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 7
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When Colonel Hawkins rejoined the regi- ment, which was in December 22, after an ab- sence of about two months, he brought with him two hundred rifles with which to arm the flank companies-the regiment was originally armed with smooth bore muskets-and three light field howitzers. These were given to Capt. James R. Whiting's Company K, which was erected into a battery, three more guns being added later, which made up the full com- plement for a field battery.
The men of Company K at once began the
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drill and practice of light battery tactics, soon mastering all the intricacies and becoming quite proficient in handling the guns. The company afterward rendered excellent and efficient ser- vice both in field and garrison, especially during the siege of Suffolk, Va., and were frequently commended by the different generals in whose command they served.
During the months of November, December, and January, the various companies of the reg- iment were constantly changing camp, and finally settled down in their original positions, where they remained until the final departure from Hatteras.
On the 13th of January, 1862, the steamer "S. R. Spaulding " arrived at Hatteras, followed by many vessels of the Burnside expedition.
This expedition was organized for the cap- ture of Roanoke Island and other locations on the North Carolina Sounds and adjacent rivers, and was accompanied by a fleet of improvised gunboats, under the command of Commodore Goldsborough. The fleet of transports seemed a strange one to send through Hatteras Inlet. It was a gathering of nearly everything that would float. There were full-rigged ships, ocean steamers, New York bay tugboats, Brooklyn and Staten Island ferryboats; the sight of which caused the New York boys a
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THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.
pang of homesickness, as thoughts swiftly flew to scenes at home. None knew of the presence of the choking lump of emotion in the throat of his comrade as they gazed at these familiar boats, but each was secretly conscious of his own longing for home and loved ones.
There were also canal boats from Buffalo, and one stern-wheel steamer from away down in Maine, and it may be safe to say that the age of some of the craft would date nearly back to the days of Noah's ark.
It was said that Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds were navigable for vessels drawing nine feet, but on the "Swash" or inner bar at the Inlet, there was only six feet of water. While navigators and engineers were engaged in the elucidation of the problem of how to sail a vessel drawing twenty feet across a bar over which there were but six feet of water, the fleet remained at anchor in the open ocean. An easterly storm arose while it was thus ex- posed, and while some vessels stood out to sea for safety, most of the fleet trusted to riding it out at anchor. The storm proved to be very severe and several vessels went ashore and were lost.
As many vessels as could anchor in the Inlet did so and found a comparatively secure har- bor, but outside the scene was frightful. Many
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vessels dragged anchor, some dashed into the breakers, others foundered where they lay. Two ocean steamers were in the south breakers at the same time, pounding to pieces, in plain view of the people on shore and those on the vessels at anchor in the Inlet, but the weather was so tempestuous, and the seas so high, that at first little if any aid could be given the unfortunates, and many lives were lost. At last volunteer crews manned several lifeboats and did heroic and efficient service, rescuing many of the shipwrecked people. When the weather had moderated sufficiently to do so with safety, the entire force was disembarked and went into camp to await the solving of the aforesaid problem.
The drinking water on the island being very bad, considerable sickness occurred after the troops landed. There had been some cases of typhoid fever among the soldiers of the "Ninth," and a few deaths, but among the new men the deaths occurred by the score. In addition to typhoid, measles broke out in some of the new regiments, and was attended with great fatality. Funerals were of so frequent occurrence that it was said by a jocular spirit that the mocking- birds had learned to whistle the " Dead March."
Notwithstanding the extremely bad water, and the generally insanitary condition of the
FAITHFUL SERVICE OF THE MEDICAL OFFICERS. 109
ground in the vicinity of the camps of the Ninth, the sick list never became large, and the total deaths from disease during the two years' term of service numbered only twenty.
At this juncture the Zouaves began to re- alize their good fortune in being blessed with such medical officers as Doctors Humphreys and White, who constantly and intelligently attended strictly to the performance of duty. The sick were attended to as faithfully as they would have been at home. The men had the utmost confidence in the skill and ability of the surgeons, and in their faithful attention to duty at all times; and that trust was never mis- placed.
