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 29
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When the New Year, 1864, opened, it found the NINTH still "Stuck in the mud," near Mitchell's Station. But a change was in store for the men. During the day, the welcome orders came for the regiment to pack up and be ready to move. They cared not where, even a New Year's call upon the enemy would have been acceptable. But this was not exacted of them. A march of two miles towards Cedar Mountain brought the command upon high ground, on a hill, at the foot of which ran a stream of clear water. Thinking that this was the Mecca of their pilgrimage, the boys set to work at once, and from the neighboring forest soon cut logs enough to build comfortable quarters. But their happiness was short-lived, for at two o'clock the next day the familiar- and now disagreeable-orders to prepare for the march were received. At five o'clock the summit of Cedar Mountain was reached, a distance of three miles from the starting point. The enemy were reported close by ; in fact, their bivouac fires on the opposite side of the Rapidan were distinctly seen at night, and ordinary precautions required a strict watch and -ward to be kept along the whole line.
The men realized that they could not get much nearer the enemy without a fight, and inasmuch as the nature of the ground at this season of the year precluded an active cam- paign, they reasoned that they would remain for a while at least. But they thought best to bivouac for a day or two before engaging for the third time in house-building. On the 4th Chaplain Alford C. Roe reported for duty. He had been commissioned to succeed Chaplain Phillips, who resigned a year before. Snow fell all day. Many of the men visited the battle-field, where, on the 9th of August, 1862, they had first
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31I
A MONUMENT TO GENERAL REYNOLDS.
witnessed a general engagement. On the 5th the camp was regularly laid out, and the men busied themselves in cutting and hauling the logs from the woods near by to build their huts. The Twelfth Massachusetts and Eighty-eighth and Ninetieth Pennsylvania were sent into Culpeper. During the winter, the Fourteenth of Brooklyn, performed provost- guard duty there, and enlivened the tedious days and nights with amateur minstrel performances. On the 5th, too, a meeting of members of the First corps was held in the Bap- tist Church at Culpeper, for the purpose of devising ways and means for the erection of a monument at Gettysburg, to the memory of General Reynolds. The raising of the necessary funds was left to popular subscription among the members of the corps, officers being limited to a contribution of five dollars each, and the enlisted men to fifty cents. In a short time, five thousand seven hundred and nine dollars was subscribed and paid. The monument stands in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg.
A letter written near the close of the month says :
I am now sitting outside of my tent, in my shirt sleeves, writing. It is as warm as a summer's day. During the past two winters we often had two or three warm days at a time, but now it has been warm and pleasant for two weeks. An old man over at Slaughter's house says he has lived here over fifty years, and never before saw such a long spell of warm weather at this season of the year. * * * Every few days there are reports that the rebs. are moving and we get into line ready to meet them, but up to this time they have not visited us ; this is about all the excitement we have to relieve the monotony of camp life. Some of the boys have managed to get a pair of boxing gloves, and from the noise they are making seem to be enjoying themselves.
* * Rebel deserters are brought in from the picket line every day. There are also a great many contrabands brought in; if you were to see them shouting and dancing for joy when they get inside our picket lines you would laugh until your sides ached, as I did. They say the rebs. are sending all the blacks to Richmond. The darkies seem to dread going south. As one of our boys was on picket the other day he saw what he supposed was about a dozen men coming towards him, and two men a short distance behind them on horseback. He sang out, " Who comes there ? " when an old white-headed darky shouted, " Lor' bress you, is you a Union soldier? I'se okt Pete, and I'se got my boys and gals with me. We is all goin' to Massa Linkum ; let me in quick, there is two hoss soldiers arter us." * * * Incidents of this kind occur every night. Last night there was firing in the rebel eamp. A few deserters came in to-day and said there was a mutiny in some Tennessee regiment, but these deserters tell so many lies it is hard to believe any of them. Last winter deserters said the rebs. were starving. In the Spring we found them just as fat and ready to fight as ever *
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
February
CHAPTER XVII.
THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
Close of the Winter .- Deserters from the Confederate Army .- More Hut Build- ing .- Advance to the Rapidan .- Back to Culpeper .- Re-enlistment as Veteran Volunteers .- The NINTH on Duty at Cedar Mountain .- General Grant made Lieutenant-General and placed in Command of all the Union Armies .- The NINTH at Mitchell's Station .- General Grant Visits the Army .-- Consolidation of the Army .- Tribute to the First Corps .- General Grant joins the Army .- His Plans .- Preparing for Battle .- The Ninth Corps Returns to Virginia .- Lincoln's Letter to Grant .- The March Begins .- The Wilderness .- Fighting on the Fifth .--- Battle of the Sixth .- Colonel Moesch Killed .- Horrors of the Battle-field .- The First Flank Movement by the Left.
L ITTLE of importance occurred during the rest of the month of January. Deserters from Lee's army were numerous, and it is recorded that during the week ending on the 29th, over two hundred entered the Union lines in front of the Army of the Potomac. Cold weather, short rations, and possibly a conviction that the Southern cause would soon be on its last legs, no doubt induced many of the faint-hearted to abandon the sinking ship.
During the afternoon of the 29th the regiment left its win- ter quarters and marched to Culpeper, were the men found shelter for the night in abandoned dwelling-houses. The next morning the march was resumed by way of the Sperryville. Pike, and about three miles from town the rest of the brigade was found and another winter camp established. For the fourth time that season, the men of the NINTH went to work to build huts. The weather was cold and stormy, but the men worked cheerfully, and in two or three days were again com- fortably quartered.
By the Ist of February rainy weather set in ; snow fell occasionally, and the mud and slush rendered outdoor work very disagreeable. At one o'clock in the morning of the 6th
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MAJOR WILLIAMSON IN COMMAND.
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the men were turned out and at half-past six were marching towards the Rapidan, in which direction artillery firing was heard. Upon arriving at Raccoon Ford, twelve miles from camp, the enemy were observed upon the opposite side of the river ; they threw a number of shells, but the aim being too high no damage was inflicted. During the day a heavy artil- lery fire was maintained by the Confederates, and the Union troops were kept moving about in order to lessen the danger from bursting shells. At five o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy having ceased firing, the troops were ordered back, leaving only the customary picket guard at the river. The roads were in a horrible condition, and it was difficult for the artillery to move, even with extra horses, and the men were frequently obliged to assist in moving the pieces. The route led through Culpeper, and back to camp, where the men arrived late at night, being muddy, tired and hungry. Major Williamson was in command of the regiment at this time (8th).
The weather soon began to grow pleasanter, and on the 15th General Sedgwick, of the Sixth corps, but temporarily in command of the army, owing to the absence of General Meade, reviewed the First and Second divisions of the First corps, in a field near Culpeper. Before the ceremony was over a snow-storm set in, but the programme was fully carried out. On the 22nd the Second division was again reviewed, by Generals Sedgwick and Robinson, and on the 23rd the whole corps was "put through their facings" by the commander, General Newton, near Pony Mountain. All this work indi- cated preparation for the spring campaign, and when, on the 26th, orders from the War Department were read offering those three years' men who had served two years or more, and who would reenlist for another term, a large bounty and a thirty days' furlough, it was quite evident that the Government had determined to push matters with an iron hand.
This matter of the reenlistment of men in the field had occupied the attention of the Government during the previous year. Realizing the fact that the services of veteran troops
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THE NINE NEW YORK.
would be of more value in the prosecution of the war than new organizations, measures were adopted to secure their retention in the army. By the provisions of " General Orders. No. 101," and sabe quent amendments, issued during 1803. the three years men who had served two years, and who would reenlist in the same company and regiment, were to receive. thirty days furlough and a bounty of four hundred and two
dollars. The new term was to begin with date of reenlistment and the men were to be designated as " Veteran Volunteers." These liberal offers of the General Government, supplemented in most cases with State and Municipal bounty, induced many who had already rendered efficient service to reenlist for the new term, and thus the Government was assured of an efec- tive army with which to prosecute the Spring Campaign of 150.1.
Where regiments had been greatly depleted. consolidation into five or even a less number of companies was ordered. the Colonel, Major and Assistant Surgeon to be m stered out. The evil effect that would result from the execution of this harsh order was so apparent, however, that, in the Army of the Potomac, at least, it was suspended, and endeavors made to fill up the ranks of these " fighting " regiments.
