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 18
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Again preparations were made to pass another night under arms, and quiet settled down upon both friend and foe. Nothing occurred to attract attention until about eight o'clock. when a rebel band, which had been brought well down on the railroad, began to play " Bonnie Blue Flag." and followed it with other tunes. Colonel Sisson said. .. Well. well, if they serenade us by day with shell, and with music at night, we must not be outdone in gallantry." So the fine band of the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery was brought
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out. to the top of the great traverse in Fort Totten, when it replied with " Rally Round the Flag," and other patriotic airs. Just as the rebel band commenced "Dixie " in their best style, Lieutenant Gladding, commanding Company F in Fort Rowan, thought the sere- nade would not be complete unless he joined in with some music of his own. He had been busy preparing for it in the meantime by load- ing and training his " pet," the one hundred-pounder Parrot, on the spot where he thought the rebel band was stationed. When the strains of " Dixie " reached him he fired, and with the explosion of the shell, the rebel tune stopped short, never to go again in front of New Berne. All this time the general feeling was that some movement was going on among the rebels, and all were alert to prevent a sur- prise at any point in our line of defence. When morning came the mystery was soon solved. The enemy had retreated from all points in our front. With the failure of the attack on our gunboats van- ished their hopes of making a successful assault on our works. As soon as it was ascertained that the enemy had retired, Lieutenant Dutee Johnson, Jr., with Company A. and a monitor car, started down the railroad for Croaton Station. He found a company of rebel cav- alry there, shelled them out, and again took possession of the little earthwork, and before night was " at home " again.
General Pickett reported his loss at thirty-five killed and wounded. He claimed that he captured two guns, two stands of colors, thirteen officers and 280 men.
The officer of the Underwriter, whom we have before quoted, says : "In conversation with some of the Confederate naval officers, I was told that they had been watching us for several days, and intended to capture the two other boats lying off the navy yard. Coming down the river. they lost their way in the fog, and finding only our boat. concluded to turn their whole force on us, and. after capturing our boat, to run down and attack the other two. Their force numbered 260 picked men from Charleston, Wihnington and Richmond. Our force numbered sixty all told. A large number of the crew were ashore in the hospital, sick with the fever and ague. A detail had been sent to Plymouth, N. C., to join the surveying party. These facts account for the small number aboard at the time of the attack. Fort Stevenson opening on them caused confusion in the rebel guard.
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and many of our men, taking advantage of it, rolled overboard with their hands tied behind them. Only sixteen men were taken to Richmond. Thirteen of these men died in Andersonville." This officer also learned that the actual loss of the rebels in this attack on the Underwriter was thirty-four killed, wounded, and missing, in- cluding the executive officer, Midshipman Saunders.
Our total loss on land did not exceed three hundred. About three hundred deserters and stragglers from the rebel army came into our lines or were picked up by our scouting parties. "If they came to take the place. they showed a want of pluck in retiring without an attack. If they only meant to barrass us, they made a great deal of ery for a very little wool."
One morning this incident gave variety to the excitement of the virtual siege we were enduring. It took place in the presence of a large number of spectators. A slender young fellow, apparently a recruit of the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. was conduct- ing & burly prisoner from the guard-house to the space in front of Fort Totten for some camp purpose. . So much of a ruffian was this prisoner that he was handcuffed and had a ball and chain. When well outside the fort he broke his handeuff's and fetters, which he had previously filed nearly through for this enterprise, and, drawing a large knife. he bolted towards the woods. To the surprise of all. the slender guard threw away his rifle and followed with fine racing speed, rapidly gaining at every stride. Seeing that he was being overhanled. the big ruffian halted and brandished his terrible knife. Scarcely slacking his speed, the little fellow rushed in and landed one of his feet in the big man's stomach. and down he went in a heap. Another skillful kick knocked the knife from his hand. This the guard secured, and, when his man had recovered consciousness. he asked him if he wanted any more. The ruthan said he didn't. . His guard, knife in hand, marched him back. recovered his rifle, and then took him to the guard-house. When asked why he threw away his rifle while in pursuit of his man, he said. .. Why, I had been told that if a prisoner escaped while in my charge, I would be put in his place. I didn't know how to use the gun, and I did know that I could outrun and whip the fellow." The slender young man was a noted runner and general athlete from Boston, and his kiek was the well known French blow with the foot.
