USA > Rhode Island > Memoirs of Rhode Island officers who were engaged in the service of their country during the great rebellion of the South. Illustrated with thirty-four portraits > Part 30
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FRANCIS GARDNER ADAMS.
Quaker City. While attached to this vessel, Mr. Adams was taken ill and placed on sick leave. On reporting for duty, he was ordered to the gun-boat Chenango, then fitting out at the New York Navy Yard, and was on board of her when she met with her terrible accident in New York harbor, by the explosion of her boiler, by which thirty-two men were badly scalded, of whom twenty-eight died.
On the 21st of April, 1864, he was ordered to the iron-clad monitor Manhattan, but was detached from her on the 28th of May, and ordered to the supply steamer Union, where he remained until the 4th of September, when he returned to his old ship, the Susquehannah, for a short time. On the 19th of October, he was ordered to the steamer Union, to take passage to Key West, for duty in the East Gulf squadron. On his arrival there, he was ordered to the gun-boat Honduras.
On the 2d of May, Mr. Adams had an attack of acute dysentery. The next day his ship was ordered to sea, and did not return till the 13th, during which time the disease was kept in subjection. As she was to leave again in a few hours, it was thought advisable to remove him to the shore. He was, accordingly, taken to the Naval Hospital, in Key West, and afterwards to a private residence, where he would receive more attention. He improved here until the 18th, when a relapse followed, from which he rapidly sank until his death, which took place on the 22d of May, 1865.
He met death with the high courage which had characterized his life, his only regret being that he was not at home to die. Conscious to the last, he expressed a desire to see a clergyman, who was immediately called. He con- versed with him freely, expressing his regret that he was not better prepared to die.
Resolutions of condolence were passed by the officers of the Honduras, of which vessel he was the executive officer, and transmitted to the family of Mr. Adams, for he was held by his associates in the highest esteem.
Such was the life of Ensign Adams. His choice of the navy was a good one. While life and health were spared he performed all his duties, and through all the rigid discipline of the service, maintained the reputation of a manly and straightforward character. But this is not the place for eulogy. A restored Union, for which he, among a thousand others, so nobly strove, the benedictions of a great people, which he and they so richly deserve, are his best eulogium.
GEORGE W. TEW.
EORGE W. TEW was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on the 13th of November, 1829. His great grandfather served in the navy during the war of independence, was taken prisoner by the enemy, and closed an honorable career in the service of his country, a victim to the horrors and cruelties of the Jersey prison ships.
The subject of this sketch was the second of three sons, and was early apprenticed to the trade of a mason, in which vocation he was engaged at the breaking out of the rebellion. He had from his youth manifested an inelina- tion for military exercises. In 1846, at the age of seventeen, he joined the Rhode Island Horse Guards, a cavalry company at that time composed of volunteers from the towns of Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth. The following year Mr. Tew joined the Newport Artillery Company, and soon became its commander; a position which he held in 1861. When it was understood that a regiment was mustering from our state, in response to the President's call for seventy-five thousand men, Captain Tew began to prepare his company for service, and, by every means in his power, endeavored to stimulate the patriotism of the young men in Newport to swell its ranks.
On the 15th of April, 1861, a telegram from Governor Sprague inquiring how many men could be raised, reached Captain Tew while he was quietly at work at his trade. Laying his trowel on the wall, he returned an answer to the governor that he would raise a hundred men. Two days after, he reported in Providence with one hundred and eight meu rank and file. The company was mustered into the first regiment detached militia, and was assigned the honorable position of color company of the regiment.
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GEORGE W. TEW.
The history of the campaign of the first Rhode Island regiment, has been already noticed in this volume, and need not be repeated here. Captain Tew returned with his company to Newport, on Sunday, the 28th of July, where they were welcomed by the entire city. Religious services were suspended in order to give them a more universal reception. Soon after this, the natives and citizens of Rhode Island then resident in California, forwarded a set of regimental colors to be presented to the regiment. The ceremony took place in Touro Park, in Newport. The members of company F, were paraded to receive the colors, and formed around a platform which was occupied by the mayor of the city, General Burnside, the city council, and several distinguished gentlemen, both civil and military. The colors were first presented by the mayor to General Burnside in an appropriate speech, who, having received them, presented them to the company in a few remarks, in which he spoke of the services of that company.
