USA > New York > Wayne County > Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War > Part 51
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the fight commenced the hottest ; but as the enemy were along the whole front, the division was ordered back to take care of the right. The battle of Cedar Creek has been told by hundreds of pens. Let us follow the fortunes of the Ninth Artillery on that eventful day.
The enemy are beaten back at the first attack, and make no progress on the right, until the Union left has been routed, and the Third Division, being flanked, is ordered to retreat. They retreat? They "'bout face !" and engage the enemy. They advance, breasting a storm of bullets. The enemy have again gained the flank, and even appear on the rear, and have begun firing into the rear of this persistent force that refuses to break ranks or cease fighting. A retreat is ordered. They slowly obey the order. Once more they face about and fight. Retreats and advances are repeated in quick succession. At one moment General Wright, his hat off and his face bleeding, rides past the lines of the Ninth, and orders an advance to re-take a position the enemy had gained on a rise of ground. Instantly this advance is begun, when a staff officer from the left dashes in, exclaiming, " If you do not retreat every man of you will be gobbled up." He is told that General Wright ordered it. " Where is General Wright ?"
The General, not out of sight, is pointed out. After him he madly rides, and again a retreat is ordered and com- menced. It was in this work of the morning that Captain Anson S. Wood, acting as a staff officer, had his horse shot from under him. It was in the midst of this struggle that Captain Brinkerhoff, finding his men moving too slow to suit his excited feelings, elbowed his way through the lines to the front, and waving his sword, shouted, "If you won't go, come ! "
The ground was thus hotly contested for about a mile and a half, and until about ten o'clock, when the enemy ceased their infantry attacks and concentrated a hot artillery fire upon the troops. General Sheridan arrived,-a march to the rear was made ; a position chosen, the army reformed, and temporary breast-works of logs and rails provided. In this position the enemy made another attack, driving in the
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pickets, but were handsomely repulsed. General Sheridan now rides down the lines, inspiring the hurrahs of each com- mand as he passes. Swinging his hat in response to the ringing cheers, he shouts, "We will give them dollar for dollar yet, and more too."
At about 3 o'clock, P. M., a general advance is ordered, and is commenced. The enemy meet it with determined bravery. The Ninth are in a wood. The silent bullets, cutting leaf and twig, make a steady patter like the summer rain, or glance from the trees with a whizzing sound, seldom forgotten by one who has been within hearing.
The contest is a hot one. Upon a false order of retreat some retire, but the majority press onward. The enemy give way. The Union men retreating perceive the mistake and are brought up. The line of pursuit is closed firm. The step of the rebel is hastened-but they make one stand to hold the victory of the morning now fast slipping from their grasp. They rally upon a hill sheltered by a friendly stone wall.
The division, which included the Ninth, charge up to another stone wall on the opposite side of the field and then for an hour perhaps, is a sharp musketry fight between the two lines. To force the rebels out from behind that wall is the question. An order was received to charge across the field and drive them out. This is dangerous business unaided. To aid the movement a few brave fellows creep along a wall across the end of the field connecting the two walls behind which lay the opposing forces. In this way they gain the enemy's flank. Then subjected to a fire from that direction and charged upon in front, the rebels fly in confusion. The Union forces gaining the crest of the hill, look down upon the plain to the right of Middletown, and there behold a scene of unparalleled confusion. It is a stampede. General Early's army that had recently invaded Maryland and threatened Washington, and that had broke upon the Union camp that morning in all the pride of con- scious power, is now a disorganized rabble, scattered over the fields. Dead and wounded horses and men dot all the grounds over many bloody acres. The Union forces push
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on in sharp pursuit as long as daylight permits. Troops that had preserved their organization while facing a storm of bullets with wounded comrades falling around them, now lose it amid their fierce pursuit of the demoralized, panic- stricken enemy.
Night sets in as the troops approach the old camp which they had so unceremoniously left in the morning. Further pursuit by infantry is useless. The colors of the Ninth Artil- lery, the " Washington bandbox regiment," are planted upon the breastworks at the right of the turnpike, and then Major William Wood collects about him nearly half of the regi- ment and halts them till morning. The other half, under Lieutenant-Colonel Snyder, pass the night at the old camp, a short distance off and just across Marsh Creek. Neither portion know the whereabouts of the other until morning.
