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 12
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January 15 .- Jupiter Pluvius took command in this section to-day, everything fleeing before him-the troops being sorely tried in keeping their tents fastened to the light soil. The storm raged with great violence until the following evening.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, MOREHEAD CITY, N. C., January 14, 1863.
General Orders, Vo. 4.
As rapidly as any of the following vessels are supplied with coals, water and ten days' provisions, you will commence embarking your troops designated to go with them, leaving cooks and cooking utensils to supply them temporarily : Steamer " City of Bath," Eighty-first
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New York, four hundred men ; steamer " Expounder," Eighty-first New York, one hundred and ninety-one men ; ship " Morton," Twenty-third Massachusetts, seven hundred and forty-five men; steamer "Key West," Ninth New Jersey, three hundred and seventy-two men ; steamer " Curlew," two hundred and seventy-one men; steamer "United States," Ninety-eighth New York, four hundred and seventy-four men. Headquarters of the brigade will be established on the steamer " United States." * Sealed instructions will be furnished each vessel. By command of
BRIGADIER-GENERAL C. A. HECKMAN, Commanding Brigade. WILLIAM H. ABEL, Captain and A. A. G.
January 20 .- With rations in haversack the Ninth left camp early this morning, and marched leisurely to Morehead City- off which at anchor lay over one hundred vessels. A thousand stories were in circulation as to the probable destination of the fleet, but Wilmington was regarded by the majority as the spot where additional glory was to be won. Companies A, B, C, E, F and I were assigned to the steamer " Key West," and Companies D, H, G and K, to the steamer " Curlew."
January 21 .- The harbor of Beaufort had never before pre- sented such an animated spectacle, and it is not likely that a similar scene will ever again be witnessed on its usually quiet waters. At night the myriad of lights on the vessels resemble scenes in fairyland that we read of.
January 22 .- " Large bodies move slowly," is an adage that was fully exemplified in this instance, as we did not sail away for more than a week after going on ship-board. The men regretted this, as it deprived them of excellent fishing in the waters of Bogue sound, which also supplied succulent bivalves in any quantity.
January 29 .- The fleet weighed anchor this afternoon-I suppose because it is very rough outside and a strong wind blowing from the southeast. A number of the vessels experienced difficulty in getting over the shoals, most of them bumping quite heavily on the bar as they scraped slowly over it. The "Curlew," with four companies of the Ninth on board, had a narrow escape from swinging around into the breakers, but it finally managed to get away with the loss of her keel, which was ripped off as with a saw.
January 30 .- Those who disliked the sea passed a hard night,
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STOPPED UPON THE HIGH SEAS.
while those who professed while on land to love it, slept but little, owing to the violent motion of the ship. At noon the captain of the "Curlew" attempted to get a reckoning-the sun appearing temporarily for that purpose, as it was thought by landsmen. He told us we were off "Frying Pan Shoals," and from the lively manner in which our ship kept rolling inclined me to the belief that he was about right. If there are any rougher spots along the Atlantic coast than Hatteras and Frying Pan Shoals, I imagine the Ninth New Jersey, for want of time, never got there. Towards night we saw several blockaders off Cape Fear river. The sea had somewhat calmed by midnight, allowing the "Curlew" to make good headway, and as the weather was quite pleasant, many rolled themselves in their blankets to get needed repose upon her ample deck. The sudden boom of a heavy gun and the passage across our bow of a shell with a . burning fuse attached, awakened us with a start, and brought every man quickly to his feet. Some distance away over our stern, the most frightened ones among us saw a light on a vessel which appeared to be dancing like a thing of life upon the waters. Our steamer, however, kept right on, but it was quite evident that we could not escape from our pursuer-whether she be a Union gun-boat or a Confederate privateer. A second shot came within such close proximity that it had the effect of causing our captain to order his vessel stopped. In a minute or two the strange vessel was quite near, when some fellow with stout lungs sung out :
"Bear to. Who are you ?"
Our captain, a mild-mannered man for a sailor, replied : "U. S. transport steamer 'Curlew.' ".
"None of your damned lying to me. Where are you bound ?" asked the stranger.
