USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 35
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
"The " Sussex Court House" soon we passed. and many dwellings too, Yot scarce a white man could be seen, old rebels though a few ; But there were women white and black, and children by the score ; The first part scorned, the second smiled, to see our Flag once more.
Just here it was some Yankee Boys, of whiskey got a smell. They quickly found its whereabouts, and helped themselves full well ; Themselves they filled-their canteens too, and drank with chums their health,
Unconscious, then laid down and slept, till waked by Rebel stealth.
400
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
But common were the scenes that day, presented to our sight, At eve we struck the "Weldon Road," and bivouacked for night ;
Ten thousand fires with rails were made, the wind so cold and strong,
" Kings Corn " and " Cotton," Stations, Tanks and Bridges blazed along.
And then the sound of cheering hosts and thrilling iron stroke. Came up to say the Fifth Corps Boys to active scenes had woke ; Five miles of track that eve they spoiled, then rested on the ground, Nor could we sleep, so chill the night, till morning came around.
With beef supplied and breakfast o'er, at day we joined the fun, So strong our force, and long our line, the track was overrun ; With mighty lifts and lusty cheers, we turned it upside down. Then burnt the ties and bent the rails, nor feared the Rebels frown.
Three times the whole length changed along, each time its length destroyed. With Mott's command beyond 'Three Creek,' most heartily employed ; And this the last and farthest work the Infantry should do, At midnight hour we countermarched, and bid the flames be true.
A stormy freezing night we passed, mid icy foliage damp, The question was which way we'd go, towards Weldon or to camp ; But Warren sent his orders out, as near as I could learn.
To say that all required was done, and now we should return.
Hurrah for camp, our home is this, but O ! who can endure, The march so long, the "mud " so deep, and little rest besure ; But Rebel force was gathering strong and fighting at our backs, So every man, through thick and thin, made wide and hasty tracks.
Half rations drawn and ate at morn, was all the fare that day, Except the produce and the stock " smouched on " upon the way : And thus it was another day, the soldiers did complain, Till coming near the " Notaway," we met a " supply train."
Twas Sunday now, and called at home, the " best day of the seven," But here it only bears the name, bereft of all its Heaven ; And horrid sights this day we met, too painful to relate, But Truth must now defend its cause, and show the Rebel's hate.
.. Beyond the Sussex Court House 'twas, as on our way returning, We found some Union Soldiers dead, we thus our foes are learning ; Their ghastly look and naked form was shocking to behold, While fearful wounds of knife and ball the Rebel's feeling told.
401
WELDON RAID.
The murderers soon were found to be the dwellers by the way, Who though exempt from Rebel drafts, guerrillas were that day ; Such is the foe we have to fight, wherever we are sent, Shame on the man who'd "treat for peace," with such till they repent.
At one large house, a Sergeant slain, was found beneath the floor, The murderers quickly took the hint, and hid inside the door ; The easiest way to find them out was just to burn the dwelling, Then soon they showed their guilty heads, the fire some guns exploding.
These sights, their brother soldier's blood, with vengeance caused to boil, Such fiendish acts, on Rebel heads, they swore should now recoil ; True-every house both large and small was thrown in wild disorder, As each in turn to ashes went, by Gen. Warren's " order."
A constant scene of burning homes, for twenty miles and more, Was deemed by those who bore the grief, retaliation sore ; But justice says the Union must protect the Sons she loves, Nor can we crush this treason out " by handling it with gloves."
'Twas hard to hear the mothers plead, with children round them clinging, And see the flames devour those homes, where once was joy and singing ; Those mansions large with grounds arranged, and rooms to suit their zest, Told what a happy group lived there, while in the Union blest.
But justice stern demands this course, the Union cause to aid, And that our foes be taught their crime, example must be made ; Our fault 'tis not, but Rebels great, responsible must be, For all the sufferings, theirs and ours, and for their slaves set free.
One act I saw with deep regret, performed by soldier's hand. The burning of a House of God ; It was not contraband ; Our Colonel ordered out the fire, just as it was beginning, But other men by theirs were told, again to set it blazing.