The day was one that no soldier who shared its perils and escaped with his life will ever forget. General J. Warren Keifer, commanding the Third Division of the Sixth Corps, in his official report of the battle of Cedar Creek, says of the regiment :
"The Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, commanded by Major James W. Snyder, for their noble behavior deserve to be specially mentioned. The regiment had several hundred conscripts and recruits who had just entered the regiment."
In the same report he says :
" Lieutenant-Colonel James W. Snyder and Major Charles Burgess, of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, together with many others, were particularly efficient in the discharge of their duties. Captain Anson S. Wood carried orders, faithfully and gallantly, in the thickest of the battle. * * Captain Orson Howard and Lieu- tenants Orson B. Carpenter and John Oldswager were killed while valiantly discharging their duties."
An incident is given of considerable interest. In the morning, while the fight was the hottest and wounded men were frequently going to the rear by thousands, or if neces- sary being helped there by others, an officer seeing a man break from the ranks and start for the rear, and fearing some might go who ought not, tapped him on the shoulder and demanded of him, "Where are you going?" The man hav- ing a woeful countenance pointed to his head and said, "O,
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I am hit, I am hit." A bullet had cut a hole in his hat from which his hair protruded. The officer, lifting his hat, said to him, " O, you are all right, it hasn't drawn blood," where- upon the soldier smiled and willingly returned to the ranks.
On the 21st a detail of five hundred men was called for to guard prisoners at Winchester. This was placed in com- mand of Major Burgess of the Ninth Artillery.
The army remained at Cedar Creek till the 9th of Novem- ber, when it moved down the valley near Kemstown and went into camp, the place being named Camp Russell. At Cedar Creek after the battle the regiment had been engaged in maintaining a strong picket line and in foraging, going from four to ten miles for hay and grain, to supply the place, it might be thought, of that which had been burned. We quote again from an officer's diary :
" November Ist. Wasdetailed and went foraging. Found hay about seven miles from camp. Spared about half a ton to an old man who plead for it. "I ask it,' he said, ' for char- ity's sake.' The men of either one or the other had taken almost all he had."
At Camp Russell a defensible position was chosen and fortified and winter quarters constructed. The enemy made a feint attack on the 13th of November.
On the 21st the Sixth Corps was reviewed by General Sheridan. From the diary we again quote : " November 26th. Went foraging in command of two hundred and fifty men, having seven wagons. Ordered a safeguard placed over the house, from the barn belonging to which we were taking hay. For this guard the woman was so furiously grateful as to embarrass me. Guerrillas took seven men and a negro ; took their clothes, their money, their watches and paroled them. These men captured had stolen away from my army and attempted a little foraging on their own account. The wagons being loaded and started for camp, the guard following, as the officer was passing her house the woman said some soldiers were in the cellar, having eluded the guard; that they were taking the potatoes, of which she had not more than three bushels. A little fellow in the cellar, in a comical tone, cried out, 'Major, there are more than thirty bushels down here.' The woman's veracity being called in
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question, she desired the officer to go down and see for him- self. The officer, being more interested in keeping his com- mand together, avoiding bushwhackers and getting back safely to camp than in ascertaining whether she was a woman of truth and veracity, quickly bid her good morning." An- other foraging incident is worth mentioning. Hay having been found, the wagons were being loaded, while a guard was placed at the house by request of the woman. As the officer sat on his horse watching the loading and looking out that there should be. no unnecessary delay, the woman of the house came suddenly to him complaining that soldiers were carrying off some pickles from the smoke house, and, "O," said she, "what shall I do for my poo-ar children." The officer ordered the pickles put under guard for her relief, but she soon came in greater haste. ·
" O sir, soldiers are carrying off some things I had hid in the woods and O what shall I do for my poor-r children." Sure enough, coming across a field from the woods was a string of soldiers, one with a ham on his bayonet, others with haversacks filled with apples, others still with jars of apple butter or of honey under their arms. Right or wrong they were allowed to keep what they had got but were not per- mitted to go back for more.
