History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 159

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1360

USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I > Part 159

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949

1862

BATTLE OF CHARLES CITY CROSS ROADS.

Owing to the excessive heat of the guns, produced by rapid and long con- tinned firing on the 26th and 27th, the vent-pieces had so melted, that some of the vents were twice the original size. General Barry, Chief of Artillery, in- spected the guns and decided them unserviceable, and directed General M'Call not to use them if he could avoid it, as it was dangerous to work them. But when the rebels began their attack, Battery B was ordered into position imme- diately in front of the cross roads, having the Ninth Regiment for support. The guns were worked as rapidly as possible, but the size of the vents com- pelled the gunners to insert two primers in some of the guns, along with the one to which the lanyard hook was attached, to discharge the piece. After the Ninth Regiment went to the left, the enemy came out of the woods in front, formed in line and advanced on the battery as regularly as if on drill, utterly regardless of the double charges of canister and case shot that were fired into his ranks, and drove the cannoneers from the guns. Never did the rebels ex- hibit more desperate valor. During all this time the battery was subjected to a fire in the rear from a New York Dutch Battery, which had deserted its position on the left. The Ninth Regiment returning from the left, joined the First, and drove the rebels back, but assistance coming to them they captured it a second time, but a second time were driven back. Its loss was three killed and eight wounded; among the former were Lieutenants Danforth and Cadwalader.

Malvern Hill was reached at sunrise the next morning, and Harrison's Land- ing the following day. Four guns, in place of those lost, were received on the 11th of July. On the 6th of August, Captain Cooper received orders to report with his battery to General Butterfield, in command at Coggins' Point, across the river, where it remained until the 15th, when it embarked for Acquia Creek, arriving there on the 20th. Warrenton was reached on the 24th, when the di- vision was again placed under the command of General M'Dowell. Here the battery occupied several positions during the next two days, when the army commenced falling back in the direction of Washington. On the 28th, as the advance of the Reserves was emerging from a piece of woods near Gainesville, it was fired upon by a section of the rebel Stuart's horse artillery. Battery B was ordered up to take the place of Ransom's Regular Battery, whose short range guns would not reach the enemy.

At the battle of Bull Run, the next day, it moved forward with the divi- sion, and occupied a position on the extreme left, from which an Ohio Bat- tery had been driven half an hour previously. Three rebel batteries opened fire on it immediately. General Reynolds ordered it withdrawn. The rear portion of one of the caissons was disabled and left on the field. The battery was engaged all the next day. At one time the enemy was so close as to cap- ture all the caissons. The battery lost three killed and sixteen wounded. On the 1st of September, while the battle of Chantilly was in progress, it was placed in position on the right of the road leading to Washington, ready to be called into action. On the 7th, Captain Cooper received orders to exchange his guns and horses at the arsenal at Washington. The battery rejoined the division, now attached to General Hooker's First Corps, at Monocacy, on the morning of the 14th. That afternoon the battle of South Mountain was fought. It was the only battery of the First Corps engaged. The position occupied was on the extreme right. The woods on the side of the mountain was shelled, and the infantry were thereby assisted in driving the enemy before them.

When the First Corps crossed Antietam Creek, on the afternoon of the 16th,

1863

950

FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FIRST ARTILLERY.

Battery B was placed on the front line and advanced immediately in rear of the skirmishers. When the infantry came upon the entrenehed line of the enemy it took position in the edge of the cornfield over which there was such fierce fighting on the following day. Early the next morning it was ordered to the right. While changing position private Jacob N. Weekly was severely wounded by a grape shot. The right seetion, commanded by Lieutenant Fullerton, dur- ing the forenoon occupied several positions aeross the pike, on and in advance of the skirmish line. That evening the gunners performed some excellent prac- tice. Captain Cooper had a very narrow escape. While directing the fire of the guns a solid shot struck his horse and tore it in pieces.

After the army crossed the Potomac at Berlin, Battery B moved in the ad- vance, with the division, through Loudon Valley. At Fredericksburg it erossed the Rappahannock on the 12th, and early the next morning was placed in posi- tion, by General Meade, in advance of the skirmish line on the left, and com- pelled a section of Stuart's artillery, which had been firing along the flank of the division, to seek the cover of the woods in front. When the Reserves pene- trated the enemy's lines the guns engaged the attention of the rebel artillery, blowing up two limber chests. When they were foreed back the battery re- tained its position, and but for the support of the Thirty-seventh New York Infantry, Colonel Hayman, it would have been captured. Two men were killed and two wounded.

