USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 29
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
In May. 1862, the rebel General Thomas J. Jackson, familiarly known as "Stonewall," with a large body of men, made a sudden raid upon the valley of the Shenandoah, and threatened the safety of Washington. A telegram to the governor of Rhode Island, calling for the immediate forwarding to the national capital of all the avail- able troops in the state was received by Governor Sprague at mid- night, and before sunrise measures had been taken to comply with the call. The excitement and enthusiasm were intense. The national guards furnished an ample reserve from which to draw. Volunteers came pouring in with great rapidity, and in two days the Lonsdale National Guards, the Natic National Guards, the Westerly National Guards and the Pawtucket Battalion, four full companies, were re- ported for duty, and left Providence, May 27th, for Washington, as the first detachment of the 9th Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers. The second detachment followed May 29th, thus in four days com- pleting its organization, and commencing its journey to the field of duty.
The 9th Regiment was organized by Colonel Charles T. Robbins, who accompanied it to Washington. It was subsequently placed un- der the command of Colonel John T. Pitman, whose commission bore date July 3d, 1862. July 1st the regiment crossed the Potomac into Virginia, and encamped near Fairfax Seminary. At the end of two days it returned by water to Washington, and going out across the eastern branch of the Potomac, it relieved the 99th Pennsylva- nia Volunteers, who joined the army of General Mcclellan on the Peninsula. For the remainder of its term of service it performed garrison duty, its headquarters being at Fort Baker. At the expira- tion of the term of enlistment, the regiment returned home. It reached Providence in the steamer " Bay State," August 31st, and was escorted by the 10th Regiment through the various streets to Ex- change place, where it was dismissed. With one exception, the com- panies belonged to other towns, and left the city in the earliest trains for their respective homes.
The 10th Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers was principally drawn from the companies in Providence, belonging to the " National Guards," previously organized for state defense, or for any other emergency. These companies were the First .Ward Light Guards, First Ward Drill Corps, Second Ward National Guards, What Cheer Guards, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Ward National Guards, and the Burnside Zouaves, organized and drilled respectively under Captains A. Crawford Greene, Benjamin W. Harris, Charles H. Dun- ham, William M. Hale, Elisha Dyer, William E. Taber, Hopkins B. Cady, Theodore Winn and Christopher Duckworth. The call had been partially anticipated and provided for in advance. At a meet- ing of the officers of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment National Guards. ex-Governor Elisha Dyer presiding, Colonel James Shaw, Jr., was re-
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quested to offer to the governor the service of the regiment as then officered and organized, in response to the call he made May 23d. The offer was accepted. May 25th, at midnight, the despatch an- nouncing the defeat of General Banks, and calling for troops, was received: at 1 o'clock A.M., May 26th, the executive issued an order to immediately organize the National Guards for active duty; at 9 o'clock A.M., the companies met at their respective armorics; at 7 o'clock P.M., of the same day, 613 men were reported to the governor as ready to march; and on the following day (27th) the regiment, 1in- der the command of Colonel Zenas R. Bliss, left Providence for Wash- ington, where it arrived on the 29th, and took quarters for the night in the barracks near the depot. The next morning it marched to Tennallytown, and pitched its tents at "Camp Frieze," in the midst of a drenching rain. Officers had been left in Providence to recruit additional men for both the 9th and 10th Regiments, who completed their work in two days, and May 29th a second detachment for each regiment was sent forward.
The regiment was assigned to the brigade commanded by General Sturgis, and on the 29th of May was mustered into the service of the United States. The usual routine of camp life now commenced, with its daily drills and details for guard and picket duty. June 26th it passed into Virginia and encamped near Fort Ward, in the vicinity of Fairfax Seminary. Here it remained until the 30th, when in obe- dience to orders, it embarked at Alexandria for Washington, marched thence to Tennallytown and bivouacked for the night, and July 1st was distributed among the several forts, as follows: Company B, Cap- tain Elisha Dyer, and Company K, Captain G. Frank Low, Fort Penn- sylvania; Company D, Captain William S. Smith, Fort De Russey; Company A, Captain William E. Taber, Jr., Fort Franklin; Company E, Captain Hopkins B. Cady, and Company I, Captain William M. Hale, Fort Alexander; Company H, Captain Christopher Duckworth, Battery Vermont and Martin Scott; Company C, Captain Jeremiah Vose, Fort Cameron; Company G, Captain A. Crawford Greene, Fort Gaines. This chain of forts extended over a space of six or eight miles, commanding the Potomac at Chain Bridge, and all the roads leading to Harper's Ferry and Rockville.
