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 34
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GERARD L. MCKENZIE, Private Co. E, appointed ist Lieut. 96th N. Y. Vols. Feb. 26; Captain, Oct. 13 ; Lieut .- Colonel, Dec. 26, 1862 ; resigned March 20, 1863.
AUGUSTUS W. MEADE, Corporal Co. L, appointed ist Lieut.
Co. A 97th N. Y. Vols. Dec. 29, 1864 ; mustered out July 18, 1865.
EDWARD S. MILLS, Private Co. H, appointed Captain 154th N. Y. Vols. Sept. 15, 1862 ; resigned April 7, 1863.
E. WILLIAM MONTEATH, Private Co. H, appointed and Lieut. 177th N. Y. Vols. May 27 ; mustered out Sept. 10, 1863. BANKSON T. MORGAN, Corporal Co. C, appointed 2nd Lieut. Co. C 2nd U. S. Sharpshooters, "Berdans," Oct .;- , 1861 ; Ist Lieut., Jan. -- , 1862 ; Lieut .- Colonel 54th N. Y. Voks Sept. 29, 1863 ; on staff of Generals John P. Ilatch and John G. Foster ; Brevet Brig .- General U. S. Vols. March 13, 1865 ; mustered out May 21, 1866.
SYLVESTER R. MORGAN, Private Co. K, appointed 2nd Lieut. Sth N. Y. Battery July 20. 1862 ; Ist Lieut., Dec. 17, 1863 ; mustered out June 30, 1865.
JOSEPH J. MORRISON, Captain Co. A, appointed Captain Bat- tery B 3d N. Y. Art. Jan. 17, 1862; resigned May 5, 1863 ; appointed Colonel 16th N. Y. Art. Feb. 2, 1864; Brevet Brig .- General U. S. Vols. March 13 ; mustered out Aug. 21, 1865.
FREDERICK MUNCKE, Ist Lieut. Co. B, appointed ist Lieut. 64th N. Y. Vols., Jan. 1 ; mustered out July 14, 1865.
JACOB F. MUNSON, 2nd Lieut. Co. C; appointed and Lieut. 8th U. S. Vet. Vols. Dec. 31, 1864; Brevet Captain U. S. Vols. March 13, 1865; mustered out Feb. 15 ; appointed
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PROMOTED FROM. 369
2nd Lieut. 6th U. S. Inf. May 11; ist Lieut., Oct. 31, 1866 ; Captain, Dec. 15, 18So ; still in service.
HENRY O'CONNOR, Private Co. H, appointed and Lieut. 133d N. Y. Vols. Dec. 18, 1862 ; honorably discharged Dec. 8, 1863.
JAMES O'CONNOR, Private Co. H, appointed 2nd Lieut. 131st N. Y. Vols. Nov. 7, 1862 ; ist Lieut., Nov. 4, 1863 ; mus- tered out July 26, 1865.
JAMES W. PARKS, Private Co. G, appointed ist Lieut. Ist U. S. Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 21, 1863; honorably discharged June 19, 1866.
GEORGE M. PEALE, Private Co. E, appointed Hospital Stew- ard U. S. A. Feb. 16; ist Lieut. and Asst. Surgeon 6th U. S. Col. Art. Dec. 21, 1863 ; mustered out May 13, 1866. EUGENE PICKETT, Captain Co. A, appointed Captain 22nd U. S. Vet. Res. Corps March 18, 1864 ; mustered out July 1, I 865.
CHARLES E. PRESCOTT, Captain Co. C, appointed Lieut .- Col- onel 132nd N. Y. Vols. Sept. 9 ; resigned Dec. 12, 1862.
WILLIAM PRINCE, Private Co. F, appointed Ist Lieut. 159th N. Y. Vols. Dec. 26th 1863 ; and Lieut. Ordnance Dept. U. S. A. Jan. 19, 1864; Brevet Captain U. S. A. March 31, 1865; ist Lieut., April 6, 1866; Captain, June 23, 1874; died at Washington, Dec. 18, 18So.
JOHN T. PRYER, Private &Co. C, appointed and Lieut. Send N. Y. Vols., " 2nd N. Y. S. M.," Feb. 7 ; wounded at the Bat- tle of Antietam ; honorably discharged Nov. 24, 1862.
