USA > New York > The Ninth regiment, New York volunteers (Hawkins' zouaves); being a history of the regiment and veteran association from 1860 to 1900 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
Gc 973.74 N42gr 1763034
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00823 5258
THE NINTH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS (HAWKINS' ZOUAVES) BEING A HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT AND VETERAN ASSOCIATION FROM 1860 TO 1900
-
BY
LIEUT. MATTHEW J. GRAHAM
COMPANY "A," NINTH REGIMENT. N. Y. VOLUNTEERS, AND . U. S. VETERAN RESERVE CORPS
NEW YORK MDCCCC
1763034
3
8349 . 5246
Graham, Matthew John.
The Ninth regiment, New York volunteers (Hawkins' zouaves) ; being a history of the regiment and veteran association from 1860 to 1900. By Lieut. Matthew .J. Graham ... New York E. P. Coby & co., printers) 1900. xi, 634 p. front. 23}cm.
SHELF CAR! 1. New York infantry. 9th regt., 1861-1863. 2. U. S .- Ilist .- Civil war- Regimental histories-N. Y. inf .- 9th. 3. Hawkins' zouaves association, 1863-
1-30991 Revised
166163 Library of Congress
£523.5.9thG
٠-
ANTIETAM
"٢ ٢٤١HE VOV," Of ٢٠٢ *** IL MfY OF THE WITH "* . ORK INFANTRY I.S .S. A.FY ANDSONT UFOS THIS FIELD. AND ESPECIALLY TO THGY *** : ٢٥٤١٣ ٢ *** * * ,١٤ COTRY MIGHT LIVE."
-
COPYRIGHT, 1.000 BY MATTHEW J. GRAHAM
.
I affectionately dedicate this work to my comrades who faithfully served and valiantly fought in the ranks of the Regiment during the War of the Rebellion.
M. J. GRAHAM.
moilisds
-
1
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION
I
CHAPTER I. Derivation of Name Zouaves - Organiza- tion of the New York Zouaves in 1860, with Copy of Original Pamphlet Contain- ing By-Laws, Committees, etc
21
II. Organization of Civil Club-Drill Master Serg't Benzoni - First Shot of the Civil War-Firing on Fort Sumter-First Offer of New York Troops-Organization of 9th N. Y. Volunteers- Field Officers-Castle Garden - Riker's Island-Severe Drills -- New Uniform-Inspection by Gen'l John A. Dix - Off for Fortress Monroe - Pres- entation of Flags in Fifth Avenue - Arri- val at Newport News.
32
" III. Advance on Big Bethel-The First Battle of the War - General Carr's Account of Battle of Big Bethel - Account of Major Winthrop's Death by a Southerner - Forces Engaged and Losses Sustained- Zouaves to the Front-Colonel Phelps and his Peculiarities - Right General Guide Herbert and His Grave Error-Two Zou- aves Attempt to get a " Pull " with Colonel Phelps
" IV. Reconnaissance by Companies A and F- Skirmish with the Enemy-Trouble about the Relative Rank of Officers-Decided by Drawing Lots - General Butler Super- seded by General Wool-Special Order for
55
·
vi
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Expedition to Hatteras Inlet ~- Three Companies of the Ninth Join Expedition - Arrival off Hatteras-Bombardment of Forts - Surrender - Amount of Material Captured.
