USA > New York > Records of the 24th Independent Battery, N. Y. Light Artillery, U. S. V. > Part 13
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CHAPTER VII. 1863.
NEW BERNE.
Soon after the return of the troops from the expedition to Goldsboro', the Twenty-fourth New York Battery re- ceived six very handsome new six-pounder Napoleon guns, an additional supply of horses, new harness and new equipments throughout. The men, consequently, had plenty of employment in breaking in the new horses and engaging daily in battery drill. Prior to this, detachment and section drill had been all that we had been taught. The rapid and sometimes intricate move- ments of the light artillery battery in a field require practice as well as coolness and skill in execution. For instance, the command "Left Wheel " is a simple ejacu- lation. But let us view a battery as they execute it-six guns positioned in line, abreast at intervals of four yards, with six horses attached to each gun. Three yards behind each gun stands a caisson, with six horses attached, a rider to each span of horses. The bugle sounds the com- mand. Immediately the left piece becomes a centre, on which turns the long sweep of horses, pieces and caissons. As the distance from the centre increases, so proportion- ally must the rapidity of motion increase, to keep up an
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unbroken line. Imagine now how swiftly must the piece on the extreme right move, to retain its position and its distances. If your mind cannot comprehend it, sit on the extreme end of a whirlagig, and ride once around the circle.
Horses enjoy the excitement, and they learn to know different commands of the bugle. The men, too, become aroused and interested, and the maneuvers of a well- drilled battery are a pleasing and exciting sight to any one. The Battery boys were now beginning to taste a little of the experiences that they had read of and hoped to participate in. They were proud of their organization, and had good reason to be.
The city of New Berne was being strongly fortified. A new parapet was thrown up in nearly a continuous line from river to river, enclosing the entire city. Fort Totten, in the centre of the line of fortifications, was large, and filled with heavy artillery. There were also many smaller forts.
The major portion of the artillery belonging to the command was stationed near Fort Totten. The Twen- ty-fourth Battery was on the hill at the left of the fort. Here, with the lumber which had been obtained by working the sawmill at Newport Barracks, we put up some substantial stables, cook-house, &c. At the same time provided with plenty of tents, we made very com- fortable quarters for ourselves.
On the 17th of January an expedition was sent from New Berne to Trenton. Camp furnishes us with the following account of it ;
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The force consisted of the Forty-third, Forty-fifth and Fifty-first Regiments, Mass. Vols. Infantry ; eight companies of the Third N. Y. Cavalry ; one section of the Twenty-third N. Y. Indpt. Battery ; one section of the Twenty-fourth N. Y. Indpt. Battery, and a small force of engineers. The entire expedition consisting of 1,500 infantry, 600 cavalry, 100 artillery and engineers.
Lieutenant Colonel Emmory, Mass. Vols., commanded.
The object of the expedition was to make a feint on Goldsboro' and Warsaw, and thus detain troops which might be sent to Richmond or Petersburgh, to resist a movement, which was planned by our forces in that vicinity. The expedition moved from New Berne on Saturday, January 17th, 1863, at 6 o'clock, A.M., and camped that night at Pol- locksville, a place sixteen miles from New Berne, situated on the Trent River, and then containing about twenty houses. We were obliged to encamp here, because the enemy had obstructed our further pro- gress by felling trees across the road, as they retreated before us.
On the 18th we proceeded to Trenton, where we arrived about two o'clock, P. M. As our cavalry approached the town, they were fired upon by some rebel cavalry, who were endeavoring to cut away a mill dam, and thus swell the stream, and detain us. But a few shots . from the cavalry howitzer caused them to beat a hasty retreat, and as we entered, they left the town. We encamped here that night, and the next morning burned two bridges over the Trent River, the jail, a grist and saw mill. And after we had crossed the stream, tore open the mill dam, and returned to Pollocksville, where we arrived about three o'clock, P. M.
It was while crossing this stream, which was swollen to the horse's belly, that Benjamin Hollister, who was driving the middle team of the gun, happened to sneeze out his upper teeth-poor Ben .- & sicker looking mortal never existed. He proposed to have the troops stop,. and look for his teeth ; but in a glance saw that they were gone from him for ever-and he, three days from camp, doomed to gum it on hard tack, or perish. Self-preservation, that great first law, was adopted by Ben., and accordingly he stopped at many houses on the road to get meal to make soft bread and mush of, and in this way worked through until we got into camp again. At Pollocksville we encamped again for the night, and having on the first night's encamp- ment burnt all the fence rails and cleared things generally, all that
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now remained to complete the ruin, was done during the night by the troops engaging in that innocent amusement of burning buildings ; and on the next morning five or six buildings were all that remained of Pollocksville.