Rhode Island did not close her efforts in support of the government with the service of her three months' men. The third regiment was organized on the 12th of August, 1861, and the fourth a few days later. On the 2d day of October, the latter left for Washington, where they were placed in the brigade of General O. O. Howard, and quartered at Bladensburg. In the meantime, the command of the regiment had fallen to Lieutenant-Colonel I. P. Rodman, by the resignation of Colonel McCarty; and Captain Tew had been promoted, on the 11th of October, to be major. On the 20th of the same month, he was further promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. At Camp Casey the time was occupied with drills, until the 28th of November, when the fourth Rhode Island passed into Virginia, and, in December, at Edsall's Hill, commenced picket duty, in which it was engaged until ordered to another field.
This regiment was among the troops selected for the North Carolina campaign under General Burnside. At Annapolis, it was united with the fifth Rhode Island battalion and the eighth and eleventh Connecticut volun- teers, forming the third brigade of the coast division. On the 7th of January, 1862, the regiment sailed for Fortress Monroe, and from that place started with the rest of the fleet for Roanoke Island. Lieutenant-Colonel Tew was present and participated in the battle at this place on the 7th and Sth of February, when the fourth regiment was brought, for the first time, under fire. He led his men into action with great self-possession and bravery. On the 14th of March, the capture of Newbern was successfully accomplished by the com-
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bined forces, an important and glorious vietory to the Union cause. In this engagement the fourth Rhode Island was in the hottest of the fight, making a bayonet charge, which an official report says, "decided the fate of the day."
Fort Macon was next destined to fall before the triumphal progress of General Burnside's army. It was invested on the 25th of April, and surren- dered after a bombardment of ten hours. At the commencement of the siege, Lieutenant-Colonel Tew was ordered, by General Parke, to take posses- sion of a certain position near the fort. With four companies from his own regiment, and four from the eighthi Connecticut, detailed to his command for that purpose, he took the coveted position, and drove in the enemy's pickets. On the 20th of April, 1862, Colonel Rodman received his commission as brigadier-general, and the command of the fourth fell upon Lieutenant- Colonel Tew. On the 5th of July, he received orders to embark his regi- ment, and open his despatches at sea. An incident connected with the embarkation at this time, illustrates his firmness in the cause of right. The government had just previously passed an act forbidding any officer to employ his forces in restoring fugitive slaves. Some thirty negroes had man- aged to secrete themselves among the stores on board the steamer which was waiting for the regiment, which, coming to the knowledge of their owners, they demanded that the fugitives should be set on shore. In this request they were seconded by the commander of the steamer, Captain Baxter, who declared that, unless the slaves were restored, he should have nothing further to do with the steamer. The harbor master, also, came on board and entered his protest against the act. Lieutenant-Colonel Tew, however, told all parties concerned, of his firm determination to keep the slaves on board, and inform- ed the captain that the ship should sail with the next tide, whether he went or not. Baxter next applied to the United States revenue cutter to inter- fere ; but the officer in command, having received a copy of the order of congress, would do nothing for him. Meeting with the same disappointment from a United States gun-boat, then lying off Beaufort, Captain Baxter returned to his steamer and found himself compelled to sail with the negroes or remain behind. He chose the former course, but refused to hold any intercourse with the lieutenant-colonel or any of his officers during the voy- age. On getting out to sea, the destination of the regiment was found to be Fortress Monroe, where it had been ordered, with a view of joining the ninth army corps for the campaign on the Peninsula. On reaching that place, the regiment debarked at Newport News, where the command was taken by Col-
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onel W. II. P. Steere, promoted from the lieutenant-colonelcy of the second regiment, by Governor Sprague. When this officer reported himself to the regiment, he was received by Lieutenant-Colonel Tew with every courtesy due to a gentleman and superior officer, though he thought he had good reason to feel that he had suffered injustice by the appointment of another to the command of the regiment. The fourth was now ordered to Freder- icksburg, Virginia, where thirteen of its officers, feeling the unjust manner in which Lieutenant-Colonel Tew had been slighted, resigned their commis- sions ; and he, seing how the other officers were affected, felt it his duty also, to resign, which he accordingly did on the 13th of August, 1862, and returned to Newport, where he remained until again called into the service.
He was not long at home, for, on the 1st of October following, he was commissioned as major in the fifth regiment, then at Newbern, North Carolina, at which place he reported promptly for duty. Major Tew assumed the com- mand of the fifth until January, 1863, when Colonel Sisson, who had been promoted from major of the third Rhode Island heavy artillery, arrived and took command of the regiment. On the 2d of March, Major Tew was pro- moted a second time to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. We have now come to a brilliant and highly honorable portion of the history of this regiment, as well as of that of the subject of this sketch. The deed of which we are now to speak, is the raising of the siege of Little Washington, North Carolina.
