USA > Rhode Island > Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery in the Civil War, 1861-1865 > Part 3
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
the officer in command that the enemy were scouting in front. That officer did not credit the report, inti- mating that the corporal had been frightened by some non-combatant resident of the vicinity. The corpo- ral replied, " I will prove that to you," and, wheeling his horse, rode back to his death, as when near the place where he first discovered the enemy he was shot and instantly killed.
Private Henry Love, while on duty near Deep Gully, about eight miles from New Berne, was se- verely wounded in the head by a sabre cut. His life was saved by the nerve and steady aim of an in- fantryman, who shot the rebel through the heart as he was about to strike another blow. Private Love had been patrolling the road, and was pursued by a half dozen cavalrymen, who did not stop until their leader was killed as he was passing the infantry picket.
Private Philip L. Bassett was taken prisoner March 31, 1862, while on duty near Deep Gully, and was paroled about the 29th of May. His life was saved by a Testament in his breast pocket, a rifle-ball passing nearly through the book.
Private George H. Fuller was taken prisoner while on duty near the junction of the Trenton and Pol-
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BATTERY F,
locksville roads, April 19th, and was paroled on the Ioth of May.
There were many other narrow escapes from death or capture during the time the battery was perform- ing this special duty. The men were ignorant of cavalry duties and there was no time to drill; they were not properly armed, and the rebel cavalry soon learning of these facts became very bold, knowing that under the existing conditions they were more than a match for the Rhode Island batterymen. But a surprise was in store for them. Early in May, 1862, the Third New York (Van Alen) Cavalry arrived at New Berne, and, on the 17th of May, after nearly two months' service, the artillerymen were relieved from further cavalry duty by that regiment.
From April 14th to May ISth, 1862, Lieut. Thomas Simpson, one sergeant and thirteen privates of the battery were on detached service at Newport Bar- racks, near Beaufort, N. C., also performing duty as cavalry in connection with the reduction of Fort Macon. Under date of May 20, 1862, General Burn- side directed Captain Belger to have inscribed on the guidon "Fort Macon, April 26, 1862." From this time until July 25, 1862, the battery remained in
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
New Berne, performing the usual routine duties of camp, with occasional incidents varying the mo- notony.
.
Capt. E. L. Corthell, Battery D. (Sergt. in Battery F until October, 1862.)
One of the incidents occurred Saturday, June 14th, when two guidons, one for parade and one for drill, were presented to the battery by friends of Captain Belger. A full account of the presentaton was pub- lished in the New Berne Progress. John McConkey,
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BATTERY F,
Esq., made the presentation speech, to which Captain Belger appropriately responded. The battery paraded in full regulation uniform, and gave a street drill on the occasion. Volunteer batteries were not, as a rule, supplied with the regulation dress uniform, but, presumably, owing to the probability of a quite lengthy stay in New Berne, together with the sur- rounding conditions of society and population, it was deemed desirable that the handsome and showy uni- form be secured, and undoubtedly the appearance of the battery in the streets of New Berne, wearing this uniform, added much to the pleasure of the citi- zens of the city, particularly the colored portion.
The service of the battery in New Berne was more like that of troops in garrison in time of peace, than in the field on a war footing, and much attention was given to appearances, both of men and material. A street parade and drill occurred almost weekly. This drill was not found in the "Instructions." On these parades the formation was column of sections, can- noneers mounted, and woe to the poor soldier who did not sit erect on the boxes, with arms folded, for on the return to quarters the guard-house and bread and water would be his reward. The parade was usually
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
performed at a trot, and the principal movement was to execute " In Battery," as if entirely surrounded by an enemy. It was accomplished by the commanding officer giving the order, "Action front, right, left, and rear," as the centre section arrived at the intersection of a cross street. The right section executed "Ac- tion front," the centre section "Action right and left," and left section " Fire to the rear in battery." To one acquainted with light artillery service it will read- ily be seen that executed at a trot in the streets of a city, by a battery equipped in full regulation uniform, the effect upon lookers-on would be very pleasing as an exhibition.
