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 4
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The long-looked-for day had come, but it afforded little encouragement to the distressed crew, whose instinct of self-
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HEROISM OF CORPORAL DILKS.
preservation was alone retained. It soon became apparent that the vessel must sooner or later be abandoned. But how could this be done? The two small boats which had hung on the davits were found, upon examination, to be useless, having been stove in by the rough usage from the waves. Indeed, had the boats been in good condition, and could they be launched, they would not be able to live in the terrible breakers. When despair had almost taken possession of the crew ; when each man began to look upon the fearful and perilous situation, it was found too horrible for contemplation ; and when the full extent of their misery broke upon their troubled minds, they were overwhelmed in agony.
But gradually, one of their members spoke encouragingly, and that man proved equal to the fearful emergency. Corporal Samuel J. Dilks, who had been detailed to superintend the transportation of the horses, said he would swim ashore with a line. His comrades were surprised, but from what they had already seen of him they believed him capable of accomplish- ing almost anything he undertook. This brave soldier put the sailors to shame on divesting himself of coat and shoes. Speed- ily fastening one end of a light line around his body, he stepped boldly upon the vessel's gunwale, and, awaiting a favorable moment, sprang in among the foaming and angry breakers, and by dint of great exertion, succeeded in reaching the beach -thus raising the hopes of those whom he had left behind to the highest pitch-the hearts of all beating wildly.
A larger sized rope was then attached to the end of the line remaining on shipboard, and this Dilks hauled to the low, sandy and desolate beach upon which he was standing ; then a hawser was drawn from the stranded vessel to the shore, through the herculean efforts of the corporal. This he was enabled to fasten to a piece of an old spar which he discovered near by, and which he managed to force down into the wet sand-first digging a hole with his hands. When the shore end had been secured, the sailors on board tightened the hawser -- then, one by one, deserted the vessel-the only mode of es- cape being over the hawser-bridge, all reaching terra firma in safety, although the passage was far from being safe or pleas-
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NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS.
ant. Each man was subjected to fearful perils-the fierce breakers at times breaking high over them, exposing all to re- newed and constant dangers. The men were compelled to use the utmost caution in traversing the narrow and uncertain "bridge," as the hawser vibrated, tossed and rocked with ter- rible unsteadiness.
Although the men had reached the beach without mishap, they had not been able in their forced and hasty flight to save anything, and all they possessed, as they stood shivering upon the bleak coast, was upon their backs. The gale continued to rage with unabated violence, rendering their situation anything but an enviable one, not a sign of civilization being visible.
But what sound is that borne to them on the wings of the wind? They scan the beach, but in vain-no one, nothing is to be seen. Again they hear an agonizing cry, and casting their eyes seaward, to the old vessel, which continues to bounce upon the angry waves, they, in horror, behold the old colored female cook standing upon the deck, waving her apron, and shrieking frantically. She had been forgotten, as it was every man for himself. The men saw that it would be impos- sible for her to cross the "bridge " and thus save herself, and likewise that they could not render her any assistance, even should she make up her mind to attempt the perilous enter- prise. The unfortunate vessel continued, meanwhile, to dash up and down upon the fretful billows, rattling in a frightful manner. At one time the craft was nearly on her beam ends, but she soon righted. Once, it was believed, she had disap- peared, and with her the poor cook, whose cries for "help" continued to be heard by those on shore. Corporal Dilks de- clared that he would never leave until the " old gal " was safe. He would " bring her to the shore, or sink with her." Dilks' companions endeavored to dissuade him from returning to the fated ship, assuring him that it would be certain destruction. Even were he able to reach the vessel, he could not possibly bring her through the waves, owing to her great weight-more than two hundred and fifty pounds.
But Corporal Dilks, who had never known fear, heeded not the objections which were constantly interposed. On the con-
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"GLORY, HALLELUJAH !"
trary, every word which was said to him served to strengthen his resolve. He deliberately walked out into the cold and beating surf, seized the hawser with his left hand, in order to steady himself, then commenced swimming vigorously with his right. His movements were closely watched by his com- panions on the shore, and when they finally saw him climb up over the tossing vessel's side, they greeted his exploit with hearty cheers.
