USA > New York > Services of the Tenth New York Volunteers (National Zouaves,) in the War of the Rebellion > Part 20
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 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
Fredericksburg was at this time a great charnel house. Deaths were taking place by the hundred each day and a cloud of misery seemed hovering over the city which, for the second time during the Rebellion, was a vast hospital. Thousands of maimed soldiers filled the dwelling houses, peopled the dingy tobacco ware- houses and in many instances lay along the sidewalks, where they clutched at the dresses of the passing nurses, and in the delirium of fever and pain prayed for suceor. As the ambulances came in from the field hospitals at the front, they were quickly delivered of their ghastly burdens, and often would come the cry of a shattered and suffering passenger, imploring that he should not be moved, but should be left to die where he was. The noble Sanitary and Christian Commissions were laboring with herculean efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded ; and the brave men and women who minis- tered in this city of horrors endured for three weeks that which it would be impossible to fitly describe. Hardy constitutions were wrecked by the sleepless days and nights, the tension of nerve, and the scenes of agony and death which even soldiers fresh from battle were unwilling to witness.
These unwonted trials were borne by our angels of mercy uneomplainingly. In some instances the shadow
273
A CITY OF HOSPITALS.
of death overhanging a soldier had brought his wife or mother to his side, and these women proved themselves heroines. The kind-hearted wife of the wounded Capt. Tait had managed, by the exercise of much tact and decision, to obtain a pass to visit Fredericksburg, and she was especially conspicuous in her devotion to the sufferers. It was she who held the hand of the brave Color-Sergt. Harrison while the life blood gushed from a torn artery and he breathed his last, and her daily visits to the hospital houses were welcomed with glad faces, especially by the wounded of our own regiment. to whom her countenance had grown familiar while in camp at Stony Mountain. In common with other cour- ageous female volunteers, Mrs. Tait was untiring and self-sacrificing in her humane efforts, and the soothing touch of her hand ean hardly be forgotten by those who lived to remember her kindness.
Gen. Grant was, at this time, being considerably re- inforeed by troops drawn from the defences of Wash- ington. These regiments were mainly of the heavy ar- tillery arm of the service, numbering from 1,200 to 1,800 men each, and their numbers appeared startling to the small veteran regiments of the Potomac Army, very few of which could now muster more than 200 men. The " Heavies" were the butts of countless jokes for a while ; but within a month their ranks were terribly thinned-Cold Harbor and Petersburg proving that . they were formed of sterner stuff than had been ex- pected by the veterans to whose assistance they were sent. On the 17th, a division of these new regiments. under Gen. R. O. Tyler, and the " Corcoran Legion " (infantry), were assigned to the Second Corps, the latter
18
274
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
being placed in Gibbon's division. This was a reinforce- ment of about 8,000 men for the Corps.
The same day (17th) Gen. Hancock received orders to move back to the works captured on the 12th, and to assault the enemy the next morning from that position. Soon after dark the Tenth, with the 14th Connecticut and the 108th New York, deployed in skirmishing order on the extreme right and advanced, closing in upon the left of the Rebel lines. This advance consumed most of the night, being made under great difficulties through swamps and tangled underbrush, and it was with the utmost exertion that the line could be kept in connec- tion. Early on the 18th the attack upon the enemy's position was made by Barlow's and Gibbon's divisions, and continued most of the morning-the Sixth Corps attacking at the same time. The Corcoran Legion suf- fered considerably in this unsuccessful attempt upon the strong and heavily protected Rebel lines, the work of the day being attended with no satisfactory results. During the continuance of the action our own battalion, with the rest of the flanking skirmish line, was under artillery fire.
Gen. Hancock withdrew his division at length, by order of Gen. Meade, and at ten, p. M., the Third Brigade moved with the corps, past the line of the army, to a point near Anderson's Mill, on the Ny River, and on the extreme left, where we went into bivouac on the morning of the 19th.
It was grateful to lie here, among green fields and close to a clear running stream, the purling of whose waters told of other and more peaceful days than these. and a long stay here would have been welcome enough : but, on the 20th, orders came to move to the left. Gen.
275
LEAVING A FATAL LOCALITY.
