Fredericksburg--Bell's Landing--Hampton--and Trip to the West.
On the 11th of November the battery marched to Waterloo, remaining
until the 17th, and then continued on to Morristown. Here it was again
rumored that we were to go into winter quarters, and a removal on the
19th into a fine grove rather strengthened our belief that there was
some foundation for the rumor; but orders which were received late
on the 21st that we were to be ready to move early the next morning,
settled effectually the winter camp question at this place.
Next morning the battery made an early start, and at night reached
Brook Station, on the Fredericksburg & Aquia Creek Railroad. The
weather was perfectly horrible, a cold drizzling rain prevailing all
day long, made the march very disagreeable.
Our stay here was extended until the 7th of Dec. Twice during that time
we received marching orders, but heavy snow storms necessitated their
being countermanded; but on the 7th we started, but after marching
four or five miles we reached a hill so steep and icy that the horses
were unable to pull the carriages to the top, and we made camp upon
the hill with our pieces and caissons strung along from the top to the
bottom. The next day we managed to get over the hill, and continued on
to Fredericksburg. On the 9th we moved to a position opposite the city,
and made camp.
Gen. Burnside, upon assuming command of the army, with the consent of
Gen. Halleck, abandoned Gen. McClellan's plan, which was, by a rapid
march upon Gordonsville, to interpose between Gen. Lee's divided forces
(he having sent Gen. Longstreet over the Blue Ridge to resist the Union
advance upon the Confederate capital), and beat them in detail, and
adopted a new plan of operations. The capture of Richmond, rather than
the destruction of Gen. Lee's army, was to be his objective.
The Union army at this time was 120,000 strong. Some precious time was
wasted in its reorganization. Instead of the old corps formation, it
was now organized into three Grand Divisions, each consisting of two
corps. Gen. Sumner was placed in command of the right, Gen. Franklin of
the left, and Gen. Hooker of the centre, and a large reserve commanded
by Gen. Sigel.
The plan as stated by Gen. Burnside was to concentrate the army at
Warrenton, make a feint of crossing the Rappahannock, leading the enemy
to believe that an attack was about to be made upon Gordonsville,
and then move the whole army to Fredericksburg, and thence march
rapidly upon Richmond; but here again some one blundered. To cross the
Rappahannock, it would be necessary to construct pontoon bridges. Gen.
Burnside supposed that the matter had been fully attended to, and that
the pontoons would be on hand at the time of his arrival, Nov. 15th;
instead of which it was the 25th of the month before they arrived, and
the 10th of December before things were ready for throwing the bridges
across the river.
In the mean time the enemy had discovered the plan, and on the 22d Gen.
Burnside and his division commanders had the mortification of seeing
the opposite heights covered with the enemy's batteries, and filled
with his infantry. Gen. Lee's army, some 80,000 strong, had all been
brought up, and it lay in a semicircle around Fredericksburg, each wing
resting on the river--its right at Port Royal below the city, and its
left a short distance above it.
On the 10th of December, everything being ready, Gen. Burnside gave
orders that the bridges should be thrown across at an early hour the
next morning; three were to be constructed immediately in front of
Fredericksburg, and two a couple of miles below. The morning of the
11th was cold and raw, a dense fog prevailed, amid which the work
commenced.
The heights upon the Falmouth side were close to the margin of the
river, which at this point is about three hundred yards wide. Upon
these heights there were placed in position one hundred and forty-seven
guns. The bridges below the city were laid without much opposition; but
in front of the city a galling fire, from behind stone walls and from
windows, was opened upon the bridge builders, driving them back, and
effectually preventing further work upon them.
About six o'clock another attempt was made, with the same result.
Then Gen. Burnside ordered the guns mounted upon Safford Heights to
open fire upon the city, and batter it down if necessary. More than a
hundred guns responded immediately to the order, and a roar commenced
which could be heard miles away, and that fairly shook the earth,
lasting nearly three hours.
In the midst of this firing another attempt was made to lay the
bridges; but, strange to say, there still were sharpshooters to oppose
them, and they were obliged to fall back; then volunteers were called
for to cross the river and drive the enemy out of their hiding places.
