USA > New York > Disaster, struggle, triumph. The adventures of 1000 "boys in blue," from August, 1862, to June, 1865 > Part 18
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Sometimes their duties seemed rather harsh. Cap- tain MUNSON relates that on one occasion Corporal BABCOCK of the guard discovered a soldier in the act. of maiming himself, by discharging his gun through his hand. No hospital for him! The order was to send the offender to the front, where he could get wounded in a less reprehensible manner.
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All through the battles of the Wilderness, and at the Po river, Cold Harbor, &c., the duties of the guard, like those of the rest of the Regiment, were very severe, especially at the grand charge at Spottsylvania where they had more prisoners than they could well attend to. Their exposure to shell was perhaps greater than that of the rest of the army, for these missiles often pass over the combatants in battle and explode in the rear. This was especially the case at the battle of Cold Harbor. At the crossing of rivers it was their duty to assist in loading the transports with troops and the "materiel" of war.
Captain MUNSON's letters give an interesting inci- dent which occurred at Petersburg, where he was on duty, sending back to their posts the soldiers who brought the wounded to the Surgeons. A soldier of a Pennsylvania Regiment brought a wounded comrade to the rear, and after laying him down, was requested to return to his place in the ranks, being assured that all which was possible should be done for his friend. But, with anguish depicted in every feature, the sol- dier begged to remain with his only and twin brother until death should end his sufferings. He must have had a hard heart who could refuse such an appeal. At all events, MUNSON could not; and in two hours the poor fellow had closed his dying brother's eyes, and, with the assistance of others, laid him in a shallow grave under an apple tree near by, and placed at his head a board marked with his name, Regiment and Company. The soldier then picked up his gun ; thanked those in charge for their kindness and assist-
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ance, and returned to his post with a heart too full of sorrow to shed a single tear.
In the fight of the 22d of June in which our Regi- ment suffered so severely, Captain MORRIS BROWN and others being killed, the provost guard were deployed just behind the breastworks, and were under fire both from artillery and musketry, for many hours ; but, says Captain M., strange to say, no one was injured.
In the intervals of severe engagements, the guard erected tents and awnings for the officers, and made head-quarters comfortable. This work had to be often repeated, owing to frequent changes of position.
On the 2d of July the head-quarters were estab- lished at the "Jones House," the family occupying the rear rooms, and fed mostly from our officers' tables. On the 13th, the Corps and of course its head-quarters, was moved to a place called "Deserted House," where shade and good water were abundant.
In the engagement at Deep Bottom the provosts had the satisfaction of guarding more than five hundred prisoners and several pieces of artillery, captured in the heavy skirmishing there, It was also their busi- ness there to cover with grass and weeds the pontoon bridge, so that the troops and cavalry could be with- drawn without noise.
The following remarks of Mr. GREELEY respecting GRANT's tactics, are so apposite that we extract them with pleasure : "GRANT's conduct of this campaign was not satisfactory to the confederate critics, who
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gave a decided preference to the strategy of McCLEL- LAN. They held that the former only aimed to over- power and crush by brute force ; by the employment of overwhelming numbers ; and by a lavish expenditure of blood. Doubtless a great military genius, such as appears once in two or three centuries, might have achieved them at smaller cost; as a timid, hesitating, pur- poseless commander would have failed to achieve them at all. The merit which may fairly be claimed for GRANT is that of resolutely undertaking a very difficult and formidable task, and executing it to the best of his ability ; at all events, doing it. That, when south of the James, he was just where the rebels wished him not to be, they showed by desperate and hazardous efforts to draw him thence; and the proof was dupli- cated in the final collapse of the rebellion. Other campaigns were more brilliant; but none contributed more positively and eminently to break the power of the confederates than that which began on the Rapi- dan and ended in front of Petersburg and across the Weldon road." [American Conflict, p. 597.]
OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM OF ENGAGEMENTS DURING THE CAMPAIGN FROM MAY 4TH TO NOVEMBER 1ST, 1864.
The Wilderness, May 5th and 6th.
The Po, May 7th and 8th.
The Ny, May -.
Spottsylvania, May 12th. do May 18th.
Fredericksburg road, May 19th.
North Anna river, May 23d to 24th.
Tolopotomoy, May 31st to June 1st.
Coal Harbor, June 3d to 10th.
