USA > New York > History of the 27th regiment N.Y. Vols. > Part 2
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" Our friends are passing over, And, just before, the shining shore We may almost discover,"-
He waved his hand in the direction of the passing troops.
About 5 o'clock we had battalion drill and dress parade. There were a great many visitors in to see the parade. Pie peddlers prosecuted a lively trade, as the boys did not take kindly to salt pork and hard tack; but the "rag pies," as the boys called them, did not agree with them as well as the government rations would have done.
July 15th : Practiced target shooting all day, in a vacant lot, on the Georgetown road, about a mile from camp. Each man fired twenty rounds. This was the first and only target practice the regiment had before engaging in its first battle.
We were armed with the smooth-bore, muzzle-loading, government gun, known as the Harper's Ferry Musket, of 58 caliber, and using a paper cartridge, which the men had to tear open with their teeth before loading. The gun was fired with a large percussion cap, and would kick about as hard as a government mule. One man declared, after com- ing out of battle, " that his gun kicked him back over a rail fence, and kicked him seven times after he was down."
Several companies received recruits after coming to Washington. These men had no uniforms, and had never
9
ON TO RICHMOND.
been practiced in the manual of arms before going on the march to our first battle.
On the 16th of July, the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, commanded by Col. Andrew Porter, of the 16th U. S. Infantry ; in the Second Division, commanded by Col. David Hunter, of the Third U. S. Cavalry; in the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Brigadier- General Irwin McDowell.
Hunter's Division was composed of the following com- mands :
Eighth New York Militia, Fourteenth New York Militia, Twenty-Seventh New York Volunteers, a Battalion of U. S. Infantry, Battalion U. S. Marines, Battalion U. S. Cavalry, and Battery D of the Fifth U. S. Artillery.
About noon of the same date (the 16th), Hunter's Di- vision received orders to march. Destination: "On to Richmond!" We packed up and left about 3 o'clock. We crossed the Long Bridge,-and so found ourselves on the sacred soil of the Old Dominion. We passed through the fortifications on Arlington Heights, and reached the Alexandria and Manasses R. R. about 6 o'clock. At Bail- ey's Cross Roads we halted for supper. Each man had been supplied with two loaves of bread and a pound of salt pork. We could hear picket-firing in the front,-when the regiment was ordered to load their muskets. each man having been supplied with forty rounds of ammunition. The route continued along the Little River Turnpike, past the fertile plantations of the Lees, the Balls, Baileys, and Arlingtons, that had not yet felt the devastating hand of war, but were destined to be left a barren waste,-from which they have never recovered. We marched about twelve miles, and about 10 P. M. went into camp, on the Annandale hills, near the main army ; and for the first time slept on the ground, with no covering except our blankets, not having been supplied with tents. We rested well, and started on the march again at sunrise, the 17th, taking the road to Fairfax Court House. The march was a slow one, for the Rebels, in their retreat, had felled trees across the
IO
RECORD OF 27TH REGIMENT N. V. VOLS.
road, and we were obliged to cut them out before we could pass. After a few hours' marching at "route step," we were called to quick time, and moved by platoons, closed to half distance. The day was very warm, and many were prostrated by the heat.
Soon our mounted rifles and cavalry were ordered to the front, and, as they moved forward at a gallop, we almost held our breath, in the excitement and expectation of hear- ing them open fire and commence an engagement ; but the enemy retreated on their approach, with but a few scatter- ing shots from our men. We then marched leisurely on ; and the fact that they had left their fires burning, and other evidences of a hasty retreat, made some of the men think that the Rebels had all turned back; and that night an officer, passing through the camp, overheard two men talk- ing about the probability of their ever seeing a battle. One says to the other: "Now, this is just exactly what I ex- pected. These fellows have all run off, and we are never going to see a fight. We will go home without seeing a fight, sure."
Others were not so sanguine : for, from one of the diaries, we copy the following, under date of the 17th: "I think we shall have a fight soon, but I trust I am prepared for any emergency ; and, if necessary, am ready to die for my country."
We went into camp about 2 o'clock. The boys were allowed to " forage" about the country, and it is needless to say that they lived well. Some of the troops pillaged the houses, and burned a few barns,-acts of vandalism of which our regiment was heartily ashamed.
We started on the march again early the next morning, the 18th, but were delayed till 3 o'clock, when we marched about five miles; then halted and bivouacked, on the left of the Warrenton turnpike. two miles east of Centre- ville, and remained there the two following days. While in this camp, the regiment of regulars who were camped near us were called in line, and formed a square, when two of their number were whipped, receiving thirty lashes each on
GENERAL MAP CAMPAIGNS OF 1861.
