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 40
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"February 14th. We are still in the sandy region, but find sufficient supplics. Each regiment is sending out a forage party equal to about one company, who supply the regiment with pork, sweet potatoes, flour and sorghum syrup. Captain Guyer has been detailed to command our detachment-being an experienced officer and in every respect reliable. We marched six miles north, when the regiment was put on picket at Lexington Court House and Columbia Cross Roads while the corps train was pass- ing; about four o'clock, p. m., we moved forward after the train, marched four miles to camp for the night ; we have had a severe, cold storm during the afternoon.
"February 15th. Marched at twelve o'clock, m., in northwesterly direction ten miles, to within two miles of Lexington Court House, which we reached and bivouacked at about twelve o'clock, midnight; the roads bad with clay soil.
"February 16th. Started at half-past seven o'clock, a. m., our division on the right marching without trains, taking the road directly towards Columbia, leaving Lexington Court House on our left; marched to within four miles of Columbia, crossing a rail- road that had been projected and graded to conncet Columbia, South Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia. The right wing, between us and Columbia, shelled the city during the afternoon; bivouacked after marching eleven miles.
"February 17th. Started at ciglit o'clock, a. m .; our regiment on the right of the brigade, turned to the right, marched north four miles in the direction of Zion's Church, which is about six miles northwest of the city of Columbia, and the point where our wing crossed the Saluda River, one of the branches of the Congaree River. The Four- teenth Corps being in advance of us, we halted for them to cross; at a quarter-past eleven o'clock, a. m., the skirmishers of the Fifteenth Corps crossed two miles below. and entered the city of Colinbia. The old flag was once more placed upon the State House, amid the cheers of soldiers and the playing of national airs by our bands. At ten o'clock, p. m., we crossed the river, marched one mile and eneamped for the night on the peninsula formed by the Saluda and Broad Rivers.
" February 18th. Marched at three o'clock, p. m., about six miles in northerly direc- tion towards Alston, a railroad junction of the Greenville and Spartansburg Railroad.
"February 19th. Marched at eleven o'clock, a. m., about seven miles further towards Alston ; bivonacked near Broad River.
" February 20th. Started at seven o'clock, a. m., crossed Broad River, a rapid stream six hundred and sixty feet wide, on pontoon bridge; soon came to Columbia and Alston Railroad, which is of the stringer track, and very poor; crossed the Little River, march- ing in all eight miles north in the direction of Winnsborough; passed through a pleas- ant, hilly country and found large quantities of provision and forage .. It is amusing to discover the efforts of the people to hide away valnables of various kinds, in every con-
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engaged, gradually driving the enemy until they came upon an en- trenched line, when, the position being a strong one and our force
ceivable place, but to no purpose, as our men have become adepts in the business of discovering everything worth having. When discovered, the owners mourn the loss greatly. The brave South Carolinians do not bear their privations with the fortitude exhibited by the Georgians.
"February 21st. Started at ten o'clock, a. m., marched in a northerly direction eight miles to the city of Winnsborough, the county town of Fairfax County-a place of one thousand one hundred inhabitants in 1860. There was considerable cotton herc. We are in a rich cotton-raising district, which we always destroy wherever we find it. We have already destroyed many thousand bales. We found the Second Division (General Geary's) destroying the track of the railroad running from Columbia to Dau- ville and Richmond, Virginia. Marched cast two miles and encamped for the night. Again the programme changes. From the Charleston and Augusta Railroad, we have been moving north, burning cotton and other valuables, destroying the railroads in the vicinity of Columbia in every direction, and have moved so far north from Columbia as to induce the belief on the part of the rebels that we are going to Charlotte. They have accordingly concentrated their forces there. From this point we again now move east, leave the rebels on our left. It will probably take them some little time to learn of the change as our (bummers) foragers are out so far in every direction that it is always difficult to tell our plans-particularly as General Sherman keeps his own counsels. It is related of him that when asked by a prominent general officer where he was going next, he replied: 'If my shirt on my back knew where I was going I would take it off and burn it,' and this is the secret of his success.