Petersburg, June 16th, 17th and 18th.
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Petersburg, June 22d.
Deep Bottom, July 26th, 27th and 28th. Petersburg Mine, July 30th. Deep Bottom, August 12th and 18th. Reams' Station, August 25th.
On the line, August 20th to November 1st. Burgis' Tavern, Boydton plank road, Hatchers' Run, Oct. 27th. (Signed) SEP. CARNCROSS, Ass't. Adjutant-General, Head-quarters 2d Army Corps. November, 4, 1864.
N. B .- In almost every one of these engagements the 126th Regiment had a part.
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PTE XXJ.
HE season in which armies usually go into winter quarters was approaching. Space has compelled us to omit many sanguinary battles in which the 126th generally bore its full share ; battles in which great losses in men were compensated by gain in posi- tion and in the constant pushing of the enemy toward his Capital. We had gained a point on the Weldon road which seriously interfered with the enemy's com- munications ; but there were still the Boydton plank and the Southside railroad, and others of which it was important to gain possession. Therefore, before ceas- ing fall operations, all our troops except necessary guards of positions already gained, and a show of force left to mislead the enemy, were secretly with- drawn from before Petersburg, and advanced toward the roads mentioned. HANCOCK with the 2d Corps advanced rapidly, crossed Hatcher's Run and reached the Boydton road. The Divisions of the 5th Corps, which were to join and co-operate with him, being ignorant of the territory, failed to do so, and the ever watchful enemy rushed into the space between the 2d and 5th Corps, attacking both in flank. The 2d Corps instantly faced about to meet the attack, and after a bloody fight, drove the enemy; but being recalled,
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withdrew to the forts around Petersburg. The advan- tage gained by this movement was a knowledge of the territory (which before had been terra incognita to us) ; but it must be confessed it was dearly bought. The tired troops now had a brief season of comparative rest. GRANT had his head-quarters at City Point.
During this eventful winter occurred the capture by General A. H. TERRY and Admiral PORTER, of Fort Fisher, and the consequent fall of Wilmington. This was a most important acquisition, giving us the con- trol of a harbor which had been a refuge for blockade runners throughout the war. The enemy thus lost his last port of entry ; all the others having previously been blockaded. General BUTLER's attempt to shorten the navigation of the James by the "Dutch Gap Canal" was made during this period. SHERMAN, who had taken his great army through Georgia "smashing things," as he said in his letter, was at Savannah. Thence he made a triumphal march northward ; Col- umbia, Winsboro', Cheraw, Fayetteville and other places, falling before him like trees before a mighty wind. SCHOFIELD, now military Governor of the department of North Carolina, and who had reduced Kingston and Goldsborough, met him at the latter place, and for a time the troops were halted there. THOMAS was successfully operating against the enemy in Alabama. In February and March, SHERIDAN made a splendid progress from Winchester (near Har- per's Ferry) to City Point, destroying on his way bridges, canals and railways, beating the enemy in many battles, capturing many prisoners, and getting
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possession of many strongholds. The circle of fire was fast surrounding the scorpion, secession ; and it must inevitably perish.
But to return to the army before Petersburg. HAN- COCK, who had gone north on recruiting service, was replaced by General A. A. HUMPHREYS. On the 5th of February, still another attempt was made to gain possession of the Danville and Southside roads. WAR- REN with the 5th Corps, and HUMPHREYS with the 2d, together with GREGG's cavalry, started for Hatcher's Run ; the attempt being masked by a continuous artil- lery fire along our lines. As far as gaining the South- side road was the object, the expedition was not successful ; but the vigor and skill of the 2d Corps prevented ultimate disaster, and prolonged the Union line westward to Hatcher's Run. We should have mentioned that in December, twenty miles more of the Weldon railroad had been destroyed by WARREN'S Corps.
