade-ground that accom- modated the whole regiment at once. How they did enjoy it! Many citizens were present, and enjoyed the merry time. The boys had a concert in the evening with singing and dancing.
"January 1, 1864. The regiment has settled into winter-quarters. The weather is very cold. The men are doing guard and picket duty, protecting the bridge, patrol- ing the railroad-which is the only means of supply to the front. We are building, In addition to other duties, a large fort. The duties are severe, and the position responsible, and only reliable troops have been placed in these independent positions. The men are drilled daily; officers have recitations twice a week. No change in the *ituation of things until
"January 19th, when three companies, under command of Captain Harris, senior Captain, were ordered to start at three o'clock, a. m., to report at Tullahoma as carly
42
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April, the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps having been united under General Hooker, preparations for a movement were ordered, and on the 26th, the command again moved out towards the enemy. Gen- eral Sherman had now been placed in command of all the troops in the Military Division of the Mississippi, and the memorable campaign against Atlanta was about to begin. The Thirteenth, marching to Decatur, Alabama, proceeded along the summit of the Cumberland range of mountains, some sixteen miles, when it descended into Battle Creek Valley, and advanced to Bridgeport, Alabama, thence proceeding through Lookout Valley, by way of Rossville and Anderson, Georgia, to Ringgold, reaching the latter place on the 7th of May. At this time, the rebel army under Johnston was posted at Dalton, its position being covered by an impassable mountain, known as "Rocky Face Ridge," and our army not being able to traverse the only gap, (Buzzard's Roost,)
as possible. The night was dark and rainy, and the traveling difficult. We reached our destination at cight o'clock, a. m. As three companies of the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York Regiment, who were to accompany us, did not arrive that day, we were obliged to bivouac for the night. Next morning,
"January 20th, we were joined by the detachment of the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York, and Major Beardsley, who took command of the whole detachment, when we marched twelve miles in a southwesterly direction to the small village of Lynch- burg. Here our men found quarters in the deserted houses of the town. The next day, "January 21st, we moved forward, in the same direction, about eight miles to Mulberry, Lincoln County, Tennessee, which was our destination. Our men were quartered in the unoccupied store-honses and a church. We are in the midst of one of the finest and most fertile portions of the South. The people are very intelligent, but are as intensely secesh as any we have ever met. It was this county that proposed to sceede from the State of Tennessee if the State did not secede from the Union. The richness of the county makes it a fine field for foraging. On one occasion when a wagon train was in this vicinity collecting forage, one of the wagons and its guard be- came detached from the rest of the train. A party of guerrillas overtook it, burned the wagon, and took Lieutenant Porter and four men of the Twenty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers with the driver. They were taken about seven miles, and at a point near Mulberry, in the darkness of the night, they had their hands tied behind their backs, in order, as they said, that they might be more casily retained ; but they were immediately placed in a line, and without the least intimation of what was to be their fate, they heard the order, aim! fire! and three fell dead. The Lieutenant was slightly wounded but escaped with one of the other men. General Thomas, commanding the Department of the Cumberland, upon learning the facts, ordered a detachment to go to Mulberry and protect Colonel John H. Ketchum, of the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York Regiment, in collecting from the inhabitants within ten miles of this point thirty thousand dollars, to be equally divided among the families of the men murdered by the guerrillas. We are now engaged in that business. The assessment is made by the direction of the Colonel. Many claim exemption because they took the cath of allegiance when Rosencrans passed though this country; but they declare (with the usual consistency of these people) that they are hoping and praying for the succe --
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THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
General Thomas, with the Army of the Cumberland, was directed to menace and assail the position in front, while McPherson, with the Army of the Tennessee, should flank the enemy's left, and, moving down by various gaps, seize Resaca, or some other post well in its rear-Schofield, meanwhile, pressing on Johnston's right. These orders were promptly carried out, McPherson reaching the front of Resaca, but subsequently falling back to a strong position in Snake Creek Gap, whereupon Sherman (on the 10th) moved forward the Twentieth Corps to that point. Here the Thirteenth remained until the 13th, when, with the army, it advanced towards Resaca, the enemy slowly retiring. Late in the afternoon, the rebels making heavy demonstrations on the extreme left of the line, the Third Brigade was moved rapidly in that direction, arriving just in time to meet the enemy who was charging upon a battery, which had been deserted by its infantry support. The timely appearance
of the confederacy. The principal business is receiving the cotton and other articles that are bronght in payment, and foraging for our own usc. A large portion of the assessment is being paid in greenbacks. We have had preaching on the Sundays we have been herc.
