daring, by taking the end of a hawser in a cutter, manned by negroes,
ashore, and making it fast to a tree, under a shower of bullets and
shells. The cutter was pierced several times with bullets, but nobody
in it was hurt. The hawser was made fast to the tree for the purpose of
drawing the stern of the Valley City around so as to bring her guns to
bear on the enemy.
After a brisk fire from the fleet for four hours, the rebels ceased
firing, but annoyed the fleet during the night by squads of infantry
firing from behind the dykes and then running away. It was dangerous to
have a light aboard the vessel, and we were therefore compelled to take
our suppers as best we could in the dark.
Tuesday, December 20.--We are engaged in burying the dead and
skirmishing with the enemy, the rebels with their accustomed barbarity
firing on the burying party. We were annoyed all day by the
sharpshooters and batteries of the enemy, but continued to hold our own
and to keep the enemy back.
On Wednesday, December 21, the Valley City weighed anchor at 2:10
o'clock p.m. The Confederates were firing musketry at the Wyalusing. At
2:40 p.m. the Valley City steamed ahead, around the turn which opened
up the far stretch of the river. This stretch of the river was covered
by rebel artillery. The Valley City had scarcely showed her bow around
the turn, till she received a severe shot from the rebel batteries,
which plunged diagonally through the pilot-house, which was lined
outside with half-inch iron, knocking off the door thereto, wounding
three men--the pilot John A. Wilson, Charles Hall, and John Wood: the
latter two were mortally wounded. The Valley City immediately dropped
out of range of said battery, and came to anchor at 3:05 p.m. In the
evening the fleet dropped farther down on the near stretch of the
river. The Valley City lost her torpedo-fender.
December 22.--Last night we were again annoyed by musketry and
sharpshooters ashore. During the day, after burying the dead, the
Valley City dropped down below the fleet to arrange on her bows another
torpedo-fender. About 2:20 p.m. we heard loud whistling from steam
launch No. 5, which was bringing up the mail from Plymouth. I was
standing on the poop-deck, and through the bushes on the flat on the
inside of the bend I saw a regiment of rebels running towards the
launch, at the same time keeping up a rapid fire at her. The Valley
City dropped her torpedo-fender, steamed down, and after firing a few
shots of grape at the rebels, they retreated. In the meantime,
Commander W. H. Macomb learned that the rebels had been removing their
batteries that commanded the far stretch of the river to a point below
us, so as to command the near stretch, and if possible prevent our
returning down the river, and thereby capture the fleet. Matters were
becoming desperate, and Commander Macomb therefore determined to
retreat down the river. The Valley City was the first to go by the
rebel batteries, the remainder of the fleet keeping up a rapid fire at
them. The current of the river was so strong, and the bend under the
rebel batteries so sharp, that the Valley City whirled round like a
water-wheel, first striking the bow against the shore, and then the
stern. I was fearful we might be boarded. An attempt was also made to
fell trees on the fleet whilst passing. After the Valley City had
passed safely by the rebel batteries, she came to anchor, trained her
guns on the enemy, and in conjunction with the remainder of the fleet
above the bend of the river, kept up a rapid fire whilst a second
vessel passed; and thus one vessel of the fleet after another passed
safely around the turn of the river, under fire of the rebel batteries.
Commander Macomb now gave the Valley City orders to proceed down the
river cautiously, and have the river dredged in our rear. For a short
distance Captain J. A. J. Brooks had the men in cutters, dredging the
river; but after consulting his executive officer, Milton Webster,
Acting Assistant Paymaster J. W. Sands and myself, as to the propriety
of steaming down the river without dredging it, it was agreed upon to
call the dredge-boats in, and we proceeded down the river, shelling the
woods on right bank of the river and then came to an anchor above
Williamston.
Friday, December 23.--The Valley City continued steaming down the
river, and anchored off Williamston at 12 m. At 1 p.m. she weighed
anchor and steamed to off Jamesville, where she arrived at 5 p.m., the
remainder of the fleet following close in our rear.
On Saturday, December 24, the Valley City proceeded two miles up the
river to tug the Chicopee off, which had got transversely across the
river, preventing the fleet behind her from descending. The Valley City
returned and anchored off Jamesville at 10 o'clock a.m. The fleet is
all now anchored off Jamesville, and is engaged in destroying the wreck
of the Otsego. During this expedition I never had my clothes or shoes
off.
On Thursday, December 29, at 11-1/2 o'clock a.m. the Valley City
weighed anchor and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived at 12-1/2
p.m.
