History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. III, Part 140

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1402

USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. III > Part 140

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* A history of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment, by Colonel W. W. II. Davis. is printed by James B. Rogers, from which, by permission of the author, most of the facts em- braced in this record are drawn.

734

1862

ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH REGIMENT.

on the White River, and one other died of disease. On the 1st of March, the One Hundred and Fourth, Tidball's Battery, and a company of Rush's Lan- cers, all under command of Colonel Davis, were detailed as escort at the funeral of General Lander, which took place from the residence of Judge Chase. The weather during the winter was unfavorable to drill, but there was occasional target practice, and two or three times a weck the officers re- cited in tactics, the field officers holding weekly meetings to recite, discuss, and explain movements of the line. As soon as the weather would permit brigade drill was commenced, and practiced regularly twice a day.

On the 29th of March, in obedience to orders the brigade broke camp, and embarking upon transports moved to Fortress Monroe. For several days it was encamped in a peach orchard near the ruins of the little village of Hamp- ton. In the siege of Yorktown which soon opened, Keyes' Corps occupied the left of the line facing Lee's Mills, and Casey's Division, to which Davis' Brigade belonged, the centre of the corps. The regiment was at first en- camped in an old tobacco field near Yorktown Four Corners, but subsequently removed to a grove of small pines on a dry sandy ridge. Fatigue and picket duty was very severe, a corduroy road to Cheeseman's Landing, needed for transportation of supplies, proving a work of great labor. In these duties the regiment was actively employed, bearing its full share of the burdens. On the 23d of April, Colonel Davis was relieved of the command of the brigade * by General Henry M. Naglee. On the 2Sth a reconnoissance was made by the brigade towards Lee's Mills, which showed that the enemy was still in force in front. A skirmisher of the Eleventh Maine was mortal'y wounded. When the siege works were completed, the heavy guns mounted, and all things nearly in readiness to open, the enemy, during the night of the 3d of May, quietly withdrew and retired up the Peninsula.

As it was uncertain what direction he had taken, Colonel Davis, with his own regiment, two pieces of artillery, and a squadron of regular cavalry, was ordered to make a reconnoissance towards Grove's Wharf, on the James. No traces of the enemy were found, and returning, Colonel Davis joined in the movement of the army up the Williamsburg Road. At the Yorktown Road, the troops of Heintzelman and Sumner blocked the way, and he was not per- mitted to advance. Late in the day he joined the division near Cheesecake Church, where it had gone into bivouac, being prevented from advancing fur- ther by the interposition of General Heintzelman. At noon on Monday word was brought that Hooker was hotly engaged, and in need of support. The brigade was immediately ordered forward, but before reaching the field, was met by a staff officer and ordered to return and hasten to the support of Han- cock on the right. By some mistake the One Hundred and Fourth made a fatiguing march out of its way, and did not reach the position designed to be occupied until too late to be engaged.

By toilsome marches the brigade finally reached the neighborhood of the Chickahominy on the 19th of June. On the evening of that day, Colonel

* Organization of the First Brigade. General Naglee; Third Division. General Casey ; Fourth Corps, General Keyes: One Hundred and Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel W. W. H. Davis; Fifty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel John C. Dodge, Jr. ; Fifty-sixth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Charles H. Van Wyck; Eleventh Regiment Maine Volunteers, Colonel John C. Caldwell; One Hundredth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel James M. Brown.

735

1862

ACTION AT SAVAGE STATION.

