USA > New York > History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. -- N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N. Y. Volunteers.) 1845-1888 > Part 28
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As the muster rolls of the regiment had been swelled by the arrival of conscripts, the NINTH was again entitled to a full complement of field and line officers, and on the 16th, during a halt on the line of march, it was announced that Lieutenant- Colonel Moesch had been promoted Colonel, and William
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LIEUT .- COLONEL CHALMERS ARRIVES.
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· Chalmers, Lieutenant-Colonel, so that, with Major Williamson, the field roster was complete. The Major had been appointed in March, but, owing to the reduced numbers in the regiment, had not been commissioned until the 5th of October. Both the Colonel and Major had earned their promotion by long and faithful service with the regiment, but Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers was a stranger and owed his appointment to person- al influence at the State Capital. He was the only officer thus thrust upon the regiment, all the others having earned their promotion, step by step. It was this arbitrary method, adopted by other governors, as well as by the Governor of New York, that often chilled the patriotism of the volunteers in the field. Many regiments had seen band-box soldiers sent fresh from the capital lobbies, to fill-and disgrace -- the places assigned them ; to exercise authority over the veterans of many battles, and usurp places due to those who had borne the heat and burdens of the campaigns. The NINTH had nothing against the new Lieutenant-Colonel as a man, but it was the principle involved which disturbed them, and although he joined the regiment early in November, and remained with it until the muster out in 1864, he never enjoyed the confi- dence of his brother officers, nor the respect or esteem of the rank and file.
During this time, while the Union Army had remained com- paratively quiet, the enemy had been busily engaged in tearing up the railroad and destroying stations and water tanks. Knowing that he was not strong enough to attack Meade, Lee had determined to retreat towards his base of supplies, and to so fully destroy the railroad that his adversary could barely have it repaired, in time for another advance, before the winter storms caused a suspension of active operations. By his bold and skillful maneuvers, the Confederate general had driven a superior force for fifty or sixty miles-time had been gained. and if the Union Army could be kept from active operations till Spring, the Confederates would then be in better shape to assault -- or defend.
General Halleck had been urging Meade to attack Lee,
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and the Union commander was thus obliged to take the initia- tive. A heavy rain raised the fords of Bull Run, and before the pontoons could be thrown across for the use of the infantry, Lee's army was a day's march away, followed only by the Union cavalry.
While it was still raining on the morning of the 19th the NINTH "Was ordered under arms, and at eight o'clock began the march, passing through Gainesville and reaching Hay- market at three in the afternoon, where it remained till the next morning. During the night several alarms were occa- sioned by the enemy's cavalry, small parties of which scoured the country between the lines. The morning of the 20th, and up to four o'clock in the afternoon, was spent in line of bat- tle ; at the latter hour the march was resumed and Thorough- fare Gap reached at nine in the evening. Pushing through the Gap, line of battle was formed about a mile beyond, and the night spent - the men lying on their arms. When it was found that the enemy was not in the vicinity, a camp ground was laid out on the morning of the 21st, and the troops remained there till the 24th, when they retraced their steps. passing through Haymarket and Gainesville, thence marching to Bristoe Station, where the corps arrived at nine o'clock in the evening. The Third corps had reached Catlett's Station, the Fifth was at Auburn, the Sixth at Warrenton, the Second about New Baltimore.
The pursuit of Lee was abandoned and for several days the army rested. Camps were laid out and drills resumed.
On the 5th of November the regiment moved towards Catlett's Station, reaching their bivouac in the evening during a cold rain-storm. Meade had again determined to take the offensive. He had ascertained the location of the Confed- erate army, whose headquarters were at Culpeper, and the pleasant Fall weather was favorable for a campaign. The First, Second and Third corps formed the left wing of the army, and were under the command of General French ; the Fifth and Sixth were under Sedgwick. The left wing had been directed to approach the Rappahannock between Kelly's
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Ford and Rappahannock Station, while the right was to advance directly against the Station, where the enemy had erected some strong fortifications.
At six o'clock in the morning of the 7th the NINTH was in line, marching down the railroad. After passing Warrenton Junction the column turned south and passed through the village of Morrisville, then changing direction to the south- west, reached the vicinity of Kelly's Ford about noon. The Third corps had reached the river first, and troops from Ward's division had crossed and driven the enemy away from the ford, killing quite a number and capturing between three and four hundred prisoners, at a loss to Ward of about one hundred in killed and wounded. The enemy retreated towards Stevensburg. A pontoon bridge was thrown over the river during the afternoon, but the bulk of the troops remained on the north side till the following morning.
