the town of Beaufort. It commands the entrance to the harbor, and no
vessel can enter the main channel without coming within range of its
guns. Opposite the fort, at the entrance of the harbor, is Shackelford
Banks, distant about one mile and a half. Fort Macon is of a hexagonal
form, and has two tiers of guns—one in casemated bomb-proof, and the
other _en barbette_. Its armament consisted of twenty 32-pounders,
thirty 24-pounders, two 18-pounders, three field pieces for flank
defence, twelve flank howitzers, eight 8-inch howitzers (heavy), eight
8-inch howitzers (light), one 13-inch mortar, three 10-inch mortars, and
two Cohorn mortars—total, 89 guns. The war garrison of the fort was 300
men. There are large furnaces in the fort for heating shot, and before
the investment there was a considerable quantity of powder in the
magazine. The construction of Fort Macon was commenced in 1826, by
Captain Eliason, of the United States Engineer Corps, and was finished
in 1860, by Captain, afterwards Brigadier-General John G. Foster.
This fort, like most others in the Southern States, at the opening of
the rebellion, was in an almost defenceless condition. Ordnance Sergeant
Alexander was the sole guardian of this important position in April,
1861.
In March, the vote on the question of calling a State Convention was
taken in North Carolina, and a majority was given against the
Convention. Governor Ellis assured the officer in command that the fort
would not be taken from under the control of the government, but on the
11th of April, a citizen of Beaufort, in the interest of the
secessionists, collected a body of fifty men, with whom he crossed over
to the fort and demanded its surrender. Sergeant Alexander delivered up
the keys, and the rebel flag was hoisted on its walls. Subsequently
stores and supplies for a garrison of 500 men were collected and placed
within it, and an efficient body of troops took possession, under
Colonel White.
On March 25th, 1862, Morehead City, on the mainland, opposite Bogue
Island, was occupied by a portion of General Parke’s division of
Burnside’s army. A few days subsequently a landing had been effected on
Bogue Island, and a camp established for the force selected to operate
against Fort Macon. On the 11th of April the enemy’s pickets were driven
in by the Fifth Rhode Island regiment and one company of the Fourth
Rhode Island, and eligible localities for the batteries were selected by
Captain Williamson, Topographical Engineer on General Burnside’s staff.
On the next day a working party commenced the erection of the main
battery, and from that time the labor proceeded night and day. The
troops employed in this service were the Fourth and Fifth Rhode Island
and the Eighth Connecticut regiments. The labor was most severe. The men
were often on duty twenty-four hours at a time, and labored zealously to
accomplish their task in the shortest possible period. What rest they
got when on duty was obtained by sleeping on the sands, as no tents or
barracks could be erected, since these would have informed the rebels of
the location of the troops, and indicated the position of the batteries.
The picket duty performed by the men was also very severe. All their
work had to be done under a continuous and often severe fire from the
fort. From this, however, they were protected by the peculiar formation
of the ground, which consisted of a succession of sand-hills up to
within about half a mile of the fort.
Previous to the bombardment the garrison were allowed to send letters to
their friends at Beaufort.
Three batteries were erected for the reduction of the fort. The first
was mounted with four ten-inch mortars, and was built under cover of a
large sand-hill, near the edge of the marshes which line the northern
shore of the island, at a distance of about 1,400 yards from the fort.
This battery was allotted to Lieutenant Flagler, and manned by a portion
of battery I, New York Third artillery. The second was in advance 100
yards, built and worked by Captain Lewis O. Morris, and Lieutenants
Gowan and Pollock. Three long thirty-pound siege Parrott guns, rifled,
composed its armament. The last battery consisted of four eight-inch
mortars. It stood 100 yards in advance of the second battery, and was
placed in charge of Lieutenant Prouty, and manned by a detachment of
battery I, Third New York artillery. Rifle-pits and trenches were also
excavated.
On the 24th of April, the preparations having been completed, General
Burnside arrived from Newbern, on the steamer Alice Price, having in tow
two barges, the Schrapnel and Grenade, fitted up as floating batteries,
each armed with two thirty-pound Parrott guns. The Schrapnel had in
addition a twelve-pounder rifled Ward gun. They anchored about three
miles below the fort.
