USA > New York > Camp and field life of the Fifth New York volunteer infantry. (Duryee zouaves.) > Part 30
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On Tuesday, April 7th, President Lincoln, in company
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Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry.
with General Hooker and staff, General Meade and staff, General Humphreys and staff, and a large number of distin- guished officers in train, reviewed the different corps of the army. The Zouaves were called out alone, and put through some movements, in ordinary and quick time, before the President and company, after which they closed with the manual of arms and bayonet exercise. The distinguished company seemed to be highly gratified by the very rapid movements, changes of position, and the uniformity and ex- actness with which all the orders were executed. Through Colonel Winslow, the highest compliments were paid the regiment upon their proficiency and soldierly appearance. One of the provost guard who was on the detail to keep guard near the cavalcade, heard the President make the re- mark that it was a "gallus" regiment, and General Griffin, who was near by, responded, " Yes! and they can fight as well as they can drill."
Colonel Winslow gave the regiment a drill in the after- noon. Their time in the service was drawing so near to its close, that some of them were inclined to be careless ; but short as it was, each day seemed a long one to the old members.
On Tuesday, the 14th, the brigade returned to camp after spending three days on picket duty. Eight days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition were issued to each man ; ninety rounds per man were to be carried in the wagons when the army moved, which might occur at any moment. The next day a general muster was held to ascertain the full strength of the regiment. The division was reviewed by the Swiss General, Togliardi, in company with General Meade, on Saturday, the 18th. The Fifth, after returning to their camping-ground, by request gave a drill for the entertain- ment of the visiting General. The hospital tent and bread ovens were removed on the same day, which was an indica- tion to us of an early movement.
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Camp near Henry House.
The 19th fell on Sunday, which was a warm, pleasant day, and, withal, there was much excitement in camp. The Ser- geants and men reported their time out. The Colonel went over to headquarters to see what was to be done with the regiment. General Hooker went to Washington to consult about the two years' men in the army. On his return Col- onel Winslow formed the regiment in a square and made a speech, hoping that for the good name they had earned for themselves, that they would continue to do their duty wil- lingly until they heard from the War Department. The men had all determined to do no duty after the 23d of April.
An accident happened in the forenoon to some of the members of a battery, which was encamped opposite the Fifth, on the other side of the road. It was being inspected by the officers, when a shell in one of the caissons exploded from some carelessness and badly injured and burned three men ; their hair and whiskers were all singed off, and their faces were burned black by the powder. The explosion threw a large piece of the caisson over into the camp of the Fifth, and if all the shell had burst, the loss of life would have been fearful. Some of the Fifth who were playing ball, ran over to see what had occurred, and two of them for some reason became engaged in a fight on the spot just after the injured men had been carried away ; others were pitching their quoits, and did not have curiosity enough to stop even to inquire into the cause of the excitement. It was a cu- rious illustration of the influence of war in making men thoughtless of life or death.
At the morning's inspection the Colonel asked the Orderly of Company I how many days' rations he had on hand. He replied, " Five days'." To the question what the men would do if they marched, he replied, that "they did not expect to march only to Aquia Creek, on their way to New York." Under the expectation of moving at any hour, the order was to have eight days' rations in haversack or knap-
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sack all the time. The officers' tents were removed, the small shelter tents substituted in their place, and their bag- gage was curtailed. We had been under marching orders for a week. The question which had disturbed the regiment for some days was determined on the 21st. An order from headquarters was read out to the regiment, notifying them that their term of enlistment would expire two years' fro.n the date on which they were sworn into the United States service. The three years' men contended that they were enlisted under false pretenses, as they were promised their discharge with the regiment. Orders Nos. 44 and 85 were read off about re-enlisting.
On Thursday, the 23d, the two years' men were in a great state of excitement. The Colonel arrived from headquar- ters and assembled the regiment in a square, and read out special orders, that the Government would hold them until the 9th day of May. He made some remarks and hoped that they would do their duty without coercion until that day. They all knew the consequences of insubordination, and that their time would soon be up. The excitement subsided, as the men were too intelligent, and understood their duty too well to make any further resistance, and there was no more trouble. The provost arrested two men for declaring that they would do no more duty. They ran the risk of a trial for mutiny.
