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 17
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the same way. A passing glimpse of a heavy-featured, corpulent man on a gaily-caparisoned gray horse, as he hurried by, followed by a number of officers of inferior rank, who kept getting in each other's way as they turned sharp corners in the fort, or strung out in a dis- orderly looking group as they scurried after him outside, is all that we saw of General Butler. And as we marched away to our quar- ters each one of us had a conviction that General Butler had not no- ticed whether our belt-plates and shoulder-scales were polished or not ; nor had he asked Colonel Sisson for our name. Then we thought of the days of sweeping, scouring and cleaning, and how he galloped through it all in an hour, and was off on the evening train for the - " next," and we felt our enthusiasm for an inspection by the major-general commanding the department slowly but surely ooze away.
Again we settled down to our routine duties. At this time our surgeon, Doctor Warren, received an honorable discharge from the service on account of continued illness. It was to date from No- vember 7th. Assistant-Surgeon Albert Potter was commissioned as surgeon, and mustered as such Nov. 27, 1863. The recommen- dations asking for his promotion, from his superior officers in the medical department, as well as from his immediate superiors in the regiment, bore flattering testimony as to his worth as a skillful and faithful surgeon. Why we ever had any other surgeon was one of the things the men in the regiment could never understand.
There was no formal observance of Thanksgiving day in our camp this year. Such of the men or companies as could, made some addi- tions to their usual rations. Company D had peafowl in lieu of turkey. At the regimental hospital the patients were more fortu- mate than the majority of the regiment. Hospital Steward Burlin- game determined that they should have a dinner. But all of his energy could not procure the conventional turkeys. So he did the next best thing by getting a pig that when dressed weighed at least sixty pounds. This he had nicely roasted at the post bakery. A table was laid for thirty guests in one of the hospital tents. and the pig, nicely browned and standing on its feet, was the centre-piece. Around it were all of the vegetables and sauces, puddings and pies, fruit, and other things that make up a real New England Thanks-
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giving dinner. It was the success of its kind in New Berne that day. Assistant-Surgeon Greene presided at the table, and every man in the hospital certified by deeds his appreciation of Steward Burlingame's labors for their comfort and pleasure.
At this time our chaplain wrote : " The regiment is in fine health and spirits. The days are pleasant. the nights are cool, and some- times we get a light frost. I wish it were possible to say some word that would adequately and clearly express my opinion of the large major- ity of the non-commissioned officers and privates of this regiment, their devotion, patience and patriotism. When I see them in pain and in toil bearing up against despondency, I am astonished. I de- pend, not so much upon sermons, as upon social. kindly visits to the tents of the soldiers for the accomplishment of my work, and so, of course, see how things actually are."
On the 31st of December the regiment was startled by the news of the death of Quartermaster William W. Prouty, of apoplexy. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church, in New Street, January 2d. Pursuant to an order from headquarters of the regi- ment, the flags in all the forts were at half-mast. and all of the offi- cers and men not on necessary guard duty attended the services in the church. He was buried with military honor, at the grave. The escort was under command of First Lieutenant Angell. In an unfin- ished letter to his mother Lieutenant Pronty's last words were, .: I want to come home." He had gone sooner than he thought. First Lientenant Charles E. Lawton was appointed quartermaster. Of him it was said at that time. ". He is a gentleman, has been in busi- ness in Newport for twenty years, and when he was drafted he did not send a substitute nor pay three hundred dollars. but came him- self. He was soon after commissioned by Governor Smith, and is now our quartermaster."
So quiet was the life in New Berne during the autumn and first part of the winter that it seemed difficult to realize that we were actually in a state of war. The news from other fiells reached ns through the papers, so that the roar of the mighty struggle which raged along the Potomac and the Mississippi came to us as the mur- murs of some far-off sound. Busy as they tried to keep us, some of the men found more leisure than was good for them. It was a cus- tom to allow passes to visit the towa to a certiin proportion of the
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men not on duty each day. Too often " commissary " would work its perfect work on those thus enjoying a day's liberty. From this failing on the part of some of the men arose the following incident, which shall be told just as our chaplain related it at the time, Jan. 26, 1864 :
First Sergt. Daniel Dove.
