USA > Virginia > Under the stars and bars ; a history of the Surry Light Artillery > Part 10
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But as to those better songs, the songs of Zion, that several of the comrades used to sing so well-who can
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estimate the good they did, in a silent way, as they fell, almost nightly, upon the ears, and into the hearts, too, of the other men ? There is power, oftentimes, in the words and melody of a song to seize upon the heart- chords, and cause them to vibrate as nothing else can, to a feeling of sorrow or of hope-sorrow for sin com- mitted, hope in the pardoning love and mercy of Christ. And I am personally conscious that the religious songs in our Camp had an influence for good in the lives of some of the men, and, I believe, of many. I wished to say this much for the encouragement of the few sur- vivors of that singing band. Alas ! how few there are of them now on this side of the mystic stream that divides from the upper Camp.]
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LETTER THIRTY-SECOND.
The Butler campaign begun-Battle of Port Walthall-A Con- federate victory-Losses-Note.
SWIFT CREEK, VA., May 10, 1864.
My Dear Friend :- The operations for the summer have been started up for us about Richmond by General Butler-Benjamin Franklin Butler, of New Orleans fame-who has but recently steamed up the James river with a strong fleet of gunboats and transports, the latter carrying a land force of 30,000 or 40,000 men, it is said, all equipped and panoplied for war galore. His object being the capture of Petersburg, and of the railroad connecting it with Richmond, and also to threaten the latter city, he has established his head- quarters at, or near, Bermuda Hundred, and has already made two attempts to seize and destroy the railroad.
In consequence of this movement, the S. L. A. re- ceived orders, on the 6th inst., to proceed rapidly to the vicinity of Port Walthall. The other Batteries of the Battalion were held in reserve to meet a threatened advance in another direction, and did not accompany us.
We did not arrive at the designated point on the Gth in time to take part in the initial engagement at Dunn's farm, on the afternoon of that day-an affair in which a few hundred South Carolinians of General
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Hagood's Brigade, under the command of Colonel Gra- ham, met and checked Butler's advance to destroy the railroad.
On the 7th inst., Butler moved up a much larger force-five brigades-under General. Brooks, and early in the afternoon the important battle of Port Walthall was opened by one of our guns that had been sent for- ward, and which engaged the enemy near the ground where the fight of the preceding evening occurred. This gun, however, was soon forced to retire, the ammunition chest having been stuck by a shell that exploded among the cartridges of powder, doing, however, but little ma- terial harm.
Hereupon, Generals Hagood and Bushrod Johnson formed their infantry lines along the railroad cut, from near Craig's house to a point half a mile toward Chester, the left resting upon a small brook that crosses the railroad at nearly a right angle. The line was thus protected by the cut-outs along the road, and held a comparatively strong position. Our four guns were stationed at intervals on rising ground some fifty or more yards to the rear of the infantry line, where we had an open field and a clear view of the advancing foe. Altogether, the arangement of our forces, both the infantry and artillery, was skilfully made, and our guns had the advantage of elevated ground.
As soon as the enemy's forces emerged from the wood into the open field on the cast of the railroad, our in- fantry opened upon them, and our guns began to shell
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them vigorously. They advanced in three columns, ex- tending across the open field, and into the wood on the north. The first line approached more than half way across the field, and when it halted was barely three hundred yards from our line of infantry, posted along and in the railroad cut.
For two mortal hours, and more, the battle raged without interval or cessation. Our guns continued to ply their lines liberally with shot and shell. Still the enemy held his ground, and seemed determined to force his way across the road, over our thin line of infantry. Finding that we held tenaciously to the ground in his front-for it was, in fact, the key of the situation- the Federals, without lessening their forces before us, brought up more troops, and essayed a flank movement on our extreme left. Hastily adjusting his lines to receive it, General Johnson met the blow with great vigor, when it recoiled, and the enemy retired before our shells that were ploughing their way through his ranks with stunning effect. During this part of the engagement, the forest through which the Federals had charged was set on fire by our shells, and the foe, after caring for their wounded, retired further off, and did not renew the attack. Some of their killed, however, having been left in the wood, were burned in a shocking manner.