The long-expected orders to move came at last, and on Monday, the 27th, the regiment struck tents and marched, about 10 A.M., to Ellis Ford, a distance of about eight miles, the roads being dry and dusty, and we went into bivouac. The men were a little stiff on account of having laid in camp for so long a time. There was much dissatisfaction in the regimenit among the three years' men, who expected to be mustered out with the regiment, and some of them dropped out on the road and eluded the guard. Some of these men had cause to feel dissatisfied and aggrieved, as it had been
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represented to them when they enlisted that they would cer- tainly be discharged with the regiment. One hundred men were detailed to guard the wagons and trains. The non- commissioned officers, which included the greater part of the two years' men, were kept with the main body. The next afternoon we left at 4 o'clock, and advanced nine miles in the rain over muddy roads, broken by water-runs, and halted at .Io P.M. to bivouac. Twenty rifles were left in this camp in the morning belonging to as many three-year men, who had taken the opportunity of darkness to forsake us rather than be consolidated with the 146th New York, to serve out the remainder of their term. On Wednesday, the 29th, we fell in at 8 A.M., crossed the pontoons at Kelly's Ford, and passed through the flourishing town of Kellysville, consisting of six dwellings and a grist-mill, which was constantly used by the enemy. We pressed on and forded Mountain Run, a wide stream, which soaked our clothing to our waists. After all had crossed we resumed the march, and finally reached Ely's Ford on the Rapidan. The river was wide and very rapid ; the water above the waist, and the bottom rocky. It was with great difficulty that the inen could keep their feet. Most of the men went in in full uniform; "but some comical scenes were presented by the men taking off their pants, or starting on the voyage as they came into the world, with the exception of their having baggage with them." Cartridge-boxes were hung about the neck or put on top of the knapsacks to keep the " powder dry." We resumed our journey, and after going two miles beyond the river, went into bivouac, having advanced about twenty miles. This march was a very trying one, and the roads were strewn with knapsacks and superfluous clothing accumulated dur- ing the winter months, which were thrown away by the men, not being any longer required. Cannonading was heard during the day in the direction of Fredericksburg. Our march, on the morning of the 30th, brought us within half a
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mile of the United States Ford. The weather was cloudy, with at times a drizzling rain. We rested half an hour and advanced toward the rear of the enemy's position at Freder- icksburg, and the division took up a position under arms for the night, it being in the advance. We had marched fifty- six miles in four days.
The following extract from the New York Daily Times of May 4, 1863, gives a general account of the movements of Sykes' division on Friday, May Ist : .
"The division marched, about 9 A.M., to the left on the turn- pike, toward Fredericksburg, to make an attack and compel the enemy to develop his strength at that point. They moved promptly into position, with Weed's former regular battery (but now Watson's). The enemy fired the first gun at 12 o'clock. The 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry skirmished in the very front for some time, and sustained a galling fire from the enemy's infantry, but behaved with great intrepidity. They charged and re-charged upon the infantry, only to be in turn driven back. General Sykes then threw forward two companies of infantry, without knapsacks, on the double-quick, who supported the cavalry and checked the further pursuit of the enemy. The action now became quite general between the two forces, each seeming to be of about equal strength. [The enemy's force thus engaged was Mahone's brigade, supported by McLaw's]. The enemy contested the ground vigorously, giving way only when pressed very hard. Our troops fought for fully an hour with great spirit, and drove the enemy from two successive and strong positions upon ridges of land which run parallel with the Rappahannock. The distance thus gained was nearly one mile nearer Fredericksburg, and some fifty prisoners, mostly belonging to Virginia regiments, were captured.
" About half-past 1 o'clock, just as Colonel Chapman, com- manding the 2d brigade of regulars, had expressed a desire to 'take another ridge,' an order was received by General Sykes from General Hooker to suspend the attack and retire nearly to his former position."# " At 2 P.M. General Hooker remarked,
* General Warren, at this time Chief of Topographical Engineers, " who bore the order, had vainly urged that it should not be sent." Generals Couch and Ilan-
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Battle of Chancellorsville.