Nearly a month passed in lightening gun- boats and transports, and dragging them over the bar into the deeper water of the Sound, and this time was occupied by the newly arrived troops in improving their drill and discipline.
The greater part of both officers and men of the new regiments had never handled a musket or performed a military evolution. To some of them a drill was simply marching hither and thither by the flank, like schoolboys upon the village common.
One morning a company was drilling near the camp of the "Ninth " and a swamp hole was directly in their path, when the captain
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gave the command, "Boys, haw (go to the left) that mud puddle!" They understood and " hawed " it.
The officers of the new regiments fully re- alized their deficiency in the knowledge of drill and military matters in general. They sought to remedy this defect and soon obtained the needed help. Men of the " Ninth " volunteered to instruct such officers and non-commissioned officers as wished to avail themselves of the opportunity and whose regimental camps were near enough to that of the Ninth to make it practicable. Many of the Zouaves devoted considerable time and attention, when off duty between drills, in giving theoretical and prac- tical instructions to the new men in the manual of arms, and school of, the soldier, and com- pany.
A considerable proportion of the officers' tents became schools of instruction, and doubt- less much benefit was derived from this method of teaching. It may be as well to remark in this connection 'that without an exception all of these new regiments returned from the war with most excellent records, many of the officers distinguishing themselves in battle, some of them obtaining high rank and occupying re- sponsible positions before the Rebellion ended.
After weeks of hard and unremitting labor
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RATIONS FROM THE SEA.
the fleet was at last anchored safely in the Sound, stores were reloaded, batteries replaced, and all was ready for the forward movement to Roanoke Island.
There was one circumstance which occurred while the detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Betts was stationed at Chicomocomico which may be worth mentioning.
While camped there rations ran very low and at last came the cry of "no grub," which proved to be the fact, as not a morsel of food was left in the commissary department, and starvation threatened, when in some way now forgotten, the " Monticello," lying off the beach, was com- municated with, and the situation explained to the commanding officer, Lieut. Daniel L. Braine, who relieved the necessity of the soldiers by throwing overboard barrels of ship's-bread (a large, hard, round cracker) which slowly floated ashore and was seized with avidity by the hungry and expectant Zouaves; the slight addition of salt water in no way interfering with its palatableness.
There were a large number of inhabitants scattered along the beach of the island, each family locating on a spot wherever a patch of fertile soil occurred - fertile when compared with the drifting sand which composed the greater part of the island. These patches were,
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in a way, cultivated; corn, sweet potatoes, and a few other vegetables being raised. The entire "plantation," as it was designated, being about the size of an ordinary kitchen garden on a northern farm.
The men of the island were fishermen and pilots; the former their regular vocation, the latter, when opportunity offered, to catch a ves- sel bound in through the Inlet.
At various elevated places along the beach tall spars and masts of wrecked vessels had been planted perpendicularly in the sand with small pieces of wreckage nailed crosswise upon them to form a primitive ladder. The top of this ladder was used as a lookout station, from which eager eyes scanned the horizon for inward bound craft, the one first sighting such a vessel having the best chance of first reaching her in his boat, thus securing the privilege of piloting her through the shoals and over the bar into the deeper waters of the Sound.
When Hatteras was captured and occupied this industry was destroyed, as all vessels arriving after that date were captured by the Federal gunboats.
The natives soon learned that the boys pos- sessed money and could be induced to part with it in exchange for any commodity which struck their fancy, more particularly in the line
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TRADE WITH THE INHABITANTS.
of eatables, which might prove a grateful change from "sow-belly" and "salt horse." There were no roads on the island except such as had been made by the troops from camp to camp, all transportation being by water. Each family possessed several boats for sailing or rowing, some fitted for sound, others for ocean work. Trade was at first somewhat sluggish. A soldier would hail a passing fisherman going home with his "catch" and inquire if the fish were for sale, and the man would gladly land and probably dispose of the entire lot.