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Surgeon Potter was appointed examining surgeon of recruits for the department, February 10th. Under this order he had to examine all of the negro recruits who enlisted in the various regiments of colored troops. This was in addition to his other duties. On the 14th Doctor Monroe came out with a commission as assistant-sur-
Commissary Sergt. Joseph P. Sisson.
geon in the Fifth. As the regiment had less than the minimum num- ber of men, he could not be mustered into the service. He remained in the department for some time as a " contract surgeon " in one of the general hospitals. About the same time Major Jameson received authority to recruit a regiment of colored troops, under the general regulations of the war department providing for the enlistment of meu in such organizations. Adjt. J. M. Wheaton and a number
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of non-commisioned officers of our regiment were detached to assist him. Lieut. Frank Gladding was then made adjutant of the regi- ment.
At this time there seemed to be a sort of an epidemic desire throughout the whole department for commissions in colored regi- mente. Headquarters was fairly besieged with applicants who de- sired to go before General Silas Casey's examining board. Captains wanted to become field officers. Lieutenants wanted companies, and non-commissioned officers were anxious to exchange their shoulder scales for shoulder straps. This desire was very strong in our regi- ment, and many of our best qualified and most ambitious sergeants and corporals obtained the coveted commissions.
Among those who successfully passed the rigid examination of the military board and received promotion were :
Sergt .- Major Joseph G. Hatlinger promoted to first lieutenant in Second North Carolina Volunteers (Colored), July 17, 1863.
Sergt. C. Henry Barney, Company A, promoted to first lieutenant Com- pany F, Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, Dec. 2, 1863 .*
* It should be stated here that Sergeants Barney, Chenery, Leavitt, and Gaskill, had re- ceived their commissions as lieutenants in the Second Battalion Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery in December, 1863, and reported immediately for duty.
As seven non-commissioned officers of the Fifth received commissions in the Four- teenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored, it seems titting that a brief mention of this regiment and its service should be made here.
The Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery was composed of three battalions, 1,500 strong. Each battalion had four companies of 700 men, commanded by a major. The several battalions of the regiment were separated during a greater portion of the time, all, however, serving in the Department of the Gulf.
In the First Battalion there were no members of the Fifth among its officers, so that we may be pardoned for not dwelling upon its service.
In the Second Battalion, we find from the Fifth, Lieutenants C. Henry Barney, William H. Chenery, Robert S. Gaskill, and Herbert D. Leavitt. Lieutenant Barney served as adjutant of the battalion during its entire time of service, except when acting as post adjutant at Plaquemine, La. This battalion under command of Capt. Nelson Kenyon sailed from Dutch Island. Jan. 8, 1864, in the transport Daniel Webster, for New Orleans. On arrival there it was ordered to English Turn, a few miles below the city, where, on March Tth, Major Richard G. Shaw assumed command. From English Turn the battalion re- moved to Plaquemine, one hundred miles above New Orleans, where Major Shaw became post commander and Captain Kenyon assumed command of the battalion. The duties of the officers and men here were manifold and laborious. We quote here an extract from the Adjutant- General's Report of the State of Rhode Island for 1505 : " In August, (150), the Second Battalion was visited at Plaquemine by the Inspector General of the Department of New Orleans, who reported to Genera! Banks as follows: . I landed in camp about noon, and no one knew of my coming. The call was sounded, and notice sent to turn
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Sergt. William H. Chenery, Company D, promoted to first lieutenant Company F, Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, Dec. 21, 1863. First Sergt. Herbert D. Leavitt, Company H, promoted to second lieu- tenant Company E, Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, Dec. 22, 1863.
Sergt. Robert S. Gaskill, Company D, promoted to first lieutenant Com- pany H, Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, Dec. 31, 1863.
First Sergt. William F. Tansey. Company C, promoted to first lieutenant Company K, Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, March 15, 1864.
Sergt. Allen F. Cameron, Company A, promoted to first lieutenant Com- pany I, Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, June 25, 1864.