Upon the failure of their flank movement, and ob- serving that we still fought them stubbornly in their front-and partly, no doubt, on account of the fire that
A
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was raging on their right, the enemy, completely foiled by a force much inferior to their own, drew off out of range of our guns.
Thus a force of some 1,500 infantry and a Battery of four guns only, had succeeded in repulsing an army of five or six brigades, numbering as many thousand men, and had held their ground without yielding an inch. They had saved the railroad from being cut in two, and had taught the foc the futility of any attempt to capture Petersburg along this line. The battle, there- fore, was a decided Confederate victory.
In this engagement, our Company had three men severely wounded, and one or two slightly. Malory Shields, of Hampton, was shot through the body, but walked half a mile to the doctor's tent. And Edward Wright and Zacheriah Holland, both of Surry, were dangerously wounded and have been sent to the city hospital. One gun had its ammunition chest exploded, but was uninjured otherwise, and the chest was soon replaced. Colonel Lightfoot, who was with us, and directed our movements, expresses himself as highly pleased with the manner in which our men handled their guns and stood up to their posts throughout the engagement.
The loss of our infantry, in killed and wounded, was considerable, but not heavy, being greatest on the ex- treme left of the line, where the most determined effort to dislodge them was made. Bushrod Johnson's Tennesseeans fought splendidly, as did also Hagood's
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Carolinians and Wise's Virginians. The enemy's loss was great, both in the open field, in front of the centre of our lines, and where the attempt was made to seize the railroad.
The stubborn resistance that our 1,500 men had made against a force of from 5,000 to 6,000, with plenty of reserves in the rear, served to check the enemy's advance and delay his movement for that day. In the meantime re-enforcements were hastening to the scene. While the battle was going on, a section of the Washington Artillery was being rushed to our aid, but did not arrive until late at night. In the mean- time, though our forces had not yielded an inch of ground, had repulsed the enemy in his most persistent effort, and the entire field of battle had been left in our possession, yet it was deemed proper, after nightfall and darkness intervened, to cover the movement, to retire from the railroad to the vicinity of Swift Creek Mills, one and a half or two miles distant. Accord- ingly, our Battery was drawn off. The infantry line was readjusted to a position nearer the Creek, and details were made to care for the wounded and bury the dead.
I must not forget to tell you of one rather amusing incident that occurred during the hottest of the fight on the 7th. The flagman at the railroad station is a colored man. The station house was within the line of battle. But the old darkey, true to the South, had retired to his cabin, and, it is said, was engaged earn-
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estly in prayer for the success of our army. But pres- ently the wicked Federals sent a shell crashing through his humble domicile, which thoroughly aroused him from his wrestlings, and he made a precipitate retreat to the rear, muttering imprecations on the head of the enemy for treating his house so rudely.
I will tell you of the events of the 8th and 9th in another letter. Peace and safety be yours.
Your friend, B.
[The battle of Walthall Junction, on the 7th of May, 1864, when we consider the issues involved, was one of great importance. Had General Butler pushed forward with energy and celerity, as soon as he had landed at Bermuda Hundred, there can be no doubt about it but that he might have taken Petersburg almost without op- position. On the 6th of May, the day that he made the first advance, the only Confederate force between his -army and Petersburg was the small one of 500 or 600 men of General Hagood's command that he encountered in Dunn's field, less than a mile from the P. & R. rail, and only five or six miles from the city. A determined dash of one or two hours, following the turnpike and the railroad bridges, all of which he would have had at his command, would have put the head of his armny into the heart of the city.
Or, if General Butler could have known how near the goddess of fame stood by him that day, ready to crown him with the laurel wreath of immortality-and if he
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could have turned his eye northward toward Rich- mond, and beheld how utterly defenceless the city stood-not 1,000 muskets between his army and Mayo's bridge, and the distance but twenty miles; yea, with his fleet of gunboats to aid him, and with Drewry's Bluff eliminated, which his army might have taken from the rear on the 7th, Richmond might have yielded to him almost without opposition. He lost time feeling his way, and by the time he had decided to fight, he found some one ready to oppose him. While Butler was delaying, the Confederates were concentrating. And when our Beauregard arrived on the field, there was no hope for Butler.]