'I think I can make them come out and fight me on my own ground.' In two hours the assertion was proven. The enemy mistook our voluntary retirement for a check, and followed us rapidly as we fell back.
"The division had taken their old position, and pickets were thrown out, when the enemy again appeared in force on the ridge, at the foot of which we lay. Our men had stacked arms and were at rest. The whole division, save the Duryée Zouaves, were lying. at nearly right-angles with the road. The Zouaves were parallel with the road. Quick as thought General Sykes brought his men into line, the Zouaves on the left half wheeling into line of battle like a machine.
" The enemy paused a moment on the top of the ridge, and, as if to nerve them for the onset, gave one of their proverbial de- moniac yells, and came down on the double-quick, shooting, cap- turing, and literally running over the pickets, who scrambled behind all sorts of obstructions." [Some of the Fifth, who were on picket, came in the next day ; one of them, a Sergeant, brought in five rebei prisoners.] " But in an instant more a terrible crash resounded from the Zouave end of the line, and down the column rolled a deafening roar of musketry. It did not last, apparently, two minutes, but its work was effective. The firing at once brought General Hooker into the saddle. This onslaught by the enemy was for the purpose of re-taking the cross-roads ; a very important point. The first thing done after this was the massing of artillery near the roads, and in fifteen minutes twenty-two guns were sending shell into the woods, and the roar of artillery became ten times more deafening than that of the musketry had been. The work was soon done. The contest lasted three- quarters of an hour at this point, and the enemy ignominiously retired."
The loss in the division was light, amounting to about one hundred in killed and wounded. Captain Marsh, of the 17th Infantry, was killed. Captain Overton, of General Sykes' staff, was wounded ; Lieutenant Wells, 14th Infantry, wounded. In the Fifth only about half a dozen were
cock, advancing on parallel roads to Sykes, on either flank, also protested against it. " llancock thought that they should advance instead of retreating."
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wounded. They being on the left, were able to pour an effective fire into the flank of the enemy, and were shieldled somewhat themselves behind an embankment. During the night the men were engaged in digging rifle-pits. The enemy's fires burned unusually bright, and extended along the heights for several miles. A battle was regarded as in- evitable.
Fifty men, five from each company, were sent out under the command of Lieutenant Gedney, to act as pickets ; they went about half a mile, and took a position in the cut of a road, keeping well covered, and a few of them were sent for- ward and deployed in the woods as an outpost, so as to keep a sharp lookout. It was a bright moonlight night, and there was not much danger of a surprise, but it was a dangerous post, as the enemy would make their first advance in that direction from Fredericksburg. About midnight their ears detected a slight rustling of the leaves scattered over the ground in the woods front of them, and soon it became more distinct, and the tramp of men was heard. The Lieutenant cautioned his men to keep quiet, and not to fire until he gave the order. They soon saw a long line of the enemy ap- proaching in the woods, being, as well as they could judge, some five or six companies, and the few men on outpost duty fell back to the reserve. The enemy must have dis- covered them, for they heard an officer say, "Steady, men ; they are nothing but pickets, and we will walk right over them." At this moment Gedney gave the order, "Fire," and the flash of fifty rifles told that the order was obeyed. They immediately received a volley in return, most of which went over their heads, as they were lying behind the em- bankment at the side of the road, but it wounded two of them. A bullet also struck the scabbard of the Lieutenant's sword. bending it. They immediately loaded again and fired, but the enemy retreated in confusion, supposing that they had come into contact with a large force, their object evidently
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being only to feel the lines to ascertain the position of the Union troops. . From the groaning in the woods during the remainder of the night, they judged that their fire had done good execution. A regular officer with some troops came up on a double-quick in a few moments, and after ascertaining the cause of the firing, told the Lieutenant that he had done well. Toward morning they were again approached, but drove the enemy back. After daylight an officer of the reg- ulars rode up and ordered them to march on a double-quick, and rejoin the command, which they found had moved.