"To Port Royal, with troops," answered the captain of the "Curlew."
"Lay to, and I'll send aboard and see what you are," returned the fierce disturber of our peace.
Sure enough he lowered a boat in all that darkness and roughness, and in a few minutes a lieutenant clambered upon
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our ship and walked through the crowd of blue coats who filled the deck to the captain's room, where, our identity being established, he took a swig from an ever convenient demijohn, and descending to his boat rowed away, first giving permission for our vessel to proceed. Before leaving he said his craft had been chasing a blockade-runner most of the evening, but had for the time being lost sight of it, and on seeing us so close into shore felt confident that our vessel was the one they had been in pursuit of.
I may as well add here that during the night the blockade- runner "Princess Royal," with military stores valued at one million of dollars, was captured, and brought into Port Royal the day after our arrival there. This was the vessel the navy had mistaken our old craft for.
The wild excitement of this night did not, however, cease with this adventure, as along toward daylight our pilot found himself very close to the entrance leading to the harbor of Charleston, and as he turned the head of the vessel seaward a gun or two were discharged as a signal, as was supposed, by the Confederate batteries on Sullivan's Island. The blockaders, whose lights were now in plain view by us, sprang after us like dogs released from a leash, thinking our vessel was a blockade- runner on her way out, and a prompt examination of our papers by the foremost of them was the only thing that saved us from delay.
January 31 .- The fleet entered the beautiful harbor of Port Royal to-day, the weather being delightful-a balmy breeze blowing from the southwest. The vessels having on board Heckman's star brigade anchored off St. Helena Island-a most charming spot, as it appeared to the men on shipboard.
February 1 .- The sun shone brightly and hotly, but no signs of our leaving the vessel, which had become noisome.
February 2 .- Still on board, every man longing to be ashore:
. February 3 .- As no signs of a forward movement were visible, and as the Department of South Carolina was not noted for push or daring, the men began to grumble at their continuance on shipboard, especially as there was ample room on the lovely
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A BATTLE FOR FRESH WATER.
island upon which we could almost throw a line from the deck of our vessel.
February 4 .- Unpleasant rumors are floating about the harbor, some going so far as to say that General Hunter had asserted his right to command our corps-the Eighteenth-by virtue of his commission antedating that of General Foster.
February 5 .- For some reason there appears to be but little enthusiasm among the troops on shipboard, who pass away the long days and dreary nights in a listless manner.
February 6 .- Foster's corps, used to fighting, dislike the lazy life they are now compelled to live, and spend hours in looking over the vessel's sides, meditating upon the supineness of things in this department.
February 7 .- Thousands of fat, well-dressed and indolent negroes are inhabiting cozy homes on St. Helena island, in plain sight of our anchorage. They come down to the shore daily, gather pails full of oysters, and after taunting us retrace their steps homeward. Is it, then, any wonder that some uncomplimentary things are said by our men ?
February 8 .- Fresh bread and tolerably fair meat enliven our spirits to-day, and give us a more charitable view of the de- partment.
February 9 .- The four companies on board the "Curlew " disembarked to-day, going ashore in the best of humor. A rumor prevails that General Foster having been illy treated by Hunter, has left the department, taking his staff with him. Our only regret is that he could not telegraph to Washington for orders to take his corps back to its old stamping-ground in North Carolina. General Henry M. Naglee, a fighter, assumed command of the Eighteenth corps detachment.
February 10 .- This morning the six companies of the Ninth on the steamer " Key West," together with the rest of General Heckman's brigade, came ashore, and before night the entire detachment were pleasantly encamped under the fragrant orange trees. In the early evening some of the men visited the habitations of the darkies to procure good drinking water from the wells there, preferring it to that only to be had in the swamp. The darkies objected to this, and forcibly resisted the
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men who attempted to obtain the water. This was more than some of the men who had left pleasant homes to fight for the country would submit to, and the negroes bidding them defiance the soldiers rallied, and, although without other weapons than those provided by nature, made a charge on the obstreperous negroes, who were swept away like chaff before a stiff wind. Somebody upset a stove in one of the houses and in a moment the flames were consuming it. As no one attempted to extinguish the fire, adjoining houses ignited and before daylight not a vestige of the village remained. The negroes, petted and spoiled by Hunter, had lorded it over the troops in the department, imagining themselves as having been given their freedom for that purpose, never dreaming that the gallant men from the battle-fields of the old north state had any rights they were bound to respect.