"HARRY ROCKAFELLER, Private Co. D, appointed Captain 14th U. S. Vet. Res. Corps, -, 1863 ; transferred to the 21st U. S. Vet. Res. Corps Sept. - , 18644 ; Brevet Lieut .- Col- onel U. S. Vols. March 13 ; resigned Aug. 15, 1865.
* Transferred to Co. F 71st N. Y. S. M. April 20, 1861; wounded, " arm amputated." and prisoner at the Battle of Bull Run, 1861 ; on duty with 9th N. Y. S. M. at the Bat- tles of South Mountain and Antietam. Elected Captain 4th N. G., S. N. Y. Jan. -; Major, 71st N. G., S. N. Y. Sept, 3, 1866 ; Lieut .- Colonel, May 30, 1867 ; Colonel, Nov. 1, 1869; resigned Sept. 9. 1872.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
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ALFRED C. ROE, Chaplain S3d N. Y. Vols., " 9th N. Y. S. M "; transferred to 104th N. Y. Vols. June 7, 1864 ; mustered out July 17, 1865.
*WASHINGTON A. ROEBLING, 2nd Lieut. Co. K, on staff duty, engaged in erecting suspension bridges, May -, 1862 ; Major and A. D. C., U. S. Vols. April 20, 1864 ; on staff Gen. G. K. Warren ; resigned Jan. 21, 1865. Brevet Colo- nel U. S. Vols. March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritor- ious services."
* Colonel Roebling was chief engineer in the construction of the New York and Brooklyn bridge-the greatest suspension bridge in the world.
SMITH C. Roor, Private Co. A, appointed 2nd Lieut. 158th N. Y. Vols. Sept. 22, 1862; Captain, Feb. 23, 1864; mustered out June 30, 1865.
FALLAN RUTHERFORD, Lieut .- Colonel 83d N. Y. Vols., "9th N. Y. S. M.," appointed Lieut .- Colonel 22nd U. S. Vet. Res. Corps Dec. 4, 1863 ; present at the engagement at Silver Springs, Md., July 12, 1864; mustered out Jan. 7, 1867; appointed ist Lieut. 44th U. S. Inf. Nov. 30, 1866 ; Captain, March 20, 1867. Brevet Brig .- General U. S. A. March 3, 1869, "for distinguished gallantry and services"; resigned May 1, 1870.
t Appointed Third Auditor U. S. Treasury May 1, 1870; resigned Jan. 14, 1876. ROBERT G. RUTHERFORD, Captain Co. G, appointed Captain Co. C. 6th U. S. Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 11, 1863; Officer of the Guard at the " Old Capitol " Prison ; present at the attack upon Fort Stevens by Gen. Early, 1864; Brevet Lieut .- Colonel U. S. Vols. March 13, " for gallant and meritorious services "; transferred to the 22nd U. S. Vet. Res. Corps July 22, 1865 ; mustered out April 30, 1867; appointed and Lieut. 45th U. S. Inf. March 7, 1867; transferred to the 12th U. S. Inf. Aug. 30, 1870 ; ist Licut. May 24, 1873; retired June 28, IS78.
TREADWELL SEAMAN, Private Co. G, appointed 2nd Lieut. Co. E 2nd U. S. Colored Troops March 5, 1863; Ist Lieut.
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1864
371
PROMOTED FROM.
Co. K 79th U. S. Colored Troops March 12 ; resigned June 15, 1864.
DAVID C. SELHEIMER, Private Co. D, appointed ist Lieut. 46th Penn. Vols. -- - ; died Sept. 21, of wounds received at the Battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 19, 1864. ISAAC SEYMOUR, Jr., Sergeant Co. D, appointed 2nd Lieut. 2nd N. Y. Cav. Oct. 15, 1861 ; Ist Lieut., Oct. 14, 1862; on staff of Gen. Geo. W. Morrell ; resigned Sept. 19, I 863.
W. C. H. SHERMAN, Private Co. C, appointed Major and Aid-de-Camp U. S. Vols. ------ , 1861 ; WILLIAM SIMPSON, Private Co. E, appointed ist Lieut. 16th U. S. Col. Troops --- 1863; on staff Gen. N. P. Banks ; honorably discharged Sept. 21, 1864.
J. KEARNY SMITH, Private Co. C, appointed ist Lieut. and Adjutant 27th N. J. Vols. Oct. 9; Captain, Nov. 11; resigned Dec. 22, 1862.
