USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 38
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three days' rations of hard bread, sugar and coffee. At dusk that evening we joined Sheridan's command at Jettersville. where it had taken position across the Danville railroad, thereby cutting off all supplies from that quarter for Lee's army, which was yet at Amelia C. H., where it had been obliged to remain since the morning of the 4th, in order to gather in from the country around a small stock of forage for its horses and food for its men. Our corps during the evening took up a strong position on the left of the Fifth and bivouacked.
Sheridan's command had arrived there that morning; and during the day a severe engagement had taken place between a division of Union cavalry under General Davies and a body of Lee's infantry, which had resulted in a loss to the Confederates of a foraging train of one hundred and eighty wagons, together with a battery of artillery and about a hundred prisoners.
That night preparations were made for an advance in force at daylight on the 6th against the Confederate position at Amelia C. H. But Lee, during the night, moved off toward Farmville in the vain hope of being able by destroying bridges behind him to escape into the mountains beyond Lynchburg.
On the morning of the 6th the pursuit was resumed. Each corps of Meade's army advanced in a distinct column, the Second Corps taking the road Lee was on and the Fifth and Sixth moy- ing through the country on either flank.
General de Trobriand's brigade again led the Second Corps and soon came up to Lee's rear-guard at a point where the road we were on crossed a small stream called Sailors Creek. Here the 20th Indiana was deployed in a heavy skirmish line and soon became hotly engaged. The other regiments as they came up hastily deployed into battle line behind the skirmishers. But before our brigade line was completed, Major General Mott rode to the front to see for himself what the opposing line was com- posed of; and just as our regiment was taking position Captain Bradley came riding back with orders directing General de Tro- briand to send forward the 124th without delay. A moment later the Sons of Orange were advancing at a run. As we passed
436
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
General Mott. he pointed across a bridge that spanned the stream and shouted, " Deploy as soon as you eross, and take that train." I could see nothing that looked like a Confederate wagon train. and while my men were deploying on the open side hill under the fire of a straggling line of retreating Confederate skirmishers, the General waved his hand as if he wished me to move to the left, through a piece of woods. Springing from my saddle, I ran down the bank a few yards, and stooped down so as to be able to look under the branches of the trees in the direction indicated. Winding over a steep hill about a quarter of a mile distant, I saw the coveted train, and hastened back toward my horse determined that the 124th should have the glory of capturing it.
Before I had time to remount General Mott was at my side : and, with one foot in the stirrup, I turned around to receive such further orders as he might have to give. He raised his arm and pointed through the woods saying " Weygant move by the-" at that juncture a bullet whistled past my ear and buried itself in his thigh, and as a slight "oh" escaped his lips, he extended his hands toward me and I helped him from his saddle. Captain Bradley and several other members of his staff were soon with him, and divining what the balance of his order would have been I started my command by the left flank through the woods, but was soon halted by an order from General de Trobriand and re- called to the main line.
After a delay of about ten minutes-during which General de Trobriand assumed command of the division, and Colonel Shep- herd of Ist Me. H. A. our senior regimental commander took his place at the head of our brigade-the advance was resumed with our entire division in battle line and the 20th Indiana yet de. ployed as skirmishers. Meantime the enemy in our immediate front had fled.
When about two miles beyond the bridge the 124th was ordered to hasten to the front and relieve the 20th Ind. which was out of ammunition. This was speedily accomplished, much to the delight of my men, who hurrying forward soon came in sight of the wagon train which General Mott had seen from the
437
THE PURSUIT.
bridge where he was wounded .. We were soon near enough to open so effective a fire on the teams as to speedily compel the abandonment of fifteen or twenty wagons, and two brass guns which were being moved with them. Whenever a horse fell the drivers and guard hastily unhitched and rode off the balance of the team. As wagon after wagon fell into our hands my men became fairly wild with excitement, and it was with great diffi- culty that I could hold back that portion of the skirmish line moving nearest the road, which was under the immediate charge of Captain Travis, who was the wildest man of them all. Occa- sionally the enemy's rear-guard would about face and send a volley or two toward us and every now and then one or more of my men would go down, but their comrades would only quicken their pace, yell the louder and load and fire the faster. For miles the boys moved so rapidly that I was obliged to keep my horse on a jog trot to keep with them.