But Hunter made the Eighteenth corps pay dearly for interfering with the " sacred rights " of the " poor black man," for whom he had sympathy of an unknown quantity, and the first thing this blatant and unsuccessful major-general did was to deprive Foster's veterans of fresh bread, and wholesome meat ; and to gratify his spirit of vengeance against them, ordered drills under the burning sun, in the hot sand, almost every hour in the day for one whole month. He compelled company roll-calls every two hours each day-from reveille till taps, and occasionally ordered the long-roll to be beaten in every camp at night to prevent these men who had done some- thing for their country from obtaining sleep and needed rest. But the troops bore this punishment uncomplainingly, and so cheerfully performed their onerous duties and appeared so magnificently on parade and review that they lived down the despicable charges that had been made against them, and at length conquered "Black Dave's " anger.
February 10 .- " War " broke out between Hunter and Gen- eral Naglee, commander of the Eighteenth corps, the latter being ordered to make a return of the forces under his command to the "Department of the South." General Naglee imme- diately forwarded the roster of the colonels in his division, saying : "At the same time, in the absence of any order from
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THREATENS TO ARREST A GENERAL.
the war department transferring the troops of the department of General Foster to that of General Hunter, or of any order of General Hunter assuming the command thereof, I would respectfully protest against the request of General Hunter, it being in direct violation of the written and verbal orders of General Foster to me, which I am preparing to transmit to you."
Hunter, on receiving this communication, seeing his mistake, promptly issued an order (February II), assuming "command of the reinforcements recently arrived in this department from North Carolina-such troops, on their arrival here, having become a portion of the Tenth army corps."
General Hunter also on the same day wrote General-in-Chief Halleck that "as the conduct of Major-General Foster has been disrespectful, insubordinate, and tending to excite mutiny and insubordination among the troops ordered to reinforce this department, in this matter I shall deem it my duty, should General Foster return here, immediately to arrest him."
General Naglee, on the eleventh of February, protested to Assistant Adjutant-General Halpine : "General Foster, prior to his departure, ordered that 'during his temporary absence his detachment should be kept distinct' and detached from the Tenth army corps, and stated that he had come to South Carolina for an especial purpose, and that as soon as that was accomplished, if not before, it would return to his department ; that his absence, caused by the necessary delay of the navy, would be short, and that it was understood between General Hunter and himself that the immediate command of the force to operate in the present expedition was to be in his hands, in accordance with the wish of the secretary of war, Mr. Stanton."
" You are probably aware that the expedition was intended to go to Wilmington in General Foster's department, and that after it was prepared to move the monitor sank, and it was found the other iron- clads could not cross the bar, and that the government, in order not to lose the preparations made, ordered General Foster to co-operate in this contemplated attack upon Charleston. This purpose was unknown to any of the command until after the sailing of the vessels; on the contrary, they believed Wilmington to be the object of the movement, and were assured that they would return to North Carolina. General
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Foster was in this department from the second until the tenth (yesterday), during which time General Hunter did not, so far as I am-able to learn, exercise any command over General Foster or any of his troops.
" Three hours after the departure of General Foster an aide-de-camp of General Hunter delivered two communications, both dated before the departure of General Foster, but addressed to me. * * * I protest that we came here with the full assurance of General Foster that he was sent by the secretary of war and General Halleck to command the troops brought by him, and that the same assurance has been repeated by him since his conferences with General Hunter."
On the thirteenth of February General Foster reached Fortress Monroe, when he telegraphed General Halleck :
"I have just arrived from the south to obtain more heavy guns and ammunition. I have reconnoitered the whole coast from Charleston to the Ogechee, and can give full information of the state of affairs both naval and military."