On the right Sedgwick found a strong force of the enemy posted behind intrenchments on the north bank of the river, and he proceeded at once to reconnoiter the position. The enemy, anxious to hold the place, sent over reinforcements, and by the time Sedgwick was ready to assault it was nearly dark. The Union troops forced their way to the river, both above and below the position occupied by the enemy, and were thus enabled to command the other side and prevent any more reinforcements being sent over. It had been deter- mined to wait till after dark before making the final assault. Led by Russell's brigade of the First division of the Sixth corps, the assault took place, and after some desperate fight- ing was carried, and with it some sixteen hundred prisoners, a number of battle-flags, and four pieces of artillery. The num- ber engaged in the assault was only some three thousand, and the loss about three hundred, killed and wounded.
Before daylight of the 8th, Early, of Ewell's corps, who commanded the Confederates at this point, retreated. They had begun the erection of winter quarters, and were no doubt much disappointed at being driven for their supposed secure position. The morning of the Sth was dull and foggy, but at
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six o'clock the left wing crossed over on the pontoon and marched up the right bank of the river towards the railroad crossing, reaching there about noon, driving Early's rear-guard away, and then continuing the march after the retreating Con- federates. Brandy Station was reached towards nightfall, where line of battle was formed and the troops halted for the night. By this time Lee had crossed the Rapidan, and the Union troops busied themselves in rebuilding the railroad bridge across the Rappahannock, and repairing the track as far as Brandy Station. Lee, meanwhile, took up a strong position along the south bank of the Rapidan, between Mine Run and the railroad crossing at Rapidan Station. Mine Run flows north, empties into the Rapidan three or four miles west of Germanna Ford, and guarded Lee's right flank.
Leaving the main part of the Army of the Potomac in the vicinity of Brandy Station, a portion of the First corps was ordered back to guard the line of railroad. Late in the after- noon of the 9th the march was begun ; the Rappahannock crossed at the railroad, on the pontoon bridge, and the march continued to Bealton ; where the NINTH, with the Eleventh Pennsylvania, and the One Hundred and Fourth New York and Sixteenth Maine from the First brigade, were detached and ordered to a point near Liberty, on the Warrenton turnpike. Snow had been falling for some time, and when the men reached their bivouac, they were obliged to scrape it off from the ground before pitching their shelter tents. Here for the next ten days the time was fully occupied by the usual drills, picket and fatigue duty. On the 11th about one hun- dred and fifty men from the NINTH, were detailed to help repair the railroad. Sleepers had to be cut from the woods, the enemy having burned those, as well as the rails which had been twisted and bent, while red-hot, and thereby rendered entirely useless. Saturday, the 14th, five hundred and seventy- seven officers and enlisted men were reported present for duty.
On the 21st the enemy's cavalry made a dash upon the railroad, capturing a few prisoners, some hospital stores and
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wagons. The NINTH was hurriedly called to arms, and advanced a short distance towards the scene of action, but soon returned to camp.
General Meade again determined to advance and attack the Confederate army, which, by this time, had been estab- lished in winter quarters in their secure position already men- tioned. " Lee had fortified his line in front and had also pro- tected his right and rear by intrenchments for three or four miles up Mine Run. Meade purposed passing up the east side of the Run and attacking Lee's rear and right flank. Only two divisions of the First corps were to cooperate in this movement, the other being left to guard the rear. At about eight o'clock in the morning of the 23rd, the NINTH was on the road. At Bealton the brigade was joined, and the march continued to within a couple of miles of Rappahannock Station, where the column halted for the night. The men were in line at half-past seven the next morning, but were soon ordered to disperse and to have tents pitched again. At six o'clock in the morning of the 26th the advance was continued, the river crossed on the pontoon near the station, then, follow- ing the stream down the right bank, Richardsville was reached and a short halt made. A pontoon bridge was found span- ning the Rapidan at Culpeper Mine Ford, over which the column marched, and about a mile beyond the river the men bivouacked for the night. Artillery firing had been heard during the afternoon. The Second and Fifth corps crossed Germanna Ford, the Third at Jacobs' Ford, but owing to many delays, night found the heads of these columns only three or four miles beyond the river. The Sixth corps did not reach the south side till after midnight, crossing at Jacobs' Ford. During the day Lee had learned of Meade's design and issued his orders to meet the assault
On the morning of the 27th the Confederate army was put in motion, and part was sent over to the east side of Mine Run to intercept the Third and Sixth corps. At five o'clock the troops of the First corps were on the march, and soon reached Robertson's Tavern, on the western edge of the famous Wilder-
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ness. Line of battle, facing the south and west, was formed, and here the NINTH remained until five o'clock the next morning. The Third and Sixth corps which had also been ordered to march to Robertson's Tavern during the day, failed to gain that point. The Fifth corps was at New Hope Church, while the Second was with the two divisions of the First at Robert- son's. During the day considerable fighting had been indulged in, the enemy generally being the attacking party, in order to gain time for the arrival of the various divisions of Lee's army. They won their point, partly by these attacks, but principally because of the slow movements of the Third and Sixth corps, who became tangled up in the narrow, blind roads of the Wilderness.
