USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 34
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
Those of our party who had escaped capture were scattered through the woods. The rain continued to fall in torrents. and for two or three hours I wandered about through the darkness not knowing which way to go, and finally saw ahead of me another light. I had become somewhat suspicious of that sort of thing, and instead of riding up to it, brought my horse to a stand, and sat there watching and listening. Presently I heard voices and soon another party of horsemen rode past. going toward the light ; but they too soon reined up, and began discussing the situation. I was soon satisfied they were Unionists and rode forward and joined them. I could now see the reflection of several fires in- stead of one, and the general opinion was that a cavalry picket line ran through the woods just ahead of us ; but whether it was
3SS HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
composed of Confederates or Unionists was a question which could be answered only after a closer examination. Some one suggested that one of our number dismount and reeonnoitre, but while all agreed to the proposition, several minutes elapsed before any one volunteered to attempt the hazardous undertaking; then a man whose horse was standing beside mine, dismounted and handing me his reins said, " I am a non-combatant, and if cap- tured will perhaps meet with better usage than would be ex- tended to any one of you. If they are Confederates and I am taken I will shout come on, otherwise I will come back to you." He then crept cautiously forward through the brush. It seemed that he was gone a very long time but we finally heard a rattling in the brush again, and he returned with the assurance that the lights we saw were the fires of Union stragglers, who were boiling coffee along a highway.
As soon as I reached this road the excitement which had buoyed me up during the night suddenly deserted me, and I felt weaker than ever. I had not eaten a mouthful in nearly twenty- four hours, and besides the blood had been steadily oozing from my wound all night.
After riding down the road a short distance I came to the steam saw-mill which we had passed the day before on our way out. Little fires with squads of men gathered around them were burning all about this mill, and I determined to dismount there and rest. Riding up to a man who stood by the side of the road next the mill I asked him to assist me from the saddle, for I was fearful of falling if I attempted it unaided. Without a word he stepped readily up and putting his hands on his hips braced him- self so that I might lean on his shoulders. As I reached the ground I looked up in his face, and to my surprise recognized Chaplain Harry Hopkins.
Chaplain Hopkins was a particular friend of Chaplain Joe Twitchell's, and resembled him in kindness of heart and readiness to render assistance to those needing it. He seemed greatly pleased that I had fallen into his hands and did all he possibly could for my comfort. His first act was to dress my wound, and
.
389
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG.
for want of more suitable material or because he thought it the most suitable, he folded and placed next the bullet holes, a fine silk handkerchief. Then with his own hands he prepared and broiled for me a choice piece of steak, which he had a short time before received as his share of a Confederate bullock captured and slaughtered near the mill. With this broiled beef he set before me the contents of his haversack. I was very hungry and I yet remember that meal as one of the most appreciated of my life.
After the meal was over he prepared a sort of bed for me, in the sawdust, and I lay down and watched our ambulances and army wagons coming in and passing along the road, which was lighted up by the fires I have mentioned. At length small bodies of infantry began to pass and then three or four light batteries came thundering in with their horses on a lively trot; and after the batteries came several squadrons of cavalry. By this time I became thoroughly satisfied as to what was transpiring, and con- cluded that to go to sleep there would be to wake up in the hands of the enemy.
The troops I had seen passing were the infantry and cavalry pickets, which indicated that the main body had already fallen back. I soon explained to the chaplain what I thought of the situation, after which he assisted me to mount, and I started for our old camp. It was a most tedious ride and I was obliged to . dismount and rest several times, but at half past four P. M., I reached our division hospitals in rear of the works from which we had been withdrawn on the 24th. Two hours later the regi- ment moved past and several members of it came in to see me.
Captain Benedict who I had supposed was wounded and cap- tured when we ran into the enemy's line, had turned up all right and rejoined the regiment. Lieutenants Carmick, Holbert and Bradley had been wounded, and our brave representative of " Old Erin," Captain James Finnigan, had been killed.
