USA > New Jersey > The history of the Ninth New Jersey Veteran Vols. A record of its service from Sept. 13th, 1861, to July 12th, 1865, with a complete official roster, and sketches of prominent members > Part 10
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INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH.
moment that Private Francis Cahill of Company B, who had been sent off early in the morning with Lieutenant Edgar Kissam to ascertain something about the Confederate position, returned to the regiment. He was minus a bayonet which he had lost while climbing a tree in the swamp, near the school- house, from which he obtained a view of the bridge over the Neuse river, as well as the town of Kingston. Running up to Colonel Heckman, Cahill gave that officer much valuable infor- mation, when he was despatched to the rear for a battery of . light artillery.
Satisfied that he understood the Confederates' position, Colonel Heckman determined that the Ninth should possess itself of the honors its hard and continuous service and desperate valor entitled it to. Accordingly he formed the regiment in column by company, and led it quietly down through the open field towards the river, the movement being covered by a dense woods on the left, in the heart of which the battle continued to rage with unabated spirit. On reaching the road, the Ninth halted to further prepare for a continuance of the struggle, and an assault upon the works on both sides of the bridge, half a mile distant. The proper moment having arrived, Colonel Heckman directed the Ninth to move quietly forward, which the men did, with bated breath, until within a few hundred yards of the bridge, when, under the inspiration of their gallant leader's clarion-like voice and example, they sounded a yell, which struck terror to the hearts of the foe in their front, causing such of them as retained presence of mind to beat a hasty retreat towards the bridge, the only avenue of escape left them, as Colonel Gray of the Fifty-second New York, had already terrorized those on the right by appearing suddenly on that flank, and was heading in the same direction as the Ninth. The Confederates set fire to the bridge across the Neuse, and in a moment the structure, previously saturated with turpentine, was enveloped in fierce flames. For a moment the scene at the bridge was a wild one-Union men and Confederates-those who had been unable to cross-apparently being inextricably mixed. The men of the Ninth and Fifty-second made strenuous efforts to extinguish the flames, but the intense heat and a
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heavy fire from the enemy on the opposite bank, drove them back. I regret to chronicle the heroic death of Colonel Gray, which occurred at this moment.
The writer was assisting in reforming Company K in a graveyard, to which it had fallen back, when it was saluted by a shower of grape from a Confederate field-piece on the opposite side of the river. One of the iron shots richochetting, struck Tom McCormick upon his cartridge box belt in the middle of his back, and mistaking this for a blow. which he supposed I had given him while getting him in his position, he turned suddenly upon me in great anger, and threatened dire punish- ment. When I picked up the shot which had fallen at his feet and handed it to him he begged pardon, but swore he would have satisfaction of the fellow who had fired it.
The regiments were promptly reformed and the prisoners sent to the rear out of the way and danger, when the Ninth again made for the bridge, Color-Sergeant Myers leading the column at the head of Company F, Captain Curlis commanding. Where the colors went the regiment invariably followed, and long before General Foster and staff had reached the bridge the Ninth New Jersey had taken the entrenchment on the left bank, with several hundred prisoners, a Texan battle-flag, and several pieces of field artillery. Many Confederates, shot down while retreating acrosss the bridge, were burned to a crisp-the spectacle being a sickening one, even to men familiar with scenes of death.
Captain Curlis had scarcely reached the left bank, when he saw a Confederate officer rise from behind a fallen tree in rear of the earthworks, and take to his heels in a very undignified manner. "Charley Geary," said Captain Curlis to one of his best men, an excellent runner withal, "capture that fellow and you'll get something." Away darted Geary like a flash, and within a few moments the fleeing Confederate was brought to bay, and on the way back a prisoner of war. Geary, believing that to the victor belonged the spoils, politely requested his guest to turn over a handsome gold watch and chain, which he reluctantly did. When Geary introduced his prisoner to Captain Curlis, the Confederate major remarked : "That man (pointing
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LUCKY BUMMERS.
to his custodian), took my watch ; I didn't know that Yankees stole !" Geary couldn't stand this, so he handed the watch back to the major. And that evening, after roasting a chicken for the captain, he said : "The next rebel I capture who has a good watch, I will bring him in dead, so that he can't make any complaint." Geary, a splendid soldier, was wounded at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, May 16, 1864. but he served until the Ninth was mustered out. He died a few years afterwards from the effects of his four years' exposure in the army.
