USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
221
AT SULPHUR SPRINGS AND CULPEPPER.
its immediate front. He received me very kindly, and at once ordered one of his aids to accompany me. The aid in turn directed two orderlies to accompany him.
About a quarter of a mile beyond the house wo were halted by a sharp " Halt! Who comes there ?" The challenge came from a line of mounted men drawn across a road which was at that point shaded by large trees. Passing thesc horsemen we rode on through intense gloom, for about forty rods, when we - came to the opposite edge of what proved to be a long strip of woods. Here we found the infantry pickets and learned that the line ran just in the edge of the woods. Turning to the right we rode along in rear of the pickets three or four hundred feet when we came to the first sentry post of our division. I now began to question each man as to what he had seen or heard. Very few of them had seen anything unusual, but that was not to be wondered at, for it was a very dark night. They had how- ever all heard the tramp of a body of horses and several had fired in the direction the noise came from. Presently I came to a man of the 86th New York who told me the boys of the 124th joined their men only a few rods farther on. He, too, had heard the noise in front, and " blazed away " with the rest of the boys, but did not think the enemy had fired a shot in reply. We soon reached that portion of the line held by the Orange Blossoms, and the first man I came to was Mat. Crawley, of Company B. Now Mat. was a good-natured, truthful, but not over strong-minded son of Erin, who for a number of years before the war had been in the employ of my father; and as soon as I heard his voice, I resolved to question him closely. " Well Mat." I began, " what's the row-you don't pretend to think there are any 'Johnnie Rebs' in front of you, do you ?" "Don't I then-well be gorry if you had been out here a little while ago, you wouldn't be after asking that question I'm thinking; and I just advise you not to be talkin' so loud agin if you don't want to hear a little whistling near your hat," whispered Mat. I then asked him if he had heard any bullets whistling past his head, and his reply was, " Why-why it's not mor'n a nour when they was trying to
222
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
break through our line right here, and we-and we peppered it into them so hard they had to give it up." " But did you see them, Mat ?" I asked. "Now ! now ! be gorry," said Mat., " you don't believe there was any greybacks here a fightin' us a-tall a-tall." " There is where you are just right," I made answer. At which Mat raised his voice, and in a tone which told that he was not only angry, but that his feelings had been injured, replied, " Well then, Captain-Major I mean-I knowed you when you wus a wee boy, and if you don't believe Mat as never told your father a lie, all you have to do, is to get down from your horse-for I don't want to see you kilt entirely right fernenst my eyes-and walk right out there ten paces, be gorry, and you will find some of them shot to flinders right fernenst Mat Crawley, as never told your father a lie, be gorry." This was a challenge I felt bound to accept, and after notifying the videttes on both sides of us what I was going to do, I dismounted and walked out past Mat with considerable show of bravery, but not without some inward quaking, and strong misgivings that after all Mat's fright had not been causeless, and that perhaps an enemy had heard our conversation, and was, with a loaded rifle, listening and watching for my approach. I remember that though I started out briskly enough, my steps as I advanced grew shorter and shorter, and somehow I breathed wonderfully loud. Presently I heard a slight noise and saw a dark object moving just ahead of me. My first impulse was to rush back to the picket line. Then I crouched down and instinctively felt for my revolver, which I knew I had left in the holster on my saddle. I believed that what I had seen was a man rising partially and then throwing himself down again. Perhaps after all, it was a poor wounded fellow who had been deserted by his friends and would be glad to be found even by his enemies. And I held my own breath, and listened to hear him breathe; for a badly wounded man, if he does not groan, generally breathes audibly. But instead of a slight groan or loud breathing, I heard a scratch- ing sound and soon felt myself growing brave again, for I was fast arriving at the conclusion that it was a wounded horse
223
AT SULPHUR SPRINGS AND CULPEPPER.
instead of a man. Mat's story then was in the main correct. The foe had undoubtedly been there, but had certainly withdrawn to some other point. I asked in a suppressed tone, " Is there any wounded man about here." But no answer came to my inquiry. Then I moved cautiously around to the farther side of the wounded brute, and turning about so that I faced the Union line, took off my hat, and holding it lightly between my knees struck a lucifer match, and as the light flashed out I beheld lying in front of me a miserable hide-bare, glandered, dying mule.
