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 19
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During the night one of the prisoners told Sergeant S. F. Harris of Company I that there was a plan afoot to overcome the guard, capture the boat, run it ashore and burn it, then to make their way across the country to rebeldom. Something similar to this had been done with the transport Roanoke. As this prisoner asserted his intention of taking the oath of alle- giance whenever opportunity offered, there seemed to be some ground of belief in his words. The commanding officer was informed, and the cannon trained to sweep the decks and orders were issued to be particularly vigilant. The break was to take place at midnight, and at that hour there was a stir among the prisoners, but they were ordered to lie down, under penalty of being shot. They were not slow to comply, but whispers were heard among them of traitors. Nothing further occurred
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FROM CEDAR CREEK TO PETERSBURG.
before reaching Point Lookout, where those who did not go "whirling up the valley" were turned over to the care of negro troops, a fact which nearly broke the hearts of some of the F. F. V. s.
Early on the 25th of October, the men who had guarded prisoners to Martinsburg and had been waiting there a couple of days, started back with others in charge of a wagon-train. They had gone only a few miles south of Bunker Hill when they were assaulted by Moseby's* men, who were in consider- able force for them. However, the presence of artillery with the escort afforded Colonel Moseby a much warmer reception than he had calculated upon. Accordingly, he withdrew his troops quite barren of trophies, though earlier he had captured General Alfred N. Duffie, who was carelessly riding in a light wagon in front of the train. Of this affair, Moseby's historian. Captain James J. Williamson. Company A of the Rangers. says: "The train was a large one, and had started from Martins- burg early in the morning with a guard composed of Currie's brigade, together with the 5th Wisconsin Volunteers, the 9th New York Heavy Artillery, and a force of cavalry made up of several detachments, all under command of Colonel Currie."
Not being fully aware of the length and strength of the train, and escort. Moseby hurriedly disposed his force for the assault: Chapman and Mountjoy with one squadron, to charge
.No part of the Confederacy had more nor more persistent and at the same time more evasive guerrillas and bushwhackers than the Shenandoah valley. It was the stamping-ground of Moseby, by far the most noted of all the irregular gangs of fighters. His deeds and those of his followers, however admired by the South, were scarcely better than those of highwaymen. October 3rd Lieutenant John R. Meigs, engineer on Sheridan's staff, was murdered near Harrisonburg, within the Union lines. For this everything combustible within a radius of five miles was ordered burned, but the command was not literally obeyed. In November Lieutenant Colonel C. W. Tolles, chief quartermaster of the 6th Corps, and Captain Buchanan, 3rd Division commissary, also General Inspector Doctor Emil Ohlenschlager, were waylaid and shot. Captain Buchanan was murdered under circum- stances of peculiar atrocity. Such events prompted Sheridan to send General Wesley Merritt through the passes and fastnesses of the Blue Ridge, with the aim of completely destroying the resources and hiding- places of these hard riders and cut-throats. The story of Moseby and his men as told in Captain Williamson's "Moseby's Rangers" eclipses the wildest flights of fiction.
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in front, while he, with Richards' squadron, to assail the rear. The cavalry were easily driven back, but the infantry proved too strong, and when the artillery opened fire, Moseby drew off his men, hoping that the cavalry would follow them up, so that he could fall upon them at a safe distance from the in- fantry and artillery. But this they would not do. The escort seemed to understand that their duty was to guard the train, and they "stuck to it." Our own detachment was under the com- mand of Captain S. F. Lamoreaux of Company F.
The capture of General Duffie made some stir, and the event was the subject of several dispatches, one of them being from our late Colonel Seward, now brigadier general in command at Martinsburg. Sheridan had little sympathy for the captured officer,* saying, "He was captured by his own stupidity."
Our boys reached their old camp without further adventures at sundown of the 26th; also Captain Squyer reported same day. Meantime, on the 22d, the beautiful horse that had borne Colonel Snyder so gallantly in the great battle, and that had been to our boys what the white plumes of Henry of Navarre were at Ivry, succumbed to his wounds, regretted by every man in the regiment. "Do you remember the colonel's cream-col- ored horse?" is a query heard to this day where comrades meet.
From "Hardtack and Coffee," by permission.