Three regiments responded to the call, were quickly conveyed across,
and in a brief space of time the sharpshooters were driven away, nearly
a hundred of them being made prisoners, and the bridges laid.
Before dark Sumner's and a few of Hooker's Division had crossed to
the south side of the river. Considerable skirmishing occurred as the
troops forced their way through the city and out upon the plains beyond.
Early on the morning of the 12th, the rest of the army crossed, and
Battery D went with it. Our progress up the streets from the river was
extremely dangerous, from the fact that the enemy had a perfect range,
and succeeded in ricocheting shot after shot down the very centre of
the street, obliging us to use the sidewalks. Occasionally they would
explode a shell uncomfortably close; but we succeeded in reaching the
upper part of the town without any serious casualty. Here we sought
protection behind a large stone warehouse, where we remained all day,
and until before light next morning, when we were moved up nearer the
enemy.
All day of the 13th we lay under fire, protected by buildings. The
enemy shelled Fredericksburg all the morning, and about noon the order
was given for our infantry to advance upon Marye's Heights. The mist
had cleared, and every movement of our troops could be distinctly
seen by the rebels upon the heights. Then commenced a most furious
cannonading, followed in a few moments, as our troops reached the stone
wall at the foot of Marye's Hill, by volley after volley of musketry.
So terrific was the fire from Marye's Hill that our artillery could not
be advanced, and the infantry had to fall back.
The men of Battery D were soon convinced of the terrible work that was
going on in front, from the great numbers of wounded which passed them,
going to the rear. In fifteen minutes, of the 5600 led into battle by
Gen. Hancock, 2000 were disabled. All day and until nearly dark on
the 14th our battery remained in the place we had moved into in the
morning.
Just before dark we were ordered to move forward across the plain to
the left of the city and shell the works on Marye's Heights. We came
into position on the edge of an embankment which was at least five
or six feet high. We placed our pieces in position and then took our
limbers and caissons back under the embankment, and when all was ready,
we opened with a will. We thought we had quite a snap on our enemy,
but in about three minutes they convinced us that we had "barked up
the wrong tree," for they just sent in a shower of shells and minies
that made us seek cover. We laid close to the embankment until they
let up, and then loaded all our pieces and gave them a broadside. We
fired two or three rounds, and then they had their turn again; this was
repeated three or four times; but at last we were denied the privilege
of even getting in a round or two, as their fire was kept up for a long
time, and they were putting their shells just in the right place. We
afterwards found out that they had platted the ground in their front,
and knew to a nicety every position, and could drop a shell into any of
them; and then it became apparent to all of us that we were not wanted
there anyway, so we limbered up and retired to the lower part of the
city.
Here we remained until two o'clock in the morning of the 15th, when we
recrossed the river, and returned to our old camp. By daylight all our
army had recrossed the river to the Falmouth side, and the battle of
Fredericksburg was over.
Battery D, although under fire all the time, did not become engaged,
save in this single instance, and was but little injured--First
Sergeant R. Henry Lee's wounded hand, and a broken stock of a caisson
being our only casualties.
Capt. W.W. Buckley, who had been promoted from First Lieutenant to
Captain on Oct. 30th, and assigned to Battery D, reached our camp on
Dec. 10th, just in time to participate in this fight.
Dec. 17th the battery was moved about a mile and a half back from the
river into a grove, and began to build winter quarters. A cellar about
a foot deep, six feet long and four feet wide, was first dug; this was
fixed around with pine slabs, dirt was then tamped around the outside
of the slabs, a ridge-pole was raised in the crotch of two upright
poles and covered with our shelter tents, and a mud chimney was built
on the outside, the tent being tacked tightly around the fire-place.
We had a bunk on either side, raised from the ground and filled with
boughs. When these houses were completed and we had built good rousing
fires in the fire-places, we were just as comfortable and happy as it
was possible for soldiers to be.
From this time to Feb. 6th, 1863, our time was occupied in performing
the ordinary duties of the soldier, such as drills, having inspections,
etc., varying the operations between Jan. 10th and 21st, by being under
marching orders for the purpose of crossing the Rappahannock River on
an expedition against the rebels.