Without a word of comment, I walked back to the line whistling,
" My Country ! 'tis of thee Sweet land of Liberty,"
monnted my horse and resumed my course along the line behind the videttes, receiving ever and anon, in answer to my inquiries the assurance that the only attack that had been made, was the one that had taken place at the point where the poor diseased mule had fallen. Nearly all, however, declared that they had heard distinctly, several times during the night, the distant tramp of a column of cavalry.
On reaching the right of the first division line, we moved back through the woods until we struck the open fields, where I bade my attendants good night; and as they returned to the grand reserve of the picket line, I made my way back to camp; and after reporting to General Ward the result of my visit, was per- mitted to withdraw the line I had posted. But before we reached our tents again the darkness of night was fleeing away before the rapid approach of morning.
When our regiment returned from the main picket line the boys reported that the morning after the scare a drove of about forty mules, all in the last stages of glanders, were wandering about in front of the lines. This little squad of dumb brutes, "that had evidently been driven toward our lines in hope of spread- ing among the Union cavalry horses, the terrible disease of which they were dying, had caused twenty thousand troops a sleepless night.
221
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
On the 7th of October, Lieutenant Colonel Cummins returned to camp. On the morning of the Sth we were ordered to pre- pare for a march, and directed to fall in line without waiting for orders in case we heard heavy firing in direction of James City, a small village several miles to our right. The second division of our corps, it was said, had been ordered out in that direction. The Sixth corps had moved past our camp and marched. to Ceder mountain on the 5th. The First corps was reported to be massed near Raccoon Ford ; all of which indicated that a general advance was not only contemplated but had actually been commenced.
On the evening of the 8th, five days' rations were issued. About noon on the 10th, the thunder of artillery was heard from away off to our right, and our division was soon in line, and all ready to form column and move forward without one moment's delay. An hour later our brigade moved from the woods in which it had been encamped, and stacked arms in an open field. The sound of artillery continued to be heard at intervals, and several times during the afternoon we were called in line but did not move. As the sun sank out of sight there came an order to send the men to the woods for limbs and brush, and to build large fires. As soon as these were started we lay down beside them and tried to sleep.
1
The following graphic account of our march from Culpepper to Centreville, is from the pen of our chaplain, T. Scott Bradner, and was published in the Goshen Democrat of Oct. 29th, 1863.
" Last Saturday morning, (Oct 10th) we were at ease in camp, three miles west of Culpepper. Dr. Thompson and I had been to the town to get some sanitary stores. On going back at noon we found our camp all broken up, and hastily packed our personal baggage and with the corps took the road. About a mile south of Culpepper we halted in battle order, not knowing whether we were to be attacked there, go on to the Rapidan, or " go back. Getting near dark, the air keen and cold, we began to make fires and get our supper, the horses saddled and packed, with the exception of blankets. Our prospect of a comfortable night was not flattering, for at 10 o'clock the order was brought
--.
225
AT SULPHUR SPRINGS AND CULPEPPER.
for every man to be wide awake and ready to start at a moment's notice. It seems, the reason for our halting was to give the ambulance and wagon trains time to get ahead of us, and at 8 o'clock on Sunday as the last one passed us we resumed our march. We now began to realize that we were putting back to Sulphur Springs and perhaps Washington, a terrible march for the poor men. Sixty rounds of cartridges, eight days' rations, with clothing and blankets, will give you some conception of what was to be borne in a rapid march. We came back on the same road we went down, until we were in sight of the estate of John Miner Botts, when we turned to the left, mak- ing for Freeman's Ford, eight miles below Sulphur Springs. At 3 P. M. we halted. We had heard artillery on our right and in direction of Culpepper during the forenoon, now it opened again on our right and not more than two miles from us. From the fast riding of orderlies and aids, I expected we were in for a fight. We moved on three-quarters of a mile and formed in line of battle. Being on high ground we had a view of some part of the action. We could see the shells fly and our cavalry wheel on the plain and charge, but could not tell the result. After waiting an hour we took the road again and pushed on. It soon began to be whispered that Kilpatrick had whipped the Rebs, and driven them back to Culpepper. Night approaching we halted, stacked arms, and the men ran for rails and water, but the bugles then blew, "fall in," and now began a terrible march. Robbed of sleep the previous night, cold, hun- gry and tired, the night dark-in this condition we passed Hazel River, a branch of the Rappahannock about twelve rods wide. The pontoon bridge was taken up at 12 o'clock (midnight). The roads were good and dry and' at 1 o'clock we saw ahead of us, hundreds of fires on the bluffs, and could hear the yells of a regiment at a time. We knew what this meant. It was our " troops fording the Rappahannock, and it brought relief, for we felt an assurance that we could now rest. The river is neither deep nor wide ; officers and men, started in with a yell, a laugh and a joke, then out, and through the camp fires, winding among the
