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 13
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GOOD RIDDANCE.
Hutchins, that Major-General Foster, commanding Department of North Carolina, is besieged, and in danger of being captured by the enemy at Little Washington, North Carolina, Brigadier-General Heckman, United States volunteers, is hereby ordered to proceed with his brigade, consisting of the following regiments : Ninth New Jersey, Twenty-third Massachusetts, Eighty-first and Ninety-eighth New York, to Newbern, North Carolina, where he will report to the general in command for service in relieving Major-General Foster. This duty executed, or it being found that Major-General Foster has been already relieved, Brigadier-General Heckman will forthwith return with his command to this department.
" By command of MAJOR-GENERAL HUNTER."
When it became known that General Heckman had received this order, a wild scene took place among the men, especially in the Ninth. Cheer after cheer-the first they had ever given in the department-rent the summer-like air, and were wafted by zephyrs across the broad bay to the lazy-looking head- quarters on the other side. In an hour the brigade was again on board ship, but an unavoidable delay occurred in coaling and watering one or two of the vessels. The men, just as impatient as the officers to get out of the department, were afraid that Hunter would countermand the order under which the brigade commander was acting, and, soon after, when they saw a staff officer being hastily rowed towards General Heck- man's flag-ship, a feeling prevailed that there might yet be a "slip." But the officer in question was hurriedly rowed away towards the shore, and as all the steamers signaled "ready," General Heckman's vessel moved out towards the sea-the open sea, followed in "quick time " by the other vessels-the men transported with joy, giving vent to their feelings, in every conceivable way.
The following is a copy of the communication delivered to General Heckman, just previous to starting :
"GENERAL HECKMAN-I am instructed by the major-general com- manding to call your attention to the delays in getting off your command-delays the least excusable in view of the representations of urgent haste made yesterday afternoon, on which it was decided to send your brigade to General Foster's relief. Should these delays be con- tinued, in view of the imminent probability of active operations in another quarter, it will be necessary to countermand the orders already given to your brigade. Yours respectfully,
C. G. HALPIN, A. A. G."
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For three months most of the Eighteenth army corps had been worse than idle, and when the men were not crowded together on transports, were unnecessarily exposed to blinding storms of sand, a broiling sun or shivering breezes from the ocean. It was no wonder, then, that they cheered themselves hoarse on moving away, and forever, from a department that was using up the substance of the government in constantly making preparations for "active operations " always imminent, but never accomplishing anything of benefit to the nation.
"Put on more steam," was signaled from General Heckman's ship when some distance outside, and when we looked about and speculated on the meaning of this order we saw a steamer following in our wake. Although it did not overtake us, we subsequently learned that it was Hunter's dispatch boat, with an order directing the immediate return to Hilton Head of the brigade. General Heckman did not find it convenient to officially recognize the signals displayed, and continued on his course.
April 14 .- The sea was very rough, but its inconveniences were preferable to the life we had been compelled to live while on shore in South Carolina. During the night the "Key West," with seven companies of the Ninth on board, was tossed about on the angry waves like a cockle shell, so violent had the sea become. It was along towards midnight, when off the dreaded " Frying-pan Shoals," that all on board two ships came within an ace of being hurled into eternity. The writer, who was on the forward open deck of the "Key West," will never cease to remember a few moments of horror he experienced on that eventful night. The "Key West," a large and powerful steamer, had risen high upon a foaming wave, from which it seemed it would never descend, when almost directly underneath her larboard bow, in a yawning trough, was observed another vessel going in an opposite or southerly direction. It was an awful moment for all, and fraught with great peril. But that kind Providence which had preserved the Ninth from many sea perils in the past, vouchsafed a safe delivery, as when the vessels again ascended and descended upon the waves, they were separated by a distance that relieved
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F
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CAPT. EDWARD S. MOFFAT,
SIGNAL. CORPS, U. S. A.
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A JOYOUS MEETING.
the terrible anxiety of all hearts. In the awful darkness of the night, with the sea roaring in the tempest, the pilots were unable to see either vessel, but God was good.
April 15 .- The weather continued boisterous, "the sea running mountains high"-small mountains. Those who managed to retain their appetites indulged in all sorts of pranks upon those who were inflicted with that feeling of nausea so hard to describe-a favorite mode among the more robust being to place a piece of fat pork in their mouths and draw it in and out. This will generally have the effect of causing a sick inan to say " New York " quicker than anything else that I know of.