The old cook, who had been crying for "help," while she was glad to see Dilks standing by her side, declined to do as the corporal requested-insisting that he could not carry her to the shore. Dilks thought the woman ungrateful ; but, un- grateful or not, he was determined that she should go back with him. Procuring a piece of rope he watched his oppor- tunity, and seizing the obdurate female, bound her to his back, and, despite her resistance, sprang into the yawning sea, and almost before those on shore were certain of his having left the ship, they saw him struggling in the heavy surf. Rushing out into the foaming billows, the men caught the corporal, and quickly assisted him and his burden to the shore, where, finding herself safe, sound and free, she jumped up and down, crying, in her delight, "glory, glory hallelujah," to the no small delight of her gallant preserver and his companions. Then commenced a long and fatiguing tramp down the dreary coast -the party reaching Hatteras inlet (where the fleet had been ordered to rendezvous) in safety several days afterwards.
Dilks' unselfish and daring act formed the theme of conver- sation around many a camp-fire for years afterwards. He served all through the war in his company-being foremost in battle-never shirking duty, however unpleasant or dangerous. Subsequently he was in charge of a government life-saving station at Cape May, where on more than one occasion he has been the happy means, under Providence, of saving human life. In ISSo he crossed the river to answer the roll-call on a better and brighter shore.
February 1 .- Companies D and I, because of the overcrowded condition of the "Peabody," were transferred to the schooner "George A. Smith." In accordance with General Burnside's
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NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS.
order, some sixty men, having a knowledge of seamen's duty, were detailed from the various companies of the Ninth, to serve on gunboats. Glad to escape hard marching and accompanying exposures and fatigues, and being promised extra pay, these men joyfully bade us farewell and took their departure. For some unknown reason they never received the extra pay- otherwise they were content with their transfer.
February 5 .- The brig "Dragoon" and the schooner "George A. Smith " hove anchors and were towed over the "swash" or inner bar to deep water, where they anchored be- side other vessels which had preceded them to that point.
February 6 .- At nine o'clock this morning all the vessels got promptly under weigh, and preceded by the gun-boats, a dozen or so in number, under command of Commodore Goldsborough, steamed directly up the sound. It was a pretty sight, one that had never before been seen on those beautiful waters. The ves- sels, gaily trimmed with bunting, bands playing and men singing, impressed all alike, nerving us for the fray, which could not be far distant. As the sun went down beyond hills which rose far away in our front, the fleet came to anchor, at a point about twelve miles from Roanoke Island, as a fisherman who came along in a small cat-boat informed us. With the imme- diate prospect of battle before us, all sought their bunks at an early hour, to meditate upon the blessings which had so far been vouchsafed, and to supplicate for a continuance of God's favor and a happy issue in the coming contest.
A long-expected mail reached us to-day. That we all longed intensely for tidings from home, all who in their early days wandered from the old homestead, where their infancy seemed a blissful dream, understand right well. While on pent-up ship- board life became so monotonous that a letter from some dear one proved as refreshing as is the cool draught to the thirsty pilgrim who has just reached the long-sought oasis in the desert. The soldier, day by day, looked for messages from home that abounded in sentiments of affection or pictured to them scenes passed in pleasant hours.
February 7 .- Before the sun rose every man with nerve was astir, and after partaking of an extra quantity of hot coffee,
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THE BATTLE OPENED.
