USA > New York > The Ninth New York heavy artillery : a history of its organization, services in the defe battles, and muster-out, with accounts of life in a rebel prison, personal experiences, names and addresses of surviving members, personal sketches and a complete roster, pt 1 > Part 13
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Our lieutenant colonel thus wrote later of his injury: "I was withdrawing from the field when a numbness seized my left leg and I dropped to the ground." The rebels took his sabre, revolver, watch, pencil and pen, though he had surrendered to a general officer. He was afterwards carried to Frederick. but it was not till September 10th that Lyons accorded him a handsome welcome home, the Rev. L. W. Brown speaking for the people, and Colonel A. D. Adams for the wounded officer.
By this time our own lines were thrown into great confusion. The flank movement on the left had driven down towards Gambrill's mill portions of the 1st Brigade, and our own 2d was mingled with them. Colonel M. R. McClennan of the 138th Pennsylvania was in temporary command of the 2d Brigade, and possibly he was the officer who was shouting. "Elevate your pieces. men; elevate your pieces;" this in regard to the
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TO AND THROUGH MONOCACY.
advancing Confederates who, in great numbers, are bearing down upon us. From some source comes the order to shift for ourselves, and the Monocacy field is left behind us. One private recalls hearing the color sergeant of the Ninth say, "I don't see any use in staying here any longer," and said private thought his record safe in that he left the field behind the colors. Colonel Seward got away, riding on a bridleless mule, which he directed by means of a silk handkerchief inserted in his mouth. The day has ended disastrously, so far as we are concerned, but for nine hours a handful of men has held Early's thousands, thus permitting the remainder of our corps to reach Washington and so prevent the consummation of the rebels' audacious plan to capture the Capital.
One who was in the battle thus writes: "I pass a comrade sitting by the roadside. Blood is trickling from a wound just below his heart. I had carried his gun the night before, and now I say 'Good by' to him; there is no fear, no regret in his tone as he replies. A brave country boy he had lived, and death has no terrors for him. He could not have smiled more sweetly had he been lying down to pleasant dreams. Hours afterwards, I carry a canteen full of water to another comrade lying on a pile of grain in the store-house by the railroad, and he. too, had no complaints, no repinings. He said only, 'I have my death wound.' and with the dew of youth vet fresh upon him. with all the prospects of long life ended, he closed his eves in dreamless sleep. And so they died in the east and in the west. the young and the old; on the field amidst the roar of musketry and cannonading; in the hospitals, of wounds and fever; on the lonely picket line; as scouts and videttes; and who records any regrets? They deemed the cause worthy the sacrifice. Eyes grow dim in many a Northern home
'For a singer dumb and gory,'
but he recked not; he was past all pain and sorrow. For him there was burial near the place where he fell, and for the future his name upon the nation's deathless roll."
At this moment, however, flushed with victory the enemy, horse and foot. with seemingly an unending array of artillery, presses hard upon our retreating lines. 'The falling back is not undisputed. and the stubbornness of those covering the rear rendered the escape of most of the men possible. There was a
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short train at the station, upon which many took refuge, and with it steamed away to safety, but to those who left the field last there was not even Hobson's choice. There was nothing for them but quick eyes and alert feet. They had a general no- tion that salvation lay in the direction of Baltimore, and thither they directed their footsteps, in many cases interrupted by the pursuing cavalry that seemed to be almost ubiquitous. If the men knew enough to keep off the traveled ways, in the woods and fields, they generally managed to escape the foe, but he followed hard and fast, and captures were made when the sol- dier thought himself entirely out of the range of pursuers.
The records state that fifty-one men from the eight com- panies were killed or mortally wounded this day, among them Lieutenant James H. Ellis of Company E. He had enlisted in Company D as a sergeant, and had been promoted to quarter- master sergeant of the regiment. Thence he went as 2d lieu- tenant to Company E. He was born in Lyons April 1st, 1843; was reared there; served from 1859 to enlistment, in R. H. Murdock's store as clerk; was a member of Grace Church and Sunday-school; his death occasioned widespread grief in his native village.