On the 20th, we marched to Young's Cross road, on the White Oak River, ten miles from Pollocksville, arriving there about noon. The enemy had destroyed the bridge, but our engineers soon constructed a suitable one, and our cavalry crossed and started for Jacksonville, leaving the infantry and artillery. On their way to Jacksonville (which is on the New River, twenty miles from Young's Cross Road,) they met and engaged the enemy in a running fight, for nine miles, losing two men killed and taking but one rebel prisoner. The rebs burned the bridge, 150 feet long, over the river at Jacksonville, to prevent our troops crossing. We encamped here for the night, and it rained most furiously. The cavalry returned during the night, and on the morning of the 21st we started back for New Berne, where we arrived about six o'clock, P. M. The roads, on our re- turn, were as bad as they could be consistently, and we had consider- able trouble in crossing corduroy roads, between the cross roads and Pollocksville. And when on a trot, at one time, the fore wheel of the gun carriage upon which Jerry McClair sat, broke through the cor- duroy : so suddenly was the carriage stopped, that Jerry was thrown from his seat sprawling into the ditch, and completely drenched with mud and water. Again, when near New Berne, in crossing a smooth level piece of ground, on a full trot, the wheel of the caisson, on which Wilbur M. Hoyt sat, struck a rut and threw him off in such a way, that his head lay so near the track that the hind wheel run over the cap he had on his head, and barely escaped the head, which must have been crushed had it been run over. When on our way to Trenton from Pollocksville, Major Frankle gave out strict orders against foraging or plundering, but Pierce Fitzpatrick, who was along, as an extra duty man, not knowing what his especial duty was, further than serving his country as he might perhaps have to do, and being provided with an extra horse, he conceived a plan whereby he might minister to the wants of the Twenty-fourthers, and make it pay also. He fancied that he was especially constituted for his plan, for he could keep one eye on the Provost Marshal and the other on chances to gobble. And that essential qualification, combined with business
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tact, he thought would carry him through safely, without any doubt whatever. He therefore provided himself with some paper and a pencil, and wrote receipts for money which he might pay or not, for geese, turkeys, or chickens, &c, and our receipt would cover any or all he would get, for had it been written in Greek it was equally as in- telligible, but Pierce said it was as good as the natives could generally write, and if he should get caught, the receipt, as he interpreted it, would be good and satisfactory to the " Dutch Provost."
Accordingly, he sailed off on his steed, to the head of the column, and when the first chance offered he started for a large plantation house, and there gobbled, after some trouble, two geese, which he started for the company with. But just as he came out of the lane, who should he meet but the Provost, who accused him of plundering, and ordered him to put the geese into an ambulance, and fall in with the guard, under arrest, at the rear of the column. Pierce protested and produced his receipt, but the Provost avowed he was not going to be humbugged by him, and placed him, accordingly, under arrest ; where he remained until the following day, when, at the instance of Captain Ransom, he was released.
When we arrived at Young's Cross Roads, being short of rations, which was reported at head-quarters, the Provost sent Pierce the geese, which had in the meantime spoiled. And there it was that Pierce's righteous indignation was fully aroused, and he d-n'd the Dutch Provost. Here, at Young's Cross Roads, we were not in camp more than ten minutes before we had two hogs killed, and well nigh dressed ; but not wanting but one we gave the other to some infantry men, belonging to the Forty-third regiment ; while taking it to their camp, they were arrested and placed in irons. At the same time nothing was done with our boys. We here reported being out of rations for our horses, and were accordingly granted permission to pass the picket guard, and when outside, we found an old bachelor who had a smoke house full of hams, and we accordingly filled our sacks with hams instead of corn, and brought them in, and had seve- ral in camp ; when in passing the officer of the guard, coming in, one- of the bags untied and let out the would-be corn (hams), and thus revealed the case, and put a stop to foraging in a hurry. We lived well on that march, and enjoyed it very much.
