USA > New York > Records of the 24th Independent Battery, N. Y. Light Artillery, U. S. V. > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
We made some experiments with the rockets shortly before we left Washington. They hardly came up to the expectations of the author- ities, and so it was concluded, as Burnside was in want of artillery, to give us some guns and send us on. Consequently our quaint rocket car- riages were exchanged for the substantial six-pounder carriage, and our sheet ironed tubes were turned into rifled cannon.
This closes the correspondence on that interesting sub- ject, the " rocket gun."
The writer has had many conversations with the officers and members of the Battalion who were present at the trial of these guns.
The fault which proved too great to overcome, was
·Digitized by Google .
1
-
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY. 149
the uncertainty of direction that the rocket would take. It might make a retrograde movement. It might, imme- diately on its leaving the mouth of the tube, take a counter direction and come flying into the midst of those who fired it. A body moving from the centre of a circle, there was no knowledge of the radius it would probably take in its flight.
The rocket used was, by Major Lions' representation, an improvement, invented by Lion himself, upon the Congreve rocket.
In the minds of those best acquainted with him, I find that there were doubts as to whether he knew anything at all about the science of gunnery or of this projectile.
In the text book on "Ordnance and Gunnery," by Colonel J. G. Benton, used in the U. S. Military Academy, this short history of Rockets is given :
Rockets were used in India and China, for war purposes, before the discovery of gunpowder ; some writers fix the date of their invention about the close of the ninth century. Their inferior force and ac- curacy limited the sphere of their operations to incendiary purposes, until the year 1804, when Sir William Congreve turned his attention to their improvement. This officer substituted sheet iron cases for those made of paper. which enabled him to use more powerful com- position ; he made the guide stick shorter and lighter, and removed a source of inaccuracy of flight by attaching the stick to the centre of the base instead of the side of the case. He states that he was en- abled by his improvements to increase the range of six-pounder rockets from six hundred to two thousand yards. Under his direction they were prepared and used successfully at the seige of Boulogne, and the battle of Leipsic. At the latter place they were served by a special corps.
The advantages claimed for rockets over cannon are unlimited size of projectile, portability, freedom from recoil, rapidity of discharge, and the terror which their noise and fiery trail produces on mounted troops.
Digitized by Google
150
RECORDS OF THE
The numerous conditions to be fulfilled in their construction, in order to obtain accuracy of flight and the uncertainty of preserving the composition uninjured for a length of time are difficulties not yet entirely overcome and which have much restricted their usefulness for general military purposes.
From this description we are led to conclude that there was some ground for the representations of Major Lion, and good reasons for the high expectations which the officers and men of the Battalion had in a probability of becoming " the pioneer organization of this wonderful arm of the service."
The failure did not certainly arise from want of patri- otism, courage, or willingness on the part of the members of the Battalion.
.
Digitized by Google
.
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY. ·
151
CHAPTER III. 1862.
BATTERY B. .
Six months had elapsed while these experiments on rockets were being made.
It is easy to imagine that the days dragged slowly by with those who had, at the time of their enlistment, ex- pected immediate active duty.
Six months of settled camp life, where the daily rou- tine is one of leisure, is very likely to be demoralizing to any company.
Aside from a little foot drill and sabre exercise, their time was unoccupied by regular duties. An occasional show of discipline was made by the commander of the Battalion. This depended, perhaps, more on his mental and physical condition, than upon any direct or flagrant misdemeanor.
Sectional and personal jealousies arose among the men and officers. Against the officers charges of injustice and favoritism were made. Counter-charges were made by the officers of inefficiency and insubordination.
Their troubles and differences were brought before the court-martial, and both there and at the homes of those interested, the various actions in the matter were thoroughly discussed,
Digitized by Google
152
RECORDS OF THE
We do not propose to open the discussion again, and mention this portion of the Company's history, only be- cause they were facts and incidents occurring at that time.
The friends at home had not forgotten the volunteers, and we have accounts of feast and joy over " good things" from home.
There was some sickness and one death-that of Lemuel Andrus.
In order to give a better understanding of the record of their life at Washington, we select from the files of the Wyoming Times the following correspondence : *
CAMP CONGREVE, December, 1861.