[Published in the New York Herald of January 9, 1865.]
NEWBERN.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE EXPEDITION
UP ROANOKE RIVER.
THE FLEET REACHES POPLAR POINT.
FROM OUR NEWBERN (N.C.) CORRESPONDENT.
NEWBERN, N.C. DECEMBER 27, 1864.
The expedition that left Plymouth, N.C., on the 9th instant, has
returned and anchored off Jamesville, Roanoke river, having by
arduous labor accomplished results that reflect great credit upon
the commanding officer and his subordinates.
ORGANIZATION OF THE EXPEDITION.
The naval portion of this expedition sailed from Plymouth on the
evening of the 9th instant, in the following order: Wyalusing,
Lieutenant Commander Earl English, bearing the broad pennant of
Commander W. H. Macomb, commanding the fourth division of the North
Atlantic squadron; Valley City, Acting Master J. A. J. Brooks;
Otsego, Commander Arnold; Chicopee, Commander Hannell; Bazeley,
Acting Ensign Aimes; tug Belle, Acting Master Green; and the picket
launch No. 5, Acting Ensign Chapman. The Shamrock was to follow.
A land force commanded by Colonel Frankle had started from Plymouth
at daylight the same morning, to co-operate with the fleet.
THE OTSEGO DESTROYED BY A TORPEDO.
Without interruption, the squadron at 9 o'clock the same night
arrived at Jamesville, a small town above Plymouth some twelve
miles, when the signal to anchor was made from the flag-ship. The
night being dark, and the river flowing rapidly in its narrow and
tortuous channel, it was thought best to proceed no further until
daylight. The Wyalusing had just let go her anchor a few yards
above the town, when two loud reports were heard astern, and dense
volumes of smoke and steam were seen to envelop the Otsego. That
fine vessel had struck two torpedoes, one under the port
coal-bunker, the other beneath the keelson, driving a large hole
through her bottom, and throwing one of her hundred-pounder rifled
Parrotts into the air. She sank in fifteen minutes in three fathoms
of water, being a complete wreck. Her officers and men lost all
their clothing, except what they had on at the moment of the
explosion, but were cared for by their comrades of the other
vessels, who hurried to their rescue, and periled their own lives
in saving their shipwrecked fellow-sailors. Commander Arnold
behaved with great coolness, and his self-possession soon restored
order and discipline on board the sunken ship, or rather on her
hurricane deck, which alone remained out of water.
DESTRUCTION OF THE BAZELEY.
In the morning orders were given to drag for torpedoes, when it was
found that the Otsego had struck upon a perfect nest of them. The
boats which had been passing and repassing to and from her during
the night, had rowed over numbers of them, happily without touching
them. Several were picked up alongside the Otsego, and two were
hanging to the torpedo-fender rigged at her bow. The steamer
Bazeley during the morning was ordered to run down to Plymouth, to
convey orders and dispatches, taking on board for that purpose
Paymaster Louis Sands, of the Shamrock, who had been detailed as
one of Commander Macomb's aids in this expedition. On her way down,
being directed to communicate with the Otsego, Captain Aimes ran
towards the sunken vessel, when a torpedo struck the Bazeley under
the pilot house, blowing a hole clear through her, killing Wm. C.
Rossell, a lad, and John Gerrard, first-class boy, and sinking the
ship instantly. The officers and remainder of the crew escaped by
swimming, and were picked up by boats. Captain Aimes, upon
returning to the flagship, thus laconically reported his loss to
Commander Macomb: "Sir, the Bazeley has gone up."
The destruction of two of our vessels so quickly made things look
blue, but the grit and metal that headed the expedition were
sufficient to overcome such disasters.
A FRESH START.
Preparations were now fully carried out to drag the river by boats
for the torpedoes, which were constantly found in the richest and
choicest clusters, in some places eight or nine being placed across
the river in a line, and having susceptibilities of the most
sensitive nature, going off on the slightest provocation.
Communication with Plymouth having been obtained, the signal was
made to advance, the Valley City taking the lead.
Mr. Chamberlain, a civilian, had volunteered to go with the
expedition with a calcium light, which proved to be of great
advantage to the fleet in the intense darkness of the nights. The
light was placed on the leading vessel, and made our pathway as
clear as broad daylight. The fleet proceeded slowly, having six
boats constantly employed in dragging and picking up torpedoes,
which continued to be found in great profusion. Large numbers were
found at Shad Island Bend and other points, and many exploded in
the attempt made to get them on shore. Eighty were taken up in a
distance of thirty miles.