About January 26th, 1863, General Foster left New
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Berne with a good share of the troops under his com- mand, to co-operate with a fleet which sailed for Charles- ton, S. C., from Beaufort, N. C. As the Twenty-fourth Battery did not accompany this expedition, an account of it would not be in place in this book. It is enough for us to say, that on account of a misunderstanding between Generals Foster and Hunter, the land forces accomplished nothing at Port Royal, their place of destination. We believe this was termed Admiral Dupont's expedition. Gen. Foster returned with a portion of his troops, about the middle of February. During his absence all the camps had been incited to rivalry in beauty of appearance. Streets were laid out in the camps, and rows of evergreens were planted along the walks. Arbors were constructed in front of the tents, overspreading brick walks and oyster shell door-steps. The grounds were policed twice a week. Everything had an appearance of neatness, beauty and health. -
New uniforms, shining brass, white gloves, blacked boots and salutes to every officer you met-were the order of the day.
On the 26th of February, a grand review of all the troops in the department was made by General Foster. In this display of tinsel, music, array of men, and the usually imposing sight produced by a large number of soldiers in line and column, this review was the feature of our ornamental service in New Berne.
On the morning of the 5th of March, two brigades of infantry, two or three sections of batteries and a half a dozen companies of cavalry were ordered out upon the Trent road. The first section of the Twenty-fourth Bat-
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tery was sent to Newport Barracks by railroad. The fol- lowing morning the section, together with the Fifty-first Massachusetts Infantry regiment and two companies of cavalry, started for Cedar Point, a landing directly oppo- site Swansboro, on the White Oak river.
Arriving at Cedar Point, we held that place until signals were given from the other side of the river, by the large force which had marched directly from New Berne, that Swansboro had been entered and only two rebel soldiers could be found.
The object of the expedition was supposed to have been to capture a couple of companies of rebel infantry and some cavalry, which was reported to have been lurk- ing about in that region. A total of ten or twelve were captured. The rest had fled. The Battery returned on Tuesday.
On March 14th, Company A, of the Third N. Y. Cav- alry and two companies of the Twenty-fifth Mass., who were occupying a picket post six miles from the city, on the Trent road, were attacked by quite a large force of rebels .*
One of the cavalry boys was killed. They were obliged to retreat from their camp and take a position a few miles this side, at the Jackson house. Cavalry reinforcements were immediately sent to them, and in- fantry and artillery followed. The morning following the camp of the Ninety-second N. Y. Regiment, on the other side of the Neuse river were attacked by a brigade of rebel infantry and sixteen pieces of artillery. The Ninety-second stood it bravely amid a perfect shower of grape and shell. The gun boats came to their immediate
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assistance. The rebels then commenced shelling our gun boats, some coming within a few feet of the Dudley Buck, and some striking in the camp of the Twenty-fourth Mass. Our Battery was ordered down to the river shore, we were there in twenty minutes after re- ceiving the order. The distance across the river being two miles and a half, we could not reach them with shell and were obliged to use solid shot. The Twenty-third arrived about half an hour afterwards. General Petti- grew, commanding the rebels, sent into the garrison of the Ninety-second three times for them to surrender, and after sending his compliments, and refusing to do so twice, the third time Colonel Anderson told him to go to h-1. Under the heavy fire of all our artillery he soon retreated. Our loss was three wounded. The rebel loss, six killed, twenty-two wounded, and twenty-five horses killed.
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CHAPTER IX. 1863.
PLYMOUTH.
Soon after the feint, as described in the last chapter, was made upon New Berne, advices were received from Washington, N. C., and Plymouth, that an advance was being made upon those towns. A section of the Twen- ty-fourth New York Battery was immediately sent to Plymouth, and by the 1st of April the whole Battery had been shipped to the same place. To the members of the Battery this proved to be our destination for a much longer time than was thought of at the time of the removal. It was a small garrison, well defended, and so situated that, as afterwards was demonstrated, a small force could hold five times its strength and num- bers at bay for a long time.
The houses in the town had been mostly deserted by their original inhabitants, and the larger ones were taken possession of by the troops for quarters.
It was a small village, situated on Roanoke River, and probably numbered in its palmy days fifteen hundred to two thousand inhabitants; streets regular and shade trees in abundance. Prior to our reaching this place, many of the buildings, during an attack upon it, had
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been burned to the ground. Aside from the desolated appearance that these ruins gave, the town was pleasant and pretty. The river furnished a variety of fish in great abundance, and the countrymen were allowed to bring in meats, eggs, green corn, poultry, honey, &c., in their respective seasons, while the negroes, who were settled in the inferior huts about the suburbs, were em- ployed as cooks ; so that, all in all, we were about as comfortable as soldiers could legitimately be permitted to be. The only objection to remaining in the place was a prevalence of miasmatic and intermittent fevers.
