USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
241
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Fort Welles. Subsequently Fort Seward at Bay Point, the entrench- ments at Hilton Head, the entrenchments at Beaufort, and Fort Mitchell, on Snell Creek, were garrisoned by detachments from it.
December 17th, 1861, Lieutenant Colonel Blanding, then not in service, was commissioned Major of the 3d Rhode Island Volunteers, and for some time superintended recruiting for the regiment. On the 19th of February, 1862, he proceeded with 225 men to Hilton Head, where he arrived March 23d, having experienced a severe gale on the passage from New York. Immediately on his arrival, he was assigned to important and laborious duties. February 17th, 1862, by general order, the name of the regiment was changed to "3d Rhode Island Heavy Artillery," with authority to increase it to 12 companies of 150 men each. In the bombardment of Fort Pulaski. April 10th and 11th, companies B, F and H assisted, and after the capture of the fort Company G formed a part of its garrison.
In the movement on Charleston in June, 1862, by way of John and James islands, companies B, E, F, H, I, K and one section of C (mounted) were included. On the 16th of June the battle of Seces- sionville, on James island, took place, in which five companies, B, E, F, H and K, commanded by Major Edwin Metcalf, participated. Leading the brigade, companies B, F and K were employed as skir- mishers, under the command of Major Sisson. The fire of the enemy was very severe, and the Union loss was 7 killed, 30 wounded, and 8 missing.
In October, 1862, the battle of Pocotaligo Bridge was fought. Company M assisted in transporting and working two boat howitzers. Companies E, K and L formed a part of the force, but were not en- gaged. In this action Lieutenant Jabez B. Balding was badly wounded in the left arm. April 2d. 1863, companies B, D, F, I, K, L and M, sailed for Stone Inlet, to take part in the second movement on Charleston, but returned to Hilton Head on the 12th. In an ex- pedition up the Combahee June Ist, a section of Battery C, under Captain Brayton, participated, and did the enemy great damage. Companies B, C, D, H, I and M accompanied General Gillmore, in the siege of Charleston, and were assigned to batteries of 20, 30, 100 and 200-pounder Parrott guns on Morris island.
On the 30th of October, 1862, the regiment was called to mourn the death of its commander, Colonel Nathaniel W. Brown. He was a thorough disciplinarian, prompt and decided in action, and ever watchful of the interests of his men. He possessed to perfection one virtue of a soldier- strict temperance; and what he practiced he en- couraged in others. He had a high sense of the value of religion and religious observances, and was much interested in the establishment of religious worship near headquarters at the Post, and was a regular attendant until his sickness. Lieutenant Walter B. Manton, acting quartermaster of the regiment, a valuable and highly esteemed
16
242
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
officer, died of the same disease, October 25th. January 27th, 1863, the remains of Colonel Brown and Lieutenant Manton were brought to Providence, and after funeral services were interred, the former in the North Burial Ground and the latter in Swan Point Cemetery.
Colonel Edwin Metcalf, of the 11th Rhode Island, nine months' volunteers, succeeded Colonel Brown in command of the regiment. His successor was Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Brayton, who was commissioned colonel March 24th, 1864. He continued in command until the expiration of his term of service, October 5th, 1864.
In losses by sickness and death from disease, the 3d Rhode Island shared an experience common to all other troops in the field. The number of men who re-enlisted as veterans was 303. The return of the regiment from the scenes of war was in squads, at different times. On the 24th of August, 1864, three officers and 117 men arrived in Providence, and were mustered out of service on the 31st. They were under the command of Captains Peter J. Turner and Charles G. Strahan. September 30th another detachment, numbering 256, offi- eers and men, under Colonel Charles R. Brayton, arrived by way of New York in the steamer " Electra." June 12th, 1865, Company C, Captain Martin S. James, numbering four officers and 92 enlisted men, arrived home, having been mustered out of service at Rich- mond. August 1st, Company A, Captain William H. Hamner, com- prising five officers and 83 men, arrived at Providence in the steamer "Oceanus." Companies B and D, being all of the regiment not pre- viously discharged, arrived in Providence Monday, September 11th, 1865, under Colonel Ames, having been mustered out of service at Hilton Head August 2d. They came from New York in the steamer "Galatea," numbering nine officers and 170 enlisted men. November 4th, 1865, Major General Q. A. Gillmore, in accordance with the re- quirements of the war department, ordered that the names of the fol- lowing battles should be inscribed on the colors of the regiment, viz .:-- Fort Pulaski, Ga .; Honey Hill, S. C .; Petersburg, Va .; Morris Island, S. C .; Fort Sumter (siege); Pocotaligo, S. C .; Fort Wagner, S. C .: Laurel Hill, Va .; Fort Burnham, Va .; Olustee, Fla .; Deveaux Neck, S. C .; Drury's Bluff, Va .; Secessionville, S. C.
