USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. II > Part 5
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*Forty-two-pound for round shot; 84-pound for pointed shot.
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expedition against the defences of Charleston in March and April, 1863. The project was abandoned when the fleet failed to pass the Confederate forts. A fresh movement was under- taken in the summer of 1863. Folly Island was fortified, and the Third Artillery manned six of ten batteries. After a bombardment from Folly Island, Morris Island was taken by storm, July 10. Failing to carry Fort Wagner, the batteries were transferred to Morris Island. Fort Wagner was taken July 17, but relinquished after heavy fighting, and a siege was undertaken. The Third Artillery manning most of the breeching guns, Fort Sumter was reduced in six days, August 17-23. The Confederates abandoned Forts Wagner and Gregg after a heavy bombardment; both forts were rebuilt and strengthened, and Fort Sumter was demolished to prevent reoccupation. Lieutenant Colonel Charles R. Brayton commanded eight com- panies of the Third Artillery on Morris Island from November, 1863. Detachments served in several expeditions against points in Florida. The Third Artillery was reorganized in January, 1864; 300 veterans reenlisted for three years; others who had served two years were discharged. The veterans were consolidated into four companies, and additional com- panies were recruited. In the spring and summer of 1864, five companies were at Morris Island, four at Fort Pulaski; one each in Florida, Virginia and at Hilton Head, the latter with Colonel Brayton, who was Chief of Artillery on General Gillmore's staff. In midsum- mer detachments of the regiment were engaged with attacking columns menacing various Confederate positions, with the purpose of preventing the sending of reinforcements to the Confederate armies operating in Virginia. Battery C accompanied General Gillmore to Vir- ginia in the spring of 1864, leaving Hilton Head at the end of April to join the Army of the James ; it was engaged at Drury's Bluffs, Appomattox River, Laurel Hill, Fort Burnham, and in the siege of Petersburg. Battery A was dispatched in the fall to join the forces cooper- ating with General William T. Sherman. Batteries from the Third Artillery were in action at Honey Hill and the expedition sent to break the railroad connection between Charleston and Savannah to clear the way for General Sherman. Lieutenant Colonel Ames of the Third commanded the artillery brigade, and displayed "imperturbable coolness" in managing his guns under galling fire. The regiment was engaged also at Devereaux Neck in the same campaign. The regimental colors carry the names of battles at Fort Pulaski, Secessionville, Pocotaligo, Morris Island, Fort Sumter, Fort Wagner, Olustee, Drury's Bluff, Laurel Hill, Honey Hill, Devereaux Neck, Fort Burnham and Petersburg. The regiment was mustered out by batteries at various times. Of 2023 names on the roll of the regiment, including 300 reënlisted veterans, thirty-nine were killed, seventeen died of wounds, seventy-seven died of disease or other causes, eighty were wounded, and 269 were discharged for disability.
Fifth Regiment, Rhode Island Heavy Artillery-Organized as Fifth Rhode Island Vol- unteers, but changed to heavy artillery under an order issued May 27, 1863. One battalion, five companies, left Rhode Island, December 27, 1861, to join the Burnside expedition to North Carolina. The battalion was under fire at Roanoke Island, February 7, 1862, and at Newbern, March 14, lost four killed and seven wounded. Among the killed was Lieutenant Henry R. Pierce, who had resigned as principal of Woonsocket high school to become a soldier. After the bombardment of Fort Macon, the Fifth was assigned to take possession. At Rawle's Mills it was under fire while supporting Belger's battery .; The battalion accom- panied the Goldsboro expedition, which included fighting at Southwest Creek, Kinston, White- hall and Goldsboro. Early in January, Henry T. Sisson was appointed as Colonel of the regi- ment, which had been recruited to ten companies. The Fifth was engaged in the defence of Newbern, March 14, 1863, and early in April moved to the relief of Little Washington, where Major General Foster was besieged. Two expeditions to relieve General Foster had been turned back by Confederate batteries commanding the Pamlico River, when Colonel Sisson was ordered, on April 10, to move by water. The regiment boarded the steamer "Escort" at
fBattery F, First R. I. Light Artillery.
