USA > Rhode Island > Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery in the Civil War, 1861-1865 > Part 6
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CHAPTER VI.
NEWPORT NEWS, POINT LOOKOUT, AND YORKTOWN.
N arrival of the battery at Newport News, Va., Captain Belger was assigned chief of artillery, Heckman's Brigade. There were in the brigade at that time three light batteries, viz., F, First Rhode Island, M and H, Third New York Artillery. The order making the appointment reads :
HEADQUARTERS HECKMAN'S BRIGADE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA., Nov. 7, 1863.
Special Order No. 60.
Capt. James Belger, Battery F, First R. I. Art., is hereby appointed Chief of Artillery at this Post. His command will be composed of the following Batteries :
Battery F, Ist R. I. Art.,
M, 3d N. Y. Art.,
H, 3d £
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY.
All communications and reports intended for these or higher Headquarters will be forwarded thro' proper chan- nels.
By command of Brig .- Gen. C. A. HECKMAN,
W. H. ABELL, A. A. G.
The routine of military duty was taken up, the camp prepared for comfortable occupancy during the winter, and drills, reviews, and inspections furnished employment for all. .
In December, 1863, reenlistments under authority as promulgated by General Orders No. 191, War De- partment, commenced and continued until March 31, 1864, under the same and subsequent orders. The State of Rhode Island also offered inducements for re- enlistments and the governor issued the following address :
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDENCE, Dec. 15, 1863.
SOLDIERS OF RHODE ISLAND :
By General Orders No. 191, from the War Department, you are offered a bounty of four hundred dollars and granted certain privileges if you will reenlist for "three years, unless sooner discharged." To this Rhode Island desires to add her bounty of three hundred dollars, and
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so, in part, repay the debt she owes those brave men who, at the commencement of this rebellion, freely offered their lives, without setting a price upon their services.
Now an opportunity is given you to reënlist, and re- ceive a liberal bounty from your State as well as your Government.
The term for which you enlisted has not yet expired, but by enlisting for three years from the present time, un- less sooner discharged, you can receive these bounties now held out to you.
Everything now indicates that your services will not be required three years longer, therefore, by reënlisting un- der this order you commence your new term before the expiration of your first one, and are, also, by General Orders No. 376, War Department, granted a furlough of thirty days before the expiration of your original term of enlistment.
These advantages are held out to you if you reenlist before the 5th day of January next, and it is evident that no better opportunity can occur for those who desire to again enter the service of their country.
Soldiers ! the Union still needs your services ! Now is the time to again offer yourselves for the preservation of that government which has so long protected you and your homes.
JAMES Y. SMITH.
By His Excellency the Governor,
CHAS. E. BAILEY, Colonel and Private Secretary.
FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 113
Twenty-nine members of the battery accepted the offer and reënlisted for "three years unless sooner discharged," twenty-six of whom remained in the ser- vice as members of Battery F until the close of the
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Corp. Edward Wilcox.
war. 3 Of the remaining three one was killed in action, one wounded in action and discharged, and one de- serted while on veteran furlough.
The United States had located a camp of Confed- erate prisoners at Point Lookout, Md. In Decem- 15
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ber, 1863, it was rumored that the large number of prisoners at that place were uneasy and meditating an attempt to escape, and on the twenty-second day of that month Special Orders No. 209, Headquarters Heckman's Brigade, was issued, directing Battery F to proceed immediately to Point Lookout. The next day, 23d, the battery was loaded on the steamer Conqueror and landed at the prisoners' camp on the morning of the 24th.
Point Lookout is at the mouth of the Potomac River, on the Maryland side. Before the war it was a somewhat noted resort for pleasure seekers and in- valids. The large boarding-house, perhaps it might have been termed a hotel, which had undoubtedly witnessed many pleasant gatherings from north and south in days gone, was at the time occupied by the United States government, and the representatives from the south, in large numbers, were carefully cared for in an enclosed camp, with every precaution that no one of the number should get lost or stray from the sight of their northern visitors.