At length, as we emerged from a strip of woods, we saw stand- ing in battle array behind light earthworks, on the brow of a hill just in front of us, a solid battle line of the foe. On their left flank there stood, drawn up as if ready to charge, a squadron of cavalry, about a hundred strong. I immediately ordered a halt and opened a brisk fire. The left and centre of my line took shelter behind the trees in the edge of the woods, and did some splendid shooting, but the right stretched across an open field, and I presently heard from that direction a charging shout and saw Captain Travis with his old company numbering all told about thirty men, start on a foolhardy charge toward the enemy's cavalry, and I was obliged to hasten off in that direction and recall him. Our main line soon came up and in the words of our brigade report " charged with the skirmish line driving the enemy from his works and capturing a large number of prisoners."
Some two hours later the union advance was again disputed by a battle line posted as was the first behind earthworks on a ridge. This time we found ourselves confronted by a large por- tion of Lee's main body instead of his rear-guard. The works which were manned by a solid battle line, studded at intervals with
438
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
artillery and gayly decked with Confederate battle flags, ran from a point almost opposite the right of my skirmish line along our front, and extended into the woods to our left as far as I could see.
In a few moments our main line again came up and prepared to charge with the skirmishers. Meantime heavy firing broke out on our left, and once again the woods and hills of Virginia echoed the mingling thunders of a regular battle.
Our entire division was soon hastening forward with wild shouts, on what proved to be its last general charge against its brave old adversaries; and we soon swept up to and over the enemy's works in our front, capturing several hundred prisoners together with a number of battle-flags and five or six pieces of artillery.
The Sixth Corps and Sheridan's cavalry were fighting on our left. They met with more serious opposition than we had en- countered and were twice repulsed with a loss of over two thou- sand killed and wounded, but in the end carried everything before them, and captured nearly two-thirds of Lieutenant-General Ewell's Corps, including Ewell himself and five of his general officers.
After this engagement, called the battle of Sailors Creek, in which our regiment took twenty-eight prisoners, and lost a con- siderable number of men, there was a halt of nearly an hour. But once under way again we soon overtook the enemy's rear- guard and pressing on, drove it from hill top to hill top. gather- ing in prisoners by the hundred and causing the abandonment of wagon after wagon and gun after gun until sundown. when our corps was ordered to halt for the night. This day's losses to Lee's army included nearly six thousand prisoners, four hundred wagons and upwards of thirty pieces of artillery.
" The decisive character of this result," writes Swinton. after " describing the doings of the Sixth Corps and Sheridan's cavalry. " was largely due to the energetic movements of the Second Corps. which, moving to the right, had pressed the Confederates closely in a rear-guard fight all day till night when it had attained a
439
OUR LAST ENGAGEMENT.
position near the mouth of Sailors Creek. Here the Confederates were so crowded upon, that a large train was captured and many hundred taken prisoners. The trophies of the Second Corps in- cluded, in addition several pieces of artillery and thirteen flags."
In this series of engagements fought along Sailor's Creek, Va. April 6, 1865, occurred the following
CASUALTIES OF THE 124TH.
SERGT. John H. Warford
Co. A
Wounded.
SERGT. Whitmore Terwilliger
I
CORP. William Sutherland
I
CORP. Austin W. Lamereaux
E.
..
E
Private Philetus Lomas
James A. Benton
.€
E. I.
John W. Garrison
66
B.
..
Solomon Davenport
16
K.
..
George L. Howard
.6
K.
Wounded.
Charles Cable
K.
66 Abraham J. Cronk
K
Samuel Lewis
K.
66
I
=
I
H.
F.
Lewis E. Tonton
Amos De Long
66
E. D.
A.
.... John Polhamus
.6
A
66
A.
Missing.
