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73.74 81da .762911
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Ga
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 3559
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RICHMOND ,
HOWITZERS
IN THE WAR.
FOUR YEARS CAMPAIGNING WITH THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
Daniel
By a member of the Company.
RICHMOND: 1891. .
NEWBERRY LIBRARY
109792
£
£
0
1762911
F 8619 .905
[Daniel, Frederick S ]
Richmond howitzers in the war. Four years cam- paigning with the Army of northern Virginia. By a member of the company. Richmond, 1891.
155 p. 191m. -
Published anonymously.
1 .. U. S .- Hist .- Civil . war-Regimental histories-Va .- Richmond how- itzers. 2. Virginia artillery. Richmond howitzers, 1859-1865.
(36b1; 2-23126
1 36427 Library of Congress OHILF CAGE581.8.R4D
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RICHMOND HOWITZERS
IN THE WAR.
CHAPTER I.
IN the month of April, thirty years ago, Richmond, living with methods and ways of long inheritance, possess- ing unequalled political influence and social importance, had a unique char- acter. There was no other city like it in the United States; other cities en- joyed great material prosperity, but none of them approached Richmond's great qualities and high eminence. It was pre-eminently distinguished as a centre of genuine home and family life, which is the only basis of either provincial or national greatness. Its society, as the natural outcome of this condition, was most charming,
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refined, and cultured. Its status was due to no purely artificial causes, no accidental institution, but mainly to superior and steady developments out of a strong race-the great Eng- lish race that during two centuries had been transplanted to Virginia's soil and had been improving under favorable conditions. The early in- troduction and retention of negroes had primarily nothing to do with the making of Virginia, and was un- doubtedly a serious drawback, a standing incubus in many ways on the community, save as it perhaps served to keep intact and compact the purity and strength of the great founding race. Fortunately the lat- ter has now been developed into such powerful numbers-fifteen millions of homogeneous people in the South- that it needs no barrier or bulwark, excepting the most elementary rules of self-protection, for even continental Europe's millions could not swamp or crush out the now spreading growth from the old English nucleus.
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Virginia has been prolific; for out of her limits have gone forth settlers into the immense Southland and into every part of the Union, and to-day, after all her vicissitudes, numbers 1,014,680 white citizens.
The Richmond of that day differed considerably from the Richmond of to-day. Naturally it has grown with added years, but special causes, or those resulting from the war, were chiefly instrumental in hastening its growth, nearly doubled in point of population, size, business, and embel- lishment. However, in 1861, Rich- mond was beautiful and measura- bly prosperous. The buildings, tasty and comfortable, were so many land- marks in the city, which was not be- hind in the conveniences and appli- ances of the period. It was much frequented by visitors, had many noted hotels and newspapers, stores well supplied, and a perennial source of profit in the State's favored staple products. The Legislatures that sat in the Capitol were not dwarfed by
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the least usurpation on the part of the federal government, because Virginia was the leader of the Union, as she had been since the time of General Washington, or for over seventy years. Business, like the corporate limits themselves, was comparatively small, but yielded a comfortable support, without any splurging extravagance.
But, in April, 1861, to the charming quiet life that Richmond had so long been leading, a sudden standstill was put. An unexpected crisis confronted the city in a twinkling, and called for instant decision. Throughout the preceding winter the most animated discussions in regard to the secession of the South from the Union had been held in the Capitol, the press, the streets, and the homes; the political condition was extremely threatening, but Richmond did not want to see the Union broken ; did all it could to pre- vent the occurrence, and sincerely cherished the hope that it would not be-that the clouds would roll by, the storm not burst. This hope, illusive
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in reality, was held to amidst all the sharp, bitter contentions at home, de- spite all the insulting menaces and mockeries hurled across the border by the enemy that was soon to cross it in arms.
