USA > Rhode Island > Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery in the Civil War, 1861-1865 > Part 10
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Under date of Cold Harbor, Va., June 11, 1864, General Grant wrote General Butler that the move- ment to transfer the Army of the Potomac to the south side of the James River would commence after dark on the 12th .- In the same letter he stated : " Expecting the arrival of the Eighteenth Corps by Monday night, if you deem it practicable from the force you now have to seize and hold Petersburg, you may prepare to start on arrival of troops to hold your present lines. I do not want Petersburg visited, however, unless it is held, nor an attempt to take it unless you feel a reasonable degree of confidence of success."
At about eleven o'clock on the night of the 14th
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orders were received to withdraw the guns from the earth-works, and for the battery to join a force under Major-Gen. W. F. Smith in an advance upon Peters- burg. The order was immediately complied with, the battery "hitched up " and crossed the Appomat- tox River on pontoons at Point of Rocks, before day- light, prepared for the advance.
The command advanced slowly, the enemy retiring before the skirmishers until an earth-work covering two guns was reached. General Hinks's brigade of colored troops, who were in the advance, promptly charged the work and captured the two guns. The battery moved very slowly, long halts in the road took place, and it was near noon when word came down the column that extensive earth-works, distant about two and a half miles from Petersburg, confronted the troops. Battery F remained in the road where it was
halted until late in the afternoon. Infantry troops passed on to the front, but no sound of battle was heard. The artillery in the command consisted of Battery D, Fourth United States Artillery, Captain Follett ; Light Battery C, Third Rhode Island Artil- lery, Captain James ; and Battery F, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, First Lieutenant Simpson; in
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all sixteen guns, with Captain Follett as Chief of Ar- tillery.
Late in the afternoon orders were received for the artillery to take position under the brow of a low hill in front of the enemy's work, ready to open fire at six o'clock. The position was to be occupied as qui- etly as possible, leaving the guidons and caissons well to the rear. The guns were to be unlimbered under cover of the hill, so that the horses could not .be seen by the enemy, and the pieces run by hand to the front. The topography of the ground was favor- able for such formation, gently rising until within about six hundred yards of the enemy's works, then as gently sloping towards them with a sharp rise in front of their works, which occupied the crest of a hill. The slope occupied by the artillery of the ad- vancing column was quite thickly wooded, while the other side of the hill, from its brow to the enemy's works, was open country. The three batteries were placed in position in line near the brow of the hill. A strong skirmish line covered the front, and two lines of battle supported the artillery. At the ap- pointed time, six o'clock, the guns were moved " by hand to the front " to the top of the hill and opened
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fire upon the fort or battery in front. After a few rounds the infantry rose and charged across the field. :
Immediately Captain Follett commanded, "Cease firing !" "Limber to the front !" " Forward, trot, march !" and the artillery line followed the charging infantry, not halting until the infantry had entered the works, which the enemy had abandoned, and they could go no further. This was the only time during the service that Battery F participated in a charge. The result of this movement was the capture of six- teen pieces of artillery, about four hundred prisoners, and a large amount of camp and garrison equipage. The only casualty in the battery was Sergt. G. N. West, slightly wounded in the wrist by a fragment of shell. The enemy on their retreat abandoned, some distance out on the road to Petersburg, two pieces of artillery and some camp equipage.
Lieutenant Chase, of Battery F, was ordered to. take horses and men, go out and bring in the aban- doned property. Although the property was some distance beyond the established picket line, and the night almost as bright as day, a full or nearly full moon shining from a cloudless sky, the task was ac- complished without difficulty ; no signs of an enemy
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appeared, and the beautiful night passed without un- pleasant incident.