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Newbern, and reached Manly Point, ten miles below Little Washington, the following morn- ing. At Manly Point were five gunboats and transports loaded with provisions, ammunition and forage, intended for General Foster, but held below by the blockade. The Confederates had driven a triple row of spiles across the Pamlico River, leaving open a passageway only 100 feet wide, which was within effective range of shore batteries on either side of the river, and had removed all buoys and other channel markers. The flotilla of gunboats and trans- ports made another attempt to pass the batteries, but a fog put an end to the movement. Cap- tain William W. Douglas and fifty volunteers went ashore on reconnoissance, but returned after finding the way to Little Washington overland barred by Confederate batteries. Colonel Sisson next volunteered to attempt to take the "Escort" through without the assistance of gunboats, and General Palmer, who was in command, authorized a trial under circumstances in which he did not feel justified in issuing an order. At eight o'clock on the night of April 13 the "Escort" started, carrying Colonel Sisson and the Fifth Regiment, behind a mountain of bales of hay, which had been piled on the decks of the "Escort" as armor. Except five officers and a detail of volunteer sharpshooters, the regiment was ordered below. The spiles were passed, and the Confederate batteries opened fire, distracted somewhat by darkness, and the bombardment from the federal gunboats. The "Escort" escaped injury and, passing into wider and deeper water, sped up the river seven miles to Rodman's Point, where the channel was narrow and another Confederate battery, warned by the noise of firing below, was alert and waiting. A few shots struck the hay on the "Escort" and did little damage more than that inflicted by Confederate sharpshooters lining the river bank. The "Escort" passed safely and reached Little Washington. The Confederates abandoned the siege on the night of April 15. A report written by Lieutenant Colonel Tew declared: "While calmly considering the danger that would environ us during our attempt to pass the fiery ordeal, the memories of Greene and Perry rose before us, from the buried past, followed by the recollection of Slo- cum, Ballou, Rodman, Pierce and other gallant spirits who have shed their heart's blood in the defence of our beloved country; and the bright record they have written on the pages of Rhode Island history only served to stimulate us to go forward, and add another page to the record, or like them, fall gloriously in the endeavor." The Forty-fourth Massachusetts Regi- ment, the garrison at Little Washington, adopted resolutions, as follows: "During the late siege of Washington, North Carolina, when the town had been bombarded, and all its commu- nications cut off for fifteen days, after several attempts had been made to relieve the garrison, and the enterprise had been virtually pronounced impracticable, Colonel Sisson volunteered the services of his regiment, and succeeded, against every obstacle and discouragement, in running the blockade with the steamer 'Escort,' thus bringing to the beseiged forces the much needed reinforcements, ammunition and supplies; in this achievement Colonel Sisson, with his brave regiment, has performed one of the most heroic acts of the war; . . that the members of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia feel that thanks are peculiarly due from them to their comrades in arms, who so generously volunteered their services and met so great risks in carrying succor to a brother regiment; that, as an expression of their gratitude and admiration, if it meet the wishes of the Fifth Rhode Island Regiment, a set of colors be presented to them, bearing a device commemorative of their act of gallantry." Women friends of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts presented to Colonel Sisson, on the occasion of a visit to Boston, a sword, sash and belt, and two massive pieces of silver. The General Assem- bly adopted suitable resolutions of thanks "to Colonel Henry T. Sisson and the officers and men of the Fifth Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, for the gallantry and heroism which they displayed in running the gauntlet of the enemy's batteries on the Pamlico River, under circumstances of extraordinary peril .... and carrying to the beleaguered garrison of Washington, North Carolina, reinforcements, ammunition and supplies." Colonel Sisson's grave in the common burial ground at Little Compton is marked by a monument erected
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jointly by the State of Rhode Island and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a memorial to the soldier son of one who rescued the soldier sons of the other. The Fifth was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Rowan, Fort Totten, and other forts on the south side of the Trent River. The Fifth was engaged in the second defence of Newbern, in February, 1864. In May, Company A, Captain Aigan, was surrounded at Croatan by 1600 Confederates. Captain Aigan withdrew to a small fort, which mounted one gun, a six-pound howitzer, and pre- pared for defence. At noon, after an hour and a half of desperate fighting, the Confederates demanded unconditional surrender and were answered with an unconditional refusal. Not until three hours later, after ammunition had been exhausted, would Captain Aigan entertain proposals for surrender. He had fired 184 rounds from the howitzer, and "the rifles of his men were so hot that they had to be held by the slings." "This determined defence excited admiration even of the enemy" and drew from General Dearing, who commanded, remarks complimentary to the bravery of the Union commander. Captain Aigan had not lost a man, killed or wounded; he had killed or disabled twenty Confederates, and fifty men had held 1600 men at bay for over four hours. Captain Aigan agreed to surrender on condition that he and his command should be permitted to march out with the honors of war, and this was done to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." Thereafter the Confederates neglected to observe the condition of surrender ; the prisoners were robbed of personal property, and were ill-treated on the march and in prison at Kinston, Macon and Andersonville. Thirty-two died in prison, seven died elsewhere, and one was shot while attempting to escape, forty of fifty-two. Cap- tain Aigan escaped February 14, 1865, and reached the federal lines five days later. He had been promoted in January to be Major "for gallant services during the war." The Fifth remained on garrison duty in the forts along the Trent and Neuse Rivers until it was mus- tered out at Newbern on June 26, 1865. Its flag carries the names of the battles or sieges at Roanoke Island, Newbern, Fort Macon, Rawle's Mill, first and second Confederate attacks on Newbern, Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, and Little Washington. Lieutenant Colonel George W. Tew succeeded Colonel Sisson, who was discharged for disability, October 5, 1864.
