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 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Captain Greene when but half way up the slope, was struck by a fatal bullet while in the act of waving his sword and cheering on his men. He was cut off in the very prime of life, but he died a noble death, and his name will be enshrined among a nation's heroes. His men felt his loss most keenly, for he had won their love by his attention to their wants and his devotion to their interests. He never forgot that a man in the ranks has human feelings as well as men above the ranks; that he is wounded by the same insults, touched by the same kindness and may be inspired by the same heroism. He never required his men to go into any danger that he was not ready to face himself, but held their health, comfort and lives as pre- cious as his own. In the exhausting marches when they were foot-sore and weary, he was ready with an encouraging word or some expedient to lighten their burdens; and, when sick and wounded, he looked to their treatment with the interest and tenderness of a brother. Captain Greene's remains were brought to Milwaukie, where they were buried with military honors. An eloquent tribute was paid to the noble qualities of this lamented officer, by the Reverend C. A. Staples, of that city. The example of a self-sacrificing patriotism and manly devotion to the cause of justice, as displayed in the record of Captain Greene's life, will not fail to be felt, and is worthy to be followed by all who hold their country's interests dear to their hearts.
Gr. tempting
CHARLES H. TOMPKINS.
HARLES H. TOMPKINS, son of John A. and Anna R. Tompkins, was born at New Windsor, Orange County, New York, May 15th, 1834. In 1844, the family removed to Rhode Island. In the public schools of Provi- dence, he received his education, and, upon leaving the high school, he entered into mercantile pursuits.
At the breaking out of the rebellion, he was in command of the Provi- dence Marine Corps of Artillery, with which he had been actively associated from 1853. The marines were among the first to volunteer for the three months' service. They left Providence for Washington, April 17th, 1861, being the first troops to leave the state, and were not only the first volunteer battery in the service, but they were for some time the only battery of rifled guns that the United States had at command. During most of the three months' campaign, he was with the column under command of General Pat- terson, on the upper Potomac, and was with the first troops which crossed into Virginia. On the 1st of August, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of major, and, on the 13th of September following, was advanced to colonel, first Rhode Island light artillery. In November, 1861, he was, by order of the War Department, assigned to duty as chief of artillery to Brigadier-General Stone, commanding division on upper Potomac. Upon the organization of the army corps, this division, then commanded by General Sedgwick, became the second division, second corps d' armee. He served as chief of artillery of this division, throughout the Peninsular campaign of 1862, enduring all the hardships and participating in all the engagements from Yorktown to Harri- son's Landing; winning the approval and securing the official commendations
374
RHODE ISLAND OFFICERS.
of division and corps commanders, especially for gallant and meritorious con- duet at Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Glendale and Malvern Hill. At the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31st, 1862, General Sedgwick's division was the first to cross the Chickahominy to the relief of the troops under General Casey, who were being hard pressed by the enemy. Recent heavy rains had so swollen the river, that it was with great difficulty that the infantry troops who pre- ceded the artillery, could cross; the continued swelling of the waters over- flowing a swamp of a thousand yards in width, which had to be traversed after crossing the bridge. Colonel Tompkins succeeded in getting the two leading batteries of his column across,-I, first United States, Kirby's, and A, first Rhode Island, J. A. Tompkins's,-and at once hurried them to the front, where they arrived in time to render efficient service in retrieving the fortunes of the day. The remaining batteries of Colonel Tompkins's command were with great difficulty transported across the bridge, and posted upon a slight elevation upon the south bank. The water having risen, by this time, to such a height as to overflow entirely the narrow causeway which crossed the swamp, rendered it impossible to get the guns across in any manner but by hand. The horses were unharnessed, and every carriage was drawn across the swamp by the men of the batteries, assisted by a detail of two hundred men from the forty-second New York (Irish) regiment; the men working in mud and water waist-deep. Before morning, every gun was across and in position on the line of battle. The presence of these batteries, tended mate- rially to the success of the severe engagement of June Ist. So confident were the commanders of the enemy that a single gun could not be transported across the river, that Jefferson Davis so stated the fact in a speech which he made to his troops before they attacked Casey, on the 3Ist.