The 5th Rhode Island Volunteers was organized at " Camp Greene " in October, 1861, from which it was transferred to "Camp Slocum," on the Dexter Training Ground, in Providence. In about seven weeks five companies were filled, and on the 27th of December, after being reviewed by Governor Sprague, the battalion departed for Annapolis, Md., to join the expedition to North Carolina. On Thursday, January 9th, 1862, the regiment embarked on board the transport "Kitty Simpson " for Fortress Monroe, and there joined the fleet destined to Hatteras Inlet. On the 7th of February a land- ing was effected and the battle of Roanoke island was fought. In this battle the regiment was brought under a heavy fire, but for-
243
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
tunately suffered no casualty. In the battle of Newbern, March 14th following, it took a conspicuous and gallant part, losing four men killed and seven wounded. In the bombardment of Fort Macon, April 26th, the Fifth took part, and on the surrender was assigned the honor of taking possession. In May, after the fall of Fort Macon, the camp of the Fifth was on Bogue Banks, near by, where it remained until General Burnside was called to the aid of General McClellan on the Peninsula, when it went to Beaufort, where Major Wright, who resigned July 25th, became military commandant, and Lieutenant William W. Douglas was appointed provost marshal of the district. The battalion having attained the proportions of a regi- ment, Colonel Henry T. Sisson, promoted from major of the 3d Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, arrived at Beaufort and took com- mand January 9th, 1863.
Among the military adventures of the Fifth, the raising of the siege of Little Washington, N. C., must ever occupy the most promi- nent place as a hazardous and brilliant achievement. Immediately after the capture of Newbern it was occupied by national forces. Early in April, 1863, information reached Newburn that Major Gen- eral Foster, commanding this department, who had gone to Little Washington to inspect the garrison and defenses there, was closely besieged by the enemy. Colonel Sisson, on Friday, 10th of April, received orders from Brigadier General Palmer to proceed with his command to Little Washington by water. Accordingly, about 1 o'clock P. M., the regiment embarked on board the steamer " Escort," Captain Wall, and started from Newbern, and the next morning ar- rived in Pamlico river and anchored a short distance from Manly Point, ten miles below the city of Little Washington. A blockade which had been erected by the rebels consisted of a triple row of piles extending across the river, with the exception of a passage 100 feet wide and 400 feet from the shore, directly under the guns of the battery. To increase the difficulty in finding the crooked channel. the enemy had removed all the buoys in the river. On Sunday morn- ing, in accordance with orders from General Palmer, the expedition got under way, and slowly approached the opening in the blockade and the Hill's Point battery. A fog had arisen about daybreak, and soon became so dense as to prevent further progress, and the steamer was ordered to return to its anchorage. When the fog lifted the gunboats commenced bombarding the battery at long range, but with no visible effect. Monday morning 50 volunteers from the regiment were sent on shore, under command of Captain William W. Douglas and Lieutenant Dutee Johnson. Their landing was covered by the gunboat " Valley City." and was effected a short distance below Blunt's creek. The reconnaissance was conducted with success and credit to the commanding officers and the men who were engaged in it. They discovered three batteries on the west bank of the creek,
244
IHISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
commanding its passage and preventing approach to Little Washing- ton by land.
At 8 o'clock, on Monday, the " Escort " again weighed anchor and started for Little Washington. The officers and men on duty were placed below by peremptory orders, so as to insure their safety as far as possible. Lieutenant Colonel Tew and Major Jameson re- mained on deck with Colonel Sisson. together with the officers of the day, Captain Henry B. Landers, the officer of the guard, Lieutenant Thomas Allen, and a company of sharpshooters who volunteered for that purpose under command of Captain J. M. Potter.