The official dispatches and reports concerning this day's work are worthy of insertion complete, but only an abstract can be given. It is to be regretted that our commanding officers were not more explicit. Dispatches on record in Washington show that had they (the dispatches) been received earlier, our regi- ment had had no part in the Monocacy fight. Fortunately for our military reputation, we were in the battle before they were sent. The truth of the whole matter was that all Washington was badly scared. and with justice; only the timely arrival of the 1st and 2d Divisions of the 6th Corps saved the city from pillage and conflagration, and it was our heading off Early at Monocacy that permitted such result. Early himself in 1888 told the writer that the sight of the Greek cross on the works north of Washington was what induced his retreat. "D- that 6th Corps," said a Confederate officer in front of the Cap- ital. "we find it everywhere."
For those who were taken prisoners a special chapter will be given. Now we must follow the fortunes of the two battal- ions, to whose members the day at Monocacy was memorable.
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MONOCACY
GAMBRILLS'S MHA .. NATIONAL CEMETERY, WINCHESTER.
HOME OF COL. C. K. THOMAS.
HAGAN'S FIELD, WEST OF FREDERICK.
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RETREAT AND PURSUIT.
CHAPTER XV.
RETREAT AND PURSUIT.
The turnpike from Frederick to Baltimore is as straight and as hard as the hand of man can make it. Those who had a good start found the road a convenient one to follow towards Balti- more. Those who could, marched all night, and at some hour of the 10th reached Ellicott City, passing on their way St. Charles College, named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last survivor of the signers of the Declaration, whose gener- osity had endowed this institution, one of the famous Roman Catholic enterprises of the state; but our boys are more inter- ested in food and raiment than in mind and religion, and did not improve the opportunity to "go through college." though they did remark its appearance as they marched by.
The men were badly scattered; the largest number that any one company could muster was thirty-one, officers and men. Here something like organization was had; camp was pitched and pickets thrown out.
The 11th of July saw the regiment en route for Baltimore by way of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, a more agreeable form of locomotion than that recently practiced. Twelve men of Company M were left at the Relay House to serve the big guns there in case of need, and Maryland's chief city is reached at about 10 A. M. by some of the regiment, though others did not leave Ellicott City till nearly night. The 12th was spent in camp, and the rest thus secured was decidedly grateful to the weary men, though it is recorded that some of the soldiers were not too tired to break open certain bales of soldiers' cloth- ing and so help themselves. The law that heaven helps those who help themselves seems to have been firmly planted in the minds of all soldiers, both North and South. As many had not yet reported, rations went begging, and on moving camp the "boys" gave to a needy woman two-thirds of a barrel of pork, a larger supply than she had ever possessed at any one time before.
On the 13th camp was changed to Washington park, near the edge of the city, having to travel about one mile to reach it. Hard by is the estate of Mr. Kirby, a lumber merchant, also
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a small fort without guards, though some other troops are camped near.
By the 14th the Ninth was ready for another advance, and after marching to Druid hill, the men moved to Washington station, and thence by rail rode to the Capital. In leaving Baltimore, one company so won the good opinion of a Mr. Quirk that he gave to each man a head of cabbage, but as if to compensate for this good fortune, they had to march full five miles, one mile directly away from the station. The crowning motive in most of the marching and countermarching of the war the unprofessional mind has never been able to compre- hend. The sight of a company of men, each bearing a cabbage, must have been an inspiring one, and though there is no record of the epithet "Cabbage-head" being hurled at these battle- proved soldiers, it must be acknowledged that the provocation was great. Sundown sees the boys in Washington, and en- camped at or near Soldiers' Rest.
The march on the 15th began before breakfast, and termi- nated at Tennallytown, where orders were received to report to Major Snyder at Fort Reno, but somehow this conflicted with General Ricketts' notions, and the two battalions moved on, leaving the other in the fort which it had helped defend dur- ing Early's raid. While here President Lincoln drove out to our camp to congratulate the troops on their stubborn resist- ance at Monocaey. His carriage stopped in the midst of our regiment and the boys gathered about him in great crowds. A tall stripling of a lad of Company D crowded his way to the carriage, and, handing the president the eagle-plate from his cartridge-box straps, with a Confederate bullet sticking fast in its centre, said, "See, Mr. Lincoln, this saved my life at Monocacy; the force of the bullet knocked me down." The president took the relic in his hand, looked it over carefully, and after commenting on the fortunate escape of the soldier with the man who sat beside him-a member of his Cabinet, probably Seward-he handed it back to the soldier, saving, "Young man. keep that for your children and grand-children, for future generations will prize that as the greatest heirloom you could possibly leave them."