Gen. Burnside desired to redeem, if possible, the disaster which had
befallen the Union army, and he originated a new plan, the purpose of
which was an immediate advance upon Richmond. His plan was to make a
feint above Fredericksburg, and to cross with the main body six miles
below. A large force of cavalry with four guns was to cross at Kelly's
Ford, push towards the Rapidan, destroy the railroad and bridges in the
rear of Gen. Lee, traverse Virginia, and join the Union garrison at
Suffolk.
This movement was stopped by order of the President, representations
from dissatisfied officers had had their effect, and Gen. Burnside was
ordered not to make the movement.
By Jan. 10th the plan had been changed. It was now proposed to cross
the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg, flank the enemy and force a
battle. The President gave his permission, and the troops were placed
under marching orders. The pontoons were brought up to the vicinity of
Banks' Ford, and everything made ready to throw the bridge across the
swollen river. Most of the army had been brought up to the vicinity of
the ford, and it was contemplated to make the movement on the morning
of the 21st of Jan., but on the evening of the 20th a fearful storm of
wind, sleet and rain came on, such as is seldom seen in that region,
which continued all night, and when morning came the entire country had
been converted into a vast bed of mud, and for hours the troops were
hopelessly mired--it was impossible to move in either direction--every
attempt to move only sank the wheels of the artillery and of the wagons
deeper into the soft sticky mud. Orders were finally issued to the
troops to return to winter quarters, and what is known as the "Mud
March" was ended.
Battery D was fortunate enough not to have left its camp on this
occasion; for ten days we were hitched up ready to move at a moment's
notice, but happily were not called upon, and thus escaped a most
disagreeable episode.
Stormy and cold weather prevailed during the last week of January,
but as we were comfortably housed, rations plenty, and duty light, we
managed to get through it without much discomfort.
February came in like a lion--the 2d was very cold, the 3d still
colder, and on the 4th the men could do little else than sit by their
fires, the cold was so intense.
On the 6th orders were received to pack up as soon as possible, and be
ready to march in an hour. About eight o'clock the battery moved out
of our winter camp and took up its line of march in a cold drenching
rain, towards Bell's Landing on the Potomac River, distant about twelve
miles. The roads were exceedingly muddy, so that our progress was
necessarily very slow; the very best we could do was about six miles on
the first day; the pieces and caissons would become fast in the mud,
and we would have to double our teams to pull them out. Our condition
may be imagined--tired out, wet through, and no way of protecting
ourselves from the cold storm, which continued through the night.
We succeeded after great difficulty in pulling our pieces and caissons
through to the landing on the next day; but the battery wagon and forge
not having arrived, six teams of horses were sent back after them, and
they were found about five miles back, the forge being bottom side up
in a creek, having run off the bridge the night before. We finally got
it on the road and hauled it and the battery wagon to camp.
About two o'clock in the morning of the 9th, the men were aroused,
and commenced loading the battery on canal boats. At nine o'clock the
loading of the battery was completed. The boats were shoved out into
the stream and anchored until four o'clock in the afternoon, when a
steamer took our tow-line and towed us down the river a few miles,
where we again anchored, and remained until the 11th, when we continued
our journey; but about noon it commenced storming, and we put into St.
Mary's Bay for a harbor. All day of the 12th the storm continued, and
we remained in the harbor.
Within a hundred yards of where our boats lay, were some immense rocks,
and at low tide large numbers of oysters could be seen clinging to
their sides. Permission was given that the men could use the small
boats to gather them, and soon large quantities were secured, and, as
it may be imagined, to men whose diet had been principally "salt junk"
and pork, this change in their diet was very acceptable.
The 13th opening clear and pleasant, an early start was made, and we
moved on down to the mouth of the river, but the bay was found to be
so rough that it was not considered safe to attempt crossing it, and we
made harbor until three o'clock in the afternoon, when the wind having
gone down, we started again towards Fortress Monroe. We reached Hampton
at daylight, and immediately disembarked. The next day we went into
camp near Hampton.
