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 8
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The justice of the canse which compelled some of these officers to tender their resignations in defence, as they esteemed it, of their own honor, after they had so far borne the heat and burden of the day, is a mooted question which it is not the province of these pages to dis- euss. Camp life very frequently has the same effect on the morale of officers as of men, and in the leisure of such rest petty differences between them are too apt to grow and ripen into serious misunder- standings. That such personal troubles did exist is not stated here as a fact, but this greater and more important truth is urged upon every survivor of the late war who may chance to read these lines : If it has been esteemed both patriotic and wise to bury in the oblivion of passing time all of the differences which caused the late terrible struggle, how much more generous and manly is it to forget every personal misunderstanding which arose from the annoyances or jeal- ousies of camp life, and remember, not the errors of erring mortals, but only the good qualities of brave men, who onee shared the same dangers in the same cause.
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
In this connection the two following letters explain themselves :
HDQRS. DEPT. OF NORTH CAROLINA, NEW BERNE, N. C., Aug. 7, 1862. His Excellency WMI. SPRAGUE, Governor of the State of Rhode Island :
The battalion I have now brought to this place and put them under a most excellent officer, Colonel Stevenson, commanding Second Brigade of my division, who will give them his strict personal attention by es- tablishing officers' drills, etc .; and by appointing the best sergeants lance lieutenants he will be able accurately to discover the capabilities of each. I would beg leave to suggest the filling up of this battalion to a regiment now. There are many excellent officers left, and the men are very good, and, under the care of Colonel Stevenson, to whose brigade they are attached, I feel sure they will rapidly perfect themselves in drill and discipline, and become the equals of the other fine regiments your State has sent forth, which is as high praise as a regiment can desire.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obd't serv't, J. G. FOSTER, Major-Gen. Comd'g.
The other letter simply encloses the list of promotions recommended by the brigade commander. and it is needless to say that it is a roll of honor :
HDQRS. DEPT. OF NORTH CAROLINA, NEW BERNE, N. C., Aug. 15, 1862.
General E. C. MAURAN. Adjutant-General State of Rhode Island :
GENERAL: Referring to my letter of the 7th inst. to His Excellency Governor Sprague, I beg leave to hand you, enclosed, a list of proposed promotions in the Fifth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, recom- mended by Col. T. G. Stevenson, to whose brigade they are attached, after a careful personal examination on his part.
I have the honor to remain, sir, very respectfully your ob't serv't.,
J. G. FOSTER, Major-General Comd'y.
Enclosure to the above :
NEW BERNE, Ang. 13, 1802.
After a careful examination of the abilities of the following officers of the Fifth Rhode Island Regiment, I would respectfully recommend that they be appointed to fill the positions set against their respective names.
Captain Job Arnold, to be Major,
1st Lieut. W. W. Douglas, " " Captain. ..
1st Lieut. John E. Snow, 6
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1st Lieut. James M. Wheaton, to be Captain. 1st Lieut. George G. Hopkins, 6. 2d Lieut. Henry B. Landers, .
2d Lieut. James Moran,
1st Lieut.
2d Lieut. Benj. L. Hall, .
2d Lieut. James Gregg,
.. 1st Sergt. Charles Taft,
.6
1st Sergt. John E. Robinson, .. 66
After a further examination I feel confident that I shall find several other warrant officers having qualities to make good commissioned officers.
Very respectfully your obedient servant, THOS. G. STEVENSON, Col. Comd'g 2d Brig., 1st Dir. To GENERAL J. G. FOSTER, Major-Gen. Cong.
The recommendations of Colonel Stevenson were not at once acted upon by the governor on account of the earnest efforts which were being made at that time to recruit the battalion up to a full regiment. Immediately upon the resignation of Major Wright, Capt. Job Arnold, of Company E, was placed in charge of the battalion, and for some time the list of the commandants of companies, with the exception of a few minor changes, was as follows :
Second Lieutenant James Moran. commanding Co. A. Benjamin L. Hall, B.
First Lieutenant John E. Snow, C.
William W. Douglas, .. .. D. George G. Hopkins, " E.
