USA > Rhode Island > Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery in the Civil War, 1861-1865 > Part 5
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campaigns of the war, the attacks upon New Berne in March and Washington, N. C., in April, 1863, were little more than mere skirmishes.
Nothing occurred during the following few weeks to break the monotony of camp life. Mounted drills in the early morning to avoid the heat of the day, took place every pleasant morning, and no further duty except stable and guard was performed until late in the afternoon, when the "manual of the piece " occupied the attention of the men for an hour. Thus the time passed until July 4, 1863, when another movement into the enemy's country was made.
Several changes had taken place in the officers of the battery. First Lieutenants Charles H. Pope and George W. Field resigned their commissions, the former Oct. 6, 1862, and the latter Oct. 26, 1862. Second Lieutenants Thomas Simpson and William A. Arnold were commissioned first lieutenants Nov. 5, 1862. First Lieut. William A. Arnold resigned May 4, 1863. Sergt. Peter C. Smith was promoted to sec- ond lieutenant Nov. 5, 1862, and first lieutenant May 14, 1863 ; Quartermaster-Sergt. Albert E. Adams, of Battery A, appointed second lieutenant in Battery F,
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Dec. 4, 1862, and joined for duty in January, 1863; and First Sergt. Philip S. Chase, of Battery F, pro- moted to second lieutenant May 14, 1863. Several promotions to other commands had also taken place, which appear in the roster as published with this work. The commissioned officers in Battery F, on the Ist day of July, 1863, were : Capt. James Bel- ger ; First Lieutenants Thomas Simpson and Peter C. Smith ; Second Lieutenants Albert E. Adams and Philip S. Chase.
On the first day of July, 1863, Special Orders No. 186, were issued from Headquarters Department of North Carolina, Eighteenth Army Corps, paragraph · 8, of which directed that Belger's Battery be "pre- pared immediately- to move with 100 extra rounds of ammunition and five days' rations of oats only for the horses. The men will take two ds. rations in hav- ersacks and three ds. in bulk. The commanding officer of the battery will report to Brig .- Gen. Heck- man to-morrow for orders."
The orders required the battery to report on the Trent road at 3.30 o'clock on the morning of July 4th, where the command would form and take up the march in the following order: Ninth New Jersey
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Volunteers, Belger's Rhode Island Battery, Twenty- third Massachusetts Volunteers, Eighty-first New York Volunteers and Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers. The object of the move was to advance
Lieut. Philip S. Chase.
to Trenton, N. C., and hold the bridges and roads to cover the return of a force of cavalry, about six hun- dred and fifty men, under command of Lieut .- Col. George W. Lewis, Third New York Cavalry, which left New Berne on the morning of the 3d of July, to
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destroy the enemy's communications by the Wil- mington and Weldon Railroad, which they accom- plished by tearing up the track at Warsaw, and also destroyed much other property.
The command to which the battery was attached marched through Pollocksville and bivouacked that night on the road to Trenton, twenty miles from New Berne. At daylight on the morning of the 5th, the march was resumed, arriving at Trenton at about eight o'clock A. M. Passing through the village, the column halted at the forks of the Comfort and Qua- ker Bridge roads. On the morning of the 6th one section of the battery under command of Lieut. Peter C. Smith, was sent with the Twenty-third Massachusetts, Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers, to the forks of the Comfort and Free Bridge road. There on arrival the guns were placed in position to cover both roads and a reconnoissance made to the bridge, which discovered the enemy in small force with artil- . lery. Lieutenant Smith opened with his guns, firing a few rounds. General Heckman's report states : "The enemy again opened on us with artillery, but a few well directed shots by Lieutenant Smith soon si- lenced them." The engagement was of the nature
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of a skirmish, with no loss to the battery except that of ammunition.
The cavalry reached the command on its return from the railroad about six o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th, when the whole force immediately took up the march for New Berne, the battery arriving at its quarters in the city the next day, having covered a distance of about sixty miles.