"February 22d. Started at half-past six o'clock, p. m .; our regiment guarding eighty wagons; marched about nineteen miles in an easterly direction; the march was a hard onc, as the country is very hilly, and we scarcely halted during the whole day until five o'clock, p. m., when we went into camp. Foraging parties are abundantly supplied with chickens, hogs, bacon and potatoes, and we are now filling our wagons for future usc. No other rations, except those gleaned from the country have been issued for about fifteen days-thus saving the Government millions of dollars. Passed many splendid mansions and plantations. The Second Division is still destroying the railroad.
"February 23d. Started at half-past six o'clock, a. in., crossed the river at Rocky Mount; built a road on east bank, which was very steep, and had a hard time getting the train along as it rained hard. We have marched but three miles at noon and have gone into camp to enable the train to get aeross. We are now moving in an casterly direction towards Camden.
"February 24th. Started at seven o'clock, a. m., in a severe storm; marched a mile on the wrong road; countermarched, and then marched two miles further and found the road we designed to take occupied by the Seventeenth Corps, making about two miles in the direction we designed going, and encamped for the night. Not a pleasant operation, the boys say, however, 'it's all in your three years.'
"February 25th. The storm continues. The Fourteenth Corps cannot move their train, and we wait for them without moving to-day.
"February 26th. Started at four o'clock, p. m. ; marched about six miles in a north- casterly direction ; corduroyed most of the distance ; (we are often obliged to corduroy the whole distance marched in a day by rails and young trees;) our brigade acted as rear-guard; encamped at eleven o'clock, p. m., about three miles from Hanging Rock.
"February 27th. Started at half-past six o'clock, a. m. ; marched four miles, as rear-guard, past Hanging Rock, and over Hanging Rock Creek, road hilly and bad ; encamped about eleven o'clock, a. m., to allow the Fourteenth Corps to overtake us.
"February 2Sth. Regiment mustered at half-past seven o'clock, a. m. ; started at
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
small, it was not deemed prudent to hazard an assault until the arrival of other troops. The column accordingly halted in a piece
twelve o'clock, m. ; guarded about forty wagons. After marching two miles in this manner, we were assembled to corduroy the road, which was in very bad condition. owing to the rain of last night. We have once more reached the sandy region and are among the swamps; find the country more level; we have again passed from the primary to tertiary formations; marched about seven miles to-day, crossed Little Lynch's Creek, and encamped at six o'clock, p. m.
"March 1st. Started at half-past six o'clock, a. m .; our division in the advance; marched without guarding train ; crossed Lynch's Creek-quite a stream-at Miller's Bridge; made seventeen miles to Chesterfield Court House, passing though pine forests, in which are some serubby oaks of small size, hollow and rotten; when about two miles from Chesterfield, the First Brigade commenced to skirmish with the enemy, our brigade supporting them in line of battle. The rebels were thus driven from the town ; they, however, occupied the bridge over Thompson's Creek beyond. The Second Massachussetts Regiment of our brigade was deployed as skirmishers, and our (Thirteenth) regiment supported them in driving the rebels from the bridge aeross the creek and up the hill beyond, which was handsomely done. We then returned to within a quarter of a mile of the town and encamped for the night. Two of our men were captured to-day by the enemy-wearing blue uniforms. We have captured eighteen of the enemy, who seem very much discouraged, and say it is useless to fight longer. We are also having some of our escaped prisoners come into our lines, which is very gratifying. Did not move until
"March 3d. Marched at three o'clock, p. m., across the river, on the road cast towards Cheraw. At this point we learned that the rebels had evacuated that place, . (Cheraw,) and we filed to the left and marched across the fields, one mile to Sneeds- borough road, and encamped for the night.
" March 4th. Started at three o'clock, p. m. ; marched seven miles in a northeasterly direction; the roads in bad condition; had to be corduroyed, and the trains assisted through the mud; we did not reach camping ground until eleven o'clock, p. m.
" March 5th. Did not march to-day.