July 4, 1862, was observed by the troops at New . Berne in a spirited manner. Bells were rung morn- ing, noon and night ; the command made a street parade in the morning, at the close of which the Dec- laration of Independence was read before each regi- ment and battery ; at twelve o'clock noon a national sa- lute of thirty-four guns was fired from Fort Totten, a large earthwork, built subsequent to the capture of the city to defend it from attack on the land side, and also from the gun-boats ; at six o'clock, evening, Bel- ger's Rhode Island Battery fired a salute of thirty-
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BATTERY F,
four guns, and, with the burning of tar barrels during the evening, the celebration at New Berne of the na- tion's anniversary closed. Dinner was made the main feature of the day with Battery F. The bill of fare was roast beef, roast lamb, boiled chicken, boiled ham, plum duff with whiskey sauce, pies and hard crackers. The issue of rations of this character, although very rarely served, had a good effect upon the men.
Early in August, 1862, the post of the provost guard on Pollock Street, near the rear of the battery quarters and in close proximity to post number two of the battery guard, had been fired upon several nights in succession, between midnight and three o'clock in the morning, and one or two men had been wounded. All efforts to discover the firing party had proved unsuccessful. Buildings in the vicin- ity had been carefully searched, and everything in the shape of fire-arms confiscated, but still at the same locality, and about the same hour in the morning, the report of the gun and the whiz of the bullet was heard. The night of the 14th of August was ex- tremely warm, so much so that the guard detail of the battery not on post found it difficult to sleep, and
1
REFERENCES.
I. GUAND HOUSE, NO. I. 2. COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT.
3. GASTON HOUSE.
4. REGIMENTAL HD. GRS.
5. POST OFFICE.
6. NORTH CAROLINA BANK.
7. CRAVEN ST. JAIL.
8. STANLEY HOSPITAL.
9. DEPT. HEAD QUARTERS.
10, GUARD HOUSE, NO. 2.
II. ENGINEERS OFFICE.
12. FOSTER HOSPITAL.
13. MASONIC HALL.
14. FLAG STAFF.
15. R. R. STATION.
16. CITIZENS' CEMETERY.
Swamp
17. SOLDIERS' CEMETERY.
18. ORPHAN ASYLUM
19. NATIONAL CEMETERY.
20.21. REGIMENTAL HOSPITAL.
PLAN OF
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
nearly all were lounging around the guard quarters hunting for a breath of air. The time for the firing had arrived and all were listening for the shot. Soon the report and whiz were heard, and about five min- utes later some one saying : " Open the door quick ! quick !" Following the direction of the sound, a citizen was discovered standing at the door of a house nearly opposite the battery quarters, waiting to be admitted. The circumstance was immediately re- ported to the battery officer of the day, Lieut. Charles H. Pope, who, gaining admission to the house, arrested the man, who of course denied all knowledge of the shooting, and claimed that he had just returned from fishing. He was turned over to the provost marshal, placed in jail to await trial, but was either released or escaped and disappeared from the city. Those most interested in the matter, the soldiers required to perform duty in that vicinity, were satisfied he was guilty, as after his arrest there was no more shooting at that post.
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CHAPTER IV.
RAIDS AND EXPEDITIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
T HE first organized raid into the country, with which Battery F as a battery was connected, left New Berne Friday, July 25, 1862, at about four o'clock in the afternoon. Bivouacked that night at "Bachelder Creek," and the next morning took up the march for Trenton, N. C. No opposition was met until within about a mile of Trenton, where the rebel cavalry were posted. They hastily retreated across the river into the town, attempting to burn the bridge as they went. In this they were unsuc- cessful for the reason that the Union cavalry were too close upon them. One section of Battery F went to the front with the cavalry, but did not be- come engaged. The command crossed the river, passed through the town and started by another route, via Pollocksville, for the return to New Berne.
