History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 160

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 160

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When the division reached the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg, Batteries C and D were posted on Stafford Heights, opposite the city, and were

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FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FIRST ARTILLERY. 1863

engaged during the time of the erossing of our troops, and the days and nights of desperate fighting which ensued, in shelling the enemy on the opposite bank. From the 10th until the 16th they remained in position, and were unin- terruptedly employed. In the second attempt of Burnside to eross and give battle, in which he was foiled by storm and tempest, the batteries marehed to United States Ford, returning with great difficulty on the abandonment of the campaign.

Soon after their return to camp, the two batteries were consolidated by an order from Corps Headquarters. Captain Hall, of Battery D, a brave young officer, being the junior Captain, was mustered out, the entire foree passing un- der the command of Captain M'Carthy, known as battery D, and raising it to a full six-gun battery. In the attack on Marye's Heights, during the battle of Chanceellorsville, by Sedgwick's Corps, it bore a conspicuous part. Crossing the river on the 2d of May, at Bernard's House, it marched to Fredericksburg. At daybreak, on the 3d, the enemy opened from his fortifieations. The battery was brought into position at a distance of three hundred yards, and immediately poured in upon his infantry double shotted canister. It was afterward's em- ployed in shelling the works on Marye's Heights, dismounting several of his guns, and driving the eannoneers from their pieces, a success which the infan- try followed up by a most gallant charge, driving the enemy, and capturing the Heights. The loss here was one killed and three wounded. The loss in horses was nine killed. The battery immediately advanced upon the heights, where it was engaged with a rebel battery, which was soon captured. It then moved on, shelling the retreating enemy, and came up with him at Salem Church, where it was again engaged, but was compelled by superiority of num- bers to retire. Captain M'Carthy soon afterwards, on account of sickness, was discharged, and was succeeded in command by Lieutenant Munk.

After the battle of Gettysburg, Battery D was transferred to the army of the Shenandoah, and ordered to report at Harper's Ferry, whence it was sent for- ward to Winchester, and was pieketed at various important points. At the battle of Cedar Creek, October 18, 1864, culminated its eventful career. Here the men fought with handspikes, stones, and elubs, and successfully held the enemy at bay until nearly the last round of ammunition was exhausted. They were finally obliged to yield, being literally pushed from their guns by over- whelming numbers, many of them being wounded and prisoners. The survi- vors, overwhelmed with grief and mortification at their loss, and filled with in- dignation that their infantry supports should withdraw without a struggle, and abandon them to their fate, were giving vent to their feelings towards their new comrades of the army of the Shenandoah, in unmeasured terms of re- proach, comparing them in no very favorable light to their old friends of the Sixth Corps, when, to their great surprise and joy, that eorps appeared upon the field at the opportune moment, turning the tide of battle, and routing the enemy. Captain Munk gathered up his remaining men, joined in the charge, and recovered his lost guns and material.

Immediately after this engagement, a strong detachment of recruits, collected at regimental headquarters, at Fort Coreoran, on Arlington Heights, was sent, under Lieutenant S. L. Richards, of Battery H, to re-inforce it. Battery C was revived, Lieutenant Richards being commissioned Captain thereof, and was pushed forward to Martinsburg. Battery D was posted on Maryland Heights. In these positions they remained during the spring of 1865, and at the close of

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1863

IN THE ARMY OF THE JAMES.

the final campaign were ordered to Harrisburg, where, on the 29th and 30th of June, they were mustered out of service.

When M'Clellan's army returned from the Peninsula, in 1862, Batteries E and H remained with Keyes' Corps, the Fourth, which was left to garrison the posts of Yorktown and Gloucester. During the fall and winter, General Wise, in command of the rebel force on the James, made several raids on the out- lying troops belonging to these garrisons, and was in turn driven into his fortifications beyond the Chickahominy. Here the batteries had some lively artillery practice over the old battle grounds. On the 11th of December, a force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, twenty-five hundred strong, in light march- ing order, under General Naglee, in temporary command of the corps, crossed the York River and pushed forward to Gloucester Court House. On the follow- ing morning an outlying cavalry camp of the enemy was surprised and burned. On the 12th, Major Brady, with a detachment of his mounted artillerymen, attacked and drove off a cattle escort, and captured four hundred head, which were safely driven into camp. On the 13th, the command reached Urbana, the day on which was fought the battle of Fredericksburg, within striking dis- tance of the field; but at that point orders were received to turn back.