During the summer of 1863 a number of expedi- tions for the purpose of burning railroad bridges and destroying railroad tracks moved into the interior from New Berne. Not all were entirely successful. One was started from Portsmouth, Va., toward Wel- don, N. C., which was supported by a forcefrom New Berne, to which the battery was assigned. On the 24th of July Battery F. was embarked at New Berne, N. C., on the steamer Escort. The next morning, Saturday, July 25th, she steamed out of the river up the sounds, past Roanoke Island, and entered the Chowan River, a stream navigable but a short dis- tance, which flows from the northwest and empties into Albemarle Sound near its western limits. The steamer arrived at Winton, N. C., Sunday, July 26th, and the battery immediately disembarked. One 12
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section was moved forward by hand to a bridge over a small stream, on the road to Weldon, called Pottecasy Creek. Just before reaching the bridge an earth-work was discovered thrown across the road, and a slight skirmish took place. One gun only of the battery was brought into action and but two rounds fired, the infantry promptly driving the enemy from . the work and across the bridge.
The force from New Berne to which the battery was assigned was to hold this bridge and road for the cavalry which left Portsmouth, Va., July 25th, for Weldon, N. C. The cavalry advanced to about two miles west of Jackson, N. C., where they met the enemy intrenched, and after an engagement with- drew. Maj. Samuel Wetherell, commanding Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, reports : " The advance bat- talion, under Captain Loomis, and two howitzers, Lieut. (Lucian F.) Prudhomme, charged into the town (Jackson), and drove General Ransom, C. S. Army, and staff at full chase into their intrenchments, situated so as to defend a causeway and mill seat, two miles west of Jackson, charging to within forty yards of the breastworks, which General Ransom and party reached fifty yards ahead."
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Gen. Matt. W. Ransom, Confederate States Army, reports from Boone's Mill, July 29, 1863 : "We met the enemy yesterday at this point, twelve miles be- low Weldon, and, after a brisk fight of four hours, we repulsed them. Last night they fell back hastily towards Murfreesborough or Winton."
The two guns of the battery remained at the bridge until July 30th, when they were hauled back to Winton and joined the remainder of the battery, all embarking on the steamer Curlew, which sailed at once for New Berne, where it arrived late in the afternoon of the first day of August.
The official report of the part taken by Battery F in the expedition, as made to the assistant adjutant- general of the brigade, is as follows :
HEADQUARTERS BATTERY F, IST REGT., R. I. LT. ART'Y. NEW BERNE, N. C., Aug. 1, 1863.
Capt. W. H. ABELL, A. A. G., Heckman's Brigade, 18th Army Corps :
CAPTAIN : I have the honor to submit the following report of the service of Battery F, Ist Regt. R. I. Lt. Artillery, on the recent expedition in this Department.
The battery embarked on board the steamer Escort July 24. 1863, and sailed from New Berne, N. C., July 25, 1863. Arrived at Winton, N. C., July 26, 1863. Disem-
.. ....
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barked and moved forward with one section towards the bridge over Pottecasy Creek. Engaged the enemy at the rifle-pits near the bridge with one piece, firing two (2) rounds of ammunition. Returning, left Winton, N. C., on board steamer Curlew, July 30, 1863, arriving at New Berne, N. C., Aug. 1, 1863. No casualties.
I am, Captain, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, THOS. SIMPSON, Ist Lieut. Ist Regt. R. I. Lt. Arty, Comdg. Battery F.
About this time the Resolutions of the General Assembly of Rhode Island, passed July 16, 1863, were received. They were as follows :
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
RESOLUTIONS IN REGARD TO THE VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.
Resolved, That the General Assembly hereby declares its high appreciation of the distinguished services of the volunteer soldiers of the State of Rhode Island, on numer- ous fields of perilous duty, in bravely maintaining her honor, enhancing her reputation, and illustrating her his- tory anew, by their courage, loyalty, patriotism, and valor. The General Assembly proudly and gratefully recognizes
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their claims to the approval and regard of their fellow- citizens, and renewedly pledges to them its cordial good will and its unfaltering support.
Resolved, That the General Assembly tenders expres- sions of sympathy to the many hearts and homes that have been bereaved and saddened by the casualties of the present conflict, and assures them that the state will ever cherish the memory of the brave men who have fallen in the defence of Union, Liberty, and Law.
Resolved, That His Excellency the Governor be directed to transmit copies of the above resolutions to the com- manding officers of the regiments belonging to Rhode Island now in the field.
I certify the above to be a true copy :
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of the State this sixteenth day of July, A. D. 1863.
. JOHN R. BARTLETT,
Secretary of State.
During the months of August and September the battery remained in quarters, taking no part in raids or expeditions, with nothing to break the monotony of routine duty, except an occasional inspection or review.