70
CHAPT. V. Colonel Hawkins Assumes Command of Post - Correspondence Between Colonel Hawkins and General Wool-Expedition to Beacon Island - Lieut .- Colonel Betts and Five Companies Rejoin Regiment - Surrender of Gunboat " Fannie "-Attack on 20th Indiana-General Williams Super- sedes Colonel Hawkins - Construction of New Forts - Antipathy of Men to Wil- liams -Boys "Scouting" for Fresh Pork Seriously Alarm the General - Major Kimball and Two Companies Arrive from Newport News-Arrival of Burnside Ex- pedition-All Ready for Roanoke Island- Rations from the Sea - Wine Labels Passed as Currency - Robbing Potato Houses
84
VI. Underway for Roanoke Island-Arrival- Engagement with the Forts-Landing of the Troops - Bivouac in the Mud for the Night - Stealing Bed from Beneath the Colonel - Army Moves on the Enemy - Major Kimball's Fear that the Men Might Weaken - Arrival in Front of Battery - Order to Charge the Works - Colonel De- Monteil Killed- First Bayonet Charge of the War-What Curie Saw-Reflections- Extracts from Reports of Generals in Command -Capture of Captain Wise - More Rain-Description of Prisoners ...
119
vii
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPT. VII. Expeditions to Nag's Head and Winton, N. C. - Ninth Regiment Garrisons Roa- noke Island - Resignation of Lieutenant- Colonel Betts - Expedition under Major Jardine - Expedition to South Mills - Terrific March - Battle of South Mills or Camden - Heavy Loss of the Ninth - Death of Adjutant Gadsden - Return to Roanoke-Retrospection-General Reno's Report of Battle - Colonel Hawkins' Report
157
" VIII. Ninth New York Garrisons Roanoke Isl- land-Recreation the Order of the Day- Practical Uses of Captured Powder - Company K's New Battery Tactics - Innocently Getting Square with the Com. pany Cook-Testimonial to Col. Hawkins- Parade and Drill of Ninth Under Com- mand of Non-Commissioned Officers - New Recruits Troubled with "Lapsy Palls " Cured by Sergeant Horner -- Lieu- tenant Flusser, U. S. N., Captures Ply. mouth and Company "F" Detailed to Garrison Town - Runaway Slaves Re- turned to Owner - Wessel's Brigade Re- lieves Company " F "-Enemy Attack and Defeat Wessel, Re-Capture Plymouth and Kill Flusser-Burnside Leaves for Fort Monroe-Ninth Leaves Roanoke for Nor- folk-Camp for Contrabands-Losses of Burnside Expedition
" IX. Farewell to Roanoke Island - Arrival at Old Fort Norfolk, Va .- Off for Fortress Monroe - Arrival at Falmouth, Va. - Drills and Dress Parades a Promi- nent Feature - Rumors of Disaster -
192
viii
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
-
Army Deserts Fredericksburg and De- troys Stores - Pope's Campaign and Dis- astrous Failure - McClellan Again in Command of Army of the Potomac-Dis- order in Washington - Camp at Meridian Hill-Off for the Maryland Campaign- Description of March - Skirmishes With the Enemy - Arrival at Frederick City, Md .- Hospitality of Inhabitants- Fire in Jail-On to Antietam - Battle of South Mountain - Coolness of Major Jardine Under Fire-Death of General Reno and Comments on His Soldierly Qualities - Arrival Near Antietam - Night Before the Battle
238
CHAPT. X. Lieutenant Graham's Letter Descriptive of the Battle of Antietam-Attack on the Stone Wall-Great Bravery of the Troops -Ordered to Retire and Lieutenant- Colonel Kimball's Protest-General Wil- cox in Person Peremptorily Orders Kim- ball to Fall Back - Assistance to the Wounded-Mcclellan's, Burnside's, Fair- child's, and Kimball's Reports - Mr. Kirkley's Statements of Total Killed in the Civil War, and Proportion of Wounded to Killed - General Longstreet's Com- ments on the Battle and Comparison with Other Notable Engagements-Percentage of Regimental and Brigade Loss of the Ninth Regiment. 281
" XI. Retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia -Apathy of Fifth Corps-Camping on the Antietam-Recruits for the Ninth-Their Reception and Treatment by Lieutenant-
ix
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Colonel Kimball and his Tribute to the Old Regiment - Captain Whiting-Visit from President Lincoln-The Loaves and the Good Zouaves - Hospital Arrange- ·ments-The Band Plays " Annie Laurie" for the Sick Men-Promotion of Surgeon Humphreys - Across Elk Ridge to Pleas- ant Valley-"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground"
330
CHAPT. XII. Clothing and Camp Equipage Left at Meridian Hill - Cleanliness - Knapsacks Recovered - Knapsack Drill - Hunger, Cold and Marching - Three Columns Abreast - Company G as Headquarter's Guard-Company K Joins General Kautz -General Burnside Relieves General Mc- Clellan of the Command of the Army- Scattering a Quartermaster's Train -- Good Artillery Shooting-Thanksgiving Day at Falmouth - Battle of Fredricks- burg - Stragglers - Winter Quarters in Virginia-On to Fortress Monroe.
