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 36
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thirds of the horses and over one-third of the officers and men in the batte- ries were either killed or wounded, yet they held their position and continned their fire until the corps fell back to its second position, and there taking position, rendered very great service in the subsequent advance. In retiring from the first position, it was necessary to drag almost every gun off by hand, ยท there being scarcely a gun team left. Six guns were left upon the field, two of them with broken carriages, there being neither horses or men left to bring them away. These guns were all recovered that night, and they were the only guns under Colonel Tompkins's immediate command which were ever for a single moment in possession of the enemy, and these were not deserted by their gunners, but were heroically worked and defended until nearly every man fell at his post. Colonel Tompkins was among the last to turn back from the first position, and just as he was turning to do so, he was struck by a bullet of the enemy, which, passing through the ear of his horse, struck him upon the shoulder, grazing but not shattering the bone.
In November, 1864, he received a partial acknowledgment of his services by a commission of brevet brigadier-general, to date from the 1st day of August, 1864, "for meritorious, gallant and distinguished services in the cam- paign before Richmond and in the Shenandoah Valley."
General Tompkins was prevented from participating in the last brief campaign which closed the war, he being entirely prostrated by a severe attack of miasmatie fever, induced by severe service in the performance of duty in the trenches before Petersburg. He was honorably discharged and mustered out of the service on the 21st of April, 1865, and on the 10th of May succeeding, received the following letter :
"ARTILLERY HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF POTOMAC, WASHINGTON, May 10, 1865.
"MY DEAR GENERAL :- The suppression of the rebellion, in the work of which you have borne so conspicuous and efficient a part, having terminated our official relations, I cannot part with you without expressing my sense of your long and gallant services in the artillery of this army, from its organization to the present time. Your services in the Peninsular campaign of 1862, and in the subsequent campaigns in which you commanded the artillery of the sixth corps d' armee; your gallantry and skill at all times, and especially in the great battles of Malvern, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania Court House, in the Wilderness, in the Shenandoah Valley, and elsewhere, are of official record, and have, from time to time, been acknowledged by your corps commanders and myself. It now remains for me to return to you my hearty thanks, not only for these services in battle, but for the laborious and important duties which you performed in the organization and administration of your various commands, under the most adverse circumstances, and without the field and staff considered indispensable even in old and instructed armies. On the faithful performance of these duties, success in battle depended, and all that could be done by any man was thoroughly done by you. For whatever of success I have had in the performance of my duties, I am indebted mainly to the commanders of the artillery of army corps, and to none more than to yourself. My best wishes follow you in your retirement from the service, and I shall always remember with pleasure the relations, personal and official, that have existed between us.
" Believe me to be, as ever, very truly and sincerely yours,
" HENRY S. HUNT, Major-General, Chief of Artillery, Army Potomac." "Brigadier-General C. II. Tompkins, Chief of Artillery, Sixth Army Corps."
noe, Hazard
JOHN G. HAZARD.
OHN G. HAZARD, son of John and grandson of Governor Jeffrey Hazard, was born in Exeter, Rhode Island, on the 15th of April, 1832. He received his education at the common schools of his native state, and, previous to the rebellion, was engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was com- missioned first-lieutenant, first Rhode Island light artillery, August 8th, 1861; assisted in the organization of batteries B and C; accompanied the latter to Washington, and was soon after transferred to battery A. He was ordered to accompany General Williams's brigade to Ball's Bluff on the day of the battle there, and arrived on the ground at daylight the following morning. The day was spent in getting canal boats in readiness, and putting on board the battery and horses. After dark he was ordered to unship, as the troops already across were ordered back to the Maryland side of the Potomac. This move of crossing to the Virginia side of the river, was simply a feint to prevent the enemy making another attack, prior to our troops returning, which could only be done under cover of night. The following day the battery returned to its old camping ground at Darnstown. About the Ist of November, Cap- tain Hazard was ordered to report to General Charles P. Stone, at Poolesville, Maryland, where his battery remained during the winter, sending out a section weekly to do picket duty. During the greater portion of the winter, Captain Hazard was in command of the battery, Captain Tompkins being absent on sick leave. Early in the spring, the battery accompanied General Sedgwick to Harper's Ferry, from which point two or three expeditions were made up the valley to Charlestown and Winchester, resulting only in slight skirmishes. In April, the battery was ordered to Washington to ship for
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Fortress Monroe. Arriving at that point, the division was united to Sumner's corps, (the second.) Lieutenant Hazard accompanied the battery up the Penin- sula, and was almost daily engaged at the siege of Yorktown. At the raising of the siege it was put on shipboard on the York river and landed at West Point, where it joined the main part of the army again at Camp Winfield Scott. June 30th, crossed the Chickahominy and was engaged in the battle of Fair Oaks, after which it remained in this work until the retreat was ordered to the James river. The battery was engaged almost constantly, as was the entire army, from the time it started until it reached the river. More severely for the battery, perhaps, at Peach Orchard, White Oak Swamp and Glendale. At Malvern Hill it was not ordered into the fight, yet sustained some loss from the enemy's artillery.