"February 2d. The resignation of Doctor J. J. II. Love has been accepted, and to-day he leaves Division Headquarters, where he has been for a long time detailed as Surgeon-in-Chief, and where he has become very popular, with the regrets of the officers.
"February 11th. The detachment left Mulberry and returned to Tullahoma, with a large quantity of cotton, being part of the collections we had made. The inhabitants seemed to regret our departure, as our men had conducted themselves in a very proper manner." The detachment of our regiment was expected to return to the regiment, which had not moved from Dnek River Bridge, and which was then under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Grimes-Colonel Carman having been detailed as presiding officer of a court-martial and military commission sitting at Tullahoma ; but owing to the fact that a large portion of the Twenty-seventh Indiana Regiment had gone home on veteran furloughs, the three companies of our regiment were left at Tullahoma (under command of Captain Harris,) doing picket and guard duty, and occupying a part of the camp of the Twenty-seventh Indiana. Chaplain Hay has resigned his position owing to ill-licalth. He started for the regiment, was taken sick ut Chicago, and resigned.
"February 12th. The regiment has again been united. Recruits are from time to time being received. We are frequently hearing of rebel depredations on the railroad, and are, therefore, constantly on the alert.
"February 16th. About forty guerrillas tore up the track, two miles below Tullahoma, and after the train had run off the track fired into it and killed six men and then left suddenly.
"April 6th. Major G. A. Beardsley having resigned his commission, which has been accepted, left the regiment to-day for home. Rev. Mr. Hyde, a member of the regi- ment, was elected Chaplain, but his commission was never received. Captain Ryer- son has been promoted to Major."
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of the Thirteenth, however, upon the scene, arrested the progress of the assailants, and the battery was rescued. Darkness coming on, the advantage was not pressed; in the morning, however, it was found that the enemy had disappeared from our front, and our linc was advanced, the Second Division of the Twentieth Corps pres- ently coming up with and driving the rebels. The Thirteenth continued to advance by the flank from time to time, as the enemy gave way in front of that division, keeping to the left of the rebel line of battle, until at length, the latter offering more serious oppo- sition, it was formed for a charge on the brow of a hill, and soon after advanced in fine order, moving across a plain of perhaps half a mile in width, exposed to the fire of a rebel fort, and reaching, finally, a hill beyond. Here a breastwork of rails was hastily con- structed, the skirmishers in front being heavily engaged, but before the work was completed, the latter were driven in by heavy masses of the enemy, who, finding that our position flanked his line, at once made a desperate attack upon it. For two hours the conflict raged with the greatest fury, the assailants seeking in vain to pierce our lines, and being compelled at last to fall back with heavy loss. The men of the Thirteenth fought with great steadiness throughout, and the loss, considering the severity of the fighting, was much less than might have been expected, amounting to four killed and twenty three wounded. Had not the regiment fortunately thrown up breastworks the loss must have been much greater. The enemy having been repulsed, the regiment was relieved, but no further attack was made on that part of the line, and upon the advance of the skirmishers, on the following morning, it was found that Johnston had withdrawn his whole force across the Oostanaula. Pushing forward in pursuit, the Twentieth Corps, on the 16th, came up with the enemy posted in fortifications, built upon the hills south of Cassville, where the skirmishers of the Thirteenth again became engaged, but without any serious loss. The enemy again retreating, our forces, after receiving supplies, on the 20th moved
; A letter to the Newark Advertiser says of this engagement : "Jolinston, it is said, had sworn to break our lines at this point or perish in the attempt. He failed, though the loss was great on both sides."