The siege of Washington, D. C., was of short duration -the rebels soon retreating; they were pursued a short distance towards Kinston, but no general battle took place.
Upon evidence of a permanent stay being given to the officers of the Battery, the members were busily em- ployed at building stables, converting houses into quar- ters, and fitting up grounds for our park.
The guns were parked, and for a time we served as cavalry on short scouts into the surrounding country, searching for spies, guerrillas, traders and forage.
These expeditions were exciting and enjoyable, con- ducive to good health and the developing of muscle; they were, as a rule, successful, we seldom failing to bring in either prisoners, contrabands or contraband goods.
Being on an outpost, the commanding officer was thus enabled to keep himself pretty well informed of any movements of the enemy.
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The garrison life at Plymouth was, as a whole, a pleas- ant experience. Our quarters were comfortable and all our corporeal wants well cared for. The occasional scout
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into the country furnished excitement, topics for conver- sation, and contraband goods from the deserted houses of rebels, which last added much to the comfort and adorn- ment of our tents and barracks. Our drill no more than afforded proper healthful exercise. Our guard and camp duty was only sufficient to keep us in proper discipline. We were allowed the limits of the town, and had we been settled in the village of Perry, as strangers, we could not have been made more happy or comfortable. We have a letter, dated September 10, 1863, and, as it describes about the ordinary routine of duty at that gar- rison, we quote from it :
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The languor and idleness introduced into the human organiza- tion by the present state of the weather is indescribable and almost unendurable. With the tent canvas thrown open at both the front and rear of the tent, we seek to "raise a breeze " and dispel the intensely hot atmosphere that pervades even the shaded places. We almost wish that it were within the rules of propriety and the United States regulations to appear in Georgia cavalry uniform, viz., a palm-leaf hat and a pair of spurs.
The uncomfortable sensation of being too warm is not the worst of it. It creates right down laziness, a disposition to seek a posi- tion " far niente," and to wear the time listlessly away. But I must write home. I have no subject to write upon, no tale to tell. We are doing nothing but grooming horses, polishing brass, oiling re- volvers and scouring sabres. Afterwards, at our leisure, as the sun goes down and the atmosphere becomes cooler, we circulate through the town, mounted.
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In the evening we enjoy story telling, and have our musical socia- bles. We have a melodeon, guitar, violins and a flute-quite an orchestra, isn't it ?
Let me describe to you my day's labor, and I know you will laugh with me. .
C. went with his detachment on a scouting expedition up the river, on the steamer Rucker. As they started early, I rose at 5 A. M., and
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prepared breakfast. Our culinary department is quite extensive ; and as I have often informed you, so I repeat, I shall come home an ac- complished cook. After they were off, I went out to the stable, and, in stable frock, flourished brush and comb with the dexterity of an accomplished groom. This season of the year causes grooming to be a most laborious task, I assure you, and the perspiration rolled off my face pretty freely. Then I took my saddle and bridle down to the artificer's to be repaired, but Rawson was sick, and therefore I was obliged to repair it myself. I know I sewed from me, and made big holes with the awl, and the job was rather bungling, but it was strong and answered the purpose. From there I came to my tent, put on the potatoes, drew my ration of steak and prepared it for din- ner. Though alone, my appetite was strong enough to make me en- joy it greatly. I then cleared the table, washed the dishes, swept and dusted ; took my new jacket, and with scissors, thread and needle, re- modeled it to quite a genteel fit. This occupied so much of the after- noon, that I only had time to take a short galop out into the country and pick a few luscious persimmons. As I returned, the bugle was blowing the water call, and since then I have been quite busy, taking care of the horses, eating supper and preparing the night's wood. Our table furniture, by the way, is quite grand. We have china plates of different sizes, white-handled knives and forks, cut-glass tumblers, etcetera, ad infinitum.
