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 19
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Thursday afternoon they turned their steps back towards New Berne, and came up to within range of Fort Spinola, which at that time was garrisoned by Company B. Capt. I. M. Potter command- ing. The gunboats, Fort Spinola, and the iron-clad car Monitor opened on them, and they replied with a few shells, and then retired beyond the range of our guus. Friday morning they sent in a day
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with a demand for the surrender of New Berne before sunset. They modestly stated their force to be three brigades of infantry, besides cavalry and artillery. Captain Potter went out to receive the flag, as he thought the picket might say something which would be im- proper in regard to the garrison or its defences. The officer in
Col. Isaac M. Potter.
charge of the flag talked in a very boastful manner. at the same time the retreating rebel column was ten miles away. General Palmer advised them to depart. as he proposed to fire in that direction in half an hour, and some of them might get hurt. He also said that he was placed there to hold New Berue, and he should do so to the best of his ability. It afterwards transpired they they had been
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recalled to Virginia, and the demand for the surrender of New Berne was only a ruse to gain time to get their trains away without molesta- tion.
In giving an account of the capture of Company A,* which was the only disaster that ever befell the Fifth, we will first give the official report of Colonel Sisson, and follow it with the narrative of Chaplain White, which tells us of the fight and surrender at Croa- tan, and the incidents of the march of the company as prisoners to Kinston. This will be supplemented with the narrative of S. B. Hiscox, of Company A., one of the few who survived Andersonville.
HEADQUARTETS FIFTH REGIMENT R. I. ARTILLERY, NEW BERNE, N. C., May 8, 1861.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report the capture by the enemy of a portion of my regiment, and submit the following particulars in relation thereto:
During several months Company A has been stationed at Croatan, N. C. This place is situated on the line of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, twelve miles from New Berne, and half a mile east of Bryce's Creek, and six miles from Havelock, going south. Croaton is an isolated place, and exceedingly difficult of access except by railroad, and has been held since the capture of New Berne simply to prevent guerrillas from tearing up the track and cutting the telegraph wire.
About seven o'clock on the morning of the 5th instant, the enemy in considerable force appeared at Croatan, having effected the crossing of Bryce's Creek at a point above the pickers of the company. Arriving at the " station," they immediately surrounded our men, preparatory to an attack, and to prevent the possibility of any escaping. Captain Aigan collected his men and threw his entire command into the fort at that place, which had one small gun, a six-pounder howitzer, and opened a vigorous fire on the enemy. A desperate fight ensued, lasting over an hour and a half, when the enemy demanded an unconditional surrender. This was refused by Captain Aigan. Subsequently. however, seeing that he could maintain his position but a short time. he agreed to a condi- tional surrender, the terms of which I have been unable to ascertain. The citizens of Croatan affirm that the enemy freely acknowledged that our men fought with great gallantry.
* At this time First Lieutenant Dutee Johnson, Jr., was on detached service. Lieu. tenant-Colonel Tew having received authority from Headquarters District of North Carolina to recruit a regiment of colored infantry, Lieutenant Johnson was detailed to assist hita, and consequently was absent when the attack on Croatan was made. Licut. George H. Pierce and the following enlisted men were also derailed on this recruiting service : Seret. Samittel Richards, Cotagary 1; sorgt. Richard Lable, Company H ; Corp. Benjamin F. Drown, Company (, and Corp. Thomas Maher, Company F.
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Fortunately not one of Captain Aigan's command was killed, and but one was wounded. The loss of the enemy was not known. Chaplain White's horse was found dead in the ditch where it was shot. The men were allowed, as part of the terms of surrender, to take two suits of clothing each, which will be of great service to them while prisoners of war.
About a week prior to their capture they received four months' pay from the government. Nearly one-third of the company had re-enlisted as veterans, and had received the first instalment of bounty, advance pay, etc.
It is a source of satisfaction to know that the men of the Fifth Regi- ment who participated in this affair fought bravely and well, and did all that men could do against such unequal numbers.