Hancock was to march rapidly to Bowling Green and Milford Station, on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, and take position on the right bank of the Mattapony. Thus it seemed that the unwonted rest which our corps had enjoyed for a day, away from the sound of musketry, was but a presage of swift marches and, perhaps, a quick repetition of bloody work. Yet it was with no regret that preparations were made by our men to march. The Army of the Potomac had been engaged for nearly two weeks in a mighty struggle to carry a position made impregnable by both nature and art, and, throughout the contest around Spottsyl- vania, it would be impossible to successfully portray the fatigues and sufferings of the army. It fought by day and marched by night from point to point of the long line. The roads having been converted into quag- mires by the continued heavy rains, made the night marching especially laborious, and what sleep the troops could obtain by day or night was taken with arms by their side and accoutrements on. An enemy was in their front, ever alert and with short and inner lines upon which to move, and with the exception of the successful attack on the morning of the 12th, every attempt to force the lines had been met by failure. Our losses from death, wounds and sickness since crossing the Rapidan reached forty thousand, and it was not strange that the army began to lose its spirit. The prospect of leaving this bloody locality, and seeking roads towards the rear of the enemy's position, was therefore hailed with fresh ardor by men who had been thrown day after day upon the enemy's works, only to be hurled back with immense loss. At half-past eleven, r. M., our brigade moved out on the road towards Mattapony Church, and in the morn-
276
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
ing reached Bowling Green, some fifteen or eighteen miles distant. Here, after some skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry and capture of the depot and several cars, the corps crossed the Ny and Mattapony, when it formed line of battle and proceeded to build a strong line of breastworks.
This position was directly in the rear of the Rebel lines at Spottsylvania, and, as was expected, the move- ment caused Gen. Lee to evacuate that position instan- ter ; but, instead of attacking the well defended line of Gen. Hancock, as it was hoped, he marched rapidly past and occupied the strongly intrenched position on the south side of the North Anna River.
The following extract from the report of Col. T. A. Smyth, commanding the Third Brigade, describes its action during a portion of the time while in the rear of the Rebel army : .
" May 2211, I received orders from Gen. Gibbon to take my brigade and make a reconnaissance to develop the strength and position of the enemy. The regiments composing the force were the 14th Connecticut, Tth Virginia, 14th Indiana, 10th New York, 12th New Jersey and 4th Ohio Volunteers. * * 1 deployed the 14th Indiana and 4th Ohio Volunteers as skir- mishers. One lieutenant and twenty men of the Tenth New York were placed on the right and rear of the skirmish line, to protect that flank, and two companies of the 14th Connecticut were simi- larly placed to protect the left flank. * *
"The 12th New Jersey and 10th New York were placed in support of artillery near the cross roads. The skirmish line was then pushed forward about two miles, finding nothing but cavalry or mounted infantry to oppose them.
" About three, r. M., I received orders from Gen. Gibbon to halt. and I was subsequently ordered to assemble my command and return to camp. On May 23d, the command marched, at seven,
-----
277
NORTH ANNA RIVER.
A. M., to the North Anna River, where the enemy were discovered to be posted in force."
Warren's corps (the Fifth), with Birney's division of Hancock's, forced the passage of the river at and above the railroad bridge, capturing some redoubts, and secur- ing many prisoners, the enemy retreating to heavier works further to the rear .*
On the morning of the 24th ten volunteers were called for from each regiment of Smyth's brigade, to act as a pioneer corps in constructing a rough bridge of felled trees across the river, below the railroad. The required number from our own battalion sprang out eagerly and without a moment's hesitation, and the work was speed- ily accomplished by these brave and ready soldiers, in the face of the enemy's skirmishers on the opposite side.+ The entire brigade then crossed, the Tenth being third in line. Private George Wells, of Company F, one of the volunteers, was mortally wounded. About three, P. M., our.brigade threw out two regiments as skirmishers, to feel the enemy's position, the 12th New Jersey charging their rifle pits and driving them out. The 10th New York and ^th Virginia now came up, to reinforce the ad- vance. Just at dark a vigorous attack was made by a strong force of the enemy upon the 69th and 170th New York Volunteers, which had been sent to Col. Smyth from the Second Brigade, and those regiments were driven
* These works were built the year previous, and about the time of the battle of Chancellorsville.