While the history of a battery, one small part of the whole command, may not be the proper place to criticise the acts of the commanding general, the temptation is great to say that a golden opportunity was lost then and there. The orders of General Grant written to General Butler on the 11th of June might have been carried out, and Petersburg occupied that night without serious opposition. The perfect night, almost as light as day ; the knowledge that the Army of the Potomac was in close proximity, in fact a part of the Second Corps had already arrived, was sufficient to warrant the advance, and Petersburg in possession of the Union troops could have been held against Lee's army equally as well as the lines two miles outside the city.
General Grant refers to this movement in his official report in the following language : " General Smith got off as directed, and confronted the ene- my's pickets near Petersburg before daylight · next morning, but for some reason that I have never been able to satisfactorily understand, did not get ready to assault his main lines until near sundown. Then,
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with a part of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the lines northeast of Petersburg from the Appomattox River, for a distance of over two and one half miles, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This was about seven P. M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had reinforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The night was clear, the moon shining brightly, and favorable to further ope- rations. General Hancock, with two divisions of the Second Corps, reached General Smith just after dark, and offered the service of these troops as he (Smith) might wish, waiving rank to the named commander, who he naturally supposed knew best the position of affairs and what to do with the troops. But instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into Petersburg, he requested General Hancock to relieve a part of his line in the captured works, which was done before midnight. By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force."
The advance of the Army of the Potomac continu- ing the left flank movement which commenced at the Rapidan River on the 4th of May, arrived in front of
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Petersburg during the night of the 15th of June, and the morning of the 16th found General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia interposed between it and Petersburg. .
Corp. Frederic Wilcox.
Battery F was advanced to the extreme front at six o'clock on the morning of the 16th, stationed on a hill overlooking a large open plain, and for a time shelled the troops of Lee's army, who were entrench- ing on the opposite side of the plain. At the same-
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time the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac, extending to the left, advanced and immediately be- came hotly engaged, the result of which was the cap- ture of some artillery and prisoners, several stands of colors, and a continuation of the great left flank move- ment. During this action Battery F suffered no loss in men; the only casualty was the wounding of Lieutenant Simpson's horse in the hip by a rifle ball fired from the enemy's lines.
Friday, June 17th, General Burnside passed by the . battery, and the greeting given him by the members of the command, by whom he had not been seen since July, 1862, when he left the Department of North Carolina, must have been gratifying.
The Sixth Corps reached the Petersburg front on the 17th and relieved the Eighteenth Corps, which was ordered to return to the Bermuda Hundred posi- tion. Battery F left its station in front of Petersburg at about six o'clock in the evening, crossed the Appo- mattox River on pontoons at Point of Rocks at about three o'clock Saturday morning, June 18th ; went into camp near the crossing, and found that the Eight- eenth Corps was already occupying the intrenched lines at Bermuda Hundred. Thus commenced the
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siege of Petersburg, but who, at that time, thought for a moment that it would continue through the sum- mer and winter, almost ten months, or dreamed of the terrible losses and enormous expenditures which occurred on that line ?
CHAPTER IX.
IN THE INTRENCHED LINE BEFORE PETERSBURG.
T HE battery remained on the Bermuda Hundred front until the morning of the 22d of June, when it was ordered to return to the Petersburg line, and at about nine o'clock crossed the Appomattox on the pontoon bridge for the third time in the six days since the first crossing, arriving at the front about noon. During the afternoon the Eighteenth Corps relieved the Sixth, which moved to the left in continu- ation of the flank movement. Two guns of Battery F were placed on the front line, the rest of the bat- tery bivouacked in the rear of the main line.
After dark on the evening of the 23d of June the whole battery was moved to a position on the extreme front, in an open plain, and, with the assistance of a large detail of infantry, an earth-work was built dur- ing the night, and by daylight it was believed the bat-
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tery was well protected, in position to reply to the enemy's fire, or open upon them should that be the order. As soon, however, as the enemy discovered the next morning, that a new earth-work had been built, almost under their very noses, they opened a furious fire with artillery, while their infantry kept the men under cover, and in a very short time had reduced the earth-work to a mere shelter. The em- brasure having been rendered useless by their fire, the battery could not reply, therefore the men . lay close under cover all day. The exposed position ren- dered it imposssible to make any repairs by daylight, but with the darkness of night of the 24th came another detail of infantry men, and the earth-work or battery was practically rebuilt, this time in a manner that withstood the fire of the enemy and enabled a reply thereto to be made.
