USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 9
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Early in the afternoon all the troops along the line in ques- tion were removed, except those belonging to the 3d Brigade, and these were put to marching up and down the vacant rifle- pits to mystify the enemy as to their numbers and the disposi- tion of the Union forces. Towards evening they were relieved
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from marching and laid down behind the works in their old position on the night of the line. From their location on the hillside could be seen all that transpired on the open field to the right, and in the grove on its further side, which appeared like an orchard gathered around a farm-house. This was half a mile from the regiment and now known as Hazel Grove.
About dark a fierce eannonading commenced near this grove and was continued diagonally to the rear. Afterwards troops formed in line in the open field and charged toward the rear in double lines. Soon these were met by lines coming in an op- posite direction, and then the two contending lines swayed backward and forward as a temporary or permanent advantage was obtained. Above the rattle of musketry, the booming of artillery, and the screeching and explosion of shells, could be heard the eries of the men and the commands and oaths of the officers. The course of the circling shells could be traced by their burning fuses, and as they bursted in mid air, a momen- tary light was east upon the contestants in the field below. Notwithstanding the grandeur and sublimity of the seene, it was hellish and filled the minds of the men with anxiety. It reminded one of the horrid visions portrayed in Dante's " In- ferno." About eleven o'clock the battle was over and all be- eame quiet, except the eries and groans of the dying and wounded which were heard afterwards.
About twelve o'clock a detail of men was made from the brigade and moved off to the right and rear to build breast- works along the edge of the woods in that direction. The men then laid down, and notwithstanding the great excitement which had just taken place, soon found rest in sleep. While the men were composing themselves for the night, the plaint- ive tones of a whip-poor-will were heard as he piped his even- ing song. The mingling of the tones of the bird with the eries of the dying and wounded produced a strange sensation, like the voice of conscience to the wicked.
When the men awoke at dawn of day all was still and quiet ; it was Sunday morning. After the light was sufficient to see,
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a line of Union men was observed along the edge of the grove on the further side of the field : these soon commenced retiring in line of battle to the rear, closely followed by a yelping line of Confederates firing as they came. The Union men did not return the fire, but fell back in good order until they disap- peared behind the woods from view. The enemy advanced pursuing until he too passed from sight. The men in the 3d Brigade were nervous and began to feel a solicitude for their personal safety, when suddenly a roll of musketry was heard proceeding from the woods in rear, followed by the well known cheers of the men in the Union lines. Soon the "Johnnies" came in view running across the open field dropping here and there before the well-directed fire of the Union men, as they tried to make their escape. In a few moments the open field was strewn with bodies of the enemy and the articles thrown away by him in his effort to escape.
About half an hour after this charge was over the enemy brought forward several pieces of artillery and planted them in the edge of the grove and commenced a rapid fire upon the 3d Brigade on the hillside above, within easy range of his guns. As his battery was on the flank of the brigade line, the situa- tion was uncomfortable. The men were not relieved, and as the battery was out of range of their rifles, they could do noth- ing except hold the position, lying on the ground subject to fire, which they did for the space of two hours. There were . not as many injured, however, as one would naturally suppose from the terrifie character of the shelling, owing to the fact that the men closely hugged the ground. Occasionally a man was hit by a shell or flying fragment, and when that occurred, it was generally to some purpose. The men will remember one poor fellow who was nearly out in two by a shell and was still living as two of his compamons bore him away ; one hold- ing his head and shoulders and the other his heels. Several shells exploded within a few feet of the writer, and one within a foot of the head of a man lying near him on the ground. A man lying spoon-fashion in line next to the writer in the trenches
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was struck in the side by a piece of flying shell, which tore his coat, scratched his waist-belt, and nearly knocked the breath out of his body, but strange to say the writer escaped unharmed, al- though reclining on his elbow with his breast in the direction of the flying fragment. The man yelled lustily and was greatly frightened, but sustained no serious injury. The firing was very rapid, and at the close a man could easily have filled his pockets with fragments of shells lying in reach of his hands from where he lay.
