USA > Rhode Island > History of the Fifth Regiment of Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, during three years and a half of service in North Carolina. January 1862-June 1865 > Part 12
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Charles F. Gladding. for first lieutenant Company F: is of the firm of Peckham & Gladding, of Providence; came out as hospital steward; . a man of much coolness and bravery; steady and attentive to his duties; is very popular, and his appointment is strongly urged by the officers here.
Charles F. Douglas, for second lieutenant Company F; was in Company A, First Rhode Island Detached Militia ; came out as fifth sergeant Com- pany B: is modest and unassuming, and a promising officer.
John H. Robinson, for captain Company G ; came from Newport: was with the first regiment: came out as sergeant; has had charge of com- pany for some time: commanded them in last engagement, and is well qualified to command a company.
Henry P. Williams, for first lieutenant Company G; is from Woon- socket: came out as second sergeant Company D: a worthy young man and a good officer.
Henry B. Landers, for captain Company HI, from Newport; was in First Regiment: came out as first sergeant Company C; promoted to sec- ond lieutenant: one of the best officers we have. Took charge of a com- pany of New York roughs on their arrival here, and managed them with fine ability.
Edward F. Angell. for first lieutenant Company HI; was in First Regi- ment ; came out second sergeant Company A; is faithful and steady.
Charles Taft. for first lieutenant Company I: from Pawtucket: was out in First Regiment: was made first sergeant Company E, by promo- tion of Lieutenant Hall: had charge of company about three months; a valuable officer.
William W. Prouty is recommended for quartermaster: was formerly quartermaster-sergeant, but has done quartermaster's duty for a long time; is well known in the department here, and thoroughly understands his duties: it would be for the interests of the regiment to have him appointed; it is understood that the field officers have been fixed upon, therefore they are not mentioned.
Respectfully submitted, etc.
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In a letter to Governor Sprague of the date of Feb. 13, 1863, Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold says :
"Probably ere this comes to hand, Colonel Sisson's report will have reached you. Colonel Sisson called Major Tew and myself to deliberate upon the qualifications of those recommended for promotion. He has spoken in detail of each, and so nearly does his report conform to my knowledge of them, I deem further particulars unnecessary. I heartily endorse his recommendations."
And now let us turn for a moment from the consideration of pro- motions and the disappointments arising from blighted hopes of active service amid other scenes, to that side of life in camp that is only found amid the sick and wounded. Our new chaplain, the Rev. Henry S. White, had reported for duty, and he shall tell of his first experience in his new position :
" Yesterday and to-day have been spent in part at the hospitals. Often have my eyes been filled and voice choked in these holy duties. Our no- ble hero, young Drown, of Warren, while holding the colors in his right hand, received a musket ball in his right shoulder at the battle of White- hall, and the collar-bone and a part of the arm were shattered, and ele- ven pieces have been taken ont. Do you think I found him sad and down-hearted? No. His eye flashed and he seemed as ardent as at the hour when he enlisted. All our men in the hospital, some twenty, per- haps, are well cared for, and doing well generally.
"But a few days ago we were following these teachers and clerks, mer- chants and tradesmen, farmer lads and sailor boys, that form the rank and file of onr Fifth Rhode Island Regiment, as they marched through winter rain or snow, with swollen and mud covered feet, in search of a vigilant enemy hidden in defensive works, only reached by fording waist-deep streams, or floundering through tangled swamps, flooded with freezing water, amid a shower of bullets and shell. We saw them tired, worn and shelterless, snatching a few hours of such rest as ex- hausted nature alone can give, on frozen ground or under pitiless rain. Then we saw them where the battle raged, and the fires of destruction followed their steps with clouds of smoke by day and pillars of fire by night. And these men. whose deeds vie with those of the Norsemen of old, returned to a life described in the following account of a Sunday in Camp Anthony.
" Let me give you a picture of our Sabbath. The morning was one of the loveliest of a southern winter-warm, clear and pleasant. At ten came the usual Sunday morning inspection. This is no form merely, I assure you. Every one did the best he could to appear like a soldier.