During the afternoon a flag of truce was sent to the fort, in charge of
Captain Biggs, of General Burnside’s staff, with a demand for its
surrender. Colonel White refused to yield to the demand, and announced
his purpose to defend the fort to the last extremity. An understanding
was obtained, however, that the commander should have a personal
interview with General Burnside on the following morning.
Accordingly, at an early hour on the 25th, the steamer Alice Price,
under a flag of truce, proceeded down the bay to a point previously
indicated, where General Burnside was soon joined by Colonel White. The
meeting was courteous. Colonel White said that he had been placed in
command of the fort for the purpose of holding it, and should defend it
to the best of his ability.
On the following morning, the 26th, the Federal forces took their
respective posts at an early hour. The morning mists had not yet
disappeared, when orders were given for the opening of the siege, and
before six o’clock the loud thunder of the guns and the deep boom of the
heavy mortars broke on the ears of the sleeping citizens of Beaufort,
and roused the slumbering garrison of the belligerent fort. Booming
loudly over the waters, and rolling away in the distance, the explosions
followed in rapid succession for half an hour before the garrison was
ready to respond. When prepared, the rebels bravely assumed their
allotted positions, manned their guns, and Fort Macon opened upon the
national flag.
During the forenoon the eight-inch mortar battery of Lieutenant Prouty
sent its shells with regularity and precision into the fort, and at each
explosion the red dirt and sand of the glacis’ slopes, ramparts,
parapets and terrepleins were dashed in a cloud many feet into the air.
The flagstaff, with its defiant colors floating at the top, was at times
completely obscured in the smoke and dust which rose with the bursting
of the missiles. The ten-inch mortar battery was not so successful in
the morning. The shells from it burst beyond or high in air over the
fort, scattering the fragments of iron far and wide into the water; but
in the afternoon the battery played with an effect that was evidenced in
the decreased fire from the fort.
The battery of Parrott guns under command of Captain Morris, in the mean
time, kept up an incessant fire upon the ramparts. The difficulty of
obtaining accurate range was for some time experienced, and the shots
either went over the fort, ricocheting across the water towards
Shackleford Banks, or fell short and buried themselves in the sand and
glacis on its westerly side. But the range grew more accurate with every
shot, and from twelve o’clock until the close of the fight Captain
Morris seldom failed to plant his terrible conical balls among the guns,
on the edges of the ramparts, and against the walls. The latter were
pierced in two places, the balls passing through into the casemates,
from which their unceremonious visit hastily expelled the occupants.
Wherever these shots struck they tore through all obstacles with a force
that hurled fragments of iron and brick, stones, grass-sods and sand
bags about in every direction. Many of the rebels were knocked down
senseless by the flying sods. When it is considered that the walls of
the fort were protected by the slopes of the glacis, the accuracy of the
firing from the Parrott battery will be perceived. That part of the
walls just protruding above the ramparts of the glacis was the only
target presented whereat to aim for the purpose of penetrating the
casemates.
About two o’clock, P. M., Major Allen went out with a flag of truce to
carry letters written to the garrison from their friends in Beaufort.
Many of these entreated the officers to prevail upon Colonel White to
surrender the fort. Some ladies in Beaufort set on foot a petition to
that effect.
The precision attained by the practice of the forenoon, and the facility
of loading and firing, which even the experience of a few hours had
given, were now evidenced in the successful results of each shot from
the Union batteries. The scene assumed its grandest aspect after two
o’clock. A flash and a puff of smoke betokened a discharge; an interval
elapsed, which terminated with the report of the piece; then came the
sonorous hum of the shell as it flew through the air; another puff of
smoke soon followed by a second report, and the deadly missile had
exploded.
With glasses every manœuvre in the fort could be distinctly seen. The
look out was ensconced behind a pile of sand bags upon the ramparts, and
spectators fancied they could hear him ejaculate the word “Down!” as he
marked the approach of every shot. Its effect was like magic. As he
himself disappeared, down out of sight went the crowd of men around the
guns, to reappear again when the shot had accomplished its errand.
