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Gc 973.74 N42ni 1205919
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00822 4575
James Il ichols
PERRY'S SAINTS
OR
THE FIGHTING PARSON'S REGIMENT IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
BY
JAMES M. NICHOLS
7973. 7447 N 51 p
BOSTON D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY 32 FRANKLIN STREET
Copyright, 1885, by D. LOTHROP AND COMPANY.
ELECTROTYPED BY C. J. PETERS & SON, BOSTON.
MEMORIAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR. 1205919
To the rising generation the war of the re- bellion already seems more like a romance than a reality. One by one the active participants in that momentous period of the nation's his- tory are passing away. In a few years there will not be a veteran left to tell the story of his own experience on field and in camp. Hardly had the writer of the following pages completed and revised his work, and placed the copy in the hands of the publishers, when he, too, was summoned to join the great army be- yond. That he had a touch of the rare quality which we call heroism, as well as fervent patri- otism, is sufficient reason why the reader should know something more about him than is dis- closed in the faithful and comprehensive record of his army life contained in this volume.
James M. Nichols was born in Haverhill, Mass., in 1835. His early education was re- ceived in the public schools of his native town, and he prepared for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. He graduated at Williams College in 1857, having been a fellow-student with President James A. Garfield. The storm- ing of Fort Sumter fired his heart with patriot-
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MEMORIAL SKETCH.
ism, and he was soon among his own townsmen actively engaged in enlisting a company which was at once consolidated in another organization. He then went to New York, and was commis- sioned as a lieutenant in the 48th regiment, but afterwards rose to the rank of captain. During his three years of service Colonel Nichols was second to none in that famous regiment in thorough devotion to duty and in the display of soldierly qualities. On several occasions he was in command of the regiment, and led it through many a fiery ordeal with courage and ability. In recognition of these services he was brevetted successively major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. In private life Mr. Nichols was frank, manly, impulsive, sympathetic, and an earnest Christian. To these qualities were added musical gifts and a rare power in conver- sation, which made him a delightful companion ; while to those who knew him best, his thorough genuineness, and the nobility of a nature which scorned everything narrow and mean, made him the trusted and beloved friend. He died suddenly, July 1, 1886, from the effects of dis- ease contracted in the service. He was tenderly borne to his last resting-place by comrades from the Grand Army of the Republic, and he has left behind as the inalienable possession of his sons the legacy of a pure, upright, and useful life.
PREFACE.
THE following narrative is, for the most part, a transcript from journals kept by the writer during his three years and more of ser- · vice in the army of the Union. Facts, expe- riences, and observations, were noted down from day to day, whether we were in camp, in garrison, or in the field, and are given to the public in the hope not only of affording pleas- ure to those who have never shared in such experiences, but of correcting erroneous im- pressions in regard to the real life of the sol- dier. Those who served in the army, I feel assured, will recognize the truthfulness of the picture of army life.
JAMES M. NICHOLS,
Brev .- Col. U. S. Vols.
HAVERHILL, MASS.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Causes of the War.
. 13
CHAPTER II.
Colonel Perry. Formation and character of the regiment. Lu- .
. ther B. Wyman, Esq.
. 19
CHAPTER III.
Camp Wyman. Incidents of camp life. Lieutenant Elfwing. Fête Champêtre. Departure for seat of war. List of officers. In camp near Washington. Off for Annapolis. General Butler in Maryland. Attitude of Governor Hicks. Waiting at Annapo- lis. Colonel Perry's last sermon. Journey to New York. Re- turn of contrabands. Departure for Fortress Monroe. 32
CHAPTER IV.
At Fortress Monroe. General Viele's talk. Weary waiting. Off at last. Order of sailing. Storm. Horrors of the voyage. Ves- sels lost. Off Port Royal. Tatnall's Mosquito fleet. Bombard- ment of Hilton Head and Bay Point by navy. Surrender. Captain Drayton. Landing of troops. First camp on Confed- erate soil. Foraging. Negroes' account of bombardment. Inspection and review. The sutler. Thanksgiving. . 48
CHAPTER V.
Expedition to Port Royal Ferry. Progress up Broad River. Colonel Perry acting brigadier-general. The rebel yell heard for the first time. The regiment's first baptism of fire. The old horse. Night on the field. Return to Hilton Head. Object of the expedition. Presentation of flag to the regiment. Off for Dawfuskie. Southern homes. Preparatory work by Major Beard and others. Building batteries on Jones and Bird Islands. Mud and malaria. Reconnoissances and midnight wanderings. .
73
CHAPTER VI.
