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 13
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The following sketch of Colonel Arnold is taken from a report of the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic In- dustry :
" The youngest son of Stephen G. and Mary ( Angell) Arnold, was born in Smithfield, Jan. 18, 1827. Removing early to Providence, he received a common school education at the First Distriet School. At the age of thirteen he went to New York, and spent four years in the dry goods store of his brother. John Arnold. Returning to Providence at seven-
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teen, he entered the manufactory of Messrs. Payton & Hawkins, where he learned the trade of jeweler and engraver, which pursuit he followed until the breaking out of the war, in 1861.
"During these years, by well selected reading, he had acquired very valuable and varied information. As a skilled mechanic, he had famil- iarized himself with all valuable improvements in machinery. But the study of horticulture and agriculture were his chief delights, and he hoped for a time when he could devote himself to these.
" Thoroughly informed on political questions, he foresaw the great struggle of the nation, and abandoned all other occup itions and personal aspirations for the service of his country at the first call to arms.
" Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold, when in command of his regiment. showed great talent for organization and a genius for command, as well as extraordinary celerity in deciding upon and executing field move- ments. In disciplining his regiments he substituted a system of rewards for punishments. His men loved and confided in him, while at the same time, his decision was inflexible and his rule absolute. Colonel Arnold was one of the best specimens of the citizen soldier sent by Rhode Isl- and to the war.
"When his own health broke down from exposure and arduous ser- vice, only eighty men were left in the Seventh Regiment fit for service. At intervals, after his return, he was able to attend to business. On June 16. 1864, he married Anna Maria, daughter of Job Angell. It about this time he became a member of the firm of Mooney, Arnold & Shaw, manufacturers of gas burners.
"Colonel Arnold suffered much from the disease which had fastened itself upon him, but was always hopeful, cheerful and thoughtful of others, even when confined to his room, and gradually wasting away during the last year.
"Colonel Arnold died December 28, 1869. His wife with one child, survive him."
Colonel Sisson had been home for some time on leave of absence, mainly with the idea of obtaining men enough to fully complete the organization of ten full companies for the regiment, and Lieutenant- Colonel Arnold was thus in command at Batchelder's Creek on the 14th and 15th. Upon our return to camp the transfer was officially completed, and Major Tew was appointed to fill the vacancy that en- sued. Thorndike C. Jameson. formerly chaplain of the Second Regiment, was then appointed major in our regiment, to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Major Tew.
No sooner had the regiment returned to camp than it was deter- mined that Colonel Arnold should not be allowed to depart from
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among us without first presenting him with some testimonial of the universal love and respect felt for him by both officers and men. For this purpose the line officers of the regiment procured an elegant sash and a fine field glass. Nor was this feeling toward Colonel Arnold confined to the Fifth Rhode Island, for no sooner was the intention known than the officers of Battery F claimed the right to join in this expression of esteem. The men, with a fine instinct, happily de- cided upon a testimonial which not only showed how sincere and unanimous was their regard for this noble-minded and unselfish gen- tleman, but how surely they knew they were presenting him with something that money could not buy, and which he would ever after treasure with that just pride which only men like him could feel.
The idea first came like an inspiration to Hospital Steward Bur- lingame. It had only to be mentioned to the men to be adopted and acted upon at once. To this end an engrossed memorial was pre- pared and signed by every non-commissioned officer and private then with the regiment. On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 17th, the men marched to the parade ground and formed in hollow square. Colonel Arnold was brought out and took his station with the field and staff and company officers in the centre. Sergeant Conger, bear- ing the testimonial, then stepped forward and said :
"COLONEL ARNOLD: It has fallen to my lot to have the honor of pre- senting the popular feeling of this regiment as expressed in this paper, unanimously signed by the non-commissioned officers and privates, which I am requested to read to you. We have thought best to present it in this form, that in after years, when this strife is over, you may look upon it when amid your own family cirele, and be cheered with the thought that your exertions and your patriotism were appreciated by those under your command. You have ever been to us as a father, and we are loth to part with you. But in parting let us mutually put our trust in Him who is able to say to this angry storm of war, . Peace, be still!' When our flag shall wave in peace from the Atlantic to the Pa- cific and from the lakes to the gulf, may we all be spared to return to our own beloved State, there to enjoy with our families and friends the fruits of our sacrifices and toils."