April 16 .-- The "Key West," with seven companies of the Ninth on board, steamed into the familiar harbor of Beaufort at nine o'clock this morning, and proceeded directly to the dock at Morehead City, where the men quickly disembarked, scon after taking a train of cars for Newbern, which place they reached as the steamer " Escort," with General Foster on board, touched the wharf near the bridge in that city. The citizens turned out in the streets en masse, alternately cheering General Foster and Heckman's brigade-both receiving a cordial welcome from all. Such a spectacle had never before been witnessed in the quaint old town.
The "Escort," in passing a long line of batteries, was so completely riddled that her sides and hull more nearly resembled a honey-comb than " walls of oak." General Foster, who knew a thing or two about artillery, had taken the pre- caution before starting on his perilous trip to have the machinery well protected by bales of cotton, which he procured in the town of Little Washington. The machinery of the " Escort" was thoroughly oiled, and with the aid of pine knots in the furnaces, the little vessel was forced through the water like a racer. Over seventy shot had penetrated her hull and sides-one missile entering General Foster's state-room a moment after he had temporarily vacated it.
The meeting between Generals Foster and Heckman was most cordial, and although each had much to say to the other, they postponed that pleasure until the department had been again made secure by the withdrawal of the enemy beyond the
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prescribed lines, upon which task General Heckman at once set to work.
April 17 .- The brigade, awakened early, started for the post. 1 of danger at eight o'clock, each man provided with eighty rounds of ammunition. The roads, owing to recent heavy rains, were execrable, which rendered marching difficult and fatiguing -something the men had done but little at since December. Darkness coming on, the Ninth, with the rest of the brigade, went into bivouac in an open field, where but little rest or sleep, owing to the cold, was to be obtained.
April 18 .- Started early and marched fifteen miles, encamp- ing for the night near Blunt's Mills. About midnight, cheering in the rear aroused the Ninth from slumber, and in a few minutes Major Curlis, with Companies C, D and G, who had reached Morehead after our departure from Newbern, marched in upon us. The salutations between the men of the two wings were very hearty. The three companies had marched over forty miles in a day and a night, despite their sufferings and exposures on shipboard-but the feat performed was highly characteristic of our returned comrades, who had no desire to be absent when glory was to be won or hard knocks to be encoun- tered.
April 19 .- The calendar says this day is Sunday, but there is no Sunday for us to-day, as forward we march to meet the men who are endeavoring to destroy a beneficent government. Just before noon, after an uneventful tramp of ten miles, we reached Hill's Bluff, on Tar river, and found the works at that point vacated-the enemy having taken a hurried departure the previous night, doubtless having unpleasant visions of that " -- Dutch Heckman" and his brigade of "foot cavalry," as it was denominated. A division of Confederates had retreated, without firing a shot, before a mere handful of men.
· General Heckman, burning for a fight, sent out a squadron of the superb Third New York cavalry, with a section of mountain howitzers, to, locate the enemy, if possible, and on receiving the following despatch from General Naglee, who had accompanied the expedition as a volunteer, he pushed the brigade forward rapidly.
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"ON THE OLD CAMP-GROUND."
" JUNCTION OF GREENVILLE AND WASHINGTON ROADS,
" 8.30 P. M., April 19, 1863.
"DEAR HECKMAN-We came upon Hill's rear guard at this point, charged them, killing one officer and two men, wounding several, and capturing one guidon, one officer and five privates, whom I send to you under guard. I will have the squadron remain here until you arrive with the infantry. I never saw cavalry equal to the squadron you sent with me."
The badly frightened Confederates out-marched the pursuing column, which, finding it useless to continue on, turned towards Washington, reaching that place at five o'clock in the afternoon, when the brigade quartered in vacant houses for the night-the siege having been raised, and quietness restored throughout the department.
April 20 .- The "Escort" having arrived, the Ninth em- barked upon it at an early hour, and late in the evening, she anchored in the Neuse river, a few miles below Newbern.
April 21 .- At eight o'clock this morning the "Escort" reached her wharf, when the Ninth went ashore and occupied the commodious barracks at the northern end of the city.
April 25 .- An order from General Heckman, directing Colonel Zabriskie to take the Ninth to its former camping ground at Carolina City, revivified the men, and caused them to forget their recent tribulations. Before sunset the regiment was in- habiting its old tents on the spot which had become to be regarded as home.
