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[Illustration: Capt. Jeffrey Hazard.]
THE
HISTORY OF BATTERY H
_FIRST REGIMENT RHODE ISLAND LIGHT ARTILLERY_
IN THE WAR TO PRESERVE THE UNION
1861–1865
BY
EARL FENNER
_ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS_
PROVIDENCE
SNOW & FARNHAM, PRINTERS
1894
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1893
BY EARL FENNER
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
To the Surviving Members
OF
BATTERY H.
AND TO
OUR COMRADES WHO ANSWER TO THE ROLL CALL ON THE OTHER SHORE
THE AUTHOR
AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBES THIS BOOK.
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREFACE.
On the 27th of June, 1891, a meeting of the surviving members of Battery
H was called in the City of Providence, R. I., and the writer was
appointed historian, and authorized and empowered to prepare a history
of the battery.
Fully realizing the magnitude of such an undertaking, and making no
pretense of special fitness for the task imposed upon him, yet he
entered upon the work with a determination to make a faithful record of
every event connected with the Battery so far as he was able to do with
the materials at hand. From daily memoranda kept during the entire
service of the Battery in the War for the Union, and from consultation
with reliable works relating to the Rebellion, this history has been
prepared, and to their aid the writer is greatly indebted for the
accuracy of the work.
He fully appreciates the kindly services rendered by Adjutant-General
Elisha Dyer and his assistants, and valuable material furnished by
Captain Hazard, Sergeant Cheever, Corporal Paul and others whose names
are not mentioned here, and to whom he is under many obligations.
Trusting that this work will be appreciated by those who take an
interest in the great struggle through which we passed for national
existence, I shall feel amply repaid if it merits the approbation of the
patriotic citizens of our State and country.
EARL FENNER.
OCTOBER, 1894.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
Formation of Battery H—Camp Mauran—On to Washington—Camp Barry 1–10
CHAPTER II.
Camp Barry—Artillery Drill—March to Fairfax Station—First Death
in the Battery—Union Mills 11–14
CHAPTER III.
Battles of Chancellorsville and Salem Heights—Battery H Ordered
to Chantilly and Afterwards to Fairfax Court House—Return to
Camp Barry—Picket Duty at Fairfax Seminary—Moved to Vicinity
of Fort Scott 15–27
CHAPTER IV.
Again in Camp Barry—Batteries Reviewed by President
Lincoln—Battery H Assigned to the Ninth Corps 28–34
CHAPTER V.
Battery H with the Ninth Corps Moves towards Fairfax Court
House—March to the Rapidan—Battles of the Wilderness and
Spottsylvania—Battery Ordered to Washington 35–46
CHAPTER VI.
Life at Fort Richardson—Moved to Fort Smith and Stationed
there—Battery Equipped again and sent to City Point 47–52
CHAPTER VII.
Battery H Proceeds to Petersburg and Encamps near Fort
Tracy—Life in the Trenches—Rebel Attack on Fort Stedman
Repulsed 53–61
CHAPTER VIII.
Forward Movement of the Army of the Potomac—Capture of
Petersburg and Richmond—Pursuit of Lee’s Army—Battle of
Sailor’s Creek 62–72
CHAPTER IX.
Pursuit of Lee’s Army still continued—Surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House—Sixth Corps March
to Danville 73–84
CHAPTER X.
Return to City Point—March to Richmond—From thence to
Washington—Returning Homeward—Muster-out 85–95
Memoirs 97–156
Roster 157–192
Roster of Temporarily Attached Men 193–196
Mortuary Record 197–199
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Capt. Jeffrey Hazard Frontispiece.
Map of Washington and its Defences On page 10
Lieut. Charles F. Mason Opposite page 12
Brevet Lieut.-Col. Crawford Allen, Jr. Opposite page 28
Lieut. Benjamin H. Child Opposite page 34
First Sergt. George Messinger Opposite page 47
Lieut. Hezekiah Potter Opposite page 50
Capt. Elmer L. Corthell Opposite page 110
Lieut. George Lewis Opposite page 117
Company Clerk George Messinger Opposite page 120
First Sergt. John P. Campbell Opposite page 125
Corp. Earl Fenner Opposite page 127
Corp. Franklin E. Paul Opposite page 130
Corp. John P. Campbell, 2d Opposite page 132
Horace F. Floyd Opposite page 135
Edwin Northrop Opposite page 147
CHAPTER I.