+ The author regrets that he is not able to give the names of the soldiers of the Tenth who thus, in obedience to his request, volunteered upon this " forlorn hope " duty with such quick acquiescence. Yet he was witness to other cases than these, where the boyish soldiers of the battalion threw their lives into the seadle of battle with a fervor which should have made their names immortal ; the memory of their deeds, however, perishing to earthly fame with the flow of their life blood.
278
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
back from their position on the left. The entire com- mand then intrenched.
This position was held with slight advances and skir- mishes during the next two days. No particular ad- vantage was gained, the enemy being securely protected by their works. The Tenth sustained two or three casu- alties, but did not become actively engaged, although under fire most of the time, and doing its share of picket duty under an almost constant rain.
Although the passage of the North Anna River had been effected by our army, and Lee forced back some distance, Gen. Grant had discovered by his reconnois- sances that his opponent had taken a new and strong po- sition, which seemed to be invulnerable or only to be taken by a heavy sacrifice of life. Therefore orders were given to recross the river and march eastward, the swell- ing of the stream from the rains making it advisable to carry out the design without delay. The movement was accomplished by the Second Corps on the night of the 26th, Smyth's brigade crossing about eight o'clock and bivonacking for the night. The next day march was re- commenced towards the left, our corps reaching the Pa- munkey River, near Hanovertown, about eleven, P. M. Immediately upon halting, our battalion was ordered upon picket duty.
The following morning (28th) march was resumed and the river crossed, the day being spent in maneuver- ing. Early on the 29th an advance was made, and the Third Brigade gained a erest of hill on the Tolopotomoy Creck, from which the enemy had a few minutes before been driven. In this neighborhood the brigade remained until June Ist, occasionally taking a new position as changes were made in the lines. An attack along the
279
TOLOPOTOMOY.
entire front had evidently been under consideration ; but the enemy were alert and Gen. Grant was awaiting rein- forcements from the Eighteenth Corps, which was to join the Army of the Potomac by way of White House Landing.
At this date the Union lines extended across the Tolopotomoy Creek and faced west and southwest, the positions of the several corps being, from right to left- the Sixth, Second, Ninth and Fifth. The armies were again operating on the battlefields of 1862. Our cav- alry were in possession of Cold Harbor, with orders to hold it until the arrival of infantry. This position was valuable to Gen. Grant, commanding as it did the road to the White House, now being made the new base of supplies, and facilitating the crossing of the Chicka- hominy. The Sixth Corps marched from right to left on the night of the 31st, and, joining with the Eighteenth Corps on the 1st of June, fought a severe engagement and gained complete possession of the important position. Gen. Grant's whole line was now hardly less than eight miles in length, and it was determined to make an at- tempt to foree the enemy across the Chickahominy. Ac- cordingly Gen. Hancock, now on the right, was ordered to change his position to the left of the line, and, at dark on the 1st, the march was commenced. The Tenth, with other portions of Smyth's command, relieved the First Brigade, and held the works until nine, P. M., when they withdrew, and shortly afterwards were once more on the road towards the enemy's right.
Daylight of the 2d broke while still tramping over dusty roads, and at right o'clock the Second Corps halted at Cold Harbor, the Tenth resting near the very spot where, just two years previous, the regiment halted and
280
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
bivouacked for the night while en route to join McClel- lan on the Chickahominy. The tavern by the roadside. and the antiquated well hard by, recalled fast trooping memories to the minds of those who had braved the Seven Days battles and the campaigns following, and who were now enabled to again look upon some of the scenes of their earlier military experience. Many members of the regiment, sanguine in their expectation of a speedy close of the struggle, then but just begun, had since that time given up their lives for the cause they deemed just. Such thoughts were hardly calculated to brighten the minds of our soldiers, already overtaxed by want of rest, and they were glad to recall their senses to present sur- roundings.
While halting here, Lieut .- Col. Hopper, who had re- turned from recruiting service, joined the battalion and assumed command. He brought with him a squad of new soldiers who had been armed and equipped at Alex- andria.
