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 6
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The rebels now directed their fire at the pickets stationed along the river bank, wounding one or two. The men had been ordered never to be the first to commence picket firing, and even now they did not return it-inasmuch as the enemy's fire had been drawn by an unauthorized movement on their part. Meanwhile Captain Morrison, hearing that some of the
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KILLED AND WOUNDED IN BATTLE.
detachment were wounded, started on the double-quick with the rest for the scene of action. Arriving at the river the best possible position was obtained, and the captain ordered the enemy's fire to be returned. Little injury was done to the foe, but owing to the exposed position of the men of the NINTH, a .number of casualities occurred. When the firing ceased, it was found that one man was killed and three wounded. John E. Banks, of Company G, a volunteer with the detachment, was shot through the heart. The body was afterwards tenderly placed in a coffin, the head resting upon a pillow of daisies gathered in a field near by, and the remains sent by express to his relatives in New York. Ernest Geid- ecke, of Company A, after passing safely through eight battles, fought in defence of his native land, received a fatal wound in this his first engagement with the enemies of his adopted country. The ball lodged in his abdomen, causing great pain and suffering, during which Sergeant William F. Scott, of Company A, and Harvey B. Denison, of Company G, did all in their power to alleviate his condition, but the poor fellow died at half-past ten in the evening. The wounded were Henry V. Williamson, of Company G, also a volunteer, and Fredk. R. Warner, of Company C. Thus the NINTH honored the Fourth of July, which was begun in the harmless manner described, to be followed by the more serious action of the afternoon. That night and the following day the regiment remained in bivouac near Sandy Hook, on the track of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
At two o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 6th, the men were notified to prepare for the march, but it was not until seven o'clock that the column moved. Sharpsburg, in Washington County, was reached at noon. This was found to be a thoroughly loyal town, and the first the NINTH had entered, whose people boldly flung to the breeze the American flag. Cheering and shouts of delight were heard on every side as the regiment gallantly marched through the main street. A halt was made on the outskirts in order to cook pork and coffee ; but when several of the citizens who had followed, saw
56
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
the bill of fare, they invited many of the men to return home with them and be their guests at dinner. The wives and daughters of these patriotic citizens, as a sign of their loyalty, hurriedly sewed together strips of red, white and blue into flags, which, accompanied with kind words of cheer, were given as souvenirs to the lucky boys on their leaving to rejoin the regiment. Colonel Miller, a veteran of the war of 1812, was especially enthusiastic in entertaining his guests, and presented company G with a small Union flag. At six o'clock the beat of the drum called the men into line, and with renewed courage and strength the march was resumed. The road was rough and hilly and it was not until ten in the evening that Bakers- ville was reached, and the regiment went into bivouac in the woods near by.
Immediately after breakfast on the 7th, line was formed and the head of column pointed northwest. The regiment passed through Williamsport, on the Potomac, at eleven o'clock, and upon arriving at the river, near Falling Waters, the men were ordered to prepare to ford the stream. Some took off nearly all their clothing, others only their shoes and stockings, then with muskets at a right shoulder, and with bundles of clothing hanging from the bayonets, the NINTH entered the water, which was about knee deep, and in this most unfashionable attire entered upon the " Sacred Soil " of Virginia. Arriving on the southern side, fires were built with which to cook coffee and dry wet clothing. While thus engaged the approach of the other portions of the command, among them the First New Hampshire, was noticed. The First, after disrobing, marched into the river, and when about half way across halted, while the band played " John Brown's Body," after which they completed the passage of the river, marching past the NINTH who cheered them lustily. A junc- tion with General Patterson's forces had been established.
For the purpose of showing just how the men felt and acted " behind the scenes " in their every-day life, and how little the private soldier knew of what was going on about him-outside of his own personal experience-to show the motives which
57
WHAT WAS WRITTEN HOME.
1861
governed his actions, the hopes and fears which possessed his mind while in camp, on the march and in battle, the Editor proposes, as the record progresses, to give extracts from letters, written during the first fifteen months of service, by members of the NINTH to relatives and friends.