Hampton at this time was in ruins. When the rebel Gen. Magruder
evacuated the place, he burned it, hardly leaving a house standing. It
must have been a beautiful place before the war, but at the time of our
arrival it had been given over to the negroes, who had built huts out
of the ruins, and were taking life very easily.
One enterprising darkey had established an oyster house, and as soon
as we were in camp he solicited our trade, but as we had not been
paid in some time, about everybody was "broke;" we did have some
"Kalamazoo" greenbacks, but they had lost their value. We felt that
our constitutions needed a change of diet, and oysters were about the
proper thing to tone us up, so we sent one of our number over to the
oyster house and he bought a gallon of oysters and offered in payment a
two dollar "Kalamazoo." The darkey had some doubts about the bill, but
was assured it was genuine, and that he could go up to the captain and
convince himself that it was all right; but before the darkey had time
to go, the captain walked in; the bill was produced, and the captain
gave him two dollars and eighty cents in good Government greenbacks,
remarking that it was worth three dollars to him. This move established
the worth of Kalamazoo greenbacks, and we had a fair supply of oysters.
(Capt. Buckley was at this time on a sick furlough, but _his dress
coat_ was in camp.)
From the 15th of February until the 11th of March, we remained in camp
at Hampton, the time being occupied with the regular round of camp
duties. Snow and rain alternated with pleasant weather. Duties were
light, and, with plenty to eat, a good comfortable place to sleep in,
and the privilege of passes to visit the numerous places of interest in
the vicinity, made us feel very well contented with our situation.
On the 27th of February Capt. Buckley returned from a sick furlough.
Lieut. Parker, taking his turn at a furlough, left the battery on March
2d, for Rhode Island.
At two o'clock in the morning of the 6th, John T. Green died of
measles, and was buried at three o'clock in the afternoon of the 7th,
with military honors.
First Lieut. G.C. Harkness, at his request, was mustered out of
service, and left for home on the 7th.
March 11th the battery moved to Newport News, where it remained until
the 16th, on which day the camp was changed about a mile back towards
Hampton.
Just at night on the 18th, orders were received to prepare five days
rations and be ready to march at an early hour next morning. At six
o'clock in the morning of the 19th, we started for Fortress Monroe. It
began to snow soon after leaving camp; the storm rapidly increased,
and by afternoon became a blizzard. It was found impossible for us
to reach our destination, and we were obliged to camp. We passed a
most disagreeable night; wood was very scarce, and it was with great
difficulty that we gathered enough to keep us from freezing. Snow fell
to the depth of eight or ten inches, adding much to our discomfort.
Next morning we continued on to Fortress Monroe, and from the wharf at
that place loaded our battery upon the steamer John Brooks, and the
horses upon two schooners, and started early on the morning of the 22d,
in tow of the steamer, for Baltimore, Md. Our passage across Chesapeake
Bay was rather tempestuous, indeed so rough was it at one time that the
steamer was obliged to cut the tow-line and cast us adrift. She lay to
near us until morning, when she picked us up again, and we proceeded on
our journey without further interruption, reaching Baltimore at sunrise
on the morning of the 24th.
The battery was transferred as rapidly as possible from the boats to
the cars, and at three o'clock in the afternoon left Baltimore over the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for Parkersburg, on the Ohio River. Our train
consisted of flat cars upon which the pieces and caissons were loaded,
and freight cars in which the men and horses were accommodated, the
only difference between those occupied by the men and those in which
the horses were, being the placing of a few pine planks across the car
for the men to sit upon. Two nights and one day were occupied in making
this journey, arriving at Parkersburg on the 27th. Frequently long
stops were made which enabled the men to make little foraging trips,
and, as they were almost always very successful, there was a sudden
increase both in the quantity and variety of their diet, which was very
acceptable to them, and this, together with the constant change of
scene, made the trip very enjoyable.
