USA > New York > Services of the Tenth New York Volunteers (National Zouaves,) in the War of the Rebellion > Part 6
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But the date of the departure of the National Zouaves from Fort Monroe seems to have been the commence- ment of a continuous life of field service. Reinforce- ments were needed by Gen. McClellan, whose army was now gradually approaching Richmond from the Penin- sula, and on the 3d of June orders were received to move, " with three days cooked rations"-the regiment embark- ing on the steamer Empire City. The next day it had reached Yorktown, changing there to the steamboat _1r- rowsmith, and, after several hours sail on the picturesque Pamunkey River, reached White House Landing on the 5th, with orders to report to Gen. MeClellan, command- ing the Army of the Potomae. At length the soldiers of the Tenth had obtained a gratification of the wish so long expressed, to be " at the front," and were destined to endure weary days of fighting and hardship, and, per- haps, in future days, to long for the regular hours and full rations of their past garrison experience.
The 7th of June found the regiment encamped upon the north bank of the Chiekahominy River, and brigaded with the 5th New York Volunteers ( Duryce's Zonaves), old friends of Camp Hamilton memory. A detachment of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery completed the brigade, which was the Third, and was under command of Col. G. K. Warren, of the 5th New York Volunteers. It formed a part of Sykes' division of Porter's Fifth Army Corps.
It was undoubtedly an honor to the Tenth to be thus
6
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assigned to the division of Gen. Sykes, which was com- posed entirely of regulars, with the exception of Col. Warren's brigade ; but the boys hardly liked the nick- name of "regulars," which was immediately applied to them by the volunteers of the neighboring camps, and some of the more pugnacious proceeded to vent their discontent upon their comrades of the regular regiments; but it was found that more than one side could take part in such games, and that the "regs" were disposed to . maintain in camp the prestige they had won in battle. Each came finally to respect his neighbor, and although rivalry existed to a certain extent always, a good feeling grew between the Tenth and their regular comrades which remained unshaken during the continuance of their connection in the field .*
The entire camp equipage of the regiment had been prepared for shipment at Portsmouth. It consisted of the Sibley tents issued after leaving the Fort, and the heavier items of camp furniture; the zouave uniform of the regiment, with the extra baggage, being also packed in readiness to accompany the command to the front. The regular fatigue uniform, consisting of blouse, pants and cap, had been generally worn by the regiment ex-
* Gen. McClellan, in his " Report and Campaigns" (p. 54), writes as follows : "The advantage of such a body of troops at a critical moment treferring to his regular»), especially in an army constituted mainly of new levies, imperfectly dis- ciplined, has been frequently illustrated in military history, and was brought to the attention of the country at the first battle of Manassas. I have not been disap- pointed in the estimate formed of the value of these troops-I have always found them to be relied on ; whenever they have been brought under fire they have shown the utmost gallantry and tenacity. On the 30th of April, 1302, they mit ered af ; men. On the inth of May they were assigned to Lieu. Porter's Corps, for organization as a division, with the 5th Regiment New York Volunteers. which joined May 4th, and the Tenth New York Volunteers, which joined sub- sequently. They remained from the commencement under the command of Brig .- Cien. George Sykes, Major 3d Infantry, United States Army."
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cept upon parade or at guard mount and occasionally when off duty-the zouave dress being the reserve uni- form. The first surprise on arrival at White House Landing had been the issue of "shelter tents," each man receiving a piece of linen stuff a yard square, which was thereafter to serve as his roof, unless he chose to use it otherwise.
The boxes containing the zouave uniforms arrived at the Landing soon after the regiment, and remained there until future operations of the army necessitated a hur- ried abandonment of this base of supplies, when they were consigned to destruction in common with an untold quantity of Government property which it was impos- sible to remove. From this time until the following January the National Zouaves were such only in name- the showy blue and red uniform being a thing of the past.
