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 25
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December 20 .- The hearts of the men rejoiced to-day when the steamer "Helen Getty" arrived with an abundance of supplies of all kinds, and it's well she reached Plymouth as she did, for the men were in no mood to be longer imposed upon or deprived of what they knew themselves to be entitled to.
December 21 .- More orders-this time to be "prepared for a move." The weather continues intensely cold-the natives declaring they had never before experienced such severity of atmosphere. The men of the Ninth clean and rebrighten their rifles, which they are always very particular in doing when there is a probability of engaging the enemy.
December 22 .- After standing in line several hours, the Ninth, with the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts and a detach- ment of the "Second heavy " marched on board the steamer "John Faron," while the Eighty-fifth New York and Company A, Thirteenth New York Marine artillery, embarked on the gun-boat "Ceres," both steamers heading up the beautiful Roanoke river. As darkness began to envelop the earth, and as the shores were said to be lined with bushwhackers, the "Ceres" took the lead, but it was unmolested-the enemy failing to put in an appearance. The commander of a gun-boat on piquet two miles above Willianiston, informing Colonel Stewart that a further advance in the darkness would be "sheer folly," the boats turned about and headed for James- ton, where the men promptly landed and went into bivouac, burning all the fence rails convenient at hand, in order to keep from perishing with the increasing cold. It should be stated that all tents had been left behind.
December 23 .- Rumors prevailing of the advance of a large force of the enemy, bridges crossing streams outside the place were destroyed by fire to prevent anything like a surprise.
December 24 .- An order to re-embark was promptly obeyed, and at four o'clock in the afternoon the "Helen Getty " con- veyed the Ninth and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts back to Plymouth, where the former quarters were re-occupied.
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OUR FOURTH CHRISTMAS.
December 25 .- Christmas-the fourth Christian festival day the men of the Ninth New Jersey had spent on the tented field in the service of their country. As the regiment had re-enlisted for the war, which no other New Jersey regiment had done, many of us wondered when the end would be-whether the next would find them at home with the loved ones whom they had hurriedly left in 1861. There was nothing in our sur- roundings to remind us that the day had any special significance -- nothing to cheer the loneliness of our hearts-but some wag embraced the opportunity while on piquet of composing a poetical history of the expedition, which he dedicated to its valiant commander.
December 26 .- A cold and heavy rain-storm, which set in at an early hour, added greatly to our discomforts, and made us long for a return to the pleasant encampment we had left on the left bank of Bogue sound at Carolina city.
December 27 .- The re-appearance of the genial sur-this morning enlivened our hearts, and caused us to feel that life was still worth struggling for, even under an incompetent commander.
December 28 .- The arrival of a mail-bag, containing affec- tionate letters from home, with newspapers of uncertain date, had much to do in relieving us of the ennui with which our souls had long been afflicted.
December 29 .- A company of the "Second heavy," with a piece of artillery and a squadron of the Twelfth New York cavalry, with the plucky pioneers of the Ninth New Jersey, who always had a fair share of dangerous work, were sent out to Gardner's bridge, where they found a detachment of North Carolina junior reserves, who made off in double-time as they saw the Union force advancing.
December 30 .- Although the duties of the men are light, all wish themselves back at Newbern.
December 31 .-- Rumored that the Ninth is to proceed to Vir- ginia. Even this will be preferable to the life it is now leading.
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1865.
January I .- The first day of another year dawns unpleasantly upon the command, the members of which, having no confidence in the ability of the commander of the post, feel that the expe- dition has been a "wild goose chase," and barren of results. There is no semblance of a holiday here, but the quiet which prevails affords ample opportunity for the men to speculate on the probabilities which the year may bring forth. Of all the New Jersey regiments which left the State in 1861, the Ninth alone remains in the service, its shattered ranks having recently been augmented by recruits, tempted by large bounties to serve until the end of the war, which, however, all believe cannot continue very much longer.
January 5 .- The Ninth was inspected to-day, and as this ceremony was generally regarded as being preliminary to a move in some direction, the men breathed more freely.