The Convention, specially called to pass upon the grave subject of seces- sion, sat daily in the Capitol, and the citizens were absorbed in its debates, though business went on as usual; the city looked bright and attractive, the streets resounded with the cry of the melodious "charcoal" hucksters, who seemed at least to beubiquitous, and the fine, balmy weather plentifully brought out the buds and flowers of spring. All at once came news of Beauregard's firing upon Fort Sum- ter; hope nearly vanished. A few days after, simultaneously with the news of Lincoln's calling out seventy- five thousand troops, sped Richmond's resolution to secede, and the Conven- tion, hesitating no longer, passed the ordinance of secession. The die was cast-war had come after all. Stirred
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with the deepest feeling, resolutely, heartily, exhibiting only a proper en- thusiasm, the city began to gird itself for its share in the brunt of the decreed contest. It was almost a race with the young men to see who would buckle on armor first and enlist for a war which was destined to be the bloodiest and longest since the fall of Napoleon at Waterloo, though in- experience led nearly all to believe that it was going to be a picnic, or a sort of picnic affair.
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CHAPTER II.
THE various military organizations then existing in Richmond hastened to enlist upon the declaration of war, formally accepted by the pas- sage of the secession ordinance, and foremost among them were the "Howitzers." The original or- ganization of the Howitzers, as a company equipped with four howit- zer-guns, was formed, on the 9th of November, 1859, by George W. Ran- dolph, subsequently secretary of war of the Confederacy. During the in- terval necessary for procuring the guns, the new organization was drilled as an infantry company and did service in the John Brown raid; after the guns were furnished, it. de- voted itself to acquiring a thorough knowledge in the school of artillery tactics. When the Fort Sumter firing occurred, the Howitzers had tempo- rary headquarters in a large hall
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under the large Spotswood hotel, which stood at the corner of Eighth and Main streets. They prepared for active campaigning by night and day drills, and held themselves in readi- ness for any order that might be given by the governor. Just then a war vessel was dispatched from Washington for the purpose of as- cending James river and menacing Richmond, as the federal authorities were not certain that Virginia would finally take up arms, and thus hoped to overawe the belligerent citizens eager for the impending fray. The Howitzers were ordered by the gov- ernor to go down the river to meet "the enemy," and proceeded to Wil- ton, about seven miles down, with- out however catching the least glimpse of the vessel after a couple of days spent in waiting for it. This little expedition was known as the "Pawnee War," from the name of the war steamer, and passed off as a joke upon the return of the command to its drilling at the Spotswood.
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A few days after the secession Con- vention took its final action, the Howitzers were regularly mustered into the State service, and with alac- rity they entered upon the duty of defending the cause that Virginia had made her own. On the 21st of April, 1861, the entire command was marched to the State's military head- quarters, that were then located in an old building at the south-east cor- ner of the Capitol square, and pre- sided over by Col. W. H. Richardson, who had long been adjutant general of Virginia. Formed in marching trim, the command left the hotel in the forenoon and marched along Main, Ninth and Bank streets to the aforesaid building, when the muster- ing formalities were gone through and a countermarch of the young vol-
unteers made to the hotel.
There
was great eagerness for joining the ranks of the Howitzers, as the artil- lery branch seemed to exercise a de- cided fascination, and accordingly their organization was speedily filled
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beyond the limits set for the original company. Many of Richmond's youth flocked to it, young men already entered on business, and others, fresh from school and college, who had not started out, all of them constituting a fine, strong, enthusi- astic band, which embraced, without any misgivings or calculations as to the future, the career opened up for the entire State. Not a single one of them but looked upon himself as given over and devoted to Virginia, while life should last and his services be needed. The novitiate experience of the raw soldiery was amusing enough while at the Spotswood hotel, amidst preparations for the stern ordeal of service, the drilling, stand- ing guard, saluting of officers, &c.
