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 31
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Early in the morning of the 9th General Sheridan cut loose from the army and started for the Confederate rear in order to cut the railroads. Shortly after daylight the advance of the Ninth corps had reached the Fredericksburg-Spott- sylvania turnpike, where it crosses the Ny River. Driving away the enemy's pickets posted on the south side, the troops advanced and occupied the high ground beyond, where they
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332
May
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
found themselves upon the Beverly Farm, and within a mile and a half of the Court House. An attempt was made by newly arrived portions of Lee's army to regain this vantage ground, but by noon these assaults had been gallantly repulsed by Willcox's division ; the left of the Union line was firmly established, and communication with Fredericksburg, by way of the turnpike, assured. While reconnoitering along the front of the Sixth corps in the forenoon, General Sedgwick was killed by a sharpshooter, the command of the corps devolving upon General H. G. Wright. In order to meet the movement of the Ninth corps, General Lee had withdrawn a portion of his troops from Hancock's front, and in the after- noon the Second corps moved south, and the bulk of it crossed the Po River. At dark the Union line formed a half circle, from the southwest to the northeast of Spottsylvania Court House
From the official report, made by Colonel Coulter, of the operations of the brigade from the 3d to the 9th inclusive, the following copious extracts are taken :
Midnight, 3d instant, brigade (excepting 88tn Pennsylvania, which had previously been detailed as wagon guard) marched, crossing Rapidan at Germanna Ford, and encamped about 5 miles from Ford at 5 P. M. next day.
About 11 A. M., 5th instant, enemy were engaged on Fredericksburg and Orange turnpike, near Lacy House, by parts of the ist and 4th divisions.
At 1 P. M. brigade ordered to support those engaged who had been compelled to retire to earthworks on road. 0
After assisting to extend and strengthen earthworks, were withdrawn, and subse- quently, 6 P. M., with 4th division, were moved to the left to support of General Hancock's right.
After entering wood, brigade advanced on right of 4th division in 2 lines, right wing of 11th Pennsylvania (which was on right of brigade) being marched by flank to protect our right, soon engaged enemy's skirmishers and a brisk fire was maintained until 8 P. M., when, becoming too dark, pickets were advanced and position occupied until next morning. General Rice's brigade, 4th division, having in the meantime taken position on right of this brigade.
Shortly after daylight, 6th instant, advance was resumed, 12th Massachusetts as skirmishers, General Cutler's brigade, 4th division, on left, and General Rice's brigade, 4th division, on right of this brigade.
Enemy's skirmishers were driven with small loss and Plank Road soon gained, when Hancock's line was met advancing, and direction was changed to the right. Moved now along both sides of Plank Road, about 1, mile, under brisk fire, when further advance was checked by strong force of enemy, supported by artillery.
Brigade was soon disposed as follows : 11th Pennsylvania, 83d New York, part of
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COLONEL COULTER'S REPORT.
IS64
12th Massachusetts and 97th New York on left, and residue of 12th Massachusetts and 97th New York on right of road. Portions of 4th divison, 5th corps, were on right, and 2d corps in rear and left of brigade. Was here directed by General Baxter, com- manding brigade, to remain in position then occupied by portions of brigade on left of road or move with troops connecting with me until further orders.
In meantime enemy had secured such a position as enabled him to deliver a most galling fire on our right flank. The regiments in front, also being hotly engaged, gave way, carrying with them those in rear, until met by another advancing line of 2d corps, with which again advanced, retaking and retaining most of the lost ground. This continued until 11 A. M. The loss in brigade was very severe ; many reported missing are undoubtedly killed or wounded and left on the field, while the nature of the ground, (it being literally " the Wilderness,") rendered either an extensive view or the finding and properly caring for the wounded utterly impossible.
By the wounding of General Baxter, command of brigade devolved on myself.
I united my command to the portion which I found near General Hancock's head- quarters, amounting in all to about Goo men, and was by General Hancock ordered to report to General Gibbon, commanding 2d division, 2d corps, and by him was sent with Colonel Brooks' brigade to extreme left in anticipation of an attack in that quarter.
Here remained until about 5 P. M. strengthening position, when I was directed by General Gibbon to report to General Hancock, by him to General Robinson, and by him to General Warren.
