At Fortress Monroe. General Viele's talk. Weary waiting. Off at last.
Order of sailing. Storm. Horrors of the voyage. Vessels lost. Off Port
Royal. Tatnall's Mosquito fleet. Bombardment of Hilton Head and Bay
Point by navy. Surrender. Captain Drayton. Landing of troops. First
camp on Confederate soil. Foraging. Negroes' account of bombardment.
Inspection and review. The sutler. Thanksgiving.
At Fortress Monroe we remained until the 29th, when, with a fleet of
seventy vessels, transports, and men-of-war, we put to sea, and steered
for our final destination. I must not forget to mention that, during
our stay at this point, there was much talk of a landing; whether for
an attack upon some place in the vicinity, or merely for practice in
view of what was before us, we never knew, but it gave occasion to
General Viele, who commanded our brigade, to call our officers together
in the cabin of the steamer, to impress upon them the dangers of the
undertaking. It was a bloody lesson, probably thought necessary in the
case of simple volunteers, the conclusion of which was that we need
entertain no hopes save of a glorious departure to the shades beyond.
However, as it is the immediate danger which impresses us most, it
was not surprising that we took courage from our hopes, and there was
no unusual despondency on our part. Some of the more reckless even
ventured to suggest a doubt of the general's information on the subject
of our final disposal.
[Illustration: FORTRESS MONROE.]
The passage to Port Royal, S.C., which proved our objective point, was
a very trying one. The breeze, which at the time of our departure was
blowing freshly from the storm quarter, soon stiffened into a gale,
such as is seldom encountered even on our dangerous coast, and which
threatened the destruction of the fleet. The very admirable order in
which we started, with the transports in three columns, covered and
protected on either side by the gunboats, was soon broken up, and many
of the smaller vessels, which were unfitted for sea service, soon
found themselves separated from the fleet, which became completely
scattered and in the utmost danger. Some put back to Hampton Roads;
one, the Governor, went down, after being relieved for the most part
of its crew and the marines who had charge of its freight, and several
went ashore and were destroyed by the rebels. During the storm the
sealed instructions which had been given to each captain for such
an emergency, were opened, and when it abated, the vessels that had
weathered the gale quickly gathered at the point designated in the
orders.
The discomforts of that voyage, no one can realize who has not been
similarly situated. The sea-sickness was trying, but was as nothing
compared with the discomfort arising from the close confinement in
the fetid atmosphere of the ship, with no means of relaxation and
no way of escape. It was a terrible experience. Owing to the great
numbers crowded into the vessel, bunks were built all around and in
the immediate vicinity of the boiler, and to these the men were very
closely confined, until the effluvia from their reeking bodies--for,
in the intense heat, all clothing was dispensed with--added to the
stench of the filthy vessel, and the irritating annoyance of the vermin
with which the steamer was infested, made a fitting counterpart
of pandemonium, in point of suffering. Some relief was gained by the
transfer, at Hampton Roads, of two companies, with a portion of the
freight, to the steamer Matanzas, and a small detail, under Lieutenant
Dunbar, to the steamer Belvidere, but it was only slight.
[Illustration: MAP OF A PORTION OF "SEA ISLANDS," SHOWING "PORT ROYAL."]
Our grand old colonel, in the height of the storm, securing himself
to the mast, spent many hours apparently enjoying the magnificent
exhibition of power. Nothing disturbed his equanimity, and his watchful
care of those committed to him was never remitted.
November 4 we arrived off Port Royal bar. Under the supervision of an
officer of the Coast Survey, soundings were made, and buoys planted
along the channel. That night a few vessels crossed the bar, and
in the morning the whole squadron moved in, headed by the flagship
Wabash. While the soundings were being made, the Confederate Mosquito
fleet, under Commodore Tatnall, opened quite a spirited fire, but
without effect. And as all the movements of the various vessels were
plainly visible from the transports, which were well out of range
of the guns, we enjoyed the advantage of witnessing the proceedings,
without sharing either the responsibility or danger. On the 6th, the
weather was unfavorable, and the attack on Forts Walker and Beauregard,
which defended the harbor on either side, was deferred until the
7th. On that morning the gunboats moved farther in, headed by the
Wabash, and the attack on the two forts commenced about 10 A.M. The
more effectually to escape the fire of the forts, the gunboats moved
continually in a circle, each delivering its broadside as it approached
the forts. First, the Wabash poured in its heavy shot and shell upon
Fort Beauregard, at Bay Point, as long as its guns bore upon it,
and wearing round, opened on Fort Walker, at Hilton Head, while the
gunboats, following in order, kept up the cannonade without cessation.
This continued until between 2 and 3 o'clock P.M., when the forts
surrendered.
