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 24
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423
INNOCENT ENJOYMENT.
The pinacle of demoniac joy was reached when occasionally a higher officer on a tour of inspection or observation would unwittingly place himself in a position where the trick would be practiced on him without danger of discovery. To see him, as happened on more than one occasion, drop suddenly on his hands and knees when he heard the whiz of the nail as it passed his head, and in that position scuttle undignifiedly to a place of shelter, was superlative glee, and possibly the memory of it remains a joy with some of the wretches even to this day.
At dusk on the evening of the 19th of April, a part of Hawkins' Brigade, the 8th Connecticut and 89th New York, crossed the West Branch of the Nansemond on "Stepping Stones" and captured the rebel Battery Huger, with five pieces of artillery, nine commissioned officers and one hundred and twenty men. This was a gallant exploit for which the troops engaged were commended in general orders. Among the officers especially mentioned for gallantry on the occasion, was Lieutenant Robert Mc- Kechnie of Company H, Ninth New York, aide to General Getty.
During the latter part of the month heavy rain storms occurred but notwithstanding this the fighting continued active.
424 NINTH REGIMMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
On the 30th of April the enemy opened with a new battery of one "Whitworth " gun, one 30 and one 35-pounder Parrott. They were quickly silenced by Captain Morris (Company K) detachment, then at Fort Stevens, and con- sisting of men of the Ninth and the gunboat "Commodore Barney," under command of Lieutenant Cushing, U. S. N.
The expiration of the term of service of the regiment was now rapidly approaching, and all other thoughts and considerations were completely blotted out or lost sight of in the consuming desire and longing for home. For weeks it had been the all-absorbing topic, and had pervaded the minds of all, both sleeping and waking. There was no relaxation, how- ever, in the steady and cheerful performance of every duty, and a casual observer would never have suspected that these soldiers -so obedient and prompt to respond to every order-were expecting almost hourly to be relieved from duty and to turn their faces towards the homes and loved ones many of them had not seen since their term of service began.
On the Ist of May, an attempt was made to capture the enemy's rifle-pits across the river from Fort Nansemond, from which the annoying fire of the sharpshooters had harrassed
423
A SHARP FIGHT.
the defenders so long. The 99th New York was detailed to make the attempt. They crossed the river by the bridge, deployed on the opposite bank and advanced rapidly up the slope toward the enemy's position exposed to a brisk fire from the sharpshooters in the pits. It appeared to be the intention to move rapidly and capture the line of rifle-pits by a daylight surprise before the rebel infantry could be thrown forward to occupy them, in which event they could, with the help of the artillery in the forts, have held them against a greatly superior force. As the attacking force swept up the hill in plain view of the men in the forts and earthworks on the Union side, a large body of the enemy's infantry was ob- served to move out of the woods beyond, and charge down the hill toward the advancing line of the 99th. It looked from the works as though it were a countercharge by the enemy. All the guns that could be brought to bear opened on the advancing rebels, and it seemed as though it would be impossible for them to withstand it, when all at once they disap- peared from view, having reached the rifle- pits for which they were rushing, and plunging into them were out of sight and well sheltered from the fire of both the forts and the advan- cing infantry. What had seemed from the
426 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
forts to be two bodies of infantry charging each other was, in fact, a race between the attacking troops and the rebels as to which would be able to reach the shelter of the rifle-pits first, and the rebels-having the shortest distance to go-won. As the line of the 99th advanced up the slope, it came within range of the artillery fire from the fort, which, therefore, had to cease, for fear of inflicting damage on their own men. When the rebel reinforcements which had reached the rifle-pits opened fire on the troops advancing to the attack, it seemed to the soldiers looking on from the opposite side of the river that the 99th literally melted away. The fight was kept up for some time, the Union soldiers stubbornly holding their ground, even after all chance of success had vanished; but they were at last compelled to abandon the attempt and retire across the river, leaving their dead and wounded on the field.
Very soon after the 99th had gained the shelter of the earthwork, and the firing had ceased, several men of the Ninth crossed the river, willing to take their chances of getting hit, in an effort to render assistance to the wounded, and later a rescue party of volunteers was gathered and, under command of Major Jardine, went over for the same purpose.