Thus Sunday went and Monday came, nor ceased the scene of fire, Till coming near the Union line, the "order " did expire ; And bleeding feet, while marching bare, on frozen rain and ground. Attest the spirit of our men, while making this " grand round."
"Twas just a week before we left, we moved out on this line, And builded houses most complete, to stay the winter time : But on returning near that camp, how did the soldiers seold, To find us cheated of our homes, and " left out in the cold."
402
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
And now our place is on the flank, away outside the line,
We cleared the ground, laid out the, streets, and built a camp most fine ; So here on " guard, fatigue and picket," we'll await the spring campaign, Then with three hundred thousand more, the Rebels fight again.
About this raid I wish to say, we had a leader new.
So long by glorious Hancock led. (like him there are but few.)
His splendid form and speaking look, we never shall forget,
Nor many scenes of brilliant fame, where he and we have met.
. About it too I wish to say, brave Warren did command, And with what wisdom and success, is known through all the land ;
Nor can I tell who most to praise, for officers and men,
Excepting those who always " beat," did well their duty then.
Now while we fight, let's hope and trust in God, who helps the right, Nor think our prayers with swearing mix'd can claim His favor's might, Our cause is just. our War is right, the Union to restore,
Nor will it cease till waves our flag through all the land once more.
My story's told, rejoice our Land, for Lincoln re-elected,
Our Country and our President, divinely be protected ;
Our Army and our Navy, too, to both be glory paid,
Successful may they ever be, as was the WELL-DONE-RAID.
The total casualties reported by the 124th during the Weldon Raid were the wounding of John F. Meyers of F. and the loss of Enos Jenkins of Co. A, who while on duty at brigade head- quarters as a mounted orderly, was captured by guerrillas one dark night within twenty rods of General de Trobriand's head- quarters.
The new camping ground on which we at last received orders to erect winter quarters was located about forty rods in advance of the Union line of breastworks, and almost directly in front of the camp we had vacated on the 7th. There was an extensive pine woods near at hand, and at the end of a week we.settled down for the winter in as comfortable and fine looking log cabins .. as were to be found in any camp in the corps.
On our return from the Weldon Raid, I received through brigade headquarters, a small package accompanied by several official documents, the most important of which read as follows :
403
IN WINTER QUARTERS.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, NOV. 28. 1864.
SIR :-- Herewith I enclose the MEDAL OF HONOR, which has been awarded you by the Secretary of War, under the Resolution of Congress, approved July 12, 1862, " To provide for the presentation of . Medals of Honor' to the enlisted men of the army and volunteer forces who have distinguished or may distinguish themselves in battle during the present rebellion.
Please acknowledge the receipt of it.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. To Private ARCHIBALD FREEMAN, Company E. 124th N. Y. Vols.
These medals of honor were never presented for any less meri- torious action than the capture of a Confederate battle flag, and with this one, which was the first I had ever seen, there came a special order designating the 15th as the day on which it should be formally presented in presence of the entire brigade. The presentation was duly made and Sergeant Archibald Free- man became for the time being the envied hero of de Trobriand's command.
About Christmas, we received from the " Ladies of Orange " a case containing upwards of five hundred sleeping caps, which were greatly appreciated by all, not only for the the reason that they added to our comfort, but because they assured us that our sacrifices and sufferings for our country were appreciated, and that we were yet kindly remembered by friends from whom many of us had been long separated. Accompaning this case of sleep- ing caps there came from a warm friend of the regiment this note :
GOSHEN, DEC. 19, 1864.
COLONEL WEYGANT-Dear Sir :-
I have this day packed and shipped to you per express. by order of the ladies, one box containing five hundred and thirty sleeping caps for your regiment. While the ladies of the different towns have worked with a hearty good will, you may attribute a large share of your indebtedness to Mrs. Dr. Jane, of Florida, who has evidently been the moving power.
Yours, etc., F. H. REEVS.