You will see by my date that the name of our camp has been changed from Duncan to Congreve, in honor of the inventor of the rocket. It is located about three quarters of a mile from the Capitol, on what would be the prolongation of Pennsylvania Ave- nue, if that thoroughfare was continued through the Capitol. Let me describe my quarters to you. My house is what is called a wall tent. The boys have planted a row of young spruce trees in front of the tent, which is quite ornamental. It is heated by a California stove, the institution of the establishment. This consists of a hole near the centre of the tent, about eighteen inches deep, the same in breadth, and about two feet long, bricked up and covered with a stove top, with a griddle for cooking. The draft and the chimney are both on the outer and opposite sides of the tent. This is a most admirable arrangement, drying and warming the whole floor of the tent, which is, of course, mother earth. We sleep in a rough bunk, about three feet wide, and have a good straw bed and plenty of quilts to keep us warm.
It is very warm and comfortable. We have had no severe weather as yet. I cannot realize that it is midwinter.
I must tell you how I passed my Christmas. About noon, in com pany with Lieut. Graham, I set off for the land of "Secesh." In galo
Digitized by Google
1
153
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
ing down Pennsylvania Avenue, we were brought up standing more than once by the threatening bayonets of the patrol for the streets of Washington. The city is under strict martial law, and the streets are lined with soldiers, stationed as sentinels. They stopped us only to warn us not to ride faster than a trot, and then suffered us to pass on. * *
* * *
Our journey took us through the far-famed settlement of Falls Church. Add two miserable churches to that of Perry, and let that place run fifty years without repair, and you have a picture of the vil- lage of Falls Church. * * *
Yesterday everything wore a gala-day appearance. Almost every entrance to an encampment was arched with lofty and beautifully woven evergreens. The camps were laid out in streets, and thickly strewed with fresh spruce shrubs. They were picturesque beyond any- thing I ever conceived in camp life; and withal the tents were clean and apparently comfortable, and the soldiers cheerful and contented. " Who wouldn't sell a farm to be a soldier."
.
CAMP CONGREVE, Washington, January 20th, 1862.
Since writing you last, we have had one grand, constant, continual rain-what the boys call a " bully rain." Day and night, pat, pat, pat- ter, it has come on our canvas roofs, compelling us to hover close around our tin stoves, and avoiding the treacherous soil without. Drilling and general camp duties have been almost entirely suspended. We have had nothing to do but make ourselves as comfortable as we could under the circumstances, which we have done. Of course the weather has had an unfavorable effect upon the health of our boys. There is considerable sickness in our Battalion, as well as in this entire' division. The mumps, measles, colds, fevers, &c., are giving the sur- geons plenty of work. The lighter cases are all treated in the camp hospitals, while severe and protracted diseases receive treatment in the general hospitals. But we are all hoping for dry weather, and a resulting improvement in health. Until the roads are hardened, an advance from this point would be wholly impracticable.
Our troops might succeed in storming earthworks, but must suc- cumb to this accumulation of mud. This Battalion has engaged only in the dismounted drill, and has attained considerable proficiency in
-
Digitized by Google
.
154
RECORDS OF THE
ordinary tactics and sword exercise. The boys swing their sabres as lustily as Don Quixote flourished his trusty blade when fighting the windmills. In a few weeks we hope to educate man and horse in the use of gun carriages and rocket tubes.
CAMP CONGREVE, Washington, February 1st, 1862.
Life in camp is just now monotonous. We are in what is known as a camp of instruction, as distinguished from camp in campaign. We have been drilled in the school of the cannoneer dismounted, and as we have not yet received our horses or cannon, we have not yet commenced the regular artillery drill. We, however, expect our horses in a few days, when we will find three months hard labor before us at least. Two incidents have taken place mince I last wrote you, which were out of the usual course. We were paid off- an occasion of great interest, and one which gave general satisfaction ; the other was the receipt of the provisions forwarded by the worthy people of Perry. The soldier I take it, from what I have seen, does not abound in demonstrations of gratitude, and yet feels as keenly, perhaps, as he who is more loud in his expressions. Carefully drawn resolutions of thanks might sound well, and perhaps make the donees appear to advantage, but they could not add to a general feeling of gratefulness entertained and manifested, particularly by those ac- quainted with the individuals who contributed. All of the articles reached here safely, and the most of them have been disposed of. The jelly and preserves are to be kept for the sick, and a few other articles we yet have on hand. * There has been some sickness with us, but now our camp is unusually healthy. We have had a great deal of rainy weather, and Washington has been a sea of mud. Fortunately our camp is so situated that it is less damp and wet than any of. the camps around us. I see no prospect of an immediate advance. The bad roads, I think, would alone prevent it. Even about the city the roads are almost impassable.
