History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 23

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798

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RETREAT OF THE ARMY TO CENTREVILLE.

There had been signs of some impending movement by the enemy during several days; the movement on the Rapi- dam was a reconnoissance. The experience of General Pope, the year previous, had made our generals more wary. The. Bull Run range of mountains afforded a curtain for the enemy to mask their movements from our view. In August, 1862, Stonewall Jackson had marched up behind that range of mountains, passing through Thoroughfare Gap, cut off the communications of Pope's army, and destroyed an immense amount of military stores at Centreville and rolling stock on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, before General Pope was aware of the movement. He at the time supposed he was holding the enemy at bay across the Rapidan. It was supposed a similar movement was being executed by the enemy at this time. The regiment remained near Pony mountain until noon, and then retreated to Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock. As it passed over the hills near Stevensburg the enemy's cavalry came in sight in pursuit. General Pleasonton's cavalry protected the rear.

The enemy's cavalry could be distinctly seen deploying

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and charging upon our cavalry, which handsomely repelled their charges and kept them at bay. Heavy cannonading was heard towards Brandy Station to our left during the afternoon, but the retreat of the First corps was not again molested. It crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford that evening, and encamped on the north bank that night. The regiment remained till the 12th, then retreated at midnight, leaving the camp-fires burning to deceive the enemy ; they coming up soon after shelled the deserted camp. Reached Warrenton Junction at twelve M. on the 13th, and then halted in line of battle. Heavy cannon- ading was heard towards Warrenton. The corps halted until the baggage-train got safely under way, and a large quantity of forage had been sent to the rear ou the ears, then moved to Bristoe Station, arriving there at 11 P.M., after a toilsome march, and encamped over night.

In the morning heavy cannonading was heard from the di- rection of Warrenton. The First corps pursued its retreat to Centreville, reaching there about three P.M. From the heights of Centreville could be seen the rebel army advan- cing in pursuit of General Warren, then at Bristoc. They pressed so closely upon the heels of the retreating Second corps that it was obliged to make a stand behind Broad Run and deliver battle. It handsomely repulsed the enemy, and captured five guns and several prisoners. It resumed its march to Centreville in the night. The next day there was heavy cannonading to the left towards Bull Run, but it soon subsided. The entire Army of the Potomae had now taken shelter once more behind Bull Run. The enemy had been foiled in his object, partly by the tardiness of his movements and partly by the skill of General Meade in keeping his army well in hand, and making a timely retreat.

General Meade, in his eagerness to escape the disasters which had fallen upon the army under General Pope in August, 1862, lost a golden opportunity to attack and defeat the enemy in detail. Their flanking column came upon his flank and rear at Bristoe Station, and there it was severely defeated by one corps.

If be had halted his whole army then and given the enemy battle, instead of falling back to the heights of Cen- treville, he must have obtained an easy victory. General Ewell coming up too late on our left found the Union army safe behind Bull Run, threw across the stream a few shells as a token of love and respect, and then retired. The enemy, baffled in his attempt to eut the communications of the Union army and repeat the brilliant manœuvre of the year preceding, set about destroying the Orange and Alex- andria railroad. They twisted every rail and burned every tie from Broad Run, near Bristoe Station, to the Rappa- hannoek, about twenty-five miles. On October 16 the regiment received one hundred more conscripts. Assistant Surgeon Place reported for duty. He was left at Gettys- burg, soon after was taken ill, and went from there to his home.

The following promotions took place about this time : Sergeant H. H. Hubbard was promoted to second lieutenaut, for gallant conduct at the battle of Gettysburg; James A. McKinley, first lieutenant Company I, promoted to captain, October 7, vice Patrick Regan, discharged on surgeon's

certificate of disability ; Volney J. Pierce, first lieutenant Company G, promoted captain Company D, vice Hulett, resigned ; Joseph Dempsey, second lieutenant Company K, promoted first lieutenant August 26; Edward Seenler, ser- geant Company E, promoted second lieutenant Company E, October 7, vice Lieutenant Taylor, killed at Gettysburg ; Sidney Gaylord, sergeant Company E, promoted second lieutenant Company E, October 7; James W. Kingsley, sergeant Company K, promoted second lieutenant Company K, August 26.

The following is a list of deaths in hospitals :

George W. Box, Company C, September 22, 1863; Charles HI. Backus, sergeant Company D; Levi M. Wallace, Company E, August 18, 1863; William Edmonds, Com- pany F, September 17, 1863; Horace Cheever, Company F; Asa Westcott, Company F, July 25, 1863.

CHAPTER XXII.

OSWEGO IN THE REBELLION.

