USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 30
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SERGT .- MAJOR T. G. Mabie.
Total Casualties.
.69
1
CHAPTER XVII.
FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG.
F OR several days after the battle of May 12th, the Union army seems to have been kept busy, manœuvering and marching up and down, in quest of some weak point in the enemy's defences at Spottsylvania ; but none was found, and on the morning of the 18th, General Grant determined on another direct assault. Hancock's command, strengthened by Tyler's fresh and powerful division of foot artillerists-which had just arrived from the fortifications about Washington -- was designated to take the lead in this desperate undertaking. At the appointed time the advance, composed of the divisions of Gibbon and Barlow, swept forward in gallant style through the woods in front of the works captured on the 12th. But they soon brought up against a formidable abatis, and were speedily repulsed with such terrible loss, that it was deemed expedient to withdraw the entire force, instead of sending forward the supporting lines. The 124th, as it stood in the second line waiting for and expecting orders to advance, had one man severely wounded by a stray bullet that passed over Barlow's men.
. As soon as it was known that Hancock's assault had proved a failure, preparations were made for another grand turning move- ment. An order was issued directing Mead's trains to be parked on the Fredericksburg road; and Tyler's Division was sent thither to guard them. Birney's command now moved back a considerable distance from the main line, and encamped near the house of one Langdon.
At daybreak on the 19th, Eagan's brigade moved about a mile to the rear, and encamped near the Anderson house. There the men of the 124th who, for two weeks, had scarcely
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FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG.
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been out of range of the enemy's bullets, rested until about five P. M., when they were aroused by the sound of heavy firing, off to their rear-in the direction of the Fredericksburg road, on which it was known the trains were parked.
Half an hour later a mounted orderly, dashing through their camp, reined up in front of brigade headquarters, and the next moment the assembly was sounded. Hurriedly grasping their guns, canteens, and haversacks, and leaving tents standing and knapsacks strewn about, they hurried into line, which was scarcely formed ere the brigade bugler tooted the forward, and the column started on a double-quick toward the scene of action. On the way they were joined by a brigade from the 5th Corps, and the two columns marching side and side quickened their pace to a run, dashed through the wagon park and soon reached Tyler's battle line, which, though terribly cut up, was not only holding its own but had just repulsed a most determined assault of the foe, whose broken and straggling forces could be seen scampering out of range. Without a moment's delay the veterans hurried into line, and moving over Tyler's exhausted command, rushed forward with wild shouts after the flying foe, whom they pursued several miles. And when at length darkness put an end to the wild chase, the pursuers about faced and retraced their steps, bringing in with them upwards of five hundred prisoners. The 124th's share of this human plunder consisted of two officers and thirty- one enlisted men, while the wounding of Private Vradenburgh, of Co. G., was their only casualty.
: Swinton's account of this affair reads as follows : "Ewell, swept across the Ny, seized that important road, and attempted to capture a wagon train upon it, when he was stoutly resisted by Tyler and his artillerists. These had never been under fire before, but they fought with the coolness and steadiness of veter- ans of the Second and Fifth corps, who came to their assistance, but not until after Ewell had been repulsed. They did not fight with the caution of the veterans, and lost heavily. They and their gallant leader have the honor of repulsing Ewell; and they share with others in the credit of scattering the foc, in the woods
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
:
up the valley of the Ny and capturing several hundred of them. By this attack Grant's flanking movement was disturbed and tem- porarily checked, but it was resumed on the following night."
Eagan's Brigade bivouacked that night near the scene of Tyler's victory, and at daylight on the 20th returned to the Anderson Plantation where they had so unceremoniously left their traps and-tents some twelve hours before. Here the Or- ange Blossoms, after scouring their weapons, spent the day very pleasantly lounging about on the grass, writing letters home, and talking over the many changes and never to be forgotten events of the preceding sixteen days.