Fourteenth Regiment, Rhode Island Heavy Artillery-This was a regiment of negroes commanded by white officers, all of the officers having seen previous service. The first bat- talion sailed from Newport on board the transport "Cahawba" for New Orleans, arriving December 30, 1863. It was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Esperanza, Matagorda Island, Texas. Major General Dana complimented the battalion, thus: "The soldier-like conduct of the sentinels on post and of the main guard at the gate challenged my admiration. . . . Excellence is the proper term to apply to its condition and soldierly bearing. The drill was most creditable." The second battalion arrived at New Orleans February 3, on the transport "Daniel Webster," and was assigned first to the defences of the Crescent City, and after- ward to Plaquemine, 160 miles up the Mississippi. The departure of the third battalion from Rhode Island was delayed by an epidemic of smallpox; this battalion reached New Orleans February 15, 1864, on the transport "America." The detachment at Fort Esperanza was under arrest in March, 1864, for refusing to accept the pay offered for colored soldiers, ten dollars per month, three dollars of which might be issued in clothing. The regiment had been enlisted with the understanding that there was to be no discrimination because of color. The General Assembly passed a resolution, declaring: "In the opinion of the General Assembly, Congress should without delay pass an act giving to the soldiers of the regiments of colored troops already enlisted or that shall hereafter be enlisted into the service of the United States, the same pay, in all respects, as is given to other enlisted soldiers; and that we earnestly urge the immediate passage of such an act." The ringleaders were court-martialled and sent to Fort Jefferson, Florida. The regiment was changed by general orders, April 19, 1864, to Eleventh United States Heavy Artillery. The regiment was engaged in garrison duty, in
R. I .---- 40
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constructing defences, and on picket. It suffered severely from disease, over 300 men dying of 1500 enlisted. A few were shot on picket duty or after being captured; there was one suicide and one killed by lightning. The regiment rendered the service that was requested of it willingly and courageously. On its return from the war it received ovations in New York and in Providence.
First Light Battery, Rhode Island Volunteers-Enlisted with the First Rhode Island Detached Militia for three months' service. Without going into action the battery was marched from place to place, being attached for the most part of its service to General Patter- son's army near Harper's Ferry.
Tenth Light Battery, Rhode Island Volunteers (Company L, Tenth Regiment, Rhode Island Infantry )-Enlisted for three months' service in defence of Washington, when the city was threatened in 1862, from the Marine Corps of Artillery, leaving Rhode Island May 29 and 31. The battery was not in action, although it was assigned from position to position as danger threatened.
First Regiment, Rhode Island Light Artillery-Battery A, out of which this regiment was developed, was enlisted with the Second Rhode Island Infantry, and was remarked at Bull Run by the Confederate commander, General Beauregard, for its excellence. The regi- ment, by batteries, was assigned from time to time to different armies and divisions. This rela- tion of service is by batteries, after Bull Run.
Battery A-Engaged at Bolivar Heights, Virginia, September 16, 1861, and wintered at Poolesville, Maryland. In the Peninsula campaign was engaged at Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage's Station, Charles City Court House and Malvern Hill. In reserve at Chantilly, the battery was engaged in skirmishes, September 2 and II, 1862. At Antietam, the battery fought four hours, losing four killed and fifteen wounded. The battery fought at Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, and at Gettysburg three days "with distinguished bravery," losing five killed and twenty-three wounded. Other engagements were at Bristoe Station, Mine Run, Morton's Ford, Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Har- bor, and Gaines' Farm. The original three-year men returned to Rhode Island, June 13, 1864. The battery was reorganized, fought at Petersburg; and on September 23 was con- solidated with Battery B.