As the treatment shown those men by the govern- ment is recalled and contrasted with the accounts written by Union prisoners of the hardships and pri-
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vations at Andersonville and other southern prisons, it brings to mind again that in the exchange of prisoners the Confederates were important gainers, for, as a rule, the rebels from northern prisons were returned sound, well fed, and able bodied, while the Union soldiers from the southern prisons came north starved, sick, and broken down, entirely unfit for ser. vice.
The force guarding the prisoners in December, 1863, consisted of the Second, Fifth, and Twelfth New Hampshire Infantry, two companies of the Fourth United States Cavalry, and Battery F, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, all under the command of Brig .- Gen. Gilman Marston.
The duties at Point Lookout were rather irksome, principally waiting for "something to turn up," al- though a mounted drill took place occasionally.
The battery remained at this station until the 23d of January, 1864, about four weeks, when it was re- lieved by the Second Wisconsin Battery. The Wis- consin battery arrived by steamer during the night of the 19th, and disembarked. On the morning of the 20th it moved to the left of Battery F and went into park. - The officers of Battery F felt sure that
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a change of station would soon take place, and were very glad to receive, on the 21st of January, orders for the battery to proceed to Yorktown, Va. Ac- cordingly, Saturday, January 23d, the steamers John Tucker and Convoy received the battery on board, sailed from Point Lookout at about one o'clock P. M., and arrived at Yorktown at about eight o'clock in the evening. Disembarking immediately the battery proceeded to the barracks vacated by the Second Wisconsin Battery when it went to Point Lookout. The barracks were located inside Fort Yorktown, upon ground already memorable for scenes enacted during the War for Independence and also the War of the Rebellion. The situation was delightful, upon a high level, the view quite extended, and, no doubt, the members of Battery F have many times recalled with pleasure the hours spent upon the parapet of the old fort, where possibly they indulged in day dreams of the future, working out a career for themselves as they would have it, or, may be, endeavored to form some idea of the closing acts of the Revolution, which took place near the spot.
Captain Belger, who had remained at Newport News as chief of artillery, arrived at Yorktown on the
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27th of January, and took command of the battery which had been commanded by First Lieut. Thomas Simpson since the captain's detail, on the 7th of No- vember, 1863.
The quarters at Fort Yorktown were comfortable and convenient. The officers occupied three log- houses, and the enlisted men two large log-barracks. There were also other buildings for quartermaster and commissary stores and other property, cook- house, stable, etc. Expecting to remain until the spring campaign opened, the captain sent for his family and set up housekeeping in two of the log- houses, leaving the other for the lieutenants' use. The office of the battery was established in a tent near the captain's houses.
Routine camp duties continued until Feb. 5, 1864, when the battery received marching orders with six days' rations, and, at about three o'clock in the after- noon, left quarters and proceeded to Williamsburg, arriving at about six and one-half o'clock, where it bivouacked for the night. The next morning it joined a force consisting of six regiments of infantry, two light batteries, and parts of five regiments of cavalry, the whole commanded by Brig .- Gen. Isaac J.
mınw
Yorktown.
Gloucester Point.
View from the Battery Quarters at Fort Yorktown.
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FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 119
Wistar. It was believed that a very small force pro- tected Richmond at this time, and that a sudden dash from the south side might be successful in entering the city and doing much damage, besides liberating the Union prisoners at Libby, etc. Accordingly, at about half-past ten o'clock Saturday morning, Feb. 6, 1864, the command marched through Williams- burg and "On to Richmond." Perhaps the success of the expedition was a general order read to each regiment and battery as they were about to start, and is here given :
HEADQUARTERS WISTAR'S DIVISION, WILLIAMSBURG, VA., February 6, 1864.
General Orders No. 4.
SOLDIERS : You are about to strike a great and glori- ous blow, a blow which has been profoundly considered and carefully prepared, but which must fall suddenly, silently, irresistibly.
Our country now asks all your courage, all your en- durance. All our brothers-in-arms will envy you the op- portunity. I ask you for a few days to encounter, with a soldier's readiness, hard fare, wintry bivouacs, and, per- haps, calm and steady fighting.
Respond as you have always done, and I promise you,
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with God's blessing, a result which will bring glory to our flag, and honor to all who serve under its folds.
ISAAC J. WISTAR,
Brig .- Gen'l Comdg.