WILLIAM H. B. SMITH, Private Co. C, appointed ist Lieut. Ist Mass. Vols. -; killed at the Battle of Black- burn's Ford, Va., July 18, 1861.
WILLIAM McC. SMITH, Private Co. C, appointed and Lieut. 132nd N. Y. Vols. Aug. 18, 1862; resigned Jan. 9, 1863.
CHESTER H. SOUTHWORTH, Private Co. L, appointed ist Lieut. Il9th N. Y. Vols. Sept. 8, 1862; Captain, Feb. 17 ; Major, July 30, 1864; mustered out June 7, 1865.
JAMES M. STAPLES, Private Co. C, appointed 2nd Lieut. 3d N. Y. Art. June 19, 1864 ; ist Lieut., Feb. 20 ; honorably discharged May 27, 1865.
CHARLES STEELHAMMER, Private Co. B, appointed Hospital Steward U. S. A. May 12, 1862; honorably discharged Sept. 6, 1864; appointed and Lieut. and ist Lieut. 17th U. S. Inf. Sept. 2, 1864; transferred to 35th U. S. Inf. Sept. 21 ; Captain, Nov. 1, 1866 ; transferred to 15th U. S. Inf. Aug, 12, 1869 ; retired Oct. 31, 1884.
IRA W. STEWARD, Corporal Co. F, appointed 2nd Lieut. 28th
a
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
June
·
N. Y. Battery Nov. 29, 1862; Ist Lieut., March 1, 1863; mustered out July 31, 1865.
WILLIAM S. STRYKER, 2nd Lieut. Co. D, appointed ist Lieut. Signal Corps U. S. A. March -, 1863 ; Brevet Captain U. S. Vols. Dec. - , 1864 ; honorably discharged Sept. -, 1865.
THOMAS H. SWENARTON, Private Co. G, appointed Captain 22nd N. J. Vols. Oct. 22, 1862 ; resigned April 24, 1863.
ALEXANDER H. M. TAYLOR, Private Co. B, appointed Sergeant General Service U. S. A. Sept. 10, 1862; honorably discharged April 30, 1863 ; re-appointed March 5 ; honor- ably discharged March 31, 1864 ; appointed and Lieut. 17th U. S. Inf. March 16, 1866 ; ist Lieut., Sept. 1, 1867 ; honorably discharged Dec. 1, 1870; appointed Hospi- tal Steward U. S. A. May 24, 1872 ; and Lieut. 19th, U. S. Inf. Oct. 1, 1873 : Ist Lieut., Nov. 24, 1879 ; now in service.
WILLIAM H. TERWILLIGER, Ist. Lieut. Co. G, appointed Ist. Lieut. 63rd. N. Y. Vols, June 20 ; Captain, Nov. 15, 1864 ; mustered out June 30, 1865. Brevet Colonel N. Y. Vols. JOHN T. TOAL, Private Co. A, appointed and Lieut. 69th N. Y. Vols. Oct. 14, 1861 ; ist Lieut., Oct. 14 ; Adjutant, Nov. 30, 1862 ; wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg ; Captain, Jan. 22 ; honorably discharged April 16, 1863.
EUGENE L. TOWNSEND, Sergeant N. C. Staff, appointed 2nd Lieut. 7Ist N. Y. Vols. Aug. 28, 1862; Ist Lieut., Feb. 3; honorably discharged Sept. 1, 1863; appointed Ist Lieut. 9th U. S. Vet. Res. Corps --- , 1864 ; honorably dis- charged Dec. 1, 1865. Brevet Captain U. S. Vols. Dec. 2, 1865.
FRANK W. TRYON, Sergeant Co. C, appointed 2nd Lieut. 51st N. Y. Vols. Oct. 18, 1861 ; wounded at the Battle of New Berne, N. C., March 14; ist Lieut., June 20, 1862 ; re- signed Dec. 6, 1863. .
THEODORE W. VANDEGRIFT, Sergeant Co. G, appointed Ist Lieut. and N. J. Cav. Aug. 15, 1863 ; Captain, Oct. 16, 1864 ; mustered out Nov. 1, 1865.
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WILLIAM E. VAN NAME, Private Co. F. appointed 2nd Lieut. 4th N. Y. Art. Jan. 9; on staff of Gen. A. W. Whipple ; ist Lieut., Sept. 19, 1862 ; honorably discharged March 5, 1 863.