LIVING ON THE ENEMY.
The fleet anchored off several of the plantations along the river,
and the men were allowed to regale themselves with fresh provisions
and other luxurious articles that were contraband of war. All
articles of military value were taken or destroyed, and a quantity
of cotton pressed into the service as bulwarks against the
sharpshooters who lined the banks of the stream. Mr. Speller, a
rich planter, owning a place called Speller's Landing, was arrested
and sent to Plymouth. He had accepted a nomination to a seat in the
rebel Legislature, had three sons in the rebel army, and was
himself a bitter reviler and opponent of the government. Other
prominent rebels were also seized and sent to Plymouth. One of them
offered Commander Macomb and Lieutenant Commander English a large
amount of gold, which he had on his person, to release him; but
like Paulding and Van Wert of old, the patriotism of the sailor
chiefs revolted at the attempt to bribe them, and an order to place
the rebel in closer confinement was the only result of the
proposition. Corruption has been little known in this war among our
naval officers; and though many of them are far from wealthy, their
honor and good name are more precious in their eyes than millions
of dishonorable wealth.
THE OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY.
It was part of the programme that Colonel Frankle should
communicate with the fleet at Jamesville; but without waiting for
the arrival of the vessels, he pushed on his men to Foster's Mills,
where a skirmish ensued with the enemy, who were repulsed. The
mills were burned, and Colonel Clark was left to hold the place,
while the main body proceeded onward, the rebels retreating on
Rainbow Banks, a very strong and commanding position on the river,
twenty miles above Williamston. The fleet learned the news by one
of Colonel Clark's scouts, and the next day one of our picket
boats, which had been sent back to Jamesville, returned to the
fleet, bringing additional intelligence that the army, getting out
of provisions, had fallen back to Jamesville. Commander Macomb sent
a dispatch to Colonel Frankle commanding, stating that time was
precious; that the fleet would proceed at all hazards, and would
turn back for nothing until it reached the bluff; and urging that
the troops should go forward at once. A promise was returned that
the troops would again move forward in a short time.
THE FLEET APPROACHES POPLAR POINT.
The fleet kept on its way for several days more, dragging the river
at every step, exploding torpedoes, fighting sharpshooters, and
pressing forward toward Rainbow Bluff; until, on the evening of the
20th, we turned a bend in the stream exposing to view Poplar Point,
a high bluff thoroughly commanding the river.
THE MARINES ON SHORE DUTY.
On our left, after doubling the bend, was a large marshy plain
protected by a dyke, behind which sharpshooters were thought to be
lurking. Commander Macomb ordered the marines of the squadron to
land, and under command of Acting Ensign Fesset, of the Wyalusing,
to move along the bank, behind the levee, and look out for the
enemy. They soon found the rebel pickets and skirmished with them,
the rebels being driven back towards the point. Soon a large body
of rebels was found, and a brisk little action took place. A
prisoner being captured by Sergeant Kane, of the Shamrock,
belonging to Whitford's rebel regiment, reported that his regiment
was in the swamp, as the advance of the rebels, whose entire
strength was some six thousand men. The marines continued the
skirmishing until nightfall, when they were recalled, having
throughout the day behaved admirably, retaining the good reputation
which that branch of the service has always held.
THE VALLEY CITY ENCOUNTERS A BATTERY.
No sooner had the Valley City, which continued to be the leading
vessel, shown her head around the point, than she was saluted by a
battery which the rebels had placed there so skillfully as to give
them accurate and deadly aim. She replied with great effect, and
silenced the battery; but night fell, and the firing ceased. During
the night all the vessels were annoyed by the rebels, who would
sneak up under cover of the trees, fire a volley upon our decks,
and skedaddle, their retreat being often accelerated by a wholesome
dose of grape. During the day the Valley City had suffered badly
from the rebel battery. Pilot John A. Lewis was shot through the
head with a Minie ball and instantly killed. He was buried on the
bank of the river--the rebels, with their accustomed barbarity,
firing on the burying party.
A shell exploded in the pilot-house of the Valley City, badly
wounding her other pilot. A number of her men were also badly hurt.
THE FLEET IN A TIGHT PLACE.