Official : JAMES E. FLEMING,
Captain and A. D. C.
It was understood among the troops that the cav- alry of the command had received especial instruc- tions to be followed on arriving at Richmond, assign- ing to each company or squadron some particular duty to perform, such as the capture of Jeff Davis, liberate prisoners at Libby, destroy certain public property, etc.
As previously stated, the column passed through Williamsburg at about half-past ten o'clock Saturday morning, February 6th. The battery continued the march until three o'clock on the morning of the 7th, when it had reached "New Kent Court-House." The infantry and artillery were here halted, and a rest until six o'clock A. M. taken. The night of the 6th was very dark, and, as the battery moved on the road through the woods it was necessary to keep a man with a lantern to the front to enable the drivers to keep in the road. It was impossible to see
·FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 121
objects a few feet away, therefore drivers found it wise to keep well closed up. Nothing occurred during the night to vary the monotony of the march of the battery except as the column was passing
Corp. Clovis Stone.
through "Richardson's Mills" a rocket suddenly shot into the air and a bright light was seen at a dis- tance through an opening in the woods, which were probably signals announcing to the enemy the ap- proach of the force, as, upon the arrival of the cavalry
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at Bottom Bridge, Chickahominy River, at about daylight on the 7th (the cavalry did not halt with the command at New Kent Court-House), it was found . to be impassable, and attempts to cross at the fords were met by a force of the enemy with artil. lery.
At six o'clock A. M. on the 7th, after three hours' rest, the battery moved with the command towards Bottom Bridge, and, about noon, met the cavalry re- turning.
The enemy was apparently informed of the move and the possibility of striking a blow " suddenly, silently, irresistibly," was at an end, therefore the command retraced its steps. The battery formed a part of the rear guard on the return march. A small force of the enemy's cavalry followed and was some- what annoying until a gun from the battery was put into action, firing four shells into their midst, which put an end to further demonstrations on their part. The battery reached its quarters at Yorktown at about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 9th of Feb- ruary, and the expedition ended minus the "glorious results " predicted in the general order of Brigadier- General Wistar before mentioned.
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On the return of the command measures were at once taken to ascertain the cause of the defeat of the plans, or rather how the information reached the enemy in time to defend the crossings at the Chicka- hominy River. As a result of the investigation Pri- vate Thomas Abrahams, Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth New York Volunteers, was arrested, tried by court-martial, convicted of some connection with the divulging of the plans, and sentenced to be "shot to death with musketry." The proceedings, findings, and sentence of the court were approved, and, on the seventh day of March, 1864, the sentence was carried into effect in the presence of all the troops stationed at Yorktown.
The execution took place on the plain south of Fort Yorktown. The troops were formed in line, on three sides of a parallelogram, the battery at one end, and the prisoner sitting on his coffin at the other. When all were in position the order condemning the prisoner to death was read to the troops by the adju- tant of each organization ; the firing detail marched into the centre, near the prisoner; the detail was divided into two parties, one of eight men, who con- stituted the main firing party, and one of four men
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as a reserve, to be used in case the first fire was not effective; the prisoner was blindfolded and the work very quickly performed. In this case no call was made for the reserve firing party. The body re- mained as it fell across the coffin and the whole com- mand was marched in review, as it were, before the dead man. As each company arrived opposite the body the command was given "Eyes right," that each and all might receive a lasting impression of the penalty of treason. This was the only execution witnessed by the whole battery, although others took place at Yorktown.
An account of the execution published in The Cav- alier, a newspaper printed at Yorktown, in its issue of March 7, 1864, reads as follows :
Private Thomas Abrahams, of Company G, 139th New York Volunteers, found guilty by court-martial of giving intelligence to the enemy, in violation of the 57th Article of War, and advising and persuading another sol- dier to desert the service of the United States, in viola- tion of the 23d Article of War, was shot, this morning, at this place. 1
Abrahams was the sentinel placed over William J. Boyle, of the Ist N. Y. Mounted Rifles, a prisoner under sentence of death at Fort Magruder, on the night of that
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prisoner's escape, and the testimony against him shows that he put Boyle in possession of valuable information in regard to an expedition against Richmond, and then wilfully and maliciously advised and assisted him to es- cape to the enemy's lines with such information.
