USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 27
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The charter government was in session at Newport at this time, and measures were instituted to prepare for resisting the "people's " government. Military companies drilled and were armed and equip- ped for active service. Mr. Dorr went to Washington and laid his case before the president and heads of departments, but without meet- ing any encouragement. In New York, however, he was assured of friendly regard and help to withstand the national forces in case the executive should send them against him. Also on his return to Prov- idence he was received with many assurances of support in maintain- ing what he considered the cause of the people and of justice. Mean- while some arrests had been made of some of the members of his legislature, and others resigned. The state arsenal was an important object of possession. It was now in the keeping of a strong guard under the charter government. On the 17th of May, "Governor" Dorr issued orders to the military of the several towns to repair forth- with to headquarters and await further orders. The order was im-
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perfectly responded to, and this so disheartened those who did come that many returned before night. When at one o'clock the next morning the signal was given for an attack on the arsenal only about 250 men were on hand ready to move forward. This command, armed with muskets and two pieces of artillery, took position in front of the arsenal, and Mr. Dorr demanded its surrender. The summons was returned with an indignant refusal. The night was extremely dark, and the pieces of artillery were found to be defective, whereupon the force moved back to headquarters without firing a gun. In the morn- ing several companies of militia were marched to Dorr's headquar- ters, which were found to be deserted. It was evident that Mr. Dorr had miscalculated the stability of the professed adherents of the "people's" constitution. The strength of the charter government, with the means in its hands, and fears of what consequences might follow, effectually prevented many from taking any hand in the mat- ter, even though at heart they may have sympathized with the prin- ciples represented by Mr. Dorr.
On the Sth of June, 1842, Governor King issued a proclamation, offering $1,000 reward for the delivery of Thomas Wilson Dorr to the proper civil authorities of this state. Soon after "Governor " Dorr issued a proclamation calling the general assembly to meet at Glocester, instead of Providence, as its adjournment required. On the same day the charter general assembly, at Newport, declared the state under martial law. Also on the same day Mr. Dorr, from his headquarters at Glocester, issued a proclamation calling on the mili- tary of the state who were in favor of the people's constitution to repair forthwith to headquarters. Before this time troops had been sent forward by President Tyler, also arms and ammunition, which were held in reserve at the forts on Rhode Island for any emergency. The only newspaper that had espoused the cause of the "suffrage" party was the Daily Express of Providence, and when the state was declared under martial law the office of that paper was entered by a band of men who commanded the publishers to leave the building, while a mob in the street threatened to destroy the building. Under the supposed protection of the martial law edict many acts of wanton violence were committed in different parts of the state, and at least one man was killed. Considerable property was also destroyed or stolen by those who professed to be employed in the interest of the government. The streets of Providence were guarded by state troops. It was evident that the " people's " legislature could not be convened here, so the quiet village of Chepachet, some 16 miles away to the northwest, was chosen. Here some days before Dorr's proclamations a party of his friends had begun some fortifications on Acote's hill, and it was determined to make an attempt to defend the place and the legislature that was expected to meet there. Meanwhile Gov- ernor King concentrated the forces at his command in Providence,
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until it was estimated there were some three or four thousand armed men, with fifteen or twenty pieces of artillery in the city. Seeing the hopelessness of his cause, Mr. Dorr, on the 27th of June, dismissed his forces, and the fortifications were abandoned. This was late in the afternoon. On the morning of the 28th, at about 7 o'clock, an armed force from Providence arrived, under command of Colonel Brown, and took possession of the vacated earthworks, also capturing about 100 prisoners, the most of whom they met on different roads as they were returning to their homes These prisoners were tied to- gether with ropes and forced to walk to Providence, where they were confined in close prisons for several weeks, and otherwise treated in a very inhuman manner. Martial law was maintained until the 8th of August, when it was temporarily suspended, and on the 1st of September raised altogether. Then followed a long series of investi- gations and trials for treason, of those who had taken part in defend- ing the " people's" constitution.
But the sentiment in favor of a constitution was destined to live and grow. The general assembly called for the election of delegates on the 8th of August, to meet in convention to frame a constitution. The constitution thus framed was voted upon during the three days beginning November 21st, 1842. The result showed 7,024 in favor, and 51 against it. The legislature thereupon declared the constitu- tion adopted, and government was organized under it.