Little remains to tell of the bombardment. The garrison had at first
responded with some seven or eight guns, exclusive of carronades, which
were made to serve the purpose of mortars. The squads of gunners could
be observed passing about, alternating with the pieces as they became
hot under the discharges. Gradually the fire slackened to four, then to
three, and then to two guns. The Federal shot and shell were doing their
duty, and subsequent examination showed that fifteen guns were
dismounted or disabled on the fort.
To those who worked the mortars of the Federal batteries, the matter was
entirely new, and to Captain Ammon’s men, of the Third New York
artillery, the greatest praise is deserved for their cool and
unflinching conduct in this their first experience under fire. The
exposed nature of Captain Morris’ battery of siege guns drew upon it
almost the concentrated fire of the fort, and shot and shell rained
around it. The only injury sustained by the battery was the temporary
dismounting of one of the guns by a thirty-two-pound solid shot, which
came through the embrasure and carried off a wheel. Another carriage was
in readiness, and the gun was soon remounted. One of the guns was
slightly dented by a solid shot, which struck the reinforce or band
around the breech, and then glanced off. The sand bags in all the
batteries were disturbed more or less by the concussions, and the
embrasures of the three-gun battery were begrimed and black with powder.
Eleven hundred shots in all were fired on the Federal side, and of these
five hundred and sixty struck the fort.
The firing from the fort gradually slackened as the guns one after
another became disabled, until at last the iron thunderers ceased to
respond to the continuous peals of the Federal batteries. About
half-past four o’clock a white flag was run up over one of the guns,
dimly seen through the smoke that had just before issued from it in a
heavy cloud. Not long after two officers left the fort, bearing a flag
of truce. They advanced towards the batteries, and Captain Pell, of
General Burnside’s staff, and Lieutenant Hill, of General Parke’s staff
went out to meet them. They were Captains Pool and Guion, with a message
from Col. White, asking the terms of surrender. General Parke replied
that the only terms were unconditional surrender, but that he would
communicate with General Burnside, who might make different
arrangements. The inquiry was telegraphed to Beaufort, and a messenger
was sent off to General Burnside, who was on board the Alice Price, some
distance up the river. In the morning General Burnside returned to the
harbor, and had an interview with Colonel White, on board the Alice
Price, when the terms of capitulation were agreed upon. The fort,
armament and garrison were to be surrendered to the United States, the
officers and men being released on parole, until properly exchanged,
returning to their homes with their private effects, such as clothing,
bedding, books, etc.
Immediately after the return of Colonel White to his quarters,
preparations for the surrender commenced. After a little interval the
gates were thrown open and a train of soldiers marched out, and forming
a square on the green, just outside, stood a few moments in impressive
stillness. Then they formed into line, where they stacked their arms,
and returned to their quarters.
General Burnside, General Parke, and Captains Biggs and King directly
after this ceremony, returned from the fort, and the Fifth Rhode Island
being ordered into line, came up. General Burnside unfolded the new
colors presented by the State of Rhode Island, inscribed with the words
“Roanoke” and “Newbern,” which had been just received, and returned them
to the color-bearer, who took his place at the head of the column. The
regiment then moved forward in order, to take formal possession of the
fort.
The time had at last come for the great event. The wharves and houses of
Beaufort were crowded with spectators. The surrounding waters were
covered with small craft, hovering near the scene. The squadron of
gunboats, with steam up and colors flying, lay off and on outside the
bar. At half-past ten o’clock a squad of men from the garrison, detailed
by Colonel White for the purpose, cut loose the halliards and hauled
down the rebel flag. Ten minutes later four of the Rhode Island boys
hoisted the American ensign, the glorious stars and stripes, and a loud
cheer broke from the men, which was caught up and echoed by the sailors
on shipboard, and even by the citizens over the harbor, in Beaufort,
whose shout came cheerily on the breeze.
The Federal fleet, consisting of the steamers State of Georgia,
Chippewa, Daylight, and bark Gemsbok, under command of Flag-officer S.
Lockwood, took an active part in the bombardment in the forenoon.