In March, LEE "was almost shut up between the armies of the Potomac and James." The great cry, On to Richmond ! was now exchanged for another, Capture LEE and his army ! And here, as has been noticed by other writers, were some points of delicate adjustment. Not only was it important that LEE'S army should be captured, but that the brave old army of the Potomac, so long engaged in the most arduous and exhausting service, often without the meed of pre- sent success, should have the honor of the capture. No man knew better than GRANT the persevering and disinterested labors of this army ; and no man knew
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better the preciousness of the reward they would find in final victory. The nation rang with the exploits of the western armies ; while the heroic and persistent, but less brilliant campaigns of the toilers of the sea- board, had obtained little from the public but criti- cism, if not blame. GRANT's aim in the spring cam- paign of 1865, was so to dispose of all co-operative forces as to prevent LEE's escape ; and so to manage his own as to give them the much coveted reward of LEE's final surrender. Few were left, it is true, of the original army ; few especially of the original 2d Corps ; and with emphasis we may say, few indeed of the old 126th, which having scarcely been at all reinforced by recruits, was now but the remnant of a Regiment. But to those few, and to the friends of the dead who filled unhonored graves from Gettysburg to Richmond, or languished in captivity far worse than death in rebel prisons, the glory of ultimate triumph would be all the more dear for the terrible suffering which had bought it.
In all his arrangements, GRANT proceeded with a delicacy and tact worthy of all praise. His instruc- tions to General MEADE, issued March 24th, show full comprehension of the situation, and capacity to meet it. Indeed, in this as in other orders, his peculiar traits of good sense and sagacity are strongly marked. While he carefully elaborates the outlines of his instructions, he (in the case of such commanders as share his confidence,) leaves the details to their judgment.
An interesting meeting took place at General
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GRANT'S head-quarters at City Point, between that General, President LINCOLN, and Generals MEADE, SHERIDAN, and SHERMAN. Rarely has there been an assemblage of more military talent under one roof. Each enjoying the entire confidence of the rest, they doubtless on this occasion matured those plans which were to bring to an end this cruel and desolating war.
Just before this, on the 25th, LEE made a bold and sudden assault upon a strongly fortified point, Fort Steadman, on our right front. This was in order to mask a withdrawal of his army to the south side of the Appomattox, whence his hope was to unite with JOHNSON, and wage a continued defensive war with the Union armies. His attack was of the nature of a surprise and was at first successful, capturing the fort with three Batteries; but our troops rallied and recaptured the fort and guns, and 2,000 prisoners ; HUMPHREYS with the 2d Corps taking the enemy's strongly intrenched line of pickets. Our honored President witnessed this battle and recapture, and declared it was better than the review which had been promised him. The journal of ANDREWS, of the 126th says of this action : "At first the colored troops were driven from their works, but, the 6th and 9th Corps coming up, the blacks rallied, and in turn drove the enemy. The 3d Brigade, including the 126th, were not engaged until afternoon, when they succeeded in advancing their line, with the loss of two men killed (of Company A,) and several wounded. For their gallant conduct on this occasion, the Brigade was complimented by General MADILL, in an order
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read on dress parade." We extract further details from the same journal. "On the 27th, the men were ordered to have cartridges and four days' rations in haversacks, and to send all surplus baggage to City Point. Captain J. B. GEDDIS, being the senior officer present, took command of the Regiment. Great curi- osity was felt by the men as to what the new move was to be, and much discussion as to parting with over- coats and blankets, for the nights were cold; but all knew that on the march these articles would be thought superfluous, and must be parted with. At nine A. M., March 29th, the bugle sounded Forward ! and the march began. The men were in high spirits, for Petersburg had become exceedingly monotonous, and they were glad to change the scene. Soon, how- ever, the 126th had their old duty of skirmishing to do, advancing two miles, and remaining out forty- eight hours. The soil where they lay was marshy ; the rain fell, at first slowly, then heavily, and the poor boys, minus overcoats and blankets, and with no chance to boil coffee or cook their pork, probably wished themselves back in the trenches near Peters- burg." On the morning of the 30th came the signal for a general assault. (This was the battle near Five Forks.) HUMPHREYS with the 2d Corps held the Boydton road, having driven the enemy from his front : SHERIDAN and MERRITT, with their cavalry, assisting. The battle became general. The 3d Brigade (inclu- ding the 126th) fought nobly ; losing PIERSON, of Company I, killed; and Captain GEDDIS, Lieutenant HOPPER, Lieutenant PASKO, and many enlisted men,