1 am, sir, with respect, your obedient servant,
HENRY T. SIssoN, Colonel Comd'y Fifth Reg't R. I. Artillery. Brig .- General E. C. MAURAN, Adjutant-General State of R. I.
One corporal and three men on picket below the point where the enemy crossed escaped and made their way to New Berne.
Chaplain White's narrative is as follows :
" On the afternoon of May 4th I received permission to visit Cap- tain Aigan and Company A. at Croatan Station, a small fort on the railroad, eleven miles east of New Berne. In the performance of my duties as chaplain. I had usually visited this company by going on the cars. but this time I thought I would take my horse and visit also an old friend who was working a plantation a few miles below. I reached Croatan about four p. M .. and found the captain, lientenant, and company well. Everything seemed quiet, and there were no ru- mors of an enemy near. As was my weekly custom, I visited the tents of all the men, distributing newspapers and tracts and convers- ing with them. Lieutenant Durfee joined me in an evening ride, and we went over to see my friend. a few miles away, on the banks of the Neuse River. After supper we returned, reaching the fort just after dark. I spent the night with Captain Aigan, Lieutenant Durfee kindly compelling me to occupy his bed, while he slept on a blanket on the floor. Early in the morning Captain Aigan was up, and before I had arisen I heard the voice of an excited negro woman, who, near the fort, was telling the soldiers about the rebel-, who. she
FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY. 200
said, were near her house, and were cutting ont the blockade of trees that our men had felled across the road to prevent the enemy from coming in upon the railroad at that point. Soon another negro came with substantially the same story. Captain Aigan judged the ne- groes to have become needlessly alarmed, or, if persons were cutting out the blockade, he thought it might be the negroes who had been permitted to make turpentine beyond the road, and were opening it to get it out.
"Captain Aigan sat but a few moments at breakfast, and just as he came out another negro came in, giving more definite statements. Sergeant Kennedy, with ten or twelve men, was sent out at once to reconnoitre the position, while Captain Aigan mounted his horse and went on another road on the left toward his own pickets to see if there was any real cause of alarm. He proceeded nearly a mile, when he suddenly found himself surrounded by some twenty rebels. but as they desired to capture him they did not fire. Wheeling sud- denly, he put spurs to his horse and escaped to the fort. The tents were at once struck, water and what rations were on hand were taken into the fort. the drawbridge was taken up, the magazine opened, ammunition distributed, and every preparation made for action. While this was going on, Sergeant Kennedy and his men came in and reported the enemy advancing. The horse belonging to the fort and mine were taken to the rear of the fort and fastened in an old rifle-pit, where we supposed they would be safe. Skirmish- ing commeneed between seven and eight o'clock, and not far from nine o'clock the enemy's cavalry appeared nearly a mile distant, coming upon the railroad between us and New Berne. They seemed to come rapidly, without fear, and in considerable force. As the
column were in fair view, Captain Aigan ordered a shell to be thrown from the six-pounder brass piece, which was the only defence of the fort except the muskets of the men. The fort was a small earth- work, and not intended to be held against a large force. When the enemy advanced on New Berne last February, this work was evacu- ated by order, but as Captain Aigan had no orders he had no al- ternative but to stay and meet what might come. The shell from our gun struck about four feet from the horse of the captain, and, passing into the column, cut off a horse's head.
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" The column was at once halted and seemed thrown into consid- erable confusion, as it filed into the woods on our left. A rapid fire was kept up on them until they disappeared in the woods. In a con- versation with Captain Martin, whose troop was in advance, he told me that he had never before been under such close and accurate shelling. Captain Again had sent out a man, who had been in the cavalry service, to reconnoitre, and who reported them dismounting and apparently preparing for an assault. Soon a sharp fire was opened upon us from the woods, near a house on the right of the rail- road. Not long after fire was opened on us from the low brush, near a house on the left of the railroad. Gradually the line was extended on the right and the left until we were entirely surrounded. The re- turn fire from the fort was as rapid and as heavy as we could make it. Solid shot, shell and canister were thrown first in one direction and then in another, and, as our gun was a field-piece, mounted on an elevated platform. it commanded the approach in every direction. In using it the men were ordered to keep well down to escape the rebel fire. The rifles of the men also did their part of the work. The sharpshooters from the trees were more annoying to us than the fire from any other position. The gun became so hot that it was almost impossible to work it, and one cartridge took fire when the gunners were attempting to load it, throwing them against the walls of the fort. The men were compelled to handle their rifles by the gun slings they became so hot.