Davis with his own, and detachments of the Eleventh Maine, and Fifty-second Pennsylvania, was ordered to make a reconnoissance to Bottom's Bridge. The enemy was found occupying the opposite bank, and as Davis advanced fired the bridge. A spirited skirmish ensued in which artillery was freely used, and the sharp-shooters had opportunity to test their skill. The enemy'sstrength and position being developed, the command returned to camp, with the loss of one wounded. Again on the 21st, the regiment moved down with the corps near to the head of the bridge, and was about going into bivouac for the night, when Colonel Davis was ordered to march with his regiment immediately to the bridge. He was there met by General Keyes, who ordered him to cross and place his men on picket. Moving over in single file upon the stringers, the command was led about a mile up the Richmond Road, company B was thrown forward as pickets, and the rest divided and posted so as to command and enfilade the road where it debouched into the bottom. There was no alarm during the night, and in the morning it returned to camp. A permanent cross- ing having been effected, on the night of the 23d, General M'Clellan telegraphed orders for a reconnoissance towards Seven Pines. Naglee's Brigade was se- lected for this duty. The One Hundred and Fourth led the advance. Just beyond Savage Station the enemy was found in force, partly concealed in tim- ber. The One Hundred and Fourth was formed on the left of the road, the Fifty-second Pennsylvania on the right, and skirmishers thrown forward. The skirmishers of the former regiment under Major Gries, companies A and F, rapidly advanced to clear the grain field, and some farm buildings in front, of rebel sharp-shooters. The crack of the rifles soon told that they were en- gaged, and the receding sound that they were driving the enemy. The artil- lery opened and the firing became spirited. At half past four the Union bat- teries were advanced, the enemy falling back, and Naglee was preparing to follow up his advantage, when he received orders to stay the pursuit lest it should bring on a general engagement. The loss in the regiment was one killed and four wounded. Corporal Thompson, of company D, was hit by a rifle ball and mortally wounded. Stepping out of the ranks he leaned bis rifle against a tree, and said to his comrades, " Boys, I am done for, but you stand up to it." After suffering for eighteen months he died in hospital at . Newbern, North Carolina.

On the 26th the reconnaissance towards Richmond was continued, the One Hundred and Fourth, with Davis' Riflemen of the Fifty-second, leading. The pickets were advanced to within five miles of the city, the regiment being sta- tioned at the Fair Oaks Farm House. On the morning of the 29th it was moved over to the Nine Mile Road, a quarter of a mile further to the right, and Casey's entire division was brought up to Fair Oaks, Conch's Division occu- pying Casey's old ground at Seven Pines. As soon as Casey was in line he commenced fortifying on either side of the Williamsburg Road, and the troops were kept hard at work strengthening the position, down to the moment that they were attacked. General Naglee, with a strong detail, was engaged in building a bridge across the Chickahominy, opposite the place where Gen- eral Sumner lay, at the time called Grapevine Bridge, subsequently known as Woodbury Bridge. Kearny's Division was stretched along the Richmond and York River Railroad, from the station back to the bridge across the river. Hooker's Division was posted on the edge of White Oak Swamp to watch the crossing.

736

ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH REGIMENT.

1862

At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 31st, the enemy in four grand divi- sions, commanded by Generals Hill, Huger, Longstreet, and Smith, all under the immediate command of General Johnston, having gained his position, fired three shells as a signal for the battle to begin, and an hour later he commenced driving in the Union pickets. Upon the first indication of a real attack, the One Hundred and Fourth was hurried to the support of Spratt's Battery, and was posted about a hundred yards in front of, and to the right of it, an un- fortunate position, the battery being prevented from firing except in the direc- tion directly in front, and the regiment being exposed to a concentrated fire. A volley from four hundred rifles, delivered upon the enemy in the woods in front, within easy range, marked the opening of the battle by the infantry, which soon became generai along the entire line. A movement of the enemy upon the right, where the line of the regiment rested on the wood, being observed, companies A and B were pushed forward in that direction to meet and prevent it. The enemy soon came out into an open field bearing a white flag with a black square in the centre. This was at first mistaken for a flag of truce, but the fire, which for an instant slackened, was renewed, and he soon after unfurled his new national flag, a white cross with stars on a blue field. For an hour and a half the regiment had been under fire, and had heroically maintained its ground; but the enemy in increasing numbers now began to press upon front and flank, and it was apparent that unless help soon came it must be abandoned. Seeing that the battery must be lost if he yielded, Colonel Davis ordered a charge, hoping thereby to check the hot rebel advance. With a wild yell the men sprang forward at the word of command, and ad- vanced a hundred yards over ground covered with low bushes. A worm fence which had not been observed was passed, and on reaching the cleared ground, a line was formed and a rapid and telling fire opened. This bold movement had the desired effect. The enemy, not knowing what force might be moving in support, was staggered and checked. The regiment was now fighting alone, in advance of the main line of battle, and it was evident that unless aid soon came it would be swallowed up by the forces of the enemy swarming around it. Lieutenant Ashenfelter was sent to General Casey for supports, which were promised. But none came, and finally, after having been over three hours in action, it was forced back by the overpowering num- bers of the foe pushing forward. Both flags had been carried across the fence and planted in the ground upon the line. As the men went back one of these was left standing. Major Gries, and Sergeants Myers and Purcell sprang for- ward to rescue it, when the Major received his mortal wound; but the flag was saved and both brought off in safety. Company F was on picket when the battle opened, and when it became necessary for it to fall back, joined the Fifty-sixth New York, with which it did efficient service. Company E was also on picket between the Nine Mile Road and the railroad. In the progress . of the fight it was flanked and completely cut off by a rebel brigade. Lieu- tenant Crowell and fifty-three men were captured. After retiring, the portion of the regiment remaining, was re-formed in the neighborhood of its camp, where the Twenty-third Pennsylvania was found in position, and with that regiment fought on until the close of the day. Near sundown the regiment, one hundred and fifty strong, arrived at the rifle-pits near the field hospital, a mile in rear of where the battle begun. The fighting was now over, and it was sent to the front to occupy a rifle-pit for the night. Its loss was ten offi-