The One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment-Mine Run-Winter Quarters - Battles of the Wilderness, North Anna, and Peters- burg.

OCTOBER 19, the First corps advanced to Ilaymarket, near the entrance of Thoroughfare Gap. The regiment lost several men, captured on the pieket-line that evening. They were surprised by the enemy's cavalry, in consequence of a blunder or negligence of the officer posting the picket-line. On the next day the corps marched through the Gap and encamped on the other side, and remained several days. Captain Gary, Company G, returned to duty. Brigadier- General Rice, late colonel of the Forty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers (Ellsworth Avengers), about this time was assigned to the command of the Second brigade. Brigadier-General Cutler commanded the First division, vice General Wadsworth, relieved at Williamsport, Mary- land. October 24, returned through the Gapin a cold, drench- ing rain, and marched to Bristoe Station. The railroad was gradually being repaired, and the army advancing towards the Rappahannock. October 31, Captains Wright, Com- puny K, Parker, Company C, and Slattery, Company B, who were wounded at Gettysburg, reported for duty. No- vember 5, the regiment removed to Catlett's Station. A brigade of the Sixth corps captured more than its number of the enemy at Rappahannock Station. It made a gal- lant charge on a rebel redoubt about sunset, cutting off their retreat across the river, and forced them to sur- render. November 11, Captains Wright, Parker, Gary, lluginin, and Slattery were discharged on General McClellan's general order No. 100; also Assistant Sur- geon Place and Lieutenant Hamlin, Company K, were discharged on the same order. On the 9th of November the army crossed the Rappahannock and drove the enemy out of their encampments between the Rappahannock and Rapidan. They had made elaborate preparations for the winter; had erected comfortable .log huts for winter-quar-

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ters, as if they had meant to stay. The enemy retreated across the Rapidan, and again went into winter quarters at Gordonsville and Fredericksburg. November 27, the Union army crossed the Rapidan to attack the enemy ; their army at the time was stretched from Gordonsville to Fredericks- burg. The object of the movement was to surprise the enemy, scparate the two wings before they could unite, and attack each in detail. The enterprise miscarried because of delay in concentrating for the attack, giving the enemy time to unite and oppose the Army of the Potomac with their entire force. The First corps crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford at three A.M., marched to Gold Mine, near the junction of the Gordonsville road, and encamped. On the 28th marched to Robinson's Tavern, in the Wilder- ness. On the way, the Fifth corps ordnance train was at- tacked by guerrillas. They were stationed on the road, dressed in Federal uniform, and were taken for Union stragglers. As soon as the ordnance train passed by they deployed across the road, and in the thicket intereepted the head of the column of the First corps. By the time troops had deployed and driven the guerrillas off they had killed or captured several of the wagon-guard, who on the way were riding on the wagons, neglecting their duty; and drivers ran off three or four of the ordnance wagons on to a by-road, and killed several of the mules.

They set fire to the wagons which they had captured; the explosions of the shells were heard a long time afterwards. This delayed the column but a short time in its march. About three P.M. the corps reached Robinson's Tavern. Towards Gordonsville, heavy cannonading and musketry were heard to our right, about two or three miles distant. The corps was immediately got in marching order, and started through the dense thicket for the scene of action. General French, commander of the Third corps, had experienced delay in crossing the ford, and was several hours behind. The enemy had attacked him in force and had checked his advance. When the First corps arrived on the ground the battle had ceased. The remainder of the day and till about ten A.M. on the 29th was occupied in getting into position. The First corps formed into line of battle, and charged through the dense thickets, and over ravines, pre- serving a perfect line when possible; when any part of the line was interrupted by some impediment, formed into columns by regiments, deploying into line again when the impediment was passed, preserving intact an unbroken and even front, and a continuous line of battle, until the enemy were driven across Mine Run. No manœuvre could have been more perfectly executed on an even parade-ground. It was a beautiful sight. Across the run, the enemy occupied a natural fortification, with escarpment, bastions, and salient angles, the run serving as a ditch. November 30 was spent in reconnoitering the enemy's position to find a weak point for an attack. December 1, the army remained through the day to await the result of a flank movement by the Second corps, commanded by General Warren, but he found all parts of the enemy's line equally protected and impervious to attack. In the mean time the weather had become intensely cold ; the men on the skirmish- and picket-lines suffered terribly ; some of the wounded were frozen on the ground. In the night it fell to the lot

of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, to picket the front across the run. No fires were allowed ; they were in close proximity to the enemy, and the least noise would draw upon them a shower of bullets. When he withdrew the line, many of the men were so benumbed with cold that it was with difficulty that they could be urged to withdraw. The enemy bad already made a movement to cut them off, and the regiment barely got across the run in time to escape capture.

