quietly sleeping as the foe entered the silent streets. The clattering
noise of the cavalry aroused them from their slumbers, and they flocked
to the doors and windows, exclaiming, with blanched cheeks and sinking
hearts, “They have come—the Yankees have come!” Never in the history of
any military movement was a surprise so complete. Men rushed into the
street half dressed, women fainted, children screamed, the negroes
laughed, and for a short time a scene of perfect terror reigned. This
state of affairs soon subsided, when these startled people realized that
the Union soldiers were disposed to treat them kindly.
Colonel Gazley, of the Thirty-seventh Indiana, was appointed
Provost-Marshal, and his regiment occupied the city as Provost-Guard.
At the extensive depot was found seventeen first-class locomotives, and
a great number of passenger and freight cars. At the foundry, two or
three cannon with several small arms. The General soon made good use of
the engines. Ere the close of the night, one hundred miles of the
Memphis and Charleston railroad was in his possession, stretching in one
direction as far as Stevenson, in the other as far as Decatur, capturing
at the latter place the entire camp equipage of a regiment, which left
very hastily on the approach of the Union troops.
Making Huntsville his headquarters, where he remained for six weeks,
General Mitchell rendered essential service by intercepting the enemy’s
communications, and capturing or destroying his supplies. He evinced
marked ability, and met with uniform success in fitting out many smaller
expeditions through that region of country. He extemporized a gunboat on
the Tennessee, which aided him materially when visiting the eastern side
of the river.
CAPTURE OF FORT PULASKI, GA.
APRIL 11, 1862.
Fort Pulaski, the key to the city of Savannah, stands on Cockspur
Island, at the mouth of the Savannah river, about fourteen miles below
the city. It was built by the United States Government at a cost of
nearly one million of dollars. It is of a pentagonal form, and covers
several acres of ground. The walls are forty feet high, presenting two
faces towards the sea, the ranges of fire radiating at opposite angles.
It was a position of immense strength, being constructed for a full
armament, on the lower tier, of sixty-five 32-pounders, and the upper
tier for fifty-three 24-pounders, four 18-pound flanking howitzers, one
13-inch mortar, twelve 8-inch columbiads, and seven 10-inch
mortars—altogether, one hundred and fifty guns. The interior of the fort
was well supplied with large furnaces for heating shot, quarters,
barracks, ammunition, etc.
Tybee Island, and the lighthouse, had been previously evacuated by the
rebels. The investment of Fort Pulaski was a work of great magnitude,
and long and careful preparations for its reduction were necessary.
Batteries were erected at several points, after severe labor on the part
of the Federal forces, and at the end of the month of March the final
arrangements were drawing to completion.
Cockspur Island, on which Fort Pulaski stands, is low and marshy, and
the nearest solid land is Tybee Island, lying to the seaward, and within
three-quarters of a mile distant. Tybee Island stretches out from a
point known as Goat Point, two or three miles to the sea—the nearest
point to the fort being that just named. General Q. A. Gillmore took
command at Tybee Island on February 20th, which had been previously
evacuated by the rebels, and here were built the heaviest breaching
batteries; but others were erected at intervals along the shore for a
distance of nearly two miles. The subjoined table gives their strength
and armament:
BATTERY. NO. OF SIZE. KIND. WEIGHT. RANGE. COMMANDER.
GUNS. LBS.
Stanton 3 13 inch. Mortar. 17,120 3,476 Captain Skinner.
Grant 3 13 „ „ 17,120 3,256 „ Palmer.
Lyon 4 10 „ Columb’d 15,059 3,256 „ Pelouze.
Lincoln 3 8 „ „ 9,240 3,045 „ Pelouze.
Burnside 1 13 „ Mortar. 17,120 2,760 Sergeant Wilson.
Sherman 3 13 „ „ 17,120 2,677 Captain Francis.
Halleck 2 13 „ „ 17,120 2,407 „ Sanford.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Scott 2 10 „ Columb’d 15,059 1,777 „ Mason.
„ 1 8 „ „ 9,240 „ „
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Sigel 5 30 lbs. Part’s „ Seldenkirk.
s.c’r
„ 1 24 „ James „ „
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
McClellan 2 42 „ „ „ Rogers.