ROSWELL L. VAN WAGGENEN, Corporal Co. C, appointed 2nd Lieut. 95th N. Y. Vols. March 31 ; resigned June 3, 1862.
JOHN H. VAN WYCK, Private Co. F, appointed 2nd Lieut. 162nd N. Y. Vols. Jan. 6 ; Ist Lieut., March 6, 1863 ; Captain, April 9 ; mustered out Nov. 26, 1864.
CHARLES G. WARD, Corporal Co. C, appointed Ist Lieut. and Adjutant 24th Mass. Vols. - , killed at the Battle of Drury's Bluff, Va., May 16, 1864.
WILLIAM H. WEBSTER, Private Co. C, appointed Ist Lieut. 8th N. Y. Cav. Nov. 27, 1861 ; honorably discharged Aug. 24th, 1863."
CALEB D. WEEKS, Private Co. F, appointed Captain 132nd N. Y. Vols. Sept. 6, 1862 ; honorably discharged Sept. 1, 1863.
WILLIAM WELSH, Private Co. A, appointed 2nd Lieut. 68th N. Y. Vols. Dec. 25, 1862 ; Ist Lieut., May 29, 1863 ; honorably discharged Dec. 14, 1864.
GEORGE H. WHEATON, Ist Lieut. Co. I, appointed Captain 13Ist N. Y. Vols. Aug. 9, 1862 ; mustered out July 26, 1865.
ERASTUS WHEELOCK, Private Co. D ; appointed 2nd Lieut. 14th N. Y. Art. Jan. 9 ; resigned April 23, 1864.
ALASCO C. WHITE, Private Co. G, appointed and Lieut. 39th N. J. Vols. Oct. 3, 1864 ; mustered out July 17, 1865.
FRANK J. WHITE, Private Co. F, appointed Captain 10th N. Y. Vols. April 26 ; resigned Oct. 11, 1861 ; appointed Major 2nd U. S. Col. Cav. -, 1863 ; Lieut .- Colonel, June 30, 1865 ; honorably discharged March 13, 1866. Brevet Brig .- General U. S. Vols.
FRANK WILLIAMS, Private Co. C, appointed ist Lieut. 4th N. Y. Art. Jan. 14; Captain, May 27, 1862; Major, Jan.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
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19, 1864 ; mustered out Jan. 31 1865. Brevet Lieut .- Colonel U. S. Vols.
JOHN B. WINSLOW, Sergeant Co. K, appointed Captain and Asst. Quartermaster U. S. Vols. April 14, 1862 ; honor- ably discharged Jan. 8, 1867.
ADDIS E. WOODHULL, Private Co. C, appointed Captain 96th N. Y. Vols. Feb. 13, Lieut .- Colonel, Sept. 25 ; resigned Dec. 2, 1862.
The following is a partial list of those killed, died of wounds or disease, and wounded :
Killed or died : EDWARD H. BECKER, MATTHEW BELL, WILSON HUBBELL, JAMES A. JOHNSTON, DAVID C. SELHEIMER, WM. H. B. SMITH, and CHAS. G. WARD; wounded, EDWARD L. BARNES, PETER J. CLAASSEN, CHAS. H. GESNER, WM. L. 1 HEERMANCE, JOSEPH C. HOPPER, GEO. A. HUSSEY, JOHN T. LOCKMAN, JOHN T. PRYER, JOHN T. TOAL, and FRANK W. TRYON.
The following list shows the various States, and organiza- tions, in which members of the NINTH served as com- missioned officers. Figures in brackets indicate the number who so served, and where such figures do not occur, it is to be understood that only one promotion was made :
Connecticut .- Ist Artillery.
District of Columbia .- Ist Cavalry. "Maine .- ist Artillery, ist Cavalry. Massachusetts. - Infantry, ist, 24th. Missouri .-- Cavalry, 4th.
New Jersey .- Cavalry, 2nd, 3rd. Infantry, 3d, Sth, 22nd, 27th, 39th.
