men who had guarded them in the North. And while they were secure in
all the privileges allowed them at Fort Pulaski, they understood their
limits and thus avoided unpleasant results. Not one escaped while under
the care of the regiment.
Duty at the fort was not severe, but vigilance was exacted of all
sentries, who walked with weapons loaded. Fatigue parties brought wood
from Tybee Island, a condensing engine supplied the post with water,
the sutler was at hand with his varied assortment of pins, needles,
combs and brushes, navy plug, gingersnaps, canned goods, etc.
Thanksgiving day came November 24th. The boys off-duty were drawn up in
bright array. The proclamation of President Lincoln was read by the
Chaplain, who added a prayer. A brief battalion drill followed and then
dinner.
Turkeys and other fowls were scarce at the fort. For dinner, Ziba
prepared such as he had in his best style. Capt. McWilliams added
small, but palatable pies to the list, with a few other luxuries. Eaten
as it was, from tin plates upon a rough but clean table, that was a
memorable dinner. Away up in the North-country--yet, never mind. Co. G
sent out over the intervening sea and land their warm greetings, for
they knew there were places vacant for them, that no others could fill.
Such thoughts made Co. G brace-up and take a new hold. It is a very dry
occupation, soldiering for the fun of the thing. It is now known Co. G
saw both soldiering and some fun, but without the eyes of Lenox--and
such eyes--upon them their service would have paled.
Monday, Nov. 28th, loaded down with five days' rations and sixty rounds
of cartridges, Companies A, B, C, G and H, under Col. Carmichael, were
ordered away from Fort Pulaski. Soon after sundown the little steamer
left the wharf for Hilton Head, by the way of Skull Creek.
After waiting awhile, the expedition numbering about four thousand men,
a battery of artillery and a squadron of cavalry, moved up Broad River.
The movement was conducted after the usual and
well-established methods popular in the Department. It was the
"wait-'till-'tis-dark-and-don't-say-a-word-about-it" plan. All night
long the little fleet was endeavoring to feel its way through the fog
to Boyd's Point, forty miles above Hilton Head. The steamers appeared
to get lost. They ran awhile, then stopped. By and by whistles were
heard. The spell was broken, for rebel rockets were seen rising from
their outposts.
Near noon a landing was effected and the weary men told to get a little
rest.
After dark, with the 157th in the lead, and a few cavalrymen as advance
guard, the monkey-work began. First the column moved a mile or two in
one direction, about-faced and returned over the same road. Then did
the same caper again until, near morning, the worn-out troops were
halted at the junction of the Cambahee and Grahamville roads, and were
told to lie down in the oak leaves and get some rest. Meanwhile, the
johnnies, who had ample warning, were preparing for a reception and to
serve every thing warm, next day. Their trains were heard distinctly
near Grahamville and the boys of Co. G understood there was to be an
entertainment in the morning.
Soon after daybreak picket-firing began. Co. G had barely time to make
coffee when they were ordered to fall-in.
Col. Carmichael threw his entire detachment of one hundred and
forty-two men, on the right of the road. The boys moved leisurely along
in skirmish order for nearly a mile.
Meanwhile a few pieces of artillery were firing from both parties. Near
noon Honey Hill was reached. The rebel redoubt there was pierced for
several guns with ample breastworks for a strong force. A rebel account
which gives the Union force at five thousand infantry and fifteen
hundred artillery, states the forces of Gen. Hatch advanced on Honey
Hill with sixteen pieces of artillery.
If Hatch had possessed much artillery he could not have used it at
Honey Hill.
The road to the foot of the bluff thus sweetly named, led through
swampy ground and deep ditches were on either side. On the left of the
road and extending to the foot of the bluff was a dense wood, tangled
with trailing briars. On the right of the road was a thick growth of
scrub timber.
The main column advanced and struck the rebels. The forces of Hatch
moved off to the right and ascended the rise of ground, where they
formed and charged the work.
When Col. Carmichael heard the firing on his left he halted his men and
sent for instructions, with the result that the Colonel was to cross
over to the south side of the road, and form on the left of the line of
battle.
When Co. G crossed the Grahamville road, close at hand was a brass gun
in the ditch, where it lodged from a recoil in the narrow road. One
piece of artillery, only, remained to assist the infantry and that was
unable to accomplish great results, although it was served gallantly.