August 6th, Colonel Bliss issued a farewell order to the regiment, and returned to Providence to take command of the 7th Regiment. On his departure, Lieutenant Colonel Shaw assumed command, and was commissioned colonel August 11th. At the same date, Captain William M. Hale was promoted to be lieutenant colonel. Colonel Shaw was a valuable officer, energetic in executive duties, an excel- lent disciplinarian, and ever watchful for the rights and comfort of his command. December 31st, 1862, he was commissioned lieuten- ant colonel in the 12th Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, and served before Fredericksburg and also in the Tennessee campaign.
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under General Burnside. Subsequently he was commissioned colo- nel in a Maryland colored regiment, and served with distinction in the second Peninsula campaign. The term of service having expired. the regiment was relieved by the 113th New York Volunteers, and August 25th started for home, accompanied by the 10th Battery R. I. Light Artillery. It proceeded through Baltimore, Harrisburg and Easton, to Elizabethport, where it embarked on board a steamer, and arrived in Providence on the morning of the 28th. It returned to Providence with 674 men, 25 reported as unfit for duty, and three left behind in hospitals, sick. During the term of service two died, and their remains were brought home. The regiment was mustered out of service September 1st.
On the 22d day of May, 1862, a general order was issued to enlist and organize the 7th Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, to serve during the war. "Camp Bliss " was established in South Providence for drill and for the formation of soldierly habits preparatory to the fatigues of the march and the conflict of the field. Welcome B. Sayles, Esq., of Providence, having been commissioned lieutenant colonel, engaged energetically in the work of enlistment, but which, owing to unfavorable circumstances, proceeded slower than in pre- ceding regiments. By the unwearied diligence of officers and agents, the regiment had, early in September, nearly reached its maximum number. September 10th it broke camp, and under the command of Colonel Zenas R. Bliss, an accomplished officer, proceeded to Wash- ington, where it arrived on the 12th. It was soon called to the front at Fredericksburg, Va., and engaged there in the hard fought battle of December 13th. Throughout that sanguinary day the regiment exhibited the most unflinching bravery, and after expending all its ammunition, besides that procured from the dead and wounded, and from other regiments, it remained on the field with fixed bayonets until ordered off at 73 o'clock in the evening. In this battle the regi- ment suffered severely-140 killed and wounded being reported. Lieutenant Colonel Sayles was instantly killed by the fragment of a shell. Major Jacob Babbitt was mortally wounded. Adjutant Charles F. Page, Captains Rowland G. Rodman, James H. Reming- ton and Lewis Leavens; Lieutenants George A. Wilbur and David R. Kenyon, and Sergeant Major Joseph S. Manchester, were severely wounded. Colonel Bliss had several narrow escapes. The remains of Lieutenant Colonel Sayles were brought to Providence, and after lying in state in the Representatives' Hall, under a spacious marquee, formed of mourning drapery, were entombed December 20th in Grace Church Cemetery, with Masonic and state military honors. The deceased was 50 years of age when he fell. He was a native of Bellingham, Mass., and possessed uncommon executive ability. He was for eight years postmaster in Providence, was one of the foun- ders, and for several years chief editor of the Providence Post, and had
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long been a conspicuous leader in the democratic party of Rhode Island.