Colonel Heckman detailed Company K to collect the Confed- erates in the works on the left bank (or Kingston side) of the river, then hastened on towards the town-three-fourths of a mile distant-without waiting for a support from the other troops. Of course the cavalry and artillery were unable to cross owing to the destruction of the bridge flooring, something the Ninth very much regretted, as with the aid of the cavalry the further retreat of the Confederates could have been pre- vented. The Ninth entered the town at about two o'clock in the afternoon, where it remained until General Foster came up with the remainder of his command. Some members of the Ninth, while "bumming" about the place, secured consid- erable booty. "Tom" McCormick of Company K, found a stocking half full of Mexican silver dollars, while "Jake" Ralfe of Company E, appropriated all the razors, soap, etc., which he discovered in a barber's shop. It is scarcely necessary for me to state that both these gentlemen placed the above- named articles in their capacious haversacks, and rejoined the regiment, their brief absence not having been noticed by the officers.
With a view of making the Confederates believe that he intended marching on Goldsboro, on a line parallel with the railroad, General Foster directed Colonel Heckman to move slowly forward on the main road, leading thereto. When a proper place for an encampment, about two miles outside the town, had been reached, the Ninth halted, and as it was quite dark by this time, the men made themselves as comfortable for the night as the situation would allow.
During the engagement Assistant-Surgeon Gillette established
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the regimental hospital in a large house just in rear of the center line of battle-a capital place, he thought, especially as every- thing was so convenient about the premises. In a few minutes some fifteen or twenty wounded Jerseymen were brought in for treatment, and the surgeon and his steward, Dr. Salter, were kept very busy. Dr. Salter having occasion to go out of doors, was surprised on emerging to find a battery-Morrison's- unlimbering in close proximity to the building. Rushing back and saluting Gillette, he said : "Doctor, there is a battery quite near us, and the moment it opens the fire of the enemy will be attracted upon this building. You had better get out of this place before Morrison draws the fire of the rebels." "Guess there is no danger here so long as the Ninth is in front of us," replied Dr. Gillette, who was preparing to amputate the leg of a man among the first wounded. Bang ! Boom ! W-h-r-r-r-s-t! And pieces of a shell rattled about the hospital, creating con- sternation among the almost helpless men within. One of the stretcher-carriers-a member of Company G-who had just brought in a bucket of water, grabbed his haversack and stretcher and started out of the building, saying to the surgeon : "I am going to the rear. You are a h-1 of a doctor to put the hospital in front of a battle !" and away he went. By the time the " Johnnies " sent their compliments a second time the hospital had been vacated by every one except Surgeon Gillette and three men. After their removal on stretchers the doctor mounted his horse and galloped away, unconsciously passing in front of the battery, which startled his animal so suddenly that Gillette, although a good rider, was forced to "grasp the pommel of his saddle to keep from going over the horse's tail," as he himself told it. A few minutes after this the building he had just evacuated was demolished by a shell. After this experience Surgeon Gillette was somewhat particular as to where he located his hospital during a battle.
December 15 .- Daylight found the Ninth retracing its steps through the town, and when the sun came up, it was tramping over the battle-ground of the previous day, fearful evidences of the struggle still remaining-the dead of both armies still lying where they fell, one fighting for the Union, the other for what
IO7
BATTLE OF WHITEHALL.
it had been taught to believe was right. After a hard day's march, the Ninth, which continued to have the advance, halted at eight o'clock in the evening and went into biouvac about three miles from Whitehall, where, it was known, a Confederate iron-clad was in process of construction. After stacking arms, the "boys" kindled fires, using- convenient fence rails, and with their coffee, relished the fresh meat they had been able that day to provide themselves with-officers and privates faring sumptuously that night on chickens, geese, roasted pigs, honey, sweet potatoes, etc.
About midnight a bright column of flame some distance away, satisfied us that the Confederates had again taken a position to intercept our march. They were probably burning more bridges, or perhaps, the iron-clad-if so, they were surely saving us much trouble.
