USA > New York > New York regiment, 1887-1895 > Part 8
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Our forces had already been compelled to retire from the crest of the hill, leaving one section of a battery in the hands of the enemy. Steadily and with unbroken front the Sixteenth continued to advance, the enemy giving way before it, until it had regained the ground that had been lost and retaken the guns, one of which had been turned apon us. Here a road passed over the top of the hill, with high banks on either side, in which the enemy had thrown themselves to resist our advance. Across this road we pressed amid a shower of bullets, and on the opposite side Colonel Howland ordered the regiment to change front forward on the tenth company, to oppose the fire of the . enemy, which then seemed most destructive on our left. The change was made in good order, and our men poured in a deadly fire, before which the enemy wavered and fell back. We held this position for about one hour, until our ammunition was nearly exhausted, when, by direction of Colonel Howland, I endeavored to procure a fresh supply. Failing in this, however, I requested Colonel Cake, of the Ninety-sixth Penn- sylvania Volunteers, who was lying on our left, to come to our support. He accordingly moved the right wing of his regiment to the point indicated, and with his assistance we continued to hold the place till night set in, when the brigade, under the personal direction of Colonel Bartlett, was led from the field in as good order as it had been led un, with the exception of the heavy losses it had sustained. During our engagement, which lasted nearly one hour and thirty minutes, the Fifth Maine and Twenty-seventh New York Volunteers were doing efficient service in line on our left.
I regret to report that in the early part of the engagement Colonel Howland received · flesh wound in. his left thigh, but he still kept his horse, unmindful of aught but his daty and his command, and with the most undaunted bravery and marked coolness, tule through the leaden hail from right to left along his line, and continued to direct the movements of the regiment and cheer on the men during all the fight and conduct- e! the regiment from the field. Ilis wound will disable him from duty for several weeks. 2
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Historical Sketch of the
Lieutenant-Colonel Marsh received a severe wound in the neck very soon after the regiment had crossed the road on the hill, a Minie-ball entering the left side of the neck and lodging against the vertebra. IIe bore himself bravely during the engage- ment, and at the instant he was struck he was riding up the line waving his sword and in the act of delivering a message to Colonel Howland. Before the message was de- livered, or its purport made known, he was struck by the ball and fell instantly from his horse, and was borne off the field in an insensible condition.
Among the casualties to the officers of the line I have to report the death of Lieul. A. M. Barnard, Co. H, who was struck by a musket-ball in his forehead and instantly killed. Capt. Warren Gibson, Company H, was about the same time struck by a musket-ball, near the outer corner of the right eye, the ball passing through, back of and destroying the eye, and coming out near the left temple. Both these officers were nobly and fearlessly discharging their duty at their posts and cheering on their men. The command of the company devolved on Sergt. James M. Hamilton, who behaved with coolness and courage, and did himself great credit during the remainder of the day. Lieut. McFadden, Company K, had his right leg shattered below the knee, by a shell, Acting Adjt .- Lieut. Pliny Moore, Company C, was severely wounded in the right arm and side by a musket-ball, while in the fearless discharge of his duty on the field, Lieut. Charles Bentley was wounded slightly by a ball cutting off the end of his left thumb.
Where no man faltered; where every one, officers and men, did their duty so nobly and so well, taking and persistently holding a position under a raking cross-fire, which reduced our ranks fully one fourth part, to particularize would be invidious, so far as I was able to observe the conduct of the troops not a man left the ranks till he was compelled to from wounds or to bear off a wounded comrade, and any temporary con- fusion or disorder caused by moving the battalion under a steady and galling fire was promptly corrected by the company officers, whose co duct, as well as that of the men under their command on this occasion, deserves the highest commendation.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. J. SEAVER, Major, Commanding Sixteenth N. Y. Vols. R. P. WILSON, A. A. A. G., 2nd Brig., Ist Div., 6th Prov. Army Corps, A. P.
