LIFE AT FORT RICHARDSON—MOVED TO FORT SMITH AND STATIONED
THERE—BATTERY EQUIPPED AGAIN AND SENT TO CITY POINT.
Once more our battery was destined to forego an active participation in
the stirring scenes at the front, and to the disappointment of our men
we were assigned to the dull routine of garrison life, instead of the
more congenial duties of a mounted battery.
Nothing of especial importance transpired during our stay in Fort
Richardson. Our men were drilled at the guns in heavy artillery work,
and also practiced in the use of mortars. An occasional long roll at
night would relieve the monotony of our existence, when the men would
hasten to the guns remaining there until reveille.
It was a source of regret to us that we were not permitted to remain
with the Ninth Corps, which was at that time with the Army of the
Potomac confronting the enemy at Cold Harbor, where a severe battle had
just been fought. After the Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles General
Grant became convinced that he had more artillery than could be brought
into action at any one time. It occupied the roads in marching and
taxing the trains in bringing up forage. He therefore sent back to the
defenses of Washington over one hundred pieces of artillery, with the
horses and caissons. As will be observed our battery was among the
number returned. But we did not share our misfortunes alone, for Battery
D, of our regiment, was ordered to turn in its guns and equipments to
the Arsenal at Washington, and for a time garrisoned Fort Lincoln within
the defenses.
General Burnside, who always took pride and satisfaction in having Rhode
Island troops in his command, in a letter to General Grant dated June
28, 1864, requesting that more artillery might be added to his corps,
said: “In addition to Benjamin’s battery, I should like Gitting’s
battery of the Third Artillery and Allen’s (H) and Buckley’s (D) Rhode
Island batteries, unless by so doing it would bring up too much field
artillery. These have all been sent to Washington. If we are to continue
our operations here, guns of heavier calibre will also be required, but
these have been promised by General Hunt.”
We conclude that General Grant deemed it inexpedient to comply with this
request, as the Rhode Island batteries were not sent to the Ninth Corps.
At this time our battery was attached to the Twenty-second Corps,
DeRussy’s Division, in the District of Alexandria.
July 10th. Left Fort Richardson at 9.30 A. M., and marched to Fort
Smith, which is situated on the Potomac River, near Aqueduct Bridge. On
our arrival at the fort we were assigned to No. 1 Barracks. During the
night the assembly call was sounded, and we were ordered to take muskets
and fall in. This greatly displeased our men, and at first they were
inclined to rebel, but better counsels prevailed, and they accepted the
situation with the best grace possible. Associated with us in the fort
were several companies of the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery.
On the 14th, the left section of our battery was sent to Bailey’s Cross
Roads for picket duty.
July 18th. Inspection at 10.30 A. M. of all the troops in the fort.
July 19th. The centre section was detailed for picket duty near Fort
Strong. On the 25th the right section went on picket at the same place.
August 16th. Our battery was inspected and reviewed at ten A. M. by
Capt. C. H. Whittlesey, Assistant Adjutant-General of the Artillery
Reserve.
August 18th. At nine A. M. we bade adieu to the attached men of the One
Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry, who have served with us since
the first of July. We held these soldiers in high esteem. Their term of
service has expired and they are about to return to their regiment for
muster-out. The original members of our battery are very much exercised,
as they claim that they enlisted to serve the unexpired term of the
regiment, and their term of service has already expired, and insist that
they too should be mustered out. A meeting was held in the company mess
room, and Corporal Howard was appointed a committee to wait upon
President Lincoln and present our grievances to him. Upon interviewing
the president he listened attentively to the complaint made by the
committee, and then said: “I see by your petition that it has been
through all the departments, and I find that your claim is right and
just, and you should be discharged. You come at the eleventh hour to
‘Old Abe’ thinking he will order you discharged. But the government has
50,000 men just the same as you are. We cannot spare these men at
present, but as soon as you can possibly be spared you shall be sent
home. I am truly sorry for your men.” And this closed the interview of
President Lincoln with our committee.
August 29th. Private Earl Fenner was detailed as acting sergeant, and
ordered to duty as sergeant of the guard at the fort. Privates Sampson,
Alderwick and Stone were detailed for picket, and ordered to report to
the commanding officer of the picket near Fort Strong. During the
afternoon the paymaster appeared in the fort and the men were paid two
months’ pay. The men on picket were ordered to return to the fort and
receive their pay, but they arrived too late as the paymaster had gone,
and they were ordered back on picket, Private Alderwick having been
detailed to relieve Private Hayfield on the outpost. On proceeding to
the place, he was challenged and shot by Hayfield. He was hit in the
right shoulder, causing a severe wound. It was generally thought that
Hayfield was an unfit person to occupy the position of an outpost.
[Illustration: Lieut. Hezekiah Potter.]
August 31st. Long roll was sounded at three A. M. All the companies in
the fort were ordered to the guns and remained there until reveille.
October 6th. Artificer Leon Allison was sent into Washington to-day by
Captain Allen on official business. On his return he was brutally
assaulted and all his valuables taken from him, even to the shoes on his
feet. On his arrival at the fort he was sent to the hospital, where it
was found that his jaw was broken.
October 13th. Private James Booth died in hospital near Fort Strong. He
was buried by a detail of men from our battery.
October 16th. We have received welcome news to-day. Our battery is
ordered to Camp Barry, where we are to receive guns and horses and be
remounted again as a light battery. The men are delighted and almost
beside themselves with joy. They have been very much dissatisfied, not
having enlisted as heavy artillerymen it was but natural that they
should long to return to their own arm of the service. We moved from
Fort Smith at ten A. M., and on arriving at Camp Barry occupied barracks
No. 1.
October 18th. Twenty-five men were detailed to draw horses and harnesses
for the battery. This order was obeyed with alacrity. We were
subsequently ordered to draw a battery of Napoleon guns.
October 25th. More good news. At twelve A. M. we marched into Washington
to Sixth Street wharf and embarked on steamer _St. Nicholas_, bound for
City Point, Va., where we are to join General Benham’s forces. This
command is guarding the base of supplies for twenty miles or more down
the James River, and the line of breastworks from City Point toward our
front.
October 26th. We arrived at City Point at eleven A. M. and went into
camp near the Landing for the night.
October 27th. Marched to main line of breastworks and encamped. At
twelve P. M. the long roll was sounded, caused by an attack by the enemy
on our front and the rebel gunboats on the James River. The cannoneers
were ordered to their guns and remained there until reveille. On the
31st the battery was mustered for two months’ pay.
During the month of November all was quiet along our lines and winter
quarters were ordered to be built for the men. They were arranged in
groups of four. The month was cold and stormy.
December 25th, being Christmas, we were bountifully supplied with
turkeys for our Christmas dinner. There was a turkey for each group of
four men who occupied the log cabins which had been erected the previous
month. It was a Christmas long to be remembered by every man in the
battery, bringing to mind the good cheer and kind faces of our loved
ones at home, and we looked forward with intense longing for the time
when we should be permitted to return to them again.