" As I went around among the men to cheer, help, or do what I could, I was more than ever impressed with the noble patriotism of the men who compose our army. Captain Aigan was cool and brave. and most nobly did he perform his duty. Lieutenant Durfee super- intended the ammunition. and was constantly at his post. At half- past two o'clock a flag of truce was seen coming down the railroad. Firing then ceased on both sides. Captain Aigan went out to meet it and asked what was wanted. The officer replied that the surrender of the fort was demanded. Captain Aigan replied that he could not surrender the fort. He was informed that it would be re- duced, as ample means were at hand for that purpose. but if he would surrender they would not bring their artillery across the stream. Captain Again replied that he should not surrender, and,
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saluting, each turned to join his command. As he came back Cap- tain Aigan saw what he more than suspected, that the enemy had taken advantage of the truce. As soon as the firing ceased, a large number of the enemy rose from their cover and came into sight, and those that had not good positions advanced and took them. Captain
Major John Aigan.
Aigan called Lieutenant Durfee and myself together, and, informing us of the result of the interview, he asked our opinion. We saw that the capture of the fort was ouly a question of time, and the only question aside from the lack of water was the sacrifice of the men. From the new position which the enemy had obtained during the truce we saw that we could hardly hope to work the gun for any
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length of time. The only course then seemed to be the surrender of the fort. A white flag was then raised, and soon the officer who came before returned. Captain Aigan met Colonel Polk, of Deering's brigade of cavalry, and proposed to surrender on the following terms :
'I. That all private property should be respected.
'II. That the regimental chaplain, being present in the line of his du- ties, should not be treated as a prisoner of war.
'III. That two negroes, who were company cooks, should be treated with humanity, and that two citizens, who were near the fort and entered it when the action came on, should be treated as non-combatants.
'IV. That officers should retain their side-arms and the fort should be surrendered with the honors of war, and the troops march out with arms and music.'
" These conditions were at once granted, the firing ceased at half- past two, and the surrender was completed soon after four o'clock.
"As the representatives of the two forces came from the parley to the fort, the forces surrounding us also advanced and formed about the fort in an irregular line. The men were at once sent to their quarters to secure their clothing. But the quick rebels were before some of them, and stole what they could get. Most of our men got their clothes. The officers, composed of the high-minded chiv- alry, rushed to the quarters of Captain Aigan, and before he could give some orders to the men for whose interests he was looking out, they ' gobbled' most extensively, and it was only by my personal and earnest appeal to their honor, pride and shame. that I could induce them to leave some of the things for him. Many of the things that would have been a comfort to the officers in their prison life were shamelessly stolen by surgeons and staff officers of the brigade. The company chest was locked, and when the tent was struck, before the action commenced, it was left lying across the chest, and did not seem to attract the attention of the rebels. Having seen to the men, the captain and lieutenant opened their trunks, and such things as they did not want were distributed to the men. The company chest was opened, and though the rebels crowded and swore. Captain Aigan in- sisted on issuing to the men things to take the place of those lost by the rebels violating their agreement. Colonel Polk, to whom we sur-
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rendered, treated us like a gentleman, and tried to fulfill his agree- ment, I think, and had it not been for him some of the miserable harpies who followed him would have stripped us ou the spot instead of waiting their chance to do so afterwards. I found it difficult to keep my spurs or gauntlets. A staff officer took hold'of them and insisted on having them. Men high in rank insisted that Captain Aigan should give up his dress coat. Everything was appropriated. My horse, that had been killed during the action, was stripped of all the aceoutrements, not even leaving me my blanket. While our meu were securing their things. I saw a rebel advance to the fort and at- tempt to plant their tattered flag on the parapet. I at once went to Colonel Polk and told him of the action of the officer. that the fort was not yet surrendered, and requested him to have it removed. He at once ordered it to be taken down.