In his official report of these battles, General Sedgwick says : "Colonel Charles H. Tompkins, of the first Rhode Island artillery, commanding artil- lery of division, was indefatigable in bringing up his batteries. *
* The zeal and energy of this officer are worthy of the highest praise, it being a matter of such exceeding difficulty to bring artillery across the Chiekahominy, which was greatly swollen by recent heavy rains-to such an extent, indeed, that the bridges previously built by us had in great part been carried away ; that, as I learned from prisoners taken during the fight, the enemy had declared it impossible for us to bring over a single gun."
On the 29th day of June, 1862, was fought the battle of Savage Station. Previous to the opening of the engagement, the artillery of Sedgwick's divi-
375
CHARLES H. TOMPKINS.
sion had been ordered across White Oak Swamp. J. A. Tompkins's Rhode Island battery was, however, recalled after the commencement of the engage- ment. Although Colonel Tompkins had been ordered to the rear, he remain- ed upon the field and acted throughout the engagement as aide to both Gen- erals Sumner and Sedgwick ; and when the rear guard fell back that night to White Oak Swamp, Colonel Tompkins was entrusted with the delicate duty of withdrawing the pickets; a task, owing to the darkness of the night and the close proximity of the enemy, extremely hazardous, the pickets of the foe being not twenty yards distant from some portions of the line. This duty performed, Colonel Tompkins proceeded at once to overtake his command, which he reached about daybreak on the 30th of June, when the battle of Glendale, or Nelson's farm, was fought; General Sedgwick's division, which had constituted the rear guard of the army since leaving Fair Oaks, was at the battle of Glendale held in reserve, and all its artillery except two batteries, Tompkins's A, first Rhode Island, and Kirby's, I, first United States, ordered to Malvern Hill with the reserve artillery. Colonel Tompkins remained with the two batteries named, and, when MeCall was attacked and his men were driven back through Sedgwick's line, it was the rapid and well-directed fire of these batteries that checked the advance of the enemy, thereby giving the infantry of the division time to reform their line, which had been thrown into confusion by the rush through it of McCall's disorganized troops. The enemy were driven back, and the ground lost by McCall, recovered by General Sedgwick. In an official communication recommending certain officers and soldiers for promotion and reward for meritorious conduct in the battles of June 29th and 30th, July Ist and 2d, 1862, General Sedgwick says: "Colonel Charles H. Tompkins, chief of artillery of my staff, rendered distinguished services, behaving with great gallantry on several occasions, especially in the battles of Savage Station and Glendale. On the Ist and 2d days of July, 1862, at Malvern Hill, Sedgwick's division was posted upon the right centre of the line of battle. Colonel Tompkins discovering that more artillery and of heavier calibre than the guns under his command could be used to advan- tage in the position then occupied, sent to General Barry, chief of artillery, who, upon representation of the fact, ordered two twenty-pound batteries from the reserve to report to Colonel Tompkins, whose command thus reenforced, rendered most efficient service in the terrible, but successful, engagement which ensued."
The night before the retreat from Fair Oaks took place, the medical director of the division called upon Colonel Tompkins, who was suffering
376
RHODE ISLAND OFFICERS.
from miasmatic fever, and insisted upon his going to the rear, as he would be unfit for duty if active operations took place. Having, however, a strong suspicion of what was about to transpire, Colonel Tompkins refused to act upon the doctor's advice, preferring to remain and share the fortunes of his command ; and, although so weak as to scarcely be able to retain his seat in his saddle, he went through with the severe fighting by day and marches by night of the ensuing week, the excitements of which had the effect rather to benefit than to injure him. In a letter to Governor Sprague, written August 22d, 1862, General Sedgwick says:
" Understanding that you propose to recommend Colonel Charles H. Tompkins, first Rhode Island artillery, for an appointment as brigadier, I beg leave to say to you that, in my judgment, few better appointments or. better deserved could be made from the volunteer service. Colonel Tomp- kins has been upon my staff as chief of artillery since I have commanded this division, and has commended himself strongly to me by his attention to his duties and by his zeal and coolness in action, having been of great service to me in all the battles we have shared in. Recently, at Malvern Ilill, in anticipation of a probable severe engagement, I placed him in command of a brigade in preference to giving it to any of the regimental commanders, believing that it would be safest in his hands."