After being marched to various points to meet apparent exigencies of the moment, was at 10 P. M. ordered by General Warren into position on Plank Road, in rear of army headquarters, enemy's efforts being at time directed against right of 6th corps.
On the morning of 7th instant was ordered to report to General Ricketts, com- manding 3d division, 6th corps, on right of General Griffin, and assisted in strengthen- ing position until 2 P. M., when was withdrawn to Lacy House, and was joined by residue of brigade, under command of Colonel Bates, 12th Massachusetts, and later in evening by 88th Pennsylvania, who had been returned from wagon guard and were acting during day with ist brigade, Colonel Lyle.
The portion of brigade, under Colonel Bates, after engagement of morning of 6th instant, had formed near Lacy House, and was by General Warren ordered into posi- tion on left of General Griffin, where, with some slight change, remained until rejoining brigade.
At 10 P. M., division now united, marched to left on road to Spottslyvania Court House. This leading passed 2d corps, marched all night, and about 5 A. M., 8th instant, went into position, 12th Massachusetts and right wing of 11th Pennsylvania deployed as skirmishers. Advanced about 11g miles with some loss, enemy's skir- mishers retiring. At this point, lines, which were somewhat disordered, were under direction of General Robinson, re-formed and advance resumed, this brigade on left and Ist and 3d brigades on right of road. From this point, ground was open; enemy had taken position in edge of woods, strengthening himself by felling trees. When within about 75 yards of enemy's line, fire having become very severe, both on left flank, which was entirely unprotected, and front,advance was checked and soon after brigade was compelled to retire as far as woods, where lines were partially re-formed, sufficient to secure withdrawal of our artillery. Finally, however, being still pressed. the whole division retired to near Alsop House, when re-formed and temporary defense of rails were erected.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
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During the advance General Robinson was severely wounded and taken from the field. His being disabled at this juncture was a severe blow to the division, and certainly influenced the fortunes of the day. The want of our commanding offi- cer prevented that concert of action which alone could have overcome the enemy in front.
I may here remark that the division, from date of leaving Culpeper, had been labored to its utmost ability, either marching, engaged with the enemy, or employed in the erection of defensive works. It had also marched the entire night previous to, and went into this action without having had either rest or refreshment.
Those whose duty it had been to reconnoitre the front, reported " only dismounted cavalry." Brigade and division were pressed forward with great rapidity over difficult ground, many being compelled, from utter exhaustion, to halt, so when the enemy was in reality met our lines were almost decimated, and those remaining unfit for any offensive operations. One of the men advancing having obtained, through the thick undergrowth, a view of the enemy's skirmishers, remarked, " Pretty dismounted cavalry, carrying knapsacks." The sequel proved the truth of this remark. The division, exhausted and decimated, soon found itself engaged by a strong and veteran ( Hood's) division of the enemy, choosing the ground and abiding the attack.
By the disability of General Robinson, command of division temporarily devolved on myself, being senior colonel present.
Division re-formed, as before stated, and remained in position until 8 P. M., when it was advanced to a position on right of point of morning attack. Here were employed during night and until noon of 9th instant erecting defensive works.
In the evening of this day, Ist brigade, Colonel Lyle, commanding, was temporarily assigned to 4th division ; 2d brigade, myself commanding, to 3d division ; the 3d bri- gade, Colonel Bowerman, commanding, being retained by General Warren under his own supervision.
In so far as it may be proper for a junior I desire to call attention to the gallantry of General Baxter, commanding brigade.
Wherever his presence was required there was he found, giving direction and encouragement to his men. He was wounded while at the head of his command.
Colonel Moesch, 83d New York, fell at the head of his command. It is only necessary to say that in his death he proved himself worthy of the favorable mention heretofore repeatedly made of him.
I annex a tabular statement of casualties :
RECAPITULATION MAY 5TH TO STH.
KILLED.
WOUNDED.
MISSING.
TOTAL.
REGIMENT.
Off.
Men.
Off.
Men.
Off.
Men.
Off.
Men.
General and Staff ...
11th P. V.
I
10
7
151
2
26
IO
190
200
97th N. Y.
I
22
5
96
. .
19
6
137
143
12th Mass
I
17
3
73
1 2
1
102
100
83d N. Y
3
25
5
1.33
23
8
189
SSth P. V.
