USA > New York > The Ninth regiment, New York volunteers (Hawkins' zouaves); being a history of the regiment and veteran association from 1860 to 1900 > Part 13
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213
CURING A NEW' DISEASE.
Giving one glance along the line, he stepped up to the ring-leader on the right, and calmly asked: "What's the matter with you? Why do you wish to see the surgeon?" The man replied with a leer; "I've got the lapsy palls," with further remarks which are unprintable, but which were grossly offensive and insulting. The sergeant quietly leaning his musket against the nearest tent-pole, said: "You needn't go to the doctor for that, I can attend to your case myself," and before the recruit had time to think or move, Horner "lit on him," and so sudden and unlooked for was the attack, and so vigorously and industriously maintained that the recruit was taken completely by sur- prise and in a moment was in such a condition that his dearest friends would have found it difficult to recognize him, and before he could fully realize what had occured, he was on the way to the guard-house. Horner now fixed his not very gentle gaze on the next man, and with finger pointed at him like a poised javelin, asked savagely: "What's the matter with you?" The man backed away with hands partly raised as though to protect his face, and stammered out something about not meaning any harm, that the other fellow asked them to "fall in " as a joke on the sergeant, and more to the same effect, when he was cut short by Horner saying :
214 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
"Get to your quarters or I'll murder you," and when he looked round for the other pretended sick men of the squad they had disappeared. That "lapsy pall" disease was not again on the list of maladies, and there was no more trouble with that batch of recruits; they moved along quietly, did their duty and obeyed orders, the matter never after being referred to.
It must not be supposed from the above that physical force was generally employed in ex- acting military obedience in the 9th New York. It was in strict opposition to the Rules of Ser- vice and also contrary to regimental orders for a non-commissioned officer to strike a soldier of whatever rank, particularly a private. Seldom or never was this resorted to except when a non-com. had become irritated and aggravated beyond endurance by acts, which, though not strictly overt, were nevertheless of such a char- acter as to injure discipline and tend to destroy authority, and which gave the officer an oppor- tunity (If he possessed sufficient courage and the physical qualities) to successfully redress his own grievances.
After the evacuation of Norfolk by the enemy, Colonel Hawkins had urged upon the depart- ment the importance of opening the Dismal Swamp canal to Norfolk, by which route a twenty-four hour communication between Fort-
215
REOPENING THE CANAL.
ress Monroe and Newberne would be secured and the dangers of the outside route around Hatteras avoided. The authorities decided to act on his suggestions and in the latter part of May Professor Malifert, who had been the first person to successfully conduct sub- marine blasting operations, arrived for the purpose of superintending the work of remov- ing the obstructions from North river and the canal.
The steamer " Port Royal," with a detail and two guns from Company K, under Captain Whiting and Lieutenant Morris, was assigned to protect the working party. This was made up of one hundred contrabands from the island in charge of Sergeant Thompson of Company I. Very little opposition was encountered by them and the undertaking was successfully accom- plished, all obstructions being removed, the abandoned rebel fortifications destroyed, and an unobstructed and direct waterway secured between General Burnside's forces and the north.
On the morning of May 20, the "Port Royal" completed the first trip through the canal and arrived at Fortress Monroe, carrying dispatches direct from General Burnside to General Wool, and the work was accomplished.
Captain Whiting, with the detail from Com- pany K, continued to keep the communication
216 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
open during the month of June, after which they were relieved and returned to the regiment.
The men of the regiment who were so fortu- nate as to take part in the expedition to open the canal enjoyed a new and interesting exper- ience in thus penetrating the heart of the mys- terious " Dismal." Vivid object lessons in relation to certain phases of the " peculiar insti- tution " were brought forcibly to their notice by the occasional appearance of fugitive slaves among the working party. These men, five of whom appeared while the detail were in the canal, had been living in the swamp for years ; they presented themselves fearlessly and asked to be permitted to join the party. There was no hesitation nor distrust. They had evidently received full information regarding the situation by that unexplained and mysterious system used for spreading information, known only to them- selves and which no white man has yet been able to discover. It was all like a page from " Uncle Tom's Cabin."