On the next morning, the 28th, the NINTH moved at five o'clock ; a light rain was falling at the time, the roads and paths were, in many places, submerged by reason of previous rains, and great difficulty was experienced in moving the artillery. At about two o'clock in the afternoon the two divisions formed on the left of the Second corps, which was astride the Orange Court House turnpike, the line of battle facing west. An advance was ordered, and when found impracticable to main- tain the forward movement in line, the troops broke into col- umns and marched by the flank. When the crest overlooking Mine Run was reached the line was reestablished. The Sixth corps had taken position of the right of the Second, while the Third and Fifth were on the left of the First.
But for forty-eight hours the Confederates had been very busy, and when the Union troops looked across the narrow valley of Mine Run, they saw their adversaries strongly posted behind intrenchments, slashings of timber in their front, and a good part of the valley covered with from two to three feet of water ! The verdict of the men in the ranks was voiced by their generals in the evening, when, at a counsel of war, they pronounced the enemy's position unassailable! After dark some slight changes were made in the line of battle, the NINTHI, with other troops, marching about a mile to the rear, where they remained all night.
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The 29th was Sunday, and rain fell during the entire day. About noon General Meade, accompanied by several British officers, rode along the lines. If the "John Bulls" came to witness a grand, successful, strategic movement of the Army of the Potomac, how disappointed they must have been! The day passed without any movement on the part of the NINTH. But other portions of the army had been active. General Warren, commanding the Second corps, had proposed moving still further up the valley of Mine Run ; he started at daylight with his corps and a division from the Sixth. Night overtook him before his position was gained, and when, on the morning of the 30th, he looked over to where the enemy was posted, he saw that the result of an assault would be simply Freder- icksburg repeated.
But the plan agreed upon included an assault by the right at eight o'clock, simultaneously with Warren's, and without waiting for the sound of the Second corps guns, Sedgwick sent Birney's division in; they cross the Run, dislodge the enemy at that point, and then wait for Warren before advanc- ing further. Warren, meanwhile, has summoned Meade to look over the ground, and the commanding general confirms his lieutenant's decision not to attack. Other movements were proposed, but wherever the enemy were found along the line of Mine Run, they were so well posted that an attack seemed hopeless, and the whole campaign was abandoned, Meade deciding to withdraw his army and return to the old position north of the Rapidan. During the day the NINTH, with others of the corps, had been moved, first about a mile to the right in support of the Fifth corps, and then, later, to the left, where they remained during the night. The official records show that the regiment lost twenty nine of the members " by desertion " on this advance upon the enemy.
At six o'clock the next morning. December Ist, the troops of the First corps moved back to the position occupied by them on the 29th November, where they remained till four in the afternoon ; were then relieved by the Third division of the Fifth corps, and marched by way of Robertson's Tavern
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to a point near Germanna Ford, where they arrived just after midnight. At nine o'clock in the morning of the 2nd the command crossed the river and formed line on the north side, where it remained till half-past eleven, then changed the position to support a battery which had been placed to cover the crossing. Meanwhile the rest of the army was returning to the north bank of the river, and at one o'clock P. M. a divi- sion of the Sixth corps relieved the First corps, who then continued the march northward, through Stevensburg to Brandy Station, where it bivouacked for the night. At nine o'clock the next morning the march was continued, and the Rappahannock crossed at Kelly's Ford. About four miles beyond a halt was ordered, and the NINTH was sent out on picket for the night. The regiment was called in early on the 4th and then, at ten o'clock, sent back across the river and posted at the little hamlet of Kellysville, within a mile of the ford. Fording the river twice at the same place within twenty-four hours was not relished by the men at this season of the year, and caused some grumbling.
At half-past three the next morning the men were turned out, tents were struck, and after preparing a cup of coffee to wash down the hard-tack, line was formed and the regiment waited for the order to march ; but no orders came, and the tents were again set up. Shortly after daybreak the men went into the woods near by and began cutting logs for winter huts. During the day quite a number of these were erected, the logs being laid up about four feet high, and the shelter tents stretched over a ridge pole formed a very good roof-during pleasant weather. The next day, Sunday, the 6th, the regiment was inspected by Colonel Moesch, and from all indications that the rank and file could observe, the army had settled down for the winter. Those skeptical fellows who had been waiting to see whether or not it would be worth while to go to the trouble of build- ing huts, finally made up their minds that log huts, with raised bunks, would be more comfortable than lying on the ground, and by the 13th the whole regiment was comfortably installed in their quarters, on which day, Colonel Moesch, Quarter-
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master Burtis and Lieutenant Van Alst, Jr., left for a visit to New York city, a short absence having been granted. Many of the domiciles were as well built as the cabins of the poorer Virginians, and much ingenuity was manifested in the erection of the chimneys and fire-places ; bricks were scarce, but with sticks and mud-the latter was quite plenty, and equal to any demand that might be made upon it-the boys managed to build as good chimneys as were necessary.