New York .- Engineers, 15th (2). Artillery, 3d (2), 4th (3), 5th, 6th (4), 7th, 13th (2), 14th, 16th. Marine Artillery, Ist. Batteries, Sth, 28th, 34th. Cavalry, and, 6th, Sth, 11th, 14th (2), 18th, 25th. Infantry, 3d (2), 4th, 7th, 10th, 32nd, 38th, 40th (2), 42nd, 49th, 51st, 53d (2), 54th, 57th (2), 6ist, 62nd (2), 63d, 64th, 68th (3), 69th, 7ist, Send, gist (2), 95th (2), 96th (3), 97th (+), 102nd, 103d, 104th (2), 116th, 119th (44),
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PROMOTED FROM. 375
127th (2), 131st (2), 132nd (6), 133d, 139th, 154th. 158th, 159th, 162nd (2), 164th, 165th, 168th, 173d, 177th, 182nd (2), 187th. Sharpshooters, 2nd Berdans.
Ohio .- Infantry, 75th.
Pennsylvania .- Infantry, 46th. West Virginia .- Infantry, 16th (2).
Regulars, U. S. A .- Ordnance (1). Infantry, 6th, 12th, 15th, 17th (2), 19th, 35th, 44th, 45th. General staff (2).
U. S. Navy (2).
U. S. Veterans, Vols .- 3d, 8th.
U. S. Veteran Reserve Corps .-- Infantry, Ist, 2nd, 6th, 9th (2), 10th, 13th, 14th, 21st, 22nd (3).
U. S. Colored Troops .-- Artillery, 6th, 8th. Cavalry, 2nd. Infantry, 16th, 29th, 5ist, 79th, 82nd (2), 87th, 90th, 101st.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
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CHAPTER XX.
THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.
Official Correspondence Between Generals Grant and Lee .- Recollections of General Mahone, C. S. A .- Official Figures of the Surrender .- The Dead of the NINTH in National Cemeteries .- Army Songs and Poetry.
THE operations of the Army of the Potomac, from the time the NINTH left the field till the surrender of the Confed- erate Army at Appomattox, on the 9th of April, 1865, has been ·written so often that it is not necessary to repeat it here. Sel- dom, however, in the general accounts, has the full official correspondence between Generals Grant and Lee been given. The following copies have been furnished by a staff officer who vouches for their accuracy :
THE SURRENDER.
No. I.
April 7, 1865.
GENERAL :- The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any fur- ther effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confeder- ate States Army, known as the Army of Northern Virginia.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
General R. E. LEE.
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No. II.
April 7. 1865.
GENERAL :- I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.
R. E. LEE, General.
Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT.
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1864
CORRESPONDENCE AT THE SURRENDER.
No. III.
April 8, 1865. GENERAL :- Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking the conditions on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply I would say, that peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon-namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any offi- cers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you. for the pur- pose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
General R. E. LEE.
No. IV.
April 8, 1865.
GENERAL :- I received at a late hour your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army, but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desire to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia, but, as far as your proposals may effect the Confederate States forces under my com- mand, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 A. M. to-morrow on the old Stage road to Richmond, between the picket lines of the two armies.
R. E. LEE, General.
Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT. 0
No. V.
April 9, 1865.
GENERAL :- Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace ; the meeting proposed for 10 A. M. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of prop- erty not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our difficulties may be settled with- out the loss of another life, 1 subscribe myself, etc.,
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
General R. E. LEE.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
June
No. VI.
April 9, 1865. GENERAL :- I received your note of this morning, on the picket line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your pro- posal of yesterday, with reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an inter- view in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose. R. E. LEE, General.
Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT.
No. VII.
April 9, 1865.
General R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A :
Your note of this date is but this moment, 11.50 A. M., received. In consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to the Farinville and Lynchburg road. I am, at this writing, about four miles west of Walker's Church, and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you.
Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
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No. VIII.
APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE, VA., April 9, 1865.
GENERAL :- In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms-to wit : Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until prop- werly exchanged ; and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them.
This will not embrace the side arms of the officers nor the private horses or bag- gage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their parole, and the laws in force where they may reside.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
General R. E. LEE.
£
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GENERAL MAHONE'S ACCOUNT.
1864
No. IX.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
April 9, 1865. GENERAL :- I received your letter of this date, containing the terms of the surren- der of the Army of Northern Virginia, as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipulation into effect.
R. E. LEE, General.
Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT.