*Brigadier General Alfred N. Duffié was born in France in 1835; saw distinguished service in the Crimea and in the Franco-Austrian War of 1859. Coming to America at the beginning of our Civil War, he early took sides with the North. Governor Sprague of Rhode Island made him colonel of the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry, and he was later promo- ted. During his captivity he was held in Danville, where so many of the Ninth's men were confined. He was the leader in the attempted break in December, 1864. After his parole in February, 1865, he was sent to the department of the Missouri, and there served until the end of the war. The last ten years of his life were spent as United States consul at Cadiz, Spain, where he died in 1880.
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FROM CEDAR CREEK TO PETERSBURG.
October 30th Companies A, G, C and D guard a train back to Martinsburg, late Captain, now Major, Squyer in command. He had been away ever since his wound at Cold Harbor, and had his routine to learn over again.
The 27th Major Burgess and his prisoners' escort returned. During these three weeks of stay on Cedar creek, though the enemy was completely demoralized and his exhibition only sporadic, guerrillas were common, and marauding raiders were constantly expected, consequently there was little of the rest that comes from freedom from anxiety. The round of parade, drill. etc., was kept up notwithstanding drenching rains, which were common.
November 1st, a foraging party went seven miles away and secured honey and hogs and a quantity of hay, leaving one- half ton for the old man owner, who sought it as an act of charity. It is pleasant to record this retention of a heart on the Federals' part. It is probable that no one item among the valley products made a more lasting impression upon the army moving along the Shenan- doah than honey. Ask any man who served there what he remem- bers best, and the chances are he will answer, "Honey." They be- came expert capturers of the same, though the accompanying picture shows what sometimes befell the careless plunderer. Martinsburg prices current are interesting: sugar, 25 cents per From "Hardtack and Coffee," by permission. pound; cheese, 40; butter, 60; milk, 10 cents per quart.
November 5th came the first snow-fall, but the camp-duty goes on just the same; Companies H and L on picket; four men and a corporal on a post. The vidette is thirteen rods away from the post in the daytime and three rods away in the night. The posts are about fourteen rods apart. The momentous pres- idential election of 1864 came on the 8th of November, just as late as possible, and it is not improbable that the movement of the Ninth was delayed till after the voting was done. Our men gave Lincoln a large vote, as might have been expected.
On the 9th of November begins the falling back, moving at 9.30 A. M. and camping between Newtown and Winchester.
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
possibly four miles from the latter place. Except as exact camp location was varied, we remained here till December 3d, the change of place being caused by a desire to be nearer the base of supplies. There are the daily foraging expeditions, and the wonder is that there was anything left worth taking. Some- how or other the enemy managed to make a deal of noise around us on occasion. On the 10th we change our position, bringing our regiment on extreme right of corps, division and brigade. The 11th sees the tents going up in systematic man- ner with carefully made chimneys and fireplaces. In the after- noon an alarm calls the boys out with orders to pack up; but firing ceased after dark. The next morning we were stirred up before daylight, form battle-line and march to crest of hill, where we carried rails and resumed our pristine calling of mak- ing breastworks. Lie behind them all day, and are relieved at night. We fire off old loads in guns, return to camp and get our suppers.
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From "Hardtack and Coffee," by permission,
FRYING HARDTACK.
This is our part in the cavalry skirmish of Newtown. Early, hearing of Sheridan's withdrawal, fancies that the latter has sent troops to Petersburg, and that there may be a chance for him (Early) to retrieve his lost fortunes, but the reconnoissance reveals the main force as strong as ever. It was on this occa- sion that Jimmy H., a character of Company A, though pretty well known throughout the regiment, immortalizes himself. At a fine, large spring a mile and a half from our camp, near
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FROM CEDAR CREEK TO PETERSBURG.
that of the cavalry, we were accustomed to get water. On ac- count of the distance, one man would carry a large number of canteens, thus saving many steps. It was Jimmy's turn to go. He had fifteen or sixteen canteens. Later he came running back bareheaded, minus all his canteens, his scant hair fairly erect with terror. shouting, in the richest of brogues, "Begobs, bys, the whole ribbel ahrmy is comin'." All of us had to double-quick in the direction of Jimmy's scare and spend the night in throwing up breastworks, but the "ribbels" had been whipped by the cavalry long before we could have been of any service. On our way out we found all the canteens save one, to which some thirsty soldier had apparently frozen, for be it known that canteens in the army, like umbrellas at home, were liable to sudden appropriation.