During the absence of Colonel Moesch the regiment was in charge of the Lieutenant-Colonel. And now that active operations were suspended, the men were congratulat- ing themselves upon a long season of rest. Day by day the quarters were made more comfortable, as this, that and the other convenience were added to the furniture or bedding in the huts. On the 16th the regiment was inspected by Lieuten- ant-Colonel Allen, U. S. A., Division Inspector. The ground was too soft and muddy for general drilling, but the recruits were put through occasionally, while guard-mount, dress- parade, guard and picket duty kept the men generally quite busy.
The old members of the regiment had been in the service long enough not to be surprised -- or, at least, to conceal their surprise-at any order, however disagreeable, that might be received ; so, when early on the 24th,-just as the boys were talking over the matter of properly celebrating Christmas,- orders having been given to "pack up and be ready to march," the only outward manifestations from this class were simply looks of disgust-and half-smothered maledictions upon the man that turned them out at mid-winter from their comfortable huts. The recruits were more demonstrative, and talked of getting up a petition to be allowed to remain where they were, but the veterans soon convinced them of the futil- ity of any such nonsense, and, with a great deal of swearing- if we must tell the truth-the men began to pack up. At eight o'clock brigade line was formed, and the column was soon on the march, headed west. After passing through Cul- peper the column followed the line of railroad south to a point near Mitchell's Station, where, late in the afternoon, the men
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bivouacked for the night upon the "cold, cold, ground," of a swampy piece of woods.
Christmas was anything but a "merry" one to the members of the NINTH. The camp was laid out-after a fashion-but the nature of the ground was such that no comfort was to be expected. "Military necessity," -- the excuse for many of the discomforts and privations of army life-was answerable for the condition of the regiment in the eyes of the " Powers," but this did not satisfy the men who were obliged to endure- blindly-the annoyances caused by the "exigency of war." Some men were sent out on picket duty, guards were posted ; there were crackers, coffee, "salt-horse" and fat pork for rations ; the boys did not starve, nor freeze to death, but that was all. So Christmas passed with the NINTH.
On the 2Sth a heavy rain-storm flooded the men out of their already uncomfortable quarters. " Mud-hole Camp" was correctly named. Patriotism could alone have sustained the spirits of many of the volunteers during the trials and vexa- tions incident to the war, and these vexations were, in the main, if not cheerfully borne, at least acquiesced in, from force of necessity, by the patriotic men in the ranks. Winter quarters and log huts were talked of, but no one had the temerity to begin again their erection, until some assurance was received that they would be occupied long enough to pay for the trouble of building.
On the 19th of November, while the Mine Run Campaign was in progress, an incident of national importance occurred on the field of Gettysburg. A national cemetery was dedica- ted there, on Cemetery Hill, adjoining the local cemetery, and on ground upon which Union regiments fought during the bat- tle. The remains of the Union dead had been carefully gath- ered from different parts of the extensive field and properly interred, the graves of those identified marked with name and regiment.
President Lincoln was the most prominent figure upon the occasion, and gave voice to the following immortal words :
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Property of the New York World!
LINCOLN'S ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURGN.Y. 309
" Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedi- cated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now, we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting- place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate-we can- not consecrate-we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it never can forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ; and that the government of the peo- ple, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
As the year closes -- for the NINTHI, amid somewhat gloomy and unpleasant surroundings-the cause the men cherished in their hearts had made great progress. The Union arms had been generally victorious during the year, and the people of the South were beginning to realize-after nearly three years of war --- that their revolt against constituted authority had led, and was still leading them, towards the gulf of despair. In its last issue of the year -- December 31st-the Richmond Exam- iner no doubt voiced the feelings of the majority of the south- ern people in these words :
To-day closes the gloomiest year of our struggle. No sanguine hope of intervention buoys up the spirits of the Confederate public as at the end of 1861. No -brilliant vice-
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tory, like that of Fredericksburg, encourages us to look forward to a speedy and suc- cessful termination of the war, as in the last week of 1862. Meade has been foiled, and Longstreet has had a partial success in East Tennessee ; but Meade's advance was hardly meant in earnest, and Bean's Station is a poor set-off to the loss of the gallant men who fell in the murderous assault on Knoxville. Meanwhile the finan- cial chaos is becoming wilder. Hoarders keep a more resolute grasp than ever on the necessaries of life. Non-producers, who are at the same time non-speculators, are suffering more and more. What was once competence has become poverty, poverty has become penury, penury is lapsing into pauperism.
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