After the shelling had ceased, the enemy was discovered in occupation of the woods in rear of the brigade, which had be- come isolated from the rest of the command, and in consider- able force advancing on its right flank. The men on the right, taken at an advantage, were rolled up and rapidly melted away. About this time Maj. Cook, the only field officer present, was severely wounded and removed from the field. The appear- ance of the enemy suddenly in an unexpected quarter, and close at hand, caused some confusion, yet the line officers, in the ab- sence of field and general officers, not having full knowledge of the situation and believing it necessary for the safety of the command, made a gallant effort to hold the position. The ef- fort was heroic and the men showed courage worthy of veterans, but it was no use, and with the experience of later years they would have promptly retired to a more tenable position. While one line of the enemy was moving up the flank, another was advancing through the woods in rear gradually enclosing the position. The situation at length becoming known. under the lead of older regiments of the brigade, the 149th retired from the position, fighting its way through the encircling lines. Some of the wounded, able to walk, by active use of their legs escaped before the enemy had completed the investment, and a few isolated squads of men fought their way single-handed through a portion of the enemy's lines, bringing prisoners with them, but nevertheless many were captured, and many were killed and wounded. The men would have been justified in retiring carlier. as an order had been sent for their withdrawal
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and miscarried, and no good was accomplished by their stay. All those who got away had reason to congratulate them- selves on their escape. Nearly every man on the skirmish line was either killed or captured.
As the men neared the Chancellor House, they found things in a mixed condition ; great excitement prevailed, orderlies and aids were moving hurriedly abont on horseback, pieces of artillery were planted pointing in different directions, including the one from which they came, and the sound of musketry and artillery was heard in rear and to the left as they proceeded. Everything about the Chancellor House had a disorganized and mob-like appearance. The remnant of the regiment and brigade retired to the edge of the woods in rear of the house and near the road leading to United States Ford. Here it re- mained for the space of an hour or more, during which time several men joined who had become separated from the com- mand, most of whom were wounded. Among the wounded was Francis Hamblin of I Co., wounded by gunshot in the left shoulder. He seemed sanguine of recovery, and his friends were deceived by his apparent cheerfulness : in the field hos- pital his arm was amputated at the shoulder and he died in the operation. As one boy after another came in, the all-absorbing subject of conversation was the casualties and losses. When a comrade joined the group, who had been supposed to be lost, there was great rejoicing. In several instances comrades em- braced each other in a delirium of joy over their mutual safety. Gen. Geary, who was slightly wounded, was among those pres- ent, and gratefully received a drink of water from the eanteen of one of the men.
While remaining in rear of the Chancellor House a desperate charge was made by the enemy from the south and west upon that position, and the rattle of musketry and the roar of artil- lery was deafening. The enemy flushed with his morning sue- cesses made a desperate attempt to break the Union line, but met with such a cheek as tempered his further movements with caution. All this transpired in view of the regiment while
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awaiting orders and gathering its scattered fragments together. During the latter part of this attack a portion of the regiment, with the coth and loed N. Y., supported a battery on the left of the Chancellor House.
The wounded that were able to help themselves were sent down the road to United States Ford, and those unable to walk were sent in ambulances over the river in the same direction. On the way they were met by Gen. Slocum, who gave them a
GEN. JOHN W. GEARY.
kind word, although busy attending to the wants of his com- mand and providing for its future disposition.