On passing camp the next time he would naturally stop and offer his fish. In the mean- time his neighbors heard of the new market near home, and they came also with sweet potatoes, eggs, chickens, etc., and the women, not to be outdone in the trading line, brought specimens of home cooking, "fearfully and wonderfully made," the master piece, being the sweet potato pie, which looked like a sheet of thick, wet brown paper spread on a sole-leather crust.
Surgeon Humphreys, however, soon placed a veto on the sale of this wonderful composi- tion, and the sentries received orders to pro- hibit its sale in any of the camps. There was soon an animated market scene, each morning, at the little landings of the different camps.
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So long as his money held out the soldier paid fairly and honestly for goods purchased, and doubtless whether he had cash or not it was his intention to pay at some future time, but as a certain place is said to be paved with good intentions, it is certain that many a stone was added to the said pavement during the stay at Hatteras. The poorly executed "shinplaster" rebel money which was tendered the soldiers in change-and of course refused-gave some of the men an idea. The pioneer in this enter- prise tried his luck by offering a label from a sherry wine bottle in exchange for two fine roe- shad, and was a trifle staggered when the fisherman asked him what it was. He quickly recovered his equanimity, however, and coolly replied, "a dollar," and received, without the quiver of an eyelid, seventy-five cents in change. For sometime after this trade was exceedingly brisk, any kind of label from bottle or box passing current.
Of course good things cannot last forever. Before long the natives realized the worthless- ness of the stuff, and there is little doubt that many of them had their confidence in the integrity of the Zouaves sadly shocked thereby.
It is a difficult matter to attempt to defend such transactions, still it can be truthfully stated that passing wine and condensed milk
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WINE LABELS AS CURRENCY.
labels, as the currency of the realm, on poor and illiterate people by the boys of the regiment, was in a majority of cases done in a thoughtless spirit of mischief, rather than with the deliberate intent of defrauding the receiver. But with some the motto was "necessity knows no law." When the paymaster failed to put in an appear- ance, and the money of the regiment had been exhausted, a ways and means committee was appointed to devise methods for adding variety to the bill of fare, but this was strictly sub rosa.
The potato and other root crops of the natives were stored in what were called potato-houses, which were shallow holes in the ground, over which a log structure was built, in turn covered by earth, with the object of preserving an even temperature. An entrance to this depot could readily be made by anyone so disposed, although it was well known by all the Zouaves that swift and severe punishment would follow the detec- tion of anyone found plundering the inhabitants. Foraging was the polite term given it in camp. Still, among such a number of men there were plenty willing to assume any risk for a change of diet. This was usually accomplished in the daytime while "out on pass;" for going outside the lines at night was a delicate and somewhat dangerous undertaking, and not generally
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attempted unless arrangements had previously been made with one of the guard who was expected to cover a post more or less remote from the guard-house on a certain "relief" during the coming night.
In the daytime the coveted articles were pro- cured by one of a party of men inducing the occupant of some house selected for the attempt to accompany him to a point from which the potato-house was out of view, and there haggle over the price of a chicken or some other mer- chandise long enough to permit his partner to slide off with potatoes sufficient for the present requirement of the mess, when the pretended purchaser would suddenly break off negotiations, and probably on the pretense that the seller was attempting to impose extraordinary prices on poor soldiers.
Sometimes these despoilers came to grief, their uniform being so distinctive that their depredations were soon discovered, when they were traced to camp and a complaint lodged with Major Kimball, or whoever happened to be in command.
Whether it was Major Kimball's condition of mind on different occasions, or his endeavor to pass sentence on the culprits suitable to the crime, certain it was, justice often saw great variations in his judgments and his punishments
.
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PROVING THEY DIDN'T DO IT.
were quite irregular. One morning a com- . plainant was seen to be in close consultation with the Major. The man was recognized by several of the Zouaves, and in consequence there was considerable uneasiness among them.