April 26 .- In order that they might enjoy every possible com- fort, Colonel Zabriskie ordered the men of the Ninth to stockade their Sibley tents, and gave them ample time to accomplish this. The colonel was thus enabled to have several days to himself, which he spent under his centre fly, devouring some new novels he had just received from friends at home. By stockading the tents a third more room was obtained, while the inmates, generally to the number of fifteen, were afforded more room to turn about in. The other regiments in the brigade speedily followed the example of the enterprising Ninth.
April 30 .- A very thorough inspection of the Ninth was made to-day, the officer charged with that duty complimenting
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the command upon its appearance and efficiency in drill, which, he said, no regiment in the service could excel.
May 2 .- Intelligence received to-day that Quartermaster Samuel Keys of the Ninth, had been appointed commissary of the Second division, Ninth (Burnside's) army corps. Quarter- master Keys, one of the best quartermasters in the army, remained with the Ninth corps until the end of the war- General Burnside refusing to allow him to return to the regiment, which esteemed him highly.
May 12 .- The Ninth was reviewed by General Heckman.
May 18 .- General Heckman having assumed command of the department, Colonel Zabriskie was ordered to command the troops in the district of Beaufort, whereupon Lieutenant- Colonel James Stewart, Jr., took charge of the regiment. Lieutenant Thomas B. Appleget of Company A, who had worthily filled the position of regimental quartermaster for some months, was relieved of that duty at his own request, and Lieutenant Charles Hufty of Company D, ordered to take his place.
May 20 .- The Ninth was inspected to-day by Captain Ralston, of General Heckman's staff.
May 27 .- Colonel Zabriskie, having returned to the regiment, assumed command.
June I .- Company B, Lieutenant Thomas Burnett, was sent over to perform piquet duty on Bogue Island, and put a stop to the practices of those who were supposed to be running the blockade between Beaufort and Swansboro, thus doing a pros- perous business between those points. Barring the alligators and mosquitoes which infested the island, it was a pleasant spot on which to pass away the time. As the fishing in the waters of the sound was good at all seasons, and succulent clams could be had in great abundance by wading out into the water and "treading" the sandy bottom, and magnificent bathing was afforded in the surf, Company B's boys had a royal time of it when off duty. Although Lieutenant Burnett, ever a strict disciplinarian, maintained a careful watch, neither he nor his men were able to detect any one passing, although they frequently saw Confederates bathing in the ocean opposite
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A CLEVER CAPTURE.
Swansboro, which was at all times piqueted by them. On the island, a couple of miles apart, lived the families of two old fishermen-one of them named Frost-both of whom were true Union men. One morning the fisherman whose name cannot be recalled at this late day, made his way to Company B's outer piquet on the beach, and reported to Corporal Manning Yeomans on duty there, that he had seen three Confederate soldiers near Mr. Frost's cabin, which was located on the right bank of the sound. Yeomans, with visions of promotion before him, called two of his comrades-Thomas Putnam and'Minard Garrabrant-and promptly started for Frost's habitation, de- termined to capture the "Johnnies," whom, he was satisfied, were the identical parties who had been running the blockade. The corporal had no right to leave his post without the authority of his commanding officer, but, fearful of a hoax, and not wishing to be laughed at by the boys, he concluded to say nothing about the matter, and go on and effect the capture, if the old man's story was true. The corporal and his command made their way through the woods, and on nearing Frost's home deployed, so as to surround the place and thus prevent the escape of the Confederates-if any should be in that neighborhood. As they got within sight of the humble cabin, and discovered nothing to indicate the presence of an enemy, they felt that the fisherman had sold them cheaply, but each resolved to make him pay dearly for sending them on what at that moment was regarded as a "fool's errand." However, the three Union soldiers would not risk anything, so long as they had gone to so much trouble, and would continue to act as if an armed enemy was before them. The corporal directed his steps towards the only door the cabin possessed, and when within a few yards of Mr. Frost's abode, discovered through the open doorway three men seated at a rude table partaking of breakfast. Signaling to his command, it advanced on a run, and leveling his rifle Veomans ordered the three Con- federates to raise their hands. They promptly complied, and the corporal and his companions advanced, bidding the inmates to " come out of doors." True enough, Mr. Frost's guests were Confederate soldiers, who had entered our lines, they protested,
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to see some friends living near Beaufort. They informed Corporal Yeomans that they had left their rifles and accoutre- ments among the bushes on the beach, and would be glad to show the corporal the place of deposit, if he would pass along that way. Satisfied with his capture, and having no disposition to give his prisoners any means to effect their escape, he escorted them to camp, and proudly marched to Lieutenant Burnett's tent, where he made known the facts in the case.