The country from Chancellorsville to the Ford is uneven and the distance by road about four miles, but to the faint and weary wounded it seemed much greater. At a house near the Ford was a field hospital with an operating table under a tree inthe front yard. Near this was a pile of arms, legs and feet, and about the table the grass was trampled down and covered
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with human blood. The scene was sickening, and few had the physical courage even to submit to an examination at such a place. Those who had not passed on to the river, crossed the pontoon bridges, ascended a hill for a mile or more, turned to the left, and after a short distance found the wagon and am- munition train parked in an open field sheltered by a piece of woods from view of the enemy. . On one side of the field, in the edge of a little grove, were hospital tents erected in rows in which were the wounded lying on the ground with their heads to the sides of the tents and their feet towards the cen- ter. Here was Dr. Kendall in charge, and the men willingly submitted to his skillful hand the consideration of their injuries. After his attention they were provided for in tents or outside as circumstances dictated.
About two hours after the brigade retired to the rear of the Chancellor House, it was moved to an open field a short dis- tanee to the left and rear where it remained for several hours, during which time the woods on both sides of the road near the Chancellor House accidently caught fire and burned furi- ously, consuming the dead and wounded without opportunity to render them snecor. If the enemy had a present intention of making a further attack, this rendered it impossible. After several hours the brigade was again moved to a new position a mile nearer the river, where it remained in reserve for two nights and a day.
Just at dawn, on the morning of the ith, the men in the hospital tents and wagon train over the river were startled from their slumbers by the explosion of shell- in their midst discharged by the enemy from the south side of the stream. The shells came thick and fast, not only endangering the lives of the men in the wagon train, but those in the hospital tents. The teamsters jumped from their beds and endeavored to hitch their teams to the wagons, but in a half-hitched condition. a wild stampede took place and great confusion ensued. Shell- bursted overhead and in an uncomfortable proximity to the wagons containing theammunition, and an explosion was momen-
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tarily expected. Many men took to flight and left their teams to eare for themselves, and frightened animals, with and with- out wagons attached, ran furiously in different directions, so that it was all a man could do to keep his feet and dodge the flying throng. The shelling, though furious, was a matter of secondary consideration. It was impossible to go anywhere in safety, so the wounded in tents kept still, and those outside tried to calm the fears of those about them and obtain shelter the best they could. Of all the searey places a man was ever in this was the worst while it lasted. In a few minutes Knap's gallant old battery, belonging to Geary's 2d Division, got the range of the enemy and by a few well-directed shots silenced his guns. Among the casualties was one in the hospital tents. A fragment of shell passed over the head of Maj. Cook and instantly killed a man by the name of Walters in the next tent by carrying away the top of his head.
Early in the morning of the 5th of May the brigade crossed to the north side of the river. Before moving a furions rain came on, and then a wind bearing a stench from the battlefield so vile as to be almost unbearable. When the brigade ap- proached the river the adjacent flats were overflowed and the men waded in mnd and water up to their middle in reaching the pontoon bridges. After crossing the brigade marched about two miles and went into camp for the night. On the 6th it commenced a return march for Acquia Creek and went into camp on the hills south of the Landing on the sth of May.
On the way, a short distance from United States Ford, the men entered a farmer's barn tilled from basement to rafters with abandoned overcoats, blankets and other articles ; these were re-issued to the men to make good their losses.
As soon as the wounded were able to be moved they were sent to hospitals in Acquia Creek and Washington, and when circumstances permitted they were given short furloughs and went home.
Owing to the fact that many of the killed and wounded fell into the hands of the enemy, and many prisoners were taken
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by him, a painful uncertainty rested over the fate of a number of persons in the regiment until long after the engagement ; in fact, a few names were carried on the muster rolls as miss- ing until the end of the war. Among those of whom there was no knowledge for some days, and whose ascertained death cast a gloom over the regiment, were Lieuts. B. F. Breed and J. H. Davis of Co. K. These were young officers of promise, and their untimely end was a matter of universal regret.
The losses in this engagement were 14 killed, 81 wounded, and 94 prisoners or missing. total 189. A number of those carried on the rolls as wounded were also prisoners of war. Several of the wounded died a few days after the battle, and several of those carried on the rolls as missing were undoubtedly killed and should be so accounted for.
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CHAPTER XIV.
ACQUIA CREEK TO LEESBURG.