At the opening of the Gettysburg campaign, Battery II was ordered to Washington, whence, on the 1st of July, it made a forced march to the battle- field, having a slight skirmish by the way with a small detachment of the cne- my, but failed to arrive in time to participate in the battle. The battery was then ordered to report to the commander of the Department of Washington, where it was placed on duty as a reserve battery at Camp Barry. In May, 1864, Battery H was dismounted in common with other volunteer batteries, and or- dered to report to Lieutenant Colonel Brady, chief of artillery in the defences south of the Potomac fronting Washington, and was stationed at Fort Whip- ple, relieving the garrison which was under marching orders. This was an im- portant post, being the general rendezvous and place of confinement for rebel prisoners. On the following winter they were transferred to Fort Marcy, cov- ering the approaches of Chain Bridge. In February, 1865, the battery marched to Edwards' Ferry, where it remained on picket duty for severalmonths. While here, Captain Fagan resigned, and Lieutenant L. B. Richards was commissioned to succeed him. It was mustered out of service at Philadelphia on the 27th of June.

During the spring of 1863, Battery E was on duty with the Army of the James, and rendered valuable service in the attack on Drury's Bluff, and in furnishing and manning the guns at Fort Harrison. During the siege of Pe- tersburg, and indirectly of Richmond, the battery served under General Weit- zel. In the attack on the enemy's forts on the Williamsburg road, near Seven Pines, it was hotly engaged, and in the memorable siege events of 1865, it was kept in daily practice upon the enemy's works. Upon the evacuation of Rich- mond on the 3d of April, it had the honor of being the first battery that en- tered the city. The batteries of the brigade had received orders to hasten for- ward, and, in a spirit of honorable rivalry, it attained the head of the column and actually passed the skirmish line in front, reaching the Capital before the enemy's flag was pulled down, and by its timely arrival, hastening the retreat of his rear guard, charged with firing the town, and staying the execution of the order. In turning rapidly the corner of a street, a caisson was overturned, gravely injuring two of the men. It moved steadily forward amid the flames

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FORTY THIRD REGIMENT-FIRST ARTILLERY.

1864

of burning buildings, and the crash of falling walls. Though at times the am- munition in the caissons was seriously endangered, each man remained at his post until the battery had passed through the city, and had reached the de- fences beyond.

After the surrender of Lee's army, the battery was detached from corps duty, and with Battery A, was ordered to report to Colonel Brady, under whom it was engaged in dismantling rebel works, and removing and shipping ord- nance and ordnance stores. On the 4th of July, it was relieved fiom duty and ordered to turn in its guns and horses to the ordnance officer stationed at Richmond. From thence it embarked for Philadelphia, where, on the 20th of July, it was mustered out of service.

BATTERY F.

Battery F was furnished during the month of August, 1861, with horses and equipments, and four smooth-bore pieces, and was transferred shortly after to the camp of the Reserve Corps at Tenallytown. On the 12th of September, it was ordered to join General Bank's command at Darnestown, Maryland, and was never afterwards in any way connected with the regunent or with the Re- serves. On the 8th of October, the battery was enlarged by the addition of two Parrott steel rifled, ten-pounder guns, and immediately thereafter orders were received to move with the new section to Williamsport, Captain Matthews in command. Soon afterwards Sergeant Charles B. Brockway was elected Sec- ond Lieutenant and placed in command of the detached section, and was sent to oppose the enemy making demonstrations at Hancock, Maryland. A slight skirmish ensued, in which the great accuracy of the rifled pieces was demon- strated, several men and horses being killed and wounded by the first shell discharged. A few days later it was reported that the enemy were destroying the railroad in that vicinity, and Lieutenant Brockway was ordered to mask one of his pieces and open upon the party. The first shot struck the engine employed, and the second burst among the men, killing five and wounding twelve others.