The pursuit of the raiders, too long delayed, was now begun, and we passed on after them, crossing the Potomac at or near Edward's Ferry. As there were no laws against such proceed-
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ings many of the men cross en dishabille, carrying their cloth- ing on heads or shoulders. Nothing but laughter greets the unfortunate soldiers who step on slimy rocks and receive in- voluntary immersion. The water was about three feet deep, and the current strong. ~ Camping near by, excellent facilities are found for securing food in the way of sheep and hogs from neighboring farmers, always supposed to be disloyal, and in the discussion of dainties thus secured the end of the 16th day arrives.
Next day the march was resumed, and was continued through Leesburg about four miles. Government rations falling short, there was all the more need of replenishment from neighboring sources, and the regiment began taking lessons in self-help, a principle well ingrained before the end of the season's cam- paign. On the 1Sth the march is resumed, extending through Hamilton, Snickersville and Snicker's Gap to the Shenandoah river. It was our first view of the stream so redolent of Ameri- can history, and with whose name that of the 6th Corps through the events of the coming months was to be inextrica- bly blended. A division of our forces, Sth Corps, had crossed the river, but had been driven back by the enemy, some of our soldiers having drowned, so said, in the recrossing. We were under fire for a time, and a few of the regiment wounded.
Business begins early the 19th, for it is 3 A. M. when the camp is roused, rations drawn, and preparations made for breakfast. The latter is not fully ready when orders come to pack up. but we lie here all day, finding the berries on the mountain-side unusually good.
At 10 .1. M. the 20th, we get away and wade the Shenandoah at Snicker's ford through thirty inches of water, and two or three miles beyond halt. Hungry soldiers-they were always so-soon gather in sheep, hogs and bacon; what purveyors! A resident farmer says the two armies have destroyed 6,000 sheep for him. If alive at the end of the century, one might wonder what he thinks of the protection of wool industries. The 21st saw a falling back on our part, and we recrossed the river at about 11 P. M., Company B guarding the wagon-train. Guerrillas were troublesome, and some stragglers are captured by them. It is an all night's march, and before we camp we have passed through Leesburg, crossed Goose creek, near which on the 22d we bivouac; our distance from Washington being esti-
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mated from eight to twelve miles. This retiring upon Wash- ington was made on the supposition that Early had returned to Lee's army. and our 6th Corps with the 19th was to rejoin Grant as quickly as possible, expecting to take waiting trans- - ports in Washington. It has been claimed that in the preced- ing thirty days we had traveled 600 miles.
The 23d finds the Ninth once more in the District of Colum- bia. Having left camp in the morning, we pass down by the side of Fort Marcy, cross the chain bridge and late in the afternoon camp between Tennallytown and Washington, being again on familiar ground. The 24th is Sunday, and it is a memorable day in that the regiment gets fully two bushels of back mail, for in our peregrinations there had been no effort made to fol- low us. All sorts of rumors are afloat as to our future. We learn that the 1st Vermont, the 2d Connecticut and the 9th New York. all heavy artillery regiments, are to remain permanently in the defenses, thus replacing us in the 22d Corps. Severely blistered feet make this grateful intelligence to many, but the sequel showed it to be mere idle vaporings. Grant had other and better use for these disciplined, well-drilled veter- ans than to leave them idling away their enlistment behind those green sodded earthworks; besides, there were officers in the various commands who could see no laurel-getting in such humdrum living. At the present moment, however, we are interested in a Palmyra (Wayne county) visitor, who goes through at least one company distributing Testaments, writ- ing-paper and envelopes, and he also preaches.
As if to confirm the rumors of the day before, the 25th finds the boys in motion, going back to the Virginia side of the Poto- mac, where some of the companies repose at the very forts which they left for the front two months before. As moves on the chess-board, the occupants of the forts in some cases de- parted, and we entered, but it was a very brief halt, though we did have the sensation of sleeping under a roof once more, though only that of army barracks. Six days' rations were distributed the next morning, which did not have a particular- ly permanent bearing, and before they could be cooked our dream of rest was dispelled by orders to pack up and march away. It is not a forced march, for night finds ns in the streets of Georgetown. where we get such rest as the gutters and side- walks afford. From such entertainment it is no hardship to
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RETREAT AND PURSUIT.
tear ourselves at dawn of the 27th and go under our burdens, marching to the northward through the village of Rockville, between which and Clarksburg we encamp. We later learn that if Early had ever intended going back to Petersburg, he had changed his mind, and his obvious northern tendency was the cause of our present tribulations.