Inasmuch as the Nixzu had been in the field nearly thirty- three months, the losses by the casualties of war and transfers had so reduced the number who had served over two years. that but few of the regiment were eligible to the new honor ; nevertheless, the following were sworn in :
Co. . ). Co. B .- Seret. Charles H. Barker, Priv. Jacob Budela.m. Priv. Patrick F. Moore, Musician Albert Wiedmer.
Co. C .- Sorgt. Wilton T. Jennings: Corp. William Il. Podley.
Co. D .- Priv. William S. Ryder. Priv. John W Springer. Co. E .--- Co. F .- Sergt. Joseph B. Davis.
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REENLISTMENTS
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Co. G. - Priv. Charles 11. Stewart. Priv. Daniel E. Wood.
Co. H .- Priv. Joseph W. Adee, Jr., Priv. Joseph McGrath, Priv. Charles O'Neill.
Co. 1 .- Sorgt. George Biegle. Sorgt. William Black.
Co. L .- Sergt. John J Kelly, Sorgt. Samuel G. Van Nor- den, Corp. Patrick Hosey. Corp. Augustus W. Meade. Priv. Thomas Burns, Priv. Patrick Callan, Priv. John T. Lock- ington. A total of twenty-three.
These men were at once sent home to enjoy the brief respite from field duty. Among the regiments who had been but a little over two years in the service, reenlistment was quite general. From the brigade the Eleventh and Eighty- eighth Pennsylvania nearly all volunteered, and returned home to recruit their ranks. Reference has already been made to the new material furnished the NINTH. An orderly sergeant of one of the companies wrote: " I have got two tent-mates ; one is an old veteran who has been with the regiment since August, 186t: he is a pretty steady chap. The other is a regular . John Bull ;' he is a new man, has been in the British army, is a generous-hearted fellow, but loves whiskey like an Irishman. # # * There are not over eight of the origi- nal members of our company here."
On the 27th a detail from the regiment was sent to guard the signal station on Cedar Mountain, while another was sent out on picket to Mitchell's Station. At this time the army was better supplied with ratiors than ever before. Such vegetables as potatoes, carrots and turnips were served ; the trains bringing the supply from Alexandria daily. The Government was evi- dently preparing the soldier with a good "stomach for a fight."
Another measure, and one fraught with weal to the cause, was the promotion of Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to a Lieutenant-Generaley, and his assignment to the command of all the Union armies in the field. a bill having been passed by Congress on the 29th for that special purpose. By his
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
March
successful operations in the West, General Grant had made himself the most prominent soldier in the Union Army, and as a general's abilities are measured by the victories he obtains, the taciturn, undemonstrative Grant, stood at the head. Therefore the country demanded, and Congress and the Pres- ident voiced that demand, that a general should be placed at the head of all the armies, who would take the field in person, and continue to win victories until the rebellion was crushed and the Union re-established.
The 3rd of March found a detail from the regiment, with other portions of the brigade, on picket at Mitchell's Station. A large number of deserters from the Forty-eighth Mississippi regiment came in during the first week of the month, and if their stories were to be believed, a very general feeling of discon- tent pervaded the whole Confederate Army. That such was not the case, however, was amply proven by the manner in which Lee's army fought during the year.
General Grant had been summoned to Washington, in order that the President might personally present him with his new commission, and invest him with the higher command. He arrived on the 9th and the interesting ceremony was per- formed in the White House. General Halleck was appointed Chief-of-Staff, with office in Washington. The next day the General-in Chief was at Meade's headquarters, at Brandy Sta- tion, and intimated his intention of making his headquarters in the field, near the army. On the 11th Grant returned to Washington, going thence to the West in order to arrange his affairs there ere he should return to Virginia.
An important change in the Army of the Potomac had been ordered before Grant's promotion. The First and Third corps-except General Seymour's division of the latter, which joined the Sixth corps --- were consolidated with the Fifth and Second, respectively. The men of the First and Third were to retain their corps badges, however-a small sop to their wounded feelings. The consolidation was a wise measure, notwithstanding the pain it caused many of the heroes of Gettysburg, and the men themselves, while they regretted the
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THE FIRST CORPS CONSOLIDATED.