.. Our mess was greatly interested when the following letter was received by Colonel Sisson. When letters of general interest are re- ceived the adjutant reads them for the benefit of the company. As a specimen I send you the following from one of the boys who had remained down town a little too long, and the provost guard had arrested him. He was, evidently, one of our new recruits of foreign birth and limited knowledge of the English language :
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CRAVEN STREET JAIL, NEW BERNE, N. C.
To the most illustrious warrior of the noble and patriotic State of Rhode Island, Colonel Sisson, commanding the Fifth Regiment Rhode Island Artillery :
We, the undersigned, member of the celebrated regiment which has the honor to be commanded by you;
We address you for the purpose of informing you that we are held in durance rile on the base charge of desertion. But, noble sir, Ido assure you that in reality it is no more than mere absence without leave. What makes the charge more disgusting to me is the imputation of flying in so disgraceful a manner from under the command of so noble a warrior as you are well known to be. Sir, if you could make it convenient to call at this place for a few moments, I hope I can convince you that my conduct has in no manner merited the vile stigma attempted to be attached to it. Hoping that your illustrious highness will grant the request mentioned in this, by so doing you will confer eternal obligation on your humble and devoted admirer and fellow patriot.
Company -, Fifth Reg't R. I. A.
We all voted that the colonel could do no less than see his " fellow patriot."
At this time our chaplain speaks of his work in the regiment in these terms :
" God is with us in our work. Save the daily service at dress parade in Fort Totten and the two services per week in the hospital, our relig- ious work is chiefly done in a kind of pastoral labor. It is my custom to visit each tent where our men are stationed, in the six forts around New Berne, every week. It takes from two to three days every week to do this work. In sermons it is more difficult to get at soldiers, but go into the tent and talk with them and they will open their hearts to you. Some of the most interesting moments in my life have been in the tents with the soldiers, talking of Jesus Christ. Let those who think all sol- diers are given to evil and wrong remember that in fact there are good men all among the camps, and that the God of all Merey is not far from us. our duties and trials, our sufferings and our dangers. In all of the fields of labor where I have been I have never felt more entirely satisfied that I am doing God's work and God's will than here. I have no reason to suppese that a single officer or soldier in the regiment tries to hinder me in my work. Nor is my anty simply a work of faith. I see tokens of good."
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CHAPTER XII.
THE SECOND ATTACK OF THE REBELS ON NEW BERNE.
N August, 1863, the rebel army in Virginia had taken up the position near Lovisa Court House and Culpepper, Va., which it substantially occupied until the opening of the campaign of the Wilderness, in May, 1864. Early in September, 1863, General Longstreet, of that army, was sent with two divisions of his corps, Hood's and Kershaw's, to reinforce General Bragg. It was the ar- rival of these troops that made it possible for the rebels to attack General Rosecrans at Chickamauga. The other division of Long- street's corps. Pickett's, or what there was left of it after its famous charge at Gettysburg, was withdrawn from the rebel army and sent south of the James, to rest and recruit its depleted ranks. When winter set in, and it was certain that active operations in Virginia were over for that season, this division, under its able and dashing commander, was sent into North Carolina to find subsistence for it- self and collect supplies and conscripts for the rebel army. The rebel authorities took advantage of the presence of this force in North Carolina to attempt another movement on New Berne, and with all the more chance of success now that General Foster had been trans- ferred to another department. and our forces had been weakened by an unusually sickly summer and autumn, together with the with- drawal to other fields of every man who could be spared. The plans of the enemy were carefully and skilfully made, and as carc- fully concealed. In New Berne rumors of contemplated rebel movements were plentiful enough, but their only effect was to canse increased vigilance at the various outposts. At this time the One Hundred and Thirty-second New York regiment was stationed at I
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Batchelder's Creek. while the Twelfth New York Cavalry picketed and scouted through the country west of the city along the Treut River. At this time, January, 1864, the aggregate force of all arms at New Berne was less than five thousand men.