427
A LOST ZOUAVE.
These went over without arms, and made little if any attempt at concealment, only taking care not to show themselves in an ostentatious manner. The rebels showed an equally chiv- alric and honorable spirit, for, while there was an occasional shot, their presence was gen- erally ignored. As the reward of their labors they brought over six dead and forty-three wounded.
An incident occurred in connection with this good work, an account of which will no doubt be of interest, and which will show the spirit and feelings which animated many of the soldiers on both sides at this period of the war.
One of the Zouaves had become so intent in his search for the wounded that he unwit- tingly permitted darkness to overtake him, and became suddenly aware that he was lost. He could not determine which was the proper direction to take to find the river, which was his only landmark, but wandered back and forth, thoroughly confused for a time, not daring to go far in any one direction, for fear of running into the enemy's line. While still in this un- pleasant frame of mind, he was startled by seeing a rifle-barrel suddenly gleam in the moonlight and a voice behind it say, in accents which plainly would admit of no refusal, "Come here,
428 NINTHI REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
Yank." Our friend, knowing well that he was in a situation where a man who hesitates is lost, promptly walked toward the voice, which he found belonged to a rebel soldier whose head appeared just above the surface of the ground, the rest of the body being in a rifle-pit. The Johnny took a good look at the Yank, then lowered the hammer of his gun, and said, in rather a friendly way, "Sit down, Yank. You belong to the 9th New York, don't you?" "Yes," replied the Yank. "Well," said the Reb, "I thought your time was out." "So it is," replied the Yankee. "We are going home to-morrow. At least, the rest of the boys are." But who are you, and what do you know about the 9th New York?" " Oh, I belong to the 3rd Georgia, I know a good deal about your regiment," said the Reb. The Zouave knew something about the the 3rd Georgia, too, so he said, "Isn't your time out, too?" "Out h -! " said the Reb. "No, our time is never out. Time don't count with us."
The conversation continued in this vein for sometime longer, the Ninth man being very uneasy meantime in regard to the final ending of the visit, when the Reb suddenly interrupted the dialogue by saying : "Look here, Yank, you had better be getting out of here. My relief is about due, and if you are found here you will be scooped in." The Zouave informed him
429
REGIMENT RELIEVED. GETTY'S ORDER.
that he was just as anxious to go as his enter- tainer was to have him go, but that he had lost his bearings and did not know in which direction to reach the river. His friend, the enemy, pointed out the general direction, and "reckoned " that if his Yankee guest should be unable to attract the attention of his friends on his own side, he could swim the river and get back to camp in that way. So they parted with a mutual good night, and the Zouave reached the regiment in safety.
On the next day the regiment was relieved by the 6th Massachusetts, and orders were issued to proceed to New York for the purpose of being mustered out. In connection with orders received for this purpose was a farewell and complimentary one by General Getty, in the following form :
HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, SUFFOLK, VA., May 2d, 1863. GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 27.
After two years of constant field service the Ninth Regiment, New York State Volunteers, are now about to return home ; their term of service having expired. Among the first to spring to arms at their country's call, they now return home after two years of faithful aud gallant service, with the heartfelt satisfaction of having done their duty, with the praises of their friends and the admiration of the enemy ; and with Hatteras, Roanoke, Camden, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Suffolk inscribed on their banners.
Fare you well, brave and faithful comrades ! The best wishes of those you leave follow you, and will unite with the cheers of the thousands who will greet your triumphant march through your native city to do you the honor you have so richly earned.
·
By command of GEORGE W. GETTY, Brigadier-General.
CAPTAIN GARDINER, Asst. Adjt .- General.
430 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
This order was very gratifying to every member of the regiment, coming as it did from the general under whose watchful eye they had served for several months, and who had evi- dently learned to value their soldierly qualities as he had seen them exhibited in camp, on the march, and on the battlefield.
One thing in connection with this last day of their active service as an organization, which had a tendency to dampen the enthusiasm of the men, was the decision of the government, that all the recruits who had enlisted at various times subsequent to the muster-in of the regi- ment must remain behind in the service and serve a full two year or three year term accord- ing to the terms of the " call for troops " under which each one had enlisted.
