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 7
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5
66
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
August
Early in August Surgeon Bigelow retired to civil life. This was much regretted, for, during the short time he had been with the regiment, such had been his attention to the sick, though few in number, that he had gained the respect and esteem of every member of the command. Only two deaths by disease had occurred, both from typhoid fever ; the bodies were buried in the vicinity with military honors, and shortly afterwards one of them was disinterred and forwarded to New York for final burial.
In the absence of more stirring events, the expiration of the three months' term of service, and its departure for home, of the First New Hampshire regiment, was a matter of much interest to the NINTH. The Granite State men-many of them-were loath to leave the field without having met the enemy. A close friendship had for some time existed between the two regiments, and the final parting could not but produce feelings of regret. Those of the NINTH off duty went down to Sandy Hook to see the First off on the cars and, as souvenirs of mutual comradeship, an exchange of caps and jackets was freely made. When the train moved off cheer upon cheer rent the air with such force that the enemy-if within hear- ing-must have wondered what was up.
On the 6th a U. S. Paymaster arrived in camp and paid (in specie) each member of the regiment for twenty-three days services. The men had been hard up for some time, and had it not been for the liberality of the sutler, who gave almost unlimited credit, many would have fared badly. On the 7th the rank and file of the regiment were taxed fifty cents each towards the expense of organizing the band, which amount was cheerfully paid, and believed to be a good investment. " Pre- pare to march," was almost a daily order, only to be counter- manded before night ; but the long rest of eighteen days was well improved, and the drill and discipline gained was of great service in all subsequent operations.
While the NixTut was on the summit of Maryland Heights " observing " the enemy on the opposite side of the river, General Stone's division was located near Poolesville. On the
67
1861
THE NINTH WANTED.
13th General Scott ordered Banks to withdraw his troops from Maryland Heights, and form a new defensive line along the Monocacy River, between Frederick City and the Potomac. General Stone's pickets were to watch the fords and ferries between Great Falls and Point of Rocks ; while General Banks was to look after the Upper Potomac as far as Williamsport.
About the middle of the month scouts informed General Stone that the enemy, located in force near Leesburg, Va., contemplated a crossing in his front Stone's force was weak, and what few guns he had were small and of short range; and on the 16th he wrote Mcclellan asking for guns of longer range and two additional regiments-"the Fifteenth Massa- chusetts, now at Washington, and the Ninth New York State Militia, now with General Banks." General Stone evidently entertained a high opinion of the NINTH, formed from what he had seen of the regiment while under his command. General Banks, perhaps, had equally good reasons for refusing to loan the NINTH, and the transfer was not made.
At eight o'clock on the morning of the 17th Camp Davis was abandoned, the NINTH taking its place in brigade line of march, with the Third Wisconsin, Twenty seventh Indiana, and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania. These regiments replaced the New Hampshire and Pennsylvania troops, whose three months' term of service had expired. Brigadier-General Charles S. Hamilton was in command. The route of march was northeast, over rough roads frequently crossed by small watercourses, up hill, down dale, and cross lots. While pass- ing through the villages of Knoxville and Jeffersonville, the hearts of the men were cheered by the display of Union flags, in recognition of which the band treated the citizens to its best music. The strains of the "Star Spangled Banner" brought forth cheers and "God bless you" from the patriotic people. Shortly after passing through Jeffersonville a halt for an hour was made to allow the men to prepare coffee, after which the march was continued till near nightfall, when a bivouac was formed upon ground owned by the the descendents of Charles Carroll, a signer of the immortal Declaration of Independence.
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68
.
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
August
Carrollton, except from a historical point of view, was a mean place and totally unfit for a camp ground ; it was low, wet and marshy, and the water obtainable for drinking and cooking purposes, very poor. Captain Deppeler, in whose honor the bivouac was named, was not much elated.
On this day General Scott issued the following order :
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, August 17th, 1861.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 15.
The Departments of Washington and Northeastern Virginia will be united into one, to which will be annexed the Valley of the Shenandoah, the whole of Maryland and of Delaware, to be denominated the Department of the Potomac, under Major- General McClellan * * * who will proceed to organize the troops under him into divisions and independent brigades.