Major Murray had not been seen or heard from and all were satisfied that he had again fallen into the hands of the enemy, and this opinion was subsequently confirmed. He never returned to duty with the regiment. Fortunately the rank and file had
390
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTELES.
not suffered in the same ratio as the officers, for when the regi- ment passed the hospital it was but twenty-five muskets short of the number it started out with, and it was expected that several of the absent men would answer at roll call the next morning.
On the morning of the 20th I had an opportunity to question our officers regarding the doings of the regiment after I was wounded. The charge General de Trobriand had ordered was not made, and no one seemed to know that such a thing had been contemplated, and one of the number suggested that perhaps after all it was a good thing for the regiment that I had been dis- abled. He thought we might possibly have taken the guns, but that it could have been done only at a fearful cost and, he added as if to qualify his first conclusion, " you would in all probability have been killed instead of wounded."
The efforts of the enemy to force a passage down the road entrusted to the 124th did not, I was informed, cease with the failure of the charge they attempted to make just before I was wounded. Half an hour later their battle line again emerged from the woods and with a charging shout started across the open field. The sharpshooters had meantime taken position on the right of the 124th, prolonging the line in that direction. But just at the critical moment Kirwin's powerful regiment, armed with repeating rifles from which they claimed sixteen cartridges could be fired in less than a minute, reached the scene of action, and rushing forward-as the sharpshooters had done on their arrival-filled the gaps in the loose battle line already engaged ; and adding their fire to that of my brave boys, speedily sent the charging Confederates to the right about, and tmnbled them right and left, as with rapid strides they hastened back into the woods.
After that the enemy did not again appear in force, but an occasional bullet went whistling past, and every few moments a .shell or two fired from his battery, which had evidently been withdrawn to a respectable distance, tore its way through the limbs over their heads. .
Kirwin's regiment was withdrawn just before dark but the
391
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG.
124th remained where I left it until nearly ton P. M . when it was marched rapidly back to the Vaughan road, where they bivou- acked until noon the next day, when the march we bestuned ; and at six P. M. they were busy pitching their tents to the camp they had been withdrawn from on the 21th.
LIST OF KILLED, AND WOUNDED OF RATH, IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG FROM AUGUST 20 TO OCTOBER 20 1504.
Aug. 20 Private James Daniels, Co. C. Branded.
Sept. 10 Private George G. King. . C.
" 12
¥ Joseph Pratt, B.
" 14 CORP. Chester Judson, C.
15 Private Martin V. Campbell, B.
Oct. 9 Private Grant B. Benjamin, G
10 " B. M. Little, B. .€ 20 = Theodore Smith, A. .. ..
22 LIEUT. JONATHAN BIRDSALL, .. A ..
CASUALTIES OF 124TH AT BATTLE OF BOYDTON ROAD,
OCTOBER 27, 1864.
LIEUT. COLONEL C. H. WEYGANT, Wounded.
MAJOR HENRY S. MURRAY,
Wounded and Captured.
CAPT. JAMES FINNIGAN,
Co. C. hilled.
LIEUT. E. J. CARMICK,
EBENEZER HOLBERT,
THOMAS W. BRADLEY,
B.
SERGT. Clark B. Gallation.
Co. H. Wounded and Captured.
Private Francis Quinn,
James Smith,
B. "
Wounded.
CORP. David U. Quick,
Private Thomas Griffith.
Peter Herman,
Henry Drilling,
Charles Timerson,
Walter D. Boyce,
.. Henry R. Broadhead,
F. ..
Killed.
Robert II. Folley,
C.
William H. Dougherty, E. ..
Captured. ..
William Milliken,
I
I
Jeduthan Millspaugh,
"
K.
B. ¥
..
C .. . .
C. ..
H. ..
I .. .
..
Co. F. Wounded. ..
" D.
392
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
CHAPTER XX.
REINFORCED,- WELDON RAID,-IN WINTER QUARTERS.