FORMATION OF BATTERY H—CAMP MAURAN—ON TO WASHINGTON—CAMP BARRY.
Rhode Island enjoys the distinction of sending to the field in the War
of the Rebellion a regiment of volunteer light artillery which ranked
second to none in the service. The State was fortunate in having at the
commencement of the conflict a battery of light artillery, which was
widely known for its efficiency throughout the length and breadth of the
land. It was originally chartered as an independent organization in
1801, and was composed of seafaring men, the officers being members of
the Providence Marine Society, from whence its name was derived. It was
equipped with heavy guns, adapted for coast defence. Subsequently
muskets were used, and with old style field pieces it took part in the
expedition to Acote’s Hill in 1842. In the year 1847 it was equipped as
a light battery with four guns and caissons, battery wagon and forge.
The first parade was made at a training on Smith’s Hill, in Providence,
Oct. 17, 1847, and it was known as “flying artillery,” being _the first
light battery ever organized in the United States outside the regular
army_.
In 1852 it made an excursion to Boston, with four guns, battery wagon
and forge, and encamped on the Common. By its novel and interesting
evolutions of “light artillery,” and firing six-pounder cannon with
rapidity, which had never before been witnessed by the people of that
city, it so excited their wonder and admiration that a movement was
inaugurated to organize a similar battery there. Accordingly a
delegation of gentlemen was chosen to proceed to Providence, who were
instructed in the light artillery drill by Colonel Balch, of the Marine
Artillery. Therefore it is justly claimed that this famous corps is not
only the mother of Rhode Island batteries in the Civil War, but also of
Massachusetts batteries, and through them of all volunteer light
artillery.
From this battery sprang the men who subsequently won renown in the
light artillery branch of the service during the war. Indeed, Governor
Sprague himself commanded this battery for several years prior to the
Rebellion, and had spared neither time nor money to raise it to a high
standard of discipline and efficiency. Is it a marvel, then, that when
the call to arms resounded through the land, this battery furnished from
its membership officers and men who were a credit to their State and
country, and were enabled to send at once a battery to the field fully
manned and equipped for the service.
On the 13th of September, 1861, Governor Sprague received authority from
the War Department to increase the number of Rhode Island batteries to
eight, the whole to be known as the First Regiment Rhode Island Light
Artillery. In May, 1862, although seven batteries had already been
furnished for the regiment, yet when one more battery was required to
complete the number it was promptly recruited and forwarded to the seat
of war.
Battery H, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, was organized in
the city of Providence, R. I., about the first of May, 1862. It was
quartered temporarily in Railroad Hall, where the men were drilled in
marching movements until the formation of an artillery camp near
Mashapaug Pond, Cranston, R. I., whither the battery was subsequently
ordered. This camp was designated Camp Mauran, in honor of Gen. Edward
C. Mauran, the adjutant-general of the State.
The first commander of the battery was Capt. Charles H. J. Hamlin, who
was promoted from the position of quartermaster of the regiment. Captain
Hamlin assumed command of the battery about the sixteenth of May, 1862,
while it was in Camp Mauran. It recruited here more than four times its
complement of men, but in consequence of the many requisitions from
batteries in the field, whose ranks had been reduced by the casualties
of war, it was deemed necessary to furnish them with recruits from this
battery, and it was only after they were supplied that Battery H was
completed and permitted to leave the State.
Sergt. Kirby Steinhauer, of Battery G, was promoted to second lieutenant
of Battery H in September, 1862, and immediately reported for duty.
Captain Hamlin resigned his commission the latter part of September, and
Lieutenant Steinhauer assumed command of the battery. While in Camp
Mauran the men were drilled by Lieutenant Steinhauer, and Sergeants
Messinger, Lewis, Sayles, Colwell and Carpenter. Sergt. Franklin P.
Burlingame was on duty in the city of Providence, engaged in recruiting
for the battery.
On the 3d of October, 1862, Lieut. Jeffrey Hazard, of Battery A, who had
been acting adjutant of the regiment, was commissioned captain of
Battery H, arrived in camp and took command. Shortly after his arrival
Captain Hazard was ordered by Governor Sprague to proceed to the Dexter
Training Ground, where the Twelfth Rhode Island Infantry was encamped.