hard tack and "salt junk," critically examined his rifle and accoutrements, as on these he knew much would depend. Again did the fleet move, and as the companies formed in reg- ular order on deck, they read the signal displayed on General Burnside's flag-ship : "To-day the country expects every man to do his duty !" How our hearts throbbed at this patriotic admonition-how we panted to get ashore and show that the confidence reposed in us had not been misplaced. It was not long after starting before we saw some of the enemy's gun-boats, which had advanced to keep an eye upon our movements, or make an attack, if there was reasonable hope of success. A shot or two, however, from the heaviest guns on one of our leading boats, caused the Confederate vessels to turn quickly about, and retire within and beyond the obstructions at the mouth of the strait leading to Albermarle sound, on the north side of which was Roanoke Island, bidding us defiance. Before noon, our gun-boats had succeeded in getting close enough to the obstructions to open upon the enemy's fleet, which discreetly kept as far away as possible, and under protection of the bat- teries that lined the shore upon the island. When our boats got within range of the heavy guns on shore they poured shot and shell into the works until the middle of the afternoon, when, the fire having alinost ceased, the troops, who had been held in readiness for hours, sprang into small boats, and were rowed or towed ashore by steam launches, landing in a low, swampy place called Ashby's harbor. General Foster's bri- gade, the First, preceded our brigade, General Reno's-which was promptly followed by the brigade of General Parke. It was dark by the time we commenced the march, which, owing to bog-holes and mud and water, was extremely difficult as well as fatiguing. It seemed for a time as if we would never again reach dry land, and in our ignorance wondered why our com- mander had not constructed a board walk through the swamp for our accommodation. But, by-and-by, we reached an open space, which proved to be a plantation, and on this, without shelter of any sort, in the midst of a cold, drenching rain, we encamped for the night. Bon-fires blazed till daybreak, but they afforded little comfort. Between the rain and wind, and the
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NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS.
firing of the piquets, there was no such thing as rest, and all anxiously awaited the return of day-no matter what might be its termination. The enemy were before us-but a short dis- tance away-and either he or us would have to succumb on the fateful morrow. There was no evading a fight, for the two armies were upon an island, from which neither could retreat.
There is always something picturesque and sublime in a bivouac, and this was the first we had established. The lines of fires flickering in the night ; the groups of tired and sleepy men, their free and easy attitudes, their arms stacked, ready to be caught up at any instant ; the simple fare, the men cooking their supper (?); the long-stretching shadows and the sur- rounding darkness-who, that never witnessed a scene like this can imagine it ? The low bushes shelter some, while others lie upon the cold wet ground, seeking repose which came not. Hundreds around those fires are dreaming-some of home, some of battle and victory, some of partings that were painful, or of future meetings that shall be full of joy-till suddenly the bugle sounds, and that host rises from the drenched earth, and the stern realities of the march, the fight, the terrible roar and whistle of death, take the place of dreams.
February 8 .- Daybreak came at length, and with it the crack of rifles a short distance away in the woods in our front. General Foster's brigade promptly moved forward and shortly afterwards the firing became quite heavy. General Reno walked up and down near the roadway looking in the direction taken by the troops, impatient of the delay, but could not advance his brigade, consisting of the Twenty-first Massachu- setts, Fifty-first New York, Ninth New Jersey and Fifty-first Pennsylvania regiments, because of the narrowness of the road and the almost impenetrable swamp on each side thereof. Streams of running water frequently crossed the road or cause- way, in which we marched to the assistance of our brethren of the First brigade, who were slowly, yet surely, driving the enemy before them into the deepening recesses of the island. The men of the Ninth, notwithstanding the fact that they had suffered much from exposure during the night, and had started off without having been able to warm themselves with
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FIGHTING IN WATER WAIST DEEP.
coffee, were in cheerful spirits, and undauntedly moved forward. It was only when the wounded were brought back that they for the first time realized the full meaning of their undertaking ; and I must confess that the sight of maimed men, who had, but a few moments before, been in the full possession of bodily vigor and strength, as they were borne back. past our slowly-moving column, caused the stoutest hearts to shudder. There was no more levity-all felt that a great responsibility rested upon them-and they nerved themselves for their fearful task. Re- maining inactive under fire is always dreaded-good soldiers preferring an assault, however difficult and dangerous. At about eight o'clock, General Foster sent back for assistance, and Colonel Heckman, who had been chafing under inertia, and was panting for an opportunity to show what his men could do, was ordered to move forward. In a moment over one thousand Jerseymen were briskly following their leader along the causeway, across the center of the island. The Ninth had proceeded but a short distance, however, before it left the improvised roadway, and entered the swamp to turn the enemy's right. The men waded waist-deep in mud and water, occasionally raising their cartridge-boxes and haver- sacks to keep them from getting wet. A worse place for men to move and manœuver it would be difficult to imagine. The Confederates, having no idea that any attempt would be made to enter the swamp at that point, had trained their guns in another direction, for which we were thankful.