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to and across the Etowah River, thence advancing by different roads, in the direction of Dallas. On the 25th, moving on the main Dallas road, Hooker's Corps (the Twentieth) encountered the enemy in force, who at once attacking his Second Division (General Geary,) with great fury, inflicted considerable loss. The First Division was thereupon ordered to the left, to reinforce Geary, the Thirteenth Regiment being, by order of General Hooker, deployed on the right of the line as skirmishers, and soon driving in that part of the enemy's line, with a loss of only six men wounded, including Lieute, nant-Colonel Grimes and Lieutenant George Baitzel, of Company C -the former wounded in the hand, and the latter in the left arm. The loss of the brigade, which was exposed to a murderous fire from the rebel artillery, was very heavy. During the evening, the Thirteenth was formed on the right of the brigade in line of battle, and was engaged in building breastworks until the following morn- ing, when it was relieved and passed to the rear. This battle although known as the battle of Dallas, was really fought near the line of Pumpkin Vine Creek, about thirty miles from Atlanta. Here the Thirteenth remained for several days, Sherman concen- trating his forces, preparatory to a formidable demonstration, sev- cral encounters taking place while his dispositions were making, but without any important result. On the night of the 29th, an attack was made on our line at the right of the position held by the Thirteenth, but the regiment did not become engaged, two men, however, being wounded by scattering balls.
At length, on the 1st of June, Sherman having determined to work towards our left, with a view of flanking the enemy, the Thirteenth moved in that direction, reaching a position about five Iniles from Ackworth, on the 7th. Ackworth is a railway station, about sixteen miles south of Kingston, and a short distance from Altoona, already abandoned by the enemy. Our line of battle now ran east and west, facing the south, with the left extending to the milroad. The country is hilly and well adapted for defense, so that the advance against the enemy was expected to be one of great difficulty. Skirmishing was kept up constantly with the enemy, whose line extended from Kenesaw Mountain on his right, west to
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3
Lost Mountain on his left, covering the intermediate Pine Knob: but no marked advantages were gained on either side. On the 16th and 17th, the Thirteenth was pushed steadily forward, fighting the enemy as it advanced, and losing several men, including Lieu- tenant Peter M. Ryerson, of Company C, who was mortally wounded on the 16th. Lieutenant Ryerson came of fighting stock, being the son of Major Ryerson, of the Eighth Regiment, who fell at Williamsburg, and though only about twenty-two years of age, had made his mark as a superior soldier.$ By this time, Sherman had projected the greater part of his force against the enemy, who, thus menaced by the Thirteenth and other bodies of troops, had abandoned Pine Mountain and taken position along the line of the rugged hills connecting Kenesaw and Lost Mountains. On the 17th under the pressure of our movements, Lost Mountain was abandoned. Our troops still pushing cn, skirmishing in dense forests of timber, and across most difficult ravines, on the 19th again found the enemy strongly posted and entrenched, his right wing thrown back to cover Marietta, the center resting on Kenesaw Mountain, and the left across the Lost Mountain and Marietta road, and covering the railroad track back to the Chattahoochee. Gradually working into position, our forces (on the 22d) came into collision with the rebels some five miles from Kenesaw, where the Thirteenth, while engaged in throwing up breastworks on the edge of a woods, with an open field in front, was suddenly assailed, its skirmishers being driven in, and the enemy, under Hood, heavily massed in several lines of battle, pushing forward over the cleared space." Coolly reserving its fire until the menacing column had fairly cleared the woods. only three hundred yards distant, the Thirteenth then opened upon it with destructive fury, staggering the advance, and presently causing it to give way and fall back. But promptly rallied by their officers, the rebels again advanced, only to receive another wither- ing volley, from which they hastily turned and retreated in disor-