As soon as possible the 157th boys gained their position. Off to their
right and evidently awaiting, was formed a full battalion of rebels.
The johnnies disappeared, fell back into the woods and both parties
were soon at work.
The lines on the left were not more than eighty yards apart. The men on
both sides covered themselves behind trees and bushes and fought thus,
with but one intermission, until sunset; that interval occurred when
the 157th fell back for ammunition.
The volleys on the right and the steady firing on the left, maintained
a continuous roar, for hours; and above the musketry was heard the
sharp cracking reports of the brass piece in the road and the spiteful
replies of the rebel pieces.
So near the redoubt were the 157th that grape and canister flew far
above their heads, cutting away branches and bark which fell harmlessly
to the ground. It was the rifle balls that were doing damage.
Capt. McWilliams was standing in an open space in rear of Co. G, when a
ball went through his thigh. He turned very pale.
"Bully boys," said he, "give it to them."
The captain was assisted to the road and left with the surgeons.
Lieut. Forbes took command of the company. He stationed himself on the
same attractive bit of grassy ground just vacated by the captain. Lead
was passing through the air very plentifully.
"Give 'em hell, boys," roared Jerome, "they've shot the captain!"
The boys were deliberately at work behind their various shields. They
watched for a puff of smoke and fired. Rarely was an enemy seen, but
they knew they were there. The young recruits on the left of the
company were just as firm as the old chaps, only a little more noisy.
"What's the matter Amos, are you hit?" asked Lieut. Forbes of Amos
Avery.
"The blinkity-blam johnnies have hit my thumb," he replied, shaking his
hand rapidly.
"Then go to the rear."
"Not by a mill-site!" yelled Amos, still trying to comfort his thumb.
And he remained and soon was at work again. That was Amos.
About the time Amos had resumed firing, the air about the little
grass-plot was fairly blue, with very positive cursing of rebels in the
woods, or on the plain, high or low. Lieut. Forbes was seen spinning
around on one foot ready to whip the entire Confederacy. A rebel had
drawn bead on Jerome's leg and grazed his shin, giving him a painful
contusion.
Then Co. G was without an officer. Lieut. Grant had been transferred to
another company. In the midst of the fight he was returned to Co. G.
The boys were ordered to fall back for cartridges. The 56th N.Y. took
their places. Johnny reb discovered a change in the line and drove the
56th. Col. Carmichael took his boys in on a charge and drove the rebels
back farther than before. But the charge cost Co. G their last officer.
Lieut. Grant fell, shot through the body.
Once more the little band settled down to their work. The same noise of
battle still roared on the right. Not a foot of ground was gained, not
an inch lost. Those eyes of old Lenox should have peeped into that
tangled wood. They could have seen their boys as cool as if by the
firesides, but with a dreadfully earnest look about them.
As darkness came on the firing ceased. A detachment of the regiment was
left in skirmish line, among them Co. G. The forces were being
withdrawn. Those woods, so lately echoing with strife, were now
perfectly quiet. And when the main column had passed, a sergeant went
from one to another of the thin line out there in the darkness, and
whispered orders to quietly fall back to the road. The 157th detachment
was rear guard. The johnnies did not follow. Both sides were fully
surfeited with fighting for one day.
As stated, the five companies of the 157th one hundred and forty-two
men, lost in that hot little fight of Honey Hill, S.C., Nov. 30th,
1864, twenty-seven men and three officers. Two of the enlisted men were
fatally hurt and Lieut. Grant seriously.
The rebels claimed a glorious victory. They acknowledged they had
fourteen hundred muskets and seven pieces of artillery to begin with;
and later in the day, another regiment, a battery and a company of
cavalry arrived. And their main force were behind works.
Hatch's men did not exceed three thousand, who with the exception of
the small force on the left, fought without cover. Hatch lost in killed
and wounded that day fully eight hundred officers and men and gained
nothing. No comment is necessary.
The forces fell back, carrying their wounded and bivouaced at Boyds
Point under the protection of gunboats.
Co. G could now figure up the cost of the brisk little brush fight.
Capt. McWilliams, wounded in thigh.
Lieut. Grant, shot through side.
Lieut. Forbes, contusion.
Corporal C. A. Near, head.
Amos Avery, left hand.
John Miller, left hand.