The battery remained in this work until about ten o'clock in the evening of the 27th of June, at which time it was relieved by Battery L, Fourth United States Artillery, and retired to a position on the main line some distance to the rear.
During the five days covered by the occupation of the above described position one officer and five men
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were wounded and four horses killed. All of these casualties occurred on the 24th, during the bombard- ment of the position by the enemy. A mortar shell exploded near Lieut. Peter C. Smith, scratching his face slightly, leaving him in a dazed condition for some time after. Another shell passed through an embrasure, struck the cheek of the piece stationed at that point, exploded, wounding five men, viz., Private Henry R. Horton, who died of wounds at United States Army General Hospital, Fort Monroe, July 4, 1864; Corp. Clovis Stone, Privates Dexter B. Allen, George H. Nickerson, and William J. Phillips.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to use one of the guns as a mortar while in position above de- scribed. The trail was sunk in the ground to get the proper elevation, and a cartridge reduced to secure the firing charge. But one shot was fired ; where it landed was never known. In most instances shells fired from a mortar can be seen as they move through the air. In this particular case no one was able to say what became of the missile.
June 30th, at the muster for pay there were pres- ent for duty two commissioned officers, Lieutenants Simpson and Chase, and eighty-four enlisted men.
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On this date, after three days' rest at the rear, orders were received to relieve Battery A, Fifth United States Artillery, which occupied a position in Bat- tery X, a little to the right of Fort Stedman as sub- sequently built. This position was near the point where the two armies had advanced their lines to within about fifty yards ; the distance between the lines at Battery X was about three hundred yards. The task of relieving Battery A was successfully ac- complished about nine o'clock in the evening, and then commenced a tour of duty actually under fire day and night, which continued without interruption until ten o'clock in the evening of July 8th, eight days and nights, at which time the Seventeenth New York Battery relieved Battery F.
Adjoining Battery X on the right was stationed a mortar battery of the First Connecticut Artillery. and directly opposite the enemy had a battery of mortars also. The fire from mortars is not particu- larly dangerous to life provided one can secure a good sized tree and keep on the opposite side of it from the shell, for the course of the shell can easily be traced as it gracefully curves through the air, and the opposite side of a tree is a place of safety even if
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the shell explodes in the air, as was frequently the case.
These two mortar batteries seemed to take especial delight in engaging each other at night, and disturb- ing every one in the vicinity. Fortunately a grove of fine trees stood at the position occupied by Bat- tery F, and night after night members of the battery watched this mortar practice from the safe side of those trees. Between the fire of the mortars by night, and the necessity for instant readiness at the guns by day, continuous sleep for any length of time was impossible. It was said that the commander of the brigade stationed at that point remarked humor- ously, that any one found getting more than two con- secutive hours' sleep, of the twenty-four, should be put under arrest. The officers lived in bomb-proofs, so called, constructed by burrowing into the ground on an incline towards the enemy. These holes were not spacious, did not admit of much furniture or many conveniences. Generally, or frequently, they would contain water in the bottom, and a board or some other arrangement whereby the occupant when retiring could rest six or eight inches from the bot- tom was necessary.
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Brigade or division headquarters was at the posi- tion occupied by the battery, and consisted of a bomb-proof constructed entirely above ground. The place was quite roomy, furnishing a comfortable and safe spot for staff officers and others when not en- gaged outside. One evening, during the duel of the mortars, a game of cards was being enjoyed in this headquarters room, during which a mortar shell from the enemy dropped on top of the bomb-proof and exploded : it did not break through, but considerable dirt fell down from the roof, and the candle was ex- tinguished. It is sufficient to say that the game was unfinished and the room suddenly vacated.