" When the men had seenred what they proposed to take with them, all entered the fort and prepared to evacuate it. The line was formed. arms were taken, and with music, we sadly, but with good heart. marched ont. The tone of the martial air and the salute of the rolling drum caused many a rebel to bite his lip. Our drummers, it seemed to me, never played so well before. As Captain Aigan in his clear, strong voice gave his commands, I could detect in his tones defiance toward an enemy which had fought us forty to one, and to whom the fortunes of war compelled ns to submit. The men handled and abandoned their rifles with an air that seemed to say, 'You have captured but you cannot conquer us.' Among the events of that day I will note the following : During a lull in the firing and while the guns were cooling. we all kneeled down around the old flag-statt in the centre of the fort. and, uncovering our heads before God, I offered prayer, seeking the help and protecting care of God. May I not now believe that He who ruleth in the heavens and regardeth men looked upon our humble devotions and remembered us? Not a drop of blood was drawn from us by the enemy. Several of the enemy we were informed were killed.
" Soon after four o'clock in the afternoon we were formed in line. and. under guard, marched about one mile towards New Berue, and halted at the quarters of the section master of the railroad. Here a large number of rebel troops were camped. who were cooking chicken -.
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and such things as came to hand. At this point we saw General Deering, and here Colonel Polk turned us over to another officer. Here we began to make the acquaintance of southern honor. The captain and Lieutenant Durfee had. by agreement, retained their swords. They were now informed that they must give them up, and they were compelled to do so, although it was a gross violation of their agreement. About sundown we started again, and marched to Evans Mills, some six miles, that night. The country seemed to be full of troops. At this place we were put in an old block-house, and kept there all night under close guard and without supper. During the night and early in the morning we heard the dull sound of heavy trains moving, and soon learned that the whole army was moving away. From the officers' tables the negroes brought us a plateful of scraps of fried bacon and broken bits of corn bread. One plateful for fifty men. Captain Aigan turned to me and said, . Here, chap- lain. give this to the men,' refusing to take any. The men got a few crumbs each. I said to the man, . For God's sake go and get us some food. These men fought hard yesterday and are to march to- day. and, having received no supper, must have breakfast.' He brought as much more. Any two men could have eaten all that he brought at one meal. That day, May 6th, we marched to Pollocks- ville, some twenty miles by the road we took, as we were informed. The dust and heat tried the men severely, as they had not been used to marching. About half-past nine that night we received about three pecks of unsifted corn meal in a bagand a few pounds of bacon. We borrowed a skillet and tried to make bread, and about midnight each of us got a small piece of corn bread. Water and meal, half baked, made but poor bread. I could not eat mine, and gave it away. The meat we ate raw. Hoping to find time in the morning to bake up the rest of the meal and get a breakfast of it, we lay down upon the grass and were soon asleep.
" At a quarter before five we were ordered to fall in. Leaving the ruins of the small town, consisting of a few chimneys and piles of rubbish, we crossed the Trent on a pontoon bridge and marched rapidly away. The meal was carried by the men for awhile and then thrown into a wagon, and we never saw it afterward. On past wagon trains. istantry and cavalry. at almost a double quick, we were
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marched until we came to the rear of the artillery train. We were there informed by Captain Martin that he was ordered to keep us up to that during the day. Hour after hour went by of the hottest day, and mile after mile of the dustiest road. We were kept well up to
Chaplain Rev. Henry S. White.
the train. It was a forced march. Endurance began to fail. There was one extra horse. It was used to spell us when most exhausted. The men were suffering. I appealed to the captain to allow us to go more slowly. He answered that his orders were imperative and that he could not violate them. I told him that the men could not stand it. He said they must stand it. I said. . you will kill these men
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at this rate.' He said he was sorry, but that he must obey his or- ders. Looking back, for the officers were compelled to keep in front. I saw one of our men staggering as though he would fall, when one of the guard drew his carbine on him, and with oaths ordered him to close up, saying that no one would be left. The men all understood it and pushed on. A cavalry scout had been captured and was one of our detachment. When almost desperate with fatigue, he said, ' Give me back my horse and arms and I'll fight my way back to New Berne.' The enraged captain drew his revolver on him, and swore that if he uttered another word about fighting he would blow his brains out.
