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 27
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pursued by three men, and we ran for three miles, resorting to pine boughs again; being tired and foot-sore, we laid down to rest till morning, when we concluded to travel by day, to be able to find out our way, that part of the country where we were not being safe. Working on this plan, we met with great disadvantages in the beginning ; to come to another road, we had to pass over open fields, on hands and knees, to be unobserved from the houses, and from the people at work in the fields. At night we came to a negro, who was ploughing, a white boy being with him ; the negro stated that the boy was the son of a Union man, but dared not bring us to him, the nearest neighbor being secesh ; he promised us something to eat, to show us to the right road, and to bring us to another Union man, who lived some distance off. Instead of all this he betrayed us ; as. we soon were halted by a party of citizens, with shot-guns and rifles, who demanded our surrender ; we surrendered, and moved on. After marching about four miles, we came to a house, where the lady invited us to supper ; supper had been already prepared, which convinced us that our arrival had been expected. The lady was very inquisitive ; she had never seen any Yankees before in her life, and had undoubtedly prepared this supper to have a chance to gratify her curiosity ; she was very much astonished to find us men, like all others, and without horns ; she asked a number of questions ; supper over, we marched two miles farther, to Johnson's store, where we were turned over to the commanding officer. This was on the sixth of December, eighteen hundred and sixty-four ; on the seventh, we started, and arrived at four p. M., at Lawrenceville, a distance of seventeen miles ; after the enrolling-officer had taken our names, etc., we were turned over to the sheriff, and locked up in the jail. Here we were insulted by very insolent language from the young aristocracy. The sheriff's wife paid us a visit, admitting, as a general thing, that the rebels were wrong, but complaining bitterly that they were robbed of their 'niggers.' . After breakfast, we went by cars, and arrived at Newburry ; here we waited for the Greenville and Columbia train, during which time the negroes furnished us with cakes
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"LEE HAS SURRENDERED."
and pies. At Columbia we arrived at five p. M., and were lodged in the jail, and marched next morning to Camp Sor- ghum again ; during our absence, one man had been brutally murdered ; on the twelfth of December we encamped near the lunatic asylum ; here tunnels were dug, through which to escape, but they were discovered ; General Winder directed that, if repeated, our shanties should be burned down, and we exposed to storm and weather ; but this was his last order, as he died a few days later of apoplexy, at Florence, South Carolina. When Sherman approached, we were taken to Charlotte, then to Greensboro', then to Raleigh and Goldsboro', where we were paroled on the last day of February. On the first of March we arrived in our lines, nine miles from Wil- mington."
April II .- Company H, Captain Edward S. Pullen, was detailed for duty at the headquarters of General John D. Cox, commanding Twenty-third corps. The rain continued to fall in torrents-not an unusual thing when active operations were to be resumed, causing great discomfort to the troops. The column took an early start, and only halted at noon for dinner, near Codfish creek, where Kilpatrick had routed the Confeder- ates the previous day after a sharp engagement. At nine o'clock in the evening the column halted, and went into bivouac on a large plantation. Of course a thousand and one rumors were rife among the men, and from the appearance of things it began to look as if more bloody work had yet to be done ere our "erring brethren " would lay down their arms and retire to their homes-a consummation long and devoutly wished by us.
April 12 .- The soldiers, with stiffened joints, had scarcely risen from the ground this beautiful morning, ere a spectacle was witnessed that is without a parallel. A small body of horsemen, passing through the open ranks, were vociferously cheered. It was General Sherman and staff, whose faces, beamed with joy, as they rode along, crying out : " Lee has surrendered to Grant." The woods and fields re-echoed with the joyful acclaim-half a hundred bands, and a thousand fifers and drummers adding to the din. Men who had kept step together for nearly four years, and who had stood side by
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side on many fields of strife, wept for joy, embracing each other again and again. "Lee has surrendered !" was in one hundred thousand mouths, and one hundred thousand lusty throats yelled themselves hoarse. But no pen of mine can do justice to this ever memorable scene.