On the 20th of December, the day on which was fought the battle of Dranes- ville, Lieutenant Rickett's section had an engagement with a body of the enemy's artillery and cavalry, which was attempting the destruction of Dam No. 5, on the Upper Potomac. After having one of his guns dismounted, and several of his men killed and wounded, he retired. Early in January, 1862, Ricketts, with his section, after a wearysome night march, joined General Lander, near Hancock, in time to participate in the engagement with Jackson in his attack upon the town, and in effecting his complete repulse. Jackson's column con- sisted of twenty thousand men, and twenty-six pieces of artillery. To oppose him, General Lander had two thousand infantry, and a battery of four guns. Jackson's pieces were of smooth bore and short range, whereas Rickett's sec- tion consisted of two rifled, ten-pounder, Parrott guns. He could therefore take position out of range of the enemy, and easily reach him with his missiles. Jackson was consequently forced to withdraw.

Until February, 1862, the guns were kept in motion singly and in sections between Edwards' Ferry and Hancock, occasionally engaging detachments of the enemy. On the 20th, the sections were united at Hagerstown, where new equipments were received, and the guns furnished by the State were exchanged for six regulation, three-inch, rifled guns, together with new carriages and Sib-

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1862

POPE'S CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.

ley tents. The morning report of the 1st of March showed its effective strength to be one hundred and nineteen officers and men, with one hundred and five horses. On the same day, the battery moved to Williamsport, where it crossed the river with Banks' advance, and moved on up the Shenandoah Valley. Near Bunker Hill a sharp skirmish ensued, in which the entire battery was brought into position, and the rebels were scattered with considerable loss. As the col- umn approached Winchester, the enemy, eight thousand strong, retreated, and a detachment, consisting of cavalry, infantry and two sections of the battery, was sent out on a reconnoissance towards Strasburg. At Newtown the enemy under Ashby was encountered and soon routed, the artillery proving particu- larly effective. On the 21st of March, it was ordered to join Abercrombie's Brigade, and move towards Centreville, and finally encamped at Warrenton Junction. On the 7th of April, Lieutenant Ricketts was ordered on a recon- noissance to Rappahannock Station, in connection with a portion of M'Dowell's Corps. Ten days later another reconnoissance was made by a force of cavalry and infantry and Godbald's and Brockway's sections of artillery, all under com- mand of Colonel Bryan, of the Twelfth Massachusetts. A spirited engage- ment with the artillery ensued, the enemy sustaining considerable loss, several of his pieces being silenced and disabled. His force consisted of five to seven thousand infantry, a regiment of cavalry, three full batteries and two siege guns, the whole force well posted and entrenched. Finding that he could not bring his infantry into action without great exposure, Colonel Bryan withdrew, having attained the object of the expedition.

On the 1st of May, General Abercrombie was relieved by General Hartsuff, and the brigade moved to Falmouth, where M'Dowell's Corps was concentrated in expectation of moving to the Peninsula. The sudden appearance of Stone- wall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley caused a change of plan, and the bat- tery was ordered to make a forced march across the country to Front 'Royal, with the design of cutting off the retreat of Jackson. The roads were very heavy, and the weather bad; but in six days the guns were taken through, and on the evening of the 31st, after a day's march of twenty-five miles, arrived at Front Royal. The whole corps was here concentrated, but failing to connect with Fremont in time, Jackson escaped without material harm, and it moved back to Warrenton.

On the Sth of August, Jackson, who had returned from the discomfiture of M'Clellan in the seven days' fight on the Peninsula, again made his appearance on the Rapidan. On the 9th, he advanced to Cedar Mountain, where, with greatly superior numbers and with great advantage of position, he engaged and defeated Banks. On the following day M'Dowell's Corps was pushed for- ward and was early engaged, the battery being posted on a commanding knoll. Jackson's guns were silenced, and during the following night he withdrew. Waiting until he was assured that M'Clellan would evacuate the Peninsula, the enemy again appeared in force, and began to assume the offensive. Pope with- drew his forces across the Rappahannock, and at the crossing Hartsuff's Bri- gade, with Battery F, was posted upon a wooded knoll upon the south bank, where it completely covered the crossing, and the entire plain beyond. Here a severe engagement between the artillery ensued ; but the enemy was success- fully held at bay until our forces were secure from attack, and the covering party was ordered to retire. The battery had two guns disabled, and several · horses were killed, but the guns were brought off. Lieutenant Godbald, in com-

1862

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FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FIRST ARTILLERY.

mand of the left section, was struck by a percussion shell, loosing a leg from the effects of the wound, and soon after died. He was a valuable officer and his loss was severely felt.