January 6 .- True enough. Move it is, and the usual bustle ensues, consequent upon orders to be prepared for emergency.
January 7 .- The Ninth embarked on the steamer "Helen Getty," and after a pleasant sail anchored off Roanoke Island just before darkness set in.
January 8 .- Several hours being required to fill the bunkers with coal from a schooner which came alongside our vessel, we did not get away until noon, when we entered Albemarle sound, across which we sped all the afternoon and evening, entering the placid waters of the Neuse river, reaching and disembarking at Newbern at an early hour on the following morning.
January 9 .- The anxiety of the men of the Ninth to escape from the command of a man totally unfit for the position assigned him was so great that boisterous cheers were given when the
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AGAIN WITH HIS COMRADES.
train rolled away towards our old stamping-ground at Carolina City, which we safely reached at noon.
January 10 .- Lieutenant-Colonel Curlis of the Ninth, who had commanded the post at Newport, returned to Carolina City and assumed command of the Second North Carolina Union volunteers.
January 11 .- The Ninth resumed its drills and dress parades, greatly to the satisfaction of the men, who had recovered from the fatigues incurred on the recent profitless expedition to Rainbow Bluff.
January 14 .- First Lieutenant J. Madison Drake of Company K, captured at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, on the sixteenth of May, rejoined the regiment, having effected his escape from the Confederates by jumping from a train while in transitu to Columbia, South Carolina, whither he was being transferred, . with six hundred other officers from Charleston, October sixth. Lieutenant Drake had for his companions on his remarkable journey to Knoxville, Tennessee, Captain Harry H. Todd, Eighth New Jersey ; Captain J. E. Lewis, Eleventh Connecticut, and Captain Alfred Grant, Nineteenth Wisconsin volunteers. Forty-nine days were required to make the tramp, pronounced by all to be the greatest made by any prisoners during the war. Lieutenant Drake, who was heartily greeted by Colonel Stewart, and all the officers and men, was promoted to the captaincy of Company K, but he declined muster, owing to physical ailments-frozen feet, hemorrhoids and general debility. Colonel Stewart, who insisted upon Drake remaining with the command until the glorious end, offered him the position of quartermaster, which would relieve him from foot service, but feeling that he could be of no further service in the army, Drake asked for his discharge, which, however, was not granted him until the thirteenth of April following, making his term of service within a fraction of four years.
January 21 .- Lieutenant J. E. McDougall of Company A, acting-quartermaster at Beaufort, was united in marriage to Miss R. K. Johnston of that place.
January 22 .- Religious services were held in the large hospital tent this afternoon.
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January 24 .- Colonel Stewart assumed command of the troops in the district of Beaufort.
January 29 .- The Ninth was reviewed by General Palmer, who expressed his delight at the superb condition of the camp, and the magnificent discipline and marching of the command.
February 1 .- Companies .B, E, H and I, with three days' rations in haversack, and sixty rounds of ammunition per man, proceeded to Newport barracks.
February 2 .- Colonel Stewart arrived at the barracks at an early hour with Captain Graham's cavalry company and a howitzer battery, when a start was made for the interior, under the guidance of two members of the Second North Carolina volunteers. By dark the column had reached Adams's creek, distant thirty-one miles, where it went into bivouac.
February 3 .- Colonel Stewart informed his command that this section had been reported to him as being infested with guerrillas and deserters, whom it was desirable to "capture, kill or disperse." Accordingly, at daybreak Companies B, E and H crossed over to Hard's Island, where a tiresome and fruitless search was made-Company I, Lieutenant J. C. Bowker, remaining behind as a reserve force. The recall was. sounded late in the afternoon, and before darkness enveloped the earth, the Ninth was reunited on the left bank of the creek, where it passed a wearisome night-nothing occurring to relieve the monotony.
February 4 .- Started at an early hour upon the return, reaching Newport barracks without any exciting adventure shortly before midnight.
February 5 .- The companies of the Ninth returned to camp at Carolina City, and attended interesting religious services in the afternoon.