The pilot steered safely through the passage in the blockade, grazing only once on the piles. Just as he had cleared the obstruc- tions, the battery opened upon the "Escort" a terrible fire from a distance of about 400 yards. The progress was very slow, owing to the shallowness of the water and the extreme crookedness of the channel. The gunboats engaged the battery and distracted their attention somewhat, but did not pass above the blockade. The shots from the enemy, as had been anticipated, were thrown very much at random on account of the darkness, and the " Escort " passed by un- hurt. The enemy at Fort Rodman were prepared to greet the "Escort" warmly, as the previous firing below had warned them of her approach. The channel lay close to the bank, and their guns opened on her at about 300 yards distance. Although they were bet- ter aimed than before, the shots passed harmlessly over, only a few striking the boat and lodging in the hay. The shore was lined with sharpshooters, who fired upon the steamer with no effect except to provoke a few answering shots. Another mile passed at full speed brought the " Escort " to the wharf at Little Washington without in- jury to any one on board. The passage of the blockade with a large unarmed steamer convinced the enemy of its inefficiency; and despair- ing of their attempt to starve out the garrison, they evacuated their works Tuesday night, 14th of April, and left General Foster in undis- puted possession of the post.
Almost immediately on landing at Little Washington, the regiment was assigned positions in the trenches and forts on the right of the line of defense, where it remained until the enemy abandoned the siege as hopeless. April 16th, Lieutenant Colonel Tew, with Compa- nies D, E, G, H and I, was detailed to take possession of Rodman's Point, and on the 22d the residue of the regiment returned to New- bern, followed on the 24th by companies left behind.
During several months in the early part of 1864, Company A had been stationed at Croatan, N. C. About 73 o'clock on the morning of the 5th instant, the enemy approached in considerable force, hav- ing effected the crossing of Boyce's creek at a point above our pick- ets. Arriving at the station, they immediately surrounded the force stationed there in preparation for an attack, and to prevent the possi-
245
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
bility of any escaping. In the meantime Captain Aigan collected his men. and threw his entire command into the fort at that place, which had one small gun, a six-pounder howitzer, and opened a vigorous fire on the enemy. A desperate fight ensued, lasting one hour and a half, when, at 12 o'clock M., the enemy demanded an unconditional surrender. This was refused by Captain Aigan. Subsequently, how- ever, seeing he could maintain his position but a short time, and the ammunition for the field piece being exhausted, he agreed at 3 o'clock P.M. to a conditional surrender. The force brought against Captain Aigan, as stated to him by the rebel General Dearing, was at least 1,600 men. During the fight 184 rounds were fired from the single cannon with which the fort was defended, and the rifles of the men became so hot that they had to be held by the slings. Fortunately not one of Captain Aigan's command was killed and but one wounded. The rebels violated the terms of capitulation in every particular but one, and that was, that the garrison should march out with the hon- ors of war. The men and officers were afterward shamefully robbed of their private property. The treatment of the prisoners on the march, and in the prisons at Kingston, Macon and Andersonville, was inhuman in the extreme. Of the 51 captured, 32 died in prison, seven died elsewhere, and one was shot in attempting to escape.
After the return of the regiment, it re-occupied its old camp (Camp Anthony). One company (F) having for some two or three months garrisoned Fort Rowan, resumed its duties at that fort. General Foster, pleased with the manner in which Fort Rowan was garri- soned. ordered, toward the latter part of May, that Colonel Sisson should garrison, in addition to Fort Rowan, Fort Totten, the largest fort about Newbern, and not wholly completed at that time. Soon after, Colonel Sisson's command was extended to the forts on the south side of the Trent, all of which the 5th Regiment contributed largely to put in a state of defense. At the siege of Newbern, in February, 1864, Colonel Sisson's command, with the Fifth as the prin- cipal part of it, constituted the right center division of the defense. On the 3d of February, at midnight, the rebels succeeded in cutting out and sinking a gunboat lying in the Neuse river between Forts Stephenson and Anderson. Among the prisoners were Acting As- sistant Paymaster Edward H. Sears, and Henry Earle, paymaster's clerk, both of Providence. May 1st, Company C, Captain Douglas, and Company E, Captain Hopkins, who had been stationed at Little Washington with the force under General Harlan, withdrew from that place, leaving it in flames, and returning to Newbern. The regi- ment did constant duty of the most varied kind. It was a matter of remark that if a detail was to be made for any difficult work, the Fifth was sure to be called upon. On the departure of Colonel Sisson, Colonel Tew took command of the regiment. The regiment was now succeeded at Forts Totten and Rowan by the 2d Massachusetts Heavy
246
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Artillery. The Fifth was assigned to Forts Spinola, Gaston and Amory on the south side of the Trent, and Forts Anderson and Chase on the north side of the Neuse, the whole under command of Colonel Tew.