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Colonel Sisson took each man's rifle and examined it. Each knapsack was opened, clothing examined, the best method of packing explained, etc. Every part of the soldier's dress and equipments was noticed. Every tent was entered by the colonel and staff and inspected. If ven- tilation was defective, it was noticed, and the company officer in com- mand directed to rectify it. The quarters of the men were clean, comfortable and neat. In some instances they were fitted up with great taste. On one centre-table I saw photographs of those well known at home. This seemed to greatly please the colonel, as it certainly did me and others. The men are in good heart, and vie with each other in keep- ing clean. and making their quarters neat and comfortable. Each kitchen sink was carefully examined. The dishes were taken down and in- spected. I do not believe there is a yard in Providence kept as neat as is the camp of the Fifth Rhode Island. I must confess that I am dis- appointed. To be sure my experience is limited, but it does not seem to me that a camp is that low, corrupt place that some of us have been led to believe.
" In the afternoon those who chose to go formed in line, and with music marched to the Baptist church for service. It was an hour of deep inter- est to me. I saw many a tear, and felt that God was in the place. There is a fine choir among our men. I doubt if better singing can be often found. At the close of service we marched back to camp to some mar- tial air. At dress parade, after a dozen verses of the 'Good Word' were read and prayer was offered, the regiment sang the doxology, and the benediction closed the religious services of the day. Evening prayer meetings will be held as soon as the room is ready.
" As night closed in, the voice of holy song came from many of the tents, and as in the calm moonlight I looked upon the tenis and camps upon every side, it seemed to be God's hosts, and the overlooking stars smiled as the messengers of heaven."
Governor Sprague acted promptly on the recommendations for- warded to him by issuing commissions to fill nearly all of the exist- ing vacancies on the 14th of February. They were soon known in camp, formally published, and many of those who had been filling places of great responsibility for months at last had tardy justice done to them. They were as follows :
Quartermaster-Sergt. William W. Prouty, to be first lieutenant and quartermaster, rice Munro IL. Gladding, who died Nov. 2, 1862.
Company A, Second Lieut. James Gregg, to be captain : Sergt. Dutee Johnson, Jr., to be first lieutenant ; Sergt. William H. Durfee, to be second lieutenant.
Company B, Sergt. Thomas Allen, to be first lieutenant.
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Company C, First Lieut. William W. Douglas, to be captain ; Leander A. Davis, to be second lieutenant. He was appointed first lieutenant February 9th, and resigned April 4th.
Company D, Second Lieut. James Moran, to be captain. Cap- tain Moran had held a commission longer than any other officer in the regiment, and was the only one who was not transferred from the company he was first mustered with. Sergt. Walter H. Luther, to be first lieutenant ; Christopher W. Howland, to be second lieutenant. Lieutenant Howland was a private in the Twelfth Regi- ment, and was promoted for gallantry in the battle of Fredericks- burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; his commission to date from Dec. 27, 1862, and assigned to our regiment.
Company E, First Lieut. George G. Hopkins', to be captain.
Company F. First Lieut. William R. Landers, to be captain. Hospital Steward Charles F. Gladding, to be first lientenant. Sergt. Charles E. Douglas, to be second lieutenant.
Company G, Sergt. John H. Robinson, to be captain. Commis- sary Sergt. Charles E. Beers, to be second lieutenant.
Company HI, Second Lieut. Henry B. Landers, to be captain. Sergt. Henry P. Williams, to be first lieutenant. Joseph MeIntyre, to be second lieutenant. He had been commissioned some time pre- viously and assigned to this company. He resigned February 17th to accept a captain's commission in the Second Regiment, and was killed in the first engagement after he joined it. George F. Turner succeeded him, being transferred from Company B. This officer joined at the same time Company G arrived, and he immediately be- came a favorite with all for his many good qualities.
Company K, John Aigan, late of the Third Regiment, to be cap- tain. Robert Thompson, to be first lieutenant. This officer never joined the regiment, but was detailed on the staff of General Richard Arnold, of the United States Army.