737

BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS.

1862

cers and one hundred and sixty-six men killed and wounded, and sixty-one captured, an aggregate of two hundred and thirty-seven. Lieutenant E. Sayres M'Dowell was killed, and Colonel Davis, Major Gries, Captains Corcoran and Swartzlander, Lieutenant Ashenfelter, and Quartermaster Hendrie were wounded, Major Gries mortally. Chaplain Gries remained upon the field, and was zealous in his attentions to the wounded.

The fighting on the following morning was slight, and did not reach the po. sition occupied by the One Hundred and Fourth. On the 4th of June the en- the division was ordered back to the neighborhood of Bottom's Bridge, where the troops were immediately set to work repairing the bridge and throwing up earthworks for the protection of the river crossing. While here, Lieutenant Colonel Nields, who had been absent on account of disability from sun-stroke. returned and assumed command, relieving Captain Rogers. On the 17th of June, immediately after the raid of Stuart in rear of the army, in which that bold rider reached Tunstall's Station, the regiment crossed the river and was posted near Dispatch Station, one company being kept constantly on guard. On the 27th was fought the battle of Gaines' Mill, a few miles above, the com. pany on picket being able to hear distinctly the rattle of musketry. Towards evening the stragglers from the field began to arrive, and by dark the roads were crowded. With the assistance of a picket detachment of the Eighth Cavalry, the stragglers were halted, and on the following morning to the num- ber of fifteen hundred, were conducted to Savage Station, and turned over to the commanding officer. On the afternoon of the 27th, the regiment was em- ployed in loading stores upon a train, which was sent to Savage Station, and on the following morning, crossed at Bottom's Bridge.

The retreat of the army to the James had now commenced. It was neces- sary that the crossings of the Chickahominy should be held until the trains and the heavy columns of the army could get well on their way. The enemy was now in heavy force upon the left bank, clamorous to get over. For the de- fence of the lower bridges, Naglee's Brigade, with Miller's, Brady's, and Mor- gan's batteries, was selected. Temporary defensive works were hastily con- structed. Companies C and I were stationed in a rifle-pit covering the bridge, and the remaining companies of the regiment in reserve as a support to Mor- . gan's Battery. Early on the 28th the enemy approached, his infantry man- œuvring as if to force a crossing, and his artillery opening from a point within less than a thousand yards. His guns were, however, soon silenced by our batteries, and his infantry driven back to the timber in the rear. On the 29th large bodies of the enemy made their appearance, but were kept at bay by the admirable dispositions made to receive them. In the meantime having forced and repaired the upper bridges, he had crossed, and was giving battle at Allen's Farm and Savage Station. Finally at seven o'clock in the afternoon of the 29th, a train loaded with powder and fixed ammunition was fired and run at full speed towards the river, the bridge across which having previously been destroyed. As it went over the embankment it exploded with a fearful crash, and the brigade was quickly withdrawn. The One Hundred and Fourth was ordered to bring up the rear.

At White Oak Creek crossing the brigade was again drawn up to dispute the passage, and was attached to General Smith's Division of Franklin's Corps. Scarcely had the engineers destroyed the bridge, when the enemy arrived and posting powerful batteries in a commanding position on the left bank, 93-VOL. III.