On the 20th of August, 1862, Lieutenant Hazard was commissioned captain of battery B, and took command September 1st, at Alexandria, on its arrival from the Peninsula. It then rejoined the second corps, and accompanied it through Maryland to South Mountain, thence to the battle of Antietam. From here the army went into camp in and about Harper's Ferry, to refit and reorganize. The battery at this time was in a particularly bad condi- tion. Horses worn out, men were ragged, and, from constant marching day and night, the men had become slack in discipline. These evils, with the assistance of Lieutenants George W. Adams, Horace S. Bloodgood and G. Lyman Dwight, were speedily overcome.
In October, 1862, Captain Hazard proceeded with the army to Warren- ton ; from there, after the change in command, to Falmouth, opposite Freder- icksburg, where the battery remained in eamp until ordered into the battle of Fredericksburg. On the 12th, he was engaged from daylight until late in the day in shelling the same. On the morning of the 13th, he was ordered across the river to report to Major-General O. O. Howard, commanding second division of our corps. Our infantry having been repulsed again and again, after many hard hours of fighting, it was decided to send battery B to the extreme front in a very exposed position, within one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line and under a heavy cross-fire of their artillery. Their orders were to go in on the run, or they would never succeed in getting into position at all. They did so, but remained there about twenty minutes when they were ordered out, with a severe loss in men and horses. General Couch afterwards told Captain Hazard that he did not expect to see him get out without losing his command, but that he considered the sacrifice called for,
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as the infantry were getting very much demoralized. The horses of Captain Hazard and Lieutenant Bloodgood were shot under them during the battle.
In April, 1863, Captain Hazard was made chief of artillery of the corps. At the same time, a complete change was made in the organization of the artillery of the army of the Potomac. The artillery of each corps was taken from the divisions and made into a separate brigade by itself, and placed under the sole command .of the chief of artillery, who was made, by the order, a brigade commander. After the fatal blunder of General Hooker, at Chancellorsville, the enemy left our front on their memorable campaign into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Captain Hazard's brigade accompanied the second corps on the chase after Lee to the battle of Gettysburg, where, after three terrific days' fighting, Lee retreated across the Potomac. After follow- ing him to Falling Waters, our army was put in motion for Virginia, and struck the enemy again near Culpepper. The second corps had a severe fight with a portion of the enemy at Auburn Hill and Bristoe Station, Cap- tain Hazard's command taking a very important part in the result of the day. Soon after, the army went into winter quarters on the Rapidan. In April, 1864, Captain Hazard was made major of his regiment, and assigned to the command of the second brigade of the artillery reserves. When the army broke eamp on the 4th of May, he accompanied his brigade to the Wilder- ness; thence to Spottsylvania, where his brigade was attached to that of General Tidball's, of the second corps, with which he continued through the battles of the Po, Mattapony, North Anna and Cold Harbor, to Petersburg. On the 1st of July, 1864, General Tidball was ordered to West Point as commander, and the consolidated brigade was placed under Major Hazard's command. The brigade was engaged almost daily, from May 5th, until August Ist ; and, from that time, until about September 1st, it remained quiet, with exception of the battle at Deep Bottom, and the unfortunate repulse at Reams's Station, where we lost eight guns and all the officers of battery B, captured by the enemy.