December 16 .- As most of the men in the Ninth had spent the night in feasting, apprehensive of never again having such an opportunity, no delay occurred in preparing breakfast, and away we quietly marched in the lead, the cavalry hurrying away in another direction to destroy the railroad track between Golds- boro and Wilmington, which duty was gallantly and effectually performed. When the Ninth reached the hamlet of Whitehall, where a bridge crosses the Neuse river, the entire right wing was deployed as skirmishers along its right bank, which move- ment had no sooner been accomplished than a brisk fire was opened from both sides of the river. The Ninth speedily dis- covered that the bridge had been destroyed, but saw that the iron-clad (nearly complete) was still intact, and moored on the opposite side of the wide and deep stream. The Confederates occupied a line of rifle pits extending for a long distance, and had a number of field pieces in position near the vessel, whose music quickly added to the din, announcing in unmistakable terms to General Foster and his troops, yet some distance away, that another battle was in progress, and that New Jersey's Ninth was again giving a good account of itself. The left wing of the Ninth had meanwhile marched into the heart of the village and halted behind a number of dwelling-houses, to await further developments. But as the enemy opened with a
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heavy fire on it, sending shot and shell through the buildings, and killing several men, Colonel Heckman deployed it along the river bank, towards the enemy's right. A withering fire assailed the left wing as it emerged into an open field and quickly advanced by the right flank to the shelter afforded by trees on the bank, and by head stones and mounds in a grave- yard near by.
Colonel Heckman, finding that he had a greater contract on hand than he had anticipated, directed the Seventeenth, Twenty- third and Twenty-fifth Massachusetts regiments, who had now arrived, to a position on the left, where they rendered great assistance. Meanwhile, Captain Abel, aide-de-camp, piloted Belger's, Morrison's and other batteries to a commanding position-two hundred yards in rear of the Union line-when the engagement became furious and general. The skirmishers of the Ninth, feeling comparatively secure in their coverts, popped away whenever they saw a " gray back," and seldom without effect. The Confederates, finding the odds against them, finally slackened their fire, and retired, their retrograde movement being accelerated by some well-directed shots from our excellent artillerists. It was the work of but a few moments to kindle a fire on the iron-clad, which the Ninth's men reached by means of a small "dug-out," which they happily found on this side of the river, and while a dense column of black smoke rose heavenward from the deck of the ship, the regiments reassembled, and with cheerful hearts the column moved on towards Goldsboro-the objective point-the Ninth New Jersey leading.
Among the laughable incidents that occurred in this battle I recall the following :
"Big Jake Ralfe," as every one called him, was lying on the river bank, shooting as opportunity offered, when a cannon shot struck his haversack, tearing it from his side, and scat- tering the razors he had captured at Kingston on the ground about him. Forgetting his ownership of them, and partially recovering from his surprise at the strange freak of that par- ticular cannon-ball, "Jake" sung out to Lieutenant Ben. Hopper : "Say, Lieutenant, I'm be - if the Johnnies ain't
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CURIOSITY OF A CHAPLAIN.
firin' barber shops," saying which he changed his position to a big tree, which stood nearby, and with blood in his eye, continued to fight. While the fighting was hottest a chaplain of a Massachusetts regiment, whose curiosity was very great, took cover behind a large tree near where Belger's Rhode Island battery was belching shot and shell with ten-second fuses, and seeing a wounded artilleryman lying close by, said to him : " Are you," inquired the chaplain of the poor fellow, " supported in this your hour of pain and need by Divine Providence ?"
"No, sir," answered the Rhode Islander, "this battery is supported by the Ninth New Jersey."
It was near midnight when the Ninth, having reached within eight miles of Goldsboro, halted by the roadside to rest and await the dawn of another day.