738

1862

ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH REGIMENT.

opened a heavy cannonade which was answered as warmly, and the duel was kept up with effect until dark. Soon after nightfall Franklin silently with- drew, leaving Naglce's Brigade and two pieces of artillery, which were ordered to follow at ten o'clock. A part of the brigade, consisting of the One Hun- dred and Fourth, Fifty-second, and a part of the One Hundredth New York, not receiving the order, were left at the swamp, and until two o'clock on the foi owing morning kept up a slow fire from the battery. It was then discov- ercd that the command had been left by mistake, and, under the lead of Col- oncl Van Wyck, of the Fifty-sixth New York. the column moved off to Mal- veru Hill. Herc Keyes' Corps occupied the right of the line, which curved back and rested on the river. It was in reserve during the engagement, and was not called into action. From Malvern Hill the army retired to Harri- son's Landing, the One Hundred and Fourth arriving on the morning of the 3d.

The first morning report after reaching the Landing showed twenty officers, and four hundred and thirty-three men present. On the 31st of July Colonel Davis, though not entirely recovered from his wounds received at Fair Oaks, re-joined the regiment, and resumed command. Lieutenant Colonel Neild; had resigned a few days before on account of disability. Adjutant Thompson D. Hart was promoted to succeed him, and Captain Rogers to be Major.

When M Clelian's army was ordered to evacuate the Peninsula, Peck's Di- vision of Keyes' Corps, was detached and ordered to remain. Naglee's Bri- gade, now under command of General Emory, was left at Yorktown. Colonel Davis with his own, the One Hundredth New York, and Mink's Battery of four three-inch rifled guns was sent to occupy Gloucester Point. The fort at this place, which had been built by the enemy, was a regular pentagon, and very large, being a mile around by the exterior slope. It occupied nearly the site of the old revolutionary works erected by the British in 1781. The troops were immediately put to work repairing it, and for three months were kept busily employed. With the exception of an occasional reconnois- sance, little of importance occurred to disturb the quiet and comfort of the camp. Fish and oysters were abundant, the quarters were pleasantly lo- cated, and the climate salubrious. On the 26th of September, the prisoners captured at Fair Oaks, forty seven in number, returned to the regiment, and a month later sixteen recruits were received. In an encounter, at a little . past midnight of the 16th of November, with the enemy's cavalry near Hook's Store, by Lieutenant Markley with seven men, scouts from a party of two companies dispatched to intercept him, one of the party was killed and three were wounded. The enemy then charged upon and captured the remaining three men, and rode off in the direction of Richmond. Hook's Score was or- . dered to be burned, and mills in the neighborhood of the disaster were taken possession of for the use of the government. Presuming that the command would occupy this camp during the winter, wood was cut and brought inside the fort, and quarters built in the most substantial manner.

But in this hope it was disappointed. On the 28th of December the bri- gade, now numbering four thousand three hundred and thirty-eight officers and men, sailed from Fortress Monroe with sealed orders, which on being opened off the cape, showed its destination to be Beaufort, North Carolina. After a brief stay here, during which General Naglee was placed in command of a division of the Eighteenth Corps, and Colonel Davis of the brigade, the corps was transferred to Hilton Head, South Carolina, designed to act, in con-

739

1863

SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.

junction with the forees already there, against Charleston. Before leaving Beaufort Harbor, a battalion of sharp-shooters was organized from the brigade, two officers, twelve sergeants and corporals, and fifty privates being detailed from each regiment. Captain Groff and Lieutenant Hibbs were detailed from the One Hundred and Fourth. As the naval force was not in readiness to com- mence operations against the city when the troops arrived, they were placed in eamp on Saint Helena Island. On the 5th of April, 1863, three divisions of in- fantry were embarked for a co-operative movement against Charleston, and moved up to Edisto Island; but before Heckman's Division, to which the One Hundred and Fourth belonged, had debarked, the attack by the fleet was at an end, and the land forces returned for the most part to their previous eneamp- ments, Davis' Brigade being sent to Beaufort. The camp of the regiment was here delightfully located, and, with the exception of occasional detachments sent cut upon the neighboring islands to intercept straggling parties of the enemy, and to guard against their incursions, the command was not actively employed. Upon the expiration of the term of service of the militia regiments in the di- vision, two companies of the One Hundred and Fourth, C and H, under Cap- tain W. W. Marple, were ordered to duty in battery Taylor, and company B, under Captain Kephart, in battery Brayton, in place of the departing troops.

