USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The heroes of Albany. A memorial of the patriot-martyrs of the city and county of Albany, who sacrificed their lives during the late war in defense of our nation 1861-1865 > Part 9
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About the 10th of January, 1863, he was ordered with his regiment to Donaldsonville, some sixty miles above New Orleans, to hold that place, while Gen. GODFREY WEITZEL, who had been lying at Thibodeaux, marched on Brashear city and other points on Bayou Teche; it being apprehended that the enemy, taking advantage of WEITZEL's absence in that quarter, might gain his rear, thus endangering him and our possession of the Mississippi river. Col. BENEDICT remained at Donaldsonville until the 25th, when WEITZEL, having accomplished his purposes, the necessity to strengthen the regular garrison ceased, and he returned with his command to the Parapet.
His command at this post was his first service as an acting Brigadier. The anomalous condition of affairs in the surround- ing district, and the entire absence of civil or social authority, imposed on military commanders much besides professional duty. In so disturbed a state of society, military vigilance could not be relaxed, if the public enemy were not immediately at hand- elements that needed watchful care were always present. Every day brought with it occasion for the exercise of sound judgment, moderation and presence of mind; for there was neither code to preseribe, nor precedent to follow. He was fortunate enough,
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in this difficult position, to satisfy his superiors, by his diligence in military matters, and by his discretion in such affairs as were rather civil and administrative in character.
Having suffered acutely for many weeks from an ailment, to be relieved only by a difficult surgical operation, on the 6th of March he obtained leave of absence to go north, to receive proper surgical treatment.
He arrived in New York March 16th, and at once underwent the needed operation, convalescing so rapidly that he reembarked April 23d, and joined his regiment May 11th at Alexandria, La. He had barely landed, however, and was receiving the congratu- lations of his friends, when he was knocked down by a frightened horse and his leg so injured that he was obliged to return to the boat, and remain in it while it made a trip to Brashear city and back.
His march to Alexandria was said to be a ruse on the part of Gen. BANKS to induce the rebels to believe Shreveport was his objective point. On the 17th, the army retraced its steps to Cheneyville, and thence made a forced march to Semmesport, on the Atchafalaya, about ten miles from the Red river. At this point Col. BENEDICT came up with the army and took command of the brigade. The troops moved up the Atchafalaya to its source and the junction of the Red and Mississippi rivers, thence down the latter to Morganzia, where the army crossed the river to Bayou Sara, ten miles above Port Hudson.
At Morganzia, May 23d, he was detached with the One hun- dred and tenth N. Y., two companies of cavalry, and a section of the Sixth Mass. artillery, to occupy and hold an important position, directly opposite Port Hudson, called indifferently Hermitage or Fausse Point. Just here there is a bend in the river, and a swampy flat projects far into the stream, making the point. An insignificant hamlet, named Hermitage, is seen on the banks of the Fausse river, from which the point obtains its name. From its relative position, Port Hudson invested, this locality would have been invaluable to the beleaguered garrison, furnishing a convenient avenue for retreat, if that were expedient, or for strengthening itself by communication with friends on the
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opposite side of the river, beside offering a very eligible location for batteries. To prevent such or any use of it by the rebels was the duty he was sent to perform. A signal station was discov- ered in the neighborhood, and captured with seven men of the signal corps of the enemy. By means of the cavalry, he swept the country in his rear and kept it free from small hostile par- ties, at the same time collecting information for use at headquar- ters. His position was frequently shelled out without serious results, though some very narrow escapes were experienced.
Under orders he yielded this command to Gen. SAGE, of the One hundred and tenth N. Y., and proceeded to join his regiment before Port Hudson, arriving in his camp June 13th, in the evening. He was immediately put in command of the One hun- dred and seventy-fifth N. Y., Col. BRYAN, the Twenty-eighth Maine and Forty-eighth Mass., which, together with his own regi- ment, One hundred and sixty-second N. Y., under Lieut. Col. BLANCHARD, constituted the Second brigade of the Second divi- sion of the Nineteenth corps, under command of Gen. DWIGHT. At twelve o'clock that night orders were issued for an attack at day-break by the entire line of investment. At one A. M. Col. BENEDICT moved his brigade still farther to the left, opposite the lower sally-port of the enemy. On information received from a deserter, that there was a straight and plain road to this sally- port, and that the enemy's works were then quite practicable, Gen. DWIGHT ordered the left to assault at that point. By some miscarriage, orders failed to reach the Twenty-eighth Maine, and the brigade went into action with three regiments, numbering only five hundred and eighty-two men.
