USA > New York > Camp and field life of the Fifth New York volunteer infantry. (Duryee zouaves.) > Part 13
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We have had very heavy rains here recently-such rains as in New York are entirely unknown. The roads are exceedingly heavy. Those who sit at home carping at delay should be compelled to travel over them in a loaded baggage-wagon once. They would soon get an idea of the difficulty of moving large armies in a country like this, and in such a season. G. C.
The following extract from a letter written home by the author, also tells part of the story :
CAMP WINFIELD SCOTT, NEAR YORKTOWN, VA., - 5TH REGT., N. Y. V., DURYEE'S ZOUAVES, Monday, April 21, 1862. S
We still remain in camp, and are as comfortable, that is, for soldiers, as circumstances will admit. Our tents are of good ma- terial and keep out the rain, and the camp is situated on rather high ground, therefore the water runs off. To the south of our portion of the ground is a small ravine through which a small stream runs, supplied by pure springs, from which we get plenty of water or drinking and cooking purposes. In the stream it- self we wash our clothes and ourselves. On the banks above the ravine there was a thick wood of pine, with its ever-green foliage ; elm-trees, which were soon robbed of their bark to satisfy the chew- ing propensities of the men ; sassafras bushes, the roots of which are pleasant to eat, and are therefore pulled up without regard to quantity ; but the wood is now getting thinner every day, falling a sacrifice to our axes, and used by the cooks to keep up their fires, and by us as a means to warm ourselves when it is neces- sary. We can see the balloon make its ascensions every day, and often hear a report up in the air. We look up and see a ball of smoke, resembling a small cloud, which tells us that a shell has burst ; but it is of such frequent occurrence that often we do
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not notice it. A few shells have landed in camp, one of which killed a mule ; another was filled with rice, so they say; one fired yesterday cut a man in half while he was in the woods ; but we are comparatively safe, all things considered. But about a mile further to the front the situation is different, as they have sharp practice there on picket. Some of the companies are de- tailed in turn to drill on the mortars, and one of Company C was wounded in the head a few days ago. We see very little of Col- onel Warren; during most of his time he is with General Mc- Clellan and staff, by whom he is highly esteemed, making ob- servations, etc. Many of the regulars know him, having seen him out West and in other places, before the war. They say that he understands his business. We all like him as a man and a soldier ; he is strict, but he knows all the wants of a soldier from experience, and seldom taxes our endurance too much.
Our men are on details night and day, building batteries and roads in every direction ; one can not tell at what time of night he may be called up to shoulder his musket and march off on a detail. Saturday night, the 19th, I was on fatigue duty: we marched about three miles to the mouth of Wormley's Creek, York River, where they are putting up a battery.
l'art of the road has been built by our army, leading over a creek through which a solid road has been built. As we came out of some woods at one point we could see a deserted rebel fort in the middle of a swamp to the right of the road. It was built square and in a substantial manner, with barracks inside of it, a ditch nine feet deep all around it, filled with water, and an abatis, bushes, and stumps of trees. Near it was an inferior work, partially masked ; the place could not have been stormed. Further on we went through the camp of the Ist Connecticut Heavy Artillery, a regiment fourteen hundred strong.
We were astonished to see the heavy guns that have been sent to this point for the purposes of the siege. We next passed through the most extensive corn-field that I ever saw, and came to a large peach-orchard, which was in full blossom. Emerging from the latter, we came upon the grounds of one of the first Lunilies, on which was built a fine large house, with a water Irunt on the York River. The battery we are building is a little way from the house.
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The owner of this large estate is said to be a Lieutenant in the Confederate army now at Yorktown, and owns five thousand acres of land hereabouts. This place is certainly the handsomest one I have yet seen in Virginia. I, with others, was trotted off to the corn-field, to await our time to be called upon to take our turn at the pick and shovel, which was to be in about four hours.
We accordingly stacked our arms, and sat down on the soft and yielding soil, to take it easy. In company with some others, I lit my pipe, and we sat there talking, trying to worry through the time, but it was not long before a storm, that had been threatening for some time, burst upon us in all its fury. It was rough enough for us, notwithstanding the joke went around as usual, and all tried to be merry, but it was under aggravating circumstances. We were obliged to stand up at the side of our muskets and take it all. The urrows between the hills of corn were filled with water, and we were all soaked through, men and muskets.