" Every day our camp is being improved and beautified," writes an officer. " Evergreen trees were taken from the neighbor- ing forests and set out for shade ; trenches were dug to afford needed drainage ; company streets were graded, and our tents were floored, both for the sake of comfort and health. By this time we considered ourselves as fully entitled to rank among the best organizations in the department. so far as proficiency in drill. good discipline, and a knowledge of the duties of the soldier were concerned." From this it will be seen that the changes in the administration of battalion affairs. as well as the emulation which was aroused by daily contact with other regiments in high state of drill and discipline had borne good fruit.
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
About September 1st, a few of the recruits who had failed to pass the department medical examination, were returned to Rhode Island. On the 20th a number of men were discharged from the battalion on account of disability. Ou the 24th George W. Tew was appointed captain by Governor Sprague. A memorandum with this appoint- ment said : " Governor Sprague will appoint Captain Tew to-day. to enlist a company for the Fifth Regiment, to serve for three years, and when it is completed he will assign him to the position of major in that regiment." Captain Tew was accordingly appointed major, October 1st, and directed to report to the adjutant-general of the State as soon as possible with the Newport company, in order that he might join the regiment at New Berne.
October 11th, Major Tew received the following :
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, OCT. 11, 1802.
Special Order No. 180.
I. Major George W. Tew, having been appointed in the Fifth Regi- ment Rhode Island Volunteers, rice John Wright, resigned, he is directed to take charge of the seventh company, and move with the same ou Monday next to join the regiment at New Berne. reporting upon his ar- rival to Major-General Foster, commanding the department of North Carolina, providing him with a copy of this order.
At as early a date as possible he is directed to forward to this depart- ment a complete muster roll of the command as it now is, designaring those officers holding commissions, and those acting by appointment of the military authorities there. The rolls must show the discharges, deaths, desertions, those in hospital, and those on furlough, together with those that have joined the regiment since its organization.
II. Capt. J. M. Wheeler will report to Major Tew, accompanying him to New Berne, and he will be assigned to the command of the seventh company, or to any other in his discretion. He will unite with him in procuring the above information, and in recommending to this depart- ment the names of persons deserving commissions.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
EDWARD C. MAURAN, Adjutant-General.
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
In camp quiet still reigned, and the first incident to break the mo- notony is recorded in the following letter :
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA. NEW BERNE, N. C., Oct. 27, 1862.
His Excellency WILLIAM SPRAGUE, Governor of Rhode Island :
GOVERNOR: Major Tew has arrived and assumed command of the Fifth Rhode Island battalion. I have determined to send him to Rhode Island by this steamer for the purpose of filling the battalion up to a regiment, in which purpose I trust he will receive your aid and support. I shall hope to have the battalion speedily filled, and should be very . much pleased to have another Rhode Island regiment added to my com- mand.
I am, Governor, with great respect your obedient servant, J. G. FOSTER, Major-General Commanding.
At this time Governor Sprague was doing all in his power to comply with these repeated requests of General Foster. Recruiting offices were opened at various places in the State, and Henry T. Sisson, a veteran officer from the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, was appointed colonel of the Fifth, and placed in charge of the re- cruiting service for it. He went to work at once with characteristic activity. On his recommendation many new officers were appointed, and it now began to look as if a still more active and important future would dawn upon the battalion.
CHAPTER VII.
THE TARBORO EXPEDITION.
D URING the last two months many recruits had arrived. The battalion now contained six companies, Company F having been added. At Providence every effort was being made to make the battalion a full regiment. The condition of the recruiting service at this time is best told in the following order :
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, PROVIDENCE, Nov. 5, 1802.
General Orders No. 54.
In pursuance of orders from the War Department giving General Burnside authority to raise a division for coast service. and one battalion having been raised in Rhode Island as a part of said division, it is hereby ordered that said battalion be raised to a full regiment (to be armed with rifles) three additional companies being required to complete the same.
The regiment will be under the command of Colonel Henry T. Sisson, who is directed to establish his headquarters and recruit the three com- panies.
The officers in Rhode Island recruiting for said regiment are requested to report to Colonel Sisson for instructions.
Each company when organized will be forwarded to the regiment.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
EDWARD C. MAURAN, -Adjutant-General.