When the morning of the ad broke, it found both sides well intrenched. The division remained in line of battle dur- ing the day, and the enemy spent their time in feeling the lines of the army further to the right. They opened a bat- tery on the ammunition wagons ; one of ours promptly re- sponded, and blew up two of their caissons, which obliged them to withdraw.
About 5 P.M. Jackson, with 40,000 men, made a terrific onslaught on the 11th corps, under General Howard, on the right, surprising them completely. General Berry, in com- mand of a division of General Sickles' 3d corps, was sent to the rescue on double-quick after dark, and checked the enemy, aided by General Birney's division of the same corps ; and Best's batteries (36 guns), under the command of Lieutenant Franklin B. Crosby, which were ordered there by General Warren. Lieutenant Crosby was killed. The Confederates withdrew to the line of breastworks just vaca- ted by the 11th corps. The regulars were sent after the fu- gitives who were flying in a panic toward United States Ford. They lost twelve pieces of artillery besides many prisoners, and General Howard was wounded while trying to rally them. Bushbeck's, with Schimmelfennig's brigade, and the Sed Illinois, and 157th New York with Dilger's battery, however, fought until they were overpowered by numbers, The disaster to this corps foiled a maneuver attempted by
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Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry.
Sickles, who pressed the enemy's center, and would have gained a splendid victory by cutting the Confederate ariny in two.
In the night an attack was made on the right to restore the Union lines. The moon shone bright, and the firing was very heavy ; the roar and reverberation of Captain Best's artillery, posted on a ridge, was past all conception. The enemy were driven half a mile, and a portion of the artillery lost was recaptured by General Hobart Ward.
About 6 P.M. the 5th corps (Sykes' division included) was ordered to the right, and remained in line of battie all night, and was also engaged in digging intrenchments to strengthen their position. The 1 1th corps was reorganized and placed on the extreme left behind the strong intrenchments built by the 5th corps, where it was probable there would be little or no fighting. Thus closed the second day of this memorable contest.
On Sunday, the 3d, the division was placed at the apex of the lines, to the right of the Chancellor House, near the cen- ter, where all the reserve artillery was massed, with only room enough between the guns to work them. The lines of the army were in the form of two sides of a triangle, the right longer than the left. The ist corps, under General Reynolds, held the ex- treme right of the line ; the 5th corps, Meade's, was on their left. At 5/2 A.M. the enemy attacked General Berry's division of the 3d corps, with the design of recovering the plank-road. The rest of the corps, and a part of the Twelfth (Slocum's), were soon engaged in his support. French's division, of the 2d corps, was sent in on the right at 7 A.M., and crushed that portion of the enemy's line. The crashes of musketry were terrific, and the roar of the battle was incessant. Sickles' 3/1 corps fought parts of five divisions of the enemy at differ- ent times. and took 2,000 prisoners ; but being hard pressed, Hancock's division, of the ad corps, was sent to his relief. General Humphrey's division, of the 5th corps, were also en-
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gaged on the left flank of the enemy, and fought valiantly. Most of the fighting was in a thick wood, and the carnage was frightful; the dead and wounded of the enemy lay in heaps, and they fought as if they were utterly regardless of their lives. Many desperate charges were made by the Union troops ; Mott's brigade captured seven stand of colors and many prisoners. The engagement lasted, without the slightest intermission, from 512 A.M. until 8.45 A.M., when a temporary cessation occurred on our side by the troops getting out of ammunition. They were ordered to fall back after holding the position in the woods for an hour at the point of the bayonet, to the vicinity of the Chancellor House. Here the contest was maintained for an hour or more, with great havoc to the enemy and con- siderable loss to the Union forces. This house was the head- quarters of General Hooker, and was now the focus of the fight. It was set on fire by the enemy's shell, and was soon in ruins. The new line, which had been supervised by Gen- eral Warren, was now established, and the forces withdrawn to it on that front, at half-past eleven the musketry fire ceased. The engagement had lasted six hours, and had been one of the most terrific of the war.