That evening the contemplated movement from Spottsylvania was begun in earnest-Hancock's corps leading the infantry advance. " At dark on the evening of the 20th," reads Eagan's official report-" the brigade moved to the left, crossing the Fred- ericksburg and Richmond R. R., near Gainey's station, passing through Bowling Green and halting for dinner on the plantation of the Confederate Colonel Fontleroy. The march was then continued, crossing the Mattapony River at Milford station and halting for the night two miles beyond." Here, before lying down to rest, the brigade covered its front with a light line of earth- works.
On the morning of the 22d Birney's entire cominand, which now consisted of his own and Mott's divisions, moved forward in line of battle to the house of one Coleman, where they spent the greater part of the day erecting a rather elaborate line of works. When these were completed a small reconnoitering party was sent out, which soon returned and reported that the enemy's picket line was close at hand ; whereupon Colonel Eagan was directed to make a reconnoissance in force, to find out if possible the strength and exact whereabouts of the enemy. He took with him the 40th N. Y., 3d Maine, and 99th Penn., and after an absence of several hours, returned with a solitary woe-be-gone dismounted Confederate cavalryman. "I advanced," said the Colonel to General Birney, " as far as Polecat Station, sending out small squads in every direction. We captured the enemy's
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FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG.
1
outposts and main body-horse foot and dragoons. Not a man escaped-and here it is,"-pointing to the prisoner referred to.
About nine A. M. on the 23d the advance was resumed toward where the North Anna is crossed by the Chesterfield bridge. Eagan's brigade was on the lead, and at one P. M. came in sight of the bridge, which unfortunately was not only covered by earth- works, but these works appeared to be strongly manned. A halt was now ordered, and the men set to throwing up a light line of earthworks. But at five o'clock labor on these ceased, and pre- parations were made for an assault. The storming party con- sisted of picked regiments from the brigades of Pierce and Eagan.
" About a quarter of a mile ahead of us," says Captain Travis, " ran the North Anna. From and at right angles with our line, as it was formed for the charge, ran a road straight down to the river. The right of our consolidated regiment (the 86th and 124th, now commanded by Major Stafford,*) rested on this road. On our right were the Maine regiments ; and we were joined on the left by the 40th N. Y. At the bridge . were two redoubts, each containing two guns, and heavily manned with infantry. In front of these ran a well filled line of rifle trenches. The advance of our regiment and the 40th N. Y. was directed against the trenches and redoubts on the left of the. bridge. About half past five the order to start was given and we rushed down the slope, and over the plain, on the run ; encountering as we went one of the most savage fires of shell and bullets I had ever experienced. But the men only rushed on all the faster. We were only a few moments crossing the flats but left strewn along our route nearly one-fifth of the charging line. Just before we reached the redoubts the rebels became satisfied they could not hold us back, and hur-
* After the battle of Spottsylvania the regiment was so small that it was found necessary to consolidate the men for field duty into five, and soon into three companies. And for the same reason and purposes the regiments of the brigade were temporarily consolidated-the 86th and 124th acting together : first under Lieut. Col. Lansing. and then under Major Stafford, both of the 86th. This union, which lasted until they settled down in camp in front of Petersburg, strengthened the already strong ties ex- isting between the two commands ; and the bond of fellowship formed in camp and on the march, was sealed amid the smoke and thunder of battle where their valiant dead fell side by side.
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
ried their guns over the bridge; and a moment later their entire force broke and fled. But leaping the ditch and scaling the works, we managed to reach this bridge in time to cut off and capture a considerable number of the hindermost. Of these the boys of the 124th scooped in eight, but we left not a few of our number stretched on the plain."