In the camp of the battalion at New Berne preparations were be- ing made for quite another kind of service, and, in consequence, every eye shone brighter and every step seemed lighter as officers and men moved about their respective duties. Considerable reinforce- ments had arrived in the department, and everything seemed to
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promise an eventful and exciting campaign. Marching orders were at last received, and the troops that were to take part in the expedi- tion embarked on transports at New Berne. The battalion went on board a large schooner, The Skirmisher, which was to be towed to its destination.
On the morning of the 1st of November we found ourselves in Painlico River, in sight of the town of Washington, and among a large fleet of transports lying at anchor in the vicinity. It was a sight that brought to mind other scenes and experiences in this, to us, very eventful year. During the day all of the troops were landed, and our battalion, after marching some little distance out of the town, found itself with the rest of the brigade, which at this time was composed as follows : The Fifth Rhode Island, Twenty-fourth and Forty-fourth Massachusetts, and Tenth Connecticut regiments of infantry, and Belger's Battery F. First Rhode Island Light Artillery. It was known as the Second brigade. Col. T. G. Stevenson com- manding. Here we bivouacked for the night, and the following day, awaiting the arrival of the First brigade, which with the artillery, cavalry. and the wagon train of the division were to march by land from New Berne. It had been planned to have this column march- ing by land reach this point at the same time that the troops arrived by water. But it did not reach Washington until the night of No- vember 2d. to the great disappointment of the commanding general.
A correspondent gives this account of the movements of the troops up to the occupation of Rawle's Mill :
" Early Sunday morning the advance moved out on the Williams- ton road. It was a beautiful Sabbath morning, the sun was very warm, while there was scarcely a breath of air, and the sweat rolled in large drops from the men as they . went marching along.' We had advanced about six miles when a slight skirmish took place with the rear of a rebel regiment that was ' on the skedaddle,' they having received intelligence of the advance of our forces and profited thereby.
"Still later in the day, when we had gone about eighteen miles, a prisoner was captured, who stated that the rebel force had left for Williamston. though the Twenty-sixth North Carolina regiment, with Moore's battery, were behind a breastwork about half a mile further
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
on, just over a stream of water about one hundred feet wide and three feet deep, with a crooked road running through it, and on either side a thick swamp, while just beyond the stream was a high bank ; making altogether a place easy of defence, and correspondingly hard to attack.
Lieut. Edward F. Angell.
He also stated that if we had been a few hours earlier we would have bagged their whole force, and that the regiment in front was only a rear-guard to check us until their wagon train escaped.
" As he had said, our skirmishers were fired on when they had got half way through the water. Immediately two companies of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts were ordered forward to ascertain their
.
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force, and they advanced like veterans to the centre of the stream, when a sharp volley from the enemy was fired into them. They quickly returned it, and at the same time Belger with his Rhode Is- land battery opened the ball.
" The Twenty-fourth Massachusetts was deployed as skirmishers at the time, and the Tenth Connecticut supported the battery on one side of the road, while the Fifth Rhode Island was formed on the other. The firing was sharp for some time, but finding our shells rather too much for them, they retired about a mile to a line of rifle- pits, where they intended to give us a warm reception. It was some two hours before our advance reached these pits ; but Belger cleared the way with his shells, so that when our infantry got there they only received a few shots from the enemy, which were fired as they re- treated. They burned the bridge at Rawle's Mill, so that it was impossible to follow them."
In point of fact this advance of Colonel Stevenson's brigade de- serves more than this passing notice. The night was intensely dark, the ground, position, and force of the enemy were totally unknown. General Foster in his official report says : " On the evening of the same day we encountered the enemy posted in a strong position at a small stream called Little Creek. I immediately ordered Colouel Stevenson, commanding the Second brigade, who was then in advance, to make all haste in driving them from the opposite side of the creek, and to push on at once."