The memorial, duly signed. was then read and presented to the colonel. It was as follows :
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"CAMP ANTHONY, FIFTH REGT., R. I. V. NEW BERNE, N. C., March 17, 1863.
Lieutenant-Colonel ARNOLD:
SIR: It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we learn that you are to be taken from us and transferred to another regiment. We can- not allow this opportunity to pass without unitedly expressing to you our best wishes for your future success and welfare.
" While reviewing your past, we cannot recall the first unkind word or dishonorable act.
" You have been loyal to the government and to your command. You have never asked us to go where you were not willing to lead, and have always shared with us the fatigues of the march and the dangers of battle.
" In parting allow us as Rhode Island soldiers to pledge with you anew our entire devotion to our country's cause, and through all the fortunes of war, in whatever positions we may be placed, our resolve to stand firm for the right until this unholy rebellion shall be crushed. and every aider, abettor or apologist of treason shall wither beneath the consum- ing scorn and contempt of a free and enlightened people."
With an emotion which showed how fully he appreciated the feel- ing which dictated the preparation of this unsought and unsolicited evidence of the love and regard of the assembled men, he briefly thanked them for it in the following fitting reply :
" COMRADES OF THE FIFTH RHODE ISLAND: I cannot find words with which to express to you my heartfelt thanks for this touching and beau- tiful testimony of your confidence and affection. I shall prize it. not only for the kindly feeling manifested for me, but for the high and no- ble patriotism herein expressed, which does credit to you all. This is the proudest day of my life. I shall treasure this document as a souve- nir, to be kept as long as life shall last.
" I am glad to know, that though a year and a quarter of hardship and danger has passed. you are still animated by the same motives of patri- otism as when we left the shores of dear New England. Let us con- tinue to strive to do our whole duty until peace shall reign.
" Soon after our arrival at New Berne I told you the time was not far distant when every man would be proud to own himself as one of the Fifth Rhode Island. That time came long ago. To-day yon stand sec- ond to none among your country's defenders,
"I can bear willing testimony to the cheerful and soldier-like manner in which you have performed all duties and borne all fatigues, and to your undaunted courage on the battlefield. It is a source of sincere gratitude to me that I leave you in such good hands. I have every con-
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fidence that your future will be alike honorable to country, to State, and to yourselves.
"A few more hours and I shall bid you farewell, dear friends, and in parting I wish you health and strength to continue until the end of this rebellion, and a glad return to home and friends. And, my friends, if in the future you sometimes think of him who loved this regiment, remem- ber, if he failed in the performance of his whole dnity, it was a failure of the head and not of the heart."
The statement is made here that the whole history of the late war cannot parallel this instance of an officer long in command of a regi- ment engaged in march, and siege, and battle, always enforeing strict discipline and exacting implicit obedience to orders, and yet doing it with such singleness of purpose and uprightness of conduct as to win such an expression of esteem from every eulisted man under his command.
In the evening Captain Bolger and the officers of Battery F, to- gether with the line and staff of the Fifth, assembled to formally pre- sent their testimonials to Colonel Arnold. The presentation was made by Captain Douglas in a neat and felicitous speech. It was a complete surprise to Colonel Arnold, and he was too much overcome to make more than a brief reply. Colonel Tew was then called out, and in an eloquent and feeling speech he stated the fact that when Colonel Arnold received his appointment as lieutenant-colonel he had asked the department at home to commission Major Tew as lieuten- ant-colonel. and make him major. This change was not made, but the major referred to the manliness and unselfishness which prompted the action, and then stepping forward and taking Colonel Arnold's hand, he said: " Colonel, as you go out you bear with you our prayers and our best wishes, and if in the vicissitudes of the cam- paign we meet not here, may we be present to answer to our names at the great roll-call in the day of the resurrection."