Having been regularly mustered in, it was necessary for the State authori- ties to find quarters for them, and so they were ordered out to the Baptist college to organize and receive guns and equipments. On a bright, very warm Sunday morning, the command
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went by way of Eighth and Broad to the college, the march constituting its official entrance on active duty. The college building was not so large and improved as at present, but was sufficient to hold persons on the scale that soldiers are lodged-that is to say, packed closely together after sar- dine fashion. The yard was ample, and afforded an excellent drill ground, on which stood the bright boat-guns and the four six-pounders brought down from the Virginia Military In- stitute by the cadets, who looked like so many kildees beside the stouter, overcoated Howitzers. Having come by the country roads, the six-pounders were covered with mud, and the How- itzers were requisitioned to give them a washing by hand, with sponge and bucket; the task was most curiously, fastidiously, performed by some of the youngsters, who had never been very familiar with country mud-an ele- ment whose close acquaintance they had not long to wait for. General Magruder, of Mexican war fame, was
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in command of the post, and, fre- quently presenting himself on the grounds in full regalia as an ex-fede- ral artillery captain, his presence in- spired confidence, together with a certain amount of awe, for of course he was one who knew all about war and its mysteries. The cadets them- selves were looked up to as learned in the military science, and their drill and other warlike qualities were un- stintingly admired. Guards were set around the college grounds, and "the grand rounds" were punctiliously made, amidst endless mirth evolved out of relieving the sentinels in the wee hours of night; the most inti- mate boon companions were not sup- posed to know each other except as grim figures passing the watchword.
After a liberal drilling of the recruits, the organization, very much aug- mented, was formed into a battalion of three companies, under the orders of Major Randolph. The first com- pany so divided off elected J. C. Shields captain, Dr. William Palmer first lieu-
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tenant, Edward S. McCarthy second lieutenant, and R. M. Anderson or- derly sergeant. All three succeeded to the captaincy, the last mentioned serving at the close. The first com- pany numbered close on to a hundred members, and the other two were nearly as full. The battalion, being given tents, stores, and wagons, took up its first camp at "Howard's Grove" for a few days, whence it was moved to Chimborazo heights, and there drilled for several weeks. In these early camps around the city, the gay crowd of Howitzers became fairly acquainted with each other and indulged much in games and sports; permits for visiting the city and home attractions, so near and yet so far on account of the exigencies of warfar- ing, were profusely accorded at this time, when the military picnicking had not put on any very wearisome shape. Lager beer, only recently founded in the capital, and mint juleps, handed down from a remote James- townian epoch, were both to be had
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in town and only in town, whither many of the gay frolickers made fre- quent raids, very shrewdly arguing that operations in the field would soon necessarily put an end to their splendid opportunities for sampling "Tom Griffin's" and "Euker's." Right they were.
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CHAPTER III.
THIS amateur style of soldiering terminated on the 31st of May, when the first company received orders to take the field in earnest at Manassas · Junction, and the second and third companies kept back for the penin- sula. About noon on that day the company was embarked, with their guns, on a long freight train at the Central, now Chesapeake and Ohio, railroad station, and, after several hours' delay in starting, left Rich- mond rejoicing and amid enthusiastic hurrahs for their destination. At the principal stations by the wayside there were crowds to see and greet them-many young ladies, with re- freshments in trays and baskets, lav- ishly supplied, with ice-water and lemonade in abundance. On the next day, June 1st, the Howitzers were landed on the hot plain of Manassas,
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when they speedily had their tents pitched and their guns parked. Their battery was the very nucleus of the artillery corps that was to contribute so effectively to the building up of the undying fame of the "Army of North- ern Virginia." Things were found very quiet at Manassas; very few troops had reached there, Beaure- gard was in command, there were. rumors of cavalry dashes towards Washington, the weather was ex- tremely hot, the drills heavy and ex- hausting, but the messes were well supplied, and especially well patron- ized, thanks to hard exercise and splendid appetites that foreshadowed a consuming drain on Virginia's com- missary department. Foraging at that flush and dawn of hostilities was excellent, and the mess-tables, rough-board constructions under the broiling sun, were loaded with the delicacies of the season, over and above the bounteous ration of flour, bacon, beef, molasses, coffee and su- gar, regularly issued.
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IN THE WAR.