Nearly, if not quite, all these recruits had enlisted under the belief that their terms would expire with that of the regiment. . That was also the general belief among the officers. At the time of their enlistment they were informed that while they were actually being sworn in for a stated term, in years, yet nevertheless every effort would be made to induce the war department to permit them to be mustered out with the regiment at the expiration of its term of service, and it was believed that these efforts would be successful. Colonel Hawkins left
431
HOME AT LAST.
nothing undone in his efforts to have this implied agreement carried out, but without
success. Consequently about three hundred men were left behind to serve out their respec- tive terms in some other organization.
On the 3d of May the regiment left Suffolk and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, where trans- portation by sea was furnished, and on the 5th, after a voyage devoid of incident, it arrived in New York.
One of the New York papers of that date published the following notice of the expected arrival of the regiment:
"The regiment will arrive in this city today. Extensive arrange- ments have been made in order to give the gallant corps an enthu. siastic reception. Several fire companies, both of New York and Brooklyn, have volunteered to turn out on the occasion. The Twelfth Regiment, National Guard, will also parade in honor of the returning heroes. They come on the steamer "Kennebec," and may be ex- pected to land about 9 o'clock, A.M.
" A meeting of the wounded and friends of the regiment was held at 25 Carmine Street yesterday afternoon, and arrangements were made for the ex-members, wounded, and friends, to turn out upon the occa- sion. The Zouaves will be commanded by Colonel Hawkins."
The reception was a very cordial and gratify- ing one, and the plaudits on the line of march were numerous and enthusiastic. After a short parade, not short enough however to suit the impatient Zouaves, whose one desire was to be with their loved ones from 'whom they had been separated so long, the regiment arrived at the Twelfth Regiment Armory, where the arms
432 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
were deposited and the men dismissed for the · time being.
Nothing now remained to do but prepare the rolls for muster-out. These were soon com- pleted and on May 20, 1863, the Ninth New York Volunteers were mustered out of service and ceased to exist as a military organization. The whole number of men enlisted in
the regiment during the two years of service, was 1,413
Mustered out at expiration of term, 539 Transferred to the Third New York, 264 803 Which shows an apparent loss from all
causes of 610
In addition to this apparent loss there was an additional actual loss in battle of 155 men, who recovering from their wounds returned to the regiment and were again "present for duty," and are included in the above 803 men who were either mustered out with it or trans- ferred to serve out their respective unexpired terms of enlistment.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE RECRUITS LEFT AT SUFFOLK - LACK OF MILITARY CONTROL- VOLUNTEERING FOR THE FIGHT-CAMP RUMORS- PRIVATE RECONNOITERING - THE MAN OF STRAW - UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY AMONG THE MEN - TRANSFERRED TO THE THIRD NEW YORK - BOSSING THE REGIMENT - OFF FOR FIELD SERVICE - CAMPAIGNING IN SOUTH CAROLINA - ARMY OF THE JAMES - ARMY OF THE POTOMAC - MEN OF THE NINTH DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES - REGIMENT DWINDLES AWAY -CALL FOR SECOND BATTALION - A NEW NINTH ORGANIZED - FORMA- TION OF 17STH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS-ORDERED TO VIRGINIA - NEW NINTH RECRUITING - THE JULY RIOTS-JARDINE AND WHITE WOUNDED-RESCUED- BATTALION AT FORT HAMILTON -SEVENTEENTH NEW YORK - ORDERED TO THE FRONT - PROVIS- IONAL BRIGADE-SERVICE OF 178TH -SERVICE OF 17TH-MEN WHO SERVED IN OTHER REGIMENTS.
W HEN the Ninth departed for New York for the purpose of being mus- tered out, about three hundred men-recruits -who had enlisted in the regiment at various times subsequent to its muster into the ser- vice, were left behind at Suffolk to serve out their respective unexpired terms of enlistment.
434 NINTH REGIMENT. NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
They were for a time unattached to any regiment or command. They had no com- missioned officers of their own. They were . detachments from every company in the regi- ment, and now found themselves without or- ganization, and for the time being practically free from both military restraints and from the performance of ordinary military duties. They seemed to be at liberty to go and come within camp lines at their own will and pleasure.