On the 8th of August, Major Hazard was made lieutenant-colonel by brevet, for " gallant and meritorious services." During the fall and winter of 1864, his command occupied various forts in the works in front of Petersburg, at times withdrawing a few batteries for some of the various moves and expeditions sent out during the winter. Most of the time he occupied the line, Colonel Hazard had in his command nineteen light, four heavy, and six mortar batteries, stationed at the most important points and requiring 49
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the greatest care and watchfulness. On the 28th of March, the brigade broke camp and moved with the corps across Hatch's Run, where they engag- ed the enemy, in connection with the grand advance of the whole army. Richmond and Petersburg falling, they pursued the enemy to Appomatox Court House, their corps being immediately on the heels of Lee's army. They were constantly skirmishing with them to the very hour of their sur- render. The last battle engaged in was at Farmersville, April 7th and 8th. On the 3d of May, 1865, Lieutenant-Colonel Hazard was made colonel by brevet, and the same day, brigadier-general by brevet, for meritorious services. He was recommended for these brevets by his superior officers several months prior. He accompanied his brigade from Virginia to Washington, and partici- pated in the grand review. At the disbanding of the artillery, he was order- ed to report, with his regiment, (Colonel Tompkins and Lieutenant-Colonel Tompkins having been mustered out,) to Rhode Island, and on the Ist of July was mustered out. On the 11th of July, General Hazard was commis- sioned colonel fifth United States volunteers, retaining his brevet rank, and ordered by the Secretary of War to make his head-quarters at Hartford, Con- necticut. August 12th, he was ordered to remove his head-quarters to Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York harbor, and commanded that post until March 9, 1866, when his regiment was mustered out of the service.
WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS.
BATTERY A.
HEN the war broke out, Mr. WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS was engaged in business in Providence, like others of all classes, scarcely suspecting the nature of the conflict into which the country was suddenly plunged. But one thing he knew. That was, that the government of the nation was assailed by an armed rebellion, and, that the labor and sacrifices of every true, patriotic man, were needed. The call for troops came. He felt that it was addressed personally to himself. He was ready to obey the call. Leaving business, home and friends at a moment's warning, he was ready to do and dare all things which the exigency demanded.
A personal friend of Governor Sprague, he was offered and at once accepted a commission as lieutenant in the first battery of light artillery which the loyal states furnished. The story of Captain Tompkins's battery has already been told in these pages, and it is not needful to repeat it here. Suffice it, that during the term in which Lieutenant Reynolds was connected with it, he succeeded in securing the confidence, esteem, and even affection of all the officers and men to a remarkable degree. The battery was at first connected with the first regiment of Rhode Island troops, and Colonel Burn- side reposed especial confidence in the sagacity and fidelity of the promising officer. He recognized the possession of those sterling soldierly qualities, which gave subsequent prominence to Lieutenant Reynolds's brief but bril- liant military career.
When the second battery, known as battery A, was organized. Lieutenant Reynolds was selected for the command. Commissioned as captain, June 6th,
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1861, he soon filled up its ranks with some of the best men that Rhode Island has sent to the war among its officers and soldiers. At its first organization, Captain Reynolds's battery was, in artillery, the elite of the state troops, if not of the entire army. The company was sent to Washington soon after Captain Reynolds assumed immediate command, with the second regiment, and arrived at the capital on the 22d of June. The battery, with the regi- ment, was brigaded with the first regiment and battery, and the two bodies, on parade and in the field, made an imposing and formidable array.
The battery moved out of Washington with Colonel Burnside's brigade, to take part in the battle of Bull Run. In the march to the battle-field, it occupied the second place in the column. At the beginning of the action, Captain Reynolds very promptly carried his battery into the field, and was immediately engaged with the enemy. When the second regiment was formed in line of battle, the battery was posted upon its extreme right, and was very effectively served. Nothing could exceed the coolness and skill of Captain Rey- nolds, as he directed his guns, now at one threatened point and now at another, at all points dealing destruction into the ranks of the advancing enemy. So accurate was the range and so complete the execution, that the rebel forces in the immediate front of the brigade were badly shaken, staggered and dismayed by the storm of shot and shell that rained down upon them. The battery became the especial object of the enemy's fire. Lieutenant Weeden had his horse shot under him. One or two men and several horses were killed. The men stood up wonderfully well in this their first engagement, and the conduct of the officers was beyond praise. The pieces were handled with great dexterity and served with remarkable rapidity. Amply sup- ported by the remainder of the brigade, Captain Reynolds had the satisfac- tion of feeling that no force of the enemy could drive him from his position while he could also perceive that his guns were gradually but surely clearing the space before them of the opposing forces. If the enemy attempted a charge, it was promptly and vigorously broken. If he stood in array, his line was soon melted beneath the hot and death-dealing fire. Finding fruitless all attempts to dislodge our forces from the position, the enemy finally retired from the front and essayed an attack in another quarter further to the right.