In August, 1862, Colonel Tompkins was ordered home to recruit the thinned ranks of the regiment. This duty accomplished, he rejoined the army in the October following.
At the first engagement at Fredericksburg, Colonel Tompkins was placed in command of the right centre division of the artillery of position, consisting of eighty-eight guns, commanding the town and the upper and centre bridges, and most of the work of bombardment of the town fell upon this division. General H. J. Hunt, chief of artillery of the army, who had the immediate command of all the artillery of position, in that portion of his official report in which he refers to the throwing of the bridges, says: "The guns were again brought into operation at both bridges, and, under command of Colonel Tompkins at the upper and Major Drall at the middle bridge, a furious can- nonade completely suppressed the enemy's fire." Again, in the same report, we find the following : "The duties of Colonel Tompkins were arduous, and required constant attention and exposure, charged as he was with the protec- tion of the workmen at the upper bridges, within close musket range of the enemy's sharpshooters."
When General Sedgwick assumed command of the sixth army corps, in February, 1863, Colonel Tompkins was applied for by him, and he was ordered
377
CHARLES H. TOMPKINS.
to report to him as chief of artillery for the corps. Upon the organization of the artillery brigades in May, 1863, he assumed command and organized the artillery brigade of the sixth army corps, and held that command during the remainder of his term of service, participating in the movements of the army and all its battles during the campaigns of 1863-4.
In the second battle of Fredericksburg, May 3d, 1863, the celebrated Marye's Heights, which had withstood the assault of the entire army on the previous engagement on the 13th of December, were carried by assault of the sixth corps, under command of the gallant Sedgwick, although the works of the enemy on the sunken road were manned by the same troops as in December-Barksdale's Mississippi brigade. In this action, Colonel Tomp- kins commanded all the artillery of the corps, consisting of fifty-four guns. Previous to the assault, Colonel Tompkins posted twenty-four guns within eight hundred yards of the celebrated sunken road at the foot of Marye's Heights, which were held by the enemy, and concentrated their fire upon that portion of their line where the main assault was to be made. The rapid and well-directed fire of these guns aided materially in the success of the assault, and the rapidity with which the batteries were moved forward, fol- lowing up the retreating enemy, coming into battery and opening upon him every time he attempted to re-form his broken columns, won the highest encomiums of the corps commander.
Upon arriving at Salem Heights, a fresh force of the enemy, sent down from Charlottesville, was encountered, and, scareely stopping to form, the leading brigade of the corps dashed at once upon the enemy on the heights, and was repulsed ; the enemy attempted to follow up their temporary advan- tage, but were quickly checked by the canister fire of eighteen guns, which Colonel Tompkins threw to the front, which, by so doing, completely cheeked the enemy and allowed our troops in the rear time to come up, form, and hold the position. On the 4th of May, the corps, still holding the position gained the previous day, was assaulted by the enemy in strong force. The first attaek made upon the centre of the corps was almost entirely repulsed by the fire of the batteries. In the second and most determined assault, made late in the day, they attempted to turn the left flank of the corps. Again were the batteries turned upon their advancing columns, and by their rapid and well-directed canister fire rendered material aid in again repulsing the enemy. It was after the fighting had ceased on the night of the 4th of May, and when the corps was retiring to Banks's ford to cross the river, that
48
378
RHODE ISLAND OFFICERS.
Colonel Tompkins, in going from the left to the right of our line, found himself outside of our own lines, and within those of the enemy. His first intimation that he was within their line was by finding himself at the side of a battalion of infantry uniformed in decidedly butternut coloring. His horse being completely worn down with the fatigues of the day, it was use- less to think of attempting to escape by turning to run. The only alterna- tive at his command was to move along with the party as if belonging to it ; trusting that, in the confusion, he would avoid being questioned and conse- quently detection, and that some opportunity for escape would present itself. This course resulted in success. After accompanying the battalion some distance they wheeled to the right, and Colonel Tompkins immediately struck into a forest, where, from his knowledge of the country, he easily made his way to the river and back to the corps.