In the evening of December 1, the army fell back. The First corps encamped on the south bank of the Rapidan, at Ely's Ford. In the morning of December 2 returned to near Culpepper, and from there went to Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock. Here the corps went into encampment, and remained several weeks. The regiment suffered much by sick ness, especially the unseasoned conscripts. Remittent and typho-malarial fevers became prevalent. The ground was saturated with moisture; it had a clay subsoil which retained the moisture from the autumnal rains. Excavations made for the purpose of constructing the camp would soon fill up to the surface of the ground with water discolored by the clay. Colonel Miller, Captain Coey, and Lieutenant Gillett returned to duty from their trip north for conscripts.

About January 1, 1864, the First corps moved to Cul- pepper and went into winter quarters ; it occupied a rolling country with pure water. The health of the regiment immediately improved, and the hospital soon became empty. During the winter the following promotions took place : Lieutenant-Colonel F. C. Miller, promoted to colonel, No- vember 24, 1863, vice J. G. Butler, discharged on sur- geon's certificate of disability ; Major G. Harney, promoted lieutenant-colonel, December 15, vice F. C. Miller, pro- moted; D. Farling, adjutant, promoted major, December 15, vice G. Harney, promoted ; H. H. Lyman, second lieu- tenant Company C, promoted adjutant, January 12, 1864, vice Farling, promoted ; Joseph Dempsey, first lieutenant Company K, promoted captain, January 12, 1864 ; George Huginin, first lieutenant Company A, promoted captain Company B; Henry H. Hubbard, second lieutenant Com- pany D, promoted first lieutenant Company D, December 24, 1863, again promoted to captain, March 24, 1864; Alexander R. Penfield, promoted to captain, December 24, 1863; Nathaniel Wright, restored, November 30, 1863; William J. Gillett, promoted to captain, March 30, 1864 ; James W. Kingsley, second lieutenant Company K, pro- moted first lieutenant, March 30, 1864; James Brown, sergeant Company B, promoted first lieutenant, July 27, 1863; Byron Parkhurst, sergeant Company G, promoted first lieutenant Company G, December 24, 1863; Alexander King, sergeant Company D, promoted second lieutenant Com- pany D, December 24, 1863, again promoted to first lieuten- ant Company D, April 14, 1864 ; Cheney D. Barney, second lieutenant Company H, promoted first lieutenant Company H, February 8, 1864; William A. Wybourn, second lieu- tenant, promoted first lieutenant, January 23, 1864; Lansing Bristol, sergeant Company D, promoted second lieutenant Company D, April 14, 1864 ; Franklin N. Hamlin, restored first lieutenant Company K, December 24, 1863; Edwin M. Sperry, sergeant Company C, promoted second lieutenant Company C, February 8, 1864; Clark H. Norton, sergeant

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Company H, promoted second lieutenant Company II, December 7, 1863; John Berry, of the Fourteenth Brooklyn, promoted second lientenant Company A, November 24, 1863; William Kinney, sergeant Company K, promoted second lieutenant, January 11, 1864; Joel A. Baker, ser- geant-major, promoted second lieutenant Company G, April 19, 1864.

The winter of 1863-64, after the terrible battles and weary marches of the previous season, was spent in a series of amusements and recreation. All pursuits of life were represented in our volunteer army. Rude theatres were constructed, and the drama became the most popular source of amusement. Scenes of the war were represented on the mimic stage, generally at the expense of the enemy. The Fourteenth Brooklyn was specially fertile in inventing these ludicrous representations, but they stimulated rivalry and emulation, and rival theatres sprang up. March 19, 1864, a reconnoissance in force was made on the enemy's front. The baggage was packed, tents struck, and every- thing put in readiness to be sent to the rear. The First corps marched to the Rapidan at Morton's Ford in the night, and there encamped in a swamp. The men were obliged to put down a layer of rails and logs to keep out of the water. The enemy were strongly fortified across the stream. The opposite bank rose abruptly, and a series of rifle-pits, filled with rebel sharpshooters, rose up to the top of the bank. The Sixth corps effected a crossing in another part of the line, but was driven back with considerable loss. The object of the movement was to prevent the enemy from detaching any considerable force to send southwest to oppose General Sherman.

During the winter a congressional committee investigated the condition of the army. It was thought that results in- adequate to the force and strength of the army had been attained.