Lieutenant Burnett, in his usual stern manner, commanded the prisoners to be closely guarded, and ordered Corporal Yeomans to his quarters under arrest. "Republics are grateful, aren't they ?" said the corporal to a chum after he had gained his tent. "One would suppose the lieutenant could appreciate our morning's work-a clever piece of business, as I had led myself to believe; but he can't-he's too much regulation." An hour or so afterwards Yeomans was ordered to report to Lieutenant Burnett. "Corporal," said he, "you did a nice thing in capturing those men, but you had no orders to do it. If they had taken you instead, this company would have been disgraced. You should have reported to me before undertaking the perilous enterprise. Hereafter do so, and I will give you permission to capture all you can find. You are relieved from arrest, and will return to your post." It was by such acts that Company B was made to rank second to none-by such acts that Lieutenant Burnett made himself respected by all brave men.
June 3 .- A member of Company C died suddenly in his quarters to-day, and a large number of the regiment were allowed to pay their last sad respects to his memory by following his mortality to the place of rest-a beautiful grove of pine trees just outside the town.
June 4 .- A small detail is daily required from the Ninth for work upon the fortifications, which General Spinola is having constructed at Morehead City.
June 22 .- Company B rejoined regiment to-day.
June 25 .- Surgeon Woodhull of General Heckman's staff, was ordered to superintend the erection of a large hospital building at Morehead City, which was afterwards known as
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OFF ON ANOTHER RAID.
the "Mansfield General Hospital." The doctor was highly complimented for " the able and faithful manner" in which he . performed the task assigned him.
June 26 .- Regretfully the Ninth struck tents at daybreak this morning, and two hours afterwards was en route on cars to Newbern, where it took possession of the barracks near Fort Totten. During the evening a cyclone passed over the city, doing considerable damage. Unoccupied barracks near the camp of the Ninth were blown down, and a sentry badly injured by being buried under the debris. He was finally rescued from his perilous position by several members of the Ninth, who heard his cries.
June 30 .- General Heckman took command of the forces and defences of the city. Ninth inspected and mustered for pay, which ceremony it never objected to.
July 3 .- The Third New York cavalry, and a squadron of the First North Carolina cavalry, left the city at an early hour to destroy the railroad at Keenansville-forty-five miles distant.
July 4 .- Reveille at three o'clock this morning, and an hour afterwards, General Heckman started with the Ninth New Jersey, Seventeenth, Twenty-third and Twenty-seventh Mass- achusetts, and Eighty-first and One Hundred and Fifty-eighth New York regiments and Belger's and Angel's batteries, as a support. The infantry proceeded by way of Pollocksville, eight miles beyond which it went into bivouac early in the evening, nothing of the enemy having so far been seen.
July 5 .- Resumed the march shortly after daylight, and at seven o'clock passed through the pretty little town of Trenton. Continuing on till late in the afternoon the column halted on Scott's plantation, when Companies B and F went off to destroy a bridge over the Trent river, which they successfully accomplished, although the Confederates were known to be but a short distance away.
July 6 .- Owing to the intense heat and the non-arrival of the cavalry expedition at this point, the brigade remained quiet until three o'clock in the afternoon, when hearing a signal, General Heckman started off at its head in the direction of the river and what was called Free Bridge. Companies E and G,
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deployed as skirmishers, had not proceeded very far, however, cre they discovered the Confederates, who promptly opened with a couple of field pieces, which did considerable execution -severely wounding Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers of the Twenty-third Massachusetts, and several members of the Ninth. At this moment, General Heckman dashed up with a section of Belger's battery, which speedily drove the enemy from his chosen position, leaving free access to the bridge, over which the cavalry soon afterwards crossed in safety-their appearance being the signal for enthusiastic cheering.
The cavalry had been eminently successful, having torn up the railroad track for a considerable distance, and destroyed a blacksmith shop where sabres and small arms were being manufactured. Three hundred fine horses (badly needed by our cavalry), and a small army of the happiest darkies (of all ages and conditions) under the face of the sun, were among the results of the expedition. During the day the sun was severe upon the men, but at night, cooled by the heavy dews, their situation was more endurable.
July 7 .- The Ninth, greatly fatigued by the heat and excessive marching, reached its barracks at Newbern early in the evening.