404
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
The month of January, 1865, was devoted by officers and men in every branch of the service to the making of most thorough preparations for an aggressive spring compaign. The building of earthworks and digging of trenches, so far as our corps was con- cerned, almost entirely ceased. The usual picket duty could not of course be discontinued, but the opposing lines, in front of where our brigade was lying, were half a mile or more apart, and the dread sounds of enemies' bullet, were no longer heard in our camps. Drilling by squad, company, battalion, and brigade was resumed, and inspections and reviews were of frequent occurrence. Convalescents returned to duty almost daily. Early in the month, his honor Governor Fenton, on recommendation of our brigade division and corps comman bers, issued a Colonel's com- mission, to Lieutenant-Colonel C. U. Weygant, a Lieutenant- Colonel's commission to Major HI. S. Murray, and a Major's com- mission to Captain James W. Benedict.
But Murray unfortunately remained a prisoner of war; and Benedict, though always thereafter our acting Lieutenant-Colonel, preferred to serve out his time and return to his home if his life were spared, captain of what might be left of the gallant com- pany he had brought with him to the Geld.
On or about the last day of January Adjutant Van Houten resigned and I appointed Lieutenant John S. King of Company K. acting adjutant in his stead.
On the 4th day of February we received notice to prepare for a march. Another demonstration against the enemy's right had been ordered, and the next morning the Fifth and Second Corps, preceded by Gregg's division of cavalry, pushed out to Ream's Station, and thence to Dinwiddie C. II. ; the Fifth Corps being directed to turn the rebel right while the Second assailed in front.
At half past four o'clock A. M. on the 5th the camp of the 124th had lost its accustomed tidy and comfortable appearance. The muslin shelters had been stripped from the roof-poles and once more strapped fast to the well filled knapsacks of their own- ers. Cartridge boxes containing forty rounds of fresh ammuni-
105
IN WINTER QUARTERS.
tion were hanging from the gun stacks, while haversacks filled with hard bread, salt pork, sugar and coffee, were piled about them ; and surplus clothing, old shoes and odds and ends of all kinds, that could not be carried on the person, were scattered in profusion over the bunks and floors of the roofless log cabins, in which little groups of men were gathered about smoking and smouldering fires, waiting for the sound of the assembly.
At seven A. M. our brigade column was formed, and after marching to the left about two miles, we were halted in rear of Mead's most advanced infantry picket posts. But this halt, we soon learned, was only for the purpose of forming battle line and deploying a regiment as skirmishers. As soon as this change in our formation was completed we moved forward again, passing over the Union picket line toward that of the enemy, which was soon reached, and speedily driven back by our skirmishers, a mile or more, to a small stream called Hatcher's Run. On the further side of this stream about a hundred Confederates rallied behind a light line of works and brought our skirmishers to a stand ; whereupon a regiment from the left of De Trobriand's line (the 124th was on the right) was hurried forward to assist the skir- mishers who, as soon as reinforced, charged across the stream, carried the works, and took about twenty prisoners.
The brigade forded the run in battle line, and pushed on about three-quarters of a mile, when our skirmishers were again brought to a halt by a volley from troops posted behind the enemy's main line of works. Here General de Trobriand took up a strong position and set his men to building a corresponding line. While engaged with picks and shovels, we heard the thunder of battle away off to our left.
Our brigade worked unmolested all day ; and at night we lay down to rest behind most formidable earthworks. The re- maining brigades of Mott's division had moved up on our left, and spent the day, as our brigade had done, covering their front. Just about dark, the elated foe having forced back Warren's command, hurled a heavy column against the left of Mott's intrenched line, striking that part of it held by McAllister's
..
-
406 HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK . VOLUNTEERS.
Jersey brigade; but the brave Jerseymen were prepared to receive, and speedily repelled their assault, inflicting heavy loss on the assailants.
About three A. M. on the 6th our brigade was relieved by a portion of the Fifth Corps, after which we moved to the left about half a mile and massed in a ravine in rear of McAllister's line. The sky had clouded during the night and shortly after we reached this ravine a cold rain storm set in. The men were allowed to build small fires, but the slight benefit derived from the heat they sent out was more than counterbalanced by the disagreeable effects of the strong smoke which almost blinded us. My own eyes were soon so swollen that I could not shut them. Very few of the men had rubber blankets and were consequently wet to the skin, and as they groped their way about, their teeth chattered so that they could not speak distinctly. It was a day through- cut which we all suffered terribly, but nobody grumbled, for there occasionally came to us from our left a sound which told very plainly that others were suffering even more than we. That night we learned that the Fifth Corps and cavalry had been attacked in flank and suffered a loss of over two thousand men, but that Hancock's command had been able to hold every foot of ground it had taken, repulsing several determined assaults ; and that the Union line had been permanently extended across Hatcher's Run.