A reorganization of the army was recommended to make it more efficient. The First corps was consolidated with and merged into the Fifth corps under Major-General War- ren. The Third and Second corps were consolidated into the Second corps under Major-General Hancock. Other changes took place. General Wadsworth returned, and assumed command of his old First division, now of the Fifth corps. General Grant had been assigned the command of all the Federal armies, and made his headquarters with those of the Army of the Potomac. March 29, the Army of the Potomac was reviewed by General Grant. He in- spected the troops very closely and with care.

The following is a list of these killed in battle or who died in hospital,* from October 16, 1863, to May 4, 1864 :

Alpheus Austin, Company A, captured at Haymarket, Virginia, October 19, died in Andersonville prison ; James Guard, Company A, killed November 3, 1863, at David's island, New York ; Israel Barber, died November 8, 1863, of typhoid fever; Daniel Wilson, Company B, December 23, 1863; Lucian Gibbs, Company B, November, 1863; Samuel Delano, died at Richmond, Virginia, December 2, 1863; Jonathan Ween, Company B, December 10, 1863; Josiah Farrington, Company F, November 24, 1863; Os-

sian Howe, Company F, December 15, 1863; Jacob Snider, Company F, date unknown ; Robert N. Baker, cor- poral Company G, November 20, 1863; Decatur Russell, Company H, November 28, 1863; Isaac Gosline, Company H, November 27, 1863; John B. McCord, Company II, February 15, 1864; Elam Seymour, Company F, January 30, 1864; Benjamin I. Stone, December 20, 1863; Levi Decker, Company I, November 23, 1863; Nathaniel Covert, Company K, January 10, 1864; Andrew Craig, Company K, December 8, 1863; John Daly, Company K, January 18, 1864; John W. Elliott, Company K, Novem- ber 17, 1863; Nicholas McCoy, Company K, January 8, 1864; Daniel Sharp, Company K, January 2, 1864; John Maggerly, Company D, January 31, 1864; Stephen L. Lacy, Company E, March 10, 1864; William Topher, Feb- ruary 25, 1864. Conscripts or recruits killed in battle or died in hospitals are not included in this list, as their names are not found on the final muster-out rolls deposited in the adjutant-general's office in Albany.

BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS, SPOTTSYLVANIA, NORTH ANNA, AND PETERSBURG.

May 5, 1864, commenced the memorable campaign of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and Petersburg.

The Fifth corps set ont in the night of the 3d, crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and encamped near the gold mine. On the morning of the 5th, advanced to the right on a wood road over a marsh, and up a steep hill through a dense thicket of scrub pine timber, into a clearing. Here, the ammunition- and baggage-trains and artillery were halted. Heavy skirmishing was heard in front. A captured rebel was brought in to Generals Warren and Wadsworth, and questioned. He said there were only two or three rebel regiments in front. The First division formed into a line of battle and advanced towards Mine Run. After advanc- ing about half a mile in a dense thicket, and over ridges and . ravines, preserving the line with difficulty, they met the enemy. They were concealed in an opening partially grown up to stunted, bushy pine. The division was grected with a withering volley. The right of the line soon fell back, leaving the right flank of the Second brigade exposed. The enemy pressed on all sides, and the brigade was forced to give way. It fell back to the clearing from whence it started, in some disorder, but none too soon to prevent being cap- tured. The enemy had driven in all on the left, and occupied part of the clearing. The ammunition- and baggage-trains and artillery were all gone. The entire Pennsylvania Re- serves, who were to the left, were cut off and captured. The enemy had formed a "cul de sac," and the only point of egress was the narrow path through which the brigade had retreated. Many of the regiment, trying to escape, ran into the enemy's lines and were taken prisoners.

Colonel Miller was severely wounded, and captured. Adju- tant Lyman and many of the skirmish-line were captured.

Generals Griffin's and Crawford's divisions, in advance farther to the left, had been struck by General Hill's corps, and driven in. When the Second brigade emerged from the woods on the retreat, the enemy occupied a hill to the left, in short range from the broken brigade. General Rice, supposing them to be Federal troops, tried to rally his

* The above only inclu les the names of the original organization.