At half-past six on the morning of the 18th, the men were in line again, and soon passed through the village of Buckeystown, thence over the Monocacy River, and camped about noon two miles beyond. Captain Rutherford was hon- ored by the name of this camp, which was pitched upon a hill in an opening in the woods, and but a short distance from the river which, at this point, was a narrow and shallow stream, but admirably adapted for washing and bathing pur- poses. Good spring water was also plenty and near at hand. Dress-parade was numerously attended by the people of the neighborhood, who showed great interest in all the move- ments. The thrifty visitors did not come empty-handed, and as soon as the parade was dismissed, displayed a tempting 'assortment of luxuries, which were eagerly purchased by the men. Lager beer and lemonade were also offered outside the line of guards, and it was said that a wink of the eye and the display of the proper collateral produced whiskey too. Where- ever the latter was discovered in the hands of the men, or of the peddlers, by the officers on duty, the contraband article was confiscated, ostensibly for hospital use, but those who were despoiled, were uncharitable enough to say-and believe- that the captured article seldom got as far as the hospital tent. Tobacco and cigars were sold by nearly all the huck-
69
COMPANY I ARRIVES AT THE FRONT.
1861
sters, and this caused no little dissatisfaction to the regimental sutler, who, when the men were out of money, had given them liberal credit. Patronizing outsiders, and " Rebs " -- so he styled them-at that, he thought a poor requital of his favors.
On this day a member of Company B, who had been sick and partially deranged for some time, committed suicide, the Chaplain of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania officiating at the funeral.
Just about dusk on the 21st, Company I reported for duty with the regiment, from Camp Cameron, where it had been stationed the past month, and was cordially received by the men at the entrance to camp ; they having turned out to see the "well drilled" company, as such a reputation had preceded it.
To the words of command Hep ! Hep! Hep! to keep the step, the company entered and became a part of the house- hold of the NINTH.
The officers were, Captain Peter J. Claassen, and Lieuten- ants George H. Wheaton and Eno J. Claassen.
The company had been enrolled in the militia service of the State for the usual period of seven years, and on the 17th of July was mustered into the United States service for "three years or during the war," by Captain S. B. Hayman, 7th U. S. Infantry.
On the 20th of July, the company had left New York, and the next day reached Washington. No little excitement was occasioned among the members when the news of the defeat at Bull Run was received. The company was put under arms and the men expected to participate in the defence of the city. Drilling was vigorously prosecuted during the sojourn at Camp Cameron, and the men passed through the same experience all new soldiers encounter. The Seventy-ninth Highlanders, N. Y. S. M., from the city of New York, and veterans of the Bull Run campaign, were encamped near by during the early part of August, and the new company wit- nessed an instance of the execution of military law, that was
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70
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
August
doubtless of benefit to them. For reasons which appeared good to them, eight companies of the Seventy-ninth refused to obey certain orders, and during the day much excitement was occasioned among the members of the regiment. Towards evening their camp was surrounded by regular troops, under command of the Provost Marshal, Brig .- General Andrew Porter, and under penalty of being blown out of existence by artillery, for further refusal to obey orders, were commanded to "fall in." They fell in, and were marched off under heavy guard. The regimental colors were taken from them, not to be restored until they had re-won them upon the field of bat- tle, and a number of the members were sent as prisoners to the Dry Tortugas, Gulf of Mexico, where they were kept at hard labor until the following Spring. Trouble had arisen in other regiments about this time, and General McClellan found that heroic measures were necessary to quell these incipient mutinies.
On the morning of the 21st, Captain Claassen started with his company to join the regiment, proceeding by railway via Relay House and Frederick Junction, arriving, as has been stated, at the close of the day.
After a week's stay at Camp Rutherford orders were again received to move, and at five o'clock on the afternoon of the 26th, line was formed, the column marching an hour later. The regiment left camp to the inspiring strains of "Dixie." The direction was south, over rough and muddy roads, and after dark the marching became very tiresome. Shortly after ten o'clock a halt was made near the town of Urbana. Soon after breakfast the next morning the march was resumed, the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania leading the brigade. The roads were bad, and much delay was caused by the men being obliged to stop and remove their shoes and stockings, before wading through the brooks; bridges were few and crossed only the larger streams. The column halted a short distance beyond Barnesville, and bivouacked in a field amid stacks of grain, which the men were forbidden to touch, the rules being strictly obeyed while daylight lasted. During
71
CAMP SMITH.