The attack was commenced by the First brigade, under Col. CLARK, of the Sixth Mich., which in a few moments was thrown into disorder. Gen. DWIGHT then ordered Col. BENEDICT to advance his brigade to the assistance of Col. CLARK, and to make the attack "in column of companies." On reaching the open ground, which rose gently towards the enemy's works, upon which the column entered from a wood, under cover of which it had formed, it was met by a terrific fire of shot and shell; and a little farther on it came under a cross-fire of artillery that was
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almost insupportable. Still, he urged the column on, passing CLARK's brigade, to the verge opposite to the sally-port, only, however, to find himself confronted by a ravine between him and the enemy's works, made impassable by felled timber, and ex- posed to a withering fire of all arms. He halted the column and ordered the men to seek cover-retreat threatening annihilation, while further advance was absolutely impracticable. Coolly sur- veying the hostile works from the brink of the ravine, he retraced the perilous road, for being without an aid for the purpose, he was compelled to report in person the critical situation of his com- mand to Gen. DWIGHIT, who, recognizing the necessity, ordered the brigade to lie where it was until the shades of night might cover its withdrawal. After reporting he rejoined his men, having gone and returned through a tornado of shot and shell untouched.
The sufferings of that day will never be forgotten in this life by any who shared or witnessed them. From morning until night the men lay under a burning sun, exhausted by fatigue, maddened by thirst, and many agonized by wounds. The slightest manifestation of life made the exhibitor a target for a volley from the sharpshooters of the enemy, who crowded the works that crowned the field. The assault failed elsewhere throughout the lines, as it did here, and as might be expected from the manner of the fighting. The casualties were numerous and severe. It was in this advance that the brave Col. BRYAN, of the One hundred and seventy-fifth N. Y., fell. The One hundred and sixty-second N. Y., his own regiment, which led the brigade, lost, in killed, wounded and missing, fifty-one out of one hundred'and seventy- three in action. Major JAMES H. BOGART was among the killed.
At seven P. M. the brigade was withdrawn. The calm bravery displayed by Col. BENEDICT on this occasion attracted much notice, and excited the admiration of all who beheld it; and par- tial as may be the pen that records this memorial of it, it is exceeded in strength of eulogy by many less interested com- mentators. An officer's letter to a friend says: " When about three hundred yards from the works I was struck. The pain was so intense I could not go on. I turned to my second lieu-
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tenant as he came up to me and said: 'Never mind me, Jack, for God's sake, jump to the colors!' I do not recollect anything more until I heard Col. BENEDICT say, ' Up men, and forward.' ] looked and saw the regiments lying flat to escape the fire, and Col. BENEDICT standing there, the shot striking on every side about him, and he never flinching. It was grand to see him. I wish I was of iron nerve as he." Adjutant MEECH, of the Twenty- sixth Conn., writing to his friends, says: "I saw Col. BENEDICT standing just in front of me, when I was wounded, on the edge of the ravine. looking intently at the rebel works, while the bul- lets and shells were flying about pretty thick. He walked to the rear as composedly as if out for a stroll."
The following day. June 15th, Gen. BANKS called for a thou- sand volunteers to form a column to storm the enemy's works. Officers who might lead the column were assured of promotion; and all, both officers and privates, were promised medals of com- memoration, and that their names should " be placed in general orders on the roll of honor." High on this roll would have appeared the name of Col. LEWIS BENEDICT. Col., now Gen., BIRGE, of Mass., volunteered, and by virtue of seniority was assigned to command the First battalion of the stormers. Col. BENEDICT volunteered to lead the Second battalion, and his offer was accepted. The fall of Vicksburg, however, constrained the rebel Gen. GARDNER to surrender Port Hudson, and so the for- lorn hope lost the opportunity to illustrate its bravery and patri- otism.