I
2
43
.
3
2
46
6
75
23
498
3
83
32
650
688
. .
1
2
. .
AGGRE-
2
. .
1
1 S64
THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA.
335
SPOTTSYLVANIA.
On the morning of the 10th Laurel Hill was still occupied by the enemy in front of the Fifth corps. Lines of rifle pits could be plainly seen on the crest of the hill ; the slope was densely wooded, and it was believed that stronger lines of intrenchments lay behind the rifle pits. Orders had been issued for an advance of the Fifth and Sixth corps, and Colonel Coulter was directed to push forward his brigade and carry the rifle pits in his front at all hazards. The Ninety- seventh New York were deployed on the skirmish line and the rest of the brigade formed in two lines, the Twelfth Massachusetts and Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania on the right, the Eleventh Pennsylvania and the NINTH on the left, the right wings of the regiments forming the first line of battle, the left wings the second. While the brigade, with the rest of the corps, lay waiting for the order to advance, a reconnois- sance was being conducted upon the right by Hancock, who, upon reporting the situation, was ordered to return to the north side of the Po River, and assume command of the troops des- tined for the forward movement.
Believing that Hancock's withdrawal was a retreat, the enemy pushed forward and inflicted some loss upon the Second corps, but a counter movement of a couple of brigades of Gib- bon's division in Warrem's front relieved the pressure, and Hancock was enabled to withdraw the balance of his corps with little further loss. It was about four o'clock in the after- noon when the Fifth and Sixth corps, supported by the Second, moved forward to the main attack.
At the word of command, the lines pushed forward, but the nature of the ground was such that it was difficult to keep close formation. The fire of the enemy's advance line was soon encountered, but did not for a moment retard the Union line. Up the hill, struggling through a mass of low-branched cedars, and amid a shower of rebel bullets, the gallant men pushed their way. The NINTH was on the extreme left of the brigade, and as the line entered a little clearing just in front
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
May
of the enemy's breastworks, the men broke into a cheer and charged into and over the rifle pits, the enemy hurriedly retreating to the main line, upon higher ground, further in the rear.
An open field intervened between the line of works just captured and the enemy's second line, and the latter was plainly seen bristling with artillery. After re-forming the brigade was again ordered forward, but when within a couple of hundred yards of the objective point, the enemy poured an enfilading as well as direct fire into the ranks, and the men were com- pelled to halt. Taking whatever advantage the nature of the ground afforded, the men began at once to dig with their bay- onets and throw up a slight defence, and here the position was maintained until Gibbon's division relieved them, when the brigade retired a few rods to the rear. At dusk, other troops arrived, and those which had been in the advance during the battle retired to the line of rifle pits, which they had carried a few hours before, and where the night was spent. During the battle, three officers in the regiment had been wounded, twelve enlisted men had been killed and thirty were wounded. The underbrush caught fire during the evening, and before all the wounded could be removed, a number were burned to death.
The Sixth corps had gained a brilliant success on the left, early in the battle ; Colonel Upton, of the One Hundred and Twentieth New York, in command of a division, penetrating the enemy's main line and capturing a large number of prison- ers ; but for lack of proper support he was compelled to fall back. The Ninth corps, on the extreme left, had reached a point within a quarter of a mile of the Court House, but after the fighting was over for the day, the main line of the enemy's works still remained in their hands.
During the 11th the regiment was not called upon for any serious work. General Grant had determined " to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer," and the day was spent in making reconnoissances. It was believed that a weak point had been discovered in the enemy's line. Sheridan had suc-
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TO FIGHT, IF IT TAKES ALL SUMMER.
ceeded in cutting the telegraph wires, and destroying several miles of railroad between Lee's army and Richmond. During the afternoon, dispositions were made for the renewal of the battle the following morning. Rain began to fall about the middle of the afternoon, and before dark the ground was wet and the roads deep with mud. The Second corps was moved during the night, by the rear of the Fifth and Sixth, to a posi- tion between the Ninth and Sixth corps, and was halted within twelve hundred yards of the enemy's line.