1861
the day Lieutenants Charles R. Braine and William S. Stryker, and Privates Michael T. Burke and Michael Dum- phrey of Company I, and others, were detailed for duty with the Signal Corps.
At half-past seven on the morning of the 28th the men were again on the march ; the rain falling in torrents soon rendered the roads almost impassable, and swelled the streams to such an extent that they were difficult to ford. When near Poolesville a halt was ordered and the men went into a wet bivouac. During the day the Second N. Y. S. M. (Eighty- second N. Y. Vols.) from New York city was met. The sight of each was a treat to both regiments, and notwith- standing the wet condition of all, the discomfort was forgotten for the moment, as familiar faces were recognized here and there in the two regiments. The First Minnesota and Fifteenth Massachusetts were also met and kindly greetings exchanged. At eight o'clock the next morning the column was again in motion. After passing through Poolesville and Dawsonville, the route led towards Darnestown, and then within a mile of the place the regiment went into camp .:
Camp Smith, in compliment to the captain of company E, was regularly laid out ; the location was a most desirable one, ground level, good water and plenty of it, and trees enough near by to afford a grateful shade during the heat of the day to those off duty. The whole of Banks' division, consisting of the brigades of Generals Abercrombie, Hamilton and Williams, besides the artillery and a small detachment of cavalry, was camped in the vicinity. The neighboring people soon thronged the camps and a lively trade in eatables and drinkables was established.
On the 4th of September marching orders-afterwards countermanded-were issued. A game of baseball, between companies C and G, resulted in a victory for the former by a score of eighteen to twelve. On the 13th the regiment was inspected by General Banks, and on the following day Company I, was detailed for guard duty at his headquar- ters, where it remained until October 29th .:
72
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
September
Monday the 16th was the second anniversary of the organization of Company D, and its members assembled in front of the tent of Captain Green,-who had succeeded Captain Davis, resigned-for the purpose of celebrating the event. The company street had been profusely decorated with flags, and in the evening a display of Chinese lanterns gave the quarters a gay and picturesque appearance. Re- freshments, though of a somewhat primitive character, were not wanting, and full justice was done the bill of fare. Songs, recitations and one or two speeches constituted the literary portion of the programme, which were a credit to the partici- pants and most enjoyable to the audience, consisting of nearly the entire regiment.
At this time the Legislature of Maryland was nearly equally divided between Unionists and Secessionists ; an adjourned meeting was to convene at Frederick on the 17th, and it was hoped by the "Secesh " wing that an ordinance of secession would be passed. The Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, ordered General Banks to arrest the secession mem- bers, and nine or more of the House of Delegates were placed in durance vile. The Senate failed to convene.
Moving orders were received on the 21st, but the command to " fall in " failed to materialize. On the 22nd, Company L, Captain Erastus R. Miller with Lieutenants A. Martin Bur- tis and Andrew B. Stiles, reported for duty, and was gladly welcomed.
The company had been recruited during the month of August through the efforts of Messrs. E. R. Miller, A. M. Burtis, S. S. J. Briggs and H. V. Williamson, all of whom were elected to office in it; the uniforms were furnished by Messrs. Brooks Bros., and mostly paid for by the members.
On August 31st, at the Elm Street arsenal, the services were accepted by the U. S. Government for the term of " the war" by Major Frederick Townsend, ISth Infantry ; Captain F. S. Larned, 12th Infantry ; Captain S. B. Hayman, 7th Infantry ; mustering officers.
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73
1861
KNAPSACK DRILL.
Camp Cameron was the station of the company from about September 4th, until leaving to report to the regiment.
The NINTH now had ten companies present for duty.
On the following day, Surgeon Charles J. Nordquist reported for duty, having been appointed to succeed Surgeon Bigelow.