CAMP CONGREVE, WASHINGTON, D. C., March 10th, 1862.
A long train of ambulances yesterday, crossing the Long Bridge, put me in a gloomy and reflective mood, from which I have not yet
Digitized by Google
:
155
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
recovered. Fancy cannot picture, nor imagination conceive, the hor- rors of war. That the best faculties of man, his utmost ingenuity, should be taxed to produce weapons for the destruction of his fellow- creatures, is, when we come really to think of it, appalling. Some fiend, one would think, invented the shell, some of them eleven inches in diameter, filled with nails, pieces of iron and balls, which bursting, sometimes kill fifteen or twenty men. The heartlessness of war, and particularly this war, it seems to me, is touched off to the life in the following lines. They are from Vanity Fair, and may not have met the eye of all of your readers :
The Song of the Ambulance.
Let the broad columns of men advance ! We follow behind with the ambulance.
They lead us many a weary dance, But they cannot weary the ambulance.
We rattle over the flinty stones, And crush and shatter the shrinking bones.
Here we ride over a Christian skull- No matter, the ambulance is full.
Behold ! a youthful warrior is dead, But the wheel glides over his fair young head.
See smoke and fire ! hear cannon's roar ! Till the bursting ears can hear no more.
Till the eyes see only a sky-blue frame, And a lurid picture of smoke and flame.
And the air grows dense with a thousand sighs. And shrieks defiance in shrill death-cries.
And blood lies black in horrible streams, And we think we are dreaming fearful dreams.
But our wheels are strong, our axles sound, And over the sea we merrily bound.
What do we care for the bursting shell ? We know its music, and love it well.
-
Digitized by
156
RECORDS OF THE .
What do we care for sighs and groans ? For mangled bodies and shattered bones ?
We laugh at danger and scorn mischance, We who drive the ambulance.
Through rattling bullets and clashing steel, We steadily guide the leaping wheel.
Writhing in agony they lie, Cursing the ambulance, praying to die.
While some in dreary, death-like trance, Bleed life away in the ambulance.
Hurrah ! hurrah ! up bands, and play ! We're leading a glorious life to-day.
For war is play, and life a chance, And 'tis merry to drive the ambulance.
HEAD-QUARTERS BATTERY B, On Board Schooner New Jersey, Chesapeake Bay, May 2, 1862.
Wednesday, April 30th, after having been under weigh for some time, we were obliged to stop because of the fog. It, how- ever finally cleared, and we continued on until 9 P. M. During the day we passed in full view of the old rebel batteries on Pig Point, Stony Point, Acquia Creek, &c. The scenery along the banks of the Potomac is very pleasing, and as you approach the mouth of the river, it deserves more the name of bay than river. One thing that struck me as peculiar, was the fact that there was not a single village to be seen from Alexandria to the mouth of the river. At nine o'clock that evening we were in sight of the lighthouse on Point Lookout, the extreme point of land between the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay. The wind blowing fresh, however, we were towed into St. Mary's Bay, and the next morning, as it still blew from the east, the intrepid naviga- tors thought it not prudent to start out.
1
Soon after breakfast, Lieutenant Cady and myself, armed with revol- vers, our skipper with a short gun, and two sailors with oyster tongs, set forth on a voyage of discovery. We sailed up the bay about two miles, firing at sundry ducks, gulls, loons, &c., without damage to the
Digitized by
1
- -
... ..