June 2d. * * * To-day was my turn to cook. I did it up in fine style, and while dishing the vegetables, spilled them on the ground ; but I washed them off again, and the boys eat them without noticing the sand. * * * Had an alarm last night ; we were out and ready in short order; it proved to be a false alarm, and after being ordered to 'sleep on our arms, we turned in. Fancy a loaded rifle for a bed-fellow. I turned over once, and ran the bayonet in my arm. I was on picket guard from 1:30 Friday till noon Saturday, with four hours off, and only two crackers and one red herring to eat. Came in faint and sleepy. * The Garibaldi Guards are near us, also the Fourteenth Brooklyn. * * John can give you a better description of our camp than I can. (The names of some of the tents had been changed) for instance : my residence is " Excelsior," No. 14 Rutherford Place ; . next door is " Dyass Hotel ;" across the street is the " Golding House," where Hen Cushing resides; Ed Barnes is above me on the same side. He is too full of the " Old Nick " to think of a name. * * * Straw- berries are plenty ; boys sell them in camp for eight cents a quart-cheaper than pick- . ing. Must stop and prepare for inspection. Heavy guns have been firing all day. Saw seventy-four prisoners in the Navy Yard yesterday ; they looked downcast. .
Darnestown, Md., June 13th.
Just got your letter. Left Washington, Monday, eight A. M. Marched all day through the hottest sun I ever felt. At midnight reached Rockville. I was in the rear guard for the protection of the baggage-train, which consisted of twenty-one four- horse wagons. There were about sixty of us-our position was a dangerous one, as we were in the rear, liable to be picked up by the enemy lying in ambush. Had to build roads for the wagons on several occasions ; one time took down several rods of rail fence, as the horses could not move the wagons through the mud. We were tired, hungry and sleepy, and anxious to reach a place of rest, as we did not like the idea of sleeping on our post and being shot the next day. Nothing would save a man in that case ; it seems hard, but is just, as many lives might be lost by one man's fault. * We only get two mails a week, and we send a guard to Washington for them.' We leave soon for Harper's Ferry. The NINTH has the post of honor-that is the advance of the division. * * Saw an old woman yesterday ploughing corn and smoking a pipe. We suffer for water on our marches, as we dare not drink from wells for fear of poison, so drink and fill our canteens from brooks. Sometimes we can't wait for a stream, then we call out some of the family and make them drink ; if it don't kill them we help ourselves. I am feeling very sore to-day from our march.
58
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
CHAPTER IV.
FIRST VALLEY CAMPAIGN-TO WINTER QUARTERS.
The Ravages of War .- Camp Hallick .- Battery, Company K .- Martinsburg .- Foraging .- Bunker Hill and Charlestown .-- The NINTH's First Capture .- Arrival of the Band .- March to the Rear .- Bolivar Heights .- Camp Atterbury .- John Brown's Cave .- General Patterson Relieved by General Banks .- The Department of the Shenandoah .- Maryland Heights .- Camp Davis .- The First N. H. Volunteers leave for Home .- Camp Deppeler .- Carrolton .- Buckeystown .- Camp Rutherford .- Arrival of Company I .- The Second N. Y. S. M .- Camp Smith .- Anniversary of Company D .- Adjutant "Coppinger Murray."-Camp Sports .- The Thirteenth Mass. Volunteers .- Ball's Bluff .- Camp Tuthill .- Muddy Branch .- First Camp Prescott .- General Scott is Retired, and Mcclellan Appointed General-in-Chief .- Malaria .-- Darnestown .- Third Camp Prescott .-- On the March .- Gainesville .- Letters.
THE morning of the 8th of July opened clear and pleasant.
At noon, the march was resumed, and it was then very warm. The route led over roads that were deep with dust, hav- ing been traversed by the men of both armies, as was evi- denced by the absence of fences and the presence of smoulder- ing fires, dead horses and deserted houses. Later on, while marching parallel with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, it was noticed that the track had been destroyed for miles, the rails and ties piled together and burned by the retreating enemy, reported to be eleven thousand strong, under General Joseph E. Johnston. At three o'clock Martinsburg was reached, near which a portion of General Robert Patterson's troops were passed, they having crossed the river on the 2nd and driven the enemy from the town. The NINTH marched about a mile. beyond, going into bivouac upon a hill-side, which was named Camp Hallick, in honor of the Lieutenant-Colonel. During the night the men were thoroughly drenched by a rain-storm, but minded it little.