Nor was this the end of the pleasant incidents of the evening. Colonel Tew had in his possession two swords, presented to him by the citizens of Newport. He took this occasion to present one of them to Captain Belger, saying, as both came from that city, he thought that he was carrying out the spirit of the wishes of the do- nors by committing it to the care of one who was so well able to wield it, and in whose hands the interests of our State were always safe. Captain Belger replied that he would seek to so use the sword as not
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to disgrace the gift, and the only thing he asked was the privilege of opening his battery on the ranks of treason while he was supported by such men as the Fifth Rhode Island. In this pleasant manner did the brave and respected Colonel Arnold take leave of his comrades in the Fifth Rhode Island, and join the Seventh Regiment under the command of General Burnside, at this time on the march for the department of the Ohio.
The following deserved tribute to the worth of Lieutenant-Colonel Job Arnold is from a non-commissioned officer of the regiment, who says :
" He was my ideal of an officer, soldier and gentleman. When our bat- talion came to Camp Anthony, our knowledge of battalion movements was very limited. Although only a captain of the line when he assumed command of the battalion, he, with the assistance of that able officer, Col. Thomas G. Stevenson, our brigade commander, brought our bat- talion to a commendable degree of efficiency in drill and discipline. We recall his presence on the drill ground when some difficult battalion movement was to be executed. How cool and self-possessed he seemed. He always gave the right command at the right time. I am informed by a member of the company of carbineers in the First Rhode Island Detached Militia that Colonel Arnold, who was then a private in the ranks, evinced the same determination to excel in the duties of a soldier which characterized him when assuming the responsibilities of a bat- talion commander. We well knew his fearlessness in the hour of battle. Nothing seemed to disturb the serenity of his countenance in the thick of danger. We recollect his kindness to the soldiers of his command. Often on the toilsome march have we seen him alight from his horse and place thereon some weary and foot-sore sollier, who was greatly relieved for the time being. No wonder, then, that the men of the Fifth Rhode Island loved Colonel Arnold, for he was worthy of their love, and it may justly be said of him:
' None knew him but to love him, Nor named him but to praise.'"
On the 20th of March General Foster wrote to Governor Sprague, saying ; " I have the honor to express my feeling of gratification at the promptitude with which you have appointed the officers of the Fifth Rhode Island Volunteers, in accordance with the recommenda- tions from this department. It gives me great pleasure to say to you that this action has produced a decided effeet upon the regiment for the good of the service, and that the regiment is in a most excellent condition, and the men are in the best condition for active service."
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CHAPTER X.
RELIEF OF LITTLE WASHINGTON.
THE FIFTH RUNS THE REBEL BATTERIES AND CARRIES RELIEF TO GENERAL FOSTER AND THE GARRISON AT WASHINGTON, N. C.
D EFEATED in their attempt to make a successful attack on New Berne, the enemy, still under the command of General D. H. ITill, determined to turn their attention to Washington, a town of considerable military importance on the Tar River near its junction with Pamlico River, about twenty-five miles north of New Berne, by land. Immediately after the rebels disappeared from in front of New Berne, General Foster, impressed with the belief that they would attack some other point in our possession, set out upon a tour of inspection through his department, in order to see for himself how well other places were prepared for defence. The enemy appeared in force in front of Washington, Monday, March 50th. General Foster arrived there the same day from Plymouth. He found there a garrison composed of eight companies of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts, which had arrived from New Berne on the 16th ; eight companies of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, one company of the loyal First North Carolina Volunteers, one company of the Third New York Cavalry, and Battery C, Third New York Light Artillery. the whole amount- ing to 1,160 men. The gunboats Eagle, Ceres, Louisiana, and Commodore Hull were lying in the river in front of the town.