"March 6th. Started at eight o'clock, a. m .; marched one mile in a northeasterly direction to the line between North and South Carolina, where we struck the Wades- borough and Cheraw plank road ; thence marched along the same in a southeasterly direction nine miles to Cheraw, formerly a place of about three thousand inhabitants ; remained outside the city for about four hours, then marched through the city in column by company, with bands playing and colors flying. We halted near the bank of the Great Pee Dee River-a river of considerable size-until nine o'clock, a. m .. waiting for other corps to cross the river. We then crossed, marched about four miles and a half through a swampy country and encamped about midnight-having marched fifteen miles, and crossed the projected railroad from Cheraw to Charlotte, being an extension of the road from Charleston to Florence.
" March 7th. Started about eight o'clock, a. m., marched fifteen miles to a railroad. (the Wilmington, Lamb Hill and Charlotte Railroad, ) running from Wilmington towards Charlotte, about one hundred and six miles from Wilmington. (The rails from the east end had been taken up and the road extended to the northwest.) We destroyed the road and large quantities of cotton.
" March Sth. Started at nine o'clock, a. m. ; crossed the railroad (Wilmington, Lamb Hill and Charlotte, ) in a severe storm; we were guarding sixty-six wagon -: roads very bad ; passed through many 'pine orchards ;' are in the richest part of the turpentine district of the State of North Carolina; marched about fifteen miles. passing to the right of Rockingham, and encamped about seven o'clock, p. m. The men seem to realize that they have passed out of South Carolina and do not destroy by fire or otherwise if it can be avoided.
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of woods, but was at once opened upon with artillery, the missiles, however, inflicting no damage, and their guns being soon silenced
"March 9th. Started at eight o'clock, a. m .; marched four miles; bridge over Little Pee Dee or Lumber River destroyed, and halted while it was rebuilt. Part of the train crossed that day, but the continued severe storms-one of the severest during the service-made the roads in such a condition that there seems to be no bottom to them. The wagons stuck in every direction, the train could not be got Into park and we encamped about midnight on the roadside, and enjoyed one of the roughest nights during ' the three years.'
" March 10th. Started at six o'clock, a. m .; the men were without rations, the country being poor and our foragers unsuccessful ; marched about two miles to the river at Blue Bridge; mud from ankle to knee deep; guarding train, and corduroying the road ; got some rations about noon; marched eight miles further in a northeasterly direction, making ten miles in all; cleared off during the afternoon.
" March 11th. Started at half-past ten o'clock; moved forward rapidly without trains; marched ten miles northeast to the plank road leading from Rockville to Fayetteville, erossing Rockfish Creek; thence ten miles east to within two miles of Fayetteville, where we encamped at ten o'clock, p. m. The place had been evacuated by about twenty-five thousand of the enemy who had declared their determination a week ago to defend the city to the last, but to-day left very suddenly, part going to Jonesborough and the balance to Raleigh. On the hill to the west of the city is the arsenal-one of the largest built by the United States Government, and covering about twenty acres. There are about twenty brick shops of various sizes for the manufacture of ordnance, where we found some of the original machinery of the arsenal, besides some that had been brought from Harper's Ferry by the rebels. These buildings and the dwellings, together with the machinery, ordinance manufac- tured, and materials for the manufacture, in all stages of completion, were all destroyed, most of them by the Michigan Engineers, with an ancient weapon-a battering-ram. We came so suddenly upon the enemy that they did not have time to remove any of it. The city has an old and dilapidated appearance; formerly con tained about five thousand inhabitants. The rebels had destroyed six steamboats it being the head of navigation on the Cape Fear River.
"March 12th. Steamer up the river from Wilmington with 'essential supplies.' Our men wrote letters to send home; it was the first opportunity they had had in about forty days. Regiment did not move.
" March 13th. Started at two o'clock, p. m., marched through the city in review before Generals Sherman and Sloeum. The regiment presented a very fine appearance ; crossed the river on pontoon bridge about one hundred and ten yards wide, the rebels having destroyed the bridge when they left; marched about four miles northeast-making six miles in all. We found muehl ill-feeling between the people of North and South Caro- lina. When the old North State hesitated abont seeeding from the Union, the South Carolinians proposed to 'come over and warm the tar heels,' and they felt very indig - nant about it. They now aceuse the South Carolinians of acting in a cowardly manner at Fort Fisher, which was captured because they feared to come out of the bomb- proofs and fight the Yankees. General Sherman issued an order that brigade command- ers send in the names of officers to be brevetted for gallant and meritorious services in the recent campaign. Colonel Hawley sent in the names of Major Harris, commanding regiment, to be brevetted Colonel, and Quartermaster. Byrne and Lientenant Dunean, both on brigade staff, to be Captains by brevet.