Although the troops were in the act of moving forward to "fresh fields and pastures new " when the gladsome tidings reached them, no order to advance was uttered. General Sherman rode on until he met General Cox, with whom a. lengthy conversation took place. It was nearly noon ere the column again started, the pathway being marked by the smoking ruins of houses set on fire by the retreating Confed- erates, or by the negroes, as a revenge upon their late masters. Haw river was reached late in the afternoon, but as the bridge had been destroyed by the fleeing and panic-stricken enemy, who hardly knew where to seek safety, pontoons were quickly ยท laid, thus enabling the troops to cross without delay. In the evening, a halt was ordered near Smithfield, and upon the cold ground the warriors stretched themselves to rest, and dream of loved ones at home, now that the " cruel war " was supposed to be over.
April 13 .- Resumed the march at a very early hour, and halted for the night on the plantation of S. W. Allen, who was killed the day previous by one of Kilpatrick's cavalrymen. Mr. Allen attempted to frighten and drive back the cavalry division, and surprised at his failure, started off on a run, carrying his rifle with him. Refusing to " halt " when com- manded by his pursuers, he was sent to that bourne from which no Confederate was ever known to return. His body, found in the roadway where he fell, was interred by the Ninth's ambulance corps, the silvery moon affording light for the wierd- like duty.
Along toward noon, to-day, during a halt, Colonel Stewart espying a large farmhouse half a mile away, directed "Big Jake," his orderly, to repair thither, and request the occupants thereof to prepare a repast suitable for the field and staff. Jake stood not upon the order of his going-he went, but he returned not. He speedily reached the house, and found the
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"JAKE" RALFE GETS A DINNER.
lady very much disposed to do all in her power to fulfil the colonel's command. While willing servants set to work to provide the edibles, Jake, one of the homeliest men in the army, not excepting General Butler, stalked into the dining apartment and made himself thoroughly at home. Nearly an hour had elapsed since Jake had departed on the colonel's errand, and although the good things of this life had been placed upon the table, those for whom the repast had been provided, failed to appear. The lady of the house, slightly disappointed at the unseeming delay, suggested that Jake notify the colonel that dinner awaited him, but Jake, with one eye on the table, and a gnawing sensation in the lower part of his long body, replied that " nobody could hurry the colonel." Colonel Stewart, tired of awaiting a call, and hearing nothing of his orderly, concluded to visit the house and ascertain the condition of affairs. The officers were welcomed by the good lady, who explained that she had no way of notifying them of the fact that dinner was ready. The colonel, as polite as he was brave, bade her give herself no uneasiness-then followed her into the dining-room. But what a sight greeted him, There, as big as life, was the missing orderly, and seated at the table. The officers looked at the imperturbable Jake, and then at one another. Colonel Stewart's black eyes flashed as they always did in battle, but Jake never winced-he kept cramming the food into the capacious cavern under his nose. The colonel . was mad; in a tone something like the rumbling of a small earthquake, he asked : " Do you recognize me ?" Jake muin- bled out that he could not say he did. The colonel bit his lip, and the officers smiled'. Jake continued eating. After various interrogatories, the colonel, who had meanwhile lost all patience with Jake's presumption, inquired whether he knew who was addressing him. Jake, full to the chin, leaned back in his chair, and coolly looking up in the face of his commander, and with the utmost nonchalance, answered : "Well, no; and since I jined the army I haven't cared a - who addressed me," saying which he let his chair drop from under him, and with a bound cleared the room, mounted his horse, and was on his way back to camp before the officers could recover from
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their burst of laughter. Despite the delay, they enjoyed eating what Jake had been considerate enough to leave them.
April 14 .- Off bright and early, the progress of the column being remarkably slow-Johnston's army being but a short distance away. At noon the Ninth halted in an open field within sight of Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, when the word was passed round that the place had surrendered to the cavalry. General Sherman proceeded on to the city, and before sunset was occupying the stately mansion belonging to Governor Vance, who had found it convenient to be absent. The state house was occupied by the provost-marshal. Heavy rain-storm all night, causing great discomfort to the men, who were without cover.
April 15 .- Although the storm continued with unabated violence, the head of the column resumed the forward move- ment before seven o'clock. This, however, was checked before the entire ariny got underway, when the troops were bidden to make themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit.
April 16 .- The tempest was brought to a standstill at noon to-day-greatly to the joy of all.