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wounded. The enemy lost severely, and were driven into their main line of works. As General SHERIDAN says, in his way: "The enemy were completely routed, the 5th Corps doubling up their left flank in confusion, and the cavalry of General MERRITT dash- ing on to the White Oak road, capturing their artil- lery and turning it upon them; and riding into their broken ranks, so demoralized them that they made no serious stand after their line was carried, but took to flight in disorder. They lost between five and six thousand prisoners. The Regiment (ANDREWS writes) rested in a cluster of pines through the night, and the next day was supplied by the Commissary with fresh beef, which was quite refreshing. On the follow- ing morning General MILES with the 1st Division, drove a Division of the enemy beyond Hatcher's Run to a point near Southside railroad, called Sutherland's Depot, where they intrenched themselves strongly. Two Divisions of the 5th Corps, some of SHERIDAN'S cavalry, and the 3d Brigade, were sent to dislodge them. The 3d Brigade, commanded by General MADILL, charged once and again, but unsuccessfully ; the foe was too strongly posted, and provided with artillery, which was wanting on our side. The brave General MADILL was wounded and General MCDOUGAL took command .* Again and again the Brigade charged
* Brevet Brigadier-General CLINTON DUGALD MCDOUGAL was born in Scotland, June 14, 1839. In 1842, his father established himself in Canada, and young MCDOUGAL came to the State of New York at the age of twelve years, and from that time made this State his home ; first as a student, then as a bookkeeper in a store, and subsequently in a bank at Auburn, N. Y. In 1859, he went to Alabama for his health, and remained till after the
CLINTON DUCALD MAC DOUGAL, BUT. BRIG. GENERAL, U. S. V.
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wounded. The enemy lost severely, and were driven toto th ir main line of works. As Gener. SHERIDAN anys, in his way: "The enemy were completely routed, the 5th Corps doubling up their left flank in confusion, and the cavalry of General MERRITT dash- ing on to the White Oak road, capturing their artil- lery and turning it upon them; and riding into their broken ranks, so demoralized them that they made no perious stand after their line was carried, but took to Hight in disorder. They lost between five and six thousand prisoners. The Regiment (ANDREWS writes) sted in a cluster of pines through the night, and the next day was supplied by the Commissary with Sesh beef, which was quite refreshing. On the follow- ing morning General MILE with the 1st Division, rove a Division of the enemy beyond Hatcher's Run wo a point near Southside railroad, called Sutherland's Epot, where they intrenched themselves strongly. Two Divisions of the 5th Corps, some of SHERIDAN'S valry, and the 3d Brigade, were sent to dislodge Ibem. The 3d Brigade, commanded by General MADILL. charged once and again, www unmiccessfully ; foe was too strongly posted, and provided with Millery, which was wanting on our ide The brave General MADILL was wounded and Gomora! MCDOUGAL Bak command .* Again and again th Brigade charged
*(t Brigadier-General CHRISTOS DTGAID MODOWGAL was born in June 14, 1839. In 1312, bis father cavallishet hin self in Canada, y McDOCeAL came to the S de of No Yori at the age of twelve yours and from that time made this State bis home Theuse a sudent, then aburn, N. Y. TP 1859 h went to Alabanza for bis health, and rem' till after the
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desperately, but in vain. MCDOUGAL was wounded, and one arm hung useless at his side. But he kept his saddle, and once more gallantly and impetuously charged upon the works. This time they were car- ried ; and several guns and hundreds of prisoners fell into our hands. The Southside railroad was effectu- ally cut; and the enemy fled by the main road along the Appomattox. One incident deserves notice. The Brigade flag was lost-its bearer being shot from his horse ; but the gallant fellow clung to it, nor would he yield it till overpowered by numbers. This young
nomination of LINCOLN, in 1860, when he returned impressed with the con- viction, that the people of the south were irrevocably committed to the policy of making slavery national, and meant war if they could not carry their points politically; and at the succeeding election, he cast his first political ballot for LINCOLN and HAMLIN. On his return from the south, he engaged in the business of banking, with WM. H. SEWARD, Jr., at Auburn, N. Y., which business was continued during the war. In March and April, 1861, he was traveling in the western States, and was at St. Louis, Mo., when Sumter was first fired on, and he knew from his experience in the south, that this was but a signal for a general uprising there, and a desperate con- flict between the north and south. He hurried home to respond to his country's call for men, but the first Regiment (the 19th New York Volunteers), recruited in that vicinity, had already gone to the seat of war, and he joined the Willard Guard (49th New York State Militia), as Second Lieutenant. As soon as the next call for troops was made, he headed an enlistment roll and recruited the first Company for the 75th New York Volunteers ; was commissioned its senior Captain, September 16th, 1861; went with his Regi- ment to Fort Pickens, Fla .; remained there till May, 1862, when the forces crossed to Pensacola. On the night following, there was an adventure between some of the enemey's cavalry and our forces guarding a bridge, and Captain MCDOUGAL, while returning with a detachment sent out in pursuit of the enemy, was fired upon by our own men, and severely wounded in the thigh, the bullet splintering the bone. In consequence of this wound, and the approaching unhealthy season, he received leave to come home as soon as he was able to make the journey ; and while convalescent, the call of July, 1862, for 300,000 men, was made, and Captain MCDOUGAL exerted himself to recruit the 111th Regiment, New York Volunteers, and was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of this Regiment, August 15th, 1862 ; and was promoted Colonel, January 3d, 1863.