The regiment was mustered out of service at Newbern, June 26th, 1865, and set out immediately for home, under the command of Colo- nel George W. Tew. It arrived in the steamer "Nansit," between eleven and twelve o'clock on the morning of July 4th, amid the joy- ous demonstrations of the national holiday.
Into the idea of raising a regiment of colored men, Governor Smith early entered. He communicated with the authorities at Washington on the subject, and on the 17th of June, 1863, was granted permission to enlist a colored company of heavy artillery. This was so spiritedly done that on the 4th of August the permit was extended to a battalion, and on the 3d of September was again ex- tended to a full regiment. This was called the 14th Regiment R. I. Heavy Artillery. "Camp Smith" was established on the Dexter Training Ground, in Providence, and on the 28th of August the first company was mustered in. In the course of a few weeks a battalion of four companies was enlisted. In September three companies were transferred to Dutch island. The encampment on the Dexter Train- ing Ground was still used to complete company organizations. November 19th, the governor, accompanied by the legislature and many other invited guests, visited Dutch island, reviewed the troops, and presented to the regiment a stand of colors.
On the 7th of December, the First battalion left the island under Major Joseph J. Comstock, Jr., and went into camp at "Camp Smith," in Providence, preparatory to proceeding to New Orleans to join General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf. December 19th the battalion left Providence and sailed from Newport on board the transport " Cahawba " for New Orleans, where it arrived Decem- ber 30th. Without debarking it proceeded to Passe Cavallo, Texas, where it arrived January 8th, 1864, and was assigned to garrison duty in Fort Esperanza, Matagorda island.
On the 8th of January, 1864, the 2d Battalion under the command of Captain Nelson Kenyon, sailed in the transport " Daniel Webster" for New Orleans, where it arrived February 3d. The battalion was ordered into camp at English Turn, where, March 7th, Major Rich- ard G. Shaw assumed the command. From English Turn the bat- talion removed to Plaquemine, 160 miles above New Orleans, where Major Shaw became post commander, and Captain Kenyon resumed the immediate command of the battalion. Here it was engaged in putting the fort in a state of defense, and in guarding the town by a long line of pickets. This line of pickets extended as far as Indian Village, twelve miles back. Frequent skirmishes occurred between the battalion and the guerrillas under the notorious Captain Scott of
247
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Plaquemine Parish. At one time they dashed upon the cutposts and captured four or five men, whom they murdered as they retreated through Indian Village.
The whole regiment being now in the Department of the Gulf, its designation was changed by general order April 19th, to the 11th U. S. Heavy Artillery (Colored). On the 19th of May Major Comstock received orders to evacuate Fort Esperanza, first destroying what he could not take away, and return to New Orleans. He accordingly dismantled the works, shipped the heavy ordnance, and embarking his men on board the transport steamer "Clinton," reached New Or- leans May 23d.
Early in January, 1865, the allotment commissioner, Major Amsbury, visited the Second battalion at Plaquemine, and paid up the troops to August 1st, preceding the first payment received by the men since their enlistment. Up to the opening of the new year, little had occurred at the post to vary the usual routine of garrison duty. February 16th, the entire regiment numbered 1,452 men. The effects of climate had seriously diminished its ranks. Up to the date last named, upward of 300 men had died of disease. From July 1st previ- ous, 70 men had died at Fort Jackson. Experience proved that while black men made good and faithful soldiers, their power of endurance was not equal to that of the whites. In April the station of the First battalion was transferred from Fort Jackson to Brashear City. The duties of the regiment at the several posts possessed few of the charms that give attraction and excitement to the movements of the field. It was mustered out at New Orleans, October 2d, 1865. On the 7th, it embarked on board the steamship "North Star" for New York, where it arrived on the 15th. On landing, the regiment marched up Broadway preceded by a brass band and drum corps organized from its ranks, presenting one of the most imposing scenes that had been witnessed by the citizens of New York since the com- mencement of the return of soldiers from the field of war. Leaving New York in the propeller "Doris," the regiment reached Ports- mouth Grove at eight and a half o'clock A. M., October 18th, and was received with a national salute fired by a detachment of the Newport Artillery under Colonel John Hare Powell. Saturday morning Octo- ber 21st, the regiment made a visit to Providence. A few days after, the men were scattered to their homes, having by their general gccd conduct as soldiers honored the state whose name they bore upon their regimental colors, and paying in this manner a gratifying tribute to the untiring energy of the chief executive by whom they were called into service.