"Our camp is really the most elegant and cleanly kept of any Lever saw," writes our chaplain to Governor Sprague, under the date of March ad. " You cannot find a chip, shell or stone from end to end of it. after eight A. M. The men have worked much and with pretty good cheer upon it. The other day you did a thing for us that set both line and staff on a grand round of cheers for our gallant governor, and, as I saw twenty
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or thirty men, yesterday, in great glee chasing and kicking a small ball of yarn as large as your fist, I thought whether or no your excellency would not like to do a thing for the men that would please them as well as the commissions did the officers, by sending us two or three foot-balls and eight or ten balls for the hand and bat. The Massachusetts men had some balls come the other day, and they make great fun for the men, and if you can have some sent to us in your name as a present to the men for fixing up the camp, it will make them feel well toward you and do them good.
" You may think me a queer man for making this request, but anything that will cheer and help keep the men in good heart that I can get by any honorable means, I mean to obtain. Ipresume it does not displease you to see the men you send out earnestly engaged in trying to help build up the regimeut and create good feeling among men and officers."
The chaplain meant to have those balls even if he had to add to his " honorable means " a sly appeal to the governor's well known and very good natured egotism, for he adds by way of postscript : " If you should not find it in your heart to pardon me for this re- quest. I will submit to any penalty you may appoint only give me the pleasure of hearing three rousing cheers for our governor-when the balls come."
And the kind-hearted governor, with the good nature for which he was noted, endorsed on the chaplain's application. " Referred to the adjutant-general, hoping the balls will be furnished." But the meu were destined to see other than foot-balls before the chaplain saw the fruition of his desires in that line.
In the meantime the rebel authorities in Richmond, dissatisfied with the action of the officers in command in North Carolina. had appointed Gen. D. II. Hill to the command of the district of which Goldsboro was the headquarters. His troops were composed of Daniels's and Pettigrew's infantry brigades, Robertsou's cavalry brigade, and some artillery. . In March Garnett's brigade from Pe- tersburg was ordered to report to Hill. General Hill was a native of the State, and for skill and judgment ranked among the best officers in the rebel army. He assumed command at Goldsboro. about February Ist. Partly with the view of taking the men to the rations instead of carrying the rations to the men, and partly to open a vigorous campaign against General Foster, and thus recover their
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lost prestige, a portion of General Longstreet's corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was sent down into this State.
It was about this time that General Foster wrote to the War De- partment :
" I have received information that the corps of Maj .- Gen. D. II. Hill is within the limits of this State, and that he commands this department. I referred in my last letter to some iron-clads being constructed on the Tar and Roanoke rivers. I understand that the iron-clad on the Roa- noke River is nearly completed, and to prevent its being destroyed by our gunboats before it is ready for service, the enemy have assembled a large force at Hamilton, said to be 7,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry, and seven. batteries of between six and eight pieces each. The fortifications at Rainbow Bluff, just below Hamilton, destroyed by me, last November, are being repaired and heavy guns being mounted from Weldon. A con- siderable force is at Weldon, and the enemy are busily engaged in forti- fying that point. To prevent the enemy from putting their threat into execution of taking the town of Plymouth, taking the gunboats or driv- ing them out of the river, I propose to reinforce that point. and at the same time I have prepared a strong reconnaissance under General Prince, to move in the direction of Wilmington. and so prevent too great an ac- cumulation of force on the Roanoke until such time as I shall be strong enough to attack with advantage. The command is only watching for a condition of the roads to move, the recent rains having rendered them almost impassable."
General Hill is reported to have said to a delegation of citizens that waited upon him at Kinston about the 1st of March, that " On the 14th of March, 1862, New Berne was taken by the Yan- kees, but on the 14th of March, 1863, it will be ours again."