At Camp Russell the regiment was posted upon the extreme right of the army. An officer of an Ohio regiment in the Second Brigade fond of milk, had gratified his taste for that luxury by keeping a cow. She had marched down the valley with the brigade. One day old Boss wandered while feeding, beyond the right of the line. A soldier con- templating less her milk producing qualities than her capac- ity for beef shot her and added fresh beef to the rations of himself and friends. The Ohio officer thenceforward drank his coffee without milk.
In constructing winter quarters a soldier needed some- thing to hold up the bricks over his fireplace. Searching around a farmer's premises near by he discovered an iron bar which he carried off. The owner who had his eyes upon him contented himself with saying "I wonder what there is a soldier don't want." The diary savs under date of Novem-
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ber 28th. " On picket ; make my headquarters at Mr. Cham- berlain's who is nervous for fear the soldiers will tear down his barn for lumber."
On the morning of Dec. 3d, the regiment with the brigade marched to Stevenson's Depot beyond Winchester and were shipped by rail on coal and cattle cars to Washington, accommodations supposed to be good enough for soldiers and certainly preferable to marching if unfortunately they had not been lousy as the result of previous occupation. The only consolation (except scratching) was that it was not much of a soldier who had never been lousy." Passed through Washington on the 4th and at noon went on board steam- boats for City Point ; arriving there at noon on the 5th at 6 P. M. of the same day took the cars for the front south of Petersburg. On the 7th the brigade relieved part of the Fifth Corps on the front lines, the right resting on the Wel- don railroad. On the 8th of December the Second Battalion now composed of companies A, C, L, H and K under Major Wm. Wood was detached and ordered to garrison Fort Wadsworth on the railroad. Duties as follows: Guard, picket and fatigue : also to have twenty-five men in the fort awake all night and the whole battalion to be under arms and in position at the guns from fifteen minutes past five o'clock in the morning until the sun was one-half hour high. On the 9th the balance of the regiment with a brigade went on a reconnoissance to Hatcher's Run; laid down for the night without covering to find themselves in the morning blanketed with snow and frozen sleet. Winter quarters were here constructed by the regiment, at the same time doing heavy guard and picket duty.
December 20th the men being very short of rations, the men of the Second Battalion made a raid on the sutler and cleaned him out. December 31st the rebels made a raid on the picket line killing two and capturing twenty of the regi- ment. February 9th the regiment with the brigade again moved and occupied a position on that part of the line which included Forts Fisher, Welch and Gregg and now con- structed winter quarters for the third time. They also per- formed much garrison, guard and picket duty ; one tenth of
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the command being kept in the trenches and forts by day and by night. The camp and quarters were within easy musket range of the enemy's works, and in full view of his camps. At one point the pickets of the opposing forces were so near to each other as one hundred yards, and men from each side met between the lines while procuring fuel. Stories were told of their engaging in chopping bees upon the same tree. If one of our men wished to address one upon the other side he called out " Johnnie." If this address was the other way the name was " Yank." News- papers were sometimes exchanged. Coffee, which the rebels lacked was bantered for tobacco of which they had plenty.
Until the 25th of March by a tacit understanding picket firing was seldom indulged in. Deserters from the enemy frequently came into our lines. On the 25th of March the Second Brigade was ordered to charge upon and capture the rebels entrenched picket line. Such troops were taken as could be spared from the main works.