The Howitzers soon made them- selves at home, and formed lasting acquaintance with the other com- mands present-cavalry, infantry, and artillery-especially with a Lynchburg battery that early ar- rived at the Junction under Captain Latham. Drill was incessant, great stress being laid by the officers on battery drilling with horses in the field, an experience which the com- pany had never before gone through with. Target-firing was also prac- tised, but only occasionally and to a limited extent, as superior orders had been given for the saving of ammu- nition, which was not abundant-in- deed exceedingly scarce-and there- fore the commanding general wisely thought it should be reserved, in Wellington's style, for the approach of the foe within short, net range. Amusements under such a scorching sunshine had chiefly to be confined under the shelter of tents, and thus it came about, one may say in the nature of things, that the Howitzers
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contracted a very strong habit of lying down on straw to read news- papers and novels, sent from home regularly, and to play cards. The Howitzer mail was ever big; prob- ably they received, from first to last, more letters and newspapers than any other company in the army, and these missives constituted things of beauty and joy, the best kind of "treat." The cry of " -- ,
here's a letter for you!" was an en- thusing one anywhere in the woods. It was at Manassas that "euchre" and "seven up" wereinaugurated by the Howitzers, though the over- whelming syndicate of "poker " was only fairly started at a later date, on other camping grounds. There were many rare conveniences to be indulged in at Manassas. Several of "the boys " had brought along to the front Saratoga trunks, filled with civilized apparel, white pants, collars, cuffs, and like finery, and in off moments took occasion to sport them. But, being so prodigiously out of place
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under the surroundings, a yearning for Richmond's streets and parlors seized several of the youthful wearers. On one occasion, a member of this ultra fashionable set, being vexed at some slight happening, waited upon the captain in his tent and formally handed in his written resignation as a "high private." To his utmost surprise and annoyance, he was offi- cially informed of the meaning of the words "too late," and his feeling of chagrin became deeper when the facts were noised about camp, though the joke was so good that it afterwards merely lingered, a joke and a tradi- tion.
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CHAPTER IV.
MANASSAS was easy of access from Richmond, and many visitors came up to inspect things at the seat of war, among them no less a person- age than General R. E. Lee, who was then stationed at headquarters in Richmond, and not only unknown to fame (except locally for the part he had played in Mexico), but some- what under a cloud for the trifling check suffered in West Virginia at the hands of Mcclellan. General Lee came up to inspect the position mili- tarily, and to report, and of course attracted a great deal of curiosity, though he did not come near to eclipsing Beauregard, the idol of Ma- nassas. General Lee was then about fifty-six years old-a man of fine sol- dierly bearing in his federal uniform, with only iron gray hair and of com- paratively fresh appearance. His mil-
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itary aspect and the manner of sitting his horse, erect and a little stiff, were remarked as he rode about, attended by a small staff of young officers; but he was not a "sensation"-only another inspecting officer from Rich- mond, and of course no one could then dream that he was cut out to be the coming chieftain of the Southern movement.
Towards the close of June the bat- tery, supported by General Bonham's brigade, was ordered by General Beauregard to Fairfax Courthouse as an advance guard against any incursions from Washington, where astute old General Scott was busily preparing for the invasion of his na- tive State. It was a short march over a country that had never felt the heel of war, across the little tree- bordered stream of Bull Run and through the hamlet of Centreville, both looking extremely insignificant,; yet on the eve of becoming famous. At Fairfax Courthouse the battery camped on a field a few hundred
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yards from the historic and smiling little village, which was forthwith visited and inspected by the can- noneers. Fairfax was a reminder of Washington and many of Virginia's earliest eminent personages, though no one went about to find the precise spot where the Father of his Coun- try was knocked down by a young villager in consequence of a quar- rel. There were few stores, but they yet had. on hand stocks of goods, and the soldiers proved good cus- tomers. It was too small a place for much visiting, and besides the duties of instruction in camp prevented. The neighborhood furnished fresh supplies of all sorts to the soldiers, its freshness and bloom then being untouched, but in a few short weeks to be utterly obliterated by the havoc of battle and occupation of vast armies. Here the Howitzers first put hand to the erection of field earth- works, or "breastworks," as they were commonly called-an occupa- tion that was regarded as tedious
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and very hard labor by the city bred youths. The line of these fortifica- tions ran across an extensive open field, fronting the road leading from Washington, so that a fire could be directed, if necessary, upon any col- umn approaching from that direc- tion. The incipient earthworks were of the fanciest kind, built at nice angles, under martinet rules, with sand-bags, fascines, stuffed baskets, and other paraphernalia that would not have been amiss in Julius Cæsar's camps, according to the style of his intrenchments. The labor was thrown away, as far as they could serve, for they were never used; but great zeal was displayed during this instructive exercise in the art of put- ting up scientific earthworks, which had then become very much in vogue in the military world, thanks to the exceptional example afforded by the siege of Sebastopol and the experi- ences of the Crimean war. Engineers had conducted things in the Crimea, and Beauregard was a great engi-
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. neer, and so early set this example of engineering, which style of fighting, based on the defensive system, was adopted for the Confederacy and fol- lowed to the last.