AFTER returning to Acquia Creek the camp of the 149th was nearly identical with that first occupied by it in January preceding. Lieut .- Col. Van VD Voorhies of the 137th was put in command, and fatigue and guard anty was resumed at the CONTENTMENT. Landing and along the railroad For some time after the return the principal topic of conver -. sation was in reference to the recent engagement, and every one was interested in learning the fate of the missing. From day to day absent members came in until nearly all were ae- counted for, still there were a few whose fate will always be a matter of conjecture.
From a parolled prisoner, it was eventually ascertained that Lient. Davis was shot in the breast and died on the battlefield an hour or two afterwards in great agony, and his body was abandoned by the enemy after being partially disrobed. It is distressing to contemplate the fate of a young man in the vigor of early manhood suddenly stricken with death in the midst of friends, but if he die alone in the presence of an unfeeling enemy, and his body is tossed into a nameless grave, it is terrible ! Yes ! it is horrid if he have no grave at all. At the close of the war when Sherman's victorious army marched homeward through the State of Virginia, the 3d Brigade visited the battlefield of Chancellorsville. Here it
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found the unburied and bleaching bones of many comrades lying where they fell in line of duty, and among them were those of this gallant young lieutenant. They were carefully gathered together, placed in a cracker-box, and buried by his surviving comrades.
When Hooker's forces were withdrawn from the battlefield many wounded were left behind and fell into the hands of the enemy, whose store of medical supplies was limited ; therefore, when circumstances permitted, they were parolled and sent into the Union lines. After a week or more ambulances were per- mitted to cross the river and bring away those that could be removed and were unable to walk. More than one poor fellow died on the way from loss of blood.
On the 4th of June the brigade was reviewed by Gen. Greene, accompanied by his wife and daughters. It was hot weather and the boys were not pleased, as they believed the review was held entirely for the benefit of the General's family. One of the movements being performed in double-quick delighted the daughters, and one of them said, "Papa, can't you trot them around again ? It looks so funny." The father was said to have replied, "Of course I can ; ain't I General ?" Gen. Greene, although a very kind man, had the bad habit of at- tending personally to the discipline of men on the march; in this way he got into many personal altercations with them. At such times they usually reminded him of all the little un- pleasant things they knew about him, and so for a long time after this review you could hear it shouted upon the march. " Papa, can't you trot them around again ? It looks so funny. Of course I can, ain't I General ?" It was no use to give at- tention to these salutations, for it was like a man fighting mosquitos in a melon patch, while attending to one millions more would come to the attack. There is no dignity in a general officer attending personally to the discipline of men. and when he does he loses cast. The General probably know his faults and, while gruff in manner and often correcting,. no man was ever punished for these little matters of diste- spect.
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On the 10th the division was reviewed by Gens. Slocum, Geary, Greene and Kane, and comended for its fine appear- ance ; its numbers did not show much diminution on account of the losses in the recent battle. On the 11th William HI. Ketchum and Christian Schwartz, two of the wounded, re. turned from the enemy bringing news of prisoners of war. On the 12th the ambulances in charge of Sergt. Barriger crossed the Rappahannock under a flag of truce for wounded. On the 14th the Pay-master paid the regiment the amount due to it, to the gratification of the men and the relief of their families. On the same day Lient. Philip Eckel returned from the enemy suffering from a gun-shot wound in the arm, and accompanied by Mathias Frieslebrand, also wounded in the arm. A. C. Powell, Mr. Benson, Mr. Henry and Mr. Dunham of Cicero visited the regiment on the 16th. Frederick Bohl of Co. B died in camp on the 17th, and before his death became a violent lunatic requiring several men to care for him. On the 21st a letter was received from Capt. Hopkins at Parol Camp, An- napolis, Md., giving a detailed account of the prisoners in the hands of the enemy and at that camp, also giving authentic in- telligence of several persons whose fate had been in doubt. The wives of several officers of the brigade visited their hus- bands and among them was the wife of Dr. Kendall. Several earthworks were built by the division on the hills about the Landing and others strengthened.
