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 15
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The 22d is the day of Fisher's hill, and the rebels are driven out by the 3d Division of the 6th Corps, combined with the same flank movement so brilliantly worked at Winchester. Again it is Crook's men who scale nominally inaccessible steeps, and falling on Early's rear compel him to retreat in the direst confusion, but in this day's glory the Ninth had no part, for we were consigned to the useful yet inglorious duty of guard- ing the hospital, which. however well done, brings no laurels. Our surgeons, Chamberlain and Brandt, labor at the amputa- tion-tables for thirty-six hours. The victory seemed to supple- ment that of the 19th, if anything were lacking on that day. Though not in the fight, our major was on the alert, for it was on the 22d that he rode into camp and ordered a corporal and guard to go out and arrest a rebel whom he had found wander-
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ing in the woods. The rebel proved to be our brigade butcher. The major must have had an expensive settlement with his brother officers over this incident. Companies B and H serve as rear guard. The 23d still in the vicinity of Strasburg. Sup- ply-train arrives; on the 24th pass through Strasburg and en- camp south of Woodstock. The 25th continue the march south- ward, and we again pass through Edinburg, Hawkinsville, Mount Jackson and New Market, camping on the farm of Mr. Williamson, a rebel major, from whom his Confederate friends had taken 800 bushels of wheat. Still to the southward. On the 26th seventeen miles to Harrisonburg, where on a hill to the east of the village we camp. Here also is the hospital tent. We are now just 100 miles from Harper's Ferry, whence we started one week ago. In camp during two following days, and the region being new to us, an unusual store of provisions is brought in. The boys steal the most unreasonable things. Even colts are taken, though we are by no means hippophagi or horse eaters. The 29th takes us to Mount Crawford. Eight miles further to the south and we fairly revel in the good things of the land, though the inhabitants must have correspondingly suffered. Mills and houses are ransacked for flour; salt and fresh pork are found, and as proper judges we pronounce the land excellent. In the Vermont brigade was a practical miller, Major Safford, who ground out a full day's ration for his entire division. The last day of September sees us falling back to Harrisonburg. As the farmers raise a little sugar-cane, the boys get some syrup, but it is poor stuff; also the cider ob- tained here is not up to the Wayne and Cayuga standard, Wheat has been sown in some places and cultivated in. We remain here four days, with little to vary the monotony. Sun- day payroll is signed. Monday, the 3d, get ready to march at daylight, but directing powers thought otherwise, and we re- main in camp. What will not these inquisitive Yankees find? They even secure a quantity of maple-sugar. The day is spe- cially noteworthy in that the 3d Battalion moves up and once more forms a part of the Ninth.
It was May 31st that the regiment was separated, and though still a large body of men, the 9th Heavy Artillery is much smaller than when we took transports at Alexandria for Belle Plain. Men and officers have changed much, not only in expe- rience, but in personnel as well. Colonel Welling is now a
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lawyer in Lyons. Colonel Seward with a star upon his shoulder is in command in Martinsburg. Colonel Taft on account of his wound is not with us, and since Monocacy Major Burgess has directed us; now he yields to Lieutenant Colonel Snyder, or would do so were the latter not absent on leave.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE 3D BATTALION FROM PETERSBURG TO HARRISONBURG.
In Chapter XIII at its close, the 3d Battalion, including Com- panies F, G, I and L, had gone aboard the transport Thomas Powell, and on the 9th of July, while the other eight companies were fighting at Monocacy, these our comrades were having an excursion down the James quite as delightful as that which we had taken a few days before. Fortress Monroe is reached at 3 P. M., and a stop of two hours is made for coal. Thence moving seaward they reach the mouth of the Potomac at 1 A. M., where the anchor is thrown out waiting for the high tide, and at 4 o'clock the steamer starts on its way to the Capital. En route the men note Mount Vernon and Fort Washington, and at Fort Foote, which Company G had helped to build, the boat was greeted with hearty cheers. The dock was reached at noon, and dinner was served at Soldiers' Rest. A halt was had here till 4 P. M., when the line of march was taken up through Washington and Georgetown to Forts Reno, Simmons, Kearney and intermediate batteries. One who was in this march says, "The men cried, 'Boys, we are glad to see you;' women cried for joy at the sight of these dusty soldiers; girls brought water, ice and milk; pies and cookies were offered; nothing was too good for the soldiers."