Dress parade was about to be held and the complainant took position beside the command- ing officer. After the adjutant reported "parade formed," Major Kimball addressed the men about as follows :
"Men, this man makes complaint that his potato-house was broken into and robbed last night, and says he saw the men who did it, and that they wore the uniform of this regiment. I told him I did not believe any of my men would be guilty of such a trick, and to satisfy him would ask you in his presence, and he could hear for himself. Now I ask, did any one in this battalion rob the potato-house?" Long before the Major had finished his speech the men had taken the cue and were ready with the expected answer, which was a unanimous. "No!" roared in unison by every man in the line. The Major dismissed the native with a wave of his hand, saying: "There! I told you they didn't do it."
These complaints, however, were not always dismissed in this complaisant manner. Some- times when a native appeared in camp with a story of loss of property in which the men
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figured as the culprits, he would be directed to remain in camp until the battalion or regiment, if camped in a body, " fell in " for drill or parade, when the ranks would be opened and the accuser conducted up and down both ranks from flank to flank on a tour of inspection, with in- structions to point out the guilty persons if possible. In several instances when men were so identified, in addition to the punishment in- flicted, a fine was imposed which was far in excess of the value of the missing property.
On one of these occasions when a countryman was passing along the line carefully scrutinizing every countenance in the ranks, trusting to recognize the hapless individuals who had de- spoiled him of his property, he passed in front of Company K. Tom Farley, who feared that he might possibly bear a resemblance to the guilty party sought for, assumed a frightful squint, suddenly developing one of the worst cases of strabismus ever known in the service, and as the man examined him closely, Farley, throwing as much savageness in his voice as possible, growled ferociously, "Who in the h-1 are you looking at?"
The voice and squint were not recognized as having been with the party of evildoers, and the native hastily passed on, leaving the boys inwardly convulsed at the success of the stra- tagem.
CHAPTER VI.
UNDERWAY FOR ROANOKE ISLAND -ARRIVAL -- ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FORTS-LANDING OF THE TROOPS - BIVOUAC IN THE MUD FOR THE NIGHT- STEALING BED FROM BE- NEATH THE COLONEL- ARMY MOVES ON THE ENEMY-MAJOR KIMBALL'S FEAR THAT THE MEN MIGHT WEAKEN - ARRIVAL IN FRONT OF BATTERY - ORDER TO CHARGE THE WORKS-COLONEL DEMONTEIL KILLED - FIRST BAYONET CHARGE OF THE WAR WHAT CURIE SAW - REFLECTIONS . - EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF GENERALS IN COMMAND - CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN WISE - MORE RAIN - DESCRIPTION OF PRISONERS.
A BOUT 8 o'clock A.M., February 5th, all the troops which were to form the expedition being on board the transports, the entire fleet got underway for Roanoke Island. At 6 r.M. it anchored until the next day, each brigade an- choring near its own flagship, so that in the event of receiving hurried orders cach vessel could be communicated with readily. At eight o'clock the following morning anchors were weighed and the voyage resumed, but at noon
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a heavy fog settled down, which caused another - halt and another day's delay.
An early start was made on the 7th, and soon Roanoke Island came into view. The Union gunboats formed in single column, steamed ahead and opened fire on the various points where the enemy had exposed their positions by engaging the advancing warships. It was thus discovered that the rebel defenses con- sisted of three batteries near the shore. One of these it was afterward learned, consisted of eleven, one of nine, and the last of four guns. Across the channel in Croatan Sound a row of piles had been driven as an obstruction to the gunboats, and beyond them four armed rebel vessels were stationed. The commander of the gunboats employed tactics similar to those in- troduced by Stringham at the bombardment of Hatteras. He arranged his vessels in such a way, each following its leader in single file, that after once passing the forts they formed an ellipsis, engaging the enemy from the inner edge, continuing until out of range along the off shore side, and again resuming their fire when within range of the first or southerly battery, where the ships again sent in their broadsides. This movement continued almost continuously for the entire day.
The transports were held at a safe dis-
.