Saturday, Oct. 10, 1863, Special Orders No. 121, Headquarters Forces and Defences of New Berne,
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were issued, paragraph III. of which directed that "the comd'g officer of Battery F, Ist R. I. Light Artillery: will detail from his command one section (complete) for immediate special duty. Two days' rations and six days' forage will be taken.
The section will move by water transportation by 9 P. M. to-night."
First Lieut. Peter C. Smith with the right section was detailed and reported to Col. S. H. Mix, Third New York Cavalry, who modified the order, directing that the guns only be taken.
The object of the raid is set forth in the letter of instructions to Colonel Mix, dated New Berne, Oct. 10, 1863, from which is taken the following : " You will proceed with 300 cavalry of the Third New York and of Mix's new regiment and a section of Belger's battery to Elizabeth City, N. C., to-night, by trans- ports. It having been reported that Colonel Hinton is raising a regiment of conscripts in Pasquo- tank and the adjacent counties, and endeavoring by all means in his power to enforce the rebel conscrip- tion law, you will endeavor to ascertain the truth of these representations, and, if possible, break up his operations and disperse his camp."
.. Dr. Albert Potter.
( Surgeon Fifth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, who had medical charge of . Battery F while it remained in North Carolina.)
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The two guns of the battery landed at Elizabeth City, from which point they were maneuvered in con- nection with the movements of the cavalry, but did not become engaged. They arrived at New Berne on their return, October 16th, without incident. This was the last raid in North Carolina participated in by the battery, as soon after it was transferred to Virginia.
Just before leaving North Carolina, before orders had been issued making the change in station, Maj. S. V. Harbert, paymaster United States Army, visited the battery for the purpose of paying the men for the months of July and August. His visit caused considerable uneasiness in the battery, or perhaps it is more proper to state, to certain members of the battery, for the reason that he refused to pay all the officers and non-commissioned officers, acting under instructions of the secretary of war. The corre- spondence on the subject was as follows :
HEADQUARTERS PAY DEPT., NEW BERNE, N. C., Oct. 19, 1863.
Capt. JAS. BELGER.
SIR: Upon comparison of the muster rolls of your company with General Orders No. 126, I find it deficient in .
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the requisite number of privates (122). As the instruc- tions from the Secretary of War to Maj .- Gen. Foster par- ticularly refer to that point I do not see how I can pay the extra officers which I would be pleased to do if I could.
I am very resp'y, Your Obt. Svt., S. V. HARBERT, Paymaster, U. S. A.
Two commissioned and six non commissioned offi- cers were not paid, causing a communication from Captain Belger, viz. :
HEADQUARTERS BATTERY "F," IST R. I. LT. ART'Y, NEW BERNE, N. C., Oct. 20, 1863.
MAJOR :
I have the honor to inform you that in obedience to General Orders No. 126, dated War Dept., Adj. Gen- eral's Office, Washington, Sept. 6, 1862, I am obliged to muster out of service two commissioned officers and six non-commissioned officers.
My total enlisted to-day is 132, as follows : 8 sergeants, 12 corporals, 2 buglers, I artificer, I wagoner, and 108 privates. I require 14 privates to fill my battery to the number specified in said orders, and retain the excess of officers and non-commissioned officers.
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I have enlisted men enough to work six guns (although not the required number), but if compelled to muster out two officers shall be obliged to drop two guns.
The Pay Dep't has refused to pay the excess of officers and non-commissioned officers.
I enclose copy of letter dated Hd. Qrs. Pay Dept., New Berne, N. C., Oct. 19, 1863, in relation to the pay- ment of officers, also copy of letter to Major-General Foster, dated Adj. General's Office, Washington, D. C., Oct. 30, 1862, in relation to retaining extra Lieuts., &c.
I am, Major, very respectfully, Your Obt. Servt., JAS. BELGER, Capt. Ist R. I. Lt. Arty. Comd'g Battery "F."'
Major B. B. FOSTER,
Asst .- Adj. General. (First endorsement.)
HDQRS. F. & D. OF NEW BERNE,
NEW .BERNE, Oct. 24, '63. Respectfully forwarded for the consideration of the Commanding General. By reference to G. O. No. 182, W. D., A. G. O., s. c., it appears that 86 aggregate is the minimum for a battery.
THOS. I. C. AMORY,
Col. 17th Mass. Vols. Comdg.
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(Second endorsement.) Ref'd to Head Qrs. Dept. of Vir. & N. C.
JOHN J. PECK, Maj .- Gen'l.