„ 3 32 „ „ „ „
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Totten 4 10 inch. Mortar. 1,852 1,643 „ Rodman.
These works were erected wholly at night, as they were all within range
of Fort Pulaski. Their faces were bomb-proof, while in the rear of those
most exposed lay a long wide swamp, into which it was supposed that a
great portion of the shot and shells from Fort Pulaski would fall. The
supposition proved correct. The magazines were bomb-proof, and trenches
connected the batteries on Goat’s Point; besides this, splinter-proofs
were provided for the reliefs, so that every protection possible was
secured to the men. The result proved with how great success these
preparations were made; during the bombardment of thirty hours the
gunners lost but one man killed or wounded. The work occupied six weeks,
and was chiefly performed by the Seventh Connecticut, Colonel Terry, the
Forty-fifth New York, Colonel Ross, and a detachment of Volunteer
Engineers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hall. When the guns were nearly all
in position, a battalion of the Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery
was sent to Tybee to assist in manning the guns, and later the Eighth
Maine regiment, Colonel Rust.
The mounting of ordnance was executed under the direction of Lieutenant
Porter, of the U. S. army; he also assumed the entire charge of all
duties connected with the ordnance department on the island, supervised
the landing of ammunition and implements, and directed the
transportation of all the guns. This was a task of infinite labor. The
transportation of heavy guns, always difficult, was here rendered
peculiarly so. They had to be landed through a bad surf on an open
beach, and thence dragged by the soldiers for nearly two miles through a
yielding sand. The works were placed so as to be hidden from the enemy
until they opened fire. Battery Totten was nearly 1,700 yards from the
fort; Batteries Sigel and McClellan 1,620; Battery Scott nearly 1,677;
Battery Halleck 2,400; Battery Burnside and others were all more than
3,000; Battery Grant 3,500 yards away. Breaching casemated forts at this
distance had never been supposed practicable in modern warfare; indeed,
800 yards is the greatest distance at which it was ever attempted.
On the 9th of April the batteries were completed, the guns placed, and
the magazines filled. General Viele had constructed a co-operating
battery on the southern extremity of Long Island, in the Savannah, and
not more than two miles, if so far, from the fort. The purpose of this
was to obtain a reverse fire during the bombardment, which otherwise
would proceed entirely from Tybee Island. This battery was not completed
in time to engage in the first day’s action, but opened fire on the
second.
A day or two before the bombardment actually commenced, General Hunter
(who had superseded General Sherman in command of the land forces at
Hilton Head) and his aids, and General Benham with his staff, came down
on steamers from Hilton Head to be present during the engagement, though
the command was left with General Gillmore.
On the 9th of April General Gillmore issued orders when the bombardment
should be opened, and the part which each of the batteries should take
in the work. General Hunter sent a letter to Colonel Charles H.
Olmstead, First Regiment Georgia Volunteers, demanding an unconditional
surrender of the fort to the United States; and representing the loss of
life which would occur if resistance were made to the numerous batteries
with which he was surrounded. Colonel Olmstead replied briefly, saying
in language worthy of a more sacred cause, “I am here to defend the
fort, not to surrender it.” When Lieutenant J. H. Wilson returned with
this reply, orders were given to open fire from the batteries, and at
half-past seven A. M., the first shot was fired from Battery Halleck.
The other batteries followed, and Fort Pulaski promptly responded.
The guns for some time not obtaining the proper range, were ineffective.
The Federal gunners after a little time learned to distinguish the
various shot fired by the enemy, and the range they had. When a gun was
fired, and the shot was seen approaching, the cry of “casemate” or
“barbette” was given, and they sheltered themselves accordingly. Still
later in the engagement they distinguished the shot by the cry
“barbette” and “rifle,” and when the latter was fired they protected
themselves under cover, as far as possible. The same skill was attained
by the rebels in the fort.
The bombardment had continued several hours, when two mortar batteries
along the shore outside of the fort, on Goat’s Point, opened, and to
them the enemy directed his hottest fire.