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ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FORTS.
tance, their decks, rigging and crosstrees being crowded with troops eagerly watching the action. The majority of the spectators wit- nessed a bombardment for the first time. Al- most every detail of the action was in unob- structed view. Every time a flag on the Con- federate works was shot away the troops, sup- posing it betokened surrender, would send forth such deafening cheers as to nearly drown the roar of the cannon. The several flags on the different forts were carried away a number of times during the day, but were always replaced within a short time.
The schooner yacht "Henrietta," formerly the property of James Gorden Bennett, and which he had presented to the Government at the outbreak of hostilities, was a commissioned United States war vessel serving with the fleet. She was in the fiercest of the fight during the entire day. She was armed with a 100-pounder Parrott gun, mounted amidships, and rendered as efficient service as any vessel in the fleet.
The blazing buildings within the forts, and the flying earth and wreckage from exploding shells marking the accurate aim of the gunners on the ships, could be plainly seen from the transports with the naked eye. Late in the afternoon preparations were completed to land
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the troops, and about 5 o'clock, P.M., they began the movement. They were transferred to small boats, and long strings of these, one behind the other, like great strings of beads, were towed by small steamers to within a short distance of Ashby's Landing, where, after a comparatively short row, a lodgment was effected with very little trouble. For some reason or other very slight opposition was met with here. The troops took position about one mile inland, forcing in the enemy's pickets and establishing their own in their stead, and then went into bivouac for the night. At about eight o'clock in the even- ing the Ninth got the order to follow the others ashore, and dropping into the boats they were soon towed to the landing by the small steamers.
Few civilians realize how the tramp of the many feet of an army will grind the damp earth over which they pass into a mass the consist- ency of mortar. The Ninth being among the last regiments to reach the shore, found the ground over which the other troops had passed much cut up and actually knee deep with mud. The short distance they marched from landing to bivouac was literally waded. The troops were then quite closely massed in a cornfield. Rain began falling just after dark and continued heavily all night. The campground was soon covered with pools of muddy water. Lying
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BIVOUAC AT ASHBY'S LANDING.
down in the water and attempting to sleep was out of the question, and as the men had not yet learned to sleep in a standing position, there was no sleep. Fires were built and the boys gathered around them shivering and melan- choly.
The single house at the landing had been taken possession of and was occupied as quar- ters by the generals and their staffs, with as many other officers of rank as chose to leave their regiments or could be accommodated in it. One of the latter afterward wrote home of this experience as follows :
"The generals had gone up garret (there were no rooms up there and had lain down on the floor to sleep. After an hour or so the crowd of officers in the room below began to make arrangements to pass the night as comfortably as possible. There were, of course, no chairs or other accommodations for sitting or reclining, and the hard floor was the portion of those who sought shelter from the rain. I found an old friend in the room who had possession of a bench about two feet long, which he invited me to share with him, so we sat astride of it facing each other, his head resting on my right shoulder, his shoulder support- ing mine in the same way, and in this position we fell asleep."
The house at Ashby's Landing gave cold comfort to its occupants on that bleak February night ; yet to the officers and men who clustered about the camp fires without shelter of any kind, the sleeping accommodations of those two officers on the bench were comparatively lux- urious. The night was filled with misery even from a soldier's standpoint. Toward morning fuel became scarce, and as all fences in the
.
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. immediate vicinity had been appropriated and - consumed, the boys took turns in hunting for and bringing in anything they could lay their hands on with which to replenish the fires. Many a provident soldier who had the previous evening secured a few rails and arranged them to form a bed which would keep his body above the water-soaked ground, was cruelly robbed of them, sometimes by sneak thieves, but oftener by the use of moral suasion backed by a power- ful right arm.
Some of the men had provided Colonel Haw- kins with a resting place of this kind. It con- sisted of three split rails laid side by side. One end, which may be called the head, was elevated by resting it on a pile of earth dug from a ditch bordering the field. Colonel Hawkins lay on these rails asleep, covered head and all with his red blanket.
Where his thoughts on the pinions of fancy shall roam And in slumber revisit bis love and his home.
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