The performance of the 13th is similar, for we start at 4 o'clock again, and as before form in battle-line; get more rails and repair works impaired by burning of last night. In the afternoon 150 prisoners with two pieces of artillery, captured yesterday, pass through. Though a detail of men is kept in the breastworks, the majority of men are interested in trying to secure food and maintaining regular camp-life. On the 16th came a brigade review by General Seymour, division com- mander. Regiment complimented, for we number as many as the rest of the brigade. During the days there is never-ending breastwork making, and blisters come on soldierly palms. much to the disgust of the possessors, since that result of work- ing for Uncle Sam is not popular.
The 19th, just one month from the great Battle of Cedar Creek. in behalf of Company E. Major William Wood gave to Lieutenant Colonel Snyder, after parade. a twenty-five-dollar pair of spurs. The evident embarrassment of both officers was greatly to their credit, their forte being deeds rather than words.
Sheridan's review of the 6th Corps, on the 21st. is a memor- able event in the memory of the men present. Though rain fell all day, the review went on just the same. It was no ordinary array of men which passed before one of the most remarkable soldiers of the world's history. Man and men were well worthy of each other. Neither Sheridan nor the corps had ever been found wanting. Our regiment was on the extreme left of the infantry. The cavalry go out on reconnaissance, and railroad
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
connections to Winchester are completed. The 22d, Lieutenant Yard took fifty men from I and as many more from G and started on a foraging trip over the hills, ten miles and back. Loaded six wagons with corn and hay, besides three hives of honey, lots of pork, beans, apples and apple-butter, all hidden in the woods, but the boys smelled them out.
Thanksgiving day for 1864 came on November 24th, and the good folks at home in the North had done their best to make the day a pleasant one. They had sent a large quantity of turkeys, geese and chickens for soldiers' consumption, but somehow or other when toll has been taken at all the ports of entry, the quantity left for the men was hardly adequate. The latter always thought the quartermaster's department a very hungry institution; at any rate there were not enough birds to go round. Thus to the Ninth there came sixty turkeys and geese, just one for every seventeen men, any four of whom would undertake to devour the very largest of them and then clamor for more. However, raffling for a Thanksgiving dinner had not been unknown at home in the palmy days of peace, and it did not take long to resolve upon lot-drawing for the disposal of them. Accordingly a lucky few got the fowls, and invited in whom they chose to help eat. The great majority looked on in hungry envy, but the result to them was not "very fillin'." Still we were not starving by any means, and all sorts of dishes made up from commissary sources and from the neighboring country, served up with recollections of home, made the food part of the day pass pretty well. Some boys bought out the rights of others and had their birds cooked by the officers' servants. Here is the bill of fare of one mess got from the sutler, and the cost of each item: 1 quart of pickles, 25 cents; 1 bottle of mustard, 50 cents; 20 cakes, 50 cents; ¿ pound of raisins, 25 cents; these, with beef, beef's heart, hardtack and coffee stayed the stomachs in blue till the turkey came at nightfall from the lieutenant's cook. As it is the chronicler's duty to record bad as well as good items, it must be stated that whatever lack there may have been in solid refreshment. there were unlimited quantities of liquids, to the extent that the evening brigade dress-parade was said to have been quite a spirited affair.
The 25th and 26th days saw considerable parties go out for forage. They are obliged to go quite a distance from camp,
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FROM CEDAR CREEK TO PETERSBURG.
twelve miles or thereabouts, the intervening country having been so thoroughly scoured. The usual plunder is found, though frequently the best items are hidden in the woods. One party thus comes upon a quantity of honey and apple-butter. A hive of bees has no terror for the adept forager. The eleven wagons are brought in, well loaded with all sorts. Still we are not wholly obdurate, and a guard is placed in one house at the owner's solicitation, and at another the effusive gratitude of the mistress thereof is blush-provoking to the captain, whose modesty is only equaled by his gallantry. The manner of cook- ing our meat was not the home way, but it was effectual.
From "Hardtack and Coffee," by permission.
BROILING STEAK.
