THE FOURTEENTH OF MARCH.
It was General Foster's intention to celebrate the anniversary of the
battle of Newbern, and the capture of the town, by a parade of the
troops in and about the city, and orders to that effect had been issued
to the different commanders. But a slight circumstance occurred on the
day previous to the anniversary, which caused an entire change in the
programme.
We had often heard from prisoners the boast that Newbern should not
remain in our possession for more than a year, and, sure enough, on
the 13th, the pickets were driven in, and, instead of a parade, there
seemed to be every prospect of a fight. All were actively engaged
in preparation for whatever the morrow might bring forth. Aides and
orderlies were galloping through the streets, and ammunition wagons
carrying supplies to the various forts, while the natives hung about
the corners with ill-suppressed looks of exultation on their yellow
faces, eagerly listening to the scraps of news which the passing
soldiers let fall. Cartridges were given out, and the guns of the
guard, contrary to custom, were loaded, and strict orders given to
arrest any who breathed even the faintest suspicion of treason.
After a restless night, we were aroused early on the morning of the
14th by the booming of cannon and bursting of shells, and quickly
started out to learn the immediate condition of affairs. The eastern
bank of the Neuse, for some miles above and below the town, is covered
with an impenetrable swamp. There is, however, one approach by a road
from Little Washington, which strikes the river about a mile above the
upper end of the town, and, in old times, a ferry-boat plied the river
at this point. This ferry had fallen into disuse, as our communications
with Washington were wholly by water, but the importance of securing
this approach, and preventing any surprise in that direction, had
not been overlooked, and, for some time past, there had been a
picket-station across the river. This was now occupied by the 92d New
York, who had been busily engaged in throwing up a strong earthwork,
commanding the road, but as yet no guns had been mounted.
We soon discovered that this camp was the point of attack, and nothing
but the cowardice of the enemy, and the bravery of the 92d, saved the
latter from capture or destruction. At an early hour, their pickets had
been driven in, and soon after daybreak the enemy appeared, about an
eighth of a mile from the earthwork, with a force of some five thousand
infantry and cavalry, and sixteen pieces of artillery. Imagine the
situation; between three and four hundred men armed only with muskets,
confronted by a force of more than ten to one. Protected, it is true,
by earthworks, but without a gun mounted, while behind them stretched a
mile and a half of water, separating them from friends and safety; and
about a mile down the river, half hidden in the morning mist, lay the
gun-boat "Hunchback," unconscious of the threatened danger.
The rebel general sends a summons to surrender, which is met some
distance from the works to prevent too close an inspection of their
weakness, and is answered by the brave commander with an "If you want
the place, you must come and take it." No sooner is this reply received
than the ball is opened. But the first boom of the cannon is a signal
of alarm to friendly ears across the river; it startles the sleepers on
the gun-boat and arouses the people in the city.
Thick and fast the storm of shot and shell pours in upon the devoted
little garrison. Tents are riddled, shanties knocked in pieces, but
the men themselves, lying close behind their entrenchments are, as
yet, unharmed. Can they hold out till rescue comes, or will the enemy
carry the works by storm? is the anxious thought of every heart, as
with straining eyes they watch the signs of life now discernable on
the gun-boat, on which their hopes depend. At last the smoke curls up
from the tall pipe and the old "Hunchback" moves slowly to the rescue.
Like the passing vessel, which has seen the signal of the shipwrecked
mariner and is gradually lessening the distance between him and a
watery grave, so the gun-boat, steaming up the river, comes between the
little garrison and captivity in a southern prison. As she neared the
scene of action and her hundred pounder opened upon the enemy, their
hopes of success were gone forever.
Mounted in the rigging of a schooner lying at the provost-marshal's
wharf, glass in hand, we watched the combatants. Our flag floated
proudly over the works, and the smoke of the rebel guns was quickly
followed by the explosion of the shells, now over the camp, now in the
river, one or two even striking upon our side of the Neuse. A revenue
schooner, also, was beating up the river, anxious to join in the fight,
but the hundred pounder of the "Hunchback" proved too much for the
visitors. With one gun dismounted by a shot from the gun-boat, and a
loss of several killed and wounded, they retired discomfited into the
woods, whence they sent an occasional shot at the prize which had been
so unceremoniously snatched from their very grasp. The revenue vessel,
of lighter draft than the gun-boat, ran in close to shore and anchored
off the brave garrison, and all danger in that quarter was at an end.
Simultaneous attacks were also made on the outposts at Deep Gully and
Batchelder's Creek, but were attended with no better success; so,
baffled at all points, the foe gave up the attempt and retired in the
direction of Kinston and Little Washington. In honor of our victory,
and out of compliment to the enemy, General Foster had the Stars and
Stripes hoisted to the very summit of the Episcopal steeple, the
highest point in the city, where, visible for miles in every direction,
they floated in proud defiance over the place in which one year before
had drooped the tricolor of treason and rebellion.
The hope and exultation so visible that morning in the faces of the
traitorous inhabitants, gradually paled into a yellower despair than
ever, and the stores of provisions prepared by them in anticipation of
the speedy coming of their friends, ferreted from their concealment
by the vigilance of the detectives, met with an untimely end. The town
soon recovered from the excitement caused by this near approach of the
enemy, and we all enjoyed the occurrences of the day as a pleasant
variety in our rather monotonous life.