Captain Reynolds was directed to post his battery to meet the new attempt. He accordingly directed it to a point somewhat in advance of his first position, from which he could do sufficient execution. He was requested to post it still further in advance, upon a slight elevation almost within the
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enemy's lines. The place was hardly tenable, as Captain Reynolds himself thought. One section was sent over, and remained for a short time. But no supports were near, the enemy made a rapid advance, and Captain Reynolds had just time to retire his guns to a safer position, when the enemy appeared in overwhelming force upon the point which was just vacated. One gun was somewhat disabled and one caisson lost. The disabled piece was taken to the rear, narrowly escaped capture by a squad of rebel cavalry, reached the camp at Centreville, and afterwards that at Washington, and was finally carried to Rhode Island.
When the rupture of our lines was made upon the extreme right, and the batteries of Ricketts and Griffin were captured, Captain Reynolds was occupy- ing a position upon our right centre. Colonel Burnside rode up to him and said : "Reynolds, the day is lost." The retreat at once took place. Captain Reynolds had expended all his ammunition, and could do nothing but with- draw his five remaining guns. These pieces were accordingly taken from the field, and the men in charge of them succeeded in reaching the bridge across Cub Run. The enemy's artillery was playing upon the bridge. Bag- gage wagons, ambulances and cannon, which had previously come down the turnpike, had become overturned and were lying about in remediless confu- sion. The enemy's shot came crashing through the broken masses, and the situation was exceedingly gloomy. It was hopeless to think of getting the artillery through the debris. The men accordingly cut the traces of the har- ness, relieved the horses of their burden, and with them crossed the stream. Captain Reynolds had done all that a brave man could have done in the peculiarly trying circumstances of the case. Having lost his guns, his care was to save his men. He led them into their former camp at Centreville, and there received orders to retire to Washington. It was a disheartening issue to an enterprise which had been so hopefully undertaken. But none of the Rhode Island troops had any cause for self-reproach on account of their action in the day's conflict. They had not lost their honor. On the contrary, they had given an example of bravery and steadiness, which, if it had been generally followed, would have put a different aspect upon the fortunes of the day.
After the battle of Bull Run, it was decided to raise an entire regiment of light artillery in Rhode Island. Captain Reynolds received the appoint- ment of lieutenant-colonel, and was of great assistance in organizing and recruiting the regiment. He continued to act in that capacity until the win-
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ter of 1861-'62, when he was sent to Port Royal, to attend to the business of the Treasury Department in that quarter, in the superintendence of the abandoned plantations. He performed his duties there with characteristic energy and fidelity. He resigned his commission June 6, 1862; but contin- ued to manifest his interest in the Rhode Island soldiers, and particularly those of his old battery, in every way possible. Liberal contributions of money, efforts for the advancement of worthy and deserving men, and many a gift and comfort for the sick, attested his unceasing and considerate gene- rosity. He resumed his business life in Providence, and is known everywhere as a man of indomitable perseverance, unflagging energy, and liberal and hopeful spirit.
JOIIN A. TOMPKINS. WILLIAM A. ARNOLD. BATTERY A.