Such was the state of affairs when, at five o'clock Monday morn- ing, Feb. 1. 1864, the long roll was beaten, and officers and men hastily turned out to hear the sounds of desperate fighting at Batch- elder's Creek and the stations along the Trent. The threatened at- tack on New Berne was being made, under circumstances more favorable to the rebel arms than ever before. Such reinforcements as could be spared from the scanty force in the city were hurried for- ward to the reserve posts, only to find themselves in the presence of large forces of the enemy, and. struggle as they might. they were soon borne from the field by the mere weight of overwhelming num- bers. They had either to retire on New Berne or be captured. At Batchelder's Creek the One Hundred and Thirty-second New York, under Colonel Classon, made a brave and determined stand. but were compelled to retreat, after losing heavily in officers and men. They destroyed their camp and brought their iron-clad car, the Monitor, in with them. The fighting at Deep Gully and other stations was proportionately severe, and attended with the same results. The enemy followed our retiring men until they were under the cover of the guns of our works. By the middle of the afternoon the situa- tion in New Berne was gloomy enough. Everything moveable, car- alry, artillery. infantry, contrabands.and stores, were within the line of defences. Detailed men and convalescents were hurried to their respective companies, the fire companies were ordered out and armed, and all able-bodied civilians, white and black, were soon added to the forces in the works. The gunboats were now moved into position in both the Trent and Neuse rivers. so as to assist the forts in repelling an assault.
Night came on, and our outer picket line was established within hailing distance of the works. General Palmer made the very best disposition possible of his meagre foree. - Ilis fine was six miles long. He had but eight hundred meu for each mile, and no one could tell the point in this line on which the attack would fall.
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
At this time the Fifth was distributed in the forts as follows : Fort Totten had two companies, D and I, and also two companies of the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. The fort was in com- mand of Major Oliver, of that regiment. while Captain Moran was in command of bastion number three, and Captain Taft, of Company I, had charge of bastion number two. Fort Rowan had Company F, Lieut C. F. Gladding. Fort Stevenson had Company HI, Capt. H. B. Landers. Fort Spinola, south of the Trent, had Company B, Capt. I. M. Potter. Fort Amory had Company G. Captain Rob- inson, and Fort Gaston, Company K, Captain De Meulin. Compa- nies C, Lieutenant Pierce, and E, Captain Hopkins, were still at " Little " Washington. Company A. Lieut. Dutee Johnston, Jr., was at Croatan Station. some twelve miles out. on the railroad towards Beaufort. Colonel Sisson was in command of all the forts. and our men were to man and work the guns. Careful instructions were given to the pickets ; the guns in the forts that would bear on an at- tacking force were shotted and trained, and the officers and men were at their posts.
Time was now taken to ascertain the losses of the morning. Col- onel Classon, of the One Hundred and Thirty-second New York, bad been compelled to retreat, with the loss of his quartermaster shot dead. two officers mortally wounded. and a total of seventy enlisted men killed, wounded and missing. He had also lost two guas of Angell's New York Battery, The Twelfth New York Cavalry had burned their camp and stores before leaving it. The Seventeenth Massachusetts was reported to have lost six officers and sixty-five men out of thirteen officers and 115 men, while the lieutenant-colo- nel, J. P. Fellows, was missing. The utmost care was taken to have the men in the best possible condition for the attack, which was now expected would be made not later than just before dawn in the moru- ing. Hot coffee was served to all of the men in the forts at least once during the night.