" Matthew Manny
James Flannigan
John Murphy John S. Crawford
Daniel Morgan
66
John P. Burkhart
At an early hour on the morning of the 7th the pursuit was resumed with Humphrey's Corps again leading. About eight A. M. we reached Highbridge, a small place some six miles east of Farmville, where the winding Appomattox is crossed by both a railroad and a wagon road bridge. These bridges, one of which was an immense structure, were built mainly of wood. and just before our arrival had been fired by the Confederate rear-guard- a rather formidable body of which yet held the further shore with the evident determination to hold back our advance until the bridges were destroyed and then delay as long as possible our crossing in order that their main body might have time to gather
Killed.
CORP. Moses Crist
440 HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
in a small supply of forage for their half-starved horses, and food for the hungry men.
General Barlow's division had the advance of our corps that morning and the moment their commander saw the smoke arising from the fired bridges he formed battle line and charged forward on a run, returning as he went the enemy's galling fire the best he could. Three spaus of the railroad bridge were consumed before his line reached it, but the wagon road bridge, though covered with smoke and flame, was yet passable, and while his battle line hotly engaged the enemy on the right and left, his reserve brigade charged over the burning structure leaving its hindermost regiment to extinguish the flames, and speedily routed the defending force, capturing a considerable mimiber of prisoners and eighteen pieces of artillery.
From this point Barlow's division was dispatched to Farm- ville where they overtook a body of the enemy's cavalry burning bridges and covering a long wagon train that was moving toward Lynchburg. The sudden appearance of this gallant division, moving toward them at a double-quick caused these Confederate cavalrymen to destroy one hundred and thirty wagons and flee toward their main body.
From Highbridge Humphrey with the divisions of Miles and De Trobriand moved rapidly forward over the old stage road leading to Appomattox C. HI. About five miles beyond the river our further advance in that direction was very seriously inter- rupted by the main body of Lee's army which had taken up and fortified a strong defensive position across our line of march.
Both our divisions were hurried forward and prepared for a direct assault, but a careful survey of the enemy's position, caused that mode of procedure to be abandoned. The ground between the opposing lines was comparatively open, and ascended gradually from Humphrey's front, for a distance of a thousand yards to the " base of a ridge which arose quite abruptly for fifty feet or more, and was crowned with earthworks thickly studded with cannon and manned by a compact battle line.
When all was in readiness for the assault we rested on our
441
OUR LAST ENGAGEMENT.
arms awaiting the arrival of Barlow's division. for the recall of which messengers had been dispatched. Presently something about the enemy's line led Humphrey to suppose Lee had re- sumed his retreat, and a force composed of several regiments from Miles' division was advanced for the purpose of learning what was really taking place. When within a short distance of the Confederate works this reconnoitering force suddenly encountered a fire so terrific that six hundred of its number were speedily killed or wounded and the balance compelled to hasten back to our main line.
Barlow did not arrive until the day was so far spent that it was deemed best to defer the contemplated assault until morning. It turned out that the holding of the enemy at that point by our threatened assault accomplished a result more desirable than would have been gained by his repulse.
Lee during the night resumed his flight and at daybreak on the 8th Humphrey again took up the pursuit ; but somehow we did not march as rapidly as formerly ; and at three P. M. moved leisurely from the road and bivouacked.
I will not attempt to trace in detail the movements of the other portions of Grant's army during the 7th and Sth. It is enough that while our corps rested on the old stage road awaiting the arrival of Barlow's division from its reconnoissance to Farm- ville, Sheridan's cavalry and the Sixth Corps had passed around the Confederate army, reached Appomattox station on the Lynch- burg railroad, five miles beyond Appomattox C. II., and extin- . guished Lee's last hope of escape to the mountains by grasping from his vanguard four trains of cars laden with supplies for the hourly wasting remnant of his famishing army.
The evening and night of the 8th passed quietly away, but on the morning of the 9th the air seemed filled with wild rumors. indicating very plainly that the end for which we had sacrificed and endured so much-for which we had so long been marching. fighting and suffering,-was close at hand.
At eight A. M. on the 9th orders came to resume the advance. and for four hours we pressed steadily but slowly forward, not
442
HISTORY OF THE 194TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
after but up against our old adversary, now at bay, just ahead of us surrounded on all sides, with every avenue of escape cut off.
At noon orders were passed down our column to move from the road and rest. Then came the report that Grant and Lee were together arranging terms for the surrender of the latter and his army.