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
The night of the 26th was spent in bivouac at Mc- Daniels's plantation. The fine mansion and other buildings stood upon a hill, and the troops were posted about the yard, the guns of the battery in position and the men ordered to sleep by the guns. Just be- fore reaching the bivouac the troops crossed a small stream, at first not large or deep. Apparently it was dammed and the gate was opened about the time of the crossing, for when the battery crossed the stream. had swollen and was about waist deep. It was with considerable difficulty that the battery crossed and reached the top of the hill at McDaniels's. When it arrived, which was quite late, the night was as dark as dark could be with every indication of a thunder shower. The guns were posted in the darkness, their positions causing considerable amusement when day- light disclosed the situation. Soon after reaching the position the threatened storm broke, continuing until nearly daylight, the rain falling in torrents, which, together with the vivid lightning, and the roar of the thunder, made an extremely uncomforta- ble night. The men of the battery had little or no shelter ; they hovered under the caissons, but the water ran in streams everywhere. The result of the
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BATTERY F,
night to them was summed up in a few words, viz., no sleep and thoroughly soaked with water. The morning of the 27th, Sunday, opened beautifully ; the sun shone out brightly, causing the wet clothing of the men to soon dry, and the march was continued towards Pollocksville just the same as if a comfortable night had been passed. The cavalry skirmished some just before reaching the town, losing two men killed, but no call was made for the artillery. Pass- ing through Pollocksville, the battery reached its quarters in New. Berne at about ten and a half o'clock in the evening of the 27th.
During the month of August several raids were. made into the country, upon two of which portions of the battery joined. No engagements took place, however.
Saturday, September 27th, about noon, a courier came dashing into the city with the report that the outpost at Deep Gully had been attacked. The bat- tery was in the midst of the weekly preparation for the regular Sunday morning inspection. The har- nesses were being thoroughly washed and cleaned, having been taken apart for that purpose, and, alto- gether, the conditions were unfavorable for a quick
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
response to a sudden call. About three o'clock P. M. " boots and saddles " sounded, and the battery started for the outpost. Arriving at Deep Gully it was found, as was often the case, that there had been no
Lieut. Peter C. Smith.
necessity for the move, as only a few of the enemy's cavalry had appeared, and they retired after a few shots. The battery immediately returned to quar- ters and at nine o'clock in the evening all was as quiet as if no alarm had taken place, but probably the Sunday morning inspection did not find the harnesses
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BATTERY F,
and the carriages in as clean condition as they might have been had the alarm not occurred.
The time between these raids and expeditions was occupied mainly by routine duty. During the sum- mer months drills took place at five o'clock in the morning, continuing until seven. This was to relieve the men and animals as far as possible from work during the heat of the day. . Reveille was sounded at four and one-half o'clock, and at roll call a ration of whiskey and quinine issued. This was intended as a preventive of chills and fever, quite prevalent in the camps. Immediately after the issuing of the whiskey and quinine the battery was hitched up and the two hours' mounted drill took place, after which breakfast was served and stable call sounded subsequently.
October 29th an expedition, of which the battery was a part, started from New Berne under command of Gen. J. G. Foster. The troops arrived at Wash- ington, N. C., the next day, and remained until No- vember 2d, when the march was resumed toward Williamston, N. C. It very soon became evident that the enemy would resist this advance. At Little Creek rifle-pits had been constructed and the rebels disputed the way. Battery F was ordered into posi-
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tion, opened fire, and continued to shell the enemy's position for nearly an hour, resulting in the retiring of their lines about a mile to Rawle's Mill, where another engagement' between the battery and the rebel forces took place. At the two engagements Battery F expended about three hundred rounds of ammunition. General Foster, in his official report of these actions, says :
"The engagement (at Little Creek) lasted one hour, when the enemy being driven from their rifle- pits by the effective fire of Belger's Rhode Island Battery, retired to Rawles' Mill, one mile further on, where they made another stand in a recently con- structed field-work. Belger's Battery and two bat- teries of the Third New York Artillery were imme- diately ordered into position, and, after a spirited en- gagement of half an hour, succeeded in driving the enemy from their works and across a bridge which they burned."
Col. Thomas G. Stevenson, commanding Second Brigade, states in his report of operations at Little Creek and Rawles' Mill. "Too much praise cannot be awarded Captain Belger and his command for the mas- terly manner in which his guns were maneuvered."
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BATTERY F,
The march continued through Williamston, Ham- ilton, and to near Tarboro', but no further engage- ments by the battery took place. There were no casualties in the battery on this raid. .
Horace Greeley, in The American Conflict, writing of this raid, says : "He (Foster) led one expedition from Washington through Williamston to Hamilton, on the Roanoke, where he 'expected to find and de- stroy some iron-clads in process of construction, but there were none. The liberation of several hundred slave's was the chief result of this expedi- tion."