J. McMaster, head.
Michael Miller, left hand.
Nelson Kimball, groin.
Simon Nestler, head.
James Johnson, right thigh.
With exceptions of Capt. McWilliams and Lieut. Grant, the wounds were
slight. Those officers eventually recovered although Grant was
partially disabled for life. Neither returned to the regiment and thus
Co. G lost two excellent officers.
Corporal Near was knocked over by a ball passing over the top of his
head, shaving the hair close to the scalp in its course. Jim McMaster
caught a buckshot against his forehead, he picked out the shot and went
to the rear--it gave him a headache. Many of the boys had narrow
escapes from bullets which struck the trees very close to them.
Charleston papers admitted the rebel loss to have been eighteen killed
and eighty wounded.
The johnnies believed they had done great execution. One reb officer
reported he had counted two hundred dead and eleven or twelve hundred
wounded yankees left on the field. There was no use trying to tell the
story, then, unless he told a big one. They must have been scared.
On the third of December a reconnoissance was made toward Partridge
Hill and the force ran into a strong force of the enemy. After burning
one cotton-gin the boys returned, having lost one man, badly
wounded--Irwin Sayles of Co. G, whose right arm was amputated near the
shoulder later in the day.
Dec. 5th a reconnoissance in force was ordered north, on the
Coosawhatchie road. Three or four miles out, the enemy were seen. Col.
Carmichael was ordered to throw out his men as skirmishers, extending
into the woods on both sides of the road. Passing through the tangled
forest one mile, the boys came to an open field covered by the Bee
Creek battery, a redoubt on a rise of ground three hundred yards
distant, which appeared just then abandoned.
Gen. Potter ordered the colonel to move his line toward the redoubt.
Capt. Van Hoesen was ranking officer next to the colonel.
The boys moved forward in skirmish order, until within a hundred yards
of the work. Something about the appearance of the place excited the
colonel's suspicion. Leading up to the redoubt the ground was bare; the
rebels had burned the grass. The line was halted and the colonel rode
to the rear. Two or three mounted rebels, who passed around the hill,
were gone and no other enemy appeared.
Col. Carmichael returned with three cavalrymen and started along the
front of his line to inspect the rear of the redoubt. He had gone
one-third of the distance, when the redoubt suddenly was alive with
johnnies, who poured a heavy volley into the colonel and his escort.
The cavalrymen very naturally turned and spurred to the rear. One of
them was fatally wounded. A ball struck the flank of the colonel's
horse, which reared and threw him over its head into the high weeds.
Then the skirmishers opened fire.
Col. Carmichael arose from the ground and the johnnies gave him another
volley and the colonel fell back into the weeds. When they saw the
colonel fall the entire left of the line started to rescue him. Capt.
Van Housen halted them and detailed two men, who went forward, assisted
the colonel to his feet and they left the field supporting the brave,
unselfish man who had risked his life for them.
So ended the Bee Creek incident so far as general interest may extend,
but not so with the faithful Carmichael. Not a shot had injured him. In
falling from his horse his sabre swung around under him and he was thus
injured about the spine, and never fully recovered.
The same night after returning to the Point, orders came to be ready to
move at midnight. Fires were lighted, by the light of which they read
their newly-arrived letters, and they smoked and chatted while waiting
for the order to move.
At one o'clock, Dec. 6th, the boys embarked for another river trip.
Their knapsacks had been stacked and left--an army way of announcing
that lively work was anticipated. At daybreak the boat moved up Broad
River to Tillifinny Creek, where the men were landed in boats on
Deveaux Neck. A rebel picket made a feeble demonstration, causing the
boys to duck some, but they pulled steadily to the landing. Capt. Van
Hoesen threw out his men and the advance began. For three miles the
skirmishing continued, the rebels displaying considerable force and
disputed the progress from behind every belt of timber.
When the road leading to the railroad was reached, the line halted and
formed along the edge of some heavy timber. A regiment of johnnies came
yelling up the road and filing off to their right advanced through the
woods. Very soon firing began at close range.
Supports were hurried up from the landing and formed in rear of the
157th. As the rebels pressed forward the 157th boys were ordered to
fall back and lie on the ground, and as the rebs came out of the woods
the main body of yankees gave them a few rounds, which drove them back
in confusion and ended the fighting for that day.