Swinton's account of this affair reads as follows : "Hancock's point of passage was the Chesterfield or Couty Bridge, a mile above the railroad crossing of the North Anna. Here the Con- federates had constructed a tete-de-pont on a tongue of land formed by Long Creek and North Anna, covering the bridge. On the north side was an extended redan with a wet ditch in front, the gorge being commanded by rifle trenches in the rear. On the Southern bank, which dominates the Northern, was a similar work. The tongue of land to be overpast in carrying this bridge head was a bare and barren plain several hundred yards in width, which it turned out was held by a part of McLaw's division of Longstreet's corps. Birney's division of Hancock's corps was assigned the duty of carrying the work and bridge. To cover the storming party Colonel Tidball, chief of artillery of the corps, placed in position three sections, which replied with effect to the enemy's fire. An hour before sundown the assault was made by the brigades of Pierce and Eagan, that under a heavy fire swept across the open plain at double-quick. As the menacing line approached close to the work the garrison fled precipitately, and the men making a foothold in the parapet with their bayonets clambered over it and planted their colors on the redoubt. Thirty men of the defending force, unable to escape, were captured in the ditch. The affair was exceedingly spirited and cost less than a hundred and fifty men. The enemy made several attempts to burn the bridge during the night, but these were prevented by the vigilance and good behavior of the troops."
The 124th spent the night in the redan from which it had helped to expel the foe. When day dawned again it was dis- covered that the enemy had abandoned the works on the opposite bank of the stream, and Hancock's command began to cross.
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FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG.
The 86th and 124th were among the first to pass over the bridge, and on reaching the Southern shore were deployed as skirmishers and advanced. They soon encountered the Confederate pickets and speedily drove them back nearly a mile, where an order to halt reached them. In this skirmish several more of the Orange Blossoms were disabled. At midnight they were relieved, and returned to the main line near the river.
The Confederates' line of works just beyond the North Anna, were found to be so strong that the commander-in-chief wisely concluded it would be easier to go around than over them. He accordingly, during the night of the 26th, withdrew his entire army to the south side of the river. There Hancock's corps took up a strong position in which it remained until the other corps were well on their way toward the fords of the Pamunkey River.
On the 27th Hancock cautiously withdrew, moved off after the others, and on the 28th crossed the Pamunkey at Nelson' Ford and rejoined the main army on the southern banks of that river. Here again the Unionists found themselves confronted by the wily foe, who was engaged strengthening an already formidable line of works along the Talapottomy Creek.
Birney's command spent the afternoon of the 28th and morn- ing of the 29th erecting a line of works at the Elliot House near the river. But on the evening of the 29th moved forward to the support of Barlow's division which attacked and after a short but spirited engagement drove the enemy from a line of advance rifle pits into his main works; in front of which Hancock's entire command deployed and set to work erecting a corresponding line of defences. This occupied their attention for two days-mean- time, though neither side advanced, a large amount of ammunition was expended. The picket lines were but a few rods apart and the videttes kept up a deadly fire. The artillery too, ever and anon opened most furiously from the opposing heights ; and worse and more dreaded than all else were the sharpshooters' bullets which kept picking off a man, first here and then there, all over the camp. They were bloody days in which, though no
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
general engagement took place, many names were added to the death rolls of the Second Corps:
On the afternoon of the 30th, Major Murray was directed to send out to a given point several hundred feet in front of that portion of the line where the 124th was lying, a couple of men under a competent officer to stake out a new line for earthworks which were to be erected that night. The Major selected for leader of this desperate undertaking Captain Crist, of Company H. The brave old Captain moved resolutely forward in plain sight of the deadly sharpshooters, and with unusual coolness began the task assigned him, but before it was half completed his dead body instead of a stake marked the prolongation of the line on which the contemplated works were to be erected. At ten P. M. his corpse was borne back a short distance, where it was incased in a cracker-box coffin; and in the gloom of night a little band of comrades, who had learned to love and esteem him, amid scenes which tried men's souls, knelt about his open grave, while Ser- geant Shultz of G .- who though yet suffering from wounds re- ceived at Chancellorsville had returned to duty-offered a prayer. But the petition was heard only by the God of battles to whom it was addressed, for just then, (says an eye witness) one of those terrible night scares took place on the picket lines in which each side imagined that the other was advancing, and the batteries all along that portion of the works adding their thunder peals to the rattle of the riflery, completely drowned the sergeant's voice.