N August, batteries A, B, and C were organized into a battalion, under command of Major C. H. Tompkins, and in September it was constituted a regiment. Captain Reynolds was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel, and Lieutenant JOHN A. TOMPKINS to be captain ; and, on the 16th of September, the latter proceeded with two guns to Harper's Ferry, where he engaged in the fight at Bolivar Heights, Virginia. On the 20th, Captain Tompkins joined the rest of the battery at Edward's Ferry. It wintered at Poolesville, Maryland, and, in March, 1862, after the operations against Winchester, shared the fortunes of the army of the Potomac on the Peninsula. It was engaged before Yorktown, at Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage's Station, Charles City Court House, and Malvern Hill, and was the last battery to leave the hill when the army fell back to Harrison's Landing. After leaving the Peninsula, it was in the reserve at the battle of Chantilly. Subsequently it had several skirmishes with the enemy, and, on the 17th, at Antietam, fought nearly four hours within three hundred yards of the enemy's line of battle, losing four men killed and fifteen wounded. Ten horses were lost. Lieutenants Jeffrey Hazard and Charles F. Mason bravely worked their guns for want of men. Captain Tompkins was promoted to be major, December 4, 1862, and lieutenant-colonel on the Ist of November, 1864. Lieutenant WILLIAM ALBERT ARNOLD, of battery E, was commissioned captain, December 5th, and succeeded Captain Tompkins in command of battery A. The battery took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, on the 13th of December, and in
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that of Marye's Heights, on the 3d of May, 1863. At Gettysburg, it fought with distinguished bravery, losing five men killed and twenty-three wounded. Thirty horses were also lost. On the 14th of October, Captain Arnold engag- ed the enemy at Bristoe Station, and aided in frustrating Lee's attempt to get between the forces of General Meade and Washington. The casualties were one killed and five wounded. On the 28th of November, the battery fired sixty rounds and had one man killed. It went into winter quarters at Mountain Run, where it remained quiet for six weeks. On the 6th of February, 1864, Captain Arnold marched with the corps to Morton's Ford, Virginia, where he took position, and engaged the enemy during the day. The next day he skirmished with then, and marched back to camp, near Stevensburg. On the 3d of May, the battery commenced the grand march with the entire army towards Richmond. It was hotly engaged in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor, etc., and had a number of men wounded. In one of these engagements Captain Arnold received a bullet through his hat, but escaped unhurt. Lieutenant Peter Hunt was wounded in the foot at Cold Harbor. He was removed to Washington, where he died. On the 4th and 5th of June, Captain Arnold occupied an exposed position with his battery at Gaines's farm, and joined in the general bombardment of the rebel defences.
The term of service of the original three years' men having now expired, the battery comprising that class returned home under Captain Arnold, and arrived in Providence on the 13th of June, where it met with a welcome reception, and was entertained at the City Hotel with a complimentary sup- per by a number of gentlemen whose interest in its welfare had been unabated through its long and honorable career. The battery was mustered out of service on the 18th of June.
Less than fifty men of the battery now remained in the field. The com- mand devolved on Lieutenant G. L. Dwight, who reorganized it with admirable despatch. He procured men from other batteries of the corps, and, in three days had his battery ready for the field. It was assigned to General Birney's division; was the first battery to cross the James river, and fired the first shot into Petersburg. On the same day, Lieutenant Dwight received the official thanks of the major-general commanding, for the handsome manner in which he had placed his battery in position under fire, and driven the enemy from the field. On the 30th of September, it was consolidated with battery B, which act terminated a distinctive history marked by brilliant deeds.
J. Fred. Brown
THOMAS FREDERIC BROWN. BATTERY B.
HOMAS FREDERIC BROWN, son of Thomas Brown, was born in Providence, on the 26th of October, 1842. He was a graduate of the high school in his native eity, and, at the breaking out of the rebellion, was nearly through his third year in Brown University. At the first eall for troops, he enrolled himself with the members of the first Rhode Island regiment, but was rejected on account of his height. Soon after, he was admitted a private in battery A, and mustered into service as a corporal, June 6th, 1861. He took part with his battery at the battle of Bull Run, and accompanied it in its many tedious marches and skirmishes during the fall of that year, and was made first-sergeant. He also took part in the campaigns and battles on the Peninsula, and at the battle of Malvern Hill had his sabre shot from his hand. On the 13th of August, 1862, he was commissioned a second- lieutenant and assigned to duty with battery C, commanded by Captain R. Waterman, attached to the fifth army corps under General Fitz John Porter. Leaving the Peninsula, the battery took part in the second battle at Bull Run, Antietam, Blackburn Ford, and Fredericksburg. On the 29th of December, 1862, he received his commission as first-lieutenant, and was assigned to battery B.
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