They were received without question and became part of the working force, and afterward returned with the party to Roanoke Island.
One of the fugitives informed Sergeant Thompson that he had escaped from his master in the year 1855, had succeeded in baffling the bloodhounds, and had lived in the swamp ever since - seven years.
217
COMPANY F AT PLYMOUTH.
Early in the month of June the town of Plymouth on the Roanoke river was captured by the fleet and held by the naval forces until the 15th, when after inspecting the place, it was decided to hold it permanently, if pos- sible, and Company F was detached from the regiment for this purpose, remaining as garrison of the town until the following Decem- ber.
Plymouth at that time was a city of much importance, being a port of entry with a large trade in lumber, shingles, naval stores, etc., but when first occupied by Company F, had been almost deserted by its inhabitants. A dwelling- house of sufficient capacity to accommodate the rank and file was levied on for quarters for the company while the officers were provided with a smaller one near at hand. Permission having been granted to Colonel Hawkins to enlist loyal North Carolinians for service with the Union troops, and organize them into companies or regiments as he deemed best, equipments suffi- cient for a regiment each of infantry and cavalry were issued to him for that purpose.
The custom house was again taken possession of by the Government, and was utilized as a depot for military and naval supplies. In a short time the town became a busy little military post, garrisoned by one company whose captain
218 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
(Hammill) commanded the post, Lieut. H. C. Perley the troops, while Lieut. M. J. Graham composed the entire staff of quartermaster, com- missary and ordinance officer.
The surrounding country being held by the enemy the greatest vigilance was at all times observed. A heavy picket guard was continu- ously on duty, causing the details therefor to follow in turn with such frequency that it was far from agreeable.
This duty, however, was considerably light- ened as soon as the "Yokels "(as the boys dubbed the new North Carolina recruits) had received sufficient instruction and drill to warrant detail- ing them for such service. The Union fleet, con- sisting of improvised small gunboats, had its permanent rendezvous in the river fronting the town and was commanded by Licut .- Com- mander Charles E. Flusser, an exceptionally energetic and efficient officer. Frequent expe- ditions were sent into the adjacent country, with the special object of capturing detachments of the enemy or destroying collections of mili- tary supplies; at other times on a simple reconnaissance to locate the enemy and gain from the loyal inhabitants, whose fathers and brothers were serving with the Union army, any information they had been able to gather concern- ing the operations of the enemy, and which occa-
219
"PUT OUT YOUR FENDERS MIR. LYNCH."
sionally proved of much value. These expedi -- tions were generally ordered by Flusser, who was ranking officer at the post, and the available number of soldiers being limited, were fre- quently largely composed of sailors from the fleet. Flusser was continuously on the alert, constantly striving to advance the interest of the cause in which he was enlisted. He was known in the navy to be of unflinching courage, clear and correct in judgment, and was looked upon by both soldiers and sailors as the coming Nelson of the war. His men never tired of repeating the account of their fight up the Chowan river, when they rammed, and boarded the gunboat which was flying the flag of the rebel Commodore Lynch, who had been Flusser's commander before the war, when upon closing in on the Commodore, Flusser, who was forward at the head of his boarders, removed his cap and shaking it toward the enemy, shouted : "Put out your fenders, Mr. Lynch, I'm coming alongside," then rammed and boarded, and in five minutes had captured the enemy; but not his old commander, how- ever, who had escaped.
Occasionally Company Fwould come in con- tact with the enemy while on these scouts, but their casualties were few. In two instances they went up the river on the gunboats in
220 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
attempts to capture or destroy the nearly com- pleted rebel ram " Albemarle," but on both occa- sions unforeseen circumstances prevented suc- cess in the design. On the whole, garrison life at Plymouth was more congenial and pleasant to the men of Company F than any previous experi- ence. The town was of considerable size and although at first practically deserted, shortly afterwards contained quite a colony, the inhabit- ants returning and refugees, both white and black, coming in from the neighboring country.
The sailors passed their days of " shore leave" in town, and fraternized with the soldiers, while both having considerable money, created quite a lively trade in the place which was increased as the citizens returned. The public market reopened, some of the merchants resumed busi- ness, and the general outlook for prosperity was gratifying to the inhabitants. The treatment of the black refugees by the post-commander created much feeling among the men of the company, and only the restraints of discipline and the personal popularity of Captain Hammill prevented serious consequences to him.