Springfield Landing, some four miles below Port Hudson, was the base of supplies for the investing army. The safety of these stores, upon which that of the army depended, became imperiled by the aggressions of LOGAN's cavalry, and some small successes, in the way of plundering and burning, and it was apprehended that they might invite serious attacks by larger bodies of the enemy. The Second brigade having become reduced by casualties and details to a single battalion, Col. BENEDICT was relieved of that command and ordered to the protection of this important depot soon after the battle of the 14th of June. He had just completed a parapet for that object when the surrender of Port Hudson took place.
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He was in attendance on the ceremonies of that surrender, and thus described some objects of peculiar interest to him, which the occasion gave him opportunity to observe: " We entered the works by the road over which we advanced to assault them on the 14th of June; and, as I rode along, I congratulated my- self that our progress then had been checked, although the storm of grape and bullets cost my brigade the lives of more than a hundred of its best men, a Colonel, a Major and several other valuable officers. A glance at the ground showed that our assault must have been unsuccessful. The natural difficulties of the position were very great, and they had been augmented by the rebels, with all they possessed of means or skill."
Soon after this, Col. BENEDICT was detailed to serve on a suc- cession of Courts Martial convened in New Orleans. His profes- sional acquirements and training made him a desirable member of tribunals of this character.
About the middle of August, while at New Orleans, Gen. BANKS reorganized the army of the department. The One hun- Ired and sixty-second N. Y., One hundred and tenth N. Y., One hundred and sixty-fifth N. Y. and Fourteenth Maine were consti- tuted the First brigade, Third division of the Nineteenth army corps, and Col. BENEDICT was assigned to command it.
He reached his command at Bâton Rouge September 1st, and on the 4th sailed in the R. C. Winthrop from New Orleans for the place of rendezvous for the vessels of an expedition, which was off' Berwick Bay. The land forces consisted of the Nineteenth Corps, and the transports were conveyed by a naval force, con- sisting of four light draft gunboats, the Clifton, Arizona, Granite City and Sachem, the whole under command of Maj. Gen. W. B. FRANKLIN. It turned out that the object of the expedition was to capture and occupy Sabine City, at the mouth of the river of that name. The entire fleet was directed to make Sabine Pass by midnight of the 7th, in order that the attack might be made carly on the morning of the 8th. This was not ac- complished, however, for, owing to the absence of the block- ading vessel, which was relied on to indicate the point. the fleet ran by in the night, and thus necessitated a change of both the
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time and manner of the attack, which finally took place on the evening of the 8th. The Pass proved to be sufficiently forti- fied, and was defended with andacity enough to defy such demon- strations as were made on behalf of the expedition: so that, after sacrificing two of the gunboats, the Clifton and Sachem, the most serviceable of all. in view of the shallowness of the waters, the fleet returned to New Orleans, to the infinite disgust of the sol- diers who expected to fight, and equally to the sorrow and disap- pointment of a multitude of refugees, who sorely needed an opposite result. It was said that this bootless expedition was not favored by the most experienced officers in the department, who preferred Brownsville as a base of operations.
Col. BENEDICT shared in the general regret, caused by such barrenness of creditable results from an enterprise which had inspired high hopes, founded largely on the tried bravery of the Nineteenth Corps. The reaction, however, created in all, both officers and men, a burning desire to supplant the remembrances of the Sabine Pass failure by other emotions, excited by some important success. It was, therefore, with great satisfaction that, after spending four or five days in camp, at Algiers, he received orders to march his brigade to Brashear city, in order to partici- pate in some operations in Western Louisiana. These operations were designed to favor another portion of the army, sent to occupy Brownsville, on the Rio Grande, by compelling the rebels to withdraw troops from Texas, to oppose the advance of this one. After an unimportant skirmish near Carrion Crow Bayou, the Nineteenth Corps moved to Vermillionville.