Company K, Capt. Thomas B. Bunting, Lieutenants W. M.
59
BATTERY, COMPANY K.
1861
Bramhall and Joseph W. Martin, reported to the regiment on the 9th. This command had been recruited mainly in Rahway, N. J. It was organized as a light battery and was composed of a very intelligent body of men.
In several of the militia regiments-previous to the war- Company K was known as the artillery company, but few of them were supplied with guns. When Company K of the NINTH was being recruited for artillery service, the members expected that their battery would be part and parcel of the regiment in the field, and the organization was known as the "Ninth New York Battery." In order, however, to secure greater efficiency in that arm of the service, the military authorities decided to place all the light artillery under some competent officer, as chief of that branch, or to assign the bat- teries to brigade or division commanders. Company K had been mustered into the service for " the War," at New York, on June 20th, but the officers were not commissioned until in January, 1862.
Upon arriving at Washington the company was sent to Camp Cameron, there to await equipment. Field guns were scarce at that time, and when ordered to the front, but two small pieces, both old and almost unserviceable, were all that had been furnished.
When ordered to report to the NINTH, the company put their two pieces, horses, ammunition and baggage upon the cars, and proceeded via Baltimore and Harrisburg to Hagers- town, Md., where they hitched up and thence marched to the Potomac, crossing the river near Williamsport. The water was deep and the ford difficult to cross at the time, and the green artillerymen had some rough experience in getting their guns on to the Virginia shore.
Inasmuch as the question has been raised since the war whether or not the battery ever was attached to the regiment, the following letter, written by Captain Bunting on June 29th, 1887, is given
Upon going to Washington, the Battery went into camp, at Camp Cameron, on Fourteenth Street, where Lieut. Anderson was in command of a detachment of the
60
July
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
NINTH, and whom I succeeded as Camp Commander. We remained there until some time in July, then joined the regiment at Martinsburg, Va., arriving late in the day, reporting to Colonel Stiles, making a parade next day with the regiment, and being ordered soon after to report to General Negley, who was in command of a Pennsyl- vania Brigade. With him we marched to Harper's Ferry, from there to Darnestown, Md., from this point we were ordered to Poolesville, Md., reporting to General Chas. P. Stone, then in command of the " Army of Observation."
From camp in Poolesville I wrote to the Governor of the State of New York, ask- ing that commissions should be sent for the officers of the Battery, "Light Co. K, 9th N. Y. S. M.," and calling his attention to the fact that we left New York with his permission and were entitled to the commissions. (I think up to that date the com- missions had been refused to the officers of the regiment on the ground that the regi- ment left the State without the Governor's order or permission.)
There was little delay in receiving the commissions, but they changed the name of the organization to "Sixth New York Independent Battery," and the commis- sions were so issued.
Until these commissions were so received, we did beyond question belong to the NINTH New York, and every one in the command so understood it.
Very truly yours, T. B. BUNTING.
Martinsburg, the county seat of Berkeley County, pre- vious to the war, was a town of considerable importance ; the repair shops of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad were located there, and gave employment to a large number of men. A strong Union feeling existed at the beginning of hostilities. As the Union and Confederate troops alternately occupied the place, the result was a great destruction of property, and most of the inhabitants were compelled to leave. The Southern troops, before retreating, had burned the railroad buildings and rendered useless much valuable machinery, including about thirty-five locomotives; they also burned some three hundred cars and many more were "ditched" into a creek.
Major-General Charles W. Sanford, commanding the First Division of New York State Militia, was in command of the troops in the vicinity, with headquarters in the late residence of Robert J. Faulkrer (formerly U. S. minister to Russia), who having joined the cause of the rebels had retired within their lines. A review of all the New York regiments there- abouts was held one day ; General Sanford being the review- ing officer. While here the NINTH took its first lesson in foraging, and judging from the quantity of fowls, honey,
61
A FAMINE AND A FEAST.
1861
vegetables and tobacco brought into camp, the men proved apt scholars. This seeming robbery was, to a certain extent, due to the inefficiency of the army commissary and the actual wants of the men.