About one o’clock the halyards attached to the flagstaff were shot away,
and the flag came down, but was immediately raised in a less conspicuous
place. During the afternoon an embrasure in the _pancoupe_, on the
south-east angle of the fort, was struck repeatedly, and pieces of the
brick work gave way. This angle was the nearest point to the batteries,
and in a direct line with the magazine of Fort Pulaski—a fact well known
to the Federals from plans of the work in their possession. Afterwards
all efforts to effect a breach were directed to this spot. Several of
the most important guns, however, were out of order; the mortar shells
were observed to fall mostly wide of the mark; and no great result could
be noticed even when one fell within the fort. Numerous marks, however,
all along both faces of the work which were exposed, told the force and
accuracy of the firing. By nightfall, the breach was so far effected
that it was evident it could eventually be converted into a practicable
one. The bombardment was discontinued at dark, three mortar batteries
firing one shell each at intervals of five minutes all night long,
worrying the enemy, and preventing any attempt to stop the breach, but
without any idea of doing material harm. Several of his guns had
evidently been dismounted, and others silenced, during the day. The
breach had been commenced, but on the whole the result did not seem
especially encouraging. The men and officers were very thoroughly tired
with the severe work they had undergone, and the still more fatiguing
excitement; few had found time to eat or drink. Many, however, had night
duties to perform. Strong infantry pickets were placed, and still
stronger supports, in expectation an attempt would be made to relieve
the garrison.
Shortly after daybreak all the batteries were opened again. The reply
was more vigorous than on the day before. On the Federal side every gun
was in readiness, and did good service. The great columbiads under
Captain Pelouze were especially effective; they certainly shook the
walls of old Pulaski, and damaged them to a considerable extent. All
along the line the firing was more rapid and more accurate, five shots
striking the walls within as many seconds. Rebel officers said that, on
an average, one out of three shots that were fired took effect, and that
during all of the second day one shot or shell every minute was the
average they received. Early in the morning Captain Seldenkirk, of
Battery Sigel, was relieved, and Captain C. P. R. Rodgers, of the
frigate Wabash, with a portion of her crew, worked several of the guns
of this battery during the remainder of the fight. At the same time
Captain Turner, Chief of Commissary on General Hunter’s staff, and
Lieutenant Wilson, undertook to drill a detachment of the Eighth Maine
Volunteers (Colonel Rust). These men went to work, were drilled under
fire, and in ten minutes were able to serve their guns with more than
tolerable accuracy, and did some of the most effective service rendered
that day. This same regiment lay not more than half a mile in the rear
of Battery Halleck, for more than half of the entire engagement, covered
only by some brushwood, but perfectly content with their exposed
position.
Early on the second day, especial attention was directed to the breach.
Every gun that could be brought to bear upon the _pancoupe_ was trained
that way, and directly the aperture began to show the effects. In an
hour it became large enough for two men to enter abreast, and the
nearest embrasure on its left was also considerably enlarged. Meanwhile,
all the other effects of the day before were enhanced; shots struck all
over the two exposed faces of the fort; the mortar batteries on the
shore of Cockspur Island were silenced, and several of the casemate guns
were struck through the embrasures. The battery put up by General Viele,
on Long Island, opened fire that morning, and received repeated replies,
rendering good service by the destruction it occasioned. The gunboat
Norwich, laying on the right of the fort, also became engaged—the
distance, however, was too great for her to render any special
assistance,—still she got an occasional answer from the garrison. On
this day clouds of red dust were seen to rise more frequently from the
fort, indicating that the brickwork of which it is constructed was
breaking up, and after a while, the great breach became so large that
the propriety of a storming party was discussed. The lower part of the
aperture was partly filled by the _debris_ that fell from above; the
arch of the casemate was laid bare, while evidently shaken, a gun in
barbette, immediately over the breach, was tottering and ready to tumble
below. The breach by its side was also momentarily becoming wider, and
just as General Benham was questioning whether a messenger should not be
sent to demand a surrender, before risking so great a loss of human life
as must be incurred in an assault, the rebel flag on old Pulaski was
lowered half way, and a final shot fired from a casemate in the fort. As
the flag was not completely hauled down, the Unionists were for a moment
uncertain of its import, but all firing was ordered to cease. In a
minute more the white flag was raised, and with cheer after cheer all
along the batteries on Tybee, came down the stars and bars. It was on
the 11th of April, a year to a day from the time when the stars and
stripes were first dishonored by Americans at Fort Sumter.