The enemy's forces began their movement on the 11th of March, and on the 13th their scouting parties had appeared at different points, and Belger's battery and the Fifth and Twenty-Fifth Massachusetts regi- ments were sent to support the forces picketing the Trent River road. It should be borne in mind that Kinston lies a little north of due west from New Berne, and that between these places the Neuse River makes quite a bend to the north, with a large swamp lying in the hollow of the bend. The river road from New Berne to Kinston runs north of this swamp, while Kinston road passes on the south, and is the shorter and better highway. On both of these roads, as well as on the railroad. strong picket reserves were stationed, from
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eight to ten miles out, so that we would have timely warning of the approach of an attacking force in that quarter. Evidently aware that ample preparations had been made to receive him on the right bank of the Nense, General Hill decided to make his attack on the left or north bank. On this side of the river, just above the town, and nearly opposite the camps of our troops in that quarter was a small work, still in the process of construction, known as Fort An- derson. No guns had yet been mounted in it, and it was garri- soned by six companies of the Ninety-second New York Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Anderson, a brave and determined officer. An eye witness of the action that ensued, belonging to the Fifth Rhode Island, gave at the time this description of it :
" Saturday, March 14th, at dawn, a strong force of the enemy, under General Pettigrew, placed sixteen guns in position near a small fort opposite the town on the north, across the Neuse River. Two or three thousand infantry supported this artillery. They came into a clearing about eight hundred yards from the fort, and from my po- sition I could see every movement, both in the fort and among the rebels. As soon as two or three guns were in position they com- menced a rapid fire of shell and canister. After two or three rounds they sent in a flag of truce to Colonel Anderson, commanding the fort, demanding a surrender, saying that a combined attack was to be made that day on New Berne by General Longstreet's whole com- mand, and that resistance was useless. To gain time for the gun . boats to get into position, Colonel Anderson asked for half an hour to send and consult General Foster. The flag went back and re- turned, granting the half hour, and when it was up came in again to learn the result. The messenger sent to General Foster had not yet returned, and Colonel Anderson replied : . My orders are to hold this place, and I shall never surrender it !' During this time the rebels had put all of their guns in position. and formed their infantry in three lines behind the guns. General Pettigrew was mounted on a large, white horse, and was constantly riding up and down the lines as if giving orders.
" When the flag went back with Colonel Anderson's final reply, the rebels opened a rapid and terrific fire, and the fragments of shell and the canister shot fell into the water. on this side of the fort, so
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that the surface of the river looked like a pond in a hail-storm. The men in the fort, not wishing to show their strength, lay close behind their sand walls and waited for the expected charge. During the four hours of the cannonade only two men were severely hurt, and three slightly wounded by a shell. The boys got ready for the charge by biting off cartridges and placing them on the logs of the revet- ment to the breastworks, so as to be ready to fire fast. A thirty- pounder rifled gun threw sbells across the river, and one struck within a short distance of the camp of the Fifth Rhode Island, just at the fort. It did not burst. and stands at my feet in my tent. You will soon have a chance to inspect this in Rhode Island, which you will do with all the more interest as it is a British shell and a splendid thing. The gunboats were late in getting into position, as the Hunchback was aground and the others were below the town.
"A schooner with one gun. manned by negroes, lay in a good po- sition, and at once entered into the fray with great gusto, and sent her neat compliments directly to the spot. I stood thirty or forty yards from this schooner and saw the men work. There was only one white man on board, and when men tell me the negroes will not fight, I shall beg leave to differ with them in opinion. The gunboats were struck a number of times. For nearly four hours the rebels had it all their own way, but time brings changes. I have seen 'a skeddadle.' The gunboats came around from the Trent River, and opened fire, and if you had been there you would have seen . a skeddadle,' too. The batteries in town and the gunboats threw from twelve to one hundred-pound shells. and the rebels went into the bushes faster than they came out. One thirty-pounder siege gun in the rebel batteries burst, killing a number of their own men, and it is now in our camp. They attempted to creep up in the afternoon and plant a battery in the woods below, but were unable to gain a foothold.
.. Just before dinner a train of platform ears with a locomotive in the rear and a twelve-pound brass Napoleon on the front car, stopped before our camp. Within twenty minutes from the receipt of' the order we were dashing out to the camp of the Fifty-eighth Pennsyl- vania, Colonel Jones commanding, doing picket duty at Batchelder's Creek, some eight miles from New Berne, on the Kinston railroad.