The destruction effected by the bombardment was like that at Fort
Pulaski. The works outside as well as inside, gave incontestible proof
of the execution of the heavy projectiles hurled at the fort. They also
showed as clearly the bravery of the men who defended it, and proved
that though they were engaged in rebellion, they had the courage and
energy of heroic soldiers.
The garrison consisted of about four hundred and fifty men, exclusive of
the officers. There were found in the fort nearly twenty thousand pounds
of powder, shot and shell in proportion, and a large quantity of
provisions.
The rebel loss was 7 killed, 18 wounded; Federal, 1 killed and 3
wounded.
[Illustration: [Map]]
[Illustration: [Map]]
SIEGE OF YORKTOWN, VA.
On Sunday, the 9th of March, the rebel camps at Centreville, Manassas
and vicinity were evacuated, and on the 10th, the army of General
McClellan commenced a forward movement from the vicinity of Washington
toward the abandoned works of the enemy. On the same day a portion of
General Kearney’s forces reached Centreville, and Federal scouts had
explored the deserted works at Manassas Junction. The enemy continued
their retreat on the line of the Orange railroad, burning the bridges,
and destroying the railroad property on their route.
On the 14th, General McClellan issued an address to the army from his
headquarters at Fairfax Court-House, complimenting the men on their
discipline, equipment, and patience during the long delay incident to
the work of preparation. They were now to be brought face to face with
the enemy, and he besought the army to place perfect trust in him,
though his plans of action might seem at times unaccountable.
The cheering news of the capture of New Madrid, the evacuation of
Columbus, and the victory at Pea Ridge, now filled all loyal hearts with
enthusiasm; and it was fully believed that the army of the Potomac was
on the direct route to Richmond, destined to give the death-blow to the
rebellion before the month of April should open. Will the rebels make a
stand? asked many a confident Unionist, hopeful that the prestige of
McClellan’s splendid army would compel the enemy to retire from point to
point without risking a battle.
The month of March passed;—and while the public mind was animated with
the most cheering details of the western victories—the capture of
Newbern, and the defeat of the enemy at Winchester, the great army of
the Potomac appeared for the time to have passed from recollection. The
Government censorship restrained the publication of any reports of
McClellan’s movements, and the people, left entirely to hope and
conjecture, were sanguine in anticipation of the speedy possession of
the Confederate capital.
Late in the month, rumors reached the northern cities of the arrival of
forces at Old Point, on the James river, twenty miles from Norfolk,
which were supposed by the Richmond papers to be reinforcements for
Burnside. Again curiosity was awakened by the immense number of
transports called for and chartered by the Government, daily arriving at
the mouth of the Chesapeake. On the 26th, Great Bethel was taken
possession of by the Federal troops, and on the 29th a reconnoissance in
force was made toward Yorktown. It was now generally known that the
large army under General McClellan had been conveyed by transports to
Old Point, and was marching to attack the rebel entrenchments at
Yorktown, the key of the Peninsula.
On the 5th of April, General McClellan’s dispatch to the Secretary of
War, announced that his army had that day arrived in front of the
enemy’s works, having met with but slight opposition on its route.
During this period the weather was unfavorable for military operations.
Heavy storm-clouds frowned inauspiciously on the approaching army, rain
fell almost daily in torrents, and this at a time when there could be no
adequate provision for shelter.
The Federal army was now destined to undergo an experience of toil and
privations calculated to try its endurance to the utmost.
Solid roads were absolutely necessary for transportation from the
landings to the various encampments, as it was impossible to draw the
immense siege and supply trains over or through the soft alluvial mire
formed by the unremitting rains, while the creeks and water courses were
swollen into torrents. Skirmishing was of daily occurrence—for the enemy
neglected no opportunity to annoy their formidable opponents, while the
Federal army found it necessary to push its advances within commanding
reach of the rebel entrenchments, which stretched from the York to the
James rivers, a distance of six miles. The rebel earthworks were
ponderously built—some of them of a height and thickness hitherto
unparalleled in any war.
The Union soldiery toiled incessantly in the trenches, while covering
parties, with efficient batteries, stood guard in their defence, and
daily sacrificed some of their brave numbers while protecting their
toiling comrades.