The latter is always a source of anxiety to a soldier, as he is aware that, with a wet, rusty weapon, he would stand a poor chance in case of an attack. Finally our turn came ; we fell in, and were soon hard at work in the mud and water, with very little light, so as not to attract the attention of Johnny Reb. We worked about three hours, and were relieved, when I, with some others, succeeded in getting into a sort of kitchen of the man- sion ; we found a roaring fire in an old-fashioned fire-place, but every spot that a human being could squeeze into was occupied. The boys were stowed away on shelves not over six inches wide, snoring away as if they had not a trouble in the world : some were sitting on barrels, asleep in the cellar, which led off from the room ; others on the window-sill, and I saw one fellow trying to crawl under a refrigerator ; in fact, it would have taken a New York detective to have ferreted them all out. In one corner of the room sat H., looking full of mischief ; he is one of the lead- ing spirits. Butch, the " head devil," was not to be seen ; he was doubtless stowed somewhere in a comfortable place, if there was such a thing to be found. Fuel becoming short, and the boys having burnt up several cot bedsteads, H. said, "George, just put that mantel-piece on the fire ; there are some more of them up-stairs, I will bring them down." No sooner said than
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done; the mantel-piece threw out its cheerful blaze on the scene. Just then a crowd of officers of all grades filled the door- way, with alarm depicted on their countenances, saying that the chimney was on fire. The boys looked at one another, as if to say, " We have done it this time." We did not care whether the whole house was burned to ashes or not, as far as its loss was concerned ; but, in truth, it was a dangerous accident, for the rebels, guided by the light, could have shelled us easily to our great loss. The chimney, however, was soon burnt out, and everything fortunately went on without interruption.
A little while before this, the innocent H. and the missing "Butch " had been " scouting " on their own account to see if anything could be made. They found a pig-sty with a squad of the boys asleep in it, but no genuine pigs. They soon after dis- covered the pigs running about at large. They ran one down ; H. seized it, and " Butch" drew his knife across his throat in the dark. H. loosened his hold, saying, " He is a dead pig," when the bristly quadruped made off on the " double- quick." " Butch " discovered that, in the hurry and darkness, he must have used the back of his knife. They turned back to find the others, but they were all missing.
Trotting along, not in very good humor at the loss of fresh meat, " Butch " spied a blind horse in a field. Determined to have a sensation at least, he drove him into a barn where a lot of the boys were sleeping in the stalls and on the floor. Roused by the new-comer, and half frightened out of their senses, it was some time before they could believe that the enemy were not upon them, and that they were not all prisoners. This is the way in which some of the "red devils" amuse themselves at every opportunity that is presented either for frolic or mischief.
The battery we were working on is one of great importance ; it is supported by gabions, and will mount two two-hundred and five one-hundred-pound Parrotts. It was commenced and put up within two or three days, and was masked. The guns are brought up at night by a large truck drawn by from fifty to one hundred horses, and will be mounted by to-morrow. Although it has stormed a cold north-easter, with rain for two days, the work has been carried on unceasingly, and, in fact, everybody is busy doing something, etc. D.
Soon after the arrival of the regiment in front of York- town, John G. and two others slipped out of camp, and went on a foraging expedition on their own account. In' their rambles they discovered a barn, under which a half-grown hog had taken refuge; they tried all their artful and win- ning ways to induce him to come out, but he was evidently a shrewd pig, as all their allurements failed, and only elicited a knowing grunt. Finally, a bright idea occurred to John, who was a famous forager. He went off, and soon re- turned with half a dozen ears of corn, one of which he placed about two feet from the barn, and several more at intervals of a few feet further away. The trio, armed with clubs, John having a stout whiffletree in one hand and a dirk-knife in the other, took up strategic positions around the corners of the barn, and waited patiently for further de- velopments.