A little later an aide from army headquarters came riding down the road reiterating the good news. As strange as it may seem, no one shouted, but instead many a stalwart fellow turned pale. All believed the report but yet wanted it officially con- firmed. Presently a wild shout was heard away off to our right, and as it grew louder and yet louder and came nearer and yet nearer, we all sprang to our feet, and rushed out to the edge of the road, and soon saw riding toward us a literally wild man with his bridle reins about his neck, waving in one hand his hat and in the other an empty bottle. It was the Adjutant-General of our division, Major Finklemeier. Every few rods he offered his empty bottle to some officer of his acquaint- ance and then raised it to his own lips. During the interven- ing time he kept shouting " Clear the road. Colonels keep your men in line, keep your men in line-I drinks your health-clear the road," and the like.
As the men fell back General Meade and staff appeared riding leisurely along. Our old commander's face for onee wore a smile. Behind him cheers like the mingling din of battle settled into one continuous roar, but in his front men held their breath until they heard from him the assurance that Lee and his followers had lain down their arms.
The scene in our brigade after General Meade passed was absolutely indescribable. Men shouted until they could shout no longer, the air above us was for full half an hour filled with caps. coats, blankets, and knapsacks, and when at length the excite- ment subsided, the men threw themselves on the ground com- pletely exhausted. During the evening and following day the men stole through the woods in small squads to take a look at
443
LEE SURRENDERS.
our prisoners, and came back with their pockets filled with worth- less Confederate bank bills, which they began buying up for keep- sakes at the rate of one cent for a dollar ; but the price dropped so rapidly that one man came in with five thousand dollars in Confederate money which he had purchased for a one dollar greenback.
444 HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
CHAPTER XXIII.
HOMEWARD BOUND .- RECEPTION AT NEWBURGH .- MUSTERED OUT.
T THREE days after the surrender at Appomattox C. HI. paroles were distributed to over twenty-six thousand Confederates, who forthwith started in little squads for their respective homes, and the grand army of Northern Virginia passed out of existence. The Union troops then moved leisurely back toward Richmond. On the march and during our halts many a big-hearted Union soldier divided the contents of his haversack with some wander- ing Confederate ; and in hundreds of instances, on the nights of the 12th and 13th, the same blanket covered two brave soldiers -- one dressed in blue, and the other in grey or butternut.
The surrender of Lee's army was regarded by all as the end of the war, and the best of feeling prevailed between the rank and file of the victorious and vanquished armies, until the news of the assassination of President Lincoln reached us, when, while stag- gering under the terrible blow, these paroled prisoners disappeared as if by magical agency, and were seen no more.
On the 14th our brigade reached Burkesville Junction, and was ordered to encamp there. We pitched our tents in a pine woods, and late in the afternoon a Confederate surgeon rode into our camp, and offered to sell, at a moderate sum, a very fine horse he was riding. Dr. Edward C. Fox, who had just joined the regiment as assistant surgeon, * was in want of a horse, and when 'I retired at nine p. M., he was standing with this Confederate officer by one of our camp-fires, dickering for the latter's beast
* Shortly after our arrival at Burkesville station the following named recruits joined the regiment : James Lerisie, Chester Clifford Nathan W. Foster, Robert Dooling.
·
445
HOMEWARD BOUND.
and equipments. I had been on duty the previous night, and as circular orders, requiring the signature of regimental commanders, were brought around at night as frequently as in the daytime, I had requested acting Major Travis to spend the night in my tent, and receive, read, and sign my name to all such papers, that I might enjoy an undisturbed night's rest.
About two A. M. however, I was aroused from my slumbers by Travis, and, on opening my eyes, saw him standing in front of me, with a candle in one hand and a paper in the other. His face was colorless, and in a tone of voice expressive of deep an- guish, he was repeating over and over again these words : " My God! can it be, can it be!" Grasping the paper, I read : "President Lincoln and Secretary Seward have been assassin- ated, and it is reported that General Grant also has been mur- dered." An orderly stood at the tent opening waiting for the circular telegram, and hastily affixing my name. I returned it to him.