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LETTER THIRTY-THIRD.
The enemy advancing-Railroad torn up-Fight at Swift Creek- Trying to turn the flank-Advancing toward Richmond- Note.
SWIFT CREEK, VA., May 12, 1864.
My Dear Friend :- On the night of the 7th, our troops withdrew from Walthall Junction, retiring to- ward Swift Creek, and forming a new line across the turnpike, the centre resting near Squirrel Level church. Our Battery crossed over the Creek at the turnpike bridge, and the guns were posted in the works about two hundred yards beyond the Creek. Here we found the Washington Artillery, which had just arrived, oc- cupying that part of the line extending from the turn- pike to the railroad bridge at Dunlop's house.
On the Sth the enemy advanced again, seized the railroad, and tore up about one mile of the track, ex- tending from near Craig's house toward Chester. In the afternoon the Federals advanced and attacked our infantry with vigor, and succeeded in forcing them back. The right of our line was driven back in some disorder, and these men forded the creek and formed on the side where the artillery was posted, and to the left of our Battery.
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The foe, flushed with this small success, now brought up his artillery and posted it in and near the turnpike, on the northern side of the creek. They opened on us with shell, but the prompt answer and accurate aim of our guns soon knocked them out of the road, and they withdrew. Our Battery, aided by the Washington Ar- tillery, continued to shell the woods in the direction of the Federals for some time, but as both their artillery and their army remained silent, we ceased firing and awaited further developments.
In the engagement of the Sth, a part of Hagood's and Wise's commands suffered considerably, sustaining some loss in killed and quite a number in wounded. The S. L. A. escaped without a casualty. We were not under the fire of the Federal infantry in this engage- ment.
Butler's forces employed the next few days in en- deavoring to find a way around the Confederate left, and thus get into Petersburg by a more circuitous route than the one at first attempted. Failing in this, he be- gan a movement toward Richmond, but was met on the turnpike a little beyond Chester by the men of the 10th Virginia Battalion and other forces, and driven back with loss. Butler now drew his forces off nearer to the James, evidently deeming it prudent to keep in proximity to his gunboats. He seemed now to abandon ull further effort to advance upon Petersburg, and ap- pears to have taken up the idea that the proper thing
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for him to do was to capture Drewry's Bluff from the rear, and advance upon Richmond with both his fleet and armny.
The turnpike being now open, and the enemy retiring, the Confederate forces, now considerably augmented by arrivals from the South and Tennessee, were thrown forward, advancing upon the turnpike as far as the Half Way Station.
While lying at Swift Creek our Company received an unusual treat one day in the way of rations. It caine from the ladies-the noble women-of Peters- burg-God bless them forever! Somehow they learned that our supplies had been very short for a long time. And so they got together and made up a big lot of nice bread, like that we used to have at home, and our wagons came in loaded with nice loaf bread, which was at once duly distributed to the hungry and thank- ful men. Many a soldier's heart sent up a prayer for blessings upon the patriotic women who had denied themselves to serve us.
We are anticipating some serious work in a day or two. Beauregard is here in command, and as soon as he takes a survey of the field, something will happen. Your friend, B.
[ The return of the S. L. A. on the 13th, over the same ground they had passed on the 6th and 7th, gave
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us another opportunity of witnessing the vandalism that always and everywhere inspired the Federal heart from the very first of the struggle. The wanton de- struction of private property was manifest on every hand. The tearing up of the railroad was, of course, to have been expected. About one mile of the track had either been overturned into the ditch or burned and the rails spoiled. If material, such as fencing, etc., was at hand, fires were built upon the track, and the rails, thus softened and bent out of shape, were ren- dered of no value. The Northern hordes appear to
have been adepts in the art of destruction. Perhaps they found this the easiest way to conquer the South. General Butler himself, quite early in the course of the war, acquired a somewhat notable reputation, not only for permitting of vandalism, but for some things of sterner name.]
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LETTER THIRTY-FOURTH.
A glance at operations elsewhere-Federal cavalry again- Butler's second advance-Note.