" XIII. Establishment of Camp at Newport News -The Ninth Assigned as Provost Guard -- Concentrating Troops- Sutlers' Trials --- Rum as a Disturber of Martial Discipline - Review of the Ninth Corps-Horse Racing and Baseball -- Enroute to For- tress Monroe and Portsmouth - Tele- grams-Borrowed Tents in Suffolk-An Unwarranted Tragedy - The Use of Countersigns - Death of Brigadier-Gen- eral Corcoran - Ominous Thunders of Mutiny Calmed by General Getty-Re- moval to Fort Nansemond - Under Fire -Fake Bullets-Capturing a Battery -- A
354
X
CONTENTS.
PAGE .
Lost Yankee in Rebel Lines-The Last Day-General Orders No. 27-Disappoint- ment of Recruits-Mustered Out. 397
CHAPT. XIV. The Recruits Left at Suffolk - Lack of Military Control - Volunteering for the Fight-Camp Rumors-Private Reconnoi- tering-The Man of Straw-Uncertainty and Anxiety Among the Men - Trans- ferred to the Third New York - Bossing the Regiment-Off for Field Service - Campaigning in South Carolina - Army of the James-Army of the Potomac- Men of the Ninth Distinguish Themselves -Regiment Dwindles Away -Call for Second Battalion-A New Ninth Organ- ized-Formation of 178th New York Vol- unteers - Ordered to Virginia - New Ninth Recruiting-The July Riots-Jar- dine and White Wounded - Rescued- Battalion at Fort Hamilton-Seventeenth New York-Ordered to the Front-Pro- visional Brigade - Service of 178th - Service of 17th - Men Who Served in Other Regiments. 433
" XV. Introduction to the Third Georgia - Va- rious Meetings on the Battlefield-Seek- ing Old Foes After the War-The Ninth Visits the Third-Incidents of the Visit to Georgia- Speeches-Reception of the Third Georgia by the Zouaves - How They were Treated by their Old Time Foes - Banquets - Sightseeing - Excur- sions-Departure of the Georgians. . . .. 463
.
xi
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPT XVI. Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Mon- ument Erected on the Battlefield of Antietam in Memory of the Dead of the Ninth New York Volunteers-Prelimin- ary Work of the Committees-Journey to the Battlefield-Comrade Richard's In- vocation - Comrade Graham's Introduc- tion-Address by Colonel Hawkins-Un- veiling the Monument-Oration by Rev. Clark Wright, of Company F - The Pres- entation to General Carman-Revisiting Points of Interest-The Return
"XVII. After Muster-Out-Desire of the Men of the Regiment to Retain the Flags-Man- ner in which they were Cared for - Reasons why they Should be Trans- ferred to the State-Correspondence with the Governor-Names of Survivors who were Present at the Ceremony-Recep- tion of the Delegation by Governor Roosevelt - Lieutenant Graham's Re- marks - Governor Roosevelt's Reply- Major DeBevoise's Sketch of Service- Taps-The End 555
MUSTER-OUT ROLL 567 ERRATA 633
493
-
INTRODUCTION.