On the fifteenth the general-in-chief wrote Hunter :
" There seems to be a misunderstanding in this matter on both sides. General Foster and his command, while serving in your department, was to be subject to your general orders and direction ; but that com- mand was to forni no part of the Tenth corps. It was organized as the Eighteenth army corps by the president, and no subordinate authority could change its organization. You will, therefore, rescind so much of your orders as consolidates it with the Tenth corps. But while this comnand remains as a distinct organization, with its own officers, as assigned by its proper chief, the command itself, so long as it remains in your department, will be subject to your orders. The transportation which belongs to the Eighteenth army corps will so continue. It will, of course, be used for any temporary purposes you may direct, but will afterward be restored to the North Carolina forces, to which it properly belongs. In fine, these forces are merely assigned for temporary duty under your orders, and their organization, both in men and material, will be retained, so that the corps can at any time be returned entire (except casualties) to its proper department. General Foster will immediately return to South Carolina to take direct charge of the expedition (under your direction), and will remain so long as he may deem it safe to be absent from his own department."
Notwithstanding the above, Hunter continued to make it warm for General Naglee during his entire stay in the depart- ment, culminating in his being relieved from duty on the fifth of March, when he left, greatly to the regret of every man in the Eighteenth corps.
Some fun was occasioned after battalion drill this afternoon while some of the Ninth's boys were down along the beach.
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"STEVE'S" PRACTICAL JOKE.
A wealth-begetting sutler, without sufficient help, was busily engaged in transferring his goods from a vessel to the shore. He had succeeded in getting half a dozen barrels of apples on land, when he espied "Steve " Crane of Company K, and some others near by picking shells from the sea. Would they oblige him by rolling the barrels over to his tent, just beyond the hill ? Of course they would. And away rolled the barrels, while the sutler jumped into his boat and rowed out to the vessel for additional commodities. The men had barely covered them- selves by the hilltop when the heads of the barrels were knocked in and the contents picked up and carried away-the men using their blouses for the purpose. For several days afterwards "Steve" and his chums indulged in all sorts of dishes-apples forming the chief ingredient. We prefer to leave the feelings of the sutler, on discovering Crane's little joke, to the imagina- tion of the reader, as no effort of ours can do any sort of justice to his ravings.
February 13 .- The Eighteenth corps, commanded by General Heckman, was reviewed to-day by General Naglee. The sight was inspiriting. General Heckman, dispensing with his aides, gave all commands direct-his voice, clear as a bell of silver, being heard at every point-the various regiments executing the movements with promptness and precision. Few generals can handle twelve thousand men without having their com- mands repeated by aides.
February 14 .- It is nothing but drill and review, and it would be a decided relief if the major-general commanding the department, in order to punish the Eighteenth corps, could be induced to direct that it work upon entrenchments. Many wonder why he has not already thought of this mode of punish- ment.
February 24 .- General Hunter reviewed the Eighteenth corps to-day. He was followed by his staff, which resembled a small army. Many ladies came over to witness the ceremony.
March 5 .- General Naglee's farewell order was read to the command to-day. The Ninth was inspected and mustered for pay.
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March 6 .- General Heckman was ordered by General Hunter to take conimand of the First division, Eighteenth army corps ..
March 24 .- Reviewed by Colonel J. J. De Forrest, com- manding First brigade, Second division. One Saturday, Colonel De Forrest was unable to have a brigade drill on account of the rain, but he ordered the drill for next day -- Sunday. General Heckman, not appreciating his zeal, issued an order that Sunday duties should be limited strictly to the requirements of the army regulations.
March 26 .- The Eighteenth corps, for the third time, was reviewed by Hunter to-day. This was one way he had of putting down the rebellion.
March 31 .- The Ninth, having drilled everything in the book, was closely inspected by way of variety, by Captain Kent of Colonel De Forrest's staff.
April 4 .- Companies A, B, E, F, H, I and K embarked on the steamer "Key West"-companies C, D and G going on board the "Tillie." The men received the order to embark with cheers-preferring any service to the confinement and continual drill which they had undergone "on the island " for over a month.