[Illustration: PLAN OF THE BATTLE AT PORT ROYAL HARBOR.]
Although anchored nearly five miles away, we could follow the direction
of many of the shot and shell, especially the latter, and observe
their effect. A little after noon, the Mercury, a small gunboat, got
on the southerly side of Fort Walker, so near that its guns could not
be sufficiently depressed to bear upon her, and from that point was
able not only to shell the troops outside of the fort, who were held in
reserve, but to throw in so effective an enfilading fire upon the fort
itself that its guns could not be served. It was a stroke of impudence
which seemed so ludicrous on account of the apparent insignificance of
the little craft that the troops on the transports shouted themselves
hoarse in admiration of this seeming act of bravado, which, however,
proved an important feature of the attack. As soon as the fire from
Fort Walker ceased, and it was apparent that at least a part of its
garrison, with the other forces on the island, was retreating, a flag
of truce was sent ashore to arrange the terms of surrender. But it was
too late for any conference, as none but the dead and wounded remained,
and the Stars and Stripes soon waved the announcement that the first
step in the avenging of Fort Sumter had been consummated.
[Illustration: FORT WALKER.]
Not a man in the command but felt the significance of that victory.
Charleston was nearer now than it had been before, and, in the minds
of many, it seemed but a little thing to cover the intervening
distance with victorious troops. The flight of the Confederates was
precipitate, and they left behind everything that would cumber a rapid
retreat. Fort Beauregard had suffered less from the bombardment than
Fort Walker, but the fall of the latter hastened its evacuation, and on
the following morning no opposition was offered to its occupation by
our forces.
[Illustration: FORT BEAUREGARD.]
One fact _in this attack_ is worthy of special mention. General
Drayton commanded the Confederate forces on Hilton Head, and the
home of the family was located on a prominent point near the shore,
overlooking the bay, while his brother, Captain Drayton, commanded the
gunboat Pocahontas, which participated in the bombardment. Some time
afterwards, in company with other officers, I visited the Monitor,
which he then commanded, and his grave and saddened demeanor told of
the sacrifice he had made in his loyalty to the government.
[Illustration: DRAYTON'S MANSION.]
I know that patriotism is a word with some considered stale and
obsolete. Such know little of the temper of the brave men who composed
our army and navy during that terrible struggle. For while few were
called upon to make such sacrifices as Captain Drayton, the number
of those who went to war for hire only was but a small detachment of
that great army. And the arguments, even of those unlettered men who
formed so large a part of the rank and file, as I have often heard them
stated, though clothed in rude and homely language, had in them a
degree of intelligence, and were so charged with honesty and sincerity,
so backed by courage and fidelity on many a gory field, that it were
shame to say the stream of patriotism has run dry. It has not now, and
never will, while men have manhood left, honor to defend, homes to
protect, good laws and a righteous government to transmit.
November 9 we were all ready to land, having been provided with two
days' cooked rations, but for lack of transportation we were detained
on board the steamer until Sunday morning, the 10th. The night previous
was spent in securing boats and attaching them to our steamer, so that
on Sunday morning, as soon as the word was received, we pulled for the
shore with a will. At this time, the harbor presented a most animated
appearance. The transports were crowded together near the shore, all
busy in discharging freight. Boats of all sizes and descriptions were
passing to and fro, and horses and other animals were being hoisted
from the holds by means of broad bands which encircled them, swung over
the sides of the vessels, and gently dumped into the water, to find
their way to land as they could, while men stood by ready _to secure
them on the shore_. Occasionally the poor distracted brutes, confused
by the unwonted sounds, and half drowned by their sudden and unexpected
immersion, turned seaward, but were soon brought back.
[Illustration: POPE'S HOUSE AT HILTON HEAD.]
It was a beautiful Sabbath morning, but with little to remind us of
the sacred character of the day. After landing, we marched a little
way from the beach and remained until about noon, when our camp was
located, not far from general headquarters, and we proceeded to prepare
the ground for our tents, and establish guards and pickets. Two nights
were spent without shelter, on account of the difficulty and delay in
landing baggage. After this we settled down to regular work. From ten
to twelve each day we had battalion drill, in which the colonel was
very exacting, requiring the officers to know their duties, and holding
them responsible for the condition and drill of their companies.
Company drill was from two to four in the afternoon, and dress parade
in the evening, often followed by more battalion drill. Details were
made for fatigue duty in building entrenchments, an extensive line of
earthworks was thrown up as a precautionary measure, and frequently
nearly the whole regiment was picking, shovelling, or felling trees to
furnish material for the works. There was no idle time, except when a
day on picket or other guard duty secured the following as a day of
rest.