IN the taking of Fort Sumter the rebels served their first notice upon the people of the loyal States of the coming of one of the most momentous events known to the history of any nation, and when two days later President Lincoln called for the levy of seventy-five thou- sand troops, it was like giving an order by the president of a great railway company to the maker of toy engines, for a like number of mogul locomotives. The call of the President found the Governors of States about as well prepared to fill his order as would have been the makers of the toys.
The patriotic uprising, however, was complete. Millions of heads, hearts and hands were willing to do and to serve, but the great "how to" had to be learned, and there were but few teachers to show the way.
There were thousands of well disposed, per- fectly inexperienced patriots who honestly be- lieved that the matter of making a good fighting machine out of a thousand perfectly raw recruits would be an easy one. Possibly the makers of the Ninth New York Volunteers were in
2
NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
several important respects an exception to the general rule obtaining in relation to inexperience. In its field and staff there were three who had seen service in the United States Army, two as officers and one as a private; and in the line those captains and lieutenants who were edu- cated in the "Old Company" were well up in the Manual of Arms, Bayonet Exercise, and School of the Company, and theoretically, knew something of the School of the Battalion. In
addition to this stock of professional quantities and qualities on hand, there was youth, no end of patriotic enthusiasm, ardent desire to learn, sincere wish to serve well, and a striving for a high plane of excellence in the performance of soldierly duties. With this capital on hand, the "Ninth " launched itself upon the difficult under- taking of organizing a body of eight hundred very young men into a regiment of fighting soldiers.
April 15th, 1861, President Lincoln issued his first call for seventy-five thousand troops-it ought to have been a million, and possibly would have been for that number had not Sec- retary Seward earnestly advised that the war would be over in sixty days, the South did not intend to fight, was rising for a scare, etc., etc. All this in face of the historic fact that secession sentiment in many parts of the South had been
3
INTRODUCTION.
persistently propagated for more than a quarter of a century, and that for many years their political leaders had been waiting for a pretense to commence an open revolt against the Union. A wise statesman would have noted these facts and acted accordingly. But the really large minded patriotic statesman, equipped to deal with great national questions, was not in evi- dence. In his place there were no end of cun- ning politicians, some of them more or less patriotic, but the better of them were trained with a strong bias in favor of self.
Within three days from the printing of the President's call for troops, the enrollment book of the coming regiment showed over two thou- sand names of enlisted men. With the recording of names the work of selecting men of the kind wanted, young, strong, sound, of medium size, was carried forward, so that on the morning of the nineteenth of April, the number of men allowed by the State had been selected and were ready to be mustered into the service as a regiment of Volunteer Infantry.
From this time on there was everything to do and nothing to do it with. Quarters had to be secured, rations supplied, clothing, arms and equipments obtained, and nearly eight hundred perfectly raw recruits drilled and instructed in the whole round of difficult duties which go
4
NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
towards the making of an efficient and reliable soldier. Fortunately there were willing hands and plenty of unselfish desire behind them for all the work there was to do. Imperceptibly department lines were drawn. The coming young officers of the line keeping with the men, teaching marchings and facings, maintaining order and enforcing camp regulations. Later on the lieutenant-colonel, an accomplished tac- tician who had served in the National Guard of the State, gave efficient instruction in battalion drills.
In the meantime the much worried and be- puzzled young individual who was destined to command was working with all his might; try- ing to make some headway with the business part of the enterprise, which included everything involving the expenditure of money from the purchase of a gaiter buckle to the leasing of an island and the building of barracks. Progress, however, was rapid and satisfactory, for May 15th found the regiment comfortably housed in their new barracks at Riker's Island, clothed, equipped, armed, and well provided with all the soldier's necessities allowed by the regulations. Two weeks more of incessant drill and hard work in other directions brought the regiment to a most satisfactory degree of efficiency, so that when the time came to depart for the seat
5
INTRODUCTION.