Jackson being isolated from the rest of the rebel army by the Bull Run Mountains, Hartsuff's Brigade was dispatched to Thoroughfare Gap to prevent the passage of Longstreet, now hurrying to the relief of Jackson's threatened corps. Brockway's section was pushed by hand into position in the gap, and after riddling a stone mill, and some houses, in which the enemy's sharp-shooters were posted, the infantry advanced and took them, and established their lines so as to insure the safety of the battery, and to hold the enemy at bay. The guns held complete command of the gap until dark, when the brigade fell back to join the main body.

The command moved by Bristoe Station and Manassas Junction, and on the 30th the battery was placed in position on the left of the battle line at Bull Run, near the Henry House, the artillery holding a commanding position. At four o'clock in the afternoon, Lieutenant Case was sent with his section to the right to report to General Stevens, leaving Broekway alone-the section disa- bled at Rappahannock Station not having been repaircd. To the left of Brock- way was commanding ground, where the enemy had posted fifty pieces of his artillery. At a concerted signal his guns opened, and his infantry moved for- ward in heavy masses. A fierce cannonade was opened in reply, and his in- fantry were driven back. The troops in support of our artillery soon disap- peared, and the battery was withdrawn to a new position; but here it was discovered that the enemy had possession of the Sudley Spring Road, the only avenne of escape, and the guns were lost. Of the thirty-five men with the bat- tery in the morning, only three remained, and they succeeded in making their way to a point where an effort was being made to stay the advancing tide of the enemy. Another gun, with a fresh detachment of men, was placed under Lieu- tenant Broekway, with orders to fill "the chest full of ammunition."

A slow fire was kept up until dusk upon groups of the enemy wherever seen, when directions were received from General Heintzleman, to hold the position until further orders, and to keep up a steady fire in the direction of the enemy. Supposing he was to be supported, Lieutenant Broekway contin- ued his fire, until suddenly he found himself charged upon by the enemy, who were swarming on all sides. The fruits of the rebel charge were one gun and caisson, and cight men, much to the chagrin of the rebel commander. "Our troops," says Lieutenant Broekway, "had safely re-crossed Bull Run, and I then understood that it was intended that we should hold the hill until killed or captured, while the balance of the army retreated behind Bull Run. It was some consolation to know that the ruse had succeeded, and as I afterwards learned, while our solitary gun was booming from the Henry House, the Buck- tails were cutting down the bridge aeross Bull Run."

Only one gan was saved, and with the remnant of the company remaining marched all night, and on the following day encamped near Centreville. Here the guns and horses of an Indiana battery were turned over to Captain Mat- thews, and with them the battery was partially re-fitted. In the engagement at Chantilly, it was in line but not engaged. 'In the series of engagements in Pope's Virginia campaign, the battery lost eight men killed, fifteen wounded and five taken prisoners. The prisoners, including Lieutenant Brockway, were

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BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

1862

marched away to Richmond. Shortly afterwards, Lieutenant Case was obliged to leave on account of sickness, and never afterwards returned.

At South Mountain the battery was not engaged. On the night of the 15th of September, it encamped on Antietam Creek. On the following day it crossed the stream and moved to the right, where it was in line with Ricketts' Divi- sion. At daylight on the 17th, it opened the battle. The position at first was just in rear of the cornfield which has become historic, the Dunkard Church being just beyond. Soon the enemy's fire was concentrated upon it, and it was advanced across the inclosed field to the edge of the cornfield. The enemy . several times charged this position, but he was as often repulsed by the storm of canister poured into his ranks. Towards the close of the engagement, Cap- tain Matthews had his horse killed under him. Most of the battery horses were either killed or wounded. Four men were killed and fifteen wounded.