Second Lieutenant Charles E. Tuthill was promoted Adjutant, vice Coppinger resigned. The latter had been Adjutant since 1860, and was a gentlemen respected by every member of the regiment. He had joined the renowned "City Guard " in the fifties, bringing with him a ripe experience of active service in the British army, acquired in India under General Havelock. In 1859, he was elected First Lieutenant of Company E, and shortly afterwards was made Adjutant. His resignation bore date September Ist, and was caused by his being summoned to England to take possession of the paternal estate.
Camp Smith was one of the places where the men had abundant opportunity to amuse themselves when off duty. During the day, ball-playing, pitching quoits and even marble- playing were indulged in. Singing and serenading were of nightly occurrence, the serenade generally bestowed upon some popular officer, and when that list was exhausted many of the rank and file were complimented. The old fire laddies, too, would frequently rush through camp yelling and whoop- ing, as they dragged an old cart or wagon in imitation of run- ning " wid der machine."
The private soldier never felt like bestowing upon the inventor of knapsack drill the thanks Sancho Panza gave the author of sleep. To carry a knapsack filled with bricks or stones was sometimes imposed in the sentence of a regimental court-martial, but when a regiment was ordered out on drill in heavy marching order, it also savored of punishment, and annoyed and tried the men as much as if intended for that purpose. Those who ordered such drills doubtless followed the book of "tactics," and, of course, blundered in that as well as in other matters when common sense should have been the
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74
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
September
guide. The tacticians seem to have lost sight of the fact that soldiers hardly ever carry their knapsacks within the range of shot and shell, for, if they were not left at some convenient point under orders, they were very unceremoniously cast aside as soon as the men entered the battle-field. But it was laid down in the " tactics " that such drills were necessary-there- fore they inust be practiced. The NINTH endured the afflic- tion for the first time on the 25th.
Thursday the 26th was designated by the President as a day of Thanksgiving, and was honored by the NINTH and the rest of the division by parading at Darnestown and being reviewed by General Banks. A large concourse of visitors graced the occasion, and the review passed off with great éclat.
While the NINTH was formed for battalion drill, one day, an incident occurred which served to bind still more closely the ties of friendship that had existed for some time between the regiment and the Thirteenth Massachusetts. The latter had been ordered to Williamsport, and wishing to pay their comrades a parting visit, marched in line up to within a few paces of the NINTH. Halting, they gave " Three cheers for the New York NINTH." The NINTH returned the compliment, upon which the Thirteenth resumed its march. These two regiments-one from Boston, the other from New York-never ceased to be firm friends, and it was their good fortune to be closely associated for nearly two years afterwards, sharing the fatigues of the march, the pleasures of the camp, and the perils and dangers of the battle-field.
On the last day of September, the sound of heavy guns in the direction of the Chain Bridge, indicated that the army of the Potomac was feeling the enemy. Early in the month, under the personal direction of General McClellan, an advance had been made from the defenses along Arlington Heights, from the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, and the enemy driven back at every point. Frequent rumors of a move on the part of Banks' army, too, kept the men of the NINTH in constant expectation of an active campaign, an event desired
· 1861
75
THE MARCH TOWARDS BALLS BLUFF.
by both officers and men, for as yet they had realized none of the " glory " resulting from active service.
The month of October, a most delightful season of the year, opened with a review of the division at Camp Stone, . the NINTH marching to that place in the morning and return- ing during the afternoon.
Service at Camp Smith was by no means light, for, in addition to the routine, details were made to perform picket duty at Seneca Falls, five miles distant, and also for patrol guard at the village of Darnestown. The eight weeks passed here were of great benefit, in the matter of drill, both officers and men becoming very proficient in the tactics frequently of so much importance on the field of battle. The four months' wear and tear showed its effects on the tents, many of which were in a leaky condition and unfit for service. Diseases were contracted here from which many of the men dated the begin- ning of their disability.