Most of the 27th was occupied in transferring the battery from the cars
to a river steamboat, and in the evening commenced our trip down the
Ohio River, which was continued all night, and until eight o'clock in
the evening of the 28th, when the bow of our steamer was run up against
the bank of the river some six or eight miles above Cincinnati. Early
next morning we continued on down the river to Covington, where our
mode of conveyance was again changed from boat to cars. We reached
Lexington, Ky., about eight o'clock on the morning of the 30th, and
unloaded our battery and went into camp about six miles from that city.
After the failure of Gen. Burnside's last movement with the Army of the
Potomac, which resulted in the "mud march," he was relieved at his own
request from that command, and went immediately to Washington, and
formally tendered his resignation as Major General of Volunteers to the
President, but Mr. Lincoln refused to receive it, remarking that he had
"other fish for him to fry."
After a short furlough, during which he visited Providence, where he
received an enthusiastic ovation from his townsmen, Gen. Burnside
returned to Washington, hoping to have command of his old Ninth Corps,
but the President, after several consultations with him, on the 26th
of March placed him in command of the Department of the Ohio. Upon
accepting this command Gen. Burnside requested that he might be allowed
to take the Ninth Corps with him. His request was granted, and as
Battery D had been transferred to that corps, we were thus enabled to
follow the fortunes of our much loved Burnside.
The battery remained in camp at Lexington just a week. On the evening
of April 7th marching orders were received, and early on the 8th we
packed and hitched up, but were delayed until nearly noon, while the
men were paid. As soon as this was accomplished we commenced our march,
but after making eight or ten miles, bivouacked until morning, when we
continued our march, reaching Camp Dick Robinson before dark, after a
pleasant journey of about twenty miles over one of the best of roads.
Battery D's camp was upon one side of the road and directly opposite
the Seventh Rhode Island was encamped. As there were many acquaintances
in the two organizations, this proximity made it very pleasant for the
men of both commands.
On our way from Lexington to Camp Dick Robinson some of our men had
stopped by the way to inspect the country in general and the whiskey
distilleries in particular. An irresistible desire had seized them
to learn just how that beverage--which, for a small outlay, would
so soon make a millionaire of a pauper, or a brigadier of a private
soldier--was made: so great was their interest that they took no heed
of time, and their inspection lasted two days. The men of the battery
began to think they would never see their comrades again; all of them
were popular fellows and their return was anxiously awaited.
At last, one afternoon a great cloud of dust was seen rolling down the
pike towards our camp, and occasionally as the curtain of dust was
blown aside, a family carriage, with a colored driver mounted upon the
box, a soldier by his side, with the horses upon the dead run, could
be seen. As it drew nearer the soldier was recognized as one of the
absentees, and when the carriage whirled from the pike through our
camp, drew up before the captain's tent with a great flourish, while
from inside our missing comrades one after another crawled out, formed
a line, and as the captain appeared, saluted him and reported for duty,
it was so ludicrous and audacious that it brought a shout of laughter
from the men, and made it impossible for the captain to say anything
more than "Go to your quarters," while he maintained a straight face.
Frequent trips were made by the men to distant villages in the
vicinity; the weather for the most part being very pleasant and warm,
made these trips through this beautiful country very enjoyable.
On the 26th we started early in the morning for Stamford, about
eighteen miles distant. We reached our destination about three o'clock
in the afternoon, and made camp, in which we remained until the 30th,
when an order was received to pack up as soon as possible and proceed
to Columbia, about twenty-five miles distant. We were soon on the road,
and after marching about twenty miles, went into camp at Carpenter's
Creek.
The next day, May 1st, was spent in bivouac, momentarily expecting
orders to march, but nothing was received until evening, when we were
ordered to prepare to march at five o'clock in the morning. At daylight
the order was countermanded.
May 2d we were allowed to pitch our A tents, which led us to think our
stay at this place was to be prolonged. Fortunate it was for us that we
pitched our tents, for a heavy thunder storm prevailed all day of the
3d, and nearly all day on the 4th, and without the tents we should have
been in a sorry condition.