On the 13th of June, Warren's brigade was ordered out in pursuit of the Rebel Gen. Stuart, who had started on his memorable raid around the Army of the Potomac. A body of Rush's Lancers and a portion of Wheedon's Rhode Island Battery accompanied the bri- rade. The plan of pursuing cavalry with infantry was hardly successful, although the brigade marched nearly fifty miles within thirty-six hours. The enemy had ob- tained a good start, and re-entered his lines near the James River, after inflicting serious injury upon the rail- road and destroying a great quantity of stores, most of which belonged to sutlers. The return of Warren's command to camp, on the morning of the 15th (Sunday). was celebrated by an extra issue of whiskey, seasoned, however, with the regulation quantity of quinine, and. after satisfying their hunger, our soldiers proceeded to
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regain some of the sleep lost within the past two days and nights.
During the three weeks' encampment upon the Chiekahominy, many of the Tenth fell victims to the malarious exhalations from the swamps which lay ad- jacent to the eamp, and numbers of the men who left Fort Monroe with anticipations of soon meeting the enemy in battle never lived to realize their expectations, dying lingering, though not inglorious deaths in the hospitals to which they were sent. The picket duty along the front of Sykes' division was arduous and most disagreeable, long nights being passed by these guard- ians, posted in the unhealthy marshland along the south bank of the river, the men at times being unable to obtain a dry or firm standing place. The soldiers of the Tenth had here also a full share of road-making and bridge-building, and many Yankee "corduroys," winding their tortuous way through the Chiekahominy swamps, would, perhaps, even at this late day, be recognized by the men who assisted in cutting and hauling the logs and laying them in place.
The face of the country may have originally blos- somed and been fruitful and pleasant to the eye, but now, from the Pamunkey to the Chickahominy, the land was barren. Had a deadly African simoom passed over the ground, its path could not have been more distinctly traeed than that of the armies which had marched over the roads and camped upon the fieldls of this section of country during the past few weeks. Fences were destroyed, green fields were turned to dust and mud, trees had been felled and used, and even the few living shrubs or plants beyond the reach of man or beast were covered with thick dust or had been singed by the
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ON THE CHICKAHOMINY.
burning rays of the sun. Springs of water were few, and when found were quickly exhausted-the tepid water of the sluggish river, dank and sulphurous with the accumulation of vegetable matter, being the main supply, and affording plentiful cause for malarial dis- eases.
Heavy batteries had been erected by the Rebels op- posite Sykes' division, and, about the 20th of June, several shells came whizzing over the camp of the Tenth. One of these missiles killed a regular soldier and another a member of the 1st Connecticut Artillery.
No trouble was experienced at any time during the war in obtaining skilled artizans and professional men from the ranks of the volunteer regiments. This fact was illustrated in one instance while lying at this camp. The chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac asked for three draughtsmen from Sykes' division, and they were immediately found. Sergt. James E. Taylor, of Company B, of the Tenth, was one of those selected, while another came from the 5th. While the Tenth was garrisoning Fort Monroe, a call for printers resulted in the gathering of some twenty or thirty typos ; only two or three were actually needed, and it was not supposed that more than that number could be obtained from the regiment.
It would be well at this juneture to briefly note the general operations of the past month along the Chieka- hominy. On the night of the 26th of May, Gen. MeClel- lan dispatched a portion of Porter's corps to Hanover Court House, abont fourteen miles to the westward. Gen. MeDowell's army, of about 40,000 men, were at Fredericksburg, his advance being at Bowling Green. on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, and it was
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expected that he would form a junction at Hanover Court House with Porter, and a successful attack would then have been possible upon Richmond's unprotected side. The troops of the Fifth Corps met several thousands of the enemy at Hanover, and gained a victory over them, but McDowell's forces did not appear-the order for their union with MeClellan having been countermanded and the force at Fredericksburg sent up the valley after Stone- wall Jackson, whose mission in that direction was evi- dently to draw MeDowell's attention from Richmond. Porter's troops then returned to their camps at and near Gaines' Farm. On the 31st of May, the Confederate commander, Gen. Johnston, taking advantage of a rise of the Chickahominy, which bid fair to interrupt com- munication between the two wings of our army, swung round and commenced a heavy attack upon Mcclellan's left wing at Fair Oaks-which routed a portion of the army. The next day, however, the Confederates were in turn driven back with great loss, and our lines were re-established. The Rebel army defending Richmond was about this time undoubtedly receiving reinforce- ments, and MeClellan also was reinforced to the extent of the Government's ability. The redoubtable Gen. Jack- son was, within a few days, on his way towards Rich- mond again, and positive knowledge of his march was gained about the 221 of JJune.