In addition to the anxiety caused by the situation in New Berne. every one in the Fifth feared that the worst had befallen Lieutenant Johnson and Company A. Up to this time it had been the good for- tune of the Fifth to meet every emergency with coolness and courage. Indeed. the reputation of the regiment for bravery and steadiness
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was second to that of no organization in the department. Every one knew that the company and its commander would give a good ac- count of themselves. They occupied a small earthwork armed with two six-pounder brass guns, To the great relief of all, Lieutenant Johnson marched into New Berne during the night. When nearly surrounded he had collected some two hundred and fifty contrabands. spiked his guns, and made his way safely along the Neuse River road to our lines without loss.
Morning dawned, and the expected attack had not been made. About nine A. M. a battalion of the Twelfth Regiment New York Cavalry moved out on the Trent road about one mile, and when near a piece of woods deployed a line of skirmishers. They had no sooner advanced this line than it received a severe fire from a large force of the enemy in the wood. One man was killed and a number were wounded. It took the cavalry but little time to learn that the enemy were still in strong force in our front, and they returned within our lines. The body of the dead soldier was brought in across the saddle of one of his fellow troopers. This occurred within sight of Fort Totten. It was learned that the force of the rebels en- gaged in this attack on New Berne was composed of Pickett's divis- ion, from Lee's army, Hoke's brigade. from Wilmington, N. C., and Clingman's and Cobb's brigades, that had so long been stationed at Kinston and Goldsboro. The exact number of this force was not known, as many must have been away on furlough at this time, but it could not have been less than fourteen to fifteen thousand of all arms. There were not less than three batteries. Owing to our very small force, nothing could be done but to wait until the enemy devel- oped their plans ; and so we passed the long, depressing day.
Night came again to the wearied men in New Berne, only to in- crease their anxiety. " What will the rebels do next?" was the query in every mind. That they had some enterprise in hand was deemed certain, for they had as yet made no open demonstration against the town since the return of the cavalry reconnoisance in the morning. Preparations were made to pass the night in the same manner as the last one. As many men as could be spared at one time were permitted to take a short sleep. They were then aroused to relieve their comrades on post at the guns, who took their rest in turn,
2
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while hot coffee was again served as before. About one o'clock a general alarm was made along the whole front. In some cases the pickets retired hastily to our works and reported the enemy advanc- ing. The cause of this alarm was soon known throughout our lines.
Musician George W. Hoxie.
The enemy had brought a complete gunboat's crew of two hundred and sixty men and a number of barges to Kinston by rail, where the boats were placed in the Neuse. The plan of using them was cas well conceived and came near being successful, as will be seen. These men were to drop down the river as near as possible to New Berne, and wait until about midnight. They were then, under cover of the
-
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usual fog that settles at night on the rivers in this section in the win- ter, to silently approach one of our gunboats in the river above the town, board and capture her. Then they were to man her and open fire from the rear on the forts and breastworks defending the city. In the confusion that would ensue, Pickett's columns were to sweep forward to the assault, carry the works, and New Berne would be their's again.
On Monday morning the Underwriter, one of the smallest but most useful of our gunboats. had been ordered to a point in the Neuse, just below Fort Stevenson, where she dropped anchor, beat to quar. ters, and trained her guns so as to sweep the plain in front of our works, at the same time cross-firing with the guns of the forts on any attacking force. About dusk the gig of the gunboat was sent up the river to see if any movement was being made by the enemy, and at the same time to try to communicate with some of our pickets at Batchelder's Creek, which had been cut off the day before. It seems that while this boat was running up the channel south of Fleache's Island, the rebel boats were coming down the channel ou the north side. and they thus passed each other in the darkness. One of the Underwriter's officers, after his exchange, gave this de- scription of the fight that ensued : " Two o'clock, Tuesday morning. the lookout forward saw the bow of a boat coming out of the heavy fog which had settled on the river, and hailed her. Receiving no answer, he fired, killing the man in the bow, although he believed it was our boat returning, yet the rule was, . obey orders if you break owners.' Immediately after the shot was fired some dozen boats shot out from under cover of the fog. at a distance of only fifty yards, and, dividing into two divisions, attempted to board ns fore and aft. The alarm was quickly given by the officer of the deck. The crew rushed promptly to their stations and obstinately disputed the rebels in their attempt to board. At last they were compelled to give way, overpowered and outnumbered four to one. I am unable to give the exact number of our loss. It was not far from twenty. The captain was killed in the first part of the action, and two of our officers severely wounded. The heavy fog enabled them to come so near that we could not use our nine-inch . barkers,' which would have turned the tide in our favor."