The monthly return of the battery for November, 1862, contains the following memorandum of the route and distance traveled on this expedition :
"The battery left Washington, N. C., on a reconnois- sance, Nov. 2, 1862, and engaged the enemy at Little Creek, N. C., twice the same day, dislodged the enemy and bivouacked for the night. Resumed the march at sunrise, November 3d, and arrived at Williamston, N. C., at eleven A. M. Left Williamston at three p. M., and ar- rived at Hamilton November 4th, at three p. M. Left Hamilton at six p. M., and bivouacked within five miles of Tarboro', N. C., November 5th. Resumed the march at sunrise November 6th on the return, and reached
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Hamilton same day. Left Hamilton November 7th, and arrived at Williamston same day. Left Williamston No- vember 9th, and arrived at Plymouth, N. C., November roth. Embarked on steamer Eagle same day, and left for New Berne, N. C., at which place the battery arrived on the 12th of November, 1862. Distance, 369 miles."
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Sergt. William H. C. Smith.
On the night of November 11th, New Berne was the scene of intense excitement, caused by the ap- pearance of the enemy before the city. The pickets were driven in, and many thought the morning would
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BATTERY F,
witness the Confederate forces again occupying the place. The expedition, which had been absent since October 29th, had not been heard from, and the com- paratively small force remaining to defend the city caused a feeling of uneasiness which could not well be concealed. The few members of Battery F left be- hind to care for the property, and those unable on account of sickness to go with the expedition, shared fully in the anxiety as to the result should an attack be made. Of course there were natives who secretly hoped for the capture of the entire post, but from some cause (perhaps they knew better than those in the city the nearness of the expedition on its return) the enemy contented themselves by simply driving in the outposts, and disappeared as suddenly as they came.
Early in December, 1862, an expedition under com- mand of General Foster was organized for the pur- pose of destroying the railroad bridge across the Neuse River, near Goldsboro', N. C. Battery F was assigned to the expedition which embraced four brigades of infantry, a regiment of cavalry, and a battery of the Third New York Artillery, together with portions of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth New York Independent Batteries.
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Under date of Dec. 10, 1862, General Foster wrote General Halleck,at Washington, D. C. :
" I have the honor to report that I am about to take the field again against the enemy in the direction of Goldsborough. I shall therefore move on Kinston to-morrow morning at daybreak. I hope to defeat two brigades that are known to be there before as- sistance can arrive from Wilmington, or Weldon, or Tar- borough. Succeeding in this, I shall push on to Golds- borough, destroy its railroad bridge, and another bridge across a swamp ten miles south of Goldsborough, and then return to New Berne to prepare for an immediate attack on Wilmington."
Leaving New Berne on the morning of the 11th of December, the command arrived at the bridge over the Neuse River, near Kinston, on the 14th. About fourteen miles from New Berne the enemy had ob- structed the road for a long distance by felling trees. Between that point and Kinston some skirmishing occurred, but Battery F was not brought into action or to the advance until the 14th, when the battle of Kinston was fought. The nature of the ground where this engagement took place was such that ar- tillery could not be used to advantage, consequently the batteries were of necessity placed in reserve.
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BATTERY F,
General Foster's report of the engagement has this reference to the artillery :
"My artillery (three batteries) I posted in a large field on the right of the road and about three-fourths of a mile in rear of line of attack, the only position they could be placed in. I then ordered Colonel Stevenson's brigade, with Belger's Rhode Island Battery, forward. The Twenty-fourth Massachusetts supported this battery."
The position taken by the battery, when ordered forward as above stated, was to cover the bridge over the Neuse River by which the enemy had re- treated into the village of Kinston, attempting, un- successfully, to burn it, although it was made impass- able for the artillery until repaired. No occasion, however, occurred for action, and not a shot was fired by the battery at this point. The bridge was soon put in safe condition, the battery crossed over, moved through the village with other troops, and bivouacked for the night in a cornfield about a half mile beyond. Previous to the bivouac the woods were shelled to the front, the battery firing a few rounds without de- veloping any force, the enemy having retreated be- yond the range.