On the morning of the 9th our brigade moved about a mile to the right and was assigned a position in this new line. We spent the day erecting heavy breastworks and felling the trees and shrubs in our front for a distance of at least six hundred yards. When this was accomplished the men went to work with a will clearing grounds for a camp behind the works, and prepar- ing for the erection of new log cabins. On the morning of the 11th an order was received forbidding the erection of winter quarters and, directing the pitching of muslin shelters on the ground. For a week my men had suffered terribly from cold and exposure without a word of complaint, but this order was received with frowns and in some instances blasphemous grum- blings. But fortunately, on the morning of the 12th it was
-
407
IN WINTER QUARTERS.
rescinded, and at the end of a week we were all comfortably housed again.
GAINS.
About the first of March the 1st Regiment of U. S. Sharp- shooters was disbanded, because of the expiration of the term of a large number who had failed to re-enlist. The recruits to- gether with those who had re-enlisted, were sent to such regiments as they individually chose to select. Twenty-one of these came to the 124th and were assigned, at their especial request, to Company H., which was then and ever after commanded by Cap- tain Theodore M. Roberson, one of the bravest young officers in the regiment. About the same time several recruits from New- York joined us. The following is a list of all their names.
LIEUT. SYLVESTOR LAWSON .. . Company H Henry Jubin. . Company H
CORP. Marvin Hilebrant .. ..
H Byron J. Pullman .. .
H
CORP. Charles T. Thompson ..
¥
H
Cornelius Pullman.
H
CORP. Isaac Smith. 66
H Douglass Pulhnan. . .
H
CORP. Martin Nichols
H
Philip Servis.
H
Andrew Westervelt. H
Alonzo Voorhees
H
Charles C. Hicks
Charles Webster.
H
John Fisk.
H James Coulig
Company ('
Orrin E. Dotey
H Edward Brownson
C
Charles H. Berner.
H Neal Smith.
Henry C. Conklin
H Joseph Shaw.
G
Edward F. Dunn
=
George Lock.
G
Henry C. Ecker
H
William Bowery ...
h
Aaron Fuller.
H
LOSSES.
From the Ist of May, 1864, to the 25th of March, 1865, our permanent losses in addition to those by death on the battle-field, which have already been given, were as follows :
BY DISCHARGE.
COLONEL FRANCIS M. CUMMINS.
John HI. Blair. Company C ..
CAPTAIN CHARLES B. WOOD
Charles C. Knapp.
C
CAPTAIN WILLIAM E. MAPES.
William Ronk
D
CAPTAIN IRA S. BUSH.
Ransom Wilcox F
.. ADJUTANT WILLIAM B. VAN HOUTEN.
William H. Dawson
H
LIEUTENANT JOHN W. HOUSTON.
Francis Quinn H
LIEUTENANT LEWIS'M. WISNER. ORD. SERGT. Joshua V. Cole, Company G
Patrick Keane.
I
John Studor .. Martin Everett .. B
K
Mathias T. Holbert.
B | Sylvanus Grier.
K
66
H
Edward Glenn. F
408
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
BY DEATH IN HOSPITALS.
LIEUT. CHAS. T. CRISSEY, A Fever ..
James Ryerson,
D H't dis.
ORD. SERGT. W. W. Parsons, K Wounds.
Joel H. Brown,
D) Diarrhea.
SERGT. Watson W. Ritch,
K
John A. Travis,
1)
..
SERGT. Sanford T. Estabrook, G
Thomas P. Powell,
S. Pox.
SERGT. Isaac Decker, G
Horace Wheeler,
F Fever.
SERGT. A. T. Vanderlyn, I
Ferman Ferman,
E
CORP. John C. Vermilye,
K
Martin Covall,
F Fever.
CORP. A. W. Lamereaux,
E
66
Garret H. Bennett,
G Wounds
Daniel Ackerman,
A
Nathan W. Parker,
G
..