These men are now back in familiar scenes, and are ready to defend forts which they had helped to erect. It is evident that the enemy is nearing, and the utmost vigilance is maintained, the soldiers lying by their guns throughout the night. The 11th of July is ushered in with activity in front. picket-firing and skirmishing. The enemy burns a bridge on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and sets several houses on fire. Some firing from our forts.
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Evidently the companies were distributed in squads. Anthony Stacy says: "Company L went to Simmons first, then to Reno, but thirty men had to return to Simmons at once, because the men who relieved them were not armed. Some of L were also in Forts De Russey and Kearney; Company F went directly to Reno, later was in Fort Bayard, where it remained for sev- eral weeks, finally to Fort Thayer, near Bladensburg. Com- pany I was in Sumner and then in Reno. Lieutenant Yard gives prices of food for officers at Tennallytown: cheese, 50 cents per pound; butter, 60; sugar, 163; tea, 90; ham, 163. July 31st thirty 'I' men went to Battery Rossell, eighty rods from Reno."
The 12th saw what fighting there was in defense of Wash- ington. As the most of the work was done in or in front of Fort Stevens, there is not so very much to relate as to the part borne by the Ninth. Our men, however, were there ready to work the guns which they had assisted in planting and with whose use they were fully acquainted. All obstructions in front of the forts in the shape of buildings are removed lest they may afford cover for the foe.
The opportune arrival of the 1st and 2d Divisions of the 6th Corps with our own 2d Battalion had done the business for Early, and he withdrew his forces at the close of the day, though extreme vigilance was maintained for several days, scarcely abating till the 17th. During the investment, if such it could be called, Company L was partly in Fort Kearney, and its 100-pound Parrott was used to good purpose; Companies F and G were in Reno; I, in Simmons. On the 13th Colonel Seward, who was disabled at Monocacy, visits the battalion. The 19th Army Corps passes on the 14th with a wagon-train, evidently in pursuit of Early. The 15th brings the welcome sight of the Ninth or the other two battalions, having come up by way of Baltimore and Washington. They are at Tennally- town. President Lincoln visits the regiment. Stragglers from Monocacy continue to make their appearance for several days. On the 29th stringent orders are issued concerning steal- ing from the inhabitants, and leaving camp; while vigorous and extended drill is ordered. The 23d brings back the 6th Corps, including the 1st and 2d Battalions of the Ninth, from the trip through Snicker's gap. Everyone in the regiment wonders whether the two divisions will be reunited. The picket-line is fully five miles from the forts, and our companies
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have to take their regular turns, though the fresh food obtained from the adjacent farms made the duty somewhat pleasurable.
On the 26th the companies reported at Fort Reno, having been relieved by 100-day men, and evidently were again to take their place with the regiment, marching out some ways north of Tennallytown and encamping. The 27th the 3d Battalion started towards Rockville, but before reaching it was overtaken by orders to return to its former stations, the march being ap- parently the result of an error. As the men countermarch, they meet the other eight companies on their way to and through Rockville at the beginning of their long and exacting march. The following weeks in the defenses are not eventful. There is a regular round of picket-duty, inspection, parade and drill. Now and then deserters from the rebel ranks come in, and es- caping conscripts are taken in. August 1st brought an alarm of rebel approach, which sent the men into the forts and to their guns for several following days.
This life in the forts gives martinets excellent opportunity to display shining brasses and white gloves. What would some of the Washington military visitors have said had they known how they were sized up by officers and men who kept diaries? Here is one entry: "Visited by General W-, an upstart and a blockhead." yet very likely this embryonic Caesar went away thinking he had left an ineffaceable impression. Well, it was lasting, but not just what he intended.
August 17th Company L being relieved by the 6th New York Heavy Artillery, Colonel Kitching, went to Fort Simmons, and the boys feel quite at home. On the same day, G Company goes over to Fort Mansfield. August 23d Colonel Seward comes out from Washington and is anxious to have the regiment united. Of this evident desire, one officer makes the record: "Apparently the colonel would rather have us together in h-1 than separated in heaven." Whatever his wishes he was never to see the men together again, for before the review came. he had laid off his eagle and "hitched his wagon to a star." and the Ninth was under another commander. Sunday, the 28th, the chaplain announced church, but only three or four attended- very unappreciative.