Several unpleasant incidents occurred in con- nection with runaway slaves of which we recount the following: Two negro men escaped from their master and sought protection within the lines. The owner followed them to Plymouth, reques-
221
SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE SLAVES.
ted and was granted permission from Hammill to recover and take away his property. On finding them he tied their wrists together with one end of a rope, leading them through the streets by the other end, as a farmer might lead cattle to market. On the way to the dock where his boat lay, he was compelled to pass the guard-house of the regiment, and the sight of the shackled colored men was an unpleasant one for the eyes of northern soldiers. Clark Wright, who was corporal of the guard that day, was unable to control his indignation at the spectacle, and taking out his pocket-knife quickly cut the rope and told the negroes to run. They, without a moment's hesitation, did so, conforming to the scriptural injunction, and quickly disappeared. Shameful to relate, they were recaptured by Hammill's authority and assistance, and restored to the owner. Corporal Wright was reduced to the ranks for his part in aiding the escape.
In the fall of 1862 a large force was organ- ized at Newberne under General Foster, with the intention of capturing Tarboro, Little Washington, and other important strategic points in that portion of North Carolina. Company F joined the column upon its arrival at Plymouth, and, because of its familiarity with the country, was placed in the advance as
222 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
skirmishers, and held that position without - once being relieved during the entire march to Tarboro, returning to Plymouth after the completion of the movement. This occupation of the country by Foster afforded an oppor- tunity for the company to rejoin the regiment, and in November, it was relieved by Wessel's brigade of Foster's command, and after a tedious roundabout journey via Newberne, Baltimore and Washington, and after a six months' separation rejoined the regiment in front of Fredericksburg, where it again took its place in line. No fatted calf was killed on the return of the company, but the best the regiment had (hard tack and coffee) was passed around amid general rejoicing.
One week after Company F left Plymouth the place was attacked simultaneously by land and water. WVessels was defeated, and the town re-captured. The steamer "Albemarle" attacked the Union fleet, and Flusser was killed by the rebound of one of his own shells. The "Southfield" was sunk, the remainder of the fleet was temporarily scattered, and Plymouth and its surroundings were once more in the hands of the enemy, while general demoraliza- tion was felt everywhere.
About this time great anxiety was felt and great activity prevailed in higher military circles,
223
PREPARING FOR A MOVE.
owing to the precarious position then oceupied by the Army of the Potomac.
On the 8th of June, 1862, General Burnside passed through the Dismal Swamp canal on his way to Fortress Monroe for the purpose of consultation with General Dix. He arrived the following day, and at Secretary of War Stanton's suggestion visited General McClel- lan's headquarters, where he remained some six hours, then returned to his own department.
June 24th, in reply to a dispatch from McClellan, Burnside answered that in five days he could land a force of 7,000 infantry in Norfolk, ready for transportation to White House landing, but without wagons, camp equipage, artillery or cavalry, or in the same. time he could place at a point on the Chowan river with a view to co-operation in an attack on Petersburg, 7,000 infantry, 12 pieces of artillery, 3 companies of cavalry, and sufficient wagons for ammunition and 5 days' subsistence; could move on Weldon with the same force, or on Goldsborough at 60 hours' notice with 10,000 infantry, 20 pieces artillery, and 5 companies of cavalry.
The next day McClellan telegraphed Burn- side, that reports had been received stating that Jackson's forces were coming to Rich- mond, and part of Beauregard's had already
224 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
arrived, and for Burnside to advance on- Goldsborough with all his available force at the earliest practicable moment, and wished him to understand that every minute in this crisis was of the greatest importance. He was urged to reach Goldsborough as soon as possible, destroying all the railroad communi- cations toward Richmond that he could, and if possible destroy bridges on the Raleigh and Gaston R. R., and threaten Raleigh. President Lincoln had previously telegraphed Burnside: "I think you had better go with any reinforce- ments you can spare to General Mcclellan."