317
necessity of the change, soon recognized its justness. The NINTH retained its division (Robinson) and brigade (Bax- ter) commanders. It was still in the Second brigade, Second division, but now of the Fifth corps, General G. K. Warren, commanding, In his order of the 24th, retiring from the com- mand of the old corps, General Newton said :
In relinquishing command, I take occasion to express the pride and pleasure I have experienced in my connection with you, and my profound regret at our separation. Identified by its services with the history of the war, the First corps gave at Gettys- burg a crowning proof of valor and endurance in saving from the grasp of the enemy the strong position upon which the battle was fought. The terrible losses suffered by the corps in that conflict attest its supreme devotion to the country. Though the corps has lost its distinctive name by the present changes, history will not be silent upon the magnitude of its services.
Besides the official utterances respecting the consolidated corps, many were the tributes paid by individual members, all · of which breathed that spirit of loyalty so dear to the heart of the true patriot. It mattered not under what particular gen- eral or corps number they fought, they determined to sustain their ancient renown among their new associates. Thus felt the members of the NixTu, and the sentiments of the rank and file are fittingly voiced by the following tribute, written at the time by a member of the old First corps :
It is no more ; the deed is done; the fiat has gone forth, and the First Army Corps has ceased to exist. The corps that was first formed -- it seems to us a long time ago -- in the early days of this unholy rebellion, the nation's first and greatest hope after the sun went down in dark and threatening clouds at the First Bull Run ; that band that prided themselves upon being the first in thorough organization ; the corps that has fought in a score of battles, losing over twenty thousand men, has been sacrificed and parcelled out to another. We weep. Is it unmanly? Is it womanly ? We may have the woman's heart : she weeps over her lost idol ; we weep over ours. We were of the First corps; its history is our history. Its glory ours, we were it, and it was us. Unmanly? Who struck fiercer or deadlier when the hoarse-mouthed cannon spoke, and his word was death ? Who loved their country more? Hated its enemies more? What corps can boast of a list of names like Meade, Reynolds, McDowell. King, Hartsuff, Ord, Seymour, Gibbon, Ricketts and Newton. Every one a hero. Our comrades sleep upon the hillsides of Fredericksburg, in the Wilderness, at Chan- cellorsville, upon the plains of Manassas, the rugged slopes of Slaughter and South Mountains, by the sluggish Antietam, and the blood of five thousand of our brave boys colored the ground of historic Gettysburg.
In the field beyond the town is a spot marked by our memento, before which the
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
March
pilgrim will come, bow his head in reverence, and drop tears of sorrow and joy, upon the spot where our noble commander gave up his life to save his country. The trar of sorrow that so brave a man, so skillful a soldier, must need be killed-the tear of joy, that the man who died was the instrument, under God, that saved the battle of Gettysburg, and thus revived the drooping spirit of the loyal North.
It is sad to contemplate the change that has come over us. The mind goes back over nearly three years of war, and viewsthe forty thousand men who have said, with pride, " We belong to the First corps," many of whom lie buried in known and unknown, though honored graves, upon all the important battle-fields of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. " Badgers," " Wolverines " and " Hoosiers "-men from the " Bay" State, the " Empire " State, the " Keystone "State, he " Pine Tree " State and the " Nutmeg" State, have stood side by side in cur ranks; side by side won victories, indulged in like hopes, dejected by the same fears ; side by side attested their love fo, our starry Hag, emblem of our freedom, and never faltered in duty, never turned their back to the foe, in disgrace. To write the history of our band is to write, almost, a history of the war.
Let every man who belonged to the old First corps register a vow to faithfully perform his duty in the Fifth. Let it never be said that the men who have made their names glorious while with Doubleday and Wadsworth, Meredith and Robinson, turned their backs to their country's foe, and stained their fair fame. With our glorious past, as a distinctive organization, let us make an equally glorious future, though our lot be cast with a strange corps. They are noble brothers, fighting for the same cause, with the same determined purpose. We must have our new allies recognize that we are all that soldiers should be; and in the not distant future, when our erring sister States shall again sing the hosanna of peace beneath the old flag, we will return to our homes and be called blessed. Our name, our deeds, will live, though no costly cenotaph should be raised in memoriam. We will be known in the future ; and until the angel shall come and rouse with the trumpet, all the host, we will be spoken of as among the bravest and best of the brave.