Sergt. Oscar R. Livingstone, Company B, promoted to captain Company K, Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, July 20, 1804.
Corp. Thomas P. Mahar, Company F, promoted to lieutenant in First North Carolina Heavy Artillery (Colored), Aug. 25, 1864.
out for inspection. In five minutes lines were formed in their streets. I found every man fit for duty (not on guard or picket; at inspection ; also all of the officers. The arms andequipments were all in the very best of order. From this they marched up to the guns in double-quick time, and every man knew his place." August 16th, General Banks addressed a complimentary letter to Major Shaw, commending the officers and men of his command for the good preservation of their arms, their excellent discipline and prompt execution of orders." The fort which had been commenced by a former garrison was placed in a state of defence, and the battalion was engaged in guarding the town by a long line of pickers, besides furnishing a detached picket on the opposite bank of the Mississippi River. Several skirmishes with the enemy og- curred while the battalion was stationed here. On one occasion the rebels dashed upon the outposts, capturing the outer picket . white;, and subsequently the inner picket col- ored). The latter the rebels inhumanly murdered as they retreated through Indian Vil. lage, about twelve miles from Plaquemine. The battalion remained at this place during the greater portion of its term of service, with the exception of a few months at Donald- sonville, La., when it was ordered to Camp Parapet. La., preparatory to being mustered out.
In the Third Battalion among the officers of the line were Capt. Oscar R. Livingstone, Lieutenants William F. Tansey and Allen F. Cameron, formerly of the Fifth. This bat- talion sailed from Dutch Island on the transport America , April 3, 1864, accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Nelson Viall, a veteran of the Mexican War, and bearing with him a record of honorable service performed in the Second Rhode Island Infantry. On the 15th of April the battalion arrived at New Orleans and was ordered to Camp Parapet, a few miles above the city. Here Lieutenant- Colonel Viall assumed command of the post, and Capt Samuel Farnum commanded the battalion. Immediately after encamping fatigue parties were organized to work on the fortifications, and performed other varied and valuable service. In October, 1505, the war having terminated, and the services of the regiment being no longer required, the First and Second Battalions were ordered to Camp Parapet, where the regiment was mustered out Oct. 2, 1965. On the :th of that month it embarked on the North Star for New York, arriving there on the 15th. Leav. ing New York the next day on the propeller boris the regiment reached Portsmouth Grove, R. I., October leth. A few days later the regiment was disbanded.
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Corp. James B. Babbitt, Company F. promoted to second lieutenant in First North Carolina Heavy Artillery, Jan. 11, 1865.
Private John H. Rhodes, Company E, promoted to second lieutenant in Third North Carolina Volunteers.
Private James D. Crolley, Company C, promoted to lieutenant in First North Carolina Volunteers.
With the exception of the usual rumors of a rebel attack ou this place and a rebel movement on that one, the quiet of our garri- son life remained almost unbroken until well toward the middle of March. Then our camp-fire talk was not so much about martial as marital affairs. Our colonel, and his usual straightforward and ener- getic way of doing things, was the subject of it. This was the reason and also the record of the affair: On the 14th of December, 1863, he was introduced to Miss Nettie Walworth. of Elmira, New York. On the 14th of February, 1864, he was engaged to her. On the 14th of March he married her. The ceremony took place at the residence of the bride's uncle, Mr. Mallory, in the presence of the field and staff of our regiment and some officers from other organiza- tions. Chaplain White was the officiating clergyman, and Adjt. Frank Gladding and the young daughter of the host "' stood up " with the bride and groom. The next evening they had a house warming, attended by the officers of our regiment and many others. Mrs. Sisson was soon well known in our regimental hospital, where her pleasant face and kind manner soon endeared her to all, and many were the delicacies that found their way through her instrumentality from the colonel's bountiful table to the bedside of the patients there.
Soon after this our surgeon paid a well deserved tribute to one of those hard working, but seldom mentioned men, the non-commissioned staff. He wrote :
" Hospital Steward Burlingame is at work on a hospital garden, from which to supply the regimental hospital with fresh vegetables this summer. He is invaluable in the hospital. keeping everything in good order, and he does not need to be told every minute what to do. I should feel very sorry to lose him, but still I hope he will get a commission some of these days. He certainly is worthy of one."