The guns while in this position were kept double shotted with canister, and although not used, the movements of the enemy called the men frequently to posts, when primers were inserted and lanyards fixed ready for the discharge should they attempt to cross the narrow space which separated the lines.
July 4th, the national holiday, was passed in the trenches, and the observance thereof in that imme- diate vicinity consisted principally of an engagement between the two mortar batteries.
The enemy had a gun, apparently a Whitworth,
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some distance to the right of the position occupied by the battery, which occasionally threw a shot into the lines at that point. One man near the battery, although not a member, had a leg taken off on the
Private Henry C. Wilkie.
5th of July, and a member of the mortar battery was mortally wounded on the 6th, both by shots from this gun. The enemy also stationed some light artillery directly opposite the battery, which proved somewhat annoying. In order to get a better range, a position
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about two hundred yards to the right was selected on the 7th of July, an earth-work built, and, on the 8th, one gun from Battery F was removed to the new work. This gun had a good command of the enemy's position, and when they opened fire at about noon on the 8th, this piece, in connection with two guns of Battery L, Fourth United States Artillery, replied. Excellent shots were made by both sides during the half hour while the firing continued, but no serious casualty occurred in the battery. One man was slightly wounded.
Upon being relieved by the Seventeenth New York Battery, Friday evening, July 8th, the battery moved to the rear a short distance and went into camp, where it remained until July 30th, resting, waiting, and expecting every day after the first three, to be ordered to the front line again. During this time a number of the officers of the regiment visited the battery ; in fact it was the first time since entering the service, more than two and a half years before, that such visiting was possible, owing to the widely separated stations of Battery F and others of the same regiment. The acquaintance with the regi- ment had been confined to correspondence, and up
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to this time Battery F had not been stationed in the same locality with or near any other battery of the regiment. The names of Maj. John G. Hazzard, Captains William B. Rhodes, and T. Fred Brown, Lieutenants William S. Perrin and James E. Chase are recalled as having made the acquaintance with the battery at this time.
It was well known that General Burnside was run- ning a mine under the enemy's works opposite his front, and much speculation and anxiety as to the re- sult was indulged in. Battery F received orders at different times, while at the rear, to immediately "hitch up " and be prepared to move if unusual fir- ing was noticed on certain nights, and of course all such orders were connected with the firing of the Burnside mine by the batterymen. On the night of the 29th of July orders were received to be ready to move at daylight on the morning of the 30th, as the match would be applied to the fuse at that time, and upon the explosion of the mine an attack would be made in force.
The time fixed for the assault was half-past three o'clock. The troops were in position waiting for the explosion, which did not take place as expected. A
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lieutenant and sergeant of the Forty-eighth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers entered the mine, found where the fuses had failed and put them in order. The fuses were relighted, and at about a quarter before five o'clock the mine exploded, but the good results ex- pected were not realized. Investigation into the causes of failure brought out the fact that at the last moment General Burnside's plans for attack were changed by superiors, and the benefits of drill and instruction for particular duties by specified troops were lost.
At the designated time on the morning of the 30th of July Battery F was "hitched up" and awaiting orders on a slight eminence, a little to the right and rear of the Ninth Corps. The explosion of the mine was witnessed by the battery, the sound of which was heard, and the earth and smoke as it rose in the air plainly seen. The battery remained " hitched up," but received no orders to move, therefore took no part in the engagement known as "the Battle of the Mine."
During the fighting by the Ninth Corps after the explosion, artillery fire continued all along the line. Several shells exploded in Battery F as it stood ready
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to move through the " crater" if ordered, and one shot passed entirely through two mules hitched to the army wagon, killing them both. A shell also ex- ploded in the shelter of tree boughs which the offi- cers occupied, but no one was injured.