At 3 o'clock A.M., July Ist, the Ninth moved to Pork Point in heavy marching order, boarded schooners which were towed by the "Ocean Wave " down Pamlico Sound to the mouth of Neuse river, where they were met by a steamer bringing orders for them to return to Roanoke, " the object of the expedition having been ac- complished." The Ninth reached Roanoke the following evening.
On July 3d Burnside at Newberne tele- graphed McClellan that he had embarked 7,000 infantry and was on the way to join him, when he met a messenger informing him of McClel- lan's important successes before Richmond, which, if true, would render it unnecessary for him to join McClellan.
223
REINFORCEMENTS FOR MCCLELLAN.
He brought his fleet to anchor and sent a steamer through to Norfolk to ascertain the ex- act state of affairs, while he held himself in readiness to move in any direction. The same day Burnside telegraphed Stanton that in accordance with the latter's suggestion, he had embarked 7,000 men and was proceeding to the point designated by Stanton when he met a dispatch from Colonel Hawkins, commanding at Roanoke, stating there was information from Fortress Monroe of some very important suc- cesses to our arms in front of Richmond, which if true, rendered his proceeding further unnec- essary. He had come to anchor and sent a messenger to Norfolk to ascertain the exact facts.
On July 2d, 6 P.M., Hawkins sent the follow- ing message from Roanoke Island to General Dix :
"General Dix I wish you would telegraph immediately to President Lincoln if he has any orders other than the last sent some three days ago for General Burnside.
"We are almost ready to move in obedience to that order. It Richmond be taken the President may wish to change his instructions. Please give me General MeClellan's position when last heard from. Please return dispatch-boat immediately, as the news which it brings will. I think, govern the operations in this department."
On July 3d, 3 P.M., General Dix forwarded this dispatch to Secretary Stanton with these comments :
"I have just received the following dispatch from Colonel Hawkins:"
" I do not quite understand why General Burnside should not have
226 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
sent it in his own name, if it comes from or is authorized by him. The- officer who brought it says Colonel Hawkins sent it with the assurance that General Burnside would approve it."
The same date Stanton sent Hawkins through Dix :
" Richmond not taken. General McClellan has been compelled to fall back to Harrison's Bar on James."
" It is the opinion of the President, and he so directs, that General Burnside in person, with all the infantry force he can spare, move by way of Hampton Roads and the James, to General Mcclellan's head- quarters to reinforce him immediately."
On the same date General Dix telegraphed :
"The President: - Soon after sending you Colonel Hawkins' dis- patch I received from General Mcclellan an order to General Burnside to bring on all the troops he could spare. I sent it off immediately with a letter from myself, describing to General Burnside the position of General McClellan's army. The steamer having gone I cannot send your dispatch to Colonel Hawkins until morning. I will do so then if you desire it."
July 5th, Burnside sent word to Stanton that his dispatch-boat sent for information to Nor- folk had not yet returned, and adds :
"In the meantime we hear most startling rumors of disasters to General Mcclellan's army, which are in sad contrast to the dispatch from Colonel Hawkins on Roanoke Island on the night of the ed inst., and announced himself ready to move in any direction."
Stanton replied at once :
" The department has no further orders to give but hopes you will with all speed reach General MeClellan with as large a force as possible."
At 4:40 P.M., Burnside reported he had reached Fortress Monroe with nearly 8,000 good men, and would leave as soon as the bulk of the command arrived, and was told to remain until the President, then on the way,
227
"WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS."
reached the fort. General Foster was left in charge of the Department of North Carolina.
The regiment as a whole was in blissful ignorance of the exact military situation here shown, and, of course, had no knowledge of these flying telegrams or hurried prepa- rations, and it is not remembered now that the men were even aware that the greater portion of the corps was already in Vir- ginia. Consequently they kept on in the even tenor of their way.
Fourth of July was celebrated by firing salutes from Forts Foster and Parke, and reading the Declaration of Independence; after which the day was devoted to all kinds of sport and amusement-one specially notable feature being a fantastic parade in the afternoon, when Com- pany K gave a fine exhibition of light artillery drill with their wheelbarrow battery, which was warmly applauded by the enthusiastic spec- tators.