On the 26th General Grant established his headquarters at Culpeper. He had laid out Sherman's work in the West, and he tells us in his Memoirs that his general plan was to concentrate all his forces against the enemy in the field. He recognized that there were but two great Confederate armies -Johnston's in Georgia, and Lee's in Virginia-Lee's the more important, inasmuch as it still held, practically, the same posi- tion between the Army of the Potomac and the Confederate capital as at the beginning of the war. Says Grant :
I arranged for a simultaneous movement all along the line. Sherman was to move from Chattanooga, Johnston's army and Atlanta being his objective points. Crook, commanding in West Virginia, was to move from the mouth of the Gauley River with a cavalry force and some artillery, the Virginia and Tennessee railroad to be his objec- tive. * * * Sigel was in command in the Valley of Virginia. He was to advance, up the Valley, covering the North from an invasion through that channel as well while advancing as by remaining near Harper's Ferry. * * * Butler was to advance by the James River, having Richmond and Petersburg as his objective.
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TO MOVE BY THE FLANK.
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Grant was not satisfied with what the cavalry had done during the war, and in an interview with the President and General Halleck, the latter proposed that Sheridan should be transferred from Sherman's army to that of the Potomac. Grant said he was the very man he wanted, and " Little Phil." was sent for. Banks, in command at New Orleans, was ordered to concentrate his forces at that point and prepare to move on Mobile. Grant further says in his Memoirs :
At this time I was not entirely decided whether I should move the army of the Potomac by the right flank of the enemy or by his left. [ Lee was on the south side of the Rapidan, his right resting on Mine Run, a position he had occupied all winter .- ED.] Each plan presented advantages. If by his right-my left-the Potomac, Chesapeake Bay, and tributaries would furnish us an easy line over which to bring all supplies to within easy hauling distance of every position the army could occupy from the Rappahannock to the James River. But Lee could, if he chose, detach, or move his whole army North on a line rather interior to the one I should have to take in fol- lowing. A movement by his left -- my right-would obviate this; but all that was done would have to be done with the supplies and ammunition we started with. All idea of adopting this latter plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of supplies possible to take with us was considered The country over which we should have to pass was so exhausted of all food or forage, that we should be obliged to carry every thing with us.
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During the month of March the camps were cleared of all non-combatants; furloughed officers and soldiers were recalled to their commands. On the 27th a number of Maryland regi- ments went home to vote, the NINTH performing guard and picket duty for them on Pony Mountain during their absence. On the 29th the Fifth corps was reviewed by Generals Grant, Meade and Warren.
The Ist of April was ushered in by a freshet, which carried away several military bridges, and necessitated a great deal of extra work to repair damages. Rain, sleet and snow prevailed during the week. A call having been made for volunteers for the Navy from among the soldiers, about thirty of the NINTII-all of them " Conscripts " -- left on the 6th for their new duty. On the 7th, the Eleventh and Eighty-eighth Penn- sylvania returned to the field, their ranks well filled with excel- lent material for soldiers. By the 10th indications of active
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April
operations were apparent. Clothing and new shelter tents were issued, and officers were directed to reduce their baggage to the smallest possible compass. ' Company drills, in heavy marching order, were held every morning, battalion and brigade drills on alternate days, and, best of all, target practice was ordered-a much needed exercise. The weather contin- ued rainy, and on the 11th the railroad bridges across Bull Run, Cedar Run and the Rappahannock were carried away by the high water, and no mail arrived. The absence of letters and newpapers, even for a day, was a subject of comment, as the men had been accustomed to receive these with great regularity during the winter. On the 13th Meade moved his headquarters from Brandy Station to Culpeper; Warren was also established there, and General Grant. Headquarters were carefully guarded ; neither civilian nor soldier could enter the town without a pass from a general officer, and equal care was exercised respecting any one, civilians especially, leaving the town, for fear they might be spies conveying information to the enemy.
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