The population of Providence in 1845 was 31,753; of which 1,476 were colored. The expenses of the city government for the year ending in June, 1847, were in total, $117,156.82; being an excess of about $5,000 over the receipts for the same time. At that time the Providence & Boston railroad, from India Point, was in operation, as also the Providence & Stonington railroad. Other points were reached by numerous stage lines. These started from the Manufac- turers' Hotel, the Weybosset House, the Washington Hotel, the National House, or the American House. Some of them ran daily, others tri-weekly. The city was largely interested in manufactures, particulars of which, as well as particulars of other departments of the growth and energy of the city will be found under topical heads in other chapters of this book. The general history of the city is but a continuous run of successful and healthy development and growth. The continuous progress of that growth was not stopped even by the four years of civil war which tried the metal of the country during the years 1861 to 1865. A special chapter will be given to that subject. For the growth of the city in any particular direction the reader is referred to the chapter devoted to the particu- lar subject desired.
CHAPTER VIII.
PROVIDENCE CITY DURING THE REBELLION.
Opening of the Rebellion .- Recruiting .- Establishment of Camps .- First Regiment R. I. Detached Militia .- General Burnside .- Second R. I. Volunteers .- Fourth R. I. Volunteers .- Ninth R. I. Volunteers .- Tenth R. I. Volunteers .- Seventh R. I. Vol- unteers .- Eleventh R. I. Volunteers .- Twelfth R. I. Volunteers .- Hospital Guards. -First R. I. Cavalry .- Seventh Squadron R. I. Cavalry .- Second R. I. Cavalry .- Third R. I. Cavalry .- Third R. I. Heavy Artillery .- Fifth R. I. Heavy Artillery .- Fourteenth R. I. Heavy Artillery .- First Light Battery R. I. Volunteers .- Tenth Light Battery R. I. Volunteers .- First R. I. Light Artillery .- Batteries A, B, C. D, E, F, G and H .- Close of the War .- The City Prosperous .- Return of the Soldiers. -Soldiers and Sailors' Monument .- Dedication Ceremonies .- Mrs. Whitman's Hymn.
T O go over the causes and development of the war of the rebellion of 1861-5 would be a recital of what belongs to the history of the nation in general rather than that of a single city in par- ticular. The citizens of Providence were true to the traditions of their fathers. In common with the people of other parts of the state they shared in the most hearty sympathy with the cause of the Union. They were ready at the first call to furnish all the men and means for carrying on the war that were reasonably expected of them. The patriotic sentiments of the people were expressed in banner raising and meetings to discuss the situation, in enlistments for the service, and in preparing a thousand comforts for those who went to the front, as well as in voting the necessary money to sustain the work. Manufactories of fire-arms were established, and the city was in a feverish state of activity with the various preparations for carrying on the war.
On the 12th day of April. 1861, rebellion against the government of the United States assumed a positive form by the bombardment of Fort Sumter, then occupied by a single company, under the command of Major Robert Anderson, who bravely maintained his position upwards of 30 hours, when, overpowered by raging flames within the fort, and an overwhelming assaulting force, he was compelled to sur- render. On the 15th of the same month the president of the United States made a call upon the states for 75,000 men, to serve three months in suppressing this outbreak of treason; and on the day fol- lowing, in response to this call, an order was issued by Governor Sprague for an immediate organization of the 1st Regiment. Great
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activity prevailed in the adjutant-general's and quartermaster-gen- eral's departments, and among our citizens generally, and in a few days the organization was completed. The regiment proceeded to Washington in two detachments; the first, under Colonel Ambrose E. Burnside, leaving Providence April 20th, and the second, under Lieutenant Colonel Joseph S. Pitman, on the 24th.