While the battle was raging, General Hooker ordered that the bands should play, to inspirit the men. One of them was blowing away at the "Star Spangled Banner," when a shell made a close flight over their center. This uninvited companion " took the wind" out of some of the players, and they got somewhat mixed. Under the circumstances, the way in which our national air was murdered would have driven a professor of music to suicide.
The enemy were now no longer in the rear, but had been shoved down directly in our front, and between the forces of General Sedgwick that had captured Fredericksburg Heights, ten miles away to the left, and General Hooker's main army. General Sykes" division had been under fire,
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and there was a considerable loss among the regulars, espe- cially among the artillerists; Captain Temple, Second In- fantry, was killed ; Captain Morehead, Seventeenth, and Cap- tain Armes, were wounded. The Fourth United States, bat- tery K, lost heavily, forty-eight being killed or wounded, be- sides many of their horses. The forces of the enemy en- gaged were the divisions of Anderson, Hood, A. P. Hill, D. H. Hill's old division, and Rhodes.
In the afternoon the enemy made several desperate at- tempts to force the lines near the Chancellor House, and charged at one time on the massed batteries, being formed in the shape of a wedge, but they were cut down before they could get far, as they were obliged to charge over the only clearing there was on the whole field of battle, which was about a mile in length by half a mile in breadth. Nothing could live in front of the batteries. The position of the Fifth was near these guns. General Hooker rode up at one time and called out, "Is that the Fifth New York?" "Yes !" was the reply. " All right !" he exclaimed, and rode off. The shell from these guns set the brush in the woods on fire, where were lying hundreds of the wounded of the enemy, as well as some of our own. The terrible sufferings of the wounded and dying, under the double hor- ror of being burned to death, made this contest more tragic in this respect than any of its predecessors.
The regiment held the same position that had been as- signed to it the day before, when the order came from General Sykes to turn over the three-year men to the 146th New York, Colonel Garrard, who was also acting in com- mand of the brigade, formerly Warren's, and for the two years' men to retire. In fact, they were released from their duties, and their trials in the army were about to cease. They could scarcely realize it, and were utterly bewildered with the intelligence. The reaction from their feelings of intense anxiety and suspense as to whether they were to be
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killed, perhaps an hour before the order for their relief should come, and they should never see their loved ones at home again, can not be described. If they had had another year to serve, it would have been a matter of in- difference as to where they were; but under the circum- stances they could be compared to mariners who had passed through a long and tempestuous voyage, and at last were in sight of their homes, when another storm had reached them and they knew not but that they might be engulfed before they should reach a friendly port.
The regiment, as an organization, terminated its service amid the reverberations of artillery, the crash of arms, the smoke of the battle-field, the funereal pall of the smoke in the burning woods, consuming hundreds of brave men in- molated in unrecognizable masses.
"And now four days the sun had seen our woes, Four nights the moon beheld the incessant fire."
The rest of the story of this engagement belongs to the records of others, to whom we gratefully pay our tribute of praise and honor.
The regiment was drawn up in line, and the following order was read off :
HEADQUARTERS, 2d DIVISION, 5TH CORPS, CAMP NEAR CHANCELLORSVILLE, VA., May 4, 1863.
GENERAL ORDER, No. 99.
The term of service of a portion of the 5th Regiment being about to expire, the Major-General commanding desires the officers and men to know that he parts from them with very great regret, a regret which he is confident is shared with the whole division. The regiment has been distinguished in all the operations of his command, especially at Gaines' Mill and the battle of Manassas Plains. Its ranks, thinned and scarred by battle, are the best and proudest witness of the fact. The
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General hopes to see again the brave men who have served un- der him. Many of their comrades still have to hold in trust the respect of the old regiment, and the General has no fears but that it will be sacredly guarded and preserved. The officers and men who are to leave this army will proceed to New York on the 5th. Colonel Winslow will turn in to the proper department, at Aquia Creek, all ordnance stores, and all supplies or property not needed for the men who remain.
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