The labors of the Federal army soon became apparent. Formidable
earthworks began to show their heads, and artillery of the largest
calibre was put in position. The rebel generals were struck with
astonishment and dismay when the evidences of engineering skill hitherto
unsuspected, stood revealed before them.
On the other hand, every day more fully revealed the extensive and
intricate line of the rebel defences. Their strength in forts, lunettes
and rifle-pits—their constantly increasing numbers, and untiring
activity, with their accurate knowledge of the topography of the
country, increased the magnitude of the work before the Federal army.
The natural obstacles to its progress were by no means few or trifling.
The sinuous windings of the line of attack they were obliged to
assume—the innumerable swamps and pools of water confronting them on
every side, the almost impenetrable forests and tangled undergrowth
added to their labors and their sufferings. Cold and shivering under
garments saturated anew by the rains of to-day, ere those of yesterday
had been vaporized, the soldiers endured the pangs of hunger and fatigue
unappalled. In view of the terrific struggle before them, human
suffering counted for nothing with these brave men. No signs of
discontent were manifest. Even in their hardest trials the utmost
cheerfulness prevailed; and in more remote positions, where a less rigid
discipline was enforced, the patriotic strains of “The Star Spangled
Banner” and the “Red, White and Blue,” were heard ringing up through the
storm. Not unfrequently, with faces turned toward the patriot homes from
whence they came, would they sing “Do they Miss me at Home?” or “Let me
Kiss him for his Mother”—while they breathed the silent prayer that,
through the uncertainties of war, they might be permitted again to
mingle with their friends in the enjoyment of a bravely won peace.
Daily would some adventurous band of Federal soldiers explore the
intricacies of the rebel defences, coming constantly in collision with
the enemy. In these adventures the new and efficient regiments of
sharpshooters, just introduced into the United States army, rendered
valuable service.
A month before the Union army invested Yorktown, the iron battery
Merrimac had made her advent in Hampton Roads, and after destroying the
noble old frigates Cumberland and Congress—the pride of a past era—she
met the Monitor, her conqueror and the nation’s champion. The combat
that ensued has stamped a glorious page on the world’s history for all
time. Like Lucifer in his fall, the rebel monster shrank with
“despairing, cursing rage” behind the batteries at Yorktown, while the
terrors of her exploits, and rejoicings at her defeat, quickened the
nation’s heart-pulses from Maine to Maryland.
The noble Minnesota, resting in calm and majestic repose on the waters
of the Chesapeake, hitherto would have acknowledged no superior in a
naval combat. An exposure for two hours to the heavy guns of the
Merrimac, which pierced her wooden walls with shot and shell, while her
own missiles were ineffective as pebbles on the scales of the leviathan,
destroyed her prestige and her pride of strength.
An efficient fleet of gunboats had been ordered to act in conjunction
with McClellan’s forces in the reduction of Yorktown; but the presence
of the Merrimac no doubt frustrated their plans. On the 15th of April
several of the gunboats commenced shelling the woods below Gloucester.
One boat approaching within two miles of Yorktown, brought her guns to
bear on that place, until driven off by the rebel batteries.
About the same time a portion of the Potomac flotilla ascended the
Rappahannock, meeting with but slight opposition, visiting the towns of
Urbana and Tappahannock, and destroying the enemy’s batteries and huts
at Lowry’s Point.
BATTLE OF LEE’S MILLS, VA.
APRIL 16, 1862.
The defence of Yorktown prompted the rebel chiefs to project a line of
batteries and earthworks across the peninsula which has been rendered so
prominent in historic interest by the series of important events that
have occurred between Richmond and Fortress Monroe. In the course of
completing this line, a battery was commenced at a point on the Warwick
road, on the estate of Mrs. Garrow, between Lee’s Mills and Winn’s
Mills. There is here an extensive field, with woods to the right and
left, and in the rear of the road. In front, at the foot of a gradually
descending slope, is a branch of the Warwick river. The stream had been
dammed up between these mills, the water covering a breadth of from
thirty to forty rods, and in the deepest parts about four and a half
feet deep. On the bank was a rifle-pit, and above it, on the hill,
breastworks, with their embrasures for guns, frowned upon the water.