The wreck of the sutler's schooner. Its consequences. The death of
Colonel Perry. His character. Action of officers. Sent to New York.
Lieutenant-Colonel Barton promoted. Detailed on recruiting service.
General Mitchell commander of the department. Expedition to Bluffton.
Blockade-runner Emma. Confederate ironclad. Back with the regiment.
Its condition. Bluffton again visited. Ravages of war.
On the 16th and 17th of June, a fearful storm prevailed along the
coast during which a schooner was discovered on her beam ends, on
the bar off the west end of Cockspur Island. With much difficulty
the crew was rescued, but the vessel became a total wreck, and the
cargo, which consisted of sutler supplies, floated ashore on Tybee
and Cockspur Islands. Cases of claret and champagne and barrels of
beer and wine, were too strong an attraction to be resisted, and the
result was that on the 17th the regiment was in a terrible state of
demoralization. As soon as the facts were discovered by the colonel,
the severest measures were applied. Guards were set along the shores
to secure the cargo, and those who were intoxicated were confined in
the guard-house and dungeon. The liquor was collected, and locked up
in the magazine, and comparative order was restored. It is probable,
however, that the excitement and vexation so overcame the colonel as
to induce the attack of the following day. It was the first time that
the brutalizing effects of the war had manifested themselves in our
regiment, and he was grievously wounded. At about three o'clock of the
afternoon of June 18, while the colonel was writing at his desk, his
pen suddenly dropped from his hand, his head dropped, and scarcely
with other sign, _the silver cord was loosed and the golden bowl was
broken_. It was a sad day in the regiment. He was so strong--so far
above the jealousies of ordinary army life--so just and true--that he
was as a rock of defence to such as were in any way dependent upon
him. Although holding a subordinate position, we felt that he had no
superior in the department, in those qualities which constitute a
leader and commander. How well I remember him, as firmly seated on his
gray horse, the gift of his ministerial friends and others, he moved
about the field at battalion drill, so familiar with the duties of
his position as never to suggest a doubt, giving the word of command
without effort, but with a power of tone such as I have never heard
equalled. Here, as elsewhere, always dignified, always composed. A man
to respect, to trust, to obey. It was his misfortune to be confined in
a department which furnished so little scope for his abilities, and
a still greater misfortune that he incurred the envy and jealousy of
those over him. At the time of his death he had applied for leave of
absence, and the promise of promotion led him to expect a transfer to
some other corps. Had he lived, so large an estimate had we formed of
his abilities that we should have expected his rapid advancement to a
conspicuous position among the leading generals of the army. As a man
he was admired and beloved, for, although reserved and reticent, he did
not withhold his confidence, and esteem from such as he deemed worthy
of it. Everything relating to those under him received his personal
attention, and in cases of discipline, while sometimes severe, he was
always just, and when he died the feeling was universal throughout the
regiment that the loss we had suffered could never be made up to us.
From the time of my first introduction to him, until that morning when
I parted from him at Pulaski, never again to see him in life, I recall
many instances of his kindness and thoughtful consideration; but they
are too personal to be recorded here. Notwithstanding his reserve and
his habitual seclusion, except when engaged in active duty, he knew
his officers better than they thought, and cared for them better than
they knew. As an evidence of this I recall with great distinctness the
ride we had together, when we visited various points on Dawfuskie,
when he found the rebels were making preparations to annoy or attack
us. On our return as we slowly rode towards camp, the conversation
turned upon the character and relative merits of the officers of the
regiment. He was in a singularly communicative mood, and spoke with
unusual freedom. There was no unkindness, no bitterness in what he
said, but there was abundant evidence of keenness of observation, and
a knowledge of the temper and disposition of those of whom he spoke,
and had he lived, no good man would have had occasion to fear him, and
no bad man to despise him. His parting words at our last interview in
Pulaski, meant more than I knew then, but they were not needed to keep
him in my mind, embalmed with loving thoughts and precious memories.
We buried him outside the fort, but subsequently his body was removed
to Cyprus Hill Cemetery, in Brooklyn; and a granite monument has now
been erected above his remains,--by the efforts of James H. Perry Post,
G.A.R., and the survivors of the regiment, assisted by the Hanson
Place Methodist-Episcopal Church of Brooklyn, of which he had been the
pastor. On this is inscribed, in fitting words, the story of his life,
his services and sacrifice.
His death left us in a state of some embarrassment. The promotion to
the colonelcy naturally belonged to Lieutenant-Colonel Barton, but
Major Beard had done much important service in the department, which
seemed to deserve recognition, and in addition, his father's relations
with prominent men in Brooklyn could command their influence. But he
lacked the full confidence of his brother-officers, and his promotion
over Lieutenant-Colonel Barton would have been an undesirable precedent
to establish, and at a meeting held for the purpose of ascertaining
the views of the officers of the line and staff, it was found that we
were unanimous in favor of Lieutenant-Colonel Barton, and a paper was
drawn up, and signed, requesting from the Governor his appointment.