On the 23d, Lieutenant Ricketts re-joined the battery from recruiting ser- vice, and Captain Matthews left it on account of sickness, and never afterwards resumed command. The battery at this time, from severe service in the field, was in a sad state. It had been reduced from a six to a two-gun battery; the men were greatly reduced in numbers, and worn down with constant marching and fighting; the horses and equipments were in the most pitiable condition. Lieutenant Godbald was dead, Lieutenant Brockway a prisoner, Captain Matthews and Lieutenant Case absent, prostrated by disease, and the men largely scattered by wounds, sickness and desertion. On the 1st of September, while encamped at Brook's Station, on the Acquia Creek Railroad, Lieutenant Ricketts was ordered to Washington for an additional battery, and obtained two guns, fourteen men, and twenty-nine horses. On the 10th, the battery moved to Falmouth, and reported to Captain De Russy, at Burnside's Head- quarters, and was by him posted on the left bank of the river to cover the laying of the lower pontoons, and the crossing of the troops. On the 11th, the can- nonading opened, and towards evening the battery was engaged with the enemy on the opposite side. During the 13th, the batteries posted on the left bank performed very important services, driving away the enemy who had posted his guns so as to enfilade the Union column as it advanced to the attack. They were even more exposed to the enemy's fire than those upon the right bank, being obliged to take position quite close to the river, on low, flat ground, the bluffs, at this point being some distance back from the river. On the two following days, while the troops remained on the right bank, the batteries were of great aid in enabling them to hold their position, and in covering their withdrawal.

Returning to the neighborhood of Belle Plain the battery went into winter quarters. Lieutenant Brockway was exchanged and returned to his command shortly after the battle of Fredericksburg. Early in January, 1863, it was transferred from the Second to the Third Division of the First Corps. During the winter details were temporarily made, from several infantry regiments, of men to serve in the battery. Upon the promotion of Captain Matthews to Major, on the 14th of March, Lieutenant R. B. Ricketts was commissioned to succeed him .*

The movement upon Chancellorsville opened on the 27th of April. The Eleventh, Twelfth and Fifth Corps moved up to the fords above Fredericksburg

* Colonel Wainright, in command of the artillery of the First Army Corps, published to his command, on the 25th of February, 1863, the following communication from General Hunt : "COLONEL :- The reports of the late inspections show that none of your batteries are in bad 121

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FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FIRST ARTILLERY. 1863

to effect a real crossing, while the First, Second, Third and Sixth Corps made a demonstration below. Early on the morning of Wednesday an attempt was made to lay the pontoons, at the point where Franklin had crossed in the De- cember previous, which was defeated by the enemy's sharp-shooters. But as the fog raised and their position was disclosed, they were quickly scattered by the artillery, and the bridge was soon laid. Wadsworth's Division, and a part of Sedgwick's Corps, crossed, and for three days a heavy artillery fire was kept up, which was well directed and effective. On Saturday the troops re-crossed, and the First Corps followed the Second and Third, which had already gone to the support of Hooker at Chancellorsville. On the evening of Sunday, the day on which the heaviest fighting occurred, Battery F relieved Seeley's regu- lar battery, which had lost in the day's work fifty men and as many horses. The enemy's line was only two hundred and fifty yards distant. Captain Ricketts was ordered to hold the position at all hazards. The horses were, ac- cordingly, sent away to the rear, and the grape and canister was silently piled at the muzzles of the pieces, other ammunition being of little avail in so close quarters. At ten o'clock P. M., our pickets were driven in and the guns were double shotted. For a little time a perfect storm of bullets was showered upon the battery by the cnemy's infantry; but the canister, which was poured forth in almost a continous stream, was too terrible for them to withstand. Several times during the night the rebels advanced, but could not be induced to charge up to the muzzles of the guns. On the same night our infantry threw up breast- works, and on the following day, Monday, a reconnoissance by Griffin's Divi- sion disclosed the fact that the enemy was heavily entrenched and awaiting an attack. "Throughout the entire day," says Lieutenant Brockway, "we were annoyed by their sharp-shooters. General Whipple was shot by one of them close to our battery. Some of Berdan's sharp-shooters routed them, except one persistent fellow stationed behind a large tree in the forks of which he rested . his rifle. He put six bullets in the sapling which covered one of Berdan's men. He was finally shot by setting three men at work at him. On his person was found forty-eight dollars in gold, two hundred in greenbacks, fifty in confederate money, and three packs of cards. * * * At ten o'clock at night the enemy advanced in strong columns, and peal upon peal of musketry rang on the still night air. The 'zit,' 'zit,' of the Minnie balls, and their 'thud,' 'thud,' in the . ground, was interspersed with yells and cheers from friend and foe. Again the enemy retired. The next morning they advanced in heavier columns and one continued roar was kept up, from muskets, rifles, Napoleon, Parrott, and Regu- lation guns. The rounds of double-shotted canister rattled among them and finally compelled them to retire." During the night the army withdrew to the north bank of the river.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 160

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