February 6 .- In anticipation of hard service in the early springtime, the Ninth was kept quite busy drilling, not as punishment, but to harden the muscles of the men, and to give them needed exercise-a duty, too, they always appreciated, as something new was learned by them each day, so thoroughly were the tactics imparted.
February 11 .- Company G, which had been on pleasant
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OLD TIES AGAIN SUNDERED.
piquet duty further up Bogue sound, greatly to the regret of its members, who had grown fat on clams, fish and other good things afforded by water and land, rejoined the regiment to-day, having been relieved by a company of the Seventeenth Massachusetts.
February 19 .- The Ninth was inspected to-day-the officer detailed for that duty complimenting the command upon its proficiency in drill and tidiness.
February 22 .- Birthday anniversary of him who was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," in honor of which salutes were fired at Fort Macon, and drills declared off for the day, affording the men ample opportunities for bathing, etc.
February 28 .- The Ninth was mustered for pay to-day --- a ceremony that officers and men always felt equal pride and interest in.
March t .- The frequency with which couriers of late had visited camp admonished the men to be ready for another move. Inspections and reviews, under officers anxious to bring the war to a close, were regarded as precursors of a march, if not a battle.
March 2 .- True enough ! Orders were issued this forenoon to have three days' rations cooked, and be in readiness to march. Consequently there was much bustle, and a thousand conjec- tures as to the probable destination of the command.
March 3 .- Busy day. Tents were taken down, and knap- sacks, surplus stores and luggage packed and removed to Beaufort for storage, under the direction of Lieutenant Drake. The camp, which, a few hours previous, had been so pretty in its cleanliness and symmetry, now presented an untidy and desolate appearance-the stockades alone standing, reminding one of ruin and devastation. Would the Ninth ever again occupy this tenting-ground, whose memories were so dear, was a question that none could solve. Here the men of the Ninth, while recuperating their energies, had spent their pleasantest days in the service, and while they regretted to leave the delightful spot, around which so many happy experiences and associations clustered, all felt it a bounden duty to aid to the
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utmost in the restoration of the government's supremacy in every part of the land. Although the Ninth had done its full share of fighting and marching for more than three years, its members drenching ensanguined fields in three states with their blood-yet they eagerly looked forward to honors to be won in the campaign now about to be opened by them.
March 4 .- A heavy rain-storm set in at an early hour, and as the men were without covering, their condition was far from being agreeable, most of them being thoroughly soaked before the train arrived to convey the command to Newbern, whither it had been ordered to rendezvous, which place they did not reach until after nightfall. The Ninth was heartily cheered as it moved, with its old-time swinging step, through the town en route to Batchelor's creek, where it arrived at midnight to the great joy of the troops already assembled there.
March 5 .- Aroused at an early hour, and taking a hurried breakfast, the Ninth was marching before daylight along the railroad, halting after the meridian hour at Cove Creek, where it was brigaded with the Eighty-fifth New York, Twenty-third Massachusetts, four companies of the Second Massachusetts heavy artillery and Battery C, Third New York artillery, com- manded by General Harland.
March 6 .- Everything being in readiness, the army moved forward at six o'clock this morning-the Ninth New Jersey, as had always been the case, having the post of honor and danger -- the advance, a position which had been accorded it in every department in which it had served. Colonel Stewart, who was more familiar with the country than any man in the column, kept up with his skirmishers, (a la Heckman, ) to see what was going on, and be in readiness to take advantage of anything in the situation that might present itself. The army which fol- lowed in the wake of the Ninth had every confidence in itself, all being cognizant of the ability of the Jerseymen to save them from an ambuscade or disaster. With their deadly rifles at a "trail," the skirmishers of the Ninth moved forward cautiously, yet briskly, keenly watching every wind-moving branch, and fully prepared for any emergency that might arise. But the long and uneventful day passed without meeting the enemy,
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THE NINTH AT IT AGAIN.
and when the tired warriors of nearly one hundred engagements threw themselves upon the wet and chilly heath that evening, many of them wondered what the morrow would bring forth.
