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 16
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
kettles were carried in addition to the regular warlike accou- trements, the members of a mess by pairs taking turns in transporting. Of course the kettle itself was at first stolen, and not infrequently stolen again by some envious mess in another portion of the force. It was, "Every man for himself, and the d-l take the hindmost."
Some new dishes were devised, one something like the home succotash without the beans; corn in the milk cut from the cob, cooked in water or milk, and stirred until thick; then corn a little older would be rubbed upon a grater made by punching holes in a stolen milk-pan. This when cooked was an improve- ment on samp, or coarse Indian meal. The valley cows sup- plied the natural accompaniment. Eggs were cooked in every conceivable way. We made biscuits, too, but, "How could you raise them?" says some careful housewife; easy enough for an inventive Yankee who knew just a little of chemistry. Wood ashes boiled for a while supplied the potash base of saleratus, and a few drops of vinegar did the acid business, at home done by sour milk, and a covered spider was oven enough. Had wives at home only known the talents of their benedicts, many would have demanded a culinary vacation, at least for a while when the war was over.
"An army terrible with banners," was not to be mentioned with the 6th Corps when it had on its war and cooking togs. Guns and ammunition were useful on occasion, but when the real necessaries of life were mentioned, they were not in it with the blackened coffee-cup tied to the haversack, the leaf or grass cleaned skillet, with soot-covered exterior, suspended from the stalwart back forming a sort of rear armor, and the tenderly- watched camp-kettle borne by sometimes wearied hands. If they do not carry Caesar and his fortunes, they surely bear that which has to do with the meat upon which Great Caesar feeds.
October 4th still in camp, with conflagrations in every direc- tion; much family history is disappearing in this ruthless way, but war's demands are heartless. One boy records that he paid $15 in Confederate money for five pounds of cheese. It is a comforting reflection that even one purchase was made. Owing to the reunion of the regiment, a rearrangement of battalions is made, and Major William Wood commands the 1st, Captain Hyde the 2d, and Captain A. S. Wood the 3d.
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THE VALLEY AND CEDAR CREEK.
Colonel Seward has become a brigadier general, with head- quarters at Martinsburg; Lieutenant Colonel Taft, promoted to colonel. is unable to be with us on account of the loss of a leg at Monocacy; Major Snyder, now lieutenant colonel, is away on furlough, and Major Burgess commands the regiment. Companies G, K, I, and D are in the 1st Battalion. We are a long way from our base of supplies. Our wagons, not numer- ous enough for our needs, are attacked in every train. Guard- ing trains is no sinecure.
Nothing can be found of the enemy in front, so the lost third of the Ninth comes up just in time to fall back with us, for on the 6th we retire twenty-two miles with very little halt- ing, having started at daylight, and camp near Mount Jackson. The air is filled with the smoke of burning property. The Ninth leading the 3d Division, we march more easily than those be- hind. We occupy old rebel rifle-pits.
It was on this day's march that one of our boys, with foot so swollen that he could not wear a boot, had fallen out, and was fully an hour behind the regiment. The sun was an hour high when the sight of three cows aroused an appetite for milk. Though far behind and very weary, he determined to have milk for supper. Two bossies were impervious to his blandishments, but the third yielded and a full cup rewarded his efforts. Sit- ting on the corner of a rail-fence with crumbed hardtack, he played he was a boy again. Just then an officer rode up, say- ing, "What in h-1 are you doing there? There are rebs in those woods, and you will be gobbled before morning." At this announcement a lively fusilade from the woods made the rider put spurs to his horse and disappear. "I finished my meal in peace; never had bread and milk tasted so good before. and strengthened by the same I pushed on, unmolested further by the Johnnies, and just as the sun passed over the mountain, I caught up with my comrades."
The next day we continued our retrograde movement, though slowly, through Mount Jackson and Woodstock, camping a little north of the town. As bridges had been burned. all streams had to be forded. A cloud of smoke accompanies us. ttokening ill to the inhabitants. The hours of the Sth see us marching back to Strasburg, passing Fisher's hill, and camping on flat land by the river-side. where we meet the postmaster for the first time since leaving Harper's Ferry.