During the winter the battery was encamped near Belle Plain Landing. On the 20th of January, 1863, it accompanied the division up the Rappahannock on what was known as the "Mud March." On the 23d of February the detached men from the Reserve regiments returned to their places, and twenty-seven men of the One Hundred and Forty-third and One Hundred and Fiftieth regiments were detailed in their stead.

On the 29th of April, the battery covered the crossing of the troops below Fredericksburg. On the 2d of May, it was ordered up the Rappahannock and crossed the river at United States Ford, and the next day went into position near the brick house used as a hospital. It re-crossed the river on the 5th and covered the withdrawal of the army. On the 12th of June, the battery left White Oak Church, where it had been eneamped, for Pennsylvania, whither Lee was supposed to be directing his steps.

At the battle of Gettysburg Battery B was in position, on the first of July, near the Seminary, but was driven back through the town. On the 2d, a shot from a rebel twenty-pounder Parrott gun, immediately in front, exploded under one of the guns, killing privates Peter G. Hoagland and James H. M'Cleary, and wounding Corporal Joseph Reed, and privates Jesse Temple and Daniel W. Taylor. On the 3d, it took the place of one of the Reserve Artillery Bat- teries, where it did good service. The next day it was ordered to Emmitts- burg, where it was in position twenty-four hours. It then accompanied the army to the Rappahannock, where it remained on pieket until the 10th of Sep- tember. On the 11th and 12th of October, it eovered the re-crossing of the army at Kelly's Ford, and then marched to Centreville, and from thenee, by way of Haymarket, Thoroughfare Gap and Kelly's Ford, baek to Brandy Station. On the 27th of November, it crossed the Rapidan at Culpepper Mine Ford, and the next morning was in position on the left of the pike, in full view of the ene- my's intrenched line beyond Mine Run, and compelled a rebel battery in ad- vance of his works to withdraw. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 30th,

951

THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.

1864

all the batteries along the line opened to attract the attention of the enemy from General Warren, who was to attack his right wing.

Winter-quarters were constructed at Paoli Mills, near Kelly's Ford, and near Culpepper Court House. At the latter place a number of the men re-en- listed and received the thirty days' furlough allowed veterans. About forty reeruits were received and two more guns.

Early on the morning of the 4th of May, 1864, Battery B left camp, and cros- sing the Rapidan at Germania Ford, joined the Reserves the next day in an ad- vanceto the road leading to Orange Court House; but was compelled to fall back to the Lacy House, where it went into position, and fired for some time at a col- umn of the enemy passing along the road, near the point advanced to in the morn- ing. It was withdrawn on the evening of the 7th, and accompanied Cutler's Di- vision around the left of the army, and the next day took position, in rear of the Fifth Corps, at Laurel Hill. The next evening it was ordered to the extreme right, where General Hancock's Corps was advancing, and fired about forty rounds at the enemy beyond the Po River. Several other positions were occu- pied until the afternoon of the 13th, when Captain Cooper received orders to place his battery in position on the picket line. The two lines were very close, the men having little shelter, and it was only by working on their knees that the guns could be loaded. Private George C. Garber was severely wounded by a sharp-shooter. The battery was withdrawn and marched all night, re- joining the Corps, near Spottsylvania Court House, on the next morning. It was immediately placed in position and fired on a body of the enemy in front. On the 18th it was sent to the left and front, and placed in position in sight of the town. Here it was under the hottest artillery fire that it encountered dur- ing the war. Several shells struck the carriages. Private William Chambers received a slight wound in the head. Here the rebels were treated to a little mortar practice by the gunners of Battery B. On the 21st this position was abandoned, and the march continued in the direction of the North Anna River. After the Fifth Corps had crossed the river on the 23d, at Jericho Ford, and the rebels had attacked it, Lieutenant Miller placed the battery in position on the left bank, opposite the Reserves, and completely demolished a rebel battery that was annoying them. It was afterwards ascertained that Captain Fon- taigue, General Longstreet's Chief of Artillery, was killed by the explosion of one of the shells. Captain Cooper was, at the time, in command of a brigade of short range guns across the river. On the 31st of May, forty-one men, who were entitled to discharge, left for Harrisburg. They were mustered out at Pittsburg on the 9th of June. There were sufficient men remaining to man the guns, and on the 2d of June Lieutenant Miller was ordered to go into position on the left at Cold Harbor. The new gunners did good execution, firing a greater number of rounds on the 2d and 3d than had been fired by the battery previously in that campaign.