Trouble was anticipated in regard to the bounties promised them by the
State. Governor Sprague had decided that these bounties should not be
paid until the arrival of the regiment within the lines of the army in
Virginia. As a number of recruits from other regiments had received the
bounty and deserted before arriving at the front, the governor took this
precautionary measure to prevent desertions in the Twelfth. This order
caused intense dissatisfaction among the men of this regiment, so much
so that it threatened to culminate in open mutiny. On reaching the
Training Ground Captain Hazard was ordered by the governor to place one
gun of his battery at each of the four corners of the grounds,
presumably with the view of intimidating into submission the soldiers of
this regiment. This movement only enraged the infantry and made our
situation extremely unpleasant, having less than fifty men against their
one thousand. Had a gun been fired it is probable that a bloody
encounter would have ensued, and it was with great difficulty that the
guns were retired at the instance of the governor without a collision,
and the battery returned to Camp Mauran.
The roll of the original officers and men attached to the battery while
in Camp Mauran, comprised the following:
Captain.
JEFFREY HAZARD.
First Lieutenant.
CLEMENT WEBSTER.
Second Lieutenant.
KIRBY S. STEINHAUER.
First Sergeant.
GEORGE MESSINGER.
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
JENCKES B. STEVENS.
Sergeants.
First Duty Sergeant, JACOB B. LEWIS.
Second Duty Sergeant, THOMAS W. SAYLES.
Third Duty Sergeant, GEORGE P. CARPENTER.
Fourth Duty Sergeant, SAMUEL G. COLWELL.
Fifth Duty Sergeant, FRANK BURLINGAME.
Corporals.
CHARLES DEWOLF GIBSON,
ESEK S. OWEN,
HENRY C. BROWN,
JAMES H. RHODES,
CHARLES E. BONN,
WELLINGTON P. DOLLOFF,
JOHN P. CAMPBELL, 1ST,
ALBERT F. ALLEN,
HIRAM A. CAREY,
GILBERT MORTIMER THAIN,
JAMES C. ENGLEY.
Buglers.
CHARLES P. MARSH,
THOMAS J. GOFF.
Artificers.
SAMUEL T. ALLEN,
THOMAS CARTER,
LEON ALLISON.
Privates.
ABBOTT, WILLIAM
ALBERTES, CHARLES
ALDEN, WARNER
ALDERWICK, GEORGE
ALEXANDER, HENRY A.
ARNOLD, GIDEON W.
ARNOLD, HENRY N.
ARNOLD, HENRY O.
BALCOM, ORVILLE
BELLOWS, JAY G.
BENNETT, GARDNER L.
BINGHAM, JOSEPH
BOOTH, JAMES
BOWEN, WILLIAM J.
BRADY, HENRY
BRIGGS, HORACE C.
BRIGGS, ISAAC
BROWN, CHARLES
BROWN, FRANCIS A.
BROWN, GEORGE W.
BROWN, WILLIAM S.
BUTTERFIELD, FRANCIS H.
CAMPBELL, JAMES
CAMPBELL, JOHN P., 2D
CARMAN, GILBERT
CARMAN, SOLOMON
CARTER, BENJAMIN
CHACE, LORIN R.
CHEEVER, EMOLUS A.
CONNER, STEPHEN H.
COPELAND, SILAS
CRANDALL, JAMES B. B.
CROGAN, MICHAEL
CROSS, GEORGE G.
DAWLEY, REYNOLDS
DEE, CHARLES
DENEY, EMIL
DICKSON, WILLIAM
DOUGHERTY, CHARLES
DROWN, WILLIAM
EASTERDAY, CHRISTIAN
ELLISON, CHARLES E.
ELLSWORTH, WILLIAM
FARRELL, JOSEPH
FENNER, EARL
FERGUSON, JOHN
FITTON, JOSEPH
FLOYD, HORACE F.
FLYNN, THOMAS P.
FOSTER, RICHARD
FOX, MICHAEL
GILLELAND, ALEXANDER
GOULD, LEWIS
GREY, JOHN A.
GREEN, CHARLES
GRIMES, JOSEPH
HALL, HENRY
HALL, JAMES
HAMMOND, DANIEL A.
HARDON, RUFUS P.
HARRIS, EDWARD
HART, JOHN
HAYFIELD, ISAAC F.
HAYFIELD, JAMES F.
HIGGINS, JOHN
HIXON, WILLIAM M.
HOWARD, ALBERT E.
HOWARD, WILLIAM E.