Chosen for the purpose of conveying this, with other letters of
recommendation, from Major-General Hunter and Brigadier-General
Terry, I hastened to New York by the first steamer, in company with
Lieutenant-Colonel Barton, and had the satisfaction of securing all
that we desired. From this time until October, being detained in New
York, with Captain Farrell, on recruiting service, I must depend upon
the journals of Thompson and Conklin, and the sketch recently written
and sent me by Major Barrett, for an account of what transpired in the
regiment during the interval.
The record is short, and lacking in interesting or important
circumstances; occasionally, a flag of truce came down from Savannah,
with persons who desired to join their friends in the North. General
Mitchell, who had established a character by successful operations
in the West, relieved General Hunter, and by his urbanity, and an
undefined and indefinable magnetism, had captivated the soldiers, while
his reputation as a successful general inspired them with a belief that
the department of the South would thereafter have opportunity to make
for itself a place in the history of the war, by solid achievements.
Poor man! how little he knew of the lack of material, of opportunity
and force, in his new command. Better for him had he remained in a
subordinate position in the West, where the field was large, and
afforded encouragement for the exhibition of military skill and genius.
The work of repairing the fort was carried on energetically, and an
occasional excursion up the river, or to neighboring islands, relieved
the monotony of garrison duty. One expedition to Bluffton, on the May
River, for the purpose of destroying the salt works, resulted not only
in its immediate object, but in securing a large supply of excellent
and convenient furniture, including a piano for headquarters. The
blockade-runner Emma, having for a long time been tied to the wharf
at Savannah, made an effort to escape with its cargo of cotton. Just
as the sun was beginning to light up the horizon, it was discovered
near the entrance to Wright's River, hard and fast, with a receding
tide. Boats were manned and sent with all speed to secure her, but
too late to save more than the scorched and blackened remains of her
valuable cargo of cotton. The fact that an English steamer had, by the
contributions of the ladies of Savannah, been converted into a ram
of powerful armament kept the garrison on the lookout for an attack,
until it became known through deserters that she was an unwieldy mass
of iron, with engines of insufficient capacity to move her against the
ordinary current of the river.
One morning our gunboats, in the spirit of mere bravado, ran up the
river to within range of Fort Jackson and the batteries near, but
without result, except to show how poorly both were provided with
artillery. Had the navy made a serious attempt on Savannah, we always
felt that it would have met with but feeble opposition. There had grown
up a wholesome dread of our gunboats, especially of the ironclads, and
although our troops met with obstinate resistance, wherever the navy
could penetrate the way was almost undisputed.
While affairs were thus comparatively stagnated in the department,
Captain Farrell and myself were hard at work recruiting, and, as a
result, the regiment was brought up to nearly its original number. It
was a pleasant relief from the stale, stupid life in garrison, and
afforded an opportunity to recover from the dreadful effects of the
exposure on the swamps and islands of the Savannah. Some of the duties,
however, were by no means agreeable; and when the order came for a
return to the regiment, it was very welcome. We had been away long
enough, and were quite willing that others should take our places; and
October 2, when we rejoined the regiment, it was with a feeling of
pride that we took up the regular duties of army life again.
During our absence, the officers had been accustomed to meet together
to discuss tactics and military law, and it was apparent that we must
make special exertion to place ourselves abreast of those who had thus
profited. Some few changes had taken place. At night the "All's well,"
which every hour was carried round the fort from sentinel to sentinel,
proclaimed the fact that every one was watchful, and illustrated
the system which prevailed. The several expeditions to Bluffton had
furnished our quarters with useful and attractive furniture, and, with
every convenience for garrison duty, we should have been content,
except for the feeling that we might be serving our country better in
more active operations.
October 9, General Mitchell and staff visited the fort, and it soon
became known that an expedition was planned in which a portion at least
of our regiment would take part. From that time until the 21st, the
companies which were to join the expedition engaged in target practice
every day, and there was much emulation among them. The officers
also joined in the practice, for the sake of encouragement. In the
meantime the steamboat Planter made another expedition to Bluffton,
to complete the demolition of the salt works. Just as we were about
to cast off from the dock to return to the fort, the Confederates,
who had been awaiting their opportunity, attacked us, and for a few
moments the firing was quite sharp. Owing to the low state of the tide,
our artillery was useless, until, having cut the hawser, we swung out
into the stream, when a few discharges of grape and canister scattered
the enemy and we proceeded back to the fort. Our casualties were one
killed and several wounded. The frequent expeditions had stripped the
town of almost everything portable, and it is not surprising that the
inhabitants were desperately angry. It was a pretty village, apparently
a summer resort for the wealthier people of Charleston and Savannah.
The houses, for the most part of neat and attractive appearance and
embowered in trees, stretched along for some distance on the high
table-land near the water, and the shore of the river was dotted here
and there with boat and bathing houses of pretty design. Deep ravines
ran from the river back through the town until lost in the darkened
shades of the woods beyond. But the houses were desolate and given up
to pillage, the happy households scattered, lost in the whirlpool of
mad rebellion, fathers and sons were measuring out their life-blood in
the rebel army, and mothers and daughters were mourning over the loss
of friends and homes and all that makes life dear, while suffering
the terrible privations of an invaded country. A sad picture of the
cruelties of war!