FORTIFICATIONS OF WASHINGTON
CAMPS OF THE HIGHLANDERS
FTRENO
:
FT. $T
1
1
LOUDON
Prospecta.Hill
FT.MARCY & CAMP
GEORGE TOWN
LOS CAMP EWEN
Di
VIENNA
FT. ETHAN ALLER
VVY
ADVANCE
WASHINGTON
Upton Hill
ET. CORCORAN FT. WHIPPLE
FT ALBANY
CI BARNARD
RUN
FT.REYNOLDSY
HOUSE
ANANDALE
KWARD X
FT. WORTH
ALEXA
FAIRFAX STA.
FT. ELLSWORTH
ORANGE AND ALEXANDRIA
RAIL
ROAD
da NEWMARKET
Compiled by the Author
FT. LYON 4
MANASSAS CAP
FROM OFFICIAL MAPS.
9 1 2 3
4
5
10 MILES
L
Potomac River
No.I.
R.R.
MANASSAS J.
S & RUN
Blackburn Ford
FAIRFAX COURT
MunsonHill os Bailey's XRoads
AAA CAMP CAUSTEN
GROVENTON
Stone Bridge
Cub Run
GERMAN TOWN
+++
Weed
CHANTILLY
FALLS CHURCH
CAMP ANA
* FI LINCOLN
gull
LEWINSVILLE
LANGLEY
1 & Georgetown College Chainkorn
CAMP HOPE
CAMP YLOCHIEL
x FTISLOCUM
Creek
CAMP 400 4 BIG CHESTNUT
AND HANS SHIRE - RAIL ROAD
Sudley Ford
CENTREVILLE
BULLE
Reprinted from the HISTORY OF THE 79TH HIGHLANDERS, N. Y. Vous., by permission of the Author.
N
EVENS
II
FLOGGING TWO DESERTERS.
their bare backs, and were then branded, on the side of the hip, with the letter D. It was a sickening sight. This was the last case of flogging in the army, as this barbarous style of punishment was soon after abolished.
On the afternoon of the 19th there was some sharp skir- mishing a few miles in front of us, and soon after some prisoners were brought in, who were the first rebels we had seen. They attracted a good deal of attention, and we dis- cussed the question among ourselves, whether we should shoot or hang them. Fortunately the question was not left to the private soldier to decide. At dark we went on picket, and remained all night. Were relieved from picket duty about 9 o'clock of the morning of the 20th, and re- turned to camp, where we remained quiet all day.
While in this camp, a detail of eight corporals was made, from different companies, to act as Color Guard, Sergeant Burton Freeman, of Co. "I," being Color Sergeant.
Sunday morning, July 2Ist, at 2 o'clock, we were called and ordered to get ready to move. Soon after, we formed in line and moved out in light marching order, taking one cooked ration. Owing to the delay of the First Division getting out of its camp, Hunter's Division did not reach Centreville till 4 o'clock; moving thence along the War- renton turnpike, over a bridge crossing Cub Run. Here we put out one company as skirmishers, and continued to advance, turning to the right into a heavy timber. The day was intensely hot, and this being a portion of Virginia noted for a scarcity of water, we suffered both from heat and thirst. At 9 o'clock we passed Sudley's Church, when the firing in front of us became quite lively. We soon left the woods, and as we came out into the open field, one of Gen. Porter's aids met us, and ordered Col. Slocum to move forward, and, with a wave of his hand, exclaimed : " You will find the enemy down there somewhere !"
We crossed Bull Run at Sudley's Ford, after a march occupying fully six hours ; and, without coming to a halt, advanced at a double quick toward the enemy's position. We were soon under fire : the solid shot and shell began to
c
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RECORD OF 27TH REGIMENT N. Y. VOLS.
pass over our heads, and made us do some involuntary dodging. The first man wounded, in the regiment, was Henry Wheeler, of Co. "C." He was hit in the instep, by a musket ball. before we had come in sight of the enemy. It is supposed the ball was fired by a sharp-shooter from one of the tall trees on our left. We continued to advance, in column of fours, every step the shot coming thicker and faster. We passed the 8th N. Y. Militia, who, dressed in their gray State uniforms, were caring for some of their wounded comrades.