1
:
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY. 157
birds, when we came upon excellent oyster ground. We fell to, and in a short time had five or six bushels of fat bivalves on board. At a short distance off stood a large, comfortable looking mansion, so I went ashore, and strolling up through a well-planted, well-cultivated gar- den, was met by the proprietor, a well-to-do man (both physically and financially too, I imagine), and very coolly invited me in. I declined, when the old gentleman, waxing more cordial, insisted upon my going into the house. I complied, and a spacious old mansion it was, too, a place where dwelt genuine comfort and good cheer. From the gen- tleman's conversation I very soon saw that he was a Secessionist, though he tried to talk Union. His name was Col. Cood, and he was very loquacious, and quite at home on the slavery question. He had thirty slaves himself, and not one of them could be induced to leave him. I refrained from telling him what was a fact, viz., that an hour or two before, two of his best "boys " had been pleading with us to take them with us. For fear it might go hard with the " boys," I declined the Colonel's pressing invitation to stay to dinner, but upon leaving he gave me a half bushel of excellent asparagus, and nearly as much lettuce.
Just at evening we rowed to Georgis Island, in quest of sweet po- tatoes. Several of the boys went with us this time, and while Capt. Long, the Lieutenant and I went to the houses for our vegetables, they went in another direction. What they did or where they went I know not, but one of them carried a revolver, and on our way back I thought I perceived the smell of fresh meat, and this morning we had some very nice veal.
IN TRANSPORT OFF NEW BERNE, May 12th, 1862.
On the 25th of April we received orders, which were unmistakably earnest, to get our batteries in a state of readiness to proceed to North Carolina, to join General Burnside.
* Saturday, 26th, we embarked in five schooners, and early the next morning dropped down to Alexandria, where we lay until Monday, 28th, when we were taken in tow by a steamer. Besides the Battalion the Third New York (Van Alen) Cavalry left Alexandria for New Berne.
We reached Fortress Monroe Saturday, May 3d, having been de- tained by foggy weather at the mouth of the St. Mary's river about
.
Digitized by Google
1
158
RECORDS OF THE
forty-eight hours. We remained at the Fortress until Tuesday morn- ing following, which enabled many of us to go ashore. We found the Old Point what Washington had been all winter, but what it has now ceased to be, the centre of active military movements.
The east wind which had kept us at the Fortress, on Tuesday, 6th, gave way to a nor'wester, when we put to sea. After two days' sail we reached Hatteras Inlet, the only entrance from the ocean through that vast shoal of sand which stretches from Cape Henry southward.
The weather was pleasant and the sea smooth, so that we had but little sea-sickness. The few who were affected, however, had it ter- ribly, which gave occasion to a remark from one of the afflicted, that next to unrequited affection, there is nothing that unmans one like sea-sickness.
The coast here is famous as being the most stormy on the seaboard. For three weeks or more, Burnside, with his fleet, previous to the taking of New Berne, were blown about, and by great good luck es- 'caped a total destruction. The entrance into Pamlico Sound at the Inlet is very narrow and very shallow, and vessels can only get through with the wind in particular quarters. Fortunately our fleet, with the cavalry and transports with stores, about thirty sail, came through safely. After a stay of twenty-four hours at the Inlet, we set sail for this place, where we arrived last night, having been delayed by head winds.
It is just two weeks since we left Alexandria. Our horses have fared pretty hard, and show the effects of confinement. We have been tossed about till we are tired, and rejoice at the prospect of speedily disembarking. We were hailed by friendly voices on our arrival here, and discovered that we had been outsailed by the cavalry, and Zeb. Robinson and Mort. Post welcomed us to the land of Secession.
The steamer, you know, left us at Fortress Monroe. The channel is narrow ; the Neuse River is shallow ; vessels drawing more than seven feet water not being able to get up here.
The rebels are entrenched, we learn, within ten miles, about 10,000 strong. There are but two batteries, it is said, in Burnside's command, and it is not likely we shall remain here many days, as the policy of Burnside is certainly offensive. The Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, from Worcester, is located here, and the Nineteenth New York (Cayuga) is in the vicinity. Tom Post, of Perry, is in the last named.
One of our men, John Quinn, whose family resides at Portageville,
Digitized by Google
.
159
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
was terribly wounded in an affray on the eve of our leaving Washing- ton. Little hope was entertained of his recovery, and he was left behind.
At the time of the arrival of the Battery in New Berne, General Burnside was in command of that de- partment. It will be remembered that it was General Burnside who commanded the expedition which captured New Berne and Roanoke Island, and opened that part of North Carolina to our vessels and troops. At this par- ticular time his force was small, and there was no reason for supposing that there was to be no immediate advance on the part of the Federal army.