After the Fredericksburg battle the regiment remained at its old camp near Falmouth, suffering much from sickness and death, until February 9th, 1863, when with its corps it proceeded to Newport News. From Newport News the regiment proceeded to Kentucky with the Ninth Army Corps, under General Burnside, who had been assigned to the "Department of the Ohio." It reached Lexington March 31st, and at different dates, until June 1st, 1863, was at Winchester, Richmond, Paint Lick, Lancaster and Crab Orchard. From Kentucky it proceeded to join the army of the Tennessee in front of Vicksburg, Mississippi. It embarked at Cincinnati on steam- boats and disembarked at Sherman's Landing. On the 15th of June it made an effort to join General Grant's army, in the rear of Vicks- burg, but before accomplishing that design, was ordered to Snyder's Bluff, on the Yazoo river, to assist in defending Grant from an attack by Johnston. On the surrender of Vicksburg the regiment was joined with other troops in pursuit of the retreating Johnston. July 10th it reached Jackson, where a large amount of the rebel president's private correspondence was discovered and seized as a trophy of war. July 20th the regiment left Jackson, and on the 24th arrived at Snyder's Bluff, where the campaign of the Mississippi ended. Angust Sth the brigade embarked on steamboats for Cairo, and soon ran aground in the Yazoo river. In attempting to get off, the boat con- taining the 7th Rhode Island broke her rudder, and was detained until the afternoon of the 10th. Many of the men were taken sick with the Yazoo fever, and during the trip up the Mississippi three died and were buried on the shore. August 20th the troops arrived at Cincinnati, and proceeded to Nicholasville, Ky. Including the two killed at Jackson, there was a loss of 35 by death to October 1st, besides many subsequently discharged or transferred to the Invalid Corps. On the 7th of September the regiment was ordered to join the army of General Burnside in Tennessee; but on representation of its condition, it was sent to Lexington, Ky., to do provost duty.
On the 2d of April, 1864, the regiment set out on its return to the Army of the Potomac. It proceeded by the way of Cincinnati, where it took the cars for Annapolis, Md. The regiment left Annapolis for Alexandria, Va., April 23d, and passing through Washington en- camped on Arlington Heights on the 25th. April 27th it marched to Fairfax Court House, and the next day departed for the south bank of the North Anna river.
May 4th the regiment moved with the 9th Corps from Bristoe Station, Va., toward the Rappahannock. On the 5th it was detached from its brigade to guard trains, but rejoined it in time to share in the bloody struggles around Spottsylvania Court House. On the 10th it lost one man wounded. On the 12th it occupied and held a posi-
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tion from which two large regiments had been driven. In the battle of this day Lieutenant Darius I. Cole was killed. On the 18th the regiment held a position in front of the Union lines for six hours, exposed to a raking fire from a battery in close proximity. During six days it lost 62 in killed and wounded. All the way to Cold Har- bor, from May 19th to June, hard marching and hard fighting was its daily experience. In a bloody charge on the 3d of June, nearly one-third of the regiment went down. At Cold Harbor, from the 6th to the 12th, two lines of works were built, and skirmishing was most of the time going on. On the 14th the Chickahominy river was crossed, on the 15th the James river, and in the afternoon of the 16th the regiment formed a line and dug pits in front of the enemy's works around Petersburg. While here its decimated ranks were replenished by the re-enlisted veterans and the recruits of the 4th Rhode Island, which (October 21st) became consolidated with it. From the opening of the campaign to May 18th, Captain Theodore Winn commanded the regiment, and Captain Alfred M. Channel from June 15th to 17th; after which Captain Percy Daniels took com- mand, and June 29th was commissioned lieutenant colonel. After the explosion of the mine before Petersburg, July 30th, on which occasion he led a brigade of another corps (his own regiment acting as engineers), he was breveted colonel for gallantry and general good conduct. In this battle he received three bullets through his clothes, and on several other occasions was touched by rebel lead, though never seriously wounded.
On the 28th of September the regiment took part in an engage- ment near the Weldon railroad.
From the last of November, 1864, until the fall of Petersburg, the regiment formed a part of the garrison of Fort Sedgwick, generally known as " Fort Hell," from its exposed position, on the Jerusalem plank road, and a part of the time Colonel Daniels was in command of the fort. In the action of April 2d, 1865, the regiment, though in garrison, was under a heavy artillery fire much of the day, and was engaged most of the forenoon, one or two companies at a time, in carrying ammunition to our troops in the captured works. The casu- alties of this day were Major Peleg E. Peckham, Captain Edwin L. Hunt, Lieutenant Albert A. Bolles and 11 privates wounded. The wound of Major Peckham proved fatal .. On the receipt of the news of President Lincoln's assassination, it moved with the corps for Washington, and arrived at Alexandria April 28th, where it was mus- tered out of service on the 9th of June following. By general orders. the names of the following battles, in which the regiment had borne a meritorious part, were directed to be inscribed on its colors: Fred- ericksburg, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Hatchers Run.