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
During the night there was more or less foraging. Fresh pork was cooked at the camp-fires of the bat- tery, and probably some souvenirs of the visit were secured from the partially deserted village by men of the different commands, which, had it been known to commanding officers would have subjected the pos- sessors to discipline.
On the morning of the 15th of December the troops recrossed the bridge and continued the march toward . Goldsboro', halting for the night about three and a half miles from Whitehall. The battery performed no duty on this day except marching with the col- umn, as the enemy did not oppose the advance.
December 16th the march continued to Whitehall Bridge, where a short but sharp engagement took place. The enemy had burned the bridge across the Neuse River at this point and were on the opposite bank in some force with infantry and artillery. Gen- eral Foster's report states " this being the direct road to Goldsboro', I determined to make a strong feint as if to rebuild and cross." Battery F was first ordered into position on a hill overlooking the river, but after firing a few rounds, moved down to the low land on the river bank, in an open field to the left of the road,
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BATTERY F,
and came into action at short range. Nothing could be seen on the opposite side of the river except trees. The enemy's artillery was soon silenced, and the engagement became a battle of a light battery against sharpshooters, the battery being in an open field without cover, and the sharpshooters entirely covered by the thick woods which lined the bank on the opposite side of the river. The ammunition used was shell and case shot, with fuses cut at two seconds. The engagement continued about an hour, resulting in a loss to the battery of two privates killed, viz., James P. Gavitt and William Nisbit ; Corp. George C. Manchester wounded by a musket ball through the thigh ; Private John Butterworth wounded by a mus- ket ball through the hand, near the wrist, while thumbing vent, resulting in amputation of the hand ; also twelve horses killed and disabled.
During the afternoon of the 16th the command continued the march towards Goldsboro', bivouacking for the night about eight miles from that city. On the morning of the 17th the advance was continued, soon meeting the enemy who retired towards the railroad bridge over the Neuse River, the objective point of the expedition. In the disposition of the
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
troops made at the railroad near the bridge, Battery F was divided, the right and left sections-four ten- pounder Parrotts-occupying a position near the rail- road track and firing upon the bridge and troops de-
Corp. George C. Manchester.
fending it, while the centre section-two twelve- pounder howitzers-was posted a short distance to the right, on a hill overlooking a large open field. The Third Massachusetts Infantry were the support to this section. The Ninth New Jersey Infantry
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BATTERY F,
were ordered to advance up the railroad track to the bridge, which they were to burn, and the position of the right and left sections of the battery with its in- fantry support of three regiments was in support of this movement.
Col. C. A. Heckman, Ninth New Jersey Volun- teers, in command of the advance, in his official report states :
" I then (16th) received orders to take the Seventeenth Massachusetts and proceed in advance towards Golds- borough Bridge. Bivouacked the night of the 16th about five miles from the bridge.
" Morning of the 17th column again moving, Seven- teenth Massachusetts in advance, Ninth New Jersey fol- lowing. About two miles from the bridge commenced driving in the enemy's pickets. On coming in sight of the bridge saw a regiment of the enemy passing along the railroad. I immediately ordered the Seventeenth Massachusetts to send out skirmishers and advance on the left of the road, and the Ninth New Jersey to deploy and advance on the right as far as the railroad. Found the enemy here in force on both sides of the river. The Seventeenth on reaching the railroad, by my order, left one company where the country road crosses the railroad, and then marched down the railroad in the direction of the bridge. The company left in position on the country road were charged upon by a squadron of cavalry, whom
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they repulsed, and captured two prisoners, without loss on our side. The Ninth advanced on the right of the Sev- enteenth to within . thirty feet of the river and bridge. As soon as the artillery arrived on the ground I withdrew the Ninth New Jersey and Seventeenth Massachusetts to give the artillery position. Torches were sent us and or- ders to burn the bridge. I rode up to the Ninth New Jersey and called for volunteers to burn the bridge. Numbers volunteered instantly, but as I wanted but three, Lieutenant Graham, acting aide to me, and two privates, one of Company E, William Lemons, and -, took the port-fires and started on their dangerous mission. The enemy were thickly posted on both sides of the river and all about the bridge, but the volunteers were successful, and we soon had the gratification of seeing flames and smoke ascending in columns, and the bridge was effectually destroyed."
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