Battery B-Left Rhode Island August 14, 1861, and wintered at Poolesville, Maryland. One section, fourteen men, was engaged at Ball's Bluff; all but two of the batterymen were shot down, and the one cannon was lost. From Poolesville the battery moved, in February, 1862, to Winchester to support General Banks; and thence, in March, to the Peninsula. It was engaged in the siege of Yorktown; on line of battle all day and part of the night at Han- over Court House ; under fire at Fair Oaks, one section being in action; in position and under fire at Peach Orchard, Savage's Station, White Oak Swamp Bridge, Glendale and Malvern Hill. Held in reserve at Antietam, the battery was under fire. At Fredericksburg, Decem- ber 13, the battery fought bravely under a hot fire at the foot of Marye's Heights, losing six- teen men wounded, several mortally, and fourteen horses. Colonel Tompkins, in his official report, commended the battery, thus: "The conduct of Captain Hazard, his officers and men, was creditable in the highest degree, for not a man quit his post on the field." At the battle of Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863, Battery B was first to cross the pontoon bridge by the Lacy house in front of Fredericksburg. At Gettysburg the battery went into action, July 2; in the afternoon it was charged upon and sustained a heavy loss of men and horses. In the artillery duel preceding Pickett's charge, July 3, Battery B passed through a fiery ordeal. The losses at Gettysburg were seven men killed, three officers and thirty-two men wounded, and sixty- five horses. The six cannon were rendered useless by continued fire in the heat of the battle,
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and were replaced by four new twelve pounders. One of the guns of Battery B, the famous Gettysburg gun, is in the north vestibule of the State House in Providence. A round cannon ball chokes the muzzle ; tradition identifies it as a Confederate solid shot, which landed directly in the muzzle and put the gun forever out of action, welding itself permanently in place. The shot was probably a union shot, placed in the muzzle as the gun was being reloaded. The piece was hit by a Confederate shell, which killed one and wounded one of the battery. The Confederate shell left a deep mark on the left inner edge of the muzzle, and warped the muz- zle so that it closed tightly on the union shot, the impact producing intense heat, which welded iron shot and brass muzzle. After gallant service at Bristoe Station and Mine Run, the win- ter was passed in the valley of the Rappahannock. The battery was attached to the Second Corps in the summer campaign of 1864, being in action at the battle of the Wilderness, at Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the advance to Petersburg. At Spotsylvania the battery charged the "Bloody Angle," the first instance in which artillery was ordered to charge. Three-year men whose enlistments had expired were relieved August 12, and Batteries A and B were consolidated as Battery B. At Ream's Station, August 25, the consolidated battery was almost annihilated, four killed, fifty-two wounded or missing, sixty-one horses. The battery lost four guns, after repelling four assaults before overpowering force drove them. The remnant of the battery was reinforced and refitted promptly, and assigned to Fort Stedman. It continued with the Second Army Corps in Grant's last campaign ; the flag of truce from Lee offering surrender passed through the line of Battery B. The battery flag carries the names of the following battles : Ball's Bluff, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Antie- tam, first and second Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Ream's Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Tolopatomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Deep Bottom.
Battery C --- Mustered in August 25, 1861, and left Rhode Island August 31. The battery was first in action in front of Fort Magruder, at Yorktown, in the Peninsula campaign. The battery was constantly on the march, but not in battle again until Mechanicsville, June 26, and Gaines' Farm, June 27. At Gaines' Farm the battery lost three guns and caissons, one mired and two abandoned because no horses were available. The battery shot down the Confederate colors opposite; they were brought in by the Second Maine. Four men were killed and eleven wounded at Malvern Hill. Battery C participated in Second Bull Run, and at Antietam was held in reserve. It was engaged in both battles of Fredericksburg, and in the fighting at Chancellorsville occupied various positions. At Gettysburg Battery C was held in reserve, going into action once, and suffering no loss. After engagements at Rappahannock Station and Mine River, the battery went into winter quarters at Hazle Run. In the forward move- ment toward Richmond, 1864, the battery moved with the Sixth Corps in Grant's Army. The Sixth Corps was detached to defend Washington in July, 1864, and the battery traveled with it to Washington. Following Early into the Shenandoah Valley, Battery C, moved rapidly from place to place, and was engaged at Opequan, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. At the latter battle the union troops were driven back four miles, losing twenty-four pieces of artil- lery; General Sheridan, after his famous ride from Winchester, arrived on the field at noon, reformed his lines, charged the enemy, retook the artillery, and routed the Confederates. After the mustering out of three-year men, Battery C was consolidated with Battery G. The flag of Battery C carries the names of the following battles: Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mills, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.