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Sunday, the 9th, is spent in camp, and the paymaster, Major Ely, makes the day happy for some of the companies. On this same 9th there is fighting back of us; men, wagons and guns are captured. It was a short, sharp conflict at Tom's brook between our cavalry and that of the enemy under Rosser, a new leader, who instead of clearing the valley of our forces lost nearly everything that he had. It may have been here that coming into Early's presence with laurel leaves upon his hat, the older officer remarked, "A pumpkin-vine would be more appropriate." "How so, General?" said Rosser. "Because it's so d-d good at running."
The morning of the 10th reveals the first frost of the season, and while it may injure corn, it will surely ripen persimmons. March near middle of forenoon north to Middletown, thence deflected to the southeast, reaching Front Royal in the after- noon. It was just before this march that a 1st sergeant of the Ninth stole two very fine white geese, one of which he and his friends cooked and ate, but "forward" orders came too early to secure the second in like manner. So the goose became a part of the officer's baggage as they marched away, reposing upon the shoulders soon to wear lieutenant's straps. For once the bird was too heavy, or as the writer expressed, "He was not up or down to my standard of leanness, so he was presented to the commander's orderly, who carried him to our journey's end; there he was cooked and served, and I came in for a good share of him, though not in a perfectly legitimate way, for I did not dine with the major." Here on the 11th more compa- nies were paid. for six months, the first money received since leaving the defenses, and the most of it was sent home. Some of the men were ordered out to drive away guerrillas who were prowling about the camp, but being well mounted, they had little difficulty in escaping. Foraging is very good, and life is worth living.
October 12th is signalized by the arrival of Lieutenant Col- onel Snyder, who brought numerous commissions with him. Promotion in war-time is rapid. Camp is moved across the small creek on whose banks we had paused. and a bridge is built in the rain by our workmen. The next day we march towards Ashby's gap, the rumor being that we are going to Alexandria. but the orders are countermanded on reaching the
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THE VALLEY AND CEDAR CREEK.
river, so we countermarch and encamp near Millwood .* An apple-orchard near by renders the camp all the more pleasant. for the fruit is the best yet sampled. War knows neither night nor day, for it is 3 o'clock A. M. of the 14th when we rouse, fall in, and start away on a march, striking the Winchester pike at Newtown and terminating at Cedar creek, where we form in battle-line, the enemy being in evidence; but as nothing comes of it, we go into camp. The next day came nearly 300 recruits, who were distributed through the several companies. Our camp is moved a short distance and tents are pitched regularly. The enemy can be seen plainly beyond Fisher's hill cutting trees, and apparently planting batteries.
The 16th is Sunday, and we are ordered under arms between 3 and 4 A. M., as an attack is expected; but it does not come. Sergeant Devoe of Company G, who later became our chaplain, gave us a sermon. Monday is cool, and our recruits get their first drill. Great vigilance is had, for an attack is imminent. Notwithstanding the danger, the regular purveyors go out after food, and return with the proverbial mutton. Among the seekers were some of the new recruits, and one, only a lad. records his inability to hit a turkey; says they started at 9 .1. M. and got back at 5 in the afternoon. Thinks they must have gone ten miles, and is sure that they took everything that was out of doors and they happened to want. Wonders how the folks in York state would like such usage. The 18th saw a general effort to secure wood for fuel, fence-rails having long since disappeared; battalion drill with enemy in sight; other- wise quiet.
By many the 19th of October is considered the most impor-
*Since the war we have learned that Sheridan sent the 6th Corps to Front Royal with the expectation of returning us to Washington by the Manassas Gap railroad then being repaired. As, however, repairs had ceased, he ordered us up to Ashby's gap, and General Wright's horse was in the Shenandoah when the countermarching order was received. The enemy had reappeared in force at Fisher's hill, and therefrom was sending out attacking parties, evidently under the im- pression that the main army was much smaller than it was before. Sixth Corps veterans cannot be blamed that they are proud over Sheridan's conclusion that their retention was necessary to the success of his campaign, though their return meant resumption of long marches, and the horrors as well as glory of Cedar Creek. The wis- dom of this reversal of our movements was evident when Early moved out on that morning walk of October 19th. .
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tant day in the history of the regiment, for within its hours was fought the great Battle of Cedar Creek .* On the 15th, in obedience to orders from Washington, Sheridan had departed thither, via Front Royal and Manassas gap. On his return he reached Winchester between 3 and 4 P. M. on the 18th, and reports from the front, where General H. G. Wright was in command, being reassuring, he remained there over night. At 6 the next morning. he was roused with statements that heavy firing was heard from the south, but it was not till nearly 9 o'clock that he mounted Rienzi and started armyward. Even then he had no intimation of the disaster that had befallen his forces.