Planting batteries ou Tybee Island. General Gilmore. Listening for the opening gun. Bombardment of Fort Pulaski. Watch-
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CONTENTS.
ing the contest from Dawfuskie. Surrender of the fort. Its appearance after the bombardment. .
. 94
CHAPTER VII.
Camp life at Dawfuskie. Scheelings and his "leetle tog." High living. Effects of malaria. Discussing the situation. Emancipa- tion order of General Hunter. Lincoln the emancipator. John C. Calhoun and nullification. Ordered to Pulaski. James Island expedition. A sad failure. Shouting service of the negroes.
100
CHAPTER VIII.
The wreck of the sutler's schooner. Its consequences. The death of Colonel Perry. His character. Action of officers. Sent to New York. Lieutenant-Colonel Barton promoted. Detailed on recruiting service. General Mitchell commander of the department. Expedition to Bluffton. Blockade-runner Emma. Confederate ironclad. Back with the regiment. Its condition. Bluffton again visited. Ravages of war. . 112
CHAPTER IX.
Expedition to Coosawhatchie. Landing at Dawson's planta- tion. March to Coosawhatchie. Ambuscade. Firing on Confederate train. Confederate prisoners. Destruction of track. Retreat. Peril of Lieutenant Corwin. Lieutenant Blanding wounded. Pocataligo expedition a failure. Perilous voyage back to Pulaski. Confederate weapons. Yellow fever. Death of General Mitchell. His character. . 124 .
Review of Coosawhatchie. .
CHAPTER X.
At Fort Pulaski. Changes at Dawfuskie. Amusements. The pride and taste of the soldiers in fitting up their quarters. Mosquitoes and other pests. Thanksgiving celebration. Inci- dents of garrison life. Flag of truce. Confederate ironclad. New Year's Day. Mr. Logan's account of the condition of things in Savannah. Prices of provisions, etc. Resignation and departure of Chaplain Strickland. Inspector-General Town- send's and Colonel Green's opinion of the regiment. Flag of truce. Interesting interview with Adjutant-General Gordon and Lieutenant Styles, of the Confederate army. Formation of negro regiments. Our theatre. Building a steam launch. Deserters. Capture of blockade-runner. Effect of garrison life on the regiment. Capture of Confederate ironclad Atlanta. 132
CHAPTER XI.
Good-by to Fort Pulaski. At St. Helena Island, under General Strong. Billinghurst and . Regua battery. Folly Island. Masked batteries. Attack on Morris Island. Killed and wounded of the regiment. Captain Lent. Capture of Con-
9
CONTENTS.
federate batteries. Building batteries. Hot work and little rest. Completion of batteries. Assault on Wagner. Badly managed. Terrible losses. General Strong. Negro soldiers. Their effect upon the Confederates. After the assault. The shelling by the Confederates. Incident . 157
CHAPTER XII.
Back to the regiment. Off for St. Augustine. The duties of provost-marshal. The quaint old city. Its pleasant people. Two months of rest. Lieutenant Ingraham. Back to Hilton Head. The regiment reunited. Visit to Morris Island. Cap- tain Eaton. Fort Wagner and its reminders. Lieutenant- 178 Colonel Green. .
CHAPTER XIII.
Relations between the 47th and 48th regiments. Re-enlistment of veterans. Court-martial. Departure of veterans on fur- lougli. Expedition to Florida. Battle of Olustee. A great blunder. Heavy losses. Admirable conduct of the troops. Dr. Defendorf. The retreat. Return of veterans. Sergeant 'Thompson. At Palatka. Expedition into the country. Dunn's Creek. Its marvellous beanty. Ludicrous scenes. Good-by to Palatka. At Gloucester Point, Va. A happy change. Shelter tents. General Grant. Army of the James under Butler. General Terry.
188
CHAPTER XIV.
Bermuda Hundred. Company E as skirmishers. Battle of Chester Heights. Couldn't resist the temptation. £ Company E fighting on its own account. Bad predicament. Company E did nobly. More fighting. In sight of Richmond. Con- federate sharpshooters cleaned out. Battle of Drury's Bluff. Company E again in a bad spot. Wonderful examples of discipline and soldierly conduct. General Terry to the rescue. Retreat. Back to old quarters. Captain Lockwood. . 205
CHAPTER XV.
Assigned to 6th corps. On the way to the Army of the Poto- mac. A dreadful march. At Cold Harbor. Trying situation. Assume command. A gallant charge. Grand success. Severe losses. Driven back. Lack of support. Incidents of the bat- tle. The demoralized general. Further account of Cold Har- bor. Occupying the Confederate line. A sad picture of war. An uncomfortable situation. Relieved. Close work. Change of base. Grand but perilous movement of the army. The old church at Jamestown. . 222
CHAPTER XVI.