We soon reached the crest of a hill, and, by a road lead- ing to the valley beneath us, made a charge directly on the Stone House, from which we drove the enemy. The Colonel, having dismounted, then directed the color guard to take a position to the left and in rear of the Stone House, that he might form a line of battle on them. While getting into position, a rebel battery opened on us with canister shot, and several of our men were killed and wounded. Private Wesley Randall, of Binghamton, was the first man killed.
The Colonel then ordered the line to form still further to the left, and the regiment moved a hundred rods in that direction, the colors taking the lead. Soon another stand was taken, and our ranks, which had been thrown into some disorder, were ordered to re-form; but before the order could be executed, we saw two regiments coming, at double quick, over the crest of the hill from our rear and left .- a direction from which we did not expect the enemy. They were dressed in gray, and we mistook them for the 8th New York. As they moved around in our front, some of the men called out " that they were enemies," and began to fire. Others excitedly "declared them to be the 8th New York," and begged us not to fire on our own men. Just then a Confederate straggler between the lines, ran up to Col. Slocum, and declared that the "regiment yonder wanted to surrender." Slocum threatened the man with drawn sword, but he persisted ; and, by the Colonel's order. Adjutant Jenkins started towards the enemy, waving a havelock as a flag of truce. "What regiment are you ?" he
13
COL. SLOCUM WOUNDED.
asked. He was answered by the unfurling of the Confed- erate colors and the firing of a volley. He rode back to our lines, exclaiming, "Give it to them, boys!" The 27th responded, firing at will, but many did not hear him, and still held their fire. Our mistake had given them time to form in line of battle, under cover of thick bushes, and they poured volley after volley into us, with deadly effect. Our men replied vigorously, but could not long stand under such a fire, and began to retire slowly over the crest of the' hill. The colors were the last to retire. A few of the men, having secured covered positions behind hay-cocks and un- der the banks of a small stream just in our front, remained and kept up a vigorous fire on their own hook, for some time after the regiment left. Some of these men fired so many rounds that their guns became hot, and they had to cool them off in the water of the brook. The enemy did not advance on this position.
While making this movement over the crest of the hill, Col. Slocum fell, shot through the hip, and was sent to the surgeons in the rear. Major Bartlett now took command, and soon after withdrew the regiment to the woods in the rear, where we rested awhile, and refilled our cartridge- boxes.
After this, we advanced again to the Stone House, where we took shelter under the banks of the roadside ; and again were moved from one point of the field to an- other, taking but little active part in the fight, yet contin- ually under fire, till 5 P. M., feeling sure that we had gained a decisive victory over the enemy.
But the tables were soon after effectually turned, by the arrival of a heavy column of Confederate troops, which proved to be the rebel reserve of twelve thousand fresh men, under Gen. Johnston.
A retreat was now ordered, and we marched off the field in good order, with Major Bartlett riding at the head of the regiment, and our colors flying. Our ranks were kept closed up until passing Sudley's Church, when some of the panic- stricken cavalry rode through our line and scattered some
14
RECORD OF 27TH REGIMENT N. Y. VOLS.
of our men among the fragments of other regiments, so that it was impossible to rally them all again. The retreat then became a stampede. A few miles from the field we came to the Stone Bridge across Cub Run. Here was a blockade of cannon and caissons, from which the drivers had cut the traces, and rode off on the horses, so that the troops had to turn to the right, and ford the stream just below the bridge. The panic was increased by the frantic rush of a large num- ber of civilians and Members of Congress, who had ridden out from Washington to witness the battle,-one of the latter, the Hon. Alfred Ely, of Rochester, N. Y., being taken prisoner.
Such a scene was never before witnessed : the highway was blocked with cavalry, infantry, artillery and civilians, in solid mass, shouting and yelling until it seemed as though the flood-gates of Pandemonium had been thrown open. Before midnight we reached the camp we left in the morn- ing, near Centreville, where, aside from the losses in killed, wounded and missing, the 27th was wholly intact, having its colors and arms, and awaiting orders.
Capt. Averill, of Col. Porter's staff, sent a verbal message requesting the regiment to form in column and march to Fairfax, a distance of eight miles. This order was exe- cuted, and from midnight we kept trudging along towards Washington, passing through Fairfax-this time without music, while the cry, "On to Richmond !" seemed to have lost all its charm. About sunrise we reached Arlington, made a short halt at Fort Runyon, where coffee and hard tack were issued. Then we re-crossed the Long Bridge to Washington, and were, soon after, back to our former quar- ters on Franklin Square.
The wildest excitement existed in the city. Pennsylvania Avenue was gorged with panic-stricken citizens, and soldiers who were relating wonderful stories of their heroism on the field of battle.