The 21st and 22d were passed in shelling the batteries on Poplar
Point, and endeavoring to drag the river for torpedoes, that were
now thicker than ever. As fast as our boats would leave the ships
to commence dragging, the rebels would open on them, wounding and
killing the men. A new battery opened on the Valley City,
inflicting serious damage on her. The other ships, with their
hundred-pounder rifles, drove the rebels off repeatedly, but only
to return whenever our fire slackened. It was plain that we could
no longer do without a land force to drive the fellows off and
clear the way for our dragging boats. Every moment the rebels
thickened in the woods; the trees and bushes were alive with
sharpshooters; batteries were discovered in process of erection in
our rear; and in a word, the position of the squadron was critical.
THE FLEET WITHDRAWS TO JAMESVILLE.
Commander Macomb again sent a despatch to the colonel commanding
the land forces, begging him to press forward without delay. The
reply was that the army would advance when transportation
permitted. The position of the fleet was untenable for twenty-four
hours more; to have remained would have insured the loss of another
vessel; to advance was impossible without army co-operation: so,
very reluctantly, Commander Macomb gave the order to fall back to
Jamesville, there to await the action of the army. The fleet fought
its way back for seven or eight miles, and the rest of the way was
passed in quiet.
The Otsego had not yet been put out of commission--Commander Arnold
and a portion of her crew remaining on her hurricane-deck, and
living _al fresco_. Her heavy battery had been removed to the
Shamrock and Wyalusing, but her brass howitzer still remained on
her hurricane-deck to defend her crew. A survey was now held upon
her, and it was decided that it was impossible to raise either her
or the Bazeley. Everything that could be removed was taken away,
and two torpedoes were placed in her hull and exploded, thus
finishing the work of the rebels. Her remains were then set on
fire, and she was burned to the water's edge.
The entire fleet, with the exception of the Chicopee and
Mattabessett, are now at Jamesville; and the United States steamer
Lockwood, to which Captain Aimes was ordered after the loss of the
Bazeley, joined it last night, having sailed from Newbern to do so.
COMMANDER MACOMB.
The indomitable perseverance of Commander Macomb and his captains,
in pushing on through a river filled with torpedoes and lined with
sharpshooters for fifty miles, dragging almost every foot of the
way, and driving the enemy before them, is unsurpassed even in the
brilliant naval history of this war. Many commanders would have
faltered after losing two of their vessels; but there was no
faltering in Macomb. It was not until all hope of land co-operation
was exhausted, and until it was demonstrated that without a land
support he could go no further, that he consented to retire.
Throughout the whole expedition, he asked his men to encounter no
danger that he did not himself share. His exposure of himself to
death was constant and unflinching; his coolness and
self-possession never left him; and in him his officers and men
beheld an example worthy of their emulation.
Thanks of the officers of the Otsego, to Captain Wood and officers
of the transport, General Berry:
"WRECK OF UNITED STATES STEAMER OTSEGO,
"ROANOKE RIVER, N.C., DECEMBER, 15, 1864.
"The officers of this vessel desire to express their thanks to
Captain Wood and other officers of the army transport, General
Berry, for the politeness and kind consideration they received on
board that boat, after their own vessel was blown up by torpedoes,
on the night of December 9, and the polite manner in which they
furnished both officers and men with every facility for obtaining
the comforts they so much needed.
"H. N. T. ARNOLD, _Lieutenant Commander_.
"HENRY D. FOSTER, _Ensign and Executive Officer_.
"J. P. GALLAGHER, _Ensign_.
"WM. H. MCLEAN, _Ensign_.
"GEORGE C. REYNOLDS, _Assistant Surgeon_.
"SAMUEL C. MIDLAM, _Acting First Ass't Engineer_.
"R. A. ROLFE, _Captain's Clerk_.
"ROBERT S. HOUSTON, _Paymaster's Clerk_.
"FRANLIN STEDMAN, _Acting Master's Mate_."
THAT OLD FAMILY BIBLE.
A Bible captured near Windsor, North Carolina, during the expedition up
Roanoke river, on the night of December 16th, 1864, by Ensign Milton
Webster, on a marauding expedition, is over a hundred years old, as is
shown by its title-page: "Edinburgh: Printed by Alexander Kincaid, his
Majesty's Printer, MDCCLXIX." The book originally belonged to W. A.
Turner, of Windsor, North Carolina, as that name appears in gilt upon
one of the corners of the Bible; and on a page in the book appears the
following record:
"David Turner and Elizabeth Armistead were married Tuesday, August
16, 1785.
"David Turner born September 2d, 1738; Elizabeth Armistead born
December 29th, 1759.