N the 30th day of October I received a furlough and started for the North. On reaching my home at Newburgh I found awaiting me the following letter from Captain Benedict, the senior officer with the regiment.
" MY DEAR COLONEL :-
" 121TH N. Y. V., OFT. 30, 1861.
In great haste I send you a few lines. I have just returned from dis- interring the body of Captain Finnigan. An orderly rode in camp with me bringing an order to march at dark. Capt. Malone with his company, -87 men and Lieut. King -- arrived last night. They have been put in Companies K. and E., and a few of them in other companies where they have relatives. Where we are going to no one knows-whether into the front line, to some other camp, to march or fight is all surmise."
" Later-We are ordered into the front lines to-night and as your bay mare may not be safe from mortar shells I will send her to Post who says he will see that she is properly cared for, and take all the blame should anything happen her before you return. Travis sends regards. Let me hear from you soon and often.
JAMES W. BENEDICT."
Two days later I received the following letter from Captain Travis, the next officer in rank to Captain Benedict :
" 194TH N. Y. V., Nov. 3, 1861.
" DEAR COLONEL-I thought I would write a few lines to let you know that I am yet in the land of the living, and that we at present occupy the grounds laid out by you for our new camp. Everything is running as smoothly as possible but we all wish for your return. As for the new company, they have arrived. We gave Malone a full company ; the rest were sent to Company E., except six. Four of these went to C. and the other two to F. The old regiment looks big again. We have sent for arms and expect them here to-morrow. Captain Finnigan's body has been
393
REINFORCED.
sent home. If any of his friends speak to you in regard to refunding the money it cost us, it is $133, and you are authorized to receive it for us. Do not mention it to them unless they speak first about it to you. Post has taken charge of your bay mare but I have kept your little brown for my own use. If I attempt to ride her they will have to start very soon. There is a rumor that Hancock leaves the corps, and that Gibbons takes command. Come back as soon as you can.
From your friend. HARRY TRAVIS."
Hancock did leave the corps about that date because of physi- cal difficulties arising from wounds received in battle, but Major- General Humphreys, instead of Gibbon, took his place.
My wound did not entirely heal for several months. but its worst effects wore away quite rapidly and on the 22d of Novem- ber I was with the regiment again. During my absence there had arrived, in addition to Captain Malone's men, a considerable number of recruits.
I was much pleased with the general appearance of these new men ; and was most agreeably surprised when, on taking the regi- ment out on battalion drill, I failed to discover a half dozen " awkward recruits " in the entire number. I afterward learned that not a few of them had been in the service three years before they joined the 124th, and that nearly every one of them had been members of regiments whose terms of service had expired. Captain Malone and Lieutenant King showed by their every action that they were experienced officers ; and I felt thoroughly satisfied that I had nothing to fear when the regiment should again be called into action, from .these veteran recruits.
Just before my return to the front I visited our State capital and procured from His Honor Governor Seymour,
A Captain's Commission for Lieutenant Thomas Taft,
66
. . €
E. J. Carmick, Thomas W. Bradley,
who was assigned to C. .. .. F B. ..
A First Lieut. Second "
" Orderly Sergt. John C. Wood,
Woodward T. Ogden, " ..
6
Sergeant Thomas Hart,
David U. Quick.
..
K. A. B. D.
Sergt. Major Thos. G. Mabie,
46
394
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
At an inspection held on the afternoon of November 25th the regiment turned out nineteen officers and three hundred and sixty-two enlisted men-a larger number than we had mustered for duty at any time since we moved into action on the bloody battlefield of Chancellorsville. The following is a list of the gains of the regiment subsequent to the opening of our campaign under Grant. They had all, with the exception of about twenty, joined the regiment after the battle of Boydton Road.
CAPT. ROBERT A. MALONE .. . . Company K | William Edsall.
. Company D
LIEUT. JOHN S. KING.
K
Peter Byrne.
. .