It is the second day's trip that a party of guerrillas swoop down on a squad of our men, largely of Company B, and includ- ing Lieutenant Fish's colored servant Sam, and gather them in. After relieving the soldiers of their blue uniforms, and leav- ing Confederate gray in exchange, they made off, taking Sam with them, a fact for which they were subsequently sorry, for the "colored gemmen" succeeded in paying them off by getting them all into the Union lines only two days later. Perhaps the loss of Surgeon Sabin's horse, ridden on this occasion by his orderly, afforded as much regret as any part of the event. This same raid is described by another, who says: "The rebels set out to hang the colored servant at once. They even had a rope
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about his neck, but finally concluded, if saved, he might be of some service to them. The enemy hung around so closely that foraging was risky, but two boys who had been on guard de- termined not to return to camp empty-handed. So they went off on their own hook. The first house they entered had three big masculines, presumably rebels, consequently one of us stood guard while the other ransacked, finding only a little hoecake for his pains. The main party had found a big jar of butter. covered by a brass kettle, hidden in the top of a fallen tree, but we seemed unlucky. However, on leaving the house, we saw two horses feeding in a field near some woods. We debated whether the riders might not be near by, and a rolled Union overcoat was on one saddle; but I wasn't going back to camp with nothing to show for my trip, so I just went in and took one of the steeds. When T. saw I was not molested he took the other, and didn't we ride back to camp in style! for the horses
were no old plugs, but real fine young beasts.
They were
mighty useful, too, for we had to carry water some distance; but a horse-load of canteens just helped out amazingly. No trouble in getting forage for them. When the time came to break camp and start for Washington, I just 'drew' a small open wagon and loaded in no end of traps belonging to the boys and rode to the station kiting. I had expected to turn the equine loose when through with him, but a native offered me his watch for the whole outfit. I jumped at the trade, and then sold the time-keeper for $15. T. let his beast run, not be- ing so lucky as I was. I wasn't finding any fault with war just then. As I sat on the top of the car, I saw some of the boys holding the attention of a sutler in front, while the rest of the party were stealing from the rear all they could reach." Is there any wonder that sutler's prices were high?
Camp routine, dear to the officers, disliked by the men, fin- ished out the month and made a beginning of December, though our departure is evidently at hand, since the 1st Division left on the 1st, and on the 2d came the orders for us to be ready to follow.
Camp is broken on the morning of the 3d. and we march four miles beyond Winchester, where we take the cars a little before noon. Proceed thence to Harper's Ferry, whence we ride as the exigencies of railway service will permit to Wash- ington, getting there in the early morning of the 4th. Evident-
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FROM CEDAR CREEK TO PETERSBURG.
ly the government is not sending us on a pleasure excursion, for our stay in the Capital is very brief, only long enough to get down to Arsenal dock and to eat our breakfast. The trans- port Hermann Livingston is in waiting, and we are off before noon. Our boat is a rapid one, easily passing all others. Once more we are afloat and passing the scenes made familiar during the preceding two years and more. Here at our right is Alex- andria, with no end of recollections of past days there, and at the left rises Rozier's bluff, with Fort Foote surmounted, the product of our hands. Again we note Mount Vernon, Fort Washington and Belle Plain Landing, and night shuts down upon us still ploughing our way towards Petersburg and Grant's relentless grasp. At daybreak we pass from the Chesa- peake into the James, seeing Fortress Monroe at our right, but we do not stop, steaming by the several vessels bearing other parts of our division. It is 2 P. M. when we reach City Point, and towards night we land, march a mile or so, and camp.
It is about sundown on the 6th that we take a train for the front. Our return is quite in contrast from that made in the dust of the preceding July, en route to our summer and autum- nal quarters. The ride is soon ended, and we are quickly at Meade's station, where we alight, and under direction seek the place reserved for us. Scarcely more than half as many men return to Petersburg as left in the preceding July. The months had sadly ravaged our ranks. The railroad laid by Grant for military purposes was very useful, though it violated nearly all the rules of railroad engineering. It was laid on the surface of the ground with little or no ballasting, and still less grad- ing. so that in places both ends of a train might be visible while the middle was lost in an intervening valley. The sta- tions bore the names, as a general thing, of prominent com- manders, and were as liable to be moved as those soldiers them- selves.