It was two companies of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts, a regi- ment just from the recruiting camp at home and never before under fire, that bravely and steadily pushed through water so deep as to spoil the cartridges in their pouches, and received the enemy's fire when almost within reach of the flashes of their rifles. And it was this regiment that suffered nearly all of the loss in this engagement. No sooner had this Forty-fourth regiment effected a lodgement on the opposite bank than Belger's battery was crossed, the rest of the brig- ade followed, and again the men had to literally feel their way through this dark and unknown land, removing the trees felled across the road by the enemy so that the guns could advance. It was not until nearly one o'clock A. M. that our skirmishers had developed the chemiy's line of riffe-pits defending the bridge at Rawle's Mill. Bel-
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
ger's battery and two batteries of the Third New York Artillery were put in position so quietly that even our own men were not aware of the movement, and at the word there flashed out in the gloom of the early morning the lightning of eighteen guns. This storm of shell was a complete surprise, coming at the time it did, and, after making but a feeble reply, the enemy escaped in the darkness, burning the bridge behind them. Nothing could now be done except to wait until the pioneers could rebuild the bridge so that the batte- ries and wagon train could cross with the troops.
It was about three A. M. when the tired men, wet to the middle from fording the creek and floundering through the swamp, received orders to bivouac for the night. The Fifth battalion were ordered to remain in the captured breastworks. It was clear but very cold, and a chill and penetrating wind swept the open fields. Many of the men were destitute of blankets even, and they suffered keenly. In some instances water froze in their canteens.
At the time the advance of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts re- ceived the enemy's fire while in the creek, one of those incidents of battle occurred which served for a long time afterward to give zest to the talk around many a camp-fire. The Massachusetts regiment had preceded our Fifth battalion in the march during the day. At the time the two companies of that regiment were moving toward the creek. an honest member of our battalion, who had probably fallen out of line for some purpose, came along, and, in the darkness did not notice particularly the men halted along the road-side. but seeing some of the Forty-fourth moving toward the creek, he followed on, thinking that his own regiment was just behind. While the Forty-fourth men were deploying to enter the water. he somehow got ahead, and wading through he pushed on up the bank. Not seeing any one in front, and hearing a noise on one side of the road, he in- stinctively halted. At that moment the deadly volley fired at the advancing line flashed out in the darkness, almost behind him. For once this much of Rhode Island was seized with a panic, and he bolted over the opposite bank into the bushes and down into the swamp. There, if he may be believed, he plunged and leaped, and waded, and swam, until his fright began to subside. when, to his horror, he was sharply challenged by some one in his front. For a
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moment he could not answer, and the challenge was repeated. He knew the voice. It was a picket from his own regiment that he had stumbled upon. But just what route he pursued to get around in front of his own regiment, he would never tell.
How the conduet of the Second brigade in this night attack was regarded at headquarters, is indicated in this extract from General Foster's official report : ". I recommend that Colonel Stevenson. for his efficient services on this march, and in the affair at Little Creek and Rawle's Mill, as well as his previous services at Roanoke and New Berne, be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, to date from Nov. 3, 1862."
Captain Job Arnold's official report is appended herewith :
Report of Capt. Job Arnold. Fifth Rhode Island Infantry, of skirmishes at Little Creek and Rawle's Mill, N. C. HDQRS. FIFTH REGT. RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS, CAMP ANTHONY, NEW BERNE, N. C., Nov. 13. 1862.
SIR: I beg leave to submit to you the following report of the part taken by the Fifth Rhode Island in skirmishes of Sunday, November 2, 1862 :
At the commencement of the action we received orders to support Belger's Rhode Island battery. We formed in line to the right and rear of the battery, in the cornfield to the right of the road. When the bat- tery moved to take its position, we filed down the road and formed a line about twenty paces in the rear of the battery in the field to the left of the road. our right resting toward the road, and there remained till or- dered to follow the battery across the ford. We had nearly reached the road when we were ordered to remain to support a section of Belger's battery, left in its former position.
We then formed in line in rear , of a rail fence to the left and rear of the pieces. our left resting on the woods. As soon as the battery was ordered forward we joined the main column, and, crossing the ford, pro- ceeded with it up the road to the rifle-pits this side of Rawle's Mill, and remained within supporting distance of the battery while it was engaged in shelling the enemy. At about one o'clock we entered the rifle-pits, and there remained until daylight. At one time the regiment was under quite heavy fire, and it gives me much pleasure to state that both officers and men, without exception, behaved with the most perfect coolness.
JOB ARNOLD, Captain Commanding.