Late on the 4th orders were received to cook two days rations, and
be ready to march at midnight, and shortly after that time "Boots
and saddles" was blown, and we commenced a march of about fifteen
miles, over a very rough road and through an all day rain, which,
with the rain of the two previous days, transformed the red clay into
several inches of a sticky paste, which made our progress very slow
and tedious. Early on the morning of the 6th we continued our march,
reaching the town of Bumpus about noon. Stopping only long enough to
feed our horses and eat dinner, we then pushed on and made camp a few
miles from Somerset.
On the 7th we moved our camp to Somerset, where we remained until June
4th, our time being occupied with general camp duties, drills, etc.
Hay was very scarce, and every other day the horses were taken out and
allowed to graze. These trips proved very pleasant for the men, as it
brought them in contact with the farmers, and gave them opportunities
to buy butter, eggs, and other desirable eatables.
On the 22d orders were received to turn in A tents and all our
surplus baggage, and rumor had it that we were soon to start for East
Tennessee; but day after day passed and nothing further was heard of
such a movement.
On the 25th, the drivers being some three or four miles from camp
grazing their horses, an orderly rode furiously into camp with an
order to have the battery hitched up as soon as possible, and bringing
the startling information that our pickets had been driven in by the
enemy, who were fast approaching Somerset.
A messenger was immediately dispatched for the horses, and upon his
reaching them there commenced as grand a hurdle race as one would
care to witness--every one upon his own responsibility starting for
camp--across fields, over fences and through ditches they went, making
for the men in camp a most interesting and amusing finish. Upon their
arrival the battery was hitched up, and remained in that condition,
ready to move at a moment's notice until dark, when everything quieted
down and assumed its usual condition.
It was while in this camp that the men of the battery had a rather
startling illustration of the cavernous condition of this part of
Kentucky. Our camp lay upon the ridge of quite a sizable basin, in the
bottom of which there was a pond of perhaps five or six hundred feet in
circumference. It had been there ever since we came to the place, and
we had no reason to think that it was not a permanent fixture to the
landscape; but one night about midnight the men were aroused by strange
and unusual noises, evidently proceeding from the pond. Investigations
were made, but nothing was ascertained beyond the fact that the water
in the pond was falling very fast. Daylight was patiently waited for,
when it was discovered that our pond had disappeared, and in the very
centre of the depression was a hole as large as a hogshead, evidently
leading into one of the numerous caverns with which the country
thereabout is filled.
Gen. Burnside left Cincinnati on the 30th of May for Hickman's Bridge,
Ky., for the purpose of leading the Ninth and Twenty-third Corps over
the Cumberland Mountains into East Tennessee, but when he reached
Lexington he was met by an order from the War Department directing him
to reinforce Gen. Grant, at Vicksburg. Gen. Burnside had at this time
the Twenty-third Corps, formed from small bodies of troops which had
been scattered about in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, whose organization
he did not consider thoroughly perfected, and his old staunch and true
Ninth Corps. With his usual unselfish noble-heartedness Gen. Burnside
put behind him all his plans and desires and immediately put two
divisions of the Ninth Corps in motion for Vicksburg, and telegraphed
the Secretary of War for permission to accompany them, but the
Secretary would not permit it, and Gen. Parks assumed command.
The order for this journey of the Ninth Corps reached Battery D at its
camp in Somerset just before one o'clock on the morning of June 4th,
and at sunrise the battery pulled out of park and started on its march
for Lexington.
On the evening of the 5th we reached Stamford, and the men were kept up
until after midnight signing the pay roll and receiving their pay. The
night of the 6th we occupied our old quarters at Camp Dick Robinson.
At ten o'clock in the forenoon the battery arrived at the depot in
Lexington, and the men immediately commenced to load the battery upon
the cars for the purpose of commencing our proposed journey, but after
having nearly completed this work, the order was countermanded; the
battery was unloaded and moved about three miles from Lexington and
encamped.
During the night word was brought to us that Louis LaFont, a member of
the battery, had fallen or been thrown down stairs at the guard house
in Lexington, and his neck broken. LaFont was a genial, good-natured
man, much liked by his comrades, and his death cast a gloom over the
whole company.