General Hunter was aboard the McClellan with his aides, watching the
engagement. Generals Gillmore and Benham were active, and rode rapidly
out to Goat’s Point. On arriving at this place, General Gillmore, with
his aid, Mr. Badeau, and Colonel Rust, entered a boat and put off for
the fort. The passage was rough, the channel unknown, and the skiff got
aground, and was nearly upset; but at last, soaked and dripping, the
party landed on Cockspur Island.
They were met near the landing-place by Captain Sims, of the Georgia
Volunteers, who conducted them to the fort. Colonel Olmstead, the
commandant, stood at the entrance, and received them courteously. He
invited General Gillmore into his own quarters, for a private interview.
The terms of capitulation were arranged, and General Gillmore was then
conducted over the fort by the Colonel, and took his leave, accompanied
by Colonel Rust. General Hunter, in the mean time, had sent messengers
to the fort. Colonel Olmstead showed them around the works, and
conducted them to the interior, when the swords were delivered. This
took place in the Colonel’s headquarters, all standing. Major Halpine
represented General Hunter. As soon as this ceremony was over, the
American flag was raised, and the stars and stripes floated again on the
walls of Fort Pulaski. In giving up his sword, Colonel Olmstead said, “I
yield my sword, but I trust I have not disgraced it.”
The arms of the privates had been previously stacked on the parade, and
the men marched to quarters. Both officers and men were allowed to
remain all night in their usual quarters. The interior of the fort
presented a sorry picture. Blindages had been put up extending on all
the rampart, and a part rendered bomb-proof; but shot and shell had
burst through many of the sides—knocked in walls, broken down stairways,
entered casemates, upset guns, and piled up masses of rubbish and
_debris_ all around. Seven guns on the parapet were dismounted; nearly
every traverse had been struck and partly torn to pieces; all the
passageways were obstructed by piles of stones and fallen timber; the
magazine had been struck, and part of its outer casing of brick torn
away, while at the breach, the havoc was, of course, greatest of all.
The breach was entirely practicable; the ditch, sixty feet across, was
more than half filled up by the fragments that had fallen, and half a
dozen men abreast could have entered the aperture. The Colonel declared,
however, that he should have held out until nightfall, had the magazine
not been struck. This, of course, settled his fate, and rendered any
prolonged resistance a useless risk of human life. Forty thousand pounds
of powder, seven thousand shot and shell, and forty-seven guns were
captured. The prisoners were three hundred and sixty in number, and
belonged to the Georgia Volunteers, the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, and
to a German regiment. The Colonel excited the sympathies of his captors
by a bearing at once soldierly and subdued. The officers invited the
Unionists to their quarters, where several took supper, and some even
slept with the rebels whom they had been fighting a few hours before.
There was no apparent bitterness on either side; no desire to introduce
personal animosities.
This long and severely contested siege resulted in the loss of only two
lives, while the number of wounded was very small. This fact is
remarkable, in view of the immense amount of shot and shell exchanged
during the bombardment.
On Sunday, the 13th, the men were divided into two parties—the officers
and about two-thirds of the men forming the first, who were placed on
the Ben de Ford—the remainder on the Honduras, and taken to Bay Point.
Here they were transferred to the McClellan and Star of the South, to be
sent to Fort Columbus, in the harbor of New York.
BATTLE OF SOUTH MILLS, CAMDEN, N. C.
APRIL 20, 1862.
A short but severely contested engagement took place on the 20th of
April, between the command of General J. L. Reno, and a body of rebels
posted in a strong position to intercept the supposed advance of the
Federal troops on Norfolk. General Burnside directed General Reno to
make a demonstration on that city, and the latter, taking with him from
Newbern the Twenty-first Massachusetts and Fifty-first Pennsylvania,
proceeded to Roanoke, where he was joined by detachments of the
Eighty-ninth New York and Sixth New Hampshire. With these forces he
started for Elizabeth City, and commenced disembarking at midnight, on
the 19th, at a point about three miles below the city, on the east side.