As an illustration of how Dame Rumor changes facts, a jour- nal-keeper on the 26th records a smart cavalry skirmish near Fort Sumner. It really was had at Annandale on the Fairfax
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Court House road, west of Alexandria on the 24th, between the 16th New York Cavalry and Moseby's men, the latter returning unsuccessful. On the last day of the month Major Snyder in- spects the 6th Heavy. and Colonel Kitching performs a like duty for the Ninth, and takes occasion to compliment the men. There is no record of what Colonel S- said to the 6th, but it is reasonable to think that he made a fair turn-about.
September finds the company still doing garrison duty, though the air is laden with rumors of departure, and ere the real start is made some moving about among the forts inter- venes. On the second day Major Henry Roessle of the 15th New York Cavalry, who had been captain of Company E, rode through and received the greetings of old acquaintances. Ap- parently there is nothing happening of more moment than the occasional catching of a sentinel asleep on his post, and the riots incident to the absorption of too much corn-juice. The 16th Major Snyder starts for home on a furlough. Companies G and L are ordered to Forts Mansfield and Reno, and I to Battery Vermont, about one mile from Fort Sumner. The 204th Pennsylvania Volunteers relieve Company L at Fort Sim- mons, and the company declares the bed-bugs at Reno "the largest, fiercest and most numerous yet encountered." The 5th Pennsylvania Light Artillery relieves G at Fort Mansfield. On the 18th I Company proceeded to Fort Lincoln, twelve miles away, just east of the Bladensburg pike, near the Eastern Branch, and only three miles from Washington. Company F goes to Fort Thayer in the same range. On the 18th, Company G marched to Fort Bunker Hill, recalling the early days of 1862. Company L marched the same day to Fort Totten, just a little to the northwest. The location and view are admira- ble. The U. S. Military Asylum is only a short distance away, and is visited by many.
Though there is every indication of an early departure, measurements are made for targets, just as though all were to remain here the rest of the season. Soon after midnight of the 23d of September came the orders that were to send the four companies to join their fellows in the valley. With three days' cooked rations, all the men are off before daylight for Wash. ington, which they reach at 7 A. M. Breakfast is had at Sol- diers' Rest, and during the forenoon cars are taken on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad station for Harper's Ferry. Prog-
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ress is slow, for it is not till the middle of the afternoon that the Relay House is reached. (The writer recalls that in war times he once jumped off a moving train on this section, and back again, to prove that he could run faster than the train was going.)
Monocacy Junction is seen at sunset, and night has settled down when the Ferry appears. It is on record that the train stopped so suddenly here that several men of Company I, riding on top of a car, were tumbled off into the canal by whose side the halt was made. Luckily no serious injury was suffered. wherein they were more fortunate than a certain Massachu- setts regiment, which had several men drowned in this same place and manner. Marching across the Potomac, a bivouac is made on Bolivar Heights. From the 24th to the 27th the men lie here while final preparations are made for their depar- ture. They do not know the scoldings received by their officers from still higher ones because this or that was not done. It is all the same in military-leave out the bickerings and fault- findings, and there would be a remarkable shrinkage in records.
While here on Sunday a raw German regiment with bright new uniforms camped beside us. A cake-peddler came to camp and stopped between the two commands to sell his goods. Some mischievous scamp upset his wagon, and cakes covered the ground and rolled about in profusion. A general stampede for a supply of cakes was inaugurated, and soon every man in sight. Dutchman and Yankee, was crunching cakes. Shortly after the catastrophe happened, a report was circulated through our camp that the Dutchmen had two of our men bucked and gagged in punishment for tipping over the peddler's vehicle. This created great indignation among our men, and a howl went up for dire vengeance on the "fresh fish" for their audac- ity. Our commander, Major William Wood, and some line- officers repaired to the guard-house of the Germans, and found the report too true. A peremptory demand was made for our men, followed with a threat of summary punishment if not com- plied with in twenty minutes.