A few moments later I walked out in the open air trying to convince myself that it was all a dream. Everything about the camp was quiet, and the shelter tents of my men had an unusually uniforin appearance ; but they were all empty, and the men with heavy hearts and speechless tongues, were gathered in groups about the smoldering camp-fires. They all seemed stupefied by the terrible news, and were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next telegram.
There was no more sleep for the army that night. I inquired for the Confederate officer who had come into our camp to try and sell his horse, and was glad to learn that he and every . other wearer of grey or butternut, had fled. We had supposed our bloody work was at an end, that the rebellion had been crushed out, and that in a few days we would be at our homes again ; but the future was once more enveloped in a cloud of impenetrable darkness. On the morning of the 15th I rode over to division headquarters, and found General de Trobriand walking up and down under the tall pines in front of his tent, with his hands clasped behind him, as if in deep meditation. He
446 HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
received me very cordially, but I was in nowise comforted or re- assured by his allusions to the Reign of Terror in France, and his wild assertions that he firmly believed the war was to reopen and be henceforth prosecuted with the dagger and revolver rather than the rifle and cannon.
But during the day telegrams were received from Washington telling of the safety of Grant, and asserting that though the President would in all probability live but a few hours, Secretary Seward's injuries were not necessarily mortal. After the death of the great Lincoln, news of the surrender of one after another of the outlying posts and armies of the gasping Confederacy poured in upon us almost daily, and the spirit of anxiety and gloom which had settled down on the entire army gradually dis- appeared. On the first of May Meade's army took up its line of march for Washington.
The Second and Sixth Corps started on different roads the same day, and after a very foolish race from Burkesville Station to Richmond, a distance of fifty-five miles, moved through that city; and marched leisurely along over the often traveled high- ways through Fredericksburg, and on toward the National Capital, which they came in sight of about the middle of May. The 124th pitched their tents once more near Minor's Hill, and within two miles of the field they had nearly three years before named Camp Cromwell, after their ever beloved and How lamented first Major.
Then came the memorable two days' review at the national capital, of the united armies of the North and West, in which a hundred and fifty thousand bronzed veteran warriors took part ; after which we prepared for our final muster out of the service, and return to our homes and the pursuits of civil life.
On the 5th of June all was in readiness, and our last march- ing orders reached us. Halting a moment at division headquarters. we gave our old commander, General de Trobriand, three hearty cheers, and pushed on to Washington, where a train was found in waiting for us. After a delay of nearly a week on Hart's Island near New York city, we took the Mary Powell for Orange County,
.
447
RECEPTION AT NEWBURGH.
and I will let the reporters of the Newburgh daily papers tell the story of our reception.
In referring to our expected arrival The Daily Union says : " This regiment of heroes, for such they have proved themselves to be, are expected home soon. They have made as noble a record as any regiment in the field. They have poured out their blood on dozens of historic fields and have a roll of heroic dead whose memory should be precious to Old Orange forever."
The Newburgh Daily Journal of June 14th contains the fol- lowing :
"The long looked for and impatiently expected One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment has arrived at last. They left Hart's Island at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning June 13th, and arrived at Desbrosses street pier in New York, at about eleven o'clock the same morning. They were transferred during the afternoon to the Mary Powell, whose noble- hearted commander, Captain Anderson, had proffered to the 'Orange Blossoms' a free passage to Newburgh. The men were all furnished with arms, two-thirds of them having become possessors of their rifles by the payment to the Government of the nominal sum of six dollars each, and the remainder of the regiment being supplied through the kind forethought of Colonel Weygant, from the armories of the Orange County militia com- panies. In fact the Colonel has always seemed to care more for the welfare and comfort of his men than for his own, and it is no wonder that the boys almost idolize him.
" When we stepped on board the Powell at Cozzens' we found the most of the boys crowded on the forward deck, seeming to enjoy themselves hngely in chatting and laughing, and pointing out to each other the fa- miliar features of the scenery along the river. Yet amid the general hilarity reigning on these bronzed and weather-beaten faces, the look of sadness and the tear of regret were occasionally seen-tokens of sorrow for the loss of brave comrades who had fallen in battle, and distress at the thought of meeting their bereaved relatives.
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