D
Daniel D. Carpenter
Company A 1
Patrick Connelly
..
D
Thomas Derwin.
=
A
Thomas Collins.
..
Henry Ladue.
A
Charles Bar'tson.
D
William L. McNitt.
A
Amos De Long.
D
Robert Perry ...
A
William A. Trainer.
D
William H. Retalic
A
William Munroe
Lemuel R. Robertson.
A
Jolinson Munroe
D
Jolin H. Johnson.
A
Charles Morgan D
D
James L. John.son.
A
Michael Welch
D
John P. Burkhart.
1
A William Rouke.
George Mason,
A
Joel H. Brown.
D
John Clancy.
Company B
Thomas G. Holmes."
D
Thomas Griffith
B
Albert Bigler.
James Hamilton.
B
John Parker.
B
George Davis
John Raffin. .
B
Isaac Keith.
Company E
John W. Garrison.
B
Peter Brickey
..
E
Charles Wannemaker.
B
Jolın Hoifler. :
Luke Petitt
Company C
John Ruby ..
C
Furman Furman.
George Stickney.
C
Charles Centebar ..
..
E
William L. Bonwell
William Cole. C
..
E
William Beteker.
C
Charles M. Evert.
E
John Dougherty
C
Peter O. Favero ..
..
E
Michael Brown
C
Edward Kelly . .
F
Henry Drilling.
Andrew Lafontain C
F
George Dold.
C
John Moor
..
E
Lewis Ewalt.
C
Joseph McCullock.
E
Peter Herman.
C
Frederick E. Norton. . .
E
William HI. Finch
Samuel S. Stockwell C
E
Casper Aisale.
C Joel H. Tracey
E
Jacob Beck ...
C James Salsbury.
E
John Seymour
C
Joseph Wells
F
John A. Travis. . . Company D
James E. Winters
E
Erastus Dill.
Amos Winters
Henry S. Utter
D
William W. Wright.
Jeremiah Daily
D |Silas Wade.
F
David H. Wheeler.
A
Jolin Johnson
Jolin Curray
D
E
E
Richard Blunt
C
Willianı M. Dean
D
"
Isaiah Booz
E
REINFORCED.
395
Cyrus J. Blackman
Company E
| Edward De Hart
Company K
John Madden
E
John De Hart ..
K
Philetus Lomis.
E
William Dolan. . .
K
William Davis.
E
Solomon Davenport.
K
Harvey Conklin Company F
Seth M. Davey
K
Alva Hough
F
Geo. W. Elliston.
K
James Stack.
F John Farrell.
K
Martin Coval.
Rineer Fisher.
K
Edward Earl.
Company G
John Flynn.
K
William S. Smith
G
Samuel F. Fredericks
K
Charles E. Brown.
Company H
Benjamin W. Halstead.
K
John E. Hurder
H
George L. Howard
K
John Murphy
H
Joseph T. Smith
H
John P. Trant
H
Rufus S. Hoyt.
K
Francis Quinn
H
Charles Johnson
K
Charles Timerson.
H
Joseph D. Jackson
66
K
Sylvanus Lang.
H
Josialı Jaycox
K
Charles O. Goodyear
Company
I
William H. Lewis.
K
John Anderson
"
I
Samuel Lewis ..
K
Cornelius Brussie
I
James Lynn
K
Emanuel Bateman
Philip Lehning I
K
Allen R. Billings
I
Isaac Logan.
K
George Cannavan.
Edward Meyer I
K
William Emmons.
I
Thomas H. Moore
K
Homer Hayes ..
1
Henry L. Miller.
K K
William McGulphen
I
George F. Mathews
Franklin Reilly
I
William H. Monell
K
Thomas Reilly
I
Jacob J. Nichols
K
Joseph Rose.
I
Alexander R. Olds
K K
Horace A. Smithi
I
Jolın Petrey.
K
Walter D. Boyce.
I
Joseph P. Romer.