" Captain Aigan and I concluded that something must be done or the men would die. We had some personal effects with us. The saddle, equipments, blanket. etc., that they took from my horse after he was killedl. they had agreed to turn over to me when I wanted them. These things were in the brigade. but I was not fool enough to think that I could ever obtain them. I might, however, turn them over to Captain Martin, and by so doing make way for a new appeal for the men. I then approached him and told him I wished him to have the things, handing him my gauntlets and spurs, etc .. then with me. He seemed much pleased. He said he hoped soon to be promoted. and he should value them much. After some more conversation I made a new appeal to him to go more slowly and spare the men. At first he said he could not, but at length began to yield. I appealed to his manhood. and the fear of God and the judg- ment, and told him kindly but plainly that if he killed our men by marching God would visit it upon him. He at length halted the col- umn and gave them rest and water. From time to time our men were halted, and then we pushed ou. About ten o'clock we reached Kinston jail. where we were turned in, and the rusty iron door was locked upon us. The artillery got through some five hours before us. I was informed that by the route we took we had marched abont forty miles that day. When some of the meu became so weary that they staggered, some of the guards would often give them a ride of a mile or so, and this helped a good deal. But some of the men did not ride one step. When I had marched some fifteen miles I was almost exhausted, but after that my system seemed almost to lose -en-
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£
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sation, and in a kind of a benumbed torpor I marched mechanically along. A soldier had a bundle of clothing, and, with his blanket. had a fine coat of Captain Aigan's. A mounted rebel rode up and joined our guard. Presently he said to the soldier, ' Would you like a ride ? ' He said he would. After riding some distance the owner of the horse asked him if he was rested. The soldier dismounted. but at the suggestion of the rebel left his bundle of clothing on the horse to be carried for him. For a time the rebel rode along as if connected with our guard, and then suddenly he was gone, and we saw him and the clothes no more."
The story of Private Sylvester B. Hiscox, of Company A. is really a talk. in which, as far as possible, his own words and camp phrases have been retained. It was given to us amid the pressure of his busi- ness duties. in the most informal way, and his statements regarding dates and numbers are based on his recollection of them. It tells the awful tale of Andersonville and Florence so simply and so plainly that the great. ghastly scene seems before our eyes, and we feel it in our hearts. And that we have been able to get this story as it is and preserve it here. seems of itself to repay all the time and labor spent in collecting and arranging what is presented to our com- rades in this volume. Comrade Hiscox said :
" Our company. A. was stationed at Croatan. N. C .. on the At- lantie and North Carolina railroad. eleven miles from New Berne, to guard against a dash of the rebel cavalry to tear up the track or cut the telegraph wires. We were very comfortably located there, and had things about our own way. To our great surprise, our pickets came in one morning. the fifth of May it was, and told Captain Aigan. who was in command, that the . Rebs ' were out there. He wasn't expecting them, and didn't seem to think much about it. and sent the piekets out again, saying. ' You were frightened boys, I guess.' So out they went again, bat had not gone a great distance when in they came on the double-quick. Then the captain ordered his horse immediately, and with Henry Seymour started for the front. We were all anxious to hear what the result might be, and commeneed to get ready for an attack. They rode about fifteen mini- ute-, when they came to a turn in the road and rode right upon the
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' Rebs.' The captain and Seymour wheeled about and made good time for camp, and it was a laughable sight to us then to see them coming on the clean jump. lying as close to their horses' backs as they could, with the . Rebs ' close on them, firing and ordering them to halt. They didn't pay any attention to these orders, but came in out of breath. saying . They are there, boys !' and giving orders in wild excitement for a few minutes. Then we were all ordered into our little fort, with one six-pounder brass piece, which could do very good work as we found afterwards. And then we waited patiently for the rebels, not knowing from what direction they would come in on us.
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