The incidents, the horrors, the awful scenes of the "Seven Days " retreat are too appalling and numerous for mention here. The wounded of three days had been collected at Savage Station, who, in addition to the sick, sent here after the retreat had been decided upon, presented an indescrib- able reality of woe. The writer lay in the midst of thirteen wounded, passed over by the surgeons as beyond help at 9 o'clock P. M. June 29th, of whom Corporal Johnston of his own company was one, and at 6 : 30 A. M. the next morning he was the only survivor. In front of the amputating tents the legs and arms, cut off, formed great heaps, tons in weight, many of the feet still having shoes on them. To add to the gloom and suffering of this multitude, they were informed that all who could not join in the march would be left behind. A large number of the poor fellows, deter- mined not to fall into the hands of the enemy, started bravely out, and through all the retreat their weak and emaciated forms could be seen strug-
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16th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Infantry.
Hling along the weary way, with arms just amputated or undressed wounds :leeding at every step. But with spirits all undaunted and unconquered, and hope yet whispering words of cheer, many of them reached the James river, and have since recovered to recount experiences of suffering rarely endured in any other human misfortune. And the pleading, petitioning tures of those unable to speak or walk, not to be abandoned to the merci- iess foe, melted the hearts and brought tears to the eyes of men who would endure any personal danger ; but no transportation could be had. A wounded member of the Sixteenth, just able to walk, joined the retreating sufferers, and, falling in with the Regiment, related the sad condition of the romrades he had just left, and, though then in line of battle, Capt. F. C. Tapley, having seen not far distant a few empty ambulances, left his com- mand and ordered them to the spot where the wounded of his Regiment were located, and when he found a member of Company B, or the Six- teenth, he was tenderly placed on board the ambulances, and three, at least, uf the number still live, owing their lives to his prompt and humane action. These independent, self-directed acts would fill a narrative which alone could do justice to the individual men that make up the Sixteenth, and, indeed, rach of the regiments of the Union Army. Charles P. Barns and George White, at Gaines' Hill, when the conflict ceased, remembering where their comrades had fallen, at great personal danger, were ceaseless in their efforts through the night in seeking them out and bringing the wounded from the field. Heroes like these were numerous, and the great regret of the writer of this hasty sketch has constantly been present with him that their names and acts are not known to him, but though no record is here made, the reward is certain, for the consciousness of having faithfully discharged a duty is its own reward, and "inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me," is written of them.
The Regiment remained at Harrison's Landing till August 16th. Much sickness prevailed among the members-weakened by the terrible strain and exposure of the previous months-owing to the unhealthy surroundings and impure water. Many died, and more were taken North, not, however, before the seeds of death had been implanted in their constitutions. Each company of the Sixteenth provided itself with wells, and afterwards enjoyed the luxury of pure water. The Army was abundantly supplied, and reën- Orcements were constantly arriving. On July 8th President Lincoln Icviewed the troops. As he rode along the lines and observed the thinned tanks and torn aud tattered flags, he was much moved-" he wept "-and the men began to regard him as the one disinterested "man in authority." Col. Howland also visited the Regiment, for the first time since Gaines' Hill. His suffering was plainly seen, and the men showed their love for
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Historical Sketch of the
hin by going to his tent, and relieved each other's guard so that every one might take him by the hand. The enemy occasionally showed himself on the opposite side of the river, and now and then opened a vigorous fire from his batteries. The most terrific thunder storm struck our camp and the lightning made havoc among the baggage. Recuperation and routine duties consumed much of the time while located on the James.
August 16th began the transfer of the Army to Washington, and the Six- teenth started to Charles City Court House, and for six successive days marched nearly twenty miles daily in the hot Southern August sun, and suf- fered with the cold at night, arriving at Newport on the 21st. Here it took the steamer New Brunswick for Alexandria, which it reached on the 24th, and went into camp, near the site of its first location in Virginia, and formed its old picket line on the 27th. On the 28th marched to Annan- dale, on the 30th to Fairfax, thence through Centerville to Crib Run, and there stood picket through the night, near Warrenton turnpike, where the valiant New Jersey brigade was slaughtered and captured, and brave, gal- lant, lion-hearted Phil Kearney was murdered, and the Army of the Poto- mac, almost regiment by regiment, exposed to the whole line of the enemy, till it was routed. Had Fitz-John Porter obeyed orders the terrible defeat of Pope would have been a grand victory. The machinations of politics may pardon Porter, but the men who had comrades slaughtered or lost dear ones here, or who saw the almost annihilation of the veteran Army of the Potomac, can never condone the awful crime of which they believe him guilty. The usual retreat, after the victories of those days, began on the 31st, and the Regiment fell back to Centreville Heights, and later in the evening to Fairfax Court House, and on Sept. Ist back to Alexandria, and went into camp at Fort Lyon.