But, while we were enjoying a life of comparative comfort in Newbern,
with unlimited credit at the sutler's, relying on the arrival of the
paymaster some time in the future, other regiments in the department
were less fortunate. The siege of Little Washington by the rebels
began, and we listened daily to the distant booming of cannon. But
though regiment after regiment was sent off, until only three or four
were left about the city, and the rest of our brigade participated in
General Spinola's fruitless attempt to march overland to Washington,
raise the siege, and rescue General Foster from his uncomfortable, not
to say dangerous, situation, our regiment continued in its old routine
of guard duty, having besides special charge of the city defences in
the absence of the other troops.
At last, on the night of April 16, General Foster ran the blockade in
the little steamer "Escort," not without great danger to himself and
the crew, for they passed through a very hot fire, and the steamer
was struck in several places. The pilot was killed, and one shot went
through the coppers in the cook's galley, taking off an arm of the
cook in its passage; another passed through the general's state-room,
fortunately unoccupied at the time. There was, of course, great risk
incurred in running by the enemy's batteries, for any injury to the
machinery would have insured capture or destruction, but the urgent
need for General Foster's presence in Newbern caused all personal
danger to be regarded as nothing in the service of the country. No
time was lost upon his arrival, and that very day troops were on the
way, some by land, others by water, to the relief of the beleaguered
town, and before a week passed, the siege was raised and the enemy had
disappeared.
During the troubles above mentioned, a change was made in our system
of guard duty, and instead of having sentry posts scattered about the
town, squads of men patrolled the streets four hours at a time. This
change was a great relief to the regiment, for thereby the number of
men required for daily duty was reduced nearly two-thirds, and instead
of going on guard every other day as before, the turns now came but
once in four or five days. We got to know the town pretty well in
this way, for the patrol visited every street, lane and alley in its
wanderings by night as well as day, and many curious scenes and places
met our eyes, which in ordinary life would never have been visible.
But pleasant things must have an end. Rumors became prevalent through
the regiment that we were soon to be relieved, and the honorable duty
of provost guard to be assigned to the 44th Mass., as a reward for
their services at Little Washington. The following order, read on
dress-parade, confirmed our fears:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,}
18TH ARMY CORPS, }
NEWBERN, April 23, 1863. }
SPECIAL ORDER NO. 117, NO. 5.
In accordance with the custom of the Department, the regiment now
doing provost duty will be relieved. The commanding general, on
changing the guard of the town, desires to convey to Colonel Codman,
and through him, to his officers and men, his high appreciation of the
manner in which the duties of the guard have been performed.
He has noticed with great pleasure the drill, discipline and general
efficiency of the regiment. The 44th Regiment, M. V. M., will relieve
the 45th on Saturday, the 25th inst., at 9.00 A. M.
By command of Major-General Foster.
[Signed] L. HOFFMAN, A. A. G.
A very pleasant testimonial of the good feeling which prevailed between
the inhabitants of the town and the regiment, was also received by the
colonel, which read as follows:
NEWBERN, N. C., April 25, 1863.
COLONEL C. R. CODMAN, OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 45TH
M. V. M.
_Gentlemen_:--Having learned with regret that your regiment is about
to retire from the duty of guarding the city, I beg leave on behalf
of all loyal citizens, myself, my family, and other families here, to
render you our sincere thanks for the efficiency and courtesy with
which you have discharged your duties.
It has seldom been our lot to see a body of soldiers so uniformly
civil and gentlemanly in their behavior, temperate and orderly
in their habits, comparatively free from the prevailing vice of
profanity, and so prompt in restraining those who, by any violence,
would attempt to disturb our streets.
Accept, gentlemen, our thanks for past kindness, and wishes for your
future welfare.
W. H. DOHERTY, A. M.,
_Principal of Newbern Academy_.
The last two or three days of our sojourn in the town, several
ludicrous scenes occurred at the provost-marshal's, in consequence of
the revival of an old order in respect to the uniform of the soldiers.
It had become the general custom of detailed men in the various
departments, to wear different articles of an officer's uniform,
everything in fact but shoulder straps, rendering it impossible for
the guard to distinguish between officers and privates. An order was
therefore issued to the guard to deprive such men of their superfluous
ornaments, and in case they refused to give them up, to conduct them to
the guard-house. So, every little while, some indignant fellow would
appear at the guard-house, escorted by a sentry, and demand the meaning
of such shameful treatment.
The question was commonly answered by the appropriation of the
forbidden finery by the officer in command, after allowing the owner to
peruse the order of the provost-marshal, when he would retire from the
scene somewhat crestfallen. Two examples afforded us especial mirth,
the one a commissary sergeant, the other, hospital steward of a certain
Massachusetts regiment, for their rage was something laughable, and
their impudence so great, that they were permitted to spend the night
in the guard-house as a reward.
The morning of the 25th dawned bright and pleasant, and our numerous
boxes and traps were piled up in the yard, preparatory to being toted
off in the funny little mule-carts. Our quarters were all swept and
garnished, some of the rooms having been trimmed with flowers in honor
of the new comers. We took our last breakfast at the Boston Lunch,
and the first relief of the new guard having been duly posted, we
bade farewell to the house which had sheltered us so comfortably and
pleasantly the past three months, and joined the regimental line
on Broad street, the scene of so many guard-mountings, drills and
dress-parades, and now of the ceremony of tendering the command of
the city to our successors. Having conformed to the requirements of
military etiquette, we started for our new home in the country, Camp
Massachusetts, on the banks of the Neuse.
[Illustration: Camp at Core Creek.]
[Illustration: Up the Rail Road.]
[Illustration: Skirmish at Dover Cross Roads April 28, 1863.]