In brief, the situation on the banks of Cedar creek, this Octo- ber morning, was as follows: Of the main infantry, General Crook with his Sth Corps, the same men who had so gallantly turned the rebel left flank at Winchester and Fisher's hill, held our left and the valley pike facing east and south, and having intrenchments. Then towards the right came the 19th Corps, General Emory, facing south and along the high banks of the creek. Here also were earthworks, the corps being con- siderably further to the north than the Sth.
Again towards the right and north, almost at right angles with the 19th, was the 6th Corps. We faced the stream and looked westward. Of this corps, the 2d Division held the right, the 1st the centre, and the 3d the left. The 2d Cavalry flanked the infantry, with Custer on the right of the 6th Corps, and Powell, formerly Averill's, on the extreme left, our lines ex- tending thus from North Mountain to the vicinity of Front Royal. Never was there a morning better fitted for Early's purposes than this. The air reeked with moisture, and not till 9 o'clock could men be sure of where they were.
His plan was to make a feint upon our right, and to attack in force the left. He had learned from his sightly signal-sta- tion on Massanuttan mountain that our left was lightly pick- eted, and that the cavalry force was small. He accordingly de-
*Just before the Battle of Cedar Creek, Early declared he would be in Pennsylvania on election day, November 8th, or in hell; a remark characteristic, but as far from realization as Beauregard's similar one before Shiloh, viz., that he would water his horse, on the given night, either in the Mississippi or in hell. These rebels appeared to be very ready to accept hell as their alternative destination.
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THE VALLEY AND CEDAR CREEK.
1
-
NEWTOWN
.
l'& 3 "DIV'S 6°CORPS.IAM
OLD ROAD
CUSTER
19-CORPS
3'DIV. I'DIV.
ENEMY'S
THIRD
MERRITT"
RUN
CAMP
CAVALRY
CAVALRY 9 AM
LA.N
LETTY
T'DIV CAM
3 OIV
MEADOW RUN
MIDDLETOWN
POSITIONY
ENEMY'S
I'J' CORFSI
ENEMYS SEC
KER SHA
CROOK'S CAMP
GORCON
PEGRAM
RIV
AH
BUCKTON
NO
FCRD
OLD ROAD
CEDAR CREEK
BOWMAN'S FORD
From Chaplain Haynes' "10th Vermont."
POSITION
SRASBURO
FIRST
RPMSEUR
VALLEY PIKE
WHARTON
ZAM
CAMP
6' CORPS CAMP
POSITION
CEDAR CREEK
11AM GETTY
. VALLEY PIKE
19 . CORPS, ILAM.,
CEDAR CREEK BATTLEFIELD.
SHENP
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
termined to move a column between the base of the mountain and the river (the north fork of the Shenandoah), to ford the same, and then to fall upon our left and rear. The plan was that of Fisher's hill, in reverse. To secure the utmost quiet, swords and canteens were ordered to be left in camp. The rebel infantry to make this attack consisted of three divisions of the 2d Corps, viz., Gordon's, Ramseur's and Pegram's, all under General Gordon, while Early himself was to follow with Kershaw's and Wharton's divisions, and to attack as soon as Gordon had engaged, the latter to be ready to assail at 5 o'clock. Rosser was to lead his cavalry against the Union right, while Lomax was to look out for the Federal cavalry towards Front Royal. Knowing the Belle Grove House to be Sheridan's head- quarters, that was made the objective point, with the hope of capturing the Union leaders. In effect, Early moved up quicker than was intended, forded Cedar creek at Bowman's mill, and Kershaw was first to attack promptly at 5 o'clock. Gordon, having forded the Shenandoah, was soon heard from, and Ros- ser much earlier skirmished as ordered on the Union right.
It has been claimed that rebels in Union clothing relieved our pickets. Be this as it may, the surprise of the veterans of the 8th Corps was complete. It was Thoburn's division that was first struck, and their seven cannon were at once turned against them. The rout continued in detail, next striking the 19th Corps, which in turn gave way, and no settled resistance was made till the 6th Corps was reached. It is safe to state that the Army of the Shenandoah was never in greater con- fusion. It was just at dawn, with an impenetrable mist. Horses, mules, cows, officers and men fairly confounded con- fusion, and to crown all, however ludicrous some of the scenes may have been, death was putting in his fiercest work, for rebel shot, shell and bullets kept coming thicker and faster. As General Wright was in command of the army. the 6th Corps was under General Ricketts, the 3d Division under Colonel Keifer and our 2d Brigade followed Colonel Ball of the 122d Ohio. As General Ricketts was wounded early in the fight, he was succeeded by General Getty of the 2d Division.