K
William Hatfield.
I
Benjamin P. Romer.
K
James A. Benton.
I
Gilbert E. Robbins.
K
David Babcock
. Company K
James H. Brush ..
K
Jolın Reed:
"
John E. Beard ..
K
George H. Roberson
K
Janies E. Braisted
K
Moses Schofield.
K
George W. Brown
66
K
Edward Stafford
K
William Bennett.
K
James T. Lacey
K
Harvey Brush
K
John S. Sanders.
K
Charles Cable.
K
John S. Shaw
16
K
Josiah Conklin
K
John Smith
K
Michael Callahan
. K
John J. Terwilliger
K
George Conklin.
K William Whalen
K
Samuel ('all ..
K James H. Wood.
K
Nicholas K. Crotty
K Henry Wilkinson.
K
Andrew W. Conklin
K John Wallace.
K
Moses C. Conklin
Peter Winters
K
Daniel Conklin
K Israel H. Wickham
K
6.
William Reed
K
K K
David Storms. K
John Bishop ..
66
John Ryan.
I George J. O'Reilly
..
K
К
James Helms. Joseph Hunt ..
F
Abraham J. Cronk
K William E. Tucker.
K
396
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
On the afternoon of November 29th the troops of Mott's com- mand were instructed to pack up and remain in readiness to move at a moment's notice. It was currently rumored that we had been ordered to a new camping ground, somewhere in the rear, on which we were to erect permanent winter quarters. Just after sundown a division of Ninth Corps troops came marching up in perfect order, with drums beating, and banners flying, ready to relieve us from duty in the trenches and occupy the camps we were about to vacate.
Their arrival was observed by the enemy, who forthwith opened a furious cannonade which lasted for an hour or more ; during which the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Stafford of the 86th was mortally wounded, and the incoming division had some fifteen or twenty men killed or disabled. In the evening our division quietly withdrew, moved about a mile to the rear and bivouacked for the night.
At sunrise on the 30th we resumed the march and at the end of about six miles reached our flank or rear line of works near Poplar Grove church, where de Trobriand's brigade was given position and ordered to camp between Forts Cummings and Seebert. The weather was now so cold that the men found it next to impossible to sleep comfortably on the ground under their thin muslin shelters; but day after day passed without bringing us the anxiously looked for permission to erect winter quarters ; and the men without orders began putting log walls under their tent pieces and erecting log bunks.
An entry in my journal under date of Nov. 5th reads-" I am now able to mount my horse without assistance. Before ten A. M. and after three p. M. I am usually with the regiment. The intervening time I spend at court-martial. Yesterday our court tried a poor fellow for his life and virtually pronounced the death sentence against him in less than forty minutes. I was the pre- siding officer, and the only member of the court who voted a less sentence than that fatal one to which I have several times of late affixed my signature, beginning with,-" That he be shot to douth." " We are encamped in the rear line of works near the Southal
397
REINFORCED.
house, and not far from Reams Station. For the first time in many months our camp is out of sight of the enemy and for nearly a week I have not heard the sound of a passing shell, nor the whistle of a bullet. We are on high ground and will I hope soon receive orders to erect permanent winter quarters here. A statement just received from my ordnance clerk C. C. Lutes, shows that from the 14th of October to the 29th of November the regiment expended 122,870 rounds of ammunition. A hundred thousand rounds of this were expended on the picket line during the month of No- vember. Our picket detail for that period did not average daily over eighty men. Making a liberal deduction for waste, each picket, it would seem, expended full forty rounds daily. The only casualties reported by reason of shell or bullets during the month were the wounding of Private John Anderson of I, and William Reid of K. Now the enemy posted opposite the line picketed by the 124th during this period must have expended almost as much ammunition as our men. If put to my oath and asked the question ' How many rounds of this vast amount of ammunition do you think was actually fired at a human being by your men or by the enemy opposite them ?' I should unhesi- tatingly answer- 'Not one.'"