The troops which had been sent to him, including the battalion of artillery, were evidently intended to be used for the defence of this stronghold. It was a point gained, and for the present must be retained.
Battery B consisted then of four three-inch rifled pieces and just men and horses enough to work them. It was encamped out of the city, across the Trent River, on the sand plains (a particularly unpleasant location on a windy day). From various causes, each of the two batteries in the battalion had diminished in numbers. As a whole, they would have no more than properly manned one six- gun battery. At this time Captain Lee was sick and unable to attend to his official duties. There was a great deal of discontent among the members of the battalion. · Their commander inefficient and given to intoxication. There was little discipline in the battalion, and it finally culminated in this manner : On the 4th of June a letter of resignation was written and signed by all the non-commis- sioned officers of Battery B, and sent, through Capt .. Lee,
Digitized by Google .
1
160
RECORDS OF THE
to the major. A copy of the letter was also sent to General Reno, who commanded the division in which they had been placed.
The matter of the correspondence was a complaint of want of discipline and of acts of injustice, deception, un- redeemed promises and various minor difficulties.
About this same time, Captain Ransom, of Company A, who by rank was in command of the battalion (Major Lion having been, without the knowledge of the men, 'dismissed), endeavored to force the members of Company B to consolidate with Company A.
On the 27th of June, forming the company in line, he commanded them to answer to the roll call as members of Company A, or to step one side and be taken to the guard house. It must have surprised him somewhat when every member, as his name was called, stepped aside and answered "guard house." This attempt at consolidation failed.
General Reno came to them and addressed them. He heard their complaints, and then informed them that Major Lion had been dismissed from the service for in- competency, and that as fast as he found the remaining officers incompetent, they would be dismissed. He rep- rimanded them for their insubordination, but gave them to understand that they should have their rights.
A few days after, Company B was placed in the Third Division and Company A in the Second Division, as independent four-gun batteries-named respectively Captain Lee's Battery and Captain Ransom's Battery. On the 3d of July, 1862, Captain Lee's Battery was ordered to Newport Barracks,
Digitized by Google
161
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
Newport Barracks was an outpost, and their duties began to be like those of a soldier. ·
For the present we leave, then, this nucleus of the Twenty-fourth New York Battery, and return to Perry, to speak of those who were enlisting to go to Newport Barracks and fill up their ranks.
$
1
11
Digitized by Google
162
RECORDS OF THE
CHAPTER IV.
THE TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK INDEPENDENT BATTERY.
The Union army was meeting with defeat and loss of men. The President made a call for three hundred thousand more. The smothered fire of patriotism that was burning in the hearts of the young men in Perry burst forth, and fathers' commands, mothers' warnings, nor sweethearts' pleadings and caresses could avail aught in trying to subdue the flame. 'Twas contagious, and spread with such uncontrollable rapidity that in a short time about sixty of the bravest and the best young men in that town and vicinity had come forward and enlisted in the cause. Few of the residents of that quiet little place, September 10th, 1862, can forget the morning of that date. To so many homes had the night been long and of little rest ; in so many were saddened, heavy spirits and grief-stricken hearts.
The writer has only a confused recollection of tearful faces, of heart-wrung sobs, of sad adieus and . fervent "God bless you's."
Full of the ambition and pride of youth-full of patri- otic fervor, and eager for the strife-believing we could help to redeem what others had lost-we did not stop to think or realize how true might be our parents' predic-
1
Digitized by Google
L.
-
1
TWENTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY.
163
tions, or the fears and presentiments of our friends. What a blessing to man is ignorance of the future !
On the 22d of August, Mr. George S. Hastings re- ceived authority to raise recruits to join the organization called Captain Lee's Battery, then stationed at Newport Barracks. In one week fifty men had volunteered ; another week increased the number to sixty.
The citizens of the town where they enlisted, encour- aged them with kind acts and kind words. There was a great deal of enthusiasm exhibited throughout the vicin- ity. Generous bounties were offered and paid. To many of the volunteers this was useful in the final set- tlement of their pecuniary matters. To the families of others it left a competence for a short time. To all it was acceptable ; but to few, if any, was money a motive power to volunteering.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.