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The regiment set out immediately for Providence, where it arrived in the steamer "Oceanus," from New York, Tuesday morning. June 13th, accompanied by the 35th Massachusetts Volunteers en route for home. The regiment returned with 350 enlisted men and 20 officers. In marching by the residence of General Burnside, the men cheered their old and beloved commander in the most enthusiastic manner, which touching demonstration of affection he gracefully acknow- ledged. June 21st, Colonel Daniels issued a spirited farewell order, and the 7th Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, with its record of gallant deeds, passed into history.
There remained still in the field Companies B, D and G of the re- enlisted veterans of the 4th Rhode Island, and the recruits belonging to the Seventh, whose term of service had not expired. These, by special order of the war department, were formed into a battalion of three companies, to be known as "Battalion Seventh Rhode Island Volunteers." This organization was continued until July 13th, 1865, when the battalion was mustered out of service near Alexandria, Va. The men, about 200 in number, returned to Providence under the command of Captain Caleb T. Bowen, with Adjutant George B. Cos- tello and Surgeon C. G. Corey. The other commissioned officers were Captain Daniel S. Remington and Lieutenant A. R. Collins, Company B; Captain Winthrop A. Moore and Lieutenant Merchant Weeden, Company D; Lieutenant C. Goffe. Company G. The batta- lion reached Providence at 3 o'clock Wednesday morning, July 17th, and was refreshed with a bountiful breakfast, prepared by direction of Captain Crandall.
When the president of the United States, on the 4th of August, 1862, issued a call for 300,000 men to serve for a period of nine months, the people of Rhode Island responded promptly and with great unanimity. Two regiments were to be raised, the 11th and the 12th. "Camp Stevens" was established on the Dexter Training Ground in Providence, for the reception of recruits, and the charge of organizing the 11th was assigned to Captain A. C. Eddy. Eight hundred men, including two companies raised through the exertions of the Providence Young Men's Christian Association, were enlisted in this city; 200 were sent by North Providence, Smithfield, Paw- ticket and Central Falls; and on the 23d of September the ranks were filled. Colonel Edwin Metcalf was appointed to the command. From the ladies of Providence the regiment received a national flag bearing its name, and the motto, " God and the Constitution." Octo- ber 1st it was mustered into service, on the 4th it performed escort duty at the funeral ceremonies of General Isaac P. Rodman, in Provi- dence, and on the evening of the 6th broke camp and departed for Washington, where it arrived on the evening of the 8th, and spent the night in the barracks near the depot. The next day it encamped on East Capitol hill, and the following Saturday marched across Chain
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Bridge to near Fort Ethan Allen, and the next day made its second camp about a mile from that fortification. After a little more than a week spent there, the regiment proceeded to Miner's hill, where it established a camp. Drills, parades and picket duties now made up the daily routine of regimental life, all tending to toughen the men for the more serious work of the front, which they fioped to see. Once only were they called to answer to the long roll, when a midnight march to Mills' Cross Roads, accompanied by two regiments of the brigade, proved that the rebel cavalry whose approach had caused the alarm were not disposed at that time to measure strength. Colonel Metcalf having been appointed to the command of the 3d Regiment of Heavy Artillery at Hilton Head, S. C., left in November for that field of duty, with the sincere regret of the regiment, devolving its command on Lieutenant Colonel John T. Pitman, who, during the entire nine months' service, won to a rare degree the respect and confidence of the men.
The desire to enter at an early day upon the active duties of a campaign was not to be gratified, and in place thereof the regiment, January 14th, 1863, was assigned as a guard to the "Convalescent Camp," midway between Washington and Alexandria. Spring wore on without much incident until April 15th, when the regiment pro- ceeded to Alexandria, embarked on board the "Hero," and sailed for Norfolk, Va., where it landed, and after a few hours delay took a train for Suffolk. This was an agreeable change, and gave promise of life more in accordance with military aspirations.