The battery arrived at Wilcox's Landing on the James, on the 15th, and in front of Petersburg at daylight of the 17th. Several positions were occupied during the day, and the next morning when the line was advanced, it occupied a position in front of the Avery House, and fired a number of rounds. On the 24th, it moved to the left, near the Jerusalem Plank Road. On the morning of the 30th of July, when the fort in front of the Ninth Corps was blown up, it fired a number of rounds. Captain Cooper having remained two months be- yond his term of service, was mustered out on the 8th of August, at his own re-

952

1865

FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FIRST ARTILLERY.

quest, and Lieutenant Miller took command. Captain Cooper took with him a petition to Governor Curtin, signed by a majority of the officers of the regiment, for his appointment as Colonel of the regiment ; but he never presented it. He was a gallant officer. On the 18th of August, it accompanied General Warren's advance upon the Weldon Railroad, and was engaged that day and the 19th and 21st. In the meantime, the members of the battery, whose term of service had expired, returned home, and a number of one-year recruits were added to it. On the 22d of November, Lieutenant Miller was honorably discharged, leaving Lieutenant William M'Clelland in command. The battery was relieved from duty on the front line on the 21st of December, and went into winter-quarters about a mile in the rear. At different times during the winter it was on duty on the front line. On the 23d of February, 1865, Lieutenant M'Clelland was commissioned Captain.

On the 15th of March, eighteen men, the number in excess of the maximum allowed a six-gun battery, were transferred to Battery I, a new battery then forming at Washington. When the enemy captured Forts Steadman and Has- kell, the left section kept up a sharp fire on the forts in front. On the 28th, the caisson camp was moved up near the front line. About midnight of the 1st of April, all the batteries received orders to open fire. After daylight the next morning, the firing was renewed, the gunners doing good execution. At the request of General Tidball, Captain M'Clelland, with Lieutenant Rice, took two detachments and worked the guns in one of the enemy's batteries which had been captured. About six hundred rounds, left by the rebels, were fired, besides a large number brought from the other line by the infantry. During the afternoon, the rebels made an attempt to re-capture the forts they had lost. The infantry disappeared, leaving Lieutenant Rice and his handful of men ; but nothing daunted, they worked their guns with telling effect. Many of the men had never been under fire before, yet they all behaved well. Lieutenant Gardner, a very brave officer, was in command of the battery during the ab- sence of Captain M'Clellan. Sergeant Isaac J. Grubb and Corporal Andrew J. Gilkey were killed in the rebel fort, and subsequently when one of the sec- tions in Fort Davis was ordered forward to Fort Wright, Corporal John W. Summers was mortally wounded. The next day the battery was ordered to City Point. On the 3d of May, it left for Washington, passing through Rich- mond. On the 3d of June, in obedience to orders, Captain M'Clelland turned the battery in at Washington, and proceeded to Harrisburg, where it was mus- tercd out on the 9th.

Three hundred and thirty-four men were connected with the battery. The number of rounds of ammunition, of all kinds, expended during its four years of service, was over eleven thousand two hundred, (11,200.)

BATTERIES C, D, E AND H.

Batteries C, D, E and H, Captains M'Carthy, Flood, Miller and Brady, served together in the Peninsula campaign, and a part of them, subsequently,- in the Army of the James, and may therefore properly be treated together. Batteries C and E were, soon after being armed and equipped at Camp Berry, assigned to duty with the troops occupying the right bank of the Potomac, covering the Chain Bridge. After a brief introduction to duty in face of the enemy there, they were ordered back, and united with batteries D and H, form- ing part of the artillery brigade of Buell's Division, occupying the northerly