It was while getting into position that we saw the advantages possessed by Colonel Heckman over the commandants of other regiments. He had participated in the war with Mexico, and the experience there gained enabled him to act in the most in- telligent and skillful manner. This was our " first appearance" before the enemy, yet we joyously followed our commander, who led us to the edge of the timber, about one hundred yards from the battery, commanding the causeway on which the troops were compelled to advance. Before reaching this point, the Ninth had been formed into column by division, right in front, and it was thus that two companies-first division-com- menced fire upon the astonished Confederates, who were posted
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NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS.
behind massive earthworks. The men of the Ninth had a clear view of the enemy, and with their unerring rifles soon created consternation. It was not long, however, before the Confeder- ates, who fought with desperation, trained a gun upon the Ninth, but Colonel Heckman, who stood on the flank of the first division, intently watching every movement, selected some of his ."dead shots" to keep their eyes upon that particular piece, which was seldom fired after the boys got into position. Meanwhile the first division, having nearly exhausted its ammunition, wheeled to the right and left and filed to the rear of the column, where it re-formed-the second division imme- diately advancing and opening a well-directed fire. It was noticed that one Confederate, apparently more determined than the rest, labored to discharge the gun, into the muzzle of which the men of the Ninth could readily look. This Confederate, however, acted with extreme caution, exposing himself as little as possible. Finally, he trained the field-piece with great care, and seizing a burning match applied it to the gun. Four reports simultaneously followed-one was the Confederate cannon-the other three the rifles of the sharpshooters, whose bullets pierced the body of the cannoneer, who fell across the trail of his piece. The Confederate who thus fell was Lieutenant Selden of the Wise legion, who did not have the satisfaction of learning the fearful execution of his last shot, which swept through the swamp, severing the two legs of Corporal John Lorence, and one leg of Private Jonathan Bural of Company K, and passing on killed Private Isaac V. D. Blackwell of Company F, and the gallant Captain Joseph J. Henry of Company H, though no mark or bruise could be distinguished on the person of the last named. Young Blackwell staggered and exclaiming "Remember thy Creator," fell back and expired in the arms of his brother, who stood at his side. Still the Ninth stood fast, waist deep in water, firing with ardor, determined to maintain the reputation that liad ever characterized "Jersey Blues." Under the inspiration gained from their intrepid commander, Adjutant Zabriskie and other officers, the men of the Ninth had already become veterans. It was nearly eleven o'clock when Lieutenant Samuel Hufty, Jr., of Company I, (who had some
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FIRED UPON BY FRIENDS.
time before climbed into a tree to obtain a clear view of the Confederate position), called out to Colonel Heckman that the enemy were vacating the battery. Adjutant Zabriskie, who , stood with his arms folded against that tree, corroborating this statement, the colonel ordered the firing to cease and an assault to be made upon the works. This movement was about to be put into execution, when horror of horrors, the regiment was fired upon from the rear, producing momentary confusion. Looking back in terror, and fearing that the Ninth itself had been flanked, Colonel Heckman saw that the volley had come from the Ninth New York regiment (Hawkins' Zouaves.) Nor was this all-a second volley was poured into the Jerseymen, ere the New Yorkers could be brought to reason and a sense of the situation. This blunder on the part of the hot-headed New York regiment delayed the progress of the Ninth New Jersey, but did not prevent some of its members, from Companies D and I, being the first to reach and enter the works. Both these companies were reformed in line before one hundred men from all the other regiments entered the battery, which had been vacated before the advance was made.
