Back to Bermuda Hundred. A running fight. Destruction of railroad.
Kindness of Major Young and General Terry. Ordered to charge. A
happy escape. President Lincoln and General Butler. Ordered to
attack Confederate line. Recalled. Captain Fee and others killed.
Picket-lines at Petersburg. Sanitary and Christian Commissions. Mine
explosion. Our losses. Major Swartwout. Effects of malaria.
Of our change of base, conducted so cautiously and secretly, the enemy
did not continue long in ignorance. All day we were running against
the troops, ordered from the South to anticipate us in the occupancy
of Petersburg. Firing was going on continually, and the only effective
service that we rendered was the destruction of the railroad. Even this
was only partial, as we had neither time nor appliances, for thorough
work. The section of the road upon which our battalion operated was on
the side of a hill, and the men being placed near together along the
track, at the word of command, seized, lifted, and tumbled down the
hill, the portion spanned by the line, ties and rails going together,
leaving the road-bed clean. This was repeated, until the appearance
of the enemy in large numbers warned us that we should move, and move
quickly, which we did. At night the men were completely exhausted,
and without food, all the stores belonging to the regiment being on
the steamer with the field and staff. It was plainly my duty to see
that they were supplied with rations--but there was no one to whom I
could apply, except General Terry, and his headquarters were miles
away. I had no conveyance, and there was no one near whom I knew. The
nearest regiment was the 142d Ohio, under command of Major Young.
There was no alternative, and I was compelled to apply to him for
means of transportation. Although a stranger, there was little need of
explanation before his horse stood ready at his tent. General Terry
responded most cheerfully to my request, and by midnight the men were
enjoying the simple food which served them for the next day of labor
or suffering. Neither of these officers knew what a kindly act they
did that night; but had they witnessed the distribution of stores to
those famishing men, who waited patiently till midnight for my return,
they would have been fully repaid for their kindness. The result of the
day's operations was the destruction of quite a large section of the
railroad, and the capture of some fifty or more prisoners.
On the 17th, the remainder of the brigade landed at Bermuda Hundred,
and the regiment encamped near the intrenchments. Towards evening
were ordered out to charge the enemy's intrenchments, and for an hour
lay on the side of a hill, watching the movements of the brigade
whose place we were to take in case it was not successful. What we
witnessed was not at all inspiriting; for, as the smoke lifted from
the first heavy discharge of the Confederate artillery and musketry,
we looked in vain for any sign of our troops, who seemed to have been
completely annihilated. To take their place was not to be looked upon
as a privilege; and when the order was received to return to camp, we
were not reluctant to go. It should be said, by way of explanation,
that our loss was very slight, the order to lie down having been given
in season to avoid the shot and shell, which passed harmlessly over
our troops. Why they did not rise and charge immediately was never
explained to us.
[Illustration: BATTERY NEAR DUTCH GAP.]
On the 18th, we remained encamped near the intrenchments. The 18th and
6th corps were in our vicinity, while the 2d, 5th, and 9th were near
Petersburg. We heard heavy firing, but could learn nothing definite
concerning the progress of our army.
On the afternoon of the 22d, a message was received from General Butler
that President Lincoln was approaching our vicinity, and would shortly
reach the point where we were encamped. The purpose of the message
was to give time and opportunity to arrange a fitting welcome, but it
was unfortunate that nearly all the troops in our neighborhood were
hundred-days men, who, having been enlisted to do duty within their
respective states, had been forced into the Army of the Potomac, and
pushed into the most perilous service, in violation of their contract.
For this reason they were much disaffected, and one regiment, at least,
had been deprived of its arms, and placed under guard, to prevent a
serious outbreak. Naturally, the message of General Butler was received
by them very coldly, and as the cavalcade surrounding the President
appeared, there were but few straggling squads of soldiers in sight,
and from these there was no sign of enthusiasm or interest. I have
seen General Butler many times, and under a variety of conditions
and surroundings, but never so completely disconcerted as then. As
the party neared the point where we stood, an aid was hurriedly sent
forward to command the men to cheer, and General Butler, dropping
behind the President, endeavored, by frantic gestures and pantomime,
to enforce the orders of his aid. But all to no purpose. The men were
angry and sullen, and when the general, rising in his stirrups, shook
his fist at them, the exhibition of impotent rage was greeted with
shouts of derision. As the little cavalcade advanced farther along
the line, an effort was made by the other troops in the vicinity to
make amends to our honored and beloved President for this discourtesy;
but, while the whole army was intensely loyal, and devotedly attached
to him, he was unfortunate in having, as his chief escort through our
lines, a general who had, at least temporarily, lost the confidence and
respect of the command.
On the 23d, the regiment was ordered to join that portion of the army
in front of Petersburg. Nothing unusual occurred until the 30th, when
we were ordered to prepare for a charge on the Confederate works.
Instead of remaining where we were, protected by our intrenchments,
until the charge was ordered, we were moved over our earthworks, where
we were kept for some time, exposed to a murderous fire, by which
Captain Fee, a brave and excellent officer, and many others, were
killed or severely wounded. After nearly a half-hour of this exposure,
we were recalled, and the attack was given up, as well it might be
after our intention was so fairly made known to the enemy.