15
226
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
hills for about a mile, when we halted for the night, made fires, had a cup of coffee, and at 2 o'clock laid down upon the ground to sleep. Monday morning we were started at daylight without time to make coffee ; but only moved a short distance to a wooded hill, where we remained all day. In the afternoon heard artillery firing again near Brandy Station, which we afterwards learned was the Sixth corps driving one of Lee's back. That night the 124th and 86th, had to go on picket. The enemy's cavalry, artillery and infantry, it was said, were crossing up at Sulphur Springs and Fox's Ford-Kilpatrick being unable to hold them. I kept awake all night by walking. We were two miles out from the corps, the head of which passed us at daylight, Tuesday morning. The pickets were withdrawn and when our brigade came along we fell in with it. At 4 o'clock we were startled with the boom of cannon ahead of us and, as our brigade was second from the front, we could see the fire of our guns two fields . beyond. The surgeons hastily turned aside in the woods, selected a place for a division hospital, and soon the wounded began to come in. We had from fifteen to twenty wounded, none killed ; buried five rebels. A spent ball struck Captain Jackson on his sword plate, which doubled him up a little while, but he was not badly hurt. All the wounded were of the First Brigade. General French was riding some distance ahead of the column ; one of his orderlies in advance, was fired on first when the General turned back and ordered the 10th Massachusetts Battery into position, stood by them, and ordered them not to fire until he gave the word. It was a force of dismounted cavalry ; he waited till they neared the battery when at his order there was poured into the enemy a volley of grape and canister. Then the First Brigade charged and the Rebs took to their heels. The Second corps coming up to us, coolly turned into the woods - and commenced getting supper, while we moved on with a line of flankers marching on our left through the fields. We staid at Greenwich all night and had hardly commenced moving on Wednesday morning the 14th, before heavy firing was heard in our rear, apparently just where the Second corps had staid all
..
227
CENTREVILLE CAMPAIGN.
night. We passed rapidly on over Bull Run at Blackburn's Ford, and halted at Centreville about 6 r. M. devoutly thankful to the Great Deliverer for his preserving care. We felt our fare to be sumptuous, although it was but boiled beans and pork. Centre- ville is a very high position. Prisoners say Lee's army is larger than ours, and that he is bound to have Washington this time. . . You may imagine what we have to guard when I tell you that thirty-one miles of wagon train were parked on Wednesday at Warrenton Junction."
On Thursday morning, the 15th, it became very evident that our army was as near Washington as General Meade intended it should go. At an early hour a defensive line for the entire army was selected and the troops began to move hither and thither, to the positions which had been assigned them. Our division moved about two miles to the left of where we had spent the night and encamped in line near Fairfax Station. During the day our old commander, General Sickles, paid us a visit and was received with shouts of welcome which must have convinced him that he was held in high regard by the officers and men who had fought under him at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Toward evening our division was called upon to witness the shooting of a deserter from the 5th Michigan-a scene so terrible that I will not attempt to describe it.
General Lee having signally failed in his grand turning movement, not disposed to make a direct assault on our unusually strong lines about Centreville, and finding his own position, so far from his base, becoming extremely hazardous, began on the 18th a retrograde movement. Meade of course started after him.
Early Monday morning, October 19th, our division struck tents and moved southward again, following in the wake of a por- tion of our cavalry corps which came up with and engaged the enemy's rear guard at Bristoe Station. But before we reached that point, which was fifteen miles from our starting place near Centreville, the affair was over and the enemy several miles away. We encamped that night within sight of the station.
On the 20th, we started forward with the rising of the sun.
مواط الد وم طهرنا
صدار كتمالى
سدـ
الـ
22S
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
but were detained several hours at the crossing of a stream called Broad Run, which flowed within 'a mile of where we had spent the night. After that we marched first one way, and then the other, passed over the battle field of the day before, saw a con- siderable number of dead horses and new made graves, and about 4 o'clock bivouacked one mile south of Greenwich.