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Once more it became apparent that the rebels would repeat their campaign in North Carolina of March and April, 1863. After their failure at New Berne that year, they made their descent on Little Washington. That they intended an attack on some other important post seemed as certain now as then. At last information from with- in the rebel lines indicated that Plymouth, on the Roanoke River, would next be called upon to face the coming storm. That the enemy had built a strong iron-clad in the Roanoke, above Plymouth, was well known, and that it was intended to make a joint attack by river and land, was equally certain. Six gunboats were in the river, and a brigade of veteran troops manned the defences of the town, which was under the command of Brigadier General Wessells, who was well known as one of our bravest and best fighting generals. Every precaution was taken to guard against the descent of the rebel ram Albemarle.
Sunday, April 17th, the land attack began, and it seemed only fun to our men. But at three o'clock Monday morning the ram sud- denly made her appearance, crushing one of our wooden gunboats as a strong man would an egg shell. The heaviest solid shot made no impression on her iron sides. There was not room enough in the river for our boats to manoeuvre and keep out of her way. Lieuten- ant-Commander Flusser ran alongside with one of the gunboats and tried to get a shell down her smoke-stack. Failing in this, he tried to fire a shell through one of her port-holes. The gun was fired when the ram was not more than two yards distant. The shell struck the side of the ram, was exploded by the concussion, and a piece of it flew back, striking aud instantly killing Commander Flusser. The shell made no impression on the ram. The gunboats now had to get out of the narrow river or be destroyed one after another, so they retired to Albemarle Sound and blockaded the mouth of the Roa- noke.+ This formidable ram, with her heavy armament, made the defences of Plymouth untenable, and. on Wednesday, April 20th, General Wessels surrendered.
* Sergt. George Dunlap and Private I-alah Crawford, Company E, of the Fifth, were detailed on board the Bombshell, and were present during the encounter of the gunhosts and the rebel ram A7mart. A newspaper correspondent writing of this affair says: " In this defence the Bookshe'd rendered saludde assistmed until shout dirk, when she Was disabled by a shot through her steam-chest."
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The appearance of the Albemarle created a panic in North Caro- lina as great in proportion as that caused by the appearance of the Merrimac in Hampton Roads in the spring of 1862. At this time the department had been almost denuded of troops to strengthen the Eighteenth Army Corps, which was now rendevouzed at Fortress Monroe, preparatory to a movement against Richmond by the Army of the James, under General Butler. It was feared that this ram would clear the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds of our fleet and block- ade all of our land forces.
The nature of the attack was speedily known in New Berne. for on the night of the 20th, General Palmer and Colonel Sisson roused Captains Moran. of Company D, and Taft, Company I, after they had retired for the night, and explained to them the situation. It was feared that the ram Albemarle might attack and reduce the forts at Hatteras Inlet. They were ordered to get their companies ready to embark as soon as possible. In about an hour they were on the transport Porturent and on their way to Hatteras, which they reached the next morning. Captain Moran was in command of the detachment and was instructed to take command of the post at Hat- taras on his arrival there. It was garrisoned already by two com- panies of the First North Carolina Volunteers (white). He found the armament of the forts in very poor condition to withstand a vigor- ons attack. The men of the Fifth knew their business at this time. They relaid platforms and repaired gun carriages, moved the gun that would be of most use in case of an attack from the ram, a one hun- dred-pounder Parrott. to a new and better position, and, repairing the carriage. remounted it. also repaired the carriage of the eleven- inch Columbiad which was unserviceable for a considerable time prior to this, and the second day after their arrival were ready for the rebel ram. or the rebel army for that matter. But our wooden gunboats had taught the Albemarle a most wholesome lesson when she attempted to leave the Roanoke, and she returned to Plymouth, there to remain until the daring Cushing put an end to her existence as a war vessel. On the 30th, Captain Moran was ordered to report with his detachment to the officer in command at Roanoke Island. He left Hatteras, May 1st, but did not reach the island until May 2d. owing to a detect in the machinery of the transport. the Pilot Boy.
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Captain Moran, with Company D, went to Fort Foster, and Captain Taft, with Company I to Fort Parke, on the north end of the island.