Here it was reported to Maj. Gen. FRANKLIN that the enemy was concentrating forces at or near Carrion Crow Bayou, and for the purpose of determining their numbers and position, he directed Gen. A. L. LEE to make a reconnoissance with all his available cavalry. The cavalry division, comprising two bri- gades of eight hundred each, started from Vermillionville for the Bayou in question, distant twelve miles, due north, at 6.30 A. M., November 11th, and soon commeneed driving back the pickets of the enemy to their reserve of six hundred. A run- ning fight then ensued for some six or eight miles, ending in
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Gen. LEE'S charging them vigorously, and driving them back in confusion to a dense wood. NIMM's Light Battery of Flying Artillery was quickly brought up, and after it had shelled the woods, Gen. LEE advanced his whole force, in line of battle through the woods, and found the enemy drawn up in like order on the opposite side of a prairie, about two miles broad, num- bering, as nearly ås could be estimated, some seven thousand. Seeing that he was outnumbered four to one, and having aceom- plished the object of his reconnaissance, Gen. LEE ordered a retreat.
The enemy, detecting his intention, sent a large force to make a demonstration on his left flank, upon which he dispatched the First (Col. Lucas) brigade to protect the left, while the General in person remained with the main column in the road.
Col. BENEDICT had been ordered to advance his brigade about a mile beyond Vermillion Bayou, and hold himself in readiness to support Gen. LEE. After being in position an hour, he received a request from the General that he would advance up the road. About four miles up he was met by a message, that Gen. LEE was retreating before a superior enemy, and directing him to take a position where his force would be masked, in order to give Gen. LEE an opportunity to turn and make a dash at the enemy's cavalry. Col. BENEDICT selected for this purpose the east side of a prairie, about twelve hundred rods wide, posting the men in the ditches-NIMM's battery in the rear of the left flank, and TRULL's in the rear of the right, a position in which his eight hundred and odd could withstand five thousand. Gen. LEE retired behind the position to tempt the enemy into the open prairie; but he was too cautious, and opened with his artil- lery. This was replied to with vigor, and for an hour the fire was active, the rebels suffering severely. Then failing in an attempt to out-flank, they sought the cover of the fences and retired. Col. BENEDICT's brigade was so well protected that it had but one killed and four wounded.
November 15th the army left Vermillionville, encamping for the night near Spanish lake, and the next day marched to New Iberia, where it remained in quarters until the close of the year.
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Col. B.'s brigade held the post of honor on the march, acting rear guard to the army.
Though not attacked on the way, it was closely followed by the enemy, and had not become settled in quarters when it was announced that Camp Pratt, its very place of encampment the night before, was occupied by the enemy. A detachment was at once sent out, which surprised in their beds, and captured more than one hundred and twenty rebels.
January 2d, 1864, he arrived at Franklin, La., where the army was concentrated. Here was organized what is known and gene- rally deplored as the Red River Expedition. Col. BENEDICT was assigned to the command of the Third brigade of the First divi- sion of the Nineteenth army corps. Maj. Gen. FRANKLIN com. manded the corps, Brig. Gen. EMORY the division.
March 15th the division moved to enter upon the Red River campaign, traversing the rich flats of Lower Louisiana, and skir- mishing slightly on the way; on the 25th it reached Alexandria, a distance of one hundred and sixty miles. On the 27th the march was continued to Natchitoches, where the army encamped on the 31st, and awaited the arrival of the provision transports. Gen. BANKS and Com. PORTER, with his fleet, were at Grand Ecore, four miles above. A reconnoissance having ascertained the strength and position of the enemy at and beyond Pleasant Hill, with sufficient accuracy, as was thought, the entire army marched from Natchitoches on the morning of April 6th. After an exhausting march through rain and mud, Col. BENEDICT's brigade arrived at Pleasant Hill on the evening of the 7th, and bivouacked, the wagons not having come up. At eight o'clock the next morning, the 8th, it resumed its march, and in the afternoon encamped with the rest of the division at Carroll's Mill, about eleven miles northwest of Pleasant Hill. Hence it was summoned to Sabine Cross Roads, to cover the retreat of the cavalry and the Thir- teenth corps, which had been routed, and to check the advance of the enemy. The brigade was scarcely in position when it received the fire of the enemy, who, encouraged by previous suc- cesses, came on, as if already the field was won. They were received, however, by such a fire as put further advance out of
.
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the question, although they continued the attack with great bravery and perseverance, at a great cost of life. The mainte- nance of his position by EMORY was indispensable to the safety of the army, of which emergency the enemy appeared to be as con- scious as himself. Hence their desperate determination to turn his left, held by Col. BENEDICT's brigade. One vigorous effort that was made towards night, was so bloodily repulsed, that the rebels not only recoiled but fled, leaving their dead and wounded where they fell. In this repulse the One Hundred and Sixty- second New York and the One Hundred and Seventy-third New York were mainly instrumental, and it closed the fighting at this point. Col. BENEDICT was much commended for the effective manner in which he handled his brigade.