of war all was in readiness for the move. The first and most difficult stage had been success- fully passed, and already, the coming veterans, with the years of boys, were feeling the conse- quences of their position and appreciating the value of their earnest labor intelligently bestowed. The next stage was the landing at Newport News and the continuation, under the school- ing of Colonel John Wolcott Phelps, of the First Vermont Volunteers, of the character-forming so successfully commenced in New York. The accident of reporting to such an officer as Colonel Phelps was an exceptional piece of good fortune in the history of the regiment. He was a graduate of West Point, had served twenty-three years in the artillery, and beyond all doubt was one of the most accomplished officers ever graduated from that school. As a classical scholar and a master of several mod- ern languages, he was without rival in the regu- lar army; he was also well up in pure mathe- matics and thoroughly well posted in all the various branches of his profession. In addition to his great acquirements he was a thoroughly honest, unselfish, conscientious gentleman, with common sense, and a perfect appreciation of justice, patriotic to the core, and of exceptional capacity for work.
This brief tribute, possibly a little out of place,
6
NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
is due to an officer, whose teachings and exam- ple had very much to do with the making of a regiment of efficient soldiers, and is here set forth to make a degree of appreciation due to a noble man.
From the landing at Newport News to the end of August, hard work was the order of the day; but before that time instruction had become so effective and discipline so habitual, that the regiment was ready for effective work. In short, within three months from the date of the first muster into the service, it had become a com- pletely serviceable organization for serious busi- ness in the field.
If other regiments were not able to accom- plish a like result the fault was with the officers, many of whom were ignorant of the duties de- manded, naturally inefficient, and with no dis- position for hard work. With such material as we have already, good officers can make good regiments in three months, and in the event of pressing necessity in half that time. -
The exceptional work-out of routine sort- at Newport News, was the purgation, or pushing out, of inefficient officers who had been elected, under State laws by their men, to the company commission grade. This labor was so success- fully performed that within six weeks from the landing, three very worthless captains and twice
7
INTRODUCTION.
as many lieutenants had passed on to other fields of usefulness. Soon as their march to- wards the North commenced, the great advan- tage of their absence became apparent. More of this sort of work had to be done before the regiment was completely freed from its shoulder- strapped dead wood, but it was performed grad- ually, not so much again in any one short period of time. Soon after the system of weeding out had been thoroughly inaugurated, a plan regu- lating promotions was set in operation. It re- lated to the line, non-commissioned staff and orderly sergeants. The senior first lieutenant succeeding to the first vacant captaincy, the senior second lieutenant to the first vacancy among the firsts, and the ranking orderly ser- Scant taking the place of the second lieutenant promoted. This order of promotion proved to be most efficacious and had very much to do with the making of the regiment.
But the labor of establishing it was not like living in a bed of roses fanned by gentle zephyrs. Practical politics pointed a fire in the rear in the way of granting commissions without consulting regimental commanders; not wanted outsiders were frequently commissioned to the regiment, and the inefficients in it were often, out of their turn, jumped over the heads of the more deserv- ing who were entitled to their promotion. An
8
NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
unlooked for incident, of a most disgraceful nature, which occurred in the Autumn of 1861, proved to be the beginning of the end of this unwarranted interference from the authorities at Albany.
Early one evening in the month of July, Colonel Phelps sent for the colonel of the Ninth to come to his tent at once, as he wanted to see him in relation to an important emergency. When there he was told there was danger of an emcute among the men of the First New York Volunteers. A certain captain named Barnard had returned from Old Point in a state of in- toxication, and soon after his arrival in camp, without provocation, had wantonly shot and seriously wounded one of the favorite non-com- missioned officers, and the Colonel of the Ninth was ordered to hold his regiment in readiness to put down any uprising that might occur. Although among the men and non-commis- sioned officers, threats were freely and openly made, better counsels prevailed and there was no disturbance. For some reason the criminal was not tried, his victim recovered, and his would-be murderer disappeared.