April 5 .- The vessels, conveying General Heckman's divi- sion, steamed out of the beautiful harbor, and heading northward, came to anchor in the North Edisto river, south of Charleston, early in the evening. Lieutenant Edward S. Moffat reported to General Heckman for duty as signal officer, and it did his old comrades of the Ninth great good to see him again among them.
April 6 .- A contraband, reaching our lines on Seabrook Island, reporting that the enemy were preparing to float several fire-ships down the river, General Heckman directed Colonel Zabriskie to detail two companies to go ashore and reconnoitre. Accordingly, Companies I and K, under Captain Hufty and Lieutenant Townley, proceeded on that mission. They advanced some distance, and seeing no evidence of fire- ships or the enemy returned to the vessel.
April 7 .- The long-expected attack upon Fort Sumter com- menced at an early hour, and although the Ninth is fifteen
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BOMBARDMENT OF SUMTER.
miles away, we can plainly hear the roar of the guns. The bombardment never had a parallel in history. Admiral DuPont, who had his headquarters on the "Ironsides," in making his report, said : "I attempted to take the bull by the horns, but he was too much for us. These monitors are mis- erable failures where forts are concerned ; the longest was one hour and the others forty-five minutes under fire, and five of the eight were wholly or partially disabled."
As the fleet of iron-clads, from which so much had naturally been expected, failed to accomplish satisfactory results, of course there was nothing that the army, under the present major-general commanding, could do, and on the ninth orders were received to "prepare for sea."
April To .- Weighed anchor at noon and steamed south, " Key West " towing steamer " City of Bath," which met with an accident on crossing the bar. Anchored off Hilton Head at sunset.
April II .- Entered the harbor, but there was no enthusiasm among the troops, owing to the failure of the undertaking, which had been anticipated by the Eighteenth corps veterans.
April 12 .- The steamship " Augusta Dinsmore," direct from Morehead City, arrived, bringing intelligence that General Foster was besieged at Little Washington by a large force of Confederates. Major Giles, Third New York artillery, and Captain Hutchins, assistant-quartermaster, who were cognizant of General Foster's peril, after reporting to General Heckman, prepared a statement, which they submitted to General Hunter upon his return to Port Royal in the afternoon. General Heckman, who felt solicitous concerning the safety of his old chief, accompanied them to headquarters, where the following colloquy occurred.
The statement being presented, General Hunter read it, winked several times, and then quietly folding the document, placed it in his pocket. An answer was, of course, expected, or that further information would be asked for. Whether General Hunter wished to be waggish or not, does not appear, but he certainly exhibited a quaint way of disposing of a matter of so much importance as that which had just been laid before him.
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"Ah, General Heckman," said he, "you are from New Jersey, I believe ?"
"No general," answered Heckman, " I was born in Pennsyl- vania-in the town of Easton, but I have lived in New Jersey for the past fourteen years."
"In what part, pray ?"
"In the town of Phillipsburg."
" What town did you say ?"
"Phillipsburg."
"Phillipsburg ! Where is that beautiful place ?"
"Phillipsburg, sir, is forty miles from Trenton, on the line of the Belvidere, Delaware and Central railroads, and directly opposite Easton."
"Ah, indeed !"
A solemn pause of three minutes here ensued, during which period not a word was spoken on either side. Hunter, however, seemed to be keeping up a continual thinking. At last the silence was broken by General Hunter, who, good-naturedly enough, asked if those present would not take a little whisky.
"Thank you," said General Heckman, " we have just taken a little sherry wine."
Another 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.
General Heckman returned to his command in an unhappy state of mind, and while all could see that he had failed in procuring the order to proceed to the rescue of his brethren in North Carolina, all wondered what the final outcome of the matter would be. That night was one of anxious suspense- many of the men praying in a left-handed manner for Hunter's repose.
April 13 .- At an early hour this morning General Heckman received the following order :
"HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF. THE SOUTH,
"HILTON HEAD, S. C., April 12, 1863.
" Special Orders, No. 160.
"It having been officially represented to the major-general command- ing, by Brigadier-General Heckman, Major S. Giles and Captain W. V.
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