COL .. THOMAS G. STEVENSON. Condg. S. cond Brig. First Die. Dept. of North Carolina.
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
A non-commissioned officer of the battalion gives his account of the skirmish at Rawle's Mill : " We were ordered to support Bel- ger's Rhode Island battery, who were hotly engaged with the enemy. Captain Arnold, commanding our battalion, ordered us to lie down, which order we obeyed with alacrity. How rapidly this battery did
Lieut. Henry P. Williams.
fire, and, as it was very dark, the lines of the poet came to my mind, ' And louder than the bolts of heaven Far flashed the red artillery.'
" At last the order came to go forward and we proceeded to cross the ford, and waded through the creek to the opposite side. We halted for a while after crossing, and as I was completely tired out,
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I laid down by the roadside and soon fell asleep, and did not awaken till I heard a thundering noise in close proximity, and found that it was a section of artillery rushing past me, on the run. But where was my battalion? I was so overcome with sleep, that I had not heard the order ' Forward !' when it was given, and on my awaking I found that the battalion had gone on without me. I took in the situation, however. and, after waking, I started on and soon joined my comrades. We shortly afterwards bivonacked for the night."
While the wearied men were sleeping unsheltered in the freezing air. the pioneers were busy replacing the destroyed bridge, and not long after day had dawned it was ready for the troops to pass over. "Soon after daybreak." writes Surgeon Potter, "we resumed our march for Williamston, distant about four miles, and located on the Roanoke River, and there we met our gunboats. We then started for Hamilton, also on the Roanoke, passing on the way a battery on Rainbow Bluffs, which had long been a scarecrow to our fleet, but which we found abandoned. The gunboats accompanied us as far as Hamilton, which was partly burned. perhaps by ' apple-jack,' with which some of the boys had become primed."
One of the comrades says of Williamston : "We entered the town about noon, and found many of the houses deserted of their in- habitants. Some of these houses we visited and made ourselves at home. I recollect that one of our men arrayed himself in a hoop skirt, and with a parasol in hand created quite a sensa- tion. In company with several comrades I entered the house of a physician as I should judge by the bottles and surgical appliances lying around. We helped ourselves. not to his medicines, but to his wife's preserves. One man brought away a stove-pipe hat that be- longed to the doctor, I presume. I borrowed a book from his library. and forgot to return it. I imagined that I should like to send it home as a souvenir, but after carrying it for awhile, it became burden- some in addition to the weight of my accoutrements, and I after- wards deposited it by the roadside."
The fire in Hamilton destroyed a large portion of the buildings in the town, and was the subject of much comment afterwards. It was probably caused by the carelesness of some soldier or sailor. We marched out of the town that evening by the light of the burning buildings, and bivouacked in a corufield.
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FIFTH RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY.
The next morning the march was continued from Hamilton toward Tarboro. The cavalry advance was pushed to within about four miles of that town, but the column of infantry was halted at a point some ten miles distant. This town was an important point at the head of navigation on the Tar River, and the terminus of a short branch of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. As an expression of a prevalent feeling among the men in the battalion at that time, we quote from a non-commissioned officer. It may be well to state here that he was one of the many who were doing officers' duties in the battalion, and who were finally commissioned. He said :
" About noon our brigade halted at a pleasant farm-house, and the men had plenty of time to prepare and eat their dinner. Here we learned in some way that the town was about four miles distant ; that the road we were on led direct to the place ; that the enemy had strongly fortified this approach, but that just back a little way was another road leading around back of the town, where the enemy were not so well prepared to receive us. After a couple of hours' rest, we took the back track as far as the forks, where we filed off and again headed for the town, to enter it this time where they were not expecting us. We marched very slowly and halted often. There was evidently something going wrong at headquarters. About dusk we entered some cornfields, and then we bivouacked for the night. The detail for picket duty was much larger than that of the night before. Every precaution was taken against a night attack. The men were not allowed to stack arms, but told to keep their rifles with them, and to look well to their condition. We were also directed to make as many fires as possible. It was a dark and cold night, and the pros- pect for the morrow was not very cheering. As the night advanced trains were distinctly heard in the town ; not one train, but for hours we heard the noise of cars rumbling along.
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