The incident was a day's talk, then forgotten and nothing more was heard of the chief actor, until upon a certain day in the October follow- ing, he appeared at Hatteras Inlet commissioned
9
INTRODUCTION.
as a Captain in the Ninth Regiment. -
His advent proved to be a great regimental surprise that called for prompt and decisive action, which was promptly taken. Neither the would-be Captain or his commission were acknowledged, and he was ordered to return immediately to Old Point Comfort, and the following letter was sent to General Wool :-
FORT CLARK, HATTERAS INLET, N. C., October 8, 1861. GENERAL. JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Dept. of Va.,
Fortress Monroe, Va.
SIR :- I do not acknowledge the right of Governor Morgan to appoint and transfer officers, over my head, into my regiment, and I will resist the appointment and transfer of Captain Barnard, even though it cost me my commission.
If Captain B. should in the end succeed in obtaining a command in my regiment, I shall then, if not dismissed before, resign my com- mission.
With very great respect,
I remain your faithful servant, RUSH C. HAWKINS, Col. Comg. Ninth Regt. N. Y. Vols.
The gauntlet was thrown, the contest on, and sink or swim, was to be fought to the finish, apparently against enormous odds, by an ob- scure young volunteer colonel, single-handed, who had neither influence or hope of favor, but he was sure of being right at least morally, and had no fear. With the enforced leaving of Barnard, regimental peace was restored and the daily routine went forward about as usual. But peace which blesses was not to endure, for again, October 22nd, it was disturbed by the
10 VIVTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
appearance of the same evil spirit. This time it was accompanied by a special order from General Williams, commanding at Hatteras In- let, assigning him to the command of a company in the Ninth Regiment. This time the regi- mental blood was superheated, and the order promptly disobeyed in the most emphatic man- ner. A prompt arrest of the hot-headed Colonel followed, charges preferred, and nine days later he was ordered to proceed to Fortress Monroe for trial by court martial.
Soon after his arrival at department head- quarters, he sought and obtained an interview with one of the aides of General Wool, who after reading charges and hearing a full circum- stantial account of the whole affair, from the shooting at Newport News to the arrest, frankly stated that the victim of orders was clearly in the right, and that he would see what could be done with the General. The quoting of an official letter is the better way of stating the measure of his success :-
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA.
FORT MONROE, VA., November 5, IS61.
COLONEL :- The Major General commanding the Department directs me to inform you, that the charges preferred against you by Brig. General Thomas Williams are dismissed, and you are hereby released from arrest.
I am Sir, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WM. D. WHIPPLE, Asst. Adjt. Genl. Con. Resu C. HAWKINS, Ninth Regt. N. Y. Vols ..
Fortress Monroe, Va.
11
INTRODUCTION.
Following the release there was a long inter- view with General Wool, who being an officer of long experience and provided with common sense, and knowing how to deal with those, who in defense of right sometimes take the short cut to justice, disregarding regulations and orders, said in effect, that a colonel was respon- sible for the good name and efficiency of his command, and it ought to be a part of his official duty to keep disreputable men from obtaining commissions in his regiment. There was no doubt about which side the moral sup- ported, but orders had been disobeyed, the matter to be settled was an important one and he would order the offending officer to Wash- ington, to present his side of the case to the President for his decision, and also to obtain from the Administration instructions in relation to present occupation of North Carolina coast, and future operations in its inland waters.
The stay in Washington lasted eight days ; the matters for consideration involved two Cabinet meetings and several interviews with President Lincoln. The permanent occupation was decided upon and future operations out- lined, but the President would not pass upon Gov. Morgan's power to make appointments of commissioned officers to regiments in the field without consent of colonels commanding. In
12 NINTH REGIMMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
this particular instance he thought the Colonel was right, but he could not afford to get up a quarrel with the Governor upon whom he most relied to assist in putting down the Rebellion. "Tell General Wool I leave this matter in his hands for him to arrange with the Governor, so there will be no more trouble." It was never known what General Wool did, but there were never any more appointments without the con- sent of the colonel of the regiment. In the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.