Five months of active campaigning had brought with it all the fortunes of war. Victory and defeat had anon perched on our banners. Brave spirits, innumerable, had been shot to death on the field, lain down in sickly swamps to die, or breathed their life away in Northern hospitals. The · retrospect was not a cheerful one, for we knew not then but that all the precious lives that had been given were sacrificed in vain ; but we had enriched with their blood the whole line of march, and the land and the Government, which they loved and for which they withheld not their lives, were so much the more valuable, and these must and should be preserved.
It was without regrets that the order to break camp came to the Regi- ment on Sept. 6th, when it crossed Long Bridge and marched into Wash ington with song and cheer, and as it passed Willard Hotel, Mr. Lincoln, Preston King, Judge James and others heartily joined in the chorus, " We 'll hang Jeff. Davis on a sour apple tree," to the delight of the men. Con-
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16th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Infantry.
tinuing to march through much of that night, and daily thereafter without event till the 14th, when the enemy appeared in force ; the Regiment passed through Jefferson and skirmished towards Burkettsville. The enemy seeing the line advance opened a heavy fire from the guns planted on the heights, but the Regiment passed rapidly forward on the double-quick over the fields and along the bushy edges of a stream, halted and then exchanged a few shots. In this most exposed position both color-bearers were shot, one being killed, and two sergeants and one officer wounded. Gen. New- ton, seeing the situation, in person ordered a charge. The Sixteenth, although in the third line, dashing forward, forced the enemy back with a rush, till a stone wall was reached ; here, reinforced, the rebels made a stout resistance, but the Sixteenth sprang over the fence and stone wall, mingled with the astonished Confederates, pressed on and up the mountain side, blazing volley after volley ; unmindful of the deluge of iron hail the gallant boys push on, clamber up the green glacis till the crest is reached and the foe driven in disorder down the western slope, leaving baggage, supplies, everything, including their wounded, in our hands. In this grand charge the Regiment captured more prisoners than the number of its own ranks and a large quantity of arms. Private James Allen, of Co. F, captured the colors of the Sixteenth Georgia Regiment from two flying rebel sergeants. The Sixteenth was the first to reach the summit and far in advance of all others, sent up such a cheer that the enemy, who knew it was not the rebel yell, broke along his whole line and fled. Grand, sub- lime, and, though not surpassed in brilliancy and daring by any single act of the war, a tear was dropped and all joined in a common sorrow ; in thirty minutes we had lost of our numbers, every one of whom was dear to us from long association, 32 killed and 90 wounded. Major Frank Palmer did splendid service at the stone wall in rallying the men, forming lines, and urging the charge, and the success of this charge forced the enemy's retreat from Turner's Gap, and compelled the stand at Antietam in a much less formidable position.
Monday morning the Regiment stood in arms at sunrise, prepared to march to the relief of Harper's Ferry, only to learn that Miles had surren- dered, and it again went into camp.
The Regiment remained encamped at the foot of the mountain in Pleas- ant Valley till the early morning of the 17th, when it advanced, arriving on the battle field of Antietam at 9 : 30 A. M. The march had been a rapid une. It was now a most critical moment-Mansfield killed, Hooker wounded, Sedgwick, Richardson and Crawford carried bleeding from the field-the enemy pressing on in overwhelming numbers, our own troops yelding-the day had been lost, but the steady tramp of the advancing
+
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Historical Sketch of the
Sixth Corps arrived, and with two fresh brigades rushed forward, put the enemy to flight, and established the lines far in advance of where they had been at the opening of the fight. At about noon the Sixteenth took posi- tion near Dunker church, and about two hours after the Regiment was placed in the advance line of battle near the grave yard, and remained in that position through the night and till the evening of the 18th, under a galling fire from sharp-shooters, two being killed and three wounded of companies B and D. The official reports give the mentions made of the Sixteenth by its field and general commanders, referring to the Maryland campaign, and their publication was intended at this point, having been promised permission to make copies of them at the War department in Washington, and depending on this promise the writer has failed to examine other records. The reign of the "Confederate Brigideers" now in full power there and the following letter, which is false in fact, accounts for the absence of the official reports, which in the best form and language credit the Sixteenth with the honor of forcing the enemy from South Mountain, and the resulting failure of Lee's Campaign in Maryland.