July 10 .- John Bader, a member of Company A, while bathing in the Neuse river this evening, was drowned. His body was recovered the following morning by a marine, who went down in fifteen feet of water.
July 12 .- An alarm in the city, consequent upon an attack on our piquets at Deep creek by some Confederate horsemen.
July 13 .- The Ninth New Jersey, Twenty-third Massachu- setts, a section of artillery and a company of Twelfth New York cavalry, rendezvoused at Newport barracks early this morning, conveyed thither by rail. Marched at ten o'clock, via Cedar Point road to Broad creek, over which a rude bridge was constructed, when the march was continued to Saunders' plantation, twelve miles distant, where a halt was ordered for the night.
July 14 .- Column in motion at daybreak ; reached Cedar Point at eiglit o'clock, having travelled nine miles in three
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A BUSY TIME EXPECTED.
hours. It had been expected that the gun-boat "Wilson," with one company of the Eighty-first New York, would com- municate with General Heckman at this point, but it was " hard aground "on one of the many shoals in Bogue sound, ten miles away. The cavalry company was sent out to observe the country in the direction of Smith's Mills, where it found a small party of the enemy, whom it routed in fine style.
July 15 .- Lieutenant Cook, in command of two boats from the " Wilson," arrived with information that that vessel was still "fast," with no prospect of release. Captain Edwin Stevens Harris of the Ninth, with a platoon from Company B, went off with the boats, from which they made "soundings" in White Oak river as far as five miles from its mouth, and on returning and reporting no "possible chance for fording," General Heckman gave the command an order to return.
July 16 .- Despite the intense heat and the burning condition of the sand in the roadway-almost hot enough to roast an egg in four minutes-the column reached Newport just before noon, having made eighteen miles in less than six hours.
July 17 .- Took cars this morning and returned to our quarters in Newbern. General Foster departed to take command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, with headquarters at Fortress Monroe, General Heckman suc- ceeding him in the command of all the forces in North Carolina, and yet it had been only a little more than a year since the latter entered the state as a lieutenant-colonel.
July 22 .- Considerable excitement consequent upon rumors of a Confederate advance upon Newbern. Ninth formed line and after remaining by its colors for a couple of hours retired to quarters.
July 23 .- Five companies of the Ninth called out on the parade ground, but the order to march was soon after counter- manded.
July 24 .- The Ninth was ordered to prepare three days' rations, and be ready for a move in the morning. Men carefully cleaned and inspected their rifles, about whose condition they were always more particular than any officer could be, as they knew their lives depended upon the efficiency of the weapons.
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July 25 .- General Heckman with the Ninth New Jersey, Seventeenth, Twenty-third and four companies, from the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, Eighty-first New York and Belger's battery, embarked shortly after daylight, and after a delightful sail reached the mouth of the Chowan river and anchored off Edenton at ten o'clock in the evening.
July 26 .- Weighed anchor early and steamed up the Chowan, reaching Winton on its right bank at about two o'clock in the afternoon. The steamer "Convoy," conveying the Ninth, was the first to reach the landing-place, which it had no sooner touched, than Company I, commanded by Lieutenant Robert D. Swain, sprang ashore and dashed up the steep hillside, with instructions to advance and afford protection to the debarkation of the troops. The remainder of the Ninth quickly followed. After marching nearly a mile without seeing anything of the enemy, the Ninth, notified by an aide that it had taken the wrong road, countermarched. It reached the junction too late to keep the advance, which was now being made by the Seventeenth Massachusetts. This command, believing that the Ninth was in its front, was marching unsuspectingly along when it received a volley from the front and from the woods on the left flank. The Seventeenth quickly formed line across the road, and returned the fire until the Ninth came up, when the Jerseymen, perfectly used to the work, gave a cheer and charged up the road, driving the enemy in confusion before them. The pursuit was continued for a mile or so-the Confederates not stopping to contest the advance until they crossed Pattocassey creek, over Hill's bridge, which they only partially destroyed. Reforming in splendid earthworks on the right bank of that sluggish stream, the enemy opened with a heavy fire, but the men of the Ninth had had much experience in fighting for the possession of bridge crossings, and used their usual skill until they got the lay of the position, when, with a shout which struck terror to the hearts of the foe, dashed forward across the structure and into the works, capturing some thirty Confederates who were unable to make their escape. The Seventeenth Massachusetts and Ninth New Jersey had a number of inen wounded-among the latter being Lieutenant J. Madison Drake,
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