HUNNEWELL, WILLIAM H.
INGRAHAM, MARTIN O.
JACK, ROBERT
JACKSON, ROWLAND
JOHNSON, EDWIN C.
JONES, WILLIAM
KEENAN, PATRICK
KNOWLES, LUCIAN B.
LAGENUSSE, JULES
LEONARD, JOHN
LEWIS, FRANKLIN
LOVELY, JUDSON
MAINE, GERSHOM P.
MAHON, THOMAS
MAHON, WILLIAM
MANTER, WILLIAM G.
MASON, JAMES
MATHEY, ERNEST A.
MAURIN, PATRICK
MCANERY, JAMES
MCCAN, BARNEY
MCDONOUGH, JAMES
MCPARTLAND, MATTHEW
MELLOR, WILLIAM H.
MERRILL, ASA T.
MOORE, JOHN
MURPHY, BARTLETT
NELSON, JOHN
NORTHROP, EDWIN
NOYES, ISAAC P.
PAUL, FRANKLIN E.
PECK, ALLEN G.
PECK, WILLIAM
PHILLIPS, HENRY A.
PHILLIPS, JOHN
PHILLIPS, LUTHER A.
PHINNEY, THOMAS R.
PIERPONT, THOMAS
POTTER, HEZEKIAH
POTTER, LEONARD L.
POWERS, JOHN
POYHEREN, ROBERT
RANDALL, JOB
REID, THOMAS
REID, URIAH H.
REID, WILLIAM H.
RILEY, SYLVESTER
ROURKE, JOHN O.
RYAN, CORNELIUS
RYAN, WILLIAM
SAMPSON, JOHN A.
SCHANCK, AARON B.
SIMMONS, THOMAS E.
SMITH, ASHAEL
SMITH, CHARLES
SMITH, ELISHA
SMITH, FREDERICK A.
SMITH, GEORGE H.
SMITH, JAMES
SMITH, JOHN
SMITH, THOMAS
SMITH, WILLIAM H.
SNELL, OTIS P.
SPRAGUE, CHARLES
SPRINGER, WILLIAM H.
STRINGER, CHARLES S.
TAYLOR, ALFRED M.
TAYLOR, ROBERT W.
THOMPSON, RICHARD
THOMPSON, ROBERT P.
TOBIAS, MICHAEL
TRACY, GEORGE E.
TRUCKSAES, HERMAN E. O.
TRUE, ELIAS R.
TSCHAMER, BAPTISTE
TURNER, ANDREW
VARNEY, HENRY C.
WEINER, T. FELIX
WELLMAN, HENRY A.
WELLS, ALBERT P.
WHITE, REUBEN G.
WILSON, CHARLES
WILSON, JAMES
WILSON, JAMES, 2D
WOOD, JAMES
On the 23d of October, 1862, the battery received orders to proceed to
Washington, D. C. Preparations were immediately made to move from Camp
Mauran. Marching to the railroad station in Providence, the battery
boarded the cars, and the soldiers, after bidding adieu to the relatives
and friends who had assembled there to witness their departure, were
soon speeding along on their journey, eager to enter upon the untried
scenes awaiting them. On arriving in New York city a number of recruits
for the battery were received. Again proceeding on its way, the battery
reached Washington on the 26th of October, and, until the 28th, were
quartered in the Soldiers’ Retreat, when it was ordered to proceed to
Camp Barry, situated on the Corcoran farm, on the Bladensburg road, near
the toll gate.
This camp was established as an artillery camp of instruction for all
volunteer batteries, for drill and discipline preparatory for service in
the field. Soon after its arrival the battery exchanged the James rifled
pieces with which it left Rhode Island for three-inch ordnance guns.
In November General McClellan was relieved from command of the Army of
the Potomac, and General Burnside reluctantly assumed the position. His
career while connected with its leadership is so well known to every one
interested in the history of that army, that it is deemed inexpedient to
dwell upon it here. The delay in sending forward the pontoons with which
the army was to cross the Rappahannock and the lack of support that
General Burnside received from some of his subordinates is attributed
the disaster of the battle of Fredericksburg.
At this time Washington was well protected by a cordon of forts
completely encircling the city. We present herewith the accompanying
map, which will more fully indicate the positions of the several forts
than any description we might be able to give.
[Click anywhere on map for high resolution image.]
[Illustration:
Washington
and its
Defences.
]