The German officers began to get scared; they gathered in a bunch near their guard-house and jabbered and gesticulated in Dutch and watched our men "falling in." Soon their colonel sent over and asked for an armistice; this request was indig- nantly spurned. The twenty minutes' time allowed was about 11
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up, the officers were taking their places presumably to do some- thing awful when a shout went up, and the imprisoned cake fiends came walking over to our camp. So much for bluff!
Some of the men find old acquaintances in the 184th New York, a battalion of which is encamped near. Harper's Ferry is visited. The scenes of John Brown's raid are inspected, and Sheridan's captured cannon from the valley admired.
The starting on the 27th is slow, going just about one mile before dinner to the westward and then wait awhile; later we take up the line of march, passing through Charlestown at 5 P. M., of course realizing all the John Brown memories that the place was sure to excite. The march of the 28th is a long and hard one, with the added duty of guarding a wagon-train. liable at any moment to prove a serious affair, for Moseby and his men came and went like the wind. The start is made at sun- rise, and the route is to the west and south through Smithfield and Bunker Hill to Winchester, and camp is made late in the afternoon south of the city and twenty-two miles from the starting-place. The next day the march is resumed at sunrise and extends through the valley villages of Newtown, Middle- town and Strasburg. five miles beyond which a camping-place is found. It was a long and tedious trip, passing en route the battlefield of Fisher's hill, where on the 22d Sheridan had beaten Early. The day's jaunt covered nearly or quite twenty- five miles. Mount Jackson is fully twenty miles away, and the companies move at daylight September 30th. Many burned railroad bridges are passed, and all note the absence of able- bodied men in the places threaded-only children, aged men. and women of all ages. the latter sour in visage and saucy in spirit. Thus Woodstock and Edinburg are seen, only brief halts being made on the forced march. Nightfall finds a camping- place west of Mount Jackson. The men begin to realize the possibilities of a trip through an enemy's country, and regale themselves on the few chickens left by those who had preceded them.
October signalized its advent by a hard. cold rain, but it did not prevent the march, which, beginning at 8 A. M., continued through the mud and wet till 9 P. M., terminating near Harri- sonburg. New Market is passed, where in the preceding May, 15th day, the rebels under Breekinridge had beaten Sigel, driv- ing him and his men back to Strasburg, resulting in his super-
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MAJOR GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT.
BREV'T MAJ. GENERAL JAMES B. RICKETTS. BREV'T MAJ. GENERAL J. WARREN KEIFER.
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sedure by Hunter. The country seems all aflame, for Sheridan is carrying out his orders to make the valley less desirable for Richmond raids. Forage of all descriptions, grain and barns are destroyed and stock is driven off. It is a melancholy sight; but it is war. Roast pig, not cooked according to Charles Lamb's formula, but nevertheless exceedingly palatable, tick- les the taste of some of the boys, on the day's march. It is said that Sheridan's headquarters are only two miles away. While there is an abundance of water in the air, there is very little to be had for drinking purposes. The 2d is Sunday, and a needed rest is had in camp, the only drawback a lack of water. Food is abundant, both in the way of rations and from local sources. The senior captain in the battalion buys an eight- dollar horse; doubtless he had a premonition of his approach- ing promotion, and he wanted to be ready. Some of the boys from the other companies of the Ninth make friendly calls. The 3d day of October ends the separate career of the 3d Bat- talion, for on this day it moves up and reports to Major Bur- gess, in command of the other two. In the morning a portion of the battalion, 225 men, was set to guard certain prisoners, while the remainder, 453 men with eleven officers, reported to the regiment. For several months the twelve companies will march, bivouac, fight, suffer and rejoice together.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE VALLEY AND CEDAR CREEK.
"There is perhaps no fairer land beneath the sun than that section of Virginia called the Great Valley."
D. H. Strother, "Porte Crayon."
Himself a native of Martinsburg, which might be called the extreme northern end of the valley, he may be said to have had the hallowed associations of childhood to bias his judgment, but those not to the manor born have fully agreed in his opinion. Visitors from all parts of the world have unconsciously ex- pressed the same sentiment. It is all the more pleasurable in quoting the words of General Strother to note that he served in the Union army throughout the war.