The mischief of the early morning was done beyond repair, and no gallantry of the 6th could recall the fugitives, but as our interest centres chiefly in our own brigade or regiment, it is well to let Colonel Ball tell his own story:
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THE VALLEY AND CEDAR CREEK.
The troops were roused at dawn of day by musketry at our left. Shortly after the lines were formed. the command of the brigade devolved upon myself, in consequence of changes re- sulting from the absence of General Sheridan. The brigade was formed in two lines-the first composed of the 9th New York Artillery, 138th Pennsylvania. and a portion of the 67th Pennsylvania; the second embraced the 6th Maryland, 126th, 122d and the 110th Ohio; the regiments occupied positions from right to left as named. Before sunrise I received orders to move by the right flank toward the pike. ' After moving a short distance in that direction, orders were received to return to the position from which we had just moved, and to await orders. Shortly afterward, I was ordered in the same manner and direction as before. The brigade moved to an elevation near and in rear of army headquarters. where it came under fire. The lines were faced by the rear rank; the second, now become the first, moved forward to meet the advancing foe and hold a crest in front. The troops moved gallantly and drove back the advance of the enemy. and became warmly engaged. capturing several prisoners. About this time a large number of the 19th Army Corps passed through the line and broke its organization. The line could not be reformed in that place in consequence of the numbers retreating over the ground. The greater part of the troops of that line collected and formed on the remaining line. The brigade was then under severe fire, both from infantry and artillery. Troops left the field on both my right and left, until the brigade was without immediate support. At this particular moment the 9th New York Heavy Artillery* behaved with coolness and gallantry. Under orders the troops moved back with great regularity a short distance to another elevation, where they were met by another order to retire to a road half a mile to the rear. At the road the position was occupied a few minutes, the 8th Corps on my left. I was then ordered to move to the left. I did so. connecting with the left of the Sth Army Corps. Having now no connec. tion on my left, I ordered Captain Prentiss. 6th Maryland. to protect the left flank by skirmishers. The direction was prompt- lv carried out.
*Lieutenant Colonel Moses M. Granger of the 122d Ohio, before the Ohio Commandery, Loyal Legion, said: "We had a good view of our brigade while marching to the rear, and especially admired the bear- ing of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery, our largest regiment." Adjutant Wheeler of the 122d Ohio in a letter to Colonel Granger says: "Admiring the splendid performance of the 9th New York, under their lieutenant colonel (just promoted from senior major, and who had never been under fire before); they marched like a militia regiment on parade, and were frequently halted, dressed, faced about and made to fire. It certainly had a good moral effect."
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
After occupying the position some time, I received orders to move to the rear. I did so, the troops of the Sth Army Corps passing to my left, and took a position a mile to the rear of that last occupied. Here we were ordered to move obliquely to the left and rear, and connect with the right of the 2d Divi- sion, 6th Army Corps. We connected with the right of the Sth Corps at a stone fence in a wood near the pike. Defensive works were hastily constructed of such material as could readily be had, and the troops, it being noon, rested, some two hours or more. . . . While we were in this position, Major General Sheri- dan rode along the line from left to right, encouraging the men. He was greeted with most enthusiastic cheers by the troops. This was the first assurance the army had of his return. About 3 P. M. the whole army advanced in one line against the enemy. Immediately before advancing the troops were with- drawn to the left, and my left connected with the 2d Division, 6th Corps, while my right connected with the 1st Brigade, 3d Division. Several efforts were made by the enemy during the pursuit to rally, but the enthusiastic pursuit foiled all such efforts. Our troops were subject to artillery fire of solid shot. shell and grape during the pursuit. and we reached the intrenchments of the 19th Army Corps (which were cap- tured in the morning) as the sun set. Here the pursuit by the infantry was discontinued. The first, second and probably the third colors planted on the recovered works of the 19th Corps were of regiments composing this brigade.