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The rebel crew went at once to their quarters ; some to the fire- room to get up steam, some to the engine-room, and others to the guns. It is stated that they paid out the anchor cable to let her drop down the stream, so that if discovered the guns of Fort Stevenson would not be able to get her range before they got up steam enough to give her steerage way, and she swung in shore and went aground. During the struggle on her decks one of the crew jumped into the river, swam ashore, made his way into Fort Stevenson, and informed the commanding officer, Captain Landers, of Company H, the cause of the conflict he had heard on the Underwriter. He at once trained one of his largest guns on the boat and sent three shells into her. The enemy. finding that she was hard aground, that they had been discovered and were being raked by the shell from Fort Stevenson, set her on fire and took to their boats, leaving their own as well as our wounded, and escaped in the fog and darkness. At four o'clock the fire reached her magazine, and she blew up. All of the wounded Jeft by the retreating enemy were either drowned or killed in the ex- plosion. Captain Landers, in speaking of this short and exciting struggle said : '. It seemed hard to fire into her when our wounded were groaning and crying for help, but it was my duty to shell the rebels out, and burn and sink her." He did all three.
The rebel commander made this official report : " The force un- der my command boarded and captured last night the United States gunboat Underwriter, four guns and ninety men and officers. Her position, within musket range of several strong works, one of which was raking the vessel during the time we had possession of her, and her not having steam up, caused me to burn her. Our loss is twenty killed and wounded and four missing. The enemy's unknown."
After the exciting events of the night, the morning of the third day dawned upon the weary men in the forts and breastworks, bringing to each one the confident expectation that this would surely be the decisive day. But there was no more apparent activity among the enemy they knew to be in their front than on the day before. Noth- ing occurred save a few exciting incidents here and there. Two of these will show the skill the Fifth had already attained in the use of heavy guns. Major Oliver, in command of Fort Totten, was gen- eral field officer of the day. About noon he came in from his morn- 13
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ing round and told Captain Moran that there was a rebel picket post of infantry out on the railroad, and he asked the captain if he could not stir it up a little. They estimated the distance to be one and one-half miles from Fort Totten. They went to the rifled thirty-two and found the gun squad just taking their dinner. Captain Moran withdrew the charge of shrapnel, cut the fuse of a shell to that dis- tance, loaded and elevated the gun and discharged it. They watched the flight of the shell as it arose high in the air, and Major Oliver in- sisted that the elevation was too great, that the shell would go far beyond, and they left the bastion. It was learned afterward that the shell did drop, " by chance," Captain Moran says, among the squad of rebels, killing three and wounding others. Just at evening the men of Company D had a chance to use their " pet," the eight-inch colum- biad. About sundown a rebel officer rode out of the woods on the Neuse road toward Fort Totten. He walked his horse at a slow pace, and his manner seemed to indicate that he was examining our works. " He was watched closely, and it was determined to give him a salute if he came much further. The columbiad was trained on a point in the road that was known to be 800 yards from the fort. and a shell primed for that distance was placed in the gun. By the time he had reached that point the gun was fired. It was a pretty shot. The shell exploded ten or twelve feet from the ground. right in front of the horseman. A moment after the flash of the explosion we saw the riderless horse scampering up the road until it was out of sight in the gathering darkness." During the day the enemy ap- peared in some force in front of Fort Spinola, below the Trent, and Captain Potter opened on them. They soon sought the shelter of the woods beyond the range of our guns. Captain De Meulen, in Fort Gaston, had a similar experience.
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