If this portion of "Maryland, my Maryland," is not well known to members of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery, it is not the fault of those who direct our footsteps. We start at daylight of the 28th, and put a goodly distance between our- selves and our camping-place before we halt for breakfast near Clarksburg. Thence we pass through Hyattstown and Urbana to our battle-field of Monocacy; unconsciously we have taken in reverse the very course pursued by our comrades captured here, who after the fight. as prisoners had accompanied the Johnnies in their march to the head of Seventh street, Washing. ton. We linger long enough on the field to recall impressions of that brisk little engagement, and then we pass on to the moun- tains northward, going round the city of Frederick. No one will ever know just why we make this circuit. for we come back to the Harper's Ferry turnpike, along which we march, or a very small portion of the regiment, for the greater part straggle, leaving only a fraction to go into camp at Jefferson. A short cut across the country would have saved miles of travel and hundreds of blisters, but we should not have seen so much of the locality that Whittier said was-
"Fair as the garden of the Lord, To the eyes of the famished rebel horde."
Twinges of pain all along the soles of our feet render us somewhat oblivious to the beauty of our surroundings. and those who had fallen out were chiefly intent on catching up. It is hardly a fragment that for some inexplicable cause is hurrying along at this breakneck pace. From Jefferson on the 29th we bear off to the northward, passing through Petersville, and the next day we march through Harper's Ferry and on to Halltown, four miles or so. We have marched more than seventy-five miles from Washington in considerably less than three days. The next day, the 30th, we turn about and retrace our steps to the Potomac, crossing the same upon a pontoon bridge. All this reads easily enough, but no pen can do justice
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
to the heat that poured down upon the men who waited in that narrow gorge on the Shenandoah side for their turn at the crossing. If we only could have looked up the scenes of John Brown's raid, when twenty negroes, five white men and a cow had thrown Virginia into paroxysms, we might have waited to a purpose, but it was too hot and explorations were under ban. Long, long hours were thus spent, and it was not till past midnight that some of ours took their swaying way over the floating bridge, passed on through Sandy Hook, and all the rest of the night pushed along towards the north.
The last day of July. 1864, was signalized by a march un- equaled even by that made by the 6th Corps when it hastened towards Gettysburg. No rain had fallen in weeks, hence the dust was everywhere. The mercury danced in the higher 90 degrees, even in the shade, and in the sunlight it nearly boiled. No wonder that man and beast suffered indescribably. The fallen horse was left to rise again, if he could, only to be seized by a frolicsome drummer or bummer and ridden till he fell again. Nearly a hundred men are said to have suffered from sunstroke on this forced march to head off Early, who had really turned north and was paving his attentions to Chambers- burg* and neighboring towns. General Wright was besought to moderate his pace, but his reply was, "My orders are to reach Frederick at 2 P. M., and I shall do it if I go alone." Just five minutes in each hour were given for rest, and this under the pitiless sun. Again the corps must stand between the enemy and Washington.
August entered with the 6th Corps having as near a rest as these men of swift feet, later to be called Sheridan's foot cav- alry, ever had. They are in camp, though a portion of the Ninth is on picket. Lest inactivity might stiffen the joints of our men, we take a morning march on the 2d and, having raided a flour mill, ford the Monocacy, and again go into camp. On the following day as if to compensate the miller for his loss of flour, the cavalry and artillery pay him extra for his hay. Dur- ing the 4th there is actual rest with the added pleasure of a full complement of rations, through all of which wearied nature quickly rallies, and has energy enough to parade through the
*Burned on the 30th by McCausland, who told a local clergyman that he was from hell, a statement that the minister had no disposition to dispute.
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camp a lad of acquisitive tendencies bearing on his person the label "Thief."