Captain Travis writing of this weird burial scene, says, " It was the most solemn thing I ever witnessed, and was done amid the thunder of artillery and rattle of musketry-a fit burial for so noble a man. We miss him in the regiment, for he was a kind friend, a noble soldier, and a man whose whole soul was wrapped up in his country's cause."
Major Murray, writing a few hours after the captain fell, bears similar testimony of his worth, " I regret," he says, "to have to tell you that Captain Crist is dead. He was shot through the breast and died immediately. He is our only loss to-day, but it has made all our hearts siek. A braver or better man never lived,
..
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FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG.
or one more thoroughly determined to do his duty faithfully. We are making arrangements to bury him. He had just gone out and was showing a man where to set a post as a basis for our works. I had been watching him and admiring the noble example he set the men, and was about to turn around when I saw him fall. - God knows our hearts are heavy to-night over his loss."
I have said that these were bloody days. They were days · too of privation and great suffering to others than the wounded. Major Murray, writes in the same letter from which the above is quoted, " This is the first time in my life that I have ever really suffered from hunger. We had drawn nothing for seven days, and I was almost used up. Roast corn, and coffee without sugar has been our daily meals for two days, until this evening, when the train that went to Port Royal for supplies came up. I never relished anything better than some boiled beef, hardtack and coffee we had to-night." $
At about the time that Captain Crist was buried, Private Matthew Babcock of Co. B. was wounded in the hand. No other casualties are reported on that date.
On the afternoon of June Ist, Lieutenant Charles Stewart of Co. I. with a detail of ten enlisted men from the 124th and an equal number from the 86th was sent out for a tour of duty on the picket line. That night Hancock's command started for Cold Harbor, several miles to the left. The pickets were of necessity left for a time to cover the movement. And before they could be withdrawn, the enemy discovered what had taken place, threw a force around to their rear ; closed in on them and captured a considerable number ; including Lieutenant Stewart and six en- listed men of the 124th.
The first scene in the bloody battle of Cold Harbor was enacted on the part of the Unionists by the Sixth Corps, and por- tions of the 10th and ISth Corps which had just joined the Grand Army-or rather were joining it, for they were thrown into action as fast as they arrived on the field. It resulted in the carrying of the enemy's first line of works, the killing or disabling of about five hundred of his men, and the capture of six hundred prisoners,
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
at a cost to the two Union corps of upwards of two thousand men, killed and wounded.
In the formation of the Union army for the principal assault which took place on the 3d of June, the Second Corps formed the left of the line ; but this time Birney's command was in re- serve, and once more the 124th, as at the battle of Fredericksburg, were lookers on. They saw the veterans of the old Second Corps (Barlow and Gibbon's Divisions ) make that grand charge in which they drove the enemy from his works and planted their standards where his had been. They saw the several hundred prisoners taken, hurried over the captured works and across the plain to the Union rear. They heard the thunder of the captured cannon which had been turned upon the foe. And then they saw these gallant men driven back by the reinforced Confederates who, though able to regain the shelter of their works and the cannon they had lost, could do no more ; for Barlow's men halted and reformed within fifty yards of the works they had won and lost ; and there, while one half kept up such a fire as caused the enemy to remain crouched down out of sight, the others speedily covered their front with earthworks, and established a line from which they could not be driven.
This assault, extended along Grant's entire front, was made between four and five o'clock in the morning, and resulted in no more substantial gains than the capture of a few hundred prison- ers ; while, according to Greeley, " Twenty minutes after the first shot was fired fully ten thousand of our men were stretched writhing on the sod or still and calm in death."
The battle closed with the Union front advanced in several places; and a night attack made by the Confederates was re- pulsed at every point. The next day a division of the enemy was hurled against what appeared to be a weak part of the Union line ; but this assault also was easily repulsed.
Offensive operations were now suspended and for several days the Union army was armed with picks and shovels. instead of rifles and muskets. And huge works loomed up here and there, and trenches began to reach out toward the opposing lines. On
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FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG.
the 4th of June while this work was in progress, Corporal Andrew Jones of G. and Private William J. Miles of D. were wounded ; for while all else remained comparatively quiet, the whistle and thud of the sharpshooter's bullet continued ever and anon to relieve a man from duty.