On the 19th of August, 1863, General Sedgwick, in a letter addressed to Brigadier-General L. Thomas, says :
" GENERAL :- I respectfully recommend Colonel C. H. Tompkins, first Rhode Island artillery, for promotion as brigadier-general of volunteers, feel- ing assured that no better appointment could be made, nor one better deserved by active, faithful and gallant services in the field. Colonel Tompkins served . upon my staff as chief of artillery, while I commanded a division in the second corps, and is now in command of the artillery brigade of this corps. He has distinguished himself in all the actions in which he has taken part, for cool- ness, gallantry and skill. At the storming of the heights of Fredericksburg, and the subsequent battle at Salem chapel, in the month of May last, his management and disposition of the artillery, was worthy of the highest praise. I have already had the honor of calling the attention of the department to his admirable conduct on other occasions in my official report of the engage- ments, and in another communication recommending his promotion. His entire record since the commencement of the war is such as to entitle him to the consideration of the government. I earnestly hope that he may be commissioned as brigadier-general, for I feel that he has fully deserved the position, and is eminently fit to hold it."
A communication like this, which, in addition, bore the endorsement of Brigadier-General Henry J. Hunt, coming unsolicited from such a source, is a noble legacy for a patriot father to leave upon the page of his country's his- tory, for his children and for posterity.
On the 3d day of July, 1863, the never-to-be-forgotten battle of Gettys- burg was fought. The sixth corps having been designated as the reserve, Colonel Tompkins was directed to hold his command subject to the orders of
379
CHARLES H. TOMPKINS.
General Hunt, chief of artillery, who was to use the batteries whenever needed on the line. During the hardest of the fight, orders were received to relieve certain batteries on the second and ninth corps fronts. While engaged in posting these batteries, Colonel Tompkins received verbal orders from Gen- eral Meade in person, " to at once ride along the line of the army from right to left, and make such disposition of the artillery as he deemed best, and to put in guns wherever they could be used." The order was promptly obeyed, and every battery of the corps placed upon the line, and all rendered efficient service on that eventful day.
In the operations before Spottsylvania, Colonel Tompkins's command was constantly on the line of battle, and daily engaged with the enemy. On the morning of the 9th of May, the sharp shooting of the enemy was sadly suc- cessful. Major-General Sedgwick was standing near one of the batteries, and, while engaged in conversation with Colonel McMahon, his adjutant-general, and Colonel Tompkins, he received a ball under his left eye ; and, as he fell, Colonel Tompkins caught the form of his beloved commander in his arms, and endeavored to stay the torrent of blood flowing from his wound, but it was too late; the rebel bullet had performed its accursed work; and one of the best soldiers and noblest gentlemen in the service, had fallen a victim to this unholy rebellion.
At Cold Harbor, on June 1st to June 12th, the command of Colonel Tompkins was constantly under fire, and daily engaged with the enemy. Having failed to take the position by assault, on the Ist of June, intrenching and working by regular approaches and parallels, became the order of the day. Colonel Tompkins succeeded, on the second night, in placing and intrenching two of his batteries within two hundred yards of the enemy's line, where they rendered essential aid in silencing a battery of the enemy that had been particularly troublesome.
In the assault on the enemy's works at Petersburg, June 18th, 1864, Colonel Tompkins commenced the engagement on the right, by opening fire with his batteries upon the enemy's line at the points to be assaulted. As the line advanced, batteries were thrown forward with it, until the right reached and rested upon the Appomattox, within fifteen hundred yards of the city. Rhodes's battery E, first Rhode Island, was, by order of Colonel Tompkins, moved at once to the position gained, and opened fire upon the railroad and passenger bridge. This was the first battery which fired upon the Petersburg bridges.
380
RHODE ISLAND OFFICERS.