April 17 .- The only excitement to-day was caused by the discharge of a rifle, handled by a colored boy, the bullet striking the sword-scabbard of Lieutenant Appleget and slightly wounding that officer in the left leg. For a minute or two that darkey's life was of no particular value to him or the world, but he escaped injury although some loud talking was done by the men. The first number of the Raleigh Standard, under Union auspices, made its appearance to-day.
April 18 .- All sorts of rumors prevail, but with the large and thoroughly equipped force at hand, no danger is appre- hended. The weather is again clear and delightful, so that when the Ninth moved its camp into a pretty grove, imme- diately in rear of the state house, but few discomforts were felt.
April 19 .- The camps are pleasantly situated, and as the men lack for nothing, and entertain the opinion that there will be no more marching or fighting, they continue in exuberant spirits.
April 20 .- Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant arrived here
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to-day, when a review was ordered in his honor. The troops presented a fine appearance, doing unusually well, perhaps because the greatest general of modern times was on the ground. Grant, however, looked more like a farmer than the victor in a great war; his uniform, if it had ever been decent, was decidedly the worse for wear. He was entirely without osten- tation, and his face as expressionless as the sphinx in the Egyptian desert.
April 21 .- First-Sergeant Jesse Hulsart of Company D, Ser- geant Reuben V. P. Wood of Company A, Sergeant John H. Fatty and Corporal Matthew Hill of Company G, and others, who had endured the horrors of fetid prison-pens at Belle Isle, Andersonville, Charleston, Florence and elsewhere, for nearly eleven months, rejoined the regiment. Sergeant Hulsart reported that nine out of the sixteen captured with him at Drewry's Bluff had died of starvation and the terrible exposures to which they were subjected. Sergeant Fatty regretfully reported that twelve of his company, out of the six- teen captured, had been released from their tortures by death.
April 22 .- The doleful news of the assassination of President Lincoln reached this department to-day, causing profound grief. Nothing else is thought of or talked about.
April 23 .- Rumors prevail that General "Joe" Johnston is preparing to attack this army.
April 24 .- General Sherman to-day, under flag of truce, demanded the surrender of Johnston and his army.
April 25 .- The troops receive orders to-day to hold them- selves in readiness for a move.
April 26 .- To-day everything is bustle, consequent upon an anticipated march upon the enemy, who rejected the terms offered by the Union commander.
April 27 .- Broke camp and marched in a southwesterly direction-General Johnston doing the sensible thing by sur- rendering before sunset. There was but little enthusiasm over the event, owing, doubtless, to the sorrow of the men for the .nation's president, who had been more deeply loved by the troops than any other American. Johnston's men, while glad that the war was over, did not act as nicely as had been expected
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-perhaps because many of them, recently conscripted, knew but little about the vicissitudes of a soldier's life. Those who had been in the service since 1861 were very meek, and hesitated not to express their gladness that the business was over. Many of the disbanded army, to gratify their spiteful feelings, com- mitted atrocities of which they were afterwards heartily ashamed. Some of the depredators were arrested and punished by the Union troops.
April 28 .- Orders, formally announcing the surrender of Johnston's army, were read to the troops, formed in line to hear them.
April 29 .- In memory of President Lincoln thirteen guns were fired at sun-rise, one gun every half hour during the day, and thirty-six at noon. At ten o'clock this forenoon the Ninth, with all the troops hereabouts, formed to hear the order relating to the assassination read. During the remainder of the day the troops were exempt from drill. The Fifteenth and Seven- teenth army corps started on the long tramp for Washington, D. C., where the armies are to be reviewed, previous to being mustered out.
April 30 .- The Ninth was inspected and mustered to-day, after which a squad took a train for Beaufort to procure the knapsacks of the men and officers' luggage, together with the camp and garrison equipage. This forenoon the Fourteenth and Twentieth army corps started for Washington to be mus- tered out of the service.
May 1 .- It is stated that the army is to be disbanded, which brings visions of "sweet home " to the minds of all.
May 2 .- The men of the Ninth are in a perturbed state to-day, consequent upon rumors that the regiment is to be sent to the Rio Grande, to be ready for service in the country of the Montezumas, in case the French army does not immediately vacate the soil of Mexico. At three o'clock this afternoon the Ninth was assembled on the parade-ground, and directly after- wards five companies-A, B, C, F and G-marched to the railroad, where they embarked upon a train, which conveyed the battalion to Greensboro, reaching that place a little after midnight.