Presently the pig was heard approaching the nearest ear of corn, with grunts of satisfaction. and cautiously advancing, seized it, and retreated, having soon devoured it. He came from his covert the next time with more confidence, and munched on the other ear further from his base of retreat ; and not seeing anything alarming in the situation, finally went for the others. At the proper moment the trio made a grand charge to cut off the porcine retreat, but he was on the alert, and retired on a run. They threw their clubs at him, John throwing his with more energy than skill, which sent him sprawling on the ground, his club doing more harin to the side of the barn than to the pig; but he scrambled along on all-fours, and succeeded in catching his victim by the hind leg, and in his anxiety to secure him, commenced stabbing him in the only part of the animal that was pre- sented to his view, but which did not happen to be a very vital one. This undignified proceeding called forth from the pig a protest shrill enough to wake the dead. But rein- forcements were at hand, and the pig was dispatched. He
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was cut up, skinned and divided, and John made for camp with his share of fresh pork ; but, unluckily for him, he ran across an officer of the provost-guard. He was halted, and asked where he got his meat. "Bought it ; where do you think I should get it?" That was "too thin." and John was put under arrest; but soon after he saw S. going by, who had been out on a little forage for himself, but was returning empty-handed, not having met with any luck. He called to him, and at the same time threw his meat toward him ; the officer called to S., and said that if he took the meat he would arrest him also. But S. took chances, grabbed the pork, and legged it. John was put under guard in a tent ; but after half an hour's detention, seeing an op- portunity, he crawled out under the rear of the tent, and made his way back to camp. He did not eat any army tations that day or the next, but ate pork-chops morning, noon, and night, to repletion, and thought that it was the sweetest meat that he had ever eaten, because, as he said, "it was corn-fed."
Tuesday, April 22 .- The siege operations were some- what delayed by the frequent and heavy rains, but the prep- arations proceeded with unwearying industry, rain or shine, night and day, without cessation. The battery No. 1, which the Fifth and Ist Connecticut erected on the bank of York River at the mouth of Wormley Creek, in front of the L'airnholt House, was the heaviest mounted of them all. It comannded the water-front of Yorktown and Gloucester Point, and the extreme left of the enemy's massive works. It was distant 5,000 yards from Gloucester; 4,8oo from Yorktown wharf ; 4,000 from the center of Yorktown, and ¡, Soo from the enemy's "big gun." It was garrisoned "a detail from the ist Connecticut Artillery, under the amand of Captain Burke and Major Kellogg. This regi- enit was under the command of Colonel Tyler, and was justly ronsidered one of the finest organizations in the service.
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Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry.
We were visited by a north-east storm which lasted two days, and directly afterward by a south-easter, which flooded the country and made our camping-ground a large pond part of the time ; but it was well ditched immediately afterward, and made comfortable. All of the companies that could be spared were detailed to corduroy the road to Shipping Point, as it was full of deep holes, in some of which the mules sunk breast deep.
On Thursday, the 24th, some of the companies were de- tailed to make gabions. The weather was cold and the sky overcast, and appearances indicated the approach of one of the usual hard rains. We were also short of rations, and had only one cracker apiece, a cup of coffee and a small piece of bacon for breakfast, with small prospect of having any hard-tack for dinner or supper.
On Tuesday, the 20th, four companies of the Ist Connect- icut were relieved from the duties of unloading shot, shell, and mortars at the landing by two companies of the 5th New York ; battery No. ro was garrisoned by two companies of the Fifth, under command of Captain Winslow. This work was situated in the middle of the first parallel, between " Right Branch " and York River. It was distant from the fort 2,550 yards ; from right redoubt, 2, 150 yards ; from high redoubt, 1,500 yards. Its armament was three 100-pounder Parrotts ; one 30-pounder do .; and seven four and a half inch rifled siege guns. One company of the Fifth garrisoned battery No. 11, and were employed in getting out timber and hewing the same for sea-coast mortar-platforms. It was situated at the head of a ravine, distant from Gloucester 4,700 yards ; from Yorktown wharf, 3,650 yards ; from the fort, 2,600 yards ; from exterior works, 2,400 yards ; from Wynn's Mills, 3.300 yards. Its armament was to consist of four io-inch sea-cost mortars.