Thus ended the battle of Bull Run, where both armies were for the first time under fire; and for hard fighting and
15
CASUALTIES AT BULL RUN.
stubborn resistance, they challenged the admiration of the world.
The regiments which we mistook for friends, proved to be the 4th Alabama and the 8th Georgia ; but they received severe punishment at our hands,-the 8th losing their Lieutenant-Colonel and Adjutant, killed, and many of its enlisted men killed and wounded.
The casualties of the 27th, in this battle, were: One officer and twenty-six enlisted men killed ; two officers and forty-two men wounded.
Sixty men were reported missing, most of them wounded and taken prisoners, and many of them died from their wounds in the Southern prisons. Total, 131. (For a list of those taken prisoners, see the last chapter.) Among the prisoners were three of the color guard, all of them having been hit during the action. Corp. Fairchild was hit in the left breast by a canister shot, a spent ball, which lodged in his shirt pocket. Corp. Merrill was shot through the left breast. Corp. Wood had a ball through his hand. Lieut. Asa Park, of Co. " D," the only officer killed, was shot in the abdomen. As he was struck, he placed his hand over the wound, and said to the Captain : " See what a big hole that is!" and immediately fell and expired.
On the march from Washington and in this battle, many men in the regiment wore white linen " havelocks," with long capes over the back of the neck. These had been recommended to protect the wearers from the effect of the sun. The only good purpose they served, however, was to furnish lint and bandages for the wounded, and were never much worn after this battle.
The following is a copy of Major Bartlett's official report of the battle of Bull Kun :
16
RECORD OF 27TH REGIMENT N. Y. VOLS.
HEADQUARTERS 27TH REGIMENT N. Y. VOLS. 1 CAMP ANDERSON, Washington, D. C., July 23, 1861.
SIR :- Pursuant to order, I hereby submit for your consideration a report of the operations of the Twenty-Seventh Regiment New York State Volunteers, under command of Col. H. W. Slocum, in the battle of Bull Run, on July 21, 1861.
At precisely 2 o'clock A. M. we formed for march, in rear of the Marine Corps, commanded by Major Reynolds. After an exhausting march of eight hours, the enemy was discovered to be in force on our front and left. Fifteen minutes after their appearance, we were hurried on at double-quick time for the distance of at least one mile, and formed in line of battle by the left flank on the brow of the hill, commanding a part of the enemy's position. Without coming to a halt, we were ordered to charge the enemy by a road leading to the valley beneath us, where they were in numbers strongly positioned in and about a large stone house, with a battery of six mounted howitzers commanding the approach. The men, though greatly fatigued and exhausted, gallantly attacked and drove the enemy from the house, who retired in disorder behind their battery, leaving a large num- ber of killed and wounded on the field. The battery was next attacked, and after receiving eleven rounds hastily retired, taking up another posi- tion about one hundred and fifty yards on our left and front. We were immediately attacked on our right flank by a large force, who approached by a ravine, under cover of a thick growth of bushes, and in the front by about 1,500 others, who had been driven from their position on the hill commanding our left, and whom we mistook for the Sth New York Regi- ment coming to our support. By this mistake we lost many killed and wounded, besides the opportunity of capturing a large number of pris- oners. We were now engaged by more than twice our own numbers, and fired upon from concealed positions, and receiving the fire of the battery from its new point of attack. Perceiving the necessity of support, I rallied about 200 of the Sth New York Regiment on the brow of the hill com- manding the enemy ; and the Colonel withdrew the regiment to the top of the hill in a perfectly exhausted condition, formed, and marched them into the woods for rest. During our retreat Colonel Slocum received a wound from a musket ball, in the right thigh, which rendered it necessary for him to retire from the field, which he did, placing the command in my hands. After remaining half an hour in this position I was commanded by Capt, Averill, Aid-de-Camp to the Colonel commanding, to join a united charge to be made against the enemy's strongest position by all the regiments not actually engaged at that moment. 1 marched in four ranks, under fire of
17
BARTLETT'S REPORT.
the battery commanding the road, to the creek, and filed to the right, under protection of its banks, to await the general assault. Seeing our forces engage the enemy by small detachments, and not in the order in which the attack was commanded to be made-that they were repulsed and driven back in disorder, and believing that no assistance I could render would avail in restraining the troops or stay their flight, I withdrew my command in perfect order to the heights above the stream, and formed in line of battle, facing the enemy, and remained in position until thousands of troops had passed to our rear, in flight and confusion. I then, at the urgent so- licitation of the line officers, marched to the rear in direction of the retreat, and again formed, by command of General McDowell, in line of battle, facing the enemy, that he might have a nucleus to form the Division upon once more. The attempt proving ineffectual, I again marched to the rear, . and by his command formed in line a third time. It being impossible to form in any force upon our lines, I withdrew the regiment from the field, and after a short rest, joined the retreating column. In the retreat to Washington we lost two sergeants-believed to have been cut off from the regiment at the bridge, which was fired upon by the enemy-and many men from exhaustion.