The assault upon Fort Sumter April 12th, 1861, sent a thrill of patriotic indignation through all the loyal states. In no one was this more visible than in Rhode Island, and when Governor Sprague tendered to the general government the services of 1,Cco infantry
248
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
and a battery of artillery, he but expressed the spirit of the people. It was under this state of feeling that the Marine Artillery was organized for three months' active service by Captain Charles H. Tompkins, who was appointed to the command and commissioned April 18th. Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, lieutenant governor elect, hav- ing tendered his services to Governor Sprague, was appointed upon his staff, with the rank of colonel, and took the general command of the battery until after it reached Washington. On the afternoon of April 18th, the battery embarked at Providence on board the steamer "Empire State " for Jersey City, taking with it over 100 horses, six field pieces, caissons, battery wagon and forge. From thence the battery proceeded to, Easton, Pa., and encamped on the fair grounds.
While at Easton, the battery exchanged its smooth-bore guns for the James rifled cannon, the first ever used in the service of the United States, and after devoting several days to drill, proceeded to Washington. It left Easton April 27th, and arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday morning, where it was hospitably entertained. April 30th, it started again for Washington, via Perryville, touching at Annapolis. Fears were entertained of being fired into in passing Alexandria, which was then in the hands of secessionists. To avoid provoking an attack, the men of the battery and all appliances of war were concealed from view, and a few persons in citizen's dress, among them Mrs. Samuel G. Arnold, who joined her husband at Philadelphia, courageously promenaded the upper deck of the steamer, giving it the appearance of a mere passenger boat. The apprehended point of danger was passed without molestation. May 2d, the battery landed at the arsenal in Washington, and passed in review before the president at the executive mansion. It quartered for a few days at the patent office. June 9th, the battery started one day in advance of the regiment, and proceeded by way of Baltimore, Harrisburg, Chambersburg, and Greencastle to Williamsport, Md., arriving there June 15th. Resting a few days, the first and second sections of the battery under Captain Tompkins crossed the Potomac and went into camp at Falling Waters. On the following day it was ordered back to Washington, arriving there on the 20th.
July Ist the battery started on its route by rail, and reached Hagerstown in 37 hours. After resting a short time, it advanced to Williamsport and encamped for the night. Passing over the Potc- mac with a body of infantry to operate against the rebels, it marched to Martinsburg, Va., and encamped near the 12th and 28th New York Volunteers. Soon after sunrise July 15th, General Patterson's grand column moved out of Martinsburg, with the battery on the right, and marched to Bunker Ilill, Va. When within nearly two miles of that place, about 700 rebel cavalry appeared approaching, but on discov- ering the Union forces turned at once and retreated. The battery
249
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
fired a number of rounds, shelling the woods, freeing them from any lingering party of the enemy, and mortally wounding one officer and two privates, and slightly injuring a sergeant. The battery took possession of the vacated rebel camp, the fires of which were still burning. On the third day, at 3 o'clock A. M., General Patterson's column commenced moving toward Charlestown. From there the battery marched, to Harper's Ferry, arriving the same evening. From Harper's Ferry the battery proceeded to Sandy Hook, where it was relieved after the battle of Bull Run by Battery A, Cap- tain William H. Reynolds commanding. The term of service having expired, the battery, under the command of Lieutenant Remington (Captain Tompkins being detained in Washington), set out for home. It reached Providence July 31st, and the next morning was provided with a sumptuous breakfast at Railroad Hall. August 6th the battery was mustered out of service.
The 10th Light Battery, for three months' service, was raised simultaneously with the 9th and 10th regiments of three months' volunteers, and was recruited under the supervision of Captain Edwin C. Gallup. In May it left Providence for Washington in three detachments, the first under Lieutenant Samuel A. Pearce, Jr., the second under Lieutenants Frank A. Rhodes and Amos D. Smith, Jr., and the third under Captain Gallup and Quartermaster Sergeant Asa Lyman. On reaching Washington they proceeded to Tenallytown, and concentrated at Camp Frieze. The battery lay here improving in its drill until June 23d, when, in obedience to order, it moved for- ward to re-enforce General Banks. It was mustered out of service August 30th, 1862. During its absence it made a proficiency in artil- lery movements that excited the surprise and received the strong approbation of military visitants from Washington.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.