At half-past four o'clock in the morning of the 12th, as the NINTH lay behind the intrenchments, ready to move at the word of command, a scattering musketry fire was heard away off to the left ; soon the artillery was heard, and then it was rumored throughout the command that Hancock, with the Second corps, had attacked and captured a salient on the enemy's line, and with it a whole division of the enemy with all its artillery. During the heavy firing the NINTH was expect- ing every moment to be sent against the works on Laurel Hill, but it was ten o'clock before orders to advance were received, and then the brigade moved forward a short distance and halted. The Pennsylvania Reserves had been given the advance, and when they moved to the assault, Coulter's brigade was ordered to follow in support of the right of the line. The Pennsylvanians went in in gallant style, but when within a few rods of the enemy their left flank was assailed by such a murderous fire, that they were compelled to halt and then fall back. The Sixth corps had not cleared their front, and it was impossible for the Fifth to hold any advance ground on its own left. During the movements Coulter's brigade had advanced to the right of, and beyond, the assaulting column, but for- tunately the nature of the ground protected it in a measure, and the loss in the NINTH is unknown, except one killed-Cap- tain Connolly. Some of the regiments suffered severely, the Eleventh Pennsylvania reporting a loss of seventy-five before regaining the point from which they started in the morning.
After dark the NINTH was sent out on picket, and during the
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338
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
May
night one man was killed by a chance shot from one of the enemy's rifles.
The morning of the 13th found the NINTH on the picket line, where it remained till about four o'clock in the afternoon, and then returned to a position behind the intrenchments. Leaving a portion of the brigade to hold the line, the balance, with the rest of the corps, marched, at about midnight, towards the left of the Union line. The night was dark and rainy, the route lay across country, through fields and woods, and fires were maintained in order to keep the men from straying in the wrong direction. Before daylight the column halted. The Ny River had been forded during the night march, and many other streams crossed, which, swelled by the rain, were deep and difficult. When daylight of the 14th appeared, it opened upon a very tired and dirty lot of soldiers, and yet the fighting spirit had not been quenched in the least. It was found that the Sixth corps was on the left, and the Ninth on the right of the Fifth; Hancock, with the Second corps, still holding the ground at the captured salient -- now the extreme right.
A little fighting occurred during the forenoon of the 14th in front of the Sixth corps, and a brigade from the Fifth was sent to the support of General Upton, who, by this aid, suc- ceeded in establishing the line. As soon as Lee found the Union left extended he withdrew his troops from Hancock's front, and the Second corps was then massed in rear of the center of the Union Army. By dark the new line was fully established, its direction being about north and south, and east of the Court House.
Little of interest occurred on the 15th. The rain contin- ued to fall, and, aside from some unimportant changes of posi- tion, during which a few shots were exchanged with the enemy's pickets, all was quiet. By the 16th the roads had become almost impassable for wagons or artillery, and even the ambulances were compelled to suspend their trips to Fred- ericksburg with the wounded. During the forenoon the weather had cleared off and the sun came out burning hot.
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MOSBY ENCOUNTERED.
1 864
In the afternoon, while upon a reconnoissance, the NINTII came in contact with the enemy's skirmishers, during which four of the regiment were killed and several more wounded.
As soon as the army had advanced far enough to cover Fredericksburg, repairs were begun upon the railroad between that place and Acquia creek, in order that the army might be supplied, and an outlet established for the wounded. Mos- by's "Guerillas" were constantly hovering about the country, between the rear of the army and the Potomac, and in one of their raids, near Belle Plain, attacked an ambulance train of wounded, among which were many of the NINTH.
The train was driven into the woods, the horses detached, but the wounded were not further molested. Mosby's men were quite anxious for news from the front, and plied their unresisting prisoners with all sorts of questions. The rough- riders soon departed with the horses and the civilian drivers- whom they took along to care for the animals-but during the night word was conveyed to the Union lines, and by early morning fresh team horses arrived and the journey to Belle Plain was completed without further trouble.