Battery D-Mustered in September 4, 1861, and left Rhode Island September 13. Bat- tery D passed the winter in Virginia, and in the spring of 1862 moved with McDowell in his
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demonstration against Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. Returning to the Army of the Potomac, the division joined Pope's army, August 23, and was constantly on duty for ten days, participating in the battles at Sulphur Springs, Groveton and Second Bull Run. August 30 at 4 p. m. "the battery went into position on the crest of a hill at the extreme left of the Union line, where it maintained itself against the most furious cannonade and determined assaults of the enemy, until it had expended all of its ammunition and been deserted by its support, when it limbered, taking away every piece and caisson, almost from the possession of the enemy." Three men were killed and thirteen were wounded at Second Bull Run, and two were wounded at Groveton. The battery was in reserve at South Mountain, and rendered distinguished service at Antietam. There, at daylight on September 17, the Confederate artillery was answered and silenced. "At ten o'clock General Hooker called upon Captain Monroe to take his pieces, leaving the caissons, cross the memorable cornfield, take a position about 200 yards in advance of the line of battle, and silence a rebel battery which had an enfilading fire upon our infantry. The position was soon reached, and so rapidly and accu- rately were the shot and shell placed within that battery, by the gunners of Battery D, that the rebels found it impossible to remove the battery from the field. Up to this moment, Bat- tery D had not received much punishment, but while it had been engaged with the rebel bat- tery, sharpshooters who had crawled up within easy range, protecting themselves behind fence rails and the depression of the road, now poured into the right and centre sections of the battery a most deadly fire, killing and disabling men and horses; from one piece all the horses but one were killed, and all the cannoneers, save the gunner and one private, were killed or wounded." The battery lost four killed, ten wounded, six missing, and fifty-six horses ; but it succeeded in saving all its guns, including the piece stripped of men and horses. Battery D was engaged at Fredericksburg, December 14. Detached from the First Corps, the battery joined the Ninth Corps at Newport News, February 15, 1863, and was trans- ported to Lexington, Kentucky. Orders to proceed to Vicksburg were countermanded, and the battery was sent to Cincinnati as part of the defence against a raid threatened by Morgan. Joining Burnside in his campaign in East Tennessee, the battery was continually on the march, and engaged at Campbell's Station, November 16, and in the defence of Knoxsville. In position at Fort Saunders, November 29, the battery assisted in repelling an assault by nine regiments from Longstreet's Corps. When the horses of Roemer's New York battery ran away, carrying the ammunition and putting the guns out of action, Sergeant Charles C. Gray and his squad of Battery D ran the New York cannon back from the embrasure, car- ried their own gun in by hand, and replaced the New York cannon. "They worked the gun there until the engagement was over, firing double and triple rounds of canister. . . . The fight lasted an hour .... Sergeant Gray and his detachment deserve great credit for their coolness and promptitude during the assault," wrote Captain Buckley. Battery D was at Blaines Crossroads from December 14, 1863, to January 16, 1864. "This camp was the Valley Forge of Battery D's experience. Almost destitute of clothing, as they were, the utter impossibility of getting food enough to half satisfy their hunger, without shelter, obliged to burrow into the mountain side for a partial protection from the cold, bleak winds which had forced the temperature down to zero, these men passed through a period of fully six weeks, not a waking hour of which but was filled with distress and suffering." The battery was next assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and, on May 4, 1864, moved with the Ninth Army Corps in the advance on Richmond. Grant having an excess of artillery, Battery D was relieved and assigned to garrison duty at Fort Lincoln. Rearmed, it followed Early from his raid toward Washington, and was in action at Winchester, at Strasburg and at Fisher's Hill. At Cedar Creek six men were wounded and twenty-four horses were killed, the battery losing one gun. The battery was mustered out at Providence, July 17, 1865.
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