Gen. Hatch at once began to entrench and get into position for a stay
of several weeks.
In that brush the regimental casualties were eleven wounded, some of
them badly. In Co. G the losses were four.
Sergt. Harvey Lindsley, left hip (contusion.)
Corpl. A. R. Barlow, left elbow.
Hugh O'Brien, right arm, slight.
Simon Nestler, left forefinger.
Dec. 9th, Capt. Van Slyke, who was sent up from Fort Pulaski, moved the
157th boys out to support a party engaged in felling trees in order to
clear the range for artillery bearing upon the railroad. Supported by
other regiments the 157th moved forward, drove in the rebel pickets and
advanced until they were met by a severe fire of grape and canister
shot. For some time they lay behind a low knoll; to raise a head was
extremely dangerous.
While in that position word was sent to Lieut. Pierce (then assigned to
Co. G) to advance his line. He sent back a message characteristic of
the plucky boy.
"If there is any doubt as to my own personal solicitude in the matter,
I will go alone. But as to ordering these boys up there to be
slaughtered, I never will do so."
There they lay, a handful of men in front of a battery screened by
earthworks, the lead and iron plowing the ground around them and an
officer somewhere in the rear ordering an advance. But Co. G had been
on Folly Island and the boys were not surprised. If an order had come
for them to crawl nearer and make grimaces at the mad rebels, the
Department would have been credited for smartness.
When night came on the boys crawled back out of range, having lost
fifteen wounded, one of them mortally. Poor Frank Pratt of Co. G, he
raised his shoulder a little too high and a cannon shot tore it away.
Wm. L. Johnson of Co. G also, was slightly wounded in the side.
So ended the fighting for Co. G, in the Broad River expedition which
was designed to cut railroad communication between Charleston and
Savannah and thus assist Gen. Sherman. The move was a partial success
for the batteries of Hatch annoyed the rebels and somewhat interfered
with railway traffic.
The detachment from Fort Pulaski had lost in injured, Col. Carmichael,
Capt. McWilliams and Lieuts. Grant and Forbes; and fifty-four men
wounded--five mortally--and one missing, out of the one hundred and
forty-two muskets, or more than one-third of their number.
Dec. 10th the detachment was ordered to provost duty at Deveaux Neck,
and remained there until February, 1865. In the meantime their
knapsacks were returned to them from Boyds Point, and were found to
have been plundered of nearly everything valuable. The guards left to
protect the property had been selected for their general uselessness,
hence the result.
February 19th Co. G were roused up at day-break and ordered to get
ready to move. The 157th squad moved toward Ashepo Ferry, and there
were joined by the other companies from the fort. The men had become
acquainted with each other and the regiment appeared to them as one
good big family. And when they met after so long separation, the larger
half so clean and bright, and the smaller half so battered and
rough-looking, appearances did not count in the hellos! and
how-are-yous! of the hour. It was first, cheering, then a good
all-round shake, and the band struck up "Hail Columbia!"
At night, after a pretty hard march they bivouaced, after dark, in a
cottonfield at Edisto Ferry. The morning of the 20th, Col. Brown drew
up his men and announced the occupation of Charleston by their old
general, "Little Schimmel."
During the day a foraging party was sent out, returning with a cart
laden with sweet potatoes, corn, poultry, hams and bacon, and a
threatened famine was averted. Toward night, however, their wagons came
up and with them some supplies, but not such as are most relished in a
country running wild with fatness, sweetness and flavor.
The men crossed the Edisto on the railroad bridge and camped at
Elliott's plantation. Before leaving on the 21st, for some reason,
orders were given to fire the buildings and the column of Gen. Hatch
moved out a short distance, and rested in a grove of pines. They were
awaiting the arrival of the wagon train and moved on to Martin's Farm
and camped. The boys were obliged to go nearly a mile to obtain water
for their coffee.
On the 22d Ten Mile Station on the railroad was reached, the troops
burning a rice mill and several other buildings on the way. The depot
buildings were burned and considerable track destroyed.
After dinner the regimental band, led by John Davis and Delos Wheeler,
treated the boys to several well-rendered tunes. And the crowd of
darkies who were following the troops, men and women, old and young,
dressed in their plantation garb, gathered around the band, and some of
them danced a "break-down." At night the column halted at Lownde's
Plantation, where the boys feasted on fresh poultry and sweet potatoes.