Back to Bermuda Hundred. A running fight. Destruction of railroad. Kindness of Major Young and General Terry.
10
CONTENTS.
Ordered to charge. A happy escape. President Lincoln
and General Butler. Ordered to attack Confederate line. Recalled. Captain Fee and others killed. Picket-lines at Petersburg. Sanitary and Christian Commissions. Mine ex- plosion. Our losses. Major Swartwout. Effects of malaria.
241
CHAPTER XVII.
On duty at the front. Strange sickness. General Grant under fire. Captain D'Arcy. Battle of Strawberry Plains. Splendid behavior of the regiment. Lieutenants Tantum and Sears picked off by Confederate sharpshooters. Other losses. The excited officer. Hurried retreat. Captain Taylor. Tlie greet- ing of General Terry. A night's rest. On picket duty. Sad condition of the regiment. Expiration of terin of enlistment. Disaffection. Severe duty. Artillery attack on Petersburg. Out of the service.
. 254
CHAPTER XVIII.
Discharge of old members of the regiment. Attack at Chapin's farm. Partial success. Condition of the South. New recruits. In winter-quarters. Thanksgiving Day. Resignation of Colonel Barton. His long and faithful service. Tenth and Eighteenth corps united. Expedition against Fort Fisher. Second expe- dition against Fort Fisher. Gallant charge and capture of the fort. An important event. Other successes. March to Wil-
mington. Pursuit of the Confederates. Their surrender of Union prisoners. Their condition. On the march to join Sherman's army. Sherman's grand march to the sea-coast, and its results. Grant's operations ending in surrender of Lee and his army. With Sherman's army on the march for Johnston. Announcement of surrender of General Lee. Con- tinued pursuit of Johnston. Lincoln's assassination. Its effect on the army. Surrender of Johnston. . . 264
CHAPTER XIX.
A general review. Change in condition of the regiment. Bar- rett as provost-marshal. Delicate question. Colonel Coan. Gradual disbandment of the army. Discharge of the 48th.
Some personal explanations. . 289
CHAPTER XX.
Special references to some of the officers of the regiment. Re- marks upon prominent questions before the country. Finis. 295
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
FORT SUMTER, 15
THE U'NION VOLUNTEER REFRESHMENT SALOON, . 38
· FORTRESS MONROE, 49
MAP OF A PORTION OF "SEA ISLANDS," SHOWING " PORT ROYAL," 53
PLAN OF THE BATTLE AT PORT ROYAL HARBOR, 56
FORT WALKER, 58
FORT BEAUREGARD, . 59 DRAYTON'S MANSION, 60
POPE'S HOUSE AT HILTON HEAD, 62
LIVE OAK GROVE AT PORT ROYAL,
63
NEGRO QUARTERS,
67
OBSTRUCTIONS IN SAVANNAH RIVER, 80
FORT PULASKI, . 96
BREACH IN FORT PULASKI, . 97
THE PLANTER, . 109
HEADQUARTERS OF HUNTER AND MITCHELL, 129
MARTELLO TOWER, TYBEE ISLAND, 139
NEW IRONSIDES AND MONITORS, . 149
THE INTERIOR OF FORT SUMTER, 153
SIEGE OF CHARLESTON, . 159
NOISELESS HAULING OF THE GUNS, . 155
BOMB AND SPLINTER PROOF, 167
FORT WAGNER AT POINT OF ASSAULT, 168
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FORT WAGNER, SEA FRONT, 171
THE SWAMP ANGEL BATTERY, 173
A FLORIDA SWAMP AND JUNGLE, 198
GENERAL GRANT'S HEADQUARTERS AT CITY POINT, 201
LINE OF DEFENCE AT BERMUDA HUNDRED,
211
PICKETS ON DUTY, 214
FORT DARLING, 217
GENERAL SMITH'S HEADQUARTERS, COLD HARBOR, 223
POSITION OF GENERAL SMITH'S COMMAND AT COLD HAR- BOR, VA., . 227
BATTERY AND CHURCH TOWER. SITE OF JAMESTOWN, 239
BATTERY NEAR DUTCH GAP, 244
DEFENCES OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG,
opposite 246
OUTLINE OF THE CRATER AND MAGAZINES,
249
ARMY'S HUTS AT CHAPIN'S FARM,
265
OFFICERS' QUARTERS, CHAPIN'S FARM, .
267
PONTOON BRIDGE AT JONES' LANDING, NEAR DEEP BOT-
TOM, . 269
INTERIOR OF FORT FISHIER, . 275
PLAN OF LAND AND NAVAL OPERATIONS AT FORT
FISHER,
opposite 276
MOUND BATTERY NEAR FORT FISHER, 279
M'LEAN'S HOUSE, THE PLACE OF LEE'S SURRENDER, 285
PLACE OF JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN, .