The first engagement of General Sheridan in the valley, was the battle of Opequan, 19th of September, 1864. The cavalry advanced under General Wilson, charged aeross the ford, and, rapidly driving the enemy's outposts in, obtained possession of a plateau about a mile from the creek. The infantry troops were moved forward and formed in line of battle. The sixth, and a portion of the nineteenth corps only, had established themselves in position, when the enemy made a furious assault upon the nineteenth corps, which was formed upon the right of the sixth eorps; and the troops of the nineteenth were driven back in considerable confusion, rapidly followed by the enemy. Colonel Tompkins had two of his batteries in position on the right of the sixth corps, confident that the enemy could be checked if these batteries could but hold their position for a short time. He at once started to give to them his personal supervision. As he did so, he perceived a brigade of the enemy forming to charge upon the batteries, and one of the battery commanders about to limber up. Spurring his horse, he rode forward, and ordered the batteries to remain in their position, to load their guns with canister, and be prepared to meet the charge of the enemy. It was done. The enemy's charge was repulsed, and his further advanee was checked until the first division, sixth corps, which had been held in reserve, came up, drove the enemy and recovered the ground lost by the nineteenth corps. General Russell, the division commander, one of our most gallant officers, lost his life in this charge, and Colonel Tompkins had his horse shot from under him. It is simply historieal justiee to say, that the battery commander was ordered to limber up by a staff officer, who he supposed possessed the authority to give the command.
Retreating from the Opequan and Winchester, the enemy made a stand at Fisher's Hill, a position, which, in addition to its great natural strength, was strongly fortified. Colonel Tompkins was directed to open fire with all the guns that could be brought to bear upon it. This was done, and so well- directed and vigorous was his fire, that numbers of the enemy retreated from their work, and abandoned their guns before the assaulting column had reached within musket range of them. General Sheridan was with the batteries, and expressed himself as "highly delighted with the accuracy and effeet of their fire." The assault was made, and the works of the enemy were carried just before dark. General Sheridan pushed his troops rapidly forward in pursuit, not halting until his arrival at Woodstoek, about daylight the next morning. After a few hours' rest, the pursuit was continued, and the enemy's rear guard
381
CHARLES H. TOMPKINS.
overtaken at Mount Jackson. Riding forward to reconnoitre their position, Colonel Tompkins was fired upon by one of their sharpshooters, the ball passing through the brim of his hat, grazing his temple, and doing no damage save the cutting off of a lock of hair. The enemy continuing to retreat up the valley, they were rapidly pursued, Colonel Tompkins keeping four of his batteries in advance of the troops, and opening upon the columns of the enemy at every opportunity, until arriving at Harrisonburg, further pursuit was abandoned. Major-General Wright, in his official report of September 28th, awards the highest praise to Colonel Tompkins, for his skill and bravery in the operations mentioned.
On the morning of the 19th of October, 1864, the army was encamped in line of battle. The enemy attacked at early dawn, and caused a complete surprise, his columns being in the camp of the eighth corps before any were aware of his presence. The eighth corps was driven with scarcely a show of resistance. Rapidly following up his advantage, the enemy next attacked the nineteenth corps in flank, meeting with but little resistance, so complete had been the surprise. A dense fog overhung the valley, rendering it impos- sible at a short distance to distinguish friend from foe. By the time that the enemy reached the sixth corps, the artillery was in position ready to receive him, and the infantry were rapidly forming. Here he was checked, and for nearly three hours was held at bay by the gallant troops of the sixth corps, who, although greatly outnumbered, and losing terribly in killed and wound- ed, held their position until the troops of Emory's and Cook's commands could be re-formed on a ridge some mile and a half to the rear. This accom- plished, the sixth corps fell slowly back, contesting every foot of ground, and took their place in the new line. It was at this time that General Sheridan, who had been absent, arrived upon the field and assumed command, thereby relieving General Wright, who had been in temporary command. An assault of the enemy having been repulsed, General Sheridan ordered the line for- ward and attacked the enemy, who was rapidly driven from his position, and all lost ground was reoccupied. The pursuit of the enemy was continued to Fisher's Hill, and a large number of prisoners captured, together with fifty- one cannon, beside a large number of wagons, ambulances, horses, mules, etc. Colonel Tompkins's batteries first checked the advance of the enemy in the morning, and their well-directed and rapid fire aided materially in preventing a great disaster to our arms. Fighting upon a level plain, where there was not the slightest cover for either horses or men, they suffered severely. Two-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.