George Mason, A Fever.
Isaac W. Parker,
G In prison.
Jolin W. Casey,
B Diarrhea.
James Crist.
H
.6
Matthew Crowley,
B Wounds.
William S. M. Hatch,
HI
Daniel Babcock,
B
Lyman Fairchild,
H Wounds.
William Slauson.
B Diarrhea.
Edward Hunter,
H
Chas. P. F. Fisher,
C In prison.
Charles Timerson,
H
Fever.
Frederick Lamereaux,
C
Fever.
Giles Curran,
1 Wounds.
George Dall,
C
Henry Losey,
I In prison
Henry Drilling,
C Wounds.
Anthony Price,
K Diarrhea.
Michael McMorris,
D
John Wallace.
K Fever.
Jeremiah Dolson,
D
James H. Brush,
K Fever.
John S. Grey,
D Fever.
BY TRANSFER TO VETERAN RESERVE CORPS.
SERGT. Charles H. Hull
.Company F' ; Garrett Decker. II
Company D
CORP. Noah Kimbark
Simeon Wheat.
E
Edward Rice.
66
James N. Hazen
James Gavin.
B
Jeremiah Cole
F
Michael Mooney.
Gilbert Peet. B
..
John W. Stanton
B
Daniel Smith . . .
Wesley Storms
B
Daniel S. White
G
James Lewis.
Theron Bodine. B
H
Peter P. Hazen
C William Dawson ..
H
Cornelins H. Holbert.
Grandison Judson.
H
Daniel Stephens
John Joyce .
1
Gideon H. Pelton.
George D. Scott ..
I
Daniel P. Dngan
-"
Robert Mc Cartney
..
K
George W. Decker
BY DISMISSAL. SURGEON JOHN H. THOMPSON .*
BY TRANSFER FOR PROMOTION.
William II. Dill, of D. made Lieutenant of | Norman A. Sly, of D. made Lientenant in Colored Troops. 1524 N. Y. Vols.
BY DESERTION.
Joseph Gordon. Company B John Haefner
Company F.
.. Andrew J. Messenger B John F. Meyers
E
Robert Thompson ..
D Michael Burns ..
Joseph Brown.
..
Martin Brennon =
I
James Carson.
William Boodey. I
Michael Maloney
James Cornell. ..
I
* Dr. Thompson was recommissioned but failed to re-muster.
. 4
.
409
FIGHTING AT MIDNIGHT.
-
CHAPTER XXI.
FIGHTING AT MIDNIGHT .- FALL OF PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND.
D URING the first half of the month of March, 1865, deserters by the score came into our lines nightly, telling of discour- agement and demoralization in the Confederate camp. The New York papers, which were now hawked through our canvas cities as regularly as they were through the streets of the Metropolis, were filled with glowing accounts of Sheridan's victories in the Valley, Sherman's triumphant advance through the Carolinas, and Union successes in every direction. And the prospect of a speedy collapse of the Slaveholders' Rebellion, and consequent termina- tion of the war for the preservation of the Union, became daily more and yet more apparent.
As day after day slipped by our usual drills were one after another discontinued, and the time they had occupied devoted to searching inspections and reviews ; and soon general. special,'and circular orders, from army, corps, division and brigade headquar- ters, referring to details of every conceivable nature, began, to - pour in upon us in almost hourly installments.
From the 14th to the 23d our time was fully occupied in . pushing to absolute completion every detail relating to our pre- paration for what we all believed was to be our most glorious and last campaign. On the morning of the 24th we were prepared to leave our camps for good on five minutes' notice, and we rested from our labors, anxiously waiting for that sometimes dreaded but now magic word " forward." And we did not have long to wait, for though we knew it not, orders had already left General Grant's headquarters, directing a general advance on the morning of the 29th. Sheridan, with his ten thousand troopers. flushed with their victories in the Valley, and their daring achievements
410
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
about the Confederate rear, were again with the besieging army, awaiting like the rest of us, orders to advance once more against our old adversary, Lee's grand army of Northern Virginia.