The Second Battalion of the Ninth then encamped in the rear of the main line as a reserve was ordered to take part in the action. Major William Wood being absent on leave, Lieutenant-Colonel Snyder was ordered to the command. Of him the brigade commander in his report said : “ He lead his men with great gallantry. Over two hundred pris- oners were taken and coveted entrenchments were secured.'' The action over, our pickets began to be as unmindful o exposing themselves as before. William Rand of Company G, getting upon the breast-work was shot and killed. This so enraged our men that no rebel was allowed to show his head above the breast-works without having a bullet sent through it, unless the aim failed. As spring advanced unusual activity was manifested on both sides. On the night of April Ist, as soon as it was dark enough to conceal operations from the enemy, the camps became an indescrib- able scene of activity. Tents are struck ; baggage packed ; wagons loaded, and the trains moved off rearward. The ground is cleared except of the inevitable rubbish. The dif- ferent commands are formed in line and await further orders. Perhaps the soldiers had a moment to think of home and
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friends and of what the morrow may bring forth. It is evi- dent that it is no ordinary event which is about to transpire. As the night advances the roar of cannon and the tempest of musketry increases until the very ground trembles. At about midnight the troops slowly, cautiously and as noise- lessly as possible moved out through their own line of defen- ses and leave them behind. The rebels seemed to be aware that something was going on and to be as suspicious and irascible as hornets whose nest has been disturbed. Some men were killed while moving out. Much difficulty was experienced from a deep swamp which had to be passed, but the assigned position was taken about 3 A. M. of April 2d and the brigade formed in three lines of battle, the Ninth Heavy Artillery occupying the second of the lines. The troops lie down and await the expected assault.
At 4 o'clock a boom of artillery from Fort Fisher is the signal, and the commands, "Up, men !" " Forward !" fol- low quickly. The enemy's picket line is driven in without firing a gun, and the whole command presses forward against the enemy's main works, from which blaze musketry and artillery. Grape shot are met bounding on the ground ; their shells go too high ; the abattis and ditch are passed and the parapet is mounted. At points hand-to-hand con- flicts ensue ; many of the confederates throw down their arms, surrender easily, and seem glad to be sent to the rear of the Union lines.
An entrance into their works being effected a two-gun battery first falls into Union hands. The next to the left is a four-gun battery, which bears with deadly effect upon the captors of the other. The voice of General Keifer is heard : " Boys, we must take that Battery!" The officer in immedi- ate command repeats : " Boys, General Kiefer says we must take that Battery." A charge upon the double-quick was made and the Union forces were in possession. Another four-gun battery was taken, and the Confederates, rallying, re-took and held it for a little time. General Keifer in his report of this action says :
" At this juncture, I directed Major William Wood and Brevet-Major S. B. Lamareaux, of the Ninth New York Artillery, to place in position a four-gun battery, captured
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from the enemy, which they were prompt in doing, and fired with good effect."
They also brought up and put in position the two guns first captured. The retaken fort, after a duel of about one- half hour, in which the Union men worked the rebel guns against them, was re-captured and permanently held. In it was found a corporal with his head shot away, and several cannoniers killed or severely wounded. The whole division swept along the enemy's fortifications to the left as far as Hatcher's Run, capturing many prisoners and twelve pieces of artillery. From Hatcher's Run the troops were hastened back, passed the place where the first attack was made, and formed fronting Petersburgh, and supporting the Ninth Army Corps. Here they bivouacked for the night. Such was the work of Sunday, April 2d, 1865.
General Keifer closes his report of this action with words of commendation for his officers and men, mentioning some of them by name. He says :
" It is due to Lieutenant-Colonel James W. Snyder, to Major William Wood and Major Anson S. Wood, to Brevet- Major S. B. Lamareaux, of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, that their brilliant services should be acknowl- edged here." % * X *
"' So nearly at the same time were the colors of the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio, Ninth New York Artillery, Six- ty seventh Pennsylvania and Sixth Maryland planted upon the enemy's works, that each claimed the honor of being the first.'
* * × " Sergeant Judah Taylor, Company A, Ninth New York Artillery, is reported by his regimental commander as having captured a battle-flag."
The correspondent of the New York Herald in the issue of April 5th, 1865, says :
" At this time it may be as well to mention the name of another officer who distinguished himself for gallantry of action. This was Major William Wood, of the Ninth Regi- ment of New York Artillery, who led a charge which resulted in the capture of a rebel fort containing four guns."