Rations were scarce and irregularly issued, while much that was provided was unfit to eat. Being without tents, the men were obliged to improvise shelters of brush, the few who succeeded in procuring boards with which to roof their huts, being looked upon with envy by their less fortunate comrades. While the heat during the day was intense, the nights were cool and chilly.
Owing to the variety of uniforms worn by the troops of the contending armies, the men of Patterson's command were ordered to wear a strip of white cotton cloth on the left arm above the elbow ; this was also to serve as a bandage in case of wounds.
On the 15th, Colonel Stone's brigade was reorganized, and consisted, besides the NINTH, of the First New Hamp- shire, Seventeenth and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania. At about nine o'clock in the morning the command marched, and at one in the afternoon halted near Bunker Hill, the cavalry advance having encountered the rear guard of the enemy who had evacuated Harper's Ferry in the forenoon. The artillery, till then in rear of the infantry, was sent forward at a gallop, and after a few shells had been fired into the woods which con- cealed the enemy, the advance was continued towards Win- chester. A short distance beyond Bunker Hill the infantry halted and went into bivouac, the troops tired and hungry after their tedious tramp of some ten miles. The men were also glad of the rest which the following day afforded, and so no doubt were the people of the neighborhood, as it gave them an opportunity to trade with the soldiers.
They soon thronged the camp bringing bread, biscuit, milk, etc., which were gladly purchased. Berries, too. were plenty, and the men were not long in satisfying their craving appetites. In order to prevent pillaging, orders were issued to the effect that death would be the penalty for a violation of the
July
62
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
rule. At dress parade, the Colonel, in trying to impress upon the men the importance of strict obedience to this order, got a little mixed, and unwittingly originated a "bull " by solemnly declaring that " Death without punishment " would be the fate of the transgressors.
The troops resumed their forward movement on the morn- ing of the 17th. When near Middleway the cavalry again encountered the enemy, and the artillery was ordered to the front, but the guns were not used. The NINTH was sent for- ward to support the cavalry and repel any attack that might be made. After remaining in line for half an hour or so in a newly-mown field, and no enemy appearing, the march was continued. After passing through Middleway the direct road to Charlestown was taken, the troops arriving there at eight o'clock. Although only thirteen miles had been covered, the march was a severe one, owing to the rough roads and hot sun.
The next morning a few citizens timidly ventured within the camp, and informed the men that their bivouac was in the very field in which John Brown had been hung, whereupon many of the men scoured the neighborhood for relics of the gallows upon which the unfortunate hero had paid the penalty of his rashness. There was no mistaking the sympathies of the people living in the vicinity-they were all "Secesh " to the core. Public opinion º-where there had been any laggards -had sent every young man of any respectability into the Confederate army, and none but the aged or physically dis- abled remained at home. This did not surprise the Union soldiers, they expected such would be the case ; if there was any class of people the men detested-next to a Northern Copperhead-it was the sneaking individuals met with in the South, who were Unionists or Confederates according to their surroundings for the time being.
During the day, companies B and E, Captains Deppeler and Smith, were ordered to march about three miles in the direction of Winchester, where it was learned that a number of cars, loaded with corn, were standing upon a track of the
.
1
63
MARCHED IN RETREAT.
1861
Shenandoah railroad. The cars were found, a rope hitched to the train, and company E acting as the motive power, they were hauled back to Charlestown, Company B bringing up and protecting the rear. The arrival of this first capture of the enemy's stores by the NINTH was hailed with shouts of joy, especially as no casualties had occurred to the force engaged.
On the 19th, as a result of the efforts made at Camp Stone on the 11th of June, the regimental band of eighteen pieces, under the leadership of George Neyer, arrived. In the even- ing the regiment was treated-much to its delight-to a choice selection of patriotic music. The usual routine of the camp was now resumed, the officers and men when off duty either visiting the town or rambling about the vicinity. Quite unex- pectedly a movement to the rear was begun on the morning of the 21st. This caused great disappointment. With the single exception of the skirmish-the river dividing the hostile forces-at Harper's Ferry, on the 4th, no opportunity had been afforded the NINTH of engaging the enemy, and now, just when it seemed that an action was pending, a retreat was ordered. It was not known then that the " Army of North- eastern Virginia," under General Irvin McDowell, was at that moment fighting the battle of Bull Run, nor that the bulk of Johnston's army had left the Valley two days before, for the purpose of making possible a defeat of the Union army on the plains of Manassas, and that the only force in front of Patter- son's twenty thousand men, was a mere rear-guard, left there for the purpose of deceiving the Union general.