General J. L. Otis, at that time a captain in the Tenth Connec- ticut, writing to the historian of the Twenty-third Massachusetts regiment, in relation to the conduct of the New York Zouaves, says : "The Ninth New York broke up in utter confusion, rushed back down the road in a crowd, firing their muskets in every direction, killing and wounding each other. The generals sprang in among them and I did the same, catching hold of their muskets, at the same time trying to stem the tide of con- fusion ; no less than three muskets were fired while I had my hands on them to throw them up ; fifteen of the Zouaves were killed and wounded by each other, and one of my own men had his gun shattered and his hand nearly shot away, so that he was disabled for life."
Captain Denny, in "Wearing of the Blue," says : " The Zouaves fell back, at least a portion of them did, upon the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, which was on its feet in an instant, the men using the bayonet and the officers, drawing swords, while, with one breath, the cry went up 'No Bull Run here !'"
-
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NINTH NEW JERSEY VETERAN VOLS.
The Ninth New Jersey never forgot this lamentable affair. There was no excuse for the blunder on the part of the New Yorkers, who had not been engaged (and were not engaged) in the battle. Had the regiment obeyed orders and followed its gallant Major Kimball, who endeavored to make it charge along the causeway, Jerseymen would not have been maimed by friends, and the New Yorkers might have been retained in the department instead of being left out of the battle of New- bern the following month and shipped off to Virginia.
On being driven from their works in the centre of the island, the Confederates retreated to the immense fortifications on the southern, or water side, but finding further resistance futile, Colonel Shaw, their commander, surrendered. Besides twenty- eight hundred men, he turned over five forts and thirty-three pieces of artillery. That night we cooked flapjacks on the utensils left at the barracks by the Confederates, and occupied their commodious quarters, which, although a trifle unclean, were a great improvement upon what we had been favored with the previous night.
Despite the condition of our apparel, which had been soaked by the rain, and by the mud and water through which we had waded, the troops had a jollification after supper, and the generals, whom we serenaded, made patriotic speeches, one of them declaring that the next and final blow to the rebellion would be given by us, and from this point. Of course we were glad to be assured of this by a prominent officer, and eagerly looked forward to the time when we should start away to accomplish the undertaking. We all felt proud of our victory, the Ninth being especially pleased at having been the first regiment from New Jersey to do battle in defence of the flag. If our little army was shortly to end the war, as our general had promised we should, the other armies would no doubt envy us. But I remember that although the Ninth a few days afterwards participated in another battle, and materially assisted in wrenching a victory from the Confederates, the rebellion continued several years, hundreds of thousands of good men and true giving their lives as a sacrifice that the nation might live.
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CORPORAL JOHN LORENCE.
February 9 .- Notwithstanding the fact that vessels, heavily laden with edibles, lay in the sound or strait, almost within stone's throw of the wharf, the troops suffered from their want, none having as yet been sent ashore, owing to the prevalence of a gale of wind, which prevented vessels lying at the wharf. The men were compelled to subsist upon rations taken ashore with them in haversacks at the time of the landing, and now that the corn meal and flour found in the Confederate commis- sariat was used up, many of them complained of hunger. Some men, calling upon General Reno, exhibited pieces of dough which had been issued them for their evening repast. The general examined it, and invited his visitors to enter his quarters and see the quality doled out to him. Satisfied that their commander had been no better provided for than them- selves, the discontented ones departed, wiser if not happier men.
The Confederates whom we had captured were corralled in small log shanties, constructed for our accommodation, they little dreaming our small force capable of capturing their stronghold. We treated them kindly, and conversed with the more cheerful ones daily. We found many huge knives in the barracks, and sent them to friends in New Jersey. What the Confederates intended doing with the ugly-looking weapon we could not ascertain from them, but a darkey told us they were to be used in "cutting off de Yankees' heads."
The troops drilled daily, the prisoners watching the move- ments with interest. The Confederates united in calling the men of the Ninth "muskrats" because the Jerseymen had fought them in water waist deep in the swamp.
Among those in the Ninth who were desperately wounded in the battle I have already mentioned was Corporal John Lorence of Company K, whose legs were carried away by a cannon-shot. The following poem published in Harpers' Weekly is worth quoting here :
" Oh, well the Ninth New Jersey fought On bloody Roanoke ! Its front stood firm, its colors waved, Its line was never broke !
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