December 17 .- The men drank their coffee and munched their hard-tack in silence, and after replenishing their car- tridge-boxes with ammunition, resumed the march. Upon discovering a railroad embankment, and a long wooden-covered bridge three-fourths of a mile away to their left and front, Colonel Heckman deployed the right wing of the Ninth, which advanced across an open space to the right bank of the Neuse river-keeping the left wing temporarily in reserve. Upon the speedy arrival of the Seventeenth Massachusetts, Colonel Heckman ordered it to change direction to the left and march along under cover of the railroad bank, and called for volunteers from the two commands to move forward and set fire to the bridge, half a mile distant, strongly defended by a railroad "monitor," several batteries, and a strong force of artillery. Nearly every member of the Ninth within hearing of the colonel's voice, begged to be selected for the duty, but as a few could perform the dangerous task as well, if not better than many, the following were chosen : The adjutant and one man of the Seventeenth Massachusetts, Lieutenant Graham, volunteer aide to Colonel Heckman, Corporal James W. Green, and Private Elias C. Winans, of Company K, and Private William Lemon of Company E, of the Ninth.
These brave fellows, being supplied with fuses, bade us
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NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS.
"adieu," and set out on their perilous enterprise, with their lives in their hands. The Confederates on the bridge, and near by, plainly seeing the object upon which these men were bent, directed their fire upon them with terrible fury, and those of us who watched their perilous progress, believed it would be impossible for either of them to reach the structure and live. The adjutant of the Seventeenth was fatally wounded, but his companion from that regiment remained with him, protecting him as best he could by digging a hole in the earth with his bayonet. Green and Winans, despite the storm of leaden hail, were first to reach the bridge, where, covering themselves as much as possible, they attempted to ignite the fuses with which they had been supplied. But they labored in vain-the worthless things would not burn. Winans, deter- mined to accomplish his mission, or die, closely watched his opportunity and crept down the embankment into the edge of the woods, and, gathering an armful of dried leaves and light wood, scampered back to his companion, who had screened himself from the enemy's fire by standing against a heavy timber on the side of the structure. Winans, while clambering up the embankment on his return, was discovered by a party of Confederates under the bridge, who, with bitter curses, sent their compliments in the shape of a shower of bullets and buck-shot, one passing through his canteen, one through his tin cup, another through his coat, and still another through his old cap. Placing the leaves, with the fuses, upon a beam, against the side of the bridge, they were set on fire, and in another minute the interior was enveloped in flames. While preparing to escape, their breath was fairly taken from them by a fusilade which swept through the doomed structure, and looking out, to discover the cause of this fury, they saw Lieu- tenant Graham of the cavalry, and Private William Lemon, of Company E, entering the bridge, each bearing fuses in their hands. This supply having been added as fuel, our heroes, satisfied that the flames could not be extinguished, dashed from their shelter, and under cover of the dense black smoke which filled the air, ran, as fast as legs could carry them, to their appreciative comrades in the Union lines, whom they
III
GREEK MEETING GREEK.
safely reached-cheer upon cheer greeting them, as with flushed faces and modest demeanor they once more resumed their respective stations.
It must not be understood that while this important work was being performed either Colonel Heckman or the Ninth had been idle. On the contrary, both had been active. The left wing had meanwhile been advanced to within a short distance of the bridge to support the men engaged in destroying it, and it was only when the daring fellows had accomplished their undertaking, and rejoined the command, that it fell back, amid a terrible fire, to the brow of the gentle slope upon which it had stood when the fuses were distributed. While the Ninth and Seventeenth Massachusetts held the enemy in its original position, a brigade of infantry made its way to the railroad, and destroyed its track for a considerable distance in the direction of Wilmington, burning the ties and bending the iron rails.
Prisoners captured along the river bank by the Ninth's skirmishers reporting that the Army of the Potomac, under the noble and patriotic Burnside, had been defeated at Fredericks- burg the previous Sunday-the day we fought at Kingston- and that large reinforcements were arriving at Goldsboro from Lee's army in Virginia, General Foster decided upon imme- diately retracing his steps to Newbern. This movement had scarcely commenced ere increased signs of activity on the part of the enemy were plainly discernible.