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PROTECTING OUR LATE ENEMIES.
May 3 .- Late this afternoon Companies D, E, I and K (Company H being still at General Cox's headquarters), embarked for Greensboro. At Graham and Company's shops, where the train stopped for some time, the citizens besought Colonel Stewart to protect them from the depredations of ex- Confederates, some of whom, half-crazed with liquor, had threatened to destroy their property. Five desperadoes, arrested by citizens during the day for excesses, were given in charge of the Ninth, which securely guarded them. Colonel Stewart, who was at all times ready to defend the weak and willing to punish the guilty, directed Lieutenant William E. Townley of Company K, to remain at this station and protect its inhabit- ants, together with the railroad property, until relieved. The Ninth, on arriving at Greensboro, went into bivouac near the station, where it remained until next morning, when it was ordered to encamp outside the town.
May 4 .- This forenoon Colonel Stewart reported to General Carter commanding division, and was by him directed to encamp on Mccullough's plantation, a mile or so west of the place. As no lumber could be procured, the men made them- selves as comfortable as possible by constructing habitations of green boughs, in which they long ago had become adepts. The primitive abodes afforded protection from the burning sun, but failed to give shelter in time of rain. As it had become necessary to feed our late enemies in Johnston's army, the Ninth, with other regiments, was placed on short allowance of rations. This was well enough for a day or two, but the romance of generosity having worn away, and our inner man feeling all the worse for the deprivation, discontent soon took the place of our usual cheerfulness, murmurings being heard in every camp. Besides, the Ninth had not seen a paymaster in many months, the poverty of the men preventing them from purchasing any of the limited number of articles exposed for sale by the planters who visited camp. Company G, Captain Runyon, being ordered to Charlotte, and Company I, Lieutenant Kille, to Salisbury, both commands departed this afternoon. General Cox commanding Twenty-third corps, and his body-guard, Company H of the Ninth, arrived at Greens-
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boro this evening. General "Joe" Johnston's artillery, surrendered a few days ago, was found to be posted here.
May 5 .- Lieutenant-Colonel Hufty and squad returned here to-day with the knapsacks and regimental stores-the men gleefully receiving the former.
May 6 .- The farmers to-day increased their prices for eggs, milk, etc., taking the cue from the sutlers, who were fast becoming millionaires. Many buildings here, used as hospitals, are filled with sick and wounded Confederates.
May 7 .- Company I returned here this evening from Salisbury. Lieutenant Kille reported that he reached Salisbury at half-past ten o'clock on the morning of the fifth, and halted near the pen but recently occupied by Union prisoners of war. He afterwards marched into the town and quartered his men in vacant buildings. Next morning Lieutenant Kille, who was anxious to get back to the regiment, waited upon the Confed- erate commandant, and directed that gentleman to turn over to him all ordnance and army stores in his keeping-the request being promptly complied with, and by the middle of the day an immense quantity of property had been loaded on a train of cars-negroes having been impressed to do the work, which they gladly performed. During the afternoon a brigade of the Second division, Twenty-third corps, arrived at Salisbury and relieved Company I, which had so fearlessly preceded it into the interior-the general commanding expressing surprise when he found that fifty Jerseymen had already accomplished what he had, with two thousand men, been sent out to do.
May 8 .- The Ninth's camp, with its old Sibley tents, is pro- nounced to be handsomer than any other in the corps.
May 9 .- Drills morning and afternoon, just for exercise.
May 10 .- The dress parade each evening is witnessed by the townspeople, who seem interested in all that the " Yankees " do.
May 11 .- Colonel Stewart, of the Ninth, to-day assumed command of a division in the Twenty-third corps, Army of the Ohio. General Cox, the day after the Ninth took possession of Goldsboro, recommended Colonel Stewart for a brigadier- generalship.
May 12 .- As the sun is scorching hot by day, the men find
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WHAT CAPTAIN RUNYON DID.
it necessary to seek shelter from its rays, Leafy shades were erected around camp for the protection of the guards.