At no time in the regiment's experience were the conven- iences for bathing better than those afforded by the clear waters of the Monocacy. What delicious memories of incom- parable swimming! If a man couldn't swim, he had ample op- portunity to paddle. These aqueous privileges did as much as their rations towards renewing the strength and energy of the wearied men.
The rising sun of the 6th beheld the tents down and all in readiness to march, but delays follow. There is nothing to do but lie in the hot sun and grumble. Some suspend their can- vas as awnings and thus get some relief. In this way the day passes, and after dark we pack up and move to Monocacy June- tion, where we use our knapsacks for pillows till morning. The next day, the 6th, we vary the monotony of our marching by a car-ride to Harper's Ferry, through which we march and, two miles away, camp. On account of our regular visits to this place, some of the Vermont vets dubbed the 6th Corps "Harper's Weekly." Till the 10th the time is spent in camp getting ready for the approaching campaign, of which, however, we know nothing. Few if any were aware that General Grant had had an interview with Sheridan on the 6th in an upper chamber of Colonel C. K. Thomas's house at Monocacy Junc- tion while we were embarking, and that then was outlined the campaign to end only when Early was sent "whirling up the valley."
Hunter was relieved of his command of the Army of the Shenandoah ; the Middle Military Division was constituted with General Philip H. Sheridan in command, whose headquarters, though he never said so, were always in the saddle. Grant was determined that henceforth there should be no open door in his rear. and that the granary of Virginia or the Shenandoah valley should no longer yield its plenty to aid and comfort the enemy. After the protracted experience, beginning July 9th at Monocacy, these days of rest were particularly grateful. During this time, orders were promulgated as to the discipline to be observed on the approaching march. Court-martial awaited him who straggled or left the ranks without permis- sion. for we were to pass through a section alive with guerrillas and bushwhackers. We were to march one hour before break-
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fast, to have one hour for that meal, and to rest ten minutes after each hour's march. An hour was given for dinner, and we were to have supper at dark. Officers were to see that can- teens were filled at halts.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE VALLEY AND WINCHESTER.
The 10th of August beheld the advance begun and we march through Charlestown, where December 2d, 1859, was presented the final scene in the John Brown tragedy, whose first act was at Harper's Ferry. the 16th of the preceding October; a tragedy whose sequel was the war in whose fourth year we are march- ing and fighting. Here the old hero was confined, tried, and hanged, and Judge Parker, who presided at the trial, is a resi- dent, to survive the war many years. We can see the court house, the jail, though in ruins, and, in the distance, the field where was erected the gallows from whose crosstree, less than five years before, on that December day, hung the incarnation of hatred of slavery. Thousands sang "John Brown's Body," and it is claimed that no Northern soldiers ever marched through the place without giving the citizens the full benefit of their musical qualities in the John Brown line, nor forget- ting to state their intentions to hang Jeff. Davis to a sour apple- tree.
We, however, have no time for moralizing, though farmers in our ranks could not help noting the beauty and fertility of the region-a limestone country, and clear, cold water, hard of course, but central New Yorkers are used to that. Early apples are prime, and green corn excellent. Southdown mutton, hogs and poultry betokened good farmers whose fields were glad with grain and fruit-a fair picture for soldiers to view, but too often clouded with the results of war. Our first camp is pitched at 5 P. M.
The sun of the 11th is not up earlier than we. and we zigzag. between railroad and river, till we strike the Winchester and Berryville turnpike west of the latter place. Much of our way is through fields and lanes, shaded with oak, locust, sassafras and wild cherry, a condition coming as near poetry as war ever
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THE VALLEY AND WINCHESTER.
gets. Our camping-place is eight miles from Newtown, near Clifton. The 12th carries us through Newtown and Middle- town to Cedar creek, on whose banks we camp, quite unsuspect- ing the history to be written here in blood a few weeks later. The enemy is not far away, and a sharp skirmish ensues be- tween the foe and some of the Sth Corps, who have been thrown across to discover if possible the situation. On the 13th all cross the creek and move southward to the vicinity of Stras- burg, where Early was strongly placed on Fisher's hill. Deem- ing discretion the better part of valor, we face about and, re- turning, recross Cedar creek, and go into camp. On the march, corn and pork are early secured, and the laugh is on one party of investigators, who from a mill carry away a quantity of un. slaked lime, mistaking it for wheat-flour.
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