8 The entire loss of the regiment in these operations was two killed and six wounded.
9 This assailing column consisted of Hindman's and Stevenson's Divisions of Hood', Corps.
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der, leaving many killed and wounded on the field. The fighting, however, was not yet done; posting himself in the shelter of some trees and underbrush which lined a brook near the center of the opening, the enemy presently again opened fire upon our lines, keeping it up for two hours, when, having suffered heavily, he finally retired-a few, however, coming in and giving themselves up as prisoners. During this engagement, the regiment was under command of Captain Harris, Colonel Carman being division field- officer, and the Lieutenant-Colonel absent wounded. Sheltered by its hastily-constructed breastworks, the regiment escaped without the loss of a single man killed, while only six were wounded. After the engagement -known as the battle of Kulp's Farm-the picket line was re-established, and the men lay on their arms during the night, holding an advanced position. Here the regiment re- mained until the 27th, when, an assault of the enemy's position having been ordered, it was moved to the left to support a battery and take the place of troops who were to participate in the assault. This assault having failed, Sherman again ordered a flanking move- ment, and on the 2d of July, the enemy having abandoned Kene- saw, the Thirteenth (with its corps) moved to and through Marietta towards the Chattahoochee River, reaching its position in the right center of the army on the 7th. Here it remained until the 17th,10 when a general advance being ordered, the corps crossed the Chat- tahoochee, bivouacking for the night near Buckhead. On the fol- lowing morning, the Thirteenth, with the Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers, under command of Colonel Carman, proceeded on a reconnoissance, the object of which was to find the Fourth Corps and capture a party of rebel cavalry who were said to be stationed between the two corps. The position of the Fourth Corps was easily ascertained, but the cavalry had disappeared ; they were, however, pursued, and being overtaken a lively skirmish ensued, resulting in their being driven with considerable loss, though they held a strong position. The Thirteenth had two men killed.
Moving forward from this point, the corps. on the 19th, crossed Peach Tree Creek, where on the 20th, the enemy suddenly attacked
1' On this day Major Ryerson, who had tendered his resignation, left the regiment.
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our lines in heavy force, but was twice repulsed, with great slaught- er. In this engagement, the Thirteenth lost six men. On the 22d, it was found that the rebels had abandoned the line of Peach Trec Creek, and fallen back to a strong line of redoubts, forming the immediate defences of Atlanta, and covering all the approaches to that town-whereupon our whole army prepared to close in upon the doomed position, the Thirteenth, which had acted as a support . to the skirmishers in the advance, taking position on a hill about five hundred yards from the rebel line of works. Here, while con- structing a frail breastwork, it was opened upon by a rebel battery, the shells from which exploded in dangerous proximity, but the position being an important one, about three miles from the center of Atlanta, it was tenaciously held until other troops came up, and the men were relieved.11 One man was wounded by the rebel fire, and Captain Harris was somewhat stunned by a shell which ex- ploded near him. Upon being relieved, the regiment moved a short distance to the right, its right flank resting on the road leading from Marietta to Atlanta, but was soon after again shifted to the left. On the 27th, it was once more selected for important special duty. There being some irregularities in the line, which it was desirable to straighten, it was ordered that one regiment should be selected from each division along the entire line to unite in a demonstration upon the enemy, under cover of which the necessary work should be accomplished, and the position of the rebel forts at the same time developed. The Thirteenth was selected from the First Division for this duty, being ordered also to burn several houses in its front. from which the enemy kept up an annoying fire. Advancing steadily to its task, the regiment, although exposed to the fire of a fort only one hundred yards distant, succeeded in destroying the buildings, and then, with a loss of two killed and six wounded. retired in good style, bringing in thirty-three prisoners, captured on the rebel picket line. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was also considerable, and the regiment was warmly com- plimented for its exploits at division headquarters.12 On the 28th.
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