TOR
RIVER
"Harello. IFT, STEDMAN
1
FT. HASKELL
13
R
PET
U.R
E
RS BUMM
Avery Ho"
ROAD
FT. SEDGWICK! (FT. HELL)?
NORFOLK &
FISHER.
FF.T. ALEX, HAYSE
FX WELCHE
ST. WIESICH
PAT'KKELLY
FIGREGG
T. BLAISDELL
:
Globe Tav.
FT. MC MAHON
HPLANA
EL
OAD
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG.
the Maryland, or 3d Brigade, 2d Division of the 5th Corps, and
Though we had been in front of Petersburg before, there is very little to identify our surroundings. We march past the headquarters of General Meade, and halting near, we are told, the lines held by the 5th Corps, we lie as best we can till morn- ing, the 7th of December, when it appears we have relieved
PETERSBURG THROUGH MARCH, 1865.
CHAPTER XX.
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NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
NOOT
WO PETERSBURG ROR
JERUSALEMA
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PETERSBURG THROUGH MARCH, 1865.
have fallen heirs to their winter quarters. If for a few mo- ments we congratulate ourselves on having houses ready made, we are doomed to early disappointment, for it seemed that these structures were -too near the breastworks, and we were ordered to tear them down, and move back 100 feet, so that none should be within 200 feet of the works. Of course this order does not come without a deal of turning round, having to move no less than four times. We are at the extreme left of the line, and as our orders to destroy and move back came late, we have another cold night under the open sky.
The morning of the 8th we are astir early, and under arms. for the 2d Battalion, Companies A, C, L and H, with K added, is ordered to Fort Wadsworth, five or six rods from Weldon railroad, and very near the famous yellow house, all under the command of Major William Wood. At the right there is heavy picket-firing, but all is quiet in our immediate front. The fort has four Parrott guns and four light brass twelve-pounders. Those who did not go to the fort had to get behind the breastworks. Water froze in can- teens, and at least one man claims to have had his foot frozen. It is evident we have not yet reached any statu quo location, for Company L moves several rods away from the fort, and the 1st and 3d Battalions are off with the rest of the corps to help the 5th and 2d if needed, on their Southside railroad venture, in direction of Stony Creek.
The fort is to be garrisoned each night by twenty-five men and one officer. The boys who remain in camp and are still shelterless work on new quarters. There was more moving with new locations, each one, if possible, being worse than the last. For the sake of exercise (?), there was a double-quick march to brigade headquarters. For a rarity soft bread was drawn. To crown the happenings of the day came a severe snow-storm. Complaints about quarters are numerous, and the 10th records nine changes of position, some getting back to their former quarters, or where they had been, only to find everything stripped, chimneys torn down, but in the midst of snow and sleet the snow is scraped away, the water is bailed out, and camp is again made.
It has been a long and tedious day. We were under arms at 5.15 A. M., and so continued till after sunrise. Fully three inches of snow were covering us when we awoke, and those
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who lay on the ground through the night, as the morning dawned, saw in every direction little snow-covered mounds which under the influence of the bugle-blast developed "boys in blue." Some thought they saw reminders of Marshall Ney's bivouacs in the terrible retreat, though some of the French slept ne'er to waken. Our boys revived speedily. We marched half a mile and formed in line; there was brisk skirmishing in front, and for a time it seemed as though there was business in store for us. However, it all subsided, and we move back as above. Camp in a mud-hole on the 11th, and what a time to introduce recruits to army life, but they came and had to take things as they found them.
Work on winter-huts is brisk. For more than a week the men have the privilege of trying to make their quarters endurable, aside from the regular round of guard and garrison duty. It seemed that the army was as well settled as it could be under a commander who never rested. "The all summer line" was extended into the winter, and only Omniscience knew how much longer it might continue. All that the Book of Fate revealed was the page before us, and in that we read work of . some kind for every day. There were fatigue, drill, parade and the ever-recurring round of picket. All have to take turns in the fort. going in before day and staying till after sunrise. Then, too, there is guard-duty every other night from 9 to 1, or from 1 to daybreak. December 18th 100 guns are fired from Fort Sedgwick* in honor of Thomas' victory at Nashville. Our foe was just as alert as ourselves, and stagnation was not one of our lurking dangers.
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