Each of them had enlisted for a stated period -- two or three years-according to the "call" under which they respectively entered the ser- vice, but each and every one of them, as well as every other man in the regiment, both enlisted and commissioned, had firmly believed that they would only be required to serve until the term of the regiment expired. When it was learned that they would not be allowed to go home with the regiment they were griev- ously disappointed. They had looked forward with pleasurable anticipation to the time when they would march up Broadway with the regiment, participate with it in whatever recep- tion was accorded it, share in its honors and claim their proportion of the glory it had won. These hopes were now all dashed to the ground and the men felt very bitter on account of what they believed to be unjust treatment. Hope,
433
VOLUNTEERING FOR THE FIGHT.
however, "springs eternal in the human breast," and most of the boys still cherished a faint hope or indulged in a vague expectation that the decision which separated them from their regiment might yet be reconsidered and that some unforeseen turn in affairs might happen, whereby they might still be mustered out with it. This made them ready to grasp at any of the multitude of rumors and camp stories which sprung up-where the wish was father to the thought-regarding the intention of the authori- ties concerning them.
On the 3d of May, which was the day after the Ninth departed for home, a reconnaissance was ordered to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy, who had suddenly become less active than usual, and among the troops as- signed to the duty was the 103d New York, a regiment which had been long brigaded with the Ninth. A goodly number of the retained men voluntarily joined that regiment and par- ticipated in the fight which the movement brought on. Among the killed in the engage- ment was Colonel Ringold, the commander of the regiment, a most gallant and dashing officer, and one in whom the whole brigade took pride. This engagement proved to be the last which took place during the siege. The fighting for the present in that vicinity seemed
436 NINTH REGIMMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
at an end, and the leisure permitted some- body to start and spread a report that Colonel Ringold's remains were to be sent home, and that the recruits of the Ninth, as a reward for their conduct in the fight in which he was killed, were to act as their escort. This report was eagerly seized upon by the men and produced a good deal of excitement, many of them believing it to be true. Like others of similar import, it proved to be baseless. Then a report gained currency, and was also believed, that it had been decided to form the recruits into a light battery to be commanded by Captain Morris, of Company K, of the old regiment. There appears to have been some little foundation for this report as the men to the number of one hundred and thirty were marched to a point between Suffolk and Portsmouth, where they were established in camp and a preliminary organization was begun under somebody's orders. There were no commissioned officers assigned to take charge of affairs, but non-
commissioned officers were detailed to act in various capacities with a view to caring for the men. Edward K. Whiteman, of Company B, of the old regiment, was placed in charge of the commissary department, with George WV. Rogers acting as commissary sergeant. They both performed their duties well and for the
437 .
PRIVATE RECONNOITERING.
few days the camp was maintained succeeded- in drawing from the commissary, and in properly issuing the full ration of food allowed by the regulations.
This battery organization, however, was abandoned in a few days. It is doubtful if there was any serious intention on the part of the authorities to complete it.
In the meantime, and before the battery camp had been established, sharpshooting along the lines had entirely ceased and a camp rumor began to circulate that the enemy had evacuated his works and retired. There seemed to be nothing improbable about this report except the fact that the lookout was still plainly visible in the rebel observatory or watch tower, and seemed to be attending strictly to business. Many a shot was sent in his direction, not so much with the expectation of hitting him, but just to make it interesting for him.
Some of the more venturesome spirits among the Zouaves determined to find out for themselves just what the situation was in their front and slipping quietly over the works, without going through the formality of asking for orders, started on a reconnaissance of their own. They were very cautious in their move- ments, as the rebel lookout was still on duty
438 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
in the tower, and they did not wish to have him direct the enemy's fire toward them. They soon discovered that the rebel rifle-pits were actually abandoned, and they pushed on for some distance beyond them without finding the enemy. The idea then occurred to some of them, and was quickly acted upon, to attempt to turn the tables on the man in the observa- tory who had caused them so much trouble by his apparent vigilance, and who it seemed to them had remained at his post too long for his own good, by capturing and taking him into camp. By skillful manceuvering they suc- ceeded in gaining positions which enabled them to cut off his retreat, when they boldly advanced, surrounded the tower, and de- manded his unconditional surrender, when lo ! the vigilant sentinel proved to be a man of straw. An old suit of rebel butternut had been stuffed with straw and leaves and the Johnnies with considerable skill had so fashioned and placed the figure that the deception at a little distance was complete. The dummy had suc- cessfully engaged the attention of the vol- unteer scouts while the Rebs were quietly retiring, no doubt laughing in their sleeves as they pictured to themselves the disgust and chagrin of the Yankees when they would dis- cover the kind of sentry that had been left on
439
TAKEN TO FORTRESS MONROE.