That evening our pickets were driven in, and the enemy appeared in force on all the roads leading to the town. Having placed his troops in position during the night, General Hill sent in a flag of truce the next morning with a demand for the surrender of the town. It was addressed to the " colonel in command." General Foster was heard to say to the officer who reported the arrival of the flag with
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General Hill's summons to surrender, "Go back and tell them if they want Washington, come and take it !" This message revealed to the rebel general the fact that General Foster was present in com- mand, and undoubtedly led them to suppose that he had arrived with reinforcements, thus causing them to abandon the assault they had
Lieut. Christopher W. Howland.
contemplated. At once they commenced the erection of batteries for a regular siege of the place. So great was their activity that by the night of April 1st they had erected batteries around the north side of the town, and across the river on the south side. also batteries on both sides of the river below the town. and had removed the buoys marking the channel. thus completely blockading the little garrison from receiving supplies or reinforcements by land or water.
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Before reaching Washington General Foster had ordered reinforce- ments to it. The transports bearing this force, under the command of Brigadier-General Prince, appeared in sight down the river. General Foster sent him an order to land his troops and march in, but the general reported that it was impracticable to do so, and he did not attempt it. The enemy's investing force numbered fifteen thousand to sixteen thousand men, a large portion of whom were on the south side of the river. With this very brief statement of the situation in Washington, we will return to the Fifth Rhode Island.
Very soon after Colonel Arnold left to join his new command Colonel Sisson returned to us. When the report of the threatened attack upon New Berne reached the North, all other considerations were put aside, and he left Providence at once to join us. Major Jameson also reported at the same time. Activity now reigned in New Berne. The air was filled with rumors of another attack on the town. The work of strengthening and completing the defences was vigorously carried on, and every negro --- " contrabands of war " were they at that time-who was able to wield axe or shovel, was pressed into service. The utmost vigilance was exercised to prevent the approach of even the smallest raiding party of rebel cavalry without ample warning. Reconnoisances were pushed in every di- rection. "Colonel Sisson went out beyond Deep Gully, on a reconnoisance in force, Thursday, April 2d. We found no rebels. The quaker gun on which the rebels made a famous charge the other day is again in position." The troops forming the garrison at New Berne were assigned their respective stations in the forts and breast- works, and drilled to take them without confusion and in the least possible time. So proficient did they become, that in eight minutes from the first alarm every man was in his place, and the guns in the forts and batteries were loaded, primed, and put in battery ready to fire.
All this time the dull boom of guns coming over the swamps and pine forests stretching away to the northward, told to the anxious hearts in New Berne of the danger of their beloved general and the little garrison composed of their comrades. Each morning they listened for the sound with renewed anxiety, for it told them also that the brave men in Washington still held out. On the 6th the firing
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could not be heard for some time, and every heart sauk with fear that the end had come to the besieged band. that Washington had been captured. Towards night, when the low rumble came down again, it was hailed with a great feeling of relief, almost of joy for the story it told of the unfaltering courage and steadfastuess of the men environed by a force of more than ten to one.
Wednesday, Sth. At one o'clock this morning we formed in line in light marching order, and just as we were moving off the order was countermanded, and we remained behind. The Fifth Rhode Island and the Forty-fifth Massachusetts were left to guard the town. It was late in the day when we heard that General Spinola, with six- teen regiments of infantry and Belger's, Ransom's, Riggs's, How- ell's, and Ashby's batteries had marched from the north bank of the Nense to go to the relief of Washington. About noon on the 9th the head of the column came upon the enemy in force, in a strong natural position on Blount's Creek. He was posted on a hill on the further side, his flauks protected by a swamp, and his position could only be approached over a mill-dam completely enfiladed by his guns. Belger's battery was ordered to open on the enemy, and met with a severe return from both artillery and musketry. Captain Belger was severely wounded in the thigh and his horse was killed. "I would not care a - about being wounded myself. if they hadn't killed my horse." was the energetic remark of this genuine lover of his noble animal. as he was carried to the rear. After using up considerable artillery ammunition, General Spinola decided that the enemy's position was too strong to attack with any hope of success, and he accordingly put his column in motion towards New Berne He made a rapid march until late in the night to reach Street's Ferry, on the Nense, and prevent a flank attack on his col- um from the direction of Kinston. The next day he brought his command to New Berne.