"March 14th. The brigade las not moved to-day. Our regiment was detailed, together with the Second Massachusetts Volunteers, to make a reconnoissance and to Eet corn and forage for the brigade animals ; about twelve o'clock, m., we started with Ave wagons, marched north on Raleigh plank road about seven miles, then marched cust about three miles, loaded wagons and reached camp of brigade about ten o'clock, p. m .- having marched twenty miles and discovered the enemy's position.
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by our guns. The skirmishers having exhausted their ammunition. were relieved by another detail from the Thirteenth Regiment, who were, however, presently withdrawn, the brigade being relieved by the Third Brigade, Third Division of the corps, and sent into posi- tion its right. The command was then again advanced. with their skirmishers in front of each company, until the enemy's line was reached, and the skirmishers became engaged, whereupon the Third Brigade also advanced, and finding no enemy in front flanked the rebel works, opening an enfilading fire along their lines. At the first volley, the Second Brigade simultaneously advancing its lines, the rebels broke and fell back to a new line of works, stretching from Cape Fear River to Black Creek, the possession of which was of vital importance to the enemy. Without delay, our line was pushed forward in pursuit, the skirmishers again speedily becoming ·engaged; but the enemy holding his ground with stubborn tenacity, about two o'clock p. m., an advance of our whole line was ordered. In this movement, the Thirteenth passed through a deep swamp. driving the rebel skirmishers rapidly into their works, and halting some two hundred yards from their position, where a line of earth- works was hastily thrown up, after a severe engagement in which it lost two men killed and twenty-two wounded-many of the latter severely. Later in the day, the brigade was relieved and passed to the rear, expecting to renew the fight on the morrow, but the enemy during the night evacuated the position, and next day the Thir- teenth, resuming its advance, passed through his evacuated works. During the 18th, it pushed forward in the direction of Goldsborough.
"March 15th. Started at eight o'clock, a. m., marched again north on Raleigh plank road about eleven miles, encamped near the bank of Cape Fear River at about three o'clock, p. m., and prepared for the night. At eight o'clock, p. m., however, the brigade was moved rapidly forward about four miles, to near Averysborough, in the rain ant over roads in an execrable condition to support Kilpatrick's cavalry, who had met the enemy's infantry at that point. We reached his position at midnight. The movement to-day is without trains ; these have been sent to the right, with the Second Division as guard, so that the Fourteenth Corps and the First and Third Divisions of our corp .. with the cavalry, are moving directly north in the direction of Raleigh, up the penin- sula formed by the Cape Fear River and Black Creek. The object of this movement was to bring the rebels out of Goldsborough by threatening Raleigh, when the right wing of the army was to occupy Goldsborough and we to follow to that place. Thi- we accomplished, but instead of their marching to Raleigh to defend that place they concentrated a considerable force in our front at this point. Were ordered to be ready to move at daylight."
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THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
corduroying the road as it advanced, and on the 19th, being with its brigade in the advance of the corps, received orders to move rapidly in the direction of Bentonville, near which Slocum's column had developed the whole of the rebel army under Johnston's imme- diate command, and the day previous had suffered some damage at their hands. Reaching a point three miles distant from Bentonville, the Second Brigade was at once formed (in rear of the Fourteenth Corps, which was already engaged,) with the right resting on the road to Goldsborough, and at right angles to that road, on ground from which the enemy, whose main line of works was behind Mill Creek, had been driven. After remaining in this position for some time, the brigade was moved some five hundred yards to the left, crossing a narrow ravine and swamp, and placed in two lines on the right of the front line of battle, and left of the ravine-the Thirteenth being in rear of the Second Massachusetts regiment, in reserve, in . column by division closed in mass. Here, it assisted in building breastworks, the firing on the left of the front line of the Fourteenth Corps meanwhile growing heavier, and the sound of musketry coming momentarily nearer, indicating that the advanced line was falling back. At this juncture, Major Harris was directed by the brigade commander to deploy, and place the regiment on the other, or right side of the ravine, using his judgment as to the best posi- tion, as rapidly as possible, and, once in position, to construct such defenses as could be quickly made. This order was promptly obeyed, the line being formed on the edge of the ravine as nearly on a prolongation of the brigade-line as the nature of the ground would admit, and the men at once commencing to construct a de- fense of rails and such other materials as were at hand. It soon became evident, however, from the firing, and the number of strag- glers from the Fourteenth Corps, who were falling back in the utmost confusion, that the front line, whose rear the Thirteenth was designed to protect, had given way, and it was seen at a glance that unless the tide could be turned, a great disaster might result. The most strenuous efforts were therefore made to arrest the progress of the fugitives and turn them into the line of the Thirteenth on the right, in order to connect it with the brigade, some four hundred
.