Both detachments left their encampment in Providence with the warm benedictions of the immense throngs that lined the streets and crowded the wharves and shipping to witness their departure. On arriving in Washington quarters were provided for a short time at the Patent Office, and subsequently the regiment was established at Camp Sprague, a beautiful grove, with ample parade ground, in the vicinity of the city, where the time was devoted to improvement in discipline and drill. On the 9th of June a company of carbineers, to aet as skirmishers, consisting of 73 privates, was organized, of which Francis W. Goddard was commissioned captain. The other officers were Walter B. Manton, lieutenant, and Sergeants John B. Campbell, George O. Gorton, Robert H. Deming, Louis T. Hall and Peleg E. Bryant. They 'were armed with Burnside rifles and drilled by Lieu- tenant Henry T. Sisson, paymaster of the regiment. Previous to their organization as a separate corps they were drilled by Lieutenant Charles E. Patterson, of the 4th U. S. Infantry. James Allen, of the Light Battery, and William H. Helme, of Company C, were author- ized to act as æronauts in connection with the movements of the regi- ment. An accident to their two balloons frustrated their plans for aerial reconnoissances.
The interest in the regiment by friends at home did not expend itself in impassioned farewells at its departure, but followed it through its entire absence, and almost daily packages and boxes were received in camp as tokens of kindly remembrance. A cargo of ice, the gift of 44 citizens and firms in Providence, was sent in May to the regiment by the schooner "Sea Gull." Captain Howland, Messrs. Earl Carpenter & Sons and the Providence Ice Company being among the principal contributors. The vessel arrived at Wash- ington May 27th, and the welcome contribution was gratefully acknowledged by Colonel Burnside in behalf of the regiment, as was also a donation of 500 copies of the New Testament and Psalms from the Rhode Island Bible Society, and numerous other gifts from gen- erous friends. The enterprise was inaugurated by Mr. John Ken- drick, and carried forward to its final success by the persistent labors of himself and Mr. Earl C. Potter. They, with twelve other gentle- men, accompanied the vessel as a guard, and rendered efficient aid in the distribution of the cargo. They were Reverend S. W. Field, E. L. Wolcott, L. T. Downes, A. E. Bradley, E. S. Allen, J. A. Winsor, O. W. Frieze, J. A. Howland, H. S. Harris and H. J. Smith, of Provi- dence; P. W. Lippitt, of Woonsocket, and William Town, of Paw- ticket.
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On the 10th of June, the regiment marched on an expedition toward Harper's Ferry, preceded the day before by the battery attached to it, to join other forces under General Patterson, for the purpose of dislodging the rebels under General Joseph E. Johnston, then holding that place. The expedition was accompanied to Green- castle by ex-Governor Dyer, of Providence, who rendered timely and efficient service. The regiment was here joined by Governor Sprague, accompanied by his aid-de-camp, Colonel John A. Gardner. It advanced to Williamsport, in the state of Maryland, but the evacu- ation of Harper's Ferry by General Johnston rendered the further prosecution of the campaign unnecessary, and in obedience to orders received from Washington. the regiment returned to that city, and on the 20th of June was established once more at Camp Sprague. The excessive heat and clouds of dust rendered the marching on this expedition exceedingly fatiguing, but the discomforts were borne with cheerfulness. It was on this occasion that the regiment made a march of 33 miles in a single day, and " in half an hour from the time the head of the column arrived at the encampment, every straggler had found his proper place in his company bivouac."
On the 21st, the contending forces met at Bull Run, and fought the first bloody battle of the war. It was honorable to the patriotism of the First Rhode Island, that, notwithstanding but a few days of its term of service remained, officers and men marched to the field with the same alacrity that they first answered to the call of their country. The enlarged command of Colonel Burnside, and the ab- sence of Lieutenant Colonel Pitman on detached duty at Providence. devolved the command of the regiment on Major Joseph P. Balch. In the order of battle, the regiment was intended to be held as a re- , serve, but in the exigencies of the fight it gallantly moved to the front and dealt back with vigor the heavy blows that fell so fatally upon many of its own members. Through the entire battle, which terminated so disastrously to the Union arms, and covered with a dark cloud the bright hopes with which the whole army had been inspired, the regiment was found promptly wherever most needed, and amidst all the panic of defeat, and the confusion of retreat, which demoralized so many of the regiments, the 1st Rhode Island main- tained a soldierly calmness and preserved its ranks unbroken until it reached once more the camp from which it went out with buoyant spirits a few days before. In the perils of this battle Governor Sprague shared, having attached himself to Burnside's brigade as a volunteer. He was present in the thickest of the fight, and had a horse shot from under him. Chaplain Augustus Woodbury, besides performing with great acceptance the duties of his sacred office, rendered active and valuable service on the field during the battle. as aide to Colonel Burnside. Reverend Thomas Quinn, the Catholic assistant chaplain, was there, encouraging the men by his presence
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and his words. The noble Lieutenant Henry A. Prescott fell, lead- ing on his'men. Surgeon Francis L. Wheaton, having been appointed surgeon in the 2d Regiment R. I. Volunteers, was succeeded by Doctor Henry W. Rivers, who, with his assistant, Doctor George W. Carr. very faithfully attended to the needs of the wounded.