(OFFICIAL LETTER.) ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, August 19, 1886.
WM. W. THOMPSON, Albany, N. Y.,
SIR :- Acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 12 instant enclosing a com- munication from Hon. John Swinburne, M. C., of Albany, New York, and requesting permission to copy for him certain records therein specified for the purpose of writing a history of the 16th New York Regiment; I have the honor to inform you that the enormous accumulation of business will prevent this office undertaking other than current work, and the rules of the Department prohibit the examination of its records by persons other than those employed therein.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, O. D. GREENE, Acting Adjutant General.
The enemy withdrew on the 19th, and the Regiment lay near the Poto- mac river at Bakerville, where it remained till Oct. Ist and then advanced, crossing the river on pontoons at Berlin, thence through Lovettsville and encamped. Continuing the movement towards Fredericksburg, it reached Bell Plains Dec. 4th and encamped till the roth, when it marched to the Rappahannock, near Pollock's Mills ; it then crossed the lower bridge on the 12th at Fredericksburg and took position next to the left of Gen. Meade's command, and remained on picket and skirmish duty till the 15th, and the men suffered intensely through these nights from the cold, while day and night they were under a constant artillery fire, but lost no one,
23
16th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Infantry.
though the exposure resulted in the sickness of nearly one hundred men, of whom thirty-six died within the next six weeks ; and in the winter quarters, about sixteen miles southeast from Fredericksburg, where the Regiment returned on the 19th, the farewell shots of deceased comrades were almost constantly sounding.
* In this condition the Sixteenth was unfit for further active duty, but it was ordered to Bell Plains in a severe snow storm and the most intense cold weather experienced during its service, without shelter, and for three days guarded the shipping at the landing. Here Sergeant Knapp, who was a most excellent soldier and ever a vigilant and careful officer, perpetrated a little practical joke, for which he was famous, on Latz, the hospital steward. The men stood for upwards of an hour in the drifting storm, while the offi- cers were vainly trying to relieve the commanders in charge of the post, whose men filled the only building for miles around. The tenacious Ger- man colonel was obdurate and refused to take his men out or see the officer sent to take his place. Latz frequently took his friends to the hospital wagon, and became happy with inward heat. Ed, as the boys always called him, having faith in the inspiration, became a violent anti-monopo- list, and silently stole away with the entire store of wine, brandy, etc., to the adjacent wooded hills, and there, in true communistic style dispensed the " stores " to all comers, who, having warmed to the subject, built fires, and soon the entire Regiment from the " wilds of northern New York " was comfortably encamped, and poor Latz was wildly seeking the culprit, threatening dire vengeance, exclaiming : " It vas dang seldom vare dot demishon vas." Latz had often lost his "stores" before, and Ed. could probably tell how.
The following day the famous, or otherwise, " stick in the mud " expedi- tion was commenced, and the Sixteenth shared its part in that folly, after which it returned to its old camp-a fragment of its former strength-where it remained till April 29th, 1863, at which date nearly every member of the Regiment had returned. Again, after counting the few remaining days of its term of service, with a consciousness of duty well performed, the Six- teenth could return and point with pride to its record, one more effort was to be required of the Regiment-the crowning glory of its two years' career -and nobly did it add one more laurel to the wreath of honor which encircled the name of the gallant Sixteenth.