1862

BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES. 953

line of the defences of Washington. Upon the advance of the army on the 10th of March, these batteries were transferred to Couch's Division of Keyes' Corps, the Fourth, with which it remained during the Peninsula campaign Upon the return of the army to Alexandria, and its embarkation, these bat- teries were moved by transports to Hampton Roads, and landed at the little village of Hampton. As soon as the corps had arrived the army moved for- ward, the Fourth occupying the left of the line. This brought the batteries under the fire of the enemy's gun and mortar boats on the James River, and his batteries on the opposite bank of the Warwick River. Some excellent practice followed, in which the enemy's guns were silenced, and a regiment of rebel cavalry reconnoitring in front was put to flight. Upon the arrival of the army in front of Yorktown, the troops were placed in position, and during the progress of the siege, which lasted a month, the four batteries were kept in constant activity on the James River front. On the Wednesday night pre- vious to the evacuation, a brigade of the enemy moved forward and encamped within gun shot range of Battery H. Captain Brady promptly opened on it, and after being subjected to a smart shelling withdrew to steamboats provided, and was ferried across the James. From Yorktown the enemy withdrew to Williamsburg, followed by the Union troops, where, on the 5th of May, they again found themselves checked. Recent rains made the roads very heavy and the guns and caissons could be moved with difficulty. Here Battery D, Cap- tain Flood, was hotly engaged, the enemy having blazed trees previously, to give him the exact range. After a severe battle, the enemy was driven, and withdrew leisurely across the Chickahominy. The Fourth Corps then moved forward, arriving at Cumberland Landing on the 10th of May, where Franklin's Corps, which had passed up by water, was met.

Not until the 23d did any part of the army cross the Chickahominy. On that day the Fourth Corps, still the left wing, passed to the south side of the river, and encamped two miles beyond, meeting with no traces of the enemy. Much sickness now began to prevail, and Lieutenant M'Laughlin, of Battery D, and private Harvey, of Battery II, died. On the 25th, the enemy appeared in front of Casey's Division, and batteries E and D were engaged, his forces

being pushed back beyond Seven Pines. Here some breast works were thrown up, and Batteries C, D and E, Captains Flood, M'Carthy and Miller, under the immediate command of Major West, were posted in redoubts on the right and . left of the Williamsburg road. On the 29th, Battery H, Captain Brady, with the Eighty-second,* Colonel Williams, was moved two miles to the extreme right and front, to a point covering the railroad crossing at Fair Oaks Station of the Nine Mile Road. Nothing unusual occurred on the 30th, and the men amused themselves by erecting an observatory, from which was distinctly seen the rebel Capital, only a belt of woods intervening between it and the fields and gardens north of the eity. The oversight in not passing through this wood before taking position, became apparent on the following day ; for under its shadow the enemy was enabled to mask his movements, and fall upon Ca- sey's Division with crushing force, entering his camps before the men off duty had time to seize their arms, or arrange themselves in line of battle. On the morning of the 31st, General Keyes and staff visited the station occupied by Captain Brady, inquiring if any movement of the enemy was visible, and soon

* This regiment was originally known as the Thirty-first, but was subsequently changed to the Eighty-second.

120

954

FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FIRST ARTILLERY. 1862

after General Casey, with a corps of engineers, came, and traced a line for rifle- pits. A few signal shots were heard, but no skirmish firing, the usual preludes to battle, when suddenly the enemy opened with deafening volleys on Casey's front. At two o'clock P. M., General Couch, with two regiments, arrived on the ground and ordered Captain Brady to feel the enemy in the woods to the left. It was soon discovered that his skirmishers had erept close up to the guns under cover of the sernb pines. The ammunition is immediately changed to canister, and a few rounds silences his skirmishers. General Couch now orders a charge by his infantry down the Nine Mile Road, himself leading, for the purpose of opening communication with the rest of his division, which has been cut off by the advance of the enemy, leaving the battery alone. Soon the Hampton Legion is discovered moving down upon the guns; but at this moment Couch, with his three regiments, returns, being unable to foree his way back. A new position farther to the right and rear, behind a belt of woods. is immediately taken, and the enemy follows up so leisurely at a right shoulder shift, and de- ploys, that for the moment his columns are mistaken for our own troops. But the error is soon discovered, and the battery opens with grape and canister. Undismayed he rushes forward, elosing up his ranks as soon as broken. The canister is exhansted, and Parrott shells without fuse are used, driving the fatal fragments through and through his lines, compelling him to halt, lie down, and seek shelter behind trees. Again he rallies and comes forward with renewed determination ; but at this juncture Sumner's columns, from across the Chieka- hominy, appcar on the field, and strike the enemy's surging flanks with such impetuosity as to compel him to yield the ground.