While the troops were absent on this expedition Colonel Sisson was in immediate command of the defences of New Berne, and was very active in providing against any attempt the enemy might make to profit by the almost defenceless condition of the town. As soon as General Spinola returned, General Palmer, who was in command of the department during General Foster's absence, determined to at.
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tempt to send reinforcements and supplies to Washington by the way of the river.
On the 10th the Fifth Rhode Island and a number of other regi- ments received orders for this expedition. Our regiment, with the exception of Company F, Lient. C. F. Gladding, which was left in Fort Rowan, embarked about one p. M. on the transport steamer Escort. General Palmer had determined to assume command, and with his staff and Lieut .- Col. Southard Hoffman, assistant adjutant- general to General Foster, also embarked at that time. "A num- ber of ladies on the wharf took such tender and tearful leave of them that we all felt that something important was at stake." After we were fairly off, Colonel Sisson called the officers together and told them that General Foster was besieged in Washington, and was short of provisions, ammunition and forage. It was all important hat reinforcements and supplies should go to him. In the morning Colonel Hoffman had sent for him and said : " I will not order or ask you to go, but wish to lay the case before you." Colonel Sisson at once offered himself and command to go and open the way to Gen- cral Foster. With a noble unanimity the officers supported him.
The next morning, Saturday, the 11th, the transports anchored off Maul's Point. Pamlico River, some ten miles below Washington. Five gunboats and a number of vessels laden with supplies were ly- ing here. General Palmer left us here to become the guest of Cap- tain Behm, of the Southfield, the senior officer of the squadron.
The blockade which prevented the approach to Washington con- sisted first of a triple row of piles, firmly driven into the river bot- tom and then cut off under water, and a number of hulks sunk along this line. This work had been done by the rebels early in the war. When our troops took Washington the obstructions in the channel had been removed for a space of about one hundred feet wide, and the passage buoyed. Second, the enemy had reoccupied the aban- doned batteries on Hill's Point, on the south bank, and, after greatly strengthening them, had armed them with heavy rifled guns. These batteries were close to the passage through the rows of piles, and completely commanded it. Third, Swan's Point batteries were fur- ther up. and on the north bank of the river, and the guns bore on the channel jast above Hill's Point. Fourth, Rodman's Point batteries,
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armed with Whitworth guns. were on the south bank of the river, two miles below Washington. At this point the channel approached very close to the shore. and the enemy's guus had complete command of it. In addition to all of these obstructions and batteries. the rebels had removed all of the buoys marking the narrow and crooked channel, and had lived the banks in every place where the channel approached them with infantry.
Up to this time it seemed to be the intention at headquarters to run the batteries with all of the force present. Saturday was passed on the Escort in taking aboard and stowing ammunition and supplies for the beleaguered garrison, and in placing bales of hay so as to protect the pilot-house, machinery and boilers. Saturday night we expected to run by, but the officers of the gunboats and others in authority thought it best not to run the risk in the night. Sunday morning. in accordance with orders from General Palmer. the Escort got under way and slowly approached the opening in the blockade in front of the Ilill's Point batteries. A fog had ariseu about daybreak, and soon became so dense as to prevent further progress, and we were soon ordered to return to our anchorage. Then the gunboats opened and showered their shell upon the batteries, as they had been doing daily for nearly two weeks, with the usual daily result of producing no apparent effect.
At sundown very impressive religious services were held on the Escort by our chaplain, assisted by Chaplain Hall, of the Forty- fourth Massachusetts, who had been waiting here for some days to join his regiment in Washington. At the close Colonel Sisson called for fifty volunteers to go ou a reconnoisauce in the morning, and it seemed as if every man in the regiment wanted to go.
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