Among the curious objeets which attracted attention of members of the regiment at this time was a bed of fossils at U-Be-Dam. They consisted of long spiral stones shaped like a cork-serew, and in some instances as long as a man's finger. The soft rock was filled with them, and the men gathered large quantities to send as souvenirs to their friends. These curious formations were the result of clay turned to stone inside of shells similar in character to those known to sailors as Marlin- spikes.
About this time the soldiers made their first acquaintance with the curious little insect known as the glow-worm, and inany were boxed and shipped to the young folk- at home.
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On the 11th of June the regiment received an order from Gen. Hooker to draw rations and hold itself in readiness to move at a moment's notice, and at night the long-roll was heard in the camps of other corps. The next day a second order was received to move at seven o'clock the following morning.
Promptly on time (Saturday), the 13th of June, the regiment took its place in line and marched to Stafford Court House, and thence to Potomac Creek, a short distance west of Stone- man's Switch. The place of encampment was a dreary one in a dense pine thicket, and the men were unable to see any other command.
The regiment had scarcely halted when Lients. Westcott, Barnum and the writer were detailed with fifty men for picket. After joining the brigade detail, the pickets were marched three miles by a circuitous route through pine thickets and posted along what was afterwards learned to be the Stafford C. H. and Fredericksburg road. The reserve of the 149th was in a dense pine grove, on a little hill just off the road, with piekets concealed along the highway. There were no fences or buildings of any kind within view. It was dark when the men were posted. the wind blew a gale, and the pine trees swayed to and fro making a noise that precluded the hearing of ordinary conversation. To make it still worse, it soon be- gan to rain and the night was very dark. The location was weird and dreary at best, but under the peculiar circumstances the men were nervous and anxious .. To add still more to the excitement, they were informed that the enemy was in motion and liable to make an attack at any time during the night or early morning. After the piekets were out it was deemed in- expedient to visit or relieve them on account of the difficulty of hearing their challenges or finding them in the pine barrens.
About one o'clock the reserve was alarmed by a man coming from the picket line with the information that an officer with a small cavalry escort had just passed along the highway com- manding the boys to " Fall in", without giving instructions to
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the reserve or explanations for the order. The writer and one of his associates attempted to visit the outposts, and after con- siderable personal risk and difficulty, ascertained that with one or two exceptions all had left their places. Fearing that the stampede of the pickets was a ruse of the enemy, and being nnable to go anywhere for information, additional piekets were thrown out and preparations made for the night. To the east and north large fires could be seen and occasionally an ex- plosion was heard. It was thrilling as well as beautiful to see the flames rising above the pine trees, tinting the clouds in the sky with color, while great columns of sparks aseended into the heavens. Altogether, the experience was strange and exciting, and well calculated to test the nerve of the men. With the dawn of day, the men were in line and on the alert.
Shortly after daylight one of the officers went to camp and another along the picket line for information. After an hour or more it was ascertained that the place lately occupied by the army had been vacated, and everything about indicated that it had departed with great precipitation; but no infor- mation could be obtained of its whereabouts. Another reserve similar to the one in question was found, which joined to it, made a body of about one hundred and fifty men and six officers. After a brief consultation, the writer was put in command and the little army moved in the direction of Stafford C. H., with three or four men thrown forward as skirmishers and a similar number a short distance in rear to prevent surprise by the enemy's cavalry. The country was extremely wild and dreary, and as no one knew the road or where it led, after marching a number of miles the men were gratified to find themselves at Stafford C. H. on ground with which they were familiar. Here were a number of army sutlers, civilians and stragglers, so the little army marched into an open field, stacked arms and got breakfast, while the officers sought for information.
It was here learned that the fires seen in the night were from burning buildings and stores at Stoneman's Switch, Brooks Station, and Acquia Creek Landing ; the officers in charge
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