According to Gen. MeClellan's " Report and Cam- paigns," pp. 241-2, he deemed it impossible to maintain his long line of supplies from the White House to the Chickahominy in the event of the enemy concentrating upon and attacking his right, and, as early as the 19th of June, he had made arrangements to have transports with supplies sent up the James River, in anticipation of a
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THE SEVEN DAYS-MECHANICSVILLE.
forced change of base across the Peninsula. The com- manding general apprehended an attack from :Gen. Stonewall Jackson on his right and rear. On the 25th MeClellan telegraphed the Secretary of War, among other things, "I shall probably be attacked to-morrow, and now go to the other side of the Chickahominy to arrange for the defense on that side. I feel that there is no use in my again asking for reinforcements."
We are now brought to the 26th of June, and the opening of the Seven Days conflict. Upon this latter date the position of the Union army before Richmond was about as follows : The Second, Third, Fourth and Sixth Corps, commanded by Gens. Sumner, Heintzelman, Keyes and Franklin, were south of the Chickahominy, and at about a right angle to it, with the left of the line curving and resting upon White Oak Swamp, while the Fifth Corps, with about 25,000 men present for duty, was upon the north bank and lying parallel with the stream, its right extending to Mechanicsville.
On the morning of the 26th, news came to Gen. Porter of the advance of the enemy upon Mechanicsville, and of Jackson's presence in the vicinity of Hanover Court House upon the right. Dispositions were immediately made on the Fifth Corps lines to meet the expected attack-McCall's division of Pennsylvania Reserves, then in position on Beaver Dam Creek, being reinforced by two brigades of Morell's division and the rest of Porter's troops being called to arms. The attack came about noon, the Rebels having crossed the Chiekaho- miny at Meadow Bridge and above, and the battle taged with more or less steadiness and fury tar into the night, the Pennsylvania troops and their supports being everywhere successful, and suffering a compars-
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tively small loss, while the charging Rebel divisions were badly cut up.
Our own division (Sykes') was ordered from camp and across the river late in the afternoon. We were in light marching order, and were massed in the woody and swampy ground along the river valley. Several hours of darkness were passed in this position, expecting we knew not what, for we were ignorant of the result of the battle.
John S. Slater,* writing of the "Seven Days fight" in the Washington Republican, of June 26th, 1881. avers that after the elose of the battle of Mechanicsville. Gen. MeClellan and Gen. Porter consulted, and the plans for the 27th were arranged ; but that Gen. Porter was opposed to the contemplated withdrawal behind Gaines' Mill Creek, and thought the army should be brought to the north bank, and the decisive battle fought there, or that he should be reinforced so that he might hold his position if withdrawn to Gaines' Mill. while a counter-attack upon Richmond could be made from the left near Fair Oaks. Gen. MeClellan was therefore asked to withhold the order for withdrawal until he had returned to his headquarters and taken a general view of the situation. The final order came, however, at about three or four o'clock, A. M., of the 27th, and the movement was forthwith commenced.
The position of the Army of the Potomac at this moment was deemed a critical one by Gen. MeClellan. Ilis line of communication was in danger of being severed and his right wing overw helned by Jackson's forces and the troops which Gen. Lee, now in command of the
* We have drawn upon Mr. Slater, formerly of the 13th New York Volunteers. for other interesting information concerning the operations upon the Chickahominy.
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Confederate army, could spare. MeClellan undoubtedly thought, justly or unjustly, that he had not been proper- ly reinforced, and had been thrown by the Government upon his own resources, and he now took what seemed to him to be the best course to extricate his troops from their apparently perilous position.
Sykes' division recrossed the river before daylight of the 27th, and the soldiers of Warren's brigade marched to their camp with the idea of having several hours of sleep after the watchful night just passed. Orders were given, however, to take knapsacks, and the march was hurriedly resumed. While absent from camp, the sup- plies and tents had been loaded into wagons and removed. leaving only the accoutrements belonging to each man. Hardly had the rear of our regiment left the camp. when the advance troopers of the enemy appeared, and some of the laggards, including officers' servants, eseaped capture with difficulty. After a few hours marching, the brigade reached a point near Gaines' Mill, where position in line of battle was immediately taken.