After some rest, Gen. Hancock took position on the left of the Sixth Corps, Gibbon's division crossing the Mechanicsville pike with Barlow on his left. Birney's division was posted in rear of Barlow's left flank. Our own brigade deployed in line of battle and advanced to a vacated line of rifle pits, where it took position under fire from the enemy's skirmishers posted in the woods directly in front. But little could be learned of the en- emy's main works in front of Gibbon's division, on ac- count of the woods concealing them, and, in front of the First Division, knowledge of the Confederate position was equally seaut. Opposite the latter division was a small house, situated on a prominent point, which was notable from the fact that Gen. Porter's artillery held it
281
BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR.
for a long time on the day of the battle of Gaines' Mill, in 1862. The house was a point of attack for Barlow's division in the advance next day.
An assault along the entire line of the three corps now in position-the Second, Sixth, and Eighteenth- was ordered for five o'clock, P. M .; but a drenching shower fell about that hour, and the attack was suspended until half-past four, A. M., of the 3d.
Darkness came, and it was found that lights and fires in our battalion must be dispensed with, on account of the watchful Rebel pickets. The adjutant and sergeant- major had crept under a shelter tent and were comparing notes for the daily "field return," by the faint light of a candle, when the zip-zip of bullets and sudden loud ad- monitions to " Put out that light !" reminded them of the danger to themselves and neighbors. Many went coffee- less to rest ; but nature demanded sleep. and the battalion was speedily oblivious to surroundings or fear of the morrow.
At daylight, preparations were made for the attack. Gibbon's first line consisted of Smyth's and Tyler's bri- gades deployed, while MeKeen's and Owen's brigades formed the second line in close column of regiments. At the appointed moment our brigade advanced with its full front, passing its vidette posts and entering the woods without a sound being emitted by the men. A scatter- ing volley from the enemy's pickets was followed by a discharge of artillery from their lines-the shot sweeping and crashing amid the trees and the shrapnel doing exe- cution in all directions. Silence was now useless and our line swept forward with a cheer, capturing the op- posing pickets and striving at the same time to retain connection between the regiments-broken by the
282
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
swampy ground and natural obstructions, which caused portions of the line a considerable detour. The brigade swung along on its forward course, regardless of the missiles of death which decimated the ranks, until the woods were cleared by the Tenth and the enemy's in- trenchments broke into full and unobstructed view across an open space completely swept by cannon and musketry. The fire at this instant was murderons-the men of the brigade falling as thick as forest leaves. Our little bat- talion made a brave attempt to breast the storm, but it threatened inevitable death to all, and the scattered regi- ments at this point of the line threw themselves flat on the earth for protection. No troops followed us, and it would have been a sheer impossibility to have crossed the open ground which intervened and captured the in- trenchments with our thin and straggling line. There were several men of the Tenth, however-brave to rash- ness-who kept on to within a few yards of the works, and were there killed or wounded.
Where the woods served longer as a partial shield from the enemy's fire, as on the right of the brigade, the regiments advanced close to the works, but with too little impetus and order to effect a lodgment ; being compelled to fall back as best they could, and with se- vere loss. On the right of the division, where Tyler's and MeKeen's brigades charged, the colors of the regi- ments were borne up to the enemy's intrenchments and a temporary footing gained at some points, but the result was the same .* So also Brooke's brigade, of Barlow's
* Gen. Tyler was sever ly wounded and the gallant Col. Me Keen (31st Pern- >ylvania Volunteers) fell, stricken to death, just in front of the breastwork. C .l. McMahon. 144th New York Volunteers, bore his colors in his own hands to the works, planting them on the parapet, where he fell, pierced by many bullets, and expired in the enemy's hands, losing his flag with honor .-. " Life of Hancock."