May 13 .- Company G arrived here to-day from its mission to Charlotte-Captain Runyon making the following report :
HEADQUARTERS COMPANY G, NINTH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS,
GREENSBORO, N. C., May 13th, 1865.
SIR-I have the honor to submit the following report : In accordance with orders from Major-General Cox, I left Greensboro, North Caroli- na, with my company on May fifth, 1865, and proceeded by railroad to Salisbury, North Carolina; arrived there at eleven A. M .; I left Salisbury at five P. M., and was transported by rail to within five miles of Con- cord, a station twenty-one miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The next morning, May 6th, I marched to Concord, and telegraphed to Char- lotte for a train. I received an answer, stating that an accident had happened to the downward train, and that no train would run for a day or so. I immediately took up line of march, and that evening encamp- ed thirteen miles from Charlotte. The next morning I resumed the march, and arrived in Charlotte at half-past five P. M. Ifound the town filled with rebel soldiers; raids were made by mobs on stores that had been left by the rebels. Drunkenness and disorder generally had been the order of the day. I immediately issued an order assuming command of the post, also another, prohibiting the sale of all kinds of spirituous liquors. After my arrival, good order prevailed.
The following is the list of stores taken possession of, and guarded by my command : Medical purveyor's establishment, containing a large quantity of medical stores ; there being no surgeon in my command, I had no means of determining the value of them. The rebel navy yard, containing a large amount of machinery, etc., most of which had been taken from the Portsmouth, Virginia, Navy Yard. A number of boxes, said to contain the records of the rebel war department and all the ar- chives of the so-called Southern Confederacy. Also boxes, said to con- tain all the colors and battle flags captured from the national forces since the beginning of the war; a quantity of naval stores, and a quan- tity of commissary stores; a branch of the United States mint was found, containing the machinery connected with it, all in good order. On Friday, the twelfth, Brigadier-General Thomas, of the First brigade, First division, Twenty-third army corps, arrived, relieving me of com- mand of the post. On Friday, at five P. M., I received an order, by tele- graph, to report to my regiment, without delay. The next day, the thirteenth, I had my command placed on cars, and reported at regi- mental headquarters at Greensboro, North Carolina, at four P. M. the same day. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. C. RUNYON,
Captain Com'dg Co. G, Ninth New Jersey Veteran Volunteers.
To E. W. WELSTEDT, Lieut. and Adjutant Ninth New Jersey Veteran Volunteers, Greensboro, North Carolina.
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Account of Lieutenant George Peters of Company G : " As we approached the Yadkin river, on May fifth, we came up with the rear column of Johnston's army, on their way home, numbering eight thousand to ten thousand ; a situation novel to us and all who witnessed it. For the first time we did come in contact with the rebels, without having to fight. To see them swarming around us, and to hear their expressions of friendship and good feeling, was, indeed, very strange to us, more so while they outnumbered us one hundred to one ; one- fifth of these being armed. One remarked that he had never before seen the Yankees, without being compelled to lay down, or without being ordered to do so. There were others who did not like the way pursued by their generals ; these would rather have fought on than to succumb, but the majority were tired of the war. Many stated that they would never have been in the rebel army if they could have avoided it. The delay at Salisbury was very unpleasant, as, in case of any trouble, we would have been at their mercy, but everything passed off quietly, the troops being remarkably orderly. On the seventh, on our march to Charlotte, we met numbers of stragglers along the road ; also citizen-stragglers, who were out to steal cotton, clothing, provisions-in short, anything they could lay hands on and make use of. It is doubtful if there are many or any other company which has been situated as we were, surrounded and marching with our late enemies, they outnumbering us, and that, too, when we were cut off from all our forces by nearly one hundred miles of rail- road, with a break in it, so that trains could not run. The citizens of Charlotte we found very hospitable; the rich and well-to-do class seemed to be very well satisfied with the change ; the middle-class and the poor spoke very bitterly and with condemnation of Jefferson Davis and his clique. The military institution, lately used for the medical-purveyor's office, was stored with great quantities of medicines, some of which, such as morphine and nitre, were very valuable ; all with English labels, and of English manufacture, which had been procured by blockade-running. Among others, we found two twelve- pound brass field-pieces ; two cannons ; about nine hundred
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