Early in April, 1863, information reached Newbern that General Foster, commanding the department of North Carolina, who had gone to Little Wash- ington to inspect the garrison there, was closely besieged by the enemy. An expedition under the command of General Spinola was sent to his relief, but returned unsuccessful. A second expedition commanded by the same general, penetrated to Blunt's Creek, but finding the enemy too strongly fortified to warrant an attack, returned. Other attempts were made with no better result, until success was achieved by the fifth regiment. The narrative is best told in the official report made by Colonel Sisson to the adjutant-general of the state .*
This exploit gained for the officers and men of the fifth regiment immortal honors. The whole country was electrified by the brilliancy and success of this perilous undertaking. Our state felt a new pride in her sol- diers, for they had added a proud page to the history of the war.
* For Colonel Sisson's report of this affair, see the sketch of that officer.
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The forty-fourth Massachusetts, the garrison at the besieged post, passed a series of resolutions thanking the fifth regiment for their noble conduct in going to their rescue, and subsequently presented the regiment with a set of colors. The presentation being made after Colonel Sisson had l'eft, it became the duty of Lieutenant-Colonel Tew to receive the gift, which he did with appropriate remarks.
On the 16th of April, Lieutenant-Colonel Tew, with four companies, was detailed to take possession of Rodman's Point. This he did in a manner greatly to his credit. As an account of this transaction has been given in the sketch of Colonel Sisson, we shall not repeat it here.
The fifth regiment now numbered a thousand men, and was changed, by an order from the War Department, from infantry to heavy artillery. After its return to Newbern, the regiment was assigned in detachments to garrison the forts about that place. In May, 1864, Colonel Sisson left the regiment for the recruiting service, and, without returning, resigned his commission on the fifth of July. On the 14th of October following, Lieutenant-Colonel Tew was commissioned as colonel of the regiment, and assumed the command. For some months before, Colonel Tew had been in immediate command of Fort Totten, and in the general command of all the forts garrisoned about there. This position he continued to hold with credit to himself and satis- faction to the department, until the 26th of June, 1865, when the fifth regi- ment was mustered out of service. On the 30th of the same month, they started for home, where they arrived on the 4th of July. The men were welcomed home with every demonstration of joy. A detachment of the mili- tary of Providence escorted these returned veterans to Howard Hall, where a bountiful collation was spread for them. They were addressed by His Excellency Governor Smith, and others, who bestowed upon them many. deserved compliments for their bravery and good conduct in the field.
In the spring election of 1866, the citizens of Rhode Island evinced their appreciation of Colonel Tew's services, by electing him to the responsible office of General Treasurer of the state. His whole course in the service has been a noble illustration, among many others brought out by the war, of how useful a Christian patriot, though not trained to the profession of arms, may render himself in the military service of his country in the hour of her need.
HENRY T. SISSON.
HIS officer commenced his military career, by joining the first regiment of Rhode Island volunteers. He was commissioned as paymaster with the rank of lieutenant. He was next appointed captain of the first Rhode Island artillery, December 20th, 1861, and major of the third heavy artillery, February 5th, 1862, which place he resigned on the 6th of August following. On the 5th of November, he was appointed colonel of the fifth Rhode Island heavy artillery. This regiment was originally enlisted as a battalion, under authority received from General Burnside from the War Department, as a part of his " coast division," with the understanding that it should be enlarged to a full regiment. In about seven weeks five companies were filled, and, on the 27th of December, they left for Annapolis, Maryland, to join the North Carolina expedition. Others followed, and, on the 9th of January, Colonel Sisson arrived at Beaufort and took command of the regi- ment. Among the military adventures of the fifth, the raising of the siege of Little Washington, North Carolina, must ever occupy the most prominent place as a hazardous and brilliant achievement. We give the particulars of this affair in the official report of Colonel Sisson to General Mauran, adjutant- general of Rhode Island :
" HEAD-QUARTERS FIFTH REGIMENT RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS, WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, April 20th, 1863.