The stay at the Courthouse lasted very pleasantly, with intermissions of false alarms and the beating of "the long roll," or call to arms, un- til the 17th of July, when the head columns of General Scott's army de- bouched down the Washington road. The glittering bayonets of the wind- ing columns and the white-topped wagons in the early morning sunshine could be distinctly and closely seen right across the field where the How- itzers had put up their earthworks, and where they at once took position, without breakfast for the first time in their warlike life, ready to open fire at command. On came the ene- my's columns, without opening fire and leisurely, as if they intended to go on to Richmond without so much as noticing the presence of the "rebels," squatted by the wayside,
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and who, from the very outset of the long campaigning, were standing strictly on the defensive, with fire reserved against attack. After a brief spell of hurry-skurry in getting ready for a dignified departure, the battery and supporting brigade headed back towards Centreville and Bull Run, the enemy marching quietly in the rear, though huge pillars of smoke at times showed the Virginians that the invaders had wantonly com- menced burning country houses-the first sign of hostilities. The roads were dusty and hot and the battery slowly made its way back, stopping for drinks at the roadside wells, for feeding and resting the horses and men; the march was continued dur- ing the night, under strict orders not to light a pipe, not to strike a match, or speak above whispers, as a con- cealment against any spies that might be lurking in the forest on either side of the way. The war was young indeed then; the soldiers were nov- ices; veterans came later and acted
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far differently. A little before day- light Bull Run was reached, along which stream for a considerable dis- tance on the south side General Beau- regard had lined strong earthworks to bar the passage to Richmond, intending to deliver battle at that point. Cannoneers and infantrymen were immediately placed in posi- tion for fighting along this line, and the army, reinforced and collected, with sharp lookouts, took a little rest, under the warm wave of weather then prevailing, snatched a hasty breakfast, and then calmly began the day's work of waiting for the ene- my's arrival.
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CHAPTER V.
They did not have to wait in vain on this 18th of July, the day of the combat-a small one, but it was the first serious scrimmage, the precursor of battles on a large scale. Shortly after noon a battery of the enemy's army from the height wheeled out in the open field, near the Centreville road, and, under direction of an offi- cer on a white horse, opened fire on the Bull Run line just opposite, at Mitchell's ford. It was Rickett's battery, celebrated in the old United States army as having taken part in the Mexican war, and it was soon re- inforced by an immense rifle piece, which received the name of "Long Tom" on account of its far reaching and accurate firing. The wily Scott, ensconced at Washington and repre- sented on the field by McDowell, had ordered the Bull Run line to be
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carefully felt by artillery before ven- turing to cross it, as the news had got out that "masked batteries" were as thick as blackberries in the woods of the Manassas region. It was a light artillery duel, with small losses, between the two hosts con- cealed under the cover of the woods, and the Washington Artillery of New Orleans and the Alexandria battery played the principal part in it, the in_ fantry being only slightly engaged. The Howitzer battery, stationed at Mitchell's ford, did not fire a gun during the day, but was exposed to a very searching fire throughout, and its guns were visited by General Beauregard in person, clad in a short sack coat and wearing a light colored felt hat, to make sure that all was in readiness at the crisis of his prepara- tions, in case of an attempted rush at this point of the main road. The crashing and exploding of projectiles, approaching this time in quest of life, not receding beautifully as in target practice, was rather a startling ac-
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