The term of service having expired and Washington being no longer considered in danger, the regiment broke camp and left for home Thursday at midnight, July 25th, and reached Providence Sun- day morning, 28th, bringing the sick and the wounded that did not fall into the hands of the enemy. It was received with military honors, and with a civic welcome that showed how deeply its patri- otic services were appreciated. The regiment was mustered out of the service of the United States and disbanded August 2d, having by brave endurance of fatigue, hardship and peril, and by gallantry upon the battle field. gained the grateful regard of the citizens of the state.
In connection with this sketch of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment we may appropriately give a brief notice of its distinguished com- mander, whose name is so conspicuously and honorably associated with Rhode Island patriotism and history. Colonel Ambrose Everett Burnside was of Scotch descent, and was born at Liberty, Union county, Indiana, May 23d, 1824, and died in 1881. After completing his elementary education, he entered the West Point Military Acad- emy, and graduated with distinction, in the artillery, in 1847. The following year, he received a full second lieutenancy, and was attached to the 3d regiment of artillery. The Mexican war was at this time in active operation, and soon after graduating Lieutenant Burnside joined General Scott. On the proclamation of peace, he was ordered to Fort Adams, Newport, R. I., where he remained until the spring of 1849, when he was ordered to join Bragg, in New Mexico and received the appointment of first lieutenant in the famous battery of that officer. In the new service to which he was called, he gained a reputation for coolness and bravery. Returning from his service in New Mexico, to Newport, he was married April 20th, 1852, to Miss Mary Bishop, of Providence. Soon after, he resigned his commission, and removed to Bristol. R. I., where he engaged in the manufacture of a breech-loading rifle of his own invention. Failing to obtain a government contract which he had reason to expect. and meeting with other embarrassments, he was compelled to give up the business entirely. In 1858 he went to Chicago, and was ap- pointed cashier in the land department of the Illinois Central Rail- road. Subsequently, he was made treasurer of the railroad company. and took up his residence in New York.
While residing in Bristol Colonel Burnside was chosen major general of the Rhode Island State Militia, and by his urbane marreis and soldierly qualities obtained a wide popularity; and when the
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rebellion broke out he was at once selected as the most suitable offi- cer to lead the 1st Rhode Island Regiment to the defense of Wash- ington. The call of Governor Sprague was promptly responded to. Moved by the purest patriotism, he left his business, and in an hour after receiving the despatch notifying him of his appointment, he was on his way to Providence, where he was received with the warm- est enthusiasm. Immediately on his arrival at Washington he was tendered the commission of brigadier general, which, from a sense of duty to his regiment and the state, he declined; but afterward, before the army advanced into Virginia, he was urged to take command of a brigade, including the 1st and 2d Rhode Island Regiments, as already mentioned, which he did. The gallantry and military skill displayed by Colonel Burnside, as commander of the brigade, in the battle of Bull Run, attracted the attention of the general govern- ment, and August 6th, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Besides the acknowledgment of his services by his adopted state, before referred to, Brown University, at its commencement in September, 1861, conferred upon him the degree of master of arts, and the Phi Beta Kappa Society elected him an honorary member of that body.