The ram Albemarle, though she had retired from before our fleet of wooden gunboats, was still feared, and in order to prevent the loss of another post under circumstances similar to that of Plymouth, it was decided to evacuate Washington and concentrate all the troops in that vicinity in New Berne.
It will be remembered that in the preceding autumn Companies E, Captain Hopkins, and C, Lieutenant Pierce, had been sent from Hat- teras Inlet to Washington, and that Capt. William W. Douglas, of Company C, was in Rhode Island on recruiting service at the time. Soon after these companies reached Washington, E was sent to Rod- man's Point, and C to Hill's Point. They passed the winter at these posts doing the usual picket, guard and camp duties, and suffering severely from intermittent and other malarial fevers. Often the sick list was so great that there was not enough men " for duty " to sup- ply the detail for picket and camp guards.
Nothing of interest occurred in the vicinity of Washington during the winter. At Hill's Point there were two companies of the Fifty- eighth Pennsylvania, the regiment so well known to every one in the Fifth while it was stationed at Batchelder's Creek, and also Company C. Capt. Cecil Clay, of the Fifty-eighth, commanded the post. He was of the Kentucky Clays, and a grandnephew of Henry Clay. Some time after Captain Douglas had rejoined his company word was brought to the post that a rebel detachment was at work in the coun- try between the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers, impressing conscripts for the rebel army in Virginia. Captains Clay and Douglas determined to bring this detachment in. They made a detail of about fifty picked men from the three companies, and started from the post just before night. Marching all night, they reached the place where they had been informed the rebel detachment would pass on its man hunting expedition. Here they placed the men in ambush and remained all day, lying flat on the ground, and not even speaking to one another. They were cold and stiff enough when night came.
Towards night they learned that the rebels had stopped at a house not far away. They surrounded the house and broke in the door. only to find it competely deserted. After searching for information,
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they at length learned that this much desired rebel band was in a small school-house, situated in an open field not far distant. The school- house was then surrounded. At the word the door was forced, and the men rushed in upon the sleeping rebels. They were told that if they fired a shot all would be killed, so they commenced destroying their carbines and shot-guns by striking the stocks on the floor .. There were fifteen men under the command of a lieutenant in this press-gang thus happily captured without firing a shot.
From this time on one day was but the repetition of another until the siege and loss of Plymouth caused a ripple of excitement. When it was decided to evacuate Washington, the men at Rodman's and Hill's Points were ordered to that town. This was about April 28th. For two days Companies C and E were employed in dismounting the guns and removing the stores. On the 30th the order for evacuation was given. All reports that our troops destroyed large amounts of supplies and ammunition are false. Not even a shell was left behind. Everything worth moving was taken away. The fires that burned the barracks and many houses in the town were not set by Union troops. No enemy had appeared in the vicinity and all the labor at- tending such an evacuation was done in the most deliberate manner. The troops embarked on the 30th. the guuboats were withdrawn. and Companies C and E reached New Berne the next day.
CHAPTER XIII.
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CAPTURE OF COMPANY A AT CROATAN.
ANDERSONVILLE AND FLORENCE.
W ITH the opening of the campaign in Virginia the enemy hurried every man that could possibly be spared from North Carolina to Richmond to oppose the Army of the James, which was at that time assembled at Fortress Monroe, and threatening to advance on Richmond by the way of James River. To cover this movement of troops from North Carolina, the ram Albemarle came out of the Roanoke into the sound May 5th. After a long and desperate engagement, during which two of our gunboats tried to sink her by ramming, she retired just at night up the Ro- anoke. She never came out again. In cooperation with this move- ment of the Albemarle, a large force of rebel cavalry, estimated at one brigade, with two batteries, made a raid on New Berne. They first appeared and attacked our pickets at Batchelder's Creek and Rocky Run, Wednesday afternoon, May 4th, but only succeeded in driving our outposts in on the reserves. Thursday morning they attacked the pickets at Evans's Mills. on Bryce's Creek, south of the Trent, and there they forced their way across. They then moved down the railroad toward Croatan Station, where they attacked Com- pany A, of our regiment, and, after a gallant resistance, it was com- pelled to surrender.
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