The pontoons, not drawn on noisy, rumbling trucks, as they were in the former attempt by Burnside, were quietly borne upon the shoulders of the light brigade and placed in the river at intervals of twenty or thirty feet, no attempt being made to construct a bridge. The Sixteenth, to the number of about fifty men in each, were placed in pontoons at 4 o'clock A. M. and
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Historical Sketch of the
bravely pushed to the other side. So stealthily had the operation been conducted that the enemy's pickets did not sound the alarm till they saw boat loads of armed men approaching. They had time to fire only two or three volleys and then fled. The Sixteenth was the first to reach the oppo- site bank, and rapidly clambered up its steep sides, rushed upon the sur- prised Confederates, finding the officers of their pickets fast asleep. The sudden zigzag blaze of the enemy's fire lit up the darkness, and it was a thrilling moment midway of the stream, in crowded boats, moving slowly- a target for a thousand rifles. Fortunately we were opposite a high bank and the flying bullets passed almost harmlessly over us. Two bridges were lain, and in less than thirty minutes after the launching of the boats the Sixth Corps was pouring over in two living streams, and in one hour twenty thousand troops were in position, ready for action. The Sixteenth stacked arms and rested, wondering what next and waiting for orders. Presently it was advanced to a road and the batteries of the brigade placed in position, when a terrific musketry fire opened upon us. Stern old Capt. Hexamer charged his brass pieces to the muzzle with grape and cannister, held his fire, and our officers were passing along the line commanding the men to hug the ground and not to fire till ordered by the buglers, or till the whites of the eyes of the steadily advancing rebels could be seen. On and on, the splendid lines, in three columns, of the enemy advanced. No gunner at the batteries could be seen, the air filled with the hiss of bullets and screeching shells, when suddenly, as if all nature was writhing in a torment of agony, the batteries belched forth in torrents of awful fire and thunder. Rapidly, beyond all description or belief, did the guns discharge. No life could exist for a moment in the deluge of death they poured forth, and the Confederates, whose almost entire force had been sent to execute this movement, were kept upon the ground, and in their absence from their line of forts a charge was ordered, and the boasted Heights of Fredericksburg were stormed by our brave boys and the stars and stripes planted trium- - phantly over that "Gibralter of America." Proudly did the Sixteenth march up those heights on that fair Sunday morning, filled with true grati- tude and devotion.
Advancing to join Hooker, the Regiment moved almost without opposi- tion along the plank road leading to Chancellorsville. Gen. Brooks' divi- sion, which took the advance, moved rapidly forward, but, instead of meeting Hooker's pickets, encountered a heavy force of the enemy at Salem Church. They were concealed in a forest, and immediately rose from their masked position and delivered a murderous fire. The Sixteenth formed in line and soon became hotly engaged, when a deadly flank fire from the left placed the Regiment at the focus of a cross fire, and the
25
16th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteer Infantry.
ground was strewn with the bodies of the slain. But there is no wavering, and the boys, delivering the battle cheer, which is heard above the fierce roll of musketry, press forward, when new lines of the enemy form on three sides and concentrate their fire upon Bartlett's brigade ; at the focus the Sixteenth is from the first, and Lieut .- Col. Palmer falls, Lieut. Hesselgrave is dead, Capt. Best falls, Lieut. Bayne falls, Lieut. Cozzens falls, Capt. Wood is a prisoner, and twenty-eight brave boys are dead and ninety-one others bleeding with wounds, while forty-nine more are in the hands of the enemy and their fate uncertain. The broken ranks fall back, and Gen. Brooks sweeps the plains with a tempest of cannister from every gun at his com- mand, and hurls back the exultant foe. Darkness comes to our relief, but not till Bartlett's brigade had lost seven hundred of its veteran braves in twenty minutes. This was, indeed, an eventful day, and as the Sixteenth lay down to sleep that night all had heavy hearts at the results and serious apprehensions of the morrow. The dawn of Monday revealed the fact that the Sixth Corps was surrounded, and unarmed Confederates freely surren- dered, in the belief that its capture was a question of only a few hours. The situation was critical ; the enemy in front, left and rear, and an unford- able river on the right. The indomitable hero, Sedgwick, waited till night- fall, and, under cover of darkness, escaped. Lieut. Knapp, in command of two companies of the Sixteenth, was the last officer to withdraw from the field, he having been left on the skirmish line with no other design or expectation than to mislead the enemy for a time and then to fall into their hands with his command. He did remain till the rebels mingled with his men, and then, marching side by side with several of the enemy, escaped without the loss of a man, and recrossed the river with his Regiment that night. (The official reports of this action are also refused.)
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