The 5th and 10th New York, comprising Warren's command (the 1st Connecticut Artillery having been de- tached), now lay on a slight rise of ground, the Tenth being on the left of the 5th, with no connection on our own immediate left flank which could be observed by us through the woods in that direction, although the picket line immediately sent out undoubtedly connected with Griffin's brigade of Morell's division. Next on the left of Griffin came Martindale's, and then Butterfield's bri- rade, also of Morell's division. On the right of Warren's brigade came the two brigades of regular troops. This was the first line, and it was supported by MeCall's divi- sion, which had borne the brunt of the fighting the day
!
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previous. Of this command Reynold's brigade was in rear of Sykes', covering the approaches from Cold Har- bor, and Meade's brigade was formed in the low ground on the left. Seymour's brigade was in reserve further to the rear. Gen. P. St. George Cooke, conimanding five squadrons of the 5th and two of the 1st United States Cavalry, with three squadrons of the 6th Pennsylvania (Rush's Lancers), posted his command in rear of the left, near the Chickahominy. The artillery of the corps, between sixty and seventy guns, was stationed on com- manding ground, at intervals from the right to the left of the line.
The general position which Porter had taken up for resistance was well chosen, on a range of heights between Cold Harbor and the Chickahominy. The line of battle formed the arc of a circle, covering the approaches to the bridges which connected the right wing with the troops on the south side of the river. The left (Morell's di- vision) rested ou a wooded bluff, which rose abruptly from a deep ravine leading down to the Chickahominy, and spreading out fan-shaped as it approached the stream. The right (Sykes' division), posted in woods and clear- ings, extended to the rear of Cold Harbor. The ground, generally open in front, was bounded on the side of the Confederate approach by a wood with dense and tangled undergrowth, and traversed by the sluggish stream which formed the bed of the ravine on the left.
An open field lay in front of the position occupied by Warren's brigade. Just in the rear of the Tenth New York Volunteers was a small runlet of water, which a majority of the regiment immediately took advantage of, refreshing themselves with a good wash, which went a great way towards raising their spirits after the restless
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night and the succeeding hurried march. Then fires were lit in the hollow along the run, and coffee prepared, followed by the never absent pipe. While thus engaged, orders were received to pile the knapsacks in heaps, and shortly afterwards wagons came from the rear and, quick- ly gathering them up, the teamsters sped their way back, just escaping two or three shells which came whirring over from the direction of the hills around Gaines' Mill. There were some shrewd thinkers in the regiment, how- ever, and these quietly clung to their knapsacks, in which were packed all their army possessions. A week after- wards, when thousands of soldiers were lamenting the loss of the knapsacks which, in obedience to directions. they had trusted to the quartermasters, the men who had retained them throughout the campaign were en- abled to enjoy a change of under-clothing, which nine- tenths of them were deprived of by a foolish order.
About one o'clock the enemy threw his line forward, shielded by a belt of woods on the edge of which were posted a company of the 5th New York as skirmish- ers. Fire was opened upon the Rebel advance by Ed- ward's Battery, near the right of Warren's brigade, the enemy replying from several batteries advantageously posted, and causing some loss in the brigade, which was now lying flat for protection. A battery immediately in the rear of the Tenth also opened fire upon the enemy who, by this time, had advanced his skirmishers through the belt of woods, driving in those of the Fifth New York. Several casualties occurred in the Tenth from the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters, and also from the premature explosion of shells from the battery behind us. Lieut. Tait and Sergt .- Maj. Wilcox were among those injured by fragments of shell. This suffering from two fires
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caused considerable restlessness and dodging among the men. Some of our soldiers persisted in exposing themselves in order to obtain shots at the Rebels, and Private Edward Nugent, of Company H, was thus instantly killed by a sharpshooter-having risen from a lying posture to obtain a fair shot at a conspicuous gray coat. Soon after this a change of line was made, the National Zouaves moving by the left flauk, and forming line in the woods formerly on their left. This new position of the regiment was somewhat at a right angle to the former one, and nearer to the enemy.