At Suffolk the 11th was annexed to the brigade of General Terry, who commanded the western front of the defenses. By an order of Colonel Church, the encampment received the name of "Camp Perry," in compliment to the regimental surgeon. It marched to the " Deserted House " on the South Quay road, and remained until the evening of the 20th, when being attached to the 3d Brigade, Colonel Farrar, 26th Michigan, commanding, it joined the division under command of General Corcoran, and marched to Windsor, where it encamped until the 22d, when it marched to the extreme front, three miles from Blackwater Bridge, throwing Company F as pickets one mile to the front, who were soon engaged by the enemy, and a brisk skirmish ensued which lasted until dark. On the afternoon of the 23d, Companies C. K and E, picketing the front, were attacked by six companies from a Mississippi regiment deployed as skirmishers. Company B was sent forward as a support, but soon deployed as skirmishers. The firing continued for some hours, the enemy being driven steadily back, leaving their dead on the field. Several pris- oners were captured. Obeying orders to fall back to Windsor, the picket companies acted as a rear guard. On this expedition the regi- ment was absent cleven days.
June 12th the regiment with a large force of infantry, cavalry and
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artillery, under command of Brigadier General Corcoran, started on an expedition toward the Blackwater, and returned on the 18th, hav- ing suffered much from heat and excessive marching. Several times during the expedition it was in line of battle, but it was not called into action. June 19th, it left Suffolk and proceeded to Norfolk, where it embarked on board the steamer " Maple Leaf," and was con- veyed to Yorktown. On the 22d, in company with many other regi- ments, the march was continued to Williamsburg, where the 11th was distributed among the forts and redoubts defending that place. June 30th, the regiment was relieved from duty in the fortifications, retraced its steps to Yorktown, and reached its camp on the morning of July 1st. The term of service having expired, it embarked on board the propeller "John Rice," for home July 2d, and reached Providence at noon on Monday the 6th, with 838 men and 38 officers, leaving 55 men in hospital, and 1 commissioned officer and 3 privates on detached service. During the nine months' absence, 7 deaths occurred.
Nearly simultaneously with the organizing of the 11th Regiment the 12th commenced. Honorable George H. Browne was appointed its colonel, his commission bearing date September 18th, 1862. He immediately established his headquarters at " Camp Stevens," on the Dexter Training Ground, in close proximity to the 11th, and under his energetic action enlistments rapidly progressed. In less than four weeks the work was accomplished, and on the 13th of October the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States. On arriving at Washington the regiment passed over the Potomac to "Camp Chase," in the neighborhood of Arlington Heights, but be- fore completing the work of tent pitching, was assailed by a violent storm of wind and rain, which raged two days and nights as a prelude of discomforts soon to follow. Here it was brigaded in General Casey's division of the army of the defenses of Washington, and re- ceived for its arms the old Springfield smooth bores. Soon after, the regiment proceeded to Fairfax Seminary, and established a camp, devoted the time to drills and picket duty until December 1st, when the line of march was taken up for the front at Fredericksburg, Va., where an important blow was soon to be struck.
The regiment remained at Acquia Landing for three days, when with the brigade it marched to Fredericksburg. It arrived at Fal- mouth on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 10th, and was, there brigaded with the 7th in the First brigade, General Nagle, Sec- ond division, General Sturgis, of the Ninth Army Corps, General French, General Sumner's grand division. Here the regiment lay all night on its arms, ready to march at a moment's notice. The next morning it was ordered out, and forming in line toward Fredericks- burg, remained in that position all day. About 5 o'clock P. M., it was ordered back, and unsheltered passed another night, reposing on its
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arms. On the morning of the 12th it crossed the river to Fredericks- burg, where it passed the night, and early in the morning of the 13th formed in line of battle and marched to the front, where the fighting had already begun. In reaching the field of action the regi- ment was obliged to cross a deep eut, where it experienced a heavy enfilading fire from the enemy, which, had it been directed with as much accuracy as vigor. must have told severely on its ranks. To . descend into the cut was easy enough, but to ascend the opposite bank was nearly impossible, and forming in line in the bottom of the cut, under a perfect storm of canister and grape, Colonel Browne marched his men by the flank down to its intersection with the rail- road to the place where the right wing crossed. There forming in line they pushed up, and Lieutenant Abbott planted the regimental colors on the extreme front of the Union line.
The regiment occupied one of the hottest positions on the field, and doggedly held its ground until evening, when, having fired away all its ammunition, and the other regiments retiring, it filed into the rear of the retreating column and returned to the position it occupied in Fredericksburg the night before. Roll call showed 109 killed and wounded, besides 95 missing, many of whom afterward came in. The regiment remained two days in Fredericksburg, and on Monday night. December 15th, recrossed the river and went into camp.
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