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

brigade, but he soon found the position untenable, and fell back to near the road, at Tod's Tavern, from where the Fifth corps turned off in the morning. There General Wadsworth was rallying his division. The First division was moved off in another direction, but was not again engaged that day. The loss of the regiment in killed, wounded, and prisoners was very large. It is difficult to describe the positions which the regiment took during the remainder of the two days' battle. The country is a wild region. The timber had been formerly cut off to supply iron-furnaces, and the land left to grow up to dwarf pine, scrub oak, chinquapins, and brambles. The surface is broken into low ridges, ravines, and swamps. The wood took fire in many places, adding the torture of burning by a slow fire to the usual horrors of a battle-field. There was a continuous discharge of musketry throughout the night from the muskets of the fallen as they were ignited by the burning woods. In the morning at five the battle was again opened. The First divi- sion had marched several miles to the left after its repulse on the 5th. It made a fierce attack on the enemy's right, and drove it back one mile and a half, overturning General Lee's headquarters. The Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania and the One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York, under Colonel Hofmann, of the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania, attacked the enemy and recovered a position lost by a part of the Second corps, which had given way. The position was de- manded of Colonel Hofmann by the defeated colonel of the Second corps, which he refused to give up until ordered to do so by his superior officer. General Wadsworth was killed while leading his division to the attack, and fell into the hands of the enemy. His bravery commanded respect from the foe. His body was carefully preserved, and afterwards sent into the Federal lines under a flag of truce. In him the country lost an earnest and single-minded patriot. It was often said of him that "he knew not fear." He was shot down when rashly exposing himself to encourage his men, who were shrinking from a galling fire, saying, " There is not danger enough to harm a mouse." The battle raged until after dark, neither side gaining any ma- terial advantage. Towards nightfall General Lee massed a large force on our right, and drove it far enough to get possession of our communications. The wounded were loaded into ambulances and empty baggage-wagons, ready to be sent to Washington by Culpepper, when the news of the disaster came. They were retained in the ambulances until communications could be opened by Fredericksburg and Aquia creek or Belle Plain. They suffered much by the detention and transportation over rough roads. The First division in this two days' battle lost over half of its num- bers. Thus terminated, for the Union forces, the most bloody and unique battle of the war. It was fought mostly in dense tickets, the combatants often coming upon each other without warning, and soon became inextricably mixed and confused, neither party knowing which way to turn to find its way out. It was only by the general plan of battle that any order could be preserved. The effective fighting force of the Union army was about eighty thousand, in- cluding the artillery, which, owing to the nature of the country, did but little service.

This is exclusive of General Burnside's corps, which re-

mained behind to protect the rcar, and did not cross the Rapidan till the second day. The effective strength of the enemy was sixty thousand muskets, which was reinforced on the second day twenty thousand muskets by General Longstreet. The Union army was permitted to cross the fords, which were strongly fortified, unmolested. General Lee's plan was to launch his whole force and strike the Union column on the flank, after crossing the fords, when marching. It had failed through difficulty of manœuvring his army in the dense thickets of the Wilderness. It was supposed by General Lce that General Grant would turn back after the second day, and he sent a large cavalry force across the river to intercept his retreat. But General Grant, contrary to the previous habits of Union generals, on the morning of the 7th, with abont twenty thousand wounded, in ambulances and wagons, set out for Spottsylvania, about fifteen miles distant. General Lee, on interior lines, hastened on, reached and occupied his fortified positions before him.

The Fifth corps in the advance was impeded by the enemy's cavalry, and infantry attacks on the flank obliged it to keep up a running fight all that day. General Rob- inson, Second division, was wounded and lost a leg. By the time the Fifth corps came up the enemy had arrived, and were strongly intrenched in its front. In the morning of the 8th the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment was engaged in repelling an attack of the enemy, with con- siderable loss in killed and wounded. May 9 was mainly occupied in getting into position by both armies. The enemy occupied a strong intrenched position, barring fur- ther advance of the Union army. No fighting except by sharpshooters ; the men were obliged to keep under cover, as the least exposure drew the fire of the enemy. General Sedgwick, of the Sixth corps, was picked off by a sharp- shooter. May 10, about noon, the regiment was engaged, -and was relieved when out of ammunition. About five P.M. was again brought into action and remained until after dark ; was driven back by the burning woods; loss in killed and wounded considerable. May 11 the regiment lay in the rifle-pits under a heavy cannonading of shot and shell, and a constant fire from sharpshooters. May 12, five A.M., the regiment went into the skirmish-line without its breakfast, charged through a dense thicket up a hill to the enemy's breastworks, and were repulsed. The regiment then went about five miles to the left, to engage in one of the most determined and fiercely-contested battles of the war. At 4.30 A.M. General Hancock with the Second corps stormed a salient angle of the enemy's works, and carried it, cap- turing twelve thousand of the enemy. He pursned the enemy to the second line of works ; having partially lost the organization of the corps, he was forced to retire to the first line, which, by the aid of reinforcements, he was able to hold. The whole rebel army was nearly demoralized and routed by this onset, and was only saved by the personal example and bravery of General Lee. He caught up a standard and placed himself in front of his ronted and de- moralized troops, rallied them, and in person commenced to lead them back to the charge. His officers and men, inspirited by his example, first forced him to the rear, theu charged upon General Hancock, and drove him back to the

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History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 23

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 798

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798