It was now perhaps two o'clock, and but an instant passed before the Rebel lines were deseried advancing from the wood across the open square of cleared ground, and towards the 5th New York. They came at a double- quick pace and with loud yells, a portion at the same time coming through the forest upon the position held by the Tenth. The National Zonaves immediately de- livered a galling fire upon the Rebels advancing across the field, and, at the same time, engaged those who were nearly upon them in the heavy timber. The con- test in these woods was fierce for a time, each company of our regiment coming in for its full share in the action. It was the first battle for us, and the manner in which the wings of the regiment were doubled and lapped over each other, with the utter impossibility of keeping the line intact, in consequence of its peculiar formation and the converging fire of both musketry and artillery, was a novelty to those who had often imagined the command in battle dressed as if on parade. The color company (I) fired its first volley with the front rank kneeling. and at that instant Corp. William Marron, who had just returned from hospital, received a bullet through his
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INDIVIDUAL HEROISM.
heart, the fire of the advancing Rebels being simulta- neous with our own. They seemed persistent in their en- deavor to clear the woods, our now somewhat broken regiment making equally persevering efforts to force back their advancing lines, and in these to and fro move- ments the combatants more than once came in close con- tact. Private William A. Williams, of Company A, was mortally wounded by a bayonet in one of these encoun- ters, the regiment thus losing one of its bravest and most enthusiastic members and the country a most de- voted servant.
The companies on the left flank suffered considerably from that direction, while from the fields to the front came a rain of bullets and a confusion of ear-piercing yells from the Confederate soldiers. All this happened in a very few minutes.
Duryee's Zouaves charged gallantly across the cleared space upon the advancing Rebels, and hurled them back to the belt of woods, advancing their colors to the point where the enemy first appeared. A forward rush of the Tenth almost cleared the enemy from our own portion of the woods, and now the brigade reformed as per- fectly as possible in its advanced position, stretching nearly across the fields from the woods on the left to those on the right. Fresh attacks made by the heavy force of the enemy were successfully met and repulsed by the two New York regiments, now reinforced by the 6th U. S. Infantry, Morell's division on our left and the regular brigade to the right also receiving and repulsing continued assaults .*
* The correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial thus describes the conflict on this portion of the line : "Again he gathered his columns, supported them by fresh troops ; again advanced, extending his lines as if to flank our right, and re-
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THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
Many of the bravest and most daring of the Tenth had fallen during this mortal struggle, and the regiment had been considerably scattered during the combat in the woods and in the subsequent movements. The field officers of the regiment were present at almost every point and active in inciting the command to a brave and faithful performance of its duty. Capts. Winchester Briggsand Hopper were also conspicuous in these efforts. Capt. Briggs and Lieut. Jas. R. Smith were wounded during the action. The attack of the enemy upon this portion of the line, though admirably arranged, had been completely frustrated. The repulse was fully acknow- ledged by Gen. A. P. Hill, who commanded the Rebel forces in the vicinity of Gaines' Mill. Gen. Maxey Gregg's brigade, composed of five South Carolina regi- ments, made the first attack and suffered a terrible loss. Guernsey says, while writing of this charge: "Of this regiment (the 1st South Carolina Volunteers) its colonel, Marshall, reports: 'In that charge we sustained a loss of 26 killed, 221 wounded. and 58 missing. Early on the morning after the battle I made a detail from each com- pany to bury their dead, and so severe was the work of death in some of the companies that it took the detail all day to bury their dead, and of those missing in the morn- ing all but four rejoined their regiment.' " *
newed the attack with greater ferocity than ever, to be again repulsed with terrible slaughter. Sykes' regulars and Warren's brigade, in which are the Duryce Zouaves and Bendix's Tenth New York Regiment, played a brilliant part in this portion of the engagement."
Compte de Pari-, Vol. II., p. 96, says: " Hill was repulsed by the right of Mo- rell's division and by the brigade of the young and valiant Warren." Lossing. Vol. I., p. 4Pt, says : "A. P. Hill attacked at two, r. 't. The brunt of the attack tell upon Sykes' division, who threw the assailants back in great confusion and with heavy loss."
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