While the regiment was engaged in drill on the 21st, orders came to dismiss the men and prepare to march immediately. Shortly after knapsacks had been packed and tents struck it grew dark, when the litter of the camp was gathered into piles and burned, the men sitting around the fires and speculating upon the cause of the sudden movement. Stories were retold and old lies swapped over again, until eight o'clock, when Lieutenant-Colonel Hallick gave the order, " Forward, March !" and the column moved to the tune, "Oh, carry me back to old Virginny." The evening was clear, the weather mild, and the roads in good condition. The route led through Dawson- ville, a short distance beyond which the road was crossed by a creek ; there was no bridge other than a log spanning the stream, and as few cared to walk that in the dark, most of the men waded across. Shortly after midnight the regiment passed through Poolesville, and upon inquiring of a guard, who was pacing back and forth in front of a house, it was learned that the body of Colonel E. D. Baker, of the Seventy-first Pennsylvania, but better known as the First California regi- ment, lay within, and that he had been killed during the day
76
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
October
at Ball's Bluff. The cause of the hurried night march was now revealed. Instinctively the men quickened their steps, anxious to reach the scene of the battle, and render assistance and succor ere it should be too late. It was gathered from passi g stragglers of Stone's command-many of whom were half naked, having altrown off part of their clothing in their frantic endeavors to swim across the river on their retreat from the disastrous battle-that unless help was at hand by daylight, all yet remaining on the Virginia shore, or on Harrison's Island in the river, would be either killed or captured.
Rain began to fall shortly after the column passed through Poolesville ; but the rapid march was continued. As the river was approached, the stragglers from the defeated command increased in number ; men by twos, tens and twenties, many of them wounded, were streaming towards the rear, and all telling the same sad story of disaster and defeat. For lack of proper conveyances many of the wounded were being trans- ported in the common baggage wagons, and as the heavy cumberous vehicles jolted over the rough places in the road, the cries and groans of the unfortunate occupants were a sad accompaniment to the distressing scene.
On arriving at Conrad's Ferry. the canal was crossed, when the regiment halted and the men were ordered to load their muskets ; the march was continued down the towpath, until about four o'clock, when the column halted after a fatiguing march of sixteen miles. With nothing more than a blanket to keep the rain from above or the dampness from below, the men tried to snatch a few minutes' repose. At nine o'clock they were aroused. All were hungry ; no rations had been carried by the men, and the wagons had not arrived. Fortunately a few boxes of abandoned crackers were found and divided ; at noon the commissary wagons brought a full supply.
From those who had been engaged in the unfortunate affair of the day before, it was learned that Colonel Baker, under orders from General Stone, had crossed with his own regi- ment, -the Fifteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts, and the
77
BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF.
1861
Forty-second " Tammany" New York Regiment, and two or three pieces of artillery, in all about twenty-one hundred men; for the purpose of driving the enemy, supposed to be in small force, from Leesburg, and holding the ground so taken if practicable. General Stone, meanwhile, was to make a demonstration at Edward's Ferry, a short distance below, with another brigade, and cut off the enemy's retreat in that direc- tion. About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 21st the battle began. For a while the Union troops were successful in hold- ing the enemy, who appeared in large force, in check, but they were finally compelled to fall back, which they did, at first, slowly and in good order. The death of Colonel Baker at this juncture precipitated matters, and the command devolv- ing upon Colonel Milton Cogswell, of the Tammany Regi- ment, he ordered a retreat to the river. The retreat became a rout. Many brave men formed on the bluffs near the river, and for a short time held the enemy at bay, but they, too, were finally obliged to abandon the hopeless task and seek safety in flight. The bluffs were steep, and as the Union soldiers jumped, slipped, or fell over, they plunged into the water, hoping at least to gain Harrison's Island. The two or three boats that had been used in ferrying them over had been upset or otherwise rendered useless. It was a terrible strug- gle for life. Many were shot while in the water, and the wounded drowned in the swift current. The killed, wounded and prisoners amounted to the appalling number, compared with the force engaged, of one thousand and fifty.
On high ground, half a mile back from the river, on the Maryland shore, a few pieces of artillery had been posted, commanding Harrison's Island and the Virginia shore beyond. Upon the Island were still many of the men, some severely wounded, and the work of transferring these to the Maryland shore was slowly progressing. Somebody had blundered, for there was an utter lack of the proper means of transportation. A couple of scows only, capable of carrying perhaps thirty persons each, were all that had been provided. All the dead- save the bodies of Colonel Baker and one or two other
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