Colonel J. Warren Keifer, commanding the 3d Division, in his extended report, mentions particularly the services of Major J. W. Snyder, commanding the 9th Heavy, and also Major Charles Burgess, in command of one of the battalions. Captain Anson S. Wood,* chief of pioneers upon his staff, is commended for his faithfulness and gallantry in the thickest of the battle. He also stated that the 9th New York Heavy Artillery, for its noble behavior, deserves to be specially men- tioned. "The regiment had several hundred recruits that had just entered the service."
Let us now return to Sheridan, whom we left riding swiftly to the fray.
Here are his words, descriptive of his first sight of the rout and his subsequent action :
*Colonel Granger,in the paper already quoted from, has these words : "Just then Major Anson Wood, of the 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery (one of our division staff), was seen galloping across the plateau beyond the ravine. Reining up and raising his hand in salute to Colonel Ball, the major's horse fell dead before the rider could speak his message."
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THE VALLEY AND CEDAR CREEK.
At Mill creek my escort fell in behind, and we were going ahead at a regular pace, when, just as we made the crest of the rise beyond the stream, there burst upon our view the appalling spectacle of a panic-stricken army, hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others unhurt, but utterly demoralized, and baggage-wagons by the score, all pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly that a disaster had occurred at the front. On accosting some of the fugitives, they assured me that the army was broken up, in full retreat, and that all was lost; all this with a manner true to that peculiar indifference that takes possession of panic-stricken men. I was greatly disturbed by the sight, but at once sent word to Colonel Edwards, commanding the brigade in Win- chester, to stretch his troops across the valley, near Mill creek, and stop all fugitives, directing also that the transportation be passed through and parked on the north side of the town. For a short distance I traveled on the road. but soon found it so blocked with wagons and wounded men that my progress was impeded, and I was forced to take to the ad- joining fields to make haste. When most of the wagons and wounded men were passed, I returned to the road, which was thickly lined with unhurt men, who, having got far enough to the rear to be out of danger, had halted, without any organiza- tion. and begun cooking coffee, but when they saw me. they abandoned their coffee, threw up their hats, shouldered their muskets, and as I passed along turned to follow with enthu- siasm and cheers. To acknowledge this exhibition of feeling I took off my hat, and with Forsyth and O'Keefe rode some dis- tance in advance of my escort, while every mounted officer who saw me galloped out on either side of the pike to tell the men at a distance that I had come back. In this way the news was spread to the stragglers off the road, when they. too. turned their faces to the front and marched towards the enemy, changing in a moment from the depths of depression to the extreme of enthusiasm. I already knew that in the ordinary condition of mind enthusiasm is a potent element with soldiers. but what I saw that day convinced me that if it can be excited from a state of despondency its power is almost irresistible. I said nothing except to remark as I rode along the road. "If I had been with you this morning. this disaster would not have happened. We must face the other way; we will go back and
recover our camp.' When nearing the valley pike, just south of Newtown, I saw about three-fourths of a mile west of the pike a body of troops, which proved to be Ricketts's and Wheaton's divisions of the 6th Corps, and then learned that the 19th Corps had halted a little to the right and rear of these. but I did not stop, desiring to get to the extreme front. Con- tinuing on parallel with the pike, about midway between New- town and Middletown, I crossed to the west of it, and a little
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
later came up in rear of Getty's division of the 6th Corps.
· Between 3.30 and 4 o'clock, I was ready to assail, and decided to do so by advancing my infantry line in a swing- ing movement. so as to gain the valley pike between Middle- town and the Belle Grove House.
Few battles during the Rebellion have received more atten- tion at the hands of the historian than that of Cedar Creek. That it was one of the most important, few will question. The former engagements in the valley campaign, fierce and bloody though they were, had only scotched the snake, not killed it. Early had the prevailing American characteristic of not know- ing when he was whipped, and in this instance his ignorance came near working irreparable misfortune to the Union cause. for the effect upon the presidential contest, then in progress, of such a defeat as the morning's result bade fair to be, no one can overestimate. His attack and early success must be acknowledged to be phenomenal; whether his surprise would have been any less fortunate for him, had Sheridan been in the camp, we can never tell. Very likely the presence of the trusted chief might have sooner brought order out of chaos, but that his coming was the sole cause of the subsequent vic- tory, no 6th Corps man will ever concede. The rout was over, the tide was stemmed, the tangled ends were in the hands of Wright, and the advance would have been made earlier than it was made had not Sheridan appeared. No one questions the enthusiasm which his coming inspired, nor the value of his presence, but twenty-four years later, he said: "The surprise of the morning might have befallen me as well as the general upon whom it did descend."
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