EN BIVOUAC, May 13, 1864.
My Dear Friend :- We are now bivouacking in the woods, almost under the range of Butler's gunboats in the James. Occasionally the Federals send out a shell over this way, and the infantry, who are posted in front of us, welcome it with shouts and laughter. Sometimes they crash through the tree-tops under which the infantry are reposing, and the broken limbs fall down among the men. Butler's force seems to be threading its way up towards Drewry's Bluff.
Accounts have reached us that Lee is being hard pressed up at the Wilderness. The enemy is foreing his way slowly toward Richmond. But, of course, it is the old story repeated. The Federals number 150,- 000, all well equipped and fed; the Confederates 60,- 000-less than half.
And the other two Batteries of our Battalion- Thornton's and Rives's-have had work to do since we parted from them. It appears that the enemy planned a series of advances upon the Confederate Capital, and a force of cavalry under Sheridan have tried their hand on the defences of Richmond, on the northern side,
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where Dahlgren made his ludicrous failure only two month ago. But Captain Thornton, with his six fine Napoleon guns, and the conscript fathers and others of the old guard, handled Sheridan's forces so roughly that he, too, drew off and retired from the scene without accomplishing anything. Thornton had one man killed and others wounded.
Butler appears to be about to try his hand once more in the "on to Richmond" game, and is manifesting restiveness under the close pressure of the Confederate lines. A new alignment of our forces is being quietly inade to-day, and our Battery has orders to occupy Fort Stephens, a strong entrenchment near the turn- pike, only a little beyond the Half Way Station.
Our Battery will not move, however, until darkness sets in, unless Butler forces a general engagement dur- ing the afternoon. There are entrenehments back of us, to which the infantry will move. We have about 6,000 or 7,000 men here now, and our lines extend from a point near the James at Drewry's Bluff, in a half moon, around to Proctor's Creek.
A "grape-vine" courier, just arrived, informs us that our Company Q-poor fellows-over at the old quar- ters-Camp Schermerhorn-are nearly starved. They have no rations and no one in command there to draw for them, our Milton Gray being with us here. More than all, some of Q got an awful scare on the morning
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of the 8th, when Sheridan was trying to ride into Richmond, over Thornton's Battery and the rest of them. The fight took place but a mile or so away from our late winter quarters, and some of their shells fell out as far as our Camp. Of course, this did not please Q, and they became alarmed for their safety.
Nearly all the citizens here in Chesterfield, whose homes are within the enemy's lines, have been obliged to move away. They report that they cannot endure the robbery and abuse to which they are subject. Every- thing they have in the way of provisions, and most of their stock and poultry, has been taken from them, and, in some cases, their furniture and beds broken up and destroyed before their eyes. Scores of women and children are thus rendered homeless and foodless. Ah, War! how bitter art thou, in thy heartless, merci- less dealings with the children of men! The young and the strong may defy thy cruel blows; but the weak and the helpless, who will relieve their distress ? Well may you, my friend, be grateful indeed that your home has not fallen within the lines of the invading army.
But it is nearly time to cook our ash-pone, and then, when darkness falls, another position. May the guar- dian angels keep us all, and may to-morrow's battle go softly with the S. L. A.
Your friend, B.
[The change of fines was made by the Confederate forces in this part of the field, as forecasted in this
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letter, not because of any felt weakness or apprehension of defeat, but to secure a better and stronger position for defence. On the new line there were earthworks for the infantry and redoubts for artillery, and better ground to fight upon. But the Federals seemed to in- terpret the change as an evidence of weakness, and they responded quickly to it, and followed with a stronger force. Before morning on the 14th, their lines were well up to our own, and as soon as daylight opened fairly, their skirmish force was making it warm for us all along the lines.
But our Battery already occupied the works at Fort Stephens, and our own skirmishers were in advance, face to face with the enemy. And both Thornton's and Rives's Batteries had rejoined us during the night, and they also held positions in the works. I think, when all of our 16 guns opened upon the enemy, they must have understood that our artillery had been re-enforced and that a charge upon the works, to carry them by storm, would result in fearful loss among their men. It may have been this circumstance, more than any other, that deterred Butler from risking a general en- gagement on the 14th.