283
REPULSE OF THE SECOND CORPS.
division, on the left, captured works and guns ; but were forced to retreat, holding ground, however, within a stone's throw of the hostile line. Along Hancock's en- tire line the retreat was only for a short distance-the various regiments intrenching within close musket range of the enemy. Birney's division did not participate in the assault, not being near enough to support Barlow's attack .*
The ground gained and held by the Tenth was, as above stated, in the open, and a slight rise served to screen the battalion from view when not standing. The distance from the enemy's works was possibly one hun- dred and fifty yards. Woods on our right and left, ex- tending further towards the enemy than those in our rear, covered the rest of the brigade and gave them com- parative shelter. The loss in the battalion in its advance had been severe, considering its small numbers. Two of the recruits were killed very near the Rebel works. Measures were immediately taken to hold the ground gained and intrench against a counter attack, and, with
* Swinton, p. 435 : " It took hardly more than ten minutes of the figment men call time to decide the battle. There was, along the whole line. a rush-the spec- tacle of impregnable works-a bloody loss-then a sullen falling back, and the action was decided."
Ibid, p. 486: "Gibbon's advance was simultaneous with Barlow's; but, in moving forward, he came upon one of the swamps of the Chickahominy, which widened as the line neared the enemy's intrenchments. This separated his con- mand ; but the troops at a fearful sacrifice advanced close up to the works. * Y'et Gibbon's troops too clung tenaciously to the ground gained, and some remained so close to the hostile works that the men could only be reached by covered ways. In less than an hour Hancock's loss was ahove three thousand." [This loss was sustained by the two smallest divisions in the corps-At THOR].
" Life of Hancock," pp. sor-2: " On the right. Gibbon was still more severely handled. The difficulties of the ground in his front were such that no rapid ad- vance could be made, and the men were, therefore, longer exposed to the fire. * * * Notwithstanding the obstacles of the ground, however, Gibbon's troops pushed close up to the enemy's works, but not in such strength and order as to enable them to go further."
284
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
what few spades there were, aided by plates, cups and bayonets, a line of works was constructed from the sandy soil; which before nightfall had assumed quite a formid- able appearance.
Gen. Hancock's biographer, Rev. D. X. Junkin, states that, soon after the assault, Gen. Grant visited Hancock and inquired whether another attempt would be likely to succeed. He was told that it would probably not, and the division commanders of the Second Corps coincided with this view. Gen. Grant requested Hancock to have his troops in readiness to advance again ; but not to move unless orders to that effect were received from himself or Gen. Meade. The preparations were made, but no such orders were received. About nine, A. M., Gen. Hancock received the following :
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 3d. 1864, 8.45, A. M.
MAJ .- GEN. HANCOCK :
I send yon two notes from Wright, who thinks he can carry the enemy's main line if he is relieved by attacks of the Second and Eighteenth Corps ; also, that he is under the impression that he is in advance of you. It is of the greatest importance no ef- fort should be spared to succeed. Wright and 'Smith are both going to try again, and, unless you consider it hopeless, I would like you to do the same.
[Signed,] GEORGE G. MEADE, Major-General.
From prisoners captured, Gen. Hancock had learned before he received this that reinforcements had come to the enemy in his front, and he did not therefore consider that there was any hope of success in another attack. Regarding the impression of Gen. Wright, that he was in advance of the Second Corps, that was clearly impos-
285
AFTER THE ASSAULT.
sible ; for both Gibbon and Barlow were then nearly in contact with the enemy at several points.
Swinton, in his "Army of the Potomac," says that an order for a second assault along the entire line was given on the morning of the 3d, but that the order was dis- obeyed, the men unanimously refusing to expose them- selves to further sacrifice. This statement has also been made by other writers, but it can hardly be the precise fact. There may have been a hitch in connection with the proposed movement spoken of in the dispatch above quoted, and some regiments may have signified an unwillingness to again assault, but the Second Corps would certainly have again attacked the enemy's lines if Gen. Hancock had ordered it. Dr. Junkin, in his work, describes such disobedience and refusal as " an impossi- bility and an absurdity, when ascribed to the Second Corps."
Had the original attack been made by heavy columns at different points of the line, perhaps success would have followed as a general result. As it was, the line which pressed forward from right to left had only its own enthusiasm and weight with which to overcome the enemy's outposts and main works, and the discovery that no considerable number of troops were within support- ing distance evidently spurred the Rebels to rally, with the assistance of their reserves, and repulse those bri- gades of the Second Corps which had with dauntless courage really stormed and captured the works in their front.
Early in the night the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire upon our front, and then attacked the Third Brigade. charging also upon other portions of our own and Bar- low's divisions. In the darkness it was impossible for
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.