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yards distant, but this, owing to their demoralization, was found to be impossible, and the right flank of the regiment continuing thus exposed, it became necessary to form it at right angles with the main line, which was accordingly done, the rails used as breast- works being hastily removed to the new position, and the Eighty- second Illinois Regiment coming in on the right and continuing the line. All these movements, of course, required time, and the defenses were scarcely completed when the rebels appeared, moving forward in three lines of battle, from a belt of woods into a cleared field a short distance on our left, on the opposite side of the ravine. Apparently, they were unconscious of the position of the Thirteenth, or underrated its strength and courage, and advanced in handsome style right into the jaws of disaster. Waiting until they had ap- proached within two hundred yards of its position, the Thirteenth . suddenly opened upon them, the fire partly enfilading their lines and instantly throwing them into confusion. Speedily, however, re-forming, they again attempted to advance, but a second volley from the Thirteenth caused them to fall back a second time in dis- order. Repeated efforts were now made to re-form their lines, but they were as often broken by the withering fire of our men, poured into their ranks with deliberate and unerring aim, and finally, dis- spirited and demoralized, they fell back a confused rabble, leaving their dead and wounded on the field, and the Thirteenth masters of' the position. So severely was the enemy punished that while efforts were made to break our line at other points, he carefully refrained from any demonstrations in front of the Thirteenth, and other troops coming up during the night, he two days after de. camped without any further attempt to stay our progress.
The action of the Thirteenth in this, the last battle of the war, was throughout of the most gallant character. Had the regiment failed to hold its position, either through incapacity on the part of its officers or want of steadiness among the men; had the line given way under pressure of the stragglers from the front and fallen in with the ebbing tide, the battle must almost inevitably have been lost and the final victory over Johnston's army delayed perhaps for weeks. Johnston, with forty thousand men, had
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hurried to Bentonville from Smithfield with great rapidity, and without unnecessary wheels, with the specific design of overwhelm- ing Slocum before he could get up supports, and had he succeeded in defeating the latter and the supports already up when the battle was joined, it is easy to see that the reinforcements which arrived after the fight must have fared badly at his hands. That he did not succeed in his purpose was owing to the Thirteenth New Jersey Regiment more largely than to any other regiment or brigade of the army, and those who were cognizant of the circumstances were not slow to admit the fact. Corps, division and brigade command ers alike united in commending the conduct of the regiment. Col- onel Hawley, commanding the brigade, addressing the regiment, said openly and unqualifiedly, "You are entitled to the thanks of this whole army, for you have saved it." And he added, in the same strain of confidence and approval, "I have no orders to give, for I know you will hold your position without."
During the 20th and 21st, the regiment remained in the position which it occupied on the 19th, strengthening its works in various ways, but on the 22d, the enemy having evacuated his position, it moved out with the army in pursuit. Goldsborough had meanwhile been occupied by the co-operating force under General Schofield, and on the 24th, the Thirteenth marched into that town with colors flying and drums beating, going into camp, after passing in review by Generals Sherman and Slocum, three miles north of the city limits. And here, after seventy days of marching, toiling and fighting, ended the campaign of the Carolinas, in which the army had built six hundred miles of corduroy road, captured and de- stroyed cotton and other property to the value of millions of dollars, broken all the vital communications of the enemy, and made the mother-State of secession and rebellion feel in every nerve and fibre the war which she had causelessly provoked.
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