The strength of the battery had become so much reduced that on the 30th of July, by order of Major- Gen. E. O. C. Ord, commanding Eighteenth Army Corps, twenty privates of the Fifth Maryland Volun- teer Infantry were temporarily attached, and, on the 6th of August twenty more of the same regiment joined temporarily, by order of the same officer. These men, together with twenty-seven privates of the same regiment, who had been serving tempora- rily with Battery L, Fourth- United States Artillery, and were attached to Battery F by Special Orders No. 19, Headquarters Twenty fourth Army Corps, on the 24th of December, 1864, remained with the battery until June, 1865. Their names will be found at the end of the Roster printed herewith.
Several alarms occurred during the early days, or rather nights, of August, which caused the troops to stand under arms and Battery F to be " hitched up " and held in readiness for immediate action. These
·
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alarms were caused by rumors that the enemy had run mines under the works on this part of the line and were intending to fire them. Counter mines were started at several points, but no mine from the enemy's side was discovered. At about three o'clock on the morning of the 3d of August, the battery was "hitched up," with orders to remain ready for any call until five and a half o'clock A. M., when, if no orders were received, it could unhitch. Again, on the 5th of August, at near six o'clock in the evening, an attack on the lines of the Eighteenth Corps caused orders for the battery to be in readiness for instant work, and it remained " hitched up" waiting for the order to move, which did not come until ten o'clock the next morning.
Because so many infantrymen had been recently attached to the battery much time was necessarily given to drill, and until the 9th of August all the time possible was used in instructing those men in their duties as artillerymen.
During the night of the 9th of August Battery F went on the front line again, relieving Lieutenant Beecher's battery, Third New York Artillery. It occupied the same position as when last at the front,
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but found the works had been greatly strengthened, and troops engaged in building a large fort near by. On the 10th of August, while occupying this position, Sergt. I. Casper Schmid was severely wounded in the leg while returning from the well, located a little to the rear, where he had been for water. The wound was not considered serious although severe, and much surprise was caused by the report which first reached the battery, that the sergeant's foot had been amputated, and later that he had died. His death was caused by gangrene and occurred in hospital at Philadelphia, Pa. Sergeant Schmid was a good soldier, trusted by his superiors, and respected by those under his command.
The mortars continued their duels nightly, same as in July when the battery was first in this position, and alarms were frequent, which called every man to his post. In addition to the mortars artillery firing occurred often. Battery F was engaged in shelling the enemy on the 21st of August; also on the 24th and 27th. Rumors that the position occupied by the battery was mined had been frequent, causing the closest watch upon the enemy's movements, and the anxiety was increased by the stories of deserters in
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corroboration, who came in frequently under cover of darkness.
At two o'clock A. M. on the 23d of August, the battery was ordered to be ready for instant action as an attack was expected. It did not come, however. The next day an embrasure was opened in the new fort (Stedman), nearly completed immediately at the left of the battery, which caused the enemy to open fire with artillery upon it. Battery F re- turned the fire, quite a lively engagement occurring. On the 28th instant the commanding officer seemed to have information leading to the belief that a mine would be exploded during that night, and issued orders for all the ammunition of the battery, over three hundred rounds, to be carried to the rear ; two guns to be placed inside the new fort and two guns in rear of it. As horses could not be brought up for the purpose the work had to be done by hand, prov- ing somewhat laborious, and when in the early morn- ing the ammunition was ordered to be carried back some strong language was indulged in by the men. At about two o'clock on the morning of the 27th the two guns taken to the rear were returned to the front, and from three o'clock to eight the battery was en-
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gaged with the enemy, who opened a tremendous artillery fire upon the position.
During the evening of the 27th of August the bat- tery was relieved by Captain Warren's battery, and ordered to proceed immediately to Point of Rocks, where it arrived at about three o'clock on the morn- ing of the 28th and bivouacked. During the day it crossed the Appomattox River and proceeded to Cobb's Hill, where it went into camp. The battery did not again return to the Petersburg line.
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