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" Soon after reaching this picket station it was reported from head- quarters that from eight to ten thousand rebels, with thirty guns and some cavalry, had reached a point on our flank nearer New Berne than we were, and Colonel Jones was ordered if' pressed to retire on New Berne, fighting his way as he came in. Captain Douglas with his Company C from our regiment, and one company from the Fifty- eighth Pennsylvania, went up the railroad, and the enemy in small force retired beyond Coal Creek. About dusk the outer pickets were driven in. Colonel Arnold suggested that tattoo be beaten in several places, and the cars were kept running that the enemy might be led to think our force much larger than it really was .*
"About nine o'clock the scouts reported a small force within about a half a mile of our camp. Major Tew, with the companies of Captains Moran and Gregg and one piece of artillery, were posted so as to defend the road leading from the Trent road to our camp. the other end of which was supposed to be in possession of the enemy. Major Tew's command spent the night in throwing up a rifle-pit, and every preparation was made by Colonels Jones and Arnold for a des- perate defence. Colonel Arnold informed me that unless an attack was made before morning, one would not be made. Early in the morning. Sunday. the 15th, Colonels Jones and Arnold concluded that as the rebels had not attacked them, they would go out and see what had become of them. Four companies of the Fifth Rhode Island and a company of cavalry went two miles towards Kinston on the railroad, then four miles to the left to the Red House road to- wards Kinston, and then some four or five miles to Deep Gully, a small. deep creek, in a deep cut. The ashes were still warm where the enemy had had their camp-fires, and the trees were splintered from the firing of the previous day.
" We learned here that Belger's battery was planted in the face of the enemy, supported by two regiments of infantry (Fifth and Twenty-fifth Massachusetts) the day before, and, just as things began to be lively, an order came to retire on New Berne. Deep Gully bridge was torn up, and a large pine tree lay in and across the road
* This rose of Colonel Arnokl's of running the cars during the night, is considered by those competent to judge, as having been the chist reason for causing the rebels to with. draw from their position in the vicinity of Batchelder's Creek, as they supposed our troops at this point were receiving heavy reinforcements, and is indicative of the fore- thought and sagacity of this cool-headed and resolute officer.
-
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on this side. Sixteen volunteers went some two or three miles to our front and found the enemy's camp-fires still burning, but they did not see a single rebel. Just as we had finished our work and were about to return, two or three companies of cavalry came dashing past from the direction of New Berne. On our return to the post we met Colonel Amory with his brigade and some artillery moving
Hospital Steward John K. Burlingame.
out. This force encamped about three miles from Deep Gully, and the next morning went some four miles farther towards Kinston. and there formed in line of battle, sending some cavalry still further. They found no enemy, but learned that the evening before some 20,000 (?) troops passed on their way to Kinston.
". In our own opinion we had not thought our scouting any great thing. but when we saw the force General Foster thought necessary
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to make this reconnoisance, and do just what we had done some hours before with a few hundred men, we began to think that possi- bly it might have been a respectably brave thing to do. Returning to the camp at Batchelder's Creek safe and in good cheer, we found orders for ns to return to our camp. When we reached our quar- ters the usual quiet reigned over both town and camp. No evidence of the turmoil and struggle of the previous day was visible. The rebel attack ou New Berne, ou the first anniversary of its capture by our forces, had ended in an ignominions failure."
Just at the time the expected attack on New Berne engrossed every mind, it became generally known in camp that we were to have another change in the field officers of our regiment. And this time it caused universal regret, for it was understood that Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold, who had so recently received his long-deserved promotion, had decided to sever his connection with the Fifth Rhode Island. " In this he was actuated by motives that reflected equal credit upon him as a soldier, a gentleman and a friend." The opportunity had been offered to him to be trausferred to another regiment, without increase of rank, thus creating a vacancy which could be filled by the promotion of Major Tew. Personally he did not desire to change. But it seems that it was our Colonel Ar- nold that was wanted in the Seventh Regiment. not some one else ; and with that unselfishness for which he was already noted. he felt that he could not staud in the way of the advancement of a brave and worthy fellow officer. He therefore decided to accept the prof- fered transfer. The official papers came to the regiment just at the time the enemy appeared in force in front of New Berne. He could not see his old comrades meet dangers which he did not share, so he declined to accept the transfer until the expected battle was over.
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