guard. When the men returned to the fort and reported the results of their investigations they, for reasons of their own, failed to mention the capture of the dummy sentinel.
A day or two after the withdrawal of the rebel troops, word was passed around among the men of the Ninth that they were ordered to assemble at a certain locality in Norfolk- twenty-seven miles distant-and a rumor was circulated at the same time to the effect that it was for the purpose of acting as funeral escort to the remains of Colonel Ringold on their journey north for interment. The men re- sponded with alacrity. Those who still re- mained about Fort Nansemond and also the men in the battery camp proceeded at once to the rendezvous. Here they were taken in charge by the provost guard, and together with a number who had followed the regiment when it started on the homeward journey, and who were then scattered about the city, were es- corted on board a canal boat, and placed under guard. On the next day a tug-boat towed them to Fortress Monroe, and they were marched from the wharf to the sally-port of the fort, through a double line of soldiers, and turned over to the commanding officer. After certain necessary preliminaries had been gone through with-taking their names and
440 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
military histories, which would be verified later- by their descriptive lists-they were assigned to the various companies of the Third New York Volunteers then under the command of Colonel Alvord.
This body of men was also the remnant of a two years' regiment, the term of which had expired only a few days before, and was com- posed not only of recruits whose terms of en- listment had not expired, but also of a consid- erable number of men of the Third, who had re-enlisted for three years. The regiment had served continuously on garrison duty in Fortress Monroe ever since its first arrival in Virginia, never having changed station or camp or made a march. The men wore the regular United States' uniform, with all the brass attachments, and so far as clothing and equip- ments could make them-even to the band- boxes for their full-dress hats-were regulars. The addition of the men of the Ninth made a good sized regiment, of which Colonel Alvord and his officers were justly proud.
The records of the Third New York, on file in the War Department, give the number of men received by transfer from the Ninth New York as 264. There is no data available whereby the number of men dropped from the rolls of the Ninth by transfer to the Third can
£
441
TRANSFERRED TO THE THIRD N. Y.
be ascertained. These numbers should agree, but it is known that they do not. Quite a number of the men left behind by the Ninth were never officially accounted for.
For a long time subsequent to the consolida- tion, conditions in the new regiment were not as pleasant as they might be. The 264 men from the Ninth were veterans who had been continuously in the field ever since they joined their regiment, and had taken part in severe battles and long marches, and it was only nat- ural that they should consider themselves, in all soldierly qualities which came as the result of military experience, the superiors of their new comrades, who had spent their whole terms of service behind the parapets of a fort which was not even in the enemy's country. They soon perceived that they were held in some awe and not a little respect by both officers and men of the Third, and they were not slow to take advantage of it. They objected most strenuously to the regulation uniforms, which they were ordered to draw to take the place of the Zouave clothing which they were then wearing. The opposition was so decided that the Colonel and officers finally submitted to them and the men continued to wear the uniform of their old regiment until it was worn out. This wearing of a distinctive uniform served to
442 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
hold them closer together and kept them in a measure separated from the other men of the regiment. This, and the knowledge that the officers would give way to their demands if firmly pressed, was bad for discipline, and for a time, or until nearly the whole personnel of both field and line officers had been changed by resignations and other causes, they were in- clined to be somewhat riotous and insubor- dinate. This gradually wore away, however, as the old officers dropped out one by one and their places were filled by men who had risen from the ranks and who adopted better meth- ods of government and discipline, and the Third soon developed into an excellent regiment.
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