In the meantime the battle had been raging with great violence upon the left, and the three batteries posted upon the Williamsburg road were hotly en- gaged. "During the action," says General Keyes in his official report, "and particularly during the two hours immediately preceding the final successful stand made by the infantry, the three Pennsylvania batteries, under Major Robert M. West, (Flood's, M'Carthy's and Miller's,) in Couch's Division, per- formed most efficient service. The conduct of Miller's Battery was admirable. Having a central position in the forepart of the action, it threw shells over the heads of our own troops, which fell and burst with unusual precision among the enemy's masses, as did also those of the other two batteries. And later in the day when the enemy was rushing in upon our right, Miller threw his case and canister among them, doing frightful execution." The loss in Battery C was one man killed and three wounded, with a loss of six horses killed and one gun disabled. Battery H lost one killed and five wounded. The losses in Bat- teries D and E are not ascertaincd.

Soon after the enemy's cavalry raid in rear of onr army, Batteries E and H were ordered to the rear of the left wing, and took position to cover the bridges of the Chickahominy. The guns were pointed northward, and the enemy re- ported that they had seen the Army of the Potomac marching to Richmond backwards. After the action at Gaines' Mill, these batteries rendered valna- ble serviec in covering the retreat, keeping the railroad and Bottom's bridges open for four days, rescuing many hundreds of stragglers, and several times engaging the cnemy's artillery and skirmishers. On Sunday, the 29th, Cap- tain Brady was ordered to burn a train of ears loaded with ordnance and commissary stores, which had failed to reach White House before its occupa- tion by the enemy. The cars were prepared with combustible materials and fired, and the engine, pushing the train, started towards the Chickahominy, the

955

1862

MARCH TO THE JAMES RIVER.

bridge having already been destroyed. When the locomotive finally reached the crater, an explosion of a car-load of gunpowder took place, hurling frag- ments of the engine, cars and bridge hundreds of feet into the air. Successive explosions continued for several hours. While this was being done, a severe conflict was in progress at Savage Station. But Sumner was there, and the ground was held until the troops and trains had all securely passed.

While the Fourth Corps was passing Charles City Cross Roads, feeling its way towards the James River, Batteries C and D had a spirited engagement with a brigade of the enemy's cavalry, which had mistaken Couch's Division for a reconnoitring party.

On the 30th, the four batteries were united at Turkey Bend, and were posted by General Keyes in the reserve line of the corps, where they remained during the engagements at Charles City Cross Roads and Malvern Hill. On the re- treat of the army to Harrison's Landing, these batteries covered the rear of the column. At twilight of July 1st, General Peck, while posting the batteries and their supports for the night, said to Captain Brady, pointing to the woods, " Here is a regiment covering your left, and in yonder woods to your right is another, and this one in rear," pointing to six stacks of muskets and a flag, "will support you," adding "it might be moved closer if desired." To which the Captain replied, "we are safe enough, General, with it there." The Gen- eral smiled grimly and rode off. Thus by disease and battle had regiments of a thousand strong been reduced in ninety days to a few stacks of muskets and a flag; but these brave men had stood faithfully by their colors, and were now covering the retreat.

On the 4th of July, Battery D was selected to fire a national salute, an honor which was highly appreciated by Pennsylvania troops. On the 5th, the bat- teries were placed in temporary field works covering the left flank of the army. Upon the promotion of Major West to Colonel, Captain Flood, of Battery D, to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain James Brady, of Battery H, to Major, Lieu- tenant Hall was promoted to Captain of Battery D, and Lieutenant Fagan to Captain of Battery H. Immediately afterwards the Parrott guns of Battery H were exchanged for twelve-pounder Napoleon guus, the exchange being in- tended as a compliment for its efficient service. But the change was anything but gratifying to the men, losing thereby a good rifled piece weighing but eight hundred pounds, for one of twelve hundred, with which they could scarcely hit the side of a hill-excellent for canister when the enemy could be coaxed close enough-but killing to both men and horses when manœuvring in heavy ground. Batteries E and H were here formally designated asreserve batteries of the Fourth Corps, and placed in charge of Major Brady, receiving orders direct from corps headquarters. Lieutenant Thomas G. Orwig was elected Captain of Battery E, in place of Captain Miller, resigned. Batteries C and D remained attached to Couch's Division, which was soon after incorporated with the Sixth Corps. At Antietam these batteries were hotly engaged on the extreme left, being posted on an eminence in front of a clump of woods, overlooking the bridge where Burnside crossed, materially aiding with other batteries in the attack, by drawing the enemy's fire from the bridge. The position for the time was a critical one, the ground on which they stood being exposed to a plunging fire from the heights in front.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 159

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1360