"Thomas Turner born July 18th, 1786, 4:30 afternoon; William
Armistead Turner born December 13th, 1787, nine o'clock a.m. They
were both baptized Sunday, August 2d, 1789, by the Rev. McDowell.
"George Turner born November 24th, about 5 o'clock in the morning,
1789, and baptized Sunday, twenty-first of February following, by
the Rev. W. Blount.
"Sarah Turner born April 28th, fifty minutes after nine in the
morning, 1791, and baptized November 27th, same year, by Rev. W.
Wilson.
"Mary Turner born November 8th, at eight o'clock in the morning,
1793, and baptized June 4th following, by Rev. Mr. Petigro, and
died August 8th, 1794, some time between three and four o'clock,
which was before day.
"Hannah Turner born October 17th, about eleven o'clock in the
morning, 1796, and was baptized second Sunday in July following, by
the Rev. W. Joseph Gurley.
"George Turner departed this life August, 1801.
"David Turner was born September 2, 1738, and died May 17th, 1802,
in the 64th year of his age.
"My dear little Sarah and Hannah Turner both departed this life
March 15th, 1805.
"Elizabeth Turner departed this life May 17, 1822, aged 62 years, 4
months and 18 days.
"Thomas Turner died on the 6th day of January, 1847.
"All the forenamed persons, with the exception of the writer
hereof, are buried in the graveyard at the plantation whereon the
father, David Turner, and family lived, two and one-half miles west
of the town of Windsor."
No doubt the writer of the above is also dead, and time and the chances
of war may have scattered any remaining members of the family.
THE VALLEY CITY AND HER OFFICERS.
The officers of the U.S. Steamer Valley City were as follows: Acting
Master Commanding, John A. J. Brooks; Acting Ensign and Executive
Officer, Milton Webster; Acting Master's Mates, Charles F. O'Neill and
John Maddock; Acting Assistant Paymaster, J. Woodville Sands; Acting
Assistant Surgeon, John M. Batten; Engineers--Second Assistant in
charge, James M. Battin; Acting Third Assistant, John Minton; Acting
Master and Pilot, John A. Wilson.
Captain J. A. J. Brooks was a North Carolinian by birth, and was
acquainted with the waters and people of North Carolina. He was a
full-sized man of fine figure, 35 years of age, brown piercing eyes,
light hair, and in general appearance a fine-looking officer. He was
brave, and ever on the alert. Many nights whilst the Valley City was
laying at the mouth of Roanoke river watching for the rebel ram
Albemarle, I found Captain Brooks at all hours on deck--I often
wondered when he slept. In battle he was cool and brave. Under his
command the Valley City was considered, by the Confederates in that
vicinity, a terror to the waters of North Carolina.
It was on the Valley City, whilst in a fight at Elizabeth, N.C., a man
sat over the opened end of a barrel of powder to prevent it from being
ignited, after an enemy's shell had entered and exploded in the powder
magazine, and thus saved the vessel. The man was immediately promoted
to a gunner.
At many places to which the Valley City steamed, Captain Brooks would
be anxious to ascertain how many Confederates there were in the
locality. Upon asking some colored people, who were always assembled to
greet us, how many rebels there were at a certain locality, they would
make the following reply: "I don't know, sah; but dar is a right smaht
number dar." Upon pressing them for a more definite answer they would
repeat, "I don't know, massa; but dar is a right smaht number dar."
The Valley City, and I believe all naval vessels, were directed to go
ahead, fast, slow, or stop, or back fast or slow, by a bell hung in the
engine room connected with the pilot-house by a wire which was pulled
by the pilot. One bell was to start; two bells, go ahead slow; four
bells, go ahead fast; and one bell to stop (that is when the vessel was
in motion); three bells back; two bells, back slow; and four bells,
back fast.
The time of day was noted by means of a bell, as follows: One bell,
12-1/2 o'clock, p.m.; two bells, 1 o'clock, p.m.; three bells, 1-1/2
o'clock, p.m.; four bells, 2 o'clock, p.m.; five bells, 2-1/2 o'clock,
p.m.; six bells, 3 o'clock, p.m.; seven bells, 3-1/2 o'clock, p.m.; and
eight bells, 4 o'clock, p, m.; then, one bell, 4-1/2 o'clock, p.m., and
so on till 8 o'clock, p.m.; then, one bell, 8-1/2 o'clock, p.m., and so
on till 12 o'clock, p.m.; thus the time during the first twelve hours
of the following day was noted, and in the same way any succeeding
twelve hours.