(Third endorsement.) HEADQRS. DEPT. OF VA. & NO. CA., FORT MONROE, Nov'br 15, 1863.
Respectfully forwarded to the Adj't-Gen'l with the request that the Pay Dept. be authorized to pay the extra officers and non-commissioned officers allowed by Gen'l Orders 126, series '62. This battery is one of the very best in this Dept., and it would, in my opinion, be preju- dicial to the interests of the service to have the battery reduced to four guns. The number of men required (14) can no doubt, be easily re- cruited if authority be granted for a recruiting party to be sent from this battery to Rhode Island.
BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj .- Gen'l Comdg.
(Fourth endorsement.) WAR DEPT., A. G. OFFICE, Nov. 27, 1863.
Respectfully returned. This battery is not reduced to the minimum strength, and therefore
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it is not necessary to muster out the extra officers and non-commissioned officers.
By order of the Secretary of War, THOMAS M. VINCENT, Asst. Adj .- Gen'l. (Fifth endorsement.) HD. QRS. DEPT. VA. & N. C., FT. MONROE, Dec. 2, 1863.
Respectfully returned to Capt. Belger with reference to endorsement from War Dept.
By command of Gen. BUTLER, R. S. DAVIS, Maj. & A. A. G.
(Sixth endorsement.) HD. QRS. HECKMAN'S BRIG., NEWPORT NEWS, VA., Dec. 3, 1863.
Respectfully returned to Capt. Belger with reference to previous endorsements.
By command of Brig .- Gen. C. A. HECKMAN, W. H. ABELL, A. A. G.
Thus after many days the question was settled, the excess of officers and non-commissioned officers received pay, and the command remained a six-gun. battery.
CHAPTER V.
FROM NEW BERNE, N. C., TO NEWPORT NEWS, VA.
IN October, 1863, General Lee made a demonstra- I tion with the Army of Northern Virginia, passing the right flank of the Army of the Potomac, indi- cating another excursion into Maryland and Pennsyl- vania. General-in-Chief H. W. Halleck telegraphed from Washington to Major-Gen. J. G. Foster, Com- manding Department of Virginia and North Caro- lina, at Fort Monroe, Va., at 9 o'clock P. M. October 20th : "Advices from Richmond are that every available man, except some local militia or home guards, has moved with Lee's army against Meade. Is it not possible under these circumstances to move up the York River, destroy the railroad bridges, and threaten Richmond, so as to draw back some of Lee's forces ? Please answer." General Foster replied at
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10.30 P. M., same date : "Telegram received. I will attempt what you propose, and do it if possible."
Following out the suggestion, General Foster on the 21st of October issued Special Orders No. 93, paragraph VI. of which read : " Major-Gen. J. J. Peck, commanding District of North Carolina, will order the following troops under his command to proceed at once to this point (Fort Monroe, Va.) with all possible dispatch: Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, Third Regiment New York Cavalry, Battery F First Rhode Island Artil- lery, Howell's Battery Third New York Artillery, and Riggs' Battery Third New York Artillery." The same order directed the troops in Getty's division at Norfolk and Portsmouth and the troops at Newport News to be " prepared to embark to-morrow morning at daylight."
Further correspondence between General Halleck and General Foster took place on the 2ist by tele- graph, in which General Foster favored making the demonstration up the James River instead of the York, breaking the railroad connection south and southwest of Petersburg. General Halleck replied .at 10.30 A. M. : "The object is to break railroads
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between Richmond and General Lee's army. Having driven Meade across Bull Run, and destroyed the railroad, Lee is now falling back." . At 2.30 P. M. General Halleck telegraphs : "Dispatches from Gen- eral Meade render it advisable that you make no movement till further orders."
General Foster then suspended so much of Special Orders No. 93 as directed troops to be ready to em- bark, but paragraph VI. remained, and Battery F was to leave North Carolina.
Oct. 30, 1863, was occupied in putting on board the steamers Ella May, Pilot Boy and Colonel Rucker the battery, its property and stores. At midnight the work was completed, lines were cast off, and with feelings of regret and sorrow, for many agreeable as- sociations had been formed, the men bade farewell to New Berne and the comfortable quarters which had been extremely pleasant as their home since March, 1 862.