Next day, the 23d, foraging parties were sent out, with varying
success. One under Col. Carmichael, did not return until the 24th,
having had a long tramp and found little. The men were getting short of
rations.
On the 25th wagons reached them from Charleston and all was well.
Chickens and high living did not wear as well as army rations.
February 26th, 1865, Co. G crossed Ashley River and entered Charleston.
The boys expected to parade through the town, but were disappointed.
They were moved over to Cooper River and quartered in vacant stores for
the night.
Co. G had seen a great deal of the country and some warfare. The
regiment has begun its war-like career on Bull Run where they had lost
a chaplain (by retirement), they had now followed the secession hydra
to its source.
On the morning of the 27th after inspection by Gen. Williams of Gen.
Grant's staff, companies D, E, G, H and K took passage on a small
steamer for Georgetown, S.C. A rough sea compelled the steamer to put
back inside the bar. The 28th they started and reached Bull's Bay,
where a head-sea compelled them to anchor. Water became scarce and
boats were sent ashore to fill canteens for the men. Next day, the
first of March, they reached Georgetown, an old, old town, on Winyaw
Bay.
Duty at this post was outpost and town-guard duty. It was a picnic for
the boys of Co. G. They cleaned-up, shone, worked very little and grew
in fatness. With the easy soldiering a plentiful spicing of fun was
always on foot.
When off duty considerable liberty was given the men. Occasionally some
contraband who had offended in a slight degree was mercilessly seized
and tossed on a blanket. At night the strains of Ziba's violin were
heard, and when balls were given the colored people gathered at a
vacant warehouse and hoed-it-down finely, their bare feet slapping the
boards like shutters loose in the wind. And occasionally one of the
soldiers was seen stepping out with a colored lass and dancing the
hours away. Those balls were very high-toned.
And so the time passed until April 5th, when another move was to be
made. Troops came up from Charleston and on the morning of April 5th
the column formed and moved something like nineteen miles, to Potato
Ferry, on Black River.
This expedition numbered 3,000 infantry, 80 cavalrymen and two pieces
of artillery, under command of Brig. Gen. E. E. Potter. The object of
the trip to the interior was destruction of property. Nothing had been
heard up North, from the Department, since the fall of Charleston and
there must be some excuse for keeping soldiers down there, and so, the
boys were marching-on again.
Two companies of the 157th had been left at Georgetown with Major
Place. In their stead two companies of the 56th N.Y., were sent to the
157th. Co. G were out with the expedition.
The night at Potato Ferry the rebs fired upon the picket of the 157th
and Lieut. Miner captured two of the johnnies. The next night found the
boys near Kingstree, after nineteen miles of marching over rough,
swampy roads. The feet of the men were wet nearly all day, and wet feet
meant blisters. The colored troops felt the severity of the
marching--Co. G kept their place in column. The colored troops foraged
nobly--Co. G were not allowed to forage. Consequently, the colored
troops fed on poultry that night--Co. G fed on bacon.
The 7th of April two companies of the 157th led the advance, scouting
and foraging, and at the night's camp on Montgomery's Plantation three
days' rations were served to the men. The day's march was a busy one,
of eighteen miles. Horses and mules were confiscated and many
cotton-gins and presses were burned. The boys reached their camp in a
smart rain storm.
April 8th the route which had thus far led in a westerly direction now
deviated southerly. The rain had laid the dust and marching was more
comfortable. At night they halted at Brewerton, having taken that road
on account of the destruction of the bridge over Mill Creek. A
detachment of the 157th supplied a provost guard for Brewerton and thus
prevented looting. A heavy detail from the regiment was sent out on
picket duty. The tired boys had marched eighteen miles.
On the morning of the 9th tobacco was issued to such of the men as used
it, in the form of plug, which had been confiscated. Four miles out on
the road they found the bridge destroyed over Pocotaligo river and a
halt was ordered until a bridge of rails was laid. Soon after noon the
column approached Dingles Mills, and it became known that three guns
were posted near Sumterville to oppose their advance. Those guns were
on the opposite side of a broad swamp, completely covering the approach
by the road.
Two regiments were drawn up on the edge of the swamp and the union
artillery was ordered up and opened on the rebels, at long range.