The next day the battery received orders temporarily transferring it
to the Twenty-third Corps, together with marching orders for the 11th,
and on that day it moved to Camp Nelson, about five miles distant,
where the battery remained until July 12th. Our situation here was
very pleasant, in the very centre as it was, of that beautiful blue
grass country, surrounded by the most luxuriant fields of corn, wheat
and rye, and such fields of clover. Our horses enjoyed it, and it made
the drivers feel glad to see them growing so fat and sleek upon this
excellent fodder.
As the 4th of July drew near we began to make great preparations for
its celebration. Clark Walker, our carpenter, went to Nicholsvale and
built a platform for dancing; arrangements were made with the citizens
to provide a banquet for a fair consideration; in fact everything
that could be thought of that would add to the success of the day was
arranged. By daylight on the morning of the 4th the men were astir,
cutting grass to be used as wadding (for at sunrise we were to fire a
national salute), and piled it up near each gun.
Just as the sun appeared above the horizon, every cannonier was at his
position--the guns having been previously loaded, filled almost to the
muzzle with the wet grass--number four stood with his lanyard held
taut in the position of ready, when out broke upon the morning air the
order "By battery, fire." At that instant there came a report from the
six guns of the battery that was heard for twenty miles, followed as
rapidly as possible by other reports until one volley had been fired in
honor of every State then in the Union.
After stable call had been attended to, the men were allowed to go
to the village and carry out the programme previously arranged. The
violinist of the battery, Dan Elliott, provided the music for the
dancing, fairly eclipsing all of his former efforts. It was a very
enjoyable occasion, the men returning to camp about six o'clock, well
satisfied with the entire success of the celebration. At sunset the
salute of the morning was repeated, thus making everyone feel that the
day had been properly observed.
July 5th rumors of the approach of Gen. John Morgan, at the head of
about 3000 mounted men and six guns, began to excite the citizens.
Farmers made all possible haste to drive their cattle, horses, etc.,
within our lines; the battery placed its guns in position commanding
the roads, while the infantry dug rifle pits and made every provision
to give these raiders a very warm reception should they have the
temerity to come our way.
The excitement continued for the next five days, but on the 11th it was
learned that Morgan had avoided us, having passed many miles to the
west of our position, and on the 8th had crossed the Ohio River into
Indiana, where he was committing all sorts of depredations.
July 12th orders were received for the battery to march at nine
o'clock in the forenoon for Lexington, load upon the cars and proceed
at once to Cincinnati. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 13th
Covington was reached, and as quick as the battery could be unloaded,
we crossed the river into Cincinnati. That city was in a state of great
excitement--Morgan was expected to ride into their streets at any
moment, and with the greatly exaggerated reports of the enormity and
cruelty of his depredations constantly ringing in their ears, it was
not surprising that they should welcome with open arms anything which
promised them protection from such a monster. All the militia was under
arms, but the advent of a battery of light artillery, particularly
a veteran organization that they knew had seen service, and lots of
it, like Battery D, was very reassuring to them. Their pleasure was
evidenced by the welcome they gave us; indeed so royal was the welcome
I am afraid had John Morgan appeared to us that night he would have
met very little resistance from us, a circumstance which happened but
once in the nearly four years service of Battery D.
No sooner had we landed on the levee than we began to receive an
ovation which increased with every block, and when we crossed
the Rhine--a canal which ran through the centre of the city--the
demonstration reached its climax. This part of the town was largely
occupied by Germans. There was a lager beer saloon upon each corner,
and sometimes one or two between. As we passed, the saloon-keepers
came out to us with each finger of both hands holding a glass of beer.
Capt. Buckley had mounted the cannoniers and given strict orders that
none should dismount without permission; but this precaution was wholly
unnecessary, for the men had no desire to dismount with all this beer
surrounding them. A few indulged once, more twice or thrice, and a
much larger number so frequently that when we arrived in camp on the
outskirts of the city, it was found that quite a number of the men
were ready to turn in at once, and the temperance men would have the
privilege of doing all the work of unharnessing, watering and feeding
the horses, as a reward for their good behavior.