At the end of a week picks and shovels were laid aside, and preparations made for a change of base. General Grant had re- solved to transfer his army, by a bold and rapid movement, to the banks of the James.
On the evening of the 12th Hancock's corps, which had again been chosen to lead, was set in motion, and on the 14th, at the end of a fifty-five mile march, reached Wilcox Landing and were speedily transferred by steamboats in waiting, to Wind Mill Point, on the southern shore of the James.
At half past ten A. M. on the 15th the advance was resumed, and Birney's command led the column down the Prince George Court House road, at a rapid gait, toward Petersburg. After a march of fourteen miles, made in four and a half hours, and when within six miles of the city, they changed direction to the right, without slacking their pace, and at the expiration of two hours came to what was called Old Court House. Here they changed direction to the left and again moved toward Petersburg. Heavy firing was in progress ahead of them, but it had almost ceased, when at eight P. M., after a days march of thirty miles, they brought up against, and lay down to rest behind a line of works, which had just before dark been carried by General Smith's command. Smith's troops came by another route, arriving there during the afternoon, and for several hours had been successfully forcing back the Confederate advance.
" At daylight on the morning of the 16th," reads Eagan's bri- gade report-" the enemy opened upon us with their batteries, killing and wounding a considerable number of the brigade, which was at once formed, and an assailing column, consisting of the 17th Maine and 20th Ind., was ordered to charge and take the enemy's works in our front. The advance was made but the position being one of great strength, and held by a large force,
£
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
it was found impossible to take it. The line was reformed and a second attempt with a larger force was made, but that also proved unsuccessful."
In this last advance Lieutenant Benjamin of G was slightly wounded. Here too Colonel Eagan was severely wounded, and the command of the brigade passed to Colonel Madill, of the 141st Penn. Volunteers. During the afternoon the brigade changed position several times, but did not become actually engaged, though heavy fighting was continually going on all about them. Late in the evening, Private Judson P. Lopton of HI. was wounded in the arm by a stray bullet.
On the morning of the 18th a general assault was ordered, but when the skirmish line advanced it was discovered that the enemy had withdrawn to an inner and stronger line, and the main assault was deferred. But a portion of Madill's brigade consist- ing in part of the 124th, advanced to within two hundred yards of the enemy's new line and entrenched themselves. Here Ed- ward Hunter of H. was mortally wounded. About noon Maj. Gen. Birney, then temporarily in command of the corps, ordered forward Gibbon's division, but it was repulsed. At six P. M. a general assault by the corps was made with like results.
In this last assault Madill's command suffered terribly-los- ing nearly two hundred men in killed and wounded. The 124th which advanced with but eighty-two muskets, lost one of its best officers, the gallant Captain William II. Jackson killed, and had eight enlisted men, wounded-several of them mortally.
Captain Jackson was a general favorite in the regiment, and the idol of his gallant company. Brave in battle, courteous in camp, always at his post when wanted, never obtrusive or com- plaining, and ever willing, competent, and ready to perform all just duty required of him, he had long been pointed to by his superiors, as a model soldier, and looked upon by those under him, as one whose example was at all times worthy of imitation. . Ilis loss was deeply mourned by all, but especially by the little band of surviving veterans of Company K., every one of whom. though their eyes had long been dry, shed bitter tears as they
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carried his lifeless body back to the roadside, dug his grave beneath a massive oak, and buried him from their sight; and then lingered to carve his revered name on a neat board, with which to mark his temporary resting place.
About nine o'clock p. M. the brigade moved up to within short range of the enemy's position and spent the night throwing up a strong line of earthworks, behind which they remained until the night of the 20th. While here Private William A. Lamereaux of E. was wounded in the side.
At eleven P. M. on the 20th the brigade was relieved by a division of colored troops from the Ninth Corps ; after which they moved about one and a half miles to the rear and lay down, out of harm's way, to rest for the night.
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