287
f
PERRY'S SAINTS.
CHAPTER I.
Causes of the War.
FOR years the irrepressible conflict had been going on. From the halls of Congress to the remotest hamlet of the North, the subject of slavery - its national wrong and its individual cruelties - was the constant occasion for irri- tating debate and violent denunciation. The wall of separation between the North and the South was slowly but steadily building. In the North there had grown up a settled deter- mination that the territorial limits of slavery should be extended no farther, and that the relation of master and slave should not exist in any State north of Mason's and Dixon's line. As this sentiment found frequent expression in active resistance to those laws which sought to protect the master in his rights when travelling
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
[April,
or sojourning in the North for purposes of business or relaxation, and in the increasingly aggressive acts of individuals and societies, who sought by all the means in their power to awaken in the slaves a desire for liberty, and to make their way easy for escape from bondage, the conviction became universal at the South that to preserve that institution, regarded as so necessary to their physical and social life, and to establish an effectual barrier to the encroach- ments of the popular sentiments, not of the North alone, but of the civilized world, there must be separation, and a distinct government of their own.
The conclusion was a logical one, but the territory gained by the blood and treasure of all the people belonged equally to all; and sepa- rate existence on the part of the two sections was impossible ; and the echoes of the first gun in Charleston harbor, aimed against the Federal flag at Sumter, reverberated among the hills and through the valleys of the North, till every household was awakened, and every arm nerved for the coming conflict. The South had calcula- ted upon divisions and dissensions. It had long
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1861.]
FORT SUMTER.
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
1861.]
been maturing its plans and organizing its forces. The head of the Federal government, and many of the councillors and advisers of the administration, were men who either quietly ig- nored or actively participated in these prepa- rations. The arsenals within its limits, and the fortified points along its coast, with the vast quantities of government property which they contained, were with few exceptions taken pos- session of without a struggle. Everything at those places in the North where materials of war were manufactured or stored had been ordered to the South. Our navy had been detailed to foreign service, so that at the outbreak of the rebellion there were but two small vessels avail- able for immediate use. Consequently, at the outset, the South possessed many important ad- vantages. But it was mistaken in its conclu- sions. The unanimity of feeling at the North was hardly less than at the South; and when a new executive sent out his appeals to the loyal States, the answer was immediate. From every city and town, from every village and hamlet, and almost from every household, the word came back : "We are ready for any sacrifice "; "All we
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
[April.
have is at the service of the government." The young men put on their armor and gathered themselves together, and the old men lifted their hands towards heaven and blessed them. Wife and mother, though with tears of anguish, said God-speed. The way was dark; but there was no hesitation, no doubt.
CHAPTER II.
Colonel Perry. Formation and character of the regiment. Luther B. Wyman, Esq.
AMONG those to whom the call to arms came with especial force, was the Rev. James H. Perry. He had received a military education from his country, and his country needed his services, and although for many years his mis- sion had been one of peace and good will, his country's needs were an urgent call, and, like the prophets of old, he girt on his armor and prepared for battle.
His was a singular history. Born in Ulster County, N. Y., June, 1811, he early developed great physical and mental strength. That he naturally inclined to a military life, he gave evi- dence by the fact that, while yet a youth, he was prepared for entrance to West Point, the appointment to which had been promised him by President Jackson for political services ren-
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
[April,
dered by his father. But the wishes of the President were thwarted during his first admin- istration, and it was not until his second election that he secured to young Perry the appointment by sending the warrant to him by special mes- senger from Washington. In the mean time, the young man had not been idle, but had prepared himself for and entered upon the practice of the law, was married, and seemed settled in his life work. His early tastes, however, and his natural inclinations, decided him upon the acceptance of the appointment.
At West Point his independent and manly character brought him into frequent difficulties. The terms "Mudsills" and "Chivalry," and those of similar import, were, even at that early period, used to distinguish the Northern- er's from those of Southern birth, and while many of the Northern youth submitted tamely to the assumptions of the Southrons, Perry, who was not of a yielding disposition, and recognized no arbitrary claims to superiority, asserted his right to equality, and maintained it with such courage and ability that he soon became the acknowl- edged leader of his party, and his strength and
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
1861.]
skill were often called into requisition to repel attacks, which were the more vicious and dan- gerous because it was soon apparent that no one of his fellow-students could cope with him on equal terms. In one of these encounters, he barely escaped with his life, having, without suitable weapons, to protect himself against the attack of several, who were well armed and specially prepared for the contest. Court-mar- tialled for participation in this affair, he was sentenced to dismissal. President Jackson not only annulled the sentence, but sent him a letter of commendation.