On the morning of the 3d, the good news was received that Petersburgh was evacuated. The march was then com- menced towards Burkeville Junction, and in pursuit of the retreating enemy. The pursuit was continued on the 4th, 5th and 6th. Frequently when there was a halt some good
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news of the success of the other portions of the army was read, when hats would be flung into the air, and cheers would respond to the welcome tidings. The spirit of the soldier was at flood tide now. On the night of the 5th a position was reached where it was thought the enemy would be likely to give battle, and the time, far into the night, was spent in entrenching. On the morning of the 6th, after a march of about three miles in the direction that the enemy had been concentrated, it was found that they had with- drawn and were moving still further to the left in an attempt to evade an engagement. The pursuit was resumed. At about three P. M. the enemy was overtaken and the battle of Sailor's Creek followed. The Second Brigade to which the Ninth Artillery belonged was in advance of the corps and immediately made a charge upon the enemy, whose policy now was to avoid a fight when he could, but he fought des- perately when brought to bay. The charge was made over fields and fences, through woods and swamps, and against a severe fire from the enemy's musketry. Their artillery was also throwing grape and canister. At one time a halt was ordered, that the cavalry might charge. But the cav- alry did not charge. The troops were then upon elevated ground, an open field in front sloping down to a bushy ravine, beyond which was another cleared field sloping upwards again where the enemy was re-forming his lines to make a stand. A cavalryman was heard to say, “It is murder to charge that line-see, they are waiting for us!"
The infantry charged. The enemy, after making an obsti- nate resistance, were routed and many prisoners taken.
In his official report of this fight, the Brigade Commander - says :
"During the entire day's operations, Lieutenant-Colonel James W. Snyder showed great skill, judgment and bravery. * *
* * *
" Major William Wood while leading his battalion in a charge received a dangerous wound from a canister shot in the face. * * *
" Majors Anson S. Wood, S. B. Lamareaux and Captains George W. Brinkerhoff, Henry J. Rhodes and Chauncey Fish, are among the many who did their duty nobly.
*
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" Captain J. W. Johnson, Ninth New York Artillery, act- ing Aid-de-camp, serving upon Brigade staff, was particu- larly active, efficient and brave."
The troops moved about two and one-half miles from the battle field following the remnant of Lee's retreating army and bivouacked for the night. At 10 P. M. of the 7th of April, they crossed the Appomattox river at Fairville, and encamped for the night. The pursuit continued until the 9th when General Lee's army, the pride of the confederacy sur- rendered. On the IIth the march was resumed, and on the 13th the Sixth Corps went into camp at Burkville. On the 23d a forced march was commenced towards Dansville in compliance with orders from Washington to push through as rapidly as possible and assist in the capture of General Joe Johnston's army. The force arrived at Dansville on the 27th and halted as General Johnston had surrendered to Sherman on the 26th. They remained at Dansville until the 16th of May, when they removed by rail to Richmond. On the 24th of May, the Ninth Artillery was received with the corps in Richmond and commenced the march for Washington ; arrived after a tiresome march at Ball's cross-roads, four miles from Washington on the 3d of June. The regiment remained with the corps and participated in the grand review in the streets of Washington on the 8th of June. The other regi- ments of the brigade except the Ninth Artillery were mustered out. The Ninth was transferred to the defences of Washing- ton. However willing the men had been to remain in these defences before they had been to the front, to stay there now was irksome and distasteful. They were tired of the fuss and feathers of war-like parades. The regiment garrisoned the forts north of Georgetown. Lieutenant-Colonel Sny- der's headquarters were at Fort Reno; Major William Wood's Battalion was at the Batteries Vermont and Kimball. July 6th the Regiment was mustered out and had transpor- tation to Syracuse, where on the 22d of the month they were paid off and disbanded. Some men of the Ninth who had longer to serve were transferred to the Second Artillery on the 27th of June, and served until the 29th of September.
The summary of casualties of the regiment while in active service at the front, and with the Second Brigade, Third
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Division, Sixth Army Corps; shows a greater aggregate than that of any other regiment of the brigade. It was a larger regiment it is true, but the summary covers for the other regiments a much longer term. While in the brigade a lit- tle more than a year, there were fourteen officers and two hundred and four men killed ; sixteen officers and five bun- dred and ninety enlisted men wounded ; aggregate of killed and wounded, eight hundred and twenty-four. If it was true (which the men of this regiment do not admit) that they had an easy time in the defences of Washington, it may well be submitted whether they did not amply make up for it in their subsequent active career.
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