He was ordered to be shot to death with musketry within forty-eight hours after hearing his sentence read, which took place at sunset on Saturday.
Abrahams was much affected upon hearing his sen- tence, and protested his innocence, weeping bitterly. The prisoner desired that a Catholic priest should be sent for to act as his spiritual adviser, and one arrived yesterday evening, from Norfolk, and entered upon his good work with zeal. We are unable to learn his name. He also expressed a strong desire to see his wife and children, who reside in Brooklyn, and requested that two of his comrades-in-arms might be sent for, but it was im- possible for them to reach this place before the time appointed for his death.
The spot selected for the execution was outside the fort, near the southern gate, and every arrangement was made to render the melancholy spectacle what it should be, a solemn and impressive warning to all who witnessed it. At ten o'clock the 148th N. Y. Vols., 16th N. Y. Ar- tillery, and Belger's and Hunt's Batteries, were upon the ground and formed three sides of a square, opening towards the river. Soon after Colonels West and Spear. with the officers of their staffs, the officers of General Wistar's staff, Surgeon Voorhees and others, made their
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appearance, and took their positions near the spot where the execution was to take place.
About eleven o'clock the prisoner was brought on the ground, seated upon his coffin in an open wagon, which was preceded by Captain Brooks, provost-marshal, and Captain Reynolds, assistant adjutant-general, a detach- ment of the provost guard bringing up the rear. His spiritual adviser was seated in the wagon beside him.
The prisoner was taken directly to the place of exe- cution, where the cortege halted. He got out of the wagon unassisted, climbing over the side and jumping lightly from the wheel. He showed but little trepidation, and upon his coffin being placed upon the ground, took his position in front of it with remarkable firmness.
The twelve men from the provost guard who were detailed to shoot him then filed around to his front, and took their position in two ranks, fifteen paces from the coffin. Captain Reynolds, A. A. G., then read to the prisoner the charges and specifications against him, with the findings and sentence of the court-martial and the or- der for his execution. The prisoner then knelt with his spiritual adviser, who had remained at his side in front of his coffin, and, for a few moments, devoted himself to earnest prayer. Upon arising he took an affectionate leave of the priest, expressing an earnest hope of salva- tion. . The priest then retired, and the prisoner seated himself upon his coffin without hesitation, seeming com- pletely resigned to his fate.
. The provost-marshal now approached him, when his
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handcuffs were taken off and he rapidly divested himself of his blouse, deposited it at the head of his coffin, and, seating himself for, the last time, held up his wrists to be again secured, without any apparent nervousness. The provost-marshal then placed a white handkerchief over his eyes, and, shaking him by the hand, bid him farewell. The prisoner returned the last earthly adieu with warmth, and then, turning his thoughts heavenward, devoted his last moments to prayer. The earnestness of his last ap- peal for Divine mercy was visible in the raising of his clasped hands, the motion of his head, and the swaying of his body.
The sergeant of the squad now gave the command " Ready-Aim-Fire !" and, simultaneously with the last word, the men discharged their pieces and the unfortu- nate man fell dead across his coffin without the quivering of a muscle. One musket of the twelve contained a blank cartridge.
Surgeon Voorhees then approached the body, and, upon examination, it was found that eight balls had en- tered it-three in the chest (at least one of which en- tered the heart), one in the left eye, one in each arm, and two in the stomach. When the surgeon reached him he was quite dead, the shot in the eye having caused instan- taneous death.
The troops who were drawn up to witness the execu- tion were now marched past the corpse, and the guards that had been posted to keep back the crowd being re- moved, all who desired to do so were permitted to ap-
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proach the body. To the credit of humanity be it said but few availed themselves of the opportunity, and the large concourse of people present soon dispersed to their homes or quarters.
The body was soon after placed in the coffin by a squad of negroes in attendance for the purpose, and con- signed to mother earth.
Abrahams enlisted from the city of Brooklyn, where he has left a widow and several small children to deplore his unhappy fate. He was apparently about thirty years of age."
General Wistar's official report of the expedition is as follows :
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, YORKTOWN, Feb. 9, 1864 ..