" GENERAL :- A few days previous to April 10th, information reached Newbern that Major-General Foster, commanding this department, who had gone to Washington, North Carolina, to inspect the garrison and defences there, was closely besieged by the enemy. He had with him for the defence
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of the city, the twenty-seventh and forty-fourth regiments, Massachusetts volunteers, one company of the third New York cavalry, and the gun-boats Louisiana, Ceres and Commodore Hull. An expedition, under the command of Brigadier-General Spinola, was immediately sent to his relief, but returned unsuccessful. Another, under the same officer, penetrated to Blunt's Creek, but meeting the enemy strongly fortified, likewise returned without effecting its purpose. On Friday, 10th instant, I received orders from Brigadier-Gen- eral Palmer, to proceed with my command to Washington by water. General Palmer signified his intention to take command of the expedition, and Lieu- tenant-Colonel Southard Hoffman, assistant adjutant-general to General Foster, determined to accompany us. Accordingly, at about one o'clock, P. M., we embarked on board the transport steamer Escort, Captain Wall, and started from Newbern. The next morning we arrived in Pamlico river, and anchored a short distance from Manly Point, ten miles below the city of Washington. Here we found a fleet of five gunboats, and some transports loaded with pro- visions, ammunition and forage, being prevented from ascending the river by a blockade which the enemy had established at Hill's Point, and three formi- dable batteries-one at that point, and another at Swan's Point, nearly oppo- site, and another at Rodman's Point-commanding the river and the city. The blockade, consisting of a triple row of piles extending across the river with the exception of a passage about one hundred feet wide, and four hun- dred feet from the shore, and directly under the guns of the battery. To increase the difficulty in finding the crooked channel, the enemy had removed all the buoys in the river. Saturday was passed in loading with provisions and ammunition from off the transports, and in piling bales of hay on deck, so as to protect the engine and boilers from shot and shell. On Sunday morning, in accordance with orders from General Palmer, we got under way and slowly approached the opening in the blockade and the Hill's Point battery. A fog had arisen about daybreak, and soon became so dense as to prevent our further progress, and we were ordered to return to our anchor- age. When the fog lifted, the gunboats commenced bombarding the battery at long range, but with no visible effect. Monday morning, fifty volunteers from the regiment were sent on shore under command of Captain W. W. Douglass and Lieutenant Dutee Johnson. Their landing was covered by the gun-boat Valley City, and was effected a short distance below Blunt's Creek. The reconnaissance was conducted with success and credit to the commanding officer and the men who were engaged in it. They discovered three batteries
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HENRY T. SISSON.
on the west bank of the creek, commanding its passage, and preventing our approach to Washington by land. In consideration of the previous attempts to reach Washington, and of the situation of our noble commander and the brave men from our sister state who composed its garrison, I considered it my duty to offer the services of my command to attempt the passage of the blockade. Accordingly I despatched Major Jameson to General Palmer, who was on board the Southfield, to volunteer ourselves for such an expedition. He reported to General Palmer, who did not feel warranted in ordering us upon an enterprise of this nature, as it was not possible for him to accom- pany us, and as the attempt of Sunday morning, assured him of the extreme peril with which it would be attended ; but allowed me to make the trial, if in my judgment it were practicable, and offered me the assistance of the gun- boats if I determined to go. After further deliberation and a consultation with my lieutenant-colonel and major, I decided that the objeet of the expe- dition was of sufficient importance to demand the risk I proposed to assume. At eight o'clock, therefore, on Monday eve, we again weighed anchor and started for Washington. The officers and men not on duty were placed below by peremptory orders, so as to insure their safety as far as possible. Lieutenant-Colonel Tew and Major Jameson remained on deck with me, together with the officer of the day, Captain H. B. Landers, the officer of the guard, Lieutenant Thomas Allen, and a company of sharpshooters who volunteered for that purpose, under command of Captain J. M. Potter. Our pilot steered us safely through the passage in the blockade, grazing only onee on the piles. Just as we cleared the obstructions, the battery opened upon us a terrific fire from a distance of some four hundred yards. Our progress was very slow, owing to the shallowness of the water and the extreme crookedness of the channel. The gun-boats engaged the battery and distracted their atten- tion somewhat, but did not pass above the blockade. The shots from the enemy, as I had anticipated, were thrown very much at random on account of the dark- ness, and we passed by unhurt. The battery on the opposite shore at Swan's Point attempted to make their respects to us, but succeeded in paying us only an empty compliment. As the channel became wider and deeper, we crowded on all steam and soon passed over the six or eight miles separating ns from Rodman's Point. Here the navigation became more intricate, and we were twice obliged to stop completely in order to be certain of our situation. The enemy at Fort Rodman were prepared to greet us warmly, as the previous firing below had warned them of our approach. The channel lay close to the