[Illustration: LIVE OAK GROVE AT PORT ROYAL.]
Having been detailed as officer of the guard the first day in camp, the
following day I was permitted by the colonel to accompany a small party
bound on a tour of observation. During the day we wandered far away
from camp, to the other side of the island, and the afternoon found
us on the borders of a large plantation, which proved to be that of a
Mr. Seabrook. Approaching the place, we mistook the whitewashed huts
of the negroes for tents, and remained a long time in doubt whether to
advance or retreat, feeling quite certain that it was a Confederate
encampment that we saw. While debating what course to pursue, a stray
contraband relieved our apprehensions by informing us that our troops
occupied the place. We found on our arrival a detachment of the 45th
Pennsylvania, posted there to keep watch for Confederates and prevent
foraging. That night we spent in Mr. Seabrook's store, after using
the portion of the afternoon that remained to us after our arrival in
endeavors to secure some of the cattle, pigs, and poultry, which seemed
to be wanting an owner, to which the guard, usually lenient on such
points, raised few objections. These came mostly from the quadrupeds
and bipeds themselves, and were so strenuous that the result of our
efforts was a meagre show of two or three lean pigs, an occasional hen,
and an ancient goose, which succumbed to my own personal prowess.
On our way back to camp, the next day, we narrowly escaped arrest,
as General Viele had issued an order that all parties coming in from
foraging should be deprived of what they had collected and sent to
his headquarters under arrest. My poor goose suffered the fate of
the pigs and hens, and no doubt rested heavily on the stomachs of the
pickets, if not on their consciences. We were glad to escape with the
loss of our plunder.
[Illustration: NEGRO QUARTERS.]
Supplies were abundant, the negroes bringing to camp whatever the
plantations produced, and although General Viele issued an order that
everything should be taken to his headquarters, where a general market
would be held every morning, no attention was paid to it, and as far as
we ever heard, no general market was established.
About a week after the capture of Hilton Head, I was detailed to take
command of the Grand Guard, whose headquarters were at Drayton's
plantation. The negroes had generally remained here, as well as at
the other places within the range of our command, and were encouraged
to cultivate the plantations abandoned by their masters. This was
important, as the famous Sea Islands formed a part of the territory
captured by our forces, and considerable of the cotton remained
unpicked, while nothing had been done towards the harvesting of corn,
potatoes, and many other products of the soil. Some of the negroes here
were owned by Captain Drayton, who had left them in the care of his
brother, and no doubt some of the shot from his guns had fallen among
his own people. The evidences of the cannonading were manifest all
about, and the negroes, when questioned as to its effects upon them,
declared that at first they didn't mind the firing, but "when them
rotten shot began to spatter about them, they jes' ran for de woods."
The regiment soon became proficient in drill, in spite of the frequent
details for fatigue duty, and was regarded as one of the best, if not
the very best, in the Department.
November 24 we had a general inspection and review, by Generals Sherman
and Viele, in which the brigade marched first in quick, and then
in double-quick time, around a circle of some two miles in extent,
according to the journal of Conklin, to which reference has before been
made. We can all testify that it seemed much longer, with the sand
sometimes almost ankle-deep. General Viele perhaps thought us amply
paid for the exertion, when he declared that we marched as well as
regulars, and were equal to any regiment in the service.
Day followed day with about the same round of duties. We had already
become fairly accustomed to tent life, our food supply was ample and
good, and the paymaster furnished the means of providing ourselves
with comforts and luxuries according to our several positions, or,
rather, the amount of pay received. Besides the regimental sutler,
who was prepared to furnish anything, from Golden Seal to toothpicks,
for a consideration, shops of all kinds sprang up with amazing
rapidity, as soon as it became known that this would be a permanent
basis of operations, and usually only a short time elapsed after the
visit of the paymaster, before his next appearance was looked for
with eagerness, even by the sutler, who cultivated a disposition for
extravagance, by giving credit to such as seemed likely to regard the
obligation. Occasionally, when, too grasping, he became exorbitant
in his prices, or in the rate of interest charged for accommodation
loans--for too often the offices of banker and sutler were combined--a
sudden raid would equalize the account.
At this time, measles and smallpox prevailed to some extent, and from
the former several deaths occurred, while the latter was limited to a
few cases by the isolation of those attacked.
Thanksgiving and Christmas passed with no observance on the part of the
non-commissioned officers and privates, except perhaps a more general
application to pick and spade. On Thanksgiving Day, the officers,
many of whom had been suitably remembered by friends at home, united
their private stores with such good things as could be collected in
the vicinity, and indulged themselves in unusual luxuries, forgetting
for the time their surroundings, and giving themselves up to the full
enjoyment of the day, so far as their duties permitted.