A special report of effective strength of the 124th called for at noon on the 24th showed a fighting force of nearly four hun- dred enlisted men, all in the best of spirits and ready for the fray. And I had with me to assist in commanding and caring for these men, the following named officers, in the bravery and ability of all but two or three of whom I had the most implicit confidence.
FIELD.
ACTING LIEUTENANT COLONEL-CAPTAIN JAS. W. BENEDICT. ACTING MAJOR-CAPTAIN HENRY F. TRAVIS.
STAFF.
SURGEON-MAJOR R. V. K. MONTFORT. CHAPLAIN-CAPTAIN T. SCOTT BRADNER. ASST. SURGEON-LIEUT. EDWARD C. FOX. |QUARTERMASTER-LIEUT. ELLIS A. POST. ACTING ADJUTANT-LIEUT. JOHN S. KING.
LINE.
CAPTAIN JOHN C. WOOD, Commanding. Company A
FIRST LIEUTENANT THOMAS HART with A
FIRST LIEUTENANT DAVID U. QUICK Commanding . Company B
CAPTAIN THOMAS TAFT Commanding. Company C
FIRST LIEUTENANT EBENEZER HOLBERT, Commanding Company D
SECOND LIEUTENANT THOMAS G. MABIE, with. D
CAPTAIN DANIEL SAYER, Commanding. . Company E
FIRST LIEUTENANT WILLIAM BENJAMIN, with. E
CAPTAIN EDWARD J. CARMICK, Commanding Company F FIRST LIEUTENANT ABRAM P. FRANCISCO, with. F CAPTAIN THOMAS J. QUICK, Commanding. Company G
SECOND LIEUTENANT LEWIS T. SHULTZ, with.
G
CAPTAIN THEODORE M. ROBERSON, Commanding Company H
SECOND LIEUTENANT SYLVESTER LAWSON, Commanding .Company I CAPTAIN ROBERT A. MALONE, Commanding. Company K
SECOND LIEUTENANT WOODWARD T. OGDEN, with.
NON.COMMISSIONED STAFF.
SERGEANT MAJOR Andrew Armstrong. HOSPITAL STEWARD Coe L. Reevs. CHIEF BUGLER Mozes P. Ross.
QMR. SERGEANT Geo. H. Chandler.
-
COMMISSARY SERGEANT W. P. Uptegrove. CHIEF MUSICIAN J. G. Buckley.
411
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG.
Our only officer in the field and not with the regiment was Captain Thomas W. Bradley, who was on duty at Division headquarters, as special aid to Major General Mott.
The Confederate leaders did not however allow Grant's army to open the campaign. " General Lee-foreseeing clearly the speedy downfall of the Confederate cause unless averted by a prompt concentration of his remaining forces and a telling blow delivered thereby on some one of our encircling armies, which were now palpably crushing out the life of the rebellion-resolved to anticipate Grant's initiative by an attack on his lines before Petersburg and Richmond. This attack was made " (on the morn- ing of the 26th ) " on Fort Steedman, nearly east of Petersburg, where its success would have cut our army in two, and probably compelled a hasty concentration to recover our lines and works ; thereby opening a door for the unassailed withdrawal of the rebel army southward by the most direct route, to unite with that of Johnson and thus overpower Sherman. It was delivered by Gordon with two divisions : all that was disposable of the rebel Army of Virginia being collected just behind the assault- ing column and held in hand as a support. Gordon charged at daybreak ; his men rushing instantly across the narrow space that 'here separated the confronting lines, and pouring into Fort Steedman, which was held by the 14th N. Y. Artillery, who were completely surprised and overwhelmed ; part of them fleeing for their lives, while the residue were made prisoners. The guns were deserted without a struggle and immediately turned by their captors on the adjacent works, where three batteries were abandoned by the Union troops and seized by the enemy. Here their triumph ended. Their assault on Fort Haskill, next to Fort Steedman on the left, was but feebly made and easily re- pulsed ; they failed to press forward and seize the crest of the ridge behind the forts, thus cutting our army in two ; the 20,000 whom Lee had massed in their rear to support the assault either were not promptly ordered forward or failed to respond ; so that their initial success had only isolated them. a comparative hand- ful in the midst of an army of foes. In short, it was the mine ex-
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.