The following account of the surrender, published a short time before the death of General Grant, is interesting :
Many of the men who took part in the last scene of the civil conflict at Appomattox have passed away. On the Confederate side, Generals Mahone, Longstreet and Gor- don, of the survivors, have the most accurate personal information of the surrender of General Lee on the 9th of April. 1865. The story has often been told, but it pos- sesses a peculiar interest now, when the principal actor in the great drama lies in the shadow of death. In conversation with the Philadelphia Press correspondent, Senator Mahone described the scene at Appomattox, and the events that led up to it, a history abounding in incident and anecdote too voluminous ever to be exhausted. Speaking from memory he said ;
The first week in April found General Lee's army encircling Richmond and Petersburg, and practically surrounded by the Union forces. Our object was to escape capture, and to retreat in such a manner that we could make a junction with General Johnston's army in North Carolina. My division on the ad of April was posted at Chesterfield Points, facing the enemy. I was summoned to General Lee, and instructed to fall back to Amelia Court House, protecting the rear of the Confederate retreat. At Amelia Court House we expected to find full rations for the men, from Richmond, but was disappointed. From the Court House our troops moved by differ- ent routes along the line of the Richmond and Danville Railroad until we came to Sailor's Creek. The army moved up the ereek, Longstreet's division in front, and mine bringing up the rear. The enemy was in hot pursuit, and we were closely pressed. At Rice's Station the Federals attacked us, and Longstreet engaged them. I had been summoned to General Lee, and while we were talking General Venable rode up. Turning to General Lee, he said :
" General, did you receive my message?"
" What message?" Lee inquired.
" I informed you, sir, that the enemy had captured our wagon train at Sailor's Creek," was the response. General Lee instantly ordered me to move my division to the creek, and as I rode off to execute the movement, he accompanied me. We soon reached the scene of the engagement, and the sight that met our gaze, as from an eminence we looked down upon the battle-field, made me sick at heart.
The Federal cavalry had completely routed our men, and were pursuing them in every direction. Infantrymen had thrown away their arms and were fleeing for life. Teamsters had cut the traces of their harness and were scampering away, leaving guns
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
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and wagons behind. One single piece of artillery at a distance was occasionally firing a shot without the slightest effect.
Taking in the scene at a glance, General Lee exclaimed : " My God, has this army dissolved?" There was that in his tone and manner which convinced me that the end had come, and for a second I was too much shocked to speak. Then I told him that the army had not dissolved, and that one command at least was ready to fight. The general rode sadly away, and I posted my men, being fully satisfied that the enemy would not fight any more that night, for it was then nearly dark. The day's fighting had,practically ended, and, after performing my duties, I rode down the field. where I found Lee sitting on his horse with a Confederate flag in his hand, surrounded by a shouting mob of demoralized Confederate soldiers. I took the flag from him, and the men were ordered to the rear under the command of General Anderson.
Our next move was to cross the Appomattox. I took my command to High Bridge, three miles from Farmville, where there were two bridges, one the high railroad bridge, and another an improvised wagon bridge. I met Generals Gordon and Ander- son near High Bridge, after moving my men over, and had a talk with them. They believed that the defeat at Sailor's Creek had settled the fate of the Confederacy. 1 agreed with them that our army was ruined. I told them that I thought the officer next in command to General Lee should see him quickly and inform him that it was the judgment of his officers that we were beaten. It was agreed that General Ander- son should go immediately to General Longstreet and have him tell Lee our views. About two o'clock on the morning of the 7th I left the conference and went over to the river to look after my division. All that was known of Lee's movements was that he would cross over to Farmville and unite with us not far from that place, and we would continue the retreat toward Lynchburg. I made a reconnoissance of the roads in the dark, and returned to High Bridge about daylight. The enemy's skirmish lines were advancing toward the bridge, which, contrary to orders, had been burned.
A brigade was sent out to check the advance of the Federal skirmishers. i had found a road leading to Cumberland Church, which joined the main road over which Lee was expected to approach. 1 formed my division in line of battle, and received an order from General Lee to hold the enemy back. General Miles commanded the advance of the Union forces, and he attacked me, and we repulsed him ; but this tem- porary victory closed our short line of battle, and he maneuvered with his superior force to turn our flank. I ran out a battery of artillery on the flank I saw he was en- deavoring to turn, and in a short time he had captured our guns. Just then, fortu- nately, the advance of Lee's forces came up, and a North Carolina division, containing about a full regiment of men, charged the Federals and recaptured the guns.
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