Crooker, you know, has just returned from his home furlough. On the day he returned we asked him down to dine with us. We hap- pened to have chicken pie that day, with our usual vegetables, bread, &c., all of which he appeared to highly relish and appreciate. As he finished, he pushed back his mustache with the napkin and said, " Well, boys, I do wish your anxious mothers might look in upon us and this dinner. The best answer I could make to all their inquiries about comfort and plenty would be to point at this and say, 'Look there !' "
Thus you see it is in a soldier's life-the brightest of bright sides one day, the darkest of dark sides on the next-extreme inactivity or extreme hard labor-luxury or hardships. We know not what the hour may bring forth. Rejoicing in comfort, we may be suddenly called out for a march, a scout or an attack.
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We have given the whole of this letter, since we be- lieve that all our comrades will recognize it as a correct description of the life at Plymouth, with the exception of perhaps a weekly call to go on a scout or a reconnoitre.
Among the most prominent of these was the skirmish at Williamston.
The following description of the march to and skir- mish at Williamston, N. C., is given in a private letter, dated August 6th, 1863 :
Sunday, July 26th, two sections of our Battery were ordered to re- port on the Washington road, at 11 o'clock. We did so and found the Eighty-fifth N. Y. and the One Hundred and First and One Hundred and Third Pa. Regiments already there. The Battery took the centre and'in a short time the line was formed, and we started. The day was pleasant, the roads good, horses impatient and the boys fresh and jolly. We marched very leisurely along, taking the Washington road, as far as Nichols Mills. Here we turned off and crossed Ward's Creek. It was a difficult and dangerous place to cross with artillery, but all other bridges had been destroyed. We succeeded in crossing without any serious damage. This work was the hardest of the day. We ad- vanced as far as Janesville (fourteen miles) and went into camp about 7 o'clock. During the day the sun was extremely hot. Several of the infantry were sun-struck, and a host of them were obliged to fall in the rear, so overpowerd by the heat, that it was impossible for them to keep up. Captain Cady told us to report in the lightest pos- sible marching order. We followed his instructions a little too closely. We had no blankets, no lunch, nothing but a saddle for a pillow and an overcoat for a bed-blanket. C- had purchased a chicken on the road; that roasted on a stick, together with a couple of hard crackers, and a cup of coffee made us a very good supper ; we were very tired, so we soon made a bed under a tree and sound, dead sleep quickly took us away from " marching " realities. At five the follow- ing morning we rose, groomed our horses, and then went down to the river and had a fine and refreshing bath ; soon after the march was resumed. On account of the destruction of a bridge, we were obliged
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to leave the main road, and travel some seven miles out of the way. This was a swampy, muddy track, and with the hot sun pouring down. This route made men and horses fret, sweat and tire. Finally, we again struck the main road, and as we did so, we discovered some rebel cavalry, who immediately "skedaddled." White flags were hung out over every gate as we passed along. After marching about ten miles, report came that we had reached the rebel picket posts. Soon skirmish firing began, and was briskly carried on. Captain Cady and Lieut. Dolbeer had gone ahead of the main forces to reconnoitre, and some stray rebel bullets gave Dolbeer a pretty close call. Immediately, however, the rebels retreated and crossed still another stream. It began to rain, in fact to pour copiously. The first two guns, Clark's and Crooker's (Williams commanding Crooker's on account of his absence) and the Eighty-fifth N. Y. were sent for- ward. They went on a quarter of a mile, and coming into battery in a corn field, commenced to shell. It rained so hard that it was im- possible to " see " anything, but they "calculated. " The rebels re- plied with muskets, sharply. The boys held up a little and the infantry exchanged volleys. It sounded savagely although no one was hurt. Just then one of the Colonel's aids came up and told our section to come forward and take the left with the One Hundred and Third Pa. As the officers were all in front, Merrill was obliged to take command. We went with a rush. The boys were greatly elated ; we were soon at the place appointed for us. The other boys had discovered a stone mill with some rebels in it, and put three shot through it. . Musketry was sharp and plenty of it. The cavalry had made a charge and two of them were wounded. The bridge over the stream had been torn up ; the rain was pouring ; the stream swelling. The infantry had managed to fire the saw mill which the rebels were using as barracks. Just at this juncture the Colonel commanding (Col. Leymen,103d Pa.) concluded to retire. How disappointed every body was. There is nothing that causes a soldier to be more dejected or weary than to be obliged to turn back after making an attack. The excitement was over and the reaction came on in loud grumbles at the officer commanding. We had felt confident of a victory, and were a good deal chagrined at the idea of a retreat. We were obliged, however, to obey orders, and at 8 o'clock, having had little or no dinner and no supper, we marched back to our camp of the night previous, which we reached about
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