The march in retreat was a leisurely one, over a good macadamized road, and when Bolivar Heights was reached, the regiment bivouacked for the night. The Heights are about a mile south of Harper's Ferry, and near by was the little hamlet of Bolivar, the former home of most of the employees in the U. S. Arsenal. After it was found that the regiment was to remain awhile, the bivouac was named Camp Atterbury, the location being changed once in order to secure a better drill and parade ground. Company drills alone were
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
July
.
practiced, and this gave the men considerable spare time, which they utilized in exploring the surroundings. The cave where John Brown had secreted his " army " of twenty-five men, and with which he purposed doing battle against the people of Virginia and freeing their slaves, was discovered and visited, and the spring of ice cold water found there was appreciated, fully as much, perhaps, as the romance attending the movements of old "Ossawatomie."
The following orders explain themselves :
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 33.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, Harper's Ferry, V'a., July 25th, 1861.
The term for which the troops from Pennsylvania were called into service having expired, and nearly all of them having returned to their homes, the commanding gen- eral, by direction of the War Department, relinquishes the command of this depart- ment on the expiration of his term of service.
The commanding general regrets to leave you. It is with satisfaction that he recalls to you that you have steadily advanced in the face of the enemy, greatly superior in numbers and artillery, and offered battle, which they refused until pro- tected by their strong intrenchments at Winchester.
You have done all that was possible and more than could have been expected or demanded, and if advantage has not been taken of your sacrifices, and if the fruits of your campaign have been lost, the fault cannot be imputed to you. * *
R. PATTERSON, Major-General Commanding.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 34.
.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE SHENANDOAH, Harper's Ferry, Y'a., July 25th, 1861.
By virtue of orders received from the War Department, Major-General N. P. Banks hereby assumes command of this department.
By order of
GENERAL BANKS.
ROBERT WILLIAMS, Asst. Adjt .- Genl.
Reports of the enemy's advance towards Harper's Ferry induced General Banks to practically evacuate the place, and on the 28th the NINTH, with the bulk of the little army-now about six thousand strong-recrossed the Potomac. The march to the ford, although short, was a very dusty one, and . on emerging from the water the men presented a rather dirty and bedraggled appearance. The march was continued
65
CAMP DAVIS.
1861
to the summit of Maryland Heights, where, on the following day, after the tents, which had been forwarded from Point of Rocks, were pitched, Camp Davis, in honor of the captain of Company D, was established. The distances marched up to this time aggregated one hundred and thirty-two miles.
The men were thoroughly disgusted at the result of their first campaign in the enemy's territory, and from which they had retreated without firing a shot or suffering a single casualty. The fatigues of the march and the discomforts of the bivouac, during the three weeks of "active " service, did not seem to have injured the men, but had rather served to " season " them. No serious cases of sickness had occurred, and the NINTH was in condition to respond to any demands that might be made upon it.
Such was the importance of the commanding position on the heights, which overlooked both Loudoun Heights and Harper's Ferry, that it was decided to fortify the place ; the only objection to its permanent occupancy being the lack of water, that necessary fluid having to be brought from Sandy Hook at the foot of the mountain. The men were called upon to perform a variety of work, to cut wood, work on the forti- fications, and guard trains, besides their regular guard and picket duty. Company drills were also performed, the limited extent of clear or level ground precluding battalion move- ments. 6
On the 28th Captain Morrison resigned to accept pro- motion in another organization. He first entered the State service as a member of the Seventh regiment in 1855, but soon removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he joined the St. Louis City Guard and became its commander. His great popularity was evidenced by a rival organization, the "Independent Guards," presenting him with some silver plate, in July, 1860. In April, 1861, he enrolled forty of the City Guard for special U. S. service, but Governor Claiborne F. Jackson, a strong Secessionist, refused to arm them, when Captain Morrison returned to New York, and on the 26th of that month was elected Captain of Company A, of the NINTII.
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