On the 17th a movement was made by the Fifth and Sixth corps against the right flank of the enemy. The troops moved at daylight, but the nature of the ground was such that Gen- eral Wright found it impossible to maneuver in his front, and the movement was abandoned, and instead the Second and Sixth corps were ordered to assault the enemy's left at the point of Hancock's battle of the 12th. During the day and evening the troops marched to their stations, the NINTH mor- ing about two miles, and at about five o'clock in the morning of the 18th the artillery opened. Warren's Fifth corps was to be the reserve, and the artillery of the corps-it was expected- would play an important part in the engagement. The NINTH saw little of the battle, but heard enough to warrant them in believing that a desperate engagement was being fought. By ten or eleven o'clock Hancock became satisfied that his assault could not succeed, and the troops were withdrawn. After the engagement the NINTH was sent out on picket in skirmishing
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
May
order, but the enemy advanced in force compelling them to fall back ; when, however, the line, strongly supported, was ordered to advance again, the Confederates retired and the NINTH was left in undisputed possession of the advanced post. Picket firing was lively, and about ten o'clock in the evening, as Col- onel Coulter was inspecting the lines he was shot through the body and seriously wounded. Colonel Bates, of the Twelfth Massachusetts, assumed command of the brigade.
Among the reenforcements sent to the army about this time were several regiments of heavy artillery, which had been ordered from the defences of Washington. Each of these regiments numbered more than any of the old brigades of the army, and one -- the Seventh New York -- entered the active campaign sixteen hundred strong. They were all well dressed and carried heavy knapsacks-at first-but soon the route of their march could be traced by abandoned clothing, white gloves and paper collars.
Leaving Company C upon the picket line, at about five o'clock in the afternoon of the 19th, the NINTH with the rest of the brigade were double quicked off to the extreme right of the line of battle, some two miles distant, near to the Harris House, in order to support the artillery, under Col. J. Howard Kitching, then endangered by an attack of Ramseur's brigade. Shortly after the arrival of the brigade the enemy fell back. This position was maintained during the night. The Confed- erates had made an attack on the right flank of the Union Army, and, finding little to oppose him, Ewell, whose corps was the assaulting party, crossed the Po River, between the Fred- ericksburg-Spottsylvania turnpike and the Richmond and Fredericksburg Telegraph Road. The only force that lay between him and Fredericksburg was Ferrero's division of colored troops, of the Ninth corps, and Tyler's brigade of heavy artillery, neither of which had ever been under fire in the open field. Tyler's brigade was first encountered, but the " Heavies" gave a good account of themselves, and when Fer- rero's troops became engaged, as they did, lightly, it was reported that "the colored troops fought nobly."
2 ...
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1 864
BADEAU'S TRIBUTE TO THE VOLUNTEERS.
At five o'clock the next morning, the 20th, the NINTH moved a mile or so towards the front, but met none of the enemy, and by half-past six were back where the night had been spent, and where the regiment remained till half-past ten the following morning. The movements back and forth about Spottsylvania were, to the average soldier, like wandering through the woods on a dark night. Badeau, in his Military History of Ulysses S. Grant, Vol. II., page 211, says :
None but a soldier knows how the fatigues of such a campaign affect the spirits and the endurance and even the valor of soldiers. These long periods, without rest or sleep, and with hurried meals-when the nerves are always strung. the men always expecting battle, always on the lookout against surprise -- these wear out the vital force,. which is indispensable even to moral courage. Besides this, the marching up and down over the same ground, the advancing, apparently, only to withdraw, the maneuvering, so far as the troops could see, to no purpose, was not only wearisome, but discouraging. It was impossible for even officers, absorbed in their immediate duties, and observing only a limited portion of the force or the field, to form a correct idea of the object of half the manenvers in which they were engaged ; while private soldiers could hardly ever know whether Grant's aim was attained or not, whether an engagement was a feint, or an attack only a cover. All they knew was their own hard duty-to march, and to fight, to suffer and obey. Grant now determined upon another movement by the left flank, in order to place his army between Lee and the North Anna River.
About ten or eleven o'clock in the morning of the 21st, General Warren began to withdraw the Fifth corps for the march to Guinea Station, on the Richmond and Fredericks- burg railroad, and near the Mattapony-a river formed by the junction of the Mat, Tas Po, and Ny. Here the river was crossed, and at five o'clock in the afternoon the troops moved out towards the Telegraph Road for a short distance, and then halted for the night. Hancock had a light engagement with the enemy at Guinea Station, but had pushed on down the railroad, and at night bivouacked at Milford, part of his troops on the south side of the Mattapony. The Sixth and Ninth corps had been left near Spottsylvania to hold the enemy as long as possible.
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