By three A. M. Colonel Hawkins’ brigade, consisting of the Ninth and
Eighty-ninth New York, and Sixth New Hampshire, were landed and ready to
move. Colonel Hawkins proceeded with his brigade toward South Mills.
General Reno remained to bring up the other two regiments, which had
been delayed by the grounding of their vessels at the mouth of the
river. They came up at daylight, and were landed by seven A. M. General
Reno marched directly toward South Mills, and about twelve miles out met
Colonel Hawkins, with his brigade, who, either by the treachery or
incompetency of his guide, had been led some miles out of his way. As
his men were very much jaded by the long march, they were ordered to
follow the Second brigade, about four miles further, to within a mile
and a half of South Mills.
The rebels were posted here, and opened a fire of artillery, before the
advanced guard discovered them. General Reno reconnoitered their
position, and found that they were posted strongly in a line
perpendicular to the road, their infantry in ditches, their artillery
commanding all the direct approaches, and their rear protected by a
dense forest. He ordered the Fifty-first Pennsylvania immediately to
file to the right, and pass over to the edge of the woods, to turn their
left—the Twenty-first Massachusetts pursuing the same course; and when
Colonel Hawkins came up with his brigade, he was sent with the Ninth and
Eighty-ninth New York to their support.
The Sixth New Hampshire was formed in line to the left of the road, and
its commander ordered to support the four pieces of artillery. Owing to
the excessive fatigue of the men, they met with some delay in reaching
their position. Meanwhile the enemy kept up a brisk artillery fire,
which was gallantly responded to by the small pieces under charge of
Colonel Howard, of the Coast Guard. As soon as the Fifty-first
Pennsylvania and Twenty-first Massachusetts had succeeded in turning
their left, they opened a brisk musketry fire, and, about the same time,
the Ninth New York, also coming in range, eager to engage, unfortunately
charged upon the enemy’s artillery. It was a most gallant charge, but
they were exposed to a deadly fire of grape and musketry, and forced to
retire, but rallied immediately upon the Eighty-ninth New York. General
Reno then ordered both regiments to form a junction with the
Twenty-first Massachusetts. In the meantime, the Fifty-first
Pennsylvania and Twenty-first Massachusetts kept up an incessant fire
upon the rebels, who had withdrawn their artillery, and commenced to
retreat in good order. The Sixth New Hampshire had steadily advanced in
line to the left of the road, and when within about two hundred yards
poured in a deadly volley, which completely demoralized the enemy and
ended the battle.
The men rested under arms in line of battle, until about ten o’clock, P.
M., when they were ordered to return to the boats, having accomplished
the principal object of the expedition, that of conveying the idea that
the entire Burnside Expedition was marching upon Norfolk. Owing to a
want of transportation, sixteen of the most severely wounded were left
behind. Assistant-Surgeon Warren was left with them. Only about ten or
fifteen prisoners were taken. Most of them belonged to the Third Georgia
regiment. The Ninth New York suffered most severely, owing to their
premature charge. The total loss of the Federal troops in killed and
wounded was about ninety, some sixty of the number belonging to that
regiment.
Just as the decisive volley of the Sixth New Hampshire had compelled the
rebels to abandon their position, a terrific thunder storm broke upon
the scene of conflict, and a heavy rain rendered the hope of pursuit
futile. After burying the dead, and taking a brief rest, General Reno
and his command took up their march for headquarters, at Newbern. On the
advance the sun beat fiercely upon his exhausted men, the weather was
intensely hot, and they were almost prostrated with the fatigue of the
battle and the labor of the march, before they reached a place of rest.
CAPTURE OF FORT MACON, N. C.
APRIL 26, 1862.
The occupation of the town of Beaufort and Morehead City by the Federal
troops, on the 24th of March, was followed by active preparations for
the reduction of Fort Macon, which commanded the entrance to the harbor.
It was anticipated that on the retreat of the rebel troops from Beaufort
the overwhelming numbers and equipment of the national forces would
demonstrate to the commander of the fort the hopelessness of any attempt
to resist the armament that would be brought against him in the event of
his refusal to surrender. This hope was not realized. Colonel M. J.
White, the commander, resolved to meet the Union forces with every
possible resistance, and if the fort was captured by the Federal arms,
the doughty rebel determined that it should be purchased at no slight
cost.