It was nearly dusk before the discomfited Confederates ven- tured to cross the railroad track, although we all knew a large force had been posted early in the afternoon in the woods along the wagon-road leading to the city. The enemy evidently suspected that the Union army was in a hurry to get away, now that it had destroyed the track and bridge, which tempted it to follow. Accordingly, it advanced across the railroad embank- ment, and over the broad field on this side, squarely towards two batteries-Belger's and Morrison's-whose men were breathlessly awaiting the onset. A brigade of infantry, whose flanks extended far beyond the guns, lay quiet, but ready to defend with bayonet the grizzled monsters of war. On, on, marched the unsuspecting Confederates until they suddenly
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NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS.
discovered the true condition of affairs, when, with a yell that woke the echoes of the surrounding woods, they made a dash upon the Unionists. In a moment, bright, deafening flashes, lightened up the increasing darkness, and crash ! went a mass of iron-winged messengers of destruction through the serried ranks of the advancing foe. The thought of the miseries caused by that terrible avalanche of ruthless hail, as I write more than a quarter of a century after, makes my heart beat and pulses throb tumultuously. Again did the Confederates, under the inspiring example of their brave leaders, close up the wide gaps caused by the hurricane of fire-this besom of destruction-and renew the charge with such undaunted resolution that in the very face of this perfect hell they almost succeeded in driving the gunners from their blazing pieces. The infantry alone saved them. And this unexpected succor proved too much for the hitherto sanguine Confederates, who reluctantly retired across the field, everywhere covered with their dead braves, and be- yond the railroad embankment, where they found a balm for their troubles and defeat-a place of security.
If any charge ever compared with that of Pickett's division at Gettysburg, the following summer, it was the one made on this occasion. Captain Belger, who saw much service, not only throughout the entire rebellion, but also in the war with Mexico, has repeatedly informed the writer that never on any previous or subsequent occasion, had he seen such determina- tion on the part of an advancing party, or more fearful slaughter.
The Ninth New Jersey, on retiring from the field, late in the afternoon, took a position in the edge of the woods on the left of the batteries, and at a right angle thereto, and although quite near to the right flank of the enemy's long line, it did not engage in the struggle, which was terrible enough in its conse- quences to the enemy without any aid on our part. Satisfied that the Confederates would make no further attempt to follow him in the darkness, General Foster directed the batteries to limber up, when the return to Newbern was commenced in earnest. The men being wearied by their excessive marching, and badly needing rest, the column halted five miles from the battle-field, where it remained until daylight.
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( Built by Company K, 9th New Jersey Volunteers.) HOUSE" ON BOGUE SOUND, N. C.
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II3
THE NINTH IN THE SADDLE.
December 18 .- Marched seventeen weary miles-weary because of loss of sleep and severe exposure and want of excitement. Bivouacked nine miles from Kinston. The night was intensely cold, and although fence rails, found in abundance, were kept constantly blazing, they afforded but little comfort, as it was "roast on one side and freeze at the same moment on the other," as "Johnny " Clark of Company F, remarked to Sergeant Sheppard."
December 19 .- An early start was caused by reports reaching General Foster that the enemy was close in pursuit. Marched fifteen miles, halting for the night a few miles south of Kinston.
December 20 .- After a cold and distressing night another start on the home-stretch was effected at six o'clock, many of the men having sore feet and stiffened limbs, rendering marching very painful and difficult. The gallant fellows of the Third New York cavalry, who had been in the saddle ten days, doing severe duty, dismounted several times during the day and insisted upon their seats being taken by members of the Ninth. These courteous acts were never forgotten. It was just as the sun-down gun at Fort Totten sounded " retreat" that the Ninth passed through the fortifications into the streets of Newbern, having during the daylight made the astonishing distance of thirty-four miles. The entire population lined the broad avenue to witness the entree of the victorious column. The nine months' troops, who had remained to guard the city, also joined in welcoming the returning braves, according them an ovation. At one point a tall Massachusetts sergeant, pointing to the Confederate "lone star" flag, which the Ninth had captured in the conflict at Kinston, sung out to his companions : "Oh, see the rebel flag !"
"Wouldn't you like to have it?" asked Corporal "Johnny " Good of Company K.
"Ves. We would send it home," replied the Massachusetts boys.
"Well, you'll find plenty of 'em if you go up where we got this one," retorted the corporal, and fatigued as the boys were they united in hearty laughter at the sally.
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The Ninth during ten days had led an army corps over one hundred and fifty miles, into the heart of the enemy's country, opened and participated throughout in five severe engagements, sustaining a loss of one hundred and seventy-one men in killed and wounded. It was only by such fatigues and sacrifices that the Union was restored and peace accomplished.
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