One extremely interesting feature of the stay at Roanoke was the "Contraband Camp." When the news of the capture of the island spread among the slaves on the adjacent main- land they commenced getting their belongings together, and leaving homes and masters to flock to the Union camp, searching for that free- dom of which they had so long dreamed.
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, Nearly every night one or more boat-loads of - slaves landed on the beach and were taken in charge by the guard. This was an ex- tremely dangerous proceeding for escaping slaves, and would have been considered heroic bravery had they been white men. No sooner had the danger of pursuit and capture by wrath- ful owners abated, and the peril of the watery journey been overcome, than a new danger, de- manding the greatest caution, presented itself. They were obliged to approach a strange shore in the darkness of night, where the sentinels were keenly alert for the approach of an enemy, especially by water. The flapping of sails or the sound of oars from the water was naturally accepted by the picket guard to denote an at- tempted night attack and surprise, and their faculties were doubly keen, and they were ready to at once fire in the direction of the sound, should their challenge not be promptly and sat- isfactorily responded to. To the soldier's hoarse challenge of "Who goes there?" would come an answering chorus of screams from the women and children, with shouts from the men of " Don't shoot, massa sojer ! don't shoot ! We's only po' niggahs !" and similar assurances of friendliness, which meant much more of uncer- tainty to the sentinel than the refugees knew. For how could the sentinel know that this was
229
ARRIVAL OF FUGITIVE SLAVES.
not a ruse employed by the enemy? They were, however, seldom or never fired upon, but permitted to land, though kept under guard until daylight, when they were marched to head- quarters and proper disposition made of them by the commanding officer. The mingled terror and joy exhibited by the slaves was enough to melt the heart of the most unsympathetic. In their efforts to gain their freedom they had risked death at the hands of the very men from whom they sought protection. They did not know whether or not they would be re- turned to their former masters or be retained by new and unknown owners-simply exchanging ne bondage for another. They were of all shades of color and degrees of breed, from the full-blood, short-wooled African to almost pure white. They came in such numbers to this camp that it was soon found necessary to make special provision for sheltering, feeding and controlling them, as well as for using their labor. On February 20th, 1862, an order was issued, detailing Serg't. Walter L. Thompson, of Com- pany I, "to organize and care for contrabands within this military district." Sergeant Thomp- son at once assumed control of all the straggling contrabands on the island. The nucleus of his camp was the twenty-seven per- sons who had been left by the rebels when the
230 NINTH REGIMMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
place was captured. All others, scattered about the island, were gathered together, and these, with the numbers constantly arriving by boats from the adjacent mainland, counting men, women and children, numbered two hundred and fifty, by the ist of April. In three months the black refugees reached the number of one thousand. The able-bodied males were em- ployed in every kind of labor made necessary by the conditions existing in the military depart- ment. They did the greater part of the heavy work of the Quartermaster's Department, un- loading, handling and housing provisions, for- age, ammunition and the various other stores necessary for the maintenance of the army. A large number were put at work on a new fort which was being erected on the island, to mount nine guns, and which was to be named Fort Burnside.
While employed the men were paid the regular per diem wages of ordinary hired laborers. To those unable to work at such employment as the government had to offer, rations were issued and shelter provided. Thompson proved himself a most efficient officer and was very successful in his administration of his negro colony. He soon secured perfect control of all his subjects, male and female. The female portion proved the most difficult to manage. Fights among the
231
ASSISTANCE FOR NEWBERNE.
women were a common occurrence and were, in a majority of cases, caused by jealousy over the attentions of some one or other of the dusky dandies of the camp.
The sergeant was known in the regiment and by the soldiers generally, as "Niggardier Gen- eral Thompson. He was a busy man during the stay on Roanoke.
When Newberne was besieged by the enemy and General Foster sent an urgent appeal for aid to assist in throwing up intrenchments and breastworks . to protect the city, Sergeant Thompson responded so promptly that in six hours after the receipt of the order to furnish the labor, he was on board the steamer "Ocean Wave" on his way to Newberne with three- hundred able-bodied men with their families. He left them there working like beavers on the defenses -- and the place was not taken.
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