Soon after leaving West Point, he offered his services to the Texan government, which was then engaged in its struggle for independence. In his endeavor to raise a regiment he was only partially successful, but, with a considerable number of followers, he joined the revolution- ary forces, when his natural abilities and mili- tary education soon secured to him a prominent place in the little army. We are not able, if space would permit, to give a detailed account of his experiences while in the Texan service. We only know that he held a high and honor-
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[April,
able position through the whole struggle, which was finally decided by the battle of San Jacinto.
This proved the turning-point in his career. A short time previous, the forces under Santa Anna had been guilty of an unprovoked and cold-blooded massacre, which so outraged the feelings of the Texan officers that they bound themselves by the most solemn oaths to take the life of Santa Anna, whenever and wherever they should encounter him. The battle of San Jacinto, which secured the independence of Tex- as, and led to its annexation to the Federal Union, occurred soon after. In this battle, Colonel Perry commanded the Texan left, and, although the Mexican army outnumbered many times the revolutionary forces, in the final charge it was completely routed. In this charge, Colonel Perry found himself opposed by Santa Anna in per- son, as he thought, and, in compliance with the oath which he had taken, he sought and slew him. Learning soon after that he had been misled by the description given him of the Mex- ican commander, and that he whom he had slain was a brave and honorable officer, especially es- teemed for his high character, he was so grieved
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
1861.]
and shocked that he left the Texan service abruptly, and all the offices and honors to which he was entitled by reason of his eminent ser- vices, and wended his way back to the North, carrying with him a burden of regret and sor- row, from which, in all the varying experiences of his after life, he never fully escaped. A dark cloud overshadowed his life ever after, and at . times he seemed to suffer intensely.
Whether it was under the influence of this feeling that he was led to turn so completely from his chosen profession to seek in the min- istry a relief from this burden, or subjected to religious influences at a time when he was un- settled in respect to his future, he felt called to this special field of labor, we cannot tell. We do know, however, that in a short time he pre- pared himself for the work, and for upwards of a quarter of a century devoted himself to it with unwavering zeal. For the most part, his labors were confined to the states of New York and Connecticut, where he occupied some of the most important pulpits of the Methodist-Epis- copal Church.
In his new calling he exhibited marked abil-
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
[April,
ity, being distinguished no less for his earnest piety, and the zealous discharge of the duties of his office, than for the intellectual vigor which characterized his pulpit utterances. Several times in the course of his ministry, he was se- lected to represent his brethren in the general conferences of the church, and we cannot doubt the statement which we find in the short sketch of his life, from which we have gathered many facts relating to him, that in the ministry, as in the profession of arms, he found few equals and very few superiors.
At the time of the breaking-out of the war, he was the pastor of the Pacific Street Meth- odist-Episcopal Church, in the city of Brook- lyn, having previously ministered to several others of the most prominent congregations in the same city, in all of which he is remembered with the highest respect and most tender affec- tion. From Dickinson College he received the degree of D. D., and, at the time of our intro- duction to him, was in the pride of his strength, a man of noble form, of impressive manner, quiet and deliberate in his utterances, and clear and steadfast in his purposes. He had then em-
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
1861.]
barked in the service of his country, and there was no looking back to more congenial employ- ment.
The news of the bombardment of Fort Sum- ter was received while the conference of which he was a member was in session. Immediately rising in his seat, he said : "I was educated by the government; it now needs my services. I shall resign my ministry, and again take up my sword." His resolution was loudly cheered by the conference. Accepting the command of an organization, which had for some time been recruiting, by authority from the Secretary of War, under the title of Continental Guards, he infused into it new life and character. As com- panies formed, the regiment took its place as a part of the state quota, and was known as the 48th New York State Volunteers.
Under the State law, all officers, before receiv- ing their commissions, were subject to exami- nation by a military board appointed for the purpose ; but, by the courtesy of the Governor, Colonel Perry was allowed to select his own officers, without the intervention of this board ; and those whom he selected were sworn into
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PERRY'S SAINTS.
[April,
service with the companies as fast as they were formed, without examination. He took personal charge of the enlistments, sending out to those places where he was well known, and as a result, the personnel and morale of the regiment were far above the average of those who entered the service. Indeed, I believe I should not trespass upon the truth, should I venture the statement, as the result of observa- tions extending over more than three years, among troops from all sections of the North and West, that no regiment entered the service of the United States, during the war, which could claim superiority over the 48th, in the character of its officers and enlisted men.
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