MAJOR : I have the honor to report the following operations of the forces under my command, undertaken with a view to the surprise and capture of Richmond, and · incidental results :
All the infantry and cavalry placed at my disposal by the general commanding, being about 4,000 of the former and 2,200 of the latter, were suddenly concentrated be- hind my lines at Williamsburg after dark on the evening of the 5th instant, together with Hunt's and Belger's light batteries.
The infantry, consisting of three white regiments, brig- aded under Col. R. M. West, First Pennsylvania Light
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Artillery, and three colored regiments under Colonel Dun- can, Fourth U. S. Colored Troops, moved thence at nine A. M. on the 6th, carrying on the person six days' rations in the knapsack and 70 rounds of cartridges-40 in the boxes and 30 in the knapsack.
The cavalry, being detachments of five regiments under Col. S. P. Spear, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, moved two hours later. Colonel Spear was directed to arrive at Bottom's Bridge, 12 miles this side of Richmond, by 3 A. M. of the 7th, surprise it, and move on rapidly to Rich- mond.
A picked company under Captain Hill, First New York Mounted Rifles, with selected horses, was placed in advance to ride down the three pickets-at New Kent, Baltimore Cross-Roads, and at the bridge. Arrange- ments had been previously made to have the telegraph wire between Meadow station and Richmond cut between dark and midnight of the 6th. By these means it was hoped to surprise the enemy's battery, No. 2, on the Bot- tom's Bridge road near Richmond, and occupy Capitol Square, in that city, for at least two or three hours ; de- tachments previously detailed and carefully instructed, breaking successively from the main column, on entering, for various specific purposes. Of course the success of the enterprise was based upon the sudden and noiseless surprise of the strong picket at Bottom's Bridge, without which it would be impossible for cavalry alone to pass Battery No. 2. Colonel Spear failed to capture the pickets at Baltimore Cross-Roads, owing to the excessive dark-
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ness of the night, which unfortunately proved to be cloudy and rainy. He reached Bottom's Bridge, a dis- tance of 51 miles, ten minutes before the time designated, but found the enemy there in strong force, with infantry. cavalry, and artillery. They had received notice some sixteen hours previously, as appeared from the testimony of various persons in the vicinity, including women, chil- dren, and negroes (separately examined), of the arrival near Williamsburg of accessions to our usual force, and had, during that time been vigorously making prepara- tions. The bridge planks had been taken up. the fords both above and below effectually obstructed, extensive earth-works and rifle-pits constructed, and a strong force of troops brought down by the York River Railroad. by which large accessions were still arriving.
The darkness prevented an attack till morning, when a detachment of the New York Mounted Rifles, under Major Wheelan, made a gallant but unsuccessful charge on the bridge by the only approach-a long causeway flanked on either hand by an impassable marsh. The enemy opened with canister, first checking and then repuls- ing the charge, with a loss to us of 9 killed and wounded and I0 horses killed. All our men were subsequently brought off, as well as the saddles and equipments. The river was reconnoitered both above and below, for some miles, but at every possible crossing the enemy was found in force with newly placed obstructions. Three regiments of infantry were plainly seen, besides other infantry. which fired from the woods, where their numbers could
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not be ascertained. Four batteries of field artillery were counted, and at least one heavy gun was in position, its shot reaching the bluff on this side and falling far in our rear.
Our infantry had marched on the 6th 33 miles, arriv- ing at New Kent Court-House at 2 A. M. on the 7th. After a halt of three hours I moved on with them rapidly as possible toward the firing at the bridge, which was plainly audible. At II A. M., knowing from the con- tinued firing ahead that Colonel Spear had not succeeded in effecting a passage, and that even if now effected, our object of surprising the city must, necessarily, be de- feated, I sent him orders to retire, but kept pushing on to his support, lest his condition might be worse than I sup- posed. The infantry had arrived within 7 miles of the bridge when it met the head of his returning column, and, after hearing from him the full state of the case, I reluct- antly felt obliged to retire my whole force, not feeling authorized to incur the loss necessary to force the posi- tion without any longer an ulterior object to justify it. The cavalry was suffered to pass ahead, except about 300 men of the Third New York Cavalry, under Lieutenant- Colonel Lewis, retained for rear guard.
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