On the 21st, we resumed the march at S A. M., and after moving at a rapid gait for ten miles found ourselves at Catlett's station, where we were halted, as we believed for dinner. But about 2 o'clock were conducted to a camping ground in an open field which sloped gently westward to a little stream, and ordered to pitch our tents in regular order. Meade had resolved to give over his pursuit of Lee, and encamp in that vicinity until he could rebuild some twenty miles of the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road, which Lee's army had destroyed; for it was over that road that our supplies were sent to us.
Picket duty grew unpopular with the approach of winter, and it was wonderful to what an extent our sick list would be suddenly lengthened on the slightest rumor that an order detail- ing the 124th for picket had reached camp. This was especially the case when the heavens indicated that a storm was brewing. The boys I have no doubt usually argued the matter with them- selves in this wise " Well I-I really don't feel first rate, and if I am not actually sick now, ten to one I would be if I had to stand out in the cold or rain all night, and if I can fool the doctor and get excused, I'm going to do it." How often our wise Sur- geon Thompson or little Doctor Montfort were actually fooled into believing a man was about to be stricken down with typhoid, small-pox or some other terrible malady before they became thor- oughly acquainted with the wonderful and varied symptoms of that so hard to be treated disease called the "shirks," that at times raged to a fearful extent among a class of soldiers called " dead beats," I am not prepared to state. However, picket duty had to be performed summer and winter, night and day, rain or shine, and the 124th always did its full share of it, and did it well.
229
CENTREVILLE CAMPAIGN.
On the afternoon of the 25th of October, the regiment having just returned from a three days' tour on the outer lines, went to a neighboring wood for arms full of fresh pine feathers to replenish their beds, and made unusually extensive preparations for a com- fortable night's rest; but soldiers above all others never know what an hour will bring forth. Just after dark that evening orders came to strike tents and get the regiment in line. When this was done we stacked arms, and after shivering about the stacks for an hour or more, formed line again and in obedience to orders from brigade head-quarters advanced about twenty rods, to a muddy flat where we were directed to form column by divis- ion and make ourselves comfortable.
It was one of those damp cold nights on which, let one do what he may standing or lying on the wet ground in the open air, he cannot keep his teeth from chattering or his limbs from shaking. Morning came at last. Many had walked about all night. Several officers of our brigade who happened to have some liquor with them had made themselves what is by some called " gloriously happy," and by others termed " beastly drunk." The majority, however, had rolled themselves in their blankets and lain down at their posts, resolved to make the best of their situation. Very few of our number had closed their eyes in sleep and when reveille was sounded, all were tired and sore.
After breakfast we were directed to move back to our old grounds and put up our tents again. Why we had been ordered to pull them down, and leave our camp fires, and beds of boughs which were spread on a comparatively dry hillside, and move down to and spend the night on that cheerless, wet muddy flat, was a mystery not one of our number could solve, and I trust the good Lord turned a deaf ear to the curses which were pro- nounced against those who were supposed to have caused it.
At the first approach of darkness that evening all hands except a small camp guard -- but three of whom were required to remain awake at a time -- turned in ; but our sleep was of short duration, for about 10 o'clock marching orders came, attention was sounded, and at 11 o'clock we were moving southward again.
230
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
We pushed on at a rapid gait until about 1 A. M. when we were ordered to halt, and permitted to build fires and lie down about them for the remainder of the night.
On the 27th we moved half a mile and encamped in an oak woods. We now learned that our division had come out as a sort of grand reserve to our picket line which had been advanced several miles, and was yet a quarter of a mile beyond us.
On the 30th, another advance of the pickets was made and our division moved on and encamped in the open fields near Bealton Station. There was no water within half a mile of where our regiment lay, and we had to go twice that distance for wood. We however remained there until the 7th of November, when the railroad having been put in running order again, a general advance was ordered.
231
KELLY'S FORD.
CHAPTER XIII.
KELLY'S FORD-LOCUST GROVE-MINE RUN.
rTHE series of movements by which Lee forced Meade to fall back to Centreville, and then Meade compelled Lee to retire to the southern shore of the Rappahannock again, occupied the two armies for a period of between three and four weeks, and may be termed a campaign of skirmishes. Ten to fifteen rencounters between detached forces took place, but no engage- ment of sufficient magnitude or importance to be properly called a battle.