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bank, and their guns opened on us at about three hundred yards' distance. Although they were better aimed than before, the shots passed harmlessly over us, only a few striking the boat and lodging in the hay. The shore was lined with sharpshooters who fired upon the steamer with no effect, except to pro- voke a few answering shots from our men. Another mile passed at full speed brought us to the wharf at Washington, without injury to any one on board. Our passage of the blockade with a large, unarmed steamer, convinced the enemy of its inefficiency ; and, despairing of their attempt to starve out the garrison, they evacuated their works Tuesday night, 14th instant, and left us in undisputed possession of the post. I cannot close before mentioning the gallant conduct of my officers and men during the period of suspense through which we passed. Their self-possession and ready obedience was extremely gratifying to me, and justifying a confidence that they will never prove reereant in the hour of danger. I would speak particularly of Lieutenant- Colonel Tew and Major Jameson, whose advice and support materially aided me in the conception and undertaking of our expedition. Of Captain William W. Douglass, who, during the reconnaissance of Monday morning, displayed great coolness and bravery in proceeding in company with Sergeant-Major J. J. Hatlinger in advance of his men, directly under the enemy's guns, to prepare an accurate sketch of their position. Captains H. B. Landers and Isaac M. Potter, Lieutenant Thomas Allen, and Sergeants Mott and Conger were at their posts on deek during the night, and ably performed their respective duties. I beg leave to enclose, herewith, a plan of the position and defences of Washington and the lines of the besieging forces, executed by Lieutenant Meulen, of company E.
" I am, Sir, with respect, " HENRY T. SISSON,
" Colonel Commanding Fifth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers."
"To Brigadier-General E. C. MAURAN, Adjutant-General State of Rhode Island."
" HEAD-QUARTERS, FIFTH REGIMENT RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS, NA " NEWBERN, NORTH CAROLINA, April 25th, 1863.
"GENERAL :- In completion of my report of our expedition to Washington, I beg to transmit the following report of the movements of the fifth regiment after our arrival here :
" Almost immediately after landing, we were assigned positions in the trenches and forts on the right of the line of defence, where we remained
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until the enemy evacuated. On Thursday afternoon, April 16th, five compa- nies (D, E, G, H and I) were detailed under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Tew, to take possession of Rodman's Point. A boat's crew from the gun-boat Ceres had been repulsed in an attempt to land there two hours before, and the assistant engineer was killed. It became evident that the severe rain of the previous night had made transportation so difficult as to retard the movements of the artillery and baggage-trains of the enemy, and to require a strong rear guard for their protection. Lieutenant-Colonel Tew therefore made preparations to meet a considerable force, and by skillful manœuvering accomplished the landing without loss. Captain Robinson's company (G) was put in advance, and proceeding along the road came in sight of a company of the enemy about three-fourths of a mile from the landing. Deploying his company he advanced cautiously, and immediately attacked them. After a sharp skirmish, in which he displayed great coolness and bravery, he suc- ceeded in dislodging them, killing one man and taking three prisoners-a captain, lieutenant and drum-major. Having set fire to the building in which the enemy had quarters, Captain Robinson fell back about one-fourth of a mile, and, under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Tew, posted his piekets so as to command every approach to our position. The enemy's pickets were posted about two hundred yards from ours, and exchanged shots with them repeat- edly during the night. The whole detachment formed promptly in line at each alarm, but no attack was made; and, in the morning, our scouts could not discover the enemy within five miles of the point. Lieutenant-Colonel Tew throughout the whole movement was ever at the post of greatest dan- ger, displaying the utmost self-possession and skill in disposing of his small force to the greatest advantage. On Saturday, the 18th instant, the remain- ing companies of the regiment were ordered to Rodman's Point, with the exception of company C, which was stationed at Grice's house, about a mile from Washington, on the road to Newbern. During the night the breast- works of the enemy were destroyed, and one was thrown up by our men defending the point from a land attack. On Sunday, 19th instant, an expe- dition from Newbern, under the command of Generals Foster, Wessells, Negley and Hickman, came through without meeting any force, and ascertained that the enemy had definitely abandoned their designs upon Washington. On Wednesday morning, (22d,) we received orders to embark for Newbern, leav- ing three companies at Rodman's Point; and, starting at about ten o'clock, A. M., on the steamer Thomas Collyer, we arrived in Newbern the same night, at
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