March 7 .- There was some delay in getting started this morning, owing to the failure of the wagon-train to get up well at the front, because of the obstructions in the roadway. At nine o'clock, however, four companies of the Ninth deployed as skirmishers, closely followed by the remainder of the regiment, resumed the forward movement, the men in unusually cheerful spirits owing to the prospect of speedily engaging the enemy, of whom there were everywhere abundant signs. It was not, however, until the Ninth had reached a point within five miles of Southwest Creek, that it received the first salutation from the Confederates. The skirmishers promptly replied, and after a sharp duel, rushed forward with a yell, driving the enemy within their works. The remainder of the regiment came up on a run, and opened at short range, but the "Johnnies," who were in strong force, admirably entrenched, not only refused to vacate, but promptly sent back their compliments in the shape of shot and shell, which had the effect of making the Ninth act with circumspection. Covering themselves as best they could, the men of the Ninth, with no thought of a retrogade movement, continued the engagement until darkness put an end to further operations, and held the position until next morning. It was just.as the beautiful sun was sinking behind the hills in front, that the Ninth sustained the loss of a gallant officer-Captain Charles Hufty-who, in looking after the safety of his men, offered himself as a prominent target for the Confederate sharpshooters. Desperately wounded, he bade his men "stand fast," and made his way to the rear, where, although he received every attention from Surgeon Gillette, he lingered in agony until the fourteenth instant, when he departed for that bourne from which no soldier was ever known to return. Death in "Charlie " Hufty got a shining mark, to the intense grief of the regiment.
March 8 .- Colonel Stewart, who slept not during the night, satisfied that the enemy was in strong force, and preparing to make a sortie when daylight came, so reported to General John
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D. Cox, in command of the corps-the Twenty-third-where- upon the Ninth was quietly withdrawn nearly three-quarters of a mile, where a line of battle had been formed. Colonel Stewart, whose advice was of great value and always acceptable, suggested that entrenchments be thrown up at once, and this was accordingly so done. As no work of this character had been anticipated, no picks or shovels had been brought along, and the absence of these tools necessitated the substitution of other means. The New Jerseymen had been in the same kind of a scrape before-at Cold Harbor and before Petersburg-and the experiences gained there proved of incalculable benefit to them on this occasion, and the order to "throw up some dirt," had scarcely been passed along the line, ere they were digging with knife, fork, bayonet and tin plate for all that these articles were worth. The Ninth occupied a position on Tilghinan's plantation, in the center of the line of battle, supposed to be most accessible to attack. For some reason the Confederates failed to emerge from their works during the day, thus losing their only opportunity to attack with advantage. The odds would have been against the Union force had the enemy made a sortie at any time during the day. For their gracious forbearance, the Unionists, who were laboring with might and main to complete their works, were devoutly thankful .. When the sun went down, late in the afternoon, the " ruthless invader," happy in contemplating what had been accomplished in so short a time, and under such adverse circumstances, stood there bold and defiant, and anxious for a visit.
March 9 .- Not a sound broke the suspicious stillness of the forenoon, leading many to wonder whether the Confederates had retreated, but this suspicion, however, was ruthlessly dis- pelled shortly after noontime by the discharge of artillery and the wild and peculiar yell of the Southerners, who had assailed the extreme left of our line, resting on Wise's fork. In an instant every man was upon his feet, with rifle in hand, ready to performn any duty required of him. "Double-quick the Ninth to the extreme left," said General Cox to Colonel Stewart, whose handsome face instantly lighted up as of old, as
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WHAT THE COLONEL CALLED FUN.
he led the boys on a lively run across the field to the sound of the firing. There was no need for such haste, as the regiments on the left were giving and taking, but despite their desperate duties they cheered the "Old Ninth" in an enthusiastic manner as it took a position where the red volleys came thickest and nighest. "This is real fun," said Colonel Stewart to Captain Hopper, after the Ninth had dropped down behind the works and got nicely to work. "Yes," responded Hopper, who was never known to smile in battle on account of the business in hand, "the Ninth never had a softer thing than this, for it's generally had the outside, which is not near so pleasant." "You're right, Ben," answered the jovial colonel, who filled and lighted his prodigously large meerschaum in order to contemplate with more satisfaction the brilliant work his men were doing. The Confederates kept up a steady fire until dusk, when, finding their efforts to penetrate that portion of the Union line to be futile, they fell back under cover of a heavy woods, carrying their dead and wounded with them. The Southerners had fought with great spirit, several com- mands showing a wanton recklessness in attempting to gain possession of the Union works, from the top of which constantly blazed the unerring rifles of six hundred Jerseymen who had never but once turned their backs to the foe. The Ninth suffered some, of course, but the covering afforded by the works, something they had not been used to, gave them great satisfaction. Late in the afternoon the Ninth returned to its original position.