Just two years' service had at this time been given to the country, and certainly there had been no cause for complaint. While undoubtedly the battery had not encountered such severe fighting as fell to the lot of troops in some departments, it had met with expe-
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riences not common to light batteries. It had been a part of a semi-naval force, the Burnside Coast Di- vision ; it was knocked about on shipboard during the storm off Hatteras which caused such disaster to
First Sergt. Simeon Gallup.
the expedition and anxiety to friends at home ; had twice landed from vessels by throwing horses over- board and towing them ashore by small boats, and rafting the guns and other property to the land ; had made numerous raids both by land and water in the
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Department of North Carolina ; had served for seve- ral weeks as cavalry after the occupation of New Berne, and had made a reputation in the depart- ment of which all felt proud. It was not strange, therefore, that a feeling of heaviness prevailed as the command left the scenes of its exploits and sailed for the unknown duties which were before it.
The route by which the battery was to reach Fort Monroe, lay overland from Camden, N. C., through the Dismal Swamp. The Third New York Cavalry and Riggs' New York Battery accompanied it. The three transports upon which Battery F made the first part of the journey, i. e., from New Berne to Camden, N. C., came to anchor off Roanoke Island about six o'clock on the evening of October 31st, and the men were mustered for pay, it being the regular date for that ceremony. At about eleven o'clock same evening the fleet " weighed anchors," and proceeded to Elizabeth City, N. C., arriving at about four o'clock on the morning of November Ist. This place, situated near the mouth of the Pasquo- tank River, a small stream flowing from the north and emptying into Albermarle Sound on its northern shore, had been frequently visited by the Union
14
IT
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forces, but no permanent occupation taken place. It was in the river off this village that the rebel flotilla, driven.after the capture of Roanoke Island, was at- tacked by Commander Rowan with the Union gun- boats, and completely destroyed. The men and horses of the battery disembarked here on the Ist of November, remaining until the next morning, when they re-embarked, and the transports steamed up the river to Camden, N. C., a distance of about three miles. At this place all the property was unloaded, and at sunrise November 3d, the command took up the line of march for South Mills, about fourteen miles distant, at which point the Dismal Swamp canal was reached. A squadron of the Third New York Cav- alry, with two mountain howitzers, led the advance, followed by a section of Belger's Battery, commanded by Lieut. Philip S. Chase. The advance was some- what annoyed by guerrillas, and at one point enjoyed the privilege of capturing an earth-work which was not occupied. The disposition of the troops and prompt action gave, however, additional evidence of the efficiency of the Third New York Cavalry. Emerging from the woods into a clearing upon the opposite side of which stretched the earth-work, some
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three hundred yards away, the advanced company promptly dismounted and deployed as skirmishers ; the two howitzers were brought to the front and threw a few shell into the works ; the skirmishers advanced rapidly to the parapet to find - a deserted work with no signs of having been recently occupied.
This affair with some guerrilla skirmishing and a single shell from one of the guns of Lieutenant Chase's section of the battery, fired up a cross-road where a few persons were seen, comprised all the fighting which took place on that march.
South Mills was reached at about eleven o'clock A. M., and, taking the tow-path of the canal, the com- mand pushed on to Deep Creek, Va., where it ar- rived at about eleven o'clock in the evening, having marched over forty-one miles since morning. The weather was fine, the tow-path in excellent condition for traveling, and the march proved to be a pleasant experience. The canal was nearly dry and several vessels were noticed "high and dry," apparently un- serviceable.
The battery bivouacked for the night at Deep Creek, near the camps of the Union forces, and at nine o'clock next morning, November 4th, took the
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road for Portsmouth, Va., arriving at about eleven o'clock. It was a real November day, cold and blus- tering, and it is safe to say that the men passed during their service very few more tedious and uncomfort-
Corp. John O. Winsor.
able. The battery was marched to a wharf where it remained until nearly sunset waiting for a steamer to transport it to Fort Monroe. The transport Con- queror arrived alongside the wharf at last, and no time was lost in embarking. The Conqueror reached Fort
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Monroe at about eleven o'clock in the evening, but after some parleying the battery was ordered to re- main on board until morning.
Disembarking on the morning of the 5th of Novem- ber the line of march was taken for Newport News, Va., arriving at about three o'clock in the afternoon. At Newport News were encamped many familiar or- ganizations, troops from New Berne, which had pre- ceded the battery, organized as Heckman's Brigade, commanded by Brig .- Gen. C. A. Heckman, late col- onel of the Ninth New Jersey Volunteers. The bat- tery was assigned to this force, which consisted of six regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and three light batteries. It immediately went into camp making all preparations for remaining through the winter.
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