Early next morning the three sections of the battery were sent out
upon three principal roads approaching the city from the north, and
selecting positions which commanded these different roads for a
considerable distance, went into battery. Our support was the militia
from the city and the surrounding country, who felt, and we agreed with
them, that should Morgan attempt to enter Cincinnati he would meet with
a very warm reception. But Morgan did not attempt to enter the city,
but passed some miles from our front, and was finally captured by Gen.
Shackleford on the 26th, near New Lisbon.
July 16th the battery was withdrawn from picket duty, and encamped upon
Vine Street Hill.
July 17th Gen. Burnside ordered Capt. Buckley to move the battery to
Ninth Street, within a short distance of his head-quarters, place the
carriages in a wagon yard, the horses in a stable, and furnish the men
with quarters in a hall near by. To say that the men were very much
pleased with this arrangement but mildly expresses their feelings.
It was a matter of much speculation among them as to just why this
good luck had fallen to them. At first the men were inclined to think
that it was because Gen. Burnside was kindly disposed towards us, and
having an opportunity to give us a "soft snap," had improved it; but
with the light of future events, they were inclined to think that,
added to this reason, was a desire to keep the battery in the city near
him, that he might use it as an intimidator against the draft rioters,
whose grumbling and growling were growing louder and louder, and
their nightly meetings in the different market places more numerously
attended, as the draft proceeded.
The first intimation that the officers of the battery received that
such duty would be required of us came a few evenings after the
commencement of our new arrangement, when an orderly from head-quarters
came to the hall and inquired for Capt. Buckley, who could not be
found; in fact it unfortunately happened that the highest officer that
could be found was a duty sergeant, which fact the orderly was obliged
to report to the General, who ordered him to return to the battery,
find an officer, and order him to report at head-quarters immediately.
Lieut. Parker had returned by this time, and he immediately reported to
Gen. Burnside, whom he found very wroth, and who proceeded to lecture
him upon the great lack of attention to duty by the officers of Battery
D, and ordered him to inform Capt. Buckley that he desired him to have
his battery prepared to hitch up at a moment's notice, at any hour of
the day or night. This gave us the knowledge that we were not in these
comfortable quarters just for our own pleasure, but that there was a
probable duty connected with our situation. After this only a few men
were allowed to leave at a time, all others were expected to be within
hailing distance of the hall.
As often as every other day the battery was called out for parade, and
was taken through the different portions of the city. On Sunday we
were marched down to the levee, where we went through an inspection,
and afterwards were drilled for an hour or two, just to remind the
evil-disposed citizens that there was a six-gun battery still in
their city, that would make short work with any mob who attempted any
violence.
About half-past eight one evening the battery was ordered to hitch up
as soon as possible, and as soon as ready it started for a market-place
situated nearly in the centre of the city, where a crowd was reported
to be gathering. As we neared the place the captain gave the order
"Trot, march," and the battery swept around the corner into the
market-place in a column of sections, dividing as it reached the
market-house, the right pieces passing it on the right, the left pieces
upon the left, uniting as they passed the house and continuing on to
the end of the square, then countermarched and came back. By the time
we had reached the end of the market-place there was hardly a person to
be seen, everybody seemingly having become satisfied that Gen. Burnside
was determined that there should be no hostile gathering in Cincinnati.
This was the only occasion when it was necessary to make such a
demonstration as this. Everything quieted down, and from this time
until the end of our stay, Aug. 10th, Battery D was not called upon to
do any more intimidating.
At nine o'clock on the morning of Aug. 10th we crossed the Ohio River,
loaded the battery on the cars, and at two o'clock in the afternoon
left Covington en route for Lexington. Arriving just after midnight,
the men were immediately put to work unloading the battery, and as
soon as this was accomplished, and they had prepared and eaten their
breakfast, "Boots and saddles" was blown, and the battery started for
Camp Nelson, where we remained until the 15th, the time being occupied
in general repairing and refitting, and every care was taken to get
our battery in the best possible condition. New harnesses were drawn,
the battery wagon was thoroughly overhauled and replenished, and
clothing was issued to the men. Those of them who drew a liberal supply
had reason to be thankful that they had done so; those who did not,
regretted it before the coming campaign was over.