On Wednesday, the 30th, at 2 P.M., battery No. I opened for the first time, and thundered its eloquent protests against
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treason with a power worthy of the cause in which it spoke. The fire was first directed at the wharf at Yorktown, where the enemy were busily engaged in discharging six or seven schooners ; the vessels were soon driven off. In all, thirty- nine shots were fired, which were replied to by the enemy, twenty-three of whose guns could be brought to bear on this work ; but such was the engineering skill expended in its construction, that the fire of the enemy produced no effect of a damaging nature. One shot per hour was fired during the night, and morning of May Ist, to prevent the enemy's transports, which had been driven away, from landing. Companies G and F were ordered to proceed to Chees- man's Landing, about three miles from camp, and assist the other two companies there in unloading shell and mortars from the vessels, for the purposes of the siege. One com- pany was ordered to garrison battery No. 12. It was situ- ted on Peninsular plateau, behind "Secession Huts," and was distant from exterior earthworks 2,000 yards; from fort, 1,600 yards ; from burnt house, 925 yards. Its armament consisted of five to-inch and five 8-inch siege mortars. The enemy kept up a continuous fire on the men in the trenches at the front.
On Friday, the 2d, battery No. 13 was garrisoned by two companies of the Fifth, under the command of Captain Cam- breiling. It was situated right of Boyau, in front of Moore's house, and was distant from Gloucester Point 3,000 yards ; from exterior works. 2,400 yards ; from fort, 1,300 yards. Its armament was six 30-pounder Parrotts. Sixty shots were fired during the day from battery No. 1 with effect, The largest gun in the enemy's works, a rifled sixty-eight, exploded on its twenty-eighth discharge.
Saturday, the 3d, found the men still hard at work at their posts of duty; they were hungry and rations were scant. Hirty four shots were fired fiom No. 1; two of the shells, which were badly directed, dropped into battery No. ro, one 8
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Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry.
of which exploded, fortunately without injury to any one. During the night the enemy kept up a heavy fire of artillery, and at the same time were evacuating their works, which were occupied at daylight, on Sunday, the 4th, by the Union troops. Some of the Fifth who were detailed in battery No. 13, at the front, were among the first in the Confederate works, not by orders, but on their own responsibility, while the rear guard of the enemy were discharging shell into the evacuated works. "Brockey," of Company E, had hold of the halyards that hoisted the Stars and Stripes on the staff, where a few hours before had floated the rebel ensign.
General Magruder had under his command at Yorktown, fifty-three thousand men.
The enemy left fifty-three heavy guns, all of which they had spiked, besides several that had burst; also a large quantity of cotton, tobacco, flour, beans, and other stores. Torpedoes that had been planted in the ground exploded, killing and wounding a number of the soldiers.
The 6th day of May, at daylight, was the time that had been appointed to open a general bombardment of the enemy's works from all the fourteen batteries, and it was the opinion of the experienced officers of the engineer and artillery corps that the works would have been untenable in twelve hours thereafter.
On Monday, the 5th, the scattered companies of the Fifth were united once more, and the regiment received two months' pay from Major Hoops, the Paymaster, and their clothing account was settled.
Brigadier-General W. F. Barry, Chief of Artillery, says in his report :
" The difficulties attending the placing in position the un- usually heavy machinery used in this siege were very much in- creased by the pecuharities of the soil, and by the continuance of heavy rains during the greater portion of the operations. Oftentimes the heavier guns, in their transportation of three
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nules from the landing to the batteries, would sink in the quick- winds to the axletrees of their traveling carriages.
" The efforts of the best trained and heaviest of the horses of the artillery reserve were of no avail in the attempts to extricate them, and it became necessary to haul this heavy metal by hand, the cannoneers working knee deep in mud and water. In these Labors the officers and men of the Ist Connecticut Artillery and the 5th New York Volunteers exhibited extraordinary perse- Verance, alacrity, and cheerfulness. It finally became necessary to construct a heavy corduroy road, wide enough for teams to pass each other, the whole distance from the landing to the dépôt.
"In conclusion, I beg to present the names of Colonel Tyler, Majors Kellogg, Hemmingway, and Trumbull, and Captains Perkins and Burke, Ist Connecticut Artillery ; Major Alexander Doull, 2d New York Artillery ; Colonel Warren, Lieutenant- Colonel H. Duryea, Major Hull, and Captain Winslow, 5th New York Volunteers, as conspicuous for intelligence, energy, and good conduct under fire."
The following letter was read off at evening parade :
OFFICE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY, ARMY OF POTOMAC, - CAMP WINFIELD SCOTT, before Yorktown, Va., May 5, 1862.