[Illustration: DEFENCES OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG.]
At this time the main lines of the two armies were in such close
proximity that the utmost care was necessary, especially on the part
of the pickets who were posted in the little valley between, and were
so near that no part of the body could be exposed for an instant
without drawing the fire of the enemy. The approach to the picket-line
was through intricate and carefully protected, covered ways, but,
with all the precautions which ingenuity could devise, day by day
our ranks were diminished by losses. Many of these occurred in the
passage to and from these picket-lines, and often were due to the
recklessness and carelessness of the men. Many and curious were the
devices used to draw the enemy's fire, by exposing a hat, or coat, or
other object, while, from ingeniously constructed lookouts, our men
watched for the heads which were sure to pop up from behind their
intrenchments in the eagerness for a shot. This brutal warfare was
kept up during our whole stay in front of Petersburg, except when a
short truce brought the picket-lines together, when the utmost freedom
of intercourse prevailed. At such times papers were exchanged, the
situation discussed, and the best of friends seemed engaged in mutual
congratulations. In a few moments, the old state of things was resumed,
with all its cruelties.
At this time more than ever before, we realized the magnitude of the
works performed by the Sanitary and Christian Commissions. As an
illustration, I find it recorded in my journal that at this time our
whole army was supplied with vegetables by the Sanitary Commission;
while the agents of both societies were to be found in camp and
hospital, ministering to the sick, wounded, and needy, with a generous
impartiality, which made no distinctions, and shrunk neither from
danger by bullet or contaminating disease. It is not my province to
enter into a history of these societies; but I should be ungrateful
did I not make fitting acknowledgment of the good work performed by
those devoted Christian men and women. Not only were the officers
and soldiers largely benefited as individuals, but the army, as a
whole, was sustained and strengthened by the knowledge that through
these two societies, and others of similar character, the whole
people were manifesting their readiness to bear their share of burden
and sacrifice. The office which they performed, in establishing and
sustaining a higher moral standard in the army, and the increased
efficiency which resulted from it, cannot be over-estimated.
[Illustration: OUTLINE OF THE CRATER AND MAGAZINES.]
During the most of July, we occupied the front or rear lines before
Petersburg, under fire the most of the time, the shot and shell
reaching us even in the most protected spots. The men were picked off
by sharpshooters whenever within range, and there was no respite from
duty, although we participated in no regular engagement until the
30th. At sunset on the 29th, the regiment took up its line of march to
the left and rear, to be ready to join in the attack which was to be
made immediately after the explosion of the mine in front of the 9th
corps. The explosion took place between four and five o'clock on the
morning of the 30th, and the attack was made; but, owing to want of
preparation, or some lack in the arrangement, the favorable moment was
allowed to pass, and the charge was irregular and ineffective. After
advancing to the ground which had been occupied by the fort, a halt
was made, intrenchments thrown up, and two guns mounted. This gave
an opportunity for the enemy to rally, and when at last the charge
was made upon Cemetery Hill, which was immediately in front, and some
four hundred yards distant, the concentrated fire from the front, and
from either flank, ploughed through our lines, creating disorder and
confusion. The loss was dreadful, regiments and brigades being almost
completely annihilated; a second attempt only added to a disaster which
was one of the most serious that our army had suffered for months. Our
division had been joined to the 18th corps, which made a demonstration
on the right, but without avail. Our losses were severe. Among the
killed was Major Swartwout, one of the oldest and best of all the
officers who had been connected with the regiment. No one among us
possessed to a larger extent the real soldierly instincts, and no one
was more generally beloved. His genial good-nature, his ready humor,
and exuberant spirits, made him welcome in every circle. Lieutenant
O'Brien was also killed, and our loss otherwise, in non-commissioned
officers and privates, was severe. The scheme, which originated with
Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants, of the 48th Pennsylvania regiment, was
well conceived and perfected by him; but the attack which followed the
explosion was managed badly.
July 31, the regiment was ordered to Bermuda Hundred, where we remained
until August 13, when we broke camp, and, starting late in the
evening, marched all night. The writer's experience on that night march
was peculiar, and, as showing the severity of the duties to which we
had been subjected, and the condition to which many of us were reduced,
it may properly be mentioned. The command of the regiment devolved
upon me, owing to the absence of all the field officers. Starting at
its head, we had proceeded but a short distance before I was seized by
an attack of drowsiness, which no effort and no expedient could throw
off. Mortified beyond expression by this singular but uncontrollable
weakness, there was nothing left to me, at last, but an appeal to the
orderly, and, directing him to keep me in my proper position, and to
arouse me if anything special should occur, I gave up the useless
struggle. The false or heavy step of the horse which I was riding
aroused me frequently to sudden consciousness, when the struggle would
recommence, but with the same result, for the seeds of malaria, brought
from the swamps of the Savannah, were fruiting in a deadly exhaustion,
which no effort of the will could overcome. This was the precursor
of more serious attacks, which finally drove me from the service.
Our movement was in the direction of the Dutch Gap Canal, a project
of General Butler, which proved a failure, like many others of his
undertakings while in the service.