.
FERGUSON. ALBANY.
FINAL CHARGE OF THE THIRD BRIGADE, 1ST DIV., 2D ARMY CORPS, At Sutherlands Station, April 2d, 1865. Brevet Brigadier-General MACDOUGALL, Commanding,
1
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man, whose name was HERMAN Fox, Company E, 126th New York Volunteers, refused to go with the enemy as prisoner, and on the second charge was retaken by his friends. He afterward lost his hand from the wound received at this time. The Brigade rested a little north of the railroad that night. The number of rebel dead and wounded was very great. On the night of April 1st, says an officer, our artil- lery opened along the entire line from Richmond to the extreme left. The roar along the lines was contin- uous and deafening ; but above this could be distinctly
Colonel MCDOUGAL was indefatigable in his efforts in drilling and dis- ciplining his Regiment, and commanded it in the battle of Gettysburg, until Colonel SHERRILL, commanding the Brigade, fell mortally wounded during the rebel charge on Cemetery Hill, July 3d, when Colonel MCDOUGAL took command of the Brigade. He was also wounded during this charge, by a musket shot breaking one of the bones of the left forearm, but though suffering from loss of blood and excruciating pain, he remained on the field till the enemy was repulsed, and then fainted from exhaustion. He was absent on account of his wounds till the August following, when, having partially recovered, he reported for duty at Elk Run, and served with his com- mand till the latter part of November, 1863; and was then granted leave of absence to go home on account of his sickness ; and was afterward detached on recruiting service, to fill up the ranks of his Regiment, which had been greatly depleted during the summer campaign, particularly at Gettysburg. Colonel MCDOUGAL rejoined his Regiment in the spring of 1864, with a large reinforcement of recruits, and in the spring compaign commanded the 3d Brigade of the 3d Division in the 2d Corps, from the battle of the Po River to the movement from Cold Harbor to Petersburg, and commanded the Brigade most of the time thereafter until the close of the war. He was wounded by a musket shot in the right forearm, while leading the Brigade in the charge at Sutherland's Station, April 2d, 1865; but binding up his arm and carrying it in a sling, he retained his command through the cam- paign, until after the surrender of LEE at Appomattox, and was discharged at the close of the war. He was made a Brevet Brigadier General, February 25th, 1865, there being no vacancy in the full rank. General MCDOUGAL ' was in the battles in which his Regiment and Brigade participated during the war, and exercised his command with great spirit and efficiency, and shrank from no danger when duty called him.
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heard the heavy guns from the gun-boats and moni- tors in the James river, twenty-five miles distant; a grand accompaniment to the battle's awful music then pealing forth from more than five hundred cannons' throats.
The 9th Corps was massed in front of Petersburg, and assaulted that point; the 6th, on the left of the city, assaulted simultaneously with the 9th; the 24th, a colored Corps under General ORD held a portion of the line from Petersburg to the extreme left. When the 9th and 6th Corps broke the enemy's lines on their front, the rebel right, across Hatcher's Run, gave way ; retreating along the rear of their old line, and forming a junction with the main portion of their army which was retreating toward the Appomattox, hotly pursued by the 2d, 5th and cavalry Corps, sup- ported by the whole remaining force of the armies of the Potomac and James, except the 9th Corps. And now ensued the great race ; with the rebels, for escape ; on our part, for capture of their armies.
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