I am happy to report that, during the whole day, the men of the regi- ment behaved coolly and gallantly, promptly obeying every order ; and that they never once retreated or gave way before the enemy without a positive command.
J. J. BARTLETT,
COL. ANDREW PORTER,
Major, commanding.
Commanding Second Brigade.
EXTRACTS, RELATING TO THE MOVEMENTS OF THE 27TH REGIMENT, FROM COL. ANDREW PORTER'S OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE.
* * *
* *
"The head of the First Brigade was immediately turned slightly to the right, in order to give time and room for deployment on the right of the Second Brigade. Griffin's Battery found its way through the timber to the fields beyond, followed promptly by the Marines, while the Twenty-Seventh took direction more to the left. * The enemy appeared drawn up in a long line, extending along the Warrenton turn- pike. * * * Our right was rapidly developed by the Marines, Twenty-Seventh, Fourteenth and Eighth, with the Cavalry in rear of the
18
RECORD OF 27TH REGIMENT N. V. VOLS.
right : the enemy retreated with more precipitation than order as our line advanced. *
* * Rebels soon came flying through the woods towards the right, and the Twenty-Seventh completed their rout by charg- ing directly upon their center, in the face of a scorching fire, while the Fourteenth and Eighth moved down the turnpike, to cut off the retiring foe, and to support the Twenty-Seventh, which had lost its gallant Colonel, but was standing the brunt of the action, with its ranks thinning in the dreadful fire. * * Tyler's Division was engaged * with the enemy's right. The Twenty-Seventh was resting in the edge of the woods in the center.
* The prestige of success
had thus far. attended the efforts of our inexperienced but gallant troops. * A column, composed of the Twenty-Seventh New York, Eleventh and Fifth Massachusetts, First Minnesota and Sixty-Ninth New York moved up towards the left flank of the batteries. * *
Fire came from some infantry of the enemy, which had been mistaken for our own forces. * * Soon the slopes behind us were swarming with our retreating and disorganized forces. * *
The Twenty-Seventh was the first to rally, under the command of Major Bartlett, and around it the other regiments engaged soon collected their scattered fragments. * The commanding general then ordered a retreat to Centerville. * * * Among those who deserve special mention are : Col. H. W. Slocum, who was wounded while leading his gallant Twenty-Seventh New York to the charge ; and Maj. J. J. Bartlett, who subsequently commanded it, and by his enthusiasm and valor kept it in action and out of the panic. His con- duct was imitated by his subordinates, of whom two, Capt. II. C. Rogers and Lieut. H. C. Jackson, were wounded, and Ensign Asa Park was killed.
.
A. PORTER,
Col. 16th Infantry U. S. Army, commanding Brigade. To Capt. J. B. Fry, A. A. G.
CHAPTER II.
A FTER our return from the battle of Bull Run, we occu- pied our quarters at Franklin Square, in Washington, until near the middle of August. That terrible disease. camp diarrhea-more destructive than the enemy's bullets -broke out in the regiment, and for a few weeks made sad havoc with the men. Drilling was dispensed with, and all other duties not absolutely necessary. It was impossible to find enough capable of performing duty to make up a complete camp guard.
On August Ist, we received our first pay from the United States, for one month and ten days' service, amounting to $15.03, in gold. This was a bonanza for the boys.
Col. Slocum visited the camp on August 13th, still suffer- ing from his wound, and walking upon crutches. Every- body was glad to see him, but sorry that we must soon lose him, as he had been promoted to Brigadier-General.
One day about this time, while a number of general offi- cers were together at Gen. - -'s headquarters, it was announced in the papers that Grant-who was operating in the West-had been made a Brigadier-General, on the 7th of August. Several of these officers, who had known him in the regular army, received the announcement with deri- sive laughter, and ridiculed the appointee as one wholly unfit for the position. In the light of subsequent events, they must have felt somewhat chagrined at their former estimate of our great captain.
On August 14th several of the line officers were detailed on recruiting service, and went home on twenty days' leave of absence.
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