Greeley, in commenting on the affair in his " American Con- flict," says, " Lee claims to have taken 2,000 prisoners during his dash across the Rappahannock; while our captures were hardly half so many. . In killed and wounded the losses were nearly equal-not far from 500 on either side. But the pres- tige of skill and daring, of audacity and success, inured entirely to the Rebel commander, who, with an inferior force, had chased our army up to Washington, utterly destroyed its main artery of supply, capturing the larger number of prisoners, destroyed or caused us to destroy valuable stores, and then returned to his own' side of the Rappahannock essentially unharmed; having decidedly the advantage in the only collision which marked his retreat. Nettled by the trick which had been played upon him, Meade now sought permission to make an attempt, by a rapid movement to the left, to seize the heights of Fredericksburg; but Hallock negatived the project."
Whatever Meade's previous desires or intentions may have been, it is certain that on the morning of the 7th of November his army moved forward in two columns; one of which-com- posed of the Fifth and Sixth corps, and commanded by the vet-
232
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
eran Sedgwick-took the roads leading toward Rappahannock Station ; and the other, made up of the First, Second, and Third corps, under the immediate command of General French, pursuing a southeasterly course which led toward the fords several miles farther down the river.
The Third corps, commanded by General Birney, had the advance of French's column, and our division, again under General Ward, led the corps. We left Bealton about 8 A. M., moved slowly and cautiously for an hour or two, and then pushed rapidly forward, and at 2 p. M. the head of the column was halted under cover of a piece of woods that skirted the north-eastern bank of the Rappahannock, at Kelly's Ford.
As soon as General Ward's division was closed up, the 124th was ordered to support the 10th Massachusetts Battery, and moved with it to some high ground about thirty rods farther down the river, where the battery wheeled into position and unlimbered. From this commanding point we had an unob- structed view of the enemy's pickets whom we found, all un- conscious of immediate danger, lounging about, and pacing to and fro along the opposite shore. They seemed greatly surprised at our sudden appearance. We had however hardly reached the position assigned us before their bullets bogan to whistle through the air. One of the gunners was wounded at the very outset, and before the horses could be got back out of range two of them were hit. The supporting force, of course, found it con- venient to hug the ground, and no one complained of its being dainp or cold. Some of our best shots crept out to the edge of the bluff, and with deliberate and effective aim opened a counter fire.
An open plain stretched back from the enemy's pieket line, on the banks of the river, to a piece of woods about a quarter of a mile beyond. Presently a regiment of Confederates moving in column at a double-quick emerged from this woods, and our battery was immediately turned upon them. The two first shells passed over their heads but the third struck and exploded in the very centre of their column, literally tearing it in two. Their colors went
.
233
KELLY'S FORD.
down, and where they had floated there first appeared a little cloud of smoke filled with dark flying spots, and then a huge gap was seen in their ranks. But almost immediately their flag re- appeared and the gap was closed ; then, quickening their pace to a run, the brave southerners hurried forward in an oblique direc- tion across our front, to the support of the pickets and a regiment of comrades posted at the Ford. But they were too late to be of any avail; for in the meantime a powerful skirmish line com- posed of the United States Sharp-shooters and 20th Indiana of our brigade, supported by De Trobriand's five regiments (the 3d and 5th Michigan, 110th Pennsylvania, 40th New York, and 17th Maine) moving in battle line, had plunged into the stream, waded across under a galling fire, and with a determined charge carried the rifle pits on the southern shore, capturing the force posted behind them ; and were now advancing across the plain against these new comers. As soon as the Confederate comman- der comprehended the situation of affairs at the ford, he halted his column and began to deploy in a battle line that faced his advanc- ing foes ; but in doing so exposed a flank to our guns which sent shell after shell raking down his half formed lines, and soon a deadly fire from our skirmishers struck them in front .- At this juncture a Confederate battery opened from a distant wood on De Trobriand's supporting line .- Faster, and yet faster, the shell hurled from our battery fell among them, and on, on, pushed our skirmishers-look ! look ! the Confederates are giving ground. Hear that charging shout from De Trobriand's men and see them run ? What a line they keep. Good ! good ! there go the sharp- shooters-they don't intend to let the third brigade run over them and get that Confederate flag .- " Give them two more shots, and then cease firing," shouts the commander of our battery, and lo ! another shell explodes right among our brave foes, which seems to be that last straw which breaks the camel's buck. They can .. endure no more. Their never completed, and now terribly shat- tered line breaks in fragments ; and while the bulk of the surviv- ors, officers and privates, flee every man for himself toward the woods from whence they came, many throw themselves on the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.