On the 12th of June General Gilmore arrived at Hilton Head, and assumed command of the departmant, relieving General Hunter. He at once visited Folly Island, contiguous to Morris Island, on which troops had been retained since the first attack on Charleston, and determined to operate against Sum- ter from powerful batteries to be ereeted on these islands. Work was com- meneed on the north end of Folly Island on the 15th of June, and by the 3d of July the fortifications were completed. At three o'clock on the morning of the 6th, the One Hundred and Fourth, and Fifty-second, with ten days' rations, moved in light marehing order by transport to Folly Island, where the land forces were concentrating. The main attack, which had been fixed for the 10th, was to be made upon Morris Island, from the batteries which had been constructed on Folly Island, and which had been kept masked from the enemy. For a diversion in favor of this attack, a detachment was sent to James Island to demonstrate upon the approaches to Charleston by way of Secessionville. This force, of which Davis' Brigade formed part, was placed under command of General Alfred H. Terry. On the afternoon of the 9th, Davis moved up and at dark commenced debarkation. When all were ashore the com- mand was formed and moved forward, the One Hundred and Fourth in ad- vance, the object being to seize and hold the bridge at the head of the cause- way, which was the only avenue by which the interior of the island could be reached. The bridge was possessed without opposition, but in posting his piekets, Captain Groff aroused a rebel party wbo fired a volley upon the bridge, on which were General Terry, Colonel Davis, and Major Rogers, which was replied to, but the fire soon subsided without assault. When it was light enough to discern objects, the command advanced. Soon the sound of the heavy guns of Gilmore, in the attack on Morris Island, were heard, and before night it was announced that he had been successful and was in possession of the southern part of the island, the demonstration of Terry having answered well its purpose, eausing the enemy to divide his forces, and to believe that the latter was the main attack.

740

1863

ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH REGIMENT.

To clear James Island of the Union forces, which required him to keep his own forces divided, the enemy came out on the morning of the 16th in heavy columns, with the design of cutting off and capturing Terry's command. Approaching unperceived upon the left of the line, he opened with his bat- teries upon the gun-boat Pawnee in the hope of crippling her and holding the way of retreat. At the same time he attacked with spirit the pickets of the Union right. The Pawnee was aground, and for nearly an hour was at the mercy of the enemy, but fortunately was not injured. In the meantime the troops were hastily formed, Stevenson's Brigade and the Fifty-fourth Massa- chusetts in front, Davis with the Second South Carolina in the second line, and opened fire. Finally the Pawnee was enabled to swing around and deliver her broadsides, and fortunately during the night the John Adams had come up a creek on the Union right, and at the critical moment poured in rapid rounds from her thirty-pounder Parrott. The enemy was repulsed, and retreated rapidly up the island leaving some of his dead and wounded on the field.

But the department had no men to lose in operations of doubtful utility or success, and it was decided to withdraw from James Island. With much fatigue this was accomplished, and the division returned to Folly Island where Davis' Brigade was left, Stevenson's and Montgomery's being transferred on the following day to Morris Island. By the withdrawal of troops for the assault on Fort Wagner, which was made on the 18th, Colonel Davis was left, with about two thousand troops, in command on Folly Island. The failure to take Wagner by assault rendered a siege necessary, and the work was im- mediately begun. The troops on Folly Island, in addition to guarding the approaches, furnished fire-wood for the troops in the trenches, and supplied the engineers with all the timber necessary to construct batteries, magazines, stockades, and for other purposes. On the 3d of August the first detail was made from the brigade for dnty in the trenches, which consisted of four hun- dred and seventy-five men under a field officer, and from that time forward, while the siege lasted, heavy details for duty in the trenches, and for guard and fatigue duty, were furnished in addition to the large amount of labor performed on Folly Island.

" On the evening of the 22d of August," says Colonel Davis in his history of the regiment,* "I was ordered with my whole brigade to Morris Island, with two days' cooked rations, for a tour of that length in the trenches. *

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. III, Part 140

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer Number of Pages: 1402

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1402