" From Pleasant Grove, where this action occurred, to Plea- sant Hill," says Gen. BANKS in his official report, " was fifteen miles. It was certain that the enemy, who was within reach of reinforcements, would renew the attack in the morning, and it was wholly uncertain whether the command of Gen. SMITH could reach the position we held, in season for a second engagement. For this reason the army, towards morning, fell back to Pleasant Hill, Gen. EMORY covering the rear, burying the dead, bringing off the wounded and all the material of the army.
" It arrived there at 8.30 on the morning of the 9th. effecting a junction with the forces of Gen. SMITH and the colored brigade under Col. DICKEY, which had reached that point the evening previous. Early on the 9th the troops were prepared for action, the movements of the enemy indicating that he was on our rear. A line of battle was formed in the following order: First brigade, Nineteenth corps, from the right resting on a ravine; Second brigade in the centre, and Third brigade on the left. The centre was strengthened by a brigade of Gen. SMITH's forces, whose main force was held in reserve. The enemy moved towards our right flank. The Second brigade withdrew from the centre to the support of the First brigade. The brigade in support of the centre moved up into position, and another of Gen. SMITH'S brigades was posted to the extreme left position on the hill, in echelon, to the rear of the left main line. Light skirmishing
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occurred during the afternoon. Between four and five o'clock it increased in vigor, and about five P. M., when it appeared to have nearly ceased, the enemy drove in our skirmishers and attacked in force. his first onset being against the left. He advanced in two oblique lines extending well over towards the right of the Third brigade, Nineteenth corps. After a determined resistance, this part of the line gave way and went slowly back to the re- serves. The First and Second brigades were soon enveloped in front, right and rear. By skillful movements of Gen. EMORY, the flank of the two brigades, now bearing the brunt of the bat- tle, was covered. The enemy pursued the brigades, passing the left and centre, until he approached the reserves under Gen. SMITH, when he was met by a charge led by Gen. MOWER. and checked. The whole of the reserves were now ordered up, and in turn we drove the enemy, continuing the pursuit until night compelled us to halt."
A New Englandman, an officer in one of the New York regi- ments, thus describes the battle: "The enemy, finding a strong force on our right and centre, massed a heavy body of troops on our left, where our division (First) lay, and about five P. MI. drove in our skirmishers. We immediately lay down, and waited for them to come out of the woods. Just as they arrived at the edge of them, they halted and gave a most hideous yell-such as Texans and border ruffians alone can give-thinking that we would immediately fire and show our position. But in this they were much mistaken; for we lay still, under cover of the bushes in the valley. At that moment our artillery should have com- menced firing, but it did not. Finding we did not fire. they rushed out of the woods to the brow of the hill, and poured tremendous volleys upon us, at the same time rushing down the hill. Our brigade poured several into them, but found them coming in such overwhelming force that we were obliged to fall back. The second line seeing us coming back in such confusion, began to break, but the officers succeeded in preserving the line until a few volleys were fired, when it and part of the third line broke. The artillery then commenced firing, and we rallied, and. immediately formed a new line. By this time most of the rebels
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were out of the woods, and rushing upon us pell-mell. Now it was our time to have something to say about it.
* Our massed column pressed on and drove the frightened rebels two miles through the woods. In the mean time they opened on our right, and found more than they expected there. They charged upon a battery and took it, but to their sorrow; for our infantry opened upon them in such a terrific cross-fire, that they fell like grass before the seythe, and what was left fell back. It was now so dark that it was impossible to distinguish one side from the other, and the fighting ceased. * * If they had fired a little lower while we were lying in the valley, they would have killed or wounded one-half of our brigade." Another officer, a Captain, in connection with this latter statement of opinion, says: " While lying down, as we were ordered to do, whole volleys from the rebel ranks, which came upon us five lines deep, yell- ing furiously, passed over us, as their aim was too high, and we could hear the bullets strike on the knoll in our rear."
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