But, to offset the 16 guns of Lightfoot's Battalion, none of them heavier than 14-pounders, Butler sent up a fine battery of 24-pound Parrott guns, which took a position in the turnpike, only 300 yards from our position in the Fort, and within easy range of the in- fantry on our right. This artillery, a Rhode Island
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battery, did fine work on the 14th, the men standing to their posts and handling their pieces with celerity and accuracy. But it must have been at a fearful sac- rifice of blood. They were posted too near to the Con- federate infantry, whose sharp-shooters picked off the cannoncers at a rapid rate. This battery was aban- doned that night and fell into our hands. The S. L. A. passed two days, the 14th and 15th, in Fort Stephens, and were under fire continually, as long as daylight held, on both days. The next letter will tell of the chief incidents.]
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LETTER THIRTY-FIFTH.
Two days under fire-Conduct of the men-Casualties and inci- dents-Note.
EN BIVOUAC, May 17, 1864.
My Dear Friend :- The morning of the 14th of May dawned clear and bright, and skirmishing began be- tween the advanced lines ere it was fully light. As we occupied an angle or corner of the Fort, only one side of which fronted toward the enemy's line, two guns only could be used upon them. Soon, however, the Federals brought up a battery of four Parrott guns, which they stationed on the turnpike to our right, at a distance of some 300 yards from us, and this battery began to shell us rapidly. This gave the other guns something to do, and they at once engaged with the enemy's battery.
About the time this battery began to salute us so rapidly, the Federal infantry in our front began a vigorous assault, forced baek our line of skirmishers, and appeared as if they were about to charge our works. But we played upon their lines persistently and with effect, with the two guns that could be brought to bear in that direction, our infantry at the same time re- doubling their fire, and the enemy did not advance further.
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More infantry coming up to our aid, and taking posi- tion. along the line of works to our left, extending in the direction of Drewry's Bluff, toward which point the Federal right seemed to be working its way, the firing became general and rapid all along the lines, both left and right, and held steadily without intermission for more than two hours. In fact, a general engage- ment with both musketry and artillery had begun, which continued, with more or less vigor, through the remainder of the day.
Neither army, however, manifested any disposition either to advance or retire. It was a case of stand and fire, each endeavoring to cripple the other the most, and gain, if he could, some advantage here or there. The enemy's one battery was handled with rapidity and accuracy, and they sent us quite a number of dangerous missiles, that exploded very near to our guns and did considerable damage.
The limber-chest-ammunition box-of gun No. 4 was struck and exploded by one of their ugly shells, and Sergeant G. M. Hargrave and ten or twelve men were either wounded or badly stunned. The boys did not stop their work, however, but continued to hurl their 12-pound Napoleon shells at them as fast as they could. Another limber was brought up promptly with more ammunition, and No. 4 worked on as if nothing had happened to them.
Another of their Parrott shells exploded upon the muzzle of gun No. 3, scarring it considerably, but do-
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ing no further injury to the gun. A fragment, however, of the same shell struck the arm of the cannoneer standing by the gun-James Pond, a youth, of South- ampton county-and nearly severed the limb from the body. With remarkable presence of mind and cool- ness for one so young, Pond grasped the broken stump above the wound, to check the bleeding, and walked a mile to receive surgical attention.
Lieutenant J. W. Whitley received a painful musket wound in the shoulder, and retired. Private Benton D. Thomas likewise received a painful, but not dangerous, wound from a minnie ball. Several other men, six or eight, were slightly hurt during the day, but all refused to withdraw. All the men acted well, and some of them distinguished themselves in one way or another for coolness or efficiency.
Sergeant B. T. Bell handled his gun-No. 1, Na- poleon-so well, and his manner was so calm and self- poised, that he drew upon himself the notice of General Johnson Hagood, who came into the Fort while the hottest of the firing was going on. Altogether, the casualties of the first day were 21 or 22 wounded, most of them but slightly. Four, however, had received pain- ful, not to say dangerous, wounds, and these were sent on to the hospital in Richmond.
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