Just as darkness was setting in, Captain Ben. W. Hopper was directed by General Palmer to proceed with his Company (E) to a schoolhouse, three-fourths of a mile distant, and there establish a line of piquets. Although Captain Hopper knew a battalion would be none too strong for the duty which had been imposed upon his small and worn-out command, he promptly obeyed the order, and on reaching the point designated by the general, become fully satisfied that it was one of extreme danger. Fight, as he knew his men would, he could not hope to suc- cessfully resist the entire Confederate army, which lay massed but a short half mile beyond. But this gallant officer, who had
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risen from the ranks by merit alone, complained not. On the contrary, after carefully examining the schoolhouse and adjacent woods, with a view of getting a proper lay of the country, he posted Lieutenant Amos H. Evans and four men in the most dangerous spot, and established posts through the woods to a fence that had been designated to him by the general. By the time he had concluded this work darkness had enveloped the earth, which made traveling not only difficult but danger- ous. Captain Hopper, who always attended to important matters himself, desiring to ascertain whether his men thoroughly understood his instructions, left the remainder of his company in charge of his brother, Lieutenant Henry Hopper, and started to visit the posts he had but a few minutes before established. He had walked a considerable distance without hearing a sound, not even the twitter of a bird, when an unpleasant suspicion struck him. But no, his men could not, would not, have been captured without making a noise of some kind. Perish the thought! He had failed to take the right direction-that was all. Retracing his weary steps to the reserve, which he found without difficulty, he cautioned his men to be unusually vigilant, and again started along his line, his heart weighed down with suspicion. It was only when he had regained the immediate vicinity of the school-house, where he had left Lieutenant Evans and a squad of his best men, who were now missing, that he became satisfied he had been out- witted-that his men were en route to a prison-pen. Most men, under such circumstances, would have lost no time in rejoining their commands, but Captain Hopper wasn't made that way, and he determined to ascertain something about the position and strength of the Confederates. This was a difficult task, but the captain did not relax his efforts until he had learned all that was possible, when he returned to his command, from which he sent information to the commanding general, and set to work in the awful gloom and dangers of those woods to rectify the alignment, on which he kept watch and ward until daylight next morning.
March 10 .- The Confederates, in no pleasant mood after their repulse, gave vent to their ire by almost constant firing
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A DISCOVERY BY THE NINTH'S "BUMMERS."
during the night, their artillerymen lending a helping hand by sending an occasional shell over into the Union embattlements. While this did no great damage it had the effect of preventing our men (and their own, too, for that matter, ) from obtaining needed sleep and rest. Early this morning the enemy in strong force renewed its attempt to capture the Union works, and although the Southerners fought with desperation and valor, they failed to dislodge the boys in blue, who stood like a wall of granite behind the dirt and logs they had providentially thrown up in anticipation of just such an onslaught as had been made upon them. A dozen times did the Confederates advance in solid phalanx to within short range of the Union line, and as many times did they waver and stagger back to their covert in the heavy woods. Our men, confident of their ability to repel the host, were calm and collected, and being admirably posted, embraced their advantages, and fired with deadly effect, the slaughter of their impetuous enemies being terrible. The Ninth, owing to its exposed position, lost quite heavily during this engagement. There was no firing during the night-the Confederates evidently having no desire to con- tinue a conflict in which they had been worsted. The men of the Ninth, who had had but little rest since starting, regretted not the awful stillness which prevailed along their front, as it afforded them the coveted opportunity of obtaining sleep, of which they stood much in need.
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