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Of the thousands who followed "Phil" Sheridan up and down the valley, there were very few who failed to note its sur- passing beauty. While blistered feet and empty stomachs are not conducive to aesthetic observations, even these could not restrain the eye as it rested on wooded peak, sinnous river and fertile fields. Everywhere nature had spread her gifts with lavish hands, and passing events were to give to these ways and hills and acres a gloss like that which gilds the noted spots of the Eastern world.
These soldiers in blue and gray were shuttles in a mighty loom, whose beams and posts were the roads and hills of this fair land; the woof. the principles for which they fought, and as they alternately shot back and forth the fabric of history grew, woven of successive threads of varying hue mingled with crimson red, their own life's blood, till the mighty web seemed a veritable tapestry on which we might read deeds of valor, tales of endurance and suffering and love of native land alike creditable to all. The pictures anon seem to breathe, and we see starting into action the brave men who here gave them- selves to this national texture. Russell and Rodes. Lowell and Ramseur, with the thousands of lesser rank who unshrinkingly offered themselves to adorn its surface-all these are seen by every eye that glances over the mighty work which they ac- complished. and posterity, generations yet unborn, shall see in the product of their labors that for which they gave their lives, liberty for all. Those who died from Winchester to Staunton died not in vain. They live, and must forever live.
It is probable that living upon the enemy never had a more thorough illustration than on the part of our boys in their valley experience. What they could not tell of foraging and "drawing" supplies, would not be worth telling. While Sher- man's "Bummers" may have done a larger business, they did not have such a variety of resources, nor so rich a base of operations. Notwithstanding the almost ceaseless activity of the army, the men found time to inspect every nook and cranny of the country. They devised or appropriated cooking utensils till they were ready to prepare any dish from fried pork to a plum pudding. They developed culinary talent that would have astonished the women at home. It would seem that aside from the duty of fighting and chasing rebels. they became little bet- ter than organized stomachs. One veteran, who kept his diary
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through the entire enlistment, says: "As I read over these words written so long ago, I almost blush at the reflection that I recorded little else than what I had to eat." After all, has not General Sherman said, "An army moves on its belly"? The harder and fiercer the strife, the nearer man reverts to that early period in his history when, with his fellow animals, he struggled for mere existence. The culture of ages disap- pears, mind yields to matter, the body asserts itself, and that upon which it may subsist is the prime consideration.
Rations* as furnished by the government were well enough to fall back upon under pressure, but for daily consumption the country itself afforded what the soldiers liked far better. In taking these items there was little question of the suffering that might be caused by such an appropriation. vet these men had helpless families at home; in many cases they were pro- fessed Christians; but war, cruel, relentless war, transforms those who engage in it. Hungry men do not moralize.
Behold a camp scene! The fuel used is in many cases the farmers' fences. In one instance the hapless possessor said. "That is the third fence destroyed on that same line within the last three months; secesh and Union, they both act just the same." There was nothing so handy for placing pots, cups, spiders and kettles as a pile of rails, and how the Virginia rail-fences would burn! They had been drying for generations for just this purpose, and no man more quickly realizes the eternal fitness of things than the soldier in active warfare. From our first entrance of this happy land, fruit and vegetables have been at their best. Green corn was in a state to keep Indians' feet dancing, and all the stock had not been driven away. From the mills and houses raw flour was secured, fowls were stolen, and chicken potpie was by no means a rarity. Boiled dinners, including the orthodox cabbage and salt pork, were frequent, and for side dishes honey and preserves were the rule. For the proper preparation of such dishes, heavy
.An army ration as issued on the march consisted of 12 ounces of pork or bacon, or 1} pounds of fresh beef, or 1 pound 6 ounces of salt beef; 1 pound of hard bread. Fifteen pounds of beans for 100 rations, 8 pounds of roasted coffee, or 2 pounds of tea, for 100 rations; 15 pounds of sugar and 4 pounds of soap for 100 rations. Beef was driven on foot. In camp near supplies, flour or soft bread was issued in place of hard-tack when asked for, and rice in place of beans, and vinegar, pepper and desiccated vegetables in addition.
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