At 11.30 p. M. on the 6th of November I was awakened to read a circular order which contained the following, "You will have your command in readiness to move at daybreak with four days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition on the person." An hour later there came another order directing the various regiments of our brigade to assemble, without further notice, in front of General de Trobriand's headquarters at four o'clock A. M.
We moved out of camp a quarter of an hour ahead of the time . designated and soon reached and stacked arms in front of the General's quarters. Three regiments had preceded us and we were soon joined by the others. The General appeared at four o'clock precisely dressed in his fighting suit, and followed by his staff and an unusually large number of orderlies; and with- out halting or even drawing his sword-an omission very unusual with him-shouted the one word " Forward " and led us off toward
398
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
the left of the Union line. At the end of a march of five miles, we reached the Yellow Tavern. Here we halted, and stacking arms rested for two hours, during which we were joined by Gen- eral Mott with the other brigades of his division.
In marching to this point we passed by several Fifth Corps brigade camps, the log cabins of which were roofless and empty. Columns of troops and long trains of army wagons were moving hither and thither over the plains about us. A general move- ment of no little importance was evidently in progress. My men as usual, on such occasions, sat down in groups by the gun stacks and began exchanging opinions as to "what was up." Some thought a general assault against a weak point in the enemy's lines was intended, but others replied that there was altogether too much of a fuss for that.
Presently three or four light batteries, followed by a number of ambulances belonging to the cavalry, went clattering past, and were driven out the Jerusalem plank road. A little later a wounded cavalryman rode in over the same road and reported that he had been shot about daylight in a skirmish near the Notaway river, and that in riding back he had passed the advance division of the Fifth Corps boys, which he found cook- ing coffee along the road where they had halted for breakfast, full ten miles out. At length our brigade bugler sounded the " forward " and the head of our column, like the batteries and ambulances referred to, started out the Jerusalem plank road, on what has since been named the " Weldon Raid."
This expedition consisted of the Fifth Corps with Mott's divis- ion of the Second, and Gregg's Cavalry division. It was com- manded by General Warren, and was sent out from Meade's left to destroy the Weldon railroad farther southward, and thus pre- vent its use by the enemy in transporting supplies from North Carolina nearly up to our lines whence they were wagoned around the Union left to Lee's camps. It occupied our time just a week ; and a few days after our return to the Petersburg lines Lewis T. Shultz, the praying-fighting sergeant of Company G. who had recently been dubbed " Regimental Poet," handed me a neatly
399
WELDON RAID.
written and rather lengthy document which proved to be a de- tailed account of our recent expedition. It now lies before me and I will send it to the printer with the simple statement that the scenes described therein were only too true, but that the 124th took no part in firing the buildings.
"THE WELDON RAID."
BY L. T. SHULTZ, 124TH N. Y. VOLS.
The day was Seventh, and Twelfth the month, of eighteen sixty-four, At early dawn we took our march, as oft we had before ; For what or where no one could guess, Grant keeps his tho'ts so well, But day by day revealed the plan, and I'll the story tell.
We took a straight and noted route, the "Jerusalem Plank Road," The Fifth Corps first, then we of course, again must share the load ; For our Division you all know well, has done its part or more, And here I'll say we're better known as the " famous old Third Corps."
The first day passed, and twenty miles from Camp we halt to stay, And spend the night, securely crossed the river Notaway ; But many fell out on our march, and slept beside the road, Their feet so sore and shoulders pained, by soldier's heavy load.
The night was wet, but bright the morn, so on our course we bent, A thousand scenes both new and old, to greet us as we went ; And here the soldiers' fun began, to plunder rebel farms, With sweet potatoes, chickens, lambs and turkeys filled their arms.
Our column on with grandest march, thro' fields and wood made way, Nor rebel force could once impede the progress of that day ; Gregg's chargers took our front and flanks, and made the Rebels fly, While our host their columns pressed, to help them by and by.
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.