When, in the autumn of 1861, the North Carolina expedition was projected, General Burnside was placed in command. With character- istic energy he organized the enterprise at Annapolis, Maryland, and early in January, 1862, the expedition set sail for Roanoke island, the stronghold of the rebels in that quarter. On the 7th and Sth of February the battle of Roanoke island was fought and the rebels totally defeated, with the loss of six forts and batteries, 40 cannon, upwards of 2,000 prisoners of war and 3,000 stands of arms. Shortly after Commodore Goldsborough sent a fleet of gunboats up the Pas- quotauk and Chowan rivers, and Elizabeth City, Hertford, Edenton and Plymouth fell into the hands of the Union troops. On the 14th of March Newbern was captured, after a hardly contested battle of four hours. Here the 4th Rhode Island Regiment won laurels by a fierce bayonet charge, which decided the contest. On the 23d of March possession was taken of Morehead City. April 26th, after a bombardment of ten hours, Fort Macon surrendered, and to the 5th Rhode Island Regiment was assigned the honor of taking pos- session.
The successes of General Burnside were received in Rhode Island with the liveliest demonstrations of joy. The general assembly voted him, in testimony of the appreciation of his eminent services, an elegant sword, which was presented to him at Newbern, June 20th, with appropriate ceremonies, in the presence of 16,000 troops. The general continued to operate in North Carolina until the latter part of June, when, for the purpose of co-operating with General Mcclellan, who was about to withdraw from the Peninsula, he set
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out with 7,000 men for Newport News, where he was joined by a division from Hilton Head, under the command of General Isaac I. Stevens, and proceeded to Fredericksburg, to take the place of Gen- eral McDowell, who had been sent to the aid of Pope. After the de- feat of Pope in the second battle of Bull Run, General Burnside, with his Ninth Corps, joined Mcclellan to drive Lee out of Maryland. He entered Frederick City September 12th and was enthusiastically re- ceived. On the 14th he fought the successful battle of South Moun- tain, and on the 17th fought again at Antietam Bridge, beating back the enemy at every point, and crowning the day with one of the most brilliant achievements of the war. On the 7th of November General Burnside succeeded General Mcclellan in the command of the army of the Potomac. On the 13th of December the battle of Fredericks- burg took place, and, though unsuccessful, General Burnside stood acquitted by the words of President Lincoln, who in his address to the army declared that "the attempt was not an error, nor the failure other than an accident." The position of General Burnside was one of great trial and perplexity. But amidst all the vexations and dis- appointments to which he was subjected he bore himself with char- acteristic equanimity. On the 26th of January, 1863, he was, at his own request, relieved from his unsought and undesired position, and was soon after assigned to the command of the Department of the Ohio. During the campaign he gained the battles of Blue Spring and Campbell's Station, and resisted the siege of Knoxville. After retir- ing from the duties of the department he returned to the East.
Early in 1864 General Burnside completed the reorganization of the Ninth Corps, and joined General Grant in the final movement of the army of the Potomac toward Richmond. By a forced march he arrived on the field on the first day of the battle of the Wilderness, in season to strengthen the general. Seeing the advantage of con- solidating the Ninth Corps with the Army of the Potomac, and will- ing to relieve General Grant from an embarrassment in relation to the command, General Burnside generously waived his rank and subordinated himself to General Meade. On the 16th of June the Ninth Corps was in position before Petersburg, and on the following day carried the enemy's works in its front. On the 18th it partici- pated in a still more sanguinary fight. and the line of the corps was pushed to within 100 yards of the rebel defense. The most marked feature of the siege was the mining of the enemy's works. General Burnside's arrangements were judiciously made to insure success, but owing to a reversing of the programme at the last moment by General Meade, and other unavoidable causes which delayed the springing of the mine beyond the appointed time, and the want of sufficient support, after the assaulting force of the Ninth Corps had all been put in, the enterprise failed. Of course, great disappoint- ment was felt, and by no one more keenly than by General Burnside;
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but he had the satisfaction, in the midst of his sorrow, of knowing that no fault justly lay at his door. A military court of inquiry, composed of officers personally interested in the results of an inves- tigation, did indeed censure him for not doing what the testimony shows to have been an impossible thing; but the congressional com- mittee on the conduct of the war, after a careful examination of the subject, exonerated him entirely from blame.
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