COLONEL G. K. WARREN, Commanding New York 5th Regi- ment l'olunteers :
COLONEL :- In transmitting to you the enclosed copy of Spe- cial Order No. 135, Headquarters Army of Potomac, relieving your regiment from its temporary service with the siege train under my command, it gives me great pleasure to state that the duties which have devolved upon it, in landing, transporting, and placing in position the extremely heavy material to be employed in the siege of Yorktown, have been performed with cheerfulness, 'rity, and intelligence. The highest praise is due to yourself, 1 or officers, and enlisted men, for the very creditable manner 1. which your very arduous (and at one or two points hazardous) 1. bors have been performed.
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Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry.
Should circumstances again render siege operations neces- sary, I shall be much gratified to have your regiment again placed under my orders.
I am, Colonel, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM F. BARRY, Brig .- Gen., Chief of Artillery.
We received orders at tattoo to march at I A.M., with four days' rations. A battle was raging, and heavy and con- tinuous firing was heard in the direction of Williamsburg. We marched at about midnight. It was raining, and was so dark that one could not see the man in front. After pro- ceeding a short distance, sliding and slipping about in the mud and water, the order to march was countermanded, and we returned to camp.
At 3 o'clock on the morning of Friday, the 9th, the rev- eille was sounded, and we marched at seven. We passed by three separate burying-grounds, where some four or five hundred pine slabs denoted the resting-places of as many soldiers. While marching through Yorktown, the men were surprised at the extent, strength, and beauty of the enemy's fortifications. The weather was very sultry, and the roads were dry and dusty, and as the men carried about sixty pounds weight on their backs, their sufferings were great. The hot sun beat down on their heads, and quite a number of them were sun-struck. On the march we passed the dif- ferent fields where skirmishing had taken place on the pre- ceding days. The action at Williamsburg was very severe, the place being strongly fortified, and many a gallant fellow was cut down before the enemy was dislodged. The trees on the outskirts of the open plain in which the enemy had built their works, and which partially protected our forces, were completely riddled with bullets, and the small saplings were cut down entirely. The hospitals and churches of Wil- liamsburg were still filled with the wounded and dying. The
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regiment marched through the latter place in company front, and the men were much amused at the looks of disgust which were portrayed on the faces of many of the inhabitants.
There were also some sad sights. A lady dressed in mourning, and holding a little child by the hand, stood view- ing the troops from a balcony, as they passed by, and was weeping ; she had probably lost a husband or some near relative in the late battle.
The command was halted for the night about four miles beyond the city, having marched twenty-two miles. After spreading their ponchos on the ground, and wrapping them- selves in their blankets, all, except the pickets and camp guard, were soon fast asleep.
Saturday, May roth, we turned out at sunrise, wet and cold from the heavy dew, and somewhat stiff from the previous day's exertions ; marched at 8 A.M., at rather a dragging step at first, and halted at 2 P.M., after traveling about eight miles, and went into bivouac at Camp Warren. A squad of men were detailed for guard at General Sykes' headquarters.
Sunday, May 11 .- The wagons arrived last night, and for the first time in three days we were blessed with the sight of coffee. At I p.M. we slung knapsacks, marched about four miles and bivouacked at Camp Buchanan, six miles from West Point. The men made their coffee in their tin cups, feasted on hard-tack, smoked their pipes and chatted, and then spread themselves on the ground and went to sleep.
Monday, May 12 .- There was a heavy dew during the pre- vious night, which wet the blankets and chilled the men. They made coffee and awaited orders. The reveille awoke the regiment at 3 A.M. on the 13th, and we marched at six. In the afternoon we fell into the wrong road, were halted suddenly, and ordered to unsling knapsacks, which were left in the woods; after which we were ordered off down a road for some distance on a double-quick, and into an open field to the left, where the regiment was quickly drawn up in line
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Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry.
of battle, facing a wood, to support the cavalry who had en- countered the enemy, and deployed skirmishers. We re- mained under arms in readiness for two hours, our interest stimulated by squads of cavalrymen who kept filing in from the front, each and all agreeing that the enemy were in force. At dark we were relieved by some infantry and artillery, and countermarched to get the knapsacks. Our gait was consid- erably accelerated by the sight of dense clouds of smoke which arose from the vicinity of the spot where they had been placed, and alarmed for their safety, as it was soon discovered that the woods were on fire. Fortunately, the knapsacks had been cared for by some of the drum corps, drummers Jenks and Verney being complimented by Colonel Warren for their efforts in saving them.
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